KR100959154B1 - Apparatus for auto-alignment of Checks and method for operating the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a check automatic sorting device and a method for aligning a check deposited in a check deposit and withdrawal device to a desired position, and more particularly, the transfer generated according to the different pressure control of the left and right checks during the transfer of the check Check automatic sorting apparatus and method for straightening a wrong check using the speed difference.

According to the present invention, when a check is deposited, the contact image sensor unit acquires image information of the check, and the control unit receives the check image information obtained through the contact image sensor unit, and the check is set in a transfer direction. Calculating a torsion angle representing an angle, calculating a pressurization amount of the roller presser according to the calculated torsion angle and the feed speed of the feed roller, and both ends of the feed roller through the roller presser according to the calculated pressurization amount A check automatic sorting method comprising the steps of aligning checks by transferring checks while pressing at different pressures, and transferring the sorted checks to a MICR reader to recognize magnetic ink characters.

Check, automatic sorting, feed roller, contact image sensor, pressurized amount, check deposit and withdrawal device

Description

Apparatus for auto-alignment of Checks and method for operating the same}

The present invention relates to a check automatic sorting device and a method for aligning a check deposited in a check deposit and withdrawal device to a desired position, and more particularly, the transfer generated according to the different pressure control of the left and right checks during the transfer of the check Check automatic sorting apparatus and method for straightening a wrong check using the speed difference.

Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) are automated devices that can assist basic financial services, such as deposits or withdrawals, without the need for a bank employee, regardless of location and time. The automated teller machine is configured to automatically perform a transaction such as withdrawal (withdrawal) or deposit (deposit) of cash (paper money) using a medium such as a card or a bank account. The automatic teller machine can be extended even after the closing of the bank window, and may be installed in stores such as department stores and supermarkets, so that the number of installations is expected in the future. In such a background, the efficiency of the automated teller machine is an important task in financial institutions such as banks, such as the efficiency and rationalization of personnel.

On the other hand, the automated teller machine can be used to deposit and withdraw cash with a cash withdrawal device, the recent trend is increasing the automated teller machine equipped with a check and withdrawal device that can freely withdraw cash.

The check is printed with a variety of characters with a magnetic special ink, the check and withdrawal device reads the serial number and face value of the check using a magnetic ink character reader (MICR) Check deposit will be processed.

1 is a plan view showing the alignment device of a conventional check and withdrawal device.

As shown in FIG. 1, the check deposit and withdrawal device includes a check hole including an insertion hole 110 into which a check is inserted, an alignment roller 122 and a motor 124 for aligning a banknote inserted through the insertion hole 110 into a predetermined position. The sorting device 120, the conveying roller 130 for conveying the checks arranged by the check sorting device 120, and the MICR reading unit 140 for reading the information of the check conveyed by the conveying roller 130 are It is provided.

In order to accurately read the information printed on the check, the check is required to be aligned correctly at the designated location prior to passing through the MICR reader 140. To this end, a check sorting device 120 is provided with a check sorting device 120. The sorting roller 122 is rotated by a motor 124, and is provided at a predetermined angle with respect to a check path direction of the check.

Check inserted through the inlet 110 is pushed to one side wall of the conveying path 150 by the frictional force with the alignment roller 122 in contact with the bottom surface of the alignment roller 122 into the check deposit and withdrawal device inside Will be transferred.

In this case, if a force is continuously applied to one side wall surface of the conveying path 150, the check may be thrown out by the repulsive force. Thus, the alignment roller 122 has a cam shape and the top surface of the check. Intermittent contact with the checker will arrange the check.

When the check is placed in front of the feed roller 130 in a state where the check is pushed to one side wall surface of the conveying path 150 by the alignment roller 122 as described above, the check alignment is completed, and then by the feed roller 130. The information is transferred to the MICR reader 140 and the deposit printed on the check is read.

