JP2001148101A - Magnetic encoding method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To appropriately set the current level for write-in to encode information to a magnetic stripe or the amplification level for reading the magnetic stripe of a card. SOLUTION: This method is constituted in such a manner that the information is written with the prescribed number of changes of the magnetic flux per prescribed length of the magnetic stripe by increasing the writing current within the preset range, while relatively moving a head, and this written magnetic stripe is read out by the reading head, and then the voltage value and the current value form the reading head are compared (166) with each other. When the voltage value is in the allowable range, the current value in that case is selected (168, 170), and when the voltage value is not in the allowable range, the preselected range at the writing time is changed (172) to repeat writing into the magnetic stripe (160) and read it, and then the process up to the time when the writing current values is decided is repeated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic encoding method for encoding information into a magnetic stripe of a plastic card such as a credit card, an automatic teller machine card or other sheet-like material such as a ticket or a bankbook. . Magnetic stripe encoding is typical in conjunction with other card processing operations such as embossing and graphics application.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Magnetically encoded stripes are widely used in credit cards and other cards. Mechanisms for encoding information into magnetic stripes are well known in the art. Such a mechanism is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,518,853 (inventor:
bel et al.)). Gabel etc.
et al.) disclose an encoding device in which a tiltable carriage moves a card along a transport path through the encoding device. The patent of Gabel et al. Uses a pinch roller to feed the card out of the mechanism and has a tiltable plate that opens to remove the defective card.

The pinch rollers used in the patent of Gabel et al. To remove the card from the encoding mechanism can damage the card and slip due to wear and the accumulation of debris around the roller. Sometimes. In order to perform verification with the same encoding head, a reversing motor or carriage is needed to hold and pass the card again by the same head. This reverse rotation and the second pass require extra time and reduce the effective performance.

Conventional devices for mounting a magnetic head such that the head surface follows the card surface have been unsatisfactory. Such a mounting device is disclosed in U.S. Pat.
No. 5,929 (inventor: Brown et al.). The patent of Brown et al.
A mounting member (hereinafter, referred to as a bracket) that pivots toward a card and pivots away from the card to follow the card surface is disclosed. The head is mounted on a bracket, which in turn is mounted on a rotatable shaft that requires bearings. This bearing wears out and does not restrain the axial movement of the encoding head. Since the mounting point does not protect or align the encoding head, additional pins are needed to trim the worn or misaligned bracket.

Another conventional mounting bracket is:
With similar defects and a number of additional problems, the head cannot follow the card surface. Many brackets are not rotatable enough for the head to follow the card surface, or are rotatable too far away from the head surface so that the head cannot follow the card surface. Other brackets do not sufficiently constrain the head, which can disturb the alignment of the head in the reading or writing direction or cause encoder errors. Further, the conventional mounting member is wider than the head, and the two heads are not mounted close to each other.

[0006] While transporting a card along the encoder transport path, it is important that the card not tilt during that transport. The conventional method of keeping the card straight has used a leaf spring that presses the card upward. However, as the card passes over the ends of its springs, the card is subjected to uneven pressure and does not modify the card position as reliably as to even pressure. And such springs wear. Conventional even pressure devices have used card rails that swing on a set of support arms. The rail applies even pressure to the card across all of the rails, but the arms must be parallel and their length equal to keep the card straight. This requires high precision components, but such components will be misaligned over time. Another problem is undesired lateral movement of the card due to excessive play of the arms.

The card must also be correctly positioned at the beginning of the encoding and encode the information at the correct starting position of the magnetic stripe.

[0008] Conventional methods of set-up required the card to travel through an encoder to create a flux change along the magnetic stripe. The magnetic stripe is coated with a developer composed of iron powder and a liquid carrier. This iron powder causes a change in magnetic flux as seen under a microscope. By looking under a microscope,
The distance from the leading edge of the card to the start of the information block, ie, the position indicating the start of encoding on the magnetic stripe, may be accurately measured.
The encoding adjustment is made relative to the information block start position, and the process is repeated until the desired position is reached. This method is time consuming and requires a developer and a microscope.

Conventional methods for setting the current level for writing and the amplification level for reading the magnetic stripe of a card have been unsatisfactory. There is no way to set the write current level or the read amplification level for an encoder that uses a write head and a read head. Using an encoder device for current level setup and readout amplification level setup eliminates the need for other test equipment such as an oscilloscope and saves time for running tests.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional example, and has as its object to provide a magnetic encoding method for solving the above and other problems associated with encoding a magnetic stripe.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, a magnetic encoding method according to the present invention has the following arrangement. That is, a magnetic encoding method for setting a current range when writing information on a magnetic stripe on a card with a write head, wherein (a) moving the magnetic stripe relative to the write head while keeping the magnetic stripe within a predetermined range (B) reading the magnetic stripe written in the writing step with a read head by increasing the write current with a predetermined number of magnetic flux changes per predetermined length of the magnetic stripe;
(C) comparing the voltage value read by the read head with the write current value; and (d) when the voltage value is within an allowable range, selecting a write current value in that case; (E) When the voltage value is not within the allowable range, the preset range of the step (a) is changed, and the steps (a) to (e) are repeated.

In order to achieve the above object, a magnetic encoding method according to the present invention has the following arrangement. That is, a magnetic encoding method for writing and reading to and from a magnetic stripe and adjusting the read amplification factor and the preset write current, wherein (a) a fixed write current value and a predetermined number of magnetic fluxes per a predetermined length of the magnetic stripe (B) reading the magnetic stripe written in the writing step, comparing the read voltage with a predetermined voltage range, and setting the read voltage to the predetermined voltage range. Adjusting the read amplification factor so as to fall within the range.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a start indicator is written on the magnetic stripe from default information when the test card passes through the encoding write head. The card is then read back and the change in magnetic flux from the edge of the card to the start indicator is counted. Thereby, the distance from the end of the card to the start mark is determined. The default value of the magnetic flux change is compared to the number of magnetic flux changes actually read from the edge of the card to its start indicator. If the actual number of magnetic flux changes is too small, the default value is increased according to the difference between the default value and the actual number of magnetic flux changes, and an offset value is obtained. If the start indicator is too far away from the edge of the card, the difference between the read number of changes in magnetic flux and the default value will reduce the default value and provide an offset value. When encoding starts, the distance traveled by the carriage is adjusted according to this offset value.

The encoding write current level is
Set by writing at a constant flux change density per inch, the current level increases within a selected range along the length of the card as the magnetic stripe of the test card passes through the writing head. To go. Then, when the card is read, the corresponding read voltage level for that current level is determined. It is determined whether the corresponding voltage level and current level are within an allowable range. If not, the process is repeated until the current level is changed and set to the allowable current level.

[0015] The read amplification is a constant current level and 1
It is set by writing at a constant magnetic flux change density per inch. Then the magnetic stripe is read,
It is compared whether the read voltage is within an allowable range. Then, the amplification degree is adjusted, and the voltage is set within an allowable range. This read voltage may be used to detect a card failure. If the amplification cannot be adjusted, the card is assumed to have a defective magnetic stripe and is displayed.

These and various advantages and features which characterize the invention are pointed out with the claims annexed hereto and forming part of this application. However, in order to better understand the present invention, advantages and objects, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 2, a card 20, such as a credit card or an ATM card, includes a magnetic stripe 22 having information encoded thereon. The information is encoded by passing the card 20 through an encoding device indicated generally at 24 in FIG. The card carriage 26 transports the card along a transport path. The transport path is defined by an upper rail 28 and a lower rail 30 supported by the frame 25. As shown in FIG. 22, the card stands along a slot 32 in the upper rail 28 and a slot 34 in the lower rail 30.

The carriage 26 is moved along the transport path by a cable 27 wound around a pulley 29 at the end of the transport path. This cable 27 is driven by a motor 31.

