An apparatus for optimizing automated packaging of a shipment set, said shipment set comprising one or more items arranged in an arrangement for being automatically packaged, the apparatus comprising at least one image obtaining device for obtaining three-dimensional image data of said arrangement and at least one computer system and a signaling device, the computer system adapted for processing said image data to obtain information on the dimensions of individual items present in said arrangement and on the orientation and position of said items in said arrangement, performing an analysis of said information with respect to at least one optimization criterion and depending on said analysis, generating signals indicating to either proceed with automated packaging of said arrangement or to modify or to divert said arrangement, and the signaling device adapted for receiving the signals generated.

An apparatus for optimizing automated packaging of a shipment set, said shipment set comprising one or more items arranged in an arrangement for being automatically packaged, the apparatus comprising at least one image obtaining device for obtaining three-dimensional image data of said arrangement and at least one computer system and a signaling device, the computer system adapted for processing said image data to obtain information on the dimensions of individual items present in said arrangement and on the orientation and position of said items in said arrangement, performing an analysis of said information with respect to at least one optimization criterion and depending on said analysis, generating signals indicating to either proceed with automated packaging of said arrangement or to modify or to divert said arrangement, and the signaling device adapted for receiving the signals generated.

An object arrangement apparatus includes a first area computing unit that computes a first area based on a distance of a second object translated with respect to a first object along a first direction so that a portion of the second object enters a concave portion of the first object, and a distance between one end and the other end of the first object in a first orthogonal direction; a second area computing unit that computes a second area based on a distance of the second object translated along a second direction so that the portion does not enter the concave portion, and a distance between one end and the other end of the first object in a second orthogonal direction; and an arrangement direction determining unit that determines the first direction as an object arrangement direction if the first area is smaller than the second area.