JPS626276B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Object of the Invention The present invention relates to a marked form and a method for reading the same, and more particularly to a marked form and a method for reading the same in which the input method is improved to improve the reliability of data.

Prior Art A conventional marked form (hereinafter simply referred to as a "form") is as shown in FIGS. 1A and B (FIG. 1B is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 1A). Format printing is performed using drop-out color on a white background of a card or sheet-like recording medium.
Furthermore, a black timing mark is printed corresponding to the data mark entry position, and a mark is written on this with a black pencil or the like. The reading device that reads the marks on the form generates a reading signal by sensing marks with a predetermined density and a predetermined area, and also has a fixed width for each column from the timing mark printed in each column. A read zone is set, and of the read signals, only those within the read zone are established as data, and those outside the read zone are read and discarded as noise. In addition, in Figure 1 A and B, 3
4 is a frame indicating the data area printed in drop-out color on form 1, 4 is a frame indicating the mark entry position also printed in drop-out color, and 5 is a frame within the entry frame. It is a data mark filled in.

Figure 2 shows the main parts of a conventional form reading device, and Figure 3 shows the main parts of a conventional form reading device.
The figure shows the output signal waveform. In this example, a timing mark 2 is printed on a form 1, from which a timing signal B is obtained, and this and a data mark are read and the output of a photoelectric conversion element 8 is sent to an amplifier circuit 9.
After amplification (signal C), an AND gate 11 generates an AND signal E with the data mark signal D whose waveform has been adjusted by the slice shaping circuit 10, thereby establishing data.

There are cases where the timing signal B is not a timing mark but is generated by a timing generation mechanism provided in the mark reading device itself.
Due to the running inclination of the sheet (skew), the timing signal and the data signal are likely to be out of phase and not be established as data (missed reading), or data may be transferred to an adjacent column (data garbled). For this reason, although the sheet format reduces the recording density of forms, the standard mark interval is approximately twice that of an 80-column perforated card, and the lead zone (timing mark signal width) is made as large as possible. Measures are being taken.

On the other hand, as mentioned above, the mark entry person is instructed to print the frame 4 indicating the mark entry position in drop-out color in advance and to write the mark accurately within the frame. (See Figure 1B). However, in reality, marks that are outside the allowable range - those that are not within the prescribed entry frame, those that are inappropriate in density, thickness, length, etc.
Shown in Figure Roll. In addition, A is a preferable mark, B and below are defective marks (B is a diagonal mark, C is a left/right misalignment mark, D is a vertical misalignment mark, E is a short mark, F is a thin mark, G is a round mark, Chi is a thick mark, Ri is a thin mark,
Also, nu indicates unerased material and ru indicates dirt). There is a problem that - is written and reading failure occurs.

Although these problems exist, the mark input method is relatively easy to learn compared to other input methods, and data can be entered without the need for special equipment, making it suitable for non-specific input methods. This method can be said to be optimal for having a large number of people create input data, and therefore, it is strongly desired to solve the above-mentioned problems.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to solve the above-mentioned problems in the conventional mark input method, and to ensure that input data created by an unspecified number of people has a high degree of reliability. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a mark input method that makes it readable.

The above-mentioned object of the present invention is to color the ground color with a drop-out color in a form in which mark codes are recorded on a card or sheet-like recording medium, and to pre-fill all mark entry positions in the data area. A form characterized by having a data mark provided thereon, and the data mark (positive or negative) on the form.
mark) and a negative mark formed by filling the data mark with a photoelectrically insensitive color, after digitally encoding the read signals of the positive mark and negative mark, the "0" is read. This is achieved by a form reading method characterized in that a means for inverting "1" is provided, and the positive mark is set as "no data" and the negative mark is set as "data present" and the data is transferred to the host device. be done.

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

5A and 5B (FIG. 5B is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 5A) are diagrams showing an example of a form according to the present invention, in which 1a is a form, 2 is a pre-printed black timing mark, 3a is a colored part with a drop-out color to indicate the range of the data area, and 5a is a black positive mark pre-printed at all mark positions in the data area. be. Further, 6 is a negative mark (actual data) formed by filling in the positive mark with white opaque paint by the data entry person. Here, the colored portion 3a is colored in such a tone as to create an appropriate contrast between the positive mark and the negative mark so that both the positive mark and the negative mark can be easily seen when the person writing the mark records the negative mark. and concentration must be selected. According to experiments, when coloring red, a PCS value (reflectance of paper - reflectance of mark)/reflectance of paper of about 0.05 is sufficient (acceptable PCS value for drop-out color is 0.12 or less).

FIG. 6 is a view showing the form section of the form reading device according to the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing its output signal waveform. Reference numerals 8 to 11 indicate the same components as shown in FIG. 2, and 12 is a bistable circuit that is set by the output of the AND gate 11 and reset by the timing mark waveform B and the leading edge pulse (TMLE-P). ,
13 is a gate circuit for taking the AND of the output F of the bistable circuit 12 and the trailing edge pulse (TM TE-P) of the timing mark waveform (B'), and 14 is a gate circuit in a form (conventional form or the present invention). This is a read mode switch that can be selected depending on the format (type or format).

As is clear from FIG. 6, when the switch 14 is set to the b side, the reading circuit of this embodiment is the same as the circuit shown in FIG. 2, and when the switch 14 is set to the a side, the reading circuit is the same as that shown in FIG. In this case, the circuit outputs the inverted outputs of "0" and "1" from the circuit. That is, in the case of the form according to the present invention, since the actual data (negative mark) is "0" at the output signal E' stage, it is converted to "1" by the bistable circuit 12 and the gate circuit 13. ”, “0” are inverted, and finally a data pulse G is obtained. This is the data pulse E in Figure 3.
corresponds to

The effects of the above embodiment are as follows: First, since the reading marks 5a are printed accurately and uniformly, the reading signal waveform C' is extremely stable in terms of peak value, wave width value, and time interval, and has necessary and sufficient values. The goal is to ensure that Factors contributing to variations in the read signal waveform include variations in marks, skew when the form is running, and the like. Most of this is due to variations in the markings, so
The reading mark is at the standard value (e.g. width 0.5mm, length 5mm)
mm, PCS value 0.6 or higher), it is easy to obtain a reading reliability close to that of punched cards.

On the other hand, the white negative mark 6 can be filled in so that the black reading mark 5a disappears, and reading performance is not affected no matter what shape it is filled in as long as it does not interfere with the adjacent reading mark. The writing implement used for this purpose is a water-based opaque paint similar to the correction fluid used in dry copying machines. According to the results of the experiment, it was found that the purpose could be achieved by lightly running the brush once over the black reading mark, and it would not be a burden to the person writing the mark. From the above, the quality of handwritten negative marks is much more redundant than the conventional handwritten positive marks made with a black pencil, and anyone can easily and sufficiently mark them. I understand.

Further, the reading circuit of the above embodiment device adds a signal inverting circuit (consisting of the bistable circuit 12 and the gate circuit 13) to the conventional reading circuit,
Since it is possible to select whether or not to invert the signal using the changeover switch 14, it is possible not only to perform the conventional method of reading the document and the document reading according to the present invention continuously, but also to mix data of both methods. Even a form can be read by providing a switching mark on the form and automatically generating a switching signal.

Note that it is also possible to use the conventional form reading device (the device shown in FIG. 2) as is. That is, by changing the user program to invert the signal, it is possible to read the form according to the present invention.

As mentioned above, when data from both the conventional method and the method of the present invention are mixed in one document,
For example, when printing a premark with a line printer, it is conceivable to use the conventional method for the premark area and the method of the present invention for the handwritten mark area.

In the above embodiment, an example of a reading circuit that establishes data based on a timing mark printed on a form in advance has been described.
Since the timing pulses can be easily generated from the data marks, said timing marks on the document can be omitted in connection with the reading circuit. Similarly, positive data marks on the form can be used to check the reading elements and the slanted running of the form.
In other words, the output of the reading element is 1 for each column on the form.
If no data is output at all times, it is determined that there is an error in the reading element, and if at least two or more positive data marks remain in the same field on the form, and the time difference exceeds a predetermined level, it is determined that the sheet is tilted abnormally. You can use methods such as Thereby, it is possible to omit the check-only marks for these on the form.

By omitting the timing mark/check-only mark, the space utilization efficiency of the form is improved.

As described above, according to the present invention, in a form in which mark codes are recorded on a card or sheet-like recording medium, the ground color is colored with a drop-out color, and all marks in the data area are colored. A form characterized by having a data mark provided in advance at a writing position, a form for reading the data mark (positive mark) on the form, and a negative mark obtained by filling the data mark with a photoelectrically insensitive color. In the reading device, after digitally encoding the reading signals of the positive mark and negative mark, the "0" and "1" are encoded.
By providing a form reading method characterized in that data is transferred to a host device with the positive mark as "no data" and the negative mark as "data present" by providing a means for reversing the data, the following can be achieved. It becomes possible to obtain the effect as follows.

(1) Since the reading marks (positive marks) to be detected by the reading device are printed accurately and uniformly in advance, the reading accuracy is dramatically improved and the reliability of mark input is greatly improved. Printing accuracy is ±0.2mm for misalignment between data mark and timing mark, ±0.1mm for mark width, ±30′ for mark inclination,
Furthermore, since the PCS value is guaranteed to be ±0.05 for mark density, a sufficient reading margin can be secured.

Furthermore, compared to the conventional case of reading positive marks by handwriting, the accuracy of parts of the reading device can be relaxed, so there is an effect that the cost of the device can be reduced.

(2) In this method, the data is a white mark that is written in such a way as to erase the printed reading mark, but this white mark can be filled in so that it is not detected by the reading device, and there are restrictions regarding the writing position. significantly alleviated. This is easy to follow for an unspecified number of mark fillers, so
This will greatly improve the reliability of mark input. There are only two conditions for writing a white mark: the black mark must disappear, and the adjacent black mark must not be erased.The only conditions are the distance to the adjacent black mark (approximately 4 mm), and the width of the mark writing frame in the conventional method. (approximately 1.2 mm), it is clear that marking by this method is an easy method to process.

(3) In the form marking method according to the present invention, if a black mark is mistakenly filled in with white, it can be easily corrected by writing a black mark over the white mark with a pencil.
Unlike conventional methods, the problem of unerased data is less likely to occur, so troubles such as data leakage due to this problem do not occur. In this sense as well, there is an effect of improving the reliability of mark input.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1A and B are diagrams showing conventional forms, Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional reading circuit, Figure 3 is its time chart, Figure 4 is a diagram showing entry marks, and Figure 5A. , B are diagrams showing a form according to the present invention, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a reading circuit according to the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a time chart thereof. 1, 1a: Form, 2: Timing mark, 3,
3a: Data area, 4: Mark entry frame, 5, 5
a: data mark, 6: negative mark,
8: photoelectric conversion element, 9: amplifier circuit, 10: slice forming circuit, 11: AND gate, 12: bistable circuit, 13: AND gate, 14: changeover switch.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a mark form in which mark codes are recorded on a card or a sheet-like recording medium, the ground color is colored with a drop-out color, and all mark entry positions in the data area are A mark form characterized by having data marks provided in advance. 2. A mark on a mark form consisting of data marks (positive marks) provided in advance at all mark entry positions in the data area, and negative marks made by filling in the data marks with a photoelectrically insensitive color. In the mark document reading device for reading the positive mark and the negative mark, after digitally encoding the reading signals of the positive mark and the negative mark, a means is provided for inverting the "0" and "1", and the positive mark is converted into "no data". ”, a mark form reading method characterized by transferring data to a host device by treating negative marks as “data present”.