System and method for opening containers

Abstract

Features are applied to a mathematical model to produce a cutting pattern for opening a container. The cutting pattern specifies which of one or more cutting tools is to be used and the location of where cuts are to be made on the container. The cutting pattern is sent to a container opening machine. The container opening machine is operated and the container cut and opened by the container opening machine according to the cutting pattern.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for opening a container, the system comprising:
 a scanning surface;   a plurality of containers that arrive and are sequentially placed on the scanning surface;   a scanning device;   a sensor;   a database that stores a mathematical model;   a container opening machine including at least one cutting tool, the at least one cutting tool being one or more of a saw blade or a laser, wherein the at least one cutting tool is applied to each of the plurality of containers arriving on the scanning surface to open the container;   a control circuit coupled to the database, the scanning device, the sensor, and the container opening machine, wherein the control circuit is configured to:   receive sensor data from the sensor, the sensor data identifying the contents of the container;   receive scanned images from the scanning device, the scanned images being of the contents of the interior of the container;   analyze the sensor data and the scanned images to obtain features of the contents of the container;   apply the features to the mathematical model to produce a cutting pattern, the cutting pattern specifying which of the one or more cutting tools to be used and the location of where cuts are to be made;   send the cutting pattern to the container opening machine;   wherein the container opening machine is operated and the container cut and opened by the container opening machine according to the cutting pattern.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting pattern further includes the depth of the cuts into the container. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting pattern further includes the speed of the cutting tool. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the features of the contents include one or more of the dimensions of the contents, the spacing of the contents, the shape of the contents, the size of the contents, the number of contents in the container, the monetary value of the contents, and the orientation of the contents. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the container includes a label or tag that is scanned and the sensor data is sensed from the label or tag. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the containers include the same type of items. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting pattern species that cutting tool selected is a laser and that the intensity of the laser is adjusted to a predetermined value. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mathematical model is a convolutional neural network (CNN). 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the scanning surface is a conveyor belt. 
     
     
         10 . A method for opening a container, the method comprising:
 providing a scanning surface, a plurality of containers that arrive and are sequentially placed on the scanning surface, a scanning device, a sensor and a database that stores a mathematical model;   providing a container opening machine that includes at least one cutting tool, the at least one cutting tool being one or more of a saw blade or a laser, wherein the at least one cutting tool is applied to each of the plurality of containers arriving on the scanning surface to open the container;   at a control circuit, receiving sensor data from the sensor, the sensor data identifying the contents of the container;   at the control circuit, receiving scanned images from the scanning device, the scanned images being of the contents of the interior of the container;   at the control circuit, analyzing the sensor data and the scanned images to obtain features of the contents of the container;   at the control circuit, applying the features to the mathematical model to produce a cutting pattern, the cutting pattern specifying which of the one or more cutting tools to be used and the location of where cuts are to be made;   by the control circuit, sending the cutting pattern to the container opening machine;   wherein the container opening machine is operated and the container cut and opened by the container opening machine according to the cutting pattern.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the cutting pattern further includes the depth of the cuts into the container. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the cutting pattern further includes the speed of the cutting tool. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the features of the contents include one or more of the dimensions of the contents, the spacing of the contents, the shape of the contents, the size of the contents, the number of contents in the container, the monetary value of the contents, and the orientation of the contents. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the container includes a label or tag that is scanned and the sensor data is sensed from the label or tag. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the containers include the same type of items. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the cutting pattern species that cutting tool selected is a laser and that the intensity of the laser is adjusted to a predetermined value. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the mathematical model is a convolutional neural network (CNN). 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the scanning surface is a conveyor belt.