JP2000123122A - Noncontact ic medium processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify the structure and to reduce the cost of a noncontact IC medium processor. SOLUTION: A medium path 11 which is communicated with a medium slot 10a and where a medium Z rolls by gravity is prepared together with a medium holding path 12, a medium return path 13 and a medium storing path 14. A regulation part 22a and a stopper part 23a move into the paths 11 and 12 by an electromagnetic solenoid 19 which operates via the detection of a sensor 15. An information processing substrate 16 is added to a medium Z1 which is held in the path 12. Then the processed media ZB and ZC are distributed to the path 13 or 14 via a sorting part 27a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a non-contact type IC medium processing apparatus for reading and writing information from and to information on a non-contact type IC medium (hereinafter simply referred to as a medium).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a non-contact type IC medium processing apparatus of this type includes a medium insertion port for inserting a medium, a pair of conveyed conveying belts provided immediately after the medium insertion port, and a convey belt. It is generally composed of a driving roller, a driven roller, and a pinch roller that are stretched, and an information processing unit that reads and writes information on a medium. Then, the medium inserted from the medium insertion port is conveyed so as to be sandwiched by the pair of conveying belts, and once stopped at a position facing the information processing unit, information is read and written on the medium. When reading / writing is completed, the transport belt runs in the opposite direction, and the medium is returned from the medium insertion port.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional non-contact type IC medium processing apparatus, a belt, rollers, and a motor for driving these are required in order to convey the medium. Therefore, there are problems that not only the number of parts is increased and the manufacturing cost is increased, but also that the structure is complicated and the device is enlarged.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a non-contact type IC medium processing apparatus having a low manufacturing cost and a simplified structure.

[0005]

In order to achieve this object, a first aspect of the present invention is to provide a non-contact type IC medium provided with an antenna unit and formed in a disk shape, and a non-contact type IC medium.
A medium passage that rolls the medium in the radial direction by its own weight, a stopper that can advance and retreat in the medium passage, and an information processing unit that performs information processing on the non-contact type IC medium whose rotation is regulated by the stopper. Prepare. Therefore, a transport unit for transporting the non-contact type IC medium becomes unnecessary. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a distributing means for distributing the non-contact type IC medium to at least two paths according to the contents processed by the information processing means is provided. Therefore, a plurality of types of media can be distributed to individual passages.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, the non-contact type I is provided by the distribution means.
The C medium is distributed to the return passage and the storage passage. Therefore, the medium to be returned to the user and the medium to be collected are sorted. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the invention, the restriction on the rotation of the medium by the stopper is released by the medium return signal, and the medium is introduced into the medium return passage. Therefore, when the service is completed, the non-contact type IC medium is automatically returned to the user.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, a drive source of the stopper and the distribution means is a solenoid having a plunger movable in a direction orthogonal to the medium passage, A storage section for storing a medium to be introduced into the storage passage is provided in a space formed below the solenoid. Therefore, the storage space of the storage section is expanded. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the medium passage is formed by a pair of opposing substrates and a thickness interposed between the substrates and larger than the thickness of the non-contact type IC medium. It is formed by a spacer having the same. Therefore, the medium passage is formed by the minimum necessary parts, and the interval of the medium passage is formed uniformly.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view of a state in which one of the substrates is removed as viewed in the direction of arrow I in FIG. 2 (a), FIG. 2 (a) is a front view of a non-contact type IC medium processing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II (b) -II (b) in FIG. 1. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 1. FIG. 3A shows a state in which the restricting portion has not advanced into the medium passage, and FIG. 3B shows a state in which the restricting portion has advanced into the medium passage. Indicates the status. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 1. FIG. 4A shows a state in which the stopper has not advanced into the medium holding path, and FIG. 4B shows a state in which the stopper has advanced into the medium holding path. Indicates the status. 5A and 5B are cross-sectional views taken along the line VV in FIG. 1. FIG. 5A shows a state in which the distribution unit does not advance into the medium storage passage, and FIG. Indicates a state in which it has advanced.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral Z denotes a medium, which is formed by a perfect circular disk, and has an antenna 9 at the center. A non-contact type IC medium processing device generally denoted by reference numeral 1 is
This non-contact IC medium processing device 1 is connected to a service providing device not shown. The non-contact type IC medium processing apparatus includes a pair of substrates 2 and 3 formed of synthetic resin and erected so as to face each other. Of these, three spacers 4, 5, and 6 having a thickness slightly larger than the thickness of a medium Z to be described later are integrally formed on the substrate 2, and the substrates 2, 3 are interposed via these spacers 4, 5, and 6. They are united so as to oppose each other at a uniform interval. Thus, the spacer 4,
Since the components 5 and 6 are formed integrally with the substrate 2, not only the number of components is reduced, but also the assembling is facilitated and the interval between the substrates 2 and 3 is made uniform over the whole. The rolling of the medium Z is performed smoothly. As shown in FIG. 2B, the substrates 2 and 3 are attached to a metal support plate 7 provided outside the substrate 2 so that the substrates 3 are separated by a distance L via studs 8. ,
Between the support plate 7 and the substrate 3, an electromagnetic solenoid 1 described later
A space S1 for accommodating 9, 25 is formed.

