JPH076839U - Magnetic card reader - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide a magnetic card reader capable of reliably and stably recognizing the direction of a magnetic card. In a magnetic card reader using a magnetic card 10 having a cutout portion 10B at a part of an edge 10A located in a card running direction A, a position corresponding to the cutout portion 10B and other positions are detected. The sensors 7 and 8 are arranged in a direction D orthogonal to the card running direction on the card running path 13.
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Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a magnetic card reader corresponding to a magnetic card having a notch in a part of its edge.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 In recent years, various types of magnetic cards have been used in various fields. Examples include relatively thick magnetic cards such as credit cards, and relatively thin magnetic cards such as telephone cards and prepaid cards such as orange cards.

In these magnetic cards, a traveling (insertion) direction with respect to a device is defined, and the magnetic information recorded in a magnetic stripe provided on the card, or a direction identification mark by a bar code or printing is set. Etc. are recognized by reading them with a magnetic card reader.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, if the directionality of the card is indicated by these magnetic stripes, direction recognition marks, etc., there is a problem in that it may be difficult to recognize the card direction due to dirt on the card or loss of magnetic information.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 Therefore, a magnetic card reader using a magnetic card having a notch in a part of the edge in the card running direction of the present invention uses a sensor for detecting the position corresponding to the notch and another position. The card is arranged in a direction orthogonal to the card running direction on the running path.

[0006]

[Action]

 Since the sensor that detects the position corresponding to the notch and the other position is arranged in the direction orthogonal to the card running direction in the running path of the magnetic card, when the magnetic card moves along the running path, each sensor Detects the notch and other positions of and outputs output signals respectively. The output signal from the sensor that detects the notch has a difference in output time by the width of the notch compared to the output signal of the sensor that detects the position without the notch.

[0007]

【Example】

 In FIG. 1, reference numeral 9 indicates a magnetic card reader. The magnetic card reader 9 is an issuing machine for a thin magnetic card 10 formed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) called a prepaid card.

An arcuate notch 10B is formed at one end edge 10A of the magnetic card 10 located in the card running direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. The depth h of the cutout portion 10B is set to about 1 mm. Further, the magnetic card 10 is configured to be transported in a traveling path at a constant speed by a transport roller pair described later.

As shown in FIG. 1, the magnetic card reader 9 includes a card hopper 1 in which magnetic cards 10 are stacked and housed, a sensor unit 2, a printing unit 3, a write (write) unit 4, a read (read) unit 5, and The card insertion / ejection opening 6 is arranged in this order from the card hopper 1 toward the insertion / ejection opening 6.

Each unit is arranged on a card traveling path 13 that extends linearly from the card hopper 1 to the insertion / ejection slot 6. The traveling path 13 is provided with a plurality of conveyance roller pairs 12 driven by a drive motor (not shown). Below the card hopper 1, a feed roller 11 is arranged to feed the magnetic cards 10 from the inside of the hopper 1 onto the traveling path 13 one by one.

The print, write, and read units 3, 4, and 5 are provided with a print head 3A, a write head 4A, and a read head 5A, which are arranged below the traveling path 13, and heads 3A, 4A, and The pad rollers 3B, 4B, and 5B are provided above the traveling path 13 facing the 5A and abut against each head with a predetermined pressing force, and operate appropriately.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the sensor unit 2 is composed of a sensor 7 for detecting the cutout portion 10B of the card and a sensor 8 for detecting a portion of the card other than the cutout portion 10B. . The sensors 7 and 8 are in the direction of arrow D, which is orthogonal to the card running direction indicated by arrow A, and are arranged in parallel in the upper and lower portions of the transport path 13 through which the cutout portion 10B and the other card parts pass. .

Here, FIGS. 4 and 5 will be described. 4A to 4D show patterns of the magnetic card 10 in the carrying direction, and FIGS. 5A to 5D show the sensor 7 corresponding to FIGS. 4A to 4D. , 8 show output characteristics. 4A and 4B show a state in which the front surface 10a of the card is conveyed upward, and FIGS. 4C and 4D show a state in which the rear surface 10b of the card is conveyed downward.

As shown in FIG. 5, the sensors 7 and 8 are normally H output, and are L output while the magnetic card 10 is passing over the sensors 7 and 8. . In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4A, the normal conveying direction of the magnetic card 10 is such that the front surface 10a of the card 10 faces upward and the other edge 10C of the card 10 in which the cutout portion 10B is not formed is formed. The card is set to be sent at the top.

That is, as shown in FIG. 5A, the L output of the sensor 7 has a time difference X from the L output of the sensor 8, and the L output of the sensor 7 ends earlier than the L output of the sensor 8. Is set so that the magnetic card 10 is recognized as being in the normal direction.

In the magnetic card reader 9 configured as described above, when the feeding roller 11 is driven, one magnetic card 10 is fed from the card hopper 1 onto the traveling path 13, and the pair of feeding rollers 12 inserts and ejects the magnetic card 10. 6 is conveyed.

Then, after the direction of the magnetic card 10 is identified in the sensor unit 2, a predetermined printing operation is performed in the printing unit 3, and the magnetic information similar to the printing content is recorded in the magnetic card 10 in the light unit 4. Then, the magnetic recording contents are collated by the lead unit 5 and discharged from the discharge port 6 to the outside of the apparatus.

At this time, if the sensors 7, 8 in the sensor unit 2 are in the form of L output shown in FIG. 5A, it is recognized as the normal card direction, and the L outputs of the other sensors 7, 8 are detected. In this case, it is recognized as an improper card direction.

In the present embodiment, the magnetic card reader 9 has been described as an issuing machine for a thin magnetic card 10 such as a prepaid card, so the sensor unit 2 is arranged on the card hopper 1 side for supplying the magnetic card 10. However, for example, in a magnetic card reader having a function of inserting the magnetic card 10 into the device 9 from the insertion / ejection port 6 side, the sensor unit 2 is inserted into the insertion / ejection port 6 side as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. It may be installed in the.

However, the sensor unit 2 should be provided at a position where the driving force is applied to the magnetic card 10, for example, in the vicinity of the conveyance roller 12 located on the leftmost side in FIG. Is preferable in terms of stabilizing

Since the card speed is unstable in the part where the driving force is not applied to the magnetic card 10, it is appropriate to dispose the sensor unit because the output difference (time difference) X of the sensors 7 and 8 which is the recognition condition varies. is not.

If the sensors 7 and 8 are provided at the position where the cutout portion 10B is provided and the symmetrical position with respect to the center line OO of the card 10 shown in FIG. 2, respectively, the front and back and the direction of the magnetic card 10 can be discriminated. It will be possible. In this case, when there are two sensors 7 and 8 as in the above-described embodiment, the direction of the magnetic card 10 may be recognized by the time difference X between the L outputs of the sensors 7 and 8.

When four sensors are used by adding sensors 7 ′ and 8 ′ as shown in FIG. 6 in addition to the sensors 7 and 8, the front edge (10C) of the card is detected by the sensors 7 and 8. The sensor 7 ', 8'detects the trailing edge (10A) of the card, and the direction of the card 10 is determined by the time difference between the output signal of the sensor 7'8' and the output signal of the sensor 7, 8. Can be recognized.

At this time, the interval L between the sensor 7'8 'on the trailing edge side and the sensors 7, 8 on the leading edge side is made slightly shorter than the card length, and the sensor 7, 8 located on the leading edge side is inserted. It is desirable that the distance L1 from the mouth 6 be a card length.

In the present embodiment, the sensors 7 and 8 are arranged in parallel in the arrow D direction orthogonal to the card running direction a, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the sensor 7 is arranged in the arrow D direction. It may be arranged so as to be shifted back and forth by the width h of the notch 10B in the card running direction A.

In this case, if the magnetic card 10 is provided with the cutout portion 10B, the outputs of the sensors 7 and 8 are the L output signal as shown in FIG. 5B or 5D. When the end is the same and the cutout portion 10B is not formed in the magnetic card 10, the end of the L output signal moves forward and backward, so that different types of cards can be detected.

[0027]

[Effect of device]

 As described above, according to the present invention, the notch formed on the card and other parts are detected by the sensor disposed orthogonally to the card running direction, and the orientation of the card is recognized based on the output difference from the sensor at that time. It is not necessary to provide a recognition mark or the like on the card, and it is possible to solve the problem caused by dirt on the recognition mark or the like.

Further, since it is not necessary to provide the recognition mark or the like, the degree of freedom of printing on the card is increased, and the management of the print density of the recognition mark is not necessary, so that the manufacturing cost of the card can be suppressed.

Further, even when a raw card (virgin card) in which magnetic information is not recorded even once is inserted into the card, if the card is provided with a notch, It becomes possible to recognize the direction.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a magnetic card reader showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a relationship between a magnetic card and a sensor.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a sensor unit.

4A to 4D are plan views showing a transfer pattern of a magnetic card.

5A to 5D are diagrams showing an output chart of a sensor.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a modified example in which the location of the sensor is changed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 7, 8 sensor 9 magnetic card reader 10 magnetic card 10A edge 10B notch 13 traveling path A card traveling direction D orthogonal direction h notch length

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A magnetic card reader using a magnetic card having a cutout at a part of an edge positioned in the card running direction, wherein a sensor for detecting a position corresponding to the cutout and another position is provided. A magnetic card reader arranged in a direction orthogonal to the card running direction in the card running path. 2. The magnetic card reader according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is arranged so as to be displaced in the card running direction by the length of the notch.