JPS63155484A - Card reader provided with punch mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily execute alignment and to obtain a mechanism whose volume is not bulky by providing a punch mechanism so as to be opposed to a carrying space of a magnetic card. CONSTITUTION:When a magnetic head 5 passes through a carrying path B, when it approaches a punch body 1, the magnetic card 5 is guided by a chamfered part 67, led into the lower face of the punch body 16 and moves. When the magnetic card 5 is positioned in the lower face of the punch body 16, its prescribed moving extent is set, and simultaneously, by allowing a starting current to flow to a coil 73, a punch operation is executed. Therefore, an electromagnetism is generated in a suction part 71, a cantilever 79 oscillates in the coil 73 direction centering around a supporting point rod 77, and when the cantilever 79 oscillates, a punch body 75 is pushed into a punch hole 69, and moves downward against a spring 74. When the punch body 75 slides in the punch hole 69, a punch 76 projects downward from the punch hole 69, invades a die hole 70, and the punch 76 penetrates the magnetic card 5 which has been inserted through between the upper face of a sliding base and the lower face of the punch body 16.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a card reader used for reading information stored in magnetic cards used as coupon tickets, gift certificates, cash coupons, etc., and for writing information therein. Regarding
In particular, the present invention relates to a card reader with a punch mechanism that can open a punch hole using a punch mechanism while transporting a magnetic card through a slit-like space.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, a magnetic recording means is attached to a card or plastic medium such as a credit card, cash card, ID card, etc., and various information is recorded on this magnetic recording means to produce certificates, gift certificates, cash coupons, etc. Increasingly, companies are being asked to act on their behalf.

A card reader must be used to read the information recorded on the magnetic recording means of these magnetic cards and to process the read information and write it again. Furthermore, in recent years, magnetic cards called private cards, on which a fee is paid in advance and an amount commensurate with the fee is written, have been issued in order to issue tickets for public telephones, railways, etc., for example. With this prepaid card type magnetic card, the amount paid in advance is memorized as magnetic information, and each time the card is used, the amount information after deducting the usage amount is rewritten, and the magnetic card is used until the remaining amount becomes zero. It is something that can be done. However, since there are cases where the magnetic information is amended and the prepaid card is used illegally, a hole is punched in the magnetic card each time the card is used or when there is no balance remaining to prevent unauthorized use.

For this reason, it has been proposed that a punch mechanism is attached to a card reader to punch holes at predetermined positions on the magnetic card. In this conventional card reader with a punch mechanism, for example, Utility Model No. 122970 of 1981,
As shown in No. 64050, etc., a C-shaped metal fitting was provided in the path of the magnetic card, and a punch and die were attached to this metal fitting. Although this configuration makes it easy to align the punch and die, it requires a separate solenoid, making the punch mechanism expensive.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

For extremely thin prepaid cards, a configuration has been proposed in which a narrow transfer space is formed for the prepaid card to move within the card reader. It was difficult to align the fittings when attaching them. Therefore, there is a need for a card reader with a punch mechanism that allows easy positioning even in a narrow transfer space.

[Means for solving problems]

In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, the present invention provides a card reader that includes a conveying means and a magnetic reading/writing means, and is capable of reading information on a magnetic card and writing information by conveying the magnetic card in the direction of the magnetic card. A sliding base with a flat surface, a pair of side guides standing parallel to each other at intervals on the left and right sides of the flat part of the sliding base, a slightly flat lid body installed between the side guides, and a sliding base. It consists of a punch mechanism placed on the top surface of the moving base with a space between it and the bottom surface.
Sliding base, side guide, lid body, sliding base and punch am
To provide a card reader with a punching mechanism, which forms a continuous slit-like space, moves a magnetic card within the slit-like space, and punches a hole in the magnetic card.

[Effect]

In the present invention, an extremely thin space with a rectangular cross section is formed by the sliding base, left and right side guides, and the lid, and this space is made almost as thick as the magnetic card to be slid. It is possible to move through this narrow space while maintaining a flat shape without causing any change in shape. A punch mechanism is positioned so as to face this narrow transfer space, and the punch of the punch mechanism can slide toward the transfer space. Therefore, the punching effect can be achieved without using a C-shaped metal fitting, and there is no need for positioning, and the volume can be reduced.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example in which the card reader of the present invention is actually applied, and this example shows a video game device that can be operated using a magnetic card without using coins.

In this embodiment, the video game [1] is a well-known one, with a Cr1T display fixed at the center of its top surface, and operations for controlling screen selection, start, etc. on the top surface of a control box on the side. A switch 2 is attached, and a control lever 3 for controlling the character on the screen protrudes near the operation switch 2. Further, a card processing machine 4 is fixed to the side surface of the video game machine 1, and the card reader of this embodiment is housed within this card processing machine 4. The magnetic card 5 has 61 magnetic stripes attached to a part thereof, and information such as the amount corresponding to the amount paid in advance is magnetically recorded on this magnetic stripe. By inserting this magnetic card 5 into the card processing machine [4], the information recorded in the magnetic card 5 is read, and the card processing machine 4 allows the game to be played.
It is possible to permit the use of the video game a1 by determining the remaining number of uses, etc. Although this embodiment describes the video game a1, the magnetic card 5 can be used not only in this embodiment but also in vending machines, public telephones, ticket issuing machines, etc. Needless to say.

Next, Figures 2 and below show the main body of the card reader housed in the card processing machine 4, taken out.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the unit that constitutes the card reader;
3 is a side view, FIG. 4 is a front view, FIG. 5 is a plan view, FIG. 6 is a sectional view cut in the length direction, and FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view.

Next, this card reader is roughly divided into a rail body 11 that has an elongated three-dimensional structure, and side plates 12 and 13 formed of sheet metal or the like that are fixed to the side surfaces of this rail body 11.
, a front cover body 14 that is placed over and fixed from above the rail body 11 , a punch body 16 that is fixed slightly in the center of the rail body 11 , and a rear cover body that is placed over and fixed from above the rail body 11 . 15, and a front panel 17 which is fixed on the front surface of the rail body 11 and has a slit for inserting the magnetic card 5.

This rail body 11 is formed by cutting out a single piece of metal, or is integrally formed by casting, etc., and has a flat sliding base 21 on most of its upper surface. A pair of side guides 22.23.24.2 are formed on the left and right sides of the sliding base 21 so as to be parallel to each other.
5 is standing and fixed.

The inner walls of the side guides 22 and 23 are parallel, and the distance between them is set to be slightly wider than the width of the magnetic card 5. Similarly, the inner walls of the side guides 24 and 25 are parallel, and the spacing between them is set to be slightly wider than the width of the magnetic card 5. Also, between the side guides 22 and 24, a side guide 65 having a lower height than the side guides 22 and 24 is provided.
A side guide 66, which is lower in height than the side guides 23 and 25, stands between the side guides 23 and 25. The inner walls of the side guides 65 and 66 are parallel, and the distance between them is set to be slightly wider than the width of the magnetic card 5. This rail body 11 has roller holes 26 that are opened vertically in the front (left side in FIG. 7) so as to open on the surface of the sliding base 21. A roller hole 27 is opened vertically through the rear (right side in FIG. 7), and a head hole 28 is opened vertically through the side of the roller hole 27. Further, a die 29 for punching is fixed at a position offset to the side at the center of the sliding base 21. In addition, detection holes 30.31.32.3 are opened upward and downward at intervals at positions on the surface of the sliding base 21 and deviated toward the side guides 22.24.
3 has through openings at the top and bottom. This detection hole 30.31
．． 32 and 33 are for passing the light from the light emitting diode.

Next, a roller hole 34 that opens upward and downward is opened approximately in the center of the front cover body 14, and furthermore, light receiving holes 35 and 36 are opened through the front and back near the side surface of the front cover body 14. The light receiving holes 35 and 36 are for fixing a photodiode and receiving light.

Similarly, a roller hole 37 is also provided at approximately the center of the rear lid body 15.
are opened vertically through the roller hole 37, and a pressure contact hole 38 is opened through the roller hole 37 close to the side surface thereof. In addition, light receiving holes 39.40 are opened at the front and back of the side surface of the rear cover body 15, and are opened vertically. It is something. Further, the punch body 16 is located between the front lid body 14 and the rear lid body 15, is formed of one block, has a solenoid lever etc. inside, and is connected to the die 29. The punch is reciprocated by the lever, and its overall length is approximately the same as the width of the rail body 11.

