US20130241143A1 - Paper sheet processing device - Google Patents
Paper sheet processing device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20130241143A1 US20130241143A1 US13/883,556 US201113883556A US2013241143A1 US 20130241143 A1 US20130241143 A1 US 20130241143A1 US 201113883556 A US201113883556 A US 201113883556A US 2013241143 A1 US2013241143 A1 US 2013241143A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- card
- paper sheet
- processing device
- cards
- shutter
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H7/00—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles
- B65H7/02—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles by feelers or detectors
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
- B65H2301/50—Auxiliary process performed during handling process
- B65H2301/54—Auxiliary process performed during handling process for managing processing of handled material
- B65H2301/544—Reading; Scanning
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
- B65H2511/20—Location in space
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
- B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
- B65H2701/19—Specific article or web
- B65H2701/1912—Banknotes, bills and cheques or the like
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
- B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
- B65H2701/19—Specific article or web
- B65H2701/1914—Cards, e.g. telephone, credit and identity cards
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2801/00—Application field
- B65H2801/39—Scanning
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a paper sheet processing device configured to process a bill, an information recording medium in the form of card, a piece of paper recording thereon information such as a barcode (all of these are hereinafter collectively referred to as paper sheets).
- a card processing device (hereinafter also referred to as card reader/writer) is set up which writes various information such as personal information of a user or game information into a recording medium in the form of card (magnetic card, IC card, or the like), or reads information recorded.
- a card processing device is required to be capable of grasping the presence of a card inserted therein. This is because, in cases where the card processing device is shut down for some reasons (power outage, breakdown, or the like), if the card processing device is not able to grasp the presence of the card after recovery (when initialized), the manager of the device need to do a work for confirming the presence of the card by opening the card processing device.
- PTL 1 discloses a card processing device configured to execute a process of confirming whether a card is in the conveyance path, by using a sensor, during a recovering process.
- the manager no longer needs to conduct the work for confirming whether a card is in the conveyance path when recovering, after the card processing device is shut down.
- the number of sensors installed needs to be increased. However, doing so causes an increase in the number of components for detecting the card in the conveyance path, which leads to an increase in the costs.
- the present invention is made in view of the above problem, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a paper sheet processing device with a reduced number of components for detecting a paper sheet in the conveyance path, which enables reduction of the costs.
- an aspect of the present invention described in claim 1 is a paper sheet processing device including an insertion port through which a paper sheet is inserted, a conveyance path in which the paper sheet inserted into the insertion port is conveyed, a sensor for detecting the paper sheet in the conveyance path, and a read unit capable of reading the paper sheet inserted, the paper sheet processing device, including a control unit configured to execute paper sheet detection processing for detecting the paper sheet in the conveyance path, based on a detection result from the sensor and a read result from the read unit.
- the sensor detects the paper sheet and the read unit which reads the paper sheet also performs a detection process to check if there is a paper sheet. Therefore it is possible to reduce the number of sensors mounted in the conveyance path, while enabling reduction of the costs for the device.
- Another aspect of the present invention described in claim 2 is the paper sheet processing device adapted so that the control unit executes the paper sheet detection processing before the paper sheet is inserted into the insertion port.
- the paper sheet detection processing is executed before the paper sheet is inserted. This disables insertion of two or more paper sheets in a row mistakenly, which contributes to reliable prevention of troubles in conveying a paper sheet, or clogging by a paper sheet.
- Another aspect of the present invention described in claim 2 or 3 further including a conveyor configured to convey the paper sheet in the conveyance path, wherein when the paper sheet is detected by the paper sheet detection processing, the control unit performs the paper sheet detection processing again after the paper sheet is conveyed by the conveyor.
- the paper sheet detection processing is executed again after the conveyance of the paper sheet by the conveyor. This enables, for example, reliably grasping a situation where the paper sheet is not conveyed by the conveyor due to slippage or the like.
- the present invention realizes a paper sheet processing device with a reduced number of components for detecting a paper sheet in the conveyance path, which enables reduction of the costs.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire structure of an exemplary paper sheet processing device (card processing device) related to the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where a card storage is opened in the card processing device shown in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 3 is a diagram of the card processing device shown in FIG. 2 , which is viewed from the opposite side.
- FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the card processing device shown in FIG. 2 .
- FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the card processing device shown in FIG. 3 .
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the card processing device shown in FIG. 1 , which is viewed from a side.
- FIG. 7 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of the card storage, wherein (a) is a diagram showing a state where the number of cards is small; (b) is a diagram showing a state where the storage is full of cards; (c) is a diagram showing a state where the casing structuring the card storage is opened.
- FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a driving mechanism which individually drives the shutter and the pressing unit.
- FIG. 9 shows gears structuring the driving mechanism, wherein (a) is a diagram showing one aspect of the gears, and (b) is a diagram showing another aspect of the gears.
- FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a mode of individually driving the shutter and the pressing unit, wherein (a) is a diagram showing a reference position, (b) is a diagram showing a state where only the shutter is driven, and (c) is a diagram showing a state where only the pressing unit is driven.
- FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an exemplary structure of a control unit which controls an operation of the card processing device.
- FIG. 12 is a flowchart (Part 1) showing a control operation of the card processing device.
- FIG. 13 is a flowchart (Part 2) showing a control operation of the card processing device.
- FIG. 14 is a flowchart (Part 3) showing a control operation of the card processing device.
- FIG. 15 is a flowchart (Part 4) showing a control operation of the card processing device.
- FIG. 16 is a flowchart (Part 5) showing a control operation of the card processing device.
- the paper sheet processing device of the present embodiment is settable for various gaming machines set up in hotels, casinos, game arcade, or the like, and is a device (hereinafter, card processing device) configured to process a user-owned recording medium in the form of card (hereinafter, card).
- card processing device of the present embodiment is configured to be capable of reading, rewriting information recorded on the card inserted by the user, and collecting and issuing a card as needed. Further, the card processing device of the present embodiment is configured to be able to process a plurality of types of cards (magnetic cards, IC cards, IC/magnetic cards).
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire structure of the card processing device.
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where the card storage in the card processing device of FIG. 1 is opened.
- FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the card processing device shown in FIG. 2 , which is viewed from the opposite side.
- FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the card processing device shown in FIG. 2 .
- FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the card processing device shown in FIG. 3 .
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the card processing device shown in FIG. 1 , which is viewed from a side.
- the card processing device 1 has a base 1 A having a frame 1 B to which various components are mounted.
- a front surface 2 integrally formed with the frame 1 B is exposed to the outside.
- the front surface 2 has an insertion port 2 a capable of receiving and ejecting a card.
- a user inserts his/her own card (magnetic card, IC card, IC/magnetic card) C into the insertion port 2 a , and when the game ends, the card C is returned to the user or collected (in the present embodiment, the cards to be collected are IC cards and IC/magnetic cards). Therefore, the frame 1 B is provided with card storage 5 capable of accommodating cards which are inserted by users and collected.
- the insertion port 2 a preferably has a curvature to make its middle portion opened wider in an up-down direction, so as to enable insertion of a bent card.
- the cards accommodated in the card storage 5 may be cards on which new information is recorded and issued to users.
- the card C has various information such as information about the user (ID information), information about the gaming value (amount-of-money information), or the like recorded thereon, which are read or rewritten by a reader/writer (read unit) mounted inside.
- ID information information about the user
- amount-of-money information information about the gaming value
- amount-of-money information information about the gaming value
- the like recorded thereon, which are read or rewritten by a reader/writer (read unit) mounted inside.
- the game information of the user for example, may be also handled as tracking information.
- point information or the like may be awarded which is used in a game arcade, or separately exchanged with an amount of money value.
- the frame 1 B is provided with a card conveyance path 6 configured to convey the card in the same direction the card was inserted.
- the conveyance process is made different depending on whether the card inserted is a magnetic card or an IC card (including a magnetic/IC card). Specifically, when the card inserted is a magnetic card, the card, when inserted by the user, is stopped at a predetermined position (at a position such that the trailing end of the card project from the insertion port 2 a ). That is, in cases of the magnetic card, the card is not conveyed to inside the device, and is stopped at a predetermined position, to read the information for processing (in some cases, rewriting process) at that position.
- the card conveyance path 6 has a shutter 8 for stopping the card inserted at a position such that the trailing end of the card projects from the insertion port 2 a .
- This shutter 8 is driven to open or close according to the type of the cards inserted.
- the specific structure of the shutter 8 , and the method of opening/closing drive are detailed later.
- an insertion detection sensor 10 for detecting insertion of the card, which is on the insertion port 2 a of the position where the shutter 8 is mounted (see FIG. 6 ).
- a reader/writer (magnetic head) 12 capable of reading/rewriting magnetic information is mounted in a position facing the insertion detection sensor 10 , specifically, in a position corresponding to a magnetic information recording area (formed in a shape of a belt extended in a conveyance direction) on the magnetic card to be inserted (see FIG. 3 ).
- a magnetic information reading completion sensor 13 which detects completion of reading magnetic information by the magnetic head 12 (see FIG. 6 ).
- this magnetic information reading completion sensor 13 Since the magnetic information is recorded on a belt-like magnetic seal attached to the card, this magnetic information reading completion sensor 13 is in a position at which the magnetic seal on the card inserted is read. In other words, by detecting the leading end of the card inserted by the magnetic information reading completion sensor 13 , the signal indicating the completion of reading the magnetic information is generated. Note that the insertion detection sensor 10 and the magnetic information reading completion sensor 13 also have a function of a card position detection sensor which detects the card in the card conveyance path 6 , in addition to the above described detection process.
- the card conveyor 15 capable of conveying a card.
- the card conveyor 15 of the present embodiment is capable of conveying the card inserted from the insertion port 2 a in the direction of the insertion, and capable of conveying a card in the device main body towards the insertion port 2 a .
- the conveyor 15 has a drive motor 20 serving as a drive source mounted to the frame 1 B, and a plurality of drive rollers 22 , 23 , 24 rotated by the drive motor 20 and capable of conveying the card.
- the drive rollers 22 , 23 are mounted upstream of the card storage 5
- the drive roller 24 is arranged inside the card storage 5 .
- the drive rollers 22 , 23 , 24 are attached to the middle positions of the drive shafts 22 a , 23 a , 24 a which rotatably crosses the frame 1 B, respectively.
- the drive shaft 24 a is rotated by having a gear 24 c fixed to its end portion engaged with an output gear 20 a fixed to an output shaft of the drive motor 20 .
- the drive shaft 24 a has at its end portion on the opposite side a pulley or a timing pulley (hereinafter, pulley) 24 d , and the pulley 24 d is connected with the pulley or timing pulleys 22 d , 23 d provided on the end portions of the drive shafts 22 a , 23 a , via a conveyor belt 25 .
- the drive rollers 22 , 23 , 24 are driven in sync with one another with the rotation of the drive motor 20 .
- the conveyor belt 25 may be wound about a tension roller as needed so as to prevent loosening of the conveyor belt 25 .
- the drive rollers 22 , 23 , 24 are provided with pinch rollers 22 p , 23 p , 24 p facing the drive rollers 22 , 23 , 24 , respectively.
- the card inserted into the insertion port 2 a is conveyed through nip portions between the drive rollers and the pinch rollers.
- the pinch rollers are fixed to spindles 22 f , 23 f rotatably supported in the frame 1 B, and a spindle 24 f rotatably supported inside the card storage 5 (casing 5 A), respectively.
- the pinch roller 24 p provided in the casing 5 A functions as a pressing roller which applies a biasing force to the uppermost one of cards stacked and accommodated.
- an IC reader/writer (RFID antenna; read unit) 30 capable of reading/rewriting information to an IC chip embedded to an IC card inserted.
- the IC reader/writer 30 is disposed in a middle portion at a position where the drive rollers 22 , 23 are arranged.
- the IC card inserted is temporarily stopped while its trailing end is sandwiched between the drive roller 22 and the pinch roller 22 p , and its leading end is sandwiched between the drive roller 23 and the pinch roller 23 p , and the IC reader/writer 30 performs reading/rewriting of information during this state.
- a card position detection sensor configured to detect the card position is arranged immediately in front of the card storage 5 (see FIG. 6 ).
- the magnetic information reading completion sensor (card position detection sensor) 13 and the card position detection sensor 32 are mounted, spaced from each other by a distance longer than the length of the card to be handled, relative to the conveyance direction.
- the IC reader/writer (RFID antenna; read unit) 30 is mounted between these sensors 13 and 32 . This way, even when the sensors 10 , 13 , 32 are not able to detect the position of the card, the presence of the card is confirmed by obtaining the card information from the IC reader/writer 30 (by reading the ID information of the card).
- the card storage 5 has a casing 5 A in a shape of substantially rectangular parallel piped, in which cards inserted are stacked and accommodated.
- the casing 5 A has on its trailing end side a spindle 40 , and this spindle 40 is rotatably supported by the frame 1 B, so as to be rotatable about the frame 1 B as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 .
- FIG. 1 shows the closed state (locked state)
- FIG. 2 shows the opened state.
- an opening 41 corresponding to the shape of the card, which enables the cards to be carried in.
- the cards carried in the casing through the opening 41 are successively stacked. Carrying in the cards into the casing 5 A, and carrying out of the cards accommodated in the casing 5 A are done by the drive roller 24 .
- the cards carried into the casing 5 A are stacked successively on the lower side of the other, and the pinch roller 24 p is placed on the upper most one of the cards being stacked so as to press the cards towards the drive roller 24 .
- the both ends of the spindle 24 f project from long holes 42 formed in the stacking direction on two side surfaces of the casing 5 A. These projected portions of the spindle 24 f are kept from falling off by retainer 24 h .
- the spindle 24 f is supported to be slidable in an up-down direction along the long hole 42 .
- the casing 5 A is provided with biasing means for biasing the spindle 24 always downwards (towards the cards stacked).
- the biasing means is structured by a biasing spring 45 which is horizontally provided and tensioned at the lower part on the both sides of the casing 5 A.
- this biasing spring 45 By having this biasing spring 45 contacting the upper side of the retainer 24 h , the spindle 24 f (pinch roller 24 p ) is always biased downwards.
- projections 45 a On the both sides of the casing 5 A, there are projections 45 a (see FIG. 4 ) which are spaced from each other in a horizontal direction by a predetermined distance. These projections 45 a hold the both ends of the biasing spring 45 .
- the middle portion of the biasing spring 45 is brought into contact with the retainer 24 h . This way, the biasing spring 45 always biases the spindle 24 f downwards.
- pressing units 50 which press upwards the lowermost one of cards stacked.
- This pressing units 50 are provided in two positions upstream of the drive shaft 24 a of the drive roller 24 , respectively, and are apart from each other along the drive shaft by a predetermined distance.
- the drive roller 24 and the pinch roller (pressing roller) 24 p are positioned between the pressing units 502 in two positions.
- the pressing units 50 are moveable along the stacking direction, between a position to apply a pressing force against the biasing force to the cards stacked and biased by the pinch roller 24 p , and a position where no pressing force is applied.
- a pressing unit 50 is moved to the position to apply the pressing force, a card carried into the casing 5 A through the opening 41 is stopped by the pressing unit 50 , and is placed at the lowermost end of the stack of cards.
- the pressing unit 50 when the pressing unit 50 is moved to the position where no pressing force is applied, the stack of cards are biased by the pinch roller 24 p , and the both ends of the lower most one of the cards abut a pair of flanges 41 a on the left and right which are formed at the opening of the casing and extend in a direction corresponding to the length of the casing (during this state, the lowermost one of cards abut the drive roller 24 , and driving of the drive roller 24 enables issuing of a card from the stack stored inside). Note that the structure and a method of driving the pressing unit 50 are described later.
- a storage detection sensor 35 capable of detecting that the card storage is full of cards, and detecting that the card storage 5 is not locked to the frame 1 B (opened state). Further, inside the card storage 5 is arranged an empty sensor 36 capable of detecting that the card storage 5 has no card.
- the storage detection sensor 35 is structured by a photo sensor, and is structured to generate a detection signal when a later-described moveable component moves relatively to the light emitting/receiving portion 35 a structured in a U-shape.
- a substantially T-shaped moveable component 53 is supported so as to be rotatable about a fulcrum 53 A.
- the moveable component 53 is provided with an abut portion 53 a extending towards the insertion port. To this abut portion 53 a , the retainer 24 h (biasing spring 45 ) abuts when being ascended.
- the moveable component 53 is provided with a bent portion 53 b bent towards the upper surface side of the casing 5 A (see FIG. 5 ), and a pulling spring 55 is provided between this bent portion 53 b and the casing 5 A. This way, the moveable component 53 is always biased in a clockwise direction, about the fulcrum 53 A as shown in FIG. 7 ( a ). Further, the moveable component 53 has an extended portion 53 c extending downwards. The leading end of the extended portion 53 c is a bent portion 53 d bent in an L-shape, towards the inside of the casing. Note that the bent portion 53 d is arranged so as to be in a position in the light emitting/receiving portion 35 a , during the sate shown in FIG. 7 ( a ).
- the moveable component 53 is in the state shown in FIG. 7 ( a ), and the bent portion 53 d is positioned in the light emitting/receiving portion 35 a . Therefore, a detection signal detecting the full state is not generated. Then, when the casing 5 A is being filled up with cards, the retainer 24 h (biasing spring 45 ) abuts the abut portion 53 a . When the casing 5 A is full of cards, the moveable component 53 is rotated counter clockwise about the fulcrum 53 A (see FIG. 7 ( b )).
- the bent portion 53 d also rotates with the movable component 53 , and shifts from inside the light emitting/receiving portion 35 a towards the insertion port and departs the light emitting/receiving portion 35 a .
- a detection signal for detecting such a state is generated.
- the casing 5 A is opened (lock is released) and rotates about the spindle 40 as shown in FIG. 7 ( c )
- the moveable component 53 also rotates along with the casing 5 A. Therefore, the bent portion 53 d also rotates with the movable component 53 , and departs the light emitting/receiving portion 35 a .
- detection signal for detecting such a state opened state of the casing
- the storage detection sensor 35 enables detection of the state where the card storage 5 is full of cards, and the state where the card storage 5 is not locked on the frame 1 B (not closed), with a single structure.
- the following describes the specific structure of the above described shutter 8 , a method of opening and closing the shutter, the specific structure of the above described pressing unit 50 , and the method of driving the pressing unit.
- the shutter 8 and the pressing unit 50 are structured to be driven by a single drive source.
- the shutter 8 and the pressing unit 50 are driven and controlled by rotation of the drive motor 60 supported by the frame 1 B.
- the output gear 60 a of the drive motor 60 is engaged with a cam gear 61 rotatably supported by the frame 1 B. Rotating this cam gear 61 drives the shutter 8 and the pressing unit 50 .
- the shutter 8 is rotatably provided to the spindle 8 A supported by the frame 1 B.
- the shutter 8 is formed by a plate 8 a which is bent to form a predetermined shape, and has a pair of stoppers 8 b configured to abut the card actually inserted and stop the card, and an engagement portion 8 c on one end side, which is pendent downward from the spindle 8 A.
- a rotation biasing spring 62 wound about the spindle 8 A, which always biases the shutter 8 in a direction of closing (a direction to block insertion of a card).
- the shutter 8 is rotatably supported on the spindle 8 A with some play. With this play in rotation of the shutter 8 , when the card stops at a portion of the shutter 8 due to some error, it is possible to pull out the card without any damage to the card, and to prevent a damage to the mechanism.
- the linking component 63 has on its one end side an engagement portion 63 a which engages with a cam groove 61 A formed on one side surface of the cam gear 61 (see FIG. 9 ( b )), and has on the other end side an abut portion 63 b which contacts the engagement portion 8 c of the shutter 8 . Further, the linking component 63 has a long holes 63 c , 63 d along the direction the linking component 63 is extended, and pins 1 d , 1 e projecting from the frame 1 B are positioned to this holes. This way, the linking component 63 is slidable in the direction the linking component 63 is extended.
- this state is hereinafter referred to as reference position, which blocks insertion of a card
- the abut portion 63 b presses the engagement portion 8 c to rotate the shutter 8 about the spindle 8 A in a direction for opening.
- the shutter 8 rotates until the engagement portion 8 c abuts the abut portion 63 b due to the biasing force of the rotation biasing spring 62 , thus returning to the reference position.
- the pressing units 50 are rotatably provided to the spindle 50 A supported by the frame 1 B.
- the pressing units 50 are arranged at the leading ends of the pair of extended portions 50 b respectively so as to project upward, each of the extended portions 50 b being formed by bending a plate 50 a towards the trailing end (a direction opposite to the insertion port) from the spindle 50 A as the center so as to form a predetermined shape.
- the plate 50 a has a linking portion 50 c bent towards the insertion port side. This linking portion 50 c has on its leading end an engagement portion 50 d which engages with a cam groove 61 A formed on the cam gear 61 .
- the cam groove 61 A formed on one side surface of the cam gear 61 has a shape as shown in FIG. 9 ( b ). With this cam groove 61 A are engaged the engagement portion 63 a of the linking component 63 and the engagement portion 50 d of the linking portion 50 c which is integrally formed with the pressing unit 50 .
- the cam groove 61 A has a shape such that an operation of the shutter 8 or the pressing unit 50 stops the operation of the other.
- the engagement portion 63 a for driving the shutter 8 and the engagement portion 50 d for driving the pressing unit 50 each engaged with the cam groove 61 A in the form of ring have a phase difference of 90°, and the shape of the cam is such that rotation of the cam gear 61 reciprocates the linking component 63 independently in horizontal directions, and reciprocates the linking portion 50 c independently in the up-down directions. Note that reciprocation of the linking portion 50 c in the up-down directions rotates the plate 50 a about the spindle 50 A, and the pressing unit 50 reciprocates in the up-down directions with the rotation of the plate 50 a.
- the cam gear 61 is controlled to rotate by ⁇ 90° from the reference position so that the cam groove 61 A formed on the cam gear 61 takes three positions, i.e., the reference position, a position of +90° rotation, and a position of ⁇ 90° rotation, with the rotation of the cam gear 61 , thus causing the shutter 8 and the pressing unit 50 to take different positions.
