JPH10255240A - Magnetic medium reader/writer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To clean the head surface of a magnetic head without any frequent maintenance by sliding a magnetic head at a refraction position and removing a smear on the head surface by a cleaning member. SOLUTION: A magnetic reader/writer 1 has a magnetic head 3 for reading and writing the magnetic information of, for example a passbook 2, a retraction mechanism 4 as a retraction means for retracting the magnetic head 3 from the inside of a traveling path R where the passbook 2 travels to a retraction position T of the magnetic head 3, and a cleaning member 5 for removing a smear in contact with a head surface 3a of the magnetic head 3 being placed at a retraction position. When the magnetic head 3 is slid at the retraction position, a smear on the head surface is removed by the cleaning member 5, thus automatically cleaning the head surface every time the magnetic information of a magnetic medium is read and hence eliminating the need for maintenance and maintaining the magnetic reader/writer easily.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a magnetic medium reader / writer for reading and writing magnetic information on a magnetic tape such as a passbook or a magnetic card. More specifically, the present invention relates to a cleaning mechanism and a retracting mechanism for a magnetic head of a magnetic medium reader / writer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A magnetic tape is attached to a passbook of a bank or the like. Then, by inserting the passbook into an ATM (automatic teller machine), the ATM magnetic head slides while contacting the magnetic tape to read and write magnetic information.

Incidentally, since the magnetic head slides in direct contact with the magnetic tape, dirt on the magnetic tape easily adheres to the head surface. In other words, dust or finger grease attached to the surface of the passbook may adhere to the head surface of the magnetic head. If the head surface becomes dirty, there is a possibility that reading and writing of magnetic information may become defective. Therefore, it is desired that the head surface is always kept clean.

[0004]

However, since the above-described magnetic medium reader / writer does not have a head surface cleaning mechanism, an operator must clean the head surface during maintenance of the ATM. In addition, frequent maintenance must be performed to keep the head surface clean. On the other hand, if an extremely dirty passbook comes into contact with the head surface even once, there is a possibility that reading and writing of magnetic information may not be performed normally until the next cleaning is performed.

In the above-described magnetic medium reader / writer, the magnetic head is separated from the travel path of the passbook toward the back in the extension direction from when the passbook is inserted until it reaches a predetermined read / write position in the magnetic medium reader / writer. Is located at the evacuation position. For example, as shown in FIG.
00 slides while being guided by a feed screw 101 parallel to the running direction A. Then, a bearing 103 attached to an arm 102 holding the magnetic head 100 is guided by a cam member 104 parallel to the traveling direction A. Here, when the magnetic head 100 is at the retracted position T, the cam member 10
4 pushes down the bearing 103 so that the magnetic head 100 is vertically separated from the traveling path. Thus, the passbook is installed at a predetermined read / write position after the passbook is inserted, and when the magnetic head 100 approaches the passbook from the retreat position T, the head surface comes into contact with the diagonal direction. Therefore, collision between the magnetic head 100 and the end of the passbook can be prevented.

However, this magnetic medium reader / writer requires a bearing 103 guided by the cam member 104 and a member for supporting the bearing 103.
This increases the number of parts, increases the cost, and makes it difficult to reduce the size of the device.

It is a first object of the present invention to provide a magnetic medium reader / writer capable of cleaning the head surface of a magnetic head without performing frequent maintenance. A second object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic medium reader / writer capable of reducing the size of a moving mechanism of a magnetic head.

[0008]

To achieve the above object, a magnetic medium reader / writer according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a magnetic head for reading and writing magnetic information on a magnetic medium, and a magnetic head for moving the magnetic head. A retracting means for retracting the magnetic head from the magnetic medium passage to the retracted position, and a cleaning member for contacting the head surface of the magnetic head at the retracted position to remove dirt therefrom are provided.

Therefore, when the magnetic head slides at the retracted position, the cleaning member removes dirt on the head surface. Therefore, the head surface can be automatically cleaned every time the magnetic information of the magnetic medium is read or written.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a magnetic medium reader / writer, comprising: a magnetic head for reading and writing magnetic information on a magnetic medium; and a magnetic head disposed at a retracted position of the magnetic head from a magnetic medium path in which the magnetic medium runs. Evacuation means for evacuation,
A support member for supporting the magnetic head so as to be movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the recording surface of the magnetic medium, biasing means for pressing the magnetic head against the recording surface of the magnetic medium, and one contact portion provided on the magnetic head; The one contact portion is provided on the other contact portion pressed by the urging means and the one contact portion or the other contact portion, and is provided when the magnetic head is retracted to the retracted position by the retracting means. And a cam surface for moving the magnetic head in a direction perpendicular to the recording surface of the magnetic medium against the urging force of the urging means.

Therefore, the one contact portion and the other contact portion retract the magnetic head in a direction perpendicular to the recording surface of the magnetic medium, and the one contact portion is provided on the magnetic head. The cost can be reduced by reducing the number of parts, and the space for the mechanism for retracting the magnetic head in the vertical direction can be reduced.

Further, in the magnetic medium reader / writer according to the third aspect, the one contact portion is a head surface of the magnetic head. Therefore, since it is not necessary to attach another member as one contact portion, the number of components can be reduced, and the space for the mechanism for retracting the magnetic head in the vertical direction can be extremely reduced.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The configuration of the present invention will be described below in detail based on an example of an embodiment shown in the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a magnetic medium reader / writer 1 includes a magnetic head 3 for reading and writing magnetic information of a passbook 2 as a magnetic medium, and a traveling path R on which the magnetic head 3 passes. A retracting mechanism 4 as a retracting means for retracting the magnetic head 3 from the inside to a retracting position T, and a cleaning member 5 for contacting the head surface 3a of the magnetic head 3 at the retracting position T and removing the dirt therefrom are provided. ing.

The magnetic head 3 is attached to a retracting mechanism 4. The retracting mechanism 4 includes a head holder 6 that directly holds the magnetic head 3 and an arm 8 that rotatably supports the head holder 6 about a holder support shaft 7 that is parallel to the traveling direction A.
A torsion coil spring (not shown) for maintaining the head holder 6 perpendicular to the arm 8, and a holding frame 10 for supporting the arm 8 rotatably about an arm support shaft 9 parallel to the traveling direction A. An urging spring 11 composed of a torsion coil spring as an urging means for urging the arm 8 toward the passbook 2 with respect to the holding frame 10, and enabling the holding frame 10 to rotate and slide in a direction parallel to the traveling direction A. Guide shaft 12 to be supported and running direction A
And a feed screw 13 screwed to the holding frame 10 and moved in the traveling direction A in parallel with the motor, and a motor and a gear train (not shown) for rotating the feed screw 13. For this reason, when the motor is driven and the feed screw 13 rotates, the retracting mechanism operates and the magnetic head 3 moves along the traveling path R.

On the side of the arm 8 facing the passbook 2, an axis 1 parallel to the head surface 3a and perpendicular to the arm support shaft 9 is provided.
A ring-shaped bearing 15 rotatable about 4 is attached. The bearing 1 is mounted on a frame (not shown) of the magnetic medium reader / writer 1 in parallel with the running direction A.
The cam member 16 which is in contact with the rotation surface of the fifth member 5 is attached. The cam member 16 is linear and does not press the bearing 15 in the vicinity of the travel path R, and is inclined in a direction away from the bankbook 2 vertically at the retreat position T to separate the magnetic head 3 from the travel path R in the vertical direction. And the retracted position T
The inner portion is linear and has a shape that maintains the pressing of the bearing 15.

For this reason, the magnetic head 3 on the traveling path R
Jumps out further from the far end of the travel path R and enters the evacuation position T, it is separated in a direction perpendicular to the travel path R. When the magnetic head 3 at the retreat position T moves toward the traveling path R, the magnetic head 3 approaches the traveling path R in the vertical direction. Further, when the magnetic head 3 moves from the retreat position T toward the passbook 2 while the passbook 2 is at the reading / writing position in the travel path R, the magnetic head 3 approaches the passbook 2 also from the vertical direction, and Contact the surface obliquely. Thus, the magnetic head 3 and the end of the passbook 2 do not collide with each other, and the magnetic head 3 or the passbook 2 is not worn.

Further, a pressing plate 17 is provided along the traveling path R. The pressing plate 17 is attached and fixed to a frame (not shown) of the magnetic medium reader / writer 1. The passbook 2 is provided between the holding plate 17 and the magnetic head 3.
Is sandwiched. Therefore, when the magnetic head 3 presses the passbook 2 by the urging spring 11, the head surface 3a is brought into close contact with the magnetic tape of the passbook 2.

A cleaning member 5 is provided at a position where the head surface 3a of the magnetic head 3 at the retracted position T contacts. The cleaning member 5 is made of, for example, felt and is impregnated with a cleaning liquid. The cleaning member 5 is supported by a support member 18. The support member 18 is attached and fixed to a frame (not shown) of the magnetic medium reader / writer 1, for example. A concave portion 18a is formed on the surface of the support member 18 on the magnetic head 3 side. The cleaning member 5 is accommodated in the recess 18a.

An injection port 18b is formed at the bottom of the recess 18a so as to face the outside of the magnetic medium reader / writer 1 and penetrate the support member 18. Therefore, the cleaning liquid can be supplied to the cleaning member 5 by injecting the cleaning liquid from the outside of the magnetic medium reader / writer 1 into the injection port 18b.

In this embodiment, the cleaning liquid is supplied by injecting it from the inlet 18b. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a replenishing tank may be provided at the inlet 18b so that the cleaning liquid is always supplied. Absent. According to this, the work of replenishing the cleaning liquid every time maintenance is performed becomes unnecessary.

Further, in the present embodiment, the support member 18 and the press plate 17 are separate members, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the support member 18 and the press plate 17 may be formed as an integral member. In this case, assembling work of the magnetic medium reader / writer 1 can be simplified by reducing the number of parts.

The operation of reading and writing magnetic information on the magnetic tape of the passbook 2 by the above-described magnetic medium reader / writer 1 will be described below.

Before the passbook 2 is inserted into the magnetic medium reader / writer 1, the magnetic head 3 is located at the retracted position T. Then, when the passbook 2 is inserted into the magnetic medium reader / writer 1, the passbook 2 is guided by the holding plate 17 and moved in the traveling path R. The passbook 2 reaches a predetermined reading / writing position at the innermost part of the travel path R and stops.

After the passbook 2 is stopped, a motor (not shown) of the retracting mechanism 4 is driven to rotate the feed screw 13 to move the magnetic head 3 to the passbook 2 side. At this time, since the head surface 3a is slid while being in contact with the cleaning member 5, dirt on the head surface 3a is removed. And bearing 1
As the magnetic head 3 is guided by the cam member 16, the magnetic head 3 also approaches the passbook 2 in the vertical direction. Magnetic head 3
Has reached the travel path R, the head surface 3a contacts the surface of the passbook 2 from an oblique direction. Further, the magnetic head 3
Reads and writes magnetic information by moving while contacting the magnetic tape.

At this time, the magnetic head 3 is pushed down below the holding plate 17 by the thickness of the passbook 2. For this reason, the head holder 6 rotates about the holder support shaft 7 and the arm 8 rotates about the arm support shaft 9, and the head surface 3 a ′ is kept in close contact with the magnetic tape of the passbook 2.

After the reading and writing of the magnetic information is completed, the magnetic head 3 is moved toward the retreat position T. Then, the bearing 15 is guided by the cam member 16 and the magnetic head 3
Are separated from the passbook 2 in the vertical direction. Further, the magnetic head 3 is moved to the back of the retreat position T, and the head surface 3a
Is in contact with the cleaning member 5 and is cleaned. In this state, the passbook 2 is carried out from the magnetic medium reader / writer 1.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the cleaning member 5 automatically removes the dirt on the head surface 3a when the magnetic head 3 is located at the retracted position T.
It is not necessary to manually clean the head surface 3a at the time of maintenance, so that the maintenance becomes free and the maintenance management of the magnetic medium reader / writer 1 can be easily performed. Since the cleaning of the head surface 3a is performed every time the passbook 2 is read and written, the extremely dirty passbook 2 is cleaned.
The head surface 3a is cleaned before reading / writing the next passbook 2 even if the reading / writing is performed. Therefore, the dirt on one passbook 2 does not affect the reading and writing of the other passbook 2, so that the accuracy of reading and writing magnetic information can be improved.

The above embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the present embodiment, the mechanism for moving the magnetic head 3 from the magnetic tape in the vertical direction is constituted by the bearing 15 and the cam member 16, but is not limited to this. For example, a magnetic medium reader / writer 1 'shown in FIG.
A magnetic head 3, a retracting mechanism 4 as retracting means for retracting the magnetic head 3 from a passbook R as a magnetic medium to a retracted position T of the magnetic head 3, and a magnetic head 3
An arm 8 as a support member for supporting the passbook 2 so as to be movable in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the magnetic tape;
An urging spring 11 as urging means for pressing the passbook 2 against the magnetic tape, a head surface 3a as one contact portion provided on the magnetic head 3, and the other surface on which the head surface 3a is pressed by the urging spring 11 And a biasing force of the biasing spring 11 when the magnetic head 3 is retracted to the retracted position T by the retracting mechanism 4 and is provided at one of the contacting portions or the other contacting portion. And a cam surface 20 for moving the magnetic head 3 in a direction perpendicular to the magnetic tape of the passbook 2.

The magnetic head 3, the retracting mechanism 4, the arm 8, and the urging spring 11 in this embodiment are the same as those in the above-described embodiment. The cam member 19 is formed at a position where the head surface 3a contacts when the magnetic head 3 is at the retracted position T. A cam surface 20 is formed on the cam member 19. The cam surface 20 is inclined so as to be separated from the bankbook 2 in the vertical direction as the magnetic head 3 moves away from the traveling path R and goes deeper into the evacuation position T.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, no special member other than the cam member 19 is required to vertically separate the magnetic head 3 located at the retracted position T from the passbook 2, thereby reducing the number of parts. The size and weight of the magnetic medium reader / writer 1 can be reduced. Moreover, the cam member 19
Can also be attached to an external member that houses the magnetic medium reader / writer 1, so that the magnetic medium reader / writer 1 can be further reduced in size and weight.

On the other hand, in the embodiment shown in FIG.
9 has a structure in which the head surface 3a is directly pushed down,
It is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a driven member 21 is fixed to a side surface parallel to the traveling direction A of the magnetic head 3, and the cam member 16 is pressed down by contacting the driven member 21 and pressing down. You can also. In this case, since the cam member 16 does not contact the head surface 3a, wear of the head surface 3a can be prevented and the life of the magnetic head 3 can be extended.

As shown in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the magnetic head 3 is also provided with the cam member 19 as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. A mechanism for directly pushing down can be provided. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the cleaning member 5 may be provided so as to be exposed on the surface of the cam member 19 at the retracted position T which is in contact with the head surface 3a, and the cam member 16 may be provided with an inlet 19a. in this case,
It is not necessary to clean the head surface 3a by hand, and a member such as a bearing 15 for pushing down the magnetic head 3 is not required, so that the size and weight of the magnetic medium reader / writer 1 can be reduced.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 described above, the magnetic head 3 is attached to the arm 8 that turns around the guide shaft 12 so that the vertical distance from the passbook 2 can be changed. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this structure. That is, since the cam member 19 that pushes down the magnetic head 3 pushes down the magnetic head 3 itself or the driven member 21 fixed to the magnetic head 3, the arm 8 does not need to be provided if the magnetic head 3 can move in the vertical direction. For example, the magnetic head 3 may be vertically movably supported by a slider or the like, and may be urged toward the bankbook 2 by the urging spring 11.

In each of the above embodiments, a magnetic medium reader / writer for reading / writing magnetic information of a passbook as a magnetic medium is used.
Although the writer 1 has been described, it is needless to say that the writer 1 is not limited to this. For example, a magnetic medium reader / writer that reads and writes magnetic information on a magnetic card as a magnetic medium may be used.

[0035]

As is apparent from the above description, the magnetic medium reader / writer according to the first aspect has a magnetic head for reading and writing magnetic information on a magnetic medium, and a magnetic medium on which the magnetic head runs. Since the magnetic head is provided with a retracting means for retracting from the passage to the retracted position of the magnetic head and a cleaning member for contacting the head surface of the magnetic head at the retracted position and removing the dirt, the magnetic head is moved to the retracted position. By sliding, the cleaning member removes dirt on the head surface. For this reason, the head surface is automatically cleaned each time the magnetic information of the magnetic medium is read and written.Therefore, there is no need to manually clean the head surface at the time of maintenance. The maintenance of the reader / writer can be easily performed.

Since the head surface is cleaned every time the magnetic information of the magnetic medium is read and written, even if the extremely dirty magnetic medium is read and written, the head surface is cleaned before reading and writing the next magnetic medium. Is done. Therefore, since the contamination of one magnetic medium does not affect the reading and writing of the other magnetic medium, the accuracy of reading and writing magnetic information can be improved.

Further, a magnetic medium reader / writer according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a magnetic head, a retracting means for retracting the magnetic head from within the magnetic medium passage to a retracted position, and a magnetic head substantially moved with respect to a recording surface of the magnetic medium. A supporting member that movably supports the magnetic head in a vertical direction, urging means for pressing the magnetic head against the recording surface of the magnetic medium, one contact portion provided on the magnetic head, and one contact portion provided by the urging means When the magnetic head is provided at the other contact portion to be pressed and the one contact portion or the other contact portion and the magnetic head is retracted to the retracted position by the retracting device, the magnetic head is opposed to the urging force of the urging device. A cam surface that moves in the direction perpendicular to the recording surface of the magnetic medium is provided, so that costs can be reduced by reducing the number of fixtures and the magnetic head can be moved vertically from the magnetic medium. Space mechanism for spaced can be reduced. Therefore, the size and weight of the magnetic medium reader / writer can be reduced.

Further, in the magnetic medium reader / writer according to the third aspect, since one of the contact portions is the head surface of the magnetic head, it is not necessary to attach another member as the one contact portion. The number of points can be reduced, and the space for a mechanism for vertically separating the magnetic head from the magnetic medium can be further reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a main part of a magnetic medium reader / writer of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a main part of a magnetic medium reader / writer.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a main part of the magnetic medium reader / writer.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a main part showing another embodiment of a magnetic medium reader / writer.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a main part showing another embodiment of the magnetic medium reader / writer.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a main part showing a conventional magnetic medium reader / writer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Magnetic medium reader / writer 2 Passbook (magnetic medium) 3 Magnetic head 3a Head surface (one contact part) 4 Evacuation mechanism (evacuation means) 5 Cleaning member 8 Arm (support member) 11 Urging spring (urging means) 19 Cam member (the other contact part) 20 Cam surface R Running path (magnetic medium passage) T Evacuation position

Claims (3)

[Claims] A magnetic head for reading and writing magnetic information on a magnetic medium; a retracting unit for retracting the magnetic head from a magnetic medium path in which the magnetic medium runs to a retracted position of the magnetic head; And a cleaning member for contacting the head surface of the magnetic head and removing dirt therefrom. 2. A magnetic head for reading and writing magnetic information of a magnetic medium, a retracting unit for retracting the magnetic head from a magnetic medium path in which the magnetic medium runs to a retracted position of the magnetic head, and the magnetic head A support member for movably supporting the magnetic head in a direction substantially perpendicular to the recording surface of the magnetic medium, biasing means for pressing the magnetic head against the recording surface of the magnetic medium, and one contact provided on the magnetic head. And the other abutting part against which one of the abutting parts is pressed by the urging means, and the magnetic head provided on the one abutting part or the other abutting part and the magnetic head is provided by the retracting means. A cam surface for moving the magnetic head in a direction perpendicular to the recording surface of the magnetic medium against the urging force of the urging means when retracting to the retracted position. Air media reader / writer. 3. The magnetic medium reader / writer according to claim 2, wherein said one contact portion is a head surface of said magnetic head.