The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 25, 2000
Filed:
Jan. 06, 1998
Heinrich Hippenmeyer, Freiamt, DE;
Hans-Werner Pierenkemper, Emmendingen, DE;
Jurgen Reichenbach, Emmendingen, DE;
Sick AG, Waldkirch, DE;
Abstract
The invention relates to an optical code reader comprising an optical scanning device (11) having a light transmitter (27) and a photoreceiver arrangement (19), said scanning device (11) transmitting a light beam (12) executing a scanning movement into a reading zone (14) provided at a reading distance ((L) from the scanning device (11). The reading zone preferably has a substantially planar front surface (13) and, moreover, a predetermined depth. Articles (16) carrying an optically detectable article code (15) are moved through the reading zone (14) and an electronic evaluation system (17), which is provided at the output of the scanning device (11), evaluates electrical signals formed by the photoreceiver arrangement (19) from the light reflected from the code (15) to the scanning device (11) and identifies the article code (15). A reflector (18) is arranged behind the reading zone (14) and, in the absence of an article (16) in the reading zone (14), reflects light received from the scanning device (11) in a manner identifiable as coming from the reflector (18) back to the scanning device (11). An article recognition stage (21) is provided in the electronic evaluation system (17), which suppresses the article identification until no further light is received which can be identified as coming from the reflector (18).