JP2020129330A - Commodity information reader - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a commodity information reader capable of transmitting notification contents regardless of a position of eyes of a customer.SOLUTION: A light emitted from a notification LED (light emitting unit) that emits light in a pattern according to an operating state of a scanner enters an incidence surface (incidence portion). The light incident on the incidence surface is guided inside a light guide (light guide portion). Then, the light guided through the light guide is emitted from a first emission surface (emission portion) and a second emission surface (emission portion), which are provided at a corner between a reading window (first surface) of a scanner housing and the top surface (second surface) adjacent to the reading window. The light emitted from the first emission surface is emitted in the direction of the reading window. The light emitted from the second emission surface is emitted in the direction of the top surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a product information reading device.

When purchasing a product at a store, the number of cases where the customer himself/herself registers the product to be purchased is increasing. For example, the merchandise to be purchased is held by a scanner that reads merchandise information, and the merchandise is registered by causing the scanner to read a code symbol such as a barcode attached to the merchandise. Recently, there is also an example in which a scanner captures an image of a covered product and recognizes the image to identify and register the product. As described above, when the scanner captures an image of a code symbol or a product, it is desirable to be able to inform the customer whether or not the information about the product could be read normally or could not be read normally. Therefore, an example is known in which a scanner is provided with a notification unit.

As an example of a scanner provided with such an informing unit, a device has been proposed that provides an alarm by emitting light from an LED (Light Emitting Diode) provided on the same surface as the reading window (for example, Patent Document 1).

However, in the notification means provided in such a conventional scanner, the light emitted from the LED indicating the content of the notification is strongly emitted in the normal direction of the reading window, and therefore, depending on the physique and posture of the customer, When the position has changed, it is difficult to reliably visually recognize the light indicating the notification content.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a merchandise information reading device capable of transmitting the notification content regardless of the position of the eyes of the customer.

The product information reading device according to the embodiment provides notification according to the operation state when the product information of the product is read, and includes a light emitting unit, an incident unit, a light guiding unit, and an emitting unit. The light emitting unit emits light in a pattern according to the operating state of the product information reading device. The incident part makes the light emitted from the light emitting part incident. The light guide section guides the light incident on the incident section. The emission unit transmits the light guided by the light guide unit to a first surface of the housing of the product information reading device, which has a reading window for reading product information, and a second surface adjacent to the first surface. The light is emitted in the direction of the first surface and the direction of the second surface from the emission surface provided at the corner of the.

FIG. 1 is an external view showing an example of a shopping cart in which the scanner according to the first embodiment is installed. FIG. 2 is an external view and a cross-sectional view of the scanner. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the structure of the light emitting unit built in the scanner. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the shape of the light guide. FIG. 5: is a figure explaining the optical path of the light ray which advances the inside of a light guide. FIG. 6 is a hardware block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the scanner. FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the scanner. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing performed by the scanner. FIG. 9 is an external view showing an example of the product information registration device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the installation structure of the scanner according to the second embodiment.

(First embodiment)
The first embodiment will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The first embodiment is an example of a product information reading device (scanner) installed in a shopping cart.

(Description of the schematic configuration of the scanner)
A schematic configuration of the scanner will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an external view showing an example of a shopping cart 18 in which the scanner 10 according to the first embodiment is installed. FIG. 2 is an external view and a cross-sectional view of the scanner 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, the scanner 10 is attached to a shopping cart 18 which is installed in a retail store and used for carrying goods.

The scanner 10 reads a code symbol (for example, a bar code) attached to the product held in the reading window 3 on the front of the scanner 10 by a camera incorporated therein. The scanner 10 is an example of a product information reading device.

A customer who uses the shopping cart 18 holds the product to be purchased over the scanner 10 and causes the scanner 10 to read a code symbol such as a barcode attached to the product. The scanner 10 reads the code symbol and recognizes the product code registered therein. Then, the scanner 10 specifies the product by collating the recognized product code with the PLU (Price Look Up) file F1 (FIG. 6) stored in the scanner 10. In this way, the products to be purchased are sequentially registered in the scanner 10. Then, the customer who has completed the registration of all the purchased products moves to a POS terminal (not shown) to perform the accounting process. The scanner 10 transmits the registered merchandise information to the POS terminal in response to the operation of the clerk operating the POS terminal. Then, at the POS terminal, accounting processing for paying the price of the purchased product is performed.

In the present embodiment, for the sake of simplicity, the scanner 10 will be described as having a function of reading a code symbol such as a barcode attached to a product, but the scanner 10 is further provided with an external view of the imaged product. A function (object recognition function) for recognizing the product based on the image may be provided.

The scanner 10 includes the light emitting unit 5 shown in FIG. The light emitting unit 5 is formed of the light guide 5b (see FIG. 3) and is provided on the reading window 3 side above the scanner 10. The light guide 5b is an example of a light guide section. The light emitting unit 5 emits light with a predetermined color and a predetermined pattern toward the upper side and the front side (the reading window 3 side) of the scanner 10. The light emission of the light emitting unit 5 notifies the customer of the operating state of the scanner 10. The operation state of the scanner 10 is, for example, that the code symbol is normally read, that the code symbol is unsuccessfully read, or that the operation of the scanner 10 is abnormal.

Next, the detailed structure of the scanner 10 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2A, the scanner 10 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape in which the front cover 1 and the rear cover 2 are locked. The reading window 3 is installed in the opening 3a on the front surface of the front cover 1, and the merchandise is supported in the reading window 3. The front surface of the front cover 1 or the reading window 3 is an example of the first surface.

Here, the coordinate system xyz shown in FIG. 2A is set. Then, for convenience of description, the top surface 4 formed by the upper surface (the surface along the xy plane) of the rear cover 2 is defined. The top surface 4 is an example of the second surface. That is, the top surface 4 and the front surface of the front cover 1 (or the reading window 3) are adjacent to each other in the upper portion on the front surface side of the scanner 10.

A light emitting unit 5 is installed at the corner between the front surface (or the reading window 3) of the front cover 1 of the scanner 10 and the top surface 4. The light emitting unit 5 emits light in the front surface direction of the front cover 1, that is, in the direction of the first surface and in the direction of the top surface 4, that is, in the direction of the second surface. Details will be described later.

Inside the reading window 3, a light emitting unit 5 shown in FIG. 2B, a camera 11, a mirror 12, an LED 13 for illumination, and a diffusion plate 14 are installed. 2B is an xz sectional view of the scanner 10.

The light emitting unit 5 notifies the operating state of the scanner 10 by a light emitting pattern of a notification LED 6 (FIG. 3) described later.

The camera 11 includes an image sensor such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor), and an optical system such as a lens. The camera 11 captures an image of a subject in the image capturing range Q through the reading window 3.

The mirror 12 changes the imaging direction of the camera 11 to the direction of the reading window 3.

The illumination LED 13 illuminates the imaging range Q with illumination light to illuminate the product held over the reading window 3. The illumination LED 13 is composed of, for example, a white LED. As shown in FIG. 2B, a plurality of illumination LEDs 13 are installed, but the number thereof is appropriately determined based on the output of the LEDs used, the emission angle, the width of the imaging range Q, and the like.

The diffusion plate 14 diffuses the illumination light emitted by the illumination LED 13. As a result, the imaging range Q is irradiated with diffused light, so that the uneven brightness of the illumination light is alleviated, and uniform illumination can be performed. Further, since the shadow of the subject is softened, it is possible to capture an image that is easy to recognize.

(Explanation of schematic structure of light emitting unit)
Next, the detailed structure of the light emitting unit 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the structure of the light emitting unit 5 incorporated in the scanner 10. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the shape of the light guide 5b.

First, the structure of the light emitting unit 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b). FIG. 3A is an xz sectional view of an upper portion of the front side of the scanner 10. FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of the upper part of the front side of the scanner 10.

The light guide 5b forming the light emitting unit 5 is formed of, for example, a polycarbonate resin which is a kind of thermoplastic. The light guide body 5b guides the light entering the inside while totally reflecting it at the boundary surface with the outside, and emits the light from the emitting surface to the outside. Note that total reflection is a phenomenon in which incident light is totally reflected without passing through the boundary surface. Total reflection occurs when light enters at an angle of incidence that exceeds the critical angle. The critical angle is determined based on the refractive index of the light guide 5b and the refractive index of the air that the light guide 5b faces. Since the light guide 5b can form a surface emitting portion having a free shape, it is widely used for a backlight of a liquid crystal panel, an illumination of a vehicle instrument, and the like.

The light guide 5b in this embodiment includes an entrance surface 5a, a first exit surface 5c, and a second exit surface 5d.

The incident surface 5a causes the light emitted from the notification LED 6 to enter the inside of the light guide 5b. A plurality of notification LEDs 6 are installed and emit light in a pattern according to the operating state of the scanner 10. In particular, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3A, the notification LED 6 is installed facing the z-axis positive side, that is, facing upward. Then, the light emitted upward enters the inside of the light guide body 5b from the incident surface 5a positioned substantially parallel to the light emitting surface of the notification LED 6. The incident surface 5a is an example of the incident portion. The notification LED 6 is an example of a light emitting unit.

The first emission surface 5c is provided at a position facing the reading window 3, and emits the light guided inside the light guide 5b in the direction of the reading window 3 (first surface). The first exit surface 5c is a diffusion surface. Therefore, the light emitted from the first emission surface 5c can be visually recognized not only in the direction directly facing the reading window 3 but also in the oblique direction with respect to the reading window 3.

The second emission surface 5d is provided at a position facing the top surface 4, and emits the light guided inside the light guide 5b in the direction of the top surface 4 (second surface). The second emission surface 5d is a diffusion surface. Therefore, the light emitted from the second emission surface 5d can be visually recognized not only in the direction directly facing the top surface 4 but also in an oblique direction with respect to the top surface 4. The first emission surface 5c and the second emission surface 5d are examples of the emission unit.

As described above, the first exit surface 5c and the second exit surface 5d are the corners of the reading window 3 (first surface) and the top surface 4 (second surface) at the upper part of the front surface side of the scanner 10. Provided in the department.

The second emission surface 5d further includes a protruding surface 5e and a flat surface 5f.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the projecting surface 5e is a surface projecting from the top surface 4 (second surface) in an arc shape. The protruding surface 5e emits the light guided inside the light guide 5b not only in the normal direction of the top surface 4, that is, in the Z-axis direction, but also in the arc normal direction. Further, as described above, since the second emission surface 5d is a diffusion surface, the light emitted from the protruding surface 5e is emitted in a wider direction. The protruding surface 5e is an example of a protruding area.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the flat surface 5f is a substantially flat surface formed at a position substantially equal to the top surface 4 (second surface). The function of the flat surface 5f will be described in the second embodiment. The flat surface 5f is an example of a flat area.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the light guide 5b is built in the scanner 10. Then, the light guide body 5b is fixed to the scanner 10 by the pressing portion 7 formed inside the scanner 10. The surface of the pressing portion 7 is painted white, for example. As a result, the pressing portion 7 reflects, of the light traveling inside the light guide body 5b, the light that has been transmitted to the outside when the total reflection condition is not satisfied, and returns it to the inside of the light guide body 5b again. Also works.

Next, the shape of the light guide 5b will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4A is a top view of the light guide 5b viewed from above (the positive side of the z-axis). Further, FIG. 4B is a side view of the light guide body 5b viewed from the front side (x-axis negative side).

As shown in FIG. 4A, the light guide 5b has a line-symmetrical shape with respect to the x-axis. Then, three notification LEDs 6 (6a, 6b, 6c) are installed near the incident surface 5a. Of these, the two notification LEDs 6a and 6c are blue LEDs. The notification LED 6b is an orange LED. The notification LEDs 6a and 6c are turned on when the scanner 10 normally reads the code symbol. The notification LED 6b is turned on when the scanner 10 cannot read the code symbol. The number of notification LEDs 6 and the color of light emitted, which are installed in the vicinity of the incident surface 5a, are not limited to this, and the notification LEDs 6 based on the design specifications of the scanner 10 are installed.

The light guide 5b is formed so that the region through which light passes gradually widens from the incident surface 5a toward the first emission surface 5c and the second emission surface 5d. The area and shape of the first exit surface 5c and the second exit surface 5d are determined based on the size of the scanner 10 and the like.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, the light guide 5b has a line-symmetrical shape with respect to the z axis. The first emission surface 5c and the second emission surface 5d are located above the incident surface 5a. The positional relationship between the first exit surface 5c and the second exit surface 5d and the entrance surface 5a is an example, and the present invention is not limited to the example of the present embodiment.

(Explanation of the action of the light emitting part)
Next, the operation of the light emitting unit 5 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5: is a figure explaining the optical path of the light ray which advances the inside of the light guide 5b.

First, the optical path of the light beam emitted from the first emission surface 5c will be described. Of the light rays emitted from the notification LED 6, attention is paid to the light ray R1 shown in FIG. That is, after the light ray R1 is incident on the light guide 5b, total reflection is repeated at the points P1, P2, and P3. Then, at the point P4, the light ray r1 is emitted from the first emission surface 5c. Since the first emission surface 5c is a diffusion surface, the light ray r1 is emitted from the point P4 as diffusion light.

Next, the optical path of the light beam emitted from the second emission surface 5d will be described. Of the light rays emitted from the notification LED 6, pay attention to the light ray R2 shown in FIG. That is, the light ray R2 is incident on the light guide 5b and then undergoes total reflection at points P5 and P6. Then, at point P7, the light ray r2 is emitted from the second emission surface 5d. Since the second emission surface 5d is a diffusion surface, the light ray r2 is emitted as diffusion light from the point P7.

(Description of the hardware configuration of the scanner)
Next, the hardware configuration of the scanner 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a hardware block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the scanner 10.

The scanner 10 includes a control unit 20, a storage unit 24, a controller 26, and a wireless communication interface 27.

The control unit 20 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 22, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 23. The CPU 21 is connected to the ROM 22 and the RAM 23 via the bus line 25. The CPU 21 loads the control program C1 stored in the storage unit 24, the data stored in the ROM 22, and the like into the RAM 23. The CPU 21 controls the operation of the scanner 10 by operating according to the control program C1 loaded in the RAM 23. That is, the control unit 20 has a general computer configuration.

The control unit 20 further connects to the storage unit 24, the controller 26, and the wireless communication interface 27 via the bus line 25.

The storage unit 24 is a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) that retains stored information even when the power is turned off. The storage unit 24 stores programs such as the control program C1. The control program C1 is a program for exhibiting the functions of the scanner 10.

The control program C1 may be provided by being pre-installed in the ROM 22. The control program C1 is a file in a format that can be installed in the control unit 20 or an executable format, and can be read by a computer such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc). It may be configured to be provided by recording on a different recording medium. Further, the control program C1 may be stored in a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. The control program C1 may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

The storage unit 24 further stores a PLU (Price Look Up) file F1 and a product registration file F2. The PLU file F1 is a master file that stores the product information (product code, product name, price, etc.) of the products handled in the store. Since the products handled in the store change daily, the scanner 10 acquires the latest PLU file F1 from a store server (not shown), POS terminal, or the like using a wireless communication function described later.

The product registration file F2 is a file in which the registration information of the product read by the customer with the scanner 10 is stored.

The controller 26 is connected to the camera 11, the lighting LED 13, and the notification LED 6 described in FIG. 2. The controller 26 controls the operation of various connected hardware based on a command from the control unit 20. Since the contents of various hardware connected to the controller 26 have been described above, the description thereof is omitted here.

The controller 26 is also connected to the wireless communication interface 27. The wireless communication interface 27 connects to a POS terminal or a store server (not shown) via wireless communication such as a wireless LAN.

(Explanation of the functional configuration of the scanner)
Next, the functional configuration of the scanner 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the scanner 10.

The control unit 20 of the scanner 10 develops the control program C1 in the RAM 23 and operates the RAM 23 to operate the image capturing control unit 30, the product information reading unit 31, the product registration unit 32, and the operation state determination unit 33 illustrated in FIG. 7. And the notification control unit 34 as a functional unit.

The imaging control unit 30 captures an image in the imaging range Q by controlling the operations of the camera 11 and the illumination LED 13.

The product information reading unit 31 determines whether the code symbol is included in the image captured by the image capturing control unit 30. Further, when the code symbol is shown in the image, the product information reading unit 31 recognizes the product information registered in the ode symbol.

The product registration unit 32 registers the product information recognized by the product information reading unit 31 in the product registration file F2.

The operation state determination unit 33 determines the operation state of the scanner 10.

The notification control unit 34 notifies the operating state of the scanner 10.

(Explanation of the flow of processing performed by the scanner)
Next, the flow of processing performed by the scanner 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing performed by the scanner 10.

The imaging control unit 30 performs the imaging process by controlling the camera 11, the LED 13 for illumination, and the like (step S10).

The product information reading unit 31 determines whether the barcode is included in the image captured in step S10 (step S11). If it is determined that the barcode is included (step S11: Yes), the process proceeds to step S12. On the other hand, if it is not determined that the barcode is captured (step S11: No), the process returns to step S10.

When it is determined Yes in step S11, the product information reading unit 31 reads the code information registered in the barcode (step S12).

The operation state determination unit 33 determines whether the product information reading unit 31 has read the code information (step S13). If it is determined that the code information has been read (step S13: Yes), the process proceeds to step S14. On the other hand, if it is not determined that the code information is read (step S13: No), the process proceeds to step S15.

When it is determined Yes in step S13, the notification control unit 34 turns on the notification LEDs 6a and 6c (blue LEDs) (step S14). As a result, the light emitting unit 5 lights up in blue.

Subsequently, the product registration unit 32 registers the information read by the product information reading unit 31 in the product registration file F2 (step S16).

The operation state determination unit 33 determines whether the product registration file F2 has been transmitted to the POS terminal (step S17). When it is determined that the product registration file F2 has been transmitted to the POS terminal (step S17: Yes), the scanner 10 ends the process of FIG. Then, after that, the POS terminal performs the accounting process.

On the other hand, if No in step S13, the notification control unit 34 turns on the notification LED 6b (orange LED) (step S15). As a result, the light emitting unit 5 lights up in orange. Then, the process returns to step S10. The customer again holds the product over the reading window 3 to read the barcode. Then, the process proceeds to step S15 again, and when the orange LED is turned on, an inquiry is made to a nearby store clerk or the like.

As described above, in the scanner 10 (product information reading apparatus) of the first embodiment, the light emitted from the notification LED 6 (light emitting unit) that emits light in a pattern according to the operation state of the scanner 10 is incident on the incident surface 5a ( Incident part). The light incident on the incident surface 5a is guided inside the light guide body 5b (light guide portion). Then, the light guided through the light guide body 5b is incident on the corner between the reading window 3 (first surface) of the housing of the scanner 10 and the top surface 4 (second surface) adjacent to the reading window 3. The light is emitted from the provided first emission surface 5c (emission portion) and second emission surface 5d (emission portion). The light emitted from the first emission surface 5c is emitted in the direction of the reading window 3. The light emitted from the second emission surface 5d is emitted in the direction of the top surface 4. Therefore, it is possible to transmit the notification content by the light emission of the light emitting unit 5 regardless of the position of the eyes of the customer.

Further, in the scanner 10 (product information reading apparatus) of the first embodiment, the second emission surface 5d (emission unit) that emits light in the direction of the top surface 4 (second surface) is the top surface 4 ( The protrusion surface 5e (projection region) that protrudes in an arc shape from the second surface) is provided. Therefore, the light emission state of the light emitting unit 5 can be transmitted over a wide range on the top surface 4 side of the scanner 10.

Further, in the scanner 10 (product information reading apparatus) of the first embodiment, the first emission surface 5c (emission portion) and the second emission surface 5d (emission portion) are diffusion surfaces. Therefore, the light emitted from the first emission surface 5c and the second emission surface 5d can be emitted in a wide range.

Further, in the scanner 10 (commodity information reading device) of the first embodiment, inside the scanner 10, the light transmitted through the outer surface of the light guide 5b (light guide portion) faces the outer surface. Is provided inside the light guide body 5b. Therefore, it is possible to reduce light leakage from the light guide 5b and increase the amount of light emitted from the first emission surface 5c (emission portion) and the second emission surface 5d (emission portion).

In the scanner 10 (product information reading device) of the first embodiment, the notification LED 6 (light emitting unit) includes a plurality of LEDs that emit different colors. Therefore, a plurality of different operation states of the scanner 10 can be notified.

In the first embodiment, the scanner 10 is described as including the light emitting unit 5 (light guide 5b) at the corner between the front surface of the front cover 1 (or the reading window 3) and the top surface 4. The installation position of the light emitting unit 5 is not limited to that position. That is, the same effect can be obtained even if the light emitting section 5 (light guide 5b) is provided at the corner between the front surface of the front cover 1 (or the reading window 3) and the side surface of the rear cover 2 orthogonal to the y axis.

(Second embodiment)
The second embodiment will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The second embodiment is an example in which the scanner 10 described in the first embodiment is incorporated in a product information registration device used in a semi-self-checkout.

First, the configuration of the product information registration device will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is an external view showing an example of the product information registration apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment.

The merchandise information registration device 100 is operated by a clerk and performs data processing for registering merchandise information of a merchandise purchased by a customer based on the merchandise information read by the scanner 10. As shown in FIG. 9, the product information registration apparatus 100 is installed on the upper surface of the workbench 102, and the reading window 3 of the scanner 10 is installed so as to face the clerk who performs the product registration operation. The product information registration device 100 is an example of a product sales data processing device.

The scanner 10 is embedded in the housing 101 of the product information registration apparatus 100 such that the reading window 3 and the surface of the housing 101 are substantially flush with each other. Since the scanner 10 is the same as that described in the first embodiment, the description of the internal configuration is omitted.

Further, the product information registration apparatus 100 includes a display 104 having a touch panel 103 stacked on the scanner 10 and a keyboard 105. The display 104 displays product information such as the product name and price of the product recognized based on the content of the code symbol read by the scanner 10 and the content of the PLU file F1 (FIG. 6). The touch panel 103 and the keyboard 105 are operation units that assist the input of product information when registering a plurality of the same products.

A printer 106 is provided on the left side of the merchandise information registration device 100 when viewed from the clerk side. The printer 106 prints and issues a receipt or the like on which transaction data such as the total amount for one transaction is printed.

Further, a customer side display 107 for customers is provided on the left side of the merchandise information registration device 100 when viewed from the clerk side.

The product information registration device 100 transmits information (transaction information) in which all the products purchased by the customer are registered to an accounting device (not shown). Then, the customer who has completed the registration of the product moves to the accounting device and performs the accounting process.

Note that the hardware and functional configurations of the product information registration apparatus 100 and the accounting apparatus, and the flow of processing performed by the product information registration apparatus 100 are not the main elements of this embodiment, so description thereof will be omitted.

(Explanation of scanner installation structure)
Next, the installation structure of the scanner 10 in the product information registration apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the installation structure of the scanner according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which the scanner 10 is incorporated in the housing 101 of the product information registration apparatus 100. Particularly, FIG. 10A is a partial front view around the scanner 10 of the product information registration apparatus 100. Is. FIG. 10B is a partial side view of the inside of the product information registration apparatus 100 as viewed from the y-axis positive side. FIG. 10C is a partial cross-sectional view of the product information registration device 100 taken along the yz plane.

As described above, the scanner 10 is embedded in the housing 101 of the product information registration apparatus 100 such that the reading window 3 and the surface of the housing 101 are substantially flush with each other. This is because, when reading a barcode of a product, a store clerk brings the product into contact with or in proximity to the reading window 3, so that if there is a step between the reading window 3 and the surface of the housing 101, the reading operation is difficult to perform. This is because

When the scanner 10 is embedded in the housing 101 of the product information registration apparatus 100, the scanner 10 is placed in the opening 109 formed in the plate-shaped member 101a forming the front surface of the housing 101 and the back surface of the plate-shaped member 101a. Fit from the side. Then, the scanner 10 is fixed with the top surface 4 in contact with the end of the opening 109.

At this time, the end of the opening 109 comes into contact with the flat surface 5f (FIG. 3) of the light emitting unit 5 (light guide 5b).

In this way, by forming the flat surface 5f in the second emission surface 5d (emission portion) of the light emitting unit 5 (light guide 5b), the reading window 3 of the scanner 10 and the casing of the product information registration apparatus 100. The body 101 and the body 101 can be easily installed flush with each other. By the way, when the housing 101 of the product information registration apparatus 100 is brought into contact with the position of the protruding surface 5e, it is necessary to process the end of the opening 109 so as to match the arc-shaped outer shape of the protruding surface 5e. Therefore, it takes time and effort.

The scanner 10 embedded in the housing 101 in this way operates in the same manner as described in the first embodiment. That is, the operating state of the scanner 10 is notified by the light emission of the light emitting unit 5. Particularly, in the case of the present embodiment, the notification is performed by the light emitted from the first emission surface 5c shown in FIG. At that time, as described in the first embodiment, the first emission surface 5c emits light in the direction directly facing the reading window 3 and in the oblique direction with respect to the reading window 3. A store clerk who operates the product information registration apparatus 100 generally faces the reading window 3 and faces the reading window 3 to hold the product over the reading window 3. Therefore, if the operation state of the scanner 10 is informed by the light emitted from the first emission surface 5c, the clerk can fully visually recognize the informed content.

According to the second embodiment, the protruding surface 5e and the flat surface 5f are embedded in the housing 101. Therefore, the light emitted from the protruding surface 5e and the flat surface 5f is not emitted to the outside of the scanner 10, so that light loss occurs. Therefore, it is desirable to previously attach a reflective tape or the like to the protruding surface 5e and the flat surface 5f so that the light is not emitted from the light guide 5b. Thereby, the amount of light emitted from the first emission surface 5c can be increased.

As described above, according to the product information registration device 100 (product information reading device) of the second embodiment, the scanner 10 (product information reading device) is incorporated in the opening 109 of the housing 101 of the product information registration device 100. When the reading window 3 (first surface) of the scanner 10 and the housing 101 of the product information registration apparatus 100 are arranged so as to be substantially flush with each other, the housings of the scanner 10 and the product information registration apparatus 100 are arranged. 101 is in close contact with the flat surface 5f (flat area) of the second exit surface 5d (exit portion) formed at a position substantially the same height as the top surface 4 (second surface) of the scanner 10. Therefore, the scanner 10 can be used alone, and can also be used by incorporating it into the housing 101 of the product information registration apparatus 100 without additional processing. Thereby, the range of use of the scanner 10 can be expanded.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, this embodiment is merely an example, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The novel embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and the gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the scope equivalent thereto.

3 Reading window (first surface)
4 Top surface (second surface)
5 Light emitting part 5a Incident surface (incident part)
5b Light guide (light guide)
5c First emission surface (emission portion)
5d Second emission surface (emission portion)
5e Projection surface (projection area)
5f Flat surface (flat area)
6 Notification LED (light emitting part)
10 Scanner (product information reader)
18 Shopping cart 100 Product information registration device (product sales data processing device)
101 case 109 opening

JP, 2009-301320, A

Claims (5)

A merchandise information reading device that notifies the operation state when merchandise information of merchandise is read,
A light emitting unit that emits light in a pattern according to the operation state of the product information reading device;
An incident part for making the light emitted from the light emitting part incident,
A light guide portion for guiding the light incident on the incident portion,
The light guided through the light guide unit is provided between the first surface of the housing of the product information reading device provided with the reading window for reading the product information and the second surface adjacent to the first surface. An emission part that emits light in the direction of the first surface and the direction of the second surface from the emission surface provided in the corner,
A product information reading device comprising: The emission surface that emits light in the direction of the second surface includes a protruding region that protrudes from the second surface.
The product information reading device according to claim 1. The emitting portion further comprises
The merchandise information reading device is incorporated into an opening of a housing of a merchandise sales data processing device that performs data processing based on the merchandise information read by the merchandise information reading device, and the first surface of the merchandise information reading device is , When arranged so that the housing of the product sales data processing device is substantially flush with
A flat region formed at a position substantially equal to the second surface for contacting the opening to bring the product information reading device and the product sales data processing device into close contact with each other;
The merchandise information reading device according to claim 1 or 2. The emission surface is a diffusion surface,
The product information reading device according to claim 1. Inside the product information reading device, at a position where the outer surface of the light guide portion faces, a reflection surface that reflects the light transmitted through the outer surface to the inside of the light guide portion is provided.
The product information reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.