GB2229677A

GB2229677A - Registry of selectively printed data with respect to code-marked documents

Info

Publication number: GB2229677A
Application number: GB9004154A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Akiyasu Miyazawa; Nobuo Fujimoto
Original assignee: Hitachi Ltd
Current assignee: Hitachi Ltd
Priority date: 1989-03-10
Filing date: 1990-02-23
Publication date: 1990-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 2010-02-23
Also published as: JPH02235780A; JP2765920B2; GB9004154D0; DE4007015C2; GB2229677B; CN1045475A; KR920006772B1; KR900015017A; DE4007015A1; CN1018393B

Description

1 "APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF READING AND PRINTING MEDIUM INFORMATION"

The present invention relates to an apparatus for and a method of reading and printing medium information for optically reading information recorded on 5 a print medium of a passbook and the like.

Heretofore, recording information items of a passbook medium include bar code information items employed to discriminate pages and types of the passbook and print completion line information items disposed to detect a new print line. The bar code information items are briefly classified into two kinds includin vertical and horizontal bar codes. These information items as well as print positions of the constituent elements thereof vary between va---4ous firms and c=panies. Furthermore, print positions of the elements on print lines, namely, in the horizontal and vertical directions have not been necessarily standardized. This inevitably leads to a disadvantage that arrangements of optical sensors and optical reading or recognition methods also vary in association with the positional relationships of the bar codes.

An apparatus of this kind has been described, for example, in the JP-A-56153479.

In the prior art technology, the bar code reading operation and the print completion line 1 1 detection are accomplished in many cases by means of a plurality of independent optical sensors, image sensors, or the like. However, in either case, the optical sensors are fixed in association with a recording position of the bar codes on a medium. Namely, such an apparatus is available only for a particular recording medium. Considerations have not given to the alteration of recording positions at an intermediate point of the operation, passbook layouts uniquely designed for respective bansk, etc.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to enable relative positions to be arbitra:ily altered between the recording medium and the optical sensors and to remove the conventional restrictive corlk'.--L-,.A4.ons imposed on the layout of media in the prior art technology so as to detect vertical and horizontal bar codes and the print completion line.

In order to achieve the object above, accord- ance with the present invention, optical sensors are installed on a print head carrier such that the optical sensors move, like in the print operation employing an ordinary print head, toward an arbitrary print character position.

For an optical sensor moving transversely over a medium toward a particular position in the transversal direction of the medium, it is possible for the medium 1 to determine a position in a longitudinal direction of the medium through a carrying or feeding operation of the medium so as to select an arbitrary position on the medium aligned with the transversal direction above.

For the vertical bar codes, the trace operation is conducted in the transversal direction; whereas, the horizontal bar codes are traced in the longitudinal direction in which the medium is conveyed, thereby achieving the read operation for both bar codes.

over, when detecting a print completion line, a position specified in the transversal direction of the medium is first determined, and then the trace operation is conducted in the longitudinal direction in which the medium is conveyed, thereby reading a character strihg beforehand printed on the medium.

The present invention will now be described in greater detail by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by reference to the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a medium information reading and printing apparatus to which the present invention is applied; FIG. 2A is a diagram schematically showing a conventional method of reading bar codes and of detecting a print completion line of the prior art;

FIG. 2B is a diagram schematically showing 1 a method of reading bar codes and of detecting a print completion line in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showin g a state in which an optical sensor unit is installed on a print head carrier; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram useful to explain a state of a trace operation conducted when an optical sensor reads horizontal bar codes and then detects a print completion line; FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation in which the optical sensor reads horizontal bar codes and then detects a print completion line; FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a state of a trace operation conducted when an optical sensor reads vertical bar codes and then detects a print completion line; and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation in which the optical sensor reads vertical bar codes and then detects a print completion line.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a description will be given of a medium information reading and printing apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

In this configuration, a passbook 1 (to be called a medium herebelow) is installed into a lower inserter 2 so as to be moved into the apparatus 4 by 1 means of a transport roller 3. When the position of a magnetic stripe 5 recorded on the medium 1 matches with the position of a magnetic head 6, the medium 1 is stopped so as to read information recorded on the stripe 5 5, thereby attaining objective information items.

Based on the information items thus read from the stripe 5, an enquiry is made to a central processing unit (not shown) to check an account of a transaction to be effected, the balance of the account, and the like. When the enquired items are appropriate for the transaction, the system carries out the transaction based on the correct information items. The medium 1 is further carried into the apparatus 4 depending on a result of the transaction just achieved so as to print transaction information in a print section including a platen 7 and a print head 8. When the necessary characters are completely printed thereon, in order to update the content of the information on the magnetic stripe 5 of the medium 1 with the transaction result, the medium 1 is moved backward so as to match the position of the magnetic stripe 5 with that of the magnetic head 6. After the content is updated, the medium 1 is ejected onto the lower inserter 2. There is also disposed an upper inserter 9 to reserve an approval record of the transaction result. Namely, when necessary, an approval medium (not shown) is installed into the upper inserter 9 so as to be moved into the apparatus 4 by use of the roller 11 for the approval 1 print operation.

The print head 8 is mounted on a print head carrier, not shown. An optical sensor 12 is installed on the print head carrier. Furthermore, the optical sensor may also be attached onto the print head 8.

In this apparatus 4, when a character recording operation is conducted on the medium 1, in order to guarantee the printing of characters to be printed on a line next to the line of the previous transaction, the central processing unit instructs the update print line based on the information contained in the magnetic stripe 5 of the medium 1. By use of the instruction, the medium 1 is stopped at a desired position to accomplish the appropriate print operation.

In a transaction in which the medium 1 is not provided with a magnetic stripe or the recording information of the update print line is missing, the operator is required to directly specify a print line or it is necessary to retrieve the print completion line so as to print the characters on an available line thus detected.

Referring next to FIG. 2A, a description will be given of the conventional method of reading bar codes and of detecting a print completion line.

In the prior art technology, there are independently disposed an optical sensor 20 for reading bar code 15 and an optical sensor 21 for detecting print completion line 14. These sensors 20 and 21 are 1 arranaed at the fixed Dositions The sensor 21 functions to optically read a particular character string, for example, such fixed print information as hyphens employed to link the year, month, and day in a data field.

The sensor 20 optically reads fixed information, for example, page information to control the pertinent page recorded in the bar code 15.

As described above, according to the prior art technology, the optical sensors 20 and 21 are independ ently and fixedly arranged. In consequence, the apparatus utilizing this configuration cannot cope with any media having the different bar code position or the different layout of print character strings. 1 is Referring next to FIG. 2B, a description will be given of a method of reading bar codes and of detecting a print completion line in accordance with the present invention.

According to the present invention, an optical sensor (a spot sensor) 12 is installed on the print head carrier so as to transversally move over the medium 1 in the directions indicated by an arrow mark (i.e. in the vertical direction with respect to the medium 1).

As a result, the print head carrier can be controlled so as to be stopped at the particular character string of a print completion line 14 on the medium 1. Thereafter, by moving the medium 1 by use of 1 rollers 3 and 31, it is possible to detect the print completion line by use of the spot sensor 12.

Moreover, when the print head carrier 'is moved in the transversal direction with respect to the medium (i.e. the vertical trace is accomplished), the vertical bar codes can be read. On the other hand, when the medium 1 is transported and then the print head carrier conducts a longitudinal trace with respect to the medium 1, the horizontal bar codes can also be read from the medium 1.

In accordance with the present invention, as a result, media of the different layouts may also be advantageously coped with.

FIG. 3 shows an example of means for mounting a spot sensor implementing a highly accurate and highly reliable operation to read printed items in a limited space of the print head carrier. In the constitution of FIG. 3, the spot sensor 12 installed on the print head carrier only comprises an optical sensor section.

Namely, a section for converting optical information on the medium into an electric signal is arranged in a portion 17 on a circuit board 16 of the apparatus 4. The optical sensor section is connected to the converting section by use of an optical cable having a high flexibility. With this constitution, the spot sensor 12 ca-n be easily mounted on the print head carrier; furthermore, there is implemented a sensor method with a high reliability against external noises appearing I- 1 in the process to convert the optical information into the electric signal. Operations of the present invention will now be described. 5 Referring first to FIGS. 4 and 5, a description will be given of a case where the system reads a horizontal bar code 41 attached onto the medium 1 and senses and detects a final print completion line 43. In FIG. 4, there is indicated by a broken line

40 a state of tracing conducted by the optical sensor 12 installed on the print head carrier.

First, the carrier is moved in a horizontal direction with respect to the medium 1 (step 501).

The carrier is then stopped at a bar code position 41 (step 502).

By transporting the medium 1, the print head carrier conducts a trace operation in the longitudinal direction relative to the medium 1 (step 503).

Through the tracing in the longitudinal direction, bar code information is obtained (step 504).

The carrier is moved in the horizontal direction with respect to the medium 1 (step 505).

The carrier is then halted at a specified character string position 42 (step 506).

By transporting the medium 1, the print head carrier effects a trace operation in the longitudinal direction relative to the medium 1 (step 507).

1L 1 Through the tracing thus achieved in the longitudinal direction, the final print completion line 43 is sensed in the character string 42 (step 508).

A predetermined print operation is commenced from the line next to the final print completion line 43 (step 509).

Referring subsequently to FIGS. 6 and 7, a description will be given of a case where the system reads a vertical bar code 61 attached onto the medium

1 and senses and detects a final print completion line 63. In FIG. 6, a broken line 60 indicates a state of tracing carried out by the optical sensor 12 installed on the print head carrier. First, the carrier is moved in a vertical direction with respect to the medium 1 to achieve a vertical trace operation (step 701). The carrier is then stopped at a bar code position 61 (step 702). 20 The print head carrier conducts a trace operation in the horizontal direction relative to the medium 1 (step 703). Through the tracing in the vertical direction, bar code information is obtained (step 704). 25 The carrier is further moved in the vertical direction with respect to the medium 1 (step 705). The carrier is then halted at a specified character string position 62 (step 706).

r 1 By transporting the medium 1, the print head carrier effects a trace operation in the vertical direction relative to the medium 1 (step 707).

Through the tracing thus achieved in the vertical direction, the final print completion line 63 is sensed in the character string 62 (step 708).

A predetermined print operation is initiated from the line next to the final print completion line 63 (step 709).

The character string positions (42 and 62 of FIGS. 4 and 6, respectively) may be specified depending on the bar code information or on an instruction transmitted from an upper-level system (not shown).

Alternatively, furthermore, the character string positions may be determined depending on information recorded in the magnetic stripe 5 disposed on the medium 1.

Judgement to decide whether the system is to read a vertical or horizontal bar code may be conducted by checking a specification supplied from the central processing unit (not shown) or on information recorded in the magnetic stripe 5.

While the particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art-that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the present invention in its broader aspects.

1 k&

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A medium information reading and printing apparatus for

receiving a medium containing a bar code on which fixed information such as page information is recorded and print information such as a character string so as to achieve a predetermined print operation thereon comprising: transport means for transporting the medium; print means for printing characters on the medium while moving the medium in a direction orthogonal to a transporting direction in which said transport means transports the medium; and optical read means installed on said print means for reading fixed information recorded on the bar code and for sensing the print information. 2. A medium information reading and printing apparatus having optical read means and print means for receiving a medium containing print information such as a character string to sense a print completion line by use of optical sense means so as to achieve a predetermined character printing by use of said print means based on the sensed print completion line wherein: said optical read means being separated into an optical sense section and an electric signal conversion section; said optical sense section being installed on said print means; said electric signal conversion section being

1 arranged on a circuit board of said apparatus; and said optical sense section being connected to said electric signal conversion section by use of an optical cable.

3. A method of reading and of printing medium information in an apparatus having print means with an optical read means installed thereon for receiving a medium containing a bar code in which fixed information such as page information is recorded and print infor mation such as a character string so as to achieve a predetermined character printing comprising:

a step for judging to determine whether the bar code attached onto the medium is a horizontal bar code or a vertical bar code; a step operative when the bar code is a horizontal bar code for transporting the medium to read the fixed information recorded on the bar code by use of said optical read means; a step operative when the bar code is a vertical bar code for moving said print means in a direction orthogonal to the medium transporting direc tion so as to read the fixed information recorded on the bar code by use of said optical read means installed on said print means; a step for moving said print means in a direction orthogonal to the medium transporting direction so as to stop said print means at a specified print information string; and 0 y-b a step for transporting the medium to sense a print completion line of the specified character infor mation string by use of said optical read means.

4. A method of reading and of-printing medium information according to Claim 3 wherein the print information string is specified from an upper-level system connected to said apparatus.

5. A method of reading and of printing medium information according to Claim 3 wherein the print information string specification is effected depending on information contained in the magnetic stripe attached onto the medium.

6. A method of reading and of printing medium information according to Claim 3 wherein the print information string specification is effected depending on the fixed information recorded on the bar code thus read.

7. A method of reading and of printing medium information in an apparatus having print means with an optical read means installed thereon for receiving a medium containing print information such as a character string so as to achieve a predetermined character printing comprising:

a step for moving the print means in a direction orthogonal to the medium transporting direction so as to stop the print means at a specified print information string; and a step for transporting the medium to sense 1 - is - a print completion line of the specified character information string by use of the optical read means installed on the print means.

8. A method of reading and of printing medium information according to Claim 7 wherein the print information string is specified from an upper-level system connected to said apparatus.

9. A method of reading and of printing medium information according to Claim 7 wherein the print information string specification is effected depending on information contained in the magnetic strips attached onto the medium.

10. A method of reading and of printing medium information according to Claim 7 wherein the print information string specification is effected depending on the fixed information recorded on the bar code thus read.

11. A medium information reading and printing apparatus constructed substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Publialted 199D at rnellitentC)Mce. State House.6871 High Bolborn. IcndonWC11R4TP.Purtheroopieabe obtained from The Patent Office AC.4 branch, at MLry Oray. Ojpinron, Kent BR5 5RD. Printed by M113Uplex UchWqueg It& at M&V Cr&y, Kent. Con 1,87