JPH11102427A - Magnetic card, card counting device and card counting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a magnetic card which has a magnetic layer and counts through an optical counting method, and its counting method. SOLUTION: A magnetic layer 22 between a surface layer 21 and a rear layer 23 is coated on its edge plane with carbon and absorbs light. A card 1 is irradiated with light by a light sensor, receives reflected light, sides of the card 1 are scanned and the intensity of the reflected light is converted into a voltage signal. The voltage signal is converted into a pulse signal. The pulse signal is turned into a high level on the 'surface layer' 21 and the 'rear layer' 23 of the card 1 and is turned into a low level on the 'magnetic layer' 22 and 'between the layer 23 and the layer 21 of the next magnetic card', and two pulses are generated from one magnetic card 1. A counter counts a pulse number that is included in the pulse signal. Magnetic cards 1 are counted by dividing the counted value by 'two' that is the pulse number per the magnetic card 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic card having a magnetic layer between a front surface layer and a back surface layer, and a card counting apparatus and method for optically counting magnetic cards. The present invention relates to a magnetic card, and a card counting device and method for counting the magnetic card.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A magnetic card such as a prepaid card is counted by a mechanical counting device or an optical counting device. Since a mechanical counting device mechanically counts magnetic cards one by one, counting takes a long time, and an accurate count value may not be obtained due to a mechanical error. On the other hand, the optical counter irradiates the side of the magnetic card with light, converts the intensity of the reflected light from the magnetic card into a pulse signal, counts the number of pulses included in the pulse signal, and counts the counted value on the magnetic card. The number of This optical counting device is capable of high-speed counting and has an accurate count value as compared with a mechanical counting device.

[0003]

Some magnetic cards have a magnetic layer on the entire surface between a front surface layer and a back surface layer. When this kind of magnetic card is counted by an optical counting device, the light is unevenly absorbed by the magnetic recording medium mixed in the magnetic layer, so that the light reflectance of the magnetic layer is not determined uniformly, There is a problem that counting cannot be performed accurately.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and is a magnetic card having a magnetic layer between a front surface layer and a back surface layer, wherein the magnetic card can be counted by an optical counting method; It is an object of the present invention to provide a card counting device and method for counting the magnetic card.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a magnetic card according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a front surface layer and a back surface layer, which are opposed to each other, and a magnetic head comprising the front surface layer and the back surface layer. A magnetic layer that is disposed therebetween and that has been subjected to a process of absorbing light.

According to such a configuration, since light is absorbed at the end face of the magnetic layer exposed on the side face of the magnetic card, the light reflectance of the magnetic layer is determined almost uniformly. In addition, a clear difference appears in the light reflectance of the surface layer and the back surface layer and the magnetic layer. Therefore, the magnetic card can be counted using the optical sensor. It is desirable that the front surface layer and the back surface layer be made of a material having a high light reflectance or a material having a high reflectance color.

As a process for absorbing light, for example, there is a method of applying a light absorbing material such as carbon to the end face of the magnetic layer, or mixing a light absorbing nonmagnetic material into the magnetic layer. . According to this method, the light absorption of the magnetic layer can be increased without affecting the magnetic properties of the magnetic layer.

[0008] A card counting device according to a second aspect of the present invention is a card counting device for a magnetic card, which irradiates light to a side surface of the magnetic card, receives reflected light from the magnetic card, An optical sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to the received reflected light, a conversion unit that converts a signal from the optical sensor into a binary signal and converts it into a pulse signal, and a counter that counts the number of pulses included in the pulse signal; A storage unit for storing the number of pulses per magnetic card; and means for calculating the number of magnetic cards by dividing the count value of the counter by the number of pulses stored in the storage unit.

[0009] A card counting method according to a third aspect of the present invention is a card counting method for a magnetic card, wherein a light is applied to a side surface of the magnetic card in a direction normal to a main surface of the magnetic card. Scanning, converting the reflected light into an electric signal, binarizing the electric signal into a pulse signal, counting the number of pulses included in the pulse signal, and counting the number of pulses per magnetic card. Means for calculating the number of magnetic cards by dividing by

According to the card counting apparatus and method according to the second and third aspects, even when counting a magnetic card having the configuration described in claim 1, the number of pulses suitable for the magnetic card is stored in the storage unit. By setting, the number of magnetic cards can be properly counted.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A magnetic card, a card counting device and a card counting method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the magnetic card 1 has a front layer 21, a back layer 23, and a front layer 21.
And a magnetic layer 22 disposed between the back layer 23 and the bottom layer 23.

The surface layer 21 and the back layer 23 are made of an organic polymer compound such as polyimide. The magnetic layer 22 includes a magnetic recording medium 24 for recording information at a high density, and a binder 25 serving to stop the magnetic recording medium 24. The magnetic recording medium 24 is made of a dark or black metal powder (magnetic particles), a magnetic fiber, or the like.
It is made of a polymer resin such as polytarene. The end face of the magnetic layer 22 exposed on the side face of the magnetic card 1 is coated with carbon to absorb light. The surface layer 21
The end face of the back layer 23 is formed in a state of relatively high reflectance such as white.

As shown in FIG. 2, the card counting device includes a card storage unit 2, an optical sensor 3, a support 4, an amplifier 5
, A comparator 6, a counter 7, a control device 8,
Display device 10, motor 11, stop button 12
And.

The card storage unit 2 stores a plurality of magnetic cards 1
Is stored with the sides aligned.

The optical sensor 3 is fixed to the support 4 and moves at a constant speed in a direction normal to the main surface of the magnetic card 1 stored in the card storage unit 2 by the movement of the support 4. 1 is irradiated with light toward the side surface, the reflected light is received, and the received light is converted into an electric signal.
To supply.

The amplifier 5 amplifies the electric signal supplied from the optical sensor 3 and supplies the electric signal to the comparator 6.

The comparator 6 outputs a pulse signal by binarizing the amplified electric signal with a predetermined threshold value.

The counter 7 counts the number of pulses included in the pulse signal output from the comparator 6.

The control device 8 comprises a CPU or the like, has a storage unit 9, and controls the operation of the whole counting device. The storage unit 9 stores the number of pulses output from the comparator 6 corresponding to one magnetic card 1. As described below,
The storage unit 9 stores “2” as the number of pulses of the magnetic card 1 per card. The control device 8 obtains the number of magnetic cards 1 by dividing the count value of the counter 7 by this “2”, and sends the obtained number to the display device 10. Details of the operation of the control device 8 will be described later.

The display device 10 displays the number of magnetic cards 1 sent from the control device 8.

The motor 11 rotates at a constant speed under the control of the control device 8 and moves the support 4 at a constant speed in a direction normal to the main surface of the magnetic card 1. Thereby, the optical sensor 3 scans the side surface of the magnetic card 1.

When the optical sensor 3 has finished scanning the magnetic card 1, the stop button 12 is pressed by the support 4, and sends a signal indicating the end of scanning to the controller 8.

Next, the operation of the card counting device will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4 showing the operation of the control device. The operator of the card counting device stores the plurality of magnetic cards 1 in the card storage unit 2 with their side surfaces aligned, and instructs the control device 8 to start the counting operation.

In response to this instruction, the control device 8 turns on the optical sensor 3 and resets the count value of the counter 7 (step S1). The control device 8 rotates the motor 11 at a constant speed, and moves the support 4 at a constant speed in a direction normal to the main surface of the magnetic card 1. The optical sensor 3 fixed to the support 4 moves the magnetic card 1 with the movement of the support 4.
Is scanned (step S2).

As shown in FIG. 3, the optical sensor 3 emits light in order from the first magnetic card 1 and receives reflected light. Since the surface layer 21 of each magnetic card 1 has a high light reflectance, the light is strongly reflected. In the magnetic layer 22, the end face is coated with carbon to reduce the light reflectance, so that the light is absorbed (weakly reflected). The back surface layer 23 has a high light reflectance, and thus reflects light strongly. Between the back layer 23 of one magnetic card 1 and the front layer 21 of the next magnetic card 1,
Light reflectance is low and light is absorbed (weakly reflected).

The optical sensor 3 converts the received reflected light into a signal having a voltage level corresponding to the intensity, and the amplifier 5 amplifies and outputs the signal. Therefore, the amplified signal becomes a signal having an amplitude corresponding to the position of the magnetic card 1 as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, and the level difference becomes clear. The comparator 6 compares the voltage level of this signal with a threshold value and binarizes it, and FIG. 3 (A) and FIG.
The pulse signal of the magnetic card 1 is output as shown in FIG. The counter 7 counts the number of pulses included in the pulse signal.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a high-level signal is output from the front surface layer 21 and the back surface layer 23.
Magnetic layer 22, back surface layer 23, and front surface layer 2 of next magnetic card 1
A low-level signal is output between the two signals (step S2). Therefore, two pulses correspond to one magnetic card 1. For this reason, “2” is recorded in the storage unit 9 in advance as the number of pulses per sheet.

When the scanning of the magnetic card 1 is completed and the support 4 presses the stop button 12 (step S3), the control device 8 turns off the optical sensor 3 in response to the signal from the stop button 12, and The count value of the counter 7 is read (step S4).

The control device 8 reads the count value of the counter 7 and uses the value “2” stored in the storage unit 9 to read the count value of the counter 7.
Is divided into the number of magnetic cards 1 (step S5), and the obtained value is output to the display device 10 (step S6). Further, the number of magnetic cards 1 is printed by a printer or the like as necessary. When the output to the display device 10 is completed, the motor 11 is driven to move the support 4, and the optical sensor 3 is moved to the home position (step S7).
End the operation.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a clear difference appears in the light reflectance between the surface layer 21 and the back layer 23 and the magnetic layer 22. Therefore, the magnetic card 1 having the magnetic layer 22 on the entire surface between the front surface layer 21 and the back surface layer 23 can be accurately counted by using the optical counting device.

After the optical sensor 3 finishes scanning the back surface layer 23 of the last magnetic card 1, even if the optical sensor 3 continues to emit light, no light is reflected because there is no reflector. Therefore, the pulse signal corresponding to the intensity of the reflected light received by the optical sensor continues to maintain the low level, and the count value of the counter 7 does not change. Therefore, for example, the control device 8 periodically monitors the count value of the counter 7, and when the count value does not change for a predetermined time, terminates the scanning of the optical sensor 3, without using the stop button 12. The scanning of the optical sensor 3 can be terminated. By doing so, the time required for the support 4 to press the stop button 12 can be reduced, and the magnetic cards 1 can be counted efficiently. In addition, costs and the like for attaching the stop button 12 can be reduced, and a low-cost card counting device can be provided.

In the above description, carbon is applied to the end surface of the magnetic layer 22 exposed on the side surface of the magnetic card 1 to absorb light, but a light-absorbing material other than carbon is applied. Is also good.

Instead of applying a light absorbing material, light may be absorbed by mixing and adding a light absorbing non-magnetic material to the magnetic layer itself. Also in this case, the light reflectance of the magnetic layer is uniformly set to a low value, and the magnetic card 1 can be counted by the optical counting device.

The amount of the light-absorbing material applied and the amount of the light-absorbing non-magnetic material mixed are arbitrary depending on the material and the like, and a pulse signal corresponding to the reflection intensity of the light irradiated by the optical sensor 3 is obtained. The amount by which the magnetic layer 22 is stably turned to a low level may be experimentally determined, and the amount may be applied or mixed.

In the above description, one magnetic layer is exposed on the side surface of one magnetic card. However, a plurality of magnetic layers may be exposed. For example, when there are two exposed magnetic layers (when two magnetic layers are provided between the front surface layer 21 and the back surface layer 23), three pulses are generated by one magnetic card. Therefore, the magnetic card can be counted by storing “3” in the storage unit 9 and dividing the count value of the counter 7 by “3”.

[0036]

As described above, according to the magnetic card, the card counting device and the card counting method of the present invention, a magnetic card having a magnetic layer on the entire surface between the front surface layer and the back surface layer can be accurately and quickly performed. Can be counted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of a magnetic card having a magnetic layer.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a card counting device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram in which the reflection intensity of light corresponding to each layer of the magnetic card is converted into an electric signal and a pulse signal.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Magnetic card 2 Card storage part 3 Optical sensor 4 Support body 5 Amplifier 6 Comparator 7 Counter 8 Control device 9 Storage part 10 Display device 11 Motor 12 Stop button 21 Surface layer 22 Magnetic layer 23 Back layer 24 Magnetic recording medium 25 Binder

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A front surface layer and a back surface layer which are arranged to face each other, and a magnetic layer which is arranged between the front surface layer and the back surface layer and has been subjected to light absorbing processing. Magnetic card. 2. The magnetic card according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic layer is exposed on a side surface of the magnetic card. 3. The magnetic card according to claim 1, wherein a light absorbing material is applied to an end face of the magnetic layer. 4. The magnetic layer according to claim 1, wherein a light absorbing non-magnetic material is mixed in said magnetic layer.
The magnetic card according to 1. 5. A card counting device for a magnetic card, comprising:
An optical sensor that irradiates light to a side surface of the magnetic card, receives reflected light from the magnetic card, and outputs a signal corresponding to the received reflected light, and binarizes the signal from the optical sensor to generate a pulse signal. A conversion unit for converting the number of pulses included in the pulse signal, a storage unit for storing the number of pulses per magnetic card, and a storage unit for storing the count value of the counter. Means for calculating the number of magnetic cards by dividing the number of pulses by the number of pulses. 6. The magnetic card according to claim 1, further comprising: a front surface layer and a back surface layer disposed to face each other; and a magnetic layer disposed between the front surface layer and the back surface layer and processed to absorb light. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the storage unit stores "2" as the number of pulses per one magnetic card.
2. The card counting device according to claim 1. 7. A card counting method for a magnetic card, comprising:
While irradiating the side surface of the magnetic card with light, the magnetic card is scanned in the normal direction of the main surface of the magnetic card, the reflected light is converted into an electric signal, and the electric signal is binarized and converted into a pulse signal. A card counting method comprising: counting the number of pulses included in a signal; and dividing the counted value by the number of pulses per magnetic card to determine the number of magnetic cards. 8. The magnetic card according to claim 1, further comprising: a front surface layer and a back surface layer which are disposed to face each other; and a magnetic layer which is disposed between the front surface layer and the back surface layer and has been subjected to light absorbing processing. The card counting method according to claim 7, wherein the number of magnetic cards is obtained by dividing the count value by "2" which is the number of pulses per magnetic card.