JPH11272806A - Magnetic record medium processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify the structure more and to shorten the total processing time. SOLUTION: A platen roller 16b' is fitted in a freely rotatable state and a print head 16a' is always brought into contact with the platen roller by a pressing means 15; and a conveyance support roller 12 which increase the clamping force to a magnetic card by conveyor belts 6 and 6', and 11 and 11' is provided nearby a print process part and a conveying means is driven by a single driving system from a magnetic process part to the print process part, so that the magnetic card conveyed by the conveyor belts is carried while intruded into between the print head and platen roller for printing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a magnetic recording medium processing apparatus for performing magnetic processing for writing and reading magnetic information on a magnetic recording medium and printing processing for printing characters and symbols.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, as a magnetic recording medium processing device, for example, various card reader / writers provided in various fee settlement machines and card issuing machines are known. In such a magnetic recording medium processing apparatus, the magnetic recording medium is often conveyed by conveying means such as a conveying belt, and magnetic processing and printing processing are continuously performed on the magnetic recording medium. In a conventional magnetic recording medium processing apparatus that continuously performs magnetic processing and printing processing, the processing speed of each processing is usually different, so that each processing is performed by taking the following measures. (1) The structure of the transport unit is separated for each process, and each process is performed at an appropriate transport speed according to each process speed. (2) The transport speed of a single transport unit is made variable from a low speed to a high speed, and each process is performed by switching to a transport speed suitable for each process. (3) Adjust the transport speed of the transport unit to a slower one, and perform each process at the same speed.

However, the conventional magnetic recording medium processing apparatus has the following problems. In case (1) above,
In order to perform each process at the appropriate speed, when transferring the magnetic recording medium between the processing areas, the magnetic recording medium must be completely transferred to the transfer portion of the transfer means (the portion between the separated structures). In other words, since the magnetic recording medium is not allowed to straddle both of the separated structures of the transporting means, a sufficient space is required between the processing regions. Therefore, the size of the apparatus in the transport direction becomes longer, and the overall processing time also becomes longer. Further, since the transporting means has a separated structure, the number of components such as a drive motor and a transporting member also increases. Further, depending on the driving state of each separated structure of the transfer means, when transferring the magnetic recording medium between the processing areas, it may be necessary to set a transfer speed corresponding to the next processing. Time will be long. In the case of (2), a drive motor such as a stepping motor that has good speed responsiveness and little torque fluctuation is required in order to secure a torque that changes the transport speed from a low speed to a high speed. For this reason,
As the number of circuit components for controlling the motor increases, the size of the drive motor also increases, and the size of the entire apparatus increases. Further, in the case of (3), although the structure of the transporting means is simplified, the overall processing time becomes longer because the transport speed is adjusted to the lower processing speed side.

In view of the above problems, in order to enable processing at different speeds to be continuously performed in a short time, a magnetic recording medium is provided with a plurality of processing means for performing processing at different speeds. In the recording medium processing device, the recording medium processing device is provided over each processing area of the plurality of processing units, moves at a constant speed corresponding to the processing speed of one of the plurality of processing units, and holds the magnetic recording medium. A transfer belt, which is provided in a processing area of another processing means, and which holds the magnetic recording medium with a force greater than the clamping force of the transfer belt and transfers the magnetic recording medium at a speed corresponding to the processing speed of the other processing means. The present applicant has proposed a magnetic recording medium processing apparatus including a transfer means for performing the above-mentioned operation in Japanese Patent Application No. 9-318518.

According to the above arrangement, the magnetic recording medium inserted into the magnetic recording medium processing apparatus is conveyed at a speed corresponding to one processing means while being sandwiched by the conveyor belt, and is processed in the processing area of the one processing means. Then, the magnetic recording medium is conveyed while being held between the conveying belts, and the processing is performed. On the other hand, in the processing area of the other processing unit, the magnetic recording medium is held by the conveying unit with a force larger than the clamping force of the conveyor belt, so that the conveying speed of the magnetic recording medium is in accordance with the processing speed of the other processing unit. The speed is switched to another processing.

[0006] The conveying means has a speed corresponding to the processing speed of the other processing means centered on an axis orthogonal to the moving direction of the conveying belt, with a part of the outer peripheral surface facing the conveying path of the magnetic recording medium. And a pressing portion for pressing the magnetic recording medium conveyed on the outer peripheral surface of the roller in the direction of the roller with a force greater than the clamping force of the conveying belt. When the processing means is a print processing unit, a print head also functions as the pressing unit, and a printing platen roller also functions as the roller. According to this configuration,
The magnetic recording medium is pressed against the roller (platen roller) by the pressing section (print head), and is conveyed with the rotation of the roller. At this time, since the pinching force between the pressing portion and the roller is larger than the pinching force of the transport belt, the magnetic recording medium is transported while sliding on the transport belt having different peripheral speeds and moving speeds of the rollers.

[0007] The magnetic recording medium processing apparatus according to the above proposal is
This will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a plan view of a main part of the apparatus, FIG. 7 is a side view thereof, and FIG. 8 is an internal configuration view thereof. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the width of a print head and the print width of a print area of a conventional magnetic recording medium processing apparatus. The transport unit 1 includes a pulley 3 fixed to the left and right sides of a drive shaft 2 provided at the upper part on the entry side of the transport path and a pulley 5 fixed to the left and right sides of a driven shaft 4 provided at the upper part on the exit side of the transport path. And a pulley 8 fixed to the left and right sides of a drive shaft 7 provided at the lower portion of the entry side of the conveyance path and a driven shaft provided at the lower portion of the entry side of the conveyance path. A transfer belt 11 (11 ') is wound around a pulley 10 fixed to the left and right sides of the transfer belt 9 and a pair of upper and lower transfer belts 6, 11 (6', 11 ') for a magnetic recording medium (hereinafter referred to as a magnetic card). C) is configured to be pinched and transported. Numeral 12 denotes a transport assisting roller for assisting the nipping force of the transport belt especially near the magnetic processing unit. Reference numerals 13a to 13e denote sensors for detecting the transport position of the magnetic card C.

The magnetic processing section 14 includes left and right transport belts 6,
11 (6 ', 11'), a magnetic head 14a provided below the transfer surface and a magnetic head pressure roller 14b provided to face the magnetic head from above the transfer surface. The magnetic head pressure roller 14b is constantly urged toward the magnetic head 14a by a pressing portion 15 such as a spring. The print processing unit 16 is arranged between the left and right transport belts 6, 11 (6 ', 11'), and faces the thermal print head 16a provided above the transport surface and the print head from below the transport surface. And a printing platen roller 16b provided as described above. The print head 16a is constantly urged by the pressing portion 15 toward the platen roller 16b. Also, the print head 16a
Is coupled to elevating means 17 composed of, for example, a solenoid 17a and a crank 17b which is swung by the solenoid 17a, and is mounted so as to be able to separate from or press against the platen roller 16b. A rubber roller having elasticity is used for the platen roller 16b, and is fixed to the driven shaft 18.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a drive motor, the driving force of which is controlled by a gear train 20a, 20b, 2 constituting the first reduction mechanism 20.
0c and gears 20c and 20d constituting a transmission means, are transmitted to the drive shafts 2 and 7 of the transport means, a pulley 21 fixed coaxially with the gear 20b, and a driven shaft 18 of a platen roller 16b. Pulley 22 fixed to
And a transmission belt 23 wound therebetween, and a second speed reduction mechanism 24 constituted by the platen roller 16b.
It is configured to be transmitted to. Therefore, the platen roller 16b also constitutes a part of the conveying means.

With the above configuration, during magnetic processing, the print head 16a is raised by the elevating means 17 so that the magnetic processing unit 1
The magnetic card C is transported at a transport speed of 4 for processing.
At the time of the printing process, the sensor 13d detects that the magnetic card C is between the print head 16a and the platen roller 16b.
, The print head 16a is lowered, and the pressing portion 1
The print head 16a is brought into close contact with the magnetic card C with a pressing force of 5, and the magnetic card is transported at a print processing speed by the rotation of the platen roller 16b to which a driving force is applied, thereby performing print processing. Thus, the magnetic processing and the printing processing were performed.

As shown in FIG. 9, for example, a print area PA of a magnetic card by a conventional magnetic recording medium processing apparatus has a dimension PL in a card transport direction of 40 mm and a print width (dimension in a direction perpendicular to the card transport direction). ) PW is about 32 mm. The width HW of the print head 16a for printing on such a print area PA is about 80 mm, and the length of the platen roller 16b is almost the same as the width of the print head.

