Patent ID: 9489587
Filing Date: 2016-11-08
CPC Classification: G06K

Claim Text:
1. A character reader for reading and recognizing a character displayed at a predetermined height position on the outer peripheral surface of a plurality of cylindrical containers, the character reader comprising: a rotary drive mechanism for supporting the cylindrical container to rotate the cylindrical container around the central axis thereof; a camera positioned to face the cylindrical container so that a character displayed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical container is captured within the visual field; and an image processing device for acquiring an image at the height position where the character is displayed over an angular range more than one rotation of the cylindrical container by controlling the imaging operation of the camera, thereby executing recognition processing, wherein the image processing device comprises: wherein the character recognition means is configured to execute any one of a first collation method whereby the image of a character to be recognized is collated with a standard model image for each of a plurality of types of characters and a plurality of model images created by increasing or decreasing the character-width of each standard model image; a second collation method whereby a plurality of images created by increasing or decreasing the character-width of the image of the character to be recognized is collated with the standard model image for each of the plurality of types of characters; and a third collation method whereby the plurality of images created by increasing or decreasing the character-width of the image of the character to be recognized is collated with the standard model image for each of the plurality of types of characters and the plurality of model images created by increasing or decreasing the character-width of each standard model image.