Linear image lift array for transported material
View Patent ↗The subject matter presented herein relates to a method, system and program product for performing image capture of items. In particular the image capture occurs during transport of the items by a high-speed transport device. The image is captured by a linear array imaging sensor as a face of the item is transported at a continuous production speed in near proximity to the linear array imaging sensor.
1. A method of assessing the production quality of an article of a mail item during transport of the article within a mailpiece sorter or a mail inserter, the method comprising steps of:
capturing, by a linear array imaging sensor, full line scan data for the article as a face of the article is transported at a continuous production speed in near proximity to the linear array imaging sensor, the linear array imaging sensor having a resolution substantially equal to a plurality of photo sensors of the linear array imaging sensor, wherein each of the photo sensors employs a focusing lens of a curvature for enabling a 1:1 relationship between a given sensor element and a portion of the article to be scanned, and the linear array imaging sensor having a form factor that facilitates placement along the mechanical transport path substantially perpendicular to the direction of transport;
illuminating the article with white light during the capturing of the full line scan data;
constructing an image of at least a portion of the face of the article from the full line scan data captured by the linear array imaging sensor; and
evaluating the image of the article during the transport of the article at continuous production speed to assess production quality of the article, wherein the image has sufficient resolution for at least optical character recognition (OCR) analysis.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying pressure to the article to position the document in near proximity to the linear array imaging sensor.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein evaluating the image comprises comparing the image to one or more of address quality data, known data representative of the article and postal authority based mail preparation data.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the construction of at least a portion of the image is performed on a line-by-line basis in accord with the determined production speed of the article during transport.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein evaluating the image includes performing an article quality inspection, the inspection including affecting behavior of the document processing system or devices associated therewith and interpreting markings as displayed upon the face of the article.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
sensing an entire length of a face of the article to be detected as it is within proximity of the linear array imaging sensor during transport.
7. A document processing system comprising:
a mechanical transport path for transporting an article of a mail item in a direction of transport at a continuous production speed;
a linear array imaging sensor lacking an associated optical transmission medium and having a form factor that facilitates placement along the mechanical transport path substantially perpendicular to the direction of transport and such that a face of the article travels in near proximity to the linear array imagining sensor, the linear array imaging sensor having a resolution substantially equal to a plurality of photo sensors of the linear array imaging sensor and capturing full line scan data for the article as the article travels at a continuous production speed, wherein each of the photo sensors employs a focusing lens of a curvature for enabling a 1:1 relationship between a given sensor element and a portion of the article to be scanned;
an illumination source proximate to the linear array imaging sensor to direct white light at the article as the article is transported at the continuous production speed and scanned by the linear array imaging sensor;
an image processor in communication with the linear imaging sensor that processes the line scan data to construct an image of at least a portion of the face of the article; and
a control processor in communication with the image processor that evaluates the image of the article during the transport of the article at continuous production speed to assess production quality of the article, wherein the processor is configured to perform at least optical character recognition (OCR) analysis of the image,
wherein the document processing system is selected from a mailpiece sorter or mail inserter.
8. The system of claim 7 , further comprising an opaque platen that covers a portion of the linear array imaging sensor.
9. The system of claim 7 , further comprising a stabilizer positioned proximate to the linear imaging sensor array for applying pressure to the document to position the document in near proximity to the linear array imaging sensor.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the stabilizer comprises a roller.
11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the stabilizer comprises a pneumatic device.
12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the linear array imaging sensor is attached to an inserter.
13. The system of claim 7 , wherein the linear array imaging sensor is attached to a sorter.
14. The system of claim 7 , wherein the linear array imaging sensor is sized to be larger than or substantially equal to the width of the article.
15. The system of claim 7 , wherein the linear array imaging sensor is configured to sense an entire length of a face of the article to be detected as it is within proximity of the linear array imaging sensor during transport.
16. An article of manufacture comprising:
a machine readable storage medium; and
executable program instructions embodied in the machine readable storage medium that when executed by a programmable system in communication with a document processing system causes the system to perform functions that evaluate a portion of an article of a mail item during transport of the article within a document processing system, the functions comprising:
capturing, by a linear array imaging sensor, full line scan data for the article as a face of the article is transported at a continuous production speed in near proximity to the linear array imaging sensor, the linear array imaging sensor having a resolution substantially equal to a plurality of photo sensors of the linear array imaging sensor, wherein each of the photo sensors employs a focusing lens of a curvature for enabling a 1:1 relationship between a given sensor element and a portion of the article to be scanned, and the linear array imaging sensor having a form factor that facilitates placement along the mechanical transport path substantially perpendicular to the direction of transport;
illuminating the article with white light during the capturing of the full line scan data;
constructing an image of at least a portion of the face of the article from the full line scan data captured by the linear array imaging sensor; and
evaluating the image of the article during the transport of the document at continuous production speed to assess production quality of the article, wherein the image is sufficient for at least optical character recognition (OCR) analysis,
wherein the document processing system is selected from a mailpiece sorter or mail inserter.
17. The article of manufacture of claim 16 , wherein the functions further comprise applying pressure to the article to position the article in near proximity to the linear array imaging sensor.
18. The article of manufacture of claim 16 , wherein the function of evaluating the image comprises the function of comparing the image to one or more of address quality data, known data representative of the article and postal authority based mail preparation data.
19. The article of manufacture of claim 16 , wherein the function of constructing at least a portion of the image is performed on a line-by-line basis in accord with the determined production speed of the article during transport.
20. The article of manufacture of claim 16 , wherein the function of evaluating the image includes the function of performing an article quality inspection, the inspection including affecting behavior of the document processing system or devices associated therewith and interpreting markings as displayed upon the face of the article.
21. The article of manufacture of claim 16 , wherein the functions further comprise:
sensing an entire length of a face of the article to be detected as it is within proximity of the linear array imaging sensor during transport.