JP2001151364A - Card group feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a card-group feeding device that suppresses damage of a card surface as less as possible and can be operated with a small power, by reducing load acting to a claw portion. SOLUTION: The card-group feeding device 20 sequentially feeds many cards 7 piled and stored in a cassette 6 from downside. The feeding device 20 comprises a sliding portion 40 having a locking claw 41a that receives upward energization by a spring 45 and is supported vertically rotatably, and a pair of rear side support portions 30 that project on both sides of the sliding portion 40 and support the lower surface of the rear side of the card, and a front side support portion 26 for supporting the lower surface of the front side of the card at substantially same level as a feed outlet 24. The sliding portion 40 that reciprocates in a space under the card 7 supported by the rear side support portions 30 and the front side support portion 26 locks the rear end surface of the card 7 with the locking claw 41a in the ahead route and feeds out it to the feed outlet 24.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card feeding device used for feeding cards one by one in a device for selling cards and the like.
The present invention relates to a card feeding device suitable for use when cards are repeatedly used many times.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, prepaid cards tend to be switched from disposable magnetic cards to reusable cards due to the promotion of recycling. FIGS. 8 and 9 are schematic diagrams showing a card transport path of an apparatus for selling cards. In the drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a card vending machine, 2 denotes a card feeding device (unit), 4 denotes a card transport device, and 5 denotes a card transport device.
Indicates a card reader / writer. In such a conventional device, a large number of cards 7 are stored in a cassette (container) 6 attached to the upper part of the card feeding device 2 in a vertically stacked state.

As shown in FIG. 9, one of the lowermost sheets of a card 7 in a cassette 6 is sent out from a delivery port 9 to a transport unit 4 by a claw portion 8 which reciprocates horizontally in the card feeding direction. Conveying rollers 10 and 11 provided inside
And sent to the card reader / writer 5. Then, necessary data is read and written by the card reader / writer 5, and the data determined to be normal comes out from the card exit 12 provided on the customer service surface. In the push-out type card feeding device 2 using the claw portions 8, the lowermost one is pushed out under the full load of the stored cards 6, so that a large sliding friction acts and scratches due to rubbing are caused. However, there is a problem that a large output motor is required as a driving source of the claw portion 8 because a large force is required to push the claw portion 8 out. Further, even when the claw portion 8 retreats after the card 6 is drawn out, there is a problem that the card surface is easily scratched because the entire load acts on the upper end portion of the claw portion 8.

As a countermeasure against this, as shown in FIG. 10, a roller 13 is attached to the claw portion 8 and the delivery port 9 to change the sliding friction acting on the card 6 into the rolling friction at the time of feeding. In some cases, the card surface is hardly damaged. In this case, the action of the roller 13 attached to the upper surface of the claw portion 8 makes it difficult for the claw portion 8 to be damaged even when the claw portion 8 is retracted after the card 6 is extended, but the entire load acts on the cards to be extended. Because
Scratch due to rubbing between cards has not been eliminated.

[0005]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional card feeding device, in any case, a large number of cards are still stacked on the upper portion of the card 6 to be fed, and therefore, the cards are stored. Because the card 6 is fed out under the full load of the card 6, a large load mainly acting on rubbing between the cards acts on the claw portion 8. Also,
A claw portion 8 which retreats to the original position after the card 6 is extended.
Is in contact with the lower surface of the next card 6 to be fed out, which is lowered by the thickness of one sheet and waits under the full load, so that a large load is applied here as well. For this reason, there is a problem that the card surface is likely to be deeply scratched, and it is desired to solve such a problem of scratching the card surface for repeated use. At the same time, abrasion is promoted also on the claw portion 8 side. Therefore, it is desired to solve the problem of damage in order to improve the durability of the feeding device and reduce maintenance. In addition, when the load on the claw portion is large, it is necessary to use a motor having a large torque for driving the claw portion, and it is desired to reduce the load from the viewpoint of cost reduction and energy saving.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in a card feeding device, a load acting on a claw portion is reduced to minimize damage to a card surface and reduce torque. It is intended to enable the use of small motors.

