Patent ID: 6089455
Filing Date: 2000-07-18
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
A code printing and recognition system for printing, reading, and decoding a code on an article, said article being rotated and conveyed along a predetermined path, said system comprising:code printing means for printing a code in a printing area of the article, said code comprising a plurality of code signs, said printing area being a portion of a circle having a predetermined radius and centered at a central point of one of a bottom surface portion or a top surface portion of said article; said printing area being divided into a plurality of concentric-circular portions, each of said plurality of code signs being encoded by placing a number of dots in a respective concentric-circular portion;image pickup means for acquiring an image of at least said printing area of said article; andcode recognition means for detecting the dots in each of said plurality of concentric-circular portions, counting said detected dots in each of said plurality of concentric-circular portions, and decoding each of said plurality of code signs on a basis of said dot count in a respective concentric-circular portion.