JPS6053914B2 - Read data processing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides recording media attached to products, such as tags,
The present invention relates to a read data processing device that reads and processes data such as price, quality, product classification, etc. recorded in multiple stages on a price tag.

Conventionally, as a method of product management, tags or OCs are used to perforate desired data such as price and product classification on each product.
Attach a tag printed with optically readable characters such as the R character, remove the tag from the product at the time of sale, collect it, and read the data one after another with a reader at a certain point. Data is transferred to a data processing circuit for data processing.

In particular, as an OCR character reader, the recognition unit recognizes and stores the data read by the reading head, and after a certain period of time has elapsed, that is, after identifying the end of a series of character sequences, the data is transferred to the data processing circuit. Generally, those configured to obtain

However, as a read data processing device that uses the above-mentioned reader to read and process data on a tag in which data is recorded in multiple stages, it is possible to use multiple readers with each read head reading the tag data. It is advantageous to arrange the scanners along the feeding path so that only the data of the assigned specific stage can be read, and to sequentially transfer the data read by each reader to the data processing circuit for data processing. It is.

In such a reading data processing device, usually only a single data processing circuit is provided, so multiple readers are connected to this data processing circuit, one at a time, in a predetermined order, for example, the data on the top of the tag. It is necessary to sequentially switch and connect the data in the order from the reader that reads the data to the reader that reads the lower data, and the following switching means are available. In other words, the reading completion signal outputted by each reader after reading predetermined data is used as a switching signal for each reader, and this switching signal is sent to a switching circuit provided between each reader and the data processing circuit. By sequentially supplying data to each reader, data can be connected to the processing circuit one by one in a predetermined order.

However, this switching means has a drawback in that when a tag with a blank predetermined stage is transferred, the reader is not switched and the data processing means performs erroneous processing.

For example, if the first tag with only the first stage blank is fed, the first reader that reads the first stage data of the first tag outputs a reading end signal, that is, a switching signal. Therefore, the first reader remains readable even after the first tag has passed, and the data in the second row of the first tag is read and stored by the second reader. Since the first reader is connected to the data processing circuit, the second stage data is not transferred from the second reader to the data processing circuit. Next, when a normal (no blank) second tag is fed, the first stage data of the second tag is read normally by the first reader, and the first reader sends a reading completion signal. is output, and this data is further transferred to a data processing circuit. The reading completion signal from the first reader is output as a switching signal to the switching circuit, and the second reader is connected to the data processing circuit. At this time, the second reader stores the second stage data of the first tag, and the second stage data of the first tag is stored in the data processing circuit as the second stage data of the second tag. As a result, the data processing circuit treats the blank (first stage) of the first tag with the data of the first stage of the second tag as if it were a normal single tag, and the data Misprocessing will occur. The present invention
This was devised in view of the above circumstances, and is used when the reader is forcibly switched as the recording medium is being fed, for example when a recording medium with a blank column is being fed. Another object of the present invention is to provide a read data processing device that can reliably process data on a continuously fed recording medium. An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

1 and 2 show schematic diagrams of the data reading mechanism of the present invention.

In the figure, 1 is a recording medium such as a tag, and its surface has three stages (hereinafter, the top and bottom of the tag are the first stage 1a1, the middle stage is the second stage 1b).
1 lower stage is the third stage 1c.

), data such as price, quality, product classification, etc. are printed and recorded in 0CR characters. Reference numeral 2 denotes a feeding path, at both ends of which a pair of upper and lower feeding rollers 3, 3a are provided at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction. Both feed rollers 3 and 3a are constantly rotated in the directions of arrows A and B, respectively, by a drive device (not shown) at the same time as the power (not shown) is turned on.
, 3a can be fed at a constant speed in the direction of arrow C in FIG. Next, a substantially square box-shaped hopper 4 is provided above one end 2a in the longitudinal direction of the feeding path 2, and a plurality of tags 1 are placed inside the hopper 4.
are stored in layers.

At the bottom of the hopper 4, a delivery roller 6 having a protrusion 5 on its outer periphery is provided rotatably in the direction of arrow DD in FIG. (not shown).

When a start switch (not shown) is turned on, the delivery roller drive mechanism is driven and the delivery roller 6 rotates, and its protrusion 5 moves only one tag 1 at the bottom of the hopper 4 to the delivery port 7. is sent out onto the feed path 2 via. In addition, feeding path 2
The first feeding roller 3, 3 on the one longitudinal end 2a side of
A detector 8 is provided in the feeding path 2, located between the second feeding roller 3 and the second feeding roller 3, 3a.

The detector 8 consists of a light emitting element 8'' and a light receiving element 8'',
The arrival of the tag 1 fed between the two elements 8'', 8'' is detected and a detection signal is output. This output is supplied to the delivery roller drive mechanism to stop the rotation of the delivery roller 6. Note that even if the rotation of the delivery roller 6 is stopped, the tag 1 sent out from the hopper 4 onto the feeding path 2 will be transferred to the feeding roller 3 whose tip end is located at one end 2a in the longitudinal direction of the feeding path 2. , 3a, so that it is fed along the feeding path 2 in the direction of arrow C.

Further, when the tag 1 being fed reaches the position of a first detector 9a, which will be described later, a detection signal is output from this detector 9a, and this detection output is supplied to the above-mentioned sending roller drive mechanism and stopped. The feed roller 6 is rotated again, so that one tag 1 in the hopper 4 is sent out to the feed path 2.

Therefore, due to the cooperative action of the detectors 8 and 9a, the feed path 2
The number of tags 1 existing inside is set to a desired number (two in this embodiment).

Next, 10a, 10b, 10c shown in FIG.
Each reader 10a, 1 is a first, second, third reader, respectively.
0b, 10c are reading heads 11a, 11b, 11, respectively.
c and recognition units 12a, 12b, 12c connected to each reading head 11a, 11b, 11c.

Each reading head 11a, 11b, 11c has a reading section 13a, 13b, 13c at its tip, respectively, and can read the data of the tag 1 via this reading section 13a, 13b, 13c. .

Each recognition section 12a, 12b, 12c is connected to each reading head 11.
The data read by a, 11b, and 11c are recognized and stored, and the data can be transferred to a data processing circuit 14, which will be described later, after a predetermined time t has elapsed after the completion of data reading.

Note that the above time t is the reading head 11a, 11b, 11
The data read by c is transferred to each recognition unit 12a, 12b, 12c.
This is the time required for editing, checking, organizing, etc.

Further, unless the data stored in the recognition units 12a, 12b, 12c is removed, each reading head 11a, 11
b, 11c are configured so as not to read the next data.

Each reading head 11a, 11b, 11c has a feeding path 3, respectively.
They are located above and are sequentially arranged at equal intervals from one end 2a side to the other end 2b side in the longitudinal direction of the feeding path 2.

Next, each reading section 13a, 13b, 13c of each reading head 11a, 11b, 11c is connected to one end 2 in the width direction of the feeding path 2.
They are arranged at equal intervals from the c side to the other end 2d side and facing the feeding path 2, and each reading section 13a, 1
The first stage 1a, the second stage 1b, and the third stage 1c of the tag 1 can pass below the tags 3b and 13c, respectively.

Thus, each reader 10a, 10b, 10c can read only the data of the first stage 1a, second stage 1b, and third stage 1c of the tag 1, respectively.

Further, in the feeding path 2, first detectors 9a,
A second detector 9b and a third detector 9c are respectively provided, and the first detector 9a, the second detector 9b and the third detector 9
A detection mechanism is constituted by c.

First, the first detector 9a transfers the data of the first stage 1a of the tag 1 read by the first reader 10a to the data processing circuit 14, and then transfers the data to the data processing circuit 14 so that the tip of the tag 1 that has read this data reaches the first detector 9a. The first reading head 11a is disposed at a predetermined distance from the other end 2b of the feeding path 2 in the longitudinal direction.
This first detector 9a includes a light emitting element 9a'' and a light receiving element 9a''.
It is configured to detect the arrival of the tag 1 transferred between the two elements 9a'' and 9b'' and output a detection signal.

The second detector 9b has the same configuration as the first detector 9a, and transfers the data of the second stage 1b of the tag 1 read by the second reader 10b to the data processing circuit 14 and then transfers the data. The other end 2 in the longitudinal direction of the feeding path 2 is moved from the second reading head 11b so that the tip of the read tag 1 reaches
They are arranged at a predetermined interval on the b side.

Next, the third detector 9c has the same configuration as the first detector 9a, and the tag 1 read by the third reader 10c.
After the data of the third stage 1c is transferred to the data processing circuit 14, the tip of the tag 1 from which the data has been read arrives.
The third reading head 11c is disposed at a predetermined distance from the third reading head 11c toward the other end 2b in the longitudinal direction of the feeding path 2.

Next, the switching circuit shown in FIG. 3 and forming the main part of the present invention will be explained.

This switching circuit includes a multiplexer 15 and an OR circuit 16.
and a counter circuit 17. The three input terminals of the multiplexer 15 are connected to the readers 10a and 1, respectively.
0b and 10c are connected, and a single output terminal of the multiplexer 15 is connected to an input terminal of the data processing circuit 14.

This multiplexer 15 is configured to select any one of its three input terminals and connect it to its output terminal each time an output is supplied to its selection terminal.

Note that the multiplexer 15 is in its initial state,
Settings are made such that the first reader 10a is selected and connected to the data processing circuit 14. Next, the output terminal of the first detector 9a is connected to one input terminal of the OR circuit 16, and the second detector 9b is connected to the other input terminal of the OR circuit 16.
output terminal is connected.

The output terminal of the OR circuit 16 is connected to the input terminal CP of the counter circuit 17, and the reset terminal R of the counter circuit 17 is connected to the output terminal of the third detector 9c.

Furthermore, the output terminal of the counter circuit 17 is connected to the selection terminal of the multiplexer 15. When the tip of the tag 1 passes through the first detector 9a, this detector 9
The signal output from a is supplied to the counter circuit 17 via the OR circuit 16, and the counter circuit 17 counts the signal and outputs it to the selection terminal of the multiplexer 15.

Therefore, the multiplexer 15 selects the second reader 10b and connects it to the data processing circuit 14. That is, the connection of the data processing circuit 14 is determined by the output of the first detector 9a.
The first reader 10a is switched to the second reader 10b.

Similarly, by outputting a signal from the second detector 9b, the data processing circuit 14 is connected to the second reader 10.
b to the third reader 10c.

Furthermore, when the tip of the tag 1 reaches the third detector 9c, the signal output from this detector 9c is supplied to the reset terminal R of the counter circuit 17, and the count of the counter circuit 17 is cleared.

Therefore, the multiplexer 15 is returned to its initial state, selects the first reader 10a again, and selects the data processing circuit 14.
Connect to.

At this time, it is required that the second tag 1 fed next to the tag 1 does not reach the first detector 9a. In this way, when signals are sequentially output from each detector 9a, 9b, 9c, each reader 10a, 10b, 10c is sequentially outputted to the data processing circuit 14 from the first reader 10a (initial state) to the second reader. They are cyclically switched and connected in the order of reader 10b→third reader 10c→first reader 10a. Further, the data processing circuit 14 includes each reader 10a, 10b.
, 10c, data transferred from each reader 10a, 10b, 10c is processed.

Note that the data processing in this data processing circuit 14 is well known and is not directly related to the gist of the present invention, so a detailed explanation thereof will be omitted. Next, the operation of the read data processing device having the above configuration will be explained.

Now, when you turn on the power switch, each feed roller 3, 3a
is constantly rotated.

Next, when the start switch is turned on, the delivery roller 6 is rotated and the tag 1 is sent out from the hopper 4 to the feeding path 2. The tag 1 is fed along a feeding path 2 at a constant speed in the direction of arrow C in FIG. Note that this tag 1 is the detector 8.
When the position is reached, the rotation of the delivery roller 6 is stopped.

It is also assumed that data A, B, and C are recorded in the first stage 1a, second stage 1b, and third stage 1c of the tag 1 sent out first.

Then, as the tag 1 passes under each reading head 11a, 11b, 11c of each reader 10a, 10b, 10c, data A, B, C of tag 1 is transmitted to each reading head 11a, 11b, 11c, respectively. The fourth
Figures A, b, c).

In addition, in the initial state of the multiplexer 15, the first reader 10a is connected to the data processing circuit 14 (FIG. 4j), so that the data A stored in the recognition unit 12a is the data from the reading head 11a. When a predetermined time t has elapsed since the end of reading, the reader 10a and the data processing circuit 1
By exchanging predetermined control signals with the data processing circuit 4, the data is transferred to the data processing circuit 14 for data processing (FIGS. 4A and 4B).

After the data transfer by this first reader 10a is completed,
When the tag 1 reaches the position of the first detector 9a, FIG.
As shown in the figure, a detection signal is output from the detector 9a and supplied to the counter circuit 17.

Therefore, the multiplexer 15 connects the second reader 10b to the data processing circuit 14 (FIG. 14G, j). At this time, the data B read by the second reader 10b is read at the fixed time t when the reading is finished, as shown in FIG. 4B and g.
Since the above has passed, as shown in Fig. 4 G, e, and j,
The data is transferred to the data processing circuit 14 at the same time as the second reader 10b is connected to the data processing circuit 14 (FIG. 4e).

Note that the detection signal from the first detector 9a is also supplied to the delivery roller drive mechanism, and the next tag is delivered from the hopper. It is assumed that data X, Y, and Z are recorded in each stage 1a, 1b, and 1c of this second tag 1, respectively.
Next, after the data transfer by the second reader 10b is completed, when the first tag 1 is fed to the position of the second detector 9b, as shown in FIG. A detection signal is output and supplied to the counter circuit 17.

The output of the counter circuit 17 is supplied to the multiplexer 15, and the third reader 10c is connected to the data processing circuit 14 (FIG. 4H, j).

At this time, the data C read by the third reader 10c, as shown in FIG.
Since the above has elapsed, as shown in FIG. 4H and F, the data is transferred to the data processing circuit 14 at the same time as the third reader 10c is connected to the data processing circuit 14 (FIG. 4F).

Furthermore, after the data transfer by the third reader 10c is completed, when the first tag 1 is fed to the position of the third detector 9c, as shown in FIG. A signal is output and supplied to the counter circuit 17. The output of the counter circuit 17 is supplied to the multiplexer 15, and the first reader 10a is again connected to the data processing circuit 14 (FIG. 4j). At this time, the recognition unit 1 of the first reader 10a
2a stores data X of the second tag 1 read by the same operation as the first tag 1 (FIG. 4a), and this data X is stored in FIG. 1,j. The data is transferred to the data processing circuit 14 and processed as shown in d. By similar operation, the second stage 1 of the second tag 1
After the data Y and Z of the third stage 1c are read by the second and third readers 10b and 10c, respectively, the data processing circuit 1
4 for data processing.

By repeating such operations, a plurality of tags 1 fed through the feeding path 2 are successively processed by the data processing circuit 14.

Next, the operation when a blank tag 1 is fed to the first stage 1a will be described with reference to FIG.

Note that the second stage 1b and third stage 1c of this tag 1 are equipped with E.
, F are stored.

The multiplexer is also in its initial state, connecting the first reader 10a to the data processing circuit 14.

When this tag 1 passes under each head 11a, 11b, 11c of each reader 10a, 10b, 10c, data E, F of tag 1 is read by each reading head 11b, 11c, and further each recognition The information is stored by the sections 12b and 12c (FIG. 5B, c).

Further, since there is no data in the first stage 1a of the tag 1a, the reader 10a does not perform a reading operation (FIG. 5a).
Therefore, no data is transferred between the first reader 10a and the data processing circuit 14 (FIG. 5d). When the tag 1 reaches the position of the first detector 9a, a detection signal is output from the detector 9a and is supplied to the counter circuit 17, and the multiplexer 15 connects the second reader 10b to the data processing circuit 14. (Figure 5 G, j). At this time, the data E read by the second reader 10b is, as shown in FIGS. 5B and 5j, more than the predetermined saw time t has elapsed since the end of reading, so that the data E read by the second reader 10b is as shown in FIGS. As shown in j, the second reader 10b
is transferred to the data processing circuit 14 at the same time as the signal is connected to the data processing circuit 14 (FIG. 5e). In addition,
By this data transfer, the second reader 10b reads the next tag 1.
data can be read. The detection signal from the first detector 9a is also supplied to the delivery roller drive mechanism, and the next tag 1 is sent out from the hopper 4. It is assumed that data 0, P, and Q are recorded in each stage 1a, 1b, and 1c of this second tag 1, respectively. Then the second reader 10
After the data transfer by b is completed, when the first tag 1 is fed to the position of the second detector 9b, a detection signal is output from the second detector 9b as shown in Fig. 5h. The data is supplied to a counter circuit 17, and a third reader 10c is connected to the data processing circuit 14.

(Figure 5j). At this time, the data F read by the third reader 10c is, as shown in FIGS. 5C and 5j, more than the predetermined time t has elapsed since the end of reading.
The data is transferred to the data processing circuit 14 at the same time as the third reader 10c shown in FIG. 5 is connected to the data processing circuit 14 (FIG. 5f).

Note that this data transfer enables the third reader 10c to read the data of the next tag 1. Furthermore, after the data transfer by the third reader 10c is completed, when the first tag 1 is fed to the position of the third detector 9c, the data shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, a detection signal is outputted from this detector and supplied to the counter circuit 17, and the first reader 10a is again connected to the data processing circuit 14 (FIG. 5j).

In this state, when tag 1 on which data 0, P, and Q are recorded is fed, the operation is as follows:
, C is recorded in the same manner as when tag 1 is fed, and each data 0, P, Q is sent to each reader 10a,
The data is transferred from the data processing circuits 10b and 10c to the data processing circuit 14, where the data is processed. As described above, according to the read data processing device of the above embodiment, even when a tag 1 with a blank row is fed, the data of this tag 1 and the data of the tag 1 to be fed next are There is no risk of erroneous data processing due to mixing in the data processing circuit. In the embodiment, the number of readers 10a, 10b, and 10c is three, but the present invention is not limited to this, as long as there are two or more readers depending on the number of display stages of the recording medium.

Further, each of the detectors 9a, 9b, and 9c may be provided movably along the longitudinal direction of the feeding path 2, and in this case, each reader 10a, 10b,
This has the advantage that the switching timing of 10c can be adjusted. Furthermore, other configurations can be modified in various ways without changing the gist of the present invention. As described above, the read data processing device of the present invention is provided with a detection mechanism that detects the arrival of a recording medium on the feeding path and outputs a detection signal, and also transmits the detection signal of the detection mechanism to a data processing circuit and a plurality of readers. Since the configuration is configured so that the output is output to a switching circuit that cyclically switches the connection between each reader according to a predetermined order, each reader is reliably switched as the recording medium is fed, and even if the blank The present invention has the advantage that even when a recording medium with stages is transferred, the data of the continuously fed recording medium can be reliably processed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of the data reading mechanism, FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a main part of the read data processing device. The configuration diagrams shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are timing charts showing the data transfer status of each reader. 1... Recording medium, 2... Feeding path, 9a, 9b, 9c
...Detector, 10a, 10b, 10c...Reader,
14...Data processing circuit, 15...Multiplexer.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A feeding mechanism that feeds a recording medium on which data is recorded in multiple stages along a feeding path, and a feeding mechanism that feeds a recording medium on which data is recorded in multiple stages along a feeding path, and a feeding mechanism that feeds a recording medium on which data is recorded in multiple stages; A reader that reads only the data of each allocated specific stage, a data processing circuit that processes the data transferred from the reader, and a data processing circuit that is provided along the feeding path so as to correspond to each of the readers. a detection mechanism that detects the arrival of the recording medium and outputs a detection signal; and a detection mechanism that receives the detection signal from the detection mechanism;
a switching circuit that cyclically switches the connection between the data processing circuit and each of the readers according to a predetermined order, and each of the detection mechanisms is connected to each reader corresponding to the detection mechanism. A read data processing device characterized in that the reading data processing device is provided at a position where the recording medium reaches after completing data transfer.