JP4915610B2 - Card processing unit - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a card processing unit that is attached to a device that uses a rewritable card or the like, and more particularly to a card processing unit that has high printing and erasing quality on a card printing surface.

  Nowadays, many terminal devices using IC / magnetic cards (hereinafter simply referred to as cards) are used in hospitals, stores, or game halls. Characters and symbols are printed and erased on the printing surface of the card by a thermal head and an erasing head provided in the terminal device.

  In general, a card capable of the above printing is called a rewritable card, and is manufactured using a thermoreversible recording material. In order to print and erase the card, the print head and the erase head are integrated. A rewritable card reader / writer equipped with a thermal head attached to is used.

  However, in the case of the conventional rewritable card reader / writer, since the print head and the erasing head are integrally attached, the print head and the erasing head simultaneously contact the surface of the card. There was a problem that the printing surface of the card for the interval could not be printed, and the printable area of the card was not fully utilized. Also, when a thin card is transported and comes into contact with the print head and erasing head, the contact between each head surface and the card surface becomes insufficient due to variations in thickness, warpage, or inclination of the card, and each head surface and the card. There is also a problem that printed characters and symbols are unclear because the pressure at the time of contact with the surface is not constant, and the erasure of the printing becomes insufficient.

  Therefore, a print head, an erase head, a print head moving means for moving the print head, an erase head moving means for moving the erase head, and a control for selectively driving and controlling the print head and the erase head. A thermal head of a rewritable card reader / writer having a portion has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2001-347695 A

  However, in the case of the thermal head proposed in Patent Document 1, the print head and the erasing head are selectively driven to have a control means for performing printing and erasing. Each requires a driving device, which has the disadvantage that the device becomes large and the manufacturing cost is high. Moreover, no consideration is given to poor adhesion between the head surface of the print head and the erasing head and the card surface due to variations in card thickness, warpage, or inclination.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and enables the print head and the erase head to be driven and controlled by a single drive device. Each head of the print head and the erase head due to variations in card thickness, warpage, or inclination. The present invention provides a card processing unit that eliminates poor adhesion between a card surface and a card surface and can easily follow and adhere to the card surface for printing and erasing.

For this reason, the present invention provides a card comprising a thermal head that performs printing on a rewritable card, an erasing head that erases printing on the printed card, and a transport unit that includes a platen roller corresponding to each of the printing head and the erasing head. A processing unit, the card processing unit comprising an upper panel and a lower panel, wherein the upper panel engages with a mounting plate for holding the thermal head and the erasing head separately , and both ends of the mounting plate And a groove portion that is slidable in the vertical direction with respect to the card surface and engages with both ends, and abuts against a spring receiving portion of the mounting plate so that the thermal head and the erasing head are moved in the card surface direction. a torsion spring for biasing the shaft rotating the thermal head and the erase head to the card surface direction, is formed in the mounting plate, inserted the shaft The first comprising the composed control mechanism and a long hole.

In addition, a plurality of protrusions forming a step between the platen roller and the thermal head contact surface in the vicinity of the thermal platen roller disposed opposite the thermal head on the lower panel surface on which the card is conveyed The second feature is that the above is provided.

The step may be a plurality of protrusions formed on the panel surface, or the panel surface may be bulged and formed into a convex shape.

According to the card processing unit of the present invention, since the printing head for printing on the card and the erasing head for erasing the printed portion of the printed card are controlled up and down by the same driving device, the card processing unit is compact. In addition, it has an excellent effect that it can be manufactured at low cost.

An erasing head elevating shaft provided with a spring for biasing the print head downward and a mounting plate for holding the print head at the lower end are engaged with the erasing head, and one end of the erasing head is attached to the mounting plate. is one end loosely fitted in the linked print head lift shaft elevator shaft, because the vertical movement of the print head is so interlocked with the elevating operation of the erase head, that adhesion between the card and the head becomes good effect Have

In addition, since a step is provided before and after each platen roller on the lower panel surface on which the print head platen roller and erasing head platen roller are arranged, the card can be prevented from curving, and even a thin card can be used. Has an excellent effect that it can be surely adhered to each head without warping.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described based on an embodiment shown in the drawings, but it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the card processing unit of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which an upper panel of the card processing unit is opened, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an erasing head portion, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 3, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a print head portion , FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 6, FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1, and FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part schematically showing the effect of the protrusion.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the card processing unit main body 1 according to the present invention includes a lower panel 14, left and right side plates 55, and an upper panel 8, and a rear end portion of the upper panel 8 is a rear end of the left and right side plates 55. It is attached to the part so that it can be opened and closed. A card insertion slot 11 is formed on the front end side of the card processing unit main body 1. Inside the card processing unit main body 1, a printing and erasing section including a print head 27 and an erasing head 19, a print head platen roller 32, A conveying section such as an erasing head platen roller 21 is incorporated. Further, a drive mechanism including the stepping motor 2 and a control mechanism including the sensor 54 are provided on the rear end side of the card processing unit main body 1 to control the print head 27 and the erasing head 19 to be raised and lowered.

The lower panel 14 is provided with a transport roller 35 for transporting the card 12 , a print head platen roller 32, and an erasing head platen roller 21. The card can be inserted and ejected by driving a driving device (not shown), and printing on the lower panel 14 is performed. A magnetic head 34 is provided in the vicinity of the head platen roller 32 so that magnetic data can be written to and read from the card. The step is provided by the protrusions 33 and the convex bulging portion 56 before and after the panel surface of the print head platen roller 32 and the erase head platen roller 21 is disposed below the panel 14, the adhesion due to warping of the card 12 Prevent defects.

The rear end portion of the upper panel 8 stepping motor 2 is provided, U O Mugia 3, cam gear 4 is transmitted the driving of the stepping motor 2 via a cam shaft 5, the cam base 6 is rotated. The cam base 6 is provided with bearings 7 and 13. As the cam base 6 rotates, each bearing comes into contact with the thermal head elevating plate 10 and the erasing head elevating plate 9 to raise and lower a thermal head 29 and an erasing head 19 which will be described later. Control each one. Specifically, a pair of bearings 7 and 13 that move in an arc as the cam base 6 rotates are pivotally supported at both ends of the enlarged side of the fan-shaped cam base 6, and one bearing 13 is erased. One end of the head elevating plate 9 and the other bearing 7 are engaged with one end of the print head elevating plate 10, and the print head 27 and the erasing head 19 are driven by one drive device 2 that drives the camshaft 5 that rotates the cam base 6. Move up and down.

Next, the printing and erasing unit will be described with reference to FIGS.
First , as shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, the erasing unit includes an erasing lifting shaft 15 that rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the erasing head lifting plate 9, and a pair of twists that are externally attached to both ends of the erasing lifting shaft 15. A left side surface in which a spring 18, a pair of erasing head lift shafts 16 provided orthogonal to the central portion of the erasing lift shaft 15, and an engagement hole 22 for engaging the tip of the erasing head lift shaft 16 are formed. The erasing head mounting plate 17 is L-shaped, has an erasing head 19 mounted on the bottom of the erasing head mounting plate 17, and an erasing head platen roller 21 facing the erasing head 19. Further, one end portion of the torsion spring 18 is formed in a linear shape and extends, is inserted through the left and right openings 50 of the erasing head mounting plate 17, and is mounted on the erasing head mounting plate 17 with screws 51 on the erasing spring receiving shaft 20. The erasing head 19 is always urged downward by contacting the head. The erasing head lift shaft 16 rotates as the erasing lift shaft 15 is rotated by driving the stepping motor 2 described above, and moves up and down the erasing head 19 together with the erasing head mounting plate 17.

Here, the left and right end portions of the erasing head mounting plate 17 are respectively engaged with the engaging grooves 23a and 23b of the upper panel 8 so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and the width of the engaging grooves 23a and 23b is the erasing head. The opening is larger by about 0.01 to 0.5 mm than the thickness of the mounting plate 17. The slight gap between the erase head lifting shaft 16 engaging hole 22 that is fitted is formed in a long elongated hole in the longitudinal direction than the diameter of the erase head lifting shaft 16 of the erasing head mounting plate 17 (play) is It is supposed to occur . With these configurations, the erasing head 19 is free with respect to the upper panel 8 and the erasing head lift shaft 16, and the erasing head 19 can follow and adhere to the card 12 even if the card 12 is conveyed and tilted in the front-rear direction.

  The erasing spring receiving shaft 20 is attached to the upper central position of the erasing head 19 via the erasing head mounting plate 17 by a screw 51 in parallel with the erasing head platen roller 21, and one end portion (linearly shaped portion) of the torsion spring 18. Since the left and right portions of the erasing spring receiving shaft 20 are pressed by the torsion spring 18, the torsion spring 18 always presses the central portion of the erasing head 19 even if the mounting position of the erasing head 19 is adjusted, and follows the card 12 at a right angle. The card 12 also closely follows the inclination of the card 12 in the horizontal direction.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the print unit is mounted on the print head lift shaft 24 that rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the print head lift plate 10, and on both ends of the print head lift shaft 24. A pair of torsion springs 28, a pair of print head lift shafts 25 provided orthogonal to the center of the print head lifting shaft 24, and an engagement hole 31 for engaging the tip of the print head lift shaft 25 are formed. a left side view L-shaped print head mounting plate 26 which is a print head 27 attached by screws 53 to the bottom of the print head mounting plate 26, composed of a print head platen roller 32 which faces the printing head 27 Has been. One end portion of the torsion spring 28 extends is formed in a linear shape, in contact with the print head spring bearing shaft 29 to the right and left openings 52 inserted provided on the upper portion of the print head mounting plate 26 of the print head mounting plate 26 Thus, the print head 27 is always urged downward. The print head lift shaft 25 rotates with the rotation of the print head lifting shaft 24 driven by the stepping motor 2 described above, and moves the print head 27 up and down together with the print head mounting plate 26.

Here, the left and right end portions of the print head mounting plate 26 are respectively engaged with the engagement grooves 30a and 30b of the upper panel 8 so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and the width of the engagement grooves 30a and 30b is the print head. The opening is larger by about 0.01 to 0.5 mm than the thickness of the mounting plate 26. Further, the engagement hole 31 of the thermal head mounting plate 26 is formed in a long hole that is longer than the diameter of the print lift shaft 25 in the vertical direction. With these configurations, the print head 27 is free with respect to the upper panel 8 and the print head lift shaft 25, and the print head 27 can follow and adhere to the card 12 even if the card 12 is conveyed and tilted in the front-rear direction.

The print head spring bearing shaft 29 for the left and right portions of the print head spring receiving shaft 29 by one end of the torsion spring 28 (linear portion) is pressed, the tip of the print head 27 in the lateral direction of the card 12 Follows the inclination and adheres closely.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 9, on the panel surface of the lower panel 14, there are steps formed by the protrusions 33 and the convex bulges 56 before and after the print head platen roller 32 and the erasing head platen roller 21. The adhesion between the card 12 and the print head 27 or erasing head 19 is improved. In particular, when a thin card 12 is used, the heat generating surface of the erasing head 19 is flat in the front and rear portions of the erasing head 19, so that the card 12 is between the erasing head 19 and the erasing head platen roller 21 as shown in FIG. , The contact area becomes narrow (broken line portion), and the contact area is narrowed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10 (b), can be sufficiently close contact with the erase head 19 and the card 12 by supporting the card 12 by by that step to the protrusion 33 and the convex bulge portion 56. Although the contact area between the card 12 and the erasing head 19 can be secured by applying a strong load to the erasing head platen roller 21 side, the life of the card 12 is shortened due to wear of the surface of the card 12. There is a risk of becoming.

According to the card processing unit 1 of the present invention having the above-described configuration, the print head 27 for printing on the card and the erasing head 19 for erasing the printed portion of the printed card 12 are provided by the same stepping motor (drive device) 2 . Ascending / descending control is possible, and the print head 27 and the erasing head 19 move following the card 12, so that the adhesion between the card 12 and each head is excellent. In addition, since the plurality of projections 33 are provided on the lower panel surface on which the card 12 is conveyed, the adhesion failure between the print head 27 and the erasing head 19 due to the warp of the card 12 does not occur .

Next, the operation of the card processing unit of the present invention will be described. The card 12 inserted from the card insertion slot 11 is conveyed by the conveyance roller 35 being rotated by driving of a driving device (not shown). Here, when there is reading and writing of magnetic data, the magnetic head 34 is used. Further, the stepping motor 2 is driven by the instruction from the sensor 54 to rotate the worm gear 3. Further, the rotation is transmitted to the cam gear 4, and the cam base 6 is rotated to a predetermined position via the cam shaft 5. Here, the rotation of the cam base 6 is instructed by the raising and lowering instructions of the print head 27 and the erasing head 19, and the bearings 7 and 13 provided on the cam base 6 are engaged with the print head raising and lowering plate 10 and the erasing head raising and lowering plate 9, respectively. The printing head 27 and the erasing head 19 are moved up and down and brought into close contact with the card 12 to enable printing and erasing.

Here, the print head 27 and the erasing head 19 are respectively attached to the print head mounting plate 26 and the erasing head mounting plate 17, and are always urged downward by the torsion springs 28, 18 described above. , 17 is moved up and down by the print head lift shaft 25 and the erasing head lift shaft 16 engaged with the engagement holes 22 and 31 formed in the holes 17 and closely contacted with the card 12. In addition, both end portions of the mounting plates 26 and 17 are respectively engaged with the engaging grooves 30a, 30b, 23a and 23b of the upper panel 8 having a width wider than the thickness of each plate, and are moved up and down in the vertical direction. 25 and 16 are engaged with engagement holes 22 and 31 formed in long holes longer than the respective diameters, so that the print head 27 and the erasing head 19 are in contact with the lift shafts 25 and 16 and the upper panel 8. free and become excellent in followability to pair the inclination in the longitudinal direction of the card 12. Further, the left and right portions of the spring receiving shafts 29, 20 provided on the mounting plates 26, 17 are pressed by the torsion springs 28, 18, and closely follow the inclination of the card 12 in the left-right direction.

Further, on the panel surface of the lower panel 14, a protrusion 33 and a convex bulging portion 56 are provided before and after the print head platen roller 32 and the erasing head platen roller 21, and the heads 27 and 19 and the platen rollers 32 are provided. , 21 to prevent warping of the card 12 when sandwiching the card 12, the adhesion between the head 27,19 is improved.

The card 12 that has been printed and erased on the card 12 as described above is discharged from the card insertion slot 11 by driving the stepping motor 2 .

As described above, according to the card processing unit of the present invention, the printing head for printing on the card and the erasing head for erasing the printed portion of the printed card are controlled up and down by the same driving device, so the card processing unit becomes compact. , yet can be manufactured at low cost, also, the printing head, a card processing unit and the erase head, comprising a conveying unit comprising a respective corresponding platen roller to the printing head and the erase head for erasing the printing printed card Te, the card processing unit includes a top panel and a lower panel, the upper panel includes a print head lifting shaft with a spring for urging the print head downward, the mounting plate for holding the print head at its lower end There are engaged vertically movably, the mounting plate, the print head lift one end of which is connected to said erasing head lift shaft The other end of the shaft is loosely fitted, and an erasing head elevating shaft provided with a spring for urging the erasing head downward, and a mounting plate for holding the erasing head at the lower end thereof are engaged with each other so as to be movable up and down. Since the other end of the erasing head lift shaft, one end of which is connected to the erasing head lifting shaft, is loosely fitted so that the print head and the erasing head each move up and down, it has excellent adhesion between the card and each head. In addition, on the panel surface, there are steps formed by protrusions and convex bulges on the front and back of the print head platen roller and erasing head platen roller. Ru can be brought into close contact with Rukoto without each head.

It is a perspective view which shows one Example of the card processing unit of this invention. It is a perspective view showing the state where the upper panel of the card processing unit was opened. It is a perspective view which shows an erasing head part. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 3. It is a perspective view which shows a thermal head part. It is the sectional view on the AA line of FIG. It is the BB sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is AA sectional view explanatory drawing of FIG. It is a principal part expanded sectional view which shows the effect of a level | step difference typically .

1 card processing unit body 2 stepping motor 3 c O Mugia <br/> 4 cam gear 5 camshaft 6 cam base 7 bearing 8 on the panel 9 erasing head lifting plate 10 print head lifting plate 11 card insertion slot 12 cards
13 bearing 14 lower panel 15 erasing head elevating shaft 16 erase head lift shaft 17 erasing head mounting plate 18 torsion spring 19 erase head 20 erasing head spring bearing shaft 21 erase head platen roller 22 engagement hole 23a engaging groove 23b engaging groove 24 Print head lifting shaft 25 Print head lift shaft 26 Print head mounting plate 27 Print head
28 torsion spring 29 printhead spring receiving shaft 30a engaging groove 30b engaging groove
31 Engagement hole 32 Print head platen roller 33 Projection 34 Magnetic head 35 Transport roller 50 Opening 51 Screw 52 Opening 53 Screw 54 Sensor 55 Left right plate
56 Convex bulge (projection)

Claims (2)

A card processing unit comprising a thermal head that performs printing on a rewritable card, an erasing head that erases printing on the printed card, and a transport unit that includes a platen roller corresponding to each of the printing head and the erasing head, The card processing unit includes an upper panel and a lower panel, and the upper panel engages with a mounting plate for holding the thermal head and the erasing head separately , and both end portions of the mounting plate, A torsion spring having a groove portion that engages and slides in a direction perpendicular to the card surface, and abuts against a spring receiving portion of the mounting plate and biases the thermal head and the erasing head in the card surface direction; , structure from a shaft rotating the thermal head and the erase head to the card surface direction, is formed in the mounting plate, a long hole for inserting the shaft Card processing unit, characterized in that it comprises a control mechanism that is.
A plurality of protrusions forming a step between the platen roller and the thermal head contact surface are provided in the vicinity of the thermal platen roller disposed opposite the thermal head on the lower panel surface on which the card is conveyed. The card processing unit according to claim 1.

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