Side-by-Side Parcel Separation With Angle Dispersion and 3D Vision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing logistics sorting systems require manual intervention for parcel separation, leading to high labor intensity and inefficiency, and existing automated systems fail to accurately separate parcels at high speeds due to insufficient gap creation, recognition of position relationships, and slow sensor triggering, resulting in high omission ratios and reduced sorting efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that disperses parcels to create gaps using angle differences, employs a 3D camera for image recognition to determine parcel positions, and adjusts conveyor speeds to separate parcels individually, forming a single queue using an inclined barrel roll.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual feeding operation mode is adopted to separate parcels, then parcels can be separated, but labor intensity is high and feeding speed is low
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses automated image recognition and control algorithms to enable the parcel separation system to serve itself without manual intervention. The camera captures parcel positions, the controller processes the images to determine side-by-side relationships, and automatically adjusts conveyor speeds to separate parcels, replacing manual feeding operations entirely
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical separation operations with an automated system combining image recognition technology and electronic control. Instead of workers manually separating parcels, the system uses cameras to detect parcel positions, processes images to identify side-by-side arrangements, and automatically controls conveyor belt speeds to achieve separation
2Productivity
If high-speed sorting is implemented, then sorting efficiency increases, but manual feeding workers face high labor intensity and must maintain high feeding speed
Solution Approach 1:
The high-speed sorting system is paired with automated parcel separation that serves itself. The system continuously captures images of parcels on the conveyor, processes them in real-time to identify side-by-side arrangements, and automatically adjusts individual conveyor belt speeds to separate parcels without requiring human workers to maintain high feeding speeds under high labor intensity
3Extent of automation
If sensor signal triggering is used for separation, then automated separation is achieved, but separation speed is slow and cannot meet high-speed batch processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional sensor signal triggering with image recognition technology. Instead of using sensors that detect parcels one at a time and trigger separation slowly, the system uses cameras to capture images of multiple parcels simultaneously, processes the images to identify all side-by-side arrangements, and triggers multiple separations in parallel, achieving both high automation and high separation speed
Solution Approach 2:
The system captures and processes more image data than the minimum required for separation. By capturing images that show multiple parcels and their positions simultaneously, and processing the entire image to identify all side-by-side relationships, the system enables parallel separation of multiple parcels, greatly increasing separation speed while maintaining full automation
4Extent of automation
If parcels are separated using previous methods, then some separation is achieved, but parcels remain in discrete state which is not conducive to subsequent code scanning and has high omission ratio
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously captures images of parcels on the conveyor belt, processes these images to determine current parcel positions and side-by-side relationships, and uses this feedback information to dynamically adjust conveyor belt speeds. This closed-loop control ensures parcels are separated accurately into single-file queues, maintaining precise positioning that is conducive to subsequent code scanning while minimizing omission ratios
Data Source
AI summary
A side-by-side parcel separation method is provided. The side-by-side parcel separation method includes the following steps: dispersion: dispersing, by an angle difference existing in a conveying direction, parcels arriving at a dispersion device from a conveying line, wherein a gap is reserved between adjacent parcels; detection and recognition: photographing and recognizing detected parcels by a visual recognition device to obtain a three-dimensional size and real-time position data of each parcel; separation: applying different conveying speeds to the adjacent parcels by a separation device, arriving, by a first parcel-recognized to be at a front position, at a side-approaching device at a fast speed, and repeating the foregoing steps; and single-row queuing: forwardly conveying, in a single-row queuing mode, different parcels arriving at the side-approaching device in sequence. A separation device for implementing the side-by-side parcel separation method is also provided.