JP2000318873A - Structure of card carrying passage - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent generation of card jam, improve productivity, and reduce manufacturing cost. SOLUTION: Mutually facing end parts of two lower cases 4, 33 are formed in saw-toothed form comprising teeth 10, grooves 11, and teeth 38, grooves 39. They are combined with each other in such a way that the teeth 10 and 38 are engaged with each other so that the teeth 10 face the grooves 39 and the teeth 38 with the grooves 11. On the teeth 10, grooves 11, and the teeth 38, grooves 39, retraction faces 10a, 11a, 38a, 39a inclined in retracting directions from a card carrying surface are formed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure of a card transport path used in a card reader or the like, and more particularly, to a structure in which two or more card transport paths are connected to each other at opposite ends thereof. The present invention relates to a structure of a card transport path.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a case where information recorded on a card is read and the read content is printed on the card, a card processing device for reading information and a card processing device for printing are used. And two card processing devices were required. Then, in order to continuously process cards by these two card processing devices, the ends of two card transport paths provided in each card processing device are connected so as to be in contact with each other.

[0003]

However, in the above-described structure of the conventional card transport path, there are variations in dimensions due to manufacturing tolerances of components constituting the two card transport paths and errors during assembly. Then, a step is generated between the card transport surfaces of the two card transport paths at the end portions of the two card transport paths that face each other. For this reason, there is a problem that the leading end of the card being conveyed is locked by this step, and card jamming occurs. In order to eliminate this step in order to solve this problem, it is necessary to measure the dimension of the step for each product and adjust it based on this dimension.
There is a problem that not only productivity is lowered but also manufacturing cost is increased.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and a first object of the present invention is to prevent card jamming. A second object is to improve productivity and reduce manufacturing costs.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there are provided at least two card transport paths for transporting a card, and the two card transport paths have opposite ends. In the structure of the card transport path in which the two card transport paths are connected to each other so that the two card transport paths are connected to each other, a contact portion of the two card transport paths is formed in a comb-like shape, and the teeth of the comb-tooth portions are mutually connected. In addition to being engaged with each other, the leading end sides of these mutually contacting portions are inclined in a direction to be retracted from the transport surface on which the card is transported. Therefore, the portions where the tips of the comb teeth and the groove bottom of each other contact each other are arranged in a staggered manner in the direction orthogonal to the card transport direction, so that the contacting portions are more than the upper surfaces of the adjacent teeth. It is positioned lower. According to a second aspect of the present invention, at least two card transport paths for transporting a card are provided, and the two card transport paths are connected by connecting two ends of the two card transport paths to each other. In the structure of the road,
The two card transport paths are provided with two pairs of opposing side walls separated by a distance slightly greater than the width of the card;
Ends of the side walls that are in contact with each other are inclined toward the outside of the card transport path. Therefore, the side edge of the card does not contact the end of the side wall at the part where the side walls contact each other.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view of a card processing apparatus employing the structure of the card transport path according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state in which an upper case is also removed, and FIG.
(A) is a sectional view taken along the line III (a) -III (a) in FIG.
FIG. 3B is a sectional view taken along the line III (b) -III (b) in FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a connection portion on the lower case side, and FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a connection portion between the front upper case of the card print processing device and the card transport plate of the card reading processing device. FIG. 6A shows VI in FIG.
(A) -VI (a) sectional view, FIG.
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a connecting portion between a front upper case of the card printing processing device and a card transport plate of the card reading processing device. 8 is a perspective view of the rear upper case of the card print processing device as viewed from above, FIG. 9 is a side view of the card print processing device with a side plate removed, and FIG. FIG. 2B is a sectional view taken along line X (b) -X (b) in FIG.

In FIG. 1, a card processing device indicated by reference numeral 1 is composed of two processing devices, a card reading processing device 2 and a card printing processing device 3. The card reading processing device 2 includes a lower case 4 and an upper case 5, both of which are formed of synthetic resin in a U-shaped cross section. The upper ends of both side surfaces of the lower case 4 are set up slightly higher than the upper surface, and a pair of side walls 6, 6 of a first card transport path 22, which will be described later, are formed. Is provided with a pair of bearings 7, 7 standing upward. As shown in FIG. 2, the thickness of the pair of side walls 6, 6 is gradually reduced rearward inside the portion corresponding to the first card transport path 22. Evacuation surface 8, which has a wedge cross section,
8 are provided.

Reference numeral 9 denotes four support pieces projecting from the front and rear sides of the lower case 4 on both sides, and the card reading processor 2 is screwed into the main body housing (not shown) via the support pieces 9. Fixed. Also, as shown in FIG.
The rear end of the lower case 4 is formed in a comb shape in plan view by the teeth 10 and the grooves 11, and FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b).
As shown in FIG. 2, the upper surfaces of the teeth 10 and the upper surfaces of the edges of the grooves 11 are formed so as to be inclined in a direction in which the leading end side is retracted from the card conveyance path, that is, downward in the figure, to form retreat surfaces 10a and 11a, respectively. are doing. As shown in FIG. 1, a lower case 4 includes a drive roller 12 which is driven to rotate by a motor (not shown) as a drive source,
And a driven roller 13 whose rotation is transmitted via a belt.

The upper case 5 has pinch rollers 15 rotatably supported in the front-rear direction via brackets.
15 and an optical sensor 16 positioned between the pinch rollers 15, 15. Before and after the bottom of the upper case 5, two metal card transport plates 1 are provided.
7, 18 are fixed. As shown in FIG. 7, the rear end portion of the rear card transport plate 18 is formed in a comb shape by a tooth 19 and a groove 20 in plan view.
As shown in (b), the edges of the teeth 19 and the grooves 20 are formed so as to incline in the direction to retract the leading end side from the card transport path, that is, upward in the drawing.

In FIG. 1, the rear end of the upper case 5 is rotatably supported by a shaft 21 laid between the bearings 7, 7 of the lower case 4, so that the card transport of the lower case 4 can be performed. The upper surface of the lower case 5 can be freely opened and closed by the plates 17 and 18. By closing the upper surface of the lower case 5, the pinch rollers 15, 15 are in contact with the drive roller 12 and the driven roller 13, so that the card transport plates 17, 18 and the upper surface of the lower case 5 are smaller than the thickness of the card P. Are facing each other at a slightly larger interval, and the first
Is formed.

A lever 23 is provided at the front end of the upper case 5.
The lever 23 has an elongated hole 24 and a hook 2
5 is formed, and the long hole 24 is inserted into the pin 26 implanted on the side of the front end of the upper case 5,
The lever 23 is rotatably supported about the pin 26 as a rotation center. A pin 27 is implanted on the side of the front end of the lower case 4, and the hook portion 25 of the lever 23 is engaged with the pin 27 to keep the upper case 5 closed in the lower case 4. It is configured to be.

A compression coil spring 28 is elastically mounted between the upper end of the lever 23 and the upper end of the upper case 5, and the lever 23 moves downward in the figure against the elastic force of the compression coil spring 28. And the hook 26 is rotated clockwise about the pin 26 as a center of rotation, thereby releasing the engagement of the hook 25 with the pin 27. After the release, the upper case 5 is rotated clockwise in the figure around the shaft 21 so that the upper case 5 is opened from the lower case 4 and the first card transport path 22 is opened. It is configured. Reference numeral 29 denotes a card insertion port member, which has a card insertion port 30 communicated with the front end of the first card transport path 22.

Next, the card print processing device 3 will be described. 1, the card print processing device 3 includes a lower case 33, a front upper case 34, and a rear upper case 35 formed of synthetic resin. These cases 33, 34, 35 are fixed to a pair of opposed side plates 36, 36 made of metal, and the bottom portions of the front upper case 34 and the rear upper case 35
The upper surface of the lower case 33 is opposed to the upper surface of the lower case 33 by a distance slightly larger than the thickness of the card P, and forms a second card transport path 32 together with the pair of side plates 36. The card print processing device 3 is fixed to a casing of a main body (not shown) via a support piece 37 of a side plate 36 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of side plates 36,
The front end of 36 is bent in a substantially rectangular shape so that the front end is inclined toward the outside of the second card transport path 32 in a plan view, and forms retreating portions 36a, 36a. These retreating parts 36a, 36a face the retreating surfaces 8, 8 of the pair of side walls 6, 6 of the first card transport path 22 described above.

In FIG. 1, the lower case 33 is formed so as to have a substantially U-shaped cross section, and when viewed from the side, the central portion is curved upward in the figure, and the rear portion is directed vertically upward. . The front end of the lower case 33
As shown in FIG. 4, the teeth 38 and the grooves 39 are formed in a comb shape in plan view, and as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the upper surfaces of the teeth 38 and the edges of the grooves 39. Are formed so as to be inclined in a direction for retracting the leading end side from the card transport path, that is, downward in the figure,
39a.

[0015] As shown in FIG.
And the teeth 38 of the lower case 4 of the card reading processing device 2 are engaged with each other so as to mesh with each other.
The groove 11 is in contact with the groove 10 and the groove 39 is in contact with the tooth 10. Also, as shown in FIG.
0a and the point A where the tip of the retreating surface 39a of the groove 39 is in contact with each other are positioned at the same height as each other.
As shown in (b), the tip of the retreat surface 38a of the tooth 38,
The point B at which the tip of the evacuation surface 11a of the groove 11 is in contact is
They are positioned at the same height as each other.

As shown in FIG. 7, the front upper case 3
Reference numeral 4 is formed so as to have a substantially U-shaped cross section, and the front end is formed in a comb shape in plan view by the teeth 40 and the grooves 41. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the tooth 40
And the lower surface of the edge of the groove 41 are formed so as to be inclined in a direction for retracting the leading end side from the card transport path, that is, upward in the drawing, to form retreat surfaces 40a and 41a, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 5, the teeth 40 of the front upper case 34 and the teeth 19 of the card transport plate 18 of the card reading and processing apparatus 2 are combined so as to mesh with each other. Are in contact with each other, and the groove 41 is in contact with the teeth 19. Further, as shown in FIG.
The point C where the tip of the evacuation surface 19a of the tooth 40 and the tip of the evacuation surface 41a of the groove 41 contact each other is positioned at the same height, and as shown in FIG. The points D where the tip and the tip of the retreat surface 20a of the groove 20 are in contact with each other are located at the same height.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10 (b), the rear upper case 35 is formed so as to have a substantially U-shaped cross section, and has a central portion curved upward in the figure in a side view. The rear portion is directed vertically upward, and the second card transport path 32 is also formed such that the central portion is curved upward in the figure in a side view, and the rear portion is directed vertically upward. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10A, a window 43 (FIG. 10) is provided at the center of the rear end side of the rear upper case 35.
(A) is hatched in a grid pattern for the sake of convenience.)
3 is exposed.

At the rear end of the second card transport path 32, a jam card take-out port 44 opened upward is provided, and in FIG.
Platen roller 45 from the jam card outlet 44
Is formed to be slightly longer than the entire length of the card P. In FIG. 1, a platen roller 45 is provided between the front upper case 34 and the rear upper case 35 so as to face the second card transport path 32. A large-diameter pulley 46 is axially mounted on the rotation shaft of the platen roller 45.
The rotation of the motor 49 is transmitted to the platen roller 45 through a belt 48 stretched between the platen roller 45.

In FIG. 9, reference numeral 50 denotes a thermal head, which is attached to a bracket 52 which is swingably supported about a pivot 51 so as to be able to freely contact and separate from a platen roller 45. . Between the swinging end of the bracket 52 and the small shaft 53 implanted on the side plate 36,
A tension coil spring 54 is interposed, and the thermal head 50 is constantly urged in a direction away from the platen roller 45 by the tension of the tension coil spring 54. 5
Reference numeral 5 denotes a lever supported swingably on the small shaft 53,
A roller 56 is pivotally attached to the swing end of the lever 55, and the roller 56 is configured to be pressed against or separated from the bracket 52 by swinging the lever 55.

Reference numeral 57 denotes a solenoid, which is provided with a plunger 58 which can move forward and backward. A pressing member 59 for pressing a roller 56 is attached to the plunger 58. When the plunger 58 moves forward, the roller 56 is pressed by the pressing member 59, and the lever 55 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. Therefore,
The roller 56 presses the bracket 52, and the bracket 52 rotates clockwise about the pin 51 as a rotation center against the tension of the tension coil spring 54, so that the thermal head 50 is pressed against the platen roller 45. It is configured as follows.

Next, the card processing apparatus 1 having such a configuration will be described.
Will be described. In FIG.
When a card is inserted into the first card transport path 22 from the card insertion opening 30 of the card insertion member 29, the detection means (not shown) detects that the card has been inserted,
A motor (not shown) of the card reading processing device 2 starts rotating. Since the driving roller 12 and the driven roller 13 rotate in the forward direction, and the pinch rollers 15 and 15 pressed against the same also rotate, the card held between the driven roller 13 and the pinch roller 15 is shown in FIG. It is transported in the direction of arrow E.

After the information written on the surface of the card is read by the optical sensor 16, the card is further conveyed in the direction of arrow E by the driving roller 12 and the pinch roller 15, and It is transported to the second card transport path 32. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3A, the card P transported to the point A where the tip of the retreating surface 10a of the tooth 10 and the tip of the retreating surface 39a of the groove 39 are in contact with each other, Evacuation surface 3 of 33 adjacent teeth 38
Since the vehicle rides on 8a, it does not separate from point A and come into contact with point A.

Therefore, even if there is some level difference at the point A, it is possible to prevent the card from being jammed by locking the leading end of the card P at the point A. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 3B, the card P conveyed to the point B where the tip of the retreating surface 38a of the tooth 38 and the tip of the retreating surface 11a of the groove 11 are in contact with each other, Since the vehicle rides on the evacuation surface 10a of the adjacent tooth 10 of 4, it does not separate from the point B and touch the point B.
Therefore, even if a slight level difference occurs at the point B, it is possible to prevent the card P from being jammed due to the tip of the card P being caught at the point A.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the card P conveyed to the point C where the tip of the retreating surface 19a of the tooth 19 and the tip of the retreating surface 41a of the groove 41 are in contact with each other, Due to the retreat surface 40a of the adjacent tooth 40 of the front upper case 34, there is no separation from the point C and no contact with the point C. Therefore, even if a slight level difference occurs at the point C, it is possible to prevent card jamming caused by the tip of the card P being caught at the point C. Similarly, as shown in FIG.
The card P transported to the point D where the tip of the groove 20 and the tip of the retreating surface 20a of the groove 20 are in contact with each other is separated from the point D by the retreating surface 19a of the adjacent tooth 19 of the card transport plate 18 and D There is no contact with a point. Therefore, even if a slight level difference occurs at the point D, it is possible to prevent the card P from being jammed due to the tip of the card P being caught at the point D.

As described above, at the contact portion between the first card transport path 22 and the second card transport path 32, the occurrence of card jam can be prevented, and the card can be transported smoothly. In addition, even if there are some steps at the points A to D of the contact portion, the card can be smoothly transported, so that the work of adjusting the steps becomes unnecessary.

As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of side walls 7, 7 of the card reading processing device 2 are provided with retreating surfaces 8, 8, respectively, and a pair of side plates 36, 36 of the card printing processing device 3 are provided.
Are provided with retreating parts 36a, 36a, respectively. Therefore, the card P moves from the first card transport path 22 to the second
When the card P is conveyed to the card conveyance path 32, the both ends of the card P are smoothly stopped without being locked by the retreating surfaces 8, 36a.

In FIG. 1, when the card is taken into the second card conveying path 32 and the leading end is located at the platen roller 45 by detecting means (not shown), the motor 49 rotates in the forward direction. At the same time, the plunger 58 of the solenoid 57 moves forward in FIG.
Therefore, the roller 56 is pressed by the pressing member 59, the lever 55 rotates counterclockwise in the figure around the small shaft 53, and the thermal head 50 pulls the pivot 51 against the tension of the tension coil spring 54. Since the thermal head 50 is rotated clockwise in the drawing as a rotation center, the thermal head 50 is pressed against the platen roller 45.

Thermal head 50 and platen roller 45
The card sandwiched between is printed with the content corresponding to the information read by the optical sensor 16 on the back surface, and is conveyed in the second card conveyance path 32 in the direction of arrow E in the figure. When a card is jammed in the second card transport path 32, a window 43 is opened in FIG.
, A finger is inserted into the second card transport path 32, and the jammed card is pushed up by the fingertip, and the jam card removal port 4
Remove from 4.

As described above, it is not necessary to reversely feed the jammed card through the long transport paths of the second card transport path 32 and the first card transport path 22 and remove the card from the card insertion slot 30. Can be performed easily and in a short time, and the productivity is improved. Further, since the jam card take-out opening 44 is opened upward, it is not necessary to provide a space for taking out the card around the card processing device 1, so that the installation space of the card processing device 1 is minimized. can do. Further, the length of the second card transport path 32 in the front-rear direction is shortened by forming the second card transport path 32 so that the center portion is curved upward and the rear portion is directed upward. Therefore, the installation space of the card processing device 1 can be reduced.

In FIG. 1, when a predetermined printing process is completed in the card print processing device 3, the motor 49 rotates in the reverse direction, so that the platen roller 45 also rotates in the reverse direction, and the card is transferred to the second card transport path. 32, is transported in the direction of arrow F, and is transported into the first card transport path 22. When the rear end of the card passes through the platen roller 45, the plunger 58 of the solenoid 57 retreats in FIG. 9, so that the thermal head 50 is separated from the platen roller 45 by the tension of the tension coil spring 54. In FIG. 1, a motor (not shown) of the card reading processing device 2 rotates in the reverse direction, and the drive roller 12 and the driven roller 13 also rotate in the reverse direction. The rollers 12 and 13 and the pinch rollers 15 and 15 The sandwiched card is conveyed in the direction of arrow F in the figure, and is ejected from the card insertion slot 30.

[0032]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the card from being clogged, and to carry the card smoothly. In addition, even if there is a slight step in the connecting portion, the card can be transported smoothly, so that there is no need to adjust the step, so that not only the productivity is improved but also the manufacturing cost is reduced. Is done.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the card from being clogged and to carry the card smoothly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a card processing apparatus employing a structure of a card transport path according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state in which an upper case is removed from the card processing apparatus employing the structure of the card transport path according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 (a) is a view corresponding to III (a) -III in FIG. 2;
(A) is a cross-sectional view of the line, and FIG.
It is a III (b) line sectional view.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a connecting portion on a lower case side in the card processing device employing the structure of the card transport path according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a connection portion between a front upper case of the card print processing device and a card transport plate of the card reading processing device in the card processing device employing the structure of the card transport path according to the present invention.

FIG. 6A is a view showing VI (a) -VI in FIG.
(A) is a cross-sectional view of the line, and FIG. 5 (b) is VI (b) -V in FIG.
It is an I (b) line sectional view.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a connection portion between a front upper case of a card print processing device and a card transport plate of a card reading processing device in the card processing device employing the structure of the card transport path according to the present invention. It is.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a rear upper case of the card print processing device as viewed from above, in the card processing device employing the structure of the card transport path according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the card processing device employing the structure of the card transport path according to the present invention, with a side plate of the card printing processing device removed.

FIG. 10A is a plan view of a card print processing device in a card processing device employing the structure of a card transport path according to the present invention, and FIG. 10B is a plan view of X in FIG.
It is a (b) -X (b) line sectional view.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Card processing device, 2 ... Card reading processing device, 3 ... Card printing processing device, 4,33 ... Lower case, 5 ... Upper case, 8,10a, 11a, 40a, 41a ... Evacuation surface, 10,19,38 , 40 ... Teeth, 11, 20, 3
9, 41 groove, 16 optical sensor, 18 card transport plate, 22 first card transport path, 30 card insertion slot,
32: second card transport path, 34: front upper case, 35: rear upper case, 45: platen roller, 50: thermal head.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C005 HA17 LB45 MA19 TA24 3F101 FA01 FB15 FC05 FC16 LA05 LA09 LA10 LB09 5B023 BA01 BA05 DA11 FA02 FA06 GA01 GA03 GA04

Claims (2)

[Claims] In a structure of a card transport path provided with at least two card transport paths for transporting a card, the two card transport paths are connected with each other at opposite ends of the two card transport paths. The contact portion of the two card transport paths is formed in a comb shape, and the two comb tooth portions are combined so that the teeth of the comb tooth portions mesh with each other. The structure of the card transport path, which is inclined in a direction to be retracted from the transport surface to be transported. 2. At least two card transport paths for transporting a card are provided, and two ends of the two card transport paths are brought into contact with each other.
In the structure of a card conveying path connecting two card conveying paths, two pairs of confronting side walls separated by an interval slightly larger than the width of the card are provided in the two card conveying paths, Wherein the opposite end of the card transport path is inclined toward the outside of the card transport path.