CA1180806A - Tag reader - Google Patents
Tag readerInfo
- Publication number
- CA1180806A CA1180806A CA000393451A CA393451A CA1180806A CA 1180806 A CA1180806 A CA 1180806A CA 000393451 A CA000393451 A CA 000393451A CA 393451 A CA393451 A CA 393451A CA 1180806 A CA1180806 A CA 1180806A
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- tag
- tags
- reading
- drum
- sensor
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
- G06K7/10—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
- G06K7/14—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06K13/00—Conveying record carriers from one station to another, e.g. from stack to punching mechanism
- G06K13/02—Conveying record carriers from one station to another, e.g. from stack to punching mechanism the record carrier having longitudinal dimension comparable with transverse dimension, e.g. punched card
- G06K13/07—Transporting of cards between stations
- G06K13/073—Transporting of cards between stations with continuous movement
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Toxicology (AREA)
- Artificial Intelligence (AREA)
- Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
- Electromagnetism (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Cash Registers Or Receiving Machines (AREA)
- Labeling Devices (AREA)
- Discharge Of Articles From Conveyors (AREA)
- Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)
- Electrochromic Elements, Electrophoresis, Or Variable Reflection Or Absorption Elements (AREA)
Abstract
APPLICANT: STEFAN PERSSON
INVENTOR: BERT V. HELLSBERG
TITLE: A TAG READER
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Tag reading for Kimball-type price tags, where a reader is fed manually with tags and prices are automatically read into a cash register. According to a preferred embodiment, the tag reader may take either hole-code tags or tags provided with printed points instead of code-holes.
INVENTOR: BERT V. HELLSBERG
TITLE: A TAG READER
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Tag reading for Kimball-type price tags, where a reader is fed manually with tags and prices are automatically read into a cash register. According to a preferred embodiment, the tag reader may take either hole-code tags or tags provided with printed points instead of code-holes.
Description
~L~81~
A tag reader Background of the invention This invention relates to a tag reader tor coded price tags~ Such tags were introduced about twentyfive years ago and are provided with machine readable codes, normally in the form of a hole code. Examples of such tags are the so-called Kimball tags. Such tags are fixed to merchandise in many retail stores, and when an oblject is sold, the sales-person takes away and collec~s the tag or a detachable piece thereof, and those liberated t.ags axe then treated by machine in order to keep contxol over sales and stockO The actual processing o the collected tags .ts made as batch processiny, and it is normal for such processinc3 to be made at the central headquarters of a mult1ple chain of sto.res.
With present actual practice, this reading is made on big and fast machines, and such systems are popul.ar and widely used.
At the actual sales moment, the tag serves also as a price tag, there being printed thereon a price in read able form Howeverl at that moment, the handling of the t~gs is often felt as a nuisance by the salesperson, as it has to be put on a spear or the like~ to be colle!cted in an oxderly manner w:Lth other tags, to be sent lat.er to headquarters Thus, the tags can mean extra work at busy ~&"
times when the salesperson rightly thinks that the important thing is to serve the clients as quickly as possible.
There are known various additional devices for the Kimball system. In one instance, an ordinary cash register has been provided with a collector for tags where for each sale of an object, the corresponding tag is entered and provided with extra hole codes for salesperson, actually paid price etc. However, the tags are not read and not used for automatic entering of prices into a cash register.
There are also known various readers for Kim~all type tags. An example thereof is the so-called High-Speed Kimball Reader, wherein a stack of tags i.s entered and the tags are brought one by one in front of a row of photodetectors, which receive light through code holes where such are punched in the tags. In order to feed the tags, they are provided with two round feed holes, where radial pins of a pinwheel enter and bring the tags along a path around a circumferential portion of the rotating pinwheel, Although this machine is very rapid~ t is only suitable for batch processing, Object.s of the invention ._ .
It is an object of the present invention to cbtain an improved registering system builcling upon the wellknown Kimball tag principle as described above, It is another object to eliminate the nuisance value of the collection of tags particularly at xush hours in a crowded stc,re.
A further object is to eliminate as much as possible the work of entering prices on a keyboarcl when articles provided with tags are sold, A further object is to obtain a system where hole code marked tags may be used compatibly with printed code marked tags and also to use only printed codes which may be providecl locally by means of simple pxinters instead of being clelivered from a central, It is also an object to obtain a machine of the same type which can read tags of other kinds, e~g. the code type called IJPC in the USA
and EAN in Europe, and which is a bar code. According to a special aspect of 1he invention, it is also an object to make changes in price easy in a shop where the merchandise is marked with tags, e.g. when there is a sale or promotional event.
Advanta~es of the invention Fxom the salespersonls view, the inventive tag reader functions in the fc>llo~iny way. When an article is to be sold to a customerl, its tag or a detachable piece thereof is removed and stuck into a slot in the reader. Although there is normally a visible price indication on the tag, the salesperson does not neecl to read it. When the tag is stuck in, the reader reads a price code from the tag and a price signal is carried over to the cash register and registered. If severa:L
articles are to be sold to the same customer, their tags are ~ed in one after another, and when all the tags ~or a partic~lar purchase have been fed in, the salesperson presses a buttom Eor the sum total, ancl the cash register makes the sum in a normal way and delivers a pay slip.
Sometimes, a tag may be unreadable or faulty, and the reader will then deliver that tag in a special output collector, giving off a signal which may be an audihle signal or a visible signal or ~oth. The salesperson may then try to enter the same tag again. (A tag inserted upside down will be pushed back i~nediately.) If it is not ~ead then, the salesperson may read the printed in~ormation on the tag and enter the price in the cash re~ister manually, by means of its normal keyboarclu This may also be necessary for articles where the price has been reduced so that t:he price in the tag code is no longer valid. Such tags which are given a special treat~
ment will normally be~ stored sepaxately~ whereas the tag~ norma:Lly read are collec~ed :inside the reader~
rV ~
From the point of view of the direction of tlie shop, the invention presents the following advantages.
The reader may deliver the information of the tags d.irectly at t-he sales moment to a data register, e:ither on~line or through a-suitable medium. It is possib:le to provide e.g~ an ordinary magnetic tape cassette fo:r registering the data of the tags. This medium can then suitably register all the other data and not only the price, so that there may be kept track over the stock and to rapidLy split up turnover e.g. in respect of product~ sizes of garments etc~ A distribu-ted system is thus obtained instead of those centralized systems which have previously been used for the same purpose In the presently preferred embodiment, the tag reader is able to read normal tags of the so-called Kimball type and also alternatively tags where the code is not a hole code but a printed code which may be similar to the Kimhall type code. In order to obtain a compati~le system, the alternative tags should have gui.de holes which are similar to those of the old kind of tags and which are used for feeding purposes. The hole codes and the printed codes can then be read in a simllar manner, and if the new kind oE tags are provided with a special signal mark, it is possible to let such a mark control the manner of reading such that the salesperson need not bother to readjust the reader but can enter code tags of both kinds in any order at will. According to a special feature, the tag reader can read both holes and ink maxks by means of the same equipment and entirely indiscriminately.
Normal tags of the kind previously known are usually manufactured on special machines which a.re qui~e expensive~ so that i.t is necessary to have a centralized manu~acture axranged With my system using alternative -tags which are printed, it is possible to use very simple printing machines and e.g. let the prin~i.ng be governed by pre-~abrlcated guide holes in ~ag blanks.
~ the invention _ The objects and advantages of the invention are ohtained by a new type of ta~ reader which cooperates with ~ cash register Although at present, the tag reader is enYisaged as a separate item to be coupled to a cash register of the modern electronic type, which can accept electrical codes alternative to codes entered on its keyboard~ such a tag reader may also be built inlo a cash register or other machine with a similar function. It is therefore not intended to limit the invention to the case of a separate tag reader, although this is the pre-,ently preEerxed embodiment.
According to the invention, there is thus provi~ed a tag ~eader having an entry slot for entering tays one by one manuall~-/ one at a time in succession, a sensor ~or sensing the presence of a manually entered tag, means for performing an optical reading operation on machine-readable codes on a tag entered and sensed, parity checking logics providing for error readings on sa:id tag, means Eor deviating a tag where a parity error is sensed, means ~or ejecting a deviated tag, means or recording xead code information on a tag free of error readings, means for transmitting said recorded code to a cash register ~o~ entering a price therein and means fo:r ~5 collecting recorded tags.
According to another aspect of the invention, there are provided means or manually entering a -tag into a Eirst path ending against projections on a pinwheel havlng two pins arranged behind the projections for manually pushing a tag against the projections and there-by activating switch means for starting rotation o:E said pinwheel~ said two pins thereoE being arranged to grip two holes in said tag Eor bringing it along a second, arcuate path, optical reading means adjacent said arcuate path ~or sensing code markings thereon, reject means or emitting a re~ect signal when a signal from said optical , v~
readiny means is erroneous, deviating means ~ctivaled by said reject signal for ejecting a bad tag, and collecting means for assembling correctly read tags"
According to a preferred embodiment, the tag reader is pro~ided with double reading mode facili~ies~ so that it can read an ordinary hole~code tag or a tag provided with ink markings instead of code holes. Both kinds of tags must be provided with similar feed holes, as they are mechanically treated in the same way. However, the optical reading must be made differently, althouyh it is envisaged to use the same code positions. It is possible to use one and the same set of optical sensors in both cases, for example by sensing the lowered transmission of light at a position provided wit~. a point of pr:Lnted ink, whereas a hole is sensed by more light being 1:rans-mitted through the tag. It is also possible to arrange two sets of sensors, one for sensing transmitted light from ~ lamp on the opposite side of the tag path, 1he other for sensing reflected light from a lamp on the same side of the tag path. Normally tnen~ the firs~
sensor set senses pulses of light, whereas the second set senses "black" pulses against the reflecti.vity of imm~c~late paper.
It is neces.sary to sense which kind of tag i'3 being re~d. It is possible to do this by sensing the absence of a hole code by one sensor set and to activa~e the other sensor set in such absence, and it is then advantageous to mount the other sensor set downstream from the hole-sensing sensor set. However, it is also possible to arrange a punching or an ink-marking in a pxedetermined spot on the tag for indicating that a tag is of one of the kinds, and in the reader a spec.ial sensor for signal-liny its existence fc,r selectiny the appropriate reading mode.
~t is ~lso posc.ible to arrange a reader for :reading mexely printed codes in tags, thus modifying the s'ystem ~ 3~
by abolishing entirely the use of code holes, keep:Lng only those holes in tags which serve purposes of location and feeding. Codes in tagC may then ~e printed in ~ printing machi.ne, using the edges of the tags as indicia for assuring that code markings fall on the right spots and not beside, thus assuring readability.
The invention may also be seen in the aspect of providin~ a system for accounting and reglstering pur-chases at a polnt of sale, comprising a cash regis~er of electronic type which is capable of admitting electrical price code signals, and wherein there is added a tag reader, so that tags :may be read and their price informa-tion automatically entered in the cash register in lieu o~ price information :manually entered by means of the cash register's keyboard. The tags are taken from sold merchandise and entered manually one at a time, wh:ich operation serves the same purpose as the salesperson's entering of the price on the keyboard as previously made.
It is possible to read other information as well f:rom the tags for entering into a memory, store, computer or the like, exhausting all the information on the tags for treatment for all kinds of accountance purposesO
By cash register is meant a machine such as :is used for adding sums of purchase, and from the standpoint of the imvention, it is immaterial i.f it is provided with a money till or not~ whether it is a uni.t for registering purchases in a cxedi-t card system or if the registering of purchases is made in some other way. The usefulness of the inven-tion would not be impaired by its use with such re~isters, and the use of the term cash register is not implied to limit the invention to such cases where actual money cash changes hands.
Bxief description o~ dra~
_ .
Fig. 1 shows an inventive tag reader soupled to 3S ~ cash register Fig. 2 shows a simplified exploded view of a tag reader.
Fig. 3 is a schematic drawing explaining the electrical functions of the tag reader of Fig. ~.
Fig. 4 is an exemplary logic circuit for treating signals from the circuits of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 shows a circuit for adjusting illumincltion of a tag depending on its type.
Fig. 6 shows wavefor~s encountered in tag reading operations.
Fig. 7 shows a circuit ~or sensing a phototransistor.
Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram showing sensor posi-tion for hole and edge sensing on a tag.
Fig. 9 is a schematic figure showiny hole and edge sensing related to a pinwheel.
Fig. 10 shows a logic diagram over a motor control circuit.
Fig. 11 shows waveforms of the circuit of Fig. 10.
D _ cription of a preferred embodiment In Fig. 1 is shown a tag reader 1 coupled to a cash register 2 of an electronic type (in this case a CASIO
model ~-26ER~. A tag 3 of the Kimhall type is entered by hand ln an entry slot: 4 and pressed slightly in by hand.
The reader will then start r and the tag 3 vanishes into the reader 1. As can be seen, the reader 1 is coupled to the cash register~ and if the tag 3 is successfully read, the cash register wi]l enter a price in its memory, show it on the window 9 and print it on a sales slip 7. When a number of tags have been read corresponding to a pur-chase, the vendor presses a sum total button on the key-board 6, and the sum is calculated, whown in window 9 and printed on slip l. The tags 1 read are collected in a box inside the reader, which may have the form of drawer 8. If there i'3 an erroneous tag, it will instead be thrown out ~n e~it 5, so that the vendor can enter the price not read (printed on the tag) by means of key~oard 6.
In Fig. 2, there is shown an exploded view of a tag reader. It may be seen that under the tag entry 4, working as a slot, there is a kind of drum or pinwheel lO.
Guides 12 and 13 are mounted adjacent the circumference o~ the wheel lO, the interspace forming a prolongalion of the track defined by the tag entry 4. A tag entered will be brought against projections 16 on ~he drum, and means to be described below indicate electronically that a tag has been entered. This starts motor ll, which star1s to rotate in the direction indicated~ A pair of projections or pins 17 then grip corresponding holes in the tag and bring ~t along. ~ lamp LS inside the drum sends ou~
light through an opening in the drum, and this light is sensed through the tag by means of a set of light sensors lc., comprised in a logic circuit for sensing codes on the tag brought in front of the sensors.
The sensors comprise optical fibers l9 coupled to light-sensitive elements 20, prefexentially phototran-sistors. Alth.ouc3h this is not shown~ there should be, for a Kimball tag, ten such sensors directed to sense ten different positions for holes or, according to a special embodiment, printed markings which can also 2S be sensed There is a feature in the logic system to be de-scribed which determi.nes whether information read is acceptable. An accept.ecl tag will follow a first path down lnto dr~wer ~'. There is also a bifurcator 14 which may be activated to send a misread tag into another path ending in exit 5. This biE~rcator or switch (as under-stood in railw~y ter%ls) may be activated by motor or relay 15 moving ~lag or guide 14. Motor or relay 14 is controlled electrical.ly by means of logics to be expl~ined.
In Fi.c3. 3, there is a schematic drawing showing more in detail how a tag is read For simplicity, the curved path.i:s exchanged for a straight path.
A tag of one of the envisaged types is provided with holes as shown. There are feed holes 21, 22 and 23, of which holes 21 and 22 are used as explained in con-nection with Fig. 2, - 5 There are further 10 x 12 hole positions function-ing as a code pattern, there being twelve rows correspond-iny to 2 x 5 positions which ten positions are read simultaneously ~y the row 18 of sensors previously mentioned. It is noted that the same positions may be provided with ink dots instead of holes and tha~ the reader may read such codes alternatively~ (It shou:Ld be emphasized that, although this exemplifies a very common type of coded tag, the invention is not limited to a particular card ~ut may be used with any kind of card-like markers provided with code markings in rows and columns,~
First, the start operation shall be explained. When a tag is inserted, its edge will break the liyht path between a light source and a phototransis-tor, which pair is schematically designed as 24. Further, there is arranged a set of at least two photosensors 25 and 26 at feed hole 21, sensiny light through the hole 21 at the start position or the tag. A circuit 27 decides when sensor 24 senses a tag and sensors 2S and 26 simultane-ously sense light through hole 21. The constructional features of cir~uit 27 do not have to be described, being well in reach for the electronic man of the art. When this combination is sensed, motor 1~ is s-tarted as of Fig. 2. It is noted t:hat this gives a control so that if the opposite edge of tag 3 is presented, there wil.l be found no hole 21, and the apparatus will not start.
(~f tay is presented upside down~ there will not be any hole at the position of hole 21, and there is no start either.) The sensirlg of the hole 21 toyether with the sensinc~ of the edge ~y sensor 24 is thus an important featu~e of the invention. According to a preferred embodiment, the motor 11 (Fiy. 2) is made to start in the reverse direction if hole 21 is not detected, thus rejecting the tag ~y pushing it towards the fingers of the person who introduces it.
In a preferred embodiment~ this sensin~ of hole 21 and edge of tag is made in a slightly more complicated way, where two optical hole sensors Hl and H2 take the place o~ sensor 24 in Fig. 3, which are positioned in a row in order to sense successively the hole, with two edge sensors Kl and X2, also in a row. This is schematic-ally shown in Fig. 8. In this embodiment, the drum is also pro~ided at one side with a hole P, and at the "home" position, this hole P falls in front of an optical sensor S, as shown in Fig. ~ At an adjacent position SB, thexe is another optical sensor, which senses when the drum 10 has mo~ed backwards a certain amountO
Said optical sensors Hl, H2~ Kl, K2, S and SB are part of a ~otor dri~e system shown in Fig. 9 for driving the motor 11. Since anyone skilled in the electronics art can understand the fullction of this circuit with less than a complete descr:iption of all the gates, it is su$$icienk to explain that the gates indicated A are OR
gates (e.g. 4075) J the gates indicated l~ are NOR gates (e,g. 4001~ and the gcltes indicated C are AND gates (e.g. 4073~. Vl - V5 are "one bit memories"~ Vl being a hole memory, V2 "tag OK memory", V3 "Forward" and V4 "Backward". OX~ and OKB are optocouplers for ordering motor 11 to turn ~oxward and backward, respectively.
The ~unctioning of this ~em will now be described step by step with particular reference to Fig. 9 and 11, which latter shows a diagram o$ waveforms in the circuit o~ E'ig. 1~.
1. A tag is brought into the slot.
If corre_ If wronq
A tag reader Background of the invention This invention relates to a tag reader tor coded price tags~ Such tags were introduced about twentyfive years ago and are provided with machine readable codes, normally in the form of a hole code. Examples of such tags are the so-called Kimball tags. Such tags are fixed to merchandise in many retail stores, and when an oblject is sold, the sales-person takes away and collec~s the tag or a detachable piece thereof, and those liberated t.ags axe then treated by machine in order to keep contxol over sales and stockO The actual processing o the collected tags .ts made as batch processiny, and it is normal for such processinc3 to be made at the central headquarters of a mult1ple chain of sto.res.
With present actual practice, this reading is made on big and fast machines, and such systems are popul.ar and widely used.
At the actual sales moment, the tag serves also as a price tag, there being printed thereon a price in read able form Howeverl at that moment, the handling of the t~gs is often felt as a nuisance by the salesperson, as it has to be put on a spear or the like~ to be colle!cted in an oxderly manner w:Lth other tags, to be sent lat.er to headquarters Thus, the tags can mean extra work at busy ~&"
times when the salesperson rightly thinks that the important thing is to serve the clients as quickly as possible.
There are known various additional devices for the Kimball system. In one instance, an ordinary cash register has been provided with a collector for tags where for each sale of an object, the corresponding tag is entered and provided with extra hole codes for salesperson, actually paid price etc. However, the tags are not read and not used for automatic entering of prices into a cash register.
There are also known various readers for Kim~all type tags. An example thereof is the so-called High-Speed Kimball Reader, wherein a stack of tags i.s entered and the tags are brought one by one in front of a row of photodetectors, which receive light through code holes where such are punched in the tags. In order to feed the tags, they are provided with two round feed holes, where radial pins of a pinwheel enter and bring the tags along a path around a circumferential portion of the rotating pinwheel, Although this machine is very rapid~ t is only suitable for batch processing, Object.s of the invention ._ .
It is an object of the present invention to cbtain an improved registering system builcling upon the wellknown Kimball tag principle as described above, It is another object to eliminate the nuisance value of the collection of tags particularly at xush hours in a crowded stc,re.
A further object is to eliminate as much as possible the work of entering prices on a keyboarcl when articles provided with tags are sold, A further object is to obtain a system where hole code marked tags may be used compatibly with printed code marked tags and also to use only printed codes which may be providecl locally by means of simple pxinters instead of being clelivered from a central, It is also an object to obtain a machine of the same type which can read tags of other kinds, e~g. the code type called IJPC in the USA
and EAN in Europe, and which is a bar code. According to a special aspect of 1he invention, it is also an object to make changes in price easy in a shop where the merchandise is marked with tags, e.g. when there is a sale or promotional event.
Advanta~es of the invention Fxom the salespersonls view, the inventive tag reader functions in the fc>llo~iny way. When an article is to be sold to a customerl, its tag or a detachable piece thereof is removed and stuck into a slot in the reader. Although there is normally a visible price indication on the tag, the salesperson does not neecl to read it. When the tag is stuck in, the reader reads a price code from the tag and a price signal is carried over to the cash register and registered. If severa:L
articles are to be sold to the same customer, their tags are ~ed in one after another, and when all the tags ~or a partic~lar purchase have been fed in, the salesperson presses a buttom Eor the sum total, ancl the cash register makes the sum in a normal way and delivers a pay slip.
Sometimes, a tag may be unreadable or faulty, and the reader will then deliver that tag in a special output collector, giving off a signal which may be an audihle signal or a visible signal or ~oth. The salesperson may then try to enter the same tag again. (A tag inserted upside down will be pushed back i~nediately.) If it is not ~ead then, the salesperson may read the printed in~ormation on the tag and enter the price in the cash re~ister manually, by means of its normal keyboarclu This may also be necessary for articles where the price has been reduced so that t:he price in the tag code is no longer valid. Such tags which are given a special treat~
ment will normally be~ stored sepaxately~ whereas the tag~ norma:Lly read are collec~ed :inside the reader~
rV ~
From the point of view of the direction of tlie shop, the invention presents the following advantages.
The reader may deliver the information of the tags d.irectly at t-he sales moment to a data register, e:ither on~line or through a-suitable medium. It is possib:le to provide e.g~ an ordinary magnetic tape cassette fo:r registering the data of the tags. This medium can then suitably register all the other data and not only the price, so that there may be kept track over the stock and to rapidLy split up turnover e.g. in respect of product~ sizes of garments etc~ A distribu-ted system is thus obtained instead of those centralized systems which have previously been used for the same purpose In the presently preferred embodiment, the tag reader is able to read normal tags of the so-called Kimball type and also alternatively tags where the code is not a hole code but a printed code which may be similar to the Kimhall type code. In order to obtain a compati~le system, the alternative tags should have gui.de holes which are similar to those of the old kind of tags and which are used for feeding purposes. The hole codes and the printed codes can then be read in a simllar manner, and if the new kind oE tags are provided with a special signal mark, it is possible to let such a mark control the manner of reading such that the salesperson need not bother to readjust the reader but can enter code tags of both kinds in any order at will. According to a special feature, the tag reader can read both holes and ink maxks by means of the same equipment and entirely indiscriminately.
Normal tags of the kind previously known are usually manufactured on special machines which a.re qui~e expensive~ so that i.t is necessary to have a centralized manu~acture axranged With my system using alternative -tags which are printed, it is possible to use very simple printing machines and e.g. let the prin~i.ng be governed by pre-~abrlcated guide holes in ~ag blanks.
~ the invention _ The objects and advantages of the invention are ohtained by a new type of ta~ reader which cooperates with ~ cash register Although at present, the tag reader is enYisaged as a separate item to be coupled to a cash register of the modern electronic type, which can accept electrical codes alternative to codes entered on its keyboard~ such a tag reader may also be built inlo a cash register or other machine with a similar function. It is therefore not intended to limit the invention to the case of a separate tag reader, although this is the pre-,ently preEerxed embodiment.
According to the invention, there is thus provi~ed a tag ~eader having an entry slot for entering tays one by one manuall~-/ one at a time in succession, a sensor ~or sensing the presence of a manually entered tag, means for performing an optical reading operation on machine-readable codes on a tag entered and sensed, parity checking logics providing for error readings on sa:id tag, means Eor deviating a tag where a parity error is sensed, means ~or ejecting a deviated tag, means or recording xead code information on a tag free of error readings, means for transmitting said recorded code to a cash register ~o~ entering a price therein and means fo:r ~5 collecting recorded tags.
According to another aspect of the invention, there are provided means or manually entering a -tag into a Eirst path ending against projections on a pinwheel havlng two pins arranged behind the projections for manually pushing a tag against the projections and there-by activating switch means for starting rotation o:E said pinwheel~ said two pins thereoE being arranged to grip two holes in said tag Eor bringing it along a second, arcuate path, optical reading means adjacent said arcuate path ~or sensing code markings thereon, reject means or emitting a re~ect signal when a signal from said optical , v~
readiny means is erroneous, deviating means ~ctivaled by said reject signal for ejecting a bad tag, and collecting means for assembling correctly read tags"
According to a preferred embodiment, the tag reader is pro~ided with double reading mode facili~ies~ so that it can read an ordinary hole~code tag or a tag provided with ink markings instead of code holes. Both kinds of tags must be provided with similar feed holes, as they are mechanically treated in the same way. However, the optical reading must be made differently, althouyh it is envisaged to use the same code positions. It is possible to use one and the same set of optical sensors in both cases, for example by sensing the lowered transmission of light at a position provided wit~. a point of pr:Lnted ink, whereas a hole is sensed by more light being 1:rans-mitted through the tag. It is also possible to arrange two sets of sensors, one for sensing transmitted light from ~ lamp on the opposite side of the tag path, 1he other for sensing reflected light from a lamp on the same side of the tag path. Normally tnen~ the firs~
sensor set senses pulses of light, whereas the second set senses "black" pulses against the reflecti.vity of imm~c~late paper.
It is neces.sary to sense which kind of tag i'3 being re~d. It is possible to do this by sensing the absence of a hole code by one sensor set and to activa~e the other sensor set in such absence, and it is then advantageous to mount the other sensor set downstream from the hole-sensing sensor set. However, it is also possible to arrange a punching or an ink-marking in a pxedetermined spot on the tag for indicating that a tag is of one of the kinds, and in the reader a spec.ial sensor for signal-liny its existence fc,r selectiny the appropriate reading mode.
~t is ~lso posc.ible to arrange a reader for :reading mexely printed codes in tags, thus modifying the s'ystem ~ 3~
by abolishing entirely the use of code holes, keep:Lng only those holes in tags which serve purposes of location and feeding. Codes in tagC may then ~e printed in ~ printing machi.ne, using the edges of the tags as indicia for assuring that code markings fall on the right spots and not beside, thus assuring readability.
The invention may also be seen in the aspect of providin~ a system for accounting and reglstering pur-chases at a polnt of sale, comprising a cash regis~er of electronic type which is capable of admitting electrical price code signals, and wherein there is added a tag reader, so that tags :may be read and their price informa-tion automatically entered in the cash register in lieu o~ price information :manually entered by means of the cash register's keyboard. The tags are taken from sold merchandise and entered manually one at a time, wh:ich operation serves the same purpose as the salesperson's entering of the price on the keyboard as previously made.
It is possible to read other information as well f:rom the tags for entering into a memory, store, computer or the like, exhausting all the information on the tags for treatment for all kinds of accountance purposesO
By cash register is meant a machine such as :is used for adding sums of purchase, and from the standpoint of the imvention, it is immaterial i.f it is provided with a money till or not~ whether it is a uni.t for registering purchases in a cxedi-t card system or if the registering of purchases is made in some other way. The usefulness of the inven-tion would not be impaired by its use with such re~isters, and the use of the term cash register is not implied to limit the invention to such cases where actual money cash changes hands.
Bxief description o~ dra~
_ .
Fig. 1 shows an inventive tag reader soupled to 3S ~ cash register Fig. 2 shows a simplified exploded view of a tag reader.
Fig. 3 is a schematic drawing explaining the electrical functions of the tag reader of Fig. ~.
Fig. 4 is an exemplary logic circuit for treating signals from the circuits of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 shows a circuit for adjusting illumincltion of a tag depending on its type.
Fig. 6 shows wavefor~s encountered in tag reading operations.
Fig. 7 shows a circuit ~or sensing a phototransistor.
Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram showing sensor posi-tion for hole and edge sensing on a tag.
Fig. 9 is a schematic figure showiny hole and edge sensing related to a pinwheel.
Fig. 10 shows a logic diagram over a motor control circuit.
Fig. 11 shows waveforms of the circuit of Fig. 10.
D _ cription of a preferred embodiment In Fig. 1 is shown a tag reader 1 coupled to a cash register 2 of an electronic type (in this case a CASIO
model ~-26ER~. A tag 3 of the Kimhall type is entered by hand ln an entry slot: 4 and pressed slightly in by hand.
The reader will then start r and the tag 3 vanishes into the reader 1. As can be seen, the reader 1 is coupled to the cash register~ and if the tag 3 is successfully read, the cash register wi]l enter a price in its memory, show it on the window 9 and print it on a sales slip 7. When a number of tags have been read corresponding to a pur-chase, the vendor presses a sum total button on the key-board 6, and the sum is calculated, whown in window 9 and printed on slip l. The tags 1 read are collected in a box inside the reader, which may have the form of drawer 8. If there i'3 an erroneous tag, it will instead be thrown out ~n e~it 5, so that the vendor can enter the price not read (printed on the tag) by means of key~oard 6.
In Fig. 2, there is shown an exploded view of a tag reader. It may be seen that under the tag entry 4, working as a slot, there is a kind of drum or pinwheel lO.
Guides 12 and 13 are mounted adjacent the circumference o~ the wheel lO, the interspace forming a prolongalion of the track defined by the tag entry 4. A tag entered will be brought against projections 16 on ~he drum, and means to be described below indicate electronically that a tag has been entered. This starts motor ll, which star1s to rotate in the direction indicated~ A pair of projections or pins 17 then grip corresponding holes in the tag and bring ~t along. ~ lamp LS inside the drum sends ou~
light through an opening in the drum, and this light is sensed through the tag by means of a set of light sensors lc., comprised in a logic circuit for sensing codes on the tag brought in front of the sensors.
The sensors comprise optical fibers l9 coupled to light-sensitive elements 20, prefexentially phototran-sistors. Alth.ouc3h this is not shown~ there should be, for a Kimball tag, ten such sensors directed to sense ten different positions for holes or, according to a special embodiment, printed markings which can also 2S be sensed There is a feature in the logic system to be de-scribed which determi.nes whether information read is acceptable. An accept.ecl tag will follow a first path down lnto dr~wer ~'. There is also a bifurcator 14 which may be activated to send a misread tag into another path ending in exit 5. This biE~rcator or switch (as under-stood in railw~y ter%ls) may be activated by motor or relay 15 moving ~lag or guide 14. Motor or relay 14 is controlled electrical.ly by means of logics to be expl~ined.
In Fi.c3. 3, there is a schematic drawing showing more in detail how a tag is read For simplicity, the curved path.i:s exchanged for a straight path.
A tag of one of the envisaged types is provided with holes as shown. There are feed holes 21, 22 and 23, of which holes 21 and 22 are used as explained in con-nection with Fig. 2, - 5 There are further 10 x 12 hole positions function-ing as a code pattern, there being twelve rows correspond-iny to 2 x 5 positions which ten positions are read simultaneously ~y the row 18 of sensors previously mentioned. It is noted that the same positions may be provided with ink dots instead of holes and tha~ the reader may read such codes alternatively~ (It shou:Ld be emphasized that, although this exemplifies a very common type of coded tag, the invention is not limited to a particular card ~ut may be used with any kind of card-like markers provided with code markings in rows and columns,~
First, the start operation shall be explained. When a tag is inserted, its edge will break the liyht path between a light source and a phototransis-tor, which pair is schematically designed as 24. Further, there is arranged a set of at least two photosensors 25 and 26 at feed hole 21, sensiny light through the hole 21 at the start position or the tag. A circuit 27 decides when sensor 24 senses a tag and sensors 2S and 26 simultane-ously sense light through hole 21. The constructional features of cir~uit 27 do not have to be described, being well in reach for the electronic man of the art. When this combination is sensed, motor 1~ is s-tarted as of Fig. 2. It is noted t:hat this gives a control so that if the opposite edge of tag 3 is presented, there wil.l be found no hole 21, and the apparatus will not start.
(~f tay is presented upside down~ there will not be any hole at the position of hole 21, and there is no start either.) The sensirlg of the hole 21 toyether with the sensinc~ of the edge ~y sensor 24 is thus an important featu~e of the invention. According to a preferred embodiment, the motor 11 (Fiy. 2) is made to start in the reverse direction if hole 21 is not detected, thus rejecting the tag ~y pushing it towards the fingers of the person who introduces it.
In a preferred embodiment~ this sensin~ of hole 21 and edge of tag is made in a slightly more complicated way, where two optical hole sensors Hl and H2 take the place o~ sensor 24 in Fig. 3, which are positioned in a row in order to sense successively the hole, with two edge sensors Kl and X2, also in a row. This is schematic-ally shown in Fig. 8. In this embodiment, the drum is also pro~ided at one side with a hole P, and at the "home" position, this hole P falls in front of an optical sensor S, as shown in Fig. ~ At an adjacent position SB, thexe is another optical sensor, which senses when the drum 10 has mo~ed backwards a certain amountO
Said optical sensors Hl, H2~ Kl, K2, S and SB are part of a ~otor dri~e system shown in Fig. 9 for driving the motor 11. Since anyone skilled in the electronics art can understand the fullction of this circuit with less than a complete descr:iption of all the gates, it is su$$icienk to explain that the gates indicated A are OR
gates (e.g. 4075) J the gates indicated l~ are NOR gates (e,g. 4001~ and the gcltes indicated C are AND gates (e.g. 4073~. Vl - V5 are "one bit memories"~ Vl being a hole memory, V2 "tag OK memory", V3 "Forward" and V4 "Backward". OX~ and OKB are optocouplers for ordering motor 11 to turn ~oxward and backward, respectively.
The ~unctioning of this ~em will now be described step by step with particular reference to Fig. 9 and 11, which latter shows a diagram o$ waveforms in the circuit o~ E'ig. 1~.
1. A tag is brought into the slot.
If corre_ If wronq
2. Edge sensor Kl senses edge and goes low. Same Zeroing of memories Vl, V2 and V4 is removed.
3. Hole sensors Hl and H2 go low, with Hl first. Nothing This sets Vl, the hole memory.
4. Edge sensor K2 goes low, K2 goes low and V4 for and V2, "tag OK", is set, backward movement is set, due to Vl being set, If since Vl is not set.
S, "home", is or becomes high, and PF ~rom central logic gives clearance signal by being low, V3 is set~
S, "home", is or becomes high, and PF ~rom central logic gives clearance signal by being low, V3 is set~
5. The tag is ,Eed by motor 11. The tag is brollght back until hole P is brought to position P' (Fig. 8~1 and makes SB go high. This zeroes V4, which sel:s V5, the backward memor~,L
6. When ~ehind edye of tag Tag is taken out manually, leaves Kl, Vl, V2 and V4 making Kl go high. ~s V5 are again brought to zeroO i5 high, V3 is set, and drum 10 is turned forward until S goes high again and V3 is zeroed. When V3 was set, V5 was zeroed.
7. When hole P is brought anew in position to make S high, the feed is comp-lete, ~nd ~3 is zeroed.
The reason for sensor K2 is to assure that the tag is brought down far enough to assure tha-t it can be yripped securely by pins 17 in holes 2:!,22.
It may be noted that in the embodiment of Fig. 9, projections 16 of drum 10 are exchanged for a step 16', and one pin 80 is provided for hole 23 (Flg. 3) of tag 3.
In Fig. 11 are shown some waveforms explaining the circuit of Fig. 10u Hl and H2 are the signals from two hole detectors placecl as apparent schematically from Fig. 9; whereas Kl and K2 are edge sensing siynals as apparent ~rom Fig. 8 and 9. When a tag is introduced, Hl first goes high, as t:he tag blocks the light, and then H2 goes high for the same reason. Then, Hl detects the hole and goes low again, whereafter H2 detects the hole. D is ~ delayed ~ersion of H2, by means of an RC circuit, and which is sent to the D input of "hole memory" Vl~ The "clock" input of this circuit receives the signal denoted as Cl in Fig. 11. - It is noted that circuits V2-V5 have thei~ D inputs positive and are there:core set by their clock input going high As shown in Fig. 10, the drive circuit for the motor 11 is activated by means o~ optor-couplers OK~ (forward movementl and OKB (backward movement).
Sensors F~l-FT10 are coupled to a logic 28 having ~eatures which will be described with reference al~,o -to ~ig. 6.
Lo~ic 28 has one output 2'3 which ~ignalizes that all photosensors 18 are receiving light. This is normally the case e.g when no tag has reached reading position.
When motor 11 (Fig. 21 starts, the edge of tag 3 w:ill re~ch the row of sensors 18, and they will all turn "dark". The signal "all light" on output 29 will go low~
and logic operation will start. Reading phase will end when tag has passed beyond sensors 18 and "all light"
on output 29 goes hlgh.
On output 30 of logic 28, there is sensed a signal "all dark", which goes high when all the sensors 1~ sense low light intensity. When a code hole comes before one of the sensors, this signal goes low.
It ~ay be explained here that the Kimball type cocle is constructecl such that a group of five hole positions comprise a cipher position and that all numbers 0-9 correspond to a pair of holes ( ~23 = lo ). Thus~ any correct cipher position will show exactly two holes~ At Position 1, signal "all dark'l will thus go low as apparent in Fig. 6. Then, all will go dark until Position 2 is reached, etc.
E~ch of the ten signals from sensors 18 is coupled to an entry on logic 28, and there are ten outputs on logic 28~ indicated as Dl-D10. (Logic 28 thereby also works as an interface to following circuits, which are C-~OS.I Those outputs are individually high when a corre-sponding hole code is present. They are all coupled to parallel inputs on a shift register S/R FF.
As apparent from Fig. 3, SR-FF ("set-reset flip-flop"l has ten parallel inputs, ten parallel outputs and a reset input R. A pulse to reset input R will reset all the flip-flops If one of the signals Dl-D10 is high, its corresponding flip-flop will switch, making its correspon-ding output high permanently, until the circuit is reset by input R ln the pre~erred embodiment, this circuit SR-FF is a C-MOS circuit known as 4043 (available from several manu~acturexsl It is noted that this particular "latch circu:it" does not use any s~robe input, which is an advantageous featuxe as the positions on a tag may be ill defined, so that a strobed latching would be difficult to t.ime adequately in view of poor precision of location and various defects encountered in tags.
The si~nal OUtplltS Dl-D10 from S/R FF are clocked into inputs shown in Fig 4 by means of pulses "all dark".
When the first "all dark" comes~ meaning that the edge of a -tag 3 has been inserted and obstructs all the sensors 18, the first strobing of the circuit in Fig. 3 will transfer all outputs Dl-D10 as active, as the sensors were previously all lit.
The "all dark" signal is led to a circuit PF which creates a reset signal with a slight delay, which then resets all the flip-flops in S/R FF. They thus start in "dark" conditions. As soon as one or more of inputs Dl-D10 goes high, indicating hole codes, signal "all dark" on head 30 will go low. We are then at Pos. 1 in Fig. 6.
A corresp~ndiny flip~lop will give a high output in S/R FF ~t the end of Pos 1 in Fig. 1~ the "ali dark"
signal will go high again, as there are no holes in front of sensors 18. The same "all dark" signal will clock in the prevailing contents of S~R FF to the circuit of Fig.4, and circuit PF will anew reset the flip-flops at R. This is proceeded with row by row, until the tag ends and signal "all light" goes high, as the opposite edge of tag 3 has passed sensors 18.
As has now been explained, there are fed from S/R FF
in Fig. 3 a succession of parallel output signals consist-ing of first ten alike parallel ones and then twelve successive code sets, These are led into bus s~itches AI
and AII (Fig. 4), five into each and switched into switch register.s 31 and 32 on a parallel bus input, and clocked in by signal "all dar~". There are 1~ x 10 positions all together in the switch registers~ and when all twelve bits have heen entered into each individual input, the first bit entered will have vanished. In case there is a defec-tive readiny such that less than twelve parallel codes have been entered, the first inputs will still remain in the shift registers 31 and 32, and the utility o~ this for error sensiny will be explained below.
~hen si~nal "~11 light" goes high again~ a data t~e~t~ent phase starts undex control of logic 33~ Switches ~ ~nd ~II are set such that ou~puts from registers 31 and 32 are led in a circular path by buses 34 and 35.
The shift re~isters 31 and 32 are clocked by clock signals from the logic 33, and the successive outputs are led to an error detector 36. This error detector for each parallel half corresponding to Dl-5 and D6-10 respectively are controlled for the existence in each of exactly two active outputs and three inactive outputs. In case there are more or less, an error signal is generated, and the reading is rejected. If no error is found, a new set of twelve clock pulses is emitted, this time for reading-out purposes.
The codes are thereby led to a decade coder which trans~ers the Kimball codes into a suitable form for a writer, cash register, a computer and~or some register ing medium, It is again noted that if there have been read less than twelve rows of Kimball codes7 the first bits read in, ~11 active, will remain in the shift register and will be detected as an erroneous code in error detector 36.
It is noted that it is preferred to let motor 11 of Fig. 2 work in a step-wise way, e.g. by using a step motor, and stop the motor 11 in a position where a tag has been read hut remains between pinwheel 10 and guides 12 and 13.
It is then possible to hold a passed tag until the data have been treated and no fault has been found. Only then will the motor 11 ~e allowed to start again in order to let the tag ~all into box 8'. In case the error detector 36 activates~ motor 15 is activated to swing the switch 14 so that the erroneously read tag goes to exit 5, for m~king another attempt at reading or for manual handling.
In Fig. 4, there are shown terminals of logic 33 which are used for control signals. In the embodiment as shown in Fig. 1, the cash register will take in prices ~igure by ~igure as an ordinary adding machine. When all the ~gures of a price have been entered, logic 33 sends ~ sum signal to the ca5h register, which will then automatica]ly make the operations previously de~cri~ed.
In other types of data collectors t other kinds of control signals are used, for instance strobe signals, and there may be an acknowledge signal indicating that a new figure may be fed. The various modifications necessary for such use are known in the art.
According to a preferred embodiment, the same code reader may also be used for printed codes instead of hole codes. This may be obtained by means of letting a photo-transistor sensor sense light through the ticket at a rowposition where th~re are no holes or printed signs~ This sensor is coupled to control the light source LS such that it will set to a~out half maximum light output when light attenuated by tag is sensed by the sensor. This may be e.g. sensor 25 or 26 o Fig. 3, and a circuit therefor is shown in Elig. 5. When a hole passes one of phototransistors FT l-lO~ or there is no tag, those sensors will go low, and if a printed spot is found in a "hole position", the respecti~e phototransistor will go high. The outputs are sensed by windo~ discrirninatoxs in logic 28, which give out passi~e d~ta levels around a mean light level but will yive act~ve data levels ~or either high or low phototran-sistor volt~ge on sensors Fl-FlO. Thu~ it is po$sible with one and the same electronics to sense hole codes and "black points" codes.
As explained with reference to Fig. 5, the light intensity ~rom lamp L5 is governed by a feedback loop. In the pre~erred embodiment fox sensing dots or holes, there is for each of channels Dl-D10 a special circuit. An exemplary circuit is shown in Fig. 7, being mounted for channel Dl. When in function, lamp LS is controlled so that when a tag portion free of hole or dot is in front of phototransistor FTl (782, its output signal is roughly half the volt~ge available, i.e. about V~/2. The signal from 78 is led to a window discrirninator 70. In this circuit 70, there a~e two comparator circuits 72 and 73, 1,~
the positive inputs o~ which are biased by means of a resistor chain 74-76 such that they receive about 2V+/3 and V~/3 respectively. If now the quiescent voltage at about V+/2 prevails as input signal VF, comparator 72 will ~ive a high output signal and comparator 73 a low output signal. These output signals Va and Vb are ]ed to an EXCLUSIVE NOR/gate 71 and the result will be a low output D1. If signal VF goes below V+/3 or goes higher than 2V~/3, indicating a printed dot or a hole respective-ly, gate 71 will in both cases deliver a high output signal Dl. ~ignals Dl D10 are then treated as explained for the case with holes only.
With this embod~ment, which is preferred at the moment~ it is possihle to arrange in an extremely simple way-fc)r marking down of prices. Such marking-down is ~abitually done ~or various reasons~ as for example when an article is no longer available in all sizes or when there is an annual sale Sometimes, a produGt may have beaome shop~worn and cannot be sold at the originally intended price. In al] such cases~ a sticker 50 (see Fig. 3~ is af~ixed to the tag in a position near the legible price 51. The sticker is provided with a border which is e.g. as wide as two code holes. A discriminator 53 is activated from a reading sensor 52, functioning the same way as sensors 18~ and will give off a signal when finding such a border. This signal is used as a reject signal, and the tag will be rejectecl, unless the changed price was ~ntroduced on the keyboard be~ore the tag was put in.
Sometimes, price tags are used which have a price 00.oo inscribed in the price code. The idea is to provide the price at a later stage, although keepin~ the other information available ~or registering. Thus~ the price is marked only in eye-legible form~ In such a case, it is 3S neces$a~y to introduce a zero-pr:ice ~inding effect. This is d~ne ~ providing the control lo~ic with a watch funçtion which is set to ~ero when reading is commenced and which is set as soon as a figure of 1-9 is read but stays unset if there are only zeroes read. If thus, the price is read as zero, the tag is rejected unless a price is introduced by hand at the keyboard.
The electronic circuits now described in a pref~rred embodiment built on a logic unit 33 which may be the "Motorola Industrial Control Unit MC 14500B" described in the "Motorola Handbook" for this one bit computer, printed in 1977. The ROM for the program used should be programmed according to the use described, a task well within reach for an average electronician, as it is the choice of the other hardware shown and described.
~,~d ,,
The reason for sensor K2 is to assure that the tag is brought down far enough to assure tha-t it can be yripped securely by pins 17 in holes 2:!,22.
It may be noted that in the embodiment of Fig. 9, projections 16 of drum 10 are exchanged for a step 16', and one pin 80 is provided for hole 23 (Flg. 3) of tag 3.
In Fig. 11 are shown some waveforms explaining the circuit of Fig. 10u Hl and H2 are the signals from two hole detectors placecl as apparent schematically from Fig. 9; whereas Kl and K2 are edge sensing siynals as apparent ~rom Fig. 8 and 9. When a tag is introduced, Hl first goes high, as t:he tag blocks the light, and then H2 goes high for the same reason. Then, Hl detects the hole and goes low again, whereafter H2 detects the hole. D is ~ delayed ~ersion of H2, by means of an RC circuit, and which is sent to the D input of "hole memory" Vl~ The "clock" input of this circuit receives the signal denoted as Cl in Fig. 11. - It is noted that circuits V2-V5 have thei~ D inputs positive and are there:core set by their clock input going high As shown in Fig. 10, the drive circuit for the motor 11 is activated by means o~ optor-couplers OK~ (forward movementl and OKB (backward movement).
Sensors F~l-FT10 are coupled to a logic 28 having ~eatures which will be described with reference al~,o -to ~ig. 6.
Lo~ic 28 has one output 2'3 which ~ignalizes that all photosensors 18 are receiving light. This is normally the case e.g when no tag has reached reading position.
When motor 11 (Fig. 21 starts, the edge of tag 3 w:ill re~ch the row of sensors 18, and they will all turn "dark". The signal "all light" on output 29 will go low~
and logic operation will start. Reading phase will end when tag has passed beyond sensors 18 and "all light"
on output 29 goes hlgh.
On output 30 of logic 28, there is sensed a signal "all dark", which goes high when all the sensors 1~ sense low light intensity. When a code hole comes before one of the sensors, this signal goes low.
It ~ay be explained here that the Kimball type cocle is constructecl such that a group of five hole positions comprise a cipher position and that all numbers 0-9 correspond to a pair of holes ( ~23 = lo ). Thus~ any correct cipher position will show exactly two holes~ At Position 1, signal "all dark'l will thus go low as apparent in Fig. 6. Then, all will go dark until Position 2 is reached, etc.
E~ch of the ten signals from sensors 18 is coupled to an entry on logic 28, and there are ten outputs on logic 28~ indicated as Dl-D10. (Logic 28 thereby also works as an interface to following circuits, which are C-~OS.I Those outputs are individually high when a corre-sponding hole code is present. They are all coupled to parallel inputs on a shift register S/R FF.
As apparent from Fig. 3, SR-FF ("set-reset flip-flop"l has ten parallel inputs, ten parallel outputs and a reset input R. A pulse to reset input R will reset all the flip-flops If one of the signals Dl-D10 is high, its corresponding flip-flop will switch, making its correspon-ding output high permanently, until the circuit is reset by input R ln the pre~erred embodiment, this circuit SR-FF is a C-MOS circuit known as 4043 (available from several manu~acturexsl It is noted that this particular "latch circu:it" does not use any s~robe input, which is an advantageous featuxe as the positions on a tag may be ill defined, so that a strobed latching would be difficult to t.ime adequately in view of poor precision of location and various defects encountered in tags.
The si~nal OUtplltS Dl-D10 from S/R FF are clocked into inputs shown in Fig 4 by means of pulses "all dark".
When the first "all dark" comes~ meaning that the edge of a -tag 3 has been inserted and obstructs all the sensors 18, the first strobing of the circuit in Fig. 3 will transfer all outputs Dl-D10 as active, as the sensors were previously all lit.
The "all dark" signal is led to a circuit PF which creates a reset signal with a slight delay, which then resets all the flip-flops in S/R FF. They thus start in "dark" conditions. As soon as one or more of inputs Dl-D10 goes high, indicating hole codes, signal "all dark" on head 30 will go low. We are then at Pos. 1 in Fig. 6.
A corresp~ndiny flip~lop will give a high output in S/R FF ~t the end of Pos 1 in Fig. 1~ the "ali dark"
signal will go high again, as there are no holes in front of sensors 18. The same "all dark" signal will clock in the prevailing contents of S~R FF to the circuit of Fig.4, and circuit PF will anew reset the flip-flops at R. This is proceeded with row by row, until the tag ends and signal "all light" goes high, as the opposite edge of tag 3 has passed sensors 18.
As has now been explained, there are fed from S/R FF
in Fig. 3 a succession of parallel output signals consist-ing of first ten alike parallel ones and then twelve successive code sets, These are led into bus s~itches AI
and AII (Fig. 4), five into each and switched into switch register.s 31 and 32 on a parallel bus input, and clocked in by signal "all dar~". There are 1~ x 10 positions all together in the switch registers~ and when all twelve bits have heen entered into each individual input, the first bit entered will have vanished. In case there is a defec-tive readiny such that less than twelve parallel codes have been entered, the first inputs will still remain in the shift registers 31 and 32, and the utility o~ this for error sensiny will be explained below.
~hen si~nal "~11 light" goes high again~ a data t~e~t~ent phase starts undex control of logic 33~ Switches ~ ~nd ~II are set such that ou~puts from registers 31 and 32 are led in a circular path by buses 34 and 35.
The shift re~isters 31 and 32 are clocked by clock signals from the logic 33, and the successive outputs are led to an error detector 36. This error detector for each parallel half corresponding to Dl-5 and D6-10 respectively are controlled for the existence in each of exactly two active outputs and three inactive outputs. In case there are more or less, an error signal is generated, and the reading is rejected. If no error is found, a new set of twelve clock pulses is emitted, this time for reading-out purposes.
The codes are thereby led to a decade coder which trans~ers the Kimball codes into a suitable form for a writer, cash register, a computer and~or some register ing medium, It is again noted that if there have been read less than twelve rows of Kimball codes7 the first bits read in, ~11 active, will remain in the shift register and will be detected as an erroneous code in error detector 36.
It is noted that it is preferred to let motor 11 of Fig. 2 work in a step-wise way, e.g. by using a step motor, and stop the motor 11 in a position where a tag has been read hut remains between pinwheel 10 and guides 12 and 13.
It is then possible to hold a passed tag until the data have been treated and no fault has been found. Only then will the motor 11 ~e allowed to start again in order to let the tag ~all into box 8'. In case the error detector 36 activates~ motor 15 is activated to swing the switch 14 so that the erroneously read tag goes to exit 5, for m~king another attempt at reading or for manual handling.
In Fig. 4, there are shown terminals of logic 33 which are used for control signals. In the embodiment as shown in Fig. 1, the cash register will take in prices ~igure by ~igure as an ordinary adding machine. When all the ~gures of a price have been entered, logic 33 sends ~ sum signal to the ca5h register, which will then automatica]ly make the operations previously de~cri~ed.
In other types of data collectors t other kinds of control signals are used, for instance strobe signals, and there may be an acknowledge signal indicating that a new figure may be fed. The various modifications necessary for such use are known in the art.
According to a preferred embodiment, the same code reader may also be used for printed codes instead of hole codes. This may be obtained by means of letting a photo-transistor sensor sense light through the ticket at a rowposition where th~re are no holes or printed signs~ This sensor is coupled to control the light source LS such that it will set to a~out half maximum light output when light attenuated by tag is sensed by the sensor. This may be e.g. sensor 25 or 26 o Fig. 3, and a circuit therefor is shown in Elig. 5. When a hole passes one of phototransistors FT l-lO~ or there is no tag, those sensors will go low, and if a printed spot is found in a "hole position", the respecti~e phototransistor will go high. The outputs are sensed by windo~ discrirninatoxs in logic 28, which give out passi~e d~ta levels around a mean light level but will yive act~ve data levels ~or either high or low phototran-sistor volt~ge on sensors Fl-FlO. Thu~ it is po$sible with one and the same electronics to sense hole codes and "black points" codes.
As explained with reference to Fig. 5, the light intensity ~rom lamp L5 is governed by a feedback loop. In the pre~erred embodiment fox sensing dots or holes, there is for each of channels Dl-D10 a special circuit. An exemplary circuit is shown in Fig. 7, being mounted for channel Dl. When in function, lamp LS is controlled so that when a tag portion free of hole or dot is in front of phototransistor FTl (782, its output signal is roughly half the volt~ge available, i.e. about V~/2. The signal from 78 is led to a window discrirninator 70. In this circuit 70, there a~e two comparator circuits 72 and 73, 1,~
the positive inputs o~ which are biased by means of a resistor chain 74-76 such that they receive about 2V+/3 and V~/3 respectively. If now the quiescent voltage at about V+/2 prevails as input signal VF, comparator 72 will ~ive a high output signal and comparator 73 a low output signal. These output signals Va and Vb are ]ed to an EXCLUSIVE NOR/gate 71 and the result will be a low output D1. If signal VF goes below V+/3 or goes higher than 2V~/3, indicating a printed dot or a hole respective-ly, gate 71 will in both cases deliver a high output signal Dl. ~ignals Dl D10 are then treated as explained for the case with holes only.
With this embod~ment, which is preferred at the moment~ it is possihle to arrange in an extremely simple way-fc)r marking down of prices. Such marking-down is ~abitually done ~or various reasons~ as for example when an article is no longer available in all sizes or when there is an annual sale Sometimes, a produGt may have beaome shop~worn and cannot be sold at the originally intended price. In al] such cases~ a sticker 50 (see Fig. 3~ is af~ixed to the tag in a position near the legible price 51. The sticker is provided with a border which is e.g. as wide as two code holes. A discriminator 53 is activated from a reading sensor 52, functioning the same way as sensors 18~ and will give off a signal when finding such a border. This signal is used as a reject signal, and the tag will be rejectecl, unless the changed price was ~ntroduced on the keyboard be~ore the tag was put in.
Sometimes, price tags are used which have a price 00.oo inscribed in the price code. The idea is to provide the price at a later stage, although keepin~ the other information available ~or registering. Thus~ the price is marked only in eye-legible form~ In such a case, it is 3S neces$a~y to introduce a zero-pr:ice ~inding effect. This is d~ne ~ providing the control lo~ic with a watch funçtion which is set to ~ero when reading is commenced and which is set as soon as a figure of 1-9 is read but stays unset if there are only zeroes read. If thus, the price is read as zero, the tag is rejected unless a price is introduced by hand at the keyboard.
The electronic circuits now described in a pref~rred embodiment built on a logic unit 33 which may be the "Motorola Industrial Control Unit MC 14500B" described in the "Motorola Handbook" for this one bit computer, printed in 1977. The ROM for the program used should be programmed according to the use described, a task well within reach for an average electronician, as it is the choice of the other hardware shown and described.
~,~d ,,
Claims (13)
1. A tag reader for reading tags of the so-called Kimball type, provided with an entry slot for entering tags manually one at a time in succession, a code reader for reading a price code of a tag and providing a price signal on an output terminal, provided for directing said price signal to a cash register for registering therein of a sale and means for collecting tags read, said reader further including means for detecting a faulty code reading and providing an error signal, means for sensing said error signal and for ejecting a tag corresponding to said faulty code reading and reject means for making available an ejected tag for manual processing.
2. A tag reader for reading tags provided with number codes including a price code having redundance and provided with at least two feed holes, the reader having terminals for coupling to a cash register for entering therein of prices coded in said tags and appertaining to goods sold, the tag reader having a cover and in the cover a tag entry for manual entering of tags, a store for tags read and accepted and an exit for tags unaccepted, a drum rotatable around a shaft and having an envelope provided with first and second projections, guides forming a tag track starting from the tag entry slot and adjoining said drum circumferentially around at least part of its envelope in a bent portion of the track, an electrically controlled bifurcation switch dividing the track into individually selectable paths, a first of the paths debouching into the store for read and accepted tags, a second of the paths debouching into the exit for tags unaccepted, a light source and a light sensor mounted on different sides of said track for sensing a diminished light intensity when a tag is entered through the tag entry and brought for alignment with an edge against said first projection on the drum, a motor for driving said drum to rotation when the sensor is activated, the second projection being arranged to project into said at least two holes of the tag for driving it along the track, a logic circuit for sensing said code signals, for valid-ating code signals by a redundance test and for emitting an error signal when said redundance test fails, electric-al coupling means for coupling the error signal to activate the electrically controlled bifurcation switch, for switching a tag into the second path, and signal means for signalling to an operator of a failed reading of a tag.
3. In an optical tag reader for hole-coded tags having a row of a plurality of optical detectors before which tags are to be brought for successive reading of rows of hole codes, the improvement wherein there are provided means for reading another type of tag provided with surface printed codes supplanting hole codes, a sensor for sensing a code on a tag for signalling whether a tag is a said first-mentioned hole-code tag or a tag having surface printed codes and for activating said means for reading said another type of tag.
4. In a tag reader for reading Kimball-type tags, wherein a pinwheel rotatable in a predetermined direction has two pins for gripping tags and bringing them along a path in front of a row of photosensitive elements corresponding to rows of hole emplacements in said tags, for successive reading of hole codes brought along in said predetermined direction, the improvement wherein said pinwheel is provided with a projection on the pinwheel, arranged, relative to the predetermined direction in front of said two pins, guides for guiding a manually entered tag against the projections, a sensor for sensing an entered tag and activation means coupled to the sensor for starting a reading operation, and means for stopping said reading operation after one tag has been read, in a position where a said projection is in position in front of the glides for manually entering a new tag.
5. In an optical tag reader for hole-coded tags having a column of a plurality of optical detectors before which tags are to be brought for successive reading of rows of hole codes, each optical detector being directed to an individual of a plurality of predetermined column positions, an entry for entering a tag and a guide for aligning a tag entered, motor-activatable rotor having a circular circumference provided with tag grippers for feeding an entered tag, the improvement wherein there is provided a sensor for sensing entered tag, means for rotating said rotor a predetermined angle when an entered tag is sensed, for gripping an inserted tag and for driving it to follow said circular circumference when rotated said predetermined angle.
6. In a system for accounting and registering pur-chases at a point of sale, comprising a cash register provided with sales slip printing means, summing means, keyboard means for entering prices of sold articles and means for collecting information-carrying tags liberated from sold articles, the improvement wherein there is provided a tag reader coupled to said cash register and provided with manual tag entering means, means for reading tag-carried price information codes and for entering said codes to said summing means of said cash register, in lieu of information entered by said keyboard, and means for ejecting faulty tags into an exit collector for manually entering a price read thereon by means of said keyboard means.
7. In a system for accounting and registering pur-chases at a point of sale, comprising a cash register provided with sales slip printing means, summing means, keyboard means for manually entering prices of sold articles and means for collecting information-carrying tags liberated from sold articles, the improvement wherein there is provided a tag reader for reading price informa-tion from tags and for providing coded electrical signals for entering to said summing means of said cash register in lieu of price information entered manually by said keyboard, said tag reader having a plurality of light sensors arranged in a row, a light source for illuminating a tag at a position near the row of light sensors, an electrical discrimination circuit for treating signals from a said light sensor and for emitting a discriminated code signal when a sensor signal is outside a quiescent mean interval, and means for treating said discriminated code signals for emitting price data signals to said cash register.
8. In a system according to claim 7, the further improvement consisting in a further light sensor arranged outside of said row and provided with an electrical discrimination circuit for emitting a discriminated code signal when a signal from said light sensor is outside a quiescent mean interval, and means for sensing said discriminated code signal and for emitting a signal perceptible to an operator for indicating existence of a special marking on a tag.
9. A tag reader for registering on an electronic sales register the price of merchandise at point of sale comprising:
a tag reader for converting optically encoded pricing data to electronic data signals including:
a housing including a slot aperture for receiving said tag;
a tag presence detecting means for detecting the presence of said tag in said slot;
a tag feeding means connected to receive and davance said tag from said slot to a tag reading station;
bifurcation means connected to receive said tag from said reading station, said bifurcation means including first and second tag delivering paths, operable in response to the decoding of data on said tag;
tag reading means for reading optically coded information on said tag, said means including an error detector for checking of errors in read information, means for supplying said validated information to electronic point of sales equipment for display; and means for operating said bifurcation means to deliver said tag to a first of said delivery paths in the absence of an error detection, and to supply said tag to the second of said delivery paths when an error is detected.
a tag reader for converting optically encoded pricing data to electronic data signals including:
a housing including a slot aperture for receiving said tag;
a tag presence detecting means for detecting the presence of said tag in said slot;
a tag feeding means connected to receive and davance said tag from said slot to a tag reading station;
bifurcation means connected to receive said tag from said reading station, said bifurcation means including first and second tag delivering paths, operable in response to the decoding of data on said tag;
tag reading means for reading optically coded information on said tag, said means including an error detector for checking of errors in read information, means for supplying said validated information to electronic point of sales equipment for display; and means for operating said bifurcation means to deliver said tag to a first of said delivery paths in the absence of an error detection, and to supply said tag to the second of said delivery paths when an error is detected.
10. A tag reader for registering on electronic point of sale equipment sales information for merchandise identified by said tag comprising:
a tag processing path including a tag guiding channel having an entrance for receiving the leading edge of said tag and an exit for delivering said tag;
a rotating drum having a surface adjacent said channel exit for contacting said tag leading edge, said drum including along a surface thereof means for holding said tag;
a curved guide spaced apart from said rotating drum and forming a tag feeding path therewith! whereby tags are forced during rotation of said drum to a tag reading station along said path;
a tag reading station along said path, means for sensing the presence of said tag leading edge at said channel exit, said means providing an enabling signal for rotating said drum for advancing said tag to said tag reading station;
means for reading and validating data on said tag, said means including an error detector for determining when said tag read data is incorrect;
bifurcation means connected to receive said tag from said reading station, and deliver said tag to one of two exit paths for said tag selected in response to said error detector, whereby said tag is directed to a first of said exit paths in the absence of a detected error, and to a second of said exit paths when an error is detected.
a tag processing path including a tag guiding channel having an entrance for receiving the leading edge of said tag and an exit for delivering said tag;
a rotating drum having a surface adjacent said channel exit for contacting said tag leading edge, said drum including along a surface thereof means for holding said tag;
a curved guide spaced apart from said rotating drum and forming a tag feeding path therewith! whereby tags are forced during rotation of said drum to a tag reading station along said path;
a tag reading station along said path, means for sensing the presence of said tag leading edge at said channel exit, said means providing an enabling signal for rotating said drum for advancing said tag to said tag reading station;
means for reading and validating data on said tag, said means including an error detector for determining when said tag read data is incorrect;
bifurcation means connected to receive said tag from said reading station, and deliver said tag to one of two exit paths for said tag selected in response to said error detector, whereby said tag is directed to a first of said exit paths in the absence of a detected error, and to a second of said exit paths when an error is detected.
11. The tag reader of claim 10 further comprising:
means for detecting the presence of tag orientation indicia on said tag, means connected to said drum for rotating said drum in a direction for advancing said tag to said tag reading station in response to the detection of said orientation indicia, and for rotating said wheel in an opposite direction in the absence of a detection of said orientation indicia whereby said tag is forced in an opposite direction through said guiding channel.
means for detecting the presence of tag orientation indicia on said tag, means connected to said drum for rotating said drum in a direction for advancing said tag to said tag reading station in response to the detection of said orientation indicia, and for rotating said wheel in an opposite direction in the absence of a detection of said orientation indicia whereby said tag is forced in an opposite direction through said guiding channel.
12. In a system for reading optically encoded sales information on tags and displaying said information, a tag reader comprising:
a tag processing path having a receiving end which admits the leading edge of said tag;
a tag edge sensor connected to determine the presence of said edge in said receiving end, said sensor providing an enabling signal when said edge is detected;
an orientation sensor positioned at said receiving end for determining the correct orientation of said tag in said receiving end;
means for advancing said tag along said path to a tag reading station in response to signals from said orientation sensor and said edge detector;
means located at said reading station for converting indicia on said tag to electrical binary signals, said electrical signals containing said information for display;
means for verifying said binary signals for determining whether an error is contained in said electrical signals;
bifurcation path means located along said path for receiving a tag from said tag reading station, said bifur-cation path selecting an exit path for said tag in response to a signal from said means for verifying; and means for advancing said tag to said bifurcation means at the conclusion of verifying said binary signals, whereby said tag exits through a path determined by the presence or absence of an error detected in said information.
a tag processing path having a receiving end which admits the leading edge of said tag;
a tag edge sensor connected to determine the presence of said edge in said receiving end, said sensor providing an enabling signal when said edge is detected;
an orientation sensor positioned at said receiving end for determining the correct orientation of said tag in said receiving end;
means for advancing said tag along said path to a tag reading station in response to signals from said orientation sensor and said edge detector;
means located at said reading station for converting indicia on said tag to electrical binary signals, said electrical signals containing said information for display;
means for verifying said binary signals for determining whether an error is contained in said electrical signals;
bifurcation path means located along said path for receiving a tag from said tag reading station, said bifur-cation path selecting an exit path for said tag in response to a signal from said means for verifying; and means for advancing said tag to said bifurcation means at the conclusion of verifying said binary signals, whereby said tag exits through a path determined by the presence or absence of an error detected in said information.
13. In a system for optically reading sales information from tags, and presenting said information from said tags for display, an apparatus for processing said tags comprising:
a tag receiving channel which receives a leading edge of said tag at an inlet;
a rotatable drum member located at an outlet channel of said receiving channel, said wheel member including along a periphery thereof a projection for abutting said leading edge, said drum including an idicia for indicating a first home position of said drum, and a tag rejection position of said drum;
an edge sensor for detecting the presence of said tag in said channel;
means for sensing said drum positions indicia, orientation sensor means for sensing a correct orientation of said tag, said sensor providing a signal indicating the said correct orientation;
means for rotating said drum in a first direction in response to a signal from said edge sensor and said orientation sensor for transferring said tag to a card reading station, and for rotating said drum in a reverse direction in response to the presence of a signal from said edge sensor and an indication from said orientation sensor that said tag is incorrectly inserted, whereby said tag is displaced rearwards in said receiving channel for removal of said tag, and means for rotating said drum to said home position in response to a simultaneous indication from said edge sensor that said card is removed, and from said means for sensing said drum position, whereby said drum is set to receive a subsequently inserted tag.
a tag receiving channel which receives a leading edge of said tag at an inlet;
a rotatable drum member located at an outlet channel of said receiving channel, said wheel member including along a periphery thereof a projection for abutting said leading edge, said drum including an idicia for indicating a first home position of said drum, and a tag rejection position of said drum;
an edge sensor for detecting the presence of said tag in said channel;
means for sensing said drum positions indicia, orientation sensor means for sensing a correct orientation of said tag, said sensor providing a signal indicating the said correct orientation;
means for rotating said drum in a first direction in response to a signal from said edge sensor and said orientation sensor for transferring said tag to a card reading station, and for rotating said drum in a reverse direction in response to the presence of a signal from said edge sensor and an indication from said orientation sensor that said tag is incorrectly inserted, whereby said tag is displaced rearwards in said receiving channel for removal of said tag, and means for rotating said drum to said home position in response to a simultaneous indication from said edge sensor that said card is removed, and from said means for sensing said drum position, whereby said drum is set to receive a subsequently inserted tag.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US22221681A | 1981-01-02 | 1981-01-02 | |
| US222,216 | 1981-01-02 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1180806A true CA1180806A (en) | 1985-01-08 |
Family
ID=22831350
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000393451A Expired CA1180806A (en) | 1981-01-02 | 1981-12-30 | Tag reader |
Country Status (14)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS57182283A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU547361B2 (en) |
| BE (1) | BE891661A (en) |
| BR (1) | BR8108565A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1180806A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3151963A1 (en) |
| DK (1) | DK583381A (en) |
| FI (1) | FI78996C (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2497589B1 (en) |
| GB (3) | GB2092348B (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1140434B (en) |
| NL (1) | NL8105918A (en) |
| NO (1) | NO814470L (en) |
| SE (1) | SE455545B (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0105974A1 (en) * | 1982-10-11 | 1984-04-25 | Landis & Gyr B.V. | Magnetic card reading apparatus |
| AT382736B (en) * | 1985-03-15 | 1987-04-10 | Schrack Elektronik Ag | DEVICE FOR READING A DATA TRACK OF A CARD |
Family Cites Families (13)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2890650A (en) * | 1955-03-11 | 1959-06-16 | Dennison Mfg Co | Apparatus for operating on sectional tag material |
| US3483361A (en) * | 1965-01-05 | 1969-12-09 | Univ Illinois | Automatic fare collection system |
| US3558859A (en) * | 1967-12-04 | 1971-01-26 | Cummins Chicago Corp | Automatic reading system for record media having encoded data |
| US3560719A (en) * | 1968-02-05 | 1971-02-02 | Business Efficiency Aids Inc | Edge punchcard |
| US3737629A (en) * | 1971-06-09 | 1973-06-05 | Addressograph Multigraph | Optical code reader |
| CH556068A (en) * | 1972-01-03 | 1974-11-15 | Sodeco Compteurs De Geneve | IDENTIFICATION CARD READER. |
| JPS5063998A (en) * | 1973-10-06 | 1975-05-30 | ||
| US3850299A (en) * | 1973-12-03 | 1974-11-26 | Ncr Co | Card transport and capture mechanism |
| US3961747A (en) * | 1975-04-30 | 1976-06-08 | Hobart Corporation | Commodity identification apparatus |
| JPS52120643A (en) * | 1976-04-02 | 1977-10-11 | Toshiba Corp | Distribution peripheral register |
| US4088265A (en) * | 1976-05-26 | 1978-05-09 | Peripheral Dynamics, Inc. | Adaptable mark/hole sensing arrangement for card reader apparatus |
| US4145606A (en) * | 1976-07-14 | 1979-03-20 | Peripheral Dynamics, Inc. | One-at-a-time card reader |
| US4204637A (en) * | 1977-04-01 | 1980-05-27 | Gray Alan M | Ticket and reading device |
-
1981
- 1981-12-18 SE SE8107629A patent/SE455545B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1981-12-22 GB GB8138486A patent/GB2092348B/en not_active Expired
- 1981-12-29 NO NO814470A patent/NO814470L/en unknown
- 1981-12-29 JP JP56216125A patent/JPS57182283A/en active Pending
- 1981-12-30 CA CA000393451A patent/CA1180806A/en not_active Expired
- 1981-12-30 BE BE0/206964A patent/BE891661A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1981-12-30 NL NL8105918A patent/NL8105918A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1981-12-30 FI FI814200A patent/FI78996C/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1981-12-30 AU AU79086/81A patent/AU547361B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1981-12-30 DE DE19813151963 patent/DE3151963A1/en not_active Ceased
- 1981-12-30 BR BR8108565A patent/BR8108565A/en unknown
- 1981-12-30 DK DK583381A patent/DK583381A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1981-12-31 IT IT25930/81A patent/IT1140434B/en active
- 1981-12-31 FR FR8124622A patent/FR2497589B1/en not_active Expired
-
1984
- 1984-11-02 GB GB08427738A patent/GB2147129B/en not_active Expired
- 1984-11-02 GB GB08427737A patent/GB2147438A/en not_active Withdrawn
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| SE455545B (en) | 1988-07-18 |
| NL8105918A (en) | 1982-08-02 |
| FI78996B (en) | 1989-06-30 |
| GB8427737D0 (en) | 1984-12-12 |
| GB2147129B (en) | 1985-12-04 |
| IT1140434B (en) | 1986-09-24 |
| DE3151963A1 (en) | 1982-07-29 |
| GB8427738D0 (en) | 1984-12-12 |
| FI814200L (en) | 1982-07-03 |
| FI78996C (en) | 1989-10-10 |
| SE8107629L (en) | 1982-07-03 |
| IT8125930A0 (en) | 1981-12-31 |
| BE891661A (en) | 1982-06-30 |
| DK583381A (en) | 1982-07-03 |
| GB2092348B (en) | 1985-12-04 |
| FR2497589B1 (en) | 1988-03-18 |
| JPS57182283A (en) | 1982-11-10 |
| GB2147438A (en) | 1985-05-09 |
| BR8108565A (en) | 1982-10-19 |
| FR2497589A1 (en) | 1982-07-09 |
| GB2092348A (en) | 1982-08-11 |
| AU7908681A (en) | 1982-07-08 |
| NO814470L (en) | 1982-07-05 |
| GB2147129A (en) | 1985-05-01 |
| AU547361B2 (en) | 1985-10-17 |
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