JP4179664B2 - Bar code reader - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a barcode reader.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, for example, in supermarkets, two barcode reading units are arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions to form a vertical scanner and a horizontal scanner, and scan lines are projected in multiple directions from these two scanners to the product. There is known a POS system including a multi-scan type fixed barcode reader (hereinafter referred to as a fixed scanner) that reads a barcode. According to such a fixed scanner, it is easy to hit a scan line to a barcode of a product placed in a multi-directional direction, compared to a case where a barcode is read by a single barcode reader. Yes, the barcode reading operation can be greatly improved.
[0003]
FIG. 14A is a diagram showing a bar code attached to the product 103 by a multi-scan type fixed scanner 101 installed in the counter 100 in a so-called POS counter. Reference numeral 102 denotes an operator, and reference numeral 105 denotes a customer 105 standing in the passage 106 to purchase the product 103.
[0004]
If the product to be purchased is large enough to pass through the counter 100, reading is performed on the counter 100, but if the product is so large that the product cannot pass over the counter 100, it is hung on a stand 107 provided on the counter 100. As shown in FIG. 14B, the handheld scanner 104 projects a scan line toward the barcode 108 attached to the product 110 placed in the product basket 109 in the passage 106, as shown in FIG. Reading is done.
[0005]
Further, even for a product that can pass through the counter 100, depending on the shape of the product, it may be better to read the barcode using a hand-held scanner than to a fixed scanner. There are many POS counters that have both a scanner and a handheld scanner.
[0006]
On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-254041 discloses that a barcode can be read in a state of being fixed to a fixed part and can be removed from the fixed part in order to facilitate a POS operation in a very small space. A small omni scanner capable of reading a barcode by handheld operation is disclosed.
[0007]
FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining an operation of performing reading by hand-held operation using such an omni scanner. As shown in FIG. 15, the omni-scanner 200 is placed on the counter 203 so that a window 204 from which a scan line for reading a barcode is emitted faces the operator 202 (FIG. 15A). At the time of reading the barcode, the operator 202 turns his hand 202-1 to the rear part of the omni scanner 200 to grasp the omni scanner 200 (FIG. 15B), and rotates it horizontally in the clockwise direction to scan line. Is projected onto a bar code (not shown) with the window 204 from which the light is emitted facing forward (FIG. 15C).
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above-described bar code reading apparatus in which the fixed scanner and the handheld scanner are arranged side by side requires a large investment from the user, and it is difficult to find a suitable place for the arrangement in a small space such as a counter. There are cases.
[0009]
A small omni-scanner disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-254041 is a so-called projection-type barcode reading device that performs reading by applying a reading unit to a barcode attached to a product. For example, it is not always suitable for use in an environment where it is required to read barcodes of a large number of products, and the omni scanner needs to be rotated horizontally during handheld operation, so the code may be twisted horizontally. Thus, the operability when reading the barcode was not good.
[0010]
The barcode reader of the present invention has been made paying attention to such problems, and its purpose is not only to be used as a fixed scanner capable of reading a large amount of products, but also by handheld operation. An object of the present invention is to provide a bar code reader capable of reading bar codes with good operability.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above objective, First aspect of the present invention The barcode reading device according to A vertical barcode scanner which can be attached to and detached from a predetermined holding unit and can be read in a fixed state and read by a handheld operation, and a horizontal barcode scanner disposed in a predetermined positional relationship with the vertical scanner. A multi-scan type fixed barcode reader that reads a barcode applied to a product by projecting scan lines in multiple directions from these two barcode scanners. When reading a barcode with the vertical scanner fixed, both the vertical scanner and the horizontal scanner emit laser light. When using the vertical scanner as a handheld operation, the vertical scanner body is grasped from above. , Accompanied by an operation of reversing in the direction to push forward, and only when the trigger switch is pressed Perform the light emission, the horizontal side scanner stops emission of the laser .
[0012]
Also, Second aspect of the present invention The barcode reading apparatus according to the first aspect Aspect In the barcode reading apparatus according to A vertical barcode scanner that can be attached to and detached from a predetermined holding unit and can be read in a fixed state and read by a handheld operation, and has a predetermined positional relationship with the vertical scanner. In a multi-scan type fixed barcode reader that has a barcode scanner on the horizontal side, reads a barcode applied to a product by projecting scan lines in multiple directions from these two barcode scanners, The horizontal scanner emits a laser when the vertical scanner is removed from the holding unit, and does not recognize a scan line formed by the laser light as a regular scan line. .
