Apparatus for reading encoded information on a carrier subject to non-uniform motion

Claim 2

Oscillation compensating means for an apparatus for reading machine-readable information encoded on a record element transported by a transport mechanism that subjects the coded record element to oscillations as it is transported, said apparatus comprising: guide path defining means for defining a guide path for the record element; motive means for moving the record element along the guide path; sensor means for sensing the information encoded on the record element and producing a signal corresponding thereto as the record element is moved along the guide path past the sensor means; detector means for detecting the forward and reverse motion of said record element and for providing corresponding output signals; signal means responsive to the output signals of said detector means for generating a signal that is directly proportional to the absolute forward motion of the record element; and processor means responsive to the information signal derived from the sensor means and said signal means for accurately decoding the information read from said record element.

Claim 3

The invention claimed in claim 1 wherein said detector means is a quadrature encoder.

Claim 4

Oscillation compensating means for an apparatus for reading machine-readable information encoded on a record element transported by a transport mechanism that subjects the coded record element to oscillations as it is transported, said apparatus comprising: guide path defining means for defining a guide path for the record element; motive means for moving the record element along the guide path; sensor means for sensing the information encoded on the record element and producing a signal corresponding thereto as the record element is moved along the guide path past the sensor means; first signal means for generating a first signal the periodicity of which is directly proportional to the distance that the record element has moved in a first direction; second signal means for generating a second signal the periodicity of which is directly proportional to the distance that the record element has moved in a second direction; third signal means responsive to said first and second signals for generating a third signal the periodicity of which is directly proportional to the absolute distance that the record element has moved in said first direction; and processor means responsive to the information signal derived from the sensor means and said third signal means for accurately decoding the information read from said record element.

Claim 5

Oscillation compensating means for an apparatus for reading machine-readable information encoded on a record element transported by a transport mechanism that subjects the coded record element to oscillations as it is transported, said apparatus comprising: guide path defining means for defining a guide path for the record element; motive means for moving the record element along the guide path; sensor means for sensing the information encoded on the record element and producing a signal corresponding thereto as the record element is moved along the guide path past the sensor means; first signal means for generating a first signal the periodicity of which is directly proportional to the distance that the record element has moved in a first direction; second signal means for generating a second signal the periodicity of which is directly proportional to the distance that the record element has moved in a second direction; third signal means responsive to said first and second signals for generating a third signal the periodicity of which is directly proportional to the absolute distance that the record element has moved in said first direction; and processor means responsive to the information signal derived from the sensor means and said third signal means for accurately decoding the information read from said record element.

Claim 6

Oscillation compensating means for an apparatus for reading machine-readable information encoded on a record element transported by a transport mechanism that subjects the coded record element to oscillations as it is transported, said apparatus comprising: guide path defining means for defining a guide path for the record element; motive means for moving the record element along the guide path; sensor means for sensing the information encoded on the record element and producing a signal corresponding thereto as the record element is moved along the guide path past the sensor means; first signal means for generating a series of pulses indicative of the record element moving in a first direction; second signal means for generating a second series of pulses indicative of the record element moving in a second direction; third signal means responsive to said first and second signal means for generating a series of pulses only when the record element is moving in the forward direction; and processor means responsive to the information signal derived from the sensor means and said third signal means for accurately decoding the information read from said record element.

Claim 7

Oscillation compensating means for an apparatus for reading machine-readable information encoded on a record element transported by a transport mechanism that subjects the coded record element to oscillations as it is transported, said apparatus comprising: guide path defining means for defining a guide path for the record element; motive means for moving the record element along the guide path; sensor means for sensing the information encoded on the record element and producing a signal corresponding thereto as the record element is moved along the guide path past the sensor means; first signal means for generating a series of pulses indicative of the record element moving in a first direction; second signal means for generating a second series of pulses indicative of the record element moving in a second direction; third signal means responsive to said first and second signal means for generating a series of pulses only when the record element is moving in the forward direction; and processor means responsive to the information signal derived from the sensor means and said third signal means for accurately decoding the information read from said record element.