JPH11306276A - Information printed body and reader for this printed body - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] To reliably read information printed with ink that can be colored in various colors. A light source including a white light emitting diode having two or more peak wavelengths in a visible light region, and a first light for separating light from the light source into monochromatic light of three primary colors of blue, green and red. An optical filter 3 and, for example, Rh as a fluorescent substance
A label 6 that prints a barcode with an ink containing odamine B and is irradiated with monochromatic green light to excite a fluorescent substance in the barcode to emit fluorescence having a peak wavelength around about 580 nm; A second optical filter that cuts off reflected light of blue, green, and red monochromatic light from the substrate and transmits light emitted from the fluorescent material; and a label that receives light emitted from the fluorescent material that has passed through the optical filter. And a light receiving element 9 for reading the upper bar code.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information printed body on which information such as a bar code is printed, and a reading apparatus for the printed body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a bar code label is formed by printing a bar code with black ink on a white label sheet, and a reading apparatus uses a label from a light source of a laser diode or a light emitting diode having a wavelength of 600 to 700 nm. Irradiate on top,
The bar code is read by optically detecting the difference in reflectance between black and white on the label.

[0003]

As described above, the conventional barcode is configured to perform reading by the reflection method, and furthermore, the light source is of a red region having a wavelength of 600 to 700 nm. However, a white base is always required, and black or blue ink, which absorbs red, has been mainly used for printing barcodes. For this reason, it is not possible to select the color of the ink even if you want to print a barcode of a color that matches the design of the product. In particular, red ink has a high reflectance, so there is no difference in reflectance between the base and the ink. Was difficult. In addition, the color of the base is limited to white, and there is a problem in design.

[0004] For this reason, a method of printing a bar code using a fluorescent ink containing a fluorescent substance is also known. Most of the inks using the fluorescent ink are of the type of excitation using ultraviolet light or infrared light, and are excellent in that there is no need to limit the color of the base to white. However, in the method of excitation using ultraviolet light, a fluorescent lamp that emits ultraviolet light is used as a light source, and there is a problem that the light source becomes large. In addition, ultraviolet rays are easily absorbed by a substance, and therefore, if the ink is colored with a dye or a pigment, a problem arises in that the ultraviolet light, which is excitation light, is absorbed by the dye or the pigment and cannot emit light. Cannot be colored with dyes or pigments.

[0005] Further, unlike infrared rays, infrared rays are hardly absorbed by a substance. Therefore, in a system in which infrared rays are used for excitation, there is no problem even if ink is colored with a dye or pigment. For this reason, JP-A-6-322302 describes that a phosphor mark is printed using a fluorescent ink colored by mixing an infrared-emitting phosphor with a colored dye or pigment. . In this publication, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2 showing the emission spectrum of the light emitting element (curve I) and the emission spectrum of the phosphor (curve II), a special infrared light source having a light emission spectrum with a center wavelength of 805 nm is required as a light source.

Therefore, if the apparatus disclosed in this publication attempts to read a barcode by a reflection method from a label on which a barcode is printed with black or blue ink on a conventional white base, an infrared ray having an emission spectrum with a center wavelength of 805 nm is used. Light source and 60
Both light sources having an emission wavelength of 0 to 700 nm are required, and the emission side of the phosphor is about 1,0 on the reading side.
Both a light-receiving element for detecting a wavelength of 50 nm and a light-receiving element for detecting a wavelength of 600 to 700 nm, which is reflected light from a label, are required, which is not feasible.

Therefore, according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, printing is performed using ink that can be colored in various colors, the color of the background to be printed is not limited to white, and the printed information can be read reliably. The present invention provides an information printed material that can be performed by a user.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, printing is performed using ink colored in various colors, and the color of the background to be printed is not limited to white, and the printed information can be reliably read. To provide an information printed body capable of performing

Further, the invention according to claims 4 to 9 provides a printed body reading apparatus capable of reliably reading information printed using ink that can be colored in various colors.

Further, according to the tenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reliably read information printed using ink that can be colored in various colors by using one light source and one photoelectric conversion unit. In addition, the present invention provides a printed body reading apparatus capable of reliably reading information printed using black or blue ink by a reflection method.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
Ink containing a fluorescent substance that absorbs any wavelength from a light source having two or more peak wavelengths or two or more monochromatic light wavelengths in the visible light region and emits light at a wavelength that does not overlap with the peak wavelength or monochromatic light wavelength The information is printed on the printed information.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the information printed body according to the first aspect, the fluorescent substance has an absorption region at 500 to 570 nm.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the information printed body according to the first or second aspect, the ink is colored with a colored dye or pigment.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light source having two or more peak wavelengths or two or more monochromatic light wavelengths in a visible light region, and absorbing any one of the wavelengths from the light source. An information printed body on which information is printed with an ink containing a fluorescent substance that emits at a wavelength that does not overlap with the monochromatic light wavelength, a wavelength separating unit that separates the peak wavelength of the light source or the monochromatic light wavelength from the emission wavelength of the fluorescent substance, There is provided a printed-sheet reader having sensitivity in a light emission wavelength region of the substance, and photoelectric conversion means for receiving the emitted light of the fluorescent substance separated by the wavelength separating means and reading the information printed body.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light source having two or more peak wavelengths or two or more monochromatic light wavelengths in a visible light region, and one monochromatic light wavelength from the peak wavelength or the monochromatic light wavelength from the light source. Information is printed with a first optical filter for separating light and an ink containing a fluorescent substance that absorbs a wavelength from a light source separated by the first optical filter and emits light at a wavelength that does not overlap with a peak wavelength or a monochromatic light wavelength. A printed information body, a second optical filter that cuts off the wavelength from the light source separated by the first optical filter and transmits only the emission wavelength of the fluorescent substance, and has sensitivity in the emission wavelength region of the fluorescent substance, There is provided a printed body reading apparatus comprising: a photoelectric conversion unit that receives the emitted light of the fluorescent substance transmitted through the second optical filter and reads the information printed body.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus for reading a printed material according to the fifth aspect, the first optical filter is configured to separate a peak wavelength or a monochromatic light wavelength from a light source into individual monochromatic light wavelengths. Are arranged continuously on the same plane, and a plurality of monochromatic light wavelengths included in a peak wavelength or a monochromatic light wavelength from a light source are simultaneously radiated to the information printing body.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus for reading a printed material according to any one of the fourth to sixth aspects, the light source comprises:
It has a peak wavelength of at least 600 to 700 nm or a monochromatic red light wavelength.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus for reading a printed body according to the seventh aspect, the light source is at least 500 to 500.
It has a peak wavelength of 570 nm or a green monochromatic light wavelength.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus for reading a printed material according to any one of the fifth to eighth aspects, the second optical filter is provided for each monochromatic light wavelength at a peak wavelength from the light source or a monochromatic light wavelength. Are arranged continuously on the same plane.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light source having two or more peak wavelengths or two or more monochromatic light wavelengths in a visible light region, and one monochromatic light wavelength from the peak wavelength or the monochromatic light wavelength from the light source. Information is printed with a first optical filter for separating light and an ink containing a fluorescent substance that absorbs a wavelength from a light source separated by the first optical filter and emits light at a wavelength that does not overlap with a peak wavelength or a monochromatic light wavelength. A first information printed body, a second information printed body on which information is printed with a normal ink not containing a fluorescent substance, and emission of a fluorescent substance by cutting a wavelength from a light source separated by a first optical filter. The second that transmits only the wavelength
An optical filter, a third optical filter that transmits only a peak wavelength of 600 to 700 nm or a monochromatic red light wavelength, and a photoelectric conversion unit that reads an information printed body via the second optical filter or the third optical filter. When the photoelectric conversion unit reads the first information printed body from the light emitted from the fluorescent substance, the second optical filter is set in front of the photoelectric conversion unit, and the second information is reflected from the reflected light of the light irradiated by the light source. When reading a printed material, there is provided a reading device for printed material provided with reading switching means for setting a third filter in front of the photoelectric conversion means.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a view showing a configuration of a handy scanner which is a reading device. A light source 2 composed of a semiconductor laser, a light emitting diode or the like is provided inside a case 1 and light from the light source 2 is transmitted. The light is radiated to the reflection surface of the galvanometer mechanism 5 via the optical filter 3 and the collimator lens 4 similarly arranged inside the case 1. Then, the light reflected by the reflecting surface of the galvanometer mechanism 5 is irradiated onto the label 6. The collimator lens 4 adjusts the light from the light source 2 into a substantially parallel beam shape and irradiates the light onto the reflecting surface of the galvano mechanism 5, and the galvano mechanism 5 scans the light illuminating the label 6 by a rotating operation. It has become. An information print such as a barcode is printed on the label 6 with ink.

The light from the label 6 is received by a light receiving element 9 as a photoelectric conversion means via a condenser lens 7 and an optical filter 8 arranged inside the case 1. After the electric signal output from the light receiving element 9 is amplified by the amplifier circuit 10, the electric signal is supplied to a recognition unit (not shown) that analyzes the electric signal and recognizes information. As the light receiving element 9, a silicon diode array used in a normal reflection type bar code reader is used.

The light source 2 has two or more peak wavelengths or two or more monochromatic light wavelengths in a visible light region. For example, a white light emitting diode is used, and light from this light emitting diode is converted into RGB light. The light is separated into wavelengths of three primary colors of blue light, green light and red light by an optical filter 3 composed of a filter. That is, the emission spectrum of the white light emitting diode is composed of a mixture of blue light of about 460 nm and yellow light having a peak at about 570 nm as shown by a curve g1 in FIG. Since the yellow light is a mixture of the green light and the red light, the light emitting diode can be said to be a collection of monochromatic lights of three primary colors of blue, green and red. By transmitting the light of the light emitting diode through the RGB filters of the first optical filter 3, for example, about 4
The light is separated into three primary colors of blue light having a wavelength of 50 nm or less, green light having a wavelength of about 520 to 560 nm, and red light having a wavelength of about 620 to 670 nm.

The optical filter 3 constitutes a first optical filter, and as shown in FIG. 2, a filter A, a filter B and a filter C are continuously and alternately arranged on the same plane. A has a characteristic of transmitting only blue light having a wavelength of about 450 nm or less as shown by a dashed curve g2 in FIG. 6, and a filter B has a dotted curve g3 in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, the filter C has a characteristic of transmitting only green light having a wavelength of about 520 to 560 nm, and the filter C has a characteristic of transmitting only red light having a wavelength of about 620 to 670 nm as shown by a chain line g4 in FIG. have.

The optical filter 8 constitutes a second optical filter and a third optical filter. As shown in FIG. 3, a second optical filter 8 cuts the reflected light of the light separated by the first optical filter 3. D, which is an optical filter, and filter E, which is a third optical filter that transmits only light of 650 nm.
The filter D is configured as shown in FIG.
The filter D1, the filter D2 and the filter D3 are successively and alternately arranged on the same plane. The filter D1 has a wavelength of about 49 as shown by a dashed curve g5 in FIG.
The filter D2 has a characteristic of transmitting only light near 0 nm, and the filter D2 has a wavelength of about 60 as shown by a dotted curve g6 in FIG.
The filter D3 has a characteristic of transmitting only light near 0 nm, and the filter D3 has a characteristic of transmitting only light having a wavelength of about 690 nm or more as shown by a dashed-dotted curve g7 in FIG. Note that the solid line curve g8 in FIG.
3 shows the spectrum of the reflected light of the light separated by.

Switching between disposing the second optical filter D and the third optical filter E in front of the light receiving element 9 is performed by driving a driving means such as a motor by a changeover switch 11 constituting a reading changeover means. It is designed to operate.

The ink on which the information printed material printed on the label 6 is printed has a light-absorbing region in any of the above-mentioned three primary colors, and emits fluorescent light in a wavelength region other than the wavelength region of the three primary colors. Uses ink containing substances. That is, 470-510 nm, 570-610n
m, contains a fluorescent substance that emits fluorescence in the region of 670 nm or more.

As such fluorescent substances, those which absorb blue light (that is, are excited by this light) include Coumarin 314, Coumarin 334, and Coumarin.
7, there are laser dyes such as Coumarin 6 and the like, and the fluorescent substance that absorbs green light includes Rhodamine B and Rhodamine.
There are laser dyes such as 6G and Sulforhodamine B, and fluorescent substances that absorb red light include Oxazine 170,
Oxazine 1, Styry 16, Nile Blue, Rhodamine 70
And laser dyes such as Rhodamine 800.

The ink containing only the fluorescent substance described herein is a yellow-colored ink containing a fluorescent substance that absorbs blue light, and contains a fluorescent substance that absorbs green light. The ink thus obtained has a reddish color, and the ink containing a fluorescent substance that absorbs red light has a bluedish color. If there is no problem in design with these colors, it is not particularly necessary to color, but in order to make the color more vivid and more preferable in design, each dye of Y (yellow), M (magenta) and C (cyan) is used. Alternatively, each pigment is mixed. Thereby, ink of a desired color can be manufactured.

As the dye, azo, anthraquinone, indigoid, phthalocyanine, nitro, quinoline, naphthoquinone dyes and the like are used. Also,
Pigments include nitro, azo, indanthrene,
Use thioindico, perinone, perylene, dioxazine, quinacridone, phthalocyanine, and the like. These are dyes and pigments used in general printing. Inkjet, thermal transfer,
The ink is mixed with ink in a form suitable for a desired printing method such as offset printing or screen printing, and a barcode or the like is printed on the label 6 as an information print.

For example, a description will be given of an ink ribbon used when performing thermal transfer printing of an information printed material on the label 6.
As the base film of the ink ribbon, for example, a plastic film such as polyester, polypropylene, cellophane, acetate, and polycarbonate, and a conventional film such as condenser paper and paraffin paper are used.

The hot-melt ink is produced by blending a dye or pigment, a fluorescent material, a synthetic resin, a wax, and, if necessary, a solvent, additives (dispersant, surfactant) and the like. Examples of the synthetic resin include ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), ethylene-acrylate copolymer (EEA), polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene, petroleum resin, vinyl chloride resin, and vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer. Coalescence, polyvinyl alcohol, vinylidene chloride resin, methacrylic resin, polyamide, polycarbonate, fluororesin, polyvinyl formal, polyvinyl butyral, acetyl cellulose, nitrocellulose,
Use polyvinyl acetate, polyisobutylene, ethyl cellulose, polyurethane, polyacetal, and the like.

As the wax, for example, carnauba wax, paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax, beeswax, spermaceti, ibota wax, wool wax, shellac wax, montan wax, candelilla wax, petrolactam and the like are used. When a solvent is required, for example, benzene, xylene, toluene, trichlene, ethyl acetate, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, methyl ethyl ketone, cyclohexanone and the like are used.

As an example, a thermal transfer ink ribbon was manufactured by using Rhodamine B as a fluorescent substance and forming an ink thickness of about 4 μm by a hot melt coating method on a base film made of a polyester film having a thickness of 6 μm. More specifically, the fluorescent material is a wax-like substance solid solution and / or a resin solid solution in which a fluorescent dye is given wax-like or resin-like properties so that thermal transferability is not reduced. The waxy substances used in these include stearic acid monoethanolamide, lauric acid monoethanolamide, coconut oil fatty acid monoethanolamide, sorbitan behenic acid ester, glycerin monostearic acid ester, acetyl sorbit, benzoyl sorbit, acetyl man There are knits and the like. The resin has an average molecular weight of 1
10,000 polycaprolactone, polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 6,000, low-condensation polymerized melamine / toluenesulfonamide resin, low-condensation polymerization benzyltoluenesulfonamide resin, acrylic resin, linear polyamide resin, and the like.

As a method for producing a solid solution, there are a bulk resin pulverization method, an emulsion polymerization method, a resin precipitation method and the like. The bulk resin pulverization method melts and mixes the resin and the fluorescent dye, then cools and solidifies,
The emulsion polymerization method is a method in which a resin powder obtained by emulsion polymerization is added to a hot aqueous solution of a fluorescent dye to exhaust the dye into the resin powder, and then this is filtered and dried. law, the aqueous solution of water-soluble salts and fluorescent dyes resin is reacted by adding an aqueous solution of a water-soluble metal salts such as _{Al 2 (sO 4) 3 ·} 8H 2 O, the solution is acidified if necessary In this method, the dissolved resin is deposited as a metal salt while adhering to the fluorescent dye, and then filtered and dried.

In the solid solution thus obtained, the luminescence intensity increases as the concentration of the fluorescent dye increases, but when the concentration exceeds a certain concentration, concentration quenching occurs and the luminescence intensity decreases. At a certain density or less, it becomes impossible to read information. For this reason, the ratio of the fluorescent dye in the solid solution is suitably about 0.01 to 5.0% by weight, respectively.

Here, as a specific example, a resin solid solution of a fluorescent dye manufactured by a bulk resin pulverization method will be described.
First, a chain polyamide resin (99.9% by weight) was added to 125
℃ and melted to a temperature of 170 ℃
Raise to 180 ° C. Then, Rhodamine B
(0.1% by weight), uniformly melted, cooled and solidified, and then pulverized to produce a resin solid solution. Although a chain polyamide resin is used here, the present invention is not limited to this. In addition, a bulk resin pulverization method was used, but this is not limited.

An ink ribbon is manufactured using the resin solid solution thus manufactured. That is, 15% by weight of resin solid solution, 5% by weight of quinacridone red, 70% by weight of paraffin wax, and 1% of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer.
After melt-stirring and dispersing the mixture at a ratio of 0% by weight, an ink thickness of about 4 μm was formed on a base film made of a 6 μm-thick polyester film by hot melt coating.
m to manufacture an ink ribbon.

Using this thermal transfer ink ribbon, a red barcode 6a is printed as an information print on the label 6 by a thermal printer, for example, as shown in FIG. The other characters and numerical values are printed in advance. Rhodamine B used here has a reddish color because it has an absorption region at a wavelength of 500 to 560 nm as shown in FIG. The fluorescent substance has an absorption peak at about 555 nm and emits fluorescence having a peak wavelength near about 580 nm. By mixing this with a red pigment, a clearer red bar code can be printed.

As described above, Rhodamine B contains about 555 n
m has an absorption peak and emits fluorescent light having a peak wavelength near about 580 nm. Therefore, this fluorescent substance is a filter B among the lights having wavelengths separated by the first optical filter 3.
Is excited by green light having a wavelength of about 520 to 560 nm and emits light. The emitted light passes through the condenser lens 7 and the second optical filter D in the optical filter 8 and enters the light receiving element 9. You. Since the second optical filter D cuts the reflected light of the light separated by the first optical filter 3, the light receiving element 9 can receive only the emission light of the fluorescent substance from the bar code 6a of the label 6, and The bar code 6a can be read.

As described above, the bar code can be printed with the red ink, and the bar code 6a can be reliably read by receiving the emitted light of the fluorescent substance contained in the bar code by the light receiving element 9. . Further, since the light emitted from the fluorescent substance is read, the bar code can be read even if the base of the label 6 on which the bar code is printed has a color other than white. Therefore, it is possible to print a color barcode on a color base, and it is possible to affix a label having an excellent color tone to each product according to the type of the product.

Next, reading of a normal reflection type barcode in which a barcode is printed with black or blue ink on a white base label will be described. For example, about 6 on the label
The case where the reflection type bar code is printed with the colored ink absorbing the wavelength of 20 to 670 nm will be described. The light separated by the first optical filter 3 is the color ink portion of the bar code on the label and the base portion. Is irradiated. The colored ink portion absorbs light of 650 nm out of the light separated by the first optical filter 3, so that there is almost no reflected light of 650 nm, whereas the base portion is reflected according to the reflectance of the paper. The reflected light is condensed by the condenser lens 7 and enters the optical filter 8.

When reading a bar code from a label on which a reflective bar code is printed, the changeover switch 11 is used.
The third optical filter E is provided before the light receiving element 9 by the operation of
Is arranged. Accordingly, only light having a wavelength of 650 nm passes through the third optical filter E and enters the light receiving element 9, and the light receiving element 9 can read a reflective bar code.

As described above, the reading apparatus using one light source 2 and one light receiving element 9 can surely read the bar code information printed using the color ink such as red, and can also read the black and blue colors. The bar code information of the reflection reading method printed using the ink can be surely read.

(Second Embodiment) This embodiment describes reading when the peak wavelength of light emission of a fluorescent substance and the peak wavelength of a light source overlap. For example, a fluorescent substance that emits fluorescence with a blue or green excitation light source includes a fluorescent substance whose emission peak wavelength falls within a green or red region.
Specifically, Coumarin 153 (having an absorption peak wavelength of about 423) absorbs blue light and emits light in a green region.
nm, the emission peak wavelength is about 530 nm). Phenoxazone 9 absorbs green light and emits light in the red region.
(The absorption peak wavelength is about 550 nm and the emission peak wavelength is about 650 nm). When reading a barcode using these fluorescent substances, the first optical filter 3 is configured as shown in FIG. That is, when the first optical filter 3 is configured as in the first embodiment (FIG. 2), the light of each wavelength separated by the filters A, B, and C is simultaneously applied to the bar code on the label 6. As a result, the reflected light from the label 6 and the emitted light from the bar code are mixed and cannot be separated on the light receiving side. For example, when a barcode is printed with an ink containing a fluorescent substance that absorbs green light and emits light in a red region, the first optical filter 3 simultaneously emits the monochromatic light of the three primary colors of blue, green, and red on the label 6. Is irradiated to
The reflected light of monochromatic red light cannot be distinguished from the light emitted in the red area from the bar coat.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the filter A, the filter B, and the filter C are placed in front of the light source 2 by driving means such as a motor.
The filter is arranged alternately in the order of → filter B → filter C → filter A. As a result, the bar code on the label 6 is alternately irradiated with blue monochromatic light, green monochromatic light, and red monochromatic light.

As shown in FIG. 10, the optical filter 8 uses a filter D4, a filter D5, and a filter D6 as a second optical filter D.
4, D5 and D6 are arranged in front of the light receiving element 9 or a third optical filter E used when reading a reflection type bar code.
Switch 11 for determining whether or not to be disposed in front of the light receiving element 9
When reading a bar code printed with ink containing a fluorescent substance, the filter D
4, D5 and D6 are driven by a driving means such as a motor in synchronization with the switching of each of the filters A, B and C of the first optical filter 3;
In the case of, the filter D5 and in the case of the filter C, the filter D6 are arranged alternately in front of the light receiving element 9. As shown in FIG. 11, the characteristics of the filters D4, D5, and D6 are such that the filter D4 has a characteristic of transmitting light having a wavelength of about 460 nm or more as shown by a solid line curve g9, and the filter D5 has a dotted line. As shown by the curve g10, the filter D6 has a characteristic of transmitting wavelengths of about 510 nm or less and about 570 nm or more, and the filter D6 has a characteristic of transmitting wavelengths of about 610 nm or less and about 680 nm or more as shown by a dotted curve g11. ing. In this way, for example, when reading a barcode printed with ink containing Coumarin 153 as a fluorescent substance that absorbs blue light and emits light in a green region, the filter A is used as the first optical filter 3.
Is set in front of the light source 2, the wavelength is about 450 n
m is illuminated on the bar code with blue monochromatic light, which excites the fluorescent substance and causes a peak wavelength of about 5 μm.
Emit green light of 30 nm. At this time, the second optical filter D disposed in front of the light receiving element 9 is a filter D4, which has a property of transmitting light having a wavelength of about 460 nm or more. Blue monochromatic light of about 450 nm or less is cut, and light emitted from a bar code is transmitted and received by the light receiving element 9. Thus, the light receiving element 9 can reliably read the bar code on the label.

For example, when reading a bar code printed with an ink containing Phenoxazone 9 as a fluorescent substance, which absorbs green light and emits light in a red region, the filter B is used as the first optical filter 3. When the bar code is set in front of 2, the green monochromatic light having a wavelength of about 520 to 560 nm is irradiated on the bar code, thereby exciting the fluorescent substance and emitting red light having a peak wavelength of about 650 nm. At this time, the second optical filter D disposed in front of the light receiving element 9 is a filter D5. Since the filter has a characteristic of transmitting wavelengths of about 510 nm or less and about 570 nm or more, it is reflected on the label. Green monochromatic light having a wavelength of about 520 to 560 nm is cut, and light emitted from a bar code is transmitted and received by the light receiving element 9. Thus, the light receiving element 9
Can reliably read the barcode on the label.

In the reading device of this embodiment,
The peak of the absorption wavelength which is a yellow fluorescent dye is about 450n.
m, Coumarin 334 having an emission wavelength peak of about 495 nm
A yellow bar code mixed with Hansa Yellow or a blue fluorescent dye having an absorption wavelength peak of about 640.
Rhodamine 7 with a peak emission wavelength of about 680 nm
It is also possible to reliably read a blue bar code obtained by mixing phthalocyanine blue with 00. in this way,
Information such as a bar code can be printed with color ink colored in various colors, and the printed information can be reliably read.

In each of the above embodiments, the case of three colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan has been described.
If the colors are mixed in the same manner as a general printing ink, it is needless to say that the same operation and effect can be obtained for all the colors. In each of the above-described embodiments, barcode printing on a label is performed by a thermal transfer method, and a light emitting diode is used as a light source.
Although the case where the silicon diode array is used as the light receiving element has been described, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to this. Further, a handy type reader is used as the reader, but the present invention is not limited to this. In addition, although the case of a barcode has been described as an example of the information print body, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this, and information other than the barcode may be used.

The case where a white light emitting diode is used as a light source and this is separated into monochromatic light of each color using an optical filter has been described. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this, and three primary colors are used as one light source. A light emitting diode or the like may be used. In addition, a light source including three monochromatic lights of blue, green, and red is used as the light source, but the light source is not limited thereto, and a light source including two monochromatic lights including red may be used. In the case of these two colors, two colors of red and green are used. However, since it is possible to use a red barcode which is difficult to read by the conventional reflection type, the practicality can be improved.

[0052]

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, printing is performed using ink that can be colored in various colors, and the color of the background to be printed is not limited to white, and the printed information is read. And an information printed body capable of reliably performing the above. According to the third aspect of the present invention, printing is performed with ink colored in various colors, and the background color to be printed is not limited to white, and the printed information can be reliably read. It is possible to provide a printable information body.

Further, according to the inventions described in claims 4 to 9, it is possible to provide a printed body reading apparatus capable of reliably reading information printed by using ink that can be colored in various colors. According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, information printed using ink that can be colored in various colors can be reliably read using one light source and one photoelectric conversion unit. It is possible to provide a printed body reading device capable of reliably reading information printed using black or blue ink by a reflection method.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main part configuration diagram of a handy scanner showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a first optical filter arranged on a light source side in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of an optical filter arranged on a light receiving side in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a second optical filter arranged on a light receiving side in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of a label used in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an emission spectrum of a light source and optical characteristics of each filter constituting a first optical filter in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing optical characteristics of each filter constituting a second optical filter arranged on the light receiving side and a spectrum of light reflected from a label in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows a fluorescent substance Rhodam used in the embodiment.
FIG. 4 shows an absorption spectrum of ine B.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of a first optical filter arranged on a light source side used in a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of an optical filter arranged on a light receiving side used in the embodiment.

FIG. 11 shows a second embodiment arranged on the light receiving side in the embodiment.
The figure which shows the optical characteristic of each filter which comprises the optical filter of FIG.

FIG. 12 illustrates a conventional example, and illustrates an emission spectrum of a light emitting element and an emission spectrum of a phosphor.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 light source 3 first optical filter 6 label 8 optical filter (second and third optical filters) 9 light receiving element

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI G06K 19/06 G06K 19/00 A

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A light source that absorbs any wavelength from a light source having two or more peak wavelengths or two or more monochromatic light wavelengths in a visible light region and emits light at a wavelength that does not overlap with the peak wavelength or the monochromatic light wavelength. An information printed body on which information is printed with an ink containing a fluorescent substance. 2. The information printed body according to claim 1, wherein the fluorescent substance has an absorption region at 500 to 570 nm. 3. The information printed body according to claim 1, wherein the ink is colored with a colored dye or pigment. 4. A light source having two or more peak wavelengths or two or more monochromatic light wavelengths in a visible light region, and absorbing any one of the wavelengths from the light source so as not to overlap the peak wavelength or the monochromatic light wavelength. An information printed body on which information is printed with an ink containing a fluorescent substance that emits light at a wavelength, a wavelength separating unit that separates a peak wavelength or a monochromatic light wavelength of the light source from an emission wavelength of the fluorescent substance, and emission of the fluorescent substance A printing device for reading a printed material, comprising: a photoelectric conversion device having sensitivity in a wavelength region, receiving light emitted from the fluorescent substance separated by the wavelength separating device, and reading the information printed material. 5. A light source having two or more peak wavelengths or two or more monochromatic light wavelengths in a visible light region, and a first monochromatic light wavelength separated from the peak wavelength or the monochromatic light wavelength from the light source. An information filter printed with information containing an optical filter and an ink containing a fluorescent substance that absorbs a wavelength from the light source separated by the first optical filter and emits light at a wavelength that does not overlap with the peak wavelength or the monochromatic light wavelength; And a second optical filter that cuts off the wavelength from the light source separated by the first optical filter and transmits only the emission wavelength of the fluorescent substance, and has sensitivity in the emission wavelength region of the fluorescent substance, A photoelectric conversion unit for receiving the emitted light of the fluorescent substance transmitted through the second optical filter and reading the information printed body. Place. 6. The first optical filter is constituted by continuously arranging a plurality of filters for separating a peak wavelength or a monochromatic light wavelength from a light source into individual monochromatic light wavelengths on the same plane. 6. The reading device according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of monochromatic light wavelengths included in the wavelength or the monochromatic light wavelength are simultaneously irradiated on the information printed material. 7. The light source is at least 600-700 nm.
7. The printed body reading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the reading body has a peak wavelength or a red monochromatic light wavelength. 8. The light source has a wavelength of at least 500 to 570 nm.
8. The printed body reader according to claim 7, wherein the reader has a peak wavelength or a green monochromatic light wavelength. 9. The second optical filter, wherein a plurality of filters for cutting each monochromatic light wavelength in a peak wavelength or a monochromatic light wavelength from a light source are continuously arranged on the same plane. A reading device for a printed body according to any one of claims 5 to 8. 10. A light source having two or more peak wavelengths or two or more monochromatic light wavelengths in a visible light region, and a first monochromatic light wavelength separated from the peak wavelength or the monochromatic light wavelength from the light source. An optical filter and the first
A first information printed body on which information is printed with an ink containing a fluorescent substance that absorbs a wavelength from the light source separated by the optical filter and emits light at a wavelength that does not overlap with the peak wavelength or the monochromatic light wavelength, and a fluorescent substance A second information printed body on which information is printed with a normal ink not containing
A second filter that cuts off the wavelength from the light source separated by the optical filter and transmits only the emission wavelength of the fluorescent substance.
An optical filter, a third optical filter that transmits only a peak wavelength of 600 to 700 nm or a monochromatic red light wavelength, and a photoelectric conversion unit that reads an information printed material via the second optical filter or the third optical filter. And when the photoelectric conversion unit reads the first information printed body from the emitted light of the fluorescent substance, the second optical filter is set in front of the photoelectric conversion unit, and the reflected light of the light emitted by the light source is set. When reading the second information printed material, the third information
And a reading switching means for setting the filter in front of the photoelectric conversion means.