JPH03209585A - Code reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To normally read even a bar code, which is handled as reading defect by damage, etc., by reading the bar code to be a read object and executing the read processing of the same bar code several times in a direction orthogonal to a scanning direction. CONSTITUTION:When a code reading means 15 starts reading code information applied to a recording medium, a black / white density distribution is measured from the code information, which are obtained from the code reading means 15, several times by a measuring means 31 and successively written into a storing means 32. In that case, a black / white density distribution data determining means 33 executes logical arithmetic for the new black / white density distribution data to be successively stored and the already registered black / white density distribution data and when the black / white density distribution data are determined, based on the determined black / white density distribution data, a code deciding means 34 decodes the code information applied to the recording medium and decides the code information on the recording medium for which the code information are defective. Thus, the read processing can be executed even to the recording medium, which is decided as code defect, as a normal original.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a code reading device that reads codes printed on forms such as slips.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in order to reduce the storage space for documents such as vouchers that are created in large quantities, the image information is registered and managed on storage media such as microfilm, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, or magnetic disks. The index of the processed slip was entered using the barcode attached to the slip.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the barcode reading process in this type of device, where P is a slip and the barcode 123
is printed. Reference numeral 15 denotes a reading section (consisting of, for example, a scanner section and a light receiving section shown in FIG. 6), and L a scanning section.

As can be seen from this figure, when the slip P is conveyed in the direction of the arrow and reaches the lower part of the reading section 15 and hits the scanning section,
Reading of the barcode 123 is started.

FIG. 6 is a detailed perspective view illustrating the configuration of the reading section 15 shown in FIG. 5, and 119 is a lamp.
A light beam emitted from the polygon mirror 121 is deflected and scanned in the direction of arrow A. At this time, reflected light (black and white information) reflected from the barcode 123 printed on the slip P is imaged on the light receiving element 120 via the polygon mirror 121.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, when the mark of a person in charge or the like is stamped on the barcode 123 to be read, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the mark MARK crosses the barcode 123. When the stamp is stamped, if the scanning line corresponding to the scanning part is done at timing b2, the reading is barely normal, but if the scanning line is done at timing a2, then the reading is done normally. , erroneous reading or unreadable situations may occur.

As described above, the conventional barcode reading process has a problem in that if the barcode 123 is soiled, such as by being affixed with a seal, normal reading cannot be performed.

This invention was made to solve the above problems, and by reading the same barcode several times in a direction perpendicular to the reading scanning direction, it is possible to prevent stains and other problems. To provide a code reading device which can normally read even a bar code which is treated as defective.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A code reading device according to the present invention includes: a measuring means for sequentially scanning code information on a recording medium and measuring a black and white density distribution a predetermined number of times from the code information obtained from the code reading means; A storage means for storing black-and-white density distribution data measured by the measuring means, and a logical operation on the new black-and-white density distribution data sequentially stored in the storage means and the registered black-and-white density distribution data to create black-and-white density distribution data. The apparatus is provided with a black-and-white density distribution data determining means for determining the black-and-white density distribution data, and a code determining means for determining code information given to the recording medium based on the black-and-white density distribution data determined by the black-and-white density distribution data determining means. .

[Effect]

In this invention, when reading of the code information given to the recording medium is started by the code reading means, the measuring means measures the black and white density distribution a predetermined number of times from the code information obtained from the code reading means, and sequentially stores the results in the storage means. I'll write it down. At this time, when the black-and-white density distribution data determining means executes a logical operation between the new black-and-white density distribution data stored in sequence and the already registered black-and-white density distribution data to determine the black-and-white density distribution data, the code determining means is determined. To determine code information given to a recording medium based on black-and-white density distribution data, and to determine code information on a recording medium with defective code information.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1(a) is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of a code reading device showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
2 is a configuration diagram of main parts of the code reading device shown in FIG.

In these figures, 10 is a paper feed tray on which slips P are loaded. Reference numeral 11 denotes a paper feed roller which, in combination with a separation roller 12, sequentially feeds the slips P stacked on the paper feed tray 1o. 13A-13D.

14A to 140 are conveyance rollers that convey the fed slip P in the direction of arrow A1 at a predetermined speed. 15 is the reading section,
It has a reading controller 15a, and scans and reads the same barcode 123 given to the slip P multiple times during transportation.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a reject guide, which is configured to be movable from the solid line position to the broken line position by a solenoid 17. 18 is a camera that creates a virtual image of the slip P that has been successfully read and records it on a microfilm.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a paper discharge tray, on which the slips P for which the reading process has been completed are stacked. 2OA and 20B are conveyance rollers that drive the conveyance belt 20C.

Reference numerals 22A and 22B are ejecting rollers, which eject the slip P that has been determined to be poorly read and rejected onto the reject tray 21. S is a paper feed sensor, and S3 is a conveyance sensor.

Note that the reading controller 15a includes a measuring means 31, a storing means 32 . The code reading unit (reading unit 15) is composed of a signal processing unit 339, a determining unit 34, etc., and reads the code information added to the recording medium (in this embodiment, the slip P).
When the process is started, the measuring means 31 measures the black and white density distribution a predetermined number of times based on the code information obtained from the reading section 15 and sequentially writes them into the storage means 32. At this time, the black-and-white density distribution data determining means (signal processing unit 33) performs logical operations (addition processing) on the new black-and-white density distribution data stored in sequence and the already registered black-and-white density distribution data to obtain the black-and-white density distribution data. Once determined, the code determining means (determining unit 34) determines the code information given to the slip P based on the determined black and white density distribution data, and identifies the slip P with defective code information.
The code information above is determined, and if it is determined to be normal, the solenoid 17 is turned off (reject guide 16 is placed at the solid line position), and when it is determined to be defective, the solenoid 17 is turned on and the reject guide 16 is placed at the broken line position. Even if the document P is moved and the barcode 123 is somewhat defective,
The slip P is photographed using the determined code information.

FIG. 2(a) is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the reading unit 15 shown in FIG. 1(a), and FIG. 2(b) is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the reading unit 15 shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram showing black and white density distribution data output from the signal processing section 33 shown in FIG.

The mark MARK as shown in FIG. 2(a) is the barcode 12.
When a slip P stamped so as to block 3 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow, light beams a, to d are emitted from the reading section 15 at predetermined intervals.
When + is sequentially scanned, the code information is sequentially input to the measuring means 31 of the reading controller 15a shown in FIG. Then, the signal processing section 33 executes logical operation processing on the black and white density distribution data stored in the storage means 32, and finalizes the final black and white density distribution data. In response to this, the determination unit 34 determines the determined black and white density distribution data DL (Fig. 2(b)
), and if it is determined to be a normal barcode 123, the slip P is transported to a predetermined position by the conveyor belt 20C, and the slip P is photographed. On the other hand, if the determination unit 34 determines that the determined black and white density distribution data DL is defective, the solenoid 17. The ejection rollers 22A and 22B are driven to send the slip P determined to have a defective code to the reject tray 2.
Discharge to 1.

Note that the barcode 123 is exposed to the light beams a1 to d.

When sequentially scanned and read, the bar part is always black, so the characteristic of the added value of black and white density distribution data is that the frequency of black at the same address is high, and as a result, as shown in Figure 2 (b)
If the black-and-white density distribution data DL shown in is obtained, and this is judged to be true or false using a predetermined threshold, it is possible to read the barcode 123 as a normal barcode 123 if there is no staining (stains, stamps, etc.) over the entire surface of the barcode 123. becomes.

Next, the code reading operation in the code reading device according to the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the code reading processing procedure in the code reading device according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (9) indicate each step.

