[54] BAR CODE SCANNER GUIDE
[76] Inventor: William C. Stewart, 7616 Elliott Dr., Raleigh, N.C. 27613
[21] Appl. No.: 08/599,580
[22] Filed: Feb. 9, 1996
[51] Int. CI.6 G06K 13/06; G06K 7/10
[52] U.S. CI 235/483; 235/472
[58] Field of Search 235/472, 483
[56] References Cited
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
56-79368 6/1981 Japan 235/472
9116688 10/1991 WIPO 235/472
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin vol. 14 No. 8 Jan. 1972. IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin vol. 20 No. 10 Mar. 1978.
Primary Examiner—Donald T. Hajec
Assistant Examiner—Douglas X. Rodriguez
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Mills & Associates; Clifford F. Rey
[57] ABSTRACT
A scanner guide for attachment to a pre-existing bar code scanner wand to enable such a wand to read bar coded labels disposed on a cylindrical surface of a relatively small diameter such as containers used for the collection of medical specimens. The scanner guide includes a cylindrical pin having a mounting base for positioning the same in generally parallel relation to a center axis of the scanner wand at a predetermined distance therefrom based upon the diameter of the cylindrical containers whereon the bar coded labels are disposed. A bottom surface of the mounting base is shaped to conform to the contour of the wand whereon it is to be mounted. In such an arrangement the scanner wand is held at a proper disposition in relation to the bar coded label as it is passed in a longitudinal direction over the same on the cylindrical surface. Thus, the proper reading may be obtained with a single passing and the scanning guide eliminates the necessity of repeated attempts at reading the bar code when disposed on a cylindrical surface.
9 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
