Method of detecting bunched-together poster items by analyzing images of their edges
US7835540B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 27, 2006 |
| Grant date | Nov 16, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 16, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S209/90
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method of detecting bunched-together overlapping postal items includes the steps of moving the postal items on edge above a camera, forming grayscale images including the bottom sides of the postal items, and analyzing the image for the purpose of detecting the presence of any overlapping postal items. The method further includes the steps of transforming each grayscale image into a binary image that causes a boundary defined by a “pale” zone to appear that represents the bottom side of at least one postal item and that extends between two “dark” zones, the boundary having a “right” first profile and a “left” second profile, and the method further includes the step of analyzing the right and left profiles for the purpose of detecting any profile discontinuity that is indicative of the presence of overlapping postal items.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.