JP2009093424A - Data code reader - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data code reader, which notifies a user of a moving direction on a display device when moving a data code label attached to a commodity and having a bar code or the like printed thereon to a reading position of a reading window by a laser scanner device. <P>SOLUTION: The data code reader 1 comprises a scanner mechanism 20 provided within the laser scanner device 4 and emitting a laser light emitted from a light source downwardly to the vertical reading window 18; a video camera 30 attached downwardly along the outer surface of the reading window 18; and an area display part 13 which displays an image taken by the video camera 30 on a part of a screen of a display device 10. The reading window 18, the video camera 30 and the area display part 13 are disposed so as to be at least partially aligned in the vertical direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a data code reader that easily inputs data by reading information of a data code label attached to a product with a laser scanner device.

  In a conventional data code reader, as shown in Patent Document 1, for example, a barcode scanner case is attached to a top surface of a checkout counter by a support column. A laser beam irradiation optical system is provided inside the case, and a translucent reading window is provided above the outer wall. The laser light irradiation optical system irradiates laser light emitted from a light source upward from below toward a reading window located above the reflecting mirror via a condenser lens, a rotating polygon mirror, and a reflecting mirror.

  The laser light reflected from the label printed with the barcode enters the case through the reading window, passes through the reflecting mirror, rotary polygon mirror, and condenser mirror, and is received by the photoelectric conversion element. Data such as the product code on the code label is read. Further, a small video camera for photographing the reading position of the reading window from below to above is provided inside the case toward the laser beam reflected from the label.

  Then, in order to actually read the sales information of the product with the laser light irradiation optical system and register the sales, when the barcode label attached or fixed to the product is approached from the outside to the reading window of the barcode scanner The reading position in the reading window is photographed by the small video camera, and the barcode is displayed on the display. Accordingly, it is described that the cashier can move the barcode label to a reading position where the entire barcode is projected while looking at the display.

As a result, the product information on the barcode label at the reading position in front of the reading window is read by the laser light irradiation optical system and is input to the data code reading device as sales registration information.
JP 2000-322505 A (page 3, FIG. 2)

  In the conventional data code reader, in order to make the barcode label integrated with the product coincide with the reading position of the reading window, the cashier needs to move in the left-right direction, the up-down direction, and the front-back direction while looking at the display. It was not easy to determine the moving direction instantaneously.

  That is, when the barcode label attached to the product is moved close to the reading window and moved to the vicinity of the reading position, the laser beam is emitted from the lower side toward the reading window located obliquely upward, so that it is attached to the product. It is necessary to turn the printed label diagonally downward. For this reason, it is necessary to bring the label on the back side of the product and invisible from the operator's view close to the reading position, which is not easy.

  Also, when the cashier moves the label integrated with the product little by little closer to the reading position, the horizontal and vertical directions for moving the label together with the product match the horizontal and vertical directions of the image projected on the display. However, the inexperienced cashier is not easy to match the label to the reading position. Further, there is a possibility that the laser beam irradiated from the lower side toward the reading window from the reflecting mirror may enter the eyes of the cashier and cause a trouble.

  The present invention has been made for the above circumstances, and in order to move a data code label attached to a product and printed with a barcode or the like to a reading position of a reading window, the moving direction is immediately changed while looking at a display device. The purpose is to be able to decide.

  The present invention relates to a data code reader comprising a checkout counter capable of placing a commodity for sale, a laser scanner device provided above the checkout counter, and a display device provided above the laser scanner device. And a scanner mechanism for irradiating laser light emitted from a light source, which is provided inside the laser scanner device, from above to below toward a reading window that is a vertical surface, and from above to below along the outer surface of the reading window. A video camera that is attached to the display device, and a region display unit that displays an image captured by the video camera on a part of the screen of the display device, and includes the reading window, the video camera, and the region display unit. The data code reading device is characterized in that at least a part thereof is arranged in the vertical direction.

  In the present invention, the data code label attached to the product can be easily moved to the reading position of the reading window while viewing the actual data code and the video of the video camera projected on the display device. did.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the data code reading device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a data code reader 1 of the present invention. The data code reader 1 includes a checkout counter 5 having a plurality of storage units 2 and drawers 3 at the bottom, and the upper surface of the checkout counter 5 is a smooth surface as a whole. In addition, a scanner box 6 of the laser scanner device 4 is provided behind the central portion of the upper surface of the checkout counter 5, and shopping baskets 7 can be horizontally moved on both sides of the scanner box 6. Is placed

  A cashier display device 10 and a customer display device 11 each having a liquid crystal screen are attached to the upper portion of the scanner box 6. The display screen 10 for the cashier has a display screen directed forward at an elevation angle of about 45 degrees, and the display device 11 for the customer is directed backward with the display screen substantially vertical. Each of these display devices 10 and 11 can be slightly changed in the vertical direction.

  Furthermore, the cashier display device 10 is divided into at least a first area 12 and a second area 13 as shown in FIG. 2, and can display different contents. A center line 8 extending in the vertical direction is printed at the center of the second region 13 in the horizontal direction. The center line 8 is not formed by such printing, but can be provided by a part of the video displayed on the screen.

  In addition, a keyboard 15 having a large number of keys such as a numeric keypad and various product registration keys is integrally provided adjacent to the cashier display device 10. Further, on one side of the keyboard 15, a card insertion slit 16 is provided in the front-rear direction for communicating with various cards to read or write data.

  On the other hand, a rectangular opening 17 is provided on the front surface of the scanner box 6, and a reading window 18 having a transparent glass plate attached in the vertical direction is fixed to the opening 17. The reading window 18 is located directly below the second region 13. In addition, a scanner mechanism 20 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is built in the scanner box 6. The scanner mechanism 20 irradiates laser light emitted from a light source 19 onto a rotating polygon mirror 22 rotated by a motor 21, and laser light whose angle is gradually changed from the rotating polygon mirror 22 to a fixed reflecting mirror 23. The laser beam reflected toward and reflected from the fixed reflecting mirror 23 passes through the reading window 18 from the upper side to the lower side, and irradiates the front side of the reading window 18 within a predetermined reading range 14. When the data code label 25 affixed to the product 24 is located within the predetermined reading range 14, the product information printed on the data code label 25 with a barcode or the like is read.

  Although not shown, the scanner mechanism 20 receives a reflected light from the data code label 25 irradiated with the laser beam and reflects the reflected light, and the direction of the reflected light from the collecting mirror. The photoelectric conversion element 26 shown in FIG. 4 that receives the optical signal from the reflecting mirror for conversion and receives the optical signal from the reflecting mirror and converts it into an electrical signal is provided inside the scanner box 6. The laser scanner device 4 configured in this way is already known.

  Next, the video camera 30 that captures the data code label 25 will be described with reference to FIGS. The video camera 30 is attached to the lower portion of the cashier display device 10 located outside and above the reading window 18. The video camera 30 is directed from the upper side to the lower side of the reading window 18, and is arranged so that the data code label 25 attached to the product 24 passing in front of the reading window 18 and its surroundings are photographed.

  Next, a control circuit for electrically controlling the data code reader 1 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

  The microcomputer 40 includes a CPU 41 that is a central control device, a ROM 42 that stores fixed data such as a program, and a RAM 43 that stores variable data in a rewritable manner, and is connected by a bus line 44. Further, a communication I / F (interface) 47 for performing data communication with another computer is connected via the bus line 44.

  Further, the bus line 44 includes a keyboard control circuit 50 for controlling the keyboard 15 by a signal from a POS terminal 48 described later, and a display control circuit for controlling display screens of the cashier display device 10 and the customer display device 11. 51, an image processing device 52 that controls the video camera 30 that takes a picture including the periphery of the data code label 25 is connected.

  Further, the bus line 44 controls the light emission control circuit 53 that controls the light emission of the laser light source 19 provided in the laser scanner device 20 and the mirror motor 21 that rotates the rotary polygon mirror 22 that reflects the laser light in multiple ways. A motor control circuit 54 for performing the operation and a photoelectric conversion control circuit 55 for changing the information of the photoelectric conversion element 26 that has received the reflected light from the data code label 25 into an electric signal are connected.

  The bus line 44 is connected to a POS terminal 48 for settlement of sales of the sale merchandise 24. The sales that are input from the laser scanner device 4 or the keyboard 15 and registered as data are settled by the POS terminal 48.

  Next, in the operating state of the data code reading device 1, a case will be specifically described in which the information of the product 24 purchased by the customer is input and registered, and the settlement process is performed upon receiving payment from the customer.

  In FIG. 1, first, the customer or cashier places the shopping basket 7 containing the purchased product 24 on the right side of the scanner box 6 provided at the top of the checkout counter 5. The cashier places an empty shopping basket 7 on the left side of the scanner box 6 in advance.

  The video camera 30 in a state in which it can be read by the laser scanner device 4 is directed to the lower side of the reading window 18, so that the upper surface of the checkout counter 5 is placed at both sides of the scanner box 6 on the left and right sides. The bottoms of the two shopping baskets 7 are photographed and displayed on the second area 13 of the display device 10 as shown in FIG.

  In this state, the cashier takes out one product 24 from the shopping basket 7 on the right side and directs it toward the reading window 18 obliquely rearward while looking at the data code label 25 attached. At this time, the video camera 30 shoots the surface of the product 24 on which the data code label 25 is affixed, and displays this image on the second area 13 which is the operation state display area of the cashier display device 10.

  While looking at this screen display, the cashier is placed in front of the reading window 18 so that the data code label 25 is positioned between the two shopping baskets 7 that are the center of the second area 13 of the display device 10. 24 can be moved back and forth and left and right. At this time, the position of the reading window 18 and the second region 13 can be adjusted so as to overlap with the center line 8 while looking at the actual data code label 25 while viewing it.

  In this case, the data code label 25, the reading window 18, and the second area 13 are located in front of the center of the cashier, and the positions of the reading window 18, the video camera 30, and the second area 13 of the display device 10 are vertically moved. Because of the positional relationship, the cashier moves the line of sight vertically while moving the line of sight with the product 24 and moves the data code label 25 with respect to the center line 8 of the second region 13 easily. be able to.

  Even during this movement, the scanner mechanism 20 of the laser scanner device 4 rotates the rotary polygon mirror 22 and irradiates the laser beam from the upper side toward the lower reading window 18. The range in which the barcode printed on the data code label 25 by this laser beam can be read is in front of the reading window 18, and the entire barcode is scanned from the vertical, horizontal and diagonal directions. 14

  The reflected light of the barcode entering the laser light irradiation range is received by the photoelectric conversion element 26 via a reflecting mirror, a rotating polygon mirror, and a condensing mirror (not shown) and converted into an electrical signal to become product information. During this time, the bar code is instantaneously read a plurality of times, and when the read data matches several times, the product name and price are displayed in the first area 12 of the display device 10 as correct data.

  The data code label 25, the reading window 18, the second area 13 and the first area 12 of the display device 10 are all positioned in the up and down direction in front of the center of the cashier. Since the data code label 25 can be positioned while viewing the visual image displayed in the area 13, the cashier can read the product data very smoothly and immediately above the second area 13. By looking at the product information displayed in the first area 12, it is possible to confirm completion of correct data input.

  After the cashier confirms the data input of one product 24, the product 24 is passed through the front of the reading window 18 and then stored in the left shopping basket 7. Thereafter, by repeating the same operation, the information of the data code labels 25 attached to all the products 24 can be input one after another.

  When the input of all sales products 24 is completed, the registration work is finished by operating the end key of the keyboard 15, and the total sales amount is calculated by pressing the closing key provided on the POS terminal 48. Then, the sales are received from the customer by cash, electronic money, gift certificate, etc., and the settlement work is completed.

  In the above embodiment, the video camera is attached to the display device at the upper part of the reading window, but instead of this video camera, a reflector or prism as an image intermediate is attached at this position and reflected by this reflector or prism. Alternatively, the refracted image can be taken by a video camera attached at another position and displayed on the second area of the display device. With these video intermediates and video camera, as in the previous embodiment, while looking at the data code label displayed in the display area, the actual data code label is moved to the reading range with the same feeling. Can be made.

  For veteran cashiers who do not need to read the label while referring to the video from the video camera, a switch that does not display the video from the video camera is provided, and the data code can be read without relying on the video by turning this switch off. Input by the device can be performed.

  Furthermore, the data code label attached to the product is not limited to the bar code label, and can be used for a data code reading device using a label attached with a two-dimensional code or the like.

  As described above, the present invention can be applied to various types of data code readers without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

1 is a perspective view of a data code reader according to the present invention. Example 1 It is a front view showing a part of data code reading device shown in FIG. It is a partial cross section figure showing the side surface of the data code reader shown in FIG. It is a block diagram showing the electrical connection in the data code reader shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Data code reader
4 Laser scanner device
5 Checkout counter
10 Display device
12 1st area (area display part)
13 Second area (area display section)
18 Reading window
20 Scanner mechanism
24 products
25 Data code label
30 video camera

Claims (5)

In a data code reader comprising a checkout counter capable of placing a commercial product, a laser scanner device provided above the checkout counter, and a display device provided above the laser scanner device,
A scanner mechanism that is provided inside the laser scanner device and irradiates laser light emitted from a light source from the upper side to the lower side toward a reading window having a vertical surface, and from the upper side to the lower side along the outer surface of the reading window. An attached video camera; and an area display unit that displays an image captured by the video camera on a part of a screen of the display device; and at least one of the reading window, the video camera, and the area display unit. A data code reading device, wherein the units are arranged in the vertical direction. In a data code reader comprising a checkout counter capable of placing a commercial product, a laser scanner device provided above the checkout counter, and a display device provided above the laser scanner device,
A scanner mechanism that is provided inside the laser scanner device and irradiates laser light emitted from a light source from the upper side to the lower side toward a reading window having a vertical surface; and a data code label irradiated with laser light from the reading window. A video intermediate that bends or reflects video, a video camera that captures video via the video intermediate, and a region display that displays video captured by the video camera on part of the screen of the display device; A data code reading apparatus, wherein at least a part of the reading window, the image intermediate, and the area display unit are arranged in the vertical direction.   3. The data code reader according to claim 2, wherein the image intermediate is a reflecting mirror or prism that reflects or refracts the image of the data code label.   The video camera is configured such that the checkout counter can place a shopping basket on at least one side of both sides of the reading window, and an image of at least a part of the shopping basket is displayed on the video display unit. The data code reader according to claim 1, wherein the data code reader is attached.   5. The display device according to claim 1, wherein a product information area display unit is provided above the area display unit, and at least a product name and a product price are displayed on the product information area display unit. A data code reader according to any one of the above.

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