Method for reading a data record and a device for performing the method

Claim 1

Device for reading a data record attached to a salable article of merchandise, said data record having a code recorded thereon consisting of markings comprising a series of bars representing different characters, relative movement between a reading device and said data record causing said code to be read comprising: a time measuring unit connected to the outputs of said reading device for emitting signals representing the spacing between said markings; a comparator connected to said time measuring unit for comparing the signals generated by said time measuring unit and for emitting signals representative of the distance between adjacent bars in said markings according to a predetermined format; said format comprising a first signal designating a first distance between two code bars; a second signal designating a distance twice as long as said first distance and a third signal designating a distance four times as long as said first distance; a mode of operation detector connected to said comparator for receiving said first, second and third signals; a converter connected to said mode of operation detector; said mode of operation detector generating a signal indicative of whether the characters in the code are independent of each other and thus separated from each other an arbitrary distance or dependent on each other in such a manner that one marking forms the end of a character and the beginning of an adjacent character, said converter being arranged to convert said first, second and third signals to signals representing the different characters in the code.