JP2005309861A - Magnetic card processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a magnetic card processor for preventing the illegal reading of the information of a magnetic card at the time of inserting and extracting a magnetic card. <P>SOLUTION: A roller 7 is installed in the neighborhood of an insertion port 4 of a magnetic card processor 101 so as to be brought into contact with an emboss part 1e projected from a passing magnetic card 1. When the magnetic card 1 is inserted from the insertion port 4, or the magnetic card 1 put into the inside of the main body 2 is ejected to the insertion port 4, the emboss part 1e of the magnetic card 1 is brought into contact with the roller 7, and the moving speed of the magnetic card 1 fluctuates. Also, an impact is added from the roller 7 to the magnetic card 1, and the magnetic card 1 oscillates. Therefore, even when a false card reader is mounted on the front face of the magnetic card processor 101, the illegal reading of the information of the magnetic card by the false card reader is prevented. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a magnetic card processing apparatus for processing information on a magnetic card whose surface is embossed.

  A general magnetic card used as a credit card or a cash card is made of plastic and has a magnetic stripe at a predetermined position on the surface. Some of such magnetic cards display the number of the magnetic card, the expiration date, the user's name, etc. in raised characters at predetermined positions other than the magnetic stripe on the surface. The embossed characters here are those in which the surface of the magnetic card is projected in the form of predetermined characters, and is called embossing. The processing of embossed characters is called embossing. The embossed characters displayed on the magnetic card have been used in the past when making transactions with the card at stores such as department stores, gas stations, and financial institutions. Specifically, a roller is applied after the magnetic card is sandwiched between the copy slips, so that embossed characters such as card numbers are transferred to the slip and the user information is recorded.

  Recently, there are few stores that carry out the embossed characters as described above. This is because the card transaction system has been introduced in the store, so that the user's information can be confirmed through the transaction system by reading the information recorded on the magnetic stripe of the magnetic card. That is, in recent transactions with cards, the use of magnetic data on magnetic cards has become the mainstream. However, since the recording of the user information by transferring the embossed characters is still partly performed, the magnetic card is still embossed.

  Some magnetic card processing apparatuses that process magnetic cards include a card transport roller for transporting a magnetic card inserted from an insertion slot. In such a magnetic card processing apparatus, when a magnetic card is inserted from an insertion slot, a roller is rotated by a motor to convey the magnetic card into the apparatus. Then, while conveying the magnetic card inside the apparatus, information is read from the magnetic stripe of the magnetic card or written to the magnetic stripe by the magnetic head. At the time of information reading and writing processing, since the processing cannot be performed normally unless the magnetic card is stably conveyed at a constant speed, the roller is provided at a position in contact with a portion other than the embossed portion of the magnetic card. When the reading and writing of information is completed, the magnetic card processing device reversely rotates a roller with a motor to convey the magnetic card to the insertion slot, and allows the magnetic card to be removed from the insertion slot.

  By the way, in the magnetic card processing apparatus, recently, a fraud that a fake card reader is attached to the front surface of the insertion slot has been performed. The fake card reader has a structure in which an insertion slot for inserting a magnetic card is formed on the front side, and the magnetic card inserted from the insertion slot is passed through the inside and discharged from the back side. The fake card reader includes a magnetic head and a memory inside, reads information from the magnetic stripe of the magnetic card passing through the inside by the magnetic head, and stores the read information in the memory.

  If the user inserts the magnetic card into the insertion slot of the fake card reader without knowing that the fake card reader is attached to the front of the genuine magnetic card processing device, the inserted magnetic card is fake. It passes through the card reader and enters the inside through the insertion slot of the genuine magnetic card processing device. At this time, information recorded on the magnetic stripe of the magnetic card is read by the magnetic head of the fake card reader and stored in the memory. When the magnetic card enters the inside through the insertion slot, the genuine magnetic card processing device reads information from the magnetic stripe of the magnetic card by the magnetic head and performs a predetermined process. When the predetermined process ends, the magnetic card is taken out from the insertion slot of the genuine magnetic card processing apparatus and returned to the user. Also at this time, since the magnetic card passes through the fake card reader, information on the magnetic stripe of the magnetic card may be read by the magnetic head of the fake card reader and stored in the memory. When the predetermined processing ends normally as described above and the magnetic card returns to the user, the user does not notice at all that information has been stolen from the magnetic card. On the other hand, the person who installed the fake card reader then removes the fake card reader from the genuine magnetic card processing device, reads the information stored in the memory, and uses it for crimes such as forgery of the magnetic card.

  Conventionally, as a measure for preventing the illegal reading of information on the magnetic card as described above, when the magnetic card is taken into the magnetic card processing device or when the magnetic card is ejected from the magnetic card processing device. There is a technique for intermittently conveying a magnetic card when a part of the magnetic card is exposed to the outside (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1 described later). In order to further increase security, there is a technique for intermittently conveying a magnetic card randomly (see, for example, Patent Document 1 described later).

US Pat. No. 6,460,771 J. Svigals: "Unauthorized Card Stripe Reading Inhibitor", IBM TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE BULLETIN, vol. 26, No. 6, Nov. 1, 1983, page 2707 XP002145300, New York.

