EP0851376A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method and machine for reading and assigning optical codes
Assignee: Datalogic SpA
•
Filing: 1996-12-30
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2016-12-30
Abstract
Abstract A method and machine (1) for reading and assigning optical codes (2) to a succession of moving articles (3), each having at least one respective optical code (2), and the method including the steps of feeding the succession of articles (3), by means of a conveyor (5), through a read area (6); reading the optical codes (2) within the read area (6) by means of at least one optical reader (7), and determining, as each optical code (2) is being read, the position in space of the optical code (2) with respect to a given space reference; and assigning each optical code (2) to the corresponding article (3) by matching the position in space of the optical code (2) with the position in space of the corresponding article (3).
Inventors
- 👤 Moreno Bengala
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 00:30
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10861; G06K7/14; G06K7/1404; G06K7/1439; G06K7/1443
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of reading and assigning optical codes
(2), characterized by comprising the steps of: feeding through a read area (6) a succession of
articles (3), each having at least one respective
optical code (2) on at least one surface (4); reading the optical codes (2) on said articles
(3) within said read area (6) by means of at least one
optical reader (7, 20); determining the position in space of each
optical code (2) with respect to a given reference
system; and assigning each optical code (2) to the
corresponding article (3).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein, for
each optical code (2), said step of reading the optical
code (2) and said step of determining the position in
space of the optical code (2) are substantially
simultaneous.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
134 words
A method as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said
step of determining the position in space of the optical
code (2) comprises the substeps of: determining, when reading the optical code (2),
the distance (K) of the optical code (2) with respect to
the optical reader (7, 20) taking the reading, and the
scan angle (β) between a first reference ray (17) from
said optical reader (7, 20) and a second ray (15)
joining said optical reader (7, 20) to the optical code
(2); said distance (K) and said scan angle (β) being the
polar coordinates of said optical code (2) with respect
to the optical reader (7, 20) by which the reading was
taken; and converting the polar coordinates of the optical
code (2) into space coordinates associated with said
given reference system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said
second ray (15) joins said optical reader (7, 20) to an
initial end of the optical code (2); and said space
coordinates of the optical code (2) are the space
coordinates of the initial end of the optical code (2).
Claim 5
Independent Claim
115 words
A method as claimed in at least one of the
foregoing Claims, wherein, for each optical code (2),
said step of assigning the optical codes (2) comprises
the substeps of: determining, after the optical code (2) is read,
the displacement, as a function of time, of the optical
code (2) and corresponding article (3) within said read
area (6); determining, on the basis of the displacement of
the article (3) and corresponding optical code (2), the
position in space of the optical code (2) and
corresponding article (3) with respect to said given
reference system; and assigning the optical code leaving said read
area (6) to the article (3) also leaving the read area
(6).
Claim 6
Independent Claim
69 words
A method as claimed in at least one of the
foregoing Claims from 1 to 4, characterized by
comprising, between said step of feeding said articles
(3) and said step of reading said optical codes (2), the
step of detecting the entry of said articles (3) into
said read area (6), to determine, as a function of time,
the distribution of said articles (3) within the read
area (6).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
119 words
A method as claimed in Claim 6, wherein, for
each article (3), said step of detecting the entry of
the articles (3) into the read area (6) comprises the
substeps of: determining the entry into said read area (6) of
the front end of the article (3) in the traveling
direction (8) of the articles (3); determining the entry into said read area (6) of
the rear end of the article (3) in said traveling
direction (8); determining the size of the article (3) in the
traveling direction (8) of the articles (3); and determining, with respect to said given
reference system, successive displacements of the
article (3) within said read area (6) and in said
traveling direction (8).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method as claimed in Claim 6, wherein, for
each article (3), said step of determining the entry of
the articles (3) into the read area (6) comprises the
substeps of: determining the number of articles (3) entering
said read area (6) and the respective volumes; and determining, with respect to said given
reference system, successive displacements of the
article (3) within said read area (6) and in said
traveling direction (8).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
A method as claimed in Claim 7 or 8, wherein,
for each optical code (2), said step of assigning said
optical codes (2) comprises the substeps of: determining the distribution of the articles (3)
within said read area (6) at the instant in which the
optical code (2) is read; determining, with reference to said
distribution, which of said articles (3) occupied the
same position in space as said optical code (2); and assigning said optical code (2) to the article
(3) which occupied the same position in space.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method as claimed in Claim 3 and/or 4,
wherein said substep of determining said distance (K)
and said scan angle (β) relative to the optical code (2)
comprises successively performing a first scan of said
optical code (2) to decode the optical code (2) and
determine the scan angle (β), and a second scan of said
optical code (2) to determine the distance (K) of the
optical code (2) from the optical reader (7, 20) taking
the reading.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said
optical code (2) must be sampled at least twice in the
course of said second scan.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
139 words
A machine (1) for reading and assigning
optical codes (2), and comprising a conveying device (5)
for feeding a succession of articles (3), each having at
least one optical code (2) on at least one surface (4),
in a given traveling direction (8) through a read area
(6); measuring means (10) for determining displacement
of the articles (3) in said direction (8); at least one
optical reader (7, 20) located at said read area (6) and
for reading said optical codes (2); and a processing
unit (9) connected to said measuring means (10) and to
said optical reader (7, 20); said machine (1) being
characterized in that said optical reader (7, 20)
provides for determining, with respect to a given
reference system, the position in space of each optical
code (2) as the optical code (2) is being read.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
A machine as claimed in Claim 12,
characterized by comprising at least two optical readers
(7, 20), each defining a respective scan line (16) in
said read area (6); the two optical readers (7, 20)
being so arranged that the respective scan lines (16)
form respective different angles (γ) with said traveling
direction (8) of the articles (3).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
A machine as claimed in Claim 12 and/or 13,
characterized by comprising detecting means (11, 20)
connected to said processing unit (9), and for detecting
the presence of said articles (3) at a respective input
of said read area (6).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
61 words
A machine as claimed in Claim 14,
characterized in that said detecting means (11, 20)
comprise a presence sensor (11) located at the input of
said read area (6), and by means of which said
processing unit (9) determines, as a function of time,
the distribution of the articles (3) within said read
area (6) and in said traveling direction (8).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
68 words
A machine as claimed in Claim 14,
characterized in that said detecting means (11, 20)
comprise an optical reader (20) located at the input of
said read area (6), and by means of which said
processing unit (9) determines the volume of each
article (3) and the distribution of the articles (3) on
said conveying device (5) and within said read area (6)
as a function of time.
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