System, method, and computer readable medium for determining the weight of items in a non-singulated and non-spaced arrangement on a conveyor system
First Claim
1. A weight determining system for use with singulated, non-singulated, spaced, and non-spaced arrangements of items on a conveyor system, said weight determining system comprising:
- (a) an array of load cells associated with the conveyor system, wherein said array is configured to have each of the items bear upon one or more of said load cells, wherein said each of the items is in adjacent and/or neighboring relation with said one or more of said load cells, and wherein each of said load cells is configured to;
(i) bear one or more of the items; and
(ii) generate load data associated with said one or more of the items;
(b) a scanning apparatus configured to generate scan data corresponding to the arrangements of the items on the conveyor system; and
(c) one or more processors encoded to;
collect said load data and said scan data; and
based on said scan data;
(i) apportion said load data, from said each of said load cells, to said one or more of the items which are in said adjacent and/or neighboring relation therewith;
(ii) allocate said load data, apportioned as aforesaid, to said each of the items from said one or more of said load cells which are in said adjacent and/or neighboring relation therewith; and
(iii) determine a weight for said each of the items in the arrangements based on said load data apportioned and allocated as aforesaid.
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Abstract
A weight determining system is for use with a non-singulated and non-spaced arrangement of items on a conveyor. The system includes an array of load cells, a scanning apparatus, and processors. Each of the items bears upon one or more of the load cells. Each of the load cells bears one or more of the items, and generates load data associated with them. The scanning apparatus generates scan data for the arrangement of the items on the conveyor. Based on the scan data, the processors: apportion the load data from each load cell to the items bearing on it; allocate to each item the load data apportioned from the various load cells; and determine a weight for each item. Also disclosed are a corresponding weight determining method, as well as a computer readable medium containing executable instructions to encode the processors to perform as aforesaid.
43 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A weight determining system for use with singulated, non-singulated, spaced, and non-spaced arrangements of items on a conveyor system, said weight determining system comprising:
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(a) an array of load cells associated with the conveyor system, wherein said array is configured to have each of the items bear upon one or more of said load cells, wherein said each of the items is in adjacent and/or neighboring relation with said one or more of said load cells, and wherein each of said load cells is configured to;
(i) bear one or more of the items; and(ii) generate load data associated with said one or more of the items; (b) a scanning apparatus configured to generate scan data corresponding to the arrangements of the items on the conveyor system; and (c) one or more processors encoded to;
collect said load data and said scan data; and
based on said scan data;(i) apportion said load data, from said each of said load cells, to said one or more of the items which are in said adjacent and/or neighboring relation therewith; (ii) allocate said load data, apportioned as aforesaid, to said each of the items from said one or more of said load cells which are in said adjacent and/or neighboring relation therewith; and (iii) determine a weight for said each of the items in the arrangements based on said load data apportioned and allocated as aforesaid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A weight determining method for use with singulated, non-singulated, spaced, and non-spaced arrangements of items on a conveyor system, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) conveying each of the items to bear upon one or more load cells in an array, wherein said each of the items is in adjacent and/or neighboring relation with said one or more of said load cells, with each of said load cells;
(i) bearing one or more of the items; and(ii) generating load data associated with said one or more of the items; (b) using a scanning apparatus to generate scan data corresponding to the arrangements of the items on the conveyor system; and (c) using one or more processors to;
collect said load data and said scan data; and
based on said scan data;(i) apportion said load data, from said each of said load cells, to said one or more of the items which are in said adjacent and/or neighboring relation therewith; (ii) allocate said load data, apportioned as aforesaid, to said each of the items from said one or more of said load cells which are in said adjacent and/or neighboring relation therewith; and (iii) determine a weight for said each of the items in the arrangements based on said load data apportioned and allocated as aforesaid. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A non-transitory, tangible computer readable medium for use with:
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singulated, non-singulated, spaced, and non-spaced arrangements of items on a conveyor system;
an array of load cells associated with the conveyor system, with the array configured to have each of the items bear upon one or more of the load cells, wherein said each of the items is in adjacent and/or neighboring relation with said one or more of said load cells, and with each of the load cells configured to bear one or more of the items and generate load data associated with said one or more of the items; and
a scanning apparatus which generates scan data corresponding to the arrangements of the items on the conveyor system;with the computer readable medium comprising executable instructions which are physically stored thereon and which, upon execution, encode one or more processors to; (a) collect the load data and the scan data; and (b) based on the scan data; (i) apportion the load data, from said each of said load cells, to said one or more of the items which are in said adjacent and/or neighboring relation therewith; (ii) allocate the load data, apportioned as aforesaid, to said each of the items from said one or more of said load cells which are in said adjacent and/or neighboring relation therewith; and (iii) determine a weight for said each of the items in the arrangements based on the load data apportioned and allocated as aforesaid.
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Specification