JP3495560B2 - Card ejection mechanism - 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 forced ejection mechanism. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improvement of a mechanism for ejecting a card in which a card remains in a card reader.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 9, "recording and reproducing" or "recording or reproducing" of data on a recording medium such as a magnetic card (this is referred to as "recording / reproducing" in this specification). The card reader 101 takes in the card 102 from the card insertion opening 103 by means of a card conveying means, and internally performs recording and the like. Here, if a card of a nonstandard size, a business card, a deformed card, a card that cannot be conveyed due to dirt, or the like is accidentally entered into the card reader 101,
In some cases, the card transport path 104 may become stuck or stagnant and cannot be easily taken out.

Therefore, some card readers 101 are provided with a mechanism for ejecting accumulated cards (hereinafter simply referred to as "card") 102. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, in the card reader 101 provided with the card withdrawing member 105 movable in the direction in which the card 102 is conveyed, the retained card 102 can be pulled out toward the front side by being hooked.

[0004]

However, in the card reader 101 incorporating the above-described card forced ejection mechanism, in order to pull out the retained card 102, the card reader 101 is once removed from the apparatus body such as a cash dispenser. It must be performed after removing the outer casing of the user bezel 106 and the like. Therefore, the card forced ejection operation cannot be performed only by the card reader operator, and there is a problem that the personnel on the card reader owner side must operate it, which is not practical.

In the rear ejection type card reader 111 as shown in FIG. 10 for ejecting the retained cards 112 to the rear, the card drawer member 113 has a structure that traverses the card transport path 114. Therefore, there are cases where the card ejecting mechanism having a relatively simple structure as described above cannot be applied, and another card ejecting mechanism must be installed.

Therefore, the present invention makes it possible to easily pull out the retained cards without removing the card reader or removing the user bezel, and is also applicable to a rear ejection type card reader. The purpose is to provide.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 takes in a card from a card insertion port to a card carrying path inside a card reader by a card carrying means, and stores data inside the card reader. Record /
In a card forced ejection mechanism of a card reader configured to reproduce, a card contact portion that intersects with the card conveyance path is provided on the back side of the card in the card conveyance path housed inside the card reader when viewed from the card insertion slot. At the same time, the operation member is located on the front member that constitutes the card insertion slot, and the card drawer member is arranged so as to be movable in the same direction as the card transport path, and the card drawer member is urged toward the card insertion slot side. Biasing means, a blocking member for blocking operable protrusion of the card drawer member from the front surface of the front member by the biasing means, and limiting the movable range of the biasing means.
For this reason, it is provided on the frame that constitutes the card transport path.
Spring guide and operating part are urged from below by elastic force
An elastic member, and the blocking member is a frame or a flon.
Card drawer member, which is an engaging portion provided on the card member.
The operation part of the
Is almost flush with the front surface of the front member, and
Knob operation at the protruding position where blocking by the stop member has been released
Is characterized in that it protrudes as much as possible.

Therefore, the card pull-out member is fixed while being prevented from moving by the blocking member while being urged toward the card insertion opening side by the urging means in the normal time when data is recorded / reproduced inside the card reader. It is held in the open state. Then, when the cards are accumulated inside the card reader, first, by releasing the blocking by the blocking member, the operating portion of the card drawer member is projected so as to be operable from the front surface of the front member by the biasing means. When the operation portion is manually pulled out, the card retained in the card transport path is pulled out to the card insertion opening by the card contact portion and ejected.

Further , in the card forced ejection mechanism according to the first aspect of the present invention, the operating portion of the card withdrawing member has its front surface substantially flush with the front surface of the front member at the blocking position by the blocking member, and blocking by the blocking member. At the projecting position where is released, the projecting position is set to project by an amount that allows the knob operation. Therefore, the operation part of the card drawer member is stored without protruding from the front surface of the front member during normal recording / reproduction of data inside the card reader, and the knob can be operated only when the card has accumulated. Project as much as you can.

Further, the card forced ejection according to claim 1
In the mechanism, the blocking member constitutes the card transport path.
It is an engaging portion provided on the frame or the front member.
Therefore, data recording / playback is performed inside the card reader.
Normally, the card drawer is
It is possible to move by engaging with the engaging part provided on the front member.
Be blocked.

[0011] In the card forcible discharge mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the card abutting portion of the card drawer member is movable between a position intersecting the position and the card transport path retracted from the card transportation path, blocking At the protruding position where the blocking by the member is released, the position is such that it intersects with the card transport path. Therefore, the card contact portion is at a position retracted from the card transport path during normal recording / reproduction of data inside the card reader, and when the cards are retained inside the card reader, It moves to a position that intersects with the card transport path along with the movement of the card drawing member so that it can contact the accumulated cards.

In the card forced ejection mechanism according to a third aspect of the present invention, the concave portion into which the upper side portion of the card abutting portion fits is a flap.
It is provided in Laem. This recess is the card drawer
When the member moves in the card transport direction, pull out this card
The card contact part so that the lever member does not shake to the left or right in the direction of movement.
invite.

[0013]

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.

1 and 2 show an embodiment of the card forced ejection mechanism of the present invention. This card forced ejection mechanism 1
Is incorporated in the card reader 10. The card reader 10 includes a card insertion opening 11 for inserting and removing the card 20, a card conveyance means (not shown) for taking the card 20 into the internal card conveyance path 12 from the card insertion opening 11, and data for the taken card 20. Record of /
It has a recording / reproducing unit (not shown) for reproducing.
The card forced ejection mechanism 1 has a card contact portion 2a that intersects the card transport path 12 on the back side of the card 20 in the card transport path 12 housed inside the card reader 10 when viewed from the card insertion port 11. At the same time, the operation portion 2b is located on the front member 15 which constitutes the card insertion slot 11, and the card drawer member 2 is arranged so as to be movable in the same direction as the card transport path 12, and the card drawer member 2 is inserted. A biasing means 5 for biasing the opening 11 side, and a front member 1 of the card drawing member 2 by the biasing means 5.
Blocking member 4 for blocking a protrusion operable from the front surface of 5
It has and. Reference numeral 13 is a groove in which the card drawer member 2 moves, and reference numeral 18 is a contact (stopper) with which the card 20 abuts.

The card withdrawing member 2 is provided with a card carrying path 1.
It is possible to move in the same direction as 2, ie, the same direction as the card 20 is conveyed, and it is provided so that the accumulated card 20 can be hooked and discharged to the front side.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the card pull-out member 2 includes a card contact portion 2a, an operating portion 2b, an engaging portion 2c, and long holes 2d, 2
d, and is attached to the frame 14 so as to be movable by guide pins 31 and 32 and E rings 33 and 34 that pass through the long holes 2d and 2d.

The card contact portion 2a of the card drawer member 2
The shape of the card 20 is not particularly limited, but in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the card 20 has a hook shape with an inclined portion and is retained inside the card reader 10.
It is formed so that it can be easily hooked. The front surface of the operation portion 2b is substantially flush with the front surface of the front member 15 at the blocking position A by the blocking member 4, and the blocking position B is released.
Then, it is the one that protrudes by an amount that allows the knob operation. The material and the color of the operation portion 2b are not particularly limited, but it is preferable that the operation portion 2b is the same as the front member 15.
It is preferable in terms of harmony in appearance. Further, the card drawer member 2 has an engaging portion 2c, which will be described later.
It is provided so as to engage with the engaging portion 3d.

The engaging member 3 engages with the card drawer member 2, moves the card drawer member 2 toward the card insertion slot 11 side by a fixed amount, and moves the operating portion 2b from the front member 15 by an amount capable of being pinched. It is a guide to make it protrude. The shape or the like of the engaging portion 3 is not particularly limited as long as it fulfills such a role, but the engaging member 3 in the present embodiment is formed as follows.

First, the engaging member 3 can be moved to the frame 14 by the guide pins 31, 32 and the E-rings 33, 34 passing through the long holes 3a, 3a (the length of which is shorter than the length of the long hole 2d). It can be freely moved in the card conveying direction by the length of the long hole 3a. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, one end of the biasing means 5 is attached to the projecting portion 3b provided on the side portion of the engaging member 3, whereby the engaging member 3 is biased toward the card insertion port 11 side. Has been done. Further, the abutting portion 3c provided so as to project from the side portion of the engaging member 3 abuts the blocking member 4 described later to hold the engaging member 3 in a biased state.

Further, the engaging member 3 is provided with an engaging portion 3d which engages with the card drawing member 2 so that the card drawing member 2 can move integrally with the engaging member 3. In the present embodiment, a pair of hook-shaped claws are used as the engaging portions 3d, and the hook-shaped claws are used to sandwich and engage the engaging portions 2c of the card drawing member 2.
However, the engagement between the engagement portion 3d and the engagement portion 2c is loose, and the engagement is disengaged when the card drawer member 2 and the engagement member 3 are pulled in the opposite directions by a force of a certain value or more. ing. Of course, the shape of the engaging portion 3 is not limited to the hook-like claw as long as it operates as described above.

The blocking member 4 is a member formed in a substantially L-shape, and its center is rotated by the guide pin 32 to the frame 14 so as to be located on the back side of the front member 15 as shown in FIG. It is possible to install.
The blocking member 4 has a releasing operation portion 4a for releasing the blocking of the movement of the card drawer member 2. The releasing operation portion 4a comes into contact with the front member 15 from the inside and the rotation range of the blocking member 4 is increased. Are regulated. Release operation part 4a
Is provided so as to be operable through a small hole 16 provided in the front member 15, and the blocking member 4 can be rotated clockwise by pushing the needle-shaped object inserted into the small hole 16. You can do it.

Further, one end of a biasing means 5 is attached to one end 4b of the blocking member 4 to bias the blocking member 4 counterclockwise. The contact portion 4c is provided so as to project from the one end portion 4b, and the contact portion 3c of the engagement member 3 is abutted to prevent the engagement member 3 from moving toward the card insertion port 11 side. To do.

As shown in FIG. 2, the urging means 5 is provided between the projecting portion 3b of the engaging member 3 and one end 4b of the blocking member 4 in a tensioned state, and the engaging member 3 is inserted into the card. Mouth 1
The blocking member 4 is further urged to the 1 side in the counterclockwise direction. Then, the urging force moves the engagement member 3 and the card drawer member 2 toward the card insertion port 11 side. As the biasing means 5, for example, a coil spring, a leaf spring, or another elastic member can be used.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the frame 14 of the card reader 10 is provided with a concave portion 17 into which the upper portion of the card abutting portion 2a is fitted, so that the card drawer member 2 moves in the card conveying direction. The card contact portion 2 is guided so as not to swing to the left and right in the moving direction.

According to the card forced ejection mechanism 1 constructed as described above, the card 20 retained inside the card reader 10 can be taken out as follows.

First, a thin needle-like object such as the tip of a pen is inserted into the small hole 16 of the front member 15 to stop the blocking member 4.
The release operation part 4a is pushed in. Then, the blocking member 4 rotates clockwise around the guide pin 32,
The contact portion 4c of the blocking member 4 that contacts the contact portion 3c and regulates the movement of the engagement member 3 also moves in the clockwise direction. As a result, the movement restriction of the engagement member 3 held at the prevention position A is released by the prevention member 4, and the engagement member 3 is inserted by the urging force of the urging means 5 by the length of the slot 3a. Move to the mouth 11 side.

The card withdrawing member 2 engaged with the engaging member 3 is moved together with the engaging member 3 toward the card insertion port 11 by the length of the long hole 3a, and the operation portion 2b can be pinched. The front member 15 is protruded by an appropriate amount (projection position B). Therefore, an operator or the like who operates the card forced ejection mechanism 1 further pulls the card drawer member 2 toward the card insertion port 11 side to move it while pinching the operation portion 2b. At this time, since the engaging member 3 has already moved by the length of the long hole 3a and cannot move any further, the engagement between the card drawing member 2 and the engaging member 3 is released and only the card drawing member 2 is released. Will be pulled out. The card pull-out member 2 pulls out the card 20 that has stayed when it was pulled and moved so as to be caught by the card contact portion 2a.
0 can be ejected from the card insertion slot 11 (ejection position C).

After the accumulated cards 20 are discharged, if the operating portion 2b is pushed in reversely to the previous operation, the engaging portion 2c and the engaging portion 3d are engaged again, and the abutting portion. 3c
Since the contact portion 4c and the contact portion 4c contact each other, the card drawer member 2
Is reset to the blocking position A, and is returned to the initial state in which movement is restricted while being biased. This allows
The card reader 10 is returned to a normal state in which data can be recorded / reproduced on / from the card 20 again.

According to the card forced ejection mechanism 1 having the above-described structure, the card pull-out member 2 whose movement is blocked by the blocking member 4 is released only when the card 20 stays, and the card pull-out member 2 is pulled out. Since the card 20 can be taken out, the retained card 20 can be easily discharged manually without removing the card reader 10 from the device or removing the outer casing such as the user bezel.

The card forced ejection mechanism 1 of the present invention has been described above based on one embodiment, but another embodiment will be described.

The following card forcible ejection mechanism 1 has the same basic constitution as that described above, but as shown in FIG. 3, the card pull-out member 2 is divided into two in the middle, and the card 20 out of the divided ones. The side of the card abutting portion 2a that is in direct contact with is rotatably supported at the fulcrum 2e.
Further, below the card drawer member 2, there is provided a restricting portion 19 that is in sliding contact with the drawer member 2. The card contact portion 2a of the card pullout member 2 is movable between the position D retracted from the card transport path 12 and the position E intersecting the card transport path 12, and the blocking by the blocking member 4 is released. The projected position B is a position intersecting the card transport path 12.

With the drawer member 2 thus formed, the card abutting portion 2a is rotated downward while the data is recorded / reproduced without the card 20 remaining in the card abutting portion 2a. Retracted from the road 12 (retracted position D). When the card 20 stays in the card reader, the operation portion 2b is projected in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and the operation portion 2b is pinched to pull out the card drawer member 2 to the front side. Drawer member 2
The card abutting portion 2a slides up against the regulating portion 19 and rises upward, and is aligned with the operation portion 2b side of the card drawing member 2 and intersects the card transport path 12 (intersection position E). Therefore, if the card drawer member 2 is pulled out to the front side as it is, the accumulated card 20 can be ejected from the card insertion port 11 side by being hooked by the card contact portion 2a. Further, when the drawer member 2 is returned to the original position after the card 20 is discharged, the card contact portion 2a side of the drawer member 2 is moved by its own weight (or rotated by its own weight) when the fulcrum 2e exceeds the regulation portion 19. The card contact portion 2a side may be provided with an urging means for urging the card contacting portion 2a downward, so that the card abutment portion 2a is rotated downward, and the card conveying path 12 is retracted again to the retracted position D. In such a card forced ejection mechanism 1, the card pull-out member 2 is used for the card transport path 12 except when the retained card 20 is taken out.
Since it is not blocked, the present invention can be applied to a rear ejection type card reader as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in which the card transport path 12 penetrates the card reader 10.

The above-described embodiment is an example of the 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 above-described another embodiment, when the card 20 conveyed to the back side passes through the head 21 and is conveyed again to the front side, the load when the card 20 plunges into the head 21 is large, so that the card is shown in FIG. Since the card 20 is often stayed in such a state, the card pull-out member 2 can be pulled out so that the stayed card 20 can be pulled out while the end portion is in contact with the head 21 and the pressing roller 22. The position of the card contact portion 2a is set. However, the setting position of the card abutting portion 2a of the card drawing member 2 is not particularly limited to this, and may be appropriately changed by, for example, further rearward according to the form in which the card 20 is retained. Of course, it is okay.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the operation member 2b of the card pull-out member 2 is projected from the front member 15 only when the card 20 is retained by using the blocking member 4 having a substantially L-shape. Although the method has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the card forced ejection mechanism 1 having the following configuration can be used without using the member such as the blocking member 4.

That is, FIG. 5 shows another embodiment.
8 to FIG. 8, the card forced ejection mechanism 1 may be configured so that the engagement of the card drawing member 2 can be manually released. The blocking member 4 here is composed of an engaging portion 24 provided on the operation portion 2b and an engaging portion 25 provided on the frame 14 or the front member 15. The card drawer member 2 is shown in FIG.
The engaging portions 24 and 25 are engaged with each other while being urged toward the card insertion port 11 side by the return spring 23 as shown in FIG.
Is urged from below. Therefore, the operation portion 2b is normally housed in the blocking position A while recording / reproducing is performed on the card 20, while the card reader 1 is used.
When the card 20 is accumulated inside the card 0, the operation portion 2b is pushed down and then pulled out, so that the card drawer member 2 can be pulled out to the front side to eject the card 20. ing. Here, in order to pull out the pull-out member 2, the operation portion 2b may be pushed down against the elasticity of the elastic member 26 and the elasticity of the card pull-out member 2 so that the projections 24 and 25 are disengaged. The member 2 is automatically pushed out toward the card insertion slot 11 by the return spring 23 (projection position B). The return spring 23 has a movable range limited by a spring guide 27 provided on the frame 14, and when the operating portion 2b is projected from the front member 15, the pulling member 2 is not biased. After that, similarly to the above-described embodiment, the operation portion 2b may be pinched, the card drawer member 2 may be pulled out, and the retained card 20 may be taken out (discharge position C). Reference numeral 28 is a spring engaging portion of the card drawing member 2, and reference numeral 29 is a spring holding portion of the frame 14. If the card drawer member 2 is pushed into the card reader 10 after the card 20 is taken out, the engaging portions 24 and 25 engage with each other, so that the card drawer member 2 is stored again.

