Method for inspecting, coding and sorting objects
First Claim
1. A method for automatically inspecting, coding and sorting objects comprising:
- (a) scanning an object a first time with a first scanning device and generating first scanning signals defining a select characteristic of the object;
(b) computer processing and analyzing the first scanning signals and generating first coded electrical signals defining the select characteristic of the object;
(c) using the first coded electrical signals to effect the application of a scannable code on the object, which code is indicative of the select characteristic;
(d) scanning the code applied to the object with a second scanning device and generating second scanning signals defining the select characteristic of the object;
(e) computer processing and analyzing the second scanning signals and generating second coded electrical signals; and
(f) applying said second coded electrical signals to sort the object.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for printing selected indicia on objects, including, for example, sheets, cards, envelopes and containers. The objects are conveyed, one at a time, by a conventional conveying device along a path past a printing station. An electrically operated detector, such as a limit switch or photoelectric detector, senses a portion of each article, such as its leading edge, and generates a control signal. The control signal triggers activation of a memory containing a train of signals, which are applied to control a printer that automatically applies ink to print a selected group or line of indicia, such as alpha-numeric characters or codes, along a portion of the surface of each object.
-
Citations
53 Claims
-
1. A method for automatically inspecting, coding and sorting objects comprising:
-
(a) scanning an object a first time with a first scanning device and generating first scanning signals defining a select characteristic of the object; (b) computer processing and analyzing the first scanning signals and generating first coded electrical signals defining the select characteristic of the object; (c) using the first coded electrical signals to effect the application of a scannable code on the object, which code is indicative of the select characteristic; (d) scanning the code applied to the object with a second scanning device and generating second scanning signals defining the select characteristic of the object; (e) computer processing and analyzing the second scanning signals and generating second coded electrical signals; and (f) applying said second coded electrical signals to sort the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
-
-
10. A method for automatically identifying objects comprising:
-
(a) conveying and aligning an object to be scanned at a scanning station having a radiation beam scanning device, (b) controlling said scanning device when said object is at said scanning location to cause said radiation beam to scan a plurality of scanning paths across a surface of said object, (c) sensing reflections of said radiation beam and generating respective scanning signals as said radiation beam scans a select portion of said object, (d) processing and analyzing said scanning signals and generating first coded electrical signals defining said scanning signals, (e) comparing said first coded electrical signals with signals recorded in a memory and generating further coded electrical signals defining a select characteristic of said object, and (f) employing said further coded electrical signals to cause an applicator to place select indicia on said object, said indicia defining said select characteristic of said object. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method for recording indicia on an object while said object is in motion past a recording means comprising:
-
controllably moving an object past a scanning station having a scanning device and a beam device, said beam device being capable of generating and modulating an intense recording radiation beam directed along a select portion of said object, controlling said scanning device to scan and detect a select characteristic of said object moving past said scanning station, generating a control signal when detection of said select characteristic is made, applying said control signal to cause the reproduction of a select code from a memory device, said code defining the detected characteristic, and using said select code to control said beam device to modulate said radiation beam and cause it to record indicia defining the detected select characteristic along space-separated areas of the surface of said object.
-
-
19. A method for automatically identifying, coding and routing a plurality of objects, comprising:
-
(a) providing a plurality of objects at a staging location; (b) transporting one of the objects from the staging location to a first inspection station; (c) scanning the object at the inspection station and generating first information signals defining at least one select characteristic of the scanned object; (d) processing said first information signals and generating at least one coded signal identifying the scanned object; (e) employing said coded signals to control a coding device to cause it to record on at least one surface of the scanned object at least one code defining the identity of the scanned object; (f) transporting the scanned and coded object from the coding device to a second inspection station; (g) scanning the code recorded on at least one surface of the object and generating second information signals defining the identity of the coded object; (h) computer processing the second information signals and generating control signals in response thereto; (i) employing the control signals selectively route the coded object to one of several selected locations, and (j) repeating parts (b) through (i) for a plurality of the objects provided at the staging location. - View Dependent Claims (20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
21. The method of 19 wherein scanning the code recorded on each object at the inspection station includes scanning the object a plurality of times.
-
28. A method for identifying and recording indicia on an object comprising:
-
(a) conveying an object past an automatic scanner, (b) operatively aligning said conveyed object with said scanner, (c) scanning a select portion of the aligned object with said scanner and generating first information signals, (d) computer processing and analyzing said first information signals and generating first code signals therefrom, (e) identifying said scanned object by comparing said first code signals with coded information recorded in memory, (f) generating second code signals defining the identity of the object, and (g) using said second code signals to apply select indicia on said object, which indicia define the identity of the object. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 50, 51, 52, 53)
-
-
42. A method for identifying and coding a plurality of objects comprising:
-
(a) recording a plurality of first codes in a memory of a computer, wherein each first code relates to a different one of a plurality of objects to be identified, (b) moving one of the different objects into scanning relation with respect to an automatic scanning device, (c) controlling the automatic scanning device to scan a select characteristic of the object and to generate scanning signals defining the select characteristic, (d) computer processing the scanning signals and generating second code signals, (e) identifying the object by comparing the second code signals with the plurality of first code signals recorded in said memory, (f) generating identifying code signals indicative of the identity of the scanned object, and (g) employing the identifying code signals to effect the marking of a surface of the object with identifying indicia. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
-
Specification