JP2005339449A - Card processing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a card processing unit for processing a noncontact IC card with a simple structure. <P>SOLUTION: The card processing unit is adapted to insert the noncontact IC card to an upwardly opened pocket part provided on a main body of the card processing unit to read card data recorded in the inserted noncontact IC card, and to write predetermined new data to the noncontact IC card as occasion demands. The length of the upper opening of the pocket part is set slightly larger than the length of the short side of the noncontact IC card, and smaller than the short side of a magnetic ticket such as a prepaid card. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a card processing unit for reading card data recorded on a non-contact type IC card and writing predetermined new data to the non-contact type IC card as required. The present invention relates to devices suitable for station equipment such as ticket machines and automatic payment machines.

  In recent years, automatic ticket gate systems at stations have used commuter passes and SF cards (stored fair cards) as IC cards with wireless communication functions, so-called contactless IC cards, in order to improve convenience for users (passengers). It has become possible to enter or participate by holding the non-contact type IC card over the antenna provided in the main body of the automatic ticket gate or by lightly touching the antenna.

Therefore, if the automatic ticket gate becomes a non-contact type, naturally other station service devices such as an automatic ticket vending machine and an automatic checkout machine are also non-contact type (see Patent Document 1), and a non-contact type IC for that purpose. A card processing unit for processing cards has also been proposed (see Patent Document 2).
JP 2003-196687 A JP 2003-16482 A

  However, since station equipment such as automatic ticket vending machines already installed at stations is a conventional magnetic ticket dedicated type, in order to make this a dual-purpose type that can also handle non-contact IC cards, station equipment Therefore, it is necessary to replace the main body itself, which entails a huge amount of equipment costs. Therefore, station equipment dedicated to dual-purpose or non-contact type IC cards that can handle non-contact type IC cards is added to the minimum. For this reason, the number of devices that can process the non-contact type IC card is small, and there is a possibility that the customer service is deteriorated.

  Further, the conventional card processing unit for processing a non-contact type IC card has a drawback that it has a complicated structure and high cost, and cannot be easily attached to the main body of existing station equipment.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, the purpose of which can be easily attached to station equipment such as existing automatic ticket vending machines, has a simple structure, and The object is to provide a card processing unit that is easy for the user to use.

In order to achieve the above object, the card processing unit according to the present invention includes a non-contact type IC card inserted into a pocket portion of an upper opening provided in a main body of the card processing unit. A card processing unit for reading card data recorded on the inserted non-contact type IC card and writing predetermined new data to the non-contact type IC card as required, The length of the upper opening of the portion is formed to be slightly longer than the short side of the non-contact type IC card and smaller than the short side of a magnetic ticket such as a prepaid card.
The card processing unit according to claim 2 of the present invention is such that when the non-contact type IC card is inserted into the pocket part, at least a part of the non-contact type IC card is the pocket part. And a stopper that is driven by a solenoid that prevents removal of the non-contact type IC card inserted in the pocket portion is provided on the upper portion of the pocket portion. .
In the card processing unit according to the third aspect of the present invention, the stopper is provided with an upper piece that enters and exits into the pocket portion, and a vertical piece that is provided so as to extend downward from one end side of the upper piece and is rotatably supported by the shaft. And a lower piece connected to the solenoid at the lower end side of the vertical piece, and each piece is formed of an integral structure.
In the card processing unit according to claim 4 of the present invention, the wall surface on the front side forming the pocket portion is made of a shielding material that blocks the passage of the magnetic field, or blocks the passage of the magnetic field on the wall surface on the front side. It is characterized in that a seal made of a shielding material is attached.
The card processing unit according to claim 5 of the present invention is characterized in that an opening of a size that can be discharged to the outside when a 500-yen coin is inserted into the pocket is provided at the bottom of the pocket. It is said.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a card processing unit for removing a stopper or a non-contact type IC card from when it is detected that a non-contact type IC card is inserted into the pocket until the predetermined card processing is completed. It is characterized by preventing the above.
The card processing unit according to claim 7 of the present invention is characterized in that the main body of the card processing unit is provided with an input means for inputting predetermined information.
The card processing unit according to claim 8 of the present invention is such that the main body of the card processing unit is detachably attached to the main body of a predetermined station service device such as the main body of an automatic ticket vending machine or the main body of an automatic payment machine. It is characterized by that.

