JP5033490B2 - Trading device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a transaction medium handling apparatus that handles, for example, a bankbook and other transaction media, and in particular, allows the use of a plurality of types of transaction media, and is used based on the bar code characteristics of each type of transaction media. The present invention relates to a transaction apparatus that discriminates a transaction medium.

  In a financial institution or the like, an automatic cash transaction apparatus (hereinafter referred to as ATM) is used for transactions such as deposits and withdrawals for users. This ATM reads necessary information from a magnetic stripe attached to the passbook and a bar code printed on each page of the passbook during a transaction in which the passbook is used.

  Here, the position of the magnetic stripe attached to the passbook and the barcode specification may differ depending on the financial institution. In recent years, mergers and partnerships of financial institutions have been progressing. For this reason, it is desired that a single ATM can handle a plurality of types of passbooks having different magnetic stripe positions and barcode specifications.

The following two methods have been proposed as methods for reading information from a plurality of types of passbooks.
First, a method has been proposed that can cope with the case where there are a bankbook with a vertical magnetic stripe along the conveyance direction of the bankbook and a bankbook with a horizontal magnetic stripe in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction. (See Patent Document 1). In this method, vertical reading and horizontal reading are tried in order, and the passbook type is determined by the position of the read magnetic stripe or the data format of the read data.

  As another method, as a bar code representing information such as the page number of each page of the passbook, a passbook printed with a bar code based on a combination of vertical lines and a bar code based on a combination of horizontal lines are printed. There has been proposed a method that can deal with a case where a bankbook exists (see Patent Document 2). In this method, the passbook type is discriminated based on the characteristic of the bar code indicating whether the bar code that has been successfully read is vertical or horizontal.

  In the former prior art, since each magnetic stripe reading operation occurs in order to determine the passbook type, processing time may be required. In particular, there are differences in the position of the magnetic stripe in addition to the difference between the vertical and horizontal types, so if you increase the number of bankbook types that correspond to this position difference, the processing time will increase accordingly. There was a problem.

In the latter prior art, when there are a plurality of types of barcodes in the vertical direction or when there are a plurality of types of barcodes in the horizontal direction, the medium type may not be determined.
JP-A-8-7206 JP 2003-196708 A

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a transaction apparatus that can determine the type of transaction medium even if it is a plurality of types of barcodes that are the same in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction. To do.

The present invention is based on a line sensor unit that reads a barcode, a drive unit that moves a transaction medium in a vertical direction relative to the sensor array of the line sensor unit, and image information read by the line sensor unit. And a control unit that executes a determination process, and handles a plurality of types of transaction media on which a barcode is printed, wherein the control unit is configured such that the number of black pixels read by the line sensor unit is the bar code. Depending on whether or not the number of scans that are equal to or greater than the recognition threshold for recognizing the presence or absence of codes continues in the direction orthogonal to the sensor array of the line sensor unit for the threshold of the type determination threshold or vertical barcode or running determining bar code type determination processing, to determine the length of the bar code based on the number of black pixels or the number of scans of the bar longitudinal direction of the bar code, the Characterized in that it is a transaction apparatus to perform determining transaction medium type determination process of the type cited medium.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a transaction apparatus capable of discriminating the type of transaction medium even with a plurality of types of barcodes that are the same in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a connection configuration diagram of an automatic transaction system 1 composed of an automatic cash transaction apparatus 30 and a center apparatus 31, and FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a control unit 50 of a passbook handling apparatus 32 as a transaction apparatus. FIG. 3 shows a configuration diagram of the bankbook handling device 32. In this embodiment, a case where the determination method of the present invention is applied to a bankbook handling device 32 mounted on an automatic teller machine 30 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic transaction system 1 includes an automatic cash transaction apparatus 30 and a center apparatus 31 that are communicably connected.
The automatic teller machine 30 includes a control device 33, a passbook handling device 32 and a communication device 34 connected to the control device 33. Here, the bankbook handling apparatus 32 is an apparatus for performing entry into a bankbook issued for each financial institution.
The center device 31 includes a control device 36, a communication device 35 and a storage device 37 connected to the control device 36.

  With this configuration, the bankbook handling device 32 communicates with the center device 31 from the control device 33 in the automatic teller machine 30 via the communication devices 34 and 35. The consistency of the magnetic stripe data and page bar code information of the bankbook is confirmed by comparing with the previous transaction data and customer information in the storage device 37 in the center device 31. In addition, the structure which provides a memory | storage device in the automatic teller machine 30 without center connection, and confirms consistency independently may be sufficient.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the passbook handling device 32 is provided with a control unit 50 that reads page barcode information. The control unit 50 is provided with an image sensor control circuit 51, a CPU 52, a memory 53, and a line control circuit 54 so that they can communicate with each other.

The line control circuit 54 is connected to a higher-level control device 33 (see FIG. 1).
The image sensor control circuit 51 is connected to the line sensor 10. The line sensor 10 is provided with a CCD 20 having a plurality of pixels in a line.

  With this configuration, when capturing an image, the LED inside the line sensor 10 is turned on, and the CCD 20 inputs the output voltage of each pixel corresponding to the reflected light to the image sensor control circuit 51. The image sensor control circuit 51 amplifies the input output voltage, performs AD conversion, performs binarization processing by comparison with a threshold value for determining a preset white and black level, and stores the result in the memory 53. Binary image information can be obtained by periodically and continuously executing the process of collecting and storing the data during reading. The CPU 52 analyzes this image information and transmits it as bar code information to the host control device 33 via the line control circuit 54.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a page bar code information and magnetic stripe data reading mechanism in the bankbook handling device 32.
The bankbook handling device 32 includes a line sensor 10, a bankbook 40 as a transaction medium, an insertion port 41, optical sensors 42 and 43, a transport roller 44, and magnetic heads 45, 46 and 47.

  When reading the page barcode information, when the bankbook 40 is inserted through the insertion port 41, the bankbook 40 is transported in the insertion direction by a transport roller 44 that is rotated by a driving unit such as a motor (not shown). When the upper end portion of the bankbook 40 is placed on the upper part of the optical sensor 42 that detects the presence or absence of the medium, the optical sensor 42 detects the presence of the medium. After this detection, the bankbook handling device 32 starts image collection by the line sensor 10. Thereafter, when the bankbook 40 passes over the optical sensor 43, the optical sensor 43 detects the presence or absence of the medium. When the presence or absence of this medium is detected, the image acquisition by the line sensor 10 is stopped.

  Here, if only the upper part of the image is acquired, the image acquisition may be stopped when the optical sensor 43 detects the presence of the medium. Even in this case, the page barcode information can be acquired if the page barcode information exists in the area where the image is collected.

Alternatively, the inserted bankbook 40 may be taken in one end and then conveyed in the reverse direction (discharge direction), activated by detection of the optical sensor 43, and image collection stopped by the optical sensor 42.
Alternatively, the passbook 40 may be stopped and the line sensor 10 itself may be moved in the insertion direction (or discharge direction) of the passbook 40 to collect an image.

  If the magnetic stripe data is read in a vertical magnetic stripe attached along the conveyance direction of the bankbook 40, it may be read while pushing up the magnetic head 45 or the magnetic head 46 while conveying the bankbook 40. Alternatively, the magnetic heads 45 and 46 may be moved and read while being pressed in the insertion direction (or ejection direction) of the passbook 40 with the passbook 40 stopped.

  If the horizontal magnetic stripe data attached in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction is to be read, the magnetic head 47 moves in the direction orthogonal to the insertion direction of the passbook 40 with the passbook 40 stopped, and the magnetic head 47 may be read while being pressed against the passbook 40.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of four types of bankbook 40 (40a to 40d).
Each of the four types of passbooks 40 is vertically opened and formed in the same size, and the page barcode 11 (11a to 11d) and the magnetic stripe 65 (65a to 65d) provided on each page and representing the number of pages are different. ing. The position of the page barcode 11 is provided in the vicinity of the center of the upper end of the spread upper portion, and the magnetic stripe 65 is provided in the lower spread portion.

The bankbook 40a in FIG. 4A includes a vertical page barcode 11a as a first-type barcode in which vertically long bars (longitudinal in the longitudinal direction of the bar) are arranged side by side, and a magnetic stripe 65a that is vertically long and arranged on the left side. Is provided.
The bankbook 40b shown in FIG. 4B includes a vertical page barcode 11b as a first type barcode in which vertically long bars (longitudinal in the longitudinal direction of the bar) are arranged side by side, and a magnetic stripe that is horizontally long and disposed on the lower side. 65b is provided.

  Here, when the vertical page barcode 11a and the vertical page barcode 11b are compared, both are vertical barcodes, but only the length in the vertical direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the bar, is different. That is, the vertical page barcode 11a is configured to be shorter in the vertical direction than the vertical page barcode 11b.

  In the vertical page barcodes 11a and 11b, information is formed with the thickness of the vertical lines. The thick lines and the thin lines of the vertical page barcodes 11a and 11b are the same. The vertical page bar codes 11a and 11b have the same total number of bars. Therefore, when there is a vertical page barcode 11a and a vertical page barcode 11b having the same combination of a thick line and a thin line, the result of reading the data represented by the vertical barcode is the same.

The bankbook 40c of FIG. 4C includes a horizontal page barcode 11c as a second type barcode in which horizontally long bars (horizontal in the bar longitudinal direction) are vertically arranged, and a magnetic stripe 65c that is vertically long and arranged on the right side. Is provided.
The passbook 40d in FIG. 4D includes a horizontal page barcode 11d as a second type bar code in which horizontally long bars (horizontal in the longitudinal direction of the bar) are arranged in a row, and a top and bottom of a lower side of the passbook 40d. A magnetic stripe 65d disposed near the center in the direction is provided.

  Here, when the horizontal page barcode 11c and the horizontal page barcode 11d are compared, both are horizontal barcodes, but only the horizontal length, which is the longitudinal direction of the bar, is different. That is, the horizontal page barcode 11c is configured to be longer in the horizontal direction than the horizontal page barcode 11d.

  In the horizontal page barcode 11c and the horizontal page barcode 11d, information is formed by the number of lines and a pattern having no lines. The horizontal page barcode 11c and the horizontal page barcode 11d have the same pitch between lines forming the barcode. Accordingly, when there is a horizontal page barcode 11c and a horizontal page barcode 11d having the same pattern with no line, the result of reading the data composed of the horizontal barcode is the same.

  Thus, when there are four types of bankbooks 40, all of them have the same size and can be inserted into the insertion port 41 of the bankbook handling apparatus 32. However, the user who handles the automatic teller machine 30 does not input the type of the bankbook 40 to be inserted in advance. For this reason, the device does not know which passbook is inserted. In addition, it is not possible to distinguish between the same patterns only by whether or not the reading result is normal as in the prior art. That is, the vertical page barcodes 11a and 11b cannot be distinguished, and the horizontal page barcode 11c and the horizontal page barcode 11d cannot be distinguished. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, even if the bar code specifications are the same pattern, the type difference is determined by the following recognition method.

  FIG. 5 shows that the vertical barcode passbook (passbook 40a and passbook 40b) having the same specifications shown in FIGS. 4 (A) and 4 (B) is inserted due to the features of the page barcode 11a and the page barcode 11b. It is explanatory drawing which shows the discrimination method of Example 1 which discriminate | determines whether it was made.

  The control unit 50 stores the monochrome determination result in the memory 53 for each scan by the line sensor 10 (step S101). Then, the control unit 50 counts the number of black pixels (pixel amount) determined to be black by the monochrome determination for each scan in the area where the barcode is printed. Furthermore, the control unit 50 counts the number of continuous scans in which scans in which the number of black pixels exceeds the number of pixels P1 serving as a recognition threshold value continue. Here, the pixel number P1 is set to a pixel number smaller than the black pixel number when the page barcode 11a and the page barcode 11b printed with the smallest number of black pixels are scanned.

  The control unit 50 executes transaction medium type determination processing, compares the continuous scan number (YA or YB) with a scan number threshold value YS as a predefined type determination threshold value, and determines the continuous scan number. If (YB) is larger than the scan number threshold YS (step S102: YES), it is determined and determined that the passbook type is the passbook 40b (step S103). If the continuous scan number (YA) is smaller than the scan number threshold value YS (step S10: NO), it is determined that the bankbook type is the bankbook 40a (step S104).

  The number of continuous scans of the passbook 40a and the passbook 40b is determined by the barcode height specification and the scan timing. In this embodiment, since the continuous scan number of the passbook 40a is the continuous scan number YA and the continuous scan number of the passbook 40b is the scan number YB, the preset scan number threshold YS is in the middle of both. Is preferable.

  In this embodiment, the passbook type is determined based on whether or not the number of continuous scans exceeds the scan number threshold value YS, but the start and end address information of the scan exceeding the threshold value (for example, the number of pixels P1). You can judge the passbook type with.

  FIG. 6 shows the insertion of one of the features of the page barcode 11c and the page barcode 11d in the horizontal bar code passbook (passbook 40c and passbook 40d) of the same specification shown in FIGS. 4 (C) and 4 (D). It is explanatory drawing which shows the determination method of Example 2 which determines whether it was.

  The control unit 50 stores the monochrome determination result in the memory 53 for each scan by the line sensor 10 (step S111). Then, the control unit 50 counts the number of black pixels determined to be black by the monochrome determination for each scan in the area where the barcode is printed. Further, the control unit 50 executes transaction medium type determination processing, and uses the maximum number of pixels (PC or PD) having the largest number of black pixels in each scan as a predetermined type determination threshold value. If the maximum pixel number (PC) is larger than the pixel number threshold value PS (step S112: YES), it is determined that the passbook type is the passbook 40c (step S113). . If the maximum pixel number (PC) is smaller than the pixel number threshold PS (step S112: NO), it is determined and determined that the bankbook type is the bankbook 40d (step S114).

  The maximum number of pixels of the passbook 40c and the passbook 40d is determined by the barcode length specification. In this embodiment, the maximum value of the black pixel number of the bankbook 40c is the maximum pixel number PC, and the maximum value of the black pixel number of the bankbook 40d is the maximum pixel number PD. PS is preferably in the middle of both.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart in a case where the single bankbook handling device 32 determines four types of media in which the vertical and horizontal bar codes of the bankbooks 40a, 40b, 40c, and 40d shown in FIG. 4 are mixed. .

  The control unit 50 stores the monochrome determination result in the memory 53 for each scan by the line sensor 10 by one reading operation (step S121). Then, the control unit 50 counts the number of black pixels determined to be black by the monochrome determination for each scan in the area where the barcode is printed. Further, the control unit 50 determines whether or not there is a scan in which the number of black pixels exceeds the number of pixels P1, and thereby determines whether or not there is a barcode at the read position (step S122).

  The value of the number of pixels P1 is set to a value smaller than a value having the shortest horizontal length in the barcode specification among all types of bankbooks 40a, 40b, 40c, and 40d. For example, it is preferable to set an intermediate value between the value of the number of pixels considered to be caused by dirt on a page without a barcode and the value having the shortest horizontal length in the specification as the number of pixels P1.

  When there is no scan exceeding the pixel number P1 in the scan in step S121 (step S122: NO), the control unit 50 performs processing with no barcode (step S123).

  When there is a scan exceeding the pixel number P1 (step S122: YES), the control unit 50 counts the continuous number of scans exceeding the pixel number P1, and the vertical / horizontal determination threshold value Y1 as the type determination threshold value. It is determined whether it is a vertical barcode or a horizontal barcode (step S124).

  Here, the value of the vertical / horizontal determination threshold value Y1 is larger than the vertical length of one horizontal page barcode 11c, 11d (that is, the thickness of one), and the vertical barcode of the vertical barcode is vertical. A value smaller than the number of continuous scans YA of the vertical page bar code 11a of the bankbook 40a having a short direction length is set. This value is preferably, for example, near the middle between the thickness of one horizontal barcode and the shorter continuous scan number YA.

  When it is determined that the barcode is a vertical barcode (step S124: YES), the control unit 50 executes a transaction medium type determination process, the number of continuous scans exceeding the pixel number P1, and a predefined scan number threshold value. YS is compared (step S125).

  If the number of continuous scans is greater than the scan number threshold YS, the control unit 50 determines and determines that the passbook type is the passbook 40b (step S126). If the number of continuous scans is smaller than the scan number threshold YS, the control unit 50 determines and confirms that the passbook type is the passbook 40a (step S127).

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S124 that the barcode is a horizontal barcode (step S124: NO), the control unit 50 executes a transaction medium type determination process to determine the maximum number of pixels PC and PD and the predetermined number of pixels. The value PS is compared (step S128).

  If the maximum pixel number PD is large (step S128: YES), the control unit 50 determines and determines that the passbook type is the passbook 40c (step S129). If the maximum pixel number PC is small (step S128: NO), the control unit 50 determines and determines that the passbook type is the passbook 40d (step S130).

  In step S121, not only the barcode area but also the entire passbook can be scanned, and at the same time, the number of lines that have been written so far can be determined. In this case, it is possible to perform passbook type determination, bar code information generation, and book entry line number information generation in a single operation.

  After determining the passbook type in this way, the magnetic stripe data of the magnetic stripes 65a, 65b, 65c, and 65d attached to the covers of the passbooks 40a, 40b, 40c, and 40d shown in FIG. It can be read by a corresponding reading method. This makes it possible to read other types of bankbook 40 in the shortest processing time.

More specifically, for example, when it is determined that the bankbook 40a, the magnetic head 45 is pushed up to the magnetic stripe 65a while the bankbook is being conveyed, and the magnetic stripe data is read from the magnetic stripe 65a.
When the passbook 40c is determined, the magnetic head 46 is pushed up to the magnetic stripe 65c while carrying the passbook, and the magnetic stripe data is read from the magnetic stripe 65c.
When the passbook 40b is determined, the magnetic stripe 65b moves in a direction perpendicular to the passbook insertion direction while the passbook is stopped at a position on the movement line of the magnetic head 47, and the magnetic stripe 65b is pressed against the magnetic stripe 65b while being pressed. Read data.
When the passbook 40d is determined, the magnetic stripe 65d moves in a direction perpendicular to the passbook insertion direction while the passbook is stopped at a position where the magnetic stripe 65d is on the moving line of the magnetic head 47, and the magnetic stripe data is pressed while pressing against the magnetic stripe 65d. Read.
Then, the page barcode information, the magnetic stripe data, and the number of book entries are compared with the previous transaction data and customer information in the storage device 37 in the center device 31, and if it is normal, the subsequent book processing is performed.

  According to each embodiment described above, the passbook type can be determined for the passbooks 40a and 40b and the passbooks 40c and 40d that have the same type of barcode but have different types as a passbook. In particular, in the third embodiment, it is possible to determine which passbook type is inserted regardless of which of the four types of passbooks 40a, 40b, 40c, and 40d is inserted.

  If the bar code is within the field of view of the line sensor 10, the bar code information of the passbook 40 can be read by a single scanning operation to determine the type of medium. Accordingly, it is not necessary to sequentially execute the various reading methods as in the prior art, and the processing time for determining the type of the bankbook 40 can be shortened.

  In addition, the passbook type can be determined without any problem even for different types of passbooks with the same type of barcode that cannot be accurately determined only by successful reading.

  In addition, in the case of the determination based on the difference in the type of the conventional barcode, the same type of barcodes such as vertical barcodes and horizontal barcodes could both be read normally and could not be distinguished. According to the embodiment described above, the type of the bankbook 40 can be determined even for the same type of barcode.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the bar code image information is acquired by scanning the bankbook 40 while being conveyed by the image reading line sensor 10 arranged in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction. Not limited to this, the image information of the barcode may be acquired by fixing the bankbook 40 and moving the line sensor 10. Also in this case, the type of the bankbook 40 can be determined by the same processing as in each of the embodiments described above.

  The present invention is not limited only to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, and many embodiments can be obtained.

