JP2003196748A - Card processor and card payment system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform electronic payment suitable to the type of data stored on a card. <P>SOLUTION: In a card processor 1 having a housing 15 with insertion slot parts 16 and 17 provided on a front face and a rear face, the carrying direction of a card inserted into a card path 18 provided in the housing 15 can be selectively set from the front side to the rear side or the rear side to the front side. This makes it possible to insert a card in both directions from the front side and the rear side by setting a carrying direction of the card. Even the card inserted into either insertion slot part 16 or 17 can be carried in a desired direction without performing complicated work, such as to change installation directions in accordance with the type of electronic payment by setting an insertion direction in accordance with an assumed operation form. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card processing device and a card payment system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Today, electronic payment using various cards (credit cards, cash cards used for debit card payments, IC cards equipped with electronic money, point cards, etc.) that function as payment means instead of cash is widely used. It has been used.

[0003] Electronic payment using a card eliminates the need to handle small coins for transactions, and thus has a great merit for both customers and stores, and is expected to spread rapidly in the future.

In such a conventional card processing device for reading the data stored in the card during the electronic payment processing, the opening for inserting / ejecting the card is directed to either the customer side or the clerk side. It is provided so as to open. Such a card processing device is generally installed so as to open in one direction according to the operation mode of each store, since the card insertion / ejection in the card processing device is allowed on only one side. It

For example, in the above-mentioned credit payment, when a clerk inserts a credit card received from a customer into a card processing device (or a payment terminal) and returns it to the customer when all processing such as signature confirmation is completed. ,
For the convenience of operation, the card processing device described above is installed toward the store clerk side. Therefore, the clerk must handle the card before and after reading the card data.

Further, for example, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 11, a POS terminal 100, a settlement terminal 101 for reading data stored in an IC chip of the card, and a card for accepting a personal identification number input by a customer operation. Card payment system 103 configured with reader 102
Depending on the case, electronic payment by card may be performed.

[0007]

By the way, by installing the card processing device toward the store clerk side, even when debit card payment without the need to confirm the signature is performed,
The cash card is once received from the customer and returned to the customer when the settlement is completed, and the clerk always handles the card before and after reading the card data. However, in the case of electronic payments, such as debit card payments, in which the clerk can complete the payment without touching the card, in terms of reliability of the electronic payment process, the person who does not touch the card as much as possible Is desirable.

In this respect, in the card payment system 103 shown in FIG. 11, the card reader 102 can be moved to some extent and the customer can insert the card, so that the electronic payment can be made even if the clerk does not touch the card. Although it can be completed, a larger installation space is required by using the card reader 102 by connecting it to the payment terminal 101.

On the other hand, in order to improve the reliability of electronic payment processing and solve the problem of installation space, the installation direction of the card processing device is changed according to the type of data stored in the card. Although it may be possible to make payments by using this method, the work becomes complicated and it is not practical.

According to the present invention, for example, a card processing device and a card capable of executing various electronic payments suitable for an operation mode without performing a complicated work such as changing the installation direction according to the type of electronic payment. The purpose is to obtain a payment system.

[0011]

A card processing device according to the present invention comprises a housing having a pair of slit-shaped openings on the front and the back, and a pair of the openings provided inside the housing. A card passage communicating with the card passage; a conveying means provided in the card passage for conveying a card having a storage medium of at least one of a magnetic stripe and an IC chip; and a card provided in the card passage and conveyed by the conveying means. A data processing unit that performs data processing including reading of data on the storage medium, and a transfer direction of the card by the transfer unit is selectively set to either front side to back side or back side to front side And a conveyance direction setting means.

Therefore, when the card transfer direction is set from the front side to the back side, the card inserted in the front opening is transferred to the data processing section, and the card transfer direction is from the back side to the front side. If it is set to, the card inserted in the opening on the back side is conveyed to the data processing section. Insertion is possible.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The present embodiment shows an example of application to a payment terminal as a card processing device.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which the settlement terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention is seen from the front side, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the state seen from the back side, and FIG. It is a figure. The payment terminal 1 has a main body casing 4 including a box-shaped bottom cover 2 and a top cover 3 provided on the upper side of the bottom cover 2. When the front side in FIG. 1 is the front side, the payment terminal 1 is arranged so that the front side faces the customer side.

On the front surface of the main body casing 4, there is provided a front communication port 5 having a slit shape that is long in the horizontal direction and connecting the inside and the outside of the main body casing 4 and inserting / discharging the card C. There is. The card C has an IC chip 60 (see FIG. 7) as a storage medium, which is used in a card payment process described later.

Although the card C having only the IC chip 60 has been described with reference to FIG. 1, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a hybrid card having a magnetic stripe and the IC chip 60 may be used as a storage medium. Good.

On the back surface of the main body casing 4, there is provided a back surface communication port 6 having a slit shape that is long in the horizontal direction and connecting the inside and the outside of the main body casing 4. The front communication port 5 and the back communication port 6 are provided at the same height and parallel to the installation surface of the main body casing 4.

Although the details will be described later, the settlement terminal 1 of the present embodiment is configured so that the card C can be inserted / discharged bidirectionally through the front communication port 5 and the rear communication port 6. .

An illustration 7 for guiding the insertion direction of the card C near the front communication port 5 on the front of the main body casing 4.
Is provided. The illustration 7 guides the insertion direction of the card C so that the card C is inserted in the same direction as the direction indicated by a mark such as an arrow attached to the card C. Body casing 4
Similarly, an illustration 8 for guiding the insertion direction of the card C is also provided near the rear communication port 6. Illustration 8
Guides the insertion direction of the card C so that the card C is inserted in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by a mark such as an arrow on the card C.

An operator switch 9 for accepting an operation by an operator such as a store clerk and an LED 10 for indicating the operating state of the settlement terminal by lighting or blinking are provided near the rear communication port 6 of the main body casing 4. In the card payment processing described later, by operating the operator switch 9, it is possible to declare which of the credit payment, debit card payment and electronic money payment electronic payment processing is to be executed. Then, in the card payment process described later, the insertion direction / ejection direction of the card C is set according to which electronic payment process is executed.

Operator switch 9 of the present embodiment
By being operated during execution of a card payment process described later, the insertion direction / ejection direction of the card C can be temporarily changed regardless of which electronic payment process is executed. For example, when the operator switch 9 is operated during execution of the card settlement process described later, the insertion / ejection direction of the card C is set to be limited to the operator side, so that the customer is not accustomed to the operation. Even if there is a situation in which the operator performs the proxy operation in which the card C is inserted or received because of the occurrence of such a situation, the switching can be easily performed without performing complicated setting change work (Fig. 6).

A keyboard 11 is provided on the upper surface of the main body casing 4 for receiving an operation by an operator such as a customer. As shown in FIG. 4, on the keyboard 11, there are arranged numeric keys 11a from "0" to "9", a cancel key 11b, a correction key 11c, an execution key 11d, various function keys 11e and the like. In the card payment process described later, the payment amount is input by operating the numeral keys 11a from "0" to "9". As a result, the function as the payment amount input means is executed. In addition, in the direction setting process described later, the card C is operated by operating various keys on the keyboard 11.
The insertion / ejection direction of can be set. As a result, the function as the input means is executed.

The keyboard 11 on the upper side of the body casing 4
On the rear side, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) unit 12 is rotatable with respect to the main body casing 4 around a support shaft (not shown) connected to the main body casing 4 via a free stopper (not shown) as a rotation center. Is provided. Due to the function of the free stopper, the LCD unit 12 is positioned at an arbitrary position between a horizontal lying position in which the upper surface is continuous with the upper surface of the main body casing 4 and an upright position in which it stands upright with respect to the main body casing 4.

The LCD unit 12 has a setting screen 13a on a surface which is an upper side in a state where the LCD unit 12 is positioned in the lying position, in a direction setting process described later.
An LCD 13 for displaying (see FIG. 8) and the like is provided.

A reader / writer device 14 is provided inside the main body casing 4. The housing 15 of the reader / writer device 14 is provided with an opening 16 and an opening 17 that communicate the inside and the outside of the housing 15. Opening 16
The opening 17 and the opening 17 are communicated with the outside through the front communication port 5 and the rear communication port 6, respectively.

Inside the housing 15, a card passage 18 that connects the opening 16 and the opening 17 is provided. The card passage 18 of this embodiment includes the opening 16 and the opening 1.
It communicates with 7 linearly.

The card passage 18 is provided with a reader / writer section 19 (see FIG. 5) as a data processing section for reading / writing data from / to the IC chip. Although it is a known technique, illustration and description thereof will be omitted, but the reader / writer unit 19 has the I included in the portable card C.
By being connected to the external connection terminal 67 of the C chip 60 (see FIG. 7 together), it has a connection terminal for reading the data stored in the IC chip 60 and writing the data to the IC chip 60. The position where the connection terminal of the reader / writer unit 19 can be connected to the external connection terminal 67 of the IC chip 60 is the connection position of the card C.

The card passage 18 is provided with two pairs of rollers 21 and 22 facing each other with the card passage 18 in between. One roller pair 21 is provided closer to the opening 16 than the reader / writer section 19, and the other roller pair 22 is provided closer to the opening 17 than the reader / writer section 19. The roller pair 22 is rotationally driven by a motor 23 (see FIG. 5) provided in the main body casing 4 so that the roller pairs 21 and 22 convey the card C in the same direction.

A customer side sensor 24 and a store clerk side sensor 25 are provided near the opening 16 of the card passage 18 and near the opening 17, respectively. Each of the customer-side sensor 24 and the clerk-side sensor 25 is a transmissive optical sensor including a light emitting element that emits light and a light receiving element that receives the light emitted by the light emitting element, and the amount of light received by the light receiving element. The output changes according to the change of.

Inside the bottom cover 2 of the body casing 4, a main PCB (Printed Circuit Board) 28 and a sub PCB 29 are provided. The main PCB 28 and the sub PCB 29 are communicably connected to each other. Main PCB 28, sub PC
B29 is equipped with various control circuits that drive and control the respective units of the payment terminal 1.

Next, the electrical connection of each unit of the payment terminal 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing electrical connection of each unit included in the payment terminal 1. The payment terminal 1 is a microcomputer.
mputer: hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) 30. The microcomputer 30 drives and controls each unit included in the payment terminal 1. The microcomputer 30 stores a fixed data in advance in a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 31 for centrally controlling the drive of each unit via a bus line 32 such as an address bus and a data bus, and a ROM (Read Only Memory) 33.
And the variable data is rewritably stored and stored in the CPU 3
RAM (Random Access M
emory) 34 and are connected to each other.

The inserted card C is opened in the RAM 34, which is referred to in the card settlement process described later.
A transport direction setting file 35 that functions as an insertion direction storage unit and a discharge direction storage unit that stores the setting of whether to discharge from the opening or the opening 17 is stored. As shown in FIG. 6, the transport direction setting file 35 includes direction setting data 36 for setting the insertion direction / ejection direction of the card C.
a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e, 36f, 36
A discharge direction setting area 36 for storing g, 36h and electronic payment type data 37a, 37b, 37c indicating which of electronic payment processing of credit payment, electronic money payment and debit card payment is to be executed are stored. It has an electronic settlement type area 37. Electronic payment type area 37
The electronic payment type data 37d indicating that the operator performs the proxy operation is also stored in the. Direction setting data 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e, 3
6f, 36g, and 36h set the insertion direction / ejection direction of the card C to the opening 17 (operator) side or the opening 16 (user) side, respectively. Direction setting data 36
a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e, 36f, 36
g and 36h are electronic payment type data 37a, 37b and 3
It is stored in association with 7c and 37d. According to the setting of FIG. 6, in the credit payment processing, the card C is
It is set to be inserted through the opening 16 and discharged through the opening 17. Similarly, in the electronic money settlement, the card C is set to be inserted through the opening 17 and discharged through the opening 16. Similarly, in the debit card payment, the card C is set to be inserted through the opening 16 and discharged through the opening 16. In addition, FIG.
Then, as a setting for proxy operation in which the operator inserts or receives the card on behalf of the customer when the customer is not accustomed to the operations in the various settings described above, the card C is inserted from the opening 17 and the opening It is also set to be discharged from 17.

The insertion direction / ejection direction of the card C set for each type of electronic payment processing in the conveyance direction setting file 35 is not limited to the setting shown in FIG. The operator can change the settings arbitrarily set.

When the settlement terminal 1 is activated, the control program stored in the ROM 33 is written in the RAM 34.
As a result, the drive control of each unit by the microcomputer 30 becomes possible. Subsequently, each unit whose drive is controlled by the microcomputer 30 will be described.

The operator switch 9 is connected to the bus line 32 via the switch input circuit 38.
The operator switch 9 sends a signal indicating that the operator switch 9 has been operated to the microcomputer 30 by the operation of the switch input circuit 38.

In the card payment process described later, the insertion direction set in the above-described ejection direction setting file can be temporarily changed by operating the operator switch 9 during execution of the card payment process.

The LED 10 is connected to the bus line 32 via the lighting control circuit 39. Lighting control circuit 3
9 is an LED based on a control signal from the microcomputer 30.
Driving control of turning on / off of 10 is performed.

