Patent ID: 8348144
Filing Date: 2013-01-08
Classification: A22B,G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method for tracing items through a non-sequential processing of said items in which handling instructions and processing stations used to process said items and the in-feed and out-feed lines used to transfer said items to and from in-feed locations, processing stations and out-feed locations are dynamically selected based on at least one real-time processing information including the output to be achieved from the non-sequential processing of said items, the characteristics of said items to be processed, and the state of the non-sequential processing of said items, the method comprising the steps of: receiving an item at an in-feed area, obtaining a first information related to said item upon its arrival at the in-feed area, and storing the first information in a computer system, dynamically selecting, based on said at least one real-time processing information, one or more handling instructions for processing said item, and dynamically selecting, based on said at least one real-time processing information, at least one processing station from a plurality of processing stations to process said item, dynamically selecting, based on said at least one real-time processing information, an out-feed line from a plurality out-feed lines for transferring said item from said in-feed area to said selected at least one processing station on said selected out-feed line, while tracing the transferred item's position during said transfer, obtaining a second information related to said item after its transfer from the in-feed area, and storing said second information in the computer system, said second information including the transferred item's position during said transfer, processing said transferred item into smaller objects, obtaining information related to processing of said item and each of the smaller objects, transferring said smaller objects to an out-feed area, while tracing the smaller objects'positions, wherein, at said out-feed area, each of said smaller objects is provided with at least one record, said record constituting traceable historic information about said smaller object's corresponding received item consisting of said first information, said processing information, and said second information, said first and second information comprising a size or a shape of the item or the smaller objects which is obtained with imaging means, the non-sequential transferring of said items and said smaller items being carried out by a handling means that performs a non-sequential transfer of said items.