JP2004086724A - Card connection device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a card connection device capable of automatically moving a card to a prescribed loading completion position without arranging transport rollers. <P>SOLUTION: The card connection device is provided with a plurality of terminal members 20; a connector device 9 to which a card 4 is to be connected; a slide member 3 slidable in the inserting/ejecting direction of the card 4; a rack part 2 formed on the slide member 3; a gear mechanism 8 including a pinion gear 7 to be engaged with the rack part 2; and a motor 6 for driving the gear mechanism 8. The connector device 9 is attached to the slide member 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a card connection device provided in various electronic devices and capable of automatically moving a card having an information storage function to a predetermined loading completion position.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as this kind of card connection device, there is a device having a function of automatically moving a card inserted from an insertion slot, that is, a device having an auto-loading mechanism. According to this conventional technique, a card is positioned between transport rollers arranged vertically, the card is drawn toward the back side of the apparatus, the card is stopped at a predetermined loading completion position, and signals are transmitted to and received from the card. It is configured so that
[0003]
An example of the related art is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. Hei 5-17765.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above-described prior art, since the transport rollers are arranged vertically so as to sandwich the card, the thickness dimension of the entire apparatus becomes large, and there is a problem that miniaturization cannot be realized in this regard.
[0005]
Further, since the card is positioned at a predetermined loading completion position while the card is drawn toward the back side of the apparatus via the transport roller, it is difficult to position the card, and the card positioning accuracy is reduced. It's easy to do. When the card positioning accuracy is reduced as described above, there is a concern that a contact failure of the card with respect to the contact portion occurs, and that the information transmission performance is deteriorated.
[0006]
In recent years, small cards have been proposed, but such small cards require higher positioning accuracy. Therefore, in the prior art described above, in which the card is pulled in via the transport rollers arranged vertically, it is difficult to apply the method to the connection of a small card.
[0007]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described prior art, and has as its object to provide a card connection device capable of automatically moving a card to a predetermined loading completion position without providing a transport roller. It is in.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a connector device having a plurality of terminal members to which a card is connected, a slide member slidable in the card insertion / removal direction, and a rack for moving the slide member. And a gear mechanism including a pinion gear meshing with the rack section, and a motor for driving the gear mechanism, and the connector device is provided on the slide member.
[0009]
According to the present invention thus configured, the position of the connector device can be set in advance so that the card can be inserted into the connector device provided on the slide member at the card ejection position. Therefore, when a card is inserted, the card is immediately mounted on the connector device and positioned in the connector device. That is, before the loading operation is started, the card can be positioned and the contact portion of the card can be electrically connected to each of the terminal members of the connector device. When the motor is driven in this state, the gear mechanism rotates, and the slide member automatically moves toward a predetermined loading completion position via the engagement between the pinion gear included in the gear mechanism and the rack. In a state where the slide member is stopped at the loading completion position, transmission and reception of signals to and from the card can be performed.
[0010]
As described above, according to the present invention, the card can be automatically moved to the predetermined loading completion position via the connector device provided on the slide member without providing the transport rollers arranged vertically.
[0011]
Further, according to the present invention, in the above invention, the connector device has an elastic member that engages with a concave portion formed in the card.
[0012]
According to the present invention thus configured, when the card is inserted into the connector device, the elastic member of the connector device can be engaged with the concave portion of the card. Therefore, while the card is moved to the predetermined loading completion position, the card is held by the elastic member, so that the movement of the card can be performed stably.
[0013]
Further, according to the present invention, in the above invention, each of the terminal members of the connector device is formed so as to be able to come into contact with each of contact portions formed on the card, and the terminal members of the connector device are provided with a contact portion of the card. It is characterized in that a portion located on the side opposite to the contact side is connected to a flexible circuit board.
[0014]
In the present invention configured as described above, while moving the slide member to a predetermined loading completion position in a state where the card is mounted in the connector device, the flexible circuit board moves while flexing with the movement of the connector device. As described above, even during the movement of the connector device, the connection between the flexible circuit board and the connector device is favorably maintained, and the signal transmission / reception system for the card can be stably maintained.
[0015]
The present invention is also characterized in that, in the above invention, the connector device has a reverse insertion preventing portion formed in a shape corresponding to the cutout portion of the card and for preventing reverse insertion of the card.
[0016]
According to the present invention thus configured, when the card is inserted into the connector device in a correct form, the insertion of the card is allowed until the cutout portion of the card matches the reverse insertion preventing portion of the connector device. Thus, the card can be mounted at a correct position in the connector device.
[0017]
When the card is inserted into the connector device upside down or upside down, the end of the card located at the back of the device where the above-mentioned notch is not formed may be inserted in the reverse direction of the connector device. Collide with the prevention unit. As a result, the card cannot be inserted to the original mounting position, and mounting of the card to the connector device can be prevented.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a card connection device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0019]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an embodiment of the card connection device of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a plan view showing a loading start state and a loading completion state in an overlapping manner, and showing a state in which a cover is removed. (B) is a side view showing a rack portion provided in the present embodiment, (c) is a view as viewed from the direction A in (a), and (d) is a view as viewed from direction B in (a). FIG.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 1, on a chassis 1 forming a main body, a slide member 3 slidable in the insertion / removal direction of a card 4, that is, the left / right direction in FIG. The slide member 3 is provided with a rack 2, and a gear mechanism 8 including a pinion gear 7 that meshes with the rack 2 and a motor 6 that drives the gear mechanism 8 are arranged on the chassis 1. .
[0021]
A connector device 9 to which the card 4 is connected is provided on the slide member 3 described above, and the connector device 9 is located near the insertion slot 5 of the card 4. A flexible circuit board 10 is connected to the connector device 9.
[0022]
Further, on the chassis 1, a first detection switch 11 for detecting that the card 4 has moved to a predetermined loading completion position, and a second detection switch 12 for detecting that the card 4 has been discharged to a predetermined discharge position. Is provided. These detection switches 11 and 12 are also connected to the flexible circuit board 10 described above.
[0023]
Note that a cover 21 for covering the gear mechanism 8 and the slide member 3 is provided above the slide member 3 including the gear mechanism 8 and the connector device 9.
[0024]
2A and 2B are diagrams showing the mounting relationship between the connector device 9, the slide member 3, and the flexible circuit board 10 provided in the present embodiment. FIG. 2A is a plan view, FIG. 2B is a side view, and FIG. (A) is a view as viewed from the direction C in FIG. 7 (d), and (d) is a view of the rack portion 2 as viewed from the direction D in FIG.
[0025]
As shown in FIGS. 2 (b) and 2 (c), the connector device 14 is disposed on a board 13, and as shown in FIGS. 2 (a) to 2 (c), the slide member 3 It has a claw portion 14 for holding.
[0026]
As will be described later, the connector device 9 includes a plurality of terminal members 20, and these terminal members 20 are located on the opposite side to the side that comes into contact with a later-described contact portion 17 formed on the card 4. The portion is connected to the flexible circuit board 10 as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B.
[0027]
3A and 3B show the connector device 9 provided in the present embodiment and the card 4 inserted into the connector device 9 in correspondence with each other. FIG. 3A is a plan view showing the card 4, and FIG. (A) is a side view, (c) is a plan view showing the connector device 9, and (d) is a side view of (c).
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 3A, the card 4 is provided with, for example, a concave portion 15 at a side edge portion. At one corner of the front end of the card 4, a notch 16 is formed in which a corner is cut obliquely. Further, a contact portion 17 for transmitting and receiving signals is provided on the back surface of the card 4.
[0029]
Also, as shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D, the connector device 9 has a plurality of contact portions 17 formed on the inserted card 4, for example, the above-mentioned plurality of contact portions 17 which can be directly contacted. Are provided. The rear portions of these terminal members 20 are connected to the flexible circuit board 10 as described above.
[0030]
Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, the connector device 9 has an elastic member 18 that engages with the concave portion 15 formed in the card 4 and has a shape corresponding to the cutout 16 of the card 4. It has a reverse insertion prevention portion 19 formed to prevent reverse insertion of the card 4.
[0031]
For example, when the card 4 is inserted into the connector device 9 in a correct form and is correctly positioned in the connector device 9, each of the contact portions 17 of the card 4 and each of the terminal members 20 of the connector device 9 all contact. . After this state is detected, a signal for sliding the slide member 3 to a predetermined loading completion position is output to the motor 6 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1D.
[0032]
The operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described below.
[0033]
4 to 6 are views for explaining the operation of the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state before the card 4 is inserted, and FIG. 5 shows a state when the card 4 is inserted and loading is started. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state when loading is completed.
[0034]
[Before inserting card]
As shown in FIG. 4, the opening of the connector device 9 provided on the slide member 3 is located so as to face the insertion slot 5 of the card 1. That is, the slide member 3 is at the predetermined discharge position, and the gear mechanism 8 and the motor 6 are in a stopped state.
[0035]
[Start loading]
In this state, as shown in FIG. 5, when the card 4 is inserted from the insertion slot 5 in a correct form with the notch 16 positioned to the right front, the notch 16 fits the reverse insertion preventing portion 19 of the connector device 9. The card 4 is correctly positioned when it is pushed into the connector device 9 until it is fitted.
[0036]
In such a correctly positioned state, the elastic member 18 of the connector device 9 engages with the concave portion 15 of the card 4, whereby the card 4 is held by the connector device 9 and provided on the back surface of the card 4. Each of the contact portions 17 comes into contact with each of the terminal members 20 of the connector device 9. When it is detected by the signal output through the terminal member 20 that each of the contact portions 17 has completely contacted each of the terminal members 20, for example, a few seconds later, the control device (not shown) A drive control signal is output.
[0037]
As a result, the motor 6 is driven, the gear mechanism 8 is rotated, and the movement of the slide member 3 toward the inner side of the apparatus, that is, the loading, is started via the engagement between the pinion gear 7 and the rack 2.
[0038]
During this loading, the card 4 positioned in the connector device 9 is held by the elastic member 14 and moves toward the back of the device integrally with the movement of the slide member 3.
[0039]
[Loading completed]
When the slide member 3 is engaged with the first detection switch 11 and the first detection switch 11 is actuated, a control device (not shown) sends a stop control signal to the motor 6 in accordance with a signal output from the first detection switch 11. Is output. As a result, the motor 6 stops, the gear mechanism 8 stops accordingly, and the slide member 3 stops via the rack 2 that meshes with the pinion gear 7. That is, the loading is completed, and the card 4 in the connector device 9 is held at a predetermined loading completed position. In this state, transmission and reception of signals to and from the card 4 become possible.
[0040]
[Card ejection]
When the card 4 is ejected, a drive control signal is output from the controller (not shown) to the motor 6 by a predetermined eject operation. As a result, the motor 6 is driven in reverse, and accordingly, the gear mechanism 8 rotates in the direction opposite to that in the above-described loading. This rotational force is transmitted to the rack unit 2 via the pinion gear 7, and the slide member 3 moves in the discharge direction, that is, in the direction of the insertion port 5. Along with this, the card 4 held in the connector device 5 also moves in the discharge direction integrally with the slide member 3. When the second detection switch 12 is activated by the engagement relationship with the slide member 3, a stop control signal is output from the control device (not shown) to the motor 6 in response to the signal. As a result, the motor 6 stops, the gear mechanism 8 stops accordingly, and the slide member 3 stops via the rack 2 that meshes with the pinion gear 7. That is, the card 4 is returned to the predetermined discharge position. In this state, the card 4 can be pulled out against the elastic force of the elastic member 14 of the connector device 9.
[0041]
The present embodiment configured as described above uses the card 4 in a state in which the card 4 is mounted on the connector device 9 provided on the slide member 3 without providing the transport rollers arranged vertically as described in the related art. 4 can be automatically moved to a predetermined loading completion position. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the entire apparatus as compared with the case where the transport rollers are provided above and below, thereby realizing miniaturization.
[0042]
In addition, by inserting the card 4 from the insertion slot 5 in a correct form, the notch 16 of the card 4 matches the reverse insertion preventing portion 19 of the connector device 9, and the card 4 is correctly positioned in the connector device 9. Can be. As a result, each of the contact portions 17 of the card 4 and each of the corresponding terminal members 20 of the connector device 9 can be reliably brought into contact with each other, and occurrence of poor contact can be prevented, and excellent information transmission performance can be secured. be able to.
[0043]
In addition, as described above, the card 4 can be positioned with high accuracy with respect to the connector device 9 before loading starts, so that even a small card 4 can be sufficiently applied.
[0044]
The elastic member 18 of the connector device 9 is engaged with the concave portion 15 of the card 4 inserted into the connector device 9, and the card 4 is held via the elastic member 18. This prevents the card 4 from being displaced with respect to the connector device 9 while the card 4 is moved from the loading start position to the predetermined loading completion position, and while the card 4 is moved from the loading completion position to the predetermined discharging position. It can be stably held and contributes to maintaining the information transmission performance between the card 4 and the connector device 9.
[0045]
Further, a flexible circuit board 10 is provided so as to be connected to the connector device 9 and the first and second detection switches 11 and 12. Thereby, the flexible circuit board 10 moves while bending as the slide member 3 moves. That is, even when the connector device 9 moves integrally with the movement of the slide member 3, the electrical connection between the connector device 9, the first and second detection switches 11 and 12, and the flexible circuit board 10 is favorably maintained. be able to. Therefore, a signal transmission / reception system for the card 4 can be stably maintained, which contributes to ensuring the reliability of the device.
[0046]
When the card 4 is inserted into the connector device 9 with the front and back or the front and back reversed, the end of the card 4 located at the back of the device where the notch 16 is not formed is connected to the connector device 9. Against the reverse insertion prevention unit 19 of FIG. As a result, the card 4 cannot be inserted to the original mounting position, the mounting of the card 4 to the connector device 9 can be prevented, and the erroneous insertion of the card 4 can be reliably prevented.
[0047]
【The invention's effect】
Since the present invention is configured as described above, the card can be automatically moved to a predetermined loading completion position without providing a transport roller as in the prior art, and thereby, the thickness dimension of the entire apparatus can be obtained. Can be made smaller than before, and downsizing that has been difficult in the past can be realized.
[0048]
Further, in a state before the loading is started, the card can be positioned with high accuracy with respect to the connector device by the insertion operation of the card. As a result, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of poor contact with the contact portion of the card, and to ensure excellent information transmission performance.
[0049]
Further, since the card can be positioned with high accuracy with respect to the connector device before the start of loading as described above, the present invention can be sufficiently applied even when the card is small.
[0050]
Further, according to the present invention, the connector device has an elastic member that engages with a recess formed in the card. Thus, during the movement of the slide member in the insertion / removal direction, the card is stably held without causing a positional shift with respect to the connector device, which contributes to maintaining information transmission performance between the card and the connector device.
[0051]
Further, according to the present invention, a portion of each terminal member of the connector device, which is located on a side opposite to a side in contact with the contact portion of the card, is connected to the flexible circuit board. While the slide member moves in the card insertion / removal direction, the flexible circuit board moves while flexing. That is, while the connector device moves integrally with the movement of the slide member, the electrical connection between the connector device and the flexible circuit board can be favorably maintained. Therefore, a signal transmission / reception system for the card can be stably maintained, which contributes to ensuring the reliability of the device.
[0052]
Further, according to the present invention, the connector device is configured to have a reverse insertion preventing portion formed in a shape corresponding to the cutout portion of the card and preventing reverse insertion of the card. Therefore, when the card is inserted upside down or upside down, it is possible to prevent the card from being inserted into the connector device, to prevent erroneous insertion, and also to ensure the reliability of the device. To contribute.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an embodiment of a card connection device of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 (a) is a plan view showing a loading start state and a loading completion state in an overlapping manner, and showing a state in which a cover is removed; FIG. 2B is a side view showing a rack portion provided in the present embodiment, FIG. 2C is a diagram viewed from the direction A in FIG. 2A, and FIG. 2D is a diagram viewed from the direction B in FIG. It is a fragmentary sectional view.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams showing a mounting relationship of a connector device, a slide member, and a flexible circuit board provided in the embodiment, wherein FIG. 2A is a plan view, FIG. 2B is a side view, and FIG. (a) is a diagram viewed from the direction C in the figure, and (d) is a diagram of the rack portion viewed from the direction D in (a).
3A and 3B are diagrams showing a connector device provided in the present embodiment and a card inserted into the connector device in correspondence with each other. FIG. 3A is a plan view showing the card, and FIG. FIG. 3C is a plan view showing the connector device, and FIG. 3D is a side view of FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the present embodiment, and is a plan view showing a state before a card is inserted.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the present embodiment, and is a plan view showing a state when a card is inserted and loading is started.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the present embodiment, and is a plan view showing a state at the time of completion of loading.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Chassis 2 Rack part 3 Slide member 4 Card 5 Insertion slot 6 Motor 7 Pinion gear 8 Gear mechanism 9 Connector device 10 Flexible circuit board 11 First detection switch 12 Second detection switch 13 Board 14 Claw 15 Recess 16 Notch 17 Contact 18 elastic member 19 reverse insertion prevention part 20 terminal member 21 cover

Claims (4)

A connector device having a plurality of terminal members, to which a card is connected, a slide member slidable in the card insertion / removal direction, a rack portion for moving the slide member, and a pinion gear meshing with the rack portion. A gear mechanism and a motor for driving the gear mechanism are provided.
A card connection device, wherein the connector device is provided on the slide member. In the invention according to claim 1,
A card connection device, wherein the connector device has an elastic member that engages with a recess formed in the card. In the invention of claim 1 or 2,
Each of the terminal members of the connector device is formed so as to be capable of contacting each of the contact portions formed on the card,
A card connection device, wherein a portion of each of the terminal members located on a side opposite to a side contacting a contact portion of the card is connected to a flexible circuit board. In the invention according to claim 3,
A card connection device, wherein the connector device has a reverse insertion preventing portion formed in a shape corresponding to the cutout portion of the card and preventing reverse insertion of the card.

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