JP4272114B2 - Card discharge sheet - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a card discharge sheet used for discharging a card jammed in a card transport path of a card reader to the outside of the card reader.

  The card reader is configured as shown in FIG. 1, for example. An IC card reader 1 as a card reader is driven by a card transport path 3 through which an IC card 2 (hereinafter referred to as “card 2”) is transported, a card feed roller 4 that is driven by a motor M, and transports the card 2. IC having a roller 5, a magnetic head 6 that reads information recorded on a magnetic stripe (not shown) formed on the card 2, and an abutting portion 8 that abuts the card 2 and that contacts the terminal surface of the card 2 The magnetic head 6 is installed on the side of the card insertion slot 13 of the IC card reader 1 from the contact block 7.

  When the card 2 is transported from the card insertion slot 13 toward the contact block 7, information recorded in the magnetic stripe is read by the magnetic head 6, and thereafter, data exchange with the card 2 is performed at the contact block 7. Like to do. That is, the contact block 7 is pressed against the card 2 by pressing the contact block 7 with the tip of the card 2 contacting the contact portion 8 of the contact block 7. At this time, the contact spring 9 of the contact block 7 comes into contact with the terminal surface of the card 2 and the contact block 7 and the built-in IC of the IC card 2 are connected. Data is exchanged in this state.

  Then, the card 2 that has been processed is discharged from the back end side of the card transport path 3 or returned to the card insertion slot 13 and discharged.

  By the way, cards such as the card 2 and the prepaid card may be bent or deformed or oil or the like may be attached depending on the management state. When such a card is inserted into the card transport path 3, it is called a card jam. There may occur a phenomenon that the card is jammed in the card transport path 3.

  Conventionally, when a card left in the card reader is not ejected even after a predetermined time has passed, a removal sheet having Y-shaped hook portions in which comb teeth are alternately bent in different directions is used at the front end portion of the sheet. The remaining card is pushed out to the discharge port in the card reader. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  In addition, a card jam removing drawer is attached to the card reader in advance, and the remaining card is pulled out from the card reader. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2).

  As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the card removal sheet 131 disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a rectangular shape, and a hook portion 132 is provided at one end portion in the card traveling direction A. The hook part 132 has a comb-teeth shape, and the comb teeth are bent obliquely in the opposite direction alternately in the sheet thickness direction. Further, the base material 131b of the card removal sheet 131 is made of steel, and a head cleaning material 131a is coated or adhered on the surface so as not to damage the magnetic head.

  If the sensor 12 cannot detect the card 2, the card reader 1 recognizes that a jam has occurred. Thus, when the motor M is rotated in the card advancing direction A and the card removal sheet 131 is inserted from the insertion port 13, the card removal sheet 131 is conveyed in the card advancing direction A by the card feed roller 4 and the driven roller 5, The hook portion 132 at the leading end comes into contact with the leading end portion of the card 2 causing the jam. The card 2 is discharged together with the card removal sheet 131 in the card advancing direction A by the card removal sheet 131 to a discharge port (not shown).

Further, in the card reader 200 disclosed in Patent Document 2, as shown in FIG. 6, a drawer 222 for taking out the jammed card 230 is provided in the card reader 200. The drawing tool 222 is formed by a rod-like member whose overall shape is substantially U-shaped.
And as shown in FIG. 6, the both ends are bent vertically and the latching | locking part which latches the edge of the card | curd 230 is formed.

  The drawing tool 222 is provided below the mounting position of the card 230 in the card reader 200. When the card 230 is caught in the card reader 200 and is no longer discharged, the user pulls the grip portion 210 of the drawer 222 in the direction of the arrow in the figure. At this time, since the locking portion is hooked on the edge of the card 230, the card 230 is pulled out to the card insertion slot 221 side and easily discharged to the outside.

JP-A-5-143781 JP-A-4-178958

However, in the card removal sheet disclosed in Patent Document 1, the tip is a Y-shaped hook portion, which can only be pushed out in the card advancing direction A, and the card drawing direction B (the direction opposite to the card advancing direction A). There is a problem that the card 2 cannot be pulled back and taken out.
Further, in order to push out the left card 2 to a discharge port (not shown) in the card reader 1, a card stacker (not shown) separate from the card reader must be provided, and the card reader 1 is included. The entire apparatus becomes large.

Next, the card reader disclosed in Patent Document 2 has a structure in which the drawer is attached to the card reader regardless of whether it is used, which increases the number of parts, leading to an increase in cost.
In addition, if the length of the locking portion is short, it is difficult to reliably hook a bent card or a thin card such as a prepaid card, and conversely, if it is too long, it may come into contact with the frame constituting the card conveyance path. However, there is also a problem that smooth operation cannot be performed.

  Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a simple configuration without providing a drawer or the like in the card reader, and reliably eject the card or the like outside the card reader when a card jam occurs in the card transport path. It is to provide a card discharge sheet that can be used.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a card discharge sheet for removing a card jammed in a card transport path of a card reader, and the card discharge sheet has a burr so as to sandwich the jammed card. A cardboard is provided, and the jammed card is ejected to the outside of the card reader so as to be sandwiched between the cardboard and the card discharge sheet main body.

In the present invention, the card jammed in the card transport can be ejected outside the card reader by being sandwiched between the collar and the card ejection sheet body, so there is no need to provide a card stacker for storing the cards. The size of the entire apparatus including the card reader is prevented.
In addition, since the jammed card can be discharged using the card discharge sheet, a structure in which the card discharge sheet is installed in the card reader itself is prevented, and cost increase is prevented.

  In the present invention, the card discharge sheet is preferably based on PET (polyethylene terephthalate) having flexibility and elasticity. With this configuration, even when pushed into the card conveyance path, the card discharge sheet is adapted to each component protruding into the card conveyance path. The jammed card can be discharged without sliding the surface and damaging each component.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the length of the collar portion of the collar is longer than the height of the card conveyance path. With this configuration, the opening angle θ between the collar portion and the card ejection sheet body becomes an acute angle, and even if the card ejection sheet is pulled out in the card withdrawal direction, the card ejection sheet can be held without the collar portion being warped. Due to the flexibility and elasticity, it can be slid along the outer peripheral surface of each component projecting into the card conveying path, and it is possible to prevent the collar portion from warping and becoming unusable.

In the present invention, the card jammed in the card transport can be ejected outside the card reader so as to be sandwiched between the collar portion and the card ejection sheet body, so it is necessary to provide a card stacker for storing the cards Therefore, the overall size of the apparatus including the card reader is prevented from being increased.
In addition, since the jammed card can be discharged using the card discharge sheet, a structure in which the card discharge sheet is installed in the card reader itself is prevented, and cost increase is prevented.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a card reader. FIG. 2 is a plan view and a front view of a card discharge sheet showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a card discharge sheet of a card reader showing another embodiment. 4A to 4D are views showing the operation of the card discharge sheet.

(Configuration of card reader)
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an IC card reader 1 as a card reader of the present invention. The IC card reader 1 is operated by a motor M and a card feeding roller 4 and a driven roller 5 that carry the card 2 and a magnetic stripe ( A magnetic head 6 that reads information recorded on the magnetic head 6; a contact block 7 that has a contact portion 8 that contacts the card 2 and a contact spring 9 that contacts the terminal surface of the card 2; 6 is installed on the side of the card insertion slot 13 of the IC card reader 1 from the contact block 7.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4A to 4D, the contact block 7 is supported by four links 10 so as to be able to protrude and retract from the card transport path 3. Further, the contact block 7 is formed with an abutting portion 8 that protrudes toward the card transport path 3 so as to abut the tip of the card 2. When the card 2 is not inserted, the IC contact block 7 is pulled in the card drawing direction B (the direction opposite to the card traveling direction A) by an elastic member, for example, a tension coil spring 11. Thus, the IC contact block 7 is configured to descend toward the card transport path 3 as the card 2 moves in the card traveling direction A. When the IC contact block 7 is lowered, the contact spring 9 comes into contact with a contact type input / output terminal (not shown) of the card 2.

  The contact spring 9 is preferably in elastic contact with the contact type input / output terminal of the card 2 in order to improve communication reliability, and is preferably in point contact so that the contact pressure is concentrated. For this reason, in this embodiment, the contact spring 9 is comprised by the torsion coil spring.

  When the card 2 is transported from the card insertion slot 13 toward the contact block 7, information recorded in the magnetic stripe is read by the magnetic head 6, and thereafter, data exchange with the card 2 is performed at the contact block 7. Like to do.

  Further, the card feed roller 4 is driven by a motor M, the rotation of the card feed roller 4 is transmitted to the driven roller 5, and the card feed roller 4 and the driven roller 5 rotate integrally. The card 2 can be conveyed in a predetermined direction by the rotation of the card feeding roller 4 and the driven roller 5.

  The IC card reader 1 according to the present embodiment has a plurality of card detection sensors 12 arranged in the card transport path 3 behind the card feeding roller 4 and the driven roller 5 at intervals shorter than the card length. The card detection sensor 12 is used to detect the position of the card 2 in the card transport path 3 from the presence or absence of the card detection signal of each sensor 12. In the present embodiment, the card detection sensor 12 uses a photosensor including a light emitting element and a light receiving element. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other sensors such as a mechanical switch may be used. Reference numeral 14 denotes a circuit board on which a control circuit is mounted.

(Structure of card discharge sheet)
Next, a card discharge sheet for discharging cards jammed in the card transport path will be described in detail.

  The card discharge sheet 20 has a rectangular shape as shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), the width dimension W is slightly shorter than the width dimension of the card transport path, and the length dimension L is a card reader. It is longer than one card transport path 3.

  The card discharge sheet 20 has a collar portion 21 having a burr so as to sandwich a jammed card at the front end side in the card advancing direction A, a grip portion 22 gripped by a user, and a contact protruding in the card transport path 3 It consists of a recess 23 formed to avoid contact with the spring 9.

As shown in FIG. 2A, three collar portions 21 are provided so as to surround the recess 23.
Each flange 21 is rectangular, leaving one side (hereinafter referred to as “root portion 21a”) of the card discharge sheet 20 and the other three sides (hereinafter referred to as “tip portion 21b”, “ The side end portion 21c "and the" side end portion 21d "are cut.
The flange portion 21 opens as it goes toward the tip portion 21b. However, as shown in FIG. 2B, the opening angle θ is an acute angle, that is, smaller than 90 °.
Moreover, the collar part 21 has flexibility using the root part 21a as a fulcrum.

The lengths m ₁ and m ₂ of the collar portion 21 are longer than the height H (see FIG. 1) of the card transport path 3.
When the lengths m ₁ and m ₂ are shorter than the height H, the tip end portion 21b of the collar portion 21 does not come into contact with the lower surface in the drawing of the card transport path 3, so that the card discharge sheet 20 is moved in the card drawing direction B. Depending on the drawing load of the card 2, the collar portion 21 easily warps with the root portion 21a as a fulcrum. Thus, if the collar part 21 warps, the card discharge sheet 20 may not be usable.
Further, when the warp is turned back, the outer peripheral surface of the card feed roller 4 may be damaged if it comes into contact with the tip 21 b of the flange 21.

Therefore, in the card discharge sheet 20 shown in the present embodiment, the lengths m ₁ and m _{2 of the} collar portion 21 are longer than the height H of the card transport path 3.
Thereby, the front-end | tip part 21b of the collar part 21 will always contact the lower surface of the card conveyance path 3, and the opening angle (theta) is an acute angle and is smaller than 90 degrees.
Thus, since the lengths m ₁ and m ₂ of the collar portion 21 are longer than the height H, even if a large load is applied from the card 2 when the card 2 is pulled out, the leading end portion 21b is not connected to the card transport path 3. Since it contacts the lower surface, it does not easily warp and starts to move along the outer peripheral surface of the card feed roller 4 due to the flexibility and elasticity of the card discharge sheet 20.

Note that the lengths m ₁ and m ₂ of the flange portion 21 may be the same length or different lengths as long as the tip portion 21 b is in contact with the card transport path 3. It is good.
Further, a plurality of card discharge sheets having several lengths may be prepared as long as the length of the front end 21b is in contact with the card transport path 3.
Further, the shape of the collar portion 21 is not limited to the rectangle shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, and may be any shape as long as a jammed card can be inserted.

  The card discharge sheet 20 described above is based on PET (polyethylene terephthalate) having flexibility and elasticity. For this reason, even when it is pushed into the card transport path 3, it is adapted to each component such as the card feed roller 4, the driven roller 5, the magnetic head 6 and the like protruding into the card transport path 3. . That is, it is possible to slide along the outer peripheral surface of each component. The material is not limited to PET, and may be a flexible or elastic material such as a polypropylene (PP) sheet or a polycarbonate (PC) sheet.

(Card processing operation)
The operation of discharging the card jammed in the card transport path 3 using the IC card reader 1 and the card discharge sheet 20 described above will be described below.

When a card 2 having a magnetic stripe and incorporating an IC (not shown) is inserted from the card insertion slot 13, the card detection sensor 12 closest to the card insertion slot 13 detects the card 2 and drives the motor M. As a result, the card feed roller 4 and the driven roller 5 are operated, and after the leading end of the card 2 reaches the card feed roller 4 and the driven roller 5, the card 2 is automatically conveyed along the card conveyance path 3 by these.
The magnetic data stored in the magnetic stripe is read by the magnetic head 6 adjacent to the card feed roller 4. Next, the contact block 7 is pressed against the card 2 by pressing the contact block 7 with the leading end of the card 2 contacting the contact portion 8 of the contact block 7. At this time, the IC contact 9 of the contact block 7 comes into contact with the terminal surface of the card 2 and the contact block 7 and the built-in IC of the card 2 are connected. Data is exchanged in this state.

  On the other hand, when the card 2 is taken into the card transport path 3 and is located in the card transport path 3 for a predetermined time or when the moving speed in the card transport path 3 is remarkably slowed, the card 2 enters the card transport path 3. Based on the signal from the card detection sensor 12 to be arranged, the control circuit 14 determines “card jam”, and the motor M stops.

After the motor M stops, the card discharge sheet 20 is inserted into the card insertion slot 13, and the operator manually pushes the card discharge sheet 20 into the card transport path 3 (see FIG. 4A).
Since the card discharge sheet 20 to be pushed is formed in a direction in which the burr 21 of the collar 21 does not resist the card traveling direction A, it can be pushed in smoothly.
Even when the card discharge sheet 20 is pushed into the card conveyance path 3, the card discharge sheet 20 becomes compatible with each component such as the card feed roller 4, the driven roller 5, and the magnetic head 6 protruding into the card conveyance path 3. Therefore, it slides along the outer peripheral surface of these parts.

Then, while sliding on the illustrated upper surface of the jammed card 2, it is further pushed into the back side of the card reader 1 and comes into contact with the contact portion 8 of the contact block 7 (see FIG. 4B).
In this state, out of the flange portions 21 formed at three locations, the leading end portions 21 b of the two flange portions 21 formed beside the concave portion 23 are on the back side with respect to the leading end of the jammed card 2.
The remaining one collar 21 is located on the upper surface of the jammed card 2 as shown in FIG.
Further, the card discharge sheet 20 is configured to avoid contact with the contact spring 9 protruding into the card transport path 3 by the recess 23.

Next, when the operator pulls out the card discharge sheet 20 in the card pulling direction B (in the direction opposite to the card moving direction A), that is, in the card insertion slot 13 side, the card discharge sheet 20 is located behind the leading end of the jammed card 2. The two collar portions 21 are in contact with the leading end of the card 2 clogged.
After the contact, as shown in FIG. 4 (c), the burr of the collar portion 21 tries to advance toward the lower surface of the card conveying path 3, and the leading end portions 21b of the two collar portions 21 are in contact with the jammed card 2 and the card conveyance. Enter the lower surface of the road 3.

Further, when the card discharge sheet 20 is pulled in the card pulling direction B, the jammed card 2 is integrated with the card discharge sheet 20 in a state of being sandwiched between the two flange portions 21 and the card discharge sheet 20 main body. (See FIG. 4D).
When the operator further draws in the card drawing direction B, the sandwiched card 2 is discharged from the card insertion slot 13 together with the card discharge sheet 20.

  In the card conveyance path 3, components such as the card feed roller 4, the driven roller 5, and the magnetic head 6 protrude toward the card conveyance path 3. However, as long as the card feed roller 4 is not locked. The card can be passed between the card feed roller 4 and the driven roller 5 by the operator's pulling force. Further, as described above, the flange portion 21 of the card discharge sheet 20 has an acute opening angle θ, so that the flange portion 21 does not warp and adapts to the flexibility and elasticity of the card discharge sheet 20. That is, since it starts to move along the outer peripheral surface of the card feed roller 4a, it slides along the outer peripheral surface of these components integrally with the jammed card 2.

(Effect of this embodiment)
Since the card jammed in the card transport path 3 can be ejected outside the card reader 1 by being sandwiched between the collar 21 having the burr and the card ejection sheet 20 main body, the card is stored in the card reader 1. There is no need to provide a storage section to prevent the size of the entire apparatus including the card reader 1 from increasing.
Further, since the jammed card can be discharged using the card discharge sheet 20, the structure of installing the card discharge sheet 20 in the card reader 1 itself is not taken, and the cost increase is prevented.

  The card discharge sheet 20 is made of flexible and elastic PET (polyethylene terephthalate) as a base material. When the card discharge sheet 20 is pushed into the card transport path 3, the card discharge sheet 20 Since it adapts to each other, the jammed card 2 can be discharged without damaging each component.

Further, since the lengths m ₁ and m ₂ of the collar portion 21 are longer than the height H of the card transport path 3, even if the card discharge sheet 20 is pulled out in the card drawing direction B, Since the leading end portion 21b contacts the lower surface of the card transport path 3 and the opening angle θ between the card discharge sheet 20 main body and the flange portion 21 becomes an acute angle, the flange portion 21 is not warped and the card discharge sheet 20 is flexible. Due to the property and elasticity, it becomes compatible, that is, it can be slid along the outer peripheral surface of each component in the card transport path 3, and it can be prevented that it becomes unusable due to warping.

(Other embodiments)
The above-described embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, since the IC card reader 1 includes the contact block 7, the concave portion 23 is formed to avoid contact with the contact spring 9. However, in the case of a magnetic card reader including only the magnetic head 6. In the case of a non-contact type IC card reader that does not require the contact block 7, the concave portion 23 may not be formed.
For example, in the card discharge sheet 30 shown in FIG. 3, a collar portion 31 having a burr in the entire width direction may be formed.

  Further, the card discharge sheet 30 is provided with a grip portion 22 that is held by the user and a restriction portion 33 that abuts against the card insertion slot 13. As a result, when the card discharge sheet 30 is inserted into the card transport path 3, the card discharge sheet 30 is inserted too much into the card reader 1 and carelessly contacts parts or the like disposed in the card reader 1. Can be avoided.

  For example, the present embodiment is an IC card reader provided with a contact block, but is used for a magnetic card reader that reads and writes information on a magnetic card provided with a magnetic stripe, and a non-contact IC card reader that does not require a contact block. May be.

  Furthermore, a card reader used for a thin card such as a prepaid card may be used.

It is a top view which shows schematic structure of the card reader which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The card discharge sheet which concerns on embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view. It is a top view which shows the card | curd discharge sheet which concerns on other embodiment. (A)-(d) is explanatory drawing explaining the processing operation | movement of a card | curd discharge sheet. The card removal sheet | seat of a prior art example is shown, (A) is a top view, (B) is a front view. It is the schematic which shows the card clogging removal structure of the card reader which concerns on other embodiment of a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Card reader 2 Card 3 Card conveyance path 7 Contact block 8 Contact part 9 Contact spring 12 Card detection sensor 13 Card insertion slot 20, 30 Card discharge sheet 21, 31 Gutter part 22, 32 Grasp part

Claims (3)

  A card discharge sheet for removing a card jammed in a card transport path of a card reader, the card discharge sheet having a collar having a collar so as to sandwich the jammed card, and the jammed card is removed from the collar And a card discharge sheet main body, and the card discharge sheet is discharged outside the card reader.   The card discharge sheet according to claim 1, wherein the card discharge sheet is made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) having flexibility and elasticity.   The card discharge sheet according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a length of the collar of the collar portion is longer than a height of the card conveying path.

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