[0013]
Also, Third aspect of the present invention The barcode reading apparatus according to the first aspect Aspect In the barcode reading apparatus according to A vertical barcode scanner that can be attached to and detached from a predetermined holding unit and can be read in a fixed state and read by a handheld operation, and has a predetermined positional relationship with the vertical scanner. In a multi-scan type fixed barcode reader that has a barcode scanner on the horizontal side, reads a barcode applied to a product by projecting scan lines in multiple directions from these two barcode scanners, The horizontal scanner emits laser light when a plate provided with a window for a horizontal scanner is attached, and stops emitting laser light when the plate is removed. .
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Multi-scan type that arranges two barcode reading units in the vertical and horizontal directions to make a vertical scanner and a horizontal scanner, and projects a scan line in multiple directions from these two scanners to read the barcode attached to the product The fixed scanner needs to have the following requirements in order to accurately and quickly read a bar code attached to a large number of products.
(1) In order to deal with barcodes stuck in any orientation on one side of the product, there are many scan lines in the orientation;
(2) Projecting scan lines in many orientations to cover as much as possible the range that a surface of the product can face;
(3) Accurate reading even if the product is moved at a high speed,
(4) Reading in a wide range,
(5) High reading ability even for low-quality barcodes,
Etc.
[0015]
FIG. 1A shows a handy scanner 16 according to this embodiment that can be used not only as a vertical scanner of the above-described multi-scan type fixed scanner but also as a hand-held scanner that reads a barcode by hand-held operation. It is an external perspective view. FIG. 1A shows a state when the handy scanner 16 is viewed from the back and the side. A grip portion 6 that can be gripped by an operator by hand is provided on the back of the main body. A trigger switch 23 is provided at the tip of the grip portion 6. Reference numeral 24 denotes a bottom portion. In addition, a window 5 for emitting the scan line 4 from the barcode reading unit arranged inside the main body to the outside is provided on the front surface of the main body. The specific shape of the window 5 is shown in FIG. 2 below. FIG. 1B shows a configuration when the trigger switch 23 is not provided.
[0016]
When such a handy scanner 16 is used as a fixed scanner, as shown in FIG. 2, its bottom 24 is mounted on a stand 25 from above and used as a vertical scanner. By positioning the bottom 24 of the handy scanner 16 on the stand 25, the main body of the handy scanner 16 is positioned. A horizontal scanner (not shown) is disposed below the plate 12-1 of the counter 12. Further, the handy scanner 16 has a cord attaching portion 28 at the upper part of the side surface thereof, and the cord 27 is connected from the cord attaching portion 28 to the stand portion 25 to enable electrical communication between the handy scanner 16 and the counter 12 side. .
[0017]
3A and 3B are diagrams for explaining the procedure of the handheld operation according to the embodiment of the present invention. When the product is large enough to pass through the counter 12, the handy scanner 16 reads the barcode 54 attached to the product 51 placed on the counter 12 while being fixed to the stand unit 25. If it is so large that it cannot pass above, it is necessary to read the bar code 32 with the product 31 placed in the product basket 53 placed in the passage 52.
[0018]
In this case, the operator 50 grasps the grip portion 6 provided on the back surface of the handy scanner 16 with his / her hand 50-1 from above, and reverses the handy scanner 16 in a direction to push the hand scanner 16 forward. Turn in one direction. By this operation, the bottom 24 of the handy scanner 16 moves to the head position of the main body. When a trigger switch 23 provided on the back surface is pressed, a scan line is projected from the window 5 onto the barcode 32. In the case of the handy scanner 16 that does not have a trigger switch, a scan line is projected when it is detected by the method described later that the handy scanner 16 has been removed from the stand unit 25.
[0019]
According to such a method, since the front barcode 32 can be read with a simple operation without applying a load to the hand 50-1 of the operator 50, the operability during the handheld operation can be improved. .
[0020]
Further, in the case of the vertical scanner, particularly when used as a multi-scan type scanner in combination with the horizontal scanner, the barcode surface is directed upward so that the operator 50 can read while visually confirming, In addition, it is necessary to project the scan line downward. Also in this embodiment, since the scan line 55 is substantially downward as shown in FIG. 3A, the front barcode 32 can be read by rotation at an angle smaller than 180 degrees.
[0021]
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a method for detecting that the operator 50 has removed the handy scanner 16 from the stand unit 25. In FIG. 4, a magnet 26-1 is provided on the stand unit 25, and a magnetic detection element 26-2 such as a Hall element is provided on the handy scanner 16. When the handy scanner 16 is fixed, the magnetic detection element 26-2 maintains a state adjacent to the magnet 26-1, and thus detects the magnetic force of the magnet 26-1, but the operator 50 removes the handy scanner 16 from the stand unit 25. In this case, the magnetic detection element 26-2 does not detect the magnetic force of the magnet 26-1. Therefore, it can be seen that the handy scanner 16 has been removed by comparing the electrical signal when the magnetic force of the magnet 26-1 is detected with the electrical signal when it is not detected. For example, a magnetic detection switch such as a reed relay or a reed switch may be used instead of the magnetic detection element. Further, a limit switch, a micro switch, a photo reflector, a photo interrupter, a pressure switch, and an interlock switch unit constituted by them may be used. In this embodiment, when removal of the handy scanner 16 is detected, as described later, not only light emission of the LD of the handy scanner 16 which is a vertical scanner but also light emission of the LD of the horizontal scanner is stopped. Like that. Further, even if a scan line is output while the LD of the horizontal scanner is turned on, it is not recognized as a regular scan line.
[0022]
5, 6 and 7 are diagrams for explaining the barcode reading operation when the handy scanner 16 is mounted on the stand unit 25 and used as a fixed scanner. FIG. 5 mainly shows an optical system inside the handy scanner 16. FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view showing the arrangement of a plurality of pattern mirrors, and FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof.
[0023]
Laser light from an LD (laser diode) 1 strikes a center mirror (planar mirror) 2-1 provided at the center of a condensing mirror 2 as a concave mirror and is guided to a polygon 3 rotated by a motor (not shown). The laser light reflected by the polygon 3 is guided to the pattern mirrors A (4-1) and B (4-2) as scanning light. The scanning light is emitted to the outside of the handy scanner 16 through the window 5 as a projection pattern in a substantially horizontal direction and a substantially vertical direction depending on the angles of the pattern mirrors A (4-1) and B (4-2). It is projected onto the barcodes 7 and 9 assigned to the products 8 and 10 on the counter 12.
[0024]
The light projected on the barcodes 7 and 9 of the products 8 and 10 is diffusely reflected, and becomes scattered light having strength depending on the reflectance of the white portion and the black portion of the black and white pattern of the barcodes 7 and 9. A part of this scattered light reaches the condensing mirror 2 by following the same optical path as the light path emitted from the LD 1 and reaching the barcodes 7 and 9. The light reaching the condensing mirror 2 is condensed and incident on a PD (photodiode) 11 arranged at a predetermined distance from the LD 1 and subjected to photoelectric conversion. In this way, the barcode pattern is converted into an electrical signal, and then processed and decoded.
[0025]
FIG. 8 is a top view (FIG. 8A) and side views (FIGS. 8B and 8C) of the polygon 3 described above. As shown in FIG. 8, the polygon 3 has four surfaces having different inclination angles α1, α2, α3, and α4 with respect to the rotation axis 27. When hit, light in four directions with different projection angles is emitted. For example, the projection patterns reflected from the pattern mirror B (4-2) and output from the window 5 to the outside of the handy scanner 16 have different directions. There are four types of scan lines.
[0026]
FIG. 9 is a view of the projection pattern at this time as viewed from above. Here, only the scan lines B1 and B2 are shown, and the scan lines B2 and B3 having an angle therebetween are not shown. It can be seen that the projection pattern projected from the pattern mirror B (4-2) exists from the scan line B4 substantially perpendicular to the window 5 to the scan line B1 having an angle substantially horizontal to the window 5. . The horizontal scan line B1 is necessary for reading the barcodes 20 and 22 attached to the side of the product. On the other hand, the scan line B4 substantially perpendicular to the window 5 is suitable for reading the barcode 21 provided on the surface facing the window 5. A scan line such as B4 is used particularly in a so-called projection type scanner that reads a product close to the window 5 from a distance.
[0027]
As described above, when the handy scanner 16 is used as a fixed scanner, it is composed of scan lines of many angles in order to read a plurality of products placed in various different directions on the counter 12 over a wide range. A projection pattern is projected.
[0028]
FIG. 10 shows that the hand-held scanner 16 according to the present embodiment is removed from the stand unit 18 and is emitted from the window 5 when reading the barcode 132 attached to the product 131 at a distance not on the counter 12 by hand-held operation. It is a figure which shows a projection pattern. When the handy scanner 16 is used to read a bar code of a product at a distance, a wide projection pattern as shown in FIG. There is a possibility of reading the barcode. Therefore, when reading a barcode of a product at a distant distance, as shown in FIG. 10, the light emission of the LD is controlled to blink in synchronization with the rotation of the polygon 3, so that a scan line required for reading (in the figure, Only the scan line B4 (substantially perpendicular to the window 5) indicated by the solid line is emitted, and the other scan lines (dotted scan lines B1, B2, B3) are not emitted.
[0029]
FIG. 11 is a diagram for comparing and explaining the LD light emission timing of the horizontal scanner at this time and the LD light emission timing of the vertical scanner (handy scanner 16). When the power is turned on, the LD of the horizontal scanner and the LD of the handy scanner 16 start to emit light (A1). The handy scanner 16 outputs all scan lines. Here, if the operator removes the handy scanner 16 from the stand unit 25 to scan the barcode of the product at a distance, this is detected by the method described above, and the LD of the horizontal scanner and the LD of the handy scanner 16 are detected. The light emission is stopped (A2). Thereafter, when the operator presses the trigger switch 23 to turn on the trigger (A3), the LD of the handy scanner 16 controls the output and timing of the LD so that only one scan line emits light. When the reading is completed at the timing of A4, the light emission of the LD of the handy scanner 16 is stopped. Thereafter, the trigger is turned off when the operator releases the trigger switch 23 (A5). When the handy scanner 16 is reattached to the stand unit 25 after the reading of the product at a distant distance is completed, this is detected and light emission of the LD of the horizontal scanner and the LD of the handy scanner 16 is resumed (A6).
[0030]
As described above, when reading a barcode of a product at a distance away by the handy scanner 16, there is a possibility that it is present around the product by controlling the light emission of the LD so that there is one scan line. It is possible to prevent the barcode of a certain product from being read carelessly.
[0031]
FIG. 12A shows an example in which the magnetic detection element 126-1 is provided on the handy scanner 16 side and the magnet 126-1 is provided on the plate 12-1. According to such a configuration, it is possible to detect that the plate 12-1 is removed by the same method as when the handy scanner 16 is removed.
[0032]
Since the plate 12-1 is a portion through which the product passes in order to read the barcode, the window portion provided at the center is likely to become dirty. Therefore, the plate 12-1 can be removed and cleaned, but if the plate 12-1 is removed, the light emitted from the LD may hit the eyes of the operator and cause damage. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the removal of the plate 12-1 is detected, the light emission of the LD is stopped. If the plate 12-1 is attached again after cleaning, the light emission of the LD is resumed. FIG. 12B shows the timing of light emission and stop of the LD at this time.
[0033]
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example in which the EAS antenna 30 is provided in the handy scanner 16 according to the present embodiment. According to such a configuration, the tag 132 ′ attached to the barcode 132 is burned out by the radio wave from the EAS antenna 30 when the barcode scanner attached to the product 31 is read by the handy scanner 16 in the counter. As a result, the product for which the tag 132 ′ has been burned out is proved to have been purchased by a regular method. On the other hand, since the tag 132 'has not been burned out, an alarm sound is generated for a product that has been taken out of the store without passing through the counter. Thus, by providing the handy scanner 16 with the EAS antenna 30, it is possible to provide a function as a security system.
[0034]
The specific embodiment described above includes an invention having the following configuration.
(1) A window portion from which a scan line from a barcode reading unit for reading a barcode is emitted is held on the front surface, and is gripped from above in a state where it is detachably fixed to a predetermined holding unit to position the main body. A bar code reader having a grip portion on the back surface,
In a state where the main body is fixed to the holding unit, a first reading mode for reading a barcode in the reading range of the barcode reading device, and the bar code reading device is detached from the holding unit, and the bar is read by hand-held operation. Selectively used with the second reading mode for reading the code,
The handheld operation in the second reading mode involves an operation of gripping the grip portion from above, inverting the barcode reading device in a direction to push it forward, and directing the window portion in a direction where the barcode is present.
(2) When the barcode reading unit when the main body is fixed to the fixing unit is a vertical scanner, the barcode reading unit is arranged separately from the barcode reading device with a predetermined positional relationship with the vertical scanner. The barcode reading apparatus according to (1), further including a second barcode reading unit serving as a horizontal scanner.
(3) When the barcode reading apparatus is used in the second reading mode, the scan line from the second barcode reading unit is not recognized as emitted light for reading ( The barcode reader according to 2).
(4) When the bar code reader is used in the second reading mode, the laser emission is stopped when the main body is removed from the holding portion, and the laser is turned off when the trigger switch is pressed. The bar code reader according to (1), wherein the light emission is resumed.
(5) The bar code reading device according to (1), wherein the bar code reading device is detected to be detached from the holding unit by a magnetic detection element or a magnetic detection switch.
(6) The detection of the removal of the plate by the magnetic detection element or the magnetic detection switch, and when the removal is detected, the laser emission of the horizontal scanner is stopped. Bar code reader.
(7) A magnetic detection element or a magnetic detection switch is provided in the main body of the barcode reading device, and a magnet is provided on the plate corresponding to the magnetic detection element or the magnetic detection switch to detect removal of the plate. The barcode reader according to (6).
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a barcode reading apparatus that can perform barcode reading by handheld operation with good operability as well as use as a fixed scanner capable of reading a large amount of merchandise.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a handy scanner 16 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the handy scanner 16 of this embodiment is mounted on a stand unit 25 to be used as a fixed scanner.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a procedure for handheld operation according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a method for detecting that the operator has removed the handy scanner 16 from the stand unit 25;
FIG. 5 is a diagram mainly showing an optical system inside the handy scanner 16;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view mainly showing an arrangement of a plurality of pattern mirrors.
FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view mainly showing an arrangement of a plurality of pattern mirrors.
FIG. 8 is a top view (FIG. 8A) and side views (FIGS. 8B and 8C) of a polygon 3;
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a projection pattern emitted from a window when the handy scanner is used as a fixed scanner.
FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a projection pattern emitted from a window 5 when the handy scanner 16 is used as a handheld scanner.
11 is a diagram for comparing and explaining the LD light emission timing of the horizontal scanner and the LD light emission timing of the vertical scanner (handy scanner 16). FIG.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example in which a magnet 26-1 is provided on a plate 12-1 to detect that the plate 12-1 has been removed.
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an application example in which an EAS antenna is provided in the handy scanner 16 of the present embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a handheld scanner is used in a conventional POS system.
FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining an operation when reading is performed by handheld operation using a conventional omni scanner.
[Explanation of symbols]
4. Scan line
5 ... Window,
6 ... grip part,
12 ... Counter
16 ... Handy scanner,
23 ... trigger switch,
24 ... Bottom,
25. Stand part.

Claims (3)

A vertical barcode scanner that can be attached to and detached from a predetermined holding unit and can be read in a fixed state and read by handheld operation,
A horizontal barcode scanner arranged in a predetermined positional relationship with the vertical scanner,
In a multi-scan type fixed barcode reader that scans a scan line from these two barcode scanners in multiple directions and reads a barcode attached to a product,
When reading the barcode with the vertical scanner fixed, both the vertical scanner and the horizontal scanner emit laser light,
When the vertical scanner is used as a handheld operation, the vertical scanner body is grasped from above, and is inverted in a direction to push it down. The laser is emitted only when the trigger switch is pressed. A bar code reading device, wherein the scanner stops laser light emission . A vertical barcode scanner that can be attached to and detached from a predetermined holding unit and can be read in a fixed state and read by handheld operation,
A horizontal barcode scanner arranged in a predetermined positional relationship with the vertical scanner,
In a multi-scan type fixed barcode reader that scans a scan line from these two barcode scanners in multiple directions and reads a barcode attached to a product,
The horizontal scanner emits a laser when the vertical scanner is removed from the holding unit, and does not recognize a scan line formed by the laser light as a regular scan line. Bar code reader. A vertical barcode scanner that can be attached to and detached from a predetermined holding unit and can be read in a fixed state and read by handheld operation,
A horizontal barcode scanner arranged in a predetermined positional relationship with the vertical scanner,
In a multi-scan type fixed barcode reader that scans a scan line from these two barcode scanners in multiple directions and reads a barcode attached to a product,
The horizontal scanner emits laser light when a plate provided with a window for a horizontal scanner is attached, and stops emitting laser light when the plate is removed. A barcode reader characterized by that.

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