JPH02306388A - Medium processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To miniaturize a device by sending out a medium to a second conveying path after sending it out to an inclined holding part installed outside the first conveying path and holding it. CONSTITUTION:The medium 2 is inserted from an inserting part 3, and is conveyed along the first conveying path 4, and a picture recorded on the medium 2 is read by a reading means 5. The medium 2 is sent out from the end of the first conveying path 4, and its tip end ascends along the inclined surface 12 of the inclined holding part 11, and when its whole length is sent out, the medium 2 descends downward owing to its own weight, and its lower end is held by a holding means 13. Next, the medium 2 is sent out from the lower end of the inclined holding part 11, and is conveyed along the second conveying path 40, and the medium 2 is given processing by a processing means 6 on the basis of picture data read by the reading means 5, and the processed medium 2 is sent out from the end of the second conveying path 40. Thus, the device is miniaturized on account of the reduction of the length of the conveying path, and cost is improved on account of the reduction of a conveying mechanism.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] The present invention relates to a reading device that can shorten the conveyance path by providing an inclined plate that temporarily holds the form from which image data has been read. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a reading device that has a short length and can be miniaturized to reduce costs. a first conveyance path; a reading means provided on the first conveyance path for reading an image written on the medium;
A rising inclined surface inclined at an angle at which the medium slides down under its own weight over a length of
It has a holding means for holding the lower end of the medium sent out onto the inclined surface from the conveyance path of A second conveying path for conveying the medium, and a processing means for processing the medium conveyed from the oblique holding section at around 1 based on the image data read by the reading means, and the medium is processed by the processing means. The configuration is such that the medium is sent out from the end of the second conveyance path.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a reading device that processes forms such as order slips, and more particularly to a reading device that can shorten a conveyance path by providing an inclined plate for temporarily holding a form from which image data has been read.

Recently, an optical character reading device 7 has been developed for reading order slips etc. from customers at retail stores and inputting them into a boss computer.
1 (Optical Character Read
Readers such as OCR (hereinafter referred to as OCR) are becoming popular.

In such a device, documents are sent out to a stacker depending on whether the reading/recognition is successful or not, but the form that has been read is temporarily stopped in the conveyance path, and is sent out to a predetermined stacker depending on the recognition result. Therefore, as the size of the form increases, the transport path (for which the paper is temporarily stopped) becomes longer, which makes the device larger and the cost higher.Therefore, there is a desire for a smaller, lower-cost device.

[Conventional technology]

As shown in FIG. 5, the OCR 1 has a part 3. A feeding roller l that feeds out the forms 2a one by one from the potspa part 3? 1. Conveyance paths 48 to 4e through which the unrolled form 2a is conveyed; for example, a reading unit 5a equipped with a charge-coupled device (CCD) and reading characters from the form 2a; a printer that prints a read serial number on the read form 2a; section 6a, a switching gate 7 that is switched depending on whether the reading is correct or not, and a stacker 8 to which the normally read form 2a is delivered. Stacker 9 that rejects unreadable/unrecognizable forms 2a. and a control unit 10, and at key points on the conveyance path 4a there are feed rollers R for transporting the form 2a and sensors S1 to S3 for detecting the leading or trailing edge of the form 2a.
is provided. The feed roller R1 is connected to a motor M via a clutch C, and the feed roller R is connected to the motor M.

Also, motor lightning, sensors S1 to S3. The reading section 5 a + printer section 6 a and the switching gate 7 are connected to the control section 10 . The control section 10 controls the operation of each section, and
The character image read by the reading unit 5a is recognized, and character data for each form 2a is transmitted to a host computer (not shown).

With such a configuration, when the start button on the operation panel (not shown) is pressed, the motor M is driven, the feed roller R1 and the feed roller R are rotated, the form 2a is fed out by the feed roller p1, and the form 2a is fed out by the feed roller p1. Transported by R.

When the sensor S1 detects the leading edge of the form 2a, the reading section 5a
is activated and the characters on the form 2a are read and recognized one after another.

When the rear end of the form 2a is no longer detected by the sensor S1, the conveyance of the form 2a is temporarily stopped, and the form 2a is transferred again after recognition of all the read characters is completed, and the sensor S2 detects the form 2a.
When the leading edge of the character is detected and recognized normally, the recognized character data is transmitted to the host computer, and a read serial number is printed at a predetermined position on the form 2a by the printer section 6a. Then, the switching gate 7 operates and the form 2
a is sent to the stacker 8 from the first general feed path 4b. Further, when there is an unrecognizable character, the form 2a is transferred as is and rejected from the conveyance path 4c to the stacker 9.

When the form 2a is sent to the stacker 8 or the stun force 9, the sensor S3 detects that the next form 2a is sent from the bumper part 3.
a is rolled out.

In this way, the written data on the form 2a is read.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

According to the above conventional method, the form whose character image has been read by the reading unit is temporarily stopped on the conveyance path before the printer unit until the character recognition is completed, so the distance between the reading unit and the printer unit is at least the length of the form. You need a length of
In an apparatus that handles large-sized documents (for example, A3 size, etc.), the single-stage feeding path becomes long, resulting in an increase in the size of the apparatus. Further, there is a problem in that the cost increases due to the mechanism of the transport system for this purpose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a reading device that has a short conveyance path even when the size of documents to be handled is large, and that allows the device to be miniaturized and to improve costs.

[Means to solve the problem]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle configuration of the present invention.

In the figure, 2 is a medium, 3 is an insertion section into which the medium 2 with an image is written, 4 is a first conveyance path that conveys the medium 2 inserted from the insertion section 3, and 5 is a first conveyance path 4. 11 is an inclined holding portion having an inclined surface 12 and holding means 13; 12 is ? 111 is a rising inclined surface provided on the diagonal holding part 11 and inclined at an angle at which the medium 2 slides down under its own weight from slightly below the outside of the terminal end of the first conveyance path 4 with a length corresponding to the size of the medium 2; Provided at the lower end of the inclined surface 12 of the inclined holding part 11,
Holding means 40 holds the lower end of the medium 2 read by the reading means 5 and sent out from the first conveyance path 4 onto the inclined surface;
The second conveyor conveys the medium 2 that is sent out after being held at
A conveying path 6 is provided in the second conveying path 40 and is a processing means for processing the medium 2 conveyed from the inclined holding section 11 based on the image data read by the reading means 5.

Therefore, the medium 2 processed by the processing means 6 is sent out from the end of the second conveyance path 40.

[Operation] The medium 2 is inserted from the insertion section 3 and conveyed along the first conveyance path 4, and the image written on the medium 2 is read by the reading means 5. The medium 2 is sent out from the end of the first conveyance path 4, and its leading end rises up the inclined surface 12 of the inclined holding section 11. When the entire length of the medium 2 is sent out, the medium 2 descends under its own weight, and its lower end rises up the inclined surface 12 of the holding section 11. It is held at 13.

Next, the medium 2 is sent out from the lower end of the inclined holding part 11 and is conveyed through the second conveyance path 40, and the medium 2 is processed by the processing means 6 based on the image data read by the reading means 5. The processed medium 2 is transferred to the second transport path 4
Sent from the 0 end.

In this way, the read medium 2 can be held on the inclined holding part 11 between the first conveyance path 4 and the second conveyance path 12, so the length of the conveyance path is shortened and the device becomes smaller. The cost is improved by reducing the number of transport mechanisms.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. The same reference numerals indicate the same objects throughout the series.

In FIG. 2, form 2a + hopper 3. Conveyance path 4d
.

Conveyance paths 4e to 4g, reading section 5a, printer section 6a, and inclined plate 11a.

The slope 12a and the holding/feeding roller 13a are connected to the medium 2, the insertion section 3. First conveyance path4. Second conveyance path 40. Reading means 5. Processing means 6. Inclined holding part 11. Inclined surface 12.
and the holding means 13, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 2, in 0CR1a, the conveyance path 4d
4g is provided, a reading unit 5a is arranged on the conveyance path 4d, and an inclined plate 1 is provided in a rising shape on the outside of the terminal end of the conveyance path 4d.
1a is provided.

A bladed roller R2 having a blade-like protrusion formed on the outer periphery of the roll is provided at the end of the conveyance path 4d, and the bladed roller R2 feeds the form 2a toward the upper side of the slope 12a and the rear end of the fed form 2a. is the slope I2 of the slope plate 11a
It has the function of guiding toward the lower part of a.

The length of the inclined plate 11a is set to correspond to the size of the form 2a to be handled, and a holding and feeding roller 13a is provided at the lower end of the inclined plate 11a.

A conveyance path 4e is provided downward from the holding and feeding roller 13a, and a printer section 6a is provided on the conveyance path 4e.

Further, a switching gate 7 is provided at a position where the transport path 4e branches into transport paths 4f and 4g. Further, a plurality of feed rollers R3 are installed at important points on the conveyance path 4d, a plurality of feed rollers R4 are installed at important points on the conveyance path 40 to 4g, and a feed roller R1
And the feed roller R3 is a motor Ml (see FIG. 3).

The holding and feeding roller 13a and the feeding roller R4 are motor 2.
(See Figure 3). Further, 14 indicates an operation panel, and S4 to S6 indicate sensors. 3 shows a control block diagram of 0CRIa. In the figure, the recognition unit 15 is equipped with a character data dictionary, and compares the image data read by the reading unit 5a with the character data dictionary to convert it into character data i, W75h. do.

The character data memory 16 stores recognized character data of one form 2a.

The conveyance control unit 17 controls the conveyance of the form 2a.

The main control section 10a controls the operations of each section, recognizes character images read by the reading section 5a, and transmits character data for each form 2a to the host computer.

Further, 8 is a sensor amplifier, 19 is a magnet driver, 20 is a gate magnet, 21 is a clutch magnet, 22 is a motor driver, and C is a clutch.

Since it has such a configuration and function, the operation will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In response to a command from the section 10a, the conveyance control section 17 drives the motor 1 to move the feed roller R.
3 is rotated, the clutch C is operated, and one form 2a is delivered by the delivery roller R1.

■The fed-out form 2a is transported along the conveyance path 4d by the feed roller R3, and when the sensor S4 detects the tip,
The reading section 5a is activated by a command from the main control section 10a, and sequentially reads the character images of the transferred form 2a.

(2) The image data of the read characters is recognized as character data by the recognition unit I5 and sequentially stored in the character data memory 16.

■As reading of the form 2a progresses by the reading unit 5a, the form 2a is transferred to the bladed roller R2 and the feed roller I?
3, it is sent out of the conveyance path 4d and rises from the tip along the slope 12a of the slope plate 11a. Eventually, form 2
The detection of the rear end of the form 2a by the sensor f-54 is canceled and the reading is completed, and the rear end of the form 2a is pushed toward the inclined plate 11a by the bladed roller R2 and slides on the inclined plate 11a due to its own weight. The lower end is held by the feed roller 13.
It is held at a and stops.

■On the other hand, when the image data read by the reading unit 5a is successfully read by the recognition unit 15,
A recognition normal signal is sent from the recognition section 15, and an eject signal is sent to the main control section 10a when there is an unrecognized character.

- When the recognition end signal is received, the conveyance control section 17 operates the switching gate 7 according to a command from the main control section 10a, and also drives the motors to rotate the holding and feeding roller 13a and the feeding rollers 1 to 4. The form 2a, which has been temporarily stopped on the inclined plate 11a, is sent out to the conveyance path 4e, and when the leading edge is detected by the sensor S5, a read serial number is printed at a predetermined position by the printer section 6a, and the document is sent out from the conveyance path 4f to the stacker 8. .

■When a reject signal is received, the conveyance control section 17 rotates the feed roller R4 according to a command from the main control section 10a, sends out the temporarily stopped form 2a to the general path 4e, and receives the detection signal from the sensor S5. is invalidated and sent to the stacker 9 from the conveyance path 4g without printing and rejected.

(2) If the sensor S6 detects the rear end of the form 2a when the form 2a is sent to the stacker 8 or 9, the next form 2a is fed out, and the flow from (2) onwards is repeated.

In this way, by temporarily stopping the scanned form on the inclined plate installed outside the conveyance path, there is no need to provide a long conveyance path even when OCR handles large forms. , the conveyance path is shortened, the apparatus is made smaller, and the cost can be improved by omitting the conveyance mechanism. Also, around 1, a printer section 6a is installed at the rear stage of the swash plate 11a.
By providing this, it becomes possible to print anywhere in the entire temperament area of the form 2a.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, after the medium that has been read by the reading section on the first conveyance path is sent out onto the inclined holding section provided outside the first conveyance path and held, Since the medium can be sent to the second conveyance path, (1) Even when the size of the medium is large, the length of the conveyance path can be shortened, and the apparatus can be downsized.

-Cost can be improved by reducing the number of transport mechanisms.

■By placing the processing means after the inclined holding part,
It is possible to select a position for printing or other processing from all areas of the medium.

There is an effect.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the principle configuration of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 is a control block diagram of the embodiment, Fig. 4 is a flowchart of the embodiment, and Fig. 5 is a conventional example. FIG. 3 is an internal side view of an example OCR. . In the figure, 2 is a medium, 2a is a form, 4 is a first conveyance path, 43 to 4g are conveyance paths, 5 is a reading means, 5a is a reading section, 6 is a processing means,
6a is a printer section, 11 is an inclined holding section, Ila is an inclined plate, 12 is an inclined surface, 12a is an inclined surface, 13
Reference numeral 40 indicates a holding means, 40 a second conveyance path, and 13a a holding and feeding roller. Sacrifice・OCR11 Hisashi: 1111! Swash plate 4a to 4t: Dingli Min Road 14: Operation Bakil Construction 2
Control block diagram shoulder of figure projection rectangle example 3 figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] An insertion section (3) into which a medium (2) on which an image is written is inserted, and a first transport path (4) which transports the medium (2) inserted from the insertion section (3). a reading means (5) provided on the first conveyance path (4) for reading the image written on the medium (2); A rising inclined surface (12) with a length corresponding to the size of the medium (2) and an angle at which the medium (2) slides down under its own weight, and a reading means (5)
from the first conveyance path (4) to the inclined surface (
12) an inclined holding part (11) having a holding means (13) for holding the lower end of the medium (2) sent upward; ); a second conveyance path (40) for conveying the medium (2) sent out after being held in the second conveyance path (40); and a reading means (5) provided on the second conveyance path (40).
processing means (6) for processing the medium (2) conveyed from the inclined holding section (11) based on image data read by the processing means (6); 2) from an end of the second conveyance path (40).