JPH059000A - Bar code reader moving device for forklift - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a bar code reader moving device capable of surely reading a bar code even in case of dislocation of the bar code in right or left direction. CONSTITUTION:A bar code reader 1 is supported with a lift bracket 2 of a forklift through a parallel link 3 so as to be horizontally movable in front and rear and right and left directions in the forward facing posture. A dog 12 is rotationally movably in front or rear direction fitted on the front face side of the lift bracket 2, and projected forward with a torsion spring 17. At inserting a fork 11 into a pallet 20, the dog 12 is dislocated backward by abutting to the pallet The dislocation of the dog 12 is transmitted to the parallel link 3 through a rod 18, the bar code reader 1 supported with the parallel link 3 is horizontally moved in the right or left direction in the condition of keeping a certain distance against the pallet 20, and the bar code of a hat rode label stuck on the pallet 20 is read.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bar code reader mounted on a lift bracket for reading a bar code as luggage management information in a forklift, and more particularly to a bar code reader for expanding a reading range by the bar code reader. The present invention relates to a device for moving a barcode reader.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as shown in FIG. 6, a bar code reader 31 mounted on a forklift has
By giving a bar code as luggage management information,
A system for managing physical distribution has been proposed. The package management information includes, for example, a product number, a shelf number, a destination, and the like.

The bar code reader 31 is attached to a finger bar 33 on the lower side of a lift bracket 32, as shown in FIGS. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, a bar code reader bracket 34 is fixed to the finger bar 33, and the bar code reader 31 is held by the bar code reader bracket 34.
Further, the bar code reader bracket 34 is arranged substantially at an intermediate position between the pair of left and right forks 35 hooked on the finger bar 33 of the lift bracket 32. A controller (not shown) is mounted on the forklift, and the bar code reader 31 is controlled by the controller.

On the other hand, on the side surface (insertion side) of the pallet 36, a bar code label 38 is attached which gives the bar code reader 31 a bar code as package management information. The barcode label 38 is displayed on the pallet 36.
It is arranged at an intermediate position between the pair of left and right fork insertion holes 37 provided in the. Then, when the forklift is moved forward and the fork 35 is inserted into the fork insertion port 37 of the pallet 36, the barcode reader 31 reads the barcode on the barcode label 38. In this way, the package management information read from the bar code by the bar code reader 31 is sent to, for example, the above controller and further wirelessly sent from the controller to the host computer of the central control center. In FIG. 6, 39 indicates a forklift mast, and 40 indicates a load. As forklift trucks for the above-mentioned physical distribution management system, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 63-22500 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 64-59 are available.
No. 8 publication can be cited.

[0005]

However, the conventional bar code reader described above may not be able to read the bar code. Hereinafter, this will be described with reference to FIG. 7. That is, in the bar code reader 31, a combination of a high-speed rotating mirror and a diffusing mirror emits, for example, a laser beam as a scanning pattern. This scanning pattern forms a wide scanning area as shown by the dotted line. The laser light that has crossed the bar code on the bar code label 38 is reflected and detected by the light receiving element of the scanner.

At this time, the combination of the bar and the space in the bar code becomes a pattern of reflected light intensity. When this pattern is electrically amplified and the waveform is shaped, the original combination of bars and spaces is reproduced as an electrical signal.
This electric signal is digitized and input to the microprocessor of the scanner. After checking the data format and errors, it is converted into numeric or character data and output. Therefore, in the bar code reader 31, in view of its performance, when the distance L to the bar code label 38 is large, the reading range D is widened, but a small bar code cannot be read. On the other hand, when the distance L to the barcode label 38 is small, a small barcode can be read, but the reading range D becomes narrow.

Therefore, conventionally, the distance L between the barcode reader 31 and the barcode label 38 is set in consideration of the above circumstances. However, when the center of the pallet 36 is displaced from the barcode reader 31 by the distance M in the left-right direction (vehicle width direction) due to the inserted state of the fork 35 as indicated by the phantom line in the drawing, the barcode label 38 is displayed The barcode will also be displaced by the distance M. This problem also occurs when a bar code is arranged on the luggage. As a result, the barcode label 38 sticks out of the reading range D, and the barcode cannot be read, so that the fork insertion work must be redone.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention solves the problem of providing a bar code reader moving device capable of surely reading a bar code even when the bar code is displaced in the lateral direction. This is a technical issue that should be addressed.

[0009]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is configured as follows. That is, a bar code reader moving device that is mounted on a forklift to read a bar code on the side of luggage including a pallet, and the bar code reader can be horizontally moved in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction while maintaining the front position in the lift bracket. And a bar code reader supporting means for supporting the bar code reader and the lift bracket so as to be displaceable in the front-rear direction with a position protruding from the front surface of the lift bracket by a predetermined length as an initial position, and for inserting the fork into the pallet. In the above, there is provided a dog which comes into contact with a pallet or a load and is displaced rearward, a displacement transmission means for transmitting the displacement of the dog to the bar code reader, and a return spring for returning the dog and the bar code reader to an initial position. It is characterized by that.

[0010]

According to the present invention constructed as described above, when the fork is inserted into the pallet, the dog comes into contact with the side surface of the luggage side including the pallet at the final stage of the insertion. Then, after that, the dog is displaced rearward as the fork is inserted, and this displacement is transmitted to the bar code reader via the displacement transmitting means. Therefore, the barcode reader is horizontally moved to the rear side and the right side or the left side, which is the path defined by the barcode reader supporting means. That is, the bar code reader horizontally moves in the left-right direction while keeping the reading distance substantially constant with respect to the bar code on the luggage side including the pallet. Therefore, the scanning pattern of the bar code reader forms a wide scanning area in the horizontal direction, and the reading range in the horizontal direction is expanded.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to FIGS. The bar code reader 1 is disposed substantially in the lower center of the front side of the forklift, and is supported horizontally with respect to the lift bracket 2 by a parallel link 3 as bar code reader supporting means.

The front and rear links 3a and 3b constituting the parallel link 3 are attached to a U-shaped bracket 4 fixed at one end thereof to the lower portion on the inner surface side of one (left in this example) rear plate 2a of the lift bracket 2. The pin 5 is rotatably pivoted horizontally, and the other end is pivotally rotatably pivoted to the bar code reader 1. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the bar code reader 1 is housed and held in a box-shaped bracket 6 having an open front side, which is the reading side, via a cushion material 7 such as sponge. The other ends of the links 3a and 3b are attached to the bracket 6 with a bolt 9 and a nut 10 via a bush 8.
Thus, the bar code reader 1 supported by the parallel link 3 is horizontally movable in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction (vehicle width direction) while maintaining the forward facing posture.

On the other hand, a dog 12 for pallet detection is arranged substantially in the center of the front surface of the finger bar 2b for hooking the fork 11 in the lift bracket 2. The dog 12 is composed of a vertically arranged lever, and an upper end portion of the dog 12 is pivotally attached to the dog bracket 13 fixed to the front surface of the finger bar 2b on the lower side so that the dog 12 can be rotated back and forth. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the dog 12 has a boss 12a at its upper end, and the boss 12a is provided with a collar 15 and a bush 16 on a support bolt 14 which is horizontally mounted on the dog bracket 13. It is rotatably attached via.

Therefore, the dog 12 is set at a position where the scanning light beam of the bar code reader 1 is not blocked and is biased forward by the return torsion spring 17. The torsion spring 17 is wound around the boss portion 12 a of the dog 12, and has one end hooked on the dog 12 and the other end hooked on the dog bracket 13. The tip 12 (lower end) of the togg 12 urged forward is always the fork 1.
The position projected forward of the front surface of the bar code 1 is set as an initial position, and this initial position is set in consideration of an appropriate reading distance of the bar code reader 1. Further, the tip of the dog 12 is set at a height position where it can abut the side surface of the pallet 20 described later.

Further, one of the parallel links 3 has a link 3
a and the dog 12 are a rod 18 as a displacement transmitting means.
Are joined together by means of a pin 19, and the joining site has a pivotal structure with a pin 19. Further, in this embodiment, the dog 12 biased by the torsion spring 17 is used.
The initial position of the links 3a, 3 is as shown by the solid line in FIG.
Although the setting is made by mutual interference with each other, a separate stopper may be provided instead of this.

In the figure, 20 is a pallet, 21 is a fork insertion port provided in the pallet 20, and 22 is a bar code label having a bar code for managing luggage information. The bar code label 22 is attached to the center side surface between the left and right pallet insertion openings 21 of the pallet 20 as in the conventional case.

The bar code reader moving device of this embodiment is
It is configured as described above and operates as follows. As shown in FIG. 1, when the forklift is moved forward to insert the fork 11 into the fork insertion port 21 of the pallet 20, the tip of the dog 12 comes into contact with the end surface of the pallet 20 at the end of the inserting operation. Therefore, after that, the dog 12 is rotationally displaced rearward in association with the insertion of the fork 11 as indicated by a virtual line in the drawing. This displacement of the dog 12 is transmitted to the parallel link 3 via the rod 18,
Since the parallel link 3 is horizontally rotated backward, the bar code reader 1 supported by the parallel link 3 is horizontally moved rearward and rightward while maintaining the forward posture, as shown in FIG.

That is, the bar code reader 1 is horizontally moved to the right side while maintaining a constant interval with respect to the bar code label 22 of the pallet 20, and the reading range of the bar code reader 1 is expanded in the left-right direction. Will be.

Therefore, the bar code label 22 of the bar code reader 1 when the togg 12 contacts the pallet 20.
The distance L1 with respect to is set to be the optimum distance for reading the barcode, while the horizontal position of the barcode reader 1 is set to the left of the center in the case of the present embodiment. Even if the bar code label 22 is displaced in the left-right direction as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 2 depending on how the fork 11 is inserted,
It is possible to accurately read the barcode while maintaining the proper reading distance L1.

In this embodiment, the bar code reader 1 is used.
Although the bar code is read by horizontally moving to the right, the same applies to a configuration in which the bar code is read by horizontally moving to the left. Further, the supporting means of the bar code reader 1 is not limited to the parallel link 3 shown in the figure, and the bar code reader 1 slides along a guide groove having a shape similar to or similar to the locus of the parallel link 3, for example. It is also possible to support it so that it can be moved, and change the displacement of the dog 12 to transmit it to the barcode reader 1 with a link, a rod, or the like. Further, the dog 12 may be configured to horizontally move linearly in the front-rear direction instead of the structure for rotatably rotating in the front-back direction, and the contact may be carried by the pallet 20 instead of the luggage. Good. Further, the bar code label 22 may be arranged not only on the pallet 20 but also on luggage.

[0021]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
Since the barcode reading range of the barcode reader can be expanded in the left-right direction, even if the barcode is misaligned in the left-right direction due to the fork insertion condition, etc., the barcode can be reliably read. Therefore, reworking of fork insertion work due to poor reading is reduced or eliminated, and work efficiency is improved. Particularly, in the present invention, since the barcode reading distance can be kept constant by causing the barcode reader to horizontally move backward, the barcode is fixed in the front-rear direction and is moved only in the left-right direction. As compared with the case where the reading distance is changed, the reading failure problem caused by the change in the reading distance can be avoided, and the barcode can be read accurately at an appropriate distance.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a bar code reader moving device of a forklift according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the same.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a support structure of a bar code reader using parallel links.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a dog attachment structure.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a bar code reader mounting example of a conventional forklift.

FIG. 7 is a plan view for explaining a reading range of the barcode reader.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Bar code reader 2 ... Lift bracket 3 ... Parallel link 11 ... Fork 12 ... Dog 17 ... Torsion spring 18 ... Rod

Claims (1)

Claim: What is claimed is: 1. A bar code reader moving device which is mounted on a forklift to read a bar code on a luggage side including a pallet, wherein the bar code reader is mounted on a lift bracket in a forward-looking posture. And a bar code reader supporting means for horizontally moving in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, and mounted on the lift bracket so as to be displaceable in the front-rear direction with a position protruding from the front surface of the lift bracket by a predetermined length as an initial position. At the same time, when the fork is inserted into the pallet, the dog comes into contact with the pallet or luggage and is displaced rearward, displacement transmitting means for transmitting the displacement of the dog to the barcode reader, and the dog and the barcode reader at the initial position. Bar code of the forklift with return spring for returning to Over da mobile device.