System for projecting a handling instruction onto a moving item or parcel
First Claim
1. A system for processing one or more items, comprising:
- an acquisition device to capture indicia about an item moving along a path generally toward a display zone;
one or more projectors positioned near said display zone where said item may be processed;
a tracking system to capture a plurality of locations and corresponding times for said item, said tracking system comprising one or more tracking cameras, wherein each of said plurality of locations comprises item coordinates relative to an established system of coordinates, an angular orientation relative to said established system of coordinates, and dimensional data about said item; and
a controller in communication with said acquisition device, said tracking system, and said one or more projectors, wherein said controller receives said indicia from said acquisition device, selects a display based upon said indicia, and sends said display to said one or more projectors positions to project said display adjacent said item,wherein said controller is further configured to;
receive said plurality of locations and corresponding times;
compare said item coordinates to a fixed location of said display zone; and
send a start signal to said one or more projectors when said item coordinates fall within said fixed location of said display zone, said start signal configured to prompt said one or more projectors to project said display.
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Abstract
The invention includes a system for projecting a display onto an item or parcel using an acquisition device to capture indicia on each parcel, a tracking system, a controller or computer to select the display based on the indicia, and one or more display projectors. In one embodiment the display includes or connotes a handling instruction. The system in one embodiment includes a laser projection system to paint the selected display directly onto a selected exterior surface of the corresponding parcel, for multiple parcels simultaneously. The system may be configured to move each display in order follow each moving parcel so that each display remains legible to a viewer in a display zone where handling takes place.
213 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for processing one or more items, comprising:
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an acquisition device to capture indicia about an item moving along a path generally toward a display zone; one or more projectors positioned near said display zone where said item may be processed; a tracking system to capture a plurality of locations and corresponding times for said item, said tracking system comprising one or more tracking cameras, wherein each of said plurality of locations comprises item coordinates relative to an established system of coordinates, an angular orientation relative to said established system of coordinates, and dimensional data about said item; and a controller in communication with said acquisition device, said tracking system, and said one or more projectors, wherein said controller receives said indicia from said acquisition device, selects a display based upon said indicia, and sends said display to said one or more projectors positions to project said display adjacent said item, wherein said controller is further configured to; receive said plurality of locations and corresponding times; compare said item coordinates to a fixed location of said display zone; and send a start signal to said one or more projectors when said item coordinates fall within said fixed location of said display zone, said start signal configured to prompt said one or more projectors to project said display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of processing a plurality of items, comprising:
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(a) acquiring indicia about an item selected from a plurality of items moving along a path generally toward a display zone having a fixed display location relative to an established system of coordinates; (b) capturing a plurality of item locations and corresponding times for said item, wherein each of said plurality of item locations includes item coordinates and an angular orientation relative to said established system of coordinates; (c) selecting a display based upon said indicia; (d) projecting said display adjacent said item by comparing a current set of said item coordinates to said fixed display location and sending a start signal to initiate said display when said current set of item coordinates falls within said fixed display location; and (e) repeating steps (a) through (d) for a subsequent item selected from said plurality of items. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification