Optical: systems and elements – Deflection using a moving element
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-21
2001-04-03
Schuberg, Darren (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Deflection using a moving element
C359S201100, C235S462140
Reexamination Certificate
active
06211986
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an optical reading apparatus having an optical scanner for scanning information on objects, and more particularly to an optical reading apparatus having a stationary-type optical scanner for scanning bar codes on articles of trade, which apparatus is used in a POS (Point of Sales) system provided in a store.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional optical reading apparatuses, such as bar code reading apparatus used in the POS system, are classified, based on setting forms of the optical scanners and directions in which scanning light beams travels from the optical scanner, into the following three types.
The first type is referred to as a horizontal setting form and beam upward emission type. This type of bar code reading apparatus is shown, for example, in FIG.
1
. Referring to
FIG. 1
, a scanner unit
20
is horizontally set on the surface of a check-out counter
21
. Scanning light
23
travels obliquely upward from a window
22
on the upper surface of the scanner unit
20
. An operator takes out each article from an article basket
24
and moves it over the scanner unit
20
in a direction shown by an arrow
25
. When an article is moved over the scanner unit
20
, a bar code on the article is optically scanned by the scanning light
23
so as to be read. After the bar codes of all the articles have been read, the article basket
24
which is empty is moved over the scanner unit
20
as shown by an arrow
26
.
The second type is referred to as a vertical setting form and beam frontward emission type. This type of bar code reading apparatus is shown, for example, in FIG.
2
. Referring to
FIG. 2
, a scanner unit
30
stands on the check-out counter
21
so that a window
31
of the scanner unit
30
is vertical to the surface of the check-out counter
21
. Scanning light
32
travels frontward (toward an operator) from the window
31
. The operator takes out each article from the article basket
24
and moves each article, in a direction shown by an arrow
33
, while positioning it in such a way that a bar code thereon faces the scanner unit
30
. When each article passes through an area in front of the scanner unit
30
, the bar code thereon is read. After the bar codes of all articles have been read, the article basket
24
which is empty is moved so as to slide on the check-out counter
21
as shown by an arrow
34
.
The third type is referred to as an overhead setting form and beam downward emission type. This type of bar code reading apparatus is shown, for example, in FIG.
3
. Referring to
FIG. 3
, a scanner unit
40
is supported by a post
41
as to be located above the check-out counter
21
. A window from which scanning light
43
travels faces the surface of the check-out counter
21
. That is, the scanning light
43
travels downward from the window
42
of the scanner unit
40
. The operator takes out each article from the article basket
24
and moves each article, in a direction shown by an arrow
44
, while positioning it in such a way that a bar code thereon is directed upward to face the scanner unit
40
. After the bar codes of all the articles have been read, the article basket
24
which is empty is moved so as to slide on the check-out counter
21
as shown by an arrow
45
.
In the first type of conventional bar code reading apparatus as shown in
FIG. 1
, there is no obstacle above the scanner unit
20
, so that the operator can move articles more quickly than in the cases of the second and third types of conventional bar code reading apparatuses as shown in
FIGS.2 and 3
. In addition, since the scanning light
23
travels upward from the article basket
24
, the scanning light
23
does not enter the article basket
24
, thus preventing articles from being mistakenly read.
In the second and third types of conventional bar code reading apparatuses as shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3
, the article basket
24
can be moved so as to slide on the check-put counter
21
without hitting the article basket
24
on the scanner unit
30
or
40
.
In the first and second types of conventional bar code reading apparatuses as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, handling of a boat-shaped article as shown in
FIG. 4
is inferior. A boat-shaped article
12
as shown in
FIG. 4
is formed of a dish
10
in which food, such as raw fish or meat, is put and a wrapping sheet
11
by which the dish
10
is wrapped. A bar code label
13
on which a bar code is formed is attached to the wrapping sheet
11
. When the boat-shaped article
12
is scanned by the first type of conventional bar code reading apparatus, the boat-shaped article
12
must be upside down so that the bar code label
13
faces the scanner unit
20
. Thus, there is a case where the food in the dish
10
is deformed and/or food juice leaks out of the dish
10
. When the boat-shaped article
12
is scanned by the second type of conventional bar code reading apparatus, the boat-shaped article
12
must be inclined so that the bar code label
13
faces the scanner unit
30
. Thus, in this case, the same problem as in the case of the first type of conventional bar code reading apparatus occurs.
In addition, in the third type of conventional bar code reading apparatus, if the article basket
24
is mistakenly moved under the scanner unit
40
, the scanning light
43
enters the article basket
24
. In this case, bar codes or other articles in the article basket
24
are mistakenly read.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
Accordingly, a general object of the present invention is to provide a novel and useful optical reading apparatus in which the disadvantages of the aforementioned prior art are eliminated.
A more specific object of the present invention is to provide an optical reading apparatus in which the handling of articles to be scanned thereby can be quickly carried out.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical reading apparatus in which, after all articles in an article basket have been optically scanned, the handling of the article basket which is empty is superior.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical reading apparatus in which information on articles in an article basket is prevented from being mistakenly read thereby.
The above objects of the present invention are achieved by an optical reading apparatus comprising: an optical scanning unit for emitting upward a scanning light beam to be used to optically read information on an article; and a supporting mechanism for supporting the optical scanning unit so that the optical scanning unit is maintained in a space over a surface of a counter in a state where a distance between the optical scanning unit and the surface of the counter is a predetermined length.
Above objects of the present invention are also achieved by an optical reading apparatus comprising: an optical scanning unit for emitting upward a main-scanning light beam to be used to optically read information on an article, and for emitting a sub-scanning light beam in a direction different from a direction in which the main-scanning light beam travels, the sub-scanning light beam being used to optically read information on an article; and a supporting mechanism for supporting the optical scanning unit so that the optical scanning unit is maintained in a space over a surface of a counter in a state where a distance between the optical scanning unit and the surface of the counter is a predetermined length.
According to the present invention, since the information on the article can be read by the scanning line while the article is being moved over the optical scanning unit, the handling of the article to be scanned can be quickly carried out. In addition, after all articles in an article basket (the container) have been optically scanned, the article basket which is empty can be moved under the optical scanning unit so as to be slide on the counter. Thus, the handling of the article basket (the container) is superior. Further, since the scanning light
Ichikawa Toshiyuki
Ikeda Hiroyuki
Ishii Mitsuharu
Kumagai Toshimitsu
Murakawa Yoshitaka
Armstrong Westerman Hattori McLeland & Naughton LLP
Fujitsu Limited
Schuberg Darren
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