JPH02300880A - Information reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the input efficiency with an information reader by providing an information detecting means to detect the presence/absence of the code information on a reading means. CONSTITUTION:A bar code recognizing part 6d outputs directly a bar code when the part 6d reads the bar code correctly and then outputs a NO READ signal via the 1st output when the part 6d does not read the bar code correctly. A bar code presence/absence detecting part 6e outputs the signals of Hi (high) and Lo (low) levels via the 2nd output when the presence and absence of a bar code are detected respectively. Thus it is possible to decide whether the code information should be read or not in accordance with the presence or the absence of the code information stored in a medium to be recorded. As a result, a medium to be recorded and including originally the code information can be distinguished from a medium to be recorded which could not read the code information even in such a case where the code information is added to the head page only with no code information added to other pages in a series of documents when the personnel record, for example, is produced for each personal name. In such a manner, the input tasks caused by the useless manual operation can be omitted and the input efficiency is improved.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention is a method of photographing a sheet member such as a slip to which code information such as a bar code is attached on a microfilm or the like, and reading this code information photoelectrically. The present invention relates to an information reading device capable of reading information.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in order to reduce the storage space for documents such as vouchers that are ordered in large quantities, image information has been stored on microfilm, optical disks, magnetic disks, and the like. However, in order to be able to easily search for this information at a later date (hereinafter referred to as "search"), it is necessary to input index information (hereinafter referred to as "index") corresponding to each piece of information, which requires an enormous amount of work. I was spending a lot of time.

Therefore, one way to solve this problem is to attach code information such as a barcode that will serve as an index to the above document, and to send this code information to a barcode scanner or MI.
The 7th device is a device that records image information by capturing image information on a document at the same time as it is read by a reading mechanism such as CR or OCR.
Something like the one shown in the figure has been devised.

This device can handle originals such as slips with barcodes attached as indexes! 00, roller 101. +02 and 1
03 and a belt 104, the sheets are transported one by one toward the paper output tray 108, and the barcodes are read by the barcode scanner 105.
The image of the document 100 in the photographing unit 106 is photographed by the camera 107 and is made into microfilm. and,
The barcode read here is input into the computer, and as shown in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b), each image information 110 on the microfilm 109 and the index 111 correspond to each other in order from the first number. It was stored in memory in such a way that it could be searched easily and reliably at a later date.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Incidentally, in the above-mentioned conventional example, if the bar food portion of the document 100 is dirty, missing or missing, or if the document 100 is skewed, reading cannot be performed properly. In this case, there is a problem that the index is also missing, and for such a photographed image, it is necessary to input the corresponding index into the computer later by manual operation.

Therefore, 100 originals whose barcodes were read correctly and 100 originals whose barcodes were not read correctly (hereinafter referred to as poorly read originals)
It is conceivable to separate the documents and eject the poorly read originals into a tray separate from the tray 108.

However, in the manuscript 100, a barcode is attached only to the first page of a series of documents, and barcodes are attached to other pages, for example, when the personnel record shown in FIG. There may be no. In other words, if such a document 100 is used for sorting and discharging poorly read documents as described above, the document 100 without a barcode will always be determined to be a poorly read document, and this document 100 will be forcibly ejected. When inputting the index of the poorly read original later, the input efficiency was poor and a time-consuming task was required because there were a large number of +00 originals determined to be poorly read.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the problems of the prior art, and its purpose is to identify the presence or absence of code information attached to a recording medium such as a slip, and to identify the presence or absence of code information attached to a recording medium such as a slip. The purpose is to improve input efficiency by reading this code information only on the recording medium.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a conveying means for conveying a recording medium to which code information has been added, and a conveying means for conveying the code information on the conveyed recording medium. In the information reading device, the reading means is equipped with a reading means for reading and inputting the read code information to an information processing unit that processes it, and a recording means for recording an image of the recording medium. The system is equipped with information detection means for detecting.

The information detecting means can detect the presence or absence of coat clearing by subjecting the bit string obtained by line scanning to thick line processing.

[Function] In the present invention having the above configuration, by providing the information detection means for detecting the presence or absence of code information on the recording medium, it is possible to determine whether or not code information exists on the recording medium. Accordingly, it can be determined whether or not to read this code information.

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, and its configuration will be explained based on FIGS. 1 and 2.

The apparatus of this embodiment includes a photographing section 1 for photographing and recording a subject P as a recording medium, a computer 2 as an information processing section for controlling the photographing section 1 and processing and storing an index, and , a pen scanner 3 as a first input means for inputting an index;
It is comprised of a key manual section 4 as a second input means for inputting code information.

All of the information inputted by these input means is inputted to the control circuit 5 in the photographing section 1, and then outputted to the computer 2 and stored therein. Furthermore, the photography department 1
A paper feed tray 10 for loading objects P such as slips is provided on the front side of the camera, and a paper feed tray 10 for loading objects P such as slips is provided below.
A sensor S is provided to detect the presence or absence of.

In addition, tray 1 is located adjacent to paper feed tray 1/I1O.
A conveying means 11 is provided for conveying the objects P above 0 one by one from the bottom in the direction of the arrow in FIG.
consists of a belt 11c wound around rollers lla and lib, and a roller lid that contacts the belt Ilc at the position of the rollers Ila. A barcode scanner 6 is provided above the conveyance means 11 as a reading means for reading a barcode attached to the object P, and furthermore, the presence of the object P on the belt 14c is provided between the rollers lla and llb. A sensor S2 is provided to detect. Furthermore, a rotatable guide plate 12 is provided on the downstream side of the conveyance direction of the conveyance means 11 in order to distribute the subject P in the vertical direction, and is configured to be driven in the vertical direction by a reject solenoid 13. That is, by rotating this guide plate 12, the subject P transported in the six directions of the arrows in the figure can be moved to the transport means 14 provided at approximately the same height as the transport means 11, or above the transport means 14. or the eject tray 15.

Here, the conveyance means 14 includes a pair of rollers 14a.

141] and a belt 14c wound around these, and between these rollers 14a and 14b is a belt hl.
A sensor S3 is provided to detect the presence of the subject P on Jc. Then, this sensor S3 detects that the subject P is on the belt 14.
c also functions as a condition switch for information transfer from the control circuit 5 to the computer 3.

Further, between the reject tray 15 and the guide plate 12, a pair of pull-in rollers 16a for drawing the subject P;
16b is provided at a position above the conveying means 14 and adjacent to the reject tray 15, for photographing the subject P in the photographing section 17a on the belt 14c on a microfilm (not shown). A replaceable photographing camera 17 is provided as a recording means.

Further, on the downstream side of the conveying means 14 in the conveying direction, there is provided a paper discharge tray 18 on which the photographed subject P is placed.

As shown in FIG. 1, on the top surface of the photographing section 1 there is a photographing switch 20 for only photographing the subject P, a warning lamp 21 that notifies the on state of this switch 20, and information on the number of photographs and the code number of the subject P. Display unit 2 to select and display
2 are provided.

Next, the control configuration of this embodiment will be explained based on the block diagrams of FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b).

Barcode scanner 6 of photographing section 1, key manual section 4, photographing switch 20. Reject solenoid 13, warning lamp 21. The photographing camera 171 and display 22 are each connected to a control circuit 5, and the pen scanner 3 is also connected to this control circuit 5.

Further, the control circuit 5 is connected to the computer 2, and the information once sent to the control circuit 5 is transferred to the computer 2.
This is what will be transferred to.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3(b), the barcode scanner 6 includes a scanning section 6 for reading and scanning the subject P.
a, a light receiving section 6b that receives the scanned reflected light; an A/D converter 6c that converts the received analog signal into a digital signal; and a barcode recognition section that analyzes the barcode from the converted digital signal. 6d, and a barcode presence/absence detection section 6e as information detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a barcode. If the barcode recognition unit 6d reads the barcode correctly, the barcode recognition unit 6d reads the code, and if it does not read the barcode correctly, the barcode recognition unit 6d reads the NREAD signal as the first
If the barcode presence/absence detection section 6e detects the presence of a barcode, it outputs an old (high) signal, and if it detects the presence of a barcode, it outputs a lo (low) signal from the second output. Incidentally, barcode detection by the barcode presence/absence detection section 6c is performed in the following procedure.

