Registers – Systems controlled by data bearing records – Banking systems
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-08
2001-10-02
Lee, Michael G. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Systems controlled by data bearing records
Banking systems
C235S381000, C235S492000, C235S451000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296182
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a coin-processing device for use in automatic vending machines, money changing machines, self-service machines and similar apparatus, which identifies inserted banknotes as authentic or counterfeit, and stores the authentic banknotes. It relates in particular to a banknote-processing device provided with an IC card reader/writer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, automatic vending machines, money changing machines, self-service machines and similar apparatus which handle banknotes for the purpose of purchasing goods and other services are equipped with a banknote-processing device, which serves to identify inserted banknotes as authentic or counterfeit and store authentic banknotes in a stacker.
Meanwhile, in recent years it has become increasingly common to purchase goods from an automatic vending machine not by using currency, but by using so-called IC cards on which monetary and other information is recorded within an IC recording area.
When an IC card of this sort is to be used for the purpose of purchasing goods, a card reader/writer must be installed within the automatic vending or self-service machine to allow access to the IC recording area of the card in order to record or reproduce the monetary and other information stored there.
Currently there are proposals for various forms of access from the card reader/writer to the IC card, including non-contact access via an antenna or other means of communication, access by way of direct contact with the IC recording area, and a combination of the two.
Meanwhile, there are proposals for various types of card to correspond to each of these types of access to the card reader/writer. These include cards having an embedded antenna which relays information from the IC recording area without contact, those which relay information directly through contact with the card reader/writer, and those which have a combination of both functions.
When viewed from the perspective of the automatic vending or self-service machine to which the banknote-processing device is fitted, there is no particular problem of installation space so long as only a card reader/writer is installed within the automatic vending or self-service machine. However, when a card reader/writer is to be installed in an automatic vending machine where a banknote-processing device or coin-processing device is provided as conventional vending machine or self-service machine, it becomes necessary to conserve space within the automatic vending or self-service machine for the card reader/writer. Thus, there arises a problem that the storage space for goods within the automatic vending or self-service machine, which is already restricted, will become even more restricted so that it will become impossible to ensure sufficient space for storing goods within the machine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With a view to solving the abovementioned problem, it is an object of the present invention to provide a banknote-processing device having an IC card reader/writer.
In order to achieve this object, in the first banknote-processing device with a card reader/writer function to which the present invention pertains, a card reader/writer for the purpose of recording and reproducing information to and from the IC recording area of an IC card is fitted within the front mask, where the banknote insertion slot is formed.
In the second banknote-processing device with a card reader/writer function to which the present invention pertains, an antenna for the purpose of communicating with the IC card is provided within the front mask, where the banknote insertion slot is formed, and a card holder for the purpose of housing the IC card is provided on the front mask cover with which the front mask is covered.
In the third banknote-processing device with a card reader/writer function to which the present invention pertains, a card reader/writer for the purpose of recording and reproducing information to and from the IC recording area of an IC card is provided within the front mask cover which covers the front mask where the banknote insertion slot is formed, and this front mask cover is capable of being attached and detached freely.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4669596 (1987-06-01), Capers et al.
patent: 5195739 (1993-03-01), Watabe
patent: 5454332 (1995-10-01), Fennelly et al.
patent: 5635696 (1997-06-01), Dabrowski
patent: 5679945 (1997-10-01), Renner et al.
patent: 5709293 (1998-01-01), Ishida et al.
patent: 5887695 (1999-03-01), Hatamachi et al.
patent: 5929414 (1999-07-01), Saitoh
patent: 6016954 (2000-01-01), Abe et al.
Ota Michihiro
Yoshida Hiroaki
Franklin Jamara A.
Hogan & Hartson LLP
Kabushiki Kaisha Nippon Conlux
Lee Michael G.
LandOfFree
Banknote-processing device with card reader/writer function does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Banknote-processing device with card reader/writer function, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Banknote-processing device with card reader/writer function will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2577432