Line Sensor Frequency Adaptation for Conveyor Image Distortion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor devices with non-uniform speeds, such as tray sorters, produce distorted image data when objects are scanned, complicating barcode decoding and text recognition due to irregular relative motion between objects and code readers.
Innovation Solution
Adapting the recording frequency of line sensors to match the object's conveying speed, ensuring equidistant image line distribution and maintaining uniform image resolution, independent of conveyor speed fluctuations, by using a speed determination device like a displacement sensor or conveyor controller to adjust recording parameters like exposure time and amplification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the conveyor device operates at non-uniform speed, then the automation and productivity of the sorting system is improved, but the image data becomes distorted due to irregular relative motion between objects and code reader
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the recording frequency of the line sensor adaptive rather than fixed. The system dynamically adjusts the recording frequency based on the actual conveying speed detected by the speed determination device. This allows the code reader to maintain accurate image capture even when the conveyor speed varies, resolving the contradiction between automated sorting productivity and image data precision.
2Productivity
If the conveyor speed is increased to improve sorting throughput, then the productivity increases, but the image distortion becomes more severe due to higher relative motion variability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using the speed determination device to continuously monitor the actual conveying speed and using this information to adjust the recording frequency of the line sensor. This closed-loop control ensures that even at high conveyor speeds that increase throughput, the system maintains accurate image capture by adapting the sampling rate to match the actual object motion, thereby preserving measurement precision.
3Ease of operation
If a fixed recording frequency is used to simplify the system operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the image data quality deteriorates when conveyor speed varies
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies self-service by automatically adjusting its own recording frequency based on detected conveyor speed without requiring manual intervention. The evaluation unit or control device autonomously modifies the line sensor's recording parameters in response to speed variations, maintaining high image data accuracy while keeping the operation simple for the user.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, in particular a code reader, for the recording of images of objects (14) moved on a conveyor device (12), wherein the apparatus includes a line sensor (10), in particular a line camera, which can scan objects line wise for the generation of image data of the surfaces, as well as a speed determination device (26; 30), which can determine the speed of movement of the objects (14) with respect to the line sensor (10) or their conveyed distance. At the same time an evaluation unit (26) is provided, which is adapted to match the recording frequency of the line sensor (10) to the speed of movement.