JP3372794B2 - IC card reader - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an IC of an IC card.
The terminal part and the IC contact are brought into contact with each other to record / record the IC card.
The present invention relates to an IC card reader for reproducing. More specifically, the present invention relates to a mechanism for simultaneously cleaning an IC terminal portion and an IC contact of an IC card reader.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an IC card reader for recording / reproducing an IC card, it is necessary to surely bring an IC terminal portion of the IC card into contact with an IC contact of a contact block of the IC card reader. Cleaning is performed so as to prevent contact failure due to dust and the like adhering to the terminals and IC contacts.

Therefore, a method for ensuring the contact between the IC terminal portion and the IC contact has been conventionally proposed. One of them is the IC terminal part that is in contact with the IC contact.
There is one that removes the deposit by moving it relative to the C card. This is because a means for rotating the IC contact is provided to remove foreign matters and adhering substances from the contact position, or a torsion coil spring 104 is provided as the IC contact 103 as shown in FIG. By rubbing the IC terminal portion 102, the conductive state is always maintained (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-224873).

Second, there is a method of cleaning the IC terminal portion of the IC card. For example, I
In addition to cleaning the C terminal portion, a method of providing a card insertion opening equipped with a cleaning device in addition to the recording / reproducing IC card insertion opening,
A method has been proposed in which a cleaning tape wound around a reel is made to run and pressed against an IC card using a pressure contact portion.

A third method is to clean the IC contacts of the card reader, in which the IC contacts are pierced into a recessed portion of the cartridge, in which a porous elastic body such as a sponge containing cleaning liquid is mounted, for cleaning. There are ways.

[0006]

However, for example, when the adhered matter is removed by the first method, the contact portion is worn because the IC terminal portion 102 and the IC contact 103 are rubbed while being in contact with each other. However, there is a problem of deterioration at an early stage. At this time, if the contacts are made with a high contact pressure, the deterioration may be accelerated.

Further, in the second or third method, since only a mechanism for cleaning one of the IC terminal portion and the IC contact is provided, it is not possible to perform both cleanings at the same time. On the other hand, if the IC terminal portion and the IC contact are simultaneously cleaned by combining the second and third methods, the number of parts increases, which hinders the downsizing of the card reader body and goes against the cost reduction request. It will be.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an IC card reader capable of cleaning both the IC terminal portion and the IC contact at the same time without contacting with high contact pressure.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 records data by contacting an IC contact portion held in a contact block with an IC terminal portion exposed on an IC card. / In an IC card reader configured to perform reproduction, a contact block is provided so as to be movable between a position separated from a card passage and a position where an IC contact abuts on an IC terminal portion, and an IC accompanying movement of the contact block. In the middle of the contact movement path,
A cleaning member that contacts the C contact is provided, and the cleaning member is connected by the IC contact in the middle of the moving path of the IC contact.
It is pressed against the IC terminal of the C card.

Therefore, since the IC terminal portion and the IC contact come into contact with each other, the IC terminal portion moves while coming into contact with the cleaning member in the approaching operation, and the pressure caused by the contact causes the cleaning member to come into contact with the IC terminal portion. The IC card also moves as it is pressed, and cleaning is performed at the same time as the IC card and the contact block move while sandwiching the cleaning member. The IC terminal portion and the IC contact are brought into contact with each other when the movement on the cleaning member or under the cleaning member is completed.

In the IC card reader of the second aspect of the present invention, the contact block has a contact portion that contacts the end surface of the IC card, and is configured to follow the movement of the IC card. Therefore, the end surface of the IC card in the feed direction comes into contact with the contact portion, and the contact block also moves in the feed direction as the IC card is conveyed in the feed direction. At this time, the contact block is rotated so that the IC contact comes into contact with the cleaning member, and the IC block is automatically cleaned because it moves in the feeding direction while maintaining the contact. Further, even when the IC card is conveyed in the direction opposite to the feeding direction, the contact block is interlocked with the contact portion.

