JPH11353855A - Card printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a card printer which can significantly enhance the quality and reliability of a printed card material. SOLUTION: The card printer for printing an image on one side or both sides of a card material 4 provided with a magnetic recording area on one side or both sides thereof comprises a magnetic head 12 for recording information based on recording signals being supplied in the magnetic recording area of the card material 4, a means for supporting the magnetic head 12 movably in the direction approaching the card material 4 or receding therefrom, and a means for driving the supporting means such that the magnetic head 12 abuts against the card material 4. According to the structure, the magnetic head 12 can be protected against damage due to sliding on the card material 4 in the prestage or post stage of printing process.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card printing apparatus, and is suitably applied to, for example, a thermal transfer card printer for printing a color image on one or both sides of a card material made of a plastic material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of thermal transfer type card printer, various dyes applied to an ink ribbon are printed in a predetermined manner by pressing a thermal transfer head onto a platen via an ink ribbon and a card material. A color image is printed on the surface of the card material by thermal transfer to the surface of the card material based on the signal.

[0003]

When a color image as described above is printed on a card material having a striped magnetic stripe formed on one or both sides, predetermined recording is performed on the magnetic stripe of the card material. A method of recording the information based on the signal as a series of steps together with the printing step using a single device is conceivable.

At this time, in order to save space inside the apparatus, when a printing position and a magnetic recording position are adjacent to each other on a card material conveyance path, when the printing process is performed on one surface or the other surface of the card material, the card material is used. If the magnetic head is exposed on the transport path, the printed screen may be damaged due to one surface or the other surface of the card material slidingly contacting the magnetic head.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to propose a card printing apparatus which can significantly improve the reliability of the quality of a card material after printing.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a card printing apparatus for printing an image on one or both sides of a card material provided with a magnetic recording area on one or both sides. A magnetic head for recording information based on a recording signal in a magnetic recording area of the card material, a support means for movably supporting the magnetic head in a direction toward or away from the card material; And a driving means for driving the supporting means so that the magnetic head comes into contact with the card material only when recording is performed.

As a result, since the magnetic head does not approach the card material except during magnetic recording, the magnetic head can be prevented from slidingly contacting the card material before or after the printing process. Damage to one or both sides of the card material can be prevented.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(1) Overall Configuration of Card Printer In FIG. 1, 1 indicates a card printer as a whole.
Cleaning roller 3A from card insertion slot 2A of housing 2
The card material 4 inserted via the card carrier 3 and the card material 3B can be conveyed by the card conveying unit 5 to the rotary conveying unit 6 along the conveying path CR. In the case of this embodiment, a so-called ISO (International Organizati
on for Standardization) standard is applied, a magnetic stripe is formed along the longitudinal direction on the edge of one surface of the card material 4, and an IC is provided at a predetermined position on the front end of the other surface.
(Integrated Circuit) The memory is embedded.

In practice, the card transport section 5 comprises a first transport section 5A and a second transport section 5B disposed before and after the transport path CR via a platen 7, and the first transport section 5A and the second transport section 5B. A pair of transport rollers 8A to 11A, 8
B to 11B are rotatably supported at predetermined intervals along the transport path CR.

The upper conveying rollers 8A to 11A
Are rotated in the same direction in conjunction with each other in response to the rotation of a drive motor (not shown).
To 11B are in contact with and pressed against the corresponding upper conveying rollers 8A to 11A.
It rotates in the opposite direction according to the rotation of. Thereby, the upper conveying rollers 8A to 11A and the lower conveying rollers 8B to 11A
B, the card material 4 inserted between the upper conveying rollers 8A
It can be freely conveyed in the front-rear direction along the conveyance path CR according to the rotation of 11A.

In the second transport section 5B, the lower transport roller 10A is opposed to the upper transport roller 10A.
A magnetic head 12 in a magnetic recording / reproducing unit 16 is provided at a predetermined position in line with B. The magnetic head 12 is exposed or hidden on the transport path CR according to the driving of a predetermined driving mechanism (not shown). Have been made to gain.

Photointerrupter-type optical sensors 13, 14, and 15 are provided at the front and rear stages of the first transport unit 5A and at the front stage of the second transport unit 5B, respectively. The presence or absence of the incoming card material 4 can be detected.

When the card material 4 actually inserted from the outside is detected by the optical sensor 13 at the preceding stage of the first transport section 5A, the card transport section 5 starts the first transport section 5A and the second transport section 5A.
The transport rollers 8A to 11A on the upper side of the transport section 5B are driven to rotate in a predetermined direction, and the card material 4 is sent out in the direction indicated by the arrow a along the transport path CR.

Further, the card transport unit 5 includes a first transport unit 5
A and upper conveying rollers 8A to 11 of second conveying unit 5B
The platen 7 is rotated in the opposite direction in synchronization with the rotation of A.
As a result, the card material 4 is sent from the first transport section 5A to the second transport section 5B via the platen 7.

Subsequently, when the card material 4 is detected by the optical sensor 15 provided at the front stage of the second transport section 5B,
The magnetic recording / reproducing unit 16 exposes the magnetic head 12 on the transport path CR, and places the magnetic head 12 on the upper transport roller 1.
It is pressed against 0A. Next, the card transport unit 5 sequentially inserts the card material 4 between the transport roller 10A and the magnetic head 12 according to the rotation of the transport roller 10A. After recording information based on a predetermined recording signal on a magnetic stripe formed on one surface of the material 4, the information is reproduced to determine whether or not a recording error exists in the card material 4.

Thereafter, the card transport unit 5 delivers the magnetically recorded card material 4 to the rotary transport unit 6 via the transport rollers 11A and 11B. At this time, the magnetic recording / reproducing unit 16
Is the magnetic head 12 exposed on the transport path CR.
Is hidden from the transport path CR.

In the rotary transport section 6, a rotating mechanism section 20 is supported rotatably about a rotating shaft 21 in a direction indicated by an arrow r or in a direction opposite thereto. In the rotation mechanism 20, first flipper rollers 22A and 22B and second flipper rollers 23A and 23B are rotatably supported via a rotating shaft 21 while maintaining a symmetrical positional relationship with each other.

The flipper rollers 22A and 23A at one end rotate in the same direction in conjunction with each other according to the rotation of a driving motor (not shown), and the flipper rollers 22B and 23B at the other end correspond to each other. The flipper rollers 22A and 23A are pressed against the flipper rollers 22A and 23A at one end.
It rotates in the opposite direction according to the rotation of A. As a result, the card material 4 inserted between the first flipper rollers 22A and 22B and / or between the second flipper rollers 23A and 23B is sent out before and after the transport path CR in accordance with the rotation of the one flipper rollers 22A and 23A.

The first flipper rollers 22A and 22A
A first optical sensor 24 and a second optical sensor 25 of a photo-interrupter type are provided on the outside of B and outside of the second flipper rollers 23A and 23B (ie, both on the centrifugal side of the rotating shaft 21). Conveyance path CR
The presence or absence of the card material 4 sent along the line can be detected.

In practice, first, when the magnetic recording / reproducing section 16 starts magnetic recording on the card material 4, the rotary transport section 6 moves the rotating mechanism section 20 by a predetermined angle in a direction indicated by an arrow r or in a direction opposite thereto. By rotating, the leading edge of the card material 4 gradually fed out along the transport path CR during magnetic recording is moved to the first flipper rollers 22A and 22A of the rotation mechanism 20.
B or the second flipper rollers 23A and 23B are prevented from coming into contact with each other. Thus, it is possible to effectively prevent the recording information recorded on the card material 4 from being jittered due to the contact of the card material 4 with each roller during the magnetic recording.

The rotary transport unit 6 receives the card material 4 sent from the card transport unit 5 after magnetic recording.
A position where the first flipper rollers 22A and 22B and the second flipper rollers 23A and 23B are arranged along the direction indicated by the arrow a (hereinafter referred to as a transport reference position).
The rotation mechanism 20 is positioned.

Subsequently, when the card material 4 sent out from the card transport section 5 is detected by the first optical sensor 24,
The rotary transport unit 6 includes a first flipper roller 22A on one end side.
Then, the second flipper roller 23A is driven to rotate, and the card material 4 is fed between the second flipper rollers 23A and 23B along the transport path CR while being sandwiched between the first flipper rollers 22A and 22B. After that, when the card material 4 is detected by the second optical sensor 25, the rotary transport unit 6 stops the rotation of the first flipper roller 22A and the second flipper roller 23A on one end side. As a result, the card material 4 is separated from the first flipper rollers 22A and 22A.
B and between the second flipper rollers 23A and 23B.

At this time, the magnetic recording / reproducing section 16
If it is determined that there is a recording error in the
Is to rotate the rotation mechanism unit 20 at the transport reference position by a predetermined angle in the direction indicated by the arrow r, and move the card material 4 to a position corresponding to the entrance 26A of the defective card tray 26 (hereinafter referred to as a defective card discharge position). Position). After that, the rotary transport unit 6 moves the first flipper roller 2 on one end side.
The card material 4 is discharged into the carry-in port 26A of the defective card tray 26 while rotating the card material 4 in the direction shown by the arrow b by rotating the 2A and the second flipper roller 23A.

On the other hand, when the magnetic recording / reproducing section 16 determines that there is no recording error in the card material, the rotary transport section 6 moves the rotary mechanism section 20 at the transport reference position by a predetermined angle in the direction indicated by the arrow r. And rotate card material 4 to IC
A position corresponding to the insertion slot 30A of the recording / reproducing unit 30 (hereinafter, referred to as a
This is called an IC recording / reproducing position). After that, the rotary transport unit 6 moves the first flipper roller 2 on one end side.
2A and the second flipper roller 23A are rotationally driven to move the card material 4 in the direction shown by the arrow c so that the card material 4 is inserted into the insertion port 30 of the IC recording / reproducing unit 30.
Insert into A.

The IC recording / reproducing unit 30 contacts an interface connector (not shown) with each terminal of an IC memory provided on one surface of the card material 4 to read information based on a predetermined recording signal set in advance. After recording, the information is reproduced to determine whether or not there is a recording error.

Thus, the IC recording / reproducing unit 30 is
If it is determined that there is a recording error in the
Rotates the first flipper roller 22A and the second flipper roller 23A on one end to move the card material 4 in the direction of the arrow c.
After pulling out in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow, the rotation mechanism unit 20 at the IC recording / reproducing position is rotated by a predetermined angle in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow r and positioned at the defective card discharge position. Subsequently, the rotary transport unit 6 rotates the first flipper roller 22A and the second flipper roller 23A on one end side to move the card material 4 in the direction shown by the arrow b and into the loading port 26A of the defective card tray 26. Discharge.

On the other hand, when the IC recording / reproducing section 30 determines that there is no recording error in the card material 4, the rotary transport section 6 moves the rotating mechanism section 20 at the IC recording / reproducing position in the direction indicated by the arrow r. And rotate it by a predetermined angle in the opposite direction,
Position at the original transport reference position. Subsequently, the rotary transport unit 6
Rotates the first flipper roller 22A and the second flipper roller 23A on one end side, and sends the card material 4 to the second transport portion 5B while moving the card material 4 in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow a.

The card transport unit 5 rotates the transport rollers 8A to 11A on the upper side of the first transport unit 5A and the second transport unit 5B in a predetermined direction, and rotates the platen 7 in a direction opposite to the rotation. Thereby, the card material 4 is transferred from the second transport section 5B to the transport path C in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow a.
It is sent out to the first transport section 5A via the platen 7 along R.

In the card transport section 6, when the optical sensor 16 provided at the subsequent stage of the first transport section 5A detects that the card material 4 has passed, the first transport section 5A and the first transport section 5A Upper transport roller 10A of second transport section 5B
Stop rotation of ~ 13A. At this time, the card material 4
Color image printing unit 4 provided at a position facing platen 7
For 0, a so-called cueing state is set.

In the color image printing section 40, a thermal transfer head 43 supported at the tip of a head unit 42 is provided.
Is pressed against the platen 7 via the roll-shaped ink ribbon 47 supported by the supply reel 45 and the take-up reel 46, and the card material 4 positioned on the platen 7, and the thermal transfer head 43 is in this state. The heat of the ink ribbon 47 can be thermally transferred to one surface of the card material 4 by generating heat based on predetermined print data.

In this case, the roll-shaped ink ribbon 47 is housed in the ribbon cassette 41, and the ribbon cassette 41 is printed with a color image through a cassette insertion opening (not shown) formed on the side surface of the housing 2. Part 40 and platen 7
It is designed to be removably loaded between them.

The supply reel 45 is provided with a torque limiter (not shown) for applying a predetermined torque at the time of rotation, so that the ink ribbon 47 is always backed up. Further supply reel 45
An optical sensor (not shown) for detecting the winding diameter is disposed near the position, so that the winding state of the winding reel 46 can be controlled by detecting the tension of the ink ribbon 47.

The rear end of the head unit 42 in the color image printing section 40 is connected to the support member 50 and the pressure lever 5.
One end of the support member 50 is connected to be coaxial with the other end, and the other end of the support member 50 is rotatably attached to the fixed shaft 52. Further, one end of a substantially triangular connecting member 53 is rotatably connected to the other end of the pressure lever 51, and one of the other two corners of the connecting member 53 is connected to the fixed shaft 54. The other corner portion is rotatably attached to the disk cam 56 via a pin 55.
Is engaged.

The disc cam 56 is fixed to the head drive shaft 57 using a head drive shaft 57 serving as a drive shaft of a head motor (not shown) as a cam shaft. Are formed. As a result, the pin 55 attached to the corner of the connecting member 53 can slide along the cam groove 56A formed in the disc cam 56. At this time, the rotation angle of the disc cam 56 with respect to the head drive shaft 57 is constantly detected by the head position sensor 58, and the color image printing unit 40 changes the elevation state of the head unit 42 as necessary based on the detection result. It is made to be controllable.

As described above, in the color image printing section 40, a cam mechanism including the disk cam 56, the pin 55, and the connecting member 53 having the head drive shaft 57 as the cam shaft is constituted, and the fixed shafts 52 and 54 are further formed. Because it is fixed,
A link mechanism including the connecting member 53, the pressure lever 51, and the support member 50 is also configured.

A pair of protrusions 42A are formed on both ends of the head unit 42, and a position regulating guide formed on a support plate (not shown) in the housing 2 in response to the rotation of the support member 50. By sliding along the groove, the head unit 42 can be moved while regulating the position in a direction approaching or separating from the platen 7 (that is, a linear direction). As a result, the thermal transfer head 43 moves to the platen 7. On the other hand, it is possible to prevent positional deviation.

Here, a case where the color image printing section 40 actually performs a printing operation will be described. First, when the ribbon cassette 41 is loaded into the housing 2 through the cassette insertion slot, the color image printing unit 40 moves the head unit 42 to a predetermined position (see FIG. 2) where the head unit 42 is sufficiently separated from the platen 7. This is hereinafter referred to as an initial position).

In this state, when the card material 4 is detected by the optical sensor 16 at the subsequent stage of the first transporting section 5A (FIG. 1), and the cueing state for the color image printing section 40 is reached, the color image printing section 40 is started. Rotates the disk cam 56 in the direction indicated by the arrow d with the head drive shaft 57 as the cam shaft in response to the driving of the head motor. At the same time, connecting member 5
When the pin 55 attached to the corner of the third slides along the cam groove 56A formed in the disc cam 56, the connecting member 53 rotates around the fixed shaft 54 in the direction indicated by the arrow e and , The supporting member 5 via the pressure lever 51
0 also rotates around the fixed shaft 52 in the direction indicated by the arrow f.

As shown in FIG. 3, the head unit 42, which is rotatably attached to one end of the support member 50, contacts the platen 7 in response to the rotation of the support member 50 (indicated by an arrow g). After moving while the position is regulated in the direction shown in the figure, the carriage temporarily stops at a predetermined position near the platen 7 (hereinafter referred to as an intermediate position).

At this time, the ink ribbon 47 (FIG. 1) is pressed against the thermal transfer head 43 of the head unit 42. At this intermediate position, the supply reel 45 and the take-up reel 46 take up the slack of the ink ribbon 47 and make one page. Find the beginning of the minute.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, each of the ink ribbons 47 has a color dye of yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black K applied as a dye for one sheet of the card material 4 with a predetermined length. Subsequently, a film-like sheet L is arranged. Further, a predetermined mark (not shown) is applied to the head position of each page of the ink ribbon 47, and the mark is applied by an optical sensor (not shown) provided on the traveling path of the ink ribbon 47. By detecting the mark, the cue of the ink ribbon 47 can be performed.

