Bar code recognition method and system for paper handling equipment
View Patent ↗A method and system for reading various codes, such as codes imprinted on an item, includes a first and a second code reader that each scan the code on the item to read the code. The data obtained by the first and the second code reader is merged to reconstruct the code on said item. The position of the code readers may be adjusted such that the maximum reading efficiency of said code by each code reader occurs at different points of the scanned code. The method and system may be employed with different types of codes including various forms of bar codes.
1. In a paper handling system a method for reading a bar code on a mail piece, wherein data in said bar code is representative of address information on said mail piece, the method comprising the steps of:
transporting said mail piece such that said bar code on said mail piece moves past a first and a second bar code reader;
said first and said second bar code reader each scanning said bar code on said mail piece to read said bar code; and,
merging data obtained by said first and said second bar code reader to reconstruct said bar code on said mail piece; and
employing said data obtained by said first and said second bar code reader to cause a camera to image a specific portion of said address information on said mail piece that represents bar code data not recovered by said first and said second bar code reader, such that merging said data obtained by said first and said second bar code reader with imaging data obtained from said mail piece address information reconstructs said bar code on said mail piece.
2. A method for reading bar codes as defined in claim 1 further including the step of positioning said first and said second bar code reader such that the maximum reading efficiency of said bar code on said mail piece by said first and said second bar code reader occurs at different points of said mail piece bar code for said first and said second bar code reader as said mail piece bar code is scanned by said first and said second bar code reader to facilitate the merging the data obtained by said first and said second bar code reader to reconstruct said bar code on said mail piece.
3. A method for reading bar codes as defined in claim 1 further including the step of positioning said first and said second bar code reader to maximize the reading degradation of said bar code on said mail piece by said first and said second bar code reader at different points for said first and said second bar code reader as said mail piece bar code is scanned by said first and said second bar code reader to facilitate the merging the data obtained by said first and said second bar code reader to reconstruct said bar code on said mail piece.
4. A method for reading bar codes as defined in claim 1 further including the step of positioning said first and said second bar code reader so that beat frequency degradation in reading said moving mail piece bar code occurs at a different point of said moving mail piece bar code in scanning said moving bar code by said first and said second bar code reader.
5. A method for reading bar codes as defined in claim 1 wherein said bar code is a POSTNET bar code.
6. A method for reading bar codes as defined in claim 1 wherein said bar code is a PLANET bar code.
7. A method for reading bar codes as defined in claim 1 wherein said bar code is a variable width bar code.
8. A method for reading bar codes as defined in claim 1 wherein said bar code is a tracking and tracing type bar code.
9. A method for reading bar codes as defined in claim 1 wherein said bar code is a two dimensional bar code.
10. A method for reading bar codes as defined in claim 1 wherein said bar code is a fluorescent bar code.
11. A method for reading bar codes as defined in claim 1 wherein said bar code is magnetic type bar code.
12. A method for reading bar codes as defined in claim 1 wherein plural codes are on said mail piece, the method further comprising the steps of:
said first and said second bar code reader each scanning each of said plural codes on said mail piece to read said codes; and,
merging the data obtained by said first and said second bar code reader to reconstruct each of said plural codes on said mail piece.
13. A method for reading bar codes as defined in claim 1 wherein said plural codes are a POSTNET bar code and a PLANET bar code.
14. In a sorting system having a plurality of sortation bins controlled by a sort control computer, a method for reading a POSTNET bar code on a mail piece, wherein data in said POSTNET bar code is representative of address information on said mail piece, the method comprising the steps of:
transporting said mail piece such that said POSTNET bar code on said mail piece moves past a first and a second bar code reader;
said first and said second bar code reader each scanning said POSTNET bar code on said mail piece to read said bar code;
merging data obtained by said first and said second bar code reader to reconstruct said POSTNET bar code on said mail piece;
employing said data obtained by said first and said second bar code reader to cause a camera to image a specific portion of said address information on said mail piece that represents POSTNET bar code data not recovered by said first and said second bar code reader, such that merging said data obtained by said first and said second bar code reader with imaging data obtained from said mail piece address information reconstructs said POSTNET bar code on said mail piece; and
said sort control computer employing said reconstructed POSTNET bar code to cause said mail piece to be sorted into a specific one of said plurality of sortation bins.
15. A method for reading a POSTNET bar code as defined in claim 14 wherein at least one of said first bar code reader and said second bar code reader is adjusted to obtain complementary bar code scanning of said mail piece bar code to facilitate reconstruction of said POSTNET bar code on said mail piece.
16. A method for reading a POSTNET bar code as defined in claim 14 wherein at least one of said first bar code reader and said second bar code reader is adjusted to obtain complementary bar code scanning of said mail piece bar code to facilitate reconstruction of said POSTNET bar code on said mail piece by adjusting the spacing between the bar code readers.
17. A method for reading a POSTNET bar code as defined in claim 14 wherein at least one of said first bar code reader and said second bar code reader is adjusted to obtain complementary bar code scanning of said mail piece bar code to facilitate reconstruction of said POSTNET bar code on said mail piece by adjusting the skew orientations of the bar code readers with respect to each other.
18. A method for reading a POSTNET bar code as defined in claim 14 , said mail piece further including a PLANET bar code, the method further comprising the steps of:said first and said second bar code reader each scanning each of said POSTNET bar code and said PLANET bar code on said mail piece to read said codes; and,
merging the data obtained by said first and said second bar code reader to reconstruct each of said POSTNET bar code and PLANET bar code on said mail piece.
19. A paper handling system for mail pieces each having a bar code imprinted thereon, wherein data in said bar code is representative of address information on said mail piece, the system comprising:
a computer and a mail piece transport;
a first bar code reader and a second bar code reader, said first and said second bar code reader each connected to said computer, and mounted on said mail piece transport;
said transport moving mail pieces past said first and said second bar code reader, each reader operable to scan transported mail pieces to obtain bar code data for each mail piece bar code and communicate obtained bar code data to said computer;
said computer operable to merge the data obtained by said first and said second bar code reader to reconstruct the bar code on a mail piece; and
a camera imaging, in response to said data obtained by said first and said second bar code reader, a specific portion of said address information on said mail piece that represents bar code data not recovered by said first and said second bar code reader, such that merging said data obtained by said first and said second bar code reader with imaging data obtained from said mail piece address information reconstructs said bar code on said mail piece.
20. A paper handling system for mail pieces as defined in claim 19 wherein said first and said second bar code reader are mounted on said transport such that the distance between said bar code readers is adjustable.
21. A paper handling system for mail pieces as defined in claim 19 wherein said first and said second bar code reader are mounted on said transport such that the angular orientation between said bar code readers is adjustable.