- a ring 61 B having in its portion a notch (structuring a detecting portion) 61 C, as shown in FIG. 9 ( a ), and by detecting the notch 61 C, the light emitting/receiving portion 65 a of the reference position detection sensor 65 provided in frame 1 B detects the reference position.
- FIG. 10 ( a ) shows the reference position.
- the shutter 8 is in the closed position
- the pressing unit 50 is in the pressing position (a position to abut the lowermost one of cards stored in the card storage 5 , and lifting the cards against the biasing force).
- FIG. 11 is a control block diagram showing a structure of the control unit which controls basic operations of the card processing device.
- a control circuit board 100 which controls operations of the above described drive components.
- a CPU 102 capable of driving the drive motor 20 configured to convey the cards
- a drive motor 60 configured to drive the shutter 8 and the pressing unit 50
- a magnetic head (reader/writer) 12 configured to read/write information from/to a magnetic card
- a reader/writer (RFID antenna; read unit) 30 configured to read/write information from/to the IC card
- a ROM 103 storing a program for operating the above described various drive devices
- a control RAM 105 storing a program for operating the above described various drive devices.
- the CPU 102 is connected to the drive circuit which drives the devices via the I/O port 110 , and the operation of the each device is controlled by control signals from the CPU 102 , according to the operation program.
- the CPU 102 is capable of receiving, via the I/O port 110 , a signal from the insertion detection sensor 10 for detecting insertion (ejection) of a card, a signal from the magnetic information reading completion sensor 13 for detecting that the magnetic information is read, a signal from the card position detection sensor 32 for detecting the card passing by, a signal for detecting that the storage detection sensor 35 is full of cards accommodated (or detecting that the card storage 5 is opened), a signal from the empty sensor 36 detecting that the card storage 5 has ran out of the cards, and a signal from the reference position detection sensor 65 detecting the reference position.
- the drive motors 20 , 60 and the reader/writers 12 , 30 are controlled.
- the CPU 102 is capable of receiving, via the I/O port 110 , a signal from the insertion detection sensor 10 , the magnetic information reading completion sensor (card position detection sensor) 13 , the card position detection sensor 32 , and the reader/writer 30 , which signal is for checking whether the presence of a card position (remaining card).
- a predetermined process is executed as hereinbelow described.
- the CPU 102 is connected to a control circuit 200 which executes the game process and which is mounted within the main body of the not-shown gaming machine, and for example the data such as gaming value information is transmitted/received between to/from the gaming machine.
- the CPU 102 of the control circuit board 100 is capable of transmitting/receiving data to/from the external device 300 .
- information user ID information, account information, or the like
- the reader/writers 12 , 30 is transmitted.
- the drive motor 20 is driven for a predetermined amount to convey a card towards the insertion port 2 a (S 1 ).
- This step is executed because there is a possibility that a card may remain in the card conveyance path, when the device is booted (rebooted).
- the card detection process is executed (S 2 ). This card detection process is to make sure any card remaining in the device at the time of booting (rebooting) the device is reliably detected, and includes steps shown in FIG. 16 .
- the S 1 may be omitted as long as the intervals between sensors 10 , 13 , 32 , and the RFID antenna 30 are such that the length of the card in the conveyance direction is reliably detected.
- the following describes a card detection process with reference to FIG. 16 .
- the drive motor 20 is driven a predetermined amount to convey the card towards the insertion port 2 a (S 65 ; No, S 66 ).
- This driving of the drive motor 20 is executed a predetermined number of times (twice in the present embodiment). In other words, driving of the drive motor 20 as describe above ejects the card remaining inside the device, when the device is booted (rebooted), and allows insertion of a new card.
- an error signal may be transmitted, as soon as the presence of the card is confirmed, without executing the steps S 65 , S 66 .
- the processes of S 3 and thereafter shown in FIG. 12 are executed.
- the storage detection sensor 35 arranged in the card storage 5 determines whether or not a moveable component 53 is detected (S 3 ). As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 ( c ), this is for determining whether the casing 5 A of the card storage 5 is closed. When the casing 5 A is opened, the bent portion of the moveable component 53 is apart from the light emitting/receiving portion 35 a . Therefore, a signal is generated to indicate the moveable component 53 is not detected.
- This signal as an error signal is transmitted to the CPU (S 3 ; No, S 4 ), and no subsequent process is executed. In this regard, it is possible to transmit the error signal to the external device 300 , so as to notify a management person that the card storage 5 is not locked.
- the subsequent processes of the card are executed.
- the insertion detection sensor 10 determines whether a card is inserted into the insertion port 2 a (S 5 ).
- the insertion detection sensor 10 detects insertion of a card (S 5 ; Yes)
- the information on the card inserted is read by the magnetic head (reader/writer) 12 (S 6 ).
- the card inserted by the user may be a magnetic card or an IC card (IC/magnetic card). If no magnetic data is recorded on the card inserted, that card is processes as an IC card (S 7 ; No).
- the magnetic data read contains data (IC card determination data) that indicates that the card is an IC card, that card is processed as an IC card (S 7 ; Yes, S 8 ; Yes).
- the process of reading by the magnetic head (reader/writer) 12 is ended, and a process of driving the shutter 8 (opening process) is executed (S 10 ).
- the shutter 8 and the pressing unit 50 are first in the reference position shown in FIG. 10 ( a ). Therefore, the drive motor 60 is rotated by a predetermined amount from the state shown in FIG. 10 ( a ) to rotate the cam gear 61 by 90° in the direction R 1 . Since the reference position is detected by the reference position detection sensor 65 , the stop position (the number of rotation) of the drive motor 60 is accurately controlled. This way, the shutter 8 opens and the card locked state is cancelled as shown in FIG. 10 ( b ) (S 10 ).
- the drive motor 20 is further driven to convey the IC card to a predetermined position, i.e., the position of the reader/writer(RFID antenna) 30 (S 11 ).
- the stop control of the drive motor 20 may be done based on the amount of rotation of the drive motor 20 , or based on the card detection signal from the card position detection sensor 32 .
- the shutter 8 When the IC card is conveyed to the predetermined position, the shutter 8 is closed (S 12 ).
- the shutter 8 in this case is opened by the process of S 10 (see FIG. 10 ( b )).
- the drive motor 60 is rotated to rotate the cam gear 61 by 90° in the direction R 2 , to bring back the shutter 8 to the reference position, as shown in FIG. 10 ( a ).
- the stop control of the drive motor 60 is accurately done by detecting the reference position of the cam gear 61 with the reference position detection sensor 65 . This way, the shutter 8 is closed as shown in FIG. 10 ( a ). This prevents the card from being mistakenly inserted (S 12 ).
- the process ends after the IC card is conveyed to the predetermined position, the reader/writer (RFID antenna) 30 is driven while the shutter 8 is closed, information reading/writing process is executed with respect to the IC card (S 13 ), as hereinabove described. For example, when the above described process is ended, the user is playing the game at the gaming machine while the IC card is inserted.
- RFID antenna RFID antenna
- the process of reading by the magnetic head (reader/writer) 12 is ended (S 15 ), when the magnetic information reading completion sensor 13 detects the card (S 14 ).
- the insert position is regulated by closing the shutter 8 (see FIG. 10 ( a )), and the user is not able to insert the magnetic card further inside.
- the card is pulled out by the user. It is possible to execute a process of rewriting the information with the magnetic head 12 .
- FIG. 13 shows an operation for returning the IC card inserted to the user after S 13 (hereinafter, card delivering process A; a process continued from S 13 ).
- the IC card inserted may have been subjected to a process of writing new information with the reader/writer (RFID antenna) 30 .
- RFID antenna RFID antenna
- the shutter 8 Since the shutter 8 at this time is in the reference position shown in FIG. 10 ( a ) and is closed through S 12 , the shutter 8 is first driven to be opened to return the IC card (S 21 ). As in S 10 , the drive motor 60 is rotated by a predetermined amount from the state shown in FIG. 10 ( a ) to rotate the cam gear 61 by 90° in the direction R 1 . This opens the shutter 8 and cancels the card locked state.
- the drive motor 20 is further driven by a predetermined amount to convey the IC card towards the insertion port 2 a (S 22 ). Then, the card detection process is executed to check if there is a card remaining in the card conveyance path (S 23 ).
- the card detection process here includes the processes shown in FIG. 16 , except for S 61 , and there is determined whether a card is detected at any one of positions of the card position detection sensors 13 , 32 and the RFID antenna 30 . Detecting the presence of the card in this process means that the card remains despite the conveyance process to convey the card towards the insertion port 2 a , due to some troubles. Therefore, an error signal is generated (S 68 ).
- the insertion detection sensor 10 determines whether a card is detected (S 24 ), if the player pulls out the IC card projecting from the insertion port 2 a and the insertion detection sensor 10 no longer detects the IC card (S 24 ; No), the shutter 8 is closed again (S 25 ).
- the drive motor 60 is rotated to rotate the cam gear 61 by 90° in the direction R 2 to bring back the shutter 8 from the state shown in FIG. 10 ( b ) to the reference position shown in FIG. 10 ( a ).
- a superordinate device 300 may warn by a lamp or an alarm.
- FIG. 14 shows an operation for issuing a card stored in the card storage 5 to the user (hereinafter, card delivering process B).
- card delivering process B an operation for issuing a card stored in the card storage 5 to the user.
- an IC card delivered from the card storage 5 is subjected to a process of writing information by the reader/writer (RFID antenna) 30 , before being issued to the user.
- RFID antenna RFID antenna
- the pressing unit 50 When issuing the IC card, the pressing unit 50 is first driven to cancel the pressing state (S 31 ). As hereinabove described, the shutter 8 and the pressing unit 50 are in the reference position as shown in FIG. 10 ( a ), and the pressing unit 50 is pressing the lowermost one of cards.
- the drive motor 60 is rotated by the predetermined amount from the state shown in FIG. 10 ( a ) to rotate the cam gear 61 by 90° in the direction R 2 . This lowers the pressing unit downwards as shown in FIG. 10 ( c ), and the cards stored in the card storage 5 are no longer pressed. As such, the lowermost one of cards abuts the drive roller 24 .
- the drive motor 20 is driven to convey the IC card to a predetermined position, towards the insertion port 2 a (S 32 ).
- the predetermined position here is a position corresponding to the reader/writer (RFID antenna) 30 , and the stop control of the drive motor 20 may be done based on the amount of rotation of the drive motor 20 , or based on the card detection signal from the card position detection sensor 32 .
- the condition for stopping the conveyance for conveying the IC card from the card storage 5 to the position for writing information by the reader/writer i.e., condition for stopping the drive motor
- the card position detection sensor 32 keeps detecting the IC card for a predetermined time from the start of operation for conveying the IC card, it is determined that a conveyance error has occurred.
- the drive motor may be reversed to return the IC card temporarily to the card storage 5 , and then conveyed again to the predetermined position.
- the RFID antenna 30 for detecting the IC card (for monitoring the IC card). This way, waiting for the predetermined time is not necessary. For example, it is possible to determine that a conveyance error has occurred, when the IC card is not detected by the RFID antenna 30 in a position where the IC card would reach after being conveyed N steps by the drive motor. As described, while the IC card is conveyed, the presence of the IC card is always monitored by a plurality of sensors.