In the card processing unit according to the first aspect of the present invention, the length of the upper opening of the pocket portion is slightly larger than the length of the short side of the non-contact type IC card, and is shorter than the short side of a magnetic ticket such as a prepaid card. Can be prevented from being inserted into the pocket portion.
The card processing unit according to claim 2 of the present invention is such that when the non-contact type IC card is inserted into the pocket part, at least a part of the non-contact type IC card is the pocket part. Since a stopper that is driven by a solenoid that prevents removal of the non-contact type IC card inserted in the pocket portion is provided at the top of the pocket portion, the user can The non-contact type IC card can be easily taken out from the pocket part, and when the stopper is working, the non-contact type IC card cannot be taken out from the pocket part. Processing can be performed stably.
In the card processing unit according to the third aspect of the present invention, the stopper is provided with an upper piece that enters and exits into the pocket portion, and a vertical piece that is provided so as to extend downward from one end side of the upper piece and is rotatably supported by the shaft. And a lower piece connected to the lower end side of the vertical piece and connected to a solenoid. Since each piece is made of an integral structure, a stopper mechanism that can reliably prevent removal of a non-contact type IC card is easily realized. can do.
In the card processing unit according to claim 4 of the present invention, the wall surface on the front side forming the pocket portion is made of a shielding material that blocks the passage of the magnetic field, or blocks the passage of the magnetic field on the wall surface on the front side. Since the seal made of the shielding material is affixed, reading and writing of data with respect to the non-contact type IC card located outside the pocket portion can be surely prevented.
The card processing unit according to claim 5 of the present invention is provided with an opening at the bottom of the pocket portion that is sized to be discharged to the outside when a 500 yen coin is inserted into the pocket portion. However, even if coins are accidentally inserted into the pocket, they can be easily discharged.
In the card processing unit according to claim 6 of the present invention, the stopper removes the non-contact type IC card from when it is detected that the non-contact type IC card is inserted into the pocket until the predetermined card processing is completed. Therefore, processing such as data reading and writing can be performed stably.
The card processing unit according to claim 7 of the present invention is provided with input means for inputting predetermined information in the main body of the card processing unit. Easy input.
In the card processing unit according to claim 8 of the present invention, since the main body of the card processing unit is detachably attached to the main body of a predetermined station service device such as the main body of an automatic ticket vending machine or the main body of an automatic checkout machine, It can be easily attached to the main body of an automatic ticket vending machine dedicated to magnetic tickets.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1A and 1B are referred to as a main body of an automatic ticket vending machine (hereinafter referred to as “ticket vending machine main body”) incorporating a main body (hereinafter referred to as “unit main body”) 10 of a card processing unit according to the present invention. (A) is a front view thereof, and (b) is a right side view thereof.

  The ticket vending machine main body a is configured in the same manner as a known automatic ticket vending machine, and a predetermined account button is pressed (touched) from a group of account buttons displayed on the display screen 1 including a touch panel, and A prepaid card or SF consisting of a magnetic ticket inserted from the coin slot 2 or the banknote slot 3 with an amount of money that satisfies the purchase ticket purchase price corresponding to the pressed account button. When the remaining amount of the card is satisfied, a predetermined boarding ticket is issued from the ticketing slot 5.

  The unit main body 10 has a box shape as a whole and is provided below the coin slot 2 on the customer service surface of the ticket vending machine main body a. An enlarged front view of the unit main body 10 is shown in FIG. 3 is a right side view of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 6 shows a top view of FIG. The back surface of the unit main body 10 has a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the customer service surface of the ticket vending machine main body a, and is devised so that the back surface of the unit main body 10 and the surface of the ticket vending machine main body a can be aligned ( (See FIG. 3). In order to facilitate positioning of the unit main body 10 with respect to the ticket vending machine main body a, the ticket vending machine main body a may be provided with irregularities, and the rear surface of the unit main body 10 may be provided with irregularities corresponding to the irregularities.

  The unit main body 10 is configured to be detachably attached to the ticket vending machine main body a through screws b. Therefore, the unit main body 10 is a money-only type that can only use existing coins and banknotes, or a magnetic ticket-type ticket vending machine that can use prepaid cards and SF cards made of magnetic tickets as described above in addition to money. A non-contact type IC card (hereinafter referred to as “card”) C can be attached and used as a combined type. In addition, since the unit main body 10 is detachable as described above, there is a feature that cleaning becomes easy. Even if foreign matter such as dust enters the pocket portion 11, the unit main body 10 is detached from the ticket vending machine main body a. Can be taken out.

  A pocket portion 11 having an upper opening is provided on the front side of the unit main body 10, and the card C can be inserted into the pocket portion 11 from top to bottom. The planar shape of the opening in the upper portion of the pocket portion 11 has a slit shape, the width of the slit is slightly larger than the thickness of the card C, and the length of the slit (see L in FIG. 2) is a plane. The card is formed to be slightly larger than the short side of the rectangular card C and smaller than the short side of a prepaid card or SF card made of a magnetic ticket (not shown) or a commuter pass. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent a magnetic ticket from being inserted into the pocket 11 other than the card C, or a used magnetic ticket from being inserted by mistake. Further, the front wall surface 11a forming the pocket portion 11 is provided with a seal (not shown) made of a shield material that prevents the magnetic field from passing through the front wall surface. That is, a seal made of a shielding material is pasted on the front wall surface 11 a forming the pocket portion 11 so as not to communicate with the card C positioned outside the pocket portion 11. Of course, the wall surface 11a on the front side of the pocket portion 11 can be made of the same material as the shield material. Since the front side of the pocket portion 11 is covered with a shielding material, even if the card C is located outside the pocket portion 11, it is possible to reliably prevent inadvertent reading or writing of data. I can do it.

  The depth of the pocket portion 11 is formed slightly longer than the length in the longitudinal direction of the card C, but a part of the upper surface of the side wall on the near side of the pocket portion 11 can expose a part of the upper surface of the card C. In this way, a notch 12 is provided, and a recess 13 is provided on the rear side surface corresponding to the notch 12. Therefore, the user can easily take out the card C inserted into the pocket portion 11 from the pocket portion 11 using the notch 12 and the recess 13.

  In the figure, reference numeral 14 denotes an opening, which is configured to penetrate the bottom wall of the pocket portion 11, and its size prevents passage of the card C, but allows sufficient passage of 500 yen coins. It has been decided. Therefore, even if a coin accidentally falls from the coin insertion slot 2 located above the pocket portion 11 or when a user accidentally inserts a coin into the pocket portion 11, it is quickly discharged. In addition, it is possible to effectively prevent foreign matters from staying in the pocket portion 11.

  In the figure, reference numeral 18 denotes a stopper, and the stopper mechanism is shown in FIG. 5 showing FIG. 2 in an enlarged sectional view taken along the line BB. That is, the stopper 18 is located above the pocket portion 11 and above the card C when the card C is inserted into the pocket portion 11, and the stopper 18 protrudes (advances) into the pocket portion 11. In this case, it is possible to effectively prevent the card C from being taken out from the pocket portion 11 and to prevent the movement of the card C, so that stable data exchange can be performed. .

  The stopper 18 will be further described. The stopper 18 is an upper portion that is provided in the pocket portion 11 through the opening 11c provided in the wall surface 11b opposite to the front wall surface 11a forming the pocket portion 11. A piece 18a, a vertical piece 18b that is provided so as to extend downward from one end side (right end side in FIG. 5) of the upper piece 18a, and is rotatably supported by a support shaft J at the lower end portion, and the vertical piece 18b. The lower piece 18b includes a lower piece 18c extending in a direction opposite to the direction of the upper piece 18a, and a solenoid S connected to the lower piece 18c. And since each of these pieces 18a, 18b, 18c is made into an integral structure by a molded product of a hard synthetic resin, it has a feature that it can be easily manufactured even if it has a complicated shape. . Each of the pieces 18a, 18b, and 18c may be a cast product of a metal such as an aluminum alloy, instead of a synthetic resin molded product.

  Since the stopper 18 has each piece 18a, 18b, 18c formed of one block, the structure is simple and inexpensive and can be easily manufactured, and the position of the support shaft J is almost directly below the upper piece 18a. Therefore, it has the feature that it is hard to move by external force. Therefore, when the stopper 18 is working, that is, when the upper piece 11a protrudes into the pocket portion 11 as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. Even if C is to be extracted, the upper piece 11a does not move carelessly, and the card C can be reliably prevented from being extracted.

  In addition, since the stopper 18 is operated by driving the lower piece 11c with the solenoid S, the stopper 18 has a feature that the upper piece 18a can be moved by the small solenoid S. Further, a bar such as a pin is simply projected from the opening 11c. , It has the feature that it is hard to be deformed and scratched compared to a slide type stopper mechanism that moves backward.

  Further, since the stopper 18 is provided in the pocket portion 11 in the gap where the user's finger cannot enter, there is a feature that there is no possibility that the user is injured by the protruding operation of the stopper 18.

  In the figure, 19 is a display lamp which indicates to the user that the card C can be inserted into the pocket portion 11 and that the card C can be removed from the pocket portion 11. It is configured.

  In the figure, reference numeral 20 denotes a selection button corresponding to the input means of the present invention, which is provided at the top of the unit body 10. As shown in FIG. 5, the selection button 20 allows the user to select 1000 yen, 3000 yen, or 5000 yen, which is the amount when the card C is accumulated (charged), and the amount of the increased amount can be selected. It is configured to allow receipt issuance signal input. In addition, a braille sticker 21 is affixed below these selection buttons 20 so that even visually impaired users can use them. When the receipt issuing button is pressed, a receipt is issued from the ticket issuing slot 5 of the ticket vending machine main body a.

  In the figure, 22 is a call button that is pressed when calling a staff member, and 23 is a cancel button that is pressed when it is desired to cancel a predetermined process. These buttons 22 and 23 are originally provided on the ticket vending machine main body a, but are hidden by attaching the unit main body 10 to the ticket vending machine main body a. Moved to the side.

  In the pocket portion 11 of the unit main body 10, although not shown, a sensor including a known sensor such as a micro switch or a photo sensor that detects the insertion of the card C into the pocket portion 11 is provided. A reader / writer provided with an antenna for communicating with the card C is provided inside the rear wall surface of the pocket portion 11. The reader / writer, the above-described sensor, the solenoid of the stopper 18, the display lamp 19, the selection button 20, the call button 22, and the cancel button 23 are controls mainly composed of a CPU that controls the ticket vending machine body a in a centralized manner. It is connected to the device via a lead wire, but is omitted here. In this example, a sensor is provided to detect that the card C has been inserted into the pocket portion 11, but the reader / writer has received a response signal (reception of card data) from the card C. Thus, insertion of the card C may be detected.

  When a predetermined amount of money is added to the card C using the unit main body 10 having the above configuration, when the card C is inserted into the pocket portion 11, the insertion state is detected by a sensor (not shown) and the solenoid S is turned on. (Drive) When the stopper 18 protrudes, reading of the card data of the card C is started. If it is determined that the card is a normal card whose amount can be increased by a predetermined calculation process based on the card data, the insertion of money into the coin slot 2 or the banknote slot 3 is permitted. The

  When a predetermined amount of money is inserted into the ticket vending machine a and a desired additional amount within the range of the amount inserted is designated by the selection button 20, the designated amount is written into the card C. As a result, the accumulation is finished, and a notification to that effect is given by the display lamp 19, and the solenoid S is turned OFF, the stopper 18 moves backward, and the card C can be taken out. As described above, the card C inserted into the pocket portion 11 is prohibited from being taken out by the stopper 18 from the start of reading the card data of the card C until the end of writing of the new card data to the card C. It is possible to stably read and write data with respect to. Further, when reading and writing this data, since the radio wave does not leak out of the pocket portion 11 due to the shield material, the inconvenience of processing the card outside the pocket portion 11 can be completely prevented.

  Further, when a ticket is issued from the ticket vending machine a using the SF data (amount data) stored in the card C, the card C is inserted into the pocket portion 11, and the inserted card C is Removal is prohibited by the stopper 18. When the amount reduction process for issuing a ticket from the card C is completed, the stopper 18 is retracted, and the card C can be taken out from the pocket portion 11.

  In the above example, the station equipment to which the unit body 10 is attached is a ticket vending machine body a. However, it may be a main body of another device such as an automatic checkout machine or an automatic commuter pass vending machine. It is. Moreover, although the example which attaches the unit main body 10 to the existing apparatus was shown in the above-mentioned example, when newly producing stationery equipment, such as an automatic ticket vending machine, it is also possible to incorporate the unit main body 10 from the beginning. It is. Further, it is detected that the card C is inserted into the pocket portion 11 by a sensor and the solenoid S is driven and controlled. However, when the card C is inserted into the pocket portion 11 and communication is started via the antenna. It may be detected and the drive control of the solenoid S, that is, the stopper 18 may be controlled. Therefore, “after detecting that a card has been inserted” in the present invention includes those based on such communication of the card C.

(A) is a front view of the ticket vending machine main body which attached the unit main body which concerns on this invention, (b) is the right view. It is a front view of a unit main body. It is a right view of a unit main body. It is the sectional view on the AA line of FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 2. It is a part of top view of a unit main body.

Explanation of symbols

a ticket machine body b screw 1 display screen 2 coin slot 3 bill slot 4 card slot 5 ticket slot 10 unit body 11 pocket 12 notch 13 recess 14 opening 18 stopper 18a upper piece 18b vertical piece 18c lower piece J 19 Indicator lamp 20 Selection button S Solenoid

Claims (8)

A non-contact type IC card is inserted into the pocket portion of the upper opening provided in the main body of the card processing unit, the card data recorded on the inserted non-contact type IC card is read, and the non-contact type IC card is read as necessary. A card processing unit for writing predetermined new data to a contact IC card,
The length of the upper opening of the pocket portion is formed to be slightly longer than the short side of the non-contact IC card and smaller than the short side of a magnetic ticket such as a prepaid card. Card processing unit.   2. The card processing unit according to claim 1, wherein when the non-contact type IC card is inserted into the pocket part, at least a part of the non-contact type IC card can be exposed from the pocket part. And a stopper that is driven by a solenoid that prevents removal of the non-contact type IC card inserted in the pocket portion is provided on the upper portion of the pocket portion. .   The card processing unit according to claim 2, wherein the stopper includes an upper piece that enters and exits into the pocket portion, a vertical piece that is provided so as to extend downward from one end side of the upper piece, and is rotatably supported by the stopper. A card processing unit comprising a lower piece connected to a lower end side of a vertical piece and connected to a solenoid, and each piece is made of an integral structure.   The card processing unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the front wall surface forming the pocket portion is made of a shield material that prevents passage of a magnetic field, or a magnetic field passes through the front wall surface. A card processing unit, wherein a sticker made of a shielding material for preventing the sticking is pasted.   5. The card processing unit according to claim 1, wherein an opening of a size that can be discharged to the outside when a 500-yen coin is inserted into the pocket is provided at the bottom of the pocket. A card processing unit.   6. The card processing unit according to claim 2, wherein a stopper or a non-contact type IC card is detected until a predetermined card process is completed after it is detected that the non-contact type IC card is inserted into the pocket portion. A card processing unit that prevents the removal of the card.   7. The card processing unit according to claim 1, wherein an input means for inputting predetermined information is provided in a main body of the card processing unit.   8. The card processing unit according to claim 1, wherein a main body of the card processing unit is detachably attached to a main body of a predetermined station service device such as a main body of an automatic ticket vending machine or a main body of an automatic checkout machine. A card processing unit.

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