DE3923507A1 - Reading and encoding device for spools of thread - reads codes on spool flanges and contains microprocessor which controls receipt printer - Google Patents

Abstract

The reading and coding device for spools of thread with codes on the spool flanges (10, 11) accessible to reading heads contains a device with a mechanical feed (39) via a delivery chute into which the spools (3, 3') are fed. Spools are fed to a reader (6) irrespective of their sizes. The codes are read and translated by a microprocessor controlling a printer which delivers the code in the form of a bar code ticket simultaneously with output of the spool. USE/ADVANTAGE - For automatic vending machine, for spools of thread using low cost code reading arrangement.

Description

The invention relates to a reading and coding device for yarn packages are provided with a coding on the coil flanges, the Coding read heads accessible in conjunction with a microprocessor is made.

The present reading and coding device should either be in one Vending machines for bobbins can be arranged yourself or the device is intended as an additional device for already existing vending machines for Spools of thread are used.

There are sales stands that are known and that have been around since Years have been used by Gütermann. Such one Sales stand consists of a housing with a variety of Sales chutes arranged in columns and rows. In each Sales chutes are the same type of spools in a row arranged.

So far it has not been possible or only possible with great effort To provide coils with a code so that this code on a scanner Checkout could be read.

There are developments here. B. from Amann, the so-called EAN code in the form of a bar code as a tag on the spool attaches. Here is a in the open end of the coil flange The flag is inserted, and this flag is with a sign provided which extends parallel to the coil axis and which then rests on the spool. The EAN code is then on this flag printed on.

With this particular arrangement, however, there is the disadvantage that own  Fasteners for the EAN code are attached to the coil must and that this involves a lot of effort.

The present invention is therefore based on the object Coil, which carries a certain coding on the flange, of one Make bar code readers readable.

It is also added that the coding that is on the revolving Flange of the coil is attached, not readable in a scanner cash register is because scanner cash registers can only read flat bar codes, not however, encodings on an all-round coil flange are attached. In any case, the radius of curvature is usually at such coils so large that just in the scanner registers provided maximum radius of curvature is not sufficient, this still read greater curvature on the coil flanges of the coils.

To solve the problem, a device is proposed, which consists essentially of a feed shaft in which the coils be thrown in, these coils regardless of their size Reader to be fed, which the code on the coil flange read. This code is translated by a microprocessor so that from this code generates an EAN code or another code of any kind will and this end result of the translation will be a printer supplied, which then in the form of a receipt as this code Outputs barcode. At the same time, the read coil leaves it Device.

So there are significant advantages. For one thing, one can only do a lot simple code can be attached to the circumferential flange of the coil. This is preferably a binary code consisting of only few line elements, so that the aesthetic appearance of the This does not affect the coil.

This binary code is now the mechanical feed device  Feeded reader, the reader reads this binary code and via a Coding table in the microprocessor turns this binary code into one other code, e.g. B. EAN code or UPC code (for Anglo-American Countries) and this code is then on the receipt printed on.

The spool then leaves after reading with the receipt Device and is brought into an output shaft.

In a further development of the present invention, there are others Packaging techniques provided with the device provided here be combined. It is envisaged that the "bare" coil like previously inserted into the device, but that the coil in After reading, the device is packed in a bag or in a blister and that even in the device the generated code on the bag or is glued to the blister packaging and the blistered blister leaves the device.

It is further provided in a third embodiment that a self-adhesive label is generated, after which the "bare" coil that Device leaves with a self-adhesive label and this The self-adhesive label can then be stuck onto the bobbin.

In a fourth embodiment it is provided that the device generated code is applied to a banderole and this banderole in the kind of a flag is glued to the bobbin, the The flag protrudes flat from the bobbin so that it straight surface, the desired bar code can be applied can be read by the scanner cash register without further difficulties can be.

The variants described are only intended to ensure that the coil and Receipts with the bar code are presented together at the checkout.

An embodiment of the present invention is based on the Drawings described in more detail.

Fig. 1 shows schematically a block diagram of the invention,

Fig. 2 shows the mechanical parts of the device and

Fig. 3 shows the end view of the reader of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 1, a mechanical feeder 30, which consists of a tube substantially having a front insertion opening into which a coil is inserted.

