Optical label reading system and apparatus

Claim 2

Optical label reading apparatus comprising: a storage tube having an image surface adapted to retain an image; image translating means adapted to translate an image of a label having coded information thereon onto the image surface of the storage tube, whereby said image is retained by the image surface of the storage tube; and readout means adapted to read out said image stored by the image surface of the storage tube to provide an indication of the coded information on said label, said readout means including: a scanning means adapted to scan the image surface of the storage tube with a plurality of scan lines and a sync generator for controlling the operation of the scanning means; and a storage matrix having a plurality of s storage rows adapted to store information derived from a set of s scan lines, where s is equal to the maximum number of scan lines required to read the coded information on a label having a maximum skew angle theta , said storage matrix being continuously updated after each scan line whereby said storage matrix stores information derived from a different set of s scan lines after each line scan.

Claim 3

Optical label reading apparatus comprising: a storage tube having an image surface adapted to retain an optical image; illuminating means adapted to radiate with light a label having light-reflecting and light nonreflecting elements thereon arranged in a coded configuration and representing coded information; means adapted to pass therethrough onto the image surface of the storage tube a reflected optical image of said coded label whereby said image is retained by the image surface of the storage tube; and readout means adapted to read out said image stored by the image surface of the storage tube to provide an indication of the coded information represented by said coded configuration, said readout means including: scanning means adapted to scan the image surface of the storage tube with a plurality of scan lines; and a storage matrix having a plurality of s storage rows adapted to store information derived from a set of s scan lines, where s is equal to the maximum number of scan lines required to read the coded information on a label having a maximum skew angle theta , said storage matrix being continuously updated after each scan line whereby said storage matrix stores information derived from a different set of s scan lines after each line scan.

Claim 4

Optical label reading apparatus comprising: a storage tube having an image surface adapted to retain an optical image; illuminating means adapted to radiate with light a label having light-reflecting and light nonreflecting elements thereon arranged in a coded configuration and representing coded information; means adapted to pass therethrough onto the image surface of the storage tube a reflected optical image of said coded label whereby said image is retained by the image surface of the storage tube; and readout means adapted to read out said image stored by the image surface of the storage tube to provide an indication of the coded information represented by said coded configuration, said readout means including: scanning means adapted to scan the image surface of the storage tube with a plurality of scan lines; and a storage matrix having a plurality of s storage rows adapted to store information derived from a set of s scan lines, where s is equal to the maximum number of scan lines required to read the coded information on a label having a maximum skew angle theta , said storage matrix being continuously updated after each scan line whereby said storage matrix stores information derived from a different set of s scan lines after each line scan.

Claim 5

Optical label reading apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said illuminating means comprises a light source; and means adapted to direct light from said light source onto said label.

Claim 6

Optical label reading apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said means adapted to pass a reflected optical image therethrough comprises: an apertured shutter means disposed in the optical path of said reflected optical image; and means adapted to focus said reflected optical image after passage through said apertured shutter means onto the image surface of the storage tube.

Claim 7

Optical lAbel reading apparatus comprising: a storage tube having an image surface adapted to retain an image; means adapted to radiate with light only during a first predetermined period of time a label having light-reflecting and light nonreflecting elements arranged in a coded configuration and representing coded information; means adapted to pass therethrough onto the image surface of the storage tube a reflected optical image of said coded label whereby said image is retained by the image surface of the storage tube, the image surface of the storage tube being adapted to retain said image for a second predetermined period of time, said second predetermined period of time being greater than said first predetermined period of time; and readout means adapted to read out said image stored by the image surface of the storage tube during said second predetermined period of time to provide an indication of the coded information represented by said coded configuration, said readout means including: scanning means adapted to scan the image surface of the storage tube with a plurality of scan lines; and a storage matrix having a plurality of s storage rows adapted to store information derived from a set of s scan lines, where s is equal to the maximum number of scan lines required to read the coded information on a label having a maximum skew angle theta , said storage matrix being continuously updated after each scan line whereby said storage matrix stores information derived from a different set of s scan lines after each line scan.

Claim 8

Optical lAbel reading apparatus comprising: a storage tube having an image surface adapted to retain an image; means adapted to radiate with light only during a first predetermined period of time a label having light-reflecting and light nonreflecting elements arranged in a coded configuration and representing coded information; means adapted to pass therethrough onto the image surface of the storage tube a reflected optical image of said coded label whereby said image is retained by the image surface of the storage tube, the image surface of the storage tube being adapted to retain said image for a second predetermined period of time, said second predetermined period of time being greater than said first predetermined period of time; and readout means adapted to read out said image stored by the image surface of the storage tube during said second predetermined period of time to provide an indication of the coded information represented by said coded configuration, said readout means including: scanning means adapted to scan the image surface of the storage tube with a plurality of scan lines; and a storage matrix having a plurality of s storage rows adapted to store information derived from a set of s scan lines, where s is equal to the maximum number of scan lines required to read the coded information on a label having a maximum skew angle theta , said storage matrix being continuously updated after each scan line whereby said storage matrix stores information derived from a different set of s scan lines after each line scan.

Claim 9

In a label reading system including a label bearing a code pattern formed of light-reflecting and light nonreflecting elements, optical label reading apparatus comprising: an image storage tube having a photoconductive image surface responsive to an optical image to establish a charge pattern thereon in accordance with the relative brightness of each portion of the optical image; means adapted to illuminate said code-bearing label when said code-bearing label appears within a predetermined label area and a predetermined read zone; means adapted to pass therethrough onto the photoconductive image surface of the storage tube a reflected optical image of said code-bearing label whereby said image is retained by the photoconductive image surface of the storage tube; and readout means adapted to read out said image stored by the photoconductive image surface of the storage tube, said readout means including: scanning means adapted to scan the photoconductive image surface of the image storage tube with a plurality of scan lines, said scanning means providing a source of unmodulated electrons in the form of a scanning raster pattern for neutralizing the charge pattern established on the photoconductive image surface of the image storage tube whereby an indication of the code on said code-bearing label is provided by the image storage tube; and a storage matrix having a plurality of s storage rows adapted to store information derived from a set of s scan lines, where s is equal to the maximum number of scan lines required to read the coded information on a label having a maximum skew angle theta , said storage matrix being continuously updated after each scan line whereby said storage matrix stores information derived from a different set of s scan lines after each line scan.

Claim 10

In a label reading system including a label bearing a code pattern formed of light-reflecting and light nonreflecting elements, optical label reading apparatus comprising: an image storage tube having a photoconductive image surface responsive to an optical image to establish a charge pattern thereon in accordance with the relative brightness of each portion of the optical image; means adapted to illuminate said code-bearing label when said code-bearing label appears within a predetermined label area and a predetermined read zone; means adapted to pass therethrough onto the photoconductive image surface of the storage tube a reflected optical image of said code-bearing label whereby said image is retained by the photoconductive image surface of the storage tube; and readout means adapted to read out said image stored by the photoconductive image surface of the storage tube, said readout means including: scanning means adapted to scan the photoconductive image surface of the image storage tube with a plurality of scan lines, said scanning means providing a source of unmodulated electrons in the form of a scanning raster pattern for neutralizing the charge pattern established on the photoconductive image surface of the image storage tube whereby an indication of the code on said code-bearing label is provided by the image storage tube; and a storage matrix having a plurality of s storage rows adapted to store information derived from a set of s scan lines, where s is equal to the maximum number of scan lines required to read the coded information on a label having a maximum skew angle theta , said storage matrix being continuously updated after each scan line whereby said storage matrix stores information derived from a different set of s scan lines after each line scan.