JPS6336657A - Read controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To accurately read the mark information of a mark area on an optical mark read sheet by providing a means identifying an optical mark read sheet and a document sheet and a prescribed picture processing means. CONSTITUTION:An identification means 11 provided to a reader interface 21 identifies whether a sheet carried on a reader section 1 is an optical mark read sheet or a document sheet. When the identification means 11 identifies it as the optical mark read sheet, a picture processing section 1g uses the timing mark outputted on the optical mark read sheet and the mark information marked on a mark area subsequent to the timing mark so as to vary the photoelectric conversion level, thereby reading the data. Thus, the mark information of the mark area on the optical mark read sheet is read accurately.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a reading control device for optical marks printed to add read information on a document sheet registered in an electronic filing system.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in this type of electronic filing system,
It is configured such that a large amount of information is registered on a recording medium such as an optical disk, and the registered information, such as a document or image, can be read out at any time by inputting the readout information (keyword) added at the time of registration. .

In this case, the information to be registered (sheet-like or book-like) is optically read by an image league (optical scanner) and binarized, and then the operator inputs keywords from an input means such as a keyboard. Create a type for each information to be registered and a keyword file for the document file to be registered in advance, and then use the image reader to create a sentence 1! There is a type in which an operator performs one reading operation of a j file and, when the reading is completed, performs the task of linking the relationship between the keyword file and the document file as described above.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

Therefore, in the former case, when registering multiple documents, the operator must perform a key operation to add a keyword to each document, resulting in a significant drop in document registration efficiency. was there. Regarding the latter, although multiple documents can be input at once, the operator must link the keywords for each document after input, and the time required to register documents in electronic filing is longer than the time required to retrieve documents. There was a problem in that it took a considerable amount of time compared to the time required.

In order to improve these problems.

A system has also been proposed in which keywords are input using a reading device such as an optical mark reader or an optical card reader, and a document file is input at the same time. Therefore, new problems arise, such as a significant increase in total cost.

This invention was made to solve the above problems, and an image reading means identifies a document sheet and an optical mark reading sheet, and identifies the timing mark outputted on the optical mark reading sheet and the timing mark. By varying the conversion level of the mark information marked in the mark area subordinate to the mark area and converting it into an electrical signal, the information necessary for reading and registering the document sheet marked in the mark area on the optical mark reading sheet can be accurately read. The purpose is to obtain a reading control device that can be read.

[Means for solving problems]

The reading control device according to the present invention includes a sheet identifying means for identifying an optical mark reading sheet and a document sheet outputted from an image output means to an image reading means, and a sheet identifying means that identifies the sheet type as an optical mark reading sheet. is provided with an image processing means for reading the timing mark outputted on the optical mark reading sheet and the mark information marked in the mark area subordinate to the timing mark by varying the photoelectric conversion level when the timing mark is identified. It is.

[Effect]

In this invention, when the identification means identifies the sheet type as an optical mark reading sheet, the image processing means marks the timing mark output on the optical mark reading sheet and the mark area subordinate to this timing mark. It is read by varying the photoelectric conversion level based on the mark information.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is an external view illustrating the configuration of an electronic file device showing an embodiment of the present invention, in which numeral 1 denotes a league portion which also serves as a reading means of the present invention, and an automatic document feeder (ADF) 2.
Based on identification means 11 (described later) and identification information outputted from the identification means 11 (sheet identification means), the document sheet or the optical mark reading sheet to be described later is optically read and the document sheet conveyed by It has a control means 12 (described later) that controls the scanning speed of an optical scanning section (described later) or the document conveyance speed of the automatic document feeder 2. Note that the identification means 11 and the control means 12 are provided in a reader interface section 21, which will be described later. Further, the control means 12 also functions as a control means, a mode setting means, a reading mode setting means, an address correction means, a comparison means 9 judgment means, a mark information comparison means, etc. of the present invention. 3
is a printer section, which is composed of, for example, a laser beam printer. Reference numeral 4 denotes a paper feed section that outputs a sheet-shaped recording medium to an image forming section inside the printer. Reference numeral 5 denotes a workstation section which also serves as an editing means of the present invention; an image registration section 5a in which an optical recording medium constituted by an optical disk is accommodated; a keyboard 5b for inputting operation commands; a pointing device 5c; and an image read from the reader section 1. It consists of a bitmap display 5d'8- for displaying a document image as a rask image, and is connected to the printer section 3 and the league section 1 through a communication line 6.7. Note that the workstation section 5 includes each section 5a to 5d and a printer section 3. A control unit (
CPU).

FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the structure of the reader ff1l shown in FIG. 1, and the same parts as in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals.

In this figure, reference numeral 1a denotes a light source that irradiates light onto a document sheet or an optical mark reading sheet (hereinafter referred to as an OMR sheet) that is automatically conveyed by an ADF 2 to an original platen on a reader section 1. A reading sensor 1b receives reflected light from the light source 1a. Ic and ld are scanning mirrors, and the reflected light is passed through an optical lens 1e to a COD, for example.
Optical information is imaged on an image sensor (line sensor) 1f composed of. 1g is an image processing unit that also serves as the image processing means of the present invention, and performs predetermined processing on the image signal based on the image information output from the line sensor 1f, such as halftone processing (dither processing), binarization processing (slice processing to be described later). level) and transfers that information to the workstation unit 5 via the league interface 21. 2a is the document tray, which holds the document sheet (indicated by a broken line) and the ○MR sheet (
(indicated by a solid line) are stacked and automatically conveyed sequentially starting from the bottom sheet. Note that the ADF 2 is configured to automatically transport the sheet to the document table, and the optically scanned sheet is automatically ejected. Further, the reading sensor 1b and the light source 1d constitute an optical scanning section, and this optical scanning section moves in the direction of the arrow to read the sheet placed on the platen.

FIG. 3(a) is a sectional view of a laser beam printer showing an example of the printer section 3 shown in FIG. 1, and parts that perform the same functions as those in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals.

In this figure, 3a is a laser unit that modulates the semiconductor laser on/off based on image information sent from the printer interface unit 22. 3b is a scanning mirror, which is a polygon mirror (
The photosensitive drum 3C is irradiated with a laser beam LB deflected by a laser beam (not shown) to form an electrostatic latent image. 3d is a developing device that converts the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 3c into a developer (
toner) to visualize it. Reference numeral 3e denotes a transfer charger that transfers a toner image onto the recording paper fed from the paper feed section 4. 3f is a conveyor belt that conveys the recording paper on which transfer has been completed in the direction of the dotted arrow. 3g is a fixing roller which fixes the toner image transferred to the recording paper onto the recording paper and discharges the paper to a paper discharge tray.

3h is a skew conveyance detector serving as a detector of the present invention, which irradiates light onto the recording paper fed from the paper feed section 4, receives the reflected light, and determines the skewed state 7g of the recording paper; The skew state is transferred to the printer interface unit 22 (print control means). As a result, the address of the image information is normalized so that the image information transferred to the printer interface unit 22 is printed in vertical and horizontal lines on the recording paper that is conveyed obliquely. A line sensor 31 transfers light reflected from the toner image transferred to the recording paper, that is, print information, to the printer interface unit 22. As a result, the printer interface section 22 compares (verifies) whether the input image information and print information match, and if the two are significantly different, issues a command to output the image information again. In addition,
It is not necessary to provide both the skew conveyance detector 3h and the line sensor 31, and by providing either one of them, editing information created by the workstation section 5 or image information read by the reader section 1 can be recorded as being conveyed. It can be output accurately on paper, and the reading sensor 1b provided in the reader section 1 can correctly determine the management information of the document sheet.

FIG. 3(b) is a cross-sectional view showing a case where the printer section 3 shown in FIG. JS1 is configured with a four-drum color laser beam printer. The same sign is (=j').

In addition, this color laser beam printer can form a multicolor image by transferring each color of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) to the recording paper being conveyed. It is configured as follows.

