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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021191366-A1
Application number	US-202117195939-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 9, 2021
Priority date	Apr 23, 2019
Publication date	Jun 24, 2021
Grant date	—

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:
a container opening machine including at least one cutting tool wherein the at least one cutting tool is applied to each of a plurality of containers arriving on a scanning surface wherein the container opening machine is operated and the containers cut and opened by the container opening machine according to one or more operating parameters, wherein the plurality of containers include a first container and a second container; a control circuit coupled to the container opening machine, wherein the control circuit is configured to:
receive first scanned images of the first container from a scanning device, the first scanned images being of the contents of the interior of the first container before the first container is cut and opened, and second scanned images being of the contents of the first container after the first container is cut and opened;
based upon the comparing, determine existence of damage to the contents of the first container;
based upon an analysis of the damage, selectively determine a modification to the operating parameters of the container opening machine;
apply the modified parameters to the container opening machine, wherein the container opening machine opens the second container using the modified operating parameters.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the analysis for damage compares shapes of the items in the first container before and after the first container is opened.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein after the analysis for damage is conducted, a determination is made that there are no changes to the operating parameters of the container opening machine.

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

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the changes to the operating parameters comprise changes to one or more parameters that change of the type of cutting tool used.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the analysis for damage classifies the damage among a plurality of categories.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the analysis for damage indicates that the shapes of the items in the first container changed indicating that the cutting tool has damaged items in the first container.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein images of undamaged items are used in the analysis for damage.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the scanning surface is a conveyor belt.

10 . A method for opening a container, the method comprising:
providing a container opening machine that includes at least one cutting tool, the at least one cutting tool being one or more of a saw or a laser, wherein the at least one cutting tool is applied to each of a plurality of containers arriving on a scanning surface, the containers including a first container and a second container, wherein the container opening machine is operated and the container cut and opened by the container opening machine according to one or more operating parameters; at a control circuit, receiving first scanned images of the first container from the scanning device, the first scanned images being of the contents of the interior of the first container before the first container is cut and opened, and second scanned images being of the contents of the first container after the first container is cut and opened; at the control circuit, based upon the comparing, determining existence of damage to the contents of the first container; at the control circuit, based upon an analysis of the damage, selectively determining a modification to the operating parameters of the container opening machine; by the control circuit, applying the modified parameters to the container opening machine, wherein the container opening machine opens the second container using the modified operating parameters.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the analysis for damage compares shapes of the items in the first container before and after the first container is opened.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein after the analysis for damage is conducted, a determination is made that there are no changes to the operating parameters of the container opening machine.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the operating parameters include one or more of: the cutting depth of the tool, the location of the cut, and the shape of the cut.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the changes to the operating parameters comprise changes to one or more parameters that change of the type of cutting tool used.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the analysis for damage classifies the damage among a plurality of categories.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the analysis for damage indicates that the shapes of the items in the first container changed indicating that the cutting tool has damaged items in the first container.

17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein a database stores images of undamaged items which are used in the analysis for damage.

18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the scanning surface is a conveyor belt.

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Edwards James Benjamin
• Durkee Paul E

Classifications

• G05B19/416 Primary

  characterised by control of velocity, acceleration or deceleration (G05B19/19 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B26D5/005 Primary

  Computer numerical control means · 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