JP2730273B2 - Barcode reading device and barcode reading method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Overview] The present invention relates to a barcode reading device, and aims at adding a new barcode to a normal barcode to easily increase the data amount. A bar code reader having a demodulation unit for identifying and demodulating a first bar code, wherein the read bar code and the first bar code without a recognition flag indicating a multi-stage bar code are not attached. When a second barcode different from the first barcode is detected, it is verified whether or not a predetermined recognition flag indicating addition is present in the second barcode. The detected second barcode is recognized as a barcode added to the first barcode, a predetermined demodulation process is performed together with the first barcode, and a function is provided in the demodulation unit. Be configured so that.

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to an improvement in a barcode reader.

For example, a bar code used in a point-of-sale information management system (hereinafter referred to as a POS system) usually has 13 digits, and the amount of information is limited.

For this reason, there is a demand to perform product management using two or more barcodes, and a barcode reader that reads a multistage barcode having a recognition flag in each stage in addition to a single-stage barcode is provided. Have been.

On the other hand, there is a demand to add a barcode including information such as a discount amount and a discount period to a barcode already printed on one stage. A reading error was detected in a reading device dedicated to a column, and a reading error occurred in a multi-stage reading device unless a predetermined recognition flag assigned to each of the columns was present, so a new barcode could not be added. .

Therefore, there is a demand for a barcode reader that reads the added barcode.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional example, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a normal one-stage barcode, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a multi-stage barcode.

As is well known, barcode symbols (hereinafter referred to as barcodes) used in POS systems are JAN (Japan)
ese Article Number) code.

This bar code expresses a 13-digit numeric code as shown in FIG. 5, and includes a manufacturing country name (two digits) and a manufacturer name (5 digits).
Digits), product name (5 digits) and check digit (1 digit)
Digits).

Manufacturers that provide products print bar codes on the products based on the JAN standard, and retailers read them with an optical bar code reader and input the product data to the POS terminal.

In the case of fresh food, etc., a barcode label is issued in the store.
It is determined that the digit is "2".

All of these commonly used single-level bar codes are 13
Since there are digits, the amount of information is limited. For example, a multi-stage barcode system is provided so that a discount rate, a discount time zone, and the like can be input by a barcode.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a two-stage barcode, in which a recognition flag 12 is assigned to the first two digits, and for in-store use, for example, "20" is the first bar of the two-stage barcode. Indicates code 40a, "29" is the second bar code
Represents 40b.

In this way, each of the multi-stage barcodes has “20” to
The two-digit recognition flag 12 of “29” is allocated and arranged so as to be within the reading range of the bar code reader.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of a stationary bar code reader, which is configured to read ordinary one-stage bar codes and multi-stage bar codes.

In the figure, a laser beam emitted from a light source 2 is repeatedly scanned in a plurality of directions by an optical system.

When a product is placed on this scanning surface, the laser light illuminated and reflected on the bar code surface is condensed on the same optical system, converted into an electric signal by the conversion circuit 3, and binarized.

Based on the binarized signal, the demodulation unit 5 outputs the left guard bar LG
B, center bar CB, and light guard bar RGB are identified and code-converted, and the data is verified with a check digit.

Since the product is scanned multiple times by the laser beam, a plurality of codes can be obtained from the binary signal. Is obtained, the contents of the first two digits are compared with the flag information 14 (“20” and “29”), and if either one matches “20” and the other matches “29” Recognizes it as a two-stage barcode and outputs two sets of codes to the POS terminal 6.

The POS terminal 6 identifies the product code or the like from the received code and performs the registration process by referring to the price reference table. When two sets of codes are received, the first-stage barcode 40a is recognized by the recognition flag 12 respectively. The first-stage code 30a corresponding to the first-stage code 30b and the second-stage code 30b corresponding to the second-stage barcode 40b are identified, and the respective data are analyzed to perform predetermined processing.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In a conventional single-stage bar code reader, a read error occurs if all the converted codes do not match. In the above-described multi-stage bar code readable bar code reader, if the converted code is of one type, It is determined that the reading is normal, when two or more types of codes are obtained, the reading is normal if each of the codes has a recognition flag 12 assigned to each stage in advance, and the reading errors are all other cases.

For this reason, if an attempt is made to add a new barcode to a product on which a single-stage barcode has already been printed, a reading error occurs regardless of which reading device is used.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a barcode reader that can add a new barcode to a normal barcode.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the bar code reader of the present invention includes a demodulator 5a for identifying and demodulating the first bar code 40 from the read bar code as shown in FIG. The first barcode 40 without a recognition flag indicating that the barcode is a multi-stage barcode from the read barcodes, and a second barcode different from the first barcode 40. When 40c is detected, it is verified whether or not a predetermined recognition flag 15 indicating addition exists in the second barcode 40c. If the recognition flag 15 is present, the detected second barcode 40c is detected. The demodulation unit 5a is provided with a function of recognizing as a barcode added to the first barcode 40 and performing a predetermined demodulation process together with the first barcode 40.

[Action]

The demodulation unit 5a performs code conversion based on the binarized signal obtained by reading and binarizing the bar code. In this conversion process, the demodulation unit 5a corresponds to the first bar code 40 to which the recognition flag indicating the multi-stage bar code is not attached. In addition to the first code 30, a second bar code 40 different from the first bar code 40
When the second code 30c corresponding to c is detected, it is verified whether or not the recognition flag 15 is present in the second code. If the second code 30c is present, the second code 30c is added to the second code 30c. The bar code 40c is recognized as a second bar code, and a predetermined demodulation process is performed thereafter.

With the above, the recognition flag is added to the already printed barcode
A new barcode with 15 can be added at any time, and the amount of information can be easily increased.

〔Example〕

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of one embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a barcode of the embodiment.

In the present embodiment, an example of an apparatus that reads a normal one-stage barcode (first barcode 40) and an additional barcode (second barcode 40c) together with the normal one-stage barcode will be described.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 40 denotes a first bar code. The first two digits are "2" in the first two digits.
Other country names, for example, "49" are assigned.

Reference numeral 40c denotes a second barcode, which is additionally attached to the first barcode 40c with a recognition flag 15, for example, "21" indicating addition added to the first two digits.

Reference numeral 5a denotes a demodulation unit that identifies LGB, CBR, and RGB from the binary signal received from the conversion circuit 3 and performs code conversion, and verifies a plurality of obtained codes to check the normality of reading as described later. Verify and, if normal, output those codes to the POS terminal 6.

13 is recognition flag data set in a memory or the like in advance.
Here, “21” is set.

 In addition, the same reference numerals represent the same objects throughout the drawings.

FIG. 3 shows the second bar code added to the first bar code 40.
Is shown as an example of the barcode 40c, and "21" is added to the left two digits in the figure as a barcode. Actually, the leftmost one digit does not exist as a bar code, and the ODD / EVEN of each digit is determined so that the leftmost one becomes “2”.

Then, information such as a discount rate is coded and printed in 10 digits excluding the check digit.

The label on which the second barcode 40c is printed is attached to the lower part of the first barcode 40 and the like, and within the reading range of the barcode reader 1a.

In the above configuration, the following reading processing is performed.

When a product is placed on the scanning surface of the bar code reader 1a, the laser light reflected from the bar code surface is converted into an electric signal by the conversion circuit 3 and binarized.

Upon receiving this binary signal, the demodulation unit 5a receives LGB, CB, RGB
And converts it into a predetermined code.

When all of the obtained codes match, it is determined that the barcode is a normal one-stage barcode, that is, the first code 30 read from the first barcode 40, and the code (the first code 30) is sent to the POS terminal 6. ) Is output.

If the converted code is two types, the recognition flag data 13,
Here, it is collated with “21”. If the first two digits of one of the codes are "21", the code is determined to be the second code 30c corresponding to the second bar code 40c, and the other code is determined to be the first bar code 40c. Are output to the POS terminal 6 as the first code 30 corresponding to

When "21" does not exist in any of the codes, and when there are three or more types, a reading error is determined.

In the above embodiment, the normality is determined by verifying whether or not the recognition flag 15 for addition is present in one of them. At the same time, it is determined whether or not the other is a normal one-stage barcode. Verification further improves accuracy.

To prevent the reading of the second bar code alone, it is sufficient to confirm that the recognition flag 15 does not exist when the converted code is of one type.

Further, in the embodiment, the example of the apparatus in which one-stage barcode is added to one-stage barcode which is usually used is shown. On this occasion,
The recognition flag 15 indicating addition and the recognition flag 12 indicating multiple stages (FIG. 4) must be set so as not to overlap, and all the obtained codes must be verified.

Although the recognition flag 15 is used for identifying an additional barcode, a plurality of types may be provided as the recognition flag 15 and the meaning thereof may be further increased to further increase the amount of information.

As described above, by attaching the second barcode 40c to which the recognition flag 15 indicating addition has been added to the normal first barcode 40, the barcode reader 1a can read the barcode. Additional information can be input to the POS terminal 6.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, the present invention provides a barcode reader capable of reading a special barcode added to a normal barcode. Information is easily added to a printed and pasted barcode. There is an effect that comes out.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle diagram of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of one embodiment,
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a barcode of the embodiment, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional example, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a normal one-stage barcode, and FIG. It is. In the figure, 1, 1a is a bar code reader, 2 is a light source, 3 is a conversion circuit, 5, 5a is a demodulation unit, 6 is a POS terminal, 12 is a recognition flag representing a multi-stage bar code, 13 is recognition flag data, 15 Is a recognition flag indicating addition, 30 is a first code corresponding to the first barcode, 30c is a second code corresponding to the second barcode, 40 is the first barcode, and 40c is the second code. It is a barcode.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A bar code reader having a demodulation unit for identifying and demodulating a first bar code from a read bar code, wherein a recognition flag indicating that the read bar code is a multi-stage bar code is added. When a second barcode different from the first barcode is detected together with the first barcode that has not been detected, it is determined whether or not a predetermined recognition flag indicating addition is present in the second barcode. And if the recognition flag is present, the detected second barcode is recognized as a barcode added to the first barcode, and a predetermined demodulation process is performed together with the first barcode. A bar code reader having a function provided in the demodulation unit. 2. A method of reading a multi-level bar code comprising a plurality of levels of bar codes, the method comprising the steps of: reading a bar code;
When a second barcode different from the first barcode is detected together with the first barcode, the second barcode is added to the first barcode in the second barcode. It is determined whether or not there is a recognition flag indicating that the barcode is a barcode. If it is determined that the recognition flag is present in the second barcode, the second barcode is replaced with the first barcode. Recognized as a barcode added to the first
And performing a predetermined demodulation process together with the barcode.