Adjustable speed control system, method and computer readable medium for use with a conveyor and a reader

Abstract

An adjustable speed control system includes a reader, databases, processors and a conveyor controller. The databases store data concerning conveyor stops and failed attempts by the reader to identify conveyed items. Based on the failed attempts and the conveyor stops, the processors calculate an optimal speed of the conveyor. The controller adjusts the conveyor speed towards the optimal speed to increase the conveyed items successfully identified by the reader. Also disclosed are a corresponding method and computer readable medium on which is stored instructions to, upon execution, adjustably control the conveyor speed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adjustable speed control system for use with at least one conveyor and conveyed items carried thereby, wherein the system comprises:
 (a) at least one reader adapted to automatically detect and identify the conveyed items;   (b) one or more databases comprising, and regularly updated with, data concerning: (i) failed attempts by the reader to identify the conveyed items, and (ii) stops experienced by the conveyor;   (c) one or more processors adapted to automatically:
 (i) determine, at regular intervals, (A) a number of the failed attempts, and (B) a duration and a number of the stops experienced by the conveyor; and 
 (ii) based at least in part thereon, dynamically calculate an optimal speed of the conveyor for reducing the number of the failed attempts, the duration and/or the number of the stops; and 
   (d) a controller operatively connected to the conveyor, and adapted to automatically and dynamically adjust an actual speed of the conveyor towards the optimal speed;   whereby the system is adapted to operatively facilitate increasing the conveyed items which are successfully identified by the reader.   
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more of the processors are further adapted to automatically: (iii) determine, at regular intervals, at least one performance characteristic associated with the conveyor; and (iv) generate a signal for presentation of the performance characteristic to a user of the system. 
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein said one or more of the processors are further adapted to determine the performance characteristic by: (A) summing together the duration of each of the stops experienced by the conveyor over a predetermined time interval to calculate a total stop duration; and (B) multiplying the total stop duration by a predetermined average cost associated with the time interval and with the stops; 
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein said one or more of the processors are further adapted to determine the performance characteristic by: (A) dynamically determining a detected item count of the conveyed items detected by the reader over a predetermined time interval; (B) dynamically determining an identified item count of the conveyed items identified by the reader over the time interval; and (C) dividing the identified item count by the detected item count. 
     
     
         5 . A method of adjusting an actual speed of a conveyor for use in identifying conveyed items carried thereby, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
 (a) automatically detecting and identifying the conveyed items using a reader associated with the conveyor;   (b) regularly updating one or more databases with data concerning (i) failed attempts by the reader to identify the conveyed items, and (ii) stops experienced by the conveyor;   (c) using one or more processors to automatically:
 (i) determine, at regular intervals, (A) a number of the failed attempts, and (B) a duration and a number of the stops experienced by the conveyor; and 
 (ii) based at least in part thereon, dynamically calculate an optimal speed of the conveyor for reducing the number of the failed attempts, the duration and/or the number of the stops; and 
   (d) using a controller, operatively connected to the conveyor, to automatically and dynamically adjust the actual speed of the conveyor towards the optimal speed;   whereby the method operatively facilitates increasing the conveyed items which are successfully identified by the reader.   
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein in step (c), one or more of the processors are further used to automatically: (iii) determine, at regular intervals, at least one performance characteristic associated with the conveyor; and (iv) generate a signal for presentation of the performance characteristic to a user. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein in substep (c)(iii), one or more of the processors determine the performance characteristic by: (A) summing together the duration of each of the stops experienced by the conveyor over a predetermined time interval to calculate a total stop duration; and (B) multiplying the total stop duration by a predetermined average cost associated with the time interval and with the stops; 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein in substep (c)(iii), one or more of the processors determine the performance characteristic by: (A) dynamically determining a detected item count of the conveyed items detected by the reader over a predetermined time interval; (B) dynamically determining an identified item count of the conveyed items identified by the reader over the time interval; and (C) dividing the identified item count by the detected item count. 
     
     
         9 . A computer readable medium on which is physically stored executable instructions which, upon execution, will adjustably control an actual speed of a conveyor provided with a controller; for use with conveyed items carried thereby, with a reader adapted to automatically detect and identify the conveyed items, and with a database comprising data concerning stops experienced by the conveyor and failed attempts by the reader to identify the conveyed items; wherein the executable instructions comprise processor instructions for one or more processors to automatically:
 (a) determine, at regular intervals, (i) a number of the failed attempts, and (ii) a duration and a number of the stops experienced by the conveyor;   (b) based at least in part thereon, dynamically calculate an optimal speed of the conveyor for reducing the number of the failed attempts, the duration and/or the number of the stops; and   (c) generate a signal for transmission to the controller for automatic and dynamic adjustment of the actual speed of the conveyor towards the optimal speed;   to thus operatively facilitate use of the processors to increase the conveyed items which are successfully identified by the reader.   
     
     
         10 . A computer readable medium according to  claim 9 , wherein the processor instructions are additionally for one or more of the processors to automatically: (d) determine, at regular intervals, at least one performance characteristic associated with the conveyor; and (e) generate a signal for presentation of the performance characteristic to a user. 
     
     
         11 . A computer readable medium according to  claim 10 , wherein the processor instructions are additionally for one or more of the processors to determine the performance characteristic by: (i) summing together the duration of each of the stops experienced by the conveyor over a predetermined time interval to calculate a total stop duration; and (ii) multiplying the total stop duration by a predetermined average cost associated with the time interval and with the stops; 
     
     
         12 . A computer readable medium according to  claim 10 , wherein the processor instructions are additionally for one or more of the processors to determine the performance characteristic by: (i) dynamically determining a detected item count of the conveyed items detected by the reader over a predetermined time interval; (ii) dynamically determining an identified item count of the conveyed items identified by the reader over the time interval; and (iii) dividing the identified item count by the detected item count.