Magnetically coded identification system for items on prodn. line - assigns strip of magnetisable material to each product for writing on data read out at work stations

摘要

Each product carries a strip (3) of magnetisable material, e.g. plasto-ferrite, as it passes along the conveyor system between the various work stations. At each station, components are added, tests performed, etc., the nature of the operation being governed by the data carried on the label and the program loaded at the station. After each task has been completed, the data on the label can be altered. At each station, the label passes under a detector and read-write head unit (8). Each of the 18 magnetic fields (12, 13, 14, 15) on the label carries a binary value, i.e.is magnetised north-south or east-west. Two fields (12, 13) carry a positioning code which is detected by position detector read heads (11). The code determines which of the 8-bit magnetisable areas (14, 15) is positioned under the main detector array (10).