Jerry A Jenkins

US Patent:

47072512, Nov 17, 1987

Filed:

Jun 20, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/746866

Inventors:

Jerry V. Jenkins - Denver CO
Haskell F. Sloan - Denver CO
Robert L. Frenkel - Englewood CO
Albert Zielinski - Buffalo NY

Assignee:

Golden Aluminum Company - Lakewood CO

International Classification:

B07C 5344

US Classification:

209569

Abstract:

An apparatus is provided to rapidly and automatically scan the UPC, or bar code, from a series of containers and maintain talleys of the brands and types of containers processed. A guide is placed diagonally across the top of the conveyor to catch and direct any containers moving along the conveyor. Continued motion of the conveyor beneath the containers at an angle relative to the guide causes each container to rotate as it slides along the guide toward the edge of the conveyor. One or more UPC scanners are positioned to read the UPC from each container as it slides along the guide. Because of the rotation of the containers, the entire sidewall of each container is exposed to the scanners. Any containers that are not successfully read by the scanners are rejected for subsequent manual processing.