JP3936496B2 - Magnetic card transaction device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a magnetic card transaction apparatus including a magnetic card reader, and more particularly to a magnetic card transaction apparatus having a function for preventing unauthorized reading of a magnetic card.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The magnetic card reader is attached to a magnetic card transaction apparatus that performs various transactions using a magnetic card such as an ATM installed in a bank. The card insertion / ejection portion of the magnetic card reader generally includes a card slot for magnetic card insertion and ejection, a card insertion detector for detecting a magnetic card inserted therefrom, and a magnetic card inserted from the card slot. The card gate that guides the card gate and the shutter that opens and closes the card gate are arranged in this order in the card insertion direction.
[0003]
When the user inserts the magnetic card into the card slot, the magnetic stripe on the leading end side of the inserted magnetic card is detected by the card insertion detector, the shutter is opened, and the magnetic card can be taken inside. A card take-in roller pair constituting a magnetic card conveying means is arranged on the inner side of the shutter, and the inserted magnetic card is held by the card take-in roller pair and taken in.
[0004]
Here, when the magnetic card is inserted, the card insertion detector detects the insertion of the magnetic card so that the user does not feel uncomfortable such as the magnetic card being caught. The take-in roller pair is driven immediately to realize a magnetic card take-in operation that is smoothly and continuously performed by the user to insert the magnetic card.
[0005]
On the other hand, when the magnetic card is ejected, in order to make it easier for the user to remove the magnetic card from the card slot, an effort is made to increase the amount of card protrusion from the card slot when the ejection is completed as much as possible.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, in the magnetic card reader, when the magnetic card is inserted, the tip of the magnetic card is inserted into the card slot, and at the same time, the magnetic card is conveyed at a constant speed by the card take-in roller pair. Similarly, when the magnetic card is ejected, the magnetic card is conveyed at a constant speed by the card take-in roller pair until the magnetic card is substantially ejected from the card slot to the outside.
[0007]
Therefore, when a magnetic head is attached outside the card slot, the magnetic card moves along the magnetic head at a constant speed. For this reason, it is possible to read the recording information of the magnetic card by the magnetic head attached outside the card slot.
[0008]
In view of this point, an object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic card configured such that a magnetic card inserted into or ejected from a card slot is not read by a magnetic head attached to an outer position of the card slot. To propose a transaction apparatus.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention includes an apparatus case in which an opening for inserting and ejecting a magnetic card is formed, and a magnetic card reader disposed inside the opening, and the magnetic card The reader includes a card slot for inserting and ejecting a magnetic card, a card conveying means for taking in the magnetic card inserted from the card slot and ejecting it to the outside through the card slot, and a magnetic card taken in the inside. In a magnetic card transaction apparatus comprising a magnetic head for recording / reproducing data to / from a card, a disturbing magnetic field for interfering with reading of magnetic recording information of the magnetic card is provided in an area of the outer portion of the card slot It has a magnetic field generating means for generating.
[0010]
In the magnetic card transaction apparatus of the present invention, even if a magnetic head is illegally attached to the outside of the card slot, the magnetic card is inserted or ejected by using the illegal magnetic head due to the disturbing magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generating means. Can be prevented from being read.
[0011]
Here, the region where the disturbing magnetic field is generated may be a region including at least a passage path through which the magnetic stripe of the magnetic card passes in the outer portion of the card slot.
[0012]
In addition, the time when the disturbing magnetic field is generated is not to disturb the normal recording / reproducing operation by the internal magnetic head, and to prevent reading by the unauthorized external magnetic head from the card slot. It may be a point in time while the rear end of the inserted magnetic card is protruding from the card slot.
[0013]
From the same point of view, the time when the disturbing magnetic field is generated when the magnetic card is ejected may be the time after the leading end of the magnetic card ejected from the card slot protrudes from the card slot.
[0014]
The magnetic field generating means can be attached in the vicinity of the opening of the apparatus case or in the vicinity of the card slot in the magnetic card reader.
[0015]
On the other hand, the present invention is also characterized by a magnetic card reader provided with the magnetic field generating means having the above configuration.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a magnetic card transaction apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0017]
FIG. 1A is a schematic configuration diagram showing a main part of a magnetic card reader attached to a magnetic card transaction apparatus such as an ATM. The magnetic card transaction apparatus 2 of this example includes a card slot opening 4 opened in a front panel 3 which is a part of the apparatus case, and a magnetic card reader 1 attached and fixed to the back side of the opening 4. Yes.
[0018]
A magnetic card reader 1 of this example is inserted from a card slot 5 for inserting and ejecting a magnetic card, a magnetic head 7 for detecting card insertion for detecting a magnetic card 6 inserted therefrom, and a card slot 5. And a shutter 9 for opening and closing the introduction path 8, and these are arranged in this order along the card insertion direction.
[0019]
A card take-out / discharge roller pair 11 is arranged in the back of the shutter 9, and the magnetic card 6 taken in by the roller pair 11 is moved by a plurality of pairs of conveying rollers 12, 13 arranged at a predetermined interval. It is transported along a defined transport path. Each roller pair 11 to 13 is rotationally driven by a drive motor 14. A magnetic head 15 for magnetically recording / reproducing data with respect to the magnetic stripe formed on the magnetic card 6 passing therethrough is disposed at the position where the roller pair 12 is disposed.
[0020]
Next, reference numeral 16 denotes a drive control circuit that controls the drive of each unit, which can be constituted by a microcomputer. According to a control program stored in the ROM, the magnetic card 6 is transported and read by the magnetic head 15. Control the behavior. Reference numerals 17 and 18 denote photosensors for detecting the rear end of the ejected magnetic card 6 as will be described later.
[0021]
Here, the magnetic card transaction apparatus 2 of the present example includes a disturbing magnetic field generator 80 disposed on the back side of the opening 4. That is, the disturbing magnetic field generator 80 is attached to the back surface of the part of the front panel 3 where the opening 4 is formed and below the apparatus frame 1 a of the magnetic card reader 1.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 1B, the disturbing magnetic field generator 80 has a configuration in which a coil 82 is wound around an iron core 81. Under the control of the drive control circuit 16, the coil 82 has an AC or DC current. Is supplied. When a current is supplied, a disturbing magnetic field is generated in the opening 4 or the outer portion of the card slot 5. The generation region of the disturbing magnetic field is configured to include a passage region of a magnetic stripe formed on the magnetic card 6 inserted or ejected through the card slot 5.
[0023]
In the magnetic card transaction apparatus 2 of this example, even if the magnetic head 20 is illegally attached to the surface of the front panel 3 in which the card slot opening 4 is formed, as indicated by an imaginary line in FIG. Such a magnetic card reading operation by the magnetic head 20 can be blocked by the disturbing magnetic field by the disturbing magnetic field generator 80 as described below.
[0024]
Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2 and the operation explanatory diagram of FIG. 3, the magnetic card taking-in and magnetic card ejecting operations and the disturbing magnetic field generating operations in the magnetic card reader 1 of this example will be described.
[0025]
First, the taking-in operation of the magnetic card 6 will be described along the flowchart of FIG. When the user inserts the magnetic card 6 into the card slot 5, the magnetic stripe formed on the inserted magnetic card 6 is detected by the magnetic head 7 for card insertion detection (step ST1). Based on the detection signal from the magnetic head 7, the drive control circuit 16 activates the motor 14 to drive the conveyance system including the take-in roller pair 11. At the same time, the shutter 9 is opened (see step ST2, FIG. 3A).
[0026]
As a result, the magnetic card 6 can be taken inside. When the magnetic card 6 is inserted to the back beyond the position of the shutter 9, the leading end is inserted into the take-in and discharge roller pair 11, and the taking-in operation of the magnetic card 6 is started.
[0027]
Here, in this example, after starting the motor 14, when the rear end of the magnetic card 6 protrudes from the card slot 5, the disturbing magnetic field generator 80 is driven for a predetermined time so as to generate the disturbing magnetic field. I have to. The generation time of the disturbing magnetic field can be managed by the elapsed time from the detection time by the magnetic head 7 for card insertion detection (steps ST3 and ST4).
[0028]
Next, after the magnetic card 6 is taken up to the position of the magnetic head 15 for reading (step ST5), the magnetic head 6 performs reading or writing operation of the magnetic card 6 (step ST6).
[0029]
As described above, in the magnetic card taking-in operation of this example, the disturbing magnetic field is generated when the rear end of the magnetic card 6 protrudes from the card slot 5. As a result, for example, as shown by an imaginary line in FIG. 3, even if the magnetic head 20 is attached to the outside position of the card slot 5, for example, the surface of the front panel 3, the magnetic field inserted due to the generation of the disturbing magnetic field. The magnetic recording information on the card 6 cannot be completely read by the magnetic head 20. Therefore, reading of magnetic recording information by such a magnetic head 20 can be prevented.
[0030]
Next, the magnetic card ejection operation in the magnetic card reader 1 of this example will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In this case, the discharge operation of the magnetic card 6 is started by the roller pairs 11 to 13 (step ST11). When the rear end of the discharged magnetic card 6 in the discharge direction is detected by the photosensor 17 (step ST12), the disturbance The magnetic field generator 80 is driven and a disturbing magnetic field is generated (step ST13).
