BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Information can often be stored on physical document files. Such physical document files may be packed away in archives, warehouses and/or vaults. Access of information stored on physical document files may be costly and time consuming. Physical documents may be disorganized. Often the documents may be stored as disorganized or non-uniform stacks. Not only can the physical documents be difficult to locate and transport, but once the physical documents have been identified, extracting the information from the physical files can also be time consuming as well.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Recognized herein is a need for systems and methods for automating identification and/or transfer of sheets.

Provided are systems and methods for identifying and/or transferring sheets. The systems and methods can individually or collectively: (1) identify one or more characteristics of a single sheet of a physical document, such as from a stack of physical documents, (2) isolate a single sheet of a physical document, such as from a stack of physical documents, and (3) align one or more sheets of physical documents, such as for scanning. The one or more characteristics can include a shape, size (e.g., dimensions), position (e.g., coordinates), orientation, thickness, and/or other characteristics of a sheet.

In some embodiments, an identification system can facilitate accurate identification of a sheet or a stack of sheets by vacating one or more components of the system that are not the sheet or the stack of sheets from a zone of detection. In some instances, an identification system can facilitate accurate identification and/or isolation of a sheet or a stack of sheets by determining a reference axis, such as a coordinate line, for the sheet or the stack of sheets, and positioning one or more components of the system relative to the reference axis. Alternatively, the identification system can determine a reference point or a reference grid having a plurality of axes.

In some embodiments, an isolation system can facilitate accurate isolation of a sheet or a plurality of sheets from other sheets or from a stack of sheets by providing targeted air flow, such as via positioning an air providing device relative to a known reference point, reference axis, or reference grid of the sheet or the stack of sheets. In some instances, an isolation system can facilitate accurate isolation of a sheet or a plurality of sheets from other sheets or from a stack of sheets by introducing a sinusoidal wave into the sheet or the plurality of sheets. Identification systems and/or isolation systems described herein may facilitate isolation of sheets that were previously fastened together by one or more fasteners.

In some embodiments, an alignment system can facilitate accurate and/or precise alignment of a first sheet to a second sheet via machine learning, wherein the first sheet is downstream of the second sheet. The alignment system can correct discrepancies (e.g., systematic error) in performance of one or more hardware of the system over time.

In an aspect, provided is a method for identifying a sheet, comprising: providing a sheet in a zone of detection, wherein one or more tools are configured to manipulate the sheet within the zone of detection; vacating the one or more tools from the zone of detection, wherein a given tool of the one or more tools is coupled to a positioning component, wherein the positioning component is capable of moving itself and the given tool coupled thereto outside the zone of detection; detecting, by a sensor, one or more characteristics of the sheet to generate sensor data, wherein the one or more characteristics of the sheet is indicative of (i) an orientation and (ii) a position of the sheet in the system; providing the sensor data to a controller; and providing, by the controller, manipulation instructions to the one or more tools to manipulate the sheet, wherein the manipulation instructions are based at least in part on the orientation and the position of the sheet.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises determining, by the controller, a reference axis of the sheet from the one or more characteristics of the sheet provided by the sensor. In some embodiments, the reference axis is determined relative to an edge of the sheet.

In some embodiments, the manipulation instructions to the one or more tools to manipulate the sheet are based at least in part on the reference axis of the sheet.

In some embodiments, the sensor is a camera. In some embodiments, the camera is an area-scan camera. In some embodiments, the sensor data comprises an image of the sheet.

In some embodiments, the one or more characteristics of the sheet are further indicative of a shape, edge, dimension, or thickness of the sheet.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises prior to detecting, illuminating the zone of detection via an illumination source. In some embodiments, the illumination source is a light emitting diode. In some embodiments, the illuminating is via a plurality of illumination sources from a plurality of different locations. In some embodiments, the plurality of illumination sources provides illumination to the zone of detection sequentially. In some embodiments, the sensor is configured to detect the zone of detection after illumination by each illumination source in the plurality of illumination sources.

In some embodiments, the one or more characteristics of the sheet comprise a shadow profile of the sheet. In some embodiments, the controller is configured to determine the orientation and the position of the sheet based at least in part on the shadow profile of the sheet.

In another aspect, provided is a method for isolating a sheet from an adjacent sheet previously fastened to the sheet, comprising: lifting the sheet by a device capable of suction, wherein a portion of a surface of the sheet is coupled to a portion of a surface of the adjacent sheet at a previous fastening location of the sheet and the adjacent sheet by an adhesive force; positioning an air providing device between the sheet and the adjacent sheet, wherein the air providing device comprises an air providing port configured to provide air along a path leading to the previous fastening location; and providing air from the air providing port along the path to overcome the adhesive force.

In some embodiments, the air providing device is an air knife.

In some embodiments, the air providing device is configured to hold down the surface of the adjacent sheet.

In some embodiments, the air providing device comprises a plurality of air providing port, wherein each of the plurality of air providing port is configured to provide air along a different path.

In some embodiments, the adhesive force is a static friction force or a lifting force applied by the device capable of suction.

In another aspect, provided is a method for isolating a first sheet from a second sheet previously fastened to the first sheet, wherein the second sheet is adjacent to the first sheet, the method comprising: providing a backstop adjacent to a stack of the first sheet and the second sheet; lifting the first sheet by a device capable of suction, wherein a portion of a surface of the first sheet is coupled to a portion of a surface of the second sheet at a previous fastening location by an adhesive force; directing the first sheet in a linear motion towards the backstop, wherein the linear motion is interrupted by the backstop; and isolating the first sheet from the second sheet, wherein the first sheet forms a first wave and the second sheet form a second wave, wherein the first wave and the second wave have different amplitudes.

In some embodiments, the first wave and the second wave have different frequencies.

In some embodiments, the linear motion is in a direction opposite a direction of sheet transfer.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises, subsequent to isolating, transferring the first sheet, via the device capable of suction, in the direction of sheet transfer.

In some embodiments, the adhesive force is a static friction force or a lifting force applied by the device capable of suction.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises isolating the first sheet from a third sheet previously fastened to the first sheet, wherein the third sheet is adjacent to the second sheet. In some embodiments, the third sheet forms a third wave, and wherein the third wave and the first wave have different amplitudes or frequencies.

In another aspect, provided is a method for aligning a first sheet at an upstream location relative to a second sheet at a downstream location, comprising: receiving, from a sensor configured to identify one or more characteristics of a sheet, wherein the one or more characteristics are indicative of an alignment of the sheet, one or more characteristics data of the second sheet, wherein the sensor is located at the downstream location; and transmitting, to a tool configured to manipulate alignment of a sheet, one or more manipulation instructions for manipulating the first sheet, wherein the tool is located at the upstream location, and wherein the manipulation instructions are based at least in part on the one or more characteristics of the second sheet.

In some embodiments, the one or more characteristics of the sheet are indicative of an orientation, alignment, shape, edge, dimension, or thickness of the sheet.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises (i) receiving, from the sensor located at the downstream location, one or more characteristics data of the first sheet, and (ii) transmitting, to the tool located at the upstream location, a second set of manipulation instructions for manipulating a third sheet, wherein the third sheet is located upstream of the first sheet.

In some embodiments, the second set of manipulation instructions to manipulate the third sheet is less extensive than the one or more manipulation instructions to manipulate the first sheet.

Additional aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description, wherein only illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure are shown and described. As will be realized, the present disclosure is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. To the extent publications and patents or patent applications incorporated by reference contradict the disclosure contained in the specification, the specification is intended to supersede and/or take precedence over any such contradictory material.

