JPH0954839A - Image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce reading abnormality by reading a pre-printed reading start mark and changing that reading start position at the time of retrying reading based on the detected result of that position deviation. SOLUTION: On an application form to be used for applying a ticket issue, for example, there are applicant description columns for name and age or the like, and the image reading start mark for starting reading those description columns is pre-printed. When an image reader 12 reads the application deviating the position of start mark to right, for example, data are fetched into an image buffer as black bit data but in the other case, the data are fetched as white bit data. A position deviation detection circuit 39 searches black bits to be positioned in the retrieval range of start mark from the head of data in that image buffer and detects the deviated position at the time of reading. When retrying reading, an image reading circuit 35 changes that reading start position.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique effective when applied to an image reading apparatus for reading the handwritten contents with an image reader.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional image reading apparatus, for example, an image reading apparatus used in a ticket issuing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 56-79384 can be cited. The department inserts a preprinted application form for ticketing application into the device and reads the name, age, sex, etc. from the application form.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As a result of studying the above prior art, the present inventor has found the following problems.

The above-mentioned conventional image reading device does not take measures against the reading abnormality of the reading start mark due to the deviation of the preprint in the application form or the conveyance slippage due to the paper quality and the thickness, and there is a problem that the reading abnormality occurs for that. was there.

In particular, in recent years, the reading start mark of the application form becomes abnormal due to factors such as copying and using an unused application form, and slippage of the transportation due to the creation of the application form using recycled paper. It is thought that there will be more factors.

An object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of reducing a reading error caused by a printing deviation of a reading start mark at the time of pre-printing and a positional deviation of the reading start mark due to conveyance slip due to paper quality and thickness. is there.

The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Among the inventions disclosed in the present application, the outline of a representative one will be briefly described.
It is as follows.

An image reading apparatus for reading an image of a handwritten entry such as an application form in which a reading start mark is preprinted, wherein a means for reading the preprinted reading start mark and a positional deviation of the reading start mark are provided. A position shift detecting unit for detecting the position and a unit for changing the reading start position at the time of reading retry based on the result of the position shift detecting unit.

[0010]

According to the above-mentioned means, even if the reading start mark is deviated due to the deviation of the reading start mark at the time of pre-printing, the conveyance slip due to the paper quality and the thickness, the positional deviation of the reading start mark is detected and the reading is performed. As it becomes possible, the reading start position is changed and the reading start position is changed so that it can be retried. It is possible to reduce the read abnormality that occurs.

The present invention will be described below with reference to examples.

In all the drawings for explaining the embodiments, those having the same function are designated by the same reference numerals and their repeated description will be omitted.

[0013]

[Embodiment] In this embodiment, when the ticket pieces such as a commuter pass and an airline ticket are issued, the entry items of the application form written by hand are read, and the read image data is printed on the ticket piece and issued. The image reading device used in the ticket issuing system will be described below.

However, the image reading apparatus of the present invention is not limited to this.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of an image reading apparatus which is an embodiment of the present invention.
1A shows a schematic configuration diagram of the apparatus, and FIG. 1B shows a functional block diagram of the apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image reading apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes an application form 10 used for an application such as issuance of a ticket and conveying rollers 11a to 1a for conveying the application form 10.
1d, an image reader 12 that reads characters written on the application form 10, a print head 13 that prints the read image data, and sensors 14a to 14d that detect the passage of the application form 10 and monitor the conveyance. A motor 15 that conveys the application form 10.

The image reading apparatus 1 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 (b), controls C for controlling each circuit described later.
A PU 31, a communication circuit 32 that transmits the read information as image data to a host device, a ROM 33 that stores a program for each control, and an R that stores the data.
An image reading circuit 35 that controls the AM 34 and the image reader 12 to read handwritten entry information from the application form.
And a printing circuit 36 which controls the print head 13 and prints the read image data on the ticket as print data.
A motor control circuit 37 for controlling the carry motor 15 used for carrying the application form, and a sensor circuit 38 for controlling the sensors 14a to 14d to detect whether or not the application form is inserted into the apparatus.
A position shift detection circuit 39 for detecting a position shift of a reading start mark described later is provided.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an application form used for the application for the issuance of coupons according to this embodiment.

The application form has fields for entering applicants such as name, age, and gender (only the name field 22 is shown in FIG. 2), and an image reading start mark for starting reading of the fields. 21 is preprinted.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the positional deviation detection in the positional deviation detection circuit 39 described above.

The image reader 12 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), when the application form 10 in which the position of the start mark is shifted to the right is read, the data as shown in FIG. 3 (c) is black bit data or otherwise, it is white bit data in the image buffer. Is taken into.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the application form 10 in which the position of the start mark is shifted to the left is read, the data as shown in FIG. 3D is black bit data or otherwise. Captured as white bit data in the image buffer.

When the application form 10 in which the start mark 21 is in the correct position is read, the data as shown in FIG. 3 (e) is taken into the image buffer as black bit data or otherwise as white bit data.

In the position shift detection circuit 39 described above, in the data of the image buffer, the start mark search range 27 and the handwriting data read range 28 set in advance are
The search for the start mark 21 within the start mark search range 27 is performed.

The start mark 21 is searched for a black bit which should be within the start mark search range 27 from the head of the image buffer, and when a square block of the black bit has a prescribed amount (FIG. 3 (e)). , If the start mark is judged to be in the normal position and it does not reach the specified amount, but there is a square block (Fig. 3 (c)), it is judged to be at the position of the start mark right position shift, and the square block If there is no mark (FIG. 3D), it is determined that the start mark is at the left position shift, and the shift position at the time of reading is detected. Then, the timing of reading in the image reading circuit 35 is determined based on this.

At this time, the timing of reading by the image reading circuit 35 is delayed by the start mark search range 26 when the position is shifted to the right, and the reading is started from the position 24 shown in FIG. 3 (a).

Further, in the case of the left position shift, the start mark search range is advanced by 26 minutes, and the reading is started from the position 25 shown in FIG. 3B.

The method for detecting the positional deviation is not limited to this.

Next, the image reading apparatus 1 of this embodiment
The image reading processing step will be described.

FIG. 4 shows an image reading apparatus 1 according to this embodiment.
5 is a flowchart for explaining the processing steps of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the application form 10 is inserted into the application form insertion port, the image reading apparatus 1 of the present embodiment detects it with the insertion detection sensor 14a (step 411). The counter for counting the number of image readings is cleared (step 412).

Then, the motor control circuit 37 is driven to convey the application form 10 to the image reader 12 (step 413).

After that, while the application top end detection sensor 14c is being conveyed, the top end of the application form 10 is monitored, and when the top end of the application form 10 is detected (step 414), the image reading start timing is set to start reading. When the position X is passed (step 415), the image reading circuit 35 is activated to start reading (step 416).

After that, the image reader 12 uses the application form 10
In synchronism with the conveyance of, the entire applicant entry field is read as image data from the position where the image reading start mark 21 is present and stored in the image buffer.

When the whole image is read, the image reading circuit is stopped (step 418), the motor control circuit is stopped (step 419), and the conveyance is stopped.

The read start mark for pre-printing and the handwritten data in the applicant's entry field are stored in the image buffer as black bit data or white bit data otherwise, and the position shift detection circuit 39 searches for the start mark. Is performed (step 420).

When the start mark is detected, the image data corresponding to the applicant's entry field of the image data following the start mark is cut out (step 421), and the image data is transmitted to the host by the communication circuit 32 (step 422). ).

When the start mark is not detected, it is judged whether or not the retry counter N is 3 (step 423), and when the counter is 3, it is determined that the read error of the start mark 21 is abnormal.

If the retry counter N is not 3, the retry counter N is incremented by 1 (step 424).

Then, it is judged whether or not the retry counter N is 3 (step 425). If N is not 3, then
Based on the detection result of the position shift detection circuit 39, the reading position X (reading timing) is changed so that the start mark 21 can be detected (step 426).

When the retry counter N is 3,
The reading position X is changed to a position on the opposite side of the displacement position determined based on the detection result of the displacement detection circuit 39 (step 428).

This is to detect the start mark 21 at the left position shift when the start mark 21 is detected at the right position shift at the time of the second retry, so that the retry is repeated three times. Of these, the start mark 21 is detected at least once for the left and right position deviations, respectively.
Even if there is an error in the detection of the position shift detection circuit 39 (error in detecting a square block, etc.), it can be dealt with, and the reading error can be reduced.

Thereafter, in order to perform the retry, the motor control circuit 37 is reversely driven, the application form is reversely conveyed to the insertion port (step 427), and the process returns to step 413.

Then, the image data of the read name is printed on the ticket by the print header 13, and the ticket is issued.

In this embodiment, the read retry is up to three times, and if the third read cannot be performed, an error occurs. This prevents infinite reading.

Therefore, even if the reading start mark is misaligned due to the deviation of the reading start mark at the time of pre-printing, the conveyance slip due to the paper quality and the thickness, the positional deviation of the reading start mark is detected and the reading can be performed. , I will change the reading timing and retry, so
It is possible to reduce a reading error caused by a printing deviation of the reading start mark at the time of pre-printing and a positional deviation of the reading start mark due to a conveyance slip due to paper quality and thickness.

Further, the reading start mark search range is set to be large, and the reading start mark is searched from the entire application form, or the end mark together with the starting mark is preprinted on the application form and the reading is performed between them. However, it is possible to reduce abnormal reading.

As described above, the invention made by the present inventor is
Although the present invention has been specifically described based on the above-mentioned embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0049]

The effects obtained by the typical ones of the inventions disclosed in the present application will be briefly described as follows.

It is possible to prevent the reading abnormality caused by the printing deviation of the reading start mark at the time of pre-printing and the positional deviation of the reading start mark due to the conveyance slip due to the paper quality and the thickness.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of an image reading apparatus that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an application form used for an application for issuance of a coupon according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining position shift detection in a position shift detection circuit.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining processing steps of the image reading apparatus of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Image reading device, 10 ... Application form, 11a-1
1d ... conveying roller, 12 ... image reader, 13 ... print head, 14a to 14d ... sensor for detecting application and monitoring conveyance, 15 ... motor for conveying application, 31 ... CP
U, 32 ... communication circuit, 33 ... ROM, 34 ... RAM, 3
5 ... Image reading circuit, 36 ... Printing circuit, 37 ... Motor control circuit, 38 ... Sensor circuit, 39 ... Position deviation detection circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image reading device for reading an image of handwritten entries such as an application form in which a reading start mark is pre-printed, and a means for reading the pre-printed reading start mark,
An image reading apparatus comprising: a positional deviation detecting means for detecting positional deviation of a reading start mark; and a means for changing the reading starting position at the time of retry of reading based on a result of the positional deviation detecting means.