- the drive motor 60 When the IC card is conveyed to the predetermined position, the drive motor 60 is rotated by a predetermined amount to rotate the cam gear 61 by a 90° in the direction R 1 , thereby bringing back the pressing unit 50 to the reference position shown in FIG. 10 ( a ). In other words, the pressing unit 50 is moved upwards by driving the drive motor 60 , pressing the cards stored in the card storage 5 (S 33 ). Note that the stop control of the drive motor 60 is accurately done by detecting the reference position of the cam gear 61 with the reference position detection sensor 65 .
- the process of writing information is executed by the reader/writer (RFID antenna) 30 (S 34 ), and the IC card is issued to the user through the steps of the card delivering process A shown in FIG. 13 (S 35 ).
- FIG. 15 shows a process for storing the IC card inserted into the card storage 5 , after S 13 shown in FIG. 12 .
- the drive motor 20 is first driven to convey the IC card towards the card storage 5 (S 41 ).
- the IC card is placed under the lower most one of cards through the opening 41 of the casing 5 A.
- the drive motor 20 is stopped temporarily upon rotating a predetermined amount, and the IC card is stopped immediately before the pressing unit 50 .
- the drive motor 60 is rotated by a predetermined amount to rotate the cam gear 61 by 90° in the direction R 2 , thus moving the pressing unit downwards as shown in FIG. 10 ( c ) (S 42 ).
- the IC card carried into the card storage abuts the drive roller 24 and can be further carried inside.
- the drive motor 20 is again rotated by a predetermined amount to convey the IC card to a predetermined position inside the card storage (to the stack position) (S 43 ).
- the card detection process is executed to check if there is any card remaining in the card conveyance path (S 44 ). In other words, when the presence of the card is confirmed in this process, it means that the card remains despite the conveyance process of the card to the card storage 5 . It is therefore determined that some troubles have occurred, and an error signal is generated (S 68 ).
- the drive motor 60 is rotated by a predetermined amount to rotate the cam gear 61 by 90° in the direction R 1 , thus bringing back the pressing unit 50 to the reference position shown in FIG. 10 ( a ) (S 45 ).
- the pressing unit 50 is moved upward, pressing the newly stored IC card, and then the storing process is ended.
- the storage detection sensor 35 does not detect the moveable component 53 , it means that the card storage 5 is full of cards. In this case, a full-state signal is transmitted to the CPU (S 46 ; No, S 47 ).
- the presence of a card can be detected by the detect sensors 10 , 13 , 32 arranged along the card conveyance path. Further, a card is also detected by the read unit (RFID antenna) 30 which reads information on the card. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of sensors mounted in the card conveyance path 6 , and reduction of the costs for the device is possible. Further, as described in the process of delivering a card from the card storage 5 , the RFID antenna 30 can be also used for, for example, monitoring the occurrence of time-out in the conveyance operation of an ordinary IC card. This enables further delicate conveyance control.
- the card detection process is executed before a card is inserted into the insertion port 2 a , as in S 1 and S 2 of FIG. 12 .
- the drive motor is driven to convey the card towards the insertion port, and then the card detection process is executed again.
- This enables, for example, reliably grasping a situation where the card is not conveyed by the conveyor due to slippage or the like at the portion of the conveyance rollers. Since the remaining card is conveyed towards the card insertion port 2 a , the card is reliably ejected when initializing the card processing device after the card processing device is shut down due to power outage or the like. It is therefore possible to prepare for appropriate processing of newly inserted card.
- the card detection process is executed as needed during the card process (S 23 , S 44 ). This reliably prevents the card to remain in the card conveyance path during the card process.
- the number of detect sensors mounted and the method of detection in the present invention are not limited as long as a card in the conveyance path is detected by the detect sensor arranged in the conveyance path and the read unit for reading card information.
- the read unit may be any given read unit as long as it is capable of reading information recorded on the card.
- the read unit may be a magnetic reader/writer, or a sensor (e.g., line sensor) capable of reading information.
- the above-described embodiment is structured to be able to process a multiple types of card (magnetic card, IC card).
- the present invention is applicable to a device capable of processing a single type of card.
- the device can be structured as a device capable of processing an IC card.
- the magnetic information reading completion sensor 13 detects insertion of the card, and serves as the sensor (card position detection sensor) for detecting the remaining card.
- the above-described embodiment deals with a case where the paper sheet is a card; however, the present invention may be applied to a device configured to process various paper sheets such as bills.
Abstract
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a paper sheet processing device with a reduced number of components for detecting the presence of paper sheets on a conveyance path and which is capable of reducing costs. To achieve this aim, the paper sheet processing device has: an insertion port where paper sheets are inserted; a conveyance path along which paper sheets inserted into the insertion port are conveyed; sensors (10, 13, 32) that detect whether or not paper sheets are present on the conveyance path; a read unit (30) capable of reading inserted paper sheets; and a control unit that performs paper sheet detection processing whereby paper sheets present on the conveyance path are detected, based on the detection results of the sensors (10, 13, 32) and the read results of the read unit (30).
Description
- The present invention relates to a paper sheet processing device configured to process a bill, an information recording medium in the form of card, a piece of paper recording thereon information such as a barcode (all of these are hereinafter collectively referred to as paper sheets).
- Traditionally, for example, in a game arcade, a casino, or the like, a card processing device (hereinafter also referred to as card reader/writer) is set up which writes various information such as personal information of a user or game information into a recording medium in the form of card (magnetic card, IC card, or the like), or reads information recorded. Such a card processing device is required to be capable of grasping the presence of a card inserted therein. This is because, in cases where the card processing device is shut down for some reasons (power outage, breakdown, or the like), if the card processing device is not able to grasp the presence of the card after recovery (when initialized), the manager of the device need to do a work for confirming the presence of the card by opening the card processing device.
- To address this issue, for example,
PTL 1 discloses a card processing device configured to execute a process of confirming whether a card is in the conveyance path, by using a sensor, during a recovering process. With such a card processing device, the manager no longer needs to conduct the work for confirming whether a card is in the conveyance path when recovering, after the card processing device is shut down. -
- [PTL 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 128912/2005 (Tokukai 2005-128912)
- To reliably grasp the presence of the card when the card processing device is shut down as hereinabove described, the number of sensors installed needs to be increased. However, doing so causes an increase in the number of components for detecting the card in the conveyance path, which leads to an increase in the costs.
- The present invention is made in view of the above problem, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a paper sheet processing device with a reduced number of components for detecting a paper sheet in the conveyance path, which enables reduction of the costs.
- To achieve the object, an aspect of the present invention described in
claim 1 is a paper sheet processing device including an insertion port through which a paper sheet is inserted, a conveyance path in which the paper sheet inserted into the insertion port is conveyed, a sensor for detecting the paper sheet in the conveyance path, and a read unit capable of reading the paper sheet inserted, the paper sheet processing device, including a control unit configured to execute paper sheet detection processing for detecting the paper sheet in the conveyance path, based on a detection result from the sensor and a read result from the read unit. - In the paper sheet processing device, for example, after the device is shut down, the sensor detects the paper sheet and the read unit which reads the paper sheet also performs a detection process to check if there is a paper sheet. Therefore it is possible to reduce the number of sensors mounted in the conveyance path, while enabling reduction of the costs for the device.
- Another aspect of the present invention described in
claim 2 is the paper sheet processing device adapted so that the control unit executes the paper sheet detection processing before the paper sheet is inserted into the insertion port. - In the structure, the paper sheet detection processing is executed before the paper sheet is inserted. This disables insertion of two or more paper sheets in a row mistakenly, which contributes to reliable prevention of troubles in conveying a paper sheet, or clogging by a paper sheet.
- Another aspect of the present invention described in
claim 2 or 3 further including a conveyor configured to convey the paper sheet in the conveyance path, wherein when the paper sheet is detected by the paper sheet detection processing, the control unit performs the paper sheet detection processing again after the paper sheet is conveyed by the conveyor. - In the structure, the paper sheet detection processing is executed again after the conveyance of the paper sheet by the conveyor. This enables, for example, reliably grasping a situation where the paper sheet is not conveyed by the conveyor due to slippage or the like.
- The present invention realizes a paper sheet processing device with a reduced number of components for detecting a paper sheet in the conveyance path, which enables reduction of the costs.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire structure of an exemplary paper sheet processing device (card processing device) related to the present invention. -
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where a card storage is opened in the card processing device shown inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 is a diagram of the card processing device shown inFIG. 2 , which is viewed from the opposite side. -
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the card processing device shown inFIG. 2 . -
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the card processing device shown inFIG. 3 . -
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the card processing device shown inFIG. 1 , which is viewed from a side. -
FIG. 7 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of the card storage, wherein (a) is a diagram showing a state where the number of cards is small; (b) is a diagram showing a state where the storage is full of cards; (c) is a diagram showing a state where the casing structuring the card storage is opened. -
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a driving mechanism which individually drives the shutter and the pressing unit. -
FIG. 9 shows gears structuring the driving mechanism, wherein (a) is a diagram showing one aspect of the gears, and (b) is a diagram showing another aspect of the gears. -
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a mode of individually driving the shutter and the pressing unit, wherein (a) is a diagram showing a reference position, (b) is a diagram showing a state where only the shutter is driven, and (c) is a diagram showing a state where only the pressing unit is driven. -
FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an exemplary structure of a control unit which controls an operation of the card processing device. -
FIG. 12 is a flowchart (Part 1) showing a control operation of the card processing device. -
FIG. 13 is a flowchart (Part 2) showing a control operation of the card processing device. -
FIG. 14 is a flowchart (Part 3) showing a control operation of the card processing device. -
FIG. 15 is a flowchart (Part 4) showing a control operation of the card processing device. -
FIG. 16 is a flowchart (Part 5) showing a control operation of the card processing device. - The following describes one embodiment of a paper sheet processing device related to the present invention, with reference to attached drawings. Note that the paper sheet processing device of the present embodiment is settable for various gaming machines set up in hotels, casinos, game arcade, or the like, and is a device (hereinafter, card processing device) configured to process a user-owned recording medium in the form of card (hereinafter, card). The card processing device of the present embodiment is configured to be capable of reading, rewriting information recorded on the card inserted by the user, and collecting and issuing a card as needed. Further, the card processing device of the present embodiment is configured to be able to process a plurality of types of cards (magnetic cards, IC cards, IC/magnetic cards).
- First, with reference to
FIG. 1 toFIG. 6 , the entire structure of the card processing device of the present embodiment is described. - Of these figures,
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire structure of the card processing device.FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where the card storage in the card processing device ofFIG. 1 is opened.FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the card processing device shown inFIG. 2 , which is viewed from the opposite side.FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the card processing device shown inFIG. 2 .FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the card processing device shown inFIG. 3 .FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the card processing device shown inFIG. 1 , which is viewed from a side. - The
card processing device 1 has abase 1A having aframe 1B to which various components are mounted. When thedevice 1 is set in a not-shown gaming machine, afront surface 2 integrally formed with theframe 1B is exposed to the outside. Thefront surface 2 has aninsertion port 2 a capable of receiving and ejecting a card. A user inserts his/her own card (magnetic card, IC card, IC/magnetic card) C into theinsertion port 2 a, and when the game ends, the card C is returned to the user or collected (in the present embodiment, the cards to be collected are IC cards and IC/magnetic cards). Therefore, theframe 1B is provided withcard storage 5 capable of accommodating cards which are inserted by users and collected. Note that theinsertion port 2 a preferably has a curvature to make its middle portion opened wider in an up-down direction, so as to enable insertion of a bent card. Further, the cards accommodated in thecard storage 5 may be cards on which new information is recorded and issued to users. - The card C has various information such as information about the user (ID information), information about the gaming value (amount-of-money information), or the like recorded thereon, which are read or rewritten by a reader/writer (read unit) mounted inside. Note that such information is handled by a not-shown external device, and the user is able to receive various game media within a range of the amount-of-money information recorded on the card to play games. Further, the game information of the user, for example, may be also handled as tracking information. In regard to the amount-of-money information, point information or the like may be awarded which is used in a game arcade, or separately exchanged with an amount of money value.
- The
frame 1B is provided with acard conveyance path 6 configured to convey the card in the same direction the card was inserted. In the present embodiment, the conveyance process is made different depending on whether the card inserted is a magnetic card or an IC card (including a magnetic/IC card). Specifically, when the card inserted is a magnetic card, the card, when inserted by the user, is stopped at a predetermined position (at a position such that the trailing end of the card project from theinsertion port 2 a). That is, in cases of the magnetic card, the card is not conveyed to inside the device, and is stopped at a predetermined position, to read the information for processing (in some cases, rewriting process) at that position. - To this end, the
card conveyance path 6 has ashutter 8 for stopping the card inserted at a position such that the trailing end of the card projects from theinsertion port 2 a. Thisshutter 8 is driven to open or close according to the type of the cards inserted. The specific structure of theshutter 8, and the method of opening/closing drive are detailed later. - In the
card conveyance path 6 is arranged aninsertion detection sensor 10 for detecting insertion of the card, which is on theinsertion port 2 a of the position where theshutter 8 is mounted (seeFIG. 6 ). Further, a reader/writer (magnetic head) 12 capable of reading/rewriting magnetic information is mounted in a position facing theinsertion detection sensor 10, specifically, in a position corresponding to a magnetic information recording area (formed in a shape of a belt extended in a conveyance direction) on the magnetic card to be inserted (seeFIG. 3 ). Further, in a position immediately before the position where theshutter 8 is mounted, there is a magnetic information readingcompletion sensor 13 which detects completion of reading magnetic information by the magnetic head 12 (seeFIG. 6 ). Since the magnetic information is recorded on a belt-like magnetic seal attached to the card, this magnetic information readingcompletion sensor 13 is in a position at which the magnetic seal on the card inserted is read. In other words, by detecting the leading end of the card inserted by the magnetic information readingcompletion sensor 13, the signal indicating the completion of reading the magnetic information is generated. Note that theinsertion detection sensor 10 and the magnetic information readingcompletion sensor 13 also have a function of a card position detection sensor which detects the card in thecard conveyance path 6, in addition to the above described detection process. - At the downstream of the
shutter 8 is mounted acard conveyor 15 capable of conveying a card. Thecard conveyor 15 of the present embodiment is capable of conveying the card inserted from theinsertion port 2 a in the direction of the insertion, and capable of conveying a card in the device main body towards theinsertion port 2 a. Theconveyor 15 has adrive motor 20 serving as a drive source mounted to theframe 1B, and a plurality ofdrive rollers drive motor 20 and capable of conveying the card. In this case, thedrive rollers card storage 5, and thedrive roller 24 is arranged inside thecard storage 5. - The
drive rollers drive shafts frame 1B, respectively. Thedrive shaft 24 a is rotated by having agear 24 c fixed to its end portion engaged with anoutput gear 20 a fixed to an output shaft of thedrive motor 20. Further, thedrive shaft 24 a has at its end portion on the opposite side a pulley or a timing pulley (hereinafter, pulley) 24 d, and thepulley 24 d is connected with the pulley or timing pulleys 22 d, 23 d provided on the end portions of thedrive shafts conveyor belt 25. This way, thedrive rollers drive motor 20. Note that, as illustrated in the figure, theconveyor belt 25 may be wound about a tension roller as needed so as to prevent loosening of theconveyor belt 25. - The
drive rollers pinch rollers drive rollers insertion port 2 a is conveyed through nip portions between the drive rollers and the pinch rollers. The pinch rollers are fixed tospindles frame 1B, and aspindle 24 f rotatably supported inside the card storage 5 (casing 5A), respectively. Note that thepinch roller 24 p provided in thecasing 5A functions as a pressing roller which applies a biasing force to the uppermost one of cards stacked and accommodated. - Inside the
frame 1B is mounted an IC reader/writer (RFID antenna; read unit) 30 capable of reading/rewriting information to an IC chip embedded to an IC card inserted. The IC reader/writer 30 is disposed in a middle portion at a position where thedrive rollers drive roller 22 and thepinch roller 22 p, and its leading end is sandwiched between thedrive roller 23 and thepinch roller 23 p, and the IC reader/writer 30 performs reading/rewriting of information during this state. Further, in thecard conveyance path 6, a card position detection sensor configured to detect the card position is arranged immediately in front of the card storage 5 (seeFIG. 6 ). - Note that, in the present embodiment, the magnetic information reading completion sensor (card position detection sensor) 13 and the card
position detection sensor 32 are mounted, spaced from each other by a distance longer than the length of the card to be handled, relative to the conveyance direction. The IC reader/writer (RFID antenna; read unit) 30 is mounted between thesesensors sensors writer 30, when a predetermined control operation is performed in a later-described control unit. - Next, the following describes components related to the structure of the
card storage 5 for accommodating cards. Thecard storage 5 has acasing 5A in a shape of substantially rectangular parallel piped, in which cards inserted are stacked and accommodated. Thecasing 5A has on its trailing end side aspindle 40, and thisspindle 40 is rotatably supported by theframe 1B, so as to be rotatable about theframe 1B as shown inFIG. 1 andFIG. 2 . Note thatFIG. 1 shows the closed state (locked state), andFIG. 2 shows the opened state. - At the lower part of the front end surface of the
casing 5A is anopening 41 corresponding to the shape of the card, which enables the cards to be carried in. The cards carried in the casing through theopening 41 are successively stacked. Carrying in the cards into thecasing 5A, and carrying out of the cards accommodated in thecasing 5A are done by thedrive roller 24. - In the present embodiment, the cards carried into the
casing 5A are stacked successively on the lower side of the other, and thepinch roller 24 p is placed on the upper most one of the cards being stacked so as to press the cards towards thedrive roller 24. Specifically, the both ends of thespindle 24 f project fromlong holes 42 formed in the stacking direction on two side surfaces of thecasing 5A. These projected portions of thespindle 24 f are kept from falling off byretainer 24 h. Thespindle 24 f is supported to be slidable in an up-down direction along thelong hole 42. Thecasing 5A is provided with biasing means for biasing thespindle 24 always downwards (towards the cards stacked). In this case, the biasing means is structured by a biasingspring 45 which is horizontally provided and tensioned at the lower part on the both sides of thecasing 5A. By having this biasingspring 45 contacting the upper side of theretainer 24 h, thespindle 24 f (pinchroller 24 p) is always biased downwards. More specifically, on the both sides of thecasing 5A, there areprojections 45 a (seeFIG. 4 ) which are spaced from each other in a horizontal direction by a predetermined distance. Theseprojections 45 a hold the both ends of the biasingspring 45. The middle portion of the biasingspring 45 is brought into contact with theretainer 24 h. This way, the biasingspring 45 always biases thespindle 24 f downwards. - Further, in the
casing 5A is arrangedpressing units 50 which press upwards the lowermost one of cards stacked. Thispressing units 50 are provided in two positions upstream of thedrive shaft 24 a of thedrive roller 24, respectively, and are apart from each other along the drive shaft by a predetermined distance. Thus, thedrive roller 24 and the pinch roller (pressing roller) 24 p are positioned between the pressing units 502 in two positions. - The
pressing units 50 are moveable along the stacking direction, between a position to apply a pressing force against the biasing force to the cards stacked and biased by thepinch roller 24 p, and a position where no pressing force is applied. When thepressing unit 50 is moved to the position to apply the pressing force, a card carried into thecasing 5A through theopening 41 is stopped by thepressing unit 50, and is placed at the lowermost end of the stack of cards. Further, when thepressing unit 50 is moved to the position where no pressing force is applied, the stack of cards are biased by thepinch roller 24 p, and the both ends of the lower most one of the cards abut a pair offlanges 41 a on the left and right which are formed at the opening of the casing and extend in a direction corresponding to the length of the casing (during this state, the lowermost one of cards abut thedrive roller 24, and driving of thedrive roller 24 enables issuing of a card from the stack stored inside). Note that the structure and a method of driving thepressing unit 50 are described later. - Inside the
card storage 5 is arranged astorage detection sensor 35 capable of detecting that the card storage is full of cards, and detecting that thecard storage 5 is not locked to theframe 1B (opened state). Further, inside thecard storage 5 is arranged anempty sensor 36 capable of detecting that thecard storage 5 has no card. - The following specifically describes a structure and an operation, whereby the
storage detection sensor 35 detects the state in which thecard storage 5 is full of cards, and detects a state in which thecard storage 5 is opened. Note thatFIG. 7 (a) to (c) are referred to, when describing the operation. - The
storage detection sensor 35 is structured by a photo sensor, and is structured to generate a detection signal when a later-described moveable component moves relatively to the light emitting/receivingportion 35 a structured in a U-shape. In an upper portion on one side surface of thecasing 5A, a substantially T-shapedmoveable component 53 is supported so as to be rotatable about afulcrum 53A. Themoveable component 53 is provided with anabut portion 53 a extending towards the insertion port. To thisabut portion 53 a, theretainer 24 h (biasing spring 45) abuts when being ascended. When the cards are successively stacked in thecasing 5A (causing thespindle 24 f to ascend), theretainer 24 h abuts theabut portion 53 a when the storage is full of cards (seeFIG. 7 (a) and (b)). - The
moveable component 53 is provided with abent portion 53 b bent towards the upper surface side of thecasing 5A (seeFIG. 5 ), and a pullingspring 55 is provided between thisbent portion 53 b and thecasing 5A. This way, themoveable component 53 is always biased in a clockwise direction, about thefulcrum 53A as shown inFIG. 7 (a). Further, themoveable component 53 has an extendedportion 53 c extending downwards. The leading end of the extendedportion 53 c is abent portion 53 d bent in an L-shape, towards the inside of the casing. Note that thebent portion 53 d is arranged so as to be in a position in the light emitting/receivingportion 35 a, during the sate shown inFIG. 7 (a). - In the structure, while the
casing 5A is not full of cards, themoveable component 53 is in the state shown inFIG. 7 (a), and thebent portion 53 d is positioned in the light emitting/receivingportion 35 a. Therefore, a detection signal detecting the full state is not generated. Then, when thecasing 5A is being filled up with cards, theretainer 24 h (biasing spring 45) abuts theabut portion 53 a. When thecasing 5A is full of cards, themoveable component 53 is rotated counter clockwise about thefulcrum 53A (seeFIG. 7 (b)). At this point, thebent portion 53 d also rotates with themovable component 53, and shifts from inside the light emitting/receivingportion 35 a towards the insertion port and departs the light emitting/receivingportion 35 a. Thus, a detection signal for detecting such a state (full state) is generated. On the other hand, irrespective of the full state, when thecasing 5A is opened (lock is released) and rotates about thespindle 40 as shown inFIG. 7 (c), themoveable component 53 also rotates along with thecasing 5A. Therefore, thebent portion 53 d also rotates with themovable component 53, and departs the light emitting/receivingportion 35 a. Thus, detection signal for detecting such a state (opened state of the casing) is generated. - As described, the
storage detection sensor 35 enables detection of the state where thecard storage 5 is full of cards, and the state where thecard storage 5 is not locked on theframe 1B (not closed), with a single structure. - Next, with reference to
FIG. 4 ,FIG. 5 ,FIG. 8 , andFIG. 10 , the following describes the specific structure of the above describedshutter 8, a method of opening and closing the shutter, the specific structure of the above describedpressing unit 50, and the method of driving the pressing unit. - The
shutter 8 and thepressing unit 50 are structured to be driven by a single drive source. In the present embodiment, theshutter 8 and thepressing unit 50 are driven and controlled by rotation of thedrive motor 60 supported by theframe 1B. Specifically, theoutput gear 60 a of thedrive motor 60 is engaged with acam gear 61 rotatably supported by theframe 1B. Rotating thiscam gear 61 drives theshutter 8 and thepressing unit 50. - As shown in
FIG. 4 andFIG. 5 , theshutter 8 is rotatably provided to thespindle 8A supported by theframe 1B. Theshutter 8 is formed by aplate 8 a which is bent to form a predetermined shape, and has a pair ofstoppers 8 b configured to abut the card actually inserted and stop the card, and anengagement portion 8 c on one end side, which is pendent downward from thespindle 8A. Between theshutter 8 and thespindle 8A is arotation biasing spring 62 wound about thespindle 8A, which always biases theshutter 8 in a direction of closing (a direction to block insertion of a card). With therotation biasing spring 62, theshutter 8 is rotatably supported on thespindle 8A with some play. With this play in rotation of theshutter 8, when the card stops at a portion of theshutter 8 due to some error, it is possible to pull out the card without any damage to the card, and to prevent a damage to the mechanism. - Between the
shutter 8 and thecam gear 61 is a linkingcomponent 63 extended along thecard conveyance path 6. The linkingcomponent 63 has on its one end side anengagement portion 63 a which engages with acam groove 61A formed on one side surface of the cam gear 61 (seeFIG. 9 (b)), and has on the other end side anabut portion 63 b which contacts theengagement portion 8 c of theshutter 8. Further, the linkingcomponent 63 has along holes component 63 is extended, and pins 1 d, 1 e projecting from theframe 1B are positioned to this holes. This way, the linkingcomponent 63 is slidable in the direction the linkingcomponent 63 is extended. - When the linking
component 63 slides in a direction D1, during the closed state of theshutter 8 shown inFIG. 5 andFIG. 10 (a) (this state is hereinafter referred to as reference position, which blocks insertion of a card), theabut portion 63 b presses theengagement portion 8 c to rotate theshutter 8 about thespindle 8A in a direction for opening. Further, when the linkingcomponent 63 during this state slides in a direction D2, theshutter 8 rotates until theengagement portion 8 c abuts theabut portion 63 b due to the biasing force of therotation biasing spring 62, thus returning to the reference position. - As shown in
FIG. 4 andFIG. 5 , thepressing units 50 are rotatably provided to thespindle 50A supported by theframe 1B. Thepressing units 50 are arranged at the leading ends of the pair ofextended portions 50 b respectively so as to project upward, each of theextended portions 50 b being formed by bending aplate 50 a towards the trailing end (a direction opposite to the insertion port) from thespindle 50A as the center so as to form a predetermined shape. Further, theplate 50 a has a linkingportion 50 c bent towards the insertion port side. This linkingportion 50 c has on its leading end anengagement portion 50 d which engages with acam groove 61A formed on thecam gear 61. - The
cam groove 61A formed on one side surface of thecam gear 61 has a shape as shown inFIG. 9 (b). With thiscam groove 61A are engaged theengagement portion 63 a of the linkingcomponent 63 and theengagement portion 50 d of the linkingportion 50 c which is integrally formed with thepressing unit 50. Thecam groove 61A has a shape such that an operation of theshutter 8 or thepressing unit 50 stops the operation of the other. Specifically, theengagement portion 63 a for driving theshutter 8 and theengagement portion 50 d for driving thepressing unit 50 each engaged with thecam groove 61A in the form of ring have a phase difference of 90°, and the shape of the cam is such that rotation of thecam gear 61 reciprocates the linkingcomponent 63 independently in horizontal directions, and reciprocates the linkingportion 50 c independently in the up-down directions. Note that reciprocation of the linkingportion 50 c in the up-down directions rotates theplate 50 a about thespindle 50A, and thepressing unit 50 reciprocates in the up-down directions with the rotation of theplate 50 a. - The
cam gear 61 is controlled to rotate by ±90° from the reference position so that thecam groove 61A formed on thecam gear 61 takes three positions, i.e., the reference position, a position of +90° rotation, and a position of −90° rotation, with the rotation of thecam gear 61, thus causing theshutter 8 and thepressing unit 50 to take different positions. Note that on the other side surface of thecam gear 61 is aring 61B having in its portion a notch (structuring a detecting portion) 61C, as shown inFIG. 9 (a), and by detecting thenotch 61C, the light emitting/receivingportion 65 a of the referenceposition detection sensor 65 provided inframe 1B detects the reference position. - With reference to
FIG. 10 , the relationship between the above three positions (shapes of thecam groove 61A) when thecam gear 61 rotates from the reference position by ±90°. -
FIG. 10 (a) shows the reference position. In this state, theshutter 8 is in the closed position, and thepressing unit 50 is in the pressing position (a position to abut the lowermost one of cards stored in thecard storage 5, and lifting the cards against the biasing force). - When the
drive motor 60 is rotated from the state shown inFIG. 10 (a) to rotate thecam gear 61 by 90°, in an direction R1, thecam groove 61A tracts the linkingcomponent 63 in a D1 direction via theengagement portion 63 a, while theengagement portion 50 d is maintained in the same position without moving upwards or downwards (seeFIG. 10 (b) andFIG. 8 ). When the linkingcomponent 63 slides in the D1 direction, theshutter 8 rotates against the biasing force by therotation biasing spring 62 due to the above described engagement relation, thereby opening theshutter 8, as shown inFIG. 5 . In other words, rotating thecam gear 61 by 90° in the direction R1, theshutter 8 is driven to open, while thepressing unit 50 stays in the pressing state. - Further, when the
drive motor 60 is again rotated to rotate thecam gear 61 by 90° in the direction R2 during the state shown inFIG. 10 (b), the linkingcomponent 63 slides in the D2 direction. Due to the above described engagement relation, theshutter 8 rotates due to the biasing force exerted by therotation biasing spring 62 to return to the reference position shown inFIG. 10 (a), thereby closing theshutter 8, as shown inFIG. 5 . Note that thepressing unit 50 stays in the pressing state without being driven. - When the
drive motor 60 is rotated to rotate thecam gear 61 by 90° in the direction R2 during the state shown inFIG. 10 (a), thecam groove 61A stays in the same position without drawing theengagement portion 63 a, while theengagement portion 50 d is moved upward (seeFIG. 10 (c)). When theengagement portion 50 d moves upward, theplate 50 a rotates clockwise about thespindle 50A, causing thepressing unit 50 to move downwards. The cards stored in thecard storage 5 are therefore not pressed. This way, the lowermost one of cards abuts thedrive roller 24. - When the
drive motor 60 is rotated during the state shown inFIG. 10 (c) to rotate thecam gear 61 by 90° in the direction R1, theengagement portion 50 d moves downwards to return to the reference position shown inFIG. 10 (a), and thepressing units 50 press the lowermost one of cards stacked and stored in thecard storage 5. Theshutter 8 stays in the closed state, without being driven. -
FIG. 11 is a control block diagram showing a structure of the control unit which controls basic operations of the card processing device. - In the
card processing device 1 are mounted acontrol circuit board 100 which controls operations of the above described drive components. On thecontrol circuit board 100 is mounted aCPU 102 capable of driving thedrive motor 20 configured to convey the cards, adrive motor 60 configured to drive theshutter 8 and thepressing unit 50, a magnetic head (reader/writer) 12 configured to read/write information from/to a magnetic card, a reader/writer (RFID antenna; read unit) 30 configured to read/write information from/to the IC card; aROM 103 storing a program for operating the above described various drive devices; and acontrol RAM 105. - The
CPU 102 is connected to the drive circuit which drives the devices via the I/O port 110, and the operation of the each device is controlled by control signals from theCPU 102, according to the operation program. TheCPU 102 is capable of receiving, via the I/O port 110, a signal from theinsertion detection sensor 10 for detecting insertion (ejection) of a card, a signal from the magnetic information readingcompletion sensor 13 for detecting that the magnetic information is read, a signal from the cardposition detection sensor 32 for detecting the card passing by, a signal for detecting that thestorage detection sensor 35 is full of cards accommodated (or detecting that thecard storage 5 is opened), a signal from theempty sensor 36 detecting that thecard storage 5 has ran out of the cards, and a signal from the referenceposition detection sensor 65 detecting the reference position. Based on these detection signals, thedrive motors writers CPU 102 is capable of receiving, via the I/O port 110, a signal from theinsertion detection sensor 10, the magnetic information reading completion sensor (card position detection sensor) 13, the cardposition detection sensor 32, and the reader/writer 30, which signal is for checking whether the presence of a card position (remaining card). When there is no card remains in the device card, a predetermined process is executed as hereinbelow described. - Further, the
CPU 102 is connected to acontrol circuit 200 which executes the game process and which is mounted within the main body of the not-shown gaming machine, and for example the data such as gaming value information is transmitted/received between to/from the gaming machine. - Further, the
CPU 102 of thecontrol circuit board 100 is capable of transmitting/receiving data to/from theexternal device 300. For example, information (user ID information, account information, or the like) read by the reader/writers - Next, the following describes a control operation of the above described
card processing device 1 with reference to the flowchart ofFIG. 12 toFIG. 16 . Note that the following deals with an operation taking place after thecard processing device 1 is booted (encompassing re-booting for restoration after temporarily shut down of the device due to power outage, or the like). - First, the
drive motor 20 is driven for a predetermined amount to convey a card towards theinsertion port 2 a (S1). This step is executed because there is a possibility that a card may remain in the card conveyance path, when the device is booted (rebooted). Next, the card detection process is executed (S2). This card detection process is to make sure any card remaining in the device at the time of booting (rebooting) the device is reliably detected, and includes steps shown inFIG. 16 . Note that the S1 may be omitted as long as the intervals betweensensors RFID antenna 30 are such that the length of the card in the conveyance direction is reliably detected. - The following describes a card detection process with reference to
FIG. 16 . - As described above, with the card conveyance process of S1, it is possible to reliably detect a card present (remaining) with the
sensors RFID antenna 30, even if the card is in a position where the card is not detected. First, there is determined whether theinsertion detection sensor 10 detected a card (S61). When no card is detected (S61; No), there is determined whether the cardposition detection sensors RFID antenna 30 executes a process of reading the card ID (S63). When no card ID is read (S63; No), there is no card in the device. Therefore, the process returns to a later-described ordinary control operation (processes of S3 and thereafter). - When a presence of a card is confirmed in S61, S62, S63, the
drive motor 20 is driven a predetermined amount to convey the card towards theinsertion port 2 a (S65; No, S66). This driving of thedrive motor 20 is executed a predetermined number of times (twice in the present embodiment). In other words, driving of thedrive motor 20 as describe above ejects the card remaining inside the device, when the device is booted (rebooted), and allows insertion of a new card. - Meanwhile, when steps 61 to 63 are executed for the third time (S65; Yes), an error signal is transmitted to the CPU (S68), and no subsequent processes are executed. Such a circumstance indicates that the card remains in the device despite the process of ejecting the card, which means the card cannot be conveyed due to some troubles (slippage of conveyance rollers, or other troubles in conveyance). Therefore, in such a case, an error signal is transmitted to the
external device 30. - Note that an error signal may be transmitted, as soon as the presence of the card is confirmed, without executing the steps S65, S66.