[0012]

As described above, the width HW of the print head in the conventional magnetic recording medium processing apparatus is
Since the width is set to be relatively large so as to correspond to the width PW of the maximum print area PA of the magnetic card, the resistance when the leading edge of the magnetic card enters between the print head and the platen roller is large, and the conveyance is stable. The property is easily impaired. Therefore, in order to improve the adhesion of the print head to the magnetic card and ensure the required print quality, use a rubber roller having a large viscosity coefficient and elasticity for the platen roller,
It is necessary to increase the pressing force between the platen roller and the print head.

Also, the print dot density in the magnetic card transport direction is the same as that generally employed so that clear print quality can be obtained. Must be lower than the transfer speed during magnetic processing. That is, the transport speeds during the printing process and the magnetic process are significantly different. Therefore, the transport system (transport belt) of the magnetic processing unit and the transport system (platen roller) of the print processing unit are driven by two reduction mechanisms 20 and 24 having different reduction ratios. When printing is not performed, if the driven platen roller, which has a large viscosity coefficient, is in constant pressure contact with the print head, the print head will wear out. Elevating means 17 for moving the head up and away from the transport surface and lowering it to the transport surface during printing processing is required. Therefore, the conventional device has a large number of parts and a complicated structure. Furthermore, since the difference between the processing speed at the time of printing processing and the processing speed at the time of magnetic processing is still large, it has been desired to further reduce the overall processing time of the magnetic card.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, that is, to further shorten the processing time of the magnetic processing and the printing processing and to further simplify the structure.

[0015]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a magnetic processing section and a print processing section which are separated from each other in a transport direction, and is transported by transport means using a pair of right and left transport belts. In a magnetic recording medium processing apparatus that continuously performs magnetic processing and printing processing on a magnetic card, a printing platen roller of a printing processing unit is mounted so as to be freely rotatable, and the printing head of the printing processing unit is pressed by a pressing unit. A transfer auxiliary roller is provided near the print processing unit for increasing the clamping force of the transfer belt on the magnetic card, and the transfer unit is provided in a single unit from the magnetic processing unit to the print processing unit. By driving the magnetic card conveyed by the conveyor belt between the print head and the printing platen roller, It is characterized in that the thing. With the above configuration, the magnetic card is conveyed while being sandwiched between the pair of right and left conveyor belts from the magnetic processing unit to the print processing unit. When entering the print processing unit, since the nipping force is increased by the transport assist roller, it is possible to smoothly enter between the print head and the platen roller. Further, since the platen roller is mounted so as to be freely rotatable, the card can be conveyed in the print processing section only by the nipping and conveying force of the conveying belt using a single driving system and a conveying system. further,
When the magnetic card is not present between the print head and the platen roller during the magnetic processing, the print head is not worn even if the print head is not separated from the platen roller.

It is desirable that the width of the print head and the platen roller be reduced according to the print width of the magnetic card. When the printing head is made smaller in this way, the resistance of the print head and the platen roller to the conveyed magnetic card is further reduced. Nature is secured.

It is desirable to provide a print control unit for reducing the print dot density in the transport direction of the print head with respect to the magnetic card to such an extent that the print content is legible, and to reduce the dot density. In such a case, the printing processing speed can be improved and the difference from the magnetic processing speed can be further reduced.

It is preferable that the printing platen roller is made of a hard material having a small friction coefficient. In such a case, the resistance of the leading end of the magnetic card, which is nipped and conveyed by the conveyor belt, to the print processing unit is further reduced.

[0019]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a main part of the magnetic recording medium processing apparatus, FIG. 2 is a side view thereof, and FIG. 3 is an internal configuration diagram thereof. FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the print processing unit. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the width of the print head and the print width of the print area of the magnetic recording medium processing apparatus. The same reference numerals are used for the same members or corresponding members as the constituent members of the magnetic recording medium processing device according to the previous proposal,
Detailed description is omitted.

A pair of left and right transfer belts 6, 6 provided above and below the transfer surface so that the transfer section 1 extends in the transfer direction.
11 (6 ′, 11 ′), the magnetic processing unit 14 has a magnetic head 14a and a magnetic head pressing roller 14b,
The point that the magnetic head pressure roller 14b is pressed against the magnetic head 14a by the pressing unit 15 such as a spring, and that the print processing unit 16 includes the print head 16a 'and the platen roller 16b
, And the print head 16a ′ has a pressing portion 1 such as a spring.
5 is pressed against the platen roller 16b 'as in the prior art.

However, in the magnetic medium recording apparatus according to the present invention, only one speed reduction mechanism is provided between the motor 19 and the transport unit 1 driven by the motor. That is, the gear 20a fixed on the rotation shaft of the drive motor 19
Gear trains 20b, 20c, 20 sequentially meshed with
It has only the speed reduction mechanism 20 constituted by d. Further, as shown in FIG.
The width of the 6a 'and the platen roller 16b' (the dimension in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the magnetic card) is formed substantially smaller than the width of the magnetic card C (the dimension in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction). . That is, the width HW of the print head 16a 'is set to a width such that the print width PW can be printed in the print area PA having a print width of about several mm, for example, 24 mm. The print control unit in the present apparatus determines the dot density in the transport direction of the magnetic card by the print head 16a 'to such an extent that the content printed in the narrowed print area PA can be read, for example, the conventional dot density. It is configured to be roughly one-half or one-third coarse. Further, the platen roller 16b 'is freely rotatably supported by a support shaft 18 to which no driving force is applied.
The width of the platen roller is substantially equal to the width HW of the print head. And, preferably, the platen roller 16
b 'is made of a hard material having a small coefficient of friction and excellent wear resistance.

In the initial state, the magnetic head pressure roller 14b contacts the magnetic head 14a by the pressing portion 15, and the print head 16a 'contacts the platen roller 16b' by the pressing portion 15. I have. When the magnetic card C is inserted and detected by the sensor 13a, the drive motor 19 is driven, and the driving force is transmitted via the speed reduction mechanism 20 to the transport belts 6 (6 ') and 11 (11).
′), And the inserted magnetic card C is placed on the pair of upper and lower conveyor belts 6, 11 (6 ′, 11) on both sides in the width direction.
') And transported. In the magnetic processing unit 14, the transport belts 6 and 11 (6 ′, 1)
Since the card clamping force of 1 ′) is increased, the magnetic card is reliably transported at the belt moving speed, and the magnetic processing is performed by the magnetic head 14a and the magnetic head pressing roller 14b.

After the magnetic processing is completed, when the magnetic card is transported toward the print processing unit 16, the print processing unit
Since the transfer assist roller 12 for pressing the holding portion by the transfer belt from above and below is provided, the magnetic card C is held by a stable and constant force, and the print head 16 is moved by the belt transfer force.
a 'and the platen roller 16b'. Therefore, the magnetic card is passed through the print processing section with high transport stability. When the entry of the magnetic card into the print area is detected by the sensor, the transfer speed is slightly reduced by the transfer control unit so as to match the processing speed of the print processing, and the print processing is performed.

When the magnetic card C is conveyed while being held between the print head 16a 'and the platen roller 16b', the movement of the magnetic card causes the platen roller 16b 'to rotate, so that the magnetic card comes into close contact with the print head 16b'. Further, the platen roller 16b 'does not become a resistance of the conveyance. Since the width of the print head 16a 'is smaller than that of the related art, the resistance of the magnetic card to enter the print processing unit is further reduced, and the adhesion to the platen roller 16b' is improved. Therefore, unlike the conventional apparatus, the transport speed does not decrease due to the entry resistance of the magnetic card, so that the difference between the transport speed during the magnetic processing and the transport speed during the printing process is equal to nil. Since the dot density of the magnetic card in the transport direction of the magnetic card by the print head 16a 'is so coarse that the printed contents can be read, the processing speed of the printing process can be made equal to the processing speed of the magnetic process.
As described above, the transfer speed of the transfer means driven by a single drive system is only slightly reduced in the print area, or at a constant speed from the magnetic processing unit to the print processing unit. On the other hand, it has become possible to perform magnetic processing and printing processing continuously. Further, when the platen roller 16b 'is made of a hard material having a small coefficient of friction and good abrasion resistance, a decrease in the transport speed when the magnetic card enters the print processing unit is further reduced, and the life of the platen roller 16b' is shortened. Elongate.

The magnetic card having completed the printing process is further conveyed by conveying belts 6, 11 (6 ', 11').
Processing such as return or collection is performed as in the conventional case.

At times other than during the printing process, for example, when taking in a card, performing magnetic processing, returning or collecting, the print head 16
Although a 'is in direct contact with the platen roller 16b',
Since the platen roller 16b 'is not driven, the platen roller 16b' is not rotated until the magnetic card reaches the printing position even if the magnetic card is being conveyed by magnetic processing or the like. Therefore, the platen roller 16b 'does not wear the print head 16a'.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, the platen roller is mounted so as to be freely rotatable, the print head is always brought into close contact with the platen roller by the pressing means, and the magnetic card by the transport belt is provided near the print processing section. By providing a conveyance auxiliary roller for increasing the clamping force on the magnetic card and driving the conveyance means with a single drive system, the magnetic card conveyed by the conveyance belt is interposed between the print head and the platen roller to be conveyed. Therefore, when entering the print processing section, the magnetic card can smoothly enter the print head and the platen roller with high transport stability because the nipping force is increased by the transport auxiliary roller. ,
The transport speed in the print processing unit can be substantially increased. Therefore, the processing time of the magnetic processing and the printing processing can be further reduced. Further, since the platen roller is mounted so as to be freely rotatable, the card can be conveyed in the print processing section only by the conveyance belt driven by a single drive system. Further, unlike the related art, a plurality of speed reduction mechanisms and print head elevating means are not required, so that the structure can be further simplified. Further, when the magnetic card is not present between the print head and the platen roller during the magnetic processing, the print head is not worn even if the print head is not separated from the platen roller.

When the widths of the print head and the platen roller are reduced, the resistance of the conveyed magnetic card to the print processing unit is further reduced. Adhesion of the head to the magnetic card is ensured. Therefore, the transport speed of the magnetic card is substantially improved, and high printing quality can be obtained.

A print control unit is provided for reducing the print dot density in the transport direction of the magnetic card to a level at which the print content is legible, and when the dot density is reduced, the print processing speed is further improved, The difference from the speed can be further reduced.

When the platen roller is made of a hard material having a small friction coefficient, the resistance of the leading end of the magnetic card, which is nipped and conveyed by the conveyor belt, to the print processing section is further reduced. Further, the life of the platen roller is extended, and damage to the magnetic card is reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a main part of a magnetic recording medium processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the same.

FIG. 3 is an internal configuration diagram of the same.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a print processing unit.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a print head width and a print width of the magnetic recording medium processing device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a main part of a magnetic recording medium processing device according to the above proposal.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the same.

FIG. 8 is an internal configuration diagram of the same.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a print head width and a print width of the magnetic recording medium processing device according to the above proposal.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 transport section C magnetic card (magnetic recording medium) 6, 6 'transport belt 11, 11' transport belt 12 transport assist roller 14 magnetic processing section 14a magnetic head 14b magnetic head pressure roller 16 print processing section 16a 'print head 16b' Platen roller

Claims (4)

[Claims] A magnetic processing unit and a print processing unit are separated from each other in a transport direction, and a magnetic process and a print process are continuously performed on a magnetic recording medium transported by transport means using a pair of right and left transport belts. In the magnetic recording medium processing apparatus to be performed, a print platen roller of the print processing unit is mounted so as to be freely rotatable, and a print head of the print processing unit is always brought into close contact with the print platen roller by pressing means, and the print processing unit is Near the magnetic recording medium by the conveying belt, and a single driving system for driving the conveying means from the magnetic processing unit to the print processing unit. The magnetic recording medium transported by the transport belt is transported by being interrupted between the print head and the printing platen roller. The magnetic recording medium processing apparatus according to claim. 2. The magnetic recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein dimensions of a print head and a printing platen roller in a direction orthogonal to a transport direction are reduced. 3. The print control unit according to claim 1, further comprising a print control unit that reduces a print dot density of the print head in a transport direction with respect to the magnetic recording medium to a level at which the print content is legible. Magnetic recording medium processing device. 4. The printing platen roller is made of a hard material having a small friction coefficient.
4. The magnetic recording medium processing device according to 2 or 3.