[0010] As shown in FIG.
Inclined portion 4 formed at the upper end, rear end and lower end of
a, a vertical portion 4b, and a horizontal portion 4c. The inclined portion 4a is formed so as to be inclined downward in the direction of arrow A, which is the rolling direction of the medium Z. The spacer 5 is formed in a substantially U-shape at the front end on the upper side of the substrate 2, and the track portion 5 formed so as to be parallel to the above-described inclined portion 4 a of the spacer 4.
a, a vertical portion 5b, and an inclined portion 5c formed so as to be inclined downward toward the arrow B which is the rolling direction of the medium Z. The spacer 6 is substantially U-shaped at the lower front end of the substrate 2.
A track portion 6a formed in a V-shape and parallel to the inclined portion 5c of the spacer 5, and a vertical portion 6b
And an inclined portion 6 formed to be parallel to the track portion 6a.
c and a locking portion 6d erected at the lower end of the track portion 6a.

The above-described inclined portion 4a of the spacer 4 and the track portion 5a of the spacer 5 formed to face the spacer 4 are spaced apart from each other by a distance slightly larger than the diameter of the medium Z. The medium passage 11 is formed by the portion 5a and the pair of substrates 2 and 3. An input port member 10 is attached to the opening of the medium passage 11 in the direction opposite to the arrow A, and the input port member 10 is provided with a medium input port 10a for inputting the medium Z. Slit windows 2a, 3a extending in the vertical direction of the medium passage 11 are formed in both substrates 2, 3 in the medium passage 11 close to the medium inlet 10a. A sensor 15 that detects the passage of the medium Z is provided downstream of the medium Z in the rolling direction A.

The vertical portion 4b of the spacer 4 and the vertical portion 5b of the spacer 5 formed to face the spacer 4 are spaced at a slightly larger distance than the diameter of the medium Z, and are paired with the vertical portions 4b, 5b. The substrates 2 and 3 form a medium holding passage 12 communicating with the above-described medium passage 11. At the ends of the medium holding passages 12 of both substrates 2 and 3,
Slit-shaped windows 2b, 3b extending in the left-right direction of the medium holding passage 12 are provided. This medium holding passage 1
2, an information processing board 16 is attached to the outside of the board 3 via a sleeve, as shown in FIG. The information processing board 16 communicates with the antenna unit 9 of the medium Z1 temporarily held in the medium holding passage 12 as described later, thereby performing information processing for writing and reading information to and from the medium Z. Is what you do.

The inclined portion 5c of the spacer 5 and the track portion 6a of the spacer 6 formed so as to face the spacer 5 are separated from each other by a distance slightly larger than the diameter of the medium Z. The pair of substrates 2 and 3 form a medium return passage 13 that communicates with the above-described medium holding passage 12. The height T of the locking portion 6d provided at the end of the medium return passage 13 is formed smaller than the diameter of the medium Z and larger than the radius, and the substrates 2 and 3 correspond to the terminal end. Square notches 2d and 3d (notch 3d is not shown) are provided, and a medium return port 18 is formed.

