Abstract: A hanger orientation detection system determines the orientation of a hanger on a rail-based garment conveyor. To do so, the detection system continuously monitors the pivot state of a pivot arm. The pivot arm pivots between no-contact and contact pivot states. The no-contact pivot occurs when a garment hanger in a correct orientation translates past the pivot arm without contacting the pivot arm. The contact pivot state occurs when a garment hanger in an incorrect orientation translates past the pivot arm and contacts the pivot arm. Contacting the pivot arm displaces the pivot arm in a measurable manner. The sensor measures the deflection of the pivot arm to determine the pivot state. When the sensor senses that the pivot state changes from the no-contact pivot state to the contact pivot state, the detection system generates an alert signal indicating that a garment hanger is in the incorrect orientation.

Abstract: A camera system including imaging optics, a system controller, a retroreflective surface, and an illumination source allows for capturing high quality images that allow for similar white balance between subsequent images. The camera system includes a camera body coupled to the illumination source such that the illumination source emits light towards the retroreflective surface. An object, is mounted to the retroreflective surface such that at least part of the retroreflective surface is obscured by the garment. Consequently, the light emitted from the illumination source is reflected by both the retroreflective surface and the object towards the camera body. The camera body contains imaging optics which capture an image from the reflected light. Thus, the camera system captures images of the object and retroreflective surface. The camera system similarly white balances any number of images including any number of objects.

Abstract: An order fulfillment system stores any number of items in an item population. The item population includes any number of unique items. The order fulfillment system includes an input system, a storage system, and a packing system. The input system receives items for the population, prepares the received items for storage, and translates the items to the storage system. The storage system stores items in unique storage locations until the items are ordered by a customer of the order fulfillment system. The packing system prepares items orders, packages the items of the order, and sends the orders to the customer which ordered the items. The order fulfillment system also includes storage and fulfillment policies for determining storage locations and packing stations, respectively. Operators of the order fulfillment system can perform actions in the order fulfillment system to facilitate storing and fulfilling orders.

Abstract: A camera system including imaging optics, a system controller, a retroreflective surface, and an illumination source allows for capturing high quality images that allow for similar white balance between subsequent images. The camera system includes a camera body coupled to the illumination source such that the illumination source emits light towards the retroreflective surface. An object, is mounted to the retroreflective surface such that at least part of the retroreflective surface is obscured by the garment. Consequently, the light emitted from the illumination source is reflected by both the retroreflective surface and the object towards the camera body. The camera body contains imaging optics which capture an image from the reflected light. Thus, the camera system captures images of the object and retroreflective surface. The camera system similarly white balances any number of images including any number of objects.

Abstract: An order fulfillment system stores any number of items in an item population. The item population includes any number of unique items. The order fulfillment system includes an input system, a storage system, and a packing system. The input system receives items for the population, prepares the received items for storage, and translates the items to the storage system. The storage system stores items in unique storage locations until the items are ordered by a customer of the order fulfillment system. The packing system prepares items orders, packages the items of the order, and sends the orders to the customer which ordered the items. The order fulfillment system also includes storage and fulfillment policies for determining storage locations and packing stations, respectively. Operators of the order fulfillment system can perform actions in the order fulfillment system to facilitate storing and fulfilling orders.

Abstract: A studio arrangement comprising a plurality of article transports, each article transport having a respective machine-readable code for tracking an article, an image capture device located at a first position on an axis wherein the image capture device is configured to capture images of articles placed on a surface wherein the axis intersects the surface at a second position, one or more light sources each positioned along a respective second axis that intersects the surface at a respective position wherein each light source is configured to illuminate articles placed on the surface, and a system comprising one or more data processing apparatus, the system configured to, for each of a plurality of articles, perform operations comprising: reading the code of a respective one of the transports, the transport being separate from the surface, in response to reading the code, causing the image capture device to acquire an image of the article, associating the article with the code, the image, and one or more param

Abstract: A studio arrangement including a plurality of paths having a common termination point wherein none of the paths are parallel to another, a plurality of mannequins each comprising a conveyance that is slidably engaged with a different one of the paths such that each mannequin can slide along the path to the termination point, a background comprising a white surface, the background located behind the termination point, an image capture device located at a first position on an axis that intersects a mannequin at a second position when the mannequin is positioned at the termination point, and one or more light sources each aimed at the background and positioned in front of the termination point.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for receiving, from an image capture device, a first image of an article and a background surface, the background surface being illuminated by one or more light sources, generating a grayscale image from the first image, determining a brightness level of the article in the grayscale image based on a first luminous intensity representing the background surface, determining one or more control parameters for the image capture device based on the brightness level of the article, and sending the control parameters to the image capture device, causing the image capture device to configure, for capturing a second image of the article, one or more settings based on the control parameters.

Abstract: A studio arrangement including a plurality of paths having a common termination point wherein none of the paths are parallel to another, a plurality of mannequins each comprising a conveyance that is slidably engaged with a different one of the paths such that each mannequin can slide along the path to the termination point, a background comprising a white surface, the background located behind the termination point, an image capture device located at a first position on an axis that intersects a mannequin at a second position when the mannequin is positioned at the termination point, and one or more light sources each aimed at the background and positioned in front of the termination point.