Label reader and system

Claim 2

Apparatus for reading a label or the like carrying a code readable in the form of binary indicia comprising means for defining a path to receive a label in an orientation such that said indicia are disposed in at least one track extending in the direction of label travel in said path, first and second sensor means disposed in spaced positions adjacent to said path respectively corresponding to positions of said tracks on a label traveling in said path, first means for receiving input data signals from said first sensor means as a function of indicia in a first portion of said tracks passing adjacent to said first sensor means, second means responsive to indicia in a second portion of said tracks for loading data signals from said first sensor means into said first means, third means responsive to said first and second sensor means for loading data control signals into said first means as a function of the direction and orientation of travel of a label traveling in said path adjacent to said sensor means, and fourth means responsive to said data control signals for outputting said data signals in a predetermined order of significance independently of the direction and orientation of travel of the label past said sensor means.

Claim 3

The apparatus set forth in claim 1 further comprising fifth means responsive to said second sensor means for detecting a reversal of direction of travel of a label traveling in said path, said second means including means responsive to said fifth means and to said indicia in said second of said track portions for inhibiting loading of indicia read by said first sensor means as new data into said first means, such that said code is stored in said first means independently of changes of direction of travel of a label in said path.

Claim 4

The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein said second sensor means comprises first and second sensors spaced from each other in the direction of travel of a label in said path, said first and second sensors having respective outputs as a function of indicia in said second track portion adjacent the corresponding said first and second sensor.

Claim 5

The apparatus set forth in claim 3 for reading indicia at predefined zones in said first and second track portions, zones in at least said second track portion having a predetermined dimension in said direction of travel and being comprised of indicia of alternating opposite polarity, wherein said first and second sensors are spaced from each other along said direction of travel so as to read indicia in said second track portion in quadrature phase with respect to each other.

Claim 6

The apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein said sensor means including said first and second sensors comprise photoelectric sensors.

Claim 7

Apparatus for reading a label or the like carrying a code readable in the form of binary signals characterized by presence or absence of indicia at predefined zones, said apparatus comprising means for defining a path to receive a label in an orientation such that said zones are disposed in first and second track portions extending in the direction of label travel in said path, with said indicia in said second track portion being of alternating opposite polarity in successive ones of said zones, first sensor means disposed adjacent to said path at a position to be responsive to indicia in said first track portion, second and third sensor means disposed adjacent to said path and spaced from each other in said direction of travel at positions to be responsive in quadrature phase with respect to each other to said indicia of alternating polarity in said second track portion, each of said first, second and third sensor means having a corresponding sensor output which varies as a function of presence or absence of indicia adjacent to the corresponding sensor means, means including data storage means for receiving said label code in the form of binary data signals from the output of said first sensor means as a function of indicia in said first tracck portion, means responsive to data signals in said storage means for providing an output signal indicative of said label code, and control means responsive to the outputs of said second and third sensor means for selectively controlling said means responsive to said data signals such that said output signal is indicative of said label code stored in said data storage means in a predetermined order of significance of said data signals independently of direction of travel of a label in said path.

Claim 8

Apparatus for reading a label or the like carrying a code readable in the form of binary signals characterized by presence or absence of indicia at predefined zones, said apparatus comprising means for defining a path to receive a label in an orientation such that said zones are disposed in first and second track portions extending in the direction of label travel in said path, with said indicia in said second track portion being of alternating opposite polarity in successive ones of said zones, first sensor means disposed adjacent to said path at a position to be responsive to indicia in said first track portion, second and third sensor means disposed adjacent to said path and spaced from each other in said direction of travel at positions to be responsive in quadrature phase with respect to each other to said indicia of alternating polarity in said second track portion, each of said first, second and third sensor means having a corresponding sensor output which varies as a function of presence or absence of indicia adjacent to the corresponding sensor means, means including data storage means for receiving said label code in the form of binary data signals from the output of said first sensor means as a function of indicia in said first tracck portion, means responsive to data signals in said storage means for providing an output signal indicative of said label code, and control means responsive to the outputs of said second and third sensor means for selectively controlling said means responsive to said data signals such that said output signal is indicative of said label code stored in said data storage means in a predetermined order of significance of said data signals independently of direction of travel of a label in said path.

