Batching of objects

Abstract

A prospect is generated for filling a batch with at least one item having at least one characteristic property. The prospect is used to assign an item to a batch having at least one batch shortage expressed in terms of the at least one characteristic property. A first set of data representing at least one characteristic property of at least one item is provided. A second set of data is provided, representing at least one batch shortage. A third set of data is generated, representing a tally on the number of combinations of the items represented in the first set of data as a function of batch shortage and item count. A fourth set of data is provided indicating at least one batch shortage and optionally a maximum number of items on which the prospect generation is to be based. The prospect related to the fourth set of data is generated on the basis of multiplying each of the entries of the third set of data by the single count probability corresponding to each entry, subject to the proviso that each of the entries multiplied represents: (i) one of the batch shortages indicated in the fourth set of data, and (ii) a number of combinations of items being smaller than or equal to the provided maximum number of items.

1. A method for generating a prospect for filling a batch with at least one item having at least one characteristic property, the prospect being used to assigning  assign an item to a batch having at least one batch shortage expressed in terms of the at least one characteristic property, the method comprising:
 providing a first set of data representing at least one characteristic property of at least one item;  
 providing a second set of data representing at least one batch shortage;  
 generating a third set of data representing a tally on the number of combinations of the items represented in the first set of data as a function of batch shortage and item count;  
 providing a fourth set of data indicating at least one batch shortage and optionally a maximum number of items on which the prospect generation is to be based;  
 generating the prospect related to the fourth set of data on the basis of multiplying each of the entries of the third set of data by the single count probability corresponding to each entry subject to the proviso that each of the entries multiplied represents: 
 (i) one of the batch shortages indicated in the fourth set of data, and  
 (ii) a number of combinations of items being smaller than or equal to the provided maximum number of items;  
 
   removing at least one entry of the first set of data and/or adding at least one entry to the first set of data when an item has been applied in a process of assigning an item to a batch of items; and    
   updating the third set of data when an entry has been removed and/or added to the first set of data without completely regenerating the third set of data .  
 
     
     
       2. A method for generating a prospect according to  claim 1 , wherein the batch shortage for providing the fourth set of data is provided by test-fitting an item into a selected batch. 
     
     
       3. A method for generating a prospect according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein at least one entry of the first set of data is removed and/or at least one entry is added to the first set of data when an item has been applied in a process of assigning an item to a batch of items. 
     
     
       4. A method for generating a prospect according to  claim 3 , wherein the tally is updated when an entry has been removed and/or added to the first set of data. 
     
     
       5. A method for generating a prospect according to claim  3    1 , wherein the tally is updated occasionally, preferably after a predetermined number of entries have been removed and/or added to the first set of data. 
     
     
       6. A method for generating a prospect for filling a batch according to  claim 1 , wherein the first set of data is organized as a first in first out queue of entries, the queue has accordingly a first and a last entry and the last entry of this queue represents an item most recently applied in a process of assigning an item to a batch of items. 
     
     
       7. A method for generating a prospect according to  claim 1 , wherein the number of entries of the first set of data is selected so that fluctuations in the prospect due to removal and/or addition of entries to the first set of data is lower than a predetermined limit and so that the prospect will be able to follow a general change in population of items. 
     
     
       8. A method for generating a prospect for filling a batch according to  claim 1 , wherein the number of entries of the first set of data is larger than 50, preferably larger than 100, even more preferably larger than 150, and in some situations preferably larger than 200. 
     
     
       9. A method for generating a prospect for filling a batch according to  claim 1 , wherein the third set of data is updated substantially each time an item is assigned to a batch. 
     
     
       10. A method for generating a prospect for filling a batch according to  claim 1 , wherein one entry of the first set of data is removed and one entry is added to the first set of data substantially each time an item is assigned to a batch. 
     
     
       11. A method for generating a prospect for filling a batch according to  claim 10 , wherein the thirst set of data is updated occasionally such as periodically and preferably each time a change such as a substantial change in the distribution of characteristic properties of the items represented in the first set of data occur. 
     
     
       12. A method for generating a prospect for filling a batch according to  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprising:
 comparing at different instants the distribution of characteristic properties of the items represented in the first set of data.  
 
