U.S. patent number 3,734,286 [Application Number 05/212,432] was granted by the patent office on 1973-05-22 for article handling apparatus.
Invention is credited to Luther G. Simjian.
United States Patent |
3,734,286 |
Simjian |
May 22, 1973 |
ARTICLE HANDLING APPARATUS
Abstract
Articles provided with code indicia are exposed serially to a
sensing means disposed in a chamber. The sensing means provide
indicia responsive signals to a computing means where the
information provided is processed, such as for inventorying,
counting, price computation purposes, etc. Image recording means
are provided for producing a documentary record of each article as
such article is conveyed along a predetermined path past the
sensing means. Means are present to divert an article from said
predetermined path if the sensing means produce a spurious signal
upon sensing said code indicia.
Inventors: |
Simjian; Luther G. (Greenwich,
CT) |
Family
ID: |
22790981 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/212,432 |
Filed: |
December 27, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
209/546; 177/5;
209/583; 235/475; 177/52; 235/468; 235/483 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K
7/10871 (20130101); G07G 1/0045 (20130101); G07G
1/10 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G07G
1/00 (20060101); G07G 1/10 (20060101); G06K
7/10 (20060101); B07c 005/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;209/111.5,111.6,111.7,121,74 ;250/219CR,219R,219Q ;177/5,52 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Knowles; Allen N.
Assistant Examiner: Church; Gene A.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus of the type described comprising:
means for conveying articles along a predetermined path;
a chamber disposed along said path through which each article is
adapted to be conveyed by said conveying means;
illuminating means disposed for illuminating indicia affixed to an
article when such article is disposed in said chamber;
sensing means disposed in said chamber for scanning said indicia
responsive to illumination by said illuminating means and said
sensing means being adapted to provide electrical signals
responsive to the scanned indicia;
computing means coupled to said sensing means for receiving the
electrical signals responsive to the scanned indicia and processing
said signals for providing an output signal;
control means disposed for actuating said sensing means responsive
to an article being disposed in said chamber;
character recognition means coupled in circuit with said sensing
means and said computing means for analyzing said output signal and
for recognizing predetermined characters;
further control means coupled to said character recognition means
for receiving spurious signals and causing responsive to the
receipt of a spurious signal the article whose indicia cause such
spurious signal to be diverted from being conveyed along said
predetermined path;
printing means coupled for receiving said output signal of said
computing means for providing a documentary record which includes
printed price information of articles whose indicia have been
scanned by said sensing means, and
said price information being stored by said computing means and
taken from storage means, forming a part of said computing means,
responsive to the receipt of said electrical signals from said
scanning means.
2. An apparatus of the type described and as set forth in claim 1,
said computing means including storage means usable for inventory
purposes, and the receipt of said electrical signals by said
computing means causing said storage means to be adjusted to
reflect a changed inventory of articles associated with the
respective indicia.
3. An apparatus of the type described and as set forth in claim 1,
image recording means disposed for recording an image of at least a
portion of an article disposed in said chamber, and means disposed
for actuating said recording means when an article is in view of
said recording means.
4. An apparatus of the type described and as set forth in claim 3,
said recording means being disposed in said chamber.
5. An apparatus of the type described and as set forth in claim 3,
said recording means being disposed outside chamber.
6. An apparatus of the type described and as set forth in claim 1,
said chamber including means for subduing or substantially
excluding ambient light.
7. An apparatus of the type described and as set forth in claim 6,
said indicia being substantially invisible under daylight
conditions but being rendered visible to said sensing means
responsive to said illuminating means providing radiant energy
outside the visible energy spectrum.
8. An apparatus of the type described and as set forth in claim 1,
said means for conveying including a movable band for conveying
each article serially through said chamber.
9. An apparatus of the type described and as set forth in claim 8,
said band having markings for spacing articles on said band to
provide the serial feed of such articles through said chamber.
10. An apparatus of the type described and as set forth in claim 8,
said band being transparent, and said sensing means being disposed
to scan the indicia through said band.
11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and image rotating means
coupled for rotating the image provided by said indicia and sensed
by said sensing means.
12. An apparatus of the type described comprising:
a weighing scale adapted to receive an article provided with
indicia indicative of the nature of such article and said scale
providing responsive to an article disposed thereupon signals
commensurate with the weight of such article;
sensing means disposed for scanning the indicia on such article and
for providing electrical signals responsive to the scanned
indicia;
computing means coupled to said scale and said sensing means for
receiving the respective signals and processing such signals for
providing an output signal commensurate with the nature and weight
of the article;
control means disposed for actuating said computing means and said
scale responsive to the receipt of an article on said scale;
printing means coupled to said computing means and coupled for
receiving said output signal and providing responsive thereto a
documentary record of articles weighed and whose indicia have been
scanned by said sensing means;
said computing means including storage means usable for inventory
information purposes, and the receipt of said signals by said
computing means causing said storage means to be adjusted to
reflect changed inventory information of articles associated with
the respective indicia.
