JP2748603B2 - Card processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a card processing device capable of rewriting the display of a card used as a prepaid card, a commuter pass or the like.

(Prior Art) In the case of a prepaid card, as a method of displaying the remaining amount, a method of providing a punched hole or a method of performing thermal printing on the card surface is adopted.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the former method, there is a problem that the user cannot accurately know the balance, and if a trouble occurs in the magnetic information, the balance is unknown. In the latter case, there is no problem in the former case, but since the balance is printed on the card surface each time a prepaid card is used, a large balance printing space is required, and a display space for other advertisements and the like cannot be secured. .

In view of the above points, the applicant has invented a card whose display contents can be rewritten (Japanese Patent Application No. 1-12245), and has developed a processing device for rewriting the card.

The above card processing apparatus uses a heater and a thermal head as a heating rewriting means, and rewrites a display by heating the card to a different set temperature by the heater and the thermal head.

However, in the configuration having two heating devices, a heater and a thermal head, as the heating rewriting means as described above, there is a problem that the device becomes large and the cost increases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a card processing apparatus that includes only a thermal head as a heating and rewriting unit and that can be formed in a small size and at low cost.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a card processing apparatus comprising: a single thermal head disposed on a card transport path; A card transport mechanism for transporting the card along the transport path such that the card is transported for erasing first and for writing second time to reach a position facing the thermal head. Transport control means for controlling the card transport mechanism, detecting means for detecting that the card has reached the preheating position of the thermal head before the card is transported for erasure and opposed to the thermal head, At the time of the erasing, the thermal head is preheated and driven in response to the output of the detecting means that the card has been conveyed to the preheating position. When the card is conveyed to a position opposite to the thermal head, this position is set as an erasing start position, and the thermal head starts erasing heating at a first set temperature with respect to the card. When the card is conveyed to a position opposite to the head, this position is set as a writing start position, and the thermal head starts writing heating at a second set temperature higher than the first set temperature for the card. And a heating control means for performing controlled heating.

(Operation) According to the present invention, the display contents of the card are erased by heating the thermal head to the first set temperature, and the display contents are written to the card by heating the thermal head to the second set temperature. The thermal head is used for both erasing and writing of display contents.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 are plan views showing a prepaid card used in the present invention in different display states, FIG. 2 is a sectional view, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the same.

In these figures, reference numeral 1 denotes a prepaid card, and the prepaid card 1 is provided with a rewritable display layer 3 made of a thermoreversible material on one side of a substrate 2 as a card body on the front side. The coloring layer 4 is provided on the substrate 2 where the display layer 3 does not exist, and the transparent overcoat layer 5 for protecting the card is provided continuously on the display layer 3 and the coloring layer 4. Is provided with a magnetic layer 6 in which the amount of money is written. The display layer 3 has a configuration in which a resin and an organic low-molecular substance are dissolved in a solvent, and has a configuration in which an organic low-molecular substance 3b is present in a resin portion 3a. Advertising contents and the like are appropriately provided on the surface of the overcoat layer 5 on the coloring layer 4 on the front side.

The thermoreversible material constituting the display layer 3 has a structure in which a resin and an organic low-molecular substance are dissolved in a solvent, and when the particles of the organic low-molecular substance become relatively large single crystals, the whole becomes transparent. When it becomes polycrystalline, it becomes entirely cloudy and has a thermoreversible characteristic as shown in FIG. 4, and its material is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-258853. This material is cloudy at room temperature and upon heating, T ₁
The transparency starts to increase from (low temperature), becomes the maximum transparent state at T ₂ (medium temperature), and is maintained at the maximum transparent state at T ₂ even when cooled to room temperature. Next, when the temperature is raised to T ₃ (high temperature), the state becomes an intermediate state between the transparent state and the maximum turbid state, and then returns to the turbid state when cooled to room temperature.

The prepaid card 1 configured as described above displays the remaining amount corresponding to the amount of money possessed in the display layer 3 by changing between a cloudy state and a transparent state in response to a temperature change. Will be described together with the write operation of the prepaid card 1 by the writing machine.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a writing machine K as a card processing device of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a block circuit diagram thereof.

10 is an exterior body, on one side of which is a card insertion slot 11,
On the opposite side, card outlets 12 are provided. 13 is a motor, each of 14, 15, 16 and 18 is a feed roller, and 17 is a platen. 9 is a belt that applies the driving force from the motor 13 to each of the feed rollers 14, 15, 16, 18 and the platen 17. is there. Each of 20, 21, 22, and 23 is a pressing roller, and is provided so as to elastically contact the upper side of each of the feed rollers 14, 15, 16, and 18. The motor 13, the feed rollers 14, 15, 16, 18, the belt 9, and the pressing rollers 20, 21, 22, 23 constitute a card transport mechanism.

Numeral 25 denotes a thermal head provided so as to face the platen. As shown in FIG. 7, the thermal head 25 has write data or erase data (ALL
A shift register 40 to which "1" data) and a clock pulse for data movement are applied, a latch circuit 41 for holding data from the shift register 40 by a latch signal, and a gate circuit for opening data from the latch circuit 41 by an ENB signal Each of the circuits 42 includes a heating resistor 43 connected in series to the gate circuit. Each of 26, 28, and 29 is a photoelectric sensor that detects the transport position of the prepaid card 1.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a CPU 31 as a transport control unit and a heating control unit constituted by a microcomputer, and a ROM 32 and a RAM 33.
The control unit 30 is connected to the motor 13, the thermal head 25, and the voltage setting circuit 24 via the first interface 35, and the photoelectric sensors 26, 28, 29, The writer is connected to each of the thermistors 27 provided integrally with the thermal head 25, and further connected via a third interface 38 to a control unit such as a ticket vending machine in which the writer is incorporated.

Next, the writing operation in the writing machine K will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

The prepaid card 1 inserted from the insertion slot 11 is turned on by the photoelectric sensor 26 (step S1), and the roller 14 and the pressing roller are driven by the forward rotation of the motor 13 (step S2).
It is taken in while being sandwiched between 20.

The prepaid card 1 in this case is such that the entire display layer 3 is in a cloudy state as shown in FIG.
The display layer 3 as shown in FIG. 1 (B) is entirely transparent, and the display layer 3 as shown in FIG. 1 (C) and FIG. 1 (D) is partially cloudy. What forms the part 8 may be appropriate. 1 (B) shows the entire surface of the display layer 3 with the substrate 2 exposed, and FIGS. 1 (C) and 1 (D) show the display portion 8 of the display layer 3. Only the portion becomes cloudy, and the other portions are indicated by the amount of money by exposing the substrate 2 surface.

Next, when the prepaid card 1 is taken inside,
Thermal head by turning on photoelectric sensor 28 (step S3)
Preheating of 25 is started (step S4). In this case, the data provided to the shift register 40 of the thermal head 25 is erasing data. The preheating operation of the thermal head 25 is performed at a low voltage as shown in FIG. 10A by an ENB signal pulse as shown in FIG. 9A. This voltage setting operation is performed by a voltage switching operation of the voltage setting circuit 24 based on a command from the CPU 31.

Then, in a state where the prepaid card 1 has reached the erase start position facing the thermal head 25 a predetermined time after the detection in Step S3 (Step S5), the erase head heating of the thermal head 25 is started. This erasing heating operation is performed at a low voltage as shown in FIG. 10A by an ENB signal pulse as shown in FIG. 9B. Prepaid card 1 with the movement, the entire display layer 3 is medium temperature T ₂ treated with the thermal head 25 (step S6), and
In a state in which the intermediate temperature T ₂ treatment of the whole display layer 3 is made after a predetermined time (step S7), and the motor 13 is stopped (step S8), and further, is reversed (Step S9). As a result, the entire display layer 3 becomes the transparent state shown in FIG. 1B after cooling.

Then, when the prepaid card 1 is conveyed by the reverse rotation of the motor 13 and the photoelectric sensor 28 is turned off (step S10), the motor 13 is stopped (step S11), and is rotated forward again (step S12). Then, when the photoelectric sensor 28 is turned on again with the movement of the prepaid card 1 (step
S13), preheating of the thermal head 25 is started (step S14). This preheating operation is performed at a high voltage as shown in FIG. 10 (B) by an ENB signal pulse as shown in FIG. 9 (A). Next, in a state where the prepaid card 1 has reached the write start position facing the thermal head 25 after a predetermined time (step S15), the heating of the thermal head 25 is started (step S1).
6). The writing and heating operation here is also performed at a high voltage as shown in FIG. 10B by the ENB signal pulse as shown in FIG. 9A. As the prepaid card 1 moves, the thermal head 25 moves the display layer 3
It is a high temperature T ₃ processing for writing throughout, in a state where high-temperature T ₃ treatment of the whole display layer 3 is made after a predetermined time (step S17), the thermal head 25 is stopped (step S18). Next, the normal rotation of the motor 13 continues, the prepaid card 1 passes through the photoelectric sensor 29, and the photoelectric sensor 29 is turned on (step S19) and turned off (step S2).
0), the motor 13 is stopped (step S21), and in this state, the prepaid card 1 is sent out to the outlet 12.

