WO1991012595A1

WO1991012595A1 - Card reader

Info

Publication number: WO1991012595A1
Application number: PCT/GB1991/000216
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wyatt James Stanley
Original assignee: Bilgrey Samson & Company Limited
Priority date: 1990-02-13
Filing date: 1991-02-13
Publication date: 1991-08-22
Also published as: AU7217491A

Abstract

Conventional use of card readers is in a situation where the card is returned to the user, e.g. a cash dispenser at a bank. The card is not normally retained by the card reader. When used as a token to pay for use of games apparatus, however, the card is not returned. A problem arises in prior proposals in that once the machine has registered a credit on acceptance of a card, it has been possible to withdraw the card by a piece of string, previously attached, whilst still retaining the credit. Of course the card may then be fraudulently reused many times and the winnings retained by the player. The application discloses safeguards to resist the withdrawal of a card, to signal an alarm if a card is withdrawn and to prevent receipt of a token being credited if the card is withdrawn.

Description

CARD READER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to card readers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There have recently been proposals to use coded cards as tokens in, say, game apparatus. Games may then be paid for, and winnings may be paid out, by such tokens. An advantage of using such cards is that they may be coded so as to be acceptable only by one games apparatus or, say, by a number of different apparatus but only on one premises. This prevents players purchasing or taking winnings from apparatus where a token has only a low value and using it in apparatus where a token has a higher value, for example.

Conventional use of card readers is in a situation where the card is returned to the user, e.g. a cash dispenser at a bank. The card is not normally retained by the card reader. When used as a token to pay for use of game apparatus, however, the card is not returned.

A problem arises in prior proposals in that once the machine has registered a credit on acceptance of a card, it has been possible

SUBSTITUTESHEET to withdraw the card by a piece of string, previously attached, whilst still retaining the credit. Of course the card may then be fraudulently reused many times and the winnings retained by the player.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a card reader having means for receiving a card, means for signalling a credit responsive to receipt of an acceptable card, means for detecting the direction of movement of a card in the reader, and means for signalling an alarm condition if the direction next detected after signalling a credit corresponds with the card being withdrawn from the reader.

If a player attempts to withdraw a card after it has been accepted, thus registering a credit, an alarm is signalled.

Preferably, the means for detecting comprises first and second card sensors arranged sequentially along the path of a card so that when a card is received it first passes the first sensor and then passes the second sensor; and wherein the means for signalling an alarm condition is responsive to the card being sensed by the second sensor before the card is sensed by the first sensor, to signal the alarm condition.

The card reader preferably includes a battery powered supply so arranged that the sensors and the means for signalling an alarm condition remain operational with the apparatus switched off or in the event of a power failure.

As the apparatus normally has a memory which stores the number of credits due to the player, it would be possible to switch the apparatus off after a credit has been registered and withdraw the card if the reader did not have a battery powered supply. Preferably the battery is only used as a back up.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a card reader having means for receiving a card and transporting the card along a path, a gate pivoted for movement between a position in which the gate closes the path, and a position in which the path is open, and means biassing the gate to its closed position, the gate being movable against the bias to the open position by insertion of a card into the reader.

The gate is opened against the bias when a card is inserted. Once the card is past the gate, the gate closes. If a player attempts to withdraw the card by pulling on a string attached thereto, the card will catch on the gate and tend to pull the gate shut. This effect can be improved by providing an edge of the gate remote from the pivot, with slots or notches therein. Then if a player attempts to withdraw a card using string, say, the string passes into a slot or notch, so preventing the car

SUBSTITUTE SHEET from being pulled past the edge.

Preferably, the reader includes means for sensing whether the gate is in its closed position; means for sensing the presence of a card downstream (in the direction of insertion) of the gate; and means for signalling an alarm condition in response to a condition in which an acceptable card has been sensed and then cleared but the gate is not sensed to be closed.

