Tool training for automated tool control systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10740994-B2
Application number	US-201715616544-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 7, 2017
Priority date	Jun 12, 2012
Publication date	Aug 11, 2020
Grant date	Aug 11, 2020

Abstract

An inventory control system and method determines an inventory condition of objects stored in the system. Embodiments include a storage container including a plurality of storage locations for storing objects; an image sensing device to capture image data of the container, including image data of the plurality of storage locations and a target area that includes an individual object storage location having less than the plurality of storage locations; a data storage device for storing the image data of the container; and a data processor. The processor receives initial image data representing an initial image of the plurality of storage locations, and image data representing an image of the target area captured subsequent to the initial image; modifies the initial image data based on the image data of the target area to generate adjusted image data; and stores the adjusted image data in the data storage device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An inventory control system comprising:
a storage container including a sheet mounted in the storage container, the sheet including recessed pockets for storing objects;
a data storage device for storing data of the recessed pockets in the sheet mounted in the storage container;
an image sensing device configured to capture image data of the recessed pockets in the sheet based on the stored data of the recessed pockets, wherein the captured image data is stored in the data storage device; and
a data processor configured to:
receive, when at least one new recessed pocket is added to the sheet, new data of the at least one new recessed pocket;
update the data of the recessed pockets stored in the data storage device to include the new data of the at least one new recessed pocket to the stored data of the recessed pockets;
control the image sensing device to capture image data of the at least one new recessed pocket in the sheet based on the new data of the at least one new recessed pocket; and
update the image data of the recessed pockets in the sheet stored in the data storage device to include the image data of the at least one new recessed pocket in the sheet.

2. The inventory control system of claim 1 , wherein the data of the recessed pockets comprises identification data for the objects to be stored in the recessed pockets, and
the new data of the at least one new recessed pocket comprises identification data for objects to be stored in the at least one new recessed pocket.

3. A method comprising:
storing, in a data storage device of an inventory control system comprising a storage container including a sheet that includes recessed pockets for storing objects, data of the recessed pockets in the sheet mounted in the storage container;
capturing, using an image sensing device, image data of the recessed pockets in the sheet based on the stored data of the recessed pockets, wherein the captured image data is stored in the data storage device;
receiving, via a data processor of the inventory control system when at least one new recessed pocket is added to the sheet, new data of the at least one new recessed pocket; and
updating, via the data processor the data of the recessed pockets stored in the data storage device to include the new data of the at least one new recessed pocket to the stored data of the recessed pockets;
controlling the image sensing device to capture image data of the at least one new recessed pocket in the sheet based on the new data of the at least one new recessed pocket; and
updating the image data of the recessed pockets in the sheet stored in the data storage device to include the image data of the at least one new recessed pocket in the sheet.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the data of the recessed pockets comprises identification data for the objects to be stored in the recessed pockets, and
the new data of the at least one new recessed pocket comprises identification data for objects to be stored in the at least one new recessed pocket.

5. The inventory control system of claim 1 , wherein the data processor is further configured to detect an object stored in one of the at least one new recessed pocket in the sheet based on at least one of the updated image data and the updated data.

6. The inventory control system of claim 1 , wherein the recessed pockets are cut into the sheet mounted in the storage container, and
wherein the received new data includes a file identifying silhouettes of cut outs of the at least one new recessed pocket in the sheet.

7. The inventory control system of claim 1 , wherein the recessed pockets in the sheet includes at least one removable recessed pocket that can be separated from a remainder of the recessed pockets in the sheet and removed from the sheet in the storage container.

8. The inventory control system of claim 7 , wherein when the at least one removable pocket is removed from the sheet, the data processor updates the data of the recessed pockets stored in the data storage and remove data of the at least one removable pocket from the stored data of the recessed pockets.

9. The method of claim 3 , further comprising detecting an object stored in one of the at least one new recessed pocket in the sheet based on at least one of the updated image data and the updated data.

10. The method of claim 3 , wherein the recessed pockets are cut into the sheet mounted in the storage container, and
wherein the received new data includes a file identifying silhouettes of cut outs of the at least one new recessed pocket in the sheet.

11. The method of claim 3 , wherein the recessed pockets in the sheet includes at least one removable recessed pocket that can be separated from a remainder of the recessed pockets in the sheet and removed from the sheet in the storage container.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein when the at least one removable pocket is removed from the sheet, the data processor update the data of the recessed pockets stored in the data storage remove data of the at least one removable pocket from the stored data of the recessed pockets.

Assignees

• Snap On Incorporated

Inventors

• Phillips Preston
• Fly David C
• Lipsey Matthew J
• Chwan Jr Joseph
• Rogers Frederick J

Classifications

• G06Q10/087 Primary

  Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders · CPC title

• G06V20/52

  Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects (recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69) · CPC title

• G07C9/00912 Primary

  for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like · CPC title

• G07C9/22

  in combination with an identity check of the pass holder · CPC title

• G07C9/28

  the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence · CPC title