GB2239544A

GB2239544A - Card processing device

Info

Publication number: GB2239544A
Application number: GB9025267A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Masahiro Nakao
Original assignee: Toshiba Corp
Current assignee: Toshiba Corp
Priority date: 1989-11-21
Filing date: 1990-11-21
Publication date: 1991-07-03
Anticipated expiration: 2010-11-21
Also published as: GB9025267D0; GB2239544B; KR940004215B1; KR910010361A; JPH03163689A

Abstract

A card conveyor conveys a card inserted at 3 past a magnetic head 11 which reads data recorded on the card to determine whether printing of character data on the card is required. If so the card is fed along a first feed path r2 including a printer 13 and if not it is fed along a path r1 which by-passes the printer 13. <IMAGE>

Description

recording Media Processing Device" The present invention relates.to a recording media processing device, and particularly relates to a processing device into which portable data carriers (hereinafter referred to as cards) are inserted in order to proess machine readable data (e.g. magnetic data) recorded on the cards, and if required, to print characters on the cards.

A previously known recording media processing device of this type i shown in Figure 1 and comprises a housing 51, a card insertion port 52 formed at one side of housing 51, a card discharge port 53 formed at the other side of housing 51, and first, second and third roll pairs 55, 56 and 57 forming a feed path 54 from card insertion port 52 to card discharge port 53. Further, this device 50 comprises a magnetic head 58 and platen roll 59 arranged opposite each other between the first and second roll pairs 55 and 56, and a printer head 61b and platen roll 61a arranged opposite each other on either side of the feed path 54 and thus forming a printer station 60 between the second and third roll pairs 56 asnd 57.

A card C is inserted via card insertion port 52 and the magnetic data provided on card C, such as an ID code number of th card user, is read by a magnetic head 58, then the required dats is printed onto card C by printer 60. The card C is then discharged via card discharge port 53.

However, depending on the type of card C, in some cases printing of character data onto the card is not carried out. If, as in th conventional device 50, cards C on which character data is not to be printed are also fed past the printer head of printer 60, there is increased wear of the printer head, thus shortening.its life.

The present invention seeks to provide a recording media processing device which can increase the life of th printer by preventing the recording media from passing through the printer when they do not require printing.

Accordingly the present invention provides apparatus for processing data carriers (hereinafter referred to as cards) carrying machine readable information and selectively printing character data thereon, the machine readable information including card identifying data, the apparatus comprising conveying means for said cards including two different feed paths, only one of which includes a printing device; means for reading the media identifying data, and control means arranged to control the conveying means so that only those cards requiring printing are fed through the printer.

A preferred form of the present invention provides apparatus for processing data carriers such as cards, the data including media identifying data, the device comprising a first conveying means for conveying the recording medium; means for reading the data recorded on the recording medium; means for determining from the identifying data whether the printing of characters on the recording medium is required; a second conveying means branched from the first conveying means for conveying recording media which require printing, to a printing means, and a third conveying means branched from the first conveying means for conveying recording media which do not require printing, so as to by-pass the printing station.

Some embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a recording media processing device in the prior art; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a recording media processing device constituting a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view showing how this device operates in the first embodiment; Figure 4 is a block diagram of -the control system of the device shown in FIGURE t; FIGURES 5A and 5B are plan views of respective cards; FIGURE 6 is a flow chart of the operation of the device; FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a recording media processing device constituting a second embodiment of the present invention; and FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view showing how this device operates in the second embodiment.

A first embodiment of the present invention will now be described referring to FIGURES 2 to 6. FIGURES 2 and 3 show a recording media processing device 1 of the present invention. The device 1 comprises a housing 2 that is box shaped and that has a card insertion port 3 at one end face and1 a card discharge port 4 at the other end face. In housing 2,rour pairs of feed rollers 5, 6, 7 and 8 are arranged with respective prescribed separation therein.

A platen roll 9a is arranged between third and fourth feed roller pairs 7 and 8 and diagonally above third feed roller pair 7.

An inlet side feed path Ri is formed by first and second feed roll pairs 5 and 6, and an outlet side feed path R2 is formed by fourth roll pair 8. A branched feed path R3 is formed by third feed roll pair 7 and platen roll 9a.

