JP2003341881A - Document processor and document processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a document processor and a document processing method for surely discriminating mixing of different documents. <P>SOLUTION: The transmittance of light in each of two or more different areas of a transported document 500 is detected, and the detected values are compared with each other. When there is no difference between the transmittance of light in a specified area 500c and transmittance in the other areas 500a, 500b, the document is determined to be cut paper. When there is a remarkable difference in transmittance of light, however, the transported document is determined to be continuous (non-cut paper) paper. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a document processing apparatus and a document processing method for discriminating documents and forms having various configurations, which are conveyed along a conveying path.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the diversification of business and changes in customer needs, a wide variety of documents and forms have been used in all industries, and at the same time, it becomes necessary to process them reliably in a short time. There is. For example, it has been important to efficiently process a receipt (medical treatment fee bill) in a hospital and a slip in a large-scale retail store or a mail-order business.

[0003]

However, even though the conventional document processing apparatus can deal with a form having a standardized structure in advance, the form or the like is further attached with a form or a sticky note having various forms. In the case of taking the specified form (so-called multiple form), they are not processed, and there is no method of determining the state of such form.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a document processing apparatus and a document processing which can surely determine the carrying states of different types of documents even if they are mixed. Is to provide a method.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a document processing apparatus and a document processing method capable of identifying the conveyance state of a form.

[0006]

As one means for achieving the above object and solving the above-mentioned problems, for example, the following structure is provided. That is, a document processing apparatus for discriminating a form conveyed along a conveying path, wherein a light emitting means for irradiating light onto a plurality of areas of the form sequentially sent to the conveying path, and the above-mentioned form among the irradiated light. Of the detected light, the first light amount of the detected light transmitted near the end of the form and the second amount of light transmitted other than near the end of the form are compared. It is characterized in that it comprises a comparing means and a judging means for judging the structure of the form based on the comparison result, and outputs a classification signal of the form corresponding to the judgment result of the judging means.

For example, the determining means is such that the first light amount is within a range of a transmitted light amount corresponding to one preset form and the first light amount and the second light amount are equal to each other.
It is characterized in that the above-mentioned form is judged to be a single-form configuration when the light quantities of are substantially equal.

For example, in the judging means, the first light amount is within a range of a transmitted light amount corresponding to one sheet of the form set in advance, and the second light amount is the first light amount.
Is smaller than the light intensity of the second form, and the duration of the second light amount with respect to the conveyance speed and the length of the conveyance direction of the form is equal to or longer than a preset time, the form is determined to be a multi-form form. To do.

Further, as one means for solving the above problems, for example, the following configuration is provided. That is, a document processing apparatus for discriminating a form conveyed along a conveying path, wherein a light emitting means for irradiating light onto a plurality of areas of the form sequentially sent to the conveying path, and the above-mentioned form among the irradiated light. For detecting the first amount of light transmitted near the end of the
Light receiving means, second light receiving means for detecting a second light amount of the detected light that has been transmitted through a portion other than the vicinity of the end portion, and the second light amount is corrected based on the first light amount. Means for comparing the first light quantity with the second light quantity after the correction, and a judgment means for judging the configuration of the form based on the comparison result. It is characterized in that a division signal of the form corresponding to the result is output.

For example, the determination means is characterized in that the form is determined to be a single form when the first light amount and the corrected second light amount are substantially equal.

Further, for example, the judging means has the second light quantity after the correction smaller than the first light quantity, and the second light quantity continues with respect to the conveying speed and the length of the form in the conveying direction. When the time is equal to or longer than a preset time, it is characterized that the above-mentioned form is judged as a multi-form composition.

For example, the determination means is characterized in that when the first light amount is less than a certain light amount, it is determined that the forms have been conveyed in duplicate.

Further, for example, a means for detecting the thickness of the form is further provided, and if the thickness is a certain value or more,
It is characterized in that a signal indicating that the thickness is detected is transmitted as the classification signal.

For example, when no light is detected by the light receiving means, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the light emitting function of the light emitting means.

As another means for solving the above-mentioned problems, for example, the following structure is provided. That is, a document processing method for discriminating a form conveyed along a conveyance path, in which a step of irradiating a plurality of areas of the form sequentially sent to the conveyance path with light, A step of detecting the transmitted light, and a step of comparing, among the detected light, a first amount of light transmitted near the end of the form and a second amount of light transmitted outside the vicinity of the end. On the basis of the comparison result, the first light amount is within the range of the transmitted light amount corresponding to one sheet set in advance, and the first light amount and the second light amount are substantially equal to each other. Based on the step of deciding the form as a single form when they are equal and the comparison result, the first light amount is within a range of a transmitted light amount corresponding to one preset form, and , The second light amount is the first
And a step of determining that the form has a multiple-sheet configuration when the duration of the second light amount with respect to the conveyance speed and the length of the conveyance direction of the form is equal to or more than a preset time, And a step of outputting a classification signal of the form corresponding to the result of the determination.

As one means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is, for example, a document processing method for discriminating a form conveyed along a conveying path, in which a plurality of areas of the form are sequentially sent to the conveying path. A step of irradiating light, a step of detecting a first light amount of the irradiated light that has passed through the vicinity of the end portion of the form, The step of detecting the second light quantity, the step of correcting the second light quantity based on the first light quantity, the step of comparing the first light quantity with the second light quantity after the correction, Determining, based on the comparison result, the form as a single-slice configuration when the first light amount and the corrected second light amount are substantially equal;
Based on the comparison result, the second light amount after the correction is smaller than the first light amount, and the duration of the second light amount with respect to the conveyance speed and the length in the conveyance direction of the form is set in advance. The method is characterized by including a step of determining the form as a multi-form form when the time is equal to or more than a set time, and a step of outputting a division signal of the form corresponding to the result of the determination.

For example, when the first light amount is equal to or less than a certain light amount, it is determined that the forms are conveyed in duplicate. Further, the method further comprises a step of detecting the thickness of the form, and if the thickness is a certain value or more, a signal indicating that the thickness has been detected is output as the classification signal. And

Further, for example, when no light is detected in the light receiving step, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the light irradiation.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Discrimination device (also referred to as time unit) according to the present embodiment
Is a device that constitutes a part of a document processing device including a plurality of devices having a dedicated function to be described later. FIG. 1 is an external view showing an overall configuration of a document processing apparatus including this discriminating apparatus. As shown in the figure, the discriminating device 60 is located between the reading device 20 and the stacker device 30.

Of the document processing devices, the feeder device 10
Is a device for separating and transporting placed documents, forms, and the like, which separates forms that have various thicknesses and whose binding method is indefinite, and reads them. Transport to 20. The reading device 20 reads the image information of the entire surface of the form conveyed from the feeder device 10 and performs a predetermined image analysis process.

Specifically, the reading device 20 electronically captures the image information of the front surface or the back surface of the form conveyed from the feeder device 10 as an image by the image pickup device (image reader) 50 and places it in a predetermined area of the form. The described content is extracted by analyzing the described image of characters and the like. Then, the stacker device 30 is controlled according to the fetched result.

The discriminating device 60 is located at the latter stage (downstream side) of the reading device 20, and the form sent from the reading device 20 is a single form form (single form) by a method described later, or , Whether the form takes a form in which other forms are attached (for example, a so-called multiple form with a sequel or sticky note), or whether the single form is not conveyed in a state where it overlaps with other single forms, etc. To judge.

The stacker device 30 reads the form conveyed from the stacker device 30 at the subsequent stage of the discriminating device 60.
It functions as a document storage unit that is placed in a pocket according to instructions from 0. The document processing apparatus further includes an operation unit and a display unit for an operator to input various operation information, to display an operation state of the apparatus, or to visually display an image read by the image reader 50. It has a monitor unit 40 that functions as the above.

Since the specific contents of the document image reading process and the document storing process are not directly related to the present invention, detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

Next, the discriminating apparatus according to this embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is an external view showing a main part of the discrimination device 60. In the discriminating device 60 shown in the figure, the five conveyance belts 103a, 103b, 103c, 103d, 10 are used to convey the form along the conveyance surface 150.
3e is arranged. These conveyor belts maintain a positional relationship in which they are adjacent to each other in parallel with each other at a constant distance. In addition, the transport surfaces 150 on both sides of these transport belts
A plurality of air holes 401 are formed on the upper side, and a structure (referred to as an air mechanism) for sucking air with a predetermined amount and a predetermined pressure from these holes is formed.

The conveyor belts 103a to 103e are rotationally driven by a drive motor (not shown) and move in the same direction at the same speed in synchronization with each other. At the same time, air is sucked from the air hole 401. At this time, when the form 500 is carried in from the reading device 20 in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2, the form is first brought into contact with the vicinity of the leading end portion of the conveyor belt and drawn into the discriminating device 60 side. Then, the form immediately reaches the lower part of the first roller group 121.

The first roller group 121 includes a plurality of (five in this case) rotating rollers, each of which is the conveyor belt 1.
It is located right above 03a to 103e. The first roller group 121, for example, applies a certain pressing force to the form passing therebelow by its own weight, thereby preventing the form from rising at the initial stage of conveyance in the discriminating apparatus.

The form that has passed under the first roller group 121 is rotatably driven while being sucked by the air flowing into the air hole 401 described above.
It moves on the conveyance surface 150 according to 03e. The form is
Due to the suction of the air, the transport belt 10 can be reliably transported despite the high speed movement in the horizontal direction during the transport.
The belts 3a to 103e are in close contact with each other, and the belts are conveyed in the downstream direction of the conveyance path without rising or misalignment with the movement of these belts.

A form detecting unit 101 is arranged in the middle of the conveying surface 150 substantially orthogonal to the conveying direction, and determines the structure of the form and detects the thickness by light. Therefore, the form detection unit 101 includes the light-emitting elements 1 to 5 (105a, 1a) that are embedded in a line in the conveyance surface 150 so as to be orthogonal to the conveyance direction.
05b, 105c, 105d, 105e) and the light receiving elements 1 to 5 arranged at positions facing the light emitting elements 1 to 5, respectively.
5 (107a, 107b, 107c, 107d, 107
e). The details of the form configuration and thickness detection will be described later.

The form detection unit 101 also has three thickness detection units 131, 132, 133 having a structure in which a rotary roller is arranged at the tip of a movable arm. Each of these rotating rollers, depending on the thickness of the form that passes under it,
By moving up and down independently, the movement is transmitted to the arm. The thickness detection unit detects, based on the movement of the arm (for example, a moving distance or a rotation angle), whether or not the thickness of the form located under the roller at that time is equal to or larger than a predetermined thickness.

The thickness detection of such a form is performed to determine whether or not the form has a thickness exceeding the form separation capability of the stacker device 30 located at the next stage of the determination device 60. In this embodiment, it is detected whether the thickness of the form is, for example, 30 or more.

FIG. 3 schematically shows the principle of detecting the thickness of the form in the thickness detecting section. Thickness detector 131, 1
When the number of the documents located under the parts 32 and 133 is one, for example, the roller 301 is located at substantially the same height as the transport surface 150. However, the thickness of the form is more than a predetermined thickness (for example,
(30 sheets), the roller is lifted up to the position of the roller 303 in FIG. 3, so that the position of the arm that supports the roller also changes from the arm 307 to the arm 308.

When the tip portion 305 of the arm interrupts the light receiving portion of the photo interrupter 310 arranged in the form detection unit 101 due to the change in the arm position, the form detection unit 101 then passes through the lower portion. The thickness of the form inside is
Recognize that the thickness is greater than or equal to the predetermined thickness

As shown in FIG. 2, a second roller group 122 composed of a plurality of (five) rotating rollers is also arranged at the conveying end portion of the conveying surface 150, and the above-mentioned first roller is arranged. Similar to the group 121, each roller is located directly above the conveyor belts 103a to 103e. The roller group 122 also applies a certain pressing force to the form passing under it by its own weight to prevent the form from rising at the final stage of conveyance in the present discriminating apparatus, and to the stacker device 30 of the next stage. We are trying to facilitate the transportation of forms.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the functional arrangement of the main parts of the discriminating apparatus according to this embodiment. As shown in the figure, the discriminating device 60 controls the entire device as a time unit, for example, a main control unit 501 including a microprocessor, a memory 513 for storing a control program, and a configuration described later. Form detection unit 10
1. A motor drive unit 515 that drives the above-described transport belt under the control of the main control unit 501 is provided. The control in the discriminating device 60, the determination result, and the like are sent to the host computer 601 which controls the document processing device including the discriminating device.

The form detection unit 101 includes light emitting elements 105a, 105b, 105c, 105d, 10 arranged in rows.
5e (these elements are embedded in the lower part of the transport surface 150 as described above, and the light from the elements is emitted vertically upward from the holes provided in the transport surface 150).
Is located above the light emitting portion 550,
Light receiving elements 107a, 107b corresponding to the respective light emitting elements,
A light receiving unit 540 including 107c, 107d, and 107e,
Based on the light amount information from the light receiving unit 540, the light amount detection unit 530 that detects the amount of light that has passed through the form, and the determination result of the light amount detection unit 530, the conveyed form is a single form or a multiple form. It is composed of a single / multiple determination unit 520 for detecting whether or not, and the above-mentioned thickness detection units 131, 132, 133.

Next, the specific operation and control procedure of the discriminating apparatus according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control procedure in the discrimination device according to the present embodiment. First, the discriminating device first detects the light receiving element 1
~ 5 (107a, 107b, 107c, 107d, 10
7e) are light emitting elements 1 to 5 arranged corresponding to them.
(105a, 105b, 105c, 105d, 105
Of the light emitted from e), the amount of light reaching the light receiving elements 1 to 5 is detected.

The light amount detecting section 530 of the discriminating apparatus detects the light receiving amount of the light receiving element 1 (107a) located on the back side of the carrying surface 150 when there is no form between the light receiving element and the light emitting element, In the meantime, the received light amount when there is one or more forms to be processed is divided into levels described below, and these are stored in advance as light amount data.

Here, the light amount data for determining whether or not one form is, the range of the amount of light that can be surely determined whether or not one form is used, even if the material and the printing state of the form are changed, Measure and decide in advance.

Further, even when the form handled here is in the form of a multiple form, a predetermined region corresponding to the light receiving element 1 (for example, a region within 5 cm from the edge of the form (described later, FIG. The area 500c in the shaded area of 7)) is always a single-cut (single) configuration. Therefore, during normal sheet conveyance without double feed or the like, one sheet is always passed and conveyed between the light emitting element 1 and the light receiving element 1.

The light amount detecting section 530 detects the received light amount of all the light receiving elements 1 to 5 in step S1, and determines the light amount abnormality in the following step S2. If the received light amount is neither the above-described light amount when there is no form, nor the light amount when there is at least one form, it is determined that there is an abnormality in the light amount (YE in step S2).
S). Abnormal light amount means, for example, a state where there is no light emission from the light emitting elements 1 to 5 or an extremely low light amount. Therefore, in this case, the light amount detection unit 530 determines that the “lamp is out” in step S50, and notifies the main control unit 501 of that fact, for example, in the form of a warning.

On the other hand, if the light amount detected by the light amount detecting unit 530 is the light amount when there is no form, the main control unit 501.
Determines in step S3 that there is no form, and returns the process to step S1. However, if the light amount in the light receiving elements 1 to 5 is at least the light amount corresponding to one form, the main control unit 501 determines in step S3 that
It is determined that there is a form. If it is determined that there is a form, a timer (not shown) is started in the subsequent step S5.

The light amount detecting section 530 checks the relationship between the light amount actually detected by the light receiving element 1 (107a) and the previously stored light amount data in step S7. as a result,
If the detected light amount is within a predetermined range, the light amount is stored as light amount data indicating a reference level, and the reference light amount and other light receiving elements 2 to 5 (107b, 107b,
107c, 107d, 107e) is compared with the detected light amount.

Here, the relationship between the form and the amount of received light will be briefly described. FIG. 6 shows the relationship between the number of forms between the light emitting element and the light receiving element and the light transmittance when the light receiving element receives light that has passed through the form. As shown in the figure, the amount of received light is maximum when there is no form (level 0 shown in the same figure), and when the number of forms is one, the amount of received light is lower than that (level 1). .

In addition, there are two sheets between the light emitting element and the light receiving element.
If one sheet is interposed, the transmittance is further reduced (called level 2), and the light receiving level when three or more sheets are inserted is
Here, the level is M. In the case of "lamp burnout" described above, the light reception level is the lowest level because there is no light transmission to the form. Further, each level except level 0 has a level width (variation in transmittance) as shown by a rectangle in FIG. This is mainly due to the paper quality, thickness and surface treatment of the form. Therefore, as long as the same type of form is processed, the levels do not overlap each other.

In step S11, the light amount detection unit 53
0 determines whether the detection level of the light receiving element 1 (also referred to as the sensor 1) is equal to the above level 1 (more strictly, is within the range of level 1). Sensor 1
If the detection level of is not within the range of level 1 (NO in step S11), the single / multiple determination unit 520 determines that two or more sheets are overlapped and conveyed, and in step S30, Judge as double feed.

When it is determined that the detection level of the sensor 1 is within the range of level 1, the process proceeds to the form type determination process. That is, in step S15, the light amount detection unit 530 compares the light receiving level actually detected by the sensor 1 with the level received by the other light receiving elements 2 to 5 (also referred to as other sensor). Then, the light amount detection unit 530
The result is notified to the single / multiple determination unit 520.

The single / multiple determination section 520 determines whether or not the light receiving levels of the sensor 1 and the other sensor are at the same level within a predetermined range. Then, if they are within the same level, the light amount detection unit 530 determines that
In 16, the form being conveyed at that time is determined to be a single form. The main control unit 501, which has received this determination result, sends a message to that effect to the host computer 601 as a classification signal (step S35).

The sorting signal here is an instruction signal for separating and accommodating the form conveyed to the stacker unit 30 located at the next stage of the present discriminating apparatus in the stacker unit designated in advance.

On the other hand, the sensor 1 and other sensors (sensors 2 to 2)
If the received light levels in 5) are not equivalent,
That is, when there is a difference in light transmittance in different areas of the same form, it is considered that another form or the like may be attached to one form, and the determination process for multiple forms is started (step S18, etc.). ).

Therefore, the specific principle of the multiple vote determination will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a method for determining multiple forms, in which the form 500 to be determined is moved in the direction of the arrow while moving the form detection unit 101 on the transport surface (see 150 in FIG. 2 and the like). It is the figure which looked at the state at the time of passing, from directly above. The form 500 is a part in which the rectangular area 500b is composed of multiple forms, and other parts (500a, 500c).
Has a single-cut configuration.

The area 500c (hatched portion) corresponds to an area within 5 cm from the edge of the form, as described above. Further, the length of the form 500 in the transport direction is L1,
The length of the multi-slot portion in the transport direction is L2.

Form 500 passing through form detection unit 101
Passes between a light emitting element and a light receiving element which are aligned in the vertical direction. Reference numerals a, b, c, d, e in FIG.
Indicates a combination of these light emitting element and light receiving element (referred to as a pair sensor), and the elements 105a-107 shown in FIG.
The pair a is pair sensor a, the elements 105b-107b are pair sensor b, the elements 105c-107c are pair sensor c, the elements 105d-107d are pair sensor d, and the elements 105e-107e are pair sensor e. .

The form 50 is added to the discrimination apparatus according to the present embodiment.
0 is carried in and is conveyed to the form detecting unit 101 by the conveying belt and the air mechanism.
01 is a pair sensor a provided in the form detection unit 101,
It is detected by b, c, d and e. Then, at the same time as the detection of the end portion, the above-mentioned timer is started (see steps S1, S3 and S5 in FIG. 5).

In order to detect the edge of the form, a plurality of pair sensors detect, for example, a rapid change from level 0 to level 1 or level 2 at the same time with respect to the above-described light amount level (see FIG. 6). Done in.

The form 500 is a pair sensor a, b, c, d,
After passing through e, as shown in FIG. 7, pair sensors a and b
Scans the voucher constituent parts 500a and 500c of the form. Therefore, when the transport speed of the form is v, the time t ₁ required for this single-cut portion to pass through the pair sensors a and b can be expressed by t ₁ = L1 / v.

Further, since the pair sensors c, d, and e scan the compound sheet constituent portion 500b of the form, the time t ₂ required for this compound sheet constituent portion to pass through the pair sensors c, d, and e.
(Here, the signal corresponding to this t ₂ is referred to as a “multi-pitched signal”), t ₂ = L2 / v. In the case of FIG. 7,
Since L1> L2, t ₁ > t ₂ .

Based on the detection result from the light amount detection section 530, the single / multiple determination section 520 of the discrimination apparatus according to the present embodiment, in the above-mentioned five pair sensors, a certain number or more of the plural sheets of the multiple sheets are detected. If the signal is longer than a predetermined time (for example, t ₂ ≧
50 ms), and whether or not the relationship of t ₁ ≧ t ₂ (the fact that t ₁ and t ₂ may be equal will be described later) is satisfied is determined.

When the above relationship is satisfied (step S
If YES in step 18), it is determined that there is a significant difference in light transmittance between regions in the same form, the single / multiple determination unit 520 determines that the form is a multiple form with other forms attached. (Step S19). In step S35, the single / multiple determination unit 520 notifies the main control unit 501 of the determination result that the form is a multiple form. Upon receiving this notification, the main control unit 501 sends a notification to that effect to the host computer 601 as a classification signal.

However, even when it is found that the conveyed form takes a form other than a single form, since there is no difference in the light transmittance of different areas of the same form, the passage time of the form, etc. If the above-mentioned relationship is not satisfied (NO in step S18), the form detection unit 101 detects the number of forms (30-sheet determination).

That is, the three items arranged in the form detection unit 101.
By the above-mentioned operation, each of the thickness detecting units 131, 132, and 133 independently detects the thickness of the form that passes through the lower portion thereof. For example, when the arms of these thickness detection units (see FIG. 3) show a preset amount of motion corresponding to a form for 30 sheets and the state continues for 50 ms or more (the signal indicating this state is This is referred to as the "30-sheet signal"), and the determination result in step S20 is YES.

Therefore, the thickness detectors 131, 132, 13
3 notifies the main control unit 501 of the result of the 30-sheet determination in step S21. Therefore, the main control unit 501
In the following step S35, the fact is sent to the host computer 601 as a classification signal. Then, in step S37, the timer is reset, and preparations for similarly executing the above-described respective processes on the form conveyed next are started.

The single / multiple determination unit 520 of the determination device according to the present embodiment uses the form 50 as the target of the single / multiple determination.
Even if the multi-vote structure of 0 is other than the structure shown in FIG. For example, as shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b), the case where the multi-seat component part 500b is located in the center of the form,
As shown in FIG. 7C, even if the multi-seat component part 500b is in a position overlapping the single-seat component part 500a excluding the single-slip component part 500c, the single-slice component part 500b is the same as the case shown in FIG. / Multiple determination is performed.

Further, in the case of the example shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, since L1> L2 as in the example of FIG. 7, t ₁ > t ₂
However, in the configuration shown in FIG. 8C, L1 =
Since it is L2, t ₁ = t ₂ .

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the light transmissivities of a plurality of different regions of the same form to be conveyed are detected and compared with each other to determine the transmissivity of a specific region. If there is no difference between the other transmittance and the other transmittance, the form is judged as a single form, but if there is a significant difference, the form is a composite form with other forms or sequels attached. Determined to be a vote. As a result, even if the single form and the multiple form are mixed, the form can be reliably classified.

At this time, since the light transmittance is detected in different areas of the form that is being moved by conveyance, and each light receiving element targets a wide area, not a spot, it is printed on the form. It is possible to avoid the influence of the letters and the like on the light transmittance, and to perform the form determination with high accuracy.

Even if there is no difference in the light transmittance, if the light transmittance of the specific area is lower than a preset value, it is determined that the forms are conveyed in duplicate.
It is possible to reliably detect so-called double conveyance of a so-called form.

Further, by providing a mechanism for detecting a form exceeding a certain thickness (the number of sheets), the stacker device located in the next stage of the present discriminating device has a thickness exceeding the document storage capacity of the pocket. It is possible to prevent the form from being conveyed.

Further, since the form is not conveyed only by the belt but is conveyed while sucking the form also by using the air mechanism, the form is inclined during the conveyance or the form itself is damaged. Moreover, since it is possible to prevent the form from flying up into the air, it is possible to perform a reliable form feed for form determination.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. According to the present invention, when the entire form to be processed is colored, or when the thickness of one form is different, the light transmission is higher than that of a non-colored form or a thick form. Since the rate fluctuates, a mechanism is provided for preventing the inconvenience of erroneously determining a multi-cut even though it is a single-cut.

Specifically, the light amount detecting section 530 adopts the light amount actually detected by the light receiving element 1 (107a) as a reference level, and this reference level is used for the other light receiving elements 2-5.
(107b, 107c, 107d, 107e) is reflected in the detected light quantity. in this case,
Since the light amount data used as the reference level is data regarding light that has passed through a colored form or a thick form, the light amount detecting unit 530 reflects the data on the light amount data from other light receiving elements and The transmittance reduced due to the color or the thickness of the paper is accumulated (correction of light amount data), and the corrected data is sent to the single / multiple determination unit 520.

With this structure, the light receiving element 1
However, even if you obtain light quantity data that deviates from the value set in advance for a colored form or a thick form in a specific area of a specific area, you can certainly obtain a single form. It can be determined that there is. Needless to say, the same control mechanism as described above can be applied even when a colored form or a thick form is conveyed in the form of multiple forms.

[0073]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Even if single and multiple forms are mixed, the forms can be reliably classified.

Further, according to the present invention, not only the double conveyance (double feed) of the form but also the form having a certain thickness can be surely detected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing an overall configuration of a document processing apparatus including a determination device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view showing a main part of the discrimination device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the principle of detecting the thickness of a form according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a main part of a discrimination device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control procedure in the discriminating apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a relationship between the number of documents and light transmittance.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a method of multiple vote determination.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another example of a multi-slot structure of a form.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Feeder Device 20 Reading Device 30 Stacker Device 40 Monitor Unit 50 Image Reader 60 Discriminating Device 101 Form Detection Units 103a, 103b, 103c, 103d, 103e
Conveyor belt parts 105a, 105b, 105c, 105d, 105e
Light emitting elements 107a, 107b, 107c, 107d, 107e
Light receiving element 122, 121 Roller group 131, 132, 133 Thickness detecting section 401 Air hole 500 Form 501 Main control section 513 Memory 515 Motor driving section 520 Single / multiple determination section 530 Light amount detecting section 540 Light receiving section 550 Light emitting section 601 Host computer

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Masayasu Sawabe             1-8-1 Shimo-Meguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo Arcota             8th floor Banktech Japan Stock Association             In-house F term (reference) 3F048 AA06 AA07 AB03 BA06 BB05                       BB08 CA02 DA06 DB04 DB06                       DB09 DB11 DC13

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A document processing apparatus for discriminating a form conveyed along a conveying path, comprising: a light emitting means for irradiating light onto a plurality of regions of the form sequentially sent to the conveying path; A light receiving unit that detects light that has passed through the form; a first light amount of the detected light that has passed through the vicinity of the end of the form; and a second amount of light that has transmitted other than near the end of the form. Documents characterized by comprising a comparing means for comparing the above and a judging means for judging the structure of the form based on the comparison result, and outputting a classification signal of the form corresponding to the judgment result of the judging means. Processing equipment. 2. The determination means is configured such that the first light amount is within a range of a transmitted light amount corresponding to one sheet set in advance, and the first light amount and the second light amount are equal to each other. The document processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the forms are determined to have a single-slice structure when they are substantially equal to each other. 3. The determination means is configured such that the first light amount is within a range of a transmitted light amount corresponding to one sheet set in advance, and the second light amount is greater than the first light amount. It is small, and further, when the duration of the second light amount with respect to the conveyance speed and the length of the conveyance direction of the form is equal to or longer than a preset time, the form is determined to be a multi-form structure. Document processing device according to 1. 4. A document processing apparatus for discriminating a form conveyed along a conveying path, comprising: a light emitting means for irradiating light onto a plurality of areas of the form sequentially sent to the conveying path; A first light receiving means for detecting a first amount of light transmitted near the edge of the form, and a second light detecting means for detecting a second amount of light transmitted out of the detected light other than near the edge. Light receiving means, means for correcting the second light quantity based on the first light quantity, means for comparing the first light quantity and the second light quantity after correction, and based on the comparison result. A document processing apparatus, comprising: a determination unit that determines the configuration of the form, and that outputs a classification signal of the form that corresponds to the determination result of the determination unit. 5. The document processing according to claim 4, wherein the determination unit determines that the form has a single-slice structure when the first light amount and the corrected second light amount are substantially equal to each other. apparatus. 6. The determination means is configured such that the second light amount after the correction is smaller than the first light amount, and the duration of the second light amount with respect to the conveyance speed and the length of the conveyance direction of the form is continuous. 5. The document processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the form is determined to have a multi-form structure when the time is equal to or longer than a preset time. 7. The document processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines that the forms have been conveyed in duplicate when the first light amount is equal to or less than a predetermined light amount. 8. A means for detecting the thickness of the form is further provided, and if the thickness is a predetermined value or more, a signal indicating that the thickness has been detected is sent as the classification signal. The document processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that: 9. The document processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the light emitting function of the light emitting means when no light is detected by the light receiving means. 10. The light emitting means comprises a plurality of light emitting elements arranged in a line substantially orthogonal to the transport direction, and the light receiving means is arranged at a position facing each of the light emitting elements. The document processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document processing device comprises the same number of light receiving elements as the light emitting elements. 11. A document processing method for determining a form conveyed along a conveying path, comprising: irradiating a plurality of regions of the form sequentially sent to the conveying path with light; Comparing the step of detecting light transmitted through the form, and comparing the detected light, a first amount of light transmitted near the end of the form and a second amount of light transmitted outside the vicinity of the end. Based on the comparison result, the first amount of light is within a range of the amount of transmitted light corresponding to one preset form, and the first amount of light and the second amount of light are equal to each other. Determining the form as a single form when the light amounts are substantially equal, and based on the comparison result, the first light amount falls within a range of a transmitted light amount corresponding to one preset form. Yes, and the second amount of light is A step of determining the form as a multi-form when the amount of light is smaller than the first amount of light and the duration of the second amount of light with respect to the conveyance speed and the length of the conveyance direction of the form is equal to or longer than a preset time. And a step of outputting a classification signal of the form corresponding to the result of the determination. 12. A document processing method for determining a form conveyed along a conveying path, comprising: irradiating a plurality of regions of the form sequentially sent to the conveying path with light; Detecting a first amount of light transmitted near the edge of the form; detecting a second amount of light transmitted out of the detected light other than near the edge; the first amount of light; Correcting the second light amount based on the above, a step of comparing the first light amount with the corrected second light amount, and a step of comparing the first light amount and the second light amount based on the comparison result. Determining the form as a single-cut configuration when the corrected second light amounts are substantially equal to each other; and, based on the comparison result, the corrected second light amount is smaller than the first light amount, and , Transport speed and length of the document in the transport direction And a step of determining that the form is a multi-form configuration when the duration of the second light amount for the second period is equal to or longer than a preset time, and a step of outputting a division signal of the form corresponding to the result of the determination. A document processing method characterized by the above. 13. The document processing method according to claim 11, wherein when the first light amount is equal to or less than a predetermined light amount, it is determined that the forms are conveyed in an overlapping manner. 14. The method further comprises the step of detecting the thickness of the form, and when the thickness is a predetermined value or more, a signal indicating that the thickness has been detected is output as the classification signal. The document processing method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that. 15. The document processing method according to claim 11, wherein when no light is detected in the light receiving step, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in irradiation of the light.