Remote crane bar code system

A method for retrieving an item from a field of inventory using an overhead crane system, comprising:

• receiving an identifier for an item to be retrieved from the field of inventory;
• using the identifier to obtain, from an inventory control database, an item location, within the field of inventory, for the item to be retrieved;
• positioning a trolley of the overhead crane system above the item location to target a picker on the trolley to retrieve a target item in the item location;
• using an adjustable imaging system on an underside of the trolley to obtain an image of an identification tag attached to the target item;
• reading information identifying characteristics of the target item provided by the identification tag to confirm that the target item is the item to be retrieved;
• and
• responsive to confirmation that the target item is the item to be retrieved, using the picker to retrieve the item to be retrieved from the field of inventory;
• wherein using the imaging system carried by the trolley to obtain the image of the identification tag attached to the target item comprises:
• obtaining an image having at least a portion of the identification tag visible in the image;
• and
• aligning the identification tag within the image to obtain the image of the identification tag;
• and
• wherein aligning the identification tag within the image to obtain the image of the identification tag comprises:
• identifying at least one marking on the identification tag indicative of the position of the identification tag in the image;
• comparing the position of the at least one marking to a preferred position;
• determining a deviation of the position from the preferred position;
• and
• aligning the tag in the image by adjusting the orientation of the imaging system according to the deviation.

An overhead crane system for retrieving items from a field of inventory, comprising:

• a bridge;
• a trolley movably mounted on the bridge;
• at least one trolley motor to facilitate translation of the trolley along the bridge;
• the bridge being mounted on rails transverse to the bridge, allowing the bridge to translate fore and aft along the rails;
• at least one bridge motor to facilitate translation of the bridge along the rails;
• the trolley having a picker for vertically hoisting items from the field of inventory;
• a range finder system for locating the trolley's position along each of an x-axis and a y-axis of the field of inventory;
• an adjustable imaging system mounted to an underside of the trolley to obtain an image of an identification tag attached to an item disposed underneath the trolley;
• and
• a processor coupled to the imaging system for reading information identifying characteristics of the item provided by the identification tag;
• wherein the imaging system has:
• an adjustable lens for magnifying said image;
• an interface for displaying an item image of the item disposed underneath the trolley and adapted for receiving a location input for the identification tag attached to the item disposed underneath the trolley based on a location in the item image;
• wherein the processor uses the location input to orient the imaging system towards the identification tag and commands the adjustable lens to magnify the identification tag;
• and
• wherein the imaging system includes a first camera having a fixed magnification and a second camera having an adjustable magnification for magnifying the identification tag.

An overhead crane system for retrieving items from a field of inventory, comprising:

• a bridge;
• a trolley movably mounted on the bridge;
• at least one trolley motor to facilitate translation of the trolley along the bridge;
• the bridge being mounted on rails transverse to the bridge, allowing the bridge to translate fore and aft along the rails;
• at least one bridge motor to facilitate translation of the bridge along the rails;
• the trolley having a picker for vertically hoisting items from the field of inventory;
• a range finder system for locating the trolley's position along each of an x-axis and a y-axis of the field of inventory;
• an adjustable imaging system carried by the trolley to obtain an image of an identification tag attached to an item disposed underneath the trolley;
• and
• a processor coupled to the imaging system for reading information identifying characteristics of the item provided by the identification tag;
• wherein the imaging system has:
• an adjustable lens for magnifying said image;
• an interface for displaying an item image of the item disposed underneath the trolley and adapted for receiving a location input for the identification tag attached to the item disposed underneath the trolley based on a location in the item image;
• wherein the processor uses the location input to orient the imaging system towards the identification tag and commands the adjustable lens to magnify the identification tag;
• and
• wherein the imaging system includes a first camera having a fixed magnification and a second camera having an adjustable magnification for magnifying the identification tag.