JP5210294B2 - Card reader / writer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a card reader / writer that reads data recorded on a card such as an IC card or a magnetic card and writes data to the card.

  In general, a play media rental device is installed on the side of a play stand such as a pachinko machine or a slot machine. This is called a so-called sand per machine or a machine between machines. The game media lending device basically supplies an amount of game media according to the price when bills or coins are inserted. However, in recent years, for the convenience of gamers, predetermined information recording has been performed. Media handling is becoming mainstream. In other words, the player can arbitrarily set the rental amount of the game medium up to the price of the inserted bills and coins, and when the player leaves the play table, the difference between the input price and the loaned game medium is information When the player records and provides this on a recording medium and the player plays again on another play stand, the information recording medium can be inserted into the lending device instead of banknotes and coins. .

  As a device for processing a card as an information recording medium, a card reader / writer as disclosed in Patent Document 1 is used. This type of card reader / writer is provided with stock means for storing cards. That is, not only reading and writing data, but also providing cards as needed and collecting cards that no longer need to be returned. The card reader / writer disclosed in this document has a configuration in which the target card and the stored card overlap when reading and writing data in order to achieve miniaturization.

Japanese Patent No. 3978615

  Now, various configurations are conceivable as stock means for storing cards, and how to devise this is an important issue that affects the performance and processing speed of the card reader / writer.

  In particular, game media lending devices require more multi-functionality and higher performance, but their installation space is limited, and devices that process cards as information recording media can be used effectively. A small one is desired. In other words, further rationalization of the means for storing the card is required in terms of downsizing the apparatus.

  In this respect, the card reader / writer disclosed in Patent Document 1 has an advantage that the length of the card conveyance path can be shortened by reading and writing data on the overlapping cards. However, the next card is sent with one side of the card stored in the stock means pushed up, and when the card is stored, the whole card is pushed up by the force of the conveying means for sending the card. become. That is, there is a problem that a load is applied to the card being transported and the card transport speed is not stable. In order to more smoothly carry and store the card, a configuration that copes with such a problem is necessary.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a card reader / writer formed by rationalizing the configuration of stock means for storing cards.

  The invention described in claim 1 of the present application is the card reader / writer (1) for reading data recorded on the card (10) and writing data to the card (10). Read / write means (210, 220) for writing data, transport means (300) for transporting the card (10) along a predetermined transport path (110), and stock means for storing the card (10) (400), and the stock means (400) includes a storage unit (410) in which a space for stacking the cards (10) is provided above the transport path (110), and the storage unit (410). Urging means (420) for urging the card (10) stored in the card toward the transport path (110); and storing the card (10) from the transport path (110). (410) and a cam mechanism (430) that pushes up toward the inside, and the cam mechanism (430) rotates around a shaft parallel to the card (10) transport direction (431). , 432), and pushes up the entire card (10) by the plurality of cam bodies (431, 432), and at least a part of the plurality of cam bodies (431, 432) is eccentric. In the state where the concave portion (430a) is provided and the card (10) is pushed up, the eccentric concave portion (430a) is located at the lower portion of the pushed up card (10) and the other card (10). Is conveyed by the conveying means (300) and enters the eccentric recess (430a), so that the pushed card (10) and the other guard (10) overlap. As a configuration of the card reader-writer (1) you.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a card reader / writer obtained by rationalizing the configuration of stock means for storing cards.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a card reader / writer (a state in which a card is inserted) according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) shows an upper surface, (b) shows a side surface, and (c) shows a main part viewed from the front. Yes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a card reader / writer according to an embodiment of the present invention (a state in which a stored card is pushed up), where (a) is a top surface, (b) is a side surface, and (c) is a front view. The main part is shown. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a card reader / writer according to an embodiment of the present invention (a state in which an inserted card is accommodated), where (a) is a top surface, (b) is a side surface, and (c) is a main portion viewed from the front. Is shown. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a card reader / writer (a state in which a card is ejected) according to an embodiment of the present invention; Yes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is explanatory drawing of the principal part which looked at the card reader / writer from the front concerning the Example of this invention, (a) is the state before pushing up a card | curd, (b) shows the state which pushed up the card | curd. Yes. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the drive transmission structure of the cam mechanism and conveyance means seen from the upper surface concerning the Example of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of a card reader / writer according to the Example of this invention, Comprising: (a) is an upper surface, (b) is a side surface, (c) has shown the principal part seen from the front. It is explanatory drawing of a card reader / writer according to the Example of this invention, Comprising: (a) is an upper surface, (b) and (c) has shown the principal part seen from the front.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. A card reader / writer 1 shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 6 is a unit incorporated in a game medium lending apparatus using a card 10 as an information recording medium. The card reader / writer 1 reads data recorded on the card 10 and stores data on the card 10. Write. In general, an IC card or a magnetic card is used as this type of card 10. The card reader / writer 1 of this example processes a card having an IC as a means for recording information, a card having a magnetic stripe, and a card having both an IC and a magnetic stripe.

  The card read / write 1 of this example includes a flat casing 100, and a slit 101 for inserting and removing the card 10 is provided on one of the side surfaces corresponding to the thickness direction of the casing 100. The game medium lending device is assembled so that the thickness direction is horizontal and the side surface provided with the slit 101 is the front side.

  The card reader / writer 1 includes read / write means 210 and 220 for reading and writing data, a transport means 300 for transporting the card 10 along a predetermined transport path 110, and a stock means 400 for storing cards. It has. The conveyance path 110 is configured by providing a gap continuous with the slit 101 inside the housing 100. As read / write means, there are provided a magnetic head 210 for reading and writing data with respect to the magnetic stripe, and a read / write antenna 220 for reading and writing data with respect to the IC. The card 10 is provided with either or both of a magnetic stripe and an IC. The magnetic head 210 and the read / write antenna 220 are respectively arranged at the main points of the conveyance path 110.

  The conveying means 300 is provided with rollers 310 and 320 that can rotate in the forward and reverse directions at the main points of the conveying path 110, respectively. As the rollers, a first roller 310 and a second roller 320 are provided in order from the side closer to the slit 101.

  Various configurations are conceivable as the drive transmission structure of the conveying unit 300. In this example, the power of the motor 330 is transmitted through the link mechanism 340 including a gear, a rotating shaft, a belt, and the like. And it is the structure transmitted to the 2nd roller 320. The first roller 310 and the second roller 320 are configured to rotate forward and backward simultaneously in the same direction around an axis perpendicular to the transport direction by the power of the motor 330.

  The stock unit 400 includes a storage unit 410 in which a space for stacking the cards 10 is provided above the transport path 110, and a biasing unit 420 that biases the card 10 stored in the storage unit 410 toward the transport path 110. The cam mechanism 430 pushes up the card 10 from the transport path 110 toward the inside of the storage unit 410. The biasing means 420 is configured by mounting an elastic member 422 (in the illustrated example, a coil spring) on a plate 421 that moves inside the storage portion.

  The cam mechanism 430 includes a plurality of cam bodies 431, 432, and 433 that rotate about an axis parallel to the card 10 conveyance direction, and pushes up the entire card 10 by the plurality of cam bodies. As the cam bodies, a pair of first cam bodies 431 provided in the vicinity of both sides of the transport path 110 and a pair of second cam bodies 432 provided in the vicinity of both sides of the transport path 110 in order from the side closer to the slit 101. , And one third cam body 433 provided in the vicinity of the center of the transport path 110, and the first cam body 431 and the second cam body 432 push up the entire card 10. The third cam body 433 is a stopper that stops the card 10 conveyed by the conveying means 300 at a predetermined position. The card 10 conveyed by the conveying means 300 stops when it comes into contact with the third cam body 433, and reading and writing are performed by the read / write antenna 220.

  In the case of this example, at least a part of the plurality of cam bodies 431 and 432 that push up the entire card 10 includes an eccentric recess 430a. Specifically, an eccentric recess 430a is provided in each of the first cam body 431 and the second cam body 422. And in the state which pushed up the card | curd 10, while the eccentric recessed part 430a is located in the lower part of the pushed up card | curd 10, the other card | curd 10 is conveyed by the conveyance means 300, and enters the inside of the eccentric recessed part 430a. The pushed card 10 and the other guard 10 overlap each other.

  As the drive transmission structure of the cam mechanism 430, various configurations can be considered. In this example, the power of the motor 434 is transmitted through the link mechanism 435 configured by a gear, a rotation shaft, and the like, It is configured to be transmitted to the second cam body 432 and the third cam body 433. The first cam body 431, the second cam body 432, and the third cam body 433 are configured to rotate simultaneously in a predetermined direction around an axis parallel to the transport direction by the power of the motor 434.

  The magnetic head 210, the read / write antenna 220, the motor 330 of the conveying means 300, and the motor 434 of the cam mechanism 430 are controlled by a control circuit (not shown). These control methods are not particularly limited, but basically, when the card 10 is inserted into the slit 101, the data is read, and the bill and coin input price in the game medium lending device, and the game medium lending are read. Writing is performed on the card 10 ejected from the slit 101 according to the amount and the data of the read card 10.

  Further, the card 10 that is no longer required to be returned after being inserted is stored in the stock means 400 and collected. Further, when the card 10 is newly provided in response to the insertion of bills or coins, the card 10 stored in the stock means 400 is taken out and predetermined data is written by the magnetic head 210 or the read / write antenna 220. Discharge from the slit 101. The card 10 is conveyed by driving the motors 330 and 434 according to each process.

  First, when the card 10 is inserted into the slit 101 (see FIG. 1), the conveying means 300 and the cam mechanism 430 are operated, and the cam bodies 431, 432, and 433 are pushed toward the conveying path 110 side and are inserted. The card 10 is conveyed until it comes into contact with the third cam body 433. (See FIG. 2). At this time, the card 10 conveyed by the conveying means 300 enters the inside of the first cam body 431 and the 432 eccentric recess 430a provided in the second cam body, so that the inserted guard 10, the first cam body 431, and the first cam body 431 The card 10 pushed up by the two-cam body 432 overlaps. When there is no card 10 stored in the stock means 400, the plate 421 of the urging means 420 is pushed up by the first cam body 431 and the second cam body 432, and the inserted guard 10 and the plate 421 are loaded. And overlap.

  Data recorded on the magnetic stripe of the inserted card 10 is read by the magnetic head 210 before the card 10 contacts the third cam body 433. Reading by the magnetic head 210 becomes unstable if the conveyance speed of the card 10 is not constant. However, according to this example, no unnecessary load is applied to the card 10 being conveyed, so there is no such concern.

  The data recorded on the IC of the inserted card 10 is read by the read / write antenna 220 in a state where the card 10 is in contact with the third cam body 433.

  Next, when collecting the inserted card 10, the cam bodies 431, 432, and 433 that have come close to the conveyance path 110 side are retracted, and the card 10 is further viewed from the slit 101 side by the conveyance means 300. Transport to the back. Then, the transport unit 300 stops when the card 10 is received in the storage unit 410 (see FIG. 3). In this state, the second roller 320 is in contact with the card 10 facing the transport path 110 among the cards 10 stacked in the storage unit 410. That is, the card 10 stored in the stock means 400 can be sent out to the slit 101 side when the second roller 320 rotates. Data is written to the sent card 10 by the magnetic head 210 or the read / write antenna 220 as necessary.

  Further, when the inserted card 10 is discharged without being collected, the first roller 310 and the second roller 320 are reversely rotated while the cam bodies 431, 432, 433 are pushed out toward the conveyance path 110 side. (See FIG. 4). Data is written to the card 10 that is discharged without being collected by the magnetic head 210 or the read / write antenna 220 as necessary.

  According to such a configuration, the card 10 can be transported quickly, and the card 10 can be smoothly stored and taken out from the stock means 400, so that the card reader / writer 1 Improvements in performance and processing speed can be achieved. In addition, the card reader / writer 1 as a whole has been reduced in size, thickness, and density, which is very advantageous in that the installation space is effectively used.

  As described above, the card reader / writer of this example is a streamlined configuration of stock means for storing cards. In addition, it is needless to say that the configuration of each part in the present example can be appropriately changed in design within the technical scope described in the claims, and is not limited to that illustrated in the drawings.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the third cam body 433 that stops the card 10 transported by the transport means 300 at a predetermined position is located between the first cam body 431 and the second cam body 432. It is also possible to configure as described above. In the case shown in the figure, the first cam body 431, the third cam body 433, and the second cam body 432 are sequentially formed from the side closer to the slit 101. Of the first cam body 431 and the second cam body 432 that push up the entire card 10, the second cam body 432 does not have to be provided with the eccentric recess 430a.

  Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8, the eccentric recess 430a is not provided in the second cam body 432, but this is used as a stopper for stopping the card 10 conveyed by the conveying means 300 at a predetermined position. It is also possible to do. In this case, the third cam body 433 described above can be omitted.

  The card reader / writer according to the present invention can be suitably used as a unit incorporated in a game medium lending apparatus using a card as an information recording medium.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Card reader / writer 10 Card 100 Housing | casing 101 Slit 110 Conveyance path 210 Magnetic head 220 Read / write antenna 300 Conveyance means 310 1st roller 320 2nd roller 330 Motor 340 Link mechanism 400 Stock means 410 Storage part 420 Energizing means 421 Plate 422 Elastic member 430 Cam mechanism 430a Eccentric recess 431 First cam body 432 Second cam body 433 Third cam body 434 Motor 435 Link mechanism

Claims (1)

In a card reader / writer that reads data recorded on a card and writes data to the card,
Read / write means for reading the data and writing the data, transport means for transporting the card along a predetermined transport path, and stock means for storing the card,
The stock means includes a storage section in which a space for stacking the cards is provided in an upper part of the transport path, a biasing means for biasing the card stored in the storage section toward the transport path, A cam mechanism for pushing up the card from the transport path toward the inside of the storage unit,
The cam mechanism includes a plurality of cam bodies that rotate around an axis parallel to the card conveying direction, and pushes up the entire card by the plurality of cam bodies.
At least a part of the plurality of cam bodies includes an eccentric recess,
In the state where the card is pushed up, the eccentric concave portion is positioned below the pushed-up card, and the other card is carried by the carrying means and enters the eccentric concave portion, thereby pushing the card. A card reader / writer characterized in that the raised card and the other guard overlap each other.

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