JPH0371286A - Card reader/writer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To optionally read/write different cards by arranging a slot provided with a different information access head for an information recording card in the vicinity of an insertion port. CONSTITUTION:A horizontal slot 3 is straight formed between the right and left sides of a rectangular parallelopiped casing 2 in the front of the casing 2 and magnetic heads 5 for reading out data recorded in the magnetic stripe 4a of the 1st magnetic card 4 are arranged on the upper and lower positions of the center part of the slot 3. The center part of the slot 3 is communicated to the inside of the casing 2 to form the insertion port 7 of the 2nd magnetic card 6. A card carrier for loading/ejecting the 2nd magnetic card 6 and a data reader/writer are arranged in the casing 2. Consequently, different cards can be optionally read out/written.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] <Industrial Application Field> The present invention is a method for transmitting and receiving information to and from various card-type information storage media such as optical cards, IC cards, and magnetic cards. The present invention relates to a card reader/writer, and particularly to a card reader/writer capable of reading data from cards of different scales.

Conventional technology> Conventionally, there has been a data reader for a magnetic memory card that stores a specific code signal such as a PIN number, such as a cash card issued by a bank, and a public phone/ticket that requires rewriting the balance. Data reading/writing devices for prepaid cards used in automatic machines, vending machines, etc. have typically been constructed separately from each other. The structure of a card reader for such a magnetic card is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-134583.

In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of cards with different formats, such as those mentioned above, being used together.
Multiple data read/write devices are required.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, in order to handle multiple types of cards, it is necessary to provide separate data reading/writing devices for each type of card, which increases the installation space and equipment costs. It means inviting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a card reader/writer capable of eliminating such inconveniences.

[Structure of the Invention] Means for Solving the Problems According to the present invention, an information storage card inserted through an insertion slot into a casing that incorporates an information exchange device and a card conveyance device. A card reader/writer configured to send and receive information using a card, the card being characterized in that a slot equipped with an information access head different from that for the information storage card is provided in the vicinity of the insertion slot. This is achieved by providing a reader/writer. Particularly preferably, the slot forms a part of the insertion opening.

Effect> According to such a configuration, since a part of the casing and the circuit can be shared, it is possible to save the manufacturing cost and installation space of a card reader/writer that can handle cards of different scales.

<Embodiments> Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show a schematic appearance of a card reader/writer 1 constructed based on the present invention.

In the figure, a horizontal slot 3 is provided on the front surface of the casing 2, which has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape, and extends in a straight line from left to right.A magnetic stripe 4a of a first magnetic card 4 is placed at the upper and lower positions in the center of this slot 3. A magnetic head 5 of known type is provided for reading data recorded on the disc.

A central portion of the slot 3 communicates with the inside of the casing 2 and forms an insertion opening 7 for the second magnetic card 6.

Inside the casing 2, a card transport device and a data reading/writing device for drawing in and ejecting the second magnetic card 6 are provided. Note that the card transport device and the data reading/writing device can be applied without any difference from the known structure, so a description of the structure will be omitted here.

Here, the first magnetic card 4 is, for example, a credit card or the like on which a unique password is recorded, and is of a type that is manually passed through the slot 3. On the other hand, the second magnetic card 6 is called a prepaid card and requires rewriting of the balance, and when it is inserted into the insertion slot 7, it is automatically pulled inside, and after the data is read and written, it is automatically rewritten. It is of the type that is discharged.

4 and 5 each show another embodiment of the present invention, and in each of these figures, functionally common parts are given the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment. There is.

What is shown in FIG. 4 is an embodiment in which a slot 3 for the first magnetic card 4 and an insertion slot 7 for the second magnetic card 6 are provided parallel to each other in two stages, upper and lower. 5, the slot 3 for the first magnetic card 4 and the insertion slot 7 for the second magnetic card 6 are
This is an embodiment in which they are arranged in mutually orthogonal directions.

Note that the position of the magnetic head 5 only needs to be in the middle of the path through which the first magnetic card 4 passes, and the position and quantity may deviate from the basic concept of the present invention depending on the convenience of the mechanical configuration. Needless to say, it may be determined as appropriate without doing so.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned magnetic card, but can equally be applied to devices using optical or semiconductor storage media.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to freely read/write different types of cards with a single card reader/writer, thereby reducing the constraints on space and layout. This has a great effect in reducing equipment costs.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial plan view showing a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view, and FIG. 3 is a partial side view. FIGS. 4 and 5 are front views showing other embodiments of the present invention, respectively. 1...Card reader writer

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A card reader/writer configured to send and receive information to and from an information storage card inserted through an insertion slot into a casing containing an information transfer and reception device and a card transport device, the card reader/writer being adapted to send and receive information to and from an information storage card. A card reader/writer characterized in that a slot provided with an information access head separate from the slot is provided near the insertion slot. (2) The card reader/writer according to claim 1, wherein the slot forms a part of the insertion opening.