FR2497589A1 - LABEL READER - Google Patents

Abstract

LABEL READER FOR READING PUNCH-CODED PRICE LABELS, FOR EXAMPLE OF KIMBALL TYPE. THE LABEL READER OF THE INVENTION INCLUDES A LABEL SLOT 4 FOR INSERTING LABELS ONE BY ONE INTO THE READER, A SPINDLE WHEEL 10 FOR DRIVING THE LABEL INSERTED TO A ROW OF AN OPTICAL DETECTOR SET OF PERFORATION 18, A MEANS 14, 15 FOR FOLLOWING A FIRST PATH LEADING TO A MANIFOLD 8 WITH THE LABELS READ WITHOUT ERROR AND FOR FOLLOWING A SECOND PATH LEADING TO AN EXIT 5 WITH THE ERROR LABELS. APPLICATION TO CASH REGISTERS.

Description

The invention relates to a tag reader for price tags

  coded. Such labels were introduced about twenty-five years ago and are provided with machine-readable codes, normally in the form of a punch code. The

  Kimball labels are examples of these labels.

  quettes. These labels are attached to the goods in many retail stores, and when an item is sold, the seller removes and retrieves the label or

  detachable part of it, and these labels de-

  stained are then processed by a machine in order to

  keep a check on sales and inventory. The Treaty-

  The current collection of tags is done as a

  reserved time, and it is normal for this

  19 at the headquarters of a chain of several

sieurs stores.

  According to this current practice, reading is done on large and fast machines, and such

  systems are popular and widely used.

  At the time of current sales, the label also serves as a price tag, on which is printed? a price in readable form. However, at present,

  the handling of labels is often felt to be

  me a disadvantage by the seller because they have to be

  placed on a stem or the equivalent, to be reassembled

  ordered with other labels, to be sent later to headquarters. Labels can therefore involve extra work at times of occupation when the salesperson thinks that

  the important thing is to serve customers as quickly

as possible.

  Various additional devices are

  bare for the Kimball system. In one example, a

  ordinary cash register has been planned with a col-

  tag reader in which for each sale a

  object, the corresponding label is introduced and

  additional punch codes for the seller, currently the price paid, etc. However, the labels are not read and are not used for automatic price registration in a cash register. There are also different Kimball type label readers. An example of these readers is

  Kimball's reader says fast, in-which is introduced

  pick a stack of labels and in which the labels

  are brought one by one in front of a row of photo-

  detectors which receive light through perforations

  code that is punched in the labels.

  To advance the labels, they are provided

  of two round perforations of training, in-

  which penetrate radial pins of a pimple wheel which cause labels along a path around

  a peripheral part of the sprocket wheel in motion.

  rotation. Although this machine is very fast

  of, it is only suitable for a timely treatment

  Serve. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved recording system constructed according to the well-known principle of Kimball labels as described above. Another object of the invention is to eliminate the disadvantageous aspect of the collection of labels especially at press hours in a

  crowded shop. Another object of the invention is to eliminate

  as far as possible, price introduction work on a keyboard when items with labels are sold. Another object of the invention is to obtain a

  system in which it is possible to use

  perforation code in a way that is compatible with labels marked with a printed code and in which only printed codes can be used which can be supplied on the spot by simple printers instead of being issued from of a central office. Another object of the invention is to obtain a machine of the same type as those which can read labels of other kinds, for example, the type of code called UPC in UInis States of America and EAN in Europe, and which is a stick code. According to a special aspect of the invention,

  Another object of the invention is to facilitate changes

  price in a store where the goods are marked with labels, for example, when

  sales or promotion sale.

  From the seller's point of view, the label reader

  of the invention operates in the following manner.

  When an item is to be sold to a customer, its

  or a detachable portion thereof is removed and inserted into a slot of the reader. Although there

  normally have a visible price indication on the label.

  the seller does not need to read it. When the-

  label is introduced, the reader reads a price code on the label and a price signal is transmitted to the cash register and recorded. If multiple items are to be sold to the same customer, their labels are

  introduced one after the other, and when all the

  for a particular purchase were introduced, the seller presses a button for the total sum, and the cash register sums in a normal way

and issue a payment slip.

  Sometimes, a label may be illegally

  erroneous, and the reader then issues this label

  in a special output collector, emitting a signal that may be an audible signal or a signal

  visible or both. The seller then tries to

  to produce the same label. (A label inserted upside down will be rejected immediately). If it is not read, then the seller can read the information

  printed on the label and introduce the manual price-

  in the cash register, by means of its key

  v.er normal. This may also be necessary for items whose price has been steered so that the price in the tag code is no longer valid. Labels that must have special treatment are normally stored separately, while labels

  read normally are gathered together

tor.

  From the point of view of the store management, the

  vention has the following advantages. The reader can directly deliver the information from the labels, to the

  time of sales, to a data register, either in

  rect either through a suitable support.

  It is possible to provide, for example, an ordinary tape cassette for recording data.

  tags. This medium can then record

  appropriate all other data and not just

  the price, so that it can keep track of the stock and quickly divide the rotation for example into the product account, the sizes of the clothes, etc. A decentralized system is thus obtained instead of the centralized systems that were used before

for the same purpose.

  In the example of embodiment currently

  The label reader can read normal labels of the so-called Kimball type and also other labels where the code is not a perforation code but a printed code which may be similar to the Kimball type code. In order to obtain a compatible system, the other labels must have reference perforations that are similar to those of the old

  sort of labels and which are used for

  training care. Punch codes and

  printed codes can then be read in a semi-

  blable, and if the new kind of labels is provided with a special signal mark, it is possible to let that mark control the way of reading so that the seller does not need to worry about reading only the reader but it can introduce at will coded labels of both kinds in any

  what order. According to a special characteristic,

  The label maker can read both perforations and ink marks using the same material and

without making any distinction.

  Normal labels of the known category

  previously are usually manufactured on machines

  nes which are very expensive, so it is

  necessary to have a centralized factory and well

  quipée. With the system of the present invention which utilizes

  read other printed labels, it is possible to

  to use very simple printing machines and

  example of having print governed by perforations

  pre-made reference numbers in blanks

quette.

  The objects and advantages of the invention are ob-

  held by a new type of label reader that cooperates with a cash register. Although now,

  the label reader is envisioned as a separate organ

  equipped to couple to a cash register of the electri-

  tronics, which can accept other electronic codes

  the codes introduced on his keyboard, reading

  tagger can also be built inside the

  cash register or other machine with a similar function. It is therefore not proposed to limit the invention to the case of a separate tag reader, although this is the embodiment example.

  of the presently preferred invention.

  According to the invention, a label reader

  carries an entrance slot for manually inserting labels one at a time, one at a time in succession, a detector for detecting the presence of a label

  introduced manually, a means of performing a

  optical reading on codes readable by the

  machine of a label introduced and detected, a cir-

  brewed parity check logic to detect readings

  false labels, means for deflecting a label on which a parity error is detected; means for ejecting a diverted label, means for 3; to record read code information on a label free of erroneous readings, a means for

  transmit said registered code to a registered register

  to introduce a price and a way to

  look at the saved labels.

  According to another aspect of the invention, means are provided for manually inserting a label in a first path terminating against nipples on a spur wheel having two pins disposed behind the nipples to manually push a label against the pins and thereby operate a way

  to start the rotation of the wheel

  cots, the two pins of which are arranged for

  penetrate into two perforations of the label for the

  along a second curved path, a means of

  optical reading adjacent said curved path for detecting

  code marks on it, a rejection means for emitting a rejection signal when a signal from

  the optical reading means is wrong, a means of

  viation actuated by said rejection signal to eject

  a bad label, and a means of collecting

  to appear correctly read tags.

  According to a preferred embodiment, the tag reader is provided with means for a dual read mode, so that it can read a tag

  with ordinary perforation code or a label for

  view of ink marks instead of code perforations.

  Both types of labels must have similar drive perforations as they are mechanically treated in the same way. However, the optical reading must be done differently, although it is envisaged to use the same code positions. he

  It is possible to use one and the same group of detec-

  in both cases, for example by detecting

  both the light transmission decreased to a position

  with a printed dot of ink, whereas a perforation

  is detected by more light being transmitted to

  through the label. It is also possible to

  J5 ser two groups of detectors, one to detect the light emitted by a lamp on the opposite side of the path of the label, the other to detect the light of a

  reflected lamp on the same side of the label path.

  Normally then, the first group of detectors de-

  light pulses, while the second group detects "obstinate" pulses with respect to

reflectance of immaculate paper.

  It is necessary to detect what is the

  the label read. It is possible to do this by detecting

  both the absence of a perforation code by one group of detectors and the operation of the other group of detectors in case of absence, and it is then advantageous to mount the other group of detectors downstream of the group of detectors perforation detection. However, it is also possible to have a perforation or

  an ink mark at a predetermined point on the label.

  a special detector in the reader for

  show its presence in order to select the reading mode

appropriate form.

  It is also possible to have a reading

  to read only codes printed on labels

  the system by completely eliminating the use of code perforations, keeping only the perforations on the labels

  positioning and training. We can then

  primer codes on labels in a printer, using label edges as markers to make sure code marks fall on the dots

  suitable and not on the side, which ensures

  bility. The invention can also be considered as a system for counting and recording

  purchases at a point of sale, including a cash register

  electronic recorder capable of admitting

  electrical price code, and in which is

  added a tag reader, so that

  can be read and their price information

  tormatically introduced into the cash register instead of manually entered price information

  by means of the keyboard of the cash register. The labels

  are removed from the goods sold and introduced into

  manually from one to another, this operation having the same purpose as the introduction of the price by the seller on

  the keyboard as we did before. It is possible

  to read other information about

  labels to insert them into a memory, magazine, calculator or equivalent, exhausting all the information on the labels for processing

  for all kinds of accounting operations.

  By cash register is meant a machine as it is used to add purchase amounts, and from the point of view of the invention, whether it is provided with a cash drawer or not, if it is a unit used to record purchases in a credit card device or if the registration

  purchasing is done in another way. The usefulness of

  vention should not be diminished by its use

  with these boxes, and the use of the term "cash register"

  is not supposed to limit the invention to cases

  o A current fund changes currency unit.

  Other features and benefits of the

  present invention will be highlighted in the drawings.

  following description, given as a non-limita-

  tif, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

  Figure 1 shows a label reader re-

  linked to a cash register according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a simplified exploded view of a tag reader; Figure 3 is a diagram explaining the electrical functions of the tag reader of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an example of a logic circuit for processing signals from the circuitry of Figure 2; Figure 5 shows a circuit for adjusting the lighting of a label according to its type; Figure 6 shows waveforms produced in tag read operations; Figure 7 shows a circuit for detecting a phototransistor; Figure 8 is a schematic drawing of a detector position for detecting punctures and edges on a label; Figure 9 is a schematic figure showing perforation and edge detection with respect to a sprocket wheel; Figure 10 is a logic diagram of a motor control circuit; and

  Figure 11 shows waveforms of the

cooked from Figure 10.

  In Figure 1, a label reader 1 is

  coupled to a cash register 2 of an electronic type

  that (in this case a CASIO model ú -26ER). A label-

  Kimball type 3 is introduced by hand into an inlet slot 4 and pressed slightly inside by

  the hand. The player then starts, and the label 3 dis-

  appears in reader 1. As can be seen,

  1 is coupled to the cash register, and if the

  3 is read successfully, the cash register

  introduce a price into his memory, indicates it on the

  9. When a number of labels have been read corresponding to a purchase, the seller presses a sum total button on the keyboard 6, and the sum is calculated, indicated in the window 9 and printed on the strip 7. The labels 1 read are collected in a box inside the reader, which can have the shape of a drawer 8. If a re label is wrong, it is in this case / thrown in an exit ô, so that the seller can introduce the price of the unread price (irmprirrje on the label) by means of a

keyboard 6.

  In Figure 2, a label reader is

  presented under for-broke. It can be seen that under the

  4, there is a kind of drum or pin wheel 10. Slides 12 and 13 are mounted

  adjacent to the circumference of the wheel 10, the

  intermediate pace forming an extension of the track defined by the label entry 4. A label

  introduced is brought against nipples 16 on the drum.

  bour, and a means that will be described in the following electronically indicates that a label has been introduced. This starts a motor 11, which begins to rotate in the indicated direction. Two dots 17 then enter

  corresponding perforations of the label and the eitle-ehnt.

  An LS lamp inside the drum emits light to the outside through an opening in the drum, and this light is detected through the label by means of a

  group of light detectors 18 contained in a cir-

  baked code detection logic on the label brought

in front of the detectors.

  The detectors consist of optical fibers

  19 coupled to photosensitive elements 20, preferably

  phototransistors. Although we did not

  presented, there is, for a Kimball label, ten of

  these detectors oriented to detect ten different positions.

  perforations or, according to an example of

  tion, of printed marks which may also be

to be detected.

  In the logic system to be described there is a characteristic means that determines whether the information being read is acceptable. An accepted label follows a first

  way down into a drawer 8 '. There is also

  a bifurcation member 14 which can be actuated to send a mis-read label to another path terminating in an exit 5. This bifurcation or lane crossing member (in the sense of the railway terms) can be actuated by a motor or relay 15 moving a flag or guide 14. The motor or relay 1; is electrically controlled by a logic circuit which

will be described later.

  In Figure 3, a schematic representation shows in more detail how a tag is read. For the sake of simplicity, the curved path is replaced

by a straight path.

  A label of one of the types envisaged is

  view of perforations as indicated. Perforations 1l

  21,22 and 23 are provided with the perforations

  21 and 22 used as explained in

Figure 2.

  There are also 10x12 perforation positions functioning as a code combination, where twelve rows correspond to 2x3 positions, these ten positions being simultaneously read by row 18 of the detectors.

  previously mentioned. It will be noted that the same posi-

  can. have inked dots instead of

  perforations and that the reader can read these alter-

  natively. (Note that although this gives a

  example of a very common type of coded label, the invention

  This is not limited to a particular card, but can be used with any kind of graphics cards with code marks in rows.

and in columns).

  We will first explain the starting operation.

  When a label is inserted, its edge cuts the path

  between a light source and a phototransistor

  which are schematically represented by the reference

  24. In addition, a group of at least two photodetectors

  25 and 26 are arranged in front of the driving perforation 21 to detect light through the

  perforation 21 at the starting position of the label.

  A circuit 27 decides when the detector 24 detects a

  label and detectors 25 and 26 detect simultaneously

  light through the perforation 21. The characteristics

  The construction characteristics of the circuit 27 do not have to be described, being well within the reach of those skilled in the electronics art. When this combination is detected, one

  start engine 11 as shown in Figure 2.

  tera that this one allows a control so that,

  if the opposite edge of the label is presented, the perforation

  ration 21 will not be detected, and the device will not start

  not go. (If a label is presented above

* Under, there will be no perforation at the position of the

  perforation 21, and there will be no start).

  The detection of the perforation 21 at the same time as the detection of the edge by the detector 24 is therefore an important feature of the invention. According to a mode

  preferred embodiment, the motor (FIG. 2) is

  intended to start in the opposite direction if the perforation 211 is not detected, thus rejecting the label by

  pushing it towards the fingers of the person who introduces it

  Duit. In a preferred embodiment, this detection of the perforation 21 and the edge of the label is made in a slightly more complicated manner, where

  two optical H1 and H2 perforation detectors

  cent detector 24 of Figure 3, these detectors being

  positioned in a row to detect successively

  perforation, two edge detectors KI and K2 being also in a row. Figure 8 shows this schematically. In this embodiment, the drum is also provided with a hole P on one side, and in the "rest" position, this hole P falls in front of an optical detector S, as shown in FIG. At an adjacent position SB, another optical detector detects when the drum 10 has moved in the opposite direction

of a certain amount.

  Optical detectors H1, 112, K1, K2, S and SB

  are parts of a motor control circuit

  shown in Figure 19 to control the motor 11.

  Since anyone skilled in electronics can understand

  the function of this circuit without a com-

  plete all doors, just explain that

  the doors indicated by A are OR gates (eg

  p075), the doors indicated by B are N, -Er doors (e.g., 4001) and the doors indicated by C are AND gates (e.g., 4073). The references

  V1-V3 indicate "one-bit memories", VI being a

  perforation memory, V2 a "proper label memory

  nable ", V3 indicating the" direct sense "and V4

  OKF and O B are the references of couplers op-

  to-electronic to control the motor 11 to turn

  respectively in the forward and in the forward direction

  pours. The operation of this device will be described step by step with particular reference to Figures 9 and 11, the latter figure representing waveforms

of the circuit of Figure 10.

  1. A label is put in the slot.

  Correct Incorrect 2. The KI edge sensor detects the edge and goes low. Idem Resetting memories Vl, V2 and V4 is deleted.

3. Puncture detectors

  ration Hi and H2 not-feeling at a low level, 11i the Nothing first.This puts the memory

of perforation Vl to one.

  4. The K2 edge sensor The K2 sensor switches to

  to a low level, and a low level and the

  the "V4 memory card memory of proper movement" V2 is set in the opposite direction is set, one by setting one to one, since the memory

  If the detector S "is not set to one.

pos "is or goes to a

calf high, and if PF

  from a central logic circuit gives an erase signal at a low level, the memory V3 is

set to one.

