JP2833723B2 - Card reader - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card reader for reading a mark, a hole, or a magnetic record recorded on a card as a signal, and more particularly to a card reader for reading a long card mark or the like. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a data input device such as a control device such as a program timer, a card reader described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-45686 and a Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No.
No. 8820 discloses a card reader. However, in the mark reading section that reads the mark of the card, a thin and long transparent glass is provided in front of a small element in which the light source (light emitting element) and the light receiving element (light receiving element) are closely integrated,
In some cases, a member having a plurality of slits is provided.

[0003] However, misalignment between the small element and the slit occurs, and a slit is provided in one member for a plurality of small elements, so that means for pressing the card from the small element side can be provided. Did not. further,
If the mark surface of the card is smoother than the wavelength, the direction of the incident wave (normal to the wavefront) and the surface including the normal to the boundary surface (incident surface) match, and the mirror surface where the incident angle and the reflection angle are equal Causes reflection. The carbon particles in the core of recent pencils have become finer,
Often, the marks on the card also have a specular reflection, resulting in no mark (light is not absorbed).

[0004]

As described above, in the conventional card reader, the readability is poor because the gap between the small element and the slit, the reading failure due to specular reflection, or the card cannot be pressed by the reading unit. There was a problem of becoming. The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has a structure in which one sensor cap is provided for one small element, positioning of the small element and the sensor cap is provided, and each small element and the sensor cap are provided. It is intended to provide a card reader aiming at eliminating the deviation and improving the readability of the mark.

[0005]

According to the present invention, a card insertion slot for inserting a card, a guide rib for guiding conveyance of the inserted card, a card guide curved to face the guide rib, and a card guide are provided. The card transport path is composed of the card
A feed roller block Send, Te card reader odor having a plurality of mark reading unit to read the marks of the card in the middle of the card transport path, both elements composed of a light emitting element and the light receiving element are integrated close in one small element
Composes one mark reading unit and feeds small elements
Reading of the mark reading part on the side facing the rubber lock
Mark the sensor cap with the opening to narrow the range.
The feed roller block and mark
Between the feed roller block and
The holding spring for holding the door is arranged .

According to the present invention, the light emitting element of the small element and the opening of the sensor cap are arranged on a plane perpendicular to the mounting surface of the small element. According to the third aspect, a plurality of small elements are arranged in a row in the horizontal direction, and a card pressing spring for holding a card is arranged between adjacent small elements. In claim 4, one side of the card pressing spring is a free end.

[0007] In 請 Motomeko 5, to form a plurality of spring pieces, are integrally constituting the card holding spring connecting the ends of the spring piece. In a sixth aspect , a plurality of mark reading units are provided to face one feed roller, and a card pressing spring that presses a card between the mark reading units and toward the feed roller from the mark reading unit is disposed. .

[0008]

The sensor cap is provided for each small element.
As a result, multiple small devices can be
Compared with the case of arranging one member with the number of slits
The gap between the small element and the sensor cap can be eliminated.
And radiation from small-sized light-emitting devices and cards
The optical path of the reflected light from
Area to limit the mark reading range.
And feed roller block and card holding spring
The card is conveyed while being held down,
The distance from the mark is kept constant, and the readability of the mark can be improved. According to the second aspect, the light-emitting element of the small element and the opening of the sensor cap are arranged on a plane perpendicular to the mounting surface of the small element, thereby preventing mirror reflection by the mark described on the card. In addition, the readability of the mark can be improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a plurality of small elements are arranged in a row in the horizontal direction, and a card pressing spring for holding the card is arranged between adjacent small elements, so that the deflection of the card is eliminated and the mark is read. improve sexual, especially, to face the reading unit, Ru can be arranged feed roller.

[0010] According to claim 4, that is a free end on one side of the card pressing spring, it can reduce the variation in the card feeding force due to variations in components, and can also reduce variations in pinching force during card insertion. Claim 5
Then, by forming a plurality of spring pieces and connecting the ends of the spring pieces to form an integral card holding spring,
Variations in the holding force of the card holding spring can be reduced,
Therefore, variation in the card feeding force can be reduced.

Furthermore, in claim 6, in opposition to one feed roller of a plurality of mark reading unit, a between the mark reading unit, pressing the card hold the card feed roller side from the mark reading unit spring By disposing the card, the card can be conveyed without soiling the reading surface of the mark reading part and the mark part of the card, and the card can be prevented from swinging at the mark reading position, thereby improving the readability of the mark. .

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a card type program timer using the card reader of the present invention. The main body 1 of the card type program timer can be mounted on a rack by mounting a rack mount fitting 2.

An opening is provided in the front of the main body 1 so that the card reader panel 3 is fitted therein.
The card reader panel 3 may be formed integrally with a panel on the front of the main body 1. The card 4 is inserted through a card insertion slot 5 provided at an upper part of the card reader panel 3 and comes out from a card outlet 6 at a lower part. As will be described later, when the card 4 is inserted from the card slot 5, the program timer of this embodiment detects the card 4 by a sensor, the motor starts rotating, the card 4 starts to be fed, and the mark written on the card 4 Is read and stored as a program.

The sensor detects that the card 4 has passed, stops the rotation of the motor, and stops the card 4. The stopped card 4 is curved by a guide formed on the card reader panel 3 and a curved guide provided on the card reader block, and is held without being ejected by the elasticity of the card 4. After the card reading is completed, the card 4 is stored in the card storage drawer 7 and stored. On the front panel 8 of the main body 1, a time display section 9,
There are other operation buttons, switch knob openings,
The display can be visually recognized and switches can be operated.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the card reader.
As described above, the card insertion slot 5 is provided in the upper part of the card reader panel 3, and the card outlet 6 is provided in the lower part. A fixing piece 10 is integrally provided on the upper surface of the card reader panel 3 and is screwed and fixed to the main body 1 by a fixing screw 11. Bosses 1 are provided on both sides of the card reader panel 3.
2, the boss 12 has a screw hole 12a.
(FIG. 4) is provided. The card reader base 13 mounted on the back side of the card reader panel 3 is formed in a U-shape, and mounting pieces 14 are provided above and below the side pieces 13a and 13b.
Are cut and raised. The card reader base 13 is attached to the card reader panel 3 by screwing the screw 15 into the screw hole 12a of the boss 12 through the hole of the attachment piece 14.

A card guide 16 screwed to the inner surface of the card reader base 13 is bent in a substantially semicircular shape, and a mounting piece 17 is cut and raised. Then, the fixing screw 18 is inserted into the hole of the mounting piece 17 to insert the card reader base 1.
The card guide 16 is attached to the card reader base 13 by being screwed into the third screw hole 19. Although the card reader panel 3 is a separate component from the front panel 8 of the main body 1, the front panel 8 of the main body 1 may be provided with a card insertion slot 5 provided in the card reader panel 3.

On the back of the card reader panel 3,
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a large number of guide ribs 20 having a curved shape facing the curved surface of the card guide 16 are integrally arranged. The card insertion slot 5 is located above the guide rib 20, and the card ejection slot 6 is located below the guide rib 20. Further, a notch portion 22 for escape of the feed roller block 21 is formed in a central portion of each guide rib 20.

The card guide 16 has a smooth curved surface so that a card transport path can be formed from the card insertion slot 5 of the card reader panel 3 to the card outlet 6. Also, the sensor cap 23 and the card holding spring 2
A plurality of openings 25 are provided in the card guide 16 so that the card 4 can directly face or contact the card 4. Further, a groove 2 is formed on the inner surface of the card guide 16 along the transport direction so that the mark written on the card 4 does not contact the card guide surface.
6 are formed in a plurality of lines. The groove 26 minimizes the contact between the mark and the card guide 16 as much as possible.

The card 4 bends when the tip of the card 4 reaches the opening 25 at the card outlet side of the opening 25 for the sensor cap 23 and the card pressing spring 24, and the card outlet of the opening 25. A card rake portion 27 is formed by bending a part of the card guide 16 so that the end of the card 4 is scooped up at the side end. The card guide 16, the wheel train substrate block 28, and the card pressing spring 2 are provided on the card reader base 13 formed in a substantially U-shape.
4. Sensor cap 23, printed circuit board block 29
Is fixed. A bearing 31 of a feed roller shaft 30 of the feed roller block 21 is formed on one side piece 13a of the card reader base 13, and an opening 32 for mounting the feed roller block 21 is formed on the other side piece 13b. It is set up.

The card guide 16 is provided on the card reader base 1.
3 is fixed inside. Therefore, the transport path of the card 4 is
A card insertion slot 5 formed in the card reader panel 3,
Guide rib 2 formed on the back side of card reader panel 3
0, the curved surface of the card guide 16 and the card reader base 1
3 is formed by the inner surfaces of both side pieces 13a and 13b and the card outlet 6 of the card reader panel 3.

The card pressing spring 24 is fixed to the back of the card reader base 13 with screws 33, and the spring piece 24a of the pressing spring 24 bent in a substantially rectangular shape is used as the card reader base 1.
3, the opening 25 of the card guide 16 through the opening 34
It is located in. The sensor cap 23 is also fixed to the back of the card reader base 13. Wheel train board block 2 arranged and fixed on side piece 13b of card reader base 13
Reference numeral 8 denotes a train wheel substrate 35, a motor 36 fixed to the train wheel substrate 35, a gear train 37, and the like. A gear train 38 that supports the gear train 37 and a bearing 40 of the feed roller shaft 30 of the feed roller block 21 are formed on the wheel train substrate 35.

One side piece 13a of the card reader base 13
Bearing 31 of the feed roller shaft 30 formed in the
Positioning portions (not shown) are provided on the card reader base 13 and the train wheel substrate 35 so that the bearings 40 of the fifth feed roller shaft 30 are arranged on the same straight line. Also, the card holding spring 24 is positioned so that the position of the card holding spring 24 is determined.
And a card reader base 13 are provided with a positioning portion (not shown).

The printed board block 27 includes a printed board 41, a mark sensor base 42, a mark sensor 43,
It is composed of an electronic circuit for performing signal processing. A mark sensor base 42 is provided on one surface of the printed circuit board 41 in order to make the distance between the mark sensor 43 and the card 4 appropriate. Electronic components constituting an electronic circuit are mounted on the other surface of the printed board 41.

The mounting pieces 4 are provided above and below the card reader base 13.
4 is formed by cutting and raising, and a screw 45 is screwed into a screw hole of the mounting piece 44 so that the printed circuit board block 29 is formed.
Is fixed. Feed roller block 2
Reference numeral 1 denotes a feed roller shaft 30, a plurality of feed rollers 46 mounted on the feed roller shaft 30, a retaining ring 47 including an E-ring mounted on an end of the feed roller shaft 30 and stopping the feed roller 46, and the like. It is configured. Also, the feed roller 4
A groove is formed on the peripheral surface of the O-ring 4.
8 is attached.

The feed roller block 21 is arranged inside the card guide 16. Also, feed roller block 2
To mount the card reader base 13, the card guide 16 is fixed to the card reader base 13, and then the gear mounting side of the feed roller block 21 is inserted into the opening 32 of the card reader base 13 from the inside. Bearing 31 of side piece 13a
, One end of the feed roller shaft 30 is inserted.

Then, the other end of the feed roller shaft 30 is inserted into the bearing 40 of the train wheel substrate 35, and the train wheel substrate block 28 is fixed to the card reader base 13 to complete the process. Here, the O-ring 48 of the feed roller block 21 and the spring piece 24a of the card pressing spring 24 are arranged to face each other. Although the ends of the spring pieces 24a of the holding spring 24 are connected integrally, the ends of the spring pieces 24a may be cut off to be free ends.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the card reader. The program card 4 is inserted from the card insertion slot 5 with the mark entry side facing up. The card 4 is bent by the card guide 16 and the guide rib 20 formed on the card reader panel 3 while the O of the feed roller block 21 is bent.
The ring 48 and the spring piece 24a of the card pressing spring 24 reach near the portion where they face each other.

Further, when the card 4 is inserted, the card pressing spring 24 is pushed up and moves toward the card outlet 6. The detection of the card 4 is performed by arranging a sensor (not shown) for detecting the card 4 at a position slightly closer to the card insertion slot 5 than the position of the normal mark sensor 43. Therefore, when the card 4 reaches near the portion where the O-ring 48 and the spring piece 24a of the card pressing spring 24 face each other, the motor 36 starts rotating and the card 4 is conveyed. A point where the O-ring 48 of the feed roller block 21 and the spring piece 24a of the card pressing spring 24 come into contact with each other;
The mark reading opening of the sensor cap 23 is arranged on a plane including the center line of the feed roller shaft 30.

Therefore, the card 4 at the mark reading position
And the readability of the mark is greatly improved. In particular, the deflection near the front end and the rear end of the card 4 is small. Furthermore, the tip of the sensor cap 23 (the portion including the mark reading opening) is positioned closer to the mark sensor 43 than the surface on which the card pressing spring 24 has pressed the card 4. The tip of the sensor cap 23 does not come into contact.

