JPH06103730A - Magnetic card device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make the output of a sensor in the middle between plural graphics max. irrespective of reflectances of the graphics and to eliminate dislocation of a marking position due to different reflectances of the graphics and then to perform accurate positioning by making distances among the graphics smaller than a graphic detecting spot diameter. CONSTITUTION:With respect to positioning for marking characters and symbols in prescribed positions by detecting graphics printed on a magnetic card, linearly arranged graphics 8 are printed on the magnetic card 1, and a space between the adjacent graphics 8 is made smaller than the spot diameter 71 corresponding to a light receiving range of the marking position detecting sensor 7. When the spot 71 is moved from a graphic edge of b-point through the middle of c-point to an adjacent graphic edge of d-point, an output level of the sensor 7 suddenly becomes max. at the c-point, so that the middle point can easily be detected. Consequently, by making the middle point between the adjacent graphics a marking position detecting point, the marking position can accurately be detected without dislocation due to variations of graphics in reflectance.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic card device for writing and reading information to and from a card-shaped storage medium such as a prepaid card, and more particularly to a magnetic card device which detects a graphic printed on the magnetic card and sets it at a predetermined position. The present invention relates to positioning means for marking characters and symbols.

A magnetic card device usually has a plurality of conveying rollers for moving the magnetic card and a magnetic head for writing and reading information. In recent years, in addition to the magnetic head, a print head or punch for displaying recorded contents on the magnetic card. It is equipped with marking means such as units.

When writing or reading information with a magnetic head, the end of the magnetic card is generally detected by a sensor and used as a reference for positioning. However, if such a positioning means is applied to marking, slippage of a conveyance roller or the like is added to the position for marking. There is a case that it shifts.

Even if the recording position of the magnetic recording information is slightly deviated, there is no problem in practical use, but the positional displacement of the marking is disadvantageous in evaluating the characteristics of the apparatus. Therefore, there is a demand for the development of a highly accurate positioning means capable of marking a character or symbol at a predetermined position on the magnetic card.

[0005]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a main part of a magnetic card device, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a conventional marking position detecting means, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operating principle of the conventional marking position detecting means. .

As shown in FIG. 3, the magnetic card device has a transport mechanism 2 for transporting the magnetic card 1, a magnetic head 3 and a sensor 4 for detecting an end portion, and the transport mechanism 2 has a plurality of pairs of transport rollers.
21 and an auxiliary roller 22 for pressing the magnetic card 1 against the conveying roller 21.

For example, a plurality of conveying rollers 21 each fixed to a rotary shaft 24 together with a pulley 23 are connected via a belt 25, and when the magnetic card 1 is inserted from an insertion port, reduction gears 26, 27, 28 are provided. It is driven by the electric motor 29 via the and rotates in the same direction.

A sensor 4 is provided as a means for writing and reading information by the magnetic head 3 at a predetermined position on the magnetic card 1, and the magnetic card 1 is moved by a predetermined distance after the sensor 4 detects the end portion. Information is written and read by the magnetic head 3.

Also, for example, a pulse motor is used as the electric motor 29 for detecting the moving distance of the magnetic card 1 after detecting the end portion, or a normal electric motor 29 and a pulse signal which is interlocked with the electric motor 29 and is proportional to the rotation angle. It also uses a rotary encoder that outputs.

The conventional magnetic card device for displaying the recorded contents on the magnetic card 1 is provided with marking means 5 as shown in FIG. 4, and when punching a hole in the magnetic card 1, a punch unit is used to print characters. At this time, the print head is used as the marking means 5.

However, the transfer of the magnetic card 1 by the transfer mechanism 2 consisting of a plurality of pairs of transfer rollers 21 and auxiliary rollers 22 causes slippage during the transfer, and for example, the moving distance of the magnetic card 1 is detected with high accuracy by a rotary encoder or the like. However, the marking position may shift.

Even if the position of the magnetic recording information is slightly deviated, the information is written and read out including the areas before and after it, but there is no practical problem. For example, if the marking position is deviated, the printed characters are overlapped. Therefore, it is extremely disadvantageous in evaluating the characteristics of the device.

Therefore, as shown in the drawing, a graphic 6 for marking position detection is formed on the magnetic card 1 with ink or the like that absorbs infrared light.
Is printed, and the marking 7 is positioned by detecting the end portion of the figure 6 by the sensor 7 including a light detecting element that reacts to infrared light.

Since a part of the infrared region light applied to the graphic 6 is absorbed by the ink, the infrared region light reflected by the graphic 6 is reduced. On the other hand, in the region where the graphic 6 is not printed, the infrared region light is not absorbed by the ink, so that the infrared region light reflectance is high.

That is, the output level of the sensor when the spot 71 corresponding to the light receiving range of the sensor passes over the figure 6 as shown by the arrow in FIG. 5 (a) is as shown by the solid line in FIG. 5 (d). While 71 is located on the figure 6, it is low and gradually rises as it moves away from the figure 6.

As shown in FIG. 5 (a), the output level of the sensor when the center of the spot 71 overlaps with the end of the figure 6 is set as the detection level, and if the absorption rate of infrared region light is appropriate. As shown in FIG. 5 (d), the output level of the sensor reaches the detection level at the point.

[0017]

However, there are many types of magnetic cards to be inserted into the magnetic card device, and the density and thickness of the ink for printing graphics are various, and printing is performed with ink that absorbs infrared light. The absorptance of light in the infrared region in the formed graphic differs for each type of magnetic card.

When the absorptance of light in the infrared region is large, the reflectance decreases, and when the absorptance is small, the reflectance increases and the output level of the sensor fluctuates. There is a case where the marking position detected due to the variation of is shifted back and forth.

That is, a spot is spotted on the figure 6 having a small absorptance.
When 71 is located, the output level of the sensor is high as shown by the broken line in FIG. 5 (d), and the output level at the point before the center of the spot 71 overlaps the end of the figure 6 as shown in FIG. 5 (b). Reach detection level.

Further, a spot is spotted on the figure 6 having a high absorption rate.
When 71 is located, the output level of the sensor is low as shown by the broken line in FIG. 5 (d), and as shown in FIG. 5 (c), the output level is low at the point after the center of the spot 71 has passed the end of the figure 6. Reach detection level.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic card device in which the marking position does not shift due to the difference in reflectance between figures.

[0022]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of a magnetic card device according to the present invention. Note that the same object is denoted by the same symbol throughout the drawings.

The above problem has a sensor that detects a graphic printed on a magnetic card and a mechanism that operates based on the output signal of the sensor, and makes various markings such as letters and symbols at the position indicated by the graphic. In the magnetic card device, the distance between the plurality of figures 8 printed on the magnetic card 1 is smaller than the spot diameter 71 of the sensor 7 for detecting the figure 8, and the middle of the area sandwiched between the two figures 8 is the marking position. This is achieved by the magnetic card device of the present invention serving as a detection point.

[0024]

By reducing the distance between the plurality of printed figures in FIG. 1 to be smaller than the spot diameter of the figure detecting sensor, the output level of the sensor can be set to the area between two figures regardless of the reflectance of the figure. Maximum in the middle. The marking position detection point set in the middle of the area sandwiched between the two figures does not shift due to a difference in reflectance or the like. That is, it is possible to realize a magnetic card device in which the marking position does not shift due to the difference in reflectance in the figure.

[0025]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the magnetic card device according to the present invention.

In the magnetic card device according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1 (a), a plurality of figures 8 linearly arranged are printed on the magnetic card 1, and the distance between two adjacent figures 8 is marked. It is smaller than the diameter of the spot 71 corresponding to the light receiving range of the sensor 7 for detecting the position.

In such a magnetic card device, for example, when a black graphic 8 is printed on the white magnetic card 1, the reflectance is maximized in the middle of the graphic 8, and the magnetic card 1 moves to make a spot 71.
The output level of the sensor 7 changes as shown in FIG. 1 (b) as a shifts from point a to point e.

The output level of the sensor 7 rises sharply when the spot 71 moves from the point b to the point c, and drops rapidly when the spot 71 moves from the point c to the point d, but the distance between the two figures 8 is larger than the diameter of the spot 71. Since it is small, the displacement point where the output level changes from rising to falling can be detected very easily.

Further, the output level of the sensor 7 at the points a and e varies depending on the reflectance of the figure 8 and the inclination of rising / falling also varies, but the displacement point from rising to falling shifts depending on the reflectance of the figure 8. It is always in the middle of the area between the figures.

That is, by making the distance between the two figures smaller than the spot diameter of the figure detecting sensor and setting the middle point between them as the marking position detection point, the marking that maximizes the output level of the sensor regardless of the variation in reflectance. It becomes possible to detect the position detection point.

In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, a graphic 9 indicating a marking position is printed on the magnetic card 1 using normal ink, and ink that absorbs infrared region light in parallel with the graphic 9 is printed. A plurality of figures 8 for detecting the marking position by using is printed.

The interval between two adjacent figures 8 is smaller than the diameter of the spot corresponding to the light receiving range of the sensor for detecting the marking position, and the marking position detection point corresponding to the position of the figure 9 is two figures. It is set in the middle of the region sandwiched by 8.

Part of the infrared region light applied to the graphic 8 is absorbed by the ink, and thus the reflectance of the infrared light by the graphic 8 is reduced. On the other hand, in the region where the graphic 8 is not printed, the infrared region light is not absorbed by the ink, so that the infrared region light reflectance is high.

Therefore, the sensor 7 composed of an element which reacts to the infrared region light receives the reflected light of the infrared region light and detects the marking position detection point. The marking position detection points do not have to be evenly spaced, and the same effect is obtained even if the spacing is different as shown in the figure.

By thus providing the marking position detection graphic in addition to the marking position printed by the normal ink, the positional deviation is eliminated and the marking indicated by the marking position is marked with high accuracy. can do.

The marking position detecting means is also effective as a position detecting means for reading a marked character, a punch hole or the like, and the marking position is indirectly designated from the detected reference point by designating the reference point by the means. It is also effective when calculating

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a magnetic card device in which the marking position does not shift due to the difference in reflectance in the figure.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of a magnetic card device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a magnetic card device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a main part of a magnetic card device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a conventional marking position detecting means.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operating principle of a conventional marking position detecting means.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 magnetic card 7 sensor 8, 9 figure 71 spot

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location G06K 19/06 G11B 19/02 S 7525-5D

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A sensor having a sensor for detecting a graphic printed on a magnetic card and a mechanism which operates based on an output signal of the sensor, and various markings such as characters and symbols are provided at a position indicated by the graphic. In the magnetic card device to perform, the interval between the plurality of figures (8) printed on the magnetic card (1) is smaller than the spot diameter (71) of the sensor (7) for detecting the figures (8), and A magnetic card device characterized in that the middle of the region sandwiched by the figures (8) is used as a marking position detection point. 2. The magnetic card device according to claim 1, wherein the graphic (8) is printed using ink that absorbs infrared light, and the light detecting element that reacts to the infrared light is used as the sensor (7). A magnetic card device characterized by being used.