JP2013239003A - White card inspection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a white card inspection device that inspects a white card of a non-contact IC card with top and bottom upside down and front and rear reversed prior to pattern printing and data writing.SOLUTION: A white card inspection device comprises: means of conveying a white card; means of irradiating a white card with light; means of detecting a white card; imaging means; and image processing means. The means of irradiating a white card with light irradiates any one of surfaces of a white card to be conveyed by the conveying means with light. The means of detecting a white card detects a white card and outputs an imaging timing signal. The imaging means is provided on a side facing the light irradiation means with respect to the white card. When the imaging timing signal is output, the imaging means images a transmission image of the white card subjected to the light irradiation. The image processing means is means that inspects correctness of the top and bottom and the front and rear of the white card from the transmission image.

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for inspecting a non-contact type IC card on which an IC chip and an antenna coil are mounted in a state of a white card before performing front and back pattern printing and data writing.

  In recent years, non-contact IC cards having a non-contact communication function have been widely used. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a non-contact type IC card, and it is often seen that the manufacturing method being implemented is generally manufactured by the steps shown in FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, in accordance with the shape of the antenna coil 5 provided with the IC chip M, the central portion of the center core layer 1 made of vinyl chloride resin or the like as the center layer is cut out to form the embedded hole H. Next, the IC chip M and the antenna coil 5 are fitted into the buried hole H, and the core layer 1H that has been cut out is fitted at the center thereof, and the antenna coil 5 is aligned and fixed so as not to move. A non-contact type IC card is obtained by laminating the milky white concealment sheets 2a, 2b and the transparent resin sheets 3a, 3b from both surfaces of the center core layer 1 on which the antenna coil 5 is disposed. Since the above steps are generally performed with multiple impositions, a punching process is performed after the lamination. In addition, the milky white concealment sheets 2a and 2b include those in which a pattern or the like is printed, or those in which printing is not performed and the outer surface is milky white (hereinafter, a card having a milky white outer surface is referred to as a white card).

  In the card manufacturing process, illuminate the card surface with a light source and image the card surface with an imaging camera for printing on both front and back sides (referred to as both front and back sides). Inspection is performed (Patent Document 1).

JP 2004-178529 A

  The small white card is stored in a storage box and input to a printing process or a data writing process. After a pattern such as a face photograph is printed, personal data or the like is written and issued. When stored in the storage box, a white card may be generated in which the top and bottom are reversed and stored.

  However, since both sides of the white card are milky white, the top and bottom of the card cannot be distinguished. As shown in FIG. 3, when the orientation of the white card 11 is the correct orientation as shown in FIG. 3A, the correct orientation is assumed when the front and back of the card are reversed as shown in FIGS. 3B and 3D. Since the suction surface for transporting the card is reversed, there is a problem that the surface of the card on which the pattern is printed is likely to be damaged, and the effect of the damage causes a lack of printing at the damaged portion. In addition, when the top and bottom of the card is reversed as shown in FIG. 3C, the personal data cannot be written because the position of the IC chip M is not correct when the data is written. Problems arise.

  Therefore, the present invention is to provide a white card inspection device for inspecting a top and bottom of a contactless IC card having an IC chip and an antenna built therein, and inspecting a white card whose front and back are reversed before pattern printing or data writing. And

Therefore, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is
A white card inspection device for inspecting the reverse of the top and bottom of a non-contact IC card on which an IC chip and an antenna coil are mounted, in a white background state before front / back printing or data writing is performed,
A means for conveying a white card, a means for irradiating light on the white card, a means for detecting a white card, an imaging means, and an image processing means,
The means for irradiating the white card with light irradiates one of the surfaces of the white card conveyed by the means for conveying,
The means for detecting the white card detects a white card and outputs an imaging timing signal.
The imaging means is provided on the side facing the light irradiating means with respect to the white card, and when the imaging timing signal is output, captures a transmission image of the light irradiated white card,
The white card inspection device, wherein the image processing means is a means for inspecting the top and bottom of a white card for correctness from a transparent image.

  The invention according to claim 2 of the present invention is the white card inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for irradiating light is means for irradiating infrared light.

  The invention according to claim 3 of the present invention is characterized in that the image processing means extracts an IC chip image from a transmission image and inspects the correctness of the top and bottom of the white card from the coordinates of the extracted IC chip image. It is a white card inspection apparatus of Claim 1 or 2.

  The invention according to claim 4 of the present invention is characterized by providing a mechanism for correcting the orientation of the white card with the wrong top and bottom to correct the top and bottom of the card, as a result of inspecting the correctness of the top and bottom of the white card. A white card inspection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

  The invention according to claim 5 of the present invention is characterized in that a first discharge mechanism is provided for discharging a white card having an incorrect top and bottom as a result of checking whether the top and bottom of the white card are correct. 4. The white card inspection device according to any one of 4 above.

  The invention according to claim 6 of the present invention is the white card inspection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a mechanism for performing contactless communication inspection on a card whose top and bottom are correct.

  The invention according to claim 7 of the present invention is characterized in that a second ejection mechanism is provided for ejecting a white card determined to have poor communication by the non-contact communication inspection mechanism. It is a card inspection device.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the white card, in addition to the IC chip and the antenna coil, a mark for inspecting whether the top and bottom are correct is mounted. A white card inspection device according to claim 1.

  According to the white card inspection apparatus according to the present invention, since it is possible to inspect the top and bottom of the white card before it is put into the front and back picture printing process and the data writing process, the printing defect due to the white card is damaged. In addition, since the orientation of the white card is constant, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of defective data writing.

The figure which shows an example of a non-contact-type IC card in a cross section. The figure which shows the manufacturing process of a non-contact-type IC card. The figure which shows direction of a white card. (A) is a figure which shows the correct orientation. (B)-(d) is a figure which shows the wrong direction. (A) is a figure which shows the outline of the white card inspection apparatus of this invention. (B) is a figure which shows the method of conveying a white card | curd by a conveyance part. The figure which shows the method of calculating | requiring the coordinate of IC chip by the image processing part which concerns on this invention. The figure which shows the imaging range different from FIG. 5 of the imaging part which concerns on this invention. The figure which shows an example which provided the 1st discharge mechanism in the white card inspection apparatus of this invention. The figure which shows having provided the mechanism which correct | amends the top and bottom in the white card inspection apparatus, the non-contact communication inspection part, and the 2nd discharge mechanism in the white card inspection apparatus of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 4A is a diagram showing an outline of the white card inspection apparatus of the present invention. The white card inspection apparatus of the present invention includes a transport unit 12 that transports a white card 11, a light irradiation unit 13 that projects light on the white card 11, and a white card detection that detects a white card. Unit 14, an imaging unit 15 as an imaging unit, and an image processing unit 16 as an image processing unit.

  For example, the transport unit 12 takes out the white cards 11 one by one from the white card supply unit 21 and sequentially feeds them in the direction of the arrow 22. FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a method of transporting the white card 11 by the transport unit 12, and is a view seen from the direction indicated by the arrow 30 shown in FIG. The transport unit 12 has two U-shaped grooves 12c and 12d on which both ends are placed in accordance with the size of the white card 11 in the width direction (the width direction indicates a direction orthogonal to the transport direction 22). The white card 11 is intermittently conveyed by the conveyance protrusions 12a and 12b moving in the direction of the arrow 23.

  The light irradiation unit 13 irradiates one of the surfaces of the white card 11 conveyed by the conveyance unit 12 (FIG. 4A shows a case where the back surface is irradiated). The light irradiation unit 13 uses a light source that emits infrared light. Infrared light is shielded from the IC chip and the antenna part in the white card, but the other part becomes transmitted light and can be imaged by the imaging part 15.

  The white card detection unit 14 outputs an imaging timing signal when detecting the white card 11 that is sequentially intermittently sent above the light irradiation unit 13. The white card detection unit 14 can prohibit the imaging unit 15 from imaging when the transport unit 12 is operating but the white card 11 is not transported.

  The imaging unit 15 captures a transmission image of the white card 11 when an imaging timing signal is output by the white card detection unit 14, and a two-dimensional infrared camera can be used.

  The image processing unit 16 extracts an IC chip image from the transmission image of the white card 11 imaged by the imaging unit 15, and obtains the coordinates of the extracted IC chip image. The image processing unit 16 can use a commonly used image processing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a method for obtaining the coordinates of the IC chip by the image processing unit 16. FIG. 5A shows the position of the 1C chip M when the orientation of the white card 11 is correct, and FIGS. 5B to 5D show the case where the orientation of the white card 11 is incorrect. FIG. 5B shows a case where the front and back are wrong, FIG. 5C is a case where both the top and bottom are wrong, and FIG. 5D is a case where the front and back are wrong. For example, a transmission image in a range (imaging range) indicated by reference numeral 31 is captured by the imaging unit 15. The obtained transmission image and the IC chip image 32 registered in advance are subjected to pattern matching to extract the images M1 to M4 of the IC chip M. By pattern matching, for example, it is possible to avoid erroneous recognition of an image due to the antenna coil 5 or noise as an IC chip. In this way, the position (coordinates) of the IC chip within the imaging range can be obtained, and the correctness of the top and bottom of the white card 11 can be inspected.

  In FIG. 5, the imaging range is the range indicated by reference numeral 31, but the imaging range may be the imaging range 31a shown in FIG. In this case, the IC chip M in FIG. 6A in which the orientation of the white card 11 is correctly conveyed can be imaged. On the other hand, if the orientation of the card in FIGS. M cannot be imaged. In this way, the correctness of the top and bottom of the white card can be inspected.

  In the above description, the case where the IC chip M image is extracted by pattern matching the image 32 of the IC chip and the image of the IC chip M registered in advance has been described. In addition to the IC chip and the antenna coil, a mark is mounted. It may be. That is, in order to inspect the direction of the white card, a mark may be formed on the inlet (base material in the card on which the antenna coil and the IC chip are mounted) instead of the IC chip. For example, when an antenna coil is formed by etching, it is easy to form a mark at the same time, and if the mark is extracted and the direction of the white card is inspected, regardless of the type or manufacturing lot of the white card A constant pattern matching method can always be used, and the inspection apparatus can be simplified.

  FIG. 7 is a view showing an example in which a first discharge mechanism 40 for discharging a white card with an upside down orientation is provided downstream of the white card inspection apparatus. The first discharge mechanism 40 includes, for example, a discharge portion 41 and a discharge card storage portion 42 for storing a discharge card. The discharge portion 41 includes a card separately from the two U-shaped grooves 12c and 12d. The white card 11a with the upside down orientation can be dropped into the discharge card storage portion 42 by opening and closing in the direction of the arrow 41a. Further, the white card 11 b with the correct orientation of the top and bottom is stored in the white card storage unit 50.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, by providing the white card inspection apparatus with a mechanism 60 for correcting the top and bottom, it is possible to align the directions of all the white cards whose directions are incorrect. In this case, the imaging range by the imaging unit 15 must be the imaging range 31 shown in FIG. This is because in the case of the imaging range 31 a shown in FIG. 6, it is not possible to determine the contents of the top and bottom errors of the white card 11. In this case, for example, a robot arm can be used as the mechanism 60 for correcting the top and bottom.

  Furthermore, by providing a non-contact communication inspection unit 70 for inspecting the quality of non-contact communication after the mechanism 60 for correcting the top and bottom, and storing white cards with good non-contact communication results in the white card storage unit 50, The white card 11d can immediately write data such as front and back printing and personal information, and the work efficiency of the card processing can be improved. On the other hand, after the non-contact communication inspection unit 70, a second discharge mechanism 80 is provided that discharges the white card that has been inspected as defective in the non-contact communication inspection. The second discharge mechanism 80 includes, for example, a discharge portion 81 and a discharge card storage portion 82 for storing a discharge card. The discharge portion 81 has two U-shaped grooves 12c and 12d at the front and rear as in the case of the discharge portion 41. Separately from the U-shaped groove, the card is divided into card sizes. By opening and closing in the direction of the arrow 81a, the white card 11c with poor communication can be dropped into the discharge card storage portion 82. Further, the white card 11 d having a good communication result is stored in the white card storage unit 50.

  As described above, according to the white card inspection apparatus of the present invention, the top and bottom of the white card is inspected for the front and back before being input to the front and back picture printing process and the data writing process, and the white card with the wrong top and bottom orientation is discharged. As a result, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of scratches due to the mixture of white cards having the wrong orientation, and further prevent the occurrence of missing prints at the damaged portions. Further, since the orientation of the white card is constant, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of data writing failure. If the top and bottom of the white card is wrong, the orientation is corrected, and the white card that is finally stored in the storage box is aligned in a uniform direction. Since the card is ejected, the white card finally stored in the storage box has a fixed direction and good communication results, so it can be immediately put into the subsequent printing process or data writing process. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Center core layer 2a, 2b ... Milky white concealment sheet | seat 3a, 3b ... Transparent resin sheet 5 ... Antenna coil 11 ... White card 11a ... White card in which the direction of the top and bottom is wrong 11b: White card 11c with correct top and bottom orientation 11c ... White card 11d with poor communication ... White card 12 with good communication result ... Conveying parts 12a, 12b ... Conveying protrusions 12c, 12d ... U-shaped groove 13 ... Light irradiation part 14 ... White card detection part 15 ... Imaging part 16 ... Image processing part 21 ... White card supply part 22 ... White cards sequentially Arrow 23 indicating the direction of intermittent feeding ... Arrow 30 indicating the direction of movement of the conveyance protrusions ... Arrow 31 indicating the direction of viewing the conveyance unit ... Imaging range 32 ... IC chip registered in advance Image 40... First discharge mechanism 41. Discharge part 41a of the first discharge mechanism ... Arrow 42 indicating the opening / closing direction of the discharge part of the first discharge mechanism ... Card storage part 50 of the first discharge mechanism ... White card storage part 60 ...・ A mechanism 70 for correcting the top and bottom surfaces: a non-contact communication inspection unit 80: a second discharge mechanism 81 ... a discharge portion 81a of the second discharge mechanism ... a discharge portion of the second discharge mechanism Arrow 82 indicating opening / closing direction ... Card storage portion H of second discharge mechanism ... Embedded hole 1H ... Cured core layer M ... IC chips M1-M4 ... Extracted image of IC chip M

Claims (8)

A white card inspection device for inspecting the reverse of the top and bottom of a non-contact IC card on which an IC chip and an antenna coil are mounted, in a white background state before front / back printing or data writing is performed,
A means for conveying a white card, a means for irradiating light on the white card, a means for detecting a white card, an imaging means, and an image processing means,
The means for irradiating the white card with light irradiates one of the surfaces of the white card conveyed by the means for conveying,
The means for detecting the white card detects a white card and outputs an imaging timing signal.
The imaging means is provided on the side facing the light irradiating means with respect to the white card, and when the imaging timing signal is output, captures a transmission image of the light irradiated white card,
2. The white card inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing means is means for inspecting whether the white card is upside down from a transparent image.   2. The white card inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light irradiating means is an infrared light irradiating means.   3. The white card inspection according to claim 1, wherein the image processing means extracts an IC chip image from the transmission image, and inspects whether the white card is upside down from the coordinates of the extracted IC chip image. apparatus.   4. The mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a mechanism for correcting the orientation of a white card whose top and bottom are wrong as a result of checking whether the top and bottom of the white card are correct. The white card inspection device described.   5. The white card inspection device according to claim 1, further comprising a first discharge mechanism that discharges a white card having an incorrect top and bottom as a result of checking whether the top and bottom of the white card are correct. .   6. The white card inspection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a mechanism for performing contactless communication inspection on a card whose top and bottom are correct.   The white card inspection device according to claim 6, further comprising a second discharge mechanism that discharges a white card that is determined to be poor in communication by the non-contact communication inspection mechanism.   8. The white card inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a mark for inspecting the top and bottom of the white card is mounted in addition to the IC chip and the antenna coil.

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