Package information management system and package information management method
The cargo information management system uses a fixed camera on a truck berth to detect and read identification codes on pallets and cargo, addressing the challenge of accurate information acquisition for trucks entering or leaving a warehouse, enhancing transportation efficiency.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- UPR CORP
- Filing Date
- 2025-03-26
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-04
Smart Images
Figure 0007870103000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a luggage information management technology for managing luggage information of luggage loaded on the cargo bed of a truck.
Background Art
[0002] As a technology for managing luggage in a warehouse, a method has been proposed for managing the installation locations of luggage and pallets in the warehouse by reading identification codes attached to the luggage and pallets. Recently, technologies have been proposed for reducing the load of inspections and inventory operations of luggage in the warehouse by using cameras mounted on transport vehicles or drones moving inside the warehouse to acquire image information of the luggage and pallets in the warehouse.
[0003] For example, in Patent Documents 1 and 2, a pallet detection system using a robot or drone equipped with a camera for photographing an image of luggage in a warehouse has been proposed. Information on the types and quantities of luggage can be obtained by reading barcodes attached to the luggage and shelves with a camera mounted on the robot or drone.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0004]
Patent Document 1
Patent Document 2
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0005] However, the barcode reading technology described above, which reads barcodes on packages and pallets, requires acquiring images of the packages and pallets from a relatively close distance and from the front. Therefore, when inspecting packages and pallets placed on the back of a truck, it may not be possible to accurately detect the packages or pallets. When trucks loaded with packages enter or leave a warehouse, there is a need for technology that can quickly and accurately obtain information about the packages and pallets in a simpler way compared to packages stored in a warehouse.
[0006] This invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a cargo information management system that can quickly and accurately grasp information about cargo and pallets installed on a cargo bed in a simpler way. [Means for solving the problem]
[0007] To solve the problems described above, the present invention provides a cargo information management system for managing cargo information of cargo placed on pallets loaded on the bed of a truck, comprising: an imaging device installed at a predetermined position on a truck berth that acquires first image information including images of the pallet and the cargo; a pallet detection unit that detects the pallet from the first image information; a pallet information acquisition unit that acquires pallet information assigned to the pallet; a cargo information acquisition unit that acquires cargo information assigned to the cargo; and a cargo information creation unit that creates cargo management information for each pallet that associates the pallet information and the cargo information, wherein the imaging device detects a region containing the pallet information and the cargo information for each pallet according to the position of the pallet in the first image information, and acquires second image information containing the pallet information and the cargo information for each pallet by expanding the region, the pallet information acquisition unit acquires the pallet information in the second image information, and the cargo information acquisition unit detects the position of the cargo information in the second image information and acquires the cargo information.
[0008] To solve the problems described above, the present invention provides a cargo information management method for a cargo information management system that manages cargo information of cargo placed on pallets loaded on the cargo bed of a truck, comprising: an image information acquisition step in which an imaging device is installed at a predetermined position on a truck berth and acquires first image information including images of the pallet and the cargo; a pallet detection step in which a cargo information management device detects the pallet from the first image information; a pallet information acquisition step in which pallet information is assigned to the pallet; a cargo information acquisition step in which cargo information is assigned to the cargo; and a cargo information creation step in which cargo management information is created for each pallet, associating the pallet information and the cargo information, wherein the imaging device detects an area containing the pallet information and the cargo information for each pallet according to the position of the pallet in the first image information, and acquires second image information containing the pallet information and the cargo information for each pallet by expanding the area; and the cargo information management device acquires the pallet information in the second image information, detects the position of the cargo information in the second image information, and acquires the cargo information. [Effects of the Invention]
[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cargo information management system that can quickly and accurately grasp information about cargo and pallets installed on a cargo bed in a simpler way. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows an example of a system configuration equipped with a luggage information management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows an example of a functional block of a luggage information management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of package information management in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4]Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the acquisition of cargo information and pallet information in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows an example of the operation flow of the luggage status management method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0011] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present invention can be implemented in various embodiments and is not limited to the embodiments of the invention described below.
[0012] <Configuration of the luggage information management system> Figure 1 shows an example of a system configuration equipped with a cargo information management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the system shown in Figure 1, a pallet 3 on which cargo 2 is placed is loaded onto the cargo bed 1 of a transport vehicle (wing truck). The system consists of a fixed camera 10 that acquires image information of the cargo bed 1 and the cargo 2 placed on the pallet 3, and a cargo information management device 20 that manages cargo information of the cargo 2 on the cargo bed 1 using the acquired image information. An identification code 4 is assigned to the cargo 2 placed on the pallet 3, and cargo information is acquired by reading this identification code 4. Similarly, an identification code is assigned to the pallet 3, and pallet information is acquired by reading the identification code of the pallet 3.
[0013] In this embodiment, a fixed camera 10 installed on the truck berth is used to capture an image of the loading platform 1 on which pallets 3 with cargo 2 placed on them are loaded, with the left and right wings of the transport vehicle (wing truck) open. The detection results of the cargo 2 and pallet 3 regions in the captured image information are used to acquire cargo information and pallet information for cargo 2 on the loading platform 1. In this embodiment, the acquired pallet information for pallet 3 and the cargo information for cargo 2 placed on pallet 3 are associated and managed for this purpose.
[0014] In this embodiment, the cargo information management device 20 uses image information acquired by a fixed camera 10 installed on the truck berth to easily and accurately grasp the pallet information of the pallet 3 and the cargo information of the cargo 2 placed on the pallet 3.
[0015] In this embodiment, the cargo information management device 20 detects the pallet 3 on which the cargo 2 loaded on the loading platform 1 is placed, and acquires pallet information and cargo information of the cargo 2 placed on the pallet 3 according to the detection position of the detected pallet 3. By reading the identification code attached to the pallet 3 according to the detection position of the detected pallet 3, the device acquires pallet information, and by reading the identification code attached to the cargo 2 placed on the pallet 3, it acquires cargo information, thereby accurately understanding the relationship between the pallet information of the pallet 3 and the cargo information of the cargo 2 placed on the pallet 3.
[0016] According to this embodiment, when a truck loaded with goods enters or leaves the warehouse, information about the goods and pallets can be accurately and quickly grasped in a simpler way, thereby preventing misdeliveries and non-deliveries of goods and improving the overall efficiency of goods transportation operations.
[0017] <Configuration of the luggage information management device> Figure 2 shows an example of the functional blocks of a cargo information management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The cargo information management device 20 includes a central processing unit 21 that uses the detection results of the areas of cargo 2 and pallet 3 in image information acquired by a fixed camera 10 installed on a truck berth to acquire cargo information of cargo 2 placed on pallet 3 according to the detected position of pallet 3, and creates cargo information by associating the pallet information of pallet 3 with the cargo information of cargo 2 placed on pallet 3; a storage unit 22 for storing various information such as captured image information and created cargo information; an input unit 23 for inputting information into the cargo information management device; a display unit 24 for displaying the status of cargo information creation; and a wireless unit 25 for sending and receiving information to and from the fixed camera 10.
[0018] The central processing unit 21 functions as a pallet detection unit 21-1 that detects the area of the pallet 3 on the loading platform 1 from the image information acquired by the fixed camera 10 installed on the truck bar, a pallet information acquisition unit 21-2 that acquires the pallet information of the pallet 3 from the image information acquired by the fixed camera 10, a luggage information acquisition unit 21-3 that acquires the luggage information of the luggage 2 from the image information acquired by the fixed camera 10, and a luggage information creation unit 21-4 that creates luggage information associating the acquired luggage information and pallet information.
[0019] The pallet detection unit 21-1 of the luggage information management device 20 detects the area of the pallet 3 from the image information acquired by the fixed camera 10. The luggage information acquisition unit 21-3 acquires the luggage information of the luggage 2 placed on the pallet 3 for each pallet according to the detection position of the pallet 3 detected by the pallet detection unit 21-1.
[0020] In the storage unit 22, the acquired image information of the luggage 2 and the pallet 3 and the luggage information associating the created information of the luggage 2 and the pallet 3 are stored. Further, the image information of the luggage 2 and the image information of the pallet 3 are stored in the storage unit 22 in advance, and the areas of the luggage 2 and the pallet 3 are detected from the image information acquired by the fixed camera 10 using these information.
[0021] For example, the areas of the luggage 2 and the pallet 3 can be detected based on whether the features such as the shape and color match between the image information of the luggage 2 and the pallet 3 stored in advance and the image information of the loading platform 1 acquired by the fixed camera 10.
[0022] As the fixed camera 10, a general-purpose RGB camera can be used, but it has a function of performing control such as zooming in and zooming out according to the control signal transmitted from the luggage information management device 20. The luggage information management device 20 can be configured by a computer including a CPU, a memory, and an interface for connecting to external devices.
[0023] <Management of Luggage Information on the Loading Platform> Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of cargo information management in an embodiment of the present invention. In the example in Figure 3, the cargo bed 1 of the transport vehicle has a structure divided into two sections, left and right, and each of the divided left and right sections has a depth equivalent to one pallet.
[0024] In the cargo bed 1 of a transport vehicle, which has a structure divided into left and right sections as shown in Figure 3, it is possible to grasp the cargo information for the entire cargo bed by acquiring cargo information using images taken from the outside of each of the left and right cargo beds.
[0025] <Detection of palette area> Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating pallet information and cargo information in an embodiment of the present invention. This is an image showing the detection results for palette 3, as shown in Figure 4. This is the detection result for the area 5 containing luggage 2 for each pallet, as shown in Figure 4. <c>This is the result of enlarging the area of cargo 2 for each pallet and detecting the area 7 above the pallet.
[0026] The pallet detection unit 21-1 of the cargo information management device 20 detects the area of pallet 3 from image information acquired by the fixed camera 10. Specifically, the pallet detection unit 21-1 detects the area of pallet 3 by comparing the image information acquired by the fixed camera 10 with pre-stored image information of pallet 3 (Figure 4).< / c> ).
[0027] Image information of the pallet 3 is pre-stored in the memory unit 22, and this is used to detect the area of the pallet 3 from the image of the loading platform 1 acquired by the fixed camera 10. The area of the pallet 3 can be detected by checking whether the shape, color, and other features match between the pre-stored image information of the pallet 3 and the image information acquired by the fixed camera 10. The pre-stored image information of the pallet 3 can be formed by training the system with images of the pallet 3.
[0028] Figure 4 In the example of the detection results, the areas of multiple pallets 3 on which cargo 2 is placed are detected. The detection results of these pallet 3 areas are used when obtaining cargo information for cargo 2 on each pallet and pallet information for each pallet 3.
[0029] <Detection of cargo area for each pallet> In this embodiment, the cargo information management device 20 detects the pallets 3 on which the cargo 2 loaded on the loading platform 1 is placed, and acquires cargo information for each pallet 3 according to the detected position of the pallet 3.
[0030] Figure 4 As shown, the area 5 containing the pallet 3 and the cargo 2 is detected according to the detection position of the area of the pallet 3 detected by the pallet detection unit 21-1 of the cargo information management device 20.
[0031] Image information of the cargo 2 is pre-stored in the memory unit 22, and this is used to detect the area of cargo 2 for each pallet from the image of the loading platform 1 acquired by the fixed camera 10. The area of cargo 2 can be detected by checking whether the shape, color, and other features match between the pre-stored image information of cargo 2 and the image information of cargo 2 acquired by the fixed camera 10. The pre-stored image information of cargo 2 can be formed by training the system with images of cargo 2.
[0032] Figure 4 In this example of the detection results, area 5 for each pallet of cargo 2 is detected. Area 5 for cargo 2 contains the code information of the identification code 4 assigned to pallet 3 and cargo 2. Area 5 for cargo 2 is detected as the area containing pallet 3. The detected area 5 is used to obtain the code information of the identification code 4 assigned to cargo 2.
[0033] <Obtaining cargo information and pallet information> Figure 4 <c>This is an enlarged image of the area containing cargo 2 for each pallet. Figure 4 By reading the identification code 6 assigned to pallet 3 and the identification code 4 assigned to luggage 2 in the area 7 above pallet 3, according to the pallet position in the acquired image, pallet information and luggage information are obtained.
[0034] Figure 4 In the detection image, the code information attached to luggage 2 and pallet 3 cannot be read, but Figure 4 <c>As shown, by expanding the area containing the package 2 for each pallet according to the detected position of the pallet 3, it becomes possible to read the code information of the package 2 and the pallet 3.
[0035] <Operation Flow of the Luggage Information Management Device> The operation of the luggage information management method performed in the luggage information management device 20 will be explained using Figure 5. Figure 5 is an example of the operation flow of the luggage information management method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0036] The fixed camera 10 acquires image information of the loading platform 1, which includes images of the cargo 2 and pallet 3 (S1-1).
[0037] The pallet detection unit 21-1 of the luggage information management device 20 extracts the pallet 3 from the image information acquired by the fixed camera 10 (S1-2).
[0038] The pallet detection unit 21-1 of the cargo information management device 20 detects the area containing the pallet 3 and cargo 2 for each pallet according to the detected position of the pallet 3, and expands the area containing the pallet and cargo for each pallet (S1-3, S1-4).
[0039] The pallet information acquisition unit 21-2 of the cargo information management device 20 reads the identification code 6 of pallet 3 from the enlarged area containing pallet 3 and cargo 2, and acquires pallet information for pallet 3 (S1-5).
[0040] The cargo information acquisition unit 21-3 of the cargo information management device 20 detects the area containing the identification code of cargo 2 above the pallet 3 for each pallet, reads the identification code of cargo 2 from the area containing the identification code of cargo 2 above the pallet, and acquires cargo information for cargo 2 (S1-6, S1-7).
[0041] The cargo information creation unit 21-4 of the cargo information management device 20 creates cargo information by associating the acquired pallet information with the cargo information when it acquires cargo information for all cargo 2 placed on all pallets 3 (S1-8: YES).
[0042] The cargo information management device 20 in this embodiment detects pallets 3 on which cargo 2 loaded on the loading platform 1 is placed, and expands the area containing cargo 2 for each pallet according to the detection position of the detected pallet 3, thereby acquiring pallet information for pallet 3 and cargo information for cargo 2 placed on pallet 3.
[0043] According to this embodiment, when a truck loaded with cargo enters or leaves the warehouse, the association between the pallet information of pallet 3 and the cargo information of cargo 2 placed on pallet 3 can be accurately grasped quickly and in a simpler manner. This prevents misdelivery or non-delivery of cargo and improves the overall efficiency of cargo transportation operations. [Explanation of symbols]
[0044] 1...Loading platform, 2...Luggage, 3...Pallet, 4...Identification code (luggage), 5...Luggage area (per pallet), 6...Identification code (pallet), 7...Luggage area (above the pallet), 10...Fixed camera, 20...Luggage information management device, 21...Central processing unit, 21-1...Pallet detection unit, 21-2...Pallet information acquisition unit, 21-3...Luggage information acquisition unit, 21-4...Luggage information creation unit, 22...Storage unit, 23...Input unit, 24...Display unit, 25...Wireless unit.< / c> < / c>
Claims
1. A cargo information management system for managing cargo information of goods placed on pallets loaded on the bed of a truck, An imaging device installed at a designated location on a truck berth to acquire first image information including images of the pallet and the cargo, A pallet detection unit that detects the pallet from the first image information; a pallet information acquisition unit that acquires pallet information assigned to the pallet; a luggage information acquisition unit that acquires luggage information assigned to the luggage; and a luggage information creation unit that creates luggage management information for each pallet, associating the pallet information and the luggage information. Equipped with a luggage information management device, The imaging device detects a region containing the pallet information and the cargo information for each pallet according to the position of the pallet in the first image information, and by expanding the region, it acquires second image information containing the pallet information and the cargo information for each pallet. The pallet information acquisition unit acquires the pallet information in the second image information, and the cargo information acquisition unit detects the position of the cargo information in the second image information and acquires the cargo information. Package information management system.
2. A method for managing cargo information in a cargo information management system that manages cargo information of cargo placed on pallets loaded on the bed of a truck, An image information acquisition step in which an imaging device is installed at a predetermined position on the truck berth and acquires first image information that includes images of the pallet and the cargo, The baggage information management device, A pallet detection step for detecting the pallet from the first image information; a pallet information acquisition step for acquiring pallet information assigned to the pallet; a cargo information acquisition step for acquiring cargo information assigned to the cargo; and a cargo information creation step for creating cargo management information for each pallet, associating the pallet information and the cargo information. Includes, The imaging device is According to the position of the pallet in the first image information, a region containing the pallet information and the cargo information is detected for each pallet, and by enlarging the region, a second image information containing the pallet information and the cargo information is obtained for each pallet. The aforementioned luggage information management device is In the second image information, the pallet information is acquired, the position of the cargo information in the second image information is detected, and the cargo information is acquired. Package information management method.