Single arch portal scanner and method of scanning

• US 9,053,379 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2014
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Datalogic Adc, Inc. (Datalogic S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: Datalogic Adc, Inc. (Datalogic S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Olmstead, Bryan L., Shearin, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAIL, ALLYSON NEEL
• Application Number:
  US14/504,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20150097032A1
• Time in Patent Office: 250 Days
• Field of Search: 235/440, 235/454, 235/462.01, 235/462.13, 235/462.25, 235/462.43, 705/16
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10861 sensing of data fields affixed to objects or articles, e.g. coded labels postal sorting B07C3/14, conveying articles B65G47/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1096 the scanner having more than one scanning window, e.g. two substantially orthogonally placed scanning windows for integration into a check-out counter of a super-market
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader

Abstract

A scanning system for data reading, and related methods of use, the scanning system including a portal scanner and a conveyor for transporting items. The scanner includes a generally U-shaped scanner housing and a plurality of data readers arranged within the scanner housing for reading data on various surfaces of an item being transported through the portal scanner. The scanning system may also include a bottom scanner positioned beneath the conveyor, the bottom scanner having a view volume directed through a gap in the conveyor for reading a bottom surface of the item through the gap as the item passes over the gap. In some embodiments, the scanning system may further include one or more light curtains configured for determining a height dimension of the item and/or a position of the item.

Claims

1. An automated checkout system for reading encoded data from an item, the automated checkout system comprising:

a portal scanner having a first leg section spaced apart from a second leg section, and a top arch section extending across from the first leg section to the second leg section;

a first imaging system housed within the top arch section of the portal scanner, the first imaging system having a first view volume directed downwardly from the top arch section and between the first and second leg sections, the first view volume including a forward-facing field of view and a rearward-facing field of view, wherein the fields of view of the first view volume cross with one another;

a second imaging system housed within the first leg section of the portal scanner, the second imaging system having a second view volume directed sidewardly toward the second leg section, the second view volume include a forward-facing field of view and a rearward-facing field of view, wherein the fields of view of the second view volume cross with one another;

a third imaging system housed within the second leg section of the portal scanner, the third imaging system having a third view volume directed sidewardly toward the first leg section, the third view volume including a forward-facing field of view and a rearward-facing field of view, wherein the fields of view of the third view volume cross with one another, wherein the first, second, and third view volumes intersect with one another to collectively form a read region of the portal scanner for reading an optical code from an item being passed through the read region; and

a conveying system operable for transporting the item through the read region of the portal scanner, the conveying system including (a) a leading conveyor section operable to receive and transport the item bearing encoded data toward the portal scanner, and (b) a trailing conveyor section operable to receive and transport the item away from the portal scanner, the trailing conveyor section spaced apart from the leading conveyor section by a gap, wherein the portal scanner is positioned between the leading and trailing conveyor sections with the top arch section of the arch aligned over the gap.

2. An automated checkout system according to claim 1, the system further comprising a bottom imaging system positioned beneath the conveying system, the bottom imaging system having a fourth view volume directed through the gap to read encoded data on a bottom side of the item through the gap.

3. An automated checkout system according to claim 2, further comprising a first light curtain formed by a plurality of sensor elements arranged on each of the top arch section and the bottom imaging system, the light curtain configured to measure a lateral position of the item relative to the first and second lateral leg sections as the item passes between the first and second lateral leg sections of the portal scanner.

4. An automated checkout system according to claim 1, further comprising a light curtain formed by a plurality of sensor elements arranged on each of the first and second lateral leg sections, the light curtain configured to measure a height of the item as the item passes between the first and second lateral leg sections of the portal scanner.

5. An automated checkout system according to claim 1, wherein the top arch section and the first and second lateral leg sections are formed as a single, monolithic structure.

6. An automated checkout system according to claim 1, wherein each of the first, second, and third imaging systems further comprises at least one imager, a lens system and associated mirrors for forming multiple image views on the imager.

7. An automated checkout system according to claim 1, further comprising an illumination module housed in at least one of the top arch section, the first leg section, or the second leg section, the illumination module including one or more light emitting diodes for illuminating the read region.

