JPH0119308B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a magnetic card reader device used in a cashless public telephone, etc., which enables a telephone call by inserting a magnetic card. The present invention relates to a magnetic card reader device in which a punching mechanism is arranged so that a punch can be punched to display a zero frequency in a short period of time in a case where a subsequent magnetic card is taken in to continue a call without any trouble.

Telephones that allow calls by inserting a magnetic card instead of inserting coins (commonly known as cashless public telephones) have a magnetic card reader device installed inside the phone housing to transport the magnetic card inserted through the insertion slot. It reads the magnetic information (hereinafter simply referred to as data) recorded on the magnetic film of a magnetic card and checks the remaining power of the magnetic card to enable a call, and after the call ends, the remaining power is rewritten. The system is such that the magnetic card is returned to the user after use. However, if the remaining power of the magnetic card reaches zero during a call, and the period of arrival of charging signals is short, even if a subsequent magnetic card is inserted, the next charging signal will arrive first and the call will be disconnected. This is extremely inconvenient.

The present invention is a card reader device capable of punching a magnetic card with zero remaining power in a short time to display the zero power so that the subsequent magnetic card can continue the call without any trouble. is intended to provide.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the external appearance of a cashless public telephone in which the magnetic card reader device of the present invention is incorporated. At the top of the front of the phone case 1 is a thin rectangular magnetic card 10 as shown in FIG.
An insertion slot 2 into which a magnetic card 10 can be inserted horizontally is provided, and a return slot 3 is provided at the lower front surface for returning the magnetic card 10 ejected from the internal magnetic card reader device to the user.

In Figure 1, 4 is a display that displays the remaining power of the magnetic card used, 5 is a push button dial, and 6 is a display that displays the remaining power of the magnetic card used.
is a handset, and 7 is a hook on which the handset 6 is hung.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the magnetic card reader device of the present invention.

Inside the magnetic card reader main body 11, there is a running path 12a for taking in the magnetic card 10 inserted in the horizontal direction from the insertion slot 2 in the horizontal direction, and a running path 12a for taking in the magnetic card 10 in the horizontal direction, and a path 12a for reading the data in the magnetic card 10 while being conveyed in the vertical direction.・Card running path 1 consisting of a continuation for writing/writing running path 12b
2 is provided.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a running plate provided to form this card running path 12, and is composed of a horizontal part 13a, an arcuate curved part 13b, and a vertical part 13c.The horizontal part 13a and the curved part 13b form a tunnel-like passage. It's summery. Also, part of the horizontal part 13a and the vertical part 1
A window (not shown) is bored over almost the entire length of 3c. In this window, the conveyor belt 18 attached to the fixed pulleys 14 to 17 is exposed from the back side of the running plate 13 so as to come into contact with the magnetic card 10 on the running plate 13. Further, a flapper 19 is provided opposite the vertical portion 13c of the running plate 13. This flapper 19 is connected to the shaft 2 at the upper end.
It is rotatable about 0 and is rotated by a flap solenoid 22 via a connecting lever 21 to either position B' shown by a dotted line or position B shown by a solid line. Then, when in position B, running plate 1
A card running path 12b for continuing and writing is formed between the vertical portion 13c of 3 and the card running path 12b for continuing and writing is formed at the B' position.
is becoming more open. Pulleys 23 and 24 are attached to the flapper 19.
When 9 is in the B position, the magnetic card is clamped between the conveyance assisting belt 25 attached to the pulleys 23 and 24 and the conveyance belt 18 on the running plate 13 side and conveyed.

A pinch roller 26, a shutter 27, and a shutter solenoid 28, which constitute a card taking mechanism, are provided above the horizontal portion 13a of the running plate 13. The rotating shaft of the pinch roller 26 and the shutter 27 are connected, and when the shutter 27 rotates around the shaft 29 and descends to block the traveling plate 13 (position A in FIG. 3), the pinch roller 26
moves above the fixed pulley 14, and the shutter 2
7 rises and leaves the running plate 13 (A' position)
Then, the pinch roller 26 descends, and the magnetic card is clamped between the conveyor belt 18 on the fixed pulley 14 exposed upward from the lower side of the window of the running plate 13 and the pinch roller 26 and conveyed. There is. The vertical movement of the shutter 27 and the pinch roller 26 is performed by a shutter solenoid 28.

