JP2745782B2 - Information reader - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information reading apparatus capable of preventing double reading of the same article, for example.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, in registers such as supermarkets,
2. Description of the Related Art As an input terminal of a point-of-sale system (POS), an information reading device (for example, a barcode reader) has been frequently used.

Such a bar code reader is required to have a function of preventing the same article from being read twice.

Therefore, conventionally, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-221468, the primary buffer temporarily stores the barcode data read within a predetermined time from the previous reading in the primary buffer. Barcode data (data previously read) transmitted from the primary buffer is stored in the secondary buffer for a predetermined time, and after the predetermined time has elapsed, the stored data is erased under the control of the control unit.

Then, in a comparison unit connected to them, previously read data (data held in the secondary buffer) and data read this time (data held in the primary buffer)
Is compared, and if they are the same, it is determined that double reading has been performed. If they are different, it is determined that a new article has been read and the data held in the secondary buffer is updated (updated to the data read this time). Thus, double reading of the same article is prevented.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in the above-described conventional device, if this is adopted in a barcode reader that scans with a multi-line scanning pattern, the following problems will occur.

That is, when the two types of articles to which the first barcode and the second barcode are attached are sequentially passed on the scanning line at a high speed, the first barcode and the second barcode are generated by the first scanning line. The codes are read by the barcode reader in this order. Then, when the second barcode is read, the secondary buffer is in a state of holding the data of the second barcode.

However, in this type of bar code reader, since a multi-line scanning pattern, that is, a plurality of scanning lines is irradiated, when the read first bar code crosses over the second scanning line again, the comparing unit Then, the data of the primary buffer (data of the first bar code) and the data of the secondary buffer (data of the second bar code) are compared, and it is erroneously determined that a new article has been read. There is a problem that one bar code is double-read.

Further, in the above-described conventional apparatus, for example, when an article having barcode data attached on a scanning line is left unattended, after a predetermined time has elapsed, the barcode data stored in the secondary buffer is deleted. Has the problem that the same article is read many times.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information reading device capable of preventing double reading of information as much as possible.

[Means for solving the problem]

Therefore, according to the present invention, in an information reading apparatus for scanning an object having information with a scanning light and reading the information, at least a first storage means and a second storage means The first storage means stores information read last time, the second storage means stores information read two times before, and the plurality of storage means. Information storage means for transmitting the information read before the previous time stored in each of the means; and the information read before the last time respectively transmitted from the plurality of storage means constituting this information storage means; Detecting means for comparing the read new information with each other to detect information match; and, if the information match is detected by the detecting means, invalidate the new information read this time. The information reading device according to claim 2, wherein the information reading device scans an object having information with a scanning light to read the information. Information storage means for storing the old rule information read before the previous time for a predetermined time, transmitting the old rule information, and deleting the stored old rule information when the predetermined time is reached; Detecting means for comparing the old rule information transmitted from the means with the new information read this time to detect an information match; if the information means detects the information match, A control unit for invalidating the new information and transmitting a reset signal to the information storage unit, and the information storage unit receiving the reset signal,
The information reading apparatus is characterized in that the old rule information that matches the new information is stored for the predetermined time from the time when the reset signal is received.

[Action]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the detecting means compares the information read before the last time and the new information read this time respectively transmitted from the plurality of storage means constituting the information storage means. , To detect information match. Further, the control means invalidates the new information read this time when the information coincidence is detected by the detection means.

Therefore, since there are a plurality of storage means for storing information, a plurality of pieces of information before the previous time can be stored.

Further, in the invention according to claim 2, when the information match is detected, the control means invalidates the newly read new information and transmits a reset signal to the information storage means. Then, the information storage unit that has received the reset signal stores the old rule information that matches the new information for a predetermined time from the time when the reset signal is received.

Therefore, since the start point of the predetermined time is changed, the information storage unit can continue to store the old rule information that matches the new information as long as the reset signal is received.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since there are a large number of scanning lines, for example, as in an information reading apparatus that scans using a multi-line scanning pattern, two types of objects are continuously read. Even if reading is performed again on a scanning line other than the scanned line, a plurality of pieces of information before the previous one can be stored, so that information coincidence is detected, new information becomes invalid, and double reading of information is performed. Has an excellent effect that it can be prevented.

Further, in the invention according to claim 2, even when, for example, an object on which information is described is left on a scanning line, information coincidence is detected and a reset signal is transmitted by the control means,
As a result, the information storage means can continue to store the old rule information that coincides with the new information, so that the new information is invalidated until the object is released from being left, thereby preventing double reading of the information. There is an excellent effect that can be.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on an embodiment shown in the drawings.

In this embodiment, a case is described in which the present invention is applied to a barcode reader that performs multi-directional scanning, and the barcode reader is used as a POS input terminal.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the entire configuration of an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, in which the barcode reader of this embodiment is installed on a cashier counter.

In FIG. 3, a scanning unit 2 is supported on a registration counter table 1 by a support unit 3.

The scanning unit 2 is connected to the control circuit 4 by a cable 7 passing through the support unit 3, and is provided so as to be movable in the horizontal direction by a protrusion 24. The case 22 of the scanning unit 2 has a reading window
The case 22 includes a laser light source, a multi-directional scanning mechanism that scans a range indicated by a laser beam 300 with a scanning pattern 310, and a light receiving mechanism that receives light reflected from a bar code. , And a photoelectric conversion of the received reflected light, and then forms a binarized signal and transmits it to the control circuit 4 via the cable 7. ).

Here, the multi-directional scanning mechanism is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 1-2036.
As shown in No. 48, mainly a hologram in which two holograms having different focal lengths and diffraction angles are formed over a range of 180 °, and a polyhedral mirror for reflecting diffracted light emitted from the hologram, The scanning light formed by rotating the hologram is reflected by a polygon mirror to form a scanning pattern 310 as shown in FIG.

The support part 3 includes a base 31 fixed to the cashier counter base 1.
And a cylindrical first support column 32 fixed to the base 31, and a second support column 33 inserted movably in the vertical direction inside the first support column 32.

The second support column 33 inserted into the first support column 32 is movable in the vertical direction, and is fixed at an arbitrary position by a knob 34. At the end of the second support column 33, the scanning unit 2 is supported so as to be rotatable about a shaft 35.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to a plan view of FIG.

In FIG. 4, the scanning unit 2 installed on the cashier counter table 1 moves about 45 minutes from the reading window 21 toward the arrival direction of the article 5.
Irradiate the reading laser beam 300 at an angle of
A range indicated by 00 is scanned by the scanning pattern 310.

The operator of the cashier operates the goods 5 in the direction of the arrow.
Is moved, the bar code 6 attached to the article 5 is read by the scanning unit 2.

The data of the barcode 6 read in this manner is
The decoding process is performed by the control circuit 4 via the cable 7, and the bar code data is subjected to a double reading prevention process described later, and is sent to a POS terminal (not shown). As a result, at the POS, the article 5 with the read barcode attached
Are aggregated.

Next, the configuration and operation of the control circuit 4 (double reading prevention processing) will be described.

 FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control circuit 4.

In FIG. 1, a recognizing unit 41 demodulates the binary signal transmitted from the scanning unit 2, obtains bar code data, and performs a decoding process (bar code / character code conversion). Note that this character code is
Refers to general-purpose codes such as I and JIS.

The primary buffer 42 temporarily stores the decoded bar code data (hereinafter, referred to as character code data), and the secondary buffer 43 constituting the information storage means includes:
The character code data transmitted from the primary buffer 42 is held for a predetermined time. However, the secondary buffer 43 is composed of n buffers 1b to nb (where n ≧ 2), and each of the buffers 1b to nb stores the character code data transmitted from the primary buffer 42. After holding for a predetermined time, it is erased. Note that the n buffers 1b to nb (where n ≧ 2) constitute a plurality of storage units.

The comparing unit 44 constituting the detecting means includes the primary buffers 42 and 2
Compare the data held in the next buffer 43 and
The control unit 45 constituting the control means includes a data transmission instruction,
Control of data retention and erasure in the secondary buffer 42 and the secondary buffer 43 is performed.

Next, the operation of the control circuit 4 in the above configuration (double reading prevention processing) will be described.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control circuit 4.

1 and 2, the control circuit 4 operates as follows.

In step 110, the control circuit 4 is initialized. That is, the control unit 45 sends an erasure signal (reset signal) to each of the buffers 1b to nb so that the n buffers 1b to nb constituting the secondary buffer 43 erase all the character code data held respectively. ).

Then, in the buffers 1b to nb that have received the erase signal, all the character code data held by the buffers 1b to nb are erased. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 120.

Step 120 corresponds to the operation of the control unit 45 and the recognition unit 41. That is, the control unit 45 determines whether or not the recognition unit 41 has received the binarized signal transmitted from the scanning unit 2.

That is, when the recognizing unit 41 receives the binarized signal transmitted from the scanning unit 2, it recognizes that the binarized signal has been received by the control unit 45.
Since the information signal is transmitted to the control unit 45 so as to be transmitted to the control unit 45, the control unit 45 determines whether or not the information signal has been received, thereby determining whether the recognition unit 41 has received the binarized signal. Can be determined.

Then, if the recognizing unit 41 receives the binarized signal, the process proceeds to step 130, and if not, step 120 is repeated.

Step 130 corresponds to the operation of the recognition unit 41 and the control unit 45. That is, the recognition unit 41 performs the above-described demodulation on the received binary signal and the decoding process on the barcode data. On the other hand, the control unit 45 transmits a transmission instruction signal to the recognition unit 41 in order to transmit the barcode data decoded by the recognition unit 41, that is, the character code data, to the primary buffer 42.

Then, after the recognition unit 41 transmits the character code data to the primary buffer 42, the process proceeds to step 140.

Step 140 corresponds to the operation of the primary buffer 42 and the control unit 45. That is, the primary buffer 42 is
This data is stored in order to temporarily hold the transmitted character code data. At this time, the stored character code data is updated each time new character code data is received from the recognition unit 41.

On the other hand, the control unit 45 transmits a transmission instruction signal to the primary buffer 42 in order to transmit the character code data stored in the primary buffer 42 to the comparison unit 44.

Then, after the primary buffer 42 transmits the stored character code data to the comparison unit 44, the process proceeds to step 150.

Step 150 corresponds to the operation of the comparison unit 44 and the control unit 45. That is, when receiving the data comparison signal transmitted from the control unit 45, the comparison unit 44 receives the character code data transmitted from the primary buffer 42 (that is, the primary buffer 42).
The data stored in the buffer 42 is compared with the character code data transmitted from the secondary buffer 43, and the result of the comparison is transmitted to the control unit 45.

That is, the control unit 45 sequentially transmits the transmission instruction signals from the buffer 1b in order to sequentially transmit the respective character code data stored in the secondary buffer 43 including the buffers 1b to nb to the comparison unit 44. Then, the transmission instruction signal is transmitted to the secondary buffer 43, and as described above, the data comparison signal is transmitted so that the comparison unit 44 performs data comparison.

As a result, the comparing unit 44 sets the control unit every time the character code data is transmitted from each of the buffers 1b to nb.
Since the data comparison signal is received from 45, the primary buffer 42
The one character code data transmitted from the buffer 1b to the n character code data stored in the buffers 1b to nb are compared with each other, and the result of each data comparison is transmitted to the control unit 45. Proceed to 160.

Here, if you proceed to step 150 for the first time,
Since no data is stored in the secondary buffer 43 by the processing of step 120, the result of the data comparison is processed as if there is no match.

Step 160 corresponds to the operation of the control unit 45. That is, the control unit 45 receives the result of each data comparison transmitted from the comparison unit 44, and determines whether or not there is any character code data that matches. If there is matching data, the process proceeds to step 170; otherwise, the process proceeds to step 180.

Step 170 performs a predetermined time changing process of the secondary buffer 43, and the operation corresponds to the control unit 45. That is, the control unit 45 transmits the reset signal to the buffer (one of the buffers 1b to nb constituting the secondary buffer 43) in which the match of the character code data is detected, and
Return to 100.

Then, the buffer that received the reset signal (ie,
Buffer where character code data match is detected)
Then, the time for which the buffer holds data (predetermined time)
To reset. The detailed description of the resetting of the predetermined time will be described later.

Step 180 corresponds to the operation of the control unit 45. That is, it is determined whether or not there is an empty buffer (that is, a buffer that does not hold character code data) among the n buffers (buffers 1b to nb) constituting the secondary buffer 43. . If there is an empty buffer, the process proceeds to step 190; otherwise, the process proceeds to step 100.
Return to

Here, if there is no empty buffer, the read barcode is not stored in the secondary buffer 43 and is not transmitted to the POS. Therefore, in such a case, the cashier operator needs to cause the barcode reader to read the article having the barcode not transmitted to the POS again. Therefore, such a situation must be notified to the cashier operator, and the notification means may be, for example, a display on the display window 23 or a read confirmation sound (only when data is transmitted to the POS). Electronic sound).

The notification means using the read confirmation sound, for example, continuously reads articles having four different barcodes, and when data of three articles is transmitted to the POS, the confirmation sound is generated only three times. From the number of times the sound is generated, the cashier operator can know that the transmission to the POS has not been made.

Step 190 corresponds to the operation of the primary buffer 42, the secondary buffer 43, and the control unit 45. That is, the control unit 45
Transmits a transmission instruction signal to the primary buffer 42 in order to transmit the character code data stored in the primary buffer to one of the empty buffers.

Then, the primary buffer 42 receiving the transmission instruction signal
Transmits the character code data stored in one of the empty buffers, and the transmitted empty buffer receives and stores the data,
Proceed to step 200.

Step 200 corresponds to the operation of the comparison unit 44 and the control unit 45. That is, the control unit 45 transmits a transmission instruction signal to the comparison unit 44 in order to transmit the character code data transmitted from the primary buffer 42 to the POS.

When receiving the transmission instruction signal, the comparing section 44 transmits the character code data to the POS, and then returns to step 100.

The control circuit 4 operates as described above, but due to the double reading prevention processing, the n data held in the buffers 1b to nb and the one data held in the primary buffer (the data received this time) Data), and if the data does not match, send the data to the POS. If the data matches, change the predetermined time in the buffer where the data match was detected, and send the data to the POS. Preventing.

In the above-described embodiment, the primary buffer 42 is provided. However, if the character code data transmitted from the recognizing unit 41 is directly transmitted to the comparing unit 44 and the secondary buffer 43, the primary buffer 42 is provided. May be omitted. However, in this case, the control unit 45 needs to control each of the buffers 1b to nb as to whether or not to store the character code data transmitted from the recognition unit 41.

Next, the operation of the buffer (buffer in which data coincidence is detected) relating to the above-described resetting of the predetermined time will be described in detail.

1, 2 and 3, a secondary buffer
The n buffers 1b to nb constituting the buffer 43 erase all the barcode data stored therein (step
120) Then, the case where the article having the barcode A and the article having the barcode B are sequentially passed on the scanning pattern 310 at high speed will be described.

In such a case, first, the data of the barcode A is read by the scanning unit 2 and the buffer 1b of the secondary buffer 43 is read.
(Character code data).

Next, the data of the barcode B that has passed over the scanning pattern 310 is sequentially read at a high speed together with the barcode A. Then, the data (bar code B data) read by the data comparison performed by the comparison unit 44 is stored in a buffer.
It is determined that the data does not match the data stored in 1b (the data of the bar code A), and the data of the bar code B is stored in the buffer 2b.

Further, in the process in which the two articles have finished passing on the scanning pattern 310, they pass on a scanning line different from the scanning line from which the two articles have been read, and the data of the barcode A is erroneously changed again. A case where the data has been read will be described.

Here, assuming that the time during which the secondary buffer 43 holds the character code data, that is, the predetermined time is 0.5 s, if the data of the barcode A erroneously read is read within this 0.5 s, the buffer 1 b The data of the barcode A is retained without being erased.

Therefore, by the data comparison performed by the comparing unit 44, it is determined that the character code data stored in the buffer 1b matches the data read this time (the data of the barcode A), and the result is transmitted to the control unit 45.

Then, the control unit 45 determines that there is matching data, transmits a reset signal to the buffer (buffer 1b) in which the match of the character code data is detected, and the buffer 1b that has received the reset signal sends the reset signal to the buffer 1b. The start time of the predetermined time is changed from the time when the data of the code A (character code data) is first stored to the time when the reset signal is received.

That is, for example, the predetermined time is 0.5 s, the time when the buffer 1b stores the data of the barcode A for the first time is 0 s, and the time when the buffer 1b receives the reset signal transmitted from the control unit 45 is 0.3 s. In this case, upon receiving the reset signal, the buffer 1b changes the start time of the predetermined time from 0 s to 0.3 s.

Therefore, the data of the barcode A held in the buffer 1b starts from the time when the data of the barcode A is first stored.
It should have been erased after 0.5 s, but because the data of barcode A was read by mistake,
The data will be erased 0.8 seconds after the time when the data was first stored.

If the data of the barcode A is erroneously read before the time reaches 0.8 s, the time at which the data of the buffer A is erased is 0.5 s after the time at which the reset signal is received. As long as the time has not been reached, the buffer 1b will hold the data of the bar code A forever.

When the predetermined time for determining the data holding time is changed in this manner, the predetermined time is appropriately changed as described above, for example, even if the article is left on the scanning pattern 310 on the cashier counter 1. Therefore, there is an advantage that the placed article is not read twice.

By setting the predetermined time appropriately, for example, even if two articles having the same barcode are continuously read by the scanning unit 2, the two articles can be read accurately.

Note that the resetting of the predetermined time is performed by using two (multiple) buffers as shown in the above-described embodiment.
There is no need to limit to the next buffer. That is, the present invention may be applied to a secondary buffer composed of one buffer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control circuit used in an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control circuit, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a use mode of the above embodiment. 1b to nb ... buffer (storage means), 43 ... secondary buffer (information storage means), 44 ... comparison unit (detection means), 45 ... control unit (control means).

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] An information reading apparatus for scanning an object having information with a scanning light to read the information, comprising: a plurality of storage means having at least a first storage means and a second storage means. The first storage means stores the information read last time, the second storage means stores the information read last time, and the information stored before and after each time stored in each of the plurality of storage means. Information storage means for transmitting the information read by each of the plurality of storage means, and comparing the information read before the last time respectively transmitted from the plurality of storage means constituting the information storage means with the new information read this time, respectively. Detection means for detecting information coincidence, and control means for invalidating the new information read this time if the information coincidence is detected by the detection means. Information reader. 2. An information reading apparatus which scans an object having information with scanning light to read the information, stores the old rule information read before the previous time for a predetermined time, and transmits the old rule information. And, when the predetermined time has been reached, the information storage means for erasing the stored old rule information, and comparing the old rule information transmitted from the information storage means with the new information read this time, Detecting means for detecting information coincidence, if the information coincidence is detected by the detecting means, the new information read this time is invalidated, and
Control means for transmitting a reset signal to the information storage means, and the information storage means which has received the reset signal has received the reset information, the old information which matches the new information. An information reading device, wherein the information is stored for a predetermined time from a point in time.