JP3887129B2 - Bar code reader - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a barcode reader that optically reads a barcode displayed on an object.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Recently, as an example of a barcode reader that optically reads a barcode displayed on an object, a barcode reader that reads postal information (barcode) displayed on a postal item has been developed. This is because many direct mails are sent to a large number of unspecified individuals and groups, and the amount of postal items has increased dramatically. Therefore, postal information such as postal codes and address display data is read, This is because there is an increasing need to streamline postal delivery operations by allowing goods to be mechanically classified by delivery region.
[0003]
The bar code reading apparatus includes a reading optical system having a CCD in which a large number of light receiving elements are arranged in the main scanning direction inside a translucent reading window in which a reading frame for designating a bar code setting position is formed. The reading window is brought into contact with the object so that the barcode is positioned within the reading frame displayed on the surface of the object, and the barcode is read by the reading optical system. In this case, the contact surface of the reading window with the object is disposed at a focal point position with respect to the CCD.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the surface of an object on which a barcode is displayed is not always flat like a sheet or the like. For example, in the case of an object having contents stored in an envelope, such as mail, the surface of the object may wave depending on how the contents are inserted. In such a case, even if a part other than the barcode touches the reading window, there may be a gap between the barcode display surface and the reading window, so that the barcode can be read correctly. There are things that cannot be done.
[0005]
An object of the present invention is to enable a barcode to be read correctly even when the surface of the object on which the barcode is displayed is not flat.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a translucent reading window in which a reading frame for designating a bar code setting position displayed on the surface of an object is formed, and a CCD having a large number of light receiving elements arranged in the main scanning direction. In the barcode reading apparatus having the reading optical system, a contact surface that contacts the surface of the object with a flat surface at a focal point position with respect to the CCD protrudes in an area occupied by the reading frame of the reading window. Is formed.
[0007]
Therefore, even when the reading window is brought into contact with the surface on which the barcode of the object is displayed, even if the surface of the object is not flat, the area where the reading frame of the reading window is formed is in close contact with the barcode display surface of the object. It becomes possible to make it.
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a translucent reading window in which a reading frame for designating a bar code set position displayed on the surface of an object is formed, and a CCD in which a large number of light receiving elements are arranged in the main scanning direction. And a reading optical system having a table-like protrusion that supports a part of the back surface of the object and presses the display surface of the barcode of the object against the reading frame. A contact surface that protrudes toward the protrusion is formed on the reading window .
[0009]
Therefore, when the back surface of an object is supported by a trapezoidal protrusion, even if the surface of the object is not flat, the barcode display surface of the object can be brought into close contact with the area where the reading frame of the reading window is formed It becomes.
[0010]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the table-like protrusion is urged toward the reading frame and is provided so as to be displaceable.
[0011]
Therefore, even when the thickness of the object is not constant, the barcode display surface of the object can be brought into close contact with the area where the reading frame of the reading window is formed.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is a longitudinal side view of a barcode reader, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a structure for separating the barcode reader into a power supply unit and a scanner unit, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a bottom surface of the scanner unit, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a push-up mechanism of a stand for supporting a mail piece, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a use form for reading a bar code of a thin mail piece, and FIG. 7 is a thick mail piece. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a usage pattern for reading the barcode of FIG. 8, and a side view showing a state in which the contact surface of the reading window is in contact with the surface of the mail piece.
[0013]
First, the main configuration of the barcode reader will be described with reference to FIG. The barcode reader 1 includes a main body 2 and a scanner unit 3. The main body 2 includes a power supply unit 8 and is fixedly provided with a scanner unit support 5 that supports the scanner unit 3 in a mounted state. Further, the main body 2 has a vertically movable stand 7 that supports a postal matter 6 as an object. Is provided. The scanner unit support 5 is screwed to bosses 9 formed at a plurality of positions on the upper portion of the main body 2.
[0014]
A housing 11 of the scanner unit 3 includes a reading optical system 13 mounted on a carriage 12 and a driving mechanism (a left-right direction in the drawing of FIG. 1) that drives the carriage 12 using a stepping motor as a driving source (FIG. 1). And a substrate 14 on which a circuit is formed. The reading optical system 13 includes a fluorescent lamp 17 that illuminates the mail piece 6 through a reading window 16 formed by a translucent plate 15 provided on the lower surface of the housing 11, and reflected light from the mail piece 6. It comprises a plurality of mirrors 18, 19, 20 for deflecting, a lens 21 for condensing the reflected light from the mirror 20, and a CCD 22. A CCD substrate 23 holding the CCD 22 is connected to the substrate 14 via a flexible cable 24. In addition, a clear cover 25 is provided on the front surface of the housing 11 so that the state of the postal matter 6 can be seen through the transparent reading window 16 when the carriage 12 moves toward the substrate 14 as indicated by a virtual line. Is provided.
[0015]
At the center of the reading window 16, a contact surface 16 a is formed so as to protrude with a flat surface in contact with the surface of the mail piece 6 at a focal point position with respect to the CCD 22. The contact surface 16a is formed along the bar code 6a (see FIG. 6) of the mail piece 6.
[0016]
Note that a reference white plate 26 for determining a threshold value when the read image is binarized is provided at the end of the upper surface of the reading window 16. The CCD 22 has a large number of light receiving elements arranged in the main scanning direction, and reads an image in a certain one-dimensional area.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 2, the scanner unit 3 is detachably supported by the scanner unit support 5 of the main body 2. The scanner unit support 5 has a rectangular reading opening 27 for fitting the reading window 16, a plurality of openings 28 arranged behind the reading opening 27, and corners on both sides of the rear part. Arranged circular holes 29 are formed. On both sides of the scanner unit support 5, locking projections (studs having a taper on the upper portion) 30 disposed between the reading opening 27 and the opening 28 are provided upright. As shown in FIG. 3, the locking holes 31 that engage with these locking projections 30 are formed on the bottom surface of the housing 11 of the scanner unit 3. Such a locking protrusion 30 and the locking hole 31 function as a connecting portion that connects the main body 2 and the scanner unit 3 in a separable manner.
[0018]
Since the reading window 16 is partially projected from the lower surface of the housing 11 so as to fit into the reading opening 27 (see FIG. 2) of the scanner unit support base 5, the housing 11 is placed on the desk surface or the like. On the bottom surface of the rear side of the reading window 16 of the housing 11, the flat flat protrusions 32 and the corners on both sides of the rear side are arranged so that the whole can be kept flat when placed. The circular protrusion 33 is formed. These protrusions 32 and 33 are positioned so as to be fitted into the opening 28 or the circular hole 29 when the housing 11 is placed on the scanner unit support 5 (see FIG. 2). Is the same as the protruding height of the contact surface 16 a of the reading window 16.
[0019]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a reading frame 34 for setting the barcode 6 a displayed on the surface of the mail piece 6 at a fixed position is formed in an area in the contact surface 16 a formed in the reading window 16. Has been.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 2, the scanner unit 3 includes a handle 36 that rotates about a fulcrum shaft 35 when the scanner unit 3 is removed from the scanner unit support 5 of the main body 2. In addition, a start switch 37 and a display 38 that are operated when the reading of the barcode 6a is started are provided on the upper portion of the housing 11 of the scanner unit 3. The barcode reader 1 in the present embodiment not only simply reads postal information (barcode 6a), but also has a reader function as to whether or not the barcode 6a conforms to the standard. Accordingly, the display 38 displays not only the decoding result of the bar code 6a but also the pass / fail result after the inspection. Further, an item switch 39 for switching a display item that has been rejected when the inspection fails and a detail switch 40 for switching the details of the inspection result are disposed in the vicinity of the display unit 38.
[0021]
Next, the structure of the push-up mechanism 41 that pushes the stand 7 upward will be described with reference to FIG. The push-up mechanism 41 includes a plurality of rollers 42 and 43 that support the vicinity of the four corners of the inner surface of the stand 7, and a plurality of roller support members 44 that are displaceable in the vertical direction that share and support these rollers 42 and 43. , 45, a spring 46 that urges the roller support members 44, 45 in the direction in which the rollers 42, 43 are displaced upward, and gears 47, 48 that connect the roller support members 44, 45 in an interlockable manner. Yes.
[0022]
One roller support member 44 includes an arm 44b that is rotatably supported around a support shaft 44a, an arm 44c that can rotate integrally with a gear 47 on the same axis as the support shaft 44a, and these arms. 44b, 44c and a connecting shaft 44d. Similarly, the other roller support member 45 includes an arm 45b that is rotatably supported around a support shaft 45a, and an arm 45c that can rotate integrally with the gear 48 on the same axis as the support shaft 45a. It is formed by a connecting shaft 45d for connecting these arms 45b and 45c. The spring 46 is stretched between the arm 44 b and the spring hanging plate 49. The roller support member 44 is urged by the spring 46 in the direction in which the roller 42 side is displaced upward about the support shaft 44a. However, since the gears 47 and 48 are engaged with each other, the other roller support member 45 is also The roller 43 side is biased in the direction of upward displacement about the support shaft 45a.
[0023]
As described above, since the plurality of roller support members 44 and 45 are interlocked, the displacement amount is equal, and the rollers 42 and 43 supported by the roller support members 44 and 45 having the same displacement amount support the vicinity of the four corners of the lower surface of the stand 7. As a result, the postal matter 6 can be pressed against the reading window 16 as shown in FIG. In this example, the vertical movement amount of the stand 7 is set to 1 cm.
[0024]
In such a configuration, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, when the barcode 6 a of the mail piece 6 is read with the scanner unit 3 mounted on the scanner unit support base 5, the mail piece 6 is read by the scanner unit support base. The barcode 6a is read while the reading optical system 13 is moved in this state.
[0025]
When reading the barcode 6a of a thick mail piece 6 of 1 cm or more, or the barcode 6a displayed on a mail piece (not shown) such as a parcel, it cannot be inserted between the stand 7 and the reading window 16. Therefore, the scanner 36 is detached from the main body 2 by grasping the handle 36, and the scanner is placed on the postal matter 6 so that the reading frame 34 of the reading window 16 is positioned on the barcode 6a as shown in FIG. Place unit 3 and read bar code 6a.
[0026]
When the barcode 6a is actually read, the start switch 37 is operated to move the carriage 12 together with the reading optical system 13 from the home position in the sub-scanning direction. The amount of movement of the carriage 12 can be recognized by the number of drive pulses of the step motor that drives the carriage 12. As a result, the state in which the mirror 18 of the reading optical system 13 has reached one side of the reading frame 34 is recognized, and the carriage 12 is further moved by a certain distance with reference to this time, and the reading of the barcode 6a by the reading optical system 13 is fixed. Let it run for hours. Thereafter, the processing shifts to returning the carriage 12 to the home position. Such processing is the same in any of the usage forms shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 described above.
[0027]
In this case, in addition to the bar code 6a representing the postal information, the postal matter 6 shows an address, sender information, an envelope design pattern, etc., but the entire surface of the postal item 6 is read and scanned. There is no need to read only the barcode 6a positioned in the reading frame 34.
[0028]
In the present embodiment, the area occupied by the reading frame 34 of the reading window 16 is formed with a protruding contact surface 16a that contacts the surface of the mail piece 6 with a flat surface at the focal point position with respect to the CCD 22. As shown in FIG. 8, when the reading window 16 is brought into contact with the surface of the mail piece 6 on which the barcode 6a is displayed, the reading frame 34 of the reading window 16 is formed even if the surface of the mail piece 6 is not flat. This area can be brought into close contact with the display surface of the barcode 6a of the postal matter 6. Therefore, the barcode 6a can be read accurately.
[0029]
Although the bar code reader 1 in the present embodiment includes the main body 2, the main body 2 may be omitted and only the scanner unit 3 may be configured. Even in such a configuration, the mail piece 6 is placed on a desk or the like, and the scanner unit 3 is placed on the mail piece 6 so that the reading window 16 is positioned on the portion of the mail piece 6 where the barcode 6a is displayed. By moving the reading optical system 13, the barcode 6a can be read by either a parcel or other mail piece 6.
[0030]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same parts as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is also omitted. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the stand 7, and FIG. 10 is a front view showing a state in which the postal matter 6 is brought into contact with the reading window 16 by a table-like protrusion. In the present embodiment, a stand-like protrusion 7 a that supports a part of the back surface of the mail piece 6 and presses the display surface of the barcode 6 a of the mail piece 6 against the reading frame 34 is integrally formed on the stand 7.
[0031]
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, when the back surface of the mail piece 6 is supported by the table-like protrusion 7a, the mail is displayed in the area where the reading frame of the reading window 16 is formed even if the surface of the mail piece 6 is not flat. The display surface of the barcode 6a of the object 6 can be brought into close contact. Further, since the trapezoidal protrusion 7a is formed on the stand 7 that is biased toward the reading frame 34 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) of the reading window 16, the thickness of the mail piece 6 is not constant. However, the display surface of the barcode 6a of the postal matter 6 can be brought into close contact with the area where the reading frame 34 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) of the reading window 16 is formed. Therefore, the barcode 6a can be read accurately.
[0032]
In addition, by forming the table-like protrusion 7a on the stand 7, in FIG. 10, the contact surface 16a in the above-described embodiment is not formed to protrude from the reading window 16, but the contact protruding toward the table-like protrusion 7a. The surface 16 a may be formed in the reading window 16.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the reading window in which the reading frame for positioning the barcode to be read is formed is provided, and the area occupied by the reading frame of the reading window is on the surface of the object at the focal point position with respect to the CCD. Since the contact surface with a flat surface protrudes, even when the reading window is brought into contact with the surface on which the bar code of the object is displayed, the reading frame of the reading window is not flat. The area in which is formed can be brought into close contact with the display surface of the barcode of the object. Thereby, the barcode can be read accurately.
[0034]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the reading window in which the reading frame for positioning the barcode to be read is formed is provided , and the table-like protrusion for pressing the barcode display surface of the object against the reading frame is provided . Since the contact surface that protrudes toward the protrusion is formed on the reading window, the reading frame of the reading window is formed even when the object surface is not flat when the back surface of the object is supported by the trapezoid protrusion. The bar code display surface of the object can be brought into close contact with the formed area. Thereby, the barcode can be read accurately.
[0035]
According to the invention described in claim 3, in the invention described in claim 2, the trapezoidal protrusion is urged toward the reading frame and is provided so as to be displaceable. Therefore, even when the thickness of the object is not constant, The bar code display surface of the object can be brought into close contact with the area where the reading frame of the reading window is formed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal side view of a barcode reading apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a structure for separating a barcode reader into a power supply unit and a scanner unit.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a bottom surface of the scanner unit.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a reading window as viewed from below.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a push-up mechanism of a stand that supports mail.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a usage pattern for reading a bar code of a thin mail piece.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a usage pattern for reading a barcode of a thick mail item.
FIG. 8 is a side view showing a state in which the contact surface of the reading window is in contact with the surface of the mail piece.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a stand.
FIG. 10 is a front view showing a state in which a mail piece is brought into contact with a reading window by a trapezoidal protrusion.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Barcode reader 6 Object 6a Barcode 7a Trapezoidal protrusion 13 Reading optical system 16 Reading window 16a Contact surface 22 CCD
34 Reading frame

Claims (3)

A translucent reading window in which a reading frame for designating a set position of a barcode displayed on the surface of the object is formed;
A reading optical system having a CCD in which a large number of light receiving elements are arranged in the main scanning direction;
In the bar code reader with
The bar code reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a contact surface that contacts the surface of the object with a flat surface at a focal point position with respect to the CCD is formed to protrude in an area occupied by the reading frame of the reading window. A translucent reading window in which a reading frame for designating a set position of a barcode displayed on the surface of the object is formed;
A reading optical system having a CCD in which a large number of light receiving elements are arranged in the main scanning direction;
In the bar code reader with
The reading window is provided with a table-like protrusion that supports a part of the back surface of the object and presses the barcode display surface of the object against the reading frame, and a contact surface that protrudes toward the table-like protrusion is formed on the reading window. bar code reading apparatus characterized by the.   The bar code reader according to claim 2, wherein the table-like protrusion is urged toward the reading frame and is provided so as to be displaceable.

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