Code reading system

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said light generating means includes a plurality of individual highly intensified light beam generators which project generally parallel beams of light, said light sensing means including a plurality of individual photo-optical receiving means aligned with said generator for receipt of said light beams so that when said logic card is positioned in said reading station intermediate said light generating means and light sensing means, a preselected pattern of light receipt by said light sensing means will initiate the operation of said actuating means.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said individual light beam generators and photo-optical receiving means are adjustable from either side of said conveyor to permit facile selection and changing of the preselected arrangement of the code selected on said logic card to which it is responsive to initiate said actuating means.

Claim 5

An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said logic card is comprised of a generally thin plate means having at least one elongated slot therethrough, at least one block means slideable in said slot, said block when aligned between said light generating means and light sensing means preventing receipt of said light source means by said light sensing means, said slot being of sufficient length to exceed the combined lengths of said blocks so that means defining a moveable opening is provided along said slot at a preselected position to permit receipt of light from said light generating means by said light sensing means.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said card in addition to said slot includes position responsive reader enabling means fixed on said plate and operable with said light generating means to indicate the proper positioning of said logic card in said reading station to prevent a false reading.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said enabling means fixed on said plate includes a fixed opening alignable with one of said generating means, and a locus on said logic card wherein light from a second unit of said generating means is not receivable by a corresponding light sensing means when said fixed opening is aligned with said one generating means, said reading station being inhibited from initiating said actuating means until said fixed opening is aligned with said one of said generating means and said locus is likewise aligned with said second generating means.

Claim 8

A logic card for use in a photo-optical conveyor code reading apparatus having a reading station including a light generating means on one side of the conveyor and light sensing means on the other side of the conveyor comprising plate means having at least one elongated slot extending therealong, at least one block means slideable in said slot, said block means when aligned between said light generating means and light sensor means preventing receipt of light from said light generating means by said light sensing means, said slot being of sufficient length to exceed the combined lengths of said block means so that means defining a moveable opening relative to said card is provided along said slot at a preselected position to permit receipt of light from said light generating means by said light sensing means when said logic card is positioned intermediate said light generating and sensing means.

Claim 9

A logic card for use in a photo-optical conveyor code reading apparatus having a reading station including a light generating means on one side of the conveyor and light sensing means on the other side of the conveyor comprising plate means having at least one elongated slot extending therealong, at least one block means slideable in said slot, said block means when aligned between said light generating means and light sensor means preventing receipt of light from said light generating means by said light sensing means, said slot being of sufficient length to exceed the combined lengths of said block means so that means defining a moveable opening relative to said card is provided along said slot at a preselected position to permit receipt of light from said light generating means by said light sensing means when said logic card is positioned intermediate said light generating and sensing means.

Claim 10

The logic card according to claim 7 wherein said plate means includes a plurality of vertically spaced, longitudinally extending slots, each slot including a plurality of blocks moveable in each slot, each of said blocks being limited in movement between first and second positions, and Resilient detent means urging each of said blocks into one of said positions to retain said blocks in a preselected orientation.

Claim 11

The logic card according to claim 7 wherein said card in addition to said slot includes position responsive reader enabling means fixed on said plate means and operable with said light generating means to indicate the proper positioning of said logic card in said reading station to prevent a false reading.

Claim 12

The logic card according to claim 9 wherein said enabling means fixed on said plate means includes one or more openings fixed on said plate means and alignable with one of said light generating means to permit receipt of said light generating means by said light sensing means.

Claim 13

The logic card according to claim 10 wherein said enabling means fixed on said plate means also includes a locus point wherein the light from one of said generators is blocked from receipt by one of said sensors when said fixed opening is aligned with said one light generating means.

Claim 14

A card comprising means defining a moveable opening, said card having at least one elongated slot extending therealong; and a plurality of block means moveable along said slot, each of said block means being moveable only between a first and second position, the combined length of said block means being less than the length of said slot to define said opening, movement of said block means in said slot causing the position of said opening to change.

