JP2003083985A - Label-reading apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To appropriately read a label even if the label on a test tube is to be read, even if the direction of the label is uneven, and even if the label is released. SOLUTION: When a label 17 cannot be read buy a label reader 18, the test tube 16 is pulled up by a manipulator 22 for rotation, and then the test tube is pulled down for reading the label again. This kind of recovery reading is repeated and executed until label reading is completed with a specific count as the upper limit. Even if one portion of the label is released, it is lifted up and is rotated, thus preventing the problem of the damage in the label and the reinforcement of pasting in advance.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a label reading device and method, and more particularly to a device for reading a label attached to a container.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Labels such as bar code labels are used in sample pretreatment devices, automatic dispensing devices, analyzers, etc. to manage samples or samples. Specifically, a label is attached to the side surface of the test tube containing the sample, and the sample is managed by optically reading the content of the label of the test tube on the transport path of the test tube rack.

The test tube has a length of, for example, 10 cm, whereas the length of the label in the longitudinal direction is as high as 5 cm, that is, the label covers a considerable area on the side of the test tube.

When the test tube is inserted in the rack, it is necessary to pull up the test tube from the rack and read the label unless the rack is modified. On the other hand,
If a slit (vertical groove) corresponding to the test tube insertion hole is formed on the side surface of the rack, the reading can be performed without pulling out the test tube from the rack. When using such a rack with slits, it is desirable to adjust the rotation direction of the test tube so that the label matches the slit when inserting the test tube into the rack. However, such orientation adjustment is generally performed manually, and it is not guaranteed that the orientation of the test tube is proper. Therefore, it may happen that the label cannot be observed through the slit.

Therefore, in the conventional apparatus, the test tube is rotated by a predetermined angle in that state without being pulled out from the rack, then the label is read, and if it cannot be read, it is repeated.

[0006]

However, since the back surface of the label is adhesive, a part of the label may peel off and stick to the inner surface of the test tube insertion hole of the rack. In such a case, if you forcefully rotate the test tube without removing it from the rack, it may depend on the peeling direction of the label, but in some cases, the label may stick more strongly to the rack or the label may be damaged. There is a problem that the test tube cannot be rotated itself.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional problems, and an object thereof is to enable a label reading device to properly read a label.

Another object of the present invention is to perform reading corresponding to peeling of the label.

[0009]

(1) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is applied to a side surface of a container via a slit formed in the rack while the container is accommodated in the rack. A label reader for optically reading a label, an elevating and rotating means for lifting and rotating a container housed in the rack, a means for controlling the label reader and the elevating and rotating means, and a first label reading for the container And a control means for executing recovery reading control when the above is not successful, wherein in the recovery reading control, the container is lifted from the rack and rotated, and then the container is pulled down to read the label again. To do.

According to the above structure, when the first reading is not successful, the container is lifted up and rotated, and then the container is pulled down to the original position, and the re-reading of the label is performed in that state. Done. And this is repeated as needed. Since the container is pulled up and then rotated instead of being rotated as it is, even if there is partial peeling of the label, the possibility of damage to the label or increase in peeling, etc. is reduced, and the reading state is reread. Can be formed. Of course, when a strong sticking occurs that cannot be pulled up itself, it is desirable to detect it and perform error processing.

Preferably, the control means repeatedly executes the recovery reading control up to a predetermined number of times until the label reading is successful. Here, if the rotation angle for one rotation is 90 degrees, the predetermined number of times is three. Of course, the recovery reading may be performed once or more.

Preferably, in the recovery reading control, the container is lifted up until the entire label is exposed from the top surface of the rack. If the label position is not strictly defined, it is desirable to lift the container upwards until all or most of it is exposed with respect to the container.

(2) Further, in order to achieve the above object,
The present invention provides a label reader that optically reads a label attached to the side surface of a container through a slit formed in the rack while the container is housed in the rack, and grabs the container housed in the rack. A manipulator mechanism, and an elevating mechanism for elevating the manipulator mechanism,
A container transporting mechanism having a rotating mechanism for rotating the manipulator mechanism, and a means for controlling the label reader and the container transporting mechanism, which deals with label peeling when the first label reading on the container is not successful. Control means for executing recovery reading control for reading the label again after the container is lifted and rotated in order to do so.

With the above arrangement, the manipulator mechanism can grasp the upper portion of the container, raise the container, and further rotate the container. It does not affect the optical detection of the label as it only grabs the top of the container. In addition, the manipulator mechanism can be flexibly applied to containers having various diameters. In any case, the recovery read control performs lifting and rotation, so that label peeling can be dealt with.

Preferably, the finger mechanism is composed of four fingers arranged at a pitch of 90 degrees, and when the container is lifted, the container is rotated by 90 degrees,
The upper limit number of the recovery read control is three times.

Desirably, when the container is gripped by the finger mechanism, the rotation angle of the finger mechanism is controlled so that the finger clearance matches the clearance between the containers on the rack. According to this structure, even if the gap between the containers is relatively narrow on the container rack, the containers can be grasped by the plurality of fingers, and further, the containers are lifted and then rotated, so that the fingers collide with other containers. You can also avoid doing.

(3) In order to achieve the above object,
The present invention provides an initial reading step of optically reading a label attached to the side surface of each container through a slit formed in the rack in a state where a plurality of containers are accommodated in the rack, and the initial reading step. For containers that could not read the label with, lift the container and rotate it, then pull the container down to the rack and perform the recovery reading process to read the label again and the rack where the label orientation of each container is aligned. And a step of sending out to the step.

According to the above construction, after the label reading step, the orientation of the label of each container becomes proper. Therefore, for example, when the label is read again in the next dispensing step and analysis step, There is no need to perform such recovery read control.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the label reading apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the construction of the main part thereof. This label reading device is incorporated in, for example, an automatic dispensing device. Carrier 10
At 14, the rack transport mechanism 12 transports the rack 14. The rack 14 holds a plurality of test tubes upright, and in FIG. 1, the test tube which is currently the label reading target is represented by reference numeral 16. Rack 1
4 is formed with an accommodation hole for accommodating each test tube, and each accommodation hole is provided with a slit 14A having a vertical groove shape. Specifically, a plurality of slits 14A are formed on both side surfaces of the rack 14 so as to correspond to each test tube.

A label 17 such as a bar code label is attached to the side surface of the test tube, and the direction of the label is basically directed to the slit 14A side.
Since the test tube is inserted into the rack 14 manually, the orientation of the label 17 is not always correct. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the label 17 attached to each test tube may or may not face the slit 14A.

A label reader 18 is provided on the carrier 10 in correspondence with the label reading position. Incidentally, in FIG. 1, the label reader 18 is represented by a one-dot chain line. This label reader 18
A code such as a bar code drawn on the label 17 is read by scanning the light beam. Based on the read data, processing of the sample contained in the test tube, transport control of the test tube itself, or the like can be performed. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 20
Represents a beam line irradiated with a light beam, and the beam line 20 extends over the range where the label 17 exists and is positioned at the horizontal center of the slit 14A.

The first label reading is performed on the test tube 16 to be read, and when the reading of the label content is completed by this, the rack 14 is forwarded one step, and the label reading for the next test tube is performed. It will be executed and this will be repeated. On the other hand, when the label reading cannot be performed, the test tube is lifted up by the mechanism described below and further rotated, and then the test tube is pulled down on the rack again and the label reader 18 is used in the same manner as above. The label content is read again. Then, such recovery reading control is repeated with the predetermined number of times as the upper limit.

The manipulator 22 shown in FIG. 1 is a mechanism for gripping a test tube and rotating it upward. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the manipulator 22 has four fingers arranged at a pitch of 90 degrees. The upper part of the test tube 16 is gripped by the four fingers. Incidentally, in FIG. 1, only two fingers 24A and 24B among the four fingers are shown.

The robot mechanism 26 is connected to the manipulator 22, and has a function of pulling the manipulator 22 upward and rotating it. The robot mechanism 26 will be described later in detail with reference to FIG. The control unit 28 controls the operation of each component such as the robot mechanism 26, the manipulator 22, the rack transport mechanism 12, and the like. By the way, this control unit 28 has a label reader 18
The information read by is also output. Thereby, the success or failure of label reading is determined.

As in the conventional apparatus, when the label reading is not successful, it is possible to rotate the container while standing upright on the rack 14 by a predetermined angle and read the label again in that state. When a part of the label is peeled off and stuck to the rack, such rotation itself is difficult, and in some cases the label is damaged or the label sticks more firmly to the rack. Can also be considered. On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, since the test tube is rotated while being pulled up,
At least it is possible to alleviate problems such as breakage of labels and strengthening of peeling, and it is possible to reduce the occurrence of problems such as abnormal stoppage of conveyance during label reading.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which a part 17A of the label attached to the test tube 16 is peeled off. The test tube 16 is inserted into the accommodation hole 14B formed in the rack 14, but the back surface of the test tube 16 is stuck to the inner surface of the accommodation hole 14B because the part 17A is peeled off. In such a state, when the test tube 16 is turned clockwise when viewed from above, the peeling of the label may be further increased or the sticking thereof may be strengthened. Of course, if the peeled state itself can be recognized, it is possible to deal with it by changing the direction of rotation, but it is generally not possible to recognize how it is peeled. Therefore, the lifting rotation control as described above becomes effective.

In the recovery read control,
As long as the label reader 18 shown in FIG. 1 has a beam scanning range in which the label can be read even when the label reader 18 is lifted, the test tube 16 is not necessarily pulled down and is lifted above it. The label may be read at each stage by rotating in stages.

FIG. 2 shows the robot mechanism 26 shown in FIG.
A configuration example of is shown. The column 30 is driven in the vertical direction, and the upper end of the column 30 has the first arm 3
One end of the second arm 32 is rotatably connected to the first arm 32.
One end of the second arm 34 is rotatably connected to the other end of the. The manipulator 22 described above is rotatably provided at the other end of the second arm 34. Incidentally, the motor 36 is for rotating the manipulator 22. Therefore, such a robot mechanism 26
According to this, the manipulator 22 can be rotated, and it can be freely moved up and down, and further, the manipulator 22 can be three-dimensionally transported to an arbitrary position. This is a known structure per se.

In FIG. 2, four fingers are represented by reference numerals 24A, 24B, 24C and 24D.

Next, the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in the state shown in FIG. 1, the first reading is executed by the label reader 18 in S101. In S102, it is determined whether or not the first reading is successful, and if it is successful, the process proceeds to S111, and if not successful, the process proceeds to the process of S103 and later.

In S103, the upper portion of the test tube 16 is gripped by the manipulator 22, then in S104 the manipulator 22 is pulled up, and in S105, the manipulator 22 is rotated 90 degrees. The rotation direction in this case is either clockwise or counterclockwise. In S106, the manipulator 22 is pulled down, that is, the test tube 16 is positioned in the original accommodation hole. Then, in S107, the label reader 18 performs the reading again.

In S108, it is determined whether or not the reading in S107 is successful. If the reading is successful, the process proceeds to S111. If not successful, the process proceeds to S109.

In S109, it is determined whether or not the recovery readings in S103 to S108 have reached the specified number. In the present embodiment, the specified number of times is 3, and if the recovery reading is less than 3, the process proceeds to S103, while if the specified number of processes is reached, the error process is executed in S110. In this case, the fact that the label of the specific test tube could not be read is notified, and the rack transportation is stopped as necessary.

On the other hand, in S111, it is judged whether or not there is a test tube next to the test tube for which the label reading was successful. If it does not exist, this process ends, but if it does not exist, it does not exist. In S112, the rack is transported by one step, or the first test tube for the next rack is positioned. Then, the process is S10.
Move to 1.

In the above-described embodiment, the manipulator 22 has four fingers provided at a pitch of 90 degrees, and when the fingers are pulled down to grip the test tube, the gap between the adjacent test tubes is reduced. In addition, the rotation angle of the finger group is determined such that the gaps between the fingers match. According to such control, it is possible to prevent the finger from colliding with the adjacent test tube. Then, by pulling the test tube upward and rotating it by 90 degrees, and pulling down the test tube at the rotation angle, it is possible to prevent the finger from colliding with the test tube even in this state. Therefore, according to such control, the finger 2
Even when 4 has a certain thickness, or when a rack in which the test tubes are extremely adjacent to each other is used, the label reading method described above can be realized. As a matter of course, various constitutional examples can be adopted for the elevating and rotating means of the test tube, and various kinds of label readers 18 can be used.

According to the above-described embodiment, the labels of the test tubes can be aligned at least at the stage where the label reading is performed. Therefore, in the case where the label reading is performed again in each step on the downstream side, the above is described. There is no need to perform recovery reading or the like, and from this viewpoint, it is considered that the above label reading method substantially includes a method for aligning the label orientation.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It becomes possible to properly read the label attached to the container. In particular, it becomes possible to deal with peeling of the label.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a preferred embodiment of a label reading device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of the robot mechanism shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a problem of label peeling.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 carrier, 12 rack carrier, 14 rack,
16 test tubes (read target), 17 labels, 22
Manipulator, 26 robot mechanism, 28 control unit.

Continued front page    F term (reference) 2G058 CB15 CD21 GC02 GC05 GC08                       GC09 GD05                 5B072 AA02 BB00 CC18 CC24 DD01                       HH01 JJ01 LL01

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A label reader for optically reading a label attached to a side surface of a container through a slit formed in the rack while the container is housed in the rack, and a container housed in the rack. Lifting and rotating means for lifting and rotating, means for controlling the label reader and the lifting and rotating means, and a control means for executing recovery reading control when the first label reading on the container is not successful, In the recovery reading control, the label is read again by lifting the container from the rack and rotating the container and then pulling down the container to read the label again. 2. The label reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit repeatedly executes the recovery reading control up to a predetermined number of times until the label reading is successful. 3. The label reading device according to claim 1, wherein, in the recovery reading control, the container is lifted upward until the entire label is exposed from the top surface of the rack. 4. A label reader for optically reading a label attached to a side surface of a container through a slit formed in the rack while the container is housed in the rack, and the container housed in the rack. A manipulator mechanism for grasping, a raising and lowering mechanism for raising and lowering the manipulator mechanism, a rotating mechanism for rotating the manipulator mechanism, and a means for controlling the label reader and the container conveying mechanism, which is a means for controlling the container. If the first label reading is not successful, the label reading apparatus includes a control unit that executes a recovery reading control for reading the label again after the container is lifted and rotated to deal with the peeling of the label, and the label is read again. . 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the manipulator mechanism is arranged at a 90 degree pitch.
9 fingers with the fingers raised and the container raised
The label reading device, wherein the container is rotated by 0 degree, and the upper limit number of the recovery reading control is three times. 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when the container is gripped by the manipulator mechanism, the rotation angle of the manipulator mechanism is controlled so that the gap between the fingers on the rack matches the gap between the containers. A label reading device characterized in that: 7. An initial reading step of optically reading a label attached to the side surface of the container through a slit formed in the rack in a state where a plurality of containers are accommodated in the rack, and the initial reading step. For the containers for which the label could not be read by, lift the container and rotate it, then pull down the container into the rack and perform the recovery reading process to read the label again and the rack where the label orientation of each container is aligned. A label reading method comprising: a step of sending out to a step.