US 12,358,024 B1Granted

Multi-check in-line container inspection system

AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.

InventorsVishnuvardhan Pasumarthi, Anderson Rafael Ospino Calvo, Ahmet Goktug Dazkir, Carter Lee Brown, Ryan Harrison Pastor, Mitchell J Kepic

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Abstract

Techniques for a multi-check in-line container inspection system are provided herein. In an example, a computer system determines, during movement of a container in a scanning tunnel, first sensor data generated by a first sensor attached to a frame that forms the scanning tunnel. The movement is caused by material handling equipment. The computer system determines, during the movement of the container in the scanning tunnel, second sensor data generated by a second sensor attached to the frame. The computer system performs a first container integrity check based on the first sensor data and a second container integrity check based on the second sensor data. The computer system causes a corrective action to be initiated based on at least one of the first container integrity check or the second container integrity check indicating a container defect.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A material handling system comprising:

material handling equipment comprising a first controller and at least one of a conveyor belt or conveyor rolls, and configured to move a container;
a frame forming a scanning tunnel and mounted around a portion of the material handling equipment such that to surround at least a section of the conveyor belt or a set of the conveyor rolls;
a first sensor having a first sensor type, attached to the frame, and configured to generate first sensor data of a first sensor data type during movement of the container in the scanning tunnel, the movement caused by the material handling equipment;
a second sensor having a second sensor type different than the first sensor type, attached to the frame, and configured to generate second sensor data of a second sensor data type during the movement of the container in the scanning tunnel;
a third sensor disposed inside the scanning tunnel at a height of an upper surface of the container and configured to generate third sensor data indicating whether an item over-height is sensed;
and
a second controller configured to:
receive, during the movement of the container in the scanning tunnel, the first sensor data and the second sensor data;
perform a first container integrity check based at least in part on the first sensor data;
perform a second container integrity check based at least in part on the second sensor data, the second container integrity check being of a different type than the first container integrity check;
perform a third container integrity check based at least in part on the third sensor data, wherein the third container integrity check indicates the item over-height upon the third sensor data also indicating the item over-height;
determine an integrity of the container based at least in part on the first container integrity check, the second container integrity check, and the third container integrity check;
and
cause, based at least in part on the integrity of the container indicating a defect and by at least sending a defect indication to the first controller, a corrective action to be initiated by the material handling equipment after the container exits the scanning tunnel.

11 more elements

A system comprising:

a frame configured to form a scanning tunnel by at least surrounding a portion of a material handling equipment;
a first sensor attached to the frame and configured to generate first sensor data during movement of a container in the scanning tunnel, the movement caused by the material handling equipment;
a second sensor attached to the frame and configured to generate second sensor data during the movement of the container in the scanning tunnel;
and
a controller configured to:
receive, during the movement of the container in the scanning tunnel, the first sensor data and the second sensor data;
perform a first container integrity check based at least in part on the first sensor data, wherein the first container integrity check indicates whether a warping defect of the container exists based at least in part on distance measurements between walls of the container, wherein the distance measurements are generated based at least in part on the first sensor data;
perform a second container integrity check based at least in part on the second sensor data;
and
cause a corrective action to be initiated based at least in part on at least one of the first container integrity check or the second container integrity check indicating a container defect.

7 more elements

A method implemented by a system, the method comprising:

determining, during movement of a container in a scanning tunnel, first sensor data, the first sensor data generated by a first sensor attached to a frame that forms the scanning tunnel by at least surrounding a portion of a material handling equipment, the movement caused by the material handling equipment;
determining, during the movement of the container in the scanning tunnel, second sensor data, the second sensor data generated by a second sensor attached to the frame;
performing a first container integrity check based at least in part on the first sensor data, wherein the first container integrity check indicates whether an assembly defect of the container exists based at least in part on distance measurements between edges of the container, wherein the distance measurements are generated based at least in part on the first sensor data;
performing a second container integrity check based at least in part on the second sensor data;
and
causing a corrective action to be initiated based at least in part on at least one of the first container integrity check or the second container integrity check indicating a container defect.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.