Method of and system for automatically identifying packages during package transport operations carried out by a human operator walking through the doorway of a storage warehouse

摘要

A method of and system for automatically identifying packages during package transport operations carried out by a human operator walking through the doorway of a storage warehouse, wherein, a laser scanning system is supported above the doorway defining a passageway of 3-D spatial extent, through which a human operator may walk while manually transporting packages bearing bar code symbols. In the illustrative embodiment, the laser scanning system includes a housing having a light transmission aperture, and a laser scanning pattern generator disposed within the housing. During operation of the system, the laser scanning pattern generator employs a holographic scanning disc to project through the light transmission aperture, an omnidirectional laser scanning pattern which is substantially confined within the spatial extent of a predefined 3-D scanning volume that spatially encompasses a substantial portion of the passageway of 3-D spatial extent. As each package bearing a bar code symbol is transported through the doorway as the human operator walks through the doorway, the package is automatically identified by the laser scanning system supported above the doorway. By virtue of the present invention, a bar coded package can now be automatically identified as a human operator holding the package walks through the doorway of a storage warehouse, thus improving inventory control accuracy and worker productivity.