Bar code reading devices

0001The present invention relates to bar code reading devices.

0002A POS system (point-of-sales data management system) has been used in department stores and in supermarkets in order to enhance efficiency in the management of goods and in the check-out operation. It is desired that the goods and products labelled with bar codes be efficiently read out irrespective of the positions where they are placed.

0003In general, the problem of expediting material handling in a manner to minimize the need for human intervention still exists. Numerous systems have been developed to achieve this end. Some of these systems require a hand held reader for special labels which are placed on the articles. In other systems, great care must be taken to insure that the articles pass through a detection zone with their labels properly positioned and oriented with respect to a reader.

0004In data acquisition systems developed for retail point-of-sale applications, the typical way in which data entry is effected requires that a clerk read sales data from a ticket associated with each item of merchandise and then manually enter this data into the system using a keyboard. Therefore, a hand-held reader has been developed for scanning-machine-readable optical and magnetic codes applied to tickets pursuant to entering the sales data into the system. As is apparent, the automatic entry of sales data encoded in machine readable form can be effected more rapidly and accurately than manual entry via a keyboard.

0005The ultimate approach to the problem of data entry in this area appears to be the use of a fixed scanner for reading from a distance machine-readable, optically-encoded data from a ticket attached to each item. This approach frees the clerk from the task of having to manipulate a reader and also considerably eases the problems of variations in scanning rate inherent in hand scanning.

0006According to a fixed type scanner that has heretofore been used in supermarkets and similar stores, the directions in which the scanning beams are projected are limited to just straight up from one surface or upward-tilted directions. Therefore, an operator must carry out a cumbersome operation in which he ascertains the position or surface where the bar codes are attached to the goods, aligns the goods appropriately in the reading direction and executes the reading operation. Moreover, in an arrangement in which articles are delivered on a production line to a fixed scanner for automatically reading bar codes, the articles have to be so arranged in advance that the positions or surfaces where the bar codes are labelled are orientated in a predetermined direction, causing such problems as the facility of handling bulky objects and difficulty involved in arranging products having dissimilar sizes on the same line.

0007From the above discussion of a fixed type bar code reading device, it is considered to be desirable to provide an appropriate optical scanner device including the following: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>1. A beam scanning unit; a plurality of reflecting mirrors arranged around the beam scanning unit; and a plurality of beam sources for emitting beams toward the beam scanning unit.</li><li>2. In item 1, the beams may be controlled so as to be emitted from only one of the plurality of beam sources at any given time.</li><li>3. In the beam scanning unit of item 1, both beam reflecting surfaces and beam non-reflecting surfaces may be mounted on a scanning mirror to always emit only one scanning beam in the beam scanning unit. With regard to the above item 3, U.S. Patent No. 3,818,444 entitled "Optical Bar Code Reading Method and Apparatus Having an X Scan Pattern" (filed June 29, 1972, by Richard A. Connell, assignee: Pitney-Bowes, Inc., issued June 18, 1974) may be of interest. </li><li>4. In an optical scanning unit, a plurality of optical systems may be exclusively controlled to always emit a scanning beam from only one optical system selectively. Such exclusive control may include: effecting scanning processes from a plurality of directions to select a beam from only one optical source by means of an operation of mirrors, selecting a beam mechanically by mirrors, and so forth.</li></ul>

0008It is known from DE-A-27 57 235 to provide a bar code reader with a rotating polygonal mirror surrounded by four fixed planar mirrors. This bar code reader generates scanning beams which are inclined towards each other in an 'X' pattern.

0009It is also known from US 3,818,444 to provide a bar code reader including a rotating polygonal mirror in which alternate faces are non-reflective. This allows two alternating scanning beams to be generated.

0010It is desirable to read bar codes reliably without being affected by the position at which they are attached to an object that is to be read.

0011The present invention provides a bar code reading apparatus for scanning a bar code symbol on a surface of an article placed in a predetermined positional relationship to the apparatus, which apparatus includes: a light source; scanning beam forming means, including a movable light-deflecting device arranged to receive light from the said light source, for deflecting such light so as to cause a first optical beam to scan across the said article; light sensor means, arranged for receiving light reflected back from the said article, for providing an electrical signal responsive to the received light; and additional scanning beam forming means, arranged to cause further light to be incident on the said movable light-deflecting device when the apparatus is in use, for causing a second optical beam to scan across the said article, the direction of incidence of the said second optical beam on the said article being different from that of the first optical beam; characterised in that the scanning beam forming means and the additional scanning beam forming means each includes a group of mutually-adjacent, differently-inclined mirrors located within the light path between the movable light-deflecting device and the exterior of the bar code reading apparatus.

0012In some embodiments, the scanning beam forming means and the additional scanning beam forming means are associated respectively with first and second windows, the plane of the first window being disposed substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the second window.

0013In such a bar code reading devices a beam scanning unit, e.g. a polygonal mirror, is irradiated with beams emitted from a plurality of beam sources, and the resulting scanning beams may be reflected using a plurality of mirrors so that the beams are projected from a plurality of directions onto the object to be read.

0014The beam scanning unit scans the beams that are emitted in order to form the scanning beams. Mirrors may be arranged to surround the beam scanning unit and reflect the scanning beams so that they are projected onto an object that is to be read. Beam sources generate the beams.

0015Such a device can enable bar codes to be read without being affected unacceptably by the position at which they are attached to the object to be read.

0016Reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawing, in which: <ul id="ul0002" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a previously-considered fixed-type bar code scanner;</li><li>Fig. 2A shows a perspective view of first bar code reading device embodying the present invention, and Fig. 2B is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Fig. 2A;</li><li>Fig. 3A shows a perspective view of a second bar code reading device embodying the present invention, and Fig. 3B is cross-sectional view corresponding to Fig. 3A;</li><li>Fig. 4A shows a perspective view of a third bar code reading device embodying the present invention, and Fig. 4B is further perspective view corresponding to Fig. 4A but showing the internal arrangement of components in the Fig. 4A device;</li><li>Fig. 5A is block diagram of a beam source control unit for use with embodiments of the present invention, and Fig. 5B is a flow chart illustrating operation of the Fig. 5A control unit;</li><li>Figs. 6A and 6B show views corresponding respectively to Figs. 2A and 2B, illustrating a modification to the Fig. 2A device;</li><li>Fig. 6C shows a perspective view of a further modification to the Fig. 2A device;</li><li>Fig. 7A is a plan view of a beam scanning unit for use in the Fig. 6A,and Fig. 6C devices, and Fig. 7B shows a perspective view corresponding to Fig. 7A;</li></ul>

0017Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a previously-considered fixed type scanner. Reference numeral 1 denotes a scanner, 11 scanning beams, 13 a window, and 51 an object or a product. The direction in which the scanning beams are projected is limited to just straight up from one surface or upper tilted directions. An operator must carry out cumbersome operations in which he ascertains the position or surface where the bar codes are attached to the goods, directs the goods toward the reading direction and effects the reading operation. Moreover, even when bar codes attached to articles on a production line are to be automatically read out, each article has to be so arranged in advance that the positions or surfaces where the bar codes are labelled are oriented in a predetermined direction.

0018Fig. 2(A) is a perspective view and Fig. 2(B) a cross-sectional view showing the constitution of a bar code reading device embodying the present invention.

0019Referring to Figs. 2(A) and 2(B), the beam scanning unit 1 scans the beams that are emitted to form the scanning beams and is comprised, in this case, of a polygonal mirror, for example, a polyhedral mirror that is rotatable.

0020Mirrors 2 are arranged around the beam scanning unit 1 and constitute a plurality of pattern mirrors. The scanning beams 11 reflected by the mirrors 21A, 21B are projected through windows 13A, B onto the object 51 that is to be read. Here, the mirrors 21 are provided in a number corresponding to the number of beam sources 3 such that the scanning beams 11 are projected through the respective windows 13 onto the object 51 to be read.

