WO1995016576A1

WO1995016576A1 - Machine readable code presentations

Info

Publication number: WO1995016576A1
Application number: PCT/NZ1994/000140
Authority: WO
Inventors: Grant Maurice Bayley
Original assignee: Whittington, Ruth
Priority date: 1993-12-13
Filing date: 1994-12-08
Publication date: 1995-06-22
Also published as: AU1205395A

Abstract

An article having a machine scannable surface having machine readable codes presented in at least one machine readable colour on a background of at least one machine contrastable or non-readable colour with the proviso that at least one of the codes and/or the background includes more than a monochromatic colour. Also having a method of entering data into a machine which comprises machine scanning such an article.

Description

"IVtACfflNE READABLE CODE PRESENTATIONS" TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to improvements in and/or relating to machine readable coding on products or packaging thereof. BACKGROUND ART

There has been a recent development towards the use of machine readable codes on retail or other produce or at least the packaging thereof. Such bar coding allows the code to be read by an appropriate scanning device (counter or other mounting or hand held) so that not only can the item or its type be identified but also pricing and other information and indeed even re-ordering information derive by computerised system. Currently bar codes are in the form of a block having a machine readable bar code in a monochromatic colour on a white or monochromatic background that is not machine readable or which is contrastable as far as the machine is concerned. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a method and a resultant display or use thereof whereby a machine readable code serves an additional function, i.e. to provide additional information and/or to provide a pleasing aesthetic effect or at least provide the public with a useful choice.

In a first aspect the invention consists in an article having a machine scannable surface having machine readable codes presented in at least one machine readable colour on a background of at least one machine contrastable or non-readable colour with the proviso that either the codes or the background includes more than a monochromatic colour.

In a second aspect the present invention consists in displaying on a surface to be scanned by a code reading apparatus (e.g. a bar code scanner) codes presented in at least one machine readable colour on a background of at least one machine contrastable or non-readable colour with the proviso that at least one of the code and the background includes more than a monochromatic colour.

As used herein a machine readable colour is a colour such as black, blue, green or dark brown which is recommended by way of example by NZPNA as being readable by an ICL Bar Code Reader when presented on a background colour such as a recommended white, yellow, orange or red.

Standard literature recommends the following for such a machine such as those currently being operated by K-Mart -

Bars: Black, blue, green, dark brown. Background: White, yellow, orange, red.

It is stated however that black on white provides the best contrast level although other colours may complement the packets design better.

The present invention departs from the recommendations of a monochromatic colour for the bar codes on a monochromatic background in that one or other and preferably both is multi chromatic.

In a further aspect the present invention consists in a method of use of such a display.

In yet a further aspect the present invention consists in packaging having such a display thereon.

Preferably the multi-chromatic background and/or multi-chromatic bar code projects information without dependence on the machine readable code, i.e. may include consumer information such as an encouragement to recycle or may provide an aesthetic presentation of a logo or the equivalent.

In another aspect the present invention consists in on a surface to be scanned by a code reading apparatus, (e.g. a bar code scanner) codes whether of the type having a monochromatic code and background or a multi-chromatic and/or background as hereto before described, at least one said code being of a differing height (or length) to the remainder.

In another aspect the present invention consists in a method of use of such codes. In yet a further aspect the present invention consists in packaging having such codes thereon. In yet another aspect the present invention comprises machine scanning a surface of an article having a machine readable code presented in at least one machine readable colour on a background of at least one machine contrastable or non readable colour with the proviso that at least one of the codes and the background includes more than one monochromatic colour. The invention consists in the foregoing and also envisages constructions of which the following gives examples. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

One preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which;

Figure 1 shows a bar code (representative of the machine readable codes that are available or one day might be available) whereby a discernable message is shown by using a variety of acceptable bar code and non bar code receptive colours and/or alternatively a picture could be depicted;

Figure 2 shows a bar code with a monochromatic background (but it could be multi- chromatic); while

Figure 2A shows how a multi-chromatic bar in a bar code such as that of Figure 2 can itself display information, e.g. by providing a contrast between brown and green; and Figures 3 through 5 are other variations of types of presentation that are appropriate.

Referring to Figure 1 by way of example, pieces of lettering of words can be provided between the bars in the non-readable colours, e.g. yellow, pink etc, while other areas could be of an other contrasting colour that is also not machine readable, e.g. white. To complement the same if required the form of the words can be enhanced by the use of multi-chrome presentations of the bar codes although as depicted in Figure 1 this is not shown, however it would be possible by the use of for example, brown or blue as contrasts for the bars to enhance the readability of the message depicted.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate how motifs such as those depicted in Figure 3 can be provided by such means and additionally how a variety of different backgrounds is depicted in Figure

If one considers for example the "New Zealand Made" logo in Figure 1 or any of the other visual displays on or in the bar code as being for example primarily of red or a colour capable of being filtered by for example, a red filter. It is apparent that the bar code presentation predominates when viewed through such a filter where the bar code is not of the same colour as the filter. This shows how it is possible with a variety of background colours to present a bar code which may or may not include more than one colour, each of which is machine readable.

Figure 3 it can be seen shows a form where it is possible to provide an extended length bar code which makes it possible to at least almost if not completely surround a product with packaging bearing a bar code and additional indicia.

While Figure 1 shows a bar code (representative of the machine readable codes that are available or one day might be available) whereby a discernible message and diagram can be depicted Figure 3 shows a variety of graphics that can be presented within a bar code and how the length of the bar code can be elongated to incorporate a variety of graphics in text. Figures 4 and 5 show various shapes that can be used to encompass any such multi chromatic bar code (the multiple colours being in at least one of the code itself or its background).

The present invention therefore extends to consist in an article of commerce whether itself marked with or packaged or labelled with a bar code or other machine readable code where there is an extensive expanse of such code such that the same code can be read in a number of different places and indeed different sides of the article, there being visually discernible messages or graphics (not machine readable in the same sense) interspersed and/or super imposed on etc. the code.

Claims

1. An article having a machine scannable surface having machine readable codes presented in at least one machine readable colour on a background of at least one machine contrastable or non-readable colour with the proviso that at least one of the codes and/or the background includes more than a monochromatic colour.

2. An article as claimed in claim 1 which is packaging or a label.

3. An article as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said codes and/or background is at least in part printed on said surface.

4. An article of any one of the preceding claims wherein said codes is a Bar Code.

5. An article of any one of the preceding claims wherein a machine readable colour(s) is or are selected from the group which includes black, blue, green and dark brown.

6. An article of any one of the preceding claims wherein said background colour(s) is or are selected from the group which includes white, yellow, orange and red.

7. An article of any one of the preceding claims wherein the multi-chromatic background and/or multi-chromatic codes provides a visual display of information in addition to the machine readable code, such visual display being for human eyes.

8. An article of any one of the preceding claims wherein said code(s) is a Bar Code and at least one element thereof is a different height or length to at least one other element thereof.

9. A method of entering data into a machine which comprises machine scanning a surface of an article having a machine readable code presented in at least one machine readable colour on a background of at least one machine contrastable or non readable colour with the proviso that at least one of the codes and the background includes more than one monochromatic colour.