Patent US4605847A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4605847A
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Method and apparatus for the coded tagging of articles, particularly garments
Assignee: SARACEN COMPUTER SYSTEMS Ltd
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Filing: 1983-05-18
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Granted: 1986-08-12
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Expires: 2003-05-18
Abstract
Abstract A method for the coded tagging of articles, such as garments, comprises fitting to each of a plurality of articles a tagging element, such as a rigid plaque, bearing coded information in the form of portions of the element which permit the passage therethrough of a form of radiation, such as X-rays, which also passes through the material of the articles but to which the rest of the element is opaque. At least the portions of the articles bearing the tagging elements are conveyed in succession between an X-ray emitter and an X-ray detector, the detector producing output signals corresponding to the coded information on each tagging element, the output signals from the detector being supplied to a computer which processes the signals to store and process the coded information on the tagging element.
Inventors
- 👤 Hermut Schittko
- 👤 Peter Schultz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 16:55
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10861; B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/34; B07C5/3412
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A method for the coded tagging of articles, such as garments, comprising securing to each of a plurality of optically opaque articles a tagging element bearing coded information in the form of portions of the element which permit the passage therethrough of a form of radiation which also passes through the optically opaque material of the articles but to which the rest of the element is opaque, conveying at least the portions of the articles bearing the tagging elements in succession between an emitter and a detector of said form of radiation, said detector producing an image of each tagging element which is scanned by a television camera the output of which is processed by a computer to store, display and/or process the coded information on the element.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
128 words
A method for the coded tagging of articles, such as garments, comprising securing to each of a plurality of optically opaque articles a tagging element bearing coded information in the form of portions of the element which permit the passage therethrough of a form of radiation which also passes through the optically opaque material of the articles but to which the rest of the element is opaque, conveying at least the portions of the articles bearing the tagging elements in succession between an emitter and a detector of said form of radiation, said detector producing an image of each tagging element which is scanned by a television camera the output of which is processed by a computer to store, display and/or process the coded information on the element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein each tagging element is in the form of a substantially rigid plaque.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein each tagging element is in the form of a flexible panel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the radiation is in the form of X-rays.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the portions of each tagging element which permit the passage of the radiation comprise apertures in the element, the number and arrangement of said apertures constituting the coded information.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein the apertures are circular.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein each tagging element comprises a base formed from a material which permits the passage therethrough of the aforesaid radiation, portions of the base having applied thereto material which is opaque to the radiation, the arrangement of said portions constituting the coded material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein there is applied to the base a single layer of said material, there being spaced apertures in the layer, the number and arrangement of the apertures constituting the coded information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein there are applied to the base a plurality of spaced portions of said material, the number and arrangement of the portions constituting the coded information.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein the material which is opaque to radiation comprises a metallised printing ink.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein each tagging element is substantially rectangular.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein each tagging element is attached to its associated article by an adhesive.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the radiation detector comprises a fluorescent screen on which an image of each tagging element is formed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the radiation is in the form of X-rays and the radiation detector comprises an X-ray image converter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the articles are transported between the emitter and the detector by being spaced apart along a conveyor which is movable past the emitter and detector.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 15, wherein the conveyor is intermittently movable so that each article remains stationary between the emitter and detector for a predetermined period during which the output from the detector is read.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 15, wherein the conveyor is continuously movable, means being provided for temporarily restraining an article from moving with the conveyor for a predetermined period during which period the output from the detector is read.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 15, wherein the emitter and detector are moved in synchronism with the conveyor for a predetermined period so that an article remains between the emitter and detector for said predetermined period while the output from the detector is being read.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 15, wherein there is provided a plurality of spaced detectors and/or emitters so disposed that at least one detector can detect the coded information from a tagging element irrespective of variations, within a predetermined range, in the orientation of the element between the emitter and detectors.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method according to claim 15, wherein the detector and/or the emitter is moved through a plurality of positions when a tagging element is disposed between the detector and emitter, so that the detector can detect the coded information from a tagging element irrespective of variations, within a predetermined range, in the orientation of the element between the emitter and detectors.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 15, wherein the orientation of each tagging element is varied through a predetermined range when it is disposed between the detector and emitter so that the detector can detect the coded information from the element in at least one orientation thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
137 words
Apparatus for reading coded information on tagging elements attached to optically opaque articles, such as garments, comprising a radiation emitter which emits a form of radiation which passes through the optically opaque material of the articles and through portions of the tagging elements, other portions of the tagging elements being opaque to the radiation and the arrangement of the portions of the tagging elements providing the coded information, a radiation detector which produces an image of each tagging element, a television camera which scans said image and produces output signals corresponding to the coded information on the tagging elements, conveyor means for transporting articles between the radiation emitter and detector, and a computer which receives said output signals from the television camera and processes said signals to store and process the coded information on the tagging elements.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
137 words
Apparatus for reading coded information on tagging elements attached to optically opaque articles, such as garments, comprising a radiation emitter which emits a form of radiation which passes through the optically opaque material of the articles and through portions of the tagging elements, other portions of the tagging elements being opaque to the radiation and the arrangement of the portions of the tagging elements providing the coded information, a radiation detector which produces an image of each tagging element, a television camera which scans said image and produces output signals corresponding to the coded information on the tagging elements, conveyor means for transporting articles between the radiation emitter and detector, and a computer which receives said output signals from the television camera and processes said signals to store and process the coded information on the tagging elements.
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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) | 1989-08-11 | 1990-02-10 | 1990-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-08-11 | 1994-02-10 | 1994-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-08-11 | 1998-02-10 | 1998-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |