JP2000222536A - Card reader and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a card from sticking to a printing head at the time of thermal printing. SOLUTION: A card reader 1 is so constituted that a card 3 inserted to a card slot 2 may be taken in by a card carrying means 4 and data may be read or written in the card reader 1. In this case, a printing head 5 for write operation on the card 3, a platen roll 6 which is so provided that it can be moved between a position 6a where it faces the printing head 5 and is energized toward the printing head 5 and a position 6b where it is separated from the printing head 5, and a driving means 7 which moves the platen roll 6 between the position 6a and the position 6b are provided in the card reader 1, and the driving means 7 is operated after printing to prevent the card 3 from sticking to the printing head 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a card reader and a control method thereof. More specifically, the present invention provides:
The present invention relates to an improvement in a card reader and a control method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some card readers for prepaid cards print information such as a balance on the back of the card so that the status of use of the card can be understood. At this time, when the thermal printing method is adopted as the display method, the card 101
For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a layer structure such as a PET substrate 102, tin (tin) 103, and a coating layer 104 is provided. The tin 103 is melted by applying heat with the print head 106 on the coating layer 104 side while pressing from above. In the tin 103, the portion that has been melted and broken in this way transmits the color of the PET base material 102 and appears to change color. Therefore, heat is applied to a predetermined position of the tin 103 to form letters and numbers. Thus, information can be displayed on the back surface of the card 101.

[0003]

However, the card 10 is pressed by the platen roller 105 as described above.
When thermal printing is performed on the card 1, there is a problem that the card 101 may stick to the print head 106 and cause card jam, for example, when dirt or an adhering substance is present on the surface of the card 101.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a card reader in which a card does not stick to a print head when thermal printing is performed, and a control method therefor.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a card inserted into a card insertion slot is taken in by a card carrying means, and data is read or written inside a card reader. In the card reader configured to perform the above, inside the card reader, a print head for performing a write operation on the card, a position opposed to the print head and urged toward the print head side, and a position separated from the print head And a driving means for moving the platen roller between a position urged toward the print head and a position separated from the print head, and a printing device. The drive means is operated later to prevent sticking between the card and the print head.

In this card reader, the platen roller is normally separated from the print head when no card is inserted into the card reader, and moves to a position for urging the surface of the card when printing. However, since the card is movably provided so as to be pressed against the print head, the card can be sufficiently pressed against the print head, and the heat of the print head can be reliably transmitted to perform printing. In addition, the platen roller is provided so as to move between the two positions by the operation of the driving means. Even after printing or during printing, the driving means is operated to move the platen roller between the two positions. It is possible to prevent the card from sticking to the print head by applying an external force such as vibration to the card by the reciprocating movement and striking the card.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling a card reader, wherein a card inserted into a card insertion slot is taken in by a card carrying means, and data is read or written inside the card reader. In the card reader, a print head for performing a write operation on the card is provided movably between a position opposed to the print head and biased toward the print head and a position separated from the print head. A platen roller, and driving means for moving the platen roller between a position urged toward the print head and a position separated from the print head, operating the driving means after printing on the card, Move the platen roller at least once between the position urged toward the print head and the position separated from the print head, and attach the card and print head. So as to prevent.

In this case, the card can be sufficiently pressed against the print head by the platen roller to reliably transmit the heat of the print head for printing, and the driving means is operated to move the platen roller back and forth between both positions. It is possible to prevent the card from sticking to the print head by applying an external force such as vibration or impact by this movement.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the method of controlling a card reader according to the second aspect, the operation of the driving means is operated for each line of printing, is operated after printing is completed, or the state of sticking of the card is detected. Operation. In this case, the timing for preventing the sticking of the card is appropriately set according to the performance of the card or the card reader, the manner of printing on the card, and the like.

According to a fourth or fifth aspect of the present invention, the print head is a thermal head, and a part of a layer constituting the card is destroyed by heat to perform printing. In this case, sticking of the card caused by dirt on the card surface can be prevented beforehand by moving the platen roller and applying an external force.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The configuration of the present invention will be described below in detail based on an example of an embodiment shown in the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 4 show an embodiment of a card reader and a control method thereof according to the present invention. The card reader 1 according to the present invention is configured so that the card 3 inserted into the card insertion slot 2 is taken in by the card transport means 4 and data is read or written inside the card reader 1. is there. The card reader 1 has a print head 5 for performing a write operation on the card 3 therein.
And a driving means 7 for moving the platen roller 6 movably provided, and driving the driving means 7 after printing on the card 3 to drive the platen roller 6 at least once. It is configured to be moved to prevent sticking between the card 3 and the print head 5.

The card insertion slot 2 is provided in a rectangular shape as shown in FIG. 3, from which the card 3 is inserted horizontally and the card 3 from which data has been read or written is ejected. The card transport means 4 is mainly composed of the drive motor 1.
1. Consisting of transport rollers 12, 12, and a belt 13,
When the drive motor 11 is driven, the adjacent transport roller 12 rotates, and the rotation is transmitted to another transport roller 12 by the wound belt 13. Each of the transport rollers 12 is provided with another transport roller 15, 15 facing the card transport path 14.

The print head 5 is provided so as to print character information such as a balance on the surface of the card 3. In the present embodiment, a thermal head for performing thermal printing is employed. As shown in FIG. 1, the print head 5 is placed on the lower side of the card transport path 14 with the head face up so that printing can be performed by heating the back side of the card 3 inserted with the front side up. It is fixed and installed.

The platen roller 6 is used for the card 3 to be printed.
To the print head 5 side.
It is arranged at a position opposed to. The platen roller 6 has a position 6a opposed to the print head 5 and urged toward the print head 5, and a position 6a separated from the print head 5.
b so as to be movable to a position 6b apart from the print head 5 except when the card 3 is pressed.

In this embodiment, the platen roller 6
Is movable by attaching it to a platen roller support member 17 that can swing about a support shaft 16. In this case, the platen roller support member 17 is
As shown in FIG. 4, a shaft 19 with a knob 18 slidably provided substantially at the center thereof, and a coil spring 20 for urging the shaft 19 upward are provided. Further, a lock pin 21 orthogonal to the shaft 19 is provided at a tip of the shaft 19. On the other hand, a lock hole 23 corresponding to the shape of the lock pin 21 is provided at a position in the frame 22 of the card reader 1 where the shaft 19 can come into contact with the shaft 19 as shown in the figure. Therefore, when the platen roller support member 17 is not locked, it can swing around the support shaft 16, while the amount of swing is limited by turning the knob 18 after inserting the lock pin 21 into the lock hole 23. . In addition, the platen roller supporting member 17 at this time is urged toward the print head 5 by the coil spring 20, and the position where the platen roller 6 contacts the print head 5 (the urging position 6).
Locked in a). The platen roller supporting member 17 locked as described above can be swung as shown by the solid line and the imaginary line in FIG. Therefore, the platen roller 6 supported by the platen roller support member 17
Can be moved by a predetermined amount in the locked state.

The driving means 7 drives the platen roller 6
This is a means for moving between the urging position 6a and the separation position 6b. In the present embodiment, a rocking member 8 that can rock around a fulcrum 24, and a coil that biases this rocking member 8 It comprises a spring 9 and a solenoid 10.
First, the swinging member 8 is a member formed by connecting plate members of the same shape arranged on both sides by bar members at lower ends 8c thereof, and an end 8a near the platen roller 6 is a platen roller supporting member. 1, and one end 8b thereof is urged downward by a coil spring 9 as shown in FIG. in this case,
Since the urging force of the coil spring 9 is set to be greater than the urging force of the coil spring 20, the platen roller support member 17 is moved by the end 8a of the swing member 8 as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. It is pushed up.

On the other hand, a solenoid 10 is provided at a lower portion 8c of the swing member 8. Although the solenoid 10 does not apply any force to the swinging member 8 when not energized,
Once energized, the center shaft 10a retracts with a force greater than the biasing force of the coil spring 9. Therefore, when the solenoid 10 is operated by energizing, the swing member 8
Swings to the position shown by the solid line in FIG. At this time, the platen roller support member 17 which has been pushed up by the end 8a of the swing member 8 also swings to the position shown by the solid line by the urging force of the coil spring 20 because the end 8a can be replaced. As a result, the platen roller 6 moves from the separation position 6b to the biasing position 6a as shown in the drawing.
Move up to.

The card reader 1 of this embodiment has a magnetic recording / punching module having a magnetic head 25 and a punch module 26 for reading or writing data on the card 3 in addition to the printing device as described above. It is formed to include a mechanism, a control board 27, a connector 28, an upper guide 29, and the like. Although not particularly shown here, a sensor for detecting the presence or absence or the position of the inserted card 3 is also provided.

In the card reader 1 of the present embodiment configured as described above, since the solenoid 10 is not normally energized when the card 3 is not inserted, the swing member 8 and the platen roller support member 17 are imagined. (The platen roller support member 17 is an imaginary line on the main body side),
The platen roller 6 is located at the separation position 6b. On the other hand, when the solenoid 10 is energized, the platen roller 6 moves to the biasing position 6a shown by the solid line. In this case, since the platen roller 6 is in a state of being urged to the print head 5 by the urging force of the coil spring 20, the platen roller 6 is urged from the front surface of the inserted card 3 and the back surface thereof is pressed against the print head 5. Can be used for printing.

Further, in this card reader 1,
After printing, the operation of the solenoid 10 is controlled to swing the swing member 8 at least once. In this case, the platen roller 6 moves at least once between the urging position 6a and the separation position 6b and hits the card 3 once with the movement of the swinging member 8, so that the card 3 is printed, for example. When the platen roller 6 is about to stick to the head 5 or when it is stuck, the platen roller 6
Vibration and impact when the platen roller support member 17 moves (hits) can be given as an external force, and such sticking can be prevented.

As described above, the card reader 1 of the present invention
According to the control method, the driving means 7 including the swinging member 8, the coil spring 9, and the solenoid 10 is controlled to operate at least once after printing to apply an external force to the card 3 or the like. The card 3 can be prevented from sticking to the head 5.

The above embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the present embodiment, the case where the platen roller support member 17 and the platen roller 6 are moved every time printing on each card 3 is completed has been described. Not limited. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, each time one line is printed on the card 3, the solenoid 10 is turned on (energized) / off (deenergized) twice,
It is also possible to prevent sticking while printing. Alternatively, the timing for turning on / off the solenoid 10 may not be patterned, and may be turned on / off only when a jam of the card 3 is detected by a sensor as shown in FIG. In the above description, the solenoid 10
Has been described once or twice, but this number is merely an example of the present invention, and it is needless to say that the number of times can be appropriately changed depending on the performance of the card 3 or the print head 5, the printing mode, and the like. Nor.

In the card reader 1 of the present invention, the effect of preventing the card 3 from sticking can be improved by changing the stroke width of the platen roller 6. That is, the stroke width of the platen roller 6 when the solenoid 10 is turned on and off is determined by the biasing position 6a and the separation position 6b.
Of the external force such as vibration can be changed by changing the separation position 6b by appropriately changing the shape of the external force and changing the stroke width.

Further, as another embodiment of the present invention, a driving force is transmitted to the platen roller 6 so that the card 3 can be pressed and conveyed. In this case, the driving force may be, for example, a transmission of the rotation force generated by the drive motor 11, but the rotation of the platen roller 6 can be controlled independently of the conveyance force of the conveyance roller 12 and the like. Something is needed. In such a card reader 1, an external force is applied to the card 3 by turning on / off the solenoid 10, and simultaneously or later, the platen roller 6 is rotated to prevent the card 3 from sticking. Allows the attached card 3 to be more effectively separated from the print head 5.

[0026]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the card reader of the first aspect, the driving means is operated after printing, and the external force is moved by moving the platen roller between the biasing position and the separation position. Since it is provided, sticking between the card and the print head can be prevented.

According to the card reader control method of the present invention, the driving means is operated after printing in the card reader having the platen roller and the driving means, and the platen roller is moved between the biased position and the separated position. Since the external force is applied by moving the card, it is possible to prevent sticking between the card and the print head.

Further, in the control method of the card reader according to the third aspect, the operation of the driving means is performed every line printing, after the completion of printing, or by detecting the sticking state of the card. The timing for preventing the sticking of the card can be appropriately set again according to the performance of the card or the card reader, the manner of printing on the card, or the like.

The invention according to claim 4 or 5 is:
The print head destroys a part of the layer that makes up the card by heat and prints, and the sticking of the card caused by dirt on the card surface can also be done by moving the platen roller and applying external force. It is possible to prevent it before it happens.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a left side view showing a configuration of a card reader according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the card reader shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the card reader shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a mechanism for locking a platen roller support member to a frame of a card reader.

FIG. 5 is a chart showing another mode when a platen roller is moved by turning on / off a solenoid.

FIG. 6 is a chart showing another mode when a platen roller is moved by turning on / off a solenoid.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a mode of printing on a conventional card.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 card reader 2 card insertion slot 3 card 4 card transport means 5 print head 6 platen roller 6a biasing position 6b separation position 7 driving means

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C058 AB04 AC06 AD09 AE02 AE10 AF03 AF27 AF31 DA10 DA43 DC02 DC05 DC09 DC13 DC21 5B058 KA02 KA05 KA12 KA40 YA06

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A card reader, wherein a card inserted into a card insertion slot is taken in by a card carrying means and data is read or written inside the card reader. A print head for performing a write operation on the card, a platen roller movably provided between a position opposed to the print head and urged toward the print head and a position separated from the print head, Driving means for moving the platen roller between a position biased toward the print head and a position separated from the print head,
A card reader characterized in that the driving means is operated after the printing to prevent sticking between the card and the print head. 2. A method for controlling a card reader, wherein a card inserted into a card insertion slot is taken in by a card carrying means and data is read or written inside the card reader. A print head for performing a write operation on the card, and a platen movably provided between a position opposed to the print head and urged toward the print head and a position separated from the print head. Roller, and driving means for moving the platen roller between a position urged toward the print head and a position separated from the print head, and the drive means after printing on the card. And moving the platen roller at least once between a position urged toward the print head and a position separated from the print head. A method of controlling a card reader, wherein sticking between a recording card and a print head is prevented. 3. The operation of the driving means, the operation being carried out every one line printing, after the completion of printing, or by detecting a sticking state of a card. Item 3. The method for controlling a card reader according to Item 2. 4. The card reader according to claim 1, wherein the print head is a thermal head, and prints by destroying a part of a layer constituting the card by heat. 5. The card reader control method according to claim 2, wherein the print head is a thermal head, and prints by destructing a part of a layer constituting the card by heat.