JPH03198175A - Bar-code reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the detection area on plural lines and to enhance the read rate by providing a scan mechanism for moving two-dimensonally a detecting position on the surface on which a bar-code is printed. CONSTITUTION:The bar-code reader is provided with a scan mechanism 10 for moving two-dimensionally a detecting position on the surface A on which a bar-code B is printed. Accordingly, since the detecting position can be varied two-dimensionally, a detection area can be provided on plural lines for intersecting the bar-code and on plural lines in which positions of the direction of bars of the bar-code are different. In such a way, the bar-code can be read with high probability by one operation, the read time can be shortened, and also, individual difference of the read time can be reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application J] The present invention relates to a touch-type barcode reader, and particularly to a barcode reader that can detect a detection area on a plurality of lines and has a high reading rate.

"Prior Art" Conventionally, a touch-type barcode reader as shown in FIG. 4 has been known.

This consists of a light source 1 that irradiates light onto the surface A on which barcode B is printed, and the reflected light from this light source 1 is received through a lens 2, and an electrical signal is output depending on the intensity of this light. The device is equipped with a photodetector 3, which is arranged in a handheld case 4.

A reflecting mirror 6 supported by a shaft 5 and rotating around the shaft 5 is provided on the axis of the lens 2 in the handheld case 4 and on the opposite side from the photodetector 3. However, the reflection position X of the light incident on the photodetector 3 on the surface A (hereinafter, this position will be referred to as the "detection position").

) constitutes a scanning mechanism 7 that moves the.

That is, with the head surface 4a of the handheld case 4 facing the surface A in a predetermined attitude, the axis 5 is made to be approximately parallel to the bar of the barcode B, and in this state, the reflecting mirror 6 When rotates, detection position X is barcode B
The information represented by the barcode B is read by the strength of the light detected from the output signal of the photodetector 3 at this time.

In other words, in this barcode reader where the scanning mechanism 7 is composed of the reflecting mirror 6 as described above, the range in which the detection position X moves (hereinafter, this range is referred to as the "detection area") is one straight line C. It was something.

"Problems to be Solved by the Invention" In the conventional touch-type barcode reader described above, since the detection area is one straight line C, the barcode B may be stained, torn, or have printing defects on this straight line in the imager. If this happens, the reading will be defective, and in this case, the hand-held case 4 must be moved to change the position of the head surface 4a relative to the barcode B, and the reading must be performed again.

For this reason, even if the operator is skilled in operating this barcode reader, he or she has to change the position of the head surface 4a many times to read the barcode, which sometimes takes time. Also, if the operator is not an expert, it will take more time to read.
Individual differences in reading time among operators were also likely to occur.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a touch-type barcode reader that can detect a detection area on a plurality of lines and has a high reading rate.

"Means for Solving the Problem" The barcode reader according to claim 1 is a touch-type barcode reader, and includes a scanning mechanism that moves a detection position two-dimensionally on a surface on which a barcode is printed. It is characterized by the fact that it is equipped with

In the barcode reader according to claim 2, the scanning mechanism includes a reflecting mirror that causes reflected light from a detection position to enter a photodetector, and a rotating means that rotates the reflecting mirror about two orthogonal axes. It is characterized by more.

In the barcode reader according to claim 3, the scanning mechanism includes a reflecting mirror having a plurality of reflecting surfaces having different inclination angles with respect to one rotation axis and causing reflected light from a detection position to enter a photodetector; It is characterized by comprising a rotating means for rotating the reflecting mirror about the one rotation axis.

"Operation" According to the barcode reader according to claim 1 or claim 2, since the detection position can be changed two-dimensionally, the detection area can be set on a plurality of lines that cross the barcode. can be on a plurality of lines with different positions in the direction of . Therefore, it is possible to read with a high degree of accuracy with one touch, shorten the reading time, and reduce individual differences in reading time.

Further, the plurality of reflection surfaces of the reflection mirror constituting the scanning mechanism of the barcode reader according to the third aspect of the present invention have different inclination angles with respect to the rotation axis.

Therefore, the barcode reader must be positioned so that the axis of rotation of the reflection mirror is parallel to the barcode bar, the reflection mirror can be rotated, and the detection position can be moved using each of the reflection mirror's multiple reflective surfaces. For example, the detection area can be arranged on a plurality of lines having different positions in the direction of the bars of the barcode.

That is, if the reflecting mirror is rotated within a range where the reflected light at the detection position is incident on the photodetector by one reflecting surface of the reflecting mirror, the detection position moves on one line that crosses the barcode. Then, by rotating the reflecting mirror beyond the above range, the reflected light is made to enter the photodetector through another reflecting surface, and by moving the detection position using this other reflecting surface, the detection position is set to the above range. - Move on another line that is different from one line.

"Example" Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

Note that elements similar to those of the conventional barcode reader shown in FIG. 4 are designated by the same reference numerals, and their explanations will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a barcode reader which is a first embodiment of the present invention. A feature of this barcode reader is that it is provided with a scanning mechanism 10 that moves the detection position two-dimensionally on the surface A on which the barcode B is printed. The scanning mechanism 10 is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the bar of the barcode B with the head surface 4a of the handheld case 4 facing the artist in a predetermined posture, and is rotatable with respect to the handheld case 4. axis 11
and the shaft 11 is arranged to extend perpendicularly from the shaft 11.
a reflecting mirror 13 attached to the shaft 12 to make the reflected light at the detection position enter the photodetector 3; and a rotating means for rotating the shafts 11 and 12, respectively. (not shown).

According to the barcode reader configured as described above, the attitude of the reflecting mirror can be changed two-dimensionally by rotating the shafts 11 and 12, and the detection position can be changed to the surface on which the bar hood B is printed. It can be moved two-dimensionally on A. For this reason, reading barcode B requires, for example, the first
A plurality of lines as shown in the figure, ,D, ,D, ,D, ,D,
This can be done using the upper area as the detection area.

That is, if only the shaft 12 is rotated, the detection position X moves on a line that crosses the barcode B due to the accompanying rotation of the reflecting mirror 13. Then, by rotating the shaft 11 to change the attitude of the reflecting mirror 13, and then rotating only the shaft 12 again, the detection position is on a line that is different from the above line in the direction of the bar of the bar hood B. moves.

In other words, according to the barcode reader of the first embodiment, for example, if reading is impossible in the detection area above one line, then reading is performed in the detection area above the line, and then this reading is performed. If this is not possible, then reading is performed in the detection area on line D3, and so on.
Reading can be performed on a plurality of lines by sequentially changing the detection area in the direction of the bars of the barcode. Therefore, even if there is dirt or the like on the barcode B, as long as it does not cover the entire bar code, the barcode B can be read on any line, and the barcode B can be read reliably. Furthermore, by stopping the operation of the scanning mechanism 1O when the reading is completed, it is possible to read a clean barcode at the same scanning speed as in the past.

Therefore, according to the barcode reader of this first embodiment, barcodes can be read with a single touch with a high degree of certainty regardless of the skill level of the operator, so that the reading time is shortened and the reading time differs from person to person. This has the effect of reducing.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 shows a barcode reader of a second embodiment. What is characteristic about this barcode reader is that the scanning mechanism 20 includes a rotary shaft 21 rotatably attached to the handheld case 4, and six reflective surfaces supported by the rotary shaft 21 and having different inclination angles with respect to the rotary shaft 21. Hl+ Ht+ H3+
A substantially hexagonal columnar reflecting mirror 2 having H4+ H5,H
2, and a rotating means (not shown) for rotating the rotating shaft 21.

Note that here, the shaft 21 is the head surface 4a of the handheld case 4.
is opposed to the surface A in a predetermined attitude, and its direction is substantially parallel to the bar of the barcode B.

Further, the reflecting mirror 22 may be, for example, as shown in FIG.
The ridge line, ,L,,L,,L,,L5. L.

The length of L , < L t< L , < L 4< L s<
By setting the relationship La, the rotation axis 2 of the six reflecting surfaces Hl+H, , H3+ H, , H5, H
The angles of inclination relative to 1 are different from each other.

According to this barcode reader, with the head surface 4a of the hand-held case 4 facing the surface A in a predetermined posture, the reflective mirror 22 is rotated, and each reflective surface of the reflective mirror 22 is used. By moving the detection position, the detection area can be divided into six lines E with different positions in the bar direction of barcode B.
I E 2* E 3+E, ,E, ,E, can be made to be above.

That is, for example, one reflective surface H1 of the reflective mirror 22
If the rotating shaft 21 is rotated within a range where the reflected light from the detection position is incident on the photodetector 3, the detection position X moves on one line E that crosses the barcode. And rotation axis 2
1 beyond the above-mentioned range, the reflected light is made to enter the photodetector 3 by the other reflecting surface H9,
If the detection position X is moved by this other reflective surface H2,
The detection position X is on another line E different from the above-mentioned - two lines E1.

move on.

Therefore, the barcode reader of this second embodiment is
Since the detection area can be set on multiple lines simply by rotating one rotating shaft 21, the reading rate can be improved even though the rotating means for rotating the reflecting mirror remains as simple as the conventional structure. This embodiment has the advantage of being able to produce the same effects as the first embodiment described above.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but is applicable to a barcode reader that uses a method of irradiating a barcode with a laser beam and detecting the reflected light using a photodetector such as a photoelectric converter. There may be. In this case, the position where the laser beam is irradiated becomes the detection position, and the irradiation position (detection position) of the laser beam can be moved along multiple lines using a reflective mirror (scanning mechanism) similar to the above embodiment. good. That is, in this case, with respect to the scanning mechanism 10° 20 consisting of the reflecting mirrors 13 and 22 of the above embodiment, the light source of the laser beam is placed at the position of the photodetector 3, and the photoelectric converter etc. are arranged as the light source of the above embodiment. The configuration is such that it is placed on the first side.

"Effects of the Invention" According to the barcode reader according to claim 1 or 2, the detection area is on a plurality of lines that cross the barcode, and the positions of the bars of the barcode are different in the direction. I can do it. Therefore, it is possible to read with a high degree of accuracy with one touch, and the reading time can be shortened, and individual differences in reading time can be reduced.

Further, according to the barcode reader according to claim 3, the rotating means for rotating the reflecting mirror has the same simple structure as the conventional one, and is similar to the barcode reader according to claim 1 or claim 2. This has the effect of improving the reading rate.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view showing a state in which a barcode reader is touched to a barcode. 2 and 3 are views showing a second embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a barcode reader touching a barcode, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a reflecting mirror. FIG. Furthermore, FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the prior art,
It is a perspective view showing a state where a barcode reader is made to touch a barcode. 3...Photodetector, 11.12...Axis,
10.20...Scan mechanism, 13.22...
... Reflection mirror 21 ... Rotation axis, A ... Surface on which barcode is printed, B ...
...Barcode, fL, Hz, ! Is, +14. IIs, He
...Reflecting surface, X...Detection position.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A barcode reader that is a touch type barcode reader and is characterized by being equipped with a scanning mechanism that moves a detection position two-dimensionally on a surface on which a barcode is printed. (2) The scanning mechanism is characterized by comprising a reflecting mirror that causes reflected light from the detection position to enter the photodetector, and a rotating means that rotates the reflecting mirror about two orthogonal axes. The barcode reader according to claim 1. (3) The scanning mechanism includes a reflecting mirror that has a plurality of reflecting surfaces having different inclination angles with respect to one rotation axis and makes the reflected light from the detection position enter the photodetector; 2. The barcode reader according to claim 1, further comprising a rotating means for rotating the barcode reader about a rotating shaft.