Automatic container orientation systems and methods
First Claim
1. A system for automatically orienting containers, the system comprising:
- one or more cameras configured to obtain data relating to an orientation of at least one container to be included in a package;
a controller in communication with the one or more cameras for receiving the data, the controller configured to use the data to determine an amount of rotation needed for the at least one container to orient the at least one container in a desired final orientation; and
an orientation unit configured to rotate the at least one container by the determined amount of rotation to thereby orient the at least one container in the desired final orientation;
wherein the at least one container comprises multiple containers to be included together in a package; and
wherein the one or more cameras are configured to obtain data relating to an orientation of one or more indicators on each container.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of automatic container orientation systems. Also disclosed are methods for automatically orienting containers. In an exemplary embodiment, a system for automatically orienting containers generally includes one or more cameras, a controller, and an orientation unit. The one or more cameras are configured to obtain data relating to an orientation of at least one container to be included in a package. The controller is in communication with the one or more cameras for receiving the data and is configured to use the data to determine an amount of rotation needed for the at least one container to orient the at least one container in a desired final orientation. The orientation unit is configured to rotate the at least one container by the determined amount of rotation to thereby orient the at least one container in the desired final orientation.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for automatically orienting containers, the system comprising:
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one or more cameras configured to obtain data relating to an orientation of at least one container to be included in a package; a controller in communication with the one or more cameras for receiving the data, the controller configured to use the data to determine an amount of rotation needed for the at least one container to orient the at least one container in a desired final orientation; and an orientation unit configured to rotate the at least one container by the determined amount of rotation to thereby orient the at least one container in the desired final orientation; wherein the at least one container comprises multiple containers to be included together in a package; and wherein the one or more cameras are configured to obtain data relating to an orientation of one or more indicators on each container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for automatically orienting containers, the system comprising:
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one or more cameras configured to obtain data relating to an orientation of at least one container to be included in a package; a controller in communication with the one or more cameras for receiving the data, the controller configured to use the data to determine an amount of rotation needed for the at least one container to orient the at least one container in a desired final orientation; and an orientation unit configured to rotate the at least one container by the determined amount of rotation to thereby orient the at least one container in the desired final orientation; wherein the at least one container comprises multiple containers to be included together in a package; and wherein the system further comprises an image processor in communication with the one or more cameras and the controller, the image processor configured to compare image data captured by the one or more cameras with a library of image data relating to the orientation of one of the containers to determine an initial orientation of each of the containers. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A system for automatically orienting containers, the system comprising:
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one or more cameras configured to obtain data relating to an orientation of at least one container to be included in a package; a controller in communication with the one or more cameras for receiving the data, the controller configured to use the data to determine an amount of rotation needed for the at least one container to orient the at least one container in a desired final orientation; and an orientation unit configured to rotate the at least one container by the determined amount of rotation to thereby orient the at least one container in the desired final orientation; wherein the at least one container comprises multiple containers to be included together in a package; and wherein the orientation unit includes wheels for rotating the containers and a carriage supporting the wheels, the carriage configured to move the wheels into contact with the containers to thereby orient each of the containers in the desired final orientation.
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13. A method for automatically orienting containers in a desired final orientation for packaging, the method comprising:
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obtaining data relating to an orientation of at least one container to be included in a package; transferring the data to a controller and determining an amount of rotation for the at least one container needed to orient the at least one container in a desired final orientation; and rotating the at least one container by the determined amount of rotation to thereby orient the at least one container in the desired final orientation; wherein the at least one container comprises multiple containers to be included together in a package; and wherein; obtaining data includes obtaining data relating to an orientation of one or more indicators on each of the containers; determining an amount of rotation includes determining an amount of rotation for each of the containers needed to orient the one or more indicators on each of the containers so that the one or more indicators on each of the containers are aligned and facing in a same direction; and rotating the at least one container includes rotating each of the containers by the determined amount of rotation for each of the containers to thereby align the one or more indicators on each of the containers so that the one or more indicators on each of the containers are facing in the same direction. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A method for automatically orienting containers in a desired final orientation for packaging, the method comprising:
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obtaining data relating to an orientation of at least one container to be included in a package; transferring the data to a controller and determining an amount of rotation for the at least one container needed to orient the at least one container in a desired final orientation; and rotating the at least one container by the determined amount of rotation to thereby orient the at least one container in the desired final orientation; wherein the at least one container comprises multiple containers to be included together in a package; wherein obtaining data includes receiving image data captured by one or more cameras relating to the orientation of the containers, the method further comprising; comparing the image data captured by the one or more cameras with a library of image data relating to the orientation of one of the containers, the library of image data comprising a series of multiple container sector images, each sector image representing a view of one of the containers taken from a different segment of a circumference of the container; determining an initial orientation of each of the containers; and communicating a sector image number and a degree offset amount within the sector image to the controller for each of the containers, thereby indicating an amount of rotation necessary to orient each of the containers in the desired final orientation. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification