JPH0554171A - Bar code reader for piled-up buckets - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To read bar codes attached to the respective side faces of buckets, which are conveyed while being piled-up, at the almost same place. CONSTITUTION:When buckets B1 and B2 respectively attaching bar codes C1 and C2 on the side faces are conveyed on a roller conveyer while being piled-up, the optical axis of a photoelectric switch 4 is shielded, and a bar code reader 2 is operated to read the bar code C1. When the buckets B1 and B2 are further advanced and the optical axis of a photoelectric switch 5 is shielded, the bar code reader 2 stops operating and a bar code reader 3 is operated to read the bar code C2. Thus, mutual interference is eliminated, and the respective bar codes can be read without generating any read error.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stacking bucket bar code reader for reading bar codes displayed on buckets stacked and conveyed in two or more stacks at substantially the same location.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Buckets for storing products to be processed and finished products are provided with a bar code for displaying data such as the type of product and the next process to be sent. By sending the data displayed on the bar code to the conveyor and processing equipment,
Goods are transported and processed. The bar code is read by a bar code reader arranged everywhere.

[0003]

In the carrying process, the buckets are not only handled one by one, but a plurality of buckets may be stacked and transported. In such a case, simply arranging the bar code readers up and down will cause the scan ranges to overlap with each other, making it impossible to read. If the scan range is narrowed to prevent the scan ranges from overlapping, the barcode may deviate from the scan range and reliable reading may not be possible.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a bar code reader device for stacking buckets which can reliably read the bar codes provided in the stacked buckets.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a bar code reader having the same number as the number of buckets stacked and conveyed, in which each bar code displayed on the side surface of each bucket is A bar code reader device for stacking buckets was constructed by arranging the bar code readers vertically adjacent to each other at different heights so as to fall within respective scanning ranges and along the carrying direction of the bucket. .

[0006]

Since the present invention has the above-mentioned structure, the following operational effects are obtained.

In the bar code reader for stacking buckets according to the present invention, as many bar code readers as the number of buckets to be stacked are prepared, and each bar code displayed on the side surface of each bucket is within the scanning range. Each bar code is read by each bar code reader because it is positioned at a different height to enter. In addition, since each bar code reader is arranged so as to be shifted forward and backward from the bar code readers that are vertically adjacent to each other, the bar code reader is placed between the scanning ranges of the two bar code readers that are vertically adjacent to each other. The distances of the two become far, and they do not overlap.

Therefore, according to the bar code reader device for stacking buckets according to the present invention, the scanning ranges of the bar code readers do not overlap with each other and a wide scanning range can be adopted. The barcode can be read reliably.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiments shown in the drawings will be described below.

1, 2, and 3 are a perspective view, a side view, and a plan view, respectively, showing an embodiment of a bar code reader device for stacking buckets according to the present invention.

In each figure, the buckets B1 and B2 stacked in two stages are conveyed on the roller conveyor 1 in the arrow direction. Bar codes C1 and C2 are attached to the same positions on the side surfaces of the buckets B1 and B2, respectively. The barcodes C1 and C2 are attached to the buckets B1 and B, respectively.
Data indicating the destinations of the articles housed in item 2, the processing state, and the like are displayed.

On the side of the roller conveyor 1, two bar code readers 2 and 3 are arranged vertically and vertically offset. That is, the stacked buckets B1 and B2
The barcodes C1 and C2 attached to are arranged at the heights included in the respective scan ranges R2 and R3, and are arranged so as to be shifted back and forth along the transport direction of the stacking buckets B1 and B2. ing.

Photoelectric switches 4 and 5 are arranged side by side in the conveying direction of the roller conveyor 1 so that the optical axis runs across the roller conveyor 1. Each photoelectric switch 4, 5 is connected to a bar code reader 2, 3, and when each optical axis of each photoelectric switch 4, 5 is blocked by the bucket B2, each scanning range of each bar code reader 2, 3 is detected. The barcodes C1 and C2 are arranged in R2 and R3, respectively.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

When the stacked buckets B1 and B2 are conveyed on the roller conveyor 1 and the optical axis of the photoelectric switch 4 is blocked by the bucket B2, the bar code reader 2 operates. At this time, since the barcode C1 attached to the bucket B1 is within the scan range R2 of the barcode reader 2, the barcode reader 2 reads the barcode C1. Further, the buckets B1 and B2 proceed on the roller conveyor 1, and the optical axis of the photoelectric switch 5 is the bucket B2.
When shielded by, the bar code reader 2 stops operating and the bar code reader 3 operates. Since the barcode C2 attached to the bucket B2 is within the scanning range R of the barcode reader 3, the barcode reader 3 reads the barcode C2.

As described above, in the bar code reader device according to the present embodiment, the bar code readers 2 and 3 are arranged so as to be offset in the front-back direction of the stacked buckets B1 and B2, so that 2 The distance between the scanning ranges R2 and R3 of the two bar code readers 2 and 3 is sufficiently separated so that the unreadable state due to the inclusion of two bar codes in one scanning range does not occur. Further, since the scanning range can be widened, the bar code can be reliably read without protruding from the scanning range.

Further, since the bar code readers 2 and 3 are operated one by one by disposing the photoelectric switches 4 and 5, mutual interference in which light emitted from the other bar code reader is reflected and interferes. Does not occur.

4 and 5 are a perspective view and a side view showing another embodiment of the bar code reader device for stacking buckets according to the present invention. The same members as those in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In this embodiment, the roller conveyor 1
Two rectangular blocking plates 6 and 7 are provided on the side of the. The blocking plate 6 is a scanning range R of the bar code reader 2.
2, the blocking plate 7 is arranged above the scanning range R3 of the bar code reader 3, respectively. The surface of each of the blocking plates 6 and 7 facing the bar code readers 2 and 3 is treated to reduce reflection of light such as black coating.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below.

In the bar code reader device for stacking buckets of this embodiment, the bar code readers 2 and 3 always operate and continue scanning. When the stacked buckets B1 and B2 are conveyed on the roller conveyor 1 in the arrow direction, first, the barcode C1 attached to the bucket B1 enters the scanning range R2 of the barcode reader 2,
Read. At this time, the bar code C2 attached to the bucket B2 is covered with the blocking plate 6 and therefore does not enter the scanning range R2. Further bucket B
1 and B2 proceed, and the barcode C2 attached to the bucket B2 enters the scanning range R3 of the barcode reader 3.
At this time, the barcode C1 is hidden by the blocking plate 7, and the barcode reader 3 reads only the barcode C1.

As described above, according to the bar code reader for stacking buckets of this embodiment, the bar code C attached to the buckets B1 and B2 that are stacked and conveyed.
It is possible to surely read 1 and C2 without causing a reading error.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above.
It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and can be appropriately modified within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the case where the buckets are stacked in two stages has been described, but the present invention can be applied to buckets having three or more stages. In that case, in order to read the barcode attached to the third bucket, the barcode reader is arranged directly above the barcode reader 3, and for the fourth bucket, the barcode reader 2 is used. A bar code reader may be placed directly above.

Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the bar code is arranged in a vertical posture, and the scanning direction is also shown as a vertical direction. It may be read by scanning.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a bar code reader device for stacking buckets according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the bar code reader device for stacking buckets according to the present invention.

5 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 with the bar code reader omitted.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Roller conveyor 2, 3 Bar code reader 4, 5 Photoelectric switch B1, B2 Bucket C1, C2 Bar code

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Bar code readers having the same number as the number of buckets stacked and conveyed are provided at different heights so that the bar codes displayed on the side surface of each bucket fall within respective scan ranges, and respectively. A bar code reader device for stacking buckets, wherein the bar code readers vertically adjacent to each other are arranged so as to be shifted forward and backward along the transport direction of the bucket.