JPH10222617A - Point card reader/writer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automate point card exchange, and to shorten a processing time by collecting a point card and issuing a new point card by writing magnetic data and print data when the data failure of the magnetic printing face of the point card is detected. SOLUTION: A control part 11 records the number of times of printing or elimination for a thermosensitive printing face of a point card on the magnetic face of the point card at the time of printing and elimination for the thermosensitive printing face of the point card. Then, when the number of times of printing or elimination for the thermosensitive face is beyond the number of times of life printing, or when the failure of the magnetic face of the point card is detected, a delivery path switching valve is switched, and the point card is delivered to a defective point card collecting box 9. Afterwards, a new point card to be used instead of the collected defective point card is delivered from a new point card housing box 10, and issued by writing magnetic data and print data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a point card reader / writer.
The present invention relates to a point card reader / writer with a function for automatically replacing a defective point card that issues a new point card.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional point card reader / writer uses a card ejected from a point card reader / writer when a data defect on a magnetic printing surface or a printing defect on a thermal printing surface occurs. After disposal, it was necessary to remove the new card and print it again with a point card reader / writer. For this reason, processing time at the time of card exchange was required.

[0003] Further, as this type of conventional apparatus, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos.
No. 229699.

Next, the contents of the two disclosed examples will be described. First, the contents disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 02-132585 will be described with reference to the side view shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 2, in this example, the prepaid card 12 is provided with, for example, a magnetic memory, and has transaction data such as a prepaid amount, a used amount of the transaction, a date and a balance of the transaction, and the like. Is described. The reader / writer 13 includes a feed roller 15 and a feed roller 15a for transferring the prepaid card 12 inserted from the insertion slot 14.
, Read / write head 16 and prepaid card 1
2 is provided with a pinch roller 17 for pressing the head 2 against the read / write head 16.

Next, the memory contents of the prepaid card 12 are read by the read / write head 16 and sent to a control device such as a CPU (not shown) to determine the memory contents. At this time, the control device
When the remaining memory capacity is determined to be insufficient, the switching lever 18 is raised, the drive motor 19 is operated to rotate the feed roller 15a clockwise, and the prepaid card 12 is collected after passing through the punch unit 20.

On the other hand, a new card 22 is
The sheet is taken out and sent out onto the switching lever 18. Then, the feed roller 15 a is rotated counterclockwise by the drive motor 19, and the new card 22 is written with necessary data by the read / write head 16 and sent out to the insertion slot 14.

According to this example, in this example, when the amount of additional data written on the magnetic surface of the prepaid card has become less than a certain value, a new prepaid card is issued.
Issuing a new card in response to defective magnetic data or the life of the printed surface is not specifically described.

Next, the contents disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 01-229699 will be described with reference to the side view shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 3, in this example, a magnetic card reader / writer unit 23 for writing / reading magnetic information to / from a card includes a magnetic head 24 for writing / reading magnetic data directly to / from a magnetic stripe on the card.
And a card hopper 25 for storing cards, and a feed roller 2 for feeding cards one by one from the card hopper.
6, an unissued card 27 in which magnetic data stored in the card hopper 25 has not been written, an issuing port 28 for issuing a card, and a collection box 29 for collecting the card.

Here, when issuing a card, first, an unissued card 27 on which magnetic data has not been written is fed out from the card hopper 25 by a feeding roller 26.
Then, the card 27 transported onto the magnetic head 24
Writes magnetic data. Thereafter, in order to check whether or not the magnetic data has been written correctly, the magnetic data is again conveyed onto the magnetic head 24 and the magnetic data is read.

In reading the magnetic data for this check, if the contents are correct, a card is issued. If the magnetic data is confirmed but the data is invalid, the magnetic data is written again. At this time, if the data is incorrect even after retrying the predetermined number of times, the card is collected in the collection box 29. If the magnetic data cannot be confirmed on the card, the card is collected in the collection box 29, and if a predetermined number of such cards are continuously present, it is determined that the setting is abnormal.

According to this, in this example, when a new card is issued, if a defect is detected by writing data on the magnetic surface, a new card issuance method and a card set abnormality judging method are described. It does not specifically describe that a new card is issued in response to a data defect at the time of rewriting magnetic data on an issued card or the life of a printed surface.

[0014]

In the above-described prior art, when a data defect is detected when rewriting magnetic data on an issued card, or when the number of printings on the thermal printing surface is equal to or longer than the lifetime of the thermal printing surface. In such a case, the clerk must dispose of the card ejected from the point card reader / writer, remove a new card, print it again with the point card reader / writer, and the processing time Is required.

An object of the present invention is to collect a defective point card when a data defect on the magnetic printing surface of the point card is detected, or when the number of times of printing on the thermal printing surface exceeds the lifetime of the thermal printing surface. Instead, it is an object of the present invention to provide a point card reader / writer that issues a new point card, automates the exchange of point cards, and shortens the processing time.

[0016]

According to the present invention, there is provided a magnetic sensor capable of writing and reading magnetic data on a magnetic printing surface on a point card, and a thermal head for printing and erasing on the thermal printing surface of the point card. In the provided point card reader / writer, when detecting a data defect on the magnetic printing surface of the point card, or when the number of times of printing on the thermal printing surface of the point card exceeds the life frequency of the thermal printing surface, the point card is written. The magnetic card and the print data are collected and issued to the new point card after being written.

Also, an insertion slot sensor for detecting the insertion of the point card, and a first timing for detecting a start timing of writing / reading of magnetic data to / from the point card and a timing of starting erasing of the thermal printing surface. A detection sensor, a card presence / absence confirmation sensor for confirming the presence / absence of the point card, a second timing detection sensor for detecting a timing of starting printing on the thermal printing surface and a timing of switching a conveyance path switching valve, and the point A transfer path switching valve that switches the transfer path when a card is collected and newly issued, and when a data defect on the magnetic printing surface is detected and when the number of printings on the thermal printing surface exceeds the life count of the thermal printing surface. A collection box for collecting the corresponding point card, a storage box for storing the new point card, and the insertion slot A control unit for monitoring a transfer position of the point card based on detection information from the first and second timing detection sensors and the detection information of the card presence / absence sensor and controlling the transfer path switching valve. And

The control unit records the number of times of printing and erasing on the thermal printing surface on the magnetic surface of the point card when printing and erasing on the thermal printing surface of the point card, When the number of times of printing exceeds the number of times of life printing, the conveyance path switching valve is switched to convey the corresponding point card to the collection box.

Further, when the control unit detects a defect on the magnetic surface of the point card, the control unit switches the transport path switching valve to convey the point card to the collection box, and then replaces the collected defective point card. A new point card is transported from a storage box, and magnetic data and print data are written and issued.

As described above, the control unit of the point card reader / writer according to the present invention can check the data written on the magnetic surface and the data read from the magnetic surface, and can read the data on the thermal printing surface of the point card. At the time of printing or erasing, the number of times of printing or erasing on the thermal printing surface is recorded on the magnetic surface of the point card, and it is determined whether or not the number of times of printing on the thermal printing surface is equal to or longer than the life printing number. Further, the control unit can also control the drive of the transport path, and when detecting a defective point card, instructs transport to a collection box, removes a new point card from the storage box, and issues it after writing data.

[0021]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a point card reader / writer of the present invention includes a transport path 1 for transporting a point card.
A magnetic sensor 2 that reads magnetic data from a point card and writes magnetic data to the point card;
Thermal head 3 for printing and erasing the thermal printing surface of the point card, an insertion opening sensor 4 for detecting insertion of the point card, start timing of writing and reading of magnetic data on the point card, and erasing of the thermal printing surface. Timing detection sensor A5 for detecting timing
And a card presence / absence confirmation sensor 6 for confirming the presence / absence of a point card, a timing detection sensor B7 for detecting a timing for starting printing on the thermal printing surface and a timing for switching the transport path switching valve, and a method for collecting the point card. A switching valve 8 for switching the transport path, and a point card is collected when a data failure on the magnetic printing surface of the point card is detected and when the number of times of printing on the thermal printing surface exceeds the service life of the thermal printing surface. A defective point card collection box 9, a new point card storage box 10 for storing a new point card used in place of the collected point card, a point card transport position is monitored, and the point card is transferred to a magnetic surface. Write and read from magnetic surface, print and erase on thermal printing surface And a Gosuru control unit 11.

The control unit 11 records the number of times of printing and erasure on the thermal printing surface on the magnetic surface of the point card when printing and erasing on the thermal printing surface of the point card, and prints on the thermal printing surface. When the number of times exceeds the life printing number, the transfer path switching valve 8 is switched, and the point card is transferred to the collection box 9. Also, when a defect on the magnetic surface of the point card is detected, the transport path switching valve 8 is switched to transport the point card to the defective point card collection box 9. Thereafter, a new point card to be used in place of the collected defective point card is transported from the new point card storage box 10, and magnetic data and print data are written and issued.

Next, in the point card reader / writer of the present invention configured as described above, data is first written on the magnetic surface of the point card, and subsequently read, and control is performed when an error such as data mismatch occurs. The processing of the unit 11 will be described.

First, when the control unit 11 detects a point card by the insertion slot sensor 4, the control unit 11 starts to convey the point card on the conveying path 1. And the timing detection sensor A
5 detects the tip of the point card, the magnetic sensor 2
Starts the collection of magnetic data and analyzes the magnetic data. After that, when the timing card is detected by the timing detection sensor B7, the control unit 11 sets the transport direction of the point card to the reverse direction and prints the contents of processing such as point addition based on the analysis result of the magnetic data by the thermal head 3. Then, the magnetic sensor 2 writes magnetic data to update the data. At the time of updating the data, the number of times of thermal printing and the number of times of erasing are also updated.

Subsequently, in the magnetic data write confirmation processing, when the point card is detected by the insertion slot sensor 4, the point card is conveyed again in the direction of the magnetic sensor 2, the magnetic data is collected from the magnetic sensor 2, and this collection is performed. The data thus written is compared with the previously written data. If they do not match, it is determined that the magnetic data of the point card is defective, and the point card detected by the timing detection sensor B7 is moved by the switching valve 8 toward the defective point card collection box 9. The sheet is transported on the transport path 1 by switching.

Further, the control unit 11 feeds out a new point card from the new point card storage box 10 and conveys it on the conveyance path 1. And the timing detection sensor B
When the trailing end of the point card is detected in step 7, printing is performed by the thermal head 3, and when the timing detection sensor A5 detects the point card, magnetic data is written and a new point card card is ejected.

Next, the processing when the number of printings on the thermal printing surface of the point card exceeds the number of life printings will be described.

First, when the controller 4 detects a point card by the sensor 4, the controller 11 starts conveying the point card.
When the leading end of the point card is detected by the timing detection sensor A5, collection of magnetic data from the magnetic sensor 2 is started, and the magnetic data is analyzed. When the number of times of printing or erasing on the thermal printing surface in the magnetic data is equal to or longer than the life of the thermal printing surface, the point card detected by the timing detection sensor B7 is switched, and the valve 8 is switched to the collection box 9 direction. It is transported on the transport path 1.

Further, the control unit 11 feeds out a new point card from the storage box 10 and conveys it on the conveyance path 1. When the sensor 7 detects the rear end of the point card, the control unit 11 performs printing with the thermal head 3, and performs timing detection. When a point card is detected in A5, magnetic data is written and a new card is ejected. In other words, if a data defect on the magnetic printing surface of the point card is detected, or if the number of printings on the thermal printing surface exceeds the lifespan of the thermal printing surface, the point card is collected and replaced with a new point card. Can be issued.

[0031]

As described above, the point card reader / writer of the present invention can be used to detect a data defect on the magnetic printing surface of a point card or to determine the number of times of printing on the thermal printing surface by the number of lifespan of the thermal printing surface. When it exceeds, the point card is collected and a new point card is issued instead, so that the point card is automatically exchanged and the processing time can be shortened.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing another conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Conveyance path 2 Magnetic sensor 3 Thermal head 4 Insertion sensor 5 Timing detection sensor A 6 Card existence confirmation sensor 7 Timing detection sensor B 8 Switching valve 9 Defective point card collection box 10 New point card storage box 11 Control part 12 Prepaid card 13 Reader / writer 14 Insertion slot 15, 15a Feed roller 16 Read / write head 17 Pinch roller 18 Switching lever 19 Drive motor 20 Punch unit 21 Hopper 22 New card 23 Magnetic card reader / writer section 24 Magnetic head 25 Card hopper 26 Feeding roller 27 Not issued Card 28 Issue port 29 Collection box

Claims (4)

[Claims] A magnetic sensor capable of writing and reading magnetic data on a magnetic printing surface of a point card;
In a point card reader / writer equipped with a thermal head for printing or erasing the thermal printing surface of the point card, if a data defect on the magnetic printing surface of the point card is detected or the number of printings on the thermal printing surface of the point card is A point card reader / writer which collects the point card and writes and issues magnetic data and print data to a new point card when the life of the printed surface is exceeded. 2. A point card comprising a transport path for transporting a point card, a magnetic sensor for writing / reading magnetic data to / from the point card, and a thermal head for printing / erasing the thermal printing surface of the point card. A reader / writer, an insertion slot sensor for detecting insertion of the point card, and a first sensor for detecting a start timing of writing / reading of magnetic data to / from the point card and a timing of starting erasing of the thermal printing surface.
A timing detection sensor, a card presence / absence confirmation sensor for confirming the presence / absence of the point card, a second timing detection sensor for detecting a timing for starting printing on the thermal printing surface and a timing for switching the transport path switching valve, A transfer path switching valve that switches the transfer path when the point card is collected and newly issued, and when the data defect on the magnetic printing surface is detected and the number of printings on the thermal printing surface exceeds the life count of the thermal printing surface. A collection box for collecting the corresponding point card, a storage box for storing the new point card, and information based on detection information from the insertion slot sensor, the first and second timing detection sensors, and the card presence / absence confirmation sensor. A control unit that monitors a transfer position of the point card and controls the transfer path switching valve. Point card reader-writer to be. 3. The control section records the number of times of printing and erasure on the thermal printing surface on the magnetic surface of the point card when printing and erasing on the thermal printing surface of the point card. 3. When the number of times of printing exceeds the number of times of life printing, the transfer path switching valve is switched to transfer the corresponding point card to a collection box.
The point card reader / writer described. 4. When the controller detects a defect on the magnetic surface of the point card, the controller switches the transport path switching valve to transport the point card to the collection box, and then replaces the collected defective point card. 3. The point card reader / writer according to claim 2, wherein the new point card is transported from a storage box, and magnetic data and print data are written and issued.