Systems and methods for receiving shipment parcels

Abstract

Disclosed are various embodiments of systems and methods for receiving shipment parcels at materials handling facilities. A system comprises a tunnel and at least one sensor located in the tunnel. The system further comprises logic that obtains data that is correlated with an identifier for a shipment parcel. The logic causes the at least one sensor to collect sensor data for the shipment parcel in the tunnel. The logic further compares the sensor data with the data that is correlated with the identifier to determine whether there is an exception for the shipment parcel.

Therefore, the following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a tunnel;   at least one computing device:   at least one camera in communication with the at least one computing device; and   logic executable by the at least one computing device, the logic configured to:
 cause the at least one camera to capture at least one image of a shipment parcel in the tunnel; 
 obtain an identifier for the shipment parcel using the at least one image; 
 obtain data that is correlated with the identifier; and 
 compare the at least one image and the data that is correlated with the identifier to determine whether there is an exception for the shipment parcel. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the logic is further configured to cause the shipment parcel to be diverted from a first path to a second path in response to the exception. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one camera comprises a camera that is positioned within the tunnel. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the system further comprises a conveyor system that comprises a transparent path segment positioned within the tunnel; and   the at least one camera comprises a camera that is configured to capture an image through the transparent path segment.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the exception comprises at least one of damage to the shipment parcel, defective tracking information, or a shipment error caused by a vendor. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the system further comprises a sensor; and   the logic is further configured to:
 cause the sensor to collect sensor data; and 
 compare the sensor data with the data that is correlated with the identifier to determine whether there is the exception for the shipment parcel. 
   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the system further comprises a curtain configured to cover an opening in the tunnel; and   the logic is further configured to cause the curtain to move so that the shipment parcel exits the tunnel without interference from the curtain.   
     
     
         8 . A system, comprising:
 at least one computing device;   at least one sensor in communication with the at least one computing device; and   logic executable by the at least one computing device, the logic configured to:
 obtain data that is correlated with an identifier for a shipment parcel; 
 cause the at least one sensor to collect sensor data for the shipment parcel; and 
 compare the sensor data with the data that is correlated with the identifier to determine whether there is an exception for the shipment parcel. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the system further comprises at least one camera located in a tunnel; and   the logic is further configured to:
 cause the at least one camera to capture at least one image of the shipment parcel in the tunnel; and 
 obtain the identifier for the shipment parcel using the at least one image. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the logic is further configured to process the at least one image to determine whether there is an additional exception for the shipment parcel. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the system further comprises a conveyor system that comprises a transparent path segment positioned within the tunnel; and   the at least one camera comprises a camera that is configured to capture an image through the transparent path segment.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the at least one sensor comprises a weight sensor configured to sense a weight of the shipment parcel; and   the logic is further configured to compare the weight to an expected weight range to determine whether there is the exception for the shipment parcel.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the at least one sensor is configured to determine a dimension of the shipment parcel; and   the logic is further configured to compare the dimension to an expected dimension range to determine whether there is the exception for the shipment parcel.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the logic is further configured to:
 identify a quantity of a plurality of items in the shipment parcel; and   compare the quantity of the items to an expected quantity to determine whether there is the exception for the shipment parcel.   
     
     
         15 . A method, comprising:
 capturing, using at least one computing device, at least one image of a shipment parcel;   obtaining, using the at least one computing device, an identifier for the shipment parcel using the at least one image;   obtaining, using the at least one computing device, data that is correlated with the shipment parcel;   obtaining, using the at least one computing device, sensor data using at least one sensor; and   comparing, using the at least one computing device, the sensor data with the data that is correlated with the shipment parcel to determine whether there is an exception for the shipment parcel.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising causing, using the at least one computing device, the shipment parcel to be diverted from a first path to a second path in response to the exception. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising causing, using the at least one computing device, the shipment parcel to move to an exception bin in response to the exception. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 causing, using the at least one computing device, the shipment parcel to move into a tunnel; and   causing, using the at least one computing device, a curtain to move so that the curtain does not interfere with the shipment parcel as it moves into the tunnel.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 causing, using the at least one computing device, the shipment parcel to move out of a tunnel; and   causing, using the at least one computing device, a curtain to open so that the curtain does not interfere with the shipment parcel as it moves out of the tunnel.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising causing, using the at least one computing device, a movable arm to move the shipment parcel from a transparent path segment in a tunnel to a conveyor belt.