U.S. patent number 3,783,246 [Application Number 05/182,316] was granted by the patent office on 1974-01-01 for coding of articles.
Invention is credited to Edward Bernard Bayer.
United States Patent |
3,783,246 |
Bayer |
January 1, 1974 |
CODING OF ARTICLES
Abstract
A method and apparatus for applying a coded mark to an article
for the purpose of facilitating the subsequent treatment thereof in
an automatic manner utilize a coding element which is adapted to
apply the mark to the article by utilising an edge of the article
and so to fix the relative position of the mark on the article. In
one embodiment, the coding element comprises a stamp adapted to be
pasted over an edge of the article in a predetermined manner, and
on which the coded mark may be written. In another embodiment, the
coding element comprises a rigid "L" shaped member adapted to
engage around an edge of the article with one of its legs being
provided with apertures through which, or projections by means of
which, the mark may be applied to the article. The coding system
utilizes a registered number system such as, for example, that of
the International telephone number system, and apparatus suitable
for use in the decoding of the mark on the articles is disclosed by
way of example only.
Inventors: |
Bayer; Edward Bernard
(Johannesburg, ZA) |
Family
ID: |
27131009 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/182,316 |
Filed: |
September 21, 1971 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Sep 29, 1970 [ZA] |
|
|
70/3676 |
May 25, 1971 [ZA] |
|
|
71/3359 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
235/487; 235/495;
40/638 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B07C
3/18 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B07C
3/00 (20060101); B07C 3/18 (20060101); G06k
019/04 (); G09f 003/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;235/61.12C,61.12R
;33/184.5 ;40/2B ;209/DIG.1,111.5,111.6,111.7,111.8 ;215/7 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Robinson; Thomas A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: John J. McGlew et al.
Claims
I claim:
1. An adhesive coated stamp, for coding an article such as an
envelope, substantially rectangular in plan and divided by a
transverse rectilinear fold into a first portion, constituting a
code mark zone provided with selectively useable code markings
arranged in a predetermined manner, and a second portion folded
relative to said first portion; said transverse rectilinear fold
constituting a reference zone for said code mark zone so that said
code mark zone is automatically positioned at a preset distance
from a reference edge of the article to be coded by engaging such
reference edge in said rectilinear fold and then adhering said
first portion of said stamp, over its entire area, to a surface of
the article extending from such reference edge.
2. An adhesive coated stamp, as claimed in claim 1, in which said
second portion, after such adhering of said first portion to a
surface of the article, is adherable over its entire area to
another surface of the article extending from such reference edge.
Description
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the coding of articles and more
particularly to the coding of articles intended to be subsequently
treated in an automatic manner (as for example sorted) on decoding
thereof.
It is known, for example, to provide articles such as letters and
the like with a coded mark in order to provide for the subsequent
sorting thereof in an automatic manner on decoding of the
marks.
In order for the sorting machine or the like employed during such
decoding to recognise the coded mark, the latter must be displayed
on the letter in a specific location and in this regard it is known
to employ coding machines adapted to perform this task to the
required degree of accuracy.
Not only are coding machines of this kind relatively expensive, but
they also require an amount of skill to operate and as a result of
this they are accessible only to large business concerns and
institutions such as the Post Office, for example.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a method
and apparatus for coding articles for the aforesaid purpose which
will be relatively inexpensive and simple to operate while
complying with the requirements of the particular system employed
in the automatic treatment of such coded articles.
According to the invention a method of coding an article includes
the steps of providing a coding element adapted to apply a mark in
coded form to the article; utilising an edge of the article to
locate the position of the coding element relative to the article;
and utilising the element in this position to apply the mark to the
article.
The mark on the article will hence be applied in a fixed position
relative to an edge of the article so that the subsequent automatic
treatment of the article may be facilitated by locating the article
with its said edge in a predetermined fixed relationship to a
guiding element on the apparatus intended to "read" the mark. In
this manner the relative position of the mark is fixed irrespective
of the particular size or configuration of the article.
In one form of the invention the coding element may be adapted to
be secured to the article in such fixed position to define an
operative face on which the coded mark may be displayed.
Thus for example, the element may be in the form of a stamp adapted
to be pasted onto the article, the stamp including a fold line
indicated thereon which is intended to coincide with the such edge
of the article with the stamp pasted thereon.
The stamp may be provided with a mark in coded form thereon but
preferably the stamp is adapted to have a mark in coded form
applied thereto as for example by writing.
In another form of the invention the coding element may comprise a
substantially rigid, L-shaped member adapted to engage around such
edge of the article, with one of the legs of the member being
adapted to facilitate the application of the coded mark to the
article.
Thus, for example, such one leg of the member may include a
plurality of apertures in a particular arrangement for marks to be
made onto the article as, for example, by means of writing in
corresponding positions through the apertures.
Alternatively the one leg of the member may include a plurality of
projections in a particular arrangement by means of which a mark in
coded form may be printed on to the article.
With this arrangement it will be necessary to employ different
coding members for the different code marks to be used and by
utilising these in a manner similar to that of the conventional
addressograph system the articles may be coded in a semi-automatic
process.
The code system employed with the coding element may be of any
suitable kind.
Preferably, however, a system is employed wherein a registered
number system is utilised.
Thus, for example, where the coding is to be used for the purpose
of facilitating the sorting of articles in the mail, the
international telephone number system may be employed.
In a preferred form of the invention the coding element includes a
plurality of adjacently arranged rows of numbers each of which
bears the numerals 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0, in regular array for coding
to be effected by marking particular numerals in a predetermined
recognisable manner in accordance with the requirements of a
particular coding system employed.
The marking may, for example, be effected in writing with a
colored, magnetic or fluorescent type of ink depending on the
particular kind of machine used in the decoding of the
articles.
It will be appreciated that, where the element comprises a stamp,
marking will be effected by crossing out the relevant numbers and,
where the element comprises the aforesaid L-shaped member, the
apertures on the leg will be numbered in a similar manner and
marking of the article will be effected through the relevant
apertures. It will be appreciated that in this way a very rapid
method of coding of the articles is provided.
It will be further appreciated that the coding of articles in the
aforesaid manner may be utilised in many other fields other than in
the mentioned sorting of articles in the mail. Thus, for example,
it may be employed for the marking of articles for the purpose of
taking stock in an automatic manner, or, for example, to mark the
prices on articles in, say, a supermarket, or the like in order to
facilitate the adding up of a purchase by a customer in an
automatic manner.
The subsequent treatment of the coded articles in order to read the
coding during, say, the sorting thereof, may be in any of the
conventional manners and will obviously depend on the way in which
the mark is displayed on the article and, amongst others, on such
factors as the type of ink employed, etc. in the marking.
Because of the fixed position of the mark relative to an edge of
the article it will for example be convenient, in the decoding of
the marks, to employ in the decoding apparatus an endless belt or
the like by means of which the articles may be fed with their edges
bearing the marks in engagement with a guiding element or the like
and so fix the positions of the marks relative to the decoding
apparatus.
Where the coded mark is for example displayed on an article such as
a box or other like multiple sided container, positioning of the
mark may be effected by employing a substantially V-shaped guiding
element adapted to engage round the relevant edge of the
article.
It will be appreciated that the invention also includes within its
scope a coding element substantially as herein described.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
A preferred form of the invention will now be described by way of
example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 shows an article bearing a stamp according to the
invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a coding member according to the
invention;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing one kind of apparatus suitable
for decoding a mark according to the invention; and
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another kind of apparatus
suitable for decoding a mark according to the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Article 1, intended to be coded, is provided with a stamp 2 which
is pasted over an edge 3 thereof. Stamp 2 which includes a fold
line 4 indicated thereon, is received on article 1 in such a manner
that fold line 4 is made to coincide with edge 3 thereof. On one
side of fold line 4 stamp 2 is provided with a plurality of rows of
numbers 5, each of which bears the numerals 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0. In
order to apply a code to stamp 2 particular numerals in each of the
rows 5 are indicated in a pre-instructed manner for example by
blackening them out or by marking them with a fluorescent or
magnetic type of ink in accordance with the particular decoding
system used. Instructions as to how this coding should be effected
may for example be provided on the stamp 2 on the other side of
fold line 4.
