Optical scanning apparatus for reading coded symbols

Abstract: A portable coded symbol scanner includes a support member (20) and a housing member (24) rotatably mounted on the support member (20) and having a pair of sloping supporting surfaces oriented at an angle to each other and a floor portion on which is mounted a reflecting mirror (54). One or both of the sloping supporting surfaces may include a transparent plate (36,52). A hand-held scanner is mounted adjacent the other sloping supporting surface for projecting a plurality of scanning light beams in the form of a scan pattern (38) at the reflecting mirror (54) which reflects the scan pattern onto the transparent plate (36) over which a coded label is passed enabling the scanning light beams to scan the coded label. The housing member (24) may be rotated up to one hundred and eighty degrees to position the transparent plate (36) in a number of scanning positions.

Description: The present invention relates to an optical scanning apparatus and more particularly to a portable coded symbol scanning apparatus which can be operated in a hand-held mode or a fixed hands-free mode. In present-day merchandising point-of-sale operations, data pertaining to the purchase of a merchandise item is obtained by reading encoded indicia such as a bar code label printed on or attached to the merchandise item. In order to standardize the bar codes used in various point-of-sales checkout systems, the grocery industry has adopted a uniform product code (UPC) which is in the form of a bar code. Reading systems which have been constructed to read this type of bar code include hand-held optical scanners which are moved across the bar code and stationary optical scanners normally located within the cabinet structure of a checkout counter in which the bar code is read when a purchased merchandise item is moved across a window constituting the scanning area of the counter, which movement is part of the process of loading the item into a baggage cart. Where the merchandise consists of soft materials such as clothing, hand-held scanners were found to be ineffective under certain circumstances. A need has arisen for a bar code scanning device that combines the advantages of both a hand-held, as well as a fixed, hands-free scanner. Such an arrangement is described in US-A-4,766,297 which discloses a scanning device that can be utilized in either a portable mode of operation or a stationary mode of operation. The scanning device includes a portable hand-held scanner and a fixture for receiving and supporting the scanner. The fixture includes a base portion and a hand portion interconnected in a spaced apart relationship. When the hand-held scanner is attached to the fixture, it can be operated as a fixed, overhead scanning apparatus. A disadvantage of overhead scanners is that it is sometimes difficult to get a valid read, in particular when scanning code labels attached to soft materials. Also, the lifting of articles to bring them into focus in relation to scanning light beams may sometimes be uncomfortable. EP-A-0425274, which constitutes prior art for novelty purposes only under Article 54(3)EPC, discloses a support unit and a detachably mountable hand held bar code scanner. The scanner can be used when mounted in the support unit because the support unit contains a reading window through which the light emitted by the scanner is transmitted. The scanner will be used in this mode when objects to be scanned are small and light and may be passed over the reading window by the user. The scanner can also be used when removed from the support unit, in order to scan heavy or large objects. The support structure further includes mirror means, and holding means for holding the scanner so that, in operation, scanning beams from the scanning device are reflected from the mirror means out of the support structure through the reading window. The reading window lies in the depth of field of the scanner when held in the support structure by the holding means. An object of the present invention is to provide a scanning apparatus having a scanning window which can be positioned to allow for hand-free scanning of a bar code label in a plurality of scanning positions. Thus, according to the invention, there is provided an optical scanning apparatus for reading coded symbols, including a source of light beams, and support means for supporting said source, housing means including mirror means and an exterior transparent plate, said housing means and mirror means being rotatably mounted on said support means whereby, in operation, scanning beams from said source are reflected from said mirror means out of said housing means through said transparent plate, said transparent plate lying within the depth of field of said source, and rotation of said housing means relative to said support means serving to change the position of said transparent plate relative to said support means. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein: Fig. 1 is a side view of the portable optical bar code scanning apparatus of the present invention showing the location of the hand-held scanner on a support member and a housing member on a support member with the housing member orientated in a forward direction; Fig. 2 is a side view of the portable bar code scanning apparatus of the present invention which is similar to Fig. 1 showing the housing member rotated ninety degrees enabling a scanning operation to occur on the side of the scanning apparatus; Fig. 3 is a top view of the portable bar code scanning apparatus of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a side partial exploded view of the portable bar code scanning apparatus of the present invention; Fig. 6 is an end view of the housing member taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a rear right side perspective view of the housing member. Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown a side view of the bar code scanning apparatus of the present invention generally indicated by the numeral 18 comprising a support member 20 having a sloping portion 22 to which is rotatably mounted a housing member 24. The support member 20 includes an end portion 26 having a cut-out portion 28 which accommodates the handle portion 30 of a hand-held bar code optical scanner 32. The sloping portion 22 includes a recessed portion 33 to accommodate the head portion 35 of the scanner 32. The housing member 24 includes a sloping front surface 34 having a recessed portion 33 in which is mounted a transparent exit plate 36 on which is focused a scanning pattern 38 (Fig. 3) generated by the hand-held bar code scanner 32. The housing member 24 further includes a rear circular flange bearing portion 40 portion (Fig. 5) which is rotatably mounted within the circular recessed socket portion 42 (Fig. 5) of a collar member 44. The collar member 44 is secured to the lower surface 46 of the support member 20 by any type of fastening means such as screw members 48 (Fig. 4). The bearing portion 40 further includes a recessed portion 50 (Figs. 4-6 inclusive) within which is mounted a sealed transparent entrance plate 52 such as a glass window. Mounted on the floor of the housing member 24 is a mirror member 54 (Fig. 4) which reflects scanning light beams generated by the hand-held scanner 32 along a beam axis 56. The scanning light beams in the form of the scanning pattern 38 (Fig. 3) are reflected from the mirror member 54 to be focused on the surface of the transparent exit plate 36 enabling the operator to position the bar code label which is to be scanned adjacent the scanning pattern. The substrate 36 is preferably constructed of a transparent material such as water white glass which will display the multi-line scanning pattern 38 projected by the bar code scanner 32 enabling the operator to easily align the bar code label on the scanning pattern. In the operation of the bar code scanning device 18, the operator will mount the handle portion 30 of the hand-held scanner 32 within the cutout portion 28 (Fig. 1) of the support member 20. The operator will then position the front face portion (Fig. 4) of the scanner 32 on a plastic insert 31 mounted adjacent an aperture 37 (Figs. 4-7 inclusive) in the collar member 44 adjacent the recessed portion 33 in the support member 20, and will turn on the scanner. This projects the scanning light beams forming the scanning pattern 38 along the beam axis 56 (Figs 1 and 4) which is projected through the entrance plate 52 onto the reflecting mirror member 54 from where the light beams are focused on the exit plate 36. In scanning a bar code label, the label is positioned on the surface of the plate 36 and moved across the scan pattern 38 for reading the bar code label in a manner that is well known in the art. Where the space at the checkout station prevents the scanning of the bar code label with the housing member 24 orientated as shown in Fig. 1, the operator will rotate the housing member through any angle up to one hundred and eighty degrees to facilitate the scanning of the bar code label. While there has been disclosed the use of the plates 36 and 52, it is obvious the scanning device of the present invention will still operate for its intended purpose if the plates are not incorporated into the structure. It will be seen from this construction that a checkout operator can adjust the position of the housing member to conveniently move the bar code label past the scanning device utilizing both hands to grasp the article on which the bar code label is attached.

