WO2018105325A1

WO2018105325A1 - Medium printing/reading apparatus and medium processing apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2018105325A1
Application number: PCT/JP2017/040796
Authority: WO
Inventors: 真治佐渡
Original assignee: 沖電気工業株式会社
Priority date: 2016-12-05
Filing date: 2017-11-13
Publication date: 2018-06-14
Also published as: JP2018090386A

Abstract

A medium printing/reading apparatus comprising: a conveyance guide which forms a conveyance space using the conveyance guide surface along the conveyance direction in which a paper sheet medium is to be conveyed; a conveying unit which conveys the medium in the conveyance direction while causing the surface of the medium to face the conveyance guide surface within the conveyance space; a printing unit which performs print processing for the printing surface of the medium; and a reading unit which is disposed downstream of the printing unit with respect to the conveyance path of the medium and reads the surface of the medium conveyed within the conveyance space. The reading unit is provided with: an imaging element which captures an image of the printing surface on the outside of the conveyance space; a light transmission guide unit which is disposed between the conveyance space and the imaging device, forms a reading surface facing the printing surface of the conveyed medium and allows light to pass therethrough; and a protruding unit which protrudes further towards the conveyance space than the reading surface.

Description

Medium print reading apparatus and medium processing apparatus

The present disclosure relates to a medium print reading apparatus and a medium processing apparatus, and can be applied to a check processing apparatus that performs a deposit process using a medium such as a check.

Check processing devices that perform deposit transactions using checks as a medium with customers in financial institutions and the like have become widespread. The check processing apparatus includes, for example, a transport unit that transports a check made of rectangular paper along a predetermined transport path, a read unit that reads the content of the transported check and generates image data, and the contents of transaction processing. A printing section for printing the check on the check, a storage section for storing the check, and the like (see, for example, US Pat. No. 8,505,912 (FIG. 2)).

For example, there is a check processing device in which two reading units are provided on opposite sides of a check conveyance path, and image data is generated by imaging the front and back surfaces of the conveyed check. The reading unit has a configuration in which, for example, an image sensor is incorporated into a housing disposed at a location facing the transport path, and a plate glass is disposed between the image sensor and the transport path. As a result, the reading unit can protect the image sensor without interfering with the conveyance of the check, and can transmit the light obtained from the paper surface of the check to reach the image sensor to generate image data.

In the check processing device, the check after printing processing is conveyed to the reading unit to generate image data, thereby recording the state of characters and images printed by the printing processing (hereinafter referred to as the printing state), Or it can be confirmed.

In this printing section, for example, when a liquid ink is attached to a check by an ink jet method to print characters, images, etc., it takes some time for the ink to dry. Further, in the printing unit, it may take a longer time than expected until the ink attached to the check by the printing process is dried due to a difference in paper quality in the check.

In such a case, in the check processing device, when the check after the printing process reaches the reading unit, the paper surface comes into contact with the plate glass of the reading unit, so that there is a possibility that ink which is not dried adheres to the plate glass. In such a case, the check processing apparatus has a problem that the paper on the check may not be read normally because light is blocked by the ink adhered to the plate glass of the reading unit.

The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above points, and proposes a medium print reading device and a medium processing device that can satisfactorily read a paper surface from a medium immediately after printing.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a medium print reading apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a conveyance guide that forms a conveyance space by a conveyance guide surface along a conveyance direction in which a sheet-like medium is to be conveyed, and a sheet surface ( A conveyance unit that conveys the medium in the conveyance direction with the surface facing the conveyance guide surface, a printing unit that performs printing processing on the printing side of the medium, and a downstream side of the printing unit with respect to the conveyance path of the medium. A reading unit that reads a paper surface of a medium that is conveyed in the conveyance space, and the reading unit is located outside the conveyance space between the imaging element that images the printing-side paper surface, the conveyance space and the imaging element, A reading surface opposite to the printing side paper surface of the medium to be conveyed is formed, a light transmission guide portion that transmits light, and a protruding portion that protrudes to the conveyance space side from the reading surface are provided.

Further, the medium processing apparatus of the present disclosure includes a receiving unit that receives a sheet-shaped medium from a user, a transport guide that forms a transport space by a transport guide surface along a transport direction in which the medium is transported, and a transport space. A transport unit that transports the medium in the transport direction with the paper surface of the medium received by the receiving unit facing the transport guide surface, a printing unit that performs printing processing on the print side paper surface of the medium, and a printing unit in the transport path of the medium A reading unit that is provided on a downstream side of the medium and that reads a paper surface of a medium that is conveyed in the conveyance space. The reading unit is configured to image an image of the printing-side paper surface outside the conveyance space, and the conveyance space and the imaging element. A light-transmitting guide part that transmits light and a protruding part that protrudes toward the conveyance space from the reading surface are formed. .

In the present disclosure, even if a medium on which the ink printed on the printing side paper surface by the printing unit is not dried is conveyed to the reading unit, the projection side transmits the imaging light transmission of the light transmission guide unit on the printing side paper surface of the medium. Can be pulled away from range. Thereby, this indication can prevent beforehand that ink etc. adhere to the imaging light transmission range, and it becomes impossible to picturize the printing side paper surface normally by an image sensor.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to realize a medium print reading device and a medium processing device that can satisfactorily read a paper surface (surface) from a medium immediately after printing.

It is a diagram which shows the whole structure of a check processing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a scanner unit according to the first embodiment. It is a diagram which shows the structure of a check. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of an upper reading part. It is a left view which shows the structure of the upper reading part by 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a general upper reading part. It is a left view which shows the structure of a general upper reading part. It is a diagram which shows the structure of the scanner part by 2nd Embodiment. It is a left view which shows the structure of the upper reading part and lower facing roller by 2nd Embodiment. It is a left view which shows the structure of the upper reading part and lower facing roller by other embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

[1. First Embodiment]
[1-1. Check Processing Device Configuration]
As shown in a schematic left side view in FIG. 1, a check processing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment is incorporated in an automatic transaction apparatus installed in, for example, a financial institution or the like. Processes related to check deposit transactions with customers of financial institutions. A check processing apparatus 1 as a medium processing apparatus has a configuration in which a plurality of processing units for performing various processes related to checks as a medium are incorporated in a frame 2 formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.

In the following, the side of the check processing device 1 facing the customer is the front side, the opposite is the rear side, the left and right are the left side and the right side as viewed from the customer facing the front side, and the upper side and the lower side respectively. explain.

The automatic transaction apparatus includes an overall control unit that controls the entire system, a display unit that displays various information for the user, or an operation unit that receives an operation instruction from the user and notifies the overall control unit Etc. are provided.

The check processing device 1 is controlled by the control unit 3 as a switching control unit in cooperation with the overall control unit of the automatic transaction apparatus. The control unit 3 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and performs various processes related to deposit transactions by reading and executing a predetermined program from a ROM (Read Only Memory), a flash memory, or the like. The control unit 3 includes a storage unit such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), a hard disk drive, a flash memory, and the like, and stores various programs and various information related to deposit transactions.

In the upper half of the upper part of the frame 2, a bundle part 11 for transferring a check with the user is arranged. A shutter 11S that can be opened and closed is provided at the front end of the bundle unit 11 as a receiving unit. The control unit 3 controls the bundle unit 11 to open the shutter 11 S upon receiving an operation for instructing the start of the deposit transaction from the user via the operation unit described above.

In response to this, the bundle unit 11 holds the check CK (hereinafter also referred to as a bundle check CKB) accumulated in a bundle for the user, and then closes the shutter 11S to hold it inside. Protect check CK. The check CK is made of rectangular paper, and information such as the amount of money is displayed on the surface thereof. In addition, the bundle check CKB is inserted with the long side of each check CK along the front and back, the short side along the left and right direction, and the surface on which the amount and the like are written facing upward. The check processing apparatus 1 is assumed to handle various types of checks having different sizes.

The bundle unit 11 forms a bundle conveyance path WB along the front-rear direction by a bundle conveyance mechanism provided therein, and conveys the bundle check CKB backward along the bundle conveyance path WB. 11 is made to reach the front side of the separation part 12 provided in the vicinity of the rear end. The separation unit 12 separates the check CK one by one from the upper surface side of the bundle check CKB and sequentially delivers it to the rear aligner unit 13.

The aligner unit 13 internally includes a first transport path W1 in which the upper end of the transport path mainly along the vertical direction is connected to the rear end of the transport path mainly along the front-rear direction. The received check CK is sequentially conveyed backward and downward along the first conveyance path W1. At this time, the aligner unit 13 brings the check CK to one side in the width direction (that is, the left-right direction) in the first transport path W1, for example, rightward, and delivers it to the first switching unit 14 disposed below.

The first switching unit 14 connects the upper first transport path W1 and the front second transport path W2 by switching the transport path of the check CK based on the control of the control unit 3, or the front second transport The path W2 and the lower third transport path W3 are connected. That is, when the check CK is delivered from the aligner unit 13, the first switching unit 14 connects the upper first conveyance path W1 and the front second conveyance path W2, and delivers the check CK to the front scanner unit 15.

The scanner unit 15 is located almost directly below the aligner unit 13, and a second transport path W2 is formed inside the scanner unit 15 along the front-rear direction. The scanner unit 15 reads a MICR (Magnetic-Ink-Character-Recognition) type character from the check CK while conveying the check CK forward along the second conveyance path W2 from the first switching unit 14, and also checks the check CK. Each of the two surfaces is imaged to generate image data, which is then transferred to the second switching unit 16 located on the front lower side. The 2 switching unit 16 switches the internal conveyance path so as to connect the rear upper side and the front side under the control of the control unit 3, and delivers the check CK received from the scanner unit 15 to the front escrow unit 17.

The escrow unit 17 is disposed almost directly below the bundle unit 11, and includes a drum that rotates inside the tape, a tape that is wound around the peripheral side surface of the drum, a transport unit for transporting the check CK, and the like. The escrow unit 17 temporarily holds the check CK by conveying the check CK received from the second switching unit 16 to the vicinity of the peripheral side surface of the drum and winding it around the peripheral side surface of the drum together with the tape. For convenience of explanation, a series of processes so far are referred to as a deposit reading process.

When the control unit 3 finishes reading all the checks CK inserted in the bundle unit 11 by the scanner unit 15, the control unit 3 displays images, characters, and the like representing the read contents on the display unit and continues the deposit transaction to the user. Inquire whether or not.

Here, when the user gives an instruction to cancel the deposit transaction, the control unit 3 performs a return process. That is, the control unit 3 conveys and accumulates all the checks CK held in the escrow unit 17 to the separation unit 12 along the conveyance path opposite to the case of the deposit reading process, and forms and uses the bundle check CKB. Let the person take it out. At this time, when the control unit 3 detects that the bundle check CKB has been taken out by the sensor incorporated in the bundle unit 11, the control unit 3 determines that the bundle check CKB has been returned to the user and ends the return process. . On the other hand, if the bundle check CKB is not taken out within the predetermined time in the bundle unit 11, the control unit 3 determines that the user has left without taking out the bundle check CKB, and takes in the bundle check CKB. The inside is taken in by processing, and conveyed to the retracting unit 18 for storage.

On the other hand, when the user is instructed to continue the deposit transaction in a state where all checks CK are held in the escrow unit 17 by the deposit reading process, the control unit 3 performs a storing process for storing the held check CK. Start. Specifically, the escrow unit 17 feeds the check CK that has been put on hold one by one by rotating the drum reversely, and delivers it to the scanner unit 15 via the second switching unit 16.

The scanner unit 15 conveys the check CK sequentially received from the second switching unit 16 to the rear along the second conveyance path W2, and indicates the transaction result for the check CK by a built-in printer or stamp stamping unit. Is printed (hereinafter referred to as a printing process), the check after printing is imaged to obtain the print state, and then the check CK is delivered to the first switching unit 14.

At this time, the first switching unit 14 switches the internal conveyance path so as to connect the second conveyance path W2 on the front side and the third conveyance path W3 on the lower side under the control of the control unit 3, and is received from the scanner unit 15. The check CK is handed over to the lower rear middle conveyance section 19. The rear middle conveyance unit 19 forms a third conveyance path W3 along the vertical direction on the rear side of the retracting unit 18, and the check CK received from the first switching unit 14 is moved along the third conveyance path W3. It is conveyed downward and delivered to the lower third switching unit 20.

The third switching unit 20 connects the upper third conveyance path W3 and the lower fourth conveyance path W4 by switching the internal conveyance path based on the control of the control unit 3, or the upper third conveyance path. W3 is connected to the rear fifth conveyance path W5. For example, when the third switching unit 20 switches the internal conveyance path so as to connect the upper third conveyance path W3 and the lower fourth conveyance path W4, the check CK received from the upper rear middle conveyance unit 19 Is delivered to the lower rear lower conveyance section 21.

The rear lower conveyance unit 21 forms a fourth conveyance path W4 so as to connect the upper side and the front lower side, convey the check CK received from the third switching unit 20 to the front lower side, and provide the front lower side The first stacker unit 22A is handed over. The first stacker unit 22A has a stacker that can be attached to and detached from the frame 2 and can store a large number of checks CK therein, a discharge mechanism that discharges the check CK into the stacker, and the like. When the first stacker unit 22A receives the check CK from the rear lower conveyance unit 21, the first stacker unit 22A releases the check CK by the release mechanism and stores it in the stacker.

Further, when the third switching unit 20 switches the internal conveyance path so as to connect the upper third conveyance path W3 and the rear fifth conveyance path W5, the check CK received from the rear middle conveyance unit 19 is transferred to the front side. To the lower transport section 23. The lower conveyance unit 23 forms a fifth conveyance path W5 so as to connect the rear side and the front lower side below the retracting unit 18 and above the first stacker unit 22A, and the fifth conveyance path W5. , The check CK is conveyed forward and downward and delivered to the second stacker portion 22B provided at the front and lower side. The second stacker unit 22B is configured in the same manner as the first stacker unit 22A. When the check CK is received from the lower transport unit 23, the check CK is released by the release mechanism and is collected and stored in the stacker.

When the control unit 3 stores all the checks CK held in the escrow unit 17 in the stacker of the first stacker unit 22A or the second stacker unit 22B, the storage process ends. Thereby, the control part 3 completes the payment transaction of the check CK between users.

[1-2. Configuration of the scanner unit]
Next, the configuration of the scanner unit 15 will be described. As shown in the schematic left side view of FIG. 2, the scanner unit 15 is attached to the inside of a rectangular parallelepiped scanner unit frame 30 so that an upper conveyance guide 31 and a lower conveyance guide 32 face each other. A second conveyance path W 2 is formed between the upper conveyance guide 31 and the lower conveyance guide 32. In the scanner unit 15, various modules are appropriately arranged along the second transport path W2.

The upper transport guide 31 is configured, for example, in a plate shape that is long in the front-rear direction and thin in the vertical direction, and at least its lower surface is formed in a flat shape. That is, the upper conveyance guide 31 defines the upper limit of the second conveyance path W2 by a flat bottom surface (hereinafter also referred to as the upper conveyance guide surface 31S), and the upward movement range of the check CK is defined. By defining, the check CK is guided to advance in the front-rear direction (hereinafter also referred to as the transport direction) in the second transport path W2.

The length in the left-right direction in the upper transport guide 31, that is, the length in the left-right direction in the second transport path W2 (hereinafter also referred to as the width direction) is the length in the left-right direction in the check CK (that is, the length of the short side). Than long enough. Further, the upper conveyance guide 31 is appropriately provided with a hole penetrating in the vertical direction, and a part of various modules provided in the scanner unit 15 is exposed to the second conveyance path W2, or the second conveyance is performed. It protrudes into the path W2 or allows light to pass therethrough.

Although the lower conveyance guide 32 is generally configured to be vertically symmetrical with the upper conveyance guide 31, the positions and sizes of the holes to be formed are different depending on the difference in the attached modules. The lower conveyance guide surface 32 S, which is the upper surface of the lower conveyance guide 32, forms a gap of about 5 [mm] with the guide surface of the upper conveyance guide 31.

On the left and right sides of the upper conveyance guide 31 and the lower conveyance guide 32, the left conveyance guide 33 and the right conveyance guide 34 for guiding the check CK are defined by defining the movement range of the check CK in the left direction and the right direction, respectively. Are arranged respectively. Since the check CK is conveyed while being brought to the right side in the second conveyance path W2 in the aligner unit 13 (FIG. 1), the right side surface is brought close to or in contact with the right conveyance guide 34 (that is, sliding). ).

For convenience of explanation, the space surrounded by the upper conveyance guide 31, the lower conveyance guide 32, the left conveyance guide 33, and the right conveyance guide 34 is also referred to as a conveyance space 30S, and the inner surface of the right conveyance guide 34, that is, the check CK, A surface that makes the right end abut or extremely close to it is also called a reference surface.

In the scanner unit frame 30, there are disposed conveyance roller pairs 35A, 35B, 35C and 35D (hereinafter collectively referred to as the conveyance roller pair 35 or the conveyance unit) at four discrete locations along the second conveyance path W2. Has been. Each conveyance roller pair 35 includes a drive roller 36 disposed on the upper side of the second conveyance path W2 and a driven roller 37 disposed on the lower side thereof.

The drive roller 36 is formed in a flat cylindrical shape with the central axis extending in the left-right direction, and is inserted through the drive shaft 38 at the central portion. The drive shaft 38 is formed in an elongated cylindrical shape along the left-right direction, and is rotatably supported by the scanner unit frame 30. Two drive rollers 36 are inserted through the drive shaft 38 at two locations separated in the left-right direction. The drive shaft 38 rotates integrally with each drive roller 36 when a driving force is transmitted from the transport motor.

The driven roller 37 is formed in a flat cylindrical shape with the central axis extending in the left-right direction, like the driving roller 36, and is inserted into the driven shaft 39 at the central portion. Like the drive shaft 38, the driven shaft 39 is formed in an elongated cylindrical shape along the left-right direction. The driven shaft 39 has a driven roller 37 inserted in two locations corresponding to each drive roller 36, and is rotatably supported by an upper end of a tension spring 40 having a lower end fixed to the scanner unit frame 30. The tension spring 40 is incorporated in a compressed state from the natural state, and exerts an upward biasing force on the driven shaft 39.

With the above-described configuration, the conveying roller pair 35 abuts the outer peripheral surface of the driven roller 37 against the outer peripheral surface of the driving roller 36, and rotates the driven roller 37 as the driving roller 36 rotates. Further, when the check CK is conveyed along the second conveyance path W2, the conveyance roller pair 35 causes the driven roller 37 to move downward by compressing the tension spring 40 according to the thickness of the check CK. The check CK is sandwiched between the driving roller 36 and the driven roller 37 by the urging force from the tension spring 40. As a result, the conveying roller pair 35 can transmit a driving force from the rotating driving roller 36 to the check CK, and can convey the check CK forward or backward.

A magnetic head 41 that reads magnetic recording from the check CK is disposed below the second conveyance path W2 between the conveyance roller pairs 35A and 35B. The magnetic head 41 reads a magnetic record from the check CK by bringing a part of the upper surface into contact with the check CK.

An upper reading unit 42 and a lower reading unit 43 are arranged on the upper and lower sides of the second conveyance path W2 between the conveyance roller pairs 35B and 35C, respectively. The upper reading unit 42 is opposed to the upper surface of the check CK that is conveyed, sequentially reads the check CK in a line along the left-right direction, and sequentially supplies these to the control unit 3, thereby The control unit 3 generates one piece of image data.

The lower reading unit 43 has a configuration in which the upper reading unit 42 is turned upside down, and sequentially reads the surface facing the lower side of the conveyed check CK to generate one image data. Is supplied to the control unit 3. In the scanner unit 15, the lower reading unit 43 is arranged in front of the upper reading unit 42, that is, in front of the upper reading unit 42.

A printer 44 and a stamp stamping unit 45 are disposed on the upper side and the lower side of the second conveyance path W2 between the conveyance roller pairs 35C and 35D, respectively. The printer 44 is configured as an ink jet printer, for example, and based on the control of the control unit 3, the back side facing the upper side of the conveyed check CK (hereinafter also referred to as a printing side paper surface (surface)), Print characters and symbols representing the contents of transaction results. Based on the control of the control unit 3, the stamp stamping unit 45 stamps a stamp representing a predetermined character, symbol, or the like on the surface of the check CK conveyed facing downward.

A magnetic trigger sensor 47 is provided on the rear side of the magnetic head 41. The magnetic trigger sensor 47 is configured as an optical sensor, and a light emitting element that emits predetermined detection light and a light receiving element that receives the detection light are arranged separately on an upper side and a lower side across the second transport path W2. Has been. The light receiving element notifies the control unit 3 of a light reception signal indicating a light reception result of the detection light.

When the control unit 3 detects that the detection light is blocked based on the light reception signal from the magnetic trigger sensor 47 during execution of the deposit reading process, the tip of the check CK conveyed from the rear is the optical path of the detection light. The magnetic head 41 starts the magnetic recording reading operation using this as a trigger. When the control unit 3 detects that the detection light is received again, the control unit 3 determines that the end of the check CK has crossed the optical path of the detection light, and ends the reading of the magnetic recording by the magnetic head 41.

A print trigger sensor 48 is provided in front of the printer 44. The print trigger sensor 48 is configured as an optical sensor similar to the magnetic trigger sensor 47. When the control unit 3 detects that the detection light is blocked based on the light reception signal from the print trigger sensor 48 during the storing process, the check CK is conveyed from the front to the place where the print trigger sensor 48 is disposed. It is determined that the printing has been performed, and this is used as a trigger to trigger a printing operation by the printer 44 or a stamping operation by the stamp stamping unit 45.

As shown in FIG. 3, the printer 44 prints characters, symbols, and the like in a preset print area PA on the back surface of the check CK. The print area PA has a predetermined length L1 in the short direction (direction along the short side) of the check CK, and is in contact with the reference surface in the aligner portion 13 (FIG. 1). Alternatively, it is separated from the right end that is extremely close by a predetermined distance L2. Further, the printing area PA is separated from both ends (that is, the tip and the end) by a predetermined length L3 with respect to the check CK longitudinal direction (direction along the long side). For convenience of explanation, the length L3 is hereinafter also referred to as a conveyance direction distance.

With the above configuration, in the deposit reading process, the scanner unit 15 uses the magnetic head while conveying the check CK forward along the second conveyance path W2 along the second conveyance path W2 with the conveyance direction set to the front direction. The magnetic recording is read by 41, and the paper surface (surface) of the check CK is imaged by the upper reading unit 42 and the lower reading unit 43 to generate image data.

In the case of the storing process, the scanner unit 15 sets the transport direction to the rearward direction, and transports the check CK along the second transport path W2 backward in the transport space 30S by the transport roller pair 35, while using the printer 44 on the back surface. The transaction content and the like are printed, and a stamp is stamped on the surface by the stamp stamping unit 45. Further, the scanner unit 15 images the paper surface (back surface) of the check CK with the upper reading unit 42 located downstream of the printer 44 with respect to the backward direction which is the transport direction at this time, and an image representing a printing result by the printer 44. Generate data.

[1-3. Configuration of reading unit]
Next, the configuration of the upper reading unit 42 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the upper reading unit 42 as viewed from the lower right side. FIG. 5 is a side view of a part of the upper reading unit 42 as viewed from the left.

The upper reading unit 42 is a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) with the imaging surface facing downward, and is configured around the housing 51. The casing 51 is formed in a hollow rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the left-right direction as a whole by molding a predetermined resin material, for example, and the lower side thereof (that is, the side facing the conveyance space 30S) is opened. Yes.

A glass plate 52 is attached to the lower surface of the housing 51. The glass plate 52 as the light transmission guide portion is formed into a thin plate shape in the vertical direction by a glass material having a sufficiently high light transmittance, and the lower surface and the upper surface thereof are formed smoothly. For convenience of explanation, the lower surface of the glass plate 52 is hereinafter referred to as a reading surface 52S.

Further, the glass plate 52 has an inclined surface in which the vicinity of the front end and the vicinity of the rear end of the lower surface (that is, the reading surface 52S) is cut off obliquely. For this reason, even if the check CK being transported in the transport space 30S comes into contact with the inclined surface or the reading surface 52S, the glass plate 52 is slid without hindering the progress of the check CK, that is, smoothly proceeds. Can guide you to do.

An imaging element 53 that captures an image based on incident light, a lens 54 that collects light, and a light emission that emits light are disposed inside the casing 51, that is, on the side opposite to the conveyance space 30 S across the glass plate 52. An element 55 and the like are incorporated. The imaging element 53 is configured as a so-called line sensor that is elongated in the left-right direction, and is substantially at the center in the front-rear direction inside the casing 51, that is, on a virtual center line XC that represents the center in the front-rear direction in the casing 51. Are arranged together. The image pickup element 53 has the image pickup surface directed almost directly below, and a lens 54 is disposed below the image pickup surface. That is, the center line XC also corresponds to the optical axes of the image sensor 53 and the lens 54.

The lens 54 collects the light transmitted through the glass plate 52 from within the conveyance space 30 S and irradiates the image sensor 53. The lens 54 has an upper focal point that coincides with the imaging surface of the image sensor 53, and a lower focal point that is 0.2 mm from the reading surface 52 S that is the lower surface of the glass plate 52 (hereinafter, this is the focal point). (Referred to as position F1). The lens 54 has a focusing range FA in a range of 0.25 [mm] in the vertical direction from the focal position F1, that is, a slightly wide range from the reading surface 52S of the glass plate 52 to 0.45 [mm]. It is said.

The light-emitting element 55 is disposed at a location deviating from the optical path of light incident on the imaging element 53 via the lens 54, and irradiates illumination light generally toward the focal position F1 of the lens 54.

With the above configuration, in the upper reading unit 42, the light emitted from the light emitting element 55 is on the upper surface (that is, the back surface) of the check CK if a part of the check CK is located at or near the focal position F1. Reflected. At this time, in the upper reading unit 42, a part of the light reflected on the upper surface of the check CK travels upward, passes through the glass plate 52, is collected by the lens 54, and enters the image sensor 53. The image sensor 53 generates image data for one line according to the intensity or wavelength of the incident light at this time, and transmits this to the control unit 3.

In the upper reading unit 42, the light condensed by the lens 54 and incident on the imaging element 53 (hereinafter also referred to as imaging light) is relatively near the center line XC on the reading surface 52S of the glass plate 52. It will pass through a narrow area. Therefore, hereinafter, the range in which the imaging light is transmitted through the reading surface 52S of the glass plate 52 is also referred to as an imaging light transmission range 52SA.

Incidentally, in the scanner unit 15 (FIG. 2), as described above, the interval between the upper conveyance guide surface 31S and the lower conveyance guide surface 32S, that is, the length in the vertical direction in the conveyance space 30S is set to about 5 [mm]. . On the other hand, in the upper reading unit 42, the focusing range FA of the lens 54 is between 0.45 [mm] from the reading surface 52S, which is sufficiently shorter than the interval between the guide surfaces.

Therefore, in the scanner unit 15, the reading surface 52S of the upper reading unit 42 is positioned below the upper conveyance guide surface 31S so as to be close to the vertical center in the conveyance space 30S. Specifically, the upper reading unit 42 (FIG. 5) is attached to the scanner unit frame 30 (FIG. 2) with its lower end portion protruding downward from the upper conveyance guide surface 31S of the upper conveyance guide 31. Yes.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the upper reading unit 42 defines a passing range TA sandwiched between the passing range right end TAR and the passing range left end TAL, and these are defined as the right conveyance guide 34 of the scanner unit 15 (FIG. 2). And it is attached to match the left conveyance guide 33. Since the check CK is transported in the transport space 30S of the scanner unit 15 after being brought to the right side in the aligner unit 13 (FIG. 1), the upper reading unit 42 is adjusted so that the right end thereof is aligned with the right end TAR of the passing range. Will be transported underneath.

Further, the upper reading unit 42 is provided with a plurality of ribs 60 projecting in the front direction at a plurality of discrete locations in the left-right direction, near the lower end of the front side surface of the housing 51. Each rib 60 is made of a predetermined resin material and is formed integrally with the housing 51. That is, since each rib 60 is located in front of the glass plate 52, it is located outside the imaging light transmission range 52SA described above.

Among the ribs 60, a plurality of low ribs 61 are arranged in the range near the left end and the right end. The low rib 61 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is sufficiently smaller than the casing 51 as a whole, and an inclined surface 62S that is inclined with respect to the transport direction is formed by obliquely cutting off the lower portion of the front surface thereof. Has been. The low protrusion 61T, which is the portion of the low rib 61 that protrudes most into the conveyance space 30S, is a part of the lower surface of the low rib 61 and is below the upper conveyance guide surface 31S and on the reading surface of the glass plate 52. It is located above 52S.

Among the ribs 60, three high ribs 62 are arranged in a range closer to the center. The high rib 62 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is sufficiently smaller than the casing 51 as a whole, like the low rib 61, and the lower portion on the front surface thereof is cut off obliquely, so that it is inclined with respect to the transport direction. An inclined surface 62S is formed. The inclined surface 62S is disposed in the same plane as the inclined surfaces 61S in the low rib 61 when viewed from the left-right direction (FIG. 5).

On the other hand, the protruding amount of the high rib 62 into the conveyance space 30 S is larger than that of the low rib 61. Specifically, the high protrusion 62T (hereinafter also referred to as the most protruding portion) that is the portion of the high rib 62 that protrudes most into the conveyance space 30S is a part of the lower surface of the high rib 62, and its vertical direction. Is equivalent to the focal position F1 of the lens 54. That is, the high rib 62 projects the high protrusion 62T to the lower side than both the upper conveyance guide surface 31S and the reading surface 52S. That is, the distance between the high rib 62 and the high protrusion 62T that protrudes most downward from the reading surface 52S (hereinafter also referred to as the maximum protrusion distance) is the distance from the reading surface 52S to the focal position F1 of the lens 54 ( Hereinafter, this is also referred to as a reading surface focal length).

Further, in the upper reading unit 42, the distance L4 from the right end TAR of the above-described passing range to the left end of the high rib 62A (FIG. 4) which is a part of the high rib 62 is set to the printing area PA from the right end of the check CK (FIG. 3). It is shorter than the length L2, which is the distance up to. At the same time, in the upper reading unit 42, a distance from the left end of the high rib 62A to the right end of the high rib 62B (FIG. 4) arranged on the right side thereof, that is, a length L5 that is an interval between the high ribs 62 is It is longer than the length L1 in the left-right direction in the printing area PA of the check CK (FIG. 3).

Further, in the upper reading unit 42, the length T6 representing the distance from the high protrusion 62T of the high rib 62 to the center line XC is the distance from the end in the long side direction of the check CK (FIG. 3) to the printing area PA. It is shorter than a certain length L3.

In the rib 60, the front ends of the

inclined surfaces

61S and 62S of the low rib 61 and the high rib 62 are both embedded above the upper conveyance guide surface 31S of the upper conveyance guide 31. As a result, the rib 60 has a step at the connecting portion between the upper conveyance guide 31 and the upper reading unit 42 such that the tip of the check CK that is advanced toward the upper reading unit 42 while being guided by the upper conveyance guide surface 31S. It can be prevented from being caught on the front and the like, and can proceed smoothly.

Note that a plurality of ribs 60 (that is, the low ribs 61 and the high ribs 62) configured symmetrically with the front side are provided on the rear side of the casing 51 in the upper reading unit 42. Further, the lower reading unit 43 is configured in the same manner as the upper reading unit 42 and is attached to the scanner unit frame 30 of the scanner unit 15 in a state where the lower reading unit 43 is turned upside down, that is, with the reading surface 52S facing upward. Yes.

As described above, the upper reading unit 42 arranges the glass plate 52 that protects the imaging element 53 arranged in the housing 51 and transmits light at the boundary portion with the transport space 30S, and on the front side and the rear side thereof. A plurality of ribs 60 are provided, and a high protrusion 62T of the high rib 62, which is a part of the rib 60, is protruded into the conveyance space 30S from the reading surface 52S of the glass plate 52.

[1-4. Printing process by scanner and check conveyance]
Next, the printing process in the scanner unit 15 will be described. As described above, when the check processing device 1 (FIG. 1) performs the storing process in the deposit transaction, the check CK fed out from the escrow unit 17 is transferred to the second transport path of the scanner unit 15 based on the control of the control unit 3. Proceed forward along W2.

At this time, the scanner unit 15 (FIG. 2) prints predetermined characters, symbols, etc. on the paper surface (that is, the back surface) facing the upper side of the check CK by the printer 44 while the check CK is conveyed backward by the respective conveyance roller pairs 35. After that, the tip of the check CK is made to reach the vicinity of the upper reading unit 42.

Even if the upper reading unit 42 is conveyed while the front end of the check CK is in contact with the upper conveyance guide surface 31S, the upper reading unit 42 slides on the inclined surface 61S of the low rib 61 and the inclined surface 62S of the high rib 62. This tip can be gradually pushed downward.

The upper reading unit 42 has a portion of the check CK (FIG. 3) near the left end and the right end, that is, a portion outside the printing area PA, by the inclined surface 61S of the low rib 61 on the front side. Push down to the position, that is, above the reading surface 52S (FIG. 5). For this reason, there is a possibility that portions on the left side and the right side (that is, outside) of the check area CK of the check CK may come into contact with the reading surface 52S during conveyance.

On the other hand, the upper reading unit 42 moves the portion near the center of the check CK (FIG. 3), that is, the printing area PA and its vicinity to the position of the high protrusion 62T by the inclined surface 62S of the front high rib 62, that is, Push down below the reading surface 52S (FIG. 5). Further, when the leading edge of the check CK reaches the vicinity of the rear end of the reading surface 52S, the upper reading unit 42 now lowers the check CK to be lower than the reading surface 52S by the high protrusion 62T in the rear high rib 62. Press down to the position.

At this time, the

high ribs

62A and 62B come into contact with the left and right outer sides of the printing area PA in the check CK due to the relationship between the lengths L4 and L5 (FIG. 4) and the lengths L1 and L2 (FIG. 3) in the check CK. , It does not contact the print area PA.

As a result, the scanner unit 15 separates the portion of the print area PA in the check CK from the reading surface 52S without contacting the reading surface 52S of the upper reading unit 42 and without contacting the high rib 62. As it is, it can be advanced backward from the upper reading unit 42.

[1-5. Effect]
In the above configuration, the scanner unit 15 of the check processing device 1 according to the first embodiment has the rib 60 provided in the upper reading unit 42 as the high rib 62 at the center portion and protrudes most into the conveyance space 30S. The high protrusion 62T thus made is protruded from the reading surface 52S of the glass plate 52 (FIGS. 4 and 5).

Here, for comparison with the upper reading unit 42, an upper reading unit 142 having a general configuration is shown in FIGS. The upper reading unit 142 is provided with ribs 160 instead of the ribs 60 in the vicinity of the lower ends on the front side and the rear side of the housing 51. The rib 160 is configured by only the plurality of low ribs 61, and the high rib 62 is not provided. That is, in the upper reading unit 142, all the low protruding portions 61T are on the upper side of the reading surface 52S, and the reading surface 52S is a portion protruding most downward.

Therefore, in the upper reading unit 142, there is a possibility that the paper surface of the check CK conveyed in the conveyance space 30S comes into contact with the reading surface 52S. At this time, if the ink such as characters and symbols printed on the printing area PA of the check CK is not dry, the upper reading unit 142 adheres to the reading surface 52S and passes from the conveyance space 30S to the image sensor 53. There is a risk of blocking the light going. In such a case, the upper reading unit 142 may not be able to capture the paper surface of the check CK with the image sensor 53, and the control unit 3 may not be able to generate normal image data of the check CK.

On the other hand, in the upper reading unit 42 (FIGS. 4 and 5) according to the present embodiment, the central portion of the rib 60 is the high rib 62, and the high protruding portion 62T is protruded from the reading surface 52S. For this reason, even if the ink printed on the printing area PA (FIG. 3) in the check CK is not dry, the upper reading unit 42 keeps the printing area PA away from the reading surface 52S by the high rib 62. It can be advanced in the transport direction.

In particular, the upper reading unit 42 (FIG. 4) determines the distance L4 from the right end of the passing range TAR to the left end of the high rib 62A from the right end of the check CK (FIG. 3) to the print area PA in the left-right direction (that is, the width direction). Shorter than the length L2. At the same time, the upper reading unit 42 makes the length L5 from the left end of the high rib 62A to the right end of the high rib 62B longer than the length L1 that is the width of the printing area PA in the check CK.

For this reason, the upper reading section 42 can make the high protrusion 62T of the high rib 62 contact the outside of the printing area PA without contacting the printing area PA of the check CK. As a result, the upper reading unit 42 may cause the ink to drag and adhere to the paper surface, that is, the print area PA, which may occur when the high protrusion 62T is brought into contact with a printed character or symbol. It is possible to reliably prevent contamination.

Further, in the upper reading unit 42, the high protruding portion 62T of the high rib 62 has a height equivalent to the focal position F1 (FIG. 5) of the lens 54, that is, approximately the center of the focusing range FA in the vertical direction. For this reason, in the upper reading unit 42, when the check CK is in contact with the front and rear high ribs 62, if the check CK is flat without bending, the paper surface on the center line XC is changed. It can be located within the focusing range FA, and clear image data focused on the paper surface can be generated. In the upper reading unit 42, even if the check CK is bent, if the amount of bending is not excessive, it is highly possible that the paper surface can be positioned within the focusing range FA on the center line XC. The generation of clear image data focused on the paper surface can be expected.

Further, in the upper reading unit 42 (FIGS. 4 and 5), the housing 51 is not newly provided with a protrusion or the like as compared with the upper reading unit 142 (FIGS. 6 and 7) having a general configuration. In a part of 60, the low rib 61 is replaced with the high rib 62. For this reason, the upper reading unit 42 gradually lowers the tip of the check CK guided along the upper conveyance guide surface 31S of the upper conveyance guide 31 by the inclined surface 61S of the low rib 61 and the inclined surface 62S of the high rib 62. Furthermore, it is possible to reach the high protrusion 62T continuously along the inclined surface 62S, that is, extremely smoothly below the reading surface 52S. Further, the high rib 62 has an extremely easy design such as increasing the length in the vertical direction (that is, the height) and extending the inclined surface 61S based on some of the low ribs 61 in the upper reading unit 142, for example. Can be configured with changes.

In addition, the upper reading unit 42 (FIG. 5) sets the length T6 from the high protrusion 62T of the high rib 62 to the center line XC along the long side of the check CK (FIG. 3) in the front-rear direction (that is, the conveyance direction). It is shorter than the length L3 from the end in the direction to the printing area PA. For this reason, even if the upper reading unit 42 separates the check CK being conveyed backward, for example, from the reading surface 52S by the front high rib 62, the tip is bent upward and slides on the reading surface 52S. When the leading end of the check CK reaches the high protruding portion 62T of the high rib 62 on the rear side, the leading end portion can be pushed down.

That is, even if the print area PA slides on the reading surface 52S, the upper reading section 42 has the rear high rib 62 and the front rib 42 and the upper reading section 52S before reaching the imaging light transmission range 52SA near the center line XC. The check CK can be pulled away from the reading surface 52S by both of the front high ribs 62. Accordingly, the upper reading unit 42 can reliably prevent the print area PA from coming into contact with the imaging light transmission range 52SA and causing ink to adhere thereto.

Incidentally, since the high rib 62 has a larger amount of protrusion into the conveyance space 30S than the low rib 61, there is a possibility that the high rib 62 may act to hinder the conveyance of the check CK. In this respect, in the upper reading unit 42, the high ribs 62 are provided not only on the entire ribs 60 but only in the range near the center in the vicinity of the printing area PA in the check CK, that is, only in the minimum necessary portions. A low rib 61 is provided in the range (FIG. 4). As a result, the upper reading unit 42 can minimize the effect of hindering the conveyance of the check CK.

According to the above configuration, the scanner unit 15 of the check processing device 1 according to the first embodiment is located near the print area PA in the check CK of the rib 60 on the front side and the rear side of the upper reading unit 42. A high rib 62 is provided on the glass plate 52, and the high protrusion 62T protrudes from the reading surface 52S of the glass plate 52 into the conveyance space 30S (FIGS. 4 and 5). Thereby, even if the ink such as characters and symbols printed on the printing area PA of the check CK is not dried, the upper reading section 42 can advance the printing area PA while being separated from the reading surface 52S. . As a result, the upper reading unit 42 can prevent the normal image data from being generated due to the ink adhering to the reading surface 52S from the check CK, and the state in which the paper surface of the check CK can be read satisfactorily is long. Can be maintained over a period of time.

[2. Second Embodiment]
The check processing device 201 (FIG. 1) according to the second embodiment is different from the check processing device 1 according to the first embodiment in that it has a scanner unit 215 that replaces the scanner unit 15. This point is similarly configured.

As shown in FIG. 8 corresponding to FIG. 2, the scanner unit 215 is provided with a lower facing roller 272 and an upper facing roller 273 as compared with the scanner unit 15 according to the first embodiment. The difference is that the reading unit 42 and the lower reading unit 43 are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. In other respects, the scanner unit 215 is configured in the same manner as the scanner unit 15 according to the first embodiment.

The lower facing roller 272 has a central axis extending in the left-right direction, is formed in a relatively long cylindrical shape, and rotates around the central axis. As shown in FIG. 9, the center shaft 272X of the lower facing roller 272 is positioned almost directly below the upper reading unit 42, that is, on an extension line of the center line XC. The lower facing roller 272 is spaced from the upper reading unit 42 by a distance equivalent to the focusing range FA, that is, the upper end of the glass plate 52 closest to the reading surface 52S is set to 0 from the reading surface 52S. The radius, the arrangement (that is, the position of the central axis 272X), and the like are appropriately set so as to match the positions separated by .45 [mm].

The lower facing roller 272 is made of a relatively soft material at least in its outer peripheral portion and can be relatively easily deformed. Therefore, a relatively weak force is applied to the check CK traveling in the conveyance space 30S. ing.

