JP5176143B2 - Card dispenser - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an improvement of a card dispenser having a function of issuing and collecting various cards including an IC card.

As a card dispenser that issues IC cards for entering train stations and boarding trains, and IC cards for entering and using theme parks and amusement parks, the ones shown in Fig. 4 are known. ing.
This card dispenser detachably supports a vertically long cassette 101 that accommodates a large number (for example, 500 to 1000) of IC cards C stacked in a vertical orientation in a horizontal posture and a lower portion of the cassette 101. The apparatus main body 110 is comprised. The apparatus main body 110 includes a card separation unit 111 having a feed roller 111a that separates the lowermost IC card from the take-out port at the bottom of the cassette 101 and separates the card separated by the card separation unit 111 in the horizontal direction. A transport unit 112 that transports and discharges from the discharge port 113, a reader / writer 114 that is arranged in a transport path by the transport unit and writes necessary information or reads recorded data, and a switchback transport that is determined as a write error And a collection box 115 for collecting the collected IC card by dropping it.
However, when 500 to 1000 IC cards are stacked in a stacked state, an overload is applied to the feed roller constituting the card separation unit 111, the motor load during feeding separation is excessive, and power consumption is increased. This raises the problem of reduced durability. Further, when a large number of IC cards are stored in the cassette 101, the load applied to the lowermost IC card increases, so that it is necessary to increase the motor output required for feeding and separating, while the remaining number is reduced. In this state, it is necessary to reduce the motor output required for feeding separation, but such control is very difficult. For example, if the motor output is set strongly on the premise of a large load from a large number of IC cards, a method such as increasing the load applied to the card separating unit by applying pressure with a weight when the number of cards has been greatly reduced. It is necessary to adopt, and the configuration becomes complicated.

In Patent Document 1, an IC card group positioned above a predetermined number from the bottom of the IC card group stacked in a cassette in a horizontal posture is locked by a protrusion projecting from the inner wall of the cassette, and a space below the protrusion is provided. A configuration is disclosed in which the load applied to the feed roller from the IC card is always constant even when a large number of IC cards are stacked.
However, since a large space is formed inside the cassette, if the number of cards stored in the cassette is increased, the cassette height may be further increased by the space. Further, since a sufficient load cannot be applied to a small number of cards located below the space, there is a possibility that the feeding separation force by the feed roller will be insufficient.
In order to solve the disadvantages of the above-described stacked card dispenser that takes out from the bottom of the card bundle as described above, the bottom of the card bundle C is pushed upward by the backup spring 120 as shown in FIG. It is possible to envisage a card dispenser of a lower stacking type in which the pickup roller 121 in contact with the uppermost part of the card bundle is taken out one by one from the uppermost card. In this lower stacking method, the weight of the card bundle C and the spring force are offset by appropriately setting the spring constant of the backup spring 120. Therefore, in the process in which the number of stacked cards decreases, It is easy to stabilize the backup force for pressing the upper card, and relatively many cards can be fed out stably.

Also, not all the cards stacked in the cassette are stacked with good consistency. As shown in the figure, there is variation in the stacking position in the horizontal direction, so the card edge protruding in the horizontal direction contacts the inner wall of the cassette. doing. When the number of stacked cards is appropriate in relation to the backup force by the backup spring, the feeding failure is unlikely to occur.
However, when the number of cards to be stacked is increased beyond a predetermined number, the contact area between the outer peripheral edge of each card and the cassette inner wall 122 increases, and the total value of the frictional resistance increases. The balance becomes unstable, and the feeding failure due to the pickup roller is likely to occur.
Next, FIG. 5B shows a configuration example in which the interval between the cassette inner walls 122 becomes narrower upward due to component accuracy variation and assembly variation, and FIG. 5C shows a constant interval between the cassette inner walls. However, the case where the cassette is inclined in one direction from the vertical posture when the cassette is set in the apparatus main body is shown.
In any case, the frictional resistance increases due to interference from the inner wall of the cassette with respect to the individual cards constituting the card bundle, so even when the number of stacked layers is not increased so much, the balance with the backup force by the backup spring becomes unstable. A feeding failure due to the pickup roller is likely to occur.
JP 2001-52118 A

As described above, in the conventional card dispenser of the bottom stacking method, a large number of cards stacked in the vertical direction in a horizontal posture (flat stacked state) are accommodated in the cassette, and the card bundle is biased upward by the backup spring. However, the top card was fed out by the pickup roller. For this reason, if the number of cards increases to such an extent that the urging force of the backup spring is excessively reduced, the balance between the frictional resistance between the card and the cassette inner wall and the backup force of the backup spring becomes unstable, and the pickup roller feeds out. Defects are likely to occur. In addition, when the interval between the inner walls of the cassette becomes narrower due to variations in component accuracy or assembly, or when the interval between the inner walls of the cassette is constant, the cassette tilts when the cassette is set on the main unit. The same feeding failure occurs even when
The present invention has been made in view of the above, and is effective in increasing the number of cards stored in the cassette, deformation of the inner wall of the cassette, and feeding failure due to the pickup roller that has conventionally occurred due to the inclination of the cassette. An object of the present invention is to provide a card dispenser that can be prevented.

In order to achieve the above object, a card dispenser according to the invention of claim 1 stacks and accommodates a plurality of rectangular card-type storage media in a substantially horizontal posture, and holds the uppermost card-type storage medium in a substantially horizontal posture. A card dispenser comprising: a card storage means having a card take-out portion for sending out to the outside as it is; and an apparatus main body having a pickup roller for taking out the uppermost card type storage medium in the card storage means. The card storage means includes a storage case having four guide walls disposed opposite to each other with a gap between the stacked card-type storage media and a stacked card-type storage medium. comprising of a stacking table for pushing up the bottom and back-up member comprising a spring for upward biasing this, the housing case is between the inner wall of the two opposed guide walls Interval, is gradually increased in a tapered shape as upwardly directed, as the frictional resistance between the end and the inner wall of the guide wall of said card-type storage medium in the upper part that caused the displacement of the housing case is reduced It is configured.
According to the present invention, the probability that the edge of the card type storage medium interferes with the inner wall of the guide wall is greatly reduced, and the frictional resistance between the guide wall and the card type storage medium is greatly reduced. For this reason, it becomes possible to stabilize the balance between the urging force by the backup member and the weight of the card type storage medium group, it is possible to always apply an appropriate pressure to the pickup roller, and greatly increase the occurrence rate of feeding failure. Can be reduced.
A card dispenser according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect, the inner walls of the two guide walls are inclined outward by 0.5 to 1 degree with respect to the vertical direction.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the interval between the inner walls of the two opposing guide walls constituting the card accommodating means is configured to gradually increase in a taper as it goes upward. Thus, it is possible to effectively prevent an unsatisfactory feeding failure caused by a pickup roller, which has conventionally occurred due to an increase in the number of cards to be performed, deformation of the inner wall of the cassette, and inclination of the cassette.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.
1A, 1B, and 1C are a front longitudinal sectional view, a plan view, and a side longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a card dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a part.
The card dispenser 1 is an apparatus that issues an IC card (card-type storage medium) C required for entering a train station and getting on a train, for example, after the card purchaser has inserted money. When the amount is specified from the operation panel, the amount data corresponding to the specified amount is written on the IC card and issued.
The card handled by the card dispenser 1 of the present invention is not limited to an IC card and includes all types of card-type storage media.

The card dispenser 1 stacks and stores a plurality of rectangular card-type storage media, in this example, IC cards C (IC card group C 積 層) in a substantially horizontal posture, and the uppermost IC card C is substantially horizontal. An apparatus main body 20 having a vertically long cassette (card accommodating means) 2 provided with a card take-out portion 5 for sending out to the outside in a posture, and a pickup roller 21 for taking out the uppermost card type storage medium in the cassette 2; It is equipped with.
The cassette 2 includes a housing case 3 having four guide walls 4 disposed to face each other with a gap between the outer peripheral surfaces of the stacked IC card groups C ｀ and a backup for pushing up the bottom of the IC card group C 群. And a member 10.
The cassette 2 is configured such that the IC cards C can be ejected one by one from the card take-out portion 5 provided at the upper end portion to the outside of the cassette, and the IC card group C ｀ (IC card laminate) accommodated inside the cassette 2 can be discharged. The lower end portion is configured to be elastically urged upward always by a backup member 10 such as a spring. As the backup member 10, a stacking base 10 a and an elastic member 10 b such as a coil spring that urges it upward are used. When the remaining number of IC cards is large, a strong elastic force of the elastic member in a compressed state is used. The card group is pressed against the pickup roller 21 and, when the remaining amount of the IC card is reduced, the card group is pressed against the pickup roller 21 with a light force by the elastic force of the elastic member that has been lowered due to expansion.

The apparatus main body 20 rotates in contact with the upper surface of the uppermost IC card C exposed from the cassette mounting portion 22 that accommodates the vertically oriented cassette 2 and the card ejection portion 5 of the cassette 2 mounted in the cassette mounting portion 22. When driven, the pickup roller 21 that sends it out in the conveyance direction on the left side of the drawing, the separation roller 23 for preventing double feeding, and the IC card C sent out from the card take-out unit 5 and separated into one sheet are shown on the left side of the drawing. A card transport mechanism 24 that transports the card toward the direction, a writer 25 that is arranged in a transport path by the card transport mechanism 24 and that writes to the card, and a recovery cassette 26 that recovers a recovery card (error card, used card). Yes.
As shown in FIG. 1C, the cassette mounting portion 22 includes a mounting opening 22a provided on the front or back side of the apparatus main body 20, and a cassette lifter 22b disposed at the bottom of the mounting opening 22a. It has. After setting the cassette 2 so that the bottom of the cassette 2 is seated on the cassette lifter 22b in the lowered state, the upper surface of the uppermost IC card exposed from the top of the cassette is lifted up with the pickup roller 21 by raising the cassette lifter 22b. It is possible to shift to a state where it can be taken out by pressure contact (FIG. 2).