     
     
       13. A method for generating a prospect for filling a batch according to  claim 1 , wherein no new entries are added to and/or removed from the first set of data when an item is assigned to a batch. 
     
     
       14. A method for assigning a selected item to a batch applying the prospect generation method according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 (a) selecting a batch and providing a first batch shortage for the selected batch;  
 (b) generating a first prospect for the selected batch on the basis of the first batch shortage;  
 (c) test-fitting the selected item into the selected batch;  
 (d) calculating a second batch shortage for the selected batch on the basis of the test-fitting;  
 (e) generating a second prospect for the selected batch on the basis of the second batch storage;  
 (f) generating a change of prospect for the selected batch based on the first and the second prospect; and  
 (g) optionally selecting another batch and repeating processing (b) through (f) until no further batches are to be selected,  
 (h) assigning, on the basis of the prospect change generated for each selected batch by the processing (a) through (f), the selected item to a batch fulfilling a predetermined first probability criterion if such a batch exist among each of the selected batch.  
 
     
     
       15. A method for assigning a selected item to a batch according to  claim 14 , wherein the predetermined first probability criterion is the prospect change having the highest probability among the generated prospects. 
     
     
       16. A method for assigning a selected item to a batch according to  claim 14  or  15  , further comprising a secondary assigning method applied when the selected item is not assigned to a batch on the basis of the first probability criterion. 
     
     
       17. A method for assigning a selected item to a batch according to  claim 16 , wherein the secondary assigning method comprises selecting either a batch to which the item is assigned or leave the item without being assigned to a batch. 
     
     
       18. A method for assigning a selected item to a batch according to  claim 17 , wherein the batch to which the selected item is assigned by the secondary assigning method is selected on the basis of the time passed since an item was assigned to the batch. 
     
     
       19. A method for assigning a selected item to a batch according to  claim 17 , wherein the batch to which the selected item is assigned by the secondary assigning method is selected on the basis of the batch characteristic being the outcome of the assignment. 
     
     
       20. A method for assigning a selected item to a batch according to  claim 14 , wherein the selected item is selected from a stream of object being conveyed from a first position to a second position. 
     
     
       21. A method for assigning a selected item to a batch according to  claim 20 , wherein the second position is either a batch position or a rejection position. 
     
     
       22. An apparatus for assigning an item to a batch or a rejection position, wherein the assignment takes place in a process where a stream of items is conveyed from a first position to a second position being either a batch or a rejection position, the apparatus comprising:
 (A) a control unit programmed to perform a method for assigning a selected item to a batch, the programmed method comprising: 
 ( a )  generating a queue of at least one characteristic property of at least one of the items;    
 ( b )  generating a tally on the number of combinations of the items represented in the queue as a function of batch storage;    
 (a)( c ) selecting a batch and providing a first batch shortage for the selected batch;  
 (b)( d ) generating a first prospect for the selected batch on the basis of the first batch shortage and the tally;  
 (c)( e ) test-fitting the selected item into the selected batch;  
 (d)( f ) calculating a second batch shortage for the selected batch on the basis of the test-fitting;  
 (e)( g ) generating a second prospect for the selected batch on the basis of the second batch storage;  
 (f)( h ) generating a change of prospect for the selected batch based on the first and the second prospect; and 
 (g)( i ) optionally selecting another batch and repeating processing (b)( d ) through (f)( h ) until no further batches are to be selected,;  
 (h)( j ) assigning, on the basis of the prospect change generated for each selected batch by the processing (a)( c ) through (f)( h ), the selected item to a batch fulfilling a predetermined first probability criterion if such a batch exist among each of the selected batch;  
 ( k )  one of removing at least one item from the queue, and adding at least one item to the queue when an item has been assigned to a batch; and    
 ( k )  updating the tally when an item has been removed or added to the queue without completely regenerating the tally;    
 
 (B) means for determining the characteristic property/properties of the item to be assigned;  
 (C) means for selecting either a batch or a rejection position; and  
 (D) means for conveying/moving the item to either the selected batch or the rejection position.