- When no card is detected through the steps S61, S62, S63, the processes of S3 and thereafter shown in
FIG. 12 are executed. In the processes of S3 and thereafter, thestorage detection sensor 35 arranged in thecard storage 5 determines whether or not amoveable component 53 is detected (S3). As shown inFIG. 6 andFIG. 7 (c), this is for determining whether thecasing 5A of thecard storage 5 is closed. When thecasing 5A is opened, the bent portion of themoveable component 53 is apart from the light emitting/receivingportion 35 a. Therefore, a signal is generated to indicate themoveable component 53 is not detected. This signal as an error signal is transmitted to the CPU (S3; No, S4), and no subsequent process is executed. In this regard, it is possible to transmit the error signal to theexternal device 300, so as to notify a management person that thecard storage 5 is not locked. - On the other hand, in S3, when the
storage detection sensor 35 detects the moveable component 53 (S3; Yes), the subsequent processes of the card are executed. First, there is determined by theinsertion detection sensor 10 whether a card is inserted into theinsertion port 2 a (S5). When theinsertion detection sensor 10 detects insertion of a card (S5; Yes), the information on the card inserted is read by the magnetic head (reader/writer) 12 (S6). In this case, the card inserted by the user may be a magnetic card or an IC card (IC/magnetic card). If no magnetic data is recorded on the card inserted, that card is processes as an IC card (S7; No). - Further, even when magnetic data is recorded, if the magnetic data read contains data (IC card determination data) that indicates that the card is an IC card, that card is processed as an IC card (S7; Yes, S8; Yes).
- In the determination process of S7 and S8, if it is determined that the card inserted is an IC card, the process of reading by the magnetic head (reader/writer) 12 is ended, and a process of driving the shutter 8 (opening process) is executed (S10). As hereinabove described, the
shutter 8 and thepressing unit 50 are first in the reference position shown inFIG. 10 (a). Therefore, thedrive motor 60 is rotated by a predetermined amount from the state shown inFIG. 10 (a) to rotate thecam gear 61 by 90° in the direction R1. Since the reference position is detected by the referenceposition detection sensor 65, the stop position (the number of rotation) of thedrive motor 60 is accurately controlled. This way, theshutter 8 opens and the card locked state is cancelled as shown inFIG. 10 (b) (S10). - The
drive motor 20 is further driven to convey the IC card to a predetermined position, i.e., the position of the reader/writer(RFID antenna) 30 (S11). The stop control of thedrive motor 20 may be done based on the amount of rotation of thedrive motor 20, or based on the card detection signal from the cardposition detection sensor 32. - When the IC card is conveyed to the predetermined position, the
shutter 8 is closed (S12). Theshutter 8 in this case is opened by the process of S10 (seeFIG. 10 (b)). From this state, thedrive motor 60 is rotated to rotate thecam gear 61 by 90° in the direction R2, to bring back theshutter 8 to the reference position, as shown inFIG. 10 (a). The stop control of thedrive motor 60 is accurately done by detecting the reference position of thecam gear 61 with the referenceposition detection sensor 65. This way, theshutter 8 is closed as shown inFIG. 10 (a). This prevents the card from being mistakenly inserted (S12). - The process ends after the IC card is conveyed to the predetermined position, the reader/writer (RFID antenna) 30 is driven while the
shutter 8 is closed, information reading/writing process is executed with respect to the IC card (S13), as hereinabove described. For example, when the above described process is ended, the user is playing the game at the gaming machine while the IC card is inserted. - Meanwhile, when the card inserted is determined as to be a magnetic card in S8, the process of reading by the magnetic head (reader/writer) 12 is ended (S15), when the magnetic information reading
completion sensor 13 detects the card (S14). In this case, the insert position is regulated by closing the shutter 8 (seeFIG. 10 (a)), and the user is not able to insert the magnetic card further inside. When the user ends the game, the card is pulled out by the user. It is possible to execute a process of rewriting the information with themagnetic head 12. -
FIG. 13 shows an operation for returning the IC card inserted to the user after S13 (hereinafter, card delivering process A; a process continued from S13). The IC card inserted may have been subjected to a process of writing new information with the reader/writer (RFID antenna) 30. - Since the
shutter 8 at this time is in the reference position shown inFIG. 10 (a) and is closed through S12, theshutter 8 is first driven to be opened to return the IC card (S21). As in S10, thedrive motor 60 is rotated by a predetermined amount from the state shown inFIG. 10 (a) to rotate thecam gear 61 by 90° in the direction R1. This opens theshutter 8 and cancels the card locked state. - The
drive motor 20 is further driven by a predetermined amount to convey the IC card towards theinsertion port 2 a (S22). Then, the card detection process is executed to check if there is a card remaining in the card conveyance path (S23). The card detection process here includes the processes shown inFIG. 16 , except for S61, and there is determined whether a card is detected at any one of positions of the cardposition detection sensors RFID antenna 30. Detecting the presence of the card in this process means that the card remains despite the conveyance process to convey the card towards theinsertion port 2 a, due to some troubles. Therefore, an error signal is generated (S68). - While the
insertion detection sensor 10 determines whether a card is detected (S24), if the player pulls out the IC card projecting from theinsertion port 2 a and theinsertion detection sensor 10 no longer detects the IC card (S24; No), theshutter 8 is closed again (S25). As in S12, thedrive motor 60 is rotated to rotate thecam gear 61 by 90° in the direction R2 to bring back theshutter 8 from the state shown inFIG. 10 (b) to the reference position shown inFIG. 10 (a). - When the state of detecting the IC card by the
insertion detection sensor 10 continues a predetermined time, it means that the user forgot to take the card, or the card is not ejected. Therefore, for example, an error signal is transmitted to theexternal device 300, and the process is halted (step 24; Yes, step 26; Yes, S27). In this case, asuperordinate device 300 may warn by a lamp or an alarm. -
FIG. 14 shows an operation for issuing a card stored in thecard storage 5 to the user (hereinafter, card delivering process B). In this case, an IC card delivered from thecard storage 5 is subjected to a process of writing information by the reader/writer (RFID antenna) 30, before being issued to the user. - When issuing the IC card, the
pressing unit 50 is first driven to cancel the pressing state (S31). As hereinabove described, theshutter 8 and thepressing unit 50 are in the reference position as shown inFIG. 10 (a), and thepressing unit 50 is pressing the lowermost one of cards. Thedrive motor 60 is rotated by the predetermined amount from the state shown inFIG. 10 (a) to rotate thecam gear 61 by 90° in the direction R2. This lowers the pressing unit downwards as shown inFIG. 10 (c), and the cards stored in thecard storage 5 are no longer pressed. As such, the lowermost one of cards abuts thedrive roller 24. - During this state, the
drive motor 20 is driven to convey the IC card to a predetermined position, towards theinsertion port 2 a (S32). The predetermined position here is a position corresponding to the reader/writer (RFID antenna) 30, and the stop control of thedrive motor 20 may be done based on the amount of rotation of thedrive motor 20, or based on the card detection signal from the cardposition detection sensor 32. Note that in S32, the condition for stopping the conveyance for conveying the IC card from thecard storage 5 to the position for writing information by the reader/writer (i.e., condition for stopping the drive motor) is set, for example, to the point when the trailing end of the IC card passes the card position detection sensor 32 (no longer detected). If the cardposition detection sensor 32 keeps detecting the IC card for a predetermined time from the start of operation for conveying the IC card, it is determined that a conveyance error has occurred. In this case the drive motor may be reversed to return the IC card temporarily to thecard storage 5, and then conveyed again to the predetermined position. Alternatively, it is possible to use theRFID antenna 30 for detecting the IC card (for monitoring the IC card). This way, waiting for the predetermined time is not necessary. For example, it is possible to determine that a conveyance error has occurred, when the IC card is not detected by theRFID antenna 30 in a position where the IC card would reach after being conveyed N steps by the drive motor. As described, while the IC card is conveyed, the presence of the IC card is always monitored by a plurality of sensors. - When the IC card is conveyed to the predetermined position, the
drive motor 60 is rotated by a predetermined amount to rotate thecam gear 61 by a 90° in the direction R1, thereby bringing back thepressing unit 50 to the reference position shown inFIG. 10 (a). In other words, thepressing unit 50 is moved upwards by driving thedrive motor 60, pressing the cards stored in the card storage 5 (S33). Note that the stop control of thedrive motor 60 is accurately done by detecting the reference position of thecam gear 61 with the referenceposition detection sensor 65. - Then, the process of writing information is executed by the reader/writer (RFID antenna) 30 (S34), and the IC card is issued to the user through the steps of the card delivering process A shown in
FIG. 13 (S35). -
FIG. 15 shows a process for storing the IC card inserted into thecard storage 5, after S13 shown inFIG. 12 . - In a storing process, the
drive motor 20 is first driven to convey the IC card towards the card storage 5 (S41). At this point, since thepressing unit 50 is in the reference position shown inFIG. 10 (a), the IC card is placed under the lower most one of cards through theopening 41 of thecasing 5A. Thedrive motor 20 is stopped temporarily upon rotating a predetermined amount, and the IC card is stopped immediately before thepressing unit 50. - During this state, the
drive motor 60 is rotated by a predetermined amount to rotate thecam gear 61 by 90° in the direction R2, thus moving the pressing unit downwards as shown inFIG. 10 (c) (S42). This way, the IC card carried into the card storage abuts thedrive roller 24 and can be further carried inside. - After that, the
drive motor 20 is again rotated by a predetermined amount to convey the IC card to a predetermined position inside the card storage (to the stack position) (S43). Subsequently, the card detection process is executed to check if there is any card remaining in the card conveyance path (S44). In other words, when the presence of the card is confirmed in this process, it means that the card remains despite the conveyance process of the card to thecard storage 5. It is therefore determined that some troubles have occurred, and an error signal is generated (S68). - After the IC card is conveyed to the predetermined position, the
drive motor 60 is rotated by a predetermined amount to rotate thecam gear 61 by 90° in the direction R1, thus bringing back thepressing unit 50 to the reference position shown inFIG. 10 (a) (S45). This way, thepressing unit 50 is moved upward, pressing the newly stored IC card, and then the storing process is ended. Note that after S45 ends, if thestorage detection sensor 35 does not detect themoveable component 53, it means that thecard storage 5 is full of cards. In this case, a full-state signal is transmitted to the CPU (S46; No, S47). - In the structure of the embodiment described above, when the card processing device is booted or when the card processing device is initialized after being shut down due to power outage or the like, the presence of a card can be detected by the detect
sensors card conveyance path 6, and reduction of the costs for the device is possible. Further, as described in the process of delivering a card from thecard storage 5, theRFID antenna 30 can be also used for, for example, monitoring the occurrence of time-out in the conveyance operation of an ordinary IC card. This enables further delicate conveyance control. - Further, in the above embodiment, the card detection process is executed before a card is inserted into the
insertion port 2 a, as in S1 and S2 ofFIG. 12 . This disable insertion of two or more cards in a row mistakenly, which contributes to reliable prevention of troubles in conveying a card, or clogging by a card. - As shown in
FIG. 16 , in the above described card detection process, when a card is detected by the detectsensors card insertion port 2 a, the card is reliably ejected when initializing the card processing device after the card processing device is shut down due to power outage or the like. It is therefore possible to prepare for appropriate processing of newly inserted card. - Further, in the above-described embodiment, the card detection process is executed as needed during the card process (S23, S44). This reliably prevents the card to remain in the card conveyance path during the card process.
- Thus, an embodiment of the present invention is described hereinabove. It should however be noted that the number of detect sensors mounted and the method of detection in the present invention are not limited as long as a card in the conveyance path is detected by the detect sensor arranged in the conveyance path and the read unit for reading card information. Further, the read unit may be any given read unit as long as it is capable of reading information recorded on the card. For example, the read unit may be a magnetic reader/writer, or a sensor (e.g., line sensor) capable of reading information.
- Further, the above-described embodiment is structured to be able to process a multiple types of card (magnetic card, IC card). However, the present invention is applicable to a device capable of processing a single type of card. For example, by removing the magnetic head part in the structure shown in
FIG. 1 , the device can be structured as a device capable of processing an IC card. In this case, the magnetic information readingcompletion sensor 13 detects insertion of the card, and serves as the sensor (card position detection sensor) for detecting the remaining card. Further, the above-described embodiment deals with a case where the paper sheet is a card; however, the present invention may be applied to a device configured to process various paper sheets such as bills. -
- 1. Card Processing Device (Paper Sheet Processing Device)
- 2 a. Insertion Port
- 5. Card Storage
- 6. Card Conveyance Path
- 10. Insert Detect Sensor (Card Position Detection Sensor)
- 13. Magnetic Information Reading Completion Sensor (Card Position Detection Sensor)
- 32. Card Position Detection Sensor
- 30. RFID Antenna (Read Unit)
- C. Card
Claims (4)
1. A paper sheet processing device including:
an insertion port through which a paper sheet is inserted, a conveyance path in which the paper sheet inserted into the insertion port is conveyed, a sensor for detecting the paper sheet in the conveyance path, and a read unit capable of reading the paper sheet inserted,
the paper sheet processing device, comprising
a control unit configured to execute paper sheet detection processing for detecting the paper sheet in the conveyance path, based on a detection result from the sensor and a read result from the read unit.
2. The paper sheet processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit executes the paper sheet detection processing before the paper sheet is inserted into the insertion port.
3. The paper sheet processing device according to claim 1 , further comprising a conveyor configured to convey the paper sheet in the conveyance path,
wherein when the paper sheet is detected by the paper sheet detection processing, the control unit performs the paper sheet detection processing again after the paper sheet is conveyed by the conveyor.
4. The paper sheet processing device according to claim 2 , further comprising a conveyor configured to convey the paper sheet in the conveyance path,
wherein when the paper sheet is detected by the paper sheet detection processing, the control unit performs the paper sheet detection processing again after the paper sheet is conveyed by the conveyor.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2010247061A JP5610987B2 (en) | 2010-11-04 | 2010-11-04 | Paper sheet processing equipment |
JP2010-247061 | 2010-11-04 | ||
PCT/JP2011/060903 WO2012060124A1 (en) | 2010-11-04 | 2011-05-12 | Paper sheet processing device |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20130241143A1 true US20130241143A1 (en) | 2013-09-19 |
Family
ID=46024248
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/883,556 Abandoned US20130241143A1 (en) | 2010-11-04 | 2011-05-12 | Paper sheet processing device |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20130241143A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP5610987B2 (en) |
CN (1) | CN103189903A (en) |
AU (1) | AU2011324660B2 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2012060124A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20160034734A1 (en) * | 2014-07-31 | 2016-02-04 | Keyence Corporation | Optical Information Reading Device |
US20160167883A1 (en) * | 2014-12-12 | 2016-06-16 | Asahi Seiko Co., Ltd. | Card processing apparatus |
US20190163561A1 (en) * | 2017-11-29 | 2019-05-30 | International Business Machines Corporation | Damage detection system |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4348656A (en) * | 1979-10-16 | 1982-09-07 | Ardac, Inc. | Security validator |
JPH0568989U (en) * | 1991-11-15 | 1993-09-17 | 株式会社新興製作所 | Information carrier |
US20090051109A1 (en) * | 2007-08-23 | 2009-02-26 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Transportation state evaluation method for a recording media processing device |
US7735657B2 (en) * | 1997-03-13 | 2010-06-15 | Shuffle Master, Inc. | Shuffling apparatus and method |
US20110210503A1 (en) * | 2008-09-24 | 2011-09-01 | Universal Entertainment Corporation | Paper sheet processing device |
Family Cites Families (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPS6111818Y2 (en) * | 1979-08-22 | 1986-04-14 | ||
JPS63218471A (en) * | 1987-03-04 | 1988-09-12 | Canon Inc | Image forming device |
JPH0568989A (en) * | 1991-09-10 | 1993-03-23 | Chiyoda Corp | Filter material receiving cage/air diffusing pipe monolithic device for treating waste water |
JP3801976B2 (en) * | 2002-11-19 | 2006-07-26 | 日立オムロンターミナルソリューションズ株式会社 | Card processing device |
JP4522072B2 (en) * | 2003-10-22 | 2010-08-11 | 日立オムロンターミナルソリューションズ株式会社 | Card processing device |
JP4680048B2 (en) * | 2005-12-13 | 2011-05-11 | 日立オムロンターミナルソリューションズ株式会社 | Card processing device |
JP5000341B2 (en) * | 2007-03-13 | 2012-08-15 | ローレル精機株式会社 | Banknote handling machine |
-
2010
- 2010-11-04 JP JP2010247061A patent/JP5610987B2/en active Active
-
2011
- 2011-05-12 US US13/883,556 patent/US20130241143A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2011-05-12 AU AU2011324660A patent/AU2011324660B2/en active Active
- 2011-05-12 CN CN2011800529490A patent/CN103189903A/en active Pending
- 2011-05-12 WO PCT/JP2011/060903 patent/WO2012060124A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4348656A (en) * | 1979-10-16 | 1982-09-07 | Ardac, Inc. | Security validator |
JPH0568989U (en) * | 1991-11-15 | 1993-09-17 | 株式会社新興製作所 | Information carrier |
US7735657B2 (en) * | 1997-03-13 | 2010-06-15 | Shuffle Master, Inc. | Shuffling apparatus and method |
US20090051109A1 (en) * | 2007-08-23 | 2009-02-26 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Transportation state evaluation method for a recording media processing device |
US20110210503A1 (en) * | 2008-09-24 | 2011-09-01 | Universal Entertainment Corporation | Paper sheet processing device |
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20160034734A1 (en) * | 2014-07-31 | 2016-02-04 | Keyence Corporation | Optical Information Reading Device |
US9542583B2 (en) * | 2014-07-31 | 2017-01-10 | Keyence Corporation | Optical information reading device |
US9946910B2 (en) | 2014-07-31 | 2018-04-17 | Keyence Corporation | Optical information reading device |
US10146977B2 (en) | 2014-07-31 | 2018-12-04 | Keyence Corporation | Optical information reading device |
US10747976B2 (en) | 2014-07-31 | 2020-08-18 | Keyence Corporation | Optical information reading device |
US20160167883A1 (en) * | 2014-12-12 | 2016-06-16 | Asahi Seiko Co., Ltd. | Card processing apparatus |
US9708125B2 (en) * | 2014-12-12 | 2017-07-18 | Asahi Seiko Co., Ltd. | Card processing apparatus |
US20190163561A1 (en) * | 2017-11-29 | 2019-05-30 | International Business Machines Corporation | Damage detection system |
US10713111B2 (en) * | 2017-11-29 | 2020-07-14 | International Business Machines Corporation | Damage detection system |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU2011324660A1 (en) | 2013-05-23 |
WO2012060124A1 (en) | 2012-05-10 |
CN103189903A (en) | 2013-07-03 |
JP2012098977A (en) | 2012-05-24 |
AU2011324660B2 (en) | 2016-11-10 |
JP5610987B2 (en) | 2014-10-22 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
EP0720132B1 (en) | A transaction terminal | |
US8371580B2 (en) | Paper sheet treating apparatus with upstream side touching faces | |
JP5191035B2 (en) | Paper sheet processing equipment | |
US8245830B2 (en) | Paper currency handling device | |
US7762547B2 (en) | Bill processing apparatus | |
US20130241143A1 (en) | Paper sheet processing device | |
JP5416018B2 (en) | Paper sheet processing equipment | |
US8678380B2 (en) | Paper sheet processing device | |
JP2008212196A (en) | Game medium processing equipment | |
JP2008276484A (en) | Card issuing device | |
CN102117415B (en) | Card-shaped medium processing device and control method for the same | |
US8474817B2 (en) | Paper sheet processing device | |
JP2007308233A (en) | Paper sheet handling apparatus | |
JP2008084153A (en) | Bill identification device | |
JP4813948B2 (en) | Used medium discarding device and medium issuing device | |
US20080211174A1 (en) | Medium processing apparatus | |
JP3895204B2 (en) | Card processing device | |
JP5311256B2 (en) | Card processing device, game medium discharge device, game medium discharge processing system | |
JP2022086060A (en) | Card reader and card discharge control method | |
JP5496384B2 (en) | Gift reader | |
JP2005242533A (en) | Card processor | |
JP2845989B2 (en) | Card reader / writer device | |
JP2005296255A (en) | Game medium processing device, and game machine | |
JP2009011343A (en) | Prize reader | |
JP2008191847A (en) | Paper money processor |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:NIREKI, TAKAO;REEL/FRAME:030350/0799 Effective date: 20130418 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- AFTER EXAMINER'S ANSWER OR BOARD OF APPEALS DECISION |