  However, in the techniques such as Non-Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 1, the time from when the magnetic card is inserted into the insertion slot of the fake card reader until it enters the position where it can be transported by the genuine magnetic card processing device. Since the magnetic card cannot be intermittently conveyed, the information on the magnetic card is illegally read. In addition, since the magnetic card cannot be intermittently conveyed from the time when the magnetic card is conveyed from the inside of the genuine magnetic card processing device to the conveyance limit position until it is removed from the insertion port of the fake card reader, the magnetic card Information is read illegally.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems, and a problem to be solved by the present invention is a magnetic card processing device capable of preventing unauthorized reading of information on the magnetic card when the magnetic card is inserted and removed. It is to provide.

  In the present invention, after a magnetic card whose surface is embossed is inserted from the insertion slot, information processing is performed on the magnetic card by the magnetic head, and the magnetic card is removed from the insertion slot after the processing is completed. In the processing apparatus, a roller is provided in the vicinity of the insertion slot so as to be in contact with the protruding embossed portion of the passing magnetic card.

  As described above, when the magnetic card is inserted and removed, when the magnetic card passes near the insertion slot, the embossed part of the magnetic card contacts the roller, thereby changing the moving speed of the magnetic card. In addition, the magnetic card can be vibrated by applying an impact to the magnetic card. Therefore, even if the fake card reader is attached to the front surface of the magnetic card processing device, the moving speed of the magnetic card in the vicinity of the insertion slot is not constant, and the contact between the magnetic card and the magnetic head provided in the fake card reader Since the state becomes unstable, it is possible to prevent unauthorized reading of information on the magnetic card.

  Further, in one embodiment of the present invention, a transport unit that transports the magnetic card inserted from the insertion slot is provided, and information processing is performed by the magnetic head on the magnetic card transported by the transport unit, The roller and the magnetic head are arranged at a predetermined interval in the magnetic card insertion direction so as not to contact the magnetic card at the same time. By doing so, when the magnetic card is not in contact with the roller, that is, when the magnetic card is transported at a constant speed and is not vibrating, the magnetic head is stably brought into contact with the magnetic stripe of the magnetic card. Thus, the information can be processed normally. Further, since the impact applied by the roller to the magnetic card and the vibration of the magnetic card are not directly transmitted to the magnetic head, it is possible to prevent damage to the magnetic head.

  Furthermore, in another embodiment of the present invention, a detecting means for detecting that the magnetic card is completely inserted to a predetermined position and stopped, and a moving means for moving the magnetic head along the magnetic stripe of the magnetic card When the stop at the predetermined position of the magnetic card is detected by the detecting means, information processing is performed on the magnetic card while moving the magnetic head by driving the moving means. By doing so, the magnetic head can be stably brought into contact with the magnetic stripe of the magnetic card that is stopped at a predetermined position and is not vibrated, so that information processing can be performed normally.

  According to the present invention, when the magnetic card passes through the vicinity of the insertion slot when the magnetic card is inserted and withdrawn, the embossed portion of the magnetic card contacts the roller provided in the vicinity of the insertion slot. Since the moving speed can be varied and the magnetic card can be vibrated, even if a fake card reader is attached to the front surface of the magnetic card processing device, illegal reading of information on the magnetic card can be prevented. It becomes possible.

  1 to 3 are views showing an internal structure of the magnetic card processing apparatus 101 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a side sectional view of the same, FIG. 2 is a top sectional view of the same (a sectional view of the magnetic card processing apparatus 101 viewed from the U direction side in FIG. 1), and FIG. 3 is a front sectional view of the same. It is sectional drawing which looked at the apparatus 101 from the B direction side.

  The magnetic card processing apparatus 101 conveys the magnetic card 1 to be inserted into the inside, and performs information reading processing on the magnetic card 1 that is being conveyed inside. The magnetic card 1 is provided with a magnetic stripe 1s (shown in FIG. 2) at a predetermined position on the lower surface (the surface on the D direction side in FIG. 1), and information is magnetically recorded on the magnetic stripe 1s. Further, the magnetic card 1 is embossed so as to protrude in the U direction at a predetermined position (a portion surrounded by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 2) on an upper surface (a surface on the U direction side in FIG. 1). 1 number, expiration date, user's name, etc. are displayed in raised characters. Hereinafter, the raised character portion of the magnetic card 1 is referred to as an embossed portion 1e. 1a is the front end of the magnetic card 1, and 1b is the rear end of the magnetic card 1.

  Reference numeral 2 denotes a main body of the magnetic card processing apparatus 101, and 3 denotes an insertion portion provided on the front surface (surface on the B direction side) of the main body 2. 4 is an insertion slot into which the magnetic card 1 is inserted, and 5 indicated by a one-dot chain line is a passage through which the magnetic card 1 passes. The width W (shown in FIG. 2) of the insertion slot 4 and the passage 5 is substantially the same as the width X of the short direction R, L of the magnetic card 1. As a result, the magnetic card 1 can be inserted into the insertion port 4 and the passage 5 in the width directions R and L without rattling. Further, the height H (shown in FIG. 3) of the insertion slot 4 is larger than the thickness T (shown in FIG. 1) of the magnetic card 1. In this example, the thickness T of the magnetic card 1 is 1.3 mm (the thickness of the magnetic card 1 itself is 0.76 mm, and the protruding height of each embossed portion 1 e from the upper surface of the magnetic card 1 is 0.54 mm. In contrast, the height H of the insertion opening 4 is about 4 mm. Thereby, the magnetic card 1 can move in the vertical directions U and D in the vicinity of the insertion slot 4.

  Reference numeral 6 denotes a shutter provided in the insertion portion 3. The shutter 6 is opened and closed in a vertical direction U and D in FIGS. 1 and 3 by a solenoid described later, and the magnetic card 1 enters the main body 2 from the insertion port 4 or magnetically flows from the main body 2 to the insertion port 4. Restrict card 1 discharge. Reference numeral 7 denotes a roller provided in the vicinity of the insertion port 4 of the insertion portion 3. The roller 7 is disposed so as to be in contact with the embossed portion 1 e protruding in the U direction of the magnetic card 1 passing through the passage 5 of the insertion portion 3. A housing 8 supports the roller 7 so as to be rotatable and movable in the vertical directions U and D. Reference numeral 9 denotes a leaf spring attached in the housing 8. The leaf spring 9 urges the roller 7 in the direction D and presses it against the magnetic card 1 passing through the passage 5. When the magnetic card 1 passes through the passage 5 of the insertion portion 3, the roller 7 collides with each embossed portion 1e of the magnetic card 1 and gets over each embossed portion 1e while rotating.

  16 is a pair of upper and lower transport rollers, and 15 is a motor that rotates each transport roller 16. Each transport roller 16 is disposed so as to be in contact with a portion other than the embossed portion 1 e of the magnetic card 1. When the motor 15 is driven to rotate forward, the respective conveyance rollers 16 rotate to convey the magnetic card 1 in the F direction. Further, when the motor 15 is driven in reverse, the respective conveyance rollers 16 rotate and convey the magnetic card 1 in the B direction. The conveyance roller 16 and the motor 15 constitute an embodiment of the conveyance means in the present invention. Reference numeral 10 denotes a magnetic head fixed inside the main body 2. This magnetic head 10 is in contact with the magnetic stripe 1s of the magnetic card 1 in the process in which the magnetic card 1 is conveyed inside the main body 2 by the conveyance roller 16, and detects a change in magnetic force of the magnetic stripe 1s and reads magnetic information. . As shown in FIG. 2, the magnetic head 10 and the roller 7 are arranged at a position where a gap Z (Y <Z) larger than the width Y of the longitudinal direction F and B of the magnetic card 1 is placed in the insertion direction F of the magnetic card 1. Has been. For this reason, the magnetic head 10 and the roller 7 do not contact the magnetic card 1 at the same time.

  A platen roller 17 is provided so as to face the magnetic head 10. The platen roller 17 supports the upper surface of the magnetic card 1 being conveyed and brings the magnetic card 1 into contact with the magnetic head 10. Reference numerals 11 to 14 denote card detection sensors composed of photomicrosensors. The first card detection sensor 11 is provided in the vicinity of the insertion slot 4, and the second to fourth card detection sensors 12 to 14 are provided inside the main body 2. Each of these card detection sensors 11 to 14 detects the presence or absence of the magnetic card 1.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the magnetic card processing apparatus 101. A CPU 21 controls each unit of the magnetic card processing apparatus 101. Reference numeral 18 denotes a ROM in which an operation program of the CPU 21 is stored, and reference numeral 19 denotes a RAM in which control data and the like for the CPU 21 to control each unit are readable and writable. Reference numeral 20 denotes a communication unit for communicating with a host device such as an automatic cash transaction processing apparatus. Reference numeral 10 denotes the above-described magnetic head. The CPU 21 transmits information read from the magnetic card 1 by the magnetic head 10 to the host device via the communication unit 20. Reference numeral 15 denotes a motor that rotates the above-described conveyance roller 16, and reference numeral 22 denotes an encoder that detects the number of rotations of the motor 15. The CPU 21 controls the conveyance speed of the magnetic card 1 based on the output of the encoder 22. 23 is a solenoid for opening and closing the shutter 6 described above, and 11 to 14 are the card detection sensors described above.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the magnetic card processing apparatus 101. Each process is executed by the CPU 21. In explaining the operation of the magnetic card processing apparatus 101, FIG. 6 showing the state of conveyance of the magnetic card 1 in the magnetic card processing apparatus 101 and FIG. 7A showing the passage state of the magnetic card 1 in the insertion section 3 of the magnetic card processing apparatus 101. Reference is also made to FIG. 7B as appropriate.

  When the user inserts the magnetic card 1 in the F direction from the insertion slot 4 as shown in FIG. 6A, the first card detection sensor 11 provided in the vicinity of the insertion slot 4 detects the magnetic card 1. Then, the CPU 21 is in the ON state (step S1: YES in FIG. 5), the CPU 21 opens the shutter 6 with the solenoid 23 (step S2), and drives the motor 15 to rotate forward (step S3).

  When the leading end 1 a of the inserted magnetic card 1 comes into contact with the roller 7, the roller 7 is rotated by the insertion force of the magnetic card 1 while being in contact with the magnetic card 1. When the embossed portion 1e of the magnetic card 1 collides with the roller 7 as shown in FIG. 7A (a), the moving speed of the magnetic card 1 is reduced. Further, an impact is applied to the magnetic card 1 and the magnetic card 1 vibrates. At this time, particularly, the front end 1a side of the magnetic card 1 vibrates greatly in the vertical direction (U and D directions) and the front and rear (F and B directions). After the collision, the roller 7 is rotated by the insertion force of the magnetic card 1 and rides on the embossed portion 1e as shown in FIG. 7A (b). When the roller 7 falls from the embossed portion 1e onto the top surface of the magnetic card 1 as shown in FIG. 7A (c), an impact is applied to the magnetic card 1 and the magnetic card 1 vibrates. At this time, especially the tip 1a side of the magnetic card 1 vibrates up and down greatly.

  When the leading end 1a of the inserted magnetic card 1 passes through the shutter 6 and comes into contact with the transport roller 16 in the vicinity of the insertion portion 3, the transport roller 16 is rotated by the forward rotation of the motor 15. Therefore, the magnetic card 1 is sandwiched and conveyed in the F direction, and taken into the main body 2. At this time, the roller 7 is rotated by the conveying force of the magnetic card 1 while being in contact with the magnetic card 1, so that the roller 7 and the embossed portion 1e of the magnetic card 1 are in contact with or separated from each other as shown in FIG. 7A (d). To do. While the roller 7 and the embossed portion 1e of the magnetic card 1 are in contact with or away from each other, the moving speed of the magnetic card 1 is reduced as described above. Further, an impact is applied to the magnetic card 1 and the magnetic card 1 vibrates. At this time, especially the rear end 1b side of the magnetic card 1 vibrates greatly up and down and front and rear.

  When the magnetic card 1 is transported in the F direction and the first card detection sensor 11 does not detect the magnetic card 1 and is turned off (step S4 in FIG. 5: YES), the CPU 21 waits for a while before the solenoid 23 closes the shutter 6 (step S5). When the shutter 6 is closed, the magnetic card 1 is conveyed in the F direction by the conveying roller 16 inside the main body 2. Thereafter, when the tip 1a of the magnetic card 1 reaches the position where the third card detection sensor 13 is provided as shown in FIG. 6B, the third card detection sensor 13 detects the magnetic card 1 and is in the ON state. (Step S6 in FIG. 5: YES), the CPU 21 reads information from the magnetic stripe 1s of the magnetic card 1 by the magnetic head 10 while conveying the magnetic card 1 in the F direction (Step S7). Then, as shown in FIG. 6C, when the leading end 1a of the magnetic card 1 reaches the position where the fourth card detection sensor 14 is provided, the fourth card detection sensor 14 detects the magnetic card 1 and is turned on. Therefore (step S8 in FIG. 5: YES), the CPU 21 stops the forward drive of the motor 15 (step S9). As a result, the rotation of the transport roller 16 stops and the transport of the magnetic card 1 stops. Further, reading of information from the magnetic card 1 by the magnetic head 10 is completed.

  Thereafter, the CPU 21 communicates with the host device via the communication unit 20 (step S10), and transmits information read from the magnetic card 1 to the host device. And when the notification which shows that the predetermined transaction processing was completed from a high-order apparatus, CPU21 reversely drives the motor 15 in order to return the magnetic card 1 (step S11). As a result, the transport roller 16 rotates and the magnetic card 1 is transported in the B direction toward the insertion slot 4. When the magnetic card 1 is conveyed in the direction B, when the rear end 1b of the magnetic card 1 reaches the position where the second card detection sensor 12 is provided as shown in FIG. Since the sensor 12 detects the magnetic card 1 and is turned on (step S12 in FIG. 5: YES), the CPU 21 opens the shutter 6 (step S13).

  When the rear end 1 b of the magnetic card 1 being conveyed in the B direction passes through the shutter 6 and comes into contact with the roller 7, the roller 7 is rotated by the conveying force of the magnetic card 1 while being in contact with the upper surface of the magnetic card 1. When the embossed portion 1e of the magnetic card 1 collides with the roller 7 as shown in FIG. 7B (e), the moving speed of the magnetic card 1 is reduced. Further, an impact is applied to the magnetic card 1 and the magnetic card 1 vibrates. At this time, especially the rear end 1b side of the magnetic card 1 vibrates greatly in the vertical and forward / backward directions. After the collision, the roller 7 rotates by the conveying force of the magnetic card 1 and rides on the embossed portion 1e as shown in FIG. 7B (f). When the roller 7 falls from the embossed portion 1e onto the upper surface of the magnetic card 1 as shown in FIG. 7B (g), an impact is applied to the magnetic card 1 and the magnetic card 1 vibrates. At this time, particularly the rear end 1b side of the magnetic card 1 vibrates greatly in the vertical direction. At this time, the first card detection sensor 11 detects the magnetic card 1 and is turned on.

  After that, when the magnetic card 1 is further conveyed in the B direction and the tip 1a of the magnetic card 1 passes the position where the second card detection sensor 12 is provided, the first card detection sensor 11 remains in the ON state. Since the second card detection sensor 12 no longer detects the magnetic card 1 and is turned off (step S14 in FIG. 5: YES), the CPU 21 stops the reverse drive of the motor 15 after a while (step S15). As a result, the rotation of the transport roller 16 stops, the magnetic card 1 stops on the B direction side of the transport roller 16 in the vicinity of the insertion portion 3, and the rear end 1b of the magnetic card 1 protrudes from the insertion port 4 to the outside. It will be in the state. In such a state, the magnetic card 1 is pulled out from the insertion slot 4 in the direction B by the user. At the time of extraction, the roller 7 is rotated by the pulling force of the magnetic card 1 while being in contact with the magnetic card 1, and the roller 7 and the embossed portion 1e of the magnetic card 1 are in contact with or separated from each other as shown in FIG. To do. While the roller 7 and the embossed portion 1e of the magnetic card 1 are in contact with or away from each other, the moving speed of the magnetic card 1 is reduced as described above. Further, an impact is applied to the magnetic card 1 and the magnetic card 1 vibrates. At this time, especially the tip 1a side of the magnetic card 1 vibrates greatly vertically and backwards and forwards.

  When the magnetic card 1 is removed from the insertion slot 4 and the first card detection sensor 11 does not detect the magnetic card 1 and is turned off (step S16 in FIG. 5: YES), the CPU 21 opens the shutter 6. Close (step S17), and the process ends.

  When the magnetic card 1 passes through the vicinity of the insertion port 4 of the insertion portion 3 when the magnetic card 1 is inserted into or extracted from the magnetic card processing apparatus 101, the magnetic force is reduced. When the embossed portion 1 e of the card 1 is in contact with the roller 7, the moving speed of the magnetic card 1 can be changed, and the magnetic card 1 can be vibrated by applying an impact to the magnetic card 1. Therefore, even if the fake card reader is attached to the front surface (surface on the B direction side) of the insertion portion 3 of the magnetic card processing apparatus 101, the moving speed of the magnetic card 1 in the vicinity of the insertion port 4 is not constant, Since the magnetic card 1 and the magnetic head provided in the fake card reader come into contact with or separate from each other and the contact state between them becomes unstable, it is possible to prevent unauthorized reading of information on the magnetic card 1 by the fake card reader. It becomes possible.

  Further, as described in Non-Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 1, if an attempt is made to intermittently convey a magnetic card, the control of the motor for carrying the magnetic card becomes complicated, the load on the motor increases, and the life is shortened. In addition, there is a problem that power consumption becomes high. However, by providing the roller 7 in the vicinity of the insertion port 4 as described above, it is possible to prevent unauthorized reading of information on the magnetic card 1 without intermittently transporting the magnetic card 1. The control of the transport motor 15 is not complicated, the load on the motor 15 is not increased, the life is not shortened, and the power consumption is not increased. Further, since the roller 7 and the magnetic head 10 are arranged with a gap Z larger than the width Y of the longitudinal direction F and B of the magnetic card 1, the roller 7 and the magnetic head 10 do not contact the magnetic card 1 at the same time. Therefore, when the magnetic card 1 is not in contact with the roller 7, that is, when the magnetic card 1 is transported at a constant speed by the transport roller 16 and the motor 15 and is not vibrated by the roller 7, the magnetic head 10 is magnetized. The information can be normally read by stably contacting the magnetic stripe 1s of the card 1. Further, since the impact applied by the roller 7 to the magnetic card 1 and the vibration of the magnetic card 1 are not directly transmitted to the magnetic head 10, damage to the magnetic head 10 can be prevented.

  8-10 is a figure which shows the internal structure of the magnetic card processing apparatus 102 which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 8 is an upper cross-sectional view of the same, FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side view of the same (a cross-sectional view of the magnetic card processing apparatus 102 viewed from the L direction side in FIG. 8), and FIG. It is sectional drawing which looked at the apparatus 102 from the B direction side.

  The magnetic card processing apparatus 102 according to the present embodiment performs information reading processing on the magnetic card 1 that has been inserted and stopped to a predetermined position inside. 41 is a main body of the magnetic card processing apparatus 102, 42 is an insertion slot into which the magnetic card 1 provided on the front surface (surface in the B direction side) of the main body 41 is inserted, and 43 is a passage through which the magnetic card 1 passes. The width W1 (shown in FIG. 8) of the insertion slot 42 and the passage 43 is substantially the same size as the width X of the short direction R, L of the magnetic card 1. As a result, the magnetic card 1 can be inserted into the insertion opening 42 and the passage 43 in the width directions R and L without backlash. Further, the height H1 (shown in FIG. 9) of the insertion slot 42 is greater than the thickness T of the magnetic card 1. Thereby, the magnetic card 1 can move in the vertical directions U and D in the vicinity of the insertion slot 42. Reference numeral 44 in FIG. 8 denotes a notch provided in the insertion port 42. By inserting a finger into the notch 44, the magnetic card 1 can be inserted into the passage 43 to the back (F direction side) or removed from the back.

  Near the insertion opening 42, the same roller 7, housing 8, and leaf spring 9 as shown in FIGS. The roller 7 is disposed so as to be in contact with the embossed portion 1 e protruding in the U direction of the magnetic card 1 passing through the passage 43 in the vicinity of the insertion port 42. A magnetic head 45 reads information from the magnetic stripe 1s of the magnetic card 1.

  A moving mechanism 50 moves the magnetic head 45 along the magnetic stripe 1 s of the magnetic card 1. The moving mechanism 50 includes a support plate 46, a lead screw 47, a guide rail 48, gears 49 a to 49 c, and a motor 53. The support plate 46 has a guide rail 48 inserted through an end portion on the L direction side, a lead screw 47 inserted through an end portion on the R direction side, and supports the magnetic head 45 at the center portion. A gear 49 a is connected to the end of the lead screw 47 on the B direction side. The gear 49 a meshes with the gear 49 b, and the gear 49 b meshes with the gear 49 c connected to the rotation shaft of the motor 53. An encoder 54 detects the number of rotations of the motor 53. When the motor 53 is driven to rotate forward, the rollers 49 a to 49 c rotate, the lead screw 47 rotates, and the support plate 46 and the magnetic head 45 move in the F direction along the guide rail 48. When the motor 53 is driven in reverse, the rollers 49 a to 49 c rotate, the lead screw 47 rotates, and the support plate 46 and the magnetic head 45 move in the B direction along the guide rail 48. The head moving mechanism 50 constitutes an embodiment of moving means in the present invention.

  Reference numerals 51 and 52 denote head position sensors constituted by micro switches. The first head position sensor 51 detects that the magnetic head 45 is in a position indicated by a solid line in FIGS. 8 and 9 when the support plate 46 comes into contact. The second head position sensor 52 detects that the magnetic head 45 is at a position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIGS. 8 and 9 when the support plate 46 comes into contact therewith. When the magnetic head 45 moves from the position indicated by the solid line to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line, the magnetic head 45 is in contact with the magnetic stripe 1s of the magnetic card 1 to detect a change in the magnetic force of the magnetic stripe 1s and read the magnetic information. Reference numerals 61 and 62 denote card detection sensors composed of microswitches. The first card detection sensor 61 detects that the magnetic card 1 has been inserted from the insertion slot 42 when the magnetic card 1 comes into contact. The second card detection sensor 62 detects that the magnetic card 1 is completely inserted to a predetermined position in the back of the passage 5 and stopped when the magnetic card 1 comes into contact. The second card detection sensor 62 constitutes an embodiment of the detection means in the present invention. A stopper 55 stops the inserted magnetic card 1 at a predetermined position.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the magnetic card processing apparatus 102. A CPU 31 controls each unit of the magnetic card processing apparatus 102. Reference numeral 32 denotes a ROM in which an operation program of the CPU 31 is stored, and reference numeral 33 denotes a RAM in which control data and the like for the CPU 31 to control each unit are readable and writable. 34 is a communication unit for communicating with the host device, and 45 is the above-described magnetic head. The CPU 31 transmits information read from the magnetic card 1 by the magnetic head 45 to the host device via the communication unit 34. 53 is the motor described above, and 54 is the encoder described above. The CPU 31 controls the moving speed of the magnetic head 45 based on the output of the encoder 54. 51 and 52 are the head position sensors described above, and 61 and 62 are the card detection sensors described above.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the magnetic card processing apparatus 102. Each process is executed by the CPU 31. In explaining the operation of the magnetic card processing apparatus 102, FIG. 13 showing the movement state of the magnetic card 1 in the magnetic card processing apparatus 102, and the figure showing the movement state of the magnetic card 1 in the vicinity of the insertion slot 42 of the magnetic card processing apparatus 102. 14A and 14B will be referred to as appropriate.

  When the user inserts the magnetic card 1 in the F direction from the insertion slot 42 as shown in FIG. 13A, the magnetic card 1 contacts the first card detection sensor 61 provided in the vicinity of the insertion slot 42. To do. As a result, the first card detection sensor 61 detects the magnetic card 1 and is turned on (step S21 in FIG. 12: YES), so the CPU 31 determines that the magnetic card 1 is inserted from the insertion slot 42. .

  When the leading end 1 a of the inserted magnetic card 1 comes into contact with the roller 7, the roller 7 is rotated by the insertion force of the magnetic card 1 while being in contact with the magnetic card 1. When the embossed portion 1e of the magnetic card 1 collides with the roller 7 as shown in FIG. 14A (a), the moving speed of the magnetic card 1 is reduced. Further, an impact is applied to the magnetic card 1 and the magnetic card 1 vibrates. At this time, particularly, the front end 1a side of the magnetic card 1 vibrates greatly in the vertical direction (U and D directions) and the front and rear (F and B directions). The roller 7 rotates by the insertion force of the magnetic card 1 and rides on the embossed portion 1e as shown in FIG. 14A (b). When the roller 7 falls from the embossed portion 1e onto the top surface of the magnetic card 1 as shown in FIG. 14A (c), an impact is applied to the magnetic card 1 and the magnetic card 1 vibrates. At this time, especially the tip 1a side of the magnetic card 1 vibrates up and down greatly. During the insertion of the magnetic card 1 as described above, the roller 7 and the embossed portion 1e of the magnetic card 1 are in contact with or away from each other. Therefore, during the contact and separation, the moving speed of the magnetic card 1 is reduced as described above, and the magnetic card 1 vibrates up and down and back and forth.

