JP2560661B2 - IC card reader - Google Patents

Description

Description: (a) Field of Industrial Application This invention relates to a self-propelled IC card reader, and more particularly to improvement of stop position control of the IC card.

(B) Conventional Technology An IC card having a one-chip or two-chip microcomputer built in the card to store a large amount of data and a data processing capability has been put into practical use. Various IC card readers for communicating with the IC card to read / write data have been proposed. The IC card reader stops the IC card at a predetermined position, contacts a contact on the contact on the surface of the IC card, and transmits and receives a power supply, a clock, a data signal, and the like via the contact portion. Therefore, the IC card reader must have a mechanism for stopping the IC card at a predetermined position.

The conventional IC card reader stop mechanism has a fixed stopper to stop the card by hitting it, a card sensor in the card transport path, and stops the transport when the card cuts the card sensor. Etc. have been proposed.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the method of (3), since the card directly hits the stopper at a predetermined transport speed, the stop position may be displaced due to reaction, and there is a risk that read / write cannot be performed normally. In addition, since this stopper is the end of the card transport path, it is not possible to provide, for example, an imprint (emboss printing) section in the back of this stopper, and it is not possible to print slips and journals like conventional ATMs. was there. On the other hand, the method of (1) causes some overrun after the sensor detects the card until the card completely stops, but it is necessary to install multiple sensors or perform complicated control to correct the distance. However, there is a problem that the device becomes complicated. Further, there is a problem that the memory is destroyed when the card moves during the data read / write because there is no mechanism for preventing the card from moving during the stop.

The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide an IC card reader that solves the above problems by providing a card stopper that can be drawn out on the card transport path.

(D) Means for Solving Problems The present invention is an IC card reader that has a card transfer mechanism and transfers an IC card to a contact connectable area to read or write data. A card sensor that turns on when it passes the start end of the connectable area and a card stopper that can be extended at the position where the IC card comes into contact when it reaches the end of the contact connectable area are provided. When the IC card conveyance is stopped, the IC card data is read or written based on the fact that the card sensor detects the presence of the card. A means for stopping the reading or writing of data on the IC card based on the detection of the absence of the card is provided.

(E) Action The IC card reader of the present invention conveys the inserted IC card by the conveyance mechanism. When reading or writing data, extend the card stopper and the card sensor
Stops feeding when a card is detected. As a result, this IC card stops in the contact connectable area. That is, it is stopped between the card sensor at the beginning of the contact connectable area and the card stopper at the rear end. This allows the IC card to be stopped in the contact connectable area with a simple configuration. Further, the IC card does not shift in the back direction (card stopper direction), and when the IC card shifts in the front direction (card reader direction), the sensor does not detect it, and this shift can be detected. Also, even if the IC card moves while reading or writing data and this shift occurs, it can be detected reliably, so at this moment (before the contact leaves) the file is closed and the IC is closed. Since reading or writing of the data in the card is stopped, the data will not be destroyed.

(F) Embodiment FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an IC card reader which is an embodiment of the present invention. The card insertion port is on the right side in this figure, and the card transport path 1 is formed horizontally from this card insertion port. Conveying rollers 4 are provided above and below the card conveying path 1, and the conveying rollers 4 are driven by a conveying motor 7. The card is transported in the insertion (left) direction and the ejection (right) direction by the transport motor 7 rotating in the forward or reverse direction. A magnetic head 6 for reading magnetic stripe data on the card surface, and a contactor 5 for transmitting and receiving data and the like by contacting IC contacts on the card surface are provided above the card transport path 1. The contact 5 normally rotates upward as shown in the figure, and when the IC card stops at a predetermined position (contact connectable area), it is rotated to the 5'position by the solenoid 9 and the contact 22 (see FIG. 3). ) Contact. Further, a card sensor 3 and a card stopper 2 are provided in the card transport path 1. The card sensor 3 is a photo sensor, and detects the card when the tip of the card crosses the optical axis. Further, the card stopper 2 is normally stored below the card transport path 1, but when the IC card is read / written, it is extended to the position 2'by the solenoid 8 to regulate the movement of the card. Further, a card embossing printing section or the like is provided at the back (left side) of the card transport path 1, and when the data read / write is completed, the card stopper 2 moves downward to transport the card to the back. enable.

Here, FIG. 3 shows an external view of the IC card. IC card
A magnetic stripe 21 is formed on the surface of the surface 20 in order to simply indicate the type of the card, and a contact 22 for connecting the built-in microcomputer to an IC card reader is formed. This IC card is inserted into the IC card reader with the left side as the tip. The tip and the tip of the contact 22 are separated by a distance l, and the length of the contact 22 in the carrying direction is d.

In the IC card reader shown in FIG. 1 again, the space between the card sensor 3 and the contact 5 (5 ') is formed at l, and the space between the card sensor 3 and the card stopper 2 is formed at d (however). The spacing between the two rows of contacts is the same as the spacing between the two rows of contacts 22). As a result, when the card sensor detects the leading edge of the card, the contact 5'will contact the contact 22.
Contacting the tip (left end) of the card and the tip of the card abuts the card stopper 2, the contact 5'is the rear end (right end) of the contact 22.
Come into contact with. That is, when the IC card is detected by the card sensor 3 with the card stopper 2 being extended, it can be determined that data can be read / written. The interval between the contact 5 of the card reader 5 and the card sensor 3 is l + Δl (Δl is a minute distance), and the interval between the card sensor 3 and the card stopper 2 is d-Δ.
If it is set to l, this can be detected immediately before the contact 5 leaves the contact 22, and at this time, if the file of the IC card is closed, the destruction of data can be avoided.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control unit of the IC card reader. The controller 11 that controls the operation of this IC card is composed of a microcomputer. Controller 11
Includes a sensor controller 12 that controls the detection operation of the card sensor 3, a motor / solenoid driver 13 that drives the drive motor 7, solenoids 8 and 9, a magnetic data reader 14 that reads data from the magnetic head, and An IC card 20 and an IC card interface 15 for transmitting / receiving data etc. are connected. The controller 11 also has an interface for communicating with other devices (for example, an ATM main control unit).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an IC card insertion operation of the control unit of the IC card. The process waits until the IC card is inserted at n1, and when the card is inserted, the transport motor is rotated forward to transport the card in the insertion direction (n2). If the IC card is normally rotated for a predetermined time (distance), the stop position of the IC card approaches and the transport speed is reduced. This timing may be determined by a timer or an encoder. Simultaneously with this motor deceleration, the card stopper solenoid is turned on (n4). In this state, the card is conveyed until it is turned on. If the card sensor is turned on (n5), the conveyance is continued for a fixed time (minute time) and then stopped (n7). This is because the IC card is overrun by a minute distance and stopped near the center of the contact connectable area. After that, it is confirmed again whether the card sensor is on (n8). If it is not on, stop control has failed and the motor is rotated in reverse to retry (n1
2). If the sensor is on, it is determined that read / write is possible, the solenoid of the contact is turned on (n9), and data is read / written (n10). The output of the card sensor is monitored even while reading / writing data. When the output of the sensor is turned off, the file is closed at that moment and the reading / writing to the IC card is stopped. Return IC card after read / write (n1
1).

The solenoids 8 and n4 correspond to the "means for feeding out the card stopper" of the present invention.

(G) Effect of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, the IC card can be stopped by the card stopper, so that the stop position can be secured and the card does not move due to some inclination or vibration. There are advantages. Also, the stopper overruns
In order to stop the IC card surely, only one card sensor needs to be provided, and the control can be simplified. In addition, this card sensor reliably detects a failure in stop control of the IC card and a shift in the direction opposite to the card stopper due to movement of the IC card during reading or writing of data. Then, when the displacement of the IC card is detected,
At that moment, reading or writing to the IC card is stopped, so data is not destroyed. Further, since the card stopper is of a retractable type, there is an advantage that another device such as an embossing printing machine can be installed in the back of the card reader and the function of the device can be expanded.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 and 2 are schematic block diagrams of an IC card reader according to an embodiment of the present invention and a block diagram of a control unit. FIG. 3 is an external view of an IC card used in the IC card reader, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit of the IC card reader. 2 ... Card stopper, 3 ... Card sensor, 5 ... Contact, 22 ... Contact.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An IC card reader that has a card transport mechanism and transports an IC card to a contact connectable area to read or write data, when the IC card has passed the start end of the connectable area. A card sensor that is turned on, and a card stopper that can be drawn out at a position where the IC card comes into contact when the IC card comes to the end of the contact connectable area, and means for drawing out the card stopper when the IC card is conveyed, When IC card transportation is stopped, the IC card data is read or written based on the card sensor detecting the presence of the card, and based on the card sensor detecting the absence of the card. An IC card reader characterized in that it is provided with means for stopping the reading or writing of data on the IC card.