JP2968461B2 - Card transport mechanism of card recording / reproducing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card transport mechanism of a card recording / reproducing apparatus for exchanging information with a magnetic card, an IC card, and an optical card. More specifically, the present invention relates to a card transport mechanism that extracts a timing signal for transmitting and receiving a recording / reproducing signal in association with a card transport structure that pushes and transports a card with a claw.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is a card recording / reproducing apparatus for reading magnetic information, optical information, and the like recorded on a card such as a magnetic card, an IC card, and an optical card. This card recording and playback device issues and processes prepaid cards, creates payment cards,
It is used as an automatic reading device for telephone cards and various tickets, in addition to automatically and efficiently processing deposit and saving cards.

[0003] Such card recording / reproducing apparatuses are often used as automatic financial instruments as described above, regardless of weekdays and holidays, and are often used unattended. To be able to do so, a maintenance-free and highly reliable device is desired. If the equipment stops due to a jam or the like in an unmanned state, not only will the customer not be able to repay the card, but also the customer's request to use the equipment will be rejected, and the credit of the automatic financial equipment installer will be significantly impaired. It is.

Such a card recording / reproducing apparatus is provided with a card transport mechanism for transporting the card and a head for transmitting and receiving information to and from the card. When the card is reliably passed over the head by the card transport mechanism, and the head and the card information are synchronized, the transfer of the card information is highly reliable.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional example of a card transport mechanism constituting a card recording / reproducing apparatus.

In the conventional card conveyance, first and second cards are formed so as to extend from the card insertion slot 27 in the card advancing direction and convey the card 3 inserted into the card passage in the direction of the arrow.
And a third transport roller pair 24, 25, and 26, each of which comprises a drive roller and a driven roller, and is arranged to face each other. In this transport mechanism, drive rollers provided below the card path are fixed to rotating shafts pivotally supported by side plates, respectively, and the rotating shafts
Each of the driven rollers positioned above the card path is supported by a pad block and is rotated by a drive motor 12 which is moved by a sensor for detecting that a card has been inserted from 7 and which has a peripheral surface of the drive roller. Contact in card path.

When the card 3 is inserted from the card insertion slot 27, the drive motor 12 is rotated by a sensor for detecting that the card is inserted, so that the drive roller is rotated. It follows and rotates because it is pinched by the peripheral surface. As described above, when each drive roller rotates, the driven roller also rotates, and the next transport roller pair becomes a transfer roller along with the transport of the card. It is transported.

In such a card conveying mechanism, when the driven roller is formed of a rubber roller, if hand oil or water adheres to the roller, the conveying force is reduced due to a reduction in friction coefficient due to a rush load on the roller or contamination of the card. It causes the jam to occur by lowering. That is, roller slippage of the driving roller occurs, and the card cannot be transported due to an abnormal load. Then, there is a problem that the card is taken in and cannot be taken out. As a countermeasure against this, a card ejection mechanism using a claw similar to the present invention is provided along with the drive roller, and when the card cannot be taken out, the card is ejected by the card ejection mechanism using the claw. However, its mechanism and structure are complicated. As a means for reliably transporting the card, there is a method using a platen (tray plate). However, the mechanism and structure are complicated, and the apparatus is also increased in size. Further, the transfer performance may be affected.

The reading / writing of the card is performed by an encoder using a fixed clock synchronized with the driving roller. If the above-described roller slip occurs at a constant motor speed, the timing is out of order and a read / write fluctuation occurs. Therefore, the present invention has a simple configuration to prevent the occurrence of a jam or the like and to surely perform read / write.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention prevents the card from being taken in and cannot be taken out due to roller slippage due to adhesion of hand oil or water and the inability to carry the card due to an abnormal load. An object of the present invention is to provide a highly reliable card transport mechanism of a card recording / reproducing apparatus which can perform writing.

[0011] As a transport mechanism, a driving means which moves in parallel with the transport reference plane along the card path and which has a claw member protruding from one end of the card is used, and an encoder synchronized with the card transported by the claw member is used. A timing signal of a recording / reproducing signal is obtained to read / write reliably.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a card transport mechanism of a card recording / reproducing apparatus transmits / receives a recording / reproducing signal to / from a transported card using a recording / reproducing head facing a card path. In the card recording / reproducing apparatus to be performed, one end of the card is brought into contact with a claw member which protrudes into the card passage and is driven in at least one of the reciprocating directions by a driving unit, and conveys the card along the card passage. A timing signal for transmitting and receiving the recording / reproducing signal is extracted using an encoder synchronized with the card conveyed by the claw member.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a card transport mechanism for a card recording / reproducing apparatus is provided with a pair of pad rollers for holding a card coaxially with a head, and an encoder connected to one of the pair of pad rollers. It is characterized by being provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a card transport mechanism for a card recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein an encoder is integrally provided with a pad roller which is disposed to face the head and presses the card against the head. It is characterized by being.

[0015]

In the transport mechanism of the card reader according to the present invention, at least one nail is protruded from the driving means, and the card is pushed and transported by the nail in contact with the card.
Even if the roller slips easily due to dirt or the like due to the adhesion of water, the sheet is reliably conveyed. Also,
It is possible to prevent a trouble that the card cannot be transported due to an abnormal load and the card is taken in and cannot be taken out. In addition, since the projections of the claws can be easily formed, it can be implemented with high economic efficiency.

Further, according to the present invention, a pair of pad rollers for holding the card coaxially with the head is provided, and an encoder is provided on one of the pair of pad rollers, so that the cards passing over the head are accurately synchronized. The timing signal of the recording / reproducing signal can be obtained. The transfer signal of the card is reliably corrected by the timing signal. Therefore, write / read errors can be reduced, and the reliability of the card recording / reproducing device can be improved.

Further, according to the present invention, the head is arranged to face the head,
Since the pad roller that presses the card against the head and the encoder are coaxially and integrally connected,
In this case, the same operation as described above can be performed regardless of the simple configuration.

[0018]

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a card transport mechanism constituting a card recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 shows another embodiment, and FIG. 3 shows the relationship between driving means and claws. It is one embodiment shown. The same reference numerals are given to the same functional members as in the conventional example, and the description is omitted.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, a card transport mechanism includes a card passage 23 extending from a card insertion slot (not shown) in the card traveling direction and a take-in drive for transporting the card 3 inserted into the card passage. A take-up driven roller 2 provided facing the roller 1 and the take-in drive roller;
Driving means 9 provided in parallel with the card guide plate 5 facing the card passage 23 and provided with card pushing claws 10 and 11
And a head 18 for performing information processing of the card 3.

The card 3 inserted from the card slot is
From the insertion side as indicated by the arrow, it is held by the take-in drive roller 1 and the take-in drive roller 2 and taken in. Drive roller 1
Rotates the driving force of the motor 12 via the belt 13. The drive is started when the sensor (not shown) senses the card.

The card path 23 is provided with a card guide plate 5 facing one end face of the card and serving as a reference plane for conveyance. The opposite face of the card guide plate faces the other end face of the card, and the card is moved in the direction of the card guide plate. An approaching plate 6 is formed which is urged by pressing springs 7 and 8 which project. While the card 3 is positioned in the card advancing direction by the take-in guide 4 provided on the drive roller side of the card guide plate, the position of the card 3 is fixed while being pressed by the card guide plate 5 and the shift plate 6, and the card path is determined. Is transported.

An electromagnetic clutch 15 is mounted on the drive shaft of the pulley 14.
A drive means 9 driven by a detachable sprocket 16 is provided in parallel with the card guide plate 5 below the card passage 23. The driving means has at least one claw 10 protruding therefrom. The claw 10 is provided with a control system (not shown) so as to always wait at a position where no interference occurs when the card is taken in when the card is in a standby state. When the driving roller 1 starts driving by inserting the card, the sprocket 16 is engaged and driven by the electromagnetic clutch 15, and the pawl 10 connects the card taken in by the driving roller 1 to the driving roller to pass through the card passage 23. Convey while pushing to the far end. As an alternative to the electromagnetic clutch, a motor dedicated to card loading and discharging may be separately provided.

Conversely, when the card is located at the far end of the card path 23 and the card is to be fed back to the direction indicated by the arrow, the drive means 9 is rotated in the opposite direction by rotating the motor in the opposite direction. The claw 10, which has been pushed to the far end, once passes under the transport path, exits at the opposite end of the pushed card, and then pushes the opposite end to feed the card back to the insertion side. As described above, by carrying while pushing using the claw member, it is possible to carry without causing a jam.

In the above description, one claw is projected on the driving means. However, as shown in the figure, several claws are arranged at an interval of a card length plus α on an annular portion formed by the driving means.
The transfer processing time can be reduced. In this case, when the electromagnetic clutch 15 is turned on, the pawl 10 attached to the driving means waiting below the transporting path is driven by the on of the electromagnetic clutch 15 to continuously transport the card 3 taken in from the driving roller 1 and transport the head 18. Let it pass. In the backward conveyance, the claw 11 performs the same feeding operation as the claw 10 by the driving unit which is reversed. The transport processing time is shortened by the two claws 10 and the claws 11, so that the read / write processing speed can be increased. Further, it is also possible to provide a large number of three or more claws on the annular portion formed by the driving means provided that the distance between the claws is larger than the card length. By doing so, the processing speed can be further increased.

As driving means for driving the claws 10 and 11,
For example, although a chain is used in the drawing, various transport members such as a ladder chain, a timing belt, and a steel belt can be used in addition to the chain.

The drive motor 12 rotates so as to rotate the drive roller 1 and the sprocket 16 in a counterclockwise direction when taking in the card. The rotation is controlled by control means (not shown).

In the above description, a so-called reciprocating traveling system is adopted in which the inserted card is returned to the insertion slot and ejected. However, a forward traveling system in which the inserted card is ejected from the roller opposite to the insertion slot may be employed. Of course it doesn't matter.

When it is required to transfer and receive the card from the card transport mechanism of the present invention in the forward traveling mode, the same function as that of the sprocket 16 shaft can be added to the sprocket 17 shaft.

A head 18 for reading / writing card information is provided substantially at the center of the card path 23. Although a magnetic head for reading / writing magnetic information is shown in the drawing, a head having an information input / output terminal corresponding to an IC card or a head for inputting / outputting optical information can be used. These heads, like the magnetic heads, face the card path.

For example, when the head 18 is a magnetic head, it contacts a magnetic card and reads magnetic information recorded on the stripe, or records magnetic information on the stripe. The magnetic head is arranged facing the card and facing the card passage 23. The head 18 and the pad roller 21 urge one of the pad roller 21 and the head 18 to the other side by a spring (not shown) so as to clamp the conveyed card 3 with a predetermined pressing force. In this embodiment, the pad roller 21 is urged against the head 18 by a spring (not shown), and a space smaller than the thickness of the card is formed between the head 18 and the pad roller 21.

In the embodiment shown in FIG.
Pad roller 1 linked to encoder 22 separately from 1
9 and 20 are placed coaxially with the head 18 facing the card running path, and are biased in the closing direction by a pressing mechanism (not shown). The pad rollers 19 and 20 are also rotatably supported by the side plates similarly to the pad roller 21.
Both rollers are disposed so as not to hinder the movement of the claws 10 and 11.

The chains, various belts, and the like expand and contract with driving. Therefore, even if the rotation speed of the motor 12 is kept constant, the drive speed of the drive means fluctuates, and the pawls 10, 1
The speed of the card conveyed in 1 may fluctuate. The encoder 22 obtains a timing signal for transmission / reception of a recording / reproducing signal, and can thereby synchronize card transport with reading / writing. That is, if the card transport speed of the card moving while being pinched by the pad rollers 19 and 20 on the same axis as the head is output by the encoder 22, the card is transferred.
It is possible to synchronize the transfer of data and the transfer of read / write signals.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention, which differs from the embodiment of FIG.
Are removed, and the encoder 22 is provided coaxially with the pad roller 21 to be integrated. Since the substantial contents are the same as those of the embodiment of FIG. 1, detailed description will be omitted.

The encoder 22 comprises, for example, a slit disk and a light emitting / receiving element. When the leading edge of the card passes through the slit of the slit disk due to the transport of the card, the light receiving / emitting element detects the exact position of the card and extracts a read / write timing signal of the card information. Alternatively, a magnetic disk and a magnetic head may be used as the encoder.

[0035]

According to the transport mechanism of the card reader of the present invention,
Since at least one claw is protruded and the card is pushed and conveyed with the claw, even if hand oil, water, etc. adhere to the card and the card is liable to slip due to dirt or the like, the card is affected by the contamination of the card. Can be transported. In addition, it is possible to prevent troubles such as an abnormal load, a card being unable to be transported, a card being taken in, and being unable to be taken out.
The card is reliably conveyed by the protruding claws and reliably passes over a predetermined position of the head. In addition, since the projections of the claws can be easily formed, it can be implemented with high economic efficiency.

A pair of pad rollers is provided so as to hold the card coaxially with a head pad roller provided facing the head, and an encoder is connected to one of the pair of pad rollers, and a timing signal of a recording / reproducing signal is obtained by the encoder. Therefore, even if there is a change in the driving speed of the driving means, the information exchanged from the head can be accurately corrected. Therefore,
Read / write errors can be reduced, and their reliability can be improved.

An encoder is provided coaxially and integrally with a pad roller which is arranged opposite to the head and presses the head, and a timing signal of a recording / reproducing signal is obtained by the encoder. However, information can be transferred to and from the head accurately, and read / write errors can be reduced. Further, it can be manufactured at low cost. As a result, the reliability can be increased economically.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an embodiment showing a card transport mechanism constituting a card recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is another embodiment showing a card transport mechanism constituting the card recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an embodiment showing the relationship between card driving means and claws of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a conventional example of a card transport mechanism constituting a card recording / reproducing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Take-in drive roller 2 Take-in driven roller 9 Drive means 10 Claw 11 Claw 22 Encoder 23 Card path

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A card recording / reproducing apparatus for transmitting / receiving a recording / reproducing signal to / from a conveyed card using a recording / reproducing head facing a card path, wherein said card recording / reproducing apparatus protrudes into said card path and is driven by driving means in at least one of reciprocating directions. The card is conveyed along the card path by bringing one end of the card into contact with a claw member driven by the claw member, and the recording is performed by using an encoder synchronized by following the card conveyed by the claw member. A card transport mechanism for a card recording / reproducing apparatus, wherein a timing signal for transmitting / receiving a reproduction signal is extracted. 2. The card recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a pad roller pair for holding the card coaxially with the head is provided, and the encoder is connected to one of the pad roller pairs. Card transport mechanism. 3. A card transport mechanism for a card recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said encoder is integrally provided with a pad roller which is disposed to face said head and presses a card against said head. .