JPH0222780A - Product data input device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a product data input device for reading barcodes attached to products using a barcode scanner or inputting product data using a keyboard.

Conventional technology In the past, a barcode scanner and a keyboard were placed in the center of a soccer table, and baskets were placed at both ends of the soccer table, and during the process of transferring products taken from one basket to the other basket, the barcode scanner and keyboard were placed in the center of the soccer table. If there is no barcode attached, or if the barcode is soiled or damaged and cannot be read by the barcode scanner, the product category There is also a product data input device in which price registration is performed using a keyboard.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention Since the barcode scanner is fixedly held, the scanning direction and scanning range of the laser beam from its reading window are constant. On the other hand, the position of the barcode differs depending on the product, and the height of the product held differs depending on the height of the cashier. As a result, in order to position the barcode within the scanning range of the laser beam from the reading window, users are forced to take unnatural postures such as adjusting the bending of their arms or bending at the waist, resulting in poor operability. , there is a problem of becoming easily fatigued.

Means for Solving the Problems According to claim 1, a barcode scanner, which holds a keyboard for inputting product data at the top and has a reading window on the front, is mounted on a support part so as to be rotatable about a horizontal rotation axis. .

In the second aspect of the present invention, the keyboard is rotatably attached to the upper part of the barcode scanner with a horizontal rotation axis.

In claim 3, a display device with a display section facing the customer is fixed behind the support section.

According to operation claim 1, the barcode scanner can be rotated according to the type of product or the height of the cashier, thereby positioning the barcode within the scanning range of the laser beam while holding the product in a natural posture. This makes it possible to read barcodes reliably and easily. In addition, the position of the cashier in relation to the soccer table changes depending on the rotational position of the barcode scanner, but since the keyboard moves forward and backward along with the barcode scanner, the cashier has to maintain an appropriate distance from the barcode scanner. In the facing state, the distance to the keyboard is maintained within an appropriate range, and the operability of the keyboard can be satisfied.

Furthermore, according to claim 2, the elevation angle of the keyboard changes depending on the rotational movement of the barcode scanner, but since the rotational angle of the keyboard with respect to the barcode scanner can be adjusted, the keyboard can be set at an optimal elevation angle according to the cashier's preference. I can do it.

Furthermore, according to claim 3, the input result of the barcode scanner or keyboard is displayed on the customer display, but the customer display is always oriented in a constant direction even if the barcode scanner is rotated. can be maintained in the same condition.

Example An embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 8, a frame 2, which is a support provided in the center of the soccer table 1, has a barcode scanner 4 with a reading window 3 on the front, a keyboard 6 for inputting product data, and a cashier's A display device 7 is attached.

Further, a card insertion section 5a into which a magnetic card is inserted is integrally formed in the main body case 5 of the keyboard 6, and a magnetic data reading section (not shown) for reading magnetic data of the magnetic card is provided at the bottom of the card insertion section 5a. ) is built-in.

As shown in FIG. 7, the frame 2 includes a pair of left and right columns 8, a column cover 9 that covers the outside of these columns 8 from the center to the top, and a U-shaped connection that connects the lower portions of the columns 8. It has a frame 10 and is configured to be expandable and contractible.

That is, the column 8 has a vertically long hole 12 into which a mounting screw 11 is inserted into a threaded hole (not shown) formed on the inner side surface of the connecting frame 10, and a plurality of mounting holes 13 extending in the vertical direction. are arranged in Therefore, the length of the frame 2 is adjusted by selecting the mounting hole 13 through which the mounting screw 11 passes. Further, vertically long protrusions 14 are fixed to the circular outer surface of the connecting frame 10, and the rectangular tube 1 fixed to these protrusions 14
A guide member 16 that guides the guide member 5 in a vertically movable manner is fixedly erected from the floor surface. A longitudinal groove 17 is formed on the inner surface of these guide members 16 to allow the protrusion 14 to escape.

The lower part of the frame 2 is fixed to a piston 19 of a hydraulic cylinder I8 fixed to the floor, and the hydraulic cylinder 18 and the hydraulic jack 2o are connected by a pipe 21.

Next, a support structure for the barcode scanner 4 and the keyboard 6 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a left side view of the frame 2 with one support 8 removed, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal left side view. Retained. This barcode scanner 4 rotates to the right (towards the cashier) from a vertical position parallel to the column 8, but the depth dimension of the barcode scanner 4 is set to be narrower than the width of the column 8. , located inside the front and rear edges of the support column 8 in the vertical position.

A metal mounting base 24 that is open upward in a U-shape is fixed to the upper surface of the housing 23 of the barcode scanner 4 with screws. The base of a stop lever 26 having a pin 25 protruding outward from the rotary free end is held on the circular outer surface of the mounting base 24 so as to be rotatable about a support shaft 27. Guide members 28 that guide the barcode scanner 4 along the rotating direction are fixed to the inner surface of the support column 8, and these guide members 28 have a plurality of locking holes that engage with the bins 25 along the longitudinal direction. 29 are arranged. In addition, since the stop lever 26 is formed of an elastic material, it can be elastically bent in the thickness direction.

The keyboard 6 has a metal base 3° on the lower surface,
The base 30 is open downward in a U-shape, and both sides of the base 30 and both sides of the mounting base 24 are connected by a support shaft 31 so as to be vertically movable. These support shafts 31 are located on the front side (on the right side in FIGS. 1 and 2) when viewed from the cashier side. Further, on both sides of the base 30, a plurality of locking portions 32 are arranged in a sawtooth shape on a radius centered on the support shaft 31, and a shaft-shaped locking portion that engages with any of these locking portions 32 is arranged on both sides of the base 30 in a sawtooth shape. The body 33 is held in long holes 34a formed on both sides of the mounting base 24. These elongated holes 34a are in the direction in which the locking body 33 moves forward and backward relative to the locking portion 32, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The locking body 33 is attached to the mounting base 2
It is biased by a spring 34 whose one end is fixed to the circular outer surface of 4, thereby elastically engaging one of the locking parts 32.

Next, based on FIGS. 1 to 3, the structure of the operating mechanism for retracting the locking body 33 from the locking portion 32 and the operation mechanism for retracting the bottle 25 of the stop lever 26 from the locking hole 29 will be explained. explain. First, FIG. 3 is a cutaway plan view of the upper surface of the base 30 of the keyboard 6. In the figure, 35 is an operating mechanism for retracting the locking body 33 from the locking part 32, and 36 is a stop lever from the locking hole 29. This is an operating mechanism for retracting the 26 bins 25. One operating mechanism 35 has a grip portion 37 that protrudes toward the front side when viewed from the cashier, and is attached to the mounting base 2.
A lever 39 is rotatably held on the bottom surface of 4 by a support shaft 38, and a wire is secured at one end to the shaft-shaped locking body 33 at a position away from the support shaft 38, and the other end is secured to the shaft-shaped locking body 33. It consists of 4o.

The paths of these wires 40 are determined by pulleys 41, 42.degree. 43 rotatably attached to the bottom surface and the circular outer surface of the mount 24. Further, the lever 39 is biased clockwise by the tension of the wire 4o based on the tension of the spring 34, but the lever 39 is prevented from rotating clockwise by a stopper pin 44 erected on the bottom surface of the mounting base 24. The scope is regulated. The other operating mechanism 36 has a grip portion 45 that protrudes toward the front side when viewed from the cashier, and is attached to the mounting base 24.
A lever 4 rotatably held by a support shaft 46 on the bottom surface of the
7, and sliding rods 48 and 49 each having one end rotatably held at a position away from the support shaft 46 and the other end connected to the stop lever 26. A stopper pin 50 that restricts the clockwise rotation range of the lever 47 and a guide pin 51 that guides the movement of the sliding rods 48 and 49 are erected on the bottom surface of the mounting base 24. In addition, sliding rods 48, 49
is protruded from the outer side of the mounting base 24, and bent pieces 52 are formed at the protruding end to extend along the stop lever 26, and these bent pieces 52 are provided with vertically extending grooves as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A long slot 53 is formed. A screw tube 54 erected in the middle of the stop lever 26 is inserted into these elongated holes 53, and as shown in FIG. , the bent piece 52 of the sliding rod 48, 49 and the stop lever 26 are connected. A compression spring 56 fitted to the screw rod 54 is interposed between the bending piece 52 and the stop arm 26.

As mentioned above, the rotation range of the lever 39 is determined by the stopper pin 44, but the wire 4 is rotated counterclockwise to the limit of the rotation range.
The rotation range of the lever 39 is determined so that even when the lever 39 is pulled, the locking body 33 is slightly caught in the opening of the locking portion 32. In this case, an allowance is provided for the length of the elongated hole 34a so that the locking body 33 can be further separated from the locking portion 32.

Next, a support structure for supporting the display device 7 to the support column 8 is shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional side view of the lower part of the frame 2, and the outer casing 57 of the display 7 is formed by joining a case 58 and a translucent cover 59 with their opening surfaces aligned. This outer casing 57 is penetrated by an irregularly shaped shaft 60 that is fixedly installed on the pillars 8 on both sides.
A plate-shaped cam 6 has a plurality of locking portions 61 formed in a sawtooth shape along the radial direction centering on the irregularly shaped shaft 60 at both ends of the cam 6.
A locking piece 63 that resiliently engages with one of these locking portions 61 is fixed to a boss 64 erected on the case 58 with a screw. A slit-shaped fitting portion 65 that fits into the cam 62 is formed on both sides of the case 58. The inner walls at both ends of these fitting portions 65 are brought into contact with both surfaces of the cam 62.1. As a result, the outer casing 5
7. ) Movement in the axial direction with respect to the irregularly shaped shaft 60 is restricted. Further, the side edge of the cam 62 in the direction around the axis of the irregularly shaped shaft 60 faces the inner wall of the fitting portion 65 with a predetermined play, so that the rotation range of the outer casing 57 with respect to the irregularly shaped shaft 60 is approximately 15 mm. It is set at a certain degree.

Further, the bottom surface of the case 58 is open for inserting the irregularly shaped shaft 60 and the cam 62, and a bottom cover 66 is fixed to this bottom surface with screws. Such a display 7 is for a cashier, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a display 67 for customers is installed at both ends of the upper part of the column 8.

In such a configuration, the locking body 33 is connected to the spring 34.
By engaging with any of the locking portions 32 of the base 30 of the keyboard 6, the rotational movement of the keyboard 6 about the support shaft 31 is prevented, and the keyboard 6 is maintained in a stable state at a predetermined position. be done. Then, hold the grip part 37 that protrudes from the lower front edge of the keyboard 6 toward the cashier side, and use the lever 3.
By rotating 9 counterclockwise, the wire 40 is pulled, and the locking body 33 retreats from the locking portion 32 against the biasing force of the spring 34. Thereby, the keyboard 6 can be tilted at any angle about the support shaft 31. In this work of adjusting the tilt angle of the keyboard 6, the lever 39
By restricting the rotation range of the stopper pin 44, the locking body 33 can be maintained in a state slightly engaged with the locking portion 32, as shown in FIG.
The keyboard 6 does not fall down carelessly due to its own weight. In this state, by rotating the base 30 together with the keyboard 6, the locking body 33 is retracted in a direction away from the locking part 32 by a component force based on the rotational force acting on the keyboard 6, and the base 30 is rotated. Allow movement. Also,
As shown in FIG. 4, a stopper 30a located above the uppermost locking part 32 and a stopper 30b located below the lowermost locking part 32 are formed on both sides of the base 30. By supporting the locking body 33 with the stoppers 30a and 31b, the range of rotation of the keyboard 6 relative to the mounting base 24 is restricted.

Also, the bins 2 of the stop levers 26 on both sides of the mounting base 24
5 is engaged with one of the locking holes 29 of the guide member 28, the barcode scanner 4 is prevented from rotating around the support shaft 22, and is stabilized at a predetermined position. However, by gripping the grip part 45 and rotating the lever 47 counterclockwise, the sliding rods 48 and 49 are pulled inward, and the sliding rods 48 and 49 move the stop lever 26 inward. Pull to. As a result, the stop lever 26 is bent inward and the bottle 25 is removed from the locking hole 29. Thereby, the barcode scanner 4 can be tilted about the support shaft 31 from a vertical state parallel to the support column 8 to a downward state. When the lever 47 is released, the stop lever 26 returns to the outside while pulling the sliding rods 48 and 49 by its own elasticity, and the bottle 25 is engaged with one of the locking holes 29 of the guide member 28.

Further, since the tip of the locking piece 63 elastically engages with the locking portion 61 of the cam 62, the display 7 is maintained in a stable state at a predetermined upward angle, but is not fixed together with the cam 62. The elevation angle is adjusted by rotating the outer casing 57 around the irregularly shaped shaft 60.

At this time, the locking piece 63 changes the locking part 61 to be engaged.

Furthermore, when the pedal 20a of the hydraulic jack 20 is stepped on gradually, hydraulic pressure is supplied to the hydraulic cylinder 18, so the piston 19 pushes up the frame 2, and the frame 2 becomes stable at the position where the foot is removed from the pedal 20a. Also, pedal 2
When 0a is pressed all the way, the oil pressure in the hydraulic cylinder 18 is returned to the hydraulic jack 20, so the frame 2 is lowered. Thereby, the heights of the barcode scanner 4, keyboard 6, and display 7°67 can be adjusted freely.

Moreover, by using the hydraulic jack 20 as a power source for raising and lowering, the height can be easily adjusted according to the height of the cashier with little effort.

When registering product data, the cashier reads the barcode attached to the product with the barcode scanner 4 while transferring the product taken out from the basket placed at one end of the soccer table 1 to the basket placed at the other end. If the code is not attached or if the barcode is soiled, the user inputs product data using the keyboard 6 while alternately viewing the display screen for the quality of the product and the keyboard 6. In this case, the cashier will look at the product and the keyboard 6 alternately, but as mentioned above, the inclination angle of the keyboard 6 can be adjusted according to the height and posture of the cashier, so the keyboard will be viewed from the cashier's line of sight. 6, and if the keyboard 6 is located high for the cashier, by raising the surface of the keyboard 6, the cashier can easily operate the keyboard 6 with a naturally bent wrist posture. In this case, since the keyboard 6 rotates using its front edge as a rotational fulcrum, the key arrangement surface approaches the cashier side, making it easier to reach. Conversely, if the keyboard 6 is low for the cashier, by reducing the elevation angle of the keyboard 6,
You can easily operate it with your wrist bent naturally.

In this case, the adjustment of the inclination angle of the keyboard 6 can be done very easily by grasping the grip portion 37 protruding toward the cashier and rotating the lever 39 to rotate the keyboard 6. Moreover, since the keyboard 6 can be adjusted not only in its tilt angle but also in height, the keyboard 6 becomes easier to see and the operability is further improved.

Furthermore, since the inclination angle of the barcode scanner 4 can be adjusted according to the height of the cashier, there is no need to bend the arm unnaturally to lift the product close to the reading window 3 of the barcode scanner 4. 3, the barcode of the product can be placed opposite the barcode of the product. If the reading window 3 is facing downward, the upper part of the barcode scanner 4 will be closer to the cashier side, and scanning will be easier if the cashier is also moved away from the soccer table 1, but the rotation of the barcode scanner 4 toward the cashier side As the user exercises, the keyboard 6 also moves closer to the cashier side, making it easier to reach the keyboard 6. In this case, the orientation of the keyboard 6 changes as the barcode scanner 4 rotates, but if it is difficult to operate in that orientation, the inclination angle of the keyboard 6 may be readjusted by the operation described above.

Furthermore, by incorporating a magnetic data reading section into the main body case 5 of the keyboard 6, customers who use magnetic cards to pay for their purchases can read the data on their magnetic cards while facing the keyboard 6. can.

The input results of the barcode scanner 4 or the keyboard 6 are displayed on the customer display 67, but even if the barcode scanner 4 is rotated, the customer display 67 is always oriented in the same direction. can be maintained.

Effects of the Invention Since the present invention is configured as described above, according to claim 1,
By rotating the barcode scanner according to the type of product or the height of the cashier, the barcode can be positioned within the scanning range of the laser beam while holding the product in a natural posture, thus ensuring reliable and accurate scanning. It is easy to read barcodes, and the position of the cashier relative to the soccer table changes depending on the rotational position of the barcode scanner, but since the keyboard moves forward and backward along with the barcode scanner, the cashier can easily read the barcode. When the barcode scanner is faced to the barcode scanner with an appropriate spacing, the distance to the keyboard is also maintained within an appropriate range, thereby making it possible to satisfy the operability of the keyboard. Although the elevation angle of the keyboard changes depending on the rotational movement of the scanner, since the rotational angle of the keyboard relative to the barcode scanner can be adjusted, the keyboard can be set at an optimal elevation angle according to the cashier's preference. , the input results from the barcode scanner or keyboard are displayed on the customer display, but even if the barcode scanner is rotated, the customer display cannot always be oriented in the same direction. It has the effect of being able to.

3 is a partially cutaway plan view showing the structure of the operating mechanism on the mounting base; FIG. 4 is a vertical left side view showing an enlarged view of the rotating support structure of the base of the keyboard; Figure 5 is a partially cutaway plan view showing an enlarged connection structure between the stop lever and sliding rod, Figure 6 is a vertical left side view showing the rotating support structure of the display, and Figure 7 is a frame. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the connection structure between the hydraulic cylinder and the hydraulic cylinder, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the entire structure in a reduced scale.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A barcode scanner, which holds a keyboard for inputting product data at the top and has a reading window on the front, is rotatably mounted on a support with a horizontal rotation axis. Product data input device. 2. The product data input device according to claim 1, further comprising a keyboard rotatably mounted on the top of the barcode scanner with a horizontal rotation axis. 3. The product data input device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a display device with a display section facing the customer is fixed behind the support section.