JPS63245776A - Image reader for transaction medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To read out the images of embossed characters by utilizing the continuous change of the inclination of a face forming a protruding part of each embossed character of a transaction medium and directly reading out the reflected light of illumination light. CONSTITUTION:An embossed character 2 is irradiated by light from an optical means 4 for receiving light 5 from a light source 6 and changing its direction. A shielding means 8 prevents an image reading means 3 from the direct arrival of light from the light source 6 and prevents the means from the arrival of light other than the reflected light from the embossed character 2. The reflected light from the embossed character 2 is read out by the image reading means 3 to read out the image.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image reading device that reads as an image the embossed part of a transaction medium such as a cash card or an IC card, and particularly relates to an embossed part of a transaction medium used in a transaction recording device. The present invention relates to an image reading device suitable for reading images as images.

[Conventional technology]

Conventional devices of this kind, as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-548, scan part or all of a magnetic card optically, extract the image information as an electrical signal, and store the image information. At the same time, it began to be printed on journal paper.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

The above-mentioned conventional technology does not take into account the technology for reading image information based on the color tone of the surface of a magnetic card. There were problems such as making it difficult to read the image or not being able to read it clearly. Also, on some new cards, the tops of the embossed letters are colored in a different tone from the base.
If the card is used for a long time, the coloring on the top part of the card will start to fade and become the same as the base color, making it impossible to read the card.

An object of the present invention is to make it possible to reliably read embossed characters on transaction media not only when the embossed characters have different tones but also when they have the same color tone.

[Means for solving problems]

The above purpose is to place the image near the transaction medium where the image is to be read.
This is achieved by allowing only the reflected light that is irradiated and reflected from the embossed characters on the transaction medium out of the bright light irradiated onto the transaction medium to reach the image reading means.

[For production]

The illumination light irradiated on the embossed characters of the transaction medium will not reach the image reading means if it is reflected by a flat part of the transaction medium, whereas the illumination light irradiated on the embossed character part of the transaction medium will not reach the image reading means. Since the inclination of this surface changes continuously, the light is reflected from any part and reaches the image reading means directly as reflected light. The aforementioned illumination light is emitted from around the transaction medium, so
The reflected light from the protruding parts forming the Ninohe boss letters is reflected light corresponding to the embossed letters, and by reading this with an image reading means, the color tone of the base (flat part) of the trading medium and the embossed letters can be determined. Embossed characters can be reliably read even if they are the same.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

An image reading means 3 is located at a position facing a card 1 having embossed characters 2 such as a cash card as a transaction medium.
A ring-shaped light source 6 surrounds the image reading means 3, and an optical means 4 that receives the light ray 5 from the light source 6 and changes the direction of the light ray 5 is arranged.

The conveyance means 7 for conveying the aforementioned card 1 consists of pulleys 71, 72 and a belt 73 engaged with these pulleys 71, 72. This conveying means 7 carries the card 1
This is for transporting the card 1 to a position for reading the image thereof, that is, so that the card 1 is illuminated by the optical means 4 and positioned within the readable field of view of the image reading means 3.

The shielding means 8 prevents the light ray 5 from the light source 6 from directly reaching the image reading means 3, and also prevents the light rays other than the reflected light from the embossed characters 2 of the card 1 from reaching the image reading means 3. It is provided between the image reading means 3 and the optical means 4. Further, on the inner wall side of the shielding means 8, an anti-reflection measure is taken, such as pasting black felt, so that the reflected light from the card 1 is not reflected by this inner wall.

Light rays 51, 53, and 55 are light rays from the optical means 4, and are illumination light that illuminates the card 1. Also the rays 52.54.5
6 shows the reflected light reflected by the card 1. The illumination light from the optical means 4 is applied to the card 1 in such a way that, for example, a light ray 51 is irradiated onto a flat part of the card 1 and does not directly reach the image reading means 3 like the light ray 52 which is the reflected light.
is irradiated. On the other hand, the light rays 53 and 55 irradiated onto the convex part of the embossed characters 2 on the card 1 are light rays 53 and 55.
As shown in 4.56, an optical means 4 and a shielding means 8 are provided so as to directly reach the image reading device 3.

3 and 4 are diagrams for explaining details of a specific example of the optical means 4. FIG. The optical means 4 is a plate-shaped light-emitting object made of light-concentrating resin, which absorbs direct light or diffused light from the surroundings, converts it into fluorescent light within the resin, totally reflects it, and guides it to the edge portion. It emits from the end face. That is, the light-condensing resin of the optical means 4 contains a fluorescent dye, and when the light beam 5 acts on the fluorescent dye 41, for example, it emits fluorescence in all directions. A hood 9 divided into several spaces is provided at the side end for illuminating the card 1 to prevent the illumination light from spreading, and a reflecting plate 42 is provided at the other end. The optical means 4 are arranged around the card 1 in such a way that they can be illuminated from around the card 1.