In the IC card reader of the third aspect of the present invention, the drive source moves between the position where the contact block is separated from the card passage and the position where the IC contact is in contact with the IC terminal portion. As the drive source, for example, a solenoid can be used, which allows the IC card and the contact block to be driven independently when they are moved.

In the IC card reader of the fourth aspect of the present invention, the cleaning member has a cleaning section impregnated with a cleaning liquid, and the cleaning section is supported by an elastic member and detachably held by the frame of the card reader. Has been done. Therefore, the cleaning effect is improved by bringing the cleaning portion impregnated with the cleaning liquid into contact with the IC terminal portion or the IC contact. Further, even when a pressing force is applied to the cleaning member from the contact block, the force is released by the elastic member, and the cleaning member can be appropriately pressed against the IC terminal portion of the IC card by utilizing the pressing force. . Further, since this cleaning member can be easily removed with, for example, one screw, replacement of the member is easy.

In the IC card reader of the fifth aspect of the present invention, the cleaning section is formed by impregnating a cleaning liquid with a fibrous material mixed with an electrically conductive material. This prevents the cleaning member and the IC card from being charged even when the cleaning unit not impregnated with the cleaning liquid is repeatedly used and repeatedly comes into contact with the plastic IC card. Further, since the fibrous material is impregnated with the cleaning liquid, improvement in both cleaning and antistatic properties is achieved.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The structure of the present invention will be described below in detail based on an example of an embodiment shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the IC card reader of the present invention. This IC card reader 1 has an IC contact 1
1, a contact block 9 including the contact block 9, an arm 6 that rotatably supports the contact block 9, and a cleaning member 14 that removes the IC contact 11 and the deposit on the IC terminal portion 5 of the IC card 3. . In the following, the direction in which the IC card 3 is conveyed from the card insertion port 20 to the recording / reproducing position 21 shown in FIG. 4 is the feeding direction, and the direction in which the IC card 3 that has finished recording / reproducing is returned to the card insertion port 20. Called the return direction.

The arm 6 has two substantially U-shaped flat plates 6a and 6b, for example, a support shaft 6c perpendicular to the flat plates 6a and 6b.
A fulcrum 7 and a fulcrum 8 are provided at both ends of the flat plates 6a and 6b, respectively.
One fulcrum 7 is a position 2 where the IC card 3 is recorded / reproduced.
1, the arm 6 is supported below so as to be swingable in the card feeding direction. Although the arm 6 in this embodiment is curved, it may have a linear shape or another shape as long as it does not hinder the movement of the contact block 9, the IC card 3, or the arm 6 itself.

The contact block 9 is rotatably supported on the other fulcrum 8 of the arm 6 and has an I portion at its lower portion.
The contact portion 10 is provided so as to protrude beyond the passage of the C card 3. This abutting portion 10 has a contact block 9 below the fulcrum 8.
It is provided so as to project vertically from. However, depending on the size and installation position of the contact block 9, the IC card 3
The position where the contact portion 10 is provided is not limited to the position just below the fulcrum 8 because the positional relationship with The lower surface of the contact block 9 holds an IC contact 11 that contacts the IC terminal portion 5 of the IC card 3 to record / reproduce data. Further, an extension spring 12 having one end attached to the frame 2 of the IC card reader 1 is provided on an upper end portion 9a of the contact block 9 in the card return direction, and the contact block 9 is attached obliquely upward in the card return direction. I am energetic.

The regulating member 13 limits the movable range by contacting the arm 6 so that the arm 6 and the contact block 9 do not move or swing in the card returning direction from the contact position. In the present embodiment, the regulation member 13 is positioned so that the contact block 9 that is in contact with the regulation member 13 is located above the protrusion 24 provided at the deepest portion in the feed direction of the lower guide 23 that guides the IC card 3. (Hereinafter referred to as the contact block 9 which is balanced with the tension spring 12 and is separated from the card passage 26).
This position is referred to as "separation position 27"). The restriction member 13 may be provided on the frame 2 of the card reader 1 in the vertical direction or perpendicular to the card advancing direction, or may be in contact with the contact block 9.

The cleaning member 14 includes a plate-shaped core member 16 having a cleaning portion 15 provided on the upper and lower surfaces thereof, the contact block 9 at the separated position 27, and the protruding portion 2 of the lower guide 23.
It is attached to the tip of the leaf spring 17 so as to be located between the leaf spring 17 and the blade 4. The other end of the leaf spring 17 is, for example, the lower guide 2.
The tip end portion of the upper guide 22 that faces 3 is removably provided by the screw 18, but the attachment position is not limited to this portion and may be attached at a suitable position on the frame 2. Further, the cleaning portion 15 and the plate-shaped core member 16 may be supported by a member other than the leaf spring 17 and having an appropriate elasticity. The cleaning member 1
Reference numeral 4 indicates a contact block 9 which is held so as to be inclined at the separated position 27 so that the gap between the cleaning portion 15 and the protruding portion 24 is thinner than the thickness of the IC card 3 passing through the gap, and the fulcrum 8 is the center. The IC contact 11 is provided at a position where the IC contact 11 comes into contact with the cleaning unit 15 when it is rotated slightly to become horizontal. However, the installation position of the cleaning member 14 is not limited to this. For example, the cleaning member 14 may be installed so as to come into contact with the IC contact 11 or the protrusion 24 of the contact block 9 from the beginning.

The cleaning unit 15 may be formed, for example, by attaching only a felt to the upper surface and the lower surface of the plate-shaped core material 16, but not limited to this, and a fibrous material mixed with an electrically conductive material may be used. According to this, since the static electricity can be removed via the cleaning member 14, the cleaning portion 15 is prevented from being charged. Furthermore, it is also one of the preferred embodiments to enhance the cleaning effect by impregnating these cleaning parts 15 with a cleaning liquid suitable for removing dirt and adhered substances.

The lower guide 23 is provided with the above-mentioned protruding portion 24 at the deepest portion in the feed direction, and between the protruding portion 24 and the lower guide 23, an inclined surface 25 that smoothly connects the steps is provided. Has been.

According to the IC card reader 1 configured as described above, when the IC card 3 is recorded / reproduced, the IC terminal portion 5 and the IC contact 11 of the IC card 3 are cleaned as follows. . The card reader 1 according to the present invention has a function of performing both recording and reproduction, or recording or reproduction.

IC inserted from the card slot 20
The card 3 is conveyed in the feeding direction along the guides 22 and 23 through the passage 26 by a conveying means (not shown) such as a roller or by manual insertion. Here, the end surface 4 of the IC card 3 on the feed direction side is projected on the lower projection 23 of the lower guide 23 during transportation.
It is guided to the slope 25 provided in front of this. And IC
The card 3 passes over the projecting portion 24, and at that time, the cleaning member 14 removes the deposits attached to the surface, especially to the IC terminal portion 5.

Further, the IC card 3 conveyed in the feeding direction
The end surface 4 of the contact abuts the contact portion 10 of the contact block 9 at the separated position 27. When the IC card 3 is further conveyed, the contact block 9 rotates against the tension spring 12 so that the IC contact 11 descends about the fulcrum 8, so that the contact 11 is cleaned by the cleaning member as shown in FIG. 1
Contact the upper surface of No. 4. That is, a part of the force for further transporting the IC card 3 in the feed direction is converted into a force for rotating the contact block 9, and the IC contact 11 and the IC card 3 held on the contact block 9 or the lower surface thereof. And so that the cleaning member 14 is sandwiched between them.

The IC card 3 is continuously supplied with a conveying force in the feeding direction, but since the IC contact 11 is in contact with the cleaning member 14, the contact block 9 cannot rotate any more, and the arm is rotated. As 6 rotates around the fulcrum 7 in the card feeding direction, the contact block 9 moves in the feeding direction while keeping substantially horizontal. At this time, since the IC contact 11 moves while being pressed against the cleaning member 14, the attached matter is removed. Further, the IC contact 11 has the cleaning member 14
The cleaning member 14 is further pressed against the IC card 3 by being pressed against.

In this way, the terminal portion 5 and the IC contact 11 of the IC card 3 move while contacting the cleaning member 14, so that the terminal portion 5 and the IC contact 11 are in contact with each other.
Will be automatically cleaned after each insertion.

When the IC card 3 is further conveyed, the IC contact 11 of the contact block 9 passes over the cleaning member 14, so that the IC terminal portion 5 of the IC card 3 as shown in FIG.
And the IC contact 11 come into direct contact with each other (hereinafter, the IC terminal portion 5
This position where the IC contact 11 and the
8 "). At the contact position 28, the IC card 3
Is recorded / reproduced.

Then, the recorded / reproduced IC card 3 is conveyed in the return direction opposite to that described above. At this time, as the IC card 3 moves, the arm 6 and the contact block 8 are returned to the separated position 27 by the pulling force of the tension spring 12.

The above-described embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the present embodiment, the contact block 9 contacts the contact block 9 so that the contact block 9 interlocks with the IC card 3.
Although 0 is provided, the contact block 9 may be driven by other means. As an example, a form as shown in FIG. 5 can be considered. This is to provide a downward protruding portion 30 on the arm 6 in the vicinity of the fulcrum 7 and swing the protruding portion 30 to drive the arm 6. The trajectory of the contact block 9 due to the swing of the arm 6 is restricted by a pair of arms 32 that are swingably supported by the guide 23. As a drive source for swinging the protrusion 30, for example, a solenoid 31 may be horizontally provided at the tip of the protrusion 30 in the card feeding direction, or a motor or a gear may be used. By driving these drive sources, the arm 6 and the contact block 9 are moved to the IC card 3
It can be moved independently of the movement of.

[0031]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the IC terminal portion exposed on the IC card is contacted with the IC contact held in the contact block to record / record data.
In an IC card reader configured to reproduce,
The contact block is provided so as to be movable between a position separated from the card passage and a position where the IC contact comes into contact with the IC terminal portion. Further, the IC terminal portion of the IC card and the IC Since the cleaning member is provided so as to come into contact with the contact and the cleaning member is pressed against the IC terminal portion of the IC card by the IC contact in the moving path of the IC contact, the IC terminal portion and the IC contact come in contact with each other, so that the IC member approaches. During the operation, the IC terminal portion moves while coming into contact with the cleaning member, and the cleaning member comes into contact with the IC terminal portion with pressure accompanying the contact. Moreover, the IC card also moved and I
Cleaning is performed at the same time as the C card and the contact block move while sandwiching the cleaning member. The IC terminal portion and the IC contact are brought into contact with each other when the movement on the cleaning member or under the cleaning member is completed.

Therefore, since the IC terminal portion of the IC card and the IC contact held in the contact block are simultaneously cleaned every time the IC card is inserted, the IC terminal portion and the IC contact from which the adhered matter has been removed are removed. The reliability of the IC card reader when the IC card is recorded / reproduced can be improved by ensuring reliable contact.

In the IC card reader of the second aspect of the present invention, the contact block has an abutting portion for abutting the end face of the IC card and is configured to follow the movement of the IC card. The end surface on the feed direction side comes into contact with the contact portion, and the contact block also moves in the feed direction as the IC card is conveyed in the feed direction. At this time, the contact block is rotated so that the IC contact comes into contact with the cleaning member, and the contact is moved in the feeding direction while maintaining the contact, so that the IC contact is automatically cleaned. Also, when the IC card is conveyed in the direction opposite to the feeding direction, the contact block works together via the contact portion.

