Patent US3757942A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3757942A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Article sorting apparatus and method
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-11-23
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Granted: 1973-09-11
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Expires: 1990-11-23
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed an article sorting apparatus and method wherein articles bearing a manually marked code in a grid or code area locatable by one or more guide elements which may be separate and distinct from the manually marked code. For postal articles, such as letters and the like, the code may be the zip code, preferably associated with a unique postage stamp. The code is marked on grid by dots, circles, lines ''''X'''' or like optical marks. On passing through a reading station, the articles, particularly postal articles, are turned upside down so as to minimize the amount of adjustment or orientation of the optical reader relative to the code bearing grid and also to accomodate, for example, various sized envelopes. There is also disclosed a reader for the guide elements for determining the location of the grid and orienting a manually marked reading device.
Inventors
- 👤 D Gunn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 17:01
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07C; B07C3/00; B07C3/18; B07C1/00; B07C1/20; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of sorting articles carrying a marked code indicia, comprising, affixing a code receiving member on each said article, said code receiving member also having a separate locating indicia means thereon, said separate locating indicia means having a detectably different physical characteristic than the marked code indicia, each said code receiving member including manually and/or mechanically marked visible code indicia, conveying each article along a scanning path, detecting, at an upstream portion of said path, the lateral position and angular orientation of said separate locating indicia means and producing a control signal when the lateral position and angular orientation of said separate locating indicia means varies from a standard position and angular orientation, adjusting the relative lateral position and angular orientation of said article and said separate locating indicia means with respect to said scanning path to bring some to said standard position and orientation, then optically scanning said marked visible code indicia code as said article is moved along a downstream portion of said path, and directing said article to the destination thereof in accordance with the information carried on said marked code.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of sorting articles carrying a marked code indicia, comprising, affixing a code receiving member on each said article, said code receiving member also having a separate locating indicia means thereon, said separate locating indicia means having a detectably different physical characteristic than the marked code indicia, each said code receiving member including manually and/or mechanically marked visible code indicia, conveying each article along a scanning path, detecting, at an upstream portion of said path, the lateral position and angular orientation of said separate locating indicia means and producing a control signal when the lateral position and angular orientation of said separate locating indicia means varies from a standard position and angular orientation, adjusting the relative lateral position and angular orientation of said article and said separate locating indicia means with respect to said scanning path to bring some to said standard position and orientation, then optically scanning said marked visible code indicia code as said article is moved along a downstream portion of said path, and directing said article to the destination thereof in accordance with the information carried on said marked code.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said separate locating indicia means is comprised of at least a pair of electrically conductive elements arranged in a known pattern and orientation relative to said code receiving member and said step of detecting includes electrically contacting said code receiving member to determine the position and orientation of said locating indicia means relative to said article.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said separate locating indicia means is comprised of at least a pair of spaced magnetic members arranged in a known pattern and orientation relative to said code receiving member and said step of detecting includes inductively reading said magnetic members to determine the position and orientation of said magnetic members relative to said article.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said separate locating indicia means is comprised of at least a pair of spaced fluorescent members arranged in a known pattern and orientation relative to said code receiving member and said step of detecting includes impinging ultraviolet radiation on said fluorescent members, and sensing the position of and orientation of radiation from said fluorescent members relative to said article.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein there are a pair of said locating indicia means, one of said pair of locating means being of a distinctly different responsive character than the other of said pair of locating means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention defined in claim 5 wherein one of said pair of locating indicia means is magnetic and the other is conductive.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention according to claim 2 wherein said at least one pair of spaced members is included in said code receiving member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said code receiving member is a postage stamp and said article is an envelope.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said article is moved continuously along said path and the relative position of said article is angularly and laterally adjusted in a single plane only.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
156 words
A system for sorting articles, each article having, on at least one surface thereof, a code receiving member having a code marked thereon, and at least one guide element of a known geometrical configuration, said code including manually and/or mechanically marked visible code indicia comprising, means conveying said article along a path with said code receiving member within a general area, a first reading means for reading said at least one guide element and producing a signal corresponding to the lateral location and angulation of said at least one guide element, a second reading means, a code reading head at said second means, adjusting means for adjusting said code reading head laterally and angularly in accordance with signals from said first reading means, controlling means for receiving signals from said code reading head, and means controlled by said controlling mean for directing said article to a location established by signals received from said code reading head.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
156 words
A system for sorting articles, each article having, on at least one surface thereof, a code receiving member having a code marked thereon, and at least one guide element of a known geometrical configuration, said code including manually and/or mechanically marked visible code indicia comprising, means conveying said article along a path with said code receiving member within a general area, a first reading means for reading said at least one guide element and producing a signal corresponding to the lateral location and angulation of said at least one guide element, a second reading means, a code reading head at said second means, adjusting means for adjusting said code reading head laterally and angularly in accordance with signals from said first reading means, controlling means for receiving signals from said code reading head, and means controlled by said controlling mean for directing said article to a location established by signals received from said code reading head.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention defined in claim 10 wherein said first reading station includes means for determining the angular orientation of said at least one guide element and means for determining the direction of angulation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention defined in claim 10 wherein there are at least a pair of guide elements, distinctly different in character, and said first reading station includes a pair of sensor means corresponding responsive to the character of said guide elements.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention defined in claim 10 including means for directing all articles in which said guide elements are not detected to a selected location.
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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) | 1976-09-10 | 1977-03-12 | 1977-09-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-10 | 1981-03-12 | 1981-09-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-10 | 1985-03-12 | 1985-09-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |