JPH05334476A - Bar code reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a bar code reader capable of improving reliability and reducing cost, size and weight. CONSTITUTION:A light emitting element 3 and a light receiving element 2 are arranged in parallel in a case 1 so that the element 3 is adjacently arranged on the side of a bar code recording face 7 obliquely to the face 7, an aperture part 4 is formed on the surface of the case 1 so as to pass detection light projected from the element 3 and reflected light to be made incident upon the element 2 and projected parts 8A, 8B are respectively formed on a part which is formed on the face of the case 1 so as to be projected fro the longitudinal direction end part of the aperture part 4 oppositely to the passing face of a bar code recording body 5 and the other part and the projected part 8A is furthermore projected from the projected part 8B.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bar code reader for optically reading a bar coded pattern.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various bar code readers (bar code readers) have been introduced as devices for optically reading bar coded patterns. As an example of such a thing, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-1186.
The barcode reading device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 64 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-143965 can be used.

The bar code reader disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-118664 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-143965 discloses a light emitting element which outputs detection light for detecting a bar code in a case. A light-emitting lens that focuses the detection light on a surface on which the barcode is recorded (barcode recording surface), a light-receiving lens that converges reflected light reflected from the surface on which the barcode is recorded, and the light-receiving lens It has a structure in which a light receiving element for detecting light converged by a lens and a light receiving element are installed so as to be parallel to the bar code recording surface. The light emitting lens is provided to prevent the detection light output from the light emitting element from diffusing on the barcode recording surface, and the light receiving lens is configured such that the reflected light reflected from the barcode recording surface is other than the light receiving element. It is provided in order to prevent the dispersion in the area. That is, the both lenses allow the detection light to be efficiently applied to the barcode recording surface, and the reflected light reflected from the barcode recording surface can be accurately received by the light receiving element. Then, the light detected by the light receiving element is converted into an electric signal, and the electric signal is processed to read the bar coded content.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned JP-A-63-118664 and JP-A-63-1439 have been proposed.
Since the barcode reading device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 65 includes the light emitting lens and the light receiving lens,
There is a problem in that it is costly and it is difficult to reduce the price of the barcode reading device.

Further, there is a problem that a space for installing the light emitting lens and the light receiving lens is required, which hinders downsizing of the device. Further, in the barcode reading device, dust or dust generated when a recording medium having a barcode recorded passes on the lens and stains the lens, which easily causes a barcode reading error. There is a possibility that the reliability of the scooping bar code reader is lowered.

An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem, and to provide a bar code reading apparatus which improves the reliability of the apparatus and realizes cost reduction, size reduction and weight reduction. With the goal.

[0007]

In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a light emitting element for outputting detection light to a bar code recording surface on which a bar code is recorded, and a reflected light reflected from the bar code recording surface. A light receiving element for receiving the light is arranged side by side in a case provided with an opening through which the detection light and the reflected light come in and out, and the light emitting element and the light receiving element are arranged so that the light emitting element side is close to the barcode recording surface. The present invention provides a bar code reading device, wherein the bar code reader is installed obliquely with respect to the bar code recording surface.

At the end portion of the case surface provided with the opening in the longitudinal direction of the opening, a portion through which the bar code passes prior to the opening is provided with a convex portion projectingly formed from other portions. The present invention provides a bar code reading device.

[0009]

According to the invention as set forth in claim 1, the light emitting element side is arranged side by side so as to be close to the bar code recording surface, and the light emitting element and the light receiving element are installed obliquely with respect to the bar code recording surface. The detection light output from the light emitting element can be obliquely incident on the barcode recording surface and can be reflected obliquely to the light receiving element side on the barcode recording surface. Therefore, since the reflected light can be efficiently incident on the light receiving element, a condensing member such as a lens is provided between the barcode recording surface and the light emitting element and between the barcode recording surface and the light receiving element. No need to install.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, at the end portion of the case surface provided with the opening in the longitudinal direction of the opening, a portion through which the barcode passes prior to the opening is different from the other. By providing the convex portion formed to project from the portion,
The recording medium on which the bar code is recorded comes into contact with and passes only the portion formed to project from the other portion of the convex portion. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the recording body from rubbing with other members near the opening, and it is possible to reduce dust, dust and the like generated by the friction. Therefore, in addition to the above-mentioned action, it is possible to prevent dust, dust, and the like from entering the case through the opening. Further, since the convex portion prevents the recording body from coming into contact with the opening, the recording body can be smoothly passed.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, one embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view (including a partial cross-section) of a bar code reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention,
2 is a plan view of the barcode reading device shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the barcode reading apparatus shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a bar code reading apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention has a case indicated by reference numeral 1 in which a bar code 6 is recorded. On the recording surface 7, a light emitting element 3 that outputs detection light and a light receiving element 2 that receives the reflected light reflected from the barcode recording surface 7 are vertically arranged. The light emitting element 3 and the light receiving element 2 arranged side by side above and below are installed obliquely with respect to the barcode recording surface 7 so that the light emitting element 3 side is in a state of being close to the barcode recording surface 7. In the present embodiment, the light emitting element 3 and the light receiving element 2 are installed at an angle of about 22 degrees with respect to the barcode recording surface 7.

On the front surface of the case 1, there is provided an opening 4 through which the detection light and the reflected light come in and out. The opening 4 has a slit shape that is long in the direction in which the light emitting element 3 and the light receiving element 2 are arranged in parallel, that is, in the vertical direction,
It is designed so that the detection light output from the light emitting element 3 passes through, the reflected light reflected by the barcode recording surface 7 passes again, and enters the light receiving element 3. The width (shorter length) of the opening 4 is particularly preferably 0.3 mm or less.

A bar code recording body 5 is provided at the longitudinal end portion of the opening 1 on the surface of the case 1 where the opening 4 is provided, that is, in the vertical position across the opening 4 and across the left and right of the surface of the case 1. The convex portions 8A and 8B are formed in a continuous state in parallel with the passing direction of. Among the convex portions, the convex portion 8A is a portion through which the barcode recording body 5 passes before the opening portion 4, and the convex portion 8B is the remaining portion. The convex portion 8A is formed so as to protrude from the convex portion 8B. The step formed by the convex portion 8A and the convex portion 8B is particularly preferably about 0.1 to 0.2 mm.

Next, a specific operation when the barcode recording body 5 is passed through the barcode reading apparatus 10 according to this embodiment will be described. The barcode reader 1
When the barcode recording body 5 is passed to 0, first, the tip of the barcode recording body 5 comes into contact with the convex portion 8A and passes through the opening portion 4. At this time, the convex portion 8A prevents the barcode recording body 5 from coming into contact with the opening 4, so that troubles such as the barcode recording body 5 being caught in the opening 4 can be avoided. Therefore, the barcode recording body 5 smoothly passes through the predetermined position of the barcode reading device 10.

Next, the barcode 6 of the barcode recording body 5
The part passes through the opening 4. At this time, the detection light output from the light emitting element 3 is transmitted through the opening 4 to the barcode 6
Is irradiated. Here, the light emitting element 3 is the light receiving element 2
To be closer to the barcode recording surface 7,
Since the bar code recording surface 7 is installed obliquely, the detection light enters the bar code 6 from an oblique direction.

Next, the detection light is reflected on the bar code 6, and the reflected light reaches the light receiving element 2 through the opening 4. Here, the reflected light is reflected in an oblique direction with respect to the barcode recording surface 7, that is, in the direction of the light receiving element 2. Therefore, a large amount of the reflected light can be made incident on the light receiving element 2 efficiently. Then, the above steps are repeated until all of the barcode 6 passes, the light detected by the light receiving element 2 is converted into an electrical signal, and the electrical signal is processed to read the content of the barcode 6. Further, at this time, the barcode recording body 5 passes only in contact with the convex portion 8A, so that the barcode recording body 5 does not rub against other members in the vicinity of the opening 4. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the generation of dust and dust, and to prevent the dust and dust from entering the case 1 through the opening 4.

In this embodiment, the light emitting element 3 and the light receiving element 2 are installed at an angle of about 22 degrees with respect to the bar code recording surface 7. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the light emitting element 3 and the light receiving element 2 are arranged.
The desired angle may be set according to the performance of the above, the type of the barcode 6, and the like. Further, in the present embodiment, the light emitting element 3 and the light receiving element 2 are vertically arranged side by side, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the bar code is placed so that the light emitting element 3 side is close to the bar code recording surface 7. The structure may be determined as desired, such that the structures are arranged side by side if they are installed obliquely with respect to the recording surface 7.

Further, in this embodiment, the convex portions 8A and 8A
Although the bar code reading device 10 in which B is formed has been described, even in the bar code reading device 10 in which the convex portions 8A and 8B are not provided, the light receiving element is provided between the light emitting element 3 and the bar code recording surface 7. Of course, the barcode 6 can be accurately read without providing a light-collecting member between the barcode recording surface 7 and the barcode recording surface 7.

[0020]

As described above, according to the invention described in claim 1, the light emitting element side is arranged side by side so as to be close to the bar code recording surface, and the light emitting element and the light receiving element are arranged on the bar code recording surface. Since it is installed diagonally, the detection light output from the light emitting element enters the bar code recording surface from an oblique direction and is obliquely reflected to the light receiving element side. Therefore, since the reflected light can be efficiently incident on the light receiving element, a condensing member such as a lens is provided between the barcode recording surface and the light emitting element and between the barcode recording surface and the light receiving element. Need not be installed. As a result, the cost can be significantly reduced and the device can be downsized.

According to the second aspect of the invention, since the convex portion is provided on the case surface having the opening, the recording medium on which the bar code is recorded has the protrusion of the convex portion. Since only the formed portion contacts and passes, it is possible to suppress the recording body from rubbing against other members in the vicinity of the opening. Therefore, in addition to the above effects, it is possible to reduce dust and dirt generated by the friction and prevent dust and dirt from entering the case through the opening. As a result, the life and reliability of the device can be improved. Further, since the convex portion prevents the recording body from coming into contact with the opening, the recording body can be smoothly passed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view (including a partial cross-sectional portion) of a barcode reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the barcode reading device shown in FIG.

3 is a front view of the barcode reading device shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Case 2 Light receiving element 3 Light emitting element 4 Opening 5 Bar code recording body 6 Bar code 7 Bar code recording surface 8A Convex section 8B Convex section 10 Bar code reader

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. The detection light and the reflected light go in and out of a light emitting element that outputs detection light to a bar code recording surface on which a bar code is recorded and a light receiving element that receives reflected light reflected from the bar code recording surface. The light emitting element and the light receiving element are arranged side by side in a case provided with an opening, and the light emitting element and the light receiving element are obliquely arranged with respect to the barcode recording surface so that the light emitting element side is close to the barcode recording surface. And a bar code reader. 2. A convex portion is provided at an end portion of the case surface provided with the opening portion in the longitudinal direction of the opening portion, in which a portion through which the barcode passes before the opening portion is formed so as to project from the other portion. The bar code reading device according to claim 1, wherein