13. An apparatus of the type described and as set forth in claim
11, said image rotating means comprising optical means disposed in
the optical path between said article and sensing means.
14. An apparatus of the type described and as set forth in claim
12, and a chamber disposed above said scale for supporting said
sensing means and illuminating means, and including means for
subduing or substantially excluding ambient light.
15. An apparatus of the type described and as set forth in claim
12, and image recording means disposed to record an image of at
least a portion of the article whose indicia have been sensed.
Description
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention refers to an article handling apparatus and, more
specifically, has reference to an article handling apparatus in
combination with computing means for handling, inventorying,
counting, summarizing and otherwise processing articles which are
provided with a code. Quite specifically, the present invention
concerns an arrangement in which code bearing articles are passed
in series in view of sensing means adapted to read predetermined
code characters on such articles and transmit code responsive
signals to a computer for processing, typically for providing an
inventory count, for producing a print-out of the price of the
respective articles sensed, and for performing such other functions
as have been programmed into a standard business-type digital
computer.
The present invention, therefore, is usable in many fields of
industry and commerce and, for example, it may be used in a
supermarket type store for processing articles selected by
providing the customer with a print-out of the articles purchased
as such articles pass over the dispensing counter. The prices of
the particular articles selected may be retrieved from the storage
section of the computer and, furthermore, the computer while
receiving signals from the sensing means can be used to reduce the
inventory information so as to provide at all times a current
inventory of the respective articles still remaining in stock. In
this manner, reorder information can be generated from the computer
in an automated manner when a predetermined minimum inventory level
has been reached. Further and still other applications and uses of
the present apparatus will be readily apparent to those skilled in
the art by considering the following description when taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a typical
embodiment of the present apparatus taken along line 1--1 in FIG.
2;
FIG. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, of the apparatus per FIG.
1 taken along line 2--2 in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an elevational view disclosing an alternative embodiment
of certain portions of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an elevational view showing a further alternative
embodiment of the present apparatus;
FIG. 5 is an elevational view showing a still further alternative
embodiment, particularly showing the use of a weighing scale as a
part of the apparatus disclosed;
FIG. 6 is a plan view of a typical embodiment of the code indicia
provided on the articles;
FIG. 7 is a plan view of an embodiment of the conveying band shown
in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4;
FIG. 8 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the conveying
band;
FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration which includes optical means for
rotating the image of the code indicia affixed to the articles for
the purpose of providing optical alignment, and
FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the electrical circuits for the
present apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the figures and FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular,
numeral 10 identifies a movable endless band which is rotated about
a set of spaced rollers 12 and 14. A motor 16 via belt 18 drives a
pulley 20 which is affixed to shaft 22 for imparting rotation to
the roller 14. Roller 12 is mounted for rotation on shaft 24 and
shaft 24 as well as shaft 22 are journalled in suitable supports
which are fastened to a set of legs 26 and 26'. Both legs support
also a platform 28 over which the upper portion of the band 10
slides.
Above the platform 28 and the respective portion of the band 10,
there is disposed a sensing chamber 30 which includes an upper
solid portion and a lower section comprising an array of closely
spaced tassels 32 on the right and left side, as viewed in FIG. 1,
that is the sides at which an article disposed on the band enters
and leaves the chamber 30. The other sides are made of solid
non-transparent material. The tassels, as stated hereinbefore, are
closely spaced in order to subdue or substantially exclude ambient
light from entering the inside of the chamber 30. The tassels may
be weighted.
The chamber 30 is provided with an optical character sensing means
34, illuminating means 36 and a position sensing means 38 used for
control purposes. Articles 40, which are articles to be handled,
are provided with code characters 42 which are subject to optical
recognition. The code characters may be numerals, dot patterns,
lines intermixed with dots, or other indicia as is well known to
those skilled in the art, and are provided on the respective
articles by imprinting, stamping, separate labels affixed to the
article, etc. For the sake of illustration, but without any
limitation, a typical code arrangement is shown in FIG. 6 wherein
the code indicia 42 comprise five numerals 42A. Moreover the
article identifying code is provided with a special initial
character 42B which denotes the beginning of the code. A line 42C
aids in physically aligning the article on the band 10 so that the
code characters will be in approximate registration with the raster
pattern of the scanning means 34. Preferably, but not necessarily
so, the code indicia 42A and 42B are not readily readable under
daylight conditions and for this purpose are imprinted with
fluorescent ink which becomes readable upon illumination by
receiving radiant energy from the illuminating means 36 which
similarly is selected to provide energy in the non-visible light
spectrum, for instance, an ultraviolet light source.
In order that the articles reach the chamber 30 suitably spaced
from another, the band 10 is provided with indicia markings as are
shown, for instance, in FIGS. 7 and 8. In FIG. 7 the band 10 is
provided along its length with spaced repetitive markings 44 in the
form of a capital letter "I." The horizontal bars 44A and 44B
denote the limit within which an article should be placed, and the
connecting line 44C serves for aligning the article so that the
line 42C (FIG. 6) is substantially parallel with the line 44C. In
this manner the articles will be properly spaced from one another
on the band 10 and the indicia characters 42A aligned for being
scanned by the sensing means 34. A somewhat similar arrangement is
shown in FIG. 8 wherein each article is to be placed on an island
46, the parallel longitudinal lines once again aid in aligning the
orientation of the code characters so that the line 42C is
substantially parallel to the longitudinal lines of the islands
46.
Articles to be processed are first placed on a loading platform 48,
FIGS. 1 and 2, and then are individually placed on the band 10 and
properly oriented as the individual markings affixed to the band 10
become apparent. As the band transports the articles in the
direction of the arrow 50, each article enters the sensing chamber
30 through the array of tassels 32 at the right side, FIG. 1, and
upon the leading edge of the article being sensed by the sensing
means 38 a control means is generated. Responsive to this signal
the illuminating means 36 become energized and the character
sensing means 34 is activated to read the code 42 provided on the
respective article 40. The sensing means 38 used to ascertain that
an article is suitably disposed in the sensing chamber 30 may
comprise an optical light beam in the visible or invisible light
spectrum (transmitter and receiver combination), an ultrasonic
energy beam, fluidic control means, or mechanical sensing means,
all as is well known to those skilled in the art. The purpose of
this sensing means is to energize the character sensing means and
other instrumentalities when an article is suitably positioned for
being read by the character reading means.
As the article emerges from the chamber 30 it traverses the array
of tassels at the exit side of the chamber (left side) and then
traverses a reject area which includes an ejector means, such as a
pneumatically operated plunger 52 connected to a piston and
cylinder mechanism 54. The plunger 52 is actuated if the sensing
means 34 and its electronic circuit connected thereto cause the
existence of a spurious signal, that is, the circuit is unable to
recognize the code, indicating, for instance, that the article is
not of the proper kind, is not properly coded, or the code is not
readable, and the like. In this event, the plunger 52 pushes the
respective article into the reject area 56 and thus the article is
diverted from the predetermined path from the loading platform 48
to the discharge chute 60.
An image recording means 62, such as a microfilm camera, is
disposed near the exit end of the chamber 30 and is triggered when
an article is in view of its lens so as to provide a documentary
record of each article sensed and accepted. In the embodiment per
FIG. 1, the camera 62 is located past the area in which the plunger
52 operates, providing documentary evidence of only those articles
which have not been rejected and therefore are being dispensed to a
customer, for instance. The camera 62, by suitable time delay
means, is controlled from the operation of the position sensing
control means 38. FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment in which
the camera 62 is disposed for viewing the article 40 when such
article is disposed inside the sensing chamber 30. Since the camera
62 is disposed inside a darkened chamber, it can either be equipped
with film which is sensitive to the particular light spectrum
provided by the illuminating means 36 or, alternatively, the camera
may include electronic flash means to provide a short flash of
visible light during which a documentary record of the article is
made. Such record may be provided either prior to, concurrent with,
or after the sensing of the code indicia has occurred. Again the
camera 62 can be triggered responsive to the actuation of the
position sensing control means 38.
It is realized that the alignment of the code indicia for proper
sensing presents some problems, that is, the articles must be
oriented so that the indicia characters are oriented with respect
to the reading or scanning raster. Several means are available to
facilitate this problem, making precise mechanical alignment a less
severe requirement. In FIG. 9 means are shown which will rotate the
optical image of the indicia. To this end, the optical path
includes a lens 64 and a dove prism 66 disposed in front of the
character sensing means 34. The dove prism 66 mounted within a
housing 68 is adapted to be rotated by a motor 70. In this manner
the image of the code characters can be rotated to provide a
position of proper alignment for electronic scanning and reading.
Typically, the motor 70 continuously rotates the image while the
article code is being scanned, hence attempting to provide a best
alignment condition. In an alternative embodiment, electronic means
(not shown) can be used to rotate the image, for instance, the
image on a cathode ray tube, and thus providing alignment of the
reproduced image without requiring the precise orientation of the
respective articles.
FIG. 4 illustrates a further variation in which the code characters
provided on the article 40 are sensed through the belt 10. In this
case the belt 10 is transparent and the sensing means 34 is
disposed in an enclosure 37 disposed underneath the belt 10 and
secured to the platform 28. As shown, the platform has a suitable
cut-out 29 so that the image from the indicia 42 can be sensed by
the sensing means 34. The upper enclosure 35 is provided with
tassels 32 at the entrance and exit sides of the enclosure, but
does not contain the optical sensing means. However, an image
recording means, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, can readily be provided
in the chamber 35 or chamber 37 to provide an image of a portion of
the article 40 while the code 42 is read.
A further alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown
in FIG. 5 wherein a weighing scale or load cell 72 is operating in
conjunction with the article and the optical sensing means 34. Each
article handled is placed on the scale 72 while the code characters
provided on the article are sensed by the reading means 34 in the
manner described heretofore. This embodiment is particularly useful
in those cases where the weight of the article is critical and may
be subject to variation due to storage, packaging, evaporation and
the like. The scale 72 produces an electrical signal commensurate
with the weight sensed, the signal being connected to an electronic
computing means in order to process the information developed in
accordance with the predetermined program. Naturally, image
recording means 62 may be used also in conjunction with this
alternative embodiment as described hereinabove in conjunction with
FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 10 discloses a typical block diagram for the optical sensing
means and the processing of the obtained signals. With regard to
the optical sensing means, that is, the sensing means 34 and the
circuits for processing the resulting signals, various optical
recognition devices have been developed in the art and are
available commercially. Many of these devices are described in
"Optical Page Reading Devices" (book) by Robert A. Wilson, Reinhold
Publishing Corporation, New York, N. Y. (1966). For the sake of
simplicity, the various details are not repeated in this
disclosure. As shown in FIG. 10, the position sensing control means
38 provide, for instance, a light beam or an ultrasonic energy
beam, which upon being broken by the leading edge of an article 40
causes actuation of an associated control means 100 which, in turn,
energizes the sensing means 34 and also the illuminating means 36.
It also actuates a time delay circuit 102 which subsequently
operates the image recording means 62 when the article 40 has
advanced from the chamber 30 to the position underneath the camera
62 as shown in FIG. 1. If it is desired that the camera 62 be not
actuated in those cases where an article has been ejected from the
predetermined path due to the development of a spurious signal, it
will be readily possible to suppress the actuation of the camera 62
by generating an inhibit signal, which is applied to the camera.
The sensing means 34 providing electronic signals responsive to an
optical image is connected to a character recognition circuit 104
which either recognizes that the indicia sensed are of
predetermined character or fail to meet this criterion. If the
sensed characters are not recognized by the circuit 104, a signal
is provided to a control circuit 106, essentially a time delay
circuit, which subsequently actuates the piston and cylinder
combination 54 and plunger 52 for diverting the respective article
40 from its predetermined path so that the article does not reach
the chute 60. Assuming that the sensed indicia are of the proper
kind, have properly been read and recognized, the character
recognition circuit 104 provides a signal to the computing means
110, typically a conventional electronic digital computer and
including the customary control unit, a processor, and a storage
unit. The computing means 110 is actuated by the control means 100
responsive to an article being in position for being sensed and
upon receiving the code responsive signal from the character
recognition means 104 and processes the signal in accordance with
predetermined programming. If the weighing scale 72 is provided, as
shown in FIG. 5, a further input signal is received corresponding
to the weight of the article. Typically, the computing means 110
will adjust the inventory of the articles by entering data in the
storage unit to reflect a new quantity of articles in stock. If
this quantity falls below a predetermined (programmed) ordering
level, a reorder is provided. Alternatively, the computing means
can correlate the signal of the article sensed with price
information contained in the storage portion of the computing means
and a printer 112 connected to the computing means prints on a tape
114, similar to a cash register tape, the item and amount of the
sensed and dispensed article. In this manner, each article does not
have to be marked with price information, but the price for the
articles may be stored in the computing means. In the event of a
price change, not all of the articles need to be individually
marked with the revised price, but only the new information is
entered into the computing means. The feeding of data into the
computing means as contrasted with marking each article, of course,
eliminates many hours of manual labor and simplifies operations
where a large quantity of different types of articles are being
handled, such as large warehousing operations. Still other
operations, as is readily understood by those skilled in the art,
can be performed, all automatically and without human
intervention.
The reading of characters by automated means and processing this
information fully automatically through computing means eliminates
a source of errors so frequently caused by manual handling
involving the reading and manipulation of keyboards for entering
data into other instrumentalities. Moreover, the present invention
is particularly suited for those conditions where prices are
subject to changes and fluctuations on an almost daily basis.
It will be apparent, therefore, that the present invention
discloses several new features which in combination greatly
contribute to accuracy of business transactions and simplify the
handling of a large volume and a wide variety of articles.
* * * * *