JP3150563B2 - Card holding structure in IC 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 structure for holding an IC card inserted into a card insertion path in an IC card reader.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an IC card reader, one end of an IC card inserted from a card insertion slot is held in a card insertion path, and data is exchanged by bringing an electrode of the card into contact with a contact on the reader side. Automatically ejects the card again from the card slot and returns it. This kind of IC
As a card holding structure, a recess is provided in a lever that moves in conjunction with an inserted card, and a stopper provided with a swinging behavior in a direction of engaging with the recess is provided, and the stopper is engaged with the recess. The position of the lever is held, and the claw member connected to the end of the lever is rotated to close the card insertion slot, prevent the card from being ejected from the card insertion slot, and enter the card insertion path. keeping. When the exchange of the predetermined data is completed, the plunger of the electromagnetic solenoid connected to the other end of the lever is operated to forcibly move the lever, thereby releasing the engagement with the stopper and rotating the claw member. The card is automatically ejected from the card insertion slot by moving the card insertion slot.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional card holding structure, the stopper is pressed against the recess of the lever and comes into contact with the recess. Therefore, when the stopper is disengaged, the recess and the stopper come into contact with each other. Friction occurs between This frictional force changes with time due to dust during use, and becomes unstable. Therefore, in the related art, it is necessary to set the suction force of the electromagnetic solenoid high in advance in consideration of the change with time, and there has been a problem that the electromagnetic solenoid becomes larger than necessary.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the size of an electromagnetic solenoid having an appropriate size and to achieve stable operation for a long period of time. The object of the present invention is to provide a card holding structure in an IC card reader that guarantees the above.

[0005]

In order to achieve this object, a card holding structure in an IC card reader according to the present invention comprises a card insertion slot into which a card is inserted / returned, and a card insertion slot communicating with the card insertion slot. A formed card insertion path,
The moving member is moved in the card inserting direction by the card inserted in the card inserting path, and is always urged to move in the opposite direction to the card inserting direction, and the moved moving member comes into contact with one end to rotate. Operating lever, a lever that moves in the opposite direction to the card insertion direction when the other end of the rotated operating rod comes into contact, and one end of the lever is connected to move in the card insertion direction or the direction opposite to the card insertion direction. A self-holding electromagnetic solenoid that has a plunger and self-holds a lever moved in a direction opposite to the card insertion direction by a magnet, and a lever that is connected to the other end of the lever and that is opposite to the card insertion direction or the card insertion direction; A card holding member that opens or closes the card insertion slot by moving the card insertion slot into the card insertion path. When the card is returned, the self-holding electromagnetic solenoid is energized to release the self-holding, thereby returning the card via the mover and returning the card to the self-holding type solenoid. The card can be manually returned from the concave fitting portion against the holding force.

[0006]

According to the present invention, when a card is inserted, the card insertion slot is closed by the card holding member, the card is held in the card insertion path, and this state is held by the self-holding of the electromagnetic solenoid. When the electromagnetic solenoid is energized, self-holding is released, the card insertion opening of the card holding member is opened, and the card can be ejected. If a power failure occurs after the card is inserted, if a part of the card exposed in the recessed portion of the card insertion slot is grasped with a finger and forcibly pulled out, the lever resists the self-holding force of the electromagnetic solenoid. And the card holding member opens the card insertion slot.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an IC card reader according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the IC card reader with the cover removed and partly cut away, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 2, and FIG.
5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 5, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a main part showing a card detection structure, FIG. 6 is a side view of a main part for explaining an operation when the card has an upper sled, and FIG. It is a principal part side view for demonstrating operation | movement when there exists a lower sled.

[0008] In these figures, an IC card generally designated by the reference numeral 1 is provided with an electrode 1a on the rear side of the front surface. Reference numeral 2 denotes an IC card reader, an enclosure wall 3 having an open front side, and a rectangular window 4 which covers the upper part of the enclosure wall 3.
The housing includes a shallow dish-shaped cover 4 in which a is formed and a front member 5 that closes the front of the surrounding wall 3 and is entirely made of synthetic resin. The front member 5 includes a swelling portion 5a swelling forward and a recessed portion 5b recessed into a card insertion path 21 to be described later, and a slit-shaped card astride the swelling portion 5a and the recessed portion 5b. An insertion port 6 is provided.

