JP2575282Y2 - Card reader device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to a card reader device provided with an optical detection element unit.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, a magnetic card reader is a typical example of a card reader.

This type of magnetic card reader device is arranged on both sides of a transport path, and is optically arranged opposite to a guide section for guiding both sides of a magnetic card to be transported via the transport path and detecting the position and presence or absence of the magnetic card. And a target detection element section. The guide has a gap slightly larger than the thickness of the magnetic card (about 1 mm or less), and guides the edge of the magnetic card through this gap. The optical detection element has a gap (2 to 3 mm) wider than the thickness of the magnetic card, and is mounted so as not to hinder the conveyance of the magnetic card.

The optical detecting element used in the conventional magnetic card reader device includes a light emitting element,
Both the light receiving elements are of an open type.

However, although this optical detection element is partly dust-proof, it is only protected by a transparent case over the conventional type. Therefore, this type of magnetic card reader device has dust and dirt on the gap between the optical detection elements.
Foreign matter such as dust easily adheres, and as a result, the optical detection function is deteriorated by relics.

In order to eliminate such inconveniences, there has been proposed an improved magnetic card reader of the conventional type as shown in the side view of FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, in the improved magnetic card reader device, the frame 5 has transport rollers 1a, 1a ', 1b, 1b', 1c ', 1c' extending in the width direction of the transport path.
Card guide portions 2a, 2a which are provided on both sides of the transport path so as to be opposed to each other with a gap 6 slightly larger than the thickness of the magnetic card, and guide the both sides of the magnetic card by the gap 6.
′, 2b, 2b ′, 2c, 2c ′ and guide parts 2a, 2a ′, 2b, 2b ′, 2c, 2c
And optical detection element sections 3a, 3a ', 3b having a gap for preventing the movement of the magnetic card guided and conveyed by the guide sections 2a, 2a', 2b, 2b ', 2c, 2c'. , 3b 'are adjusted and positioned in the same gap, respectively, and are continuously arranged. When a foreign substance adheres to the gap of the optical detection element portion, it is pushed out by a magnetic card.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view showing a portion where the optical detection element portion of FIG. 3 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 4, when a step is generated in the joint surface between the card guide portion and the optical detection element portion due to a difference in dimensional accuracy or a defective mounting, and a discontinuous surface is generated, something as shown in the drawing is performed. When the bent card 4 'is inserted due to the cause of the above, the edge of the bent portion of the magnetic card 4' collides with the step 7 and adversely affects the transmission and reception of information on the magnetic card. In this case, the magnetic card 4 'cannot be ejected from the magnetic card reader. In this case, the guide part and the optical detection element part are configured as separate units, respectively.
Alignment of the card guide surfaces of these separate parts depends greatly on the dimensional accuracy of each part, and it is very difficult to provide perfect continuity of the card guide surfaces.

On the other hand, if a slight misalignment causes a step similar to that described above between the optical element portion and the guide portion and a partially discontinuous surface occurs, for example, the inserted magnetic card may be bent due to some factor. In this case, the edge portion of the magnetic card collides with the discontinuous surface, causing a reading error or the like. In the worst case, the magnetic card cannot be moved and the magnetic card is taken out. You may have to disassemble the card reader.

Therefore, a technical problem of the present invention is to provide a card reader device which can easily remove foreign substances adhering to an optical element and does not cause a card reading error or blockage in order to eliminate these disadvantages. is there.

[Means for Solving the Problems] According to the present invention, a guide portion having guide surfaces opposed to each other at an interval slightly larger than the thickness of a conveyed card, and detecting passage of the card at the guide portion A card reader having an optical detection element provided to perform the operation, wherein at least a portion of the guide on the optical path by the optical detection element is formed of a translucent material, and The guide surface is formed integrally with the guide surface, and the facing surface at the horizontal position corresponding to the portion on the optical path of the guide surface is formed as a continuous smooth surface, and the distance between the facing surfaces is smaller than the distance between the guide surfaces. A card reader device characterized by having a structure larger than the thickness of the card is obtained.

[Operation] In the card reader device of the present invention, when the card passes through the guide surface at a position corresponding to the optical detection element of the guide portion, since the guide surface is formed as a smooth surface, it is bent. No clogging due to the card or the like occurs, and dust and dirt on the opposing surface having translucency are removed at the edge of the card.

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

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view showing a main part of a magnetic card reader device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a plurality of pairs of rollers 1a, 1a ', 1b, 1b', which extend in the width direction of the transport path and face each other via the transport path,
1c, 1c 'and card guide portions 2a, 2a' made of polycarbonate or the like, which are vertically opposed to each other on both sides of the magnetic card transport path, are arranged. The gap 6 between the card guides 2a, 2a 'is formed slightly larger than the thickness of the magnetic card 4. In addition, card guide section 2
Light-emitting elements 3a, 3b (or,
3a ', 3b') and optical detection element sections composed of light receiving elements 3a ', 3b' (or 3a, 3b) are installed facing each other via card guide sections 2a, 2a '.

The rollers 1a, 1a ', 1b, 1b', 1c, 1c 'take the magnetic card 4 into a magnetic card reader and slide it relative to a magnetic head (not shown). The exchange of information is performed.

The operation principle of the magnetic card reader device according to the embodiment of the present invention in such a configuration will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 1, if the card guide portion surface side of the guide portions 2a, 2a 'is a completely continuous surface, even if a bent card is inserted or a card is inserted, the card may collide. Even when foreign matter such as dust and dust adheres, the dust is removed at the edge portion such as the tip of the magnetic card 4.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an optical detection portion of the magnetic card reader device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the portion where the optical detecting element portion is installed is provided with a flat protruding portion 8a having a larger cross-sectional area than the optical detecting element portion cross section on the opposing surfaces of the guide portions 2a and 2a '. , 8
a 'is formed. The portion other than the portion where the optical detection element is provided has the same structure as the magnetic card reader according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. In such a structure, there is a possibility that dust and dirt may adhere to the guide surface on which the guide surface optical element is located, that is, the protrusions 8a and 8a ', further than the magnetic card reader device according to the first embodiment described above. Is lower than in the first embodiment.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, even if a bent card cannot be detected and a bent card is inserted due to foreign matter generated in the card reader device and attached to the optical detection element portion, a smooth guide surface can be obtained. Because of this configuration, defects such as card jams can be prevented, and no adjustment is required at the time of assembly, so that a card reader device that is very advantageous in terms of cost can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view showing a main part of a magnetic card reader device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an optical detection portion of the magnetic card reader device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an improved configuration of the conventional system,
FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view showing a portion provided with the optical detection element unit of FIG. In the figure, 1a, 1a ', 1b, 1b', 1c, 1c '... Roller, 2a, 2a' ...
Guide part, 3a, 3b, 3a ', 3b', light emitting element or light receiving element, 4 magnetic card, 5 frame, 6 gap, 8a, 8a '
... Projection.

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A guide portion having guide surfaces facing each other at a distance slightly larger than the thickness of a card to be conveyed, and an optical detection element provided for detecting passage of the card in the guide portion. And at least a portion of the guide portion on the optical path by the optical detection element portion is formed of a light-transmitting material and is formed integrally with the guide portion, and The opposing surface at the horizontal position corresponding to the portion on the optical path of the surface is formed as a continuous smooth surface, and the distance between the opposing surfaces is
A card reader device having a structure smaller than the distance between the guide surfaces and larger than the thickness of the card.