Axial holes 42 and 43 are opened through the side plates 12 at the front and rear middle portions thereof, respectively. Further, shaft holes 44 and 45 are opened at the front and rear middle portions of the side plate 13, respectively, and an L-shaped fixing channel 46 is fixed at the front and rear of the lower part of the side plate 13. A shaft 47 is rotatably extended between the shaft holes 42 and 44, and an elongated shaft 48 is rotatably extended between the shaft holes 43 and 45. At the ends of both shafts 47 and 48 are pulleys 49.
50 is fixed, and a belt 51 is wound around between the pulleys 49 and 50. A driving roller 52 is fixed to the middle of the shaft 47, and this driving roller 52 is inserted into the sliding base 1121 from the opening of the roller hole 34.
It is pivoted so that its lower surface protrudes toward. Further, a drive roller 53 is fixed to the center of the shaft 48, and the lower surface of the drive roller 53 projects toward the sliding base 21 from the opening of the roller hole 37. At the same time, a pressure roller 54 made of an elastic material such as rubber is loosely fitted to the shaft 48 and rotatably supported on the soyaft 48, and the pressure roller 54 slides through the opening of the pressure contact hole 38. It protrudes toward the base 21. Next, the rail body 1 facing the roller hole 26 is
A nipping roller 55 protrudes from the lower surface of the driving roller 52 , and the nipping roller 55 is elastically pushed upward by a spring (not shown).
and the nipping roller 55 are supported so as to be in constant contact with each other at all times. Further, facing the roller hole 27, a clamping roller 56 protrudes from the lower surface of the rail body 11, and this clamping roller 56 is urged upward by a spring (not shown), and the driving roller 56
3 and the pinching roller 56 are supported by shafts so that they are always in contact with each other with a constant pressure. Further, a magnetic head 57 is made to protrude from the lower surface of the rail body 11 in the head hole 28,
The outer periphery of the pressure roller 54 is in constant contact with the magnetic head 57.

Further, a shaft hole 5 is opened in the center of the side plate 13, and a motor fixed to the side plate 13 is located in the shaft hole 58 above the rail body 11, that is, above the front lid body 14. The output shaft of 59 is made to protrude. This motor 59
A pulley 60 is pivotally supported on the output shaft of
A pulley 61 with a large diameter is fixed to the end of the shaft 48 that projects outward from the side plate 13, and a belt 62 is used as a bridge between the pulleys 60 and 61.

Next, FIG. 9 shows a combination of the rail body 11 and punch body 16. The inner walls of the side guides 22 , 65 , 24 are located in the same plane, and their upper surfaces are stepped and lowered by the side guides 65 . Further, the inner walls of the side guides 23, 66, 25 are located on the same plane, and their upper surfaces are lowered so as to be stepped by the side guides 66. The aforementioned punch body 16 has a rectangular outer shape, its width is approximately the same as the length of the aforementioned side guides 65 and 66, and the total length is equal to the distance from the outside of the side guide 65 to the outside of the side guide 66. They are substantially the same, and are combined by fitting the punch body 16 into the recess of the side guide 65, 66 with the length direction of the punch body 16 perpendicular to the length direction of the rail body 11. At this time, the lower surfaces of both ends of the punch body 16 are supported by the side guides 65 and 66, and a vertically narrow space is formed between the upper surface of the rail body 11 and the lower surface of the punch body 16. Both corners of the lower surface of this punch body 16 are cut diagonally to form chamfered portions 67.6.
8 are formed, and these chamfered portions 67 and 68 make it easy to introduce the magnetic card 5 into the lower surface of the punch body 16. A punch 669 from which a punch appears and retracts is open on the lower surface of the punch body 16. Furthermore, a die hole 70 into which a punch is inserted is opened in the center of the die 29 embedded in the rail body 11.

FIG. 10 shows a cross section taken along the line X--X in FIG. 6. The punch body 16 is composed of a metal suction section 71 and a plastic punch cover 72, and the punch cover 72 is brought into contact with the suction section 71 so as to cover the upper surface thereof. A coil 73 is wound around the inside center of this suction part 71, and a punch 66 that penetrates vertically is located on the left side of the figure.
9 is open, and a step is formed inside the punch 669. A coiled spring 7 is placed inside the punch hole 69.
4 is inserted, and a punch body 75 with a step is slidably inserted, and the tip of the punch body 75 is machined to a thin diameter to form a punch 76, and this punch 76 is used as a punch. It is designed to appear and appear below Roku69.

The punch cover 72 has a hollow shape with the inside cut out, and a fulcrum rod 77 with a circular cross section and made of elastic rubber is held on the right side in the figure, and a fulcrum rod 77 made of elastic rubber is held on the left side in the figure. A cushioning material 78 molded with, etc. is embedded. An elongated cantilever 79 is located in the internal space between the suction portion 71 and the punch cover 72, and the upper right side of the cantilever 79 is connected to the fulcrum rod 7.
7 and is held swingably. The upper end of the punch body 75 is in contact with the left lower surface of the cantilever 79, and the cushioning material 78 is in contact with the left upper surface of the cantilever 79, so that the cantilever 79 is always in contact with the cushioning material 78 when not in operation. It is being Note that, below the die 29, the rail body 11 has a discharge port 80 which opens downward and discharges punch waste.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

Assemble each member from the state shown in FIG. In this case, the front lid 14 and the rear lid 15 are brought into contact with each other from the upper surface direction of the rail body 11, and the front lid 14 is placed so as to be held at the upper ends of the side guides 22 and 23 on both sides. Fix with screws, etc. In addition, the rear lid body 15 is provided with side guides 24.2.
5, and fix it with screws etc. Further, the punch body 16 is RWed to the upper end of the side guides 65 and 66, and a gap is formed between the lower surface of the punch body 16 and the upper surface of the sliding base 21 such that the magnetic card 5 can pass through the lower surface. Pass the rack like a bridge at the center of the top surface of the rail body 11! ! 1 is fixed.

Next, side plates 12 and 13 are brought into close contact with the left and right sides of the rail body 11 so as to be perpendicular to the plane of the rail body 11, and each is fixed with a screw or the like. As a result, a three-dimensional block is formed by the rail body 11 and the side plates 12 and 13. Then, the shafts 47 and 48 are inserted into the shaft holes 42 and 43, respectively, and the drive roller 52 is inserted into the shaft 47, so that the shaft 47 is inserted into the shaft holes 42 and 43.
Insert up to 44. Then, the drive roller 52 is fixed to the shaft 47 by screwing or the like. Further, a driving roller 53 and a pressing roller 54 are respectively inserted into the shaft 48, and when the tip of the shaft 48 reaches the shaft hole 45, the driving roller 53 is fixed to the shaft 48 by a screw or the like. At this time, the pressure roller 54 is not fixed with screws or the like, but is held loose so that it can rotate freely relative to the shaft 48, and the motor 5
9 is fixed to the side plate 13, a belt 62 is passed between the pulleys 60, 61, and a heald 51 is passed between the pulleys 49, 50 on the side of the shaft 47, 48. Finally, a front panel 17 made of plastic is fitted from the front of the rail body 11 and side plate 13 to fix the front panel 17 to the rail body 11. Further, from below the rail body 11, holding rollers 55 and 56 are elastically held,
The rollers are respectively protruded from the roller holes 26 and 27 and are pivotally supported so as to come into contact with the drive rollers 52 and 53. Also,
A magnetic head 57 is made to protrude from the head hole 28, and the pressing roller 54 is brought into contact with this magnetic head 57. Through these steps, a set of card readers is assembled as a unit.

Then, in this assembled state, the rail body 1
Above the slightly U-shaped cross section of 1 is a flat front lid body 1.
4 and the rear lid body 15 are fixed, so the sliding base 21
A thin slit-shaped space is formed between the upper surface and the lower surfaces of the front lid body 14, the rear lid body 15, and the punch body 16. The upper and lower thicknesses of this slit-shaped space are set to be approximately two to three times as thick as the magnetic card 5. Therefore, a groove having the width of the extremely thin magnetic card 5 is formed, and the magnetic card 5 slides while contacting the side guides 22, 23, 24, 25, 65, 66 on both sides thereof. Therefore, it can be moved while maintaining its flatness. When the magnetic card 5 is moved, when the magnetic card 5 is inserted through the slit A opened on the front surface of the front panel 17, the insertion is detected and the motor 59 is driven, and the magnetic card 5 is moved through the pulley 60, belt 62, and rotation is transmitted to the shaft 48, and the rotation of the shaft 4 is transmitted to the pulley 50. It is transmitted to the shaft 47 via the heald 51 and pulley 49. Therefore, the driving rollers 52 and 53 rotate in the same direction, and act to draw the inserted magnetic card 5 into the card reader while holding it between the driving roller 52 and the clamping roller 55. The magnetic card 5 sent inside is further sandwiched between a drive roller 53 and a clamping roller 56, and can be further conveyed toward the inside of the card reader. In this case, the magnetic card 5 is attached to the driving roller 5.
2.53. Since the holding rollers 55 and 56 hold only one place near the center from above and below, no unreasonable force is applied and the paper can be conveyed smoothly.

FIG. 8 schematically shows the configuration when conveying this magnetic card 5, and shows a driving roller 52 and a nipping roller 5.
5 is in contact with its outer periphery, and at the same time the drive roller 53
The nipping roller 56 is also in elastic contact with the driving roller 52, the nipping roller 55, the driving roller 53,
The sliding base 21, the side guides 22, 23, 24.
25, the front cover body 14, and the rear cover body 15, a conveyance path B is formed which has an extremely thin vertical height and a spatial shape whose width is approximately the same as the width of the magnetic card 5. The magnetic card 5 will slide on the magnetic card 5. In this sliding operation, the magnetic card 5 is transferred back and forth by the rolling force of the driving roller 52 and the clamping roller 55 and the rolling force of the driving roller 53 and the clamping roller 56.

During this transportation, a magnetic stripe is attached to the back surface of the magnetic card 5, and the magnetic head 57 comes into contact with this magnetic stripe. When the magnetic head 57 and the magnetic card 5 come into contact, The pressing roller 54 comes into contact with the surface of the magnetic card 5, and the pressing roller 54 rotates as the magnetic card 5 is transferred and acts to press the magnetic card 5 against the magnetic pad 57 with an appropriate pressure, thereby accurately transmitting information. is energized for reading and writing.

When the magnetic head 5 approaches the punch body 16 while passing through the conveyance path B, the magnetic card 5 is guided by the chamfered portion 67, introduced into the lower surface of the punch body 16, and moved. When the magnetic card 5 is positioned on the lower surface of the punch body 16, a predetermined movement amount thereof is set and a starting current is simultaneously applied to the coil 73 to perform a punching operation. Therefore, electromagnetism is generated in the suction part 71, and the cantilever 7
9 swings in the direction of the coil 73 around the fulcrum rod 77. When the cantilever 79 swings, the punch body 75 is pushed into the punch 669 and moves downward in FIG. 10 against the force of the spring 74. When the punch body 75 slides in the punch hole 69, the punch 76 projects downward from the punch hole 69 and enters the gouging hole 70. As a result, the punch 76 penetrates the magnetic card 5 inserted between the upper surface of the sliding base 21 and the lower surface of the punch body 16, and the punch 76 penetrates the magnetic card 5.
A hole with an inner diameter of 6 is opened, which indicates that the magnetic card 5 has been used, and depending on its position, indicates the remaining capacity.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the magnetic card can be transported along the transport space, and even a magnetic card in the form of an extremely thin prepaid card can be transported accurately. Furthermore, since the punching mechanism is provided opposite to the magnetic card conveyance space, the punching hole can be reliably opened, positioning is easy, and the volume of the mechanism is not bulky.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a game machine that accommodates a card reader and can permit games using a magnetic card; FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a card reader unit according to an embodiment of the present invention; The figure is a side view of the same as the above, Fig. 4 is a front view of the same as the above, Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same as the above, Fig. 6 is a side sectional view showing the structure cut in the length direction of the above, and Fig. 7 is a view of each part. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the conveyance path and the positional relationship of the rollers. FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view showing the combination of the rail body and the punch body. FIG. 10 is in FIG. 6. X
-X is a sectional view taken along the arrow. 11...Rail body, 21...Sliding base, 22.23
．． 24.25... Side guide, 14... Front lid body, 1
5... Rear lid body, 16... Punch body, 12.13...
・Side plate, 69...Punch hole, 76...Punch, 29
...Gui. Patent Applicant Convenitor Service Co., Ltd. Agent Patent Attorney Tsuneaki Hibi Figure 10

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a card reader that has a conveying means and a magnetic reading/writing means and can read information on a magnetic card or write information by conveying the card in the direction of the magnetic card, a sliding base having a flat surface; A pair of side guides standing parallel to each other at intervals on the left and right sides of the flat part of the sliding base, and a slightly flat lid body installed between the side guides;
It consists of a punch mechanism arranged at a distance between the upper surface of the sliding base and the lower surface thereof, and a continuous slit-shaped space is formed by the sliding base, the side guide, the lid body, the sliding base and the punch mechanism. A card reader with a punch mechanism, which moves a magnetic card within this slit-like space and punches holes in the magnetic card.