Stand with a communication capability for a barcode reader

• US 6,405,926 B1
• Filed: 08/31/1999
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tohoku Ricoh Company Limited (Ricoh Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Tohoku Ricoh Company Limited (Ricoh Company Limited)
• Inventors: Kanehira, Kunihiko, Yomogida, Matsuo, Matsuda, Hideaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FUREMAN, JARED
• Application Number:
  US09/386,165
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.01, 235/462.43, 235/462.45, 235/462.46, 235/462.49, 235/472.01, 235/472.02, 235/472.03
• US Class Current: 235/462.46
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisions for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10772 Moved readers, e.g. pen, wand
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/109 adaptations to make the hand-held scanner useable as a fixed scanner

Abstract

A stand with a communication capability is formed with a communication pit in its top for receiving a pen type scanner. The communication pit is shaped complementarily to the scanner so as to prevent the scanner from shaking or rotating. An auxiliary circuit board stands upright on a printed circuit board built in the stand. An infrared transmission/receipt device is mounted on the auxiliary circuit board. The infrared transmission/receipt device faces an infrared communication port included in the scanner when the scanner is inserted into the communication pit.

Claims

1. A stand for a barcode reader, comprising:

holding means having a communication pit for holding the barcode reader;

an infrared communication means implemented by an infrared transmission/receipt means for interchanging data with the barcode reader;

wherein said infrared transmission/receipt means of said infrared communication means is so positioned as to face an infrared transmission/receipt means of said barcode reader when said barcode reader is held by said holding means; and

sensor means for sensing the barcode reader being inserted into said communication pit, wherein power is fed to said infrared communication means when said sensor means senses said barcode reader and wherein said barcode reader is movable in said holding means from a storage position in which said sensor is not activated to a position in which said sensor is activated to store data received from said barcode reader.

2. A stand as claimed in claim 1, wherein said infrared communication means comprises a buffer memory for temporarily storing data received from the barcode reader.

3. A stand as claimed in claim 1, wherein said holding means comprises at least one communication pit for receiving a tip portion of the barcode reader.

4. A stand as claimed in claim 3, further comprising sensor means for sensing the barcode reader inserted into said communication pit, wherein power is fed to said infrared communication means when said sensor means senses said barcode reader.

5. A stand as claimed in claim 3, wherein when the barcode reader is inserted into said communication pit, the infrared transmission/receipt device of said barcode reader is caused to automatically start operating.

6. A stand as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a light emitting means for emitting light toward the barcode reader when said barcode reader is inserted into said communication pit, wherein the infrared transmission/receipt means of said barcode reader starts operating in response to said light.

7. A stand as claimed in claim 3, wherein a hole is formed in an end of one of said communication pit and an auxiliary pit for causing dust to drop therethrough.

8. A stand as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensor means operates when the barcode reader is inserted into said communication pit and then moved in a particular direction.

9. A stand as claimed in claim 8, wherein said sensor means operates when the barcode reader is inserted into said communication pit and is then pushed deeper into said communication pit in an axial direction.

10. A stand for a barcode reader including an infrared transmission/receipt device, comprising:

holding means for holding the barcode reader;

infrared communication means implemented by an infrared transmission/receipt means for interchanging data with the barcode reader;

wherein said infrared transmission/receipt means of said infrared communication means is so positioned as to face said infrared transmission/receipt means of said barcode reader when said barcode reader is held by said holding means and wherein said holding means comprises at least one communication pit for receiving a tip portion of the barcode reader; and

sensing means for sensing the barcode reader being inserted into said communication pit wherein power is fed to said infrared communication means when said sensor means senses said barcode reader and wherein said holding means further comprises an auxiliary pit for receiving the tip portion of the barcode reader, but not including an infrared communication means.

11. A stand as claimed in claim 10, wherein a hole is formed in an end of one of said communication pit and said auxiliary pit for causing dust to drop therethrough.

12. A stand for a barcode reader including an infrared transmission/receipt device, comprising:

holding means for holding the barcode reader;

infrared communication means implemented by an infrared transmission/receipt means for interchanging data with the barcode reader;

wherein said infrared transmission/receipt means of said infrared communication means is so positioned as to face said infrared transmission/receipt device of said barcode reader when said barcode reader is held by said holding means; and

wherein said holding means comprises at least one communication pit for receiving a tip portion of the barcode reader and an auxiliary pit for receiving the tip portion of said barcode reader exclusive of said infrared communication means; and

sensing means for sensing the barcode reader being inserted into the said communication pit wherein power is fed to said infrared communication unit when said sensor means senses said barcode reader means and wherein said communication pit and said auxiliary pit extend from a single inlet and selectively receive the barcode reader, depending on an angle at which said barcode reader is inserted.

13. A stand for a barcode reader including an infrared transmission/receipt device, comprising:

holding means for holding the barcode reader;

infrared communication means implemented by an infrared transmission/receipt means for interchanging data with the barcode reader;

wherein said infrared transmission/receipt means of said infrared communication means is so positioned as to face said infrared transmission/receipt device of said barcode reader when said barcode reader is held by said holding means; and

wherein said holding means comprises at least one communication pit for receiving a tip portion of the barcode reader; and

sensing means for sensing the barcode reader being inserted into said communication pit, wherein power is fed from said infrared communication means when said sensor means senses said barcode reader;

wherein said sensor means operates when said barcode reader is inserted into said communication pit and is then moved in a particular direction; and

wherein said sensor means operates when the barcode reader is inserted into said communication pit and is then rotated about an axis thereof.

14. A stand for a barcode reader including an infrared transmission/receipt device, comprising:

holding means for holding the barcode reader;

infrared communication means implemented by an infrared transmission/receipt means for interchanging data with the barcode reader;

wherein said infrared transmission/receipt means of said infrared communication means is so positioned as to face said infrared transmission/receipt device of said barcode reader when said barcode reader is held by said holding means, wherein said holding means comprises at least one communication pit for receiving a tip portion of the barcode reader;

wherein when the barcode reader is inserted into said communication pit, the infrared transmission/receipt device of said barcode reader is caused to automatically start operating and wherein said holding means comprises a seesaw lever rotatable such that when the barcode reader is inserted into said communication pit, a tip of said barcode reader pushes one end of said seesaw lever and thereby causes said seesaw lever to bodily rotate with the result that the other end of said seesaw lever pushes a pushbutton switch for transmission provided on said barcode reader, thereby causing the infrared transmission/receipt device of said barcode reader to start operating.

15. A stand for a barcode reader including an infrared transmission/receipt device, comprising:

holding means for holding the barcode reader; and

infrared communication means implemented by an infrared transmission/receipt means for interchanging data with the barcode reader;

wherein said infrared transmission/receipt means of said infrared communication means is so positioned as to face said infrared transmission/receipt means of said barcode reader when said barcode reader is held by said holding means and wherein said holding means comprises a plurality of communication pits each for receiving a particular one of a plurality of barcode readers each having a particular configuration,

wherein said holding means further comprises an auxiliary pit for receiving a tip portion of said barcode reader, but not including an infrared communication means.

16. A stand as claimed in claim 15, further comprising sensor means for sensing the barcode reader inserted into any one of said plurality of communication pits, wherein power is fed to said infrared communication means when said sensor means senses said barcode reader.

17. A stand as claimed in claim 16, wherein said sensor means operates when the barcode reader is inserted into any one of said plurality of communication pits and then moved in a particular direction.

18. A stand as claimed in claim 17, wherein said sensor means operates when the barcode reader is inserted into any one of said plurality of communication pits and then pushed deeper into the communication pit in an axial direction.

19. A stand as claimed in claim 17, wherein said sensor means operates when the barcode reader is inserted into any one of said plurality of communication pits and then rotated about an axis thereof.

20. A stand as claimed in claim 15, wherein said plurality of communication pits and said auxiliary pit extend from a single inlet and selectively receive said barcode reader, depending on an angle at which said barcode reader is inserted.

21. A stand as claimed in claim 15, wherein when the barcode reader is inserted into any one of said plurality of communication pits, the infrared transmission/receipt means of said barcode reader is caused to automatically start operating.

22. A stand as claimed in claim 21, wherein said holding means comprises a seesaw lever rotatable such that when the barcode reader is inserted into any one of said plurality of communication pits, a tip of the barcode reader pushes one end of said seesaw lever and thereby causes said seesaw lever to bodily rotate with the result that the other end of said seesaw lever pushes a pushbutton switch for transmission provided on said barcode reader, thereby causing the infrared transmission/receipt means of said barcode reader to start operating.

23. A stand as claimed in claim 21, further comprising light emitting means for emitting light toward the barcode reader when said barcode reader is inserted into any one of said plurality of communication pits, wherein the infrared transmission/receipt device of said barcode reader starts operating in response to said light.

24. A stand as claimed in claim 15, wherein a hole is formed in an end of each of said plurality of communication pits or said auxiliary pit for causing dust to drop therethrough.

25. A stand for an image reading means having a communicating function, comprising:

holding means for holding the image reading device when said image reading means is mounted to said stand; and

communication means for interchanging data with the image reading means;

the image reading means being so positioned and held by said holding means as to be capable of communicating with said communication means; and

sensor means for sensing said image reading means being inserted into said holding means, wherein power is fed to said communication means when said sensor means senses said image reading means and wherein said image reading means is movable in said holding means from a storage position in which said sensor means is not activated and a position in which said sensor means is activated to store data received from said barcode reader.

26. A stand as claimed in claim 25, wherein the image reading means comprises a barcode reader including an infrared transmission/receipt means said communication means including infrared transmission/receipt means for interchanging data with said infrared communication/receipt means of said barcode reader.

27. A stand as claimed in claim. 26, wherein said infrared transmission/receipt means of said infrared communication unit faces said infrared transmission/receipt means of said barcode reader when the barcode reader is held by said holding means.