BAR CODES FOR CONTROLLING TEXTILE PROCESS CHANGES

A pilot scale range for the continuous pad dyeing and drying of textil es was automated using bar codes fixed to the surface of the fabric an d read by a scanning laser reader at the beginning of the production l ine. The signal generated by the reader was digitized, identified and transmitted to a micro-computer. A hardware interrupt technique was us ed so that the computer was free for other tasks when signals were not being received from the laser reader. The bar code identified the fab ric and color to be applied, the computer initiated all the required p rocess changes from information already in its database for that parti cular fabric and required color. A reflective strip mounted ahead of t he bar code label activated a photocell located above the laser reader . A signal from the photocell then instructed the reader to start scan ning the bar code label.