GB2062917A - Code tagging of objects, for example of garments - Google Patents

Abstract

Objects 21, eg garments moving on a conveyor, are tagged by a code carrier 22 having a perforation coding 25-28. The carrier is sensed by a hand-held senser 14, the number sensed being displayed on a screen to indicate e.g. the address to which the garment should be sent. The carrier may be round, square or triangular and made of stainless steel so as to be proof against rough handling and dry-cleaning. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Process and equipment for the assignment of a number of objects, for example of garments, to a predetermined address The invention concerns a process t-Dr the assignment of a number of objects, for example of garments, to a predetermined address, by which the objects which are subject to hard thermal and/or mechanical and/or chemical treatment are appropriately assigned before or after this treatment. The invention concerns in addition equipment for carrying out this process.

The invention relates especially to the assignment of garments, for example to the rental of workwear by linen hire companies to their customers' factories for paid supply to and use of the employees who work there and which undertake at the same time regularly to wash or dry clean and to repair the rented garments or to replace worn out garments.

The invention is accordingly described on the basis of the problems arising thereby as follows: In this field of application the assignment of a number of garments requires that the garments returned to the linen hire company by one of its customers must be re-assigned to that particular customer or it's employees which is or are identified by means of address. Until now a relatively complicated procedure has had to be followed for this, by which the used garments returned to the linen hire company are counted manually, possibly after pre-classifying. In this way the number and type of garments returned by the customer concerned or by his employees is established which represent the nominal data for later despatch. After processing, possibly after repeated classification, the garments must be counted again in order to ensure that the correct quantity can be returned to the customer.Only then can the washed or dry cleaned garments be packed and delivered to the customer. This double counting makes possible, in addition, an internal control by the linen hire company because the comparison of the two quantities allows appropriate conclusions to be drawn. However, by this method one only achieves among other things a limited degree of accuracy in counting the garments.

The relatively high expendSrure of time and effort involved in the double counting is nevertheless disadvantageous. In addition, the fact that the degree of accuracy in counting the garments is below that which is desirable and as a result losses and complaints arise in the linen hire business has an obstructive effect.

The invention sets itself the task of improving the degree of accuracy in counting and of making it possible to dispense with one of the counts to be carried out by the linen hire company before or after processing.

The resolution of this task is achieved by the process in accordance with the invention thereby, that code reproducing perforations secured on or in the objects are aligned individually together with the specific object involved and logged electrically or electronically, and that the assignment of the objects occurs on the basis of the decoded address derived from the logging.

With the process in accordance with the invention one allocates a so called non-speaking designation to each garment, for example a multi-digit number, which one reproduces by means of perforations, preferably allocated to one wearer, secured in the garment. The electrical logging serves to identify this designation which is read into the calculating and accumulating register; the data allocated to the designation concerned, which can always be recalled and; for example, reproduced by a printer or displayed on a screen, is stored in the calculating and accumulating register.

This speaking reproduction can contain various data by which the advantage lies in the, for practical purposes unlimited, information which no longer requires to be printed on an individually printed label adhered to each garment. First and foremost the customer's name and address is reproduced; in addition, however, a description of the garment concerned, it's wearer and other information can be provided. Because the counting accuracy under conditions found in practice fully reflects the actual total of the garments due to the electrical nature of the logging and the nature of the coding, the internal control by means of a further count can be dispensed with completely, without any disadvantage arising.Furthermore it is possible for the first time in particular to ascertain the description of the garment and especially that of the wearer easily which, until now, was only possible with very expensive methods, and to authenticate this in detail to the customer, and to localize losses which occur.

The perforation coding used in framework of the process according to the invention makes possible a code on a carrier of resistant material, for example stainless steel, or plastic with appropriate properties, which therefore can not only be secured durably in the garment concerned but can also resist the mechanical, thermal and chemical influences which are necessarily involved in the washing or dry cleaning of the garments. The coding also cannot be lost or become unreadable under such influences.

When one limits the logging to a definite location one carries out the process according to the invention in such a way that the objects are placed in a predetermined measuring position individually and in sequence. This embodiment of the process according to the invention can, for example, be realized by means of a conveyor belt on which the garments are, for example, laid out with the coding upwards. One can, however, also log the garments, or rather their coding, in sequence using a transportable logging device which one gives to an employee to use.

