JPS63131284A - Embossed card processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To process on-line and to enhance a function and the expansion property of the titled processor by reading an embossed character optically, converting the data to electronic signals and coding them. CONSTITUTION:A reader part 2 reads an embossed character coined in an embossed card and converts it to electric signals. An identification part 3 generates a binarization pattern data from these electric signals, collates the resulting pattern data with the feature data of a prescribed embossed character stored in a feature data storing part 4, and thus discriminates the character or symbolic code. Thus discriminated character or symbolic code is stored in a character/symbolic code storing part 5, thereafter is transmitted to a displayer 7 and a printer 8 via a transmission processing part 6.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention provides an embossed card that reads and identifies embossed characters on embossed cards used for bank cards, hospital visits, etc., and sends them out as a character code. It relates to a processing device.

[Conventional technology]

Embossed plastic cards are widely used in bank cards, hospital tickets, various membership cards, and the like.

These embossed cards have the name, registration number, etc. embossed on the card in order to specifically identify the individual who owns the card. Deposit from
By pressurizing and inputting the embossed contents, such as name, registration number, date of birth, and gender, on slips used in the hospital, it is possible to transcribe and record which patient the slip belongs to.

This transfer record is created by using pressure-sensitive paper on top of the embossed characters, then placing the next recording paper on top of it and applying pressure with a roller or the like to transfer the two embossed contents onto the recording paper.
In each case, it is used as an effective means to accurately record information identifying the target person on recording paper such as a slip without writing down the name of the target person without making transcription mistakes.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

As mentioned above, it is an effective method for transferring specific information from an embossed card to a slip, but it is also useful for post-processing such as accounting at a pharmacy, testing facility, hospital counter, or other document-related department according to the instructions on the slip. Although it is necessary to transfer the specific information on the slip to a ledger, the efficiency of work at this point is significantly inferior to that at the time of acceptance described above.

In other words, the act of pressurizing the embossed characters is mechanically copied, so the copy information is reliable, and although it is a simple and effective method, it has limited scalability and functionality as information because it is local processing. There is a problem with this.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention provides an embossed character processing device that displays embossed characters engraved on an embossed card on a recording medium, including a reading means that optically reads the embossed characters and converts them into an electrical signal, and a binary pattern formed from the electrical signal. an identification means that generates data and identifies the corresponding character or symbol code by comparing the pattern data with characteristic data of a predetermined embossed character that has already been stored; a storage means that stores the character or symbol code; It is characterized by comprising a transmission processing means for transmitting characters and symbol codes read from the storage means to a recording medium or the like.

[Effect]

According to the present invention as described above, the embossed card inserted into the opening of the processing device is irradiated from two directions in the reading section, the shading of two patterns is captured by the irradiation, and the difference between these two shadings is read. By doing this, unnecessary parts such as background patterns and dirt are removed to generate binary pattern data of only the embossed characters, and this pattern data is compared with the characteristic data of the predetermined embossed characters that have already been stored to determine the corresponding character and symbol code. By identifying and storing this information, it is possible to send it to a display, printer, etc. as needed.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the main parts, and numeral 1 is an embossed card processing device, and 2 is a reading section which reads the embossed characters on the received embossed card by optical means as will be described later.

Reference numeral 3 denotes an identification unit which compares the binarized electronic information of the embossed characters read by the reading unit 2 with the two-embossed character feature data that has been binarized and stored in the feature data storage unit 4 in advance. The character symbol code of the corresponding character symbol is extracted and stored in the character symbol code storage section 5.

6 is a display 7 or link 8 connected to the outside
This is a sending processing unit that sends signals to output devices such as.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a specific example of the queen reading section 2. In the figure, 9 is a front panel of the device, and a card insertion guide 11 protrudes from an opening 10.

12 is a conveyance roller, and 13 is a conveyance belt. They are driven by a motor 14 whose rotation is controlled in both forward and reverse directions, and are supported by the roller 12.

16 is a light emitting diode provided inside the opening 10, and 17 is a light receiving transistor facing the light emitting diode 16.

Reference numeral 18 denotes an image sensor section, in which light emitting diode arrays 19 and 20 each including a plurality of light emitting diodes are arranged facing each other at a predetermined angle. 21 is a light condenser placed between both light emitting diode arrays 19 and 20;
For example, it is made up of a self-off lens array. 22
is a light-receiving surface that receives the image formed by this light condenser 21;
For example, it is composed of an amorphous silicon sensor surface or the like.

23 is an embossed card on which embossed characters 24 are formed.

The operation of the embodiment having the above configuration will be explained below.

When the embossed card 23 is inserted through the opening 10 by the card insertion guide 11 with the embossed characters 24 facing upward, it is drawn into the processing device 1 by the conveyance belt 13 driven by the conveyance rollers 12 and the motor 14.

At this time, the embossed card 23 blocks the light from the light emitting diode 16, and it is detected that the embossed card 23 has been inserted through the opening 10.

The embossed characters 24 on the embossed card 23 drawn into the processing device are sequentially scanned by the image sensor unit 18.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of an embossed card, and is an example of a medical examination ticket, with the embossed characters 24 being 0144-85.
8-9 x x Taro, S250815, M is displayed, and the registration number, name, date of birth, and gender are printed in print.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the thermal image read by the image sensor unit 18, in which (1) is an image caused by irradiation by the light-emitting diode 19, (l is the image caused by υ heat radiation by the light-emitting diode 20, Each image is a uniform image in which the shading of the embossed characters 24 and the image of printing, ground pattern, dirt, etc. are superimposed. The light emitted from the light emitting diode array 19.20 is reflected off the embossed letters 24, and the scattered light is sent to the condenser 2.
1 and receives an image on the light-receiving surface 22. Since the light emitting angles from each light emitting diode array 19° and 20 are different, images (I) and (II) above are formed. become.

Each image formed in this way is as shown in Figure 5.
Figure 4 (I), (l) is differentiated. In other words, the above-mentioned background patterns and printing stains are erased by disappearing in both,
Only the shading of the convex portion caused by the embossed letters is shown highlighted. This is done by creating images with different shadings of the lines (6) in Figure 4, and by subtracting these images, only the shading caused by the die-embossed characters is captured, which is then subjected to electronic binarization processing and sent to the identification section. The embossed card is then ejected from the opening 10 and returned to the customer.

The identification unit 3 compares the above-mentioned binary read data of the embossed characters with the feature data in the feature data storage unit 4 that already stores the corresponding characters, symbol codes, etc., and identifies the corresponding characters. Extract the character and symbol code to create the character,
It is stored in the symbol code storage section 5.

These encoded characters and symbols are output to the display 7 or printer 8 at any time via the output processing section 6, and the processing is completed.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention described in detail above, conventionally, embossed cards were printed with embossed characters on recording paper by mechanical transfer using pressure, etc., but this is optically read and digitized. Furthermore, by encoding this, it is possible to process it online as, for example, digital symbol data, which has the excellent effect of dramatically increasing its functionality and expandability.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a side view showing an embodiment of the reading section, Fig. 3 is a front view showing an example of an embossed card, and Fig. 4 (I). . (ID is an explanatory diagram showing the image read by the image sensor section,
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an image obtained by subtracting the 1 m image from FIG. 4 (I). 1... Embossed card processing device 2... Reading section 3
...Identification section 4...Characteristic data storage section 5...Character and symbol code storage section 6...Output processing section 7...
Display 8...Printer

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An embossed card processing device that displays embossed characters engraved on an embossed card on a recording medium, comprising: reading means that optically reads the embossed characters and converts them into electrical signals; Identification means that generates binary pattern data and identifies the corresponding character or symbol code by comparing this pattern data with already stored characteristic data of a predetermined embossed character; and a memory that stores the character or symbol code. 1. An embossed card processing device comprising: means; and sending processing means for sending characters and symbol codes read from the storage means to a recording medium or the like. 2. In claim 1, a light source is provided that illuminates the embossed characters from two diagonal directions, and a condenser is provided between them to collect the reflected light, and the light images received from the two directions are differentiated and binarized. An embossed card processing device characterized by processing pattern data.