NZ542611A - Method and device for labelling an item within a cluster, such as a banana in a bunch - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and device for labelling an item within an item cluster involves a signal source for sending a signal to the cluster, a signal receiver for receiving signals reflected off the cluster and a labeller which positions a label on individual items in the cluster in accordance with data analysed from the signal receiver.

Description

10052677 456* ;PATENTS FORM NO. 5 ;Fee No. 4: $250.00 ;PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION ;After Provisional No: 542611 ;Dated: 23 September 2005 ;METHOD OF PRODUCE HANDLING ;WE Jet Stick Limited a New Zealand company of 40 Te Puke Quarry Road, ;Te Puke, New Zealand hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: ;Intellectual Property Office of N.2. ;2 2 SEP 2006 ;RECEIVED ;James & Wells Ref: 125080/55 ;METHOD OF PRODUCE HANDLING ;TECHNICAL FIELD ;This invention relates to a method of produce handling. ;Specifically this invention relates to the identification of the exact position of items 5 within a cluster in order to allow labelling of same. ;BACKGROUND ART ;Fruit is often labelled, usually by the fruit producer. ;Labelling of fruit allows people buying fruit, either wholesale or on a small scale to see where the produce was produced, and the specific producers of same. ;10 Individual fruit such as apples or kiwifruit are easily labelled. This is due to the individual fruit passing under a labelling machine in a predetermined position. ;Individual fruit are often positioned in trays for transport and display prior to labelling. In this instance, the pockets of the tray determine the position of each individual fruit. ;15 The trays can then be passed through a labelling machine, which is set to apply a label at regular intervals. The interval will depend on the size and shape of the fruit, and how this is spaced in the tray. Fruit packed onto trays has also usually undergone grading; this ensures that fruit in a tray are all substantially the same size and shape. ;20 Alternatively, fruit may be labelled prior to packing onto trays or into cartons. ;Many individual fruit are positioned individual cups or singular portions on a conveyor or other transport device during grading and processing. Again, this ;2 ;allows the position of an individual piece of fruit to be controlled by the positioning of the cups or portions. The conveyor may then pass through a labelling device, wherein a label is applied to the fruit in each singular cup or portion. ;There are significant difficulties however associated with labelling fruit which is 5 grouped, or has irregular shapes or spacing in between the fruit - such as bananas. ;Bananas grow in a bunch containing a large number of banana hands. Commercially bananas are generally sold as hands. Each hand of bananas contains a number of individual bananas in various positions in relation to each 10 other. ;Adjacent or individual bananas in a hand may be overlapping, one on top of another, of differing shapes, sizes or in widely differing positions with relation to one another. ;The result of this is that, although it has been tried many times, no one has been 15 able to successfully label bananas automatically. ;Currently bananas are labelled manually. This is time consuming, and can result in significant damage or bruising of the fruit due to bad handling. Manual labelling can also lead to inefficient labelling of the bananas. ;The applicants' New Zealand Patent No. 505378 describes a state of the art 20 non-contact air labeller. ;However, this machine, and others on the market do not currently have the means to automatically label bananas, as they cannot identify and differentiate between different bananas within a bunch. ;The labeller as described in New Zealand Patent No. 505378 may have an object ;3 ;detector capable of detecting the size of the object to which a label is to be applied which is used to control the actuation of the device. The object detector may be a photo-electric sensor. Alternatively, an external signal may provide the apparatus with an indication of the size of the object. ;5 These types of detectors, simply detect the presence of an item, and actuate the labeller when an object is detected. However, these detectors are unable to distinguish between individual items in a group or cluster, which may be overlapping or irregular in shape or positioning. ;It would be beneficial if there was an automatic device which was able to identify, 10 differentiate and label individual fruit within a group such as bananas. ;All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and 15 pertinency of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art, in New Zealand or in any other country. ;It is acknowledged that the term 'comprise' may, under varying jurisdictions, be 20 attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification, and unless otherwise noted, the term 'comprise' shall have an inclusive meaning - i.e. that it will be taken to mean an inclusion of not only the listed components it directly references, but also other non-specified components or elements. This rationale will also be used when the term 'comprised' or 25 'comprising' is used in relation to one or more steps in a method or process. ;4 ;It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice. ;Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only. ;5 DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION ;According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of labelling an item within an item cluster, including the steps of: ;a. sending a signal to the cluster, ;b. receiving the resultant reflected signal from the cluster ;10 c. determining the position of an individual item within the cluster by comparing the sent and received signals, and. ;d. applying a label in accordance with the position of the item determined. ;According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a device to label individual items within an item cluster, including ;15 a signal source for sending a signal to the cluster, ;a signal receiver for receiving signals reflected off the cluster, and a labeller characterised in that the labeller positions a label on individual items within the cluster in accordance with the data analysed from the signal receiver. ;20 Throughout this specification the term 'cluster' should be taken to include produce. ;In particular the term 'cluster' should be taken to mean produce which includes a ;5 ;number of individual items, and wherein the individual items are close together or overlapping in nature, and which are hard to sense or track by normal methods. ;The present invention may be used to determine the position of, and label an individual item within a cluster, which cannot be placed in a pre-determined or 5 known position - not just produce as described above. For example asymmetrical or bulky items, or items which have a non-uniform position in relation to the labeller. ;In a preferred embodiment the cluster may be a hand of bananas, with the individual item being a banana within the hand. ;10 It is difficult to differentiate between individual bananas which are positioned side by side, one on top of the other or any position in-between by current sensing devices. ;Throughout the rest of this specification the term 'bananas' or 'hand of bananas' will be used to refer to the cluster and the term 'banana' to refer to the individual 15 item. ;However, this should not be seen as limiting as any other cluster may have the position of individual items determined and labelled. For example individual grapes or cherries within a bunch may have their position determined and be labelled using the present invention. ;20 The present invention may be used to determine the highest position of an individual item within the cluster. The highest position may be adjacent to either the front or back edge of the item. ;In a preferred embodiment the present invention may detect the leading (or front) edge of individual items within the cluster. ;6 ;However, this should not be seen as limiting as in an alternative embodiment the present invention may be used to detect the back edge of individual items within the cluster. ;As hands of bananas are often multi layered, with one row of bananas positioned 5 directly on top of another row, in most preferred embodiments the device of the present invention may determine the position of individual bananas in only the top or upper layer. ;The individual bananas (or some of) in the upper layer, once their position has been determined can then be labelled. ;10 Determining the position of and labelling the individual bananas in the upper layer ensures that the individual items which will be visible to consumers or purchases will be labelled. Labelling only the bananas in view is also more cost effective. ;However this should not be seen as limiting as in some instances, it may be possible, and desirable to detect and label bananas in the lower layer of a hand, or 15 in both the upper and lower layer. ;The device of the present invention is capable of determining the position of, and labelling individual bananas in hands of varying sizes. The hands may be single layered, or multi layered, and may have significantly differing numbers of individual bananas in each layer. ;20 In a preferred embodiment the signal may be one which is capable of being reflected off the cluster, or the surface on which the cluster is positioned. ;In a preferred embodiment the signal may be an optical signal, and shall be referred to as such herein. ;In a preferred embodiment the signal may be a light signal. ;7 ;In a particularly preferred embodiment the signal may be an infrared signal, and shall be referred to as such herein. ;However this should not be seen as limiting as the signal may be any other kind or frequency of light, or colour including ambient daylight. ;5 In a preferred embodiment the infrared signal may be within the range of 850 to 950 nm. ;One significant advantage of utilising infrared light as the signal is that ambient daylight can be filtered out. This means that the signal reflected off the cluster and received by the signal receiver is less susceptible to changes, such as changes in 10 light intensity of ambient light due to changes in the suns strength or presence. ;This allows more accurate determination of the reflected signal, and therefore more accurate positioning of individual bananas. When infrared light is used as the signal, it is known that any change observed in the signal received is due to the presence of the cluster, or an individual item within the cluster, rather than 15 uncontrollable changes in the signal source. ;Infrared light in the frequency range of 850 to 950 nm is the