Synchronized Display for Manual Postal Sorting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conveyor belt systems for package sorting are inefficient and put employees under high time pressure as they need to manually scan and remove packages from the belt to determine if they belong to their output station.
Innovation Solution
A display system integrated with a conveyor belt, detection device, and computing unit that displays information about packages directly to employees, synchronizing the display with the package's movement speed and position, allowing employees to identify which packages to remove without manual scanning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If employees manually scan all packages on the conveyor belt to determine assignment, then package sorting accuracy is maintained, but employee productivity decreases and time pressure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection and identification of packages using detection devices (cameras, scanners) before they reach the employee. The computing unit processes package information and determines assignments in advance, so that when packages arrive at the discharge station, the sorting decision has already been made, eliminating the need for employees to manually scan each package.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary information display system that acts as a mediator between the conveyor belt and the employee. The display device shows package information and assignment details to the employee, allowing them to identify which packages to remove without having to manually scan or examine each package, thus reducing the time and effort required.
2Productivity
If employees scan every package to ensure correct sorting, then sorting accuracy is maintained, but operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service sorting where the detection devices and computing unit automatically perform the identification and assignment determination functions that would otherwise require employee intervention. Packages essentially sort themselves through the automated system, with employees only needing to remove packages indicated by the display, significantly reducing operational complexity.
3Loss of information
If the display device shows information for all packages simultaneously, then complete information availability is achieved, but information synchronization with package movement becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The display device dynamically updates its content based on the real-time position and movement of packages on the conveyor belt. As packages move along the belt, the display device shows information for the current package at the discharge station, automatically advancing to the next package as it arrives. This dynamic adaptation ensures that the displayed information is always synchronized with the actual package being processed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the detection devices that continuously monitor package positions and movements on the conveyor belt. This feedback information is fed back to the computing unit, which then updates the display device accordingly, ensuring that the information shown on the display device is always current and accurately reflects the package currently at the discharge station.
Data Source
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AI summary
A display system for supporting the manual sorting of mail items, the display system comprising a conveyor belt, a display device, a detection device, and a computing unit, the conveyor belt being configured to transport the mail items along a conveyor section of the conveyor belt at a transport speed, the display device extending at least along a conveyor belt section of the conveyor belt, the detection device being provided on the display system such that the detection device detects and identifies mail items transported by the conveyor belt, the detection device being able to transmit a detected identifier of a mail item to the computing unit, the computing unit being configured to control the display device so that information relating to the detected identifier of the mail item is visible to a person on the display device.wherein the display system is designed so that the information of the postal item moves along with the postal item on the display device according to the transport speed of the postal item.