System and method for indicating the location of a benchmark

• US 5,331,173 A
• Filed: 12/24/1992
• Issued: 07/19/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Eckl, John K., Lorenzo, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelms, David C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, QUE TAN
• Application Number:
  US07/996,286
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 250/556, 250/561, 250/566, 250/568, 235/438, 235/474, 235/466, 235/470, 235/463, 382/46, 382/59, 364/478, 364/471
• US Class Current: 250/556
• 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

Abstract

A method of initializing an optical scanning system by centering a benchmark code in an electrically adjustable benchmark window, the benchmark code being scanned by the optical scanning system while being transported through a paper handling machine. The improvement comprises the steps of providing an encoder for timing the machine cycles of the paper handling machine as a plurality of documents are processed therethrough; conveying a document containing a benchmark code to be scanned past a scanning device of the optical scanning system; enabling a counter at the lead edge of the electrically adjustable benchmark window; incrementing the counter once for every two encoder pulses; disabling the counter when the scanning device detects the benchmark code; displaying the count of the counter in a LED display; and adjusting the location of the benchmark window so that the benchmark code is substantially centered in the benchmark window based on the count displayed on the LED display.

Claims

1. In an optical scanning system including a dash code scanner for scanning a benchmark code printed on a document being transported through a paper handling machine, an improvement to initializing the optical scanning system relative to the location of the benchmark code in an electrically adjustable benchmark window, the improvement comprising:

means for sensing a lead edge of a benchmark window;

scanner means for detecting a benchmark code;

means for generating a first signal beginning at the lead edge of the benchmark window and ending at the detection of the benchmark code;

means for deriving a count indicative of a number of encoder pulses between the lead edges of the benchmark window and the benchmark code; and

means for displaying said count on an LED display.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said count deriving means includes a counter enabled by said first signal and incremented by said encoder pulses.

3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein output of said counter is sent to a decoder and the output of said decoder is sent to a 10-bar LED display.

4. A method of initializing an optical scanning system by centering a benchmark code in an electrically adjustable benchmark window, the benchmark code being scanned by the optical scanning system while being transported through a paper handling machine, comprising the steps of:

providing an encoder for generating timing pulses for the paper handling machine as a plurality of documents are processed therethrough;

conveying a document containing a benchmark code to be scanned past a scanning device of the optical scanning system;

enabling a counter at the lead edge of the electrically adjustable benchmark window;

incrementing the counter once for every n encoder pulses;

disabling the counter when the scanning device detects the benchmark code;

displaying the count of the counter in a LED display; and

adjusting the location of the benchmark window so that the benchmark code is substantially centered in the benchmark window based on the count displayed on the LED display.