JP2957360B2 - Optical character reader - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical character reader, and more particularly, to an optical character reader for performing focusing and edge detection when reading an image on a medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, a focus adjusting mechanism of an optical character reading apparatus has performed reading by passing a medium through a constant path gap of a medium regardless of the thickness of the medium such as a sheet or a form. .

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, a path route through which a medium 10 such as a sheet or a form passes is indicated by a plate glass 5.
And the backing 7, and characters and symbols displayed on the surface of the medium 10 passing therethrough are read by the image scanner module 1. The movement of the medium 10 is performed by inserting the feed roller 2-2 inserted from the right side of the drawing and rotating itself, and the pressure roller 3-2 pressed against the feed roller 2-2 by a spring or the like.
There are two. The medium 10 moves between these two rollers,
When the entry of the medium 10 is detected by the tip sensor 6 that detects the light transmission or the light reflection and detects the tip of the medium 10,
The backing 7 is raised until the distance from the plate glass reaches a predetermined value, and the medium 10 is read on the backing 7 through the plate glass 5 by the image scanner module 1 sequentially according to the movement of the medium 10. Had been. After the reading, the medium 10 was discharged through the gap between the paper guides 4-1 and 4-3 by the operation of the feed roller 2-1 and the pressure roller 3-1.

[0004]

In the focus adjusting mechanism of the conventional optical character reading apparatus, a path route having a certain amount of gap is formed regardless of the thickness of the medium, so that the usable thickness of the medium is limited. Would. Further, since the path route is set widely, there is a problem that paper flapping becomes large and an image read by an image scanner becomes blurred and an error occurs. Furthermore, in detecting the leading edge of a margin medium that is creased or folded,
There is also a problem that the error of the measured value increases due to the apparent shrinkage of the medium.

[0005]

According to the optical character reading apparatus of the present invention, a medium is transported between a plate glass and a backing, and an image scanner module provided opposite to the plate glass is used to read the medium. In optical character reading devices that read images, the position of the central axis is fixed.
Feed roller and press against this feed roller
The media sent between the feed rollers
In cooperation with the feed roller of the plate glass and the
And a pressure roller to be transferred between the backing,
When a medium is inserted between the feed roller
The position of the backing according to the position of the pressure roller
The distance between the plate glass and the backing is changed according to the thickness of the medium by changing the thickness of the medium.

[0006]

[0007] The optical character reading device of the present invention comprises a plate
Transfer the medium between the glass and the backing, and
Image scanner module installed facing the lath
Optical character reader that reads images on media with
Feed roller with a fixed center axis position,
This feed roller is pressed down by the feed roller
Cooperates with this feed roller
And transferred between the plate glass and the backing
Pressure roller, and a bearing of the pressure roller.
A medium thickness detection sensor that moves integrally,
A light-shielding plate provided on the medium, wherein the light-shielding plate is
Move the backing so that it is detected by the detection sensor
By means of the plate glass according to the thickness of the medium
And the distance between the backing and the backing is changed.

[0008]

The optical character reading device according to the present invention comprises a plate
Transfer the medium between the glass and the backing, and
Image scanner module installed facing the lath
Optical character reader that reads images on media with
Between the plate glass and the backing.
To the medium detection sensor provided on the path route on the entering side
When the ingress of the medium is detected,
The backing until the spacing is according to the thickness of the media
Moving the sensor output the medium detection on path route of the medium
Of the medium provided at a position closer to the plate glass.
Detection of the medium by the output sensor
A trigger for image capture of the module
You.

[0010]

Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the detection of the leading end of a medium in this embodiment.

First, in the state shown in FIG. 1A, the apparatus waits for a medium to be conveyed. When the medium is conveyed and passes between the feed roller 2-2 and the pressure roller 3-2, the pressure roller 3-
2 moves downward (in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1B). Further, the medium thickness detection sensor 9 attached thereto moves by the same amount. When the medium 10 is further conveyed and the medium leading end detection sensor 6-1 detects the medium 10, the backing 7 moves upward until the light shielding plate 8 shields the medium thickness detection sensor 9. This state diagram is the subdivided diagram (B) of FIG. In this state, the path route (the space [width] through which the medium passes) substantially coincides with the thickness of the medium, and the image on the medium 10 can be recognized by the image scanner module 1 without flapping of the paper. Also, with this method, there is no need to limit the thickness of the medium.

FIG. 2A is an explanatory diagram before the backing operation, and FIG. 2B is an explanatory diagram after the backing operation. In the case of a broken medium 10 as shown in FIG. 2A, the positional relationship between the leading end of the medium and the medium detection sensor changes before and after the operation of the backing 7. That the difference between the length X and Y of the tip broken curved portion of the medium 10 as an error of the partial view of FIG. 2 (B), the problem that part of the image recognition yl occurs. To eliminate this, it is necessary to raise the backing 7 to restrain the state of the paper and then detect the leading end of the medium. Therefore, FIG.
By dividing the medium detection sensor 6-1 for the purpose of providing two detection sensors to operate the backing as shown in (1) and the medium leading edge detection sensor 6-2 for the purpose of image capture trigger, Errors can be eliminated.

The light shielding plate 8 and the medium thickness detection sensor 9 will be described. The medium thickness detection sensor 9 includes a pressure roller 3-
2 is pressed against the feed roller 2-2 by a spring. Here, when the medium (paper) 10 is inserted between the paper guides 4-2 and 4-4, the medium leading end detection sensor 6
The leading edge of the medium 10 is detected by -1. Subsequently, the backing 7 is raised, and the medium thickness detection sensor 9 and the light shielding plate 8 are set so that the gap between the paper guide 4-2 and the backing 7 has a value that allows the medium 10 to pass through. It was done.

For example, the medium thickness detecting sensor 9 and the light shielding plate 8 are provided with a light source on the back side of the drawing, and receive the light passing through the slit provided on the medium thickness detecting sensor 9 by the optical sensor located on the front side of the drawing. It is installed as follows. Then, when the light shielding plate 8 of the backing 7 shields the light source from the light source described here, the gap for the medium passage is determined.

[0016]

As described above, the optical character reading apparatus of the present invention has a thickness detection mechanism and a backing adjustment mechanism in the OCR, so that it can recognize regardless of the thickness of the medium and can recognize paper. Can be suppressed to a certain limit, so that a clearly recognizable image can be captured. In addition, by providing two sensors for detecting the medium, there is an effect that the error of the image capturing position of the medium can be eliminated when detecting the leading end.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating medium leading edge detection according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a focus adjusting mechanism of an optical character reading device according to the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image scanner module 4-1 to 4-4 Paper guide 5 Plate glass 6-1 Medium detection sensor 6-2 Medium leading edge detection sensor 7 Backing 8 Light shielding plate 9 Medium thickness detection sensor 10 Medium

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A medium is placed between a plate glass and a backing.
Transported, and an image provided opposite the plate glass.
Image on media with image scanner module
Fixed position of central axis in optical character reader
Feed roller and the feed roller
Media that is attached and sent between the feed rollers
In cooperation with this feed roller and the plate glass
And a pressure roller to be transferred between the backing and the backing.
Medium is inserted between the feed roller
Of the backing according to the position of the pressure roller at the time
By changing the position the front according to the thickness of the medium
Change the distance between the plate glass and the backing.
An optical character reading device characterized by the following. 2. A medium is placed between a plate glass and a backing.
Transported, and an image provided opposite the plate glass.
Image on media with image scanner module
In the optical character reader, the position of the central axis is fixed.
Feed roller and press against this feed roller
The media sent between the feed rollers
In cooperation with the feed roller of the plate glass and the
A pressure roller to be transferred to the backing;
Media thickness detection that moves integrally with the roller bearing
Output sensor, including a light shielding plate provided on the backing,
So that the light shielding plate is detected by the medium thickness detection sensor.
By moving the backing, the media thickness is
Changes the distance between the plate glass and the backing.
An optical character reading device, comprising: 3. A medium is placed between a plate glass and a backing.
Transported, and an image provided opposite the plate glass.
Image on media with image scanner module
In the optical character reading device, the plate glass and the front
On the path route on the side where the medium enters between the backing
When detecting the entry of the medium by the provided medium detection sensor
Between the plate glass and the thickness of the medium
Move the backing until the gap
On the side of the plate glass from the medium detection sensor above
Before the detection of the medium by the medium leading end detection sensor
Trigger for image capture of Image Scanner Module
An optical character reading device, comprising: