JPH10134131A - Card reader writer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the card reader writer which can hold writing and reading by a magnetic head always normal. SOLUTION: This card reader writer is provided with a reader writer part 3 provided with a magnetic head 2 which reads and writes magnetic information on and out of a magnetic card 1, a card stock part 5 which stores a cleaning card 4, a card conveying mechanism 6 which carries the cleaning card 4 between the card stock part 5 and reader writer part 3, a control part 7 which counts how many times the magnetic information is read and written by the magnetic head 2, operates the card conveying mechanism 6 when the count number reaches a specific frequency to carry the cleaning card 4 from the card stock part 5 to the card writer part 3, and cleans the magnetic head 2. Consequently, when the frequency of the reading and writing of the magnetic card 1 by the magnetic head 2 reaches the specific frequency, the magnetic card 2 automatically be cleaned with the cleaning card 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card reader / writer for reading and writing magnetic information on a magnetic card such as a prepaid card.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A magnetic card such as a prepaid card, which is paid in advance, is used to purchase goods at a vending machine, purchase a ticket, make a telephone call, or rent a ball at a pachinko parlor. The system which can be used is becoming widespread. Such a vending machine is provided with a card reader / writer formed by providing a magnetic head for reading magnetic information such as an amount of money written on a magnetic card and writing magnetic information such as a used withdrawal amount. ing.

[0003]

However, in such a card reader / writer, when magnetic information of a magnetic card is written / read by a magnetic head, the writing / reading is repeatedly performed on the surface of the magnetic head. There is a problem in that foreign matter such as dust and magnetic powder gradually adheres, and when the amount of the foreign matter increases, writing and reading of magnetic information by the magnetic head may become inaccurate. Also, when the number of times of writing and reading by the magnetic head increases, the wear and the like of the magnetic head increase, and the writing and reading of the magnetic information cannot be performed normally, but the use of the magnetic head is continued without noticing such a life. As a result, writing and reading mistakes by the magnetic head frequently occur,
There is also a problem that various troubles occur.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide a card reader / writer capable of always maintaining normal writing and reading by a magnetic head. It is an object of the present invention to provide a card reader / writer capable of displaying.

[0005]

A card reader / writer according to the present invention comprises a reader / writer section 3 provided with a magnetic head 2 for reading and writing magnetic information of a magnetic card 1 introduced therein, and a card stock for accommodating a cleaning card 4. Part 5,
A card transport mechanism 6 for transporting the cleaning card 4 between the card stock unit 5 and the reader / writer unit 3; a card reader / writer which counts the number of times of reading and writing of magnetic information by the magnetic head 2; The transport mechanism 6 is operated to transport the cleaning card 4 from the card stock unit 5 to the reader / writer unit 3 so that the magnetic head 2
And a control unit 7 for cleaning.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the control section 7 counts the number of times of reading and writing of magnetic information by the magnetic head 2 and accumulates and accumulates the count. The magnetic head 2 is formed so as to output that the life of the magnetic head 2 has been reached.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of a card reader / writer A. In a housing 10 of the card reader / writer A, an area of a reader / writer unit 3 into which a magnetic card 1 is inserted from an insertion slot 11 and a cleaning card 4 are shown. It is formed by the area of the card stock section 5 for stocking.
The reader / writer unit 3 is provided with a magnetic head 2.

The card transport mechanism 6 includes a first drive roller 12
a, the second drive roller 12b, the third drive roller 12c, and the like.
The second drive roller 12b is provided in the reader / writer section 3, and the third drive roller 12c is provided in the card stock section 5. The first drive roller 12a and the second drive roller 12b are provided so that the magnetic head 2 is disposed between the first drive roller 12a and the second drive roller 12b at a position closer to the second drive roller 12b. It is what is being done. The first drive roller 12a and the second drive roller 12b are driven to rotate by a first motor 13 with an encoder, and the third drive roller 12c is driven to rotate by a second motor 14 with an encoder. A first driven roller 15a, a second driven roller 15b, and a third driven roller 15c are disposed on the first driving roller 12a, the second driving roller 12b, and the third driving roller 12c, respectively, so as to freely contact and roll. In addition, the magnetic card 1 and the cleaning card 4 are transported and held between these drive rollers 12a, 12b, 12c and driven rollers 15a, 15b, 15c.

In addition to these rolls, the card transport mechanism 6 is provided with card detection sensors 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 16e, 16f formed by photoelectric switches or the like. The card detection sensor 16a is provided between the insertion slot 11 and the first drive roll 12a.
b is between the first drive roll 12a and the second drive roll 12b, and the card detection sensor 16c is between the magnetic head 2 and the second drive roll 12b.
d and 16e are the second driving roll 12b and the third driving roll 1
In this order, the card detection sensor 16e is arranged at a position opposite to the reader / writer unit 3 of the third drive roll 12c between the third drive roll 12c and the second drive roll 2c.

An insertion port 11 provided in the housing 10
Is provided with a shutter 17, and when the shutter 17 is operated by the solenoid 18, the insertion port 1 is opened.
1 can be opened and closed. FIG. 2 shows a circuit configuration of the card reader / writer A. The card reader / writer A has a control unit including a CPU, a ROM storing a control program, and a memory such as a RAM for temporarily storing data. 7, the magnetic head 2 of the reader / writer unit 3, the motors 13 and 14 of the card transport mechanism 6, the card detection sensors 16a and 16b,
16c, 16d, 16e, 16f and solenoid 18
Are connected to the control unit 7. The RS provided in the control unit 7
An external host computer 20 is connected to the interface 19 such as 232C. Then, the card detection sensors 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 16e, 16f
Is input to the control unit 7, and the control unit 7 controls the operations of the magnetic head 2, the motors 13, 14 and the solenoid 18 based on the detection signal.

In the card reader / writer A formed as described above, one cleaning card 4 is always stored in the card stock section 5. The supply of the cleaning card 4 to the card stock unit 5 is performed by inserting the cleaning card 4 from the insertion slot 11 and
The cleaning card 4 can be discharged from the card stock unit 5 through the insertion slot 11 by the card transfer mechanism 6. is there.

The card reader / writer A is used by being incorporated in a vending machine or the like. The magnetic card 1 such as a prepaid card is inserted into the insertion slot 11, and the leading end of the magnetic card 1 is detected by the card detection sensor 16a. Then, based on this detection by the card detection sensor 16a, the first motor 13 is operated, and the first drive roller 12a and the second drive roller 12b of the card transport mechanism 6 pull in the magnetic card 1 (clockwise in FIG. 1). )
The magnetic card 1 is drawn into the reader / writer unit 3. At this time, when the card detection sensor 16a detects that the rear end of the magnetic card 1 has passed, the solenoid 18 operates and the shutter 17 is moved to close the insertion slot 11. Therefore, insertion of the second magnetic card 1 from the insertion slot 11 can be prevented.

After the leading end of the magnetic card 1 is detected by the card detection sensor 16a, the magnetic card 1
Until the trailing edge is detected by the card detection sensor 16a,
The distance by which the magnetic card 1 is fed by the first drive roller 12a and the second drive roller 12b is detected by the encoder of the motor 13, so that the feed distance, that is, the length dimension of the magnetic card 1 can be detected. . The dimensions of the magnetic card 1 that can be used in the card reader / writer A are standardized and registered in the memory of the control unit 7 in advance, and the length data of the magnetic card 1 detected in this way is stored in the control unit 7. A comparison operation is performed with the registered standard data. If the standard data is out of the standard dimensions, the first driving roller 12a and the second driving roller 12b are driven to rotate in the reverse direction (counterclockwise in FIG. The magnetic card 1 is returned to a position where the magnetic card 1 protrudes and comes off the first drive roller 12a. In this manner, the magnetic card 1 having a nonstandard size can be ejected.

When the magnetic card 1 is pulled into the reader / writer unit 3 as described above and the leading end of the magnetic card 1 in the traveling direction is detected by the card detection sensor 16c, the magnetic head 2 is controlled by a command from the control unit 7. Is started, and the magnetic information such as the ID code and the amount of money written on the magnetic card 1 is read by the magnetic head 2. If reading by the magnetic head 2 is impossible, or if the read magnetic information indicates that the magnetic card 1 is not handled, the first drive roller 12a and the second drive roller 12b are driven in reverse rotation as described above. Then, the magnetic card 1 is ejected. The magnetic information of the magnetic card 1 is read by the magnetic head 2 while sending the magnetic card 1 by the first drive roller 12a and the second drive roller 12b, and the leading end of the magnetic card 1 in the traveling direction is detected by the card detection sensor 16d. The reading of the magnetic information is completed before the magnetic card 1 reaches the detected position.

When the leading end of the magnetic card 1 is detected by the card detection sensor 16d, the first drive roller 12
a and the drive of the second drive roller 12b are stopped, and the magnetic card 1 is moved to the first drive roller 12a and the second drive roller 12b.
In the state of being held at b, the vending machine performs shopping and the like during this time. When operations such as shopping at the vending machine are completed, the first drive roller 12a and the second drive roller 12b
The magnetic head 2 writes magnetic information such as a withdrawal amount on the magnetic card 1 while rotating the magnetic card 1 in the sending direction by rotating counterclockwise in FIG. Writing of magnetic information is completed before the magnetic card 1 reaches a position where the rear end of the magnetic card 1 in the traveling direction is detected by the card detection sensor 16c,
Thus, the rear end of the magnetic card 1 is the card detection sensor 1
6c, the first drive roller 12a and the second drive roller 12b stop and then move in the opposite direction (clockwise in FIG. 1).
The magnetic card 1 is sent again to a position where the leading end of the magnetic card 1 in the traveling direction is detected by the card detection sensor 16d. During this time, the magnetic information written on the magnetic card 1 is read by the magnetic head 2, and the write data is confirmed. And collation is performed. When a mistake in the write data or the like is detected, the operation of writing the magnetic information is performed again.

Next, when the leading end of the magnetic card 1 in the traveling direction is detected by the card detection sensor 16d, the first drive roller 12a and the second drive roller 12b stop,
Is rotated counterclockwise to feed the magnetic card 1 to the ejection side. After the rear end of the magnetic card 1 in the traveling direction is sent to a position where the magnetic card 1 is detected by the card detection sensor 16c, the magnetic card 1 is moved from the first drive roller 12a by operating the first motor 13 while controlling the encoder. The magnetic card 1 is sent out to a position where the magnetic card 1 is removed, and the magnetic card 1 is put on standby so that the magnetic card 1 can be taken out from the insertion slot 11. A series of operations such as shopping using the magnetic card 1 is completed.

As described above, the card reader / writer A
The magnetic head 2 can read the magnetic information of the magnetic card 1 and write the magnetic information to the magnetic card 1. The number of times of reading and writing of the magnetic information by the magnetic head 2 is counted by the control unit 7. The magnetic head 2 is cleaned based on the counted number as shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, the read and write counts of the magnetic head 2 are compared and determined by the control unit 7 with the numerical value n presetly registered in the memory of the control unit 7, and when the count number becomes equal to n, the second motor 14 is activated. When activated, the third drive roller 12c of the card transport mechanism 6 is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 1, and the cleaning card 4 held in the card stock unit 5 is sent out to the reader / writer unit 3. Numerical value n registered in the memory of the control unit 7
May be set to the number of times of reading / writing which is empirically expected that the magnetic head 2 starts to become dirty.

When the cleaning card 4 is sent out from the card stock unit 5 as described above, the first motor 13 operates at the same time, and the first drive roller 12a and the second drive roller 12b are also driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. The cleaning card 4 sent from the card stock unit 5 is received by the first drive roller 12a and the second drive roller 12b and sent in the sending direction. The rear end of the magnetic card 1 in the traveling direction is a card position detection sensor 16e. , The third drive roller 12c stops. When the trailing end of the cleaning card 4 in the traveling direction is further detected by the card detection sensor 16c, the first drive roller 12a and the second drive roller 12b temporarily stop and then move in the reverse direction (FIG. 1).
To rotate the cleaning card 4 toward the card stock unit 5 side.
When the leading edge of the movement of the first drive roller 12a moves to a position detected by the card detection sensor 16d, the first drive roller 12a and the second drive roller 12b stop once again, and are rotationally driven in the opposite direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 1). Then, the rear end of the cleaning card 4 in the traveling direction is moved to a position where the card detection sensor 16c detects the rear end. By moving the cleaning card 4 back and forth a predetermined number of times, the magnetic head 2 is rubbed with the cleaning card 4 to perform cleaning for removing dirt and the like adhering to the surface of the magnetic head 2. .

As described above, when the count of the number of times of reading and writing of the magnetic head 2 by the control unit 7 reaches the predetermined number n, the cleaning head 4 can automatically clean the magnetic head 2. This makes it possible to prevent writing and reading of magnetic information on the magnetic card 1 by the magnetic head 2 from becoming inaccurate.

After the first drive roller 12a and the second drive roller 12b are driven to rotate so as to reciprocate the cleaning card 4 a predetermined number of times, the first drive roller 12a and the second drive roller 12b rotate clockwise in FIG. And the cleaning card 4 is sent to the card stock unit 5 side. At this time, the third drive roller 12c is also rotated clockwise, and the cleaning card 4 is moved to the third drive roller 12c. Passed. The leading end of the cleaning card 4 in the traveling direction is the card detection sensor 16f.
Then, the magnetic card 1 is moved to a predetermined standby position of the card stock unit 5 by operating the second motor 14 while being controlled by the encoder. Cleaning ends.

Thus, when cleaning is completed,
The count of the number of times of reading and writing of the magnetic head 2 by the control unit 7 is cleared, and the number of times of reading and writing of the magnetic head 2 restarts counting from 0. On the other hand, even if the counted number of reading and writing of the magnetic head 2 is cleared, the counted number is accumulated and accumulated, and the accumulated accumulated number is set and registered in the memory of the control unit 7 in advance. The control unit 7 compares and determines the numerical value m thus obtained. When the accumulated count becomes equal to m, a signal is outputted from the control unit 7 to the notifying means 21 such as an alarm lamp to notify the life of the magnetic head 2. The numerical value m (> n) registered in the memory of the control unit 7 is a read / write value which is empirically expected that writing or reading of magnetic information will not be performed normally due to increased wear of the magnetic head 2 or the like.
The number of times of writing may be set.

As described above, when the count of the number of times of reading and writing of the magnetic head 2 by the control unit 7 reaches a predetermined number m, a warning that the life of the magnetic head 2 has expired is automatically issued. The head can be used continuously without noticing the life of the magnetic head 2,
It is possible to prevent troubles in which writing and reading errors by the magnetic head 2 frequently occur.

[0023]

As described above, the present invention provides a reader / writer unit provided with a magnetic head for reading and writing magnetic information of an introduced magnetic card, a card stock unit for accommodating a cleaning card, a card stock unit and a reader / writer. A card transport mechanism for transporting the cleaning card to and from the unit;
Control to count the number of reading and writing of magnetic information by the magnetic head, and to activate the card transport mechanism when the count reaches a predetermined number, and to transport the cleaning card from the card stock section to the reader / writer section to clean the magnetic head. When the number of times of reading and writing of the magnetic card by the magnetic head reaches a predetermined number, the cleaning card is transported to the reader / writer unit under the control of the control unit and the magnetic head is automatically cleaned. This can prevent writing and reading of magnetic information from being inaccurate due to contamination of the magnetic head.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the control section counts the number of times of reading and writing of magnetic information by the magnetic head and accumulates and accumulates the count. When the count of the number of times of reading and writing of the magnetic card by the magnetic head reaches a predetermined number by summing up, a warning that the magnetic head has reached the end of its life is issued. The data can be output from the control unit, and the magnetic head can be continuously used without noticing the life of the magnetic head, thereby preventing a trouble in which writing and reading errors by the magnetic head frequently occur.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the above.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the above operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Magnetic card 2 Magnetic head 3 Reader / writer part 4 Cleaning card 5 Card stock part 6 Card transport mechanism 7 Control part

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A reader / writer unit provided with a magnetic head for reading and writing magnetic information of a magnetic card introduced, a card stock unit for accommodating a cleaning card, and a cleaning card interposed between the card stock unit and the reader / writer unit. The card transport mechanism for transporting, and counting the number of times of reading and writing of magnetic information by the magnetic head, and when the count reaches a predetermined number, activates the card transport mechanism to transport the cleaning card from the card stock unit to the reader / writer unit. And a controller for cleaning the magnetic head. 2. The control section counts the number of times of reading and writing of magnetic information by the magnetic head, accumulates and accumulates the count, and when the count reaches a predetermined number, the magnetic head has reached the end of its life. 2. The card reader / writer according to claim 1, wherein the card reader / writer is formed so as to output.