JP2007011458A - Card reader - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately detect a normal card or not through a simple structure. <P>SOLUTION: The card reader 1 comprises a roller 13 arranged in opposition to a pre-head 5 reading magnetic information of a card inserted through an insert port 4a, the roller pressing the card to the pre-head 5 and being movable in the pressing direction; a displacement member displacing in accordance with movement of the roller 13; and a photo sensor 8 detecting displacement of the displacement member 7 to a predetermined position. According to such a structure, the photo sensor 8 is hardly contaminated, and accurate detection results can be regularly obtained. Further, whether a normal card is inserted or not is detected using both the pre-head 5 and the photo-sensor 8, whereby reliability of card detection can be enhanced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a card reader, and more particularly to a card reader that detects insertion of a regular card and controls entry of the card into a card reader body based on the result.

  For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 are examples of techniques for detecting the insertion of a regular card in a card reader into which a card having magnetic information is inserted. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which a pre-head provided in the vicinity of a card insertion slot detects card validity / invalidity, and based on the result, a shutter is opened and closed to control card insertion.

Further, in Patent Document 2, a thickness detection lever is urged to rotate below a roller for conveying a card, and when the card is inserted, the roller descends by the thickness of the card, and the thickness detection lever A technology is disclosed in which a photosensor provided on the extending portion side of the card outputs a detection signal corresponding to the thickness of the card to identify the card, thereby detecting the entry (insertion) of the card. In addition to this, there are also known a technique using a microswitch for directly detecting the outer shape of the card and a technique for detecting the entrance of the card by shielding (reflecting) light from the photosensor.
JP 10-143614 A Japanese Utility Model Hei 6-11060

  However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, since the pre-head is installed near the insertion slot, the pre-head is easily affected by disturbances such as electromagnetic waves entering from the insertion slot and static electricity charged on the card. Since it is easy to attach, there is a possibility that regular magnetic information formed on the card cannot be read accurately.

  Further, in the technique of Patent Document 2, only the thickness of the card is detected, and an object having a thickness similar to that of a regular card is inserted into the insertion slot by a person who intends to illegally access the card reader body. There was a problem that it was not reliable because it was detected as a legitimate card.

  In addition, there is a problem that a card that has the same outer shape as a regular card has a problem that it becomes a regular card with respect to the technology of detecting the card entry by directly detecting the outer shape of the card with a micro switch. There is a problem that the size of the card reader is increased because the sensor must be installed along the line.

  Furthermore, regarding a technique for identifying whether a card is a legitimate card by directly detecting the card inserted from the insertion slot with a photo sensor or the like, the sensor faces the card conveyance section in the vicinity of the insertion slot. Therefore, there is a risk of erroneous detection.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a card reader that can accurately detect whether a card is a regular card with a simple structure.

  In order to achieve this object, a card reader according to the first aspect of the present invention is disposed to face a read head that reads magnetic information of a card inserted from an insertion slot, and presses the card against the read head. And a displacement member that is movable in the pressing direction and is displaced as the pressure member moves, and a position detector that detects that the displacement member has been displaced to a predetermined position. It is characterized by that.