The vertical portion 4b of the spacer 4 and the vertical portion 6b of the spacer 6 formed so as to face the spacer 4 are separated from each other by a distance slightly larger than the diameter of the medium Z. The pair of substrates 2 and 3 form a medium storage passage 14 located immediately below the above-described medium holding passage 12. Corresponding to the start end of the medium accommodating passage 14, both substrates 2, 3 have slit-shaped windows 2c,
The windows 2c and 3c extend on the track 6a of the spacer 6 and extend in the left-right direction of the medium storage passage 14.

A storage space S2 is formed below the medium storage passage 14 so as to be surrounded by the horizontal portion 4c of the spacer 4 and the substrate 2 and the support plate 7, as shown in FIG. As shown, the width L1 of the storage space S2 is
It is formed to be larger than the distance L between the support plate 7 and the substrate 3. In the storage space S2, a medium storage box 17 provided with a handle 17a is stored so as to be freely put in and out in the front-rear direction. The upper part of the medium storage box 17 is open, and this opening is positioned below the medium storage passage 14. Have been. As described above, by storing the medium storage box 17 using the storage space S2 generated below the space S1 that stores the electromagnetic solenoids 19 and 25, the storage amount of the medium Z increases and the non-contact state is increased. The unused space in the type IC medium processing device 1 is reduced.

Reference numeral 19 denotes an electromagnetic solenoid, which is mounted on the support plate 7 so that the plunger 20 advances and retreats in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the medium passage 11. A lever 21 made of a synthetic resin and formed in a substantially U-shape by a pair of arms 22 and 23 is mounted on the plunger 20 of the electromagnetic solenoid 19.
A restricting portion 22a is formed by bending the tip of one arm portion 22 of the lever 21. The restricting portion 22a
Are positioned so as to face the window 2a of the substrate 2 described above. A stopper 23a is formed by bending the tip of the other arm 23 of the lever 21. The stopper 23a is positioned so as to face the window 2b of the substrate 2 described above.

Reference numeral 25 denotes an electromagnetic solenoid, which is attached to the center of the above-described support plate 7 in the vertical direction so that the plunger 26 advances and retreats in a direction perpendicular to the surface direction of the medium return passage 14 described above. 26,
A lever 27 made of synthetic resin is mounted on the shaft. A distributing portion 27a is formed by bending the tip of the lever 27. The distributing portion 27a is formed by the window 2c of the substrate 2 described above.
It is positioned to face. Therefore, the distribution portion 27a of the lever 27 is positioned on an extension of the track portion 6a of the spacer 6 described above, and the electromagnetic solenoid 25 is operated as described later to advance into the medium return passage 14, thereby causing the medium to return. It is configured to form a part of the return passage 13. In FIG. 2A, reference numeral 28 denotes a front plate, which covers areas other than the front of the input port member 10, the medium return port 18, and the storage space S2. Reference numeral 29 denotes a cover, which covers other than the front surface of the non-contact type IC medium processing apparatus 1.

Next, the processing operation of a medium in the non-contact type IC medium processing apparatus 1 having such a configuration will be described. The electromagnetic solenoids 19 and 25 are in a non-operating state in advance, and the regulating unit 22a, the stopper unit 23a, the distribution unit 27
As shown in FIGS. 3 (a), 4 (a), and 5 (a), a is in a state of being retracted from the medium passage 11, the medium holding passage 12, and the medium storage passage 14. As shown in FIG. 1, when the medium Z is inserted from the medium input port 10a, the medium Z rolls in the radial direction on its orbital portion 5a of the spacer 5 by its own weight.
5 detected. By this detection, the electromagnetic solenoid 19 is operated, and the plunger 20 is turned on by the electromagnetic solenoid 1.
9, the restricting portion 22a and the stopper portion 23
a advance into the medium passage 11 and the medium holding passage 12 as shown in FIGS. 3 (b) and 4 (b).

Therefore, the first medium Z1 which rolls in the medium passage 11 in the direction of arrow A in FIG.
The rolling is regulated by a and is temporarily held in the medium holding passage 12, so that the medium processing board 16 performs the information reading / writing process in accordance with the service provided by the service providing device (not shown). Done. At this time, since the substrate 3 interposed between the medium processing substrate 16 and the antenna portion 9 of the medium Z, the adjacent substrate 2 and the lever 21 are formed of synthetic resin, adverse effects on communication may occur. Absent. In addition, the antenna unit 9 has a medium Z
Is always positioned at the same position with respect to an antenna unit (not shown) provided on the medium processing substrate 16. For this reason, the antenna portion of the medium processing substrate 16 can be formed to the minimum necessary size, and there is no hindrance to transmission / reception of communication.
It is possible to prevent write and read information processing defects.

At this time, since the regulating portion 22a has advanced into the medium passage 11, the second medium Z is erroneously processed while information is being processed on the first medium Z1.
2 is not inserted into the medium passage 11, so that information processing is not erroneously performed on the second medium Z2. When the provision of the service by the service providing apparatus (not shown) is completed and the processing of the information on the medium Z1 is completed, a medium return signal is sent from the service providing apparatus to the non-contact type IC medium processing apparatus 1. Electromagnetic solenoid 2
1 is deactivated, the stopper portion 23a retreats from the medium holding passage 12, and at the same time, the electromagnetic solenoid 25 operates, and the distribution portion 27a advances into the medium storage passage 14 as shown in FIG. I do.

Therefore, the medium Z1 is supplied to the medium holding passage 12
, Is received by the distribution unit 27a, rolls on the distribution unit 27a, rolls on the track 6a of the spacer 6 in the direction of arrow B, and is locked by the locking unit 6d as the return medium ZB. Is returned from the medium return port 18. At this time, when the second medium Z2 is locked by the restricting portion 22a and is in a standby state, the medium Z2 is also once taken into the medium passage 11 and returned from the medium return port 18. As described above, when the provision of the service is completed, the media Z1 and Z2 are returned from the media return port 18, so that the convenience for the user is improved.

The medium Z1 for which information processing has been completed in the medium holding path 12 is a so-called used medium in which no information value information remains, such as a medium Z1 having a balance or the like of "0". In the case of a defective medium such that information cannot be processed in Z1, the information processing board 16
Will detect this. Based on this detection result, the control unit (not shown) of the apparatus determines that the medium Z1 is a medium to be collected, keeps the electromagnetic solenoid 25 in a non-operating state, and sets the distribution unit 27a as shown in FIG. As shown in (1), the medium storage passage 14 is in a retracted state. Therefore, the medium ZC to be collected dropped from the medium holding path 12 falls in the medium storage path 14 in the direction of arrow C and is stored in the medium storage box 17.

Medium ZC stored in medium storage box 17
Can be recovered by pulling out the medium storage box 17 from the opening on the front side of the storage space S2. As described above, since the medium ZC to be collected can be reliably collected, unauthorized use can be prevented, and the used medium ZC can be reused. As a result, the manufacturing cost of the medium ZC can be reduced. Will be possible. Although not shown, when the non-contact type IC medium processing apparatus 1 is attached to a service providing apparatus, the front side of the storage space S2 is covered with a locked door or the like, and the user can access the medium storage box 17. Is withdrawn.

As described above, the medium Z is a disc having a perfect circle, and the medium Z is transported in the medium path 11, the medium return path 13, and the medium storage path 14 by rolling by its own weight. Parts to be transported become unnecessary,
The structure is simplified, the manufacturing cost is reduced, and the device is downsized. In addition, the regulation part 22a and the stopper part 2
3a and the movement of the distribution unit 27a are controlled by the electromagnetic solenoid 1
The structure is simplified because it is performed by the minimum necessary parts including the components 9, 25 and the levers 21, 27.