This ensures that an alarm is signalled if a player attempts to hold the gate open with a thin implement so as to withdraw the card after a card has been accepted.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a card reader having means for receiving a card, means for determining whether a card is acceptable, means for determining whether a card is acceptable, means for detecting the direction of movement of a card in the reader, and means responsive to the determination of an acceptable card for signalling a credit only if the card is not being withdrawn from the reader.

A credit is not given by the machine if the card is being withdrawn.

Preferably, the means for detecting the direction of movement of

SUBSTITUTESHEET the card comprises first and second card sensors arranged sequentially along the path__ of a card so that when a card is received it first passes the first sensor and then passes the second sensor; and means for signalling a credit responsive to detection of an acceptable card to signal a credit only if both sensors are clear.

In normal use the second sensor clears as the card leaves the reader, on being accepted, to be stored in the machine. The first sensor ensures that the card is not being withdrawn.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention their is provided a card reader comprising: means for constraining a card from an input slot, to a first path past a reading head; means for transporting the card along the path; means responsive to the reading head for rejecting or accepting cards according to the information read; means defining a second path located below the level of the first path and into which, in use, an accepted card falls free of the constraint, the second path leading through a slot into a hopper, the slot being of such dimensions that a card will jam therein if it is inclined significantly relative to the second path.

Preferably, the second path is defined by a ramp or inclined chute.

SUBSTITUTESHEET Means- is preferably provided to sense the arrival of a card into the hopper and to signal a credit only if the arrival of a card in the hopper is sensed.

If a player attaches a line to a card and then attempts to retrieve it fraudulently after it has passed into the hopper, since the line passes through the slot at the input to the first path, it pulls the card upwardly in the hopper slot jamming it therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 schematically illustrates elements of a card reader embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a practical card reader embodying the invention;

Figure 3 is a cross-section of the card reader of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side view, partly broken away, of another card reader embodying the invention; and

Figure 5 is a cross section on arrows V-V of Figure 4.

_SUBSTITUTESHEET DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A card 2 (shown partly broken away in Figure 1) has a stripe 4 bearing a machine readable code. This may be in any suitable form, for example an optically readable bar code or, as in the example illustrated, magnetic. The code carried by the stripe is one of a large number of available codes and it is intended that only cards bearing that code may be used in a game machine as a token to pay for a player to use the machine to play the game. To this end the game machine has a card reader elements of which are illustrated schematically in the Figure 1.

The card reader has a slot (not illustrated) into which a card is fed edgewise in the direction of arrow A. Inside the reader the card is guided along a path by grooves (not shown in Figure 1) which receive opposite side edges 6,8 of the card. When the front edge 10 of the card reaches a sensor 12, the output of the sensor changes state to indicate the presence of the card to a microcomputer indicated generally at 14. Any suitable sensor may be used. In the embodiments >illustrated, the sensor is an optical sensor (opto). A light beam generated in one half of the opto is detected in the other. The presence of a card is indicated when the light beam is broken. The microcomputer controls a motor (not shown in Figure 1) which drives one of a pair of pinch rollers (not shown in Figure 1) to drive the card through the reader in the direction of arrow A at a controlled

TUTE SHEET speed .

In the path of the card a gate is provided by a plate 16 shown in two positions. The plate 16 is pivoted on a hinge at one edge 18 across the path of the card. The plate is biassed by means (not shown in Figure 1) in the direction of arrow 3 to a position shown in broken outline where it closes the path. Stops (not shown) prevent the plate from continuing in the direction of arrow 3 past the position in which it closes the path.

The plate is, however, forced out of the way by insertion of a card in the direction of arrow A, so that the plate pivots against the bias to the position shown in full outline, so that the card can pass over the top either under action of the player or, in the case illustrated, driven by the rollers.

When the rear end 20 of the card has passed the plate 16, it is returned to the closed position by the bias. In this position, even if a string is attached to the card, it cannot be withdrawn past the closed plate 16. To improve the action of the plate 16 its edge 22 is provided with slots or notches 24 into which a string would likely pass. If the string is in a notch 24, it cannot pull a card over the top of the plate 16 unless the plate can move in the direction of arrow B beyond its closed position, but this is prevented by the stops (not illustrated). As it passes through the reader a magnetic reading head, (not shown in Figure 1) reads the code on the stripe 4 and the resulting signals are transmitted to the microcomputer 14. If the code indicates that the card is acceptable, it progresses on through the reader driven by the pinch rollers past a second sensor 26 which is also an opto in the embodiment illustrated. If the card is not acceptable, the microprocessor reverses the motor to return the card.

A further sensor 30 (also an opto in the example illustrated) is positioned to sense the presence of a tag 32 on the plate 16. Sensing the presence of the tag 32 indicates that the plate 16 is in its closed position.

The microcomputer will only signal a credit on 34 after the card has cleared the sensor 26. Two other conditions have to be met. One condition is that the sensor 12 is also clear, i.e. no card is sensed. This ensures that the reason sensor 26 is clear, is not because the card is being withdrawn. The other condition is that the sensor 30 is detecting the presence of the tag 32. This ensures that a thin implement is not being used to hold the plate 16 in its open position preparatory to withdrawing the card. If all these conditions are met the microcomputer issues a signal on line 34 indicating a credit of one token. In other embodiments (not illustrated) one of the sensors 12 or 30 may be absent.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET If the sensor 26 clears when the sensor 12 still indicates the presence of a card, the inference is that the card is being withdrawn and an alarm condition is indicated by a signal on a line 28. If the sensor 26 clears when the sensor 32 does not indicate the presence of the tag 32, the inference is that the plate 16 is being held down preparatory to withdrawing the card and an alarm condition is indicated by a signal on lead 34. If either of the sensors 12 or 32 fail to clear within a predetermined time limit, an alarm condition is indicated on lead 23.

Games machines usually have memories which retain a record of the current total credits, so that if the power is interrupted, a player may continue when power is restored. In order to prevent a player from retrieving a card after it has registered a credit, but with the power switched off, the card reader preferably includes a battery operated power supply. The bat-ery is preferably only used in the event of a power failure or on switching off the machine.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, there is shown a practical card reader embodying the invention.

The card reader has a chassis 40 in which are formed grooves 42 for receiving the edges 6,8 of the card to guide it along a path. A motor 44 drives one of a pair of pinch rollers 46,48 through

^SUBSTITUTESH 1 1 gears (not shown) . The grooves terminate at the pinch rollers .

Opposed to the pinch roller , 46 is a magnetic read head for reading the code stored in the magnetic stripe on the card. The s ensors 12 and 26 are placed one either side of the pinch rollers .

The gate 16 is pivotally mounted on a pin 48 down stream (in the direction of insertion) of the sensors 12 and 26. The tag 32 is at the end of an arm which with another arm 52 acts as a counter¬ weight which biases the plate 16 to the position illustrated. In this position the top edge 22 of the plate 16 jams against the inside surface 54 of the chassis which thereby acts as a stop to prevent the plate 16 pivoting past the position shown. As in Figure 1, a card being inserted is driven by the pinch rollers to push the plate 16 down. Once past the plate, a card cannot be withdrawn even if a string is attached to it. The string will pass over the plate 16 falling in one of the triangular notches 56 illustrated in Figure 3. Pulling the string will assist the counter-weight to pull the plate 15 to its closed position illustrated. The card cannot be drawn past the plate 16. Ledges 58 prevent the card from reaching the top of the plate 16.

The sensors 12,26,30 are connected to the microcomputer (.not shown in Figure 2) which performs the same functions as in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1.

SUBSTITUTESHE The card reader illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 has a slot 102 into which a card is fed edgewise in the direction of arrow P. Inside the reader the card is guided along and constrained to a path by grooves 104 which receive opposite side edges of the card. When the front_...edge of the card reaches a sensor 112, the output of the sensor changes state to indicate the presence of the card to a microcomputer indicated generally at 114. Any suitable sensor may be used. In the embodiments illustrated, the sensor is an optical sensor (opto). A light beam generated in one half of the opto is detected in the other. The presence of a card is indicated when the light beam is broken. The microcomputer controls a motor (not shown in Figure 4) which drives one of a pair of pinch rollers 116, 118 to drive the card through the reader in the direction of arrow P at a controlled speed.

