JP4653412B2 - Bar code recognition processing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a barcode recognition processing apparatus using a fluorescent barcode used in, for example, a mail reading sorting machine.

  For example, fluorescent barcodes used in mail-reading sorters etc. are printed with pre-BCR (Bar Code Reader) that recognizes barcodes already printed on paper such as postal items. There is a verify BCR that prints on a postal sheet such as a postal item that is not present, and recognizes the printed matter.

Conventionally, the pre-BCR and verify BCR recognition processes function independently of each other. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-145054 A (Page 5-7, FIG. 2)

  However, although the pre-BCR recognition processing is performed before the verification BCR recognition processing, the recognition processing results of the pre-BCR are used as the verification processing results of the verification BCR because they are independent of each other. There was a problem that the recognition rate did not increase.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a barcode recognition processing apparatus that increases the barcode recognition rate by utilizing the result of pre-BCR recognition processing for verification BCR recognition processing. Objective.

  In order to achieve the above object, a barcode recognition processing apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention is provided with a transport means for transporting paper sheets and an upstream of the transport means in the transport direction. A first reading unit that has an illuminating unit for illuminating and that recognizes the barcode of the paper sheet illuminated by the illuminating unit; and disposed downstream of the first reading unit in the transport direction, and A barcode printing unit for printing a barcode on the paper sheet when the barcode is recognized as not being printed on the paper sheet, and a downstream of the barcode printing unit in the conveying direction. A second reading unit that reads and recognizes the barcode of the paper sheet illuminated by the lighting unit; and the first reading unit reads the paper sheet. Bar code And setting means for setting the illumination of the second reading means to a state different from the illumination of the first reading means when the presence is detected and the barcode is not recognized. .

  Furthermore, the barcode recognition processing apparatus according to claim 2 of the present invention includes a transport unit that transports the paper sheet, and an illumination unit that is disposed upstream of the transport unit in the transport direction and illuminates the paper sheet. And a first reading unit that reads and recognizes the barcode of the paper sheet illuminated by the lighting unit, and is disposed downstream of the first reading unit in the transport direction. A bar code printing means for printing a bar code on the paper sheet when it is determined that the bar code is not printed on the paper sheet, and the paper sheet disposed downstream of the bar code printing means in the transport direction; The second reading means for reading and recognizing the barcode of the paper sheet illuminated by the lighting means, and the presence of the barcode of the paper sheet by the first reading means Is detected, One, when the bar code is recognized, and having a setting means for setting the illumination of the second reading means in the same state as the illumination of the first reading means.

  According to the present invention, since the pre-BCR recognition processing result can be used as the verification BCR recognition processing result, the barcode recognition rate can be increased.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mail reading and sorting machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. This mail-reading sorting machine recognizes character information indicating the sorting destination of a paper sheet P such as a mail piece, and sorts the reading sorting machine main body 1, and the paper whose sorting destination cannot be recognized by the reading sorting machine main body 1 It is composed of a video coding system (coding device) 2 (hereinafter referred to as VCS) 2 in which an operator inputs information indicating the classification destination of the leaf P based on the screen of the paper sheet P.

  First, the reading sorter main body 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the reading sorter main body 1 has a transport sorter main body 1 a. In the transport sorter main body 1a, numbers, characters, etc. as information indicating the sorting destination are written on the first surface, or a plurality of printed paper sheets P are arranged such that the first surface faces the same direction. And a supply unit 10 for sequentially supplying the paper sheets P to a predetermined take-out position. The supply unit 10 is provided with a take-out unit (not shown) for taking out the paper sheets P one by one along the main transport path 17 at a predetermined interval.

  The paper sheet P supplied to the supply unit 10 is pre-determined as a large-scale sorting destination as a machine code, in addition to the characters corresponding to the information indicating the sorting destination on the first surface. A barcode that is determined in the reading sorter body 1 corresponding to the customer code or the sorting destination of the paper sheet P, or a paper sheet in which the classification information cannot be recognized by the recognition unit 15 (character recognition means). There is an item in which an ID barcode assigned to a class P is described. Each of these bar codes is given to the first surface of the paper sheet P. The intra-office barcode and ID barcode are printed using fluorescent ink (hereinafter referred to as fluorescent printing).

  The paper sheets P supplied to the supply unit 10 are taken out at regular intervals and are conveyed at regular conveyance intervals (pitch) by a main conveyance path (conveying means) 17 that conveys them at a constant speed. The paper sheet P transported on the main transport path 17 is excluded in the case of foreign matter that cannot be machined, and only the paper sheet P that can be machined is transported.

  A scanner unit (reading unit) 11, an ID code reading unit 12, a barcode printer unit 13, and a sorting unit 14 are provided on the main conveyance path 17.

  The scanner unit 11 reads a surface on which information indicating the sorting destination of the paper sheet P on the main conveyance path 17 is written, and transmits the read image to an image buffer (storage unit) 19. Then, this image is transmitted to a recognition unit (character recognition means) 15 that recognizes information indicating the sorting destination.

  When the ID barcode or machine code fluorescently printed on the first surface of the paper sheet P conveyed on the main conveyance path 17 is given, the ID code reading unit 12 Read and recognize machine codes. This fluorescently printed barcode is read and recognized by a pre-BCR (first reading means) 121 and a verify BCR (second reading means) 123. The pre-BCR 121 recognizes a barcode that has already been printed on the first surface of the paper sheet P. The verify BCR 123 is used for reading and recognizing unprinted paper sheets by fluorescent printing with the barcode printer unit 13 of the reading sorter body 1 in order to check whether the printed sheets are correctly printed. is there.

  The bar code printer unit (bar code printing means) 13 performs fluorescent printing of an ID bar code or a machine code on the first surface of the paper sheet P as necessary. This is because when the recognition unit 15 recognizes the classification information, the classification information is converted into a barcode and the machine code is fluorescently printed on the paper sheet P, and the recognition unit 15 cannot recognize the classification information. The ID barcode is printed with fluorescence.

  On the downstream side of the barcode printer unit 13 in the conveyance direction of the paper sheet P, there is provided a sorting unit 14 for sorting the paper sheet P conveyed on the main conveyance path 17 according to the sorting destination. Yes. This division part 14 is comprised from the several division | segmentation pocket divided into several steps and several rows. Each pocket is set corresponding to each sorting destination, and the paper sheets P sorted based on the sorting information or the machine code are sequentially accumulated in each pocket. In addition, the sorting unit 14 is provided with a VCS exclusion pocket (VCS reject sorting box) in which the paper sheets P whose sorting destination cannot be recognized are accumulated. The paper sheets P accumulated in the VCS exclusion pocket are re-supplied to the supply unit 10 after information indicating the sorting destination is input by the operator in the VCS 2.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, each part of the reading sorter main body 1 is controlled by a control unit 16. Connected to the control unit 16 are a supply unit 10, a scanner unit 11, an ID code reading unit 12, a bar code printer unit 13, a sorting unit 14, a recognition unit 15, an image buffer 19, and the like.

  The scanner unit 11 transmits to the image buffer 19 an image obtained by optically reading the first surface on which the sorting information of the paper sheet P is described.

  The recognizing unit 15 cuts out characters as segmentation information from the images controlled by the control unit 16 and sequentially stored in the image buffer 19, performs character recognition, and compares them with a character dictionary and an address dictionary (not shown). The classification information is recognized by such means. This recognition possibility is returned to the control unit 16. Further, when the information indicating the sorting destination cannot be recognized, the recognition unit 15 adds OCR information (additional information) attached to the read image, that is, the size of the paper sheet P, the size of the character, the direction of the character, the classification It has a means for generating information indicating a destination, a character type, a recognition depth, information indicating a location where VCS processing is necessary, and the like.

  The reject data control unit (transmission unit) 18 performs control to transmit the image header and the compressed image to the VCS 2 when the recognition unit 15 cannot recognize the classification information of the paper sheet P.

  Next, VCS2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the VCS 2 includes a storage / distribution device 20 and a plurality of video coding terminals (hereinafter referred to as VCD) 30.

  The storage / distribution device 20 receives the image header and the compressed image of the paper sheet P that could not be recognized by the recognition unit 15 from the reject data control unit 18, and obtains the postal code area candidate and the address area candidate of the paper sheet P. To detect.

  The VCD 30 displays the image of the postal code area candidate and the address area candidate of the paper sheet P distributed from the storage / distribution device 20 on the image display unit (display means) 33, and based on the displayed image. The operator can input information indicating the sorting destination.

  The storage / distribution device 20 includes a memory control unit 21, a mass storage device 22, an image memory 23, a video distribution control unit 24, a timing control unit 25, an input / output control unit 27, and a dedicated recognition unit 28.

  The memory control unit 21 receives image data composed of an unrecognized paper sheet P image header and a compressed image transmitted from the reading sorter main body 1 and stores the image data in the mass storage device 22.

  The mass storage device 22 is configured by a hard disk drive (HDD) or the like, and stores an image header and a compressed image received from the reading sorter main body 1 based on the control of the memory control unit 21. The image data stored in the mass storage device 22 is read onto the image memory 23 in response to a transmission request from the memory control unit 21.

  The dedicated recognition unit (detection means) 28 detects a postal code area candidate and an address area candidate by recognizing a compressed image of the image data stored in the large-capacity storage device 22. These detected area candidates are added to the image header.

  The video distribution control unit 24 is connected to the memory control unit 21 and the timing control unit 25. The video distribution control unit 24 determines the VCD 30 of the transmission destination (distribution destination) of the image data based on the contents of a distribution request table (not shown) generated according to the distribution request transmitted from each VCD 30. . That is, the video distribution control unit 24 can determine the VCD 30 that can be coded (key input at the sorting destination) by the distribution request table and is waiting for image data input, and controls the memory control unit 21 to control each VCD 30. Send image data.

  Also, the coding information input in each VCD 30... Is received by the input / output control unit 27. The input / output control unit 27 transmits the coding information received from each VCD 30... To the control unit 16 of the reading sorter body 1 via the timing control unit 25.

  The VCD 30 includes a control unit 31, a storage unit 32, a display unit 33, an input unit 34, and the like. The control unit 31 controls the entire VCD 30, receives image data for the paper sheet P from the storage / distribution device 20, and inputs an input result (coding information) from the input unit 34 to the input / output control unit 27. It has a function to transmit.

  The storage unit 32 stores the image data of the paper sheet P supplied from the accumulation / distribution device 20. The storage unit 32 can store a plurality of pieces of image data such as an image that is currently being coded (first) and an image that is to be coded next.

  The display unit 33 restores and displays the compressed image of the paper sheet P supplied from the storage / distribution device 20.

  Next, the pre-BCR (first reading unit) 121 and the verify BCR (second reading unit) 123 will be described with reference to FIG. The paper sheet P is transported on the transport path 17 in the direction of the arrow A in the figure. The pre-BCR 121 is arranged upstream of the barcode printer unit 13 in the conveyance direction, and the verify BCR 123 is arranged downstream of the barcode printer unit 13 in the conveyance direction.

  The ID code reading unit 12 composed of the pre-BCR 121 and the verify BCR 123 is a sheet P printed by another mail reading sorting machine (other sorting machine) or the mail reading sorting machine of this embodiment (automatic reading machine). Both the paper sheet P that has been printed by the sorting machine) and the paper sheet P that is not printed with a barcode are handled. Further, when the barcode is already printed on the paper sheet P, it is necessary to avoid double printing.

  The pre-BCR 121 confirms the printing of the barcode printed on the paper sheet P conveyed to avoid the double printing. If the barcode is not printed as a result of this print confirmation, the barcode printer unit 13 is notified of the information and the barcode is printed.

  The verify BCR 123 confirms the printing of the barcode printed by the barcode printer unit 13 of the sorting machine.

  In the present embodiment, the following functions are further added to the above conventional functions related to the pre-BCR 121 and the verify BCR 123. First, when the pre-BCR 121 confirms the printing, if the barcode information of the zip code or address has already been printed, the pre-BCR 121 recognizes the presence if the presence is confirmed by the barcode detecting means of the pre-BCR 121. Even if it is not possible (that is, even if the barcode of the zip code and the address cannot be recognized), the verification BCR 123 recognizes and performs the sorting process. That is, barcode recognition is performed in cooperation with the pre-BCR 121 and the verify BCR 123.

  Second, the illumination color (emission wavelength) and brightness (light output) are controlled by the background color of the paper sheet P or the like. That is, reading is performed by switching the illumination color and illumination brightness of the verify BCR 123 based on the reading result of the pre-BCR 121. This method will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a barcode recognition processing method having illumination means for controlling the color of illumination or the brightness of illumination by the pre-BCR 121 (first reading means) and the verify BCR 123 (second reading means). .

  First, the pre-BCR 121 detects a bar code (bar code detecting means). As a result of this detection, when the presence of a barcode is detected (Yes in S1), the pre-BCR 121 recognizes the barcode of the postal code and address (barcode recognition means) (S2). If the barcode is not recognized as a result of this recognition (No in S2), the illumination of the verify BCR 123 is set to a purple illumination 124 different from the blue illumination 122 of the pre-BCR 121 (setting means) (S3). Using this purple illumination 124, the verify BCR 123 recognizes the barcode of the postal code and address (S7).

  On the other hand, if the barcode is recognized as a result of the barcode recognition by the pre-BCR 121 in step S2 (Yes in S2), the same blue illumination 122 as the illumination of the pre-BCR 121 is set as the illumination of the verify BCR 123 (setting means) (S4). Using this blue illumination 122, the verify BCR 123 recognizes the barcode of the postal code and address (S7).

  Further, when the barcode is not detected by the pre-BCR 121 in step S1, the barcode is printed by the barcode printer unit 13 (S5). In this case, the illumination color of the verify BCR 123 is fixedly set to, for example, the purple illumination 124 regardless of the barcode detection result of the pre-BCR 121 (setting unit) (S6). Then, using the set illumination, the verify BCR 123 recognizes the barcode of the postal code and address (S7).

  Next, the brightness adjustment means will be described. If the barcode is not recognized as a result of the verify BCR 123 recognition process in step S7 (No in S8), the illumination brightness of the verify BCR 123 is adjusted (S9).

  When the brightness adjustment range is within the set value (Yes in S10), the recognition process by the verify BCR 123 is performed again (S7). If the barcode is not recognized as a result of the recognition process, the brightness of the illumination is adjusted again (S9).

  However, if the brightness of the illumination exceeds the set value in step S10, the process ends without performing recognition processing with the verify BCR.

  With the above configuration, when the barcode cannot be recognized by the pre-BCR, the verification BCR can improve the recognition rate by recognizing it using illumination of other light emission colors. Furthermore, since the brightness of the illumination of the verify BCR can be controlled, the recognition rate can be further improved.

The block diagram of the mail reading sorter by the Example of this invention. The figure explaining pre-BCR and verification BCR by the Example of this invention. The flowchart explaining the illumination switching by pre-BCR and verification BCR by the Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

P Sheet 1a Conveyance sorter body 10 Supply unit 11 Scanner unit 12 ID barcode reading unit 121 Pre-BCR
122 Verify BCR
13 Barcode printer unit 14 Sorting unit 15 Recognition unit 16 Control unit 17 Main transport path 18 Reject data control unit 19 Image buffer 2 Video coding system 20 Storage / distribution device 21 Memory control unit 22 Mass storage device 23 Image memory 28 Dedicated recognition unit 30 Video coding terminal 33 Display unit 34 Input unit

Claims (4)

Conveying means for conveying paper sheets;
A first reading unit that is disposed upstream of the conveying unit in the conveying direction and has an illuminating unit that illuminates the paper sheet, and that reads and recognizes the barcode of the paper sheet illuminated by the illuminating unit;
A bar code is printed on the paper sheet when the first reading means recognizes that the bar code is not printed on the paper sheet. Barcode printing means;
A second reading unit that is arranged downstream of the barcode printing unit in the conveying direction and has an illuminating unit that illuminates the paper sheet, and that recognizes the barcode of the paper sheet illuminated by the illuminating unit; ,
When the presence of the barcode of the paper sheet is detected by the first reading means and the barcode is not recognized, the illumination of the second reading means is the illumination of the first reading means. A bar code recognition processing apparatus comprising: setting means for setting different states. Conveying means for conveying paper sheets;
A first reading unit that is disposed upstream of the conveying unit in the conveying direction, has an illuminating unit that illuminates the paper sheet, and recognizes a barcode of the paper sheet illuminated by the illuminating unit;
A bar code is printed on the paper sheet when it is determined that the bar code is not printed on the paper sheet. The bar code is arranged downstream of the first reading means in the transport direction. Barcode printing means;
A second reading unit that is arranged downstream of the barcode printing unit in the conveying direction and has an illuminating unit that illuminates the paper sheet; ,
When the bar code of the paper sheet is detected by the first reading unit and the bar code is recognized, the illumination of the second reading unit is the same as the illumination of the first reading unit. A barcode recognition processing apparatus comprising: setting means for setting a state. The setting means includes
3. The barcode recognition processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light output is set by the illumination color and brightness adjustment means of the second reading means . The brightness adjusting means includes
At first, when the barcode is illuminated with the light output set to be small and the barcode cannot be recognized by the second reading means, the barcode is recognized again by the second reading means with the light output set to be large. The barcode recognition processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

Images