Conveyor belt, conveyor belt assembly including an imaging system, and methods of using the same

• US 9,739,596 B1
• Filed: 02/08/2017
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Janicki, Piotr
• Primary Examiner(s): Randazzo, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US15/427,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20170240358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 195 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 1/04 Forming a stream from a bulk; Controlling the stream, e.g. spacing the articles
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/08 using arrangements of conveyors transport of sheets B65H; transport in general B65G
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/14 using light-responsive detecting means for information carriers G06K7/14
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/10 measured by light-responsive means sorting according to colour B07C5/342
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/36 Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution sorting according to destination B07C3/003, B07C3/02
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 15/30 Belts or like endless load-carriers co-operating with rails or the like B65G21/22; co-operating with rollers B65G39/20
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 15/32 made of rubber or plastics
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2203/0233 Position of the article
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2203/041 Camera
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 43/08 Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed or discharged and controlling the discharging devices B65G47/42
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/00 Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/02 for measuring length, width or thickness G01B11/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/022 by means of tv-camera scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/04 specially adapted for measuring length or width of objects while moving
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/14 for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures G01B11/26 takes precedence; rangefinders G01C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0004 Industrial image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/70 Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras camera calibration G06T7/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

Various embodiments provide an improved conveyor belt comprising: a visible surface having a primary axis oriented in a machine direction; a plurality of first stripes having a first visible appearance, each of the plurality of first stripes at least in part defining the visible surface and being oriented perpendicular to the primary axis; and a plurality of second stripes having a second visible appearance, each of the plurality of second stripes at least in part defining the visible surface and being oriented perpendicular to the primary axis, wherein: the second visible appearance provides a contrasting appearance relative to the first visible appearance; and each of the plurality of second stripes are located intermediate two of the plurality of first stripes such that the plurality of first and second stripes collectively define an alternating contrasting pattern on the visible surface of the improved conveyor belt.

Claims

1. An improved conveyor belt assembly for facilitating improved automated handling of a plurality of packages, said improved conveyor belt assembly comprising:

a conveyor belt comprising;

a visible surface having a primary axis oriented in a machine direction, said visible surface being movable in said machine direction and configured, during movement, to receive thereon each of said plurality of packages;

a plurality of first stripes having a first visible appearance, each of said plurality of first stripes at least in part defining said visible surface; and

a plurality of second stripes having a second visible appearance, each of said plurality of second stripes at least in part defining said visible surface,

wherein;

said first visible appearance of said plurality of first stripes is a solid pattern defined by a first color;

said second visible appearance of said plurality of second stripes is a striped pattern defined by a second and a third color, said second color being a contrasting color relative to said first color; and

at least one of said plurality of second stripes is located intermediate two of said plurality of first stripes such that at least a portion of the plurality of first and second stripes collectively defines an alternating contrasting pattern on the visible surface of the improved conveyor belt; and

an imaging system comprising a plurality of cameras positioned in a plurality of locations relative to said visible surface of said conveyor belt, said imaging system being configured to provide continuous visibility of each of said plurality of packages received on said visible surface during movement thereof.

2. The improved conveyor belt assembly of claim 1, wherein said first color is white and said second color is black.

3. The improved conveyor belt assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said visible surface of said conveyor belt has a width defined perpendicular to said primary axis; and

each of said plurality of first and second stripes extend across at least 80% of said width.

4. The improved conveyor belt assembly of claim 1, wherein:

each of said plurality of first stripes has a first width defined parallel to said primary axis; and

each of said plurality of second stripes has a second width defined parallel to said primary axis, said second width being substantially the same as said first width.

5. The improved conveyor belt assembly of claim 4, wherein said first and second widths are in a range between five centimeters and fifteen centimeters.

6. The improved conveyor belt assembly of claim 1, wherein:

each of said plurality of first stripes is made of a first material; and

each of said plurality of second stripes is made of a second material, said second material being different than said first material, said first and second materials being connected to each other so as to define together said visible surface of said conveyor belt.

7. The improved conveyor belt assembly of claim 1, wherein:

each of said plurality of second stripes is defined by a material of said visible surface of said conveyor belt; and

each of said plurality of first stripes is defined by a contrasting paint applied onto said visible surface of said conveyor belt.

8. The improved conveyor belt assembly of claim 7, wherein said contrasting paint has a lumen factor of at least 0.85.

9. The improved conveyor belt assembly of claim 1, wherein:

a first set of said plurality of cameras are positioned above and in a first plane substantially perpendicular to said visible surface; and

a second set of said plurality of cameras are positioned beside said visible surface and in a second plane substantially perpendicular to said visible surface, said first and second planes being intersecting planes, so as to collectively provide, via the first and the second sets of said plurality of cameras, coverage of sides and tops of each of said plurality of packages placed on said visible surface and traveling on said conveyor belt.

10. A system comprising:

a conveyor belt comprising;

a visible surface having a primary axis oriented in a machine direction, said visible surface being movable in said machine direction and configured, during movement, to receive thereon each of said plurality of packages;

a plurality of first stripes having a first visible appearance, each of said plurality of first stripes at least in part defining said visible surface; and

a plurality of second stripes having a second visible appearance, each of said plurality of second stripes at least in part defining said visible surface,

wherein;

the second visible appearance provides a contrasting appearance relative to the first visible appearance; and

at least one of said plurality of second stripes is located intermediate two of said plurality of first stripes such that at least a portion of the plurality of first and second stripes defines an alternating contrasting pattern on the visible surface of the improved conveyor belt;

an imaging system comprising a plurality of cameras positioned in a plurality of locations relative to said visible surface of said conveyor belt;

one or more computer processors configured for;

during continuous operation of said improved conveyor belt, capturing, via said imaging system a continuous video sequence containing each of said plurality of packages received on said visible surface during movement thereof;

extracting at least one screen shot containing at least one image of at least one of said plurality of packages; and

calculating, based at least upon first and second known widths of said plurality of first and second stripes appearing in said at least one extracted screen shot, one or more dimensions of said at least one of said plurality of packages; and

one or more memory storage areas configured to associate and store said extracted screen shot and said calculated dimensions with said at least one of said plurality of packages.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said system further comprises a network and said one or more computer processors are further configured for, in response to a request to access said associated and stored extracted screen shot and said calculated dimensions, transmitting said requested data over a distributed network.

12. A computer-implemented method for facilitating improved automated handling of a plurality of packages, said method comprising the steps of:

continuously operating an improved conveyor belt, said improved conveyor belt comprising;

a visible surface having a primary axis oriented in a machine direction, said visible surface being movable in said machine direction during said continuous operation and being configured to receive thereon each of said plurality of packages;

a plurality of first stripes having a first known width and a first visible appearance, each of said plurality of first stripes at least in part defining said visible surface; and

a plurality of second stripes having a second known width and a second visible appearance, each of said plurality of second stripes at least in part defining said visible surface,

wherein;

the second visible appearance provides a contrasting appearance relative to the first visible appearance; and

at least one of said plurality of second stripes is located intermediate two of said plurality of first stripes such that at least a portion of the plurality of first and second stripes defines an alternating contrasting pattern on the visible surface of the improved conveyor belt;

during said continuous operation of said improved conveyor belt, capturing, via an imaging system a continuous video sequence containing each of said plurality of packages received on said visible surface during movement thereof;

extracting, via at least one computer processor, at least one screen shot containing at least one image of at least one of said plurality of packages;

calculating, via said at least one computer processor and based at least upon first and second known widths of said plurality of first and second stripes appearing in said at least one extracted screen shot, one or more dimensions of said at least one of said plurality of packages; and

associating and storing, in at least one memory storage area, said extracted screen shot and said calculated dimensions with said at least one of said plurality of packages.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

prior to calculating said one or more dimensions, determining, via said at least one computer processor and based at least upon the first and second known widths of said plurality of first and second stripes appearing in said at least one extracted screen shot, whether one or more of said plurality of packages received on said visible surface is insufficiently spaced relative to another one or more of said plurality of packages;

if determined that any of said plurality of packages are insufficiently spaced, generating at least one notification alerting at least one user of the improved conveyor belt assembly of the insufficient spacing; and

if determined that all of said plurality of packages are sufficiently spaced, associating and storing in said at least one memory storage area said determination of sufficient spacing alongside said one or more extracted screen shots and said calculated one or more dimensions for each of said plurality of packages for which sufficient spacing is determined.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein said method further comprises the step of, if determined that any of said plurality of packages are insufficiently spaced, ceasing continued movement of said conveyor belt until mitigation of said insufficient spacing is corrected in response to said generated notification.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

extracting, via said at least one computer processor and based at least in part upon said extracted at least one screen shot, package shipping indicia for said at least one of said plurality of packages; and

associating and storing, in at least one memory storage area, said extracted shipping indicia together with said extracted screen shot, said determined sufficient spacing, and said calculated dimensions for said at least one of said plurality of packages.

