JP2014071605A - Card reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a card reader configured to detect whether a substantially rectangular card has been inserted so that a lateral direction of the card is aligned with a card conveyance direction or a longitudinal direction of the card is aligned with the card conveyance direction.SOLUTION: A card reader comprises: an insertion detection mechanism 16 which detects that a card 2 has been inserted through a slot 3 so that a lateral direction of the card 2 is aligned with a conveyance direction of the card 2; a card contact member 15 which projects/retreats to/from the conveyance path 5 and can be brought into contact with a top face or a rear face of the card 2; and a sensor 85 for detecting a state of the card contact member 15 projecting to/retreating from the conveyance path 5. The card contact member 15 is arranged in a position in contact with the card 2, which has been inserted through the slot 3 so that the longitudinal direction of the card 2 is aligned with the conveyance direction of the card 2, even if the card 2 is inserted in any lateral positions of the conveyance path 5.

Description

  The present invention relates to a card reader that processes a card formed in a substantially rectangular shape by conveying it in the short direction.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a magnetic head moving type magnetic stripe reading / writing device that reads magnetic data from a magnetic stripe formed on a magnetic medium and writes magnetic data to the magnetic stripe is known (for example, patents). Reference 1). In a magnetic medium processed by the magnetic stripe reading / writing device described in Patent Document 1, magnetic stripes are formed in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the magnetic medium. The magnetic stripe reading / writing device includes a slide mechanism that moves the magnetic head in the direction in which the magnetic stripe is formed, and a transport roller that transports the magnetic medium in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the magnetic head.

  Conventionally, a card reader that reads magnetic data recorded on a card and writes magnetic data to the card is known (see, for example, Patent Document 2). The card reader described in Patent Literature 2 includes a card processing unit having a card transport mechanism and a magnetic head, and a card insertion unit in which a card insertion slot is formed. A card transport path through which cards are transported is formed on the back side of the insertion slot. The card insertion section includes a card insertion detection mechanism for detecting whether or not a card has been inserted from the insertion slot, and a shutter member that opens and closes the card conveyance path. The card insertion unit includes a pre-head (magnetic head) for detecting whether or not magnetic data is recorded on the card, and a metal sensor for detecting whether or not an IC chip is built in the card. I have.

  In the card reader described in Patent Document 2, a card insertion detection mechanism, a pre-head, and a metal sensor are arranged between the insertion slot and the shutter member in the card transport direction. In this card reader, the shutter member closes the card transport path in a standby state before the card is inserted. In this card reader, the shutter member opens the card transport path when it is detected that a regular card is inserted from the insertion slot based on the detection results of the card insertion detection mechanism, the pre-head, and the metal sensor.

  The shape of the card having the magnetic stripe is defined by international standards and JIS standards, and is a substantially rectangular shape with rounded corners. The magnetic stripe is formed in a strip shape parallel to the longitudinal direction of the card formed in a substantially rectangular shape. In the card reader described in Patent Document 2, cards with magnetic stripes conforming to international standards and JIS standards are processed, and the cards are conveyed in the longitudinal direction.

JP-A-9-128872 JP 2010-160666 A

  A device that transports a magnetic medium in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the magnetic stripe, such as the magnetic stripe reading / writing device described in Patent Document 1, and processes cards with magnetic stripes that comply with international standards and JIS standards. Card is transported in the short direction. In an apparatus in which a card is conveyed and processed in the longitudinal direction, the width of the card insertion slot is formed according to the width of the card in the short direction. Therefore, in this device, the card is not inserted from the insertion slot so that the short direction of the card matches the card transport direction (that is, the long direction of the card matches the width direction of the insertion slot). Absent.

  On the other hand, in an apparatus in which the card is conveyed and processed in the short direction, the width of the insertion slot is formed according to the width in the longitudinal direction of the card. Therefore, in this apparatus, there is a possibility that the card is inserted from the insertion slot so that the longitudinal direction of the card matches the card transport direction (that is, the short direction of the card matches the width direction of the insertion slot). is there. However, in a device in which a card is transported in the short direction and processed, a card inserted from the insertion slot so that the longitudinal direction of the card matches the card transport direction is taken in even if it is taken into the device. Predetermined processing cannot be performed on the card. Therefore, in an apparatus in which a card is transported and processed in the short direction, whether the card is inserted from the insertion slot so that the short direction of the card coincides with the transport direction of the card, or the longitudinal direction of the card is It is necessary to detect whether a card has been inserted from the insertion slot so as to coincide with the card transport direction and perform appropriate processing.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a card reader that processes a card formed in a substantially rectangular shape in its short direction, and the card is inserted from the insertion slot so that the short direction of the card coincides with the card transport direction. It is an object of the present invention to provide a card reader capable of detecting whether or not a card has been inserted, or whether or not a card has been inserted from an insertion slot so that the longitudinal direction of the card coincides with the card transport direction.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a card reader according to the present invention is a card reader that conveys a card formed in a substantially rectangular shape in the short direction of the card and processes the card. And a card insertion path that is connected to the insertion slot is formed, and the card insertion unit detects both ends of the card in the width direction of the conveyance path orthogonal to the card conveyance direction, so that the short side direction of the card is An insertion detection mechanism for detecting that a card has been inserted from the insertion slot so as to coincide with the transport direction, a card contact member capable of appearing in the transport path and contacting the front or back surface of the card, and a card contact member A contact member sensor that detects the state of the card in the transport path, and the card contact member has a card inserted from the insertion slot so that the longitudinal direction of the card coincides with the card transport direction. If the, be inserted card at any position in the width direction of the conveying path, characterized in that the inserted card is placed in contact.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the card reader of the present invention is a card reader in which a card formed in a substantially rectangular shape is conveyed and processed in the short direction of the card. A card conveyance path connected to the insertion slot is formed, and the card insertion section detects the both ends of the card in the width direction of the conveyance path orthogonal to the card conveyance direction, so that the short direction of the card is determined. An insertion detection mechanism for detecting that the card has been inserted from the insertion slot so as to coincide with the card conveyance direction, a card contact member capable of appearing in the conveyance path and contacting the front or back surface of the card, and the card A contact member sensor for detecting the state of the contact member appearing in the transport path, and the width of the card contact member in the width direction of the transport path is such that the longitudinal direction of the card matches the card transport direction. When the card is inserted from the insertion slot as described above, the inserted card is set to contact the card contact member no matter where the card is inserted in the width direction of the transport path. To do.

  In the card reader of the present invention, the card insertion portion includes a card contact member that can appear and disappear in the transport path and can contact the front surface or the back surface of the card, and a contact member that detects the state of the card contact member in the transport path And a sensor. In the present invention, the card contact member is inserted at any position in the width direction of the transport path when the card is inserted from the insertion slot so that the longitudinal direction of the card coincides with the transport direction of the card. Also, it is arranged at a position where the inserted card contacts. Alternatively, in the present invention, the width of the card contact member in the width direction of the transport path is such that when the card is inserted from the insertion slot so that the longitudinal direction of the card coincides with the card transport direction, It is set so that the inserted card contacts the card contact member no matter where the card is inserted.

  Therefore, in the present invention, not only when the card is inserted from the insertion slot so that the short direction of the card coincides with the card conveying direction, but also when the card is arranged so that the longitudinal direction of the card coincides with the card conveying direction. Even when the card is inserted from the insertion slot, the card contacts the card contact member. Therefore, in the present invention, the short direction of the card coincides with the transport direction of the card by detecting by the contact member sensor that the card contacts the card contact member and the card contact member has moved with respect to the transport path. Thus, not only when the card is inserted from the insertion slot, but also when the card is inserted from the insertion slot so that the longitudinal direction of the card coincides with the card transport direction, the contact member sensor allows the card to be inserted from the insertion slot. Can be detected.

