JPH10162097A - Optical character reader provided with duplex reading prevention function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely prevent duplex reading even in document, where a character, printing or a color base, which cannot be dropped out, exist in the printing area of numbering or a stamp, in an optical character reader. SOLUTION: A first magnetic sensor 2, an optical read part 3, a number printing mechanism 4 and a second magnetic sensor 5 are provided. The numbering printing mechanism 4 prints a special pattern with magnetic ink containing iron powders as a magnetic body. The second magnetic sensor 5 recognizes the printing. When the first magnetic sensor 2 detects magnetic ink, the slip is rejected as duplex reading. Thus, duplex reading can be surely prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical character reading apparatus, and more particularly to an optical character reading apparatus having a function of detecting that a read form has been read again when the form is already read. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, some optical character reading apparatuses have a stamp mechanism for stamping a read form in order to determine whether a form has already been read. In addition, in order to determine whether or not a document has been read and to associate the document with the read information, some devices have a numbering printing mechanism that prints information such as a serial number on the read document. In these conventional apparatuses, whether or not the form has been read is determined by the operator by visually observing the form. However, if the operator has input the read form to the apparatus again erroneously even though the form is numbered or stamped, the same form information is read twice.
For example, when the optical character reader is used for the payment processing, if the same form is read twice, a serious trouble such as double payment may be caused.

Although it is not double reading prevention,
186876 is a device that prints the recognition result of an address or a zip code on a postal matter as a code on a postal matter, and detects the presence or absence of the code to prevent double printing. In this example, since optical detection means using a code reader is used, it is difficult to reliably detect characters or the like in the code printing area on the mail.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The same form is incorrectly
In order to prevent double reading, a first object of the present invention is to optically read a numbered area or a printing area of a stamp when reading a form, and determine whether or not there is a numbering or stamp based on the image information. An object of the present invention is to provide an optical character reading device that prevents double reading by recognizing the above. With this device, when a read form is re-entered by mistake in the device, it can be detected that the form has already been read. However, in this device, since the numbering print or stamp is optically recognized,
If there are characters, prints or colored backgrounds that cannot be dropped out, there is a possibility that the characters cannot be correctly identified. Therefore, this device can be used only for forms that do not have characters, prints or color backgrounds that cannot be dropped out in the numbering or stamp printing area.

In the double reading prevention function of the above-mentioned optical reading apparatus, when reading is performed once, the contents are corrected, and when it becomes necessary to read again, the numbering print or stamp is erased with a correction liquid or the like. Thus, there is an advantage that reading can be performed again. However, even in this case, it is impossible to identify whether or not the form is modified. For this reason, if the operator does not give an instruction to delete the data corresponding to the form from the read data to the reading device or the host device, the information of the form will be input twice. .

A second object of the present invention is to provide an optical character reading apparatus which effectively prevents an operator from forgetting to erase already read data. This device provides an optical character reading device having a function of reliably preventing double reading even in a form having a character, printing or color background that cannot be dropped out in a printing area such as a stamp or numbering printing. It is. That is, this device
When a stamp or a numbering print of a form is erased with a correction liquid or the like and read again, it is possible to detect that the reading is again.

A third object of the present invention is to provide an optical character reading apparatus having a function of notifying an operator that the ink density of a numbering printing mechanism or a stamp has become low and the life has been reached. .

[0008]

A first optical character reading apparatus according to the present invention comprises a mechanism for optically reading image information from a form, a function for character recognition, and a printing mechanism for leaving a special pattern on the form. And a function of detecting the pattern, a function of notifying the operator when the pattern is detected, or a transfer path switching gate for excluding the form.

The second and third optical character reading devices of the present invention include a mechanism for optically reading image information from a form, a function for character recognition, and a printing mechanism for leaving a record containing a magnetic material on the form. And one or more magnetic sensors for detecting a record containing a magnetic material, and a circuit for processing an output signal of the magnetic sensor and detecting whether or not there is a record containing a magnetic material in a form is connected to the magnetic sensor. Further, when a record including a magnetic material is detected, a function for notifying the operator of the detection or a transfer path switching gate for excluding the form is provided.

Further, the optical character reading apparatus of the present invention uses a numbering printing mechanism or a stamp mechanism as a printing mechanism for leaving a record including a magnetic material, and determines whether or not the numbering printing or stamp is recorded on the form. A magnetic sensor for identification, an optical system for identifying from optical image information and a character recognition function are provided, and a function of using the magnetic sensor and the optical system in combination in accordance with an operator's instruction is provided.

