JP2007080328A - Magnetic card processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a magnetic card processing apparatus in which checking and cleaning of a contact plane of a magnetic head can be performed easily. <P>SOLUTION: The apparatus is provided with the magnetic head 22 performing reading/writing of magnetic data by contacting a magnetic recording medium 8 of a card type, an opposing member (pad roller 26 or second magnetic head) provided opposing to the magnetic head and contacting the magnetic recording medium 8 to the magnetic head 22, and a holding member 40 holding the opposing member, fixing the opposing member at a use position, while moving the opposing member to an evacuation position, and exposing the contact plane of the magnetic head 22. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a magnetic card processing device that processes magnetic data of a card-type magnetic recording medium such as a credit card, a prepaid card, or a cash card, and in particular, a magnetic card processing that improves the maintainability of a magnetic head and a magnetic card processing device. It relates to the structure of the device.

  A magnetic card processing apparatus that processes magnetic data recorded on a magnetic recording medium is a magnetic head that is contaminated with a magnetic head that reads / writes magnetic data or contacts a magnetic recording medium after long-term use. Wear may occur on the contact surface. If the magnetic head is contaminated or the wear of the contact surface of the magnetic head progresses and the use limit is exceeded, the magnetic data cannot be read / written normally. Therefore, during the maintenance of the magnetic card processing apparatus, the wear state of the magnetic head is observed, and the contact surface of the magnetic head is cleaned or the magnetic head is replaced as necessary.

  Conventionally, when observing the state of the contact surface of the magnetic head, there has been a problem in that the magnetic head or an assembly part to which the magnetic head is assembled must be removed and checked.

To counter such problems, a counter roller provided opposite to the magnetic head is slidably mounted on the rotating shaft of the counter roller, and the magnetic head is pressed toward the counter roller by the force of the head pressing spring. A magnetic card reader / writer configured to be energized has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This magnetic card reader / writer slides in contact with the magnetic card by sliding the opposing roller along the rotation axis and opening the upper side of the magnetic head when performing maintenance such as removing dirt on the magnetic head. It is said that the contact surface of the magnetic head can be easily cleaned.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-175896 (paragraph number 0016, FIG. 4)

  However, the magnetic card reader / writer described in Patent Document 1 has a roller shaft still directly above the magnetic head to be cleaned even when the opposing roller is slid along the rotation axis. It was difficult to observe the wear state and dirt state of the contact surface of the head, and it was difficult to clean the magnetic head.

  On the other hand, in the case of a magnetic card processing apparatus corresponding to a magnetic recording medium having magnetic stripes on both sides, it is extremely difficult to check and clean the wear status of the magnetic head corresponding to each magnetic stripe. It was.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic card processing apparatus capable of easily inspecting and cleaning a contact surface of a magnetic head.

  In order to solve the above problems, a magnetic card processing apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a magnetic head for reading / writing magnetic data in contact with a card-type magnetic recording medium, and facing the magnetic head. A facing member that makes the recording medium contact the magnetic head, and a holding member that holds the facing member, fixes the facing member to the use position, and moves the facing member to the retracted position to expose the contact surface of the magnetic head. And a member.

  According to the present invention, the contact surface of the magnetic head can be exposed by moving the opposing member to the retracted position during maintenance of the magnetic card processing apparatus. As a result, the wear state of the contact surface of the magnetic head can be easily confirmed, and the contact surface of the magnetic head can be easily cleaned.

  In the magnetic card processing apparatus of the present invention, the facing member is a pad roller.

  According to the present invention, the contact surface of the magnetic head can be exposed by moving the pad roller, which is the opposing member, to the retracted position during maintenance of the magnetic card processing apparatus.

  In the magnetic card processing apparatus according to the present invention, the facing member is a second magnetic head that contacts a surface opposite to the surface of the magnetic recording medium with which the magnetic head contacts.

  According to the present invention, the contact surface of the magnetic head can be exposed by moving the second magnetic head, which is the opposing member, to the retracted position during maintenance of the magnetic card processing apparatus. Further, the contact surface of the retracted second magnetic head can be exposed in the same manner, and the wear state of the contact surface can be easily confirmed, and the contact surface can be easily cleaned. .

  In the magnetic card processing apparatus of the present invention, the holding member includes a rotation shaft that rotates the counter member at one end, and a lock member at the other end opposite to the rotation shaft. .

  According to this invention, the opposing member can be fixed and retracted by the rotation shaft and the lock member provided in the holding member.

  In the magnetic card processing device of the present invention, the lock member engages with an engaging portion fixed to the frame of the magnetic card processing device, and between the engaging portion and the engaging portion. And a spring for applying a relative biasing force.

  According to this invention, the locking member engages with the engaging portion fixed to the frame of the magnetic card processing apparatus, and the relative biasing force between the engaging portion and the engaging portion. Therefore, it is possible to perform maintenance of the magnetic card processing apparatus by removing the engaging portion from the locking portion and retracting the opposing member. Further, when the maintenance of the magnetic card processing apparatus is completed, the opposing member can be returned to the use position and fixed by engaging the engaging portion with the engaging portion. At this time, since the spring provided on the opposing member gives a relative biasing force between the engaging portion and the locking portion, after the engaging portion is engaged with the locking portion, In this case, the engaging portion and the locking portion are relatively biased by the force of the spring, and the opposing member is fixed at a predetermined position. Note that the relative urging force between the engaging portion and the locking portion provided by the spring includes the form in which the engaging portion is urged toward the locking portion and the locking portion on the engaging portion side. For example.

  The magnetic card processing apparatus of the present invention is characterized by comprising a sensor that outputs a signal indicating that the opposing member is held at the use position by the holding member.

  According to this invention, since the sensor that outputs a signal indicating that the opposing member is held at the use position by the holding member is provided, the host device can be used only when the opposing member is fixed at the use position. It can be programmed to perform the operation of the magnetic card processor. As a result, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of problems due to forgetting to fix the opposing member.

  According to the magnetic card processing device of the present invention, during the maintenance of the magnetic card processing device, the contact surface of the magnetic head can be exposed by moving the opposing member to the retracted position. While being able to confirm easily, cleaning of the contact surface of a magnetic head can be performed easily. Even when the magnetic recording medium is jammed in the magnetic card processing apparatus, the jammed magnetic recording medium can be easily found and easily removed.

  The magnetic head processing apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited to the following description and drawing in the range which has the technical feature.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the magnetic card processing apparatuses 10 and 110 according to the present invention contact a card-type magnetic recording medium 8 to read / write magnetic data, and the magnetic head 22. And opposing members (26, 24) for contacting the magnetic recording medium 8 with the magnetic head 22, and holding the opposing members (26, 24), and using the opposing members (26, 24) at the use position. And holding members 40 and 140 that move the opposing members (26, 24) to the retracted position and expose the contact surface of the magnetic head 22. In the magnetic card processing apparatus of the present invention, the case where the pad roller 26 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is used as the opposing member is the first form, and the case where the second magnetic head 24 shown in FIG. Two forms will be described below.

(Magnetic card processing apparatus according to the first embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of a magnetic card processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the magnetic card processing apparatus shown in FIG.

  When the user inserts a card-type magnetic recording medium 8 such as a credit card, prepaid card, or cash card into the recording medium intake port 14, the magnetic card processing apparatus 10 carries the magnetic card processing apparatus 10 to the magnetic card processing apparatus 10. This unit has a function of reading various information carried in along the path 12 and recorded on the magnetic stripe 6 of the magnetic recording medium 8 and performing processing such as payment, deposit and transfer of money. The present invention is applied to those having such basic performance, and is not construed as being limited to the contents described below.

  In the magnetic card processing apparatus 10, for example, a recording medium inlet 14 into which the magnetic recording medium 8 is inserted, a conveying roller 16 and a driven roller 17 for conveying the inserted magnetic recording medium 8 along the conveying path 12. A plurality of photosensors 18 for confirming the size and position of the magnetic recording medium 8 inserted therein, and a magnetic head for reading / writing various information recorded on the magnetic stripe 6 (hereinafter referred to as a first recording medium). And a pad roller 26 that presses and contacts the magnetic recording medium 8 against the first magnetic head 22. In the present application, “reading / writing” means reading and / or writing.

  In the vicinity of the recording medium inlet 14 of the magnetic card processing device 10, an insertion sensor 30 that normally detects that the magnetic recording medium 8 has been inserted is disposed. The insertion sensor 30 detects that the user has inserted the magnetic recording medium 8 into the recording medium inlet 14, and the signal detected by the insertion sensor 30 is transmitted to the control means 98 of the magnetic card processing apparatus 10. The

  As shown in FIG. 2, the magnetic card processing apparatus 10 includes a feed driver 84 and a feed motor 34. The feed driver 84 outputs a drive signal for the feed motor 34 based on the rotation speed signal or the position signal input from the control means 98. The feed motor 34 rotates the transport roller 16 via a transmission means such as a timing belt based on the drive signal input from the feed driver 84. The feed of the magnetic recording medium 8 by the feed driver 84 and the feed motor 34 can be controlled based on a command from the control means 98.

  When the insertion sensor 30 detects the insertion of the magnetic recording medium 8, the control means 98 outputs a signal for rotating the transport roller 16 to the feed driver 84. With this output, the feed motor 34 performs a process of carrying the magnetic recording medium 8 into the back side of the magnetic card processing apparatus 10.

  The conveyance roller 16 is in contact with the magnetic recording medium 8 and performs conveyance for carrying the magnetic recording medium 8 along the conveyance path 12 and discharging it. The first magnetic head 22 and the magnetic recording medium 8 come into contact with each other so as to slide relative to each other by the transport roller 16, and magnetic data is read / written by the magnetic head 22. In the present application, “contact” means that the magnetic head 22 and the magnetic recording medium 8 are pressed against each other in addition to the case where the magnetic head 22 and the magnetic recording medium 8 are in contact with each other so as to slide relative to each other. This refers to the case of contact in a state.

  The input / output terminal of the first magnetic head 22 is connected to the input / output terminal of the head amplifier 88. The head amplifier 88 outputs a recording signal to the first magnetic head 22 while conveying the magnetic recording medium 8. Thereby, various information can be recorded on the magnetic stripe 6.

  In reading magnetic data, when the magnetic recording medium 8 is transported along the transport path 12, various information signals recorded on the magnetic stripe 6 are output from the first magnetic head 22. The head amplifier 88 amplifies the information signal, outputs it to the control means 98 or the outside after performing processing such as equalizing and filtering.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the first magnetic head 22 is fixed to the head bracket 62 by adhesion or the like, and is held so as to be displaceable in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the magnetic stripe 6 of the magnetic recording medium 8. ing.

  The head bracket 62 is provided with pin holes 66 and 68. The pin holes 66 and 68 cooperate with the guide pins 70 and 72 to hold the first magnetic head 22 so as to be displaceable in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the magnetic stripe 6. Further, the pin holes 66 and 68 cooperate with the guide pins 70 and 72 so that the first magnetic head 22 is in a predetermined position so as to contact the surface of the magnetic stripe 6 of the magnetic recording medium 8 and the first holes are formed. The inclination angle of the gap of the magnetic head 22 is matched with the magnetic pole recorded on the magnetic stripe 6.

  The guide pins 70 and 72 cooperate with the above-described pin holes 66 and 68 to set the first magnetic head 22 at a predetermined position in the plane of the magnetic stripe 6 of the magnetic recording medium 8, so that the first magnetic head The gap 22 is set at a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the magnetic pole recorded on the magnetic stripe 6 and has a function of holding the first magnetic head 22 so as to be displaceable in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the magnetic stripe 6. .

  The head bracket 62 presses the first magnetic head 22 toward the magnetic recording medium 8 by the urging force of the pressing spring 76. Accordingly, even when the magnetic recording medium 8 is curved, the first magnetic head 22 can be stably brought into contact with the magnetic recording medium 8 with a predetermined force, so that reading / writing of magnetic information is possible. Can be performed more reliably. In the example shown in FIG. 2, a stroke stopper 78 for limiting the vertical displacement of the first magnetic head 22 is provided.

  Next, the pad roller, its operation, and the holding member will be described. FIG. 3 shows a form when the pad roller 26, which is a facing member, is fixed at the use position, and FIG. 4 shows a form when the pad roller 26, which is a facing member, moves to the retracted position.

  The pad roller 26 is rotatably held by a holding member 40 as shown in FIGS. The pad roller 26 is a driven roller having no drive mechanism, but may be provided with a drive roller function for driving the magnetic recording medium 8 itself. Further, when viewed as a counter member, a contact lubrication member (pad member) having no roller function may be provided instead of the pad roller 26, and in that case, the object of the present invention can be achieved.

  The holding member 40 holds the pad roller 26, fixes the pad roller 26 at a position where the magnetic recording medium 8 is brought into contact with the first magnetic head 22, and moves the pad roller 26 to the retracted position to move the first magnetic field. It is a member that exposes the contact surface of the head 22. For example, the holding member 40 may include a structure in which a rotation shaft 42 that rotates and displaces the pad roller 26 is provided at one end, and a lock member 44 is provided on the other end opposite to the rotation shaft 42. .

  The rotation angle at which the pad roller 26 can be displaced about the rotation shaft 42 is not particularly limited, but is an angle at which the first magnetic head 22 and the pad roller 26 can be sufficiently exposed so that the contamination can be sufficiently confirmed. It is preferable. In this embodiment, the angle is preferably about 90 ° with respect to the transport virtual plane on which the magnetic recording medium 8 is transported.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the pad roller 26 is fixed at a predetermined use position, the lock member 44 is engaged with a locking portion 46 fixed to the frame of the magnetic card processing apparatus 10. A structure including a key-shaped engaging portion 48 and a spring 54 that applies a relative urging force between the key-shaped engaging portion 48 and the locking portion 46 can be exemplified. The engaging portion 48 and the engaging portion 46 may be in a concave-convex engaging relationship with each other. As shown in FIG. 3, the engaging portion 48 is a key-like convex portion, and the engaging portion 46 is a concave portion. Although not shown, the engaging portion 48 may be a concave portion, and the locking portion 46 may be a key-shaped convex portion. Note that the relative biasing force between the engaging portion 48 and the locking portion 46 provided by the spring 54 is a mode in which the engaging portion 48 is biased toward the locking portion 46 (see FIG. 3). A configuration (not shown) in which the engaging portion 46 is urged toward the engaging portion 48 side can be mentioned.

  Further, the lock member 44 includes an introduction portion 50 that temporarily releases the engaging portion 48 when the pad roller 26 is fixed at the use position, and a rotation shaft 52 that rotatably holds the lock member 44 itself. And a structure provided with a shielding plate 58 used for signal output indicating that the pad roller 26 is held at the use position by blocking the optical axis of the sensor 60 described later.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the pad roller 26 is held at the use position, the engaging portion 48 is engaged with the engaging portion 46, so that the pad roller 26 is pressed by the pressing spring 76 (see FIG. 2). ) Is received by the first magnetic head 22 pressed in the direction of the magnetic recording medium 8. Thereby, the contact between the first magnetic head 22 and the magnetic recording medium 8 is more reliable. In this state, light from the translucent sensor 60 is shielded by the shielding plate 58. Therefore, a host device such as the control means 98 can detect that the holding member 40 holds the pad roller 26 in the use position.

  The spring 54 applies a relative urging force between the engaging portion 48 and the locking portion 46. Specifically, the spring 54 applies a force that urges the engaging portion 48 of the lock member 44 toward the locking portion 46. As a result, the holding member 40 is locked at the use position, and the pad roller 26 is fixed at the use position.

  The sensor 60 outputs a signal indicating that the pad roller 26 is held at the use position by the holding member 40. In FIG. 3, the sensor 60 is attached to the sensor attachment member 61, and the sensor attachment member 61 is provided on the frame of the magnetic card processing device 10, but the sensor 60 is provided directly on the frame of the magnetic card processing device 10. It does not matter. Further, the sensor 60 is not limited to a photo sensor, and may be configured by a pressure sensor or a leaf switch. The sensor 60 may be provided on the holding member 40 as long as the position of the holding member 40 can be detected.

  When moving the pad roller 26 from the use position to the retracted position, the operator pushes the finger hook 56 provided on the lock member 44 so as to overcome the urging force of the spring 54. Then, the lock member 44 rotates about the rotation shaft 52, and the engaging portion 48 is disengaged from the locking portion 46. When the holding member 40 is lifted in this state, the holding member 40 can be moved to the retracted position as shown in FIG.

  When the holding member 40 is moved to the retracted position, the contact surface of the first magnetic head 22 can be exposed. In this state, since the upper part of the contact surface of the first magnetic head 22 is opened, the access to the contact surface of the first magnetic head 22 can be easily performed, and the wear state can be easily confirmed. The contact surface of the first magnetic head 22 can be easily cleaned. Further, even when the magnetic recording medium 8 is jammed in the magnetic card processing apparatus 10, the jammed magnetic recording medium 8 can be easily found and removed easily.

  When the holding member 40 is returned from the retracted position to the use position, it is only necessary to bring the holding member 40 to the use position as it is. Since the locking member 44 of the holding member 40 is provided with an introduction portion 50 that is processed obliquely, the introduction portion 50 automatically rides on a locking portion 46 provided on the frame of the magnetic card processing apparatus 10. Then, the engaging portion 48 is temporarily released. When the holding member 40 is fixed at the use position, the engaging portion 48 is biased and engaged with the engaging portion 46 by the biasing force of the spring 54, and the holding member 40 is locked at the use position.

  As described above, according to the magnetic card processing apparatus 10 of the present invention, the holding member 40 that holds the opposing member composed of the pad roller 26 can be moved from the use position to the retracted position. Can be exposed. As a result, maintenance such as inspection and cleaning of the contact surface of the magnetic head 22 can be easily performed.

(Magnetic card processing apparatus according to the second embodiment)
FIG. 5 is an example of the magnetic card processing apparatus 110 according to the second embodiment of the present invention using the second magnetic head 24 as the opposing member, and shows a form when the second magnetic head 24 is moved to the retracted position. is there. The magnetic card processing device 110 according to the second embodiment is the same as the magnetic card processing device 10 according to the first embodiment described above except that the opposing member is changed to the second magnetic head 24. Description is omitted.

  The second magnetic head 24, which is a facing member, contacts the surface opposite to the surface of the magnetic recording medium 8 with which the first magnetic head 22 contacts, and the magnetic data of the magnetic stripe provided on the opposite surface. This is a magnetic head for reading / writing. Therefore, the magnetic card processing apparatus 110 according to the second embodiment corresponds to the magnetic recording medium 8 having magnetic stripes on both sides.

  According to this embodiment, the holding member 140 that holds the second magnetic head 24 can be fixed at the use position and moved to the retracted position so that the contact surface of the second magnetic head 24 is exposed. By moving the holding member 140 to the retracted position during maintenance, the contact surfaces of the first magnetic head 22 and the second magnetic head 24 can be exposed. As a result, it is possible to easily inspect and clean the contact surfaces of the first magnetic head 22 and the second magnetic head 24. Even when the magnetic recording medium is jammed inside the magnetic card processing apparatus 110, the jammed magnetic recording medium can be easily removed.

It is a top view which shows an example of the magnetic card processing apparatus which concerns on the 1st form of this invention. It is a front view of the magnetic card processing apparatus shown in FIG. It is a form when the pad roller which is an opposing member is fixed to the use position. It is a form when the pad roller which is an opposing member moves to a retracted position. It is an example of the magnetic card processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention using the second magnetic head as the opposing member, and is the embodiment when the second magnetic head is moved to the retracted position.

Explanation of symbols

6 Magnetic stripe 8 Magnetic recording medium 10, 110 Magnetic card processing device 12 Conveying path 14 Recording medium inlet 16 Conveying roller 18 Photo sensor 22 First magnetic head 24 Second magnetic head 26 Pad roller 30 Insertion sensor 34 Feeding motor 40 , 140 Holding member 42 Rotating shaft 44 Locking member 46 Locking portion 48 Engaging portion 50 Introduction portion 52 Rotating shaft 54 Spring 56 Finger hook 58 Shielding plate 60 Sensor 62 Head bracket 66, 68 Pin hole 70, 72 Guide pin 76 Press Spring 78 Stroke stopper 84 Feed driver 88 Head amplifier 98 Control means

Claims (6)

A magnetic head for reading / writing magnetic data in contact with a card-type magnetic recording medium;
A facing member provided facing the magnetic head, and contacting the magnetic recording medium and the magnetic head;
And a holding member that holds the facing member, fixes the facing member to a use position, and moves the facing member to a retracted position to expose a contact surface of the magnetic head. apparatus.   The magnetic card processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the facing member is a pad roller.   The magnetic card processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the facing member is a second magnetic head that contacts a surface opposite to a surface of the magnetic recording medium with which the magnetic head contacts.   The said holding member equips one end with the rotating shaft which rotates the said opposing member, and equips the other end on the opposite side to the said rotating shaft with any one of Claims 1-3 characterized by the above-mentioned. The magnetic card processing apparatus as described.   An engaging part that engages with an engaging part fixed to the frame of the magnetic card processing device, and a spring that applies a relative biasing force between the engaging part and the engaging part; The magnetic card processing device according to claim 4, comprising:   6. The magnetic card processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor that outputs a signal indicating that the opposing member is held at the use position by the holding member.

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