JP2001006029A - Processor for prepaid card - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a prepaid processor that whole device can be made more compact than a former one and a card itself can be made inexpensive. SOLUTION: A processor processes a prepaid card 31 having a bar code Q whose content is the number of use times or an issuing amount and an expiration date, and plural punching positions. The processor has a motor driving a card sending means, a punching means punching the card in accordance with the remaining number or the balance and an optical detection means reading a punched position and a card edge. The optical detection means is formed of detectors 36 and 37 on the down stream side of the sending direction of the prepaid card and detectors 34 and 35 on an upstream side. The punch means 38 and 39 and a card sending roller 40 are installed between the detectors. The motor is the pulse motor and the pulse motor is driven when the detectors on the upstream side read the tip of the prepaid card. When the detectors on the down stream side read the card, they start counting the number of pulses supplied to the pulse motor, detect punching and read the punching position by the counted number of pulses.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a prepaid card processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 shows an example of a prepaid card which is widely used at present. The card is inserted into a card insertion slot 3 of a card processor 20 as shown in FIG. You. In FIG. 8, the scheduled drilling positions are shown on one edge, and 0, 10 from the left.
0,. . 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 ...
・ It is printed.

FIG. 7 shows that such a card 1 is inserted into a card insertion slot 3 in the direction of an arrow a in FIG. 7 and the leading end of the card is read by a photosensor 4 consisting of a light emitting element and light receiving element pair 4a, 4b. The drive rollers 6, 10a, 10b, and 11 are driven by the motor that does not operate. Reference numeral 5 denotes a driven roller, and the card 1 is conveyed to the left while being sandwiched between the driven roller and the driving roller 6 and the upstream magnetic head 8a
Thus, the magnetic recording on the back surface of the card 1 is read, and a write signal from a computer (not shown) is supplied to the magnetic head 8b based on the data read externally, and written on the card 1. Further, the card 1 is transferred to the left. When the card is sent to the punch position in the middle of this transfer, the card is stopped, and the punch units 9a and 9b stop the card as shown in FIG.
As shown in the above, "h" for punching at a predetermined position calculated by the computer in the scheduled punching row 2 indicates a punch hole and the balance is between 500 yen and 1000 yen. The card 1 is ejected outward by the feed roller 11. In some cases, the supply rollers 6 and 10a, 10b, and 11 are temporarily stopped in accordance with the punching position, the motor is rotated in the opposite direction to feed the punch position, stopped, and the punch units 9a and 9b are driven. Punch.

FIG. 9 shows a card processing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-73707.
The prepaid card 1 ', designated 7', is inserted into the device 27 'from the left. When the leading edge is detected by the card edge detecting means 8 'at the most upstream end, the motor 5' is driven. Thereby, each pulley and belt 1
The card 1 'is conveyed rightward in the apparatus 27' by the card conveying rollers 20 'to 25' by 2 ', but the card hole detecting means 11' passes through at this time and the card edge detecting means 9 '. When this tip is detected, the position to be punched is calculated. The distance to the punching position of the card punching means 26 'is calculated by the rotation speed of the motor 5 (detected by a tachometer) x time, and the position to be punched reaches the punching position of the card punching means 26'. Then, the card transport roller is once stopped and the hole is punched. Thereafter, the transporting means is driven again to carry it out to the left.

Next, according to the device 27 ', the card 1'
When the punching position is read, the card is inserted from the right side, and when the leading edge is detected by the card edge means 10 ', the motor 5' is driven and transported to the left to reach the card edge detecting means 9 '. From this, the motor rotation speed × time is calculated, and the detection position is recognized when the hole is detected by the card hole detecting means 11 '.

[0006]

A magnetic code is printed on the back surface of the card 1 in FIG. 8 for the apparatus shown in FIG. 7, which is more expensive than storing the same contents in a bar code. Also, magnetic information can be read by the magnetic head 8a,
The controller is expensive because new information is written by the magnetic head 8b on the downstream side.

