公开(公告)号：US20200094288A1

公开(公告)日：2020-03-26

申请号：US16578689

申请日：2019-09-23

Applicant: United States Postal Service

Inventor： George COUPAR ,  Jeffrey Adin FOX ,  James WHIPPLE ,  Gabriel DIFURIO

IPC: B07C3/14 ,  B07C3/12 ,  B65B57/12 ,  B65G43/08

Abstract: A system and method for enhanced monitoring and sorting of delivery items, such as packages, which are moved and sorted via a delivery service conveyor device. Conventional systems may employ photocells, which detect interrupted light beams, to identify packages or delivery items along a conveyor path. The present system and method enhances photocell function by adding image detection and analysis to the mail path; and further by modifying the photocell signals to the sorter/conveyor control. The present sensing system is located in the same area on the transport as the photocell, and uses a camera to capture an image of the mail path in the photocell area. The system and method then analyzes a package image to formulate a more accurate item detection signal, based on photocell data and image data, for input to the sorter/conveyor control system.

公开(公告)号：US20240181499A1

公开(公告)日：2024-06-06

申请号：US18440023

申请日：2024-02-13

Applicant: UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

Inventor： George COUPAR ,  Jeffrey A. FOX ,  James WHIPPLE ,  Gabriel DIFURIO

IPC: B07C3/14 ,  B07C3/12 ,  B65B57/12 ,  B65G43/08

CPC classification number: B07C3/14 ,  B07C3/12 ,  B65B57/12 ,  B65G43/08 ,  B65G2201/0285 ,  B65G2203/0208 ,  B65G2203/041 ,  B65G2203/044

Abstract: A system and method for detecting delivery items includes a hardware processor that is operably connected to a light detector and a camera positioned at a sensing location along a moving surface that moves a delivery item. The processor may be configured to perform operations that include receiving a light status signal from the light detector, the light status signal having a first state when a light beam directed across the moving surface is detected at the light detector, which indicates absence of the delivery item, and a second state when the light beam is not detected at the light detector, which indicates presence of the delivery item, receiving image data from the camera, which includes images at the sensing location, and modifying the light status signal based on the image data when the light status signal and the image data disagree on the number of delivery items.

公开(公告)号：US20230211381A1

公开(公告)日：2023-07-06

申请号：US18182680

申请日：2023-03-13

Applicant: UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

Inventor： George COUPAR ,  Jeffrey A. FOX ,  James WHIPPLE ,  Gabriel DIFURIO

IPC: B07C3/14 ,  B65G43/08

CPC classification number: B07C3/14 ,  B65G43/08 ,  B65G2203/041 ,  B65G2203/044 ,  B65G2201/0285

Abstract: A system and method for enhanced monitoring and sorting of delivery items, such as packages, which are moved and sorted via a delivery service conveyor device. Conventional systems may employ photocells, which detect interrupted light beams, to identify packages or delivery items along a conveyor path. The present system and method enhances photocell function by adding image detection and analysis to the mail path; and further by modifying the photocell signals to the sorter/conveyor control. The present sensing system is located in the same area on the transport as the photocell, and uses a camera to capture an image of the mail path in the photocell area. The system and method then analyze a package image to formulate a more accurate item detection signal, based on photocell data and image data, for input to the sorter/conveyor control system.