JP2006330987A - Optical information reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a whole optical system to be compact while having a sufficient marker light function. <P>SOLUTION: This optical information reading device is provided with an illumination optical system 13 for irradiating a reading object with the illumination rays of light shaped like a horizontal band, a light reception optical system 14 constituted of an imaging optical element 20 and a light reception sensor 19 for receiving reflected rays of light from the reading object, and for reading a barcode and a marker optical system 15 for irradiating the reading object with marker rays of light showing the reading position. The illumination optical system 13 is configured by arranging lens 22 for illumination and two LED 21 at the right and left parts of the imaging optical element 20. One lens 22 for illumination is configured as an optical member 23 with which a lens part 25 for a marker is integrated. The marker optical system 15 is configured of a marker light source 24 for emitting a laser beam L shaped like a thin beam through a clearance S1 between the LED 21 and a lens part 25 for a marker for emitting the laser beam L as marker rays of light shaped like a long and thin band. In this case, an optical axis P of the marker rays of light is positioned within the same optical plane as an illumination optical axis and the reading optical axis O of the light receiving optical system 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical information reader capable of reading a one-dimensional code such as a barcode.

  This type of handy type optical information reader (barcode reader) includes an illumination optical system that irradiates a reading object (a label on which a barcode is printed) with illumination light that is horizontally long, and a reading object. And a light receiving optical system that receives (images) reflected light from the light from a light receiving sensor such as a CCD sensor via an imaging lens. In recent years, optical information readers that can be read from a position distant from the reading object have been provided for ease of use. In this device, the reading object and the device (reading port) at the time of reading are provided. A marker optical system for irradiating marker light for indicating the reading position with respect to the reading object is provided for alignment between the two.

  FIG. 16 schematically shows the arrangement of each optical system in this type of conventional optical information reading apparatus. That is, in a main body case (not shown) having a horizontally long reading port at the tip (right side in the figure), an image forming optical system including a light receiving sensor 1 constituting a light receiving optical system and an image forming lens positioned in front of the light receiving sensor 1 An element 2 is provided, and an illumination optical system including a plurality of (in this case, a total of four) LEDs 3 and illumination lenses 4 and 4 disposed in front thereof is provided. At this time, the illumination optical system (the LED 3 and the illumination lens 4) is disposed on both the left and right sides of the imaging optical element 2 so as to be arranged horizontally. As a result, the illumination optical axis of the illumination light and the reading optical axis O of the light receiving optical system are arranged in the same optical plane (for example, a plane extending in the horizontal direction). It is possible to capture the image of the part.

  The marker optical system includes a marker light source 5 made of an LED or a laser diode, and an optical element 6 such as an imaging lens disposed in front of the marker light source 5 and slightly above the imaging optical element 2. It is arranged obliquely downward. This marker optical system irradiates, for example, a horizontally long band-shaped marker light to a reading target through a reading port. The user performs the reading operation while aligning the marker light so as to cross the barcode to be read in the horizontal width direction.

  However, in the above-described conventional configuration, the optical axis P of the marker light and the reading optical axis O of the light receiving optical system intersect at a minute angle θ. Therefore, when the distance to the reading target changes, the marker light This causes a problem in that the position of the main body case cannot be accurately aligned with the reading target at the time of reading. In particular, when the bar code has a small height, there is a possibility that the actual reading line of the light receiving optical system may be off the bar code even if the bar code is aligned at the irradiation position of the marker light.

In order to solve such a problem, it is conceivable that the marker optical system (marker light source 5 and optical element 6) is provided so as to be further horizontally arranged with respect to the imaging optical element 2 and the illumination optical system. As a result, the arrangement (main body case) of the optical system increases in size in the width direction. Therefore, in Patent Document 1, a special LED light source is used so that illumination light (illumination optical system) is also used as marker light (marker optical system) to solve the above-mentioned problem. Is described.
JP 2002-125096 A

  However, as the marker light, it is desired that the light is narrowed down into a uniform thin band that is easy for the user to visually recognize. However, as described above, illumination light using an LED as a light source is also used as the marker light. In the configuration, it is difficult to uniformly narrow the narrow beam suitable for the marker light while maintaining the necessary light quantity as the illumination light, and it is not sufficient to fulfill the function as the marker light. In addition, since a special LED light source is used, there is a problem that the cost increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a marker optical system that emits marker light for alignment at the time of reading, so that the function as marker light is sufficiently exhibited. An optical information reading apparatus capable of arranging the entire optical system in a compact manner is possible.

  The optical information reader according to the present invention is configured such that the illumination optical axis of the illumination light irradiated by the illumination optical system is arranged in the same optical plane as the read optical axis of the light receiving optical system. A marker optical system for irradiating a marker light for indicating a reading position with respect to an object, a gap between illumination light sources arranged behind the illumination light source and arranged in the horizontal direction, or an imaging optical element A marker light source that emits through a gap between the illumination light source and the marker light from the marker light source arranged in front of the illumination light source is expanded in the reading width direction in the same optical plane as the illumination optical axis and the reading optical axis. It is characterized by comprising a marker optical element which is a strip-shaped marker light or a plurality of dot-shaped marker lights arranged in the width direction (invention of claim 1).

  According to this, since the illumination optical axis of the illumination light and the reading optical axis of the light receiving optical system are arranged in the same optical plane, an image of a portion of the reading target that has been irradiated with the illumination light is received by the light receiving optical system. It can be taken in more reliably. Then, in the marker optical system, the marker light emitted from the marker light source is expanded in the reading width direction in the same optical plane as the illumination optical axis and the reading optical axis by the marker optical element, and in the band shape or the width direction. A plurality of dot-shaped marker lights are arranged and irradiated on the reading target.

  In this case, since the light source of the marker light is provided separately from the illumination light source, it is possible to employ a marker light having excellent visibility, and the optical axis of the marker light and the reading optical axis are the same optical. By arranging in the target plane, the irradiation position of the marker light can be matched with the reading position regardless of the distance to the reading target. Therefore, the function as the marker light can be sufficiently exerted, and the user can easily and accurately perform alignment at the time of reading.

  Moreover, in the marker optical system, the narrow beam-shaped marker light passes through the gap between the illumination light sources arranged in the horizontal direction or the gap between the imaging optical element and the illumination light source. The gap between the imaging optical element and the illumination light source can be small, and the marker light source and the marker optical element constituting the marker optical system can be arranged before and after the illumination light source, respectively. As a result, while the optical axis of the marker light can be arranged in the same optical plane as the reading optical axis and the illumination optical axis, the marker light source and the marker optical element can be arranged with respect to the imaging optical element and the illumination optical system. Further, it is not necessary to arrange them side by side, and the entire optical system can be arranged compactly.

  In the present invention, the terms “front” and “rear” refer not to a simple physical front-rear relationship but to a front-rear relationship with respect to the optical path. For example, the longer distance of the optical path from the reading target (reading port) is referred to as the rear. Further, a laser light source such as a laser diode can be adopted as the light source of the marker light, and the marker light with high visibility that is uniformly narrowed or narrowed down can be irradiated.

  In the present invention, the position between the marker light source and the marker optical element can be adjusted (invention of claim 2). Even if a positional deviation occurs between the marker light source and the marker optical element, the deviation can be corrected.

  The marker optical system can be configured to include an optical path bending member that bends the marker light emitted from the marker light source and then enters the marker optical element through the gap (invention of claim 3). While securing the optical path length from the marker light source to the marker optical element, the actual arrangement of the marker optical system can be made compact. In addition, a prism, a mirror, etc. are employable as an optical path bending member.

  The marker optical system may be configured to include a light guide member that is disposed in the gap portion and guides the marker light to the marker optical element through the gap (invention of claim 4). According to this, even if the gap between the illumination light sources arranged in the horizontal direction or the gap between the imaging optical element and the illumination light source is small, the marker light can be reliably passed, Positioning becomes easy and the assembling property can be improved. In addition, as the light guide member, a light guide made of a transparent plastic formed into an elongated rod shape, an optical fiber, or the like can be adopted.

  At this time, the light guide member can be configured as an elongated protrusion integrally provided on the marker optical element (invention of claim 5), and the number of parts can be reduced and the assemblability can be further improved. Can be planned.

  When both the optical path bending member and the light guide member for guiding the marker light to the marker optical element through the gap are provided, the light guide member can be provided integrally with the optical path bending member ( Invention of Claim 6). As a result, the number of parts can be reduced and the assemblability can be further improved.

  The light guide member may be provided with a positioning portion for positioning the mounting position of the illumination light source (invention of claim 7). The assembling property of the light guide member and the illumination light source can be improved.

  In the present invention, the marker optical element and the illumination lens can be configured as an integrated optical member (invention of claim 8). According to this, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and improve the assemblability.

  More specifically, the optical member is provided on the incident surface side with a diffusing portion that diffuses the illumination light to obtain a uniform illuminance distribution in the width direction, and the diffused illumination light is increased on the exit surface side. A condensing part that condenses light in the vertical direction and a marker enlargement part that enlarges the marker light in the reading width direction can be provided (invention of claim 9). Alternatively, the optical member is provided on the incident surface side with a condensing part for condensing the illumination light in the height direction, and the condensed illumination light is diffused on the exit surface side to obtain uniform illuminance in the width direction. A diffusing unit for distribution and a marker enlarging unit for enlarging the marker light in the reading width direction can be provided (invention of claim 10). In either case, the structure of the optical member can be made relatively simple while fulfilling the functions as the marker optical element and the illumination lens.

  Hereinafter, several embodiments embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In each of the embodiments described below, the present invention is applied to a handy type bar code reader (bar code handy terminal) that reads a bar code as a one-dimensional code.

(1) First Embodiment First, a first embodiment of the present invention (corresponding to claims 1, 2, 8, and 9) will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 3, the barcode reader 11 as an optical information reading apparatus according to the present embodiment has a vertically long shape with a size that can be operated by a user with one hand. Further, a reading mechanism for reading the barcode B recorded on the reading object R such as a label is arranged.

  As will be described in detail later, as shown in FIG. 1, the reading mechanism receives an illumination optical system 13 as an illuminating unit that irradiates illumination light toward the reading target R, and receives reflected light from the reading target R (imaging). Then, the light receiving optical system 14 as the light receiving means for reading the barcode B, and the marker optical system 15 as the marker light irradiating means for irradiating the reading target R with the marker light M indicating the reading position (see FIG. 3). It is configured with.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the front end surface of the main body case 12 is provided with a reading port 12a having a horizontally long rectangular shape and having translucency. A display unit 16 and a key operation unit 17 are provided on the upper surface of the main body case 12, and a trigger key 18 for reading instructions is provided on the left and right side surfaces of the main body case 12. Further, although not shown, the main body case 12 includes a control circuit for performing overall control and decoding processing of the read barcode B, a communication circuit for performing communication with the outside, and a driving power source. A secondary battery or the like is provided.

  Here, the optical systems 13, 14, 15 will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 1, the light receiving optical system 14 is disposed in front of the light receiving sensor 19 including a light receiving sensor 19 including, for example, a CCD area sensor disposed horizontally in the center portion of the main body case 12. The imaging optical element 20 is provided. Although not shown in detail, the imaging optical element 20 is configured, for example, by arranging a plurality of imaging lenses in a lens barrel. The reading optical axis O of the light receiving optical system 14 extends so that the center of the reading port 12a is orthogonal to the surface of the reading port 12a. The light receiving optical system 14 has a horizontally long reading field (reading range) F.

  The illumination optical system 13 is arranged symmetrically around the optical axis O on the left and right sides of the imaging optical element 20, and each includes a plurality of (for example, two) LEDs 21 as illumination light sources, And an illuminating lens 22 disposed in front thereof. The LEDs 21 are arranged side by side with a narrow gap S1 between them. The illumination lens 22 condenses and diffuses the light emitted from the LED 21, spreads it in the horizontal direction (reading width direction), and emits it as a strip-shaped illumination light in the vertical direction.

  Thereby, the illumination optical system 13 emits illumination light forward (to the right in FIG. 1) from the reading port 12a, and the reading object R is more than the reading field F of the light receiving optical system 14 with respect to the reading target R. A relatively wide range is irradiated with illumination light that is long in the reading width direction. The illumination optical axes of the illumination lights emitted from the left and right illumination lenses 22 are positioned in the same optical plane as the optical plane including the reading optical axis O of the light receiving optical system 14. Yes. The illumination light is turned on when the barcode B is read (when an image is captured).

  At this time, in this embodiment, among the left and right illumination lenses 22, the light emitted from the LED 21 is condensed and diffused for the right illumination lens 22 (the back side in FIG. 1), and the reading width direction. The illumination lens 22 on the left side (front side in FIG. 1) is configured as an optical member 23 integrated with a marker optical element to be described later. It has become so. Details of the shapes of the illumination lens 22 and the optical member 23 will be described later.

  The marker optical system 15 includes a marker light source 24 and a marker optical element disposed in front of the marker light source 24. The marker light source 24 is composed of, for example, a laser diode that emits red laser light with good visibility, and outputs a thin beam of laser light L as marker light toward the front. The marker optical element is composed of a lens for enlarging a thin beam-shaped laser beam L in the lateral (reading width) direction and emitting it as a strip-shaped marker beam M elongated in the lateral direction. Thus, the marker lens portion 25 is provided integrally with the optical member 23.

  In the present embodiment, the marker light source 24 is provided on the left side (front side in FIG. 1) of the two LEDs 21 and 21 arranged slightly behind (left side in FIG. 1) and correspondingly between them. L is disposed at a position where the light is emitted through a gap S1 between the LEDs 21 and 21. The marker lens portion 25 (optical member 23) is provided slightly in front of the two LEDs 21 and 21 arranged side by side. As a result, the laser light L emitted from the marker light source 24 is converted into a horizontally long strip-shaped marker light M by the marker lens unit 25 and emitted forward from the reading port 12a. As shown in FIG. The marker light M is irradiated to the object R.

  At this time, the optical axis P of the marker light M emitted from the marker optical system 15 is positioned in the same optical plane as the illumination optical axis and the reading optical axis O of the light receiving optical system 14. . Thereby, the irradiation range of the marker light M with respect to the reading target R is substantially matched with the reading visual field F of the light receiving optical system 14, for example. The marker light source 24 is always lit (or blinked) when the barcode reader 11 is powered on, except when the barcode B image is captured, and the marker light M is emitted continuously (or intermittently). It has come to be.

  Although not shown in detail, the marker light source 24 (laser diode) is mounted on the substrate together with the imaging optical element 20, the plurality of LEDs 21, the illumination lens 22, and the optical member 23. The substrate is attached to the substrate in the vertical direction (the direction indicated by the arrow a in FIG. 1B) so that the position can be finely adjusted. Thus, the position (vertical direction position) between the marker light source 24 and the marker lens portion 25 (optical member 23) can be adjusted. For example, the marker at the time of assembly The vertical deviation of the optical axis between the light source 24 and the marker lens unit 25 can be easily corrected.

  Now, the illumination lens 22 and the optical member 23 will be described with reference to FIG. First, as shown in FIG. 1, the illumination lens 22 is a so-called kamaboko-shaped lens having a cylindrical surface on the front side of a horizontally long rectangular parallelepiped (square bar). More specifically, the incident surface side is formed by alternately forming a large number of fine irregularities extending in the vertical direction on the surface of the flat surface, and diffuses the incident light from the LED 21 to obtain a substantially uniform illuminance distribution in the horizontal direction. Is a diffusion part 22a (referred to as a lenticular or diffuser). At the same time, the exit surface side is a cylindrical surface that bulges forward in a curved shape, and serves as a condensing portion 22b that condenses and emits the diffused illumination light in the height direction.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the optical member 23 is configured as a horizontally long lens in which the illumination lens 22 and the marker lens portion 25 are integrated as described above. The illumination lens 22 having the above-described shape is divided into two at the center, left and right, and the marker lens portion 25 is sandwiched therebetween. The marker lens unit 25 has a curved incident surface on the incident surface side, which is a flat incident surface 25a on which the laser light L from the marker light source 24 is simply incident, and the emission surface side is concave inward when viewed in the vertical direction. None, the marker enlargement portion 25b for expanding and emitting the laser beam L in the lateral direction. The diffuser portions 22a are respectively provided on the incident surface side and the condensing portions 22b are provided on the exit surface side, respectively, on the left and right sides of the marker lens portion 25, so that the incident light from the LED 21 is laterally transmitted. The illumination lens 22 is configured to be spread in the vertical direction and to be emitted as thin strip-shaped illumination light in the vertical direction.

  Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. When the barcode B is read by the barcode reader 11, the user holds the main body case 12 away from the reading object R by an appropriate distance (before and after the reference reading distance), and the reading port 12a is moved to the horizontally long barcode B. Is oriented so as to be substantially parallel to the read object R recorded. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the marker optical system 15 irradiates the reading target R with the horizontally long band-shaped marker light M (red light) through the reading port 12 a.

  Therefore, the user aligns the main body case 12 so that the marker light M crosses, for example, substantially the center in the vertical direction of the barcode B, and turns on the trigger key 18. Then, after the marker light M is extinguished, this time, the illumination optical system 13 irradiates the barcode B with the horizontally long strip-shaped illumination light through the reading port 12a, and the reflected light from the barcode B enters through the reading port 12a. Then, an image is formed on the light receiving sensor 19 through the imaging optical element 20, and the barcode B is read.

  At this time, by adopting the laser light L as the light source of the marker light M, it is possible to irradiate the marker light M that is uniformly narrowed and highly visible, and the optical axis P of the marker light M and the reading optical axis. By arranging O in the same optical plane, the irradiation position of the marker light M can coincide with the reading position regardless of the distance to the reading object R. Therefore, the function as the marker light M can be sufficiently exhibited, and the user can easily and accurately perform alignment at the time of reading.

  In the marker optical system 15, since the thin beam-like laser light L emitted from the marker light source 24 passes through the gap S <b> 1 between the LEDs 21 arranged in the horizontal direction, the LEDs 21 that serve as the illumination light source of the illumination optical system 13. The gap S1 between them can be small, and the marker light source 24 and the marker lens portion 25 constituting the marker optical system 15 can be arranged before and after the LEDs 21, respectively. As a result, while the optical axis of the marker light M can be arranged in the same optical plane as the reading light O and the illumination optical axis, the marker light source 24 and the marker optical element are replaced with the imaging optical element 20 and the illumination optical system. Thus, it was not necessary to arrange them side by side with respect to 13, and the entire optical system could be arranged in a compact manner.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, since the optical axis P of the marker light and the reading optical axis O of the light receiving optical system intersect at a minute angle θ, the irradiation position of the marker light changes when the distance to the reading object changes. Unlike the conventional one that fluctuates in the vertical direction, the irradiation position of the marker light M can be made coincident with the reading position regardless of the distance to the reading object R. In addition, it is not necessary to use a special LED light source for the marker light source 24, and the marker light M with good visibility can be irradiated. At this time, the arrangement (main body case 12) of the optical systems 13, 14, and 15 does not increase in size in the width direction.

  As a result, according to the present embodiment, the marker optical system 15 for irradiating the marker light M for alignment at the time of reading is provided, and the function as the marker light M can be sufficiently exhibited. In addition, it is possible to obtain an excellent effect that the entire optical systems 13, 14, and 15 can be arranged in a compact manner. In particular, in this embodiment, the marker optical element (marker lens portion 25) and the illumination lens 22 are configured as an integrated optical member 23, so that the number of components can be reduced and the assemblability can be improved. In addition, the configuration of the optical member 23 can be completed relatively easily.

(2) Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention (corresponding to claims 1, 2, 8, and 9) will be described with reference to FIGS. In each of the embodiments described below, the configuration other than the illumination optical system and the marker optical system is the same as that in the first embodiment. Detailed description will be omitted, and only differences from the first embodiment will be described.

  The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the configuration of the illumination optical system 31 and the marker optical system 32. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the illumination optical system 31 includes two LEDs 21 as illumination light sources respectively disposed on the left and right sides of the imaging optical element 20, and the right side (in FIG. The illumination lens 22 is disposed on the left side, and the optical member 33 is disposed on the left side (front side in FIG. 4). The optical member 33 is formed by integrating the illumination lens 22 and the marker lens unit 25 as a marker optical element.

  The marker optical system 32 also includes a marker light source 24 that outputs a thin beam of laser light L forward, and a marker lens unit 25 that is disposed in front of the marker light source 24 and integrated with the optical member 33. It is configured with. The marker lens unit 25 includes a lens for enlarging a narrow beam of laser light L in the lateral (reading width) direction and emitting it as a strip-shaped marker light M elongated in the lateral direction. At this time, in this embodiment, the marker light source 24 is provided slightly rearward (left side in FIG. 1) between the imaging optical element 20 and the LED 21 positioned on the left side (front side in FIG. 1). The laser light L is emitted through a gap S2 between the imaging optical element 20 and the LED 21. At this time as well, fine position adjustment is possible in the vertical direction (arrow a direction).

  As shown in FIG. 5, the optical member 33 is also provided at the end of one side (imaging optical element 20 side) of the illumination lens 22 having the shape described in the first embodiment. It is comprised in the form which has the part 25 integrally. Therefore, the optical member 33 diffuses the incident light from the LED 21 on the incident surface side so as to obtain a substantially uniform illuminance distribution in the lateral direction, and from the marker light source 24. A flat incident surface 25a on which laser light L is simply incident; a condensing portion 22b that condenses and emits diffused illumination light in the height direction on the output surface side; It has a marker enlargement part 25b that enlarges and emits in the direction.

  According to the configuration of the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the marker optical system 32 for irradiating the marker light M for alignment at the time of reading is provided. While the function as the light M can be sufficiently exhibited, an excellent effect that the entire optical systems 31, 14, and 32 can be arranged in a compact manner can be obtained. Further, since the marker optical element (marker lens portion 25) and the illumination lens 22 are configured as an integrated optical member 33, the number of components can be reduced and the assemblability can be improved. The structure of the member 33 can also be completed relatively easily.

(3) Third and Fourth Embodiments FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of the present invention (corresponding to claim 3), and FIG. 7 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention (claim). 3). In the third and fourth embodiments, the configuration of the marker optical systems 41 and 42 is different from that of the first embodiment, and the marker optical systems 41 and 42 are emitted from a marker light source 43 formed of a laser diode. After the laser beam L is bent, the optical path bending member is made to enter the marker lens portion 25 of the optical member 23 through the gap S1.

  That is, in the marker optical system 41 of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the marker light source 43 is slightly below the rear side of the LEDs 21 and 21, which are arranged in two on the left side (front side in the drawing) of the imaging optical element 20. On the side, the laser beam L is emitted upward. A prism 44 as an optical path bending member is provided above the marker light source 43 and slightly behind the LEDs 21 and 21. The prism 44 bends the laser beam L emitted upward from the marker light source 43 at a right angle toward the front by the reflecting surface on the inner surface side of the inclined surface, and passes through the gap S1 between the LEDs 21 and 21 to the optical member 23 ( It is provided so as to be incident on the marker lens portion 25). Although not shown, the prism 44 is provided such that the position in the front-rear direction (arrow b direction) can be finely adjusted.

  In the marker optical system 42 of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 7, instead of the prism 44 in the third embodiment, a mirror 45 as an optical path bending member is provided with an angle of 45 degrees. Is. Also in this case, the laser beam L emitted upward from the marker light source 43 by the mirror 45 is bent at a right angle toward the front, passes through the gap S1 between the LEDs 21, 21, and the optical member 23 (marker lens unit). 25). Although not shown, the mirror 45 is provided so that the position in the front-rear direction (arrow b direction) can be finely adjusted.

  According to the third and fourth embodiments, similar to the first embodiment, the marker optical systems 41 and 42 for irradiating the marker light M for alignment at the time of reading are provided. Thus, while the function as the marker light M can be sufficiently exhibited, it is possible to obtain an excellent effect that the entire optical system can be arranged in a compact manner. By providing the prism 44 and the mirror 45 as the optical path bending member, the optical path length from the marker light source 43 to the optical member 23 (marker lens unit 25) is secured, while the marker optical systems 41 and 42 are provided. The advantage that the actual arrangement can be made compact can be obtained.

  In the third and fourth embodiments, the laser beam L bent by the optical path bending member is not passed through the gap S1 between the LEDs 21 and 21, but as in the second embodiment. It is also possible to configure so as to pass the gap S2 between the imaging optical element 20 and the LED 21. Further, the prism 44 and the mirror 45 may be provided so that the position in the up-down direction (arrow a direction) can be finely adjusted instead of the position in the front-rear direction (arrow b direction).

(4) Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Embodiments FIG. 8 shows a fifth embodiment (corresponding to claim 4) of the present invention. The marker optical system 51 in the fifth embodiment includes a marker light source 24 and a marker lens unit 25 (optical member 23), and is disposed in a gap S1 portion between the LEDs 21 and 21, and emits light from the marker light source 24. The light guide member 52 is configured to guide the laser beam L thus guided to the marker lens portion 25 of the optical member 23 through the gap S1. At this time, for example, an optical fiber is employed as the light guide member 52.

  According to the fifth embodiment, like the first embodiment, the marker optical system 51 for irradiating the marker light M for alignment at the time of reading is provided. As a result, it is possible to obtain an excellent effect such as that the entire optical system can be arranged in a compact manner. And even if the clearance S1 between the LEDs 21 and 21 is small, the laser light L can be surely passed by the light guide member 52, and the positioning at the time of assembling becomes easy and the assembling property is improved. It can be made to. Of course, the light guide member 52 may be provided in the gap S2 between the imaging optical element 20 and the LED 21, and the laser light L may be passed therethrough.

  FIG. 9 shows a sixth embodiment (corresponding to claim 5) of the present invention. In this sixth embodiment, the configuration of the optical member 53 is different from that of the optical member 23 of the first embodiment. ing. That is, the optical member 53 condenses and diffuses the light emitted from the LED 21, and illuminates the lens 22 for illumination which is long in the reading width direction, and the thin beam-shaped laser light L emitted from the marker light source 24. The marker lens unit 25 that is enlarged in the reading width direction and emitted as a strip-shaped marker light M that is elongated in the lateral direction is integrally provided. Here, the laser light L is further emitted from the LEDs 21 and 21. The light guide member 54 is integrally provided to guide the marker lens portion 25 of the optical member 53 through the gap S1.

  In this case, the light guide member 54 is formed of an elongated protrusion extending in a rod shape rearward from the central portion of the incident surface 25 a of the marker lens portion 25, and is integrally formed with the optical member 53. According to the sixth embodiment, the same operation and effect as the fifth embodiment can be obtained, and in addition, the number of parts can be reduced and the assemblability can be further improved. Can do.

  FIG. 10 shows a seventh embodiment (corresponding to claim 7) of the present invention, and the configuration of the optical member 55 is different from that of the optical member 53 of the sixth embodiment. That is, the optical member 55 is configured by integrally including the light guide member 54, and is further positioned at the lower portion of the light guide member 54 to position the mounting positions of the two LEDs 21. 56 is integrally formed.

  The positioning portion 56 is formed in a thin plate shape that extends from the lower portion of the light guide member 54 to the left and right (front and rear in the drawing), and has a concave portion that follows the lower shape of the LED 21 on its upper surface. According to such a 7th Example, the effect | action and effect similar to the said 6th Example can be acquired, and in addition to that, the assembly property of the light guide member 54 and LED21 can be improved. Is.

(5) Eighth and Ninth Embodiments FIG. 11 shows an eighth embodiment (corresponding to claim 6) of the present invention. The marker optical system 61 in the eighth embodiment includes a marker light source 43, an optical member 62, and a prism 63 as an optical path bending member. As in the third embodiment, the prism 63 bends the laser beam L emitted upward from the marker light source 43 at a right angle toward the front by the reflecting surface on the inner surface side of the inclined surface. 21 so as to be incident on the optical member 62 (marker lens portion 25) through the gap S1 between the two.

  The optical member 62 includes an illumination lens 22, a marker lens unit 25, and a light guide member 64 for guiding the laser light L to the marker lens unit 25 through the gap S 1 between the LEDs 21 and 21. Has been. Further, the prism 63 is integrally connected to the rear end portion of the light guide member 64.

  According to such a configuration, in addition to the same effects as in the first embodiment, the marker optical system 61 is actually used while securing the optical path length from the marker light source 43 to the optical member 62 (marker lens unit 25). Can be made compact, and even if the gap S1 between the LEDs 21 and 21 is small, the laser light L can be surely passed by the light guide member 64, and alignment during assembly can be achieved. It becomes easy and the assembling property can be improved. In addition, the number of parts can be reduced and the assemblability can be further improved.

  FIG. 12 shows a ninth embodiment (corresponding to claim 6) of the present invention. The marker optical system 65 in the ninth embodiment is configured to bend the laser light L emitted upward from the marker light source 43 at a right angle toward the front instead of the prism 63 in the eighth embodiment. A mirror 66 is provided as an optical path bending member for entering the optical member 62 (marker lens portion 25) through the gap S1 between the two members 21. At this time, the mirror 66 is provided by being held by a mirror holder 67, and the mirror holder 67 is attached to the inner surface from a transparent plastic material, for example, 45 degrees (or provided by a method such as aluminum vapor deposition). It is comprised in the box shape which has the following inclined surface.

  In this embodiment, the mirror holder 67 is provided integrally connected to the rear end portion of the light guide member 64 provided integrally with the optical member 62. At the same time, the marker light source 43 is attached to the lower surface side of the mirror holder 67. According to the ninth embodiment, the same operation and effect as in the eighth embodiment can be obtained. In addition, the marker light source 43 can be provided in alignment with the optical member 62. Assembling property can be further improved.

(6) Tenth to Twelfth Embodiments FIG. 13 shows a tenth embodiment (corresponding to claim 10) of the present invention, and the configuration of the optical member 71 is the optical member of the first embodiment. 23. That is, the optical member 71 includes a marker lens unit 72 that is positioned at the center and emits a narrow beam of laser light L in the lateral (reading width) direction and emits it as a strip-shaped marker light M that is elongated in the lateral direction. At the same time, an illumination lens 73 is provided that condenses and diffuses the light emitted from the LED 21 located on the left and right sides of the illumination light and makes the illumination light long in the reading width direction.

  In the illumination lens 73, the incident surface side is a cylindrical surface that bulges backward in a curved shape, and is a condensing portion 73a that condenses the light from the LED 21 in the height direction, and the exit surface side is a flat surface. In addition, a diffusing portion 73b (referred to as a lenticular or a diffuser) is formed by alternately forming a large number of fine irregularities extending in the vertical direction and diffusing the condensed illumination light to obtain a substantially uniform illuminance distribution in the horizontal direction. It is said that. In the marker lens portion 72, the incident surface side is a flat incident surface 72a on which the laser light L from the marker light source 24 is simply incident, and the emission surface side is a marker that expands and emits the laser light L in the lateral direction. The enlarged portion 72b is used. This marker enlarged portion 72b is called a lenticular or diffuser having a large number of fine irregularities extending alternately in the vertical direction, and is provided in an integrated form so as to be continuous with the diffusion portion 73b. .

  FIG. 14 shows a configuration of an optical member 74 according to an eleventh embodiment (corresponding to claim 10) of the present invention. The optical member 74 also has a marker lens portion 72 for expanding the narrow beam-like laser light L in the lateral (reading width) direction and emitting it as a strip-like marker light M elongated in the lateral direction, and the LEDs 21 and 21. And an illumination lens 73 that condenses and diffuses the light emitted from the light and makes the illumination light long in the reading width direction.

  In this embodiment, a marker lens portion 72 is provided at one end of the optical member 74 as in the second embodiment. Similar to the optical member 71 of the tenth embodiment, the optical member 74 has a condensing portion 73a and an incident surface 72a on the incident surface side, and a diffusing portion 73b and a marker enlarging portion on the output surface side. 72b. According to the tenth and eleventh embodiments as described above, the optical members 71 and 74 can be configured relatively easily while performing the functions as the marker lens portion 72 and the illumination lens 73.

  FIG. 15 shows a twelfth embodiment of the present invention, which is different from the first embodiment in the irradiation mode of the marker light M ′ for indicating the reading position. That is, here, a plurality of dots arranged in the reading width direction (the direction in which the barcode B extends) with respect to the reading object R, for example, three dot shapes (spot light shapes) indicating the center portion and the left and right end portions are used. ) Marker light M ′. Even in such a form, the user can easily and reliably perform alignment at the time of reading with the marker light M ′.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

The top view (a) and side view (b) which show the 1st Example of this invention and show arrangement | positioning of each component which comprises a reading mechanism. Plan view (a), side view (b), rear view (c), front view (d) showing the configuration of the optical member The figure which shows a mode that the marker light is irradiated to the reading object roughly FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention and is equivalent to FIG. 2 equivalent diagram FIG. 1 equivalent view showing a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 equivalent view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 equivalent view showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 equivalent view showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention FIG. 2 equivalent diagram showing a seventh embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 equivalent diagram showing an eighth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 equivalent view showing a ninth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 equivalent diagram showing a tenth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 equivalent diagram showing an eleventh embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the 12th Example of this invention and shows a mode that marker light was irradiated to the reading object. 1 equivalent diagram showing a conventional example

Explanation of symbols

In the drawing, 11 is a bar code reader (optical information reader), 12 is a main body case, 12a is a reading port, 13 and 31 are illumination optical systems, 14 is a light receiving optical system, 15, 32, 41, 42, 51, 61 and 65 are marker optical systems, 19 is a light receiving sensor, 20 is an imaging optical element, 21 is an LED (illumination light source), 22 and 73 are illumination lenses, 22a and 73b are diffusion units, and 22b and 73a are condensing units. , 23, 33, 53, 55, 62, 71, 74 are optical members, 24, 43 are marker light sources, 25, 72 are marker lens parts (marker optical elements), 25b, 72b are marker enlargement parts, 44, 63 is a prism (optical path bending member), 45 and 66 are mirrors (optical path bending members), 52, 54 and 64 are light guide members, 56 is a positioning portion, R is a reading target, and B is a bar code (one-dimensional code). ), M and M ′ are marker lights, Optical axis reading, L is the optical axis of the laser beam, P is the marker light, the S1, S2 indicates the gap.

Claims (10)

An illumination optical system for irradiating light emitted from one or a plurality of illumination light sources toward an object to be read in which a one-dimensional code is written as illumination light long in the reading width direction by an illumination lens arranged in front of the illumination lens; ,
A light receiving optical system that receives reflected light from the reading object through a focusing optical element by a light receiving sensor;
An optical information reading apparatus comprising a marker optical system that irradiates marker light indicating a reading position with respect to the reading object,
The illumination optical axis of the illumination light is configured to be disposed in the same optical plane as the reading optical axis of the light receiving optical system,
The marker optical system is disposed behind the illumination light source, and emits a narrow beam of marker light through a gap between the illumination light sources arranged in a lateral direction or a gap between the imaging optical element and the illumination light source. A marker light source;
The marker light is arranged in front of the illumination light source, and the marker light from the marker light source is enlarged in the reading width direction in the same optical plane as the illumination optical axis and the reading optical axis to form a band-shaped marker light or in the width direction. An optical information reading device comprising a plurality of marker optical elements that serve as a plurality of dot-shaped marker lights arranged in a row.   The optical information reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position between the marker light source and the marker optical element can be adjusted.   2. The marker optical system includes an optical path bending member that bends marker light emitted from the marker light source and causes the marker light to enter the marker optical element through the gap. Or the optical information reader according to 2 above.   The said marker optical system is provided with the light guide member arrange | positioned in the said clearance gap part, and guide | inducing the said marker light to the said optical element for markers through this clearance gap. Optical information reader.   5. The optical information reading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the light guide member is configured as an elongated protrusion provided integrally with the marker optical element.   The marker optical system includes a light guide member that is disposed in the gap portion and guides the marker light to the marker optical element through the gap, and the light guide member is provided integrally with the optical path bending member. The optical information reader according to claim 3, wherein the optical information reader is provided.   The optical information reading device according to claim 5, wherein the light guide member includes a positioning portion for positioning a mounting position of the illumination light source.   The optical information reader according to claim 1, wherein the marker optical element and the illumination lens are configured as an integral optical member.   The optical member has a diffusing portion that diffuses the illumination light on the incident surface side to obtain a uniform illuminance distribution in the width direction, and condenses the diffused illumination light in the height direction on the exit surface side. The optical information reading device according to claim 8, further comprising: a condensing unit that performs and a marker enlarging unit that expands the marker light in a reading width direction. The optical member has a condensing part that condenses the illumination light in the height direction on the incident surface side, and diffuses the condensed illumination light on the exit surface side to obtain uniform illuminance in the width direction. 9. The optical information reading apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: a diffusing unit for distribution; and a marker enlarging unit for enlarging the marker light in a reading width direction.

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