JP7113640B2 - Image scanner adapters and image scanners - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image scanner adapter for reading an image on a card-like medium such as paper thinner than a plastic card. The present invention also relates to an image scanner that obtains an image of a card using an image scanner adapter.

An image reader for reading an image of a medium in which personal information such as a driver's license, a credit card, an ID card such as a My Number card, etc. is written is widely used. In particular, in Japan, with the introduction of the My Number system, the use of card images at counters of banks, etc., for personal identification is expanding.

This type of image reader reads a card-like medium having the same shape as a credit card or the like conforming to ISO standard ID-1 (JIS ID-1). An image is scanned by an image sensor arranged on the transport path. In addition, this type of image reader may read images of a plurality of types of cards having the same outer shape but different thicknesses. For example, a card-shaped cut line is printed on thin paper with a thickness of 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm, and the inside of the cut line is cut out by the user. There is

Since paper cards are cut out and used by each individual as needed, they often have irregular outer shapes. If a paper card with an irregular outer shape is used in the aforementioned image reader, the edge of the paper card may be crumpled and torn during transport. Further, if the cut end surface of the card is distorted, the image reader may not be able to recognize the reference for image reading, resulting in a reading error. Therefore, in order to align the outer shape of the paper card for the cut-out method, a special paper punch for the ISO card shape is provided at the place where the scanner is used (government office or store). It is done to process after cutting out neatly. However, the work of aligning the sizes is complicated, and a special jig is also required.

Here, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-200000 discloses a technique of holding a card-like medium such as a paper card in an adapter and conveying the card-like medium to the printer when printing on a thin card-like medium such as a paper card using a printer.

JP 2016-155345 A

In order to avoid damage or jamming of a thin card-shaped medium during transportation, it is conceivable to hold the card-shaped medium with an adapter or the like to transport it, even in an image reading device (image scanner).

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to prevent the occurrence of jamming of card-shaped media during transportation even if the shape of card-shaped media thinner than cards of a predetermined standard is irregular, and to To provide an adapter for an image scanner which can be read by an image scanner without damaging a medium. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image scanner that obtains an image of a card using an image scanner adapter.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention transports a card of a predetermined standard along a transport path and reads images of the front and back sides of the card by means of an image scanner that scans the front and back sides of a card-shaped medium thinner than the predetermined standard. In an adapter for an image scanner for reading the back side, a transparent first sheet longer than the length dimension in the conveying direction of the card of the predetermined standard and on which the card-like medium is placed on the front side of the first sheet a transparent spacer having a constant thickness fixed to at least the front end portion of the front end portion and the rear end portion of the surface in the conveying direction; A transparent second sheet covered from the side opposite to the first sheet, and the first sheet or the second sheet has a light shielding portion at a front end portion thereof, and the light shielding portion is provided on the first sheet. and extending in the conveying direction from the front edge of the first sheet to reach the side of the spacer opposite to the front edge.

According to the present invention, the card-like medium is held by the image scanner adapter while being sandwiched between the first sheet and the second sheet. Therefore, even if the shape of the card-like medium is irregular, the card will not be jammed during transportation, and the card will not be damaged. In addition, since the first sheet and the second sheet are laminated via the spacer, it is easy to arrange the card-like medium between the first sheet and the second sheet. Furthermore, since the first sheet, the spacer and the second sheet are transparent, the image scanner can read the front and back sides of the card-like medium. Here, if the image scanner is equipped with a transmissive photosensor for detecting a card on the transport path, the card-shaped medium held by the transparent image scanner adapter blocks the detection light of the transmissive photosensor. be able to. Therefore, the card-like medium on the conveying path can be detected by the transmissive photosensor for detecting the card of the predetermined standard. With this configuration, when the image scanner is equipped with a transmissive photosensor for detecting a card on the transport path, the light shielding portion can block detection light from the transmissive photosensor. Therefore, the image scanner adapter on the transport path can be detected by the transmissive photosensor for detecting the card of the predetermined standard. With this configuration, when the card-shaped medium is arranged along the spacer on the first sheet, the front end of the card-shaped medium can overlap the light shielding portion. As a result, it is possible to prevent the transparent gap from being formed between the card-shaped medium and the light shielding part, so that the front end of the image scanner adapter on the transport path can be reliably detected by the transmissive photosensor. .

In the present invention, it is preferable that the dimension of the first sheet in the orthogonal direction orthogonal to the conveying direction and the dimension of the second sheet in the orthogonal direction are the same as the dimension of the card of the predetermined standard in the orthogonal direction. . By doing so, it is easy to transport the image scanner adapter along the transport path for transporting the card of the predetermined standard.

In the present invention, it is desirable that the spacer is a double-sided tape. In this way, the first sheet and the second sheet can be adhesively fixed by the spacer.

In the present invention, the front edge of the first sheet extends in the orthogonal direction, the front edge of the second sheet extends in the orthogonal direction, and the first sheet and the second sheet are laminated. When viewed from the direction, the front edge of the first sheet and the front edge of the second sheet are aligned, and the spacer is fixed along the front edge of the first sheet and is attached to the first sheet. It preferably extends across the surface in said orthogonal direction. In this way, by arranging the card-shaped medium along the spacer, the posture of the card-shaped medium can be changed so that the front edge of the card-shaped medium extends in the orthogonal direction along the front edge of the first sheet and the front edge of the second sheet. Posture is easy.

In the present invention, a second spacer fixed to a trailing edge portion of the first sheet is provided, and the second spacer is fixed along the trailing edge of the first sheet. The surface extends in the orthogonal direction, and the distance between the spacer and the second spacer in the conveying direction may be longer than the length of the card of the predetermined standard in the conveying direction. can. In this way, the card-like medium can be inserted between the first sheet and the second sheet in the orthogonal direction.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the light shielding portion is black printed on the first sheet or the second sheet. In this way, it is easy to provide the light shielding portion on the first sheet or the second sheet. Also, black printing can block at least visible light.

In the present invention, the first sheet includes a second light shielding portion at a position spaced apart from the light shielding portion in the conveying direction, and the distance between the light shielding portion and the second light shielding portion is the predetermined standard. The distance between the light shielding portion and the end of the second light shielding portion opposite to the light shielding portion is shorter than the length dimension of the card in the transport direction of the card of the predetermined standard in the transport direction can be longer than the length dimension of With this configuration, it is possible to know that the image scanner adapter has passed the detection position of the transmission photosensor when the inspection light from the transmission photosensor is blocked by the second light shielding portion. Also, with this configuration, when the front and back sides of the card-like medium held by the image scanner adapter are read by the image scanner, the image of the card-like medium is blurred by the second light shielding portion appearing in the image. I can understand the range. Therefore, it is easy to omit an unnecessary area from the image data, and it becomes easy to suppress the capacity of the image data by cutting out only the necessary image portion from the read image.

Further, the present invention provides an image scanner for reading the front and back sides of a card-shaped medium thinner than the predetermined standard by using an image scanner that conveys a card of a predetermined standard along a conveying path and reads images of the front and back sides of the card. In the image scanner adapter, a transparent first sheet having a length dimension in a conveying direction of the card of the predetermined standard, on which the card-like medium is placed, and the conveying of the surface of the first sheet. a transparent spacer of constant thickness fixed to at least the front end portion of the front end portion and the rear end portion of the direction; The transparent second sheet covered from the opposite side and the dimension of the first sheet in the orthogonal direction orthogonal to the conveying direction and the dimension of the second sheet in the orthogonal direction are the dimensions of the card of the predetermined standard in the orthogonal direction. and the front edge of the first sheet extends in the orthogonal direction, the front edge of the second sheet extends in the orthogonal direction, and the first sheet and the second sheet extend in the orthogonal direction. The front edge of the first sheet coincides with the front edge of the second sheet when viewed from the stacking direction of the sheet, and the spacer is fixed along the front edge of the first sheet to fix the first sheet. The surface of the sheet extends in the orthogonal direction, and the first sheet includes a first notch extending from the front edge in the conveying direction and reaching a side of the spacer opposite to the front edge, The spacer includes a one-side spacer portion positioned on one side of the first cutout portion and a other-side spacer portion positioned on the other side in the orthogonal direction, and the second sheet includes the first sheet and the second cutout portion. It is characterized by comprising a second notch overlapping the first notch when viewed from the direction in which the two sheets are stacked. With this configuration, the front edge of the card-like medium sandwiched between the first sheet and the second sheet is exposed to the outside from the image scanner adapter through the first notch and the second notch. be able to. Therefore, when the image scanner is provided with a transmission photosensor for detecting a card on the transport path, the front edge of the card-shaped medium can block the detection light of the transmission photosensor. Therefore, the transmission photosensor can detect the front end of the card-like medium on the transport path.