First, it is necessary to determine whether the paper feed sensor Sl is ON or not.
If No, the process ends, and if YES, the slip P (original document) is transported by the paper feed roller 118 serving as a feed roller and the separation roller 12 (2). Next, the reading unit 15 executes a reading processing routine for the barcode 123 (3), and determines whether an error has occurred in reading the barcode (4).
), if No, execute the photographing processing routine using the camera 18. 5) Normally eject the document after the machine image is completed. 6) Return to step (1) and repeat the reading process for the next slip P until there is no more slip P. .

On the other hand, if the judgment in step (4) is YES, the solenoid 17 is set to 0NL (7), and the defective document P that is a defective document is rejected and ejected.8) The solenoid 17 is set to 0FFL.
(91, return to step (1).

FIG. 4 is an external view illustrating the configuration of a barcode reading processing system to which the present invention is applied, and the same components as in FIG. 1(a) are given the same reference numerals.

In the figure, 2 is a host computer, and the main body 1 of the router is
It has a keyboard 3 which is connected to the computer via a cable and is used to input desired management information (for example, an index).

With such a system configuration, it is possible to input desired management information for the slip P that is ejected to the reject tray 21 and has a defective code. Furthermore, since the defective code rate for the slip P is lower than in the past, the efficiency of automatic registration processing is greatly improved.

In the above embodiment, a case has been described in which a rotating scanner such as a polygon mirror 121 scans and exposes the barcode 123 with a light beam multiple times to successfully read a slip P that is likely to be determined to be a defective code. The present invention can be easily applied to a configuration in which the barcode 123 is read in close contact with an image pickup device such as a sensor or a two-dimensional CCD, and the device can be miniaturized.

[Effect of the Invention 1 As explained above, according to the present invention, there is provided a measuring means for sequentially scanning the code information of a recording medium and measuring the black and white density distribution a predetermined number of times from the code information obtained from the code reading means, and this measuring means. a storage means for storing the black and white density distribution data measured by the storage means; and a logical operation on the new black and white density distribution data sequentially stored in this storage means and the already registered black and white density distribution data to determine the black and white density distribution data. The present invention includes a black-and-white density distribution data determining means for determining the black-and-white density distribution data, and a code determining means for determining the code information given to the recording medium based on the black-and-white density distribution data determined by the black-and-white density distribution data determining means. Some of the code information given to . is dirty.

Even if there are partial omissions or stamps, lines with normal code information can be scanned and exposed multiple times. Therefore, even a recording medium that has conventionally been determined to have a defective code can be read as a normal document, and the efficiency of automatic reading processing can be greatly improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1(a) is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of a code reading device showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
Main part configuration diagram of the code reading device shown in Figure (a), Part 2
Figure (a) is a schematic diagram explaining the operation of the reading unit shown in Figure 1 (a), and Figure 2 (b) is a black and white diagram that is output from the signal processing unit shown in Figure 1 (b). A characteristic diagram showing concentration distribution data, FIG. 3 is a flowchart explaining an example of the code reading processing procedure in the code reading device according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 explains the configuration of a barcode reading processing system to which the present invention is applied. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the barcode reading process in this type of device; FIG. 6 is a detailed perspective view illustrating the structure of the reading section shown in FIG. 5; and FIG. It is a schematic diagram explaining code information reading operation. In the figure, 15 is a reading section, 31 is a measuring means, 32 is a storage means, 33 is a signal processing section, and 34 is a determining section. ] Figure (a) Ko5 w! Surplus diagram (b) 2A 2B Figure 23 Figure 5 Figure 5

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a code reading device having a code reading means for optically reading code information given to a recording medium, the code information on the recording medium is sequentially scanned and the black and white density distribution is determined a predetermined number of times from the code information obtained from the code reading means. A measuring means for measuring, a storage means for storing the black and white density distribution data measured by the measuring means, and a logical operation between the new black and white density distribution data sequentially stored in the storage means and the already registered black and white density distribution data. black and white density distribution data determining means for determining black and white density distribution data by executing;
A code reading device comprising code determining means for determining code information added to the recording medium based on the black and white density distribution data determined by the black and white density distribution data determining means.