JPH08329202A - Card issuing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide the card issuing device which quickly copes with the issue of cards different by recording and reproducing systems or the change of processing procedures and is easy to handle. CONSTITUTION: Card insertion holes of an optical recording and reproducing part 12 and a magnetic recording and reproducing part 14 which are different by recording and reproducing systems, a print part 33 common to cards, etc., are two-dimensionally arranged, and the order in accordance with which a card is carried to respective card insertion holes by an XY direction card carrying part 15 which can be two-dimensionally moved is properly changed and controlled based on a pre-liminarily set mode.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card issuing device for issuing a card by recording or printing personal data on a card-shaped recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, various types of cards such as magnetic cards and optical cards have been used as card-shaped recording media for identification cards, membership cards, health care cards and the like.
In cards used for such purposes, the data necessary for determining the cardholder at a glance, such as name and address, is stored in the area other than the information recording / playback section of the card as personal data of the cardholder. In addition to printing, data such as a personal identification number and history information that is difficult for others to know is recorded in the information recording / reproducing unit.

However, conventionally, various devices have been put into practical use as devices for recording and printing personal data on a card-shaped recording medium of this kind and automatically issuing a card. As disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Sho 64-91294, a writing / reading mechanism is provided in parallel with the card feeding device corresponding to the card feeding mechanism, and the card feeding mechanism is provided between the card feeding device and the writing / reading mechanism. There is a print mechanism provided in the card supply device, and printing is performed while the card sent from the card supply device is conveyed to the writing / reading mechanism, and the writing / reading mechanism reads / writes information to issue the card.

[0004]

However, in such a structure, the movement of the card transport mechanism is uniform, and the card delivered from the card supply device is printed by the printing mechanism during transport, and then the card is printed. Since it is decided to carry to the writing / reading mechanism, for example, if you want to issue a card with a different recording / playback format, or if you want to issue a card with a different processing procedure until issuance, If it is not possible to respond immediately to these, and if you try to forcefully respond, you have to change the movement of the card transport mechanism at all and change the arrangement of each processing unit, which requires a lot of troublesome change work. There was a problem to do.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a card issuing device which can promptly deal with issuance of cards having different recording / reproducing formats and changes in processing procedures, and which is easy to handle. To aim.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A card supply means for supplying a card, a processing means for at least two kinds of different cards in which respective card taking-in parts are two-dimensionally arranged on the same plane, and two-dimensionally movable along the plane. A card carrier gripping means for gripping a card supplied from the card supply means and carrying it between the card fetching sections of the respective processing means; and a processing means of the processing means of the card carrier gripping means based on a preset instruction. And a control means for controlling the order of card transportation between the card fetching sections.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the processing means for the different types of cards is the recording / reproducing means or the printing means for the cards having different recording / reproducing formats. Further, in the invention according to claim 3, front and back upper and lower discriminating means for discriminating the front and back upper and lower sides of the card supplied from the card supply means,
It further comprises card surface changing means for changing the card surface in the predetermined front / back vertical direction based on the discrimination result of the front / back upper / lower discrimination means.

As a result, according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, the card transfer sequence between the card loading sections of the processing means by the card transfer gripping means is appropriately changed and controlled based on the preset mode. Therefore, it is possible to easily deal with the issuance of cards having different recording / reproducing formats and the change of the processing procedure only by changing the setting of the mode.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, the card surface can be changed in a predetermined vertical direction based on the determination result of the front and back sides of the supplied card. Can be done easily.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1A and 1B show a card applied to the card issuing device of the present embodiment.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 1 (a), the card 100 has a design unit 100 for printing a logo such as a nickname of a service provided to the card holder in advance on the surface thereof.
a and an optical recording area 100b are provided. In the optical recording area 100b, a plurality of tracks for recording data are provided so as to extend in parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of the card 100. To record data in the optical recording area 100b, the card 100 is recorded. To reciprocate in the longitudinal direction. As shown in FIG. 1B, a magnetic recording area 100c and a print area 100d for printing the patient's name and receipt number are provided on the back surface of the card 100.

Since the terms "upper and lower sides" of the card 100 will be used in addition to the terms "front and back" of the card 100, a brief description will be given here.
As shown in FIG. 1A, the edge of the card 100 near the design section 100a in the lateral direction (direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction) is set to “up”, and the card 10 near the optical recording area 100b is set.
The edge in the lateral direction of 0 is defined as “down”. Further, in FIG. 1B, the card 100 close to the magnetic recording area 100c.
The short-side end of the card 100 is "upper", and the short-side end of the card 100 near the printing area 100d is "lower". As a result, "upper" and "lower" on the front and back of the card 100
Both have the same end.

Next, FIGS. 2 to 4 show a card issuing device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a view seen from the front with the door on the front of the device omitted, and FIG. 3 omits the top plate. FIG. 4 is a view seen from the right side with the side plate on the right side omitted in FIG.

In the figure, 1 is a card issuing device main body,
A host control unit 2 is connected to the apparatus body 1.
The host control unit 2 stores information to be recorded on the card 100 and its recording format (optical, magnetic,
A signal designating three types of printing) and various other control signals are output to the apparatus body 1, and output signals from the apparatus body 1 are received to make various determinations. The host control unit 2 is usually a personal computer, and has a display unit for displaying various selection items, an input unit for inputting commands and the like to the device body 1, and commands input from the input unit and the device body 1. It is composed of a processing unit for processing the output signal.

The apparatus main body 1 also has a housing 3. A stocker transport unit 5 is provided on the upper right side inside the housing 3, and the stocker transport unit 5 allows the card 10
The card stocker 6 capable of storing a plurality of 0s in the Z direction (see FIG.
In FIG. 2, the sheet is conveyed in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. The stocker transport unit 5 includes a stocker transport table 5a on which the stocker 6 is placed, a guide bar 5b for guiding the stocker transport table 5a in the Z direction, and a stocker transport table 5a.
It is composed of a meshing portion 5c which is mounted near the rear end of the Z direction and meshes with the stocker feed screw 5e, and a stocker conveying motor 5d which rotates the stocker feed screw 5e in the forward and reverse directions. Further, an output contact 6c of a card stocker 6 described later is provided on the rear end surface of the stocker carrier 5a in the Z direction.
A connector (not shown) connected to is connected to the output terminal 6c, and the output of the output contact 6c output through the connector is output to the sequencer 18 and the host controller 2 described later.

Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the card stocker 6 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape extending in the Z direction. Also, Y
The upper surface in the direction is open, and the inside 6a is a partition wall so that a plurality of cards 100 can be stored at a predetermined interval with the short side of the card 100 facing downward and the front surface or the back surface of the card 100 being perpendicular to the Z direction. 6e is formed. Also, Y
An opening extending in the Z direction is also formed on the lower surface in the direction (not shown).
The card lifting portion of the card is inserted so that the card 100 can be lifted in the X direction.

Further, the ID number of the card stocker 6 is set on the rear end surface of the card stocker 6 in the Z direction 10
The advancing rotary switch 6b, the output contact 6c for outputting the value of the rotary switch 6b, and the opening for attaching the irradiation light attached to the stocker transport unit 5 for detecting the presence or absence of the card 100 in the card stocker. A certain card detection light hole 6d is formed.

A rotary switch 6b and an output contact 6c provided on the rear end surface of the card stocker 6 in the Z direction.
The card detection light hole 6d may be provided on the front end face in the Z direction so that the ID number can be confirmed from the front of the device body 1 in the Z direction, or on both the front end face and the rear end face. It may be.

Below the card stocker 6 with the stocker carrier 5a sandwiched between them, a card lifting portion 4 is provided with its position fixed with respect to the housing 3. The card lifting unit 4 lifts the cards 100 stored in the card stocker 6 one by one to the upper side in the X direction with a plunger or the like.

A card receiving section 7 is provided above the card stocker 6. This card receiving section 7
Is configured to receive the card 100 lifted upward in the X direction by the card lifting unit 4 and change the feeding direction of the card 100 to the Z direction.

Here, the feeding direction of the card 100 is such that the surface of the card 100 is the upper surface and the longitudinal direction of the card 100 is Z.
Taking in the direction. The card 100 sent from the card receiving unit 7 is located at the back of the card receiving unit 7 in the Z direction.
Direction discriminator 27 as a direction discriminator for discriminating between the front and back sides of
Is provided. The direction discriminator 27 will be described later.

Further in the Z direction of the direction discriminator 27,
A front and back settling unit 28 is provided for converting the card 100 received from the direction discriminator 27 into a specified front and back surface. The front and back settling unit 28 is configured to rotate the received card 100 around the Z direction as an axis so as to restore the specified front and back surfaces. Further, the front and back settling section 28 is further set to Y
The intermediary carrier 2 in which the card 100 having the prescribed front and back surfaces is installed on the left side in the Y direction
It is supposed to be sent to 9.

A vertical settling section 8 is provided in front of the intermediary transporter 29 in the Z direction and on the left side of the card receiving section 7 in the Y direction. The upper and lower settling section 8 is for adjusting the card 100 conveyed by the intermediary conveyer 29 to a prescribed upper and lower. Here, the card 100 is rotated up and down 90 degrees about the X direction as an axis to correct the card up and down. The card 100 is conveyed with the Y direction as the longitudinal direction of the card.

On the left side of the upper and lower settling section 8 in the Y direction, the card 1
The cleaning unit 9 is provided to clean the front and back surfaces of No. 00. In this cleaning unit 9, as shown in FIG. 6, a cleaning roll 9b formed by winding a dry cloth 9a having excellent cleaning property in a roll shape is installed vertically in the X direction with a conveyance path of the card 100 interposed therebetween. The card 100 is sent out to the conveyance path and the dry cloth 9a is linearly pressed against the surface of the card 100 by the pressing roller 9g.
The cleaning is done on the surface. The pressing roller 9
g is pressed in the card transport path direction by a spring 9h. The card 100 is carried by the carrying rollers 9e provided on both sides of the pressing roller 9g in the card carrying direction with a space therebetween.
Similarly to the pressing roller 9g, the spring 9f is pressed in the card conveying path direction.

The dry cloth 9a, which has been cleaned, is wound up by the winding portion 9c provided upstream of the card transport path. Here, the traveling speed of the dry cloth 9a is set to be slower than the conveying speed of the card 100, and this speed is controlled by the winding speed of the winding unit 9c. Further, the cleaning unit 9 is configured to be able to simultaneously clean the front and back surfaces of the card 100 or to clean the front and back surfaces alone.

On the left side of the cleaning unit 9 in the Y direction, a card sending unit 11 is provided. This card sending unit 11
The carrying direction of the card 100 is changed by 90 degrees about the X direction, sent out in the Z direction, and delivered to the card gripping unit 31 attached to the XY card carrying unit 15.

Further, the back side of the card sending section 11 in the Z direction is open, and the reading light from the bar code reading section 30 provided further inside is allowed to enter. Here, the barcode reading unit 30 reads the barcode recorded on the surface of the card 100.

Here, the card receiving section 7, the direction discriminator 27, the front / back settling section 28, the intermediary carrier 29, the vertical settling section 8, the cleaning section 9, the card sending section 11 and the bar code reading section 30 are attached. It is installed on the plate 24. The mounting plate 24 corresponding to the card lifting position of the card lifting unit 4 is provided with a passage opening (not shown) for the card 100 lifted by the card lifting unit 4 to pass through.

An optical recording / reproducing unit 12 for performing recording / reproducing on the optical recording region 100b of the card 100 is provided below the card sending unit 11 in the X direction, that is, above the left side interruption of the housing 3, and a card insertion / ejection port is located in the front in the Z direction. It is attached toward. The optical recording / reproducing unit 12 ejects the card 100 to the card insertion / ejection port when the recording / reproduction of the card 100 is completed.