  5. The label is driven The label is entered;

  by the engine 11. born behind until the hole P is brought to a position Pl

(Figure 9) and do not

  be the SB 6 detector. When the back edge of

the label leaves the

  K1, the memories V1, V2 and V4 are again

reset.

at the high level. The

moire V4 is thus

zeroing, which puts

the memory of meaning

pays V5 to one.

The label is out

manually,

to pass the detection

  Kl to a high level. when the memory V5 is at a high level, the memory V3 is set to one, and the drum 10

is turned forward

that the detection

S becomes one

calf high again and

memory V3 is remi

to zero. When the

Moire V3 was at one, Lamemoire V; was at zero.

  7. When the hole P is returned to the position o the detector S goes to a high level, the training is finished, and the memory V3 is reset

to zero.

  The function of the K2 sensor is to ensure that the label is driven down far enough to be sure that it can be securely tightened by

  pins 17 in the perforations 21,22.

  Note that in the embodiment of Figure 9, the pins 16 of the drum 10 are replaced by a step 16 ', and a pin 80 is provided for the

  perforation 23 (Figure 3) of the label 3.

  Figure 11 shows some waveforms

  explaining the operation of the circuit of Figure 10.

  H1 and H2 are the signals from two perforation detectors positioned as schematically apparent in Figure 9, while K1 and K2 are edge detection signals as is apparent in Figures 8 and 9. When a label is introduced, H1 first goes to a high level, when the label blocks the

  light, and H2 then goes to a high level for the same

  me right. Then, H1 detects the perforation and goes back to a low level, after which H2 detects the perforation. D is a delayed version of the signal H2, by means of an RC circuit, and which is sent to the input D of the "perforation memory" V1. The "clock" input of this circuit receives the signal indicated by Cl in FIG. 11. It will be noted that the circuits V2-V5 have their positive inputs D and are thus set to one by their clock input.

rising to a high level.

  As shown in Figure 10, the communication circuit

  motor 11 is operated by means of OK! F (direct motion) optoelectronic couplers and

OKB (reverse movement).

  The detectors FT1-FTIO of FIG.

  connected to a logic circuit 28 whose characteristics

  will also be described with reference to Figure 6.

  The logic circuit 28 of FIG. 3 has an output 29 which signals that all the photodetectors 18

  are being received from nowhere. This is normal-

  case when, for example, no label has been

  tints the reading position. When the motor 11 (Fig.2) starts, the edge of the label 3 reaches the row of

  30 photodetectors i: all of which are obsolete.

  general "all enlightened". on exit 29 goes to a ni-

  veatu down, and the logical operation begins. The reading phase ends when the tag has passed beyond the photodetectors 18 and the signal "all lit."

  on exit 29 goes to a high level.

  An "all obscure" signal is detected on an output 30 of the logic circuit 28, this signal rising to a high level when all the photodetectors 18 detect a low light intensity. When a perforation

  code passes in front of one of the photodetectors, this signal does not

is a low level.

  It is good to explain here that the Kimball type code is constructed so that a group of five punch positions include a digit position and all digits 0-9 correspond to two numbers.

  perforations (tt = 10). Thus, any position of

  Corr correct shows exactly two holes. To the

  Position 1, the signal "all obscure" then passes to a

  calf as it appears in Figure 6. Then all

  until Position 2 is reached.

te, etc.

  Each of the ten signals coming from

  The sensors 18 is connected to an input of the logic circuit 28, and there are ten outputs on the logic circuit 28, indicated by D1-D10. (The logic circuit 28 also operates from

  this way as an interface for the following circuits

  which are metal-oxide-semiconductor circuits

  with complementary symmetry C-MOS). These exits are indicated

  vidually at a high level when a perforated code

  tions is present. They are all

  linked to inputs / parallel of a shift register

s / R -F.

  As shown in Figure 3, the vI-FF register (zero-set flip-flop) has ten parallel inputs, ten parallel outputs, and one R reset input. A pulse sent to the reset input R resets all flip-flops to zero. If a

  D1-D10 signals are at a high level, the flip-flop

  responclante changes state, putting its output corres-

  to a high level continuously, until the circuit is reset by the input R. In the preferred embodiment, this circuit Se-FF is a circuit C-10OS comnnu under the number 4043 (available from several manufacturers). Note that this "circuit

  particular lock does not use a sample entry

  which is an advantageous characteristic as the positions on a label may be bad

  defined, so that a sampled lock se-

  It would be difficult to adjust properly over time because of the poor location accuracy and the various defects found on the labels. The Dl-DIO output signals from the t-FF register

  are sent synchronously to the inputs

  4 in "all obscure" pulses.

