CODE READING

A method for reading a chain (34) of code symbols, arranged in a ring form in the lower area of a transparent bottle (10), by recording at least the lower bottle area through the bottle neck by means of a camera (24) and simultaneously illuminating the lower bottle area from below is described. Using the camera (24), a snapshot of the lower bottle area with the entire code symbol chain (34) is made from inside the bottle at a relative speed of rotation of zero between camera (24), bottle (10) and source of illumination (32), and stored as a picture for later decoding of the code symbol chain. The code reading method is a very fast method because the fraction of the second in which the bottle (10) is in one line with the camera (24) and the source of illumination (32) is sufficient for reading the code. The recorded picture of the code symbol chain (34) is analysed in histogram technique by comparing it with a stored ring-shaped template subdivided into sectors.