JP2787363B2 - Checker device for magnetic card - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (1) Object of the Invention [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a magnetic card checker device for reading or rewriting data held in a magnetic recording area of a magnetic card. In particular, the present invention relates to a magnetic card checker device provided with a magnetic generator for generating a magnetic field parallel to the surface of a magnetic card with respect to a card insertion slot.

[Prior art] Conventionally, as this type of magnetic card checker device,
There has been proposed one that reads or rewrites data held in a magnetic recording area of a magnetic card inserted from a card insertion slot.

[Problems to be Solved] However, in the conventional checker device for a magnetic card, when a microcapsule layer is formed as a visible display area on the surface of the magnetic card, a visible display is secured without any trouble in reading data. Even if it could be done, there was a drawback that the visible display was lost when rewriting the data and could not be secured.

Therefore, in order to eliminate this drawback, the present invention arranges a magnetic generator for generating a magnetic field in a direction parallel to the surface of the magnetic card with respect to the card insertion slot to prevent the disappearance of the visible display by the microcapsule layer. It is an object of the present invention to provide a checker device for a magnetic card which is prevented.

(2) Configuration of the Invention [Means for Solving the Problem] A solution for the problem provided by the present invention is a "magnetic card checker for reading or rewriting data held in a magnetic recording area of a magnetic card. In the device,
Characterized by being arranged magnetic generator for forming a magnetic field in a direction parallel to the surface of the magnetic card (20) (12) with respect to the card insertion slot a magnetic card (20) is inserted (11) Magnetic card checker device ”.

[Operation] A magnetic card checker device according to the present invention is a magnetic card checker device for reading or rewriting data held in a magnetic recording area of a magnetic card, and in particular, a magnetic card is inserted. Since a magnetic generator for generating a magnetic field in a direction parallel to the surface of the magnetic card is provided for the card insertion slot, (i) the function of preventing the disappearance of the visible display by the microcapsule layer is achieved, and (Ii) The function of diversifying the visual display of the magnetic card.

Embodiment Next, a checker device for a magnetic card according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings, with reference to a preferred embodiment.

However, the examples described below are described for facilitating or facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and are not described for limiting the present invention.

In other words, each element disclosed in the embodiments described below includes all design changes and equivalent replacements that fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

(Description of the accompanying drawings) FIG. 1 is a partial sectional perspective view showing an embodiment of a checker device for a magnetic card according to the present invention, in which a magnetic card is taken in or taken out from a card insertion slot. Is shown.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional perspective view showing a magnetic card on which data is read or rewritten according to the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a manufacturing procedure of the magnetic card shown in FIG. 2, in which the magnetic flakes are stored in a microcapsule together with oil (here, dodecylbenzene), and then the magnetic flakes are stored. Shows how to remove microcapsules (that is, empty capsules) that are not accommodated and to arrange them on the magnetic card body.

4 (a) to 4 (d) are conceptual diagrams showing the operation of the embodiment in FIG.

(Configuration of Embodiment) First, the configuration of a magnetic card checker device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a magnetic card checker device according to the present invention, which is provided near a card insertion slot 11 for taking in or taking out the magnetic card 20 and near the card insertion slot 11 to be taken in or taken out. The magnetic card 20 includes a magnetic generator 12 for generating a magnetic field B (refer to a dashed arrow in FIG. 1) in a direction parallel to the surface of the magnetic card 20 and a card guide passage 13 communicated with a card insertion slot 11. A checker body 14 for reading or rewriting data held in the 20 magnetic recording areas 22A and 22B. The magnetism generator 12 is constituted by a pair of permanent magnets 12A and 12B, but is not limited to this as long as the magnetic field B can be formed.

The magnetic card 20 includes a card body 21 formed of plastic or the like, and at least one (here, two) magnetic recording areas 22A and 22B provided on one surface of the card body 21.
And a visible display area 23 formed on the opposite surface of the card body 21 for visually displaying the recorded contents (ie, data) held in the magnetic field 22A. Since the visible display region 23 is formed by a microcapsule layer, it is also referred to as a microcapsule layer here.

The visible display area (that is, the microcapsule layer) 23
A plurality of microcapsules 32 dispersed in a binder 31
And magnetic flakes 34 contained in each microcapsule 32 together with an appropriate oil (for example, a transparent oil such as dodecylbenzene) 33.

As the magnetic flake 34, a plate-like magnetic metal powder (for example, a plate-like powder such as iron oxide or an iron-cobalt alloy) is preferable.

The size of the magnetic flakes 34 is preferably at least about 1 μm or more because it is necessary to appropriately reflect visible incident light. Further, the size of the magnetic flakes 34 needs to be appropriately determined according to the size of the microcapsules 32. For example, when the size of the microcapsules 32 is about 100 μm, the size of the magnetic recording area 22A is reduced. In order to secure the orientation characteristics due to the applied magnetic field or the magnetic field B generated by the magnetic generator 12, the size is preferably about 5 to 15 μm.

Around the magnetic flake 34, an appropriate surfactant (for example, Span 80 (sorbitan monooleate manufactured by Atlas Powder), sodium oleate, or succinimide) that is hard to react with the magnetic flake 34 and the oil 33 is arranged. Therefore, (i) the magnetic flakes 34 can be prevented from aggregating with each other, and (ii) the magnetic flakes 34
Can be suppressed from adhering to the wall surface of the microcapsule 32, and (iii) the amount of magnetic flakes 34 stored in the microcapsules 32 can be increased. As a result, (iv) the magnetic flakes 34 can be stably stored in the microcapsules 32. This is preferable because (v) the amount of reflected light from the microcapsules 32 can be increased, and (vi) the contrast of the visible display region (that is, the microcapsule layer) 23 can be improved when the orientation direction of the magnetic flakes 34 changes.

(Manufacturing Procedure of Magnetic Card 20 ) Further, an example of a manufacturing procedure of a magnetic card handled in one embodiment of the magnetic card checker device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. .

Cleaning of magnetic flakes Magnetic flakes (eg, plate-like powder of iron oxide having a size of 5 to 15 μm) 34 are dispersed in oil (here, dodecylbenzene; the same applies hereinafter) 33 (the resulting product is referred to as “magnetic flake dispersion liquid”). "), And then housed in a stirrer (eg, an ultrasonic stirrer) to stir for a sufficient time. Here, it is particularly preferable to use an ultrasonic stirrer because the purpose is to drop and remove the fine powder attached to the magnetic flakes. In addition, since the amount of dispersion of the magnetic flakes 34 with respect to the oil 33 is required to change the orientation direction according to the direction of the magnetic field while being contained in the microcapsules 32 together with the oil 33,
It is preferably 20 to 30% by weight.

The magnetic flake dispersion is then allowed to stand for a suitable period of time to separate the fine powder dropped from the magnetic flakes 34 by gravity, and the supernatant is removed.

The above-described stirring step or supernatant removing step is repeated until the supernatant becomes transparent while adding or supplementing the dodecylbenzene solution to the magnetic flake dispersion remaining in the stirring device.

Attachment of surfactant to magnetic flakes 34 After the supernatant liquid becomes transparent, a surfactant (eg, span 80, sodium oleate aqueous solution or succinimide) is charged into the stirring device, and the stirring device is additionally executed. Is done.

As a result, the surfactant is attached to the periphery of the magnetic flake.

Preparation of Microcapsules 32 By mixing water, an aqueous solution of gelatin, an aqueous solution of gum Arabic, and the like at an appropriate ratio and sufficiently stirring the mixture, a mixed solution of gelatin and rubber that becomes the binder 31 in the visible display region 23 is created. For example, 140 cc of water, 30 g of an 11% by weight aqueous gelatin solution (an aqueous solution of pig skin gelatin having an isoelectric point of pH 4.5), 30 g of an 11% by weight aqueous gum arabic solution, and 5 g of a 2% by weight aqueous sodium dodecyl sulfonate solution are prepared. May be prepared by mixing with each other and stirring sufficiently. Hereinafter, this case will be exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this. As long as the microcapsules 32 can be formed, a desired material may be used in a desired ratio.

Gelatin rubber mixture, after the stirring has progressed moderately,
The magnetic flake dispersion is heated to an appropriate temperature to facilitate dispersion.

Thereafter, the gelatin rubber mixture is mixed with the magnetic flake dispersion and stirred to be dispersed as fine particles of the magnetic flake dispersion in the gelatin rubber mixture (the resulting product is referred to as an “intermediate dispersion”). .

The intermediate dispersion contains acetic acid (eg,
10% by weight) until a pH of 4 to 4.5 is reached. As a result, a film of gelatin and gum arabic is formed around the fine particles of the magnetic flake dispersion (substantially dodecylbenzene).

The dropped intermediate dispersion of acetic acid is allowed to cool with stirring to solidify the gelatin and gum arabic film disposed around the magnetic flake dispersion (essentially dodecylbenzene) microparticles. .

The cooled intermediate dispersion may further include an aqueous solution of glutaraldehyde (eg, 25 g) to further solidify the gelatin and gum arabic films disposed around the magnetic flake dispersion (substantially dodecylbenzene) microparticles.
% By weight) is added in an appropriate amount. As a result, the microcapsules are dispersed in gelatin and gum arabic (this is called “microcapsule liquid”). The microcapsules 32 contain a magnetic flake dispersion (hence, magnetic flakes and dodecylbenzene).

An aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (for example, 20% by weight) is added dropwise to the microcapsule solution until the pH becomes 6 to 7 while stirring is continued.

After the dropwise addition of the aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, the microcapsule solution is further stirred for a sufficient time (for example, 3 to 5 hours), and then the microcapsules 34 are floated (referred to as “floating capsules”). It is left still.

Removal of empty capsules After the floating capsules in the microcapsule liquid are removed by an appropriate means, pure water is added (the resulting product is referred to as “floating capsule liquid”).

After the suspended capsule liquid is stirred for a sufficient time, a magnetic field is applied. As a result, the floating capsule liquid can separate microcapsules (called “empty capsules”) that do not contain the magnetic flakes 34,
Only the microcapsules (also referred to as “magnetic flake capsules”) 32 that contain the can be taken out.

The suspended capsule liquid is repeatedly provided to the above-described step of adding pure water or the step of removing magnetic flake capsules until the residual amount of the empty capsules becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value.

Arrangement on the Card Body 21 When the residual amount of the empty capsules becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, the floating capsule liquid is agitated, and then has an appropriate thickness (for example, 400 to 500 μm) on one surface of the separately prepared card body 21. Is applied and dried and solidified to form a visible display area (that is, a microcapsule layer) 23.

Arrangement of magnetic recording areas 22A and 22B The card body 21 in which the visible display area (that is, the microcapsule layer) 23 is arranged as described above,
The magnetic recording areas 22A and 22B are formed in a well-known manner to form the magnetic card 20 .

(Operation of Embodiment) In addition, FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 (a) to (d)
The operation of an embodiment of the checker device for a magnetic card according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. Here, only the case where the data held in the magnetic recording area 22A of the magnetic card 20 is rewritten will be described.

In the magnetic card checker device 10 according to the present invention, the magnetic card 20 inserted into the card insertion slot 11 as shown by the arrow A ₁
After being guided inside, it is moved as indicated by arrow A ₂ toward the checker main body 14. At this time, the data D ₁ held in the magnetic recording area 22A of the magnetic card 20, since the intensity of magnetization of a region corresponding to the large, without induced to erase the magnetic field B, and remains held (Fourth FIG. (A)).

Magnetic cards 20 that are moved to the checker main body 14, the checker main body 14 data D ₁ held in the magnetic recording area 22A is erased by the strength of the magnetization of the whole area is reduced and the surface of the direction of magnetization is the magnetic card 20 , The orientation direction of the magnetic flakes 34 in the microcapsule 32 is all perpendicular to the surface of the magnetic card 20 (see FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b)). . After that, the checker main body 14 writes the desired data D ₂ with respect to the magnetic recording area 22A (see FIG. 4 (c)). In this case, in the magnetic recording area 22A, the intensity of the magnetization in the region corresponding to the desired data D ₂ is made to increase, since the direction of magnetization remains in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the magnetic card 20, a micro The orientation direction of the magnetic flakes 34 in the capsule 32 cannot be changed (see FIG. 4 (c)).

When the write data D ₂ is completed in the checker main body 14, the magnetic card 20 is taken out as shown to the outside through the card insertion port 11 after passing through the moved magnetic field B as shown by arrow A ₃ by the arrow A _4. In this case, in the magnetic recording area 22A of the magnetic card 20, the magnetization of a region not corresponding to the data D ₂ by the magnetic field B is parallel to the surface of the magnetic card 20, magnetic retained in the microcapsules 32 in the visible display area 23 The flakes 34 are oriented in a direction parallel to the surface of the magnetic card 20 (see FIG. 4 (d)). This is accompanied, in the visible display area (i.e. microcapsule layer) 23, so that the content of the data D ₂ is visibly displayed.

(Modification) In the above description, only the magnetic card 20 having the visible display area (that is, the microcapsule layer) 23 is illustrated. However, in the magnetic card checker device 10 according to the present invention, the visible display area (ie, A normal magnetic card without the microcapsule layer 23 can also be processed.

(3) Effects of the Invention As is apparent from the above description, the magnetic card checker device according to the present invention is a magnetic card checker device for reading or rewriting data held in the magnetic recording area of the magnetic card. In particular, since a magnetic generator for generating a magnetic field in a direction parallel to the surface of the magnetic card is provided for the card insertion slot into which the magnetic card is inserted, (i) visible display by the microcapsule layer And (ii) the visual display of the magnetic card can be diversified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional perspective view showing an embodiment of a magnetic card checker device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partial sectional perspective view showing a magnetic card processed by the embodiment of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the manufacturing procedure of the magnetic card shown in FIG. 2, and FIGS. 4 (a) to 4 (d) are conceptual views showing the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 10 Checker device for magnetic card 11 Card slot 12 Magnetizer 12A, 12B Permanent magnet 13 Guide passage 14 Checker body 20 Magnetic card 21 Card body 22A, 22B ... Magnetic recording area 23 ... Visible display area 31 ... Binder 32 ... Microcapsule 33 ... Oil 34 ... Magnetic flake

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A magnetic card checker device for reading or rewriting data held in a magnetic recording area of a magnetic card, wherein a magnetic card is inserted into a card insertion slot (11) into which a magnetic card (20) is inserted. (20) A checker device for a magnetic card, comprising a magnetic generator (12) for generating a magnetic field in a direction parallel to the surface of the magnetic card.