The keyboard 11 is a keyboard input circuit 4
It is connected to the bus line 32 via 0. The keyboard 11 operates according to the operation of the keyboard input circuit 40.
A signal corresponding to the operated key is output to the microcomputer 30.

The LCD 13 is connected to the bus line 32 via the display control circuit 41. LCD13 is
When the display data from the microcomputer 30 is input to the display control circuit 41, it is driven by the display control circuit 41 to display a predetermined item.

The reader / writer unit 19 is connected to the bus line 32 via the reader / writer control circuit 42.
The reader / writer control circuit 42 outputs a signal corresponding to the data read by the reader / writer unit 19 to the microcomputer 30 via a connection terminal (not shown). Further, the reader / writer control circuit 42 drives the reader / writer unit 19 based on the signal output from the microcomputer 30, and writes predetermined data to the IC chip 60 via the connection terminal.

The motor 23 is connected to the bus line 32 via a motor drive circuit 43. The motor drive circuit 43 drives the motor 23 in the normal and reverse directions according to the drive signal from the microcomputer 30.

Customer side sensor 24 and store clerk side sensor 25
Are connected to the bus line 32 via the sensor input circuits 44 and 45, respectively. Sensor input circuit 44, 4
Reference numeral 5 outputs a detection signal indicating whether or not the card C is inserted to the microcomputer 30 in response to output signals from the customer side sensor 24 and the store clerk side sensor 25.

In addition, the settlement terminal 1 is, for example, a public line network 46, CAFIS (Credit And Finance Information).
Communication system for performing data communication with a host computer 48 provided in a financial institution such as a credit company or a bank via a relay center such as a switching system 47).
Equipped with F51.

In addition, the settlement terminal 1 of this embodiment is the printer 4
9 is used by connecting the printer 4 to the bus line 32.
9 is provided with an I / F 50 for data communication.

Next, the IC chip 6 provided on the card C
The electrical connection of each unit of 0 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a block diagram schematically showing the electrical connection of each part of the IC chip 60. IC chip 60
It is provided in the portable card C and has a built-in microcomputer 61. The microcomputer 61 is configured by connecting a CPU 64 via a bus line 63 to a ROM 64, a RAM 65 that stores a personal identification number and a control program in advance, and an EEPROM 66 that is a nonvolatile storage unit.

In the EEPROM 66, for example, an "ID number data area" for storing the identification number of the IC chip 60 and the ID number previously assigned to each individual.
And "electronic money data area" that stores electronic money
Etc. are secured. Further, the EEPROM 66 has a "customer data area" for storing customer data such as the account number of the customer who owns the card and the personal identification number set when the account is opened.

When inserting the card C into the settlement terminal 1, the reader / writer unit 19 of the settlement terminal 1 is inserted into the bus line 63.
The external connection terminal 67 connected to the connection terminal (not shown) is connected. The external connection terminal 67 inputs the signal input from the reader / writer unit 19 of the payment terminal 1 via the connection terminal to the microcomputer 61 via the bus line 63, and outputs the signal output from the microcomputer 61 via the bus line 63. And outputs to the reader / writer unit 19.

Next, the direction setting process executed by the CPU 31 based on the control program stored in the ROM 33 will be described. First, an operator such as a store clerk operates a predetermined function key 11e on the keyboard 11 to declare execution of the direction setting process.

When the execution of the direction setting process is declared, the LC
A setting screen 13a as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on D13. On the setting screen 13a, as shown in FIG.
Setting fields A, B, C, for setting the insertion direction / ejection direction of
D, E, F, G and H are displayed.

The operator uses the setting fields A, B, C,
D, E, F, G, and H are set to "operator" or "user", and the execution key is operated each time they are set.

When the setting of the bottom setting field F is completed and the execute key is operated, the setting fields A, B, and
Based on the data set in C, D, E, F, G, H, the direction setting data 36a, 3 of the discharge direction setting file
6b, 36c, 36d, 36e, 36f, 36g, 36
Update h. By executing the direction setting process,
A function as a conveyance direction changing unit is executed.

Next, the card settlement processing executed by the CPU 31 based on the control program stored in the ROM 33 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart schematically showing the flow of card payment processing. When executing the card payment process, the operator waits until it is determined that the operator has operated the operator switch 9 to declare that the electronic payment of credit payment, debit card payment, or electronic money payment has been declared.
(N of S1).