Claims: An optical scanning apparatus for reading coded symbols, including a source (32) of scanning light beams, and support means (20) for supporting said source, housing means (24) including mirror means (54) and an exterior transparent plate (36), said housing means (24) and mirror means (54) being rotatably mounted on said support means (20) so as to be rotatable together whereby, in operation, scanning beams from said source (32) are reflected from said mirror means (54) out of said housing means (24) through said transparent plate (36), said transparent plate lying within the depth of field of said source (32), and rotation of said housing means (24) relative to said support means (20) serving to change the position of said transparent plate relative to said support means (20). An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said source (32) of scanning light beams is a hand-held scanning device. An apparatus according to either claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said support means (20) includes a recessed socket portion (42) and said housing means (24) includes a circular flange portion (40) mounted within said socket portion (42) to enable said housing means (24) to be rotated on said support means (20). An apparatus according to either claims 2 or 3, characterized in that said hand-held scanning device (32) has a nose portion (35) and in that said support means (20) has a recessed portion (33) shaped to accommodate said nose portion (35). An apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that said recessed portion (33) has an aperture (37) therein through which said scanning light beams are projected. An apparatus according to claim 5, characterized by a second transparent plate (52) mounted in said aperture (37). An apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that said exterior transparent plate (36) is a water white glass window, and said second transparent plate (52) is a glass window. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims 2 to 7, characterized in that said support means (20) has an extending base portion (26) including a cut-out portion (28) to accommodate part of a handle (30) of said hand-held scanning device (32). An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said scanning light beams (38) are projected on to said mirror means (54) at an angle of 45 degrees. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said support means (20) is portable.

Inventors: LINDACHER JOSEPH MICHAEL, WIKE CHARLES KENNETH JR, LINDACHER, JOSEPH MICHAEL, WIKE, CHARLES KENNETH, JR.
Applicants: NCR INT INC, NCR INTERNATIONAL INC.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: G06K7
IPC codes: G06K7