Counting machine and methods of counting items
AssigneeAvery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC
InventorsCalvin Fung, Dominic Tse
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In some embodiments, a counting machine may include a counting area configured to count a plurality of items. The counting area may include a fixed pressure plate, a movable pressure plate, and one or more sensors configured to measure the distance between the fixed pressure plate and the movable pressure plate, and a processor configured to determine the number of items in the counting area by comparing a sampled thickness value to the thickness of the items located between the fixed pressure plate and the movable pressure plate.
Claims21
A counting machine comprising:
- a counting area configured to count a plurality of items, the counting area comprising:
- a fixed pressure plate;
- a pressure sensor assembly;
- and
- a movable pressure plate;
- one or more sensors configured to measure the distance between the fixed pressure plate and the movable pressure plate to measure the thickness of the plurality of items;
- a motor configured to actuate the movable pressure plate to apply a pre-defined force to the plurality of items;
- and
- a processor configured to determine the number of items in the counting area by:
- using the motor, moving the movable pressure plate toward the plurality of items until the pressure sensor assembly indicates that the pre-defined force has been reached;
- determining the number of items by comparing a sampled thickness value to the thickness of the items located between the fixed pressure plate and the movable pressure plate, wherein the counting machine is configured to automatically request recalibration of the sampled thickness value at a predetermined time interval;
- and
- retracting the movable pressure plate away from the plurality of items after the number of items has been determined.
A method of counting items using a counting machine having a counting area, one or more sensors configured to measure distance, a motor configured to actuate the movable pressure plate, and a processor, the counting area including a fixed pressure plate, a pressure sensor assembly, and a movable pressure plate, the method comprising:
- receiving a plurality of items between the fixed pressure plate and the movable pressure plate in the counting area of the counting machine,
- using the processor, determining the number of items in the counting area by:
- using the motor, moving the movable pressure plate toward the plurality of items until the pressure sensor assembly indicates that the pre-defined force has been reached;
- determining the number of items by comparing a sampled thickness value to the thickness of the items located between the fixed pressure plate and the movable pressure plate, wherein the counting machine is configured to automatically request recalibration of the sampled thickness value at a predetermined time interval;
- and
- retracting the movable pressure plate away from the plurality of items after the number of items has been determined.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.