JPS63155485A - Carrier passage for card reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate an assemblage operation by forming a space gap with thickness as a little thicker than that of a magnetic card between the upper surface of a slide plate and the lower surface of a punch mechanism and forming a carrier passage between the slide base and punch mechanism. CONSTITUTION:A thin slit-like space is formed between the upper surface of the slide base 21 and the lower surface of a forward lid body 14, backward lid body 15 and the punch body 16. The thickness between the upper and lower sides of this slit-like space is set to an extent of two - three times as much as that of the magnetic card. Consequently, an extremely thin groove having a shape just like the width of magnetic card is constituted, so that the magnetic card is moved by sliding both its sides along side guides 22-25, 65 and 66 in contacting with them, thus enabling the card to move keeping a flatness. Therefore, because of that the lower surface of the punch mechanism can be used as substitute for a part of the wall surface of the carrier passage, number of parts can be reduced, while the assemblage and adjustments are simplified accordingly.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a card used for reading information stored in a magnetic card used as a coupon ticket, gift certificate, cash coupon, etc., or for writing information thereon. The present invention relates to a reader, and particularly to a conveyance path of a card reader that can form a conveyance path through which a magnetic card passes by a sliding base and a punch mechanism.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, magnetic recording means is attached to paper or plastic media such as Turret cards, cash cards, ID cards, etc., and various information is recorded on this magnetic recording means to create certificates, gift certificates, and cash vouchers. 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.

In addition, in recent years, magnetic cards called prepaid cards have been issued in order to issue tickets for public telephones, railways, etc., for example, by paying a fee in advance and filling it with an amount commensurate with the fee. . 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 in 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 guide (for example, a frame made of sheet metal, a chute, etc.) for transporting the magnetic card, and the punch mechanism and guide mechanism The two configurations were assembled in close proximity. For this reason, the configuration has become complicated and adjustment of both has been difficult.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In conventional card readers with a punch mechanism, the punch mechanism and guide were separate units, which increased the number of parts and complicated assembly and adjustment.

For this reason, there has been a desire for a structure in which a punch mechanism is incorporated into a card reader with a simple structure.

Measures for Solving Problems] In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, the present invention has a conveying means and a magnetic reading/writing means, and reads information on a magnetic card and writes information by conveying the magnetic card in the direction of the magnetic card. A card reader that can be inserted into the card reader has a sliding base with a flat surface for conveying a magnetic card, a flat bottom surface and a length at least as wide as the sliding base, and a part of the sliding base has a punch. A punch mechanism that appears and retracts, a gap slightly larger than the thickness of the magnetic card is formed between the upper surface of the sliding base and the lower surface of the punch mechanism, and a conveyance path is formed between the sliding base and the punch mechanism. This provides a transport path for the card reader.

[Effect]

In the present invention, the lower surface of the punch mechanism is formed flat,
A thin slit-shaped space is formed between the lower surface of the punch mechanism and the upper surface of the sliding base, and a magnetic card is inserted into this space. Therefore, the lower surface of the punch mechanism is substituted for a part of the wall surface of the conveyance path, which reduces the number of parts and facilitates assembly and adjustment.

〔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 Ml is a well-known one, and has a CRT display fixed at the center of its upper surface, and operation switches for controlling screen selection, start, etc. on the upper surface of a control box on the side. 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. A magnetic stripe is attached to a part of the magnetic card 5, and information such as an 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 determines permission for the game, the number of remaining uses, etc. It is possible to license the use of Although the present embodiment is explained with reference to a video game machine 1, 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 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 that is placed over and fixed from above the rail body 11 . It consists of a body 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 that are offset 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 sides of the rear cover body 15, and are opened vertically. A photodiode is provided in the light receiving hole 39.40 to detect light. It is. Further, the punch body 16 is the front lid body 1
4 and the rear cover body 15, it is formed of one block, has a solenoid lever etc. inside, and operates to reciprocate the punch with respect to the die 29. The total length is approximately that of the rail body 1.
Match the width of 1.

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 frame is provided between the shaft holes 42 and 44 so that a shaft 47 can rotate freely, and a frame is provided between the shaft holes 43 and 45 so that a long and narrow shaft can rotate freely. 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 drive roller 52 is fixed to the middle of the shaft 47, and the drive roller 52 is pivotally supported so that its lower surface protrudes from the opening of the roller hole 34 toward the sliding base 21. Further, a drive roller 53 is fixed at the center of the shaft 48, and the lower surface of this drive roller 53 is connected to the roller hole 3.
7 and protrudes toward the sliding base 21 from the opening 7. At the same time, a pressure roller 54 made of an elastic material such as rubber is loosely fitted onto the shaft 48 and rotatably supported, 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 11 faces the roller hole 26.
A pinching roller 55 protrudes from the lower surface of the holder, and the pinching roller 55 is elastically pushed upward by a spring (not shown), and the driving roller 52 and the pinching roller 55 are always in contact with each other with a constant pressure. It is pivoted like this. 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 53
The holding roller 56 and the holding roller 56 are pivotally supported so that they are always in contact with each other with a constant pressure. Further, a magnetic head 57 is projected from the lower surface of the rail body 11 in the head hole 28, and the outer periphery of the pressing roller 54 is in constant contact with the magnetic head 57.

