JP2542752Y2 - Card feeding device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

Industrial Applicability The present invention is used for automatic toll issuing machines for toll roads, rearranging ticket issuing machines for parking lots, ticket vending machines, and the like. The present invention relates to a card feeding device for sequentially feeding sheets one by one.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a highway toll ticket (card) or the like, various information is magnetically recorded by printing in stripes with magnetic ink in addition to ordinary printing characters on the surface of paper. Automatic processing can be performed.
Thousands of such cards, so-called magnetic stripe type cards (cards printed with magnetic stripes), are stacked and stored in a card stacker in an apparatus (here, an automatic pass issuing machine), The cards are sent out one by one by a card feeding device.

As shown in FIG. 5, a roller (delivery roller) for delivering the card 1 by friction by contacting the surface of the card 1 is provided in the card delivery device.
In such a device, the card 1 is not sent out,
In order to prevent the double feed, it is required that the contact pressure, the contact area, and the contact position of the delivery roller 4 with the card 1 be appropriately maintained. However, it is difficult for the conventional card feeding device applied to an automatic toll issuing machine or the like to satisfy this demand as described below.

First, the magnetic stripe printed on the card 1 has a thickness of about several μ (microns) so that information can be reliably recorded. In other words, the card 1 having the magnetic stripe has the irregularities of several μ on the card surface. Such a card 1 is a card stacker 2 shown in FIG.
When thousands of sheets are stored in a stack, the total thickness of the magnetic stripe is several millimeters to several centimeters, the magnetic stripe surface swells, and the uppermost card is inclined by that thickness (total thickness) ( The figure shows a state in which only one card 1 is stored, so there is no inclination.)

In a state where the group of cards (the uppermost card surface) stacked and stored in the card stacker 2 is inclined, the delivery roller 4 cannot properly contact (closely contact) the surface of the uppermost card. There is a fear. The inclination angle of the surface of the uppermost card changes depending on the number of cards (remaining card amount). However, as in the conventional card feeder shown in FIG. 5, simply pressing the feed roller 4 vertically downward on the surface of the uppermost card causes a difference between the card surface and the feed roller 4 due to the inclination of the card. It is impossible to control (suppress) the rotational moment of the card generated by the change in the contact position. Therefore, in the related art, a rotational moment acts on the card fed by the feed roller 4 so that the straightness in the feeding direction is impaired, and the corner of the card tip has a relatively large angle with the card guide for guiding the card out of the apparatus. There was a risk of hitting. From the above, conventionally, there have been cases where the card is not sent out, the card is damaged, or two cards are sent out.

In the card stacker 2 shown in FIG. 5, a mounting table for mounting a group of cards 1 and an uppermost portion (which comes into contact with the delivery roller 4) by pushing the mounting table upward. In general, a spring mechanism is provided to make the height of the card 1 substantially constant regardless of the number of cards, but is omitted in FIG.

[0007]

As described above, in the conventional card feeding device, the cards stacked and stored in the card stacker are tilted by the thickness of the magnetic stripe.
Since the contact position between the surface of the uppermost card and the feed roller changes according to the tilt angle, there is a problem that a rotational moment acts on the card and the straightness in the card feed direction is impaired.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object the rotational moment acting on a card fed by a feed roller even if a group of cards stacked and stored in a card stacker is inclined due to the thickness of a magnetic stripe. An object of the present invention is to provide a card feeding device capable of minimizing the magnitude of the card displacement caused by the above, keeping the straightness in the card feeding direction as much as possible, and reliably feeding the card.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a card feeding device which can maintain the straightness in the card feeding direction by canceling the rotational moment acting on the card fed by the feeding roller, thereby reliably feeding the card. It is in.

Still another object of the present invention is that the contact position between the surface of the card to be fed and the feed roller can be made substantially constant irrespective of the inclination of the card, so that the card can always be fed stably. A card feeding device is provided.

[0011]

According to the present invention, (a) a rotating moment acts on a tilted card to be sent out (the uppermost card in a group of cards stacked and stored in a card stacker) by a feeding roller. (B) the gap (distance) between the card to be fed and the card guide (the guide piece thereof) increases as the card inclination increases.
(C) Paying attention to the fact that the larger the gap is, the larger the displacement amount (rotation angle) of the card due to the rotational moment is, and to narrow the gap between the card guide and the card when the card is tilted, The guide has a structure (first structure) bent in accordance with the inclination of the card.

Also, the present invention focuses on the fact that a tilted card impairs the straightness in the feeding direction due to the rotational moment, and the recording medium (magnetic stripe) is printed on the opposite side to the direction in which the rotational moment acts. A correction roller for holding the straight running is provided at a portion corresponding to the card side end, and the correction roller presses the corresponding portion (side end) of the card, thereby canceling the rotational moment acting on the card by the feeding roller. structure (second structure) above which
It is also characterized in that the structure is combined with the first structure (third structure).

Further, according to the present invention, of a pair of presser spring mechanisms provided on both sides of the feed roller for pressing the roller against the surface of the card to be fed, the presser spring mechanism on the same side as the direction in which the rotational moment acts is used. A feature is also provided in which a structure in which the feed roller is inclined by following the card inclination by setting the pressing force large is added to either the first or third structure.

[0014]

According to the above construction, a card guide portion on the opposite side to the direction in which the rotational moment acts due to the inclination of the card (a guide piece closer to the recording medium printing position of the card group).
Is bent in accordance with the inclination of the card, so that even if the inclination of the card is large, the gap d between the card guide and the card can be kept as narrow as when there is no inclination of the card (the card is horizontal). it can. Now, the displacement of the card due to the rotational moment acting on the inclined card sent out by the sending-out roller is regulated by the card guide to the gap d or less with the card. Therefore, even if the inclination of the card is large, the value of d can be kept narrow as in the case where the card is horizontal. In the present invention, the displacement of the card due to the rotational moment can be minimized.

According to the above arrangement, the side end of the card, to which the rotational moment is given by the feed roller due to the inclination of the card, on the side opposite to the direction of the rotational moment (side end on the recording medium printing position side). Is pressed by the correction roller, so that the rotational moment given by the delivery roller can be canceled out (absorbed), and the delivered card can go straight.

Further, according to the above configuration, of the pair of pressing spring mechanisms provided on both sides of the feed roller, the card is inclined (the side opposite to the recording medium printing position), that is, the uppermost position regardless of the number of cards. Since the pressing force of the pressing spring mechanism on the side where the height of the card is substantially constant is set to be large, it is possible to improve the followability of the delivery roller to the inclination of the card.

[0017]

1 shows the structure of a card feeding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 (a) is a sectional view and FIG. 1 (b) is a plan view. The same parts as those in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 1, a guide path for guiding the uppermost card 1 delivered by the delivery roller 4 to the outside of the apparatus is formed above the card stacker 2 in which a number of cards 1 are stored in a stacked manner. The card guide 3 is provided continuously. The card guide 3 regulates a guide piece (hereinafter, referred to as an L guide) 3a for restricting a movement of the card 1 sent out by the feed roller 4 to the left in the sending direction P, and a rightward movement. (Hereinafter, referred to as an R guide) 3b.

The card 1 has a card feeding direction P
On the left end side, a stripe-shaped recording medium (hereinafter, referred to as a magnetic stripe) 1a having a thickness of about several μm is printed with, for example, magnetic ink. For this reason, when a large number of cards 1 are stacked and stored in the card stacker 2, the uppermost card 1 is inclined to the side without the magnetic stripe 1a. Of course, when the number of cards 1 stored in the card stacker 2 is small, even the uppermost card 1 is almost horizontal. FIG. 1A shows the uppermost card 1
Only the two states of the card 1 being inclined and being horizontal are shown. The lower card group of the uppermost card 1, the mounting table for mounting these card groups, and the upper card 1 (which comes into contact with the feed roller 4) by pushing the mounting table upward. A spring mechanism or the like for making the height substantially constant regardless of the number of cards is omitted.

When the uppermost card 1 is taken out in the direction P by the feed roller 4 and sent to the card guide 3 while the uppermost card 1 is inclined, as shown in FIG. A rotational moment C is applied in the direction of inclination (here, the right direction, that is, the direction toward the R guide 3b). As a result, the fed card 1 is rotated (rotated) and displaced toward the R guide 3b side as shown in FIG.
And the right end thereof abuts on the point E of the R guide 3b. At this time, the angle of contact is the card guide 3
The larger the gap A between (the L guide 3a) and the card 1, the larger the gap A becomes. The greater the angle, the greater the impact when hitting the R guide 3b, so that the card 1 is liable to be damaged such as being scratched. However, the above gap A
1 becomes larger as the inclination of the card 1 is larger, as is clear from FIG.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, in order to keep the gap between the card guide 3 (the L guide 3a thereof) and the card guide 3 when the card 1 is inclined as narrow as in the horizontal state, the L guide 3a of the card guide 3 is formed. The portion 3c excluding the front portion is bent in accordance with the inclination of the card 1. It is preferable that the bent shape of this portion (hereinafter referred to as a bent portion) 3c is a curve, but in this embodiment, a bent structure is used as shown in FIG. 1A in consideration of productivity and cost.

With such a structure of the novel card guide 3 having the bent portion 3c in the L guide 3a, the gap between the card 1 and the card guide 3 (the L guide 3a thereof) when the card is tilted is narrowed, and Suitability value B can be used. As a result, even if a rotational moment is given to the inclined card 1 by the feed roller 4, the amount of displacement of the card 1 toward the R guide 3b is small because the gap B between the card 1 and the bent portion 3c of the L guide 3a is narrow. And the angle at which the right end of the card 1 abuts on the point E of the R guide 3b is smaller than in the prior art. In other words, the rotation (rotation) of the card 1 can be suppressed by the bent portion 3c of the L guide 3a, and the rotation (rotation) of the card 1 can be stopped.

As described above, according to the card feeding device having the structure shown in FIG. 1, since the rotation of the card 1 can be minimized, the leading end of the card 1 can be applied with a large force to the R guide 3b (point E). The card 1 can be prevented from being damaged by hitting it, and the card 1 can be made to proceed substantially straight in the P direction shown in FIG.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The structure shown in FIG. 3 is different from the structure shown in FIG.
(B) It is possible to more reliably perform the straight traveling in the P direction shown in FIG. The correction roller 5 shown in FIG.
The pressing roller 4 shown in FIG. 1 presses the end (left end) of the card 1 sent to the card guide 3 on the side of the magnetic stripe 1a to correct the sending direction.

The card 1 delivered to the card guide 3 by the delivery roller 4 shown in FIG. 1 is rotated in the direction indicated by G in FIG. 3b), and may be pressed against the point I of the R guide 3b. However, in the structure shown in FIG. 3, since the end (left end) of the card 1 sent to the card guide 3 on the side of the magnetic stripe 1a is pressed by the correction roller 5, the traveling direction of the card 1 is G direction (R guide). 3b) is corrected to a direction H (a direction coinciding with the direction P in FIG. 1B). As a result, the force with which the right end of the card 1 is pressed against the point I of the R guide 3b can be significantly reduced.
Along the H direction.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The structure shown in FIG. 4 is to keep the contact position between the card surface and the feed roller 4 constant by making the tilt of the feed roller 4 follow the tilt of the card 1. Therefore, in the structure shown in FIG. 4, in addition to the card guide 3 having a novel structure as shown in FIG. 1, a novel pressing spring mechanism described below is provided.

First, in the card feeding device shown in FIG.
A pair of well-known pressing springs 6a and 6b having the same urging force for pressing the pressing force directly below the surface are provided on a suitable supporting member. With this structure alone, Card 1
The contact position between the surface of the sheet and the feed roller 4 changes depending on the inclination of the card. Therefore, in the present embodiment, focusing on the fact that the height (position) of the uppermost card 1 on the card inclination side becomes substantially constant irrespective of the inclination angle, a holding spring 7 is further added to the holding spring 6b on the inclination side. The pressing force applied downward from both sides (left and right) of the feed roller 4 is set to be higher on the inclined side (right side) (conventionally, the pressing force on the left and right sides is the same).

According to the structure shown in FIG. 4, when the number of cards 1 stacked and stored in the card stacker 2 is extremely large and the inclination angle of the cards 1 is large, the force for pushing up the group of cards 1 is large. The sum of the pressing force of the pressing spring 6b and the pressing force of the pressing spring 7 acting on the inclined side of the feed roller 4 increases. As a result, the feed roller 4 also tilts to the tilt side following the card tilt angle. On the other hand, when the number of cards 1 stacked and stored in the card stacker 2 has a small card inclination angle (when the card 1 is almost horizontal), the pressing force of the pressing spring 6b and the pressing spring 7 is reduced. The sum is also small, and the delivery roller 4 is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the card 1.

As described above, the feed roller 4 follows the card tilt angle which changes according to the number of cards in the group stacked and stored in the card stacker 2 and changes its inclination. The contact position between the front surface and the feed roller 4 is almost constant regardless of the inclination of the card. Therefore, the feeding roller 4 can stably and reliably send out the card 1 in a constant direction regardless of whether the card 1 is inclined or horizontal. This delivery is more stable by adding the structure of the present embodiment (third embodiment) to the structure of the first embodiment, the structure of the second embodiment, or the structure combining the structures of both embodiments. You can do it.

[0030]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the card guide portion on the opposite side to the direction in which the rotational moment acts due to the card inclination is bent in accordance with the card inclination. Even if large, the gap between the card guide and the card is not tilted (the card is horizontal)
As in the case, it can be kept narrow, so the magnitude of card displacement due to the rotating moment acting on the card is minimized, and the straightness in the card feeding direction is maintained as much as possible,
Card feeding can be performed reliably.

Further, according to the present invention, a correction roller for holding the straight running is provided at a portion corresponding to the end of the card opposite to the direction in which the rotational moment acts, and the correction roller applies a corresponding portion (side end) to the card. Because of the structure that presses the card portion, the rotation moment acting on the card by the delivery roller can be canceled, the straightness in the card delivery direction can be maintained, and the card delivery can be reliably performed.

According to the present invention, of the pressing forces applied downward from both sides of the delivery roller, the pressing side on the side where the cards are inclined, that is, the side where the height of the uppermost card is substantially constant regardless of the number of cards. Since the force is larger, the followability of the feed roller to the card tilt is improved, and the contact position between the card surface and the feed roller can be made almost constant regardless of the card tilt. It can always be performed stably.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a main part structure of a card feeding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining card movement due to a rotational moment acting on the card.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a main part structure of a card feeding device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a main part structure of a card feeding device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a structure of a conventional card feeding device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Card, 1a ... Magnetic stripe, 2 ... Card stacker, 3 ... Card guide, 3a ... L guide, 3b ... R guide, 3c ... Bending part, 4 ... Sending roller, 5 ... Correction roller, 6a, 6b, 7 ... Presser spring.

Claims (3)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A card stacker which is stored in a stacker,
In a card feeding device for feeding a card having a stripe-shaped recording medium printed on one side end thereof one by one from an uppermost portion by pressing a sending roller, for guiding a card sent by the sending roller out of the device. Having a pair of spaced-apart guide pieces for restricting lateral movement, of which a pair of guide pieces is located at a recording medium printing position of a card group stacked and stored in the card stacker. The guide piece on the near side,
A card guide bent in accordance with the inclination of the upper part of the card group, wherein when the card group is inclined due to the thickness of the recording medium, the upper card and the recording medium printing position side guide piece A card feeding device characterized in that the interval is not widened. 2. It is stored in a stack in a card stacker,
In a card feeding device for feeding a card having a stripe-shaped recording medium printed on one side end thereof one by one from an uppermost portion by pressing a sending roller, for guiding a card sent by the sending roller out of the device. Having a pair of spaced-apart guide pieces for restricting lateral movement, of which a pair of guide pieces is located at a recording medium printing position of a card group stacked and stored in the card stacker. The guide piece on the near side,
A card guide bent in accordance with the inclination of the upper part of the card group, and a correction roller for holding straight ahead which presses out the recording medium printing position side end of the card sent out by the sending roller and sends it out. When the card group is inclined under the influence of the thickness of the recording medium, the interval between the upper card and the recording medium printing position side guide piece is prevented from expanding,
A card feeding device wherein the rotational moment given to the card by the feeding roller is canceled by the correction roller. 3. A pair of pressing spring mechanisms on both sides of the feed roller for pressing the rollers against the uppermost part of the card group, and the pressing spring mechanism on the side opposite to the recording medium printing position side. 2. The feeding roller is tilted by following the tilt of the upper part of the card group by setting a large pressing force of the roller.
Alternatively, the card feeding device according to claim 2 .