The mechanical feed 30 is designed such that, as intended, only one coil can be inserted into the mechanical feed. It happens, of course, that unskilled operators also insert two coils in a row into the mechanical feeder; this mechanical feed 30 should then be designed such that only one coil is fed to the reader 31 . If two coils are inserted into the mechanical feed, this does not lead to a blockage of the device, but the coil lying at the front in the transport direction will cause a reading error in the reading device. The reading device is then brought into its ejection position and at the same time the spool still remaining in the mechanical feed is also ejected and both spools fall unread into a removal shaft.

The mechanical feeder 30 works on a reader 31 via the transport path 37, which is only shown symbolically here. The bar code is automatically read from the flanges of the spool in the reader itself, with only the bar code being applied to a spool flange as intended. However, the reading device is designed in such a way that it does not matter which side the coil is inserted into the mechanical feed 30 . An operationally reliable reading in the reader is always guaranteed.

The reader essentially consists of a housing and a housing arranged rotating mechanism on which the coil to be read is brought and is rotated around its own axis during the reading process.

Two reading heads are then present in the reader, which are in exact Opposite the coil flanges of the coil to be read. The Coils are always the same length. Therefore, the read heads can always on the remain in the same place in the reader.

After reading out the code on the flange of the coil, the coil is fed to a removal shaft 36 via an ejection device 32 .

It is important that a microprocessor 33 controls the reading process in the reading device 31 , as well as the motor control for the rotary drive of the reading device.

The microprocessor 33 is connected to a code table 34 via the signal line 38 . In the simplest case, the code table consists of an EPROM, which converts the read code in the reader, e.g. B. in an EAN code, a UPC code and so on.

For this purpose, the necessary conversion values are obtained from the code table 34 , fed to the microprocessor 33 and the microprocessor then outputs the result of its arithmetic operation to the printer 35 via the signal line 39 . The printer 35 prints a slip of paper, a label, a banderole, or a bag or the like, that is to say, therefore, a data carrier which is either permanently connected to the read spool afterwards in the removal shaft or beforehand or which is fed to the removal shaft 36 separately from the read spool .

Instead of printing a barcode in the printer 35 , magnetically readable magnetic strips can also be encoded accordingly and connected to the read coil in the region of the ejection device 32 or behind it.

In the present invention, it remains open how the code generated by printer 35 is physically connected to the spool.

Both parts, namely the printer code, either on a piece of paper, a magnetic strip or on the other parts mentioned above and the coil itself are then fed to a removal shaft 36 and both parts can then be removed from the removal shaft 36 by the operator.

The microprocessor also controls the ejection device via line 40 ; this is only activated if the microprocessor has recognized an error-free or faulty reading process.

A mechanical exemplary embodiment of the block diagram according to FIG. 1 is partially shown in FIG. 2.

The mechanical feed 30 here consists of a simple, cylindrical plastic tube 2 , which is open on both sides. The front, upper side serves as an insertion opening 1 for the coil 3 , which is to be read by the reading device 6 . The coil 3 is thus inserted into the insertion opening 1 of the tube 2 in the direction of the arrow 4 and then lies on the bottom side of the tube 2 . The coil 3 in this case has end flanges 10 , 11 on which a single line code (either on one or the other flange 10 , 11 ) is applied.

Characterized in that the tube 2 is inclined downwards at an angle to the horizontal, the coil 3 slides due to gravity in the direction of the arrow 8 onto the bottom 5 of the tube 2 and thus reaches the insertion opening 7 of the reader 6 in the direction of arrow 8 . There it arrives in the area of a rotating device which is controlled by a motor control. The rotating device essentially consists of two parallel driving rollers 25 , 26 , which are driven synchronously with one another by a pinion 20 , which pinion is rotatably connected to a motor 23 .

The motor 23 preferably consists of a direct current motor, the speed of which is controlled by the microprocessor 33 via the signal line 41 .

The motor 23 is preferably driven so that a peripheral speed on the flange 10 , 11 to be read from z. B. 120 mm per second is reached. This ensures reliable code reading.

In order to keep the overall length of the reading device small, it is preferred in this case that the transport rollers 25 , 26 are not driven on the end face, that is to say are connected to a corresponding pinion on the end face. This front sprocket would increase the overall length of the reader too much. A center drive is therefore provided.

