Patent GB-1209470-A (GB)
Title: Information bearing label and reading method and apparatus therefor
Inventor: LAMERS HERBERT
IPC: G07G1/10
Filed: 1967-12-13
Abstract: 1,209,470. Statistical apparatus. MONARCH MARKING SYSTEM CO. 13 Dec., 1967, No. 56673/67. Heading G4M. [Also in Division B8] A price tag, label or the like is provided with information in the form of concentric tracks 18B-18E, Fig. 7, and has a central hole or dimple 18A to facilitate correct placement of a hand-held sensing device on the tag or label. Sensing device, Fig. 6.-A probe 20 is spring- loaded inside a cylinder 70 and operates a switch 90 when fully retracted in the cylinder on pressing against a tag or label to be sensed. Cylinder 70 is continuously rotated by a motor 74 and carries four lamp/photocell housings 58 for scanning the label through translucent plate 56. The top end of the sensing device is translucent and houses a lamp which is lit to indicate when a scanning operation is completed. Operation, Figs. 13A, 13B.-When probe switch 90 closes, relays 104, 106 operate and photo-cells 98A, 98B scanning the timing track 18B and outer data track 18C, Fig. 7, cause energization of stepping magnet 112 as they reach the start position (shown as 19A, 19B in Fig. 7) the circuit being over 104B, 108A, 106A, 118A, 116A. When sector 18B3 is reached, 118A opens and 112 is de-energized to step switch banks 110 from the home to contact 1 position. Relay 116 pulls up over 110H-1, 122 and 104C to remove the stepping control from 118A, a new path being set up over 110A-1 to 4, 118B and 104B, whereby subsequent stepping is controlled solely by the timing track sensed by 98A. As scanning progresses, data sensed by photo-cells 98B-98D are entered in relays 153A-153D, 162A-162E and 168A-168E over banks 110B, 110C and 110E, the relays holding over 150, 140C, 104B. As the scanner again reaches the start position (118, 108), 110 steps to contact 5 and 112 is immediately reenergized over 110A-5, 118A, 106A, 108A, 104B preparatory to stepping to contact 6. From contact 6, the energizing circuit for 112 extends over self-stepping contact 112A and 140B, and the holding circuit for storage relays 153, 162 and 168 extends over 150 and 110I-6 to 11. Contacts 11F-7 to 11 are used:-(7) to light lamp 92, a holding relay 172 maintaining this circuit over 172A, 104C until switch 90 opens as the probe 20 is raised from the label; (8) to step a punched tape, and (9-11) to energize solenoids 170, 164, 156 entering the sensed data in a cash register, tape punch, computer or the like. Premature removal of scanner, i.e. while 110 is on contacts 1-5, results in 110 self stepping to contact 6 over 104D (closed because switch 90 is open), 144, 110G-1 to 5, 142, 112A and 140B. Incorrect alignment of scanner with centre of label results in simulation of additional start marks as 98A, 98B cross eccentrically over the tracks. If 118, 108 occurs with 110 on contacts 1-4, i.e. while 146 is energized by 110I, then relay 140 is energized over line C, 146A, 148, 116C (closed since 110 is off normal), 130, 118A, 124, 106A, 108A and 104B. Relay 140 holds over 140A, and the holding circuit for the storage relays is opened at 140C. Switch 110 can then only advance as far as contact 6 and nothing further can happen until the scanner is removed to open switch 90 and release 140.