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.