Raf Technology, Inc.

Velox Robotics, LLC

Matthews International Gmbh

Bryan J Turner

David Justin Ross

Richard Clark Teudt

Kevin Saur

Christopher Traina

Diego Saavedra

George Harbachuk

Richard Teudt

This disclosure pertains to weighing a physical item while it is moving in a servo-driven conveyor system for e-commerce, logistics, manufacturing and other applications. The introduction of an unknown mass to an electro-mechanical feedback or filter network controlling a conveyance system will modify the steady state behavior of that system in such a way that measuring the phase or frequency shift of an input signal or oscillation will enable us to infer the magnitude of that mass.

High speed robotic weighing system

Weighing system (FIG., FIG.) to weigh items, parcels and the like, while they are moving, for example, on a conveyor. A servo amplifier () and servo controller () are arranged to drive a servo motor in a feedback () configuration, and acquire torque sensing signals () responsive to commanded acceleration of the conveyor while the item(s) are on board. Preferably, constant acceleration of the item(s) is realized during one or more measurement intervals, and mass is derived by a processor () based on the measurement data (FIG.). Other embodiments are described for weighing granular and slurry materials (FIG.) and for weighing multiple, potentially overlapping parcels in motion (FIG.).

Scale for weighing parcels

Weighing system (FIG., FIG.) to weigh items, parcels and the like while they are moving, for example, on a conveyor. A servo amplifier () and servo controller () are arranged to drive a servo motor in a feedback () configuration, and acquire torque sensing signals () responsive to commanded acceleration of the conveyor while the item(s) are on board. Preferably, constant acceleration of the item(s) is realized during one or more measurement intervals, and mass is derived by a processor () based on the measurement data (FIG.). Other embodiments are described for weighing granular and slurry materials (FIG.) and for weighing multiple, potentially overlapping, parcels in motion (FIG.).

Scale for weighing flowing granular materials

In one example, a system is provided. The system includes a portable, in-field unit including: a tag reader to acquire an ID tag identifier from a tag located in or on a physical item positioned within functional range of the in-field unit tag reader; a digital processor arranged for executing software code stored in the in-field unit responsive to the acquired ID tag identifier, the stored software code including&#x2014;a customer application layer; and a database adapter component configured to provide database services to the processor; wherein the database services include accessing a stored database to acquire stored data associated with the acquired ID tag identifier.

In-field device for de-centralized workflow automation

Methods and apparatus for weighing an article, such as a mail piece, while the article is moving at high speed. An article () is received from an intake transport (), and gripped in a weighing station (), in between a capstan roller and a pinch roller (), which are synchronized to minimize slipping. A first precision servo system () alters the speed of the article, and in the process acquires torque data for storage and analysis (). A second precision servo system () applies a constant force, via a tension arm (), urging the pinch roller () against the capstan roller, independently of the thickness of the mail piece. Active electronic damping () reduces oscillation when an inconsistency in thickness of the article is encountered during weighing. The damping force is subtracted from the capstan motor torque data for improved accuracy (FIG.B).

Dynamic thickness adaptation for an in-line scale

A weighing assembly () includes a portable computing device ('PCC') () such as a smart phone, pad computer, laptop computer, or the like. The weighing assembly utilizes one or more features of the portable computing device in order to weigh an item, under control of a scale application program or 'app' executable in the portable computing device. Some embodiments may utilize an internal barometric pressure sensor of the PCC. Other embodiments may utilize orientation or position sensors of the PCC for weighing an item. Other embodiments may utilize a compressible foot element (), all for weighing an item. Preferably, a user interface () of the PCC, such as a touch screen, may be used to interact with the scale application program for calibration and other functions.

Smart phone scale that uses the built-in barometric pressure sensor or orientation sensors to calculate weight

Disclosed are various applications of differential torque sensing, seeking to maximize the sensing power of servo motors in applications that have a wide torque range. In one embodiment, a transmission () combines a constant, relatively larger torque provided by a primary drive motor () and a smaller, variable torque provided by a servo motor (), to form an output torque for driving a mechanical assembly (). A relatively small change in mass of the system causes a perturbation from ambient operating speed. The servo motor, under control of a servo amplifier (), quickly adjusts the secondary, variable torque to return the system to the ambient operating speed. Thus the servo motor torque accurately reflects the change in mass of the system.

In-line conveyor scale with a primary first motor to provide constant torque, a secondary servo motor to provide fine-grained variable torque in response to a closed loop torque sensor, and a processor to assertain weight of an item conveved based on the closed loop servo motor response

Methods and apparatus for weighing an article, such as a mail piece, while the article is moving at high speed, and for checking that the correct amount of postage has been paid for delivery of the article. An article () is received from an intake transport (), and gripped in a weighing station (), in between a capstan roller and a pinch roller (), which are synchronized to minimize slipping. A first precision closed-loop servo system () alters the speed of the article, and in the process acquires torque data for storage and analysis () to determine weight. Correct postage is determined in a processor (), and the postage actually paid is checked either by image analysis () or by accessing a stored mailer manifest ().

Automated weighing and franking mail pieces at transport speed

A flatbed weigh system and methods for weighing substantially flat articles such as mail flats while they are moving. A weigh system has an intake plate () and an accelerator assembly () that receives an article () and accelerates it to a selected velocity. Acceleration is controlled by a servo motor () which in turn is driven by a precision closed-loop servo system (FIG.) that accumulates motor torque data to determine the article weight. The accelerator assembly uses vacuum pressure () to hold the moving article in engagement with a cylindrical capstan roller () while it is being weighed. This vacuum-driven concept eliminates the need for a pinch roller to hold the moving article against a capstan roller as in other designs. Because the pinch roller is eliminated, there is essentially no 'bouncing' to address, so dampen is obviated. Further, the vacuum design is not adversely affected by variations in thickness of the article under test as in the pinch roller designs.

Flatbed weigh system with vacuum capstan roller

Methods and apparatus for weighing an article, such as a mail piece, while the article is moving at high speed, for example along a transport of a sorter machine. An article () is received from an intake transport (), and gripped in a weighing station (), in between a capstan roller and a pinch roller (), which are synchronized to minimize slipping. A first precision servo system () alters the speed of the article, and in the process acquires torque data for storage and analysis (). A second precision servo system () applies a constant force, via a tension arm (), urging the pinch roller () against the capstan roller, independently of the thickness of the mail piece. Active electronic damping (FIG.) preferably is applied in the second servo system minimize vibration of the tension arm, but only while gripping the article.

Active electronic damping for an in-line scale

Dynamically weighing mail pieces in real time within an automated destination bar code sorter machine by temporarily accelerating the mail piece and capturing resulting closed loop motor torque sample data

Methods and apparatus for weighing an article, such as a mail piece, while the article is moving at high speed. An article () is received from an intake transport (), and gripped in a weighing station (), in between a capstan roller and a pinch roller (), which are synchronized to minimize slipping. A first precision servo system () alters the speed of the article, and in the process acquires torque data for storage and analysis (). A second precision servo system () applies a constant force, via a tension arm (), urging the pinch roller () against the capstan roller, independently of the thickness of the mail piece. Fourier analysis can conveniently be applied for analyzing the acquired current data and comparing to stored calibration data to determine weight. Weight is determined without regard to the actual speed of the moving article.

Growing community of inventors

Redmond, WA, United States of America

Bryan J Turner