Each transport roller 25 , 26 therefore has a central constriction according to FIG. 2; The toothing 21 is arranged in the region of this middle constriction. The toothing meshes with the pinion 20 , which - as described - is non-rotatably connected to the motor 23 .

So that the coil can slide freely over this constriction, this constriction is covered flush upwards by a cover plate 24 , so that there is a substantially flat bottom surface in the reader 6 .

In addition, it is mentioned that the cover plate 24 itself is concave, that is to say partially follows the central constriction of the respective transport roller 25 , 26 to ensure that the coil 3 'only on the flange side in each case on the bottom of the reader 6 , namely on the Transport rollers 25 , 26 , rests.

It is provided that the length of the transport rollers 25 , 26 corresponds approximately to the length of the coil 3 , 3 '.

In order to ensure that the spool is correctly centered on the transport rollers in the direction of its longitudinal axis, at least one of the transport rollers, e.g. B. the transport roller 25 , as shown in FIG. 2, a collar 12 at the rear end, which is continuously increased in diameter in order to ensure a return or centering of the coil flange lying there in this area.

The coil 3 will center exactly in the drawn position 3 'on the drive rollers 25 , 26 and is then driven synchronously by the two synchronously driven drive rollers 25 , 26 in the direction of rotation.

The direction of rotation is indicated here, for example, in the direction of arrow 29 .

It is now important that a front reading head 13 and a rear reading head 14 are arranged in the area of the transport rollers. Both read heads 13 , 14 are in operation and read the coil flange 10 , 11 of the coil 3 '.

Both signals of the read heads 13 and 14 are fed to the microprocessor 33 via the signal lines 41 . The microprocessor now evaluates which read head 13 or 14 has detected the signal.

The signal is recorded as an analog signal and implemented in digital form by the microprocessor 33 .

It is compared via the signal lines 38 with the code table 34 , so that a new code, z. B. an EAN code is generated, which is fed via the signal line 39 to the printer 35 .

The printer 35 prints this code on a data carrier in the corresponding manner, as set out above, and puts this data carrier into the removal slot 36 .

The further evaluation of the coil is carried out according to FIG. 2 as follows:
The reading device 6 is simultaneously designed as an ejection device 32 . For this purpose, the housing 9 is pivotally mounted in a pivot axis 15 in the machine housing and can be pivoted, for example, in the direction of arrow 16 . The pivoting takes place via an electromagnet (not shown) or an electric motor.

As soon as the microprocessor 33 has detected a faulty or an intended reading process, the ejection device 32 is started; the housing 9 is pivoted about the pivot axis 15 in the direction of arrow 16 and the lying in the reader 6 coil 3 'is removed in the direction of arrow 17 from the front insertion opening 7 .

The ejection to the front via the front insertion opening 7 takes place for the same reason, namely in order to keep the overall length of the reading device small. Therefore, ejection from the rear face of this reader is not used.

The coil leaving the insertion opening 7 in the direction of the arrow 17 now enters a lower collecting tray 18 , where the coil slides out in the direction of the arrow 19 and can be removed by the user together with the data carrier which bears the corresponding code.

The housing shape of the reading device according to FIG. 3 is also important . The housing consists of two half-shells 27 , 28 which define an upper middle slot 42 .

The slot 42 has two meanings:
First of all, this ensures a small distance 43 between the rear edge of the tube 2 and the insertion opening 7 of the reader 6 , because the reader 6 has to be pivoted about the pivot axis 15 in the direction of the arrow 16 and otherwise (if the slot 42 were not present) the would Collide the upper, front edge of the insertion opening 7 with the rear edge of the tube 2 .

This measure also means that the overall length is small entire device.

Fig. 3 shows, moreover, that the reader recognize different spool flanges and can detect. It is here e.g. B. a flange 10 of relatively small diameter and a flange 10 'shown with a larger diameter. The codes that are applied to the different flange diameters 10 , 10 'can be reliably detected by the reader.

The slot 42 between the half-shells 27 , 28 has the further meaning that if when not used as intended, for. B. two coils are arranged together in the reader 6 or are one behind the other, the one coil is then in improper use in the tube 2 and the other is already arranged in the reader 6 .

In this case, during the ejection process of the coil arranged in the reading device 6 , it would collide with the coil lying in the tube 2 , and in order to avoid damage to the device, the coil lying in the reading device 6 can be pivoted upward through the slot 42 and evade then still ejected in the direction of arrow 17 .

