US 2010/0145504 A1Published application

Address label re-work station

AssigneeSiemens Industry, Inc.

InventorsDale E. Redford, Michael D. Carpenter, James M. Pippin

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An address label rework station according to the invention includes a conveyor which can simultaneously transport a series of spaced parcels along a conveyor path in a substantially horizontal stream. The station includes a camera, A work space, a microphone is usable by an operator in the work space, a targeting device directing a human operator in the work space. Station also includes a sensor system, a labeler and a printer to print shipping information. The station also includes a computer configured to receive and recognize image and voice data, generate a label with a recognized shipping address, and control the conveyer to apply a new label to the parcel by the labeler at the position selected using the targeting device.

Claims12

Dependent claims

An address label rework station, comprising:

a conveyor which can simultaneously transport a series of spaced parcels along a conveyor path in a substantially horizontal stream;
a camera positioned to capture an image of a face of each parcel having an original address label thereon;
a work space for a human operator to manually position parcels on the conveyor;
a microphone usable by an operator in the work space;
a targeting device including an indicator directed to a location above the conveyor, which device directs a human operator in the work space that an existing label on a parcel be positioned on the conveyor so that the indicator targets the existing label;
a sensor system which detects the position of a parcel on the conveyor;
a labeler disposed to apply a label to a parcel on the conveyor at the position indicated by the targeting device;
a printer positioned to print shipping information on a label to be applied by the labeler;
a computer configured to receive image data from the camera and receive voice data from the microphone;
apply optical character resolution program logic to the image data;
apply voice recognition program logic to the voice data;
determine a shipping address from one or both of the image data and the voice data;
operate the printer to apply shipping information including the shipping address to a new label applied to the parcel by the labeler;
and
receive a sensor signal from the sensor system and operate the conveyor so that a parcel is conveyed past the targeting system and then past the labeler at a speed which allows application of the new label to the parcel by the labeler at the position selected using the targeting system.

12 more elements

A process for relabeling a parcel, comprising:

(a) manually placing a series of spaced parcels on a conveyor with an original address label of each parcel facing an image lift camera;
(b) transporting the series of spaced parcels along a conveyor path of the conveyor in a substantially horizontal stream;
(c) capturing an image of a face of each parcel having an original address label thereon with the camera;
(d) receiving voice data with a microphone from a human operator reading the original address label;
(e) determining a destination shipping address for each parcel with a computer programmed to process the image data with optical character resolution program logic and process the voice data with voice recognition program logic;
(f) manually repositioning each parcel as it passes on the conveyor beneath a targeting device including an indicator directed toward the upper surface of the conveyor, wherein the parcel is repositioned so that the indicator is aligned with the location of the original destination label and is offset from a leading edge of the parcel by a predetermined distance;
(g) transporting each parcel further with the conveyor while tracking with a sensor system the position of a leading edge of the parcel;
(h) printing the shipping information on a new label which information includes destination information based on one or both of the voice data and the imaging data;
(i) determining with a computer which may be the same or different from the computer used in step (e) when the position of the original label is in a position for relabeling with an automatic labeler positioned to apply a label to a parcel on the conveyor;
and
(j) operating the automatic labeler disposed to apply the new label to each parcel on the conveyor at the position of the original label.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/630,158Filed 3 Dec 2009
Priority: 5 Dec 2008
Published: 10 Jun 2010
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

B07C 3/14
Apparatus characterised by the means used for detection ofthe destination: using light-responsive detecting means
B07C 3/18
Sorting according to destination: devices or arrangements for indicating destination, e.g. by code marks
B07C 7/005
Sorting by hand only e.g. of mail: computer assisted manual sorting, e.g. for mail
G06V 10/987
Detection or correction of errors, e.g. by rescanning the pattern or by human intervention; Evaluation of the quality of the acquired patterns:…