JP6006652B2 - Information code reading system, information code reading method, and identification tag holding structure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information code reading system, an information code reading method, and an identification tag holding structure.

  In a product manufacturing process, a distribution process, and the like, for example, a product tag called “Kanban” is used as an identification tag, and various data used in the process are written in the identification tag. In addition, there are many cases where an information code is attached to the identification tag in order to efficiently recognize the data of the identification tag, and the data written in the information code is used for verification at each process or receipt / shipment. Yes.

JP 2002-42053 A

  By the way, there are cases where multiple types of identification tags are attached to the same product storage box, for example, in the manufacturing process, logistics process, etc., and it may be required to recognize these multiple types of identification tags at the same time. is there. For example, there is a case in which a first type of identification tag is used in a certain factory, and a second type of identification tag different from this is used in an external factory thereafter. After reading the information code attached to the first type of identification tag, the information code attached to the second identification tag is read, and processing (for example, collation) based on these reading results is performed. become. However, in such a method, since the reading operation must be performed at least twice, workability is poor, and an increase in operation time is inevitable. In particular, it is necessary to carry out reading by holding the reading device while holding two types of identification tags, which is extremely inefficient. In addition, if one or both of the identification tags are held and read independently and then inserted or replaced, there is a possibility that a mistake will occur after reading, and the identification tag actually attached to the read result There may be a situation where these are not consistent.

  On the other hand, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for collectively reading a plurality of information codes. According to this technique, two types of information codes can be read at a time. If applied, the reading time may be reduced. However, when trying to collectively read each information code attached to a plurality of types of identification tags, it is necessary to keep these information codes close to each other and hold them for a certain period of time in a positional relationship that does not overlap all of them. Reading must be done to fit within the area. In such a method, it takes time to determine a plurality of types of identification tags in an appropriate positional relationship, and there is a possibility that it takes more time than reading each information code separately. In addition, how to arrange a plurality of types of identification tags must largely depend on the operator's sense and skill level, and it has been difficult to stably perform quick collective reading.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and can accurately and easily perform preparations required for collectively reading information codes attached to a plurality of types of identification tags. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information code reading system, an information code reading method, and an identification tag holding structure capable of performing stable collective reading.

The first invention is an information code reading system,
An information code reader for reading the information code;
A first identification tag to which a first information code is attached;
A second identification tag to which a second information code is attached;
An accommodation medium having an identification tag holding unit configured to hold the first identification tag and the second identification tag;
The first identification tag and the second identification tag are both configured in a longitudinal shape,
The first identification votes in a state of abutting an end portion of one longitudinal side of the second identification form with the end of the widthwise direction one side of the first identification votes to predetermined support portion of the identification slip holder And the second identification tag overlapped and held in the identification tag holding unit, so that the entire second information code of the second identification tag is the end on the other side in the short direction of the first identification tag. Than the support part,
The information code reader is
An imaging unit capable of imaging the first information code of the first identification tag and the second information code of the second identification tag;
A decoding unit for decoding both the first information code and the second information code when the first information code and the second information code are collectively imaged by the imaging unit;
It is characterized by having.

A second invention is an information code reader comprising an imaging unit that images an information code, and a decoding unit that decodes the information code captured by the imaging unit
A first identification tag to which a first information code is attached;
A second identification tag to which a second information code is attached;
An information code reading method for reading the first information code and the second information code using a storage medium having an identification tag holding unit configured to hold the first identification tag and the second identification tag. And
The first identification tag and the second identification tag are both configured in a longitudinal shape,
The first identification votes in a state of abutting an end portion of one longitudinal side of the second identification form with the end of the widthwise direction one side of the first identification votes to predetermined support portion of the identification slip holder And the second identification tag overlapped and held in the identification tag holding unit, so that the entire second information code of the second identification tag is the end on the other side in the short direction of the first identification tag. Configured to be farther from the support than
With the configuration in which both the first information code and the second information code are visible from outside, the imaging unit holds the first identification tag and the second identification tag in the identification tag holding unit. Imaging the first information code and the second information code in a batch;
The first information code and the second information code that are collectively imaged by the imaging unit are decoded by the decoding unit.

A third invention is a holding structure for an identification tag,
A first identification tag to which a first information code is attached;
A second identification tag to which a second information code is attached;
A storage medium having an identification tag holding unit configured to hold the first identification tag and the second identification tag;
With
The first identification tag and the second identification tag are both configured in a longitudinal shape,
The first identification votes in a state of abutting an end portion of one longitudinal side of the second identification form with the end of the widthwise direction one side of the first identification votes to predetermined support portion of the identification slip holder And the second identification tag overlapped and held in the identification tag holding unit, so that the entire second information code of the second identification tag is the end on the other side in the short direction of the first identification tag. It is the structure which becomes far from the said support part rather than.

In the first aspect of the invention, the first identification tag and the second identification tag are both formed in a longitudinal shape, and one end in the short direction of the first identification tag and one longitudinal direction of the second identification tag. by holding the edge portion and the first identification votes identification slip holder overlapping a second identification votes in a state of abutting on a predetermined support portion of the identification form holding portion side, the second identification votes second The entire information code is configured to be farther from the support portion than the end portion on the other side in the short direction of the first identification tag. Since it is configured in this way, when holding the first identification tag, it is held so that the end on one side in the short direction is brought into contact with the support portion, and when holding the second identification tag, the longitudinal direction As long as the end on one side is held so as to be in contact with the support portion, the second information code attached to the second identification tag is not hidden by the first identification tag. Therefore, it becomes easy to arrange the second information code so as to be visible without being conscious of such a fine arrangement. For the first information code, the first identification tag only needs to be arranged on the front side of the second identification tag. Even when the first identification tag is arranged on the rear side, only the position adjustment for exposing the first information code is necessary. Just do it. If the information code reader performs collective reading after making preparations for collective reading quickly and easily in this way, both information codes can be read more accurately in a short time.
In addition, if a part of the second identification tag is configured to protrude from the other end in the short direction of the first identification tag, the region hidden in the first identification tag in the second identification tag can be made as narrow as possible.
In addition, the second information code of the second identification tag can be visually recognized by a simple and clear operation in which the second identification tag is arranged in a different direction from the first identification tag and the end on one side in the longitudinal direction is brought into contact with the first identification tag. Can be arranged.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the first identification is performed in a state where an end on the one side in the short direction of the first identification tag and an end on the other side in the longitudinal direction of the second identification tag are applied to the support portion. by holding the identification slip holder overlapped and said a vote second identification votes, the whole of the second information code of the second identification votes are of the first identification votes wherein the lateral direction other side It arrange | positions in the position away from the said support part rather than the edge part.
In this configuration, whether the second identification tag is inserted and contacted from one side in the longitudinal direction, or inserted and contacted from the other side in the longitudinal direction, the second information code is the first identification tag. Visible without being hidden. Therefore, it is possible to further facilitate and speed up the work without forcing the direction of the second identification tag. In addition, since reading is possible regardless of which direction the second identification tag is inserted, it becomes easy to suppress a decoding failure caused by an insertion error.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the identification tag holding portion, the support portion extends in a predetermined direction in the storage medium, and the second support portion different from the support portion is in a direction different from the direction of the support portion. The end of the first identification tag on one side in the short direction and the end on the one side in the longitudinal direction of the second identification tag are applied to the support , and the length of the first identification tag the identification superimposed and said second identification votes and the first identification form an end of the widthwise direction one side of the end portion of the direction one side the second identification votes in a state of abutting on the second supporting portion by holding the vote holder, the whole of the first information code of the first identification slip is spaced apart from the second supporting portion than the end portion in the widthwise direction other side of the second identification votes It is arranged.
In this configuration, a simple operation is added in which an end on one side in the longitudinal direction of the first identification tag is applied to the second support portion, and an end on the one side in the short direction of the second identification tag is applied to the second support portion. Only by doing this, not only the second information code but also the first information code can be made visible more reliably while suppressing the risk of being hidden in the second identification tag.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the identification tag holding unit, a third support unit different from the support unit and the second support unit is different from the direction of the support unit at a position facing the second support unit. Extending in the direction, the one end of the first identification tag on one side in the short side direction and the one end on the one side in the longitudinal direction of the second identification tag are applied to the support portion , and the first identification tag The first identification tag and the second identification tag are overlapped in a state where the end on the other side in the longitudinal direction and the end on the other side in the short side of the second identification tag are in contact with the third support portion. by holding the identification slip holder, the whole of the first information code of the first identification votes is said the second identification votes than the end in the widthwise direction one side away from the third support section It is arranged at the position.
In this configuration, even if the end portion on the other side in the longitudinal direction of the first identification tag and the end portion on the other side in the short side direction of the second identification tag are applied to the third support portion, the visual reliability of the first information code is improved. Can do. In particular, the operator does not have to be confused as to whether the first identification tag and the second identification tag should be applied to the second support part or the third support part, and it is possible to further facilitate and speed up the work. it can. Moreover, since it becomes easy to visually recognize a 1st information code even if it applies a 1st identification tag and a 2nd identification tag to any of a 2nd support part and a 3rd support part, the decoding defect etc. resulting from the mistake of a contact position etc. It becomes easy to suppress.

According to the invention of claim 5 , it is possible to realize a reading method having the same effect as that of claim 1.

According to the invention of claim 6 , it is possible to realize an identification tag holding structure that exhibits the same effect as that of claim 1.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating an information code reading system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically illustrating a storage medium used in the information code reading system of FIG. FIG. 3A is an explanatory diagram illustrating the first identification tag, and FIG. 3B is an explanatory diagram illustrating the second identification tag. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the position and the like of the information code when the first identification tag and the second identification tag have a predetermined positional relationship supported by the support unit. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the position and the like of the information code when the first identification tag and the second identification tag are in a predetermined positional relationship supported by the support unit and different from the positional relationship in FIG. It is. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration in which the storage media holding the first identification tag and the second identification tag are stacked. FIG. 7 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an electrical configuration of an information code reading device used in the information code reading system of FIG.

[First embodiment]
Hereinafter, a first embodiment embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The information code reading system 1 according to the present embodiment is provided with an information code reading device 50 that reads an information code C, a first identification tag 20 to which a first information code C1 is attached, and a second information code C2. And the containing medium 10 having the identification tag holding unit 12 configured to hold the first identification tag 20 and the second identification tag 30. It is said.

(Identification tag holding structure)
First, an identification tag holding structure will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, in this configuration, for example, two types of identification tags (first identification tag 20 and second identification tag 30) are used. The first identification tag 20 and the second identification tag 30 are configured as, for example, an actual product tag used as “Kanban”, and are configured in a thin sheet shape with paper or a resin material.

  The first identification tag 20 is configured as an actual product tag that is used by being attached to the storage medium 10 in a predetermined area (for example, in a factory), for example, and a first information code C1 is attached to a predetermined position, and In addition to the one information code C1, various types of information (such as information on products stored in the storage medium 10 to be attached) are recorded using characters, numbers, other symbols, graphics, and the like.

  The second identification tag 30 is attached to the containing medium 10 in another area (for example, another factory or other company) different from a predetermined area (an area used with the first identification tag 20), for example. It is configured as a product tag to be used, and the second information code C2 is attached at a predetermined position, and various information other than the second information code C2 (the product stored in the attached storage medium 10) Information etc.) is recorded with letters, numbers, other symbols, figures and the like.

  The storage medium 10 has, for example, a box shape made of a metal material, a resin material, or the like, and is configured as a storage box that stores products, semi-finished products, or other objects. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the storage medium 10 has a box-like shape in which four sides are annularly surrounded by side wall portions, and a bottom wall portion 10 c is connected to the lower end portions of the side wall portions. .

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an identification tag holding unit 12 configured to hold the first identification tag 20 and the second identification tag 30 is formed on any one side wall portion 10 a of the storage medium 10. Has been. The identification tag holding unit 12 is configured in a pocket shape that can hold the first identification tag 20 and the second identification tag 30 inserted therein, and a support unit 12d configured as a bottom of the pocket structure at the lower end. Is provided. Moreover, the 2nd support part 12b which comprises the inner wall of the horizontal direction one end side of a pocket structure is provided in the horizontal direction one end part. Moreover, the 3rd support part 12c which comprises the inner wall of the horizontal direction other end side of a pocket structure is provided in the horizontal direction other end part. The support portion 12 d extends linearly in the lateral direction of the storage medium 10, and the second support portion 12 b extends linearly in the vertical direction of the storage medium 10. Further, the third support portion 12 c extends linearly in the vertical direction of the containing medium 10. The second support portion 12b and the third support portion 12c face left and right, and a front cover 12 and a side wall portion 10a (specifically, a region portion facing the front cover 12 in the side wall portion 10a) move back and forth. The identification tag holding part 12 is provided in a substantially box-like (pocket-like) form in which a support part 12d is connected as a bottom part to the lower end part of each of these facing parts.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a front cover 12a is provided that covers the identification tag accommodated in the structure connected to the support portion 12d, the second support portion 12b, and the third support portion 13c. The front cover 12a is configured in a sheet shape by, for example, a transparent resin material, and the first identification tag 20 is accommodated in the identification tag holding unit 12 as shown in FIG. 1, and the front cover 12a receives the first identification tag 20 as shown in FIG. Even when it is covered, the contents of the first identification tag 20 accommodated in the inside (inside of the identification tag holding unit 12 configured with a pocket structure) can be visually recognized from the outside of the accommodation medium 10 via the front cover 12a. It has become. In addition, the storage area in the identification tag holding unit 12 is configured to have the same size as the first identification tag 20 or slightly larger than the first identification tag 20, and the length of the first identification tag 20 as shown in FIG. It can be accommodated so that the direction is in the horizontal direction of the identification tag holding unit 12. In FIG. 2, the sheet-like front cover 12a is conceptually shown by a solid line. In this configuration, the direction perpendicular to the bottom surface of the bottom wall portion 10a is the vertical direction of the containing medium 10, and the direction in which the side wall portion 10a and the opposite side wall portion 10b face each other is the front-back direction of the containing medium 10. It has become. Further, the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and the front-rear direction is the horizontal direction (left-right direction) of the containing medium 10.

  And these identification tag holding | maintenance part 12, the 1st identification tag 20, and the 2nd identification tag 30 are predetermined | prescribed 1st directions (specifically 1st identification tag 20 of 1st identification tag 20) like FIG. One end portion 21 in the short direction) is applied to the support portion 12d of the identification tag holding unit 12, and one end portion 33 in a predetermined second direction of the second identification tag 30 (specifically, the longitudinal direction of the second identification tag 30). Is applied to the support part 12d of the identification tag holding unit 12, and the first identification tag 20 and the second identification tag 30 are overlapped and held in the identification tag holding unit 12, the second information code C2 of the second identification tag 30 Is farther from the support portion 12d than the other end 22 in the first direction (the short direction of the first identification tag 20) in the first identification tag 20, and the entire second information code C2 is the first identification tag 20 It can be visually recognized from the outside of the identification tag holding unit 12 without overlapping. That is, in such a holding state, the entire second information code C2 attached to the second identification tag 30 is arranged at the upper position of the first identification tag 20, and the first identification tag 20 is the second identification tag 30. The entire second information code C2 is prevented from being hidden by the first identification tag 20 regardless of whether it is in front or behind.

  Specifically, both the first identification tag 20 and the second identification tag 30 are formed in a longitudinal shape as shown in FIG. 3, and the short sides of the first identification tag 20 as shown in FIGS. An end (lower end) 21 on one side in the direction is brought into contact with the inner wall surface of the support portion 12 d on the inner wall of the identification tag holding unit 12, and an end 33 on one side in the longitudinal direction of the second identification tag 30 is placed on the identification tag holding unit 12. The second identification code C2 of the second identification tag 30 when the first identification tag 20 and the second identification tag 30 are overlapped and held in the identification tag holding unit 12 in a configuration applied to the inner wall surface of the support portion 12d on the inner wall. Is arranged at a position farther from the support portion 12d than the end portion 22 on the other side in the short side direction of the first identification tag 20. That is, from the end 33 in the longitudinal direction of the second identification tag 30 configured to be rectangular in plan view, rather than the width (length in the short direction) H1 of the first identification tag 20 configured in rectangular shape in plan view. The distance L21 to the second information code C2 is longer.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the first identification tag 20 has an end (lower end) 21 on one side in the lateral direction applied to the support portion 12d, and the second identification tag 30 is opposite to that in FIG. Even when the first identification tag 20 and the second identification tag 30 are overlapped and held in the identification tag holding unit 12 in a configuration in which the end 34 on the side is applied to the support portion 12d, the second information of the second identification tag 30 is also stored. The entire code C2 is arranged at a position farther from the support portion 12d than the end portion 22 on the other side in the short side direction of the first identification tag 20. That is, the distance L22 from the end 34 in the longitudinal direction of the second identification tag 30 to the second information code C2 is longer than the width (length in the short direction) H1 of the first identification tag 20. .

  In this configuration, the first information code from the end 23 in the longitudinal direction of the first identification tag 20 is larger than the width (length in the short direction) H2 of the second identification tag 30 configured in a rectangular shape in plan view. The distance L11 to C1 is longer, and further, the distance L12 from the end 24 in the longitudinal direction of the first identification tag 20 to the first information code C1 is larger than the width H2 of the second identification tag 30. Is longer. That is, the second identification tag 30 is inserted sideways like the first identification tag 20 in FIG. 1, that is, the longitudinal direction of the second identification tag 30 is the horizontal direction of the containing medium 10, and the first identification tag 20 The first identification tag 20 may be inserted vertically so that the longitudinal direction of the storage medium 10 is the vertical direction of the storage medium 10 (more specifically, even if the end 24 is oriented downward, the end 24 is A similar effect can be obtained (even in the downward direction). In this case, the first information code C1 of the first identification tag 20 can be visually recognized without being hidden by the second identification tag 30.

  Further, in the identification tag holding unit 12, the support unit 12d extends linearly in a predetermined direction (lateral direction) in the accommodation medium 10, and the second support unit 12b different from the support unit 12d is the direction of the support unit 12d. It extends linearly in different directions (vertical direction perpendicular to the direction of the support portion 12d), and the lower end portion 21 of the first identification tag 20 is applied to the support portion 12d and applied to the support portion 12d as shown in FIG. A left end portion 23 different from the lower end portion 21 is applied to the second support portion 12b on the left side when viewed from the front, and an end portion 33 on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the second identification tag 30 is applied to the support portion 12d and applied to the support portion 12d. The first identification tag 20 and the second identification tag 30 are stacked to hold the identification tag in a configuration in which the other end portion 32 (one end portion in the short direction) different from the end portion 33 is applied to the second support portion 12b. The first information of the first identification tag 20 when held in the section 12 Total over de C1 is the second supporting portion 12b of the second identification slip 30 is adapted to be disposed at a position away from the second support portion 12b than the end 31 of the opposite side. That is, since the distance L11 from the end 23 in the longitudinal direction of the first identification tag 20 to the first information code C1 is longer than the width H2 of the second identification tag 30 as described above, the second When the identification tag 30 is brought to the left and in the above-described contact state, the first information code C1 is the second identification tag 30 regardless of whether the first identification tag 20 is in front of or behind the second identification tag 30. Both the first information code C1 and the second information code C2 can be visually recognized from the outside without being hidden.

  Further, the identification tag holding unit 12 has a direction in which the third support unit 12c different from the support unit 12d and the second support unit 12b is different from the direction of the support unit 12d at a position facing the second support unit 12b (specifically, Is extended in the vertical direction perpendicular to the direction of the support portion 12d extending in the lateral direction, and any one end portion 21 of the first identification tag 20 is applied to the support portion 12d and opposite to the second support portion 12b. The right end 24 on the side is applied to the third support portion 12c on the right side when viewed from the front, and the end portion 33 in the longitudinal direction of the second identification tag 30 is applied to the support portion 12d and the end portion 33 applied to the support portion 12d. When the first identification tag 20 and the second identification tag 30 are overlapped and held in the identification tag holding unit 12 in a configuration in which the end portion 31 in the short direction different from that is applied to the third support portion 12c, the second identification tag 30 has a positional relationship as indicated by a two-dot chain line 30 'in FIG. . At this time, the entire first information code C1 of the first identification tag 20 is arranged at a position farther from the third support portion 12c than the end 32 on the opposite side of the second identification tag 30 from the third support portion 12c. It has come to be. That is, since the distance L12 from the end 24 in the longitudinal direction of the first identification tag 20 to the first information code C1 is longer than the width H2 of the second identification tag 30 as described above, the second When the identification tag 30 is brought into the right contact state, the first information code C1 is the second identification tag 30 regardless of whether the first identification tag 20 is in front of or behind the second identification tag 30. It is not hidden by.

(Information code reader)
Next, the overall configuration of the information code reading device 50 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 7, the information code reader 50 is configured as a code reader capable of reading a one-dimensional code or a two-dimensional code in hardware, and an outer case is formed by a case (not shown). In which various electronic components are accommodated.

  The information code reader 50 mainly includes an optical system such as an illumination light source 51, a light receiving sensor 53, a filter 55, and an imaging lens 57, and a micro memory such as a memory 65, a control circuit 70, an operation switch 72, and a liquid crystal display device 75. A computer (hereinafter referred to as “microcomputer”) system and a power supply system such as a power switch 71 and a battery 79 are configured. These are mounted on a printed wiring board (not shown) or housed in a case (not shown).

  The optical system includes an illumination light source 51, a light receiving sensor 53, a filter 55, an imaging lens 57, and the like. The illumination light source 51 functions as an illumination light source capable of emitting illumination light Lf, and includes, for example, a red LED and a diffusing lens, a condensing lens, and the like provided on the emission side of the LED. In the present embodiment, illumination light sources 51 are provided on both sides of the light receiving sensor 53, and the illumination light Lf can be irradiated toward the reading object R through a reading port (not shown) formed in the case. It is configured. In this configuration, a plurality of identification tags are read objects R, and an information code attached to these is an information code C to be read.

  The light receiving sensor 53 is configured to be able to receive the reflected light Lr irradiated and reflected on the reading object R and the information code C. For example, the light receiving element 53 is a solid-state image pickup device such as a C-MOS or CCD. An area sensor arranged in a dimension corresponds to this. The light receiving sensor 53 is mounted on a printed wiring board (not shown) so that incident light incident through the imaging lens 57 can be received by the light receiving surface 53a. The light receiving sensor 53 corresponds to an example of an “imaging unit” capable of imaging the first information code C1 of the first identification tag 20 and the second information code C2 of the second identification tag 30.

  The filter 55 is an optical low-pass filter that allows passage of light that is less than or equal to the wavelength of the reflected light Lr, for example, and can block passage of light that exceeds the wavelength, and a reading port (not shown) formed in the case. And the imaging lens 57. Thereby, unnecessary light exceeding the wavelength equivalent of the reflected light Lr is prevented from entering the light receiving sensor 53. Further, the imaging lens 57 is constituted by, for example, a lens barrel and a plurality of condensing lenses housed in the lens barrel. In the present embodiment, the imaging lens 57 is provided in a reading port (not shown) formed in the case. The incident reflected light Lr is collected, and a code image of the information code C is formed on the light receiving surface 53 a of the light receiving sensor 53.

  The microcomputer system includes an amplification circuit 61, an A / D conversion circuit 63, a memory 65, an address generation circuit 66, a synchronization signal generation circuit 68, a control circuit 70, an operation switch 72, an LED 73, a buzzer 74, a liquid crystal display device 76, and a communication interface 78. Etc. This microcomputer system is configured around a control circuit 70 and a memory 65 that can function as a microcomputer (information processing apparatus), and the image signal of the information code C imaged by the optical system described above is signaled in hardware and software. It can be processed.

  An image signal (analog signal) output from the light receiving sensor 53 of the optical system is input to the amplification circuit 61 and amplified with a predetermined gain, and then input to the A / D conversion circuit 63, from which the analog signal is converted into a digital signal. Is converted to The digitized image signal, that is, image data (image information) is input to the memory 65 and stored in the image data storage area of the memory 65. The synchronization signal generation circuit 68 is configured to be able to generate a synchronization signal for the light receiving sensor 53 and the address generation circuit 66. The address generation circuit 66 is based on the synchronization signal supplied from the synchronization signal generation circuit 68. Thus, the storage address of the image data stored in the memory 65 can be generated.

  The memory 65 is constituted by a semiconductor memory device or the like, and corresponds to, for example, a RAM (DRAM, SRAM, etc.), a ROM (EPROM, EEPROM, etc.), or the like. In addition to the above-described image data storage area, the RAM of the memory 65 is configured to ensure a work area and a reading condition table used by the control circuit 70 in each processing such as arithmetic operation and logical operation. . The ROM stores in advance a predetermined program that can execute a reading process and the like that will be described later, and a system program that can control each hardware such as the illumination light source 51 and the light receiving sensor 53.

  The control circuit 70 is a microcomputer capable of controlling the entire information code reading device 50, and includes a CPU, a system bus, an input / output interface, and the like, and has an information processing function. Various input / output devices (peripheral devices) are connected to the control circuit 70 via a built-in input / output interface. In this embodiment, a power switch 71, an operation switch 72, an LED 73, a buzzer 74, A liquid crystal display device 75, a communication interface 78, and the like are connected. The communication interface 78 can be connected to a host computer HST corresponding to the host system of the information code reader 50.

  Note that the control circuit 70 corresponds to an example of a decoding unit, and when the first information code C1 and the second information code C2 are collectively imaged by the light receiving sensor 53 (imaging unit), these first information codes. Both C1 and the second information code C2 function to decrypt. As a decoding method, for example, a known decoding method used in a QR code or the like can be used. When other information codes (one-dimensional bar code, data matrix code, maxi code, etc.) are used, this information is used. A known decoding method that is generally used for the type of code can be used. Further, even if a plurality of types of information codes are mixed in the captured image, it can be read without any trouble by a known method.

  The power supply system includes a power switch 71, a battery 79, and the like. When the power switch 71 managed by the control circuit 70 is turned on and off, the conduction of the drive voltage supplied from the battery 79 to each device and each circuit described above is established. Or shut off is controlled The battery 79 is a secondary battery that can generate a predetermined DC voltage, and corresponds to, for example, a lithium ion battery.

(Information code reading method)
When performing a reading operation using such a reading device, first, one end portion of the first identification tag 20 in a predetermined first direction is applied to a predetermined support portion 12d of the identification tag holding unit 12, and then the second identification tag 30 is provided. One end portion in the predetermined second direction is applied to the support portion 12d of the identification tag holding unit 12, and the first identification tag 20 and the second identification tag 30 are overlapped and held in the identification tag holding unit 12. For example, it arrange | positions sideways so that the lower end part 21 of the 1st identification tag 20 may contact the support part 12d, and the longitudinal direction one end part (end part 33 or end part 34) of the 2nd identification tag 30 is applied to the support part 12d. The first identification tag 20 and the second identification tag 30 are stacked and held in the identification tag holding unit 12. Accordingly, the entire second information code C2 of the second identification tag 30 can be disposed so as to be farther from the support portion 12d than the upper end portion 22 of the first identification tag 20. If it is assumed that the first identification tag 20 is arranged in front of the second identification tag 30, the position where the second identification tag 30 is moved to either the left or right side of the identification tag holding unit 12 as shown in FIG. Even in the relationship, even in the positional relationship in which the second identification tag 30 is arranged near the center of the identification tag holding unit 12 as shown in FIG. 5, the information codes C1 and C2 of both identification tags can be viewed simultaneously.

  Further, when it is not decided which of the first identification tag 20 and the second identification tag 30 is in front, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the lower end portion 21 of the first identification tag 20 is applied to the support portion 12d. In addition, a left end 23 different from the end 21 applied to the support 12d is applied to the left second support 12b, and an end (for example, the end 33) on one side in the longitudinal direction of the second identification tag 30 is supported. The first identification tag 20 and the second identification are configured in such a manner that one end (for example, the end 32) in the short direction different from the end applied to the support 12d and applied to the support 12d is applied to the second support 12b. What is necessary is just to hold | maintain in the identification tag holding | maintenance part 12 in piles. Further, the lower end portion 21 of the first identification tag 20 is applied to the support portion 12d and the right end portion 24 opposite to the second support portion 12b is applied to the third support portion 12c. The end portion (for example, the end portion 33) is applied to the support portion 12d, and the end portion (for example, the end portion 31) on one side in the short side direction different from the end portion 33 applied to the support portion 12d is provided to the third support portion 12c. The first identification tag 20 and the second identification tag 30 may be overlapped and held in the identification tag holding unit 12 with the applied configuration. That is, when the first identification tag 20 is accommodated sideways with respect to the identification tag holding unit 12, both the information codes C1 and C2 can be viewed at the same time regardless of whether the second identification tag 30 is moved to the left side or the right side. .

  The first identification tag 20 and the second identification tag 30 are held in the identification tag holding unit 12 with any arrangement configuration in which both the information codes C1 and C2 can be visually recognized at the same time. The first information code C1 and the second information code C2 are collectively imaged. In this batch imaging, for example, a code image of the first information code C1 and a code image of the second information code C2 are included in a single captured image. Then, the first information code C1 and the second information code C2 imaged collectively by the light receiving sensor 53 (imaging unit) are decoded by a decoding unit by a known decoding method, and the decoding result is stored or output. In addition, as a process using the decoding result of the 1st information code C1 and the 2nd information code C2, for example, the process which collates the decoding data of the 1st information code C1, and the decoding data of the 2nd information code C2, For example, a process of registering the decoded data of both codes in association with each other.

(Main effects of the first embodiment)
In this configuration, one end portion of the first identification tag 20 in the predetermined first direction (specifically, the longitudinal direction) is applied to the predetermined support portion 12d of the identification tag holding unit 12, and the second identification tag 30 has a predetermined first number. When one end 21 in two directions (specifically, the longitudinal direction) is applied to the support 12d and the first identification tag 20 and the second identification tag 30 are stacked and held in the identification tag holding unit 12, the second identification is performed. The entire second information code C2 of the vote 30 is configured to be farther from the support portion 12d than the other end 22 in the first direction of the first identification tag 20. Since it is configured in this way, when holding the first identification tag 20, when holding the one end portion 21 in the first direction so as to contact the support portion 12d and holding the second identification tag 30 As long as the one end portion 33 in the second direction is held so as to contact the support portion 12d, the second information code C2 attached to the second identification tag 30 is not hidden by the first identification tag 20. Therefore, it becomes easy to arrange the second information code C2 so that the second information code C2 can be viewed without being aware of the fine arrangement. Further, for the first information code C1, the first identification tag 20 may be arranged on the front side of the second identification tag 30, and even if the first identification code 20 is arranged on the rear side, the first information code C1 may be You just need to adjust the exposure position. If the information code reading device 50 performs batch reading after making preparations for batch reading quickly and easily in this way, both information codes can be read more accurately in a short time.

  Further, the first identification tag 20 is formed in a longitudinal shape, and the end 21 on one side in the short direction of the first identification tag 20 is brought into contact with the support portion 12d, and any one end portion of the second identification tag 30 ( When the first identification tag 20 and the second identification tag 30 are overlapped and held in the identification tag holding unit 12 in a configuration in which the end portion 33 or the end portion 34) is applied to the support portion 12d, the second identification tag 30 The entire two information code C2 is arranged at a position farther from the support portion 12d than the end portion 22 on the other side in the short direction of the first identification tag 20. In this way, if a part of the second identification tag 30 is configured to protrude from the other end in the short direction of the first identification tag 20, the region hidden in the first identification tag 20 in the second identification tag 30 is minimized. It can be narrowed.

  Specifically, both the first identification tag 20 and the second identification tag 30 are configured in a long shape, and the end portion 21 on one side in the short direction of the first identification tag 20 is applied to the support portion 12d. The first identification tag 20 and the second identification tag 30 are overlapped and held in the identification tag holding unit 12 in a configuration in which the end (the end 33 or the like) on one side in the longitudinal direction of the second identification tag 30 is applied to the support portion 12d. In this case, the entire second information code C2 of the second identification tag 30 is arranged at a position farther from the support portion 12d than the end 22 on the other side in the short direction of the first identification tag 20. ing. According to this configuration, the second identification tag 30 is arranged in a direction different from that of the first identification tag 20 and the end (one end 33 or the like) on one side in the longitudinal direction is contacted with a simple and clear operation. The 2nd information code C2 of the 2 identification tag 30 can be arrange | positioned so that visual recognition is possible.

  Further, the first identification tag 20 has a configuration in which the end portion 21 on one side in the short direction of the first identification tag 20 is applied to the support portion 12d and the end portion 34 on the other side in the longitudinal direction of the second identification tag 30 is applied to the support portion 12d. When the form 20 and the second identification form 30 are overlapped and held in the identification form holding unit 12, the entire second information code C <b> 2 of the second identification form 30 is on the other side in the short side of the first identification form 20. It arrange | positions in the position away from the support part 12d rather than the edge part 22. FIG. In this configuration, even if the second identification tag 30 is inserted and brought into contact with one side in the longitudinal direction, or is inserted and brought into contact with the other side in the longitudinal direction, the second information code C2 is the first. It becomes visible without being hidden by the identification tag 20. Therefore, it is possible to further facilitate and speed up the work without forcing the direction of the second identification tag 30. In addition, since reading is possible regardless of which direction the second identification tag 30 is inserted, it becomes easy to suppress a decoding failure caused by an insertion error.

  The identification tag holding unit 12 has a support 12d extending in a predetermined direction (lateral direction) in the accommodation medium 10 and a second support 12b different from the support 12d in a direction different from the direction of the support 12d ( The other end 23 different from the end applied to the support 12d and the other end 23 different from the end applied to the support 12d is extended to the second support 12b. The configuration in which one end 33 of the second identification tag 30 is applied to the support 12d and another end 32 different from the end 33 applied to the support 12d is applied to the second support 12b. When the first identification tag 20 and the second identification tag 30 are overlapped and held in the identification tag holding unit 12, the entire first information code C1 of the first identification tag 20 is the second identification code in the second identification tag 30. 2nd support part rather than the edge part 31 on the opposite side to the support part 12b And it is adapted to be disposed away from 2b. In this configuration, a simple operation of applying the other end portion 23 of the first identification tag 20 to the second support portion 12b and applying the other end portion 32 of the second identification tag 30 to the second support portion 12b is added. As a result, not only the second information code C2 but also the first information code C1 can be more reliably visible with a reduced risk of being hidden by the second identification tag 30.

  In addition, the identification tag holding unit 12 has a direction (longitudinal direction) different from the direction of the support part 12d at a position where the third support part 12c different from the support part 12d and the second support part 12b faces the second support part 12b. ), One end portion 21 of the first identification tag 20 is applied to the support portion 12d, and the end portion 24 opposite to the second support portion 12b is applied to the third support portion 12c, so that the second identification is performed. The first identification card 20 and the first identification card 20 are configured such that any one of the end portions 33 of the vote 30 is applied to the support portion 12d and the end portion 31 different from the end portion 33 applied to the support portion 12d is applied to the third support portion 12c. When the second identification tag 30 is overlapped and held in the identification tag holding unit 12, the entire first information code C1 of the first identification tag 20 is on the opposite side of the second identification tag 30 from the third support unit 12c. It arrange | positions in the position away from the 3rd support part 12c rather than the edge part. It has become the jar. In this configuration, even when the predetermined end portions of the first identification tag 20 and the second identification tag 30 are applied to the third support portion 12c, the visual certainty of the first information code C1 can be improved. In particular, the operator does not have to worry about whether the first identification tag 20 and the second identification tag 30 should be applied to the second support portion 12b or the third support portion 12c, and further facilitates and speeds up the work. Can be achieved. In addition, the first identification code 20 and the second identification tag 30 can be easily viewed with the second support portion 12b and the third support portion 12c, so that the first information code C1 can be easily seen. It becomes easy to suppress the decoding failure etc. which do.

[Other Embodiments]
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which the first identification tag 20 and the second identification tag 30 are inserted has been shown, but other types of identification tags (such as a third identification tag) may be inserted. In this case, for example, the third identification tag is configured with the same outer shape as the second identification tag, the third information code is arranged at the same position as the second information code, and the vertical orientation is set at a position shifted from the second identification tag. If the third identification tag is inserted into the first information code, the first information code, the second information code, and the third information code are all visible.

  The second identification tag 30 may be modified to some extent from the configuration shown in FIGS. For example, a portion closer to the end 34 than the second information code C2 may be omitted from the configuration of FIGS. Further, the width H2 may be approximately the same as the length in the horizontal direction, or may be longer than the length in the horizontal direction.

  The first identification tag 20 may have a width H1 that is approximately the same as the length in the horizontal direction, or may be longer than the length in the horizontal direction.

  The above-described accommodation medium 10 may be configured as a single unit as illustrated in FIG. 1 or may be configured as a stack by stacking a plurality of storage media 10 as illustrated in FIG. 6. In the case of configuring in a stacked manner as shown in FIG. 6, the identification tag holding portions 12 of any of the storage media 10 are arranged so as to face the same side, and any one of the above-described arrangement methods for each identification tag holding portion (Any one of the above-described positional relationships with respect to the first identification tag 20 and the second identification tag 30) is used to make preparations for batch reading in each accommodation medium 10 as shown in FIG. If collective reading is sequentially performed on the medium 10, each collective reading of the plurality of storage media 10 can be performed very efficiently.

  In the above embodiment, the QR code (registered trademark) is exemplified as an example of the first information code C1 and the second information code C2, but either or both of the first information code C1 and the second information code C2 are other than this. It may be a two-dimensional code (such as a data matrix code or a maxi code) or a known one-dimensional code such as a barcode.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Information code reading system 10 ... Accommodating medium 12 ... Identification tag holding | maintenance part 12d ... Support part 12b ... 2nd support part 12c ... 3rd support part 20 ... 1st identification tag 30 ... 2nd identification tag 50 ... Information code reader 53. Light receiving sensor (imaging unit)
70: Control circuit (decoding unit)

Claims (6)

An information code reader for reading the information code;
A first identification tag to which a first information code is attached;
A second identification tag to which a second information code is attached;
A storage medium having an identification tag holding unit configured to hold the first identification tag and the second identification tag;
With
The first identification tag and the second identification tag are both configured in a longitudinal shape,
The first identification votes in a state of abutting an end portion of one longitudinal side of the second identification form with the end of the widthwise direction one side of the first identification votes to predetermined support portion of the identification slip holder And the second identification tag overlapped and held in the identification tag holding unit, so that the entire second information code of the second identification tag is the end on the other side in the short direction of the first identification tag. Than the support part,
The information code reader is
An imaging unit capable of imaging the first information code of the first identification tag and the second information code of the second identification tag;
A decoding unit for decoding both the first information code and the second information code when the first information code and the second information code are collectively imaged by the imaging unit;
An information code reading system comprising: The first identification tag and the second identification tag in a state where the end portion on one side in the short direction of the first identification tag and the end portion on the other side in the longitudinal direction of the second identification tag are in contact with the support portion. And the entire second information code of the second identification tag is more than the end portion on the other side in the short direction of the first identification tag. The information code reading system according to claim 1, wherein the information code reading system is arranged at a position away from the information code. The identification tag holding unit, the support unit extends in a predetermined direction in the accommodation medium, and a second support unit different from the support unit extends in a direction different from the direction of the support unit,
The end on the one side in the short direction of the first identification tag and the end on the one side in the longitudinal direction of the second identification tag are applied to the support, and the one side in the longitudinal direction of the first identification tag The first identification tag and the second identification tag are overlapped on the identification tag holding portion in a state where an end portion and an end portion on one side in the short direction of the second identification tag are applied to the second support portion. By holding, the entire first information code of the first identification tag is disposed at a position farther from the second support portion than the end portion on the other side in the short side direction of the second identification tag. The information code reading system according to claim 1 or 2 , characterized by the above-mentioned. The identification tag holding portion extends in a direction different from the direction of the support portion at a position where the third support portion, which is different from the support portion and the second support portion, faces the second support portion,
The end on the one side in the short direction of the first identification tag and the end on the one side in the longitudinal direction of the second identification tag are applied to the support portion, and the other side in the longitudinal direction of the first identification tag The first identification tag and the second identification tag are overlapped on the identification tag holding portion in a state where the end portion and the end portion on the other side in the short side of the second identification tag are applied to the third support portion. By holding, the entire first information code of the first identification tag is arranged at a position farther from the third support portion than the end portion on one side in the short direction of the second identification tag. The information code reading system according to claim 3. An information code reader comprising: an imaging unit that images an information code; and a decoding unit that decodes the information code imaged by the imaging unit;
  A first identification tag to which a first information code is attached;
  A second identification tag to which a second information code is attached;
  A storage medium having an identification tag holding unit configured to hold the first identification tag and the second identification tag;
An information code reading method for reading the first information code and the second information code using
  The first identification tag and the second identification tag are both configured in a longitudinal shape,
  The first identification tag in a state where an end portion on one side in the short direction of the first identification tag and an end portion on one side in the longitudinal direction of the second identification tag are applied to a predetermined support portion of the identification tag holding portion. And the second identification tag overlapped and held in the identification tag holding unit, so that the entire second information code of the second identification tag is the end on the other side in the short direction of the first identification tag. Configured to be farther from the support than
  With the configuration in which both the first information code and the second information code are visible from outside, the imaging unit holds the first identification tag and the second identification tag in the identification tag holding unit. Imaging the first information code and the second information code in a batch;
  An information code reading method, wherein the first information code and the second information code imaged collectively by the imaging unit are decoded by the decoding unit. A first identification tag to which a first information code is attached;
  A second identification tag to which a second information code is attached;
  A storage medium having an identification tag holding unit configured to hold the first identification tag and the second identification tag;
With
  The first identification tag and the second identification tag are both configured in a longitudinal shape,
  The first identification tag in a state where an end portion on one side in the short direction of the first identification tag and an end portion on one side in the longitudinal direction of the second identification tag are applied to a predetermined support portion of the identification tag holding portion. And the second identification tag overlapped and held in the identification tag holding unit, so that the entire second information code of the second identification tag is the end on the other side in the short direction of the first identification tag. A structure for holding an identification tag, characterized in that the structure is further away from the support part.

Images