SCANNING APPARATUS FOR THE DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF LUMINESCING CODE BARS ON ARTICLES

摘要

A scanning apparatus is provided to identify information encoded in a series of parallel code bars on articles moving on a conveyor. The code bars are each made up of one or more materials capable of emitting light of a distinct color when exposed to ultraviolet light. The bars are illuminated and scanned transversely by an optical system including a focussing lens and a moving belt having a slit. The moving belt is generally opaque to the emitted light from the code bars. The moving belt moves in the focal plane of the lens. A diffusing lens is located behind the belt to diffuse the image received through the slit over a group of photo detectors, each photo detector being optically filtered to respond to one of the distinct colors with an electrical output signal. The output signals of the detectors actuate logic circuitry to identify and/or sort the article.