摘要 |
A method to collect and group a plurality of scans for respective bar code symbols of a succession of spaced bar code symbols. The symbols are disposed on a continuous substrate moving past a scanner unit arranged to scan a plurality of the spaced symbols, one after the other. The method of the invention provides for the energizing and de-energizing of a scanner unit in order to scan the substrate in a controlled manner so as to ensure the scanner unit is operating and scanning when each respective bar code symbol, to be scanned, is within the field of view of the scanner unit. The detecting of the presence of a bar code symbol within the field of view of the scanner unit is realized by scanning the symbol and determining a valid decode. Once a valid decode is determined, a plurality of subsequent scans associated with the bar code symbol are collected and grouped, and further may be processed to determine at least one evaluation attribute for each scanned symbol. After a predefined temporal period has elapsed, or alternately, a predetermined number of scans has occurred (for a respective symbol), the scanning is stopped with the scanner unit de-energized in accordance with the controlled manner. The method is then repeated for a plurality of the bar code symbols disposed on the moving substrate.
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