Abstract:
A data media processing device holds a second data media, such as magnetic card, until a first data media, such as an IC card, is issued. A temporary card holding unit then returns the held second data media thereafter. The data media processing device has a media path switching mechanism to switch to either a first data media issuing path section for issuing the first data media card, or a temporary card holding unit for holding the second data media card, either of which follows the transportation path connecting to the card slot. The first data media issuing path section and the temporary card holding unit form an elevator unit in a single block.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention concerns a data media processing device used in an automated transaction device, such as an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) in a banking system. The media processing device can handle more than two types of media, such as a magnetic card and an IC card, at the same time. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the following description, the data media processing device refers to its use both as a card processing device or a card issuing device. In recent years, it is well known that there are card processing devices which perform the data processing for both magnetic cards and IC cards at the same time. 
     Discussed below is a shortcoming if such card processing devices are used which process the data for different types of cards. 
     When a bank customer inserts a banking card (magnetic card) into the ATM to transfer a certain amount of money from the account of the banking card to an IC card used, for example, an electric money system, the magnetic card inserted into the conventional card processing device must be returned to the customer before the IC card is issued. This is because the conventional card processing device has a single transportation path in it, and the magnetic card which is already processed must be returned first in order to issue the IC card. Further, in this configuration, it has no structure to retrieve the card even when the card is detected as an invalid or illegal card. 
     In actual use, it is preferable to return the banking card (magnetic card) after the entire transaction is completed, because it is necessary for the bank to check the banking card and any unlawful action of the customer. In order to return the banking card, after an IC card is issued, to solve the problem mentioned above, it was necessary to install in the ATM both a magnetic card reader to process magnetic cards, and an IC card reader to transfer the amount separately. This configuration, however, causes the ATM to be large and more expensive. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a data media processing device or a card issuing device which handles the different types of cards efficiently, and which is compact and inexpensive. In order to meet such requirements, the device, according to this invention, not only processes the data after inserting the different types of cards and returns them, but also it has a practical processing structure for temporarily holding and retrieving the first inserted card. 
     The data media processing device to process the data on a data media according to this invention is provided with a transportation path positioned immediately behind a data media slot to insert, return, and issue the data media therefrom. The device includes a data processing unit to process the data media, a first data media issuing unit to stack a plurality of first data media to be issued, a first data media issuing path section having a first data media issuing path positioned in front of the first data media issuing unit, which issues the first data media, a temporary card holding unit to hold a second data media temporarily, after it is inserted from the data media slot, and a media path switching mechanism to switch to either the first data media issuing path section or the temporary card holding unit, either of which connects to the transportation path. 
     The first data media issuing path section and the temporary card holding unit are stacked on top of each other in a vertical direction, and the section and unit are switchable and selectively positioned to follow to and from the transportation path, and the data media slot. 
     The first data media issuing path section and the temporary card holding unit are switchable, in one aspect of the invention, by activating a rack and pinion mechanism. 
     The temporary card holding unit has a media retrieving unit to retrieve the second data media when the second data media is to be collected. 
     The temporary card holding unit holds the second data media until the first data media is issued, and the temporary card holding unit returns the held second data media thereafter. 
     The first data media issuing path section and the temporary card holding unit form an elevator unit, and the elevator unit is a single block which is replaceable for maintenance purposes. 
     The first data media can be an IC card, and the second data media can be a magnetic card. 
     In the data media processing device according to the present invention, the first media (such as IC cards) are stacked for issuing from the device, the second media (such as magnetic card) are inserted into the media slot from the outside the device. The second media is, then, transported into the card transportation path, which is located inside the device, and the data on the second media is read by a data processing unit. The second media is, then, transported into the temporary card holding unit for being held temporarily. After this step, the media issuing path unit is moved and leveled to the height of the transportation path by a path switching means. The first media is, then, transported from the media stacker unit, and processed by the data processing unit according to the data of the second media, and issued to the customer. After the first media is issued, then, the second media is returned from the temporary card holding unit to the customer. 
     The present invention provides two kinds of media processing functions in a single device which has a single transportation path located behind the media entrance. With this configuration, it is possible to return the second media last even though it is inserted first in order to perform the data processing efficiently. The device according to this invention has a simple structure of the transportation path, and this makes the device compact and inexpensive. 
     Because the device according to the present invention has a path switching means to switch the entire block of the media transportation unit and the temporary card holding unit, it is possible to switch the path easily, for example, without easily deforming the cards. 
     Because this device is provided with the card retrieving means to retrieve the second media, it is possible to retrieve the second invalid or illegal media temporarily held in the temporary card holding unit inside the device for retrieving purposes. 
     Because this device is provided with a combined replaceable unit of the media issuing path unit and the temporary card holding unit, it results in ease of operation by an operator when he retrieves the media or performs maintenance work. It is also easy to replace the combined replaceable unit to handle new types of media when the device handles other types of media. 
     When an IC card is used as the first media mentioned above, and magnetic card is used as the second media, this device can accept the magnetic card, and issue the IC card which is recorded with the data according to the data in the magnetic card. If the magnetic card inserted is invalid or not useful, then the device is able to retrieve the magnetic card. This device according to this invention, thus, can handle both of the magnetic and IC cards efficiently. 
    
    
     BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the card issuing device according to the present invention when a magnetic card is inserted and returned. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the side view of the card issuing device when an IC card is dispensed. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of the control unit for the card issuing device. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart of the operation of the card issuing device. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in FIG. 1, a card issuing device  11  includes a card slot  12  at the front, a card transportation path unit  13  which follows the card slot  12 , a card path switching unit  14 , and a card issuing unit  15  in that order. 
     Card transportation path unit  13  is formed with a plurality of pairs of upper transportation rollers  13   a,  and lower transportation roller  13   b  which are provided along the card transport direction. Upper and lower transportation rollers  13   a,    13   b  are driven by main transportation motor M 1  in forward and reverse directions. These rollers clip and transport an IC card c 1  and a magnetic card c 2  which are led to the card transportation path unit  13 . 
     Magnetic card head  16  and IC card contact head  17  are provided along card transportation path unit  13 . Magnetic card head  16  contacts with the magnetic stripe of magnetic card c 2  to read the data, and the IC card contact head  17  contacts with the contact terminal of IC card c 1  to write the data. 
     Card path switching unit  14  is provided behind card transportation path unit  13 . It includes an elevator unit  20  and card retrieving box  21 . Elevator unit  20  comprises IC card issuing path section  18  for the IC card c 1  and temporary card holding unit  19  for the magnetic card c 2 . These are stacked on top of each other in a vertical direction. 
     In the elevator unit  20 , an IC card issuing path section  18  is provided parallel to the card transportation path unit  13 . The IC card issuing path section  18  for the IC card c 1  is provided adjacent to a temporary card holding unit  19  for magnetic card c 2 . When elevator unit  20  goes up, both the IC card issuing path section  18  and the temporary card holding unit  19  are elevated so that one of these can be leveled to the same height as card transportation path  13   p.  The elevation mechanism in elevator unit  20  is driven by an elevator motor M 2  in a forward and a reverse direction, and, in a preferred embodiment, activated by a rack and pinion structure. Elevator unit  20  moves up and down the entire block of the card path switching unit  14  so that either the IC card issuing path section  18  or the temporary card holding unit  19  are at the same level as the card transportation path  13   p.  In the rest mode or waiting mode, the temporary card holding unit  19  in the elevator unit  20  is level with the card transportation path  13   p  for accepting the magnetic card c 2 . 
     When the temporary card holding unit  19  is in the waiting mode at the same height as card transportation path  13   p,  the card slot  12  for inserting and returning a card, and the temporary card holding unit  19  for temporarily holding and retrieving the card are aligned in a straight line. When a magnetic card c 2  is inserted at the card slot  12  in the waiting mode, the magnetic card c 2  is processed at the magnetic card head  16 , and further transported to the temporary card holding unit  19  in the card path switching unit  14 . Therefore, thus the magnetic card c 2  is temporary held there until the transaction is completed. 
     On the other hand, when elevator unit  20  moves lower and IC card issuing path section  18  is level to the card transportation path  13   p  as shown in FIG. 2, the IC card dispensing slot of IC card cassette  22 , card issuing path  18   p,  and the card transportation path  13   p  are aligned in a single line to be ready for issuing the IC card. In this mode, when an issuing command for issuing an IC card is input, IC card c 1  is dispensed from an IC card cassette  22  of the IC card issuing unit  15 , and transported via the card issuing path  18   p,  and the card transportation path  13   p  to the card slot  12 . 
     Temporary card holding unit  19  is also used for retrieving the magnetic cards c 2 . When elevator unit  20  comes down, the rear of the temporary card holding unit  19  faces toward the card retrieving box  21 . If the temporary card holding unit  19  receives a retrieving command to retrieve the card, it further transports the magnetic card c 2  currently held to card retrieving box  21  which is provided behind the temporary card holding unit  19 . The magnetic card c 2  is retrieved, for example, if the card is detected as an illegal card or an invalid card. 
     Card path switching unit  14  is located between card transportation path unit  13  on its front side, and the card issuing unit  15  on its is back side, and replaceable easily as a whole unit. This configuration makes it easy for an operator to access the retrieved cards and to perform the maintenance work. It enables replacement of the entire unit when a financial or other institution wishes to change the type of cards to issue. 
     Card issuing unit  15  is provided behind card path switching unit  14 . It comprises the IC card cassette  22  to stack the IC cards  21  to be issued, and a card dispensing mechanism  23  to dispense each IC card c 1 . 
     In the IC card cassette  22 , a number of IC cards c 1  are stacked in a vertical direction. The bottom slot of IC card cassette  22  is level to the card dispensing mechanism  23 , and the dispensing mechanism dispenses the IC card c 1  in the horizontal direction. The dispensed IC card c 1  travels through card issuing path  18   p  and the card transportation path  13   p  to the outside, and is dispensed from card slot  12 . 
     A card transportation sensor S is provided above the card transportation path  13   p,  a card issuing sensor S 1  is provided above the card issuing path  18   p,  and a card holding sensor S 2  is provided in the temporary card holding unit  19  to detect if the magnetic card is already there. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of the control circuit in the card issuing device  11 . A CPU  31  controls each unit according to a program stored in a ROM  32 , and control data is read from and written into a RAM  33 . 
     The main transportation motor M 1  drives the card transportation path unit  13  in both the forward and reverse directions. The card transportation path unit  13  provides a common path for IC cards c 1 , and magnetic cards c 2 . 
     An elevator motor M 2  drives the elevator unit  20  up and down according to operational commands for IC card c 1  and magnetic card c 2 . 
     A card issuing motor M 3  drives the card dispensing mechanism  23 , and dispenses an IC card c 1  from the IC card cassette  22  during an IC card dispensing mode. 
     A card holding and retrieving motor M 4  drives temporary card holding unit  19  to hold the magnetic card c 2  temporally, and further drives, in a forward direction, to retrieve the magnetic card c 2  into card retrieving box  21 , or in the reverse direction to return the magnetic card c 2  from card slot  12 . 
     When each sensor S, S 1 , and S 2  detects if the card is there and how the current status is, CPU  31  controls each motor M 1  through M 4 , and the cards c 1  and c 2  are transported according to the detection of the sensors. The CPU  31  also controls the transportation according to the read magnetic data. 
     The data processing performed in the card issuing device  11  disclosed above is shown in the flow chart in FIG.  4 . 
     This flow chart shows an example when a bank customer uses this card issuing device  11  in the electronic money system. In this case, a certain amount of funds are transferred from the bank account of the magnetic card to the new IC card. 
     Magnetic card c 2  is inserted into card slot  12 . The card transportation sensor S detects, and CPU  31  activates main transportation motor M 1  by the detection at sensor S. Magnetic card c 2  is forwarded in the card transportation path  13   p  (step n 1 ). 
     When magnetic card c 2  passes through magnetic card head  16 , the magnetic data recorded on the magnetic stripe of card magnetic card c 2  is read (steps n 2 -n 3 ). 
     The CPU  31  judges if the read data is correct, and if yes, magnetic card c 2  is forwarded to the temporary card holding unit  19  to hold the magnetic card c 2  (step n 4 ). 
     When the CPU  31  allows the issue of an IC card  21 , the elevator unit  20  in the temporary status is then lowered, and card issuing path  18   p  is leveled to the card transportation path  13   p  and the bottom of card issuing unit  15  (step n 5 ). 
     After the entire card path for issuing the IC card is prepared, the card issuing motor M 3  is driven to dispense an IC card c 1  from IC card cassette  22 . The dispensed card c 1  is transported ahead through the card issuing path  18   p  and card transportation path  13   p.  After the transferred amount from the bank account is recorded to the IC card c 1  by IC card contact head  17 , the IC card c 1  is issued from card slot  12  (step n 8 ). 
     After the IC card c 1  is issued, as shown in FIG. 1, elevator unit  20  is brought up to level the temporary card holding unit  19  to the card transportation path  13   p  in order to reset to the original position for waiting for the next magnetic card to be inserted (step n 7 ). 
     After this step, card holding and retrieving motor M 4  and main transportation motor M 1  are driven in the reverse direction to return the magnetic card c 1  held in the temporary card holding unit  19  from the card slot  12 , and the transaction is completed (step n 8 ). 
     If the data read from the magnetic card is judged as invalid or illegal data, card holding and retrieving motor M 4  is driven in the direction for retrieving the magnetic card c 2  to transport it from the temporary card holding unit  19  to the card retrieving box  21  (step n 9 -n 10 ). 
     Because the card transportation path unit  13  is followed by the card path switching unit  14  which is switchable to function as either the card issuing path section or the temporary card holding unit, the card slot and the card transportation path are followed by different paths. This configuration enables the processing of two different cards efficiently, so as to return the first received magnetic card after the IC card is issued. This enables the building the card path to be more compact, and at a lower cost. 
     Because the IC issuing path and the card holding unit are stacked in the vertical direction, it is easy to switch the path without damaging the card specially if the card is not easily bent while switching. The card issuing device according to this invention can easily retrieve the invalid and illegal cards from the temporary cardholding unit directly to the retrieving box. Since the card issuing path and the temporary card holding unit are configured by a single unit block, it is easy for the maintenance people to take the retrieved cards out, and to perform the maintenance work. If the type of the cards to be issued is changed, it is only necessary to replace the unit block according to the new type of card. 
     Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the specification and the practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification be considered as exemplary only, with the true scope and spirit of the invention also being indicated by the following claims.