Automated Card Sorting Device With Optical Sensor Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual sorting and storage of collectible cards are time-consuming, prone to damage, and susceptible to loss or misclassification, which can lead to undervaluation or theft.
Innovation Solution
A sorting device equipped with sensors and a conveyor system that analyzes objects using cameras and other sensors to identify characteristic information, guiding them to appropriate storage containers, thereby automating the sorting and storage process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual sorting and storage of collectible cards is used, then the process is simple and requires minimal equipment, but it is time-consuming and prone to human error
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical sorting system with an automated optical-electronic system. Sensors detect card characteristics, processors analyze the data, and actuators physically move cards to appropriate containers, eliminating manual handling while increasing sorting speed and accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The sorting system performs self-service by automatically detecting card properties through sensors, making sorting decisions through processing, and executing placement without human intervention. The system serves itself by integrating detection, decision-making, and execution functions into a single autonomous workflow.
2Reliability
If manual handling of collectible cards is used, then equipment requirements are minimal, but damage and loss occur during handling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary automated handling system between human operators and collectible cards. Robots and conveyors serve as mediators that transfer cards without direct human contact, reducing the risk of damage while maintaining card safety through controlled, consistent handling mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates digital copies of card information through sensor detection and image capture. These digital representations allow the system to analyze and sort cards based on their characteristics without requiring extensive physical handling, thereby protecting the original cards from damage.
3Measurement precision
If manual sorting is used, then the system is simple to operate, but misclassification and undervaluation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces human visual inspection and classification with optical sensors and image processing systems. These electronic detection mechanisms capture card details, and algorithms automatically classify cards with high precision, eliminating misclassification errors while operating continuously without fatigue.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback loops where sensors continuously monitor card characteristics, the processor analyzes the data against classification criteria, and the system adjusts its sorting decisions based on detected features. This closed-loop control ensures accurate classification while maintaining efficient processing speeds.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses and methods of operating the same are described. A method may include receiving a card from a first storage compartment. The method may include analyzing the card using a first sensor to obtain characteristic information of the card. The method may include identifying a group associated with the characteristic information. The method may include identifying a second storage compartment associated with the group. The method may include sorting the card to place the card into the second storage compartment.