[0035]

As is clear from the above description, in the card forced ejection mechanism according to the first aspect of the present invention, the card is located farther from the card insertion port than the card in the card transport path housed inside the card reader. A card withdrawing member having a card contact portion that intersects with the transport path and having an operation portion located on a front member that constitutes a card insertion slot and arranged so as to be movable in the same direction as the card transport path; Urging means for urging the drawer member toward the card insertion slot side,
A blocking member is provided for blocking the operable operation of the card drawing member from the front surface of the front member by the biasing means, so that when the card stays in the card drawing member the movement of which is blocked by the blocking member. The card can be taken out by simply releasing the card and pulling out the card drawing member. As a result, the retained card can be easily discharged manually without removing the card reader from the device or removing the user bezel.

In the card forced ejection mechanism according to the first aspect of the present invention, the operating portion of the card pullout member has a front surface that is substantially flush with the front surface of the front member at the blocking position by the blocking member, and the operating member is formed by the blocking member. At the protruding position where the blocking is released, the protrusion is designed to protrude so that the knob can be operated.Therefore, only when the card has accumulated, the operation portion of the card drawer member is protruded by the amount that can be operated by the knob. be able to. This allows
It is said that the appearance of the card reader in normal times is harmonized.

Further, in the card forced ejection mechanism according to the first aspect of the invention, the blocking member constitutes a card transport path.
As an engaging part provided on the frame or front member
Therefore, the card drawer member should be
Engage to prevent movement and engage only when cards are stuck
I'm trying to solve the problem so that I can pull out the card. to this
Remove the card reader or remove it from the user bezel, etc.
Easily remove stagnant cards manually without removing the equipment
Can be discharged to.

Further, in the card forced ejection mechanism according to the second aspect of the invention, the card contact portion of the card drawer member is
Since it is movable between a position retracted from the card transport path and a position intersecting with the card transport path, since it is a position intersecting with the card transport path at the protruding position where the blocking by the blocking member is released, Only when the cards are accumulated inside the card reader, the card contact portion can be moved to the position intersecting the card transport path. As a result, the card conveying path is not normally blocked by the card contact portion, so that the card forced ejection mechanism of the present invention can be applied to a rear ejection type card reader.

Furthermore, in the card forced ejection mechanism according to the third aspect of the present invention, the upper portion of the card contact portion fits in.
Since the recess is provided in the frame, the card drawer member
As the card moves in the card transport direction
Card contact part is designed so that the member does not shake to the left or right in the moving direction.
Can be inside.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of a card forced ejection mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a card forced ejection mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a partially enlarged view showing the vicinity of the card insertion slot of FIG.

8 is a partially enlarged view showing the spring guide and the like of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a schematic vertical sectional view showing a conventional card forced ejection mechanism.

FIG. 10 is a schematic vertical sectional view showing a conventional backward ejection type card forced ejection mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Card Forced Ejection Mechanism 2 Card Drawout Member 2a Card Contact Part 2b Operation Part 4 Blocking Member 4a Release Operation Part 5 Energizing Means 10 Card Reader 11 Card Insertion Port 12 Card Conveying Path 14 Frame 15 Front Member 16 Small Hole 17 Recess 20 Card 24 Engaging part 25 Engaging part 26 Elastic member 27 Spring guide A Blocking position B Projecting position D Retracted position E Crossing position

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A card is taken into a card carrying path inside a card reader by a card carrying means from a card insertion slot,
In a card forced ejection mechanism of a card reader configured to record / reproduce data in the card reader, the inner side of the card in the card transport path housed in the card reader as seen from the card insertion slot. A card drawer having a card abutting portion intersecting with the card transport path, and an operating portion located on a front member forming the card insertion slot so as to be movable in the same direction as the card transport path. A member, an urging means for urging the card drawer member toward the card insertion slot side, a blocking member for preventing the card drawer member from being operable and projecting from the front surface of the front member by the urging means , The car for limiting the movable range of the biasing means
Spring guide provided on the frame that constitutes the transport path
And an elastic force that urges the operating portion from below by elastic force.
A member , wherein the blocking member comprises the frame or the front
The card is an engaging portion provided on the front member.
The operation portion of the drawer member is blocked by the blocking member.
In the position, the front surface is almost the same as the front surface of the front member.
It is made one side and the blocking by the blocking member is released
At the protruding position, the protruding amount allows the knob to be operated.
Features and to Luca over de force discharge mechanism that is. 2. The card contact portion of the card drawer member is movable between a position retracted from the card transport path and a position intersecting the card transport path, and the blocking by the blocking member is released. 2. The card forced ejection mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the ejected position is a position intersecting with the card transport path. 3. The upper portion of the card contact portion is fitted in.
A recess is provided in the frame.
The card forced ejection mechanism according to claim 1.