JPH0577115B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a card processing system, and particularly to a card processing system that automatically processes a plurality of types of cards stored by type.

[Conventional technology] Recently, in the card industry, affiliated cards (Affinity
Card) concept has been strengthened, and the issuance of a wide variety of cards in small quantities has increased. In response to this, there is a demand for labor-saving issuance work, such as enabling quick picking in a short time without mistakes, labor-saving extraction, inventory management that accurately grasps the number of actual cards, and reducing the burden of inventory work. There is. However, no system has yet been proposed that automatically picks and processes a wide variety of cards in small quantities.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The present invention provides a labor-saving card processing system that picks and processes cards in a short time without mistakes by simply inputting processing information such as the type and number of cards. do.

[Means for Solving the Problem] A card processing system of the present invention for solving this problem includes an input means for inputting the type and number of cards and processing information in the processing order, and a predetermined number of cards of multiple types. a card storage means for storing and transporting cards according to the type and number of cards inputted from the input means, and based on the processing information corresponding to the type of card taken out from the card storage means, and card processing means for processing the card.

[Operation] In such a configuration, the card storage means for storing a predetermined number of cards of a plurality of types takes out the cards based on the type and number of cards inputted in the order of processing from the input means and the processing information, and the cards are taken out by the card processing means. processes the card.

[Example] A card processing system according to an example will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a card storage device (hereinafter also referred to as a card trunk device) constituting the card processing system of this embodiment. In the figure,
1 is a card storage section made to store multiple cards by type, and 2 is a card storage section 1.
A card take-out section 3 takes out cards according to the specified type, a card transport section 3 transports the taken-out cards toward a card storage section 5, and 4 determines whether or not the card is a desired card while the card is being transported. A card discriminating section 5 is a card storage section that stores the cards that have been conveyed 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 desired card is taken out from the card storage section 1 through the card takeout section 2, and transferred to the card transport section 3.
The card is conveyed to the card storage section 5 by. 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.

The card take-out section 2, card transport section 3, card discrimination section 4, and card storage section 5 are controlled by a card discharge control section 30 through an interface section 6. The card unloading control unit 30 includes a CPU 7 for processing and calculations, a ROM 8 for storing processing programs, a RAM 9 for auxiliary storage, and a control data input unit 10 for inputting control data such as the processing order of cards and the number of each card. It consists of
Although not shown in the drawings, it is a matter of course that a display device, a printer, etc. are connected.

FIG. 2 shows an external view of the card storage device that constitutes the card processing system of this embodiment. Each instruction number corresponds to the same number in FIG. The card storage section 1 has XY horizontally and vertically Y for each type of card.
They are arranged in a matrix. In this example, each pocket 1a stores 500 cards of the same type, and each pocket 1a has 252 cards, 12 in length x 21 in width.
Can store up to 252 types of cards. The card ejecting section 2 moves on a rail in the XY direction like an XY plotter and is positioned in front of the desired card pocket 1a. The card transport unit 3 includes a Y-direction transport unit 3a that transports the card downward within the Y-direction rail;
and an X-direction transport section 3b that transports the lowered 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 discrimination using a CCD. In this example, CCD
Although image determination will be described based on image data, it is also possible to store a card that has been magnetically pre-encoded in advance and perform determination based on encoded data. Further, the position of the card discriminating section 4 may be 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 left end pocket 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 device. The main body control unit 50 is for processing and calculation.
CPU 51 ROM 52 for storing processing programs, RAM 53 for auxiliary storage, RS232CIF54 for interfacing with personal computer 40, and RS232CIF55 for interfacing with CCD image judgment section 61
, the card ejecting section 2 of the main body, the card conveying section 3,
It consists of a mechanical control section 56 that controls a mechanical section 70 including a card storage section 5, and a power source 58. It also includes an MCR interface MCRIF57 as an option.

The image determination unit 60, which is the card determination unit 4,
CPU61 for processing/calculation and for storing processing programs
Controls ROM 62, auxiliary memory RAM 63, CCD section 64 including CCD and lamp, and CCD section 64
It consists of a CCD control section 65 and an FS232CIF66 for interfacing with the main body control section 50.

The card unloading operation of the present system will be explained in accordance with the flowchart of the card unloading of the card processing system of this embodiment shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b, 5, and 6.

First, in step S1, control data including at least the type and number of cards is input from the floppy disk of the personal computer 40, or from a magnetic tape unit if the unit is provided. 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 is taken out may be flowed to the next process as it is and processed. In this case, the card storage device and the embossing device are controlled synchronously. This will be explained later with reference to FIGS. 11-13.
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. In this operation, steps S3 and 4 are repeated 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 takeout section 2. First, step
The amount of movement in the X (lateral) direction is calculated in S51, and the movement in the X direction is performed in step S52. Next, step
In step S53, the amount of movement in the Y (vertical) direction is calculated, and in step S53, movement in the Y direction is performed. In this example, the movement in the Y direction was performed after the movement in the X direction was completed, but
This may be done oppositely or simultaneously. 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 a mechanism for moving the card ejecting unit 2. Movement in the X direction is achieved by rotating a gear 76b through a gear 77b and a shaft 78 using a step motor 79, and rotating gears 76a and 77a.
This is done by belts 76 and 77 stretched between the two. 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 carried out by the step motor 73.
The rotation of the gear 72b rotates the gear 72b.
This is done by sliding on two support columns 71 using a belt 72 stretched between A and A. Although not shown in FIG. 7, the card ejecting section 2 has a
As shown in the figure, the adsorber 2 made of urethane rubber
A structure that moves 1 is installed.
In this example, the amount of movement is controlled by the rotation of the step motors 73, 79, but the position determination is not limited to this, and coordinates or the like may be marked on each pocket 1a.

When the card ejecting section 2 reaches the desired position by moving the position as described above, one card is taken out from the pocket 1a at the current position in step S5. The card ejection operation is, for example, shown in Fig. 8b.
It is done like this. The card 100a in the pocket 1a is sucked by the suction device 21 described above and transported to the position of the card 100b. Stop suctioning the suction device 21 until it reaches the position of the card 100b, and then
As shown in FIG. 8a, belt 85 is stretched between rollers 83 and 84, and belt 85 is stretched between rollers 82a and 82b, which are continuously rotated by a motor (not shown) in the direction of the arrow. It is sandwiched between two belts 81a and 81b and descends downward.

The mechanism of operation at the change point between downward conveyance and horizontal conveyance is shown in FIGS. 9a and 9b. The descending card 100c is placed between two belts 9 stretched between rollers 91a and 92a and rollers 91b and 92b.
1 and 92, and moves to the right like card 100d. Rollers 91a, 91b, 9
3 tilts until the card 100c comes down, as shown by the roller 93a in FIG. In between.

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

Next, in step 7, card discrimination processing is performed near the end of conveyance. FIG. 6 shows a more detailed flowchart of the card discrimination process, and FIG. 10a shows the lamp 64b and CCD 64a of the card discrimination section 4. First, in step 61, an image is input from the CCD 64a and decomposed into, for example, R, G, and B. After A/D conversion and sampling in step 62,
In step 63, preprocessing such as filtering and blurring is performed. In step 64, features of the input image are extracted by, for example, LPC Laorche-Hadamard transformation, and in step 65, matching is performed by distance with pre-stored data or by the DP method. 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 viewed. You can look at both sides.

Check in step S8 whether the matching determined in step S7 is correct, and if it is not correct,
Handle errors. Note that the error handling in this example is performed after storing the card in the reject pocket of the card storage section 5.
Stop the device and notify the error with a light and sound. If matching is correct, step S9
Proceed to step S5 and check whether the required number of sheets has been taken out. If not, return to step S5 and repeat steps S5 to S9. After the required number of cards have been delivered, proceed to step S10 and check whether all cards input as control data have been delivered. If not, return to step S2 and repeat steps S2 to S10.
repeat.

The card after the card discrimination process is stored in the reject pocket or the other four pockets depending on the discrimination result. FIGS. 10a and 10b are diagrams showing a mechanism for storing in a pocket. A roller 96 rotates using a roller 95 as a fulcrum, and a hook 98 protruding from a rotating body 99 stores the carried card in a pocket. In Figure 10b, card 100h → 100i
→100j→100k and move to pocket 101
will be stored in. Although only one pocket is shown in this example, the other pockets have a similar structure,
The card is stored in a predetermined pocket according to 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 a different thickness at the position where the card type is changed or at the position where a reject card occurs. This can be easily done by storing a special card in the pocket 1a of the card storage section 1 near the card discriminating section 4.

Next, the flowchart shown in FIG. 4b 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 carry-out shown in FIG. 4a or after the carry-out for one day is finished, the initial number of cards in the card storage section 1 is read from a storage section (not shown) in step S21, and the number of cards to be carried out is read in step S22. In step S23, 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.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are a block diagram and an external view showing the configuration of a card processing system of this embodiment in which the above-described card storage device and card processing device are integrated. In the figure, a card processing section 200 that performs embossing, etc. is provided between the card discrimination block 4 of FIG. 1 and the card storage section 5, and a card processing control section 30' integrally controls the card storage device and the card processing device. 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 system is stopped. When the processing in the card processing section 200 is completed, the card is stored in the card storage section 5. In addition to the card takeout section 2, card transport section 3, card discrimination section 4, and 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 a ROM 8 for storing processing programs.
It is composed of a RAM 9 and a control data input section 10 for inputting control data such as the processing order of cards, the number of each card, processing contents, etc. With this configuration, the card processing control section 3
0' enables unified control of the card storage device and card processing system, further shortens processing time, prevents human error, and enables comprehensive processing of cards.

FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of the processing procedure of the card processing system of this embodiment. Step S101
Enter the type of card to be processed. step
In S102, the number of cards to be processed, which was input in step S101, is input, and in step S103, processing information indicating the processing details is input. This processing information may be encoded. In step S104, it is checked whether there are any other cards to be processed, and if there are, the process returns to step S101 and processes from step S101 to
Repeat S104.

If there is no other card, an instruction to end the input or start processing is received, and the process proceeds to step S105, where processing information corresponding to the type of card to be processed first is set in the card processing section 200. When the setting is completed, in step S106, the inputted number of cards to be processed are sequentially taken out from the card storage device and transported to the card processing section 200 while the card discriminating section 4 checks whether the card type is correct. In step S107, embossing is performed in this example according to the processing information set in step S105.
At step S108, it is checked whether all types of cards input have been processed. If not, the process returns to step S105 and steps S105 to S108 are repeated.

When all cards have been processed, step S109
Then, the end processing is performed, such as notifying the end of the processing, issuing a processing slip, and displaying the number of cards in stock in the card storage device, and then the next processing is carried out. In this flowchart, machining is started after waiting for all inputs to be completed, but input and machining may be processed in parallel.

Although not described in detail in this embodiment, for example, if a card in a storage pocket is lost, an indicator lamp may be provided in each pocket to indicate the situation. Additionally, a full lamp may be provided.

Alternatively, a storage pocket may be provided to pool a predetermined number of cards taken out per unit, and card removal and card processing may be performed asynchronously, or card processing details may be stored in advance and card discrimination performed. If processing information is set in the card processing section in accordance with the determination result in the card processing section, the processing can be further simplified.

Further, in this embodiment, card processing has been explained using embossing as an example, but the processing is not limited to this, and processing such as printing on the surface of the card, magnetic encoding, and further initialization of an IC card may be performed. It is also clear that

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a labor-saving card processing system that picks and processes cards in a short time without mistakes by simply inputting processing information such as the type and number of cards.

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

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a card storage device constituting the card processing system of this embodiment, Fig. 2 is an external view of the card storage device constituting the card processing system of this embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a detailed diagram. FIG. 4a is a flowchart showing the card ejecting operation of this embodiment, and FIG. 4b is a block diagram of a card storage device according to the present invention.
is a flowchart showing the inventory management operation of this embodiment, FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the movement of the card ejection section, FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the card discrimination process, and FIG. 7 is an example of the mechanism of movement of the card ejection section. Figures 8a and 8b are diagrams showing an example of a mechanism for transporting cards in the Y direction, Figures 9a and b are diagrams showing an example of a mechanism for changing card transport from the Y direction to the X direction, and Figure 10a, Fig. 11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the card processing system of this embodiment in which a card storage device and a card processing device are integrated; The figure is an external view of the card processing system of this embodiment, and FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the processing procedure of the card processing system of this embodiment. In the figure, 1... Card storage section, 1a... Pocket, 2... Card removal section, 3... Card transport section, 4... Card discrimination section, 5... Card storage section,
6...Interface section, 7...CPU, 8...
ROM, 9...RAM, 10...data input section,
20... Card unloading section, 30'... Card processing control section, 200... Card processing section.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Input means for inputting the type and number of cards and processing information in the order of processing, and storing a predetermined number of cards of a plurality of types, and according to the type and number of cards input from the input means. Therefore, a card processing device comprising: a card storage means for carrying out a card; and a card processing means for processing a card based on the processing information corresponding to the type of card carried out from the card storage means. system.