JPH05128712A - Card processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily make the whole of a device small-sized and light-weight by arranging a longitudinal recording means between a card slot and a recording and reproducing means to simplify the structure of a card carrying path. CONSTITUTION:A card guide passage 12, a pair of card feed rolls 13, a shutter 14 to open and close the passage 12, a shutter solenoid 15, etc., are arranged in the vicinity of a card slot 11. A longitudinal recording means 16 which records visible information 9 on a card 7 and a carrying roll 17 facing this means 16 are arranged on the deep side of the passage 12. A recording and reproducing means 25 consisting of a magnetic head, etc., and a carrying roll 26 facing this means 25 are arranged in the approximately middle part in the longitudinal direction of a belt carrying mechanism 20. As the result, the carrying path of the card 7 is formed with a single path, and the whole of the device is made small-sized and light-weight, and the structure is simplified.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card processing device for processing a card for carrying information such as a prepaid card.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, cards for carrying information such as prepaid cards have been used in place of cash in transportation facilities, telephones, logistics industries and the like. As this type of card, a magnetic card or an optical card capable of writing / reading (recording / reproducing) information is used, and processing such as settlement by the card is performed by a card processing device. This card processing device is configured to record / reproduce (write and read) information with respect to an inserted card and record (print) visible information as necessary.

Recording / reproducing of information to / from a card is performed by recording / reproducing means such as a magnetic head, and recording of visible information to / from a card is performed by recording means (recording head) such as a thermal head or an inkjet head. A transport roller (platen roller) for transporting (sub-scanning) the position of the card while controlling the position of the card is arranged at each position facing the recording / reproducing means and the recording means. Each conveyance roller is rotationally driven by a drive source such as a pulse motor, and the card conveyance path is generally formed by a belt.

[0004]

However, in the conventional card processing apparatus, a card transport path for recording and reproducing magnetic information and a card transport path for recording (printing) visible information are provided. Since the transfer paths are separately provided and the transfer paths are switched by a flapper or the like, the transfer paths are complicated, the total length and height of the card processing device cannot be reduced, and the card processing time is long. was there. Further, there is also a problem that the workability at the time of cleaning or replacing the recording means (recording head) for recording the visible information and the platen roller facing the recording means is poor. Further, there is a disadvantage that the recording means for recording the visible information is easily worn by the friction with the card and the life of the entire apparatus is short.

The present invention has been made in view of the above technical problems, and an object of the present invention is to simplify the structure of the card transport path and to easily reduce the size and weight of the entire apparatus. It is to provide a card processing device. Another object of the present invention is to provide, in addition to the above object, a card processing device in which the recording means and the platen roller can be easily cleaned and replaced. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a card processing device capable of extending the life of the entire device by reducing the wear of the recording means by the card.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a conveying means for conveying an inserted card, a recording / reproducing means for writing information on the conveyed card and reading information on the card, and a conveying card. In the card processing device having the recording means for recording the visible information, the vertical recording means is arranged between the card insertion slot and the recording / reproducing means to simplify the structure of the card transport path. In addition, the present invention provides a card processing device that can easily reduce the size and weight of the entire device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above structure, the recording means is attached to a tip end portion of a supporting member rotatable about a fulcrum provided on the inner side of the recording / reproducing means and moved in a substantially vertical direction. By providing the support member that can be held in the open position by the lock mechanism, it is possible to further provide a card processing device in which the recording unit and the platen roller can be easily cleaned and replaced. .. According to still another aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, the recording means is configured to be held at the retracted position when there is no recording command and to be moved to the recording position when there is a recording command. It is an object of the present invention to provide a card processing device capable of extending the life of the entire device by reducing the wear of recording means.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a system in the physical distribution industry such as a resist in a supermarket as an example of a system including a card processing device to which the present invention is applied.
2 is an external front view of the system of FIG. 1, and FIG.
2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the system of FIG. Figure 1
In FIG. 3, the physical distribution system includes a card processing device 1, a buffer unit 2, a control unit and a power supply unit 3, a cash storage unit 4, a keyboard 5, a customer display unit 6, and the like. Reference numeral 7 indicates a card (prepaid card) which is inserted from the insertion opening of the card processing apparatus 1 and ejected after processing.

In the above-mentioned distribution system, the total amount of money when shopping is displayed at the amount of money of the system body and the amount of money of the customer display unit 6 by operating the keyboard 5. Therefore, the clerk receives the prepaid card 7 from the customer, inserts the prepaid card 7 into the system (card processing device 1), and performs the settlement process by operating the keyboard. In that case, the initial card balance is displayed before the settlement process after the card is inserted, and the initial card balance is displayed after the settlement process in the card balance of the system main unit and the card balance of the customer display unit 6. The amount less the total is displayed.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the prepaid card 7 viewed from the front. In FIG. 4, on the back surface of the card 7, there is provided an information carrying portion 8 such as a magnetic stripe on which information can be written and read by the recording / reproducing means.
On the surface of the card 7, the settlement date and the remaining amount (remaining number) 9 are recorded (printed) as visible information by the recording means, and further, the punch hole 1 for indicating a rough turning point of the remaining amount.
0 is formed.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing the construction of an embodiment of a card processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 6 is a plan view in which the recording means of the card processing apparatus of FIG. 5 is omitted. In FIGS. 5 and 6, a card insertion port 11 for inserting the card 7 and taking out the processed card is provided on the side facing the user (left side in the drawings), and in the vicinity of the card insertion port 11. Is the card guide passage 1
2, a card feeding roller pair 13, a shutter 14 for opening and closing the card guide passage 12, a shutter solenoid 15 for driving the shutter 14 to open and close, and the like.

On the inner side of the card guide passage 12, a vertical recording means (vertical recording head) 16 for recording the visible information 9 on the card 7, and a conveying roller (platen roller) 17 facing the recording means 16. Are arranged. At the back side of the recording means 16, there is provided a belt carrying mechanism 20 which forms a card carrying path between the upper flat belt 18 and the lower flat belt 19. The upper belt 18 is stretched around a drive roller 21 and an idle roller 22, and the lower belt 19 is stretched around a drive roller 23 and an idle roller 24. The upper and lower belts 18 and 19 are each formed of a single belt that is pressed against the substantially central portion of the card 7 and applies a conveying force.

A recording / reproducing means 25 including a magnetic head and a conveying roller (MG roller) 26 facing the recording / reproducing means 25 are arranged substantially in the front-rear direction of the belt conveying mechanism 20. The recording / reproducing means 25 is for writing (recording) and reading (reproducing) information on the information carrying portion (magnetic stripe) 8 of the card 7. A circumferential notch (reduced diameter) portion for escaping the upper and lower belts 18 and 19 is formed in the central portion of the recording / reproducing means 25 and the conveying roller 26. The upper and lower belts 18 and 19 have tension rollers 27 and 28,
A desired tension is applied by 29.

A card discharge port 60 is provided at the rear end of the card processing apparatus 1 (right end in FIGS. 5 and 6). The card discharge port 60 is for discharging the card 7 from the back side of the device by a special sequence operation, and is not used in a normal card processing sequence.

Incidentally, each roller involved in the transportation of the card 7,
That is, the feed roller pair 13, the transport roller (platen roller) 17, the upper and lower belt drive rollers 21 and 23, the upper and lower idle rollers 22 and 24, and the transport roller (MG roller) 26 can rotate the frame 30 of the apparatus main body. It is pivotally supported. In addition, the tension rollers 27, 28, 2
Each of the shafts 9 is rotatably supported by the tip of an arm that is swingably supported by the frame 30, and is pressed against the belts 18 and 19 by elastic means (spring or the like) not shown.

Therefore, the feeding roller 13, the conveying roller (platen roller) 17, and the lower belt driving roller 23 are
A common drive source (conveyance motor) 31 shown in FIG. 5 is synchronously driven to rotate via timing belts 32 and 33 shown in FIG. Further, the belt driving roller 21 on the upper side is also rotationally driven in synchronization via the timing belt 32. Further, the belt driving rollers 21 and 23 are arranged such that their rotation centers are displaced from each other by a predetermined distance with respect to the running direction of the card.

A predetermined position of the belt transport mechanism 20, that is, between the MG roller 26 of the upper belt 18 and the driving roller 21 and between the recording / reproducing means 25 of the lower belt 19 and the idle roller 24 in the illustrated example. At each position of
Auxiliary rollers (waviness rollers) 34, 35 for displacing the respective belts 18, 19 in the direction perpendicular to the conveying surface.
Are arranged at intervals shorter than at least the entire length of the card 7. These auxiliary rollers 34 and 35 are arranged at positions where the belts 18 and 19 are locally displaced in the vertical direction to form a locally curved traveling path. In addition, these auxiliary rollers (waviness rollers) 34,
35 is rotatably supported on a support shaft fixed to the frame 30.

The auxiliary rollers 34 and 35 are the belt 1
In addition to improving the pressure contact force of the cards 8 and 19 with respect to the card 7, they also serve to increase the winding angle of the belts 18 and 19 with respect to the belt driving roller 23 and the idle roller 22 in FIG. This improves the carrying power of the card 7. It should be noted that if the amount of vertical displacement of the auxiliary rollers 34 and 35 is increased, the carrying force of the card 7 is increased accordingly, and the closer to the belt driving roller 23 and the idle roller 22, the more the carrying force of the card 7 is brought. Goes up. As a result, the recording / reproducing means 25 and the conveying roller (MG roller) 26 can convey the card 7 which is strongly pressed against the recording / reproducing means 25 to be recorded / reproduced at a constant conveying speed.

The vertical recording means 16 is attached to the tip of a supporting member 37 which is rotatable (openable and closable) around a fulcrum 36 provided on the apparatus body (frame) 30. The fulcrum 36 is on the far side of the belt transport mechanism 20 (see FIG.
Located on the right side of the inside), the support member 37 passes above the belt transport mechanism 20, and passes through the feed roller 13
And to the position of the vertical recording means 16 between the belt conveying mechanism 20 and the belt conveying mechanism 20. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the support member 37 is in the closed position. The vertical recording means 16 is attached so as to be movable in a substantially vertical direction (a direction substantially perpendicular to the conveyance path of the card 7) near the recording position by utilizing the circular arc movement of the rotatable movable support member 37. ..

Further, since the supporting member 37 is arranged as described above, it also serves as an opening / closing lid for covering the upper surface of the apparatus main body. Further, the support member 37 is provided on the frame 3
A lock mechanism 38 (FIG. 6) that can be released and is attached at a desired position of 0 (for example, a position in the vicinity of the fulcrum 36) can be held in the open position. As the lock mechanism 36, a normal lock mechanism composed of a concave-convex locking structure and a spring for urging the locking structure in the locking direction can be used. A projecting portion 39 is formed at the open end (the left end in FIG. 5) of the support member 37.

On the other hand, on the insertion port 11 side (left side) of the support member 37, a stop member 41 which is rotatable (openable and closable) around a fulcrum 40 is provided. This stop member 4
When the support member 37 is set to the closed position after the support member 37 is closed, the support member 3 comes into contact with the upper surface of the protrusion 39 to support the support member 3
It is for locking (holding) 7 in the closed position.
In addition, the stop member 41 is moved to the closed position shown in FIG. 5, that is, the position for holding the support member 37 at the closed position, by the lock mechanism 42 (FIG. 6) which is attached to a desired position of the frame 30 and which can be released. It is configured to be locked. As the lock mechanism 42, it is possible to use an ordinary lock mechanism composed of a concave-convex locking structure and a spring for urging the locking structure in the locking direction.

In the normal closed position shown in FIG. 5, the support member 37 should come into contact with the upward biasing means provided on the frame 30 (such as a roller attached to an arm that rotates upward by spring force). Thus, it is elastically held at a slightly floating position (position where it can further descend). When the support member 37 is in this floating position (normally closed position),
The recording unit 16 is at a position retracted from the recordable position by a predetermined amount (in the illustrated example, raised). On the other hand, a solenoid 43 is attached to the stop member 41,
The movable portion 44 of the solenoid 43 is in contact with the upper surface of the protruding portion 39 of the support member 37.

Then, when the solenoid 43 is driven (turned on) to move the movable portion 44 in a projecting manner, the support member 37 is pushed down from the normal closed position (normal holding position) shown in FIG. The recording means 16 fixed to the support member 37 comes to a position where it can contact the platen roller (conveying roller) 17 or approaches the recordable position. When the solenoid 43 is turned off, the movable portion 44 returns to the normal retracted position, the support member 37 is returned to the normal closed position shown in FIG. 5, and the recording means 16 also returns to the normal retracted position (raised position during non-recording). Returned to.

Thus, in the illustrated card processing apparatus 1, the recording means 16 is attached to the tip of the supporting member 37 which is rotatable around a fulcrum 36 provided on the back side of the recording / reproducing means 25, and near the recording position. , The support member 37 can be held in the open position by the lock mechanism 38, and the recording means 16 is held in the retracted position when there is no recording command, and there is a recording command. It is constructed so that it can be moved to the recording position at times.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the forward and backward portions of the recording / reproducing means 25 and the lower card conveying belt 19 along the line 7-7 in FIG. 5 and 7
In the center of the recording / reproducing means 25, a passage 47 for passing the forward portion 45 and the backward portion 46 of the lower belt 19 forming the belt transport mechanism 20 is provided. In the illustrated example, the passage 47 is formed by a groove formed in a substantially central portion of the recording / reproducing means 25 in order to convey the card 7 by the belt 19 without skewing. Note that FIG. 7 shows the card (magnetic card or the like) 7 being conveyed through the recording / reproducing means 25 such as a magnetic head.

According to such a belt transport mechanism 20,
The return portion 46 of the belt 19 may omit a return roller for ensuring a space between the forward portion 45 for passing the lower side of the recording / reproducing means 25 and the return portion 46. Therefore, the vertical distance between the forward portion 45 and the backward portion 46 of the belt 19 can be made sufficiently small, and the belt transport mechanism 2
The structure of No. 0 can be made simple, small and lightweight, and the height of the apparatus main body can be made small. Further, the workability of attaching / detaching when replacing the recording / reproducing means (magnetic head or the like) 25 can be improved. The passage 47 is
It does not have to be a groove-like one as shown in the drawing, but may be, for example, a hole-like one or a notch-like one or the like.
Any shape may be used as long as it forms a space in which the vehicle can travel.

In FIG. 6, a flywheel 49 having a desired diameter having a desired rotational inertia (mass) is fixed to the projecting end of a shaft 48 of a conveying roller (platen roller) 17 arranged to face the recording means 16. ing. The flywheel 49 can also be used as a knob for rotating the transport roller 17 in a predetermined direction when the card 7 is jammed, that is, as a knob for manually ejecting the card 7.

According to the configuration in which the flywheel 49 is provided as shown in FIG. 6, it is possible to appropriately increase the rotational inertia of the carrying roller 17 which is rotationally driven by the carrying motor 31 (FIG. 5) including a pulse motor or the like. Therefore, the drive source 31
Even when a pulsating motor such as a pulse motor is used, the transmission of pulsation to the transport roller (platen roller) 17 can be reduced. For this reason, it is possible to eliminate unevenness in rotation of the transport roller 17 and to eliminate variations in recording by the recording means 16, and it is possible to record high-quality visible information that is easy to see. Further, it becomes possible to easily perform the discharging operation when the card 7 is jammed inside the apparatus main body. It should be noted that the flywheel 49 is replaced with the transport roller 17 by another transport roller 26 that is rotationally driven by a drive source 31, that is, a shaft of a transport roller (MG roller) 26 facing the recording / reproducing means 25. It may be provided, or may be provided on the shafts of both the transport rollers 17 and 26, and in that case, the same effect can be obtained.

FIG. 8 shows the vertical recording means (visible information writing means) 16 and the conveying roller (platen roller) in FIG.
FIG. 9 is a partial side view showing 17, and FIG. 9 is a line 9-9 in FIG.
FIG. 10 is a bottom view (front end view) of the vertical recording means 16 as viewed along, and FIG. 10 is an exploded side view of the recording means 16 in FIG. The vertical recording unit 16 has a substantially rectangular plate shape as a whole, and as shown in FIG. 5, one end face on which a plurality of dot forming elements are arranged is downward (substantially vertical) across the card 7. It is fixed to the support member 37 in a posture (vertical posture). The conveying roller (platen roller) 17 is arranged at a position facing the lower surface (front end surface) of the recording unit 16.

In FIGS. 5 and 8 to 10, the vertical recording means 1 is arranged substantially perpendicular to the recording surface of the card 7.
The reference numeral 6 includes a plate-shaped head element 50, and inclined guide members 51 and 52 mounted before and after the front end portion (lower portion) of the head element 50. The upper portion of the head element 50 is supported by screws (not shown).
The lower portion of the head element 50 is fastened and fixed to the tip end of each of the inclined guide members 5 via a holding member 53.
In a state in which the positioning members 1 and 52 are positioned and held, they are fastened and fixed to the tip end portion of the support member 37 by screws (not shown). When a thermal head for recording while slidingly contacting the card 7 is used as the head element 50, a distance P between the platen roller 17 and the tip surface of the head element 50 (the surface on which the dot forming elements are arranged) at the time of recording is used. Is set to, for example, about 0.4 mm in consideration of the thickness of the card 7.

The tilt guide members 51, 52 are members for guiding the leading end of the conveyed card 7 toward the vicinity of the recording position on the peripheral surface of the platen roller 17, and of the guide surfaces 54, 55 thereof. Inclination angle with respect to the transport surface θ ₁ , θ
₂ is selected to be, for example, about 20 to 45 degrees. By providing such inclined guide members 51 and 52, even when the conveyed card 7 is deformed (especially, when the tip of the card 7 is bent and deformed), the card 7 can be reliably recorded. It is possible to eliminate the possibility that the card will slip and become unrecordable. The guide surfaces 54, 5 of the inclined guide members 51, 51
The lower ends 56 and 57 of 5 are located on the platen roller 17 side, and the faces (bottom faces of the inclined guide members 51 and 52) 58 and 59 from these lower ends 56 and 57 to the head element 50 are card conveying faces. With respect to each of the guide surfaces 54, 55 in the opposite direction (inward and upward),
The inclination angles α ₁ and α ₂ are set to, for example, about 5 degrees to 15 degrees.

Lower ends 56 and 57 of the guide surfaces 54 and 55, respectively.
2 before and after the card 7 passing through the recording means 16 makes sliding contact.
The contact portion of the location is formed. Therefore, the abutting portions 56 at the front and rear, which have entered the platen roller 17 side,
57 and the surface of the platen roller 17 constitute a card curving means for curving the card 7 in a convex shape toward the tip end surface of the recording means 16 (the surface on which the dot forming elements are arranged). By providing such a card curving means, when recording on the card 7, the contact area between the card 7 and the platen roller 17 can be increased to increase the card conveying force. Therefore, the card 7 and the platen roller can be increased. By eliminating slippage with the roller 17, it is possible to always record accurate and high-quality visible information.

In FIGS. 11 to 14, the deformed card 7 sent by the pair of feeding rollers 13 is the recording means 1 of the card conveying path.
12 is a schematic side view showing a state when passing through the position 6 in FIG. 6, and FIG. 11 is a state before reaching the recording means 16, FIG.
Is the guide surface 5 of the inclined guide member 51 when the tip of the deformation card 7
4 is a state in which the tip of the deformation card 7 is guided to the recording position of the platen roller 17 by the guide surface 54 in FIG. 13, and FIG. 14 shows the tip of the deformation card 7 in the head element 50 and the platen roller 17. It is a figure showing the state where it was certainly inserted between and. 11 to 14
Shows the case where the modified card 7 is conveyed from left to right.
In the above embodiment, the tilt guide member 5 is provided before and after the recording means 16.
Since the modified cards 7 and 1 are provided, even when the modified card 7 is conveyed from right to left (reverse direction), it is possible to accurately convey it between the recording means 16 and the platen roller 17 in substantially the same state. it can.

FIG. 15 is a schematic side view showing an arrangement of sensors for operation control in the card processing apparatus 1 of FIGS. 5 and 6. 6 and 15, the card detection element SW1 is provided on the left and right in the vicinity of the inside of the card insertion slot 11.
SW2 is arranged, and a card detection element SW3 is arranged on the right side in the card insertion direction at a position at a distance L ₁ from the card detection elements SW1 and SW2 on the inner side of the feed roller pair 13. Distance from this card detection element SW3 to the back side Δ
A card detection element SW4 is arranged on the side opposite to the L position (on the left side in the card insertion direction).

The card detection element SW3 and the recording means 16
The distance between the set to L _2, the distance between the recording means 16 and the recording playback unit 25 is set to L _3. At a distance L ₄ from the recording and reproducing means 25 to the rear side is arranged the card detection element SW5, card detection element SW6 is disposed at a distance L ₅ from the card detecting element SW5 to the back side .. These card detection elements SW5 and S
The position of W6 is set within the range of the card transport mechanism 20. At a position at a distance L ₆ from the card detection element SW6 further on the inner side of the card transport mechanism 20 (a position near the inside of the card ejection port 60 in the illustrated example), the card detection element S is provided.
W7 is placed. Note that, in FIG. 15, portions corresponding to the respective constituent portions in FIGS. 5 and 6 are indicated by the same reference numerals, but description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing an example of an operation sequence of the card processing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above. In FIG. 16, when the card processing device 1 is activated and the card 7 is inserted, a sequence for reading the information of the card 7 is performed in step S1. That is, in the case of a magnetic card, an operation for reading magnetic information is executed. Then, in step S2, writing of information to the card 7 (in the case of a magnetic card, writing of magnetic information to the card) is performed.

Next, in step S3, the information on the card 7 after the writing is read. Therefore, in step S4, the reading in step S1 and the writing in step S3 are collated with the reading in step S3, and in step S5, it is determined whether or not the collation is made, that is, whether or not the writing in step S2 is performed correctly. Make a distinction. If the information is not correctly written as a result of the collation, the process returns to step S2, the information is written again, and the same operations as described above are performed.

If the writing in step S2 is correct as a result of the collation determination in step S5, step S6
Then, it is determined whether or not recording (printing or the like) of visible information is necessary, and if necessary, recording of visible information is performed by the recording means 16 in step S7, and the card 7 is inserted from the recording means 16 into the card insertion slot in step S8. The card 7 is conveyed to the card 11 and the card 7 is ejected from the insertion slot 11. On the other hand, if it is not necessary to record the visible information, the process proceeds to step S9, the card 7 is conveyed toward the insertion port 11 without being recorded, and the card 7 is ejected from the insertion port 11. A series of card processing operations are completed by the above sequence operations.

17 to 20 are timing charts of each sequence operation in FIG. 16, and FIG. 17 shows step S.
18 is a timing chart for reading information, FIG. 18 is a timing chart for writing information in step S2, FIG. 19 is a timing chart for reading information after writing in step S3, and FIG. 20 is a timing chart for recording visible information in step S7. 17 to 20, the horizontal axis represents the position of the card 7, the vertical axis represents the transport speed of the card 7, and the arrow represents the transport direction of the card 7.

The initial reading operation shown in step S1 of FIG. 16 and the timing chart of FIG. 17 is performed as follows. That is, when the card 7 is inserted and the card front end is detected by the card detection elements SW1 and SW2,
The shutter 14 is opened, and the conveyance motor 31 is started up to start conveyance of the card 7 in the intrusion direction. When the detection element SW3 detects the rear edge of the card, the shutter 14 is closed. Then, when the card 7 passes through the recording means 16 and enters the back and passes through the recording / reproducing means 25, information is read by the recording / reproducing means (in the case of a magnetic card, magnetic information is read). When the card 7 further moves in the intrusion direction and the detection element SW7 detects the front end of the card, the slowdown is started and the card 7 is stopped at a predetermined position in the back.

The information write operation shown in step S2 of FIG. 16 and the timing chart of FIG. 18 is performed as follows. That is, the transport motor 31 is started in the reverse direction to transport the card 7 from the stop position (back position) after the reading to the return direction. Information is written (magnetic information is written in the case of a magnetic card) while the card 7 moves in the return direction from the position of the recording / reproducing means 25. Furthermore, it moves to the return direction and the detection element SW
When 3 detects the front end of the card 7 in the traveling direction (edge on the insertion port 11 side), the conveyance speed starts to slow down, and the card 7 is stopped at a predetermined position in front of (inner side of) the shutter 14.

The re-reading (reading after writing) operation shown in step S3 of FIG. 16 and the timing chart of FIG. 19 is performed as follows. That is,
The transport motor 31 is started in the forward direction to transport the card 7 from the stop position after the writing operation to the intrusion direction. Information is read (in the case of a magnetic card, magnetic information is read) while the card 7 moves in the intrusion direction at the position of the recording / reproducing means 25. When the detection element SW7 further moves in the intrusion direction and detects the leading end (edge on the back side) of the card 7 in the traveling direction, the conveyance speed starts to slow down,
The card 7 is stopped at a predetermined position in the back.

The recording (printing) operation of visible information shown in step S7 of FIG. 16 and the timing chart of FIG. 20 is performed as follows. That is, the conveyance motor 31 is started in the reverse direction to convey the card 7 from the stop position (back position) after the above-mentioned reading operation again to the return direction. When the detection element SW5 detects the leading end of the card 7 in the traveling direction (the edge on the insertion port 11 side), the conveyance motor 31 is slowed down to a predetermined speed, and the conveyance is switched to low speed conveyance. While the card 7 passes through the recording / reproducing means 25 and moves the position of the recording means 16 in the return direction, recording (printing or the like) of visible information is performed. The movement of the card 7 in the returning direction continues, and the shutter 14 is opened when the detection element SW3 detects the leading end of the card 7 in the returning direction. When the card 7 further moves in the return direction and the detection elements SW1 and SW2 detect the front end of the card 7 in the return direction and the card is no longer detected (when the rear end of the card passes), the shutter 1
4 is closed, the slowdown of the carry motor 31 is started, and the card 7 is stopped at the discharge position where it can be taken out.

When the visible information is not recorded (printed or the like), the card ejection operation of step S9 of FIG. 6 is performed. The discharging operation in this case is performed as follows. That is, in the state where the card 7 is at the stop position (back position) after the re-reading operation, the carry motor 31 is started up and the card is carried in the return direction. When the card 7 passes through the positions of the recording / reproducing means 25 and the recording means 16 and the detecting element SW3 detects the front end of the card 7 in the returning direction, the shutter 14 is opened. When the card 7 further moves in the return direction and the detection elements SW1 and SW2 detect the front end of the card 7 in the return direction and the card is no longer detected (when the rear end of the card passes), the shutter 14 is closed. The slowdown of the carry motor 31 is started, and the card 7 is stopped at the discharge position where it can be taken out.

According to the embodiment described above, since the vertical recording means 16 is arranged between the card insertion slot 11 and the recording / reproducing means 25, the card 7 is formed as a single conveying path. It is possible to reduce the length and height of the device body, and it is possible to reduce the size and weight of the entire device and simplify the structure. Further, a supporting member 37 which is rotatable around a fulcrum 36 provided at the back of the apparatus main body is provided, and the vertical recording means 16 is fixed to a tip end portion of the supporting member 37 so as to be movable in a substantially vertical direction. Further, the lock mechanism 3 capable of releasing the support member 37.
Since it can be held in the open position by 8, it is possible to easily clean and replace the recording means 16 and the platen roller 17. Further, since the recording means 16 can be moved in the vertical direction when the apparatus is in use, the recording means 16 is held in the retracted position when there is no recording command, and is moved to the recording position when there is a recording command, the card 7 and the recording are recorded. Means 1
It is possible to extend the life of the entire apparatus by reducing the chances of rubbing against 6 and the wear of the recording means 16.

Further, according to the embodiment described above, the conveying path of the card conveying mechanism 20 is formed by the pair of belts 18 and 19 for conveying the substantially central portion of the card 7, and the belts 18 and 19 are also formed. Since the auxiliary rollers 34 and 35 for displacing the conveying surface of the belt in the vertical direction are arranged at a predetermined position, the belts 18 and 19 are corrugated by the auxiliary rollers 34 and 35, and therefore the pair of belts 18 and 19 are formed.
Also, it is possible to obtain a sufficient card transporting force, simplify the structure of the card transporting mechanism 20 and save space, and the imbalance between the left and right transporting forces is eliminated, so that the card 7 travels. It became possible to improve the reliability of recording and reproduction by eliminating the meandering in the direction.

Further, according to the embodiment described above, since the recording / reproducing means 25 is provided with the passage 47 for passing the forward portion and the backward portion of the conveyor belt 19, the conveyor path of the belt 19 is made compact. In addition, it is possible to omit the return roller for guiding the belt and the like, so that the card transport mechanism 20 can be simplified and reduced in size and weight, and the device body can be reduced in size and weight. It was In addition to this, it is possible to easily attach / detach the recording / reproducing means (magnetic head or the like) 25 when exchanging.

Further, according to the embodiment described above, the shaft of the conveying roller (MG roller 26 or platen roller 17) arranged to face the recording / reproducing means 25 such as a magnetic head or the recording means 16 such as a print head. Since a flywheel 49 that rotates integrally with the flywheel 49 is provided, and the flywheel 49 also serves as a manual operation knob for card ejection, the pulsation of the transport rollers 17 and 26 driven by a pulsating transport motor 31 such as a pulse motor. It is possible to reduce fluctuations in the operation when writing / reading (recording / reproducing) by the magnetic head 25 or recording visible information by the print head 16 or the like, and reliability of information writing / reading can be improved. It is possible to improve the printing quality as well as improve the printing quality. It has become possible to also manually ejected when the jammed easily performed internally.

Further, according to the embodiment described above, as the recording means 16, a vertical type recording means which is opposed to the platen roller 17 and is arranged substantially perpendicular to the recording surface of the card 7 is used. The mold recording means 16 is provided with inclined guide members 51 and 52 for guiding the front end of the card 7 toward the vicinity of the recording position on the peripheral surface of the platen roller, and the platen roller 17 and the front and rear sides 2 entering the platen roller By the abutting portions 56 and 57 on the recording means side located at the location,
Since the card curving means for curving the card 7 in a convex shape toward the tip end surface of the print head 50 (the front surface on which the dot forming elements are arranged) is provided, even when the inserted card 7 is deformed, the card curving means is provided. 7 can be correctly guided to the recording position to perform accurate printing, and moreover, the contact area between the card 7 and the platen roller 17 can be increased to secure a sufficient carrying force, so that the card 7 can be prevented from slipping. It is now possible to perform accurate and high-quality printing without the need for printing.

As the head element 50 of the recording means 16, in addition to a thermal type recording head such as a thermal transfer type or a thermal paper type, a wire dot type recording head, an ink jet type recording head, or a laser beam type recording head. It is possible to use recording heads of various recording methods such as recording heads regardless of the recording method. Figure 21
Is an inkjet type in which the head element 50 ejects ink by utilizing thermal energy, and is provided with an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy, and
Ink in the case of a system in which ink is ejected from an ejection port by utilizing a pressure change caused by growth and contraction of bubbles due to film boiling generated by heat energy applied by the electrothermal converter, It is a partial perspective view which shows the structure of a discharge part typically.

In FIG. 21, a plurality of electrothermal converters are formed on a substrate 81 of a recording head (head element) 50 with a layer of a thin film 83 interposed therebetween by the same manufacturing process (thin film molding method, etc.) as a semiconductor. 82 and wirings corresponding thereto are formed. As shown in the drawing, each electrothermal converter 82 is arranged at a position corresponding to each discharge port 89 and liquid passage 86. On the substrate 81 (on the thin film 83 on the substrate 81), a liquid path forming member 84 having a plurality of liquid path walls 84A formed in parallel on the lower surface at predetermined intervals is joined. Further, a top plate 85 is joined to the upper surface of the liquid path forming member 84. Although the liquid passage 86 is formed between the respective liquid passage walls 84A, the liquid passage forming member 84
Are positioned and joined in a positional relationship such that the electrothermal converters 82 are arranged at predetermined positions inside the liquid paths 86.

Each of the liquid passage walls 84A has a predetermined length,
The rear end of each liquid passage 86 has a common liquid chamber 8 formed between the liquid passage forming member 84 and the substrate 81 (or the thin film 83).
It communicates with 7. On the other hand, the other end (tip) of each liquid path 86 is opened at the ejection port forming surface (face surface) 88 of the recording head 7, and the ejection port 89 is formed by each opening. In this way, the electrothermal converter 82 such as a heating resistor is energized (a pulse voltage is applied) to generate heat, thereby causing the ink in the liquid path 86 to film-boil, and the pressure change at that time causes ink to be ejected from the ejection port 89. An inkjet type line recording head 50 that ejects droplets is configured. The recording head 50 has a plurality of ejection ports 8.
The arrangement is such that the arrangement direction of 9 intersects the conveyance direction of the card (recording material) 7. The line-type recording head 50 having the above-described configuration ejects ink according to an image (printing) signal to print on the recording surface of the card 7 when the card 7 comes to a position facing the ejection port forming surface 88 ( Record).

Further, as the head element 50, in addition to the line type recording head which prints only by feeding (sub scanning) of the card (recording material) 7, the recording head is used in the width direction of the recording (printing) area. It is also possible to use recording heads of various scanning systems, such as a serial recording head that moves (main scanning) in the (left-right direction) and performs recording. Further, in the above embodiments, the case where the recording means for single color printing using one head (head element 50) is used as the recording means 16 has been described, but the present invention prints in different colors. The same applies regardless of the number of heads, such as the recording means for color printing using a plurality of heads or the recording means for gradation recording using a plurality of heads for printing in the same color but different colors. It can be applied and can achieve the same effect.

When the ink jet recording head is used as the head element 50, the present invention can be applied to a recording means (recording head) using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element. This brings about an excellent effect when the recording means of the type that ejects ink by utilizing the above-mentioned thermal energy is used. This is because such a system can achieve high density recording and high definition recording.

With regard to its typical structure and principle, for example, the specifications of US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4740.
This is preferably done using the basic principles disclosed in US Pat. No. 7,967. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type, but particularly in the case of the on-demand type, a liquid (ink) is used.
By applying at least one drive signal to the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path holding the Since the electrothermal converter generates heat energy to cause film boiling on the heat acting surface of the recording means (recording head), as a result, bubbles can be formed in the liquid (ink) in a one-to-one correspondence with this drive signal. It is valid.

Due to the growth and contraction of the bubbles, the liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make this drive signal into a pulse shape, because the bubble growth and contraction are immediately and appropriately performed, so that the ejection of the liquid (ink) with excellent responsiveness can be achieved. As this pulse-shaped drive signal, US Pat.
Those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,633,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Incidentally, US Pat. No. 43131 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise of the heat acting surface.
If the conditions described in No. 24 are adopted, even more excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the ejection port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the straight liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications. US Pat. No. 4,558,333 and US Pat. No. 4, which disclose a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
The structure using the specification of 459600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 123670/1984 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy. The present invention is also effective as a configuration based on Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 138461/1984, which discloses a configuration in which the above is associated with the discharge portion. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be reliably and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording material (recording medium) which can be recorded by the recording apparatus. Such a recording head may have a configuration that fills the length by combining a plurality of recording heads or a configuration as one recording head integrally formed. In addition, even with the serial type as in the above example, it is possible to electrically connect to the device body or supply ink from the device body by mounting it on the recording head fixed to the device body or on the device body. The present invention is also effective when a replaceable chip type recording head or a cartridge type recording head in which an ink tank is integrally provided in the recording head itself is used.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means for the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, etc., which are provided in the present invention as a configuration of the recording apparatus, because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. If these are specifically mentioned,
Capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or suctioning means, electrothermal converter or other heating element or preheating means by a combination thereof, and ejection different from recording are applied to the recording head. Performing the preliminary ejection mode is also effective for stable recording.

Regarding the type and number of recording heads to be mounted, for example, only one is provided corresponding to a single color ink, or a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities are supported. And a plurality of them may be provided. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode only for mainstream colors such as black,
The recording head may be integrally configured or a combination of a plurality of recording heads may be used. However, the present invention is extremely effective for an apparatus having at least one of a mixed color of different colors or a full color of mixed colors.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the ink is described as a liquid, but it is an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower and that softens or liquefies at room temperature, or an ink jet. In the method, the temperature of the ink itself is generally adjusted within a range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower to control the temperature of the ink so that the viscosity of the ink is within a stable ejection range. Any liquid may be used. in addition,
Whether the temperature rise due to thermal energy is positively used as the energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or the ink that solidifies when left standing for the purpose of preventing ink evaporation is used. In any case, the ink is liquefied by applying the thermal energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink is ejected,
The present invention is also applicable to the case of using an ink which has a property of being liquefied only by thermal energy, such as one which has already started to solidify when it reaches the recording medium.

The ink in such a case is described in JP-A-54-54.
As described in JP-A-56847 or JP-A-60-71260, a mode in which it is held as a liquid or a solid in a concave portion or a through hole of a porous sheet and faces the electrothermal converter. May be In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, the form of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention is used as an image output terminal of information processing equipment such as a computer, a copying machine combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile machine having a transmitting / receiving function. It may be in the form of the above.

[0064]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a conveying means for conveying an inserted card and a recording / reproducing means for writing information on the conveyed card and reading the information on the card. In the card processing device having the recording means for recording visible information on the conveyed card, the vertical recording means is arranged between the card insertion slot and the recording / reproducing means. (EN) Provided is a card processing device capable of simplifying the structure of a path and easily reducing the size and weight of the entire device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above configuration,
The recording means is attached to the tip of a supporting member rotatable about a fulcrum provided on the back side of the recording / reproducing means and movable in a substantially vertical direction, and the supporting member is moved to an open position by a lock mechanism. Since it is configured to be held, in addition to the above effects, there is provided a card processing device in which the recording means and the platen roller can be easily cleaned and replaced. According to still another aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, the recording means,
When there is no recording command, it is held at the retracted position, and when there is a recording command, it is moved to the recording position.
In addition to the above effects, there is provided a card processing device capable of extending the life of the entire device by reducing the wear of the recording means by the card.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view illustrating a distribution system including an embodiment of a card processing device to which the present invention is applied.

2 is a schematic front view of the system of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of an internal configuration of the system of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating the structure of a card used in the card processing device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing an internal structure of an embodiment of a card processing device to which the present invention is applied.

6 is a plan view of the card processing device of FIG. 5 with the recording means and its supporting member omitted.

7 is a cross-sectional view of the recording / reproducing means and the conveyor belt taken along the line 7-7 in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of a vertical recording unit and a platen roller in FIG.

9 is a front view of the recording unit in FIG. 8 seen from below.

10 is an exploded side view of the recording means in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a partial side view schematically showing a state before the card reaches the recording unit and the platen roller in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a partial side view schematically showing a state where the leading end of the card reaches the recording means and the platen roller of FIG.

13 is a partial side view schematically showing a state in which the leading end of the card is guided by the recording means and the platen roller of FIG.

14 is a partial side view schematically showing a state where a card is conveyed between the recording means and the platen roller of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a schematic side view showing the arrangement of sensors in one embodiment of the card processing device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a sequence of card processing operation of an embodiment of the card processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

17 is a timing chart of the initial information reading operation in FIG.

18 is a timing chart of the information writing operation in FIG.

FIG. 19 is a timing chart of the information reading operation after writing in FIG.

20 is a timing chart of the recording operation of visible information in FIG.

FIG. 21 is a partial perspective view schematically showing the structure of the ink ejection portion of the head element (recording head) when the recording unit in FIG. 5 is of the inkjet type.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Card Processing Device 7 Card (Magnetic Card) 8 Information Carrier (Magnetic Stripe) 9 Visible Information (Printing) 11 Card Insertion Port 13 Feeding Roller 14 Shutter 16 Vertical Recording Unit (Printing Head Unit) 17 Platen Roller (Conveying Roller) ) 18 conveyor belt 19 conveyor belt 20 belt conveyor mechanism 23 drive roller 25 recording / reproducing means (magnetic information writing / reading head) 26 MG roller (conveyor roller) 30 frame 31 conveyor motor 32 timing belt 33 timing belt 34 auxiliary roller (waviness roller) ) 35 auxiliary roller (waviness roller) 36 fulcrum 37 support member 38 lock mechanism 41 stop member 42 lock mechanism 43 solenoid 44 movable part (solenoid) 45 transport belt forward portion 46 transport belt return portion 47 passage (groove) 48 Shaft of Transport Roller (Platen Roller) 49 Flywheel 50 Head Element (Recording Head) 51 Inclination Guide Member 52 Inclination Guide Member 54 Guide Surface 55 Guide Surface 56 Abutment Part (Lower Edge of Guide Surface) 57 Abutment Part (Guide) (Bottom edge of surface) 58 Bottom surface 59 Bottom surface 60 Card ejection port SW card detection element

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiromi Yoshida 1248 Shimokage Mori, Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, within Canon Electronics Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Gozo Matsuura 1248 Shimokagemori, Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture Canon Electronics Co., Ltd. (72) Inori Kazunori Togawa 1248 Shimokagemori, Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture Canon Electronics Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A conveying means for conveying an inserted card, a recording / reproducing means for writing information on the conveyed card and reading the information on the card, and a recording means for recording visible information on the conveyed card. A card processing apparatus having a recording means, wherein a vertical recording means is provided between the card insertion slot and the recording / reproducing means. 2. The recording means is attached to a tip end portion of a supporting member rotatable about a fulcrum provided on the inner side of the recording / reproducing means and is movable in a substantially vertical direction, and the supporting member comprises:
2. The card processing device according to claim 1, wherein the card processing device can be held in the open position by a lock mechanism. 3. The card processing device according to claim 1, wherein the recording means is held at the retracted position when there is no recording command and is moved to the recording position when there is a recording command. 4. The card processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording means is an ink jet recording means provided with an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy used for ejecting ink. 5. The card processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the recording unit uses the film boiling generated in the ink by the thermal energy generated by the electrothermal converter to eject the ink from the ejection port. .