System and method for counting spatially arranged, moving markers
AssigneeHeavy Kinematic Machines Sp. Zo. O.
InventorsMateusz Semegen, Rafal Kasperowicz, Maciej Rot, Kacper Ostrowski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for counting spatially arranged, moving markers, the markers being arranged to move along a movement axis parallel to a sensors axis of sensors for detecting the markers during movement. The number of sensors is lower than the number of markers in order to decrease the cost of the sensors system. The present system supports stacks having objects, associated with the markers, of different sizes (such as weight plates of increasing height) or different weights.
Claims13
A method for counting spatially arranged, moving markers, wherein said markers are arranged to move along a movement axis being parallel to a sensors axis of sensors configured to detect said markers during movement, whereas there are fewer sensors than markers,
- the method comprising the steps of:
- arranging said sensors, in an initial setup, such that at least two of the sensors are arranged such that all the markers precede them taking into account an axis of movement of a direction of an engaging movement;
- providing a computer implemented method comprising the steps of:
- providing information on a number of said markers;
- providing information on a sequence of said sensors;
- providing information on the initial setup by specifying how many markers are preceding and following each sensor taking into account the axis of movement and the direction of the engaging movement;
- determining a sensor ST having 0 following markers and a sensor ST-1 following the ST sensor in the direction of the engaging movement;
- awaiting detection of a marker of said markers by the sensor ST-1;
- determining a sensor SB closest to a starting sensor taking into account said direction of the engaging movement and at the same time having more than 0 detected markers;
- verifying whether the SB sensor is the starting sensor and in case it is not, determining a number of moved markers as a sum of detected markers and following markers for the SB;
- in the case the verifying step is positive, setting a variable H as a sum of predefined heights of objects associated with said markers preceding the starting sensor based on the number of markers preceding the starting sensor as well as the number of markers counted by the starting sensor;
- determining a sensor STT as the closest sensor following ST−H;
- and
- awaiting detection of a marker of said markers by the sensor STT.
A system for counting spatially arranged, moving markers, wherein said markers are arranged to move along a movement axis being parallel to a sensors axis of sensors configured to detect said markers during movement, whereas there are fewer sensors than markers,
- the system comprising:
- a memory storing a configuration that comprises:
- information on a number of said markers;
- information on a sequence of said sensors;
- information on an initial setup of the system by specifying how many markers are preceding and following each sensor taking into account an axis of movement and a direction of an engaging movement;
- wherein at least two of the sensors are arranged in said initial setup, such that all the markers precede them taking into account the axis of movement and the direction of the engaging movement;
- a controller configured to execute the steps of:
- determining a sensor ST having 0 following markers and a sensor ST-1 following the ST sensor in the direction of the engaging movement;
- awaiting detection of a marker of said markers by the sensor ST-1;
- determining a sensor SB closest to a starting sensor taking into account said direction of an engaging movement and at the same time having more than 0 detected markers;
- verifying whether the SB sensor is the starting sensor and in case it is not, determining a number of moved markers as a sum of detected markers and following markers for the SB;
- in the case the verifying step is positive, setting a variable H as a sum of predefined heights of objects associated with said markers preceding the starting sensor based on the number of markers preceding the starting sensor as well as the number of markers counted by the starting sensor;
- determining a sensor STT as the closest sensor following ST−H;
- and
- awaiting detection of a marker of said markers by the sensor STT.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.