Color-Coded Parcel Sorting for Fast Destination Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sorting methods in distribution centers face inefficiencies and high costs due to low naked-eye recognition rates of letter-number codes and the need for manual labor, leading to incorrect sorting and increased costs in automated systems, especially with irregularly-shaped items.
Innovation Solution
Using colors to identify destinations instead of gray site shortcodes, with a combination of automation and manual labor, where recognition devices determine object information and project corresponding colors onto objects for sorting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If letter-number codes are used to identify destinations, then sorting information can be precisely conveyed, but naked-eye recognition rate is low leading to sorting errors and reduced efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color coding to replace letter-number codes for destination identification. Different colors are projected onto objects to indicate different destinations, leveraging the human eye's superior ability to distinguish colors over alphanumeric sequences. This maintains precise destination identification while dramatically improving visual recognition speed and sorting efficiency.
2Productivity
If fully automated sorting systems are implemented, then sorting speed increases, but system complexity and costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces color projection as an intermediary between automated identification and manual sorting. The system automatically recognizes object information and projects corresponding colors, but human workers perform the actual sorting based on visual color cues. This intermediary approach achieves high sorting speed without requiring complex fully automated mechanical sorting equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical automated sorting systems with a simpler optical-information system. Instead of using automated mechanical arms or conveyor redirects, the system uses color projection and human visual processing to achieve the same sorting function with much lower complexity and cost.
3Device complexity
If traditional sorting methods are used, then system complexity remains low, but sorting errors increase due to low recognition rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses color projection to enhance visual distinctiveness of destination identifiers. Colors provide high-contrast, easily distinguishable signals that reduce misidentification errors while maintaining system simplicity. The color-coded approach is far more reliable than grayscale or alphanumeric codes for rapid visual discrimination.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present application discloses an object sorting method and system. The method comprises: identifying object information of objects in motion; determining a color corresponding to each object according to the identified object information, wherein the colors are used to identify different destinations; and using the determined colors to distinguish objects having different destinations, so as to sort the objects in motion according to the colors. The present application uses different colors to replace gray short codes representing different destinations where objects are to be sent so as to identify the objects, and sorts the objects in motion according to the colors, thereby greatly improving the efficiency of sorting. In addition, the present application adopts a combination of automation and manual labor, thereby greatly reducing costs.