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US 10,955,826 B2Granted
System and method for adjusting the opening of containers to avoid damage to contents
AssigneeWalmart Apollo, LLC
InventorsJames Benjamin Edwards, Paul E. Durkee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
First scanned images of the first container are received from a scanning device that show the contents of the interior of the first container before the first container is cut and opened. Second scanned images that are of the contents of the first container after the first container is cut and opened are also received. The images are analyzed and, based upon the analysis, selective modifications to the operating parameters of the container opening machine are determined and made.
Claims18
A system for opening a container, the system comprising:
- a scanning surface;
- a plurality of containers that arrive and are sequentially placed on the scanning surface, the plurality of containers including a first container and a second container;
- a scanning device;
- a database;
- a container opening machine including at least one cutting tool, the at least one cutting tool being one or more of a saw or a laser, wherein the at least one cutting tool is applied to each of the plurality of containers arriving on the scanning surface, and wherein the container opening machine is operated and a container is cut and opened by the container opening machine according to one or more operating parameters;
- and
- a control circuit coupled to the database, the scanning device, and the container opening machine, wherein the control circuit is configured to:
- receive first scanned images of the first container from the scanning device, the first scanned images being of one or more contents-inside of the first container before the first container is cut and opened, and second scanned images being of the one or more contents of the first container after the first container is cut and opened;
- comparing the first scanned images and the second scanned images;
- based upon the comparing, determine an existence of damage to the one or more contents of the first container;
- based upon an analysis of the damage, selectively determine a modification to the one or more operating parameters of the container opening machine;
- and
- apply the modified one or more operating parameters to the container opening machine, wherein the container opening machine opens the second container using the modified one or more operating parameters.
10 more elements
A method for opening a container, the method comprising:
- providing a scanning surface, and a plurality of containers that arrive and are sequentially placed on the scanning surface, the plurality of containers including a first container and a second container;
- providing a scanning device;
- providing a database;
- providing a container opening machine that includes at least one cutting tool, the at least one cutting tool being one or more of a saw or a laser, wherein the at least one cutting tool is applied to each of the plurality of containers arriving on the scanning surface, and wherein the container opening machine is operated and a container is cut and opened by the container opening machine according to one or more operating parameters;
- at a control circuit, receiving first scanned images of the first container from the scanning device, the first scanned images being of one or more contents inside of the first container before the first container is cut and opened, and second scanned images being of the one or more contents of the first container after the first container is cut and opened;
- at the control circuit, comparing the first scanned images and the second scanned images;
- at the control circuit, based upon the comparing, determining an existence of damage to the one or more contents of the first container;
- at the control circuit, based upon an analysis of the damage, selectively determining a modification to the one or more operating parameters of the container opening machine;
- and
- by the control circuit, applying the modified one or more operating parameters to the container opening machine, wherein the container opening machine opens the second container using the modified one or more operating parameters.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.