The high-temperature T ₃ processing is performed only at the position corresponding to the desired form of the display section 8 in the display layer 3. Only the portion of the display layer 3 where the high-temperature T ₃ processing has been performed after cooling is shown in FIG. ,
A display section 8 for displaying the remaining balance in white turbidity as shown in FIG. 1 (D) is formed.

For display rewriting with the balance reduction, by the above operation, for example, the display unit 8 shown in FIG. 1 (C) is erased by medium temperature T ₂ process in step S6 described above, shown in FIG. 1 (D) display unit 8 is written by the high-temperature T ₃ processing of step S16.

In the above embodiment, the display mode is obtained by making the display layer 3 a white turbid portion. However, the display mode may be obtained by making the display layer 3 transparent and exposing the surface of the substrate 2 at that portion. If erases the display by the high-temperature T ₃ treatment, it may be performed to write the medium temperature T ₂ treatment.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, a single thermal head arranged on the transport path of a card and the card are moved along the transport path so that the card faces the thermal head twice. A card transport mechanism for transporting the card, and a transport control means for controlling the card transport mechanism so that the card is transported for the first time for erasing and the second time for writing and reaches a position facing the thermal head; Detecting means for detecting that the card has reached the preheating position of the thermal head before the card is conveyed for erasing and facing the thermal head; and for erasing, the card is conveyed to the preheating position. The thermal head is preheated and driven in response to the output of the detecting means when the card is conveyed to a position facing the thermal head after the preheating. The thermal head starts erasing heating at a first set temperature on the card with this position as an erasing start position, and the card is conveyed to a position facing the thermal head during the writing. And heating control means for controlling the thermal head to start writing heating at a second set temperature higher than the first set temperature with respect to the card using the position as a write start position. By using the thermal head for both erasing and writing of the contents displayed on the card, a heater that was conventionally required separately from the thermal head for rewriting the contents displayed on the card is not required, resulting in downsizing. A low-cost device can be provided by reducing the number of parts.

In this case, since the card is conventionally heated at different temperatures by the heater and the thermal head, the display contents of the card can be sufficiently erased by the heater, and it is thought that the risk of uneven erasure can be eliminated at first. However, in the present invention, since the same thermal head is used for both erasing and writing, downsizing and low cost can be realized, but it is necessary to control the driving of the thermal head so as to prevent the erasing unevenness. In this case, since the set temperature is lower in erasing than in writing, the driving voltage of the thermal head is also lower and the first temperature is lower.
Rise up to the second set temperature is slower than the rise up to the second set temperature, and therefore, erasure unevenness may occur. In the present invention, the thermal head is preheat-driven in response to the output of the detection means that the card has been conveyed to the preheating position as described above,
After the preheating, when the card is conveyed to a position facing the thermal head, this position is set as the erasing start position, and the erasing heating of the card at the first set temperature is started by the thermal head. When the card is conveyed to the erasing start position, the thermal head is already preheated and raised so that the display contents of the card can be erased evenly, so that the card can erase the display contents evenly. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1 to 10 relate to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 1 (A), 1 (B), 1 (C), and 1 (D) show different display states. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the prepaid card, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the prepaid card, FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view thereof, FIG.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the writer, FIG. 6 is a block circuit diagram of the writer, FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of the thermal head, FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the writer, FIG.
10B is an explanatory diagram of an ENB signal waveform when using a thermal head, and FIGS. 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams of voltages when using a thermal head. 25: thermal head, 31: CPU (transport control means, heating control means).

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A first thermal head disposed on a transport path of a card; a card transport mechanism for transporting the card along the transport path so that the card faces the thermal head twice; Is a carrier control means for controlling the card transport mechanism so that the card is transported for writing for the second time and reaches a position facing the thermal head; and Detecting means for detecting that the card has reached the preheating position of the thermal head before facing the thermal head; and upon erasing, responding to the output of the detecting means that the card has been conveyed to the preheating position. After the preheating, the card is conveyed to a position facing the thermal head after this preheating, and this position is defined as an erasing start position. The thermal head starts erasing heating at a first set temperature with respect to the card. When the card is conveyed to a position facing the thermal head, this position is set to a write start position. Heating control means for controlling the thermal head to start writing heating at a second set temperature higher than the first set temperature by the thermal head. apparatus.