Further, the present invention provides an image scanner for reading the front and back sides of a card-shaped medium thinner than the predetermined standard by using an image scanner that conveys a card of a predetermined standard along a conveying path and reads images of the front and back sides of the card. In the image scanner adapter, a transparent first sheet having a length dimension in a conveying direction of the card of the predetermined standard, on which the card-like medium is placed, and the conveying of the surface of the first sheet. a transparent spacer of constant thickness fixed to at least the front end portion of the front end portion and the rear end portion of the direction; A transparent second sheet covered from the opposite side and at least one of the first sheet and the second sheet are characterized by having scales provided at regular intervals in the conveying direction. In this way, the operator touches the card-shaped medium while the image scanner is reading the image of the card-shaped medium, causing irregularities in the medium speed and distortion of the read image. In some cases, it is possible to detect the distortion based on the deformation of the scale image in the read image and notify the operator of the distortion. In addition, even if the media speed becomes uneven due to deterioration over time or contamination of the transport roller, etc., and the read image is distorted. can be detected and notified to the operator. Furthermore, if such a scale is provided on the image scanner adapter, it is possible to have the image scanner read the image on the image scanner adapter during maintenance of the image scanner and check whether the feeding speed is normal or not. can.

Further, the present invention provides an image scanner for reading the front and back sides of a card-shaped medium thinner than the predetermined standard by using an image scanner that conveys a card of a predetermined standard along a conveying path and reads images of the front and back sides of the card. In the image scanner adapter, a transparent first sheet having a length dimension in a conveying direction of the card of the predetermined standard, on which the card-like medium is placed, and the conveying of the surface of the first sheet. a transparent spacer of constant thickness fixed to at least the front end portion of the front end portion and the rear end portion of the direction; The transparent second sheet covered from the opposite side and the first sheet or the second sheet are characterized by having a second notch portion in the middle of the conveying direction. This makes it easier to insert the cart-shaped medium between the first sheet and the second sheet. In addition, it becomes easy to take out the cart-shaped medium from between the first sheet and the second sheet.

Further, the present invention provides an image scanner for reading the front and back sides of a card-shaped medium thinner than the predetermined standard by using an image scanner that conveys a card of a predetermined standard along a conveying path and reads images of the front and back sides of the card. In the image scanner adapter, a transparent first sheet having a length dimension in a conveying direction of the card of the predetermined standard, on which the card-like medium is placed, and the conveying of the surface of the first sheet. a transparent spacer of constant thickness fixed to at least the front end portion of the front end portion and the rear end portion of the direction; A transparent second sheet covering from the opposite side and the second sheet hold the symbol string written on the surface of the card-like medium placed on the first sheet on the side of the second sheet at a predetermined position. It is characterized by comprising a guide part for arranging in. By doing so, it becomes easy to define the position and posture of the cart-shaped medium sandwiched between the first sheet and the second sheet.

In the present invention, the guide portion may be a straight line printed on the second sheet and extending in the conveying direction, a straight line printed on the second sheet and extending in the orthogonal direction, or a straight line printed on the second sheet and extending in the A border that can surround the string. By doing so, it is easy to provide the guide portion. Further, if the guide portion printed on the second sheet is provided, the guide portion appears in the image read from the card-like medium. Therefore, it becomes easy to extract only the necessary range of the image data with reference to the guide portion in the image. Therefore, it leads to shortening of the image processing time.

Further, the present invention provides an image scanner for reading the front and back sides of a card-shaped medium thinner than the predetermined standard by using an image scanner that conveys a card of a predetermined standard along a conveying path and reads images of the front and back sides of the card. In the image scanner adapter, a transparent first sheet having a length dimension in a conveying direction of the card of the predetermined standard, on which the card-like medium is placed, and the conveying of the surface of the first sheet. a transparent spacer of constant thickness fixed to at least the front end portion of the front end portion and the rear end portion of the direction; The transparent second sheet, which is covered from the opposite side, and the first and second sheets do not transmit visible light but transmit infrared rays. In this way, when personal information or the like is written on the front and back of the card-like medium, if the card-like medium is held in the image scanner adapter, the information will be known to a third party. You can avoid getting lost.

In this case, the second sheet has a guide portion for arranging at a predetermined position the symbol string written on the second sheet side surface of the card-like medium placed on the first sheet. The guide portion may be an opening formed in the second sheet and capable of exposing the symbol string from the second sheet. In this way, even if the first sheet and the second sheet do not transmit visible light, it becomes easy to define the position and posture of the cart-shaped medium sandwiched between the first sheet and the second sheet. . Further, the information required to identify the card-like medium can be recognized from the opening while the card-like medium is inserted into the image scanner adapter.

Next, an image scanner of the present invention includes the above image scanner adapter, a transport path for transporting the card of the predetermined standard, and a card-shaped medium thinner than the card held along the transport path. a transport mechanism for transporting the image scanner adapter; a first image sensor and a second image sensor arranged on both sides of the transport path; a first image reading position by the first image sensor; a transmissive photosensor for detecting the image scanner adapter or the card-like medium on the upstream side in the conveying direction of a second image reading position by 2 image sensors; driving the first image sensor and the second image sensor to read the image of the first surface of the card-like medium passing through the first image reading position on the first sheet side, and reading the second image; a control unit that reads an image of a second surface of the card-like medium passing through a position on the side of the second sheet, and the first image sensor and the second image sensor each move along the conveying path. It is characterized in that visible image reading light is applied to the conveyed image scanner adapter.

According to the image scanner of the present invention, the card-like medium is conveyed along the conveying path for conveying a card of a predetermined standard while being held by the image scanner adapter. Therefore, even if the shape of the card-like medium is irregular, the card-like medium will not be jammed during transportation by the image scanner, and the card will not be damaged. Further, the image scanner drives the first image sensor and the second image sensor based on the output from the transmissive photosensor arranged upstream of the first image reading position and the second image reading position in the transport direction. . Therefore, the first image sensor and the second image sensor can read the front side and the back side of the card-like medium passing through the first image reading position and the second image reading position.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image scanner comprising the above image scanner adapter in which the first sheet and the second sheet do not transmit visible light but transmit infrared light, and A transport path, a transport mechanism for transporting the image scanner adapter holding a card-shaped medium thinner than the card along the transport path, and first image sensors arranged on both sides of the transport path. and a second image sensor, and the adapter for the image scanner or the card-like medium upstream of the first image reading position by the first image sensor and the second image reading position by the second image sensor in the conveying direction. and a transmission type photosensor for detecting the card-shaped medium passing through the first image reading position by driving the first image sensor and the second image sensor based on a signal from the transmission type photosensor. a control unit that reads the image on the first surface of the first sheet side and reads the image on the second surface of the card-like medium that passes through the second image reading position on the second sheet side. Each of the first image sensor and the second image sensor irradiates the image scanner adapter conveyed on the conveying path with infrared image reading light.

According to the image scanner of the present invention, the card-like medium is conveyed along the conveying path for conveying a card of a predetermined standard while being held by the image scanner adapter. Therefore, even if the shape of the card-like medium is irregular, the card-like medium will not be jammed during transportation by the image scanner, and the card will not be damaged. Further, the image scanner drives the first image sensor and the second image sensor based on the output from the transmissive photosensor arranged upstream of the first image reading position and the second image reading position in the transport direction. . Therefore, the first image sensor and the second image sensor can read the front side and the back side of the card-like medium passing through the first image reading position and the second image reading position. Furthermore, since the image reading light emitted by the first image sensor and the second image sensor is infrared rays, even if the first sheet and the second sheet do not transmit visible light rays but transmit infrared rays, the surface image of the card-like medium can be read. and the back side image can be acquired.

According to the present invention, the card-like medium is held by the image scanner adapter while being sandwiched between the first sheet and the second sheet. Also, the image scanner conveys a card-like medium held by the image scanner adapter. Therefore, even if the shape of the card-like medium is irregular, the image scanner will not jam the card during transportation, and the card will not be damaged.

1 is an external perspective view of an image scanner to which the present invention is applied; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the image scanner with the outer case removed; FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an image scanner; FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of the control system of the image scanner; FIG. It is explanatory drawing of a paper card (notification card). FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an image scanner adapter according to an embodiment; FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an image scanner adapter of Modification 1; FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of an image scanner adapter of Modified Example 2; FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of an image scanner adapter of Modified Example 3; FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of an image scanner adapter of Modified Example 8; FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of an image scanner adapter of Modified Example 9; FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram of an image scanner adapter of Modified Example 10;

(image scanner)
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an image scanner to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the image scanner with the exterior case removed. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the image scanner. FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram showing the control system of the image scanner. The scanner 1 (image scanner) of this example reads the front and back sides of a card (hereinafter referred to as an ISO card 2) having the same shape as a credit card conforming to ISO standard ID-1 (JIS ID-1: predetermined standard). ISO standard ID-1 defines the length, width and thickness dimensions of the card as 85.60 mm, 53.98 mm and 0.76 mm. The scanner 1 of this example reads the front and back sides of a paper card 4 (card-like medium) thinner than the ISO card 2 by using an adapter 3 (image scanner adapter) to be described later.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the scanner 1 includes a rectangular parallelepiped housing 5 and a slot 6 provided on the rear surface of the housing 5 . As shown in FIG. 2 , inside the housing 5 are a first image sensor 7 , a second image sensor 8 , a transport path 9 for transporting the ISO card 2 , and an ISO card 2 sensor along the transport path 9 . and a transport mechanism 10 for transporting the adapter 3.

The first image sensor 7 and the second image sensor 8 are arranged on both upper and lower sides with the conveying path 9 interposed therebetween. As shown in FIG. 3, the transport path 9 extends linearly from the slot 6 through the first image reading position A of the first image sensor 7 and the second image reading position B of the second image sensor 8 in this order. Extend. In the following description, the extending direction of the transport path 9 is defined as the front-rear direction X of the scanner 1 . A width direction Y of the scanner 1 is defined as an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the up-down direction Z and the front-rear direction X. As shown in FIG. Also, in the front-rear direction X, the side where the transport path 9 extends from the slot 6 is the front X1, and the opposite side is the rear X2. In the front-rear direction X, the direction in which the transport mechanism 10 transports the ISO card 2 and the adapter 3 during image reading (the direction from the slot 6 toward the front X1) is defined as a transport direction M1, and the opposite direction is defined as a discharge direction M2. .

Each of the first image sensor 7 and the second image sensor 8 is a line image sensor. Each of the first image sensor 7 and the second image sensor 8 is arranged in a posture that crosses the transport path 9 in the width direction Y. As shown in FIG. The first image sensor 7 is positioned below the conveying path 9 and has its sensor surface facing the conveying path 9 (upward). The second image sensor 8 is located above the conveying path 9 and has its sensor surface facing the conveying path 9 (downward). The first image sensor 7 captures (reads) the back surface (lower surface) of the card-shaped medium passing through the first image reading position A, and the second image sensor 8 captures (reads) the card-shaped medium passing through the second image reading position B. image (read) the surface (upper surface) of the

Each of the first image sensor 7 and the second image sensor 8 can read images with visible light, infrared light, and ultraviolet light. That is, each of the first image sensor 7 and the second image sensor 8 selectively applies visible light, infrared light and ultraviolet light as image reading light to the ISO card 2 or the like conveyed on the conveying path 9, or , in sequence, to obtain a visible light image, an infrared light image, and an ultraviolet image.

As shown in FIG. 2, the transport mechanism 10 includes a transport motor 11 as a drive source. In addition, the transport mechanism 10 includes a first transport roller pair 13 arranged behind the first image sensor 7 and the second image sensor 8 (upstream side in the transport direction M1) X2, and a second transport roller pair 13 arranged forward X1. a pair of rollers 14;

The first transport roller pair 13 includes a first driving roller 15 located above the transport path 9 and a first driven roller 16 located below the transport path 9 . The rotation of the conveying motor 11 is transmitted to the first driving roller 15 via the driving force transmission mechanism 17 . The driving force transmission mechanism 17 has a belt 18 . The first drive roller 15 includes a first drive shaft 19 extending in the width direction Y, a first drive roller main body 20 fixed to the central portion of the drive shaft in the width direction Y, and a drive shaft extending in the width direction Y of the first drive shaft 19 . and a first pulley 21 provided at one end. The first drive shaft 19 is rotatably supported by the upper frame 22 (see FIG. 3). The rotation of the conveying motor 11 is transmitted to the first pulley 21 via the belt 18 . The first driven roller 16 includes a first rotating shaft 23 extending in the width direction Y, and a first driven roller main body 24 fixed to the central portion of the first rotating shaft 23 in the width direction Y. As shown in FIG. The first rotating shaft 23 is rotatably supported by the lower frame 25 . The upper frame 22 is fixed above the lower frame 25 , and the upper frame 22 and the lower frame 25 constitute a frame 26 .

The second transport roller pair 14 includes a second drive roller 27 located above the transport path 9 and a second driven roller 28 located below the transport path 9 . The rotation of the conveying motor 11 is transmitted to the second driving roller 27 via the driving force transmission mechanism 17 . The second drive roller 27 includes a second drive shaft 29 extending in the width direction Y, a second drive roller main body 30 fixed to the central portion of the second drive shaft 29 in the width direction Y, and a width of the second drive shaft 29. and a second pulley 31 provided at one end in the Y direction. The second drive shaft 29 is rotatably supported by the upper frame 22 . The rotation of the transport motor 11 is transmitted to the second pulley 31 via the belt of the driving force transmission mechanism 17 . As shown in FIG. 3, the second driven roller 28 includes a second rotating shaft 33 extending in the width direction Y and a second driven roller main body 34 fixed to the central portion of the second rotating shaft 33 in the width direction Y. Prepare. The second rotating shaft 33 is rotatably supported by the lower frame 25 .

Here, the dimension of the conveying path 9 in the orthogonal direction is almost equal to the width dimension of the ISO card 2 . As shown in FIG. 2, on both sides of the lower frame 25 in the orthogonal direction to the transport path 9, transport guide portions 35 are provided for regulating and guiding the ISO card 2 so that the ISO card 2 is transported linearly.

The scanner 1 also includes a first position sensor 37 , a second position sensor 38 and a third position sensor 39 for detecting the ISO card 2 positioned on the transport path 9 . The first position sensor 37 is positioned rearward X<b>2 from the first drive shaft 19 . That is, the first detection position C of the first position sensor 37 is positioned upstream in the transport direction M1 from the first nip position F of the ISO card 2 by the first transport roller pair 13 . A second position sensor 38 is located between the first drive shaft 19 and the first image sensor 7 . That is, the second detection position D of the second position sensor 38 is positioned upstream of the first image reading position A by the first image sensor 7 in the transport direction M1, and is positioned downstream of the first nip position F. . The third position sensor 39 is located forward X1 of the second drive shaft 29 . That is, the third detection position E of the third position sensor 39 is positioned downstream in the transport direction M1 from the second image reading position B by the second image sensor 8 and the second nip position G by the second transport roller pair 14. do.

The first position sensor 37, the second position sensor 38 and the third position sensor 39 are each transmissive photosensors. Each of the first position sensor 37, the second position sensor 38, and the third position sensor 39 includes a light emitting portion that emits inspection light and a light receiving portion that receives the inspection light. The light-emitting part and the light-receiving part are installed vertically with the transport path 9 interposed therebetween. When the ISO card 2 or the like conveyed along the conveying path 9 passes the detection positions of the respective sensors and the inspection light is blocked by the ISO card 2 or the like, the first position sensor 37, the second position sensor 38 and the third position sensor 38 are detected. Position sensor 3
9 outputs a signal indicating that the ISO card 2 has been detected.

Further, the scanner 1 has a control section 41 . As shown in FIG. 4 , a first position sensor 37 , a second position sensor 38 and a third position sensor 39 are connected to the input side of the control section 41 . A conveying motor 11 is connected to the output side of the control section 41 . Also, the first image sensor 7 , the second image sensor 8 , and the memory 42 are connected to the controller 41 . Furthermore, the controller 41 is connected to a host device 44 via a communication interface 43 .

Based on the outputs from the first position sensor 37 and the second position sensor 38, the control unit 41 drives and controls the conveying motor 11, the first image sensor 7 and the second image sensor 8 so that the front surface of the ISO card 2 is moved. The front side image data of the read front side image and the back side image data of the read back side image are acquired. Further, the control unit 41 stores and holds the acquired front side image data and back side image data in the memory 42 . Furthermore, the control unit 41 transmits appropriate image data of the front side image data and the back side image data stored in the memory 42 to the host device 44 in accordance with a command from the host device 44 .

(Image reading operation)
When the ISO card 2 is inserted from the slot 6 into the transport path 9 and reaches the first detection position C, the inspection light of the first position sensor 37 is blocked by the front end of the ISO card 2 . As a result, a signal indicating that the ISO card 2 has been detected is output from the first position sensor 37 , and the controller 41 drives the transport motor 11 . As a result, the first conveying roller pair 13 and the second conveying roller pair 14 rotate, and the ISO card 2 is conveyed along the conveying path 9 in the conveying direction M1 (forward X1).

After that, when the ISO card 2 reaches the second detection position D, the inspection light of the second position sensor 38 is blocked by the front end of the conveyed ISO card 2 . As a result, the second position sensor 38 outputs a signal indicating that the ISO card 2 has been detected. The front and back sides of the ISO card 2 are read. When reading the ISO card 2, the first image sensor 7 and the second image sensor 8 each move the image reading positions (the first image reading position A and the second image reading position B) to the conveyed ISO card 2. , the front side image data and the back side image data are obtained by irradiating the image reading light for a predetermined reading time. The reading time is a time sufficient for the ISO card 2 to pass through the first image reading position A and the second image reading position B. FIG. Also, as will be described later, the time is sufficient for the paper card 4 held by the adapter 3 to pass through the first image reading position A and the second image reading position B. FIG. Then, the control unit 41 stores and holds the front side image data and the back side image data acquired by the first image sensor 7 and the second image sensor 8 in the memory 42 . Furthermore, the control unit 41 transmits appropriate image data of the front side image data and the back side image data stored in the memory 42 to the host device 44 according to a command from the host device 44 .

After that, the control unit 41 stops the transport motor 11 after a predetermined transport time has elapsed since the transport motor 11 was driven. After that, the controller 41 drives the transport motor 11 in the reverse direction. As a result, the scanner 1 conveys the ISO card 2 in the ejection direction M2 (backward X2) and ejects it from the slot 6 . The predetermined transport time is the time during which the trailing end of the ISO card 2 in the transport direction M<b>1 can pass the second image reading position B of the second image sensor 8 by driving the transport motor 11 . Also, as will be described later, it is the time during which the adapter 3 can pass the second image reading position B of the second image sensor 8 . Here, the third position sensor 39 detects the ISO card 2 at the third detection position E when the controller 41 stops the conveying motor 11 and drives it in the reverse direction. Therefore, the control section 41 confirms that the ISO card 2 is on the transport path 9 based on the output from the third position sensor 39 .

(adapter)
Next, the adapter 3 (image scanner adapter) used when the scanner 1 reads the front and back sides of a card-like medium thinner than the ISO card 2 will be described. First, as a paper card 4 (card-like medium) thinner than the ISO card 2, for example, there is a My Number notification card. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a My Number notification card.

The paper card 4 (notification card) is a medium printed on the mount portion of the mount 47 and is surrounded by card-shaped cut lines 48 . The user cuts out the inside along the cut line 48 and uses it as a paper card 4 (card-like medium). The thickness dimension of the paper card 4 is from 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the adapter 3 of the first embodiment with the paper card 4 attached. The adapter 3 has a structure in which two rectangular sheets of transparent resin or the like whose width in the width direction is equal to the width of the ISO card 2 are pasted together at two short sides or at one place. A spacer (intermediate member) is attached to the portion of the adapter 3 where the two sheets are bonded so that the overall thickness of the adapter 3 is equal to or smaller than that of the ISO card 2, and a gap is provided to allow the paper card 4 to be attached. ) are fixed (see the enlarged view of FIG. 6). The overall longitudinal length of the adapter 3 is longer than that of the ISO card 2. - 特許庁

Note that the longitudinal direction of the adapter 3 is the front-rear direction X of the adapter 3 inserted into the transport path 9 . Hereinafter, the longitudinal direction of the adapter 3 is defined as the front-rear direction X (conveyance direction M1), the downstream side (front) of the conveyance direction M1 in the front-rear direction X is defined as the front X1 of the adapter 3, and the opposite side is defined as the rear X2 of the adapter 3. do. The short width direction of the adapter 3 is the width direction Y of the adapter 3 inserted into the transport path 9 . Therefore, the lateral width direction of the adapter 3 is referred to as the width direction Y below. The width direction Y is an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction (conveyance direction M1).

More specifically, the adapter 3 includes a transparent first sheet 51 on which the paper card 4 is placed, and a transparent first spacer of constant thickness fixed to the front end portion of the surface of the first sheet 51. 52 , a transparent second spacer 53 (second spacer) having a constant thickness fixed to the rear end portion of the surface of the first sheet 51 , and a first spacer 53 (second spacer) fixed to the first spacer 52 and the second spacer 53 . and a transparent second sheet 54 which is superimposed on the sheet 51 and covers the paper card 4 from the side opposite to the first sheet 51. - 特許庁The first sheet 51 is a resin sheet and has flexibility. The planar shape of the first sheet 51 is a rectangle as a whole, and the four corners are provided with curves. A front edge 51a and a rear edge 51b of the first sheet 51 extend in the width direction Y. As shown in FIG. The length dimension of the first sheet 51 in the front-rear direction X (conveyance direction M1) is longer than the length dimension in the front-rear direction X of the ISO card 2 . The width dimension in the width direction Y of the first sheet 51 is the same as the width dimension in the width direction Y of the ISO card 2 . The total thickness of the first sheet 51 , the first spacer 52 (or the second spacer 53 ) and the second sheet 54 is equal to or less than the thickness of the ISO card 2 .

The first spacer 52 is fixed along the front edge 51 a of the first sheet 51 and extends in the width direction Y on the surface of the first sheet 51 . The second spacer 53 is fixed along the rear edge of the first sheet 51 and extends in the width direction Y on the surface of the first sheet 51 . Each of the first spacer 52 and the second spacer 53 is a transparent double-sided tape. The distance between the first spacer 52 and the second spacer 53 in the front-rear direction X is longer than the length dimension in the front-rear direction X of the ISO card 2 . Note that the first spacer 52 and the second spacer 53 do not have to be double-sided tape. It may be crimped.

The second sheet 54 is a resin sheet and has flexibility. The second sheet 54 has the same shape as the first sheet 51 . When viewed from the stacking direction of the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54, the second sheet 54 completely overlaps the first sheet 51, and the outer edge of the first sheet 51 and the outer edge of the second sheet 54 are separated from each other. Matches the perimeter.

Further, the adapter 3 is silk-printed with a guide portion 56 for positioning, which serves as a reference for the mounting position of the paper card 4 . On the other hand, on the paper card 4, a symbol string 57 (position mark) for positioning is printed at a predetermined position. The symbol string 57 may be any character string or symbol as long as it can be visually recognized from the guide portion 56 . In this example, the guide portion 56 has a frame shape surrounding the symbol string 57 .

That is, the second sheet 54 has a guide portion 56 for arranging the symbol string 57 written on the second sheet 54 side surface of the paper card 4 placed on the first sheet 51 at a predetermined position. . In this example, as shown in FIG. 6, the guide portion 56 is a frame line capable of enclosing a specific character string (symbol string 57) printed on the second sheet 54. As shown in FIG.

The paper card 4 is inserted from the width direction Y into the space defined by the first sheet 51, the second sheet 54, the first spacer 52, and the second spacer 53, and the stacking direction of the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54. , the sheet is sandwiched between the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54 . Here, the first spacer 52 extends along the front edge 51 a of the first sheet 51 and the front edge of the second sheet 54 . Therefore, when the paper card 4 is inserted between the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54 along the first spacer 52, the posture of the paper card 4 is adjusted so that the front edge of the paper card 4 is aligned with the front edge 51a of the first sheet 51 and the front edge 51a of the first sheet 51. It is easy to adopt a posture extending in the width direction Y along the front edge of the second sheet 54 .

Further, when the paper card 4 is inserted between the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54, the predetermined character string of the paper card 4 is arranged inside the guide portion 56 (frame line) of the second sheet 54. Then, the position and orientation of the paper card 4 on the adapter 3 can be defined.

Here, the paper card 4 is cut from the mount 47 to a size that fits inside the adapter 3, but the paper card 4 may protrude from the adapter 3 in the width direction Y because it is cut roughly. In this case, the protruding end is folded and stored between the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54 .

(Image reading operation)
The adapter 3 configured as described above inserts the paper card 4 between the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54 and inserts it into the slot 6 of the scanner 1 . Here, when the adapter 3 is inserted into the transport path 9 from the slot 6 and reaches the first detection position C, the front end of the paper card 4 held by the adapter 3 blocks the inspection light of the first position sensor 37 . That is, since the adapter 3 (the first sheet 51 , the first spacer 52 , the second spacer 53 and the second sheet 54 ) is transparent, the inspection light from the first position sensor 37 is blocked by the paper card 4 . As a result, the first position sensor 37 outputs a signal indicating that the paper card 4 has been detected. 14 is rotated to transport the adapter 3 holding the paper card 4 along the transport path 9 forward X1.

Then, when the adapter 3 reaches the second detection position D, the inspection light from the second position sensor 38 is blocked by the front end of the paper card 4 being conveyed. As a result, the second position sensor 38 outputs a signal indicating that the paper card 4 has been detected. The front and back sides of the paper card 4 are read. At this time, each of the first image sensor 7 and the second image sensor 8 has its respective image reading position (first image reading position A and second image reading position B) determined in advance on the conveyed paper card 4. The front side image data and the back side image data are obtained by irradiating the image reading light for a predetermined reading time. The reading time is a time sufficient for the adapter 3 to pass through the first image reading position A and the second image reading position B. As shown in FIG. Further, the control unit 41 stores front side image data and back side image data in the memory 42 and transmits appropriate image data to the host device 44 in accordance with commands from the host device 44 .

After that, when a predetermined transport time elapses after driving the transport motor 11, the controller 41 stops the transport motor 11, and then drives the transport motor 11 in the reverse direction. As a result, the scanner 1 ejects the adapter 3 holding the paper card 4 from the slot 6 . Here, the predetermined transport time is the time during which the paper card 4 held by the adapter 3 can pass through the second image reading position B of the second image sensor 8 . When the control unit 41 stops the transport motor 11 , a signal indicating that the paper card 4 has been detected is output from the third position sensor 39 , and the control unit 41 detects that the paper card 4 is in the transport path 9 . Make sure it's on top.

(Effect)
The dimension in the width direction Y of the adapter 3 is the same as that of the ISO card 2 . Therefore, like the ISO card 2 , it is transported along the transport path 9 by the transport mechanism 10 of the scanner 1 . Further, when the adapter 3 is transported, it is regulated and guided by the transport guide portion 35 so that it is transported linearly.

Also, the paper card 4 is held by the adapter 3 while being sandwiched between the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54 . Therefore, even if the shape of the paper card 4 is irregular, the paper card 4 will not be jammed during transportation and the paper card 4 will not be damaged. Furthermore, since the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54 are laminated via the spacers 52 and 53, it is easy to arrange the paper card 4 between the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54. . Further, since the first sheet 51, the spacers 52, 53, and the second sheet 54 are transparent, the scanner 1 can read the front and back sides of the paper card 4. FIG.

Further, since the adapter 3 has the guide portion 56 printed on the second sheet 54 , the guide portion 56 appears in the surface image obtained by reading the surface of the paper card 4 . Therefore, it becomes easy to extract only the required range of the surface image data with reference to the guide portion 56 in the surface image. As a result, the image processing time can be shortened.

Furthermore, by using the adapter 3, the following effects can be obtained. (1) By using the adapter 3 that can process even a roughly cut paper card 4, high-quality image reading can be performed at a low cost without damaging the paper card 4. (2) There is no need to equip a dedicated paper punch at the place where the scanner 1 is used. (3) A necessary image can be scanned without damaging the paper card 4 of the customer. (4) No physical modification of the scanner 1 itself is required. Also, by simply changing the control software to change the reading time and the transporting time, it can be used for other models, and the versatility is high. (5) Problems such as paper jams in the paper card 4 and image distortion are eliminated, and reading quality is improved. (6) Since the structure is simple, the manufacturing cost of the adapter 3 is low.

Here, the guide portion 56 can be a straight line that is printed on the second sheet 54 and extends in the front-rear direction X. As shown in FIG. For example, it can be a straight line extending in the front-rear direction X along the symbol string 57 like an underline for the symbol string 57 . Furthermore, the guide portion 56 may be a straight line that is printed on the second sheet 54 and extends in the width direction Y. As shown in FIG. Also, the guide portion 56 may be provided as a stamp or a hole. Furthermore, the guide portion 56 may be provided on the first sheet 51 . Also, the guide portion 56 may be provided on both the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54 .

Also, the second spacer 53 can be omitted. In this case, the paper card 4 can be inserted between the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54 with the rear end portion of the first sheet 51 and the rear end portion of the second sheet 54 separated from each other. Therefore, it is easy to attach the paper card 4 to the adapter 3 .

Since the adapter 3 has a bonded portion formed by the first spacer 52 and the second spacer 53 in front and behind the paper card 4, the adapter 3 is longer than the ISO card 2 in the front-rear direction X (longitudinal direction). Therefore, when trying to read all the images, there is a concern that the image data size becomes large and the processing time becomes long, or the communication time for transmitting the image data to the host device 44 becomes long. However, since the required images differ depending on the purpose of the paperwork, the size of the image data can be reduced by extracting only the necessary image data and omitting the other image data for processing. can be shortened. For example, if the paper card 4 is the notification card shown in FIG. 5, there is an area (information) where reading is prohibited due to legal regulations, and information necessary for window processing at a bank, that is, image information to be read is limited. . Therefore, if the necessary information part is set as a position mark and the frame of the guide part 56 of the adapter 3 is aligned with the necessary information part, only the image within the frame of the guide part 56 can be read and the image other than the inside of the guide part 56 can be read. By omitting the data, the image data size to be processed can be reduced, and the image processing time can be shortened.

(Modification 1)
FIG. 7 is a plan view of an adapter 3A of Modification 1. FIG. The adapter 3A of this example includes a first light shielding portion 61 (start mark) and a second light shielding portion 62 (end mark: second light shielding portion) in addition to the adapter 3 described above. This allows the scanner 1 to more accurately recognize the length of the medium. Note that the adapter 3A of Modification 1 has a corresponding configuration, except that the adapter 3 of Embodiment 1 is provided with the first light shielding portion 61 and the second light shielding portion 62. FIG. Therefore, only the first light shielding portion 61 and the second light shielding portion 62 will be described, and other descriptions will be omitted.

The first light shielding portion 61 is provided at the front end portion of the first sheet 51 . More specifically, it extends in the width direction Y with a constant width at a position adjacent to the rear X2 of the first spacer 52 . The first light shielding portion 61 is a black strip applied to the first sheet 51 by silk printing or the like. The second light shielding portion 62 is provided at the rear end portion of the first sheet 51 . More specifically, it extends in the width direction Y with a constant width at a position adjacent to the front X1 of the second spacer 53 . The second light shielding portion 62 is a black strip applied to the first sheet 51 by silk printing or the like.

In this example as well, the dimension of the adapter 3A in the width direction Y is the same as that of the ISO card 2, so that the adapter 3A can be transported along the transport path 9 by the transport function of the scanner 1 in the same manner as the ISO card 2. Further, the paper card 4 is held by the adapter 3A while being sandwiched between the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54. As shown in FIG. Therefore, even if the shape of the paper card 4 is irregular, the card will not be jammed during transportation and the card will not be damaged. Furthermore, since the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54 are laminated via the first spacer 52 and the second spacer 53, the paper card 4 is arranged between the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54. is easy. Further, since the adapter 3A has a transparent portion of the paper card 4 that overlaps the portion where the image needs to be read, the scanner 1 can read the front and back sides of the paper card 4. FIG.

Furthermore, in this example, since the first sheet 51 has the first light shielding portion 61, when the adapter 3A holding the paper card 4 is conveyed along the conveying path 9 of the scanner 1, the first light shielding portion 61 Detected light from each sensor can be blocked. Therefore, the adapter 3A on the conveying path 9 can be detected.

Further, in this example, when the scanner 1 reads the front and back sides of the paper card 4 held by the adapter 3A, the first light shielding portion 61 and the second light shielding portion 62 appearing in the image prevent the paper card 4 from You can understand the range of the image. Therefore, it is easy to omit an unnecessary area from the image data, and it becomes easy to cut out only the necessary image portion from the image data to reduce the capacity of the image data.

Note that the first light shielding portion 61 and the second light shielding portion 62 may be provided on the second sheet 54 side. Further, as in the above example, the guide portions 56 may be provided on the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54, and the second spacer 53 may be omitted.

(Modification 2)
FIG. 8 is a plan view of an adapter 3B of Modification 2. FIG. The adapter 3B of this example has cutouts at the detection positions of the position sensors 37 , 38 , 39 . As a result, the front edge of the paper card 4 can be directly detected by the position sensors 37, 38, 39, and erroneous detection by the optical sensor at the end of the transparent adapter 3B can be avoided. (If the adapter 3B is detected by the sticking portion at the end, it may be mistakenly recognized as a long card.). Since the adapter 3B of Modification 2 has a configuration corresponding to that of the adapter 3 of the embodiment, the corresponding configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

More specifically, in the adapter 3B of this example, the first seat 51 has a first notch portion 51c at its front end portion. The first notch 51c extends in the front-rear direction X from the front edge 51a of the first sheet 51 and reaches the rear X2 of the first spacer 52 (opposite to the front edge 51a). The first spacer 52 includes a one-side spacer portion 52a located on one side of the first notch portion 51c in the width direction Y and the other-side spacer portion 52b located on the other side. The second sheet 54 has a second cutout portion 54a that overlaps the first cutout portion 51c when viewed from the stacking direction of the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54 . Here, when the adapter 3B is conveyed along the conveying path 9, the positions where the first notch 51c and the second notch 54a are formed in the adapter 3B are determined by the inspection lights of the position sensors 37, 38, and 39. position to be irradiated.

In this way, the front edge 4a of the paper card 4 sandwiched between the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54 is pushed outward from the adapter 3B through the first notch 51c and the second notch. can be exposed. Therefore, the inspection light from each position sensor 37, 38, 39 of the scanner 1 can be blocked by the front edge 4a of the paper card 4 exposed from the adapter 3B. Therefore, the front edge 4a of the paper card 4 on the conveying path 9 can be detected by the transmissive photosensor. Also in this example, the guide portions 56 may be provided on the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54, and the second spacer 53 may be omitted.

(Modification 3)
FIG. 9 is a plan view of an adapter 3C of Modification 3. FIG. The adapter 3C of this example is the same as the adapter 3 of Example 1, but has encoder marks (zebra pattern or the like at regular intervals) on one or both sides of the adapter 3 of the first embodiment. That is, the adapter 3</b>C of this example includes scales 65 provided at regular intervals in the front-rear direction X on at least one of the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54 .

According to this example, while the scanner 1 is reading the image of the card-like medium, the operator touches the card-like medium, causing unevenness in the medium speed and causing the read image to be distorted. In some cases, the distortion can be detected based on the deformation of the image of the scale 65 in the read image and notified to the operator. In addition, even if the read image is distorted due to unevenness in the speed of the medium due to aged deterioration or dirt on the conveying roller, etc., the deformation of the image of the scale 65 in the read image will Distortion can be detected and notified to the operator. Further, if such a scale 65 is provided on the image scanner adapter 3C, the image of the image scanner adapter 3C is read by the scanner 1 during maintenance of the scanner 1, and it is checked whether the feeding speed is normal or not. can do. Note that the scale 65 of the adapter 3C of Modification 3 can be employed in the embodiment and other modifications.

(Modification 4)
In the adapter 3 of Modified Example 4, the length in the front-rear direction X, that is, the distance dimension of the attachment portions at both ends (the interval between the first spacer 52 and the second spacer 53) is set longer. In this way, even a paper card 4 having the same width as the ISO card 2 but having a long length can be read. For example, in the case of the paper card 4, the image can be read without damaging the paper card 4, even if the paper card 4 is only cut off from the notification document portion and only one side is cut.

(Modification 5)
In the adapter 3 of Modified Example 5, explanations and notes on how to use the adapter 3B are printed on the back side, blank areas, areas not to be read, and the like. These pieces of information can be printed simultaneously with the printing of the guide portions 56 on the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54 .

(Modification 6)
In the adapter 3 of Modified Example 6, the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54 are processed to prevent scratches. The anti-scratch processing is, for example, coating each of the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54 with a transparent resin material having higher hardness than these.

(Example 7)
In the adapter 3 of Example 7, the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54 are made of a material that blocks visible light but transmits infrared rays. An example of a material that transmits infrared light but does not transmit visible light is a resin containing a black dye-based coloring material. Also, the second sheet 54 has an opening corresponding to the frame line as a guide portion 56 . That is, the guide portion 56 has an opening through which the symbol string 57 printed on the second sheet 54 is exposed from the second sheet 54 to the outside.

According to this example, when the paper card 4 is a notification card or the like, it is possible to prevent the user of the device such as a staff member of the government office from viewing the personal information. That is, when personal information or the like is written on the front and back sides of the paper card 4, by holding the paper card 4 in the adapter 3, it is possible to prevent the information from being known to a third party. . Further, since the guide portion 56 is an opening, even if the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54 do not transmit visible light, the symbol string 57 can be exposed from the guide portion 56 (opening) so that the first sheet The position and posture of the cart-shaped medium sandwiched between 51 and the second sheet 54 can be defined. Here, the opening may be formed by making a hole at the printing position of the information part (the symbol string 57 such as "notification card" shown in FIG. 4) which is not personal information.

On the other hand, when the adapter 3 of this example is used, in the scanner 1, the image reading light of the first image sensor 7 and the second image sensor 8 is infrared rays. In this way, infrared images of the front and back surfaces of the paper card 4 can be acquired by the first image sensor 7 and the second image sensor 8 .

Also, the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54 of the adapter 3 may be made of a material that does not transmit visible light but transmits ultraviolet light. In this case, by using ultraviolet light as the image reading light of the first image sensor 7 and the second image sensor 8, the ultraviolet image of the front and back sides of the paper card 4 can be obtained without personal information being known to a third party. can be obtained. Furthermore, a member that does not transmit visible light but transmits infrared or ultraviolet rays may be applied only to the portions of the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54 that cover personal information that should not be known to third parties.

(Modification 8)
FIG. 10 is a plan view of an adapter 3D of modification 8. FIG. The adapter 3D of this example has a hook hole 67 for holding at one end of the adapter 3D. More specifically, the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54 each have a rectangular portion 68 longer than the longitudinal dimension of the ISO card 2 in the front-rear direction X, and a protruding portion 69 protruding from the rectangular portion 68 backward X2. , and the projecting portion 69 is provided with a hook hole 67 . When the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54 are stacked, the hook holes 67 of the first sheet 51 and the hook holes 67 of the second sheet 54 overlap.

In this way, the adapter 3D can be locked to a hook or the like when the adapter 3D is stored. Note that the projecting portion 69 and the hook hole 67 may be provided only on either one of the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54 .

(Modification 9)
FIG. 11 is a plan view of an adapter 3E of Modification 9. FIG. The adapter 3E of this example is provided with a grip portion 71 by cutting a part of one of the two transparent sheets so that the paper card 4 can be easily taken in and out. That is, the second sheet 54 has a grip portion 71 (second notch portion) extending from one edge in the width direction Y to the other edge in the front-rear direction X. As shown in FIG.

According to this example, the paper card 4 between the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54 can be touched via the gripping portion 71 . Therefore, it becomes easy to insert the paper card 4 between the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54 . Also, it becomes easy to take out the paper card 4 from between the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54 .

(Modification 10)
12(a) is a plan view of the adapter 3F of the tenth modification, and FIG. 12(b) is an exploded perspective view of the adapter 3F of the tenth modification. The adapter 3F of this example includes a transparent first sheet 51 on which the paper card 4 is placed, a transparent first spacer 52 of constant thickness fixed to the front end portion of the surface of the first sheet 51, A transparent second spacer 53 (second spacer) having a constant thickness fixed to the rear end portion of the surface of the first sheet 51 , and the first spacer 52 and the second spacer 53 fixed to the first sheet 51 . and a transparent second sheet 54 which is stacked and covers the entire paper card 4 from the side opposite to the first sheet 51. - 特許庁Since the adapter 3F of this example has a configuration corresponding to that of the adapter 3 of Example 1, the same reference numerals are given to the corresponding parts.

The first sheet 51 is a resin sheet and has flexibility. The planar shape of the first sheet 51 is a rectangle as a whole, and the four corners are provided with curves. A front edge 51a and a rear edge 51b of the first sheet 51 extend in the width direction Y. As shown in FIG. The longitudinal dimension of the first sheet 51 in the longitudinal direction X is longer than the longitudinal dimension of the ISO card 2 in the longitudinal direction X. - 特許庁The width dimension in the width direction Y of the first sheet 51 is the same as the width dimension in the width direction Y of the ISO card 2 .

