JPH0785202A - Bar code reader for bankbook or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simply and efficiently prevent plural bar code patterns printed on respective pages of a bankbook or the like and having respectively mutual relation from being misjudged by verifying the judged result of each bar code pattern based upon specific regilarility. CONSTITUTION:In all pages of a bankbook 7, the 1st to 3rd bars 8 to 10 respectively have a pattern '101' indicating 'bar existence', 'no bar' and 'bar existence'. The pattern '101' becomes specific regularity for the bar code 15 of the bankbook 17. An optical sensor 1 reads out the bar code 15 from a bar code reading direction 18. A pattern varifying part 6 verifies the bar code pattern based upon judgement based upon whether intervals (pitches) between black bits on the 1st to the 7nd bars 8 to 14 read out by a pattern judging part 5 is a prescribed ones or not. Then the validity/invalidity of the bar code pattern is verified based upon judgement whether the pattern of the 1st to the 3rd bars 8 to 10 is '101' or not.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bar code reading device for reading a bar code printed on a passbook or a voucher, and more particularly, a plurality of bar codes associated with each page printed on each page of the passbook. The present invention relates to a passbook-type bar code reader suitable for continuously reading a pattern with high reliability.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An automatic transaction device (ATM: Auto T) used to enter transaction data conventionally used in banks and the like.
eller Machine) reads the bar code pattern printed on a passbook to check the validity of the page when printing new transaction data or when performing page turning by the automatic page changing mechanism. I am doing it. To read such a bar code, for example, as described in JP-A-58-212187, a bar code of a passbook is scanned by a detector such as an optical sensor, and the result is a black and white level. This is done by counting the width of.

However, in reading such a bar code, there is a possibility that the bar code pattern may be erroneously determined due to dirt around the bar code. That is, in normal bar code scanning, the bar searched first is used as the reference bar, and subsequent bars are searched.However, if printing or stains other than the bar code is read before the reference bar, the bar is scanned. Because it will be judged as the reference bar,
Subsequent bars will be displaced, and the barcode pattern will be erroneously determined.

In order to solve such a problem, for example, from the result of scanning a bar code, if the number of black bits is less than the specified range, it is deleted as stain, and if it is more than the specified range, it is read. As an error, it is possible to prevent erroneous determination of the barcode pattern. However, this technique cannot prevent erroneous determination within the specified range. Further, for example, as described in JP-A-3-25585, a plurality of reading sensors are provided,
There is a technique in which barcodes are read in parallel at the different positions (simultaneously) and the correctness of the reading result is determined according to a predetermined majority logic. According to this technique, verification can be performed without being limited to the pitch or the number of each bar. However, this technology requires additional reading sensors,
There is an increase in processing load associated with complicated majority logic.

Further, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 129776/1990, multi-gradation read data is converted into 4-level data of white, white grey, black grey, and black, and each level data is There has been proposed a technique for sequentially comparing primary and secondary adjacent data and determining white / black binarized data based on a predetermined combination to prevent erroneous reading. However, in this technique, control is complicated because a multi-tone optical sensor is used. Further, as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 129776/1990, it may be possible to deal with whether or not the width (pitch) of each bar is normal. However, it is difficult to obtain a sufficiently reliable result only by using this pitch, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-129776. For example, it is not possible to verify dirt on a normal pitch.

[0006]

The problem to be solved by the prior art is that, in the prior art, specific barcodes that are respectively associated with a plurality of barcode patterns, such as a barcode pattern printed on each page of a passbook, are provided. Regularity is not taken into consideration, and in order to prevent misjudgment of bar code patterns and perform highly reliable reading, a multi-gradation optical sensor or a large number of optical sensors must be used. This is a point that the processing becomes complicated and the cost becomes high. An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of these conventional techniques, and to perform a simple black-and-white binarization of an erroneous determination of a plurality of related bar code patterns printed on each page of a passbook. It is an object of the present invention to provide a passbook-type bar code reading device which is capable of efficiently preventing and highly reliable reading of a bar code pattern with a simple and low-cost configuration using.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a passbook-type barcode reading apparatus of the present invention automatically and sequentially prints a plurality of associated barcode patterns printed on each page of a passbook. In a bar code reading device for reading, the correctness of each read bar code pattern is verified by comparing it with the pitch interval of the bar code and by comparing it with the regularity of a preset pattern common to a plurality of bar codes. It is characterized in that a pattern verification unit for performing the above is provided.

[0008]

In the present invention, the pitch between bar codes is measured to determine whether or not the pitch of each bar is within the valid range of the standard pitch, and at the same time, it is printed on each page of the passbook. Focusing on the fact that a plurality of barcode patterns associated with each other, such as the generated barcode pattern, have a specific regularity, the determination result of each barcode pattern is verified based on the specific regularity. For example, specify the specific regularity of each page of the passbook from the top of the barcode by 3
Assuming that up to the second is a common pattern of combinations at the same interval (pitch) in the order of "black, white, black", the first to third bars searched by scanning with an optical sensor, etc. The constituted pattern is discriminated, and it is verified whether or not the discrimination result conforms to the specific regularity of “black, white, black”. By doing so, the verification of the correctness of the plurality of related bar code patterns printed on each page of the passbook can be performed with a simple configuration using one optical sensor that performs simple black and white binarization. ,
It can be done efficiently.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a configuration relating to the present invention of a passbook type bar code reading apparatus of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an optical sensor unit that is composed of a CCD or the like and scans a barcode to input image data in simple black and white binary, and 2 denotes image data read by the optical sensor unit 1 in a black bit or a white bit. A binarization circuit 3 for converting into binary data is a CPU (Central Proc).
The barcode reading unit 3 is a barcode reading unit configured to perform a barcode reading process. The barcode reading unit 3 is a binary unit that is converted by the binarization circuit 2. A storage unit 4 that stores the binarized data, a pattern determination unit 5 that determines a barcode pattern from the binarized data, and a pattern verification according to the present invention that verifies an erroneous determination of the barcode pattern determined by the pattern determination unit 5. It is composed of the unit 6 and reads the barcode pattern of the passbook 7.

The bankbook 7 includes a first bar 8 (with bar), a second bar 9 (without bar), a third bar 10 (with bar), a fourth bar 11 (without bar), and a fifth bar 12 (bar). None),
6th bar 13 (with bar), 7th bar 14 (with bar)
A bar code 15 consisting of is printed and stains 16 and 17 are attached. The optical sensor unit 1 includes a passbook 7
If the bar code 15 is read in the bar code reading direction 18 and the bar is “1” and the bar is not “0”, the binarizing circuit 2 changes the bar code 15 of the present example to
It is represented by "1010011". Then, the passbook 7 covers all the pages, the first bar 8 is “bar present”, and the second bar 9 is
Is a "no bar" and the third bar 10 has a "bar" pattern ("101"), and this pattern "101" is the specific regularity of the barcode of the passbook 7.

In the passbook type bar code reader having such a configuration, the data read by the optical sensor unit 1 is compared with a predetermined threshold value by the binarization circuit 2 to obtain black or white data. It is binarized and stored in the storage unit 4.
Then, the pattern determination unit 5 reads the binarized data of black and white stored in the storage unit 4, sets the bar code when the number of black bits is within the specified range, and the number of white bits within the specified range. The bar code pattern is determined using the case as a space. At this time, the pattern verification unit 6 determines whether the interval (pitch) between the black bits on the first bar 8 to the seventh bar 14 read by the pattern determination unit 5 is a predetermined value, and then The validity of this bar code pattern is verified depending on whether the pattern of the first bar 8 to the third bar 10 is "101".

If the interval (pitch) between the black bits is not a predetermined value, or even if the interval (pitch) between the black bits is a predetermined value, the first pattern read by the pattern determination unit 5 The pattern of the bars 8 to 10 is "1.
If not “01”, the pattern verification unit 6 outputs a verification result of “not”. In this example, dirt 16 and dirt 17 are attached at the position of the barcode reading direction 18,
First, the dirt 17 is between the sixth bar 13 and the seventh bar 14, and the interval between the dirt 17 and the black bit on the sixth bar 13 or the black bit on the seventh bar 14 is a predetermined value. Since it is smaller than the interval, the pattern verification unit 6 can determine it as a stain.

On the other hand, the dirt 16 is on the second bar 9, and the distance between the dirt 16 and the black bit on the first bar 8 or the black bit on the second bar 9 is a predetermined interval. They are equal and cannot be judged as dirt. However, in the pattern determination unit 5, the first bar 8 is used as the reference bar and the first bar 8 is used.
Read bar 8, dirt 16, and second bar 9, and then "111"
The pattern verification unit 6 determines that
By comparing with the specific pattern “101”, the verification result of “no” can be output. When the verification result of "No" is obtained, the process as a read error is performed. For example, disabling each of the stains 16 and 17,
The reading operation for the pattern of the barcode 15 is performed. Alternatively, the positions of the passbook 7 and the optical sensor unit 1 may be shifted in the direction perpendicular to the barcode reading direction 18 and
It is also possible to perform the second reading operation.

Next, the operation of the passbook-type bar code reading apparatus of this embodiment based on the pattern judging section 5 and the pattern verifying section 6 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Figure 2
3 is a flowchart showing an example of processing operation according to the present invention of the passbook type barcode reading device in FIG. 1. In this example, it is assumed that the bar code 15 of the passbook 7 shown in FIG. 1 is read. First, the bar code is read (step 201), and the bar searched first is used as the first bar to perform the reference bar search. (Step 202), the subsequent bar is searched to determine the bar code pattern (Step 20).
3). In this bar code pattern determination, if the number of black bits is within the specified range, then pitch verification between bar codes is performed (step 204).

In the pitch verification between the bar codes, if each pitch is within the effective range of the standard pitch number, the bar code pattern is further verified (step 2).
05). For example, if the first bar has a bar of "1", the second bar has no bar of "0", and the third bar has a bar of "1", and if the specified regularity is met, normal bar code pattern reading is performed. The processing ends as if it has been performed. If this bar code pattern does not match a specific regularity, or if the number of black bits is outside the specified range in step 203, and if each pitch is not within the valid range of the standard pitch number in step 204, , It is determined that the stain has been read, and the read error is processed (step 206).

As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the passbook-type bar code reading apparatus of the present embodiment,
The specific rule of the bar code pattern printed on the 1st bar 8 to the 3rd bar 10 of each page of the passbook 7 regardless of the normality of the pitch interval of each black data (bit) of the bar code 15 of the passbook 7 Whether the read barcode pattern is correct or not is verified based on the property (“101”). As a result, with a simple and low-cost configuration that uses a single optical sensor that performs simple black and white binarization, the barcode reading operation on each page of the passbook in ATMs, etc. can be performed with high reliability. It can be carried out. It should be noted that the present invention is based on FIG. 1 and FIG.
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described by using, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0017]

According to the present invention, an erroneous determination of each bar code pattern having a common specific regularity, such as a bar code pattern printed on each page of a passbook, can be performed with a simple black and white binary value. With a simple and low-cost configuration and control using a single optical sensor, the efficiency and high reliability can be prevented, and the performance of the barcode reader can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a configuration related to the present invention of a passbook bar code reading device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing operation according to the present invention of the passbook type barcode reading device in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Optical Sensor Section 2 Binarization Circuit 3 Bar Code Reading Section 4 Storage Section 5 Pattern Judgment Section 6 Pattern Verification Section 7 Passbook 8-14 First Bar to 7th Bar 15 Bar Code 16, 17 Dirt 18 Bar Code Reading Direction

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A bar code reading device for automatically and sequentially reading a plurality of bar code patterns associated with each page printed on each page of a passbook, is preset with a comparison with the bar code pitch interval. A passbook-type bar code reader, comprising pattern verification means for verifying the correctness of each bar code pattern read by comparing with the regularity of a pattern common to the plurality of bar codes.