The coding lies in principle in the existence or non-existence of a perforation in a predetermined position, preferably on a plaque serving as carrier of the code, which in turn is secured to the garment. These perforations are preferably arranged axially or rotation symmetrically. The advantage of that is that the logging device can be simplified. The logging of the perforation code requires simply that the plaque is always aligned to the logging device in the same way so that logging errors are prevented.

When one carries out the process according to a further embodiment of the invention in such a way that the perforations, or rather their carrier, are held motionless during logging, one can allocate a measuring probe, which works together with an electrical oscillating circuit which releases a logging signal, to each perforation. However, when one carries out the process according to another embodiment of the invention in such a way that the perforations, or rather their carrier, move during logging, in particular by turning in a full or graduated circle, one can as a rule manage with fewer measuring probes, but must introduce at least one perforation as an initial address by means of which the beginning of logging is signalled.

The equipment according to the invention therefore includes a large number of plaques featuring all possible perforation variations with the purpose of reproducing the nonspeaking designation, which, through fastening of the plaque in the garment, are each securely assigned to it. With jackets, shirts, etc., the fastening can, for example, be to the for such clothing usual and firmly sewn in label giving the washing instructions, and is then on the one hand particularly durable and on the other especially easy to lay open for logging. With trousers the plaque can be secured to the trouser waist band, ideally on the inside where it causes no inconvenience because it needs to be neither larger nor higher than a metal button.

The plaques can, in addition, feature perforations of varying size. If a circular shaped plaque is involved, this is then particularly suitable for an embodiment of the process according to the invention by which the plaque of the logging device is rotated. Angular, especially triangular plaque outlines are foreseen for the variant of the process by which the perforations of these are held motionless during logging.

The equipment according to the invention then involves in addition the logging device with the measuring probes and the oscillating circuits assigned to them as already described.

This logging device can function according to the capacitative or the inductive process, whereby the logging is carried out by pressing the plaque against the reading head of the device or by pressing the reading head against the plaque.

The resonant frequencies of the oscillating circuits connected to the measuring probes are influenced by the perforations, so that a signal to be passed to the calculating and accumulating register results. With the capacitative process the metal of the metal plaque causes a capacity change at the probe. The size of the capacity change varies according to whether a small, a large, or no code perforation exists at the measuring point. The information is processed electronically either as a yes/no statement (perforations exists/no perforation exists), or modified and differentiated as small perforation exists or a still larger perforation exists or no perforation exists. The additional possibility thus results of storing more information per measuring point through the various sizes of the code perforations.

With the inductive process the metal produces eddy current losses and thereby causes misalignment of the oscillating circuit when no perforation exists. If code perforations of varying size are used, then a different sized misalignment of the oscillating circuit occurs.

With regard to the oscillating circuit, this involves on the one hand a parallel connection from one coil with an inductance L and a condenser with a capacity C or, on the other hand, a series connection of a coil with the inductance L and a condenser with the capacity C. While with the capacitative process the capacity of the condenser is changed by the metal plaque, with the inductive process the inductance of the coil is changed.

Both logging processes are realized advantageously using a reference measuring probe, the measuring position of which always lies on an unperforated area of the metal plaque.

A comparison standard is achieved by means of the reference measuring probe regardless of whether the metal plaque is heavily soiled or otherwise deviates from the normal condition. The measuring probe signal is related to this comparison norm and so permits a reliable information concerning the perforation made although the absolute measurement value of the probe can vary dependent upon the soiling or other changes in the plaque.

The equipment according to the invention described has the advantage that the influences arising from the processing of the garments, in particular thermal influences, do not alter the coding and that a certain amount of soiling has no influence on the accuracy of the code reading. The plaques which serve to carry the perforat-^n code can also satisfy other purposes in that they can be printed, enamelled or otherwise coloured. Insofar as the equipment according to the invention includes the logging equipment, slight variations in the alignment of the plaques to the reading head itself have no significance.

