JPH01299135A - Card containing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform picking of a card in a short time without a miss, by a method wherein cards contained classified by a kind in a containing means are carried out according to the processing order and the number of cards, and it is discriminated by a card discriminating means whether a card is a given one. CONSTITUTION:In a card containing part 1, pockets 1a, each containing maximum 252 kinds of cards and each one kind of 500 cards, are arranged classified by a kind of the card in an XY-matrix-shape. A card taking out part 2 is moved on a rail in directions X and Y to take out desired cards, which are conveyed to a card discriminating part 4 by means of an Y-direction conveyance part 3a and an X-direction conveyance part 3b of a card conveyance part 3. The card discriminating part 4 performs image decision by means of CCD, undesired cards are stored in the pocket of the leftmost end reject of a card containing part 5 and desired cards are contained, in order, in other four pockets. Control of carry out of the cards is performed by a personal computer 40. This constitution performs picking of the cards without a miss, and enables saving of a man hour.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a card storage system, and more particularly to a card storage system in which a plurality of types of cards stored according to type are arranged in the order of processing and taken out.

[Conventional technology] Recently, in the card industry, AffinityC
ard) concept has been strengthened, and the issuance of a wide variety of cards in small quantities has increased. In response to this, it enables quick picking in a short time without mistakes and saves labor during extraction.

Inventory management that allows you to accurately grasp the number of actual cards.

There is a demand for labor saving in issuing work, such as reducing the load on shelf work. However, no device has yet been proposed for automatically arranging and discharging a wide variety of cards in small quantities in the order of picking processing.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The present invention provides a labor-saving card storage system that picks cards without mistakes in a short time, arranges them in processing order, and carries them out.

[Means for Solving the Problem] The card storage system of the present invention to solve this problem includes a card storage means for storing cards by type, and a card storage means for storing cards according to the order and number of card processing. The card discharging means includes a card discharging means for discharging a card from the means, and a card discriminating means for discriminating whether or not a card carried out by the card discharging means is a predetermined card.

In particular, the card discrimination means includes image matching means for matching card images.

[Function] In this configuration, the cards stored in the card storage means according to type are taken out by the card delivery means in accordance with the order and number of cards to be processed, and the card discriminating means determines that the taken out card is a predetermined card. It is determined whether or not there is.

[Example] According to the screen below, the card storage system of the example (
Hereinafter, the card trunk system (also referred to as the card trunk system) will be explained.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the card storage system of this embodiment. In the figure, 1 is a card storage section that is made to store a plurality of cards by type, 2 is a card ejection section that takes out cards by type specified from the card storage section 1, and 3 is a card storage section that takes out cards by type. 4 is a card conveying section that conveys the card toward the storage section 5; 4 is a card discriminating section that determines whether or not the card is a desired card while conveying the card;
Reference numeral 5 denotes a card storage section that stores the transported cards in the order of processing. In this example, the card take-out section 2 and the card transport section 3 are collectively referred to as a card carry-out section 20.

One of the desired cards is taken out from the card storage section 1 through the card takeout section 2 and transported to the card storage section 5 by the card transport section 3. During conveyance, a card discriminating section 4 checks whether the conveyed card is a desired card or not, and if it is a desired card, it is sent to a card storage section 5. If it is not the desired card, the card is rejected as an error and the card is removed again or the device is stopped. Note that the procedure in the case of an error is not limited.

Card storage section 1 or card ejection section 2゜Card transport section 3. The card discrimination section 4 and the card storage section 5 are controlled by a card output control section 30 through an interface section 6. The card unloading control unit 30 is a CP for processing and calculation.
U7, ROM 8 for storing processing programs, RAM 9 for auxiliary storage, and control data input section 1 for inputting control data such as processing order of cards, number of each card, etc.
It consists of 0. Although not shown in the drawings, it is a matter of course that a display device, a printer, etc. are connected.

