JPH05318973A - Card having embossment and inspecting method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To inspect a card without coming into contact with it accurately and efficiently by forming, in embossed area of the card, a thermosensitive recording layer whose coloring part displays remarkable optical absorption in infrared region at coloring and by inspecting the card according to difference of optical absorption factor of the thermosensitive recording layer. CONSTITUTION:A card has embossment whose embossing pattern can be read. In this case, in the embossed area of the card, a thermosensitive recording layer whose coloring part displays remarkable optical absorption in infrared region at coloring is formed. For example, a thermosensitive recording layer 3 which colors in black or indigo with heat or pressure through an overcoat layer 2 which protects printing is provided on a top face of a base material 1 and embossed parts 5 are provided through a protective layer 4. At inspecting the card, data of a person whose card is registered is inputted to an external memory device and the pattern data of the embossed parts is read based on difference of optical absorption factor of the thermosensitive recording layer 3. Thereafter, it is determined whether the read pattern data of the embossment is the same as the data of the registered person or not.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an embossed card which can be read by an optical reader and an embossed pattern inspection method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional card issuing system, an embossed pattern is processed on a resin card such as vinyl chloride based on certain ID data, and at the same time, magnetic data is recorded on the resin card. However, after this, when this card was mailed to the target person (for example, a credit card), it was necessary to confirm whether the address of the envelope and the card enclosed in this envelope match. In this case, the emboss pattern (for example, name, ID number) pressure-formed on the card is checked against the data registered in the external storage device (for example, magnetic disk) or the output address sheet, and the matching / non-matching is checked. I had to do it.

As the inspection method, there are a method by the operator's visual inspection and a method by using a machine (data match inserter).

First, in the method of visual inspection by the operator, the operator visually inspects the name of each card and the address displayed on the envelope one by one.

On the other hand, in the method using a machine, a film-shaped rubber having a uniform thickness is pressed on the entire surface of the card, and the embossed pattern of the card is raised on the surface of the rubber. After that, using a special OCR reader from above the rubber, the embossed pattern floating on the rubber is read by shining light on the rubber. Then, it is checked whether the read emboss pattern of the card matches the data from the magnetic disk or the like.

However, there are the following problems in both the conventional method of visual inspection by an operator and the method of using a machine.

First, in the method in which the operator visually observes, the accuracy of the determination varies from worker to worker, and it takes time to make the determination, resulting in a reduction in the efficiency of the inspection work. In particular, it was difficult to read when a pattern or the like was printed on the surface of the card.

On the other hand, with the method using a machine, it is difficult to read only the embossed characters that are floating due to the surrounding pattern, tint block, etc. by OCR. Therefore, the embossed pattern of the card is once exposed on the rubber film and special OCR reading is performed. The machine was reading the embossed pattern that emerged. As a result, reading of data may be inaccurate depending on the degree of contact of the rubber with the card.

The convex portion of the embossed embossed portion of the card (hereinafter referred to as the embossed portion) is colored by a thermal transfer ribbon such as black or blue, which is usually called tipping. The coloring was worn and the baldness had occurred.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and its object is to read and inspect the card emboss pattern accurately without contact. An object of the present invention is to provide an embossed card and an embossed card inspection method including an embossed pattern reading method and a pass / fail judgment method, which can improve time efficiency.

[0011]

In order to solve such a problem, the present invention solves such a problem by forming a color portion on a card made of paper, a plastic sheet or the like at least on the embossed area thereof in the infrared region. The present invention provides a card having an emboss, which is characterized in that a heat-sensitive recording layer having remarkable light absorption is formed on the card. Further, the data of the card registrant registered in the external storage device is input to the emboss pattern data. Is read by the difference in the light absorptance of the thermal recording layer, and it is determined whether the read pattern data of the embossed portion is the same as the registrant data. Inspection of the card having the embossed portion. It provides a method.

The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a cross section of an embossed card according to the present invention. A card substrate 1, an oversheet layer 2 for protecting printing on the substrate, a heat-sensitive recording that develops black or indigo color by heat or pressure. A layer 3 and optionally a protective layer 4 are provided. Reference numeral 5 indicates an embossed portion.

The thermosensitive recording layer 3 of the embossed card in the present invention can be obtained by combining the thermosensitive coloring dye described below with a thermosensitive coloring material comprising a developer and a polymer binder.

Examples of the heat-sensitive coloring dyes include organic metal salts, leuco dyes and diazo dyes. Specifically, organic metal salts include nickel stearate, iron oleate,
There are ferric stearate and copper oleate, and leuco dyes include fluoran compounds, fluorene compounds and phthalide derivatives. Here, the fluoran compounds include 3-dimethylamino-6-methoxyfluorane, 7-acetamino-3-dimethylaminofluorane, 3-dimethylamino-5,7-dimethylfluorane, 3-diethylamino-5,7-dimethyl. Fluoran, 3,6-bis-β-
There is methoxyethoxyfluorane, and fluorene compounds include 3- (p-aminophenyl) fluorene,
Among phthalide derivatives, 3,3-bis (p-dimethylaminophenyl) -6-dimethylaminophthalide, 3,3-bis (p-dimethylaminophenyl) -phthalide, 3,3
There are -bis (p-dimethylaminophenyl) -6-diethylaminophthalide, 3,3-bis (p-dimethylaminophenyl) -6-nitrophthalide and 3,3-bis (p-dibutylaminophenyl) -phthalide.

Further, examples of the above-mentioned color developing agent which acts on these to develop color include phenol, cresol and hydroquinone.

As the polymer binder, there are acrylic resin, vinyl chloride resin, polyester resin, etc., each of which is dispersed in the most suitable developer and the above-mentioned suitable resin, and the gravure printing method, A thermosensitive recording layer is formed by printing at about 4 to 10 μm by a screen printing method, an offset printing method, or the like.

The surface protective layer 4 is obtained by dissolving a resin such as an acrylic resin, a vinyl chloride resin, a polyester resin, or a nitrocellulose in a solvent such as toluene or xylene by a gravure method, a roll coating method or the like to have a thickness of about 1 to 3 μm. To form. In addition, a thermosetting resin and an ultraviolet curable resin are also used. Further, a lubricant may be added for the purpose of improving suitability for the thermal head.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an embossed card inspection method according to the present invention. Data of the card registrant (for example, registrant name, registration number, address, etc.) is stored in the external memory 12. .. Emboss pattern inspection device 6
Is an input device 7, a coloring device 8, an IR scope 9, a CCD
The camera 10 and the microcomputer 11 are included.

Then, the card 14 having the emboss is wound on the roller and moves on the endless belt conveyor 13 running on a horizontal plane, whereby the cards are sequentially inspected.

The input device 7 reads a part of the registrant data registered in the external memory 12 and stores the data in the memory of the microcomputer 11 described later. The registrant data should be the same as the emboss pattern data processed on the card.

The coloring device 8 is for coloring only the embossed portion on the card. That is, the coloring device 8 applies heat or pressure only to the embossed portion of the card moved by the belt conveyor 14. Further, the timing for coloring the card is instructed by the microcomputer 11 described later.

The IR scope 9 recognizes the color pattern portion of the card in the infrared region. Then, the pattern obtained in the infrared region is used as image data by the CCD camera 10,
It is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter and sequentially transferred to the microcomputer 11 described later.

The microcomputer 11 distinguishes the pattern detected by the IR scope and the CCD camera from the non-embossed portion, and recognizes the pattern data of the embossed portion. Then, it is determined whether or not the pattern data of the embossed portion is the same as the registrant data input by the input device.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the embossed card 14 of the present invention. The part surrounded by the broken line in the drawing is the embossed region 15, and in this case, the numeral inside the region is the embossed pattern.

[0025]

As described above, in the present invention, the color of the heat-sensitive recording layer developed by heat or pressure is 700 n.
Although it absorbs infrared rays in the wavelength range of m or more, it has the property of reflecting infrared rays in the uncolored areas that have not been colored by heat or pressure, and these can be read by an optical reading method using near infrared rays.

Therefore, the efficiency of the inspection work is improved because it does not depend on visual observation, and the embossed pattern can be accurately read because the mechanical reading is performed directly on the card surface without contact.

[0027]

[Embodiment] With the configuration as described above, first, a magnetic disk is used as an external memory, and data of a registrant name and a registration number of a card registrant registered on the magnetic disk is used as an input device for a magnetic disk driver. Used to enter into the RAM of the microcomputer.

Next, as a color-developing device, a device having a flat heating portion that comes into contact with only the embossed portion protruding by about 1 mm from the surface of the card is used to color only the embossed portion of the card sequentially conveyed by the belt conveyor. ..

Then, the embossing pattern of the card obtained by the IR scope is recognized by the CCD camera, and after this pattern data is converted from analog to digital,
The data is sequentially transferred to the microcomputer for each card.

Next, when the microcomputer receives the pattern data from the CCD camera, it recognizes the pattern of the embossed portion and the pattern of the non-embossed portion for each card. Then, it is determined whether the input data of the registrant is the same as the pattern data of the embossed portion formed on the card.

Then, this determination result is transmitted to, for example, a distribution device or the like, and when the data of the registrant and the pattern data of the embossed portion formed on the card are different, the card is excluded.

As described above, the embossed pattern formed on the surface of the card can be directly read while the card is run by the belt conveyor. As a result, the embossed pattern of the card can be accurately read regardless of the pattern, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern, etc. on the surface and the efficiency of the inspection work can be improved.

[0033]

As described above, according to the embossed card and its inspection method of the present invention, only the embossed pattern of the card can be accurately read and inspected regardless of the pattern, the tint block and the like on the surface. The efficiency of inspection work can be improved. Further, since the color is developed by heat and pressure, it is naturally unnecessary to tip the embossed portion.

[0034]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a cross section according to an embodiment of an embossed card of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of an embossed card inspection method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a surface according to an embodiment of an embossed card of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Card base material 2 ... Overcoat layer 3 ... Thermal recording layer 4 ... Surface protection layer 5 ... Emboss pattern 6 ... Emboss pattern inspection device 7 ... Input device 8 ... Color development device 9 ... IR scope 10 ... CCD camera 11 ... Microcomputer 12 ... External memory 13 ... Belt conveyor 14 ... Card with embossing 15 ... Embossing area

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification number Office reference number FI technical display location G06K 7/10 Q 8945-5L 9/20 360 B 17/00 D 7459-5L 19/06 G07F 7 / 08

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A heat-sensitive recording layer having a color-developing portion which absorbs light significantly in the infrared region when color is formed on at least the embossed region of a card made of paper, plastic sheet or the like. Card with emboss 2. Data of a card registrant registered in an external storage device is input, pattern data of an embossed portion is read by a difference in light absorption rate of the thermal recording layer, and the read embossed pattern data is registered as the registered data. It is characterized by determining whether or not it is the same as the user data, and when a color is developed, at least on the embossed area of a card made of paper, plastic sheet, etc. A method for inspecting a card having an emboss, which comprises forming a heat-sensitive recording layer having