JP5331594B2 - Card issuing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a card issuing device that pays out a card from a bundle of cards stored in a card storage unit, and issues it by printing on the card or writing magnetic information.

  In card issuing devices that issue cash cards and credit cards, the pre-issued card stored in the device is used illegally by writing magnetic information etc. on the card if it is stolen. Strict management is required because there is a possibility.

  As a method for managing the number of cards in the apparatus, Patent Document 1 describes a method for managing which card is located in the apparatus by reading a serial number assigned to the card. Patent Document 2 describes a method of calculating the number of cards by measuring the stacking height of a card bundle stacked in a card storage unit and dividing this by the thickness of one card. In addition, when storing cards in the card storage unit, the number of sheets is counted and recorded, and each time a card is issued, the number of issued cards is subtracted from the recorded number to manage the number of times. is there.

JP-A-2005-339407 JP 2002-324268 A

  However, giving a serial number to a card has the problem of increasing the cost of the card. Also, the stacking height of a card bundle loaded in the card storage unit is measured, and this is calculated with the thickness of one card. In the method of calculating the number of sheets by dividing, there is a problem in that an accurate number of sheets cannot be calculated due to variations in card thickness. Furthermore, in the method of counting and recording the number of cards when storing the card in the card storage section, there is a possibility of counting mistakes due to manual counting, and the number of personnel who intentionally perform counting is less than the actual number. There is a problem that it is possible to carry out an illegal act of recording a card and stealing a card whose number is the difference between the recorded number and the actual number.

As one of means for solving the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, a card storage unit that stores a card before issuance, a printing unit that prints on the card surface, and a card reader / writer unit that records customer information on the card A card issuing device comprising: a conveying unit that conveys the card; and a control unit that controls each unit, wherein the card storing unit feeds the stored card to the conveying unit; A recovery port provided separately from the payout port and a push plate for applying pressure to the stored card, in order to collect the card fed to the card in the card storage unit, and the control The card issuing device is characterized in that the unit feeds the push plate from the feeding port to the transport unit, and collects the push plate from the collecting port into the card collecting unit. The said conveyance part is good also as a structure which has a conveyance path which conveys a card | curd in the direction orthogonal to the moving direction of this conveyance part inside.

Furthermore, in addition to the configuration described above, according to the present invention, before Symbol a part equivalent to the one card thickness The thickness of the push plate, the thickness direction of the opening dimensions of some of the feeding port card However, it may be larger than the thickness of one card and smaller than the thickness of two cards .

  According to the card issuing device provided by the present invention configured as described above, the number of cards can be counted by feeding out and collecting the cards in the card storage unit one by one, giving a serial number to the card, etc. Thus, it is possible to automatically and accurately count the number of cards in the card storage unit without increasing the cost of the cards.

It is a block diagram of a card issuing apparatus. It is a functional block diagram of a card issuing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a card storage part and a conveyance means. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a card storage part and a conveyance means. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a card storage part and a conveyance means. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation described in the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the shape and positional relationship of the card bundle in a card storage part, a press plate, and a detection lever. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a card storage part and a conveyance means. It is a figure explaining the position of a delivery roller and a collection roller. It is a figure explaining the shape of a delivery port and a collection port. It is a figure explaining the positional relationship of a delivery nail | claw, a storage part bottom plate, a card | curd, and a press plate. It is a figure explaining the positional relationship of a delivery nail | claw, a storage part bottom plate, a card | curd, and a press plate. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation described in the second embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a card storage part and a conveyance means. It is a top view which shows the structural example of a card storage part and a conveyance means. It is a perspective view which shows a part of elevator part. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the push plate lever of an elevator part. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the push plate lever of an elevator part. It is a figure explaining the counting method of the card | curd in a card storage part. It is a figure explaining the counting method of the card | curd in a card storage part. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation described in the third embodiment. It is a figure explaining the counting method of the card | curd in a card storage part. It is a figure explaining the counting method of the card | curd in a card storage part. It is a figure explaining the counting method of the card | curd in a card storage part.

  A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 show a block diagram of a card issuing device and a functional block diagram of the card issuing device, respectively. The card issuing device 1 includes an elevator transport unit 2 that transports a card to each unit described later, a printing unit 3 that performs printing on the card surface, a card reader / writer unit 4 that writes customer information on the magnetic stripe of the card and a contact IC chip, The collection unit 5 that collects cards that have failed to be issued, the card discharge port 6 that discharges cards, the card storage units 7, 8, and 9, the card reader / writer unit 4, and the card discharge port 6 that store cards before issuance are controlled. The card reader / writer unit C2 and a card issuing device control unit C1 that controls each unit of the device are configured.

  The card storage units 7, 8 and 9 store cards provided with magnetic stripes and contact IC chips, and different types of cards can be stored in each card storage unit. That is, the card issuing device 1 is a device that can select and issue a maximum of three types of cards.

  When issuing a card, first, one card is drawn out from the designated one of the card storage units 7, 8, 9, delivered to the elevator transport unit 2, and the card is printed by the elevator transport unit 2 to the printing unit 3. The printing unit 3 prints information such as a card number on the card surface. Thereafter, the card is delivered again to the elevator-type transport unit 2, and the card is transported to the card reader / writer unit 4 by the elevator-type transport unit 2, and the card reader / writer unit 4 writes information on the magnetic stripe of the card or the contact IC chip. After that, the card is discharged from the card discharge port 6.

  3 to 5 show a part of the card storage unit 7 and the elevator-type transport unit 2, and are views seen from the direction in which the long side of the card bundle 20 in the card storage unit 7 is viewed from the front. In the present embodiment, the card storage unit 7 will be described as an example, but the card storage unit 8 and the card storage unit 9 have the same configuration.

  The card storage unit 7 is provided with a feeding port 10 for feeding out a card and a recovery port 11 for collecting the card into the card storage unit 7. The opening dimension in the card thickness direction of the payout slot 10 is larger than the thickness of one card and smaller than the thickness of two cards, whereby two or more cards are stacked and fed out. There is no such thing. In the vicinity of the payout slot 10, there is a pair of drawing rollers 13 for pulling out the card drawn out from the payout slot 10 to the outside of the card storage portion 7 and a payout sensor 17 for detecting that the card has passed through the part. In the vicinity of the collection port 11, a pair of collection rollers 14 for collecting the card in the card storage unit 7 and a collection sensor 18 for detecting that the card has passed through the part are provided. ing.

  A feeding claw 12 is provided at the lower part of the card storage unit 7. The feeding claw 12 is provided with a step that is lower than the thickness of one card. When the feeding claw 12 is driven in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. One card at the lowermost part of the card bundle 20 stacked and stored in the storage unit 7 is hooked and fed out from the feeding port 10 in the direction of arrow A. A push plate 21 is placed on the card bundle 20. The pressing plate 21 presses the card bundle 20 by its own weight, thereby preventing the card from being lifted when the card is paid out, and ensures that the bottom card of the card bundle 20 is caught by the step of the feeding claw 12. ing.

  Hereinafter, a method of counting the number of cards in the card storage unit 7 will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the feeding claw 12 is driven in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 3 to feed one card, and the fed card is pulled out from the card storage unit 7 by a pair of pulling rollers 13 and delivered to the elevator unit 22 ( Step 101). Here, the elevator unit 22 is configured so that a part of the transport path for transporting the fed card can be moved in the vertical direction in the figure along the transport path, and detects the two pairs of transport rollers 15 and 16 and the card. A conveyance sensor 19 is included.

  The elevator unit 22 that has received the card is moved upward to the position shown in FIG. 4 by a vertical movement drive mechanism (not shown) (step 102). Thereafter, the conveying rollers 15 and 16 shown in FIG. 4 are rotated in the direction opposite to that when the fed card is received, the card is transferred to the collecting roller 14, and the card is collected into the card storage unit 7 by the collecting roller 14. (Step 103). At this time, the collection sensor 18 detects the passage of the card and counts the number of cards (step 104). Thereafter, the elevator unit 22 is lowered again to the position shown in FIG. 3 (step 105). Thereafter, the number of cards is counted while repeatedly performing such feeding and collecting operations one by one. In the present embodiment, counting is performed by the collecting sensor 18, but the counting can be similarly performed by counting the number of passing cards using any or all of the feeding sensor 17, the collecting sensor 18, and the transport sensor 19. . FIG. 4 shows a state in which the card 26 drawn out first is collected. As shown in the figure, the card 26 drawn out first is stored on the pressing plate 21 and the cards drawn out after the second card are drawn. Are stacked and stored on the previously stored cards.

  FIG. 5 shows a state in which all the cards in the card storage unit 7 have been drawn and collected, and the push plate 21 is placed at the bottom and all the cards are stacked and stored thereon. Here, the fact that the push plate 21 has come to the lowest position in the card storage portion 7 means that the detection lever 23, the spring 24, and the optical for detecting the position of the detection lever 23 are arranged in the lower portion of the card storage portion 7. It is detected by a card presence / absence detecting means comprising a lever sensor 25 which is a type sensor. The detection lever 23 rotatably attached around the fulcrum 23a is pulled in the direction in which the tip moves upward by being pulled by the spring 24. In the state shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the tip is placed on the lower surface of the card bundle 20. It stops in the state of hitting.

  FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the shape and positional relationship of the card bundle 20, the push plate 21, and the detection lever 23, and the tip position of the detection lever 23 is configured to be in the range indicated by B and C in FIG. ing. Therefore, when the push plate 21 shown in FIG. 5 comes to the lowermost part in the card storage unit 7, the tip of the detection lever 23 does not hit the push plate 21 and is just above the push plate 21. 20 and stops at the lowermost card. Compared with the state of FIGS. 3 and 4, the tip is rotated upward by the thickness of the push plate 21. Since the lever sensor 25 is disposed at a position where it can be detected that the detection lever 23 is in this state, the push plate 21 has come to the lowermost part in the card storage portion 7 by the card presence / absence detection means, that is, the card storage. It is detected that all the cards in the section 7 have been paid out and collected (step 106).

  The number of cards before issuing in the card issuing device is automatically counted by the method described above. By automatically counting each card storage unit by the above method, the number of all pre-issue cards in the card issuing device can be automatically counted. At the end of counting, the card issuing device or another device connected to the card issuing device is used to notify the clerk that the card counting has ended using a display means (not shown) (step 107), and the card storage unit It is urged to move the lower push plate 21 onto the card bundle 20.

  A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 8 to 13. FIG. FIG. 8 shows a part of the card storage unit 8 and the elevator transport unit 2 in this embodiment. In the present embodiment, the card storage unit 8 is described as an example, but the card storage unit 7 and the card storage unit 9 have the same configuration.

  9 to 12 are views of the card storage unit 8 as viewed from the direction in which the payout port 30 and the recovery port 31 are viewed from the front. As shown in FIG. 9, the drawing roller 13 and the collection roller 14 are arranged so as to sandwich the card near the center in the short side direction. Although not shown, the roller positions in the card short side direction of the conveying rollers 15 and 16 of the elevator unit 22 shown in FIG. 8 are the same as those of the drawing roller 13 and the collecting roller 14.

  FIG. 10 shows a state in which the drawing roller 13 and the collection roller 14 are not displayed from FIG. In the payout slot 30, the opening dimension D in the vertical direction is larger than the thickness of one card and smaller than the thickness of two cards near the center in the short side direction of the card. E is larger than D. Further, the opening dimension F in the vertical direction of the recovery port 31 is equal to or larger than the dimension E.

  11 and 12 show a state in which the wall surface having the feeding port 30 and the recovery port 31 in FIG. 10 is not displayed, and the card bundle 20 in the card storage unit 8, the push plate 32, the storage unit bottom plate 33, and the feeding claw It is a figure explaining the shape of 12 and positional relationship. The pressing plate 32 has a thickness dimension in the vicinity of the center in the short side direction of the card that is equal to the thickness of one card, that is, smaller than the dimension D in FIG. 10, and a thickness dimension at both ends smaller than the dimension E in FIG. It is made larger than the vicinity of the center and has a shape that can pass through the feeding port 30. The push plate 32 secures its own weight necessary for feeding the card by thickening both ends in this way. The storage portion bottom plate 33 is arranged so as to receive a thin portion of the pressing plate 32 on its upper surface, and the feeding claw 12 has a step difference for feeding with respect to the card or the pressing plate 32 in contact with the upper surface of the storage portion bottom plate 33. It is arranged at the position where it gets caught.

  With the configuration as described above, in this embodiment, the push plate 32 can be fed out from the feeding port 30 in the same manner as the card. The push plate 32 is provided with a notch or a hole (not shown) at a position detectable by the transport sensor 19, and it is determined whether the one fed from the feed port 30 is a card or the push plate 32. 19 can be detected. In the present embodiment, a notch or a hole (not shown) provided in the pressing plate 32 is detected by the transport sensor 19, but any one or all of the feeding sensor 17, the recovery sensor 18, and the transport sensor 19 are used for detection. Even if configured, the same operation is possible.

  Hereinafter, a method of counting the number of cards in the card storage unit 8 will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state at the start of counting, and FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a state in which all cards in the card storage unit 8 have been fed out and collected.

  First, one card at the bottom of the card bundle 20 is fed out from the feeding port 30 and delivered to the elevator unit 22 (step 201). Here, it is determined whether the one fed out by the transport sensor 19 in the elevator unit 22 is a card or a push plate 32 (step 202). If the result of the determination is a card (N in Step 202), the elevator unit 22 is moved to the card collection position (Step 203), and the card is collected and stored in the card storage unit 8 (Step 204). At this time, the collection sensor 17 detects the passage of the card, counts the number of cards (step 205), and moves the elevator unit 22 to the card feeding position (step 206). Thereafter, the operations after step 201 are repeated.

  On the other hand, if the result of determination by the transport sensor 19 is a push plate (Y in step 202), the elevator unit 22 is moved to the card collection position (step 207), and the push plate 32 is stored in the card. Collected and stored in the unit 8 (step 208). At this time, the recovery sensor 17 detects the passage of the push plate 32, but since it is known that what is passed in step 202 is not the card but the push plate 32, the number of cards is counted even if the passage is detected. do not do. Thereafter, the elevator unit 22 is moved to the card feeding position and the operation is finished (step 209). In this way, the state of FIG. 11 is automatically returned to the state of FIG. 10, that is, the state where the card issuing operation can be started.

  The number of cards before issuing in the card issuing device is automatically counted by the method described above. By automatically counting each card storage unit using the method described above, it is possible to automatically count the number of all pre-issue cards in the card issuing device. It is possible to return to a state where the card can be issued.

  A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 14 to 24. FIG. FIG. 14 shows the card storage unit 9 and the elevator unit 50 which is a part of the elevator transport unit 2 in the present embodiment, from the direction in which the long side of the card bundle 20 in the card storage unit 9 is viewed from the front. FIG. In this embodiment, the card storage unit 9 will be described as an example, but the card storage unit 7 and the card storage unit 8 have the same configuration. FIG. 15 is a plan view of the card storage unit 9 and the elevator unit 50 shown in FIG. 14 as viewed from above. FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the vicinity of the conveyance roller 54 in the elevator section 50 shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the card storage unit 9 and the elevator unit 50 will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 to 16. As shown in FIG. 14, the card storage unit 9 is provided with a card feeding port 40 and a card collection port 41 as in the above-described two embodiments. The partition card 42 placed on the card bundle 20 in the card storage unit 9 has the same shape and material as the pre-issuance card constituting the card bundle 20, but is different from the pre-issue card. A notch or a hole (not shown) is provided at a position that can be detected by the conveyance sensor 51 in the elevator unit 50 so that the card can be identified. On the partition card 42 is a push plate 43. As shown in FIG. 15, the push plate 43 has a shape protruding partly from the card storage portion 9, and can be moved up and down to the slide shaft 45 via a slide bearing 44 attached integrally with the protrusion. It is attached. Further, the pressing plate 43 is applied with a force in a downward direction as shown in FIG.

  The elevator unit 50 includes frames 52 and 53 each having a pair of conveyance guides 64 provided inside thereof, a conveyance sensor 51, and two pairs of conveyance rollers 54 and 55. A push plate lever 59 is attached to the integrally formed drive shaft 56 via a torque limiter 58 outside the frame 52. A timing pulley 60 is attached to the outside of the frame 53 on the shaft 57 and the drive shaft 56 that are integrally formed with the lower roller of the transport roller 55, and power from a motor (not shown) is transmitted by the timing belt 61. And driven. Further, the frame 52 is provided with an upper stopper 62 and a lower stopper 63 for the purpose of stopping the push plate lever 59.

  Next, the operation of the push plate lever 59 will be described with reference to FIGS. When the elevator unit 50 conveys the card in the direction indicated by the arrow G in FIG. 17, the drive shaft 56 is rotationally driven in the arrow H direction. At this time, the push plate lever 59 rotates in the direction of the arrow H like the drive shaft 56, then hits the upper stopper 62 and stops at the position shown in FIG. When the drive shaft 56 is continuously rotated in the direction of arrow H in this state, the torque limiter 58 is idled, the drive shaft 56 continues to rotate while the push plate lever 59 is stopped at the illustrated position, and the card conveyance is continued. Similarly, when the elevator unit 50 conveys the card in the direction indicated by the arrow I in FIG. 18, the drive shaft 56 is rotationally driven in the arrow J direction. At this time, the push plate lever 59 rotates in the direction of the arrow J like the drive shaft 56, then hits the lower stopper 63 and stops at the position shown in FIG. When the drive shaft 56 continues to rotate in the direction of arrow J in this state, the torque limiter 58 rotates idly, and the drive shaft 56 continues to rotate and the card conveyance is continued while the push plate lever 59 is stopped at the illustrated position.

  Hereinafter, a method for counting the number of pre-issue cards in the card storage unit 9 will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 19 shows a state in which one card 70 at the lowermost part of the card bundle 20 in the card storage unit 9 is fed out and delivered to the elevator unit 50.

  The conveying rollers 54 and 55 of the elevator unit 50 are driven in the direction of conveying the card in the direction of arrow K, and the feeding claw 12 is moved in the direction of arrow K, whereby the card 70 is fed out from the feeding port 41 to the conveying roller 54. Delivery, and then delivery to the transport roller 55 (step 301). After the rear end of the card 70 passes through the transport sensor 51, the card 70 is transported a certain distance and stopped as shown in FIG. 19 (step 302). Even after the elevator unit 50 stops conveying, the push plate lever 59 remains in the position shown in FIG. 19 due to the resistance of the torque limiter.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 20, the transport rollers 54 and 55 of the elevator unit 50 are driven in a direction in which the card 70 is transported in the arrow L direction, and the card 70 is moved in the elevator unit 50. Specifically, after the front end of the card 70 has passed through the transport sensor 51, the card 70 is transported a certain distance and stopped (step 303). At this time, the push plate lever 59 is in the state shown in FIG.

  During the above-described operation, the transport sensor 51 determines whether the card is a partition card 42 (step 304). As a result of the determination, if the card is not a partition card 42 (N in Step 304), the elevator unit 50 is moved up to a position where the card is collected in the card storage unit as shown in FIG. 22 (Step 305). . At this time, the tip of the push plate lever 59 hits the lower end of the slide bearing 44 attached integrally with the protruding portion of the push plate 43, and pushes up the push plate 43 to the illustrated position. Thereby, a space for collecting and storing the card is formed between the partition card 42 and the push plate 43 in the card storage unit 9. In this state, the transport rollers 54 and 55 are driven in the card collecting direction to collect and store the card 70 on the partition card 42 (step 306), and the transport sensor 51 detects the passage of the card and counts the number of sheets. (Step 307), as shown in FIG. 22, the elevator unit 50 is moved down to a position for receiving the fed-out card (Step 308).

  Thereafter, the operations after step 301 are repeated. That is, by driving the transport rollers 54 and 55 and moving the feeding claw 12, the next card is fed out in the same manner as the method described in FIG. Through the operation described above, the cards in the card storage unit 9 are fed out one by one, stacked and stored between the partition card 42 and the push plate 43, and the number of cards in the card storage unit 9 is counted.

  FIG. 24 shows a state in which all the cards constituting the card bundle 20 have been paid out and collected. In this state, the target counting is finished, but the card issuing device does not recognize the end of counting, and the partition card 42 is continuously fed out and delivered to the elevator unit 50, and the card 70 is placed in the elevator unit 50. The partition card 42 is moved in the same manner as when processing (steps 301, 302, and 303). At this time, when the notch or the hole provided in the partition card 42 is detected by the transport sensor 51 and it is recognized that this is the partition card (in the case of Y in step 304), the elevator unit 50 is brought to the collection position. It moves (step 309), and the partition card 42 is collected and stored under the push plate 43 like the other cards (step 310). At this time, the conveyance sensor 51 detects the passage of the partition card 42. However, since it is known that what is passed in step 304 is not the card but the partition card 42, the number of cards is counted even if the passage is detected. do not do. Thereafter, the elevator unit 50 is moved to the card feeding position and the operation is finished (step 311). In this state, the counting operation is terminated, and a card issue instruction is awaited.

  The number of cards before issuing in the card issuing device is automatically counted by the method described above. By automatically counting each card storage unit using the method described above, the number of all pre-issue cards in the card issuing device can be automatically counted, and the card can be automatically issued after completion of counting. Can do.

C1: card issuing device control unit, C2: card reader / writer control unit, 1: card issuing device, 2: elevator transport unit, 3: printing unit, 4: card reader / writer, 5: collection unit, 6: card discharge port 7, 8, 9: Card storage unit, 10: Feeding port, 11: Collection port, 12: Feeding claw, 13: Pull-out roller, 14: Collection roller, 15, 16: Conveying roller, 17: Feeding sensor, 18: Recovery sensor, 19: conveyance sensor, 20: card bundle, 21: push plate, 22: elevator section, 23: detection lever, 23a: rotation fulcrum of detection lever, 24: spring, 25: lever sensor, 26: card, 30 : Feeding port, 31: Collection port, 32: Push plate, 33: Storage part bottom plate, 40: Feeding port, 41: Collection port, 42: Partition card, 43: Push plate, 44: Slide bearing, 45: Slide shuff , 46: spring, 50: elevator section, 51: transport sensor, 52, 53: frame, 54, 55: transport roller, 56: drive shaft, 57: shaft, 58: torque limiter, 59: push plate lever, 60: Timing pulley, 61: Timing belt, 62: Upper stopper, 63: Lower stopper, 64: Transport guide, 70: Card

Claims (3)

A card storage unit for storing a card before issuance, a printing unit for printing on the card surface, a card reader / writer unit for recording customer information on the card, a transport unit for transporting the card, and a control unit for controlling each unit , A card issuing device having
The card storage unit has a payout port for feeding the stored card to the transport unit, and a recovery port provided separately from the feed port for collecting the card fed to the transport unit into the card storage unit And a pressing plate for applying pressure to the stored card,
The said control part pays out the said push plate from the said delivery opening to the said conveyance part, and collect | recovers in the said card | curd collection part from the said collection opening, The card issuing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned . The card issuing device according to claim 1,
The card issuing device, wherein the transport unit includes a transport path for transporting a card in a direction orthogonal to a moving direction of the transport unit. The card issuing device according to claim 2 ,
A part of the pressing plate has a thickness equivalent to the thickness of one card, and a part of the feeding slot has an opening dimension in the card thickness direction larger than the thickness of one card, A card issuing device characterized by being smaller than the thickness.

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