FIG. 4 is a control block diagram illustrating the control configuration of the electronic file system shown in FIG. 1.

Components that are the same as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are given the same reference numerals.

In this figure, 23 is, for example, a 680 manufactured by Motorola.
00 (32-bit) CPU controls each section based on a control program stored in the ROM 24. In addition,
The CPU 23 is a UN resident in a specific area of the ROM 24.
Each part is controlled by an operating system (OS) manufactured by IX, for example, SYSTEMV. 25 is a pass line, which connects the workstation section 5. Printer section 3. Communicate information with League Division 1. An image memory 26 stores binary image information of the document sheet read from the league section 1. 27 is a mark information memory, which will be described later.
Address information of various timing marks printed on the R sheet is stored. A video RAM (VRAM) 28 stores compressed data obtained by thinning out the binary image information stored in the image memory 26 at a predetermined ratio, and transfers it to the bitmap display 5d. Reference numeral 29 denotes an input/output interface unit (I10 interface) which transfers operating inputs from the keyboard 5b and pointing device 5C to the CPU 23 via the pass line 25. Reference numeral 30 denotes an optical disk interface section that reads information written on the optical disk stored in the image registration section 5a or writes compressed data of binary image information stored in the image memory 26 from the CPU 23 via the pass line 25. Control is performed based on the transferred control command.

An ADF controller 31 controls the conveyance and conveyance speed of the document sheet or OMR sheet conveyed from the ADF 2.

FIG. 5 is a control block diagram for controlling the printer section 3 shown in FIG. 1, and the same components as in FIG. 3(a) are given the same reference numerals.

In this figure, 41 is a CPU that controls each part of the printer based on a control program stored in a ROM (not shown). An image memory 42 temporarily stores image information transferred via the printer interface section 22. 43 is a bus, 44 is an I10 controller, and a control signal for correcting the storage address of the image information stored in the image memory 42 based on the recording paper skew state signal output from the skew conveyance detector 3h. is sent to the CPU 41. Furthermore, it is determined whether the read image output from the line sensor 31 matches the image information written in the image memory 42, and if the two signals are significantly different, the image information stored in the image memory 42 is re-imaged. It commands the CPU 41 to output, and also sends drive commands to the paper feed conveyance system 45 and the laser unit 3a.

Next, the OMR sheet creation operation will be explained with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 shows the O output from the printer section 3 shown in FIG.
FIG. 51 is a schematic diagram explaining the MR sheet format.
is an oMR sheet, a 524t OMR sheet mark, and by reading this OMR sheet mark 52, the league unit 1 identifies the document sheet and the OMR sheet 51, and when this OMR sheet mark 51 is automatically conveyed from the ADF 2, its diagonal It also functions as a mark to detect the line conveyance state. Reference numeral 53 denotes an identification pattern, which serves as address information for the timing mark string 54 and the character code string 55. This address information is determined by the conveying speed of the sheet automatically conveyed from the ADF 2 or by the speed at which the sheet is placed on the platen of the league section 1. This address information is used to vary the scanning speed of the scanning system that optically scans the OMR sheet 51. 5
A mark area 6 is an area where an operator marks information necessary for reading the document sheet. 57 is a password area, which serves as information linking to the mark area 56. Reference numeral 58 denotes a character code mark area, and by marking each area with a writing instrument, the league section 1 can read alphanumeric characters as shown in FIG. 7 as vector information.