With reference to FIG. 1, it is added that the microprocessor is connected to its memory 44 , which records various types of data from the read coils. For example, the number of spools read can be recorded here and an inventory control system can be set up from this.

It can thus be determined how many bobbins from the vending machine removed and when the vending machine with which particular Coil type must be refilled.

The memory is preferably connected via a signal path to an output 45 , which is designed as a data interface. This data can be output, for example, via telephone lines, magnetic tape, encoded data carriers and the like in order to maintain a corresponding merchandise management transaction.

A particular advantage of the proposed device is that it can easily be provided as an additional device for already existing vending machines. In the simplest case, such vending machines consist of insertion shafts which are filled with corresponding bobbins of different colors, types of yarn and the like. The coils are removed by hand and then manually fed to the mechanical feed 30 of the device. In this way, a relatively inexpensive device can be realized. Such a device can therefore be attached to already conventional devices or integrated into new devices.

Drawing legend

1 opening
2 pipe
3 coil 3 ′
4 arrow direction
5 floor
6 reader
7 insertion opening
8 direction of arrow
9 housing
10 flange 10 ′
11 flange
12 collars
13 reading head
14 reading head
15 swivel axis
16 arrow direction
17 arrow direction
18 drip tray
19 arrow direction
20 sprockets
21 gearing
22 cover plate
23 engine
24 cover plate
25 driving roller
26 driving roller
27 half-shell
28 half-shell
29 direction of arrow
30 mech. Feeder
31 reader
32 ejection device
33 microprocessor
34 Code table
35 printers
36 removal shaft
37 Transport path
38 signal line
39 signal line
40 line
41 signal line
42 slot
43 distance
44 memories
45 edition

Claims (10)

1. reading and coding device for bobbins, which are provided with a coding on the bobbin flanges, the coding reading heads being made available in connection with a microprocessor, characterized in that a device with a mechanical feed ( 30 ) is provided via a feed shaft , in which the coils ( 3 , 3 ') are inserted, the coils ( 3 , 3 ') regardless of their size are fed to a reader ( 6 ) which reads the code on the coil flanges ( 10 , 11 ) and further the code is translated by a microprocessor ( 33 ) which controls a printer ( 35 ) which, in the form of a receipt, outputs this code as a bar code simultaneously with the read coil ( 3 , 3 ') via a removal shaft ( 36 ). 2. Reading and coding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the coil ( 3 , 3 ') in the device after the reading process is packaged in a bag or blister and that in the device itself the code generated is glued to the bag or to the blister pack and the blistered coil leaves the device. 3. Reading and coding device according to claim 1, characterized characterized in that a self-adhesive label in the device is generated, after which the coil coils the device together with the self-adhesive Leaves label, which is designed to be glued to the bobbin is. 4. Reading and coding device according to claim 1, characterized characterized in that the code generated by the device on a Banderole is applied, which in the manner of a flag on the The bobbin is glued, the flag of the bobbin flat protrudes so that on the straight surface formed the respective of readable barcode can be applied to a scanner cash register. 5. Reading and coding device according to claims 1-4, characterized in that the mechanical feed ( 30 ) is designed as a cylindrical, inclined tube ( 2 ) of short length approximately corresponding to the length of a coil. 6. Reading and coding device according to claims 1-4, characterized in that the reading device ( 6 ) consists of a housing ( 9 ) with a rotating mechanism arranged therein with drive rollers ( 5 , 26 ), two reading heads ( 13 , 13 , 14 ) are arranged. 7. Reading and coding device according to claim 7, characterized in that the drive rollers ( 25 , 26 ) have a central constriction, in the region of which the toothing ( 21 ) is arranged, which meshes with the pinion ( 20 ), which in turn rotates with a motor ( 23 ) is connected. 8. Reading and coding device according to claims 6-7, characterized in that the constriction is covered flush upwards by a cover plate ( 24 ). 9. Reading and coding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the reading device ( 6 ) is simultaneously designed as an ejection device ( 32 ), the housing ( 9 ) being pivotally mounted on a pivot axis ( 15 ). 10. Reading and coding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the reading device ( 6 ) as housing ( 9 ) has two half-shells ( 27 , 28 ) with an upper, middle slot ( 42 ).