Recirculating Object Detection for Logistics Error Control

Solution Overview

Problem

Inadequacies in sorting and singulation systems for piece goods lead to errors such as double pull-offs, incorrect orientation, and inadequate gaps, resulting in increased recirculation of objects, which causes mechanical stress and reduces throughput.

Innovation Solution

A logistics system with a detection system that generates data records for piece goods, identifies errors, and recirculates affected goods to a conveyor section for re-evaluation, using data comparison and probability analysis to classify repeated errors, and directs multiple-error goods to manual processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the detection system recirculates piece goods with errors, then the errors can be corrected, but the mechanical stress on objects and system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror correctionVSAvoidmechanical stress

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary identification of recirculating objects by storing data records and comparing them with current detections. By recognizing objects that have been detected before and identifying them as recirculating, the system can take preliminary actions to manage these objects differently, reducing unnecessary recirculation and associated mechanical stress while maintaining error correction for legitimate cases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the detection system recirculates piece goods with errors, then the errors can be corrected, but the throughput of the system reduces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror correctionVSAvoidthroughput

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary identification of recirculating objects by storing data records and comparing them with current detections. By recognizing objects that have been detected before and identifying them as recirculating, the system can take preliminary actions to manage these objects differently, reducing unnecessary recirculation and associated mechanical stress while maintaining error correction for legitimate cases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback mechanisms by storing data records of detected objects and comparing them with current detections to identify recirculating objects. This feedback loop allows the system to recognize previously detected objects and adjust handling accordingly, preventing redundant recirculation while ensuring errors are corrected when necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If manual intervention is used to remove recirculating objects, then the recirculation rate decreases, but the manual workload increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecirculation controlVSAvoidmanual intervention

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically identifying recirculating objects through data record storage and comparison. The detection system autonomously recognizes objects that have been detected before and manages their recirculation status without requiring manual intervention, thereby reducing manual workload while maintaining control over recirculation rates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback mechanisms by storing data records of detected objects and comparing them with current detections to identify recirculating objects. This feedback loop allows the system to recognize previously detected objects and adjust handling accordingly, preventing redundant recirculation while ensuring errors are corrected when necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20250319493A1Detection of recirculating objects

Publication Date: 2025.10.16 KERBER SUPPLY CHAIN LOGISTICS GESELLSCHAFT MITT BESCHLENKTEL HAFZUNG

AI summary

A method for operating a logistics system for piece goods includes conveying piece goods in the logistics system along a main conveyor section to an automatic detection system, automatically detecting an error affecting a piece good complex by the detection system, creating a first data record via which the piece good complex can be identified, due to the detected error, ejecting the piece good complex from the main conveyor section to a recirculation conveyor section due to the detected error, which causes the piece good complex to be fed to the detection system again, wherein when the piece good complex is fed in again, the detection system detects the error again and creates a second data record via which the piece good complex can be identified, detecting a match between the first and second data record.