A shaft hole 58 is opened in the center of the side plate 13, and a motor 59 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 is protruding. This motor 59
A pulley 60 is pivotally supported on the output shaft of the shaft, and a pulley 61 with a large diameter is fixed to the end of the shaft that protrudes outward from the side plate 13. A belt 62 is used as a bridge between the racks.

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 approximately equal to the distance from the outside of the side guide 65 to the outside of the side guide 66. They are 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 is 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 111i. A punch hole 69 into which a punch enters and exits is opened on the lower surface of the punch body 16. In addition, the rail body 1
A die hole 70 into which a punch enters is opened in the center of the die 29 embedded in the die 29.

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 hole 6 passing vertically through the left side of the figure
9 is open, and a step is formed inside the punch hole 69. 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 can appear below the hole 69.

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) is held so that it can move freely. 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 the rail body 11 is located below the die 29.
There is a discharge port 8° 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 cover 14 and the rear cover 15 are brought into contact with each other from the upper surface direction of the rail body 11, and the front cover 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.
Fix it so that it is placed on the upper end of 5, and fix it with screws etc. Further, the punch body 16 is placed on 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. , the rack is fixed in place across the center of the upper surface of the rail body 11 like a bridge.

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 4, and when the tip of the shaft 48 reaches the shaft hole 45, the driving roller 53 is fixed to the shaft 48 with a screw or the like. At this time, the pressure roller 54 is not fixed with screws or the like, but is held so that it can rotate freely relative to the shaft 48. And motor 5
9 to the side plate 13, pass the belt 62 between the pulleys 60 and 61, and pass the belt 51 between the pulleys 49 and 50 on the side of the shaft 47.4.Finally, A front panel 17 made of plastic is fitted from the front of the rail body 11 and side plate 13, and the front panel 17 is fixed to the rail body 11. Furthermore, the clamping rollers 55 and 56 are elastically held from below the rail body 11,
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,
The magnetic head 57 is made to protrude from the head hole 28, and the pressure roller 54 is kept in contact with the magnetic head 57. Through these steps, a set of card readers as a unit is assembled.

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 48 is transmitted to the pulley 50. It is transmitted to the shaft 47 via the belt 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. The outer peripheries of the drive roller 52 and the nipping roller 55 are in contact with each other, and at the same time, the drive roller 5
3 and the clamping roller 56 are also in elastic contact with each other, and the driving roller 52, the clamping roller 55, and the driving roller 53 are also in elastic contact with each other.
, the sliding base 21, the side guides 22, 23, 24, with the position where the pinching roller 56 is in contact being approximately the center position.
．． 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 rolling force of the driving roller 52 and the nipping roller 55 and the driving roller 53 and the nipping roller 56
The magnetic card 5 is transferred back and forth by the rolling force.

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. A 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 head 57 with an appropriate pressure, thereby accurately reading information. is energized for reading and writing.

When the magnetic card 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 is set and a starting current is simultaneously applied to the coil 73 to perform the punch operation. Therefore, electromagnetic field is generated in the attraction part 71. , cantilever 7
9 moves in the direction of the coil 73 around the fulcrum 487''t.When the cantilever 79 swings, the punch body 75 is pushed into the punch hole 69 and moves downward in FIG. 1O against the spring 74.The punch Body 75 is punch hole 69
When the punch 76 slides, the punch 76 projects downward from the punch hole 69 and enters the die hole 70. With this, the sliding base 21
A punch 76 penetrates the magnetic card 5 inserted between the upper surface and the lower surface of the punch body 16, and a hole with the inner diameter of the punch 76 is opened in the magnetic card 5.
This indicates that the capacity has been used, and depending on its position, it can indicate the remaining capacity.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the lower surface of the punch mechanism can be formed flat, and a thin slit-shaped space can be formed between it and the upper surface of the flat transport base, and a magnetic card can be inserted into this space. It can act as a conveyance path for insertion. Therefore, the punch mechanism can act as a part of the wall of the conveyance path and also act as a punch, and both functions can be performed by one mechanism. Further, since assembly and adjustment are performed only by the punch mechanism, the work becomes easy.

[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 Computer Service Co., Ltd. Agent Patent Attorney Akiaki Hibi Figure 9 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 magnetic card in the direction of the magnetic card, the surface for conveying the magnetic card is It consists of a flat sliding base, and a punch mechanism whose lower surface is flat and whose length is at least as wide as the sliding base, and in which a punch appears in a part of the punch mechanism, and the upper surface of the sliding base and the lower surface of the punch mechanism. A conveyance path for a card reader, characterized in that a conveyance path is formed between a sliding base and a punch mechanism, with a gap slightly larger than the thickness of a magnetic card formed therebetween.