Claim 9

The apparatus set forth in claim 6 wherein said outputs of said sensor means comprise logic signals at one of two logic states as a function of presence or absence of said indicia adjacent to the corresponding said sensor means, and wherein said control means includes means conjointly responsive to a change of state of one of said outputs of said second and third sensor means and the state of the other of said outputs of said second and third sensor means for controlling entry of said data signals.

Claim 10

The apparatus set forth in claim 6 for reading a label in which said indicia is in the form of apertures in a flat label element, wherein said sensor means comprise photoelectric sensor means, and wherein said means for defining said path includes reflective means disposed with respect to said sensor means such that label travel in a path between said reflective means and said sensor means.

Claim 11

Apparatus for reading a label or the like carrying a code readable in the form of binary indicia comprising means for defining a path to receive a label in an orientation such that said indicia are disposed in one or more tracks in the direction of label travel in said path, sensor means disposed adjacent to said path at positions corresponding to said tracks for providing sensor output signals as a function of indicia in said tracks, means responsive to said sensor output signals for loading a label code comprising a series of digital data signals as a function of said indicia as a label travels in said path past said sensor means, means responsive to preselected ones of said data signals in said series for identifying the direction and orientation of label travel in said path, and means for outputting said label code in a predetermined order of significance independently of the direction and orientation of the label in said path.

Claim 12

Apparatus for reading a label or the like carrying a code readable in the form of binary indicia comprising means for defining a path to receive a label in an orientation such that said indicia are disposed in one or more tracks in the direction of label travel in said path, sensor means disposed adjacent to said path at positions corresponding to said tracks for providing sensor output signals as a function of indicia in said tracks, means responsive to said sensor output signals for loading a label code comprising a series of digital data signals as a function of said indicia as a label travels in said path past said sensor means, means responsive to preselected ones of said data signals in said series for identifying the direction and orientation of label travel in said path, and means for outputting said label code in a predetermined order of significance independently of the direction and orientation of the label in said path.

Claim 13

In the combination of a label carrying a code readable in the form of a series of binary indicia and a label code reader including means responsive to passage of said label for providing an output signal as a function of said label code, the improvement wherein said label includes indicia at opposite ends of said series which are of predetermined digital level relative to the order of significance of the remainder of said indicia in said series, and wherein said reader includes means responsive to said indicia at opposite ends of said series for providing said output signal in a predetermined order of significance of said binary indicia independently of direction of travel and orientation of said label relative to said reader.

Claim 14

In the combination of a label carrying a code readable in the form of a series of binary indicia and a label code reader including means responsive to passage of said label for providing an output signal as a function of said label code, the improvement wherein said label includes indicia at opposite ends of said series which are of predetermined digital level relative to the order of significance of the remainder of said indicia in said series, and wherein said reader includes means responsive to said indicia at opposite ends of said series for providing said output signal in a predetermined order of significance of said binary indicia independently of direction of travel and orientation of said label relative to said reader.

Claim 15

The apparatus set forth in claim 1 for reading a label in which said indicia is in the form of apertures in a flat label element, wherein said sensor means comprise photoelectric sensor means, and wherein said means for defining said path includes reflective means disposed with respect to said sensor means such that labels travel in a path between said reflective means and said sensor means.

Claim 16

The apparatus set forth in claim 3 for reading indicia at predefined zones in said first and second track portions, zons in at least said second track portion having a predetermined dimension in said direction of travel, wherein said first and second sensors are spaced from each other in said direction of travel so as to be responsive in quadrature phase with respect to each other to said indicia in said second track portion.