The details, further features and other advantages of the invention can be gathered from the following description of an embodiment form on the basis of the drawings; these show Figure 1 the logging device according to the invention schematically and in side view working together with a metal plaque serving as carrier of the perforation code, Figure 2 the sequence of the process according to the invention schematically in an example embodiment form, Figure 3 a first embodiment form of a perforation code carrier in top view, Figure 4 a further embodiment relative to the representation in Fig. 3 and Figure 5 an altered form of the embodiment of the perforation carrier shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

In order to demonstrate the sequence of the process according to the invention in an example embodiment form a conveyor belt 1 in top view and in broken off representation is shown in Fig. 2. The running direction of the upper belt is shown by an arrow 2. A folded trouser 3 and a shirt 4 lie one behind the other on the conveyor belt. The shirt has the usual label 6 firmly sewn into the lower inside edge of the collar 5 which displays the washing instructions, which are not, however, shown in the representation in Fig. 2.

As can be seen from the enlarged representation of the label 6, a metal plaque 8 is fastened onto the label by means of a rivet 7.

This rivet 7 lies in the centre of the metal plaque which is made square with rounded corners. The plaque 8 is of stainless steel and can therefore resist the mechanical, and also the thermal and chemical influences which occur particularly during the washing process.

Various lines 9-11 symmetrical to the centre of the plaque 8 or rather to the rivet 7 are foreseen in which a varying number of perforations 1 2 exist which in accordance with the embodiment form penetrate the metal plaque 8. Each line reproduces a B.C.D.

or Binar code according to whether a perforation 1 2 exists or does not exist at a predetermined point. The perforation code as a whole contains a definate number.

This number is read into a calculating and accumulating register 1 5 (Fig. 2) with the aid of the moveable logging device 14 shown in Fig. 1. The calculating and accumulating register decodes by means of logging signals given to it so that the non-speaking number concerned can, for example, be reproduced on a screen 1 6. The calculating and accumulating register also holds information relative to the number concerned, in particular about the customer, the wearer of the garment and the type of garment. This information is printed in accordance with the embodiment example in Fig. 2 using a printer 17 which, for example, produces a readable paper strip.

This paper strip can be fastened to the garment which is then packed and despatched to the correct customer and wearer accordingly.

In this case the logging takes place after washing or dry cleaning. The conveyor belt 1 therefore transports the garment to the packing department.

In another altered embodiment of the invention the logging takes place before washing or dry cleaning. Afterwards the garments for each customer must be kept together.

With the trouser 3 shown on the conveyor belt 1 the plaque 8 is located on the inner side 9 of the waist band 19 ahead of a metal button 1 8 which is normally situated there.

The logging device 14 itself has a hand grip 20 like that of a flat-iron which can be held by the person using it. The garment indicated with 21 carries an altered plaque embodiment which is therefore indicated with 22. With this embodiment the plaque is composed of a sheet metal strip 23 durably fastened to the material of the garment 21 with the aid of two rivets 24 and 45. The sheet metal strip itself carries the perforations which are shown with 25-28.

The logging device possesses a reading head 29 which features a number of schematically shown measuring probes 30-36 inside it. These measuring probes are connected to the oscillating circuits described earlier but not shown in the figures. As can be seen from the embodiment example in Fig. 1, the measuring probes 30, 32, 35 and 36 are activated because the perforations 25-28 are situated below them. The probe shown with 37 is the reference measuring probe the purpose of which has been described earlier.

The coding shown in Fig. 1 gives a nonspeaking number in binar code of 1010011.

In order to be able precisely to determine this number the under side 38 of the reading head 29 features a recess 39 the inner edge 40 of which corresponds to the outer edge 23 of the plaque 22 and the outer edge 41 of which is somewhat larger so that one can easily centre the plaque 22 when applying the logging device, that is when placing it in a prescribed position relative to the measuring probes. The inner closing surface 42 of the recess 39 features for it's part recesses 43 and 44 which accommodate the heads of the rivets 24 and 45 which accordingly cannot hinder the placing of the plaque 22 on the inner closing surface 42 of the reading head 29.

In the Figs. 3 to 5 the various embodiment forms of the metal plaques are illustrated.

According to the embodiment example in Fig. 3 a plaque 50 of right-angled outline is involved. In the geometrical middle of the plaque is a longitudinal line 54 parallel to the longer sides 52, 53; parallel to the shorter sides 55, 57 of the plaque 50 further lines 58 run clear of each other which cross the longitudinal line 54. Perforations 59 may or may not exist at the crossing points. If one reads the perforation code from left to right, then the coding gives the number 10110111, i.e. there are in total six perforations out of a maximum of eight possible perforations and two perforations are lacking.

