Stacked-package detection system
AssigneeLaitram, L.L.C.
InventorMatthew L. Fourney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A stacked-package detection system for a matrix sorter detects stacked packages by comparing weight or dimension measurements on primary sorters from those measurements on secondary sorters. Weight or dimension increases for a package on a secondary sorter indicate a stack of packages. A recirculation system diverts packages identified on the secondary sorters as stacked packages back into bulk flow to be reprocessed by the primary or secondary sorters.
Claims13
A sorting system comprising:
- one or more primary sorters, each including a primary identification and sizing system reading identification marked on packages and measuring package sizes and sorting the packages to a plurality of primary destinations according to the identification;
- one or more secondary sorters, each including a secondary identification and sizing system reading identification marked on the packages and measuring package sizes and sorting the packages to a plurality of secondary destinations according to the identification;
- a primary infeed conveyor line supplying packages to be sorted to the one or more primary sorters;
- one or more secondary infeed conveyor lines, each supplying packages to be sorted to a corresponding one of the one or more secondary sorters;
- wherein at least some of the primary destinations of each of the one or more primary sorters are the one or more secondary infeed conveyor lines;
- a controller comparing the sizes measured by the primary identification and sizing system for each package to the sizes measured by the secondary identification and sizing system.
A method for sorting packages in a matrix sorter having one or more primary sorters each feeding packages to one or more secondary sorters, the method comprising:
- singulating packages on one or more primary sorters;
- scanning identifications marked on the singulated packages conveyed on the one or more primary sorters;
- measuring the sizes of the singulated packages conveyed on the one or more primary sorters;
- associating the sizes of the packages with the identifications;
- assigning a destination to each of the packages based on its identification, wherein some of the destinations are along one or more secondary sorters;
- conveying the packages assigned destinations along the one or more secondary sorters to the one or more secondary sorters;
- singulating the packages on the one or more secondary sorters;
- scanning identifications marked on the singulated packages conveyed on the one or more secondary sorters;
- measuring the sizes of the singulated packages conveyed on the one or more secondary sorters;
- comparing the sizes of the packages as measured on the one or more secondary sorters with the sizes of the packages on the one or more primary sorters having the same identifications;
- identifying packages whose sizes have changed from the one or more primary sorters to the one or more secondary sorters by more than a predefined amount.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.