16. An improved conveyor belt for facilitating improved automated handling of a plurality of packages, said improved conveyor belt comprising:

a visible surface having a primary axis oriented in a machine direction;

a plurality of first stripes having a first visible appearance, each of said plurality of first stripes at least in part defining said visible surface; and

a plurality of second stripes having a second visible appearance, each of said plurality of second stripes at least in part defining said visible surface,

wherein;

said first visible appearance of said plurality of first stripes is a solid pattern defined by a first color;

said second visible appearance of said plurality of second stripes is a striped pattern defined by a second and a third color, said second color being a contrasting color relative to said first color; and

at least one of said plurality of second stripes is located intermediate two of said plurality of first stripes such that at least a portion of the plurality of first and second stripes defines an alternating contrasting pattern on the visible surface of the improved conveyor belt.

17. An improved conveyor belt for facilitating improved automated handling of a plurality of packages, said improved conveyor belt comprising:

a visible surface having a primary axis oriented in a machine direction;

a plurality of first stripes having a first visible appearance, each of said plurality of first stripes at least in part defining said visible surface relative to said primary axis; and

a plurality of second stripes having a second visible appearance, each of said plurality of second stripes at least in part defining said visible surface relative to said primary axis,

wherein;

the second visible appearance provides a contrasting appearance relative to the first visible appearance;

at least one of said plurality of second stripes is located intermediate two of said plurality of first stripes such that at least a portion of the plurality of first and second stripes defines an alternating contrasting pattern on the visible surface of the improved conveyor belt;

each of said plurality of first stripes has a first width defined parallel to said primary axis;

each of said plurality of second stripes has a second width defined parallel to said primary axis, said second width being substantially the same as said first width; and

said first and second widths are in a range between five centimeters and fifteen centimeters.

18. An improved conveyor belt assembly for facilitating improved automated handling of a plurality of packages, said improved conveyor belt assembly comprising:

a conveyor belt comprising;

a visible surface having a primary axis oriented in a machine direction, said visible surface being movable in said machine direction and configured, during movement, to receive thereon each of said plurality of packages;

a plurality of first stripes having a first visible appearance, each of said plurality of first stripes at least in part defining said visible surface relative to said primary axis; and

a plurality of second stripes having a second visible appearance, each of said plurality of second stripes at least in part defining said visible surface relative to said primary axis,

wherein;

the second visible appearance provides a contrasting appearance relative to the first visible appearance;

at least one of said plurality of second stripes is located intermediate two of said plurality of first stripes such that at least a portion of the plurality of first and second stripes defines an alternating contrasting pattern on the visible surface of the improved conveyor belt;

each of said plurality of first stripes has a first width defined parallel to said primary axis;

each of said plurality of second stripes has a second width defined parallel to said primary axis, said second width being substantially the same as said first width; and

said first and second widths are in a range between five centimeters and fifteen centimeters; and

an imaging system comprising a plurality of cameras positioned in a plurality of locations relative to said visible surface of said conveyor belt, said imaging system being configured to provide continuous visibility of each of said plurality of packages received on said visible surface during movement thereof.

19. The improved conveyor belt assembly of claim 18,

said first visible appearance of said plurality of first stripes is a first color;

and

said second visible appearance of said plurality of second stripes is a second color, said second color being a contrasting color relative to said first color.

20. The improved conveyor belt assembly of claim 18, wherein:

each of said plurality of second stripes is defined by a material of said visible surface of said conveyor belt;

each of said plurality of first stripes is defined by a contrasting paint applied onto said visible surface of said conveyor belt; and

said contrasting paint has a lumen factor of at least 0.85.