JP5073732B2 - Ballot paper reader - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a ballot paper reader.

  As this type of voting paper reading device that has been used in the past, for example, the configuration shown in Patent Document 1 below is used. That is, in the conventional reading apparatus, the image pickup unit is disposed so as to face the conveyance path through which the voting paper is conveyed. The imaging means includes a light source unit and an imaging unit. The imaging light is emitted from the light source unit to the voting paper, and the imaging light reflected by the end surface on one side of the voting paper is received by the imaging unit. Thus, image information on one side of the voting paper is generated. Then, based on this image information, the entry frame attached to the ballot is detected, and the description contents such as candidates and political parties described inside the entry frame are read and voted for each description contents. The paper is automatically sorted.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-5022

  Since the conventional ballot paper reader as described above is configured to acquire only image information on one side of the ballot paper, the description content can be read only on one side of the ballot paper. For this reason, in the conventional apparatus, it is necessary to align the front and back of the voting paper by hand before putting the voting paper into the reading device, which reduces convenience.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a ballot paper reader that can eliminate the step of aligning the front and back of the ballot paper in advance and improve convenience. That is.

A voting paper reading device according to the present invention is provided with a conveyance path for conveying voting paper, a first imaging unit disposed opposite to a conveyance path surface of the conveyance path, and a conveyance path rear surface of the conveyance path. A second imaging unit disposed; an information processing unit connected to the first and second imaging units; and a plurality of stackers connected to the conveyance path. The first image information indicating the first end surface of the voting paper is generated when the voting paper is conveyed, and the second imaging unit is configured so that the voting paper on the side opposite to the first end surface when the voting paper is conveyed on the conveyance path. 2nd image information which shows the 2nd end surface of this is produced | generated, and an information processing means is based on the 1st and 2nd image information from a 1st and 2nd imaging means, and either one of a 1st and 2nd end surface detecting the input frames of the given voting paper, with reading the description written in the entry box, voting Identify the front and back direction and vertical direction of the orientation of the paper, the content for each and every orientation according ballot to transport the ballot different stacker.

  According to the voting paper reading apparatus of the present invention, the first imaging means generates the first image information indicating the first end face of the voting paper when the voting paper is conveyed along the conveyance path, and the second imaging means. Generates the second image information indicating the second end face of the voting paper opposite to the first end face when the voting paper is conveyed on the conveyance path, and the information processing means includes the first and second imaging means. Based on the first and second image information from, so as to detect the entry frame of the ballot attached to either one of the first and second end faces, and to read the description content written in the entry frame, Regardless of the direction of the end face to which the entry frame is attached, it is possible to read the contents of the ballot. As a result, the process of aligning the front and back of the voting paper in advance can be eliminated, and convenience can be improved.

It is a block diagram which shows the reading apparatus of the voting paper by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the imaging unit of FIG. It is a front view which shows the voting paper of FIG. It is a rear view which shows the voting paper of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the difference in direction of the voting paper of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the conveyance destination determination operation | movement of the information processing means of FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a ballot paper reader according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the figure, a voting paper reading device is provided with a reading device main body 1 and an extension stacker unit 2. The reading device main body 1 is provided with a hopper 10, a main body side transport unit 11, first to fifth stackers 12 to 16, an imaging unit 17, and a display unit 18.

  The hopper 10 is a case in which a plurality of voting sheets 3 input from the outside are stored. The main body side transport means 11 is composed of a plurality of transport rollers 11a, and transports the voting paper 3 along the transport direction 110 from the hopper 10 to the first to fifth stackers 12 to 16 in the first main body transport path 111. Is forming. The main body side transport means 11 is separated from the midway position 111a of the first main body transport path 111, and forms a second main body transport path 112 for transporting the voting paper 3 toward the expansion stacker unit 2. Yes. The imaging unit 17 generates image information indicating the end face of the voting paper 3 as described later, and is disposed downstream of the hopper 10 and upstream of the midway position 111a along the transport direction 110. The display means 18 displays information for the user.

  The extension stacker unit 2 is an extension unit that can be separated from the reader main body 1. The expansion stacker unit 2 is provided with an expansion side conveying means 20 and sixth to thirteenth stackers 21 to 28. The expansion side conveyance means 20 forms an expansion side conveyance path 200 that conveys the voting paper 3 conveyed to the expansion stacker unit 2 through the second main body conveyance path 112 to the sixth to thirteenth stackers 21 to 28. Yes.

  The first to thirteenth stackers 12 to 16 and 21 to 28 are cases in which voting sheets 3 classified as described later are respectively stored. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which one expansion stacker unit 2 is connected to the reading apparatus main body 1. However, a plurality of expansion stacker units 2 can read depending on the number of stackers required. It may be connected to the apparatus main body 1. Although the extension stacker unit 2 has been described as being separable from the reader main body 1, the reader main body 1 and the extension stacker unit 2 may be provided integrally with each other.

  Next, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the imaging unit 17 of FIG. The imaging unit 17 includes first and second guide plates 170 and 171, first to third roller portions 172 to 174, first and second imaging means 175 and 176, and first and second opposing rollers 177. , 178.

  The first and second guide plates 170 and 171 are plate members that extend along the transport direction 110 and are disposed to face each other so as to sandwich the first in-body transport path 111. The first and second guide plates 170 and 171 guide the voting paper 3 when the voting paper 3 passes through the imaging unit 17. Although not shown in detail, the first and second guide plates 170 and 171 are each provided with an opening at each position where the first to third roller portions 172 to 174 are disposed. .

  The first roller portion 172 includes a pair of rollers 172a that are disposed with the first main body conveyance path 111 interposed therebetween so that the outer peripheral surfaces of the first roller portion 172 come into contact with each other through the openings of the first and second guide plates 170, 171. ing. Similarly to the first roller portion 172, the second and third roller portions 173 and 174 are also composed of a pair of rollers 173a and 174a. The first to third roller portions 172 to 174 are arranged to be separated from each other along the transport direction 110 and send out the voting paper 3 that has entered between the rollers 172a to 174a along the transport direction 110 ( Transported). That is, the first to third roller portions 172 to 174 constitute a part of the main body side transport unit 11.

  Here, one end surface of the first in-body conveyance path 111 on the side where the first guide plate 170 is disposed is referred to as a conveyance path surface 113, and the other end surface on the side where the second guide plate 171 is disposed. This is referred to as the conveyance path back surface 114. In other words, when the ballot paper 3 passes through the imaging unit 17, the end surface of the first in-body conveyance path 111 facing the first and second end surfaces 3 a and 3 b of the ballot paper 3 is the conveyance path surface 113 and the conveyance path. This is called the back surface 114. As will be described in detail later, the first end surface 3a is one of the front surface 300 and the back surface 310 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) of the voting paper 3, and the second end surface 3b is the front surface, depending on the orientation of the voting paper 3. The other of 300 and the back surface 310. Further, as will be described in detail later, when the front and back directions and the top and bottom directions of the ballot paper 3 are not aligned with each other, four directions of the ballot paper 3 are assumed (see FIG. 5).

  The first imaging means 175 is disposed between the first roller portion 172 and the second roller portion 173 so as to face the transport path surface 113 through the opening of the first guide plate 170. The first imaging unit 175 includes a light source unit 175a and an imaging unit 175b, and generates first image information 175c indicating the first end surface 3a of the voting paper 3 when the voting paper 3 passes through the imaging unit 17. To do. Specifically, when the voting paper 3 passes through the imaging unit 17, the imaging light is irradiated from the light source unit 175a to the first end surface 3a of the voting paper 3, and the imaging light reflected by the first end surface 3a is reflected. The first image information 175c is generated by receiving light at the imaging unit 175b.

  The first opposing roller 177 is disposed between the first roller portion 172 and the second roller portion 173 so as to face the imaging side end surface of the first imaging means 175 through the opening of the second guide plate 171. The first counter roller 177 is configured to send the voting paper 3 along the transport direction 110 when the voting paper 3 enters between the outer peripheral surface and the imaging side end surface of the first imaging means 175. It is arranged close to the imaging side end surface of the imaging means 175.

  The second imaging unit 176 is disposed between the second roller unit 173 and the third roller unit 174 so as to face the conveyance path back surface 114 through the opening of the second guide plate 171. That is, the second imaging unit 176 is disposed downstream of the first imaging unit 175 along the transport direction 110 and is not opposed to the first imaging unit 175. The second image pickup unit 176 includes a light source unit 176a and an image pickup unit 176b similarly to the first image pickup unit 175 described above, and shows the second end surface 3b of the voting paper 3 on the side opposite to the first end surface 3a. The second image information 176c is generated.

  The second facing roller 178 is disposed between the second roller portion 173 and the third roller portion 174 so as to face the second imaging unit 176 through the opening of the first guide plate 170. Similar to the first counter roller 177, the second counter roller 178 is disposed close to the imaging side end face of the second imaging means 176.

  The information processing means 4 is connected to the first and second imaging means 175 and 176. The information processing means 4 is composed of a computer including a storage unit that stores information such as a program and an arithmetic unit that performs a processing operation based on the information stored in the storage unit. Specifically, the information processing means 4 is configured by a computer built in the reader main body 1 or a combination of a computer provided separately from the reader main body 1 and a computer built in the reader main body 1. ing. As will be described later, the information processing means 4 processes the first and second image information 175c and 176c from the first and second imaging means 175 and 176.

  3 is a front view showing the voting paper 3 of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the voting paper 3 of FIG. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the voting paper 3 is formed in a rectangle having a long side 30 and a short side 31. In the reading device of this embodiment, the voting paper 3 is conveyed with the short side 31 in the direction along the conveyance direction 110. As shown in FIG. 3, an entry frame 302 is provided on the front surface 300 of the voting paper 3 to divide an area where a voter should write description content 301 such as a candidate name or a party name. On the other hand, the entry frame 302 is not attached to the back surface 310 of the ballot 3.

  The information processing means 4 is a surface that is one of the first and second end faces 3a and 3b based on the first and second image information 175c and 176c from the first and second imaging means 175 and 176. The entry frame 302 is detected from 300, and the description content 301 in the entry frame 302 is read. Further, the information processing means 4 controls the operations of the main body side conveyance means 11 and the expansion side conveyance means 20 so that the voting paper 3 is changed into stackers 12 to 15 and 21 to 28 (see FIG. 1) that differ depending on the description contents 301. Transport. In the reading apparatus of this embodiment, the first to fourth stackers 12 to 15 are assigned to the first candidate, the sixth to ninth stackers 21 to 24 are assigned to the second candidate, and the tenth to tenth stackers are assigned. The thirteenth stackers 25 to 28 are assigned to the third candidate.

  Further, the information processing means 4 determines whether or not writing (other matters are described) outside the entry frame 302 on the first and second end surfaces 3a and 3b based on the first and second image information 175c and 176c. Determine. Although not shown, the ballot 3 is preliminarily provided with explanatory texts such as election contents and precautions as is well known. The above writing is additionally performed by a voter or the like, and is other than a prescriptive explanatory note or the like. If the information processing means 4 determines that the voting paper 3 has been written, the information processing means 4 rejects the voting paper 3 as being invalid or requiring reexamination. That is, the information processing means 4 conveys the ballot paper 3 in which writing is performed to the stacker 16 different from the ballot paper 3 in which writing is not performed. In this embodiment, the fifth stacker 16 is assigned for rejection.

  Next, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a difference in orientation of the voting paper 3 of FIG. When a plurality of voting papers 3 are inserted into the hopper 10 (see FIG. 1), when the front and back directions and the top and bottom directions of the voting papers 3 are not aligned, The orientation of the ballot 3 is assumed as shown in FIG. Here, the respective directions shown in FIG. 5 are referred to as the front / back direction 320, the front / back direction 321, the back / upward direction 322, and the back side direction 323.

  The front-facing direction 320 is a direction in which the front surface 300 of the voting paper 3 faces the front and the upper end 302a of the entry frame 302 is located on the left side when viewed from the first imaging unit 175. The front surface direction 321 is a direction in which the front surface 300 of the voting paper 3 faces the front and the upper end 302a of the entry frame 302 is positioned on the right side when viewed from the first imaging unit 175. In other words, the top / bottom direction 320 and the top / bottom direction 321 are directions of the character string of the description content 301, that is, the top / bottom direction is reversed.

  The back-facing direction 322 is a direction in which the back surface 310 of the voting paper 3 faces the front and the upper end 302a of the entry frame 302 is located on the left side when viewed from the first imaging unit 175. The lining direction 323 is a direction in which the back surface 310 of the voting sheet 3 faces the front and the upper end 302a of the entry frame 302 is positioned on the right side when viewed from the first imaging unit 175. That is, the back-to-back direction 322 and the back-side direction 323 are directions in which the front-and-back direction is reversed as compared to the front-to-back direction 320 and the front-and-back direction 321 described above.

  When the information processing means 4 detects the entry frame 302 based on the first and second image information 175c and 176c and reads the description content 301, the direction of the ballot sheet 3 in the front and back direction and the top and bottom direction (front and back direction 320). , Face orientation 321, back orientation 322, and lining orientation 323), and the voting paper 3 is conveyed to different stackers 12 to 15 and 21 to 28 for every description 301 and orientation 320 to 323 of the voting paper 3. . Specifically, when the name of the first candidate is described in the entry frame 302 as the description content 301, the ballot sheet 3 facing the top surface 320 is conveyed to the first stacker 12 and the ballot sheet facing the top surface 321. 3 is conveyed to the second stacker 13, the voting paper 3 facing the back 322 is conveyed to the third stacker 14, and the voting paper 3 facing the lining 323 is conveyed to the fourth stacker 15. The same applies to the stackers 21 to 28 assigned to other candidates.

  Next, FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the transport destination determination operation of the information processing means 4 in FIG. In the figure, when the first and second image information 175c and 176c are input from the first and second imaging means 175 and 176, the first end surface 3a and the second image information 176c indicated by the first image information 175c are indicated. By determining from which side the second end face 3b the entry frame 302 is detected, the orientation of the voting sheet 3 in the front and back direction is identified (step S1). At this time, when the entry frame 302 is detected from the first end face 3a, the orientation of the voting sheet 3 is identified as the front-facing direction 320 or the front-facing direction 321, and the entry frame 302 is detected from the second end face 3b. The direction of the voting sheet 3 is identified as the back-to-back direction 322 or the back-side direction 323.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the description content 301 can be read from the detected entry box 302 (step S2). If it is determined that the description content 301 can be read, the description content 301 is read. At the same time (step S3), the orientation of the ballot paper 3 in the vertical direction is identified from the direction of the characters in the description content 301 (step S4). At this time, it is identified whether the direction of the voting paper 3 is the front side orientation 320, the front side orientation 321, the back side orientation 322, or the back orientation 323.

  Next, based on the first and second image information 175c and 176c, it is determined whether or not there is writing (other description) outside the entry frame 302 (step S5), and it is determined that there is no writing. Then, the voting paper 3 is conveyed to the stackers 12 to 15 and 21 to 28 corresponding to the description contents 301 and the directions 320 to 323 (step S6), and the conveyance destination determination operation is ended.

  On the other hand, at the time of reading determination of the description content 301 (step S2), for example, when it is determined that reading is impossible due to a failure in character extraction or at the time of writing presence / absence determination (step S5), it is determined that writing is present. In this case, the voting paper 3 is conveyed to the reject stacker 16 (step S7), and the conveyance destination determination operation is completed.

  The transport destination determination operation is performed each time the voting paper 3 passes through the imaging unit 17 and the first and second imaging units 175 and 176 are input from the first and second imaging units 175 and 176 to the information processing unit 4. Repeatedly.

  In such a voting paper 3 reading device, the first image pickup unit 175 has the first image information indicating the first end surface 3 a of the voting paper 3 when the voting paper 3 is conveyed through the first main body conveyance path 111. 175c is generated, and the second imaging means 176 shows the second end face 3b of the voting paper 3 opposite to the first end face 3a when the voting paper 3 is conveyed through the first main body conveyance path 111. Two-image information 176c is generated, and the information processing means 4 determines the first and second end faces 3a, 3b based on the first and second image information 175c, 176c from the first and second imaging means 175, 176. Since the entry frame 302 of the ballot paper 3 attached to either one is detected and the description content 301 written in the entry frame 302 is read, regardless of the orientation of the end faces 3a and 3b to which the entry frame 302 is attached. Description 301 on the ballot 3 It is possible to take look. As a result, the process of aligning the front and back of the voting paper 3 in advance can be eliminated, and convenience can be improved.

  Further, when the information processing means 4 detects the entry frame 302 and reads the description content 301 based on the first and second image information 175c and 176c, the information processing unit 4 reads the description content 301 from the front and back directions of the ballot paper 3 and the top and bottom directions 320˜. 323 is identified, and the voting paper 3 is conveyed to different stackers 12 to 15 and 21 to 28 for each description content 301 and each direction 320 to 323 of the voting paper 3, so that the voting paper 3 is classified simultaneously with the classification for each description content 301. Can be classified for each of the directions 320 to 323, and the labor involved in managing the ballot paper 3 can be greatly reduced.

  Furthermore, the information processing means 4 determines whether or not writing is performed outside the entry frame 302 on the first and second end faces 3a and 3b based on the first and second image information 175c and 176c, and writing If it is determined that the voting paper 3 in which the writing has been performed is conveyed to the stacker 16 different from the voting paper 3 in which the writing has not been performed, At the same time as the classification, the invalid vote can be inspected, and the labor involved in managing the ballot 3 can be greatly reduced. In other words, in the conventional device, after sorting the ballot paper 3 for each description content 301, a process for checking whether there is any other description on the back surface is necessary. However, this post-process can be simplified and more votes can be counted. Can be completed quickly.

3 Ballots 3a, 3b First and second end faces 4 Information processing means 12-16 First to fifth stackers 21-28 Sixth to thirteenth stackers 111 First main body transport path 113 Transport path surface 114 Transport path back surface 175 , 176 First and second imaging means 175c, 176c First and second image information 301 Description content 302 Entry frame

Claims (2)

A conveyance path through which voting paper is conveyed;
First imaging means disposed opposite to the conveyance path surface of the conveyance path;
A second imaging means disposed opposite the conveyance path back surface of the conveyance path;
Information processing means connected to the first and second imaging means ;
A plurality of stackers connected to the transport path ,
The first imaging unit generates first image information indicating a first end surface of the voting paper when the voting paper is conveyed along the conveyance path;
The second imaging unit generates second image information indicating a second end surface of the voting sheet opposite to the first end surface when the voting sheet is conveyed along the conveyance path;
The information processing means has an entry frame for the voting form attached to one of the first and second end faces based on the first and second image information from the first and second imaging means. detecting, with reading the written description before Symbol entry frame, to identify the front and back direction and vertical direction of the orientation of the ballot, the respective description and for each of the orientation of the ballot, the ballot The voting paper reading device is characterized in that the voting paper is conveyed to different stackers . The information processing means determines whether or not writing is performed outside the entry frame on the first and second end surfaces based on the first and second image information, and the writing is performed. when determining the reading of ballots according to claim 1, characterized in that to convey the ballot the write is being performed on different said stacker and ballots the write is not performed apparatus.

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