Further, on the inner surface of each of the aforementioned hoods 9, an anti-reflection member 9, such as black felt, is provided to prevent reflection.
1 is pasting. When the light beam 5 from the light source 6 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 reaches the optical means 4, fluorescence is emitted in all directions from the fluorescent dye inside. The light ray 57 emitted from the fluorescent dye 41 is reflected at the points 60, 61, 62, and the hood 9
When the light reaches the point 63 of the anti-reflection member 91 on the inner surface of the card 1, the light is not reflected at this point and does not become a light beam for illuminating the card 1. The light ray 58 is a light ray emitted from the fluorescent dye 41 that passes through a point 64 on the end surface of the optical system means on the side of the hood 9 and a point 65 that grazes the tip of the hood 9 on the diagonal side. Similarly, the light ray 59 is a light ray that passes through a point 66 on the end surface of the optical means 4 on the side of the hood 9 and a point 67 that grazes the tip of the hood 9 on the diagonal side.

That is, the light rays closer to the center than the light rays 58 and 59 become illumination light, but the light rays on the outside are absorbed by the felt 91 of the hood 9 and do not become illumination light. Ray 51 shown in FIG.
．． Reference numeral 53 indicates a light ray closer to the center than the light ray 58 and the light ray 59 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the hood 9 is divided into several spaces, and it is possible to obtain illumination light close to parallel rays with limited spread in each space.

The illumination light from the optical means 4 is prevented from reaching the image reading means 3 on the flat part of the card 1, like the reflected light 52 of the light ray 51 in FIG. When irradiated, the reflected light 54 of the light ray 53
, or the optical means 4 is arranged so that the reflected light 56 of the light ray 55 directly reaches the image reading means 3.

The present invention will be explained in detail below. 1 and 2, the light ray 5 emitted from the light source 6 reaches the optical means 4, and the light ray 5 that reaches the optical means 4 is, for example, fluorescent dye 41, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Acting and producing rays of light in all directions 57.58
．． It emits fluorescence such as 59. The fluorescence emitted by the fluorescent dye 41 is repeatedly totally reflected by the reflecting plate 42 and the like, and is guided to the side end of the hood 9. The light rays emitted from this end are converted by the hood 9 into nearly parallel illumination light to illuminate the card 1 from its surroundings. The card 1 is transported by the conveyance means 7 shown in FIG.
When the image is transported to a position for reading the image, it is illuminated with illumination light from the hood 9. Illumination light on the flat part of card 1 (ray 51 in Figure 2) is reflected (ray 52)
However, it is absorbed by the shielding means 8 and the like and does not reach the image reading means 3. On the other hand, embossed letter 2 on card 1
The illumination light (rays 53.55 in FIG. 2) becomes reflected light (rays 54.56) which directly reaches the image reading means 3 due to the inclination of the continuous surface of the protruding part of the embossed character 2, and the image can be read. The aforementioned illumination light is
Since the card 1 is illuminated from around it, the embossed characters 2 can be read. That is, according to this embodiment, the part of the embossed character 2 where the direct reflected light reaches the image reading means 3 is in a bright state, and the other part is in a dark state because the reflected light does not reach the image reading means 3, and the image of the embossed character 2 is can be read regardless of the color tone of the card 1 and the embossed characters 2.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7.

An image reading means 3 is disposed at a position facing a card 1 having embossed characters 2 such as a cash card as a transaction medium, and a ring-shaped light source 6 surrounding this image reading means 3 is provided from the ring-shaped light source 6. The incident ray 5 of
As an optical means having a groove-shaped exit surface that absorbs and emits light internally, guides the emitted light by utilizing total reflection inside the object surface, and emits an outgoing light beam 51,53 that irradiates the surface of the card 1. Of the light reflected by the plate-shaped light-emitting object 4 and card 1, only the light 54 reflected from the protruding portion of the embossed characters 2 reaches the image reading means 3, and the light reflected from other parts or other light rays is rejected. A blocking means 8 is provided.

The plate-shaped light-emitting object 4 as an optical means is made of a light-concentrating resin, and contains therein a substance such as a fluorescent dye, which absorbs light and emits light at a wavelength different from the absorbed light. Upon receiving the incident light 5 from the light source 6, the luminescent material contained therein absorbs the incident light 5 and emits light. Since light is emitted inside the plate-like light-emitting object 4, the interface between the plate-like light-emitting object 1 and another medium can be regarded as a substantially total reflection surface, and the emitted light is guided to a groove-like exit surface 45, which will be described later. Plate-shaped luminous object 1
As shown in FIG. 8, the surface on which the incident light ray 5 is incident,
Anti-reflection coating 46 to reduce loss due to reflection upon incidence
A more desirable configuration can be obtained by adding a mirror material 47, typically a deposited silver film, to surfaces other than the incident and exit surfaces to prevent the incident light 5 and the light emitted inside from being transmitted to the outside. The exit surface is shaped like a grooved exit surface 45 so that the card 1 can receive optimal illumination from the surroundings in an oblique direction.
Although it is sufficient if it is formed to surround the circle, the circular shape shown in FIG. 10 is usually formed into the rectangular shape shown in FIG. 11.

