JPH05290194A - Multistage bar code reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To read multistage bar codes at the same time and shorten the read time by providing dedicated read means individually corresponding to bar code symbols of respective stages. CONSTITUTION:This multistage bar code reader is provided with the independent read means 3 and 4 in chambers 2A and 2B partitioned in a housing 5 so as to read the bar code symbols 1 in two stages. The read means 3 is provided in the1st chamber 2A and consists of a light source 3A such as a semiconductor laser which emits light with specific wavelength, a mirror 3B which projects the light emitted by the light source 3A on a bar array 1A, and a photodetection part 3D such as a photosensor which images and photodetects the light reflected by the bar code symbol 1A thorugh an image forming means 3C. The read means 4 is provided in the 2nd chamber 2B and has the same structure with the read means 3. The bar code symbols 1A and 1B of the respective stages can be read at the same time.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-stage bar code reader for reading multi-stage bar code symbols.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A multi-stage bar code label has been proposed in which a multi-stage bar code symbol is recorded on a single bar code label in addition to the one-stage bar code symbol with a limited amount of stored information. Usually, in reading the multi-stage bar code symbol, for example, the bar code symbols of all stages are picked up by an image pickup means such as a CCD camera, and each bar code symbol is sequentially read while finely scanning the image. It is like this.

[0003]

However, in order to read such a multi-stage bar code symbol, it takes a lot of time to read and scan, especially because the bar rows in each stage are sequentially scanned, which causes inconvenience. Has occurred. Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, an object of the present invention is to provide a multi-stage bar code reader capable of reading a multi-stage bar quickly and accurately.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION That is, the present invention is a multi-stage bar code reader for reading multi-stage bars, in which dedicated reading means are individually provided corresponding to the bar code symbols of each stage, and at the same time each stage is read. It is configured to read the barcode of.

[0005]

In the present invention, the reading means provided corresponding to the bar code symbols of each stage can simultaneously read all the bar code symbols of each stage.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a multi-stage bar code reader according to the present invention. This multi-stage bar code reader is used for reading two-stage bar code symbols 1 and is divided into compartments in a housing 5 (see FIG. 2). 2A,
2B is provided with independent reading means 3 and 4, respectively. As shown in FIG. 2, the bar code symbol 1 of this embodiment is recorded on a card 6 such as an IC card which has a standard size and is used as a storage means for personal information.
It is designed to be inserted from the insertion opening 6A of the housing 6 which houses the multi-stage bar code reader. The bar code is not limited to such a target, and may be a bar code label attached to a box in which a product or the like is packed. Further, as a multi-stage bar code reader used in this case, a handy type bar code reader can be applied by performing positioning with a bar code by an appropriate positioning means.

The reading means 3 is provided in the first chamber 2A, and includes a light source 3A such as a semiconductor laser (LD) that emits light of a specific wavelength and a bar array 1A that emits the light emitted from this light source 3A.
It is composed of a mirror 3B for projecting light onto the light source and a light receiving portion 3D such as a photo sensor for forming and receiving light reflected by the barcode symbol 1A via the image forming means 3C. The reading unit 4 is provided in the second chamber 2B and has the same configuration as the reading unit 3. In this embodiment, a dedicated light source is used for each of the reading means 3 and 4, but this light source part may be shared and the light emitted from this may be split by splitting means such as a half mirror. Further, in this embodiment, the reading means of two systems is used to correspond to the two columns of bar code symbols, but the reading means having the same number n as that of n steps of bar code symbols may be provided. .
Further, in this embodiment, in order to simplify the structure, scanning is performed while moving the card 6 side on which the bar code symbol is recorded. However, the scanning means side is moved to perform scanning, or the bar code symbol is scanned. It may be configured such that each stage is imaged and read at the same time.

[0008]

As described above, according to the multi-stage bar code reader according to the present invention, all the bar code symbols of each stage can be completely read by the reading means provided corresponding to each stage bar code symbol. Since they can be read at the same time, the reading time can be greatly shortened.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of essential parts showing an embodiment of a multi-stage bar code reader of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a housing for housing a multi-stage bar code reader according to the present invention and an IC card.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1A, 1B barcode symbol 2A, 2B chamber 3, 4 reading means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A multi-stage bar code reader for reading multi-stage bar code symbols, wherein a dedicated reading means is individually provided in correspondence with a bar row of each stage, and the bar code symbols of each stage are simultaneously read. A multi-stage bar code reader that is characterized.