First Embodiment FIG. 2 shows an external view of the card storage system of this embodiment. Each instruction number corresponds to the same number band in Figure 1. The card storage section 1 is arranged horizontally (X) by card type;
In this example, 0 cards are arranged in a vertical (Y) XY matrix, each pocket 1a stores 500 cards of the same type, and each pocket 1a has 252 cards (12 vertically x 21 horizontally), and can hold up to 252 fi-type cards. Cards can be stored. The card ejecting section 2 moves eight times on the XY force direction rail like an XY plotter and is located in front of the pocket 1a of the desired card. The card transport unit 3 includes a Y-direction transport unit 3a that transports the card downward within the Y-direction rail, and a Y-direction transport unit 3a that transports the card downward in the Y direction.
and an X-direction conveyance section 3b that conveys the card to the card storage section 5 in the X direction.

Near the end of the X-direction transport section 3b, there is a card discrimination section 4 that performs image judgment using a CCD. In this example, CCD
Although image determination will be described, a card that has been magnetically pre-encoded in advance may be stored and determination based on encoded data may be performed, and the card discriminating section 4 may be located anywhere as long as the card is being transported.

If the card is not the desired card in the card discriminating section 4, it is stored in the pocket of the glue jacket at the left end of the card storage section 5, and if it is the desired card, it is stored in the other four pockets in order. A personal computer 40 is used as the card export control section 30. This personal computer may further be connected to a magnetic tape unit or the like for data input/output.

FIG. 3 shows a more specific configuration diagram of the card storage system of this embodiment. The main body control section 5° is a C for processing and calculation.
PU51, ROM52 for storing processing programs, RAM53 for auxiliary storage, R3232CIF54 for interface with personal computer 40, and image determination unit 6 using CCD.
R3232CIF55 for the interface with 2. It consists of a mechanical control section 56 that controls a mechanical section 70 including a card transport section 3 and a card storage section 5, and a power source 58. It also includes an MCR interface MCRIF57 as an option.

The image determination section 60, which is the card determination section 4, includes a processing/arithmetic CPU 61, a ROM 62 for storing processing programs, an auxiliary storage RAM 63, a CCD section 64 including a CCD and a lamp, a CCD control section 65 for controlling the CCD section 64, and a main body. FS232CIF66 for interface with control unit 50
It consists of

The operation of this system will be explained according to the flowcharts of the card storage system of this embodiment shown in FIGS. 4(a), 5(b), 5, and 6.

First, in step S1, control data including at least the type and number of cards is input manually from a floppy disk or the like of the personal computer 40, or from a magnetic tape unit if the unit is included. This control data is created, for example, in the processing order of the cards to be issued on that day, and therefore, the cards that are taken out may be moved to the next processing step, such as embossing, in that order. In this example, it is explained that the card is stored in the card storage section 5 and transported to the next process, but the card that has been taken out may be flown as it is to the next process and processed. Includes card storage system and embossing
The system is controlled in synchronization with the system. This will be explained later according to FIGS. 11 and 12.

In step S2, the position of the pocket 1a in which the card to be taken out is stored is extracted from the input control data.

In step s3, the card ejecting section 2 is moved to the extracted position. This operation repeats step 83.4 while checking whether the desired position has been reached in step S4.

Here, FIG. 5 shows a more detailed flowchart of the movement of the card ejecting section 2. First, in step S51, the amount of movement in the X (lateral) direction is calculated, and in step S52, movement in the X direction is performed. Next, in step S53, the amount of movement in the Y (vertical) direction is calculated, and in step S53, eight shifts in the X direction are performed. In this example, the movement in the X direction is performed after the movement in the X direction is completed, but this may be performed in the opposite direction or at the same time. Further, the amount of movement is preferably calculated based on the difference between the current position and the target position.

This movement is performed, for example, by a mechanism shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the 8-shift mechanism of the card takeout section 2, in which movement in the X direction is performed by a step motor 79.
Gear 77b.

The gear 76b is rotated through the shaft 78, and the gears 76a, 7
This is done by belts 76 and 77 stretched between the belts 7a and 7a. Incidentally, 75a to 75C are bearings for improving the sliding between the beam 74 and the card ejecting portion 2.

On the other hand, movement in the %Y direction is performed by rotating the gear 72b by the rotation of the step motor 73, and sliding on the two wooden supports 71 by the belt 72 stretched between the gear 72a and the gear 72a. Although not shown in FIG. 7, a structure for moving a suction device 21 made of urethane rubber is installed in the card removal section 2, as shown in FIG. 8(b). In this example, the amount of movement is controlled by the rotation of the step motors 73.about.79, but the determination of the position is not limited to this, and coordinates or the like may be marked on each pocket 1a.

Due to the position of the card ejecting part 2 as described above,
When the card reaches the desired position, one card is taken out from the pocket la at the current position in step S5. The card removal operation is performed, for example, as shown in FIG. 8(b). The card 100 in the pocket 1a is removed by the suction device 21 described above.
a and transports it to the position of the card 100b. Stop suctioning the suction device 21 at the position of the card 100b, and
00b is the roller 83 as shown in FIG. 8(a).
and a belt 85 stretched between the roller 84 and the roller 82, which is continuously rotated by a motor (not shown) in the direction of the arrow.
It is sandwiched between two belts 81a and 81b stretched between belts a and 82b and descends downward.

The mechanism of operation at the change point between downward conveyance and horizontal conveyance is shown in FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b).

The card 100C that has descended is the roller 91a.

It is sandwiched between two belts 91 and 92 stretched between rollers 92a and rollers 91b and 921), and rotates eight times to the right like the card 100d. The rollers 91a, 91b, and 93 are connected to the card 1 as shown in FIG. 9(b).
Card 10 by tilting until 00c comes down.
0c is made easy to enter, and when it comes to the position of the card 100e, it rotates to the position of the roller 93b and pinches the card 100e.

In this example, this downward descent and horizontal conveyance are called the conveyance process of step 6.

Next, in step S7, card discrimination processing is performed near the end of conveyance. FIG. 6 shows a more detailed flowchart of the card discrimination process, and FIG. 10 (CB) shows the lamp 64b and CCD 64a of the card discrimination section 4.

First, in step S61, an image is manually generated from the CCD 64a and decomposed into, for example, R, G, and B. After A/D conversion and sampling in step S62, preprocessing such as filtering and blurring is performed in step S63. In step S64, features of the input image are extracted by, for example, LPG Laorche-Hadamard transformation, and in step S65
Matching is performed using the distance or DP method with pre-stored data. Note that matching may be performed using logos, but since there are currently many different types of cards with the same logo, it is better to extract specific characters from the backs of cards. Also, in this example, only one side is seen, but
You can look at both sides.

It is checked in step S8 whether the matching determined in step S7 is correct or not, and if it is incorrect, error processing is performed. Incidentally, in the error processing of this example, after the card is stored in the reject pocket of the card storage section 5, the device is stopped and the error is notified by a lamp and a sound. If the matching is correct,
Proceeding to step S9, it is checked whether the required number of sheets have been taken out. If not, the process returns to step S5 and repeats steps 35 to 3911. After the required number of cards have been taken out, the process advances to step SIO to check whether all the cards input as control data have been taken out, and if not, the process returns to step S2 and repeats steps 52 to SIO.

The card after the card discrimination process is stored in the reject pocket or the other four pockets depending on the discrimination result. 1st
FIG. 10(a) and FIG. 10(b) are diagrams showing a mechanism for storing in a pocket.

A roller 96 rotates with the roller 95 as a fulcrum, and the rotating body 9
A hook 98 protruding from 9 stores the transported card in the pocket. Card 100 h -10 in Figure 10(b)
It moves as 0i −100j −=100 k and is stored in the pocket 101. Although only one pocket is shown in this example, the other pockets have a similar structure, and the card is stored in a predetermined pocket depending on the result of the card discrimination.

It goes without saying that the pocket 101 can be used as is for the next embossing process, etc.

Further effects can be obtained by inserting cards of a predetermined color (for example, red or yellow) and different thicknesses at the position where the card type is changed or at the position where the jet card is generated. this is,
Pocket 1a near card discrimination section 4 of card storage section 1
This can be easily done by storing special cards in the .

Next, the flowchart shown in FIG. 4(b) is the flow of a program for managing the inventory of cards remaining in the card storage section 1, displaying the card usage amount, etc. on a CRT or recording it on a printer. After the unloading shown in FIG. 4(a) or after the end of the unloading for one day, in step S21, the initial number of cards in the card storage unit 1 is read from a storage unit (not shown),
In step S22, the number of cards to be carried out is read.

In step 323, the remaining number of cards is calculated from the difference, and in step S24, the usage status of the cards is outputted in a predetermined layout.

Second Embodiment FIG. 13 shows an external view of the card storage system of this embodiment. In contrast to the first embodiment, in which the card ejecting section 2 was moved to the position of the card to be taken out, in this embodiment, the card storage system is Move the storage section and bring the predetermined card to the position of the card ejection section. Therefore, as shown by the dotted arrow in Figure 1,
In this embodiment, the card ejection control section 30 is located at 9 of the card storage section.
It also controls movement.

In FIG. 13, 201 is a card storage unit, 202 is a card discrimination unit that determines whether the card taken out is correct, 203 is a card storage unit that stores the card that has been taken out, and 204 is a card storage unit that stores the card that has been taken out from the card storage unit 201. 205 is a remaining number counter unit that counts the number of remaining cards in each pocket in the card storage unit 201; 206 is a control unit that controls each of the above units according to commands from a personal computer.

FIG. 14 is a system configuration diagram of this embodiment.

210 is a personal computer; 211 is a floppy disk that stores data for card management, such as card type, required number of cards, remaining number, etc.; 212 is a disk for program storage; 213 is a numerical calculation processor that performs special numerical calculations; 214 is an image human power device 214 for card discrimination.
An image processing device 215 connected to a, a personal computer, and a control unit 220 shown as a control unit 206 in the external view are connected to R523.
It is R3232C for connection via 2c225. The control unit 220 includes a CPU 221 for calculation and processing, a ROM 222 for program storage, and a RAM 223 for auxiliary storage.
This is a mechanical control that controls the mechanical mechanism in the process of card removal, transportation, and storage.

Here, the card storage section 20, which is a characteristic part of this embodiment, will be explained.
The movement of the rack and the ejection of cards in step 1 will be explained in detail. Note that other parts function in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

FIG. 15(a) to FIG. 15(C) show IIJ of this example.
3 is a flowchart showing the control procedure.

In the overall flow of FIG. 15(a), steps S3' to
S5' is a different step in this embodiment from FIG. 4(a) in the first embodiment. In the extraction of position data in step S2, whereas the first embodiment extracts the (x, y) coordinates of the card pocket, in this embodiment ). In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, an example will be described in which the card storage section 1 is composed of six racks 240a to 240f, and each rack has six pockets, two horizontal pockets and three vertical pockets. Note that this example is just an example, and there is no limit to the number of racks and pockets.

Next, in step S3', the card storage section 201 is read 8 times, and in step 34', it is determined whether the card is in the correct position. If the position is correct, the process proceeds to step S5' and the card is removed. FIG. 15(b) is a flowchart showing the procedure for moving the card storage section 201 in steps S3' to S4'. Further, FIG. 16 is a configuration diagram of the card storage section 201, and movement will be explained according to this diagram.

First, in step S31, the sensor 242 reads which pocket is currently located in the card removal section, in step S32, the position of the pocket storing the next card to be taken out is read, and in step S33, the current position and the target The rotation direction and amount of rotation of the racks 240a to 240f are calculated from the positions. The gears 243a and 243b are rotated by a motor (not shown) in accordance with this calculated amount.