The card transport mechanism 24 has a plurality of transport rollers 24a along the transport path, and the IC card C is discharged from the discharge port 30 to the outside by driving these transport rollers 24a.
The writer 25 that is arranged on the conveyance path by the card conveyance mechanism 24 and writes to the IC card, when the card dispenser user inserts a predetermined amount of money and performs an operation of designating the amount by the operation panel, Write the amount in the IC card memory. In addition, when a writer (reader / writer) having a reading function for reading recorded data of an IC card is used, data for determining whether the card is an error card or the like is read. A control unit (CPU) (not shown) controls the motor and the like constituting the card transport mechanism 24 based on a signal indicating the reading result from the reader / writer, and reversely drives the transport roller 24a in order to collect the card in the collection cassette 26. Take measures.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the structure of a cassette which is a feature of the card dispenser of the present invention. In the housing case 3 of the cassette 2, the interval W between the inner walls of the opposing flat guide walls 4 is directed upward. It is configured to gradually increase in a tapered shape.
That is, the two opposing guide walls 4 are inclined outwardly in the range of 0.5 to 1 degree with respect to the vertical guide wall in the conventional cassette indicated by the broken line V. Similarly, the interval between the other two opposing guide walls is also inclined outward in the range of 0.5 degrees to 1 degree with respect to the vertical direction.
A vertical line (surface) indicated by a broken line V indicates a predetermined gap G (with respect to the outer peripheral surface of all the IC cards when the IC card C is laminated on the backup member 10 in a perfectly aligned state. 1.5mm to 2mm), but in fact it is impossible to stack all IC cards in a perfectly aligned state, and the positions are shifted in four directions as shown. Are stacked in a stacked state.

In the cassette according to the present invention, even if the lateral position of the individual IC cards C constituting the IC cassette group C 上 の on the stacking base 10a is deviated from the normal stacking position, the IC card in which the misalignment has occurred. The opposing guide wall 4 is inclined so as to expand upward in a tapered shape so that the end portion of the guide wall 4 does not interfere with the inner wall of the guide wall 4.
For this reason, the probability that the edge of the IC card interferes with the inner wall of the guide wall 4 is greatly reduced, and the frictional resistance between the guide wall and the IC card is greatly reduced. For this reason, it becomes possible to stabilize the balance between the biasing force by the elastic member 10b constituting the backup member 10 and the weight of the IC card group C ｀, and an appropriate pressure can always be applied to the pickup roller 21. The occurrence rate of feeding failure can be greatly reduced.
In the present embodiment, the cassette that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body is illustrated as the card accommodating means, but a card accommodating means that cannot be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body may be used.

(A), (b), and (c) are the front longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows schematic structure of the card dispenser which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, a top view, and a side part longitudinal cross-sectional view. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a card extraction part. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the cassette provided with the characteristic structure of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the conventional card dispenser. (A) (b) And (c) is a figure for demonstrating the problem of the conventional cassette.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Card dispenser, 2 ... Cassette, 3 ... Storage case, 4 ... Guide wall, 5 ... Card taking-out means, 10 ... Backup member, 10a ... Loading stand, 10b ... Elastic member, 20 ... Apparatus main body, 21 ... Pick-up roller, 22 ... cassette mounting portion, 22a ... opening for mounting, 22b ... cassette lifter, 23 ... separation roller, 24 ... card transport mechanism, 24a ... transport roller, 25 ... writer, 26 ... collection cassette, 30 ... discharge port

Claims (2)

Card storage means for stacking and storing a plurality of rectangular card-type storage media in a substantially horizontal posture, and taking out the topmost card-type storage media in the card storage means one by one in a substantially horizontal posture A card dispenser comprising a card taking-out means and a carrying means for carrying the taken-out card,
The card storage means includes a storage case including four guide walls that are opposed to each other with a gap between the stacked card-type storage media and a bottom portion of the stacked card-type storage media. And a backup member composed of a loading table for pushing up and a spring for urging this upward ,
In the storage case, the interval between the inner walls of the two opposing guide walls gradually increases in a taper as it goes upward, and the end of the card-type storage medium and the guide that are displaced in the upper part of the storage case A card dispenser configured to reduce frictional resistance with an inner wall of a wall .   2. The card dispenser according to claim 1, wherein an inner wall of the two guide walls is inclined outward by 0.5 to 1 degree with respect to a vertical direction.

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