  When the first signal "all obscure" arrives, it

  that the edge of a label 3 has been inserted and ob-

  stretches all photodetectors 18, the first sample

  The circuit diagram in Figure 3 transfers all the

  D1-DIO output signals as active signals, when or

  photodetectors were before! enlightened.

  The "all obscure" signal is sent to a PF circuit which generates a reset signal with a slight delay, and then resets all flip-flops of the S / R-FF register to zero. These begin to function in conditions of "darkness". As soon as one or more

  input signals D1-D1b go to a high level, in-

  By punching codes, the signal "all obscure at the output 30 goes to a low level, it is then at the position 1 of Figure 6. A corresponding flip-flop

  gives a signal to one of the outputs of the S / R-FF register.

  At the end of the Position 1 of Figure 6, the signal "all obscure" passes again to a high level, as there are no perforations in front of the photodetectors 18. The

  same "all obscure" signal allows the transfer of the

  n of the S / R-FF register in the circuit of Figure 4, and the PF circuit resets the flip-flops to zero by the input R. This is done row by row, until the label is finished to pass and the signal "all lit" goes to a high level, when the opposite edge

  of label 3 has passed photodetectors 18.

  As just explained, a series of

  parallel output streams consisting of the first ten

  similar signals in parallel and then twelve

  successive codes are issued by the S / R-FF register.

  They are sent in AI and AII bus switches (FIG. 4), ie five in each, and they are transferred into switching registers 31 and 32 by two parallel bus inputs, and are enabled by a signal " all obscure ". There are 12 x 10 positions all together in the switching registers, and when the

  twelve bits were introduced by each individual input

  duel, the first bit introduced disappears. In the case of a fault reading such that fewer than twelve codes have been introduced in parallel, the first input signals still remain in shift registers 31 and 32, and the utility of this for error detection.

will be explained later.

  When a signal "all lit" passes again

  at a high level, a phase of data processing com-

  under the control of a logical circuit.

  mutators AI and AII are positioned so that the outputs of the registers 31 and 32 are connected in

  a circular path by bus lines 34 and 35.

  Shift registers 31 and 32 are enabled by clock signals from logic circuit 33, and successive output signals are sent to an error detector 36. This error detector for each half in parallel respectively corresponding to the signals. D1-5 and D610 is controlled to check the existence in each of exactly two active outputs and three outputs

  inactive. Where there is more or less, a

  error message is generated, and the reading is rejected.

  If no error is found, a new group of dou-

  ze clock pulses are emitted, this time for a purpose

reading.

  The codes are therefore sent to a decade decoder which transfers the Kimball codes under a

  appropriate form for a publisher, a cash register

  itself, a calculator and / or some recording medium.

  It will be further noted that if less than twelve rows of Kimball codes have been read, the first read bits, all active, remain in the shift register and are detected in the error detector 36 as an erroneous code. It should be noted that it is best to leave

  11 of Figure 2 in a step-by-step fashion, for example

  ple, using a fractional motor, and stop the motor 11 in a position where a label has been read but remains between the pin wheel 10 and the slides 12 and 13. It is then possible to retain a tag passed until that the data is processed and

  no error was found. Engine 11 can not

  restart at this time to drop the label.

  in the box 8 '. In the case where the error detector 36 has detected an error, the motor 15 is started to rotate the bifurcation member 14 so that the erroneously read label is directed towards the exit 5, to do another try of

  reading or for manual manipulation.

  In Fig. 4, the terminals of the logic circuit 33 are used for control signals. In the embodiment shown in FIG.

  cash register records the price figure by chif-

  fre as an ordinary adder. When all

  numbers of a price have been introduced, the logis-

  that 33 send a sum signal to the cash register

  which then automatically does the operations described

  previously. In other types of data collectors

  other kinds of control signals are used.

  such as sampling signals, and there may be an acknowledgment signal indicating

  a new number has been sent. The various modifications

  necessary for this use are known

in the art.

