Microwave oven with bar code scanner

• US 20060043190A1
• Filed: 05/18/2005
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jeon, Sei Ill
• Granted Patent: US 7,404,519 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/462.130
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/6441 allowing the input of coded operation instructions, e.g. bar code reader

Abstract

A microwave oven including: a control panel; a scanner guide in the control panel; a scanner drawable into the scanner guide and pushable out of the scanner guide; and a driving section drawing the scanner into and pushing the scanner out of the scanner guide. The bar code scanner reads a bar code when in the scanner guide and when out of the scanner guide.

Claims

1. A microwave oven comprising:

a body;

a control panel; and

a bar code scanner removably installed in the body and reading a bar code.

2. The microwave oven according to claim 1, wherein the bar code scanner is installed in the control panel.

3. The microwave oven according to claim 2, further comprising a scanner guide guiding the bar code scanner.

4. The microwave oven according to claim 2, further comprising a driving section moving the bar code scanner forward and rearward a specified distance so as to respectively draw out and draw in the bar code scanner with respect to the control panel.

5. The microwave oven according to claim 4, wherein the driving section includes:

a forwardly and reversely rotating motor including a driving shaft; and

a driving gear rotated by the driving shaft, and

wherein the bar code scanner includes a gear member engaging the driving gear.

6. The microwave oven according to claim 5, wherein the gear member engages an electric wire cover connected to an end of the bar code scanner and connecting the bar code scanner to the body.

7. The microwave oven according to claim 1, wherein the bar code scanner changes an angle of light emitted from a light emitting device.

8. The microwave oven according to claim 7, wherein the bar code scanner includes:

a body in which the light emitting device and a light receiving device are installed; and

a head coupled to a front end of the body, and

wherein the head is obliquely coupled to the body, and an angle of the head is changed by rotation so as to change the scanning angle of the light.

9. The microwave oven according to claim 8, wherein the bar code scanner includes a reflective mirror installed in the bar code scanner and changing the scanning angle of the light by changing the angle of the reflective mirror by rotating the head.

10. The microwave oven according to claim 9, wherein the reflective mirror is hinged to an inside of the head.

11. A microwave oven comprising:

a control panel;

a scanner guide in the control panel;

a scanner drawable into the scanner guide and pushable out of the scanner guide; and

a driving section drawing the scanner into and pushing the scanner out of the scanner guide,

wherein the bar code scanner reads a bar code when in the scanner guide and when out of the scanner guide.

12. The microwave oven of claim 11, wherein the scanner guide extends toward a rear of the control panel, and includes a blocking jaw at a rear thereof restricting travel of the scanner when the scanner is drawn into the scanner guide.

13. The microwave oven of claim 11, wherein the driving section includes:

a forwardly and reversibly rotating motor having a driving shaft; and

a driving gear coupled to the motor and rotated by the driving shaft.

14. The microwave oven of claim 13, wherein the scanner includes a wire cover extending from a rear thereof, the wire cover having external threads which engage the driving gear.

15. The microwave oven of claim 14, wherein, when the driving gear is rotated in a first direction, the electric wire cover moves forwardly so as to push the scanner out of the scanner guide a specified distance, and, when the driving gear is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction, the electric wire cover moves rearward so as to draw the scanner into the scanner guide.

16. A scanner, comprising:

a body;

a light emitting device in the body and emitting light to read a bar code;

a light receiving device in the body receiving light reflected from the bar code and converting the received light into an electric signal; and

a head at an end of the body, the head including a window at an end thereof through which the emitted light and the reflected light pass,

wherein the head is in slant contact with the body so as to form an angle with respect to an axis of the body.

17. The scanner of claim 16, wherein the angle is about 45 degrees with respect to the axis direction of the body.

18. The scanner of claim 16, wherein the head is slidably installed at a connecting location where the head is connected to the body so as to be rotatable about a central axis thereof.

19. The scanner of claim 18, wherein the head includes a reflective mirror at an angle with respect to a inner surface of the head, the angle being changeable according to rotation of the head.

20. The scanner of claim 19, wherein an end of the reflective mirror is pivotably connected at a pivot point to the inner surface of the head, and wherein the scanner includes a spring at the point applying a restoring force to the reflective mirror to urge the reflective mirror close toward an inner wall of the head.