JP2013030043A - Card reader unit and image forming device including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a card reader unit in which a card reader can be surely stored in a tray without causing rattling regardless of the size of the card reader.SOLUTION: The card reader unit includes a card reader that reads information recorded on a card by being touched with the card, a card reader case composed of a lower case and upper case, and a rectangular box like tray 12 arranged in a space in the card reader case. The card reader is stored in the tray 12, and walls 12C and 12D of the tray 12 are slidable to form the card reader unit.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a card reader unit that reads information recorded on a card by touching the card.

  For example, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a multifunction peripheral (MFP) that forms an image on paper by electrophotography, user information is read by touching the card and reading information about the user. Some have a card reader unit.

  Here, the card reader unit is arranged in a space inside the card reader case, a card reader that reads information recorded on the card by touching the card, a card reader case composed of a lower case and an upper case A rectangular box-shaped tray is provided, and the card reader is accommodated in a tray in a card reader case.

  Patent Document 1 proposes a configuration that can be easily replaced when a card reader of a gaming machine breaks down, and Patent Document 2 is attached to a cashier counter such as a supermarket for crime prevention. A configuration has been proposed in which a card reader is attached to a security fence. Patent Document 3 proposes a configuration in which a switch for protecting a switch installed near a car wash machine or the like or a cover for protecting the card insertion slot from wind and rain is provided.

JP-A-6-304328 JP 2004-049645 A JP-A-6-044395

  By the way, in the card reader unit for user authentication provided in the image forming apparatus, since the card reader specified by the manufacturer is mounted, one kind of card reader is accommodated and placed as a card reader case or tray. It was good if it was something to do.

  However, in recent years, the types and manufacturers of card readers have increased, and the options for users are expanding accordingly. Here, the size of the card reader varies depending on the manufacturer, and if card readers of different sizes are to be accommodated in a common tray, this card reader may be loose in the tray, especially when the card reader is small relative to the tray. The problem of sticking occurs.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the object of the present invention is to provide a card reader unit that can securely store a card reader in a tray without any backlash regardless of its size, and image formation including the card reader unit. To provide an apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is a card reader for reading information recorded on the card by touching the card, a card reader case composed of a lower case and an upper case, and the card. In a card reader unit comprising a rectangular box-shaped tray disposed in a space in a reader case, the card reader being housed in the tray, the tray comprising a plurality of walls erected from a bottom wall, It is characterized in that at least one of the plurality of walls is configured to be slidable.

  The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 1, protrusions protruding on the bottom surface are formed on upper end sides of the plurality of walls of the tray.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plate-like member having elasticity between the bottom wall of the tray and the card reader according to the second aspect of the invention, and the bottom wall and the lower surface of the card reader. The present invention is characterized in that a support member is provided in which a portion that contacts and elastically deforms is provided.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the tray is made of an elastic material, and a portion that protrudes from the bottom wall and abuts against the lower surface of the card reader and elastically deforms is provided. It is formed.

  An image forming apparatus according to a fifth aspect includes the card reader unit according to any one of the first to fourth aspects.

  According to the present invention, since at least one wall of the tray accommodating the card reader is configured to be slidable, the card reader can be slid in the tray regardless of its size by sliding the wall according to the size of the card reader. Can be securely accommodated.

1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is a perspective view of the card reader unit concerning the present invention. It is a perspective view of the state where the upper case of the card reader unit concerning the present invention was removed. It is a perspective view of the state where the upper case and card reader of the card reader unit concerning the present invention were removed. It is a perspective view of the tray of 1st Embodiment of the card reader unit which concerns on this invention. It is the sectional view on the AA line of FIG. FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 5. It is a perspective view of the wall of a tray. (A) is a perspective view of the tray of 2nd Embodiment of the card reader unit which concerns on this invention, (b) is CC sectional view taken on the line of the state which attached the card reader to the tray of (a). (A) is a perspective view of the tray of 3rd Embodiment of the card reader unit which concerns on this invention, (b) is DD sectional drawing of the state which mounted | wore the tray of (a) with the card reader.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The illustrated image forming apparatus 1 is a multifunction peripheral (MFP) having both a copying function, a printer function, and a facsimile function, and an upper portion of the apparatus main body 2. Is provided with a document reading device 3 for optically reading a document. Here, a document cover 4 that covers a transparent contact glass is fitted on the upper surface of the document reading device 3, and an operation unit 5 is disposed on one front side of the image reading device 3.

  An opening 6 is formed below the image reading device 3 of the apparatus body 2, and a paper discharge tray 7 is provided in the opening 6. The lower half of the apparatus body 2 is provided with upper and lower two-stage sheet feeding cassettes 8 and 9 formed by stacking and storing a plurality of sheets therein so that they can be pulled out to the front side. Although not shown, the apparatus main body 2 houses various process devices such as a photosensitive drum, a charger, an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer device, and a fixing device.

  Furthermore, a card reader unit 10 according to the present invention is attached to the upper end side portion of the apparatus main body 2. The card reader unit 10 performs user authentication by reading information about the user recorded on the card when the user touches the card. Details of the configuration will be described below with reference to FIGS. This will be described with reference to FIG.

  2 is a perspective view of the card reader unit, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the card reader unit with the upper case removed, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the card reader unit with the upper case and the card reader removed. 5 is a perspective view of the tray of the first embodiment of the card reader unit, FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. It is a perspective view.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the card reader unit 10 includes a card reader case 11 formed by joining and integrating a resin upper case 11 </ b> A and a lower case 11 </ b> B that are divided into upper and lower parts. As shown in FIG. 4, a rectangular box-shaped tray 12 having an open top is disposed in the sealed space. Specifically, the tray 12 is placed on a lower case 11B of the card reader case 11, and a sheet metal bracket 13 bent in an L shape is fixed to the lower case 11B with screws. . Here, two screw holes 14 and 15 are formed in the bracket 13 in the lateral direction, and the card reader unit 10 tightens screws (not shown) that are inserted into the screw holes 14 and 15 of the bracket 13 as shown in FIG. Is attached to the upper end side of the apparatus body 2 as shown in FIG.

  The tray 12 is formed into a rectangular box shape with resin, and as shown in FIG. 5, vertical walls 12A, 12B, 12C, and 12D are erected on the four circumferences thereof. Two walls 12C and 12D of 12D are held so as to be slidable in two directions orthogonal to each other (in the directions of arrows a and b in the drawing). Here, slit-like notches 16 and 17 which are long in the sliding direction of the walls 12C and 12D are formed on the two sides where the wall 12E of the bottom wall of the tray 12 is provided.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, for example, the slidable one wall 12C is fitted at the lower center in the width direction with substantially the same width (slightly narrow) as the notches 16 and 17 formed on the bottom wall 12E of the tray 12. A joining portion 12a is formed, and a rectangular plate-like holding portion 12b wider than the width of the notch 16 is bent at a right angle and formed horizontally from the lower end of the fitting portion 12a.

  Thus, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 6, if the fitting portion 12a of the wall 12C is fitted into the notch 16 formed in the bottom wall 12E of the tray 12, the wall 12C is positioned between the holding portion 12b. Thus, the bottom wall 12E of the tray 12 is supported vertically and slidably in the direction of the arrow a in FIG. In this case, the wall 12C can slide the notch 16 of the tray 12 in the arrow a direction within a range in which the fitting portion 12a can move. Although not shown, the other wall 12D is configured similarly to the wall 12C, and can slide on the bottom wall 12E of the tray 12 in the direction of arrow b in FIG.

  Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, a flat rectangular block-shaped card reader 18 is accommodated in the tray 12, and the size of the card reader 18 varies depending on the manufacturer. In this embodiment, when the card readers 18 of various sizes are accommodated in the common tray 12, the movable walls 12C and 12D are moved in the directions of arrows a and b shown in FIG. By sliding the walls 12C and 12D in close contact with the vertical and horizontal side surfaces of the card reader 18, the card reader 18 is reliably accommodated in the tray 12 without rattling. Then, when the card reader 18 is accommodated in the tray 12 in this way, the assembly of the card reader 18 is completed by covering the lower case 11B of the card reader case 11 with the upper case 11A and joining them together. To do.

  As described above, in the card reader unit 10 according to the present embodiment, the two walls 12C and 12D of the tray 12 that accommodates the card reader 18 are configured to be slidable. The card reader 18 can be reliably accommodated in the tray 12 without any backlash regardless of its size.

  Next, a tray according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, description is abbreviate | omitted about the part which is common in the tray 12 of 1st Embodiment.

  9A is a perspective view of the tray of the second embodiment, FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 9A, and as shown in FIG. 9, according to the second embodiment. The tray 20 is the same in shape as the tray 12 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. The difference between the tray 20 and the tray 12 is that at the upper ends of the walls 20A, 20B, 20C, and 20D that are erected vertically on the four sides, the bottom wall 20E faces the walls that are opposed to two positions that are separated from each other. In contrast, protrusions 20F, 20G, 20H, and 20I that protrude in parallel with a predetermined length are formed.

  In the tray 20 according to the second embodiment, a support member 21 is provided between the bottom surface 20E and the card reader 22. The support member 22 is configured by an elastic resin member, a sheet metal member, or the like. The support member 22 is a rectangular flat plate-like member, and the rectangular regions 21A, 21b, 21C, and 21D at the four corners are separated by a cut line, and are bent and inclined in the same direction on the other adjacent side. The other part forms a flat part 21E. The rectangular regions 21 </ b> A, 21 </ b> B, 21 </ b> C, and 21 </ b> D are stored such that the tips of the rectangular regions 21 </ b> A, 21 </ b> B, 21 </ b> C, and 21 </ b> D come into contact with the bottom wall 20 </

  When the card reader 22 is mounted on the tray 20, the slidable walls 21C and 21D are moved away from the opposing walls 21A and 21B, or are temporarily removed from the tray 20. Then, while the card reader 20 is placed on the flat surface 21E of the support member 22 and pushed down, the upper surface is submerged under the protrusions 21F and 21G and pushed to a position where the side faces abut against the walls 21A and 21B. In this state, the walls 21 </ b> C and 21 </ b> D are slid, and fixed at a position where the upper surface of the card reader 22 contacts the side surface 22 so as to sink under the protrusions 21 </ b> H and 21 </ b> I.

  Since the supporting member 22 is an elastic member, the rectangular areas 21A, 21B, 21C, and 21D at the four corners change in inclination due to elastic deformation according to the thickness of the card reader 22, and the upper surface of the card reader 22 has protrusions 20F, It is held at a position where it abuts against 20G, 20H, and 20I. As a result, it is possible to mount various types of card readers having different thicknesses on one type of tray in addition to the vertical and horizontal sizes.

  Next, a tray according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, description is abbreviate | omitted about the tray 12 which concerns on 1st Embodiment, and the tray 20 which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

  FIG. 10A is a perspective view of the tray according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG. 10A. The difference from the tray 20 according to the second embodiment shown is that the support pieces 30F to 30I are formed on the bottom surface 30E without using the support member 21. The tray 30 is a member molded with an elastic resin material. The bottom wall 30E is vertically erected to form walls 30A and 30B. The upper ends of the walls 30A and 30B are separated from each other at two locations. Protrusions 30J and 30K projecting by a predetermined length in parallel on the bottom wall 30E are formed at the position. In addition, support pieces 30F to 30I that extend obliquely upward from the bottom wall 30E are formed at four locations on the bottom wall 30E. Furthermore, walls 30C and 30D that are opposed to the walls 30A and 30B are formed in the mounted state by members that can be attached to and detached from the tray 30, respectively. On the upper end sides of the walls 30A and 30B, projections 30L and 20M projecting a predetermined length in parallel on the bottom wall 30E are formed at two positions separated from each other.

  The mounting of the card reader 31 on the tray 30 is similar to the mounting on the tray 20 according to the second embodiment. The bottom surface of the card reader 31 is supported by being in contact with the support pieces 30F to 30I, and the top surface is the protrusion 30J. It is supported in a state where it sinks into contact with 30M. Since the tray 30 is formed of an elastic resin, the support pieces 30F to 30I are elastically deformed according to the thickness of the card reader 31, and the inclination angle changes. Accordingly, various card readers having different thicknesses as well as vertical and horizontal sizes can be mounted on the tray 30.

  In the above embodiment, the two walls 12C and 12D among the four walls 12A to 12D of the tray 12 are configured to be slidable. However, all four walls 12A to 12D are configured to be slidable. The same effect can be obtained. Further, in order to cope with the change in the thickness of the card reader 18, for example, when the thin card reader 18 is accommodated, it can be dealt with by attaching the movable walls 12C and 12D upside down. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Apparatus main body 3 Image reading apparatus 4 Contact glass 5 Operation part 6 Opening part of apparatus main body 7 Paper discharge tray 8,9 Paper feed cassette 10 Card reader unit 11 Card reader case 11A Upper case 11B Lower case 12 Tray 12A -12D Tray wall 12E Tray bottom wall 12a Wall fitting part 12b Wall holding part 13 Bracket 14,15 Screw hole 16,17 Tray notch 18 Card reader

Claims (5)

A card reader for reading information recorded on the card by touching the card, a card reader case composed of a lower case and an upper case, and a rectangular box-shaped tray disposed in a space in the card reader case A card reader unit comprising the card reader housed in the tray,
The card reader unit, wherein the tray includes a plurality of walls standing from a bottom wall, and at least one of the plurality of walls is slidable.   The card reader unit according to claim 1, wherein a protrusion protruding on the bottom surface is formed on an upper end side of the plurality of walls of the tray.   A support member is provided between the bottom wall of the tray and the card reader, which is a plate member having elasticity, and a portion that is elastically deformed by contacting the bottom wall and the lower surface of the card reader. The card reader unit according to claim 2,   3. The card reader unit according to claim 2, wherein the tray is formed of an elastic material, and a portion that protrudes from the bottom wall and elastically deforms by contacting the lower surface of the card reader is formed. . An image forming apparatus comprising the card reader unit according to claim 1.

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