Here, an illustration 7 is provided on the front surface of the main body casing 4 for guiding the insertion in the same direction as a mark such as an arrow mark attached to the card C, and on the back surface of the main body casing 4, the card 7 is provided. Since the illustration 8 that guides the insertion in the direction opposite to the mark such as the arrow attached to C is provided, by inserting the card C in the direction according to the illustration 8, the card C is conveyed in the conveying direction. It is possible to make the positions of the IC chip 60 relative to the reader / writer unit 19 equal.

As a result, even when the card C is inserted from any of the openings 16 and 17 of the payment terminal 1, the IC chip 6 of the card C is read by the single reader / writer unit 19.
The data stored in 0 can be read, and the settlement terminal 1 can be downsized.

When it is judged that the execution of the electronic settlement of credit settlement, debit card settlement or electronic money settlement is declared by the operator operating the operator switch 9 (Y in S1), the execution is executed. Determine whether the declared electronic payment is a credit payment, debit card payment or electronic money payment
(S2, S3, S4).

When it is judged that the execution of credit settlement has been declared (Y in S2), based on the output change of the customer side sensor 24, through the front communication port 5 and the opening 46,
The process waits until it is determined that the card C is inserted in the card passage 18 (N in S5), and when it is determined that the card C is inserted in the card passage 18 (Y in S5), the transport direction setting file 3
5, the motor 23 is driven to rotate in the forward direction by the operation of the motor drive circuit 43 based on the direction setting data 36a set in association with the credit settlement (S6). Here, the card C from the front side to the back side (see FIG.
Roller pairs 21, 22 in the direction of conveyance from the middle left to the right)
The rotation direction of the motor 23 that rotates the motor is defined as the forward direction.

When the card C is conveyed to the reader / writer section 19 by the rotation of the roller pair 21, 22, the reader / writer section 19 is driven and controlled by the operation of the reader / writer control circuit 42 to read the data stored in the IC chip 60. (S7), credit settlement processing is executed based on the data read from the IC chip 60 (S8).

Since this is a known technique, its explanation is omitted.
The credit settlement process executed in step S8 waits for the input of transaction amount data by operating the keyboard 11,
Credit data is created based on the data read from the IC chip and the input transaction amount data, and the created credit data is transmitted to the host computer 48 provided in various financial institutions. The host computer 48 performs credit inquiry processing such as credit check and amount approval on the transmitted credit data, and then transmits the inquiry result data to the settlement terminal 1. The payment terminal 1 transmits print data to the printer 49 according to the inquiry result data, and causes the printer 49 to issue a credit slip. The clerk causes the issued credit slip to be filled with the customer's signature.

When the credit settlement process is completed,
With reference to the transport direction setting file 35, the motor 23 is rotationally driven in the forward direction based on the direction setting data 36b set in association with the credit settlement (S9).

As a result, after the credit settlement is completed,
Since the card C is discharged to the clerk side, for example, in the conventional electronic payment terminal that is discharged from the inserted side, the card C discharged to the customer side when inserted from the customer side
You can immediately compare the signatures at the point when the credit payment is completed, without having to go through the troublesome procedure of handing over the clerk to the clerk and comparing the signature on the card C with the signature on the credit slip. Work efficiency can be improved.

Further, the card C discharged after the completion of the credit payment is once received by the customer and then handed to the clerk, and the credit payment is started without the complicated procedure of the clerk inserting the card C into the payment terminal. As a result, the efficiency of the work can be improved.

On the other hand, when it is judged that the execution of the debit card payment has been declared (Y in S3), the card passage 18 is opened through the front communication port 5 and the opening 16 based on the output change of the customer side sensor. Wait until it is determined that the card C has been inserted into the card passage (N in S10), and the card C is placed in the card passage 18.
When it is determined that the card has been inserted (Y in S10), referring to the transport direction setting file 35, based on the direction setting data 36c set in association with the debit card payment,
The motor 23 is driven to rotate in the forward direction by the operation of the motor drive circuit 43 (S11).

When the card C is conveyed to the reader / writer section 19 by the rotation of the roller pair 21, 22, the reader / writer section 19 is driven and controlled by the operation of the reader / writer control circuit 42 to read the data stored in the IC chip 60. (S12), based on the data read from the IC chip 60, the debit card payment process is executed (S13).

Since this is a known technique, its explanation is omitted.
When executing the debit card payment process executed in step S13, in addition to the data regarding the payment amount, the IC
Based on the data stored in the chip 60, the personal identification number input by the customer, and the like, predetermined data communication is performed with a financial institution such as a bank, and the settlement amount is deducted from the balance of the corresponding account.

When the debit card payment processing is completed, the conveyance direction setting file 35 is referred to, and the direction setting data 3 set in association with the debit card payment is set.
Based on 6d, the motor 23 is rotationally driven in the opposite direction.
(S14). Hereinafter, the rotation direction of the motor 23 is set to the opposite direction so that the roller pairs 21 and 22 are rotated in the direction in which the card C is conveyed from the rear surface side to the front surface side.

By using the payment terminal 1 of the present embodiment, when a debit card payment is made, the customer can hand over the card C to the store clerk and the store clerk does not have to insert the card C into the payment terminal. Card payment can be started.

Further, by using the payment terminal 1 of the present embodiment, the card C can be used after the debit card payment is completed.
Can be returned to the customer directly after being discharged into the opening 16, so that the clerk once receives the card C for which the debit card payment has been completed and returns the card C to the customer without the complicated procedure. Can be returned. Further, it is possible to prevent forgetting to return the card C.

Further, since the clerk does not touch the card C unnecessarily long, it is possible to improve the reliability from the viewpoint of preventing fraud.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the electronic money settlement is declared to be executed (Y in S4), based on the output change of the customer side sensor 24, the front side communication port 5 and the opening 16 are used. , Waits until it is determined that the card C is inserted in the card passage 18 (N in S15), and when it is determined that the card C is inserted in the card passage 18 (Y in S15), refers to the transport direction setting file 35, Based on the direction setting data 36e set in association with the electronic money payment, the motor 23 is rotationally driven in the forward direction (S16).

When the card C is conveyed to the reader / writer unit 19 by the rotation of the roller pair 21, 22, the reader / writer unit 19 is driven and controlled by the operation of the reader / writer control circuit 42 to read the data stored in the IC chip 60. (S17), electronic money payment processing is executed based on the data read from the IC chip 60 (S18). Here, the function as the electronic settlement processing means is executed by steps S8, S13, and S18.

Since this is a known technique, its explanation is omitted.
In the electronic money settlement, it is determined whether or not the amount of electronic money filled in the IC chip 60 exceeds the amount of settlement, and when the amount of electronic money exceeds the amount of settlement, the amount of electronic money filled is determined. Subtract the payment amount.

When the electronic money settlement process is completed,
The discharge direction setting file is referred to, and the motor is rotationally driven in the reverse direction based on the direction setting data 36f set in association with the electronic money settlement (S19). Here, steps S6, S9, S11, S14, S16, S
The function of the carrying means and the carrying direction setting means is executed by 19.

As a result, when the electronic money payment is completed, the card C is ejected from the reader / writer device 14 through the opening 16 and the front communication port 5, so that the customer can transfer the card C to the clerk at the time of electronic money payment. It is possible to start the electronic money settlement without having to go through the complicated procedure of handing over the card C and inserting the card C into the settlement terminal.

Further, after the electronic money payment is completed, the card C can be discharged to the customer side and directly returned to the customer. Therefore, the clerk once receives the card C for which the electronic money payment has been completed, and the card C can be returned to the customer. The card C can be returned without the complicated procedure of returning the card C.
Further, it is possible to prevent forgetting to return the card C.

In addition, since the store clerk does not touch the card C unnecessarily for a long time, the reliability can be improved from the viewpoint of preventing fraud.

Although not shown in FIG. 9, in the settlement terminal 1 of the present embodiment, as described above, the card C is actually inserted into the opening 16 after the execution of the electronic settlement process is declared. By the time, when the operator switch 9 is operated, the insertion direction / ejection direction is temporarily changed based on the direction setting data 36g and 36h regardless of which electronic payment execution is declared. Therefore, for example, when responding to a customer who is worried about work, by operating the operator switch 9, the clerk inserts the card C handed over from the customer from the opening 17,
Since it can be received from the opening 17, even if a special situation occurs, it is possible to temporarily change the inserting direction / discharging direction without performing complicated work such as changing the setting of the inserting direction / discharging direction. Can respond. Further, in the present embodiment, by temporarily changing the insertion direction / ejection direction by the operation of the operator switch 9, it is only necessary to perform the normal work in the electronic payment processing from the next time onward, which is exceptional. Even if the setting of the inserting direction / discharging direction is changed when a situation occurs, the work for restoring the setting is not necessary, and therefore the load on the store clerk can be reduced.

In this embodiment, the roller pair 21,
Although the card C is carried by the card 22, the card C is not limited to this, and the card C may be carried by, for example, an endless belt arranged so as to face each other with the card passage 18 in between.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a card payment system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
The card payment system 70 of the present embodiment includes a POS terminal 71 and a payment terminal 1 as a card processing device. For example, in a store where face-to-face sales are performed with a soccer stand or the like in between, the POS terminal 71 is arranged so that the clerk operates the POS terminal 71 and the customer operates the settlement terminal 1.

Since this is a known technique, its explanation is omitted.
The POS terminal 71 has a keyboard 72 having a plurality of operation keys operated by an operator such as a store clerk, a printer 73 for printing out a receipt or the like, a display 74 for displaying predetermined data to the operator, and the like. . Further, the POS terminal 71 is connected to a bar code scanner 75 that optically reads a product code attached to a product or the like.

Although not particularly shown, the keyboard 72 is
Various keys such as a numeric key for manually entering the product code and deposit amount, a deposit / cash total key for executing the closing process by cash transaction in the product sales process, a card payment key operated during the card payment process, etc. The operation keys are arranged for each block. Various codes can be input to the keyboard 72 by operating the numeric keys. Although not shown in particular, the keyboard 72 is provided with a “drain port setting” key that is operated when setting a drain port described later.

The settlement terminal 1 receives the PO via the cable L.
Data communication is freely connected to the S terminal 71,
RAM by operating the keyboard 72 of the POS terminal 71
The configuration of the discharge direction setting file 34 can be changed. The setting of the discharge direction setting file is performed by first operating the “discharge direction setting” key of the keyboard 72 of the POS terminal 71, and displaying it on the display 74 as shown in FIG.
The same setting screen (not shown) is displayed. According to this setting screen, the store clerk sets the discharge direction in the setting fields A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H by the same operation as described above, and operates the execution key when the setting is completed. . P
When the deposit / cash total key is operated while the setting screen is displayed on the display 74, the OS terminal 71 outputs the set data to the settlement terminal 1.

The settlement terminal 1 receives the PO via the cable L.
The data output from the S terminal 71 is received, and the transport direction setting file 3 of the RAM 34 is received according to the received data.
5 direction setting data 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d,
36e, 36f, 36g, 36h are updated.

The setting of the conveyance direction setting file 35 is set to POS.
By operating the keyboard 72 of the terminal 71, the workability in setting can be improved as compared with the setting work in the settlement terminal 1 in which the size and the number of keys are limited.

Since it is not necessary to increase the number of keys on the keyboard 11 of the settlement terminal 1, it is possible to prevent the settlement terminal 1 from becoming large.

Furthermore, the RAM 3 is used without increasing the number of keys.
In order to set the discharge direction setting area of 4, for example,
Since the number of keys is small, it is not necessary to perform an unclear operation such as operating the same key a plurality of times, so that operability can be improved.

In the electronic settlement using the card C in the card settlement system 70, first, the POS terminal 71 operates the keyboard 72 and the bar code scanner 7.
The product sales process is executed based on the product code input by the scanning of 5. The payment amount related to this product sales process is sent via the cable L to the payment terminal 1
Send to. Here, the function as the sales data processing means is executed.

The settlement terminal 1 executes the card settlement process based on the settlement amount transmitted from the POS terminal 71, the data stored in the inserted card C, the personal identification number input as necessary, and the like ( (See FIG. 9). When the card payment system 70 executes the card payment process, the slips issued for various electronic payments such as credit slips are issued from the printer 73 of the POS terminal 71.

With such a configuration, the settlement terminal 1 can be used by connecting to the conventional POS terminal 71, so that the operability can be improved and the versatility can be further enhanced.

According to the above embodiment, the card processing device is based on the payment amount input means for inputting the payment amount, the payment amount input by the payment amount input means, and the data read by the data processing unit. And an electronic payment execution means for executing electronic payment, the electronic payment can be performed based on the data stored in the storage medium of the card even if the card is inserted from both front and back sides. Can be executed.

Further, according to the above-mentioned embodiment, the carrying direction setting means of the card processing apparatus sets the carrying direction of the card by the carrying means according to the type of electronic settlement executed by the electronic settlement executing means. , It is possible to perform the operation suitable for the type of electronic payment.

According to the above-mentioned embodiment, the card processing device is provided with the carrying direction storing means for storing the carrying direction of the card by the carrying means in association with the type of electronic payment executed by the electronic payment executing means. Since the carrying direction setting means sets the carrying direction of the card by the carrying means based on the carrying direction stored in the carrying direction storage means, by setting the carrying direction in advance, for example, special operation for each store Even when performing, the card can be conveyed in a direction suitable for the operation mode without any restriction.

In addition, according to the above embodiment, the carrying direction stored in the carrying direction storage means is the inserting direction for carrying the card from the opening to the data processing section and the carrying direction for the card from the data processing section to the opening. Therefore, the card can be conveyed in a direction suitable for the operation mode regardless of whether the card is inserted or ejected.

According to the above embodiment, the input means for inputting the data, and the transport direction changing means for changing the transport direction stored in the insertion direction storage means based on the data input by the input means. With the above, the setting of the insertion direction can be arbitrarily changed by the operation of an operator such as a store clerk. Thereby, for example, even when a special operation is performed for each store, the card can be conveyed in a direction suitable for the operation mode without any restrictions.

According to the above embodiment, the card payment system comprises the card processing device and the sales data processing means for transmitting the sales processing data executed based on the product data to the card processing device. It is possible to improve the operability in setting the insertion / ejection direction and further improve the versatility.

[0095]

According to the present invention, it is possible to insert a card from both the front and back sides by setting the carrying direction of the card. Therefore, by setting the inserting direction according to the assumed operation mode, Carry the card inserted into either the front or back opening by changing the settings without carrying out complicated work such as changing the installation direction according to the type of electronic payment. Since data processing can be performed on the storage medium, various electronic payments suitable for the operating mode can be executed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a payment terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention is viewed from the front side.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the payment terminal is viewed from the back side.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional side view showing a payment terminal.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a key arrangement of a keyboard.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing electrical connection of each unit included in the payment terminal.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a discharge direction setting file.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram schematically showing electrical connection of each part of the IC chip.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a setting screen.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart schematically showing the flow of card payment processing.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a card payment system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a conventional card payment system.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Card processing device, 15 ... Housing | casing, 16, 17 ... Opening part, 18 ... Card passage, 19 ... Data processing part, 70 ... Card payment system

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Masatoshi Nochi             570, Ohito, Ohito-cho, Takata-gun, Shizuoka             Kook Co., Ltd. Ohito Office (72) Inventor Yoshiya Yamada             570, Ohito, Ohito-cho, Takata-gun, Shizuoka             Kook Co., Ltd. Ohito Office (72) Inventor Tatsuya Osawa             570, Ohito, Ohito-cho, Takata-gun, Shizuoka             Kook Co., Ltd. Ohito Office F-term (reference) 3E042 BA18 CC02                 5B023 FA03 GA02 GA10                 5B058 CA03 KA13 YA02

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A casing having a pair of slit-shaped openings provided on the front and back sides, a card passage provided inside the casing to communicate the pair of openings, and provided in the card passage. Magnetic stripe or IC
Transporting means for transporting a card having at least one storage medium of a chip, and data processing for performing data processing including reading of data on the storage medium of the card transported in the card passage and transported by the transporting means. And a conveyance direction setting means for selectively setting the conveyance direction of the card by the conveyance means from either the front side to the back side or from the back side to the front side. 2. A payment amount input means for inputting a payment amount, and an electronic payment execution for executing electronic payment based on the payment amount input by the payment amount input means and the data read by the data processing unit. The card processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. The carrying direction setting means sets the carrying direction of the card by the carrying means in accordance with the type of electronic payment performed by the electronic payment executing means.
Card processing device described. 4. A carrying direction storing means for storing a carrying direction of the card by the carrying means in association with a type of electronic payment executed by the electronic payment executing means, wherein the carrying direction setting means is provided. 4. The card processing device according to claim 3, wherein the carrying direction of the card by the carrying means is set based on the carrying direction stored in the carrying direction storage means. 5. The carrying direction stored in the carrying direction storage means is an inserting direction for carrying the card from the opening to the data processing unit and a carrying direction for the card from the data processing unit to the opening. 5. The discharge direction is
Card processing device described. 6. An input means for inputting data, and a conveying direction changing means for changing the conveying direction stored in said insertion direction storing means on the basis of the data inputted by said input means. Item 4. The card processing device according to item 4 or 5. 7. The card processing device according to claim 1, and sales data processing means for transmitting to the card processing device sales processing data executed based on product data.
Card payment system equipped with.