System and method for scanning barcodes with multiple barcode readers

• US 20060091218A1
• Filed: 10/29/2004
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DMT Solutions Global Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Kline, John, DiCristina, Joseph A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,159,779 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/462.14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10861 sensing of data fields affixed to objects or articles, e.g. coded labels postal sorting B07C3/14, conveying articles B65G47/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence

Abstract

A barcode scanning apparatus and method for reading barcodes on serially fed sheets having barcodes in a consistent location. A transport moves the barcode bearing sheets as they pass below at least two fixed barcode scanners. Both of a first and second barcode scanners scan the barcodes and transmit corresponding signals to an apparatus controller. Preferably the at least two barcode scanners are in series, one closely located immediately downstream of the other. The controller receives the signals from the first and second barcode scanners, and interprets them accordance with a predetermined algorithm. The predetermined algorithm is a function of both the first and second barcode signals and is selectable to provide different levels of reliability checking.

Claims

1. A barcode scanning apparatus for reading barcodes on serially fed objects, the objects having barcodes in a consistent location on the objects, the apparatus comprising:

a transport for moving barcode bearing objects through the apparatus in a predetermined path;

a first fixed barcode scanner located contiguous to a path of travel of the barcodes on the objects transported in the predetermined path, the first fixed barcode scanner generating a first barcode signal based on barcodes scanned as they pass by the first fixed barcode scanner;

a second fixed barcode scanner located contiguous to the path of travel of the barcodes on the objects transported in the predetermined path, the second fixed barcode scanner generating a second barcode signal based on barcodes scanned as they pass by the second fixed barcode scanner; and

a controller receiving the first and second barcode signals, the controller interpreting the scanned barcodes in accordance with a predetermined algorithm that is a function of both the first and second barcode signals.

2. The barcode scanning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second barcode fixed barcode scanner is positioned immediately downstream of the first fixed barcode scanner.

3. The barcode scanning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller further generates a control signal for use in automated processing of the objects based on the interpreted first and second barcode signals.

4. The barcode scanning apparatus of claim 3 wherein the objects are documents and the control signal controls automated processing of the documents.

5. The barcode scanning apparatus of claim 4 wherein predetermined algorithm used by the controller comprises:

determining whether one of the first or second barcode signals is readable;

if the one of the first or second barcode signals is readable, then generating the control signal to control automated processing of the documents in accordance with information in the one of the first or second barcode signals;

if the one of the first or second barcode signal is not readable, determining whether the other of the first or second barcode signals is readable;

if the other of the first or second barcode signals is readable, then generating the control signal to control automated processing of the documents in accordance with information in the other of the first or second barcode signals; and

if neither of the first or second barcode signals is readable, then the controller generates an error signal.

6. The barcode scanning apparatus of claim 5 wherein the error signal comprises a diverter activating signal to cause the scanned document to be diverted from the transport.

7. The barcode scanning apparatus of claim 4 wherein predetermined algorithm used by the controller comprises:

determining whether both of the first or second barcode signals are readable;

if the both of the first and second barcode signals are readable, then determining whether the first and second barcode signals match, and if the first and second barcodes match, then generating the control signal to control automated processing of the documents in accordance with the information of the matched first and second readable signals, if the first and second readable signals do not match, then generating an error signal;

if both the first and second barcode signals are not readable, then determining whether one of the first or second barcode signals is readable, if one of the first or second barcode signals is readable then generating the control signal to control automated processing of the documents in accordance with information in the readable one of the first or second barcode signals;

if neither of the first and second barcode signals are readable, then generating the error signal.

8. The barcode scanning apparatus of claim 7 wherein the error signal comprises a diverter activating signal to cause the scanned document to be diverted from the transport.

