JPH0544066B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a card processing device that can use two types of cards with different thicknesses, such as magnetic cards and IC cards.

[Conventional technology]

Recently, various cards such as magnetic cards, IC cards, and magnetic/IC cards have come into use, and card processing devices that read and write information recorded on such cards are: Since both were dedicated machines, multiple types of card processing devices were required depending on the type of card.
However, it is uneconomical to install multiple types of card processing devices, and it is easy for users to confuse them, causing troubles such as malfunctions. As seen in Publication No. 80792/1983, an apparatus capable of processing both magnetic stripe cards and IC cards with magnetic stripes has been proposed.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, the card reading and writing devices disclosed in the above-mentioned cited publications simply provide an IC information processing section and a magnetic information processing section in the same conveyance path, and only define their positional relationship. This was insufficient for simultaneous use of cards of different thicknesses.

In other words, card types can be roughly divided into three types: JIS cards such as cash cards and credit cards, IC cards (with or without magnetic stripes), and prepaid cards such as telephone cards. Comparing the force (bending rigidity), the cards in . are made of hard vinyl chloride material, about 0.7 to 0.8 mm, and the cards in , are made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) resin, with a thickness of about 0.2 to 0.3 mm, and have elastic This is because the force generated by the card is generally smaller than that of a card, and therefore, if the card is used for both purposes, the card conveying force will not be constant due to the difference in thickness, and the accuracy of reading and writing card information will decrease.

Therefore, one way to solve this problem is to provide a dedicated card processing and transport path for each card of different thickness, but in that case, to prevent incorrect insertion, it is necessary to have a single card insertion and return slot. However, this would require an internal means for detecting the thickness of the card and a mechanism for distributing the cards to card processing and transport paths according to the thickness, and furthermore, this card distributing mechanism is driven by a card discrimination signal. Because it requires a driving device such as a solenoid, the structure becomes complicated, which not only increases the number of assembly steps and the number of parts, but also causes problems such as increasing costs and hindering efforts to reduce size and weight. It was hot.

Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems at once, enables the use of two types of cards with different thicknesses and elastic forces with a simple structure, and also provides a means for detecting thickness and a card sorting method. It is an object of the present invention to provide a card processing device that can reduce the number of lever actuating solenoids and the like, and can be made inexpensive, small, and lightweight.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a card insertion/return slot for inserting/returning two types of cards having different thicknesses and resiliency, and one end of which communicates with the card insertion/return slot for inserting and returning the inserted card. a first card processing conveyance path that communicates with the other end of the intake passage in a substantially straight line and performs data processing on a card having a large thickness and elasticity; branched from the end and arranged in parallel in the card thickness direction of the first card processing conveyance path,
a second card processing conveyance path for performing data processing on cards with a small thickness and elasticity; and a second card processing conveyance path located at the branching portion and normally blocking the first card processing conveyance path; If a card that has a card abutting part that opens the card and has a small thickness and elastic force is inserted, it will not be displaced and the card will be inserted into the second
When a card with a large thickness and elastic force is inserted, the card abutting part exits from the branch part by being displaced by the card, and the first card It is composed of a card guide member that opens the processing conveyance path.

[Effect]

In the present invention, the card guide member usually closes the first card processing conveyance path, and when a card with a large thickness and elastic force is inserted, the card guide member is displaced by the card and exits from the branching section. As a result, the first card processing conveyance path is opened, and in the case of a card having a small thickness and a small elastic force, the card is not displaced and remains in an inoperable state. Thin cards are therefore guided to the second card processing transport path.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a card processing device according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a card processing device, and card insertion devices 2 for inserting and returning two types of cards 2 having different thicknesses and elasticities, for example, an IC card 2A and a prepaid card 2B, are installed at appropriate locations on the front of the card processing device 1. - A return port 3 is provided, and inside there is a substantially horizontal card intake passage 4 that communicates with the card insertion/return port 3, and a first card processing transport for processing data on the IC card 2A, which has a large thickness and elasticity. A second card processing conveyance path 7 is provided for processing data on the prepaid card 2B having a small thickness and elasticity. In the card take-in passage 4, a take-in roller 9 serving as a card take-in mechanism for taking in the card 2 inserted into the card insertion/return slot 3, and a vertically movable pinch roller 10 are arranged opposite to each other with the passage 4 in between. Means 11 for detecting the insertion of the card 2 is also provided. This card detection means 1
1, in the case of this embodiment, light emitting elements 11a facing each other via the card receiving passage 4;
Although an example is shown in which a photocoupler including a light receiving element 11b is used, the present invention is not limited to this and various modifications are possible.

The first card processing conveyance path 6 has one end communicating with the inner end of the card intake path 4 in a substantially straight line, and carries the IC card magnetic head 15, the IC reading contact 16, and the pair of conveyance rollers 17A, 17B. We are prepared.

The second card processing conveyance path 7 includes a prepaid magnetic head 18 and a pair of conveyance rollers 19A, 1.
9B, which are disposed below the first card processing conveyance path 6 and parallel to the first card processing conveyance path 6 at an appropriate interval, and one end of which communicates with the inner end of the card intake path 4, so that the front end portion of the first card processing conveyance path 6 is 1 card processing conveyance path 6
An inclined passage portion 7A is formed which intersects with the slanted passage portion 7A at an appropriate angle.

The first and second card processing conveyance paths 6, 7
A card guide member 21 is disposed at the branching portion 20 . This card guide member 21 is formed of a leaf spring, and its base end is screwed and fixed above the card intake passage 4, and its distal end is bent into a substantially V-shape to form a card abutting portion 21A. By normally entering the branch section 20, the first card processing conveyance path 6 is blocked. on the other hand,
The second card processing conveyance path 7 includes the card contact section 2
1A, and is always open and communicating with the card receiving passage 4. The elastic force of the card guide member 21 is smaller than the elastic force of the thick card 2A and larger than the elastic force of the thin card 2B. Therefore, even when a thin card 2B hits, it does not elastically deform and maintains its current state. When a thick card 2A hits, it is elastically deformed by the card 2A, and the card contacting part 21A retreats above the branching part 20. do.

Next, the operation of the card processing device 1 having the above configuration will be explained.

From card insertion/return slot 3 to card intake passage 4
The card 2 inserted into the card 2 is detected by the card detection means 11. Then, in response to this detection signal, a solenoid (not shown) or the like is driven to lower the pinch roller 10 and press the card 2 against the take-in roller 9, thereby taking the card 2 into the interior.

If the loaded card 2 is a thick card 2A, when the tip of the card 2A contacts the card contact portion 21A of the card guide member 21 as shown in FIG. Since the card guide member 21 is larger than the card guide member 21, the card 2A elastically deforms the card contact portion 21A upward, and the branch portion 2
Exit above 0. Therefore, the card take-in path 4 and the first card processing transport path 6 communicate with each other, and the thick card 2A is fed into the first card processing transport path 6 through the branching section 20, where it is transferred to the magnetic head 15. Then, data reading and writing processing by the IC reading contact 16 is performed. When the processing is completed, the conveying rollers 17A, 17B and the taking-in roller 9 reversely transport the thick card 2A and return it to the card insertion/return slot 3. Note that when returning the card 2, the card contact portion 21A is thick.
A, the card is pushed upward, exits from the branching section 20, returns to its original state after being returned, and closes the first card processing and conveyance path 6.

On the other hand, in the case of a thin card 2B, even if it comes into contact with the card abutting portion 21A of the card guide member 21, the elastic force is smaller than this, so the card itself bends downward and pushes the card abutting portion 21A. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the card is sent to the second card processing conveyance path 7 through the inclined passage section 7A, where the data is read and written by the magnetic head 18. After the processing is completed, the transport rollers 19A, 19B and the take-in roller 9 are reversely rotated, and the card is returned to the card insertion/return slot 3 through the take-in passage 4.

In this case, since the thin card 2B is highly flexible, it bends along the inclined passage section 7A, passes through it smoothly, and moves back and forth between the card intake passage 4 and the second card processing conveyance passage 7. do.

When using thick card 2A and thin card 2B at the same time, first use one of them, for example, thin card 2.
After inserting the card B into the second card processing conveyance path 7 through the card insertion/return slot 3, a dial call is made and the card processing device 1 is connected to the center. In this situation, if you receive a message from the center saying "Please insert your IC card," insert the thick IC card 2A (or credit card) into the card.
The IC card 2A is inserted into the first card processing conveyance path 6 through the return slot 3, and data is transmitted and received from the center using the IC card 2A. When returning the cards, first the IC card 2A is returned, and then the thin card 2B is returned. In the above embodiment, the card guide member 21 is made of a leaf spring, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the card guide member 21 is not elastic and is biased by a spring. In short, it is sufficient if the structure is such that it is displaced by the thin card 2A and temporarily exits from the branching portion 20, but does not displace the thin card 2B and changes its course.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the card processing device according to the present invention, dedicated card processing and transport paths are provided for two types of cards having different thicknesses and elastic forces (bending rigidities), so that card processing and transport paths are provided respectively. The operation is stable and reliable, and the reliability of data processing can be improved. In addition, since it can be used for two types of cards with different thicknesses, it is cheaper, requires less installation space, and is less confusing for users than when two dedicated machines are installed side by side. ,
You can use it with confidence. Furthermore, since the card guide member is displaced by the card, there is no need for a driving means such as a solenoid to drive it, and two types of cards with different thicknesses can be handled by the difference in the elastic force of the cards. It is possible to reliably allocate
Therefore, it is possible to simplify the structure, reduce the number of parts, reduce the size and weight, and provide an inexpensive card processing device, which has great effects.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the card processing device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the situation when a thick card is inserted, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the situation when a thin card is inserted. FIG. 1...Card processing device, 2...Card, 3...
Card insertion/return slot, 4...Card intake passage,
6...First card processing conveyance path, 7...Second card processing conveyance path, 15, 18...Magnetic head, 2
0... Branch portion, 21... Card guide member, 21
A...Card contact part.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A card insertion/return slot for inserting/returning two types of cards having different thicknesses and resiliency, an intake passage whose one end communicates with the card insertion/return slot and takes the inserted card inside; a first card processing conveyance path that communicates with the other end of the intake passage in a substantially straight line and performs data processing on a card having a large thickness and elasticity; A second card processing conveyance path which is arranged in parallel in the card thickness direction of the conveyance path and performs data processing on cards with small thickness and elastic force, and a second card processing conveyance path located at the branching section and which normally connects the first card processing conveyance path. If a card having a card abutting part that closes the second card processing conveyance path and has a small thickness and elastic force is inserted, the card will not be displaced and will be transferred to the second card processing conveyance path. When a card with a large thickness and elastic force is inserted, the card abutting section exits from the branching section by being displaced by the card, and the first card processing conveyance path is guided to the first card processing conveyance path. A card processing device comprising: a card guide member that opens.