US3857020A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic line tracker
Assignee: Datatype Corp
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Filing: 1973-09-28
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Granted: 1974-12-24
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Expires: 1993-09-28
Abstract
Abstract A system for optically reading a bar code consisting of a plurality of character code groups serially arranged along a transversely extending line on an input media with each code group including a plurality of bit spaces serially arranged along the line, certain of the bit spaces containing longitudinally extending bars. The reading system comprises a scanning head and means for supporting the head for movement along and above the lines, the scanning head carrying a light source for projecting an area of light at the media, a light-responsive semi-conductor device, and optics for projecting light reflected from the media toward the semiconductor device. The support for the scanning head includes a transverse bar which guides the head and which is mounted for shifting movement longitudinally in the direction of extension of the code bars. A drive system for shifting the bar is provided to keep the scanning head above and tracking the line of data. Control circuitry dominates the drive system, the control circuitry being operatively connected between the semiconductor device and the drive system.
Inventors
- 👤 R Higginbotham
- 👤 W Stanford
- 👤 L Melugin
- 👤 D Hendrickson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 21:07
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
Means for optically reading a bar code consisting of a plurality of character code groups serially arranged along a transversely extending line on an input media, each code group including a plurality of bit spaces serially arranged along the line with certain of said bit spaces containing longitudinally extending bars, said reading means comprising a scanning head and means for supporting said head for movement along and above the line, said scanning head carrying light source means for projecting light at the media, a light-responsive semiconductor device, and optical means for projecting light reflected from the media toward said semiconductor device, whereby the presence and amount of light on said device depends upon the presence or absence and position of said code bars, said support means including a transverse bar extending along and above such a line and guiding said head, means mounting said bar for shifting movement longitudinally in the direction of extension of such code bars, drive means for shifting said bar to keep said scanning head above and tracking said line, and control means dominating said drive means, said control means being operatively connected between said semiconductor device and said drive means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
Means for optically reading a bar code consisting of a plurality of character code groups serially arranged along a transversely extending line on an input media, each code group including a plurality of bit spaces serially arranged along the line with certain of said bit spaces containing longitudinally extending bars, said reading means comprising a scanning head and means for supporting said head for movement along and above the line, said scanning head carrying light source means for projecting light at the media, a light-responsive semiconductor device, and optical means for projecting light reflected from the media toward said semiconductor device, whereby the presence and amount of light on said device depends upon the presence or absence and position of said code bars, said support means including a transverse bar extending along and above such a line and guiding said head, means mounting said bar for shifting movement longitudinally in the direction of extension of such code bars, drive means for shifting said bar to keep said scanning head above and tracking said line, and control means dominating said drive means, said control means being operatively connected between said semiconductor device and said drive means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
98 words
The invention of claim 1 in which said means mounting said bar for shifting movement includes, at one end of said bar, means about which said bar pivots and, at the other end of said bar, means providing a guide way in which said bar shifts, said drive means including a motor, cam, and spring means, said spring means being disposed yieldably to bias said other end of said bar in one direction about said pivot means, said cam being drivingly connected to said motor and arranged to move said other end in opposition to said spring means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
83 words
The invention of claim 1 in which said support means includes a cylindrical transversely extending support rod, a bearing block mounted on said rod for movement therealong as well as about the axis of said rod, said scanning head being mounted on said bearing block for movement therewith, means for engaging said bar, said engaging means being carried by said block and effective to move said block about the axis of said support rod when said bar is shifted by said drive means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
83 words
The invention of claim 2 in which said support means includes a cylindrical transversely extending support rod, a bearing block mounted on said rod for movement therealong as well as about the axis of said rod, said scanning head being mounted on said bearing block for movement therewith, means for engaging said bar, said engaging means being carried by said block and effective to move said block about the axis of said support rod when said bar is shifted by said drive means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The invention of claim 2 in which said motor is a bidirectional stepper motor having an output shaft, said cam being mounted on said output shaft and having a home starting position, said motor being effective to drive said cam a predetermined angular amount each time it is energized by said control means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention of claim 5 in which said control means includes switch means for providing an electrical signal defiNing said home position of said cam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
158 words
The invention of claim 6 in which said scanning head is positioned and directed to project an area of light at the lower edges of the bars when said scanning head is at the beginning end of a line to be scanned and said cam is in its said home position, said control means including counter means for providing an output signal every time a predetermined number of code groups are scanned, and circuit means for operating said drive means to project said light area upwardly when it is falling primarily below the bottom edges of the bars and downwardly when it is falling primarily above the bottom edges and upon the bars, whereby said area of light tracks such bottom edges, said circuit means being operatively connected to said semiconductor device and said counter means such that said circuit means provides an output to operate said drive means each time said counter means provides an output signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
104 words
The invention of claim 1 in which said scanning head is positioned and directed to project an area of light at the lower edges of the bars when said scanning head is at the beginning end of a line to be scanned, said control means including circuit means for operating said drive means, as the line is scanned, to project said light area upwardly when it is falling primarily below the bottom edges of the bars and downwardly when it is falling primarily above the bottom edges and upon the bars, said circuit means being operatively connected to and dominated by said semiconductor device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
The invention of claim 8 in which said control means includes counter means for providing an output signal every time a predetermined number of code groups are scanned, said circuit means being operatively connected to and responsive to said counter means to provide an output signal to operate said drive means each time said counter provides an output signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
98 words
The invention of claim 9 in which said means mounting said bar for shifting movement includes, at one end of said bar, means about which said bar pivots and, at the other end of said bar, means providing a guide way in which said bar shifts, and drive means including a motor, cam, and spring means, said spring means being disposed yieldably to bias said other end of said bar in one direction about said pivot means, said cam being drivingly connected to said motor and arranged to move said other end in opposition to said spring means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
83 words
The invention of claim 10 in which said support means includes a cylindrical transversely extending support rod, a bearing block mounted on said rod for movement therealong as well as about the axis of said rod, said scanning head being mounted on said bearing block for movement therewith, means for engaging said bar, said engaging means being carried by said block and effective to move said block about the axis of said support rod when said bar is shifted by said drive means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
The invention of claim 11 in which said motor is a bidirectional stepper motor having an output shaft, said cam being mounted on said output shaft and having a home starting position, said motor being effective to drive said cam a predetermined angular amount each time it is energized by said control means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention of claim 12 in which said control means include switch means for providing an electrical signal defining said home position of said cam.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
248 words
A system for optically reading bar code data consisting of a plurality of character code groups serially arranged along longitudinally spaced apart, transversely extending lines of data on an input media with each code group including a plurality of bit spaces serially arranged along one of such lines with certain of said spaces containing longitudinally extending bars, said system comprising a scanning head and means for supporting said scanning head for movement transversely along and above each line, first drive means for moving said scanning head along said support means, second drive means for moving saId input media longitudinally relative to said scanning head to present lines of data to be scanned, said scanning head carrying first and second light source means for projecting light at the media, first and second light-responsive semiconductor devices, and first and second optical means for projecting light reflected from the media respectively toward said first and second semiconductor devices, an output device, first circuit means for operatively connecting said first semiconductor device to said output device, said support means including a transverse bar extending along and above such a line and guiding said head, means mounting said bar for shifting movement longitudinally in the direction of extension of such code bars, third drive means for shifting said bar to keep said scanning head above and tracking said line, and control means dominating said third drive means, said control means being operatively connected between said second semiconductor device and said third drive means.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
248 words
A system for optically reading bar code data consisting of a plurality of character code groups serially arranged along longitudinally spaced apart, transversely extending lines of data on an input media with each code group including a plurality of bit spaces serially arranged along one of such lines with certain of said spaces containing longitudinally extending bars, said system comprising a scanning head and means for supporting said scanning head for movement transversely along and above each line, first drive means for moving said scanning head along said support means, second drive means for moving saId input media longitudinally relative to said scanning head to present lines of data to be scanned, said scanning head carrying first and second light source means for projecting light at the media, first and second light-responsive semiconductor devices, and first and second optical means for projecting light reflected from the media respectively toward said first and second semiconductor devices, an output device, first circuit means for operatively connecting said first semiconductor device to said output device, said support means including a transverse bar extending along and above such a line and guiding said head, means mounting said bar for shifting movement longitudinally in the direction of extension of such code bars, third drive means for shifting said bar to keep said scanning head above and tracking said line, and control means dominating said third drive means, said control means being operatively connected between said second semiconductor device and said third drive means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
99 words
The invention of claim 14 in which said means mounting said bar for shifting movement includes, at one end of said bar, means about which said bar pivots and, at the other end of said bar, means providing a guide way in which said bar shifts, said third drive means including a motor, cam, and spring means, said spring means being disposed yieldably to bias said other end of said bar in one direction about said pivot means, said cam being drivingly connected to said motor and arranged to move said other end in opposition to said spring means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
84 words
The invention of claim 15 in which said support means includes a cylindrical transversely extending support rod, a bearing block mounted on said rod for movement therealong as well as about the axis of said rod, said scanning head being mounted on said bearing block for movement therewith, means for engaging said bar, said engaging means being carried by said block and effective to move said block about the axis of said support rod when said bar is shifted by said third drive means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
53 words
The invention of claim 16 in which said motor is a bidirectional stepper motor having an output shaft, said cam being mounted on said output shaft and having a home starting position, said motor being effective to drive said cam a predetermined angular amount each time it is energized by said control means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention of claim 17 in which said control means includes switch means for providing an electrical signal defining said home position of said cam.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
189 words
The invention of claim 18 in which said scanning head is positioned and directed so that said first light source means projects a first area of light intermediate the ends of the bars and said second light source means projects a second area of light at the lower edges of the bars when said scanning head is at the beginning end of a line to be scanned and said cam is in its said home position, said control means including counter means for providing an output signal every time a predetermined number of code groups are scanned, and a control circuit for operating said third drive means to project said second light area upwardly when it is falling primarily below the bottom edges of the bars and downwardly when it is falling primarily above the bottom edges and upon the bars, whereby said second area of light tracks such bottom edges, said control circuit being operatively connected to said second semiconductor device and said counter means such that said control circuit provides an output to operate said third drive means each time said counter means provides an output signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
128 words
The invention of claim 14 in which said scanning head is positioned and directed so that said first light source means projects a first area of light intermediate the ends of the bars and said second light source means projects a second area of light at the lower edges of the bars when said scanning head is at the beginning end of a line to be scanned, said control means including a control circuit for operating saId third drive means to project said second light area upwardly when it is falling primarily below the bottom edges of the bars and downwardly when it is falling primarily above the bottom edges and upon the bars, said control circuit being operatively connected to and dominated by said second semiconductor device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
61 words
The invention of claim 20 in which said control means includes counter means for providing an output signal every time a predetermined number of code groups are scanned, said control circuit being operatively connected to and responsive to said counter means to provide an output signal to operate said third drive means each time said counter means provides an output signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
95 words
The invention of claim 20 including feed control circuit means operatively connecting said second drive means to said second semiconductor device to start and stop the longitudinal feed movement of the media, said feed control circuit means being responsive to said second semiconductor device to stop the longitudinal feed when the scanning head is over a line to be scanned as sensed by said semiconductor device, said control circuit means including delay circuitry means for delaying the stopping of the longitudinal feed until the second light area is over the bottom edges of the bars.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
159 words
The invention of claim 14 in which said scanning head is positioned and directed so that said first light source means projects a first area of light intermediate the ends of the bars and said second light source means projects a second area of light at the lower edges of the bars when said scanning head is at the beginning end of a line to be scanned, and including feed control circuit means operatively connecting said second drive means to said second semiconductor device to start and stop the longitudinal feed movement of the media, said feed control circuit means being responsive to said second semiconductor device to stop the longitudinal feed when the scanning head is over a line to be scanned as sensed by said second semiconductor device, said control circuit means including delay circuitry means for delaying the stopping of the longitudinal feed until the second light area is over the bottom edges of the bars.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-23 | 1978-06-24 | 1978-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-23 | 1982-06-24 | 1982-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-23 | 1986-06-24 | 1986-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |