Barcode reader with off-platter detection
A barcode reader has a housing, a weigh platter, and an off-platter detection assembly including an imaging assembly in communication with a controller. The imaging assembly has an imager configured to capture an image of first and second lateral edges of the weigh platter and having a field-of-view extending over an upper surface of the weigh platter. The controller is configured to: identify and locate the first and second lateral edges based upon a training image; receive the image from the imager; allow the measured weight to be recorded if determined that a footprint of an object positioned on the weigh platter does not extend over the first and second lateral edges based on the image; and prevent the measured weight from being recorded and/or providing and alert to a user if determined that the footprint of the object does extend over the first and/or second lateral edges.
1. A barcode reader configured to be supported by a workstation, the barcode reader comprising:
a housing having a lower housing and an upper housing extending above the lower housing;
a weigh platter positioned within the lower housing and configured to measure a weight of an object placed on the weigh platter, the weigh platter having an upper surface facing a product scanning region, a proximal edge adjacent the upper housing, a first lateral edge extending non-parallel to the proximal edge, a second lateral edge, opposite the first lateral edge, extending non-parallel to the proximal edge, and a distal edge, opposite the proximal edge, extending non-parallel to the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge; and
an off-platter detection assembly comprising:
an imaging assembly positioned within the upper housing and including an imager having a field-of-view extending over the upper surface of the weigh platter, the field-of-view having an upper boundary, a lower boundary, a first lateral boundary, and a second lateral boundary, the imager configured to capture an image of the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge of the weigh platter within the field-of-view; and
a controller in communication with the imaging assembly, the controller configured to:
identify and locate the first and second lateral edges based upon a training image of the upper surface of the weigh platter within the field-of-view, the training image comprising an image of the weigh platter without an object and the first and second lateral edges within the field-of-view;
receive the image from the imager;
allow the measured weight to be recorded by a host system operatively coupled to the controller in response to the controller determining that a footprint of an object positioned on the weigh platter does not extend over the first and second lateral edges based on the image; and
prevent the measured weight from being recorded by the host system and/or providing an alert to a user in response to the controller determining that the footprint of the object does extend over the first and/or second lateral edges based on the image.
2. The barcode reader of claim 1 , wherein the field-of-view has a central axis that extends upward above the upper surface and the lower boundary of the field-of-view is substantially adjacent and substantially parallel to the upper surface.
3. The barcode reader of claim 2 , wherein the central axis is aimed upward away from the upper surface at an angle within the range of 15 degrees and 25 degrees relative to the upper surface.
4. The barcode reader of claim 1 , wherein the field-of-view has a central axis that is aimed downward towards the upper surface of the weigh platter.
5. The barcode reader of claim 4 , wherein the lower boundary of the field-of-view intersects the upper surface of the weigh platter at or substantially adjacent to the proximal edge.
6. The barcode reader of claim 5 , wherein the lower boundary of the field-of-view intersects the upper surface of the weigh platter within the range of 0 mm to the proximal edge and 30 mm to the proximal edge.
7. The barcode reader of claim 1 , wherein the field-of-view comprises a field-of-view angle within the range of 100 degrees and 135 degrees.
8. The barcode reader of claim 1 , wherein the barcode reader is a bioptic barcode reader and comprises:
a generally horizontal window positioned at the upper surface of the lower housing, the generally horizontal window configured to allow a first light to pass between the product scanning region and an interior region of the housing; and
a generally upright window positioned in the upper housing, the generally upright window configured to allow a second light to pass between the product scanning region and the interior region of the housing.
9. A barcode reader configured to be supported by a workstation, the barcode reader comprising:
a housing having a lower housing and an upper housing extending above the lower housing;
a weigh platter positioned within the lower housing and configured to measure a weight of an object placed on the weigh platter, the weigh platter having an upper surface facing a product scanning region, a proximal edge adjacent the upper housing, a first lateral edge extending non-parallel to the proximal edge, a second lateral edge, opposite the first lateral edge, extending non-parallel to the proximal edge, and a distal edge, opposite the proximal edge, extending non-parallel to the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge; and
an off-platter detection assembly comprising:
an overhead imaging assembly positioned above the weigh platter and including an imager having a field-of-view extending downward towards the upper surface of the weigh platter, the field-of-view having a central axis that extends perpendicular to the upper surface, the imager configured to capture an image of the upper surface of the weigh platter, including the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge, within the field-of-view; and
a controller in communication with the imaging assembly, the controller configured to:
identify and locate the first and second lateral edges based upon a training image of the upper surface of the weigh platter within the field-of-view, the training image comprising an image of the weigh platter without an object and the first and second lateral edges within the field-of-view;
receive the image from the imager;
allow the measured weight to be recorded by a host system operatively coupled to the controller in response to the controller determining that an object positioned on the weigh platter does not extend over the first and second lateral edges based on the image; and
prevent the measured weight from being recorded by the host system and/or providing an alert to a user in response to the controller determining that the object positioned on the weigh platter does extend over the first and/or second lateral edges based on the image.
10. The barcode reader of claim 9 , wherein a proximal boundary of the field-of-view intersects the upper surface of the weigh platter at or substantially adjacent to the proximal edge.
11. The barcode reader of claim 10 , wherein the proximal boundary of the field-of-view intersects the upper surface of the weigh platter within the range of 0 mm to the proximal edge and 30 mm to the proximal edge.
12. The barcode reader of claim 9 , wherein the field-of-view comprises a transverse field-of-view angle within the range of 100 degrees and 135 degrees.
13. The barcode reader of claim 9 , wherein the barcode reader comprises a gooseneck post that extends from a back of the housing and extends over the weigh platter and the imaging assembly is positioned within the gooseneck post.
14. The barcode reader of claim 9 , wherein the barcode reader is a bioptic barcode reader and comprises:
a generally horizontal window positioned at the upper surface of the lower housing, the generally horizontal window configured to allow a first light to pass between the product scanning region and an interior region of the housing; and
a generally upright window positioned in the upper housing, the generally upright window configured to allow a second light to pass between the product scanning region and the interior region of the housing.
15. A barcode reader configured to be supported by a workstation, the barcode reader comprising:
a housing having a lower housing and an upper housing extending above the lower housing;
a weigh platter positioned within the lower housing and configured to measure a weight of an object placed on the weigh platter, the weigh platter having an upper surface facing a product scanning region, a proximal edge adjacent the upper housing, a first lateral edge extending non-parallel to the proximal edge, a second lateral edge, opposite the first lateral edge, extending non-parallel to the proximal edge, and a distal edge, opposite the proximal edge, extending non-parallel to the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge; and
an off-platter detection assembly comprising:
an imaging assembly positioned within the upper housing and including a first imager having a first field-of-view extending over the upper surface of the weigh platter, the first field-of-view having an upper boundary, a lower boundary that extends generally parallel to the upper surface, a first lateral boundary, and a second lateral boundary, the first imager configured to capture a first image of the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge of the weigh platter within the first field-of-view;
an overhead imaging assembly positioned above the weigh platter and including a second imager having a second field-of-view extending downward towards the upper surface of the weigh platter, the second field-of-view having a central axis that extends perpendicular to the upper surface, the second imager configured to capture a second image of the upper surface of the weigh platter, including the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge, within the second field-of-view; and
a controller in communication with the imaging assembly and the overhead imaging assembly, the controller configured to:
identify and locate the first and second lateral edges based upon a first training image of the upper surface of the weigh platter within the first field-of-view, the first training image comprising an image of the weigh platter without an object and the first and second lateral edges within the first field-of-view;
identify and locate the first and second lateral edges based upon a second training image of the upper surface of the weigh platter within the second field-of-view, the second training image comprising an image of the upper surface of the weigh platter without an object and the first and second lateral edges within the second field-of-view;
receive the first image from the first imager and the second image from the second imager;
allow the measured weight to be recorded by a host system operatively coupled to the controller in response to: (1) the controller determining that a footprint of an object positioned on the weigh platter does not extend over the first and second lateral edges based on the first image; and/or (2) the controller determining that the object positioned on the weigh platter does not extend over the first and second lateral edges based on the second image; and
prevent the measured weight from being recorded by the host system and/or providing an alert to a user in response to: (1) the controller determining that the footprint of the object does extend over one of the first and/or second lateral edges based on the first image; and (2) the controller determining that the object does extend over the one of the first and/or second lateral edges based on the second image.
16. The barcode reader of claim 15 , wherein the first field-of-view has a central axis that extends upward above the upper surface and the lower boundary of the first field-of-view is substantially adjacent and substantially parallel to the upper surface.
17. The barcode reader of claim 16 , wherein central axis is aimed upward away from the upper surface at an angle within the range of 15 degrees and 25 degrees relative to the upper surface.
18. The barcode reader of claim 15 , wherein the first field-of-view comprises a field-of-view angle within the range of 100 degrees and 135 degrees.
19. The barcode reader of claim 15 , wherein the first field-of-view has a central axis that is aimed downward towards the upper surface of the weigh platter.
20. The barcode reader of claim 19 , wherein the lower boundary of the first field-of-view intersects the upper surface of the weigh platter at or substantially adjacent to the proximal edge.
21. The barcode reader of claim 20 , wherein the lower boundary of the first field-of-view intersects the upper surface of the weigh platter within the range of 0 mm to the proximal edge and 30 mm to the proximal edge.
22. The barcode reader of claim 15 , wherein a proximal boundary of the second field-of-view intersects the upper surface of the weigh platter at or substantially adjacent to the proximal edge.
23. The barcode reader of claim 22 , wherein the proximal boundary of the second field-of-view intersects the upper surface of the weigh platter within the range of 0 mm to the proximal edge and 30 mm to the proximal edge.
24. The barcode reader of claim 15 , wherein the second field-of-view comprises a transverse field-of-view angle within the range of 100 degrees and 135 degrees.
25. The barcode reader of claim 15 , wherein the barcode reader comprises a gooseneck post that extends from a back of the housing and extends over the weigh platter and the imaging assembly is positioned within the gooseneck post.
26. The barcode reader of claim 15 , wherein the barcode reader is a bioptic barcode reader and comprises:
a generally horizontal window positioned at the upper surface of the lower housing, the generally horizontal window configured to allow a first light to pass between the product scanning region and an interior region of the housing; and
a generally upright window positioned in the upper housing, the generally upright window configured to allow a second light to pass between the product scanning region and the interior region of the housing.