Patent US3621206A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3621206A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Label-aligning system
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
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Filing: 1969-08-21
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Granted: 1971-11-16
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Expires: 1989-08-21
Abstract
Abstract In a data-reading system of the type which includes a label and a reading device which must be aligned with that label, the aligning function is performed by a plurality of locating surfaces on the label and a cooperating pair of locating surfaces on the reading device, at least one of the locating surfaces on the label being eccentric relative to the circular data field of the label so that the reading device is oriented angularly as well as linearly.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert W Scribner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 20:29
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/01; G06K7/015
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
A data system: comprising a label having a data field including a circular array of coded indicia; a first locating surface formed on said label; a second locating surface formed on said label; at least one of said surfaces being laterally offset from the center of said circular array of coded indicia and being oriented transversely of said data bearing surface thereof; a portable manually operable label reading device having a rotary scanning head that is adapted to be positioned concentrically with said data field in order to read said label indicia, said portable manually operable reading device being formed with first and second label locating surfaces, one of said surfaces being at least partially defined by a reader probe element; said first label surface being arranged to engage said first locating surface on said device in a manner to position said rotary scanning head relative to said data field with respect to at least one linear coordinate; said second label surface being arranged to engage said second locating surface on said device, said second locating surfaces thereby being arranged eccentrically relative to said data field and said scanning head respectively when said label is operatively coupled to said portable reading device thus attaining automatic rotary alignment between said scanning head and the circular data field on said label.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
219 words
A data system: comprising a label having a data field including a circular array of coded indicia; a first locating surface formed on said label; a second locating surface formed on said label; at least one of said surfaces being laterally offset from the center of said circular array of coded indicia and being oriented transversely of said data bearing surface thereof; a portable manually operable label reading device having a rotary scanning head that is adapted to be positioned concentrically with said data field in order to read said label indicia, said portable manually operable reading device being formed with first and second label locating surfaces, one of said surfaces being at least partially defined by a reader probe element; said first label surface being arranged to engage said first locating surface on said device in a manner to position said rotary scanning head relative to said data field with respect to at least one linear coordinate; said second label surface being arranged to engage said second locating surface on said device, said second locating surfaces thereby being arranged eccentrically relative to said data field and said scanning head respectively when said label is operatively coupled to said portable reading device thus attaining automatic rotary alignment between said scanning head and the circular data field on said label.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
88 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein: said label has an outer edge enclosing said data-bearing surface, and said edge has substantially the shape of a polygon at least two sides of which are respective ones of said label locating surfaces; and said reading device is formed with a socket for receiving said label, said socket having an internal shape substantially defining a polygon which mates with the outer edge of said label, and at least two sides of which are respective ones of said devices locating surfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
76 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein: said label is formed with at least one substantially polygonally shaped internal opening, at least two sides of which are respective ones of said label locating surfaces; and said reading device is provided with a locating projection having substantially the external cross-sectional shape of a polygon which is adapted to mate with said opening, and at last two sides of which are respective ones of said device locating surfaces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as in claim 3 wherein: said data field is substantially annular in shape, whereby to surround a central nondata-bearing region; and said polygonal label opening is located within said central nondata-bearing region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as in claim 3 wherein: said polygons are substantially triangular in shape whereby any two of the three sides thereof are respective ones of said locating surfaces and are eccentric relative to said circular data field.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as in claim 3 wherein: said polygons are substantially rectangular in shape, whereby any two of the four sides thereof are respective ones of said locating surfaces and are eccentric relative to said circular data field.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein: said label is formed with at least two internal openings the respective edges of which are respective ones of said label locating surfaces; and said reading device is provided with a pair of locating projections positioned and shaped to mate with respective ones of said label openings, the respective exterior surfaces of said projections being respective ones of said device locating surfaces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as in claim 7 wherein: at least one of said openings is located externally of said data field.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as in claim 8 wherein: there are at least two of said label openings, both of which are substantially circular in shape.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as in claim 9 wherein: both of said circular openings are located externally of said data field.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as in claim 8 wherein: there are at least two of said label openings, both of which are substantially rectangular in shape.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as in claim 11 wherein: both of said rectangular openings are oblong in shape, and are oriented with their respective major axes pointing in mutually transverse directions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as in claim 11 wherein: both of said rectangular openings are located externally of said data field.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
92 words
A label having a data field including a circular array of coded indicia that is adapted to be sensed by a rotary scanning device; the improvement comprising: a first aligning surface formed on said label; a second aligning surface formed on said label; at least one of said surfaces being laterally offset from the center of said circular array of coded indicia; said first and second aligning surfaces thus being adapted to fix the lateral and rotary position of said label relative to the effective scan axis of said rotary scanning device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
92 words
A label having a data field including a circular array of coded indicia that is adapted to be sensed by a rotary scanning device; the improvement comprising: a first aligning surface formed on said label; a second aligning surface formed on said label; at least one of said surfaces being laterally offset from the center of said circular array of coded indicia; said first and second aligning surfaces thus being adapted to fix the lateral and rotary position of said label relative to the effective scan axis of said rotary scanning device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as defined by claim 14 wherein said first and second aligning surfaces are effectively defined by a single continuous noncircular surface formed in said label.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as defined by claim 15 wherein said noncircular surface is eccentrically disposed relative to the center of said circular array of coded indicia.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as defined by claim 14 wherein said first and second aligning surfaces are effectively defined by two separate apertures formed in said label.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-15 | 1975-05-17 | 1975-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-15 | 1979-05-17 | 1979-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-15 | 1983-05-17 | 1983-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |