Abstract: A container closure has a top panel wall, and an annular seal piece and an annular contact piece are integrally formed in an outer peripheral edge portion of an inner surface of the top panel wall. The annular seal piece is of such a shape as to be deflected radially outwardly upon contact with the cylindrical outer peripheral surface of the mouth-and-neck portion of a container. The annular contact piece is brought into contact with an annular boundary surface extending from an annular top surface to an annular outer peripheral surface of the mouth-and-neck portion of the container when viewed arcuately in a sectional view. An annular thin-walled region positioned radially inwardly of the annular seal piece and the annular contact piece are further formed in the outer peripheral edge portion of the inner surface of the top panel wall.

Abstract: A plastic bottle, wherein reinforcing portions are formed by a circular groove provided around the body of the bottle. The groove comprises, from the base upwards, a lower part to be connected to the body, a central part, and an upper part to be connected to the body. Each of the parts has a constant peripheral profile, the central part having a peripheral profile with simple curvature with a concave part facing outwards of the bottle, the upper and lower parts having each a profile with simple curvature and a concave part facing inwards of the bottle, and the upper and lower parts are each connected tangentially to the body and the central part. The invention is particularly applicable to bottles designed to be filled with carbonated or aerated drinks.

Abstract: A water bottle with an integrally molded handle in which the opening defined by the handle has a contour that corresponds substantially to the contours of the fingers of the hand when the bottle is held during use. The bottle can include a series of ribs and furrows approximately matching the contour of the insides of the fingers that allow the user to securely grip the bottle during use. In a second embodiment the integrally molded handle is attached by a fluted arrangement and can be extended from or collapsed to the sides of the bottle.

Abstract: A storage system for paint roller sleeves defining a core cavity. The storage system comprises a bucket member, a lid member, and a roller projection. The bucket member defines a bucket chamber and an upper edge, and paint is arranged within the bucket chamber. The lid member defines an edge wall adapted to engage the upper edge of the bucket member. The roller projection extends into the bucket chamber to support the paint roller sleeve within the bucket chamber. The roller projection defines at least one roller surface sized and dimensioned to engage the core cavity of the paint roller sleeve. The lid member seals the bucket chamber and thereby inhibits drying of the paint stored within the bucket chamber, including any paint on the roller sleeve suspended therein by the roller projection.

Abstract: A door device for opening and closing an opening of a collecting case includes a door body for opening and closing the opening. A first hinge and a second hinge are disposed at one side of the door body at a predetermined distance from each other. A first guide rail is disposed at an interior wall of the collecting case for a predetermined length for guiding the door body to slide into and out from the collecting case by guiding the first hinge to move inwardly and outwardly with respect to the collecting case when the door is opened and closed; and a second guide rail is disposed at an interior wall of the collecting case for a predetermined length for guiding the second hinge to simultaneously rotate when the door body slides into and out from the collecting case.

Abstract: A vending machine containing one or more racks that contain stacked products to be vended to customers. An array of capacitive switches or capacitive switches are aligned on one or more racks. The capacitive switches are each aligned with the height of a product to be vended. A controller coupled to the array of capacitive switches senses the presence or lack thereof of a product in the rack, and correlates this presence or absence to a height and/or inventory count of products in the racks. The vending machine, using the controller and communication electronics, may communicate the height and/or inventory count of products in the racks to a device located outside of the vending machine, such as a hand-held computing device and/or a management system, over a communication link.

Abstract: An improved product holding and dispensing a container for housing and dispensing products is provided. The container having a moveable product frame, wherein a consumer is enabled to move the frame, as product units are removed, to maintain the product in its packaged order. The container comprises: a base having a front wall, a back wall and side walls a moveable frame adapted to support the products inside the base. The frame includes a back wall and a member, wherein an area of the member extends through the base to allow the member to be grasped and pulled to cause the back wall of the frame to move away from the back wall of the base.

Abstract: Preferred embodiments of the invention have a nozzle assembly capable of controlling pressure of comestible fluid exiting the nozzle assembly, a refrigeration system in which refrigerant pressure and temperature is controllable to enable comestible fluid temperature control, heat exchangers cooling comestible fluid in the nozzles, an ultraviolet sterilization system for sterilizing interior and exterior system locations, and a hand held comestible fluid dispenser capable of cooling and selectively dispensing one of several comestible fluids. Fluid pressure and velocity can be reduced for improved dispensing by a valve movable through a number of closed positions and/or by a diffuser in the nozzle. A purging and priming valve assembly with or without associated sensors can be employed for manual or automatic system purging and priming and for fluid temperature control.

Abstract: The invention concerns a packaging tube for pasty product, comprising a tubular skirt extending along an axial direction and sealed by swaging at the end of the tube, and a head located at the other end of the tube, the head including a dispensing passage and a neck forming a radial extension of the dispensing passage, the neck being connected to the skirt by a connecting surface. The skirt and the connecting surface have, respectively, a circumference and a radius of curvature such that the ratio of the circumference over the radius is not more than 20.

Abstract: Dispenser cap applicable to the mouth of containers of liquid or creamy substances, the cap being sealingly closable and being provided with a security seal which is broken on dispensing the substance for the first time.

Abstract: A finger-operable pump cartridge is disposed within a closure for mounting the pump cartridge and closure to a container of fluent material. An actuator is mounted on the stem of the pump cartridge and has a skirt with a flange extending from, and continuously around, the skirt. A shroud is mounted around the closure and has a lip for engaging the actuator flange to inhibit removal of the actuator from the stem if the actuator is moved outwardly relative to the stem beyond a predetermined position. The actuator and closure may also include cooperating interengageable features accommodating rotation of the actuator relative to the closure between an actuatable position permitting reciprocation of the actuator and a releasably locked position preventing reciprocation of the actuator.

Abstract: A combination paint marking, hole forming and flag insertion device for surface marking and flagging the path of underground utilities.

Abstract: A multiple-dose bottle with dosage nozzle for liquids, particularly for pharmaceutical products, is deformable and has a nozzle (2) which comprises a valve (3) made of flexible material which can be coupled to the mouth (4) of the bottle (1) and has a plurality of passages (5) for the flow of the liquid and a cap (6) made of substantially rigid material which is fitted hermetically on the valve (3) and is provided, in an upward region, with a dispensing opening (7), compression of the bottle (1) producing the compression of the valve (3), the flow of the liquid between the valve (3) and the cap (6), and the release of the liquid through the dispensing opening (7).

Abstract: A dispenser for a liquid or viscous soap. The dispenser includes a disposable soap container having a discharge end and a feed pump for pumping a dose of soap out of the discharge end, a housing for receiving the soap container via a front aperture in the housing, and a cover for closing the front aperture of the housing. This cover is pivotally mounted about a horizontal swing axis extending across an upper edge in the front aperture of the housing. Furthermore, the cover is arranged to be able to swing between a first swing position in which the front aperture is clear, a second swing position in which the front aperture is covered and the cover is in contact with the pump, and at least a third swing position in which the cover has activated the feed pump. The dispenser has a simple, inexpensive design with no wearing parts that require maintenance.

Abstract: A valve assembly includes a valve housing defining a metering chamber and an elongated stem. The stem is axially movable with respect to the valve housing for dispensing liquid and is rotatable for adjusting the length of the stroke of a piston to thereby select the volume of liquid dispensed with each actuation of the stem. A sliding float member is fitted around the stem within the chamber and is axially slidable with respect to the stem but is locked for rotation with the stem. The lower surface of the sliding float abuts, and floats above the upper surface of the piston, and the lower end of the stem is rotatable within the piston. A spring extends between a prong on the stem and the sliding float for urging the stem axially outward of the container and for urging the piston in a direction which maximizes the volume of the metering chamber such that the spring rotates with the stem and the stem rotates free of the piston.

Abstract: A manual pump dispenser which includes a reciprocable pump piston has a discharge valve snap-fitted to the pump body for the outletting of the liquid product from the pump chamber, the discharge valve being formed of an elastomer material and comprising a conically-shaped valve element at one end sloping outwardly toward the discharge passage, the valve having a non-reentrant element at its opposite end for snap fit engagement with a transverse support web within the pump body through a coaxial opening thereof, the conically-shaped valve element seating against a circular valve seat having a complementary taper to that of the valve element.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a beverage, such as beer or soft drinks. The apparatus includes a container for storing the beverage, a gas source for supplying the container with a propellant under positive pressure, and a riser pipe for leading the beverage out of the container under the action of the positive pressure. The riser pipe has an open, first end immersed in the beverage and an opposite, second end fluid-connected to a faucet for dispensing the beverage. The gas source is connected to the interior of the container via a gas conduit, and the fluid-connection includes a fluid conduit arranged to offer a considerable resistance against the flow of the beverage during drawing. The apparatus according to the invention has a simple and inexpensive construction and is easy and quick to operate. By activating the faucet the drawing process takes place in a self-regulating manner with a preselected degree of foaming.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pack comprising a storage compartment (1) and a dispensing compartment (2), the dispensing compartment (2) comprising a metering space (6) and an outlet space (13), in which there is an outlet opening (4), there being between the storage compartment (1) and the dispensing compartment (2) a dividing wall (3) that, in an area (12) of the dividing wall (3) that—compared with other areas of the dividing wall (3)—is at the greatest distance from the pack base (7), is penetrated by a connecting piece (5), which projects into the dispensing compartment (2) and ends flush on the side of the storage compartment (1) and through which the contents can pass from the storage compartment (1) into the dispensing compartment (2), that end of the connecting piece (5) which faces the dispensing compartment (2) sloping in the direction of the metering space (6).

Abstract: A dip tube of variable length which can be connected to a valve or pump and be inserted through an opening in the top end of a container to accommodate full extraction of liquid contents from containers of varying height. The variable length of the dip tube is accomplished by making the dip tube in two sections, the shorter section of a flexible plastics material and comprising a flexible bellows portion that contracts and extends in length while over the lower end of the longer section, in a freely moving but directionally guided manner, so that the flexible bellows cannot bend excessively. The bellows portion allows the length of the dip tube to vary so that its lower end contacts the bottom of the container. It is adapted to be used in returnable circuit containers for dangerous goods, fitted with dry-break or dripless valves.

Abstract: A lifting and closing device for a beverage bottle comprises a stopper made of elastic material, a clamping mechanism which clamps the stopper closed in the neutral position, a handle, and a trigger integrated into the handle for actuating the clamping mechanism for the temporary opening of the stopper.

Abstract: A generally wedge-shaped mud box with a bottom wall has a mud outlet orifice through which mud will flow. An edge of the wedge-shaped box has a rectangularly shaped cover rotatably attached so as to be rotatable between an filling position and an operating position. A releasable biasing structure biases the cover toward a bottom wall of the box so as to force mud contained in the box toward the outlet orifice. A mud gun, including a hollow body with an inlet and an outlet orifice, is releasable attached to the outlet orifice of the box. When air under pressure is introduced into an air inlet of the gun, mud entering through the inlet orifice is forced out through the outlet orifice of the gun. A nozzle chassis is affixed to the gun with a plurality of different nozzles movably attached thereto, and each nozzle is movable between a stored and an aligned position so that only one nozzle of the plurality of nozzles is aligned with the outlet orifice of the gun at a time.

Abstract: An extendable shoehorn device for permitting a user to put a shoe on a foot without having to bend over. The extendable shoehorn device includes a handle assembly. An offset shoehorn member is mounted to an end of the handle assembly for permitting a user to more easily put a shoe on their foot.

Abstract: An article holder particularly for use with all-terrain vehicles and comprising bifurcated arms, with or without fins or other holding structures extending between the arms and a cushioning web between the arms at the junction of the arms to provide a cushion for an article to be held between the arms and to close the arms against an inserted article when the cushioning means is depressed and including a mounting base projecting from the junction of the arms and hooks on the outer sides of the arms to accommodate a resilient strap to be hooked over an inserted article.

Abstract: A bicycle carrier primarily designed for transporting an off-road bicycle by a motor vehicle is designed to fit onto the trailer hitch of the motor vehicle. A channel member is supported to a support member and a cross member that fits into the trailer hitch and an upstanding post with a plurality of holes for receiving a locking pin. A locking arm is slidably mounted on the vertical post and when the bicycle is guided onto the channel member the locking arm is positioned downwardly with sufficient force to arm the shocking system of the bicycle and preload the bicycle to the carrier.

Abstract: A vehicle equipment rack for being removably attached to a vehicle rear hitch includes a carrier having a generally question-mark shape. The carrier has a substantially-vertical rigid carrier post assembly with a rigid extension arm connected to the carrier post assembly extending first in a diagonal direction toward the rear of the vehicle and then outwardly away from the rear of the vehicle to an outer end portion of the extension arm where it is connected to an attachment assembly. In one embodiment there are multiple carriers, with the post assemble of each carrier being rigidly linked to a laterally-extending cross bar that has a common post assembly for rigidly linking the multiple carriers to the hitch member. The laterally-extending cross bar extends diagonal to the horizontal so that adjacent carriers are positioned at different levels.

Abstract: An improved concealed holster, for use by either right- or left-handed wearers, comprises a holster bracket worn at the abdomen and having a pair of laterally-spaced spacer flanges joined by an arcuate panel generally conforming to the curve of the body. A pistol seat protrudes inward from the arcuate panel for seating a pistol thereon within the confines of the flanges, panel and the user's body. The holster is intended to be worn under the trousers at the abdomen and the pistol is easily dislodged by pressing up on its barrel with one hand, and then quick-drawn with the other hand. The improved holster does not compromise between accessibility and full-concealment, permitting instant accessibility to facilitate a quick-draw. Both holster and pistol can be worn comfortably and securely over a prolong period of time. Moreover, the device can easily and economically be made using a variety of economical manufacturing processes (molding, metal stamping, etc.

Abstract: A carrying case for a portable two-way radio and designed to be attached to various points or straps on a Type V floatation vest used as a work vest by crew members on tug boats, tow boats and other inland or intra-coastal waterway vessels. The carrying case is comprised of a receptacle and strap. The receptacle is formed of a flexible material and has an open top and front, rear, bottom and two side surfaces. The strap is mounted longitudinally to the rear surface, and passes through a D-ring attached to the top edge of the front surface. The strap has fastening means on either end for securing the two ends together. The case is then attached to a work vest by passing the strap through an attachment point on the work vest above the case, then through another attachment point below the case. The ends of the strap are then tightened by the fastener means.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a camera in a stable position from an individual's torso comprising, a storage compartment which is defined by upper and lower walls, opposite side walls and front and rear walls, the rear wall further comprising a proximal attachment surface and a distal attachment surface; a waist band with first and second locking elements attached to the proximal attachment surface of the rear wall, a neck band attached to the proximal attachment surface of the rear wall, a mono-pod receptacle with a mono-pod receiving bore, and at least one adjustable attachment means for fixedly positioning a mono-pod insertably received within the receiving bore.

Abstract: A belt-attached accessory pocket for containing articles, such as a personal communication device, has a rectangular portion and is made from flexible fabric. It has front and rear surfaces, an open upper edge, and sealed lower, leading and trailing edges. A reinforcing panel of durable material, such as leather, encloses the leading edge and adjacent portions of the front and rear surfaces and resists damage due to abrasion. The panel preferably has a holster shape. The upper edge of the panel is substantially coextensive with the upper edge of the accessory pocket and includes a flap that releasably closes the open upper edge. The pocket may further include a separate, inner cell phone pocket affixed to the fabric. The pocket may also include a pair of leather thongs to be tied around the leg of the wearer.

Abstract: A tape dispenser for receiving a roll of tape and dispensing tape including a frame having a back end and a front end, a spool carried by the frame intermediate the back end and the front end, a retaining arm coupled to the back end of the frame and biased toward the spool for restraining the roll of tape. A flat feed is carried by the frame at the front end for receiving the tape and dispensing the tape in a flat configuration, and a corner feed is carried by the frame at the front end adjacent the flat feed, for receiving the tape and dispensing the tape in a folded configuration.

Abstract: A device for cleaving optical fibers is provided. The device includes a housing assembly having an opening therein for receiving an optical fiber to be cleaved, and housing bending and cutting members which are reciprocally moveable in a direction transversally and substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of an optical fiber inserted into and through the opening into the housing. The housing assembly optionally has a removeably connected receptacle for receiving the cut ends of a plurality of cleaved fibers.

Abstract: In a fastener driving tool having a novel depth of drive control is provided. The fastener driving tool includes a tool body having a cylinder with an axis, the cylinder enclosing a piston, wherein the piston is driven in a driving direction, a depth control probe, and a bumper associated with the depth control probe, wherein the bumper has a trailing surface. The depth control probe is movable relative to the tool body between an extended position and a retracted position, and the depth control probe creates a space having a predetermined length between a surface of a substrate and the trailing surface of the bumper. A surface of the piston hits the trailing surface of the bumper after the fastener has been driven to control the driving depth of a fastener.

Abstract: A staple gun includes an electro-magnetic valve received in a recess in the handle and an opening communicates with the main passage in the handle and the recess. The electro-magnetic valve has a shaft which movably seals the opening when the electro-magnetic valve is activated by pressing a button which is electrically connected to the electro-magnetic valve.

Abstract: A staple gun includes an electro-magnetic valve recevied in a recess in the handle and an opening communicates with the main passage in the handle and the recess. The electro-magnetic valve has a shaft which movably seals the opening. A sensor connected to a distal end of a nose of the staple gun, a circuit board, and the electro-magnetic valve are connection electrically. A button switch, a mold switch, an adjusting pulse switch and a battery set are connected to the circuit board so that the mold switch activates various independent circuits and controls a number of reciprocating movement of the shaft of the electro-magnetic valve.

Abstract: A combustion-powered nail gun includes a housing, a combustion chamber wall, and a blocking member. The combustion chamber wall is disposed within the housing. The combustion chamber wall has an inner surface that defines a combustion chamber and an outer surface that is separated from the inner surface of the housing by a space. The combustion chamber wall has an inlet in its upper end and an outlet in its lower end. The combustion chamber wall moves vertically within the housing between an open position wherein the inlet and the outlet are opened and a sealed position wherein the inlet and the outlet are closed. The blocking member is provided for preventing flow of air through the space between the inner surface of the housing and outer surface of the combustion chamber.

Abstract: The inner surface of a nozzle of a nail driver has a taper in the driving direction near the output nozzle thereof to direct a tip of the nail toward an axis of the nozzle when the tip of the nail contacts with the taper to always drive the nail into a board perpendicularly.

Abstract: A tacker for driving fasteners (11) into an object (14), which optionally consist of U-shaped staples or nails, has a driver (13) which in an ejecting motion ejects a fastener (11) and drives it into the object (14). Catches (19b) are arranged to prevent a nail (11) fed to an ejecting position from tilting to an inclined position which significantly deviates from the direction of ejecting/driving in. The catches (19b) are movable between a first position in which they extend into the path of the ejecting motion of the driver (13), and a second position in which they are moved away from this path against spring action. Each catch (19b) is formed don a tongue (19) which is punched in a plate (18) and bent to L shape, one L leg (19b) of the tongue extending perpendicular to the plane of the plate and forming the catch and the other L leg (19a) being positioned in the plane of the plate and forming a part which in a resiliently yielding manner supports the catch.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a full-thickness resection system comprising a flexible endoscope and a stapling mechanism, wherein the endoscope is slidably received through at least a portion of the stapling mechanism. The stapling mechanism includes an anvil and a stapling head mounted to the anvil so that the anvil and the stapling head are moveable with respect to one another. A position adjusting mechanism is provided for moving the anvil and the stapling head relative to one another. An integrated surgical retainer for use in the full thickness resectioning device is described. The integrated surgical staple retainer comprises a calibrating portion, a retaining portion, and a grasping portion. The calibrating portion defines a circular opening which has a diameter substantially equal to a diameter of a working channel of the full thickness resectioning device.

Abstract: A medicine delivery mechanism or fibrin injection mechanism for use in combination with an anastomosing and stapling attachment for an electromechanical device driver comprises a dispensing chamber with an elongated cylindrical cross section (although other shapes can be used) which is formed in the staple housing of the attachment in lieu of a staple port or staple ports, and which has a mouth forming a channel lined at its innermost edge perimeter with inward facing prongs or teeth. The dispensing chamber contains a sac filled with fibrin. A delivery or plunger driver travels within the dispensing chamber to press a sac of fibrin against the inward facing prongs, tearing the sac and releasing the fibrin to push the fibrin through the channel to the treatment site.

Abstract: Forming solder bumps each having a constant height by surely supplying onto each of electrode pads a solder ball corresponding to a predetermined volume while omitting Au plating performed on the electrode pads onto which the solder bumps are to be formed. For achieving the forming of the solder bumps, the adhesive film is formed instead of the Au plating, the adhesive film being used as an oxidation-preventing film and as film for temporarily fixing each of the solder balls, the solder balls being supplied by stencil mask or the vacuum adsorbing mask.

Abstract: A lower shell for a sealed compressor includes a shape with a plurality of intricate bends. In particular, u-shaped sections are stamped into a plainer sheet of material to form the lower shell. This stamping process can cause brittleness in the lower shell. Thus, after the stamping process, the lower shell is subjected to a heat-treating process to reduce the brittleness. After the heat-treating process a center shell is welded to the lower shell.

Abstract: A food container has a top and a bottom joined by sides walls. An interface between the top and the side walls is perforated to permit separation of the top from the side walls. The top and bottom being formed with fold lines, the fold lines adapted to permit the container to be collapsed to a first, substantially flat configuration and to be erected to a second erect configuration wherein the top, bottom and side walls define an interior. A tab is formed in the top, and the tab is arranged to be grasped and pulled to separate the top from the side walls for opening the container.

Abstract: There is provided a boarding pass processing unit that can enable identification of a person-to-board to be easily performed in short time to thereby enhance services to persons-to-board and keep security. The boarding pass processing unit prints a face image of a person-to-board on his/her boarding pass. Accordingly, By making the person-to-board show his/her boarding pass, it can be easily judged whether the person possessing the boarding pass 10 is the proper owner of the boarding pass.

Abstract: An automated check-cashing unit includes an input device configured to generate input signals in response to inputs from a customer, a storage device including a database of customer information, a check reader configured to receive and read a check to be processed, a cash dispenser, and an electronic processor. The processor is configured to receive the input signals from the input device, receive information about the check to be processed from the check reader, access the database of customer information to obtain data about the customer, and determine automatically whether to accept or reject the check based on the input signals, the received information about the check, and the data about the customer. Upon accepting the check, the processor signals the cash dispenser to dispense cash to the customer. The processor may be further configured to confirm the identity of the customer based on biometric information about the customer.

Abstract: The invention relates to the programming of integrated circuit cards. More particularly, the invention concerns systems and methods for integrated circuit card programming, as well as modules used for integrated circuit card programming. Each module includes a movable cassette mechanism having a plurality of card programming stations thereon. The use of multiple card programming stations permits simultaneous programming of a plurality of cards. Further, the use of a single cassette in the module permits the size of the module to be reduced significantly. A modular concept is more readily adaptable to customer needs and requirements. For instance, if a customer requires more card production than that provided by a single module, a second module that is identical to the first module can be connected to the first module so that the two modules working together provide two cassettes. Additional modules can be added to further increase card production capacity.

Abstract: A method for remote verification in which a first party at a first telephone confirms their identity to a second person at a second telephone. The fingerprint of the first person is read and compared to a stored fingerprint pattern. If the stored and sensor fingerprint patterns match, the first telephone transmits a signal to the second telephone which controls a display on the second telephone to display an image of the first person.

Abstract: The present invention concerns apparatus and methods for a family of electronic devices based on the concept of a Personalized Authenticated Controller (PAC). The PAC is able to recognize characteristics of an authorized person and allows only that person to rapidly communicate authenticated identification and requests to access, control and transact with many “smart” Instrumentalities designed with compatible communication capabilities. The PAC is conveniently combined with an electronic wristwatch and worn by its user. Personal Smart Instrumentalities, such as vehicles and firearms, will operate without difficulty for their owners but become worthless if stolen. Commercial Smart Instrumentalities, such as merchants and banks, can quickly communicate with the customer's PAC to establish positive personal identification and optionally charge purchases or transfer funds. Various security features are incorporated to ensure authentication of the customer and integrity of the transaction.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a characteristic of a product in a testing process. An information storage device stores information relating to the product. A writing mechanism is used for writing the information to the information storage device. A reading mechanism reads the information and stores information in a database. A testing system performs a test on the product to produce a test result. The test result is stored in the database so that the test result is associated with the information, whereafter the associated information and test result stored enable monitoring of the characteristic of the product.

Abstract: An optical reader includes targeting illuminators (e.g., LEDs) which generate a predetermined illumination pattern upon a target. The optical reader captures an image of the target and processes the captured image to determine whether the target is off-pitch or skewed, by analyzing the appearance and characteristics of the predetermined illumination pattern. The illumination pattern may consist of two identical triangles adjacently located but slightly separated so as to cause the pattern to be symmetrical when the target is at perfect alignment, but having shifting characteristics when the target is off-pitch or skewed. The optical reader may use the knowledge of pitch and skew to adjust the captured image. Triggerless operation of the optical reader is provided by placing the optical reader in a cradle and stand having a base with a known target printed on or affixed thereto, within the viewpath of the optical reader.

Abstract: A bar code data detecting section of a bar code reader scans a bar code twice or more and detects multiple pieces of bar code data, and a decoder decodes the bar code data, Then, a first judging section detects the overlapping part where first decoded data of the decoded in a first scanning trace and second decoded data in a second scanning trace overlap and judges whether or not the overlapping part is composed of a predetermined number of characters. If the overlapping part is composed of the predetermined number of characters, a second judging section judges whether or not the data in the overlapping part of the first decoded data is identical with that of the second decoded data. If the characters are the same, a fourth judging section judges whether or not the character just before the overlapping part of the first decoded data, the character just after the overlapping part of the second decoded data, and the characters constituting the overlapping part are all the same.