JP2002074607A - Card reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect the life of an apparatus or parts without being affected by the condition of a card. SOLUTION: This card reader is constituted so that a sensor 8 for detecting a running card C is furnished at a position not to stop the card C in a card transporting passage O and also a counter 10 is furnished for counting the number of running times of the card C from the output of the sensor 8.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a card reader. More specifically, the present invention relates to a technology for detecting the life of a card reader component such as a card reader device main body and a magnetic head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a magnetic head of a card reader repeatedly records and reproduces magnetic data on a magnetic card, the magnetic data becomes gradually accurate due to dirt due to adhesion of dust or wear due to contact with the magnetic card. There is a so-called lifetime in which recording and reproduction cannot be performed and replacement is required.

In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-21668, a counter is counted when the data recorded on the magnetic card by the magnetic head and the reproduced data do not match, in order to notify an appropriate replacement time of the magnetic head. It is disclosed that when the value of reaches a predetermined value, an alarm process for instructing replacement of the magnetic head is performed.

[0004]

However, in the card reader / writer device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-21668, even when the magnetic head is new or does not need to be replaced, the magnetic stripe of the card becomes dirty. Alternatively, there is a problem that the life of the magnetic head is erroneously detected due to wear or the like.

Further, the card reader / writer informs the time of replacement of only the magnetic head. To detect the life of the main body and the life of other parts such as a motor, another detecting means is required. And

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a card reader which is not affected by the state of the magnetic stripe of the card and can detect the life of not only the magnetic head but also other parts such as the apparatus main body and the motor. .

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a card reader according to the present invention is provided with a sensor for detecting a traveling card at a position where the card is not stopped in a card transport path. And a counter for counting the number of times the card has traveled from the output of the sensor.

Therefore, by providing a sensor at a position where the card travels and stops without stopping, it is possible to reliably detect the traveling card and count the number of times the card has traveled. In addition, by comparing the number of times of running that is counted and accumulated with the number of times of running of the life limit of the object to be detected, it is not affected by the state of the magnetic stripe of the card. The life of other parts can be detected.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the card reader of the first aspect, the sensor is provided near the magnetic head. Therefore, it is possible to provide a sensor at a position where the card travels and passes without stopping as much as possible, and it is possible to count the number of times the card passes through the magnetic head, which directly affects the life of the magnetic head due to wear or the like. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the card reader according to the first or second aspect, the counter does not count the number of times the card has traveled from the output of the sensor due to re-operation when the card is jammed. And Therefore, the reliability of the life detection can be enhanced by counting only the number of times the card has traveled which contributes to the life detection.

[0011]

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

1 to 7 show an embodiment of a card reader according to the present invention. This card reader is provided with a sensor for detecting the traveling card C at a position where the card C is not stopped in the card transport path O (hereinafter, in this embodiment,
It is called a card running detection sensor. 8)
A counter 10 that counts the number of times the card C has traveled from the output of the card travel detection sensor 8 is provided.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a basic configuration of a card reader of the present embodiment and a card length L. In the card transport path O inside the card insertion slot 1, a card detection magnetic head 2 is disposed at a position corresponding to a magnetic stripe (not shown) of the card C, and the insertion of the card C is prevented. A shutter 3 for opening the card transport path O by a driving means such as 31; card feed rollers 41 to 43 driven by a card feed motor 40; a pad roller 64 facing the magnetic head 2; Driven rollers 61 to 63, a magnetic head 5 for reading and writing magnetic data arranged side by side with the driven roller 62, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) for capturing an embossed image on the card C
e) 6, card transport path O behind card feed roller 41
Are provided with card detection sensors 71 to 73 arranged at intervals shorter than the card length L. Card detection sensors 71 to
Reference numeral 73 is used to detect the position of the card C on the card transport path O based on the presence or absence of a card detection signal from each of the sensors 71 to 73. As the card detection sensors 71 to 73 and the card traveling detection sensor 8, for example, in the present embodiment, a photo sensor including a light emitting element and a light receiving element is used, but other sensors such as a mechanical switch may be used.

The card reader of the present embodiment is provided with an IC contact block 7 as, for example, a dual-purpose card reader for a magnetic card and an IC card.

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram. The CPU 9 for controlling the entire operation includes a magnetic head 2 and a card detection sensor 7.
1 to 73, an encoder 45 for detecting the rotation of the card feed motor 40, a driver 46 for driving the card feed motor 40, a solenoid 31 for driving the shutter 3, and a card running detection sensor 8. Note that the insertion of the card C may be detected using a mechanical or optical switch instead of the card detection magnetic head 2.

The counter 10 of the present embodiment is, for example, C
PU9, RAM11, writable nonvolatile memory 1
2 (hereinafter, simply referred to as a memory 12 in the present embodiment)
It consists of. The memory 12 is not particularly limited. For example, an EEPROM (Electrical
ly Erasable Programmable ROM), FRAM (Ferr
It is preferable to use oelectric RAM, a registered trademark of Ramtron Corporation, or the like.

The counter 10 is realized by the processing of the CPU 9 as follows, for example. That is, when the power of the card reader is turned on, the cumulative number of times of travel of the card C is loaded from the memory 12 into the RAM 11. In the present embodiment, for example, the cumulative number of times of running is set to an initial value of 0 when a life detection target is new, and is not initialized until it is determined that the target has reached the end of its life. Each time the CPU 9 detects the output of the card running detection sensor 8, it counts up the cumulative running number read into the RAM 11 by one. Then, for example, the cumulative number of times of running is a predetermined value, for example, 1
Every time a multiple of 0 is reached, the accumulated number of times of travel is stored in the memory 12 and updated. Thus, when the power of the card reader is turned on next time, the previous cumulative number of runs of the card C is loaded from the memory 12 to the RAM 11 so that the cumulative number of runs of the card C can be continuously counted. Also, by counting up the cumulative number of times of running on the RAM 11 and storing it in the memory 12 at regular intervals, C
The processing speed by the PU 9 can be increased.

Note that the counter 10 has the CP
The present invention is not limited to the processing performed by U9. For example, a dedicated circuit that detects the output of the card running detection sensor 8 to count up the number of times of cumulative running and stores the count in the memory 12 sequentially or periodically may be provided.

Next, an example of the operation of the card reader of this embodiment will be described. When the regular card C (credit card or prepaid card) is inserted from the card insertion slot 1, the shutter 3 is closed so as to always shut off the card transport path O, and the magnetic head 2 detects the magnetic stripe of the card C. The solenoid 31 is driven. With this drive, the shutter 3 is opened, and the card C is manually inserted to the back. At the same time, the card feed motor 40 is driven so that each of the card feed rollers 41 to 43 rotates, and when the leading end of the card C reaches the card feed roller 41, the card C is automatically conveyed by the card feed roller 41 through the card conveyance path O. .

FIGS. 5 and 6 show an example of normal magnetic data reading processing. When the card C runs, the sensor 7
1 detects card C, then sensor 72 detects card C
Is detected. When the card C reaches the magnetic head 5 and travels further, the magnetic data stored in the magnetic stripe is read by the magnetic head 5 and the embossed image on the card C is read by the CCD 6. The card C further travels and passes the sensor 72, and the sensor 72 turns off (FIG. 5). When the sensor 72 stops detecting the card C, it is determined that the card C has passed the magnetic head 5 by CP.
U9 makes a decision, and the card feed motor 40 rotates in the reverse direction to return the card C. Then, the magnetic head 5, the sensors 72, 7
1. The card C is ejected through the magnetic head 2 (FIG. 6). The reason why the card detection sensor 73 is provided behind the card detection sensor 72 is that the card C is
This is for confirming the stop location when stopping at a position deeper than 2.

FIGS. 7 to 10 show an example of retry processing (rereading) when magnetic data cannot be read properly. The card C passes over the magnetic head 5, the magnetic data on the magnetic stripe is read by the magnetic head 5, and the embossed image on the card C is read by the CCD 6 (FIG. 7). However, since the magnetic data could not be read appropriately, the magnetic data is read again when the card C passes over the magnetic head 5 toward the card insertion slot 1 (FIG. 8). If the magnetic data cannot be read properly, the card C is stopped before the magnetic head 5 on the card insertion slot 1 side, the card C passes over the magnetic head 5 again, and the magnetic data is read again. Rereading is performed (FIG. 9), and then the card C is ejected (FIG. 10).

FIGS. 11 to 15 show an example of magnetic data write processing. The card C passes over the magnetic head 5, the magnetic data on the magnetic stripe is read by the magnetic head 5, and the image of the emboss on the card C is read by the CCD 6 (FIG. 11). Then
As preparation for writing magnetic data, the card C is moved to a position just before the magnetic head 5 on the card insertion slot 1 side (FIG. 12).
Then, when the card C passes over the magnetic head 5, magnetic data is written (FIG. 13). The magnetic data written when the card C passes over the magnetic head 5 toward the card insertion slot 1 is checked (write-verified) (FIG. 14), and then the card is ejected (FIG. 15). ).

Here, the position where the card running detection sensor 8 is provided is a position where the card C is not stopped in the card transport path O, that is, during the process of reading or writing data to the card C by the card reader. At a position on the card transport path O where the card C is not intentionally stopped. Card transport jam (Card C
In a normal state, the card C travels and stops without stopping in a normal state.
By providing the card traveling detection sensor 8, the traveling card C can be reliably detected and the number of traveling times of the card C can be counted.

The position where the card traveling detection sensor 8 is provided, that is, the position where the card C travels and stops without stopping as much as possible is preferably near the magnetic head 5. For example, in the card reader of the present embodiment,
Generally, it is preferable to provide a card running detection sensor 8 in the range from the IC contact block 7 to the CCD 6 with the magnetic head 5 indicated by A in FIG. As described in the operation of the card reader described above, the card C normally travels without stopping in the vicinity of the magnetic head 5 in such a range. This is because the vehicle travels back and forth a plurality of times around 5.

Thus, the counter 10 can count the number of times the card C has passed the magnetic head 5 as the cumulative number of times the card C has traveled in the card transport path O. The cumulative number of times of running is a factor that directly affects the life of the magnetic head 5 due to wear and the like, and one factor that greatly affects the life of components such as the card reader device main body and the motor 40 for running the card C. It is considered to be.

Therefore, according to the card reader configured as described above, for example, it is possible to detect the lifespan of the magnetic head 5, the motor 40, and the card reader main body as follows. It becomes possible.

For example, the cumulative number of running times, that is, the usage limit, of the magnetic head 5, the motor 40, and the apparatus main body until the life thereof is reached is statistically obtained, and this is used as life comparison data, which is set in the memory 12 in advance.

When the power of the card reader is turned on, the cumulative number of running times is loaded from the memory 12 into the RAM 11. CPU 9
Then, the presence or absence of a detection signal from the card running detection sensor 8 is confirmed (step 1). Each time the card C passes through the magnetic head 5, the card running detection sensor 8 detects the passage of the card C and outputs a detection signal to the CPU 9. C
The PU 9 detects the detection signal (FIG. 3: Step 1;
Yes), the cumulative number of runs read into the RAM 11 is 1
The count is incremented by one (step 8).

If there is no detection signal from the card running detection sensor 8, that is, if the card C has not passed through the magnetic head 5 (step 1; No), the CPU 9 stores the RAM in the RAM.
The number of times of running on the memory 11 is compared with the life comparison data set in the memory 12 (steps 2, 4, and 6).

First, the CPU 9 compares the cumulative number of running times with the life comparison data of the magnetic head 5 (step 2). If the cumulative number of running times exceeds the life comparison data of the magnetic head 5 (step 2; Yes), the magnetic head 5
Is determined to have reached the end of its life (step 3), and the CPU 9 performs an alarm process such as transmitting a message for replacing the magnetic head 5, for example.

If the cumulative number of runs has not reached the life comparison data of the magnetic head 5 (step 2; No), the CPU
In step 9, the number of times of running is compared with the life comparison data of the motor 40 (step 4). Motor 40
(Step 4; Ye)
s) The motor 40 is determined to have reached the end of its life (step 5), and the CPU 9 performs an alarm process such as transmitting a message to replace the motor 40, for example.

If the cumulative number of runs has not reached the life comparison data of the motor 40 (step 4; No), the CPU 9
Then, the accumulated number of times of travel is compared with the life comparison data of the card reader device body (step 6). If the cumulative number of runs exceeds the life comparison data of the apparatus main body (Step 6; Yes), the card reader is determined to have a life (Step 7), and for example, the CPU 9 performs an alarm process such as transmitting a warning message. It is.

If the cumulative number of times of running has not reached the life comparison data of the apparatus body (step 6; No), the CPU 9 checks again whether there is a detection signal from the card running detecting sensor 8 (step 1).

The values of the life comparison data of the magnetic head 5, the motor 40, and the apparatus main body, that is, the time when the life is reached are different from each other. The initialization timings for setting the number of times to 0 differ from one another.

In this case, for example, the cumulative running times of the magnetic head 5, the motor 40, and the apparatus main body are stored and counted independently in the memory 12 and the RAM 11, respectively. Then, only the cumulative number of times of running corresponding to the replaced component that has reached the end of its life is initialized, and the cumulative number of times of running of other parts and the apparatus body is not initialized and is counted continuously.

Alternatively, for example, the magnetic head 5 and the motor 4
0, the cumulative number of running times is common in the device body, and the cumulative number of running times of a replaced part that has reached the end of its life is not initialized, and the cumulative number of running times at the time of component replacement is added to the life comparison data corresponding to the relevant part. May be.

Thus, the magnetic head 5 and the motor 40
It is possible to continuously detect the life of each of the magnetic head 5, the motor 40, and the apparatus main body even if there is a replacement.

As described above, according to the card reader of the present invention, the life is detected based on the cumulative number of times the card C has traveled. There is no possibility of erroneously detecting the lifetime.

Also, when the recording data and the reproduction data do not match, the interval of the magnetization change point is measured and compared with the conventional life detection of the magnetic head 5 for detecting whether or not the interval is out of the specified range. Magnetic head 5 according to the present invention
The processing for detecting the life of the device and the necessary circuits can be configured much more simply, and the processing time can be shortened.

Further, according to the card reader of the present invention,
Without providing another life detecting means, the life detecting sensor 8 and the counter 10 can detect the life of not only the magnetic head 5 but also other parts such as the apparatus main body and the motor 40.

Although the above embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the RAM 11
Although the life detection is performed by comparing the updated cumulative number of travel times with the life comparison data, the cumulative travel number stored in the memory 12 may be compared with the life comparison data.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, RA
The timing at which the cumulative number of runs updated on M11 is stored in the memory 12 is a multiple of 10, but the timing is not limited to this, and the processing speed of the CPU 9 and the RAM 1
1. Of course, it can be performed at an arbitrary timing in consideration of the storage capacity of the memory 12 and the like. For example, every time memory 1
2 may be stored.

Further, for example, in the above-described embodiment, the life detection target is the apparatus main body, the magnetic magnetic head 5, the motor 40
However, the target of the life detection is not limited to these. For example, any component whose cumulative running times affects its life, such as the card feed rollers 41 to 43 and the solenoid 31, can be subjected to life detection.

At a position where the card running detection sensor 8 is provided, that is, at a position where the card C is not stopped in the card transport path O, for example, the card C may stop unintentionally due to a card jam. . In this case, when the counter 10 counts up the number of travels for each detection signal of the card travel detection sensor 8 due to the re-operation when the card C is jammed, the cumulative number of travels of the card C contributing to life detection can be obtained. Instead, the accuracy of the life detection may decrease. Therefore, the counter 10 may be configured not to count the number of times the card C has traveled from the output of the card travel detection sensor 8 due to the re-operation when the card C is jammed. For example, when the CPU 9 detects a detection signal of the card running detection sensor 8 (FIG. 4:
Step 1; Yes), it is determined whether or not the detection signal is a re-operation when the card C is jammed (Step 8 '). Whether or not the card conveyance jam, that is, whether the card C is jammed or not can be determined, for example, from the presence or absence of each card detection signal of the card detection sensors 71 to 73. If the detection signal of the card running detection sensor 8 is a re-operation when the card C is jammed (step 8 '; Yes), the CPU 9 does not count up the running number, but the current running number and life. Comparison with comparison data is performed (steps 2, 4, and 6). On the other hand, if the detection signal of the card running detection sensor 8 is not a re-operation when the card C is jammed (Step 8 '; No), the cumulative running count is incremented by 1 (Step 9'). In the case of a re-operation other than the card transport jam, for example, a re-operation in a normal process in the re-reading process or the writing process of the magnetic data, the cumulative running number is counted up.
As a result, only the number of times of travel of the card contributing to life detection is counted, and the reliability of life detection can be improved.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the card running detection sensor 8 is provided separately from the card detection sensors 71 to 73. 5 may be detected. In this case, the counter 1
At 0, the output of the sensor 72 is detected to count the number of times the card C has traveled.

[0047]

As is apparent from the above description, the card reader according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a sensor for detecting a running card at a position where the card is not stopped in the card transport path. A counter that counts the number of times the card has traveled from the output of the device can be reliably detected and the number of card travels can be counted. By comparing with the limit number of runs, regardless of the state of the magnetic stripe of the card,
Further, the life of not only the magnetic head but also other parts such as the apparatus main body and the motor can be detected without providing a separate life detecting means.

Also, when the recording data and the reproduction data do not match, the interval of the magnetization change point is measured, and the processing is performed in comparison with the conventional magnetic head life detection which detects whether the interval is out of the specified range. In addition, the necessary circuits can be simply configured, and the processing time required for life detection can be shortened.

Further, in the card reader according to the second aspect, the sensor is provided near the magnetic head. Therefore, the sensor may be provided at a position where the card travels and passes without stopping as much as possible. This makes it possible to count the number of times the card passes through the magnetic head, which directly affects the life of the magnetic head due to wear or the like.

Further, in the card reader according to the third aspect, the counter does not count the number of times the card has traveled from the output of the sensor due to the re-operation when the card is jammed, so that the running of the card contributing to the detection of the life of the card is achieved. By counting only the number of times, the reliability of life detection can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a card reader of the present invention,
It is a schematic side view including the length of the card.

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram for controlling the operation of the card reader.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a life detecting process performed by the card reader.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing another example of the life detecting process by the card reader of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the card reader of the present invention, showing an example of magnetic data reading processing, and showing how a card passes over a magnetic head for data reading.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the magnetic data reading process,
4 shows how a card is ejected.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of the card reader of the present invention, showing an example of a rereading process when magnetic data cannot be read properly, and showing how a card passes over a magnetic head for data reading. .

FIG. 8 shows an example of the rereading process, and shows how a card passes over a magnetic head for data rereading.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the rereading process, and further shows a state where the card passes over the magnetic head for data rereading.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of the re-reading process, and illustrates a state where a card is ejected.

FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of the card reader of the present invention;
4 shows an example of magnetic data write processing, and shows how a card passes over a magnetic head for data reading.

FIG. 12 shows an example of the magnetic data writing process, and shows a state where a card passes over a magnetic head in preparation for writing magnetic data.

FIG. 13 shows an example of the magnetic data writing process, and shows how a card passes over a magnetic head for writing magnetic data.

FIG. 14 shows an example of the magnetic data write processing, and shows a state in which a card passes over a magnetic head for checking the written magnetic data.

FIG. 15 shows an example of the magnetic data writing process, and shows how the card is ejected.

[Explanation of symbols]

 5 Magnetic head 8 Card running detection sensor (sensor) 10 Counter O Card transport path C card

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A system comprising: a sensor for detecting a running card at a position where the card is not stopped in a card transport path; and a counter for counting the number of times the card has traveled from an output of the sensor. Characterized card reader. 2. The card reader according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is provided near the magnetic head. 3. The card according to claim 1, wherein the counter does not count the number of times the card has traveled from the output of the sensor due to re-operation when the card is jammed.
Or the card reader according to 2.