This branched feed path R3 comprises a non-printing path re and a printing path r2. Non-printing path ri begins downstream of second roll pair 6 and reaches the fourthfeed roll pair 8 via third feed roll pair 7. Printing path r2 branches from non-printing path ri downstream of second feed roll pair 6 and leads to fourth feed roll pair 8 via platen roll 9a.

A magnetic reader 10 is arranged between the first and second feed roll pairs 5 and 6. Magnetic reader 10 comprises a magnetic head il and platen roll 12, arranged facing each other.

A print head 9b is arranged for sliding contact with platen roll 9a to constitute a printer 13.

A diverter 14 is arranged at the branch position of non-printing path ri and printing path r2.

Diverter 14 comprises a selector gate 15 arranged to be swingable in the direction of arrows ai and a2 at the branch position and an electromagnetic solenoid 16 for driving selector gate 15. Electromagnetic solenoid 16 has a reciprocating actuator 1 6a which-is connected by a link 17 to selector gate 15 so as to transmit the movement of actuator 16a to selector gate 15. A spring 18 biases actuator 16a in-the direction of arrow A to move selector gate 15 in the direction of arrow a2 via link 17.

The control system of recording media processing device 1 will now be described with reference to FIGURE 4. This control system comprises a controller 20 including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21 and a program memory 22.

Magnetic head II, printer 13, and a solenoid driver 23 that drives electromagnetic solenoid 16 are connected to CPU 21.

CPU 21 is also connected to a roll driver 25 that drives feed roll pairs 5, 6, 7 and 8.

Cards C1 and C2 as transaction media that are processed by recording media processing device l will now be described with reference to FIGURES 5A and 5B. Card Ct shown in FIGURE SA is for example a cash card for banks. A magnetic stripe MSI is formed on the back surface of card Ce, as shown by dotted lines in FIGURE SA. On this magnetic stripe MS1 there is recorded beforehand type data to the effect that this is a cash card, which does not require printing, and data indicating the identity code number etc. of the user.

Card C2 shown in FIGURE 5B is for example a prepaid card for shopping. A magnetic stripe MS2 is formed on the back surface of card C2, like that of card Ci. On this magnetic stripe MS2 there is recorded beforehand type data to the effect that this is a shopping card, which does require printing, and data indicating the identity code number etc. of the user. On the front surface of card C2, as shown in FIGURE 5B, there is provided a printing region S in which is printed the date and the balance (Yen).

The operation of device l constructed as above will now be described with reference to FIGURES 2-4 and 6. As shown in FIGURE 2, selector gate 15 has initially completed rotation to a2 so that non-printing path rt is connected to inlet side feed path R1.

Card C2 is inserted by the user into card insertion port 3 of this device 1, as shown in FIGURE 3 (STi). When this happens, roll driver 25 is actuated under the control of CPU 21 and drives first roll pairs 5 in rotation in the direction of the arrow shown in FIGURE 3 to feed card C2 to the position of magnetic head 11. Magnetic head li reads .ideDtifYing the magnetic data including the / aata ~ that is recorded on magnetic stripe MS2 of card C2 and transmits the read data to CPU 21.CPU 21 discriminates from the type data included in the read data that printing is required and generates a drive signal (ST2). *The drive signal is transmitted from CPU 21 to solenoid driver 23, thereby the solenoid driver 23 drives electromagnetic solenoid 16 (ST3) to rotate selector gate 15 in the direction ai via link 17, as shown in FIGURE 3. Card C2 is thereby fed into printing path r2 and printer.13 prints on this card C2 character data such as the date and balance (ST4). After this, card C2 is discharged from card discharge port 4 to outside of device 1.

When a card Ci is inserted into this device 1, in the operation of ST2 described above, CPU 21 discriminates from identifying the / data included in the read data that printing is not required. Therefore, since a drive signal is not generated by CPU 21, electromagnetic solenoid 16 is not actuated. As a result, card C1 is discharged to outside of device 1 via non-printing path ri and card discharge port 4.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGURES 7 and 8. Recording media processing device 1A has a card insertion/discharge port 33 at one end of a housing 32. Card C1 or C2 is discharged or inserted via this card insertion/discharge port 33.

Within housing 32 there are arranged with prescribed separations three pairs of feed rolls 34, 35 and 36. Also, between the first and second feed roll pairs 34 and 35 there is arranged a printer 13. Printer 13 comprises a platen roll 37a and a print head 37b, which contacts withplaten roll 37a. Platen roll 37a defines a branched feed path R3 comprising a non-printing path ri and a printing path r.

On the side nearest the second pair of feed rolls 35 of the branch part where non-printing path r1 and printing path r2 -diverge from each other, a diverter 14 is arranged just as in the first embodiment. on the side nearest the first pair of feed rolls 34 of branched feed path R3, an inlet side diverter 38 is arranged. This inlet side diverter 38 is provided at the branch part with a selector gate 39 arranged to be rotatable in the direction Q 3 and a4. A spring 41 weakly biases selector gate 39 in the direction a4 via a link 40.

A magnetic reader 10 is arranged between second and third pairs of rolls 35 and 36.

The control system of this recording media processing device 1A is Similar to that shown in FIGURE 4, and the device operates as- follows.

Since selector gate 39 has been rotated in the direction an, a card Ct or card C2 inserted into card insertion/discharge port 33 will pass along non-printing path ri to arrive at magnetic head 11. The magnetic data recorded on magnetic stripe MS1 or MS2 is read by magnetic head li. After this, in the case of card C1, electromagnetic solenoid 16 is not actuated, so card C1 is distharged to the outside of housing 32 through non-printing path ri and insertion/discharge port 33.

In the case of a card C2, electromagnetic solenoid 16 i9 energised in response to a drive signal from CPU 21.

Actuation of solenoid 16 rotates selector gate 15'in the direction ai. As a result, card C2 passes through printing path r2, reaching printer 13. Printer 13 prints the required character data onto printing region S of card C2.

After this, card C2 is discharged to outside of housing 32 through card insertion/discharge port 33.

As described above, a recording media processing device of the present invention is provided wherein recording media that do not require printing do not pass through the printing zone of the printer, thereby preventing wear of the printer and prolonging its life.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made thereto,

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Apparatus for processing data carriers (hereinafter referred to as cards) carrying machine readable information and selectively printing character data thereon, the machine readable information including card identifying data, the apparatus comprising conveying means for said cards including two different feed paths, only one of which includes a printing device; means for reading the media identifying data, and control means arranged to control the conveying means so that only those cards requiring printing are fed through the printer.
2. Apparatus for processing data carriers such as cards, the data including media identifying data, the device comprising a first conveying means for conveying the recording medium; means for reading the data recorded on the recording medium; means for determining from the identifying data whether the printing of characters on the recording medium is required; a second conveying means branched from the first conveying means for conveying recording media which require printing, to a printing means, and a third conveying means branched from the first conveying means for conveying recording media which do not require printing, so as to by-pass the printing station.
3. A device for processing a recording medium such as a card on which data is magnetically recorded, the data including medium type data, the device comprising means for conveying the recording medium; means for reading the data recorded on the recording medium conveyed by the first conveying means; means for determining from the data read by the reading means whether the printing of character data on the recording medium is required; a first feed path branched from the said conveying means for conveying the recording medium which is determined by the determining means to require printing of character data; a second feed path branched from the said conveying means for conveying the recording medium which is determined by the determining means to not require printing of character data; means in the first feed path for printing character data on the recording medium; and means for selecting the first feed path when the determining means determines that printing of character data on the recording medium is required and for selecting the second feed path when the determining means determines that no printing of character data on the recording medium is required.
4. Apparatus according to any of claims 1, 2 or 3 including a card insertion port for receiving the card to the conveying means, and a card discharge port for discharging the card from the conveying means to outside of the housing.
5. Apparatus according to any of claims 1, 2 or 3 including a card insertion/discharge port for receiving the card to the conveying means and discharging the recording medium from the conveying means to outside of the housing, and means for reversibly driving the conveying means to selectivly feed the card in the required direction.
6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the reading means includes a magnetic head.
7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the card includes a printing region thereon for allowing printing of character data on the card.
8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the selecting means includes a selector gate pivotably mounted to move between a first position in which the conveying means operatively connects to the first feed path and a second position in which the conveying means operatively connects to the second feed path.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the selecting means further includes an electromagnetic solenoid operatively connected to the selector gate.
10. Apparatus for processing data carriers, such as cards, said apparatus being substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 2, 3 and 4 or Figures 4, 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.