The upper facing roller 273 is configured in the same manner as the lower facing roller 272 and is located almost directly above the lower reading unit 43. Further, the radius, arrangement, and the like of the upper facing roller 273 are appropriately determined so as to be separated from the lower reading unit 43 by a distance equivalent to the focusing range FA.

With the above configuration, the scanner unit 215 (FIG. 8) causes the lower opposing roller 272 to rotate counterclockwise and the upper opposing roller 273 when the check CK is conveyed rearward along the second conveying path W2 in a printing process or the like. Rotate clockwise. In addition, when the check CK conveyed in the conveyance space 30S reaches the vicinity of the upper reading unit 42 and the lower facing roller 272, the scanner unit 215 firstly has the inclined surface 62S and the high protrusion 62T of the high rib 62 in the upper reading unit 42. As a result, the check CK is positioned below the high protrusion 62T.

Subsequently, the scanner unit 215 brings the lower surface of the check CK into contact with the rotating lower facing roller 272 so that the upper surface of the check CK is brought into close proximity with or in contact with the high protrusion 62T. As a result, the scanner unit 215 positions the upper surface of the check CK, that is, the back surface on which characters, symbols, and the like are printed by the printer 44, within the focusing range FA of the upper reading unit 42 while being separated from the reading surface 52S by the high rib 62. Can be made.

At this time, since at least the outer peripheral portion of the lower facing roller 272 is made of a relatively soft material, the scanner unit 215 temporarily has a thickness of the check CK larger than the distance between the high protrusion 62T in the vertical direction and the lower facing roller 272. Even if this is larger, the lower facing roller 272 can be deformed. As a result, the scanner unit 215 pushes the printing area PA (FIG. 3) against the imaging light transmission range 52SA of the reading surface 52S while forcibly deflecting the check CK by the lower facing roller 272, thereby causing ink to adhere. It does not occur.

Further, if the thickness of the check CK is smaller than the interval between the high protrusion 62T in the vertical direction and the lower facing roller 272, the scanner unit 215 cannot bring its upper surface into contact with the high protrusion 62T. There is a possibility that the lens 54 is positioned farther than the focal position F1. However, since the scanner unit 215 has the upper end of the lower facing roller 272 set to the lower limit of the focusing range FA, the upper surface of the check CK can be stopped within the focusing range FA, and the upper reading unit 42 can check the check CK. Clear image data focused on the upper surface of the image can be generated.

In other respects, the check processing device 201 according to the second embodiment can achieve the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment.

According to the above configuration, the scanner unit 215 of the check processing apparatus 201 according to the second embodiment has the ribs 60 provided on the front side and the rear side of the upper reading unit 42 as the high ribs 62, and the high protrusions thereof. The portion 62T is protruded from the reading surface 52S of the glass plate 52 into the conveyance space 30S. The scanner unit 215 is provided with a lower facing roller 272 and an upper facing roller 273 at positions facing the upper reading unit 42 and the lower reading unit 43, respectively. As a result, the scanner unit 215 can move the check area CK of the check CK away from the reading surface 52S of the upper reading unit 42 and allow the upper surface to be positioned within the focusing range FA. As a result, the upper reading unit 42 can prevent the normal imaging data from being generated due to ink adhering to the reading surface 52S from the check CK, and can clearly read the paper surface of the check CK. .

[3. Other Embodiments]
In the first embodiment described above, the case where the position of the high protrusion 62T on the high rib 62 is set to be equal to the focal position F1 of the lens 54 in the vertical direction has been described (FIG. 5). However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the position of the high protrusion 62T in the vertical direction may be set above or below the focal position F1 of the lens 54. In this case, the print area PA (FIG. 3) on the paper surface of the check CK is not brought into contact with the imaging light transmission range 52SA of the reading surface 52S, and the paper surface of the check CK is positioned within the focusing range FA of the lens 54. I can do it. The same applies to the lower reading unit 43, and the same applies to the second embodiment.

Further, in the first embodiment described above, the case where the three high ribs 62 are provided in the range closer to the center of the ribs 60 in the upper reading unit 42 has been described (FIG. 4). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and two or less or four or more of the ribs 60 may be the high ribs 62. That is, the high ribs 62 are not necessarily provided on both the left and right sides of the printing area PA, and may be provided on at least one of them. In short, it is sufficient that at least one or more high ribs 62 are provided to prevent the printing area PA (FIG. 3) of the check CK from coming into contact with the reading surface 52S of the upper reading section 42. The same applies to the lower reading unit 43, and the same applies to the second embodiment.

Further, in the above-described first embodiment, the case where the high ribs 62 are provided on both the front side and the rear side in the upper reading unit 42 has been described (FIGS. 4 and 5). However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the high rib 62 may be provided only on one of the front side and the rear side of the upper reading unit 42. In this case, it is desirable to provide the scanner unit 15 (FIG. 2) on the side where the check CK printed by the printer 44 is conveyed, that is, on the front side of the upper reading unit 42. Further, the position where the high rib 62 is provided need not be symmetrical in the front-rear direction, and may be asymmetrical in the front-rear direction. The same applies to the lower reading unit 43, and the same applies to the second embodiment.

Furthermore, in the above-described first embodiment, the case where all the high ribs 62 in the rib 60 of the upper reading unit 42 have the same shape has been described (FIGS. 4 and 5). However, the present disclosure is not limited to this, and for example, a plurality of types of high ribs 62 having different shapes may be provided. The same applies to the lower reading unit 43, and the same applies to the second embodiment.

Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the inclined surface 62S of the high rib 62 and the inclined surface 61S of the low rib 61 are both formed in a flat shape, and the inclined surface 62S and the inclined surface 61S are viewed from the left-right direction. The case where they are arranged in the same plane has been described (FIGS. 4 and 5). However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the inclined surface 62S and the inclined surface 61S may be arranged in different planes when viewed from the left-right direction, and the respective inclination angles with respect to the transport direction may be different. Alternatively, at least one of the

inclined surfaces

62S and 61S may be a curved surface instead of a flat surface. The same applies to the second embodiment.

Further, in the first embodiment described above, the rib 60 is integrally formed of a resin material together with the casing 51 of the upper reading unit 42, and a glass plate 52 is prepared separately, and both are combined in the manufacturing process. The case where they are integrated is described (FIGS. 4 and 5). However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, a part of the casing 51, a portion corresponding to the glass plate 52, and the rib 60 may be configured as an integral molded part by using a transparent resin material. In this case, the portion corresponding to the glass plate 52 can transmit light reaching the image sensor 53 from the conveyance space 30S, and can protect the image sensor 53 and the like from the check CK conveyed in the conveyance space 30S. It is desirable that the reading surface 52S be formed smoothly so as not to hinder the conveyance of the check CK. The same applies to the lower reading unit 43, and the same applies to the second embodiment.

Further, in the first embodiment described above, a part of the rib 60 for smoothly advancing the check CK at the connecting portion between the upper conveyance guide surface 31S of the upper conveyance guide 31 and the upper reading unit 42 is replaced with the low rib 61. The case where the high rib 62 protrudes downward is described. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this, and for example, protrusions different from the ribs 60 may be erected on the lower surface of the casing 51 in the upper reading unit 42, that is, on the front side and the rear side of the glass plate 52. The same applies to the lower reading unit 43, and the same applies to the second embodiment.

Furthermore, in the second embodiment described above, the distance between the upper end of the lower facing roller 272 and the reading surface 52S of the glass plate 52 in the upper reading section 42 is made equal to the focusing range FA, that is, the lower facing roller. The case where the upper end of 272 is aligned with the lower end of the focusing range FA has been described (FIG. 9). However, the present disclosure is not limited to this, and for example, the upper end of the lower facing roller 272 may be positioned above or below the lower end of the focusing range FA. In this case, it is only necessary that the upper surface of the check CK to be conveyed can be positioned in the in-focus range FA without being brought into contact with the reading surface 52S in consideration of the thickness, bending, and the like of the check CK to be conveyed. The same applies to the upper facing roller 273.

Further, in the above-described second embodiment, the case where the central axis 272X of the lower facing roller 272 is arranged on the extension line of the virtual center line XC in the upper reading unit 42 in the scanner unit 215 has been described (FIG. 8 and FIG. 9). However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, like the scanner unit 315 shown in FIG. 10 corresponding to FIG. 9, the central axis 272X of the lower facing roller 272 is placed on the extension line of the virtual center line XC in the upper reading unit 42. You may arrange | position in the position shifted to the front-back direction. Thereby, the possibility that the reflected light reflected on the peripheral side surface of the lower facing roller 272 may enter the image sensor 53 can be reduced, and the deterioration of the image quality of the image data due to the reflected light can be suppressed. The same applies to the upper facing roller 273.

Furthermore, in the second embodiment described above, the case where at least the outer peripheral portion of the lower facing roller 272 is made of a relatively soft material and is deformed according to the thickness of the check CK has been described. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the outer peripheral portion of the lower facing roller 272 is made of a relatively hard material, and is urged upward by a tension spring in the same manner as the driven roller 37 (FIG. 2) of the conveying roller pair 35. May be. In this case, by setting the spring constant of the tension spring to a relatively small value, that is, a sufficiently soft tension spring, the tension spring is compressed by a relatively weak force and the lower facing roller 272 is displaced downward. Is desirable.

Furthermore, in the above-described first embodiment, the case where the present disclosure is applied to the check processing apparatus 1 that handles checks has been described. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the present disclosure may be applied to various apparatuses that handle various paper-like media such as banknotes, securities, and gift certificates. In particular, the present disclosure is suitable for performing a printing process on a medium and reading a printed paper surface by a reading unit. The same applies to the second embodiment.

Furthermore, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and other embodiments. In other words, the present disclosure covers the scope of the embodiment in which some or all of the above-described embodiments and other embodiments described above are arbitrarily combined, or the embodiment in which some are extracted. It is.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the medium print reading is performed by the upper conveyance guide 31 as the conveyance guide, the conveyance roller pair 35 as the conveyance unit, the printer 44 as the printing unit, and the upper reading unit 42 as the reading unit. The case where the scanner unit 15 as an apparatus is configured has been described. In this case, the reading unit is configured by an imaging element 53 as an imaging element, a glass plate 52 as a light transmission guide part, and a high rib 62 as a protruding part. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this, and a medium print reading device is configured by the conveyance guide, the conveyance unit, the printing unit, and the reading unit having various other configurations, and the reading unit is imaged by various other configurations. You may comprise by an element, a light transmission guide part, and a protrusion part.

The present disclosure can also be used in a check processing device that performs, for example, a check deposit transaction, performs print processing on the paper surface, and reads a print result.

Claims

A conveyance guide that forms a conveyance space by a conveyance guide surface along a conveyance direction in which a paper-like medium is to be conveyed;
A transport unit configured to transport the medium in the transport direction with the surface of the medium facing the transport guide surface in the transport space;
A printing unit that performs a printing process on a printing side of the medium;
A reading unit that is provided on the downstream side of the printing unit with respect to the conveyance path of the medium and reads the surface of the medium conveyed in the conveyance space;
With
The reading unit is
An image sensor that images the printing side surface outside the conveyance space;
A light transmission guide portion that is located between the conveyance space and the imaging element, forms a reading surface facing the printing side surface of the medium to be conveyed, and transmits light;
A protruding portion that protrudes toward the conveyance space from the reading surface;
Comprising
Media print reader.
The printing unit performs the printing process on a printing region set on the printing side of the medium;
The protrusion is disposed at a position that is outside the print area of the medium in the width direction.
The medium print reading apparatus according to claim 1.
The protrusions are respectively arranged at positions that are both outside in the print region in the width direction.
The medium print reading apparatus according to claim 2.
The printing area is set at a location that is separated from the edge by a predetermined conveyance direction distance or more with respect to the conveyance direction of the medium,
The protrusion is disposed at a position where a distance from the light transmission range in the light transmission guide portion is equal to or less than the transport direction distance in the transport direction.
The medium print reading apparatus according to claim 2.
The imaging element has a built-in lens for condensing light, and forms a focusing range in the lens on the conveyance space side of the reading surface,
The protruding portion positions the printing side surface of the medium in contact with the most protruding portion that protrudes most from the reading surface within the in-focus range;
The medium print reading apparatus according to claim 1.
The imaging device has a center of the focusing range in the lens as a location separated from the reading surface by a predetermined reading surface focal length into the conveyance space,
The medium printing reading apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the protruding portion has a maximum protruding distance from the reading surface to the maximum protruding portion that is equal to the reading surface focal length.
The protrusion has an inclined surface that continues from the most protruding portion that protrudes most from the reading surface to the outside of the transfer space through the transfer guide surface as it advances in the transfer direction.
The medium print reading apparatus according to claim 1.
Provided at a location facing the reading surface across the conveyance space and forming a gap between the reading surface and configured to be rotatable about a central axis along the width direction Opposing roller,
The medium print reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
The portion closest to the reading surface on the peripheral side surface of the facing roller is located within the focusing range of the lens incorporated in the imaging element, and the distance from the reading surface is from the reading surface at the protrusion. Greater than the most protruding distance, which is the distance to the most protruding most protruding part,
The medium print reading apparatus according to claim 8.
The portion closest to the reading surface on the peripheral side surface of the opposing roller is located at a portion farthest from the imaging element in the focusing range.
The medium print reading apparatus according to claim 9.
In the conveying roller, the central axis is disposed at a position deviating from the optical axis of the image sensor in the transport direction.
The medium print reading apparatus according to claim 8.
A receiving unit for receiving a sheet-like medium from a user;
A conveyance guide that forms a conveyance space by a conveyance guide surface along a conveyance direction in which the medium is to be conveyed;
A transport unit configured to transport the medium in the transport direction with the paper surface of the medium received by the receiving unit facing the transport guide surface in the transport space;
A printing unit that performs a printing process on a printing side of the medium;
A reading unit that is provided on the downstream side of the printing unit in the conveyance path of the medium and reads the surface of the medium conveyed in the conveyance space;
With
The reading unit is
An image sensor that images the printing side surface outside the conveyance space;
A light transmission guide portion that is located between the conveyance space and the imaging element, forms a reading surface facing the printing side surface of the medium to be conveyed, and transmits light;
A protruding portion that protrudes toward the conveyance space from the reading surface;
A medium processing apparatus comprising: