JPS6371794A - Transparent card detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To inexpensively detect the absence of a transparent magnetic card in the hopper, etc., of a magnetic card inspection device with a simple constitution without damaging the card, by providing a light emitting means which projects light in an angle, at which the light is almost totally reflected by the surface of the card. CONSTITUTION:Even if only one card 2 exists in the hopper 1, the light which is emitted from a photodiode 4 and made incident on the hopper 1 is totally reflected (R1) by the card 2. Therefore, the light is not received and detected by a phototransistor 6. On the other hand, when the card 2 goes out from the hopper 1, the light from the photodiode 4 passes through the hopper 1 and received and detected by the phototransistor 6 (R2). Therefore, the absence of the card 2 can be detected depending upon the presence/absence of the detection of the phototransistor 6.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a detection device for detecting the presence or absence of a card made of a transparent material, such as a magnetic card. This invention relates to a device used to detect when a card is missing in a hopper that stores cards and sequentially sends them out.

[Conventional technology]

A magnetic card inspection device is required to include a device that automatically detects when a card is missing in a hopper, which is a storage means for cards waiting to be inspected. As an example of this detection device, one that mainly utilizes the absorption of light by a card has been conventionally considered. In other words, light is incident on the card storage position in the hopper, and detection is performed based on whether or not the light passes through that position (if a card is stored, it does not pass; if there is no card, it passes). This is how it was done.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, in recent years, some magnetic cards that use transparent materials (called transparent magnetic cards) have appeared. It is impossible for conventional detection devices to perform accurate detection of transparent magnetic cards, since a significant portion of the transparent magnetic cards are transmitted without being absorbed.

Therefore, it is not inconceivable that transparent magnetic cards may be detected using a contact type sensor. However, in this case, another problem arises in that the card may be damaged by contact with the sensor.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a detection device suitable for detecting transparent magnetic cards.

[Means for solving problems]

The detection device according to the present invention is a detection device for detecting whether or not a card made of a transparent material is present at a predetermined location, and when the card is present at the predetermined location, an incident light enters the card. a light emitting means for projecting light at an angle such that the light is substantially totally reflected on the surface of the card; and a light emitting means for projecting light at an angle such that the light is almost totally reflected on the surface of the card; It is characterized by comprising a light-receiving means.

(Function) Even if the substance is transparent, if the angle of incidence of light is greater than a certain critical angle, the light will be totally reflected.The light emitting means will not allow the light to enter from such an angle. Because
If a card is present, the light is totally reflected by the card, and the optical sensor does not receive or detect it. On the other hand, if no card is present, the optical sensor receives and detects light. Thereby, the transparent magnetic card can be detected based on the presence or absence of detection by the optical sensor.

In this way, this detection device performs detection using total reflection of light by the card, so it can detect without damaging the card, and it can be detected at low cost with a simple configuration of a light emitting means and an optical sensor. can be done.

(Embodiments) Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The figure shows an embodiment of a detection device according to the present invention. In the figure, a hopper 1 includes a plurality of transparent magnetic cards 2 waiting to be inspected by a magnetic card inspection device (not shown).
It is designed to store items in multiple layers. The lowest card 2 stored in the hopper 1 is sent to a card pick section 3 provided at the bottom of the hopper 1 by a pressing mechanism (not shown).

A card discharge port 1a is provided on the side surface near the bottom of the hopper 1, and the card pick section 3 pushes out the cards 2 one by one from the discharge port 1a to the outside and supplies them to the inspection device. (These m structures are not directly related to the present invention, so they are only shown briefly.) On the side of the hopper 1, there is a photodiode for making light enter the card storage position in the hopper 1. 4, and a hole (not shown), for example, is provided on the side surface of the hopper 1 to introduce the light into the interior. The direction of the light emitted from the photodiode 4 via the photo guide 5 is set so that the incident angle θ of the light with respect to the card 2 stored in the hopper 1 is approximately 45° to 50° (particularly approximately 50°). (Note that the minimum angle of incidence (critical angle) at which total reflection of incident light occurs in the card 2 is approximately 45°). The photo guide 5 is for narrowing down the optical axis of the light emitted from the photodiode 4, and is painted black, for example.

For example, a hole (not shown) is provided at the bottom of the hopper 1 in order to allow the light introduced from the phytodiode 4 to pass linearly to the outside on its extension. Hopper 1
In the direction of light passing through this hole below,
A phototransistor 6 is provided. A photo guide 7 is also attached to the tip of the phototransistor 6 in order to prevent light from being received from directions other than the traveling direction. The output signal of the phototransistor 6 is given to a signal processing circuit (not shown).

Next, an example of the detection process in this detection device is shown below.
It is as follows.

If even one card 2 is stored in the hopper 1, the light that comes out of the photodiode 4 and enters the hopper 1 is totally reflected by the card 2 (R1 in the figure). Therefore, in this case, no light is received or detected by the phototransistor 6. On the other hand, when there is no card 2 in the hopper 1, the light that comes out from the photodiode 4 and enters the hopper 1 goes out of the hopper 1 and is received and detected by the phototransistor 6 (R2 in the figure). ＞.Thus,
Based on the presence or absence of detection in the phototransistor 6,
It is possible to detect that the card 2 is missing in the hopper 1.

In this embodiment, a photodiode and a phototransistor are used as the light emitting means and the optical sensor, respectively.
The light emitting means and optical sensor are not limited to these, and may be any suitable ones.

Further, in this embodiment, the direction of the photodiode is set so that the incident angle of light is approximately 45° to 50° (particularly approximately 50°) with respect to a transparent magnetic card whose critical angle is approximately 45°. However, when detecting a card with a critical angle different from this, the direction of the photodiode may be set so that the incident angle is different from this.

In addition, in this embodiment, the detection device according to the present invention is used to detect whether a transparent magnetic card is missing in a hopper in a magnetic card inspection device. This detection device may be used in any other suitable field that needs to be carried out.

Furthermore, the transparent card to be detected is not limited to a magnetic card, but may be an IC card or other card.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, the detection device according to the present invention can detect the disappearance of a transparent magnetic card in a hopper or the like of a magnetic card inspection device without damaging the card, and with a simple configuration and low cost. This has the effect that it can be carried out.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The figure is a side view showing one embodiment of the detection device according to the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Hopper, 1a... Card discharge port, 2... Transparent magnetic card, 3... Card big part, 4... Photodiode, 5, 7... Photo guide, 6... phototransistor

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A detection device for detecting whether or not a card made of a transparent material is present at a predetermined location, wherein when the card is present at the predetermined location, an incident light enters the card. a light emitting means for projecting light at an angle such that the light is substantially totally reflected on the surface of the card; and a light emitting means for projecting light at an angle such that the light is almost totally reflected on the surface of the card; A transparent card detection device comprising a light receiving means. 2. The transparent card is a magnetic card with a magnetic stripe arranged at a predetermined location, and the transparent card detection device includes a hopper device for storing a plurality of magnetic cards waiting to be inspected in a magnetic card inspection device and sequentially sending them out. Claim 1 is provided at the bottom of the hopper device to detect when the hopper device is empty.
Transparent card detection device described in Section 1.