JP2001187645A - Card feed device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a card feed device removing the clogging without damaging a card, even if the card in a way being fed out from a card storage part is clogged. SOLUTION: In ordinary, a guide body 111 is positioned in a guide position projecting to the top face side of a card feed part 32 and the detachment/ attachment of the card storage part is guided by the guide body 111. In removing the clogging, the guide body 111 is moved to a turn-out position for turning aside from the top face side of the card feed part 32, and the card storage part 33 is allowed to move in the opposite side relative to the card feed direction. The card storage part 33 is moved in the opposite side relative to the card feed direction so that the clogged card C is removed from the card feed port 46 by no force.

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 for feeding a card from a detachable card storage unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-147630.
As described in the publication, a box-shaped card storage portion is detachable from above from a card feeding portion having a feeding mechanism.

The card storage section has a space in which a plurality of cards can be stored in an integrated state, a refill port having an openable and closable lid is formed on the rear surface, and the card can pass through the lower front position. A card feeding port is formed, and an opening through which a part of a feeding mechanism of the card feeding unit (feeding roller) and a part of a presence / absence detection sensor (detection lever) can enter is formed on the lower surface.

[0004] On the upper surface (mounting surface) of the card feeding portion, a frame body which is opened upward and receives and holds the card storage portion is provided. When the card storage portion is loaded, the card feeding portion of the card storage portion is provided. A card feeding port on the card feeding section side is formed at a position facing the outlet. A feeding mechanism and a presence / absence detection sensor are arranged inside the card feeding section, and a part of them is protruded from the upper surface. Further, a transport mechanism that transports the fed-out card is disposed further outside the card feeding port of the card feeding unit.

When a card is replenished in a state where the card storage section is removed from the card feeding section and the card storage section is mounted on the card feeding section, a part of the feeding mechanism and the presence / absence detection sensor are inserted into the card storage section through the opening. And touches the lowest card. When instructed to pay out the card,
The feeding mechanism is driven, the lowermost card is fed outward through the card feeding port on the card storage section side and the card feeding port on the card feeding section side, and is conveyed by the conveyance mechanism.

[0006]

In the conventional card feeding device, the card storage portion is designed to be attached to and detached from the card feeding portion from above, and this is partially protruded from the upper surface on the card feeding portion side. An object of the present invention is to allow the card storage unit and the internal card to normally contact the feeding mechanism and the presence / absence detection mechanism.

When a card fed from the card storage unit becomes clogged, the card storage unit is removed from the card feeding unit and recovery is manually performed. At this time, a card that becomes an obstacle is completely removed from the card storage unit. Or
There is no particular problem as long as the card is fed into the card feeding section, but the leading edge of the card being fed from the card storage section passes through the card feeding port on the card feeding section and is applied to the transport mechanism. If clogging occurs while the rear end of the card remains in the card storage part, if you try to remove the card storage part upward, shear stress is applied to the card, and the card itself may be damaged or the card may be damaged. There is a possibility that the periphery of the card feeding port and the transport mechanism involved in feeding the paper may be damaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances. Even when a card being fed out of the card storage unit is jammed, the card itself and the card handling involved in the card ejection can be removed in the jam clearing process. It is an object of the present invention to provide a card feeding device capable of preventing damage to an area around an exit and a transport mechanism.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a card dispensing apparatus for accommodating a plurality of cards in an integrated state, a card accommodating portion having a card dispensing outlet for dispensing cards on one side, and a card dispensing device on an upper surface side. A card feeding portion in which the card storage portion is detachably mounted, and a card feeding portion for feeding out a card in the card storage portion through a card feeding opening; a guide position projecting to the upper surface side of the card feeding portion to guide the mounting / removal of the card storage portion; And a guide member which is movable from the upper surface side of the feeding portion to a retreat position where the card storage portion is allowed to move to the opposite side to the card feeding direction.

Normally, a card storage portion mounted on the upper surface side of the card feeding portion is guided to a fixed position by a guide body at a guide position protruding to the upper surface side of the card feeding portion,
The card storage unit to be removed from the upper surface side of the card feeding unit is guided. Further, when the jam is released, the guide body moves to the retracted position where it is retracted from the upper surface side of the card feeding section, so that the card storage section can be moved in the opposite direction to the card feeding direction, and the jammed card can be moved. Can be easily removed from the card exit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the card feeding device according to the first aspect, the guide is movable toward a retreat position on the opposite side to the card feeding direction, and the guide body is mounted. It has a locking portion for locking the card storage portion detachably.

[0012] When the card storage section is mounted on the card feeding section, the locking section of the guide locks the card storage section. When the jam is released, the guide body is moved to the retreat position on the opposite side to the card feeding direction, so that the card storage unit also moves integrally via the locking part of the guide body, and the jam clearance processing can be performed. And

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a card feeding device according to the first or second aspect, wherein a clogging detecting means for detecting a card jam at a card feeding port of the card storage portion, and the clogging detecting means are clogged. And a clogging display means for displaying when detecting is detected.

When the card is clogged at the card feeding port of the card storage, the card is detected by the clogging detecting means, and the fact is indicated by the clogging display means.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the card feeding device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The card dispensing apparatus is mounted on, for example, a card vending machine which stores a plurality of cards in advance and dispenses and sells the cards one by one based on an external instruction.

FIG. 12 shows the structure of a card vending machine 11. The card vending machine 11 has a box-shaped card vending machine main body 12 having an open front and a front surface of the card vending machine main body 12. The door 13 is provided so as to be openable and closable.

In the card vending machine main unit 12, a card issuance unit 14 for paying out a pre-loaded card and performing a predetermined process and issuing the same, accepts and discriminates banknotes (a plurality of denominations), and stores them by denomination. A bill processing unit 15 for paying out fishing bills (thousand-yen bills), a printing unit 16 for printing sales, etc., a power supply unit 17, and various types of substrates 19 including a control substrate 18 on which a control unit is mounted are arranged. ing.

On the front surface of the door 13, a display unit 21 as a clogging display means constituted by a liquid crystal display screen, a plurality of illuminated amount selection buttons 22 for designating an amount to be sold or deposited are designated. Confirmation button 23 instructing the issuance of a card of the amount paid, a cancel button 24 instructing the cancellation of card issuance, a card issuing slot 25 in which the card is issued, a bill insertion slot 26 in which bills are inserted, and a bill payment in which bills are paid out. A payout display unit 28 for blinking and displaying that the bill has been paid out is provided at the exit 27 and the bill payout exit 27, respectively. On the back surface of the door 13, a staff operation unit 29 operated by a staff during maintenance is arranged.

The display unit 21 displays operation guidance for the user, and furthermore, when a fishing bill runs out or a card is jammed, the fact is displayed.

2 and 3, a card issuing unit 14 is shown. The card issuing unit 14 is mounted on a shelf board 31 disposed on the upper side in the card vending machine main body 12. I have. A plurality of card feeding units 32 for feeding cards toward the rear of the machine are arranged on the shelf plate 31 in the machine width direction, and three card feeding units 32 are arranged side by side in the present embodiment (first from the left as viewed from the left,
A card storage unit 33 is removably mounted on each of the card feeding units 32 (the card storage unit 33 attached to the first card feeding unit 32 is a first card feeding unit 32). The same applies to the second and third card storage sections 33).

On the left side of the first card feeding section 32, there is arranged a card processing section 34 as a card data processing section for reading and writing data on a card sent from behind and sending it forward or backward.

From the rear of the card processing section 34 to the rear of the third card feeding section 32, a card transport section 35 is provided as card transport means for transporting the cards fed from each card feeding section 32 to the card processing section 34. Can be

Behind the card processing unit 34, a reject card collection unit 36 for collecting cards inappropriate for issuance is arranged.

Next, FIG. 4 shows a card storage section 33. The card storage section 33 includes a card storage box 42 having a card storage space 41 in which a plurality of cards C can be stored in a vertically stacked state. A card refill port 43 for refilling the card C into the card storage space 41 is formed on the front surface of the card storage box 42 (the surface corresponding to the front surface when the card storage device 11 is mounted). A replenishment door 44 for opening and closing the card replenishment slot 43 is attached.

An inclined portion 45 whose lower end is inclined rearward is formed at a lower portion of the front surface in the card storage portion 33.
As a result, of the cards C stored in the card storage section 33, the lowest card C to be fed and the card C near the lowest are shifted obliquely rearward to ensure the feeding operation. And

A card outlet 46 through which the card C can pass is formed at one side of the card storage section 33, that is, at a lower position on the rear surface, and a shutter member 47 is attached to the card outlet 46. The shutter member 47 is movably supported between a closed position where the card C is prevented from being fed out from the card feeding port 46 and an open position where it is retracted upward and allows the card C to be fed out. Spring biased. When the card storage unit 33 is removed from the card feeding unit 32, the shutter member is biased by a spring.
When 47 takes the closed position and is attached to the card feeding section 32,
The shutter member 47 is pushed up to the open position by the upper gate member 87 on the card feeding section 32 side.

The bottom surface 48 of the card storage section 33 supports the card C loaded therein.
The extrusion member opening 4 into which the side extrusion member 67 enters and moves.
9, a sold-out detection lever opening 50 into which the sold-out detection lever 103 on the card feeding section 32 enters, and a lower gate member opening 51 into which the lower gate member 88 on the card feeding section 32 enters are formed. I have.

On both side surfaces of the card storage portion 33, extension portions 52 extending below the bottom surface 48 are formed.
When the card is placed on the upper surface of the card feeding portion 32, the two extending portions 52 engage the card feeding portion 32 on both sides and are positioned in the machine body width direction. At the lower edge of the extending portion 52, an engaging recess 53 is formed which engages with the engaging protrusion 119 of the guide member 111 on the card feeding portion 32 side.

5 and 6, a card feeding portion 32 is shown, and a substantially U-shaped portion having both side portions 61 and a rear portion 62 is provided at both sides and a rearward position of the card feeding portion 32. A guide plate 63 is provided upright, and the guide plate 63 constitutes a mounting section 64 to which the card storage section 33 is removably mounted.

The card feeding section 32 has a box body 65, and the upper surface of the box body 65 is configured as a placement surface 66 on which the card storage section 33 is placed.

An extruding member 67 is arranged movably in the front-rear direction from near the front end of the card feeding section 32 to near the intermediate position. The pushing member 67 protrudes from the upper surface of the card feeding portion 32 through the pushing member opening 68 formed in the mounting surface 66 along the front-rear direction. A surface 69 is formed, and an extrusion step 70 is formed near the front end and protrudes upward to be able to engage with the front edge of one card C. In front of the extrusion step 70, on both sides of the extrusion member 67, support rollers 71 projecting about 1 mm from the upper surface of the extrusion member 67 are rotatably mounted.

The pushing member 67 is supported by a slide member 73 movable in the front-rear direction along a guide rod 72 extending in the card feeding section 32 in the front-rear direction.
Is driven in the front-rear direction via the link mechanism 75.

The link mechanism 75 has a first link 76 and a second link 77, and the lower end of the first link 76 is pivotally supported by the support shaft 78 in the card feeding section 32 so as to be able to swing back and forth. Then, the upper end of the first link 76 is engaged with the pin 79 of the slide member 73 via the elongated hole 80, and the front end of the second link 77 is connected to the intermediate portion of the first link 76 via the pin 81. And the rear end of the second link 77 is connected to the extension drive motor 74.
Pin at the eccentric position of the drive pulley 82 rotated by the
It is linked via 83.

When the feeding drive motor 74 is driven, the slide member 73 moves in the front-rear direction along the guide rod 72, and the pushing member connected to the slide member 73.
67 is moved back and forth. The pushing member 67 has a pushing position 70 at a position where the pushing step 70 is located forward of the inclined portion 45 in the card storage portion 33 (a position shown in FIG.
5 mm), and reciprocate between the extended position (the position shown in FIG. 4).

In order to detect that the pushing member 67 is at the standby position, a positioning detecting sensor 84 for detecting the detecting piece 83 of the slide member 73 is provided.

In the vicinity of the rear end of the upper surface of the card feeding portion 32, a card feeding opening 86 is formed between the lower end of the rear plate 62 of the guide plate 63 and the upper surface of the card feeding portion 32. An upper gate member 87 provided on the guide plate 63 side is arranged above the opening 86, and a lower gate member 88 is arranged below, and the upper gate member 87 and the lower gate member 88 cooperate with each other. A gate unit 89 is configured.

The lower gate member 88 is projected through the lower gate member opening 90 on the upper surface of the card feeding portion 82, and two guide rollers 91 projecting about 1 mm from the upper surface of the lower gate member 88 are arranged in front and rear. Each is attached rotatably. A gap through which only one card C can pass is formed between the upper surface of the rear support roller 91 and the upper gate member 87, and is configured to prevent two cards C from being taken out. .

A transport roller 93 is rotatably supported at the lower rear side of the card feeding opening 86 so as to be rotatable.
A belt 95 is stretched between a driven pulley 94 and a driving pulley 82 which rotate together with the driven pulley 94. By the driving of the feeding drive motor 74, the transport roller 93 is driven to rotate in the card feeding direction (rearward) simultaneously with the movement of the pushing member 67.

Above the transport roller 93, an opposing roller 96 is disposed behind the rear plate 62 of the guide plate 63, and a shaft supporting member 97 that rotatably supports the opposing roller 96 is provided at the rear. It is arranged in a guide cylinder 98 attached to the face plate 62 so as to be vertically movable. The shaft support member 97 is urged by a spring 99 in a direction in which the opposing roller 96 contacts the transport roller 93.

A sold-out detection mechanism 101 is disposed on the upper surface of the card feeding section 32, at a position where the pushing member 67 moves and the lower gate member 88 is avoided. The sold-out detection mechanism 101 is movably supported between a protruding position that protrudes upward through a sold-out detection lever opening 102 formed on the upper surface of the card feeding portion 32 and a retracted position that is pushed down, and Sold-out detection lever urged toward the protruding position
The sold-out detection lever 103 is configured to detect whether the sold-out detection lever 103 is located at a protruding position or a retracted position.

A feeding detection sensor 105 as a clogging detection means such as an optical sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the card C is disposed outside the gate portion 86 in the card feeding direction. At the time of the card feeding operation, the feeding detection sensor 105 is shielded from light by the fed card C. If the card C returns to the light transmitting state within a predetermined time, it is determined that the card C is normally fed. Is determined to have occurred.

The card feeding section 32 has a card storage section.
A guide member 111 is attached as a guide that guides the side opposite to the card feeding direction of the card storage section 33, that is, the front side when the 33 is attached and detached.

As shown in FIG. 7, the guide member 111 is formed in a substantially U-shape by a guide portion 112 and mounting portions 113 on both sides extending from both ends of the guide portion 112. A guide surface portion 115 having a downwardly inclined surface 114 for guiding the front side of the card storage portion 33 is provided on the rear side of the guide portion 112, and a card feeding portion is provided on a lower edge of the guide portion 112.
A positioning protrusion 117 as a locking portion inserted into a positioning hole 116 formed on the upper surface of the projection 32 is provided in a protruding manner. A bearing 118 is rotatably supported at the inside of the tip of each mounting portion 113, and an engaging projection 119 as an engaging portion projecting outward is bent at an intermediate position.

Bearing of each mounting portion 113 of guide member 111
118 is engaged with a long hole (not shown) formed on both sides of the card feeding portion 32 along the front-rear direction, and the bearing 118 moves in the long hole, so that the guide member 111 can slide in the front-rear direction. Supported.

The guide member 111 is moved rearward, and the guide portion 112 is located on the upper surface of the card feeding portion 32.
The position where 17 is inserted into the positioning hole 116 is the guide position. On the other hand, a position where the guide member 111 is pushed forward and further pushed down, and the guide portion 112 is lowered from the upper surface of the card feeding portion 32 is set as a retreat position. And the guide member 11
When 1 is in the guide position, the card
3 is guided by the guide surface portion 115, and when the guide member 111 is at the retracted position, the guide portion 112 is lower than the upper surface of the card feeding portion 32, and the card storage portion 33 can be pulled out horizontally forward. Will be possible.

When the card storage section 33 is loaded, an engagement recess 53 formed at the lower side of the card storage section 33 is formed.
Are the engagement protrusions 11 formed on the mounting portion 113 of the guide member 111.
9 is engaged.

Next, in FIG. 9, the card processing unit 34
A card transport path 121 penetrating back and forth is provided inside, and a front end of the card transport path 121 is communicated with a card issuing port 25 of the door 13 of the card vending machine 11. The card transport path 121 is
It has a transport mechanism 122 composed of a transport belt and a transport roller,
The received card C can be transported in both front and rear directions (drive for transporting the card C forward is defined as forward drive, and drive for transporting the card C is defined as reverse drive). In the middle of the card transport path 121, a data processing unit 123 for reading and rewriting data of the card C and sensors (not shown) for detecting the presence or absence of the card C are arranged.

Next, in FIGS. 2, 3, 8 and 9, the card transport section 35 has a transport body 131 for holding and transporting the card C. It is configured to move along a movement area 132 in the body left-right direction behind the card processing unit 32 and the card processing unit 34.

The moving body 131 is moved by a cylindrical guide rod 133 disposed along the forward position of the moving region 132 and a substantially U-shaped cross section disposed along the rear position of the moving region 132. It is guided by a letter-shaped guide rail 134.

The transport mechanism 135 for moving the moving body 131 has pulleys 136 disposed on both left and right sides of the moving area 132 and a transport belt 137 stretched between these pulleys 136. By rotating the transport belt 137 via the pulley 134, the transport body 131 connected to the transport belt 137 is moved. The carrier 131 has a standby position at a position behind the card processing unit 34, a sending position for sending the card C to the data processing unit 34, and a card feeding unit.
The rear position of 32 is the receiving position for receiving the card C.

A detecting plate 140 having a slit 139 protrudes from the front surface of the carrier 131. On the other hand, each card feeding section 32 and the card processing section 3 along the moving area 132 of the carrier 131
Positioning sensors 141 are fixedly arranged at positions corresponding to 4, respectively. Further, on the left side of the positioning sensor 141 corresponding to each card feeding unit 32 and on the right side of the positioning sensor 141 corresponding to the card processing unit 34, preparation sensors 142 are arranged at predetermined intervals. Carrier 1
When moving 31, the initial stage is moved at a relatively high speed, the speed is reduced when the preparation sensor 142 detects the detection plate 140, and the carrier 131 is stopped when the positioning sensor 141 detects the detection plate 140, In addition, the moving time can be reduced and accurate positioning can be performed.

The carrier 131 has a lower frame 144 and an upper frame 145, and a slide member 146 slidably engaged with the guide rod 133 is attached to the front surface of the lower frame 144. A detection plate 140 is attached, and a guide roller 147 rotatably engaged with a guide rail 134 is rotatably supported on the rear surface of the lower frame portion 144. Upper frame 145
Is supported so as to be openable and closable upward about a support shaft 148 that rotatably connects a rear portion of the lower frame portion 144 and a rear portion of the upper frame portion 145 to each other.

A receiving passage 150 for receiving the card C from the front is formed between the lower frame portion 144 and the upper frame portion 145, and the front upper surface and the upper frame portion of the lower frame portion 144 face the receiving passage 150. Guide surfaces 151 and 152 are formed on the lower surface of 145. Each guide surface 15 is provided on the lower frame portion 144 and the upper frame portion 145.
Nipping rollers 153 and 15 that enter the receiving passage 150 from the first and second 152
4 (the lower side is the driving nip roller 153, and the upper side is the driven nip roller 15
4) is rotatably supported, and these pinching rollers 153, 154
Constitutes a pair of holding rollers 155 for holding the card C fed from the front and sending it forward or backward. The lower sandwiching roller 153 of the sandwiching roller pair 155 is rotatable in both forward and reverse directions by a sandwiching drive motor 156 as a drive mechanism. The forward rotation and the backward rotation are reversed.

In the lower frame portion 144, a guide surface 151 for supporting the lower surface of the card C is not formed behind the pair of holding rollers 155, that is, an opening 157 is formed. The card C conveyed backward falls down through the opening 157.

One side surface of the receiving passage 150 serves as a reference surface 159 of one side edge of the card C, and the other side surface includes a one-sided spring formed by a leaf spring or the like bent in a tapered shape so that the front end expands. 160 are located. When the carrier 131 receives the card C, the one-sided spring 160 moves the card feeding unit 32.
In addition, even if the position of the carrier 131 is slightly shifted from the sending side of the card processing unit 34, one side edge of the card C is shifted to a normal position where it contacts the reference surface 159. A card detection sensor 161 for detecting the card C is provided on the reference surface 159 side.

Since the carrier 131 receives the card C from the front and moves in the horizontal direction, and pays out the card C when it reaches a predetermined position, the card C is not bent. Therefore, even a slightly thick card C such as an IC card can be conveyed.

Next, FIG. 9 shows a reject card collection unit 36, which is disposed behind the card processing unit 34 and collects cards C and the like that are not suitable for issuance. A posture conversion unit 171 that receives the card C discharged from the carrier 131 located at the standby position behind the card processing unit 34 through the opening 157 and converts the card C into a standing posture, and the card C received from the posture conversion unit 171. Has a collection cassette 172 for storing the collected cassettes.

The posture changing section 171 is provided with a first guide surface 173 and a second guide surface 173 which are arranged in a substantially V shape at an angle of about 20 to 30 degrees.
Near the confluence of the two guide surfaces 173 and 174, a slit through which the card C can pass in an upright posture.
175 are formed.

The collection cassette 172 is formed in a box shape having an open upper surface, and has an integrated bottom surface 176 inclined downward and downward on the bottom surface.
The lower end of the card C that has fallen in the standing posture flows backward along the inclination of the accumulation bottom surface 176, and the cards C are accumulated and stored in a state of being inclined backward and downward. Collection cassette
172 is detachably attached to the card vending machine main body 12, and on the card vending machine main body 12 side, an unillustrated attachment / detachment detection sensor for detecting the attachment / detachment of the collection cassette 172 is arranged. A fullness detection sensor (not shown) that detects the fullness of the card C by traversing the detection light through the fullness detection sensor through hole 177 formed near the upper end of the surface is arranged.

Next, in FIG. 12, the bill processing unit
15 is disposed below the card issuing unit 14 and near the center in the width direction of the card vending machine main body 12, for example, 1,000 yen,
5,000 yen and 10,000 yen bills of three denominations are received and identified one by one from the upper bill insertion slot 26, normal bills are temporarily stored in a temporary storage unit, and abnormal bills are returned. After the transaction is completed, the reserved banknotes are stored by denomination, and the 1,000-yen banknotes are recycled and used as fishing banknotes. When fishing is required, the required number of bills are fed out from the 1,000-yen bill storage unit, and are paid out from the bill payout port 27 in an accumulated state.

Next, the printing unit 16 is arranged on the left side of the banknote processing unit 15, and prints and issues predetermined information (sales information and the like) on roll paper loaded in advance. At the time of maintenance, a staff member can operate with the door 13 opened.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

First, replenishment of the card C will be described.

Usually, the guide member 111 of the card feeding section 32
Is located at a guide position where the guide portion 112 is located at the front end of the upper surface of the card feeding portion 32.

The door 13 of the card vending machine 11 is opened, the card storage section 33 is removed from the card feeding section 32, and the card C is taken out from the card vending machine main body 12 to carry out the work of replenishing the card C. At this time, as shown in FIG. 1A, if the upper part of the card storage part 33 is inclined forward, it can be easily taken out. After the replenishment door 44 of the removed card storage unit 33 is opened to replenish a plurality of cards C in an accumulated state, the replenishment door 44 is closed. With the card storage section 33 removed from the card feeding section 32,
The card outlet 46 of the card storage unit 33 is closed by the shutter member 47, and the card C does not come out.

The card storage section 33 with the card C replenished is mounted on the card feeding section 32 in the card vending machine main body 12. At this time, as shown in FIG. 1A, with the upper part of the card storage part 33 inclined forward, the lower part of the front surface of the card storage part 33 is aligned with the guide part 112 of the guide member 111, and As you raise 33, the card storage section 33 becomes the card feeding section
Easy to mount on 32.

In the standby state, the card feeding section 32
Push member 67 is in the standby position in front of the
103 is in the protruding position. When the card storage section 33 is mounted, the forward portion of the pushing member 67 and the lower gate member 88 enter the card storage section 33 and slightly lift the card C inside. The sold-out detection lever 103 is pressed by the card C to the retracted position, and the presence of the card is detected. further,
By the action of the upper gate member 87 formed on the guide plate 63, the shutter member 47 of the card storage unit 33 is opened.

In this embodiment, the same type of card C is loaded in any one of the card storage sections 33. Then, first, the card C is fed out from the first card feeding section 32 and issued, and when the first card storage section 33 becomes empty or the card C cannot be fed, the second card feeding section 32 is issued. The card C is paid out from the unit 32. Further, the card C is fed from the third card feeding unit 32.

Next, the feeding of the card C will be described.

FIG. 11 shows the flow of the card C.

When the door 13 of the card vending machine 11 is closed,
Start preparing for sale.

First, the transport drive motor 138 is driven, and the transport body 131 moves to the rear of the card feeding section 32 in the order of feeding the card C. Subsequently, the feeding drive motor 74 of the card feeding section 32 is driven. When the feeding drive motor 74 is driven, the pushing member 67 moves in the card feeding direction (rearward) by the action of the link mechanism 75, and the pushing step 70 of the pushing member 67 is engaged with the front end of the lowest card C. Push in the card feeding direction. The extruded card C is supported by the support roller 91 of the lower gate member 88 in the vicinity of the rear end, and
The card is moved backward through the card outlet 46 of 33. At this time, since the support roller 91 rotates, the card C does not receive friction and does not wear. On the other hand, the transport roller 93 is rotated (clockwise in FIG. 4) in accordance with the driving of the feed drive motor 74, and the fed card C is nipped and transported by the transport roller 93 and the opposing roller 96, and stands behind. Delivered to the carrier 131.

When the lowermost card C is pushed out by the pushing member 67, the next card C and the cards C stacked thereon are lifted by the pushing member 67. At this time,
The lower surface of the next card C is supported by the support roller 71 of the pushing member 67. When the pushing member 67 moves, the supporting roller 71 rotates. I will not do it. Even when the pushing member 67 retreats after reaching the pushing position, the card C, which is newly placed at the lowest position, is supported by the support rollers 71 of the pushing member 67, and the lower surface of the card C generates friction as in the case of moving forward. No wear and no wear.

When the positioning detection sensor 84 detects that the pushing member 67 has returned to the standby position, the feeding drive motor 74 is stopped.

When all the cards C in the card storage section 33 are fed out, the sold-out detection lever 103 takes the protruding position, and the absence of the card (sold out) is detected. Similarly, when the card storage unit 33 is not attached, the absence of the card (sold out) is detected.

When the card C pushed out by the pushing member 67 is not completely transferred to the carrier 131 and becomes clogged in the vicinity of the card feeding port 46, the feeding detection sensor 105
Is blocked for a predetermined time or more, the occurrence of the card C is detected. This is displayed on the display unit 21 of the card vending machine 11, and a clerk performs a jam release process. If the jamming does not affect the feeding operation and the transporting operation from the other card feeding unit 32, the card may be switched to another card feeding unit 32 to feed the card. Will be discontinued.

In clearing the jam of the card C,
The front part of the jammed card C is in the card storage part 33, and the rear part is removed as usual while the card C is held between the transport roller 93 and the opposing roller 96. For this reason, if the card storage unit 33 is inclined obliquely forward, the spoken card C is twisted, and the card C is torn, or the card feeding port 46 of the card storage unit 33, the transport roller of the card feeding unit 32, etc. Since there is a possibility that the peripheral portion may be damaged, remove the card storage section 33 in the following procedure.

As shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C, the card feeding section 32
After the guide member 111 is slightly lifted to disengage the positioning projection 117 of the guide member 111 from the positioning hole 116 on the upper surface of the card feeding portion 32, the guide member 111 is pulled out forward,
112 is retracted to the front of the card feeding section 32 and then pushed down. When pulling the guide member 111 forward, the guide member 1
Since the engagement projection 119 of the card holder 11 is engaged with the engagement recess 53 of the card storage part 33, the card storage part 33 is pulled out together and the guide member 111 is pushed down. Of the card storage portion 33
Disengagement from 53 releases the engagement.

If the card storage section 33 is pulled out horizontally forward with the guide member 111 being pressed down, the jammed card C
Is pulled out of the card feeding port 46 while being held between the transport roller 93 and the opposing roller 96, and the card storage section 33 is taken out. The jammed card C can be removed after the card storage section 33 is taken out.

When the jamming occurs at an early timing and the nipping between the conveying roller 93 and the opposing roller 96 is weak, when the card storage unit 33 is pulled out, the jammed card C
May also be removed with it.

In any case, the jammed card C is merely pulled in the front-rear direction, and a load such as twisting is not applied, so that the card C itself and the peripheral portion are not damaged.

After taking out the card storage section 33, the guide member 111 is returned to the home position, and the card storage section 3 is moved in the usual manner.
Set 3.

As shown in FIG. 10A, the card C which has been normally (normally) fed from the card feeding section 32 is transported by a carrier.
It is fed into the receiving passage 121 of the cartridge 131 and is held by the holding roller pair 155. The pair of holding rollers 155 is a holding drive motor 1
When the card 56 is driven in the reverse direction and the card C is completely received in the carrier 131, the driving of the nipping drive motor 156 is stopped. When the transport drive motor 138 is driven to horizontally move the transport body 131 to the rear of the card processing unit 34, the drive of the transport drive motor 138 is stopped. This state becomes a standby state, and waits for a purchase operation by the user.

Next, the purchase operation of the card C will be described.

When a customer inserts a bill into the bill insertion slot 26, the bill is taken into the bill processing unit 15, and the authenticity and the denomination are identified. Normal banknotes are held, and abnormal banknotes are returned.

The total amount (payment amount) of the reserved bills is displayed on the display unit 21, and the amount selection button 22 corresponding to the amount that can be purchased with the amount of money is turned on.

When the customer presses the amount selection button 22 corresponding to the desired amount, the amount selection button 22 flashes, and the other amount selection buttons 22 are turned off.

When the confirmation button 23 is pressed, the card C is issued. The banknote held in the banknote processing unit 15 is stored in the corresponding storage unit. Cancel button 24
When the button is pressed, the money amount selection button 22 corresponding to the money amount that can be purchased is returned to a state in which the money amount can be selected again. Press the cancel button 24 again,
The held banknotes are returned and return to the standby state.

Next, the issue of the card C will be described.

The holding drive motor 156 of the carrier 131 is driven to rotate forward, and the card C is sent to the card processing section 34. The transport mechanism 122 of the card processing unit 34 is also driven to rotate forward, the card C is transported forward through the card transport path 121 in the card processing unit 34, and the data of the card C is processed by the data processing unit 123. Data processing includes checking for damage to card C,
This includes writing the issue amount, issue date and time, ID number, and the like. When the data is processed normally, the data is further conveyed in the card conveyance path 121 and paid out from the card issuing slot 25.

Next, rejection of the card C will be described.

When the card C sent from the carrier 131 to the card processing section 34 has been damaged in some way and the data cannot be processed normally, the card C is collected and a normal card C is issued. There is a need to.

The card transport path 121 in the card processing section 34 is driven to rotate in the reverse direction, and the card C is sent to the transport body 131. Further, as shown in FIG. 10 (b), the nipping drive motor 156 in the carrier 131 is also driven in reverse, and the card C is
It is sent further back, losing the support of the lower surface and opening 157
From the card to the reject card collection unit 36.

The dropped card C is sent to the posture conversion unit 171.
Is converted into a standing posture, and falls into the collection cassette 172 through the slit 175 between the first guide surface 173 and the second guide surface 174. In the collection cassette 172, the sheets are stored in a state of being obliquely accumulated on the inclined accumulation bottom surface 176.

The carrier 131 that has discharged the card C moves to the rear of the card feeding section 32 where the next card C is to be fed, and
As described above, the card C fed out from the card feeding section 32 is received, and the issuing operation of the card C is repeated to issue a normal card C.

When the cards C in the collection cassette 172 are accumulated in a predetermined amount or more, the fullness detection sensor is shielded from light, and a display to that effect is displayed outside. The clerk who notices the display opens the door 13 of the card vending machine 11 and collects the collection cassette.
The card C in 172 is collected.

Next, preparation for issuing the next card C will be described.

When the card C is normally issued, the card C
Is carried out, and the card C to be issued next is conveyed to a position behind the card processing unit 34 to prepare for the next selling operation.

As described above, the card C is stored in the card storage section 33.
Even if a jam occurs in the middle of being fed from the card feeding unit 32, the guide member 111 at the guide position that projects to the upper surface side of the card feeding unit 32 and guides the attachment / detachment of the card storage unit 33 is used in the clogging release process. The card storage unit is moved to the evacuation position where the
Allow movement to the opposite side to the card feeding direction of 33,
Since the clogged card C can be easily removed from the card feeding port 46, damage to the card C itself, the vicinity of the card feeding port 46 related to the feeding of the card C, and the transport mechanism can be prevented.

In the jam clearance process, the guide member 111 is moved to the retreat position on the opposite side to the card feeding direction, so that the card is detachably locked via the engagement protrusion 119 of the guide member 111. Since the storage section 33 is also moved integrally, the clogging release processing can be simplified.

When a jam in the card C is detected, the fact is displayed on the jam display section 21, so that the jam clearing process can be performed accurately.

[0103]

According to the card feeding device of the first aspect, even if the card is clogged in the middle of being fed from the card storage unit, the card can be removed in the clogging release processing.
By moving the guide body at the guide position, which protrudes to the upper surface side of the card feeding unit and guides the attachment / detachment of the card storage unit, to the retreat position where it is retracted from the upper surface side of the card feeding unit, the card storage unit with respect to the card feeding direction. The card can be moved to the opposite side and the clogged card can be easily removed from the card feeding port, so that damage to the card itself, the periphery of the card feeding port related to the card feeding, and the transport mechanism can be prevented.

According to the card feeding device of the second aspect,
In addition to the effect of the card feeding device according to the first aspect, in the jam clearance processing, the guide body is moved to a retracted position on the opposite side to the card feeding direction, so that the guide body can be attached and detached via the locking portion of the guide body. Since the card storage portion locked to the locker is also moved integrally, clogging release processing can be simplified.

According to the card feeding device of the third aspect,
In addition to the effects of the card feeding device according to the first or second aspect, when a card jam is detected, the fact is displayed by the jam display means, so that the jam clearing process can be performed accurately.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A and 1B show an embodiment in which a card feeding device of the present invention is applied to a card vending machine. FIG. 1A is an explanatory diagram for explaining a normal operation of attaching and detaching a card storage unit, and FIG. FIG. 7C is an explanatory diagram subsequent to FIG.

FIG. 2 shows a card issuing unit of the card vending machine, wherein (a) is a plan view and (b) is a front view.

FIG. 3 shows a card issuing unit according to the first embodiment, FIG.
2A is a sectional view taken along line AA, FIG. 2B is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 2A, and FIG. 2C is a sectional view taken along line CC in FIG.

4A and 4B show a card feeding section and a card storage section of the card issuing unit, wherein FIG. 4A is a side sectional view and FIG. 4B is a front view.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing a card feeding section of the card issuing unit.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a card feeding section of the card issuing unit.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show a guide member attached to the card feeding section, wherein FIG. 7A is a front view and FIG. 7B is a perspective view.

8A and 8B show a transporter of the card vending machine, wherein FIG. 8A is a plan view, FIG. 8B is a front view, FIG. 8C is a side sectional view, and FIG. FIG.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing the periphery of a card processing unit and a rejected card collection unit of the card vending machine.

FIGS. 10A and 10B show the vicinity of a card processing unit and a rejected card collection unit of the card vending machine, wherein FIG. 10A is an explanatory diagram for explaining the conveyance and holding of a card, and FIG. 10B is an explanatory diagram for explaining a rejected card collection operation. It is.

FIG. 11 shows a flow of cards in the card vending machine;
(a) is a side view and (b) is a plan view.

12 shows the same card vending machine, (a) is a front view, (b)
FIG. 3 is a front view of a state where a door body is opened, and FIG. 3C is a side view showing an internal configuration.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21 Display section as display means 32 Card feeding section 33 Card storage section 46 Card feeding port 105 Feeding detection sensor as clogging detection means 111 Guide member as guide 119 Engagement projection as locking section C card

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] July 14, 2000 (2007.1.
4)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Fig. 4

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 4

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Fig. 5

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 5

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Fig. 6

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 6

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Koji Matsushita Inventor F-term (reference) 3E046 BA01 BB06 CA11 DA01 EA03 EB01 GA03 3F343 FA15 FB07 FB09 FC21 GA01 GB02 GE02 HA14 HA22 HA29 HB04 HC25 HC27 JA01 JD09

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A card storage unit for storing a plurality of cards in an integrated state and having a card feeding port for feeding out a card on one side, and the card storage unit is removably mounted on an upper surface side of the card storage unit. Card feeding section for feeding out the card through the card feeding port, a guide position projecting to the upper surface side of the card feeding section to guide the attachment / detachment of the card storage section, and a card in the card storage section retracted from the upper surface side of the card feeding section. A card guide device that includes a guide member that can move between a retracted position that allows movement to the opposite side with respect to the payout direction. 2. The guide body according to claim 1, wherein the guide body is movable toward a retreat position opposite to the card feeding direction, and has a locking portion for removably locking the card storage portion in the mounted state. The card feeding device according to claim 1, wherein 3. A clogging detecting means for detecting a card jam at a card feeding port of a card storage portion, and a clogging indication means for displaying when the clogging detecting means detects a jam. 3. The card feeding device according to 1 or 2.