Media processing device

A media processing device can convey checks at a constant speed passed an information reading position without slipping and without increasing the relay capacity of the transportation roller. The check processing device 1 has two transportation rollers 31 and 32 between the scanning position 52A of the contact image scanner 52 and the separation roller 17 and retard roller 18 that produce a transportation load or transportation load variation. The upstream-side transportation roller 31 turns faster than the downstream transportation roller 32 so that the checks 4 are fed with slack between these transportation rollers 31 and 32. Because of this slack in the part 402 of the check 4 between the transportation rollers 31 and 32, the transportation load from the separation mechanism does not act on the downstream transportation roller 32. The transportation load acting on the transportation roller 32 that feeds the checks 4 to the scanning position 52A can thus be reduced, variation in the transportation load can be suppressed, checks can be conveyed at a constant speed to the scanning position 52A, and a drop in the reading accuracy of the contact image scanner 52 can be prevented.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a media processing device that reads contained information such as magnetic ink characters and image information from sheet media such as checks while conveying the media one at a time through a transportation path, and relates more particularly to a media processing device that can suppress fluctuations in the sheet media transportation speed so that the contained information can be accurately scanned.

2. Description of Related Art

Banks and other financial institutions use check readers to image and read magnetic ink characters from checks, promissory notes, and other check-like negotiable instruments, and to sort the checks based on the acquired information. As electronic check processing has become more common in recent years the scanned image data and magnetic ink character data is also processed and managed using computers. See, for example, the check readers taught in Japanese Unexamined Patent Appl. Pub. JP-A-2004-206362, U.S. Patent Application 2004/025626, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Appl. Pub. JP-A-2001-48362.

Separation mechanisms for separating and feeding multifed checks and other sheet media one by one for processing include pad separation devices and retard roller devices. Pad separation devices push the end part of the sheet media against a separation pad that is made from a material with a high coefficient of friction while driving a feed roller to separate and feed one sheet medium. Retard roller devices separate the sheet media by passing the media between a media feed roller and a retard roller, which is pressed against the media feed roller and applies a rotational load. Both methods create resistance to the transportation direction of the sheet media being fed in order to separate multifed sheet media one by one in the transportation direction.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Appl. Pub. JP-A-2001-48362 teaches a sheet supply mechanism for separating and supplying high rigidity sheet media one by one. This sheet supply mechanism rotatably supports a separation pad so that the contact surface of the separation pad tightly contacts the end of the sheets supplied from inside a cassette case, and prevents sheets from being supplied in a stack to the retard roller type separation roller.

The transportation mechanism for conveying sheet media fed that are fed one at a time through a separation mechanism as described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Appl. Pub. JP-A-2004-206362 and U.S. Patent Application 2004/025626 transfers torque from a transportation motor through an intervening endless belt to a plurality of transportation rollers disposed along the transportation path, and sequentially conveys the sheet medium from an upstream-side transportation roller to the next downstream-side transportation roller along the transportation path.

If the check speed is fast, if the coefficient of friction between the check and the transportation roller is low because the check surface is particularly smooth, for example, or if the check transportation load is high, a certain small amount of slippage between the transportation roller and check occurs even if the relay capacity (μF) of the transportation roller is increased. If the check being conveyed slips while information is being read by the magnetic head or scanner, the reading accuracy of the information drops because of fluctuations in the transportation speed.

Furthermore, because the separation mechanism separates the media by applying a resistance to the transportation direction, the transportation load when conveying a check varies greatly depending on whether a part of the check is still inside the separation mechanism or whether the check has completely passed the separation mechanism and no part is still inside the separation mechanism. The check causes this variation in the transportation resistance of the separation mechanism to directly affect the transportation roller that receives and conveys the check from the separation mechanism to the scanning position of the scanner, for example. This produces slipping between the transportation roller and the check, which causes the speed of the check to vary as it is conveyed while being read by the scanner, for example, and can result in a drop in scanning precision and reading accuracy.

The nipping pressure (F) applied by the transportation roller to the check must be increased to increase the relay capacity of the transportation roller in order to reduce slipping of the checks conveyed by the transportation roller. However, this requires a design change, such as increasing the strength or rigidity of the transportation roller support shaft, which increases device size. Furthermore, because the required relay capacity of the transportation roller is affected by the coefficient of friction between the transportation roller and the surface of the check, differences in the condition of the check surface cause transportation roller slippage to vary. This causes the transportation speed to vary from check to check and reduces the reliability of information read from the checks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A media processing device according to the present invention can convey sheet media at a constant speed of transportation passed an information scanning position without increasing the nip pressure of the transportation roller.

A media processing device according to a first embodiment of the invention has a media transportation path for conveying sheet media; an information reader that is disposed to an information reading position on the media transportation path and reads contained information on the sheet media passing the information reading position; a separation mechanism that separates and feeds the sheet media; and a transportation mechanism that conveys the sheet media delivered from the separation mechanism toward the information reading position. The transportation mechanism includes a first transportation roller disposed on an upstream side in the transportation direction, and a second transportation roller disposed on a downstream side in the transportation direction; and the sheet media transportation speed of the first transportation roller is faster than the transportation speed of the second transportation roller.

With the media processing device according to the invention sheet media delivered from the separation mechanism are fed first to the first transportation roller that turns at a fast media transportation speed, and then from there to the second transportation roller. The feed speed of the first transportation roller is set to be faster than the speed of the second transportation roller even if there is some slipping between the first transportation roller and the sheet medium. The sheet medium advanced to the second transportation roller is thus conveyed at a slower speed than the transportation speed of the first transportation roller to the information reading position. As a result, slack is produced by this difference in roller speed in the part of the sheet media that is between the first transportation roller and the second transportation roller. This slack prevents the effect of resistance and transportation load imposed by the separation mechanism from being passed from the first transportation roller to the second transportation roller. More specifically, the transportation resistance produced by the separation mechanism acts on the first transportation roller but does not act on the second transportation roller. Variation in the load on the second transportation roller is therefore suppressed, and the sheet media can be conveyed passed the information reading position at a constant speed while the information reader scans the media without the second transportation roller slipping against the medium.

Preferably, the difference between the peripheral velocity of the first transportation roller and second transportation roller is approximately 2% to 3%. This difference prevents any effect on the second transportation roller even if the first transportation roller slips against the sheet medium.

If the transportation mechanism has an endless belt that engages the first transportation roller and second transportation roller and a common transportation motor, and rotationally drives the rollers by means of a common power transfer mechanism, the angular velocity of the first transportation roller and second transportation roller will be the same. In this case the outside diameter of the first transportation roller is preferably greater than the outside diameter of the second transportation roller.

If the outside diameter of the first transportation roller and the second transportation roller are the same, the same effect can be achieved by driving the first transportation roller at a faster angular velocity than the angular velocity of the second transportation roller.

Further preferably, the separation mechanism includes a separation roller and a retard roller that is pressed against the separation roller. This enables separating and feeding checks and other sheet media that are multifed one by one.

The separation mechanism may alternatively use a separation pad to separate and feed checks and other sheet media that are multifed one by one.

Further preferably, the information reader is a magnetic head and/or a scanner for reading magnetic ink characters or image data from the sheet media at the information reading position.

A media processing device according to the present invention disposes first and second transportation rollers between the information reader and the separation mechanism that produces a transportation load or variation in the transportation load. The transportation speed of the upstream-side first transportation roller is set to be greater than the transportation speed of the downstream-side second transportation roller even if the first transportation roller slips slightly against the sheet media, thereby producing slack in the sheet media between the first and second transportation rollers.

The invention therefore prevents the transportation load imposed by the separation mechanism from acting on the second transportation roller that feeds the sheet media to the information reading position. The transportation load on the second transportation roller can therefore be reduced and variation in the transportation load can be suppressed. The transportation speed is thus constant, and slipping between the second transportation roller and the sheet media can be minimized.

The invention can thus improve the relay capacity of the second transportation roller, convey the sheet media at a constant speed passed the information reading position, and prevent a drop in the reading accuracy of the information reader.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment of a check processing device according to the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying figures.

FIG. 1is an external oblique view of a check processing device1according to the invention, andFIG. 2is a plan view of the same.

This check processing device1has a case2and a rear case3that covers the top of the case2, and various parts and assemblies are disposed inside the case. A transportation path5for conveying checks4(sheet media) is formed in the rear case3.

The check transportation path5is a narrow vertical slot that curves in a basically U-shaped configuration when seen from above, and includes a straight upstream-side transportation path portion6, a curved transportation path portion7that continues from the upstream-side transportation path portion6, and a slightly curving downstream-side transportation path portion8that continues from the curved transportation path portion7.

The upstream end of the upstream-side transportation path portion6communicates with a check loading unit9, which is a wide vertical slot. The downstream end of the downstream-side transportation path portion8is connected through left and right diversion paths10a,10bto first and second check discharge units11and12, which are wide vertical slots.

The checks4that are read have an MICR line4A printed along the bottom edge on the front4aof the check4. Also recorded on the front4aagainst a patterned background are the check amount, payer and payee, various numbers, and the payer signature. An endorsement is recorded on the back4bof the check4.

Check Transportation Mechanism

FIG. 3describes the check transportation mechanism rendered in the check processing device1, andFIG. 4describes the part of this mechanism that conveys checks through the transportation path5.

Referring first toFIG. 3, an infeed roller13and a pressure member14are disposed to the check loading unit9. The infeed roller13feeds checks4which are loaded in a stack in the check loading unit9into the transportation path5. The pressure member14presses the checks4against the infeed roller13.

Disposed to the infeed path15for feeding the checks4delivered by the infeed roller13into the transportation path5are a separation pad16and a pair of separation rollers including a separation roller17and a retard roller18. The separation pad16, separation roller17, and retard roller18render a separation mechanism for separating and feeding the checks4one at a time from the stack into the transportation path5. The separation pad16is made from cork, urethane, or other material with a high coefficient of friction. The infeed roller13, the separation roller17, and the pressure member14are driven by a common feed motor19.

Referring toFIG. 3andFIG. 4, the transportation mechanism for conveying the checks4along the transportation path5includes a transportation motor21, a drive pulley22mounted on the rotating shaft of the transportation motor21, a set of transportation rollers31to36disposed along the transportation path5, a transfer pulley37, a set of pressure rollers41to46that are pressed against and rotate with the transportation rollers31to36, and a pressure roller47that is driven by the transfer pulley37.

Rotation of the pressure roller47is transferred through a transfer gear48to a discharge roller49. An endless belt23transfers rotation of the transportation motor21shaft to the transportation rollers31to36. The endless belt23travels along an endless loop from the drive pulley22passed a guide roller24, a transportation roller36, a guide pulley25, the transfer pulley37, transportation rollers31and32, guide pulleys26and27, transportation rollers33,34, and35, and back to the drive pulley22.

The transportation rollers31to34are located at the upstream end, the middle, and at the junction to the curved transportation path portion7. Transportation roller35is located on the downstream side of the curved transportation path portion7. Transportation roller36is in the middle of the downstream-side transportation path portion8, and transfer pulley37is located at the discharge opening to the second check discharge unit12. A discharge roller49is disposed at the discharge opening to the first check discharge unit11.

A magnet51for magnetizing the magnetic ink characters is disposed between the transportation rollers31and32in the upstream-side transportation path portion6. A front contact image sensor52is disposed as the front image scanner, and a back contact image sensor53is disposed as a back image scanner, between the transportation rollers32and33. A magnetic head54for magnetic ink character reading is disposed between transportation rollers33and34.

A print mechanism56is disposed on the downstream side of the transportation roller36in the downstream-side transportation path portion8. The print mechanism56can move between a printing position applying pressure to the check4and a standby position retracted from this printing position by means of a drive motor (not shown in the figure). The print mechanism56can also be rendered as a stamp mechanism that is pushed by a plunger to print (stamp) the check4.

Various sensors for check transportation control are also disposed to the transportation path5.

A paper length detector61for detecting the length of the conveyed check4is located near the magnet51.

A multifeed detector62for detecting if two or more checks4are being fed together is located between transportation roller34and transportation roller33.

A jam detector63is located at a position on the upstream side of the transportation roller35. A check is known to be jammed in the transportation path5if the jam detector63detects a check4continuously for a prescribed time or longer.

A print detector64for detecting the presence of a check4printed by the print mechanism56is located on the upstream side before the transportation roller66.

A discharge detector65for detecting the discharged check is disposed to the diversion paths10aand10bwhere the transportation path5branches to the first and second check discharge units11and12.

A flapper66that is driven by a drive motor not shown to switch the discharge path is disposed on the upstream side of the diversion paths10aand10b. The flapper66selectively switches the downstream end of the transportation path5to the first check discharge unit11or the second check discharge unit12, and guides the check4to the selected discharge unit.

The distance from the reading position54A of the magnetic head54in the transportation path5to the printing position56A of the print mechanism56is greater than the length of the long side (transportation direction) of the check4to be scanned in this embodiment of the invention. As a result, when the leading end of the check4reaches the printing position56A, the trailing end has already passed the reading position54A of the magnetic head54. The check4is therefore sequentially conveyed by the transportation roller34and the pressure roller44, and by the transportation roller35and the pressure roller45, as the magnetic head54reads the magnetic ink characters.

The check4is also conveyed sequentially by the transportation roller33and pressure roller43, by the transportation roller34and the pressure roller44, and by the transportation roller35and the pressure roller45as the contact image sensors52and53image the front and back of the check4.

Positioning of the Transportation Rollers

The positions where the endless belt23engages each of the transportation rollers in the check transportation mechanism according to this embodiment of the invention are set as follow.

As will be understood fromFIG. 4, the roller engaging part that is next on the upstream side in the belt drive direction from the belt drive roller engaging part23(22) where the endless belt23wraps around the drive pulley22is a first roller engaging part23(35) where the endless belt23wraps around the transportation roller35. The roller engaging part that is next on the upstream side from this first roller engaging part23(35) is a second roller engaging part23(34) where the endless belt23winds round the transportation roller34. Continuing upstream in the belt drive direction are roller engaging parts23(33),23(32),23(31),23(37), and23(36) at transportation rollers33,32,31, transfer pulley37, and transportation roller36.

FIG. 5Ashows the part of the check4transportation mechanism from the check loading unit9to the scanning position52A of the front contact image scanner52. As shown in this figure two transportation rollers31and32are located between the scanning position52A of the front contact image scanner52and the separation pad16, separation roller17, and retard roller18. A check4delivered through the separation mechanism is fed first into the nipping part of the transportation roller31and the pressure roller41, from there to the nipping part of the transportation roller32and the pressure roller42, and then passed the scanning position52A of the front contact image scanner52.

As shown enlarged inFIG. 5B, the outside diameter D(31) of transportation roller31is slightly greater than the outside diameter D(32) of the downstream transportation roller32. A diameter that is approximately 2% to 3% larger is particularly effective. As described above, the endless belt23engages transportation rollers31and32so that the rollers are driven rotationally by a common transportation motor21. Both rollers therefore turn at the same angular velocity. The larger diameter upstream transportation roller31therefore has a faster peripheral velocity and feeds checks faster than the smaller downstream transportation roller32. The same effect can be achieved by driving the transportation roller31at a faster angular velocity than the downstream transportation roller32.

As a result, even if some slipping occurs between this first transportation roller31and the check4during check transportation due to resistance from the separation mechanism, the part402of the check4between the first and second transportation rollers31and32becomes slightly slack as shown in the figure because the first transportation roller31feeds the check slightly faster than the second transportation roller32. This slack prevents passing feed resistance and variations in the transportation load through the first transportation roller31to the second transportation roller32. This also inhibits variation in the feed load on the second transportation roller32even if the coefficient of friction between the check4and the transportation rollers varies.

More specifically, variation in slippage between the transportation rollers and the check4caused by feed resistance imposed by the separation mechanism and change in the coefficient of friction between the check4and the transportation rollers works on the first transportation roller31but does not work on the second transportation roller32. Variation in the feed load on the second transportation roller32and variation in the relay capacity of the first roller are suppressed, and the part401of the check4that is fed from the transportation roller32passes the scanning position52A at a constant speed.

Control System

FIG. 6is a block diagram showing the control system of the check processing device1. The control system of this check processing device1includes a control unit71that is built around a CPU and has RAM and ROM. The control unit71is connected to a host computer system73through a communication cable72. The computer system73has a display unit73aand input/output devices such as a keyboard, mouse, or other operating unit73b. Check scanning operation start commands and other commands are input from the computer system73to the control unit71.

When a scanning operation start command is received, the control unit71drives the feed motor19and the transportation motor21to feed the checks4one at a time into the transportation path5and convey the supplied check4through the transportation path5. The front image data, back image data, and magnetic ink character data captured from the check4by the front contact image sensor52, the back contact image sensor53, and the magnetic head54are input to the control unit71. This data is then supplied to the computer system73for image processing and character recognition processing. The computer system73also determines if the check4was scanned normally, and the result is supplied to the control unit71. Based on this result the control unit71controls driving the print mechanism56and the flapper66.

The control unit71controls conveying the check4based on the detection signals from the paper length detector61, the multifeed detector62, the jam detector63, the print detector64, and the discharge detector65that are disposed along the check transportation path5. An operating unit75including a power supply switch and other switches is also disposed to the case2and connected to the control unit71.

FIG. 7is a flow chart describing the operation of the control unit71of the check processing device1. The scanning operation is described next with reference to this flow chart.

When the operator inputs a start scanning command from the operating unit73bof the host computer system73, the feed motor19causes the infeed roller13to turn and the pressure member14to move and press the checks4against the infeed roller13. One or more checks4are thus advanced by the infeed roller13. The separation mechanism (separation pad16, separation roller17, and retard roller18) disposed to the infeed path15then separates and feeds the checks4delivered into the infeed path15one by one into the transportation path5(steps ST1and ST2).

When the paper length detector61detects the leading end of the conveyed check4, the transportation motor21is driven to rotationally drive the transportation rollers31to36and the transfer pulley37. The supplied check4is passed sequentially to the transportation rollers31to36and transfer pulley37and conveyed through the transportation path5(step ST3). The front and back of the check4are imaged and the magnetic ink characters are read by the front contact image sensor52, the back contact image sensor53, and the magnetic head54, respectively, as the check4is conveyed (step ST4).

The captured data is then sent through the communication cable72to the host computer system73(step ST5). The computer system73processes the scanned front image, back image, and magnetic ink character data, and determines if the check was read correctly. If the check4is fed with the top and bottom upside down, the magnetic ink characters cannot be recognized and a read error results. If the check4is fed with the front and back reversed, the magnetic ink character data cannot be acquired and a read error results. If the check4is creased, torn, or skewed when fed so that a portion of the magnetic ink characters cannot be read, a read error results. A read error also results if the check amount or other prescribed information cannot be recognized from the front and back image data because the check4is creased, torn, or skewed when fed.

Referring again to the check processing device1side, when the leading end of the conveyed check4reaches the printing position56A of the print mechanism56, the transportation mechanism pauses conveying the check4(step ST6). The position of the leading end of the conveyed check4is managed by counting the number of steps the transportation motor21is driven from when the paper length detector61detects the leading end of the check4. When conveying the check4stops, the check processing device1waits for the scanning determination result from the computer system73(step ST7).

If the received scanning determination result indicates that the check4was scanned correctly, conveying the check4resumes and the print mechanism56is simultaneously moved to the printing position56A (steps ST8and ST9). The print mechanism56prints PROCESSED, for example, on the check4as the check4is advanced, and the check4is directed into the first check discharge unit11by the flapper66(step ST10). Driving the transportation mechanism stops after the discharge detector65detects the trailing end of the check4(steps ST11and ST12). Feeding and processing the next check4then starts.

If the received scanning determination result indicates that the check4was not scanned correctly (step ST8), conveying the check4resumes (step ST13) and the flapper66changes position. The print mechanism56is held in the standby position and does not print on the check4. The check4is thus diverted by the flapper66and discharged into the second check discharge unit12(step ST14). Driving the transportation mechanism stops after the discharge detector65detects the trailing end of the check4(steps ST11and ST12), and the operation for scanning the next check4then starts.

If the multifeed detector62detects a check multifeed state, an interrupt process is executed to immediately stop check transportation, signal a check transportation error to the operator by driving a warning indicator on the operating unit75, and then wait until the checks are removed from the check transportation path5and the checks are reset to the starting position. A similar interrupt process is executed if the jam detector63detects that a check is jammed in the check transportation path5.

Effect

As described above, the check processing device1according to this embodiment of the invention disposes two transportation rollers31and32between the scanning position52A of the front contact image scanner52and the separation roller17and retard roller18that create resistance to check transportation and variation in the check transportation load, and drives the upstream side transportation roller31faster than the other transportation roller32to convey the checks4with slack produced between the transportation rollers31and32. Because there is slack in the part402of the check4that is between transportation rollers31and32, transportation resistance imposed by the separation mechanism does not act on the downstream transportation roller32.

The transportation load that acts on the transportation roller31that feeds the check4to the scanning position52A can thus be reduced, and variation in the transportation load can be suppressed. As a result, there is very little slipping between the second transportation roller and the sheet media even when the transportation speed is fast. The checks4can therefore be conveyed passed the scanning position52A at a constant speed without increasing the relay capacity of the transportation roller32, and a drop in scanning precision can be prevented. A drop in the reading accuracy of the magnetic head54that is near the contact image scanner52can also be prevented. The reading (scanning) position in this case is at the magnetic head54.

The invention is described above using a check processing device by way of example, but the invention is not limited thereto and can be used in other media processing devices such as printers and scanners that are used to process checks and other types of sheet media.