JPH0727675B2 - Card reader - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a card reader such as a card type vending machine that updates transaction information on a magnetic card via a magnetic head.

(B) Conventional technology Conventionally, a card that is inserted into and removed from a card reader of this type is inserted into a card insertion slot, and, for example, magnetically recorded card information is updated at a card processing position inside thereof. After the updating process, the position restriction of the card is released, and then the card is pushed to the outside customer side through the biasing force of the pushing spring.

However, when this card is inserted, the card is pushed against the urging force of the pushing spring that has been set to a high pressure, so if this card is thin, it may bend or become jammed and you may not be able to do card transactions. Therefore, at present, relatively thick cards that are difficult to deform are used, and thin cards cannot be applied.

(C) Problem to be Solved by the Invention The present invention provides a card reader capable of stable insertion / removal operation without causing bending or clogging even when a thin card is applied. To aim.

(D) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention provides a card insertion opening for inserting and removing a card.
A sensor that detects that a card has been inserted into a set processing position, and a position regulation that restricts the insertion position of the card at the set card processing position and releases the restriction, and performs a restriction operation based on the card detection of the sensor. It is characterized in that it is a card reader provided with means and pusher means that is driven in the direction of pushing out the card after the position regulation of the position regulation means is released.

(E) Effect of the Invention According to the present invention, the pusher means is driven in the card pushing direction after the inserted card releases the position restriction of the card by the position restriction means, the card is inserted, and the card is positioned. While the position is regulated by the regulation means, the pusher means does not act on the card, so even if a thin card is inserted, there is no strong biasing force of the pushing spring,
Stable insertion operation without deformation to the card processing position.

In addition, when pushing out the card, the pusher means pushes it after removing the card position restriction, so it can be pushed out to the ejection position reliably regardless of the thickness of the card, and when the card is inserted or removed. The load is reliably eliminated and stable card handling is always performed.

(F) Embodiment of the Invention One embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

The drawing shows a card reader applied to a card type vending machine. In FIG. 1, the card reader 11 has a box shape, and a thin magnetic card 12 is inserted and removed in a horizontally long horizontal state at the center of the front surface thereof. The card insertion slot 13 is formed.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, on the front surface of the card insertion slot 13, while the card 12 is being held by a fingertip,
A card holding portion 15 having a recessed portion is provided so that the card can be inserted up to the card processing position 14 corresponding to the inner magnetic.
By forming the card 12, the card 12 can be inserted and removed with ease while confirming the ease of handling the card when inserting and removing the card 12 and confirming the card processing.

In addition, the inner side communicating with the card insertion slot 13 has a fourth
As shown in FIG. 6 to FIG. 6, a V-shaped guide member 16 for guiding the insertion of the inserted card 12, an L-shaped card detection lever 17 that retracts in association with the insertion of the card 12, and this lever 17 The retreating motion of the card 12 causes the card 12 to move to the card processing position 14
A first sensor S1 for detecting that the card 12 has been reached and a first solenoid 19 connected via a first actuating rod 18 for returning the lever are provided to detect the insertion of the card 12.

In this case, the above-mentioned card detection lever 17 is provided so as to be tiltable in the horizontal direction with one end as a fulcrum, the other end is set at a position closer to the front side than the card processing position 14, and the other end is set to the card 12 Is pushed down when inserting and moves backward. Further, an elastic body 17a for softening the contact of the card is attached to the other end portion, and a card holding plate spring 29 is arranged along the lever 17 so as to cover the elastic body 17a.

The leaf spring 29 is set to a weak biasing force that does not overload the thin card, moves backward together with the above-mentioned lever 17 in conjunction with the insertion of the card, and reaches the card processing position 14. Hold the front edge of the.

Further, the first solenoid 19 is provided as pusher means for pushing out a card, and the free end portion of the first operating rod 18 of the first solenoid 19 is connected to the intermediate portion of the above-mentioned card detection lever 17, 1 The suction drive of the solenoid 19 pushes the central portion of the front end edge of the card 12 via the lever 17 and the leaf spring 29, and pushes the card 12 to the outer set position.

By the way, the first sensor that detects the insertion of the card 12 described above.
The signal of S1 is input to the second solenoid 20 provided as a card position restricting means, and the L-shaped arm 22 connected to the second operating rod 21 of the second solenoid 20 is operated. The arm 22 has a middle portion pivotally supported by a fulcrum pin 23 so as to be tiltable in a horizontal direction, a tilt pin 25 for tilting a lock claw 24 in a vertical direction is engaged at one end, and the other end is locked. Second sensor that detects the locked state where the pawl 24 tilts
S2 is installed.

The above-mentioned lock claws 24 are arranged in a pair on the front side of the card insertion slot 13 on the left and right sides, and the lock claws 24, 24 on both sides of these are connected via a rotary shaft 26 to drive the second solenoid 20. Rotate in synchronization with the tilting operation of the arm 22 via force,
Insert the rear edge of the card 12 inserted to the card processing position 14,
The pair of left and right locking claws 24, 24 are engaged and locked.

In the figure, 27 is a stopper for arm return, and 28 is a spring for arm return.

A magnetic investigation type magnetic head (not shown) having a reading function and a writing function is provided at a position corresponding to the magnetic stripe 30 of the card 12 that has been inserted and reached the card processing position 14. .

In the card reader thus constructed, as shown in FIG. 2, the card user holds the card 12 at the center of the rear edge of the card, and inserts it into the card insertion slot 13 and then in FIG. As shown, when the front edge of the card 12 comes into contact with the guide member 16 and is inserted to the card processing position 14, the first sensor S1 is operated based on the displacement of the card detection lever 17 and the leaf spring 29 which moves backward by this insertion operation. A card detection signal is generated, and based on this, the second solenoid 20 is suction-driven to tilt the arm 22, and the rear edge of the card 12 is locked by the pair of left and right lock pawls 24, 24.

As a result, the card 12 is sandwiched and locked between the guide member 16 and the leaf spring 29 on the front side and the lock claws 24, 24 on the rear side, and in this locked state, the magnetic stripe 30 of the card 12 is secured. The magnetically recorded information is read and written by the magnetic head.

In this case, the inserted card 12 is placed in the card processing position 14
, The front edge side receives the holding action of the leaf spring 29, but this leaf spring 29 is set to a weak biasing force, so overload is not applied and the required transaction is performed with stable insertion and holding. Information is magnetically processed.

Then, after the card processing, the second solenoid 20 is turned off, the lock claws 24, 24 via the arm 22 are returned to the original non-locked positions, and the card 12 is unlocked. The first operating rod 18 is driven to be sucked, and the card 12 is pushed outward by the card detection lever 17. As a result, the card 12 is taken out by the user, and the processing of the card 12 is completed.

As described above, since the pushing operation is performed via the first solenoid, regardless of the thickness of the card, the card can be pushed to the discharge position without fail, and the overload of the card at the time of inserting / removing the card can be surely eliminated. You can always handle the card stably.

In the correspondence between the configuration of the present invention and the above-described embodiment, the card reader of the present invention corresponds to the card reader 11 of the embodiment, and hereinafter, similarly, the card corresponds to the magnetic card 12, and the insertion position is Corresponding to the card insertion slot 13, the position regulating means corresponds to the drive system which interlocks with the second solenoid 20, the leaf spring 29 and the first and second sensors S1 and S2, and the pusher means interlocks with the first solenoid 19. However, the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment.

[Brief description of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a card reader and a card, FIGS. 2 and 3 are plan views of a main portion showing a usage state of the card reader, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a side view of the main part showing the state, FIG. 5 is a side view of the main part showing the locked state of the card, and FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the main part of the card reader. 11 …… Card reader, 12 …… Magnetic card 13 …… Card slot, 19,20 …… Solenoid

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A sensor for detecting that a card has been inserted at a set processing position inside a card insertion opening for inserting and removing a card, and a position regulation for the card insertion position at the set card processing position. A card reader provided with position restriction means for releasing the restriction and performing a restriction operation based on the card detection of the sensor, and pusher means driven in a card ejecting direction after the position restriction of the position restriction means is released. .