Patents by Inventor George Coupar

George Coupar has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11911799
    Abstract: A system and method for enhanced monitoring and sorting of delivery items, such as packages, which are moved and sorted via a delivery service conveyor device. Conventional systems may employ photocells, which detect interrupted light beams, to identify packages or delivery items along a conveyor path. The present system and method enhances photocell function by adding image detection and analysis to the mail path; and further by modifying the photocell signals to the sorter/conveyor control. The present sensing system is located in the same area on the transport as the photocell, and uses a camera to capture an image of the mail path in the photocell area. The system and method then analyze a package image to formulate a more accurate item detection signal, based on photocell data and image data, for input to the sorter/conveyor control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
    Inventors: George Coupar, Jeffrey A. Fox, James Whipple, Gabriel Difurio
  • Publication number: 20230211381
    Abstract: A system and method for enhanced monitoring and sorting of delivery items, such as packages, which are moved and sorted via a delivery service conveyor device. Conventional systems may employ photocells, which detect interrupted light beams, to identify packages or delivery items along a conveyor path. The present system and method enhances photocell function by adding image detection and analysis to the mail path; and further by modifying the photocell signals to the sorter/conveyor control. The present sensing system is located in the same area on the transport as the photocell, and uses a camera to capture an image of the mail path in the photocell area. The system and method then analyze a package image to formulate a more accurate item detection signal, based on photocell data and image data, for input to the sorter/conveyor control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: George COUPAR, Jeffrey A. FOX, James WHIPPLE, Gabriel DIFURIO
  • Patent number: 11602773
    Abstract: A system and method for enhanced monitoring and sorting of delivery items, such as packages, which are moved and sorted via a delivery service conveyor device. Conventional systems may employ photocells, which detect interrupted light beams, to identify packages or delivery items along a conveyor path. The present system and method enhances photocell function by adding image detection and analysis to the mail path; and further by modifying the photocell signals to the sorter/conveyor control. The present sensing system is located in the same area on the transport as the photocell, and uses a camera to capture an image of the mail path in the photocell area. The system and method then analyzes a package image to formulate a more accurate item detection signal, based on photocell data and image data, for input to the sorter/conveyor control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
    Inventors: George Coupar, Jeffrey Adin Fox, James Whipple, Gabriel Difurio
  • Patent number: 10894686
    Abstract: Features for systems and methods for loading items into a tray are disclosed. The system may have an item conveyor configured to move the items towards a tray conveyor. The tray conveyor may be configured to move trays to receive items from the item conveyor into the tray. One or more sensors may detect the height of the items on the item conveyor and/or in the tray, and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor. A controller may receive data related to the one or more detected heights of the items and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor and correspondingly control movement of the item and/or tray conveyors for efficient loading of items into the tray and efficient movement of the trays for further processing. Tray conveyor movement sensors may detect movement of the trays or tray conveyors for further control or reliability of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Dongliang Yang, Shao C. Yang, Christopher R. Simpson, James E. Goodbar, III, Marina E. Khazanov, George Coupar
  • Publication number: 20200094288
    Abstract: A system and method for enhanced monitoring and sorting of delivery items, such as packages, which are moved and sorted via a delivery service conveyor device. Conventional systems may employ photocells, which detect interrupted light beams, to identify packages or delivery items along a conveyor path. The present system and method enhances photocell function by adding image detection and analysis to the mail path; and further by modifying the photocell signals to the sorter/conveyor control. The present sensing system is located in the same area on the transport as the photocell, and uses a camera to capture an image of the mail path in the photocell area. The system and method then analyzes a package image to formulate a more accurate item detection signal, based on photocell data and image data, for input to the sorter/conveyor control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: George COUPAR, Jeffrey Adin FOX, James WHIPPLE, Gabriel DIFURIO
  • Publication number: 20190375523
    Abstract: Features for systems and methods for loading items into a tray are disclosed. The system may have an item conveyor configured to move the items towards a tray conveyor. The tray conveyor may be configured to move trays to receive items from the item conveyor into the tray. One or more sensors may detect the height of the items on the item conveyor and/or in the tray, and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor. A controller may receive data related to the one or more detected heights of the items and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor and correspondingly control movement of the item and/or tray conveyors for efficient loading of items into the tray and efficient movement of the trays for further processing. Tray conveyor movement sensors may detect movement of the trays or tray conveyors for further control or reliability of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Dongliang Yang, Shao C. Yang, Christopher R. Simpson, James E. Goodbar, III, Marina E. Khazanov, George Coupar
  • Patent number: 10421564
    Abstract: Features for systems and methods for loading items into a tray are disclosed. The system may have an item conveyor configured to move the items towards a tray conveyor. The tray conveyor may be configured to move trays to receive items from the item conveyor into the tray. One or more sensors may detect the height of the items on the item conveyor and/or in the tray, and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor. A controller may receive data related to the one or more detected heights of the items and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor and correspondingly control movement of the item and/or tray conveyors for efficient loading of items into the tray and efficient movement of the trays for further processing. Tray conveyor movement sensors may detect movement of the trays or tray conveyors for further control or reliability of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Dongliang Yang, Shao C. Yang, Christopher R. Simpson, James E. Goodbar, III, Marina E. Khazanov, George Coupar
  • Publication number: 20180057286
    Abstract: Features for systems and methods for loading items into a tray are disclosed. The system may have an item conveyor configured to move the items towards a tray conveyor. The tray conveyor may be configured to move trays to receive items from the item conveyor into the tray. One or more sensors may detect the height of the items on the item conveyor and/or in the tray, and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor. A controller may receive data related to the one or more detected heights of the items and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor and correspondingly control movement of the item and/or tray conveyors for efficient loading of items into the tray and efficient movement of the trays for further processing. Tray conveyor movement sensors may detect movement of the trays or tray conveyors for further control or reliability of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Dongliang Yang, Shao C. Yang, Christopher R. Simpson, James E. Goodbar, III, Marina E. Khazanov, George Coupar
  • Patent number: 9840379
    Abstract: Features for systems and methods for loading items into a tray are disclosed. The system may have an item conveyor configured to move the items towards a tray conveyor. The tray conveyor may be configured to move trays to receive items from the item conveyor into the tray. One or more sensors may detect the height of the items on the item conveyor and/or in the tray, and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor. A controller may receive data related to the one or more detected heights of the items and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor and correspondingly control movement of the item and/or tray conveyors for efficient loading of items into the tray and efficient movement of the trays for further processing. Tray conveyor movement sensors may detect movement of the trays or tray conveyors for further control or reliability of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: The United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Dongliang Yang, Shao C. Yang, Christopher R. Simpson, James E. Goodbar, Marina E. Khazanov, George Coupar
  • Publication number: 20160332823
    Abstract: Features for systems and methods for loading items into a tray are disclosed. The system may have an item conveyor configured to move the items towards a tray conveyor. The tray conveyor may be configured to move trays to receive items from the item conveyor into the tray. One or more sensors may detect the height of the items on the item conveyor and/or in the tray, and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor. A controller may receive data related to the one or more detected heights of the items and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor and correspondingly control movement of the item and/or tray conveyors for efficient loading of items into the tray and efficient movement of the trays for further processing. Tray conveyor movement sensors may detect movement of the trays or tray conveyors for further control or reliability of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Dongliang Yang, Shao C. Yang, Christopher R. Simpson, James E. Goodbar, Marina E. Khazanov, George Coupar