frequency emitted by standard LED's. ;In a preferred embodiment the signal source (of infrared light) may be at least one standard LED. However this should not be seen as limiting, as other frequencies 20 may be used if a specialized source of same is available. ;The signal source produces the signal, the signal is directed at the cluster, the signal, or portion thereof which is reflected off the cluster or surface on which the cluster is positioned is received by the signal receiver. ;In a preferred embodiment the signal receiver may be configured to detect the ;8 ;signal produced from the signal source. ;For example, if the signal source is emitting infrared light, then the signal receiver would be configured to detect infrared light which is reflected off the cluster. ;In a preferred embodiment the signal emitted by the signal source may be of a size 5 or diameter which is smaller than the width of an individual banana within the hand. ;If the diameter of the light beam is smaller than the width of the banana the intensity of the reflected beam varies with position of the individual item (or banana). ;This enables higher resolution of the signal and greater accuracy in determining 10 the position of the item within a cluster and positioning the item in the correct position for labelling. ;When an individual banana moves relative to the signal the reflected intensity varies with the flatness of the banana. ;For example as the signal moves onto the side of an individual banana the signal 15 will be scattered, and reflected in a wide range of directions given the curvature of the side of a banana, therefore the signal received reflected off the banana will be low. ;As the signal moves onto the top surface of the banana, the signal received reflected off the banana will increase as the surface flattens out. ;20 The reflected signal will have a maximum value when the entire signal is directed at the top flattish surface of the banana, as the highest proportion of the signal will be reflected back to the receiver. ;As the signal moves onto the back shoulder of the banana the signal is again ;9 ;scattered, due to the signal striking the banana at an angle. This results in a decreasing signal being received by the receiver as the signal moves off an individual banana. ;Initial tests by the applicant used a standard LED emitter as the signal source. 5 However, although a definite change was observed in the received reflected signal from the banana this was attenuated over a short distance due to the pattern of the LED emitter (i.e. the beam was not of a size or diameter smaller than the width of an average banana). In this instance the LED emitter had a 20 degree spread. ;This spread meant that the signal being reflected back to the signal receiver was 10 averaged over a larger surface area, which to some extent annulled the difference in signal obtained when moved over the gap between one banana and the adjacent banana. ;Therefore to overcome the above problem, in some embodiments the signal source may also include at least one lens which acts to concentrate the signal 15 beam. ;In a preferred embodiment the lens may focus the beam onto a point substantially at the distance the cluster is away from the signal source. ;In a preferred embodiment the lens may focus the beam onto a point approximately 150 mm in front of the signal source. ;20 In a preferred embodiment as well as including at least one lens to concentrate the signal being emitted from the signal source, the lens system may also include at least one lens to concentration the reflected signal into the signal receiver. Alternatively this may be associated only with the signal receiver. Herein, the lens system will be referred to as being associated with both the signal source and the 25 signal receiver. ;10 ;One skilled in the art would be aware that a range of lenses, or lens systems may be used with the present invention. ;One skilled in the art would also appreciate that the lenses for the two different purposes would be focused in opposing directions, one focusing the signal onto 5 the cluster, the other focusing the signal into the signal receiver. One skilled in the art would also appreciate that the lenses for the two different purposes may be of differing shapes or sizes. ;In a preferred embodiment the lens system may include a block (preferably aluminium) in which the two lenses are positioned. ;10 In a preferred embodiment each lens has an angled signal path. ;In a preferred embodiment the signal receiver may be a photodiode amplifier, and shall be referred to as such herein. However this should not be seen as limiting, as any other signal receiver capable of receiving an infrared signal may be used. ;In some embodiments the photodiode amplifier may convert the reflected signal 15 intensity changes into a voltage. ;In a preferred embodiment the device also includes a microprocessor, into which the voltage changes or readings are fed. Software or other analysis devices can then be used to compare on a sample by sample basis the relative intensity. ;In a preferred embodiment the hands of bananas may be positioned on a 20 conveyor, or rollers. Preferably the rollers or conveyor does not damage the cluster, or individual items therein, and does not interfere with the detecting/labelling process. ;The rollers, or conveyor move the bananas past the signal being emitted from the signal source, the signal receiver detects the signal reflected off the cluster. ;11 ;In preferred embodiments the conveyor may align the rows of bananas with the labelling head(s) of a labelling device. ;If infrared light is used, the absolute intensity is not important. ;In a preferred embodiment a combination of light intensity and amplification is 5 preferably required to allow 5 volts at the A to D input of the microprocessor when the largest bananas are scanned. ;When the change between the signals received from adjacent samples exceeds a threshold an individual banana within the hand is deemed to be present. ;In a preferred embodiment when the difference between two samples exceeds the 10 threshold the labeller may be activated which leads to the banana being labelled ;Each sample is compared with the previous sample. The sample rate is dependant on the speed of the conveyor or rollers. In one embodiment the speed of the conveyor may be approximately 1 m/second. ;In one preferred embodiment a sample reading may be taken for every 2 15 millimetres of conveyor movement. ;This threshold is arbitrary. ;If the threshold is small, the sensitivity is high. In this case small changes in the slope of the banana may cause a label to be dispensed. ;The threshold is preferably set in the microprocessor, or software. ;20 In a preferred embodiment an individual banana is labelled substantially instantly after it's position has been determined. ;In one embodiment labelling of an individual banana may be via the output of the ;12 ;signal receiver or microprocessor activating a gravity roller setup on the labelling device. ;However, this should not be seen as limiting, as it may be desirable to have a delay between determining the position of, and labelling an individual item. In one 5 embodiment a delay may be introduced by placing a marker in a shift register (this is discussed in more detail later). ;In some embodiments it may be preferred to label every banana. However, this should not be seen as limiting as in many cases it may be desired to label every second banana, or other configuration of two or more bananas. ;10 In one preferred embodiment it may be desired to label only the first and third banana of each hand. Labelling only a portion of the bananas in a hand also decreases the cost of labels. ;For example, two different labels may be desired to be positioned on each hand of bananas, in this instance for example one label may have a PLU number and the 15 second label may contain a health message. ;In order to label some bananas and not others, the device may determine the position of both the cluster, and then individual bananas within each hand. ;In a preferred embodiment the device may determine the position of the cluster (hand of bananas) by determining the position of the stalk, or area where individual 20 bananas within the hand are joined together. ;It is necessary to differentiate between different clusters by determining the position of the stalk as when positioned on the conveyor, or rollers, the hands are positioned very close together, with no gaps in-between. This means that although individual bananas can be differentiated, it is not possible to determine where each ;13 ;hand starts and stops. ;Determining the position of the stalk gives a good indication of where each hand of bananas starts and stops. ;In order to determine the position of the stalk the device may include a second 5 signal source. ;Therefore, in this embodiment, the device may have two signal sources, one to determine the position of the stalk of the banana hand, and the other to determine the position of individual but adjacent bananas, and the gap in-between same.. ;In a preferred embodiment the signal source to determine the position of the stalk 10 may be an optical sensor, as discussed in detail above. ;In a preferred embodiment the device may also include a second signal receiver, to receive the signal reflected off the stalk, or the surface on which it is positioned. ;In a preferred embodiment software may then be utilised to determine where each hand starts and stops, and to use the data from the receiver determining the 15 position of individual bananas within the hands to determine the position of the first and third bananas (or other combination), and direct the labelling of same. ;The software ignores the other bananas (which are not labelled). ;In embodiments wherein the individual items are not to be labelled substantially when their position is determined, the device may also include means for tracking 20 clusters, or individual items on a conveyor. ;In one embodiment the means for tracking clusters or individual items on a conveyor may include: ;a movement sensor for sensing conveyor movement, and ;14 ;a signal receiver for receiving signals reflected off the items or conveyor, and wherein the received signals are indexed in relation to the sensed movement of the conveyor. ;In embodiments wherein the individual items are not to be labelled substantially when their position is determined there is also included a method of tracking a cluster, and individual items therein, including the steps of: ;a. positioning the cluster on a conveyor, the conveyor moving through a tracking device, ;b. recording and encoding the movement of the conveyor via a movement sensor, ;c. sending a signal to the cluster d. receiving the resultant reflected signal from the cluster, ;e. determining the position of an individual item within the cluster by comparing the sent and received signals, and f. indexing the position of an individual item in relation to the sensed movement of the items or conveyor, ;wherein the indexing allows precise location of a specific individual items to be recorded in relation to the conveyor at a specified time. ;In a preferred embodiment the term conveyor should be taken to include any means to transporting or moving the clusters from one location or position to another. In one preferred embodiment the conveyor may consist of a set of adjacent rollers. In an alternative embodiment the conveyor may be conveyor belt, with a flat surface on which the item is positioned. ;15 ;In a preferred embodiment the conveyor will not damage the clusters or individual items therein and does not interfere with the tracking process. ;In a preferred embodiment the movement sensor may be able to measure and record the movement of the conveyor. ;5 In some embodiments the movement sensor may be a linear variable resistance transducer (LVRT) or micro-switch. However, these should not be seen as limiting, as any other known movement sensors may be utilised with the present invention. ;In one preferred embodiment the movement sensor may be a shaft encoder, and shall herein be referred to as such. ;10 In a preferred embodiment the shaft encoder may be connected to the drive roller of the conveyor. This allows the movement sensed by the movement sensor to be correlated with the movement of the conveyor and therefore the clusters. ;The data obtained from the signal receiver may then be indexed against the sensed movement of the conveyor. This index will allow the position of individual 15 bananas in a hand be calculated in relation to the conveyor position. ;In some embodiments the data obtained from the signal receiver may be inputted to a shift register along with the data obtained from the shaft encoder relating to the conveyor movement. This allows data from the signal receiver, usually in the form of relative intensity of infrared to be matched with the movement sensed. ;20 The indexing of the received signals in relation to the sensed movement of the items or conveyor allows that the indexing can be used to determine when the individual items arrive at the labeller. This enables the labelling of specific items such as bananas in a hand. ;In most preferable embodiments of the present invention the labeller may be that ;16 ;as described in New Zealand Patent No. 505378. However this should not be seen as limiting as any other suitable labeller may be used in conjunction with the present invention. The advantages of the labeller described in New Zealand Patent No. 505378 include the labelling not involving any contact with the bananas, 5 thereby preventing bruising or other disfigurement to the fruit. ;The labeller may be positioned so that the bananas are labelled directly after individual bananas have been identified and differentiated, or it may be positioned so that there is a delay between tracking and labelling, for example the labeller may be positioned at the end of the conveyor, with the bananas then going on to 10 be packaged. ;In preferred embodiments individual bananas are labelled directly after being sensed. ;In embodiments where the bananas are labelled directly after being sensed, a gravity roller section may be used by eliminating the shaft encoder, shift register 15 and directly actuating the labeller. ;In an alternative embodiment the bananas may be labelled after a delay, wherein the tracking device aligns the bananas with the labeller. A shaft encoder is attached to the drive roller and provides pulses to the electronics every millimetre of conveyor movement. The cluster passes under the optic signal source/receiver 20 and are scanned. The position of individual bananas is encoded into memory and is moved along the shift register with every encoder pulse. ;This encoding can be modified before the cluster arrive at the label head, enabling the labelling of specific individual bananas within the cluster or hand. The arrival of the cluster at the label head coincides with the shift register encoding, labelling 25 then takes place. ;17 ;The present invention may also be used in conjunction with any other equipment or process required to be applied to hands, or individual bananas, which can be undertaken mechanically or automatically. ;The current invention also allows for options in relation to the number of individual bananas per hand which are labelled or undergo treatment, and frequency of same. This process is undertaken via software that processes the markers in the shift register. Different label choices may be determined by a multiple position switch. ;The current invention has significant advantages over current practices, including the following: ;• it allows the position of individual items within a cluster to be determined and labelled. ;• there is no contact of the bananas which eliminates bruising, ;• inexpensive optics can be used, however these can still be rugged which eliminate problems from dust and ambient light, ;• the device allows accurate positioning of individual bananas within a hand, and accurate positioning of labels onto the desired number of bananas per hand, ;• the present invention can also be used to determine the position of and label individual items within a