JPH1035039A - Ticket issuing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ticket issuing apparatus capable of automatically calculating and setting correction values for writing magnetic information or a print starting position. SOLUTION: A standard ticket having magnetic information preliminarily written in an accurate position of magnetic stripes is conveyed to a magnetic processing portion 3. Pulses outputted by a slit sensor are counted by a counter 17 from when the tip of the standard ticket is detected by a first detection sensor S1 provided before the magnetic processing portion until certain magnetic information written in the magnetic stripes is read out by a reading head of the magnetic processing portion 3 as well as the standard ticket is discharged. Based on the distance obtained from the count value of the counter 17 and the distance from the tip of the standard ticket to the certain magnetic information, the distance between the first detection sensor S1 to the reading head is found.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ticket issuing apparatus capable of accurately obtaining a magnetic write start position and a print start position of a note having a magnetic stripe.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A predetermined magnetic information is written on a magnetic stripe provided on a ticket, and a predetermined printing is performed on a surface opposite to a surface of the magnetic stripe to be issued as an airplane boarding ticket or a train ticket. There is an issuing device. This type of ticket issuing device includes a storage unit for storing a ticket to be issued, a magnetic processing unit having a magnetic information writing head and a magnetic information reading head, a printing unit having a print head, a ticket ejection unit, and a ticket insertion unit. , And a transport path for transporting the bill between them, and a first and a second for detecting the leading edge of the bill in front of the magnetic recording unit and the printing unit in the bill discharging direction. A detection sensor is provided.

In such a configuration, issuance of a ticket is performed as follows. First, a note is fed out of the storage unit, and is conveyed toward the magnetic processing unit by the conveyance path. Then, before the front end of the bill is detected by the first detection sensor before the magnetic processing unit, and based on the detection signal, predetermined magnetic information is written on the magnetic stripe of the bill by the write head of the magnetic processing unit. When the magnetic information is read by the read head and the read information is confirmed to be correct, the bill is conveyed toward the printing unit by the conveyance path.

[0004] The front end of the bill is detected by a second detection sensor just before the printing section. After printing is performed by the print head of the printing section based on the detection signal, the bill is discharged from the bill discharge section. When the bill is manually inserted from the ticket insertion unit, it is sent to the magnetic processing unit via the transport path, and the magnetic information is similarly written, read, and printed, and is discharged from the ticket discharge unit.

[0005] In such a ticket issuing apparatus, the starting position of writing magnetic information on the magnetic stripe of the bill is determined by the distance between the first detection sensor and the write head of the magnetic processing unit. The start position is similarly determined by the distance between the second detection sensor and the print head of the printing unit, and these distances differ from device to device due to variations during assembly and the like.

For this reason, conventionally, a magnetic adjustment pattern is written on a magnetic stripe of a ticket by a write head for each device, and a print adjustment pattern is printed on the ticket by a print head. The distance to the information writing start position and the distance from the leading end of the note to the printing start position of the print adjustment pattern are measured with a measuring instrument such as a microscope, and a correction value is obtained from the measurement result. By storing the correction value in a memory backed up in a battery or by setting a dip switch, magnetic information can be accurately written or printed at a predetermined position when a ticket is issued or the like.

[0007]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, measurement for obtaining a correction value must be performed by a measuring device such as a microscope for each device, which takes time and man-hours, and also requires a measurement. There is a problem that mistakes and setting input mistakes are likely to occur. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to obtain and automatically set a correction value of a writing start position of magnetic information or a printing position by a printer without using a measuring instrument such as a microscope, and to automatically set the correction value. An object of the present invention is to realize a ticket issuing device that does not cause a setting input error or the like.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a storage section for storing a note, a write head for writing magnetic information on a magnetic stripe provided on the note, and a read for reading magnetic information written on the magnetic stripe. A magnetic processing unit having a head, a printing unit having a print head for performing printing on a printing surface opposite to the magnetic stripe surface of the ticket paper, and a first processing unit disposed in front of the magnetic processing unit in the ticket discharging direction. A detection sensor, a second detection sensor disposed in front of the printing unit in the ticket discharging direction, and a slit provided at a constant interval on a slit plate that rotates integrally with a transport roller that transports the bill. In a ticket issuing device having a slit sensor that outputs a pulse for each slit, a standard is used in which magnetic information is previously written at an accurate position on a magnetic stripe. Is transported to the magnetic processing unit, and the predetermined magnetic information written on the magnetic stripe is read by the read head after the first detection sensor detects the leading end of the standard ticket. The pulse output by the sensor is counted by the counting means, and the standard ticket is discharged. Based on the distance obtained from the count value of the counting means and the distance from the tip of the standard ticket to predetermined magnetic information, the first standard ticket is counted. The distance from the detection sensor to the read head is determined, a note is fed out from the storage section, transported to the magnetic processing section, and magnetic information is written on the magnetic stripe section of the note by the write head. The written magnetic information is read by the reading head, and the leading edge of the note at this time is detected by the first detection sensor before the reading is performed. The pulses output by the slit sensor until the magnetic information is read by the counter are counted by the counting means, and based on the distance obtained from the counted value and the distance from the first detection sensor to the reading head. After calculating the distance from the leading end of the ticket to the magnetic information written by the writing head, the distance thus determined and a predetermined standard value are used to accurately determine a predetermined write start position of the magnetic stripe of the ticket. A correction value for writing magnetic information to the
It is characterized in that it is set in storage means.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a ticket issuing device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side sectional view schematically showing a mechanism section of the embodiment. First, the configuration of FIG. 2 will be described. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes an unprocessed note paper to be issued, and reference numeral 2 denotes a hopper as a storage unit for storing the note paper 1.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a magnetic processing unit which includes a write head 4a and a read head 4b. Reference numeral 5 denotes a printing unit having a print head 6 and a platen 7, and a thermal head is used as the print head 6 here. Reference numeral 8 denotes an ink ribbon for printing. The ink ribbon 8 is fed from one reel 9a, passes between the print head 6 and the platen 7, and is wound on the other reel 9b.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a ticket discharging unit, and reference numeral 11 denotes a ticket inserting unit.
A transport path 12 includes a plurality of transport rollers including a transport roller 13, and the transport path 12 connects the above-described elements. Reference numeral 14 denotes a rotatable switching blade provided at a branch portion of the transport path 12. S1 is a first detection sensor provided before the magnetic recording unit 3 in the direction in which the ticket 1 is discharged, and S2 is a second detection sensor provided before the printing unit 5 in the direction in which the ticket 1 is discharged. .

Referring now to FIG. 1, reference numeral 15 in FIG. 1 denotes a slit plate having a plurality of slits provided radially. The slit plate 15 is connected to the first detection sensor S1 shown in FIG. It is mounted coaxially with the transport roller 13 between the writing head 4a. Reference numeral 16 denotes a slit sensor which detects a slit of the slit plate 15 and outputs a pulse of the detection signal. The slit plate 15 and the slit sensor 16 allow the feed amount of the bill fed by the transport roller 13 to be, for example, 0.1 mm unit. The slit encoder which detects by (1) is comprised.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing output pulses obtained by the slit encoder. Reference numeral 17 denotes a counter as counting means for counting the number of pulses output from the slit sensor 16. Reference numeral 18 denotes a memory (battery backup memory) as storage means, and 19 a control unit for controlling the operation of the apparatus. The control unit 19 includes the counter 17, the memory 18, the magnetic recording unit 3, the printing unit 5, the first Detection sensor S1, second detection sensor S2
Etc. are connected.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a magnetic stripe surface of a standard ticket used in this embodiment. Magnetic information "0" of frequency f and 2f are provided on a magnetic stripe 21 of the standard ticket 20.
The magnetic adjustment pattern composed of the magnetic information “1” having the frequency of “1” is accurately written by the magnetic recording method based on the FM method. It is set to be at the distance position.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. First, a case will be described in which a correction value for the write position of magnetic information is automatically obtained and set. When the standard ticket 20 is inserted from the ticket insertion unit 11, the standard ticket 20 is transported on the transport path 12 by the transport rollers.

This conveyance is performed until the end portion which becomes the front end during the conveyance in the discharge direction passes through the first detection sensor S1,
Thereafter, the standard ticket 20 is transported in the reverse direction, that is, in the discharge direction. When the leading end of the standard ticket 20 is detected by the first detection sensor S1 during the conveyance in the discharge direction, the control unit 19
Resets the counter 17 and starts counting output pulses from the slit sensor 16 that detects the slits of the slit plate 15 rotating together with the transport roller 13.

The read head 4 of the magnetic processing unit 3
When b reads the magnetic information “1” of the magnetic adjustment pattern from the magnetic stripe 21 of the standard ticket 20, the control unit 19 stops the counting operation of the counter 17. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the process from the detection of the leading end of the standard ticket 20 to the stop of the count of the counter 17 at this time.

When the control section 19 stops counting by the counter 17, the standard note 20 is transported to the discharge port 10 as it is and discharged, and the reading head 4b is read from the first detection sensor S1 using the count value of the counter 17. The distance L1 to is calculated. That is, assuming that the count value of the counter 17 is C, the control unit 19 calculates a value C1 converted into a distance of the count value C by a product “C × slit interval” of the count value C and a slit interval (for example, 0.1 mm). Since the distance from the tip of the standard ticket 20 to the magnetic information “1” on the magnetic stripe 21 is m1, the distance L1 from the first detection sensor S1 to the reading head is calculated from C1 and m1.

The distance L1 is obtained by "L1 = C1-m1". Next, one sheet 1 is fed from the hopper 2. The fed bill 1 is fed into the transport path 12 and transported toward the magnetic processing unit 3. Then, when the leading end of the bill 1 is detected by the first detection sensor S1, the control unit 19 resets the counter 17 and outputs the signal from the slit sensor 16 which detects the slit of the slit plate 15 rotating together with the transport roller 13. The output pulse starts counting, and when a predetermined count value is reached, the magnetic adjustment pattern of the magnetic information “0” and the magnetic information “1” is written on the magnetic stripe of the bill 1 by the write head 4 a of the magnetic processing unit 3. After that, when the read head 4b reads the magnetic information “1” of the magnetic adjustment pattern from the magnetic stripe of the bill 1, the control unit 19 stops the counting operation of the counter 17.

When the counting of the counter 17 is stopped, the control unit 19 calculates the distance m2 from the leading end of the bill 1 to the position of the magnetic information "1" using the count value of the counter 17. That is, the control unit 19 calculates the value C converted into the distance of the count value C by the product “C × slit interval” of the count value C of the counter 17 and the slit interval.
Ask for 2.

In this case, since the distance L1 from the first detection sensor S1 to the reading head 4b has already been determined, the control unit 19 calculates the distance from the leading end of the bill 1 to the leading position of the information "1" by using L1 and C2. Is determined as the distance m2. This distance m2 is obtained by "m2 = C2-L1". First detection sensor S1 when assembling a ticket issuing device
Of the distance L2 from the head to the write head 4b is:
The control unit 19 compares m2 with a predetermined standard value (the value of the distance from the leading end of the standard ticket 20 to the position of the magnetic information "1" of the magnetic adjustment pattern) because the control unit 19 compares m2 with the predetermined standard value. A correction value for accurately writing magnetic information from a predetermined write start position is obtained,
This correction value is set in the memory 18.

When a ticket is issued, information is written to the magnetic stripe of the ticket 1 based on the correction value. Note that, as described above, the distance L1 from the first detection sensor S1 to the reading head 4b and the distance m2 from the leading end of the ticket 1 to the leading position of the information "1" cause the distance from the writing head 4a to the reading head 4b. Since the distance is also known, it is apparent that the reading timing of the reading head 4b at the time of issuing the ticket can be corrected based on the distance.

As described above, using the standard ticket 20 on which the magnetic recording has been accurately performed, the distance of the reading head 4b from the first detection sensor S1 is grasped, and then the magnetic adjustment pattern is applied to the magnetic stripe of the bill 1. It is recorded, and the distance from the leading end of the obtained note 1 to the write position of the predetermined magnetic information is checked to obtain the correction value of the write start position. The calculation and setting of a correction value for accurately writing magnetic information can be automatically performed by the device.

Therefore, measurement by a measuring instrument such as a microscope is not required at the time of assembling at a factory or at the time of on-site replacement of a write head and a read head of the magnetic processing section and the first detection sensor. In addition, it is possible to prevent measurement errors and setting input errors from occurring, thereby improving reliability. Next, a case where the correction value of the print position is automatically determined and set will be described.

The ink of the ink ribbon 8 set on the reels 9a and 9b contains a magnetic material, and the print adjustment pattern printed on the ink ribbon 8 can be read by the reading head 4a. The bill 1 from which the magnetic information has been read as described above is conveyed along the conveyance path 12 toward the printing unit 5.

At this time, the switching blade 14 has been switched in the direction of guiding the ticket 1 to the printing unit 5. When the leading end of the bill 1 is detected by the second detection sensor S2, the control unit 19 resets the counter 17, and the slit plate 15 rotating together with the transport roller 13
The counting of the output pulse from the slit sensor 16 for detecting the slit is started, and when a predetermined count value is reached, a test is performed on the surface opposite to the magnetic stripe surface of the bill 1 by the print head 6 via the ink ribbon 8. The printing of the printing adjustment pattern is performed based on the program, and thereafter, the note paper 1 is discharged from the ticket discharge port 10.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the printing result of the bill 1 at this time. As shown in the drawing, the position of the distance 1 from the leading end of the bill is the printing start position of the printing adjustment pattern. Is printed in the area including the magnetic stripe on the back surface. Therefore, the ticket 1 is turned over so that the printing surface is on the reading head 4b side, and the ticket insertion slot 11 is set.
When the paper sheet 1 is further inserted, the inserted paper note 1 is transported along the transport path 12 by the transport roller.

This conveyance is performed until the end portion which becomes the leading end during the conveyance in the discharge direction passes through the first detection sensor S1,
Thereafter, the bill 1 is transported in the reverse direction, that is, in the discharge direction.
The control unit 19 resets the counter 17 when the leading end of the bill 1 is detected by the first detection sensor S1 during the conveyance in the discharge direction, and detects the slit of the slit plate 15 rotating together with the conveyance roller 13. The counting of the output pulse from the sensor 16 is started.

Then, the read head 4 of the magnetic processing unit 3
When b reads the leading portion of the print adjustment pattern printed on the bill 1, the control unit 19 stops the counting operation of the counter 17. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the process from the detection of the leading end of the bill 1 to the count stop of the counter 17 at this time.

When the control section 19 stops the counting of the counter 17, the bill 1 is conveyed to the ticket outlet 10 as it is and discharged, and the information “1” is fed from the leading end of the bill 1 using the count value of the counter 17. Is calculated. Here, first, the product of the count value C of the counter 17 and the slit interval “C × slit interval”
As a result, a value C3 converted into the distance of the count value C is obtained.

In this case, since the distance L1 from the first detection sensor S1 to the reading head 4b has already been determined, the control unit 19 calculates the distance from the leading end of the bill 1 to the leading position of the information "1" by using L1 and C3. Is obtained. This distance 1 is obtained by "1 = C3-L1". Variations in the distance L3 from the second detection sensor S2 to the print head 25 at the time of manufacture or the like appear directly at this distance l. Therefore, the control unit 19 compares the distance l with a predetermined standard value, and A correction value for accurately writing magnetic information is obtained from a predetermined printing start position, and is set in the correction value memory 18.

When a ticket is issued, printing is performed on the printing surface of the bill 1 based on the correction value. In this way, the printer itself can automatically determine and set a correction value for performing accurate printing from a predetermined printing start position. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, a correction value can be set at the factory. When assembling or replacing the print head and the second detection sensor on site, measurement using a microscope is not required, reducing work man-hours and preventing the occurrence of measurement errors and setting input errors. Can be improved.

In the above-described embodiment, the memory 10 is used as storage means for setting a correction value. However, a dip switch can be used instead. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the correction value for obtaining an accurate magnetic information write start position and the correction value for obtaining an accurate print start position are described as being obtained and set in a series of operations. When replacing the write head and read head of the magnetic processing unit, the print head of the print unit, and the first and second detection sensors individually on site, determine and set only one correction value as necessary. Is also possible.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, the standard ticket on which the magnetic information is written at the correct position on the magnetic stripe is used, and the distance from the first detection sensor to the reading head is determined. Because the magnetic information is recorded on the magnetic stripe of the ticket, the distance from the leading end of the obtained ticket to the write position of the predetermined magnetic information is checked, and the correction value of the write start position is obtained. A correction value for accurately writing magnetic information can be automatically calculated and set from a predetermined write start position.

For this reason, measurement by a measuring instrument such as a microscope is not required at the time of assembling at a factory or at the time of on-site replacement of a write head and a read head of a magnetic processing section, and a first detection sensor, etc. In addition, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of measurement errors and setting input errors, thereby improving reliability. In addition, in order to print on a note using an ink ribbon made of an ink containing a magnetic material, and to ascertain the distance in the same manner, a correction value for accurately printing from a predetermined printing start position is automatically determined by the apparatus itself. Therefore, even with this correction value, measurement with a microscope or the like is not required when assembling at a factory or replacing the print head and the second detection sensor at the site, and the number of work steps is reduced. Can be reduced, and the occurrence of measurement errors and setting input errors can be prevented, thereby improving reliability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view schematically showing a mechanism section of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing output pulses obtained by a slit encoder.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a magnetic stripe surface of a standard ticket.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a process from detection of the leading end of a standard ticket to counting stop.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a result of printing on a note paper.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the process from the detection of the leading edge of the note to the count stop.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 note paper 2a, 2b hopper 3 magnetic processing section 4a write head 4b read head 5 printing section 6 print head 7 platen 8 ink ribbon 10 note ejection section 11 note insertion section 12 transport path 13 transport roller S1 first detection sensor S2 first 2 detection sensor 15 slit plate 16 slit sensor 17 counting means 18 memory 19 control unit 20 standard ticket 21 magnetic stripe

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Akihiro Sasaki 1-7-12 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] A storage unit for storing a paper note, a write head for writing magnetic information on a magnetic stripe provided on the paper sheet, and a magnetic processing unit having a read head for reading the magnetic information written on the magnetic stripe; A printing unit having a print head for printing on a printing surface opposite to the magnetic stripe surface of the note paper, a first detection sensor disposed in front of the magnetic processing unit in a note discharging direction, and a note discharging direction And a second detection sensor disposed in front of the printing unit, and detects slits provided at regular intervals on a slit plate that rotates integrally with a transport roller that transports the bill, and generates a pulse for each slit. In a ticket issuing device having a slit sensor for outputting, a standard ticket in which magnetic information is written in an accurate position on a magnetic stripe in advance is transported to the magnetic processing unit. A pulse output by the slit sensor from when the first detection sensor detects the leading end of the standard ticket until the predetermined magnetic information written on the magnetic stripe is read by the read head. While counting by the counting means, the standard ticket is ejected, and based on the distance obtained from the count value of the counting means and the distance from the tip of the standard ticket to predetermined magnetic information, the first
The distance from the detection sensor to the read head is determined, a note is fed out from the storage section, transported to the magnetic processing section, and the magnetic head is written with magnetic information by the write head on the magnetic stripe section of the note. The written magnetic information is read by the read head, and the pulse output by the slit sensor from the time when the first detection sensor detects the leading end of the bill at this time until the read head reads the magnetic information is The distance is calculated by the counting means, and the distance from the leading end of the bill to the magnetic information written by the writing head is determined based on the distance obtained from the counted value and the distance from the first detection sensor to the reading head. After the calculation, the distance and the standard value are used to determine the correct position from the predetermined write start position of the magnetic stripe of the note paper. A ticket issuing device, wherein a correction value for reliably writing magnetic information is obtained and set in a storage unit. 2. The ticket issuing device according to claim 1, wherein an ink ribbon made of ink containing a magnetic material is provided in the printing unit, and the bill fed out of the storage unit is transported to the printing unit, and the ink ribbon is printed on the printing surface. Print information is printed by a print head via the print head, and the paper sheet inserted so that the print surface is on the read head side of the magnetic processing section is transported to the magnetic processing section, and the leading end of the paper sheet is moved to the first position. The pulse output from the slit sensor is counted by the counting means from when the detection information is detected by the detection sensor until the print information is read by the reading head, and the distance obtained from the count value and the distance obtained from the first detection sensor After determining the distance from the tip of the ticket to the print information based on the distance to the reading head, a predetermined printing start position of the ticket is determined by the obtained distance and the standard value. Seeking a correction value for performing et accurate printing, ticket issuing device, characterized in that the setting in the storage means.