  When the leading end 1a of the inserted magnetic card 1 comes into contact with the stopper 55 as shown in FIG. 13B and the magnetic card 1 stops at a predetermined position, the magnetic card 1 is detected by the second card detection sensor 62. To touch. Thereby, since the second card detection sensor 62 detects the magnetic card 1 and is turned on (step S22 in FIG. 12: YES), the CPU 31 stops when the magnetic card 1 is inserted to a predetermined position. to decide. Then, the CPU 31 drives the motor 53 to rotate forward (step S23), and moves the magnetic head 45 in the F direction from the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. Information is read from one magnetic stripe 1s (step S24 in FIG. 12). If the magnetic card 1 is pulled in the B direction during reading of this information, it moves away from the second card detection sensor 62 as shown in FIG. Then, since the second card detection sensor 62 stops detecting the magnetic card 1 and is turned off (step S25 in FIG. 12: YES), the CPU 31 determines that an information reading abnormality has occurred, and the motor 53 rotates forward. The driving is stopped (step S27). As a result, the magnetic head 45 stops and reading of information from the magnetic card 1 is stopped.

  On the other hand, when the second card detection sensor 62 remains in the ON state (step S25: NO) and the magnetic head 45 reaches the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 13B, the support plate 46 is moved to the second head position sensor. 52, the second head position sensor 52 is turned on (step S <b> 26 in FIG. 12: YES). Therefore, the CPU 31 determines that the information has been normally read and stops the forward drive of the motor 53. (Step S27). Thereby, the magnetic head 45 is stopped, and reading of information from the magnetic card 1 is completed.

  When the information is read from the magnetic card 1, the CPU 31 communicates with the host device via the communication unit 34, and transmits the read information to the host device. The host device performs a predetermined transaction process based on the transmitted information, and when the predetermined transaction process is completed, the host device notifies the user of the removal of the magnetic card 1 from the magnetic card processing device 102. Do. This notification is performed by means such as display of characters and marks, lighting of lamps and LEDs, and voice guidance.

  When the removal of the magnetic card 1 is permitted, the magnetic card 1 is pulled in the B direction by the user. When the rear end 1 b of the magnetic card 1 being pulled comes into contact with the roller 7, the roller 7 is rotated by the pulling force of the magnetic card 1 while being in contact with the magnetic card 1. When the embossed portion 1e of the magnetic card 1 collides with the roller 7 as shown in FIG. 14B (d), the moving speed of the magnetic card 1 is reduced. Further, an impact is applied to the magnetic card 1 and the magnetic card 1 vibrates. At this time, especially the rear end 1b side of the magnetic card 1 vibrates greatly in the vertical and forward / backward directions. The roller 7 rotates by the insertion force of the magnetic card 1 and rides on the embossed portion 1e as shown in FIG. 14B (e). When the roller 7 falls from the embossed portion 1e onto the upper surface of the magnetic card 1 as shown in FIG. 14B (f), an impact is applied to the magnetic card 1 and the magnetic card 1 vibrates. At this time, especially the rear end 1a side of the magnetic card 1 vibrates greatly in the vertical direction. At this time, the first card detection sensor 11 detects the magnetic card 1 and is turned on. While the magnetic card 1 is being pulled out as described above, the roller 7 and the embossed portion 1e of the magnetic card 1 are in contact with or away from each other. Therefore, during the contact and separation, the moving speed of the magnetic card 1 is reduced as described above, and the magnetic card 1 vibrates up and down and back and forth.

  When the leading end 1a of the magnetic card 1 pulled in the B direction moves away from the first card detection sensor 61 as shown in FIG. 13 (d), the first card detection sensor 61 does not detect the magnetic card 1. Therefore, the CPU 31 determines that the magnetic card 1 has been removed from the insertion slot 4 (step S28 in FIG. 12: YES). Actually, after a while after the first card detection sensor 61 is turned off, the magnetic card 1 is completely removed from the insertion slot 42 by the user. Thereafter, the CPU 31 drives the motor 53 in the reverse direction (step S29) to move the magnetic head 45 in the B direction from the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. When the magnetic head 45 reaches the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 13D, the support plate 46 comes into contact with the first head position sensor 51, and the first head position sensor 51 is turned on. (Step S30 in FIG. 12: YES), the CPU 31 stops the reverse drive of the motor 53 (Step S31) and ends the process.

  When the magnetic card 1 passes through the vicinity of the insertion slot 42 when the magnetic card 1 is inserted into and removed from the magnetic card processing apparatus 102, the magnetic card 1 is embossed. When the portion 1 e contacts the roller 7, the moving speed of the magnetic card 1 can be changed, and the magnetic card 1 can be vibrated by applying an impact to the magnetic card 1. Therefore, even if the fake card reader is attached to the front surface (surface on the B direction side) of the insertion slot 42 of the magnetic card processing apparatus 102, the moving speed of the magnetic card 1 in the vicinity of the insertion slot 42 is not constant, Since the contact state between the magnetic stripe 1s of the magnetic card 1 and the magnetic head provided in the fake card reader becomes unstable, it becomes possible to prevent unauthorized reading of information on the magnetic card 1 by the fake card reader.

