JP2000099637A - Card reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a card using a sheet-shaped member from being swindled. SOLUTION: This card reader 1 is provided with a shutter plate 3 for opening and closing a card insertion slit 2 at the card insertion slit 2, and when a card 4 is inserted, the shutter plate 3 is moved from the closed position to the opened position so that the card 4 can be inserted into the inside part. This card reader 1 is provided with a second shutter plate 5 to be moved from the closed position to the opened position to a direction opposite to the direction in which the shutter plate 3 is moved from the closed position to the opened position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a card reader. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improved structure for preventing card fraud in a card reader.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a magnetic card reader, an IC card reader, or the like, a shutter which is opened and closed by, for example, a solenoid is provided at a card insertion slot to prevent foreign substances other than a card from being inserted, thereby enhancing the security of the card reader. In addition, the dust resistance is enhanced. In recent years, in order to further improve crime prevention and dust proofing, a shape in which the entire area of the card insertion slot is closed when the shutter is closed is generally used.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when a card 108 is inserted into a card reader 107, a current is supplied to a solenoid 100 and the shutter plate 101 is retracted from a card insertion slot 102. Thereby, the shutter plate 101 moves to the open position (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 5), and the inserted card 108 is taken into the card reader 107. When the card 108 enters the shutter plate 101 through the card insertion slot 102, the solenoid 100 is de-energized, the shutter plate 101 is closed by the urging force of the return spring 103, and the card 108 is closed until a predetermined process is completed.
To prevent unauthorized removal.

Further, whether or not the shutter plate 101 is at a closed position is detected by a micro switch 104. Therefore, if there is a foreign matter in the card insertion slot 102,
When the shutter plate 101 cannot be closed, the presence of foreign matter is detected. By providing such a shutter plate 101, a plate-shaped member is inserted in a card reader device (cash processing terminal such as an ATM or a CD) in advance, and a card jam occurs when another person uses the device to cause a card jam. It is possible to prevent fraudulent acts such as removing the card when leaving the place.

[0005]

However, in recent years, the methods of defrauding these cards 108 have become more and more sophisticated, and the card readers 107, which are secured as described above, will attempt to defraud the cards 108. And crimes have been reported. A person who commits such a crime inserts the sheet-like member 110 into the card insertion slot 102 in advance. Since the sheet-like member 110 has flexibility and can be deformed along the shutter plate 101, when the shutter plate 101 moves to the closed position as shown in FIG. It may bend and enter the groove of the gate member 109 together with the shutter plate 101. In this case, if the shutter plate 101 is completely closed, the micro switch 104 is switched, and the presence of the sheet-like member 110 may not be detected. Thus, when the next user of the card reader device attempts to insert the card 108 and the shutter plate 101 is opened, the card 108 is taken in as it is, so that card fraud can be made due to occurrence of a card jam.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a card reader that can prevent card fraud using a sheet-like member.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a shutter plate for opening and closing the card insertion slot is provided at the card insertion slot, and the shutter plate is moved from the closed position by inserting the card. In a card reader which can be inserted into a card by being moved to an open position, in addition to the shutter plate, the card moves from the closed position to the open position in a direction opposite to the direction in which the shutter plate moves from the closed position to the open position. Second
Is provided.

Therefore, when the shutter plate and the second shutter plate are closed with the sheet-like member inserted into the card insertion slot, the sheet-like member is deformed so as to protrude in opposite directions. Therefore, when the next user of the card reader attempts to insert the card and the two shutter plates are opened, one of the two projecting portions of the sheet-like member closes the card insertion slot. Therefore, since the sheet-shaped member existing so as to close the card insertion slot prevents the card from being inserted, it is possible to prevent the card from being taken in and prevent the card from being stolen.

Further, in the card reader according to the second aspect,
A drive mechanism for opening and closing the shutter plate is provided, and the drive mechanism also operates the second shutter plate. Therefore, the drive mechanism can be shared for operating the two shutter plates.

Further, in the card reader according to the third aspect, both the shutter plate and the second shutter plate are provided in the card insertion slot in the card running direction. Therefore, the two shutter plates can be arranged side by side without interposing a card feeding roller or the like between the two shutter plates.

[0011] In the card reader according to the fourth aspect,
A detection switch for detecting that both the shutter plate and the second shutter plate have reached the closed position is provided. Therefore, since the detection switch can detect that the shutter plate is closed, it is possible to detect the presence of the foreign material when the shutter plate is not closed because there is a foreign material in the card insertion slot. Moreover, since the detection switch is shared by the two shutter plates, an increase in the number of parts can be suppressed.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The configuration of the present invention will be described below in detail based on an example of an embodiment shown in the drawings. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a card reader 1 according to the present invention. The card reader 1 is provided with a shutter plate 3 for opening and closing the card insertion slot 2 in the card insertion slot 2, and moving the shutter plate 3 from the closed position to the open position by inserting the card 4 to insert the card 4 inside. It is possible. And
The card reader 1 is provided with a second shutter plate 5 that moves from the closed position to the open position in a direction opposite to the direction in which the shutter plate 3 moves from the closed position to the open position, in addition to the shutter plate 3. Further, the card reader 1 is provided with a drive mechanism 6 for opening and closing the shutter plate 3, and the second shutter plate 5 is operated by the drive mechanism 6. Further, the card reader 1 has a detection switch 7 for detecting that both the shutter plate 3 and the second shutter plate 5 have reached the closed position.

The shutter plate 3 is substantially L-shaped as a whole, and is swingably supported by a support shaft 8. The shutter plate 3 is installed to be openable and closable from below the card insertion slot 2. That is, the card insertion slot 2 is opened by the shutter plate 3 swinging and moving the tip 3a downward, and the card insertion is performed by the shutter plate 3 swinging and moving the tip 3a upward. The mouth 2 is closed. When the shutter plate 3 is in the closed position (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1), an opening / closing edge 9 that passes through the card insertion slot 2 when the shutter plate 3 is opened / closed is formed inside the gate member 10. Into the groove 11. Thus, the shutter plate 3 can cover the entire area of the card insertion slot 2.

The second shutter plate 5 is provided together with the shutter plate 3 in the card insertion slot 2 in the card running direction.
That is, the second shutter plate 5 is installed adjacent to the shutter plate 3 along the traveling path of the card 4 at the card insertion slot 2. Then, the second shutter plate 5 is arranged on the inner side of the card reader 1 with respect to the shutter plate 3.

The second shutter plate 5 has a substantially T-shape as a whole, and is swingably supported by a support shaft 12. The second shutter plate 5 is installed so as to be openable and closable from above the card insertion slot 2. That is, the card insertion slot 2 is opened by the second shutter plate 5 swinging and moving the tip 5a upward, and the second shutter plate 5 swings by its own weight to move the tip 5a. By moving downward, the card insertion slot 2 is closed. And
The second shutter plate 5 is in the closed position (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1).
When the second shutter plate 5 is opened or closed, the opening / closing edge 13 passing through the card insertion slot 2 is inserted into the groove 14 formed inside the gate member 10 when the second shutter plate 5 is opened / closed. Thereby, the second shutter plate 5 can cover the entire area of the card insertion slot 2.

The drive mechanism 6 opens and closes the two shutter plates 3 and 5, and includes a solenoid 15, a return spring 16, and a connecting member 17. A connecting pin 19 is fixed to the tip of the drive shaft 18 of the solenoid 15. One end of the connecting pin 19 is provided at the base end 3b of the shutter plate 3.
Are engaged so as to sandwich them. That is, FIG.
When the drive shaft 18 is slid to the right in the middle, the connecting pin 19 presses the right claw of the base end portion 3b to push the shutter plate 3
To the open position. On the other hand, in FIG. 2, when the drive shaft 18 is slid leftward, the connecting pin 19 is
Is pressed to swing the shutter plate 3 to the closed position.

The connecting member 1 is connected to the other end of the connecting pin 19.
7 are connected. The connecting member 17 connects the connecting pin 19 and the one end 5b of the second shutter plate 5 and slides in parallel with the drive shaft 18 of the solenoid 15 by the stop pins 20 provided at two places. Supported as possible. Here, one end 5b of the second shutter plate 5
A pair of claws are formed, and are engaged so as to sandwich the engaging claws 17 a formed at the distal end of the connecting member 17. And
The connecting member 17 presses any one of the claws of the one end 5 b of the second shutter plate 5 by sliding, and swings the second shutter plate 5. That is, in FIG. 2, when the connecting member 17 is slid rightward, the engaging claw 17a presses the right claw of the one end portion 5b to swing the second shutter plate 5 against its own weight to the open position. Let it. On the other hand, in FIG. 2, when the connecting member 17 is slid leftward, the engaging claw 17a presses the left claw of the one end portion 5b to swing the second shutter plate 5 to the closed position.

Further, the return spring 16 is formed of a compression coil spring and is provided around the drive shaft 18 to urge the connecting pin 19 and the solenoid 15 away from each other.

By energizing the solenoid 15, the drive shaft 18 is retracted. Thereby, the shutter plate 3 is swung via the connecting pin 19 and moved to the open position (shown by a solid line in FIG. 1). At the same time, the second shutter plate 5 is swung via the connecting pin 19 and the connecting member 17 to move to the open position (shown by a solid line in FIG. 1). On the other hand, when the power supply to the solenoid 15 is stopped, the drive shaft 18 becomes free, and the return spring 16 presses the connecting pin 19 to pull out the drive shaft 18 from the solenoid 15. This allows
The shutter plate 3 is swung via the connecting pin 19 and moved to the closed position. At the same time, the connecting member 17 moves via the connecting pin 19 to swing the second shutter plate 5 to the closed position. In the present embodiment, two shutter plates 3,
Solenoid 1 as a power source of a drive mechanism 6 for opening and closing the solenoid 5
Although the use of the return spring 5 and the return spring 16 is not limited thereto, other known or new drive mechanisms 6 may be used.

The detection switch 7 has two shutter plates 3, 5
Is to detect that it is in the closed position, and is constituted by a micro switch. Only when the two shutter plates 3 and 5 are in the closed position, the detection switch 7
Is set to be turned on or off. As a result, the detection switch 7 can detect that the two shutter plates 3 and 5 are closed, so that when there is a foreign object in the card insertion slot 2 and at least one of the shutter plates 3 and 5 is not closed, the presence of the foreign object Can be detected. Thereby, fraud of the card 4 can be prevented. In the present embodiment, the detection switch 7 for detecting the closed position of the two shutter plates 3 and 5 is constituted by a microswitch. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other switches such as a toggle switch and an optical sensor may be used. Is also good. Also in this case, when there is a foreign matter in the card insertion slot 2 and the shutter plates 3 and 5 are not closed, the presence of the foreign matter can be detected.

The operation of the card reader 1 will be described. In a standby state in which the card 4 is not taken in, the solenoid 15 is not energized and the two shutter plates 3 and 5 are in the closed position. This prevents foreign matter from being inserted and prevents dust. When the card 4 is inserted into the card reader 1, a sensor (not shown) for detecting the insertion of the card 4 operates to energize the solenoid 15, and the shutter plates 3, 5 move to the open position. Thereby, the card 4 can be taken. After the card 4 is taken in, the shutter plates 3 and 5 are closed again to prevent unauthorized removal of the card 4.

On the other hand, when the two shutter plates 3, 5 are in the open position, the sheet-like member 21 is inserted from the card insertion slot 2, and thereafter the two shutter plates 3, 5 move to the closed position. Then, as shown in FIG.
Is deformed along the two shutter plates 3 and 5 and enters the grooves 11 and 14 of the gate member. Here, since the grooves 11 and 14 are formed on opposite sides of the card insertion slot 2, the sheet-like members 21 project in opposite directions. For this reason, the next user of the card reader 1
When the two shutter plates 3 and 5 are opened to insert the card, one of the two protruding portions of the sheet-like member 21 keeps the card insertion slot 2 closed. Even if the card 4 is inserted in this state, the card 4 does not come into contact with the sheet-like member 21 and is caught by the card-like member 21.
Fraud of the card 4 can be prevented.

According to the present embodiment, since both of the two shutter plates 3 and 5 are installed on the gate member 10,
By providing the shutter plates 3 and 5 together, the size of the card reader device can be reduced. Further, since the two shutter plates 3 and 5 are operated by using the single solenoid 15, the increase in the number of parts can be suppressed by sharing the drive mechanism 6. Furthermore, a single detection switch 7
Is used to detect the closed position of the two shutter plates 3 and 5, and the sharing of the detection switch 7 can suppress an increase in the number of parts.

The above-described embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, both the shutter plates 3 and 5 are installed on the gate member 10, but the present invention is not limited to this, and at least one of the shutter plates 3 and 5 is arranged inside the card reader 1. Is also good. Further, a roller for feeding cards may be provided between the two shutter plates 3 and 5. In any case, one of the two protruding portions of the sheet-like member 21 inserted for an unauthorized purpose closes the card insertion slot 2, so that the card 4 can be prevented from being stolen.

In the above embodiment, the shutter plate 3 is installed so as to open downward, and the second shutter plate 5 is installed so as to open upward. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Install it so that it opens upward, and
The shutter plate 5 may be installed so as to open downward. Also in this case, one of the two protruding portions of the sheet-like member 21 inserted for an unauthorized purpose closes the card insertion slot 2, so that the card 4 can be prevented from being stolen.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the two shutter plates 3, 5 are operated by using the common solenoid 15, but the present invention is not limited to this. It may be made to operate by. Also in this case, the two shutter plates 3 and 5 can be opened and closed simultaneously. Similarly, in the above-described embodiment, whether or not the two shutter plates 3 and 5 are in the closed position is detected using the common detection switch 7. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The position may be detected by a separate detection switch 7.

In the above-described embodiment, two shutter plates 3 and 5 are provided. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and shutter plates are provided in addition to the two shutter plates 3 and 5 that open and close in opposite directions. Thus, a total of three or more shutter plates may be provided. In this case as well, one of the protruding portions of the sheet-like member 21 inserted for an unauthorized purpose closes the card insertion slot 2, so that fraud of the card 4 can be prevented.

[0028]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the card reader of the first aspect, when the shutter plate and the second shutter plate are closed with the sheet-like member inserted into the card insertion slot, Since the sheet-like member bends and deforms so as to protrude in opposite directions, the two protruding members of the sheet-like member protrude when the two shutter plates open when the next user of the card reader attempts to insert a card. One of the parts blocks the card insertion slot. For this reason, since the sheet-shaped member existing so as to close the card insertion slot prevents the card from being inserted, the card is not taken in and the fraud of the card can be prevented.

Further, according to the card reader of the second aspect, a drive mechanism can be shared for operating the two shutter plates. Therefore, an increase in the number of parts can be suppressed.

Further, according to the card reader of the third aspect, two shutter plates can be arranged side by side without interposing a card feeding roller or the like between the two shutter plates. Can be reduced in size.

According to the card reader of the present invention, since the detection switch can detect that the shutter plate has been closed, the presence of foreign matter when the shutter plate cannot be closed due to the presence of foreign matter in the card insertion slot. Can be detected. Thereby, card fraud can be prevented.
Moreover, since the detection switch is shared by the two shutter plates, an increase in the number of parts can be suppressed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing a main part of a card reader of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a main part of the card reader.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a main part of the card reader.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a main part of a conventional card reader.

FIG. 5 is a rear view showing a main part of the conventional card reader, and shows a state cut along a line VV in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing a main part of a conventional card reader.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 card reader 2 card insertion slot 3 shutter plate 4 card 5 second shutter plate 6 drive mechanism 7 detection switch

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A card reader, wherein a shutter plate for opening and closing the card insertion slot is provided in the card insertion slot, and the shutter plate is moved from a closed position to an open position by inserting a card so that the card can be inserted therein. A second moving from the closed position to the open position in a direction opposite to a direction of moving from the closed position to the open position of the shutter plate, in addition to the shutter plate;
A card reader provided with a shutter plate as described above. 2. The card reader according to claim 1, further comprising a drive mechanism for opening and closing the shutter plate, wherein the drive mechanism also operates the second shutter plate. 3. The card reader according to claim 1, wherein both the shutter plate and the second shutter plate are provided in the card insertion slot in a card running direction. 4. The card according to claim 1, further comprising a detection switch for detecting that both the shutter plate and the second shutter plate have been closed. leader.