The card 36 detects the motor 36
Rotates and the card 4 is conveyed, and when the rear end of the card 4 passes the position of the card detection sensor, the rotation of the motor 36 stops. The card 4 has a guide rib 20 of the card reader panel 3 and a card guide 16 due to the elasticity of the card 4.
Stop at the curved transport path. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the card reader, and is a perspective view of the block in which the printed circuit board block 29 is attached to the card reader base 13 as viewed from the printed circuit board block 29 side before being incorporated into the card reader panel 3.

The side pieces 13 on both sides of the card reader base 13
The inner surfaces of the card reader base 13 are formed in parallel, and the tip portions of the side pieces 13a and 13b of the card reader base 13 are fitted into grooves 49 formed on both sides of the card reader panel 3. . The groove 49 is opened at the positions of the card insertion slot 5 and the card outlet 6, and the inside of the parallel surface of the side pieces 13a and 13b of the card reader base 13 is exposed to form a card guide surface. . Except for the width of the card insertion slot 5 and the card slot 6, the width of the card guide 16 is
It is determined by the dimension of the root of the parallel surface of the groove 49 and the side pieces 13a and 13b.

As described above, the card insertion slot 5 and the card 4
Roller shaft 30 of the feed roller block 21 for transporting
Planes parallel to each other, that is, the card reader base 13
Surface of both side pieces 13a, 13b of the guide rib 20
A card conveying path is formed by the card guide 16 curved to face the guide rib 20 and the card outlet 6, so that the guide rib 20 serves as an inner guide, and the curved surface of the card guide 16 serves as an outer guide. Roller block 2
Card reader bases 1 parallel to each other
By guiding both sides of the card 4 with the surfaces of the both side pieces 13a and 13b, it is possible to prevent the card from being unable to be inserted or to stop the card during transportation, and to configure the transportation path of the card 4 with a small number of parts. As a result, deviation of the card guide entrance and exit can be eliminated, and the guide width can be minimized. Except for the train wheel board block 28,
Since it is assembled in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the printed board 41, the assemblability is greatly improved.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the card reader. Although the number of guide ribs 20 of the card reader panel 3 and the number of mark sensors 43 of the printed circuit board block 29 in FIG. 5 and other figures are different, the intention of the invention is the same. FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken along a plane perpendicular to the card reader panel 3 passing through the center line of the feed roller shaft 30. However, the card guide 16 is not shown. Although a plurality of feed rollers 46 are used in FIG. 2, one feed roller 46 is used in FIG. still,
The feed roller 46 may be composed of a plurality of rollers.

As shown in FIG. 5, O-rings 48 are attached to the feed roller 46 at a plurality of positions. The O-rings 48 are opposed to the O-rings 48. Further, a spring piece 24a of the presser spring 24 is arranged on the feed roller 46 side from the reading surface of the mark sensor 43. Therefore, the mark sensor 43
The card 4 can be conveyed without soiling the reading surface of the
In this case, the card 4 can be prevented from swinging at the position, and the mark readability can be improved.

As shown in FIG. 5, a guide rib 20 is formed integrally with the card reader panel 3 at a position facing a number of mark sensors 43. Therefore, the back surface of the card 4 being transported comes into contact with the arc-shaped peripheral end surface of the guide rib 20, and the deflection of the mark reading portion of the card 4 is reduced. Therefore, the mark readability of the mark sensor 43 arranged on the mark surface side of the card 4 is improved.

FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the mark sensor 43 and the sensor cap 23. The mark sensor 43, which constitutes a small element, is composed of a light emitting element 43a and a light receiving element 43b. Element 43b
And are closely integrated. Elastic locking pieces 50 are formed above and below the sensor cap 23 disposed on the front surface of the mark sensor 43, and are inserted and locked into locking holes 51 formed in the card reader base 13, and the card The mark sensor 43 is fixed to the reader base 13.

One sensor cap 23 is provided for one mark sensor 43. As shown in FIG. 2, a large number of mark sensors 43 are arranged in a horizontal direction. Also, as shown in FIG.
Is formed with a mountain-shaped cylindrical portion 52 at the center thereof.
An opening 53 is formed at the tip of the second unit so as to face the light emitting element 43a.

The light emitting element 43a of the mark sensor 43 and the opening 53 of the sensor cap 23 are arranged on a plane perpendicular to the mounting surface of the mark sensor 43. That is, the opening 53 of the sensor cap 23 is arranged on the straight line of the light emitting element 43a, and the light receiving element 43b is separated from the line. Therefore, specular reflection does not occur and readability is improved.

Although the holding spring 24 is fixed to the back of the card reader base 13 as described above, the spring piece 24 a of the holding spring 24 is arranged between the mark sensors 43. By arranging the spring piece 24a of the pressing spring 24 between the mark sensors 43 in this manner, it is possible to eliminate the deflection of the card 4 and improve the readability. In particular, facing the mark sensor 43,
A feed roller block 21 can be arranged.

[0040]

According to the present invention, as described above, a card insertion slot for inserting a card, a guide rib for guiding conveyance of the inserted card, a card guide curved facing the guide rib, and a card guide are provided. The card transport path is composed of the card
A feed roller block sending, Te card reader odor having a plurality of mark reading unit to read the marks of the card in the middle of the card transport path, a light emitting element and a light receiving element
In other words , one small element in which both elements are closely integrated
Composes two mark reading units and feeds small elements
The reading range of the mark reading unit is
Mark the sensor cap with the opening to narrow the enclosure.
Feed roller block and mark
Card for feed roller block between reading unit
Since a holding spring that holds down the sensor is arranged, by providing a sensor cap for each small element ,
Has multiple slits for multiple small elements
Smaller elements and sensors than when one member is provided
Cap displacement can be eliminated.
The optical path of the light emitted from the light emitting element and the reflected light from the card
The reading area is narrowed by the sensor cap opening
The cutting range can be limited, and the feed roller
The card is held down by the block and the card holding spring
Since the card is transported, the distance between the small element and the card is kept constant.
This has the effect of improving the readability of the mark .

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the light emitting element of the small element and the opening of the sensor cap are arranged on a plane perpendicular to the mounting surface of the small element, so that the mirror surface with the mark described on the card is provided. Reflection can be prevented, and the readability of the mark can be improved. According to the third aspect, a plurality of small elements are arranged in a row in the horizontal direction, and a card pressing spring for holding the card is arranged between adjacent small elements, so that the deflection of the card is eliminated and the readability of the mark is improved. In particular, a feed roller can be arranged to face the reading unit.

[0042]

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since one side of the card pressing spring is a free end, the variation of the card feeding force due to the variation of the parts can be reduced, and the variation of the pinching force when the card is inserted can be reduced. Claim 5
Then, by forming a plurality of spring pieces and connecting the ends of the spring pieces to form an integral card holding spring,
Variations in the holding force of the card holding spring can be reduced,
Therefore, variation in the card feeding force can be reduced.

Further, in a sixth aspect , a plurality of mark reading portions are provided opposite to one feed roller, and a card pressing spring for pressing a card between the mark reading portions and toward the feed roller from the mark reading portion is provided. By disposing the card, the card can be conveyed without soiling the reading surface of the mark reading part and the mark part of the card, and the card can be prevented from swinging at the mark reading position, thereby improving the readability of the mark. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a card reader according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the entire card reader.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a card reader.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view before a card reader base is incorporated into a card reader panel.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a card reader.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a program timer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 3 card reader panel 4 card 5 card insertion slot 6 card exit 13 card reader base 16 card guide 20 guide rib 23 sensor cap 24 holding spring 24a spring piece 43 mark sensor 43a light emitting element 43b light receiving element 46 feed roller

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A card insertion slot for inserting a card, a guide rib for guiding conveyance of the inserted card, a card guide curved to face the guide rib, and a card outlet for taking out the card via the card guide. And the feed roller block that forms the card transport path and sends the card
Equipped with, preparative reading the mark of the card in the middle of the card transport path
Card reader with multiple mark reading units
Thus, one mark reading unit is composed of one small element composed of a light emitting element and a light receiving element and both elements are closely integrated.
The small element on the side facing the feed roller block.
The opening that narrows the reading range of the mark reading section is shaped
Install the sensor caps for each mark reading unit.
Feed between the feed roller block and the mark reading unit.
Press spring that holds the card against the roller block
A card reader, wherein a card reader is arranged . 2. The card reader according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting element of the small element and the opening of the sensor cap are arranged on a plane perpendicular to the mounting surface of the small element. 3. A was arrayed a plurality of small elements laterally claim 1 or claim 2 card reader, wherein the placing the card pressing spring presses the card between adjacent small elements. 4. One side of a card pressing spring is a free end.
The card reader according to claim 1, wherein: 5. A plurality of spring pieces are formed, and the ends of the spring pieces are formed.
It is noted that the
The card reader according to claim 1, wherein 6. A plurality of markers facing one feed roller.
A mark reading unit, between the mark reading units,
Hold the card on the feed roller side from the mark reading unit
2. A card holding spring is arranged.
The card reader as described.