JPH1153515A - Paper sheets reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce an image data amount through the compression of read images in the image reading of paper sheets and to read satisfactory image data. SOLUTION: A CPU 100 converts the data of 8 bits in RGB read by a contact type image sensor unit 31 to black-and-white 8-bit data in a monochromatic circuit 102 and supplies them to one side of a comparator 101. Then, a reference value to be set by a reference value setting circuit 103 from horizontal and vertical position signals corresponding to read images such as the character parts of an application form, the signature range of a signature and seal impression range and seal impression range is supplied to the other side of the comparator 101, and a binarized signal corresponding to the read image is supplied to an image memory.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet reading apparatus for reading the contents of a sheet such as an application form as image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional sheet reading apparatus for reading a surface image of a sheet in binary, for example, as in the density adjustment in a copying machine, the reading level of each sheet is read. (Threshold) could be changed, but it could not be partially changed.

For example, in an application form such as a credit card,
There is also a signature field and a seal stamp field for the part already printed, the part written by the applicant, and the part written by the applicant.
Since image data is large, it is generally compressed and transmitted / stored. At this time, for example, if the image includes many noise portions in a black and white image, the compression ratio does not increase, and in some cases, the capacity may be larger than before compression.

[0004] In general, if an image is to be obtained with a high density, a blank portion is also close to gray and contains much noise. If the density is reduced, the amount of noise is reduced, but data such as signatures and seals that are liable to be blurred may be thinned and become unreadable. For example, it is not possible to darkly read, in a single sheet of paper, only those parts that are particularly likely to be clearly read, such as, for example, signatures and seals, which may cause blurring.

[0005]

As described above, in a paper sheet reading apparatus, a large amount of image data is used.
In general, compression and transmission / storage are performed. At this time, if there is a lot of noise in the image in a black and white image, the compression ratio does not increase, and in some cases, the capacity may be larger than before compression, and the image may be dense If you try to obtain it, the blank part will be close to gray and will contain a lot of noise. In some cases, 1
There was a problem that it was not possible to read well even among sheets of paper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a paper sheet reading apparatus which can reduce the amount of image data by compressing a read image in reading a paper sheet image and can read good image data. I do.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A sheet reading apparatus according to the present invention comprises a conveying means for conveying a sheet, a reading means for reading image data of the sheet conveyed by the conveying means, and a reading means for reading the image data. Binarizing means for binarizing the image data of the sheet read by the means with a binarizing reference value, and conveying the binarizing reference value of the binarizing means by the conveying means; And control means for performing control to vary the reading range of the paper sheet to be read.

[0008] The paper sheet reading apparatus according to the present invention includes a conveying means for conveying the paper sheet, a reading means for reading image data of the paper sheet conveyed by the conveying means, and the reading means read by the reading means. Binarizing means for binarizing the image data of the paper sheet with a binarization reference value, and converting the binarization reference value of the binarization means to the binarized paper sheet conveyed by the conveying means; And control means for performing variable control in an arbitrary range determined in the vertical and horizontal directions.

A paper sheet reading apparatus according to the present invention comprises a conveying means for conveying a paper sheet, a reading means for reading image data of the paper sheet conveyed by the conveying means, and a paper sheet conveyed by the conveying means. First control means for controlling whether or not the image data read by the reading means is binarized according to the leaf reading range, and control for binarization by the first control means are performed. When the image data read by the reading unit is compared with a binarization reference value, the image data is binarized, and the binarization reference value of the binarization unit is transported by the transport unit. And a second control means for performing control for varying the reading range of the paper sheet to be read.

A paper sheet reading apparatus according to the present invention includes a conveying means for conveying a paper sheet, a reading means for reading image data of the paper sheet conveyed by the conveying means, and a paper sheet conveyed by the conveying means. A first control unit for controlling whether or not to binarize the image data read by the reading unit in an arbitrary range determined in the vertical and horizontal directions of the leaves;
When the binarization control is performed, the binarization unit binarizes the image data read by the reading unit with a binarization reference value, and a binarization reference value of the binarization unit. And a second control means for performing control to vary the paper sheet conveyed by the conveying means in an arbitrary range determined in the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0011] A paper sheet reading apparatus according to the present invention comprises a conveying means for conveying the paper sheet, a reading means for reading image data of the paper sheet conveyed by the conveying means, and a paper conveyed by the conveying means. First control means for controlling whether or not the image data read by the reading means is binarized according to the leaf reading range, and control for binarization by the first control means are performed. When the image data read by the reading unit is compared with a binarization reference value, the image data is binarized, and the binarization reference value of the binarization unit is transported by the transport unit. A second control means for performing a variable control in a reading range of the paper sheet to be read, and a binarization means for performing the binarization using the binarization reference value controlled by the second control means. A memory for storing image data and image data subjected to control not binarized by the first control means. It is composed of a unit.

[0012] The paper sheet reading apparatus of the present invention comprises a transport means for transporting the paper sheet, a reading means for reading image data of the paper sheet transported by the transport means, and a paper transported by the transport means. A first control unit for controlling whether or not to binarize the image data read by the reading unit in an arbitrary range determined in the vertical and horizontal directions of the leaves;
When the binarization control is performed, the binarization unit binarizes the image data read by the reading unit with a binarization reference value, and a binarization reference value of the binarization unit. Control means for varying the paper sheet conveyed by the conveying means in an arbitrary range determined in the vertical and horizontal directions.
The image data binarized by the binarization unit using the binarization reference value controlled by the control unit and the image data subjected to the control not binarized by the first control unit are stored. Storage means for storing the information.

[0013] A paper sheet reading apparatus according to the present invention comprises a conveying means for conveying the paper sheet, a first reading means for reading image data on a surface of the paper sheet conveyed by the conveying means, and the conveying means. First control means for controlling whether or not to binarize the image data read by the first reading means in an arbitrary range determined in the vertical and horizontal directions of the surface of the paper conveyed by When the binarization control is performed by the first control unit, a first binarization for binarizing the image data read by the first reading unit with a predetermined binarization reference value Converting means, second reading means for reading image data on the back side of the sheet conveyed by the conveying means, and binarizing the image data read by the second reading means with a binarization reference value. The second binarizing means to be used and the binarized reference value of the second binarizing means are transported by the transporting means. Second control means for performing control for changing the back surface of the paper sheet in an arbitrary range determined in the vertical and horizontal directions; image data of the front surface binarized by the first binarization means; The storage device is configured to store image data of the front surface that has not been binarized by the first control device and image data of the back surface that has been binarized by the second binarization device. .

[0014]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a paper sheet reading apparatus according to the present invention. In other words, the paper sheet reader has a maximum of five application forms as paper sheets.
Slot 1 for loading 0 sheets, loading section 2 for loading application forms,
It comprises a back side reading unit 3 for reading the back side of the conveyed application form, a front side reading unit 4 for reading the front side of the conveyed application form, and a discharge unit 5 for discharging the conveyed application form.
Further, in the sheet reading apparatus, transport sensors 71 and 72 for detecting from the input of the input application to transport and discharge of the input application,
73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, pairs of transport rollers 61, 62, 6 as transport means for transporting the application form
3, and a discharge roller pair 51 for discharging the application form.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration of a control unit of the sheet reading apparatus. A CPU 100 for controlling the whole, a ROM 110 for storing an operation program and the like, a RAM 120 for storing various information, and a drive for various motors Driver 13
0, a front-side image processing unit 150 that processes an image from the front-side reading unit 4, a back-side image processing unit 160 that processes an image from the back-side reading unit 3, and a front-side image processing unit 150. And an image memory 140 for storing image data.

The front surface reading unit 4 in FIG. 1 includes a fluorescent light source 41 for illuminating the surface of the conveyed application form, a mirror 42 for reflecting light reflected from the application form, and condensing light reflected from the mirror 42. And a CCD sensor 44 for photoelectrically converting and reading. That is, the front surface reading unit 4 controlled by the CPU 100 reflects the reflected light from the fluorescent light source 41 at the reading position on the front surface of the application form to be conveyed by the mirror 42 and reads the reflected light by the CCD sensor 44 through the condenser lens 43. ing.

FIG. 3 shows a detailed configuration of the take-in unit 2, a pickup roller 21 for taking in an application, a paper feed roller 22 for feeding the application one by one, and a separation roller for separating the application. 23, a backup link 24 for pressing the application form input into the input port 1 against the pickup roller 21, a pressing plate 25, and a guide 26 for guiding the application form to be conveyed to the next stage. That is, the CPU 10
0 indicates that the backup link 24 is connected to the arrow 2 by an intake backup motor (not shown) via the driver 130.
The application form is moved in seven directions, and the bundle of application forms is pressed against the pickup roller 21 via the pressing plate 25. Here, the pickup roller 21 is rotated by rotation of a take-in motor (not shown).
Is rotated in the direction of the arrow to move the application form in the direction of the arrow 29 via the guide 26. At this time, the paper feed roller 22 and the separation roller 23 rotate in the direction of the arrow, and as a result, only the application form that is in direct contact with the paper feed roller 22 is taken out.

FIG. 4 shows a detailed configuration of the back surface reading section 3. Here, a 1: 1 image formation method is adopted, and a contact type image sensor unit 31 having a built-in amorphous silicon sensor, LED light source and selfoc lens array is used for reading. The 1: 1 imaging method has a drawback that the depth of focus is shallow, and therefore includes a backup roller 32 that presses the application form against the contact image sensor unit 31. Normally, the backup roller 32 is pressed against the close contact type image sensor unit 31 by a spring 34, and the gear drive system 35 is rotated by a solenoid 33, so that the backup roller 32 is retracted from the conveyance path.

The CPU 100 energizes the solenoid 33, and as shown in FIG.
From the transport path. When the leading end of the application form is conveyed by a fixed amount after passing through the conveyance sensors 75 and 76 and reaches the back surface reading start position, the CPU 100 turns off the power supply to the solenoid 33 and, as shown in FIG. The application is pressed against the contact image sensor unit 31. In this state, the CPU 100 reads the image data on the back surface with the contact image sensor unit 31 while conveying the application form. As a result, it is possible to accurately read even the same-magnification imaging method having a small depth of focus.

FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of the front surface image processing section 150. The surface image processing unit 150 includes a black and white conversion circuit 106 that converts 8-bit RGB data read by the CCD sensor 44 into black and white 8-bit data, and the comparator 10.
7, a signal selection circuit 108 and a count circuit 109.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the configuration of the back side image processing unit 160. The back side image processing unit 160 converts the RGB 8-bit data read by the contact image sensor unit 31 into black-and-white 8-bit data.
2, a reference value setting circuit 103, a counting circuit 104, and a comparator 101. Comparator 101,
The reference value setting circuit 103 and the count circuit 104 are integrated into one element as a binarization circuit 105.

Next, the operation of reading the application form in such a configuration will be described. FIG. 7 shows a configuration example of the front and back surfaces of the application form. FIG. 7A shows an application form surface 80.
A photograph 81 is attached to the upper right side, and a character portion 84 is provided below. In FIG. 6B, the application form back surface 82 is provided with a signature area 83A and a seal area 83B in the signature area 83. ing.

Here, the output of the image data on the back side 82 of the application form from the close contact type image sensor unit 31 is 8-bit RGB data. However, since what is required here is binary black-and-white data, the CPU 100 converts the data into monochrome 8-bit data by the monochrome conversion circuit 102.

Subsequently, the CPU 100 performs a black and white discrimination by the comparator 101. Here, the reference side of the comparator 101 is connected to the reference value setting circuit 103. The reference value setting circuit 103 includes a level setting signal (vertical position signal) from the CPU 100 and horizontal position information (horizontal reference position signal) of the contact image sensor unit 31.
Is entered.

The level setting signal (vertical position signal) set by the CPU 100 in the reference value setting circuit 103 is 2 bits, and is "00" before image data is captured as shown in FIG.
Set to. The CPU 100 calculates the position in the vertical direction based on the transport amount of the application form, and sets the signal to “01” when the signature seal area 83 is reached as shown in FIG. 00 ”.

On the other hand, the horizontal position information is based on the horizontal reference position signal (H) of the contact type image sensor unit 31.
SYNC), and is supplied as a horizontal reference position signal by a count circuit 104 counted up by a reference clock (CLK) of the contact image sensor unit 31.

This horizontal reference position signal is also 2 bits.
As shown in FIG. 8, it is initially set to "00", and when it reaches the signature range 83A, it becomes "01".
“10” in 3B, “0” when exiting the signature seal range 83
Return to "0".

Here, when the horizontal reference position signal and the vertical position signal are both "01", the reference value setting circuit 103 sets the reference level to slightly white, and sets "01",
In the case of the combination of "10", the image in the signature range 83A is read darker than the other range and the seal range 83B is read deeper by bringing the image closer to the white side.

As can be easily understood, in this case, the reference value is 1
There are six types, and the CPU 100 can freely set the range and the reference value in the application form. It is obvious that the type of the reference value becomes the square if the bit width of the signal set in the reference value setting circuit 103 is increased. Actually, as described above, the comparator 101 and the reference value setting circuit 10
3. The count circuit 104 is integrated into one element as a binarization circuit 105.

The CPU 100 uses the signal selection circuit 108 to capture image data in full color (256 gradations for each of RGB) of the photograph 81 affixed to the application form surface 80, and the character portion 84 below the application form surface 80 to be black and white. The image data is captured in black and white binary using the conversion circuit 106 and the comparator 107.

Here, a horizontal position signal is reset by a count circuit 109 which is reset by a vertical position signal by the CPU 100 and a horizontal reference position signal (HSYNC) of the CCD sensor 44, and is counted up by a reference clock (CLK) of the CCD sensor 44. The photograph portion directly reads the image data according to the direction position signal. On the other hand, in the black-and-white portion (character portion 84), the reading density does not need to be changed in this example, so that the binarizing circuit is only the comparator 107 and the reference value is fixed. It is obvious that the reading density can be changed by providing a binarization circuit 105 similar to the back side of the application form.

In the above embodiment, the binarizing circuit 105
, The reference value of the reading density is made variable. However, it is also possible to preliminarily capture data with a value larger than two values and binarize the data at the time of display, transmission, and storage. In this case, for example, it is displayed once, and if the operator is dissatisfied with the density, the reference value can be changed by an appropriate operation and displayed again, which is useful in that respect. However, there is a disadvantage that a large amount of image memory is required.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, there is a possibility that an image is particularly clearly read in one sheet, for example, a possibility of occurrence of blurring such as a signature or a seal. Only a certain portion can be read dark, and as a result, the amount of image data by compression can be reduced.

[0034]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a paper sheet reading apparatus capable of reducing the amount of image data obtained by compressing a read image in the image reading of paper sheets and reading good image data.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a paper sheet reading apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit of the paper sheet reading apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of a capturing unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a back surface reading unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a surface image processing unit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a back image processing unit.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a front surface and a back surface of an application form.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining changes in vertical and horizontal signals on the back of the application form.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Inlet 2 ... Intake part 3 ... Backside reading part (reading means) 4 ... Surface reading part (reading means) 5 ... Discharge part 31 ... Contact image sensor unit 44 ... CCD sensor 100 ... CPU (control means) 101 107, comparators 102, 106, black and white conversion circuit 103, reference value setting circuit 104, counting circuit 105, binarization circuit (binarization means) 140, image memory 150, front side image processing section 160, back side image processing section

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04N 1/40 103A

Claims (7)

[Claims] A transport unit for transporting the paper sheet; a reading unit for reading image data of the paper sheet transported by the transport unit;
Binarizing means for binarizing by comparing with a binarizing reference value; and performing control to vary the binarizing reference value of the binarizing means in a reading range of the sheet conveyed by the conveying means. A sheet reader, comprising: a control unit. 2. A conveying means for conveying paper sheets, a reading means for reading image data of the paper sheets conveyed by the conveying means, and a means for reading the image data of the paper sheets read by the reading means.
A binarizing means for performing binarization by comparing with a binarizing reference value; and an arbitrary binarizing reference value of the binarizing means which is determined in the vertical and horizontal directions of the sheet conveyed by the conveying means. A sheet reading apparatus, comprising: control means for performing control that varies in a range. 3. A transporting means for transporting the paper sheets, a reading means for reading image data of the paper sheets transported by the transporting means, and a reading range of the paper sheets transported by the transporting means. A first control unit for controlling whether or not the image data read by the reading unit is binarized; and a reading unit configured to read the image data when the first control unit performs the binarization control. Binarizing means for binarizing the obtained image data by comparing it with a binarization reference value, and reading the binarization reference value of the binarization means with a reading range of a sheet conveyed by the conveying means. And a second control means for performing a variable control of the sheet reading device. 4. A transport means for transporting the paper sheets, a reading means for reading image data of the paper sheets transported by the transport means, and a vertical and horizontal direction of the paper sheets transported by the transport means. A first control unit for controlling whether or not the image data read by the reading unit is binarized within an arbitrary range determined; and when the first control unit performs the binarization control, A binarizing unit for binarizing the image data read by the reading unit by comparing the image data with a binarizing reference value; and converting the binarized reference value of the binarizing unit to a paper conveyed by the conveying unit. And a second control means for performing control for changing the range of the leaves in an arbitrary range determined in the vertical and horizontal directions. 5. A transporting means for transporting a sheet, a reading means for reading image data of the paper transported by the transporting means, and a reading range of the paper transported by the transporting means. A first control unit for controlling whether or not the image data read by the reading unit is binarized; and a reading unit configured to read the image data when the first control unit performs the binarization control. Binarizing means for binarizing the obtained image data by comparing it with a binarization reference value, and reading the binarization reference value of the binarization means with a reading range of a sheet conveyed by the conveying means. A second control means for performing variable control by means of: a second control means for controlling the image data binarized by the binarization means using the binarization reference value controlled by the second control means; Storage means for storing image data subjected to control that is not binarized by the means. A paper sheet reader characterized by the above-mentioned. 6. A transport means for transporting paper sheets, a reading means for reading image data of the paper sheets transported by the transport means, and a vertical and horizontal direction of the paper sheets transported by the transport means. A first control unit for controlling whether or not the image data read by the reading unit is binarized within an arbitrary range determined; and when the first control unit performs the binarization control, A binarizing unit for binarizing the image data read by the reading unit by comparing the image data with a binarizing reference value; and converting the binarized reference value of the binarizing unit to a paper conveyed by the conveying unit. A second control means for performing control for changing the leaves in an arbitrary range determined in the vertical and horizontal directions; and a binarization means using the binarization reference value controlled by the second control means. Valued image data and image data subjected to non-binary control by the first control means Paper sheet reading apparatus characterized by comprising a storage means for storing. 7. A transporting means for transporting a paper sheet, a first reading means for reading image data on a surface of the paper sheet transported by the transporting means, and a paper reading means for transporting the paper sheet by the transporting means. A first control means for controlling whether or not the image data read by the first reading means is binarized in an arbitrary range determined in the vertical and horizontal directions of the surface; A first binarizing unit for binarizing the image data read by the first reading unit with a predetermined binarization reference value when the control for binarizing is performed; Second reading means for reading the image data on the back side of the conveyed sheets, and second binarizing means for binarizing the image data read by the second reading means with a binarization reference value The binary reference value of the second binarizing unit is set to the vertical value of the back surface of the sheet conveyed by the conveying unit. Second control means for performing variable control in an arbitrary range determined in the horizontal direction; surface image data binarized by the first binarization means; and binarization by the first control means. A sheet storing means for storing image data of the front side which is not controlled and image data of the back side binarized by the second binarizing means. apparatus.