However, the conventional check sorting device having such a configuration has a problem in that it is difficult to set the height of the alignment roller 122 in contact with the check top surface, and excessive friction force acts on the check. That is, when the amount of overlap of the alignment roller 122 on the check is too large, a greater friction force than the normal acts, resulting in the check being thrown out after hitting one side wall of the conveying path 150. Problems arise.

In addition, there is a need to develop a method for quickly and accurately aligning a transferred check before entering the MICR reader due to problems such as an increase in manufacturing cost and a volume charge caused by providing a separate check sorting device. to be.

The present invention is to solve the above problems according to the prior art. That is, an object of the present invention relates to a check automatic sorting apparatus and method for smoothly aligning a check by using a feed rate difference generated by adjusting the amount of roller pressure on the left and right of the check at the time of transfer of the check.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a feed roller for conveying a check, a roller pressing unit for pressurizing both ends of the feed roller at different pressures, and continuously scanning the conveyed check to obtain image information of the check. Using the acquired contact image sensor unit and the image information of the check acquired by the contact image sensor unit, a torsion angle indicating an angle at which the inserted check is distorted with respect to a conveying direction is calculated, and the calculated torsion angle and the feed roller are used. It provides a check automatic sorting device, characterized in that consisting of a control unit for calculating the amount of pressurization of the roller pressing unit according to the feed rate of.

In another aspect, the present invention, when the check is deposited, the contact image sensor unit acquires the image information of the check, and the control unit receives the image information of the check obtained through the contact image sensor unit, the check is in the transfer direction Calculating a torsion angle indicating a distorted angle; calculating a pressurization amount of the roller presser according to the calculated torsion angle and the feed speed of the feed roller; and both ends of the feed roller through the roller presser according to the calculated pressurization amount And sorting the checks by transferring the checks while pressing the pressures at different pressures, and transferring the sorted checks to the MICR reader to recognize magnetic ink characters.

Using the automatic check device and method according to the present invention, it is possible to ensure the accuracy of the magnetic ink character recognition and productivity by sorting the wrong check straight. In addition, it is not affected by the existing check processing speed, and can provide a quality service to a user due to a more accurate check recognition rate.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a block diagram of a check automatic sorting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the check automatic sorting apparatus of the present invention continuously scans a check to be transferred and a check to be transferred from the outside by a user putting a check in a sheet or taken out from the inside, and an image of the check. Contact image sensor unit 220 for acquiring information, a conveying roller 250 for conveying a check, a roller pressing unit 240 for pressing both ends of the conveying roller 250 at different pressures, and a conveyed check A check inserted by using the MICR reader 230 for reading checks as a MICR head to obtain check information, a drive motor 260 for providing a rotational driving force, and image information of a check obtained from the contact image sensor 220. Calculates a torsion angle indicating an angle with respect to the conveying direction, and calculates the amount of pressurization of the roller pressing unit 240 according to the calculated torsion angle and the conveying speed of the feed roller 250. It is.

First, the contact type image sensor 220 continuously scans the transferred check and acquires the image information of the check as check information, thereby obtaining both the image information on the front and the back of the check, Two scanning heads each contacting and scanning, pressing means for close-checking the checks to each scanning head, and further reading information such as text and figures from the image data scanned by the scanning head. Information reading means may be included. Therefore, the contact type image sensor 220 first acquires image data about the check, and then additionally reads and obtains various check information from the corresponding image data, thereby obtaining information such as appearance information and amount of the check.

The conveying roller 250 is a device for conveying a check. The conveying roller 250 includes a plurality of driving rollers 252 rotated by the driving motor 260 and a plurality of idle rollers 254 rotated corresponding to the driving rollers 252. Is done. The check is placed between the driving roller 252 and the idle roller 254 and is transferred to each component by the rotation of the driving roller 252.

The roller pressing unit 240 is a device for pressing both ends of the feed roller 250 to different pressures according to the amount of pressure calculated by the control unit 270, the rollers 254 of the idle rollers 254 located at both ends of the feed roller 250 It is located at the top. The roller pressing unit 240 is a plate spring 242 which is an elastic pressing means located on both sides of the idle roller 254, a plate 244 for pressing the plate spring 242, and the plate 244 is upper Located on the side is composed of a motor 246 for adjusting the amount of pressure of the plate 244. In addition, in reading by using the MICR reader 230 or the like for obtaining information, the checks must be aligned first and then entered so that accurate reading can be performed. Therefore, the roller pressing unit 240 is provided in a section of the transfer roller 250 between the contact image sensor unit 220 and the MICR reading unit 230 to align the checks to be conveyed, and then the MICR reading unit 230. To ensure that the correct work is done.

The MICR reader 230 extracts an image of a check number, which is a magnetic ink character (MIC: Magnetic Ink Character), on a surface of a check to be deposited or withdrawn, and divides the image into a feature area, and divides the check with the divided feature area. The serial number is recognized and transmitted to the controller 270.

The controller 270 controls each of the above components, and checks whether the check is normally issued by communicating the serial number of the check received from the MICR reader 230 with the server of the financial institution. In addition, the control unit 270 receives the image information of the check obtained by the contact type image sensor unit 220 and calculates a torsion angle indicating an angle in which the inserted check is distorted with respect to the conveying direction, thereby controlling the speed of the conveying roller 250. The amount of pressurization of the roller pressing unit 240 is calculated accordingly. In other words, when the deposited check is transferred from the contact image sensor unit 220 to the MICR reader 230, the pressure of the feed roller 250 is adjusted and moved according to the torsion angle of the check. Sort the wrong check by using the difference in feedrate generated.

First, the control unit 270 recognizes both vertices of the beginning of the check on the basis of the check transfer direction in the image information of the check scanned by the contact image sensor unit 220, and then set the two vertices into one line segment Measure the torsion angle of the check by comparing it with the absolute line segment.

For example, when an image of a check scanned by the contact image sensor unit 220 is obtained as shown in FIG. 3, the vertices of the check located in front of the check transfer direction are connected to one line, and the preset Measure the torsion angle of the check segment compared to the absolute segment.

In addition, the control unit 270 sets the pressing amount of the feed roller 250 differently according to the feed rate of the check and the measured twist angle. The pressurization amount of the feed roller 250 is the pressurization amount of the feed roller 250 of the vertex side at the front side (A) of the vertices at the beginning of the check on the basis of the check transfer direction, and the measured torsion of the check It raises to an angle, while lowering the pressurization amount of the feed roller 250 of the vertex side in the back side (B) according to the feed rate of a check and the measured twist angle. Lowering the amount of pressurization reduces the frictional force and thus speeds up the check's conveying speed. Increasing the amount of pressurization increases the moving frictional force and slows the conveying speed of the check. Therefore, by moving the check by varying the amount of pressurization of the feed roller 250, the check is aligned neatly by the rotational force according to the feed speed difference.

4 is a front view of the feed roller 250 and the roller pressing unit 240 positioned between the contact image sensor unit and the MICR reading unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4, the feed roller 250 located at the lower side of FIG. 4 corresponds to a plurality of drive rollers 252 rotated by the drive motor 260 and the drive rollers 252. It consists of a plurality of idle rollers 254, the roller pressing unit 240 located on the upper side of Figure 4 is a spring spring 242 which is an elastic pressing means located on both sides of the idle roller 254, A plate 244 for pressing the leaf spring 242 and a motor 246 positioned on the upper side of the plate 244 to adjust the amount of pressing of the plate 244.

First, when the control unit 270 calculates the amount of pressurization according to the torsion angle of the check and the conveying speed of the check, the motor 246 receives the press amount calculated by the control unit 270 to receive the plate 244 located below. The plate 244 pressurizes the leaf spring 242, which is an elastic pressing means located at the lower portion of the plate 244, and the idle roller 254 is driven by the leaf spring 242 under pressure. It is pressed toward the roller 252 side. Therefore, as the amount of pressurization of the motor 246 increases, the idle roller 254 is pressed toward the driving roller 252, and the friction force between the check and the feed roller 250 increases, and as the amount of pressurization of the motor 246 decreases, the check and the feed roller The friction force between 250 becomes small.

Therefore, when the check is conveyed, the roller presser 240 controls the amount of pressure of the conveying roller 250 positioned near the vertex of the check on the back side B relative to the conveying direction of the check. The controller 270 adjusts the amount of pressurization of the feed roller 250 which is located near the vertex of the check on the front side (A) to reduce the close contact between the feed roller 250 and the check. The feed roller 250 and the check are further brought into close contact with each other by increasing the amount of pressurized pressure.

Accordingly, the vertex of the check in the back (B) is relatively small friction between the check and the feed roller 250, the feed speed is faster, the vertex of the check in the front (A) is a check and the feed roller ( The frictional force with 250 increases, the feed rate is slowed down, and the check is aligned by the rotational force generated accordingly.

For example, when an image of a check scanned by the contact image sensor unit is acquired as shown in FIG. 5, the pressurization amount of the feed roller 250 near the check located relatively forward based on the conveying direction of the check is currently pressurized. By moving the pressure amount of the feed roller 250 near the check higher than the amount, and lower than the current amount of pressure, the check is aligned and moved by the rotational force generated accordingly.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of automatically sorting checks in a check and withdrawal device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, when a user deposits a check of securities through the deposit and withdrawal unit (S602), the check is transferred to the contact image sensor unit by the deposit and withdrawal unit transfer roller. The contact image sensor unit first acquires left and right and up and down image information of the check to be transferred (S604).

Subsequently, the control unit receives image information of the check obtained from the contact type image sensor unit, calculates a torsion angle of the check (S606), and calculates the amount of pressurization of the roller pressing unit according to the conveying speed of the check (S608). In other words, in the image information of the check scanned by the contact image sensor unit, both points at the beginning of the check are recognized on the basis of the check transfer direction, and the vertices are compared with the predetermined absolute line segments by one line segment. Measure the torsion angle.

In addition, according to the calculated torsion angle, the amount of pressurization of the roller pressing unit located near the vertex of the check in the back (B) relative to the check direction is lowered in accordance with the amount calculated by the control unit, and the feed roller and the check and Of the roller pressing unit located near the vertex of the check on the front side (A) in accordance with the pressure amount calculated by the controller to increase the contact roller and the check.

Therefore, the vertices of the checks at the rear are smaller and the frictional force between the checks and the feed rollers is faster, and the feed rate is faster. The checks are arranged in a straight line by the rotational force generated thereby.

Next, the check is transferred to the MICR reader (S610), and the MICR reader recognizes the magnetic ink character on the check surface (S612). Subsequently, the control unit controls the driving motor to store the check in the temporary storage unit, and the MICR reader extracts the image of the check number from the recognized magnetic ink characters and divides the check number into feature areas. Recognizes it (S614) and transmits it to the control unit.

The control unit communicates with the server of the financial institution using a communication means in the automated teller machine, and transmits the check serial number to check whether the check is normally issued (S616). When the check is completed and the check is abnormally issued, the check is discharged to the deposit and withdrawal unit again (S618), and when it is determined that the check is normally issued, the check is transferred to the printing unit and the check depositor's card number or bankbook number is placed on the surface of the check. To print (S620). The checks are then stacked on the stack along the transport path (S622).

The present invention described above is not limited to the above-described embodiments and the accompanying drawings, and various substitutions, modifications, and changes are possible in the art without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. It will be obvious to those with ordinary knowledge.

The practical use of the apparatus and method of the present invention reduces the probability of misreading magnetic ink character recognition and increases the check recognition rate. In addition, it is not affected by the existing check processing speed, and can provide a quality service to a user due to a more accurate check recognition rate. The method of the present invention is universal and can be used to align all bills and checks.

1 is a plan view showing a check sorting device of a conventional check and withdrawal device.

2 is a block diagram of a check automatic sorting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a diagram illustrating an example of calculating a twist angle of a check according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a front view of the feed roller and the roller pressing unit located between the contact image sensor unit and the MICR reading unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a wrong check is correctly aligned while being transferred according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of automatically sorting checks in a check and withdrawal device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

210: check and withdrawal unit 220: contact image sensor unit

230: MICR reader 240: roller pressing unit

242: leaf spring 244: plate

246: motor 250: feed roller

252: driving roller 254: idle roller

260: drive motor 270: control unit

Claims (12)

In the check automatic sorting device of a check deposit and withdrawal device having a check deposit and withdrawal unit, a MICR reader and a driving motor, A conveying roller for conveying a check; A roller pressing unit for pressing both ends of the feed roller to different pressures; A contact type image sensor unit for continuously scanning the transferred check to obtain image information of the check; Using the image information of the check obtained by the contact image sensor unit, a torsion angle representing the angle at which the inserted check is distorted with respect to the conveying direction is calculated, and the roller pressing unit is adapted to the calculated torsion angle and the conveying speed of the feed roller. A control unit for calculating the amount of pressurization; Check automatic sorting device, characterized in that consisting of. The method of claim 1, The feed roller, And a plurality of driving rollers rotated by the driving motor, and a plurality of idle rollers rotated corresponding to the driving rollers. The method of claim 1, The roller pressing unit, Check spring automatic alignment device comprising a plate spring which is an elastic pressing means, a plate for pressing the plate spring, and a motor located on the upper side of the plate to adjust the amount of pressurization of the plate. The method of claim 1, The roller pressing unit, Check automatic sorting device, characterized in that located on top of the idle rollers disposed on both ends of the feed roller. The method of claim 1, The roller pressing unit, And a check automatic alignment device positioned between the contact image sensor unit and the MICR reader unit. The method of claim 1, The roller pressing unit, The vertex side at the front of the two vertices of the beginning of the check conveyed in accordance with the pressure amount calculated by the control unit increases the pressurization amount of the conveying roller, while the vertex side at the rear lowers the pressurization amount of the conveying roller. Check automatic sorting device. The method of claim 1, The control unit, Using the image information of the check obtained by the contact image sensor unit recognizes the vertices of the beginning of the check on the basis of the check transfer direction, and compares the vertices with one line segment and then the set absolute line segment Check automatic alignment device, characterized in that for calculating the torsion angle. In a method for automatically sorting a check to be transported with a contact image sensor, a MICR reader, a feed roller, a roller presser and a control unit, Acquiring image information of the check by the contact image sensor unit when the check is deposited; Calculating, by the control unit, a torsion angle indicating an angle at which the check is distorted with respect to a conveying direction by receiving image information of the check obtained through the contact image sensor unit; Calculating the amount of pressurization of the roller pressing unit according to the calculated twist angle and the feed speed of the feed roller; Aligning the checks by transferring the checks while pressing both ends of the feed rollers at different pressures through the roller pressurizing unit according to the calculated pressure amount; Transferring the sorted check to a MICR reader to recognize a magnetic ink character; Check automatic sorting method characterized in that consisting of The method of claim 8, Calculating the torsion angle of the check, Recognizes the vertices at the beginning of the check based on the check transfer direction from the check image information acquired through the contact image sensor unit, and compares the vertices with one line segment and the preset absolute line segment to twist the check Check automatic sorting method for calculating the angle delete The method of claim 8, Arranging the checks by transferring the checks while pressing both ends of the feed rollers at different pressures, Check automatic sorting method characterized in that the vertex side at the front of the check at the beginning of the check increases the pressure of the feed roller, while the vertex side at the back lowers the pressure of the feed roller The method of claim 8, Sorting the checks, Check automatic sorting method characterized in that the contact between the image sensor unit and the MICR reading unit;

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