  In the present invention, the card insertion unit detects that the card has been inserted from the insertion slot so that the short direction of the card coincides with the card transport direction by detecting both ends of the card in the width direction of the transport path. An insertion detection mechanism for detecting is provided. Therefore, in the present invention, it is possible to detect that a card has been inserted from the insertion slot so that the short direction of the card coincides with the card conveyance direction based on the detection result of the insertion detection mechanism. In the present invention, the insertion detection mechanism does not detect that the card has been inserted from the insertion slot so that the short direction of the card matches the card conveyance direction, but the card has been inserted from the insertion slot. When the contact member sensor detects the card, the card is inserted from the insertion slot so that the longitudinal direction of the card coincides with the card transport direction based on the detection result of the insertion detection mechanism and the detection result of the contact member sensor. Can be detected. Therefore, in the present invention, based on the detection result of the insertion detection mechanism and the detection result of the contact member sensor, has the card been inserted from the insertion slot so that the short direction of the card matches the card transport direction? Or, it is possible to detect whether the card is inserted from the insertion slot so that the longitudinal direction of the card coincides with the card conveying direction.

  In this invention, it is preferable that a card insertion part is equipped with the magnetic sensor which detects that magnetic data are recorded on the card | curd. In this case, for example, the card insertion unit includes a magnetic sensor disposed at least on one side of the transport path in the card thickness direction orthogonal to the card transport direction and the width direction of the transport path. With this configuration, based on the detection result of the magnetic sensor, whether a regular card on which magnetic data is recorded is inserted from the insertion slot, or a card other than a regular card on which no magnetic data is recorded is inserted. It becomes possible to determine whether or not it has been inserted from the insertion slot.

  In this invention, it is preferable that a card insertion part is provided with two magnetic sensors arrange | positioned so that a card | curd may be pinched | interposed in the thickness direction of a card | curd. If comprised in this way, it will become possible to detect to which surface of the card inserted from the insertion slot the magnetic data is recorded. Therefore, it is possible to detect whether or not the card has been inserted from the insertion slot in a state where the front surface and the back surface of the card are in the correct direction.

  In the present invention, an embossing area to be embossed is defined on the card, and the two magnetic sensors are preferably arranged at positions avoiding the embossing area in the width direction of the transport path. . When the magnetic sensor is placed at a position that overlaps the embossed area in the card thickness direction, it prevents embossed letters and numbers that protrude from the front of the card from contacting the magnetic sensor. In order to do this, the distance between the card passing through the transport path and the magnetic sensor must be increased in the thickness direction of the card. Therefore, the detection accuracy of magnetic data by the magnetic sensor may be reduced. On the other hand, if the two magnetic sensors are arranged at positions avoiding the embossing area in the width direction of the transport path, the card and the magnetic sensor passing through the transport path in the thickness direction of the card. Since the distance can be reduced, the detection accuracy of magnetic data by the magnetic sensor can be increased.

  In this invention, it is preferable that a card insertion part is provided with the metal sensor which detects that the external connection terminal of an IC chip is being fixed to the card | curd. If comprised in this way, based on the detection result in a metal sensor, whether the regular card with which the external connection terminal was fixed was inserted from the insertion slot, or other than the regular card with which the external connection terminal is not fixed It becomes possible to determine whether the card has been inserted from the insertion slot. Moreover, if comprised in this way, the card insertion part is provided with two magnetic sensors arrange | positioned so that a card may be pinched | interposed in the thickness direction of a card | curd orthogonal to the conveyance direction of a card | curd, and the width direction of a conveyance path. In this case, based on the detection result of the magnetic sensor and the detection result of the metal sensor, the card is inserted from one end side in the short direction, or the card is inserted from the other end side in the short direction. It is possible to detect whether it has been inserted.

  In the present invention, for example, the insertion detection mechanism includes a second card contact member that can move in and out of the conveyance path and can contact an end portion of the card in the width direction of the conveyance path, and a state in which the second card contact member has appeared in the conveyance path The card contact member and the second card contact member are arranged at substantially the same position in the card transport direction. In this case, the detection result by the contact member sensor and the detection result by the second contact member sensor can be obtained almost simultaneously.

  As described above, according to the present invention, in a card reader that processes a card formed in a substantially rectangular shape by transporting it in its short direction, the card slot direction is aligned with the card transport direction from the insertion slot. It is possible to detect whether a card has been inserted or whether a card has been inserted from the insertion slot so that the longitudinal direction of the card coincides with the card transport direction.

It is a perspective view of the card reader concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is a figure for demonstrating schematic structure of the card reader shown in FIG. 1 from a side surface. It is a top view of the card | curd shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the head moving mechanism shown in FIG. 2 from the upper surface. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the head moving mechanism shown in FIG. 2 from the front. It is a figure for demonstrating from the front the contact block drive mechanism which drives the IC contact block shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the state which the shutter member shown in FIG. 2 has closed the conveyance path from a side surface. It is a figure for demonstrating the state which the shutter member shown in FIG. 7 has open | released the conveyance path from a side surface. It is a figure for demonstrating from the front the shutter drive mechanism which drives the shutter member shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure by the side of the front end of the card insertion part shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the card insertion part shown in FIG. 2 from the upper surface. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the front end side of the card insertion part shown in FIG. 2 from a front. It is a figure for demonstrating from the front the positional relationship of the up-down direction of the magnetic sensor shown in FIG. 12, and the card | curd inserted from the insertion slot.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Overall configuration of card reader)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a card reader 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a schematic configuration of the card reader 1 shown in FIG. 1 from the side. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the card 2 shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the head moving mechanism 8 shown in FIG. 2 from above. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the head moving mechanism 8 shown in FIG. 2 from the front. FIG. 6 is a view for explaining the contact block drive mechanism 10 for driving the IC contact block 9 shown in FIG. 2 from the front.

  The card reader 1 according to this embodiment is a device for reading at least one of magnetic data recorded on the card 2 and recording magnetic data on the card 2, and is a predetermined host device such as ATM (Automated Teller Machine). Used on board. The card reader 1 includes a card insertion portion 4 in which an insertion port 3 into which a card 2 is inserted is formed. As shown in FIG. 2, a card transport path 5 connected to the insertion slot 3 is formed inside the card reader 1.

  The card reader 1 includes a card transport mechanism 6 that transports the card 2, a magnetic head 7 that contacts the card 2 and reads the magnetic data recorded on the card 2, and records the magnetic data on the card 2. A head moving mechanism 8 for moving the magnetic head 7 in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the card 2, an IC contact block 9 for contacting a terminal portion 2b (to be described later) formed on the card 2 and performing data communication, A contact block drive mechanism 10 for driving the IC contact block 9 and a positioning mechanism 11 for positioning the card 2 taken into the card reader 1 are provided.

  The card 2 is a vinyl chloride card having a thickness of about 0.7 to 0.8 mm. The card 2 of this embodiment is a card with a magnetic stripe conforming to international standards (for example, ISO / IEC7811) and JIS standards (for example, JISX6302), and is formed in a substantially rectangular shape with rounded corners. On the back surface of the card 2, a magnetic stripe 2a on which magnetic data is recorded is formed. The card 2 is a contact type IC card. That is, an IC chip (not shown) is built in the card 2, and a terminal portion 2 b made up of eight external connection terminals is formed on the front surface of the card 2. A part of the card 2 is an embossing region 2c where embossing is performed. That is, the card 2 is defined with an embossing area 2c to be embossed.

  The magnetic stripe 2a is formed in an elongated strip shape parallel to the longitudinal direction (U direction in FIG. 3) of the card 2 formed in a substantially rectangular shape. The magnetic stripe 2a is formed over the entire area of the card 2 in the longitudinal direction. The magnetic stripe 2a is formed on the one end 2d side in the short direction of the card 2 in the short direction of the card 2 (the V direction in FIG. 3). Specifically, based on international standards and JIS standards, the magnetic stripe 2 a is formed in a predetermined range with the one end 2 d of the card 2 as a reference in the short direction of the card 2.

  The terminal portion 2 b is formed at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the card 2 and at a substantially intermediate position in the short direction of the card 2. The eight external connection terminals constituting the terminal portion 2 b are arranged in four rows in the short direction of the card 2 and in two columns in the long direction of the card 2. The embossing area 2 c is arranged on the other end 2 e side in the short direction of the card 2. A predetermined range excluding both ends in the longitudinal direction of the card 2 is an embossing region 2c. Characters, numbers, and the like formed by embossing in the embossing region 2c protrude to the front surface side.

  In this embodiment, the card 2 is conveyed in the X direction shown in FIG. Specifically, the card 2 is taken in the X1 direction and the card 2 is ejected in the X2 direction. That is, the X direction is the card 2 transport direction, the X1 direction is the card 2 take-in direction, and the X2 direction is the card 2 discharge direction. In this embodiment, the card 2 is taken into the card reader 1 so that the short direction of the card 2 and the X direction coincide. Further, the card 2 is conveyed in the card reader 1 so that the short direction of the card 2 and the X direction coincide with each other. That is, the card reader 1 conveys the card 2 in the short direction of the card 2 and performs a predetermined process.

  The Y direction orthogonal to the X direction is the width direction of the transport path 5 and is the longitudinal direction of the card 2 taken into the card reader 1 in the correct posture. Further, the Z direction in FIG. 1 or the like orthogonal to the X direction and the Y direction is the thickness direction of the card 2 taken into the card reader 1. In this embodiment, the card reader 1 is arranged so that the Z direction and the vertical direction coincide. In the following description, the X direction is “front-rear direction”, the Y direction is “left-right direction”, the Z direction is “up-down direction”, the X1 direction side is “back (back)” side, and the X2 direction side is The “front” side, the Y1 direction side as the “right” side, the Y2 direction side as the “left” side, the Z1 direction side as the “upper” side, and the Z2 direction side as the “lower” side.

  The card insertion portion 4 constitutes a front side portion of the card reader 1. In this card insertion portion 4, the card members 2 are inserted into the card reader 1 so that the shutter members 14 and 15 disposed on the back side of the insertion slot 3 and the short direction of the card 2 coincide with the front-rear direction ( That is, an insertion detection mechanism 16 that detects that the card 2 is inserted into the insertion slot 3, magnetic sensors 17 and 18 that detect that magnetic data is recorded on the card 2, and an IC chip on the card 2. A metal sensor 19 for detecting that the external connection terminal is fixed (that is, that the terminal portion 2b is fixed), and an infrared sensor 20 for detecting a human body that detects the movement of a person in front of the card reader 1; And a case body 21 in which these components are accommodated. A specific configuration of the card insertion portion 4 will be described later.

  The conveyance path 5 is formed in substantially the entire area of the card reader 1 in the front-rear direction. The card transport mechanism 6 includes transport rollers 31 to 33 that contact the upper surface of the card 2 to transport the card 2, and pad rollers 34 to 36 that are opposed to the transport rollers 31 to 33 from below. The transport roller 31 is disposed inside the card insertion unit 4. Specifically, the transport roller 31 is disposed in front of the shutter member 14 disposed on the back end side of the card insertion portion 4 in the front-rear direction. The transport rollers 32 and 33 are disposed inside the main body 37 of the card reader 1 disposed on the back side of the card insertion unit 4. Specifically, the transport roller 32 is disposed on the front side of the magnetic head 7 and the IC contact block 9 and on the back side of the shutter member 14 in the front-rear direction. Further, the transport roller 33 is disposed on the back side with respect to a contact portion 66a of a positioning member 66 (described later) constituting the positioning mechanism 11. The conveyance rollers 31 to 33 are arranged on both the left and right ends of the conveyance path 5. A motor 39 is connected to the transport rollers 31 to 33 via a power transmission mechanism 38 including a belt, a pulley, a gear train, and the like.

  The pad roller 34 is biased toward the transport roller 31 and can come into contact with the card 2 from below. The pad roller 35 is urged toward the transport roller 32 and can come into contact with the card 2 from below. The pad roller 36 is biased toward the transport roller 33 and can contact the card 2 from below. As described above, the transport rollers 31 to 33 are disposed on both the left and right ends of the transport path 5, and the transport rollers 31 to 33 are in contact with the upper surfaces on both ends in the longitudinal direction of the card 2. The pad rollers 34 to 36 are in contact with the lower surfaces at both ends in the longitudinal direction. Specifically, the transport rollers 31 to 33 and the pad rollers 34 to 36 are in contact with both ends of the card 2 in the longitudinal direction and avoiding the embossing region 2c. The transport rollers 31 to 33 may be in contact with the lower surface of the card 2 and the pad rollers 34 to 36 may be disposed to face the transport rollers 31 to 33 from above.

  The magnetic head 7 is disposed between the transport roller 32 and the pad roller 35 and the transport roller 33 and the pad roller 36 in the front-rear direction. The head moving mechanism 8 is configured to move the magnetic head 7 up and down, a guide shaft 43 that guides the carriage 42 in the left-right direction, a lead screw 44 that sends the carriage 42 in the left-right direction, and the magnetic head 7. The cam plate 45 and a rotation prevention shaft 46 for preventing the carriage 42 from rotating about the guide shaft 43 are provided. The carriage 42 includes a carriage main body 47 and a head holding member 48 that holds the magnetic head 7. An internal thread member 49 that engages with the lead screw 44, a sliding bearing 50 that engages with the guide shaft 43, and a sliding member 51 that engages with the rotation prevention shaft 46 are attached to the carriage body 47. . A motor 53 is coupled to the lead screw 44 via a power transmission mechanism 52 composed of a pulley and a belt.

  A fixed shaft 54 that rotatably holds the head holding member 48 is fixed to the carriage body 47 with the left-right direction as an axial direction. A torsion coil spring 55 is disposed between the carriage body 47 and the head holding member 48, and the head holding member 48 is lifted by the urging force of the torsion coil spring 55 around the fixed shaft 54. It is energized in the direction to do. The cam plate 45 is formed in a long and narrow shape in the left-right direction, and rollers 56 that are in contact with cams 45a formed on both ends of the cam plate 45 in the left-right direction are rotatably attached to the head holding member 48. It has been.

  In this embodiment, when the motor 53 is driven and the lead screw 44 is rotated, the magnetic head 7 moves in the left-right direction along with the carriage 42 along the guide shaft 43. At both ends in the left-right direction, the roller 56 is in contact with the cam 45a, and the magnetic head 7 is below the conveying path 5 against the urging force of the torsion coil spring 55, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. Evacuated to the side. On the other hand, when the magnetic head 7 moves in the left-right direction together with the carriage 42 and the roller 56 is removed from the cam 45a, the magnetic head 7 guided by the cam 45a so as to be retracted below the conveying path 5 is moved to the torsion coil spring. Ascending by the urging force of 55, the magnetic stripe 2a of the card 2 can be contacted. The carriage 42 moves in the left-right direction while the magnetic head 7 is in contact with the magnetic stripe 2a, so that magnetic data is read and recorded by the magnetic head 7. The magnetic head 7 is connected to the control board of the card reader 1 via a predetermined cable.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the IC contact block 9 includes an IC contact spring 59 that contacts each of the external connection terminals constituting the terminal portion 2 b of the card 2, a spring holding member 60 that holds the IC contact spring 59, and an IC And a substrate 61 to which a contact spring 59 is connected. The substrate 61 is fixed to the spring holding member 60. The IC contact block 9 is disposed between the conveyance roller 32 and the pad roller 35 and the magnetic head 7 in the front-rear direction. The IC contact block 9 is disposed on the left end side of the transport path 5 and on the upper side of the transport path 5 in the left-right direction.

  The contact block drive mechanism 10 includes a block holding member 62 and a solenoid 63 to which the IC contact block 9 is fixed. The block holding member 62 is rotatably held by a fixed shaft 64 fixed to the frame of the main body 37 with the front-rear direction as an axial direction. A fixing pin 65 is fixed to the plunger 63 a of the solenoid 63. The fixing pin 65 is engaged with an engaging groove 62 a formed in the block holding member 62. The solenoid 63 is arranged so that the plunger 63a moves in the left-right direction. A compression coil spring (not shown) is disposed between the main body 63b of the solenoid 63 and the plunger 63a, and the plunger 63a is biased in a direction protruding from the main body 63b by the biasing force of the compression coil spring.

  When the plunger 63a protrudes from the main body 63b by the urging force of the compression coil spring, the IC contact block 9 is retracted to the upper side of the conveying path 5 as shown in FIG. When the solenoid 63 is driven in this state, the plunger 63a is pulled toward the main body 63b against the urging force of the compression coil spring, and the IC contact block 9 is lowered as shown in FIG. 6B. When the IC contact block 9 is lowered, the IC contact spring 59 can come into contact with the external connection terminals constituting the terminal portion 2b.

  The positioning mechanism 11 includes a positioning member 66 formed with a contact portion 66a with which the back end of the card 2 taken into the card reader 1 contacts, and a retracting mechanism (not shown) for retracting the contact portion 66a from the transport path 5. ). The contact portion 66a is disposed on the back side of the magnetic head 7 in the front-rear direction. Further, the contact portion 66a is disposed in front of the transport roller 33 and the pad roller 36 in the front-rear direction. The retraction mechanism includes a predetermined link mechanism, a drive source, and the like, and a contact position where the back end of the card 2 can contact the contact portion 66a, and the contact portion 66a retracts from the transport path 5 and is transported. The positioning member 66 is moved between the retracted position where the card 2 can pass toward the roller 33 and the pad roller 36. In this embodiment, the positioning member 66 is normally in the contact position, and moves to the retracted position when performing a predetermined process.

(Configuration of card insertion part)
FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the state in which the shutter members 14 and 15 shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a view for explaining the state in which the shutter members 14 and 15 shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a view for explaining the shutter driving mechanism 70 for driving the shutter member 14 shown in FIG. 2 from the front. FIG. 10 is a view for explaining the configuration of the front end side of the card insertion portion 4 shown in FIG. 2 from the side. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the card insertion portion 4 shown in FIG. 2 from the top. FIG. 12 is a view for explaining the configuration of the front end side of the card insertion portion 4 shown in FIG. 2 from the front. FIG. 13 is a view for explaining the positional relationship in the vertical direction between the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 shown in FIG. 12 and the card 2 inserted from the insertion slot 3 from the front.

  As described above, the card insertion portion 4 includes the shutter members 14 and 15, the insertion detection mechanism 16, the magnetic sensors 17 and 18, the metal sensor 19, the infrared sensor 20, and the case body 21.

  The shutter member 14 is disposed at the back end of the card insertion portion 4. The shutter member 14 is movable between a closed position (the position shown in FIG. 7) that closes the conveyance path 5 and an open position (shown in FIG. 8) that opens the conveyance path 5. The closing portion 14a of the shutter member 14 that closes the conveyance path 5 at the closing position is formed in a substantially rectangular flat plate shape elongated in the left-right direction. The width in the left-right direction of the closing portion 14 a is wider than the width in the left-right direction of the transport path 5. That is, the shutter member 14 in the closed position closes the conveyance path 5 over the entire area of the conveyance path 5 in the left-right direction. The shutter member 14 is coupled to a shutter drive mechanism 70 that drives the shutter member 14 between a closed position and an open position (see FIG. 9).

  The shutter drive mechanism 70 includes two first link members 72, a second link member 73, and a solenoid 74. The first link member 72 is rotatably held by a fixed shaft 75 that is fixed with the front-rear direction as an axial direction, and is rotatably connected to the lower end side of the shutter member 14. The second link member 73 is held so as to be slidable in the left-right direction by two fixed shafts 76 fixed with the front-rear direction as an axial direction. Two fixing pins 77 are fixed to the second link member 73 with the front-rear direction as the axial direction. The fixing pin 77 is engaged with an engagement recess 72 a formed on the lower end side of the first link member 72. The second link member 73 is engaged with a fixing pin 78 that is fixed to the plunger 74 a of the solenoid 74. The solenoid 74 is arranged so that the plunger 74a moves in the left-right direction. A compression coil spring (not shown) is disposed between the main body 74b of the solenoid 74 and the plunger 74a, and the plunger 74a is urged in a direction protruding from the main body 74b by the urging force of the compression coil spring.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the plunger 74a protrudes from the main body 74b by the urging force of the compression coil spring, the shutter member 14 is in the closed position as shown in FIG. When the solenoid 74 is driven in this state, the plunger 74a is pulled toward the main body 74b against the urging force of the compression coil spring, the second link member 73 slides to the left side, and the first link member 72 rotates. Thus, the shutter member 14 is lowered. When the shutter member 14 is lowered and retracted to the lower side of the conveyance path 5, the shutter member 14 is in the open position as shown in FIG. 8 and opens the conveyance path 5. Thus, the shutter member 14 in the open position is retracted to the lower side of the conveyance path 5, and when the shutter member 14 in the open position rises, the shutter member 14 moves to the closed position. The shutter member 14 may move between a closed position and an open position by the power of another drive source such as a motor.

  The shutter member 14 is provided with a projecting member 80 that projects forward from the front surface of the closing portion 14a. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, two projecting members 80 are fixed to the closing portion 14a with a predetermined interval left and right. Specifically, the protruding member 80 is fixed to each of the left and right ends of the closing portion 14a. The protruding member 80 includes a flat plate-like fixed portion 80a fixed to the closing portion 14a and a flat plate-shaped protruding portion 80b protruding from the fixed portion 80a to the front side. When the shutter member 14 is in the closed position, the front end surface of the protruding portion 80b becomes, for example, a card contact surface 80c on which the back end of the card 2 that is forcibly inserted from the insertion port 3 contacts at an unexpected speed. ing.

  A distance L1 (see FIG. 7) between the card contact surface 80c and the insertion slot 3 in the front-rear direction is shorter than a width W1 of the card 2 in the short direction. In this embodiment, the card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3 when the back end of the card 2 inserted into the insertion slot 3 is in contact with the card contact surface 80c so that the short side direction and the front-rear direction of the card 2 coincide. The distance L1 is set so that the user can grasp the front end side of the card 2 to be played. For example, the distance L1 is set to be shorter by about 10 to 15 mm than the width W1. In this embodiment, the distance L2 (see FIG. 7) between the front surface of the closing portion 14a and the insertion port 3 in the front-rear direction is slightly shorter than the width W1, but the distance L2 is the same as the width W1. It may be longer than the width W1.

  The shutter member 15 is disposed in front of the shutter member 14. Specifically, the shutter member 15 is disposed in front of the transport roller 31 and the pad roller 34. The shutter member 15 of this embodiment is a roller that can rotate with the left-right direction as the axial direction of rotation. The shutter member 15 is rotatably held by a shaft 81 arranged with the left-right direction as an axial direction. The shaft 81 is fixed to the upper end side of the shaft holding member 82. The shaft holding member 82 is rotatably held by a fixed shaft 83 that is fixed to the frame of the card insertion portion 4 with the left-right direction as the axial direction. The shaft 81, the shaft holding member 82, and the fixed shaft 83 are disposed on the lower side of the conveyance path 5. Note that the shutter member 15 of the present embodiment is configured by three rollers divided into three in the left-right direction. The three rollers are held by the shaft 81 so as to contact each other in the left-right direction.

  The shutter member 15 can rotate together with the shaft holding member 82 about the fixed shaft 83. Specifically, the shutter member 15 is disposed in the transport path 5 and closes the transport path 5 (position shown in FIG. 7), and retracts to the lower side of the transport path 5 to open the transport path 5. It can move between the open position (position shown in FIG. 8). That is, the shutter member 15 can appear and disappear in the transport path 5. The shaft holding member 82 is urged in a direction in which the shutter member 15 is raised by an urging member such as a spring (not shown). That is, the shutter member 15 is biased toward the closed position. On the upper side of the shutter member 15, an abutting member 84 with which the upper end of the shutter member 15 urged toward the closed position abuts is disposed. The abutting member 84 is fixed to the frame of the card insertion portion 4 and is disposed on the upper side of the transport path 5.

  During standby before the card 2 is inserted into the card reader 1, the shutter member 15 is urged toward the closed position by the urging force of the urging member that urges the shaft holding member 82. It is closed. In this state, when the card 2 inserted from the insertion port 3 comes into contact with the shutter member 15, the shutter member 15 retracts downward against the urging force of the urging member. That is, when the card 2 inserted from the insertion port 3 contacts the shutter member 15, the shutter member 15 moves to the open position. The upper end of the shutter member 15 in the open position is in contact with the front surface or the back surface of the card 2. The shutter member 15 of the present embodiment is a card contact member that can appear in the conveyance path 5 and can contact the front surface or the back surface of the card 2. In the shutter member 15 in the closed position, the portion of the shutter member 15 above the shaft 81 closes the transport path 5.

  When the card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3 so that the longitudinal direction of the card 2 coincides with the front-rear direction, the shutter member 15 is inserted no matter where the card 2 is inserted in the left-right direction. Is arranged at a position where they contact each other (see FIG. 11). The width of the shutter member 15 (the width in the left-right direction) is such that when the card 2 is inserted from the insertion port 3 so that the longitudinal direction of the card 2 coincides with the front-rear direction, the card 2 is located at any position in the left-right direction. Even if inserted, the inserted card 2 is set so as to contact the shutter member 15. Therefore, the card 2 is inserted not only when the card 2 is inserted from the insertion port 3 so that the short side direction and the front-back direction of the card 2 match, but also so that the longitudinal direction of the card 2 matches the front-back direction. Even when inserted from the mouth 3, the shutter member 15 in the closed position moves to the open position. In this embodiment, the width of the shutter member 15 (width in the left-right direction) is narrower than the width of the conveyance path 5 (width in the left-right direction), but the width of the shutter member 15 is the width of the conveyance path 5. Or may be wider than the width of the transport path 5.

  Further, the card insertion unit 4 includes a sensor 85 for detecting that the shutter member 15 has moved to the open position. That is, the card insertion unit 4 includes a sensor 85 for detecting the state in which the shutter member 15 is moved in and out of the conveyance path 5. The sensor 85 is a transmissive optical sensor that includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element that receives light from the light emitting element. The shaft holding member 82 is formed with a light shielding portion 82 a that blocks between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the sensor 85. The sensor 85 of this embodiment is a contact member sensor that detects the state of the shutter member 15 that is a card contact member in and out of the conveyance path 5.

  When the shutter member 15 is in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 7, the light shielding portion 82 a is separated from between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the sensor 85. On the other hand, when the shutter member 15 is in the open position, as shown in FIG. 8, the light blocking portion 82 a blocks between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the sensor 85. Therefore, it is detected that the card 2 is inserted from the insertion port 3 and the shutter member 15 is moved to the open position by blocking the light from the light emitting element to the light receiving element of the sensor 85 by the light blocking portion 82a.

  The insertion detection mechanism 16 is disposed in front of the shutter member 14. Specifically, the insertion detection mechanism 16 is disposed at substantially the same position as the shutter member 15 in the front-rear direction. More specifically, a card contact portion 88a described later is disposed at substantially the same position as the shutter member 15 in the front-rear direction. The insertion detection mechanism 16 includes two detection levers 88 as second card contact members that are disposed on both left and right ends of the card insertion portion 4 and can be moved in and out of the transport path 5, and each of the two detection levers 88. Two sensors 89 serving as second contact member sensors that detect movement (that is, detect a state in which the detection lever 88 moves in and out of the conveyance path 5) are provided. The sensor 89 is a transmissive optical sensor that includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element that receives light from the light emitting element.

  The detection lever 88 extends between the left and right ends of the transport path 5 in the transport path 5 and can contact the both ends of the card 2 in the left-right direction, and between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the sensor 89. And a light shielding portion 88b for shielding the light. The upper side of the card contact portion 88a is rotatably held by a fixed shaft 90 (see FIG. 12) fixed to the frame of the card insertion portion 4 with the front-rear direction as an axial direction. The detection lever 88 is biased by a biasing member such as a spring (not shown) so that the card contact portion 88a moves inward in the left-right direction.

  At the time of standby before the card 2 is inserted into the card reader 1, the card contact portion 88 a is arranged in the transport path 5 by the biasing force of the biasing member. At this time, as shown in FIG. 12A, the light shielding portion 88b blocks between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the sensor 89. In this state, when the card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3 so that the short direction of the card 2 coincides with the front-rear direction, the left and right ends of the card 2 come into contact with the two detection levers 88, respectively. Thus, the detection lever 88 rotates about the fixed shaft 90. When the detection lever 88 rotates, as shown in FIG. 12B, the light shielding portion 88b is removed from between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the sensor 89.

  Therefore, when the light receiving element receives light from the light emitting element in the two sensors 89, it is detected that the card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3 so that the short direction of the card 2 coincides with the front-rear direction. The Thus, the insertion detection mechanism 16 detects that the card 2 has been inserted from the insertion port 3 so that the short direction of the card 2 coincides with the front-rear direction by detecting both the left and right ends of the card 2. . When the card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3 so that the longitudinal direction of the card 2 coincides with the front-rear direction, only one detection lever 88 of the two detection levers 88 rotates to detect the other. The lever 88 does not rotate, or both of the two detection levers 88 do not rotate. Therefore, when the card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3 so that the longitudinal direction of the card 2 coincides with the front-rear direction, the light receiving element receives light from the light emitting element only in one of the two sensors 89. Either the two sensors 89 receive light or the light receiving element does not receive light from the light emitting element.

  The magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are flux gate sensors including an excitation coil, a detection coil, and a core around which the excitation coil and the detection coil are wound. The magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are three-axis magnetic sensors that sense magnetism in three directions orthogonal to each other (that is, the three directions orthogonal to each other are defined as magnetic detection directions). The magnetic sensors 17 and 18 output an output signal having a level corresponding to the distance from the magnetic body. Specifically, the level of the output signal from the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 increases as the distance between the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 and the magnetic material decreases. Further, the magnetic sensor 17 and the magnetic sensor 18 have the same structure and are adjusted so that their sensitivities are equal. The magnetic sensors 17 and 18 may be magnetic impedance sensors (MI sensors) that detect magnetic data using magnetic impedance. Further, the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 may be sensors that detect magnetic data using a magnetoresistive effect or a Hall effect.

  The magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are disposed in front of the shutter member 14. Specifically, the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are disposed at substantially the same position as the shutter member 15 in the front-rear direction. Moreover, the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are arrange | positioned in the position through which the card | curd 2 passes in the left-right direction. Specifically, the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are disposed on the right end side of the conveyance path 5. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 12B, the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are embossed areas of the card 2 inserted so that the short direction of the card 2 coincides with the front-rear direction in the left-right direction. It is arranged at a position avoiding 2c.

  Moreover, the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are arrange | positioned so that the card | curd 2 inserted from the insertion port 3 may be pinched | interposed in an up-down direction. Further, the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are arranged so that at least a part thereof overlaps each other when viewed from the vertical direction. In the present embodiment, the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are arranged so that the magnetic sensor 17 and the magnetic sensor 18 are completely overlapped when viewed from above and below. In this embodiment, the magnetic sensor 17 is disposed on the upper side of the conveyance path 5, and the magnetic sensor 18 is disposed on the lower side of the conveyance path 5. The magnetic sensor 17 is arranged so that the magnetic sensitive surface faces downward, and the magnetic sensor 18 is arranged so that the magnetic sensitive surface faces upward.

  Further, the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are arranged so that one of the magnetic detection directions thereof is parallel to the vertical direction. Further, the magnetic sensor 17 is arranged so that the remaining two magnetic detection directions (directions indicated by arrows D1 and D2 in FIG. 11) are inclined with respect to the front-rear direction when viewed from the vertical direction. Similarly, the magnetic sensor 18 is arranged so that the remaining two magnetic detection directions when viewed from the up-down direction are inclined with respect to the front-rear direction. Specifically, when viewed from above and below, the remaining two magnetic detection directions of the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are inclined by about 45 ° with respect to the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. Further, when viewed from the vertical direction, the remaining two magnetic detection directions of the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are directed obliquely forward. In addition, the inclination with respect to the front-back direction and the left-right direction of the remaining two magnetic detection directions of the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 when viewed from the vertical direction may be other than 45 °.

  Moreover, the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are arrange | positioned so that a clearance gap may be provided between the front surface and back surface of the card | curd 2 inserted from the insertion port 3, as shown in FIG. Specifically, the distance L11 between the lower surface of the card 2 inserted from the insertion port 3 and the lower surface of the magnetic sensor 17 is greater than the distance L12 between the lower surface of the card 2 inserted from the insertion port 3 and the upper surface of the magnetic sensor 18. And the distance L13 between the upper surface of the card 2 inserted from the insertion port 3 and the lower surface of the magnetic sensor 17 is the distance L14 between the upper surface of the card 2 inserted from the insertion port 3 and the upper surface of the magnetic sensor 18. The magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are arranged so as to be shorter.

  Therefore, when the card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3 so that the short side direction of the card 2 coincides with the front-rear direction and the back surface of the card 2 faces downward, the magnetic sensor 18 outputs the card 2. The output signal level becomes higher than the output signal level output from the magnetic sensor 17. On the other hand, when the card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3 with the short side direction of the card 2 coinciding with the front-rear direction and the front surface of the card 2 facing downward, the magnetic sensor 17 The level of the output signal from the magnetic sensor 18 becomes higher than the level of the output signal from the magnetic sensor 18. Therefore, by comparing the level of the output signal from the magnetic sensor 17 and the level of the output signal from the magnetic sensor 18, whether the card 2 has been inserted from the insertion slot 3 with the back surface facing downward, Alternatively, it is detected whether the card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3 with the front side facing downward.

  The metal sensor 19 is a magnetic sensor including an excitation coil, a detection coil, and a core around which the excitation coil and the detection coil are wound. The metal sensor 19 detects a metal member by detecting a change in the magnetic field generated by the excitation coil with the detection coil. The metal sensor 19 is disposed in front of the shutter member 14. Specifically, the metal sensor 19 is disposed slightly in front of the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 in the front-rear direction. Moreover, the metal sensor 19 is arrange | positioned in the position through which the terminal part 2b of the card | curd 2 inserted with the correct attitude | position passes in the left-right direction. Specifically, the metal sensor 19 is disposed on the left end side of the transport path 5. Furthermore, the metal sensor 19 is disposed on the upper side of the transport path 5. Further, the metal sensor 19 is arranged so that the magnetic sensitive surface faces downward.

  In this embodiment, when the card 2 is inserted from one end 2d side in the short direction of the card 2 with the back surface facing downward, the metal sensor 19 detects the terminal portion 2b of the card 2. Further, even when the card 2 is inserted from the other end 2e side in the short direction of the card 2 with the front surface facing downward, the metal sensor 19 detects the terminal portion 2b of the card 2. Therefore, whether the card 2 is inserted from the one end 2d side of the card 2 based on the detection results of the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 and the detection result of the metal sensor 19, or the card 2 from the other end 2e side of the card 2 Whether or not is inserted is detected.

  The infrared sensor 20 is a pyroelectric infrared sensor, and includes a pyroelectric element that detects light including infrared rays by a pyroelectric effect. As described above, the infrared sensor 20 detects a human motion in front of the card reader 1. Specifically, the infrared sensor 20 detects the movement of a human hand or the like in front of the card reader 1. Further, the infrared sensor 20 calculates a difference between a human body temperature in front of the card reader 1 and a temperature around the person within the detection range of the infrared sensor 20 based on infrared rays generated by the person in front of the card reader 1. By detecting, the movement of the person in front of the card reader 1 is detected. As shown in FIG. 1, the infrared sensor 20 is disposed on the front side of the card insertion portion 4.

  The case body 21 is formed of a resin material having translucency. Specifically, the case body 21 is formed of a transparent resin material. An opening (not shown) penetrating in the vertical direction is formed in the lower part of the shutter member 15 of the case body 21. That is, an opening that leads to the outside of the card reader 1 is formed in the lower portion of the shutter member 15 of the case body 21.

  As described above, at the time of standby before the card 2 is inserted from the insertion port 3, the shutter member 14 is in the closed position and closes the conveyance path 5. The shutter drive mechanism 70 drives the shutter member 14 based on the detection results of the magnetic sensors 17 and 18, the metal sensor 19, and the sensors 85 and 89 to move the shutter member 14 to the open position. Specifically, it is detected that the card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3 based on the detection result of the sensor 85, and the short direction of the card 2 matches the front-back direction based on the detection result of the sensor 89. Thus, the card 2 having the terminal portion 2b and the magnetic data recorded on the basis of the detection results of the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 and the metal sensor 19 is detected. When it is detected that the card is inserted from the one end 2d side of the card 2 with the back surface facing downward, the shutter drive mechanism 70 moves the shutter member 14 to the open position. That is, when it is detected that the regular card 2 is inserted from the insertion port 3 in the correct posture, the shutter drive mechanism 70 moves the shutter member 14 to the open position.

  When it is detected that the regular card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3 in the correct posture, the motor 39 is activated until the one end 2d of the card 2 hits the contact portion 66a of the positioning member 66. The transport mechanism 6 transports the card 2 to the back side. Thereafter, the motor 53 is activated, and the magnetic head 7 moves in the left-right direction while contacting the magnetic stripe 2a of the card 2 to read and record magnetic data. Further, the solenoid 63 is activated, and the IC contact spring 59 is brought into contact with the external connection terminal constituting the terminal portion 2 b of the card 2 to perform data communication with the card 2. In this embodiment, when the one end 2d of the card 2 hits the abutting portion 66a, the entire card 2 is taken into the back side of the shutter member 14, and the card 2 inserted from the insertion port 3 is taken as the shutter member. When the shutter member 14 is completely taken into the back side of 14, the shutter member 14 moves to the closed position and closes the conveyance path 5.

(Main effects of this form)
As described above, in the present embodiment, the card insertion portion 4 is capable of appearing in and out of the transport path 5 and capable of contacting the front surface or the back surface of the card 2, and the shutter member 15 to the transport path 5. And a sensor 85 for detecting the appearance state. Further, in this embodiment, the shutter member 15 is located at any position in the left-right direction when the card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3 so that the longitudinal direction of the card 2 coincides with the front-rear direction. The card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3 so that the inserted card 2 is in contact with the shutter member 15 and the width of the shutter member 15 (the width in the left-right direction) matches the longitudinal direction of the card 2. In this case, the inserted card 2 is set so as to come into contact with the shutter member 15 at any position in the left-right direction.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, as described above, not only when the card 2 is inserted from the insertion port 3 so that the short side direction and the front-rear direction of the card 2 coincide with each other, but also the longitudinal direction and the front-rear direction of the card 2 Even when the card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3 so that the two match, the shutter member 15 in the closed position moves to the open position, and the sensor 85 indicates that the shutter member 15 has moved to the open position. Detect. Therefore, in this embodiment, not only when the card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3 so that the short direction and the front-back direction of the card 2 match, but also the longitudinal direction of the card 2 matches the front-back direction. Even when the card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3, the sensor 85 can detect that the card 2 has been inserted from the insertion slot 3.

  In this embodiment, the card insertion unit 4 includes an insertion detection mechanism 16 that detects that the card 2 has been inserted from the insertion slot 3 so that the short side direction and the front-rear direction of the card 2 coincide. Therefore, in this embodiment, based on the detection result of the sensor 89 constituting the insertion detection mechanism 16, it is confirmed that the card 2 has been inserted from the insertion slot 3 so that the short direction of the card 2 matches the front-rear direction. Can be detected. In this embodiment, the sensor 89 does not detect that the card 2 has been inserted from the insertion slot 3 so that the short side direction and the front-rear direction of the card 2 coincide with each other, but the card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3. When the sensor 85 detects that the card 2 has been inserted, the card 2 has been inserted from the insertion slot 3 so that the longitudinal direction of the card 2 coincides with the front-rear direction based on the detection results of the sensors 85 and 89. Can be detected. Therefore, in this embodiment, based on the detection results of the sensors 85 and 89, whether the card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3 so that the short direction of the card 2 coincides with the front-rear direction, or the length of the card 2 It can be detected whether the card 2 has been inserted from the insertion slot 3 so that the direction matches the front-rear direction.

  In this embodiment, the card insertion unit 4 includes magnetic sensors 17 and 18 and a metal sensor 19. Therefore, based on the detection results of the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 and the detection result of the metal sensor 19, whether the regular card 2 having the terminal portion 2b and having magnetic data recorded therein is inserted from the insertion slot 3, or It becomes possible to determine whether a card other than the regular card 2 has been inserted from the insertion slot 3.

  In this embodiment, the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 sandwich the card 2 inserted from the insertion slot 3 in the vertical direction, and the lower surface of the card 2 inserted from the insertion slot 3 and the lower surface of the magnetic sensor 17 Is longer than the distance L12 between the lower surface of the card 2 inserted from the insertion port 3 and the upper surface of the magnetic sensor 18, and the upper surface of the card 2 inserted from the insertion port 3 and the lower surface of the magnetic sensor 17. The distance L13 is shorter than the distance L14 between the upper surface of the card 2 inserted from the insertion slot 3 and the upper surface of the magnetic sensor 18. Therefore, in this embodiment, as described above, the card 2 is inserted from the insertion port 3 with the back surface facing downward, or the card 2 is with the front surface facing downward. It is possible to detect whether it is inserted from the insertion port 3. In the present embodiment, as described above, whether the card 2 is inserted from the one end 2d side of the card 2 based on the detection results of the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 and the detection result of the metal sensor 19, or the card 2 can detect whether the card 2 is inserted from the other end 2e side.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the card having the terminal portion 2b and recording magnetic data based on the detection results of the sensors 85 and 89, the detection results of the magnetic sensors 17 and 18, and the detection result of the metal sensor 19. 2 can be detected as being inserted from the one end 2d side of the card 2 so that the short side direction coincides with the front-rear direction with the back side facing downward. That is, in this embodiment, it can be detected that the regular card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3 in the correct posture.

  In this embodiment, the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are arranged at positions that avoid the embossing region 2c of the card 2 inserted so that the short direction of the card 2 coincides with the front-rear direction in the left-right direction. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to reduce the distance between the card 2 passing through the transport path 5 and the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 in the vertical direction, and as a result, the detection accuracy of magnetic data by the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 is reduced. Can be increased. That is, when the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are arranged at a position overlapping the embossing region 2c in the vertical direction, the magnetic sensor 17 is embossed and protrudes on the front surface of the card 2 and the magnetic sensor 17. , 18, the distance between the card 2 passing through the transport path 5 and the magnetic sensors 17, 18 must be increased in the vertical direction, and the magnetic data is detected by the magnetic sensors 17, 18. The accuracy may be reduced. On the other hand, in this embodiment, it is possible to reduce the distance between the card 2 passing through the transport path 5 and the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 in the vertical direction. It becomes possible to improve the detection accuracy of the.

(Other embodiments)
The above-described embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  In the embodiment described above, the shutter member 15 is constituted by three rollers divided in the left-right direction. In addition to this, for example, the shutter member 15 may be configured by one roller or may be configured by two rollers divided in the left-right direction. Further, the shutter member 15 may be configured by four or more rollers divided in the left-right direction. In the above-described embodiment, the three rollers constituting the shutter member 15 are held by the shaft 81 so as to contact each other in the left-right direction, but the three rollers constituting the shutter member 15 are arranged in the left-right direction. The shaft 81 may be held with a predetermined gap. In this case, when the card 2 is inserted from the insertion port 3 so that the longitudinal direction of the card 2 coincides with the front-rear direction, the shutter member 15 is configured no matter where the card 2 is inserted in the left-right direction. The width of the roller is set and the roller is arranged at a predetermined position so that the card 2 inserted into at least one of the three rollers is in contact.

  In the embodiment described above, the shutter member 15 is a roller that can rotate with the left-right direction as the axis direction of rotation. In addition, for example, the shutter member 15 may be a block-shaped guide member that can be swung with the left-right direction as a swinging axial direction. Further, the shutter member 15 may be a block-shaped guide member fixed to the shaft holding member 82 or formed integrally with the shaft holding member 82. In this case, the shutter member 15 is formed of, for example, a resin material having excellent slidability.

  In the embodiment described above, the contact member 84 is disposed above the shutter member 15. In addition to this, for example, instead of the contact member 84, it is movable between a closed position for closing the conveyance path 5 and an open position for opening the conveyance path 5, and is attached to the lower side by a biasing member such as a spring. The shutter member to be biased may be disposed on the upper side of the shutter member 15. In this case, the card insertion portion 4 includes a sensor for detecting that the shutter member has moved to the open position. Further, in the above-described form, the shutter member 15 in the open position is retracted to the lower side of the transport path 5, but the shutter member 15 in the open position may be retracted to the upper side of the transport path 5. In the embodiment described above, the shutter member 14 in the open position is retracted to the lower side of the transport path 5, but the shutter member 14 in the open position may be retracted to the upper side of the transport path 5.

  In the embodiment described above, the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are arranged at positions avoiding the embossing region 2c of the card 2 inserted so that the lateral direction of the card 2 coincides with the front-rear direction in the left-right direction. In addition to this, for example, the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 may be arranged at a position overlapping the embossing region 2c of the card 2 inserted in the vertical direction so that the short direction of the card 2 coincides with the front-rear direction.

  In the above-described embodiment, the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are arranged so that the magnetic sensor 17 and the magnetic sensor 18 are completely overlapped when viewed from the vertical direction. The magnetic sensors 17 and 18 may be arranged so that a part of the part 17 and a part of the magnetic sensor 18 overlap. Further, the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 may be displaced from each other when viewed from the vertical direction. Moreover, in the form mentioned above, although the card insertion part 4 is provided with the two magnetic sensors 17 and 18, the card insertion part 4 is provided with only one of the two magnetic sensors 17 and 18. Also good.

  In the embodiment described above, the insertion detection mechanism 16 is configured by the detection lever 88, the optical sensor 89, and the like. In addition, for example, the insertion detection mechanism 16 may be configured by a detection lever 88 and a micro switch that detects the operation of the detection lever 88. Further, the insertion detection mechanism 16 may be configured by an optical sensor or the like having a light emitting element and a light receiving element that are arranged so as to sandwich a portion of the transport path 5 through which the card 2 passes. It may be configured by a micro switch or the like that is disposed at a position where the end portions in the longitudinal direction come into contact. The sensor 85 may be a micro switch or the like.

  In the form mentioned above, the card | curd conveyance mechanism 6 is comprised by the conveyance rollers 31-33, the pad rollers 34-36, etc. FIG. In addition to this, for example, the card transport mechanism 6 may be configured by a belt or the like that transports the card 2 in contact with the upper surface or the lower surface of the card 2. The card transport mechanism 6 may be configured by a gripping mechanism that grips the card 2 and a moving mechanism that moves the gripping mechanism in the front-rear direction.

  In the embodiment described above, the card 2 is a rectangular vinyl chloride card having a thickness of about 0.7 to 0.8 mm. In addition, for example, the card 2 may be a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) card having a thickness of about 0.18 to 0.36 mm, or a paper card having a predetermined thickness. Further, the card 2 may not include an IC chip. In this case, the card reader 1 may not include the IC contact block 9 and the metal sensor 19. In this case, for example, whether the card 2 is inserted from the one end 2d side of the card 2 based on the difference between the detection timing of the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 and the detection timing of the sensor 85 and / or the sensor 89. Alternatively, it may be detected whether the card 2 is inserted from the other end 2e side of the card 2.

  In the embodiment described above, the magnetic stripe 2 a is formed on the back surface of the card 2. In addition to this, for example, a magnetic stripe may be formed on the front surface of the card 2 instead of the back surface of the card 2 or in addition to the back surface of the card 2. For example, a magnetic stripe conforming to the standard of JISX6302 may be formed on the front surface of the card 2. When the magnetic stripe is formed only on the front surface of the card 2, the magnetic head 7 is disposed above the transport path 5. When a magnetic stripe is formed on the front surface of the card 2 in addition to the magnetic stripe 2a, the magnetic head 7 is disposed on both the upper side and the lower side of the transport path 5.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Card reader 2 Card 2c Embossing area | region 3 Insertion slot 4 Card insertion part 5 Conveyance path 15 Shutter member (card contact member)
16 Insertion detection mechanism 17, 18 Magnetic sensor 19 Metal sensor 85 Sensor (contact member sensor)
88 Detection lever (second card contact member)
89 Sensor (second contact member sensor)
U card longitudinal direction V card short direction X card transport direction Y transport path width direction Z card thickness direction

Claims (8)

In a card reader that transports and processes a card formed in a substantially rectangular shape in the short direction of the card,
While having a card insertion part in which the insertion slot of the card is formed, a conveyance path of the card connected to the insertion slot is formed,
The card insertion part detects the both ends of the card in the width direction of the transport path orthogonal to the card transport direction so that the short side direction of the card coincides with the card transport direction. An insertion detection mechanism for detecting insertion from the insertion slot, a card contact member capable of appearing in and out of the transport path and capable of contacting the front or back surface of the card, and the transport path of the card contact member A contact member sensor for detecting the state of appearance of
The card contact member is inserted at any position in the width direction of the transport path when the card is inserted from the insertion port so that the longitudinal direction of the card coincides with the transport direction of the card. However, the card reader is arranged at a position where the inserted card comes into contact. In a card reader that transports and processes a card formed in a substantially rectangular shape in the short direction of the card,
While having a card insertion part in which the insertion slot of the card is formed, a conveyance path of the card connected to the insertion slot is formed,
The card insertion part detects the both ends of the card in the width direction of the transport path orthogonal to the card transport direction so that the short side direction of the card coincides with the card transport direction. An insertion detection mechanism for detecting insertion from the insertion slot, a card contact member capable of appearing in and out of the transport path and capable of contacting the front or back surface of the card, and the transport path of the card contact member A contact member sensor for detecting the state of appearance of
The width of the card contact member in the width direction of the transport path is the width direction of the transport path when the card is inserted from the insertion slot so that the longitudinal direction of the card matches the transport direction of the card. The card reader is set so that the inserted card comes into contact with the card contact member no matter where the card is inserted.   The card reader according to claim 1, wherein the card insertion unit includes a magnetic sensor that detects that magnetic data is recorded on the card.   The card insertion unit includes the magnetic sensor disposed at least on one side of the transport path in the thickness direction of the card perpendicular to the transport direction of the card and the width direction of the transport path. The card reader according to claim 3.   The card reader according to claim 4, wherein the card insertion unit includes two magnetic sensors arranged so as to sandwich the card in a thickness direction of the card. The card is defined with an embossing area to be embossed,
The card reader according to claim 5, wherein the two magnetic sensors are arranged at positions avoiding the embossing region in the width direction of the transport path.   The card reader according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the card insertion unit includes a metal sensor that detects that an external connection terminal of an IC chip is fixed to the card. The insertion detection mechanism includes a second card contact member capable of appearing in and out of the transport path and capable of contacting an end portion of the card in a width direction of the transport path, and a state in which the second card contact member is in and out of the transport path. A second contact member sensor for detecting
The card reader according to claim 1, wherein the card contact member and the second card contact member are disposed at substantially the same position in the card transport direction.

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