Image recording apparatus

An image recording apparatus provided with a reader for reading information for identifying an original document; a recording unit for recording the image of the original document on a recording medium; a selector for selecting a first mode or a second mode; and a controller for causing the recording unit to record the image only when the identifying information is read by the reading means if the first mode is selected, or causing the recording unit to record the image regardless of the reading of the identifying information if the second mode is selected.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus for recording 
an original image, accompanied by information for identifying each 
original image, on a recording medium. 
2. Related Background Art 
Storage of original images on microfilms or optical or magnetic disks have 
already been adopted for saving the storage space of various original 
documents generated in a large number, such as business forms, cheques or 
the like. For enabling easy access to such stored images, there is 
required input of index information corresponding to each image, but the 
input operation of such index information has been extremely time 
consuming. For solving this problem, there is already known an apparatus 
for reading the image on the original document and simultaneously reading 
code information, attached in advance to said original document as index 
information, with a suitable mechanism such as a bar code scanner, a 
magnetic image character reader (MICR), or an optical character reader 
(OCR). 
In such known apparatus, an original document such as a business form or a 
cheque, bearing a bar code as the index information, is placed on a 
photographing position, and the image of said document is recorded on a 
microfilm in a photographing unit while the bar code of said original 
document is read with a bar code reader at the same time. 
The bar code thus read is stored in a memory in such a manner that said bar 
code corresponds to the address (frame) number of the image recorded on 
the microfilm, thereby ensuring easy access to the image later. 
In such conventional apparatus, however, the index information will be lost 
if the bar code of the original document is smeared, or the document lacks 
such bar code for some reason. For such original document there is 
required a manual input of the corresponding index information afterwards 
into the memory. 
However the business forms etc. often have a back-printed carbon layer for 
copying, which tends to smear another form when it is superposed thereon. 
Besides such business forms are often handled rather roughly. Consequently 
the above-mentioned trouble occurs quite frequently, and it is not easy to 
find out the original document for which the bar code has not been read. 
For this reason the above-mentioned input operation is not efficient, and 
the access to the stored image later may become impossible if said input 
operation is forgotten. 
Also in such conventional apparatus, the manipulation is cumbersome because 
the operation of input of the index information with the bar code scanner 
is conducted independently from the photographing operation of the 
original image on the microfilm with a photographing switch. A possibility 
therefore exists that the access to the stored image becomes impossible 
because the input of the index information is forgotten at the 
photographing operation. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In consideration of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to 
solve the above-mentioned drawbacks. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide an image recording 
apparatus capable of simplifying the input of index information and the 
image recording operation, thereby preventing the forgotten input of the 
index information. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an image 
recording apparatus capable of securely selecting the original document 
for which the index information has not been read, and securely enter and 
record the index information and the image. 
More specifically the present invention provides an image recording 
apparatus comprising: 
reader means for reading index information for identifying the original 
document; 
recording means for recording the image of the original document; and 
mode selector means for selecting either a first mode for recording the 
image of the original document only when the index information is read by 
said reader means, or a second mode for image recording independently from 
the reading of the index information. 
Also the present invention provides an image recording apparatus comprising 
control means for activating said recording means in relation to the 
reading of the index information by said reader means. 
Also the present invention provides an information recording-retrieval 
system comprising: 
reader means for reading index information for identifying the image; 
recording means for recording address information indicating the position 
of image recording, in relation to the index information for said image; 
input means for entering the index information; 
mode selector means; 
control means for effecting, when a first mode is selected by said mode 
selector means, the image recording only when the index information is 
read by said reader means, or, when a second mode is selected, effecting 
the image recording only when the index information is entered by said 
input means; and 
retrieval means for searching the information recorded in said recording 
means and selecting the address information corresponding to a desired 
image.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Now the present invention will be clarified in detail by embodiments 
thereof shown in the attached drawings. 
FIG. 1 schematically shows an image recording apparatus constituting a 
first embodiment of the present invention. An original table 1 is 
laterally provided with a support pillar 2, on which a microfilm camera 3 
is installed. Said microfilm camera 3 is composed of a known camera 
mechanism, incorporating therein a rolled microfilm F. 
An original document 4 to be photographed is placed on a photographing 
position on the original table 1, and the image of said original document 
4, illuminated by an unrepresented illuminating source, is recorded on the 
microfilm F by the camera 3. At this photographing, a blip mark is 
recorded, in a lateral part of the image recorded on the film, by means of 
unrepresented blip recording means. 
The original document 4 can be a business form or a cheque, bearing, as 
shown in FIG. 2, a bar code 5 indicating the number of the original 
document and serving as index information for identifying each original 
document. 
There are also provided a bar code reader 6 for reading the bar code 5 on 
the original document; a keyboard 8 for data input; a computer (CPU) 8; a 
disk memory 9 composed for example of a magnetic disk, an optical disk or 
a magnetooptical disk for recording index data; and a display unit 10 for 
indicating the index data etc. 
The recording operation of the camera 3 is executed according to a program 
of the CPU 8, of which flow chart is shown in FIG. 3. 
The microfilm camera 3 and the CPU 8 are capable of bidirectional 
communication. In case of photographing an original document, the operator 
manually scans the bar code 5 of the original document 4 placed in the 
photographing position on the original table 1 with the bar code reader 6, 
thereby reading the bar code (step 1). 
Upon receiving an original number represented by the bar code from the bar 
code reader 6, the CPU 8 records said original number in the disk 9 (step 
2), and, after a time lag of for example 1 second, sends a photographing 
command signal to the microfilm camera 3 (steps 3, 4). Upon receipt of the 
signal the microfilm camera 3 starts the photographing of the original 
document 4 placed in the photographing position, and simultaneously sends 
the frame address of the image recorded on the microfilm to the CPU 8 
(step 5). Said frame address indicates the number of the frame counted 
from the leading end of the microfilm, and can be determined by counting 
the number of film frames with a frame counter of the microfilm camera, or 
by counting the number of the original documents, or by counting the 
number of blip mark recordings. After the photographing of the original 
image, the number of the frame counter is sent as the frame address to the 
disk 9 through the CPU 8, and said frame address is recorded on the disk 
9, in correspondence with the original number (step 6). In this manner the 
index data are complied on the disk 9. If the input of bar code is not 
conducted the step 1, the sequence does not proceed to the step 2, so that 
the original document is not photographed. Consequently, if the bar code 
cannot be read for example by a smear, the original document is not 
photographed so that incomplete index data are not formed. 
The index data recorded on the disk 9, after repeating the above-explained 
procedure for plural original documents, are composed, as shown in FIG. 
10, of original numbers a respectively corresponding to frame addresses b. 
The roll film F after photographing and development, and the disk 9 are 
stored in this state. At the image retrieval, the original number of a 
desired original document is entered from the keyboard 7. Thus the CPU 8 
retrieves, from the content of the disk 9 (FIG. 12), the frame address 
corresponding to said original number, and said frame address is displayed 
on the display unit 10. The operator reads said address and sets it in a 
reader-printer RP with a known retrieving mechanism, in which the roll 
film F is loaded, whereby the image of the desired original document can 
be displayed on a screen. 
In the present embodiment, it is not necessary to manipulate the 
photographing switch for activating the camera. Also the bar code 
information and the image can be securely recorded without input error, 
since the original document is not photographed unless the input of the 
bar code is conducted. 
In the following there will be explained another embodiment, in which 
employed are original documents each bearing, in advance, as shown in FIG. 
9, a classification bar code 11 or 12 indicating the kind of the original 
document (said bar code being common for the same stack of original 
documents), and an original number bar code 5 (serial in the same stack). 
At photographing, the aforementioned bar code reader is used for reading 
the classification bar code and the original number bar code, to record 
the index data, as shown in FIG. 11, on the disk 9, including the original 
numbers a, frame addresses b, a code al indicating the sales form, and a 
code 2a indicating the order form. 
Thereafter, the image of a desired business form recorded on the microfilm 
can be retrieved by entering a code "100" or "101" indicating the kind of 
the stack of the business forms of the desired image, and an original 
number into the keyboard 7. 
For achieving such recording and retrieval of the original image, it is 
necessary to securely enter two bar codes at the photographing of an 
image. FIG. 4 shows the control sequence for image recording with such bar 
code reading operations. 
Referring to FIG. 1, the operator at first enters the number of bar codes 
attached on each original document, from the keyboard 7 (step 11). Then a 
counter n indicating the number of inputs of the bar codes is set to "0" 
(step 12). Thereafter, at each input of a bar code, the data thereof are 
recorded on the disk (steps 13, 14), and the value of the counter n is 
increased by one (step 15). After N inputs of the bar codes, a 
photographing command signal is sent to the microfilm camera with a delay 
of one second (step 18), and a frame address received from the microfilm 
camera is recorded on the disk 9, corresponding to the bar code data 
already entered. 
In this manner the input of required plural bar codes can be securely 
achieved. 
Now reference is made to FIGS. 5 and 6 for explaining another embodiment. 
In FIG. 5, the bar code reader 6 is attached to the microfilm camera 3. 
When the operator scans the bar code 5 with said bar code reader 6 (step 
21 in FIG. 6), the information of said bar code is sent to the CPU 8 (step 
22). Then the operator manipulates the photographing switch 13 (step 23) 
to photograph the original document with the camera 3 (step 24), whereupon 
the frame address is sent to the CPU 8 (step 25). If the operator 
manipulates the photographing switch 13 without entering the bar code, the 
photographing operation is not conducted since the sequence does not 
proceeds from the step 21 to 22. The above-explained sequence is executed 
according to a program of an unrepresent microcomputer in the microfilm 
camera. Also the CPU 8 records the bar code information and the frame 
address on the disk 9. 
In contrast to the first embodiment, the present embodiment lacks the 
waiting time, so that the photographing operation can be conducted by the 
manipulation of the photographing switch even immediately after the input 
of the bar code. It is therefore possible to increase the operating speed 
and to prevent forgotten input of the bar code. 
Now reference is made to FIGS. 7 and 8 for explaining still another 
embodiment, in which the second and third embodiments are combined. As 
shown in FIG. 7, data input keys 20 are integrally provided in the camera. 
The number N of bar codes attached on each original document is entered 
from said keys 20 (step 31), and the counter n is set at "0" (step 32). 
Thereafter, at each input of bar code, said bar code data are sent to the 
CPU 8 (step 34), and the content of the counter n is increased by one 
(step 35). When the bar code input is conducted N times (step 36), the 
actuation of the photographing switch 13 is monitored (step 37). In 
response to said actuation, the photographing operation is conducted (step 
38), and the frame address is sent to the CPU (step 39). In this way the 
photographing switch 13 cannot be activated unless the bar code is entered 
N times. The above-explained control is executed by a microcomputer in the 
microfilm camera 3. Also the CPU 8 records the bar code information and 
the frame addresses in mutually corresponding relation on the disk 9. 
In the present embodiment, the photographing operation can be conducted by 
the manipulation of the photographing switch 13 even immediately after the 
input of the bar code N times, so that it is possible to increase the 
operating speed. Also N bar codes can be securely recorded. 
In the foregoing embodiment, at the recording of an image on the recording 
medium, the input of index inforamtion for the image is linked with the 
image recording operation on the recording medium, so that the information 
input and the image recording can be achieved with simple operation. Also 
the index data can be securely prepared. 
FIG. 12 is an external view of an image recording apparatus constituting a 
fourth embodiment of the present invention, essentially compsed of a 
photographing unit 101 for photographing the original document 4; a 
control unit 102 for controlling said photographing unit 101; and a key 
input unit (keyboard) 103 for entering index information. 
FIG. 13 schematically shows the structure of said photographing unit 101. 
Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, a sheet feeding tray 110 for stacking the 
original documents 4 is provided at the front side of the photographing 
unit 101, and a sensor S1 for detecting the presence of the original 
document 4 is provided thereunder. Adjacent to said tray 110, there is 
provided transport means 111 for separating the original document one by 
one from the bottom and transporting them in a direction A, consisting of 
a belt 111c supported between rollers 111a, 111b, and a roller 111d 
maintained in contact with said belt 111c at the position of the roller 
111a. Above said transport means 111 there is provided a bar code scanner 
112 as means for reading, by automatic scanning, the bar code attached on 
the original document 4. Between the rollers 111a, 111b there is provided 
a sensor S2 for detecting the original document on the belt 111c. 
At the downstream side of the transport means 111 there is provided a guide 
plate 113, which is vertically movable by a reject solenoid 114 for 
directing the original document either to a first path or a second path. 
By means of the movement of said guide plate 113, the original document 4 
transported in the direction A is guided either to transport means 115 
positioned at an approximately same height as that of the transport means 
111 or a reject tray 116 positioned above said transport means 115. Said 
transport means 115 is composed of a pair of rollers 115a, 115b and a belt 
115c supported thereby. Between the reject tray 116 and the guide plate 
113 there are provided discharge rollers 117a, 117b for discharging the 
original document 4 onto the tray 116. 
Above the transport means 115 and adjacent to the reject tray 116, there is 
provided a camera 118, serving as recording means for photographing the 
original document 4 placed in a photographing position 118a on the belt 
115c onto an unrepresented microfilm. Also in the downstream side of the 
transport means 115 there is provided a discharge tray 119 for receiving 
the original documents after photographing. 
In the upper face of the photographing unit 101, as shown in FIG. 12, there 
are provided a mode selector switch 120 for selecting either a first mode 
for effecting the bar code reading and the original photographing, or a 
second mode for effecting the original photographing without bar code 
reading, and an alarm lamp 121 to be explained later. A sensor S3 is 
positioned in front of the photographing position 118a, for detecting the 
presence of the original document 4. Said first or second mode is selected 
respectively when the switch 120 is off or on. 
FIG. 14 shows the structure of the control system of the present 
embodiment. The bar code scanner 112, reject solenoid 114, camera 118, 
mode selector switch 120 and alarm lamp 121 of the photographing unit 101 
are connected to a control circuit 122, consisting of a computer, of the 
control unit 102. Also the key input unit 103 is connected to said control 
circuit 122. A memory M is provided for storing the index data. 
Now reference is made to FIG. 15 for explaining the function of the present 
embodiment. 
In case of photographing the original documents with bar codes, the 
operator turns on a power switch (step 51), then turns off the mode 
selector switch 120 to select the first mode, and feeds the original 
documents 4 without key input (steps 52-54). Thus the original document 4, 
of which bar code is exactly read by the bar code scanner 112, is advanced 
in the direction A by means of the transport means 111, guide plate 113 
and transport means 115, and is photographed on the microfilm by the 
camera 118. At the same time the information of the bar code read by the 
scanner 112 and the frame address of the image are stored in the memory M. 
On the other hand, if the bar code of the original document 4 cannot be 
exactly read due to the smear or lack of the bar code (step 55), the 
reject solenoid 114 is energized to move the guide plate 113, thereby 
guiding the original document 4 to the reject tray 116 (steps 57, 58). 
After the original document is discharged to the reject tray 116, the 
reject solenoid 114 is deactivated (step 59) whereby the guide plate 113 
returns to the original position. The operations of the steps 52 to 59 are 
repeated until the original documents 4 on the feed tray 110 become 
exhausted (step 60). 
For photographing the original document discharged to the reject tray 116, 
the mode selector switch 120 is maintained off (step 52). Then the bar 
code information of said original document is entered with the keys of the 
key input unit 103, and said original document is fed again (steps 53, 
62). In this case the bar code scanner 122 does not effect the reading 
operation, so that the original document 4 is photographed with the camera 
118 without rejection. At the same time the bar code information entered 
from the key input unit 103 and the frame address of the image are stored 
in the memory M (step 56). The photographing of all the original documents 
is completed by repeated the above-explained operations for all the 
original documents to be refed. In this manner the original recording and 
the preparation of index data can be achieved also for the original 
document of which bar code cannot be read. Upon detecting an original 
document, the sensor S2 releases a signal instructing the start of reading 
operation of the bar code scanner 112. When the bar code information is 
entered from the key input unit 103, the output signal of the sensor S2 is 
cancelled, so that the bar code scanner 112 does not effect the reading 
operation even when the original document is detected by the sensor S2. 
Also upon detecting an original document, the sensor S3 releases a signal 
instructing the start of photographing operation of the camera 118. Said 
signal from the sensor S3 is counted by a counter in the control circuit 
122, and the count of said counter is sent as the frame address to the 
memory M. Said counter is reset when the microfilm in the camera 118 is 
replaced. The sensors S1, S2, S3 are composed for example of microswitches 
or photocells. 
Also the original documents not bearing bar codes can be photographed with 
the preparation of index data, without rejection, by means of the input of 
the index information from the key input unit 103. 
In case of conducting the photographing operation only, without the 
indexing, the operator at first turns on the power supply (step 51), and 
turns on the mode selector switch 120 to select the second mode (step 52). 
In response the alarm lamp 121 is turned on (step 61), and the original 
document is advanced (step 62), whereby said original document 4 is 
photographed without the reading of the bar code (steps 56, 60). In this 
case the step 56 effects the photographing operation only. The alarm lamp 
121 is turned on when the mode selector switch is turned on, in order to 
prevent a mistake that original documents with bar codes are photographed 
in this state without the reading of the index data, without being noticed 
by the operator. 
FIG. 19 illustrates a microfilm on which images and blip marks are 
recorded. The image of the original document is recorded in each frame 210 
of the microfilm F, and a blip mark 209 is recorded at the side of each 
frame. Numbers C are frame addresses, namely addresses of the images 
recorded on the microfilm. Said addresses are only shown for facilitating 
the understanding, but are not recorded on the film. 
FIG. 20 shows index data stored in the memory M, consisting of frame 
addresses d and bar code information c. For example an original with the 
original number "5678" has a frame address "2" on microfilm F, indicating 
that the image of said original document is recorded in the 2nd frame of 
said film F. 
FIG. 16 shows an image recording apparatus constituting a fifth embodiment 
of the present invention, wherein same components as those in the 
foregoing embodiment are represented by same symbols or numbers. In the 
present embodiment, at the downstream side of the camera 118, there is 
provided a rejecting unit composed of the guide plate 113 and the reject 
solenoid 114. The photographing operation is executed, as in the preceding 
embodiment, according to the sequence shown in FIG. 15. Thus, also in the 
present embodiment, the original document of which bar code is not read is 
discharged to the reject tray 116 by the function of the solenoid 114. 
Consequently, as shown in FIG. 16, there can be employed only one 
transport means. Besides the trays 116, 119 can be superposed vertically, 
so that the apparatus can be compactized. 
FIG. 17 is a flow chart showing the function of another embodiment of the 
present invention, utilizing the apparatus shown in FIG. 16 and involving 
additional functions. In this embodiment, the bar code is read with the 
scanner 112 and the original document is photographed with the camera 118 
as in the preceding embodiment (steps 71-80, 85). On the other hand, in 
case the mode selector switch 120 is turned on (steps 72, 81) or data 
input is made with the keys (step 73), the original documents 4 are 
photographed (step 83) and then only those bearing bar codes are rejected 
and guided to the tray 116 (step 84) while those lacking the bar codes are 
guided to the tray 119. The presence or absence of bar code is identified 
from the output signal of the bar code scanner 112 obtained by scanning 
said original document. 
In the present embodiment it is possible to check that an original document 
with bar code is transported, in addition to the check with the alarm lamp 
121. 
FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing the function of another embodiment of the 
present invention. In this embodiment, the bar code is read with the 
scanner 112 and the original document is photographed with the camera 118 
as in the preceding embodiment (steps 101-110, 116), but, with respect to 
an original document bearing bar code, at the key input and sheet feeding 
(steps 103, 112), the bar code information entered from the keys is 
compared with that read with the scanner 112 (steps 113, 114), and the 
photographing operation is conducted only for the original documents for 
which the two have coincided, and those not bearing the bar code (steps 
115). In this manner the present embodiment has a function of checking 
whether the index data entered with the keys are correct. 
The foregoing embodiments have been explained by an apparatus employing bar 
codes and a microfilm camera, but the present invention is not limited to 
these embodiments. For example the bar code can be replaced other codes 
for example readable with OCR or MICR. Also the recording means is not 
limited to a structure for recording on a microfilm, but can be means for 
recording the original image on a recording medium such as an optical disk 
or a magnetic tape through an image sensor such as a CCD, or 
electrophotographic recording means. 
In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 12 to 18, the original documents of which 
index data could not be read can be securely selected, and can be 
subjected to image recording anew by the entry of the index data from the 
input means. It is therefore not necessary to add new code information to 
the original document at said recording, as required in the conventional 
apparatus. Consequently the efficiency of the recording operation can be 
significantly improved, and the lack of input of index data, resulting 
from the cumbersome operations, can be prevented. 
Also in case of selecting the second mode, enabling the image recording 
operation only, increases the field of use of the apparatus, and an alarm 
given in such case allows to check for the forgotten input of the index 
data. 
FIG. 21 shows an image recording apparatus constituting a sixth embodiment 
of the present invention, wherein provided is a display unit 222 for 
displaying the number of photographed original documents or the bar code 
data. 
FIG. 22 is a block diagram of a control system of said sixth embodiment, 
and FIG. 23 is a flow chart of the function thereof. 
In the following there will be explained the function of the present 
embodiment, with reference to FIG. 23. 
In case of photographing the original documents 4 with bar codes, the 
operator turns on the power switch (step 121), then resets the display 
unit 222 to a mode of indicating the number of photographed original 
documents (step 122), and feeds the original documents 4 without turning 
on the mode selector switch 120 and without the input with the bar code 
reader 6 (steps 123-125). Thus the original document, subjected to the 
reading of the bar code with the bar code scanner 112, is transported to 
the photographing position 118a by means of the transport means 111, guide 
plate 113 and transport means 115, and is photographed on the microfilm by 
the camera 118 (step 127). At the same time, the number of photographing 
operations is indicated on the display unit 222 (step 128). On the other 
hand, if the bar code of the original document 4 has not been correctly 
read (step 126), the reject solenoid 114 is energized to shift the guide 
plate 113 whereby the original document 4 is guided to the reject tray 116 
(step 130, 131). After a predetermined time, the reject solenoid 114 is 
deactivated (step 132) to return the guide plate 113 to the original 
position. Then the steps 123 to 132 are repeated until the original 
documents 4 on the feed tray 110 are exhausted (step 137). 
For photographing the rejected original documents 4, the mode selector 
switch 120 is not turned on (step 123), and the index data of the original 
document are read with the bar code reader 6 (step 124). At the same time 
the display mode of the display unit is switched to the display of the bar 
code number (step 124) thereby allowing confirmation of the input data. 
Then said original document, of which index data have been entered, is fed 
again (step 135). In this case the bar code scanner 112 does not effect 
the reading operation, so that the original document 4 is photographed 
without being rejected, and the display unit is again switched to the 
display of the number of photographing operations (steps 127, 128, 136, 
129, 137). In this manner all the original documents 4 can be photographed 
(step 138). 
In case of effecting the photographing operation only, without the 
indexing, the operator turns on the power supply (step 121), then resets 
the display mode to the display of the number of photographing operations 
(step 122), and turns on the mode selector switch 121 (step 123). In 
response the alarm lamp 121 is turned on (step 133), and the sheet feeding 
is conducted (step 135). Thus the original document 4 is photographed 
without the reading of the bar code (step 127). At the same time the 
display unit 222 indicates the number of photographed original documents 
(steps 128, 129). In this manner the photographing operation can be 
completed (steps 137, 138). In this case the alarm lamp 121 is turned on 
when the mode selector switch is turned on, in order to prevent a mistake 
that original documents with bar codes are photographed in this state 
without the reading of the index data, without being noticed by the 
operator. 
FIG. 24 is a flow chart showing the function of another embodiment of the 
present invention, utilizing the apparatus shown in FIG. 21 and involving 
additional functions. In this embodiment the sensor S1 for detecting the 
sensor in the feed tray 110 functions also as a mode preferential switch, 
whereby the alarm lamp 121 is turned on when the sensor S1 detects the 
original document. When the original document 4 is present in the feed 
tray 110, the first mode for automatically reading the bar code of the 
original document with the bar code scanner 112 and photographing the 
image is selected in preference to the second mode for reading the bar 
code of the original document with the bar code reader 6 and photographing 
the image. At the photographing, the power switch is turned on (step 141), 
and the display unit 222 is reset to a mode of displaying the number of 
photographing operations (step 142). Then, if the original document 4 is 
present in the feed tray 110, the sensor S1 is activated (step 143) to 
preferentially select the first mode, whereby, as in the preceding 
embodiment, the bar code is read with the bar code scanner 112 and the 
image is photographed (steps 144-152). In this state the reading of the 
bar code with the bar code reader 6 and the key input are not accepted. 
Then, when the original documents in the feed tray 110 are exhausted, the 
sensor S1 is deactivated (step 143) to enable the bar code reading and the 
photographing in the second mode. Thus, as in the preceding embodiment, 
the rejected original documents are subjected to the bar code reading with 
the bar code reader 6 and the photographing operation (steps 154, 155, 
156, 147, 148, 157, 147, 158). In this manner the photographing operation 
for all the original documents is completed (step 159). 
On the other hand, in case of photographing without indexing, after the 
sensor S1 is activated (step 143), the photographing switch 120 is turned 
on (step 144), and the original feeding and the photographing are 
conducted as in the preceding embodiment (steps 153, 156, 147, 148, 149, 
158). The photographing operation is completed in this manner (step 159). 
In the present embodiment, since the first mode is selected in preference 
to the second mode, the manipulation of the bar code reader 6 during the 
bar code reading and the image photographing in the first mode does not 
cause any erroneous operation. 
The foregoing embodiments have been explained with an apparatus employing a 
bar code reader, a bar code scanner and a microfilm camera, but the 
present invention is not limited to such embodiments. For example the bar 
code reader may be replaced by a key input unit or a hand-held scanner 
utilizing a CCD. 
In the foregoing embodiment, the use of the bar code reader as input means 
eliminates erroneous input caused for example by errors in key 
manipulation, in comparison with the case of using a key input unit, 
thereby enabling exact and rapid reading and input of the code data. 
In addition the preferential selection of the first mode prevents the 
erroneous operation even if the input unit is manipulated during the bar 
code reading and image photographing in the first mode. 
Also the use of a display unit, capable of indicating the number of 
recorded images at the photographing of the original image and indicating 
the index data at the index data reading with the input means, ensures 
more accurate data reading and image photographing operations. 
FIGS. 25 and 26 show an image recording apparatus constituting a seventh 
embodiment of the present invention, wherein the bar code reader 6 is 
connected to the photographing unit 101, and the key input unit 103 is 
provided in said photographing unit 101. 
The bar code scanner 112 is used as reading means for entering the index 
data by automatically reading the bar code attached to the original 
document 4 during the transportation thereof, while the bar code reader 6 
constitutes first input means for entering the index data by manual 
reading of the bar code, and the key input unit 103 constitutes second 
input means for manual entry of the index data. The index data entered by 
said reading means and input means are supplied to a control circuit 306 
provided in the photographing unit 1, and are then supplied to the control 
unit 102 and stored therein. 
FIG. 27 shows the control system of the present embodiment. The bar code 
scanner 112, key input unit 103, reject solenoid 114, camera 118, mode 
selector switch 120, alarm lamp 121 and display unit 222 are connected to 
the control circuit 306, and the bar code reader 6 is also connected 
thereto. Said control circuit 306 is connected to the control unit 102 
consisting of a computer, and the index data are once entered into the 
control circuit 306 and then transferred to the control unit 102. 
Now reference is made to FIG. 28 for explaining the function of the present 
embodiment. 
In case of photographing original documents with bar codes, the operator at 
first turns on the power switch (step 201), then resets the display unit 
to a mode of displaying the number of photographed images (step 202), and 
effects the feeding of the original document without turning on the switch 
120 and without the input by the bar code reader 6 or the key input unit 
103 (steps 203-206). In response, the original document, subjected to the 
bar code reading with the bar code scanner 112, is transported in a 
direction shown in FIG. 26 by means of the transport means 111, guide 
plate 113 and transport means 115. Then the sensor S3 is activated upon 
detecting the original document 4 on the belt 115c, whereupon the index 
data are transferred from the control circuit 206 to the control unit 106 
(steps 207-209). Thereafter the original document is photographed on the 
microfilm with the camera 118 (step 210), and the number of photographing 
operations is simultaneously indicated on the dipslay unit 222 (step 212). 
On the other hand, when the bar code of the original document is not 
properly read (step 207), the reject solenoid 114 is energized to shift 
the guide plate 113, whereby the original document is guided to the reject 
tray 116 (steps 213, 214). Thereafter the reject solenoid 114 is 
deactivated (step 215) to return the guide plate 113 to the original 
position. The steps 201-215 are repeated until the original documents on 
the feed tray 110 are exhausted (step 216). 
In case of photographing the rejected original documents, the switch 120 is 
not turned on (step 203), and the index data of each original document are 
entered into the control circuit 306 by means of the bar code reader 6 or 
the key input unit 103 (steps 204, 205). At the same time the display unit 
222 is shifted to a mode of displaying the index data (step 217), thereby 
allowing to confirm the entered data. Then the original document, of which 
index data have been entered is fed again (step 218). In this case, since 
the bar code scanner 112 does not execute the reading operation, the 
original document is sent onto the belt 115c without rejection. Then the 
sensor S3 is activated upon detecting said original document, whereby the 
index data are transferred from the control circuit 306 to the control 
unit 102 (steps 208, 209). The index data entered into the control circuit 
206 are sent to the control unit 102 through a line same as that used for 
the transfer of the index data entered by the key input unit 103, and a 
same timing as the sensor S3 is activated, regardless whether the 
first-mentioned index data are entered by the bar code reader 6 or the key 
input unit 103. Also the reading and input of the bar code data can be 
made through the bar code reader 6 or the key input unit 103, depending on 
the state of the original document. 
The original document on which index data have been entered is transported 
to the photographing position 118a on the belt 115c for effecting the 
photographing operation, and, at the same time, the display unit 222 is 
simultaneously shifted to a mode of indicating the number of photographing 
operations (steps 210, 211, 219, 212, 216). In this manner the 
photographing operation is completed for all the original documents (step 
220). 
In case of effecting the photographing operation only, without indexing, 
the operator turns on the power supply (step 201), then resets the display 
to a mode of indicating the number of photographing operations (step 202), 
and turns on the switch 120 (step 203). In response the alarm lamp 121 is 
turned on (step 221), and the original feeding is conducted (step 222), 
whereupon the original is photographed without the reading of the bar code 
(step 210). At the same time the display unit 222 indicates the number of 
photographing operations (steps 211, 212). The photographing operation can 
be completed in this manner (step 216, 220). 
In the present embodiment, even when the bar code data cannot be exactly 
read with the bar code scanner 112 constituting the reading means, the bar 
code data can be still entered either from the bar code reader 6 serving 
as the first input means or the key input unit 103 serving as the second 
input means, according to the smear or lack of the original document, so 
that the code data can be securely entered for all the original documents. 
Also the transfer of the code data to the control unit 102 is always 
conducted through a same line and at a same timing. It is therefore 
possible to shorten the execution time and to improve the efficiency of 
processing of the index data. 
FIG. 29 is a flow chart showing the function of another embodiment of the 
present invention, employing the apparatus shown in FIGS. 25 and 26 and 
involving additional functions. In the present embodiment, the sensor S1 
for detecting the original document in the feed tray 110 functions also as 
a preferential mode switch, and, when an original document is present in 
the feed tray 110, there is selected the first mode for automatically 
reading the bar code of the original document with the bar code scanner 
112 and photographing said original document, in preference to the second 
mode for entering the index data of the original document with the bar 
code reader 6 or the key input unit 103 and photographing said original 
document. At first the operator turns on the power switch (step 301) and 
resets the display to a mode of indicating the number of photographing 
operations (step 302). Then, if an original document is present in the 
feed tray 110, the sensor S1 is activated (step 303), whereby the first 
mode is preferentially selected to effect the bar code reading with the 
bar code scanner 112 and the photographing operation (steps 304-315). In 
this state the reading and input of the bar code with the bar code reader 
6 or the key input unit 103 are not accepted. When the original documents 
in the feed tray 110 are exhausted, the sensor S1 is deactivated (step 
303) to enable the bar code reading and the photographing in the second 
mode. Thus, as in the preceding embodiment, the rejected original 
documents are subjected to the bar code reading with the bar code reader 6 
or the key input unit 103 and the photographing operation (steps 316, 317, 
318, 319, 307, 308, 309, 310, 320, 311, 312). In this manner the 
photographing operation can be completed for all the original documents 
(step 321). 
Also in case of effecting the photographing operation only without the 
indexing, the sensor S1 is activated (step 303), then the switch 120 is 
turned on (step 304), and the feeding and photographing of the original 
document are conducted in the same procedure as in the preceding 
embodiment (steps 322, 323, 309, 310, 311, 312). The photographing 
operation can be completed in this manner (step 321). 
The present embodiment has same advantages as in the preceding embodiment. 
In addition, since the first mode is selected in preference to the second 
mode, no errors in operation are caused by the manipulation of the bar 
code reader 6 or the key input unit 103 during the bar code reading and 
photographing operations in the first mode. 
FIG. 30 shows still another embodiment of the image recording apparatus of 
the present invention, wherein same components as those in FIG. 26 are 
represented by same symbols. 
In this embodiment, a rejecting unit, consisting of the guide plate 113 and 
the reject solenoid 114, is positioned at the downstream side of the 
camera 118. The photographing operation is conducted as in the preceding 
embodiment according to the sequence shown in FIG. 28. Also in the present 
embodiment, the positional relationship between the camera 118 and the 
rejecting unit is not important, since the original documents are not 
photographed if the bar codes thereof are not read.