JPH05290196A - Method for determining scanning interval of bar code label - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To determine the scanning interval of a multistage bar code symbol by scanning the bar code symbols at right angles to the array direction of the respective bars and detecting the height of the bars in the respective stages from the minimum interval of an output signal. CONSTITUTION:The multistage bar code symbol 4 is scanned S in the height direction of the bars orthogonal to the array direction of the bars as the scanning direction at the time of a normal bar code symbol read in addition to the array direction of the bars. A dedicated polygon mirror is provided as a scanning means for this scanning separately from a polygon mirror for normal reading. A CPU, etc., judges whether or not a minimum signal waveform alphais obtained from a signal waveform outputted when light reflected by the bar code symbol 4 by the scanning S is made incident on a specific photodetecting means. The height H of the bars is calculated by the CPU from the minimum signal waveform alpha which is thus obtained and the interval of the read scanning R of the bar code symbol is determined according to the calculated height.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bar code label scanning interval determining method for determining a scanning interval of multi-stage bar code symbols.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally used bar code symbols are standardized to have a fixed length and width as a whole, and black bars on a label are arranged in a row with various widths and intervals. It is recorded in an arrayed state. In addition, since the amount of information to be recorded is not so large in this one-stage bar code symbol, a multi-stage bar code symbol that has been stacked in several stages has also been developed. Is able to. On the other hand, a bar code reader that reads multi-stage bar code symbols is a type that reads the bar code symbol of each stage by temporarily capturing an image of the area including the entire bar code symbol and performing predetermined image processing. Is proposed.

[0003]

However, in this type, the bar code symbol interval of each stage is not usually detected. In other words, while performing main scanning in the bar height direction (vertical direction) for each pixel unit,
Since sub-scanning is performed in the bar arrangement direction (lateral direction) to sequentially read information, barcode symbols in the same row are scanned many times with a slight shift. Therefore, it takes a relatively long time to read the bar code symbols on all the stages, which is a problem of poor efficiency. The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method for determining a scanning interval of a bar code label, which enables rapid and efficient reading of multi-stage bar code symbols. .

[0004]

That is, according to the present invention, scanning is carried out in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of each bar, the bar height of each stage is detected from the minimum interval of the output signal, and the multi-stage bar code symbol is detected. The scanning interval is determined.

[0005]

The bar code label scanning interval determining method according to the present invention is different from the normal bar code symbol reading scanning.
That is, scanning is performed in the direction orthogonal to the normal scanning direction, and the height of the bar corresponding to the reading scanning interval of each stage is detected from the minimum interval of the output signal.

[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 is a flow chart for explaining a scanning interval determining method for barcode symbols according to the present invention.
It is composed of the third step 3. In the first step 1, the multi-stage bar code symbols 4 shown in FIG. 2 are orthogonal to the bar array direction (or bar length direction) which is the scanning direction during normal bar code symbol reading. The scanning S (see FIG. 2) is performed in the bar height direction, and is performed at an arbitrary position (starting ends 4I to L in this embodiment) in the bar arrangement direction. As the scanning means at this time, for example, a dedicated polygon mirror different from the normal reading polygon mirror may be provided and used.

In the second step 2, the minimum signal waveform is output from the signal waveform (see FIG. 3) output when the light reflected by the bar code symbol 4 by the scanning S in the first step 1 is incident on the predetermined light receiving means. The CPU or the like determines whether or not α has been obtained. When it is determined that the minimum signal waveform is not detected, the process returns to step 1 again, and the same scanning operation is repeated from another scanning position. The light receiving means used at this time may be a dedicated light receiving means, or may be one commonly used for reading. In the third step 3, the bar height (H) is calculated by the CPU or the like from the minimum signal waveform obtained in the second step 2, and the interval between the bar code symbol reading scans R is determined.

[0008]

As described above, according to the method of determining the scanning interval of the bar code label according to the present invention, the reading scanning of the ordinary bar code symbol is performed separately, that is, the normal scanning direction is orthogonal to the scanning direction. The bar height corresponding to the reading scanning interval of each stage bar code symbol can be detected from the minimum width interval of the output signal obtained by scanning in this direction, so that multi-stage bar code symbols can be efficiently read. And, in turn, automatic high speed reading becomes possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart for explaining a method of determining a scanning interval of a barcode label according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a scanning direction when the bar height is detected using the same method.

FIG. 3 is a waveform diagram of an output signal obtained when the barcode symbol shown in FIG. 2 is scanned.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 Bar code symbol H Bar height S Scanning direction for detecting bar height R Scanning direction during normal scanning

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Scanning in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of each bar, the bar height of each stage is detected from the minimum interval of the output signal, and the scanning interval of the multi-stage bar code symbol is determined. Method for determining scanning interval of barcode label.