The write head 36 is mounted so as to contact the magnetic stripe 22 of the card 20 when the card 20 is transported along the transport path. The opposing head 38 is used to encode a magnetic stripe on the opposite side of the card 20, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. If the second stripe is not encoded, the dummy head may be a non-encoded dummy head.
A head 38 or other pressing device, such as a roller, is required to maintain contact between the write head 36 and the magnetic stripe 22 of the card. After the card 20 has been transported past the write head 36, the card 20 is transported past the read head 40. As with the write head 36, the read head 40 requires an opposing pressing device to maintain contact between the read head 40 and the magnetic stripe 22. As shown in FIG. 4C, a pressing device opposite write head 36 or read head 40 may not be necessary if upper rail 28 is providing the appropriate pressure.

As shown in FIG. 3, the encoding head includes a head portion 4 attached to a bracket (arm) 44.
6, the bracket includes a mounting portion 48 for mounting between the upper rail 28 and the lower rail 30.
Contains. The bracket 44 includes a head portion 46.
And a flat end 52 opposite the head 46 to the flat end 52.
Overhangs. The encoded and read information is sent to the head unit 46 by a line 55 and to the head unit 46.
Transmitted. As shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, the peaked portion 54 encounters a spring 49 having a point 50 at the end. The flat end 52 is the head part 4
6 can bend in the direction of the card 20 or in the direction away from the card 20. 3A to 3C
The bracket may also be designed to be able to move in a tilted manner, as shown in FIG. Thereby, the contact with the magnetic stripe 22 is maintained. The attached bracket 44 blocks any bias in other directions. This allows
The head portion 46 is urged by a spring 49 in the direction of the card 20 to follow the contour of the card surface, and
2 is maintained in contact.

The attached bracket 44 is attached to the encoding device 24 at a single point 48, as shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, the bracket 44 is aligned by a single pin 47 that engages a notch in the flat end 52.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 3A to 3C and 4, the bracket 44 pivotally supports the end of the upright portion 50 at the end. This point is close to the front of the head 46,
It is provided so that the twisting operation can be more easily performed so that the card can follow the card surface more closely.

A second embodiment for mounting the bracket is shown in FIGS. The bracket 100 has a cross-sectional shape of an overhanging plate, and engages with a spring 49a having a pointed end 50 as in the first embodiment. The bracket 100 pivots a pointed end 50 that provides a torsional motion. The flat end 104 allows for a bias toward or away from the card surface. The side 102 of the bracket extends partially along the bracket 100 to provide resistance to undesired bias. These side surfaces 102 also engage with the ends of the spring 49a to limit the torsional movement within a desired range.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 22, the card 20 is supported by the lower rail 30 over the entire transport path. The lower rail 30 is supported at each end by a lower frame portion 25a. The longitudinal support 108 is coupled to the lower frame 25a, providing rigidity to the lower support unit 144. The lower support portion 144 is pivotally attached to the frame 25 by pivots 112 at both ends of the support portion 144. A compression spring 106 between the frame 25 and the lower support unit 144 exerts upward pressure on the bottom of the card 20 by the lower rail 30 throughout the card transport path.

As shown in FIGS.
Slides along a shaft 56 provided in parallel with the transport path. As shown in FIG. 9, the carriage 26 is
A base 58 having a pawl 60 and a second pawl 62 is provided. The resiliently biased pawls 60 and 62 project perpendicularly from the base of the carriage 58 into the card transport path as shown at A. These pawls 60 and 62
Is mounted to be rotatable in the exit direction of the card transport path so as to be away from the card transport path. Nail 6
0 and 62 are engaged with the card 20 and rotate to a position retracted from the card transport path as shown by B.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the card 20 inserted in the encoding device 24 passes through the photo sensor 66 at the input end of the card transport path. The carriage 26 then moves toward the card 20 until the first pawl 60 engages the leading edge of the card 20. When the carriage 26 is moving toward the entrance of the card transport path, the first
The pawl 60 is pushed away from the card 20.
Thus, the first pawl 60 is pivoted away from the card transport path until the carriage 26 has moved past the trailing edge of the card 20. The first pawl 60 is resiliently biased, as shown in FIG. 5, so that it is returned perpendicular to the carriage base 58 and into the card transport path. While the card carriage 26 is moving forward, the first pawl 60 engages the trailing edge of the card 20 and moves the card 20 along the transport path.