  Therefore, according to this card reader, when a card is inserted from the insertion slot, the card is sandwiched between the reading head and the pressing member. At this time, the pressing member moves and the reading head reads the magnetic information on the card. When the pressing member moves, the displacement member is displaced accordingly. When the displacement member is displaced to a predetermined position, the position detection means detects this. When a legitimate card is inserted through the insertion slot in this way, it can be indirectly detected using a displacement member, so that the position detection means is located away from the insertion slot, that is, it is difficult to get dirty. Can be installed in position. In addition, since the displacement of the displacement member is detected by the position detection means at the same time when the magnetic information of the card is read by the reading head, the magnetic information read by the reading head and the detection result by the position detection means can be acquired simultaneously. By using these together, it is possible to accurately detect whether or not a regular card has been inserted. Furthermore, since the displacement member is displaced by using the movement of the pressing member installed to improve the adhesion between the card and the read head, the card has a simple structure with a minimum number of parts. Insertion can be detected.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the card reader according to the first aspect, the magnetic information is read by the reading head, and the displacement of the displacement member is detected by the position detecting means. Control means for allowing entry into the card reader body is provided. This control means enables entry of the card into the card reader body when the magnetic information is read by the reading head and the displacement of the displacement member is detected by the position detecting means. Therefore, by using both the magnetic information read by the reading head and the detection result by the position detection means, it is possible to accurately detect whether the card inserted from the insertion slot is genuine or not. It is possible to surely prevent insertion of a card.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the card reader according to the second aspect, the prohibition position for prohibiting entry of the card into the card reader body and the permissible position for allowing entry of the card into the card reader body. The control means moves the restriction member from the prohibited position to the allowable position when the magnetic information is read by the read head and the displacement of the displacement member is detected by the position detection means. I try to let them. In this case, when the reading head and the position detection means detect that the card inserted from the insertion slot is a genuine card, the restricting member moves from the prohibited position to the allowable position, and the card enters the card reader body. Is possible.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the card reader according to any one of the first to third aspects, the read head is disposed on the card transport surface side. In this case, the pressing member moves in the thickness direction of the card, and the displacement member is displaced with the movement of the pressing member. In the case of a card having a thickness less than a predetermined thickness, the displacement member is not displaced to a predetermined position, and therefore is not detected by the position detection means.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the card reader according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the position detecting means comprises a photo sensor. In this case, when the displacement member is displaced to a predetermined position, it is possible to detect that the displacement member has been displaced to a predetermined position by blocking or opening the optical path of the photosensor.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the card reader according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the pressing member is a roller. In this case, the card can be smoothly conveyed by the rotation of the roller.

  According to the card reader of claim 1, when a regular card is inserted from the insertion slot, it is indirectly detected using the displacement member, so the position detection means is separated from the insertion slot. It can be installed at a position, that is, at a position where it is difficult to get dirt, whereby an accurate detection result can always be obtained from the position detection means. In addition, it is possible to detect whether a legitimate card has been inserted using both the detection result obtained from the position detection means and the magnetic information read by the reading head, thereby improving the reliability of card detection. Can do. Furthermore, since the displacement member is displaced by using the displacement associated with the movement of the pressing member installed to improve the adhesion between the card and the read head, a simple structure that minimizes the number of parts Thus, the insertion of the card can be detected, whereby the size of the card reader can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  In the second aspect of the invention, the magnetic information is read by the reading head and the displacement of the displacing member is detected by the position detecting means, so that the card is allowed to enter the card reader body. Therefore, the detection of whether or not a regular card is inserted can be detected with higher reliability than the detection of only one of the reading head and the position detecting means, and only the regular card is surely inserted into the card reader. Can enter the body.

  In the case of the invention described in claim 3, when the magnetic information is read by the reading head and the displacement of the displacement member is detected by the position detecting means, the restricting member is moved from the prohibited position to the allowable position. Therefore, when a card other than a legitimate card is inserted from the insertion slot, the restriction member can reliably prevent entry into the card reader body, and when a legitimate card is inserted from the insertion slot. Can move the restricting member from the prohibited position to the allowable position by the control means, thereby allowing the card to enter the card reader.

  In the case of the invention described in claim 4, since the reading head is arranged on the card conveying surface side, the displacement of the pressing member and the displacing member corresponds to the thickness of the card, thereby avoiding an increase in the size of the card reader. Can do. That is, it is possible to avoid an increase in the size of the card reader in the lateral direction by detecting the thickness of the card rather than the outer shape (for example, width) of the card.

  In the case of the invention described in claim 5, since the position detecting means is composed of a photosensor, it is determined whether or not the displacement member has been displaced to a predetermined position simply by blocking or opening the optical path of the photosensor with the displacement member. It can be easily detected.

  In the case of the invention described in claim 6, since the pressing member is composed of a roller, the card can be smoothly conveyed by the rotation of the roller.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the present invention will be described in detail based on the best mode shown in the drawings.

  1 to 6 show an example of an embodiment of a card reader to which the present invention is applied. This card reader is arranged opposite to the pre-head 5 as a read head for reading magnetic information of a card inserted from the insertion slot 4a, and presses the card against the pre-head 5 and is movable in the pressing direction. A displacement member 7 that is displaced as the roller 13 moves, and a photosensor 8 as a position detection means that detects that the displacement member 7 has been displaced to a predetermined position. It is characterized by providing.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, when the card reader 1 detects a card insertion unit 2 into which a card is inserted and a legitimate card inserted into the card insertion unit 2, the card reader 1 captures the card and stores the data It comprises a card reader main unit 3 that executes processing such as reading and writing. The card insertion unit 2 is attached to the front surface of the card reader main body 3 and includes a housing 4, a pre-head 5, a pressing mechanism 6, a displacement member 7, and a photosensor 8. The housing 4 is formed in a substantially box shape, and a horizontally long insertion slot 4a into which a card is inserted is formed on the front surface thereof. An opening 4 b is formed on the back surface of the housing 4, and the opening 4 b is closed by the front surface of the card reader body 3 and a shutter 12 that is a regulating member.

  A card transport path 9 is formed in the card reader body 3. The card transport path 9 guides a card detected as a legitimate card among the cards inserted into the card insertion unit 2 to the back of the card reader body 3 and corresponds to the insertion port 4a of the card insertion unit 2. Is provided. Through holes 10a and 11a are formed in the top plate 10 and the bottom plate 11 constituting the card transport path 9 so as to face each other.

  The shutter 12 is a flat plate and passes through the through holes 10a and 11a. The shutter 12 blocks the card conveyance path 9 and prohibits the card inserted into the card insertion unit 2 from entering the card reader main body 3 and retreats from the prohibition position to be inserted into the card insertion unit 2. It is provided so as to be movable between an allowed position where the entered card is allowed to enter the card reader body 3. A driving iron core of a solenoid 19 (see FIG. 5), which will be described later, is fixed to the shutter 12, and the shutter 12 moves between a prohibited position and an allowable position according to the operation of the driving iron core of the solenoid 19.

  The housing 4 is formed with a guide groove 4c for guiding the card inserted from the insertion port 4a to the inlet 9a of the card transport path 9. A pressing mechanism 6, a displacement member 7, and a photo sensor 8 are provided in the upper part of the housing 4 with the guide groove 4 c as a boundary, and a pre-head 5 is provided in the lower part of the housing 4. The pre-head 5 is arranged so that its reading surface 5 a faces the transport surface side of the card inserted from the insertion port 4 a and is fixed to the inner wall of the housing 4.

  The pressing mechanism 6 includes a roller 13 and a torsion spring 14. The roller 13 includes a cylindrical roller main body 13a having an outer peripheral surface formed of rubber, and a shaft 13b that rotatably supports the roller main body 13a at a tip end portion. The roller 13 is disposed such that the roller body 13a faces the reading surface 5a of the pre-head 5 and the outer peripheral surface of the roller body 13a contacts the reading surface 5a. The base end portion of the shaft 13b has a housing so that the roller body 13a is separated from the reading surface 5a when a card inserted from the insertion port 4a is inserted between the reading surface 5a of the pre-head 5 and the roller body 13a. 4 is pivotally supported by a bracket 15 provided on the inner wall of 4. One end of the torsion spring 14 is fixed to the front surface of the card reader main body 3, and the other end is placed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 13b, and urges the shaft 13b from above. Thus, the roller 13 is configured to be able to move in the pressing direction while pressing the reading surface 5a by the roller body 13a by the urging force of the torsion spring 14. Accordingly, the card inserted from the insertion port 4a by the pressing of the roller 13 is brought into sliding contact with the reading surface 5a of the pre-head 5, and the relative position between the card and the pre-head 5 is stabilized by this sliding contact, and the magnetic information of the card is reliably read. It becomes possible.

  The displacement member 7 includes a shielding plate 7a and a support plate 7b that supports the shielding plate 7a. One hole (not shown) is formed in the shield plate 7a and the support plate 7b so as to face each other, and the shaft 13b of the roller 13 is inserted in these holes in a rotatable state. Therefore, the displacement member 7 is displaced as the roller 13 moves along the pressing direction.

  A transmissive photosensor 8 having a substantially U-shaped outer shape is provided inside the housing 4. The photosensor 8 is provided so that the light projecting portion 8a and the light receiving portion 8b that receives the light from the light projecting portion 8a face each other. As shown in FIG. 4, the reading surface 5a of the pre-head 5 and the roller body When a card 16 having a predetermined thickness or more is inserted between 13a and 13a, and the displacement member 7 is displaced as the roller 13 moves (when the displacement member 7 is displaced to a predetermined position), the displacement member 7 It is attached to the lower surface of the beam 4d formed inside the housing 4 so that the light of the light projecting portion 8a is blocked by the shielding plate 7a. The photosensor 8 is set to be turned off when the light receiving unit 8b is receiving light and turned on when the light receiving unit 8b is not receiving light. The “card 16 having a predetermined thickness or more” indicates a card having a thickness that is equal to or greater than a thickness of a regular card that can be taken into the card reader body 3. The “predetermined position” indicates the position of the displacement member 7 when the card 16 having a predetermined thickness or more is inserted between the reading surface 5a and the roller body 13a. Therefore, this position may be determined based on the thickness of the regular card.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the operation of the card reader 1 is basically controlled by a CPU 17 as a control means. When the pre-head 5 reads some magnetic information formed on the card, the pre-head 5 inputs to the CPU 17 a read completion signal indicating that the magnetic information has been read regardless of the content of the magnetic information. The CPU 17 sets a flag α in a built-in memory (not shown) in response to the read completion signal input from the pre-head 5. The photo sensor 8 inputs an ON signal to the CPU 17 when the photo sensor 8 shifts from the OFF state to the ON state. The CPU 17 sets a flag β in the built-in memory in response to the ON signal input from the photosensor 20.

  A solenoid 19 is connected to the CPU 17 via a driver 18, and the CPU 17 energizes the solenoid 19 when the flag α and the flag β are set in the built-in memory. Is input to the driver 18. The driver 18 energizes the solenoid 19 in response to the energization start signal input from the CPU 17.

  Since the structure of the solenoid is well known, detailed description thereof is omitted, but the solenoid 19 biases a driving iron core (not shown), a bobbin (not shown) in which the driving iron core is accommodated, and the driving iron core. It is comprised from the spring (not shown). When the solenoid 19 is not energized, the driving iron core is drawn into the bobbin by the biasing force of a spring (for example, a tension spring) provided in the bobbin. When the solenoid 19 is energized, the driving iron core is pulled out of the bobbin against the bias of the spring by the excitation action. Therefore, the solenoid 19 configured in this manner pulls the driving iron core from the inside of the bobbin when energized by the driver 18. With the operation of the driving iron core, the shutter 12 moves from the prohibited position to the allowable position.

  Further, when an energization start signal is input from the CPU 17 to the driver 18, a motor (not shown) of the card reader body 3 is driven in synchronization with this. And the conveyance roller (not shown) installed on the card | curd conveyance path 9 of the card reader main body 3 receives the drive force of a motor, and starts rotation. The transport roller transports the card inserted into the card transport path 9 to the back of the card reader body 3. When the card is conveyed to a predetermined position in the card reader main body 3, it is detected by a sensor (for example, a photo sensor) installed at that position. When the card is detected by this sensor, the CPU 17 inputs an energization stop signal indicating that energization of the solenoid 19 is stopped to the driver 18 and deletes the flag α and the flag β. The driver 18 stops energization of the solenoid 19 in response to the energization stop signal input from the CPU 17. When the energization is stopped, the solenoid 19 pulls the driving iron core into the bobbin. As the driving iron core moves, the shutter 12 moves from the allowable position to the prohibited position.

  Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, when the card is inserted into the insertion port 4a and inserted between the reading surface 5a of the pre-head 5 and the roller body 13a, the roller 13 is displaced by the thickness of the card against the urging force of the torsion spring 14, Along with this, the displacement member 7 is also displaced. At this time, when the pre-head 5 reads magnetic information from the card (S1), the flag α is established (S2). On the other hand, when the card is equal to or larger than the predetermined thickness (S3), the light of the light projecting portion 8a of the photosensor 8 is blocked by the shielding plate 21 of the displacement member 7, so that the photosensor is turned on and the flag β is set. It is established (S4). When the flag α and the flag β are thus established, the CPU 17 inputs an energization start signal to the driver 18. As a result, the solenoid 19 is energized (S5), and the shutter 12 moves from the prohibited position to the allowable position.

  Further, the magnetic information is not read from the card by the pre-head 5, the card is not more than a predetermined thickness, and the light from the light projecting portion 8a of the photo sensor 8 is not blocked by the shielding plate 21, and the photo sensor is turned from off to on. If not shifted (S1, S6), the flag α and the flag β are not established, and the solenoid 19 is not energized.

  Further, when the magnetic information is read from the card by the pre-head 5 (S1), the flag α is established (S2), and the card is not equal to or larger than the predetermined thickness (S3), the solenoid 19 is energized. Absent.

  Further, when the magnetic information is not read from the card by the pre-head 5 (S1) and the card is not less than a predetermined thickness (S6) and the flag β is established (S7), the solenoid 19 is not energized. .

  As described above, in the card reader 1 of the present invention, when a card having a predetermined thickness is inserted from the insertion port 4a, the displacement member 7 is not directly detected by the sensor as in the prior art. Since the photosensor 8 is indirectly detected by using the photosensor 8, the photosensor 8 is hardly contaminated, and an accurate detection result can always be obtained. Further, since it is configured to detect whether or not a regular card has been inserted using both the pre-head 5 and the photo sensor 8, the reliability of card detection can be improved. Furthermore, since the displacement member 7 is displaced by using the movement of the roller 13 installed in order to improve the adhesion between the card and the pre-head 5, the card has a simple structure with a minimum number of parts. Insertion of the card reader can be detected, whereby the size of the card reader can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  The above-described embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the entrance of the card into the card reader body 3 is controlled by the shutter 12, but the position of the transport roller installed on the card transport path 9 described above by the CPU 17 without using the shutter 12. May be displaced. For example, when the magnetic information of the card is read by the pre-head 5 and the photo sensor 8 shifts from OFF to ON, and the flag α and the flag β are established in response to this, the card is in the card. The transport roller is displaced between a position where the card can enter the reader body 3 and a position where the card cannot enter the card reader body 3. In this case, the driving iron core of the solenoid 19 may be fixed to the transport roller, and the transport roller may be displaced by the solenoid 19. In this way, the form for controlling the entry of the card into the card reader body 3 can be changed as appropriate.

  In the above embodiment, the photosensor 8 is turned off when the light receiving unit 8b receives light, and turned on when the shielding plate 7a of the displacement member 7 blocks the light of the light projecting unit 8a of the photosensor 8. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is turned off when the shielding plate 7a blocks the light of the light projecting portion 8a of the photosensor 8, and turned on when the light receiving portion 8b receives light. Anyway. In this case, when the reading surface 5a of the pre-head 5 and the roller body 13a are in contact with each other, the light of the light projecting portion 8a is blocked by the shielding plate 7a, and a card having a predetermined thickness or more is read by the reading surface 5a of the pre-head 5 and the roller. What is necessary is just to make it the light-receiving part 8b receive the light of the light projection part 8a, when inserted between the main bodies 13a.

  In the above embodiment, a transmissive type is used as the photosensor 8, but a reflective type may be used. Further, a micro switch or a touch sensor may be used instead of the photo sensor, and any sensor can be used as long as it can detect that the displacement member 7 has reached a predetermined position. .

  In the above embodiment, the roller 13 is used as the pressing member that presses the pre-head 5, and the light of the photosensor 8 is blocked or released by the displacement member 7 that is displaced as the roller 13 moves. Not limited to this, a rod having a spherical protrusion formed at the tip may be used. In this case, the rod is urged from above by the torsion spring 14, and the reading surface 5a of the pre-head 5 is pressed by the protrusion. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a card detection arm 21 biased by a compression coil spring 20 may be used. In this case, the card detection arm 21 is made of a rigid material, and one end portion thereof is formed in an arc shape, the arc surface 21 a is in contact with the reading surface 5 a of the pre-head 5, and the other end portion is interposed via the rotation shaft 22. The housing 4 is pivotally supported so as to be rotatable. The card detection arm 21 is biased by the compression coil spring 20 so that the arc surface 21a presses the reading surface 5a. A shielding plate 23 is fixed to the upper surface 21b of the card detection arm 21 with an adhesive or a screw. When the card 16 is not inserted into the insertion slot 4a, as shown in FIG. 7A, the light projected from the light projecting portion 8a of the photosensor 8 is received by the light receiving portion 8b (see FIG. 2). When the card 16 is inserted from the insertion port 4a and the card 16 is inserted between the reading surface 5a and the circular arc surface 21a, the card detection arm 21 is compressed by the compression coil spring 20 as shown in FIG. The shield plate 23 is displaced with this movement. When the shielding plate 23 is displaced, the light from the light projecting portion 8a of the photosensor 8 is blocked by the shielding plate 23. Note that a torsion spring may be incorporated in the rotary shaft 22 without using the compression coil spring 20 and the card detection arm 21 may be biased by this torsion spring. Thus, the form of the pressing member and the displacement member for pressing the pre-head 5 can be changed as appropriate.

  In the above embodiment, the displacement member 7 is provided directly on the shaft 13b of the roller 13. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the roller 13 and the displacement member 7 may be connected by a link mechanism or the like. In this case, the displacement member 7 can be installed at a position away from the insertion port 4a, and the photosensor 8 installed at a position corresponding to the shielding plate 7a of the displacement member 7 is also installed at a position away from the insertion port 4a. Therefore, dust or the like entering from the insertion opening 4a can be made difficult to attach to the photosensor 8. Therefore, the sensitivity of the photosensor 8 can be maintained at a high level.

It is a front view which shows the external appearance of the card reader of this invention. It is a fragmentary sectional view which shows a part of structure of a card insertion part. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a part of card reader main body and a card insertion part. It is sectional drawing which shows the aspect of a part of card reader main body when a card more than predetermined thickness is inserted between the pre-head and the roller, and a card insertion part. It is a functional block diagram which shows the electrical structure of a card reader. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in the card reader of this invention. It is a simplified structure figure showing another embodiment of a press mechanism, (A) shows a mode when a card is not inserted in an insertion slot, and (B) shows a mode when a card is inserted in an insertion slot. Show.

Explanation of symbols

1 Card reader 5 Pre-head (read head)
7 Displacement member 7a Shield plate 8 Photo sensor (position detection means)
12 Shutter (regulating member)
13 Roller (Pressing member)
17 CPU (control means)

Claims (6)

In a card reader provided with a pressing member that is arranged facing a reading head that reads magnetic information of a card inserted from an insertion slot, and that presses the card against the reading head and is movable in the pressing direction.
A displacement member that is displaced along with the movement of the pressing member;
A card reader comprising a position detecting means for detecting that the displacement member has been displaced to a predetermined position.   Control means for allowing the card to enter the card reader body when the magnetic information is read by the read head and the displacement of the displacement member is detected by the position detection means is provided. The card reader according to claim 1. A restricting member that moves between a prohibition position that prohibits entry of the card into the card reader body and an allowable position that allows entry of the card into the card reader body;
The control means moves the restricting member from the prohibited position to the permissible position when the magnetic information is read by the read head and the displacement of the displacement member is detected by the position detecting means. The card reader according to claim 2.   The card reader according to claim 1, wherein the reading head is disposed on the card conveying surface side.   The card reader according to claim 1, wherein the position detection unit includes a photo sensor. The card reader according to claim 1, wherein the pressing member includes a roller.

Images