Further, when the card 1 is inserted from the card insertion slot 3, the card 1 is transported to the left by the supply rollers 5 and 6, and is further transported while being read by the magnetic heads 8a and 8b and passed therethrough for writing. 10a, 10b
And the card is discharged to the outside. However, such a card conveying process is further shortened and the card processing device 20 is used.
It is desired to make the whole compact.

In the card processing device 27 'shown in FIG. 9, the card hole detecting means 11' and the card edge detecting means 8 'to 10' are provided at four places as described above. Transport rollers 20 ', 2
1 'through the card hole detecting means 11' and further through the card edge detecting means 9 'to drive the transport rollers 22' and 23 'so that the rear end of the card 1' is already at the most upstream supply 20 ',
Even if it is separated from the roller 21 ', the roller 22', 2
Punch unit 26 '
And is driven by supply rollers 19 ′ and 25 ′ at the most downstream side to discharge to the outside. A card edge detecting means 10 'is further provided to the right of the rollers 24' and 25 'on the most downstream side. In such an apparatus, a magnetic code is not printed on the back side of the card 1 ',
One of the rows of punches is punched to recognize the transaction situation. Therefore, the device 27 'is less expensive than the card 1 of FIG.
Three pairs of 0 ', 21' and 22 ', 23' and 24 ', 25' are used, and three pairs of card hole detecting means 11 'and card edge detecting means are provided. It gets longer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described problems, and has as its object to provide a prepaid card processing apparatus which can make the entire apparatus more compact and lower the cost of the card itself.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above object is to provide a prepaid card in which a barcode containing the number of times of use or issuance amount and expiration date is printed, and in which one or more rows of a plurality of punching positions are determined. A processing device, a motor for driving a card feeding means for conveying the prepaid card inserted from a card insertion slot, and a punch means for punching any one of the plurality of punching positions according to a remaining number or a balance. A prepaid card processing device provided with an optical detecting means for reading a punched position and a card edge, wherein the optical detecting means comprises a downstream detecting member and an upstream detecting member with respect to the feeding direction of the prepaid card. And a pair of feed rollers as the punching means and the card feeding means are disposed between the detecting bodies. Over a data, it said the leading edge of the prepaid card is also in the upstream of the sensing element is read by the detection member separately provided, the Parusumo - motor is driven,
When the leading end is read by the downstream sensing body, counting of the number of pulses supplied to the pulse motor is started, and perforation is detected by the upstream sensing body and the downstream sensing body. The perforated position is read based on the counted number of pulses.

With the above apparatus, the card itself can be made inexpensive, the time for reading and writing information on the card can be shortened, and the apparatus itself can be made more compact.

[0012]

FIG. 1 shows a card and a processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The entire apparatus is indicated at 30. A card 31 employed in the present embodiment is provided at both edges. Proximal card punching rows 32a and 32b are printed with numbers in close proximity. This is printed in units of 100 yen and 0
Starting from 1. . . Ends at 34. Tabs 33a are provided in the card insertion slot 33 at the top, bottom, left and right so that the card 31 can be easily introduced. When inserted, both edge portions are guided by guide plates 42a and 42b which are paired on both sides, and a pair of transport rollers 40 composed of rollers 40a and 40b (see FIG. 2) serve as a light emitting element and a light receiving element, respectively. A pair of upstream detection devices 34 and 35 and downstream detection devices 36 and 37
And the punch units 38, 3
9 is also provided between the detection devices 34, 35 and 36, 37. As shown in FIG. 2, the punch units 38 and 39 respectively have upper and lower blades 38a (39a) and receivers 38b,
(39b). A barcode reader 41 is provided at the most downstream side. As shown in FIG. 1, the photo sensors 34 and 35 paired on both sides are light emitting elements 34, respectively.
a, 35a and light receiving elements 34b, 35b, between which the card 31 is inserted into the transport roller 40. The card 31 is inserted into the card insertion slot 33, and the front end thereof is located at the upstream side of the photosensors 34, 3
5 or separately by a detector provided in the vicinity thereof, the conveying roller pair 40 is driven by a pulse motor (not shown), and the card 31 is transferred to the left in FIG. Is detected, a computer (not shown) counts the number of pulses supplied to the pulse motor. At the same time, optical signals are received from the photo sensors 34 to 37, and the light receiving and light shielding states are stored. Based on this information, the presence or absence of a hole at each punching position is determined as described later. The transport distance of the card 31 is calculated from the count number. According to the present embodiment, the downstream photo sensor 36 detects not only the card edge but also the punch position row 3.
It is configured to detect at which position (what number) a punch hole is formed in 2a. Photo sensor 3
Reference numerals 4, 35 and 37 are dedicated to hole position detection. According to the present embodiment, the punch units 38 and 39 and the transport roller pair 4
At the same time, the position where light is conducted and the position where light is shielded are read and stored simultaneously with the driving of the pulse motor on both sides of 0. Therefore, the hole information at the punching position can be read at a transport distance that is almost half of that of the card 31 as compared with the related art. That is, when the card is inserted, first, about 1/2 of the card length is moved. The presence or absence of light passing through the card is detected for each moving step at that time, and stored in the RAM of the computer in order. As will be described later, the presence or absence of a hole is checked in the computer from the position of the remaining balance of 0 yen toward the position of the remaining balance of 3400 yen. The operation time is greatly reduced as compared with the conventional case. At this time, the barcode Q provided near the leading end of the card 31 is read by the barcode reader 41, and the issued amount, expiration date, and the like of the card 31 are read.

The amount of money spent by the card user at this time is subtracted from the balance by a computer operation (not shown), and is written into the punching position corresponding to the new balance. That is, punching is performed at this position by the punch unit 38 or 39.

[0014] indicated by c ₂ if the card user in case of reading the balance of 28 namely £ 2800 shown in c ₁ by the photosensor 37 on the right side of the drilling sequence 32b has spent $ 10 now as shown in Figure 1 20 or 20
At this time, the balance is punched at the position of 00 yen. At this time, the transport roller pair 40 once stopped is reversely rotated to bring it to the punching position of the punch unit 39 and the transport roller pair 4 is punched.
Stop 0. Here, punch at the position of c ₂ and 200
The fact that there is a balance of 0 yen is stored in the card 31. The b ₂ if using 600 yen as had been drilled into position, or 11 shown in d ₁ in drilling sequence 32a
Must be punched in position or 5 may be punched here stops the conveying roller pair 40 at the position of b ₂ continues in this state further forward without stopping the conveying roller pair 40 at this time.

In another conventional example, when reading a punch hole, the card is transported from left to right, and when punching to a position indicating a new balance, the card is conveyed from right to left. According to the embodiment, it is possible to detect the presence or absence of a hole by making the transport distance of the card much shorter, and in some cases, it is possible to punch a new balance position without changing the rotation direction of the transport roller. it can.

Next, a method of detecting a punching position according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to a balance of m.
(In yen) will be described. In the flowchart of FIG. 3, in the first stage a, the first address m (n =
The data of 0) is loaded into the accumulator of the computer. Next, through the routine consisting of steps b, c, d and e, it is detected in step b whether light is conducted (whether or not a hole is formed). If it is not conductive, it is No, and it is determined in step c whether n = 39 (the last address of the area where one hole exists as shown in FIG. 4). If No, add 1 to n. That is, 1 is added to n in step d. Next, in step e, the contents of the address (m + n) are loaded to check the conduction of the address (m + 1). Returning to step b again, it is detected whether or not a hole is opened as described above. If No, n is set to 3 in step c.
If it is 9 or No, plus 1 is added to n, and (m + n) is loaded because it is for hole m. This is repeated, and if the hole is opened in step b or Yes, the current n is stored in address a. It is then determined in step g whether n is 39. If No, 1 is added to n in step h. If it is Yes in the step C whether or not n = 39, the next hole (m +
Examine the perforation of 1).