A magnetic head 30 for continuing reading and rewriting the data in the magnetic card is installed on the card running path 12b for continuing reading and writing. A punching mechanism 31 for punching a hole in a magnetic card is rotatably installed below the magnetic head 30, and when the flapper 19 is released (position B'), the punching mechanism 31 exits the card running path 12. When the flapper 19 is closed (position B), the card running path 1
They are starting to advance to 2b.

As shown in FIG. 4, this punch mechanism section 31 is
A punch pin receiver 31a, a punch pin 31b,
It consists of a solenoid 31c that drives a punch pin 31b. Then, the zero remaining power designated position of the magnetic card 10 (P in FIG. ) The punch mechanism section 31 is installed so that the punch pin 31b is located at the same position as the punch pin 31b.

First to fifth detection switches S1 to S5 are arranged at predetermined positions for detecting magnetic cards along the horizontal and vertical card running paths 12.

The first detection switch S1 and the second detection switch S2 are the shutter 27 of the intake travel path 12a.
The third detection switch S is located closer to the insertion port 2.
3 is located at the upper end of the vertical section, a fourth detection switch S4 is installed at the same position as the magnetic head 30, and a fifth detection switch S5 is installed at the end of the card running path 12b.

The first and second detection switches S1 and S2 are located offset from each other in the width direction of the magnetic card, and also have the role of detecting whether the width of the card is normal or not. The first to fourth detection switches S1 to S4 also have the role of detecting whether or not the length of the card is normal.

When the fifth detection switch S5 detects the tip of the magnetic card 10 coming down during reading to confirm whether the rewritten data is correct after rewriting the data to the magnetic card 10, the fifth detection switch S5 ends the reading. plays a role. The distance along the card running path 12 between the mounting position of the fifth detection switch S5 and the punch pin 31b of the punch mechanism section 31 is from the tip of the magnetic card 10 to the zero remaining power designated position shown in FIG. is set to match the distance.

A pressing roller 33 is attached to the flapper 19 for pressing the magnetic card onto the magnetic head 30.

A select valve 3 driven by a selector solenoid 34 is located below the end of the card running path 12b.
5 is installed. When the select valve 35 is at the C' position shown by the dotted line, the magnetic card 10 ejected from the end of the card running path 12b falls into the retreat chute 36 and is ejected to the return slot 3, and when the select valve 35 is at the C position shown by the solid line, The card is stored in a card storage box 37 installed above the return slot 3.

A detection switch S6 is installed at the entrance of the card storage box 37 to detect passage of a magnetic card.

Next, the operation of the above magnetic card reader device will be explained.

(1) When the handset 6 is in the hooked state, the shutter 27 is in the A position to close the card running path 12a, and the flapper 19 is in the B' position.

(2) When the transmitter/receiver 6 is removed from the hook 7, the flapper solenoid 22 operates in conjunction with a hook switch (not shown), and the flapper 19 is rotated around the shaft 20 to position B by the connection lever 21. A card running path 12b is formed between the card running plate 13 and the vertical portion 13c of the card running plate 13. At the same time, the punching mechanism section 31 is set at the punching position on the card running path 12b.

(3) When the user inserts the magnetic card 10 into the insertion slot 2 and the tip of the magnetic card 10 passes through the first detection switch S1 and reaches the second detection switch S2, the shutter solenoid 28 is activated. Further, drive motors (not shown) for the pinch roller 26, the conveyance belt 18, and the conveyance auxiliary belt 25 operate. Accordingly, the shutter 27 opens to the A' position, and the pinch roller 26 descends, pinching the magnetic card 10 between it and the conveyor belt 18 on the fixed pulley 14, and holding the magnetic card 10 on the horizontal portion 13a of the running plate 13.
Insert the top in the direction of the arrow. In addition, if the width of the card is narrow and it is a fraudulent card, use the shutter solenoid 2.
8 and the drive motor do not operate, and insertion of the card deep into the shutter 27 is prevented.

When the magnetic card is completely taken in, the shutter 27 returns to the original position A and closes, and the pinch roller 26 returns upward and stops rotating. Therefore, even if a subsequent second magnetic card is inserted through the insertion slot 2, the magnetic card can only be inserted up to the position where the leading end contacts the shutter 27.

(4) The magnetic card 10 is taken in and the curved part 13b
The length of the magnetic card 10 is detected when the tip reaches the third detection switch S3, and if it is a fraudulent card with a short length (that is, the third detection switch S3 is ON and the magnetic card 10 is 1 detection switch S1 is OFF), the card is reversed and the card is returned to the outside from the insertion slot 2.

(5) The magnetic card 10 is conveyed downward along the vertical portion 12c of the card running path 12 while being held between the conveyance belt 18 and the conveyance auxiliary belt 25 on the flapper 19 side. When the leading end of the magnetic card 10 reaches the fourth detection switch S4, the data recorded on the magnetic layer on one side of the magnetic card 10 is sequentially read out by the magnetic head 30 as the magnetic card 10 is conveyed downward. When the rear end passes the fourth detection switch S4 and reading ends, the drive motors of the conveyance belt 18 and the conveyance auxiliary belt 25 are turned off and the magnetic card 10 stops.

Furthermore, if it is detected by the outputs of the fourth detection switch S4 and the second detection switch S2 that the card is a fraudulent card with a long length (that is, if both switches S4 and S2 are both ON) ) is sent backwards in the same manner as described above and returned to the outside through the insertion port 2.

(6) By reading the data on the magnetic card 10, if the magnetic card 10 is normal and the remaining power is not zero, a call can be made. If the card is not normal, the card is further conveyed and discharged to the return slot 3. The remaining power read out by the magnetic head 30 is stored in a storage circuit (not shown) and is subtracted each time a billing signal sent from the central office line arrives during a call. The remaining power in this memory circuit is always displayed on the display 4 shown in FIG. 1 during a call.

(7) When the call ends (when the handset 6 is hung on the hook 7), the conveyor belt 18 and the conveyor auxiliary belt 2
5 moves in the opposite direction and the magnetic card 10 is conveyed upward, during which time the remaining power before the call is rewritten by the magnetic head 30 to the new remaining power in the memory circuit at the end of the call. This rewriting is performed when the magnetic card 10 passes through the fourth detection switch S4.
The process ends when the drive motors of the conveyance belt 18 and the conveyance auxiliary belt 25 turn off, and the magnetic card 10 stops.

(8) When the rewriting is completed, the magnetic card 10 is transported downward again and the rewritten data is read out using the magnetic head 30 to determine whether or not the rewritten data is correct. This reading starts when the tip of the magnetic card 10 turns on the fourth detection switch S4 and turns on the fifth detection switch S5.
When turned on, the process ends and the magnetic card 10 stops. If the read content is incorrect, the above-mentioned rewriting and reading are repeated up to two times.

(9) The remaining number of degrees is 300, 200, 100, 50, 30, 20, 10,
5, 3, or 1, the magnetic card 10 is conveyed and the numbers 200, 100, 50, or 200, 100, 50, or
Holes 38 are punched in the sides of 30, 20, 10, 5, 3, 1, and 0 using the punch pin 31b of the punch mechanism section 31. In cases other than the above, the punch mechanism section 31 does not operate, and the magnetic card 10 is sent out as is. At the end of reading in the previous section (8), the punch position by the punch mechanism section 31 is set to the magnetic card 1.
Since this corresponds to the zero designated position P of 0, if it is other than zero, the magnetic card 10 is conveyed downward to a predetermined designated position, and then the hole 38 is punched.
When the punching is finished, the magnetic card 10 is sent downward and ejected from the card running path 12, and when the fifth detection switch S5 turns OFF, the magnetic card 10
Then, the conveyance auxiliary belt 25 stops.

(10) When the remaining power of the magnetic card 10 is zero, the selector solenoid 34 operates and the select valve 35
is in the C position, and the magnetic card 10 is stored in the card storage box 37. When the remaining power is 1 or more, the select valve 35 is in the C' position and the magnetic card 10
falls freely into the return chute 36 and is discharged to the return port 2.

(11) During a call, when the remaining power reaches zero due to a billing signal, a reminder sound is emitted to the handset 6 and the same goes as described in the previous paragraph (7).
Similarly, the magnetic card 10 is fed backwards and rewritten to zero remaining power by the magnetic head 30, and when the rewriting is completed, the magnetic card 10 is transferred downward and rewritten as in the previous section (8). Read the content and determine whether it is correct or not.

(12) Since the punch pin 31b of the punch mechanism section 31 is located at the position where the remaining power number of the magnetic card 10 is designated as zero when the reading in the previous section (11) is completed, the magnetic card 10 is moved from that position when the reading is completed. The hole 38 is drilled at the zero designated position without causing any damage.

(13) When the punching is completed, the magnetic card 10 is sent downward, the select valve 35 is placed in the C position, and the magnetic card 10 is stored in the card storage box 37 as in the previous item (11). Immediately before storing the card, the tip of the magnetic card 10 turns on the sixth detection switch S6.

(14) If the next succeeding magnetic card is inserted from the insertion slot 2 at this point (if the first detection switch is ON), the shutter 27 will open and the card will be inserted into the insertion slot 2 as in the previous section (3). magnetic card 1
0 is automatically taken in, and the remaining power of the magnetic card is read out as in the previous sections (4) and (5), and if the remaining power is not zero, the call is continued. Above (11)~
The operation (14) is performed between one billing signal and the next billing signal.

(15) The subsequent operations are the same as (7) and subsequent steps.

As explained above, in the present invention, the punch position of the punch mechanism matches the designated position of the zero remaining power of the magnetic card at the end of reading for checking the contents after rewriting the magnetic card, so that the remaining zero power is stored during a call. When the power reaches zero, punching can be performed immediately upon completion of reading without having to move the magnetic card to align the punch, so the series of operations of punching and storing the card in the card storage box can be performed in an extremely short time. Therefore, even if the time from one billing signal to the next billing signal is short, it is possible to continue the call without any problem by automatically capturing the subsequent magnetic card.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a cashless public telephone in which a magnetic card reader device of the present invention is incorporated, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a magnetic card used in the cashless public telephone, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of the magnetic card reader device, and FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the punch mechanism section. 1... Housing, 2... Insertion slot, 3... Return slot, 10... Magnetic card, 11... Magnetic card reader body, 12...
Card running path, 12a... Card running path for taking in, 12b... Card running path for reading/writing, 13... Running plate, 18... Conveyance belt, 19... Flapper, 25... Conveyance auxiliary belt, 27... Shutter, 30... Magnetic head, 31... Punch mechanism section, 3
5...Select valve, 37...Card storage box, S1-S
6...first to sixth detection switches, 38...hole.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A magnetic card having a magnetic layer for recording magnetic information and a punch position designation display section for displaying remaining power in multiple stages is conveyed along a conveyance path; The magnetic head provided reads and rewrites the remaining power information of the magnetic card, and a punch mechanism is provided facing the transport path,
In a magnetic card reader device that punches a magnetic card with a punch pin of the punching mechanism according to the punch position designation display section, the zero remaining power designated position of the magnetic card at the end of reading after rewriting the remaining power information. 1. A magnetic card reader device characterized in that a punching mechanism is disposed so that the punch pin is aligned with the punch pin.