Abstract: An identification code sheet includes of codes of merchandise, a character string or a document etc. The sheet can be read by a sensor. The identification code sheet including a representation area defined by both a X-axis and a Y-axis intersecting mutually either orthogonally or skewedly and sub-areas of identification code printed in are representation area. The said representation area is divided into sixteen or more sub-areas, in each of which an identification code of encoded indicia is recorded. With the coding and method much more informations relative to the conventional techniques may be handled and more particularly much more Kana-Kanzi, Arabic and Chinese letters etc. as well as numerical characters, symbols, and alphabets may be represented which can be easily read.

Abstract: A reading device for an integrated circuit card includes a slide movable in an insertion direction of the integrated circuit card between a rest and an operational position and is loaded by a spring in a direction opposite to the insertion direction. The slide is blocked in its rest position by a locking device switchable between a blocking position and first and second release positions. The locking device is loaded by a further spring in the direction of the blocking position when the integrated circuit card is not inserted. At the end of an insertion movement of an integrated circuit card past a read position into an adjacent over position, the locking device is switched into its first release position by the integrated circuit card, whereby the slide is moved from its rest position into its operational position. During movement of the slide, a contact carrier is moved into contact with contacts on the circuit card.

Abstract: A portable electronic card or token has a plurality of discrete electronic components mounted on a flexible substrate, the substrate and the components are encapsulated in a plastics material, and at least one respective high tensile member is associated with each component and disposed such that a region of the card or token encompassing the component is restrained from flexing. The flexing substrate forms resilient hinge portions between adjacent components.

Abstract: The scanner and scanning method of the present invention effect bar code scanning to determine the bar code data printed thereon by repeatedly sweeping a scanning beam in scan paths across the labels. The bar code labels bear bar codes of the type which include a primary code portion and which may also include an Add-On code portion. The method of the present invention includes the steps of sweeping a scanning beam across the label until the beam sweeps the entire primary code portion in a first scanning pass along a first scan path; immediately sweeping the scanning beam across the label in additional scanning passes along additional scan paths adjacent and parallel to the first scan path; and, if the beam sweeps the entire primary code portion in the additional scanning passes, and, if an Add-On code portion is not scanned in part during either the first or additional scanning passes, then the data scanned during the first and additional scanning passes is accepted as valid scan data.

Abstract: The magnetic ink medium includes a plurality of magnetic regions which have diversifiable magnetic intensity and are mutually separated by spaces. At least one first part of the regions has a magnetic coercivity which differs from the remaining regions of the plurality of regions, in order to obtain at least two different readouts of the same plurality of regions upon applying different magnetic fields for orientating the plurality of regions.

Abstract: A composite card reader (11) used for IC cards, magnetic cards and the like to which the card is manually inserted and extracted is disclosed. The composite type card reader (11) has a shutter lever (28) for opening and closing a card inlet (13), a locking mechanism for locking the card by closing the shutter lever (28), and a lock releasing mechanism for releasing the lock by opening the shutter lever (28). A shutter closing lever (32) included in the locking mechanism and a shutter opening lever (30) included in the lock releasing mechanism can be alternately engaged with a roller (38) included in a link mechanism (29) coupled to the shutter lever (28). In order to maintain the lock released state by the lock releasing mechanism, a shutter linked lever (80) which is moved in relation to the shutter lever (28) has its position regulated by a slider (19) which slides in response to the insertion of the card (12).

Abstract: An optical scanner has focusing elements rotatable about a fixed axis. The elements are each mounted on a flexible radially extending suspension arm. A magnet is carried by each arm and passes a coil extending along the path of the elements. Current to the coil is controlled to induce movement of the arm in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation and effect focusing of the elements.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system for decoding data read from a bar code label which includes a filter for detecting the occurrence of a character in the data generated by an optical scanner in reading the bar code label, a first processor for detecting whether the character is valid or a suspect character which may be a valid or a non-valid character and a second processor means for processing the suspect characters to determine if they are valid for use in detecting the numerical characters in the data.

Abstract: An optical disk structure for an erasable optical disk for use with an erasable optical disk drive using electron trapping optical memory media is disclosed in which several distinct layers in addition to the electron trapping optical memory media are utilized in order to minimize light scatter between adjacent tracks on the disk and to carry permanent format and guidance information for use in acccomplishing the write, read and focusing and traking functions of the erasable optical disk drive with which the disk structures are utilized. The use of absorbing layers as part of the optical disk structure for attenuating reflections of light within the disk structure and eliminating the spreading of marks is also disclosed.

Abstract: An arrangement in pay machines of the kind which include a coin or banknote verifier, a first computer unit which functions to activate an intermediate cash till or the like which is intended to guide coins or banknotes to a final cash till or to a coin cup from which the coins or banknotes can be recovered, and which also functions, subsequent to payment having been accepted, to activate devices for delivering the goods or the service for which payment has been made.

Abstract: In an inserter system, an apparatus for bar code scanning includes a scanner, a travel bar attached to a frame of an inserter, and adjustable brackets for slidably fastening said scanner to the travel bar. The travel bar is positioned wherein said scanner is moveable transverse to a paper path travelled by a sheet having a bar code symbol thereon. The apparatus further includes a plate attached to the adjustable brackets, and nylon and hook type fasteners for fastening the scanner to the plate. A transparent medium deck is positioned between the scanner and the paper path. The transparent medium deck is resistive to abrasion and has optical characteristics which would allow scanning by the scanner through the transparent medium deck.

Abstract: A portable bar code scanner includes a hood member having one end secured to the scanning head portion of the scanner. The other end of the hood member has a receding edge portion for help in supporting the scanner when positioned on a supporting surface.

Abstract: An optically encoded information bearing label containing a two dimensional array of data cells includes a finder pattern comprising a plurality of spots arranged in a predetermined geometric pattern substantially analogous to the predetermined geometric pattern of said two dimensional array of data cells. The finder pattern is detected by first scanning the image area to detect spots. The locations of detected spots are compared to the known geometry of the finder pattern in order to provide for rapid and reliable finding of the finder pattern and the information bearing label. Additionally, the detected finder pattern spots provide information for decoding the two dimensional data array in order to compensate for label magnification, tilt and other distortions.

Abstract: A disc-record player including a device for inscribing and/or reading information on a disc, a loading device for loading a disc into the player, and a disc-pressure device. The loading device includes a frame, a sub-frame and a drawer which is movable in inward and outward directions and has a supporting surface for a disc. The sub-frame carries a turntable, and is movable relative to the frame between rest and operating positions. Elements of a first type having inclined guide surfaces, and elements of a second type engaging the first type elements, guide movement of the sub-frame between the rest and operating positions. Elements of one of these types are arranged on the frame, and the elements of the other type are arranged on the sub-frame. Coupling elements couple the drawer to the sub-frame during a portion of the drawer movement in the inward and outward direction, for moving the sub-frame between its rest and operating positions.

Abstract: Transfer of articles of different types between article handling devices within the apparatus and the user outside of it is effected through a limited number of access ports by an article gripping and transporting robot that undergoes multi-directional translational movement and that is capable of gripping articles of different kinds, sizes and shapes. The robot may be and preferably is also used to perform maintenance services upon article handling devices of the apparatus.

Abstract: An optical scanner has focusing elements rotatable about a fixed axis. The elements are each mounted on a flexible radially extending suspension arm. A magnet is carried by each arm and passes a coil extending along the path of the elements. Current to the coil is controlled to induce movement of the arm in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation and effect focusing of the elements.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor unit includes an elongated nonmagnetic sensor case, magnets, magnetic sensors, and positioning portions. The sensor case has a plurality of sensor housing recesses formed in a row in its upper surface in its longitudinal direction, and magnet housing recesses formed in a row in its lower surface at positions respectively corresponding to the sensor housing recesses. At least the upper surface of the sensor case is covered with a nonmagnetic cover. The magnets are respectively housed in the magnet housing recesses of the sensor case. The magnetic sensors are respectively housed in the sensor housing recesses of the sensor case and have magnetoelectric transducers magnetically biased by the magnets. The positioning portions are respectively formed in the sensor housing recesses of the sensor case and respectively position the magnetic sensors in a longitudinal direction thereof and a direction perpendicular thereto.

Abstract: A wand type bar code reader has a semiconductor laser which emits a visible laser beam in order to read bar code information of an object based on scanning of the visible laser beam and a control and drive circuit which controls the semiconductor laser, whereby the semiconductor laser is automatically repeated ON and OFF at predetermined time intervals.

Abstract: A reading device includes an inlet port for a boarding pass, a reading section for reading data recorded on part of the boarding pass, and a feeding section for transporting a boarding pass from the inlet port to the reading section. The reading device further includes a rotating section for holding a boarding pass fed thereto and rotating together with the boarding pass, and a control circuit for checking the orientation of the boarding pass inserted into the inlet port, and instructing the feeding section to temporarily feed the boarding pass to the rotating section and instructing said rotating section to turn over the boarding pass when it is detected that the boarding pass has been inserted in a particular incorrect orientation.

Abstract: A bar code reader system for reading bar code labels with highly specular spaces and bars with low contrast. The bar code label is illuminated with radiation polarized in a first direction. The radiation polarized in a first direction reflected from the bar code label is received and blocked by means of cross polarization. This blocked radiation is representative of the spaces and other radiation passing through unblocked is representative of the bars. The resulting radiation pattern representative of the bars and spaces is consequently inverted from its initial state into a secondary state. The radiation image passed by the block is detected in order to generate a signal representative of the bars and spaces. The strength of the signal representing the spaces is substantially diminished in intensity. The widths of the areas representing the bars and spaces is determined, and the widths representing the bars and spaces are interpreted to obtain the information of the bar code.