cluster which cannot be placed in a predetermined or known position on a surface or conveyor. ;• the present invention allows for the processing of bananas to determine their exact location for labelling at speeds which are limited only by the speed of the labelling machines currently available. ;18 ;• the current invention allows for the mechanical labelling of bananas at processing speeds of up to thirty 18 kg boxes per minute. ;BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS ;Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following 5 description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: ;Figure 1 shows an end on schematic of the tracking device, including a labelling machine; ;Figure 2 shows a schematic of a flowchart, including each processing step 10 required to correctly place and label each banana. ;Figure 3 shows a schematic of the lens system connected to the signal source. ;BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION ;Figure 1 shows one example of a device according to the present invention 15 wherein the position of individual bananas within a hand are determined and labelled immediately. ;Figure 1 includes a conveyor (1) along which a cluster, for example a hand of bananas (2) are conveyed. The bananas (2) are placed so that they align perpendicular to the movement of the conveyor (1). The bananas (2) or other 20 produce may be sat in trays (3) on the conveyor (1) which allows for easy movement of the produce (2) on and off the conveyor (1) at either end. The bananas (2) are contained within a flat tray (3) with three rows of bananas. ;Figure 1 also shows signal source (4a) and receiver (4b) which provides a signal ;19 ;and then receives signals back which are reflected off the items or conveyor. ;The conveyor (1) on which the bananas (2) are positioned is moved under the signal source/receiver (4a and b). In a preferred embodiment the conveyor (1) moves at a speed of 0.5 meters per second, and the distance between the signal 5 source/receiver and the bananas is 50 to 200 millimetres. ;Infrared light (7) in the range of 850-950nm is used as a signal which is beamed down towards on the conveyor (1). The infrared light (8) which is reflected off the item (2) or conveyor (1) is received at the signal receiver (4). The signal received is then used to calculate the position of the back edge of each individual banana. ;10 The exact positioning of the back edge of each banana allows a label to be accurately applied to the banana using a labelling machine. ;Figure 1 shows a labelling machine, which labels the banana (2) at the same time as the back edge is sensed. The labelling machine (5) may be that as described in New Zealand Patent No. 505378 which uses an air amplifier (6) to apply a label to 15 the banana. ;Figure 2 shows the process by which it is determined an individual banana in a cluster is present and requires a label. ;The ADC Routine (9) involves the data from the photodiode amplified, amplifier being processed. This routine can be called from a timer every two milliseconds or 20 every two millimetres of travel of the conveyor belt if a shaft encoder is used. ;The analogue to digital converter is then read (10). The result of this is placed in the memory if it is a smaller value than the previous reading. ;The ADC is then compared (11) with the reading obtained from the previous sample plus the threshold. The previous sample being that taken two milliseconds ;20 ;before-hand or two millimetres of travel of the conveyor belt before the present sample. ;It is then determined whether the present sample is greater than the previous sample. ;5 If the reading is greater than the previous sample by a predetermined factor then a banana is in the correct place for labelling. If a banana is in the correct positioning for labelling an output is turned on for several milliseconds (13). This dispensers a label, which is applied to the banana. All registers then reset in order for the next banana. ;10 If the ADC reading when compared with the previous sample is not greater by a predetermined factor then the ADC reading is compared with the previous sample minus a threshold value (14). ;It is then determined whether the ADC reading is smaller than the previous sample minus a threshold by a predetermined factor (15). ;15 If it is smaller by a predetermined factor then the banana has past the detector as the slope has changed. Therefore a banana is in the correct positioning for labelling. An output is turned on for several milliseconds, which dispensers a label (16). The banana is then labelled by applying a label. ;If both the ADC reading when compared with the previous sample plus the 20 threshold gives a smaller value or a larger value when the ADC reading is compared with a previous sample minus the threshold then no banana is present and in the correct position to have a label applied to it. ;Figure 3 shows a schematic of the lens system (17), which includes an aluminium block (18) and two lenses (19 and 20). One of the lenses is used to concentration ;21 ;the infrared signal being sent to the cluster. The other lens is used to concentrate the infrared signal being reflected off the cluster. Figure 3A shows a front view, 3B an end view and 3C a plan view of the lens system. ;Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims. ;22 ;Intellectual Property Office of N.Z. ;-5MAR 2007 ;RECEIVED *

Claims (25)

WHAT l/WE CLAIM IS:

1. A method of labelling an item within an item cluster, including the steps of: a. sending a signal to the cluster; b. receiving the resultant reflected signal from the cluster c. determining the position of an individual item within the cluster by comparing the sent and received signals, and. d. applying a label in accordance with the position of the item determined.

2. A device to label individual items within an item cluster, including: a signal source for sending a signal to the cluster, a signal receiver for receiving signals reflected off the cluster, and a labeller characterised in that the labeller positions a label on individual items within the cluster in accordance with data analysed from the signal receiver.

3. A device to label individual items within a cluster as claimed in claim 2 wherein the items are individual bananas in a hand.

4. A device to label individual items within a cluster as claimed in either one of claims 2 to 3 wherein the device determines the highest position adjacent to the front or leading edge of an individual item within an item cluster.

5. A device to label individual items within a cluster as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the signal is infrared light. 23 Intellectual Property Office of N.Z. -5MAR 2007 RECEIVED

6. A device to label individual items within a cluster as claimed in claim 5 wherein the infrared light is of a frequency within the range of 850 to 950 nm.

7. A device to label individual items within a cluster as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein the diameter or size of the signal beam produced by the signal source is smaller than the width of the item.

8. A device to label individual items within a cluster s as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7 wherein the intensity of the reflected signal varies with the position of individual items within the item cluster.

9. A device to label individual items within a cluster as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 8 wherein the signal receiver is a photodiode amplifier.

10. A device to label individual items within a cluster as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 9 which compares the reflected intensity (or voltage) between samples.

11. A device to label individual items within a cluster as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 10 which labels an item when the change in the signal received by the signal receiver between samples exceeds a threshold.

12. A device to label items as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 11 which also includes a conveyor on which the items are positioned.

13. A device to label individual items within a cluster as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 12 which also determines the position of a connecting point of the cluster.

14. A device to label individual items within a cluster as claimed in claim 13 wherein the device includes a second signal source and receiver configured to determine the position of a connecting point of the cluster. 24

15. A device to label individual items within a cluster as claimed in either claim 13 or 14 wherein the position of the connecting point of the cluster differentiates between adjacent clusters.

16. A method of labeling a set pattern of individual items, within an item cluster, including the steps of: a. sending a first signal to the cluster; b. receiving the resultant reflected first signal from the cluster c. determining the position of a connecting point of the cluster by comparing the first sent and received signals, d. sending a second signal to the cluster; e. receiving the resultant reflected second signal from the cluster f. determining the position of an individual item within the cluster by comparing the second sent and received signals, g. applying a label to a set pattern of individual items within the cluster in accordance with the position of the individual items determined.

17. A device to label individual items within a cluster as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 15 wherein the device also includes means for tracking clusters or individual items on a conveyor.

18. A device to label individual items within a cluster as claimed in claim 17 wherein the means for tracking clusters or individual items on a conveyor includes: a movement sensor for sensing conveyor movement, and a signal receiver for receiving signals reflected off the items or conveyor 25 20. 22. wherein the received signals are indexed in relation to the sensed movement of the items of conveyor.

A device to label individual items within a cluster as claimed in either claim 17 or 18 wherein the movement sensor is a Linear Variable Resistance Transducer (LVRT).

A device to label individual items within a cluster as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 19 wherein the movement sensor is a micro switch.

A device to label individual items within a cluster as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 20 wherein the movement sensor is a shaft encoder.

A device to label individual items within a cluster as claimed in claim 21 wherein the shaft encoder is connected to a drive roller associated with the conveyor.

A method of determining the position of an individual item within a cluster, using the device as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 22, the method including the steps of: a. positioning the cluster on a conveyor, b. recording and encoding the movement of the conveyor via a movement sensor, c. sending a signal to the cluster, d. receiving the resulting reflected signal from the cluster, e. determining the position of an individual item within the cluster by comparing the sent and received signals, and f. indexing the position of an individual item in relation to the sensed Intellectual Property Office of N.Z. 26 - 5 m 2007 RECEIVED movement of the items or conveyor, wherein the indexing allows precise location of a specific individual item to be recorded in relation to the conveyor at a specified time.

24. A device to label individual items within a cluster substantially as herein described with reference to the disclosure and accompanying figures.

25. A method of labelling an item within an item cluster substantially as herein described with reference to the disclosure and accompanying figures. JET STICK LIMITED by their authorised agents JAMES & WELLS 27