Abstract:
A barcode scanner with a tool free tower housing assembly. The barcode scanner includes a base, a tower section coupled to the base, and a tower housing assembly over the tower section including a tower housing and a bezel that are installable and removable without hand tools.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   Dual-aperture scanners have a tower that extends above a checkstand. The tower includes elements that may periodically require servicing, such as buttons, speakers, and light emitting diodes. Additionally, this space may be used to contain other serviceable components, such as an electronic article surveillance antenna, a radio frequency identification antenna, and other electronics. 
   Tower housings must be sturdy enough to allow gripping during carrying, installation, and removal of scanners from checkstands. Typical tower housings are fastened with screws for structural support. However, fasteners make servicing of components with the tower housing more difficult. 
   It would be desirable to provide a tower housing assembly which does not require tools to install or remove so that technicians may more easily service components within the tower housing assembly. 
   SUMMARY 
   A barcode scanner with a tool free tower housing assembly is provided. 
   The barcode scanner includes a base, a tower section coupled to the base, and a tower housing assembly over the tower section including a tower housing and a bezel that are installable and removable without hand tools. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an optical scanner with the tower housing assembly removed; 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the optical scanner of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  are perspective views illustrating installation of a tower housing; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective views illustrating installation of a bezel; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view illustrating installation of the tower housing and a tower bezel; 
       FIG. 6  is a first detailed view illustrating attachment of the tower housing; 
       FIG. 7  is a second detailed view illustrating attachment of the tower housing and the bezel; and 
       FIG. 8  is a third detailed view illustrating attachment of the bezel. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , optical scanner  10  includes base  12 , which provides a foundation for other components of optical scanner  10 . Base  12  may be made of metal. Front lip  28  serves to support scanner  10  in a checkout counter. 
   Optical scanner  10  includes a horizontal section  20 , which includes mirror housing  22 , scales  24 , and debris guard  25 . 
   Mirror housing  22  contains a first set of pattern mirrors for generating a first set of scan lines. Mirror housing  22  further includes window  26  through which the first set of scan lines pass for scanning an item from a first plurality of directions. 
   Scales  24  serve to weigh produce items. In a fully assembled state, optical scanner  10  further includes a frame that ties scales  24  together and provides support pins for a weigh plate with an aperture similar to window  26 . 
   Debris guard  25  catches debris that falls from products. 
   Optical scanner  10  further includes a vertical or tower section  30 , which includes mirror housing  32  and electronics  34 . 
   Mirror housing  32  contains a second set of pattern mirrors for generating a second set of scan lines. Mirror housing  32  further includes window  36  through which the second set of scan lines pass for scanning the item from a second plurality of directions. 
   In order to support installation of tower housing  60  ( FIG. 3 ), mirror housing  32  includes attachment points  40 ,  42 , and  44 . Attachment points  40  are located on top of mirror housing  32 , behind window  36 , and include attachment posts  38  with apertures  50 . Attachment point  42  is located along the bottom rear edge of mirror housing  32  and includes a channel  52  formed in base  12 . Attachment points  44  are located on front left and right sides of mirror housing  32  and include apertures  54  in the front wall  55  of tower section  30 . 
   Mirror housing  32  further includes limit points  46  which provide a limit of forward movement of tower housing  60  during installation and support housing  60  after installation. Limit points  46  are illustrated as raised wall or post features on top of mirror housing  32 . 
   Electronics  34  includes control circuitry for controlling operation of one or more lasers and motors and for decoding barcode information, scale electronics, and operator instrumentation and controls. Electronics  34  may also include peripherals combined into optical scanner  10 , such as electronic article surveillance systems and radio frequency identification systems. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 3   a - b , installation of tower housing  60  is illustrated. 
   Tower housing  60  generally conforms to the shape of mirror housing  32  and includes handle grips  62  on its rear surface for carrying, installing, and removing scanner  10  from a checkout counter. 
   Tower housing  60  includes flanges  64  which engage attachment points  40  through apertures  50  during installation. Flanges  64  include detents  65  which retain flanges  64  within apertures  50 . Tower housing  60  further includes lip  66  ( FIG. 5 ) which engages attachment point  42  by seating in channel  52  during installation. 
   To begin the installation, tower housing  60  is aligned on base  12  behind mirror housing  32 . Tower housing  60  is then slid horizontally towards mirror housing  32  until flanges  64  engage attachment posts  38  and lip  66  seats in channel  52 . Flanges  64  are depressed slightly away from a normal bias position in order to allow detents  65  to pass through apertures  50 . Limit points  46  engage tower housing  60  to provide opposing snap force on flanges  64 . 
   Together, attachment points  40  and  42  retain tower housing  60  in place, even during lifting of scanner  10 , without requiring separate fasteners, such as screws. 
   Removal of tower housing  60  begins with depressing of flanges  64  to unseat detents  65  from attachment posts  38 . Tower housing  60  is then slid horizontally rearward until lip  66  is clear of channel  52 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 4-8 , attachment points  40 ,  42 , and  44  are shown in more detail, as well as installation of bezel  70 . 
   Bezel  70  includes aperture  71  which is about the size of window  36 . Bezel  70  further includes upper flanges  72  and lower flanges  74 . ( FIG. 5 ) Upper flange  72  seats within a recess  76  formed between attachment post  38  and tower housing  60 . Limit points  46  help maintain recess  76 . 
   Lower flanges  74  seat within apertures  54  of attachment points  44 . Lower flanges  74  include detents  75  which retain flanges  74  within apertures  54 . 
   Installation of bezel  72  includes first positioning bezel  70  in front of window  36  and then lowering bezel  70  to engage flanges  72  within recesses  76 . After flanges  72  are located within recesses  76 , pressure is applied to the lower left and right sides of bezel  70  to seat flanges  74  within apertures  54 . Flanges  74  bend slightly away from a normal bias position in order to allow detents  75  to pass through apertures  54 . 
   Removal proceeds in opposite fashion by first pulling bezel  70  away from tower housing  60  to using pull features  73  to release flanges  74  from attachment points  44 , and then raising bezel  70  to remove flanges  72  from recesses  76 . 
   Although particular reference has been made to certain embodiments, variations and modifications are also envisioned within the spirit and scope of the following claims.