JP2006313466A - Card image reading apparatus and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce repeated operations for repeated reading of a card by a user, by assuring reading of an image on the card surface with a card reader. <P>SOLUTION: A control method, for a card image reading apparatus for reading an image on a card surface, is provided with an image reading means for reading an image on a card surface, a conveyance means for conveying the card to-and-fro, and a conveyance abnormality detection means for detecting abnormality in conveyance of the card, wherein if conveyance abnormality is detected on a forward path by the conveyance abnormality detection means, the method controls the image reading means and the conveyance means to read the image on the card surface again on the return path. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a card image reading apparatus and a card image reading method for reading an image formed on a card surface.

  A system that performs various services by reading an image formed on a card surface and processing information included in the image is already widely used.

  Typical images formed on the card surface and used for information processing include barcodes, numbers and symbols, characters, marks, face images, and the like.

  In particular, in an environment where IC cards with a large memory capacity are widespread, it is confirmed whether the card user is the identity or not by comparing the information recorded in the memory with the image formed on the card surface. In order to quickly and correctly input various information necessary for card renewal (for example, refer to Patent Document 1) and card update, the image on the card surface of the old card is recorded in the memory. There is a tendency for the number of terminals for card updating to read information to increase.

  However, compared to reading the information recorded in the memory, the reading of the image formed on the card surface may not be reliably performed due to dirt on the card surface, abnormal card conveyance at the time of reading, etc. There are many. In such a case, the apparatus outputs a message indicating that the reading is abnormal, and a message for guiding the user to insert the card into the apparatus again on the display means in order to perform reading again.

Thus, the user is often required to perform re-operation for re-reading.
JP 2002-8112 A (first page)

  The present invention has been made in view of the situation as described above, and its object is to reduce the re-operation for the card re-reading by the user by ensuring the image reading on the card surface in the card reading device. There is to make it.

The above object is achieved by realizing a card image reading device and a control method thereof described in the following claims.
(Claim 1)
A card image reading device for reading an image on a card surface,
Image reading means for reading an image on the card surface;
Conveying means for reciprocating the card;
A conveyance abnormality detection means for detecting a card conveyance abnormality;
When the conveyance abnormality detection unit detects a conveyance abnormality on the forward path, the image reading unit and a control unit that sends instruction information to read an image on the card surface again on the return path to the conveyance unit are provided. Card image reading device.
(Claim 2)
The control means includes
2. The card image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the card abnormality reading unit outputs card conveyance abnormality information when the conveyance abnormality detecting unit detects a conveyance abnormality on the return path.
(Claim 3)
A control method of a card image reading device for reading an image on a card surface,
Image reading means for reading an image on the card surface;
Conveying means for reciprocating the card;
A conveyance abnormality detection means for detecting a card conveyance abnormality;
When the conveyance abnormality detection means detects a conveyance abnormality on the outward path,
A control method for a card image reading apparatus, wherein the image reading means and the conveying means are controlled so as to read an image on the card surface again in a return path.
(Claim 4)
4. The card image reading apparatus control method according to claim 3, wherein the card conveyance abnormality information is output when the conveyance abnormality detection means detects a conveyance abnormality on the return path.

  According to the card image reading device according to claim 1, the image on the card surface is read twice as necessary in accordance with the detection result of the card conveyance state, so that it is compared with one reading. The image on the card surface is more likely to be read by a single operation by the user. As a result, re-operation for re-reading by the user is reduced.

  According to the card image reading apparatus of the second aspect, the abnormality of the card conveying means is detected at an early stage.

  According to the control method of the card image reading device according to claim 3, the image on the card surface is read twice as necessary in accordance with the detection result of the card conveyance state, so that it is compared with one reading. Thus, the probability that the image on the card surface is read by one operation of the user increases. As a result, re-operation for re-reading by the user is reduced.

  According to the control method of the card image reading device according to the fourth aspect, the card conveyance abnormality of the card image reading device is detected at an early stage.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external view of the card image reading apparatus A.
As shown in the figure, a display unit 100, a card insertion slot 200, a monitoring camera 300, and an audio output unit 400 are provided in front of the card image reading apparatus A.

  The display unit 100 is a publicly known unit that can display an image and input an instruction operation by touching a predetermined position on the displayed screen with a touch panel.

  The card insertion slot 200 is an opening through which the user inserts his / her card in accordance with an image output to the display means 10 and a voice instruction output to the sound output means 40 and takes out the card after the image reading is completed. .

  The surveillance camera 30 captures a user's face image and stores the obtained image information for a predetermined period of time, and is widely used for security.

  FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of the card image reading apparatus A.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the control relationship of the card image reading apparatus A.

  The card 1 in the description of the present embodiment is a non-contact IC card in which images are formed on both sides, and an antenna and a dedicated IC are embedded inside. However, the card 1 may be an image formed on only one side, and may not be an IC card. Further, by changing the IC information exchanging means 50 which is a means for exchanging read / write information with the IC, it is possible to cope with a contact type IC card.

  The transport means 10 for transporting the card includes a plurality of transport roller pairs 11, 12, 13; transport guide members 15, 16, 17, 18; and a roller drive unit that drives the plurality of transport roller pairs 11, 12, 13 (Not shown), and the card 1 is reciprocated. The conveyance speed of the card 1 is controlled by the number of pulses applied to a stepping motor that is a driving component of the roller driving unit, and is composed of a known control technique.

  The leading edge detection sensor 20 detects the leading edge of the card 1 by detecting a change of reflected light or transmitted light by the leading edge of the card 1 with an optical sensor, and is a known technical means. The detection signal is sent to the control means C.

  The image reading unit 30 includes an LED as the light emitting unit 31 and a CCD unit as the imaging unit 32, and an output signal is sent to the control unit C. In the present embodiment, an image reading means 40 for reading the back image of the card 1 is provided.

  The IC information exchanging means 50 is a known means for reading information from the IC of the card 1 and writing information to the IC.

  The control means C is a computer system having a CPU, a memory M, an input / output interface, a communication interface, and a drive circuit. The card image reading apparatus A is controlled by executing a program stored in the memory M. In FIG. 3, the description of blocks that are not related to the description of the present invention is omitted.

  Next, conveyance of the card 1 and processing accompanying it will be described.

  The card 1 inserted from the card insertion slot 200 in the direction indicated by the arrow a, which is the forward path, and the tip of which is added to the pair of transport rollers 11, is transported along the transport line L at a predetermined speed set in advance. Proceed along.

  The leading end of the traveling card 1 is detected by the leading end detection sensor 20, and a detection signal is sent to the control means C. Receiving the detection signal, the control means C executes the conveyance abnormality detection means which is a program, and starts measuring time T until the leading edge of the card 1 is detected by the image reading means 30.

  The conveyance abnormality detection means measures the time from when the leading edge of the card 1 is detected by the leading edge detection means 20 until it is detected by the image reading means 30 in the forward path, and the measurement result falls within a predetermined time. In the return path, the leading edge and the trailing edge of the card 1 are detected by the image reading means 30, and the time from the leading edge detection to the trailing edge detection is measured. Is detected within a predetermined time to detect a conveyance abnormality. Instead of measuring the time, the number of pulses applied to the stepping motor of the roller driving unit of the conveying unit 10 may be counted.

  The card 1 which has advanced with its leading edge detected by the leading edge detection sensor 20 further proceeds at a speed suitable for the image reading of the reading means 30 by the conveying roller pair 12, and the leading edge reads the image within a preset time range. Images formed on both sides or one side of the card 1 reaching the means 30 are read.

  The card 1 from which the image has been read is advanced in the direction of arrow b by the conveying roller pair 13, temporarily stopped in a state where the rear end portion of the card 1 is held between the conveying roller pair 13, and the IC information The exchange unit 50 performs reading and writing processing on the card 1.

  After the information exchange is completed, the card 1 is sent in the direction of the arrow c of the transport line L that is the return path, and is discharged from the card insertion slot 200.

  As described above, the image formed on the card 1 can be read only once by the user when the card 1 is normally transported, and no problem occurs.

  However, when the user inserts the card 1 from the card insertion slot 200, the card 1 is not normally conveyed by the conveying means 10 as in the case where the pushing is continued forcibly. The time from detection of the leading edge of the card 1 by the sensor 20 to detection of the leading edge of the card 1 by the image reading means 30 does not fall within a preset range, and it is determined that a conveyance failure has occurred. In such a case, the card 1 is usually sent back in the direction of the arrow d, and the card insertion slot 200 is discharged. Therefore, the user must insert the ejected card 1 through the card insertion slot 200 again.

  In the present invention, the occurrence of such a problem is prevented by performing the processing described below.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for reading a card image on the return path when a conveyance failure occurs on the forward path.

  When the user inserts the card 1 into the card insertion slot 200 (step S1), the card advances by the transport roller pair 11 in the direction a of the transport line L which is the card forward direction (step S2). The leading edge of the card 1 is detected by the card leading edge detection sensor 20, and a detection signal is sent to the control means (step S3). Next, when the leading end of the card 1 is detected by the reading unit 30 (step S4), a time T between the leading end of the card 1 being detected by the card leading end detection sensor 20 and then being detected by the reading unit 30 is set in advance. It is determined whether or not the current time range (T1 ≦ T ≦ T2) is entered (step S5). That is, when T <T1, there is a possibility that the card 1 has been forcibly pushed by the user. Can be considered. When such a conveyance failure has occurred (step S5: N), reading of the image is canceled due to the occurrence of conveyance failure in the forward path, and a return path reading flag, which is a mark for reading in the backward path, is set at a predetermined location in the memory M. (Step S7) and skip reading the image.

  If no conveyance failure is detected (step S5: Y), the image is read, and the read image information is stored in a predetermined file provided in the memory M of the control means C (step S6). . The card that has finished reading the image is stopped with the rear end portion being sandwiched between the transport rollers 13 (step S8), reading information stored in the IC storage means, and information to the IC storage means. Is written (step S9).

  When the return path conveyance indicated by the arrow c in FIG. 2 is started (step S10), it is determined whether or not the return path reading flag is set (step S11). If the return path reading flag is not set (step S11: N), the card 1 is transported along the return path and ejected from the card insertion slot 200 (step S13). If the return path reading flag is set. If this is the case (step S10: Y), the image of the card 1 is read in the return path (step S12), and is ejected from the card insertion slot 200 (step S13).

  Note that the reading direction of the card image in the return path is opposite to that in the outward path. For this reason, the image information read in the return path is stored in the file of the memory M so that the address of the image information is opposite to that of the forward path, or stored in the file of the memory M in the same way as the forward path. Correction processing such as reversing the direction is performed.

  The leading edge detection information and trailing edge detection information of the card 1 by the image reading means 40 in the return path (step S12) are sent to the conveyance abnormality detection means already described, and the presence or absence of conveyance abnormality is determined based on these information. If it is determined that there is a conveyance abnormality even in the forward path (step S14: N), a warning message is output to the display means 100 and the voice output means (step S15).

  The card image reading apparatus A that performs the processing as described above can reduce the card re-reading operation that the user has to perform.

It is an external view of a card image reading apparatus. It is a conceptual diagram of a card image reading apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the control relationship of a card image reading apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of a return path.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Card 10 Conveyance means 11-13 Conveyance roller pair 15-18 Conveyance guide member 20 Card front end detection sensor 30, 40 Reading means 50 IC information exchange means A Card image reading apparatus C Control means

Claims (4)

A card image reading device for reading an image on a card surface,
Image reading means for reading an image on the card surface;
Conveying means for reciprocating the card;
A conveyance abnormality detection means for detecting a card conveyance abnormality;
When the conveyance abnormality detection unit detects a conveyance abnormality on the forward path, the image reading unit and a control unit that sends instruction information to read an image on the card surface again on the return path to the conveyance unit are provided. Card image reading device. The control means includes
2. The card image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the card abnormality reading unit outputs card conveyance abnormality information when the conveyance abnormality detecting unit detects a conveyance abnormality on the return path. A control method of a card image reading device for reading an image on a card surface,
Image reading means for reading an image on the card surface;
Conveying means for reciprocating the card;
A conveyance abnormality detection means for detecting a card conveyance abnormality;
When the conveyance abnormality detection means detects a conveyance abnormality on the outward path,
A control method for a card image reading apparatus, wherein the image reading means and the conveying means are controlled so as to read an image on the card surface again in a return path. 4. The card image reading apparatus control method according to claim 3, wherein the card conveyance abnormality information is output when the conveyance abnormality detection means detects a conveyance abnormality on the return path.

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