The plaque 60 according to the embodiment example in Fig. 4 also has in general a right-angled outline, which in consequence permits two parallel longer sides 61, 62 and two shorter sides 63, 74 parallel to each other to be recognized.

The shorter side 63 is, however, joined to the longer side 62 by means of a bevelled edge 64. This bevelled edge serves to assist centring when placing the plaque 60 under the reading head of the logging device and at the same time as a starting point identification which makes correct reading of the perforation code possible.

The perforation code is arranged at the crossing points of three longitudinal lines 65-67 and seven transverse lines 69-73.

The numbers identified by means of the longitudinal lines 65-67 are as follows: Longitudinal line 65: 0111011 Longitudinal line 66: 1011101 Longitudinal line 67: 1101001 With the embodiment example in Fig. 5 a rotation symmetrical code carrier in the form of a circular metal plaque 80 is involved. The perforation code can be reproduced by making or omitting perforations on the graduated circles 81-83 and on the intersections of a system of coordinates 84, 85. The inner graduated circle serves for centring. The starting address, which denotes the commencement of reading, is defined by the perforation 88. This is situated on the graduated circle 83. The additional graduated circles contain the following coding: Graduated circle 81: 1110 Graduated circle 82: 0011 The reading direction is clockwise.During decoding, i.e. during reading, either the plaque 80 or the reading head can be rotated.

While in the embodiment example according to Fig. 1 the measuring probes work electronically, the perforations can also be read mechanically. For this purpose moveable contact elements, for example in the form of pins or balls, can be held in the reading head 29 which are pre-stressed in the starting position and can penetrate the perforations to a predetermined extent. The movement described here can be translated into a yes or no signal. This translation of the mechanical movement into an electrical signal can occur, for example, in that the pin or the ball operates a microswitch, interrupts a light barrier or itself includes an inductive or capacitative logging device.

The process according to the invention is, however, not only suitable for the identification of rented garments, on the basis of which the invention has been described. It can indeed also be applied to the indentification or returnable bottles or similar objects, when appropriate code carriers can be secured to them.

Claims (11)

1. Process for the assignment of a number of objects, for example of garments, to a predetermined address, by which the objects which are subject to hard thermal and/or mechanical and/or chemical treatment are appropriately assigned before or after this treatment thereby characterised that code reproducing perforations secured on or in the objects are aligned individually together with the specific object involved and logged electrically or electronically, and that the assignment of the objects occurs on the basis of the decoded address derived from the logging.

2. Process in acordance with Claim 1, thereby characterised that the objects are placed in a predetermined measuring position individually and in sequence.

3. Process in accordance with Claims 1 or 2, thereby characterised that the perforations are held motionless during logging.

4. Process in accordance with Claims 1 or 2, thereby characterised that the objects are moved with the perforations during logging, in particular by turning in a full or graduated circle.

5. Equipment for carrying out the process in accordance with one of the Claims 1 to 4, characterised by a number of plaques individually secured one in each object each furnished with several perforations and a logging device with a centring mechanism for one plaque at a time and with a number of measuring probes, which work together with electrical circuits, together with a calculating and accumulating register for receiving the probe measurements and for displaying the addresses.

6. Equipment in accordance with Claim 5, thereby characterised that the perforations are arranged rotation symmetrically around a perforation or a protuberance of the plaque or are arranged axialsymmetrically.

7. Equipment in accordance with one of the Claims 5 or 6, thereby characterised, that the plaques feature a right-angled, triangular or circular outline.

8. Equipment in accordance with one of the Claims 5 to 7, thereby characterised, that the plaques feature various sized perforations.

9. Equipment in accordance with one of the Claims 3 to 8, thereby characterised, that at least one of the perforations serves as the initial address for the commencement of logging.

10. Equipment in accordance with one of the Claims 3 to 9, thereby characterised, that the logging device features a reading head with the centring mechanism and the built in measuring probes, the number of which corresponds to the possible number of perforations or is lower than this number.

11. Equipment in accordance with one of the Claims 3 to 10, thereby characterised, that electrical oscillating circuits are assigned to the probes the capacity or inductivity of which can be influenced.

1 2. Equipment in accordance with one of the Claims 3 to 11, thereby characterised, that the plaque is secured to a label fastened to the object, for example a garment.