[0007]

The present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. The card feeding device according to claim 1, which is a card feeding device for sequentially sending out cards stacked and stored in large numbers from the bottom, wherein the card feeding device is upwardly biased by elastic means and is rotatable in a vertical direction. A sliding portion provided with a claw portion supported by the rear portion, a rear supporting portion projecting from both sides of the sliding portion and supporting a rear lower surface of the cards, and an outlet at the front lower surface of the cards. A front support portion for supporting at substantially the same level, wherein the sliding portion reciprocates between the rear support portions in the lower space of the cards supported by the rear support portion and the front support portion. However, in the outward path, the rear end face of the cards is locked by the claw portion and the card is sent to the outlet.

According to such a card feeding device, the entire load of cards stacked and stored in large numbers is supported by the rear support portion and the front support portion, so that the load due to the load acts on the claw portion. Can be prevented. Further, the claw portion rotatably supported by the sliding portion reciprocates in the lower surface space of the cards under the upward bias by the elastic means, so that the claw portion is upwardly retracted from the rear end of the cards. The rotated claw locks the rear end face of the cards and sends the card to the sending / outlet side (outward path), and when the claw retreats (return path), the claw contacts the lower surface of the card to be fed next time by the urging force, but the load is applied. I don't have to.

In the above card feeding device, it is preferable to provide a guide member for positioning the cards in the width direction and the rear end side, so that the cards can be stably fed. In this case, a simple cylindrical storage container of cards can be used, so that the internal space of the storage container is widened and the operation of taking in and out the cards is facilitated. In addition, if the guide member is provided with a position variable mechanism, it is possible to easily cope with cards of different sizes.

In the above card feeding device, preferably, the guide member for positioning the cards at the rear end side includes the rear support portion for supporting a rear lower surface of a large number of stacked cards, A step portion provided continuously from the side support portion to the outlet side and lowered by a thickness of the cards or more, whereby the rear end portion of the cards moved to the outlet side by a predetermined amount or more. Are dropped and separated at the stepped portion by a thickness of one sheet or more. Therefore, in the subsequent sending, the load of the cards stored in the upper portion is released, the frictional force is greatly reduced, and the rubbing of the cards can be prevented.

In the card feeding device, it is preferable that each of the front support portion and the rear support portion is provided with an inclined surface descending toward a central portion in a card sending direction.
As a result, even cards that are warped in the longitudinal (sending) direction can be smoothly sent toward the outlet. Also,
The claw portion is preferably provided at a position for locking the center of the cards in the width direction, so that cards warped in the short (width) direction can be smoothly sent out toward the outlet. Further, it is preferable that the claw portion is provided with an inclined surface which descends in a card sending direction, so that cards warped in the longitudinal direction can be easily locked to the claw portion.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a card feeding device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2, reference numeral 6 denotes a cassette, 7 denotes a card, 2
0 is a card feeding device, 40 is a sliding portion, and the cassette 6
Has a large number of cards 7 stacked therein.

The illustrated card feeding device 20 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole, and is provided with a rectangular opening 21 on the upper surface. The opening 21 is provided in the rectangular card 7.
A width guide 22 is provided as a width-direction positioning guide member at two locations on the left and right sides inside the long side 21a, that is, a total of four locations. As shown in FIG. 3, the width guide 22 is provided with an inclined surface 22 a descending inward from the upper end portion.
A vertical surface 22b is provided at the lower portion of 2a so as to form a gap substantially matching the width of the card 7 and regulate the position in the width direction. The width guide 22 is provided up to or near the bottom plate 23 of the opening 21. Note that the number of width guides 22 is not necessarily two
It is not limited to the location.

An outlet 24 which opens in the horizontal direction is provided on the wall surface formed by the front short side 21b of the opening 21. The outlet 24 has a cross-sectional shape through which the card 7 can pass, and is provided at a position slightly higher than the bottom surface 23. Inside the outlet 24, a front guide 25 protruding from the bottom surface 23 is provided at the center in the width direction. The front guide 25 is connected to the lower surface of the outlet 24, and has a front support portion 26 of the card 7 formed on a plane having the same or substantially the same height, and a longitudinal direction of the opening 21 from the front support portion 26. An inclined surface 27 that is inclined downward toward the center. In this case, one of the front support portions 26 has a function of positioning the bottom surface side of the card 7 together with a rear support portion described later, and the inclined surface 27 feeds the card 7 warped in the longitudinal direction. It is intended to guide it to 24 and send it out smoothly. Without such an inclined surface 27,
For example, when the central portion is convex downward, the leading end of the card 7 may be higher than the outlet 24.

At the center in the width direction of the bottom surface 23, the rear short side 21 c of the opening 21 is located slightly behind the front guide 25 described above.
A strip-shaped opening 28 extending in the longitudinal direction is provided. The band-shaped opening 28 is for a sliding portion 40 to be described later reciprocating in the longitudinal direction to send out the card 7, and a pair of right and left rear guides 29 are provided on both sides of the band-shaped opening 28. Have been. The rear guide 29 is a rib-shaped member extending from the rear short side 21 c of the opening 21 to the center in the longitudinal direction along the band-shaped opening 28, and protrudes from the bottom surface 23 and is provided near the center of the opening 21. Have been.

A rear guide 29 supports a rear lower surface of the card 7 on a flat surface set at the same height as the front support 26 described above, and is fed from the rear support 30. A step portion 31 is provided continuously on the outlet 24 side, and an inclined surface 32 is lowered toward the center. And
In the upper portion of the rear support portion 30, an inclined guide 33 having an inclined surface narrowing from top to bottom is provided to smoothly guide the rear end of the card 7 to the rear support portion 30 for positioning. The rear support portion 30 supports the entire load of the cards 7 stacked in large numbers in cooperation with the front support portion 26, and also has a vertical positioning function. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main part showing a state where the rear lower surface of the card 7 is supported by the rear support part 30.

As shown in the enlarged view of the main part of FIG. 5, the step portion 31 has a height h from the rear support portion 30 to the outlet 24 side.
The height h in this case is greater than at least the thickness t of one card 7 (h> t).
There is a need. That is, the card 7 located at the bottom
Is moved by the predetermined distance L toward the outlet 24 by the sliding portion 40 described later, since the rear end naturally falls on the step portion 31, the lowermost one of the cards 7 is stacked. It is designed to be able to separate only the sheets. The inclined surface 32 has the same function as the inclined surface 27 of the front guide 25 described above.
By cooperating with each other, the card 7 warped in the longitudinal direction can be guided so as to be smoothly delivered from the delivery port 24.

Next, a description will be given of the structure of the sliding portion 40 which sends out the cards 7 one by one to the outlet 24 and feeds them out. The main components of the sliding portion 40 are arranged below the bottom surface 23, and the claw body 41 reciprocates in the longitudinal direction (card sending direction) along the band-shaped opening 28. . Below the bottom surface 23, a slide shaft 42 is fixedly installed in the longitudinal direction. This slide shaft 42
Supports a sliding body 43 that reciprocates in the longitudinal direction in the lower surface space of the bottom surface 23 by a drive mechanism (not shown) using a motor as a drive source.

On the sliding body 43, the claw body 41 is supported so as to be rotatable up and down around a rotation shaft 44. Further, the distal end side of the claw portion main body 41 is provided with a spring 4 of elastic means.
5 is biased upward. On the upper surface side of the claw portion main body 41, a locking claw 41a for locking the rear end surface of the card 7 by forming a step on the tip end side is formed, and the locking claw 41a is directed toward the rotation shaft 44 from the locking claw 41a. Inclined surface 4
1b is formed.

The sliding portion 40 having such a configuration is located at the most retracted locking position from the outlet 24, that is,
At a position where the locking claw 41a is retracted from the rear end of the card 7 to the rear, the claw body 41 biased by the spring 45 rotates upward, so that the locking is performed as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. The claws 41a protrude to a level substantially the same as or slightly lower than the upper surface of the lowermost card 7. Note that the protruding level is regulated by the interference of the inclined surface 41b with the rear end of the card 7, but a stopper may be provided at an appropriate position to regulate the upper limit of rotation. When the drive mechanism is operated from such a state, the sliding body 43 starts sliding along the slide shaft 42 toward the outlet port 24 on the outward path, and the claw body 41 integrated therewith also starts moving. I do. By such an operation, one card 7 whose rear end face is locked by the locking claw 41a is pulled out from the rear support portion 30 and moves by the distance L shown in FIG. In the movement so far, the cards 7 have received the full load of the cards stacked on top of each other. However, since the cards 7 are naturally dropped and separated at the steps 31, they are released from this load thereafter. When one card 7 falls naturally at the step 31, the other cards 7 that have been stacked fall by the thickness of one sheet.

Thereafter, the claw body 41 moves to the sending completion position indicated by the imaginary line in FIG. 1 and feeds the card 7 from the sending port 24 to the card transport unit 4 in the next step. The card 7 fed out to some extent in the card transport unit 4
Is transported thereafter by the transport roller 10 in the card transport unit 4 as described in the related art. Step 31
The card 7 separated by the above is sent out by the locking claw 41a of the claw body 41 whose upward rotation is regulated by interfering with the lower surface of the card 7 to be fed next by receiving the bias of the spring 45. You. At this time, the upper end of the claw portion main body 41 slides in contact with the lower surface of the card 7 to be fed next. In this case, only the urging force of the spring 45 acts on the contact sliding portion. By adjusting the power moderately, the damage can be minimized. That is, the total load of the cards 7 stacked in large numbers is changed by the front support 26 and the rear support 3.
0, the entire load does not act on the contact sliding portion. Therefore, the force with which the claw body 41 contacts the lower surface of the card 7 is only the biasing force of the spring 45. It will be small. In other words, the claw body 41
It is not necessary to support the entire load of the card 7 with the sliding portion 40 including the contact portion, so that a large force does not act in the direction in which the contact sliding portion of the locking claw 41a strongly (deeply) digs into the lower surface of the card. ing. It should be noted that the card 7 until the operation completion position
The claw body 41 which has sent the slidably contacts and slides on the lower surface of the card in a state in which only the urging force of the spring 45 acts on the return path in the same manner as in the forward path, and returns to the predetermined locking position.

As described above, the card feeding device of the present invention described above has a sliding portion in which the front support portion 26 and the rear support portion 30 receive substantially the entire load of the cards 7 stacked and stored in large numbers. Since it is configured not to act on 40, only a relatively small urging force of the spring 45 for urging the claw body 41 upward acts on the contact sliding portion between the locking claw 41a and the card surface. For this reason, at the time of the feeding operation of the card 7,
There is no strong force acting in the direction in which the locking claws 41a bite into the surface of the card 7 and cause damage, that is, in the vertical direction, so that the card surface can be prevented from being damaged by the feeding operation. In addition, since one card fed out of the many stacked cards 7 is separated at the step portion 31, the card 7 fed out does not receive a load from the other cards 7 stored at the top after the separation is completed. . Therefore, after the separation, the locking claw 41a can send out and feed out one card 7 with a small force, and it is also possible to prevent the adjacent cards 7 from being scratched by being rubbed.

When the force acting on the contact sliding portion is small, not only the damage to the card 7 is suppressed, but also the locking claw 4 that actually contacts the surface of the card 7.
Since the wear of 1a can also be suppressed, the load on the locking claw 41a is reduced. When the load on the locking claw 41a is reduced, the motor for driving the claw body 41 can be reduced in size, and the power consumption of the motor during the feeding operation can be reduced. It can also contribute to reducing power.

In the above-described card feeding device of the present invention,
Since the apparatus itself is provided with a width guide 22, a rear guide 29, a front support section 26, and a rear support section 30 for positioning the card 7 in the left-right width direction, the rear end side and the bottom face, a simple cylindrical cassette 6 is provided. Can be used to feed out the card 7, and the feeding operation can be performed without using the cassette 6 if the number of cards is relatively small. Further, if these guide members are movable, it is possible to easily cope with cards of different sizes by adjusting the positions of the guide members. In this case, as measures against the warpage of the card 7 in the longitudinal direction, the front guide 25 and the rear guide 29 are provided with inclined surfaces 27 and 32, and the claw body 41 is also provided with the inclined surface 4
1b, the inclined surfaces 27, 3 as shown in FIG.
Since the shape of the warp follows 2, a smooth feeding operation toward the delivery port 24 becomes possible. As a countermeasure against warpage in the short (width) direction of the card 7, as shown in FIG. 7, the center portion in the width direction of the card 7 in which the claw body 41 is warped is, in other words, the highest position due to warpage. Rear support 3
Since the portion close to 0 is locked, the locking claw 41a
, And a smooth feeding operation toward the delivery port 24 can be performed.

[0025]

According to the card feeding device of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. (1) Since the sliding portion does not receive the entire load of the cards stored in a large number stacked, only a relatively small urging force of the elastic means for urging the claws upward acts on the contact sliding portion. For this reason, at the time of the feeding operation of the card feeding device, a strong force in the direction in which the claw bites into the surface of the card and scratches the card does not act, so that the surface of the card is hardly damaged. Therefore, there is an effect that cards can be repeatedly used. In addition, when the force acting on the contact sliding portion is small as described above, not only is it possible for the cards and the like to be damaged, but also it is possible to suppress wear of the claw portion, which is a portion that actually contacts the surface of the cards, This greatly contributes to the improvement of the durability and reliability of the device, and furthermore, it is possible to reduce the size and the power consumption of the motor for driving the claw portion, thereby contributing to cost reduction.

(2) Since a guide member for positioning the cards is provided in the card feeding device itself, the cards can be stably fed even if a simple cylindrical card storage container is used. In addition, a simple cylindrical container has an effect of facilitating the operation of taking in and out cards because the internal space has room. When the number of cards is relatively small, there is no need to use a container. (3) At the step, a single card fed out of many stacked cards is separated.
After the separation, the cards to be fed out do not receive the load of the stored cards. Therefore, the card can be sent out with a small force, and the card can be prevented from being damaged due to rubbing of the cards. (4) As a countermeasure against warpage in the longitudinal direction of cards,
Since the front guide and the rear guide are provided with inclined surfaces, and the claw portions are also provided with inclined surfaces, a smooth feeding operation along the inclined surfaces becomes possible. (5) As a countermeasure against warpage in the short (width) direction of the cards, the claw portion securely locks the rear end of the cards at the center in the width direction, so reliable and smooth feeding operation is possible. become.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view (A-A cross-section in FIG. 2) showing an embodiment of a card feeding device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the card feeding device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view on arrow BB of FIG. 2 showing a shape of a width guide.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main part showing a state in which a locking claw is in a locking position in the card feeding device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a main part showing details of a rear guide structure.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a sending state of cards warped in a longitudinal direction.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a sending state of cards that are warped in a short direction (width direction).

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a card transport path of a card vending machine as an application example of the card sending device.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another conventional example of a card sending mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 6 cassette (container) 7 card (cards) 20 card (card) feeding device 21 opening 22 width guide (positioning guide member in width direction) 23 bottom surface 24 sending port 25 front guide 26 front support portion (bottom positioning guide) 27) Inclined surface 28 Strip-shaped opening 29 Rear guide 30 Rear support portion (positioning guide member on bottom surface) 31 Step portion 32 Inclined surface 33 Inclined guide (positioning guide means on rear end side) 40 Sliding portion 41 Main body of claw portion 41a Locking claw 41b Inclined surface 42 Slide shaft 43 Sliding body 44 Rotating shaft 45 Spring (elastic means)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A card feeding device for sequentially sending out cards stacked and stored in large numbers from below, comprising a claw portion supported by an upward bias by an elastic means and supported rotatably in a vertical direction. A sliding portion provided; a rear supporting portion protruding on both sides of the sliding portion for supporting a rear lower surface of the cards; and a front side for supporting a front lower surface of the cards at substantially the same level as an outlet. A supporting portion, wherein the sliding portion that reciprocates in the lower surface space of the cards supported by the rear supporting portion and the front supporting portion between the two rear supporting portions is the claw portion on an outward path. Wherein the rear end face of the cards is locked and the cards are fed to the outlet. 2. The card feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising a guide member for positioning the cards in a width direction and a rear end side. 3. A guide member for positioning the cards on the rear end side, the rear support portion supporting a rear lower surface of a large number of stacked cards, and a guide member on the sending-out side from the rear support portion. The card feeding device according to claim 2, further comprising a stepped portion provided continuously and lowered by at least the thickness of the cards. 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the front support portion and the rear support portion each have an inclined surface which is lowered toward a central portion in a card sending direction. Card feeding device. 5. The card according to claim 1, wherein the claw portion is provided at a position for locking a center of the cards in the width direction.
5. The card feeding device according to any one of items 1 to 4. 6. The card feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the claw portion is provided with an inclined surface which descends in a card sending direction.