JP2002192785A - Slip handling unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a slip handling unit being employed in an automatic payment machine in which processing can be sustained even upon occurrence of erroneous set of a slip (medium) by an operator by recognizing the inserting direction on the machine side. SOLUTION: On the carrying passage 5 of a slip handling unit for processing payment sheets 90 and 91, means 41 and 55 for detecting the inserting direction of a slip by recognizing the image data thereof, an inverting mechanism 50, and means 41 and 56 performing reverse direction mode printing are disposed. If a decision is made that the slip is upside down based on the detection results, the slip is inverted by the inverting mechanism. If the direction of the slip is reversed, print processing is performed by reverse direction mode printing using reversed characters, thus preventing interruption of processing even if the inserting direction of slips is not arranged.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a post office,
Related to a form handling device for facilitating the handling of forms such as payment papers used by financial institutions such as banks, and in particular, care about the insertion (set) direction (front and back, front and back, etc.) of the form into the device. The present invention relates to a form handling device that can be operated without any problem.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a form handling apparatus that recognizes an insertion direction by image recognition or the like of an inserted form and controls printing processing and transport processing based on the recognition result.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a form handling apparatus such as an automatic payment processing apparatus, an abnormal insertion of a form such as a payment sheet by an operator is performed by an unconscious operation. If it is detected, the report is immediately returned to the operator, and at the same time, the voice guidance by the speaker and the guidance display on the display indicate to the operator that the form is inserted in the wrong direction, The operator was guided by saying "what to do" and the handling process such as printing on a form was interrupted. A well-known example relating to detection of a form insertion direction is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
There is a number.

[0003]

In the form handling apparatus according to the prior art described above, if the operation guidance is not transmitted to the operator, the same operation is repeated, or the operation guidance is transmitted to the operator. However, the operation of setting the form on the apparatus is repeated again, which is inconvenient for the operator. Further, the time required for processing by one operator (or processing for one sheet) is increased, and the operation efficiency of the apparatus is reduced.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a form and the like that can continue processing without making the operator aware of the case where an operator inserts a form such as a payment sheet by mistake. It is intended to provide a handling device.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a transporting means for transporting a form to be inserted, and a processing means for performing a predetermined process on the transported form. In the form handling device, the transport means may include:
Preprinted or preprinted characters, symbols,
Means for recognizing lines, image information such as the outer shape of the form, means for detecting the insertion direction of the form from the contents recognized by the recognizing means, and means different from the form according to the detection result of the detecting means. Perform handling.

[0006] Further, the transport means of the form handling apparatus is provided with a mechanism for turning over the form, and when the detecting means detects that the insertion direction of the form is upside down, the form is turned over. After the sheet is conveyed to the front / back inversion mechanism and the front / back inversion processing is performed, the processing of the form is continued.

Further, the processing on the form is printing on the form using a printing means. When the detecting means detects that the insertion direction of the form is reversed, the form is directly processed by the printing means. Then, the printing mode of the printing means is changed and the form is printed on the form in an inverted character.

[0008] Further, there is provided a collection means for collecting the form for which processing of the form has been completed for each form type, and the form is conveyed to different collection means in accordance with the form type detected by the detection means.

According to the present invention, image information such as characters preprinted on a form is recognized, and the handling of the form is changed based on the recognition result, so that processing according to the type of the form can be performed.

Further, according to the present invention, the form is provided with a front / back inversion mechanism, and when the form is inserted on the back side, the form is sent to the front / back inversion mechanism by transport control, and the processing is continued after the form is reversed on the front side. When processing on the front side of the form is required, even if the operator mistakenly inserts the back side, it can be detected and corrected on the device side without any notice to the operator, and the processing can be performed. Become like

Further, when a form is inserted upside down, the print processing mode on the form is reversed in the case of printing processing on the form, and the form is printed in an inverted character. Even if it is inserted before and after wrongly, the printing process on the form can be performed as it is without making the operator aware.

Therefore, even if the operator unknowingly inserts the payment paper in the insertion direction (front, back, front and back) erroneously, the medium is immediately returned and no resetting / reinsertion guidance is received as in the related art. It is possible to provide a form handling device that is easy to use and has a high processing speed.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, FIGS. 1 and 2 show an example of a payment sheet as a form handled by the form handling apparatus of the present embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows a general payment sheet 90 in which a payer (operator) fills in necessary information at a position defined in a format.
The postal code 1, the address / name 2, the telephone number 3, the payment amount 4, etc. are entered and used on the payment notification slip 10 and the payment slip 11 side. A perforation 12 is provided at the boundary between the payment notification form side 10 and the payment form 11, so that it can be easily cut. In addition, a mark is printed on the upper right corner of the payment slip 11 so that the position of the 100 stapling holes or perforations can be recognized.

Normally, when the payment form 90 is to be manually processed, the necessary information is entered in the payment form 90 and the cash amount of the payment is attached and submitted. The staff stamped and perforated 12
Then, the payment slip 11 is returned to the payer as a receipt (receipt), and the payment processing ends.

FIG. 2 shows a payment sheet 91 in which all the items entered by the payer described above are preprinted.
(Hereinafter, this is abbreviated as MT paper.) In FIG. 1, the postal code 1, address / name 2, telephone number 3, payment amount 4, etc., written by the payer are all pre-printed. No entry is required. ID code 14 for mechanically processing the payment paper 91
(Payment sheet type management code) and transaction data 15 are all numbers, codes, and symbols.
This is a big difference from 0.

Normally, when a post office worker or the like manually processes the payment paper 91, the same processing as that of the general payment paper 90 is performed. That is, when the payment paper 91 and the payment cash are attached and submitted, the payment notification slip 10 and the payment slip 11 are stamped with the handling reception mark 13 and cut at the perforation 12 to form a receipt (receipt) on the payment slip 11 side. Is returned to the payer, and the paying operation ends.

As payment papers other than those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the subscriber (trader) bears the handling fee.
One that is classified by printing color (for example, one that is printed in blue and red) as paid by the payer, and one that prints ID code 14 and the like for classification management on the general payment paper of FIG. 1 (not shown) And so on.

Next, an example of mechanically processing the payment sheets 90 and 91 will be described in detail.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an image printer 92 for processing payment sheets 90 and 91. (Hereinafter, the image printer 92 is abbreviated as IMPR92.) The IMPR92 is rarely used alone, and is usually used as a constituent unit of an ATM (automatic teller machine) or a device having a similar function. Used to be incorporated.

An insertion slot 51, conveying rollers 52a, 52b, 52c,
52d, 52e, 52f, and 52g are provided, and the pay-in sheets 90 and 91 are nipped and conveyed between both rollers. The insertion port transport roller 52a has an openable and closable mechanism, and a set sensor 53 for detecting insertion of the payment sheets 90 and 91 and a shutter 54 are provided behind the mechanism. On the rear side, a front / back reversing unit 50 for reversing the front and back of the payment sheets 90 and 91 as necessary is provided.

An image sensor 55 (hereinafter, referred to as a CCD sensor) of a known CCD contact type is provided between the transport rollers 52c and 52b.
The image sensor 55 is abbreviated as IMR55. ) Are arranged. The IMR 55 performs OCR character recognition of handwritten characters, preprinted payment amount 4, ID code 14, transaction data 15, etc. from the entire image data of the payment sheets 90 and 91.

A known wire dot matrix printing means 56 is disposed between the transport rollers 52c and 52d, and the recognition information 13 such as the name of the store and the date of reception shown in FIGS. , 91 at a predetermined position.

A gate 57 is provided between the transport rollers 52d and 52e. By appropriately switching the gate 57, the transport path 50 can be connected in various ways.
(In the present embodiment, an example of a two-branch transport path including the transport paths 40 and 40 'will be described.) Behind the transport rollers 52e and 52f, a collection box 58 that collects the paid sheets 90 and 91, for which the payment processing has been completed, by type. ,
59 are provided, and full recovery sensors 60 and 61 for detecting fullness are disposed in each collection box.

A control unit 41 connected to each unit for controlling the operation of each unit is connected to the control unit, and a control program to be operated by the control unit and image recognition are performed. A storage unit (memory) 42 that holds an image dictionary to be compared at the time exists as a component.

The processing operation of the IMPR 92 according to the present invention having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the operator inserts the transfer paper 91 into the insertion slot 51.
(501), the payment paper 91 is inserted into the shutter 54.
Hits the tip. At the same time, the paper set sensor 53 detects the insertion of the payment paper 91. Paper set sensor 5
The transport roller 52a is closed with the detection signal of 3 as a trigger, and the shutter 54 is opened and closed in conjunction with a gear motor (not shown) and a cam mechanism. Next, transport rollers 52a to 52
All the conveying rollers up to g are started to rotate in the suction direction, and the payment paper 91 is sucked (502). Paper set sensor 53
Detects the insertion of a sheet and also detects the width of the inserted sheet. If the width of the sheet is not within a certain range, the above processing is not performed. In this case, a sheet different from the payment sheet 91 is set or the payment sheet 91
Is set incorrectly in vertical and horizontal directions. Therefore,
A process for notifying the operator of the fact is performed without performing the above process. The specified value of the width serving as this reference is also stored in the memory 4.
2 is read out as needed and used for comparison.

Next, the tip of the drawn-in payment paper 91 is I
When detected by the MR activation sensor 53 ', the detection signal is used as a trigger to start capturing image data into the IMR 55, and the captured external image data of the payment sheet 91 is stored in the memory buffer. Then, after the lower end of the payment sheet 91 is detected by the IMR activation sensor 53 'and a predetermined amount is sucked and conveyed, the capture of the image data by the IMR 55 ends (503).

Thereafter, a front / back determination check and a front / back check are performed by comparing the image data taken in the payment paper 91 with the image dictionary holding the image of the form held in the memory 42. At the same time, the size, type, skew amount, character recognition, and the like are processed on the data stored in the memory buffer (505). As a result of the check, when there is no abnormality (when the form is inserted in the normal direction), the payment paper 9
1 is sucked and conveyed to the printing means 56, and
The recognition information 13 such as the reception date is printed at a predetermined position on the payment paper 91 (506).

At the time when the printing process is completed, the type of the payment sheet can be recognized from the data in the memory buffer described above, so that the switching of the gate 57 is switched as necessary (508). Then, the payment paper 91 is sucked and conveyed again, so that the payment paper 91 is collected in the collection box 58 or 59.
Is released and stacked (509).

Thereafter, a receipt for the end user (operator) is issued from another unit.

As described above, the processing of the payment paper 91 is completed. The detection of the fullness of the payment sheets stacked in each of the collection boxes 58 and 59 is detected by the fullness detection sensors 60 and 61, respectively, and is reported to the administrator when the fullness is reached.

Next, the features of the present invention in the case where an abnormality is found in the setting of the payment sheet 91 as a result of the check in step 505 will be described in detail.

When all the image data of the payment paper 91 stored in the memory buffer are schematically illustrated as image patterns according to the set state of the end user, FIG.
The four patterns (d) are obtained.

FIG. 4A shows a normal set state, in which both the front and rear directions and the front and back sides are normal. FIGS. 4B to 4D show abnormal set states, and these three patterns are to which the effect of the present invention is applied. The setting error in the vertical and horizontal directions is eliminated by detecting the width of the sensor 53. FIG. 4B shows a case where the front and back sets are normal, but the front-back direction is abnormal. FIG. 4C shows a case where the front and back sets are normal, but the front and back sets are abnormal. FIG. 4D shows a case where both the front and back sets and the front and back sets are abnormal.

If it is determined in step 505 that the setting state of the payment sheet is abnormal, it is next determined whether the payment sheet is the front side or the back side (510).

In the state shown in FIG. 4B, when the payment sheet is inserted, that is, when the image data is set in the front-back direction as compared with the normal setting state, it is recognized that the front and back setting directions are correct. Then, in the present invention, the processing mode of the payment sheet 91 is switched to the front / rear setting error mode (512). In this process, the image / character recognition range and the character recognition of the payment paper 91 are performed by reversing / reversing the data in all the memory buffers, and apparently executing the same data processing as in the normal set state (513). ).

In the printing process, the printing pattern in the normal setting is replaced with a printing pattern obtained by reversing the front-back direction by using the reverse CG font, and printing is performed at a predetermined position by combining a predetermined line feed operation. As far as possible, this is a process for obtaining the same printing result as the printing result in the normal setting (514).

Next, a case where the payment sheet 91 is inserted in the state shown in FIG. 4C will be described. In this case, FIG.
This is a state in which the front and back are reversed with respect to (a), and as a result of image data processing, when it is recognized as a front and back reversed set, in the present invention, the mode is switched to the front and back reversed mode (517).
In this process, the payment paper 91 is once conveyed to the front / back reversing part (5
18) This is a process for executing image / character recognition processing, printing processing, and collection processing after it is confirmed that the orientation of the payment sheet 91 has been corrected. (The reversing mechanism of the front / back reversing part is publicly known, and a description thereof is omitted in the present invention.) Next, a case where the payment sheet 91 is inserted in the state of FIG.

In this case, the set state is abnormal both in front and back and front and back with respect to FIG. As a result of the image data processing, it is found that the front and back are reversed.
In the same manner as in the process for (c), the pay-in sheet is conveyed to the front / back reversing mechanism 50 and reversed (517).

When the front and back are reversed, the IMR is again performed.
Image processing is performed at 55, and it is checked whether the set state has become normal (505). Here, an abnormality is detected, and FIG.
If it is detected that the state is the same as the state of (b), the mode is switched to the front / rear set reverse mode processing (512), and the same processing as the processing described in FIG. 4 (b) is repeated.

The details of the determination algorithm will be described.
The determination algorithm will be described in detail below. In this case, of all the image data of the payment paper 91, (1) a spelling hole or a preprint for a sizing hole is provided at the upper right corner. (2) The thick line frame c in the account number and amount columns is at a predetermined position. (3) Similarly, the oblique line k exists in the thick line frame c. (4) The ID code 14 and the amount 4 can be recognized. The set determination is performed by utilizing the fixed information of the pre-printing of the payment paper 91 such as

A normal set state of the payment sheet 91 is detected by checking an arbitrary combination of the data. That is, (1) there is a binding hole 100 in the upper right corner and the ID code 14
If it can be recognized, it is regarded as a normal set. (2) When the binding hole 100 is located at the upper left corner and the ID code 14 and the thick line frame c cannot be recognized, it is determined that the front / back inverted set is incorrect.
(3) If there is a spelling hole 100 in the lower left corner, and there is no ID code 14, amount 4, and oblique line k thick frame c, it is determined that the front and rear setting error. Note that this determination may be made in a single process of image processing by combining the above data or by collating with the image dictionary.

Next, the printing process in the case of a set error before and after is described in detail as follows. The printing position on the payment paper 91 is formatted as shown in FIG. (ABCD... Print line) Therefore, in the state of FIG. 6B in which the front and rear sets are reversed with respect to the normal set state (FIG. 6A), the printing process 2 in the front / reverse mode is performed. First, a character phone uses an inverted character font stored in a memory (storage unit) 42. (Alternatively, the reverse handling font may be issued to the host without sending the reverse printing font to the form handling device in advance, and the reverse printing font may be transmitted.) An editing process for rearranging the order so as to be convenient for printing in the reversal mode is performed (that is, the character string ABCD to be printed is DCBA).

Next, the character font of the character to be printed is read from the reverse font stored in the memory 42.

The printing start position on the pay-in sheet 91 starts from a position 12 from the upper end of the pay-in sheet 91 and a position w from the left end.
Prints DCBA at one pitch while performing line feed calculation control with reverse characters.

The printing start position of the payment paper 91 is such that the printing start position when the paper is normally inserted is S0, l from the upper left end of the paper.
1, the printing pitch P1 is defined, and is stored in the memory 42 together with the paper size (L, W). When printing in the front-reverse mode, S0 +
The print start position on the pay-in paper, which is reversed, is calculated and obtained by subtracting the value of (character number × print pitch, l1).

With this processing, the printing processing can be performed even in the case where the printing is reversed.

[0050]

According to the present invention, even when an operator (end user) mistakenly sets the insertion direction of the payment sheet in the insertion slot, the insertion state of the payment sheet is recognized on the apparatus side, and each insertion is performed. In the processing mode corresponding to the state, the printing process, the front / back reversing process, etc. are performed to interrupt the process and eliminate the process of returning the payment paper (form) to the operator once. It is possible to provide a form handling device that is easy to use for the operator.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a general payment sheet used in an automatic payment processing device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an MT sheet.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an image printer (IMPR) as an example of a form handling apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an insertion set pattern of a payment sheet.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a printing process in an upside down mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Postal code, 2: Address and name, 3: Telephone number, 4: Payment amount, 10: Payment notification slip, 11: Payment slip, 12: Perforation, 13: Handling office / acceptance date, 14: Type ID code ,
15: transaction data, 50: front / back inverted part, 51: insertion slot,
52a to 52d: conveyance roller, 53: medium detection sensor, 54: shutter, 55: optical detection means, 56: printing means, 58, 59: collection box

Claims (3)

[Claims] A form handling device for performing processing on the forms, an image data obtaining means for obtaining image data of the inserted forms, and a recognition from the image data obtained by the recognition means; Control means for detecting the set state of the forms based on the contents thus obtained, and a second mode for performing printing processing for forms in the first and second modes in which printing processing is performed for forms in a normally set state and for which the direction is reversed. A printing unit having a mode, and when the control unit detects that the inserted form is upside down, the upside down process is performed on the inserted form detected as upside down. A reversing mechanism, wherein the printing unit is configured to print the mark in the first mode or the second mode according to a set state of the front and back reversed forms before and after Paper sheet handling apparatus characterized by performing the process. 2. The form handling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means includes at least one of a position of a spelling hole, a position of a thick line frame, and an ID code of said form as said recognized contents. A form handling device characterized by using the following. 3. The form handling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of forms collection means, wherein said control means further determines the type of said form from the acquired image data, and inserts the form. The form collection means for collecting the inserted form is determined according to the type of the form.