US5008520A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for reading a bar code on a moving sheet
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
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Filing: 1988-11-10
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Granted: 1991-04-16
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Expires: 2008-11-10
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method have been conceived whereby cut sheets having a bar code printed thereon can be read while such sheets are moving. A fixed scanner for reading the bar code has an elongated window such that a light beam being generated by the scanner will have a width that is no greater than the width of the smallest space between adjacent bars of the symbol. Because of the elongated configuration of the light beam, sufficient reflectivity occurs such that a good reading can be obtained with the use of such a fixed beam scanner.
Inventors
- 👤 John Georgiou
- 👤 Thomas F. Gueth
- 👤 James S. Ramsey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:03
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/14; B; B07; B07C; B07C3/00; B07C3/10; B07C3/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
An apparatus for reading a bar code symbol on a full sheet, the combination comprising: feeding means for feeding a sheet at a speed of at least 120 inches/sec, a fixed beam scanner positioned to scan the bar code symbol on a sheet as a sheet is fed from said support means, decoding means in communication with said scanner for decoding the bar code scanned by said scanner, and a computer in communication with said decoder means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
77 words
An apparatus for reading a bar code symbol on a full sheet, the combination comprising: feeding means for feeding a sheet at a speed of at least 120 inches/sec, a fixed beam scanner positioned to scan the bar code symbol on a sheet as a sheet is fed from said support means, decoding means in communication with said scanner for decoding the bar code scanned by said scanner, and a computer in communication with said decoder means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fixed light beam scanner generates a light beam that has a width at the location of said bar code symbol that is less than the shortest distance between adjacent bars of said bar code symbol.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said scanner has an elongated window to thereby direct an elongater beam toward said bar code symbol.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said fixed beam light scanner is oriented in a position to direct said elongated beam upon said bar code symbol parallel to the bars on said bar code symbol.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said window is elliptical.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the width of said elongated beam is less than the smallest distance between bars of said bar code symbol.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said computer is in communication with an inserter system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
In a method of reading a full bar code symbol on a sheet, the steps comprising: feeding a full bar code symbol bearing sheet, at a speed of at least 120 in/sec, reading the bar code symbol on the sheet when the sheet is moving, and supplying the information read from the sheet to a decoder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
In a method of reading a full bar code symbol on a sheet, the steps comprising: feeding a full bar code symbol bearing sheet, at a speed of at least 120 in/sec, reading the bar code symbol on the sheet when the sheet is moving, and supplying the information read from the sheet to a decoder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 8 including the step of directing an elongated beam of light onto said bar code symbol during said decoding step.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 8 including the steps of: decoding the information supplied to the decoder, supplying the decoded information to a computer, and controlling an inserter system in response to the decoded information.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
72 words
In a method of reading a full bar code symbol on a sheet, the steps comprising: stacking a plurality of sheets, each of the sheets having a full bar code symbol thereon, feeding a sheet sequentially from the stack past a bar code reader at a speed of at least 120 in/sec, reading the bar code symbol on the feed sheet, and supplying the information read from the sheet to a decoder.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
72 words
In a method of reading a full bar code symbol on a sheet, the steps comprising: stacking a plurality of sheets, each of the sheets having a full bar code symbol thereon, feeding a sheet sequentially from the stack past a bar code reader at a speed of at least 120 in/sec, reading the bar code symbol on the feed sheet, and supplying the information read from the sheet to a decoder.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 11 including the step of directing an elongated beam of light onto said bar code symbol during said reading step.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 12 including the steps of: decoding the information supplied to the decoder, supplying the decoded information to a computer, and controlling an inserter system in response to the decoded information.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 13 including the step of controlling the size of the light beam image directed upon said bar code symbol so that the width of the light image on the bar code symbol is less than the smallest distance between adjacent bars of the bar code symbol.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 14 including directing the elongated beam onto the bar code symbol so that the length of said light image is parallel to said bars.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 15 including the step of generating an elliptical light beam.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1994-04-15 | 1994-10-15 | 1995-04-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-04-15 | 1998-10-15 | 1999-04-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-04-15 | 2002-10-15 | 2003-04-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |