JP2009211200A - Recording medium processor and recording medium processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To properly perform binarization processing of an image on a recording medium surface formed with a visible image in consideration of circumstances peculiar to a thermally reversible recording medium, in a recording medium processor or the like forming the visible image on the surface of the recording medium to discharge from reception of the thermal recording medium formed with the visible image wherein gradation varies by a state by thermal action. <P>SOLUTION: This recording medium processor includes: an image forming part 20 applying heat to the recording medium surface 911, and forming the visible image on the surface 91; an image reading part 19 reading the image on the recording medium surface 911 formed with the visible image by the image forming part 20; and a binarization processing part 17 performing the binarization processing of the image read by the image reading part 19 to generate binary image data. The binarization processing part 17 performs the binarization processing by use of a threshold value according to a factor affecting the gradation of the visible image formed in the recording medium 9 when performing the binarization processing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  Recording medium processing apparatus for forming a visible image on the surface of the recording medium after receiving the thermal recording medium on which the visible image whose gradation changes depending on the state is formed by the action of heat and discharging the recording medium, and the recording The present invention relates to a recording medium processing system including a medium processing apparatus.

  Thermal recording media on which a visible image is formed by the action of heat are widely used as recording media for recording information such as points with monetary value given according to the purchase amount and the balance of payment in advance. ing. On the surface of a thermal recording medium, information that the customer who owns the recording medium wants to know, such as points and balances, is printed, or information that the store wants to record is printed as a barcode. You can do it. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a recording medium processing apparatus that forms a visible image such as printing or printing on the surface of the thermal recording medium. Also, a recording medium processing apparatus having a function of reading an image on the surface of a recording medium has been proposed in order to confirm whether the visible image is correctly formed after the visible image is formed (Patent Documents 1 and 2, etc.). reference). In these recording medium processing apparatuses, the thermal recording medium is heated to a predetermined temperature to form a visible image. In a thermal recording medium, the visible image tends not to appear dark unless the temperature of the recording medium heated for forming the visible image is sufficiently lowered. Thermal recording media also include thermoreversible recording media that can erase a visible image formed by heating to a predetermined temperature. In such a thermal recording medium, when the formation and erasure of a visible image are repeated to some extent, the thermoreversible recording medium deteriorates, and the formed visible image appears only thinly or the visible image is erased. May not disappear completely, and erasure may occur.

Here, when binarization processing is performed on the image data representing the read image, each pixel constituting the image is assigned to white or black even if the image is shaded. For this reason, if this binarization processing is not properly performed, it may be determined that there is an error even though the visible image is correctly formed. In the field of copying machines, a technique has been proposed in which a plurality of threshold values for binarizing a read original image are prepared in advance, and the threshold values can be selected by operating a threshold designation key (Patent Document 3). reference).
JP 2000-99661 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-326328 JP-A-61-252759

  However, the technique described in Patent Document 3 is a technique for an already prepared document image, in which the operator visually checks the background of the document and operates the threshold designation key. stay. In a recording medium processing apparatus that forms a visible image on the surface of the recording medium from when the recording medium is received until it is discharged, it is difficult for a person to confirm the state of the recording medium surface after receiving the recording medium. It is. In Patent Document 3, circumstances specific to the thermal recording medium are not considered at all.

  In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a recording medium processing apparatus having a function capable of appropriately binarizing an image on the surface of a recording medium on which a visible image is formed in consideration of circumstances specific to a thermal recording medium. It is another object of the present invention to provide a recording medium processing system.

The recording medium processing apparatus of the present invention that solves the above-described object is provided on the surface of a recording medium between the time when a visible image whose gradation changes according to the state is received from the time when the recording medium is formed and discharged. In a recording medium processing apparatus for forming a visible image,
An image forming unit for forming a visible image on the surface of the recording medium by applying heat;
An image reading unit that reads an image on the surface of the recording medium on which a visible image is formed by the image forming unit;
A binarization processing unit that binarizes the image read by the image reading unit to generate binary image data,
When the binarization processing unit performs the binarization processing, the binarization processing is performed using a threshold corresponding to a factor that affects the gradation of the visible image formed on the recording medium. It is characterized by that.

  Various recording media are used here, and the material, size, application, and the like are not limited at all.

  According to the recording medium processing apparatus of the present invention, in consideration of circumstances peculiar to a thermal recording medium, binarization is performed using a threshold corresponding to a factor that affects the gradation of a visible image formed on the recording medium. Since the processing is performed, the image on the surface of the recording medium on which the visible image is formed can be appropriately binarized.

The recording medium processing apparatus of the present invention further comprises a recording medium temperature determining means for determining the temperature of the recording medium on which a visible image is formed by the image forming unit,
In the case where the binarization processing unit performs the binarization processing, the aspect in which the binarization processing is performed using a threshold value corresponding to the temperature determined by the recording medium temperature determination unit, or
In-device temperature detection means for detecting the temperature in the recording medium processing device,
When the binarization processing unit performs the binarization processing, the binarization processing may be performed using a threshold value corresponding to the temperature detected by the apparatus temperature detection unit.

  The temperature determination means for determining the temperature of the recording medium in the former mode is, for example, detecting the temperature of the recording medium by directly contacting the recording medium with a sensor unit or detecting the temperature in the apparatus. The temperature of the recording medium is predicted from the temperature.

  As the above-mentioned thermal recording medium, a visible image is formed or erased by varying the heating temperature, or a thermoreversible medium that is formed or erased by varying the cooling rate after heating. Etc. The gradation of the visible image formed on these thermoreversible recording media varies depending on the temperature of the recording medium. Therefore, in the former mode, the temperature of the recording medium on which a visible image is formed by the image forming unit is directly detected, and binarization processing is performed using a threshold value corresponding to the temperature. Alternatively, the temperature of the recording medium is predicted by detecting the temperature in the recording medium processing apparatus, and binarization processing is performed using a threshold value corresponding to the predicted temperature. Further, if the temperature in the recording medium processing apparatus is high, the recording medium to which heat is applied by the image forming unit is difficult to cool. The visible image formed on the recording medium becomes dark as the temperature of the recording medium decreases. Therefore, in the latter mode, the binarization process is performed using a threshold value corresponding to the temperature in the recording medium processing apparatus.

Furthermore, in the recording medium processing apparatus of the present invention, the recording medium processing apparatus further includes elapsed time determination means for determining a time elapsed since the image forming unit applied heat to the surface of the recording medium,
When the binarization processing unit performs binarization processing, the binarization processing unit may perform binarization processing using a threshold value corresponding to the time determined by the elapsed time determination unit.

  Immediately after heat is applied to the surface of the recording medium, the temperature of the recording medium is very high, and thereafter, the temperature of the recording medium decreases with time. As described above, since the visible image formed on the recording medium becomes dark as the temperature of the recording medium decreases, the binarization process is performed using the threshold corresponding to the elapsed time.