As it passes through the reader a magnetic reading head, 120 reads the code on the stripe and the resulting signals are transmitted to the microcomputer 114. If the code indicates that the card is acceptable, it progresses on through the reader driven by the pinch rollers past a second sensor 126 which is also an opto in the embodiment illustrated. If the card is not acceptable, the microprocessor reverses the motor to return the card.

The grooves 104 terminate at the pinch rollers 116, 118. Freed from the rollers 116, 118 the card falls into a chute 128 the bottom of which is formed by *a ramp 130. The ramp 130 slopes towards a slot 132 which forms the entrance to a hopper 134 in which accepted cards are stored. In the path of the card, indicated by chain lines, is one end 136 of a pivotally mounted member 138. The other end 140 of the member 133 is positioned normally to interrupt the light beam of a further opto 142.

The microcomputer will only signal a credit on an output 144 after the card has cleared the sensor 126. Two other conditions have to be met. One condition is that the sensor 112 is also clear, i.e. no card is sensed. This ensures that the reason sensor 126 is clear, is not because the card is being withdrawn. The other condition is that the sensor 142 first clears then within a predetermined time limit again senses the end 140 of the member 138. If all these conditions are met the microcomputer issues a signal on line 144 indicating a credit of one token.

If the sensor 126 clears when the sensor 112 still indicates the presence of a card, the inference is that the card is being withdrawn and an alarm condition is indicated by a signal on a line 146.

If opto 142 does not clear within a predetermined time from the time at which opto 126 clears, the inference is that a card is being held back and an alarm condition is indicated on line 146.

^SUBSTITUTESHEET A credit is not signalled until the card is inside the hopper and operates the member 138. If a line had been attached to the trailing edge of the card before it was put into the slot 12, when it falls into the chute 128, since the direction of movement of the card is reversed, the edge with the line attached becomes the leading edge. As will be appreciated, the (light plastic) card will not readily tow the line round the edge 148 of the slot 132 and either the card will not enter the slot or it will be delayed. In either case, the opto 142 will not clear in time after the opto 126 and an alarm will be signalled on line 145. Since the line passes round the edge 143, the card will not be readily retrieved by pulling on the line.

If a line were attached to the leading edge of the card before it was inserted in the slot 12, reversal of the direction of movement in the chute 128 means that as the card enters the slot 132, the line is attached to the trailing edge of the card. If, once the member 138 has been operated and a credit signalled, the player attempts to withdraw the card by pulling on the line, since the line passes up through the rollers 116, 118 the line inclines the card in the slot 132 where it jams.

If the player were able to get the card successfully from the hopper, since it is dangling on a line it would be difficult to get it lined up with the grooves 14 in order to extract it.

S Further if, after a credit has been signalled, the opto 126 indicates the presence of a c'ard before the opto 112 indicates the presence of a card, the inference is that a card is being withdrawn and an alarm is signalled on line 146.

If the card fails to reach any of the optos within a set time limit an alarm is signalled (possible cause: card jammed somewhere within the mechanism).

Should that condition occur while either opto 112 or 126 is obscured, the motor will try to clear the blockage by intermittently reversing for a few seconds.

If any of the events described above, takes place 'out-of- sequence¹ (e.g. opto 142 becomes clear before opto 112 is obscured) an alarm is signalled (possible cause: an attempt is being made to defraud the machine by attaching a 'recovery line' to the card so that it may be pulled back through the mechanism) .

Games machines usually have memories which retain a record of the current total credits, so that if the power is interrupted, a player may continue when power is restored. In order to prevent a player from retrieving a card after it has registered a credit, but with the power switched of.f, the card reader preferably includes a battery operated power supply. The battery is

SUBSTITUTE SHEET preferably only used in the event of a power failure or on switching off the machine.

Claims

1. A card reader having means f or rece iving a card and transporting the card along a path , a gate pivoted for movement between a position in which the gate closes the path, and a position in which the path is open, and means biassing the gate to its closed position, the gate being movable against the bias to the open position by insertion of a card into the reader.

2. A card reader as claimed in Claim 1, including means for sensing whether the gate is in its closed position ; means f or s ensing the presence of a card downstream ( in the direction of ins ertion ) of the gate ; and mean s f o r signalling an alarm condition in response to a condition in which an acceptable card has been sensed and then cleared but the gate is not sensed to be closed.

3 . A card reader as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 including means for sensing whether the gate is. in its closed position; means f or s ensing the presence of a card downstream ( in the direction of insertion ) of the gate ; and means for signalling a credit only if an acceptable card has been

SUBSTITUTE SHEET sensed and cleared and the gate is sensed to be closed.

4. A card reader as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the gate has an edge remote from the pivot which edge has slots or notches therein.

5. A card reader as claimed in any preceding Claim including a battery powered supply so arranged that the sensors and the means for signalling an alarm condition remain operational with the apparatus switched off or in the event of a power failure.

6. A card reader having means for receiving a card, means for signalling a credit responsive to receipt of an acceptable card, means for detecting the direction of movement of a card in the reader, and means for signalling an alarm condition if the direction next detected after signalling a credit corresponds with the card being withdrawn from the reader.

7. A card reader as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the means for detecting comprises first and second card sensors arranged sequentially along the path of a card so that when a card is received it first passes the first sensor and then passes the second sensor; and wherein the means for signalling an alarm condition is responsive to the card being sensed by

SUBSTI the second sensor before the card is sensed by the first sensor, to signal the alarm condition.

8. A card reader as claimed in Claim 2 , including a battery powered supply so arranged that the sensors and the means for signalling an alarm condition remain operational with the apparatus switched off or in the event of a power failure.

9. A card reader having means for receiving a card, means for determining whether a card is acceptable, means for detecting the direction of movement of a card in the reader, and means responsive to the determination of an acceptable card for signalling a credit only if the card is not being withdrawn from the reader.

10. A card reader as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the means for detecting the direction of movement of the card comprises first and second card sensors arranged sequentially along the path of a card so that when a card is received it first passes the first sensor and then passes the second sensor; and means for signalling a credit responsive to detection of an acceptable card to signal a credit only if both sensors are clear.

11. A card reader as claimed in Claim 10, including means for

SUBSTITUTESHEET sensing the presence of a card upstream of the gate, and wherein a credit is signalled only if an acceptable card has been sensed and cleared by the downstream sensor, the upstream sensor is clear, and the gate is sensed closed.

12. A card reader comprising: means for constraining a card from an input slot, to a first path past a reading head; means for transporting the card along the path; means responsive to the reading head for rejecting or accepting cards according to the information read; means defining a second path located below the level of the first path and into which, in use, an accepted card falls free of the constraint, the second path leading through a slot into a hopper, the slot being of such dimensions that a card will jam therein if it is inclined significantly relative to the second path.

13.- A card reader as claimed in Claim 12, in which the second path is defined by a ramp or inclined chute.

14. A card reader as claimed in Claim 12 or 13, including means to sense the arrival of a card into the hopper and means to signal a credit only if the arrival of a card in the hopper is sensed.

15. A card reader as claimed in Claim 14, including means for detecting the direction of movement of a card in the reader, and means for signalling an alarm condition if the direction of movement next detected after signalling a credit corresponds with the card being withdrawn from the reader.

16. A card reader as claimed in Claim 14 or 15, including one or more sensors for sensing the presence of a card in the first path, the means to signal a credit responding to the arrival of a card in the hopper to signal a credit only if the or each of the sensors in the path is/are clear.

SUBSTITUTESHEET