# US 9,521,278 B1 · Magnetic data processing device and printing apparatus having the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,521,278 B1 - Document ID: US9521278B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 14/740,375 - Filed: 2015-06-16 - Published: 2016-12-22 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-16 - Assignees: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Toshiharu Sekino - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9521278B1 ## CPC - H04N 1/00339: {with an electronic or magnetic storage medium I/O device (RFID or the like H04N1/00342)} - G06K 7/084: {sensing magnetic material by relative movement detecting flux changes without altering its magnetised state} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS ## Abstract A magnetic data processing device includes a magnetic head configured to read data from or write data to a magnetic stripe extending in a first direction on a medium, while moving in the first direction, a pad facing the magnetic head and extending in the first direction, and a controller configured to cause the pad to be in contact with the magnetic head and cause the magnetic head to move in the first direction while being in contact with the pad. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A magnetic data processing device, comprising: a storage device that stores: a first predetermined elapsed time period, a second predetermined elapsed time period different from the first predetermined elapsed time period, and a current cleaning execution counter; a magnetic head configured to read data from or write data to a magnetic stripe extending in a first direction on a medium, while moving in the first direction; a pad facing the magnetic head and extending in the first direction; and a controller configured to: increment the current cleaning execution counter when a predetermined event occurs, determine whether the current cleaning execution counter is equal to either the first or second predetermined elapsed time period, if the current cleaning execution counter is determined to be equal to the first predetermined elapsed time period, perform a first magnetic head cleaning operation including causing the pad to be in contact with the magnetic head and causing the magnetic head to move in the first direction while being in contact with the pad, and if the current cleaning execution counter is determined to be equal to the second predetermined elapsed time period, perform a second magnetic head cleaning operation different from the first magnetic head cleaning operation, including causing the pad to be in contact with the magnetic head and causing the magnetic head to move in the first direction while being in contact with the pad. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The magnetic data processing device according to claim 1, further comprising: an actuator configured to move the pad towards the magnetic head. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The magnetic data processing device according to claim 1, further comprising: an actuator configured to move the magnetic head towards the pad. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The magnetic data processing device according to claim 1, further comprising: a conveying unit configured to convey the medium between the magnetic head and the pad, in a second direction that is different from the first direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The magnetic data processing device according to claim 1, wherein the pad has a polishing surface that contacts the magnetic head when cleaning the magnetic head. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The magnetic data processing device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to, while performing the first and second magnetic head cleaning operations, reciprocate the magnetic head along the first direction while being in contact with the pad for cleaning, and change the number of times of reciprocation depending on whether the first magnetic head cleaning operation or the second magnetic head cleaning operation is being performed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The magnetic data processing device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to, while performing the first and second magnetic head cleaning operations, cause a pressing force between the magnetic head and the pad to be changed depending on whether the first magnetic head cleaning operation or the second magnetic head cleaning operation is being performed. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The magnetic data processing device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to, while performing the first and second magnetic head cleaning operations, change a moving speed of the magnetic head depending on whether the first magnetic head cleaning operation or the second magnetic head cleaning operation is being performed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to, while performing the first and second magnetic head cleaning operations, reciprocate the magnetic head along the first direction while being in contact with the pad for cleaning, and change the number of times of reciprocation depending on whether the first magnetic head cleaning operation or the second magnetic head cleaning operation is being performed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to, while performing the first and second magnetic head cleaning operations, cause a pressing force between the magnetic head and the pad to be changed depending on whether the first magnetic head cleaning operation or the second magnetic head cleaning operation is being performed. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to, while performing the first and second magnetic head cleaning operations, chance a moving speed of the magnetic head depending on whether the first magnetic head cleaning operation or the second magnetic head cleaning operation is being performed. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined event is an elapsed time period from a recent magnetic head cleaning operation. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The printing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the elapsed time period is an elapsed operation time of the magnetic data processing device since the recent magnetic head cleaning operation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The magnetic data processing device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined event is an elapsed time period from a recent magnetic head cleaning operation. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The magnetic data processing device according to claim 14, wherein the elapsed time period is an elapsed operation time of the magnetic data processing device since the recent magnetic head cleaning operation. ### Claim 16 A printing apparatus comprising: a printing unit configured to print an image on a medium having a magnetic stripe extending in a first direction thereon; a conveying unit configured to convey the medium in a second direction different from the first direction; a storage unit that stores: a first predetermined elapsed time period, a second predetermined elapsed time period, and a current cleaning execution counter; a magnetic head configured to read data from or write data to the magnetic stripe, while the medium is conveyed in the first direction; a pad facing the magnetic head and extending in the first direction; and a controller configured to: increment the current cleaning execution counter when a predetermined event occurs, determine whether the current cleaning execution counter is equal to either the first or second predetermined elapsed time period, if the current cleaning execution counter is determined to be equal to the first predetermined elapsed time period, perform a first magnetic head cleaning operation including causing the pad to be in contact with the magnetic head and causing the magnetic head to move in the first direction while being in contact with the pad, and if the current cleaning execution counter is determined to be equal to the second predetermined elapsed time period, perform a second magnetic head cleaning operation different from the first magnetic head cleaning operation, including causing the pad to be in contact with the magnetic head and causing the magnetic head to move in the first direction while being in contact with the pad. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The printing apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising: an actuator configured to move the pad towards the magnetic head. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The printing apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising: an actuator configured to move the magnetic head towards the pad. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The printing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the conveying unit is further configured to convey the medium between the magnetic head and the pad. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The printing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the pad has a polishing surface that contacts the magnetic head when cleaning the magnetic head.