JP2751640B2 - Barcode reader - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bar code reader.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Computers have the ability to process given data quickly and reliably, and can speed up office work and calculations. However, the time required for humans to input data is reduced by the computer processing time. It is much longer than that, and it is easy to make mistakes. To compensate for this shortcoming, distributed data, frequently used words, and numbers were bar-coded. The barcode encodes data into a binary code that is easy to perform logic processing, and is represented as a serial signal representing 0 or 1 by white / black (shading difference), line thickness, and the like. There are the following advantages when data is input using such a barcode.

[0003] Input can be performed so quickly that it cannot be compared with a keyboard. Very few input errors. There are few failures because there is no mechanism. Everyone can read at the same speed. Because of these excellent properties, barcodes are widely used.In order to further improve performance, research on universal directional reading, high-speed reading, widening of the reading area, etc. has been promoted, and as a device to realize these, a stationary type A bar code reader is used. This device has a beam pattern that can be read in a universal direction, a beam speed that supports high-speed reading, an optimum emission amount and an optimum beam diameter for obtaining a wide reading area, an optical structure that prevents the influence of disturbance light, and a detector. It is widely used at present, and is equipped with an appropriate amount of condensed light, a filter circuit for extracting only a barcode signal, a demodulation circuit in consideration of a barcode change factor, and the like.

[0004]

By the way, such a stationary bar code reader can read only one reading area by one apparatus, and when a plurality of reading areas are required, the number of apparatuses is adjusted according to the number. Must be expanded. For this reason, the number of required components increases, and the required installation area also increases. Also, the input / output connection ports on the main body side of the bar code reader must be increased.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a bar code reader capable of reading a plurality of reading areas with one device.

[0006]

FIG. 1 is a first principle diagram of the present invention. This figure shows a configuration up to reading a barcode and outputting a numerical signal, and the configuration thereafter is a known device. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a light emitting source such as a laser tube that generates a light beam, and 2 denotes a light splitting unit that splits the light beam into a plurality of light beams. Although this drawing shows a case where the light is split into two light beams, the light splitting unit splits a plurality of light beams as necessary. Numeral 3 irradiates the bar code surface with the beam light focused by the scanning unit as scanning light. Reference numeral 5 denotes a condensing unit for condensing the light reflected by the scanning unit 3 on the bar code surface, reference numeral 6 denotes a detector unit for converting the light condensed by the condensing unit 5 into an electric signal, and reference numeral 7 denotes a detecting unit. Since this electric signal is an analog signal, it is a signal conversion unit for converting the electric signal into a numerical signal. The converted numerical signal is input to the main body of the bar code reader, and the bar code corresponding to the numerical signal is decoded.

Further, at least two or more outputs of the detector units 6 provided for each of the split light beams are input to one signal conversion unit 7 for processing.

Further, the output of the condensing unit 5 provided for each of the split light beams is input to at least two or more detector units 6 for processing.

FIG. 2 is a second principle diagram of the present invention. The difference from the first principle diagram is that a focus adjustment unit 4 is provided after the scanning unit 3, and the focus adjustment unit 4 focuses so that the scanning light emitted from the scanning unit 3 is focused on the barcode surface. Adjust and irradiate on the barcode surface.

[0010]

As shown in FIG. 1, a single light beam emitted from a single light source 1 is split into a plurality of light beams by a splitting unit 2. The split light becomes scanning light by the scanning unit 3 and is irradiated on the barcode surface, and the light reflected on the barcode surface is collected by the light collecting unit 5 and converted into an analog electric signal by the detector unit 6. Then, the signal is converted into a digital numerical signal by the signal converting section 7 and sent to the main body of the bar code reader to decode the bar code represented by the numerical signal. A scanning unit 3, a light collecting unit 5, a detector unit 6, and a signal conversion unit 7 are provided for each bar code, and the other units are common devices. Therefore, even if the reading area increases, the number of components is small. In addition, an increase in the installation area of the apparatus and an increase in the number of input / output ports can be suppressed.

By inputting at least two or more outputs of the detector unit 6 to one signal conversion unit 7, the number of signal conversion units 7 can be reduced.

By inputting at least two or more of the outputs of the condensing unit 5 to one detector unit 6, the detector unit 6
Can be reduced.

As shown in FIG. 2, the focusing function is improved by inserting a focus adjusting unit 4 after the scanning unit 3 in FIG.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention. 9, reference numeral 11 denotes a light emitting source such as a laser tube that emits laser light, 12 denotes a spectroscopic unit formed of a prism lens or the like, 13 denotes a focus adjusting unit formed by a lens, and 14 denotes a scanning unit. Use a polygon mirror that shows its appearance. Reference numeral 15 denotes a light condensing unit, an example of which is shown in FIG. Focusing part
Reference numeral 15 comprises a mirror and a lens having a hole at the center for passing a laser beam, and the light incident on the mirror is condensed by the lens.
A detector 16 converts the light collected by the light collector 15 into an analog electric signal. 17 is a signal converter
The electric signal output from 16 is converted into a digital numerical signal. Numeral 18 denotes a signal control unit which inputs a numerical signal output from each signal conversion unit 17, performs signal processing, and outputs the processed signal to the main body of the bar code reader. 19 is a barcode to be read.

FIG. 6 shows the appearance of the reading section of the first embodiment.
Reading is performed by applying a barcode 19 to the position of each cross. This embodiment is effective when used when the reading positions (cross positions) are separated from each other as shown in FIG.

Next, the operation will be described. The beam light emitted from the light emitting source 11 is split into two by the spectroscope 12, and adjusted by the respective focus adjusters 13 so that the focus is formed on the surface of the bar code 19, and the center of the mirror of the light collector 15 The light enters the scanning unit 14 through the aperture, is reflected by the polygon mirror, and is irradiated on the barcode 19 as scanning light. The reflected and scattered light from the barcode 19 is reflected again by the scanning unit 14, hits the mirror of the light collecting unit 15, is reflected and enters the lens, is collected by the detector 16, is converted into an electric signal by the detector 16, and is converted by the signal converter 17 It is converted to a digital numerical signal. The signal control unit 18 inputs a numerical signal from the signal conversion unit 17 provided for each split beam light, performs signal processing, and outputs the processed signal to the main body of the barcode reader.
The reading process of the barcode 19 is performed.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of a second embodiment of the present invention.
4 and 5, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 3 indicate devices having the same functions. In this embodiment, the electric signals of the two detectors 16 are input to one signal converter 171 and the signal converter 171 converts the electric signals of the two detectors 16 into numerical signals.

FIG. 7 is a view showing the appearance of the bar code reading section of the second embodiment. Cross sections for reading bar codes are provided on the lower surface and side surfaces. This embodiment is suitable for the case where the surfaces for reading the barcodes intersect each other as shown in FIG. The bar code is read by passing a product having a bar code on the side surface or lower surface through a bar code reading unit shown in FIG. If the light beam is split into three light beams by the light splitting unit 12 and the bar code reading surface is also provided on the upper surface of FIG. Barcodes can be read.

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of a third embodiment of the present invention.
In the present embodiment, the light beam of the condensing unit 15 is
1 and the detector unit 161 converts the light beams of both the condensing units 15 into electric signals.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the appearance of the bar code reading section of the third embodiment. The portions for reading the barcode indicated by the cross are provided on both opposite slopes. This embodiment is used for an apparatus whose reading positions are close to each other.

The three embodiments described above are implemented by
Although the case of splitting is described above, a plurality of barcodes can be read and interpreted by splitting into a plurality as necessary.

[0022]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the beam light generated from a single light source is divided into a plurality of light beams, and the bar code corresponding to each light beam is read. By sharing the subsequent devices as necessary, the number of parts and the installation area of the device can be reduced, and the barcode reading area can be controlled with the minimum necessary number of input / output ports.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a first principle diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a second principle diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an external view of a reading unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an external view of a reading unit according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an external view of a reading unit according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an external view of a polygon mirror.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a light collecting unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Emission source 2 Dispersion part 3 Scanning part 4 Focus adjustment part 5 Condensing part 6 Detector part 7 Signal conversion part 8 Signal control part

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A light emitting source (1) for generating a light beam, and a light splitting unit (2) for splitting the light beam into a plurality of light beams.
A scanning unit (4) for irradiating the beam light emitted from the beam splitting unit (2) onto the barcode surface as scanning light; and a collector for condensing reflected light of the scanning light from the barcode surface. An optical section (5), a detector section (6) for converting the output of the light collecting section (5) into an electric signal, and a signal converting section (7) for converting the electric signal into a numerical signal are provided. A bar code reader that reads a bar code corresponding to the numerical signal based on the numerical signal obtained for each of the light beams. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least two or more of the outputs of the detectors provided for each of the split light beams are input to one signal converter and processed. 2. The barcode reader according to 1. 3. The detector according to claim 1, wherein at least two or more of the outputs of the light condensing units provided for each of the split light beams are input to one of the detector units and processed. 3. The barcode reader according to 1 or 2. 4. A light emitting source (1) for generating a light beam, and a light splitting unit (2) for splitting the light beam into a plurality of light beams.
A scanning unit (3) provided for each of the split light beams and irradiating the light beam as a scanning light on a bar code surface; and a focus for adjusting the scanning light to be focused on the bar code surface. An adjusting unit (4) and a condensing unit (5) for condensing reflected light of the scanning light from the bar code surface;
A detector unit (6) for converting the output of the light collecting unit (5) into an electric signal; and a signal converting unit (7) for converting the electric signal into a numerical signal. A bar code reader which reads a bar code corresponding to the numerical signal based on the obtained numerical signal.