JPH0637474Y2 - Stationary barcode reader - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial application] The present invention relates to a stationary bar code reader that scans a laser beam to read a bar code in synchronization with a timing signal given from the outside of the bar code reader. More specifically, the present invention relates to a stationary bar code reader which is used by being incorporated in a production line or the like and which has a test mode in which a timing signal is internally generated continuously and a reading test can be performed based on the timing signal.

[Conventional technology]

A bar code reader that reads a bar code usually includes a laser lighting circuit that emits a laser beam, a scanning unit that includes a motor having a polygonal mirror called a polygonal mirror attached to a rotating shaft, and a bar to be read. It has a light receiving element that generates an electrical signal by receiving the laser light reflected from the code.The laser light emitted from the laser lighting circuit scans the bar code by the scanning means and outputs the light receiving element. The bar code data is detected by decoding the signal.

In such a conventional barcode reader, when an external timing signal such as an article detection signal generated by a photoelectric switch installed on the upstream side of the flow of articles in a production line is input by giving a timing signal from the outside. Since it scans laser light and detects barcode data, it can be used for reading tests to determine whether or not the same barcode is read multiple times to determine whether they match, or for operation confirmation when installing on a production line. However, it is necessary to give a timing signal from the outside each time, and there is a problem that the work is complicated and inefficient, and the accuracy is lacking.

Some bar code readers used in supermarkets and the like have a function of self-diagnosis of a failure location such as a digital circuit system, an analog circuit system, or an optical system when a reading failure occurs. However, all of them generate simulated light with LED elements instead of laser light or generate pseudo bar code signals, and replace some of the functions of the bar code reader with normal spare functions to search for faulty parts. However, it was not used for aligning with a barcode or confirming operation when it was installed on a production line or the like.

[Problems to be solved by the device]

In view of such problems, the present invention generates a continuous timing signal internally without providing a timing signal from the outside of the barcode reader at the time of installation, and continuously reads the barcode. It is an object of the present invention to provide a stationary bar code reader which can be easily provided with a read test and an operation check.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a laser lighting unit that emits a laser beam, a scanning unit that scans a barcode to be read with the laser beam emitted from the laser lighting unit, and a laser beam. A stationary bar code reader having a light receiving element that receives a laser beam reflected from a scanned bar code and generates an electric signal, and generates a test start signal for testing whether or not the bar code to be read can be read. Mode setting means, timing signal generating means for generating an internal timing signal for performing a bar code reading operation in response to a test start signal from the mode setting means, and externally input from the outside of the bar code reader during normal use. The barcode reading operation is performed according to the timing signal, and the data indicated by the barcode is detected. Performs barcode reading operation in response to the internal timing signal from the timing signal generating means,
A stationary bar code reader having a bar code detecting means for judging whether or not the data indicated by the bar code has been read.

Further, it has a display means for displaying the data detected by the barcode detection means and the reading result at the time of the test determined by the barcode detection means.

[Action]

The stationary bar code reader according to the present invention is configured as described above, and in normal use, like the conventional bar code reader, the laser lighting means is turned on based on an external timing signal input from the outside of the bar code reader. The scanning means scans the laser beam on the barcode to be read.

The laser light reflected on the bar code is converted into an electric signal by the light receiving element, and decoded by the bar code detecting means as bar code data.

When the mode setting means is operated and the test start signal is input to the timing signal generating means, the timing signal generating means outputs a continuous internal timing signal to the bar code detecting means.

The bar code detection means scans the bar code by turning on the laser light for a certain time based on the internal timing signal generated by the timing signal generation means, compares the bar code data obtained from the light receiving elements, and determines whether or not the bar code data is read. Is determined.

Further, the display means displays the data detected by the barcode detecting means and the reading result at the time of the test determined by the barcode detecting means.

〔Example〕

 The details of the present invention will be described based on illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual block diagram of a stationary bar code reader with a test mode according to the present invention.

Reference numeral 1 in the figure is a bar code reader according to the present invention, which is a laser lighting means 2 for emitting a laser beam, and the laser lighting means 2
Bar code 9 for reading the laser light emitted from the
A scanning means 3 for scanning upward, a light receiving element 4 for generating an electric signal by receiving the laser beam reflected from the bar code 9, a mode setting means 5 for generating a test start signal, and the mode setting means. Timing signal generating means 6 for continuously generating an internal timing signal based on a test start signal from 5, and in the normal use state, the laser lighting means 2 based on an external timing signal given from the outside of the barcode reader 1. Is turned on to detect bar code data obtained from the light receiving element 4, and in the test mode, the laser lighting means 2 is turned on based on an internal timing signal generated by the timing signal generating means 6 to be obtained from the light receiving element 4. And a bar code detecting means 7 for judging whether or not the bar code data to be read is read. Further, it has an output means 8 for displaying the barcode data detected by the barcode detection means 7 and the reading result in the test mode determined by the barcode detection means 7. This output means 8
Is used to display the read result even during normal use.

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

The laser lighting means 2 comprises a light emitting element 21 such as a semiconductor laser diode and a laser lighting circuit 22 for driving the light emitting element 21.

The scanning means 3 has, for example, a polygonal mirror 32 having a polygonal shape in which a side surface attached to a rotation shaft of a motor 31 is formed as a reflecting mirror.
The laser beam emitted from the light emitting element 21 is reflected by the surface of the rotating polygon mirror 32 and is placed at a position to scan the barcode to be read.

The light receiving element 4 is composed of a photoelectric conversion element such as a photodiode, and the output signal of the light receiving element 4 becomes a pulse signal corresponding to each bar code data via the light receiving circuit 11 including an amplifier circuit and the comparator 12.

The mode setting means 5 is composed of a test mode switch 51 and is operated to generate a test start signal TES.

The reference numeral 13 generates a timing signal T for driving the laser lighting circuit 22 by the input of the test start signal generated by the mode setting means 5 or the external timing signal TIM input from the outside of the barcode reader 1, and the comparator 12 outputs the timing signal T. It is a timing signal generating and bar code detecting means for detecting an output signal.

This timing signal generating and bar code detecting means 13 is
Central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 14 and comparator 12
Of the decoding circuit 15 and the memory 16 for storing the bar code data decoded by the decoding circuit 15.

When the external timing signal TIM is input, the CPU 14 generates the timing signal T for driving the laser lighting circuit 22 to turn on the light emitting element 21, detect the bar code data obtained from the light receiving element 4, and output the means 8. Transfer to.

In addition, the test start signal T from the mode setting means 5 is sent to the CPU 14.
Even when ES is input, the timing signal T is output,
Corresponding to this, the laser beam is scanned, the bar code data are compared and judged, and the result of the judgment as to whether or not the reading is possible is transferred to the output means 8.

The output means 8 includes a light emitting diode (LED), a liquid crystal display panel and other display means 81, a drive circuit for the display means 81, RS-2.
An output circuit 82 such as a communication interface such as 32C is included.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for normal use, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart for the test mode.

That is, during normal use, for example, when an external timing signal TIM such as an article detection signal generated by a photoelectric switch installed upstream of the flow of articles in a production line is input,
Turn on the laser and read the barcode data.

The reading of the bar code data is performed until the external timing signal TIM is turned off or the bar code data for 10 scans of the laser light is read in a range not exceeding the memory capacity.

Next, the laser is turned off to decode the bar code data, and it is determined whether or not the bar code can be read.

This determination can be performed by comparing with a preset value, or the data obtained by scanning the same barcode a plurality of times may be compared.

If the external timing signal TIM is in the ON state and the barcode cannot be read, the laser is turned on again to capture the barcode data.

When the barcode data can be read, the output means 8 is caused to display "OK" or output the barcode data itself.

When the mode setting means 5 is operated and the test start signal TES is input, the laser is turned on as shown in FIG. 4 and the bar code data is fetched a predetermined number of times.

For example, the laser beam is scanned 10 times to capture the barcode data of the same barcode for 10 scans.

At this point, the laser is turned off and it is determined whether the bar code data has been read.
If OK is output and the number of readings is less than the specified number,
Output NG.

The output means 8 displays the result based on the OK output or the NG output. The display method is such that either one of the two LEDs for "OK" and "NG" is turned on, and the number of read times is read. There is a method of displaying numerical values, etc., and there is no particular limitation.

Here, the display means 81 is not provided in the bar code reader 1 and the display signal from the output circuit 82 is displayed.
It can also be used by connecting it to a lamp, a buzzer, a liquid crystal display plate, etc., which the user has installed in an appropriate place so that the device can be taken out.

It is also possible to use an oscillator that generates a timing signal as the timing signal generating means 6 and generate a timing signal by turning on the oscillator to turn on the laser.

[Effect of device]

The stationary bar code reader according to the present invention is configured as described above, and the bar code reader responds to the test start signal from the mode setting means without giving a timing signal from the outside of the bar code reader. Since the internal timing signal that causes the barcode reading operation to be generated by the generating means is continuously generated by itself, it is possible to easily perform a reading test, and it is also easy to confirm the operation when installing on a production line etc. It will be.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a conceptual block diagram of a stationary bar code reader according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for normal use, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart for the test mode. 1: Bar code reader, 2: Laser lighting means, 3: Scanning means,
4: Light receiving element, 5: Mode setting means, 6: Timing signal generating means, 7: Bar code detecting means, 8: Output means, 9: Bar code, 11: Light receiving circuit, 12: Comparator, 13: Timing signal generating and Bar code detecting means, 14: CPU, 15: decoding circuit, 16: memory, 21: light emitting element, 22: laser lighting circuit, 3
1: Motor, 32: Polygon mirror, 51: Test mode switch, 81: Display means, 82: Output circuit.

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A laser lighting device that emits laser light, a scanning device that scans a bar code to be read with the laser light emitted from the laser lighting device, and a laser light that reflects from the scanned bar code. In a stationary bar code reader having a light receiving element that receives the laser light and generates an electric signal, a mode setting means that generates a test start signal for testing whether or not the bar code to be read can be read, In response to a test start signal from the mode setting means, a timing signal generating means for generating an internal timing signal for performing a bar code reading operation, and a bar code according to an external timing signal input from the outside of the bar code reader during normal use. The code reading operation is performed and the data indicated by the bar code is detected. Performs barcode reading operation in response to the internal timing signal from the means, stationary bar code reader, characterized in that it comprises a barcode detection means for determining whether or not read data indicated by the bar code, the. 2. A stationary bar code reader according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying the data detected by the bar code detecting means and the reading result at the time of the test judged by the bar code detecting means.