# US 2014/0156060 A1 · Automatic container orientation systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0156060 A1 - Document ID: US20140156060A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/087,084 - Filed: 2013-11-22 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: Stork Fabricators, Inc. - Applicants: Stork Fabricators, Inc. - Inventors: Brian R. Stork; Todd Rio - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140156060A1 ## CPC - B65B 35/56: Orientating, i.e. changing the attitude of, articles, e.g. of non-uniform cross-section - B65B 35/58: Turning articles by positively-acting means, e.g. to present labelled portions in uppermost position - B65B 57/10: responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of articles or materials to be packaged - B65G 47/244: by turning them about an axis substantially perpendicular to the conveying plane - G05B 19/00: Program-control systems - G06T 7/001: {using an image reference approach} - B65B 53/00: Shrinking wrappers, containers, or container covers during or after packaging - B65B 2220/16: Packaging contents into primary and secondary packaging - G05B 2219/37555: Camera detects orientation, position workpiece, points of workpiece - G05B 2219/42222: Compare reflected image from object with reference image, adjust object - G05B 2219/45048: Packaging - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of automatic container orientation systems. Also disclosed are methods for automatically orienting containers. In an exemplary embodiment, a system for automatically orienting containers generally includes one or more cameras, a controller, and an orientation unit. The one or more cameras are configured to obtain data relating to an orientation of at least one container to be included in a package. The controller is in communication with the one or more cameras for receiving the data and is configured to use the data to determine an amount of rotation needed for the at least one container to orient the at least one container in a desired final orientation. The orientation unit is configured to rotate the at least one container by the determined amount of rotation to thereby orient the at least one container in the desired final orientation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for automatically orienting containers, the system comprising: one or more cameras configured to obtain data relating to an orientation of at least one container to be included in a package; a controller in communication with the one or more cameras for receiving the data, the controller configured to use the data to determine an amount of rotation needed for the at least one container to orient the at least one container in a desired final orientation; and an orientation unit configured to rotate the at least one container by the determined amount of rotation to thereby orient the at least one container in the desired final orientation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one container comprises multiple containers to be included together in a package. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the multiple containers comprise at least three containers to be included together in a package. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more cameras are configured to obtain data relating to an orientation of one or more indicators on each container. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to use the data relating to the orientation of the one or more indicators on each of the containers to determine an amount of rotation needed for each of the containers so that the one or more indicators on each of the containers are aligned and facing in a same direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the orientation unit comprises a rotating device for each of the containers to be packaged together, such that each of the containers can be rotated individually. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, further comprising: a feed station; a packaging station; and a conveyor system configured to move the containers from the feed station to the one or more cameras, from the one or more cameras to the orientation unit, and from the orientation unit to the packaging station; wherein the feed station is configured to receive the containers from a container source and place the containers on the conveyor system, and the packaging station is configured to package the containers while maintaining the desired final orientation of each of the containers. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, further comprising an image processor in communication with the one or more cameras and the controller, the image processor configured to compare image data captured by the one or more cameras with a library of image data relating to the orientation of one of the containers to determine an initial orientation of each of the containers. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the library of image data comprises a series of multiple container sector images, each sector image representing a view of one of the containers taken from a different segment of a circumference of the container, the image processor configured to communicate a sector image number and a degree offset amount within the sector image to the controller for each of the containers, thereby indicating an amount of rotation necessary to orient each of the containers in the desired final orientation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the orientation unit includes wheels for rotating the containers and a carriage supporting the wheels, the carriage configured to move the wheels into contact with the containers to thereby orient each of the containers in the desired final orientation. ### Claim 11 A method for automatically orienting containers in a desired final orientation for packaging, the method comprising: obtaining data relating to an orientation of at least one container to be included in a package; transferring the data to a controller and determining an amount of rotation for the at least one container needed to orient the at least one container in a desired final orientation; and rotating the at least one container by the determined amount of rotation to thereby orient the at least one container in the desired final orientation. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one container comprises multiple containers to be included together in a package. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the multiple containers comprise at least three containers to be included together in a package. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein: obtaining data includes obtaining data relating to an orientation of one or more indicators on each of the containers; determining an amount of rotation includes determining an amount of rotation for each of the containers needed to orient the one or more indicators on each of the containers so that the one or more indicators on each of the containers are aligned and facing in a same direction; and rotating the at least one container includes rotating each of the containers by the determined amount of rotation for each of the containers to thereby align the one or more indicators on each of the containers so that the one or more indicators on each of the containers are facing in the same direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: feeding the containers from a container source to a conveyor; moving the containers on the conveyor to a camera to obtain the data relating to the orientation of each of the containers; moving the containers from the camera to an orientation unit to rotate each of the containers; and packaging the containers while maintaining each of the containers in the desired final orientation. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein obtaining data includes receiving image data captured by one or more cameras relating to the orientation of the containers, the method further comprising: comparing the image data captured by the one or more cameras with a library of image data relating to the orientation of one of the containers, the library of image data comprising a series of multiple container sector images, each sector image representing a view of one of the containers taken from a different segment of a circumference of the container; determining an initial orientation of each of the containers; and communicating a sector image number and a degree offset amount within the sector image to the controller for each of the containers, thereby indicating an amount of rotation necessary to orient each of the containers in the desired final orientation. ### Claim 17 A system for automatically orienting containers in a desired final orientation for packaging, the system comprising: a conveyor system; a feed station configured to receive at least one container from a container source and place the at least one container on the conveyor system; and an orientation unit configured to obtain data relating to an orientation of the at least one container, determine an amount of rotation needed for the at least one container to orient the at least one container in a desired final orientation, and rotate the at least one container by the amount of rotation determined for the at least one container to thereby orient the at least one container in the desired final orientation; and a packaging station configured to package the at least one container while maintaining the desired final orientation of the at least one container; wherein the conveyor system is configured to move the at least one container from the feed station to the orientation unit, and from the orientation unit to the packaging station. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the feed station includes at least one screw feed controlled by a servomotor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the conveyor system includes at least two conveyor belts and at least one lug, the at least two conveyor belts and at least one lug configured to contact the at least one container to move the at least one container from the feed station to the orientation unit, and from the orientation unit to the packaging station. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the packaging station is configured to package the at least one container by shrink wrapping a film around at least a portion of the at least one container.