System, method, and computer readable medium for determining the weight of items in non-singulated and non-spaced arrangements on a conveyor system

A weight determining method for use with singulated, non-singulated, spaced, and non-spaced arrangement of items on a conveyor system, said method comprising the steps of:

• (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 arrangement 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;
• wherein said one or more load cells is a roller load cell, a conveyor load cell, or a conveyor belt load cell.

A non-transitory computer readable medium for use with:

• 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 arrangement 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;
• wherein at least one of said load cells of said array is a roller load cell, a conveyor load cell, or a conveyor belt load cell.