JP2019062422A - Medium reading device and medium processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a medium reading device and a medium processing device that, even when a line is printed at an end of a medium, can recognize the outer shape of the medium.SOLUTION: There is provided a medium reading device comprising: an image sensor unit that acquires an image of a medium; a first light source that irradiates the front face of the medium with light; a second light source that irradiates the rear face of the medium with light; a flickering control unit that controls the first and second light sources to be alternately turned on; and a light control unit that is provided between the medium and the second light source, reflects the light from the first light source to be incident on the image sensor unit, and transmits the light from the second light source to be incident on the image sensor unit, wherein the image sensor unit acquires an image of the front face of the medium having a first background when the first light source is turned on, and acquires an image of the outer shape of the medium having a second background when the second light source is turned on.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a medium reader and a medium processing device.

  In a store such as a financial institution or convenience store, a customer can pay taxes, utility charges, purchase fees for mail order sales, etc. using a form (medium) sent from a business entity or the like. Specifically, a customer brings a form to a store such as a convenience store, and a clerk of the store receives the form and causes a form reader (medium reading device) to read information recorded in the form. Further, the clerk receives the price corresponding to the read information from the customer, and performs storage processing of the price.

  The form reader includes an image sensor provided to face a form to be read, and a black background plate serving as a background of the form, and an image of the form located on the background plate is detected by the image sensor. By acquiring, the information printed on the form can be read.

  As an example of the form reading apparatus, disclosed in Patent Document 1 below has a white background used when acquiring the color balance of an image sensor and a black background used when acquiring an image of a form. A reader can be mentioned.

JP 2014-135585

  However, when a black line is printed at the end of the form (medium) in the form reading apparatus (medium reading apparatus) used so far, the black line and the black background at the end of the form Since the plate and the plate have the same color, the contrast may be reduced and it may not be possible to detect the four corners of the form based on the form image. As a result, in the form reader, the four corners of the form can not be detected, so the external form of the form can not be recognized.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and an object of the present invention is to recognize the outer shape of a medium even when a line is printed at the end of the medium. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved media reader and media processor capable of

  In order to solve the above problems, according to one aspect of the present invention, an image sensor unit for acquiring an image of a medium, a first light source for irradiating light to the front side of the medium, and light on the back side of the medium Provided between the medium and the second light source, a second light source to emit light, a blinking control unit for controlling the first and second light sources to alternately turn on the light source, and the medium and the second light source A light control unit that reflects light from a first light source to be incident on the image sensor unit, transmits light from the second light source to be incident on the image sensor unit, and the image sensor unit Acquiring an image of a surface of the medium having a first background when the first light source is lit, and acquiring an image of an outline of the medium having a second background when the second light source is lit; A media reader is provided.

  The medium reading device further includes a background plate provided on the opposite side to the image sensor unit with respect to the medium and serving as the first background, and the light control unit is configured to receive light from the first light source. To be incident on the background plate, and further reflect light reflected by the background plate to be incident on the image sensor unit, and transmit light from the second light source to the image sensor unit You may form from the half mirror made to inject.

  The half mirror may be provided to be inclined with respect to the back surface of the medium, and the background plate may be provided to be inclined with respect to a surface of the half mirror facing the medium.

  The first background may be a black background and the second background may be a white background.

  The medium reading device may further include an outer shape recognition unit that recognizes the outer shape of the medium based on the image of the outer shape of the medium acquired by the image sensor unit.

  The medium reading device may further include a reading unit that reads information of the medium based on the image of the surface of the medium acquired by the image sensor unit.

  The medium reading device may further include a conveyance mechanism that conveys the medium below the image sensor unit.

  During transport of the medium, the blinking control unit controls the first light source to emit light, and then controls the second light source to emit light. You may repeat.

  The blink control unit may control the first light source to sequentially emit red light, green light and blue light.

  The image sensor unit may include a red light sensor unit, a green light sensor unit, and a blue light sensor unit.

  The first light source may emit white light.

  In order to solve the above problems, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medium processing device comprising a medium reading device, wherein the medium reading device comprises an image sensor unit for acquiring an image of a medium, and a medium Control to alternately turn on the first light source for emitting light to the front surface of the light source, the second light source for emitting light to the back surface of the medium, and the first and second light sources A control unit, provided between the medium and the second light source, reflects light from the first light source to be incident on the image sensor unit, and transmits light from the second light source A light control unit to be incident on the image sensor unit, the image sensor unit acquires an image of the surface of the medium having a first background when the first light source is turned on; Image of the outline of the medium with a second background when the light source is on Acquiring, media processing apparatus is provided.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the outer shape of the medium can be recognized even when a line is printed at the end of the medium (form).

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for describing a configuration example of a form 800. It is an explanatory view for explaining the composition of the form reader 10 concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram for explaining control part 700 of form reader 10 concerning the embodiment. It is an explanatory view for explaining a form reading method concerning the embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for describing an example of an image 900 of the outer shape of a form 800 by the form reader 10 according to the same embodiment. It is an explanatory view for explaining composition of a form reader 12 concerning a 2nd embodiment of the present invention. It is an explanatory view for explaining a form reading method concerning the embodiment. It is an explanatory view for explaining the composition of the form reader 10a concerning a 3rd embodiment of the present invention. It is an explanatory view for explaining the composition of the form processing device 30 concerning a 4th embodiment of the present invention. It is an explanatory view showing the composition of the form reader 20 concerning a comparative example. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the timing pattern 920 of the light irradiation in the document reader 20 which concerns on a comparative example. It is an explanatory view showing the composition of the form reader 22 concerning a comparative example. It is an explanatory view for explaining timing pattern 922 of reading in form reader 22 concerning a comparative example. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram for describing an example of an image 902 of a form 800 read by the form reading devices 20 and 22 according to a comparative example.

  The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. In the present specification and the drawings, components having substantially the same functional configuration will be assigned the same reference numerals and redundant description will be omitted.

  In the present specification and the drawings, a plurality of components having substantially the same or similar functional configurations may be distinguished by attaching different numerals after the same reference numerals. However, when it is not necessary to distinguish each of a plurality of components having substantially the same or similar functional configuration, only the same reference numeral is given. Also, similar components in different embodiments may be distinguished by attaching different alphabets after the same reference numerals. However, when it is not necessary to distinguish each of similar components in particular, only the same reference numeral is attached.

<< Configuration Example of Form 800>
First, prior to the description of the first embodiment of the present invention, a configuration example of the document 800 handled by the document reader 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for describing a configuration example of the form 800. As shown in FIG.

