JP2007094605A - Ic card processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an IC card processor for determining a failure of an IC card itself due to the disconnection or conduction failure of the IC chip part of an IC card. <P>SOLUTION: This IC card processor 1 is provided with: insertion ports 3a and 3b for inserting an IC card 10; guide paths 4a and 4b for guiding the IC card 10; an IC contactor set 6 installed on the opposite side of the insertion ports 3a and 3b of the guide paths 4a and 4b so as to be brought into contact with the IC contact part of the IC card 10; and a holding part 7 in which the IC card 10 is held in a curved state and a non-curved state, and in which the IC contact part is held so as to be brought into contact with the IC contactor set 6. This device 1 is provided with an inspection part 8 for bringing the IC contactor set 6 into contact with the IC contact part, and for determining the validity/invalidity of communication or the validity/invalidity of reading/writing in such a state that the IC card 10 is put in the curved state and the non-curved state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an IC card processing apparatus, and more particularly to an IC card processing apparatus that can determine a malfunction of the IC card itself due to disconnection or poor conduction in an IC chip portion of the IC card.

  In recent years, IC cards incorporating IC chips capable of reading and writing information have been used in credit cards, prepaid cards, cash cards, card keys, and the like. Various card readers have been proposed in which a contact is brought into contact with an IC chip of such an IC card to read / write information from / to the IC chip.

Among such card readers, for example, the card reader of Patent Document 1 includes a support unit that supports a contact block in a swingable manner with respect to one surface of an IC card, and a movable member that is movable by receiving the insertion force of the IC card. I have. In this IC card reader, even if the IC card is curved, contact failure with respect to the IC contact portion does not occur, the contact life is long, and stable signal processing can be performed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-204203

  However, the card reader described in Patent Document 1 cannot positively determine defects in the IC card itself, such as contact failure that occasionally occurs due to disconnection at the IC contact portion.

  In other words, the IC chip built in the IC card is connected to the IC contact portion by wire bonding or the like, but the bonding wire is disconnected or the bonding portion is disconnected due to rough handling of the card, and the IC card. Sometimes became unusable. When an IC card that has been used normally can suddenly become unusable or occasionally unusable, the IC card user reports to the person in charge of managing the card reader, etc. It corresponds to a bug. In this case, the clerk cannot determine whether the IC card itself has a defect, the card reader has a defect, or the contact portion between the IC card and the card reader has a defect such as a contact failure. A normal IC card for checking is inserted into the suspected card reader to check the card reader, and the suspected IC card is inserted into another normal card reader to check the IC card itself.

  However, if the bonding part is disconnected at the IC chip or the IC contact part, there may or may not be a continuity failure, and the bonding part contacts the IC chip or the IC contact part at the time of checking by the staff. Therefore, there is a problem in that a conduction failure does not occur, and a failure factor of the IC card itself is hidden. As a result, the state in which it is impossible to clearly determine whether the IC card itself is defective, the card reader is defective, or the contact part between the IC card and the card reader is defective is continued. There is a risk of it.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an IC card process capable of determining a malfunction of the IC card itself due to disconnection or poor conduction in the IC chip portion of the IC card. To provide an apparatus.

  The present inventor has developed an IC card processing apparatus capable of effectively checking with high reproducibility a failure factor that may or may not cause a continuity failure such as disconnection or contact failure in an IC chip portion. In the process of doing, the bonding part has come off at the IC chip or IC contact part, but as a result of examining an IC card that does not cause poor conduction during normal use, if the IC card is inspected in a non-curved state, poor conduction As a result, it was found that the probability of being detected as a poor conduction is high when the IC card is inspected in a curved state, and the present invention has been completed based on the knowledge.

  In other words, an IC card processing device of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is provided on the opposite side of the insertion slot for inserting the IC card, a guide path for guiding the IC card, and the insertion slot of the guide path. The IC contact set that contacts the IC contact portion of the IC card, the IC card can be held in a curved state and a non-curved state, and the IC contact portion can contact the IC contact set. And a holding portion for holding the head.

  According to the present invention, the IC card inserted from the insertion slot reaches the holding portion through the guide path, and the IC contact portion is brought into contact with the IC contactor set while being held in the curved state or the non-curved state by the holding portion. Can be made. As a result, the IC card or the IC contact part is disconnected, but the IC card itself has a defective part in the card reader, such as an IC card that does not cause poor conduction during normal use. If the contact between the IC card and the card reader cannot be determined, the continuity between the IC contact part and the IC contactor set is measured using the IC card processing device of the present invention. A normal IC card does not cause poor continuity in either a curved state or a non-curved state, but if the continuity failure occurs when the IC card for inspection is in a curved state, there is a problem with the IC card itself. Can be determined with high probability.

  The IC card processing apparatus according to the present invention further includes an inspection unit that makes the IC contact group contact the IC contact portion to determine whether communication is possible or whether information is read / written in a curved state and a non-curved state. It is characterized by.

  According to this invention, since the inspection unit that determines whether communication is possible or whether information is read / written is further provided, an objective determination without mistakes can be made.

  The IC card processing apparatus according to the present invention further includes notification means for notifying a result of inspection in which the inspection unit determines whether communication with the IC card is possible or whether information is read / written.

  According to this invention, since the inspection result can be notified by the notification means, it is possible to clearly display the determination result when the card itself has a defect.

  The IC card processing apparatus of the present invention can be roughly classified into the following two forms in the means for generating the curved state and the non-curved state. The IC card processing device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a first guide path that causes the IC card to be bent by the holding section and the guide path on the holding section side, and the holding section and the holding section side. And a second guide path that brings the IC card into a non-curved state with the guide path, and the insertion port is provided corresponding to each of the first guide path and the second guide path, To do.

  According to the present invention, the IC card can be bent by the holding portion and the first guide path, and the IC card can be made non-curved by the holding portion and the second guide path. As a result, a curved state and a non-curved state can be generated by one holding portion and a plurality of guide paths, so that an IC card processing device that is structurally simple can be obtained. Cost can be reduced.

  On the other hand, in the IC card processing device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the holding unit has a holding member that holds the IC card, and the holding member includes the holding unit and a guide path on the holding unit side. The IC card can be rotated so as to change from a non-curved state to a curved state or from a curved state to a non-curved state. In this case, the gripping member is rotatable about an axis substantially included in the card surface of the IC card, and specifically, along the axis substantially included in the IC card. It turns to bend the IC card.

  According to this invention, the IC card can be changed from the non-curved state to the curved state or from the curved state to the non-curved state by rotating the gripping member provided in the holding portion. As a result, a curved state and a non-curved state can be generated by one holding portion, one guide path, and the rotating means of the gripping member.

  According to the IC card processing apparatus of the present invention, the IC card or the IC contact point portion is disconnected from the bonding portion, so that the defective portion of the IC card is the IC card, such as an IC card in which poor conduction does not occur. When it is impossible to determine whether it is in itself, in the card reader, or in the contact portion between the IC card and the card reader, the normal IC card for checking can be in either a curved state or a non-curved state. Although there is no problem, if a problem due to poor conduction occurs when the IC card for inspection is bent, it can be determined with high probability that there is a problem with the IC card itself.

  Such an IC card processing apparatus of the present invention can positively detect a malfunction due to a contact failure that occasionally occurs due to disconnection at the IC contact portion, etc., so that an IC card that can be normally used can be suddenly used. If an IC card user reports to a staff member who manages the card reader because it disappears or occasionally becomes unusable, if the staff member who receives the report uses this IC card processing device, the IC card itself is defective. It is possible to determine whether or not there is a high probability. As a result, when the failure of the IC card itself can be determined by this IC card processing device, the probability of the IC card having a failure is high, so the IC card may be preferentially inspected. If the device cannot determine the failure of the IC card itself, there is a low probability that the IC card has a failure factor. Therefore, it is sufficient to inspect the card reader preferentially, and it is possible to make an accurate determination and efficiently eliminate the failure. It can be carried out.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The IC card processing apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the following description and drawings as long as it has the technical features. Note that the IC card processing apparatus of the present invention can be broadly divided into two forms in the means for generating a curved state and a non-curved state, so each form will be described in turn below.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an example of an IC card processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an internal plan view, and FIG. 3 is an AA ′ arrow in FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an aspect when the IC card is guided to the first guide path of the IC card processing apparatus of FIG. 1 to be in a curved state, and FIG. 5 is the IC card processing of FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows an aspect when an IC card is guided to the 2nd guide path of an apparatus, and it is made the non-curving state.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the IC card processing device 1 according to the first embodiment includes insertion openings 3 a and 3 b for inserting the IC card 10, guide paths 4 a and 4 b for guiding the IC card 10, An IC contactor set 6 that is provided on the opposite side of the insertion paths 3a, 3b of the guide paths 4a, 4b and contacts the IC contact portion 11 of the IC card 10, and the IC card 10 in a curved state and a non-curved state. A holding portion 7 is provided which can hold the IC contact portion 11 and can hold the IC contact portion 11 against the IC contactor set 6. Further, the IC card processing device 1 of the first embodiment makes an IC contact 6 contact with the IC contact portion 11 to determine whether communication is possible in a curved state and a non-curved state or whether information is read / written. Part 8 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the IC card processing device 1 according to the first embodiment is a box-shaped device whose appearance is configured by a lower case 17, an upper case 18, and a front bezel 19. Are provided with two insertion ports 3a and 3b into which the IC card 10 is inserted and a notification means 9 for notifying the inspection result in the inspection unit 8.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the IC card processing apparatus 1 has two guide paths 4 a and 4 b inside thereof. The first guide path 4a guides and guides the IC card 10 at both ends in the width direction orthogonal to the guide direction with respect to the IC contactor set 6 and the holding part 7, and also guides the holding part 7 and the holding part side. And a guide path that brings the IC card 10 into a curved state. On the other hand, the second guide path 4b guides and guides the IC card 10 at both ends in the width direction orthogonal to the guide direction with respect to the IC contactor set 6 and the holding portion 7, and also on the holding portion 7 and the holding portion side. The guide path is a guide path that brings the IC card 10 into a non-curved state. The two insertion ports 3a and 3b provided in the front bezel 19 correspond to the first guide path 4a and the second guide path 4b, respectively.

  In the IC card processing apparatus 1 of the first embodiment, the angle between the first guide path 4a and the second guide path 4b is configured to be about 20 degrees, but the angle width is 5 to 60 degrees. The angle may be a degree or more, and an appropriate angle can be handled depending on the form and material of the card. Specifically, when the IC card 10 is made of plastic like a general credit card, the second guide path 4b is 5 to 20 degrees above the first guide path 4a provided in the horizontal direction. It is preferably provided at an angle inclined to some extent.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the holding unit 7 is a part that also functions as one guide path where the two guide paths 4 a and 4 b merge, and the IC card that has reached the holding unit 7 through the guide path. 10 is configured to come into contact with the guide direction end portion 5 of the guide path and stop, and at the stop position, the IC contact portion 11 of the IC card 10 contacts the IC contactor set 6 provided on the holding portion 7. ing.

  In the IC card processing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, the holding unit 7 that functions as a guide path is configured as an extension path that extends the second guide path 4b without changing the angle, as shown in FIG. Yes. Therefore, the holding portion 7 that functions as a guide path is configured as an extended path that is bent at the above-described angle (for example, approximately 20 degrees) with respect to the first guide path 4a.

  The IC contactor set 6 includes a plurality of IC contact springs 16 for contacting the IC contact part 11 provided on the IC card 10 and determining whether the IC contact part 11 can communicate or read / write information. I have. The holding portion 7 including the IC contactor set 6 holds a plurality of IC contact springs 16. The IC card 10 that has reached the holding portion 7 and stopped is pressed from above by an IC contact spring 16 provided in the IC contactor set 6.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the IC card 10 inserted from the upper insertion slot 3 b is guided by the upper guide path 4 b and reaches the holding unit 7. The IC card 10 that has reached the holding unit 7 is brought into a non-curved state (flat plate state) by the holding unit 7 and the guide path 4b that is not inclined with respect to the holding unit 7. In this non-curved state, the IC contactor group 6 IC contact spring 16 and IC contact portion 11 of IC card 10 come into contact with each other, and it is determined whether the IC card 10 can communicate or read / write information.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the IC card 10 inserted from the lower insertion slot 3 a is guided by the lower guide path 4 a and reaches the holding unit 7. The IC card 10 that has reached the holding portion 7 is curved upward in a convex shape by the holding portion 7 and the guide path 4a that is not inclined with respect to the holding portion 7. In this non-curved state, the IC contactor group 6 IC contact spring 16 and IC contact portion 11 of IC card 10 come into contact with each other, and it is determined whether the IC card 10 can communicate or read / write information.

  The inspection unit 8 is a processing unit that makes the IC contactor set 6 contact the IC contact unit 11 to determine whether communication is possible or whether information is read / written in a curved state and a non-curved state. The inspection unit 8 further includes notification means 9 such as a pilot lamp that notifies an inspection result that determines whether the IC card 10 can communicate or whether information can be read and written. The inspection unit 8 communicates with the IC card 10 to detect defects due to poor continuity, disconnection, element breakage, etc. in the IC card 10, and turns on or turns off the notification means 9 to detect defects in the IC card 10. It has a function to notify staff.

  Next, the movement of the IC card 10 when the IC card 10 is inserted into the IC card processing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an IC card 10 having an IC contact portion 11 for supplying power and inputting / outputting information is inserted from the insertion ports 3a and 3b. The inserted IC card 10 is guided by the grooves of the respective guide paths 4a and 4b and reaches the holding portion 7, and at the same time, the IC contact portion 11 of the IC card 10 is connected to the IC contact spring 16 of the IC contactor set 6. It becomes a contact state and becomes electrically conductive.

  In this state, the inspection unit 8 of the IC card processing device 1 determines whether the IC contact unit 11 of the IC card 10 can communicate or read / write information via the IC contact spring 16. Whether or not the IC contact portion 11 is defective due to continuity failure, disconnection, element breakage or the like is determined, and the notification means 9 is turned on or off to notify the staff of the failure of the IC card 10. If there is a doubt as to whether or not the IC card processing device 1 itself is out of order, an attendant inserts a normal IC card 10 into the IC card processing device 1 so that the IC card processing device 1 The presence or absence of a failure can be determined.

  The following (1) to (4) will explain examples of IC card check forms using the IC card processing device 10. At this time, the lighting of the notification means 9 will be described as a case where no abnormality is recognized in the IC card 10 (when it is determined to be normal).

(1) When the attendant inserts the IC card 10 from the insertion slot 3b (see FIG. 4), the notification means 9 is lit, and when the IC card 10 is inserted from the insertion slot 3a (see FIG. 5), the notification means 9 also When lit, the IC card 10 operates in the non-curved state (flat plate state) shown in FIG. 4 or in the curved state shown in FIG. In this case, it can be determined that there is little possibility that the IC card itself has a problem.
(2) When the attendant inserts the IC card 10 from the insertion slot 3b (see FIG. 4), the notification means 9 is not lit, and when the IC card 10 is inserted from the insertion slot 3a (see FIG. 5), the notification means 9 is lit. In this case, the IC card 10 operates in the curved state shown in FIG. 5 without operating in the non-curved state (flat plate state) shown in FIG. In this case, it can be determined that there is a high possibility that a failure has occurred in the IC card itself due to disconnection or the like.

  (3) When the attendant inserts the IC card 10 from the insertion slot 3b (see FIG. 4), the notification means 9 is turned on, and when the IC card 10 is inserted from the insertion slot 3a (see FIG. 5), the notification means 9 is turned on. If not, the IC card 10 operates in the non-curved state (flat plate state) shown in FIG. 4, and does not operate in the curved state shown in FIG. Even in this case, it is possible to determine that there is a high possibility that the IC card itself is defective due to disconnection or the like, as in the case of (2).

  (4) When the clerk inserts the IC card 10 from the insertion slot 3b (see FIG. 4), the notification means 9 does not light up, and when the IC card 10 is inserted from the insertion slot 3a (see FIG. 5), the notification means 9 When is not lit, the IC card 10 does not operate in the non-curved state (flat plate state) shown in FIG. 4 or the curved state shown in FIG. In this case, it can be determined that there is a high possibility that the IC card itself is defective.

  In addition, when the operation (lighting) in the non-curved state and the curved state is different as in the forms (2) and (3) above, a bonding portion that has been detached within the IC card 10 or a disconnection portion of the bonding wire, etc. May be in a conductive state because it is barely touching. Conventionally, even in such an unstable state, since the IC card 10 often operates normally, it has been difficult to determine the failure of the IC card itself. However, in the present invention, the failure of the IC card itself is positively determined. Can be judged.

  According to the IC card processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention described above, like an IC card in which a conduction failure occurs or does not occur due to an IC chip or a bonding part being disconnected at an IC contact part, etc. When it is impossible to determine whether the defective part of the IC card is in the IC card itself, in the card reader, or in the contact part between the IC card and the card reader, the normal IC card for check is in a curved state In the case of the non-curved state, there is no problem, but if a defective conduction occurs when the IC card for inspection is in the curved state, it can be determined with high probability that there is a problem with the IC card itself. it can.

  Such an IC card processing apparatus of the present invention can positively detect a malfunction due to a contact failure that occasionally occurs due to disconnection at the IC contact portion, etc., so that an IC card that can be normally used can be suddenly used. If an IC card user reports to a staff member who manages the card reader because it disappears or occasionally becomes unusable, if the staff member who receives the report uses this IC card processing device, the IC card itself is defective. It is possible to determine whether or not there is a high probability. As a result, when the failure of the IC card itself can be determined by this IC card processing device, the probability of the IC card having a failure is high, so the IC card may be preferentially inspected. If the device cannot determine the failure of the IC card itself, there is a low probability that the IC card has a failure factor. Therefore, it is sufficient to inspect the card reader preferentially, and it is possible to make an accurate determination and efficiently eliminate the failure. It can be carried out.

  Next, a modification of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another example of the IC card processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This example is an IC card processing device 21 having a total of three guide paths provided with two guide paths 24a and 24b to be curved and one guide path 24c to be non-curved. Since the other configuration is the same as that of the IC card processing apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the description thereof is omitted.

  The two guide paths 24a and 24b to be curved have insertion openings 23a and 23b corresponding to the respective guide paths. In FIG. 6, the IC card 10 inserted from the upper insertion slot 23 a is guided by the upper guide path 24 a and reaches the holding unit 27. The holding part 27 is a part that also functions as one guide path where the three guide paths 24a, 24b, and 24c merge. The IC card 10 that has reached the holding part 27 is connected to the holding part 27 and the holding part 27. On the other hand, the guide path 24a inclined upward is curved into a concave shape.

  On the other hand, the IC card 10 inserted from the lower insertion slot 23 b is guided by the lower guide path 24 b and reaches the holding unit 27. The IC card 10 that has reached the holding unit 27 is in a curved state that is curved into a convex shape by the holding unit 27 and the guide path 24 b that is inclined downward with respect to the holding unit 27.

  The IC card 10 inserted from the middle insertion slot 23c is guided by the middle guide path 24c and reaches the holding unit 27. The IC card 10 that has reached the holding unit 27 is brought into a non-curved state (flat plate state) by the holding unit 27 and the guide path 24 c that is not inclined with respect to the holding unit 27.

  As described above, it is possible to determine whether the IC card can communicate or whether information can be read and written in two types of curved states, ie, a concave shape and a convex shape, and a non-curved state.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 7 is an internal plan view showing an example of an IC card processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ in FIG. FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state when the gripping member is not turned and is not bent, and FIG. 10 is a view when the gripping member is turned in one direction to be bent. FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an aspect when the gripping member is turned in another direction to be in a curved state.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 to 11, the IC card processing device 30 according to the second embodiment includes an insertion slot 33 into which the IC card 10 is inserted, a guide path 34 that guides the IC card 10, and the guide path 34. The IC contactor set 36 that is provided on the opposite side of the insertion port 33 and contacts the IC contact portion 11 of the IC card 10, the IC card 10 can be held in a curved state and a non-curved state, and an IC A holding portion 37 that holds the contact portion 11 so as to be in contact with the IC contactor set 36, and whether the IC contactor set 36 is brought into contact with the IC contact portion 11 to allow communication in a curved state and a non-curved state or information And an inspection unit 38 for determining whether reading / writing is possible.

  In the second embodiment, the holding unit 37 includes a holding member 41 that holds the IC card 10, and the holding member 41 does not hold the IC card 10 between the holding unit 37 and the guide path 34 on the holding unit side. It is turnable to change from a curved state to a curved state or from a curved state to a non-curved state. In this case, the gripping member 41 can rotate about an axis substantially included in the card surface of the IC card 10 as a center of rotation. Specifically, the IC 41 along the axis substantially included in the IC card 10 It rotates so that the card | curd 10 may be bent.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the IC card 10 having the IC contact portion 11 for supplying power and inputting / outputting information is inserted from the insertion port 33. The guide path 34 is provided to guide the IC card 10 inserted from the insertion port 33 into the IC card processing device 31. The guide path 34 guides and guides the IC card 10 to the IC contactor set 36 and the holding portion 37 at both ends in the width direction orthogonal to the guide direction, and cooperates with the gripping member 41 to provide the IC card 10. Is in a curved state or a non-curved state.

  The gripping member 41 is a movable member that rotates around the rotation center P <b> 1 and curves the IC card 10 while gripping the end of the guided IC card 10. A gripping member arm 42 for transmitting a force for rotating the gripping member 41 and a force for rotating the gripping member arm 42 by pivotally connecting the points P2 and P3 to the gripping member 41 are transmitted. The connecting rod 43 that is operated, and a bending button 44 that turns the gripping member 41 by bending and pressing the pulling force and displacement of the connecting rod 43 by an operator, are sequentially coupled.

  The illustrated curved button 44 is an example using a seesaw-type push button that rotates about P4. The present invention is not limited to a seesaw-type push button, and a push-pull type handle or the like may be used, or a structure in which the grip member 41 is rotated using an actuator such as a solenoid may be used.

  The IC contactor set 36 of the second embodiment is in contact with the IC contact part 11 provided on the IC card 10 and determines whether the IC contact part 11 can communicate or read / write information. IC contact spring 45 is provided. The IC card processing device 31 according to the second embodiment having such an IC contact set 36 holds a plurality of IC contact springs 45 and swings the IC contact block 46 and the IC contact block 46 in parallel. The link arms 47 and 48 to be moved, the holding block 49 fixed to the housing of the IC card processing device 31 and rotatably holding the link arms 47 and 48, and the IC contact block 46 when the IC card 10 is not mounted. And a tension spring 50 that urges the IC contact spring 45 in the right direction in FIGS. 7 and 8 to retract the IC card 10 from the IC card 10.

  The IC contact block 46 comes into contact with the IC card 10 when the IC card 10 is inserted, and the IC contact block 52 lowers the IC contact block 46 to the contact position. And a sliding surface 54 for rotating the card receiving member 58 by displacing the tappet 60 of the card receiving member 58 when swinging to the left.

  The inspection unit 38 is a processing unit that makes the IC contactor set 36 contact the IC contact unit 11 to determine whether communication is possible or whether information is read / written in a curved state and a non-curved state. The inspection unit 38 further includes notification means 39 such as a pilot lamp for notifying the inspection result that determines whether communication is possible or whether information is read / written. The inspection unit 38 communicates with the IC card 10 to detect defects due to poor continuity, disconnection, element breakage, etc. in the IC card 10, and turns on or turns off the notification means 39 to detect defects in the IC card 10. It has a function to notify staff.

  Next, the internal movement of the IC card processing device 31 when the IC card 10 is inserted into the IC card processing device 31 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the IC card 10 is inserted into the IC card processing device 31. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrow A-A ′ in FIG. 7.

  When the IC card 10 is inserted into the insertion port 33, the IC card 10 moves along the guide path 34 and the groove of the gripping member 41, and the end of the IC card 10 is the IC card contact portion of the IC contact block 46. 52 abuts. Since the IC contact block 46 is suspended from the holding block 49 by the link arms 47 and 48, when the IC card 10 is further pushed in the left direction in FIG. 9 so as to overcome the urging force of the tension spring 50. Then, the IC contact block 46 descends in parallel, and the plurality of IC contact springs 45 come into contact with the IC contact portion 11 of the IC card 10 and become electrically conductive.

  When the IC contact block 46 moves and descends, the sliding surface 54 provided on the IC contact block 46 pushes down the tappet 60 of the card receiving member 58, so that the card receiving member 58 rotates counterclockwise and the card. The receiving surface 56 supports the IC card 10 from below, reduces the bending of the IC card 10 against the pressing force of the IC contact spring 45, and establishes conduction between the IC contact portion 11 of the IC card 10 and the IC contact spring 45. Secure.

  In this state, the inspection unit 38 of the IC card processing device 31 determines whether the IC contact unit 11 of the IC card 10 can communicate or read / write information via the IC contact spring 45. Based on the inspection result, a malfunction due to a conduction failure, disconnection, element breakage or the like of the IC contact portion 11 is detected, and the notification means 39 is turned on or off to notify the staff of the malfunction of the IC card 10. In the following description, an embodiment is described in which the notification means 39 is lit while no abnormality is recognized in the IC card 10 (when it is determined to be normal).

  If the notification means 39 does not light even though the clerk has inserted the IC card 10 into the IC card processing device 31, the IC card 10 is not operating in a non-curved state, and a problem such as disconnection occurs. Can be determined. In this state, it is assumed that the IC card processing device 31 itself is out of order. However, when an attendant inserts a normal IC card 10 into the IC card processing device 31, the IC card processing device 31 fails. It can be determined whether or not.

  Further, when the notification means 39 is turned on when the attendant inserts the IC card 10 into the IC card processing device 31, it can be determined that the IC card 10 is operating normally in a non-curved state. However, even in this state, there is a possibility that the bonding portion and the disconnection portion of the bonding wire that are about to come off in the IC card 10 are in a conductive state because they are barely in contact with each other. Conventionally, even in such an unstable state, it could only be determined that the IC card 10 is normal. However, in the present invention, as shown below, the IC card 10 is in a curved state. Since it is determined whether communication is possible or whether information is read / written, it is possible to positively detect problems due to poor conduction, disconnection, element damage, etc. in the IC card 10.

  FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the IC card 10 is inserted into the IC card processing device 31 and the IC card 10 is bent into a concave shape. FIG. 10 corresponds to a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A ′ in FIG. 7.

  In the state shown in FIG. 9, when the attendant presses the lower part of the bending button 44 with the force F1, the bending button 44 rotates clockwise around the rotation center P4, and the connecting rod 43 Is pulled. Then, the gripping member arm 42 rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG. 10 about the rotation center P1. Since the gripping member arm 42 and the gripping member 41 are fixed, the gripping member 41 gripping the end of the IC card 10 also rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG. 10 about the rotation center P1. Then, the IC card 10 held by the holding member 41 is bent into a concave shape. The rotation angle of the gripping member 41 is configured to be about 20 degrees, but the angle width may be about 5 to 60 degrees or more, depending on the form and material of the card. It is possible to correspond to the angle of. Specifically, when the IC card 10 is made of plastic such as a general credit card, the rotation angle of the gripping member 41 is preferably about 5 to 20 degrees.

  In this state, the IC card processing device 31 determines whether the IC contact portion 11 of the IC card 10 can communicate or whether information can be read and written, and detects defects in the IC card 10 due to poor conduction, disconnection, element breakage, etc. Then, the notification means 39 is turned on or off to notify the attendant whether or not the IC card 10 is defective.

  If the clerk inserts the IC card 10 into the IC card processing device 31 and presses the lower part of the bending button 44 with the force of F1, the notification means 39 does not light up, the IC card 10 is bent into a concave shape. Therefore, it can be determined that a malfunction due to disconnection or the like has occurred.

  In particular, when the IC card 10 is operating normally in a non-curved state but does not operate normally in a curved state curved in a concave shape, the IC card 10 is about to be damaged or detached. It is highly possible that a defect such as a conduction failure in the bonding portion or a disconnection of the bonding wire has occurred, and it can be determined that the IC card is occasionally unusable.

  Further, when the attendant inserts the IC card 10 into the IC card processing device 31 and the notification means 39 is turned on with the lower part of the bending button 44 pressed with the force of F1, the IC card 10 is bent in a concave shape. It can be determined that the device is operating normally in the state. In particular, when the IC card 10 does not operate normally in a non-curved state but operates normally in a concavely curved state, a continuity failure or the like may occur in the bonding portion that has been detached. It is highly possible that a defect has occurred, and it can be determined that the IC card is occasionally disabled.

  FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the IC card 10 is inserted into the IC card processing device 31 and the IC card 10 is bent into a convex shape. FIG. 11 corresponds to a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A ′ in FIG. 1.

  In the state shown in FIG. 9, when the clerk presses the upper portion of the bending button 44 with the force F2, the bending button 44 rotates counterclockwise about the rotation center P4, and the connecting rod 43 A force to compress is generated. Then, the gripping member arm 42 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 11 about the rotation center P1. Since the gripping member arm 42 and the gripping member 41 are fixed, the gripping member 41 that grips the end of the IC card 10 also rotates in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 11 about the rotation center P1. Then, the IC card 10 held by the holding member 41 is bent into a concave shape. The rotation angle of the gripping member 41 is preferably about 5 to 20 degrees.

  In this state, the IC card processing device 31 determines whether the IC contact portion 11 of the IC card 10 can communicate or whether information can be read and written, and detects defects in the IC card 10 due to poor conduction, disconnection, element breakage, etc. Then, the notification means 39 is turned on or off to notify the attendant whether or not the IC card 10 is defective.

  If the attendant inserts the IC card 10 into the IC card processing device 31 and presses the upper part of the bending button 44 with the force of F2, and the notification means 39 does not light up, the IC card 10 is bent into a convex shape. Therefore, it can be determined that a malfunction due to disconnection or the like has occurred.

  In particular, when the IC card 10 is operating normally in a non-curved state or a concave curved state, but does not operate normally in a convex curved state, It is highly possible that a defect such as damage, poor continuity in the bonded portion, or disconnection of the bonding wire has occurred, and it can be determined that the IC card is occasionally unusable.

  Further, when the attendant inserts the IC card 10 into the IC card processing device 31 and the notification means 39 is turned on with the upper portion of the bending button 44 being pressed with the force of F2, the IC card 10 is bent in a convex shape. It can be determined that the device is operating normally in the state. In particular, when the IC card 10 is not operating normally in a non-curved state or a concave curved state, but is normally operating in a convex curved state, the bonding that has been detached It is highly possible that a defect such as a continuity failure has occurred in the part, and it can be determined that the IC card is occasionally unusable.

  According to the IC card processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention described above, the IC card is not connected to the IC chip or the IC contact portion so that the bonding portion is removed and the conduction failure does not occur. When it is impossible to determine whether the defective part is in the IC card itself, in the card reader, or in the contact portion between the IC card and the card reader, the normal IC card for check is bent and non-bent. In any case, there is no problem, but if a defective conduction occurs when the IC card for inspection is bent, it can be determined with high probability that there is a problem with the IC card itself.

  Such an IC card processing apparatus of the present invention can positively detect a defect of the IC card itself due to a contact failure that occasionally occurs due to disconnection at the IC contact portion, etc., so that the IC card that can be used normally If the IC card user reports to a staff member who manages the card reader when the card card suddenly becomes unusable or occasionally unusable, if the staff member receiving the report uses this IC card processing device, the IC card It is possible to determine with high probability whether or not the card itself is defective. As a result, when the failure of the IC card itself can be determined by this IC card processing device, the probability of the IC card having a failure is high, so the IC card may be preferentially inspected. If the device cannot determine the failure of the IC card itself, there is a low probability that the IC card has a failure factor. Therefore, it is sufficient to inspect the card reader preferentially, and it is possible to make an accurate determination and efficiently eliminate the failure. It can be carried out.

1 is an external perspective view showing an example of an IC card processing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view inside the IC card processing apparatus shown in FIG. It is A-A 'arrow sectional drawing of FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows an aspect when an IC card is guided to the 1st guide path of the IC card processing apparatus of FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows an aspect when an IC card is guided to the 2nd guide path of the IC card processing apparatus of FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows another example of the IC card processing apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is an internal top view which shows an example of the IC card processing apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of A-A 'arrow in FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows an aspect when it is made a non-bending state without rotating a holding member. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows an aspect when a holding member is rotated in one direction and it is made into the curved state. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows an aspect when a holding member is rotated in another direction and it is made into the curved state.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,21 IC card processing apparatus 3a, 3b, 23a, 23b, 23c Insertion slot 4a, 4b, 24a, 24b, 24c Guide path 5 Guide direction end of guide path 6 IC contactor set 7, 27 Holding section 8 Inspection section DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 9 Notification means 10 IC card 11 IC contact part 16 IC contact spring 17 Lower case 18 Upper case 19 Front bezel 31 IC card processing apparatus 33 Insertion slot 34 Guide path 36 IC contactor group 37 Holding part 38 Inspection part 39 Notification means 41 Holding Member 42 Grasping member arm 43 Connecting rod 44 Curve button 45 IC contact spring 46 IC contact block 47, 48 Link arm 49 Holding block 50 Tension spring 52 IC card abutting portion 54 Sliding surface 56 Card receiving surface 58 Card receiving member 60 Tappet 62 Tension spring P1, P4, P5 Center of rotation

Claims (5)

  An insertion slot for inserting an IC card; a guide path for guiding the IC card; and an IC contact set that is provided on the opposite side of the insertion path of the guide path and contacts an IC contact portion of the IC card; An IC card processing apparatus comprising: a holding unit that can hold the IC card in a curved state and a non-bent state, and that holds the IC contact portion in contact with the IC contactor set. 2. The inspection unit according to claim 1, further comprising: an inspection unit that contacts the IC contact set with the IC contact portion to determine whether communication is possible or whether information is read / written in a curved state and a non-curved state. IC card processing device.   A first guide path that brings the IC card into a curved state by the holding section and the guide path on the holding section side, and a first guide path that makes the IC card non-curved by the holding section and the guide path on the holding section side. 3. The IC card processing device according to claim 1, further comprising: two guide paths, wherein the insertion port is provided corresponding to each of the first guide path and the second guide path.   The holding unit has a holding member that holds the IC card, and the holding member moves the IC card from a non-curved state to a curved state or from a curved state by the holding unit and the guide path on the holding unit side. The IC card processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the IC card processing apparatus is rotatable so as to be changed into a non-curved state. 5. The IC card processing according to claim 2, further comprising notification means for notifying a result of the inspection in which the inspection unit determines whether communication with the IC card is possible or whether information is read / written. 5. apparatus.

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