JP2813029B2 - Barcode reader - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Overview] The present invention relates to a bar code reader that automatically reads a bar code attached to a product, and an object of the present invention is to enable a single scanner to automatically read a bar code. A guide rail for moving the scanner is provided, and the scanner is moved along the guide rail in conjunction with the movement of the product to read a barcode attached to the product.

[Industrial application field] The present invention relates to a barcode reader that automatically reads a barcode attached to a product.

In recent years, as represented by the POS system in the distribution industry,
The use of a bar code system, which displays the price of a product as a bar code and scans the bar code by beam scanning, has become popular. In this type of bar code reading device, an operator takes out products one by one and moves over a scanner of the bar code reading device to read a bar code. However, from the viewpoint of improving productivity, a method of placing a product on a belt conveyor and transporting it without scanning with a dedicated operator, and scanning barcodes attached to the product by scanning from multiple directions during transport Is being studied.

[Prior Art] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional configuration of an automatic bar code reader. (A) is a three-dimensional view, (b) is a plan view. 1
Is a belt conveyor, and scanners 2 and 3 are arranged opposite to each other at both ends. A beam is scanned from both scanners 2 and 3 onto the product 4 loaded on the belt conveyor 1, the reflected light is received, and a bar code is read based on a change in the amount of the reflected light. Belt conveyor 1
Since either one of the scanners 2 and 3 arranged on both sides of the product 4 only needs to read the barcode, it is not necessary to pay much attention to the arrangement of the product 4.
Either of the scanning beams A and B in (a) should scan the bar code.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Conventionally, a plurality of scanners are provided in order to automatically read barcodes of products placed on a belt conveyor. For this reason, the device has become large and expensive.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a barcode reading device that can automatically read a barcode with one scanner.

[Means for Solving the Problems] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the principle of the present invention. In the figure, 10
Is adapted to move in the direction of arrow A in FIG. Reference numeral 11 denotes a product placed on the transport means 10 in an arbitrary state. Reference numeral 12 denotes a scanner, and 13 denotes a guide rail for moving the scanner 12. This guide rail 13
Are arranged such that the distance between the reading surface of the scanner 12 and the product 11 always has a fixed positional relationship even when the product 11 moves on the transporting means 10.

[Action] The scanner 12 is guided along with the movement of the product 11 by the guide rail.
Move B → C or C → B ′ along 13. As a result, the barcode attached to the product 11 can be automatically read by one scanner.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a main part of the present invention. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
In the figure, reference numerals 14A and 14B denote guide rollers which come into contact with the side surfaces of the guide rail 13, and reference numeral 15 denotes a support frame connected to the guide rollers 14A and 14B. The scanner 12 is mounted on the support frame 15.

16 is a support frame also connected to the guide roller 14B, 17
Reference numeral denotes a motor partially fixed to the support frame 16, and reference numeral 18 denotes a driving roller mounted on a rotating shaft of the motor 17.

In the device configured as described above, when the motor 17 rotates, the rotation is transmitted to the drive roller 18. As a result, the drive roller 18 rotates. When the driving roller 18 rotates, the driving roller 18 comes into contact with the guide rail 13 to generate a frictional force. Since the guide rail 13 is fixed, the guide rail 13 moves on the guide rail 13 when the drive roller 18 rotates. The drive roller 18 and the guide rollers 14A and 14B are integrally formed via support frames 16 and 15, and the support frame 15 and the scanner 12 are also integrally formed. Accordingly, as the drive roller 18 rotates, the scanner 12 also moves along the guide rail 13. Thus, the scanner 12 moves along the guide rail 13.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state of movement of the scanner 12 according to the present invention. (A) is a side view, (b) is a top view. When the product 11 moves on the belt conveyor 10 which is a conveying means, the scanner 12 also starts moving in conjunction with the movement. Product
When the scanner 11 moves on the belt conveyor 10 in the direction of arrow A in the figure, the scanner 12 also moves as shown in FIG. Since the guide rail 13 is arranged so that the distance between the barcode surface of the product and the reading surface of the scanner is always constant as described above, the scanner 12 moves so as to surround the product 11, and during that time, The barcode attached to any position of the product 11 can be read. Since the distance between the barcode surface and the scanner reading surface is always constant, the barcode can be read accurately at any position.

In the above description, the case where the scanner is moved along the guide rail is described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. Any mechanism may be used as long as the mechanism moves the scanner along an arbitrary line.

[Effect of the Invention] As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the scanner can be moved along an arbitrary line in conjunction with the movement of the product, so that only one scanner can be used. . Therefore, a barcode reader can be realized at low cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the movement of a scanner according to the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a conventional configuration example of an apparatus. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a conveying means, 11 denotes a product, 12 denotes a scanner, and 13 denotes a guide rail.

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-2-163888 (JP, A) JP-A-57-10062 (JP, U) JP-A-61-78358 (JP, U) JP-A-1-178659 (JP , U) (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G06K 7/10

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A bar code reading device for reading a bar code attached to a product while placing the product on the transport means and driving the transport means to move the product. A guide rail having a shape is provided, and a scanner is moved along the guide rail having a curved shape in conjunction with the movement of the product while maintaining a fixed positional relationship with the conveying means so that a bar code attached to the product is read. A bar code reader characterized by comprising.