  The form 800 is a storage slip sent from a business entity or the like to a customer who is a payer in order to pay taxes, utility charges, purchase fees for mail order sales, etc. at stores such as financial institutions and convenience stores. Specifically, the customer brings the form 800 to a store such as a convenience store, and a clerk of the store receives the form 800 and causes the form reader 10 to read the information recorded in the form 800. Further, the clerk receives the price corresponding to the read information from the customer, and performs storage processing of the price.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the slip 800 is composed of a payment handling slip 804, a store slip 806 and a receipt 808. When the customer brings the form 800 into the store, the form 800 has a form in which the payment handling slip 804, the store receipt 806 and the receipt 808 are connected into one. Then, when the storage process is completed using the form 800 at the store, the payment handling slip 804, the store reservation 806 and the receipt 808 are separated from each other.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the payment handling slip 804 includes a receipt marking area 810 and a data code area 812 in addition to information such as the account number of the payment destination and the payment amount. A receipt mark is sealed in the receipt mark area 810. Further, in the data code area 812, for example, a one-dimensional or two-dimensional data code including information on storage, such as a barcode, is formed. The payment handling slip 804 is also referred to as a head office copy and is sent to the business or the head office after storage processing by the form 800 is performed in a store or the like.

  The store register 806 includes a receipt marking area 814 as shown in FIG. A receipt mark is sealed in the receipt mark area 814.

  The receipt 808, as shown in FIG. 1, includes a receipt marking area 816 and a stamp sticking area 818. The receipt mark area 816 is an area provided for sealing a receipt mark. In addition, a stamp is attached to the stamp attaching area 818 as necessary. The receipt 808 is also referred to as a customer copy, and is returned to the customer after storage processing by the form 800 is performed in a store or the like.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, a line 802 may be printed at the upper end of the store transcript 806 and the receipt 808. The line 802 is often printed in the same color (for example, black) as the other print of the form 800. Also, the line 802 may be printed only on the top edge of the store slip 806 or only on the top edge of the receipt 808.

  In the embodiment of the present invention described below, it is assumed that a form 800 as shown in FIG. 1 is handled. However, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the application to the handling of the form 800 as described above, and in particular, in the case of handling media such as banknotes, checks, securities, passbooks, tickets, etc. There is no limitation and can be applied.

  In the following description, the “sub-scanning direction” means the direction in which the form 800 is conveyed, and the “main-scanning direction” means the direction intersecting the sub-scanning direction at a right angle.

  Furthermore, in the following description, “acquisition resolution” refers to the fineness of the unit units constituting the image to be acquired, and generally indicates by a number how many unit units an inch is divided into Can do (dot per inch: dpi). As described above, when one image is divided in units constituting an acquisition resolution, a plurality of relevant unit units arranged in a line in the main scanning direction corresponds to one line. Therefore, for example, when the acquisition resolution is 600 dpi, the distance along the sub-scanning direction corresponding to one line of the acquisition resolution is about 42.3 μm.

<< Circumstances for achieving the embodiment of the present invention >>
Next, prior to the description of the embodiments of the present invention, the circumstances under which the present inventor has made the embodiments of the present invention will be described.

  In the form 800 described above, as described above, the printed information is read by the form reading device. Here, with respect to the slip reader which the present inventor has examined before the present inventor creates the embodiment of the present invention, that is, the slip reader according to the comparative example, refer to FIG. 10 to FIG. Explain. FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing a configuration of the form reading device 20 according to the comparative example, and FIG. 11 is an explanatory view for explaining a light irradiation timing pattern 920 in the form reading device 20 according to the comparative example. More specifically, FIG. 11 schematically shows the timing pattern 920 of light irradiation in the form reader 20, thereby dividing one line on the image of the form 800 into three to form a red image along the sub scanning direction. The acquisition of the green image and the blue image in this order is repeated to acquire the entire image of the form 800. 12 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of the form reading device 22 according to the comparative example, and FIG. 13 is an explanatory view for explaining a timing pattern 922 of reading in the form reading device 22 according to the comparative example. . More specifically, FIG. 13 schematically shows a timing pattern 922 for image acquisition in the form reading device 22 so that a red image, a green image, and the like along the sub-scanning direction for each line on the image of the form 800. The acquisition of the blue image is repeated, and the situation of acquiring the entire image of the form 800 is shown. That is, in FIG. 13, a red image, a green image, and a blue image are simultaneously acquired at positions away from the form 800 by a predetermined line (one line in the example in FIG. 13). Furthermore, FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of the image 902 of the form 800 read by the form reading devices 20 and 22 according to the comparative example.

  The form reader 20 shown in FIG. 10 is a form reader 20 having a contact optical system. In the form reader 20, it can be said that the distances between the form 800 to be read and the one-line image sensor 100 and the lens unit 300 are short and they are in close contact with each other. As shown in FIG. 10, the form reader 20 includes a one-line type image sensor 100 for reading a form 800, a three-color LED (Light Emitting Diode) light 200 capable of emitting three colors of light, and a form 800. A lens (for example, a rod lens array or a SELFOC (registered trademark) lens array) 300 for condensing the reflected light on the one-line image sensor 100, a black background plate 500 as a background of the form 800, and a form Mainly includes a transport mechanism 600 for transporting 800.

  In the form reader 20, as shown in the timing pattern 920 of FIG. 11, the three-color LED light 200 sequentially emits red, green, and blue lights toward the form 800. Then, the one-line image sensor 100 sequentially acquires, for each line, images of three colors (red image, green image, and blue image) of the form 800 under red, green, and blue light. Furthermore, the form reader 20 can acquire a color image of the surface of the form 800 by combining these three color images.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, the form reading device 20 conveys the form 800 from the left side to the right side in the figure (that is, in the sub scanning direction) by the transport mechanism 600. The three-color LED light 200 is turned on slightly before the unit reaches directly below the one-line image sensor 100. At this time, as shown in FIG. 11, the form reader 20 irradiates the surface of the form 800 with red light by the three-color LED light 200, and the distance along the sub-scanning direction corresponding to one line of acquired resolution. When the form 800 moves in the scanning direction by / 3 minutes, a red image of red light of the form 800 is acquired. Next, as shown in FIG. 11, the form reader 20 applies green light to the surface of the form 800 by the three-color LED light 200, and only 1/3 of the distance corresponding to one line of the acquired resolution. When the form 800 moves in the sub-scanning direction, a green image of green light of the form 800 is acquired. Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the form reader 20 applies blue light to the surface of the form 800 by the three-color LED light 200, and sub-scores by 1/3 of the distance corresponding to one line of the acquired resolution. When the form 800 moves in the scanning direction, a blue image of blue light of the form 800 is acquired. Furthermore, the form reading device 20 sequentially turns on the light of three colors during conveyance of the form 800, repeats acquisition of the image of three colors on the surface of the form 800, and combines the acquired three color images. Thus, a color image of the surface of the form 800 can be obtained.

  The form reader 22 shown in FIG. 12 is a form reader 22 having a reduction optical system. In the document reader 22, the distance between the document 800 to be read and the three-line image sensor 102 and the lens unit 302 is longer than that of the document reader 20, and the lens unit 302 is a three-line image. A reduced image of the image of the form 800 is formed on the sensor 102. As shown in FIG. 12, the form reader 22 includes a three-line image sensor 102 for reading a form 800, a white LED light 202 capable of emitting white light, and a lens unit (for example, a single focus lens etc.) Main components are a background plate 500 which is a background of the form 800, and a transport mechanism 600 which transports the form 800. Further, the three-line type image sensor 102 includes a red light sensor unit (not shown) that receives red light, a green light sensor unit (not shown) that receives green light, and a blue light sensor unit that receives blue light ( Not shown) are independently provided, for example, in the form of a line. That is, in the three-line type image sensor 102, three lines of sensor units for receiving light of three colors are provided.

  In the form reader 22, as shown by the timing pattern 922 in FIG. 13, the three-line type image sensor 102 detects the red light sensor unit each time the form 800 moves one line along the sub scanning direction, Three-color images (red image, green image and blue image) of the surface of the form 800 are simultaneously acquired by the green light sensor unit and the blue light sensor unit. Then, the form reader 22 can acquire a color image of the surface of the form 800 by combining the three color images.

  In the above description, the form reading device 20 having the contact optical system has been described as having the one-line type image sensor 100 and the three-color LED light 200 capable of emitting three colors of light. The form reading device 20 of the contact optical system may have a three-line type image sensor 102 and a white LED light 202 capable of emitting white light. Similarly, although the form reader 22 having the reduction optical system has been described as having the 3-line image sensor 102 and the white LED light 202 capable of emitting white light, the form reading of the reduction optical system is described. The device 22 may comprise a one-line image sensor 100 and a three-color LED light 200.

  And in the form reader 20, 22 mentioned above, the background board 500 which becomes the background of the form 800 is provided, and the said background board 500 is a black board. It is preferable that the contrast between the form 800 and the background of the form 800 be larger in order to accurately detect the four corners of the form 800 and the printing. Therefore, generally, the color of the form 800 is mostly white or a color close to white, so that black having a large contrast with white is used as the color of the background plate 500.

  However, in the form reader 20, 22 described above, when the black line 802 is printed at the end of the form 800 (see FIG. 1), a color image of the surface of the form 800 acquired as described above It is difficult to detect the four corners of the form 800 based on. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 14 which is an example of the image 902 of the form 800 read by the form reading device 20 or 22 according to the comparative example, the upper end of the store slip 806 and the receipt 808 in the area 904 of the image 902. The black line 802 printed on the black background and the black background plate 500 which is the background of the form 800 have the same color or a similar color. Therefore, in the region 904, the contrast between the line 802 and the background plate 500 is small, which makes it difficult to distinguish between the line 802 and the background plate 500, and it is difficult to detect the four corners of the form 800.

  Also, when the image sensor acquires an image of the form 800 via a red filter (not shown) or when acquiring an image of the form 800 by irradiating red light, the dark blue line 802 is the end of the form 800. When printed on a part, it may be difficult to distinguish between the line 802 and the black background plate 500 as described above.

  Then, in view of such a situation, the inventor has come to create a form reader according to the embodiment of the present invention. According to the embodiment of the present invention created by the inventor, even when the line 802 is printed at the end of the form 800, the four corners of the form 800 are detected, that is, the outer shape of the form 800 is recognized. can do. Hereinafter, the details of the embodiment of the present invention will be sequentially described.

<< First Embodiment >>
<Configuration of Form Reader 10>
First, the configuration of the form reading device (medium reading device) 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the configuration of the form reading device 10 according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a block for explaining the control unit 700 of the form reading device 10 according to the present embodiment. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the form reading apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes a one-line image sensor (image sensor unit) 100, a three-color LED light (first light source) 200, and a backlight (second light source). A light source 204, a lens unit 300, a light control unit (light control unit) 400, and a transport mechanism 600 are mainly included. Hereinafter, each functional unit of the form reader 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.

(1 line type line sensor 100)
As shown in FIG. 2, the one-line type line sensor 100 is provided to face the surface of the form 800 via a lens unit 300 described later, and acquires an image of the surface of the form 800. The one-line type line sensor 100 is formed, for example, by arranging a plurality of imaging elements (not shown) such as a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) in a line. An image of the surface of the form 800 is projected by the lens unit 300 described later on the light receiving surface of each of the imaging elements of the one-line type line sensor 100.

  Specifically, each imaging element detects the amount of light collected on its light receiving surface, and outputs a voltage signal to a control unit 700 described later according to the detected amount of light. At this time, voltage signals output from the respective imaging elements are imaging data for one pixel, and a plurality of voltage signals output from the plurality of imaging elements arranged in a line are imaging data for one line. A plurality of imaging devices are conveyed along the sub-scanning direction by the conveyance mechanism 600 described later, and the plurality of imaging elements arranged in a line every time the document 800 is conveyed is a voltage signal corresponding to imaging data for one line. Repeat the output. As a result, the form reader 10 can obtain the entire imaging data of the form 800 by combining a plurality of voltage signals output when the form 800 passes under the one-line type line sensor 100. .

  Note that, in the one-line type line sensor 100, a plurality of imaging elements are arranged so as to be slightly longer than the width of the form 800 to be read.

(Three-color LED light 200)
As shown in FIG. 2, the three-color LED light 200 is provided to face the surface of the form 800, and irradiates the surface of the form 800 with light. The three-color LED light 200 is controlled by a control unit 700 described later, and can switch or extinguish the color of light to be irradiated in accordance with the timing of image acquisition of the one-line type line sensor 100. More specifically, the three-color LED light 200 can sequentially emit red light, green light and blue light, and in detail, red light having a wavelength of around 660 nm, green light having a wavelength of around 520 nm And blue light having a wavelength of about 450 nm. Therefore, the one-line type line sensor 100 described above can receive light emitted by the three-color LED light 200 and reflected by the surface of the form 800. For example, the light emitted by the three-color LED light 200 By switching in order of red light, green light and blue light, it is possible to sequentially obtain the red image, the green image and the blue image of the form 800.

(Backlight 204)
As shown in FIG. 2, the backlight 204 is provided to face the back surface of the form 800, and irradiates light on the back surface of the form 800. Specifically, the back light 204 is provided in the light control unit 400 described later, which faces the back side of the form 800, and the back side of the form 800 via the half mirror 402 similarly provided in the light control unit 400. It is opposite. Similarly to the three-color LED light 200, the back light 204 can be controlled by the control unit 700 described later, and can be turned on or off in accordance with the timing of image acquisition of the one-line type line sensor 100. For example, while the backlight 204 is on, light from the backlight 204 is inserted into the back of the form 800.

  The light emitted from the backlight 204 is not particularly limited as long as the light has a wavelength that can be received by the one-line type line sensor 100 described above, and for example, it is white light it can. For example, the backlight 204 simultaneously emits two or three of red light having a wavelength of about 660 nm, green light having a wavelength of about 520 nm, and blue light having a wavelength of about 450 nm. White light can be emitted. Note that the backlight 204 preferably has an exterior made of a material that does not easily reflect light so that the backlight 204 looks black when the backlight 204 is off.

(Lens unit 300)
The lens unit 300 is provided between the one-line type line sensor 100 and the form 800, and is made of, for example, a rod lens array or a SELFOC lens array. The rod lens array or the selfoc lens array is formed by arranging a plurality of gradient index lenses. The image of the form 800 is projected by the lens unit 300 on the light receiving surfaces of the plurality of imaging elements of the one-line type line sensor 100.

(Light control unit 400)
The light control unit 400 is provided to face the back of the form 800, as shown in FIG. Specifically, the light control unit 400 can reflect the light from the three-color LED light 200 and make the light enter the one-line type line sensor 100. In addition, the light control unit 400 can transmit light from the backlight 204 and make the light enter the one-line type line sensor 100.

  More specifically, the light control unit 400 has a box-like housing provided with an opening 404 on the surface facing the back surface of the form 800, and the above-described backlight 204 provided inside the housing. , And a half mirror 402 and a background plate 500 which will be described later. The light control unit 400 can reflect the light from the three-color LED light 200 and guide it to the background plate 500, and can make the light reflected by the background plate 500 enter the one-line type line sensor 100. In addition, it is preferable that the inside of the box-like housing has an interior made of a material that hardly reflects light so that it looks black when the backlight 204 is turned off. The half mirror 402 and the background plate 500 provided inside the light control unit 400 will be described below.

~ Half mirror 402 ~
As described above, the half mirror 402 is provided inside the light control unit 400, reflects light from the three-color LED light 200, guides the light to the background plate 500, and further reflects off the background plate 500. Light can be made incident on the one-line type line sensor 100, and light from the backlight 204 can be transmitted and made incident on the one-line type line sensor 100. The half mirror 402 reflects a part of the incident light, and among the mirrors transmitting the part, the half mirror 402 is formed by a mirror having substantially the same intensity of the incident light and the transmitted light. More specifically, for example, the half mirror 402 is formed by providing a thin metal film (reflection film) for reflection on the front or back surface of glass.

  For example, when the half mirror 402 described above separates a bright space from a dark space, when the half mirror 402 is viewed from the bright room side, it is superimposed on weak light transmitted from the dark room and reflected from the bright room Since the strong light reaches the eye, the state of the bright room is reflected on the half mirror 402 and the dark room can not be seen. On the other hand, when looking at the half mirror 402 from the dark room side, since the strong light transmitted from the bright room reaches the eyes overlapping the weak light reflected from the dark room, the half mirror 402 from the bright room side When viewed, the state of a bright room can be seen through the half mirror 402.

  By utilizing the characteristics of the half mirror 402 as described above, the light from the background plate 500 reaches the form 800 side when the three-color LED light 200 is turned on and the backlight 204 is turned off. Thus, from the form 800 side, the background of the form 800 appears as a black background which is the color of the background plate 500. Specifically, when the three-color LED light 200 is on and the backlight 204 is off, the half mirror 402 reflects the light from the three-color LED light 200 and guides it to the background plate 500. Further, the half mirror 402 reflects the light reflected by the background plate 500 and causes the light to enter the one-line type line sensor 100. Therefore, since the light from the background plate 500 reaches the form 800 side, the background of the form 800 can be viewed as a black background by the background plate 5 from the form 800 side. On the other hand, when the three-color LED light 200 is turned off and the back light 204 is turned on, the black slip 800 appearing on a white background can be seen from the slip 800 side. Specifically, when the three-color LED light 200 is turned off and the backlight 204 is turned on, the light of the backlight 204 is transmitted through the half mirror 402 and is incident on the one-line type line sensor 100. Thus, from the form 800 side, a black form 800 appearing on a white background can be seen.

  Furthermore, the half mirror 402 is preferably arranged so that its reflection surface is inclined to the back surface of the form 800, and more specifically, has an inclination of 45 ° to the back surface of the form 800. Arranged as. By arranging in this manner, the half mirror 402 can reflect the light from the three-color LED light 200 and efficiently guide it to the background plate 500. Furthermore, the half mirror 402 can efficiently guide the light from the background plate 500 to the one-line image sensor 100.

~ Background board 500 ~
The background plate 500 is provided inside the light control unit 400 provided on the opposite side to the one-line type image sensor 100 as described above. Furthermore, the background plate 500 is preferably arranged to be inclined with respect to the surface of the half mirror 402 facing the form 800, and more specifically, an angle of 45 ° with respect to the surface of the half mirror 402. It is preferable to arrange so that it may have the inclination which becomes. By arranging in this manner, the half mirror 402 can reflect the light from the three-color LED light 200 and efficiently guide it to the background plate 500, and the light from the background plate 500 is a one-line image sensor It can lead to 100 efficiently. The background plate 500 reflects the light from the three-color LED light 200 when the three-color LED light 200 is lit, and becomes the background (first background) of the form 800, so the contrast with the form 800 is large. In order to do so, it is preferably black.

(Transporting mechanism 600)
The transport mechanism 600 is a mechanism for transporting the form 800 below the one-line type image sensor 100. The transport mechanism 600 has a transport path along which the form 800 is transported, and a plurality of rollers. The rollers are arranged to face each other across the form 800 in the conveyance path, controlled by a control unit 700 described later, and rotated by each roller, so that the form 800 is in a predetermined direction (sub-scanning direction) The form 800 can be transported from the movement.

(Control unit 700)
The control unit 700 is provided in the form reading device 10, and is mainly configured of a central processing unit (CPU), a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), and the like. Each part of the form reader 10 is controlled based on the stored control program.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 700 includes an image sensor control unit 702, a light control unit (flashing control unit) 704, a transport mechanism control unit 706, an image combining unit 708, and an image. A data acquisition unit 710, an outline recognition unit 712, a reading unit 714, and a memory unit 716 are mainly included. Details of each block of the control unit 700 will be described below.

Image sensor control unit 702
The image sensor control unit 702 appropriately transmits a control signal to the above-described one-line image sensor 100 to control each imaging element (not shown) of the one-line image sensor 100.

~ Light control unit 704 ~
The light control unit 704 controls the three-color LED light 200 and the backlight 204 to alternately turn on and off according to the timing of conveyance of the form 800 and acquisition of the image of the form 800. be able to. Furthermore, when the three-color LED light 200 is turned on, the light control unit 704 controls the three-color LED light 200 to sequentially emit red light, green light, and blue light.

  Therefore, when the three-color LED light 200 is turned on, the one-line image sensor 100 acquires a red image, a green image, and a blue image of the form 800 having a black background (first background) by the background plate 500. be able to. Furthermore, when the backlight 204 is lit, the one-line image sensor 100 can obtain an image 900 (see FIG. 5) of the outline of the form 800 having a white background (second background) by the backlight 204. it can. The details of the external image 900 of the form 800 will be described later.

Transport mechanism control unit 706
The transport mechanism control unit 706 transports the form 800 by controlling the above-described transport mechanism 600 in accordance with the timing of acquisition of the image of the form 800.

~ Image composition unit 708 ~
The image combining unit 708 converts the voltage signal of each imaging device (not shown) acquired by the one-line type image sensor 100 from an analog value to a digital value when the three-color LED light 200 is lit, and converts the voltage signal into a digital value. Based on the red, green and blue images of the form 800 are acquired. Then, the image combining unit 708 combines the red image, the green image, and the blue image into one to obtain a color image of the surface of the form 800. Further, the image combining unit 708 outputs the acquired color image to an image data acquisition unit 710 described later.

  The image combining unit 708 also displays an image 900 of the outline of the form 800 based on the voltage signal of each image sensor (not shown) acquired by the one-line image sensor 100 when the backlight 204 is lit (see FIG. 5). Get). Further, the image combining unit 708 outputs the acquired image 900 of the form 800 to an image data acquisition unit 710 described later.

Image data acquisition unit 710
The image data acquisition unit 710 outputs the color image of the form 800 acquired from the image combining unit 708 to a reading unit 714 described later. Further, the image data acquisition unit 710 outputs the image 900 of the form 800 acquired from the image combination unit 708 to an outline recognition unit 712 described later. The color image of the form 800 and the image 900 of the outer shape may be output from the image combining unit 708 to the reading unit 714 or the outer shape recognition unit 712 without the image data acquisition unit 710.

~ External shape recognition unit 712 ~
The outline recognition unit 712 detects the four corners of the form 800 based on the image 900 (see FIG. 5) of the outline of the form 800 acquired by the one-line type image sensor 100 when the backlight 204 is lit. Recognize the outline of The details of the image 900 will be described later, but in the image 900, a white background (second background) is obtained because the image is obtained in a state where light is emitted from the back of the form 800 by the backlight 204. A black image showing the outline of the form 800 appears in the upper part.

~ Reading unit 714 ~
The reading unit 714 can read the information printed on the form 800 based on the color image of the form 800 acquired from the image combining unit 708.

~ Memory section 716 ~
The memory unit 716 is provided in the control unit 700 as shown in FIG. 3, and is configured by a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a hard disk drive (HDD), and the like. The memory unit 716 stores, as described above, a control program for controlling the operation of the form reading device 10, image data and information acquired by the form reading device 10, and the like.

  A part of the functional units of the form reader 10 described above may be provided outside the form reader 10 or may not be provided.

<Form reading method>
The detailed configuration of the form reading device 10 according to the present embodiment has been described above. Next, the form reading method according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 2, FIG. 4 and FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view for explaining a form reading method according to the present embodiment. More specifically, FIG. 4 schematically shows the timing pattern 910 of light irradiation in the form reader 10, thereby dividing one line on the image of the form 800 into four along the sub-scanning direction, thereby forming a red image. The acquisition of the green image, the blue image, and the backlight image in this order is repeated to obtain the entire image of the form 800. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of the image 900 of the outer shape of the form 800 by the form reading device 10. Note that, in FIG. 5, the area appearing in black in the actual image is shown by gray hatching for the sake of clarity.

  In the form reading method according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the form 800 is conveyed by the transport mechanism 600 from the left to the right in the figure, and one end of the form 800 is a one-line image sensor Just before reaching directly below 100, the three-color LED light 200 is turned on. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the form reader 10 according to the present embodiment irradiates red light to the surface of the form 800 by the three-color LED light 200, and the sub scanning direction corresponding to one line of acquired resolution. When the form 800 moves by 1⁄4 of the distance along, the red image of the form 800 is acquired. Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the form reader 10 applies green light to the form 800 by the three-color LED light 200, and sub-scans by a quarter of the distance corresponding to one line of the acquisition resolution. When the form 800 moves in the direction, the form 800 green image is acquired. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the form reader 10 irradiates the form 800 with blue light by the three-color LED light 200, and the sub-scanning direction corresponds to 1⁄4 of the distance corresponding to one line of acquired resolution. When the form 800 moves to, the blue image of the form 800 is acquired. Furthermore, the form reader 10 turns off the three-color LED light 200 and turns on the backlight 204. As shown in FIG. 4, the form reader 10 emits white light to the back of the form 800 by the backlight 204, and forms a form in the sub-scanning direction by a quarter of the distance corresponding to one line of acquired resolution. When 800 moves, an image 900 of the outline of the form 800 is acquired. Then, such a series of operations are repeated until the slip 800 passes under the one-line image sensor 100.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the red image, the green image, and the blue image of the form 800 and the outline image 900 are provided every 1/4 minute of the distance corresponding to one line of the acquisition resolution. I have acquired. On the other hand, in the comparative example described above, as shown in FIG. 10, the red image, the green image and the blue image of the form 800 are acquired every 1/3 minute of the distance corresponding to one line of the acquisition resolution. There is.

  Of the four images obtained as described above, the red image, the green image and the blue image of the form 800 are combined to generate a color image of the surface of the form 800. Since the color image is obtained when the three-color LED light 200 is turned on as described above, the color image becomes an image having a black background by the background plate 500 due to the characteristics of the half mirror 402 and the like.

  On the other hand, among the four images obtained as described above, the outline image 900 of the form 800 is an image as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, since the outer shape image 900 is obtained when the backlight 204 is turned on, it appears as the outer shape of a black form sheet 800 that floats up on a white background due to the characteristics of the half mirror 402 and the like. In the external shape image 900, even if the black line 802 is printed at the end of the form 800, since the influence of the line 802 is not received, the four corners of the form 800 are selected based on the external shape image 900. It can be easily detected.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the light control unit 400 and the control of the three-color LED light 200 and the backlight 204 acquire a color image of the front surface of the form 800 and at the same time back from the back side of the form 800. The external image 900 of the form 800 can be acquired by lighting the light 204. According to the present embodiment, in the acquired external shape image 900, even when the black line 802 is printed at the end of the form 800, the black background is not affected because the line 802 is not affected. The four corners of the form 800 can be detected easily and accurately on the basis of the outline image 900 that makes the outline of the form 800 appear.

<< Second Embodiment >>
In the first embodiment described above, the form reader 10 of the contact optical system having the one-line image sensor 100 and the three-color LED light 200 has been described. However, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to such a form, and for example, the form reading of the reduction optical system having the 3-line type image sensor and the white LED light capable of emitting white light It may be an apparatus. Therefore, as a second embodiment of the present invention, a form reader 12 of a reduction optical system having a 3-line image sensor 102 and a white LED light 202 will be described below.

<Configuration of Form Reader 12>
First, the configuration of the form reader 12 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 6. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the configuration of the form reader 12 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the form reader 12 according to the present embodiment includes a three-line image sensor 102, a white LED light 202, a backlight 204, a lens unit 302, and a light control unit (light control unit). Main components 400 and a transport mechanism 600 are provided. The respective functional units of the form reader 10 according to the present embodiment will be described below, but the backlight 204, the light control unit 400, and the transport mechanism 600 are common to the first embodiment described above. Here, these explanations are omitted.

(3-line type line sensor 102)
As shown in FIG. 6, the 3-line type line sensor 102 is provided to face the surface of the form 800 via a lens unit 302 described later, and acquires an image of the form 800. Similar to the first embodiment, the three-line type line sensor 102 is formed by arranging a plurality of imaging elements such as CCD and CMOS in a line. Specifically, in the three-line type line sensor 102, a plurality of red imaging elements (red light sensor unit) (not shown) receiving red light and a plurality of green imaging elements (green light sensor section receiving green light) ) (Not shown) and a plurality of blue imaging elements (blue light sensor portions) (not shown) for receiving blue light are arranged in the main scanning direction one line at a time for each color. That is, the three-line type line sensor 102 is provided with three rows of a plurality of imaging elements that receive light of three colors. Therefore, by using the three-line type line sensor 102, the red image, the green image, and the blue image of the form 800 can be acquired without switching the color of the light irradiated to the form 800.

  As in the case of the one-line type line sensor 100 of the first embodiment, the three-line type line sensor 102 has a plurality of imaging elements arranged so as to be slightly longer than the width of the form 800 to be read. .

(White LED light 202)
As shown in FIG. 6, the white LED light 202 is provided to face the surface of the form 800, and irradiates the surface of the form 800 with white light. The white LED light 202 is controlled by the control unit 700 as in the first embodiment, and can be turned on or off according to the image acquisition timing of the three-line type line sensor 102. In addition, the white LED light 202 includes red light having a wavelength of about 660 nm, green light having a wavelength of about 520 nm, and blue light having a wavelength of about 450 nm, as in the backlight 204 of the first embodiment. White light can be emitted by irradiating two or three of them simultaneously.

(Lens unit 302)
The lens unit 302 is provided between the three-line type line sensor 102 and the form 800, and is formed of, for example, a single focus lens. The single focus lens is a lens having one focal length, and the single focus lens can reduce the image of the form 800 and project it onto the three-line type line sensor 102. In the form reader 10 according to the first embodiment, unlike the present embodiment, the lens unit 300 projects the same size onto the one-line type line sensor 100 without reducing the image of the form 800. Do.

(Control unit 700)
As in the first embodiment, the control unit 700 is provided in the form reading device 12 and mainly includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and is based on a control program stored in the memory unit 716 or the like. Control each part of the form reader 12. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 700 includes an image sensor control unit 702, a light control unit 704, a transport mechanism control unit 706, an image combining unit 708, and an image data acquisition unit 710. The external shape recognition unit 712, the reading unit 714, and the memory unit 716 are mainly included. The details of each block of the control unit 700 will be described below. The transport mechanism control unit 706, the image data acquisition unit 710, the external shape recognition unit 712, the reading unit 714, and the memory unit 716 are the first. Since these are common to the embodiment, the description of these blocks is omitted here.

Image sensor control unit 702
The image sensor control unit 702 appropriately transmits control signals to the above-described three-line image sensor 102 to control each sensor unit of the three-line image sensor 102. Specifically, the image sensor control unit 702 includes a red imaging element (red light sensor unit) (not shown), a green imaging element (green light sensor unit) (not shown), and blue imaging of the three-line line sensor 102. An element (blue light sensor unit) (not shown) is controlled to sequentially receive light in accordance with the timing of conveyance of the form 800 and acquisition of the image of the form 800.

~ Light control unit 704 ~
The light control unit 704 alternately and repeatedly performs lighting of the white LED light 202 and the backlight 204 during conveyance of the form 800 according to the timing of conveyance of the form 800 and acquisition of the image of the form 800. Can be controlled. Therefore, when the white LED light 202 is turned on, the 3-line image sensor 102 acquires the red image, the green image, and the blue image of the form 800 having a black background (first background) by the background plate 500. Can. Furthermore, the three-line image sensor 102 can obtain an image 900 (see FIG. 5) of the outline of the form 800 having a white background (second background) by the backlight 204 when the backlight 204 is lit. it can.

~ Image composition unit 708 ~
When the white LED light 202 is turned on, the image combining unit 708 generates a red image of the form 800 by the red imaging device (red light sensor unit) (not shown) of the three-line image sensor 102 and a green imaging device (green light sensor unit). A green image of the form 800 by (not shown) and a blue image of the form 800 by a blue imaging device (blue light sensor unit) (not shown) are acquired. Then, the image combining unit 708 combines these three color images into one and outputs the combined image to the image data acquisition unit 710. Furthermore, when the backlight 204 is lit, the image combining unit 708 captures a red image of the outline of the form 800 by the red imaging element of the three-line image sensor 102, a green image of the outline of the form 800 by the green imaging element, and blue imaging A blue image of the outline of the form 800 by the element is acquired. Note that the obtained three-color image of the outline of the form 800 may be output to the image data acquisition unit 710 after being synthesized into one image 900 (see FIG. 5) by the image synthesis unit 708, or One of the color images may be output to the image data acquisition unit 710 without combining. The image of the outer shape of the form 800 acquired in this manner is used when recognizing the outer shape of the form 800.

<Form reading method>
The detailed configuration of the form reader 12 according to the present embodiment has been described above. Next, the form reading method according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a form reading method according to the present embodiment. More specifically, FIG. 7 schematically shows the image acquisition timing pattern 912 in the form reading device 12 so that one line on the image of the form 800 is divided into two along the sub-scanning direction to obtain a red image. The acquisition of the green image, the blue image, and the backlight image in this order is repeated to obtain the entire image of the form 800.

  In the form reading method according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the form 800 is conveyed by the transport mechanism 600 from the left side to the right side in the figure, and one end of the form 800 is a 3-line image sensor The white LED light 202 is lighted a little before reaching directly below 102. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the form reading device 12 according to the present embodiment includes a red imaging element (red light sensor unit) (not shown) of the three-line type line sensor 102 and a green imaging element (green light sensor). Section) (not shown) and a blue image sensor (blue light sensor section) (not shown) to control the sub-scanning by a half of the distance along the sub-scanning direction corresponding to one line of acquired resolution When the form 800 moves in the direction, the red image, the green image, and the blue image of the form 800 are simultaneously acquired. Next, the form reader 12 turns off the white LED light 202 and turns on the backlight 204. The form reader 12 controls the red image pickup device, the green image pickup device, and the blue image pickup device of the three-line line sensor 102 as shown in FIG. When the form 800 is moved in the main scanning direction by a half of the distance along the direction, the external image 900 of the form 800 is acquired. Then, such a series of operations are repeated until the slip 800 passes under the 3-line image sensor 102.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the red image, the green image, and the blue image of the form 800 and the outline image 900 are provided every 1/2 minute of the distance corresponding to one line of the acquired resolution. I have acquired. By doing this, in the present embodiment, when the white LED light 202 is turned on, the form reader 12 acquires three images of a red image, a green image, and a blue image of the form 800. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, when the back light 204 is turned on, the form reading device 12 acquires three images of a red image, a green image, and a blue image of the outline of the form 800. That is, in the present embodiment, the form reader 12 can acquire six images. On the other hand, in the comparative example described above, as shown in FIG. 13, the form reader 22 simultaneously acquires the red image, the green image, and the blue image of the form 800 for each line of the acquired resolution.

  Of the six images obtained as described above, the red image, the green image and the blue image of the form 800 are combined to generate a color image of the surface of the form 800. Since the color image is obtained when the white LED light 202 is turned on as described above, the color image becomes an image having a black background by the background plate 500 due to the characteristics of the half mirror 402 and the like.

  On the other hand, among the six images obtained as described above, since the image 900 of the outline of the form 800 is obtained when the backlight 204 is turned on, the white image is obtained by the characteristics of the half mirror 402 and the like. It appears as an outline of a black form slip 800 that appears in the background. In the external image 900, even when the black line 802 is printed at the end of the form 800, the outline of the black form 800 appears on the white background because it is not affected by the line 802. The four corners of the form 800 can be easily detected based on the outline image 900 as described above.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the light control unit 400 and the control of the white LED light 202 and the backlight 204 simultaneously acquire a color image of the front surface of the form 800, and at the same time, back light from the back side of the form 800. The external image 900 of the form 800 can be acquired by lighting the light 204. According to the present embodiment, in the acquired external shape image 900, even when the black line 802 is printed at the end of the form 800, the black background is not affected because the line 802 is not affected. The four corners of the form 800 can be detected easily and accurately on the basis of the outline image 900 that makes the outline of the form 800 appear.

<< Third Embodiment >>
In the first and second embodiments described above, a light control unit 400 having a box-like housing and the backlight 204, the half mirror 402, and the background plate 500 provided inside the housing. To reflect the light from the three-color LED light 200 or the white LED light 202 into the one-line type line sensor 100 or the three-line type line sensor 102 and transmit the light from the backlight 204 It was made to be incident on the one-line type line sensor 100 or the three-line type line sensor 102. However, the light control unit according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to such a form, and may be another form. Therefore, as a third embodiment of the present invention, a light control unit 400a configured only with a half mirror will be described.

<Configuration of Form Reader 10a>
The configuration of the form reader 10a according to the third embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the configuration of the form reader 10a according to the third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, the form reader 10 a according to the present embodiment includes a one-line image sensor 100, a three-color LED light 200, a backlight 204, a lens unit 300, and a light control unit (light control unit And 400) and a transport mechanism 600. In the present embodiment, except for the light control unit 400a, since it is common to the first embodiment, only the light control unit 400a will be described here, and the description of the functional units other than the light control unit 400a will be omitted. Do.

(Light control unit 400a)
As shown in FIG. 8, the light control unit 400a has a flat plate shape and is disposed so as to face the back surface of the form 800 and so that the back side of the form 800 and the surface of the light control unit 400a are parallel. ing. Furthermore, the light control unit 400a is a half mirror, and transmits the light from the backlight 204 without making the light from the three-color LED light 200 incident on the one-line type line sensor 100, and makes it a one-line type. It can be made to be incident on the line sensor 100.

  Specifically, the half mirror forming the light control unit 400 a reflects a part of the incident light and transmits the part, as in the half mirror 402 of the first embodiment. And the intensity of the transmitted light is formed by nearly the same mirror. Furthermore, the half mirror is disposed so as not to reflect light incident on the surface toward the one-line type line sensor 100. By doing this, even when the light from the three-color LED light 200 is incident on the half mirror, the light is not reflected and is not incident on the one-line type line sensor 100. As a result, when the half mirror is viewed from the side of the one-line line sensor 100 (the form 800), the half mirror looks black. Therefore, when the three-color LED light 200 is lit, the half mirror can be used as a black background of the form 800.

<Modification>
Further, as a modification of the present embodiment, the light control unit 400a shown in FIG. 8 may be configured by a liquid crystal shutter. The liquid crystal shutter can perform switching to transmit or block light at high speed by a voltage applied from a voltage application unit (not shown). Therefore, the liquid crystal shutter can transmit the light of the backlight 204 and enter the one-line type line sensor 100 in the mode of transmitting light, and in the mode of blocking the light, the three-color LED It can act as a black background blocking the light from the light 200.

<< Fourth Embodiment >>
The form reading device 10 (12) according to the first to third embodiments described above may be provided in the form processing device 30 that processes the form 800. Therefore, as the fourth embodiment of the present invention, such a slip processing device 30 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the configuration of the form processing device 30 according to the fourth embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the form processing apparatus 30 according to the present embodiment includes a form processing unit 40 that processes the form 800 together with the above-described form reading apparatus 10. The form processing unit 40 can count, store, or seal the form 800 in a predetermined number based on the information read by the form reading device 10.

  For example, the form processing apparatus 30 discriminates and counts banknotes in a back yard such as a financial institution or a store, accumulates the banknotes based on the discrimination result, and seals the accumulated banknotes according to the number of sealed sheets. It may be a processing device, or it may be an automatic transaction device that deposits and withdraws banknotes with a customer at a financial institution or the like. Alternatively, the form processing apparatus 30 may be a medium processing apparatus having a mechanism for classifying, organizing, and sealing media such as cash vouchers and tickets according to their types. Therefore, in each embodiment of the present invention, the slip 800 is not limited to the slip, and may be, for example, a bill, a cash voucher, a ticket, etc., and is not particularly limited.

<< Summary >>
As described above, in each embodiment of the present invention, the light control unit 400 and the control of the three-color LED light 200, the white LED light 202, and the backlight 204 simultaneously acquire a color image of the surface of the form 800. The outer shape image 900 of the form 800 can be acquired by applying light from the back light 204 from the back side of the form 800. According to the present embodiment, in the acquired external shape image 900, even when the black line 802 is printed at the end of the form 800, the black background is not affected because the line 802 is not affected. The four corners of the form 800 can be detected easily and accurately on the basis of the outline image 900 that makes the outline of the form 800 appear.

  The order of light irradiation of the three-color LED light 200 in the first and third embodiments of the present invention is not limited to the order of red, green, and blue, and may be another order. Good. Further, in the second embodiment of the present invention, a red imaging element (red light sensor unit), a green imaging element (green light sensor unit), and a blue imaging element (blue light sensor unit) of the three-line type line sensor 102 The arrangement of (i) and (ii) is not limited to the order of red, green and blue, but may be other orders.

  In each embodiment of the present invention, form reader 10, 10a of the contact optical system having one line type image sensor 100 and three color LED light 200, three line type image sensor 102, white LED Although the form reader 12 of the reduction optical system having the light 202 has been described, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to such a form. Therefore, the form reader according to the embodiment of the present invention may be a form reader of a reduction optical system having the one-line image sensor 100 and the three-color LED light 200, and the three-line image sensor 102 and The form reader may have a contact optical system having a white LED light 202.

<< Supplement >>
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to such examples. It is obvious that those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs can conceive of various changes or modifications within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims. Of course, it is understood that these also fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

10, 10a, 12, 20, 22 Form Reader 30 Form Processor 40 Form Processor 100 One-line Image Sensor 102 Three-line Image Sensor 200 Three-Color LED Light 202 White LED Light 204 Backlight 300, 302 Lens 400 , 400a light control unit 402 half mirror 404 opening 500 background plate 600 conveyance mechanism 700 control unit 702 image sensor control unit 704 light control unit 706 conveyance mechanism control unit 708 image combining unit 710 image data acquisition unit 712 outline recognition unit 714 reading unit 716 memory unit 800 form 802 line 804 payment handling slip 806 store copy 808 receipts 810, 814, 816 receipt marking area 812 data code area 818 stamp sticking area 900, 902 image 904 Regions 910, 912, 920, 922 Timing patterns

Claims (12)

An image sensor unit for acquiring an image of a medium;
A first light source for irradiating the surface of the medium with light;
A second light source for emitting light to the back surface of the medium;
A blinking control unit configured to control the first and second light sources to alternately turn on the light;
Provided between the medium and the second light source, the light from the first light source is reflected to be incident on the image sensor unit, the light from the second light source is transmitted, and the image sensor is transmitted. A light control unit to be incident on the unit;
Equipped with
The image sensor unit acquires an image of the surface of the medium having a first background when the first light source is lit, and an image of the outer shape of the medium having a second background when the second light source is lit To get
Media reader. It further comprises a background plate which is provided on the opposite side to the image sensor unit with respect to the medium, and serves as the first background,
The light control unit reflects light from the first light source to be incident on the background plate, and further reflects light reflected by the background plate to be incident on the image sensor unit, and the second And a half mirror for transmitting light from the light source of the light source to make the light incident on the image sensor unit.
The medium reader according to claim 1. The half mirror is provided with an inclination to the back surface of the medium,
The background plate is provided with an inclination with respect to a surface of the half mirror facing the medium.
The medium reader according to claim 2.   The medium reader according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first background is a black background and the second background is a white background.   The medium reader according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: an outer shape recognition unit that recognizes an outer shape of the medium based on the image of the outer shape of the medium acquired by the image sensor unit.   The medium reader according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a reading unit which reads information of the medium based on the image of the surface of the medium acquired by the image sensor unit.   The medium reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a conveyance mechanism that conveys the medium below the image sensor unit.   During transport of the medium, the blinking control unit controls the first light source to emit light, and then controls the second light source to emit light. A media reader according to claim 7, repeating.   The medium reading device according to claim 8, wherein the blinking control unit controls the first light source to sequentially emit red light, green light and blue light.   The medium reading device according to claim 8, wherein the image sensor unit has a red light sensor unit, a green light sensor unit, and a blue light sensor unit.   11. The media reader of claim 10, wherein the first light source emits white light. A media processing device comprising a media reader, the media processing device comprising:
The medium reader is
An image sensor unit for acquiring an image of a medium;
A first light source for irradiating the surface of the medium with light;
A second light source for emitting light to the back surface of the medium;
A blinking control unit configured to control the first and second light sources to alternately turn on the light;
Provided between the medium and the second light source, the light from the first light source is reflected to be incident on the image sensor unit, the light from the second light source is transmitted, and the image sensor is transmitted. A light control unit to be incident on the unit;
Have
The image sensor unit acquires an image of the surface of the medium having a first background when the first light source is lit, and an image of the outer shape of the medium having a second background when the second light source is lit To get
Media processing device.

Images