Reference numeral 8 denotes an upper surface plate which constitutes one guide wall of a card insertion path 21 to be described later, and is integrally formed horizontally with the surrounding wall 3 at a position substantially at the center of the surrounding wall 3.
Reference numeral 8a denotes a dowel integrally projecting from the rear side of the upper plate 8 for screwing the cover 4 to the upper plate 8. Reference numeral 9 denotes a rib provided upright on the surface of the upper surface plate 8, and a mounting wall 9a for mounting a solenoid, and a U-shaped storage wall 9b forming a pocket portion 15 for storing a leaf spring 34 described later. A dowel 9c for screwing the front member 5 to the top plate 8, and a pair of opposed bearings 9d.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a long rectangular guide window formed substantially at the center of the upper plate 8. Reference numeral 11 denotes a pair of opposing guide walls which are provided upright from both end edges of the guide window 10, and are provided upright in substantially the front half of the guide window 10 in the longitudinal direction. Opposing guide grooves 1
1a is provided. Reference numeral 12 denotes a pin erected at the center of the rear side of the upper surface plate 8, and 13a and 13b denote two pairs of pins erected at the front side of the upper surface plate 8. Reference numeral 15 denotes a pocket for storing a leaf spring 34, which will be described later, surrounded by the storage wall 9b. The upper portion is opened to form an opening 15a.
b is formed at a position lower than the upper surface plate 8, and a cutout portion is formed on one side surface of the card insertion path 21 on the side of the card insertion path 21 so as to communicate with the card insertion path 21 and constitute a part of the card insertion path 21. 1
5c is drilled, and the card insertion path 21 is inserted through the card insertion slot 6.
Of the card 1 inserted into the notch 15c
From the inside of the pocket 15.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a rectangular recess in a plan view that forms a later-described card insertion path 21 provided on the back side of the upper surface plate 8, and side surfaces 16a and 16b of the recess 16 are
Is formed so as to oppose an interval slightly larger than the width of. Then, one side surface 16a is inserted into the card insertion path 21.
The side surface of the card 1 inserted into the card 1 is a reference surface to be abutted, and the other side surface 16b gradually moves from the card insertion slot 6 toward the rear end of the card insertion path 21 with respect to the side surface 16a. The gap is formed to be slightly narrower.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a metal card mounting plate which is formed in a square shape having a substantially flat plate shape and a width substantially equal to the width of the upper surface plate 8. The lower surface of the upper surface plate 8 covers the concave portion 16;
A card insertion path 21 is formed by the card mounting plate 20, the bottom surface of the concave portion 16, and the above-mentioned both side surfaces 16a and 16b. A raised portion 20a having a height slightly smaller than the thickness of the IC card 1 protrudes from a rear end side of the card insertion path 21 of the card mounting plate 20, and a cut-and-raised piece 20b is formed on the front side on the back side. An elongated rectangular guide groove 20c is formed along the insertion direction A of the card 1 at the rear part in the center in the width direction.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a movable element formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.
A pair of dowels 22a protrude from both sides on the front side, and contact portions 22b protruding downward are formed at the rear end,
A receiving portion 22 formed at the lower end of the contact portion 22b and having a width smaller than the width of the contact portion 22b and formed to fit in the guide groove 20c.
d is projected, and between the receiving portion 22d and the contact portion 22b,
A step 22c is formed, and a protrusion 22e is formed at a lower end of the receiving portion 22d. Further, four pairs (only three pairs are shown in the figure and three pairs are provided in the back of the drawing) of spring contacts 23 are attached to the bottom surface of the mover 22.

The dowel 22a is loosely fitted in the guide groove 11a,
The other end of the spring 24 having one end hung on the cut-and-raised piece 20b is hung on the projection 22e, so that the moving element 22 is provided with a movement behavior in the direction B in the drawing, that is, in the direction opposite to the card insertion direction. At the same time, with the dowel 22a as a supporting fulcrum, a rotating behavior is provided in the clockwise direction in the figure, the guide block 20d fits into the guide groove 20c, and the step 22c engages with the edge of the guide groove 20c. The movable member 22 is supported on the upper plate 8 by the dowels 22a and the step portions 22c. In this state, the contact portion 22b is located in the card insertion path 21. Then, in the normal state before the IC card 1 is inserted, the movable member 22 is pulled in the direction B by the spring 24 so that the dowel 22a is located at the left end of the guide groove 11a as shown in FIG. Since it is located, the moving element 22 is separated from the card insertion path 21. When the IC card 1 is inserted from the card insertion slot 6 and inserted into the card insertion path 21, the tip of the IC card 1 comes into contact with the contact portion 22b. As the dowel 22a slides along the guide groove 11a, the lower end of the moving element 22 moves to the rear of the card insertion path 21 while approaching the card insertion path 21, and as shown in FIG. As shown, the contact 23 of the mover 22 contacts the electrode 1a of the IC card 1.

An operating rod 25 is swingably supported by the pin 12. One end 25a faces the end of the guide groove 20c, and the other end 25b contacts one end 28a of a lever 28 described later. Reference numeral 27 denotes a self-holding electromagnetic solenoid, which includes a plunger 27a which can move forward and backward.
a is retracted into the electromagnetic solenoid 27 and is self-held by a magnet in the electromagnetic solenoid 27, and when a coil in the electromagnetic solenoid 27 is energized, the plunger 27 a is rotated and the plunger 27 a is moved by the spring 30 to the electromagnetic solenoid. 27, the mounting wall 9a
Attached to the screw 26

Reference numeral 28 denotes a lever extending from the front part to the rear part of the IC card reader 2 in the card insertion direction, that is, in the direction coinciding with the direction A. One end 28a is bent in a U-shaped cross section, and the one end 28a is connected to the plunger. 27a are connected by a penetrating shaft 29 to form a plunger 27a.
And the lever 28 are integrally movable in the A and B directions. An operating portion 28c is formed by bending the lever 28. Reference numeral 31 denotes a shutter member. The lower end is swingably supported by a pin 31a by a bearing 9d near the card insertion slot 6 and the upper end is the other end 28 of the lever 28.
b and a pin 32. Shutter member 31
Is formed with a shutter portion 31b projecting in the form of a claw. The shutter portion 31b opens and closes the card insertion slot 6 when the shutter member 31 swings about the pin 31a. ing.

Numeral 34 denotes a leaf spring having a substantially U-shaped cross section, one end of which is formed in an arcuate cross section to form a pressing portion 34a, and another pressing portion 34 above the pressing portion 34a.
b is extended. The leaf spring 34 inserts the pressing portion 34 a into the pocket 15 from the opening 15 a to insert the card insertion path 21.
By inserting it in the direction
It is sandwiched and fixed between the storage wall 9b and the end face of the notch 15c. As described above, since the leaf spring 34 can be inserted into the pocket 15 from the opening 15a, the insertion is easy, and the inserted leaf spring 34 is formed in a substantially U-shape.
It is fixed in the pocket 15 by its spring property, so that the leaf spring 34 can be easily assembled.

In the fixed leaf spring 34, the pressing portion 34a faces the card insertion path 21, and the pressing portion 34b is located above the upper surface plate 8. Reference numeral 35 denotes a first microswitch, which is press-fitted into the pin 13a and mounted on the upper plate 8 so that the switch portion 35a faces the pocket 15 from the edge of the upper plate 8, and a pressing portion 34b of the leaf spring 34. Presses the switch 35a to operate. Reference numeral 36 denotes a second microswitch, which is press-fitted into the pin 13b and is mounted on the upper plate 8, and an actuator 36b for operating the switch portion 36a is located within the movement range of the operating portion 28c of the lever 28.

Next, the operation of the IC card reader having such a configuration will be described. In the normal state, FIG.
As shown in (a), the plunger 27a of the electromagnetic solenoid 27 advances, the shutter member 31 rotates clockwise around the pin 31a, and the shutter 31b opens the card insertion slot 6. When the IC card 1 is inserted from the card insertion slot 6 in this state, first, one side surface of the IC card 1 contacts the pressing portion 34a of the leaf spring 34, and the IC card 1 is pressed by the pressing force of the pressing portion 34a. Is pressed against the reference surface 16a of the card insertion path 21, and the pressing portion 34a functions as a side force.

At this time, the pressing portion 34a is bent by one side surface of the IC card 1 as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.
The other pressing portion 34b extended in the same manner also bends, and operates the switch portion 35a of the first micro switch 35,
It detects that the IC card 1 has been inserted into the card insertion path 21. As described above, since the micro switch 35 is operated by the side surface of the IC card 1 to detect the IC card 1, sufficient rigidity for operating the micro switch 35 is obtained, and reliable detection is performed. It does not damage the surface of the IC card. In addition, since the same leaf spring 34 can also perform side force, the number of parts can be reduced and the size can be reduced.

Thereafter, when the IC card 1 is further inserted, the leading end of the IC card 1 comes into contact with the contact portion 22b of the moving element 22 located in the card insertion path 21, and the moving element 2
2 is moved in the insertion direction of the IC card 1, that is, in the A direction. When the IC card 1 is completely inserted into the card insertion path 21, the rear end of the moving element 22 is moved to one end 2 of the operating rod 25.
5a, the operating rod 25 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 2 around the pin 12, so that the other end 25b pushes one end 28a of the lever 28, and the lever 28 is pushed against the spring 30. Since the plunger 27a is moved in the direction B, and at the same time, the plunger 27a is retracted into the electromagnetic solenoid 27, the plunger 27a is held in this state by itself. By the movement of the lever 28, the shutter member 31 rotates counterclockwise about the pin 31a, and the shutter 31b is
3B, the IC card 1 is prevented from being ejected from the card insertion slot 6 by the shutter 31b, as shown in FIG. At this time, the movement of the lever 28 causes the second micro switch 36 to be operated by the operating portion 28c, and the AND of the operation of the first micro switch 35
Data is exchanged between the contact point 23 of the mover 22 and the electrode 1a of the IC card 1.

Here, when there is an upper sled at the tip of the IC card 1, as shown in FIG. 6A, the internal stress of the sled at the tip of the IC card 1 and the reaction force due to the bending of the contact point 23 are reduced. As a result, the movable element 22 swings counterclockwise around the dowel 22a, that is, the direction C, and the movable element 22 swings in the direction C while the tip of the IC card 1 is placed on the receiving portion 22d. Stops and the state shown in FIG.

When there is a lower warp at the front end of the IC card 1, as shown in FIG. 7, the lower warp at the front end of the IC card 1 bends along the corner of the raised portion 20a, and Abuts on the receiving portion 22d, and moves the moving element 22 clockwise around the dowel 22a due to the internal stress of the sled, that is,
The mover 22 is rotated in the direction d. As described above, since the end opposite to the dowel 22a is swingable as compared with the conventional structure in which the space between the mover 22 and the card mounting plate 20 is fixed, Numeral 22 swings in response to the warp of the IC card 1, and the tip of the IC card 1 comes into contact with the receiving portion 22d, so that the IC card 1 and the lower surface of the moving element 22 are always at a constant distance t. Since the contact pressure is maintained, the contact pressure of the contact point 23 is kept constant, and poor contact is prevented.

When the data exchange is completed, the electromagnetic solenoid 27 is energized, whereby the plunger 27a
Is turned off and released from self-holding by the spring 30,
The plunger 27a advances from the electromagnetic solenoid 27. Since the lever 28 moves in the direction A with this advance, the shutter member 31 rotates clockwise about the pin 31a as shown in FIG.
1b opens the card insertion slot 6, so that the IC card 1 always provided with the movement habit in the B direction by the mover 22.
Is automatically ejected from the card insertion slot 6.

As described above, the IC card 1 is held in the card insertion path 21 by self-holding by the attraction of the magnet, and the discharge from the card insertion path 21 is performed by energizing the self-holding electromagnetic solenoid 27. Jar 2
7a, the movement of the lever 28 at the time of ejection of the IC card 1 is performed without engagement with other members. There is no change with time of the load that occurs during this period, so that stable holding can be obtained for a long period of time, and it is not necessary to increase the suction force of the electromagnetic solenoid 27 more than necessary. In addition, power consumption can be reduced.

Here, a power failure occurs after the card is inserted,
Without being able to apply voltage to the electromagnetic solenoid 27,
When the card cannot be automatically ejected, a part of the IC card 1 exposed from the concave fitting portion 5b of the front member 5 is gripped with a finger or the like, and pulled out in the B direction to thereby pull out the IC card 1
The rear end of the plunger 27 contacts the shutter 31b.
Since the shutter member 31 is rotated clockwise against the self-holding force a, the IC card 1 can be forcibly pulled out. Therefore, by disposing a magnet instead of the electromagnetic solenoid 27 of the present embodiment,
The holding of the IC card 1 in the card insertion path 21 is performed by attracting the plunger 27a to the magnet.
The ejection of the card can be manually forcibly ejected as described above.

The voltage applied to the electromagnetic solenoid 27 at the time of a power outage is inverted in the IC card reader 2 so that the plunger 27 is turned off.
a retreats into the electromagnetic solenoid 27, and the shutter 31b
Rotates so as to close the card insertion slot 6, so that the IC card 1 is not erroneously inserted at the time of power failure.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, a card insertion slot into which a card is inserted / returned, a card insertion path formed in communication with the card insertion port, and a card insertion path inserted into the card insertion path. A moving member that is moved in the card insertion direction by the inserted card and is always urged to move in a direction opposite to the card insertion direction, an operating rod that rotates when the moved moving member comes into contact with one end, and a rotating member. A lever that moves in the opposite direction to the card insertion direction by contacting the other end of the actuated operating rod, and a plunger to which one end of the lever is connected and moves in the card insertion direction or in the opposite direction to the card insertion direction; A self-holding electromagnetic solenoid for self-holding by a magnet a lever moved in the direction opposite to the card insertion direction, and a lever connected to the other end of the lever in the card insertion direction or A card holding member for opening or closing the card insertion slot by moving in a direction opposite to the card insertion direction, and providing a concave fitting part in which a part of the card insertion slot is recessed into a card insertion path, When the self-holding electromagnetic solenoid is energized, the card is returned via the movable element by releasing the self-holding by energizing the self-holding electromagnetic solenoid, and the card is inserted from the recessed portion against the self-holding force of the self-holding electromagnetic solenoid. Can be returned manually, self-holding is released by applying a voltage to the self-holding electromagnetic solenoid, and the card can be ejected automatically due to the movement of the moving element. Is prevented, and forced discharge is possible in the event of a power outage or the like. In addition, at the time of a power outage or the like, by applying a pre-polarized voltage to the self-holding type electromagnetic solenoid in advance, the card insertion member can be closed by the card holding member,
It is possible to prevent a card from being accidentally inserted at the time of a power failure or the like, thereby preventing the occurrence of a trouble due to the card insertion. Also, the card is ejected from the card insertion path by reversing the plunger by energizing the electromagnetic solenoid, and the lever is moved when the card is ejected without engaging other members. There is no change with time of the load generated between the lever and the stopper that engages with the concave portion of the lever, so that stable holding can be obtained for a long time and the suction force of the electromagnetic solenoid is unnecessarily high. Therefore, power consumption can be reduced without increasing the size.

[0029]

[0030]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of an IC card reader according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view in which a cover of the IC card reader according to the present invention is removed and a part is cut away.

3A and 3B are cross-sectional views taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2, wherein FIG. 3A shows a state where an IC card is inserted, and FIG. 3B shows a state where the IC card is completely inserted.

4A and 4B are cross-sectional views taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 2, wherein FIG. 4A shows a state where an IC card is inserted, and FIG. 4B shows a state where the IC card is completely inserted.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of a card detection structure in the IC card reader according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a main part side view for explaining the operation of the IC card reader according to the present invention when the card has an upper sled at the leading end of the card.

FIG. 7 is a main part side view for explaining an operation of the IC card reader according to the present invention in a case where a lower warp is present at the tip of the card.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 IC card, 1a electrode, 2 IC card reader,
5b: recessed portion, 6: card slot, 8: top plate, 11a
... Guide groove, 15 ... Pocket, 16a ... Reference plane, 20 ...
Card mounting plate, 20a: raised portion, 21: card insertion path,
Reference numeral 22: mover, 23: contact point, 25: operating rod, 27: self-holding electromagnetic solenoid, 27a: plunger, 28:
Lever, 31 ... Shutter member, 31b ... Shutter, 34
… Leaf spring.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Ikuko Shimada 1-1-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Kazuki Sakida 1-1-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (56) References JP-A-2-120997 (JP, A) JP-A-2-100785 (JP, A) JP-A-2-129783 (JP, A) JP-A-3-28988 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model Application Hei 1-173866 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Application Hei 2-27253 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06K 17/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] And 1. A card insertion slot the card is inserted and return, cars and the card insertion path formed by communicating with the card insertion port, the inserted card in the card insertion path
Card insertion direction, always in the opposite direction to the card insertion direction
The mover biased to move and the mover moved
An operating rod that rotates by contacting one end;
The other end of the operating rod abuts against the card insertion direction
A lever that moves in the opposite direction is connected to one end of this lever.
To the card insertion direction or the opposite direction to the card insertion direction.
With moving plunger, opposite to card insertion direction
Self-holding the lever that has moved to
A self-holding electromagnetic solenoid connected to the other end of the lever;
The lever's card insertion direction or card insertion direction
Open the card slot by moving in the opposite direction or
Is a card holding member which closes, providing a凹嵌portion recessed part of the card insertion opening to the card insertion path, mosquitoes
When returning the arm, the power is supplied to the self-holding electromagnetic solenoid and
Card through the mover by releasing self-holding
And self-holding of the self-holding electromagnetic solenoid
The card is also manually returned from the concave fitting part against the holding force.
A card holding structure in an IC card reader, wherein the card holding structure can be rejected .