JP2009187369A - Medium processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reliably perform management of media by specifying a double feed number of media, and verifying the specified double feed number with double feed media stored in a reject part. <P>SOLUTION: The length and thickness of media 16 delivered from a cassette 2 are detected by a length detection sensor 17 and a thickness detection sensor 18. When a double feed of the media 16 is determined from the detection results, the number of media 16 within the cassette 2 is calculated by acquiring images of the upper parts of all the media 16 within the cassette 2 by an image sensor module 9, and analyzing the images, and the double feed number of media 16 is calculated from a difference between the calculated number and the storage number of the media within the cassette 2 which is stored in a storage part, and stored in the storage part 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a medium processing apparatus that issues a print medium or the like on a medium such as a passbook or a certificate used in a financial institution.

As a conventional medium processing apparatus, for example, there is one disclosed in Patent Document 1.
In this medium processing apparatus, the medium is fed out from the cassette containing the medium and conveyed to the processing unit, and the processing unit detects a multi-feed such as a multi-sheet feeding or a multi-feed by a mechanical multi-feed detection sensor or the like. .
If double feed is not detected, printing is performed on the medium and issued. If double feed is detected, the medium is conveyed to the reject unit and taken in.
JP-A-11-66391

However, the conventional techniques described above have the following problems.
In general, this type of media processing can detect a double feed of a relatively thick medium, but it is difficult to accurately specify the number of double feeds or the number of books. Therefore, the double feed is detected and is sent to the reject unit. When an operator or the like later picks up the inserted medium, it cannot be confirmed whether or not the number of sheets coincides with the number of multi-feeds, and accurate management cannot be performed.

In addition, in the case of a thin medium, the media may be in close contact with each other due to the influence of temperature and humidity. When such a medium is fed out and transported, it is difficult to detect double feeding. There was also a problem that printing and other processing were performed and issued.
An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a medium processing apparatus for feeding a medium from a cassette and performing processing such as printing on the fed medium, a sensor for detecting the length and thickness of the medium fed from the cassette, and the cassette The image acquisition means for acquiring the images of the edges of all the media stored in alignment and the storage means for storing the number of media stored in the cassette, and the occurrence of double feeding of the media from the detection result of the sensor If there is a double feed, the image acquisition means acquires images of all the media in the cassette, calculates the number of media from the images, and calculates the calculated number and The number of double feeds is calculated from the difference in the number of media in the cassette stored in the storage means and stored in the storage means.

  According to the present invention as described above, it is possible to specify the number of media to be fed, and to match the specified number of media to be fed with the media to be stored in the reject unit. The effect that it becomes possible to perform reliably is acquired.

  Embodiments of a medium processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the first embodiment.
In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a medium processing apparatus. The medium processing apparatus 1 includes a cassette 2, a cassette storage unit 3, a hopper unit 4, a conveyance path 5, a processing unit 6, a stack unit 7, a reject unit 8, an image sensor module (image acquisition). Means) 9, a display operation unit 10, a storage unit (storage unit) 11, and a control unit 12 for controlling these units. The control unit 12 is connected to the host server (higher level device) 14 via the communication line 13. It is connected.

Here, a plurality of cassette storage units 3 are provided on both sides of the cassette storage unit 3 along the hopper unit 4. Each cassette storage unit 3 is assigned a number, and the control unit 12 determines whether the cassette 2 is attached or the like based on the number. It is intended to manage.
In the cassettes 2 that are detachably mounted in the respective cassette storage units 3, a medium such as a passbook or a certificate is stored in an obliquely aligned state, and is pressed by a pressing plate biased by a coil spring or the like. It is pressed to the feeding port side.

The medium 16 in the cassette 2 is fed one by one (one) by a feeding means such as a roller (not shown), and the fed medium 16 is taken into the hopper unit 4 and transferred to the conveyance path 5. It has become.
The processing unit 6 includes a magnetic head, a printing unit, and the like arranged along the transport path 5. The medium 16 sent from the hopper unit 4 to the transport path 5 is transported to the processing unit 6, and the medium 16 is stored in a passbook. In this case, writing and reading of magnetic data to and from the magnetic stripe, turning the cover and pages forward or reverse, page detection, detecting the number of printed lines, and printing are performed, and after all the processing is completed, it is conveyed to the stack unit 7 When the medium 16 is a certificate, printing is performed and the medium 16 is conveyed to the stack unit 7 and issued.

The processing unit 6 is provided with a length detection sensor 17 that detects the length of the medium 16 and a thickness detection sensor 18 that detects the thickness of the medium 16. When the control unit 12 determines that double feeding has occurred in the medium 16, the medium 16 is transported to the reject unit 8 and collected and stored.
The image sensor module 9 is provided so as to be positioned above the cassette 2 of each cassette storage unit 3.

  As the image sensor module 9, for example, an optical sensor composed of a light source and a CCD camera with an RBG filter is used. The optical sensor moves in the alignment direction (horizontal direction) of the medium 16 accommodated in the cassette 2. Then, by acquiring the images of the upper part (edge part) of all the media 16 and transmitting the images to the control unit 12, the control unit 12 counts the number of media 16 (number of books) from the images. It has become.

The display operation unit 10 includes a display unit (notification unit) such as an LCD, and an operator (personnel) operation touch panel arranged on the display unit.
The storage unit 11 is a medium such as a reference value for the type and the number of stored media 16 (remaining number or number of books) for each cassette 2 mounted in each cassette storage unit 3, and the length and thickness of the medium 16 used for identification of double feeding. The storage unit 11 also stores screen information of a screen displayed on the display operation unit 10 when a medium is issued or a double feed occurs, a control program, and the like.

  The control unit 12 controls the hopper unit 4, the conveyance path 5, the processing unit 6, the stack unit 7, the reject unit 8, the image sensor module 9, the display operation unit 10, and the like according to the control program stored in the storage unit 11. Are issued, and functions as various means for counting the media 16 in each cassette 2 and calculating the number of double feeds based on the acquired image of the image sensor module 9.

  Further, the control unit 12 has an external interface, and when the medium 16 is issued, the control unit 12 is connected to the host server 14 via the communication line 13 by the external interface as necessary, and exchanges data with the host server 14 for processing. The unit 6 performs printing on the medium 16 and magnetic recording, and also counts the medium 16 fed out from the cassette 2 when the medium is issued, and updates the remaining number (number of books) of the medium stored in the storage unit 11. .

The host server 14 is a device that manages a database (not shown) that stores customer information such as each customer's name, telephone number, branch number, account type, and account number, and unrecorded data.
The operator performs a replenishment operation of the medium 16 during the idle time of the medium issuing apparatus 1 that has not performed the medium issuing process. That is, the operator takes out the cassette 2 from the cassette storage unit 3 that needs to be replenished, replenishes (stores) the medium 16 in the taken-out cassette 2, and then mounts the cassette 2 in the cassette storage unit 3 again (S1).

  The removal and installation of each cassette 2 is detected by a sensor (not shown) provided in each cassette storage unit 3, and the controller 12 recognizes the attachment / detachment of the cassette 2 by the output of the sensor, and the cassette is replenished. A screen for guiding the counting instruction to 2 is displayed on the display operation unit 10.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the above-described configuration. Hereinafter, the operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
S1: The operator removes the cassette 2 from the cassette storage unit 3 that requires replenishment of the medium processing apparatus 1, and replenishes (stores) the medium 16 in the removed cassette 2, and then mounts the cassette 2 in the cassette storage unit 3 again. When the number of stored media (number of sheets or number of books) in each cassette storage unit 3 is input by the display operation unit 10, the input storage number is registered in the storage unit 11.
S2: The control unit 12 of the medium processing apparatus 1 receives the issuance processing instruction and the data necessary for issuance for the designated number of media 16 input by the operator using the display operation unit 10 or via the communication line 13. In response to this, the host server 14 receives an issuance processing instruction for the designated number of media 16 and data necessary for issuance.
S3: Thereby, the control unit 12 feeds the medium 16 in the predetermined cassette 2 one sheet (one) by the unillustrated feeding means, and the fed medium 16 is taken into the hopper unit 4 and transferred to the transport path 5. Is done.

S4: The control unit 12 updates the stored number by subtracting (-1) the number fed out from the stored number in the corresponding cassette 2 stored in the storage unit 11.
S5: The processing unit 6 performs processing such as printing and writing of magnetic data on the medium 16 conveyed by the conveyance path 5, and detects the length of the medium 16 by the length detection sensor 17, and the thickness. The thickness of the medium 16 is detected by the detection sensor 18.
S6: The control unit 12 compares the detection results of the length detection sensor 17 and the thickness detection sensor 18 with the reference values of the length and thickness of the corresponding medium stored in the storage unit 11, and performs the double feeding of the medium 16. The presence or absence, that is, whether double feeding has occurred is determined.

S7: When it is determined that double feeding has not occurred, the control unit 12 instructs the processing unit 6 to transport the medium 16 that has undergone printing or data writing processing to the stack unit 7 through the transport path 5 and ejects it. Then, the display operation unit 10 displays that the processed medium 16 is ejected to the stack unit 7 and issued.
S8: The control unit 12 determines whether or not the specified number of media 16 have been issued. If issued, the process ends. If not issued, the process from S3 is repeated.
S9: When it is determined in S6 that the double feed of the medium 16 has occurred, the control unit 12 transports the medium 16 in which the double feed has occurred to the reject unit 8 through the transport path 5, and takes it into the reject unit 8 for recovery. .

S10: Then, the control unit 12 drives the image sensor module 9 to acquire the upper images of all the media 16 in the corresponding cassette 2, analyzes the images, and stores the number of media 16 in the cassette 2 (remaining number). ) Is calculated.
S11: The control unit 12 calculates the double feed number of the medium 16 from the difference between the storage number of the medium 16 in the corresponding cassette 2 stored in the storage unit 11 and the storage number of the medium 16 calculated from the image. The number of sheets to be sent is stored in the storage unit 11.
S12: The control unit 12 updates and registers the storage number of the medium 16 calculated from the image in the storage unit 11 as the storage number of the medium 16 of the corresponding cassette 2, and then repeats the processing from S3.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, when it is determined from the detection result of the sensor that detects the length and thickness of the medium that the double feeding of the medium has occurred, the end of all the media in the cassette are detected. The number of media in the cassette is calculated by acquiring the image and analyzing the image, and the number of media to be fed is calculated from the difference between the calculated number and the number of media stored in the cassette stored in the storage unit. Therefore, it is possible to specify the number of double feeds of the medium, and to match the specified double feed number and the double feed medium stored in the reject unit. It is possible to perform reliably.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the second embodiment.
In the second embodiment, the length detection sensor 17 provided in the processing unit 6 of the first embodiment and the thickness detection sensor 18 for detecting the thickness of the medium 16 are omitted. Since the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment described above, the same reference numerals are given and description thereof is omitted.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment having the above-described configuration. Hereinafter, the operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

S21: The operator removes the cassette 2 from the cassette storage unit 3 that needs to be replenished with the medium processing apparatus 1, and replenishes (stores) the medium 16 into the removed cassette 2, and then mounts the cassette 2 in the cassette storage unit 3 again. When the number of stored media (number of sheets or number of books) in each cassette storage unit 3 is input by the display operation unit 10, the input storage number is registered in the storage unit 11.
S22: The control unit 12 of the medium processing apparatus 1 receives an instruction for issuing the specified number of media 16 input by the operator using the display operation unit 10 and data necessary for the issue, or via the communication line 13 In response to this, the host server 14 receives an issuance processing instruction for the designated number of media 16 and data necessary for issuance.

S23: As a result, the control unit 12 feeds the medium 16 in the predetermined cassette 2 by a feeding unit (not shown), and the fed medium 16 is taken into the hopper unit 4 and transferred to the transport path 5. Is done.
S24: The control unit 12 updates the number of stored sheets by subtracting (-1) the number fed out from the number of stored sheets in the corresponding cassette 2 stored in the storage unit 11.
S25: The control unit 12 drives the image sensor module 9 to acquire images on the tops of all the media 16 in the cassette 2 that has now fed out the media 16, and analyzes the images to store the media 16 in the cassette 2. The number (remaining number) is calculated.

S26: Then, the control unit 12 compares the storage number of the medium 16 in the corresponding cassette 2 stored in the storage unit 11 with the storage number of the medium 16 calculated from the image, and determines whether or not they coincide with each other. It is determined whether or not an error has occurred.
S27: When it is determined that the double feed has not occurred, the control unit 12 instructs the processing unit 6 to perform printing, magnetic data writing processing, and the like. Write processing or the like is performed.
S28: The processing unit 6 transports the medium 16 subjected to printing, magnetic data writing processing, and the like to the stack unit 7 through the transport path 5, and discharges the medium 16, and the control unit 12 transfers the processed medium 16 to the display operation unit 10. It is displayed on the stack section 7 that it has been discharged and issued.

S29: The control unit 12 determines whether or not the specified number of media 16 have been issued. If issued, the process ends. If not, the process from S23 is repeated.
S30: When it is determined in S26 that the double feed of the medium 16 has occurred, the control unit 12 transports the medium 16 in which the double feed has occurred to the reject unit 8 through the transport path 5, and takes it into the reject unit 8 for recovery. .
S31: Thereafter, the control unit 12 calculates the double feed number of the media 16 based on the difference between the number of stored media 16 in the corresponding cassette 2 stored in the storage unit 11 and the number of stored media 16 calculated from the image. The calculated multifeed number is stored in the storage unit 11.
S32: The control unit 12 updates and registers the storage number of the medium 16 calculated by analyzing the image as the storage number of the medium 16 of the corresponding cassette 2, and then repeats the processing from S23.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, after feeding out the media, the images of the edges of all the media in the cassette are acquired, and the number of media in the cassette is calculated by analyzing the images. It is determined whether double feeding of media has occurred due to coincidence or mismatch of the number of media stored in the cassette stored in the storage unit. Since the double feed number is calculated and stored in the storage unit, it is possible to detect the double feed of the medium and specify the double feed number of the medium without using a sensor for detecting the length and thickness of the medium. It becomes possible to match the specified multi-feed number and the multi-feed medium stored in the reject unit, and it is possible to manage the medium reliably.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, after the medium is replenished in the cassette, the number of stored media in the cassette input by the operator is registered (stored) in the storage unit. It is also possible for the control unit to calculate the number of stored media and to register (store) it in the storage unit.

Schematic configuration diagram showing the first embodiment Flow chart showing the operation of the first embodiment Schematic configuration diagram showing a second embodiment Flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Medium issuing apparatus 2 Cassette 3 Cassette accommodating part 4 Hopper part 5 Conveyance path 6 Processing part 7 Stack part 8 Reject part 9 Image sensor module 10 Display operation part 11 Storage part 12 Control part 13 Communication line 14 Host server 16 Medium 17 Length Detection sensor 18 Thickness detection sensor

Claims (2)

In a medium processing apparatus that feeds a medium from a cassette and performs processing such as printing on the fed medium,
A sensor for detecting the length and thickness of the medium fed from the cassette;
Image acquisition means for acquiring images of the edges of all the media aligned and stored in the cassette;
Storage means for storing the number of stored media in the cassette;
The presence or absence of double feeding of the medium is determined from the detection result of the sensor, and when double feeding has occurred, images of all the media in the cassette are obtained by the image obtaining means, and the medium is obtained from the image. A medium processing apparatus characterized by calculating the number of sheets and calculating the number of double feeds from the difference between the calculated number of sheets and the number of media in the cassette stored in the storage means and storing the calculated number in the storage means. In a medium processing apparatus that feeds a medium from a cassette and performs processing such as printing on the fed medium,
Image acquisition means for acquiring images of the edges of all the media aligned and stored in the cassette;
Storage means for storing the number of stored media in the cassette;
When the medium is fed out from the cassette, the image acquisition unit acquires images of all the media in the cassette, calculates the number of media from the image, and stores the calculated number and the storage unit in the storage unit. The number of media in the cassettes is compared to determine whether or not media double feed has occurred, and if double feed has occurred, the number of media double feed is calculated from the difference in the number of sheets and the storage is performed. A medium processing apparatus characterized by being stored in a means.

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