JPH03111986A - Card reader/writer device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To execute positioning by a means excepting for a bezel and to cope with the plural kinds of magnetic cards by obliquely conveying the magnetic card toward a card guide direction so as to be pushed to a card guide. CONSTITUTION:When a magnetic card 1 is inserted to a bezel 2, a belt driving motor 33 is operated and a driving belt 31 and a slave belt are turned. Then, the magnetic card 1 is moved to a prescribed position by the driving belt 31 and the slave belt. A card guide crosses a direction, in which a moving means 3 moves the inserted magnetic card 1, with a prescribed angle theta between and the magnetic card 1 is positioned on a magnetic head 6 while pushing one side to the card guide 4 completely. When the magnetic card 1 is abutted on a card stopper 5, the belt driving motor 33 is stopped.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] A magnetic card application device using a magnetic card as an information recording medium;
In particular, regarding a card reader/writer device that is compatible with multiple types of magnetic cards, the present invention aims to provide a card reader/writer device that aligns the magnetic card with respect to the magnetic head using a means other than a bezel and is compatible with multiple types of magnetic cards. A transfer means for moving a magnetic card to a predetermined position, a card guide that contacts one side to regulate the direction of movement of the magnetic card, a card stopper for stopping the magnetic card at a predetermined position, and a card stopper that is arranged parallel to the card guide. It has a magnetic head that reciprocates, and is configured such that the direction in which the transfer means moves the magnetic card and the direction in which the magnetic card is moved regulated by the card guide intersect with a predetermined angle θ in between. .

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a magnetic card application device that uses a magnetic card as an information recording medium, and particularly to a card reader/writer device that is compatible with multiple types of magnetic cards.

Currently, cash cards and credit cards are used in financial institutions, and prepaid cards are used in transportation and communication facilities, but for example, prepaid cards have a thickness of 0.2 to 0.26 mm. In contrast, the thickness of cash cards and credit cards is 0.76 mm. Also, the width of a prepaid card for purchasing a ticket is 57.5mm, while the width of a prepaid card such as a telephone card, cash card, or credit card is 54mm.
It is.

On the other hand, as cashless payments progress, financial institutions and other institutions are proposing purchasing systems in which cash cards or credit cards are used instead of prepaid cards and the purchase price is paid from deposits. However, as mentioned above, the standards applied to each card are different, and this cannot be achieved with a dedicated conventional card reader/writer device. Therefore, it is desired to develop a card reader/writer device that is compatible with multiple types of magnetic cards.

[Prior Art] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a conventional card reader/writer device, and FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing the conventional card reader/writer device.

The card reader/writer device is a fixed head type card reader/writer configured so that a magnetic card such as a cash card, credit card, or prepaid card (hereinafter simply referred to as a magnetic card) passes over a magnetic head fixed to the card reader/writer device. There are two types of card reader/writer devices: a writer device and a moving head type card reader/writer device, in which an inserted magnetic card is moved to a predetermined position and then held still while the magnetic head moves.In recent years, card reader/writer devices have become smaller and lighter. In response to the increasing demand, progress is being made in the development of moving head type card reader/writer devices that can be miniaturized.

A conventional moving head type card reader/writer device (hereinafter simply referred to as a card reader/writer device) is, as shown in FIG. ) 2, a transfer means 3 for moving the inserted magnetic card 1 to a predetermined position, a card guide 4 that contacts one side of the magnetic card 1 and restricts the moving direction of the magnetic card 1, and a transfer means 3 for moving the inserted magnetic card 1 to a predetermined position. It is equipped with a card stopper 5 for stopping the card at a certain position, and a magnetic head 6 that reciprocates in parallel with the card guide 4.
The transfer means 3 transports the inserted magnetic card l into a card guide 4.
move parallel to.

The operation of such a card reader/writer device will be explained in detail with reference to FIG.
When the sensor 21 detects that the magnetic card 1 is inserted into the bezel 2, the belt drive motor 33 is activated and the drive belt 31 and the driven belt 32 are rotated. The magnetic card 1 is transported to a predetermined position by a drive belt 31 and a driven belt 32. A card stopper 5 is provided in the direction of movement of the magnetic card 1. When the leading end of the magnetic card 1 comes into contact with the card stopper 5, the belt drive motor 33 is stopped, and at the same time, the head drive motor 61 is activated to stop the magnetic head 6. moves back and forth to read information from and write information to the magnetic card 1.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Conventional card reader/writer devices are specialized in accordance with magnetic card standards, and the information writing area of the magnetic card is aligned with the magnetic head using a bezel, and the magnetic card is placed parallel to the card guide and the card guide. The moving means is utilized to move the aligned magnetic cards to a predetermined position.

However, when magnetic cards of different widths are inserted into the same card reader/writer device, the size of the bezel is adjusted to match the magnetic card with the largest width, so there is a problem in that the bezel cannot be used to align the magnetic cards.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a card reader/writer device that aligns a magnetic card with respect to a magnetic hand by means other than a bezel and is adaptable to a plurality of types of magnetic cards.

[Means for Solving the Problems] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a card reader/writer device according to the present invention. The same objects are represented by the same symbols throughout the figures.

The above-mentioned problems include a transport means 3 for moving the magnetic card 1 to a predetermined position, a card guide 4 that contacts one side and restricts the moving direction of the magnetic card 1, and a card stopper 5 for stopping the magnetic card 1 at a predetermined position. and card guide 4
It has a magnetic head 6 that reciprocates in parallel with , and the direction in which the transfer means 3 moves the magnetic card 1 and the direction of movement of the magnetic card 1 regulated by the card guide 4 are
This is achieved by the card reader/writer device of the present invention, which is formed by intersecting each other with a predetermined angle θ in between.

[Operation] By configuring the magnetic card in the direction in which the transfer means moves the magnetic card in FIG. 1 and the direction in which the magnetic card moves regulated by the card guide intersect with each other with a predetermined angle θ in between, the magnetic card is transferred. A force is generated that presses one side of the magnetic card against the card guide, and all magnetic cards are positioned on the magnetic head by the card guide regardless of their width. That is, it is possible to align the magnetic card with respect to the magnetic head by means other than the bezel, and to realize a card reader/writer device that is compatible with a plurality of types of magnetic cards.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a modification of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the card reader/writer device of the present invention includes a bezel 2 provided on the front of the device for inserting and ejecting a magnetic card 1, and a bezel 2 for moving the inserted magnetic card 1 to a predetermined position. means 3, a card guide 4 that contacts one side of the magnetic card 1 and restricts the moving direction of the magnetic card 1, a card stopper 5 for stopping the magnetic card 1 at a predetermined position, and a card guide 4 that reciprocates in parallel with the card guide 4. The direction in which the transport means 3 moves the inserted magnetic card 1 and the direction in which the magnetic card 1 is moved regulated by the card guide 4 intersect with each other with a predetermined angle θ in between. It is configured as follows.

To explain the operation of such a card reader/writer device in detail, the transfer means 3 includes, for example, a drive belt 31, a driven belt (not shown), and a belt drive motor 33, and a sensor detects when the magnetic card 1 is inserted into the bezel 2. When the belt drive motor 33 is detected, the belt drive motor 33 operates and the drive belt 31
and the driven belt rotates, and the magnetic card 1 is rotated by the drive belt 31.
and is transported to a predetermined position by a driven belt.

The card guide 4 is constructed so that the direction in which the transport means 3 moves the inserted magnetic card 1 intersects with a predetermined angle θ, and all the magnetic cards 1 are pressed against the card guide 4 on one side and are magnetically The head 6 is positioned. A card stopper 5 is provided in the traveling direction of the magnetic card 1, and the tip of the magnetic card 1 is placed in the card stopper 5.
When the belt drive motor 33 comes into contact with the magnetic card 1, the belt drive motor 33 stops, and at the same time, the head drive motor 61 is activated to cause the magnetic head 6 to reciprocate, thereby reading information from the magnetic card 1 and writing information to the magnetic card 1.

Note that magnetic cards may vary greatly not only in width but also in thickness. In such a case, for example, as shown in FIG. 2(a), guide mechanisms 62 are provided before and after the magnetic head 6, and the magnetic head 6 and the guide mechanism 62 are held via a spring 63, thereby reducing the thickness of the magnetic card 1. It can be sufficiently adapted even if the value fluctuates greatly. Further, some magnetic cards have an information writing area on the front side and others have an information writing area on the back side. Such a case can be sufficiently accommodated by, for example, configuring two magnetic heads 6 to face each other with the magnetic card 1 in between, as shown in FIG. 2(b).

By configuring the direction in which the transfer means moves the magnetic card and the direction of movement of the magnetic card regulated by the card guide to intersect with each other across a predetermined angle θ, one side of the magnetic card to be transferred is A force is generated to press the magnetic card against the card guide, and all magnetic cards are positioned on the magnetic head by the card guide regardless of their width.

That is, it is possible to realize a card reader/writer device that is compatible with a plurality of types of magnetic cards by aligning the magnetic card with respect to the magnetic head using means other than the bezel.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to align the magnetic head and the magnetic card by means other than the bezel, and to provide a card reader/writer device that is compatible with a plurality of types of magnetic cards.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a card reader/writer device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a modification of the invention, and FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a conventional card reader/writer device. FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a conventional card reader/writer device. In the figure, 1 is a magnetic card, 3 is a transfer means, 5 is a card stopper, 31 is a drive belt, 61 is a head drive motor, and 63 is a spring. 2 is a bezel; 4 is a card guide; 6 is a magnetic head; 33 is a belt drive motor; 62 is a guide mechanism; Variations and cross-sectional views Figure 1 3 1 Conventional force 21-ta/fiter device and a thousand-faced Figure B Conventional cuff;' 1. ) - Ta / U49 Pi 1 - Addition rule cross-sectional diagram!

Claims (1)

[Claims] A transfer means (3) for moving the magnetic card (1) to a predetermined position, a card guide (4) that comes into contact with one side and restricts the moving direction of the magnetic card (1), and a card guide (4) for controlling the direction of movement of the magnetic card (1); Card (1
) to stop the card at a predetermined position.
), and a magnetic head (6) that reciprocates in parallel with the card guide (4), and has a direction in which the transfer means (3) moves the magnetic card (1), and a magnetic head (6) that reciprocates in parallel with the card guide (4). ) The direction of movement of the magnetic card (1) regulated by the magnetic card (1) intersects with a predetermined angle θ in between.