Patent Publication Number: US-2021192444-A1

Title: Mounting device for continuous hands-free scanning

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/952,548, which was filed on Dec. 23, 2019, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Scanning devices are used to electronically read a label having a scanable or machine-readable portion (e.g., a barcode, a quick-response (QR) code, or the like). Scanning devices are often used for tracking a product or item (e.g., shipment tracking status, warehouse inventory tracking status, etc.). As an example, a product in transit (e.g. a delivery item) is scanned using a hand-held scanning device when loaded on to a delivery vehicle in order for to reflect tracking status of the product. A tracking system may receive an indication that the product was scanned by a scanning device linked to a delivery vehicle, and may accordingly update an electronic record storing the tracking status of the product. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one example aspect, an apparatus includes a magnetic mounting component, a hose having a first distal end and a second distal end, wherein the hose is coupled to the magnetic mounting component at the first distal end, an adjusting component coupled to the second distal end of the hose, and a cradle coupled to the adjusting component. The cradle is configured to hold a scanning device. In some embodiments, the hose is a semi-rigid hose. In some embodiments, the adjusting component includes a ball and socket swivel component. The cradle may include an adjustable recess that is configured to grasp a scanning device. The magnetic mounting component may include at least one of a neodymium magnet or a samarium cobalt magnet. The mounting component and adjusting components may be connected to the hose via threaded connections. In some embodiments, the apparatus may be mounted near a loading area of a vehicle. The apparatus may be mounted on a roof inside the vehicle or on a cargo door of the vehicle. In some embodiments, the apparatus may be configured to position the scanning device to continuously scan one or more item when mounted near the loading area of the vehicle. 
     In another example aspect, a system includes a vehicle and a scanning device mounting apparatus attached to the vehicle. The scanning device mounting apparatus may include a mounting component, a hose having a first distal end and a second distal end. The hose may be coupled to the mounting component at the first distal end. The apparatus may further include an adjusting component coupled to the second distal end of the hose, and a cradle coupled to the adjusting component. The cradle may be configured to hold a scanning device. 
     In another example aspect, a system includes a vehicle and a scanning device mounting apparatus attached within the vehicle. The scanning device mounting apparatus may include a magnetic mounting component. The apparatus may further include a hose having a first distal end and a second distal end. The hose may be coupled to the magnetic mounting component at the first distal end, an adjusting component coupled to the second distal end of the hose, and a cradle coupled to the adjusting component. The cradle may be configured to hold a scanning device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of a delivery vehicle implementing an example scanner mounting device in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a rear view of delivery vehicle implementing an example scanner mounting device in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates additional details of the mounting frame whereby the scanning device mounting apparatus  100  may be mounted. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an exploded view of an example of the scanning device mounting apparatus  100  and details of components of the scanning device mounting apparatus  100  in accordance with aspects of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an example implementation for attaching or mounting the scanning device mounting apparatus  100  in an alternative location, according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and figures. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, circuits, and networks have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments. 
     Using hand-held scanning devices to scan items upon loading on to a deliver vehicle requires the use of hands for operation, thus hindering, interrupting, and/or delaying the process of loading multiple items on to a delivery truck. For example, the person loading the vehicle must hold the scanner to scan a heavy item, put the scanner down in order to use two hands to lift the heavy item and place it in the vehicle, and then retrieve the scanner in order to scan the next item for loading into that vehicle. This process is inefficient, time-consuming, and risks loss or damage to the hand-held scanning device, among other drawbacks. Beneficially, aspects of the present disclosure may include a mounting device to mount a scanner within or on a delivery vehicle in a position that eliminates the need for physically holding the scanner, thus providing hands-free operation and addressing the drawbacks of hand-held scanning. In this way, products or items may be scanned continuously, without interruption, as they are loaded on to the delivery vehicle. 
     In various embodiments, the mounting device described herein is portable and lightweight, allowing the mounting device to be easily transferred for mounting or attaching at a suitable location on or within a delivery vehicle, such as a location that is near or in close proximity to the loading area of the vehicle. Also, the mounting device may be mounted to any type of structure within a vehicle, or on a structure or location other than a vehicle. Further the mounting device may include a variety of joints and/or other components for adjusting the position of the scanning device to optimize the scanner&#39;s performance. Moreover, the mounting device may be constructed with relatively inexpensive components that are simple to manufacture. Further, the mounting device may be adjustable to hold or mount a variety of different types of existing scanning devices, and may include a release mechanism to easily release the scanning device for conventional hand-held operation, if needed. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of a delivery vehicle implementing an example scanner mounting device in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In the example shown in  FIG. 1 , a scanner mounting device  100  may be mounted to a vehicle  10 . The vehicle  10  may be a delivery truck, a van, or the like, for example, as used by delivery services such as the U.S. Postal Service, Federal Express Corp., United Parcel Services Corp., and the like. The scanning device mounting apparatus  100  may include a mounting component  102 , a hose  104 , an adjusting component  106 , and a cradle  108 . As described herein, the scanning device mounting apparatus  100  may secure a scanning device  110  in place. 
     The mounting component  102  may include a sticking or attracting component, which may provide temporary or removable attachment, such as a magnet (e.g., a neodymium magnet, a samarium cobalt magnet, or the like), a suction cup(s), or a removable adhesive. Additionally, or alternatively, the mounting component  102  may include any variety and combination of fasteners, such as screws, nuts, bolts, or the like and permanent adhesives. In some embodiments, the mounting component  102  may include a threaded bolt for attaching to the hose  104 . The hose  104  may include a semi-rigid or semi-flexible hose or coil. In some alternative embodiments, the hose  104  may be replaced by another type of articulating member, such as a multi-jointed mechanical arm or the like. A first end of the hose  104  may attach to the mounting component  102  (e.g., magnetically, via a threaded connection, via welding, via fasteners, etc.). A second end of the hose  104  may attach to the cradle  108  (e.g., using threaded connections or other type of connections), and in various embodiments the cradle  108  may include or attach to the adjusting component  106 . The adjusting component  106  may include a clasping device to retain or hold a scanning device  110 . As described herein, the configuration of the adjusting component  106  may be alterable such that the size of a receiving portion within the adjusting component  106  can be changed in order for the adjusting component  106  to receive and retain different scanner devices  110  having different sizes and shapes. 
     In operation, the scanning device mounting apparatus  100  may be mounted near the cargo door at the rear of the vehicle  10  as shown, for example on the roof or the upper area of the rear sides. In embodiments, the position and orientation of the scanning device  110  may be adjusted so as to optimize its scanning performance by manipulating the mounting apparatus  100 , particularly the hose  104  of the mounting apparatus  100 . More specifically, the position of the scanning device  110  may be adjusted such that a scanning beam produced by the scanning device  110  is facing or pointing downwards so as to scan a label on an item or product facing upwards. As described herein, the position of the scanning device  110  may be adjusted by adjusting the arc or bend shape of the hose  104  (e.g., by physically applying force to the hose  104  to modify the arc and bend shape). As the hose  104  is semi-rigid, the bend shape of the hose  104  may be unaffected without deliberate applications of force for modifying the bend shape; e.g., the hose  104  will hold its shape after being manipulated. The position of the scanning device  110  (e.g., the direction that the scanning device  110  is facing) may further be adjusted by adjusting the swivel position using the swivel joint assembly  108 . Additional details regarding the joint assembly  108  are described in greater detail below with respect to  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a rear view of a delivery vehicle implementing an example scanner mounting device in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. As shown in the example of  FIG. 2 , the scanning device mounting apparatus  100  may be mounted to a structure or mounting section  12  of the vehicle  10  and may hang in the manner shown. In this way, the mounting apparatus  100  may place or position the scanning device  110  so that it is facing downward in order to scan a package  20  (or other item) as the package  20  is loaded on the vehicle  10  through the door opening  14  and into the loading area of the vehicle. Thus, as a person carries the package  20  to the vehicle  10  and puts the package  20  into the loading area of the vehicle  10 , the package  20  naturally passes through the area that is being scanned under the scanning device  110 , such that the scanning device  110  reads any label, bar code, or the like that is on the package  20  and within view of the scanning device  110 , such as a bar-coded address label that is on the top of the package  20 . 
     In some embodiments, the mounting section  12  may be part of a track door of the vehicle, as described in greater detail with respect to  FIG. 3 . In various embodiments, the mounting section  12  may be made of a magnetic metal such as steel, and the mounting component  102  may include a magnet that attaches the scanning device mounting apparatus  100  to the frame  12  during loading, and that allows the scanning device mounting apparatus  100  to be removed after loading is completed. 
     By mounting the scanning device  110  using the scanning device mounting apparatus  100  at a location that is near or in close proximity to the loading area, the scanning device mounting apparatus  100  may provide hands-free operation of the scanning device  110  to facilitate continuous scanning, which obtains data from the packages  20  as the packages  20  are loaded. In this way, a group of packages may be loaded much more quickly in relation to when the scanning device  110  is operated manually because, for example, the person loading the packages  20  can use two hands to carry a heavy package  20  without interruption for hand-held scanning and can carry two light packages  20  at a time—one in each hand. In various embodiments, the information that is automatically scanned from the packages  20  upon loading may be used for updating a package tracking system. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates additional details of the mounting section  12  whereby the scanning device mounting apparatus  100  may be mounted. As shown in the example of  FIG. 3 , the mounting section  12  may be an end of a door and may include a cutout  16 . The mounting component  102  may be magnetically mounted within the cutout  16  (e.g., to a magnetic surface of the mounting section  12  within the cutout  16 . In some embodiments, the cutout  16  may be a keeper for a locking latch of the door, but may be used to also mount the scanning device mounting apparatus  100 . In some embodiments, modifications or variations may be implemented for mounting the scanning device mounting apparatus  100  to the vehicle  10 . For example, the mounting section  12  may include a horizontal slot extending to any length of choice, whereby the scanning device mounting apparatus  100  may be mounted at any position along the horizontal slot. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an exploded view of an example of the scanning device mounting apparatus  100  and details of components of the scanning device mounting apparatus  100  in accordance with aspects of the present invention. In the example shown in  FIG. 4 , the scanning device mounting apparatus  100  may include a mounting component  102 , a hose  104 , an adjusting component  106 , and a cradle  108 . The mounting component  102  may include a threaded hole or a threaded bolt  401 . The hose  104  may be or include a semi-rigid or semi-flexible hose, coil, adjustable gooseneck shaft, or the like, having threaded ends  403 . 1  and  403 . 2  provided at opposite distal ends of the hose  104 . The adjusting component  106  may include a ball and socket swivel assembly  402  having spherical component  404 , a first spherical stud  414 , a second spherical stud  406 , a mounting plate  408 , and first and second brackets  410 ,  412 , which form sockets for the balls of the spherical studs  414 ,  406 . The first spherical stud  414  may include a nut  416  and a threaded bolt  418 . The ball and socket swivel assembly  404  may include a knob  413  threaded onto to or coupled to a threaded bolt  415 , which is coupled to the second bracket  410 , such that turning the knob  413  moves the first and second brackets  410 ,  412  toward or away from each other. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the mounting component  102  may connect to a first distal end (i.e., the threaded end  403 . 1 ) of the hose  104  via the threaded bolt  401  and the threaded end  403 . 1 . The ball and socket swivel assembly  404  may connect to a second distal end (i.e., the threaded end  403 . 2 ) of the hose  104  via the threaded bolt  418  and threaded end  403 . 2 . The nut  416  may be used to tighten the connection between the ball and socket swivel assembly  404  and the hose  104 . The first and second brackets  410 ,  412  may be coupled together to via the threaded bolt  415 , forming sockets  417  for receiving and retaining the spherical studs  414 ,  406 . The mounting plate  408  may be coupled to the spherical stud  406  (e.g., using mounting hardware, fasteners, adhesive, etc.), and the mounting plate  408  may be coupled to the cradle  108  (e.g., using mounting hardware, fasteners, adhesive, etc.). As previously discussed, the cradle  108  may be configured to hold or retain a scanning device  110  (e.g., within a recess  420 ). The cradle  108  may be configured such that the size of the recess  420  may be adjusted, enlarged, and/or reduced to accommodate and grasp different sizes of different scanning devices  110 , for example, using sliding parts, ratcheting parts, or the like. 
     In operation, the position of the spherical studs  414 ,  406  may be adjusted or swiveled or rotated up to 360 degrees using the knob  413 . More specifically, the size of the sockets  417  may be increased using the knob  413 , thereby loosening the grip on the spherical studs  414 ,  406 . When loosened, the ball joints  404 ,  406  may be moved for adjusting the position of the cradle  108  and hence, any scanning device  110  that is placed in the cradle. The spherical studs  414 ,  406  may be tightened (e.g., using the knob  413 ) to lock or retain the spherical studs  414 ,  406  in position. Also, the hose  104  may be manually adjusted by bending the hose  104  to a desired position and bend shape. The semi-rigid nature of the hose  104  may retain the position and bend shape of the hose  104  in place, absent of deliberate and manual adjustments. Thus, the hose  104  may also be used to adjust, place, or position of the cradle  108  in a manner that enables a scanning device  110  held within the cradle  108  to operate as described herein. It is to be understood that the arrangement of components of the scanning device mounting apparatus  100  may be different than that shown in various other embodiments, and the components and connections shown in  FIG. 4  are purely for illustrative purposes. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an example implementation for attaching the scanning device mounting apparatus  100  in an alternative location, according to an embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the scanning device mounting apparatus  100  may be mounted or attached within a vehicle  10 , for example, on a shelf  18  of the vehicle  10  that is near the cargo door in the loading area. As one illustrative example, the shelf  18  may be made of a ferrous metal, such as steel, and the scanning device mounting apparatus  100  may be magnetically mounted via a magnetic mounting component  102 . Alternatively, since the scanning device mounting apparatus  100  is versatile and portable, the scanning device mounting apparatus  100  may be mounted at any other location (e.g. the inside of the roof of the vehicle  10 ) that is convenient and that enables hands-free package scanning by the scanning device  110 . 
     The foregoing description provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the possible implementations to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above disclosure or may be acquired from practice of the implementations. 
     Even though particular combinations of features are recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of the possible implementations. In fact, many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification. Although each dependent claim listed below may directly depend on only one other claim, the disclosure of the possible implementations includes each dependent claim in combination with every other claim in the claim set. 
     While the present disclosure has been disclosed with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having the benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate numerous modifications and variations there from. For example, some components, described as being separate pieces or parts, may be integrated into one component. Similarly, one component may be divided into one or more sub-components, pieces, or parts. It is intended that the appended claims cover such modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the disclosure. 
     No element, act, or instruction used in the present application should be construed as critical or essential unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more items and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Where only one item is intended, the term “one” or similar language is used.