Automated Label Placement Avoiding Address Obstruction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current package labeling systems face challenges in accurately placing delivery service shipping labels on packages or envelopes due to unknown and variable orientations of name and address data, leading to potential obstruction and inefficiencies, including manual placement and increased error rates.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a camera to scan and process images of the address data, applying optical character recognition (OCR) to capture and correct alphanumeric data, and integrate it into a label template, ensuring accurate placement of labels while adjusting for size, orientation, and skew, thereby avoiding obstruction of original address data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual placement of delivery service shipping label is used to avoid obscuring original name and address data, then delivery reliability is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to requiring human intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of label placement with an automated imaging and data processing system. A camera captures images of the package surface, OCR technology extracts address data, and the system automatically determines optimal label placement positions, eliminating the need for human operators while maintaining delivery reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the labeling process to serve itself by automatically detecting address data locations and orientations through imaging, processing the data through OCR, and determining label placement positions without human intervention. The system self-adjusts to various address block positions and orientations.
2Reliability
If cross ways relocation of label applicator is implemented to avoid obscuring original address data, then delivery reliability is improved, but device complexity increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical crossways relocation mechanisms with an automated imaging and computational system. Instead of physically moving the label applicator, the system uses a camera to capture the entire package surface, processes the image to locate address data, and calculates optimal label positions through software, significantly reducing mechanical complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a one-dimensional linear labeling approach to a two-dimensional imaging approach. By capturing the entire package surface with a camera and processing the image data, the system can determine optimal label placement positions in both horizontal and vertical dimensions without requiring physical relocation mechanisms.
3Reliability
If cross ways movement of label applicator is used to avoid covering original address data, then delivery reliability is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to increased error rate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical label applicator relocation with an automated imaging and computational positioning system. The camera captures high-resolution images of the package surface, OCR technology precisely extracts address data locations, and software algorithms calculate optimal label placement positions with high precision, eliminating the positioning errors associated with mechanical movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses real-time feedback from camera imaging and OCR data extraction to dynamically determine optimal label placement positions. The imaging system continuously monitors the package surface, identifies address data locations and orientations, and adjusts label positioning accordingly, ensuring high precision without mechanical relocation.
4Productivity
If automated label applicator is used without addressing orientation variability, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential obscuring of address data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains high productivity through automated label application while ensuring reliability by replacing simple mechanical positioning with an intelligent imaging and data processing system. The camera captures the entire package surface, OCR technology identifies address data locations and orientations, and the system automatically adjusts label placement positions to avoid obscuring critical information.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary imaging and data extraction actions before label application. The camera captures the package surface and OCR technology extracts address data locations in advance, allowing the system to pre-determine optimal label placement positions that avoid obscuring address data, ensuring both productivity and reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for transferring data from a delivery item (200-203) to a label for application of the label onto the delivery item (200-203), the system comprising: a camera (301) configured to capture an image of the data on the delivery item (200-203); a control computer (300) including at least one hardware processor and memory, the control computer (300) being configured to process the image of the data, integrate the image of the data captured by the camera (301) into a label template and to generate a print file from the label template; and at least one label applicator (309) disposed after the camera (301) relative to a direction of travel of the delivery item on a conveyor (102), the at least one label applicator (309) being configured to print the label including the data contained in the print file and apply the printed label onto a top surface of the delivery item (200-203); wherein the control computer (300) is configured to interface with the camera (301) and the at least one label applicator (309).