The optical character reading apparatus according to the present invention may be arranged such that, in the form transport path, one or more first magnetic recording devices are provided before the printing mechanism that leaves a record including a magnetic material on the form in the form transport direction. A sensor, and one or more second magnetic sensors after the printing mechanism, wherein the first magnetic sensor is used to determine whether a document has been read, and the second magnetic sensor is used as a printing mechanism. Is used to determine whether or not recording has been performed normally.

In the optical character reading apparatus of the present invention, when the numbering print or stamp is detected by the magnetic sensor, if the output level of the magnetic sensor is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the ink of the numbering printing mechanism or the stamp mechanism reaches the end of its life. A function is provided to notify the operator that the operation has been performed.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an optical character reading apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention when viewed from the side.
FIG. 2 shows a view from above. The form 10 is the transport path 1
In the direction A. The three motors of the pick motor 9a, the main motor 9b, and the discharge motor 9c convey the form.

The first magnetic sensor 2 is located near the entrance of the transport path, and has a function of detecting the presence or absence of numbering printing of the form being transported by magnetic means. The optical reading unit 3 optically reads the surface of the form, and
a, the character information in the original reading area, the detection of the presence or absence of numbering printing (detection of numbering printing by the optical character recognition function), and the character recognition of numbering printing are converted based on the information. There is a mechanism to perform.

The numbering mechanism 4 is a dot impact type printing mechanism, and prints numbering characters with magnetic ink in which iron powder is impregnated into an ink ribbon. Numbering character patterns printed by this numbering mechanism include:
There are two types, a character pattern for the operator or the optical character reading apparatus of this aspect to recognize as a character, and a special pattern for detecting the presence or absence of the pattern. Here, the special pattern is a black square shown as the numbering character 11 in FIG. The numbering characters may be other alphanumeric characters. The numbering printing mechanism 4 is capable of exchanging the ink ribbon.

The second magnetic sensor 5 is located immediately after the numbering printing mechanism 4, and magnetically detects and confirms whether or not printing by the numbering printing mechanism 4 has been reliably performed. If the numbering print is not detected as a result of the confirmation, the printer has a function of notifying the operator that the printing has failed. Also, when the signal magnetically detected from the numbering characters is lower than a certain level, the numbering printing mechanism has a function to notify the operator that the print density of the ink ribbon is low, that is, the life has expired. Have.

The transport path switching gate 6 switches between discharging the read-out form to the accept stacker 7 and discharging to the reject stacker 8. For example, when the numbering print is detected by the first magnetic sensor 2, that is, when the form has already been read, the form is ejected to the reject stacker 8 or the like. Although the present embodiment is described based on a form transport type optical character reading device, the present invention is not limited to the form transport type, for example, a flat bed in which a reading unit moves instead of a form. Applicable to molds. Also,
In the present embodiment, two magnetic sensors are used and one is used for confirming printing. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the magnetic sensor can be composed of as many magnetic sensors as necessary. For example, when a skew occurs when a document is conveyed, that is, a lateral shift occurs, and the detection width of one magnetic sensor is exceeded,
The detection range can be extended by arranging a plurality of magnetic sensors in the lateral direction. Further, the present invention can be applied to a specification in which only one magnetic sensor is used and print confirmation is not performed.

FIG. 3 is a block circuit diagram of the optical character reading apparatus according to the present embodiment. The output signal of the image sensor 3a is amplified by the video amplifier 53,
Is converted to a binary, grayscale or color digital value. The digital image information is transferred to a host device 56 such as a personal computer or a workstation via an interface circuit 55, and the host device 56 performs character recognition based on the image information. Further, based on the outputs of the first magnetic sensor 2 and the second magnetic sensor 5, the detection circuit 14 detects the presence or absence of a numbering character by magnetic ink. The CPU 51 reads the data, and when it is determined that the data is read twice, notifies the host device 56 via the interface circuit 55.

The CPU 51 further includes a form transport motor 9.
a, 9b and 9c are controlled via a motor driver. In the present embodiment, the host device 56 is a personal computer or a workstation, which performs character recognition. However, a recognition processor may be incorporated in the device to perform character recognition in the device.

FIG. 5 shows the detection of magnetic ink by the magnetic sensor. In this embodiment, a combination magnetic resistance element is used for the magnetic sensor to detect the presence or absence of the magnetic ink. A combination magnetoresistive element is a magnetic sensor that combines a permanent magnet and a magnetoresistive element,
Excellent N ratio.

The form 10 has already been read by the optical character reading apparatus of the present embodiment, and the numbering characters 11 are printed with magnetic ink at that time. Here, the numbering character 11 includes a special pattern for detecting the presence or absence of magnetic ink. This special pattern is formed by arranging rectangles whose insides are filled in the paper feeding direction. By using this special pattern, the output of the magnetic sensor is maximized and its presence / absence is easily detected. It should be noted that ordinary numbering characters 11, that is, alphanumeric characters and the like can be used by increasing the accuracy of the detection circuit. The background 12 is a character that cannot be dropped out, is printed, or has a color background written in the numbering print area.

When the form 10 is transported here, the magnetic sensor 13 produces an output like a waveform 15 in response to the magnetic material included in the numbering character 11. The detection circuit 14
The detection circuit 14 processes the waveform 15 to detect the presence or absence of the numbering character 11 (special pattern).
Further, in the second magnetic sensor 5 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the output level of the magnetic sensor is detected, and if the output level is below a certain value, the density of the ink ribbon of the numbering printing mechanism 4 is low, that is, It has a function to issue a warning indicating that In the present embodiment, a magnetic sensor using a magnetoresistive element is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to any sensor that can detect the presence or absence of a magnetic substance.

FIG. 4 is a block circuit diagram of the detection circuit 14. In the circuit (a), an amplifier 60 that is AC-coupled to the magnetic sensor 2 amplifies the signal, smoothes the signal with a half-wave rectifier 61 and a smoothing circuit 62, and converts the signal into a digital signal with a comparator 64. This circuit has an advantage that the circuit design is facilitated by AC coupling, and a smoothed signal is converted into a digital signal, so that a continuous signal is output and the processing of the CPU 51 is easy.

In the circuit (b), the magnetic sensor 5 and the D
The output of the C-coupled amplifier 60 is directly input to the comparator 64, the pulse signal output from the comparator 64 is counted by the counter 65, and the CPU 51 reads this count value. In the second magnetic sensor 5 for confirming printing, two comparators 64 are connected in parallel, and the reference voltage applied to the second comparator is higher than the reference voltage applied to the first comparator. If there is an output only in the first comparator and no output in the second comparator, it is determined that the output level of the magnetic sensor is low, that is, the life of the ink ribbon. It should be noted that an A / D converter may be used instead of the comparator 64, and the output may be read by the CPU 51.

In any of the circuits, the CPU 51 monitors the output signal of the detection circuit 14 to detect the presence or absence of numbering printing (special pattern) using magnetic ink. More specifically, while the form is being conveyed, the output of the detection circuit 14 is read at regular intervals, and if a certain number of readings indicate the presence of magnetic ink, it is identified as having numbering printing (special pattern). May be. Alternatively, the output of the detection circuit 14 is read at regular intervals while the numbering printing area of the form passes the position of the magnetic sensor, and if a certain percentage or more of the readings indicates the presence of magnetic ink, the numbering printing (special pattern) ) May be identified as present.

FIG. 6 shows the configuration of the numbering printing mechanism 4. An ink ribbon 2 impregnated with magnetic ink mixed with iron powder as a magnetic material is provided in the ink ribbon cartridge 20.
1 is enclosed. By printing with the dot impact type print head 22 via this ink ribbon, ink containing a magnetic material is attached to the form 10. By using the numbering printing mechanism, a character pattern printing for the purpose of visual recognition by an operator or character recognition by an optical character reading device, that is, an original numbering function and the purpose of detecting the presence or absence of the numbering character 11 (special pattern). One printing mechanism can be used for both special pattern printing.

In the present embodiment, the marking is a numbering printing mechanism for printing magnetic ink, particularly a dot impact type printing mechanism. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any recording mechanism for attaching a magnetic substance to a form is applicable. Applicable. For example, an inkjet recording mechanism using magnetic ink can be applied.

FIG. 7 shows the limitation of the form when the double reading prevention function is used. FIG. 7A is an example of a form limitation when the numbering character 11 of the special pattern is optically detected to realize the double reading prevention function. Report 1
A range of several millimeters around 0 is a clean area 31. The clean area 31 detects an end of a form, specifies a character area, and cuts out image information. For this reason, it is an area where there should be no characters, prints, or color backgrounds that cannot be dropped out. Since the numbering character 11 is optically identified similarly to other character recognition, the printing area 32a must also be a clean area. Also,
The readable area 33 is an area for character recognition.

FIG. 3B shows an example of a form limitation when the double reading prevention function by the magnetic sensor is realized. Numbering character 11 printed in numbering print area 32b
The presence / absence of is detected based on the presence / absence of a magnetic substance, and thus does not need to be a clean area. As a result, the specifications of applicable forms are greatly relaxed as compared with an optical character reader having a double reading prevention function using an optical system. The numbering printing area 32b can be a character recognition target before numbering printing, that is, at the time of the first reading. However, since the numbering printing is superimposed on the numbering printing, the readable area is used here. 33 is not included.

Further, in the optical character reading apparatus of the present invention, the magnetic detection of the numbering print and the optical detection can be used in combination. There are four types of combinations: magnetic detection only, optical detection only, both magnetic detection and optical detection, and no detection. Table 1 shows examples of contents that can be detected in each combination and operations at that time.

In the case of only magnetic detection, double reading can be prevented in a form where the numbering print area 32b is not a clean area. Incidentally, in the case of only optical detection, it cannot be applied to a form in which the numbering print area 32b is not a clean area. Furthermore, when erasing with a correction fluid or the like and reading again, it is necessary to separately erase previously read data under the control of the CPU 51 or the host device 56.

In the first case in which both the magnetic detection and the optical detection are combined, when the special pattern of the numbering character 11 is detected either magnetically or optically, the form is discharged to the reject stacker. Then, it can be designated to notify the operator to that effect. In this case, double reading can be more reliably prevented.

In the second case in which both the magnetic detection and the optical detection are combined, when the special pattern of the numbering character 11 is detected only magnetically and not optically, the form is once written. It is interpreted that the numbering character has been printed (that is, the numbering character has been read, but the numbering character 11 has been subsequently erased with a correction liquid or the like), and the application software performs processing corresponding to the numbering character.
This corresponds to a case where the numbering characters 11 are erased as necessary by a method such as applying a white correction liquid to the numbering characters 11. In this second case, the form erased in this way can be read again without being excluded by double reading prevention.
At this time, the application software erases the previous read data and prepares an environment for reading again.

More specifically, not only a special pattern for detecting the presence or absence of the numbering character 11 but also a character pattern of a serial number may be printed. Then, when the special pattern is detected only magnetically, the character pattern of the serial number is recognized, the corresponding read data is searched from the serial number, and the old data is updated with newly read new data.

With the double reading prevention function functioning in this manner, the form once read is corrected and re-entered, in other words, only the special pattern in the numbering print is erased with the correction liquid. Reading can be performed again, and data consistency and validity can be maintained.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a second embodiment in which both magnetic detection and optical detection are combined, with reference to a specific example of a form. FIG. 8 shows a form in a case where the form is recognized once and there is no error in the input items, and the form is discharged to the accept stacker 7. A special pattern is printed with a magnetic ink in the numbering print area 32b of FIG. 7B. In this embodiment, since one magnetic sensor is used, the form sending direction is opposite to that in FIG. That is, while the form shown in FIG. 8 proceeds to the left, character recognition and numbering printing are performed.

FIG. 9 shows a form when there are errors in a total of two input items, and the form is recognized twice. For example, if the entry character of item 1 is too small to be recognized,
51 or the upper device 56 is provided with the numbering print area 32b.
Then, characters “1011” (error “1” times, error code “01”, item number “1”) are printed, and the form is discharged to the reject stacker 8. The operator uses this character “1”
011 ”is visually determined, and the corresponding item is corrected. As in the normal deposit process, erase with a line and press the correction mark in the vicinity. As described above, the correction may be performed using a correction liquid or the like.

Next, when re-reading, the CPU 51 or the host device 56 deletes the first input data from the already recognized deposit slip number in order to avoid inputting duplicate data.

Next, since there is a recognition error in item 3 (recognition of a character other than a predetermined character), the CPU 51 or the host device 56 discharges the form to the reject stacker 8. The CPU 51 or the host device 56 displays the characters “2023” (error “2” times,
Error code “02”, item number “3”) is printed.
In order to simplify the processing, increase the speed, and reduce the cost of the equipment,
The character “2023” may be printed over the character “1011”. The operator can read the character “2023” due to an error in the reproducibility of the transport system. In addition, the character "20
As shown in FIG. 9, 23 "may be printed (displaced in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the form, or displaced in the transport direction) without being superimposed on another position.

[0040]

The optical character reading apparatus according to the present invention includes a printing mechanism for recording a record containing a magnetic material and a magnetic sensor for detecting the record containing a magnetic material. Even if the form has characters, prints, or colors that cannot be used, double reading can be reliably prevented.

Further, by arranging a second magnetic sensor after the printing mechanism and confirming printing by the printing mechanism, double reading can be more reliably prevented.

When the output level of the second magnetic sensor is equal to or less than a predetermined value, a function for notifying that the ink has reached the end of its life is provided. Can be reduced.

Further, both a magnetic sensor and a character recognition function of an optical system are provided as means for detecting the numbering print or stamp, and switching or combination thereof can prevent double reading according to the situation. . This has the effect of reducing the burden on the operator and easily avoiding erroneous operations and double input.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of the overall structure of an optical character reading device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the entire configuration of the optical character reading device of the present invention as viewed from above.

FIG. 3 is a block circuit diagram of the optical character reading device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block circuit diagram of a detection circuit.

FIG. 5 is a functional explanatory diagram showing magnetic ink detection by the magnetic sensor of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a numbering printing mechanism.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing restrictions on a form.

Table 1 is a table showing an example of a combination of magnetic detection and optical detection.

FIG. 8 shows a second combination of both magnetic detection and optical detection.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram when an input item has no error and a form is recognized at one time in the embodiment in the case of FIG.

FIG. 9 shows a second combination of both magnetic detection and optical detection.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a case where an input item has an error in two places and is recognized twice again in the embodiment of the case of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 transport path, 2 first magnetic sensor, 3 optical reading unit, 4 numbering printing mechanism, 5 second magnetic sensor, 6 gate, 7 accept stacker, 8 reject stacker, 9a pick motor, 9b main motor, 9c discharge motor , 10 reports, 11 numbering characters, 12 background, 13 magnetic sensor, 14 detection circuit, 15 output waveform, 20 ink ribbon cartridge, 21 ink ribbon, 22 print head, 31 clean area, 32a numbering printing area, 32b numbering printing area, 33 Readable area.

Claims (7)

[Claims] A function of reading image information from a form and recognizing a character; and a function of leaving a numbering character having a special pattern in the form when the character recognition is completed.
An optical character reader having a function of detecting whether or not the numbered character is present in the form from the beginning of character recognition. 2. The optical character reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the numbering character is detected from the form before performing the character recognition, the numbering character is notified to an operator or the form is discharged from the apparatus. 3. A system comprising a function of reading image information from a form and recognizing characters, a printing mechanism for recording a record containing a magnetic material on the form, and at least one magnetic sensor for detecting the record containing the magnetic material. Optical character reader. 4. The optical character reading apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when a record including the magnetic material is detected from the form, the operator is notified of the detection, or the form is discharged from the apparatus. 5. A printing mechanism for leaving a record including a magnetic material is a numbering printing mechanism or a stamp mechanism, and whether a character or a symbol printed by the numbering printing mechanism or a stamp stamped by the stamp mechanism is recorded on a form. A magnetic sensor that identifies the character or symbol or the magnetic material contained in the stamp by detecting the magnetic material, and an optical system that optically reads image information from the form and performs character recognition from the image information. 5. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a function of detecting whether the character, symbol, or stamp is recorded on a form using at least one of the magnetic sensor and the optical system. Optical character reader. 6. One or more first magnetic sensors before a printing mechanism that leaves a record including a magnetic material in a form transport path, and one or more second magnetic sensors after the printing mechanism. And the first magnetic sensor is used to determine whether the form has been read, and the second magnetic sensor is used to determine whether recording by the printing mechanism has been performed normally. The optical character reading device according to claim 3. 7. When the numbering print or the stamp is detected by the second magnetic sensor, when it is detected that the output level of the magnetic sensor is equal to or less than a predetermined value,
7. The optical character reading device according to claim 6, further comprising a circuit for notifying an external device including the host device of the fact.