As shown in FIG. 4A, when the card 20 is transported, the magnetic stripe 22 contacts and passes through the write head 36. As the card 20 passes by the write head 36, information is transmitted to the write head 36 by line 55 and encoded on the magnetic stripe 22.
The opposing head 38 may be used to write to the magnetic stripe on the opposite side of the card 20 and also applies pressure from the opposite side of the card 20 to better maintain contact between the write head 36 and the magnetic stripe 22. It may be used to cause The facing head 38 may be a dummy head for applying pressure to the card 20. Similarly, to verify the magnetic encoding, card 2
0 is provided separately along the card transport path, and is transported past a read head 40 having an opposing head 38 as shown in FIG. 4A.

After the card 20 has been transported past the write head 36 and the read head 40, the card 20 is moved to the exit end of the card transport path, as shown in FIG. The card carriage 26 is returned in the opposite direction, and the second pawl 62 is returned past the trailing edge of the card 20, as shown in FIG. Because the second pawl 62 is elastically biased, the second pawl 62 returns to a vertical position protruding into the card transport path. As a result, when the card carriage 26 moves toward the output end of the transport path, the second pawl 62 engages and pushes the card 20 toward the exit of the card transport path. When the card carriage 26 advances as shown in FIG. 8, the card 20 is pushed to the outlet of the encoding device 24,
At this time, the photocell 68 detects passage of the card 20.

A second embodiment of the card carriage is as follows.
This is shown in FIGS. The carriage 120 is
A first rotatable pawl 122 is included. The first pawl 122 is resiliently biased into the card transport at the first end of the carriage 120 and pivots from the card transport toward the second end of the carriage 120. The second rotatable pawl 124 includes a carriage 120
The second end of the carriage 120 is resiliently rotatably biased in the card transport path, and rotates from the transport path toward the first end of the carriage 120. Third pivotable pawl 126
Is located between the first pawl 122 and the second pawl 124 near the second end of the carriage 120 and is resiliently biased in the card transport path.
0 from the card transport path toward the second end. The first pawl 122 is separated from the position of the second pawl 124 by at least the length of the card when the second pawl 124 is rotating from the card transport path.

As shown in FIG. 14, the card 20 is held between the first pawl 122 and the second pawl 124 while being engaged with the third pawl 126 and rotating from the card transport path. Is done. The carriage 120 may be moved forward or backward, and the card 20 is held between a first pawl 122 and a second pawl 124.

In order to eject the card 20, the carriage 120 is advanced as shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 24 is engaged with the plate 128 and rotates from the card transport path. While the carriage 124 is moving forward, the second pawl 1
As shown in FIG. 16, while the carriage 120 is returned, the second pawl 1
Reference numeral 24 slides along the surface of the card 120 and does not rotate into the card transport path. Thus, the card 20 is no longer held by the second pawl 124. Because the second pawl 124 is lower than the third pawl 126,
Second pawl 124 will engage plate 128 while third pawl 126 passes over plate 128.

As shown in FIG. 17, when the carriage 120 has moved, the third pawl 126 has been moved beyond the trailing edge of the card 20, and thus has been returned to the card transport path. Thus, as the carriage 120 advances, the third pawl 126 engages the trailing edge of the card 20 and
The card 20 is pushed out to the position of the exit of the encoding device 24.

As shown in FIG. 22, the cable 27 is attached to the carriage 26 by a carriage base 58. It will be appreciated that the drive point on the carriage base 58 is very close to the point of contact between the card 20 and the pawl 60. Since these contact points are located on the same horizontal plane, the torque around the carriage 26 is very small. Thereby, deformation, wear and the like can be reduced.

[Modified Embodiment] When a lower throughput is required, the second embodiment shown in FIG. 18 is generally used. As in the first embodiment, the encoding device 70 of the second embodiment includes an upper rail 71 and a lower rail 72 provided with a groove and defining a card transport path. The card carriage 74 rotates in the card transport path to transport the card 20 along the transport path. The write / read head 76 is attached to the bracket 44 similarly to the write head 36 and the read head 40 of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 18, and is used to maintain the contact with the card 20. Requires an opposing pressing device (not shown). Write / read head 76 is writing information on magnetic stripe 22 while card 20 is initially moving forward. Then, the card carriage 74 is returned and returned over the write / read head 76. While the card 20 passes the head 76 for the second time, the information is verified by the head 76. The head 76 has a read coil and a write coil, and can perform both write and read functions. Conversely, the same coil may be used for the write and read functions. The card carriage 74 slides along a shaft 80 to pivot the card carriage 74 within the card transport path and to pivot out of the card transport path to engage and release the card 20. It has a tilting means. The inclination of the card carriage 74 is limited by the holding block 84 shown in FIG. 21 that allows the carriage 74 to rotate only at the entrance and exit ends of the card transport path.

The carriage 74 includes a carriage base 86 having a pair of protrusions 88 projecting from the rest of the carriage base. The protrusions 88 are at least separated by the length of the card, so that the card 20 is engaged between the protrusions 88.

The card 20 is sent into the transport path and
As shown in (1), it is turned into the engaged position.
When the card 20 is advanced toward the exit of the card transport path,
The card 20 engages the exit roller 94. When the carriage 74 is further fed to the exit end of the card transport path,
The card 20 is released from the carriage 74 as shown in FIG. The card block 84 has undulations (reliefs) 98 and 96 at the entrance and exit ends of the card transport path, respectively. Alternatively, the card carriage 74 can be rotated from the transport path.

In operation, when the card 20 is received at the entrance end of the card transport path, the card carriage 74 is moved to the entrance end and pivots to the card transport path. As a result, the protrusion 88 surrounds the leading edge and the trailing edge of the card 20. The card carriage 74 then passes through a write / read head 76. Thus, the information is magnetically encoded on the magnetic stripe 22 while initially moving forward. The magnetic carriage 74 then returns in the opposite direction and returns beyond the position of the write / read head 76.
Then, when the carriage 74 passes the head 76 for the second time, the encoded information is read and verification is performed. After this second forward movement, the card carriage 74 advances to the exit end of the card transport path. Then, until the exit roller 94 is engaged with the card 20,
The carriage 74 is moved. Then, the card carriage 74 rotates to release the card 20, and the rollers 94 eject the card 20 out of the apparatus. It will be understood that reading and verifying the encoded information may be performed when the carriage 74 moves in the opposite direction.

[Automatic Setting] The present invention can also be used to automatically set some encoding parameters. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 24, a method for adjusting the start position of encoding on the magnetic stripe 22 is shown. As shown in FIG. 10, when the magnetic stripe 22 is encoded, a change 130 in the magnetic flux is set on this stripe 22. Also, the start sign 132
However, as shown at 142 in FIG.
Written above. As shown in FIG. 24, the number of magnetic flux changes 130 from the end of the card 20 to the start indicator 132 is read from the offset value 152 and encoded 143 on the magnetic stripe 22 by the head / transport 140. The default value 154 becomes the offset value 152 when there is no offset value. Magnetic stripe 22
Is read, and a start sign 132
The actual number of changes in magnetic flux up to, value 142, is compared to theoretical value 146, as shown at 148. If this position is correct, the current offset value 152 will be used in subsequent encoding. If the start indicator 132 is in the wrong position as viewed from the edge of the card 20, at 150 this offset value 152 is determined by the difference between the theoretical value of the change in magnetic flux up to the start indicator 132 and the read value 142. Be changed. This offset value 1
Reference numeral 52 is used in cooperation with reference to the actual position determined by the carriage 26 passing through the photocell 110 shown in FIGS. In this way, encoding will be started at the correct start position of the magnetic stripe 22 for all subsequent cards 20. Card 2
It will be appreciated that the start indicator position of 0 is moved by changing the theoretical value at 144 and repeating the steps described above.