The connection block diagram of an automatic transaction system. The block diagram of the control part of a bankbook handling apparatus. The block diagram of a bankbook handling apparatus. Explanatory drawing explaining the structure of four types of bankbooks. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a determination method according to the first embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows the determination method of Example 2. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for discriminating four types of media in the third embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Line sensor, 11 ... Page barcode, 11a, 11b ... Vertical page barcode, 11c, 11d ... Horizontal page barcode, 32 ... Passbook handling device, 40 (40a, 40b, 40c, 40d) ... Passbook, 44 ... Conveyance roller, 50 ... Control unit, P1 ... Number of pixels, Y1 ... Vertical / horizontal determination threshold, YS ... Scan number threshold, PS ... Pixel number threshold

Claims (4)

A line sensor unit that reads a barcode, a drive unit that moves a transaction medium in a vertical direction relative to the sensor array of the line sensor unit, and a determination process based on image information read by the line sensor unit. A transaction apparatus that handles a plurality of types of transaction media on which a barcode is printed,
The controller is
The number of scans in which the number of black pixels read by the line sensor unit is equal to or greater than a recognition threshold value for recognizing the presence or absence of the barcode continues for a type determination threshold value or more in a direction orthogonal to the sensor array of the line sensor unit. Depending on whether or not the barcode type determination process to determine whether it is a vertical barcode or horizontal barcode,
A transaction apparatus that performs transaction medium type determination processing for determining the length of the barcode based on the number of black pixels or the number of scans in the bar longitudinal direction of the barcode and determining the type of the transaction medium. The controller is
If the read barcode is the vertical barcode, the length of the barcode depends on whether the number of scans whose black pixel number is equal to or greater than a threshold value for recognizing the presence or absence of the barcode is a predetermined number or more. Determine
When the read barcode is the horizontal barcode, the length of the barcode is determined based on whether the maximum value of the number of black pixels read by the line sensor unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined number. Item 1. The transaction apparatus according to item 1. A line sensor unit that reads a bar code; a drive unit that moves the transaction medium in a direction perpendicular to the sensor arrangement of the line sensor unit;
A transaction apparatus that includes a control unit that performs binarization processing of image information and a memory that stores threshold information for distinguishing features of a barcode, and handles a plurality of types of transaction media on which barcodes are printed. And
When handling a plurality of types of transaction media having the same type of barcode formed by a combination of bars in the direction perpendicular to the sensor arrangement direction of the line sensor unit,
The line sensor unit and the barcode are moved relative to the sensor arrangement direction in a direction perpendicular to the sensor arrangement direction by the drive unit, and continuously scanned.
A number of scans in which the number of black pixels in the sensor array direction acquired in the scan consecutive scans more than recognizing threshold the presence of the bar code, and a type determination threshold value previously stored in the memory By comparing, it is determined whether the barcode is a vertical barcode or a horizontal barcode,
The length of the barcode is determined by comparing the number of black pixels in the longitudinal direction of the barcode with a threshold value for determining the length of the barcode stored in the memory in advance.
A transaction apparatus for determining a type of the transaction medium. Features of a line sensor unit that reads a barcode, a drive unit that moves a transaction medium in a vertical direction relative to the sensor array of the line sensor unit, a control unit that performs binarization processing of image information, and a barcode A transaction apparatus having a memory for storing threshold information for distinguishing and handling a plurality of types of transaction media printed with a barcode,
When handling a plurality of types of transaction media having the same type of barcode formed by a combination of the sensor arrangement direction of the line sensor unit and the horizontal bar,
The line sensor unit and the barcode are moved relative to the sensor arrangement direction in a direction perpendicular to the sensor arrangement direction by the drive unit, and continuously scanned.
It is determined whether the barcode is a vertical barcode or a horizontal barcode by comparing the number of black pixels in the sensor array direction acquired by the scan with a type determination threshold value stored in the memory in advance .
The length of the barcode is determined by comparing the number of black pixels in the longitudinal direction of the barcode with a threshold value for determining the length of the barcode stored in the memory in advance.
A transaction apparatus for determining a type of the transaction medium.

Images