In the recording medium processing apparatus of the present invention, the recording medium processing apparatus accepts a recording medium on which a visible image whose gradation changes depending on the state is formed or erased by the action of heat, and then the surface of the recording medium A device that performs a series of processes for once erasing the visible image formed on the surface and re-forming the visible image on the surface before discharging the recording medium,
An information acquisition unit for acquiring the number of times information indicating how many times the series of processes the received recording medium has received so far,
When the binarization processing unit performs the binarization processing, the binarization processing may be performed using a threshold corresponding to the number of times information acquired by the information acquisition unit.

  The information acquisition unit referred to here may acquire the number of times information from the recording medium as long as the received recording medium records the number of times information. If information is managed, the number of times information may be acquired from the apparatus side.

  In the above thermoreversible recording medium, if the formation and erasure of the visible image are repeated to some extent, the thermoreversible recording medium deteriorates, and the formed visible image appears only faint, or the visible image is erased. However, it may not disappear completely and erasure may occur. For this reason, binarization processing is performed using a threshold value corresponding to the number-of-times information.

The recording medium processing system of the present invention that solves the above-described object is provided on the surface of a recording medium between the time when a visible image whose gradation changes depending on the state is received from the time when the recording medium is formed and discharged. In a recording medium processing system including a recording medium processing apparatus for forming a visible image,
The recording medium processing apparatus is
An image forming unit that applies heat to the surface of the recording medium to form a visible image on the surface;
An image reading unit that reads an image on the surface of the recording medium on which a visible image is formed by the image forming unit,
This recording medium processing system further includes
A binarization processing unit that binarizes the image read by the image reading unit to generate binary image data;
When the binarization processing unit performs the binarization processing, the binarization processing unit performs binarization processing using a threshold corresponding to a factor that affects the gradation of the visible image formed on the recording medium. It is characterized by that.

Furthermore, the technical idea of the present invention can also be used as a binary image data processing program. This binary image data processing program applies heat to the surface of the recording medium from when the visible image whose gradation changes depending on the state is received after the recording medium is formed and discharged. A binary image data processing program that is executed in a recording medium processing system including a recording medium processing device that forms a visible image on a surface and reads an image on the surface of the recording medium on which the visible image is formed,
In the recording medium processing system,
Build a binarization processing unit that binarizes the read image on the surface of the recording medium to generate binary image data,
When the binarization processing unit performs the binarization processing, the binarization processing is performed using a threshold corresponding to a factor that affects the gradation of the visible image formed on the recording medium. It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, a recording medium processing apparatus and a recording medium having a function capable of appropriately binarizing an image on the surface of a recording medium on which a visible image is formed in consideration of circumstances specific to a thermal recording medium. A media processing system can be provided.

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

  The recording medium processing apparatus of this embodiment is a thermal rewritable card processing apparatus that performs thermoreversible recording. This thermal rewritable card (hereinafter simply referred to as a card) is a recording medium capable of repeatedly recording and erasing a visible image by the action of heat. After receiving a card, the recording medium processing apparatus of this embodiment once erases the visible image formed on the card, and performs a series of rewriting processes to re-form the visible image before discharging the card. It is a device to perform.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing cards handled by the recording medium processing apparatus of the present embodiment.

  1A shows the front surface 91 of the card 9, and FIG. 1B shows the back surface 92 thereof. A print area 911 is formed at the center of the front surface 91 shown in FIG. The print area 911 is provided with a leuco rewritable recording material that is colored or decolored by changing the cooling rate after heating. The background color of the print area 911 is white, and black printing is performed on the print area 911. Here, the reversible characteristics of the leuco rewritable recording material will be described with reference to FIG. 2 apart from FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a graph showing the reversible characteristics of the leuco rewritable recording material.

  The horizontal axis of the graph shown in FIG. 2 indicates the temperature, and the vertical axis indicates the color density. The leuco rewritable recording material described below is a material in which a leuco dye and a developer that exhibits reversibility are combined. First, when the leuco dye and developer in the decolored state (D) are heated, both melt and become a colored state (C). When this is rapidly cooled, it solidifies in a state close to the molten state and maintains the colored state. On the other hand, in order to change from the colored state (C) to the decolored state (D), it may be gradually cooled after heating and melting. By slow cooling, the leuco dye and the developer are phase-separated into a decolored state (D) in a temperature range (decoloration temperature range) slightly lower than the melting temperature. In addition, after heating and holding for a certain period of time in the decoloring temperature region (see the one-dot chain line in FIG. 2), the color developing state (C) is also changed to the decoloring state (D) by cooling.

  Again, a description will be given with reference to FIG. In the print area 911 shown in FIG. 1A, for example, the number of points having a monetary value given according to the purchase amount is printed. Note that a print such as a barcode may be applied to the print area 911. Outside the print area 911, an outer frame area 912 whose background color is darker than the background color of the print area 911 (for example, red) is provided.

  The background color of the back surface 92 shown in FIG. 1B is a dark color (for example, dark blue) close to black. A magnetic stripe 921 extending in the length direction of the card 9 is provided in the upper part of the back surface 92 shown in FIG. The color of the magnetic stripe 921 is black. In the magnetic stripe 921, all information necessary for handling the card 9 is recorded as magnetic data. In other words, in addition to the information printed in the print area 911 on the front surface 91, the identification information (ID) of the owner of the card 9 and the above-described series of rewriting processes are applied to the magnetic stripe 921. The number of times information indicating whether or not it has been received is also recorded. Below the magnetic stripe 921, a pattern 922 having a slightly lighter color (for example, amber) than the background color of the back surface 92 is printed.

  Note that as the recording material provided in the print region 911, a cloudy thermoreversible material that forms or erases a visible image by changing the heating temperature may be used. When this cloudy thermoreversible material is used, the background color of the print area is silver, and a white image (characters, etc.) is printed in the print area.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a recording medium processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The recording medium processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 3 performs a series of rewriting processes while conveying the card 9 shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, a card 9 is inserted into the card insertion slot 10 of the recording medium processing apparatus 1 from the left side, and the card 9 is conveyed along its length direction (left-right direction in FIG. 3). The card 9 is inserted into the card insertion slot 10 with the front surface 91 facing up, and is transported through the apparatus with the front surface 91 facing up. FIG. 3 shows the card 9 inserted from the card insertion slot 10. The recording medium processing apparatus 1 is provided with a conveyance path 12 through which the card 9 reciprocates three times if there is no error from when the card 9 is received until it is ejected. The recording medium processing apparatus 1 may be referred to as a side opposite to the side where the card insertion slot 10 is provided (hereinafter, this side may be referred to as a front side). ) Is provided with a card passage opening 11. The transport path 12 connects the card insertion slot 10 and the card passage opening 11. In this transport path 12, the path from the front side to the rear side is the forward path, and the path from the rear side to the front side is the return path. Become.

  Further, the recording medium processing apparatus 1 is provided with transport rollers 13 and 14 for transporting the card 9 along the transport path 12. Further, although not shown in FIG. 3, a first conveyance roller is provided on the card insertion slot 10 side, and a second conveyance roller 13 provided in an intermediate portion of the conveyance path 12 and a rear side. The third transport rollers 14 are arranged along the transport direction of the cards 9 at intervals less than the card length. Each of these transport rollers 13 and 14 is composed of a pair of upper and lower rollers (an upper roller and a lower roller). The upper rollers 131 and 141 and the lower rollers 132 and 142 are in contact with each other, and a nip region is formed between the upper rollers 131 and 141 and the lower rollers 132 and 142. The lower rollers 132 and 142 are rotated forward and backward by the drive motor 15. That is, the lower rollers 132 and 142 shown in FIG. 3 rotate in the clockwise direction (refer to the arrow R direction shown on the lower roller 142 of the third conveying roller 14) when the card 9 is conveyed along the forward path. When transporting along the return path, the sheet rotates in the counterclockwise direction (the direction of arrow F shown on the lower roller 142). On the other hand, the upper rollers 131 and 141 are driven to rotate as the lower rollers 132 and 142 rotate.

  The recording medium processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 3 includes a control unit 16 and a binarization processing unit 17. The control unit 16 controls the entire recording medium processing apparatus 1. FIG. 3 shows a host computer 66. The control unit 16 is connected to the host computer 6 and exchanges necessary information with the host computer 6. The binarization processing unit 17 includes a threshold storage unit 170, a threshold setting unit 171, and a binary image data generation unit 172. Details will be described later.

  Further, the recording medium processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. Here, in FIG. 3, the width direction of the card 9 orthogonal to the length direction of the card 9 (left-right direction in FIG. 3) is a direction perpendicular to the paper surface. The magnetic head 18 is arranged at the same position as the lower roller 132 of the second conveying roller 13 in the card conveying direction, but is arranged at an interval in the card width direction from the lower roller 132. . The magnetic head 18 is arranged at a position where the magnetic stripe 921 (see FIG. 1B) of the card 9 conveyed with the back surface 92 down passes just above. A driven roller (not shown) spring-biased toward the magnetic head 18 is disposed above the magnetic head 18, and the portion of the magnetic stripe 921 of the card 9 that has been conveyed is the magnetic head 18. And is sandwiched between driven rollers (not shown). The magnetic head 18 is driven by being energized by the control unit 16, and reads magnetic data recorded on the magnetic stripe 921 of the card 9 or writes magnetic data to the magnetic stripe 921.

  Furthermore, the recording medium processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 3 includes an image reading unit 19 and also includes a print head 20 and an erasing head 21. The image reading unit 19, the print head 20, and the erasing head 21 are arranged in this order from the front side along the card conveyance direction between the second conveyance roller 13 and the third conveyance roller 14. Therefore, in the state where the card 9 is being conveyed along the return path from the right side to the left side in FIG. 3, the card 9 passes through the image reading unit 19 after passing through the erasing head 21 or the print head 20. . The distance between the erasing head 21 and the image reading unit 19 is equal to or shorter than the card length, and no conveyance roller for nipping and conveying the card 9 is provided between the erasing head 21 and the image reading unit 19.

  The image reading unit 19 includes a front surface reading unit 191 above the conveyance path 12 and a back surface reading unit 192 below the front surface reading unit 191. Both the front side reading unit 191 and the back side reading unit 192 are provided with a plurality of light emitting elements arranged in the card width direction and a plurality of light receiving elements arranged in the same direction. That is, in the image reading unit 19, the card width direction of the card 9 being conveyed on the conveyance path 12 is the main scanning direction. The front surface reading unit 191 and the back surface reading unit 192 are driven separately when energized by the control unit 16. Therefore, as will be described later, only the front surface reading unit 191 among the front surface reading unit 191 and the back surface reading unit 192 may be driven. The front surface reading unit 191 is retracted upward as shown in FIG. 3 so as not to hinder card conveyance when it is not necessary to drive. The front surface reading unit 191 reads a medium image on the entire front surface 91 of the card 9. On the other hand, the back surface reading unit 192 reads the medium image of the entire back surface 92. The medium image read by the image reading unit 19 is transmitted as an electrical signal to the binary image data generation unit 172 of the binarization processing unit 17. The front surface reading unit 191 and the back surface reading unit 192 are opposed to each other across the conveyance path, and the card 9 conveyed using one of the light emitting elements and the other light receiving element. It can also be used as a sensor to detect.

  Each of the print head 20 and the erasing head 21 shown in FIG. 3 is disposed above the transport path 12 so as to face the front surface 91 of the card 9 being transported. A print platen roller 201 is disposed below the print head 20 across the conveyance path 12, and an erase platen roller 211 is disposed below the erase head 21. Both the printing platen roller 201 and the erasing platen roller 211 are rotated forward and backward by the drive motor 15. That is, these platen rollers 201 and 211 are rotationally driven in the same direction as the lower rollers 132 and 142 of the transport rollers 13 and 14. The forward / reverse rotation of the drive motor 15 is controlled by the control unit 16, and when the card 9 is transported along the forward path of the transport path 12, in FIG. When the paper is rotated in the clockwise direction and conveyed along the return path, it is rotated in the counterclockwise direction.

  The print head 20 is a thermal head extending in the card width direction, and has a plurality of resistance elements arranged in the card width direction. The print head 20 is also driven by being energized by the control unit 16. That is, when the control unit 16 selectively energizes the plurality of resistance elements, the energized resistance elements generate heat. The printing area 911 provided on the front surface 91 of the card 9 shown in FIG. 1A in contact with the generated resistance element is heated to a temperature exceeding the melting temperature shown in FIG. A metal roller 202 is provided integrally with the print head 20 on the card insertion slot 10 side of the print head 20. The metal roller 202 is in contact with the print area 911 heated by the print head 20 in a freely rotatable manner, and rapidly cools the print area 911. By rapidly cooling the print area 911, black printing is applied to the print area 911. Similarly to the print head 20, the erasing head 21 extends in the card width direction, but its length in the card width direction is equal to or shorter than the width of the card 9. The erasing head 21 is obtained by bonding a sheet-shaped resistor having a width of several millimeters to a ceramic substrate. The erasing head 21 is also driven by being energized by the control unit 16. That is, when the controller 16 is energized, the entire surface of the planar resistor generates heat. The print area 911 in contact with the heated resistor is heated to a temperature exceeding the melting temperature shown in FIG. 2, and then gradually cooled, so that images (characters, etc.) printed in the print area 911 are erased. . When the erasing head 21 is driven, the erasing head 21 is controlled by the control unit 16 so that the temperature of the resistor always maintains a predetermined temperature higher than the melting temperature.

  Further, the recording medium processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 3 is provided with a head retracting drive motor 22. Both the print head 20 and the erasing head 21 are retracted upward as shown in FIG. 3 so as not to hinder card conveyance when it is not necessary to drive the same as the front surface reading unit 191. The head retracting drive motor 22 serves as a drive source for retracting the print head 20 upward and also serves as a drive source for retracting the erasing head 21 upward. The drive control of the head retracting drive motor 22 is also performed by the control unit 16.