Therefore, the IC card and the contact block can be driven at the same time without requiring a drive source for driving the contact block. At this time, IC
The contact block is moved and rotated by using the force for carrying the card to press the IC contact against the cleaning member, and the pressing force further presses the cleaning member against the IC card. Therefore, the above-mentioned pressing force is appropriately dispersed, and the deterioration of the IC terminal portion and the IC contact is not accelerated.

In the IC card reader according to the third aspect of the present invention, the drive source moves between the position where the contact block is separated from the card passage and the position where the IC contact is in contact with the IC terminal portion. As a drive source, for example, a solenoid can be used, which allows the respective movements of the IC card and the contact block to be independently driven. Therefore,
An IC that cleans both the IC terminal and the IC contact
This is effective when the card reader is intended to perform cleaning at different times.

In the IC card reader according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the cleaning member has a cleaning portion impregnated with a cleaning liquid, and the cleaning portion is supported by an elastic member and detachably held by the frame of the card reader. Therefore, the cleaning effect is improved.

Further, even when a pressing force is applied to the cleaning member from the contact block, the elastic member releases the force, and the cleaning member is appropriately pressed against the IC terminal portion of the IC card by utilizing the pressing force. As a result, the contact pressure at the IC terminal portion and the IC contact becomes appropriate, and the deterioration of the life is prevented. Further, since the cleaning member detachably attached to the frame can be easily attached and detached with one screw, it is easy to replace or remove the cleaning member when exchanging it.

In the IC card reader of the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the fibrous material mixed with the electrically conductive material is impregnated with the cleaning liquid as the cleaning portion, for example, the cleaning liquid is impregnated. No cleaning part is used repeatedly, plastic IC
Even if repeated contact with the card is made, the cleaning member or the IC card is prevented from being charged. Further, since the fibrous material is impregnated with the cleaning liquid, improvement is attempted in terms of both cleaning and antistatic. Further, even if the impregnated cleaning liquid is evaporated and dried, it is prevented from being charged.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an embodiment of an IC card reader of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an embodiment of an IC card reader of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial side view showing a state where an IC contact is in contact with a cleaning member.

FIG. 4 is a partial side view showing a state where an IC contact and an IC terminal portion of an IC card are in contact with each other.

FIG. 5 is a partial side view showing another embodiment of the IC card reader of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a part of a conventional IC card reader.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 IC card reader 2 frames 3 IC card 4 Feed direction end face 5 IC terminal 9 contact blocks 10 Contact part 11 IC contacts 14 Cleaning member 15 Cleaning section 17 Leaf spring (elastic member) 26 card passage 27 Separated position 28 Contact position 31 Drive source

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. An IC card reader configured to record / reproduce data by bringing an IC contact held in a contact block into contact with an IC terminal portion exposed on an IC card. An IC of the IC card is provided movably between a position separated from the card passage and a position where the IC contact comes into contact with the IC terminal portion, and the IC contact is moved along the moving path of the IC contact along the movement path of the IC contact.
An IC card is characterized in that a cleaning member is provided for contacting the terminal portion and the IC contact, and the cleaning member is pressed against the IC terminal portion of the IC card by the IC contact in the course of movement of the IC contact. leader. 2. The IC card according to claim 1, wherein the contact block has an abutting portion that abuts an end surface of the IC card and is configured to follow the movement of the IC card. leader. 3. The contact block is moved by a drive source between a position separated from a card passage and a position where the IC contact abuts on the IC terminal portion. The described IC card reader. 4. The cleaning member has a cleaning portion impregnated with a cleaning liquid, and the cleaning portion is supported by an elastic member and detachably held by a frame of a card reader. The IC card reader according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. The IC card reader according to claim 4, wherein the cleaning unit is made by impregnating a cleaning liquid into a fibrous material mixed with an electrically conductive material.