The current level written to the magnetic stripe 22 is set as shown in FIG. Since the magnetic stripe 22 is written at a predetermined flux change density 161 per inch, the current level supplied to the write head increases along the length of the magnetic stripe 22 in the range 163 specified in step 160. Is done. While reading the same magnetic stripe 22, the read voltage level from the read head increases rapidly and peaks at some point along the length of the magnetic stripe 22, as shown in FIG. After the voltage level reaches the peak value, it gradually decreases. It is desirable to use the write current corresponding to the read voltage value in the portion where the voltage gradually decreases on the left side of the peak value shown in FIG.

During the operation of writing the card 20 in step 160, the reading and saturation characteristics 164 of step 162
Are compared in step 166 of FIG. When the peak read voltage level occurs at a location within a particular range of the card 20, the write current level is determined in step 168 of FIG. 25 and the write current level is set in step 170. If, at step 166, a peak read voltage level occurs outside of a particular card area,
The range 163 for changing the write current level is changed in step 172 and the process is repeated until an allowable write current level is found.

As shown in FIG. 26, the amplification for reading may be set automatically. After the write current has been set in step 176 using the method shown in FIG. 25, or by any other suitable method, in step 178 in FIG. 26, the magnetic stripe has a constant current and a density per inch. Are written with a constant change in magnetic flux. The sign is then read in step 180 and step 18
5 is compared with the theoretical value 185. Then, if necessary, in step 182, adjustment is made to be equal to the theoretical value 181. Step 182 may be adjusted while reading the card, or while the magnetic stripe 22 is passing through the read head, or may be calculated after the card has been read. In step 182, if the amplifier cannot be adjusted to an acceptable level, this is indicated.

In the above description, many features and advantages of the present invention have been described together with details of the structure and functions of the present invention. However, the contents disclosed herein are merely examples and are included in the spirit of the present invention. Many changes, within the scope indicated in the general sense of the matter expressed in the claims
In particular, it is possible to change the shape, size, arrangement of components, and the like.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is an effect that a current level for writing for encoding information on a magnetic stripe can be appropriately set.

According to the present invention, the amplification level for reading the magnetic stripe of the card can be set appropriately.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an embodiment of a magnetic encoding device according to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a plastic card having a magnetic stripe.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an encoding head of the encoding device shown in FIG. 1;

3A is a cross-sectional view of the mount member of the encoding head shown in FIG. 3 taken along the line 3A-3A in FIG. 3, showing the mount member in a non-twisted position;

3B is a cross-sectional view of the mount member of the encoding head shown in FIG. 3 taken along the line 3A-3A in FIG. 3, showing the mount member twisted clockwise.

3C is a cross-sectional view of the mounting member of the encoding head shown in FIG. 3, taken along line 3A-3A in FIG. 3, showing the mounting member twisted counterclockwise.

4A is a top view of the encoding head of FIG. 3 and the associated head facing the magnetic stripe of the card of FIG. 2;

4B is a cross-sectional view of the encoding head, the facing head, and the top rail taken along line 4B-4B in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view of the encoding head and the top rail of FIG. 4A without the facing head.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the encoding device shown in FIG. 1 with a lower portion of a top rail removed, showing a card carriage at a card pickup position.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the encoding device shown in FIG. 1 with a lower portion of a top rail removed, showing a first claw pushing a card to the end of a card transport path;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the encoding device shown in FIG. 1 with the bottom of the top rail removed, shown in FIG. 6 wherein a second claw is springed back into the card transport path; It is a figure showing card carriage backup from a position.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the encoding device shown in FIG. 1 with the bottom of the top rail removed, wherein the second of the card carriage pushes the card to the end of the encoding device.
FIG.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the card carriage of the encoding device shown in FIG. 1, showing the claws in an extended position and a retracted position.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing details of the card and the magnetic stripe shown in FIG. 2, and showing a magnetic flux change and an information block start end;

FIG. 11 is an external perspective view of a second embodiment of an encoding head mounting member according to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the mount member shown in FIG.

FIG. 13 is a top view of a second embodiment of a card carriage having three claws according to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a top view of the card carriage shown in FIG. 13, showing a state where the card is held between terminal tabs.

FIG. 15 is a top view of the card carriage shown in FIG. 13, showing how the wings protrude into the card transport path and engage with the key at the guide end of the carriage.

FIG. 16 is a top view of the card carriage shown in FIG. 13, in which the carriage is backed up from the position shown in FIG. 15, so that the claws at the guide end of the carriage mesh with the card and jump into the card transport path; It is a figure which shows a mode that does not emit.

FIG. 17 is a top view of the card carriage shown in FIG. 13, with the wings retracted and the carriage shown in FIG.
6 is a view showing a state in which backup is performed from the position indicated by No. 6, and as a result, the intermediate claw rotates in the card transport path and engages with the trailing end of the card.

FIG. 18 is a three-dimensional perspective view of a second embodiment of an encoding device according to the principles of the present invention.

19 is a bottom view of the encoding device shown in FIG. 18, showing the card carriage at a position inclined away from the card transport path.

FIG. 20 is a bottom view of the encoding device shown in FIG. 18, showing a card carriage engaged with the card at a position inclined in the direction of the card transport path.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the retaining block taken along line 21-21 of FIG. 19, illustrating a trailing end of the carriage.

FIG. 22 is a bottom view of the encoding device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 23 is an exemplary plot illustrating the relationship between voltage value and write current level for an encoding write head, illustrating exemplary tolerance limits.

FIG. 24 is a block diagram illustrating a method of setting an encoding device to start encoding at a correct start position of a magnetic stripe according to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram illustrating a method for setting a write current level in an encoding device according to the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram illustrating a method for adjusting readout amplification and checking magnetic stripe receptivity of an encoding device in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Howes, Ronald Bee. Minneapolis, Minnesota 55419 Minneapolis, Grand Avenue South 5308

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A magnetic encoding method for setting a current range when writing information on a magnetic stripe on a card with a write head, comprising the steps of: (a) setting a current range while moving the magnetic stripe relative to the write head; (B) writing with a predetermined number of magnetic flux changes per predetermined length of the magnetic stripe while increasing a write current within the range, and (b) reading the magnetic stripe written in the writing step with a read head. c)
Comparing the voltage value read by the read head with the write current value; (d) selecting the write current value when the voltage value is within an allowable range; and (e). When the voltage value is not within the allowable range, the preset range of the step (a) is changed, and the steps (a) to (e) are repeated. 2. A magnetic encoding method for writing and reading to and from a magnetic stripe, and adjusting a read amplification factor and a preset write current.
(A) writing a magnetic stripe with a fixed write current value and changing a predetermined number of magnetic fluxes per a predetermined length of the magnetic stripe; and (b) reading the magnetic stripe written in the writing step and reading a voltage. Comparing the read voltage with a predetermined voltage range, and adjusting a read amplification factor such that the read voltage falls within the predetermined voltage range. 3. The magnetic encoding method according to claim 2, wherein the read amplification factor is set based on an average value of a voltage at which the magnetic stripe is read. 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the read amplification factor is adjusted when the magnetic stripe is read. 5. The magnetic encoding method according to claim 2, wherein when the read amplification factor cannot be adjusted so as to fall within an allowable range, the fact is displayed.