  When the inserted magnetic card 1 is in contact with the stopper 55 and stopped at a predetermined position, the magnetic head 45 is moved in the F direction to read information on the magnetic card 1, so that the magnetic card 1 is stopped at the predetermined position. The magnetic head 45 can be stably brought into contact with the magnetic stripe 1s of the magnetic card 1 that is not vibrated, so that information can be normally read. Further, when it is detected that the magnetic card 1 has moved from a predetermined position while reading the information on the magnetic card 1, the movement of the magnetic head 45 is stopped and the reading of the information on the magnetic card 1 is stopped. Damage to the magnetic head 45 and the moving mechanism 50 can be prevented.

  The present invention can adopt various forms other than the embodiment described above. For example, in the above embodiment, the example in which the roller 7 is disposed on the side opposite to the insertion slot 4 or 42 than the first card detection sensor 11 or 61 is given. However, the roller 7 is disposed on the side opposite to the first card detection sensor 11 or 61. You may make it arrange | position in the substantially same position with respect to the insertion port 4 and 42 side or the insertion direction F of the 1st card | curd detection sensors 11 and 61 and the magnetic card | curd 1. FIG. If the roller 7 is provided as close to the insertion ports 4 and 42 as possible, the moving speed of the magnetic card 1 can be changed in the vicinity of the insertion ports 4 and 42 and the time for vibrating the magnetic card 1 can be lengthened. This is effective in preventing illegal reading of information on the magnetic card 1 due to.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the rollers 7 having the same width as the width of the portion of the magnetic card 1 to be embossed (the portion surrounded by the one-dot chain line in FIGS. 2 and 8) are inserted into the insertion ports 4, 42. Although only one example is provided in the vicinity, the present invention is not limited to this. In addition to this, for example, one or two or more rollers having a width different from the width of the embossed portion of the magnetic card 1 may be provided in the vicinity of the insertion ports 4 and 42. When two or more rollers are provided, the rollers may be arranged so as to be shifted in the insertion direction F or the width directions R and L of the magnetic card 1.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a magnetic card processing apparatus that performs information reading processing on a magnetic card. However, the present invention can also perform information writing processing on a magnetic card, for example. The present invention can be applied to a magnetic card processing device to be performed and a magnetic card processing device to perform both reading and writing of information. It is also possible to apply the present invention to a card processing apparatus having a magnetic head and an IC contact unit therein so that information can be processed for a magnetic IC card provided with both a magnetic stripe and an IC contact. . Furthermore, a magnetic head and an antenna for non-contact communication are internally provided so that information processing can be performed on a non-contact IC card with a magnetic stripe provided with a magnetic stripe, an antenna for non-contact communication, and an IC. It is also possible to apply to a card processing apparatus.

1 is a side sectional view of a magnetic card processing apparatus according to a first embodiment. It is upper part sectional drawing of the same apparatus. It is front sectional drawing of the same apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the apparatus. It is a figure which shows the conveyance state of the magnetic card | curd in the apparatus. It is a figure which shows the passage state of the magnetic card | curd in the insertion part of the apparatus. It is a figure which shows the passage state of the magnetic card | curd in the insertion part of the apparatus. It is upper part sectional drawing of the magnetic card processing apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is side sectional drawing of the apparatus. It is front sectional drawing of the same apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the apparatus. It is a figure which shows the movement state of the magnetic card | curd in the apparatus. It is a figure which shows the movement state of the magnetic card | curd in the insertion port vicinity of the apparatus. It is a figure which shows the movement state of the magnetic card | curd in the insertion port vicinity of the apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Magnetic card 1e Embossing part 4 Insertion slot 7 Roller 10 Magnetic head 15 Motor 16 Conveyance roller 42 Insertion slot 45 Magnetic head 50 Moving mechanism 62 2nd card detection sensor 101 Magnetic card processing apparatus 102 Magnetic card processing apparatus F Insertion direction Z space | interval

Claims (3)

Magnetic card processing in which after the magnetic card whose surface has been embossed is inserted from the insertion slot, information processing is performed on the magnetic card by a magnetic head, and the magnetic card is removed from the insertion slot after completion of the processing. In the device
2. A magnetic card processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a roller is provided in the vicinity of the insertion slot so as to contact an embossed portion of the protruding magnetic card. The magnetic card processing device according to claim 1,
A transport means for transporting the magnetic card inserted from the insertion slot;
Information processing is performed by the magnetic head on the magnetic card transported by the transport means,
A magnetic card processing apparatus, wherein the roller and the magnetic head are arranged at a predetermined interval in a magnetic card insertion direction so as not to contact the magnetic card at the same time. The magnetic card processing device according to claim 1,
Detecting means for detecting that the magnetic card is completely inserted to a predetermined position and stopped;
Moving means for moving the magnetic head along the magnetic stripe of the magnetic card,
When the stop at the predetermined position of the magnetic card is detected by the detecting means, the moving means is driven to process information on the magnetic card while moving the magnetic head. Magnetic card processing device.

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