JP3039272B2 - Optical information 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 miniaturized optical system for reading optical information such as a bar code or a character or graphic formed in a two-dimensional area, and particularly for improving the assembly reliability. It relates to a device for reading information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, bar code readers are often used as information reading mechanisms in various information management systems. This barcode reader reads information based on an array of linear barcodes whose widths and spaces are specified. Therefore, in such a barcode reader, a light source mechanism for illuminating a recording portion of a recording medium on which a barcode represented by bar-shaped information is recorded, and a light reflected from the illuminated recording surface. A lens mechanism for condensing light and forming an image is provided, and an image of a barcode on a recording surface is formed on a predetermined sensor mechanism, and the content of the barcode is read.

In this case, in order to guide the reflected light from the barcode recording surface of the recording medium to the sensor mechanism through an optical system such as a lens mechanism, the optical path of the reflected light is changed at a plurality of positions using a reflective mirror. The bar code reader is configured to be used in a portable form. A lens mechanism and a sensor mechanism are set together with a light source for irradiating the barcode recording surface in a case constituting such a barcode reader, for example, made of a synthetic resin, and further reflected on the lens mechanism and the sensor mechanism. A plurality of reflection mirrors are appropriately set so that the axes of the optical paths of the light coincide with each other.

Since the lens mechanism, the sensor mechanism, and the reflection mirror are separate components, they are set inside the outer case by individual members. These members are attached and set in correspondence with the case at the time of assembling. Therefore, it is very difficult to improve the accuracy of the attachment position of each member. However, if the mounting position accuracy is not ensured, the optical image representing the image of the bar code will not be accurately formed on the input surface of the sensor mechanism, and it is naturally difficult to ensure the bar code reading accuracy. Become. Therefore, in order to reliable reading of the bar code is secured has Tsu need to highly secure assembly accuracy with parts machining accuracy.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems , and has been developed for reading optical information.
Easily assembled friendly by positioning the parts with high precision according
It is an object of the present invention to provide an efficient optical information reading device.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, in the present invention,
Is reflected light from optical information composed of optical patterns
And collects the optical information at a predetermined reading position.
Optical means for forming an image on the surface, and disposed at the predetermined reading position
And converts the imaged optical information into an electrical signal.
Optical information detecting means for reading and reading,
Directs the emitted light to the optical means, and further reflects the reflected light to the light
Bending and changing the optical path to lead to the information detection means,
At least two optical path changing means.
At least two optical path changing means are integrally formed and processed.
Attached to a holding mechanism formed on the holding member,
The members are to be mounted in the specified outer case
Characterized by adopting an optical information reading device.
You.

[0007]

In the optical information reading apparatus thus constructed, an image based on the reflected light from the optical information is formed on the optical information detecting means by the optical means, read and output as electrical information. Then, the information is appropriately input to an external electronic device and processed. In this case, the reflected light from the optical information
The optical path is bent by at least two optical path changing means so that the optical axis thereof coincides with the optical axis of the optical means and the optical information detecting means. Therefore, it is necessary to accurately set the folding direction of the optical path together with the mounting position of the optical path changing means , and naturally the mounting and assembling precision is required to be high. But this at least 2
One of the optical path changing means is intended to be mounted to one of the holding member, the holding mechanism for attaching at least two optical path changing means for the holding member is formed integrally. Therefore, at least two optical path changing means
By assembling the step with the holding mechanism of the holding member, the relative positional relationship and the angular relationship of the at least two optical path changing means are always accurately set, and the optical means is provided with respect to the holding mechanism set on the holding member. And optical information detection means, the reflected light from the optical information
The optical path is always set at a position where information can be read accurately . That is, a bar code reader with high reading reliability, for example, can be obtained by a simple configuration and assembling process.

[0008]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This embodiment shows a barcode reader 10 that reads a barcode recorded on a recording medium such as a label attached to a slip or an article, and the barcode reader 10 can be used with one hand, for example. A case 11 made of synthetic resin is provided. This case 11
Has a distal end portion bent downward like a beak, and has an elongated reading opening 12 extending in a lateral direction, for example, at the distal end portion.

That is, the bar code reader 10 has a label 13 in which the opening 12 is a recording medium on which a bar code is recorded.
The light source 14 is, for example, an LED module configured by arranging a plurality of LEDs in a portion facing the opening 12 inside the case 11. Is done. And this light source 14
Irradiates the bar code recording portion of the label 13 via the illumination lens 15, the bar code recording portion is illuminated, and the reflected light from the bar code recording portion passes through the opening 12 to the case 11. Be taken inside.

[0010] Inside the case 11, there is provided an image sensor 16 constituted by a one-dimensional photoelectric converter and corresponding to optical information detecting means. light information corresponding to the phase in the optical means
An image sensor through the imaging mechanism by those lenses 17
An image is formed on 16 light receiving surfaces. Here, the optical path of the image light information of the bar code taken in from the opening 12 is
The light is reflected by the first reflection mirror 18 and is bent in a direction coinciding with the optical axis of the lens 17, and after passing through the lens 17, is folded by the second reflection mirror 19 in a direction coincident with the optical axis of the image sensor 16. . Then, the image of the bar code is received on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 16. Note that the first reflection mirror 18 and the second
The second reflection mirror 19 corresponds to an optical path changing unit.

First and second reflecting mirrors 18 and 19
Is attached to the holding member 20 as shown in FIG. The holding member 20 is formed by integrally molding, for example, a synthetic resin.
A first mirror holding mechanism for setting the reflecting surface of the mirror toward the direction of the opening of the case; a first reflecting mirror fitted into and held by the first mirror holding mechanism; Is done. Further, the holding member 20 includes a second mirror holding mechanism 22 that is positioned on the optical axis of the light reflected from the first reflecting mirror 18 and holds the second reflecting mirror 19.

That is, the image light information taken in from the aperture 12 is reflected by the first reflection mirror 18 and guided to the second reflection mirror 19, and is reflected by the second reflection mirror 19 to be held by the holding member 20. Is introduced into the opening 23 formed in the opening. The image sensor 16 is attached and set to correspond to the opening 23. That is, a frame-shaped sensor holding mechanism 24 is formed on the surface of the opening 23 opposite to the second mirror holding mechanism 22, and the image sensor 16 is fitted and held in the holding mechanism 24. .

In this figure, a lower case 111, particularly, a lower half of the case 11 which is divided into two parts, is shown. The bottom plate of the lower case 111 supports a cylindrical lens 17, for example. A support table 25 having a semicircular fitting groove formed above is integrally formed. The lower half of the cylindrical lens 17 is set to be fitted into the fitting groove portion of the support table 25. The upper half of the lens 17 is fitted and held by a holding piece 26 protrudingly formed on the back surface of the holding member 20. To be done.

A support piece 27 protrudes from the bottom surface of the case 111 so that the support piece 27 is brought into contact with the front end of the back surface of the holding member 20. In a state in which the holding member 20 is in contact with the rear end of the holding member 20, a locking hole 28 protruding from the front end of the holding member 20 is locked by a locking claw 29 protruding from the bottom surface of the lower case 111. The distal end portion is connected to the bottom surface of the lower case 111 by specifying its position. That is, the holding member 20 is mounted and set on the bottom of the case 11, particularly on the bottom surface of the lower case 111, at the lens 17 and the locking claw 29, and the first and second reflection mirrors 18 and Nineteen positions and mounting angles are specified. The lens 17 and the image sensor correspond to the positions of the first and second reflection mirrors 18 and 19, respectively.
Sixteen positions are also specified.

The image sensor 16 is mounted and set on a circuit board 30. The circuit board 30 constitutes reading means for converting, for example, a bar code image read by the image sensor 16 into an electric signal. An electronic control unit 31 is attached, and electrical read information output from the electronic control unit 31 is transmitted to an external control device (not shown) via a lead wire 32.

Image sensor 16 and electronic control unit
The circuit board 30 for holding the holding member 31 is coupled to and held by the sensor holding mechanism 24 of the holding member 20 via the image sensor 16, and is fitted into a holding frame 33 protrudingly formed on the surface of the holding member 20, and So that they are joined together. An indicator lamp 34 is provided on the upper surface of the case 11, for example, a label.
The completion of reading of the barcode drawn on 13 is displayed.

In the bar code reader 10 constructed as described above, the opening 12 at the tip is set close to the label 13 on which the bar code is drawn, and the reading operation of this bar code is started. In such a state, the illumination light from the light source 14 illuminates the barcode portion on the label 13 surface, and an optical image corresponding to the barcode image obtained by the reflected light is formed in the aperture 12.
From the case 11. The optical image of the bar code due to the reflected light from the label 13 surface is
And the light path is bent so as to coincide with the optical axis of the lens 17, and the light passing through the lens 17 reaches the surface of the second reflection mirror 19. Then, in the second reflection mirror 19, the arriving optical image is bent in the direction of the image sensor 16, and a light image of a barcode is formed on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 16, and the image is reflected on the image sensor 16. The image of the bar coat is now recognized.

The image of the bar code formed on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 16 is obtained by reading the bar width and the arrangement state of the spaces and converting them into electrical signals. And output to an external electronic device. In the process of reading a barcode drawn on such a label 13, the reflected light from the label 13 surface representing the image of the barcode is changed in optical path by first and second reflecting mirrors 18 and 19, and the image sensor The light is guided to the 16 light receiving surfaces, and the optical path is set accurately, so that the image of the bar code is accurately formed on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 16.

That is, in order for the image sensor 16 to recognize an accurate bar code image,
It is required that the positional accuracy and the reflection angle of the first and second reflection mirrors 18 and 19 for transmitting the optical image to the image sensor 16 be set accurately. The position of the reflecting mirrors 18 and 19 and the angular accuracy thereof coincide with the optical axis of the optical path set by the reflecting mirrors 18 and 19, and the lens 17 and the image sensor 16
Needs to be set.

In the bar code reader 10 shown in the embodiment, a holding member 20 formed as an independent molded part is used.
, The first and second reflecting mirrors 18 and 22 are attached to the holding mechanisms 21 and 22 formed by integral molding.
19 is attached and held. Therefore, the relative positional relationship and the angular relationship between the first and second reflecting mirrors 18 and 19 are specified by the holding member 20, and the first and second reflecting mirrors 18 and 19 can be easily and reliably provided with a highly accurate positional angle relationship. 19 are assembled.

Further, it is necessary to set the lens 17 and the image sensor 16 so as to coincide with the optical axis of the optical path set by the reflection mirrors 18 and 19. The lens 17 is set, and the holding member 20 is attached so as to be aligned with the lens 17. Then, the image sensor 16 is fitted to the sensor holding mechanism 24 formed on the holding member 10, so that the reflection mirror is
The relative positional relationship between 18 and 19 and the reflection angle are accurately set, and the setting position of the lens 17 and the image sensor 16 is accurately set by the holding member 20 based on the relative relationship with the reflection mirrors 18 and 19.

As described above, the image sensor passes through the lens 17
The first and second reflection mirrors 18 and 19 for setting the optical path guided to 16 are fixedly held on the integrally formed holding member 20, and therefore the first and second reflection mirrors 18 are provided.
The reflection angle and distance of the optical path between
And no assembly error occurs between them. In this case, since the lens 17 and the image sensor 16 are also fixed to the holding member 20, there is no need to position each component on the optical path, and the assembling is easy and accurate.

The bar code reader 10 shown in the embodiment
Although the first and second reflection mirrors 18 and 19 are disposed on both sides of the lens 17, the reflection mirror sets an optical path through the lens 17 to the image sensor 16. , Can be arranged at any location. In addition, the number of reflection mirrors is not limited to two, and can be set to an arbitrary number to set a predetermined optical path.
In short, an optical path for forming an image of the reflected light from the label 13 on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 16 via the lens 17 may be set.

In the embodiments described above, for example, a bar code reader for optically reading a bar code printed on a label has been described. As a device for reading such optical information, for example, a two-dimensional area sensor is used. Optical character readers (OCRs) exist which allow the reading of characters and graphics by use. Even in the case of configuring such a character reading device, the recording surface of the character graphic is illuminated and the reflected light is read, and the reflected light is imaged on the light receiving surface of the area sensor via the lens mechanism. Recognize text and graphics. Even in such a case, a plurality of reflection mirrors and the like for guiding the reflected light from the recording surface to a predetermined optical path are used. By assembling the holding member, the relative positional relationship can be assembled with high accuracy.

[0025]

As described above, according to the optical information reading apparatus of the present invention, the optical path of the reflected light from the optical information is accurately guided to the optical information detecting means via the optical means.
Less set to be imaged with high accuracy
In both cases, there is an excellent effect that the two optical path changing means can be set with high accuracy and can be easily assembled and set .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram illustrating a bar code reader that is an optical information reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the bar code reader partially exploded.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 bar code reader, 11 case, 111 lower case, 12 opening, 13 label, 14 light source, 15 illumination lens, 16 image sensor, 17 lens, 18, 19 reflection mirror, 20 ... holding members, 21, 22, 24 ... holding mechanisms, 23 ... openings (for image sensors).

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-4-104371 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06K 7/10

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A one optical information consists of optical patterns
The reflected light is collected and the optical information is
An optical means for forming an image at a reading position; and an optical element disposed at the predetermined reading position and forming the image.
An optical information detecting means for reading is converted into an electrical signal the information, the light reflected from the optical information guided to the optical means, further the reflected light bend the optical path to direct the optical information detector changing Te, at least two optical path changing means
If, comprising a said at least two optical path changing means is installed in the holding mechanism formed on the holding member which is molded integrally,
An optical information reading apparatus, wherein the holding member is mounted in a predetermined outer case. 2. The optical path changing means includes first and second reflecting mirrors, and the holding member comprises:
A first holding mechanism for supporting and fixing the first reflecting mirror for bending reflected light from the optical information into an optical path of the optical means, and an input optical path of the optical information detecting means for converting the light from the optical path of the optical means to the optical information detecting means; 2. The optical information reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a second holding mechanism for supporting and fixing the second reflecting mirror, which is bent so as to match with the above, is formed integrally. Wherein said retaining member, said at least two coincident with the optical path is bent by the optical path changing means, the optical means and the optical means retaining mechanism and the detecting means holding mechanism said optical information detecting means is held set respectively There reader optical information <br/> claim 1, wherein it has to further be integrally formed with the small <br/> without even two optical path changing means each holding mechanism. 4. The at least two light path changing means.
Chi, opening in the holding member in response to the optical path bent by the optical path changing means is set in the final stage is formed, the fitting mechanism formed in the holding member in response to the opening in which said optical information detecting means is to be fitted held, the optical information detecting means, the common with electronic circuit elements for converting the optical information detected by the optical information detecting means into electrical information attached to the circuit board, the reader of the optical information according to claim 1, wherein the circuit board is characterized in that it has to be <br/> supported is integrally joined to the holding member.