0021The beam sources 3 (3A, 3B) generate beams and serve as laser beam sources.

0022The light-receiving elements 4 (4A, 4B) receive light reflected from the object 51 to be read and convert it into an electric signal.

0023The object 51 to be read is goods or a product to which bar codes are attached so as to be read.

0024A control unit 6 rotates the beam scanning unit 1 in order to form the scanning beams and further works to exclusively turn on the plurality of beam sources 3.

0025Next, described below is the operation of the device shown in Figs. 2(A), 2(B) consisting of two sets of beam sources 3, mirrors 2, 21, 22, 23 and light-receiving elements 4 for one beam scanning unit 1.

0026The beams generated from the two beam sources 3 are permitted to fall on one beam scanning unit 1 from opposite directions.

0027The beam scanning unit 1 rotates and scans the beams emitted from the two beam sources 3A, 3B to form the scanning beams 11. The thus formed scanning beams 11 are reflected by the mirrors 21A, 21B and are projected through windows 13A and 13B and from different directions onto the object 51 that is to be read. Therefore, the object 51 to be read is widely scanned from just underneath and from both sides thereof by a plurality of scanning beams 11 that are successively projected in different directions from the plurality of mirrors through the window 13A and 13B, whereby bar codes attached to the object can be scanned over a wide range.

0028The light reflected from the object 51 to be read is detected by the light-receiving elements 4 through mirrors 21, beam scanning unit 1, focusing lenses 23A and 23B, and reflectors 22A and 22B. Bar codes attached to the object 51 are then read. In this case, the control unit 6 controls the rotation of the beam scanning unit 1 and further works to exclusively turn on only one of either of the beam sources 3, so that the scanning beams will not produce noise which will be mixed into the other light-receiving element 4.

0029Owing to the above-mentioned operation and owing to the provision of two sets of beam sources 3, mirrors 21, 22, 23 and light-receiving elements 4 for one beam scanning unit 1, the scanning beams are projected from different directions onto the object 51 to be read, and it is possible to easily read the bar codes by the scanning over a wide range irrespective of the position of the object 51 to be read.

0030Described below with reference to Fig. 3 is another bar code reading device embodying the invention, wherein the scanning beams are projected onto the goods (object 51 to be read) from approximately mutually-perpendicular directions.

0031As shown in Fig. 3(A), windows 13A and 13B are nearly at right angles to each other, and the scanning beams are projected onto the goods 51 through the windows 13A and 13B in order to read bar codes attached to the goods 51.

0032Fig. 3(B) is a sectional view of the multidirectional reading device shown in the perspective view of Fig. 3(A).

0033In Fig. 3(B), two sets of laser beam sources 31A and 31B, pattern mirrors 21, windows 13A and 13B, and light-receiving elements 4 are provided at nearly right-angle directions for one polygonal mirror 12. Owing to this constitution, the scanning beams are projected onto the goods 51 through the windows 13A and 13B in directions nearly at right angles to each other, and the returned light after reflection is detected by the light-receiving elements 4 in order to read the bar codes. Therefore, the scanning is effected over a wide range such as from under and from the sides of the goods 51 to easily read the bar codes. During the scanning, the laser beam source 31A or the laser beam source 31B is controlled to be turned on exclusively.

0034Fig. 4 shows yet another reading device in which four sets of laser beam sources 3A to 3D, pattern mirrors 21A to 21D, windows 13A to 13D and light-receiving elements 4 are arranged on a plane with one polygonal mirror 12 at the center.

0035As shown in Fig. 4(A) the reading device has four windows 13A to 13D provided symmetrically on a plane with the polygonal mirror 12 at the center.

0036Fig. 4(B) is a view corresponding to Fig. 4(A) but showing the internal arrangement of components in the reading device.

0037In Fig. 4(B), four sets of laser beam sources 3A to 3D, pattern mirrors 21A to 21D, windows 13A to 13D, and light-receiving elements 4A to 4D are provided symmetrically on a plane with one polygonal mirror 12. Owing to this constitution, the scanning beams are projected onto the goods through the windows 13A to 13D, i.e., from the four directions, and the returned light after being reflected is detected by the light-receiving elements 4 in order to read bar codes. Therefore, the scanning is effected over a wide range from four directions under the goods 51 to easily read the bar codes. During the scanning, the four laser beam sources 3A to 3D are controlled so that only one is turned on.

0038Fig. 5 is a diagram illustratinq how the beam source is turned on in a embodying the invention.

0039In Fig. 5 (A), the control unit 6 is provided to control the scanning operation of the beam scanning unit (polygonal mirror) 1 and to exclusively turn on only one of the plurality of beam sources (laser beam sources) 3.

0040Fig. 5(B) shows a flow chart of the process of turning on the laser beam source. This turn-on flow chart is adapted to when there are two sets of laser am sources 3A, 3B, or 31A, 31B that are shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Here, symbol T represents a time in which the beam source is turned on/turned off (ON/OFF). Two sets of laser beam sources are alternatingly turned on after every time T, and the reflected light is detected by the light-receiving elements to read the bar codes, while eliminating the noise (interference) caused by the other scanning beam. Even when two or more sets of laser beam sources are used, the operation is similarly controlled to exclusively turn on only one of the laser beam sources in turn.

0041In the embodiments described above the scanning beams,formed by one beam scanning unit (e.g. polygonal mirror) which is irradiated with beams emitted from a plurality of beam sources, are reflected by a plurality of mirrors and are projected from a plurality of directions onto the object to be read. Therefore, the bar codes can be easily read without being affected by the position at which they are attached to the object to be read. In particular, since only one beam scanning unit (e.g., polygonal mirror) is generally used, it is possible to realize the device with a simple structure, a small size, and at an acceptable cost. Moreover, since the goods and products can be read out irrespective of the positions at which the bar codes are attached thereto, the burden on the operator is reduced, and management of products can be carried out automatically and easily in a manufacturing plant or the like based upon the bar codes.

0042A further embodiment in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to Figs. 6(A), 6(B) and Figs. 7(A), 7(B).

0043In Figs. 6(A) and 6(B), an optical scanning device has the same constitution as that in Figs. 2(A) and 2(B), except for a beam scanning unit 1. The beam scanning unit 1 has beam reflection surfaces 15 and beam non-reflection surfaces 17 both of which are rotatable around an axis in order to form a scanning beam 11 by reflecting the beam two times, to produce only one of the beams 30 emitted from beam sources 3A, 3B. Mirrors 2 are provided to correspond to the beam sources 3 such that a scanning beam 11 formed by the beam scanning unit 1 is reflected by the mirrors and is projected onto the object 5 to be read.

0044It is therefore made possible to easily read bar codes irrespective of the position at which they are attached to the objects 5 to be read while eliminating the effects of interfering light such as other scanning beams. It is also possible to provide reading apparatus having a simple constitution in which a beam scanning unit 1 is provided with beam reflecting surfaces 15 and beam non-reflecting surfaces 17, and only one scanning beam 11 is formed at all times from a plurality of beams and is projected onto the object 5 that is to be read.

0045Referring to Figs. 6(A) and 6(B), the beam scanning unit 1 scans the beams that are emitted to form a scanning beam 11 and is comprised, in this case, of a polygonal mirror (a polyhedral mirror that is rotatable). The beam scanning unit 1 has beam reflecting surfaces 15 and beam non-reflecting surfaces 17, and forms a scanning beam 11 by reflecting, in a scanning mode, only one beam at all times from among the beams emitted from the plurality of beam sources 3.

0046Mirrors are arranged around the beam scanning unit 1 and constitute a plurality of pattern mirrors 21. The scanning beams 11 reflected by the set of mirrors are projected through windows 13 onto the object 5 that is to be read. Here, the number of mirrors corresponds to the number of beam sources 3 such that a scanning beam 11 is projected at all times through each of the windows 13 onto the object 5 to be read.

0047The beam sources 3 generate beams 30 and serve as laser beam sources.

0048The light-receiving elements 4 receive light reflected from the object 5 to be read and convert it into an electrical signal.

0049The object 5 to be read is the one such as goods or a product to which bar codes are attached to be read out.

0050A control unit 6 rotates the beam scanning unit 1 in order to form the scanning beam 11.

0051Referring to Fig. 6(C), another embodiment is shown in which an optical system in conjunction with a light source 3S, a spectroscope S and mirrors L1 .... L4 is used to emit light beams from a plurality of directions.

0052The beam scanning unit 1 included in the devices shown in Figs. 6(A) to 6(C) will now be described in detail in conjuction with Figs. 7(A) and 7(B). As shown in the perspective view of Fig. 7(B), the beam scanning unit 1 is constituted by beam reflecting surfaces 15 that reflect, in a scanning mode, a beam emitted from the beam sources, and a beam non-reflecting surfaces 17 which do not reflect the incident beam emitted from the beam sources (or which reflects the beams in a direction other than the directions of mirrors 2 so as not to become a source of noise). The beam reflecting surfaces 15 and the beam non-reflecting surfaces 17 are alternately provided, for example, as shown in Fig. 7(A), so that light beams from the beam source 3A and the beam source 3B are alternately reflected thereby to form a scanning beam 31.

0053Next, described below is the operation of the constitution of Figs. 7A and 7B wherein the beam scanning unit 1 has six surfaces, i.e., three beam reflecting surfaces 15 and three beam non-reflecting surfaces 17, and further has two sets of beam sources 3, mirrors, and light-receiving elements 4. <ul id="ul0003" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>(1) The beams generated from the two beam sources 3 are permitted to fall on the beam scanning unit 1 from opposite directions.</li><li>(2) The beam scanning unit 1 rotates and scans the beams 30 emitted from the two beam sources 3A, 3B to form a first alternating scanning beam. The reflected scanning beam is reflected by the mirrors and is projected onto the object to be read through the windows different alternating directions. Therefore, the object to be read is scanned from underneath and from both sides by the second scanning beam 32 that is projected in different directions from the plurality of mirrors via the windows, so the bar code attached thereto can be easily scanned.</li><li>(3) The light reflected from the object to be read is detected by either the light-receiving element, via mirrors, beam scanning unit, focusing lenses, and reflectors. A bar code attached to the object to be read is then converted to electrical signals.</li></ul>

0054By the above-mentioned operation and the provision of the beam scanning unit 1 having beam reflecting surfaces 15 and beam non-reflecting surfaces 17, as well as two sets of beam sources, mirrors, and light-receiving elements, only one scanning beam is always projected from different directions onto the object to be read, so that a bar code can be easily read irrespective of the position of the object to be read. Moreover, it is possible to eliminate the effect of interference caused by other scanning beams by using a device having a simple constitution.

0055Even when there are two or more beam sources, only one scanning beam is always reflected by the beam scanning unit 1 and then projected onto the object to be read to thereby eliminate the negative effects caused interference from other light.

0056The beam non-reflecting surfaces of the beam scanning unit may be so designed as to not reflect the beam. Alternatively, the beam non-reflecting surfaces may be so designed as to reflect the beam in a direction that does not meet the mirrors, so that the beam is not projected onto the object to be read, and so that the beam is not mixed into the optical system to hinder the reading of a bar code.

0057In the devices shown in Fig. 6 the beam scanning unit is provided with beam reflecting surfaces and beam non-reflecting surfaces, and only one beam is formed at all times from the beams emitted from the plurality of beam sources, and that beam is projected onto the object to be read. Therefore, the bar codes can be easily read irrespective of the position at which they are attached to the object to be read, while eliminating the effects of light interference caused by other scanning beams at the time of reading, using an apparatus having a simple constitution.