Item singulation systems using vision systems to transfer columns of items to downstream conveyors
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorsRajeev Dwivedi, Mohit Malik, Vivek S. Narayanan, Shahid Azad, Ganesh Krishnamoorthy
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Abstract
Item singulation systems and methods may include an input conveyor, a vision system, and an output conveyor that receives items from the input conveyor. The vision system may determine individual columns of items from among a plurality of items on the input conveyor. Operations of the input conveyor and output conveyor may be controlled substantially as a pull system to transfer individual columns of items to the output conveyor, such that singulated items can be transferred by the output conveyor to downstream processes.
Claims20
An item singulation system, comprising:
- an input conveyor configured to receive a plurality of items;
- a vision system configured to determine a column of items on the input conveyor;
- an output conveyor configured to receive the column of items from the input conveyor;
- and
- a controller in communication with the input conveyor, the vision system, and the output conveyor, the controller configured to at least:
- receive imaging data from the vision system;
- determine a first leading edge of a first item of the plurality of items relative to a direction of movement of the input conveyor, the plurality of items being represented within the imaging data;
- responsive to determining the first leading edge of the first item, determine a first trailing edge of a second item of the plurality of items relative to the direction of movement of the input conveyor;
- determine the column of items on the input conveyor based at least in part on the first leading edge of the first item and the first trailing edge of the second item;
- and
- instruct actuations of the input conveyor and the output conveyor to transfer the column of items from the input conveyor to the output conveyor.
A system, comprising:
- a first conveyor configured to receive at least one item;
- a vision system configured to determine a column of items on the first conveyor;
- a second conveyor configured to receive the column of items from the first conveyor;
- and
- a controller configured to at least:
- receive imaging data from the vision system;
- determine a plurality of edges associated with at least one item represented within the imaging data;
- determine the column of items on the first conveyor based at least in part on the plurality of edges associated with the at least one item;
- and
- instruct transfer of the column of items from the first conveyor to the second conveyor.
A computer-implemented method, comprising:
- receiving, by a controller, imaging data from a vision system associated with a first conveyor;
- determining, by the controller, a plurality of edges associated with at least one item on the first conveyor represented within the imaging data;
- determining, by the controller, a column of items on the first conveyor based at least in part on the plurality of edges associated with the at least one item;
- and
- causing transfer, by the controller, of the column of items from the first conveyor to a second conveyor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.