JP3045938B2 - Card reader card transport mechanism - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card transport mechanism for a card reader capable of recording and reproducing magnetic information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A card having a magnetic recording layer capable of recording and reproducing magnetic information is urged by a magnetic head and the head while being conveyed along a conveyance path while being sandwiched between a driving roller and a pad roller of a card reader. The magnetic processing is performed by being sandwiched by a head pad roller. The drive roller is disposed near the card insertion slot and coaxially with the magnetic head, and each pad roller is individually urged against the drive roller.

[0003]

In order to reduce the size of the card reader, it is effective to shorten the transport path. However, if the transport path is shortened, the space becomes smaller. There is a problem that the urging mechanism is unreasonable, and it is troublesome to adjust the pad pressure of each pad roller, so that a proper card conveying force cannot be obtained and the efficiency of maintenance and inspection is not efficient. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a card transport mechanism that achieves appropriate card transport force and maintenance / inspection efficiency in a short transport path by reducing the number of parts, and to provide a low-cost and small-sized card reader. .

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a card transport mechanism for a card reader, comprising: a pair of drive rollers arranged in parallel on an upstream side and a downstream side in a card transport direction and driven to rotate by a drive motor; A pair of pad rollers, which are respectively opposed to the pair of drive rollers, and are slidably supported by the support shafts in the directions of contact and separation with respect to the respective drive rollers, and a pad lever that contacts the respective support shafts. A rotating fulcrum shaft provided on an intermediate line of action of the pad roller, for swinging the pad lever in the direction in which the pad rollers are arranged, and for supporting the pad lever slidably in the direction of contact and separation with the support shaft; An elastic member provided on the intermediate action line and biasing the pad roller against the drive roller.
In the card transport mechanism of the card reader according to the second aspect, the rotation fulcrum shaft according to the first aspect is urged by an elastic member.

[0005]

According to the present invention, when the card is positioned between the drive roller and the pad roller on the upstream side in the card transport direction, the support shaft of the pad roller lifts the pad roller in the direction away from the drive roller, and the support shaft The pad lever swings downstream about the pivot shaft, and the biasing force of the elastic member provided on the intermediate action line of the pad roller is applied to the pad roller on the upstream side in the card transport direction. When the taken-in card is conveyed between both the pair of drive rollers and the pad roller arranged side by side, the entire pad lever is lifted in the separating direction by the support shaft of each pad roller, and the pad lever is moved on the intermediate action line of the pad roller. Is evenly applied to each pad roller. When the card is transported between the drive roller and the pad roller on the downstream side in the card transport direction, the support shaft of the pad roller lifts the pad roller in a direction away from the drive roller, and the pad abuts on the support shaft. The lever swings upstream about the pivot shaft, and the urging force of the elastic member provided on the intermediate line of action of the pad roller is applied to the pad roller on the downstream side in the card transport direction.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 10, reference numeral 1 denotes an air boarding pass (hereinafter, referred to as an "ATB ticket") which is an example of a card. This AT
The B ticket 1 is a flexible magnetic ticket made of a thin paper material in the direction of transport of the ticket and has print data (not shown) such as a departure place and a destination on the surface thereof. Is displayed, and a magnetic stripe 1a as a magnetic recording layer is provided on one side of the back surface along the longitudinal direction of the ticket. Data including print data on the front surface is magnetically recorded on the magnetic stripe 1a. The ATB ticket 1 is continuously loaded in a stocker (not shown), is inserted from the first insertion slot 13 and the second insertion slot 14 of the card reader 2 shown in FIG. Separated one by one.

A card reader 2 shown in FIG. 1 is a card transport mechanism 5 or 6 for transporting an ATB ticket 1 in a first transport path 3 and a second transport path 4, respectively, and reads magnetic information of the ATB ticket 1. Heads 7 and 8, third transport path 9 connected to both first transport path 3 and second transport path 4, and transport means 10
And a recovery path 11 connected to the third transport path 9.

The third conveying path 9 has its end 9a communicating with the discharge port 12 and its starting end 9b connected to the end 3 of each of the conveying paths 3 and 4.
a, 4a and the insertion side 11a of the recovery path 11. The first transport path 3 and the second transport path 4 are curved paths, and their starting ends 3b and 4b are connected to the first insertion port 13 and the second
It communicates with the insertion opening 14 respectively. Conveying means 10
Is mainly composed of a drive motor 15 that can be rotated forward and backward, drive rollers 16A and 16B driven by the drive motor 15, and driven rollers 17A and 17B.

Pulleys 18 and 19 around which a belt 20 extends are fixed to a drive shaft 15a of the drive motor 15 and a shaft 16Aa of the drive roller 16A. Drive roller 16
A and the drive roller 16B have their shafts 16Aa and 16B
A belt 21C wound around belt pulleys 21A and 21B fixed to a of FIG. The driven rollers 17A and 17B are
A, 16B. A magnetic head 22A is provided coaxially with the driving roller 16B so as to face the third transport path 9, and a head pad roller 22B is provided on the side facing the magnetic head 22A by a biasing means (not shown). 22A. Magnetic head 22A
Has a function of writing and reading magnetic information.

Since the card transport mechanisms 5 and 6 have the same structure, only the card transport mechanism 5 will be described, and the description of the card transport mechanism 6 will be omitted. Card transport mechanism 5
Are paired with a pair of drive rollers 23A, 23A which are arranged in parallel in the card transport direction indicated by a double
3B, pad rollers 24A, 24B and pad roller 24, which are disposed opposite to the drive rollers 23A, 23B, respectively.
It mainly comprises a pad lever 25 that urges the drive rollers A and 24B against the drive rollers 23A and 23B.

The driving rollers 23A and 23B are
And the support shaft 27, respectively, and faces the first transport path 3 near the first insertion port 13 from below the transport path 3. The support shaft 27 is, as shown in FIG.
Are rotatably supported by the frame 29 and the lower guide plate 32 of the first transport path 3 via bearings 30C and 30D. One end 27a of the support shaft 27 located outside the frame 29
, A pulley 31A is fixed. The drive shaft 26 is
As shown in FIG. 2, the frame 29 and the frame 28 serving as a reference surface of the first transport path 3 are rotatably supported via bearings 30A and 30B and penetrate both frames 28 and 29. One end 2 of the drive shaft 26 located outside the frame 28
A pulley 32A is fixed to 6a, and a pulley 31 is attached to the other end 26b of the drive shaft 26 located outside the frame 29.
B is fixed. A connecting belt 31C is wound around the pulleys 31A and 31B.

A drive roller 23C fixed to a rotatable support shaft 33 faces the first transport path 3 located between the drive roller 23B and the drive roller 16A shown in FIG. A driven roller 35 supported by a rotating shaft 34 rotated by an actuator (not shown) is pressed against the driving roller 23C. The pulley 32A includes a drive pulley 32B fixed to the output shaft 5B of the drive motor 5A, a pulley 32C fixed to the support shaft 33, and a pulley 32 fixed to a support shaft 36 rotatably provided on the frame 28.
D and a drive belt 32 </ b> E hung around D.

The pad rollers 24A and 24B are supported by
It is rotatably supported by 7, 38. Support shafts 37, 38
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a pair of bearing grooves 39 formed in a guide block 39 fixed to the frames 28 and 29 and disposed above the drive rollers 23A and 23B.
A, 39B dropped from above and supported
The pad rollers 24A and 24B are arranged substantially at the center of the first transport path 3. The bearing grooves 39A, 39B extend in the vertical direction, which is the direction of contact and separation indicated by the double-headed arrow D in FIG.
And is in contact with the drive rollers 23A and 23B.

A first transporting path indicated by a double-headed arrow A in FIG. 5 has a spring hook pin 40 fitted into a guide block 39 located between the bearing grooves 39A and 39B from the lower surface 39C side of the block 39. 3 is formed with a step 39D extending in the width direction. Notches 39E and 39F larger than the opening are formed at both ends of the step portion 39D. Above the step portion 39D, a concave portion 39G extending in the width direction of the first transport path 3 is formed. A pivot 41, which supports the pad lever 25, is inserted into the recess 39G from above.

The pad lever 25 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (b) and (c), a pair of spring hook projections 25b and 25c are formed on the upper part 25a of the U-shaped section and extend in the width direction of the first transport path 3. ing. In the side surfaces 25d and 25e of the pad lever 25, holes 42 through which the rotation fulcrum shaft 41 is inserted and fixed on an intermediate action line L bisecting the side surface are respectively formed. The spring hook projections 25b and 25c are also arranged on the intermediate action line L.

The pad lever 25 to which the rotation fulcrum shaft 41 is fixed is inserted into the recess 39G so that the pad fulcrum shaft 41 is inserted in the recess 39G in the card transport direction with the rotation fulcrum shaft 41 as the center, as shown in FIG. And is slidably supported in the vertical direction, which is the direction of contact and separation, and
Lower edge 25A located before and after the 1, the support shaft 37 and 25B,
38. That is, the driving roller 23A is
The drive roller 23B is arranged on the downstream side in the card conveying direction, and is arranged on the upstream side in the card conveying direction with the intermediate action line L as a boundary.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, tension coil springs 43 and 44 are locked between the spring hook projections 25b and 25c and both ends of the spring hook pin 40. The pad rollers 24A, 24B are brought into contact with the driving rollers 2 by pressing the support rollers 25A, 25B against the support shafts 37, 38.
3A, 23B.

At a portion of the guide block 39 located on the frame 28 side, a support shaft 47 for rotatably supporting the head pad roller 45 is disposed in the first transport path 3 so as to face the head pad roller 45. I have. The head pad roller 45 is arranged to face the magnetic head 7. Support shaft 4
7 is a leaf spring 4 having one end fixed to the guide block 39.
6 urges the magnetic head 7 with a constant pressing force.

The drive motor 5A is a stepping motor that can be rotated forward and backward. When the card sensor S1 provided near the first insertion slot 13 detects the insertion of the ATB ticket 1, it is driven to rotate in the forward rotation direction. When the card sensor S2 provided in the vicinity of the drive roller 23C detects the ATB ticket 1 being conveyed, the card sensor S2 stops at the timing of stopping the connection portion C between the detected ATB ticket 1 and the next ATB ticket 1 near the cutter K. It has become. The drive motor 5A is driven in the reverse rotation direction when an error in reading magnetic information by the magnetic head 7 occurs. The forward rotation direction is AT
A rotation direction in which the B ticket 1 is conveyed toward the discharge port 12, which is a counterclockwise direction in FIG.
The rotation direction in which the B ticket 1 is conveyed toward the insertion slot 13 indicates the clockwise direction. The card sensor S1 controls the drive motor 5A and controls the drive motor 15 to rotate in the forward rotation direction when the ATB ticket 1 is detected.

According to such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 7, when the ATB ticket 1 is inserted into the first insertion slot 13 and detected by the card sensor S1, the drive motor 5A is driven in the forward rotation direction. The drive rollers 23A and 23B rotate counterclockwise, and the ATB ticket 1 is taken into the first transport path 3. At this time, when the ATB ticket 1 enters between the drive roller 23A and the pad roller 24A, the pad roller 24A
Is lifted upward away from the driving row 23A. Then, the support shaft 37 moves upward in the bearing groove 39A, the lower end edge 25A is pushed up, and the pad lever 25 rotates counterclockwise about the rotation support shaft 41.
However, the lower end edge 25B and the support shaft 38 of the pad roller 24B
Are in contact with each other, and in fact, the contact portion P between the lower end edge 25B and the support shaft 38 serves as a fulcrum, and the pad lever 25 rotates. Therefore, the urging force of the tension coil springs 43 and 44 is applied to the pad roller 24A, and the driving roller 23A
The ATB ticket 1 is sandwiched between the ATB ticket 1 and the pad roller 24A.

When the ATB ticket 1 further advances and enters between the driving roller 23B and the pad roller 24B as shown in FIG. 8, the support shaft 38 moves upward in the bearing groove 39B, and the lower end edge 25B Is pushed up. Therefore, the pad lever 25 moves from the initial position shown by the solid line to the operation position shown by the two-dot chain line, and the urging force of the tension coil springs 43 and 44 is applied to both the pad rollers 24A and 24B.
The ATB ticket 1 is conveyed while being sandwiched between a pair of drive rollers 23A and 23B and pad rollers 24A and 24B. During this conveyance, the ATB ticket 1 is sandwiched between the magnetic head 7 and the head pad roller 45, and the magnetic information is read out.
If there is no reading error, the sheet is transported as it is. If a reading error occurs, the drive motor 5A rotates in the reverse direction, and the ATB ticket 1 is reversely transported to the first insertion slot 13.

When the ATB ticket 1 is normally conveyed and passes between the driving roller 23A and the pad roller 24A as shown in FIG. 9, the support shaft 37 is moved from the operation position shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Move to the initial position indicated by the solid line in FIG. That is, since the lower end edge 25B of the pad lever is located at the operation position indicated by the two-dot chain line, the tension coil springs 43, 4
4 is applied to the pad roller 24B.

When the leading end of the ATB ticket 1 conveyed in the first conveying path 3 is detected by the card sensor S2 shown in FIG.
When the cutting portion C of the ATB ticket 1 reaches the position of the cutter K, the drive motor 5A stops, and the cutter K operates according to a cut signal from a control means (not shown), so that one ATB ticket 1 in a continuous state is obtained. ATB ticket 1 is cut.

As described above, the pad rollers 24A, 24B
Is applied by a single pad lever 25, so that the number of components can be reduced and the device can be accommodated in a small space as compared with a conventional device in which pressing means is provided for each pad roller. Further, since the pad rollers 24A, 24B are urged by the single pad lever 25 and the tension coil springs 43, 44, the adjustment of the pressing force for each pad roller becomes unnecessary.

Further, the ATB ticket 1 has the driving rollers 23A,
Even if it is sandwiched between both of the drive roller 23B and the pad rollers 24A and 24B, or if it is sandwiched between any one of the driving roller and the pad roller, the attachment by the tension coil springs 43 and 44 is performed. When the pad lever 25 rotates, the power is applied to the respective support shafts 37 and 3 by leverage.
8, it is substantially constant. Therefore, when the ATB ticket 1 is taken in by the drive roller 23A and the pad roller 24A, the AT
When the B ticket 1 is sent out, or when both drive rollers 23A,
Since the pressing force at the time of transporting the ATB ticket 1 by the pad roller 23B and both pad rollers 24A and 24B is stabilized, the transport of the ATB ticket 1 is stabilized.

In this embodiment, the pad rollers 24
The support shafts 37 and 38 of A and 24B are pressed by the lower edges 25A and 25B of the pad lever 25. For example, as shown in a pad lever 250 shown in FIG. May be formed with slots 250A and 250B to engage the shafts 37 and 38. Further, in this embodiment, the tension coil springs 43 and 44 are engaged with the pad lever 25 and the guide block 39 to urge the pad lever 25 downward, but as shown in FIG. An arm-like rotating member 251 is rotatably supported on an immovable portion such as a torsion coil, and a torsion coil spring 252 whose both ends are locked by the rotating member 251 and the stopper 253 is wound around the support shaft 254. A configuration may be adopted in which the tip 251a of the member is rotationally urged against the rotation support shaft 41, and the pad lever 250 is urged downward.

[0027]

According to the present invention, a pad lever provided on an intermediate line of action between a pair of pad rollers, the pad lever abutting on the support shaft of the pair of pad rollers slidable in the direction of contact and separation with the drive roller. The dynamic support shaft is slidably supported in the direction of arrangement of the pad rollers and slidably in the direction of contact and separation with the support shaft, and each pad roller is provided with a biasing force by an elastic member provided on an intermediate action point. . For this reason, when the card is taken in and the pad roller is displaced, the pad lever rotates about the rotation support shaft, so that a biasing force is evenly applied to each support shaft by the lever action, so that the conveyance force is exerted. And a card transport mechanism capable of providing an appropriate card transport force. Since the urging force on each pad roller is performed by a single pad lever and an elastic member, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the conventional configuration in which individual pressing means is provided for each pad roller, and adjustment for each pad roller is unnecessary, and small It is possible to provide a card transport mechanism that is stored in the transport path of the space and has high maintenance and inspection efficiency. Further, by using such a card transport mechanism, a small-sized card reader can be provided at low cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a card reader to which a card transport mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view illustrating a configuration of a drive unit of the card transport mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a card transport mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of FIG. 3E-E.

FIG. 5 is a partially broken plan view showing a configuration of a card transport mechanism.

6A is a plan view of a pad lever, FIG. 6B is a side view of the pad lever, and FIG. 6C is a front view of the pad lever.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing an operation of a pad lever when a card is inserted between one driving roller and a pad roller.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing an operation of a pad lever when a card is inserted between two drive rollers and a pad roller.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing an operation of a pad lever when a card is inserted between the other drive roller and the pad roller.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing an ATB ticket as an example of a card.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing a modified example of a pad lever and an elastic member.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 Card reader 5, 6 Card transport mechanism 5A Drive motor 23A, 23B Drive roller 24A, 24B Pad roller 25, 250 Pad lever 37, 38 Support shaft 41 Rotating fulcrum shaft 43, 44, 252 Elastic member B Card transfer direction D contact Release direction L Intermediate action line

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A pair of drive rollers arranged in parallel on an upstream side and a downstream side in a card transport direction and driven to rotate by a drive motor; and a pair of drive rollers disposed opposite to the pair of drive rollers, respectively; A pair of pad rollers slidably supported in the direction of contact and separation with respect to, a pad lever abutting on each of the support shafts, and a pad roller provided on an intermediate line of action of the pad roller, and A pivot shaft that swings in the arrangement direction and slides in the direction of contact and separation with the support shaft; and an elastic member that is provided on the intermediate action line and biases the pad roller against the drive roller. A card transport mechanism of a card reader comprising: 2. A card transport mechanism for a card reader according to claim 1, wherein said pivot shaft is pressed and urged by an elastic member.