JPH0465783A - Bar code device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow a bar code reader to read out a bar code having many digits by providing the bar code device with a driving device for rotating a rotary drum and arranging plural bar codes on the outer periphery of the rotary drum in the rotational direction. CONSTITUTION:In the bar code device for applying load control information to the bar code reader fixed to an industrial vehicle, the rotary drum 1 arranging plural bar codes 15 on its outer periphery is rotated by the driving device 12. When the drum 1 is rotated, the bar codes are successively reached to the front of the bar code reader. The bar codes are successively read out by the bar code reader and load control information is transmitted to the industrial vehicle. Thus, the bar code reader can read out a bar code with many digits.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a barcode device, and specifically relates to a technique for providing a barcode as baggage management information to a barcode reader installed in an industrial vehicle. .

[Prior art]

In recent years, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, logistics is managed by providing a barcode 920 as cargo management information to a barcode reader 94 installed on an industrial vehicle such as a forklift truck 93. system is proposed.

The baggage management information 1 represents, for example, product number, number 11, destination, etc.

The barcode reader 94 is attached to a lift bracket 932 that is raised along a mast 931 of a forklift truck 93, as shown in FIG.

The lift bracket 932 has a pair of left and right forks 9.
33 is attached.

A barcode reader 94 is disposed at an intermediate position between both forks 933.

Although not shown, the forklift truck 93 is equipped with a controller, and the barcode reader 94 is controlled by the controller.

On the other hand, on the pallet 91, as shown in FIG.

A barcode label 92 is attached to the barcode reader 94 to provide a barcode 920 as baggage management information. That is, a pair of left and right fork insertion holes 910 are provided on the side surface of the pallet 91, and the barcode label 92 is pasted at an intermediate position between the two fork insertion holes 910.

A barcode 920 encoding baggage management information is printed on the surface of the barcode label 92.

Then, drive the forklift truck 93 and insert the fork 933 into the fork insertion hole 91 of the pallet 91.
0, the barcode reader 94 reads the barcode 920.

The baggage management information read from the barcode 920 by the barcode reader 94 is sent to the controller, and further transmitted wirelessly from the controller to the host computer of the central control center.

[Problems to be Solved] However, in the conventional method of assigning barcodes to barcode readers, the number of digits of the barcode that can be read is limited depending on the performance and reading distance of the barcode reader.

This point will be explained using FIGS. 6 and 7.

As shown in FIG. 6, the range in which the barcode label 92 can be attached on the pallet 91 is limited to a narrow area between the left and right fork insertion holes 910. The width of the area is denoted by S.

Therefore, when displaying a barcode with a large number of 9 digits within the area width S limited in this manner.

The barcode itself becomes smaller. It is difficult to read such a small barcode with a barcode reader. Therefore, the number of digits that can be displayed in the barcode is
Limited by the reading performance of the barcode reader.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, generally a barcode reader 9
As the reading distance 11L of No. 4 becomes longer.

Its reading #D becomes wider. This reading distance is 9
For example, the number ranges from 31 at the minimum to 501 at the maximum.

However, the reading distance jl when inserting the fork
L is approximately 10 cm to 15 C1, and the reading width is proportionally narrower.

Therefore, the number of digits of a barcode that can be read is limited.

However, barcodes may require a large number of digits.

In this case, it is necessary to display an argument with a small number of nine digits as a barcode, read the barcode with a barcode reader, and collate the arguments with a combinator.

This method requires processing time, and it is not possible to determine what the argument means just by looking at it.

In view of these conventional problems, the present invention allows a barcode reader to read barcodes with a large number of digits without using methods such as arguments. It is intended to provide a barcode device.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention is a barcode device that provides baggage management information to a barcode reader installed in an industrial vehicle, and the barcode device has a nine-rotation drum.

a drive device for rotating the rotary drum, and a plurality of barcodes that are read by the barcode reader in the direction of rotation are disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary drum. It is in.

The most noteworthy feature of the present invention is that a barcode with a large number of 1 digits is divided into a plurality of barcodes with a small number of 1 digits and arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating drum.

In the present invention, the barcode device is attached to the outside of the pallet (see examples), to the warehouse fence, to the cargo itself, etc.

The means for disposing a plurality of barcodes on the rotating drum of the barcode device include a method of directly printing barcodes on the outer circumferential surface of the rotating drum, and a method of printing a barcode label on which barcodes are printed on the outer circumferential surface of the rotating drum. There are ways to attach it. It is desirable to attach a serial number to the barcode.

Further, in the present invention, it is preferable that a control switch is connected to the drive device so that the rotary drum is rotated only when necessary.

As a means for opening and closing the control switch.

There is a method (first embodiment) in which a transmitting antenna is provided on the industrial vehicle side, and a receiving antenna connected to a control switch is provided on the barcode device side, and the control switch is manually opened and closed on the industrial vehicle. .

Furthermore, there is a method (second embodiment) in which the barcode device is provided with a barcode reader detection sensor that detects the approach of the barcode reader, and a control switch is automatically opened and closed.

Examples of the barcode reader detection sensor include an optical sensor and an ultrasonic sensor.

[For production]

In the present invention, a rotating drum having a plurality of barcodes disposed on its outer circumferential surface is rotated by a drive device, so that the barcodes are sequentially brought to the front of the barcode league. Then, the barcodes are sequentially read by a barcode reader, and the cargo management information is transmitted to the industrial vehicle.

〔effect〕

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to cause a barcode reader to read a barcode with a large number of digits. A barcode device can be provided.

C Example] First example Regarding the barcode device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

This will be explained using FIGS. 1 to 3.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, one example of a barcode device 1 has a single rotation drum 11 and a drive device 12 for rotating the rotation drum 11. As shown in FIGS.

The bar code device I has a drum stay 14 for supporting the rotating drum 11, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The drum stay 14 includes a base plate 141 for fixing to the side surface of the pallet 91, and a base plate 141 for fixing to the side surface of the pallet 91.
The bracket part 142 is bent at both left and right ends of the bracket part 142, and is formed into a substantially U-shape.

The rotary drum 11 is rotatably supported between the two bracket parts 142 by a support shaft 110. A plurality of barcode labels 15 on which barcodes 150 are printed are pasted on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary drum 11 along the rotational direction of the rotary drum 11.

A serial number is attached to the barcode label 15, and the barcode 150 displayed on the barcode label 15 divides one barcode with a large number of digits, and each barcode label 15 is attached in the order of the serial number.
It is placed above.

As shown in FIG. 1, the drive device 12 includes a drive motor 121 fixed on a control box 13 (described later), a bevel gear 122 pivotally supported on the output shaft of the drive motor 121, and a bevel gear meshed with the bevel gear 122. It consists of 123. The bevel gear 123 is connected to the rotating drum 11.
It is supported by a support shaft 110 of. The drive device 12 includes 1 to 1
The rotation speed, gear ratio, etc. of the drive motor 121 are set so that the rotating drum 11 rotates once in 0 seconds.

The control box 13 is fixed to the bracket part 142 of the drum stay 14. Although not shown, the control box 13 houses a receiving antenna, a control switch that opens and closes in response to an output signal from the receiving antenna, and a battery as a power source for the drive device 12. The control switch is connected to the drive motor 121.

On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 3, forklift truck 9
A barcode reader 94 is installed on the lift bracket 92 of No. 3.
The transmitting antenna 2 is attached to the side of the control box 13 in correspondence with the receiving antenna inside the control box 13. The transmitting antenna 2, like the barcode reader 94, is connected to the controller shown in the conventional example.

The rest is the same as the conventional example.

The device of this example is configured as described above.

It exhibits the following effects.

That is, the operator drives the forklift truck 93 and inserts the fork 933 into the fork insertion hole 910 of the pallet 91. When the fork 933 is fully inserted into the fork insertion hole 910, the operator presses a switch on the controller.

As a result, the transmitting antenna 2 starts transmitting toward the pallet 91, and the barcode reader 94 starts reading.

On the other hand, in the barcode device 1 attached to the pallet 9I, the receiving antenna in the control box 13 receives the transmitted radio wave from the transmitting antenna 2 and outputs a signal to the control switch. The control switch receives the above signal and turns on.

As a result, the drive motor 121 rotates and transmits its power to the bevel gear 122. The power transmitted to the bevel gear 122 is transmitted to the rotating drum 11 via the bevel gear 123 meshing therewith.

Then, as the zero-rotation drum 11, which is rotated by the two-rotation drum 11, rotates, the barcode labels 15 disposed on the rotary drum 11 sequentially come to face the barcode reader 94.

The barcode reader 94 sequentially reads the barcode labels 15 that come in front of it as the drum 11 rotates once.

In this case, the barcode 150 on the barcode label 15 read by the barcode reader 94, which may start reading from any of the barcode labels 15, is converted into numerical and character data by the microprocessor of the barcode reader 94. hand.

It is output to a controller mounted on a forklift truck 93.

The controller counts the number of data sent, and when a required number of barcodes 150 are read, notifies the operator of the forklift truck 93 by a buzzer or the like. In response to this, the operator transmits a command to turn off the switch from the transmitting antenna 2 to the pallet 91.

Therefore, in the barcode device 1 of the pallet 91,
The receiving antenna in the control box 13 receives the above command and turns the control switch into the OFF state. Actuation of the control switch causes the drive motor 121 to stop. As a result, the rotation of the one-rotation drum 11 is stopped.

In addition, in the above controller, after sorting the above data in the order of serial numbers in the internal memory,
It is transmitted wirelessly as one barcode data with a large number of digits to the host computer of the central control center, and is also notified to the operator as baggage management information.

Operator based on the baggage management information above.

The forklift truck 93 is driven toward a warehouse or the like.

In this way, according to this example, it is possible to cause the barcode reader 94 to read a barcode with a large number of single digits.

By the way, in general, if the barcode and the barcode reader are misaligned in the vehicle width direction, the barcode cannot be accurately read by the barcode reader.

In this example, the barcode is divided and
Since it is displayed above, there is more space in the width direction of the rotating drum 11.

Therefore, it is possible to have a wide permissible range for positioning the barcode reader 94 in the vehicle width direction.

In addition, by programming the controller so that only a specific serial number among the serial numbers attached to the barcode label 15 is valid, it is possible to
It becomes possible to add a different ID to 1. This eliminates the need to reapply the barcode label 15 to the two-rotation drum 11 when a plurality of forklift trucks transport the same pallet 91 in a relay manner.

Second Embodiment The barcode device of this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. The device of this example is provided with a barcode reader detection sensor 30 for detecting the approach of a barcode reader 94.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, a barcode reader detection sensor 30 such as an optical sensor or an ultrasonic sensor is attached to the control box 13 of the barcode device 3 so as to face forward. A control switch in the control box 13 is connected to the barcode reader detection sensor 30.

Further, a limit switch 4 is attached to the lift bracket 932 of the forklift truck 93. The limit switch 4 is arranged so that when a load is applied to the fork 933, the switch is turned on. The limit switch 4 is.

Connect to barcode reader 94. Note that the transmitting antenna shown in the first embodiment is discontinued.

The rest is the same as the first embodiment.

Since the device of this example is configured as described above.

It exhibits the following effects.

That is, when the fork 933 of the forklift truck 93 is inserted into the fork insertion hole of the pallet, the barcode reader 94 attached to the forklift truck approaches the barcode device 3 attached to the pallet.

At this time, the barcode reader detection sensor 30 detects the approach of the barcode reader 94 and outputs a control signal to the control switch of the drive motor 121.

This turns the control switch into the ON state.

The drive motor 121 rotates to rotate the drum 11 once.

When the pallet 91 is lifted by the fork 933, the limit switch 4 provided on the forklift truck 93 is turned on.

This activates the barcode reader 94.

The barcodes 150 on the rotating drum 11 are read one after another.

On the other hand, when the fork 933 is removed from the fork insertion hole after the transportation work is completed, the barcode reader 94 moves away from the barcode device 3.

At this time, the barcode league detection sensor 30 detects that the barcode reader 94 is moving away.

A control signal is output to the control switch of the drive motor 121. As a result, the control switch turns OFF and the 9 drive motor 121 is stopped.

Also, by eliminating the load on the fork 933,
The limit switch 4 is turned off and the barcode reader 94 is stopped.

According to this example, the barcode device 3 and the barcode reader 94 can be automatically operated.

Furthermore, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 3 show a barcode device according to a first embodiment, FIG. 1 is a perspective view thereof, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of a pallet, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part of a forklift truck. ,
4 and 5 show a barcode device according to a second embodiment, FIG. 4 is a perspective view thereof, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of main parts of a forklift truck, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are conventional examples. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the main parts of the pallet, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the main parts of the forklift truck. 1. 11. 12. 14. 15. 150. 3. 30. 4. 91,. 93,. 94,. Barcode device. rotating drum. Drive device. drum staver code label. barcode. Barcode device. Barcode league detection sensor. Limit switch. palette. forklift truck. barcode reader. Substituted by Toyoda Automatic Loom Works Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A barcode device that provides baggage management information to a barcode reader installed in an industrial vehicle, the barcode device having a rotating drum and a drive device for rotating the rotating drum. A barcode device, characterized in that a plurality of barcodes that are read by the barcode reader are arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the drum in the direction of rotation thereof.