Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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Background of the Invention
The automatic identification of merchandise at checkout
counters has been extensively developed in recent years. Equip-
ment to accomplish this is known as a point of sale system. In
a typical system a bar code pattern or character is applied to
a record member such as a ticket, tag or label which is then
placed on or retained with a given piece of merchandise so as to
enable an operator at a checkout counter to automatically scan
the record member and thereby identify the product being sold,
the sale price thereof, and any other information recorded on the
: record member. A bar code character is defined by a coded
combination of bars and spaces therebetween that collectively
represent a particular number, letter or symbol.
In order that bar code characters may be read guickly and
reliably, it is necessary that the code bars thereof have
sufficient length. Where the bar codes are read manually, as
with a hand held optical pen, the length of the code bars need
not be too great, in this case a length as short as 5/16 of an
inch may be satisfactory. However where the bar codes are to be
read automatically the code bars may require a length up to
approximately 1 inch or so. To print code bars in excess of 5/16
inch in length would normally require relatively large, heavy
and expensive printers if conventional printing methods and
apparatus were used.
Summary of the Invention
Copending Canadian patent application serial no. 202,736 .
filed on February 15, 1977 is concerned with a method for forming
code bars of relatively long length on a record member, a
printing member and an apparatus utilizing the printing member
and carrying out the method. The apparatus involved does not
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require heavy structural features and may be conveniently adapted
for printing bar codes on merchandise labels and the like.
The present invention may be broadly described as an
apparatus for forming a machine readable bar code pattern on a
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label~fi a baVcking member having a pressure surface thereon; a
printing member adapted to cooperate with the backing member; the
printing member being formed with a plurality of bar code scribing -~
elements that are respectively dimensioned and spaced in accordance
with a particular bar code pattern; and locking means for
releasably retaining the printing member in a predetermined
operative scribing position relative to the backing member so that
the scribing elements may scribe print the code bars of the
pattern on the label when the latter moves between the printing
and backing members.
These and other objects and advantages of the instant
; method and apparatus for forming bar code patterns may be under-
stood from the following detailed description of an embodiment
described in conj~nction with the instant drawings.
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Brief Description of the Drawin~s
FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic view illustrating
the instant apparatus and method for forming a bar code pattern
on a record member;
FIG. 2 is a partial enlarged view of a portion of a
label with a bar code pattern and an alpha-numeric character
formed thereon in accordance with the present invention; and
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view illustrating the
shape of each scribing element.
Detailed Description of the Embodiment
With reference to FIG 1 the instant bar code printing
apparatus 10 includes a printing drum ~1 comprising three
discs 12a, 12b and 12c. Only three discs are shown, howe~er ~-
it is to be understood that any number of such discs may be
used; for example ten discs might be employed to form a ten
character bar code pattern, each disc determining one such
character at any given time. The peripheral surface 14 of each
disc is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced
bar code fonts 16, each font being defined by a group of small
generally wedge-shaped scribing elements or projections 17.
The widths w, FIG. 1, of projections 17, and the lateral
spacings s therebetween for any one font or group of projections
are determined in accordance with the bar code character that
is to be printed by said group of scribing elements. The
circumferential length 1 of each scribing element 17 is
selected so as to provide sufficient structural rigidity to
- enable the element to exert the necessary scribing forces
against a record member, however the radial outer tip 20 of
each scribing element has a very short effective length as
measured circumferentially on the associated disc. The
print contact area of each projection tip 20 is thus mul~h
smaller than the area of the code bar to be printed by each
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ch tip 20. The discs 12, 12b and 12c are located coaxially
adjacent to one another and when rot~tably indexed and locked
in selected printing positions have the scribing elements 17
in lateral alignment as is illustrated at 21 of FIG. 1. A
pressure element is provided which ma~ be defined by any
suitable means affording a rigid backing surface such as a :
cylindrical element 22. Element 22 may be formed from a
single cylinder or a plurality of adjacent cylinders that
are rotatably supported on a suitable shaft 23.
A sheet material strip 24 is adapted to be passed
between the printing drum 11 and the pressure element 22. The
strip 24 includes a backing or carrier tape 26 on which record
members, such as labels 28, are releasably secured by a suitable
adhesive as is well understood in the art. The strip 24 also
includes an ink ribbon 30 which is disposed above the labels
28 and which may be defined by a thin mylar tape or ribbon
carrying a layer of pressure transferrable ink on the lower
, surface 32 thereof. The ink ribbon 30 being pressure sensitive ~ :
: is thus capable of marking on labels 2~ upon relative scribing
movement be~ween the sheet material strip 24 and the selected
bar code fonts 16.
The scribing discs are individually rotatably mounted
on the shaft 34 to enable an operator to select the desired
' bar code fonts 16 for printing on a label 28. The periphery ~ - -
, of each disc 12a, 12b and 12c is marked so as to facilitate :
the proper positioning of each disc; here for example an eye- .}:
readable digit "5" at location A on the upper portion of the
surface 14 of disc 12a designates the bar code character font
16 that is then located in print position on the diametrically -:
opposite lower portion of the disc 12a. Through this expedient
: one may readily determine when any desired bar code font has
` been positioned for scribing engagement with the strip 24. -
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Any suitable lockin~ mechanism 36 may be employed to releasably
lock each disc in a selected printing position. This lockin~
means 36 may for example include a spring loaded finger 38
for eaeh disc; each such finger having a lower V-shaped end
which is ada~ted to cooperate with corresponding V-shaped
notches 40 formed in the surface 14 of the associated disc.
Each dise is provided with a plurality of sueh notehes 40
which are respeetively associated with the various bar code
fonts on the disc. The notch 40 and fingers 38 are arranged
so that when a disc is rotated to a selected indexed position ;
and loeked therein that bar code font character that is
represented by the eye-readable digit at the said upper
loeation of said disc, corresponding to location A, is in a
position to scribe print on a label 28.
As shown in FIG. 1 a plurality of raised alpha-numeric
eharaeter types 42 are mounted in circumferential spaced rela-
tion on the periphery 14 of each disc, each type 42 being
loeated adjaeent an associated bar code font 16. Any given
type 42 is adapted to print a visually readable alpha-numeric
2Q eharaeter that identifies the bar code eharacter that is
seribe printed by the bar code font 16 next adjacent to that
type 42. As will be apparent the effective printing surfaces
of the raised types 42 and the tips 20 of bar code fonts
seribing elements 17 have substantially the same radius with
respect to the axis of drum 11. The types 42 are adapted to
roll print alpha-numerie characters on labels 28 as will be
further discussed below.
Pressure element 22 and shaft 23 are supported by any
suitable means not shown for movement towards and away from
30 an operative baeking or printing support position with respeet
: to the drum 11 as is indicated by arrows 50 and 52 respeetiYely.
In the operation of the instant apparatus the pressure
element 22 is initlally moved away or disengaged from the
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printing drum 11, as indic~ted by arrow 52, so that discs
12a, 12b and 12c ~ay be unlocked, rotatably indexed to their
respective desired print positions, and then relocke~ so as
to be thereafter capable of scrib printin~ the desired bar
code characters on a label 28. The sheet material strip 24
is then placed between the printing drum 11 and the pressure
element 22 with that portion of the label which is to be
printed on and which is adjacent the leading edge 56 thereof
in reyistration with and beneath the line of selected and
operatively positioned bar code fonts 16. The pressure
element 22 is then moved towards and held in an operative .
position with respect to the printing drum 11, as indicated
by arrow 50, so as to firmly hold the sheet material strip . -
24 against the tips 20 of the scribing elements 17 defining
the selected line of bar code fonts 16. The strip 24 is .
then pulled in the direction indicated by the arrow 57 and .
this movement produces a scribing action of the said tips 20
of said selected bar code fonts 16 with respect to strip 24 .:
so as to transfer ink from ribbon 30 onto the said label 28
and thereby form thereon the various elongated code bars of :.
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the desired bar code character such as that illustrated at 44.
The movement of the strip 24 may be assisted by rotatably
driving the backing element 22 by any suitable means. The .
: duration or extent of this movement of the sheet material
: strip 24 is selected so as to be commensurate with the desired .:~`~
length h, FIG. 2, for the printed code bars.
When the above described bar code scribe printing
.; . action is completed, the various locking mechanisms36 are
moved to inoperative positions so that all the discs are
unlocked and free to rotate together on shaft 34. The . .:
printing drum 11 as a whole is then allowed to rotate, as
$ndicated by arrow 58, in response to and under the control of
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the continued movement of the strip 24 to thereby provide a
roll printing action by those associated alpha-numeric
printing types 42 that are next adjacent to and following
the bar code fonts 16 that have just completed their scribe
printing action. These t~pes 42 are physically located close -
enough to their respectively associated type fonts 16 so that
only a slight rotational movement of the drum 11, produced
by the said continuing movement of strip 24 and acting on
the just previously operative fonts 16, is required to
initially bring the said associated types 42 into roll printing
contact with strip 24. Thereafter the continued movement of
strip 24 will complete a roll printing of the alpha-numeric
characters, such as that illustrated at 59, on the label;
these characters being located in a position on the label
that is closely adjacent to the respectively associated bar
code characters such as 44 just previously scribe printed -
thereon. The backing member 22 and~or the drum 11 may be
rotatably driven during the roll printing of the alpha-numeric ~ -
characters. Upon completion of the roll printing action both
the bar code characters such as 44 and the associated alpha-
numeric characters will then have been printed on a label 28,
and the strip 24 during this printing period will have been
moved through a longitudinal distance approximately equal
to the width W, FIG. 2, of the label 28. The pressure element
; 22 is then moved away from drum 11 as indicated by the arrow
- 52 so as to release the printing drum 11 from printing
engagement with the strip 24 and thus permit discs 12a, 12b
and 12c to be rotatably indexed and locked in their next
operative scribing positions as required to print the desired
bar code and alpha-numeric characters on the next label 28.
The strip 2 4 is advanced to bring the next label to print
receiving position and the apparatus may then be operated as
above described to perform another cycle of operation.
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It will be observed that the relatively long code bars
of characters such as 44 can be formed using the above described
technique even though the effective circumferential strip contact
length p, FIG. 3, of each scribing element is much shorter than
either the corresponding peripheral lengths of the alpha-numeric
types 42 or the length h, FIG. 2, of the bar code characters to be
formed.
As will be apparent means producing an impact type
printing action may be utilized to form the said alpha-numeric
' characters such as 59 rather than a roll print type of action
as above described.
Having thus described a method and apparatus in accord-
ance with the invention for forming a bar code pattern, the advan-
tages and objects of the invention may be appreciated. A simple
device and fast method for printing bar codes on labels is
provided suitable for use at diverse point-of-sale locations.
- This application is a division of copending application
serial no. 202,736 filed June 18, 1974.
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