US 4,982,887 A · Tag size differentiating system for continuous tag printing machines

Abstract

A tag size differentiating system for tag printing machines. The system determines the length of tags in a continuous tag web consisting of a series of identical tags having one of a predetermined set of possible lengths. The system includes means for monitoring the distance the continuous tag web is advanced and sensing means for detecting indicia separating the individual tags. The system comprises a CPU and a memory for storing the possible tag lengths. The CPU determines the distance the tag web is advanced form the time and indicia is detected until the next indicia is detected and compares this distance to the possible tag length. Onthe basis of the comparison, the CPU determines the length of the individual tags in the tag web. The system does not begin the length determining process until the indicia at the trailing end of the initial tag is detected to prevent erroneous length measurements.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A machine for determining the length of individual tags forming part of a continuous tag web, said continuous tag web having equally spaced indicia thereon, each of said indicia having a leading portion, a trailing portion, and a central portion, the spacing of said indicia being indicative of the length of said individual tags, said machine comprising:

(a) a sensor for generating an indicia detect signal whenever any portion of one of said indicia is adjacent said sensor;
(b) a web advancing mechanism for advancing said web past said sensor;
and
(c) a circuit for detecting indicia detect signals generated by said sensor, monitoring the movement of said web by said web advancing mechanism, and determining which of at least two possible lengths said tags are, as a function of both the distance said web advancing mechanism has moved said web between a trailing portion of one and a leading portion of another of said length-indicating indicia, and the indicia detect signals said sensor has generated;
(d) the monitoring of said web movement commencing with the termination of an initial indicia detect signal corresponding to a trailing portion of an initial one of such indicia, and
said circuit being inoperative for determining such lengths until such termination of such initial indicia detect signal, such that said movement is not monitored prior to or during generation of such initial indicia detect signal.

3 more elements

(a) a sensor for generating an indicia detect signal whenever any portion of one of said indicia is adjacent said sensor;
(b) a web advancing mechanism for advancing said web past said sensor;
and
(c) a circuit for detecting indicia detect signals generated by said sensor, monitoring the movement of said web by said web advancing mechanism, and determining which of at least two possible lengths said tags are, as a function of both the distance said web advancing mechanism has moved said web between a trailing portion of one of said indicia and a leading portion of another of said indicia, and as a function of the indicia detect signals said sensor has generated;
(d) the monitoring of said web movement commencing with the termination of an initial indicia detect signal corresponding to a trailing portion of an initial one of such indicia, and said circuit being inoperative for determining such lengths until such termination of such initial indicia detect signal, such that said movement is not monitored prior to or during generation of such initial indicia detect signal;
wherein the circuit includes means for storing a flag, initializing said flag to an initial value maintaining said flag at said initial value prior to generation of said initial indicia detect signal, setting said flag to a second value during the generation of said initial indicia detect signal, and beginning the monitoring of said movement upon the termination of said initial indicia detect signal on the condition that said flag is set to said second value.

3 more elements

A machine for determining the length of individual tags forming part of a continuous tag web;

said continuous tag web having spaced indicia thereon;
each of said indicia having a leading portion, a trailing portion, and a central portion;
said individual tags each having a length which is one of at least two distinct possible lengths;
and the spacing between the trailing portion of one of said indicia and the leading portion of another of said indicia being indicative of the length of at least one of said individual tags;
said machine comprising:
(a) a sensor for generating an indicia detect signal whenever any portion of one of said indicia is adjacent said sensor;
(b) a web advancing mechanism for advancing said web past said sensor;
and
(c) a circuit for detecting indicia detect signals generated by said sensor, monitoring the distance said web advancing mechanism has moved said web between a trailing portion of one and a leading portion of another of said length-indicating indicia, and determining from said distance which of said at least two distinct possible lengths is the length of said at least one of said tags;
said circuit comprising
(i) memory means for storing at least one reference value;
and
(ii) differentiating means for obtaining a count value which is a function of said distance and for determining which of said possible lengths is the length of said at least one of said tags by comparing said count value and said reference value;
(d) said circuit being inoperative for obtaining said length-determining count value until the termination of an initial indicia detect signal corresponding to a trailing portion of an initial one of such indicia, such that said count value and thereby said length is not obtained prior to or during generation of such initial indicia detect signal;
wherein the differentiating means includes means for storing a flag, initializing said flag to an initial value, maintaining said flag at said initial value prior to generation of said initial indicia detect signal, setting said flag to a second value during the generation of said initial indicia detect signal, and beginning the obtaining of said count value upon the termination of said initial indicia detect signal on the condition that said flag is set to said second value.

12 more elements

A machine for determining the length of individual tags forming part of a continuous tag web;

said continuous tag web having spaced indicia thereon;
each of said indicia having a leading portion, a trailing portion, and a central portion;
said individual tags each having a length which is one of at least two distinct possible lengths;
and the spacing between the trailing portion of one and the leading portion of another of each adjacent pair of said indicia being indicative of the length of at least one of said individual tags;
said machine comprising:
(a) a sensor for generating an indicia detect signal whenever any portion of one of said indicia is adjacent said sensor;
(b) a web advancing mechanism for advancing said web past said sensor;
and
(c) a circuit for detecting indicia detect signals generated by said sensor, monitoring the distance said web advancing mechanism has moved said web between a trailing portion of one and a leading portion of another of said length-indicating indicia, and determining from said distance which of said at least two distinct possible lengths is the length of said at least one of said tags;
said circuit comprising
(i) memory means for storing at least one reference value;
and
(ii) differentiating means for obtaining a count value which is a function of said distance and for determining which of said possible lengths is the length of said at least one of said tags by comparing said count value and said reference value;
(d) said circuit being inoperative for obtaining said length-determining count value until the termination of an initial indicia detect signal corresponding to a trailing portion of an initial one of such indicia, such that said count value and thereby said length is not obtained prior to or during generation of such initial indicia detect signal;
and
(e) error checking means for comparing said count value with a predetermined maximum value and with a predetermined minimum value and for determining that an error has occurred if said count value exceeds said maximum value or if said count value is less than said minimum value;
said differentiating means being operative for determining which of said possible lengths is the length of at least one of said tags only if no error is detected by said error checking means.

14 more elements

A machine for determining the length of individual tags forming part of a continuous tag web;

said continuous tag web having spaced indicia thereon;
each of said indicia having a leading portion, a trailing portion, and a central portion;
said individual tags each having a length which is one of at least two distinct possible lengths;
and the spacing between the trailing portion of one and the leading portion of another of each adjacent pair of said indicia being indicative of the length of at least one of said individual tags;
said machine comprising:
(a) a sensor for generating an indicia detect signal whenever any portion of one of said indicia is adjacent said sensor;
(b) a web advancing mechanism for advancing said web past said sensor;
and
(c) a circuit for detecting indicia detect signals generated by said sensor, monitoring the distance said web advancing mechanism has moved said web between a trailing portion of one and a leading portion of another of said length-indicating indicia, and determining from said distance which of said at least two distinct possible lengths is the length of said at least one of said tags;
said circuit comprising
(i) memory means for storing at least one reference value;
and
(ii) differentiating means for obtaining a count value which is a function of said distance and for determining which of said possible lengths is the length of said at least one of said tags by comparing said count value and said reference value;
(d) said circuit being inoperative for obtaining said length-determining count value until the termination of an initial indicia detect signal corresponding to a trailing portion of an initial one of such indicia, such that said count value and thereby said length is not obtained prior to or during generation of such initial indicia detect signal;
and
(e) error checking means for comparing said count value with a predetermined maximum value and with a predetermined minimum value and for determining that an error has occurred if said count value exceeds said maximum value or if said count value is less than said minimum value;
said differentiating means being operative for determining which of said possible lengths is the length of at least one of said tags only if no error is detected by said error checking means;
wherein the circuit includes means for storing a flag, initializing said flag to an initial value, maintaining said flag at said initial value prior to generation of said initial indicia detect signal, setting said flag to a second value during the generation of said initial indicia detect signal, and beginning the monitoring of said movement upon the termination of said initial indicia detect signal on the condition that said flag is set to said second value.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Tag size differentiating system for continuous tag printing machines

Life of this patent

Tag size differentiating system for continuous tag printing machines

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15