JPS60678Y2 - optical reader - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an optical reading device that irradiates a portion to be read with light from a light emitting element housed in a reading device main body, and receives the reflected light with a light receiving element to identify an image.

For example, in order to facilitate product management, optical reading devices such as so-called light pens, which optically read codes such as bar codes written on recording paper, are often used.

Conventionally, this type of device has been a contact reading type with a hard lens with an extremely short focal length attached to the tip, and light irradiation (exposure) has been focused on the reading section through the lens, or an optical fiber has been used. The most common method was to use an optical fiber to guide light from a distance to the tip, and return the reflected light through another optical fiber and read it with a light receiving element.

Although this type of system has excellent contact reading characteristics, it has the disadvantage that it becomes unreadable if the contact is moved even slightly away.

Therefore, recently, a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged at equal intervals on a virtual circle centered on the reflection optical axis on the tip side of the reader main body.
The light from these light-emitting elements is focused on a certain point coming out from the tip of the reader main body and irradiates the area to be read, and the reflected light is sent to the rear through a lens housed behind the light-emitting element placement area. Optical reading devices are being developed that are configured to receive light with a light-receiving element and are suitable for contact reading and reading from a distance of several millimeters.

However, the light directivity of light emitting elements such as light emitting diodes used in this type of optical reading device varies due to manufacturing, and when mounted with the mounting surface as a reference, the main optical axis of each light emitting element is focused. This has the problem that it is not possible to match the points, resulting in a significant drop in efficiency.

The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and its purpose is to fix light emitting elements to respective adjustment plates fixed to pillars having reflected light conducting holes, and to attach the adjustment plates to each light emitting element. The main optical axis of each light emitting element is aligned with the focal point by plastic deformation in the direction according to the directivity of the light, and it also vibrates and
It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical reading device that can be protected from misalignment due to impact or the like.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes the main body of the optical reading device. A nut 4 is screwed onto the portion.

The cap 3 has a conical cylindrical tip and has a light shielding structure that prevents light from leaking from the part where it is attached to the case 2.

One end of the case 2 slightly extends into the cap 3, and a plurality of light emitting elements 6 are provided thereon, the positions of which are fixed with resin 5.

These light-emitting elements 6 are arranged at equal intervals in a virtual circle centered on the reflection optical axis, and each of them is light-condensing by slightly protruding from the tip opening of the cap 3 by means described later. The main optical axis is adjusted to align with point A, resulting in a long depth of field.

Further, the light-emitting elements 6...... A column 7 having a reflected light passage hole 7a along the axial direction of the case 2 in the center of each other.
is provided.

Further, the case 2 is provided with a plurality of through holes 8 having different diameters along the axial direction, and a lens 9 is provided at one end of the hole 8, that is, the end into which one end of the support column 7 is press-fitted.
A block 13 holding a light receiving element 10 and a baffle plate 12 having a pinhole 11 is fitted into the other end.

The block 13 is fixed in position by a coil spring 14 and a pressing member 15 provided on both end surfaces thereof.

Further, a component storage chamber 16 communicating with the through hole 8 is formed on the rear end side of the case 2, and other electronic components (not shown) for controlling the output of the light receiving element 10 are housed in the component storage chamber 16. The attached wiring board 17 is accommodated, and one end of a cord 19 that passes through the nut 4 via the cord protector 18 is electrically connected to the wiring board 17, and the other end of the cord 19 is connected to the wiring board 17. The configuration is such that it is electrically connected to a storage device (not shown) via the attached connector 20.

The light emitting element 6 is made of a material with a semi-permanent life such as a light emitting diode, and is fixed to a support 7 which also serves to hold down the lens 9, as shown in detail in FIG. It is fixed to each seat portion 21a of the adjustment plate 21.

The light emitting element 6... has a lead wire 6a with strong rigidity.
. . . is cut and removed from an appropriate position and connected with less rigid stranded wires 22 .
. . . is designed to be easily plastically deformed, and a cord 23 is connected to its terminal and connected to the wiring board 17 through the groove 2a of the case 2.

Further, each of the seats 21a... of the adjustment plate 21 is moved in a direction according to the directivity of light of each light emitting element 6 fixed to each seat 21a...・Adjust tool 24
The light emitting elements 6 are plastically deformed to align the main optical axis of each light emitting element 6 with the light converging point A.

Further, as shown in detail in FIG. 4, the adjustment plate 21 and the support 7
, light emitting element 6..., stranded wire 22...,
The cord 23 and the case 2 are integrated with the resin 5 so that the mounting positions of the light emitting elements 6 do not change due to vibrations, shocks, etc.

As shown in FIG. 5, the resin 5 is made by fitting a mold member 24 made of a cylindrical member with good mold release properties such as Teflon to the end of the case 2, and attaching a plug 25 made of a material with good mold release properties to the support 7. After that, the casting liquid 5a is poured into the light emitting element 6 so that only the head thereof is protruding, and after the casting liquid 5a has solidified, the mold material 24 and the stopper 25 are inserted into the reflected light passage hole 7a.
Formed by pulling out.

In addition, in this case, there is a step 2 at the adhesive part between the case 2 and the resin 5.
6 is provided for the purpose of being used as a deflection area when the cap 3 is removed, and at the same time is configured to prevent burrs of the injection liquid 5a from appearing at the fitting portion of the case 2 with the cap 3.

The tip of the optical reading device constructed in this way, that is, the tip of the cap 3, is inserted into a protective case 27 made of a transparent material, for example, as shown in FIG.
The recording image 29, such as a bar code, is scanned in sliding contact with the recorded image 29.

Light from the light emitting elements 6 is concentrated on the recorded image 29.

This light is reflected by the recording paper 28 and guided along the axial direction of the reading device main body 1, passes through the reflected light passage hole 7a of the support column 7, passes through the lens 9, and forms an image on the pinhole 11.

The light receiving element 10 outputs this image separately for brightness and darkness, and outputs it to the wiring board 17.
The electronic components attached to the memory will identify this, convert it into an electrical signal, and transmit it to the storage device via the code 19.

Furthermore, since this reading device has a long depth of field, it can reliably perform contact reading with the tip 3a of the cap 3 in direct contact with the recording paper 28, as well as reading from a distance of several millimeters with the protective case 2T interposed. It turns out.

As explained above, in the present invention, a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged at the tip of the reader body on a virtual circle centered on the reflection optical axis, and light from these light emitting elements is transmitted from the tip of the reader body. The image is identified by condensing light onto a certain point and illuminating the area to be read, and receiving the reflected light through a lens housed behind the light-emitting element placement area and a rear light-receiving element. The above-mentioned light emitting element is fixed to a plastically deformable adjusting plate which is fixed to a support having a reflective light conducting hole, and a resin is poured so that the light emitting element whose position is adjusted via the adjusting plate is integrated with the support etc. There is an optical reading device characterized by a shape.

Therefore, by plastically deforming the adjusting plate in a direction that corresponds to the light directivity of each light emitting element, the main optical axis of each light emitting element can be extremely easily aligned with the light condensing point, and a decrease in irradiation efficiency can be ensured. It is possible to prevent this and improve reading accuracy.

In addition, since the light emitting element whose position was adjusted via the adjustment plate was molded with resin so that it was integrated with the support, adjustment plate, etc.,
The adjustment position is not disturbed by vibrations, shocks, etc., and stable reading performance can be obtained over a long period of time.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 1 is a side view showing the state of use, Fig. 2 is a vertical side view, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the adjustment state of the light emitting element arrangement section, which is the main part. FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view showing a state in which the resin is fixed, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a state in which the resin is injected. 1...Device body, 5...Resin, 6...
...Light emitting element, 7... Support column, 7a...
・・Reflection light passing hole, 9・Curve・Lens, 10・・・・・
Light receiving element, A... Focusing point.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A plurality of light emitting elements are arranged on the front end side of the reader main body on a virtual circle centered on the reflection optical axis, and the light from these light emitting elements is focused on a certain point coming out from the front end of the reader main body. The image is identified by illuminating the reading section, and receiving the reflected light through a lens housed behind the light emitting element arrangement section and received by the rear light receiving element. The light-emitting element is fixed to a plastically deformable adjustment plate fixed to a support column having a structure, and the light emitting element whose position is adjusted via the adjustment plate is molded with resin so that it is integrated with the support support, adjustment plate, etc. Optical reader.