System and method for adjusting the opening of containers to avoid damage to contents

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12070870-B2
Application number	US-202318371547-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 22, 2023
Priority date	Apr 23, 2019
Publication date	Aug 27, 2024
Grant date	Aug 27, 2024

Abstract

First scanned images of the first container are received from a scanning device that show the contents of the interior of the first container before the first container is cut and opened. Second scanned images that are of the contents of the first container after the first container is cut and opened are also received. The images are analyzed and, based upon the analysis, selective modifications to the operating parameters of the container opening machine are determined and made.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for opening a container, the system comprising:
an automated cutting tool configured to cut or open each of a plurality of containers according to one or more operating parameters; and
a control circuit coupled to the automated cutting tool, wherein the control circuit is configured to:
receive sensed information regarding contents of a first container after the first container is opened or cut by the automated cutting tool;
analyze the sensed information and based upon the analyzing, determining a modification to the one or more operating parameters of the automated cutting tool; and

apply the modified one or more operating parameters to the automated cutting tool, wherein the automated cutting tool opens or cuts a second container using the modified one or more operating parameters.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensed information comprises images.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the analyzing comprises determining damage to the contents of the first container.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein determining the damage compares shapes of the contents in the first container before and after the first container is opened or cut.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein after determining the damage is conducted, a determination is made that there are no changes to the one or more operating parameters of the automated cutting tool.

6. The system of claim 3 , wherein determining the damage classifies the damage among a plurality of categories.

7. The system of claim 3 , wherein determining the damage indicates that shapes of the contents in the first container changed indicating that the automated cutting tool has damaged contents in the first container.

8. The system of claim 3 , wherein images of undamaged items are used in determining the damage.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more operating parameters include one or more of: a cutting depth of the automated cutting tool, a location of a cut, and a shape of a cut.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the modification to the one or more operating parameters comprises changes to one or more parameters that change a type of cutting tool used.

11. A method for opening a container, the method comprising:
providing an automated cutting tool configured to cut or open each of a plurality of containers according to one or more operating parameters;
at a control circuit:
receiving sensed information regarding contents of a first container after the first container is opened or cut by the automated cutting tool;
analyzing the sensed information and based upon the analyzing, determining a modification to the one or more operating parameters of the automated cutting tool; and

applying the modified one or more operating parameters to the automated cutting tool, wherein the automated cutting tool opens or cuts a second container using the modified one or more operating parameters.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the sensed information comprise images.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the analyzing comprises determining damage to the contents of the first container.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein determining the damage compares shapes of the contents in the first container is opened or cut.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein after determining the damage is conducted, a determination is made that there are no changes to the one or more operating parameters of the automated cutting tool.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein determining the damage classifies the damage among a plurality of categories.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein determining the damage indicates that shapes of the contents in the first container changed indicating that the automated cutting tool has damaged contents in the first container.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein images of undamaged items are used in determining the damage.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more operating parameters include one or more of: a cutting depth of the automated cutting tool, a location of a cut, and a shape of a cut.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the modification to the one or more operating parameters comprises changes to one or more parameters that change a type of cutting tool used.

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Edwards James Benjamin
• Durkee Paul E

Classifications

• G06Q10/08

  Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management · CPC title

• G06V10/75

  Organisation of the matching processes, e.g. simultaneous or sequential comparisons of image or video features; Coarse-fine approaches, e.g. multi-scale approaches; using context analysis; Selection of dictionaries · CPC title

• G06F18/22

  Matching criteria, e.g. proximity measures · CPC title

• B26D2005/002

  Performing a pattern matching operation · CPC title

• B65B69/0008

  Opening and emptying bags · CPC title