In this embodiment, a pair of substrates 2 and
However, when viewed from the front, the upper ends of the substrates 2 and 3 may be inclined to one of the right and left sides. In this case, one side of the medium Z in the thickness direction is a pair of the substrates 2 and 3. , 3 while rolling in the medium passage 11, the medium Z stably rolls without fluttering in the thickness direction. Further, although the substrate 2 and the spacers 4, 5, and 6 are integrally formed, they may be formed by separate components. Further, the restricting portion 22a and the stopper portion 23a may be pin-shaped. Further, the case where the non-contact type IC medium processing apparatus 1 is attached to the service providing apparatus has been described, but the non-contact type IC medium processing apparatus 1 may be used alone as a medium issuing apparatus for performing predetermined information processing on the unprocessed medium Z.

[0026]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the medium is transported by rolling due to its own weight, so that no belt, roller, motor, etc. for transporting the medium are required. Therefore, the number of parts is reduced, the structure is simplified, the manufacturing cost is reduced, and the size can be reduced.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of types of media generated according to the processing contents of information can be sorted for each type, and when used as an issuing device, usability is improved.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, the medium to be stored can be reliably recovered, thereby preventing unauthorized use. Further, the used medium can be reused, and the manufacturing cost of the medium can be reduced.

According to the present invention, when the service is completed, the medium is automatically returned to the user, so that the service can be improved.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the space for storing the medium can be expanded by utilizing the space provided with the solenoid. Further, the stopper and the distributing means can be formed by a simple configuration of the solenoid and the lever, so that the structure is simplified and the number of parts is reduced.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the medium passage can be formed by the minimum necessary parts, so that the structure is simplified. Further, by forming the medium passage with the pair of substrates facing each other, the thickness of the passage is made uniform, so that the medium rolls smoothly and the occurrence of clogging of the medium is prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a state in which one substrate is removed as viewed from an arrow I in FIG. 2A.

2 (a) is a front view of a non-contact type IC medium processing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 (b) is II (b) in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along a line II- (b).

FIGS. 3A and 3B are cross-sectional views taken along the line III-III in FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 3A shows a state in which the restricting portion has not advanced into a medium passage, and FIG. It shows the state where it was done.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 4A shows a state in which the stopper does not advance into the medium holding path, and FIG. It shows the state where it was done.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 5A shows a state in which the distribution unit does not advance into the medium storage passage, and FIG. Shows the state of having advanced to.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... non-contact type IC medium processing device, 2, 3 ... substrate, 4,
5, 6 spacer, 7 support plate, 9 antenna unit, 10
a: medium inlet, 11: medium passage, 12: medium holding passage, 13: medium return passage, 14: medium storage passage, 15 ...
Sensor, 16: Information processing board, 17: Medium storage box, 18
... Media return port, 19,25 ... Electromagnetic solenoid, 20,2
6 Plunger, 21, 27 Lever, 22a Restrictor, 23a Stopper, 27a Distributor, Z, Z1,
Z2, ZB, ZC: Medium.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A non-contact type IC medium provided with an antenna portion and formed in a disk shape, a medium path for rolling the non-contact type IC medium in its radial direction by its own weight, A non-contact IC medium processing apparatus comprising: a stopper; and information processing means for performing information processing on the non-contact IC medium whose rolling is regulated by the stopper. 2. The non-contact type IC medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a distributing unit for distributing the non-contact type IC medium to at least two paths according to the contents processed by the information processing unit. A non-contact type IC medium processing device. 3. The non-contact type IC medium processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the non-contact type IC medium is divided into a return path and a storage path by the distribution means. apparatus. 4. The non-contact type IC medium processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the rotation restriction of the medium by the stopper is released by a medium return signal and the medium is introduced into a medium return passage. IC media processing device. 5. A non-contact type IC medium processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said stopper and a drive source of said distribution means are a solenoid having a plunger movable in a direction orthogonal to said medium passage. A storage portion for storing a medium to be introduced into the storage passage is provided in a space formed below the non-contact type IC medium processing device. 6. A non-contact type IC medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said medium passage is formed by a pair of opposing substrates;
A non-contact IC medium processing apparatus, comprising a spacer interposed between these substrates and having a thickness greater than the thickness of the non-contact IC medium.