First, it is assumed that a barcode as shown in FIG. 4 is attached to the subject P. Here, B1 represents a thin bar, B2 represents a thick bar, St represents a thin space, and S2 represents a thick space. When this barcode is read and scanned,
The above Bl is 111. B2 is 111111. The above s1 is 0
00. It is assumed that S2 is represented by a bit string of oooooo. That is, when the barcode shown in Figure 4 is read, 1110001110001110000001111
11000000111...(1). Focusing on the bit that becomes 1 in this bit configuration, after this bit that becomes 1, add 1 to the bits equivalent to S2 (in this case, 6 bits). Teruto, 111111111
1111111111111111111111111
11...(2) is obtained, and everything that reads the barcode section becomes 1.

Then, perform this operation not only for one row but also for the entire surface of the object P, and if a black area larger than the predetermined area is obtained as shown in Figure 5, then this object P has a barcode. barcodes can be detected.

In addition, in (1) above, after the bit that changes from 1 to O, set a bit corresponding to 1 in S2, 00011
1111111111111111000000111
111000... (3) is obtained, and by ORing the above (1) and (3), 1
1111111111111111111111111
1111111111 (4), which is the same result as in (2) above, is obtained, and the barcode can be detected by performing the above-mentioned operations.

By the way, in the case of normal characters, even after the above processing,
A black area larger than a predetermined area is almost never obtained, and a white background area always appears between the lines of characters, so there is no fear of erroneous processing, and the presence or absence of a barcode can be reliably determined.

Next, an example of the operation of this embodiment will be explained based on the flowchart of FIG.

When the operator photographs a subject P with a barcode attached, first turn the power switch to 0N (STEP 1) and then reset the number of captured images on the display 22 (STEP 2).
.

Then, if the photographing switch 20 is not pressed and no input is made using the pen scanner 3 or the key input section 4, the paper feeding of the subject P is automatically performed (STEP 3.
4.5.6) The presence or absence of a barcode is detected by the barcode presence/absence detection unit 6e (STEP 7).

When the presence of a barcode is detected, an old (high) signal is output to the control circuit 5, the control circuit 5 sets a barcode flag (STEP 8), and the barcode recognition unit 6d reads the barcode. Done (
STEP 9) The object P whose barcode has been read correctly is transferred to the transport means 11 or the guide plate 12. and the sensor S is sent in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG.
, detects the subject P on the belt 14c, the sensor S3 is turned on, and the control circuit 5 transfers the heparcode data to the computer 2 (STEP Io, 11).
), and after this, the subject P is photographed on microfilm by the photographing camera 17 (STE
P12), the counted up number of photographed images is displayed on the display 22 (STEP 13.14).

If the barcode cannot be read in step 5TEP9 above, the control circuit 5 resets the barcode flag (5TEPI7) and turns the reject solenoid 13 ON.
.

(STEP 18), rotate the guide plate 12 to guide the subject P to the reject tray 15 (STEP 19), and then activate the reject solenoid 13 (STEP 2).
0), return the guide plate 12 to its original state.

By the way, if it is determined in the above 5TEP 7 that there is no barcode, the barcode presence/absence detection section 6e sends a signal to the control circuit 5.
, o (g), and the control circuit 5 checks whether the barcode flag is set (STE
P l 5), and if the flag is set (for example, as shown in FIG. 9, after the second page of a series of subjects P in which only the first page has a barcode), the computer 2 Send the NOREAD signal to (STEP 16) and the above 5 TEP 12, 13.1
Perform the processing in step 4, that is, take a picture and display the number of pictures, and
If the flag is not set, the above 5TEP1
B. Execute the process in 19.20 to forcibly eject the subject P.

Next, when photographing the rejected subject P, without pressing the photographing switch 20, input a predetermined index into the control circuit 5 using the pen scanner 3 or key input unit 4 (STEP 4, 5). The display 22 is switched to display code information, and the input contents can be confirmed (STEP 22). Then, the subject P is re-fed (S
TEP23), the barcode scanner 6 does not read the J: code, and the process of 5TEPI0.11.12.13 described above is performed. Furthermore, in the process of 5TEP13, since the display on the display 22 is the load number display,
The display is switched to the number display (STEP 24), and the above 5TE is displayed.
The process of P14 is performed. Here, when inputting a predetermined index, it is possible to select either the pen scanner 3 or the key manual unit 4 which is suitable depending on the condition of the subject P.

In addition, if you only want to take a picture without using an index, after the process of 5TEP 1.2 above, press the shooting switch 20.
is turned ON (STEP 3), the warning lamp 21 lights up (5TEP25), and when the subject P is automatically fed (STEP26), the above 5TEP+, 2.13.
14, that is, photographing is performed immediately and the number of photographed images is displayed. In this case, the shooting switch 20
The reason why the warning lamp 21 lights up when the switch 20 is turned ON is to avoid this because if the object P is fed while the switch 20 is ON, the image will be taken without an index even though there is a barcode. This is to alert the operator to the following.

After the number of shots is displayed on the display 22 (S
TEP 14), if the photographing is finished (STEP 21), all operations are completed by turning the power switch F (STEP 27), and if not, the process from 5 TEP 3 is repeated.

In addition, in the above embodiment, explanation was given by taking an example of a device using a barcode and a microfilm camera.
The present invention is not limited to these, but may be configured to use other codes that can be read by a reading mechanism such as MICR or OCR instead of barcodes, and the recording means is also limited to those that record on microfilm. Alternatively, a means for recording the subject on a recording medium such as an optical disk or an AI tape via an image sensor such as a COD, or a means for recording using an electrophotographic method may be used.

Furthermore, the presence or absence of code information to be recognized is determined by the reading means.
When CR is used, judgment is made based on whether or not there are characters in a specific area, and when MICR is used, discrimination is made by detecting the magnetic component in the characters, etc. depending on the format of the code information. It goes without saying that other measures may be taken.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, in the present invention, it is possible to determine whether or not to read code information depending on whether code information exists on a recording medium. ,
For example, when creating personnel records by person name code, code information is added only to the first page of a series of documents, and the other pages do not have code information. By being able to distinguish between a recording medium and a recording medium on which information cannot be read, wasteful manual input can be eliminated and input efficiency can be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of an embodiment of the information reading device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the schematic configuration of the imaging section of the same embodiment, and FIGS. 3(a) and (b) 4 is a block diagram showing the main control system of the same example, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a barcode, FIG. 5 is a plan view for explaining detection of the presence or absence of a barcode, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the same embodiment. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the schematic configuration of the photographing section of the conventional example, and FIGS. 8(a) and (b) show the relationship between the image frames of the microfilm and the index information. Explanatory diagram,
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a subject. Explanation of symbols 1...Photography department 2...Computer 3.
... Pen scanner (first input means) 4 ... Key manual section (second input means) 5 ... Control circuit 6 ... Barcode scanner (reading means) 13 ... Reject solenoid 17. ... Photographing camera (recording means) P... Subject (recording medium) Figure 3 (σ) (b) Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 7 Figure 8 Condolences 9 Procedural amendment 1. Display of the case 1999 Patent Application No. 121194 2, Invention name information reading device 3, Person making the amendment Relationship to the case Patent applicant address 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Name
(100) Canon Co., Ltd. I'washa Keizo Yamaji 4, Agent 〒105 6. Subject of amendment 7: The "Detailed description of the invention" in the statement of contents of the amendment is amended as follows. (1) In the 4th to 6th lines of page 11 of the Ming Dynasty, change ``Structure... when set up'' to ``Focusing on the bits that are 1 in the column, and regarding the bits after each bit that has become 1. , if the number of bits equivalent to S2 (in this case, 6 bits) is changed to 1, the correction is made as follows. (2) In Douzen, page 11, lines 15-16, change "from l...to the bit of O" to the bit of O which is the bit of l, and the bit after the bit that becomes O after the bit of 1 Regarding, S2
(3) Ibid., pages ii, 18-19. correct.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A conveying means for conveying a recording medium to which code information has been added, and a reading means for reading the code information of the conveyed recording medium and inputting the read code information to an information processing section for processing. , a recording means for recording an image on the recording medium, wherein the reading means is provided with an information detection means for detecting the presence or absence of code information. (2) The information reading device according to claim 1, wherein the information detection means detects the presence or absence of code information by subjecting the bit string obtained by line scanning to thick line processing.