Furthermore, if the groove-like exit surface 45 shown in FIG. 8 is formed as a lens-like exit surface 48 as shown in FIG.
This is a more desirable form because it can limit the radiation angle of the beam. When the plate-shaped light-emitting object 4 described here is used, the illumination light that is irradiated onto the card 1 can not only be illuminated from an oblique direction around the card 1, which is optimal for reading the image of the embossed characters 2 on the card 1; Since the incident light ray 5 received by the wide-area entrance surface is converted into the output light ray 51 from the narrow-area exit surface 45 or 48, there is an effect of increasing the light intensity per unit area.

The relationship between the emitted light ray 51 whose irradiation angle with respect to the card 1 is adjusted by the plate-shaped light emitting object 1 and the reflected light from the card 1 will be explained with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 shows the image reading means 3 in FIG. Embossed characters 2 provided on the card 1, which only indicate the relationship between the emitted light and the reflected light, are generally extruded from the back surface of the card 1 to the front surface. Therefore, in the embossed character 2, the inclination of the surface of the protruding portion changes continuously. Light rays 51 and 55 are illumination lights that are emitted from the plate-shaped light-emitting object 4 and reach the card 1,
The light rays 52 and 56 are the reflected lights for the respective illumination lights reflected by the card 1.

The light rays 51 and 55, which are illumination lights, are placed on the flat surface of the plate-shaped light-emitting object 4 such that the reflected light does not reach the image reading means 3 directly on a flat surface other than the protrusion of the embossed characters 2 on the card 1. The angle and position of the exit surface 45 are set. Light ray 52 is illumination light. Light ray 51 is card 1.
The light ray 56 is the reflected light that is reflected from the illumination light ray 55 on the protrusion of the embossed character 2 of the card 1 and reaches the image reading means 3.

The operation will be explained below. In FIG. 6, incident light 5 emitted from the light source 6 is absorbed by the plate-shaped light-emitting object 3 and emitted from the output surface 45 as output light 51 due to internal light emission, and is conveyed to the image reading position by the conveyance means 7. Light up card 1. The illumination light is reflected in various directions depending on the condition of the surface of the card 1, and only the reflected light reflected by the protrusions of the embossed characters 2 reaches the image reading means 3 as shown in FIG. That is, the protruding parts of the embossed characters 2 are in a bright state as the direct reflected light reaches the image reading means 3, and the other parts are in a dark state because the reflected light does not reach them, making it impossible for the embossed characters 2 to be read by the image reading means 3. can.

In each of the embodiments described above, the image reading means 3 is provided facing the card 1, but it is also possible to guide the image reading means 3 using a mirror, an image guide, etc., which changes the essence of the present invention. It's not a thing.

Furthermore, although a ring-shaped light source 6 is shown in this embodiment, the light source 6 is not limited to this shape, and it is also possible to use a single incandescent light bulb, a light emitting diode, etc., or a plurality of light sources arranged in a ring shape. In particular, since the plate-shaped light-emitting object 3 is used, it is expected that the intensity distribution of the illumination light will be averaged by the propagation of light due to internal light emission, which is convenient for image reading.

Further, the image reading means 3 may be provided with a shielding means for shielding light rays other than the light reflected from the protruding portions of the embossed characters 2 of the card 1.

In each of the embodiments described above, the image reading means 3 is provided at a position facing the card 1, but it is also possible to guide the image to the image reading means using a mirror, an image guide, etc., which changes the essence of the present invention. It's not a thing.

Further, when the shielding means shown in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is provided, there is no need to provide a particular light source, and surface-sealed light or diffused light around the optical means 4 may be used.

[Effect of excavation]

According to the present invention, the reflected light of the illumination light can be directly read by utilizing the continuous change in the inclination of the surface forming the protruding part of the embossed characters on the transaction medium, so that the color tone of each part of the transaction medium can be It is possible to reliably read the image of embossed characters on a transaction medium regardless of the relationship.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another example of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a cross section taken along the line VI-VI' in FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between illumination light and reflected light of the transaction medium in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 and 11 are diagrams showing the shape of the output surface of the plate-shaped light emitting object in the present invention.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an image reading device that reads a transaction medium as an image, a transaction medium conveying means for conveying the transaction medium;
an image reading means for reading embossed characters on a transaction medium as an image; and an image reading means disposed near the transaction medium to cause only reflected light from the embossed characters among the illumination light irradiated onto the transaction medium to reach the image reading means. An image reading device characterized by comprising an optical means for. 2. A shielding plate is disposed between the optical means and the image reading means so that only the reflected light from the embossed characters of the illumination light irradiated onto the transaction medium reaches the image reading means. An image reading device according to claim 1. 3. The optical means absorbs the incident light and converts it into fluorescence internally,
3. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein the image reading device is a plate-shaped light-emitting object made of a light-condensing resin that is totally reflected, guided to an end surface, and emitted from the end surface. 4. The image reading device according to claim 3, wherein a hood is disposed on the output surface of the plate-shaped light emitting object to make the illumination light close to parallel light.