8. An automated checkout system according to claim 1, further comprising a security camera supported by the top arch section of the portal scanner, the security camera having a field of view directed toward the conveying system and operable to track the item as it moves through the portal scanner.

9. A method for reading target data via a portal scanner having a first leg section spaced apart from a second leg section, and a top arch section extending across from the first leg section to the second leg section, the method comprising:

conveying, via a transport mechanism, an item bearing target data toward the portal scanner;

forming a read region underneath the top arch section of the portal scanner and between the first and second leg sections by;

directing, via a first imaging system housed within the top arch section, a first view volume downwardly toward the transport mechanism and between the first and second leg sections, the first view volume including a forward-facing field of view and a rearward-facing field of view, wherein the fields of view of the first view volume cross with one another;

directing, via a second imaging system housed within the first leg section, a second view volume sidewardly toward the second leg section, the second view volume including a forward-facing field of view and a rearward-facing field of view, wherein the fields of view of the second view volume cross with one another;

directing, via a third imaging system housed within the second leg section, a third view volume sidewardly toward the first leg section, the third view volume including a forward-facing field of view and a rearward-facing field of view, wherein the fields of view of the third view volume cross with one another; and

directing, via a bottom imaging system positioned underneath the transport mechanism, a fourth view volume upwardly through a gap of the transport mechanism for capturing target data on a bottom surface of the item as the item crosses the gap;

capturing one or more images of the item via at least one of the first, second, or third imaging systems as the item passes through the read region;

processing the one or more images of the item to identify the target data; and

decoding the target data based on one or more of the images.

10. A method for reading target data according to claim 9, further comprising:

generating a light curtain via a plurality of sensors arranged in the top arch section; and

determining, via the light curtain, a position of the item relative to the first and second leg sections.

11. A method for reading target data according to claim 9, further comprising:

generating a light curtain via a plurality of sensors arranged on each of the first and second lateral leg sections; and

determining, via the light curtain, a height measurement of the item relative to the transport mechanism.

12. A method for reading target data according to claim 9, further comprising illuminating the read region via one or more illumination modules, the illumination modules housed within at least one of the top arch section, the first leg section, and the second leg section.

13. A method for reading target data according to claim 9, further comprising:

directing a field of view of a security camera toward the transport mechanism; and

tracking, via the security camera, the item as the item moves through the read region of the portal scanner.

14. An automated checkout system for reading encoded data from an item, the automated checkout system comprising:

a portal scanner having a first leg section spaced apart from a second leg section, and a top arch section extending across from the first leg section to the second leg section;

a first imaging system housed within the top arch section of the portal scanner, the first imaging system having a first view volume directed downwardly from the top arch section and between the first and second leg sections, the first view volume including a forward-facing field of view and a rearward-facing field of view, wherein the fields of view of the first view volume cross with one another;

a second imaging system housed within the first leg section of the portal scanner, the second imaging system having a second view volume directed sidewardly toward the second leg section, the second view volume include a forward-facing field of view and a rearward-facing field of view, wherein the fields of view of the second view volume cross with one another;

a third imaging system housed within the second leg section of the portal scanner, the third imaging system having a third view volume directed sidewardly toward the first leg section, the third view volume including a forward-facing field of view and a rearward-facing field of view, wherein the fields of view of the third view volume cross with one another,

wherein the first, second, and third view volumes intersect with one another to collectively form a read region of the portal scanner for reading an optical code from an item being passed through the read region;

a conveying system operable for transporting the item through the read region of the portal scanner; and

a security camera supported by the top arch section of the portal scanner, the security camera having a field of view directed toward the conveying system and operable to track the item as it moves through the portal scanner.

15. An automated checkout system according to claim 14, the system further comprising a bottom imaging system positioned beneath the conveying system, the bottom imaging system having a fourth view volume directed through the gap to read encoded data on a bottom side of the item through the gap.

16. An automated checkout system according to claim 14, wherein the conveying system including (a) a leading conveyor section operable to receive and transport the item bearing encoded data toward the portal scanner, and (b) a trailing conveyor section operable to receive and transport the item away from the portal scanner, the trailing conveyor section spaced apart from the leading conveyor section by a gap, wherein the portal scanner is positioned between the leading and trailing conveyor sections with the top arch section of the arch aligned over the gap.