Claim 15

A card comprising means defining a moveable opening, said card having at least one elongated slot extending therealong; and a plurality of block means moveable along said slot, each of said block means being moveable only between a first and second position, the combined length of said block means being less than the length of said slot to define said opening, movement of said block means in said slot causing the position of said opening to change.

Claim 16

The card according to claim 12 wherein said card further includes resilient detent means releasably engageable with said blocks to retain each of said blocks in one of said positions against unintentional movements in said slot from a preselected position.

Claim 17

A card comprising means defining a moveable opening, said card having at least one elongated slot extending there-along; a plurality of block means moveable independently within said slot to provide a plurality of possible opening positions, the combined length of said block means being less than the length of said slot to define said opening, movement of said block means in said slot causing the position of said opening to change, said slot including an upper and lower recess extending generally the length of said slot, said blocks including flanges along their upper and lower edges and receivable in said recesses to hold said blocks in said slot and guide the movement of said blocks along said slot; and detent means releasably engageable with said blocks to retain said blocks against unintentional movement in said slots from preselected positions, said detent means including a detent bar receivable in one of said recesses and extending generally the length thereof, said bar including projections extending toward and engageable with said blocks to inhibit movement of said blocks unintentionally, said detent bar being moveable between a first position wherein said block means are free to move in said slot and a second position wherein said block means are inhibited from movement in said slot, and means for urging said bar into said second position.

Claim 18

A card comprising means defining a moveable opening, said card having at least one elongated slot extending there-along; a plurality of block means moveable independently within said slot to provide a plurality of possible opening positions, the combined length of said block means being less than the length of said slot to define said opening, movement of said block means in said slot causing the position of said opening to change, said slot including an upper and lower recess extending generally the length of said slot, said blocks including flanges along their upper and lower edges and receivable in said recesses to hold said blocks in said slot and guide the movement of said blocks along said slot; and detent means releasably engageable with said blocks to retain said blocks against unintentional movement in said slots from preselected positions, said detent means including a detent bar receivable in one of said recesses and extending generally the length thereof, said bar including projections extending toward and engageable with said blocks to inhibit movement of said blocks unintentionally, said detent bar being moveable between a first position wherein said block means are free to move in said slot and a second position wherein said block means are inhibited from movement in said slot, and means for urging said bar into said second position.

Claim 19

The card according to claim 14 further including means for camming said bar to said first position upon deliberate movement of said block means along said slots.

Claim 20

The card according to claim 12 wherein said card further includes a position responsive reader enabling means comprising a stationary opening and a locus point cooperative with said stationary opening so that when said card is moveable between a plurality of light generating means and light receiving means, one of said receiving means is blocked from receiving light when said stationary opening is aligned with another of said generating and receiving means, said stationary opening being smaller than said moveable opening.

Claim 21

A logic card for use in a photo-optical conveyor code reading apparatus having a reading station including at least three light generating means and at least three light sensing means aligned respectively for Receipt of light from said light generating means, said logic card being moveable through said reading station for passage intermediate said light generating and sensing means and including means for inhibiting the operation of said reading station unless said card is properly located in said reading station, said last mentioned means comprising at least one stationary opening through said card and at least one stationary locus of light blockage whereby said reading station is ineffective to take a reading unless light from one of said light generating means is received by a corresponding light sensing means and light is not received by a second light sensing means from a corresponding second light generating means, said logic card further including an adjustable readable code comprising means defining a moveable opening therein.

Claim 22

A logic card for use in a photo-optical conveyor code reading apparatus having a reading station including at least three light generating means and at least three light sensing means aligned respectively for Receipt of light from said light generating means, said logic card being moveable through said reading station for passage intermediate said light generating and sensing means and including means for inhibiting the operation of said reading station unless said card is properly located in said reading station, said last mentioned means comprising at least one stationary opening through said card and at least one stationary locus of light blockage whereby said reading station is ineffective to take a reading unless light from one of said light generating means is received by a corresponding light sensing means and light is not received by a second light sensing means from a corresponding second light generating means, said logic card further including an adjustable readable code comprising means defining a moveable opening therein.