The first spacer 52 is fixed along the front edge 51 a of the first sheet 51 and extends in the width direction Y on the surface of the first sheet 51 . The second spacer 53 is fixed along the rear edge of the first sheet 51 and extends in the width direction Y on the surface of the first sheet 51 . Each of the first spacer 52 and the second spacer 53 is a transparent double-sided tape. The distance between the first spacer 52 and the second spacer 53 in the front-rear direction X is longer than the length dimension in the front-rear direction X of the ISO card 2 .

The second sheet 54 is a resin sheet and has flexibility. The second sheet 54 has the same shape as the first sheet 51 . When viewed from the stacking direction of the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54, the second sheet 54 completely overlaps the first sheet 51, and the outer edge of the first sheet 51 and the outer edge of the second sheet 54 are separated from each other. Matches the perimeter.

A first light shielding portion 61 is provided at the front end portion of the first sheet 51 . The first light shielding portion 61 extends in the front-rear direction X from the front edge 51a of the first sheet 51 and reaches the rear X2 of the first spacer 52 (opposite to the front edge 51a). Also, the first light shielding portion 61 extends in the width direction Y along the front edge 51 a of the first sheet 51 . The first light shielding portion 61 is a black strip applied to the first sheet 51 by silk printing or the like. The second light shielding portion 62 is provided at the rear end portion of the first sheet 51 . More specifically, the second light shielding portion 62 extends from the rear edge 51b of the first sheet 51 in the front-rear direction X to the front X1 of the second spacer 53 (the side opposite to the rear edge 51b). . The second light shielding portion 62 extends in the width direction Y along the trailing edge 51 b of the first sheet 51 . The second light shielding portion 62 is a black strip applied to the first sheet 51 by silk printing or the like.

Here, the distance L1 between the first light shielding part 61 and the second light shielding part 62 is shorter than the longitudinal dimension of the ISO card 2 (paper card 4) in the front-rear direction X. As shown in FIG. Further, the distance L2 between the first light shielding portion 61 and the end of the second light shielding portion 62 opposite to the first light shielding portion 61 is larger than the length dimension of the ISO card 2 (paper card 4) in the front-rear direction X. too long. Therefore, when the paper card 4 is arranged between the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54, the front end of the paper card 4 is overlapped with the first light shielding portion 61, and the rear end of the paper card 4 is placed in the second light shielding portion. It can be superimposed on the part 62 . Furthermore, in this example, the distance L3 between the spacer 52 and the second light shielding portion 62 is shorter than the longitudinal dimension of the ISO card 2 (paper card 4) in the front-rear direction X. As shown in FIG. Therefore, when the paper card 4 is arranged adjacent to the spacer 52 , the front end of the paper card 4 can be overlapped with the first light shielding portion 61 and the rear end of the paper card 4 can be overlapped with the second light shielding portion 62 . .

In this example as well, the dimension in the width direction Y of the adapter 3F is the same as that of the ISO card 2, so the adapter 3F can be transported along the transport path 9 by the transport function of the scanner 1, like the ISO card 2. Further, the paper card 4 is held by the adapter 3F while being sandwiched between the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54. As shown in FIG. Therefore, even if the shape of the paper card 4 is irregular, the card will not be jammed during transportation and the card will not be damaged. Furthermore, since the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54 are laminated via the first spacer 52 and the second spacer 53, the paper card 4 is arranged between the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54. is easy. Further, since the adapter 3F has a transparent portion that overlaps the portion of the paper card 4 that requires image reading, the scanner 1 can read the front and back surfaces of the paper card 4. FIG.

Further, in this example, since the first sheet 51 has the first light shielding portion 61, when the adapter 3F holding the paper card 4 is conveyed along the conveying path 9 of the scanner 1, the first light shielding portion 61 Detection light from each position sensor 37, 38, 39 can be blocked. Therefore, the front end of the adapter 3F on the conveying path 9 can be detected. Further, since the first light shielding portion 61 and the front edge 4a of the paper card 4 can be overlapped, formation of a transparent gap between the paper card 4 and the first light shielding portion 61 can be prevented. Therefore, erroneous detection by the position sensors 37, 38 can be avoided, and the position of the front end of the adapter 3F on the conveying path 9 can be reliably detected by each of the position sensors 37, 38, 39. FIG.

Furthermore, in this example, since the rear edge 4b of the paper card 4 can be overlapped with the second light shielding part 62, formation of a transparent gap between the paper card 4 and the second light shielding part 62 can be prevented. can. Therefore, when the blocking of the inspection light from each of the position sensors 37, 38, and 39 is released by the second light shielding portion 62, the adapter 3F has passed the detection positions C, D, and E detected by each of the position sensors 37, 38, and 39. I can understand.

Further, when the front and back sides of the paper card 4 held by the adapter 3F are read by the scanner 1, the range of the image of the paper card 4 is defined by the first light shielding portion 61 and the second light shielding portion 62 appearing in the image. can be accurately understood. Therefore, it is easy to omit an unnecessary area from the image data, and it becomes easy to cut out only the necessary image portion from the image data to reduce the capacity of the image data.

Note that the first light shielding portion 61 and the second light shielding portion 62 may be provided on the second sheet 54 side.

Also, in this example, the second spacer 53 may be omitted. In this case, since the rear end portion of the first sheet 51 and the rear end portion of the second sheet 54 are not fixed, it is easy to insert the paper card 4 between the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54. Become. Even in this case, in this example, the distance L1 between the first light shielding portion 61 and the second light shielding portion 62 is shorter than the longitudinal dimension of the ISO card 2 (paper card 4) in the front-back direction X. The second light shielding portion 62 extends in the front-rear direction X from the rear edge 51b of the first sheet 51, and the ends of the first light shielding portion 61 and the second light shielding portion 62 opposite to the first light shielding portion 61 (the distance between the first light shielding portion 61 and the trailing edge 51b of the first sheet 51) is longer than the length dimension of the ISO card 2 (paper card 4) in the front-rear direction X. Therefore, when the paper card 4 is arranged between the first sheet 51 and the second sheet 54, the front edge 4a of the paper card 4 is overlapped with the first light shielding portion 61, and the rear edge 4b of the paper card 4 is is easily superimposed on the second light shielding portion 62 . Thereby, it is possible to prevent the formation of transparent gaps between the paper card 4 and the first light shielding portion 61 and between the paper card 4 and the second light shielding portion 62 .

1 Scanner (image scanner) 2 ISO card (predetermined standard card) 3 3A to 3F Adapter (image scanner adapter) 4 Paper card (card-like medium) 4a Front edge 4b Rear edge 5 Housing 6 Slot 7 First image sensor 8 Second image sensor 9 Conveying path 10 Conveying mechanism 11 Conveying motor 13 First conveying roller pair DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14... 2nd conveying roller pair 15... 1st drive roller 16... 1st driven roller 17... Driving force transmission mechanism 18... Belt 19... First drive shaft 20... First drive roller main body 21... First pulley 22 Upper frame 23 First rotating shaft 24 First driven roller main body 25 Lower frame 27 Second driving roller 28 Second driven roller 29 Second driving shaft , 30... Second driving roller main body 31... Second pulley 33... Second rotating shaft 34... Second driven roller main body 35... Conveyance guide section 37... First position sensor 38... Second position sensor 39... Third position sensor, 41... Control unit, 42... Memory, 43... Communication interface, 44... Host device, 47... Mounting paper, 48... Cut line, 51... First sheet, 51a... Front edge, 51b... Rear end Edge 51c... First notch 52... Spacer (first spacer) 52a... One side spacer portion 52b... Other side spacer portion 53... Second spacer (second spacer) 54... Second sheet , 54a second notch portion 56 guide portion 57 symbol string 61 first light shielding portion 62 second light shielding portion 65 scale 67 hook hole 68 rectangular portion 69 ... Protruding portion 71 ... Grip portion M1 ... Conveying direction M2 ... Ejecting direction

Claims (16)

An image scanner adapter for reading the front and back sides of a card-shaped medium thinner than a predetermined standard by an image scanner that transports a card of a predetermined standard along a transport path and reads images on the front and back sides of the card,
a transparent first sheet that is longer than the length dimension of the card of the predetermined standard in the conveying direction and on which the card-like medium is placed;
a transparent spacer having a constant thickness fixed to at least a front end portion of a front end portion and a rear end portion of the surface of the first sheet in the conveying direction;
a transparent second sheet fixed to the spacer and superimposed on the first sheet to cover the card-like medium from the side opposite to the first sheet;
The first sheet or the second sheet has a light shielding portion at the front end portion,
The image scanner, wherein the light shielding portion is provided on the first sheet, extends from the front edge of the first sheet in the conveying direction, and reaches a side of the spacer opposite to the front edge. adapter for An image scanner adapter for reading the front and back sides of a card-shaped medium thinner than a predetermined standard by an image scanner that transports a card of a predetermined standard along a transport path and reads images on the front and back sides of the card,
a transparent first sheet that is longer than the length dimension of the card of the predetermined standard in the conveying direction and on which the card-like medium is placed;
a transparent spacer having a constant thickness fixed to at least a front end portion of a front end portion and a rear end portion of the surface of the first sheet in the conveying direction;
a transparent second sheet fixed to the spacer and superimposed on the first sheet to cover the card-like medium from the side opposite to the first sheet;
The dimension of the first sheet in the orthogonal direction orthogonal to the conveying direction and the dimension of the second sheet in the orthogonal direction are the same as the dimension of the card of the predetermined standard in the orthogonal direction,
The front edge of the first sheet extends in the orthogonal direction,
The front edge of the second sheet extends in the orthogonal direction,
The front edge of the first sheet and the front edge of the second sheet are aligned when viewed from the stacking direction of the first sheet and the second sheet, and
The spacer is fixed along the front edge of the first sheet and extends in the orthogonal direction on the surface of the first sheet,
the first sheet includes a first notch extending from the front edge in the conveying direction and reaching a side of the spacer opposite to the front edge;
The spacer includes a one-side spacer portion located on one side of the first notch portion in the orthogonal direction and the other-side spacer portion located on the other side,
The image scanner adapter, wherein the second sheet has a second notch that overlaps with the first notch when viewed from the stacking direction of the first and second sheets.
An image scanner adapter for reading the front and back sides of a card-shaped medium thinner than a predetermined standard by an image scanner that transports a card of a predetermined standard along a transport path and reads images on the front and back sides of the card,
a transparent first sheet that is longer than the length dimension of the card of the predetermined standard in the conveying direction and on which the card-like medium is placed;
a transparent spacer having a constant thickness fixed to at least a front end portion of a front end portion and a rear end portion of the surface of the first sheet in the conveying direction;
a transparent second sheet fixed to the spacer and superimposed on the first sheet to cover the card-like medium from the side opposite to the first sheet;
An adapter for an image scanner, wherein at least one of the first sheet and the second sheet has graduations provided at regular intervals in the conveying direction. An image scanner adapter for reading the front and back sides of a card-shaped medium thinner than a predetermined standard by an image scanner that transports a card of a predetermined standard along a transport path and reads images on the front and back sides of the card,
a transparent first sheet that is longer than the length dimension of the card of the predetermined standard in the conveying direction and on which the card-like medium is placed;
a transparent spacer having a constant thickness fixed to at least a front end portion of a front end portion and a rear end portion of the surface of the first sheet in the conveying direction;
a transparent second sheet fixed to the spacer and superimposed on the first sheet to cover the card-like medium from the side opposite to the first sheet;
The image scanner adapter, wherein the first sheet or the second sheet is provided with a second notch partway in the conveying direction. An image scanner adapter for reading the front and back sides of a card-shaped medium thinner than a predetermined standard by an image scanner that transports a card of a predetermined standard along a transport path and reads images on the front and back sides of the card,
a transparent first sheet that is longer than the length dimension of the card of the predetermined standard in the conveying direction and on which the card-like medium is placed;
a transparent spacer having a constant thickness fixed to at least a front end portion of a front end portion and a rear end portion of the surface of the first sheet in the conveying direction;
a transparent second sheet fixed to the spacer and superimposed on the first sheet to cover the card-like medium from the side opposite to the first sheet;
The second sheet is characterized by having a guide portion for arranging at a predetermined position the symbol string written on the second sheet side surface of the card-like medium placed on the first sheet. image scanner adapter. An image scanner adapter for reading the front and back sides of a card-shaped medium thinner than a predetermined standard by an image scanner that transports a card of a predetermined standard along a transport path and reads images on the front and back sides of the card,
It is longer than the length dimension in the transport direction of the card of the predetermined standard, and the card-like medium is mounted on the surface.
a transparent first sheet placed on the
a transparent spacer having a constant thickness fixed to at least a front end portion of a front end portion and a rear end portion of the surface of the first sheet in the conveying direction;
a transparent second sheet fixed to the spacer and superimposed on the first sheet to cover the card-like medium from the side opposite to the first sheet;
The image scanner adapter, wherein the first sheet and the second sheet do not transmit visible rays but transmit infrared rays. 3. A dimension of the first sheet in the orthogonal direction perpendicular to the conveying direction and a dimension of the second sheet in the orthogonal direction are the same as dimensions of the card of the predetermined standard in the orthogonal direction. 7. The image scanner adapter according to any one of 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 . 8. The image scanner adapter according to claim 2 , wherein said spacer is a double-sided tape. The front edge of the first sheet extends in the orthogonal direction,
The front edge of the second sheet extends in the orthogonal direction,
The front edge of the first sheet and the front edge of the second sheet are aligned when viewed from the stacking direction of the first sheet and the second sheet, and
9. The image scanner adapter according to claim 7 , wherein said spacer is fixed along said front edge of said first sheet and extends on the surface of said first sheet in said orthogonal direction. a second spacer fixed to the rear end portion of the first sheet;
the second spacer is fixed along the trailing edge of the first sheet and extends in the orthogonal direction on the surface of the first sheet;
10. The image scanner adapter according to claim 9 , wherein the distance between said spacer and said second spacer in said transport direction is longer than the length dimension of said card of said predetermined standard in said transport direction. . 2. The image scanner adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the light shielding portion is black printing applied to the first sheet or the second sheet. the first sheet includes a second light shielding portion at a position spaced apart from the light shielding portion in the conveying direction;
The distance between the light shielding portion and the second light shielding portion is shorter than the length dimension of the card of the predetermined standard in the conveying direction, and the light shielding portion and the light shielding portion in the second light shielding portion are different. 2. The image scanner adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the distance between the opposite ends is longer than the length dimension of the card of the predetermined standard in the conveying direction. The guide portion may be a straight line printed on the second sheet and extending in the conveying direction, a straight line printed on the second sheet and extending in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction , or a straight line printed on the second sheet. 6. The image scanner adapter according to claim 5 , further comprising a frame line capable of enclosing the symbol string. The second sheet includes a guide portion for arranging at a predetermined position the symbol string written on the second sheet side surface of the card-like medium placed on the first sheet,
7. The image scanner adapter according to claim 6 , wherein the guide portion is an opening formed in the second sheet and capable of exposing the symbol string from the second sheet. an image scanner adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 14 ;
a transport path for transporting the card of the predetermined standard;
a transport mechanism for transporting the image scanner adapter holding a card-shaped medium thinner than the card along the transport path;
a first image sensor and a second image sensor arranged on both sides of the conveying path;
A transmissive photosensor that detects the image scanner adapter or the card-like medium on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the first image reading position by the first image sensor and the second image reading position by the second image sensor. When,
The first image sensor and the second image sensor are driven based on the signal from the transmissive photosensor, and the first sheet side of the card-like medium passing through the first image reading position is scanned. a control unit that reads the image of the surface and reads the image of the second surface of the card-like medium on the side of the second sheet that passes through the second image reading position;
The image scanner, wherein each of the first image sensor and the second image sensor irradiates visible image reading light onto the image scanner adapter conveyed on the conveying path. an image scanner adapter according to claim 6 or 14 ;
a transport path for transporting the card of the predetermined standard;
a transport mechanism for transporting the image scanner adapter holding a card-shaped medium thinner than the card along the transport path;
a first image sensor and a second image sensor arranged on both sides of the conveying path;
A transmissive photosensor that detects the image scanner adapter or the card-like medium on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the first image reading position by the first image sensor and the second image reading position by the second image sensor. When,
The first image sensor and the second image sensor are driven based on the signal from the transmissive photosensor, and the first sheet side of the card-like medium passing through the first image reading position is scanned. a control unit that reads the image of the surface and reads the image of the second surface of the card-like medium on the side of the second sheet that passes through the second image reading position;
The image scanner, wherein each of the first image sensor and the second image sensor irradiates the image scanner adapter conveyed on the conveying path with infrared image reading light.

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