Method and apparatus for automatically desensitizing sensor elements of protected articles
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for desensitizing sensor elements which are mounted on protected articles, said apparatus comprising:
- a sensor element detector;
a scanning mechanism which moves said detector to produce a scan along a surface adjacent to which multiple sensor elements may be placed, the movement of the detector being in a direction such that, during said scan, said detector passes directly over each of said sensor elements in succession and successively detects the presence of each of said sensor elements;
a sensor element desensitizing mechanism arranged to be operated to desensitize said sensor elements adjacent said surface; and
a control apparatus connected to operate the desensitizing mechanism following a scan in response to the detection of a predetermined number of sensor elements during said scan.
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Abstract
A desensitizer apparatus for desensitizing a security sensor element in a book spine. The apparatus includes a scanner which scans along a surface against which book spines are positioned and which detects sensor elements in the spines to be sure that only one book is positioned against the surface. If only one sensor element is detected, a signal is generated which operates a drive mechanism to move desensitizer magnets close to the surface to deactivate the sensor element in the book.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. Apparatus for desensitizing sensor elements which are mounted on protected articles, said apparatus comprising:
- a sensor element detector;
a scanning mechanism which moves said detector to produce a scan along a surface adjacent to which multiple sensor elements may be placed, the movement of the detector being in a direction such that, during said scan, said detector passes directly over each of said sensor elements in succession and successively detects the presence of each of said sensor elements;
a sensor element desensitizing mechanism arranged to be operated to desensitize said sensor elements adjacent said surface; and
a control apparatus connected to operate the desensitizing mechanism following a scan in response to the detection of a predetermined number of sensor elements during said scan. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 21)
- a sensor element detector;
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12. A method of desensitizing sensor elements which are mounted on protected articles, said method comprising the steps of:
- positioning articles on which sensor elements are mounted such that said sensor elements are arranged along a scanning surface;
moving a sensor element detector along said surface to produce a scan such that said detector passes, in succession, directly over each of said sensor elements and successively detects the presence of said sensor elements; and
, following such scan, desensitizing said sensor elements in response to detection of a predetermined number of sensor elements during said scan. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22)
- positioning articles on which sensor elements are mounted such that said sensor elements are arranged along a scanning surface;
Specification