9. The barcode scanning apparatus of claim 4 wherein predetermined algorithm used by the controller comprises:

determining whether both of the first and second barcode signals are readable;

if the both of the first and second barcode signals are readable, then determining whether the first and second barcode signals match, and if the first and second barcodes match, then generating the control signal to control automated processing of the documents in accordance with the information of the matched first and second signals, if the first and second readable signals do not match, then generating an error signal;

if both the first and second barcode signals are not readable, then generating the error signal.

10. The barcode scanning apparatus of claim 9 wherein the error signal comprises a diverter activating signal to cause the scanned document to be diverted from the transport.

11. The barcode scanning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second fixed barcode scanners are positioned side-by-side with respect to the predetermined path and are operative to concurrently scan barcodes of objects on the transport.

12. The barcode scanning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second fixed barcode scanners are positioned in a skewed relationship whereby they are offset in a side-by-side direction with respect to the predetermined path as well as in an upstream and downstream direction.

13. A method for reading barcodes on serially fed objects having barcodes in a consistent location on the objects, the method comprising:

transporting barcode bearing objects in a predetermined path;

scanning transported objects at a first location of a path of travel of the barcodes on the objects transported in the predetermined path;

generating a first barcode signal based on barcodes scanned as they pass by the first location;

scanning transported objects at a second location on the path of travel of the barcodes on the objects transported in the predetermined path;

generating a second barcode signal based on barcodes scanned as they pass by the second location;

interpreting the scanned barcodes in accordance with a predetermined algorithm that is a function of both the first and second barcode signals.

14. The barcode reading method of claim 13 wherein the second location is positioned immediately downstream of the first location in the predetermined path.

15. The barcode reading method of claim 14 further comprising the step of generating a control signal for use in automated processing of the objects based on the interpreted first and second barcode signals.

16. The barcode reading method of claim 15 wherein the objects are documents and the control signal controls automated processing of the documents.

17. The barcode reading method of claim 16 wherein predetermined algorithm comprises steps of:

determining whether one of the first or second barcode signals is readable;

if the one of the first or second barcode signals is readable, then generating the control signal to control automated processing of the documents in accordance with information in the one of the first or second barcode signals;

if the one of the first or second barcode signal is not readable, determining whether the other of the first or second barcode signals is readable;

if the other of the first or second barcode signals is readable, then generating the control signal to control automated processing of the documents in accordance with information in the other of the first or second barcode signals; and

if neither of the first or second barcode signals is readable, then generating an error signal.

18. The barcode reading method of claim 17 wherein the error signal comprises a diverter activating signal causing a step of diverting the scanned document from the predetermined path.

19. The barcode reading method of claim 16 wherein predetermined algorithm comprises the steps of:

determining whether both of the first or second barcode signals are readable;

if the both of the first and second barcode signals are readable, then determining whether the first and second barcode signals match, and if the first and second barcodes match, then generating the control signal to control automated processing of the documents in accordance with the information of the matched first and second signals, if the first and second readable signals do not match, then generating an error signal;

if both the first and second barcode signals are not readable, then determining whether either of the first or second barcode signals is readable, if either of the first or second barcode signals is readable then generating the control signal to control automated processing of the documents in accordance with information in the readable one of the first or second barcode signals;

if neither of the first and second barcode signals are readable, then generating the error signal.

20. The barcode reading method of claim 19 wherein the error signal comprises a diverter activating signal causing a step of diverting the scanned document from the predetermined path.

21. The barcode reading method of claim 16 wherein the predetermined algorithm comprises the steps of:

determining whether both of the first and second barcode signals are readable;

if the both of the first and second barcode signals are readable, then determining whether the first and second barcode signals match, and if the first and second barcodes match, then generating the control signal to control automated processing of the documents in accordance with the information of the matched first and second signals, if the first and second readable signals do not match, then generating an error signal;

if both the first and second barcode signals are not readable, then generating the error signal.

22. The barcode reading method of claim 21 wherein the error signal comprises a diverter activating signal causing a step of diverting the scanned document from the predetermined path.