In step i, regarding hole m,
Plus load in step i. Next, it is determined in step j whether or not a hole is opened.
The n at this time is stored in the address. If yes, go through routines in steps g, h, i, j. In step 1, the above-mentioned addresses a and b are added and divided by two. This is the address c, that is, the center position of the hole m, and it is determined whether or not this value is larger than 11 at the stage m (to be described later again with reference to FIG. 4). It is then determined in step p whether it is less than 29. If Yes, the position of the center of the hole at this time is within the area where the hole exists as shown in FIG. 4, so it is determined that this hole has been drilled in step q, and the flow ends. If No, go to the routine for checking the next hole position in step H.

The above flow chart will now be described in more detail with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4A, the pitch between correctly drilled holes is 4 mm, the size of the holes is 3 mmφ,
It is also assumed that the pulse motor feed amount is 0.2 mm / step (that is, a 0.2 mm card is sent per pulse). The location to be drilled for various reasons is slightly off the theoretical center position. It may be empirically shifted about 1 mm at the maximum. If the adjacent holes 1 and 2 approach each other by 0.5 mm or more as shown in FIG. 4B, the hole positions are connected. According to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to accurately calculate the balance even in such a case. In FIG. 4A, if addresses 0 to 39 as relative addresses are areas where the hole 1 is located, and if the center is accurately formed as theoretically,
The central address c is address 20. The center address of the hole 2 is 40. There is no problem if the center c of the hole position is within the area where the hole position is located, and the right end and the left end are within the area. However, as shown in FIG. 2 is connected. Even in such a case, if the address (a) stored in the step f for the hole 1 is larger than 10 and smaller than 23, it is possible to reliably detect that the hole 1 is opened in the area where the hole is located. it can.

Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 3, n is stored at the address (a) in step f. At the next step g, n = 39 (as shown in FIG. 4, the area where the hole 1 exists). If (a) is the last address, it is determined in step r whether or not (a) is greater than 10, and if Yes, it is determined in next step s whether (a) is less than 23. , Yes
If so, it is determined that this hole has been drilled in step q.
If (a) is not larger than 10 in step r, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in step x. However, this step x is only shown on the flowchart and cannot actually occur. If a <23 in step s, that is, if No, the routine continues to the routine for examining the next hole position.

FIG. 5 shows a method for detecting an error in the mounting position of the photosensors 34, 35, 36, and 37 according to the embodiment of the present invention, thereby correcting the number of driving steps of the pulse motor. is there. That is, holes a ₁ , a ₂ , a _3, and a ₄ are precisely formed at predetermined positions on a durable test card T made of, for example, plastic using a jig boller. The test card T (actual prepaid card 31 and university, isomorphic) the distance from the left edge to the line segment connecting the centers of the holes a ₁ and hole a ₂ and I, the centers of the hole a ₃ and hole a ₄ Let J be the distance between the connecting line segment and the above line segment. J is perforated to be equal to the theoretical K. The photo sensor 36 is used as a reference position. A test card T is inserted into the card insertion slot and a sensor as shown in FIG.
When the card T is conveyed to the left in the arrangement, the tip of the card T shields the photosensor 36 from light. And E the distance to be detected photosensor 36 the center of the hole a ₁ now. The tip of the card T is the photosensors 34 the center of the hole a ₃ after shading the photo sensor 36 and the distance F to the detecting. Further the distance from the tip of the card T is to shield the photosensor 36 to the center of the hole a ₂ photosensor 37 detects G, and the leading end of the card T from the dark the photosensor 36 of the hole a ₄ Photo sensor 3 in the center
Let H be the distance until 5 is detected. Here, since the four holes a ₁ , a ₂ , a ₃ and a ₄ of the test card T are accurately opened, (IE) is the photo sensor 3.
It means a detection error between the detected face and the holes a ₁ in 6. However, here, the value is zero because the photosensor 36 is used as a reference. (I-G) means an error in the mounting position of the photosensor 37 with respect to the photosensor 36.
“{(I + J) −K} −F” represents an error in the mounting position of the photosensor 34 with respect to the photosensor 36. Further, “{(I + J) −K} −H” represents an error in the mounting position of the photosensor 35 with respect to the photosensor 36. Therefore, as described above, when the position of the hole is detected by shifting the sign of the address 0 of the start by adding or subtracting the sign by this error to read the position of the hole, the reading error can be prevented. Can be.

Next, referring to FIG. 6, a punch position correction mode will be described.
Will be described. When an unused card is inserted, card feeding is performed as described above, and the photo sensor 36 detects the leading end of the card and stops feeding. Here, the punch is driven to pierce the card. Further, the card is moved to the left, and the distances from the leading end of the card to the centers of the holes are obtained as M and L. Theoretical photo sensor 36, 3
If the distance between 7 and the center of the punch hole is L, (LM) is a mounting error of the punch 38 with respect to the photosensor 36. (LN) denotes a punch 39 for the photosensor 37.
The mounting error also includes the mounting error of the photosensor 37 with respect to the photosensor 36, and the corrected portion becomes the mounting error of the point of the punch 39 with respect to the photosensor 36. These values are stored in a computer. When actually punching, this value is taken in to determine the punching position of the card.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is, of course, not limited to this, and various modifications can be made based on the technical idea of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, FIG.
As shown in the figure, perforated rows 32a are provided at both edges of the card 31,
32b is formed, and numerical values are punched from the upper part of the row alternately as 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,..., And are read. The invention is adaptable. In this case, of course, the photo sensor 3
4, 35 and one photosensor of 36, 37, for example, 3
4 and 36 can be omitted. Punch unit 3
The same applies to 8 and 39. In this case, the transport roll pair 40 is provided at the center of the transport path in the above-described embodiment, and is formed as a pair at the top and bottom. The perforation row may be passed. In this case, of course, the number of pairs of transport rollers of the rollers is two, but the above effect can be obtained as it is.

In the above embodiment, the same applies to the area where the hole 1 is present and the area where the hole 2 is present. Hereinafter, the same applies to the area where the hole 3 is present, but the address is determined from the first address 0 according to the number of steps of the pulse motor. Addresses 39 and 59 (39
.., But of course the final address 39 may be made larger or smaller depending on the diameter of the hole and the pitch of this hole.

In the above embodiment, the transport roller pair merely transports the card. However, one of the pair of rollers is used as a magnetic head, and the prepaid card 31 is additionally subjected to magnetic recording. In addition to the operation, the reading operation may be performed to check the authenticity of the card, for example. For example, magnetic recording is performed on the front end of the card 31.

In the above embodiment, the photo sensors 34, 35, 36,
37 was used, but was replaced with a light receiving unit and a light emitting unit.
Optical detection means for detecting the individual reflected light may be used.

Further, in the above embodiment, the remaining amount for each use is indicated by opening a hole at a position corresponding to the issue amount of 3500 yen, but the number of uses is subtracted from the number of uses of an amusement park or the like instead. The present invention is also applicable to a card in which the remaining number is indicated by a punch hole.

[0028]

As described above, according to the prepaid processing apparatus of the present invention, the running cost of the card can be reduced, the processing speed of the card can be further increased, and the apparatus itself can be made compact. Can be

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a prepaid card processing device and a card applied thereto according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the apparatus.

FIG. 4 further shows the area where holes are formed in the card showing the same action, wherein A shows the size of hole 1 and holes 2 and holes 3 adjacent thereto, and the pitch between holes, and B shows adjacent holes. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a case where holes 1 and 2 approaching each other within an error range and partially overlap each other.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship between a test card and a photo sensor applied to the embodiment of the present invention and showing a method of detecting an attachment error of one photo sensor to another photo sensor.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a method for detecting a mounting error between the photosensor and a punch unit.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a conventional prepaid card processing device.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a prepaid card applied to the same device.

FIG. 9 is a side view of another conventional prepaid card processing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 31 Prepaid card 34, 35, 36, 37 Photosensor 38, 39 Punch unit 40 Transport roll pair

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification FI FI Theme Court ゛ (Reference) G07F 7/08 L (72) Inventor Keita Fushimi 3-5-4 Taito, Taito-ku, Tokyo Shinko Affairs (72) Inventor Yahiko Okamoto 2-9-1, Kanda-tamachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Kamishiro Building F-term (reference) in Senyo Kogyo Co., Ltd. 3E042 BA17 BA18 CA02 CB03 CC02 3E044 BA06 CA04 CA05 5B023 CA02 5B058 CA31 CA40 KA40 YA06 9A001 BB04 BB06 KK16

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for processing a prepaid card in which a barcode containing the number of uses or an issue amount and an expiration date is printed, and in which one or a plurality of rows are provided with a plurality of punching positions, the card being inserted. A motor for driving card feeding means for conveying the prepaid card inserted from the mouth, punch means for punching any of the plurality of punching positions according to the remaining number or balance, a punched position and a card edge In the prepaid card processing apparatus provided with an optical detecting means for reading the prepaid card, the optical detecting means comprises a downstream detecting body and an upstream detecting body with respect to the feeding direction of the prepaid card. A pair of feed rollers as the punch means and the card feed means are provided between the bodies, the motor is a pulse motor, and the prepaid The pulse motor is driven when the tip of the mode is read by the upstream detector or a separately provided detector, and when the tip is read by the downstream detector, the pulse motor is read. Start counting the number of pulses supplied to the upstream side and the downstream side detecting body, thereby detecting perforation, and reading the perforated position based on the counted number of pulses. Characterized prepaid card processing device. 2. A first predetermined range is defined for each of the perforation positions according to the size of the perforation and the perforation pitch, and one perforation is formed within the range. If the rear end of the perforation is in the second predetermined range within the first predetermined range even in the card feeding direction even if the perforation is partially overlapped with the adjacent perforation, the first predetermined range is not satisfied. The prepaid card processing device according to claim 1, wherein it is determined that a perforation is formed in the prepaid card. 3. A first hole is formed at a first predetermined distance I from the front end in the card transport direction, and a second hole is formed from the first hole.
A test card having a second hole formed at a predetermined distance J is inserted into the card insertion slot, and after the downstream detector detects the tip of the test card, the upstream detector detects the second detector. The distance F until the hole 2 is detected is determined by the pulse mode.
And the mounting error of the mounting interval K between the upstream-side and downstream-side detectors is calculated based on the position of the downstream-side detector as [{(I + J) -K}- F]
3. The prepaid card processing device according to claim 1, wherein the difference is corrected as a mounting error of the upstream-side detector. 4. 4. A first and a second hole are formed at a first predetermined distance I from the front end in the card transport direction, and a third and a second hole are formed at a second predetermined distance J from the first and second holes. Insert the test card with the hole of No. 4 into the card slot,
The pulse motor is supplied with a distance F from the time when the first detector on the downstream side detects the leading end of the test card to the time when the first detector on the upstream side detects the third hole. The number of pulses is used to calculate the distance G until the downstream second sensing object detects the center of the second hole. The distance G is similarly calculated using the number of pulses. Similarly, the distance H from the detection of the leading end of the card to the detection of the center of the fourth hole by the second detection body on the upstream side is calculated by the number of pulses, and the detection on the first downstream side is performed. Based on the position of the body, (IG), [{(I + J) -K} -F],
[{(I + J) -K} -H] is the mounting value error of the downstream second detector with respect to the downstream first detector, the mounting error of the upstream first detector, and A second mounting error on the upstream side is obtained, and these differences are corrected as mounting errors of the second detector on the downstream side, the first detector on the upstream side, and the second detector on the upstream side. The prepaid card processing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 5. An unused prepaid card is inserted into the card insertion slot, and when the downstream detector detects the leading end of the card, the card is stopped from being fed and the punch means is driven to drive the hole. Is formed, the card is fed again, the hole is detected by the detector, a transport distance M is calculated from the number of pulses supplied to the pulse motor at this time, and the distance between the front detector and the punch means is calculated. Mounting error with mounting interval L = (L
5. The prepaid card processing device according to claim 1, wherein the feeding of the (M) minute to the punch means is corrected. 6. A system according to claim 1, wherein one of said pair of feed rollers is a magnetic read head, and even when magnetic bar information is added to said prepaid card, it is read. A prepaid card processing device according to any one of the above.