Where a coding system corresponding to the international telephone
number system is, for example, employed in order to facilitate the
sorting of articles in the mail, stamp 2 may be coded by marking
the numeral corresponding to the first digit of the telephone
number in the row 5 closest to fold line 4 and marking in each
consecutive row the numerals corresponding to the rest of the
digits in the number.
As can be seen from FIG. 1 the first six rows of numerals 5 of
stamp 2 are separated from the next seven rows by means of a
transverse line. This is to indicate that the rows 5 above the line
are for marking the particular area number of the telephone number
and the rows 5 below the line for marking the particular telephone
number in that area. Thus the number 93-472804 is indicated in this
particular instance.
The coding member 6 shown in FIG. 2 is substantially L-shaped
configuration and of a substantially rigid material such as a
suitable plastic material or light weight metal and adapted to
engage around an edge 3 of an article 1. One leg 7 of L-shaped
member 6 is provided with a plurality of apertures 8 the positions
of each of which correspond to that of the numerals indicated on
stamp 2 in FIG. 2. By locating member 6 in position to engage
around an edge 3 of an article 1 a mark in coded form may be
applied to article 1 by marking the relevant numerals through
apertures 8 onto article 1.
In the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 which is intended to recognise a
code comprising a series of darkened out spots or lines, a reading
head 9 is provided which includes a mask 10 adapted to cover the
coded mark on an article 1 such as that on a stamp 2, which may
pass in front of it. Mask 10 is provided with a number of apertures
11 located in mask 10 in a predetermined arrangement which is
related to the code it has to recognise. Head 9 also includes two
photo-sensitive devices 12 and 13 adapted to register light
reflected onto them through apertures 11. Devices 12 and 13 are
shielded from each other by a wall 14a of a housing 14.
Mask 10 includes a strip of perspex 15 located over its front face.
Strip 15 is provided with a number of apertures 16 in positions
corresponding to and in alignment with apertures 11 in mask 10. The
walls of apertures 16 converge in the direction of apertures 11 so
that light passing along strip 15 is refracted outwardly by the
side walls of apertures 16 at such an angle that it will be
reflected through the same apertures 16 by a reflecting medium
located immediately in fromt of strip 15. The outer wall 14b of
housing 14 may assist in bringing some of the reflected light onto
device 13. A light source 17 is reponsible for emitting light along
strip 15.
Devices 12 and 13 are adapted to trigger a mechanism (not shown) on
recognition of a code by head 9 in order to effect the required
treatment to the article, such as sorting, for example.
The articles 1 to be treated are fed past head 9 on an endless belt
between a pair of rotating rollers 18.
By providing a plurality of such reading heads 9 each adapted to
recognise a particular code the differently coded articles 1 may be
decoded.
In the decoding apparatus shown in FIG. 4 a reading head 19 is
provided which comprises a body of translucent material as for
example perspex in which a plurality of light tubes 20 is provided
each including a photo diode 21.
Tubes 20 are arranged in a plurality of adjacent arranged rows
corresponding in number and positions to that of the numbers on
stamp 2 or the apertures 8 on element 6.
The wall of the bore of each tube 20 is rendered non-translucent,
as for example by means of a coat of paint so that light passing
through body 19 from a light source 22 located on one side of body
19 can only reach diodes 21 on reflection thereof from a surface
located on the other side of body 19.
If an article 1 is located below head 19 with its coded mark 23 in
line with body 19 less light will be reflected onto the diodes 21
in positions corresponding to that of the darkened out spots on
mark 23 and this may be made to evoke an electrical pulse from each
of the particular diodes 21.
By coupling diodes 21 into a coincidence circuit using for example
DTL logic blocks an electric signal may in this manner be delivered
to the apparatus responsible for the subsequent treatment of the
decoded articles 1. Alternatively these signals may be fed to a
computer memory system adapted to recognise and identify the
particular code.
It will be appreciated that the devices shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are
by way of example only and that the scope of the invention is not
intended to be limited to such decoding systems.
It will be further appreciated that with a method and apparatus
according to the invention many variations in detail are possible
without departing from the scope of the appended claims
* * * * *