In addition, the racks 240a to 240f have two instruction arms 245 attached to a chain 244 passed to the gears 243a and 243b.
It is supported by a rotatable indicator shaft 246 by a and b. Therefore, the rack 240aNf can rotate while maintaining the horizontal direction as shown in FIG. For example, if the current position is at the lower stage of the rack 240a and the next position is at the rack 240e, the rotation is clockwise, and if the next position is the rack 240c, the rotation is counterclockwise.

In step S35, the sensor 242 reads the code indicating the position of each pocket attached to the side of the rack, checks whether the rack is at the target position, repeats the operations of steps S34 and S35 until it stops at the target position, and Returns when it stops at the position. Here, it is generally preferable to perform different motor controls for rough rotation of the rack and rotation to a minute pocket position in order to shorten the travel time to the target position. This is because the rack is quite heavy, and rough rotation is performed by controlling the amount of rotation of the gears 243a and b, and fine rotation is performed by feedback control based on position information from the sensor 242.

Once the rack has stopped at the target position, the card is taken out according to the card removal flowchart of FIG. 15(C), which shows the procedure of step S5' in further detail. This operation is shown in FIG. 17(a).

This will be explained with reference to the diagram of the card ejecting mechanism in FIG. 17(b). First, in step S41, it is determined whether the target pocket position is on the left or right side of the rack, and if it is on the right side, the right pocket is pushed out to the front card ejection mechanism in step S42. If it is the left side, the left side is pushed out in step 343.

Figure 17(a) shows the extrusion mechanism, with solenoid 2
Rod 2 that pushes out the pocket with the bigs of 50a and b
It consists of 51a and 51b. This figure shows the left side pocket pushed out.

Next, in step S44, the claw 252 for taking out the card is
is activated by the solenoid 253, the first card is taken out, and the process returns.

FIG. 17(b) is a diagram showing the operation of the card ejection mechanism. In the figure, card 100 is iooi-100m → 10
0n and taken out from the pocket. That is, the claw 252
When a moves down to the position 252b by the big action of the solenoid 253, the first card with 100 sentences is pushed down to 100 m. At this time, the leading end of the card 100m is sandwiched between the rollers 254a and 254b rotated by the motor 255, moves further downward 8 degrees, and when separated from the rollers, the card 1
Fall like 00n.

Below, the removed card 100n is shown in FIG. 18(a).
It is conveyed on a belt as shown in (b). The card 100n that fell from the card ejecting mechanism is placed on the roller 26.
3,264 on a rotating belt 266. The card 100p runs parallel to the belt 266 with a roller 261a,
263b and the rotating belt 265b, and is conveyed as 100 p -= 100 q → 100 r.

As is clear from FIG. 18(a), the belts 265a and 265b are installed wide on the left side and narrow on the right side, and when the belts come off on the right side, the card 1
00r always passes approximately the same position, and is designed to prevent the card discriminating section from making a discriminating error.

Also, as in the right pocket 241a at the top of the rack 240a in FIG. 16, the pocket is pushed out to the front after the card is taken out, and the remaining number of cards is counted by a sensor 242a installed on the top or side, and the inventory is checked. You can also manage it.

In this embodiment, a system of 6 racks/storage section and 6 pockets/rack has been described, but the scale may be changed depending on the purpose of the system.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are a block diagram and an external view showing the configuration of a card processing system in which the card storage system and card processing system of the first embodiment are integrated. In the figure, a card processing section 200 that performs embossing, etc. is provided between the card discrimination section 4 and the card storage section 5 shown in FIG. 1, and a card processing control section 30' integrally controls the card storage system and the card storage system. do. One desired card is taken out from the card storage section 1 through the card take-out section 2, and is transported toward the card storage section 5 by the card transport section 3. During conveyance, a card discriminating section 4 checks whether the conveyed card is a desired card or not, and if it is a desired card, it is sent to a card processing section 200.

If it is not the desired card, the card is rejected as an error and the card is removed again or the device is stopped. When the processing in the card processing section 200 is completed, the card is stored in the card storage section 5.

Card removal section 2. Card transport section 3. In addition to the card discrimination section 4 and the card storage section 5, the card processing section 200 is also controlled by the card processing control section 30' through the interface section 6.

The card processing control unit 30' includes a CPU 7 for processing and calculations, a ROM 8 for storing processing programs, and an RA for auxiliary storage.
It is composed of an M9 and a control data input section 1o for inputting control data such as the processing order of cards and the number of each card. With this configuration, the card storage system and the card storage system can be unifiedly controlled by the card processing control unit 30', and furthermore, processing time can be shortened, human errors can be prevented, and the card storage system can be controlled uniformly. Although not described in detail in this embodiment, for example, if a storage pocket runs out of cards, an indicator lamp may be provided in each pocket to indicate this. Additionally, a full lamp may be provided.

It is also possible to consider a system that combines the first and second embodiments. For example, in the case of a system with many pockets lined up horizontally, the rotation of the rack in the vertical direction and the horizontal movement of the card ejecting part in the horizontal direction are possible. It is possible to do things such as doing so.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a labor-saving card storage system that picks cards without mistakes in a short time, arranges them in processing order, and carries them out.

Furthermore, it is possible to provide a card storage system that does not require encoding by checking the card to be taken out using an image.

Furthermore, we can provide a card storage system that automatically performs inventory management, usage details, etc.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the card storage system of the present embodiment, Fig. 2 is an external view of the card storage system of the first embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a concrete diagram of the card storage system of the first embodiment. 4(a) is a flowchart showing the card ejection operation of the first embodiment; FIG. 4(b) is a flowchart showing the inventory management operation of the present embodiment; FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the card discrimination process; FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the mechanism for moving the card ejecting section; FIGS. 8(a) and (b) are examples of the mechanism for transporting the card in the Y direction. Figures 9(a) and (b) are diagrams showing an example of a mechanism for changing conveyance from the Y direction to the 11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a card processing system that integrates a card storage system and a card processing system; FIG. 12 is an external view of the card processing system shown in FIG. 11; The figure is an external view of the card storage system of the second embodiment, Figure 14 is a specific configuration diagram of the card storage system of the second embodiment, and Figure 15 (a) shows the card ejection operation of the second embodiment. 15(b) is a flowchart showing the procedure for moving the card storage section; FIG. 15(C) is a flowchart showing the procedure for removing the card; FIG. 16 is the configuration of the card storage section of the second embodiment. 17(a) and 17(b) are diagrams showing the configuration of the card ejecting section of the second embodiment. FIGS. 18(a) and (b) are the configuration of the card transport section of the second embodiment. FIG. In the figure, 1...Card storage section, 1a...Pocket, 2
...Card ejecting section, 3...Card transport section, 3a.
...Y direction transport section, 3b...X direction transport section, 4...
Card discrimination section, 5... Card storage section, 6... Interface section, 7... CPLI, 8... ROM, 9.
...RAM. 10...Data personnel department, 20...Card export section1.
30... Card export control unit, 30'... Card processing control unit, 40... Personal computer, 50... Main body control unit,
51...CPU, 52...ROM, 53...RA
M. 54.55...-R3232CIF, 56... Mechanical control unit, 57... MCRIF, 60... Image determination unit, 61... CPU, 62... ROM, 63...
RAM. 64...CCD section, 65...CCD control section, 66.
...FS232CIF, 200...Card processing department, 2
01...Card storage section, 240a-f...Rack,
241...Pocket. Patent - Applicant Japan Data Card Co., Ltd. Agent Patent Attorney Yasunori Otsuka (1 other person) Figure 4 (b) Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 9 (b) Figure 15 (b) Figure 15 (C) Figure 17 (b)

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A card storage means for storing cards by type, a card ejection means for ejecting cards from the card storage means in accordance with the order and number of card processing, and a card ejection means for ejecting cards by the card ejection means. 1. A card storage system comprising: a card discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the card is a predetermined card. (2) The card storage system according to claim 1, wherein the card discrimination means includes image matching means for matching card images.