JPH06262892A - Customer card and its recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To rapidly manage use information of a customer and improve security. CONSTITUTION:A customer card 1 is composed of a substrate 2 and a magnetic recording layer 3 storing use information of a customer as magnetic information. On the surface of the substrate 2, a point indication area 2a to which points 4 are transferred is provided. When a customer makes transactions, the points 4 in an optical diffraction pattern are transferred as use information onto the point indication area 2a of the substrate 2, and magnetic information is recorded in the magnetic recording layer 3 as the use information.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a customer card for displaying customer usage information by a light diffraction pattern and a recording method therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, from retail stores to large stores such as supermarkets, various measures have been taken to make service contents superior to other stores and secure customers. As an example, a customer is provided with a mount, and each time the customer uses, a stamp with the number of points corresponding to the purchase price or the like is stamped on the mount, or a sticker with the number of points is given and attached to the mount, For customers who have satisfied a predetermined number of stamps or stickers, liquidation is performed such as giving service items or discounting and selling the items.

[0003]

However, on the store side,
The clerk has to calculate the number of points corresponding to the purchase amount of each customer each time. Similarly, when the number of points is settled, it is necessary to manually check the number of points, which takes time and hinders the speeding up of the checkout work. In addition, when calculating the number of points, the number of points given to the customer may be wrong due to a calculation error.

Further, since it is not possible to secure a sufficient space for affixing a stamp or a sticker on the mount, the customer has to have a lot of mount and it is troublesome to carry the mount. In addition, the seal may peel off from the mount, or the stamp may disappear,
There was also the problem of lack of durability.

Further, the same stamp die can be manufactured relatively easily, and today, the same stamp or sticker can be easily duplicated by a color copying machine or the like. Therefore, there is no end to those who misuse these and illegally increase the number of points to obtain service goods unfairly.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to speed up the calculation and giving of the number of points, and it is excellent in durability and difficult to forge. The purpose is to provide a customer card with usage information such as points.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a first solution of a customer card according to the present invention is to provide usage information corresponding to the usage of a customer with optical diffraction consisting of a hologram or a diffraction grating. It is characterized by having a usage information display area (2a) displayed by a pattern.

A second means for solving the customer card is characterized by comprising a magnetic recording layer (3) for recording use information corresponding to the above-mentioned degree of use by magnetic information.

The first means for solving the customer card recording method is
Alternatively, in the customer card recording method according to the second solution, the transfer sheet (22a) on which the optical diffraction pattern forming layer (5) made of a hologram or a diffraction grating is formed is heated and pressed onto the customer card, The usage information based on the light diffraction pattern is transferred to the usage information display area.

[0010]

In the first solution of the customer card, the customer card is provided with the usage information display area, and the usage information of the customer is displayed in the usage information display area by the light diffraction pattern. Therefore, it is possible to attach the usage information having high security and excellent durability to the customer card.

In the second solution of the customer card,
A magnetic recording layer is provided on the customer card, and customer usage information is recorded on the magnetic recording layer as magnetic information. Therefore, by writing and reading this magnetic information, the cashier's work can be speeded up.

In the solution for the customer card recording method, the transfer sheet on which the light diffraction pattern forming layer is formed is heated and pressed against the customer card, whereby the light diffraction pattern is transferred to the customer card as usage information. Therefore, desired usage information can be quickly recorded in the customer card without increasing the cost.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a customer card and a recording method therefor according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a customer card according to the present invention. (A) shows a surface, (b) shows a side surface,
(C) shows the back surface. As shown in FIG. 1, an unused customer card 1 is composed of a base material 2 and a magnetic recording layer 3 provided on the back surface thereof. On the surface of the base material 2, a point display area 2a for displaying points 4 (4a, 4b, ...) As usage information is provided. Customer card 1
Is used by the customer (purchase of products, etc.), and the point 4 corresponding to the degree of use (purchase amount, etc.) is the point display area 2a.
Is displayed in.

The substrate 2 is made of a paper material or a plastic member such as polyethylene terephthalate having heat resistance. Further, the point display area 2a of the base material 2 is processed so as to have the transfer suitability of the point 4. The point display area 2a does not have a protective layer formed,
Alternatively, it is preferable to form a smooth surface by providing a transparent protective layer such as vinyl chloride (not shown).

The magnetic recording layer 3 is made of a dispersion in which magnetic particles, which have been conventionally used, are appropriately dispersed in a resin or the like.
It is formed by coating the card base material 2 by a general coating method.

FIG. 2 shows the card substrate 2 shown in FIG. 1 (b).
It is a side view which shows the detailed structure of the point 4 formed above. Point 4 is a light diffraction pattern composed of a hologram or a diffraction grating, and is composed of a light diffraction pattern forming layer 5 and an adhesive layer 6, as shown in FIG. Further, the light diffraction pattern forming layer 5 includes the resin layer 5a and the reflecting layer 5
b and a protective layer 5c.

The adhesive layer 6 is for adhering the light diffraction pattern forming layer 5 to the substrate 2, and is made of a transparent or translucent acrylic or rubber adhesive.

The resin layer 5a is made of a material such as a thermoplastic resin, a thermosetting resin, or a mixture thereof. In addition, a moldable substance which has a radically polymerizable unsaturated group and is cured by heat and light or other radiation can be used.

A relief surface of a hologram image is formed on the lower surface of the resin layer 5a. This relief surface is
It records a two-dimensional or three-dimensional image that can be reproduced with white light.

The reflective layer 5b serves to increase the hologram effect on the relief surface of the image of the resin layer 5a. When used as a transparent type, the reflective layer 5b needs to have reflective transparency, and examples thereof include a transparent material having a refractive index different from that of the resin layer 5a and a metal thin film having a thickness of 200Å. In the former case, the refractive index of the reflective layer 5b is
Although it may be larger or smaller than the refractive index of a, the difference in refractive index is preferably 0.1 or more, and the difference is preferably 0.5 or more, and more preferably 1.0 or more. In the case of the latter, although it is a metal thin film, since the thickness is less than 200Å, the light wave transmittance is large, and therefore, the hologram effect is exerted and the underlying layer is not hidden. When the reflective layer 5b is used in an opaque form, its thickness is about 300 to 500Å.

As the material of the reflective layer 5b, for example, a continuous transparent thin film having a refractive index larger than that of the resin layer 5a, Sb ₂
Examples include S ₃ (3.0) and ZnS (2.1). Examples of the opaque metal thin film include Al and Co. To form the reflective layer 5b on the resin layer 5a, a thin film forming method such as a vacuum vapor deposition method or a sputtering method may be used.

The protective layer 5c is for protecting the light diffraction pattern forming layer 5 from damage due to external force and for providing strength. The material of the protective layer 5c is cellulose resin, polyimide resin, polystyrene. It is possible to use a simple substance, a mixture, a copolymer or the like of a system resin, a polyester resin, a polyolefin resin. This protective layer 5
The thickness of c is preferably about 5 to 200 μm.

Next, a method of using the customer card will be described by taking a transaction at a store as an example. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of using the customer card according to the present invention. Figure 3
As shown in FIG. 1, the store side has a register 11, a computer 12 as a control device, and a point processing device 13.
And are provided. The register 11, computer 12, and point processing device 13 are electrically connected.

First, the customer hands over the merchandise and the customer card 1A to the clerk. On this customer card 1A, points 4A corresponding to the customer's degree of use up to the previous time are recorded, and further, on the magnetic recording layer 3A, use information corresponding to this point 4A (for example, the points 4A up to the last time) is recorded. The total number) is recorded. The store clerk directly inputs the amount of the product into the register 11 with a ten-key pad or the like, or reads a barcode attached to the product with a reader (not shown), and transmits the read information to the register 11. Further, the customer card 1A is inserted into the point processing device 13 (15 direction in the figure).

When the customer inputs the price of the product purchased by the customer, the input value is transmitted to the computer 12. Further, the point processing device 13 reads the usage information recorded on the magnetic recording layer 3A of the customer card 1A, and this information is transmitted to the computer 12.
The computer 12 calculates the number of points to be given to the customer card 1A from this input value, and further, based on the information read by the point processing device 13, on the point display area 2a of the customer card 1A to which the current point is transferred. Calculate the position. When the number of points and the transfer position of the points are obtained, the computer 12 causes the point processing device 13 to transfer a predetermined number of points 4 to a predetermined position on the point display area 2a of the customer card 1A.

Next, how the points 4 are transferred to the customer card 1A will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an embodiment of the point transfer portion 21 of the point processing device 13. As shown in FIG. 4, the point transfer section 21 includes a transfer sheet section 22 and a transfer section 23. The transfer sheet portion 22 includes a transfer sheet 22a made of a base material such as a plastic film, and spools 22b and 22c in which the transfer sheet 22a is wound from both ends.
It consists of and. On the transfer sheet 22a, the light diffraction pattern composed of the hologram or diffraction grating shown in FIG. 2 is formed so as to be peelable in a desired shape.

The transfer section 23 includes a transfer shaft 23a and a transfer plate 2
3b and. The transfer plate 23b is heat-pressed to the customer card 1A arranged on the lower side of the transfer sheet 22a in the figure by sandwiching the transfer sheet 22a to heat the customer card 1A.
The light diffraction pattern formed on the transfer sheet 22a is transferred to the. The transfer shaft 23a moves the transfer plate 23b in the vertical direction in the figure. The transfer shaft 23a is connected to a drive unit (not shown), and can be moved in the vertical direction in the figure by a drive force from the drive unit. In addition,
This drive unit is controlled by the computer 12 (FIG. 3).

The customer card 1A is set at a predetermined position below the transfer sheet 22a by a conveying section (not shown).
When this setting is completed, the drive unit moves the transfer shaft 23a downward in the drawing. As a result, the transfer plate 23b is pressed against the customer card 1A by sandwiching the transfer sheet 22a.
Further, heat is applied, and the light diffraction pattern formed on the transfer sheet 22a is transferred as points 4 onto the point display area 2a of the customer card 1A.

The description returns to FIG. Computer 12
Further, information is exchanged with a magnetic reader / writer (not shown) of the point processing device 13. Computer 12
Causes the magnetic reader / writer to read the usage information recorded on the magnetic recording layer 3A of the customer card 1A. The computer 12 calculates the usage information corresponding to the purchase price of the customer's product this time, and further adds this to the read usage information to calculate new usage information. Computer 12
Transmits this new usage information to the point processing device 13 and causes the magnetic reader / writer to record it on the magnetic recording layer 3A of the customer card 1A. Note that the usage information up to the previous time is deleted.

In this way, as shown in FIG. 3, when new points 4B are transferred to the customer card 1A and new usage information is recorded, the customer card 1A is returned from the point processing device 13 ( (16 directions in the figure) and returned to the customer again.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a method of clearing the customer card 1. As shown in FIG. 5, the customer card 1C that the customer desires to settle is inserted into the point processing device 13 and recorded by the magnetic reader / writer of the point processing device 13 on the magnetic recording layer 3C of the customer card 1C. Information is read. Based on the read usage information, the number of points of the customer card 1C is the point processing device 1
3 or computer 12, output to an output unit (not shown) provided in the register 11 (FIG. 3) or the like. As a result, liquidation corresponding to the number of points desired by the customer, for example, providing service items or discounting and selling the items is performed.

Here, the clerk visually confirms the number of points of the points 3C of the customer card 1C which the customer wishes to settle. As a result, the number of points obtained by reading the usage information recorded on the magnetic recording layer 3C can be compared with the number of points 4C displayed on the customer card 1C, even if the magnetic recording layer 3 is used.
Even if the usage information of C is tampered with, it is possible to determine the validity of the number of points on the spot.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the points 4 displayed on the customer card 1 according to the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 6, the display mode of the points is as shown in FIG.
Various display methods are possible without being limited to those shown in FIG. For example, like the customer card 1D shown in (a) of the figure, different points 4D may be given each time. Also, like the customer card 1E shown in (b) in the figure, one pattern 4 is displayed when a predetermined number of points are satisfied.
E (star in the embodiment) may be displayed, or one character may be displayed. Furthermore, as in the customer card 1F shown in (c) in the figure, the points 4F may be displayed as characters 1, 2, 3, ... In this way, by making the display of the points 4 look beautiful, it is possible to further arouse the customer's willingness to collect the points 4.

The embodiment of the customer card and the recording method thereof according to the present invention has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Deformation is possible. For example, the points can be holograms or diffraction gratings.

The magnetic recording layer 3 is provided for the purpose of speeding up the clearing work, and is not necessarily provided depending on the application.

The point processing device 13 is also provided with a magnetic reader / writer, but this magnetic reader / writer may be a separate device.

The point display area 2a may be provided almost all over the surface of the substrate 2, or may be provided only at the position where the points 4 are transferred.

In the embodiment, the point 4 is displayed by the light diffraction pattern, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the customer's membership number and other information may be displayed together.

[0039]

As described above, according to the customer card of claim 1, since the use information display area for displaying the use information of the customer in the light diffraction pattern is provided, the security is high and the durability is high. Excellent usage information can be added to the customer card. Further, since it is excellent in portability and has a beautiful appearance of the usage information, it is possible to motivate the customer to collect the usage information and secure the customer.

According to the customer card of the second aspect, since the magnetic recording layer is provided to record the magnetic information,
By using this magnetic information, it is possible to speed up the management of the usage information in the cash register operation. Further, the magnetic information can be visually checked against the usage information based on the light diffraction pattern, and the security of the customer card can be improved.

According to the customer card recording method of the third aspect, the use information based on the light diffraction pattern is transferred onto the customer card by using the transfer sheet, so that the desired information can be promptly obtained without increasing the cost. The use information of can be recorded in the customer card, and the workability of the checkout work can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a customer card according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a detailed configuration of a point 4 formed on the card substrate 2.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a method of using a customer card according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an example of a point transfer portion 21 of the point processing device 13.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a method of clearing a customer card.

FIG. 6 Point 4 displayed on a customer card according to the present invention
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of the aspect of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Customer Card 2 Base Material 2a Point Display Area 3 Magnetic Recording Layer 4 (4a, 4b, ...) Point 5 Optical Diffraction Pattern Forming Layer 6 Adhesive Layer

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location G06F 15/21 340 A 8724-5L G06K 17/00 S 7459-5L 19/06 19/10 G07G 1 / 06 B 8921-3E 1/12 361 E 8921-3E

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A customer card, comprising a usage information display area for displaying usage information corresponding to a customer's usage by a light diffraction pattern composed of a hologram or a diffraction grating. 2. The customer card according to claim 1, further comprising a magnetic recording layer for recording use information corresponding to the degree of use by magnetic information. 3. The method for recording a customer card according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a transfer sheet having an optical diffraction pattern forming layer formed of a hologram or a diffraction grating is heated and pressed onto the customer card. A method of recording a customer card, characterized in that the usage information based on a light diffraction pattern is transferred to the usage information display area.