Abstract: The speed of in-plant vehicles such as forklift trucks and the like is monitored to provide for the lighting of a warning light where a first speed threshold is reached, the sounding of a horn when a second speed is reached, and for the disabling of the vehicle on the sustaining of the higher speed for a predetermined interval of time. This speed monitoring approach generates a signal having an intermittent monitor output corresponding with the speed of the vehicle and which exhibits a period of lessening duration in corresponding with increasing speeds. Timing of the occurrence of these signals is employed with an accumulator based logic to establish vehicle speed. To avoid apparatus reaction to noise based signals, a select number of occurrences of apparent speed excursions are required before the horn or lamp are activated. Remote supervisory resetting of the monitoring system following the occurrence of a latched warning output is provided through an IR based code transmitting and receiving arrangement.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are described for developing indentation defined characters formed within pixel matrices having a generally arcuate configuration. The row and column matrices which are formed by the method are characterized in having arcuate rows which are regularly spaced radially from a marker axis. The column components of the pixel matrices are regularly angularly spaced radii emanating from the same marking axis. A rotational marker head is provided carrying marker pin assemblies which are oriented at regular radial angular spacings and in progressively incrementing regular radial distances from the marker axis. As the marker head assembly is rotated, the marker pin assemblies are actuated to form the arcuate character string. The apparatus and method permits the marking of significant character string information on restricted surfaces such as the face of gears and the like.

Abstract: Method, apparatus, and system are described wherein dot matrix characters are formed by an array of ink spray nozzles within a marker head assembly upon the inside surface of a pipe or other curved surface. The marker head is moved by a traversing arrangement including a carriage in a manner wherein full character pixels are formed during movement of the marker head along locii parallel with the longitudinal axis of the pipe being marked. This achieves full messages marking with a minimized number of required marker head movements along the inside surface. An indexing mechanism engages the outer surface of the pipe to index it from one marking locus to a next. A translational mechanism moves the marker head traversing mechanism from off-line to on-line positions at the production path during the course of operation of the system.

Abstract: Apparatus for simultaneously forming one or more lines of multi-character messages on the surface of solid material which employs an array of marker pins which are moved by a carriage along a singular plane locus of movement defining a sequence of rows corresponding with a pixel matrix. The locus includes a retrace feature for each row or transverse movement which enhances the quality of character formation. An actuator assembly develops the locus of movement and, in turn, is driven by facing cam wheels which, in turn, are powered from an electric motor. A manifold which receives pneumatic pulses from arrays of conduits is coupled to the carriage and a marker head assembly, in turn, is removably coupled to the manifold. An array of solenoid actuated valves is coupled to the tubing arrays and to a pneumatic source which may be remotely positioned from the manifold.

Abstract: A linear array of solenoid actuated marker valve assemblies is contained in a housing configured as a manifold which carries marker fluid as well as nebulizing air supplies and a solvent distributing valve for use in clearing the air passages. All valve assemblies are accessible from the front surface of the device for ease of maintenance and are assembled in a manner assuring uniform and consistent valve stem travel advantageously eliminating the need for valve stem travel adjustment. The control system utilized with the valve assemblies provides both for an enhanced current input rate to the windings of the solenoid driven components, as well as an efficient and effective turn-off clamping procedure. This form of actuation of the solenoids achieves dynamically efficient and rapid turn-off and turn-on to the extent that the size of dots formed by the assembly can be provided having a broader range of diameters and these diameters can be adjusted remotely by a simple impedance variation.

Abstract: Fonts of characters of an alphabetic and numerical set thereof are described wherein each character of a set is formed from a dot-like pixel matrix and exhibits a predetermined constant and equal number of pixels. Any illegal alteration of the characters of the font set is avoided by forming the dot-like pixels defining a character in permanent fashion as by indentation in the surface of the article to be marked such that pixels cannot be erased, but only added. The pixels within the top and bottom three rows of each character of the font sets form a pattern unique to that character so that the identity of the character may be recovered if a portion of it is lost. A security encryption technique becomes available through the use of characters from two font formats.

Abstract: A marker is described which is utilized for marking surfaces which are fragile such as those of glass products just following molding procedures. A compact housing having a self-contained reservoir of marking fluid, a solenoid actuated nebulizing nozzle, and an air valve are employed with a self-contained circuit to nebulize a small quantity of marking fluid in a manner wherein the interval of expression of fluid from the nozzle is bracketed by a minimum interval of nebulizing air flow. As a result, only a short puff of nebulizing activity occurs which provides effective marking of the hot surface while avoiding any damage thereto.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming multi-character messages on the surface of solid materials which employs an array of marker pins moved by a carriage in a manner defining an undulating locus of movement. This locus traces the matrix with which character fonts are defined by pixels formed by the marker pins as discrete indentations. The carriage and head containing the marker pin are pivotally driven by a cam to provide vertical movement and by a Geneva mechanism to provide horizontal movement. Pixel positions for the matrices are established by a timing disk and control over the pins is provided employing an interrupt approach. Each marking pin within the head assembly is capable of marking more than one complete character for a given transverse of the head between home and away limits.

Abstract: An enhancement circuit for code readers of the variety employing a video input wherein transitions within each horizontal scan are detected and sampled for code correspondence. The enhancement develops a sequence of time spaced memory columns for each horizontal scan into which arithmetic values are submitted upon the occurrence of a transition and from which arithmetic values are decremented upon the failure of an occurrence of a transition. Thus, a statistical likelihood of occurrence of code component transitions is maintained in memory to electronically "stretch" the code components to enhance readability. Special cases are accommodated for for overrun and underrun conditions in the arithmetic adjustments which are carried out. A magnitude comparator functions to provide an output to the system representing an enhanced transition.

Abstract: A code reader and method which is capable of reading "black-on-black" codes such as bar codes which are molded in the surface of an object. The code is illuminated so as to provide light-to-shadow transitions which are read by an imaging device such as a video camera. The resultant video signal transitions representing light-to-dark transitions are differentiated and converted to a train of pulses which are submitted to a delay line sequencing network to develop a series of timing signals. These timing signals are utilized to operate a sampling network to derive 0-bit and 1-bit code information which is submitted serially to a serial-to-parallel shift register to permit code reading by a microcomputer function. Legality checks are carried out with respect to sampling and the developed work and quiescent zones are developed with respect to the start and stop of a given code sequence.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming multi-character messages on the surfaces of solid materials wherein an array of marker pins (88-94) are selectively pneumatically actuated from a corresponding array of solenoid actuated valves (102-104, 106). The marker pins are returned to their operational ready position by a select pneumatic input (96) which performs in conjunction with a pressure limiting valve (126). Continuous monitoring of marker pin performance is carried out by a transducer (166) operating in conjunction with a monitoring duct (168) and selectively located monitoring openings (168a-168g). The marker pins readily are accessed for maintenance in consequence of their positioning within a head structure (12) having access openings at one end (78) and which is retained in position by ball lock pins (64, 65).