Laser scanner

[Detailed Description of the Invention]

The present invention relates to a laser scanner. The laser scanner used at the accounting counter of other super market and retail business is received widely. Generally, it is attached in a counter, the window is provided in that top part, and such a device is projected on a scanning pattern through this window. A scanning pattern is generated with the optical element combined with laser and it, and it has two or more scanning lines which cross by various patterns. Intermediary To have [ as ] to which a scanning pattern will carry out horizontal OFF intermediary movement of this bar code if the bar code (for example, Uniform Product Code) is inserted in packing of goods and inserts this into the field of a scanning pattern. The light reflected from the bar code is returned through the window of a laser scanner, is received by the decoding means combined with an optical means and it, and is changed into the signal which shows a bar code. The ing goods which have this bar code using these signals can be identified, and price information can be obtained. It is with the conventional device for a number sufficient in a scanning pattern of scanning lines to be obtained, and enable it to read a horizontal OFF intermediary bar code correctly for all the bar codes, The beam was turned up using the various optical arrangement containing a mirror, a prism, etc., and a wedge pattern, a direct pattern, and a complicated pattern like a pattern and a star-shaped pattern that weaves in were generated. For example, an omnidirectional leather bar code scanner for using at an accounting counter is indicated by U.S. Pat. No. 3902048. This produces two or more weave Crossed scanning lines prolonged in the various directions. A means to generate this pattern consists of laser, and projects light on the multiple mirror rotated by the circumference of a level axis, and it enters it in the mirror tunnel assembly inside of the body which deflected light perpendicularly and has arranged it up. The laser scanner which performs omnidirectional reading of the bar code using the wedge pattern which becomes U.S. Pat. No. 3928759 from the line prolonged in one longitudinal direction and a set of lines right-angled to it is indicated. The laser tube is used for generating this pattern, and this laser tube projects light on a beam splitter. It is projected on one of the beams from a beam splitter by the horizontal revolving multiple mirror through the Yamagata mirror, Becoming the horizon of the patterns, it is reflected in the inclined rotation mirror, and other beams of a beam splitter sweep in the direction of a Along axis in a multiple mirror, and make the line prolonged in the rectangular direction of the patterns. The laser scanner which projects X type, i.e., an intersected [ perpendicularly ] type scanning pattern, on U.S. Pat. No. 4006343 through the window provided in the accounting counter is indicated. This pattern arises by dividing into two beams the laser beam generated with the laser tube of horizontal arrangement. It is projected on one beam by the 1st Yamagata deviation mirror that rotates to the circumference of the 1st level axis, it is diverted up, and performs a horizontal OFF intermediary sweep for a window to one way. It is projected on the beam of another side by the 2nd Yamagata deviation mirror that rotates to the circumference of another right-angled level axis to the 1st axis, it is diverted up, and performs a horizontal OFF intermediary sweep in the right-angled direction for a window to the 1st sweep direction. Although it may be almost suitable about each object, it is altogether large-sized and is a Became bulky thing, and the above-mentioned omnidirectional laser scanner which and is marketed is Oh. [ a laser scanner ] [ publicly known ] Therefore, such conventionally, with a device, it projects to the lower part of the top part of a counter, or the becoming distance, and occupies the space of a counter lower part considerably. It is a laser scanner used for generating the scanning pattern which inserts a bar code and enabled it to read it according to the present invention, and is Then, In the laser scanner with which a scanning pattern includes the housing which has the top part containing the window on which it is projected through there, A scanning pattern consists of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd group of a scanning line, and when projected on these groups by the plane located at about 45 degrees to the plane of a window, it crosses mutually in a common field, When projected to a window by the angle of 90 degrees, and other planes located the angle between parallel, the laser scanner crossing mutually with the form of about 3 square shapes can be obtained. The present invention provides the compact omnidirectional laser scanner made to generate the scanning pattern which has the "sweep spot" of sufficient size which places a bar code and can perform perfect decryption regardless of the direction. The laser scanner by the present invention is suitable for using under a counter, and moreover, even when an operator sits down, it can leave sufficient room to accept the leg. The laser scanner of the present invention can use comparatively powerful laser, and, moreover, can stop it in a predetermined radiation range with the scanning pattern to be used. the laser scanner by the present invention -- structure -- it is easy and comparatively low-cost. Hereinafter, an example explains the present invention, referring to an accompanying drawing. On the whole in Drawing 1, 20 has shown the laser scanner (henceforth a scanner) by the present invention. It has equipped with scanner 20 under counter 22 like the accounting counter of a store, and projects a scanning pattern on the space of the counter upper part through window 32 at counter 22. To goods (for example, food container 24), ordinary bar code 26 (for example, the UPC code) is printed, and when this bar code is inserted into a scanning pattern, a scanning pattern can perform a horizontal OFF intermediary sweep for a bar code. It reflects from a bar code and light is received by the component of a scanner, and a scanner processes this and decodes it to a bar code support signal. This is ordinary art. The scanning pattern of the laser scanner of the present invention, The "sweep spot" of a Big area with a sufficient number of scanning lines and the depth is generated, A scanning line is effective for especially performing suitable reading or decryption of a bar code by the ordinary decoding means (not shown) which performed the horizontal OFF intermediary sweep and installed the bar code 26 whole in scanner 20 certainly. A decoding means is used for giving the signal which shows the sign decrypted by the peripheral equipment of the ordinary electronic cash register 28 grade. Scanner 20 is arranged in very compact housing 30. Especially the height or the depth (namely, perpendicular size) of this housing is small enough. For example, it is 15.24 cm (6 inches) or less than it. Therefore, even if it equips under counter 22, an accounting operator puts in a knee under housing 30, and margin also with a sufficient seat intermediary remains. This feature is a quite important thing among the countries of Europe which has specified law that an accounting operator does seat intermediary work. The occupation area of the counter to be used may be [ / that the height or the depth of housing 30 is small ] small. The project areas of housing 30 are less than 967.5 square centimeters (150 square inches), preferably below 774 square centimeters (120 square inches). Before explaining the details of the structure of scanner 20, the scanning pattern which it generates is explained. This scanning pattern is clearly shown in Drawing 7 from Drawing 5. A scanning pattern is generated within scanner housing 30, and is projected outside through window 32 located horizontally. Window 32 is provided in counter 22 and is later explained in detail about this. What can form scanning pattern 34 as the form of a window made pass the scanning line which occurred with scanner 20 and shown in Drawing 7 from Drawing 5, and intermediary To have. Although scanning pattern 34 generated with scanner 20 is a thing of a fixed form or the form defined beforehand, it appears in different Noodle shape according to the field which projects a scanning pattern. For example, scanning pattern 34 when it projects on the field in which it was located at an angle of about 45 degrees to the plane of window 32 is shown in Drawing 6. The angle of this angle of 45 degrees at which an accounting operator holds up the bar code which it is going to scan on window 32 is typical. Scanning pattern 34 when it projects on the plane located at an angle of about 90 degrees to the plane of window 32 is shown in Drawing 5, and scanning pattern 34 when it projects on the plane located in parallel to window 32 is shown in Drawing 7. Fundamentally, scanning pattern 34 consists of three groups 34A, 34B, and 34C of each scanning line 36. these scanning lines -- every group -- a pair -- intermediary To have. That is, each group 34A, 34B, and 34C consists of at least a pair of scanning lines 36, and although these scanning lines are mutually parallel, a Separation intermediary position is carried out at the shortest distance (this is explained later). One desirable means to sweep a laser beam so that scanning line 36 which constitutes the group may be produced includes the polyhedron arranged so that it may Rotation to the circumference of a perpendicular axis. In the same direction, the reflective surface and the field of an intermediary cage and one group incline by the same acute angle about the field and perpendicular axis of another group, and each polygonal field makes scanning pattern 34 produce Noodle scanning line 36 in the pair of each group. However, according to manufacture common difference, as for each field of each polygonal field group, inclining a little mutually is common, and scanning line 36 which constitutes each group pair is not in agreement. Therefore, in fact, the scanning line of each set of each group includes two or more near parallel scanning lines, as shown in Drawing 7 from Drawing 5. In the products on the market of a laser scanner, especially group 34A consists of a pair of subgroups 34A1, and 34A2, group 34B consists of a pair of subgroups 34B1, and 34 B-2, and group 34C consists of a pair of subgroups 34C1, and 34C2. And each subgroup consists of scanning line 36 close to parallel of plurality (for example, 4). The interval of each scanning line 36 which constitutes each subgroup is a result of manufacture common difference, and is quite smaller than the interval of a Noodle subgroup to the pair which constitutes each group. Preferably, the interval of the subgroup of each group is about 6 mm. The reason carried out like this is explained later. As shown in Drawing 6, scanning pattern 34 which arose at the plane located at an angle of about 40 degrees to window 32 is an almost symmetrical star shape, groups 34A, 34B, and 34C cross in a common field, and receives mutually, and is located in the angle of about 60 degrees. as shown in Drawing 5, scanning pattern 34 which arose at the plane located at an angle of about 90 degrees to window 32 was formed of groups 34A, 34B, and 34C which cross mutually -- it is an equilateral triangle mostly. As shown in Drawing 7, scanning pattern 34 generated at the plane of a window or the plane parallel to it is a Noodle triangle a little long. Namely, intermediary To have in which the neighborhood which groups 34B and 34C form is longer than the neighborhood which group 34A forms. The shape of scanning pattern 34 in planes other than 90 degrees, 45 degrees, and 0 times differs from what is shown in Drawing 5th [ the ], 6, and 7. Scanning pattern 34 which arises between the planes of 90 planes of 45 degrees will approach a triangle as a plane angle becomes large to 90 degrees. Similarly, a scanning pattern becomes a triangle even if a plane angle takes for subtracting from 45 degrees at 0 times. Compact scanner 20 generates scanning pattern 34 of comparatively big volume (sweep spot) above window 32. Especially this sweep spot can include the scanning line which sufficient number intersects, and can cross completely the whole bar code placed into it by the portion beyond one or it of a scanning pattern. This operation makes possible the quickness of a bar code, and exact and precise reading, and moreover, about a scanning pattern, the operator needs to put Product with a bar code on an exact position, or does not need to turn it. the shortest distance -- Remote pair -- by using the scanning pattern containing an intermediary To have scanning line, improvement in sensitivity and the advantage of a noise fall can be acquired using comparatively powerful laser, and, moreover, the government regulation about radiation can be filled with scanner 20. When the interval of about 6 mm between a pair of scanning lines which constitute each group of a scanning pattern especially is used, A 400-microwatt laser tube can be used and, in addition, they are still Food about the laser device of class IIA, and and Prug. It is within the limits of Administration'sCDRH regulation. Although scanner 20 is not illustrated, it includes a means to generate the electric signal showing a means to receive the light reflected from the scanned bar code, or this light, and a means to process these signals and to generate an electric output signal (for example, ASCII code). An electric output signal is used by the combined peripheral equipment, for example, an electronic cash register, computer, etc. top wall 38 by which housing 30 was constituted from a pair of even plates 40 and 42 as shown with reference to Drawing 4 in Drawing 2, and a pair of even side walls 44 (Drawing 3), 46, and 1 -- even pair end walls 48 and 50 (Drawing 3) and even bottom wall 52 (Drawing 4) are included. All of a side wall, an end wall, and a bottom wall are rectangles mostly, and it has formed them as a unit of one. The crest of a side wall and an end wall serves as mount for flange 54 (Drawing 4) for inner, and an intermediary cage and this flange to attach plate 42 to flange 54 by the means which is not illustrated, enabling free release. As clearly shown in Drawing 4, plate 44 has rectangular opening 56 and this opening serves as a window for a housing. Transparent windowpane 58 for protection is under a window. Plate 40 is attached to the top of plate 42, and includes three crossing slots 60, 62, and 64 which has been arranged immediately on opening 56. These slots constitute above-mentioned window 32 for scanning patterns together, slots 60, 62, and 64 are mutually suitable in the same way as scanning line groups 34A, 34B, and 34C, and it is Be consistent. This scanning line 36 by which slot 60 forms scanning line group 34A for being suitable for an intermediary To have reason is taken out out of housing 30, On the other hand, slots 62 and 64 take out the scanning line which constitutes groups 34B and 34C, respectively out of a housing, and make the space of the window upper part produce perfect scanning pattern 34. reflecting from the bar code held in the scanning pattern -- light -- window 32 -- a connoisseur -- it is returned to the inside of an intermediary housing. These catoptric light is collected by condensing mirror 66, is sent to corresponding detection and signal processing means (not shown), and decryption of a sign is performed. Scanning pattern 34 produces various optical elements installed in housing 30 by making a horizontal OFF intermediary laser beam sweep. These optical elements turn up a beam to direction of a request, and form scanning line 36 which constitutes a scanning pattern. Generate a beam, unite a focus, and it is made to sweep through a housing, turns up, and is equipped with all the means sent out out of a window on optical bench 68 installed in the lower part of housing 30. Although these components are explained in detail later, laser tube 70, beam focal Matching and an orientation means 72, a beam sweep mechanism (for example, revolving multiple reflecting member 74), and reflecting member 76 for a beam cuff are included. Optical bench 68 is a rectangular plate-like member mostly, as clearly shown in Drawing 4 of 2nd [ The ] figure Yo. It has equipped with this in parallel with the bottom wall 52 in housing 30. Optical bench 68 is supporting components 70, 72, 74, and 76 for scanning pattern formation to space 78 between it and bottom wall 52. Optical bench 68 includes near [ the ] the front end, the opening, i.e., window 80, of a big rectangle. It was done laser beam 36 passes a sweep for this window 80. Laser tube 70 is attached in parallel to an ordinary steel covering ceramic structure and intermediary cage, and transverse direction axis 84 of a housing. slot 60 from which this transverse direction axis 84 constitutes a part of beam discharge window 32 -- a connoisseur -- it is right-angled to intermediary stretch Am and the horizontal Nagate center axis 86. Axis 86 has bisected the angle which two slots 62 and 64 of window 32 make. Perpendicular axis 88 (Drawing 4) is prolonged right-angled to both axes 84 and 86. Laser tube 70 is arranged so that the beam of coherent light may be generated, when current is received, and this beam comes from the lens installed in end 82 of the laser tube outside. A laser beam hits mirror 90 which adjoined end 82 of laser tube 70 and it has arranged. It has equipped with this mirror on the optical bench with bracket 92, and it has turned to the angle of about 45 degrees to longitudinal axis 86. A laser beam follows the course of side wall 46 (Drawing 3) immediately parallel to the next axis 86, after reflecting in this mirror 90. Subsequently, a beam passes along a pair of lenses 95 and 96 with which it was equipped with each attachment bracket 98 on the optical bench. Lens 94 acts so that focal Matching of the beam may be carried out at the round shape which clarified. lens 96 -- it acts so that this circular beam may be expanded to a desired cross sectional area. A Noodle beam passes along the 2nd mirror 100 with which it was equipped with bracket 102 on the optical bench in the size right now. Mirror 100 is acutely prolonged to axis 86, and turns a laser beam to multiple reflecting member 74. The beam sweep device is illustrated as multiple reflecting member 74, and this includes the polygon object with a mirror arranged so that it may be rotated by the surroundings of a perpendicular axis by a motor means (not shown) in parallel to axis 88. It may use instead of a rotation polygon object, other beam sweep devices, for example, oscillating mirror. The reflective surface and intermediary To have of the shape of a mirror in which polygon object 74 is an octagon object in an illustration example, and each of the eight fields 104 is even. As shown in Drawing 3, eight fields 104 have extended at the same angle as Measure each other in the level surface, respectively. However, these fields are aslant located [ by turns / in a group ] a little in a different Noodle emergency at a small angle about group with a certain another group at the time of I measured it. from a Making cage and a perpendicular axis. Slanting direction of the mutual field of two groups makes a Noodle subgroup to a pair, and the interval between subgroups is 6 mm desirably as mentioned above. A motion of each field 104 of the circumference of the perpendicular axis which polygon object 74 rotates as a center makes the shape of a straight line sweep with the beam reflected from there, and makes scanning line 36 form. Scanning line 36 is turned to mirror-like reflective surface 76, and this turns up a scanning line, sends it to direction of a request through window 32, and makes some scanning patterns 34 form. The details of reflective means 76 are explained after this. Reflective means 76 includes the 1st reflective surface 106, a pair of 2nd reflective surfaces 108,110, and a pair of 3rd reflective surfaces 112,114 so that it may understand by a diagram. These reflective surfaces are the long and slender and even mirrors which approached window 80 and with which it equipped on the optical bench with each attachment bracket 116. As shown in Drawings 3 and 4, the longitudinal axis becomes parallel to transverse direction axis 84, and it equips with mirror-like reflective surface 106 so that it may be simultaneously positioned about longitudinal axis 86. Mirror 106 inclines upward at an angle of about 30 degrees to perpendicular axis 88. Mirror 108 is prolonged at an angle of about 10 degrees to longitudinal axis 86 (refer to the 3rd figure), and it equips with it so that it may incline upward at an angle of about 30 degrees about perpendicular axis 88 (refer to the 4th figure) simultaneously. The same composition as mirror 108 and intermediary To have counter, and are arranged, and mirror 112 has them in direction of a mirror image about mirror 108. Therefore, mirror 112 is prolonged at an angle of about 10 degrees to longitudinal axis 86, and inclines upward at an angle of about 30 degrees to perpendicular axis 88 simultaneously. window 80 where has equipped the side of mirror 106 with mirror 110, and the main part is prolonged in the upper part of mirror 106 and which is on optical bench 68 -- a connoisseur -- intermediary stretch ing. Mirror 110 inclines backward to a group at an angle of about 6 times (refer to the 4th figure), and inclines at an angle of about 10 degrees to transverse direction axis 84 simultaneously. The longitudinal axis of mirror 110 is prolonged at an angle of about 30 degrees to perpendicular axis 88. Mirror 114 is the same as mirror 110, and it is countered, and it is arranged, is in the direction as a mirror image about mirror 110, and, as a result, extends at an angle of about 10 degrees to the angle of about 6 times, and a transverse direction axis about a perpendicular axis, and the longitudinal axis is simultaneously prolonged at an angle of about 30 degrees to a perpendicular axis. Inclined mirror 108,110 forms scanning line 36 which constitutes group 34A. Therefore, rotation of polygon object 74 makes beam 36 sweep from the point nearest to polygon object 74 to Distant point in the length direction of mirror 108. A beam is reflected in mirror 110 from mirror 108, and this mirror 110 turns up a beam and forms one scanning line 36 of group 34B towards outside through slot 62 of window 32. After beam 36 scans the end of mirror 108 far from a polygon object, mirror 106 is scanned in the point nearest to mirror 108. A beam performs mirror 106 in the length direction, and sweeps through a horizontal OFF intermediary, i.e., facing down, next. beam 36 is turned upwards by the inclination of mirror 106 -- slot 60 of window 32 -- a connoisseur -- it comes out of an intermediary and forms one scanning line of group 34A. After a beam sweeps mirror 106, a horizontal OFF intermediary sweep is started for mirror 112 from a point far from a polygon object to the point nearest to a polygon object. reflecting this beam portion in mirror 112, and facing to mirror 114 -- and slot 64 -- a connoisseur -- it comes out of an intermediary and forms one scanning line 36 of group 34C. A scanning process is carried out by rotation of the circumference of the axis of the single side of polygon object 74, and generates single scanning line 36 in each of beam portions 34A, 34B, and 34C. The following polygon dignity 104 to which the beam from mirror 100 is turned produces the next scanning line 36 of each group of a scanning pattern. Scanning line 36 which follows the next of a scanning pattern by that of a Noodle group and intermediary To have is [ the field of a polygon object ] about 6-mm Separation intermediary To have from a previous scanning line aslant. In order to make a scanning process progress (i.e., in order to carry out what is called a "first time reading rate" (first passread rate) in this field to the utmost), top plate 40 which constitutes top 38 of housing 30 includes guidance seal 200. This seal is formed so that it may perform to an operator guidance which moves the bar code which it is going to scan in the sweep spot of a scanning pattern. Therefore, a seal contains stylized arrow 202 which includes bar code 204 located between a pair of guidance lines 206,208 prolonged in parallel in Okay. longitudinal axis 86 in slots 62 and 64, respectively. In this way, as shown in Drawing 1, an operator turns Product 24 with bar code 26 in a certain specific direction, It is made for a bar code to turn to bar code 204 formed a little into the scanner 20 above type downward, and, subsequently to the direction of arrow 202, it moves between guidance lines 206,208 for goods in the upper part of window 32. The scanner explained here is a compact device which it is highly efficient in a counter wearing use, and can be used. Especially this scanner is quite useful at a middle-scale retail store like a drag store, a convenience store, and a middle-scale foodstuffs market. For the advanced mechanism which was optics-designed and was simplified, this scanner is provided with powerful scanning capability by cheap arrangement. Occupancy space stores especially this scanner in a small and lightweight unit, and sets it, and it can make it convenient and cheap. This scanner can be set on an existing counter, without performing expensive reconstruction, and removing from a counter for repair can be managed with several minutes. it is the structure which installs this scanner level and does not have Beat -- umbrella punishment Or -- it is convenient to treat even goods and can use the counter surface to the utmost. And the shop front stand of a seating type and the big room for storage are given by saying that height is low. The scanning pattern generated with this scanner is 15.25 cm (6 inches) in depth in scanning 15.25 cm in width (6 inches). Since the scanner is low, when there is no excessive space under a counter for example, for a certain kind of use, it can also install in the crestal plane of a counter directly. The electric power which a scanner needs in a desirable example is less than 30 Watts, and calorific value is quite less than the same conventional scanner.

[Brief Description of the Drawings]

Drawing 1 is a perspective view of the typical shop front accounting counter incorporating the laser scanner by the present invention. Drawing 2 is a partial section perspective view of the laser scanner of Drawing 1. Drawing 3 is a partial section top view of the laser scanner of Drawing 2. Drawing 4 is a Along sectional view at 4-4 line of Drawing 3. Drawings 5, 6, and 7 are top views of a scanning pattern when it projects on the plane of the angle of 90 degrees, 45 degrees, and 0 times to the window of the laser scanner of Drawing 1, respectively. In a drawing, it is 20. ...... A laser scanner, 22 ...... A counter, 24 ...... Goods, 26 ...... A bar code, 28 ...... An electronic cash register, 30 ...... A housing, 32 ...... A window, 34 ...... A scanning pattern, 36 ...... A scanning line, 38 ...... A top wall, 40, 42 ...... A plate, 44, 46 ...... A side wall, 48, 50 ...... An end wall, 52 ...... A bottom wall, 56 ...... An opening, 58 ...... A windowpane, 60, 62, 64 ...... A slot, 66 ...... A condensing mirror, 68 ...... An optical bench, 70 ...... A laser tube, 72 ...... Beam focal Matching and an orientation means, 74 ...... A rotation multiple reflecting member, 76 ...... A beam cuff reflecting member, 80 ...... A window, 90 ...... A mirror, 94, 96 ...... A lens, 100 [ ...... A reflective surface 112,114 / ...... A reflective surface 200 / ...... A guidance seal, 202 / ...... A stylization arrow, 204 / ...... Bar code, ] ...... A mirror, 104 ...... A reflective surface, 106 ...... A reflective surface, 108,110 206,208 ...... Guidance line.