Signal device having adjustable coding indicators
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Signal device, comprising:
- (a) a track of an extruded U-shaped cross-section with a bottom wall and two spaced, parallel side walls, the bottom wall having a track surface adjacent each side wall,(b) an indicator slidable in the track and having an inner surface facing the bottom wall of the track, a strip of the inner surface along each side wall engaging a corresponding track surface of the track,(c) an elongated magnetic element embedded in the bottom wall of the track and having alternating magnetic poles located at discrete positions along its length, and(d) a magnetic element embedded in the indicator at said inner surface,a series of notches formed in the track surfaces at said discrete positions and a protuberance formed along each edge of the inner surface of the indicator for engagement with one of said notches on occasion, whereby the magnetic elements attract when the indicator is located at a discrete position and the magnetic elements repel when the indicator is located between discrete positions.
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Abstract
Signal device for providing machine-readable indicia on an object, the device allowing the form of the indicia to be deliberately changed, but not accidentally. Reflective indicating means are slidable in a series of parallel tracks. Magnetic attraction between the track and the indicating means cause the indicating means to engage detents in the track and remain in selected locations.
30 Citations
22 Claims
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1. Signal device, comprising:
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(a) a track of an extruded U-shaped cross-section with a bottom wall and two spaced, parallel side walls, the bottom wall having a track surface adjacent each side wall, (b) an indicator slidable in the track and having an inner surface facing the bottom wall of the track, a strip of the inner surface along each side wall engaging a corresponding track surface of the track, (c) an elongated magnetic element embedded in the bottom wall of the track and having alternating magnetic poles located at discrete positions along its length, and (d) a magnetic element embedded in the indicator at said inner surface, a series of notches formed in the track surfaces at said discrete positions and a protuberance formed along each edge of the inner surface of the indicator for engagement with one of said notches on occasion, whereby the magnetic elements attract when the indicator is located at a discrete position and the magnetic elements repel when the indicator is located between discrete positions. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A signal device for attachment to an object movable in a conveyor system, comprising:
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(a) a track with a surface having at least one first mechanical detent element in a bottom portion thereof, (b) an indicating member having a second mechanical detent element which is shape-conforming to the first detent element, the indicating member also having a first magnetic element, and (c) a separate second magnetic element having first and second magnetic portions fixed adjacent to the surface of the track, said first magnetic portion being located adjacent the first mechanical detent element and magnetically attracting a magnetic portion of said first magnetic element, thereby causing a shape-conforming engagement between the first and second mechanical detent elements, the second magnetic element having a second magnetic portion spaced from the first detent element, at least said second magnetic portion selectively magnetically repelling like magnetic portions of the first magnetic element, because of the arrangement of its polarity. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A signal device for attachment to the surface of an object movable in a conveyor system, comprising:
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(a) an elongated track with a bottom surface having a first mechanical detent element, (b) an indicating means having a retro-reflective surface and having a second mechanical detent element which is shape-conforming to the first mechanical detent element, said indicating means also having a first magnetic element, the elongated track extending parallel to the line of movement and the indicating means being carried by the track for selective slidable movement parallel to the line along the track, and (c) a second magnetic element fixed adjacent to the surface of the elongated track and having a first and second magnetic portion adjacent the first detent element, at least said first magnetic portion magnetically attracting at least one of the magnetic portions of said first magnetic element and thereby producing a shape-conforming engagement between the first and the second detent elements. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification