JP2001319185A - Reader and its adjusting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a reader which can eliminate the slippage of a reading position or a focal position and also to provide an adjustment method of the reader. SOLUTION: This reader is provided with a carrier means which carries a rewrite card 1 in a prescribed direction, a lens 14 which forms the image of a pattern that is formed on the surface of the card 1 carried by the carrier means on a prescribed position and a detection means which detects the image that is formed by the lens 14. Furthermore, a focus adjustment means 25 is added to the reader to shift the lens 14 toward its optical axis.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a reading device for reading a predetermined pattern printed on the surface of a rewritable card such as a point card, and more particularly, to an adjusting mechanism and an adjusting method of the reading device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A cloudy rewrite card has been widely used as a point card. Conventionally, only character information is printed on the surface of such a rewrite card, but recently, two-dimensionally encoded data has been printed. Note that magnetic data is also recorded on this rewrite card.

A reader / writer system reads magnetic data from the above-described rewrite card (read), writes magnetic data on the rewrite card (write), prints characters and two-dimensional codes on the surface of the rewrite card, and prints the data. This is a system that reads two-dimensional codes. This system reads and writes magnetic data,
A reader / writer unit for performing rewriting printing of a dimension code,
A scanning unit that scans the surface of the printed rewrite card and reads the printed two-dimensional code.

The scanning section has an optical system for optically reading a two-dimensional code printed on the surface of a rewritable card. This optical system, for example, illuminates the scan position on the surface of the rewritable card with an LED array,
An image of the two-dimensional code printed on the surface of the rewritable card is formed on a CCD line sensor by a lens.
The CD line sensor reads an image line by line.

[0005]

Due to variations in dimensions of components such as a lens and a CCD line sensor included in the above-mentioned optical system and variations in mounting positions of these components, the reading position is shifted or the image is not formed on the CCD line sensor. The focal position of the image that must be imaged may be shifted. This is a serious problem particularly when reading a fine pattern such as a two-dimensional code.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a reading apparatus and a method for adjusting the reading apparatus that can eliminate the deviation of the reading position and the deviation of the focal position.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a conveying means for conveying a rewritable card in a predetermined direction, and an image of a pattern formed on a surface of the rewritable card conveyed by the conveying means. In a reading apparatus having a lens that forms an image at a predetermined position and a detecting unit that detects an image formed by the lens, it is preferable that the reading apparatus include a focus adjusting unit that moves the lens in an optical axis direction of the lens. It is a reading device characterized by the following.

According to the above arrangement, since the lens can be moved in the optical axis direction of the lens by the focus adjusting means, the focal position of the lens can be adjusted. Can be eliminated.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a conveying means for conveying a rewritable card in a predetermined direction, and an image of a pattern formed on the surface of the rewritable card conveyed by the conveying means is formed at a predetermined position. A reading device having a lens to be rotated and a detecting device for detecting an image formed by the lens, wherein the reading device further includes a tilt device for tilting the detecting device with respect to an optical axis of the lens. .

According to the above construction, the tilt means
Since the detection means can be tilted with respect to the optical axis of the lens, it is possible to adjust the tilt of the detection means and eliminate the shift of the focal position due to the inclination of the detection means or the rewrite card with respect to the optical axis of the lens. Can be done.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a conveying means for conveying a rewritable card in a predetermined direction, and an image of a pattern formed on the surface of the rewritable card conveyed by the conveying means is formed at a predetermined position. In a reading apparatus having a lens to be made and a detection unit for detecting an image formed by the lens, the detection unit includes a detection unit having a width wider than the width of the image of the pattern formed on the surface of the rewritable card. And a detection start position control unit for controlling which position of the detection unit starts detection.

According to the above arrangement, the detecting means has a detecting portion having a width wider than the width of the image of the pattern formed on the surface of the rewritable card, and the detecting start position controlling means has any position of the detecting portion. Control whether to start detection from
The detection start position of the detection means can be adjusted, and the deviation of the detection start position can be eliminated.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a conveying means for conveying a rewritable card in a predetermined direction, and an image of a pattern formed on a surface of the rewritable card conveyed by the conveying means is formed at a predetermined position. A position detecting means for detecting a position in a direction in which the rewritable card is conveyed by the conveying means, and a position detecting means for detecting the position of the rewritable card in the reading apparatus. And a transport control means for controlling the transport means based on the detected position of the rewritable card.

According to the above construction, the position detecting means detects the position in the direction in which the rewriting card is conveyed by the conveying means, and the conveying control means detects the position of the rewriting card based on the position of the rewriting card detected by the position detecting means. Since the means is controlled, the position of the rewritable card in the direction in which the rewritable card is carried by the carrying means can be adjusted, and the deviation of the detection start position can be eliminated.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a conveying means for conveying a rewritable card in a predetermined direction, and an image of a pattern formed on a surface of the rewritable card conveyed by the conveying means is formed at a predetermined position. An adjustment method for a reading apparatus, comprising: a reading apparatus having a lens to be rotated and a detection unit for detecting an image formed by the lens, wherein the lens is moved in an optical axis direction of the lens.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a conveying means for conveying a rewritable card in a predetermined direction, and an image of a pattern formed on the surface of the rewritable card conveyed by the conveying means is formed at a predetermined position. An adjustment method for a reading device, comprising: a reading device having a lens to be rotated and a detecting device for detecting an image formed by the lens, wherein the detecting device is tilted with respect to an optical axis of the lens.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a conveying means for conveying a rewritable card in a predetermined direction, and an image of a pattern formed on the surface of the rewritable card conveyed by the conveying means is formed at a predetermined position. In a reading apparatus having a lens to be made and a detection unit for detecting an image formed by the lens, the detection unit includes a detection unit having a width wider than the width of the image of the pattern formed on the surface of the rewritable card. A method for adjusting a reading device, comprising: controlling which position of the detection unit starts detection.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, a conveying means for conveying a rewritable card in a predetermined direction, and an image of a pattern formed on the surface of the rewritable card conveyed by the conveying means is formed at a predetermined position. A reading device having a lens to be moved and a detecting means for detecting an image formed by the lens, detecting a position in a direction in which the card is conveyed by the conveying means, and detecting the position based on the detected position of the card. This is a method for adjusting a reading device, which comprises controlling a transport unit.

[0019]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a rewritable card 1 on which printing is performed by a reader / writer system according to the present embodiment. On the surface of the rewritable card 1, a two-dimensional code 2 is printed together with characters.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the reader / writer system in the present embodiment. This reader / writer system includes a reader / writer unit 3, a scanner unit 4, and a computer 5 having a display 5a. The reader / writer unit 3 reads and writes magnetic data on the rewritable card 1 and performs rewriting printing of characters and two-dimensional codes on the surface of the rewritable card 1. The scanner unit 4 scans the surface of the rewritable card 1 to read and decode the printed two-dimensional code. On the display 5a of the computer 5, a two-dimensional code read by the scanner unit 4 or decoded data is displayed. Then, the rewrite card 1 that has been read is ejected from the scanner unit 4.

The operation of the reader / writer system will be described. First, when the user inserts the rewrite card 1 into the reader / writer unit 3, the two-dimensional code printed on the surface of the rewrite card 1 is read, the read two-dimensional code is decoded, and the decoded data is sent to the computer 5. Sent. Then, the decoded data is displayed on the display 5a of the computer 5. next,
The magnetic data of the rewritable card 1 is read, and the read magnetic data is also displayed on the display 5a of the computer 5.

Next, the user uses the computer 5 to create magnetic data to be written on the rewritable card 1. The created magnetic data is sent to the reader / writer unit 3, where it is written to the rewrite card 1, and the written magnetic data is read out for verification.

Next, the user creates two-dimensional code and character data to be printed on the rewrite card 1 by using the computer 5 and sends the created data to the reader / writer unit 3 to write the data. The two-dimensional code and the character are printed on the surface of the rewritable card 1 based on the two-dimensional code.

Next, the rewrite card 1 is sent from the reader / writer section 3 to the scanner section 4, where the printed two-dimensional code is read, decoded, and verified (verified). If the collation result is OK,
The rewrite card 1 is ejected from the scanner unit 4.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the reader / writer unit 3 and the scanner unit 4. Reader / writer unit 3
Has an erase bar 6 for erasing rewrite printing, a thermal head 7 for performing rewrite printing, and a magnetic head 8 for reading and writing magnetic data.

The scanner section 4 has a transport path 9 through which the rewritable card 1 discharged from the reader / writer section 3 is transported.
And a roller 10 for transporting the rewritable card 1 along the transport path 9, and a home position sensor 11 provided at a predetermined position on the transport path 9.

Further, the scanner section 4 has an optical system for optically reading a two-dimensional code printed on the surface of the rewritable card 1. This optical system includes an LED array 12 that illuminates a scan position on the surface of the rewrite card 1 and a mirror 1 that bends the optical axis of light reflected from the rewrite card 1 by 90 degrees.
3 and a lens 1 that receives the reflected light bent by the mirror 13 and forms an image of a two-dimensional code printed on the surface of the rewritable card 1 on a CCD line sensor 15 described later.
4 and C for detecting the brightness of each point in the formed image
And a CD line sensor 15.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an optical system included in the scanner unit 4. The sub-scanning direction (Y direction) in the figure is a direction in which the rewritable card 1 is conveyed by the roller 10,
The main scanning direction (X direction) is a direction orthogonal to the sub scanning direction. The plurality of LEDs constituting the LED array 12 are arranged along the main scanning direction (X direction). And
Light emitted from the LED array 12 is reflected on the surface of the rewritable card 1 conveyed along the conveyance path 9, the optical path is bent 90 degrees by the mirror 13, and the line sensor 1 is
The image of the two-dimensional code printed on the rewritable card 1 is formed on the rewritable card 5.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an error of the optical system. If there is an error in the Xc direction on the surface of the rewritable card 1 in the figure, the imaging position on the CCD line sensor 15 in the Xs direction is shifted. If there is an error in the Yc direction on the surface of the rewritable card 1, the CCD line sensor 15
The imaging position in the upper Ys direction is shifted. Rewrite card 1
If there is an error in the Zc direction on the surface, the imaging position on the CCD line sensor 15 in the Zs direction, that is, the focus is shifted.

The rotation on the surface of the rewritable card 1 in the θc direction does not affect the image on the CCD line sensor 15, so that no adjustment is required. Rewrite card 1
When there is a rotation in the φc direction on the surface, the rotation in the φs direction on the CCD line sensor 15, that is, the focal position is C
The right and left ends of the CD line sensor 15 are shifted. If there is a rotation in the Δc direction on the surface of the rewritable card 1, the image on the CCD line sensor 15 rotates in the Δs direction.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a mechanism for adjusting the tilt angle φs of the CCD line sensor 15 with respect to the optical axis of the lens 14. The CCD line sensor 15 is fixed on a printed board 16. The printed board 16 is fixed on the tilt adjustment plate 17. The tilt adjustment plate 17 is
It is rotatable about a rotation shaft 18.

A micrometer fixing bracket 19 is fixed to a frame (not shown) in the scanner unit 4, and a micrometer 20 is fixed to the micrometer fixing bracket 19. This micrometer 20 is provided with the tilt adjustment plate 17.
Is arranged to push the end on the opposite side of the rotating shaft 18 so that the tilt angle φs of the tilt adjustment plate 17 can be adjusted. Rotation axis 1 of tilt adjustment plate 17
An elongated hole 21 is formed at the end opposite to 8, and a screw 22 is passed through the elongated hole 21. This screw 22
Are fixed to a frame (not shown) in the scanner unit 4. After the adjustment of the tilt angle φs is completed, the screw 22 is tightened, and the tilt angle φs of the tilt adjustment plate 17 is fixed.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a mechanism for adjusting the focal position of the lens 14. As shown in FIG. The lens 14 includes a lens mounting plate 23
It is fixed to. The lens 14 is provided with the scanner unit 4.
A support member 26 fixed to an inner frame (not shown) supports the movable member 26 in the optical axis direction. A micrometer fixing member 24 is also fixed to the support member 26, and a micrometer 25 is further fixed to the micrometer fixing member 24. The micrometer 25 can adjust the position of the lens 14 in the optical axis direction by pressing the lens mounting plate 23. After the position adjustment of the lens 14 is completed, the lens 14 is fixed by the fixing screw 27.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a mechanism for adjusting the position in the Y direction. The position in the Y direction is adjusted by transporting the rewrite card 1. First, the rewrite card 1 is transported from right to left by the rollers 10,
The leading edge of the rewritable card 1 blocks between the two home position sensors 11. Then, this is detected by the home position sensor 11, and from this position,
The rewrite card 1 is returned from the left to the right by a predetermined amount, and returned to the reading start position in the Y direction. By adjusting the return amount, the position in the Y direction is adjusted.

FIG. 9 is a view for explaining a mechanism for adjusting the position in the X direction. The position in the X direction is adjusted by changing the pixel at which detection is started in the CCD line sensor 15. That is, X of the rewrite card 1
Since there are variations in the positions in the directions, the CCD line sensor 15 is provided with a margin for pixels. The pixels of the CCD line sensor 15 are provided with a total of 2160 dots. On the other hand, an image corresponding to the width of the rewritable card 1 is incident on 1024 dots at the center of the CCD line sensor 15 if there is no error in the position of the rewritable card 1 in the X direction. Therefore, there is a margin of 1136 dots, and the dot position at which detection is started is adjusted using this margin.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an optical adjustment card that can be set on the scanner unit 4 instead of the rewrite card 1 during each of the above adjustments. The card positional deviation adjustment pattern in the figure is used for adjusting positional deviation in the X direction and the Y direction. The focus adjustment pattern in the figure is used for adjusting the focus position of the lens 14 and adjusting the tilt of the CCD line sensor 15.

FIG. 11 is an image displayed on the display 5a of the computer 5 when the focal position of the lens 14 is adjusted and the tilt of the CCD line sensor 15 is adjusted. This image includes a graph of signal strength obtained from each point in the focus adjustment pattern of the optical adjustment card, and an MTF value calculated from the signal strength at each point.

Here, the MTF will be described. FIGS. 12A and 12B are diagrams for explaining the MTF. FIG. 12A shows an original image, and FIG. 12B shows an image deteriorated due to defocus or the like.
MTF (Modulation Transfer Function) is a numerical value indicating the degree of blurring of an image, and is calculated by the following equation. MTF = (Lmax−Lmin) / (Lmax + Lmin) where the maximum value of the image luminance is Lmax and the minimum value is Lmin.

The procedure for adjusting the focal position of the lens 14 will be described. The optical adjustment card shown in FIG. 10 is inserted into the scanner section 4, and the image of the focus adjustment pattern of the optical adjustment card is scanned by the CCD line sensor 15. Then, an image as shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the display 5a of the computer 5. This image includes the display of the MTF value. In the display of the MTF value, the MTF values of the left portion, the center portion, and the right portion are displayed. The left part is
The detection area 102 of the CCD line sensor 15 shown in FIG.
Of the four dot pixels, 54
It indicates the area from the dot to the 120th dot. The central portion indicates the 479th dot to the 545th dot. The right portion indicates the 908th dot to the 974th dot. The position of the lens 14 in the optical axis direction is adjusted so that the left MTF value is equal to or more than a predetermined value. Therefore, the micrometer 25 shown in FIG. 7 is adjusted.

The procedure for adjusting the tilt of the CCD line sensor 15 is almost the same as the procedure for adjusting the focal position of the lens 14 described above. The optical adjustment card shown in FIG. 10 is inserted into the scanner section 4, and the image of the focus adjustment pattern of the optical adjustment card is scanned by the CCD line sensor 15. Then, on the display 5a of the computer 5,
An image as shown in FIG. 11 is displayed. This image is
Although the display of the MTF value is included, in the display of the MTF value, the MTF values of the left portion, the center portion, and the right portion are displayed. The left portion refers to a region from the 54th dot to the 120th dot starting from the detection start position among the 1024 dot pixels of the detection region of the CCD line sensor 15 shown in FIG.
The central portion indicates the 479th dot to the 545th dot. The right portion indicates the 908th dot to the 974th dot. The tilt angle of the CCD line sensor 15 is adjusted so that the MTF values of the left, center, and right portions are equal to or larger than a predetermined value. Therefore, the micrometer 20 shown in FIG. 6 is adjusted.

The procedure for adjusting the positions in the X and Y directions will be described. As shown in FIG. 9, the initial value of the scan start dot offset in the X direction is set to 568 dots, and the initial value of the scan start line offset in the Y direction is set to 136 lines.

First, the optical adjustment card shown in FIG. 10 is inserted into the scanner section 4, the image of the card position adjustment pattern near the leading end of the optical adjustment card is scanned by the CCD line sensor 15, and the scanned image data is read. It is displayed on the display 5a of the computer 5. Next, the image of the card position deviation adjustment pattern near the rear end of the optical adjustment card is scanned by the CCD line sensor 15, and the scanned image data is displayed on the display 5a of the computer 5 together with the previously displayed image data near the front end. Display.

Then, the scan start line offset in the Y direction is adjusted so that the top line of the card position deviation adjustment pattern is 15 to 20 lines from the top of the scan image. Specifically, the amount by which the rewrite card 1 advances from the position detected by the home position sensor 11 to the start of scanning is adjusted. This adjustment is performed by the user inputting the setting parameters from the computer 5 using keys.

Next, the scan start dot offset in the X direction is adjusted so that the left end line of the card position shift adjustment pattern falls within 20 to 30 dots of the scanned image. Specifically, the CCD line sensor 15 described above is used.
Change the pixel (dot) at which detection is started. This change is made when the user sets the setting parameters on the computer 5.
This is done by key input from.

FIG. 13 shows the card position deviation adjustment pattern near the leading end of the optical adjustment card shown in FIG. 10 read by the scanner unit 4 and displayed on the display 5 a of the computer 5. In (a) and (b) in the figure,
The positions in the Y direction are different.

[0046]

According to the present invention, it is possible to adjust the optical system of the scanner unit, so that the deviation of the reading position and the deviation of the focal position can be eliminated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an appearance of a rewritable card on which printing is performed by a reader / writer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a reader / writer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a reader / writer unit and a scanner unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an optical system included in a scanner unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an error of an optical system included in the scanner unit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a mechanism for adjusting a tilt angle of a CCD line sensor with respect to an optical axis of a lens.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a mechanism for adjusting a focal position of a lens.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a mechanism for adjusting a position in a Y direction.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a mechanism for adjusting a position in the X direction.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an optical adjustment card that is set on a scanner unit during adjustment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an image displayed on a display of a computer at the time of adjusting the focal position of the lens and adjusting the tilt of the CCD line sensor.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining MTF.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an image displayed on a display of a computer when a scanner unit reads a card position shift adjustment pattern near the leading end of an optical adjustment card.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 rewrite card 2 two-dimensional code 3 reader / writer unit 4 scanner unit 5 computer 5a display 6 erase bar 7 thermal head 8 magnetic head 9 transport path 10 roller 11 home position sensor 12 LED array 13 mirror 14 lens 15 CCD line sensor 16 printed circuit board DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 17 Lift adjustment plate 18 Rotation axis 19 Micrometer fixing bracket 20 Micrometer 21 Slot 22 Screw 23 Lens mounting plate 24 Micrometer fixing member 25 Micrometer (focus adjustment means) 26 Support member 27 Fixing screw

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A conveying means for conveying a rewritable card in a predetermined direction, a lens for forming an image of a pattern formed on a surface of the rewritable card conveyed by the conveying means at a predetermined position, A reading device having detection means for detecting a formed image, comprising: a focus adjustment means for moving the lens in the optical axis direction of the lens. 2. A transport means for transporting the rewrite card in a predetermined direction, a lens for forming an image of a pattern formed on the surface of the rewrite card transported by the transport means at a predetermined position, A reading device having detection means for detecting a formed image, further comprising tilt means for tilting the detection means with respect to the optical axis of the lens. 3. A transport means for transporting the rewrite card in a predetermined direction, a lens for forming an image of a pattern formed on the surface of the rewrite card transported by the transport means at a predetermined position, and A detection unit for detecting the formed image, wherein the detection unit has a detection unit having a width wider than the width of the image of the pattern formed on the surface of the rewritable card; A reading device comprising: a detection start position control unit that controls which position to start detection. 4. A transport means for transporting the rewrite card in a predetermined direction, a lens for forming an image of a pattern formed on the surface of the rewrite card transported by the transport means at a predetermined position, A reading device having detection means for detecting a formed image; a position detection means for detecting a position in a direction in which the rewrite card is conveyed by a conveyance means; and a position of the rewrite card detected by the position detection means. And a transport control means for controlling the transport means based on the information. 5. A transport means for transporting a rewrite card in a predetermined direction, a lens for forming an image of a pattern formed on the surface of the rewrite card transported by the transport means at a predetermined position, A reading apparatus comprising: a detection unit configured to detect a formed image; wherein the lens is moved in an optical axis direction of the lens. 6. A transport means for transporting a rewrite card in a predetermined direction, a lens for forming an image of a pattern formed on the surface of the rewrite card transported by the transport means at a predetermined position, and a lens comprising: A reading device having detection means for detecting a formed image, wherein the detection means is inclined with respect to an optical axis of the lens. 7. A conveying means for conveying a rewritable card in a predetermined direction, a lens for forming an image of a pattern formed on a surface of the rewritable card conveyed by the conveying means at a predetermined position, and the lens A detection unit for detecting the formed image, wherein the detection unit has a detection unit having a width wider than the width of the image of the pattern formed on the surface of the rewritable card; A method for adjusting a reading device, comprising controlling which position to start detection. 8. A transport means for transporting the rewrite card in a predetermined direction, a lens for forming an image of a pattern formed on the surface of the rewrite card transported by the transport means at a predetermined position, A detecting device for detecting the formed image, wherein a position of the card in a direction in which the card is transported by the transporting device is detected, and the transporting device is controlled based on the detected position of the card. A method for adjusting a reading device.