JPH11199004A - Container recovery device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stop the action of a bar code reader at the time of nonuse. SOLUTION: A container recovery device is provided with a door opening detecting means 4 for detecting a charging door provided at a container charging port, to be opened to charge a container, and a control means 11 for putting a bar code reader 6 in reading action at the time of detecting the opened state of the charging door by the door opening detecting means 4 and stopping the reading action after bar code reading is completed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a container collecting device for collecting empty cans and empty bottles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A bar code indicating the product type and manufacturer of a container is printed or labeled on the body of the container, and the container collection device is provided with a bar code reader for reading the bar code information. Have been.

[0003]

The bar code reader has a relatively short life due to the use of a laser light emitting diode for reading the bar code. There has been a problem that the life of the barcode reader has expired and the product life of the container collection device has been shortened.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a container collecting apparatus which can turn off a bar code reader when not in use.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a door opening detecting means for detecting that an input door provided at a container input port has been opened for inputting a container, and the door opening detecting means. When the opening of the insertion door is detected, a control means for operating reading of the bar code reader and stopping the reading operation after the bar code reading is completed.

[0006]

According to this structure, when the opening of the closing door is detected by the door open detecting means, the reading operation of the bar code reader is started by the control means, and the bar code reading is completed, and the bar code reader is read. When a predetermined signal is output from the CPU, the reading operation is stopped. As described above, at the time of standby, the operation of the barcode reader is stopped, and the life is extended accordingly.

In some cases, the bar code cannot be read due to contamination or deformation of the bar code portion. In such a case, the control means includes a bar code reader. After a predetermined time has elapsed after the start of reading, the reading operation is automatically stopped.

[0008]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a container collecting apparatus according to the present invention. In this container collection device 10,
Reference numeral 1 denotes a container input port, and 2 denotes an input door provided in the container input port 1, which can be opened and closed forward (leftward in FIG. 1) with the lower portion as a fulcrum as indicated by an arrow. I have.
Reference numeral 3 denotes a container to be charged from the charging door 2. 4 is
This is a door open detection switch that detects the open / close state of the input door 2.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a shooter for guiding the loaded container 3 to a bar code reading position R. Reference numeral 6 denotes a bar code reader provided above the bar code reading position R, and reads a bar code when the loaded container 3 is at the reading position R. Reference numeral 7 denotes a shooter for guiding the container 3 from which the barcode has been read to the collection box 8.

FIG. 2 shows a control block diagram of the apparatus 10, and the same elements as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. A control circuit 11 controls the operation of the barcode reader 6 based on a detection signal from the container detection sensor 4, and receives a reading end signal from the barcode reader 6. Reference numeral 12 denotes a timer, which receives a detection signal from the container detection sensor 4 for a predetermined time (5 in this embodiment).
(Set to seconds), and when 5 seconds have elapsed, a predetermined signal is sent to the control circuit 11.

FIG. 3 shows a control operation of the apparatus 10. In step S1, it is determined by the door open detection switch 4 whether the input door 2 has been opened to insert the container 3. When the door 3 has been opened, the process proceeds to step S2. An ON signal is output, whereby the operation of the barcode reader 6 is turned on, and in step S3, the timer 12 starts counting time.

In step S4, the barcode of the container 3 is read by the barcode reader 6, and it is determined whether the reading completion signal is output from the barcode reader 6 in response to the reading. Step S until reading is completed
The process proceeds to step S5, where it is determined whether the timer 12 has counted 5 seconds. If the timer has not counted 5 seconds, the process returns to step S4. Therefore, when the reading of the bar code is completed before the timer 12 measures 5 seconds, the steps S4 to S4 are performed.
If the bar code has not been read even after 5 seconds have elapsed, the process proceeds from step S5 to step S6.
Proceed to.

In step S6, the operation of the bar code reader 6 is stopped by outputting an off signal from the control circuit 11, and the timer 12 is cleared in step S7.

In the present embodiment, the function of the bar code reader 6 is turned on and off by an on signal and an off signal.
The power of the barcode reader 6 may be turned on and off by an on signal and an off signal.

[0015]

As described above, according to the present invention, the bar code reader is operated when the loading door is opened for loading the container, and when the reading of the bar code is completed, the bar code reader is operated. Since the operation is stopped, the life of the barcode reader itself can be extended. When a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of reading, the operation of the barcode reader is automatically stopped, so even if the barcode cannot be read due to deformation of the container or the input door is opened. It can also handle cases where the container has not been actually loaded.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the apparatus in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a control operation in the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container input port 2 Input door 3 Container 4 Door open detection switch 5 Shooter 6 Barcode reader 7 Shooter 8 Collection box 10 Container collection device 11 Control circuit 12 Timer

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for collecting empty containers, an input door provided at a container input port, a door open detecting means for detecting the opening of the input door, and a surface of the container input from the input port. A barcode reader that reads a barcode, and when the opening of the input door is detected by the door open detection unit,
Control means for starting a reading operation of the barcode reader and stopping the reading operation after the barcode reading is completed. 2. The container collecting device according to claim 1, wherein the control means stops the reading operation when a predetermined time has elapsed after the reading of the bar code reader is started.