[0031]
Here, as shown in FIG. 3B, the state in which the rear end of the magnetic card 6 is detected by the photo sensor 17 is a state in which the front end side in the ejection direction of the magnetic card 6 protrudes from the card slot 5 by a predetermined amount. It is. Thereafter, after generating a disturbing magnetic field for a predetermined period, the driving of the disturbing magnetic field generator 80 is stopped (step ST14).
[0032]
Thereafter, when the rear end of the magnetic card 6 ejected by the photo sensor 18 disposed on the card slot side with respect to the photo sensor 17 is detected (step ST15), the motor 14 is stopped and the card ejection operation is performed. Exit.
[0033]
At the time when the card ejection operation is completed, the rear end of the magnetic card 6 is in a state of being caught by the take-in roller pair 11. When the user pulls the magnetic card 6 lightly, the magnetic card 6 can be taken out from the card slot 5. If the user forgets to take out the magnetic card 6, the take-in roller pair 11 is driven after a predetermined time and the magnetic card 6 can be collected inside.
[0034]
As described above, in the magnetic card transaction apparatus 2 of the present example, even when the magnetic card is ejected, the disturbing magnetic field is temporarily generated with the ejecting end portion protruding from the card slot 5 outside. ing. Therefore, even if the magnetic head 20 is attached to the front panel surface as shown by an imaginary line in FIG. 4, it is possible to prevent the magnetic recording information of the magnetic card 5 ejected by the magnetic head 20 from being read. .
[0035]
In this example, the disturbing magnetic field generator 80 is driven only once for a predetermined period when the magnetic card is inserted and ejected, but may be intermittently driven twice or more.
[0036]
Further, the disturbing magnetic field generator 80 may be fixed to the magnetic card transaction apparatus 2 side, or may be directly fixed to the frame of the magnetic card reader 1.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, since the magnetic card transaction apparatus of the present invention includes the disturbing magnetic field generating means, the magnetic field generated by the magnetic head illegally attached to the outside of the card slot by the disturbing magnetic field generated by the disturbing magnetic field generating means. Can prevent card reading.
[0038]
Further, in the present invention, the magnetic field generated by the disturbing magnetic field is set at the time of insertion and ejection of the magnetic card, so that the operation by the internal recording / reproducing magnetic head is obstructed without providing a magnetic shielding plate or the like. There is no.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1A is a schematic configuration diagram showing a main part of a magnetic card transaction apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram showing a disturbing magnetic field generator.
2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, wherein (a) is a flowchart showing an operation for taking in the magnetic card, and (b) is a flowchart showing an operation for ejecting the magnetic card.
FIG. 3A is an explanatory diagram for illustrating an operation when a magnetic card is taken in, and FIG. 3B is an explanatory diagram for illustrating an operation when the magnetic card is ejected.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a magnetic head is attached to the outside of the apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Magnetic card reader 2 Magnetic card transaction apparatus 3 Front panel 4 Card slot opening 5 Card slot 6 Magnetic card 7 Magnetic head 8 for card insertion detection Card introduction path 9 Shutter 11 Take-out and discharge roller pair 12, 13 Conveyance roller pair 14 Motor 15 Magnetic Head 16 Drive Control Circuits 17 and 18 Photo Sensor 20 Improperly Installed Magnetic Head 80 Interference Magnetic Field Generator 81 Iron Core 82 Coil

Claims (6)

An apparatus case in which an opening for inserting and ejecting a magnetic card is formed; and a magnetic card reader disposed inside the opening; and the magnetic card reader includes a card slot for inserting and ejecting a magnetic card; A card conveying means for taking in the magnetic card inserted from the card slot and discharging it to the outside through the card slot, and a magnetic head for recording / reproducing data with respect to the magnetic card taken inside. In the magnetic card transaction apparatus provided,
A magnetic card transaction apparatus comprising magnetic field generating means for generating a disturbing magnetic field for disturbing reading of magnetic recording information of the magnetic card in a region of an outer portion of the card slot . In claim 1,
2. The magnetic card transaction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field generating means generates a magnetic field in an area including a passage path through which a magnetic stripe of the magnetic card passes in an outer portion of the card slot. In claim 2,
A magnetic card transaction apparatus, wherein a magnetic field is generated by the magnetic field generating means at a time point when a rear end of the magnetic card inserted from the card slot is protruding from the card slot. In claim 2 or 3,
A magnetic field card transaction apparatus, wherein a magnetic field is generated by the magnetic field generating means at a time after a leading end of a magnetic card discharged from the card slot protrudes from the card slot. In any one of claims 1 to 4,
The magnetic card transaction apparatus, wherein the magnetic field generating means is attached in the vicinity of the opening in the apparatus case or on the magnetic card reader side. 5. A magnetic card reader comprising the magnetic field generating means according to claim 1.

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