Bitmap display 5 of workstation section 5
For example, the OMR sheet 51 (7) created using the keyboard 5b, pointing device 50, etc.
File name: Library) (7) When the image information (vector information) is converted to rask image information via the printer interface section 22 and taken into the image memory 42 of the printer section 3, the CPU 41
A drive command for feeding the cut sheet stored in the paper feeding section 4 is sent out. In response to this, the paper feed roller 4a is driven and the paper is fed in the direction of the dotted line arrow shown in FIG. Ilo shown in the figure: The cut that is transferred to the controller 44 and conveyed!・Each mark information parallel to the - side of the sheet, e.g. ○MR sheet mark 5
2. Identification pattern 53. Timing mark string 541 Character code string 55. Mark area 56. Password area 5
7. So that the character code mark area 58 is printed,
The storage addresses of the image memory 42 (shown in FIG. 5) where the dot data of these marks and patterns are stored are normalized. At the point where this normalization is completed and the latent image position and image writing timing on the cut sheet are determined, conveyance of the cut sheet, which had been temporarily stopped, is started, and
Laser unit based on the dot data read from 2)
The semiconductor laser housed in the semiconductor laser 3a is turned on and off to form a static latent image on the photosensitive drum 3c shown in FIG. 3(a). This latent image is developed by a known electrophotographic process and transferred to a cut sheet F by a knee iF electronics 3e.
It will be transcribed into. Next, the toner image transferred onto the cut sheet (each OMR sheet marking 52, identification butter 753°, timing mark row 54, mark area 5)
6゜Password area 572 character code mark area 5
8) is converted into an electric signal by the line sensor 31, transferred to the I10 controller 44, and stored in the image memory 4.
If the two signals are significantly different, the I10 controller 44 instructs the CPU 41 to transfer the image from the image memory 42 again. This results in
The reading sensor 1b of the reader unit 1 (shown in FIG. 2) reads the sentence 1! ;O for identifying the sheet and OMR sheet 51
The MR sheet mark 52 and the timing mark row 54 of the OMR sheet 51 can be read accurately, and their address information is stored in the mark information memory 27.

When the reading sensor 1b of the reader section 1 reads the OMR sheet 51, the keyboard 5 of the workstation section 5
b. When a conformity check command is input using the pointing device 50 or the like, the reader interface section 21 displays the timing mark string 5 read by the reading sensor 1b.
4 is affected by other noise conditions and can be checked to see if the reading is affected by other noise conditions.
The fatigue and conformity state of the R sheet 51 is checked, and each ○MR sheet 795 on the OMR sheet 51 is checked by this check.
2. Identification pattern 53. Timing mark row 54.
Mark area 56. If it is determined that there will be a problem in reading the password area 571 and the character code mark area 58, a warning will be displayed on the bitmap display 5d of the workstation section 5.

In addition, if the OMR sheet 51 is registered with a double file name "Library", by inputting the file name from the keyboard 5b of the workstation unit 5, it can be used in one-to-one correspondence with the keyword in the registered format. It is possible to check the correspondence between keywords and accurately interrupt the registration status of keywords.

Next, the OMR sheet 51 by the reader section 1 shown in FIG.
The read control operation will be explained.

In this embodiment, the OMR sheet 51 is configured to be read in two different ways.

The first method is to turn on the light source 1a until the OMR sheet 51 conveyed from the ADF 2 shown in FIG. Then, the conveying speed of the OMR sheet 51 is varied based on the detection output, and the marked image information is converted into an electrical signal by the image sensor 1f, and the electrical signal is output to the image processing section 1g. As a result, it is possible to improve the processing efficiency of reading one OMR sheet and reading one sentence and one receipt.

The second method is to transport the OMR sheet 51 from the ADF 2 shown in FIG.
By pre-scanning, the OMR sheet 51 and the document sheet are identified, and the detected address of each mark is
The process of registering the mark information in the mark information memory 27 shown in the figure is performed, and the scanning speed of the optical scanning system is varied according to the mark address stored in the mark information memory 27 during the second scan. The mark information is detected by the reading sensor 1b, and the detection output, that is, the marked image information, is converted into an electrical signal by the image sensor 1f and output to the image processing section 1g.

First, mark reading control on the OMR sheet 51 by the first method will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 2, with the document sheet and OMR sheet 51 placed on the document tray 2a, an image reading command is sent from the workstation section 5 to the ADF shown in FIG.
When input to the controller 31, a drive signal for conveying the lowermost sheet placed is output to the ADF 2. At this time, the ADF controller 31 outputs a command to the league unit 1 to move the optical scanning system to a predetermined position and stop it, and to turn on the light source 1a. Therefore, the sheets that are sequentially conveyed are read by the sensor 1b.
When the sheet passes over the top, the image information is converted into an electric signal by the image sensor 1f, and output to the league interface section 21, and the identification means 11 determines whether the sheet being conveyed is a document sheet or an OMR sheet 51. When the OMR sheet 51 is identified and determined to be the OMR sheet 51, the control means 12 causes the ADF controller 31 of the league unit 1 to set the conveyance speed of the OMR sheet 51 to a speed lower than that of the document sheet (2/3 times the conveyance speed of the document sheet). Sends out a signal that causes the vehicle to be transported at a speed (velocity). In parallel with this, the League Interface Department 21
Therefore, for the image processing section 1g shown in FIG.
The slice level for binarizing the electrical signal output from f is set to character mode, that is, "32", which corresponds to 1/2 gradation of 64 gradations. In this state, the OMR sheet 51 being conveyed is binarized;
When the timing mark row 54 on the R sheet 51 is detected, the league interface unit 21 issues a command to change the slice level for binarization to “20” to the image processing unit 1.
Output to g. This is because the density marked in the mark area 55 of the OMR sheet 51 is often marked with a writing instrument such as a pencil. In this way, the mark information on the OMR sheet 51 is read by dynamically varying the slice level, and information necessary for reading the document sheet is notified to the league interface unit 21. This results in
Is the document sheet conveyed next from ADF2 an image?
It can be determined whether the data is character data, and if it is image data, the dithered image information is stored in the image memory 26 shown in FIG. 4. Note that if you specify the number of image files to be registered in the mark area 55, etc.

When document sheets are fed multiple times from the ADF 2, it can also function as a log file for interrupting the document sheet registration operation.

In this embodiment, even in the dither processing mode, assuming a case where the document sheets are fed in duplicate while the document sheets are being conveyed from the ADF 2 and the OMR sheet 5 is processed in the photo mode, that is, the dither processing mode, OMR sheet 5
Since the density is such that the OMR sheet mark 52 outputted in 1 can be distinguished as black, the OMR sheet mark 52
Immediately after detecting this, the control means 12 of the league interface section 21 issues a command to switch to the character mode to the image processing section 1.
Command g.

Further, in this embodiment, it is assumed that the densities marked on the OMR sheet 51 are marked, for example, with a writing instrument such as a marker pen, and the configuration is such that each mark can be detected even in the AE mode. The workstation unit 5 is configured to issue these instructions to perform AE mode reading, that is, an instruction to detect the black of each mark as a standard default value.

On the other hand, in the case of the second method in which the OMR sheet 51 placed on the platen of the reader section 1 from the ADF 2 is blisscanned to detect each mark, first, the control means 12 of the reader interface section 21 A scan command is sent, and it is determined whether the sheet placed on the platen is a document sheet or an OMR sheet 51 based on the output of the reading sensor] b. If it is determined that it is an OMR sheet, marks are read sequentially. , for example, the address of the timing mark string 54 etc. is registered in the mark information memory 27.

Next, the optical scanning system waits for it to return to the reading home position, and when it returns, the scanning speed of the optical scanning system is increased to 2/3 times the normal magnification speed based on the mark address registered in the mark information memory 27. Slow down. From this point on,
Each mark is identified and read in accordance with the first method. Note that the data stored in the mark information memory 27 undergoes password processing under the control of the CPU 23, and is registered in the image registration section 5a together with the image information stored in the VRAM 28. Desired image data is read out from the image file recorded in the registration section 5a and displayed on the bitmap display 5d.

In addition, if the reading sensor 1b determines that the sheet is 111 sheets of text, the number of images on the document sheet is 16/ll.
1ff+, thinned out to 1/4 by a command from the CPU 23, stored in the VRAM 28, and displayed on the bitmap display 5d.

Next, the OMR sheet reading control operation according to the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the OMR sheet reading control procedure according to the present invention.

