JPH05274484A - Card successive processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform processing at a high speed by arraying plural processing parts which process cards in a card storage box in parallel. CONSTITUTION:Extrusion parts 4a-4c are rotated to extrude the optical cards 1a-1c from the card storage box 2, and when their tip parts reach sensors 6a-6c, the conveyor rollers in a cleaning unit 7, an optical recording device 8, and a printer 9 begin to rotate so as to send the respective cards in. Then the respective processing parts of the cleaning unit 7, optical recording device 8, and printer 9 process the cards. In the card storage box 2, the cleaning unit 7, optical recording device 8, and printer 9 are arranged in parallel, so the processing parts can performs the processing in parallel to perform the processing at a high speed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card continuous processing device for automatically and continuously processing a large number of information recording cards.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the information-related industry has made remarkable progress, and accordingly, the amount of information to be handled is also increasing. Therefore, among the information recording cards, there is a great interest in optical cards that can carry a large amount of information with good portability. This optical card is required to have a form in which information such as the issuer, the issuer's information, ID information, and various personal data is written in advance, issued, and then distributed to the user.

Writing information to an optical card is usually performed by a card processing device. This card processing device
It has a recording device as a processing unit and a card storage box for storing a plurality of cards. As this device, a system is generally used in which information is recorded on a card sent from a card storage box by a recording device and sent back to the card storage box again.

An example of this type of device is, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 48
The one disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 26040 is known. This device has a card storage box for storing a plurality of cards, and is configured so that a specific card can be taken out from the card storage box.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-292581 discloses that
An apparatus in which a card storage box is moved with respect to one processing unit is disclosed. In this device, the movement of the card storage box and the removal of the card from the card storage box and the storage of the card in the storage box are performed using the same drive source.

The device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-61437 is also known. This device has two card storage boxes and one recording device. A card before information is recorded is stored in one of the card storage boxes. The card taken out of the storage box is recorded by the recording device and then stored in the other storage box.

However, not only information recording but also printing, card cleaning and the like are required as required. Such requirements are fulfilled by the card continuous processing device. This device performs different types of processing by a plurality of processing units. Therefore, many cards can be processed quickly and efficiently.

As such a card continuous processing device, the devices disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-99458 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-57090 are known. In these devices, while the card is being transported along the transport path, different types of processing such as recording, printing, or cleaning of information are sequentially performed, and then, the card is transported in the opposite direction and stored again in the card storage box. It

[0009]

However, with regard to the card continuous processing apparatus having a plurality of processing units, recording, printing, and recording of information on the card sent out from the card storage box.
Since cleaning and other processes are performed sequentially, it takes time for each processing unit, and for printing and cleaning, it takes time to dry the cards, and it takes a long time for one card to be returned to the card storage box again. Therefore, there is a problem that the card processing speed is slow and the efficiency is low. The present invention is proposed to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a card continuous processing device that performs processing at high speed and improves efficiency.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a card continuous processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a card storage box for storing a plurality of cards and a plurality of processing units for performing different processing on the cards. It is characterized in that the plurality of processing units are arranged in parallel to the card storage box.

[0011]

The card is taken out from the card storage box, and the plurality of cards are processed by the plurality of processing units.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of a card continuous processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 1, a plurality of optical cards 1 which are information recording cards are stored in a card storage box 2 so as to be stacked in a separated state. Card storage box 2
The optical cards 1 can be moved in the vertical direction so that they are sent in order. The front wall 2a of the card storage box 2 has openings (not shown) through which the optical cards 1 come in and out, the number of which is equal to the number of stored optical cards 1. In FIG. 1, the first to third relay rollers 3 are provided on the right side of the front wall 2a.
a, 3b, 3c are arranged in parallel along the vertical direction.

A plurality of openings corresponding to the openings of the front wall 2a are formed in the rear wall 2b of the card storage box 2 so that the optical card 1 can be pushed out. On the left side of the rear wall 2b, first to third pushing members 4a for pushing out the optical card 1 are provided.
4b and 4c are arranged in parallel along the vertical direction. These push-out members 4a, 4b, 4c are configured to be rotatable around rotary shafts 5a, 5b, 5c, respectively, and are rotated so as to push out the optical card 1 from the card storage box 2 by a drive source (not shown). To be done.

A sensor 6a for detecting the optical card 1 and a cleaning unit 7 are arranged on the right side of the first relay roller 3a in the figure. A sensor 6b for detecting the optical card 1 and an optical recording device 8 are arranged on the lower portion of these, that is, on the right side of the second relay roller 3b. further,
A sensor 6c for detecting the optical card 1 and a printer 9 are arranged on the lower part thereof, that is, on the right side of the third relay roller 3c. These cleaning units 7,
The optical recording device 8 and the printer 9 are processing units that process the optical card 1. Next, the structures of the cleaning unit 7, the optical recording device 8 and the printer 9 will be described.

On the front wall 7a of the cleaning unit 7,
The insertion port 10 is formed. Inside the cleaning unit 7, a first transport roller 11 and a second transport roller 12 are sequentially arranged in the horizontal direction,
The cleaning roller 13 is arranged between them. The cleaning roller 13 is made of a material having a high hygroscopic property, and the cleaning liquid 15 stored in the storage tank 14 is supplied to the cleaning roller 13 via a supply pipe 16, whereby the cleaning roller 13 is provided with an appropriate amount of water. Be done.

The front wall 8a of the optical recording device 8 has an insertion opening 17
Are formed. Inside the optical recording device 8, a third
Transport roller 18, fourth transport roller 19, and fifth transport roller 20 are sequentially arranged in the horizontal direction, and information is recorded on optical card 1 above fourth transport roller 19. An optical head 21 is arranged.

An insertion port 22 is formed on the front wall 9a of the printer 9. Inside the printer 9, a sixth transport roller 23, a seventh transport roller 24, and an eighth transport roller 25 are sequentially arranged in the horizontal direction, and above the seventh transport roller 24. Are arranged such that the print heads 26 for printing on the optical card 1 face each other. An ink ribbon 27 is in sliding contact with the print head 26. The ink ribbon 27 is sent out from the supply reel 28, guided by the first guide pin 29 and the second guide pin 30, and taken up by the take-up reel 31.
Further, the control unit 39 is configured to control the vertical movement of each processing unit, each pushing member, each relay roller, and the card storage unit 2. Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, the three pushing members 4a, 4b, 4c are rotated by a driving source (not shown) to push out the optical cards 1a, 1b, 1c from the card storage box 2. The tip ends of the optical cards 1a, 1b, 1c pushed out are sandwiched by the relay rollers 3a, 3b, 3c.

At the same time, the relay rollers 3a, 3b, 3
c is rotated, and each optical card is further sent out from the card storage box 2. Then, the conveyed optical cards 1a, 1
When the tips of b and 1c reach the sensors 6a, 6b and 6c, respectively, the cleaning unit 7 and the optical recording device 8
Then, the respective conveying rollers inside the printer 9 start rotating so as to send the respective optical cards into the inside (see FIG. 3). Next, the cleaning unit 7, the optical recording device 8,
Processing is performed in each processing unit of the printer 9.

The optical card 1a inserted into the insertion port 10 of the cleaning unit 7 is sent by the first carrying roller 11 and comes into contact with the cleaning roller 13 moistened with the cleaning liquid 15 and carried. In addition, the second
When the card edge of the optical card 1a passes through the cleaning roller 13 by being transported by the transport roller 12, the first transport roller 11 and the second transport roller 12 rotate in reverse. Then, the optical card 1a is again attached to the cleaning roller 1
When being conveyed by the second conveying roller 12 and the first conveying roller 11 while contacting 3 and reaching the sensor 6a,
The first relay roller 3a starts rotating and sends the optical card 1a back to the card storage box 2.

The optical card 1b inserted into the insertion slot 17 of the optical recording device 8 is carried by the third carrying roller 18, the fourth carrying roller 19 and the fifth carrying roller 20. While being reciprocated by these transport rollers, the optical head 21 records information on the optical card 1b, and after completing the predetermined writing, the third transport roller 18, the fourth transport roller 19, The fifth transport roller 20 rotates in the opposite direction to transport the optical card 1b toward the card storage box 2.
Then, when the optical card 1b reaches the sensor 6b, the second relay roller 3b starts rotating and sends the optical card 1b back to the card storage box 2.

The optical card 1c inserted into the insertion slot 22 of the printer 9 is sent by the sixth carrying roller 23, the seventh carrying roller 24, and the eighth carrying roller 25, and the optical card 1c is made light by the print head 26. Printing is performed on the card 1c. The printer 9 prints characters corresponding to the information recorded by the optical recording device 8 according to an instruction from the control unit 39.

After the printing is completed, the carrying roller is reversed and the optical card 1c is carried in the opposite direction. When the card reaches the sensor 6c, the third relay roller 3c starts to rotate, and the optical card 1
Return c to the card storage box 2. Then, the take-up reel 31 of the printer 9 winds the ink ribbon 27 by a predetermined amount.

In this way, when all the operations of the processing units of the cleaning unit 7, the optical recording device 8 and the printer 9 are completed, the card storage box 2 is instructed by the control unit 39.
Moves down one card pitch to process the next card.

Next, the pushing members 4a, 4b, 4c push out the next optical cards 1d, 1e, 1f from the card storage box 2 and perform the same processing as that described above. Further, when a defective card is generated due to a defect or scratch on the card or a failure during optical recording, the control unit 39 stores the card. Then, when the card is sent to the printer and processed, it is printed so that it can be seen as a defective card at a glance so that it can be immediately eliminated.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the cleaning unit 7 and the cleaning unit 7 are arranged in parallel to the card storage box 2.
Since the optical recording device 8 and the printer 9 are arranged side by side, it is possible to perform processing simultaneously in parallel in each processing unit. Therefore, the processing can be performed quickly, and in printing or cleaning, the card can be dried in the card storage box 2 after the processing, and the processing can be efficiently performed without waiting time for drying. In addition, the time interval with the next processing unit is set in advance based on the time required to dry the card. Next, a second embodiment of the card continuous processing device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Although the apparatus for processing the optical card has been described in the first embodiment, the apparatus for processing the hybrid card will be described in the present embodiment.

The hybrid card 32 shown in FIG. 4 is a multipurpose card which has an optical recording section and a magnetic stripe section and can be selectively used depending on the application. The plurality of hybrid cards 32 are stored in the card storage box 2 so as to be stacked in a separated state. Card storage box 2
Can be moved in the vertical direction so that the hybrid cards 32 are sequentially sent. Front wall 2 of card storage box 2
Openings (not shown) for allowing the hybrid cards 32 to come in and out are formed in a in the same number as the number of the stored hybrid cards 32. On the right side of the front wall 2a in FIG. 4, first to third relay rollers 3a, 3b, 3c are provided.
Are arranged in parallel along the vertical direction.

The rear wall 2b of the card storage box 2 is formed with a plurality of openings corresponding to the openings of the front wall 2a so that the hybrid card 32 can be pushed out. On the left side of the rear wall 2b, the first for pushing out the hybrid card 32
The third extruding members 4a, 4b, 4c are arranged in parallel along the vertical direction. These extrusion members 4a, 4
Each of b and 4c is configured to be rotatable about a rotation shaft 5a, 5b, and 5c, and is rotated so as to push out the hybrid card 32 from the card storage box 2 by a drive source (not shown).

A sensor 6a for detecting the hybrid card 32 and a cleaning unit 7 are arranged on the right side of the first relay roller 3a. A sensor 6b for detecting the hybrid card 32 and a magnetic recording device 33 are arranged on the lower part of these, that is, on the right side of the second relay roller 3b. Furthermore, these lower parts, namely the third
On the right side of the relay roller 3c of
An optical recording device 8 and a sensor 6c that detects the The cleaning unit 7, the magnetic recording device 33, and the optical recording device 8 are processing units that process the hybrid card 32. Next, the structures of the cleaning unit 7, the magnetic recording device 33, and the optical recording device 8 will be described.

On the front wall 7a of the cleaning unit 7,
The insertion port 10 is formed. Inside the cleaning unit 7, a first conveying roller 11 and a second conveying roller 12 are arranged in the horizontal direction, and a cleaning roller 13 is arranged between them. The cleaning roller 13 is made of a material having a good hygroscopic property, and the cleaning liquid 1 stored in the storage tank 14
5 is supplied to the cleaning roller 13 via the supply pipe 16, whereby the cleaning roller 13 is provided with an appropriate amount of water.

An insertion port 34 is formed in the front wall 33a of the magnetic recording device 33. Inside the magnetic recording device 33, a ninth transport roller 35 and a tenth transport roller 3 are provided.
6 and an eleventh conveying roller 37 are sequentially arranged in the horizontal direction, and a magnetic head 38 for magnetically recording on the magnetic stripe portion of the hybrid card 32 is arranged above the tenth conveying roller 36. There is.

An insertion port 17 is formed in the front wall 8a of the optical recording device 8. Inside the optical recording device 8, a third transport roller 18, a fourth transport roller 19, and a fifth transport roller 20 are sequentially arranged in the horizontal direction, and
Above the carrying roller 19 of the hybrid card 32
An optical head 21 for recording information is arranged in the optical recording section. Further, the control unit 40 is configured to control the vertical movement of each processing unit, each pushing member, each relay roller, and the card storage unit 2. Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

First, as shown in FIG. 5, the pushing member 4a,
4b and 4c are rotated by a drive source (not shown),
The tips of the hybrid cards 32a, 32b, 32c are pushed out from the card storage box 2. The tips of the pushed out hybrid cards 32a, 32b, 32c are sandwiched by the relay rollers 3a, 3b, 3c.

At the same time, the relay rollers 3a, 3b, 3
c is rotated, and each hybrid card 32 is further sent out from the card storage box 2. Then, when the leading ends of the conveyed hybrid cards 32a, 32b, 32c reach the sensors 6a, 6b, 6c, respectively, the conveyance rollers inside the cleaning unit 7, the magnetic recording device 33, and the optical recording device 8 respectively. Starts to rotate so as to send each hybrid card 32 inside (see FIG. 6). Next, processing is performed in each processing unit of the cleaning unit 7, the magnetic recording device 33, and the optical recording device 8.

The hybrid card 32a inserted into the insertion slot 10 of the cleaning unit 7 is sent by the first carrying roller 11 and comes into contact with the cleaning roller 13 moistened with the cleaning liquid 15 and carried. Furthermore, when the card edge of the hybrid card 32a is subsequently conveyed by the second conveyance roller 12 and passes through the cleaning roller 13, the first conveyance roller 11 and the second conveyance roller 12 rotate in reverse. Then, the hybrid card 32a is conveyed again by the second conveying roller 12 and the first conveying roller 11 while coming into contact with the cleaning roller 13, and when reaching the sensor 6a, the first relay roller 3a starts to rotate and the hybrid card 32a The card 32a is sent back to the card storage box 2.

The hybrid card 32b inserted into the insertion slot 34 of the magnetic recording device 33 is connected to the ninth carrying roller 35.
And the tenth transport roller 36 and the eleventh transport roller 3
And the magnetic head 38 records information such as an ID number or a personal identification number on the magnetic stripe portion of the hybrid card 32b. After the recording is completed, the transport roller rotates in the reverse direction, and the hybrid card 32b is transported in the reverse direction. Then, the hybrid card 32b is replaced by the sensor 6c.
Then, the second relay roller 3b starts rotating, and the hybrid card 32b is sent back to the card storage box 2.

The hybrid card 32c inserted into the insertion slot 17 of the optical recording device 8 includes a third conveyance roller 18 and
It is transported by the fourth transport roller 19 and the fifth transport roller 20. While being reciprocated by these transport rollers, the optical head 21 records a large amount of information such as personal data corresponding to the number magnetically recorded by the magnetic recording device 33 according to an instruction from the control unit 40. After the predetermined writing is completed, the third transport roller 18, the fourth transport roller 19, and the fifth transport roller 20 rotate in reverse,
The hybrid card 32c is conveyed in the card storage box 2 direction. Then, the hybrid card 32c is replaced by the sensor 6
When reaching c, the third relay roller 3b starts rotating and sends the hybrid card 32c back to the card storage box 2.

Thus, the three hybrid cards 3
2a, 32b, 32c are discharged from the processing units of the cleaning unit 7, the magnetic recording device 33, and the optical recording device 8, and when all of the sensors 6a to 6c detect the card discharge, the card storage box 2 Moves down one card pitch to process the next card. Next, the pushing members 4a, 4b, 4c are the next hybrid card 32.
The cards d, 32e, and 32f are pushed out from the card storage box 2 and the same process as the above is performed.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the cleaning unit 7, the magnetic recording device 33, and the optical recording device 8 are arranged in parallel with respect to the card storage box 2.
Processing can be performed in parallel in each processing unit at the same time. Therefore, the processing can be performed quickly, and in the cleaning, the card can be dried in the card storage box 2 after the processing, and the processing can be efficiently performed without waiting time for drying.

In the present embodiment, since the card storage box moves vertically, the processing devices are arranged side by side in the vertical direction.
It is also possible to arrange the processing devices in parallel in the moving direction of the card storage box with respect to the circular card storage box. Particularly, in the case of a circular card storage box, all the processing units can process the cards from the start of the processing, so that the processing can be performed more efficiently.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, since a plurality of processing units for processing a card are arranged in parallel with the card storage box, the processing can be performed at high speed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a first embodiment of a card continuous processing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state where the pushing member pushes out the optical card.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state where an optical card is inserted in each processing unit.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a second embodiment of the card continuous processing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a state where the pushing member pushes out the hybrid card.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a state where the hybrid card is inserted in each processing unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Optical card, 2 ... Card storage box, 3 ... Relay roller, 4
... Extrusion member, 6 ... Sensor, 7 ... Cleaning unit,
8 ... Optical recording device, 9 ... Printer.

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] May 27, 1993

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Name of item to be corrected] Figure 1

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Figure 1]

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A card storage box for storing a plurality of cards, and a plurality of processing units for performing different processing on the cards, wherein the plurality of processing units are arranged in parallel to the card storage box. A card continuous processing device characterized in that