  According to a preferred embodiment, the same

  code reader can also be used for

  printed matter instead of punch codes. We can ob-

  maintain this result by having a phototransistor detector detect light through the tag at a row position where there are no perforations

  or printed signs. This detector is connected to

  order the light source LS to be adjusted to about half the light intensity

  at the output, where the light attenuated by the label is de-

  sensed by the detector. This may be for example the detector 25 or 26 of Figure 3, and a circuit is shown in Figure 5. When a perforation passes in front of one of the phototransistors FT 1-10, or if there is no labels, these detectors are

  low, and if a printed dot is detected in a "posi-

  "perforation", the corresponding phototransistor

  goes to a high level. The output signals are detected

  by window discriminators of the

  28, which provide passive data levels outside the

  around an average level of light but which give accuctive data levels for a high or low phototransistor voltage on the detectors

  Fl-FIO. Thus, it is possible with one and the same

  Electronic cookie to detect punctured codes

and black-dot codes.

  As explained with reference to FIG. 5, the luminous intensity of the LS lamp is controlled by a feedback loop. In the preferred embodiment for detecting points or perforations, it is

  is provided a special circuit for each of the channels Dl-

  D10. An example circuit is shown in Figure 7 where it is mounted for the channel D1. In operation, the lamp LS is controlled so that, when a portion of the label without perforation or dot is in front of the phototransistor FT1 (7S), its output signal is about half of the available voltage,

  that is, about V / 2. The signal from the photo-

  Transistor 73 is sent to a window discriminator 70. In this circuit 70, two comparator circuits 72 and 73 have positive inputs biased by a series of resistors 74-76 such that they receive about 2 V, / 3 and V +. / 3. If the quiescent voltage at about V + / 2 then prevails as the VF input signal, the comparator 72 gives a high level output signal and the comparator 73 gives a low level output signal. These signals

  output Va and Vb are sent to an exclusive NOR gate.

  sif 71 which generates an output signal Dl at a low level. If the signal VF becomes smaller than V +/- 3 or greater than 2V +/- 3, respectively indicating a printed dot or a perforation, the door 71 delivers in both cases

  an output signal Dl at a high level. Dl signals

  D1O are then treated as explained for the case

o There are only perforations.

  With this embodiment, which is preferred

  At present, it is possible to provide for an extremely

  simply to lower prices. This price decrease is usually made for various reasons, such as

  example when an item is no longer available in all

  your sizes or when there are annual balances.

  Sometimes, a product may have become faded and can not be sold at the price originally proposed. In

  all these cases, a label 50 (see Figure 3) is

  the label to be read in a position close to the

  readable price 51. The label 50 is provided with a

  which is, for example, as wide as two perforations

  code. A discriminator 53 is put into operation

  Also, a read detector 52, operating in the same manner as the detectors 18, generates a signal when it detects this edge. This signal is used as a rejection signal, and the label to be read is rejected, unless the changed price has been introduced

  on the keyboard before the label has been inserted.

  Sometimes price tags are used

  with a price OO, oo entered in the price code.

  The idea is to provide the price at a later stage, while

  keeping the other information available for recording

  tration. Thus, the price is marked only in

  ble to the eye. In this case, it is necessary to introduce a zero price detection means. This is done in

  providing the control logic circuit with a function

  timer that is reset when playback is started and is set to one as soon as a digit from 1 to 9 is read but not set if there are only zeros read. If so, the price is read as

  zero, the label shall be rejected unless a price is

  troduced manually on the keyboard. The electronic circuits that have been described in an exemplary embodiment of a logic unit 33 may be those of the control unit, model MC 14500B,

  made by Motorola. For more details, please

  will publish at the book "Motorola Handbook", published in 1977,

  giving a description of this one-bit calculator. The

  ROM memory for the program used must be programmed according to the described use, which is a task quite within the reach of an electronics engineer

  medium, as well as the choice of other circuits representing

described and described.

Claims (9)

  1. Label reader for reading labels   of the so-called Kimball type, characterized in that   takes an input slot to manually insert labels one at a time in succession, a code reader to read a price code from a label and generate a price signal at an output terminal, intended to   directing said price signal to a cash register   to register a sale and a way to collect read labels.   A tag reader according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means for detecting an erroneous code reading and for generating an error signal, means for detecting said error signal and for ejecting an error signal. label corresponding to l-reading   code and a means of rejection to make available   an ejected label for manual processing.   3. Label reader for reading labels-   provided with digit codes including a code of   having a surplus and comprising at least two persons   driving holes, the reader being characterized   in that it comprises two connection terminals at one   register to introduce coded prices   labels belonging to merchandise sold, a cover in which is provided a label entry to manually insert labels, a magazine for read and accepted labels and an exit for unaccepted labels, a drum rotating around a label shaft and having an envelope provided with first: and second pins, slides forming a label track starting at the label entry slot and surrounding the drum circumference around at least a portion of its envelope in a curved portion of the track, an electrically controlled bifurcation member dividing the track into individually selectable paths, a first of the paths leading into the store of the read and accepted tags, a second path leading to the output of the unacknowledged tags a source of light and a light detector mounted on different sides of the track to detect a   decreased light intensity when a label is in-   troduced by the tag entry and driven for alignment with an edge against the first stud on the drum, a motor for driving the drum to rotate when the detector is operated, the second stud being arranged to enter at least one the two perforations of the label to direct it along   the track, a logic circuit for detecting said   code signals, to validate the code signals by over-checking and to output an error signal   when a surplus is detected, a coupling means;   to transmit the error signal in order to   operate the electronically controlled bifurcation member   triquetically, to fork a label in the   second path, and a signaling means for signaling   to an operator an erroneous reading of a label.   4. Optical label reader for labels   perforated encoders comprising a row of a set of optical detectors in front of which the   labels must be brought for a successive reading-   sive rows of perforation codes, characterized in that its improvement is constituted by a means   to read another type of label with printer codes.   surface-mounted replacing the perforation codes, a detector for detecting a code on a label to indicate whether a label is a label encoded by   perforations as mentioned first or   with printed codes on the surface and for   operate said reading means of said other tv- pe of label.   5. Label reader for reading labels-   - Kimball type, - including *.   a sprocket wheel rotating in a predetermined direction   carrying two pins to tighten the labels and   driving along a path in front of a row of elemen-   photosensitive elements corresponding to rows of perforation locations in said labels,   to successively read the perforation codes   dragged along in the predetermined direction, characterized   in that it further comprises a   tone on the sprocket wheel, placed, in relation to the predetermined direction, in front of the two pins, slides to guide a label introduced manually against   pins, a detector to detect a label introduced   pick and control means connected to the detector for   start a read operation, and a means to ar-   stop the read operation after the label has been   read, in a position where a pin is in front of   to manually introduce a new label- you.   6. Optical label reader for labels   perforated codec having a column   of a set of optical detectors before which   can be brought to the labels for a successful read-   sive rows of perforation codes, each optical detector being directed to an individual position of a   set of predetermined column positions, a set of   to introduce a label and guide for food   an inserted label, a rotor driven by   having a circular periphery with elements   clamping the label to induce a label   produced, characterized in that its improvement is constituted by a detector for detecting an inserted label, a means for rotating the rotor of a   predetermined angle when an introduced label is de-   tected, to tighten an inserted label and for   for the purpose of following the said circular periphery   when it is turned from the predetermined angle.   7. Label reader of a system to compute   and record purchases at a point of sale,   taking a cash register equipped with a means of   sales band pressure, a summing medium, a keyboard to introduce prices for items sold and a way to collect labels bearing   information removed from the items sold, characterized   in that its improvement is constituted by the tag reader connected to the cash register and comprising a manual tag insertion means, a means for reading price information codes carried by a label and to introduce said codes in the summation means of the cash register, instead of information entered by the keyboard, and means for ejecting erroneous tags in a collector   to manually enter a price read on this these by means of the keyboard.   8. Label reader of a system for   and record purchases at a point of sale,   taking a cash register equipped with a means of   sales band pressure, a summation means, a keyboard to manually enter prices of items   sold and a means for collecting the labels   information removed from the items sold,   characterized in that its further development is constituted by designing the label reader / to read price information on the labels and to generate electrical signals coded for / input into said means of   summation of the cash register instead of the information   pricing introduced manually by the keyboard,   said tag reader having a set of tags   light detectors arranged in a row, a light source for illuminating a label at a position close to the row of light detectors, a circuit   electrical discriminator to process the signals   coming from one of the light detectors and for transmitting a discriminated code signal when a detector signal is outside an average idle interval, and means for processing said discriminated code signals and   to send price data signals to the is registering.   9. Label reader of a system according to the   claim 8, characterized in that its perfection-   is furthermore constituted by another   light placed outside the said row and a cir-   baked electrical discriminator to emit a signal of   discriminated code when a signal from said detection   light source7at the outside of a mean idle interval, and means for detecting said discriminated code signal and for outputting a perceptible signal by an operator to indicate the presence of a special mark thereon on a label.