JPH03129584A - Bar code reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to read out a bar code at the time of detecting an article and to prevent the article from being misdetected by arranging the detecting direction of an article detecting sensor obliquely downward so that the detecting area of the article detecting sensor is superposed to the readable area of a scanning reading part. CONSTITUTION:The detecting direction of the article detecting sensor 13 is arranged obliquely downward so that the detecting area SA of the sensor 13 is superposed to the readable area RA of the scanning reading part 20. Since the detecting direction of the sensor 13 is directed obliquely downward, an operator or the like does not directly enter into the detecting area SA even when the bar code reader is vertically arranged, so that the generation of misdetection due to operator's movement or the like can be prevented. Since the area SA is superposed to the area RA, the generation of a trouble such that a bar code can not be detected even if an article is detected can be prevented. Consequently, article detection in the vertical type device can be surely executed and its reading performance is also improved.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Table of contents] Overview Industrial field of application Conventional technology (Figures 10 and 11) Means for solving the problem to be solved by the invention (Figure 1) Working examples (a) Description of one embodiment (Figs. 1 to 8) Explanation of another embodiment (Fig. 9) (C) Description of another embodiment Effects of the invention [Summary] Barcode symbols are Regarding a barcode reading device that scans and receives reflected light from a barcode symbol, the purpose is to enable barcode reading by detecting an article and to prevent false detection of the article, and includes a reading window;
A scanning reading unit that emits a scanning pattern for scanning a barcode symbol of an article from the reading window, receives reflected light from the barcode symbol with a light receiving sensor, and reads the barcode symbol, and is provided above the reading window. In a barcode reading device having an article detection sensor that detects an article, the detection direction of the article detection sensor is set diagonally downward so that the detection range of the article detection sensor overlaps the readable range of the scanning reader. placed towards.

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a barcode reading device that optically scans a barcode symbol and receives reflected light from the barcode symbol.

POS systems (point-of-sale systems) have been introduced in department stores, supermarkets, etc. for the purpose of streamlining product management and checkout operations.

In such systems, in order to automate product input, barcodes are attached to products and the barcodes are read by a barcode reading device.

Barcode reading devices include stationary devices that emit a plurality of scanning patterns and handheld devices that emit a single scanning beam.

Generally, large stores such as supermarkets use stationary devices, but small stores use small handheld devices because the devices are large and require a large installation space.

However, with a handheld device, the device must be held in the hand during scanning, and there is only one scanning beam, so the operability is not as good as that of a stationary device.

For this reason, there is a demand for a stationary device that is vertically installed, requires a small installation space, is less likely to malfunction, and has good reading performance.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 1O and FIG. 11 are explanatory diagrams of the prior art.

As shown in FIGS. 1O and 11, the barcode reading device generates a scanning pattern for scanning barcode symbols on articles, receives reflected light from the barcode symbols, and performs scanning scanning for reading the barcode symbols. 20, and a reading window 1 through which the scanning pattern is emitted and reflected light is incident.
2, and an article detection sensor 13 provided above the reading window 12 to detect an article.

The article detection sensor 13 detects an article, and the scanning reading section 20
This is to start generation and reading of a scanning pattern at the same time, and compared to a system in which the scanning reading unit 20 constantly generates and reads scanning patterns, the life of the laser light source is longer, the efficiency is higher, and malfunctions are prevented. few.

In the case of the vertical type, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the bar code reading device is placed vertically on a desk or the like to save space.

Conventionally, in such @1 stand-alone type, Figs. 10 and 11
As shown in the figure, the detection direction of the article detection sensor 13 was arranged perpendicular to the reading window 12.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the conventional technology, the article detection range SA of the article detection sensor 13 is as shown in the shaded area in the figure, and there is a problem that the operating staff, etc. are directly irradiated, and there is a high possibility of false detection due to the movement of the store staff, etc. .

Also, as shown in FIG. 10, the reading range RA of the scanning reading section 20
There is no problem if the scanning pattern is perpendicular to the reading window 12 and overlaps with the article detection range SA, but if the scanning pattern is emitted diagonally and the reading range RA is set as shown in the figure, as shown in FIG. Even if there is no overlap between RA and the article detection range SA and the article detection sensor 13 detects an article,
There was a problem in that the barcode could not be read.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a barcode reading device that can read a barcode by detecting an article and can prevent false detection of an article.

[Means to solve the problem] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention includes a reading window 12, a scanning pattern for scanning a barcode symbol on an article is emitted from the reading window 12, and reflected light from the barcode symbol is received by a light receiving sensor lO. , a barcode reading device having a scanning reading unit 20 for reading barcode symbols, and an article detection sensor 13 provided above the reading window 12 for detecting articles, the detection range SA of the article detection sensor 13 is as follows: The object detection sensor 13 is arranged so that the detection direction of the article detection sensor 13 is directed diagonally downward so as to overlap the readable range RA of the scanning reading section 20.

[Effect]

In the present invention, since the detection direction of the article detection sensor 13 is directed diagonally downward, even when placed vertically, the operator etc. does not directly enter the detection range, preventing false detection due to movement of the operator etc. can.

Furthermore, since the article detection range SA overlaps the reading range RA, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the barcode cannot be read even if an article is detected.

Therefore, in a vertically installed device, article detection becomes accurate and reading performance is improved.

〔Example〕

(a) Description of one embodiment FIG. 2 is a side view of one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the lower stage of one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a front view of one embodiment of the present invention.

First, the scanning reading section 20 will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the lower part of the casing 11, there is a laser light source l that emits a laser beam, a focus lens 2 that determines the focal length of the laser beam, and a direction of the laser beam that has passed through the focus lens 2 at a 90° angle. First reflective mirror 3 to be changed
and the direction of the laser beam from the first reflecting mirror 3 is set at 90°.
A second reflecting mirror 4 for changing the laser beam, a lower reflecting portion 6a of the polygon mirror 6 for changing the laser light from the second reflecting mirror 4 upward, and a polygon motor 7 for rotating the polygon mirror 6 are arranged.

Further, on the right side of the reflection mirror 4, a condenser lens 9 that condenses the reflected light from the polygon mirror 6 and a light receiving sensor 10 that receives the return light from the condenser lens 9 are provided.

On the other hand, in the upper part of the casing 11, an upper reflecting part 6b of the polygon mirror 6 and a fourth reflecting ξ mirror 8 are provided.

To explain the operation of this embodiment, a laser beam emitted from a laser light source 1 passes through a focus lens 2, is guided to a first reflection mirror 3, a second reflection mirror 4, and is guided to a drum-shaped polygon mirror 6. This corresponds to the lower reflecting section 6a.

The laser beam that hits the lower reflecting section 6a of the drum-shaped polygon mirror 6 is guided to the upper reflecting section 6b, is reflected, becomes a scanning beam, heads toward the fourth reflecting mirror 8, is reflected, and is emitted from the reading window 12 into a bar. The code symbol BS is emitted.

After being emitted, the laser beam reflected from the barcode symbol BS enters the reading window 12, returns to the fourth reflection mirror 8, the upper reflection part 6b of the drum-shaped polygon mirror 6, and the lower reflection part 6a in this order, and is condensed. The light is focused by the lens 9 and sent to the light receiving sensor l.
0 and converted into an electrical signal.

On the other hand, an article detection window 14 is provided above the reading window 12 as shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, an article detection sensor 13 is provided.

The article detection sensor 13 consists of a light emitting part and a light receiving part.
As shown in the figure, when placed vertically, it is positioned diagonally downward.

For this reason, as shown in FIG.
As shown by diagonal lines in the figure, the detection area SA of No. 3 extends diagonally downward of the vertical device, and does not detect an operator or the like located in front of the N device.

Furthermore, since the detection area SA overlaps with the reading range RA by the scanning reader 20, when the article detection sensor 13 detects an article within the detection area SA, the barcode of the article is always within the reading range RA. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the barcode is not within the reading range RA even if an article is detected.

Next, the scanning pattern of the scanning reading section 20 will be explained.

The scanning pattern is determined by the drum-shaped polygon mirror 6.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the drum-shaped polygon mirror, FIG. 6 is a constituent country of the drum-shaped polygon mirror, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the scanning pattern of the drum-shaped polygon mirror.

In addition, Fig. 6 (A) is a view taken from the entrance direction of Fig. 5, and Fig. 6 (B
) is a front view of FIG.

The drum-shaped polygon mirror 6 has an upper reflection section 6 as shown in FIG.
b and the lower reflecting part 6a, and the re-reflecting parts 6b and 6a have an intersection angle θ2 as shown in the incoming direction arrow view of FIG. 6(A).
As shown in the front view of FIG. 6(B), they intersect at an angle of inclination θ1.

The scanning pattern changes depending on the crossing angle θ2 and the inclination angle θl.

When the crossing angle θ2 is changed, the scanning patterns Sll to S14 are shifted in parallel according to the crossing angle θ2, as shown in FIG. 7(A).

Also, when the inclination angle θ1 is changed, as shown in FIG. 7(B),
Depending on the inclination angle θ1, the inclinations (directions) of the scanning patterns St+ to Sit differ with respect to one point.

Furthermore, when both the intersection angle θ and the inclination angle θl are changed, as shown in FIG. Draw patterns S to S34.

That is, if the intersection angle θ2 and the inclination angle θ1 between the upper reflecting portion 6b and the lower reflecting portion 6a of the polygon mirror 6 in FIG. 5 are changed on each surrounding surface, a variety of shapes as shown in FIG. It is possible to draw a scanning pattern according to the direction of the barcode.
This increases the degree of freedom in reading and is effective for improving operability.

In addition, in this embodiment, the emission part (laser light source 1, focus lens 2, reflection
The light receiving sensor 10) is arranged in the lower stage, the scanning pattern forming section (polygon mirror 6, reflection mirror 8) is arranged in the upper stage,
Since the upper and lower optical paths are connected by the lower reflector 6a of the polygon mirror 6, the entire upper stage can be used as a scanning pattern forming space, the apparatus can be made smaller, and the condenser lens 9 can be brought closer to the polygon mirror 6. , the condenser lens 9 can be made smaller and thinner.

FIG. 8 is a detailed explanatory diagram of the present invention.

The barcode reading device according to the present invention can realize scanning patterns in many different directions with a small and thin structure, so as shown in FIG. The barcode BS of the product As held in the hand can be read using the scanning pattern S.

Therefore, the exclusive occupation of the reading device RD is small, and it can be introduced even in small-sized stores.

In this case, since the article detection sensor 13 is directed diagonally downward, erroneous detection due to movement of the operator in front of the reading device RD can be prevented.

(b) Description of other embodiments FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, the same parts as shown in Figures 1 to 4 are:
Indicated by the same symbol.

In this embodiment, the angle of the reflection mirror 8 of the scanning reading unit 20 is changed to emit the scanning pattern vertically from the reading window 12, thereby obtaining the horizontal reading range RA as shown in the figure.

Even in such an example, the detection direction of the article detection sensor 13 is diagonally downward, and the article detection range SA is the reading range R.
By overlapping with A, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of articles due to movement of the operator, etc., which occurs due to the vertical installation type.

(C) Description of another embodiment In the above embodiment, there is no limit to the downward angle of inclination of the article detection sensor 13, but in short, the article detection area SA and the reading area RA overlap and are directed downward so as not to detect an operator or the like. That's fine.

Furthermore, the configuration of the scanning reading section 20 is not limited to the embodiment.

Although the present invention has been described above using examples, the present invention can be modified in various ways according to the gist of the present invention, and these are not excluded from the present invention.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, (1) the detection direction of the article detection sensor is arranged diagonally downward, and the article detection range and the reading range overlap;
This has the effect that it is possible to prevent an operator or the like in the lateral direction of the apparatus from being mistakenly detected as an article, which occurs when the apparatus is placed vertically, and it is possible to accurately detect an article.

(2) Furthermore, since the barcode is always present within the reading range when an article is detected, reading performance is also improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a diagram of the principle of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 3 is a top view of the lower stage of an embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 4 is a front view of an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the drum-shaped polygon mirror in FIGS. 2 and 3, FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of the drum-shaped polygon mirror in FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a scan of the drum-shaped polygon mirror in FIG. 5. FIG. 8 is a detailed explanatory diagram of the present invention; FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment of the present invention; FIGS. 10 and 11 are explanatory diagrams of the prior art. In the figure, 12: reading window, 13: article detection sensor, 20: scanning reading section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A reading window (12); a scanning pattern for scanning a barcode symbol on an article is emitted from the reading window (12), and reflected light from the barcode symbol is received by a light receiving sensor (10). and a barcode reading device comprising a scanning reader (20) for reading a barcode symbol, and an article detection sensor (13) provided above the reading window (12) for detecting an article, the article detection sensor The detection direction of the article detection sensor (13) is arranged diagonally downward so that the detection range (SA) of (13) overlaps the readable range (RA) of the scanning reader (20). Characteristic barcode reading device.