JP4080587B2 - Card processing device and automatic ticket gate device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a card processing device, an automatic ticket gate device, and a card processing method, and in particular, a card processing device for processing a card such as a ticket medium possessed by passengers, and a card processing device provided with the card processing device. The present invention relates to an automatic ticket gate apparatus that performs a bill collection process and a card processing method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, automatic ticket gates that perform automatic ticket gate processing and automatic ticket gate devices that perform automatic ticket gate processing have begun to be installed at transportation stations such as railways. In such an automatic ticket gate and an automatic ticket gate (hereinafter collectively referred to as an automatic ticket gate), a magnetic reading process for reading magnetic information recorded on the inserted ticket medium and magnetic information on the ticket medium. Magnetic processing such as magnetic writing processing for writing, passage determination processing for determining whether to pass based on the read magnetic information, punch processing applied to the ticket medium inserted as necessary, printing processing, etc. It has been subjected.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In such an automatic ticket gate device, in order to improve processing efficiency, it is necessary to shorten the time required from receiving the ticket medium inserted to discharging it. For this purpose, it is necessary to shorten the transport path from the entrance to the exit where the ticket medium is transported in the automatic ticket gate, and to increase the transport speed in the transport path of the ticket medium to shorten the processing time. is there.
[0004]
However, when processing such as reading and recording of magnetic information, there is no problem even if the ticket medium is transported at a high speed, but when printing processing is performed, reliable and high-quality character information is obtained. In order to print, it is necessary to convey the ticket medium at a low speed suitable for printing to some extent.
[0005]
When processing magnetic information, the ticket medium is transported at, for example, 2.5 m / s, and when printing, the ticket medium is suitable for printing at, for example, about 0.05 m / s. Transported at low speed. As described above, in order to perform the printing process on the ticket medium being conveyed at a high speed, it is necessary to perform a deceleration process in stages, and until the low-speed conveyance of the ticket medium is stabilized, A transport path of a certain distance is necessary. For this reason, it exists in the tendency for the full length of a conveyance path to become long. For this reason, there is a problem that the time required for processing the ticket medium becomes long and the processing efficiency cannot be improved.
[0006]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a card processing apparatus capable of reducing the length of a conveyance path through which a card such as a ticket medium is conveyed and shortening the ticket gate processing time and improving the ticket gate processing efficiency per unit time and the card An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic ticket gate apparatus including a processing device and a card processing method.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  A card processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes:
  Magnetic processing for a card transported along a main transport path or a branched transport path branched from the main transport path, and a card transported at a first speed by the transport means. Magnetic processing means for applying a magnetic field, a first stop means for stopping the conveyance of the card that has been magnetically processed by the magnetic processing means and conveyed along the main conveyance path, and the magnetic processing by the magnetic processing means. A second stop means for stopping the transport of the card transported along the branch transport path, and a transport speed of the transport means while the transport of the card is stopped by the first or the second stop means. Control means for decelerating and releasing the card conveyance stop by the first or second stop means when the conveyance speed of the conveyance means reaches a second speed slower than the first speed; and the first stop means A first printing unit that performs a printing process on one surface of the card on the main transport path with respect to the card that is transported at a second speed by the transport unit, and the second stop. A second printing unit that cancels the conveyance stop by the unit and performs a printing process on the other surface of the card on the branch conveyance path with respect to the card conveyed at the second speed by the conveyance unit. It is characterized by that.
  Also,
  A conveying means for conveying a card on which magnetic information is recorded along a main conveying path or a branched conveying path branched from the main conveying path; a driving means for driving the conveying means at a predetermined conveying speed; and the driving means. Magnetic processing means for performing magnetic processing on the card being transported at the first transport speed by the transport means driven at the first transport speed, and magnetic processing is performed by the magnetic processing means, and the main transport A first stop means for stopping the conveyance of the card conveyed along the path, and a second stop means for stopping the conveyance of the card conveyed by the magnetic processing means and conveyed along the branch conveyance path. And a second transport speed that is lower than the first transport speed by controlling the drive means while the card transport is stopped by the first or second stop means. Reduced to Control means for releasing the card transport stop by the first or second stop means when the transport speed of the transport means reaches the second transport speed, and the transport stop by the first stop means is released. The card that is transported at the second transport speed by the transport means driven at the second transport speed by the driving means is subjected to a printing process on one surface of the card on the main transport path. The branch conveyance with respect to the card conveyed at the second speed by the conveying means driven at the second conveying speed by the driving means after the conveyance stop by the one printing means and the second stopping means is released And a second printing means for performing a printing process on the other surface of the card on the road.
  An automatic ticket gate according to an aspect of the present invention includes:
  Conveying means for conveying a ticket medium on which magnetic information is recorded, magnetic processing means for magnetically processing the ticket medium conveyed at the first speed by the conveying means, and processing by the magnetic processing means Judging means for judging the front and back of the ticket medium from the information obtained, and when it is judged by the judging means that the ticket medium has been inserted on the reverse side, the ticket is drawn in at the sorting gate for drawing in the ticket The reversing path for reversing the front and back of the ticket medium and transporting it to the transporting means, the ticketing means for performing ticketing processing based on the magnetic information processed by the magnetic processing means, and applying magnetic processing by the magnetic processing means. Stop means for stopping the transport of the ticket medium, and while the transport of the ticket medium is stopped by the stop means, the transport speed of the transport means is decelerated, When the speed reaches a second speed that is slower than the first speed, the control means for releasing the stop of the transport of the ticket medium by the stop means, and the transport being transported at the second speed by the transport means Printing means for performing a printing process on the ticket medium for which the stop is released.
  Also,
  Conveying means for conveying a ticket medium recorded with magnetic information, reading means for reading magnetic information recorded on the ticket medium conveyed by the conveying means, and a ticket from information read by the reading means Determining means for determining the front and back of the medium, and the ticket medium by the determining means; When it is determined that the body has been inserted into the back side, a sorting gate that pulls in the ticket, a reversing path that reverses the front and back of the ticket medium pulled in by the sorting gate and transports it to the transport means, and the reading Ticket gate means for performing ticket gate processing based on the magnetic information read by the means, and for the ticket medium transported by the transport means, if necessary, magnetically based on the magnetic information read by the reading means A writing means for writing information; a confirmation means for confirming magnetic information written by the writing means in a ticket medium transported at a first transport speed by the transport means; and a writing by the confirmation means. Stop means for stopping the transfer of the ticket medium in which the magnetic information has been confirmed, and the transfer speed of the transfer means while the transfer of the ticket medium is stopped by the stop means. The control means for releasing the stop of the transport of the ticket medium by the stop means when the transport speed of the transport means reaches a second speed that is slower than the first speed, and a second by the transport means. And printing means for performing a printing process on the ticket medium that has been transported at a speed of which has been released from the stop of transportation.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a card processing apparatus, an automatic ticket gate apparatus equipped with the card processing apparatus, and a card processing method according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the external appearance of an automatic ticket gate according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, it is assumed that the automatic ticket gate apparatus can execute a ticket gate process and a ticket collection process.
[0016]
This automatic ticket gate is an automatic ticket gate compatible with a plurality of sheets that can be used for a combination use of a ticket medium as a plurality of cards. For example, at a transfer station between the Shinkansen and a conventional line, this automatic ticket gate installed at this transfer station has a conventional line ticket starting from or at the transfer station, and an end or start point at this transfer station. The Shinkansen boarding ticket and limited express ticket can be received, and it can be checked whether there is any fraud in the boarding section based on these data, and the bill collection process can be performed.
[0017]
Hereinafter, such a bill collection process will be described in detail. In addition, the ticket medium which the above-mentioned boarding area continued is called a related ticket.
The main body 10 of the automatic ticket gate has a slot 12 into which a ticket medium is inserted when entering the station or entering the station, and a outlet for discharging the ticket medium received at the slot 12. 14 are provided.
[0018]
Ticket media as cards are classified into ordinary tickets, commuter passes, limited express tickets, coupon tickets, transit tickets, etc., and prepaid cards, etc. For example, expiration date information and rideable section information are magnetically recorded in a predetermined format.
[0019]
In addition, when these ticketing media are issued, information such as the ticketing station name, the date and time of issue, the expiration date, etc. are printed on the front or back of the ticket medium. And, in these ticket media, when passing through the automatic ticket gate device, that is, when being subjected to a predetermined processing after being put in and discharged, predetermined information is printed and discharged. There is.
[0020]
For example, information such as the date and time of use, the name of the station that passed through the automatic ticket gate, and the remaining amount of the card are printed on the card ticket media when passing through the automatic ticket gate. The coupon ticket is printed with information such as the date and time of use and the name of the station that passed through the automatic ticket checker during the ticket check process. The transit ticket is printed with information such as the station name of the transit station that has passed through the automatic ticket gate at the time of transit, and a message indicating that entry is possible on the way to the stop.
[0021]
Thus, a ticket medium on which some information is subjected to printing processing when passing through an automatic ticket gate after ticketing, such as cards, coupon tickets, and transit tickets, is referred to as a first type ticket medium hereinafter. Refers to the following types of ticket media that are printed when they pass through an automatic ticket gate, such as ordinary tickets and commuter passes, or are collected without passing through the automatic ticket gate. It is called a ticket media.
[0022]
In this embodiment, the slot 12 can accept batch loading of a plurality of ticket media. The slot 12 can, of course, accept a single ticket medium. As a combination of a plurality of ticket media, a regular ticket and a regular ticket, an ordinary ticket and an express ticket, and a combination of a regular ticket and a regular ticket, as well as a combination of a prepaid card and the like can be considered. Furthermore, the discharge port 14 of this embodiment can discharge a plurality of sheets at a time when a plurality of ticket media are put in a lump, and the plurality of ticket media are large size ticket media. It is discharged in a stacked state so as to be under the small size ticket medium. This collective discharge will be described in detail later.
[0023]
In the vicinity of the insertion slot 12, a shutter for preventing the insertion of the ticket medium is provided. This shutter prohibits the insertion of another ticket medium for a predetermined period of time after the ticket medium is inserted. Due to the action of the shutter, it is possible to prevent another person's ticket medium from being continuously inserted.
[0024]
Further, in front of the insertion port 12, a vicinity of the insertion port display unit 16 is provided for displaying various guidance to the user. This insertion slot vicinity display part 16 displays the remaining amount, such as a prepaid card, for example. Further, a passage guidance display unit 13 for displaying guidance of the passage of the automatic ticket gate is provided at the lower portion of the insertion port 12. In front of the discharge port 14, a discharge port vicinity display unit 18 that displays various guidance to the user is provided.
[0025]
A door portion 20 is provided on a side surface portion of the main body 10 of the automatic ticket gate device to prevent a passenger entering the ticket medium from passing by closing. In addition, a frame 22 serving as a partition for distinguishing a passage corresponding to the main body 10 of the automatic ticket gate apparatus is provided on the upper part of the main body 10 of the automatic ticket gate apparatus. The frame 22 is provided with a display 26 for notifying the insertion of a child ticket, the insertion of an invalid ticket or an abnormal ticket, or an abnormality of a device. Furthermore, a plurality of human detection sensors 24 that detect the passage of the user are provided on the side surface portion of the main body 10 and the frame 22. The human detection sensor 24 detects the passage of the user, and a transmission type, a reflection type, or the like is used.
[0026]
An invalid ticket is a ticket that cannot be used in combination with other ticket media. For example, an expired ticket medium corresponds to this. An abnormal ticket is a ticket that cannot be read by this automatic ticket gate. For example, a credit card with a different recording format or a ticket that is not magnetically recorded corresponds to this.
[0027]
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the internal mechanism of the automatic ticket gate shown in FIG.
Between the insertion port 12 and the discharge port 14, a main conveyance path 32 through which the ticket medium loaded from the insertion port 12 is conveyed to the discharge port 14 is formed. Along the main transport path 32, a plurality of transport rollers for transporting a ticket medium functioning as transport means, and a transport belt for sandwiching and transporting the ticket medium are disposed. These transport rollers and transport belt are driven by a main motor 74.
[0028]
On this main conveyance path 32, a sensor for detecting a ticket medium conveyed on the conveyance path 32, for example, a slot sensor 90 for detecting a ticket medium loaded from the slot 12, and discharging to a discharge port. A plurality of discharge port sensors 92 and the like for detecting the used ticket medium are provided.
[0029]
A shutter 28 is provided at the entrance from the slot 12 to the main transport path 32 to prohibit the loading of the ticket medium for a predetermined period.
The shutter 28 is controlled to close at the moment when the ticket medium is inserted. As a result, a distinction is made between the ticket medium that is initially input and the ticket medium that is input by the next passenger.
[0030]
On the transport path of the main transport path 32, a take-in roller 33 that takes in one or more pieces of the ticket medium loaded one by one in order from the insertion port 12 to the discharge port 14, and the taken-in ticket An alignment unit 34 for aligning the media is provided. A size detection sensor 35 for detecting the size of the ticket medium is provided between the take-in roller 33 and the alignment unit 34.
[0031]
Here, the type and size of the ticket medium will be described. There are 30 mm tickets called so-called Edmonson tickets such as ordinary tickets and transit tickets, 80 mm tickets such as commuter passes and prepaid cards, and 120 mm tickets such as limited express tickets. These sizes are 30 mm × 57.5 mm for 30 mm tickets, 57.5 mm × 85 mm for 80 mm tickets, and 57.5 mm × 120 mm for 120 mm tickets.
[0032]
The size detection sensor 35 detects the size of these ticket media according to the sensor output.
In the aligning unit 34, the predetermined direction of the ticket medium inserted into the insertion slot 12 is set as the transport direction and is aligned so as to be a one-side reference.
[0033]
On the downstream side of the alignment section 34 in the main conveyance path 32, when the ticket medium is put on the surface, that is, the entrance station information, fee information, etc. of the ticket medium are put with the surface to be printed up facing upward. Even when the ticket medium is inserted into the back side, that is, even when the back side having a magnetic recording part on which magnetic information such as entrance station information and fee information of the ticket medium is recorded is input upward, the magnetic information Are read by the magnetic processing means for reading the information magnetically recorded on the magnetic recording portion provided on the back side of the ticket medium, and the read heads 36a and 36b as the reading means are provided above and below the conveyance path.
[0034]
When the ticket medium is inserted on the surface, the magnetic information of the ticket medium is read by the read head 36b provided below the main conveyance path 32 because the magnetic recording portion of the ticket medium faces below the main conveyance path 32.
[0035]
When the ticket medium is inserted on the back side, the magnetic recording portion of the ticket medium faces upward on the main conveyance path 32, so that magnetic information is read by the read head 36a provided above the main conveyance path 32. It is done.
[0036]
Whether one of the reading heads 36a and 36b reads the magnetic information of the ticket medium can determine whether the ticket medium is inserted on the front side or the back side.
[0037]
The main conveyance path 32 includes a reversing unit 38 that sends out the front and back of the ticket medium in a unified manner downstream of the reading heads 36a and 36b, and temporarily holds the ticket medium before writing magnetic information. A first holding unit 42 is provided.
[0038]
The reversing unit 38 is provided with a sorting gate 39. In order to unify the front and back of the ticket medium, the ticket medium is pulled into the reversing unit 38 from the main transport path 32 by the sorting gate 39 as necessary. It is. The ticket medium loaded on the back surface is drawn from the main transport path 32 to the reversing unit 38 by the sorting gate 39 and is transported through the reversing path 40 so that the front and back are reversed and returned to the main transport path 32.
[0039]
The necessity of drawing the ticket medium into the reversing unit 38 is determined by the size of the ticket medium and the front / back information of the ticket medium read by the reading head 36a or 36b. That is, it is determined that the ticket medium whose magnetic information has been read by the read head 36a has been inserted into the back surface, and is drawn into the reversing unit 38 from the main transport path 32 by the sorting gate 39, and from the reverse path 40 to the main transport path. By returning to 32, the front and back are reversed.
[0040]
The reversing path 40 of the reversing unit 38 is connected to the discharge path 47 of the first holding unit 42. A stopper 41 is provided between the reverse path 40 and the discharge path 47. For this reason, if necessary, the reversing unit 38 can function as a reserving unit that temporarily holds the ticket medium on the reversing path 40. When the reserved ticket medium is discharged to the main transport path 32, the reverse path 40 is switched back and discharged, so that the front and back of the ticket medium inserted on the back surface can be reversed and discharged. In addition, by discharging from the stopper 41 toward the discharge path 47, it is possible to discharge the ticket medium loaded on the surface in that state.
[0041]
The first holding unit 42 temporarily holds the ticket medium in order to check the validity of the ticket medium by a combination of a plurality of sheets, for example, whether or not the boardable sections are continuous.
[0042]
The first holding section 42 is provided with a sorting gate 43, a plurality of, for example, two holding paths 44, a stopper 45, and the like. These three holding paths 44 are both connected to the discharge path 47. A stopper 45 is provided between each holding path 44 and the discharge path 47.
[0043]
When temporarily holding the ticket medium in the first holding unit 42, the ticket medium is drawn from the main transport path to the holding path 44 by the sorting gate 43, and the drawn ticket medium is stopped by the stopper 45. Is put on hold. At this time, the sorting gate 43 is actuated so that a plurality of ticket media do not overlap each other on the holding path 44, that is, each holding sheet 44 is held on another holding path 44 one by one.
[0044]
Then, when releasing the reserved ticket medium, that is, when the reserved ticket medium is discharged, the stopper 45 is opened, and one ticket medium is discharged from each holding path 44 toward the discharge path 47, and the main transport path 32. Returned to
[0045]
The order in which the ticket media temporarily held in the holding path 44 is discharged to the main transport path 32 is, for example, in order of increasing size, and the ticket media that are not subjected to subsequent processing are discharged preferentially. And That is, a ticket that does not require a 120 mm ticket printing process, a ticket that requires a 120 mm ticket printing process, a ticket that does not require an 85 mm ticket printing process, a ticket that requires an 85 mm ticket printing process, and a 30 mm ticket printing It is discharged in the order of a ticket that does not require processing and a ticket that requires printing processing of a 30 mm ticket.
[0046]
On the downstream side of the first holding section 42 in the main transport path 32, a magnetic processing means for recording predetermined magnetic information in a magnetic recording section provided on the back surface of the ticket medium, and a writing head 46 functioning as a writing means, Magnetic processing means for confirming information recorded by the writing head 46, a read head 48 functioning as confirmation means, a punch processing section 50 for punching a predetermined position of a ticket medium such as a normal ticket, and a transfer ribbon The thermal transfer type thermal head 56 that prints predetermined information on the surface of the first type ticket medium that needs to be subjected to a printing process by thermally transferring 55 inks, and a plurality of sheets that are discharged when a plurality of ticket mediums are inserted. For example, a second holding unit 60 is provided that stacks and arranges a plurality of ticket media such that, for example, a large size ticket media is located below.
[0047]
Between the punch processing unit 50 and the thermal transfer thermal head 56 in the main transport path 32, a first stopper S1 that temporarily closes the main transport path 32 at a predetermined timing is provided. The first stopper S1 closes the main transport path 32 when the first type ticket medium that needs to be printed by the thermal transfer thermal head 56 is transported through the main transport path 32, and the first stopper S1 The transportation of the seed ticket medium is temporarily stopped.
[0048]
Then, while the transport of the first type ticket medium is stopped, the transport speed of the main transport path 32 is reduced. And when the conveyance speed of the main conveyance path 32 decelerates to the predetermined conveyance speed, the blockage of the main conveyance path 32 of the first stopper S1 is released, and the conveyance of the first type ticket medium is resumed.
[0049]
When the second type ticket medium that does not need to be printed by the thermal transfer type thermal head 56 has been transported through the main transport path 32, the stopper S1 does not block the main transport path 32.
[0050]
A branch conveyance path 53 is provided on the downstream side of the reading head 48 in the main conveyance path 32. The ticket medium to be transported on the branch transport path 53 is distributed from the main transport path 32 to the branch transport path 53 by the sorting gate 51.
[0051]
On the branch conveyance path 53, there are provided a punch processing unit 52 for punching a predetermined position of a ticket medium such as a prepaid card, and a heat-sensitive layer provided on the back surface of the first type ticket medium that needs to be printed. A thermal transfer type thermal head 58 that prints predetermined information by color development is provided.
[0052]
A second stopper S <b> 2 that temporarily closes the branch conveyance path 53 at a predetermined timing is provided between the punch processing unit 52 and the thermal head 58 in the branch conveyance path 53. The second stopper S2 closes the branch conveyance path 53 when the first type ticket medium that needs to be printed by the thermal head 58 has been conveyed through the branch conveyance path 53, so that the first type boarding is performed. The transport of the ticket medium is temporarily stopped.
[0053]
Then, the conveyance speed of the branch conveyance path 53 is reduced while the conveyance of the first type ticket medium is stopped. And when the conveyance speed of the branch conveyance path 53 decelerates to the predetermined conveyance speed, the blockage of the branch conveyance path 53 of the second stopper S2 is released, and the conveyance of the first type ticket medium is resumed.
[0054]
In the automatic ticket gate according to this embodiment, the first type ticket medium that needs to be printed on the surface during the ticket gate process or the ticket collection process passes through the punch processing unit 50 and then passes through the main conveyance path. 32 is continuously conveyed, and predetermined information is printed by the thermal head 56. Also, the first type ticket medium that needs to be printed on the back side is distributed from the main transport path 32 to the branch transport path 53 by the sorting gate 50, and predetermined information is printed by the thermal head 58.
[0055]
When the ticket medium inserted from the insertion slot 12 is a type 2 ticket medium that does not need to be printed, for example, the ticket medium such as a commuter pass is continuously conveyed on the main conveyance path 32, and the thermal head The driving of 56 is stopped and the printing process is not performed.
[0056]
The second holding unit 60 includes a holding unit 61, a sorting gate 62, a ticket detection sensor 63, and the like. Even when a plurality of ticket media having different sizes are discharged in a lump, the second holding unit 60 may prevent the specific ticket media from being overlooked, that is, not to be overlooked. This is a mechanism for rearranging a plurality of different ticket media in order of size and aligning them.
[0057]
In the second holding unit 60, the ticket medium is arranged and discharged as follows. For example, it is assumed that a regular ticket as a small-sized ticket and a commuter pass as a medium-sized ticket are put together or one by one and temporarily held in the reversing unit 38 and the first holding unit 42. At this time, it is discharged from the first holding portion 42 in order from the large ticket medium, that is, in the order of the commuter pass and the ordinary ticket, and is conveyed on the main conveyance path 32.
[0058]
First, the commuter pass is taken into the holding unit 61 by the sorting gate 62. When the taken commuter pass is detected by the ticket detection sensor 63, the driving of the transport mechanism 64 is stopped and the commuter pass is temporarily held at a predetermined position of the holding unit 61.
[0059]
Subsequently, the ordinary ticket is transported by the transport mechanism 64 so that the tip of the commuter pass previously held coincides with the tip of the ordinary ticket, and the ordinary ticket to the holding unit 61 by the sorting gate 62 is obtained. Is taken in. As a result, the commuter pass is taken into the holding unit 61 in a state where the front end of the commuter pass and the front end of the ordinary ticket coincide with each other and the ordinary ticket is stacked on the commuter pass. When the ordinary ticket and the commuter pass taken into the holding unit 61 are detected by the ticket detection sensor 63, the driving of the transport mechanism 64 is stopped. That is, the ordinary boarding ticket and the commuter pass are overlapped at a predetermined position of the holding unit 61 and are temporarily held in a state where the leading ends are matched.
[0060]
If the ticket medium is not held in the first holding unit 42, the discharge roller 65 is rotated, and all the ticket medium taken into the holding unit 61 is conveyed toward the discharge port 14.
[0061]
When a plurality of related tickets overlapped in this way are discharged, all the tickets can be confirmed as viewed from the side of the recipient of these related tickets. Therefore, by arranging the ticket media having different sizes in order of size and discharging them together, a smooth ticket gate process can be realized, and the loss of the ticket media can be prevented.
[0062]
The sorting gate 66 is a gate that sorts between discharge and collection according to the type of ticket medium. For example, at the time of bill collection, the commuter pass is discharged, and the ordinary ticket when participating from the station yard is collected. The ticket medium collected by the sorting gate 66 is sorted and collected by the sorting gate 68 into the first bill collection box 70 and the second bill collection box 72 according to the type of the ticket ticket medium.
[0063]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a control system of the automatic ticket gate explained in FIG. 1 and FIG.
The entire automatic ticket gate is controlled by the CPU 100. The CPU 100 includes a ROM 102 that stores a control program of the CPU 100, a RAM 104 that stores information read from a ticket medium and a buffer for a control program, and an entrance station to a station where the automatic ticket gate is installed. A fare memory 106 that stores the fare information, a read circuit 108 that controls the read heads 36a and 36b, a write circuit 110 that controls the write head 46, a read circuit 112 that controls the read head 48, and the like. It is connected. The CPU 100 performs passability determination processing based on the information read by the reading head 36a or 36b and identifies the type of the ticket medium.
[0064]
The CPU 100 also includes a distribution control circuit 114 that controls the distribution gates 39, 43, 51, 59, 62, 66, and 68, a printer control circuit 116 that controls the thermal heads 56 and 58, and a first hold. Detecting the transport status of the ticket medium based on signals from the first holding unit control circuit 117 that controls the driving of the unit 42, the size detection sensor 35, the sensor 63, the insertion port sensor 90, the discharge port sensor 92, and the like. A detection circuit 118 is connected. The CPU 100 detects the size of the ticket medium based on the detection signal from the size detection sensor 35.
[0065]
Further, the CPU 100 controls a transport roller for transporting the ticket medium and a main motor 74 for driving the transport belt to control the transport speed of the ticket medium in the main transport path 32 and the branch transport path 53. 120, a passage detection circuit 122 that detects the passage of a passenger of the ticket medium based on an output from the human detection sensor 24, a door control circuit 126 that controls the door opening / closing mechanism 124 that drives the door unit 20, and the like are connected. Yes.
[0066]
Further, the CPU 100 includes a display control circuit 128 that controls each display unit such as the passage guide display unit 13, the input port vicinity display unit 16, and the discharge port vicinity display unit 18, and the first stopper S1 and the second stopper S2. A stopper control circuit 130 for controlling the driving of the punch, a punch processing control circuit 132 for controlling the punching sections 50 and 52, a shutter control circuit 134 for controlling the driving of the shutter 28, and a driving of the second holding section 60. A second holding unit control circuit 136 is connected to a monitoring panel interface 138 for connecting to a monitoring panel 140 that monitors a plurality of automatic ticket gates collectively.
[0067]
Next, the traffic determination process will be described.
The ticket collection process by this traffic determination process is controlled by the CPU 100 provided in the automatic ticket gate main body.
[0068]
Hereinafter, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4, the bill collection process by the traffic determination process will be described.
The bill collection process is started by inserting a ticket medium.
[0069]
First, the shutter 28 provided at the slot 12 is opened, and the ticket medium is permitted to be inserted into the slot 12 (ST10).
When a ticket medium is inserted into the slot 12, the ticket sensor 90 detects the ticket medium and closes the shutter 28, thereby prohibiting the next ticket medium. When only one ticket medium is inserted, this one ticket medium is taken into the main transport path 32 by the take-in roller 33. When there are a plurality of inserted ticket media, the plurality of ticket media are separated and taken into the main transport path 32 by the take-in roller 33 one by one. The ticket medium taken in by the take-in roller 33 is aligned by the alignment unit 34.
[0070]
The aligned ticket media are transported along the main transport path 32, and the magnetic information recorded on the ticket media is read by the read heads 36a and 36b (ST11). At this time, it is determined whether the reading head 36a or 36b has read the magnetic information recorded on the ticket medium, so that the loaded ticket medium is inserted on the front side or the back side. Judgment is made.
[0071]
When a plurality of ticket media are inserted, each ticket media is temporarily held by the first holding unit 42 and the reversing unit 38 (ST12). At this time, the ticket medium loaded on the back surface is reversed in the reversing unit 38 and then held in any of the holding paths 44 in the first holding unit 42.
[0072]
In this traffic determination process, if only one ticket medium is inserted at a time, the ticket medium is transported through the main transport path 32 and is not retained in the first retaining section 42. Subsequent processing is executed for the ticket medium.
[0073]
And all the information read from all the ticket media is collated, and the content of the read information is determined (ST13).
That is, when the information on the ticket medium cannot be read, it is determined that the inserted ticket is an abnormal ticket (ST14, NO), and the door section 20 is used to block the passage of the owner of the ticket medium. Is immediately closed (ST15), and an alarm is displayed on the display 26 (ST16).
[0074]
The ticket determined to be an abnormal ticket is immediately discharged to the discharge port 14 (ST17). In addition, when there is a ticket that is inserted at the same time as the ticket determined to be an abnormal ticket, this ticket is also immediately discharged to the discharge port 14.
[0075]
When all the ticket media discharged to the discharge port 14 are extracted (ST18, YES), it is determined whether or not the owner has returned to the entrance side of the automatic ticket gate (ST19).
[0076]
When the human detection sensor 24 determines that the owner has returned to the entrance side of the automatic ticket gate (ST19, YES), the alarm operation of the display 26 is reset (ST20), and the door unit 20 is opened. (ST21).
[0077]
When it is determined that the inserted ticket is not an abnormal ticket, a traffic determination process is performed using the collectively inserted ticket medium. In the traffic determination process, it is determined whether a ticket gate process or a ticket collection process should be performed on the inserted ticket medium, whether a boarding section and a boarding deadline are valid, and input. A determination is made as to whether the printed ticket medium is a first type ticket medium that requires printing or a second type ticket medium that does not require printing.
[0078]
As a result of the traffic determination process, when the passage of the owner of the ticket medium is permitted (ST14, YES), the door unit 20 does not block the traffic.
Then, based on the determination result of the traffic determination process, it is determined whether the ticket ticket process or the ticket collection process should be performed on the inserted ticket medium (ST22).
[0079]
Subsequently, when the ticket gate process is performed on the ticket medium (ST22, YES), the discharge process of the ticket medium held in the first holding unit 42 is started. That is, the ticket media reserved in the first storage unit 42 are sent out to the main transport path 32 in order of increasing size, for example.
[0080]
At this time, predetermined information is written by the write head 46 on the ticket medium to which magnetic information needs to be written (ST23). The written data is read by the reading head 48, and the written content is confirmed (ST24).
[0081]
At this time, the punch processing unit 50 performs punch processing on the ticket medium that requires punch processing (ST25).
Then, based on the determination result of the traffic determination process, it is determined whether the inserted ticket medium is the first ticket medium or the second type ticket medium (ST26).
[0082]
When the ticket medium subjected to the above-described various processes is the first ticket medium (ST26, YES), the ticket medium, that is, the first type ticket medium is one of the thermal heads 56 or 58. Thus, predetermined information is printed on the front surface or the back surface (ST27).
[0083]
The ticket medium that has been processed as necessary is taken into the second holding unit.
On the other hand, based on the result of the traffic determination process, when the inserted ticket medium is the type 2 ticket medium (ST26, NO), the main conveyance path 32 is conveyed as it is, and the printing process is not performed.
[0084]
Then, the second type ticket medium is transported along the main transport path 32 and taken into the second holding unit 60.
When there is still a ticket medium conveyed from the first holding unit 42, it is taken into the second holding unit 60 continuously. And the front-end | tip of the taken in ticket medium is aligned and temporarily hold | maintained.
[0085]
When there is no ticket medium conveyed from the first holding unit 42, all the ticket media arranged by the second holding unit 60 are conveyed to the discharge port 14 (ST28). At this time, all the ticket media are discharged so as not to be lost, that is, in a state where the small size ticket media is not hidden by the shadow of the large size ticket media.
[0086]
Then, it is determined whether the owner of the ticket medium, that is, the passenger has passed the automatic ticket gate (ST29), and when the passenger has passed (ST29, YES), the number of passengers that have passed is counted by 1 ( ST30).
[0087]
On the other hand, when the ticket collection process is performed on the ticket medium (ST22, NO), a different process is performed depending on the type of the ticket medium.
That is, when the boarding ticket medium is a commuter pass (ST31, YES), the main transport path 32 is transported toward the second holding section 60 on the discharge port 14 side without performing printing processing or punching processing.
[0088]
In addition, in the case of a first type ticket medium that needs to be printed and returned to the passenger (ST32, YES), a ticket medium such as a transit ticket, that is, a first type ticket medium is Then, information such as a message indicating that the passenger can re-enter at the transit station is printed on the front or back surface of the ticket medium by either thermal head 56 or 58 (ST27).
[0089]
The ticket medium that has been processed as necessary is taken into the second holding unit.
On the other hand, if the ticket medium is a second-class ticket medium other than the commuter pass, that is, a ticket medium that does not need to be returned to the passenger (ST32, NO), it is transported through the main transport path 32 as it is and distributed. Sorted by the gates 66 and 68 and collected in the first collection box 70 or the second collection box 72 (ST33).
[0090]
Then, it is determined whether or not the owner of the ticket medium, that is, the passenger has passed through the automatic ticket gate (ST29), and when the passage of the passenger is completed (ST29, YES), the number of passengers that have passed is counted by 1 ( ST30).
[0091]
The ticket gate and ticket collection processing of the ticket medium is executed by the above steps.
Next, the printing process performed on the first type ticket medium will be described in more detail.
[0092]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control method when the first type ticket medium is printed.
That is, the ticket medium subjected to the ticket collection process by the automatic ticket checker is driven at a first conveyance speed, for example, 2.5 m / s after the hold by the first holding unit 42 is released. And the main conveyance path 32 is conveyed at a 1st conveyance speed by a conveyance belt (ST41). Magnetic information is written to the ticket medium being conveyed at the first conveying speed by the writing head 46 as necessary, and the magnetic information written to the ticket medium is confirmed by the reading head 48. .
[0093]
When the CPU 100 determines that the ticket medium being transported at the first transport speed is the second type ticket medium that does not require the printing process, based on the result of the traffic determination process in step ST14. (ST42, NO), the process proceeds to step ST28 of the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0094]
Further, when the CPU 100 determines that the ticket medium being transported at the first transport speed is the first type ticket medium requiring the printing process (ST42, YES), the CPU 100 further performs the traffic determination process. Based on the result, it is determined whether the surface to be printed is the surface of the ticket medium (ST43).
[0095]
When the CPU 100 determines that the printing surface of the first type ticket medium is the front surface based on the result of the traffic determination process (ST43, YES), the CPU 100 controls the stopper control circuit 130 to the main conveyance path 32. The first stopper S1 provided is turned on, and the main transport path 32 is closed by the first stopper S1 (ST44). And 1st stopper S1 stops conveyance of the 1st type ticket medium conveyed by the main conveyance path 32 at the 1st conveyance speed.
[0096]
The CPU 100 controls the conveyance control circuit 120 while the conveyance of the first ticket medium is stopped by the first stopper S1, and the conveyance rollers and conveyance belts arranged in the main conveyance path 32 by the main motor 74 are controlled. The conveyance speed is decelerated (ST45).
[0097]
Then, the CPU 100 controls the conveyance until the conveyance speed in the main conveyance path 32 reaches a second conveyance speed suitable for printing processing slower than the first conveyance speed, for example, a low speed of about 0.05 m / s (ST46, YES). The circuit 120 is controlled to reduce the conveyance speed. At this time, the transport belt and the transport roller that transported the first type ticket medium that has been transported by the first stopper S1 are decelerated until they reach the second transport speed while idling.
[0098]
When the CPU 100 determines that the transport speed of the main transport path 32 has reached the second transport speed (YES in ST46), the CPU 100 controls the stopper control circuit 130 to turn off the first stopper S1 and to The blockage of the main transport path 32 by the stopper S1 is released (ST47). Then, the transport of the first type ticket medium that has been stopped by the first stopper S1 is resumed, and the first ticket medium is transported by the transport belt and the transport roller driven at the second transport speed. The path 32 is transported at the second transport speed.
[0099]
Then, the CPU 100 controls the printer control circuit 116 to drive the thermal transfer thermal head 56 at a predetermined timing when the first boarding ticket medium passes through the thermal transfer thermal head 56, and to determine the predetermined surface of the first type boarding ticket medium. The predetermined character information or the like is printed in the print area (ST48).
[0100]
Then, the printing process ends.
On the other hand, if the CPU 100 determines that the printing surface of the first type ticket medium is the back surface based on the result of the traffic determination process (ST43, NO), the CPU 100 determines the first ticket medium by the sorting gate 51. Guided to the branch conveyance path 53, the stopper control circuit 130 is controlled to turn on the second stopper S2 provided in the branch conveyance path 53, and the branch conveyance path 53 is closed by the second stopper S2 (ST49). And 2nd stopper S2 stops conveyance of the 1st type ticket medium which has been conveyed in the branch conveyance path 53 at 1st conveyance speed.
[0101]
The CPU 100 controls the conveyance control circuit 120 while the conveyance of the first ticket medium is stopped by the second stopper S2, and the conveyance rollers and the conveyance belts arranged in the main conveyance path 32 by the main motor 74 are controlled. The conveyance speed is decelerated (ST50).
[0102]
Then, the CPU 100 controls the conveyance control circuit 120 to decelerate the conveyance speed until the conveyance speed in the branch conveyance path 53 reaches the second conveyance speed suitable for the printing process (ST51, YES). At this time, the transport belt and the transport roller that transported the first type ticket medium that has been transported by the second stopper S2 are decelerated until they reach the second transport speed while idling.
[0103]
When the CPU 100 determines that the conveyance speed of the branch conveyance path 53 has reached the second conveyance speed (ST51, YES), the CPU 100 controls the stopper control circuit 130 to turn off the second stopper S2, and to perform the second operation. The blockage of the branch conveyance path 53 by the stopper S2 is released (ST52). Then, the transport of the first type ticket medium that has been stopped by the second stopper S2 is resumed, and the first ticket medium is branched and transported by the transport belt and the transport roller that are driven at the second transport speed. The path 53 is transported at the second transport speed.
[0104]
Then, the CPU 100 controls the printer control circuit 116 to drive the thermal transfer thermal head 58 at a predetermined timing when the first ticket medium passes through the thermal transfer thermal head 58, so that the rear surface of the first type ticket medium is used. The predetermined character information or the like is printed in the predetermined print area (ST53).
[0105]
Then, the printing process ends.
As described above, according to the card processing device of the present invention, the automatic ticket gate device provided with the card processing device, and the card processing method, in order to perform the printing process on the ticket medium, it is transported at the first transport speed. Suitable for print processing where the transport speed of the transport belt or transport roller is slower than the first transport speed during the time when the transport of the ticket medium is temporarily stopped after performing magnetic processing such as magnetic reading processing or magnetic writing processing. The vehicle is decelerated to the second transport speed, and when the second transport speed is reached, the transport stop of the ticket medium is canceled, and the ticket medium is transported at a second transport speed suitable for printing. The area is printed.
[0106]
For this reason, it is possible to reliably decelerate the transport speed of a ticket medium that requires printing processing to a transport speed suitable for printing, while printing the transport medium while transporting the ticket medium at a reliably decelerated transport speed. Since the processing is performed, high-quality character information can be reliably printed.
[0107]
In addition, the transport of the ticket medium transported at the first transport speed as compared with the conventional processing method of decelerating to the second transport speed suitable for the printing process while transporting the ticket medium transported at the first transport speed. Since the speed is reduced to the second transport speed while the operation is stopped, the entire length of the transport path can be shortened.
Thereby, it is possible to shorten the ticket processing time and improve the ticket processing efficiency per unit time.
[0108]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the card processing which can improve the ticket gate processing efficiency per unit time by shortening the length of the transport path for transporting a card such as a ticket medium and reducing the ticket gate processing time. It is possible to provide an apparatus, an automatic ticket gate apparatus including the card processing apparatus, and a card processing method.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an external appearance of an automatic ticket gate according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing an internal mechanism of the automatic ticket gate shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a control system of the automatic ticket gate shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a ticket collection process based on a traffic determination process applied to the automatic ticket gate of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a printing process control method in the flowchart shown in FIG. 4;
[Explanation of symbols]
10 ... Automatic ticket gate
32 ... Main transport path
36a, 36b... Read head
42 ... 1st reservation part
46. Writing head
48 ... Reading head
56 ... Thermal head
58 ... Thermal head
60 ... second holding section
74 ... Main motor
100 ... CPU
120 ... Conveyance control circuit
130: Stopper control circuit
S1 ... 1st stopper
S2 ... Second stopper

Claims (4)

Transport means for transporting a card on which magnetic information is recorded along a main transport path or a branched transport path branched from the main transport path ;
Magnetic processing means for performing magnetic processing on the card being transported at a first speed by the transport means;
First stop means for stopping the conveyance of the card that has been magnetically processed by the magnetic processing means and is conveyed along the main conveyance path ;
Second stop means for stopping the conveyance of the card that has been magnetically processed by the magnetic processing means and is conveyed along the branch conveyance path;
While the card transport is stopped by the first or second stop means, the transport speed of the transport means is reduced, and the transport speed of the transport means reaches a second speed that is slower than the first speed. Control means for releasing the card conveyance stop by the first or second stop means at the time of
A first printing unit that cancels the conveyance stop by the first stopping unit and performs a printing process on one surface of the card on the main conveyance path with respect to the card conveyed at the second speed by the conveyance unit; ,
A second printing unit that cancels the conveyance stop by the second stopping unit and performs a printing process on the other surface of the card on the branch conveyance path with respect to the card conveyed at the second speed by the conveying unit; ,
A card processing apparatus comprising: Transport means for transporting a card on which magnetic information is recorded along a main transport path or a branched transport path branched from the main transport path ;
Driving means for driving the conveying means at a predetermined conveying speed;
Magnetic processing means for performing magnetic processing on the card being transported at the first transport speed by the transport means driven at the first transport speed by the driving means;
First stop means for stopping the conveyance of the card that has been magnetically processed by the magnetic processing means and is conveyed along the main conveyance path ;
Second stop means for stopping the conveyance of the card that has been magnetically processed by the magnetic processing means and is conveyed along the branch conveyance path;
While the card transport is stopped by the first or second stop means, the drive means is controlled to reduce the transport speed of the transport means to a second transport speed that is slower than the first transport speed. Control means for releasing the card conveyance stop by the first or second stop means when the conveyance speed of the conveyance means reaches the second conveyance speed;
The card on the main transport path with respect to the card transported at the second transport speed by the transport means driven by the drive means at the second transport speed after the transport stop by the first stop means is released. First printing means for performing a printing process on one surface of
The conveyance stop by the second stop means is released, and the card is conveyed on the branch conveyance path with respect to the card being conveyed at the second speed by the conveyance means driven by the driving means at the second conveyance speed. A second printing means for performing a printing process on the other surface;
A card processing apparatus comprising: Conveying means for conveying a ticket medium on which magnetic information is recorded;
Magnetic processing means for performing magnetic processing on the ticket medium transported at a first speed by the transport means;
Judging means for judging the front and back of the ticket medium from the information processed by the magnetic processing means;
When it is determined by the determination means that the ticket medium has been inserted on the back side, a sorting gate that draws the ticket,
A reversing path for reversing the front and back of the ticket medium drawn by the sorting gate and conveying it to the conveying means ;
Ticket gate means for performing ticket gate processing based on magnetic information processed by the magnetic processing means;
Stop means for stopping conveyance of the ticket medium that is downstream of the reversing path and magnetically processed by the magnetic processing means;
While the transport of the ticket medium is stopped by the stop means, the transport speed of the transport means is decelerated, and when the transport speed of the transport means reaches a second speed that is slower than the first speed. Control means for canceling the stop of transport of the ticket medium by the stopping means;
Printing means for performing a printing process on the ticket medium that has been transported at a second speed by the transporting unit and for which the transport stop is released;
An automatic ticket gate characterized by comprising: Conveying means for conveying a ticket medium on which magnetic information is recorded;
Reading means for reading the magnetic information recorded on the ticket medium being conveyed by the conveying means;
Judging means for judging the front and back of the ticket medium from the information read by the reading means;
When it is determined by the determination means that the ticket medium has been inserted on the back side, a sorting gate that draws the ticket,
A reversing path for reversing the front and back of the ticket medium drawn by the sorting gate and conveying it to the conveying means;
Ticket gate means for performing ticket gate processing based on magnetic information read by the reading means;
Writing means for writing magnetic information as needed based on the magnetic information read by the reading means for the ticket medium that is downstream from the reversing path and being conveyed by the conveying means;
Confirmation means for confirming magnetic information written by the writing means in the ticket medium being conveyed at the first conveying speed by the conveying means;
Stop means for stopping conveyance of the ticket medium in which the magnetic information written by the confirmation means is confirmed;
While the transport of the ticket medium is stopped by the stop means, the transport speed of the transport means is decelerated, and when the transport speed of the transport means reaches a second speed that is slower than the first speed. Control means for canceling the stop of transport of the ticket medium by the stopping means;
Printing means for performing a printing process on the ticket medium that has been transported at a second speed by the transporting unit and for which the transport stop is released;
An automatic ticket gate characterized by comprising:

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