Mobile automated data collection device

• US 6,626,361 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2002
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Standard Register Company (Middleby Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Standard Register Company (Middleby Corporation)
• Inventors: Hileman, Martin H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hess, Daniel A.
• Application Number:
  US10/192,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20020179711A1
• Time in Patent Office: 447 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.01, 235/454
• US Class Current: 235/462.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10 by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
• 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 mobile, automated data collection device for the portable, self-contained reading and human-intelligible presentation of printed indicia on an object. The automated data collection device includes a container, a detector, a controller to coordinate the transfer of electrical signals to and from the detector, an extensible arm connected on its proximal end to at least one of the container or components therein and on its distal end to the detector, and a display to present the information corresponding to data received from the detector in human-intelligible format. The container is equipped with wheels, at least one handle and a closeable cover so that the detector, controller, arm and display can fit inside when not in use such that the entire device can be carried by a human user from location to location. In addition, all of the components within the device can be shielded from ambient conditions, including moisture- and particulate-rich environments. Upon the placement of the device near moving items bearing printed indicia, such as packages riding a conveyor belt, human intervention into the process of reading printed indicia is thus minimized or abrogated.

Claims

1. A method of using a suitcase-style mobile automated data collection device to read printed indicia disposed on an object, comprising the steps of:

placing said mobile automated data collection device in operative proximity to a medium for transporting said object, said mobile automated data collection device including a suitcase-style container configured with at least one compartment therein to hold at least a detector, substantially rigid extensible arm coupled to said detector, controller, trigger sensor and output device;

mounting said detector to said extensible arm;

substantially removing said detector and said extensible arm from said compartment;

deploying said detector, extensible arm, controller, trigger sensor and output device such that said detector, controller, trigger sensor and output device are in electrical communication with one another;

rigidly positioning said arm and said detector to be in a preferred scanning position relative to said object such that once positioned, said detector need not be held by a human user in order to read printed indicia disposed on said object;

transporting said object past said mobile automated data collection device such that said object is in optical communication with said trigger sensor;

sensing the presence of said object;

sending an input signal to said controller to indicate that said object is in optical communication with said mobile automated data collection device;

directing said detector to read said printed indicia in response to said input signal;

reading light reflected from said printed indicia in said detector;

sending data corresponding to said reflected light to said controller; and

presenting said data in human-intelligible format to said output device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said medium for transporting said object is a continuous conveyor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said detector further comprises a transmitter to generate a light emitting source and a receiver to detect said light which has reflected off said printed indicia.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said medium for transporting said object containing printed indicia includes manually placing and aligning said object.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing indication to a user the scan status of said object containing printed indicia.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said step of providing indication to a user the scan status of said object containing printed indicia includes the presentation of a signal upon detection of a read error.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of halting the reading process upon receipt of an error signal.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

placing at least one communications port in operative cooperation with an information processing apparatus; and

transmitting an electrical signal containing said data corresponding to said reflected light from said printed indicia to said at least one communications port.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of directing said detector to read said printed indicia in response to said input signal comprises instructing said detector to change its operating condition from a first state into a second state.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said first state is a wait condition and said second state is an on condition.

11. A mobile automated data collection device for portable reading of printed indicia, said device comprising:

a suitcase-style container comprising;

a base portion;

a cover portion in cooperation with said base portion such that at least one compartment is defined therebetween, said cover portion selectively openable relative to said base portion such that during periods of storage or transport of said device said compartment is substantially enclosed within said container, while during periods of operation of said automated data collection device said compartment is substantially open; and

a handle coupled to at least one of said base portion or said cover portion such that said container can be carried in a suitcase-like fashion by a single human user;

a detector disposable in said compartment such that upon opening of said cover portion relative to said base portion, said detector can be selectively removed from said compartment and placed adjacent an object to be read;

a rigidly positionable extensible arm coupled to said detector and said container, said extensible arm disposable in said compartment such that upon opening of said cover portion relative to said base portion, a substantial entirety of said extensible arm can be selectively removed from said compartment and placed in a substantially fixed spatial position, said extensible arm comprising;

a proximal end; and

a distal end upon which said detector is mounted;

a controller configured to receive and process a plurality of electrical signals sensed by said detector, said controller disposable in said container;

a trigger sensor in electrical communication with said controller, said trigger sensor to automatically detect the presence of an object containing printed indicia and send an input signal to said controller upon said presence; and

a display responsive to said controller and configured to present human-intelligible information corresponding to data received from said detector, said display disposable in said container.

12. A mobile automated data collection device according to claim 11, wherein said detector is pivotally mounted to said distal end of said extensible arm.

13. A mobile automated data collection device according to claim 12, wherein said detector includes:

a light emitting source; and

a receiver for detecting light emitted from said light emitting source once said light has been reflected from said printed indicia.

14. A mobile automated data collection device according to claim 11, wherein said trigger sensor is cooperatively coupled to said controller and said detector such that said detector remains in a inoperative first state when said trigger sensor does not detect the presence of an object containing printed indicia, and converts to an operative second state when said trigger sensor does detect the presence of an object containing printed indicia.

15. A mobile automated data collection device according to claim 14, wherein said first state is a wait condition and said second state is an on condition.

16. A mobile automated data collection device according to claim 11, wherein said proximal end of said extensible arm is pivotally connected to permit preferential positioning of said extensible arm.

17. A mobile automated data collection device according to claim 11, wherein said handle is retractable into a recess in said container.

18. A mobile automated data collection device according to claim 11, wherein said display is pivotally mounted to either said container or said controller.

19. A mobile automated data collection device according to claim 11, wherein said container is environmentally shielded.

20. A mobile automated data collection device according to claim 19, wherein said environmental shielding includes moisture shielding.

21. A mobile automated data collection device according to claim 19, wherein said environmental shielding includes particulate shielding.

22. A mobile automated data collection device according to claim 11, further comprising a plurality of wheels mounted on at least one surface of said container.

23. A mobile automated data collection device according to claim 22, wherein said plurality of wheels are retractably mounted.

24. A mobile automated data collection device according to claim 22, wherein at least one of said plurality of wheels further includes a locking feature to inhibit container motion.

25. A mobile automated data collection device according to claim 11, wherein said container is adapted to house a first information processing apparatus in electrical communication with said controller.

26. A mobile automated data collection device according to claim 25, wherein said container further includes at least one port to effect communication between said first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus.

27. A mobile automated data collection device according to claim 11, wherein said cover portion is hingedly detachable from said base portion.