JPH1166223A - Method and device for reading bar code of component - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and surely read a bar code formed at an outer periphery by forcibly and automatically putting a tongue-shaped projection piece which projects from a component away from the read optical path of the bar code. SOLUTION: When a wind-in cartridge 34 carried through a 2nd conveyance path 60 is arranged to an opening part, a conveying means 82, which constitutes a bar code reader 10 is driven and a 1st holding member 92 enters the opening part to suctionally holds the cartridge 34 and then swivels, so that it is arranged above a read station 80. Then when the cartridge 34 moves down together with a 1st holding member 92, the outward projecting end part 16C of the cartridge 34 abuts against a slanting part 100, constituting a guide means 84 and, is forcibly bent outward. Further, the cartridge 34 moves down to move from a tilt part 100 towards a guide plate 98. When the cartridge 34 is mounted on a holder 96, the end part 16C is supported on the guide plate 98 and is forcibly and automatically made to leave the read optical path L.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and a device for reading a bar code of a component having a flexible tongue-like projection projecting from an outer peripheral portion and having a bar code formed on the outer peripheral portion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, when processing and packaging a photographic film, the processing of the film, the winding of the processed fixed-size film, the incorporation of the wound fixed-size film into a patrone, and the setting of a fixed film. Various processes such as loading of a patrone with a dimensional film into a case are performed.

In this case, as a station for performing various kinds of processing, specifically, a film supply unit for rewinding a film roll and cutting it at predetermined lengths to obtain a fixed-size film;
A film winding unit that winds the fixed-size film around a spool to form a roll, a cartridge manufacturing unit that manufactures a one-sided patrone by caulking a cap at one end of a rounded body plate, and inside the one-sided patrone. An assembly unit for manufacturing a roll-in patrone by caulking a cap on the other end of the one-sided patrone after the wound body is inserted into the patrone, and a case is disposed on the open end of the case after the roll-in patrone is housed in the case. And a case filling portion for obtaining a package by attaching a cap.

[0004] A package, which is a product, has various types of films having various numbers of shots and sensitivities. For this reason, it is necessary to check whether or not a predetermined film is loaded in a predetermined cartridge in the above station. Specifically, by reading a barcode formed on the outer peripheral portion of the patrone and comparing the information of the fixed-size film loaded in the patrone with the information recorded in the barcode, the entrained patrone is read. There is a method of judging pass / fail.

[0005]

However, usually,
In the entrained patrone, the end (tongue-shaped projection) of the roll-shaped fixed-size film is pulled out by a predetermined length from a slit formed in the outer peripheral portion of the cartridge, and the end of the fixed-size film is attached to its own. The bar code formed on the outer periphery of the patrone is covered by a curl or the like.
Therefore, when the entrained cartridge is placed at the reading position, the end of the fixed-size film may enter the reading optical path of the bar code reader (reading means), and the bar code may not be read.

The present invention solves this kind of problem, and reads a tongue-shaped protruding piece protruding from an outer peripheral portion of a component, effectively separates the tongue-shaped protruding portion from the optical path, and easily converts a barcode formed on the outer peripheral portion. It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for reading a bar code of a component that can be read reliably.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a method and apparatus for reading a bar code of a part according to the present invention, wherein the part is transferred to a reading station via a conveying means. Is forcibly and automatically separated from the reading optical path of the bar code. Next, a bar code reading process is performed via the reading unit while the tongue-shaped protrusion is maintained outside the reading optical path. Thereby, even if the tongue-shaped protrusion is wound around the outer peripheral portion of the component due to a curl or the like, the tongue-shaped protrusion can be effectively separated from the reading optical path,
Barcode reading processing can be performed easily and reliably.

Further, according to the present invention, a guide means for forcibly and automatically separating the tongue-shaped protruding piece from the optical path for reading a bar code is provided by a tongue-shaped protruding piece insertion extending from the component in the axial direction. A guide plate is provided between the component and the reading unit and apart from the reading optical path, while being parallel to the passing slit. Thereby, the configuration of the guide means is effectively simplified.

Further, an inclined portion which is inclined from the axial direction to the reading optical path side is provided at the tip of the guide plate, so that when the component is conveyed to the reading station, the tongue-shaped protruding piece is formed.
First, it engages with the inclined portion. Next, the tongue-shaped protruding piece is smoothly guided in a direction away from the reading optical path along the inclination of the inclined portion, and then is regulated in the axial direction of the component along the guide plate. For this reason, it is possible to smoothly separate the tongue-shaped protrusion from the reading optical path, and it is possible to reliably prevent the tongue-shaped protrusion from being locked by the guide means.

Here, the component is a wrap-around patrone containing a roll of photographic photosensitive film wound on a spool, and reads out the end of the film (commonly called bellows) pulled out to the outside from the optical path. When separated, the barcode provided on the patrone is reliably read. Therefore, it is possible to easily and accurately compare the information described in the patrone, for example, the number of shots and the sensitivity with the type of the film loaded in the patrone.

[0011]

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a film processing and packaging system 12 incorporating a component bar code reading device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. It is a schematic perspective explanatory view at the time of manufacturing the packaged goods 14.

The film processing and packaging system 12 includes a film roll 15 on which a long photosensitive film F is wound.
A film supply unit 18 for supplying a fixed-size film 16 by rewinding and cutting to a predetermined length;
0 and the fixed-size film 16 are positioned with respect to each other, and a film winding portion 22 for winding the fixed-size film 16 on the spool 20 and a body plate 24 are rolled. Patrone 2
The patrone production part 30 which produces the 8 and the one-sided patrone 28 produced by the patrone production part 30 include:
After the wound body 32 in which the fixed-size film 16 is wound is inserted into the spool 20, the cap 26b is caulked at the other end of the one-sided patrone 28 to form a wrapped patrone (part) 34. The case 36 includes a case 36 in which the encasing patrone 34 is housed in a case 38, and a case cap 40 is attached to an open end of the case 38 to obtain the package 14. Film supply section 18, film winding section 22, and assembling section 3
6 is housed integrally in a dark room 44, while other equipment is arranged in a bright room 46.

A spool supply unit 50 for supplying the spool 20 to the film winding unit 22, a cap supply unit 52 for supplying the cap 26 b to the assembly unit 36, and a case cap 40 are provided downstream of the film processing and packaging process.
And a case supply unit 56 for supplying the case 38 to the case packing unit 42 are provided in a centralized manner.

As shown in FIG. 1, the patrone production section 30
A straight first transport path 58 for transporting the one-sided patrone 28 is provided between the first and second assembling sections 36,
Between the assembly section 36 and the case packing section 42, a straight second transport path 6 for transporting the entrained cartridge 34 is provided.
0 is provided. As shown in FIG. 3, the second transport path 60
Is provided with a light-shielding cover 62 disposed so as to cover the roll-in patrone 34 conveyed in the direction of arrow A from the dark room 44 to the bright room 46 side. Opening 64 is formed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the entrained cartridge 34 is provided with a slit 66 for inserting a tongue-shaped protruding piece extending in the axial direction in the outer peripheral portion 34a.
A bar code 68 in which film information (the number of shots, sensitivity, etc.) is recorded is formed near the slit 66. The rear end (flexible tongue-shaped protrusion) 16c of the fixed-size film 16 extends from the slit 66 of the entraining cartridge 34 by a predetermined length, specifically, 50 mm to 70 mm from the outlet of the slit 66. Have been withdrawn.

As shown in FIG.
An index table 67 that rotates in the direction of the arrow;
The index table 67 can be indexed at a predetermined position. At a position where the index table 67 is calculated, a supply station ST1 for supplying the case 38, an insertion station ST2 for inserting the wrapped cartridge 34 into the case 38, and a presence / absence detection station ST for detecting the presence or absence of the wrapped cartridge 34.
3. A case cap insertion station ST4 for inserting a case cap 40 into the open end of the case 38, and a package discharge station ST for discharging a normal package 14
5 and a defective product discharging station ST6 for discharging the defective packaged product 14.

Second transport path 60 and index table 6
The bar code reader 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is disposed between the insertion station ST2 and the insertion station ST2.
As shown in FIG. 3 to FIG.
Transport means 82 for transporting the entrained cartridge 34 to a reading station 80 provided between the second transport path 60 and the insertion station ST2; and, during the entrainment of the entrained cartridge 34,
Guide means 8 for forcibly and automatically separating the rear end 16c protruding from the optical path L for reading the bar code 68 from the optical path L.
And a reading means (bar code reader) 86 for reading the bar code 68 with the rear end 16c separated from the reading optical path L.

As shown in FIG. 4, the conveying means 82 swings integrally in the direction of arrow B (horizontal direction) through a driving means (not shown) within a predetermined angle range and also in the direction of arrow C (vertical direction). And first and second arms 88 and 90 that can be integrally moved up and down. The first and second arms 8
First and second holding members 9 for holding the entrained patrone 34 by suction with a magnet or the like are provided at the lower ends of the upper and lower portions 8 and 90.
2, 94 are provided. The first holding member 92 transfers the entrained cartridge 34 from the second transport path 60 to the reading station 80, while the second holding member 94 transfers the entrained cartridge 34 from the reading station 80 to the index table 67.
The insertion patrone 3 into the insertion station ST2.
4 is transferred.

The reading station 80 has a holder 96 for holding the wrapping cartridge 34 in an upright position.
Is provided, and guide means 84 is provided in proximity to the holder 96.
Is provided. The guide means 84 extends in the direction of arrow C in parallel with the slit 66 formed in the entrained patrone 34, and is arranged between the entrained patrone 34 and the reading means 86 and separated from the reading optical path L. The guide plate 98 is provided. At the tip of the guide plate 98, for example, in the direction of the arrow C to the reading optical path L side, for example,
An inclined part 100 inclined about 30 ° is provided.

As shown in FIG. 6, the length of the guide plate 98 in the width direction (horizontal direction) is determined in the state where the roll-in patrone 34 is mounted on the holder 96.
4 is set to be longer than the front end of the rear end 16c protruding from the front end 4a. The dimension of the guide plate 98 in the height direction is such that the inclined cartridge 1 is placed in a state where the entrained cartridge 34 is placed on the holder 96.
The vertical portion excluding 00 is set to be the same as the height of the rear end 16c. When the entrained cartridge 34 is placed on the holder 96, the guide plate 98 is spaced from the leading end of the slit 66 by a distance S (15 mm to 3 mm) from the leading end of the slit 66 with respect to the lead line D extending from the slit 66 in the lead-out direction of the rear end 16c.
0 mm), a distance H (approximately 0 to 3 mm) outward (to the opposite side of the reading optical path L) from the position separated by an angle θ ° (≧ 0) and an outward inclination. Are there. The position of the entrained cartridge 34 is regulated in a predetermined posture in the second transport path 60, and when the first cartridge is transferred from the second transport path 60 to the holder 96 by the first holding member 92, the guide plate 98 is placed on the holder 96. Is regulated so as to have the above-described positional relationship with respect to

As shown in FIG. 3, the unloading means 102 for sending out the normal package 14 from the index table 67 is provided at the package discharge station ST5.
Is provided. The unloading means 102 has an intermediate placement portion 104 for taking out the packaged product 14 on the index table 67 and temporarily placing the packaged product thereon.
04 once placed on the conveyor 10
It is sent to 6. The transport conveyor 106 is a packaged product 14
Is selectively transported to the package stacking units 108a to 108c (see FIG. 1).

The operation of the barcode reading apparatus 10 thus configured will be described below in relation to a film processing and packaging system 12 incorporating the same.

As shown in FIG. 2, for example, a film roll 15 cut to a width of 35 mm is mounted on a film supply unit 18 and cut into a predetermined length by the film supply unit 18 to form a fixed-size film 16. Is done. The fixed-size film 16 is wound around the spool 20 with its leading end 16a locked, and a roll 32 is obtained. The wound body 32 is conveyed to the assembling section 36 in a state where the rear end 16c of the fixed-size film 16 is pulled out by a predetermined length, and is placed in the one-sided patrone 28 supported by the assembling section 36 in the upright posture. Inserted.

After the wound body 32 is inserted into the one-sided patrone 28, the cap 26b is caulked to the other open end of the one-sided patrone 28 to obtain the wrapped patrone 34. The entrained cartridge 34 is sent to the case packing unit 42 via the second transport path 60, and the case packing unit 42 receives the case 3 from the case supply unit 56.
8 are supplied.

When the entrainment cartridge 34 conveyed in the direction of arrow A through the second conveyance path 60 is arranged corresponding to the opening 64, the conveying means 82 constituting the bar code reader 10 is driven. Therefore, the first holding member 92
Enters the opening 64 to suck and hold the entrained cartridge 34, and then turns in the direction of arrow B to be disposed above the reading station 80 (see FIG. 7A).

Next, when the entrainment cartridge 34 moves downward integrally with the first holding member 92, the end 16 c projecting outward from the entrainment cartridge 34 is firstly inclined by the inclined portion 100 forming the guide means 84. Abut. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 7B, the end 16 c protruding outward of the entrainment cartridge 34 is guided by the inclined portion 100 and is forcibly bent outward.

The end portion 16c moves from the inclined portion 100 to the guide plate 98 as the entraining cartridge 34 descends. Accordingly, when the entrained cartridge 34 is placed on the holder 96, the end 16c is
8 forcibly and automatically separate from the reading optical path L (see FIG. 7C).

Then, the reading means 86 is driven to read the bar code 68 formed on the outer peripheral portion 34a of the entrained cartridge 34. Therefore, the film information recorded on the barcode 68, for example, 12 shots,
Number of shots such as 24 shots or 36 shots and ISO1
Information about the sensitivity such as 00 or ISO400 is read, and this information and the type of the fixed-size film 16 loaded in the wrapping cartridge 34 (the number of shots, sensitivity, etc.)
Is compared with Thereby, the entrained patrone 34
It is determined whether or not the information described in (1) and the type of the fixed-size film 16 loaded in the roll-in cartridge 34 match.

In this case, in the present embodiment, the conveying means 82
From the second transport path 60 via the reading station 80
In the course of transporting the wrapped cartridge 34, the rear end 16c protruding outward of the wrapped cartridge 34 is automatically and forcibly separated from the optical path L under the action of the guide means 84. Next, in this state, the reading unit 86 is driven, and the reading process of the barcode 68 is performed.

For this reason, even if the rear end 16 c is wound around the outer peripheral portion 34 a of the wrapped cartridge 34 due to its own winding habit and covers the bar code 68, the wrapped cartridge 34 is placed on the holder 96 of the reading station 80. The rear end 16c is in the state of being
4 reliably separates from the reading optical path L. As a result, the barcode 68 can be easily and reliably read, and an effect is obtained that the reading process of the barcode 68 formed on the various entrained cartridges 34 can be efficiently performed.

Further, the guide means 84 includes a guide plate 98 erected in the vertical direction, and an inclined portion 100 provided at the tip (upper end) of the guide plate 98, and the configuration of the guide means 84 itself. Is effectively simplified. In addition, the rear end 16c has a read optical path L
The rear end 16c is locked by the guide means 84, and it is possible to reliably prevent the bar code 68 from being read poorly.

At the reading station 80, the bar code 6
The entrained cartridge 34 from which the reading of No. 8 has been performed is sucked and held by the second holding member 94 and conveyed from the reading station 80 to the insertion station ST2.

In the case filling unit 42, as shown in FIG.
7, the index table 67 is intermittently rotated in the direction of the arrow to
Is arranged at the insertion station ST2. Then, under the action of the conveying means 82, the entraining cartridge 34 is inserted into the case 38 on the index table 67.

The case 38 into which the entrained cartridge 34 is inserted is intermittently rotated in the direction of the arrow integrally with the index table 67. After the presence / absence detection station ST3 detects the presence of the entrained cartridge 34, the case cap insertion station ST4 Then, the case cap 40 is inserted into the open end of the case 38, and the package 14 is obtained. When the package 14 is determined to be good, the package 14 is sent out from the package discharge station ST5 to the transport conveyor 106, and is selectively sent to the package stacking units 108a to 108c. On the other hand, the package 14 determined to be defective
Is discharged from the defective product unloading station ST6.

[0035]

As described above, in the method and the apparatus for reading a bar code of a component according to the present invention, while the component is being transported to the reading station, the tongue-shaped protruding piece protruding from the component is used to read the bar code. The barcode is forcibly and automatically separated from the road, and in this state, the barcode is read through the reading means. For this reason, even when the tongue-shaped projection is wound around the outer periphery of the component due to a curl or the like and covers the barcode, when the tongue-shaped projection is disposed at the reading station, the tongue-shaped projection is effectively separated from the reading optical path. Thus, the barcode reading process can be easily and reliably performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a film processing and packaging system incorporating a component barcode reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective explanatory view when a package is manufactured by the film processing and packaging system.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory plan view of the bar code reading device and a case filling portion.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory perspective view of the bar code reader.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory plan view of the bar code reader.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory perspective view illustrating a positional relationship between a wrapping patrone and a guide plate.

FIG. 7A is a perspective explanatory view showing a state in which a wrap-around patrone is arranged above a reading station;
FIG. 7B is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the entrained patrone is lowered and engaged with the guide means, and FIG. 7C is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the entrained patrone is disposed in the reading station.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Bar code reading device 12 ... Film processing and packaging system 14 ... Packaged goods 16 ... Fixed size film 16c ... Rear end 34 ... Entrained patrone 42 ... Case packing part 58, 60 ... Transport path 64 ... Opening 67 ... Index table 80 ... Reading station 82 ... Conveying means 84 ... Guide means 86 ... Reading means 92, 94 ... Holding means 96 ... Holder 98 ... Guide plate 100 ... Inclination

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Takayuki Kanbara 210 Nakanakanuma, Minamiashigara-shi, Kanagawa Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Susumu 210 Nakanakanuma Minamiashigara-shi, Kanagawa Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A bar code reading method for a component having a flexible tongue-like projection projecting from an outer peripheral portion and a bar code formed on the outer peripheral portion, wherein the component is read via a conveying means. Transferring the tongue to the station, forcibly and automatically separating the tongue from the optical path for reading the barcode while the part is being transferred, and moving the tongue from the read optical path. Reading the barcode via a reading unit in a state where the barcode is separated from the barcode. 2. A bar code reading method according to claim 1, wherein said component is a wrap-around cartridge in which a spool has a roll of photographic photosensitive film wound thereon. . 3. A bar code reading device for a component, wherein a flexible tongue-like projection projects from an outer peripheral portion and a bar code is formed on the outer peripheral portion, wherein the component is transported to a reading station. Means, guide means for forcibly and automatically separating the tongue-shaped protruding piece from the bar code reading optical path during the transfer of the component, and separating the tongue-shaped protruding piece from the reading optical path. A bar code reading device that reads the bar code in a state. 4. The reading device according to claim 3, wherein said guide means is parallel to a tongue-shaped projecting piece insertion slit formed in said component so as to extend in the axial direction, and said component and said reading means. And a guide plate disposed at a distance from the read optical path between the guide plate and the read optical path, and a tip portion of the guide plate is provided with an inclined portion inclined from the axial direction toward the read optical path. Barcode reading device for parts. 5. A bar code reader according to claim 3, wherein said component is a roll-in patrone containing a wound body in which a photographic film is wound on a spool. .