JP4132645B2 - Bar code reader - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Field of the Invention]
The present invention relates to a barcode reading apparatus that reduces barcode reading errors.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The information is converted into a barcode and attached to an object such as a specimen container or drawing material. The barcode is read by a barcode reader, and the information given to the object is reproduced, and the object is processed based on the information. For example, automatic management of objects is performed.
[0003]
For example, in a biochemical automatic analyzer, a reagent corresponding to the item to be examined is added to a biological fluid such as blood or urine, and the optical density of the reaction solution is measured. In the apparatus, a label with a barcode (for example, a code for specifying a specimen number or a measurement item) is attached to each specimen container in which a biological fluid is stored. A barcode (information) attached to the label is read by the apparatus, and predetermined items are measured (analyzed) based on the read information.
[0004]
FIG. 1 shows an outline of a barcode reading unit in a biochemical automatic analyzer. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a sample rack in which a plurality of holes for supporting a sample having notches are formed. The specimen containers 3A, 3B, and 3C are set so that the barcode labels 2A, 2B, and 2C attached in advance are positioned at the cutout portions. The sample rack 1 is placed on a transport belt 4 in a sample supply unit (not shown), and a predetermined amount of sample liquid is sampled from a dispensing unit (not shown, but a reaction vessel (not shown). It is configured to be transported to a place where it is configured to be dispensed. The barcode reading unit is located between the sample supply unit and the dispensing unit. Note that 5A, 5B, and 5C are barcodes attached to the barcode labels 2A, 2B, and 2C.
[0005]
6 is a bar code reader for optically reading the bar code, and is provided with an optical scanning mechanism so that the bar code attached to the sample container at the opposite position can be optically scanned and read. Further, it is fixed in the vicinity of the conveyor belt 3.
[0006]
The transport belt 4 moves intermittently, and each sample container 3A, 3B, 3C is the surface of the barcode reader 6 (the surface from which the light from the light emitting part is emitted, and receives the reflected light by the light emission). Control is performed so as to stop for a certain period of time each time it is positioned on a surface where the light receiving surface is present), and the barcode is read during this stop time. Further, when the sample rack 1 is placed on the transport belt 3, each notch (the side where the barcode label is attached to each sample) is placed so as to face the barcode reader side.
[0007]
In the apparatus having such a configuration, when the transport belt 4 moves intermittently in the direction of the arrow 7 and the sample container 3A is positioned on the surface of the barcode reader 6, the transport belt 4 stops for a predetermined time. During this time, the light from the light emitting portion of the barcode reader 6 scans the barcode label 2A of the sample container 3A, and the reflected light by the scanning is received by the light receiving portion of the barcode reader 6. The received reflected light is converted into an electrical signal by the barcode reader 6 and sent to a CPU (not shown). The CPU decodes the electrical signal from the barcode reader 6, and based on the decoded information data, the measurement (analysis) items necessary for the sample stored in the sample container 3A are stored in a reagent supply unit (not shown). specify.
[0008]
Thereafter, the barcode reader 6 reads the barcode labels on the sample containers 3B, 3C,...
[0009]
The sample container from which the bar code has been read is sampled with a predetermined amount of sample liquid in a dispensing unit (not shown) and dispensed into a reaction container (not shown). In this reaction container, a reagent according to an item to be measured is added in a reagent supply unit (not shown). Then, the optical density of the reaction liquid stored in the reaction container is measured in a measurement unit (analysis unit).
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The barcode label attached to the sample container is contaminated with dirt or debris from chemicals, the barcode has deteriorated, or the barcode printing has become faint. There may be. In particular, if such dust adhering to the barcode occurs in a portion read by the barcode reader 6 (for example, the central portion of the barcode label (P in FIG. 3)), In this case, the entire apparatus was stopped and the sample container was once removed. For this reason, the operating rate of the apparatus was significantly reduced.
The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a novel bar code reader.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The barcode reader according to the present invention is:
In a barcode reader that reads the barcode of an object with a barcode attached with a barcode reader,
The bar code reader as can be read again by changing the reading position of the bar code with swingably formed to,
A means for determining whether or not the barcode signal read from the output of the barcode reader is accurate is provided, and the barcode reader is controlled based on the signal from the determination means when the determination means performs the latter determination. The bar code of the object is read again so as to be swung .
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0013]
FIG. 2 shows an example in which the barcode reader of the present invention is applied to a biochemical automatic analyzer. In the figure, the components with the symbols used in FIG. 1 are the same components.
[0014]
In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a bar code reader, which differs from the bar code reader 6 shown in FIG.
[0015]
A support 11 is fixed to the end of the barcode reader 10 on the side opposite to the specimen. A rotating shaft 14 connected to the rotating shaft 13 of the motor 12 is inserted into the support 11, and the barcode reader 10 is transported around the rotating shaft 14 by rotating the motor 12 left and right. It is configured to swing left and right along a horizontal plane parallel to the belt 4.
[0016]
Reference numeral 15 denotes a motor drive circuit, and 16 denotes a control device that decodes a bar code signal sent from the bar code reader 10 and controls the operation of the motor drive circuit 15 based on the decoding.
[0017]
In the apparatus having such a configuration, when the transport belt 4 moves intermittently in the direction of the arrow 7 and the sample container 3A is positioned on the surface of the barcode reader 10, the transport belt 4 stops for a predetermined time. During this time, light from the light emitting portion of the barcode reader 10 scans, for example, the central portion (P in FIG. 3) of the barcode label 2A of the specimen container 3A, and the reflected light from the scanning is received by the light receiving portion of the barcode reader 10. Is done. The received reflected light is converted into an electrical signal by the barcode reader 10 and sent to the control device 16. The control device 16 decodes the electrical signal from the barcode reader 10, and based on the decoded information data, sets the measurement (analysis) items necessary for the sample stored in the sample container 3A as a reagent supply unit (not shown). ).
[0018]
At this time, if the barcode label 2A, for example, in the central portion (P in FIG. 3) is contaminated with chemicals, attached dust or scratches, an abnormal signal is generated in the electrical signal sent from the barcode reader 10. The control device 16 determines that the barcode 5A cannot be decoded. In this case, for example, when a barcode reader is attached to the sample container, if a code that does not match a predetermined code format is read, the control device 16 determines that the barcode 5A cannot be decoded. Alternatively, when a barcode reader is attached to the sample container, a check barcode is attached, and if the signal from the check barcode is abnormal, the control device 16 determines that the barcode 5A cannot be decoded. In addition, when N times are read and N times do not match, it is determined that the decoding is impossible.
[0019]
When the control device 16 determines that the barcode 5A cannot be decoded, it sends a signal to the motor drive circuit 15 to cause the motor 12 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction 17 in a predetermined angle (the barcode reader 10 is a portion Q of the barcode label 2A ( 3) is swung at a speed slower than the response speed of the barcode reader 10. During this swinging, the barcode reader 10 performs a barcode reading operation, and as shown in FIG. 3, the barcode reader 10 is placed on the left side portion Q of the barcode label 2A attached to the sample container 3A. The light from the light emitting unit scans and the reflected light is received by the light receiving unit of the barcode reader 10. The received reflected light is converted into an electrical signal by the barcode reader 10 and sent to the control device 16. At this time, if there is no dust adhering to the Q portion of the bar code label or scratches, the control device 16 decodes the electric signal from the bar code reader 10, and based on the decoded information data, the sample container A measurement (analysis) item necessary for the specimen accommodated in 3A is designated to a reagent supply unit or the like (not shown).
[0020]
If the barcode is not read again, the control device 16 sends a signal to the motor drive circuit 15 to cause the motor 12 to rotate clockwise by a predetermined angle (the barcode reader 10 is attached to the barcode label 2A). R (angle up to the area where R can be read) is swung at a speed slower than the response speed of the barcode reader 10. During this swinging, the barcode reader 10 performs a barcode reading operation, and therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the barcode reader 10 is placed on the right side portion R of the barcode label 2A attached to the sample container 3A. The light from the light emitting unit scans and the reflected light is received by the light receiving unit of the barcode reader 10. Note that, in the unlikely event that reading is not possible in the first re-reading, the next barcode reading operation of the sample container 3B may be started. Further, when the second re-reading cannot be performed, the next barcode reading operation of the sample container 3B may be started.
[0021]
In the above example, the support 11 is fixed to the barcode reader 10 and the rotating shaft 14 is inserted into the support 11. However, there is a margin at the end of the barcode reader 10 on the side opposite to the specimen. For example, the rotary shaft 14 may be inserted directly here.
[0022]
Further, the swing mechanism of the barcode reader is not limited to that shown in FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the barcode reader 10 is placed on the support plate 20, a long hole 21 is opened at the end of the support plate 20, and the rotation shaft 23 of the motor 22 is inserted as its central axis. A rotating shaft 25 is fixed at a position deviated from the center of the body 24, a bearing 26 that slides along the inner periphery of the elongated hole 21 is fixed to the rotating shaft 25, and a supporting shaft is attached to an intermediate portion of the support plate 20. 27 is provided to support the support plate 20, the rotating body 24 is rotated by the rotation of the motor 22, the rotating shaft 25 is eccentrically rotated by the rotation, and the bearing 26 is moved to the inner periphery of the long hole 26 by the eccentric rotation. The support plate 20 and the barcode reader 10 may swing about the support shaft 27 as a fulcrum by the slide.
[0023]
As an example of the swing of the bar code reader, in the above example, the bar code reader reciprocates by a predetermined angle around the rotation shaft 14, but as another example of the swing of the bar code reader, the bar code reader The entire reader may reciprocate a predetermined distance forward or backward along the transport belt 4 (that is, parallel to the sample rack 1).
[0024]
Although a method of swinging the sample side instead of swinging the barcode reader can be considered, swinging the sample side is extremely large and difficult to operate.
[0025]
In the above example, the case where the present invention is applied to a biochemical automatic analyzer has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to an apparatus for reading a barcode attached to a drawing material in a drawing apparatus.
[0026]
As described above, according to the present invention, when the barcode of the object to which the barcode is attached cannot be read normally, the barcode reader is swung so that the portion different from the first reading portion of the barcode is Therefore, even if there is an abnormality in the first reading part, the possibility that the bar code can be read normally increases.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 shows an outline of a barcode reading unit in a biochemical automatic analyzer.
FIG. 2 shows an example in which the barcode reader of the present invention is applied to a biochemical automatic analyzer.
FIG. 3 shows an outline of a sample container to which a barcode is attached.
FIG. 4 shows another example of the main part of the barcode reading apparatus of the present invention.
[Explanation of numbers]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Sample rack 2A, 2B, 2C ... Barcode label 3A, 3B, 3C ... Sample container 4 ... Conveyor belt 5A, 5B, 5C ... Barcode 6, 10 ... Barcode reader 11 ... Support 12 ... Motors 13, 14 Rotating shaft 15 Motor driving circuit 16 Control device 20 Support plate 21 Slot 22 22 Motors 23, 25 Rotating shaft 24 Rotating body 26 Bearing 27 27 Support shaft

Claims (6)

In a barcode reader that reads the barcode of an object with a barcode attached with a barcode reader,
The bar code reader as can be read again by changing the reading position of the bar code with swingably formed to,
A means for determining whether or not the barcode signal read from the output of the barcode reader is accurate is provided, and the barcode reader is controlled based on the signal from the determination means when the determination means performs the latter determination. A bar code reader that swings and re-reads the bar code of an object . 2. The bar code reader according to claim 1, wherein the bar code is read again while swinging the bar code reader. 2. The barcode reader according to claim 1, wherein the object to which the barcode is attached is a specimen container in which a biological fluid is accommodated. 2. The specimen container is moved intermittently toward the barcode reader side with the barcode attached, and the barcode is read and / or re-read while the specimen container is stopped. The barcode reading apparatus described. 2. The barcode reader according to claim 1, wherein a barcode label to which a barcode reader is attached is attached to an object. The barcode reader according to claim 1, wherein the barcode reader is provided with an optical scanning mechanism.

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