  Further, the recording medium processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. The in-apparatus temperature detection sensor 23 is a thermistor that detects the atmospheric temperature in the apparatus, and is provided to face the conveyance path 12 between the print head 20 and the front surface reading unit 191. is there. When the card 9 is conveyed along the return path, the in-device temperature detection sensor 23 detects the ambient temperature on the front surface 91 of the card 9 heated through the print head 20. The temperature data detected by the in-device temperature detection sensor 23 is sent to the control unit 16.

  As described above, the card stacker device 3 and the collection box 5 are mounted on the rear end of the recording medium processing apparatus 1 described above. The card stacker device 3 accommodates new cards (not shown) in a stacked state, and is mounted on the upper side with reference to the conveyance path 12 of the recording medium processing device 1. On the other hand, the cards determined to be collected by the control unit 16 as will be described later are collected in the collection box 5. The collection box 5 is mounted below with reference to the conveyance path 12 of the recording medium processing apparatus 1. The card passage port 11 is connected to both the card stacker device 3 and the collection box 5. Switching between the path connecting the transport path 12 and the card stacker device 3 and the path connecting the transport path 12 and the collection box 5 is performed by a path switching member (not shown).

  Next, a series of processes in the recording medium processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 3 will be described. As described above, in the recording medium processing apparatus 1, the card 9 reciprocates three times on the conveyance path 12 if there is no error between the receipt of the card 9 and the ejection.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a series of processes in the recording medium processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG.

  When the card 9 is inserted into the card insertion slot 10 shown in FIG. 3, a lower roller (not shown) of the first conveying roller starts to rotate in the clockwise direction, and the card 9 is received in the apparatus. First, the card 9 is transported along the forward path of the transport path 12. The conveyance here corresponds to conveyance along the first round trip. The state of the recording medium processing apparatus 1 when the card 9 is received is the same as the state of the recording medium processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. That is, the front surface reading unit 191, the back surface reading unit 192, the print head 20, and the erasing head 21 are not driven, and the front surface reading unit 191, the printing head 20, and the erasing head 21 are upward. Is in a state of being evacuated. Further, when the card 9 is transported along the forward path regardless of the number of reciprocations, the control unit 16 rotates the drive motor 15 in the clockwise direction in FIG. By doing so, the lower rollers 132, 142, the printing platen roller 201, and the erasing platen roller 211 of each of the first to third transport rollers 13, 14 also rotate in the clockwise direction. The card 9 that has started to be transported along the first round-trip path eventually passes through the magnetic head 18. At this time, the magnetic head 18 is driven and reads the magnetic data recorded in the magnetic stripe 921 (see FIG. 1B) of the card 9 that passes through (step S1). The card 9 that has passed through the magnetic head 18 is further conveyed toward the card passage port 11.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the card conveyed in the forward path is waiting on the rear side of the recording medium processing apparatus.

  In FIG. 5, the conveyance path 12 and the card stacker device 3 are connected by a path switching member (not shown). Here, in the card 9 being transported in the forward path, the right side of the figure is the leading edge and the left side is the trailing edge (the same applies to the following description). The card 9 that has been transported in the forward path is stopped before the rear end portion of the card 9 has passed through the third transport roller 14, and as shown in FIG. Stop in the state of entering 3. The card 9 stands by in this state. Hereinafter, the state of the card 9 shown in FIG. 5 will be referred to as a rear standby state. In the rear standby state, the rear end portion of the card 9 is nipped by the third transport roller 14.

  As described above, the magnetic stripe 921 stores all information necessary for handling the card 9. Here, the information recorded in the magnetic stripe 921 is also recorded in the host computer 6, and the host computer 6 performs data management for each identification information (ID) of the owner of the card 9. When the magnetic data is read in step S1, the control unit 16 transmits information based on the read magnetic data to the host computer 6. The host computer 6 acquires identification information (ID) of the owner of the card 9 from the transmitted information, and the information recorded in the host computer 6 and the control unit 16 based on the identification information. It is checked whether or not the information transmitted from is coincident, and the check result is returned to the control unit 16.

  The control unit 16 receives the check result from the host computer 6 and determines whether or not the magnetic data recorded in the magnetic stripe 921 of the card 9 accepted this time is normal (step S2). If the magnetic data is abnormal in the determination in step S2, the card 9 that has been in the rear standby state is transported to the middle of the transport path 12 along the return path. Here, in the card 9 being transported along the return path, the left side of the figure is the leading end and the right side is the trailing end (the same applies to the following description). The card 9 is conveyed along the return path until the rear end portion passes through a path switching member (not shown). The recording medium processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is provided with a sensor (not shown) that detects the position of the card 9 being conveyed, and the control unit 16 allows the rear end portion of the card 9 to pass through the path switching member. Can be detected. When the control unit 16 detects this, the control unit 16 stops the conveyance of the card 9 and operates the path switching member to connect the conveyance path 12 and the collection box 5. When the transport path 12 and the collection box 5 are connected, the card 9 is transported along the forward path that is now in the opposite direction. Eventually, the card 9 is collected from the card passage opening 11 to the collection box 5. When the card 9 is collected in the collection box 5, a collection lamp (not shown) is turned on, and the owner of the card 9 is informed that the card 9 has been collected (hereinafter the same).

  On the other hand, if the magnetic data is normal in the determination in step S2, the card 9 that has been in the rear standby state shown in FIG. 5 is conveyed along the return path up to 10 before the card insertion slot.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the card is conveyed on the first return path.

  When the card 9 is transported along the return path regardless of the number of reciprocations, the control unit 16 rotates the drive motor 15 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. By doing so, the lower rollers 132 and 142, the printing platen roller 201, and the erasing platen roller 211 of the first to third transport rollers rotate in the counterclockwise direction. Further, the state of the recording medium processing apparatus 1 when the card 9 is transported along the first return path is lowered to a position where both the erasing head 21 and the front surface reading unit 191 face the transport path 12. In this state, the erasing head 21, the front surface reading unit 191 and the back surface reading unit 192 are driven. Note that the print head 20 has not yet been driven and remains retracted upward.

  The card 9 that has started to be conveyed along the first return path passes through the erasing head 21, and the leading end of the card 9 reaches the image reading unit 19 before the trailing end of the card 9 passes through the erasing head 21. Thus, in the recording medium processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the front surface 91 and the back surface of the card 9 are erased while erasing images (characters, etc.) printed on the print area 911 (see FIG. 1A) of the card 9. The medium images on both sides of 92 are read (step S3 shown in FIG. 4). That is, two simultaneous image readings are performed while erasing images (such as characters). Alternatively, the distance between the erasing head 21 and the image reading unit 19 may be longer than the card length, and the leading end of the card may reach the image reading unit 19 after the rear end of the card has passed through the erasing head 21. In this step S3, the medium image read by the front surface reading unit 191 and the back surface reading unit 192 is the entire surface 91 of the card 9 including the printing area 911 after the printing is erased by the erasing head 21. These are two media images: a media image and a media image of the entire back surface 92. The medium image read in step S <b> 3 is transmitted as an electrical signal to the binary image data generation unit 172 of the binarization processing unit 17. That is, the binary image data generation unit 172 has two types of electric signals, an electric signal representing the medium image of the entire card front surface 91 after erasure and an electric signal representing the medium image of the entire back surface 92. Are transmitted so that they can be distinguished. The threshold storage unit 170 of the binarization processing unit 17 stores a plurality of thresholds for distributing each pixel to white or black during the binarization process.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a plurality of threshold values stored in the threshold value storage unit of the binarization processing unit shown in FIG.

  The threshold value storage unit 170 of the binarization processing unit 17 shown in FIG. 6 stores a total of three types of threshold value (threshold values 1 to 3) tables.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 7, an example is given in which the background is assigned to white in 256 gradations, with white being 255 and black being 0, and scratches, dirt, and printed images (characters, etc.) are assigned to black. explain. Originally, the threshold value for assigning each pixel to white or black in the binarization process is set to 127 which is exactly the middle. However, in image recognition by a computer, the darker the background color, the easier the background is assigned to black. When the background is distributed to black, it is impossible to distinguish between the background and the stains and scratches generated in the background portion, and it becomes impossible to accurately determine the stains and scratches generated in the background portion. In the present embodiment, threshold 1 is a threshold lower than 127. This threshold value 1 is a threshold value corresponding to the background color of the back surface 92 of the card 9. Further, in order not to overlook even slight dirt and scratches, it is necessary to increase the threshold value above 127 so that the dirt and scratches can be easily distributed to black. In the present embodiment, the threshold value 2 is a threshold value higher than 127. This threshold value 2 is a threshold value that increases the recognition accuracy of dirt and scratches on the print area 911 because mask processing is performed on the outer frame area 912 of the front surface 91 of the card 9 as will be described later. Furthermore, although the print area 911 of the card 9 heated by the print head 20 is rapidly cooled by the metal roller 202 (see FIG. 3) provided in the print head 20, the printing immediately after passing through the print head 20 is performed. In many cases, the region 911 is still at a higher temperature than normal temperature. Therefore, sufficient color development characteristics cannot be obtained, and printed images (characters, etc.) are still thin. In order to correctly recognize such a thin image (such as a character), it is necessary to raise the threshold value above 127. Further, if a series of rewriting processes in the recording medium processing apparatus 1 is repeated many times, the color density in the print area 911 decreases, and the printed image (characters, etc.) becomes light. On the other hand, if the threshold is increased too much, there is a risk that even dirt and scratches will be recognized as images (characters, etc.). For this reason, in this embodiment, the threshold value 3 is a threshold value used for the front surface 91 immediately after printing, and this threshold value 3 is a value of 127 or more and 210 or less, depending on factors that affect the coloring characteristics of the recording material. The range is selected. That is, the threshold value 3 shown in FIG. 7 is a threshold value according to a factor that affects the gradation of a printed image (such as characters).

  In this example, the background is assigned to white, and scratches, stains, and printed images (characters, etc.) are assigned to black. If the images (characters, etc.) are assigned to white, the description is reversed. That is, the value of threshold 1 corresponding to the background color of the back surface 92 of the card 9 exceeds 127, the threshold 2 increases the recognition accuracy of dirt and scratches on the print area 911 of the card 9, and the printed characters. The value of the threshold value 3 corresponding to the gradation of is less than 127.

  In the threshold setting unit 171 shown in FIG. 6, the transmitted electric signal of the medium image is an electric signal representing the medium image of the entire card front surface 91 after erasure and an electric signal representing the medium image of the entire back surface 92. The control unit 16 notifies that there are two types of signals. Based on the information notified from the control unit 16, the threshold setting unit 171 selects a threshold to be used in the binarization process in step S4 illustrated in FIG. 4 from the threshold storage unit 170, and selects the selected threshold from the binary image. Set in the data generation unit 172. The threshold value setting unit 171 sets a threshold value 2 higher than 127 as the threshold value of the medium image on the entire card front surface 91 after erasure. Further, the threshold setting unit 171 sets the threshold 1 as the threshold of the medium image of the entire back surface 92.

  The card 9 being conveyed along the first return path passes through the image reading unit 19 and is further conveyed toward the card insertion slot 10.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the card conveyed on the return path is waiting on the front side of the recording medium processing apparatus 1.

  The card 9 that has been transported along the return path is stopped before the leading end of the card 9 reaches the card insertion slot 10 and stops with the leading end portion being nipped by a first transporting roller (not shown). The card 9 stands by in this state. Hereinafter, the state of the card 9 shown in FIG. 8 will be referred to as a front standby state. When the return path of the card 9 is completed, the control unit 16 drives the head retracting motor 22 so that both the erasing head 21 and the front surface reading unit 191 are retracted upward.

  The binary image data generation unit 172 of the binarization processing unit 17 performs binarization processing using each threshold value set by the threshold value setting unit 171 for each of the two types of transmitted electrical signals (FIG. 4). In step S4), binary image data is generated. The binary image data generation unit 172 binarizes the medium image of the entire card front surface 91 after erasure using the threshold value 2 shown in FIG. At this time, the binary image data generation unit 172 performs mask processing on the outer frame region 912 (see FIG. 1A) whose background color is darker than the background color of the print region 911. The threshold value 2 is a threshold value that facilitates distribution to black. For this reason, even if the outer frame area 912 whose background color is darker than the background color of the print area 911 is binarized, the background of the outer frame area 912 is distributed to black, and the stains and scratches generated in the background portion are determined. Will not be able to. Therefore, in order to reduce the processing load, the binary image data generation unit 172 ignores the outer frame area 912 without performing the binarization process by performing the mask process. On the other hand, with regard to the print area 911 after erasure, by using the threshold value 2, even a slight stain or scratch can be easily distributed to black. Further, the binary image data generation unit 172 binarizes the medium image of the entire back surface 92 using the threshold value 1 shown in FIG. At this time, the binary image data generation unit 172 also performs mask processing on the black magnetic stripe 921 portion shown in FIG. 1B and the pattern 922 portion that is slightly lighter than the background color. Ignore without performing valuation. On the other hand, for the background part of the back surface 92, the background color is assigned to white by using the threshold value 1, and the distinction between the background and the dirt and scratches generated on the background part becomes clear, and the dirt and scratches can be recognized. become. When the binarization process in step S4 ends, binary image data representing the medium image in the print area 911 after erasure and binary image data representing the background portion of the back surface 92 are obtained. These binary image data are transmitted to the host computer 6. The host computer 6 stores that the background color of the print area 911 is white. In addition, binary image data representing the background portion of the back surface 92 of the new card 9 is also stored. Based on these memories, the host computer 6 confirms whether the background area of the print area 911 or the back surface 92 is dirty or scratched based on the number of pixels assigned to black, and sends the confirmation result to the control unit 16. Send back.

  In response to the confirmation result from the host computer 6, the control unit 16 determines whether there is any dirt or a flaw in the print area 911 of the card 9 received this time and the background portion of the back surface 92 (step S5 shown in FIG. 4). ). If there is dirt or a flaw in the determination in step S5, the control unit 16 shown in FIG. 8 operates a path switching member (not shown) to connect the transport path 12 and the collection box 5 to the front standby state shown in FIG. The existing card 9 is conveyed along the return path toward the collection box 5. The card 9 is collected in the collection box 5 from the card passage opening 11.

  On the contrary, if there is no dirt or a flaw in the determination in step S5, the control unit 16 waits for a discharge command to be issued. That is, the control unit 16 repeatedly determines whether or not a discharge command has been issued until a discharge command is issued (step S6). During this time, the card 9 is in the front standby state. In the recording medium processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the card is not returned to the owner unless the card owner presses a card return button (not shown). The discharge command is a command issued when the card owner presses the card return button. In addition, when the card 9 is received without providing the card return button, it may be performed in the shortest time until the card is discharged (returned). In this case, step S6 is omitted.

  When the discharge command is issued, the control unit 16 rotates the drive motor 15 in the clockwise direction in FIG. 8, and conveys the card 9 that has been in the front standby state along the forward path (step S7 shown in FIG. 4). The conveyance here corresponds to the conveyance of the second round-trip outbound path, and the magnetic head 18, the image reading unit 19, the print head 20, and the erasing head 21 are not driven, and remain retracted upward. The card 9 is conveyed to the position of the rear standby state shown in FIG. The state of the recording medium processing apparatus 1 when the card 9 is transported along the second return path is that the erasing head 21, the print head 20, and the front surface reading unit 191 are all retracted upward. Only the magnetic head 18 is driven. The card 9 that has started to be transported along the second return path passes through the magnetic head 18 before long. The controller 16 is notified from the host computer 6 of information to be newly written this time on the magnetic stripe 921 (b)) of the card 9). The information to be written here includes information on the number of times that the number of times of the rewriting process has been increased by one. The magnetic head 18 writes magnetic data based on the notified information to the magnetic stripe 921 of the passing card 9 (step S8 shown in FIG. 4). The control unit 16 is provided with a write counter that returns to 0, which is the initial value when a new card 9 is received. When the magnetic data is written in step S8, the control unit 16 increments the write counter. The card 9 that has passed through the magnetic head 18 is further conveyed toward the card insertion slot 10. As soon as the card 9 is transported to the front standby position, the transport of the third round-trip outbound path begins. In this third round trip, the magnetic head 18 now reads the magnetic data written in step S8 (step S9 shown in FIG. 4), and then the card 9 enters the rear standby state shown in FIG. . The control unit 16 transmits information based on the magnetic data read in step S9 to the host computer 6. The host computer 6 checks whether or not the magnetic data written this time is correctly written, and returns the check result to the control unit 16. That is, verification is performed.

  The control unit 16 receives the check result from the host computer 6 and determines whether or not there is an error in the magnetic data written this time (step S10 shown in FIG. 4). If there is an error, the control unit 16 It is determined whether or not the value of the write counter is 3 (step S11 shown in FIG. 4). If the value of the write counter is 3, the card 9 in the rear standby state shown in FIG. 5 is the same as when the magnetic data is determined to be abnormal in the determination in step S2. It is collected in the collection box 5 from the passage port 11. On the other hand, if the value of the write counter is not 3, the process returns to step S8 to rewrite the magnetic data. The card 9 in the rear standby state shown in FIG. 5 makes a round trip along the transport path from this state until the error determination is performed after rewriting the magnetic data (step S8 to step S10).

  If there is no error in the magnetic data written this time in the determination in step S10, the card 9 in the rear standby state starts to be conveyed along the return path.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the card is being transported on the third return trip.

  The state of the recording medium processing apparatus 1 when the card 9 is conveyed along the third return path is a state in which both the print head 20 and the front surface reading unit 191 are lowered to a position facing the conveyance path 12. is there. The print head 20 is driven and the front surface reading unit 191 is also driven, but the back surface reading unit 192 is not driven.

  The card 9 that has started to be transported along the third round return path passes through the print head 20, and the front end of the card 9 reaches the front surface reading unit 191 before the rear end of the card 9 passes through the print head 20. In this way, the recording medium processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment reads a medium image only on the front surface 91 of both sides of the card 9 while printing on the print area 911 (see FIG. 1A) of the card 9 (see FIG. 1A). Step S12 shown in FIG. The medium image read in step S <b> 12 is a medium image of the entire front surface 91 including the print area 911 that is heated by the print head 20. The medium image read in step S <b> 12 is converted into an electrical signal and transmitted to the binary image data generation unit 172 of the binarization processing unit 17.

  Further, the threshold value setting unit 171 of the binarization processing unit 17 controls that the electric signal of the transmitted medium image is a medium image of the entire front surface 91 immediately after being heated by the print head 20. Notified from the unit 16. Further, the control unit 16 acquires the number of times information indicating how many times the card received this time has undergone the rewriting process from the magnetic data read in step S1 shown in FIG. 4, and the acquired number of times information is also a threshold value. Notify the setting unit 171. Therefore, the control unit 16 corresponds to an example of the information acquisition unit referred to in the present invention. Further, the control unit 16 prints the print area in the card 9 heated through the print head 20 based on the ambient temperature data on the card front surface 91 sent from the in-device temperature detection sensor 23. The temperature of 911 is predicted, and the predicted temperature information is also notified to the threshold setting unit 171. Therefore, the combination of the in-device temperature detection sensor 23 and the control unit 16 corresponds to an example of a recording medium temperature determination unit that determines the temperature of the recording medium according to the present invention. Instead of the apparatus internal temperature detection sensor 23, a temperature determination means for directly detecting the temperature of the print area 911 by bringing the sensor portion into contact with the print area 911 of the card 9 heated through the print head 20 is used. It may be used. The threshold value setting unit 171 selects a threshold value to be set in the binary image data generation unit 172 from the threshold value storage unit 170 based on both the count information and the temperature information notified from the control unit 16.

  Tables 1 and 2 show threshold value tables for the threshold value 3 stored in the threshold value storage unit 170.

  Table 1 shows the card temperature (° C.) for each horizontal row. This card temperature is the temperature in the heated print area 911. In Table 1, the temperature range from 0 ° C. to less than 10 ° C., 10 ° C. to less than 20 ° C., etc. is shown in increments of 10 ° C. to less than 70 ° C., and the bottom is 70 ° C. or more. The temperature range is shown. The higher the card temperature, the worse the color development characteristics of the print area 911. That is, the black print becomes thin. For this reason, in the present embodiment, in order to accurately recognize even a thin image (such as a character), the threshold value is increased stepwise as the card temperature becomes higher, so that it can be easily distributed to black.

  First, the threshold setting unit 171 selects a threshold of the temperature range to which the card temperature indicated by the temperature information notified from the control unit 16 belongs. For example, if the temperature information is 45 ° C., the threshold setting unit 171 selects a value of 195.

  The threshold table shown in Table 1 refers to an appropriate threshold from the card temperature predicted by the control unit 16 based on the ambient temperature. The threshold table used here is a relationship between the ambient temperature and the card temperature in advance. The threshold value table may be such that an appropriate threshold value corresponding to the card temperature can be referred directly from the ambient temperature without prediction by the control unit 16. A threshold value table that can be directly referred to from the ambient temperature is preferable because the control unit 16 does not need to predict the card temperature, and the processing load on the control unit 16 is reduced.

  Table 2 shows the number of rewrites for each horizontal row. This number of rewrites is the number of times the accepted card 9 has undergone rewrite processing so far. In Table 2, the number of times ranges from 0 to 99 times, from 100 times to 199 times, etc., from 100 to 599 times in increments of 100, with the number of times being 600 times or more at the bottom. A range is shown. Table 2 shows coefficients according to the frequency range, and the threshold setting unit 171 multiplies the values selected in Table 1 by the coefficients shown in Table 2 to obtain the threshold 3. However, as described above, if the value of threshold 3 exceeds 210, there is a possibility that even dirt and scratches may be recognized as images (characters, etc.). Therefore, the maximum value of threshold 3 is limited to 210. Yes. The maximum value of the threshold 3 is not limited to 210, and may be a predetermined value that is lower than the white gradation value (255) and higher than the intermediate gradation value (127). In the card 9 of the present embodiment, as the number of rewrites increases, the color development characteristics of the print area 911 deteriorate and the black print becomes lighter. For this reason, in this embodiment as well, the threshold value is increased stepwise as the number of rewrites increases in order to correctly recognize even a thin image (such as a character). The threshold setting unit 171 selects a coefficient in the number range to which the number of rewrites indicated by the number information notified from the control unit 16 belongs. For example, if the frequency information is 250 times, the threshold setting unit 171 selects a coefficient of 1.10 and multiplies the value of 195 selected in the example of Table 1 by 1.10. Since the value thus obtained is 214.5, which exceeds the maximum value of 210, the threshold value setting unit 171 sets a value of 210 as the threshold value 3 in the binary image data generation unit 172.

  The binary image data generation unit 172 binarizes the transmitted electrical signal using the set threshold value 3 (step S13 shown in FIG. 4) to generate binary image data. Also in this step S13, as in the previous step S4, when the medium image on the front surface 91 is binarized, the outer frame area 912 is subjected to a masking process and binarized. In the binarization processing here, even if the printed image (characters, etc.) is still light (characters, etc.), it is easy to be accurately assigned to black, and the media image in the print area 911 is appropriately binary. Value processing is performed. The binary image data generated in this way is also transmitted to the host computer 6, but here the host computer 6 does not check for dirt or scratches. The control unit 16 transmits an instruction to store the transmitted binary image data in the host computer 6 (step S14 shown in FIG. 4), and the binary image data is stored in the host computer 6. As described above, the host computer 6 manages data for each identification information (ID) of the card 9, and the binary image data stored this time is also managed by the host computer 6. In this way, even when there is a possibility that the content printed in the print area 911 has been illegally altered, the card hospitality when the previous card is received using the stored binary image data is used. The medium image on the surface 91 can be confirmed, and fraud can be uncovered.

  The card 9 transported along the third round return path is ejected from the card insertion slot 10 and returned to the owner of the card 9.

  The above is a series of rewriting processes until one card 9 is received from the card insertion slot 10 and discharged from the card insertion slot 10 in the recording medium processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. In this series of rewrite processing, after the erasure shown in FIG. 4, the medium image on the card surface (hymen) is read twice in step S3 before printing and once in step S12 after printing, a total of three times. When binarizing the media image before printing, a threshold value that increases the recognition accuracy of dirt and scratches is used. When binarizing the media image after printing, the printed image (characters etc. ) Is used in accordance with a factor that affects the gradation. As a result, each medium image can be appropriately binarized.

  Subsequently, a modified example of the recording medium processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment will be described. In the following description of the modified example, the same reference numerals as those used so far are used for the same constituent elements as described above. Moreover, the description which overlaps with the description so far is omitted.

  In this modification, the distance between the print head 20 and the image reading unit 19 is longer than the card length. Further, when the rear end of the card 9 being conveyed along the return path passes through the print head 20, the conveyance of the card is temporarily stopped before the front end of the card reaches the front surface reading unit 191. Stops between the print head 20 and the image reading unit 19. Thereafter, the conveyance along the return path of the card 9 is not resumed until a conveyance restart command similar to the discharge command described in the explanation of step S6 shown in FIG. 4 is issued. For this reason, the timing from when the print head 20 applies heat to the print area 911 until the front surface reading unit 191 reads the medium image on the front surface 91 is different because the timing at which the conveyance restart command is issued is different. The time is also different. In this modification, the control unit 16 has elapsed time determination means. This elapsed time determination means counts the elapsed time. That is, in the recording medium processing apparatus 1 of this modified example, the fact that the front end of the card 9 has reached the front surface reading unit 191 and the first sensor (not shown) that detects that the print head 20 has been reached is detected. Two types of sensors, a second sensor (not shown) to be detected, are provided, and the elapsed time determination means determines the time from when the first sensor detects the card leading edge until the second sensor detects the card leading edge. judge. The control unit 16 notifies the threshold setting unit 171 of time information representing the time determined by the elapsed time determination unit.

  Table 3 shows a threshold value table for the threshold value 3 stored in the threshold value storage unit 170 in this modification. Further, the threshold value storage section 170 in this modification also stores the threshold value table shown in Table 2.

  In Table 3, the elapsed time (seconds) is shown for each vertical line. This elapsed time is the time from when the print head 20 applies heat to the print area 911 until the front surface reading unit 191 starts reading the medium image on the front surface 91. In Table 3, the elapsed time is less than 1 second from the left, more than 1 second and less than 2 seconds, etc. The time range is shown in increments of 1 second to less than 5 seconds, and the right end is a time range of 5 seconds or more. It is shown. The shorter this elapsed time is, the cooler the print area 911 is, and the color development characteristics of the print area 911 deteriorate, and the black print becomes lighter. For this reason, in this modified example, the elapsed time is also taken into account so that even a thin image (characters, etc.) can be recognized accurately. As the elapsed time becomes shorter, the threshold value is increased stepwise to facilitate the distribution to black. .

  In this modification, the in-device temperature detection sensor 23 detects the ambient temperature in the device before the card 9 is conveyed along the return path. When the atmospheric temperature data is sent from the in-apparatus temperature detection sensor 23, the control unit 16 notifies the threshold value setting unit 171 of the temperature data as it is without performing the temperature prediction of the print area 911. . Therefore, the temperature information notified to the threshold setting unit 171 here is the ambient temperature (ambient temperature) in the apparatus before the card 9 is conveyed along the return path. The higher the ambient temperature, the harder the print area heated by the print head 20 is cooled, and the color development characteristics of the print area 911 deteriorate. Table 3 shows the ambient temperature (° C.) for each horizontal row in a display manner similar to that of the card temperature shown in Table 1.

  In this modification, first, the threshold setting unit 171 selects a threshold according to two types of information notified from the control unit 16, that is, temperature information indicating ambient temperature and time information indicating elapsed time. For example, if the temperature information is 35 ° C. and the time information is 4.5 seconds, the threshold setting unit 171 selects a value of 127. Further, also in this modification, the threshold value setting unit 171 is notified of the frequency information indicating the number of times of rewriting. The threshold setting unit 171 uses the threshold table shown in Table 2 to select a coefficient according to the frequency information, and obtains the threshold 3 by multiplying the value selected in Table 3 by the coefficient selected in Table 2. The threshold value setting unit 171 sets the value of the threshold value 3 thus obtained in the binary image data generation unit 172, and the binary image data generation unit 172 uses the set threshold value 3 in step S13 shown in FIG. Perform value processing. Also in the binarization processing here, the threshold value 3 corresponding to the factor that affects the gradation of the printed image (characters, etc.) is used, so that the media image in the print area 911 after printing is binarized appropriately. Can be processed.

  This modification can also be applied to cases where the transport speed of the card 9 is different for each received card 9.

  In the description so far, the description of the issuance of a new card 9 from the card stacker device 3 is omitted. However, when the card is collected in the collection box 5, the new card 9 is sent out from the card stacker device 3, After performing a predetermined card issuing process in the apparatus, a new card 9 is discharged from the card insertion slot 10.

  Further, in the recording medium processing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, in step S8 shown in FIG. 4, the number information indicating the number of rewrites is written as magnetic data in the magnetic stripe 921 of the card 9, and this number information is included in the magnetic data. Instead, the number information may be stored in the host computer 6 in association with the identification information (ID) of the owner of the card 9. In this case, the host computer 6 extracts the number of times information based on the identification information (ID), and the control unit 16 acquires the number of times information from the host computer 6.

  Further, the control unit 16 performs the above-described series of rewriting processes while exchanging necessary information with the host computer 6. However, the control unit 16 bears the entire role of the host computer 6 and is unique to the recording medium processing apparatus. The above-described series of rewriting processes may be performed. Or, conversely, the role of the binarization processing unit 17 may be entirely borne by the host computer 6, and the combination of the recording medium processing apparatus 1 and the host computer 6 may be used as a recording medium processing system. This recording medium processing system corresponds to an example of the recording medium processing system of the present invention. Furthermore, the technical idea of the present invention can also be used as a binary image data processing program. This binary image data processing program is a binary image data processing program executed in the recording medium processing system, and is a program for constructing the binarization processing unit 17 in the recording medium processing system.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the card determined to be collected by the control unit 16 is collected in the collection box 5, but instead of collecting, the processing after the determination is stopped and the card 9 is held by the owner. You may return from the card insertion slot 10. In this case, instead of the collection box 5, a card stacker device containing a new type of card different from the type of the card 9 shown in FIG. 1 is installed, and the recording medium processing device 1 distinguishes the two types of cards. You may make it handle.

  Further, in the present embodiment, an apparatus for performing a series of rewriting processes in which a visible image is erased and printed as one set has been described. However, in the recording medium processing apparatus of the present invention, the visible image is not necessarily erased. For example, when issuing a new card or a card that performs one-time printing, only printing is performed. The recording medium processing apparatus of the present invention can also be applied to an apparatus that processes these cards. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, an apparatus for processing a card has been described. However, the recording medium processing apparatus of the present invention may be an apparatus for processing any recording medium, for example, a sheet-shaped recording medium (ticket A device for processing such a cut sheet).

It is a figure which shows the card handled with the recording medium processing apparatus of this embodiment. It is a graph which shows the reversible characteristic of a leuco rewritable recording material. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a recording medium processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a flowchart showing a series of processes in the recording medium processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 3. It is a figure which shows a mode that the card conveyed by the outward path is waiting on the back side of a recording-medium processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows a mode that the card | curd is conveyed in the return path of the 1st round trip. It is a figure for demonstrating the several threshold value stored in the threshold value storage part of the binarization process part shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows a mode that the card conveyed by the return path is waiting in the front side of a recording-medium processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows a mode that the card | curd is conveyed by the return path of the 3rd round trip.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording medium processing apparatus 10 Card insertion port 11 Card passage port 12 Conveyance path 13 2nd conveyance roller 14 3rd conveyance roller 15 Drive motor 16 Control part 17 Binarization process part 170 Threshold storage part 171 Threshold setting part 172 Binary image Data generation unit 18 Magnetic head 19 Image reading unit 191 Front side reading unit 192 Back side reading unit 20 Print head 21 Erase head 22 Head retraction drive motor 23 In-device temperature detection sensor 3 Card stacker device 5 Collection box 9 Card 91 Front side 911 Print area 92 Back side 921 Magnetic stripe

Claims (6)

In a recording medium processing apparatus for forming a visible image on the surface of a recording medium from when the visible image whose gradation changes depending on the state is received from the recording medium formed by the action of heat until it is discharged,
An image forming unit that applies heat to the surface of the recording medium to form a visible image on the surface;
An image reading unit that reads an image on the surface of the recording medium on which a visible image is formed by the image forming unit;
A binarization processing unit that binarizes the image read by the image reading unit to generate binary image data;
When the binarization processing unit performs the binarization processing, the binarization processing unit performs binarization processing using a threshold corresponding to a factor that affects the gradation of the visible image formed on the recording medium. A recording medium processing apparatus. A recording medium temperature determining means for determining the temperature of the recording medium on which a visible image is formed by the image forming unit;
The binarization processing unit performs binarization processing using a threshold value corresponding to the temperature determined by the recording medium temperature determination means when performing binarization processing. 1. A recording medium processing apparatus according to 1. In-device temperature detection means for detecting the temperature in the recording medium processing device,
The binarization processing unit, when performing the binarization processing, performs the binarization processing using a threshold value corresponding to the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means in the apparatus. 1. A recording medium processing apparatus according to 1. This recording medium processing apparatus receives a recording medium on which a visible image whose gradation changes depending on the state is formed or erased by the action of heat, and then temporarily erases the visible image formed on the surface of the recording medium. An apparatus for performing a series of processes for re-forming a visible image on the surface before discharging the recording medium,
An information acquisition unit that acquires number-of-times information indicating how many times the series of processes the received recording medium has received so far;
2. The binarization processing unit, when performing the binarization processing, performs binarization processing using a threshold value corresponding to the number of times information acquired by the information acquisition unit. Recording medium processing apparatus. Elapsed time determining means for determining a time elapsed since the image forming unit applied heat to the surface of the recording medium,
2. The binarization processing unit, when performing binarization processing, performs binarization processing using a threshold value corresponding to the time determined by the elapsed time determination means. The recording medium processing apparatus described. Recording provided with a recording medium processing device for forming a visible image on the surface of the recording medium after receiving the recording medium on which the visible image whose gradation changes according to the state is formed by the action of heat In the media processing system,
The recording medium processing apparatus is
An image forming unit that applies heat to the surface of the recording medium to form a visible image on the surface;
An image reading unit that reads an image on the surface of the recording medium on which a visible image is formed by the image forming unit,
This recording medium processing system further includes
A binarization processing unit that binarizes the image read by the image reading unit to generate binary image data;
When the binarization processing unit performs the binarization processing, the binarization processing unit performs binarization processing using a threshold corresponding to a factor that affects the gradation of the visible image formed on the recording medium. A recording medium processing system.