Thereafter, when the color image printing section 40 rotates the disk cam 56 in the direction indicated by the arrow d in response to the driving of the head motor, the pin 55 sliding along the cam groove 56A of the disk cam 56 is moved. When the cam groove 56A reaches a position that is the farthest from the cam shaft, the driving of the head motor is stopped. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the head unit 42 is pressed down from the intermediate position to a predetermined position (hereinafter, referred to as a printing position) pressed against the platen 7 in a direction indicated by an arrow g.

In this state, as shown in FIG. 1, the card transport section 5 rotates the platen 7 to send out the card material 4 in the direction indicated by the arrow a along the transport path CR.
The color image printing section 40 synchronizes with the rotation of the platen 7 and abuts and presses the thermal transfer head 43 over the entire width of one surface of the card material 4 to apply the yellow Y dye based on predetermined printing data. By thermally transferring the entire surface, a region corresponding to yellow Y in a desired color image can be printed.

Thereafter, when it is detected by the optical sensor 17 provided before the second transport section 5B that the card material 4 has passed, the color image printing section 40 drives the head motor. By rotating the head drive shaft 57 in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow d, the head unit 42 at the printing position is moved back to the intermediate position.

The card transport section 5 rotates the upper transport rollers 10A to 13A to transport the card material 4 to the transport path CR.
While sending back in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by arrow a along
When the optical sensor 16 provided at the subsequent stage of the first transport unit 5A detects that the card material 4 has passed, the rotation of the upper transport rollers 10A to 13A is stopped. As a result, the card material 4 is again stored in the color image printing section 40.
To a cueing state.

Subsequently, the color image printing unit 40 rotates the supply reel 45 and the take-up reel 46 to rotate the ink ribbon 4.
After the head 7 is moved for a predetermined length and positioned at the position where the dye of magenta M is to be formed, the head motor is driven to lower the head unit 42 from the intermediate position to the printing position.

In this state, in synchronization with the timing at which the card transport section 5 rotates the platen 7 to send out the card material 4 along the transport path CR, the color image printing section 40 moves the thermal transfer head 43 to one side of the card material 4. Then, the area corresponding to magenta M in the desired color image is printed by thermally transferring the dye of magenta M onto the entire surface.

Next, the card transport section 5 and the color image printing section 40 correspond to cyan C and black K of a desired color image on one surface of the card material 4 by sequentially repeating the same printing operation as described above. After printing the area, the entire surface can be laminated by transferring the film-like sheet L to one surface on which the color image is printed.

The card material 4 on which the desired color image is printed on one surface is sent from the card transport section 5 to the rotary transport section 6 along the transport path CR. At this time, in the rotary transport section 6, the rotation mechanism section 20 is positioned at the transport reference position, and the first flipper roller 22A at one end and the second
Of the card material 4 by rotating the flipper roller 23A of FIG.
Between the second flipper rollers 23A and 23B and between the second flipper rollers 23A and 23B.

In this state, the rotary transport section 6 rotates the rotating mechanism section 20 at the transport reference position by 180 degrees in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow r, and moves the card material 4 to the card transport section 5.
(Hereinafter referred to as a reverse transport reference position).

Subsequently, the rotary transport unit 6 rotates the first flipper roller 22A and the second flipper roller 23A at one end to move the card material 4 in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow a, and to move the card material 5 To send out. Accordingly, the card transporting unit 5 and the color image printing unit 40 execute the same printing process as when a desired color image is printed on one surface of the card material 4 as described above, and thereby the other surface of the card material 4 Also, a color image based on predetermined print data can be printed.

The card material 4 having the desired color images printed on both sides in this manner is sent from the card transport section 5 to the rotary transport section 6 along the transport path CR. At this time, the rotary transport unit 6 moves the card material 4 in the direction indicated by the arrow a by rotating the first flipper roller 22A and the second flipper roller 23A at one end of the rotation mechanism unit 20 at the reverse transport reference position. Then, it is sent out to a card tray (not shown) provided outside through a card outlet 2B on the end face of the housing 2.

Incidentally, in the card printer 1, the card transport unit 5, the rotary transport unit 6, the magnetic recording / reproducing unit 16,
The C recording / reproducing unit 30 and the color image printing unit 40 are each driven to a predetermined state under the control of a host computer (not shown) as control means.

[0055] (2) Printing process 6 in the color image printing unit shows a circuit configuration of a color image printing unit 40, the host computer (not shown) from a predetermined print data D _P is supplied, the memory controller 60 Is the CPU 61
, The print data D _CP is converted into color print data D _PY (yellow Y), D _PM (magenta M), D _PC (cyan C), D _Pk (black K), and laminate data corresponding to each color. D _PL written in the frame memory 62-66 corresponding respectively as (film-like sheet L), one print surface min.

Next, the memory controller 60
61 under the control of, the frame memories 62 to 66 each color print data D _PY from, D _PM, after the D _PC and D _Pk and laminates data D _PL read at a predetermined timing, the out color printing data D _PY , D _PM and D _PC respectively sends out the color province of Asia strike portion 67 to 69, a selector color print data D _Pk and laminates data D _PL 7
0 is sent to one input terminal.

The color adjustment units 67 to 69 are provided with color conversion tables (not shown) having standard printing characteristics for each color, and adjustments set for each color before and after the color matching processing. After performing color adjustment according to the curve, the obtained color print data D _PY1 , D _PY1
PM1 and _DPC1 are sent to the masking unit 71.

The masking section 71 separates unnecessary data from the supplied color print data D _PY1 , D _PM1 and D _PC1 , and then obtains the obtained color print data D _PY2 and D _PM2.
And D _PC2 to the other two input terminals of the selector 70.

The selector 70 _converts the sequentially selected data of the given color print data D _PY2 , D _PM2 , D _PC, D _Pk and the laminate data D _PL as necessary under the control of the CPU 61 into a gamma correction section. 72.
The gamma correction unit 72 performs density energization time conversion based on a predetermined heat correction coefficient set based on the control of the CPU 61, and supplies the resulting print image data _DT to the thermal transfer head controller 73. .

[0060] The thermal transfer head controller 73 is provided in the head unit 42, after converting the print image data D _T into a current signal D _I, be provided to the thermal transfer head 43. In the result the thermal transfer head 43, a plurality of heating resistors provided on the head surface (not shown) generates heat respectively according to the current signal D _I. Thus the color image printing unit 40 based on the print data D _P can be heating the head surface of the thermal transfer head 43, a desired one side of the color image card material 4 in accordance with the print data D _P based on the heat generation Alternatively, it can be printed on another side.

The CPU 61 has mechanical controllers 50 to 5
By controlling the drive of the heat transfer unit 7, the thermal transfer controller 73 in the head unit 42 can be moved so as to approach or separate from the platen 7. CPU 61
Is configured to transmit a control command to be transmitted to each circuit via a bus 74.

(3) Configuration of Magnetic Recording / Reproducing Unit In FIG. 7 in which the same reference numerals are given to the parts corresponding to those in FIG. Shows the lower side when done.

In the card transport section 5, a pair of guide sections 80A and 80B are provided so as to form a transport path CR for the card material 4, and the opposing surfaces of the guide sections 80A and 80B respectively have a U-shaped cross section. Guide grooves 80AG and 8
0BG is formed along the transport direction (the direction of arrow a). Accordingly, the guard transport unit 5 regulates the position of both side edges of the card material 4 substantially along the guide grooves 80AG and 80BG, and moves the card material 4 in the vertical direction (that is, the card material 4 (Vertical direction) can be prevented.

The first transporting section 5 is provided in the guide section 80B.
A and a position regulating member 81 corresponding to the second transport portion 5B.
A and 81B are provided, and are urged in the direction indicated by the arrow m via coil springs (not shown). Thereby, the guide grooves 80AG and 80BG are formed along the transport path CR.
One end of the card material 4 guided into the inside is pressed against a predetermined urging force by a position regulating member 81A or 81B, and the other end of the card material 4 is guided by a guide groove 80.
AG, so that the card material 4 is moved laterally with respect to the transport path CR (that is, in the width direction of the card material 4).
Position can be prevented.

In the case of this embodiment, the magnetic recording / reproducing unit 1
Reference numeral 6 denotes a head holding portion 82 and a cam driving portion 83. The head holding portion 82 is rotatably mounted on a fixed shaft 84 having one end pivotally supported by a support plate (not shown). It comprises a rotation support member 85 and a buffer member 86 having elasticity with respect to the rotation support member 85 and having a magnetic head 12 attached to one end.

The cam driving section 83 is connected to a worm gear 88 fitted to an output shaft 87 A of a motor 87 via gears 89, 90, 91 and 92 to form a cam driving gear 9.
The rotation shaft 94 is fitted to the rotation center of the gear 93 and rotates integrally with the gear 93. The rotation shaft 93 is rotatably supported by a support plate (not shown), and a plate cam 9 having the rotation shaft 93 as a cam shaft is provided at one end.
5 is fitted, a substantially semi-disc-shaped shielding plate 96 is fixed to a predetermined position on the other end side, and the plate cam 95 and the shielding plate 96 rotate integrally with the fixed shaft 94.

The plate cam 95 is a so-called mushroom type cam, and alternates between a minimum diameter and a maximum diameter every half rotation about the rotation shaft 94. An optical sensor 97 composed of a transmission type photo interrupter is provided in the vicinity of the shielding plate 96.
Each time 5 becomes the minimum diameter or the maximum diameter, the shielding plate 96
The position is set so that the presence or absence of the can be detected.

As shown in FIG. 8, the head holding portion 82
The rotation supporting member 85 has a substantially L-shaped projecting member 85A projecting downward from the center thereof.
The bottom surface 85AB of FIG.
5 so as to be separably engaged therewith. For this reason, the other end of the coil spring 98 whose one end is fixedly held is attached to a predetermined position of the overhang member 85A, and the bottom surface 85 of the overhang member 85A is pressed in accordance with the urging force of the coil spring 98.
AB can be kept in a state of being constantly pressed against the plate cam 95.

Thus, the head holding portion 82 is
In accordance with the rotation of the plate cam 95 based on the driving of the
The magnetic head 12 attached to one end of the cushioning member 86 can be exposed or hidden on the transport path CR by swinging around the center in the direction indicated by the arrow p or in the direction opposite thereto.

Actually, in the card printer 1, the second
When the card material 4 is detected by the optical sensor 15 (FIG. 1) provided in the front stage of the transport unit 5B, the magnetic recording / reproducing unit 16 drives the motor 87 in the cam driving unit 83 to drive the plate cam. When the optical sensor 97 in the cam drive unit 83 detects the rising time of the shielding plate 96 (that is, the start of shielding) while rotating the 95, the rotation of the plate cam 95 is stopped. As a result, the plate head 95 comes into contact with the bottom surface 85AB of the projecting member 85A with a minimum diameter, so that the magnetic head 12 is exposed on the transport path CR.

Subsequently, after the magnetic recording / reproducing, when the card material 4 is transferred to the rotary transport unit 6 (FIG. 1), the magnetic recording / reproducing unit 1
6 is a motor 8 in the cam drive unit 83 as shown in FIG.
When the optical sensor 97 in the cam drive unit 83 detects the falling time of the shielding plate 96 (that is, the end of shielding) while driving the plate cam 95 while driving the plate cam 95, the rotation of the plate cam 95 is stopped. Stop. As a result, the plate cam 95 comes into contact with the bottom surface 85AB of the projecting member 85A with the maximum diameter, so that the magnetic head 12 lurks from above the transport path CR.

In addition to the above configuration, in the head holding portion 82, as shown in FIG. 10, one end of the shaft 100 is fixedly held at the center of the upper plate 85C of the rotation support member 85.
Guide pins 1 are provided on both side ends of the upper plate 85C.
One end of each of 01 and 102 is fixedly held (FIG. 7).
Further, through holes 86HA, 86HB, and 86HC are formed in the buffer member 86 so as to correspond to the other ends of the shaft 100 and the guide pins 101 and 102, respectively.

The shaft 100 and the guide pins 101 and 102 of the rotation support member 85 are respectively provided with the cushioning member 8.
The stop holes 104 are attached to the distal ends of the shafts 100 with the coil springs 103 interposed therebetween, and the stoppers 104 are attached and screwed. As a result, the buffer member 86 is urged by the coil spring 103 and is held in contact with the step portions of the guide pins 101 and 102.

When the card material 4 is inserted between the magnetic head 12 and the transport roller 10A in the magnetic recording / reproducing mode, that is, with the magnetic head 12 exposed on the transport path CR, the magnetic head 12 The cushion member 86 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow r with respect to the rotation support member 85 by an amount corresponding to the contact pressing of the card member 4.

Thus, even when the magnetic head 12 is pressed against the magnetic head 12 in a state where the rotation support member 85 is fixed in position, the magnetic head 12 has elasticity in the direction opposite to the pressing direction. Can be prevented from being applied more than necessary, and the head surface of the magnetic head 12 can be prevented from being contaminated or worn.

(4) Operation of the Embodiment In the above configuration, the color printer 1 is shown in FIGS.
By executing the printing processing procedure RT1 shown in FIG. 13, predetermined information is recorded on magnetic stripes and IC memories respectively formed on one surface and the other surface of the ISO standard card material 4, if necessary, or A desired color image is printed on one or both sides of the card material 4.

First, when the power of the card printer 1 is set to the ON state, the card printer 1 enters a print processing procedure RT1 shown in FIG. 11 from step SP0, and in the subsequent step SP1,
After the card material 4 is inserted into the card insertion slot 2A on the end face of the housing 2, it is determined in step SP2 whether predetermined information is magnetically recorded on a magnetic stripe formed on one surface of the card material 4. If a positive result is obtained in step SP2, the card printer 1 proceeds to step S2.
Proceeding to P3, the card material 4 is conveyed through the first conveying portion 5A, and the process proceeds to step SP4, where the magnetic recording / reproducing portion 1
6 is positioned so as to be in the cueing state.

Subsequently, the card printer 1 proceeds to step SP
In step 5, after controlling the magnetic recording / reproducing unit 16 to record predetermined information on the magnetic stripe of the card material 4, the information is reproduced. Next, the card printer 1 proceeds to step SP6 to determine whether or not a recording error exists in the card material 4, and only when a positive result is obtained, the step SP6 is performed.
Go to 7.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP2, the card printer 1 proceeds to step SP7 without performing magnetic recording processing on the card material 4.

If a negative result is obtained in step SP6, this means that the card material 4 is defective, and at this time, the card printer 1 returns to step SP6.
8 (FIG. 12), the card material 4 is conveyed to the rotation mechanism unit 20 via the second conveying unit 5B, and then the subsequent step S
In P9, the card material 4 is rotated until it is positioned at the defective card discharge position in a state where the card member 4 is held by the rotation mechanism unit 20. Thereafter, the card printer 1 discharges the card material 4 sandwiched by the rotating mechanism section 20 to the defective card tray 26 in step SP10, and then proceeds to step SP11 (FIG. 1).
Proceeding to 2), the print processing procedure RT1 ends.

In the following step SP7, the card printer 1 determines whether or not to record predetermined information in the IC memory provided on the other side of the card material 4. This step S
If a positive result is obtained in P7, the card printer 1
Proceeds to step SP12, and conveys the card material 4 to the rotation mechanism unit 20 via the second conveyance unit 5B. Then, in the next step SP13, the IC recording / reproducing is performed with the rotation mechanism unit 20 holding the card material 4 therebetween. Rotate until it is in position. Thereafter, the card printer 1 proceeds to step SP1.
After moving the card material 4 sandwiched by the rotation mechanism unit 20 along the transport path CR in step 4, the process proceeds to step SP15 so that the card material 4 is located at the head of the IC recording / reproducing unit 30. Position.

Next, the card printer 1 proceeds to step SP16 shown in FIG. 12, inserts the card material 4 from the insertion slot 30A of the IC recording / reproducing section 30, records predetermined information, and reproduces the information. After proceeding to step SP17 to determine whether or not a recording error exists in the card material 4, the card printer 1 proceeds to step SP18 only when a positive result is obtained.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP7, the card printer 1
The process directly proceeds to step SP18 without performing the C recording process.

If a negative result is obtained in step SP17, this indicates that the card material 4 is defective. At this time, the card printer 1 proceeds to step SP8 and transfers the card material 4 to the transport path CR. Then, in the following step SP9, the rotation mechanism 20 is rotated until it is positioned at the defective card discharge position with the card 4 held between the rotation mechanism 20. Thereafter, the card printer 1 removes the card material 4 sandwiched by the rotation mechanism section 20 in step SP10 and sets the defective card tray 26.
After that, the process proceeds to step SP11 to end the printing processing procedure RT1.

In the following step SP18, the card printer 1 determines whether or not to print on one side of the card material 4. If an affirmative result is obtained in step SP18, the card printer 1 proceeds to step SP19 to convey the card material 4 to the rotation mechanism unit 20 along the conveyance path CR, and then to the rotation mechanism unit 20 in the next step SP20. The material 4 is rotated while being held until it is positioned at the transport reference position. After this, the card printer 1
In step SP21, the card material 4 held by the rotation mechanism unit 20 is transferred to the second transport unit 5B and the first transport unit 5B.
After sequentially moving along the transport path CR via A, the process proceeds to step SP22, and the card material 4 is positioned so as to be located at the top of the color image printing unit 40.

Proceeding to the next step SP23, the card printer 1 sets the thermal transfer head 43 in the color image printing section 40.
Is moved to the intermediate position, and then the process proceeds to step SP24, where the leading position for one page of the ink ribbon 47 is located. Thereafter, in step SP25, the card printer 1 detects the winding diameter of the ink ribbon 47 and sets a ribbon motor driving condition for controlling the winding state while giving tension to the ink ribbon 47.
Proceeding to step SP26, the thermal transfer head 43 is lowered to the printing position.

Subsequently, the card printer 1 proceeds to step SP
At 27, while the winding of the ink ribbon 47 is started, the process proceeds to step SP28 shown in FIG.
To rotate. In this state, the card printer 1
Proceeding to step SP29, printing of one color on the card material 4 is started, and then the printing is ended in step SP30. Thereafter, the card printer 1 proceeds to step S
Proceeding to P31, the ink ribbon 47 is peeled off from the card material 4, and in step SP32, the thermal transfer head 43 is removed.
To the intermediate position, and further proceeds to step SP33 to remove the slack of the ink ribbon 47.

Thereafter, the card printer 1 proceeds to step SP
After determining whether printing (or lamination) has been completed by proceeding to step 34, only when a positive result is obtained, step S is executed.
Proceed to P18.

If a negative result is obtained in step SP34, the card printer 1 proceeds to step SP36 and transfers the card material 4 along the transport path CR through the second transport section 5B and the first transport section 5A sequentially. After that, the process proceeds to step SP37, and the card material 4 is positioned so as to be in the cueing state with respect to the color image printing unit 40.

Subsequently, the card printer 1 proceeds to step SP
The process proceeds to step SP26, where the head of the ink ribbon 47 is located so as to be the next color different from the previous color, and then the step SP26 is performed.
Then, the processing up to step SP33 is performed again as described above, and the same processing is repeated until a positive result is obtained in step SP34.

When a positive result is obtained in step SP34, the card printer 1 proceeds to step SP3.
Proceeding to 5, it is determined whether or not the other side of the card material 4 having one side printed is also printed. If an affirmative result is obtained in step SP35, the card printer 1 returns to step SP19 and performs the same processing as the above-described printing process for one surface of the card material 4 again in steps SP19 to SP34.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP35, the card printer 1 proceeds directly to step SP39 and proceeds to the housing 2 via the rotation mechanism 20.
After the card material 4 is ejected from the card ejection port 2B formed on the end face, the process proceeds to step SP11 to end the printing processing procedure RT1.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP18, the card printer 1 proceeds directly to step SP39 without performing the printing process on the card material 4 and discharges the card material 4 from the card discharge port 2B. ,
Proceeding to step SP11, the printing process procedure RT1 is completed.

In step SP2 of the printing processing procedure RT1, when the card printer 1 determines that the magnetic recording processing is to be performed on the card material 4, the card printer 4 conveys the card material 4 and sends it to the magnetic recording / reproducing unit 16. On the other hand, the magnetic head 12 in the magnetic recording / reproducing unit 16 is exposed on the transport path CR while the positioning is performed so as to be in the cueing state (steps SP3 and SP4).

Subsequently, after the card material 4 is subjected to magnetic recording processing while sliding on the magnetic head 12 in the magnetic recording / reproducing unit 16 (step SP5), the card printer 1 delivers the card material 4 to the rotary transport unit 6 and (Step SP1
2) The magnetic head 12 is concealed from the transport path CR.

On the other hand, in step SP2 described above, if the card printer 1 determines that the magnetic recording processing is not to be performed on the card material 4, the card recording / reproducing unit 16
The magnetic head 12 inside the magnetic head 12 is kept hidden without being exposed on the transport path CR, and the card material 4 is passed over the magnetic head 12 in a non-contact manner and delivered to the rotary transport unit 6 (step SP12). Then, the magnetic head 12 is concealed from the transport path CR.

As described above, in the magnetic recording / reproducing section 16, the magnetic head 12 is exposed on the transport path CR only when performing the magnetic recording processing, while the magnetic head 12 is exposed on the transport path CR except for the magnetic recording processing. When the card material 4 passes back and forth over the magnetic head 12 many times as in the case of double-sided printing, the transport path C
Since the magnetic head 12 is not exposed on R, the card material 4 can be prevented from slidingly contacting the head surface of the magnetic head 12.

In the magnetic recording / reproducing section 16, the head holding section 82 is connected to the magnetic head 12 attached to one end.
Is rotated about a fixed shaft 84 pivotally supported on the other end side, so that the magnetic head 12 is exposed from above the transport path CR, so that the head surface of the magnetic head 12 is a card material during magnetic recording. Even when the magnetic head 12 comes into contact with the surface of the card material 4, the head surface of the magnetic head 12 can always come into contact with the card material 4 at a stable angle without any positional deviation.

(5) Effects of the Embodiment According to the above configuration, in the card printer 1, the magnetic recording / reproducing section 16 has one end supported by the fixed shaft 84 and the other end having the magnetic head 12 attached thereto. Only when the magnetic recording process is performed, the magnetic head 12 is exposed on the transport path CR in accordance with the driving of the cam driving unit 83 only when the magnetic recording process is performed. The card material 4 can pass over the magnetic head 12 in a non-contact manner, and as a result, it is possible to prevent one surface of the card material from being in sliding contact with the magnetic head and being damaged at a stage before or after the printing process, and thus after printing. Thus, it is possible to realize the card printer 1 which can significantly improve the reliability of the quality of the card material 4.

(6) Other Embodiments In the above-described embodiment, the magnetic head 12 in the magnetic recording / reproducing section 16 is used as support means for moving the magnetic head 12 in the direction of approaching or separating from the card material 4. Holder 8
2, the cam drive unit 83 in the magnetic recording / reproducing unit 16 is applied as a drive unit for driving the head holding unit 82 so that the magnetic head 12 contacts the card material 4. The invention is not limited to this, and the point is that as long as the magnetic head 12 can be exposed on the transport path CR only during magnetic recording, various other configurations may be used as the support means and the drive means.

In the above-described embodiment, the head holding portion 82 has the magnetic head 1 centered on the fixed shaft 84.
2 has been described as supporting the magnetic head 12 so as to be rotatable in a direction in which the magnetic head 12 approaches or separates from the card material 4. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The head holding portion 82 may support the magnetic head 12 by various other support methods, as long as the magnetic head 12 can be moved toward or away from the magnetic head 12.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the magnetic head 12 is attached to the rotation supporting member 85 via the buffer member 86 and the coil spring 103 in the head holding portion 82, and the magnetic head 12 is attached to the card material 4 during magnetic recording. Although the case where the pressing force is applied to the coil spring 103 via the magnetic head 12 when pressed on one surface has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is not limited to this.
The head holding portion 82 may have various other configurations as long as the head holding portion 82 can be elastically supported in a direction approaching or separating from the card material 4.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where the card material 4 of the ISO standard is applied as the card material has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the JIS (Japan)
Industrial Standard) card materials may be used, and the present invention is widely applicable to various card materials having only magnetic stripes excluding IC memory.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where a thermal transfer type color printer is applied as the color printer 1 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, an ink jet printer, a thermal printer, a laser printer, etc. Widely applicable to various printers.

[0105]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a card printing apparatus for printing an image on one or both sides of a card material provided with a magnetic recording area on one or both sides, information based on a supplied recording signal is used. A magnetic head that records the magnetic head in the magnetic recording area of the card material, and a support unit that movably supports the magnetic head in a direction toward or away from the card material,
Only when information is recorded in the magnetic recording area of the card material, a drive means for driving the support means so that the magnetic head comes into contact with the card material is provided. It is possible to avoid the head being slid on the card material and being damaged, thereby realizing a card printing apparatus capable of remarkably improving the quality of the printed card material.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing an external configuration of a card printer according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an initial position state of the head unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an intermediate position state of the head unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for describing an ink ribbon.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a printing position state of the head unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a color image printing unit.

FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of a card transport unit and a magnetic recording / reproducing unit.

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view showing a configuration of a magnetic recording / reproducing unit.

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view showing a configuration of a magnetic recording / reproducing unit.

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of a head holding unit.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining a print processing procedure.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining a print processing procedure.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining a print processing procedure.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Card printer, 2 ... Case, 4 ... Magnetic IC card, 5 ... Card transport section, 5A ... 1st transport section, 5
B: second transport section, 6: rotary transport section, 7: platen, 13, 14, 15, 24, 25 ... optical sensor, 2
0 ... Rotating mechanism, 21A, 21B ... Rotating shaft, 22
A, 22B ... first flipper rollers, 23A, 23B
... Second flip roller, 26... Defective card tray, 30... IC recording and reproducing unit, 40... Color image printing unit, 41... Ribbon cassette, 42. Ink ribbon, 8
2 Head holding part 83 Cam drive part 84 Fixed shaft 85 Rotation support member 86 Buffer member 87
... Motors, 89 to 93 ... Gears, 94 ... Rotary shafts, 9
5: plate cam, 96: shielding plate, 97: optical sensor, 98, 103: coil spring, CR: transport path.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A card printing apparatus for printing an image on one or both sides of a card material provided with a magnetic recording area on one or both sides, wherein information based on a supplied recording signal is transferred to the magnetic recording area on the card material. A magnetic head for recording the magnetic head, a support means for movably supporting the magnetic head in a direction toward or away from the card material, and a magnetic head for recording the information in the magnetic recording area of the card material. A drive unit for driving the support unit such that a magnetic head comes into contact with the card material. 2. The magnetic head according to claim 1, wherein the support means supports the magnetic head such that the magnetic head is rotatable about a predetermined axis in a direction in which the magnetic head approaches or separates from the card material. Card printing equipment. 3. The card printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said support means supports said magnetic head so as to have elasticity in a direction approaching or separating from said card material.