Below the optical recording / reproducing unit 12, a magnetic recording / reproducing unit 14 for recording / reproducing in / from the magnetic recording area 100c of the card 100 is attached with the card insertion / ejection port facing forward in the Z direction. This magnetic recording / reproducing unit 14
Is configured to eject the card 100 to the card insertion / ejection slot when the recording / reproduction of the card 100 is completed. Here, the magnetic head (not shown) that directly performs recording / reproducing on the magnetic recording area 100c is a card 1 from the upper side in the X direction.
00 shall be provided at a position in contact with the surface.

On the right side of the magnetic recording / reproducing section 14 in the Y direction, a printing section 33 for printing in the printing area 100d of the card 100.
Is mounted with the card insertion slot facing forward in the Z direction. A card discharge port for discharging the printed card 100 is provided at the rear of the printing unit 33 in the Z direction. Here, it is assumed that an ink ribbon (not shown) that prints in the print area 100d is provided at a position where it contacts the surface of the card 100 from above in the X direction.

A card carrying section 20 is provided at the back of the printing section 33 in the Z direction. The card transport unit 20 receives the card 100 discharged from the card discharge port of the printing unit 33, moves it to the right in the Y direction, and transfers it to the card dropping unit 21.

The card drop-in section 21 is provided on the right side of the printing section 33 in the Y direction, and the carrying direction of the card 100 received from the card carrying section 20 is 9 with the Y direction as an axis.
The angle is changed by rotating 0 degrees downward in the X direction. Then, after this change, the card 100 is stored in the card stocker 22. The card 100 is stored in the card stocker 22 with the short side of the card 100 facing downward, the upper part facing right in the Y direction, and the surface vertical to the Z direction.

Here, the magnetic recording / reproducing section 14 and the printing section 3
3, the card transport unit 20 and the card dropping unit 21 are
It is installed on the mounting plate 25. A portion of the mounting plate 25 corresponding to the card dropping position of the card dropping portion 21 is provided with a passage opening (not shown) through which the card 100 dropped by the card dropping portion 21 passes. Further, the NG box 19 is attached to the lower portion of the printing unit 33 with the attachment plate 25 interposed therebetween. The NG box 19 accommodates a card that is not compatible with the present card issuing device by the direction discriminator 27, the optical recording / reproducing unit 12, the magnetic recording / reproducing unit 14, or the like, or a card 100 that is determined to have a bad recording / reproducing state. It is a thing.

A stocker transport unit 23 is provided below the card dropping unit 21 in the X direction. The stocker transport unit 23 places the card stocker 22 and transports the card stocker 22 in the Z direction.
A stocker carrier 23a for mounting a stocker and a stocker carrier 2
The guide bar 23b for guiding the 3a in the Z direction, the meshing portion 23c mounted near the Z direction rear end of the stocker carrier 23a and meshing with the stocker feed screw 23e, and the stocker feed screw 23e are rotated in the forward and reverse directions. It is composed of a stocker carrying motor 23d.

A partition plate 26 is provided on the front side in the Z direction inside the housing 3 and below the partition plate 25 in the X direction, and the card 100 received from the card sending section 11 is optically recorded / reproduced on the partition plate 26. The unit 12, the magnetic recording / reproducing unit 14, the printing unit 33, the card carrier 20, and the XY-direction card carrier unit 15 for carrying to the NG box 19 are provided.

The XY direction card transport section 15 is roughly
The card gripping portion 31 that grips the card 100 and the portion that transports the card gripping portion 31 in the XY directions are divided, and the portion that transports the card gripping portion 31 in the XY directions further transports the card gripping portion 31 in the X direction. It is divided into a part for carrying and a part for carrying the card grip 31 in the Y direction.

The card holding unit 31 receives and holds the card 100 sent from the card sending unit 11, and has an optical recording / playback unit 12, a magnetic recording / playback unit 14, and a printing unit 3.
3. The card 100 is inserted / ejected into the card insertion portion or the card insertion / ejection opening of the card transport unit 20 or the NG box 19, and the front and back surfaces are changed as necessary. That is, the card gripper 31 is rotated 90 degrees about the Z direction as a rotation axis so that the front and back surfaces of the card 100 can be inverted.

The X-direction carrying portion of the XY-direction card carrying portion 15 is provided with an X-direction screw 15b which is vertically erected along the X-direction and a gear wheel formed on the outer periphery of the X-direction screw 15b.
The rotational force is transmitted to the female screw 15d in the X direction by the female screw 15d that is rotatably engaged with the female screw 15d and the belt 15e that is suspended between the gear fixed to the rotating shaft and the gear of the female screw 15d in the X direction. X-direction motor 15a, a card holder 31 and a X-direction motor 15a are fixed to the front and back surfaces in the Z-direction, and a female screw 15d in the X-direction is fixed, an X-direction screw 15b and a motor. Anti-shake member 10b for holding the fixed base 15c so as not to shake
And a fixed base 10a to which the anti-shake member 10b is fixed. The X motor fixing base 15c here is
When the female screw 15d in the X direction is rotated forward or backward, X
It moves upward or downward in the X direction along the direction screw 15b.

Further, the Y-direction moving portion of the XY-direction card carrying portion 15 is a Y-direction rail 17 and two Y-direction rails 17 arranged in parallel on the partition plate 26 so as to be separated in the Z-direction.
Y-direction screws 16b installed in parallel with the Y-direction rail 17 between them and the lower surface of the fixing base 10a in the X-direction so that the fixing base 10a can reciprocate in the Y-direction by rotating on the Y-direction rail. Pulley 10c, a Y direction female screw 16c fixed to the lower portion of the fixed base 10a in the X direction and rotatably meshed with the Y direction screw 16b, a gear fixed to the rotating shaft, and a gear of the Y direction female screw 16c. And a Y-direction motor 16a in which the rotational force is transmitted to the Y-direction female screw 16c by a belt suspended between and. The fixing base 10a here is rotated in the Y direction rightward direction along the Y direction screw 16c by the normal rotation or the reverse rotation of the Y direction female screw 16c.
Or move to the left. In addition, the partition plate 26,
An opening 26a is provided between the Y-direction motor 16a and the Y-direction female screw 16c for passing a belt suspended therethrough.

A sequencer 18 is provided below the partition plate 26 in the X direction. The sequencer 18 controls the device in the main body by an input signal from the host controller 2 and a signal sent from the main body such as a signal from the direction discriminator 27.

As a method of moving the X-direction moving portion and the Y-direction moving portion, the X-direction screw 15b and the Y-direction screw 16b are fixed in the above example, but the X-direction female screw 15d,
Fix Y direction female screw 15d and Y direction female screw 16c, and
A mechanism for rotating the direction screw 15b and the Y direction screw 16b may be used.

Next, FIG. 7A and FIG.
7A and 7B are diagrams for explaining FIG. 7A and FIG.
7 is cut in a cross section perpendicular to the Z direction. In this case, the direction discriminator 27 is provided with detectors 27a and 27a 'having the same configuration vertically, with the front and back surfaces of the card 100 sandwiched therebetween. As shown in FIG. 3B, on the surface of the detector 27a facing the card 100, light irradiation is performed in which five cards 100 are arranged at substantially equal intervals in the lateral direction of the card 100 to irradiate the card 100 with detection light. Pinholes 27a1 for light and light-receiving elements 27a2 for receiving the detection light reflected by the card 100 arranged in parallel in the lateral direction of the card 100 on the both sides of the pinhole 27a1 for light irradiation. There is.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the detector 27a, which is taken along the line D--D in FIG. 7 (a). In this case, a light emitting diode 27a3 for irradiating the detection light is attached to the back of the light irradiation pinhole 27a1 with its optical axis tilted in the Z direction, and the detection light from the light emitting diode 27a3 is passed through the pinhole 27a1 to the card. 100 is irradiated, and the detection light reflected here is received by the light receiving element 27a2.

In the direction discriminator 27 having such a configuration, the light emitted from the light emitting diode 27a3 has its light diameter reduced by the light irradiation pinhole 27a1 and is applied to the card 100 as detection light.

Here, the card 100 irradiated with the detection light
When the area is the optical recording area 100b, the detection light is almost totally reflected due to the characteristics of the material used for the optical recording area. In this case, the detected light is the pair 2 of the light receiving element 27a2.
Since it is attached so as to be inclined with respect to the arrangement of 7a2a and 27a2b, a large difference occurs in the amount of reflected light received by the pair 27a2a and 27a2b of the light receiving element 27a2. On the other hand, the detection light applied to the areas (100a, 100c, 100d, etc.) of the card 100 other than the optical recording area 100b is irregularly reflected, so that the light receiving element 27 is used.
There is not much difference in the light amount of the reflected light received by the pair a2 of 27a2a and 27a2b.

Therefore, the pair 27a2 of the light receiving elements 27a2
If you use the difference in the amount of light between a and 17a2b, card 1
It is possible to determine the front and back direction of 00. In particular,
Taking the ratio of the light quantity of the light receiving element 27a2a and the light quantity of 27a2b, if 17a2a: 27a2b is a value from 1: 1 to 5: 1, it is regarded as an area other than the optical recording area 100b and 5: 1 to 20: 1. Optical recording area 1 for values up to
If it is determined that it is 00b, it is possible to determine the front and back directions of the card 100. Of course, these values are not absolute, and other values may be used as long as it can be determined that it is the optical recording area 100b.

The same applies to the other detectors 27a '. 9A and 9B show the card 100.
Figure 5 (a) is a diagram for explaining the front / back top / bottom direction discrimination in
Shows four states of the surface that the card 100 can take with respect to the detector 27a.

First, in (1), the surface on which the optical recording area 100b is provided faces the detector 27a, and the upward direction of the card 100 faces the right side and the downward direction faces the left side. This state of the card 100 is assumed to be normal. In this case, of the five light receiving elements 27a2a of the detector 27a (27a2b is omitted), the second and third light receiving elements from the left face the optical recording area 100b. Output (Here, when 27a2a: 27a2b is a value from 1: 1 to 5: 1, it is set to a logical value 0,
When the value is from 5: 1 to 20: 1, the logical product 1 is obtained, and the logical product is 1.

The upper and lower sides of (2) are opposite to those of (1). In this case, since the third and fourth light receiving elements from the left of the detector 27a face the optical recording area 100b, the logical product of the outputs of these two light receiving elements is obtained.
Becomes 1.

In (3), the front and back are opposite to the case of (1). In this case, the logical product of the outputs of all the light receiving elements of the detector 27a is 0, but since the second and third light receiving elements from the left of the detector 27a 'face the optical recording area 100b. The logical product of the outputs of these two light receiving elements is 1.

In (4), the upper and lower sides are opposite to those in (3). In this case, 3 from the left of the detector 27a '
Since the second and fourth light receiving elements face the optical recording area 100b, the logical product of the outputs of these two light receiving elements is 1.

As described above, by appropriately taking the logical product of the outputs of the respective light receiving elements, it is possible to determine the front and back of the card 100, and at the same time, the optical recording area 1 is recorded on the card 100.
It is also possible to determine whether or not 00b is formed. In the card light emitting device, the card 100 on which the optical recording area 100b is not formed is treated as a card that is not compatible with the device.

Actually, the result of the logical product is input to the sequencer 18, and the sequencer 18 drives the front and back settling section 28 and the upper and lower settling section 8 based on the input, and the card 100
The upper and lower sides of the front and back are restored to a normal state (corresponding to the state of (1) above).

FIG. 9B shows an example in which the optical recording area is narrow. In this case, the optical recording area 100b is shown.
Has a narrow optical recording area, but by using the principles (1) to (4) in the same manner as described above, it is possible to detect whether the card has a narrow optical recording area in addition to distinguishing between the upper and lower sides. be able to.

10 (a) and 10 (b) show another example of discriminating between the front and back of the card 100. In this case, the fact that the recording tracks (not shown) in the optical recording area 100b that the optical card necessarily has are arranged evenly in parallel with the guide track interposed therebetween is used. That is, this recording track of the optical recording area 100b is generally 12 μm pitch, and this is regarded as an optical diffraction grating to detect the diffracted light of the incident light.

In FIG. 10, the light emitted from the light source 27a3 is converted into parallel rays by the lens 120, and the card 1
It is incident on 00. Here, the incident surface is the optical recording area 100.
If it is b, it becomes the diffracted lights 110a and 110b, which are detected by the sensor array 101. The light amount on the sensor array 101 has a distribution as shown in FIG. 11A. The sensor array 101 detects this distribution, and a circuit (not shown) performs peak pattern determination. If this is the first-order diffracted light, the optical recording area If the optical recording area is not 100b, the diffracted light 110c, 110d, 110e, 110 is determined.
f (the dotted line arrow in the figure indicates that it is not a peak pattern), that is, although not shown, it becomes a scattered light pattern, peaks cannot be detected, and it is determined that it is not the optical recording area 100b. Then, based on these pieces of information, the front / back surface top / bottom discrimination is performed.

In this way, it is possible to detect even different types of optical cards having different track pitches. For example, the diffraction pattern when the track pitch is 6 μm is shown in FIG.
Since the peak pattern spreads as shown in (b),
By discriminating this pattern, the track pitch is 6μ.
It is also possible to detect that it is an m optical card.

Further, although not shown, the optical recording area 100
Even the material can be determined by utilizing the fact that the diffraction pattern differs depending on the material of b. For example, it becomes possible to judge whether the material is a metallic material or a pigment material.

Next, the operation of the card issuing device configured as described above will be described. In this case, when the power of the device body 1 and the host controller 2 is turned on, the flowchart shown in FIG. 12 is executed.

First, in step 121, the host controller 2
The self-diagnosis of the card issuing device is performed by. In this case, self-diagnosis is performed by checking the card stocker 6 and the card stocker 2
2, confirmation of the staying cards in the apparatus main body 1 and confirmation of the portion (conveyance system) for conveying the card 100 are performed.

Here, to confirm the card stockers 6 and 22, the presence or absence of the card stockers 6 and 22, the reading of the ID number of the card stocker, and the presence or absence of the card in the card stocker are checked. In addition, the confirmation of the staying card is performed by checking whether or not the card 100 is staying in the transport system.
The host control unit 2 displays on the display unit that there is a stay card. To check the transfer system, perform an empty transfer to check if there is any abnormality in the movement of the transfer system, and if a staying card is found when checking the staying card, transfer the staying card to the NG box 19 and insert it. To do. Be sure to confirm this transport system.

When the self-diagnosis is completed, the process proceeds to step 122, where the host control unit 2 displays the input items for initial setting and waits for the input. In this initial setting, a mode, a data file, an issuing card (number of sheets, etc.), etc. are set.

The mode setting is selected from the eight modes shown in FIG. In this table, “light → print” means that the optical recording / reproducing unit 12 performs recording on the optical recording area 100b of the card 100 and then the printing unit 33 performs recording on the printing area 100d. . Further, "cleaning 1" means cleaning of the surface of the card 100,
“Cleaning 2” means cleaning of the back surface. Further, “optical additional recording” is to additionally record data in the optical recording area 100b in the card 100 in which the data is already recorded in the optical recording area 100b. A device indicated by "1" in the "device setting state" indicates that the process is performed by the device.

Of the eight modes shown in FIG. 13, the mode "8" is a mode in which the operator sets the processing content. The meaning of this setting is shown in FIG. The data file setting sets a data file to be stored in the card 100. Specifically, a storage medium holding the above-mentioned data file (a hard disk (HD) inside the host control unit 2 or a floppy disk (FD) used in an external reading device connected to the host control unit 2, Select the magneto-optical disk (MO) etc. to display the data file name (there may be multiple data files) held by the storage medium, and select the above-mentioned data file from the display. . here,
When FD or MO is selected as the storage medium,
Since it is necessary to attach the FD or MO to the dedicated reader connected to the host control unit 2, "Set FD (or MO)" on the display unit of the host control unit 2.
Is displayed.

Further, the number of issued cards 100 is set in the issued card setting. There are two ways to set, and all the records (1
Data for one person is recorded in one record.)
Can be stored in each card 100 for each record, or can be recorded in the card 100 by designating a specific record. An ID number possessed by an individual is used to specify a specific record. The former method is often performed when the card is initially issued, and the latter method is often performed when data is additionally written and issued.

In this mode setting, the printing unit 3
Modes including 3 (modes "1", "2", and "8"
(However, the one that includes printing) is selected,
Set the print format. There are three print format settings. There are a case where an existing print format is used, a case where the print format is modified and used, and a case where a new print format is created.

Here, the mode "2" (optical recording area 10
0b, data is recorded in the magnetic recording area 100c, and the printing area 100d), HD as a data file, all records as an issuing card, and an existing format is set as a print format.

Next, in step 123, the state of the apparatus main body 1 is checked in accordance with the initial setting. The check items, the situation, and the countermeasures here are as shown in FIG.

Next, in step 124, setting display is performed. Here, the current setting status is displayed on the display unit of the host control unit 2 together with the result checked in step 123, and if the status is to be addressed, an action is prompted. When a countermeasure is taken, the display corresponding to the countermeasure also changes.

Next, in step 125, the host controller 2
Displays a list of work contents on its display, requests final confirmation, and waits for input of work start or stop. If the work start is input here, the process proceeds to step 126 to issue the card 100. If the stop input is input or the work start input is not input within the predetermined time, the process returns to step 122.

In step 126, first, the sequencer 1
8 is set (step 1261). Here, the host control unit 2 transmits to the sequencer 18 the set value associated with the initial setting. The sequencer 18 drives each part in the main body 1 based on the set value. After receiving the set value, the sequencer 18 starts issuing work (step 1262) and moves to step 1263.

At step 1263, the following operation is executed. First, the card 100 is the card lifting unit 6
By the above, one sheet is lifted up from the card stocker 6 in the X direction and taken into the card receiving section 7. The card 100 taken into the card receiving section 7 is changed in the feeding direction to the Z direction and is sent to the direction discriminator 27. When the card 100 is sent to the direction discriminator, the card receiving unit 7 returns to the state of taking the next card from the card stocker 6 again.

Here, when the number of cards to be issued has not reached the number set in the initial setting and the card 100 remains in the card stocker 6, the next card is stored in the card lifting section 6. The card stocker 6 is moved inward in the Z direction by the stocker transport unit 5 so as to be located at the lifted portion. Card 100 in card stocker 6
If no card remains, a message is displayed on the display section of the host control section 2 so that the card stocker 6 accommodating the card 100 to be processed is set.

When the card 100 passes, the direction discriminator 2
7 performs front / back discrimination of the card 100 according to the principle described above, and transmits the discrimination result to the sequencer 18. Based on the determination result, the sequencer 18 transmits a drive signal to the front and back settling section 28 and the upper and lower settling section 8 for relating the card 100 to the specified front and back sides and upper and lower sides. The front and back settling unit 28 moves the card 100 to the specified front and back, and then moves to the left in the Y direction,
The card 100 is sent to the intermediary carrier 29. The vertical settling unit 8 receives the card 100 that has passed through the intermediary carrier 29,
The vertical relationship of the card 100 is corrected to the specified vertical relationship, and the card 100 is sent to the cleaning unit 9.

Since the mode "2" is selected here, the cleaning section 9 conveys the received card 100 to the left in the Y direction by the conveying roller 9e, and the front and back sides of the card 100 with respect to the front and back sides thereof. Cleaning is performed by pressing the dry cloth 9a in the direction by the pressing roller 9g.

The card 100 which has been cleaned is delivered to the card delivery section 11. The card sending unit 11
In order to transfer the card 100 to the card grip portion 31, the carrying direction of the card 100 is rotated by 90 degrees about the Y direction as a rotation axis. Since mode "2" is selected here,
Reading by the barcode reading unit 30 is not performed.

When the card holding section 31 receives the card 100 from the card sending section 11, the XY-direction card carrying section 15
In the X-direction transporting part, the card gripping part 31 is positioned so that the insertion side end of the card 100 gripped by the card gripping part 31 is located at the same position as the card insertion / ejection port of the optical recording / reproducing part 12.
Is moved downward in the X direction, and at that position, the card grip 31
Is moved downward in the X direction, and at that position, the card grip 31
To stop. Here, the card gripper 31 feeds the card 100 to the optical recording / reproducing unit 12, and enters a standby state at this position.

The optical recording / reproducing section 12 records a record for one person in the optical recording area 100b of the card 100. The record for one person to be recorded on the card 100 is sent to the optical recording / reproducing unit 12, and the memory (not shown) of the optical recording / reproducing unit 12 is recorded.
Stored in. The optical recording / reproducing unit 12 is a card 100.
When the recording of the record for the card is completed, the card 100 is put through the card insertion / ejection slot and the card holding section 3 in the standby state.
Hand over to 1.

When the card gripping portion 31 receives the card 100 again, the X-direction conveying portion of the XY-direction card conveying portion 15 has the magnetic recording / reproducing portion at the insertion side end of the card 100, as in the case of the optical recording / reproducing portion 12. The card gripper 31 is moved downward in the X direction so as to come to the same position as the card insertion / ejection port of the portion 14, and the card gripper 31 is stopped at that position. Here, as described above, the magnetic head of the magnetic recording / reproducing unit 12 comes into contact with the surface of the card 100 from above in the X direction. Therefore, if the card 100 is sent as it is, the magnetic recording area 100c will be recorded. Is not recorded. Therefore, the card gripper 31 rotates 90 degrees about the Z direction as a rotation axis to turn the card 100 over. After that, the card gripper 31 feeds the card 100 to the magnetic recording / reproducing unit 14 and enters a standby state at this position.

The magnetic recording / reproducing unit 14 records a record for one person in the magnetic recording area 100c of the card 100. A record for one person to be recorded on the card 100 is sent from the host control unit 2 to the magnetic recording / reproducing unit 14 in advance and stored in a memory (not shown) of the magnetic recording / reproducing unit 14.
When the recording of the record on the card 100 is completed, the magnetic recording / reproducing unit 14 delivers the card 100 to the card holding unit 31 in the standby state through the card insertion / ejection port.

Thus, the operation in step 1263 is completed. Next, in step 1264, it is determined whether there is the next work. Here, since the printing work remains among the three works defined in the mode “2”, the determination is “Y”, and the process proceeds to “work 2” (printing) in step 1265. Here, "work 1" (work related to bar code, optical recording / reproducing, magnetic recording / reproducing) and "work 2" (printing) are divided into "work 2", which is normally a new card 100. While it is limited to issuing, "work 1" is performed when a record is additionally written (on the optical recording area 100b) or rewritten (on the magnetic recording unit 100c) to the already issued card 100. Is also used. As described above, by checking the "work 2", it is possible to prevent the printing area 100d of the card 100, which has already been printed, from being erroneously printed.

In step 1265, when the card gripper 31 receives the card 100 again, in the Y-direction transport portion of the XY-direction card transport unit 15, the insertion side end of the card 100 is at the same position as the card insertion slot of the printing unit 33. The card gripper 31 is moved to the right in the Y direction, and the card gripper 31 is stopped at that position. As described above, the ink ribbon of the printing unit 33 comes into contact with the front surface of the card 100 from above in the X direction, but since the front and back surfaces of the card 100 have already been reversed in the magnetic recording unit 14 immediately before, , The card gripper 31 remains as it is, and the printing unit 33
The card 100 is sent to the, and at this position, it is in a standby state.

The printing section 33 records a record for one person in the printing area 100d of the card 100. The record for one person to be printed on the card 100 is stored in advance in the host controller 2
From the printer unit 33 to the printing unit 33 and stored in a memory (shown in the figure) of the printing unit 33. When the printing of the record on the card 100 is completed, the printing unit 33 delivers the card 100 to the card transport unit 20 through the card discharge port provided at the rear portion in the Z direction.

In the above-mentioned processing, the card which is not compatible with the card issuing device of the present embodiment or the card 100 which is judged to have a bad recording / reproducing state is
It is stored in the NG box 19.

Card transport unit 2 that received the card 100
0 moves to the right in the Y direction, and delivers the card 100 to the card dropping unit 21. The card drop part 21
The method of transporting the card 100 received from the card transport unit 20 is changed by rotating 90 degrees downward in the X direction about the Y direction, and the card 100 is stored in the card stocker 22. The card 100 is arranged such that the short side of the card 100 is downward and the upper part is Y.
The card is stored in the card stocker 22 on the right side in the direction and with the surface vertical to the Z direction. When the card 100 is stored in the card stocker 22, the card dropping unit 21 returns to the state of receiving the next card from the card transport unit 20.

Next, in step 1266, it is determined whether there is the next work (decision 2). If the number of cards to be issued has not reached the number set in the initial settings and the cards 100 remain in the card stocker 6,
One card 100 is newly stored, and the card stocker 22 is moved backward by the stocker transport unit 23 in the Z direction, and the process returns to step 1263.

If there is no card 100 left in the card stocker 6, the process proceeds to step 1267, and it is determined whether the issuing work is completed (decision 3). Here, in the case of ending the issuing work, the procedure proceeds to step 1268, and as the issuing work end processing, the work status (ID numbers of the card stockers 6 and 22, the number of issued cards, the number of unprocessed sheets) is displayed on the display unit of the host processing unit 2. And the number of cards 100 that have become NG) are displayed, and the issuing operation is completed. If not, it is displayed on the display unit so that the card stocker 5 to be processed is set.

FIG. 16 shows a flow (diagram) of a series of operations for issuing the above-mentioned card. In this case, the second card 100 is lifted upward in the X direction by the card lifting unit 4 when the first card 100 passes through the cleaning unit 9. When the first card 100 is inserted into the printing unit 33, the XY-direction card transport unit 15 can process the next card 100. Therefore, when the previous card 100 is inserted into the printing unit 33, the next card 100 is inserted into the card sending unit 1.
The processing time can be shortened if the card gripper 31 is positioned at the delivery position 1 and the card gripper 31 is immediately moved to that position. However, in FIG. 31 is moved.

Therefore, in this way, the card insertion ports of the optical recording / reproducing unit 12, the magnetic recording / reproducing unit 14 and the printing unit 33 common to the cards having different recording / reproducing formats are two-dimensionally arranged and preset. It is possible to appropriately change and control the card transport order between the respective card insertion ports by the XY-direction card transport unit 15 which can be moved two-dimensionally based on the mode to be performed, so that it is possible to issue and process cards of different recording and reproducing formats. Even if the procedure is changed, it can be easily dealt with only by changing the setting of the mode, and it is economically extremely advantageous for issuing a large number of types of cards.

Further, the front and back sides of the card 100 supplied from the card stocker 6 are discriminated by the direction discriminating means 27, and based on the detection signal, the front and back settling section 28 and the top and bottom settling section 8 set the front and back sides of the card to a predetermined level. Since the card 100 can be changed upside down, the card 100 can be put in the card stocker 6 in any way, and the work of storing the card 100 in the card stocker 6 can be facilitated and the handling can be simplified.

In this embodiment, the cleaning direction of the cleaning unit 9 is not specified, but the following configuration may be adopted. For example, the cleaning unit 9 is configured so that the cleaning trace in the longitudinal direction of the card 100 having the optical recording area 100b adversely affects the tracking control in the recording / reproducing operation, so that the card 100 can be cleaned in the lateral direction. You may. Further, the effective cleaning amount is increased by cleaning the card 100 in a direction perpendicular to the carrying direction (Y direction) or by swinging the card 100 in the vertical direction with respect to the card carrying direction. Good. Further, in the cleaning section 9, a dry cloth excellent in cleaning property is pressed against the card, but a wet cloth may be used, or an ultrasonic type device may be used. In addition, if a static elimination brush is attached to the cleaning unit 9, static electricity that is likely to occur with a dry cloth can be eliminated.
It is possible to prevent the magnetic recording area 100c from being adversely affected by static electricity, and to prevent dust from adhering to the card 100.

Further, in the present embodiment, the printing portion 33 is the transfer by the ink ribbon, but it may be the embossing or the photochemical. In particular, the photo-chemical type is rewritable, so that the print content can be changed, and the card 10 used in the present embodiment can be changed.
It has almost no effect on the optical recording area 100b of 0.

The above description is based on the embodiment.
The present invention includes the following inventions. (1) Card supply means for supplying cards, processing means for at least two or more different types of cards in which respective card take-in parts are two-dimensionally arranged on the same plane, and two-dimensional movement along the plane Card conveying and grasping means that is provided so as to grasp a card supplied from the card supplying means and conveys between the card taking-in portions of the processing means, and the card conveying and grasping means based on a preset instruction. A card issuing device, comprising: a control unit that controls a card transfer sequence between the card fetching units of the processing unit.

In this way, the card transport sequence between the card loading sections of the processing means by the card transport gripping means can be appropriately changed and controlled on the basis of a preset instruction. Issuing different cards and changing the processing procedure can be easily handled by only changing the setting of the instruction, and it is economically extremely advantageous to issue a large number of types of cards.

(2) In the card issuing device according to (1), the processing means for the different types of cards is the recording / reproducing means or the printing means for the cards having different recording / reproducing formats. Even in this case, the same effect as (1) can be expected.

(3) In the card issuing device according to (1), the front and back top and bottom discriminating means for discriminating the front and back top and bottom of the card supplied from the card supply means, and the card based on the discrimination result of the front and back top and bottom discriminating means. It further has a card surface changing means for changing the surface in the predetermined vertical direction.

In this way, the card surface can be changed to a predetermined front and back vertical direction based on the result of the front and back top and bottom discrimination of the card to be supplied, so that the work of accommodating the card in the card supply means can be facilitated and handled. Can also be simple.

(4) In the card issuing device according to (3), the front / back surface top / bottom discriminating means irradiates the card with a discriminating light beam, and a light detecting means for detecting reflected light from the card. And means for detecting the ratio of diffusely reflected light contained in the reflected light based on the detection output of the light detection means.

In this way, by detecting the ratio of irregularly reflected light, it is possible to discriminate between the front and back with high reliability.
Work efficiency also increases. (5) In the card issuing device according to (3), the front / back surface top / bottom discriminating means irradiates the card with a light beam for discrimination, and a light detecting means for detecting a pattern of reflected diffracted light from the card. With.

In this way, the upper and lower sides can be discriminated by detecting the diffracted light obtained from the recording track on the optical recording area, so that the discrimination in the case of an optical card can be performed with higher accuracy. (6) In the card issuing device according to (5), the front / back surface top / bottom discriminating means further comprises a pattern distribution detecting means for detecting a pattern distribution of reflected diffracted light from the card.

In this way, the track pitch value of the optical card can be detected by detecting the pattern distribution of the diffracted light. (7) In the card issuing device described in (1),
A means for cleaning the front and back surfaces of the card and a control means for controlling the operation of the cleaning means are provided so as to clean only one of the front and back surfaces of the card.

In this way, in the card issuing mode which does not require double-sided cleaning, only one side can be cleaned, so that the cleaning material is not wasted.

[0104]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately change and control the card transport sequence between the card loading sections of the processing means by the card transport gripping means based on a preset instruction. Since it is possible to issue cards with different recording / playback formats and changes in processing procedures, it is possible to easily respond by simply changing the mode settings, and it is extremely economical to issue many types of cards. It can be advantageous.

Further, since the card surface can be changed to a predetermined front / back surface up / down direction based on the result of the front / back surface top / bottom discrimination of the supplied card, the work of storing the card in the card supply means is facilitated and the handling thereof is simple. You can

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a card applied to a card issuing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a card issuing device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a top view showing a schematic configuration of a card issuing device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a card issuing device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a card stocker used in one embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a cleaning unit used in one embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a direction determiner used in one embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a detector of a direction determiner used in one embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining front / back vertical direction discrimination by a direction discriminator used in one embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of another example of the direction determiner used in the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining front / back vertical direction discrimination by the direction discriminator of another example shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining mode setting contents according to an embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the content of a mode in which the operator sets the processing content according to the embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the contents of the status check in the embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a flow of a series of operations until card issuance according to an embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Card issuing device main body, 2 ... Host control unit, 3 ... Housing, 4 ... Card lifting unit, 5 ... Stocker transport unit, 5a
... Stocker carrier, 5b ... Guide bar, 5c ... Engagement part 5, 5d ... Motor for stocker carrier, 5e ... Stocker feed screw, 6 ... Card stocker, 6a ... Inside, 6b ... Decimal rotary switch, 6c ... Output contact, 6d ... Card detection light hole, 6e ... Partition wall, 7 ... Card receiving section, 8 ... Vertical setting section, 9 ... Cleaning section, 9a ... Dry cloth, 9b ... Cleaning roll, 9c ... Winding section, 9e ... Conveying roller, 9f ..., 9g ... pressing roller, 9h ..., spring, 10
... 10a ... fixed base, 10b ..., 10c ... pulley, 11 ...
Card sending unit, 12 ... Optical recording / reproducing unit, 14 ... Magnetic recording / reproducing unit, 15 ... XY-direction card transport unit, 15a ... X-direction motor, 15b ... X-direction screw, 15c ... Motor fixing base, 1
5d ... X direction female screw, 15e ... belt, 16a ... Y direction motor, 16b ... Y direction screw, 16c ... Y direction female screw,
17 ... Y direction rail, 18 ... Sequencer, 19 ... NG box, 20 ... Card transporting section, 21 ... Card dropping section, 22 ... Card stocker, 23 ... Stocker transporting section, 2
3a ... stocker carrier, 23b ... guide bar, 23c ...
Meshing part, 23d ... motor for transporting stocker, 23e ... feed screw for stocker, 24 ... mounting plate, 25 ... mounting plate,
26 ... Partition plate, 27 ... Direction discriminator, 27a ... Detector,
27a1 ... Pinhole for light irradiation, 27a2 ... Light receiving element,
27a3 ... Light emitting diode, 28 ... Front / back settling section, 29 ...
Intermediary carrier, 30 ... Bar code reading section, 31 ... Card gripping section, 33 ... Printing section, 100 ... Card, 100a ... Design section, 100b ... Optical recording area, 100c ... Magnetic recording area, 100d ... Printing area.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location G07F 7/08 G07F 7/08 M

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A card supply means for supplying a card, a processing means for at least two different kinds of cards in which respective card taking-in parts are two-dimensionally arranged on the same plane, and 2 along the plane. A card transport gripping means that is provided so as to be dimensionally movable and grips a card supplied from the card supply means and transports it between the card loading sections of the processing means, and the card transport gripping means based on a preset instruction. 2. A card issuing device, comprising: a control unit that controls a card transfer order between the card fetching units of the processing unit. 2. The processing means for different types of cards,
2. The card issuing device according to claim 1, which is a recording / reproducing device or a printing device for cards having different recording / reproducing formats. 3. A front / back top / bottom discriminating means for discriminating the front / back top / bottom of a card supplied from the card supply means, and changing the card surface in the predetermined front / back top / bottom direction based on the discrimination result of the front / back top / bottom discriminating means. The card issuing device according to claim 1, further comprising card surface changing means.