Note that (1) to (18) indicate each step. In addition,
Each f1llri is stored in the ROM 24 shown in FIG.

In the workstation section 5, the operator sets the reading mode (1). Next, the CPU 23 determines whether the set mode is the character mode plus prescan mode 2).

If YES, it is further determined whether the sheet read by the reading sensor 1b is the OMR sheet 513), NO
If so, proceed to step (7), and if YES, set the slice level of the image processing section 1g to the AE level (4).

Next, wait for the optical scanning system to finish scanning (5), and when the scanning is completed, return to step (1).

On the other hand, if the determination in step (2) is NO, it is determined whether the set mode is character mode plus slice levele), and if YES, the sheet further read by the reading sensor 1b is the OMR sheet 5]. 7), if no, proceed to step (17) and Y.
For ES, set the slice level of image processing unit 1g to 132.
, r2cN (8). Next, the reader interface unit 21 determines whether the scan is finished9)
, if YES, return to step (1); if NO, OM
Wait until the identification means 11 detects the timing mark sequence 54 of R sea l = 51 (10), and when detected, the first control stage 12 of the digital interface section 21 starts image processing.
'fr 1g slice level to "20" +iQ
constant L (11), waits for a predetermined scan end γ12)
, when the prescribed scanning is completed, step (10
).

On the other hand, if the answer to 'f11' in step (6) is No, then
The CPU 23 determines whether the set mode is the character mode 13). If YES, it further determines whether the sheet read by the reading sensor 1b is the MR sheet 51 14); if NO, step 14).

If the answer is YES, the control means 12 of the reader interface section 21 sets the slice level of the image processing section 1g to only "30" (15), and then waits for the end of scanning (16). When the predetermined scanning is completed, the process returns to step (1).

On the other hand, in step (13), NO'7)
17) YES
Switch the remote control mode to the specified mode (18)
, return to step (15).

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the present invention includes a sheet identifying means for identifying an optical mark reading sheet and a document sheet outputted from an image output means to an image reading means, and a sheet identifying means that identifies the sheet type as an optical mark reading sheet. The image processing means reads the timing mark outputted on the optical mark reading sheet and the mark information marked in the mark area subordinate to the timing mark by varying the photoelectric conversion level when the timing mark is identified. This method has an excellent advantage of being able to accurately detect mark information in a mark area that has a density level clearly different from that of a timing mark, and greatly improving registration and reading processing for one document sheet.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an external view illustrating the configuration of an electronic file device showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the configuration of the part shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3(a) 3(b) is a sectional view of a laser beam printer showing an example of the printer section shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3(b) is a sectional view showing a case where the printer section shown in FIG. 1 is configured with a four-drum color laser beam printer. , FIG. 4 is a control block diagram explaining the control configuration of the electronic file system shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a control block diagram explaining the control configuration of the printer section shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. O output from the printer section shown in Figure 1
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining the MR sheet formant, FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining the character code format according to the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the OMR sheet reading control operation according to the present invention. ] in the figure is the reader section, 2 is the ADF, 3 is the printer section, 4
5 is a paper feed section, 5 is a workstation section, 11 is an identification means, 12 is a control means, 21 is a reader interface section, 2
2 is a printer interface section, 23 is C1'U, 24
is ROM, 26 is image Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. η Fig. 5 Fig. 6 Fig. 7 Fig. 8

Claims (1)

[Claims] Image output means having an image reading means for reading a document sheet, and editing document management information for registering image information of the document sheet read by the image reading means on an optical recording medium and outputting the edited document as an optical mark reading sheet. In the electronic file system, the sheet identifying means identifies the document sheet and the optical mark reading sheet output from the image output means to the image reading means, and the sheet identifying means identifies the sheet type with the optical mark. Image processing means that reads a timing mark outputted on the optical mark reading sheet and mark information marked in a mark area subordinate to the timing mark by varying a photoelectric conversion level when the sheet is identified as a reading sheet. A reading control device characterized by comprising: