IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,399,140
Granted Patent B2
US 12,399,140 · App. 18/380,884 · Granted Aug 26, 2025

Sorting support apparatus, sorting support system, sorting support method, and program

Inventors: Masahiro Kaji (Tokyo, JP); Kazuyuki Ikemura (Tokyo, JP); Shinichi Yoshitsune (Tokyo, JP); Kaori Takeuchi (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
G01N23/10G01N23/04G01N23/083G06N5/04G06N20/00G06V20/52G01N2223/04G01N2223/401G01N2223/639
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,399,140
App. No.
18/380,884
Granted
Aug 26, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sorting support apparatus is provided with: an input part that inputs a transmission image obtained by radiating an inspection target with electromagnetic waves; a storage part that stores a plurality of learning models optimized respectively for at least one article and being associated with an assumed usage condition; and a determination part that selects one of the learning models based on a specified usage condition and uses the learning model to determine whether or not the one or more articles is contained in the inspection target.

Claims (37)

1. A sorting support system comprising a plurality of sorting support apparatuses are disposed at multiple stages, wherein each of the sorting support apparatuses comprises:

at least one memory storing a computer program; and

at least one processor configured to execute the computer program to

input a transmission image obtained by radiating an inspection target with electromagnetic waves; and

determine whether or not one or more articles used under a specified usage condition is contained in the inspection target, wherein

at least any one of the sorting support apparatuses determines the articles for which visual inspection is required,

wherein the specified usage condition is associated with a trend of handled goods at a location where the sorting support apparatus is disposed, and

wherein the handled good comprises a package which may contain a plurality of articles.

2. The sorting support system according to claim 1 , wherein the articles for which the visual inspection is required are knife and brand name articles.

3. The sorting support system according to claim 1 , wherein the specified usage condition is associated with a trend of handled goods in a time-period in which sorting is performed.

4. The sorting support system according to claim 1 , wherein the specified usage condition is associated with a trend of handled goods according to sender location.

5. The sorting support system according to claim 1 , wherein a threshold for determining whether or not at least one article is included is possible to change.

6. The sorting support system according to claim 1 , wherein a sorting support apparatus at a first stage uses a usage condition for sorting paper and non-paper articles, and

sorting support apparatuses at second and following stages use a usage condition for further sorting the non-paper articles.

7. A sorting support method comprising,

by each of a plurality of sorting support apparatuses disposed at multiple stages:

inputting a transmission image obtained by radiating an inspection target with electromagnetic waves; and

determining whether or not one or more articles used under a specified usage condition is contained in the inspection target, wherein

at least any one of the sorting support apparatuses determines the articles for which visual inspection is required,

wherein the specified usage condition is associated with a trend of handled goods at a location where the sorting support apparatus is disposed, and

wherein the handled good comprises a package which may contain a plurality of articles.

8. The sorting support method according to claim 7 , wherein the articles for which the visual inspection is required are knife and brand name articles.

9. The sorting support method according to claim 7 , wherein the specified usage condition is associated with a trend of handled goods in a time-period in which sorting is performed.

10. The sorting support method according to claim 7 , wherein the specified usage condition is associated with a trend of handled goods according to sender location.

11. The sorting support method according to claim 7 , wherein a threshold for determining whether or not at least one article is included is possible to change.

12. The sorting support method according to claim 7 , wherein a sorting support apparatus at a first stage uses a usage condition for sorting paper and non-paper articles, and

sorting support apparatuses at second and following stages use a usage condition for further sorting the non-paper articles.

13. A computer-readable non-transitory recording medium storing a program executable by a computer of each of a plurality of sorting support apparatuses disposed at multiple stages to perform processing comprising:

inputting a transmission image obtained by radiating an inspection target with electromagnetic waves; and

determining whether or not one or more articles used under a specified usage condition is contained in the inspection target, wherein

the computer of at least any one of the sorting support apparatuses determines the articles for which visual inspection is required,

wherein the specified usage condition is associated with a trend of handled goods at a location where the sorting support apparatus is disposed, and

wherein the handled good comprises a package which may contain a plurality of articles.

14. The medium according to claim 13 , wherein the articles for which the visual inspection is required are knife and brand name articles.

15. The medium according to claim 13 , wherein the specified usage condition is associated with a trend of handled goods in a time-period in which sorting is performed.

16. The medium according to claim 13 , wherein the specified usage condition is associated with a trend of handled goods according to sender location.

17. The medium according to claim 13 , wherein the processing comprises performing changing a threshold for determining whether or not at least one article is included.

Priority Claims (1)
JP 2018-066026 · Mar 29, 2018 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16971715
Related Publication 20240044815A1 · Feb 8, 2024
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