Methods and devices for classifying objects

• US 9,064,228 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2010
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Woerz, Stephen, Weber, Frank, Mallare, Antonio
• Primary Examiner(s): Savusdiphol, Paultep
• Application Number:
  US13/395,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20120205435A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,755 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/437, 235/462.01, 235/462.14, 235/468, 235/470, 235/475, 235/476
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

The invention provides methods for classifying an object by (a) at least partially coating at least one surface of the object with at least one barcode; (b) scanning the barcode with at least one corresponding barcode detector that is detectably compatible with a barcode of the type coated on the object; (c) determining whether the barcode is read by the barcode detector; and (d) classifying the object on the basis of at least one barcode not being read by the corresponding barcode detector.

Claims

1. A method for classifying an object having a surface area that is the total area of the exterior surfaces of the object, comprising the steps of:

(a) coating at least 50% of the surface area of the object with barcodes, the barcodes are coated on the object over existing markings on the object and comprise a first barcode that is invisible and overlays a second barcode at least partially, the first and second barcodes are readable using a different radiation wavelength relative to each other, each radiation wavelength selected from a spectrum of wavelengths from radio waves to X-rays;

(b) scanning the barcodes with at least one corresponding barcode detector that is detectably compatible with a barcode of the type coated on the object;

(c) determining whether one or more of the barcodes are read by the barcode detector; and

(d) classifying the object as leaking when the first barcode on the object is not read by the corresponding barcode detector.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the different radiation wavelengths is non-visible radiation.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein each of the plurality of objects is classified in a binary fashion such that successful reading of the first barcode by the corresponding barcode detector is followed by classifying the particular object as type “

A,”

failure of the corresponding barcode detector to read the first barcode is followed by classifying the particular object as type “

B,”

the type “

A”

is leaking, and the type “

B”

is not leaking.

3. A method for classifying an object from a plurality of objects, each of the plurality of objects having a surface area that is the total area of the exterior surfaces of the object, comprising the steps of:

(a) coating at least 50% of the surface area of each object of the plurality of objects with barcodes, the barcodes are coated on each object over existing markings on the object and comprise a first barcode that is invisible and overlays a second barcode at least partially, the first and second barcodes are readable using a different radiation relative to each other, each radiation wavelength selected from a spectrum of wavelengths from radio waves to X-rays;

(b) scanning the barcodes on each object of the plurality of objects with at least one corresponding barcode detector that is detectably compatible with a barcode of the type coated on the object;

(c) determining whether one or more of the barcodes are read by the barcode detector; and

(d) classifying the object as leaking when the first barcode on the object is not read by the corresponding barcode detector.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the plurality of objects are packages containing wet pet food.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein another object is classified as desirable when the first barcode thereon is read by a corresponding barcode detector.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein the invisible barcodes fully coat the surface area of each object.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein the first barcode is a 1-D invisible barcode, a 2-D invisible barcode, a 3-D invisible barcode, or any combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 3 wherein the object is a product, device, container, label, or combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the object is a can, bottle, pouch, box, bag, tray, tube, or sleeve.

11. The method of claim 3 wherein the radiation is visible radiation, infrared radiation, ultraviolet radiation, microwave radiation, or any combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 3, wherein one of the different radiation wavelengths is non-visible radiation.

13. A device for classifying an object from a plurality of objects, each of the plurality of objects having a surface area that is the total area of the exterior surfaces of the object, the device comprising:

(a) a continuous production line for the plurality of objects;

(b) barcode detectors attached to the continuous production line such that radiation from the barcode detectors is incident on at least one invisible barcode coated on at least 50% of the surface area of the object of the plurality of objects on the continuous production line, the barcode detectors comprise a first barcode detector and a second barcode detector that use a different radiation wavelength relative to each other, each radiation wavelength selected from a spectrum of wavelengths from radio waves to X-rays;

(c) a component that classifies the object as leaking when the first barcode on the object is not read by the corresponding barcode detector; and

(d) at least one of the following components;

(i) a remover component configured to remove the object that is classified as leaking;

(ii) an inspection component configured to inspect the object that is classified as leaking, for identifying a defect;

(iii) a discarding component configured to discard the object of item (ii);

(iv) a reprocessing component configured to reprocess the object of item (ii) into the continuous production line; and

(v) a reinserting component configured to reinsert the object of item (ii) into the continuous production line.

14. The device of claim 13 suitable for classifying packages.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the packages contain food.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the food is a wet pet food.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein one of the different radiation wavelengths is non-visible radiation.