JP5898030B2 - Card reader - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a card reader that processes a card formed in a substantially rectangular shape by conveying it in the short direction.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a magnetic head moving type magnetic stripe reading / writing device that reads magnetic data from a magnetic stripe formed on a magnetic medium and writes magnetic data to the magnetic stripe is known (for example, patents). Reference 1). In a magnetic medium processed by the magnetic stripe reading / writing device described in Patent Document 1, magnetic stripes are formed in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the magnetic medium. The magnetic stripe reading / writing device includes a slide mechanism that moves the magnetic head in the direction in which the magnetic stripe is formed, and a transport roller that transports the magnetic medium in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the magnetic head.

  Conventionally, a card reader that reads magnetic data recorded on a card and writes magnetic data to the card is known (see, for example, Patent Document 2). The card reader described in Patent Literature 2 includes a card processing unit having a card transport mechanism and a magnetic head, and a card insertion unit in which a card insertion slot is formed. A card transport path through which cards are transported is formed on the back side of the insertion slot. The card insertion section includes a card insertion detection mechanism for detecting whether or not a card has been inserted from the insertion slot, and a shutter member that opens and closes the card conveyance path. The shutter member can close the card transport path in the entire area of the card transport path in the width direction of the card transport path. The card insertion unit includes a pre-head (magnetic head) for detecting whether or not magnetic data is recorded on the card, and a metal sensor for detecting whether or not an IC chip is built in the card. I have.

  In the card reader described in Patent Document 2, a card insertion detection mechanism, a pre-head, and a metal sensor are arranged between the insertion slot and the shutter member in the card transport direction. In this card reader, the shutter member closes the card transport path in a standby state before the card is inserted. In this card reader, the shutter member opens the card transport path when it is detected that a regular card is inserted from the insertion slot based on the detection results of the card insertion detection mechanism, the pre-head, and the metal sensor.

  Here, the shape of the card having the magnetic stripe is defined by international standards and JIS standards, and is a substantially rectangular shape with rounded corners. The magnetic stripe is formed in a strip shape parallel to the longitudinal direction of the card formed in a substantially rectangular shape. In the card reader described in Patent Document 2, cards with magnetic stripes conforming to international standards and JIS standards are processed, and the cards are conveyed in the longitudinal direction.

  In the card reader described in Patent Document 2, for example, when a card is forcibly inserted from an insertion slot at an unexpected speed, a card insertion detection mechanism, a pre-head is used even though a regular card is inserted from the insertion slot. In some cases, the metal sensor cannot detect properly, and the shutter member does not open the card transport path. In this case, the back end of the card inserted from the insertion slot contacts the shutter member, but if the user cannot grasp the front end side of the card that contacts the shutter member, the system in which the card reader is mounted is stopped. Then, the card removal process must be performed. In order to prevent the occurrence of such a problem, in the card reader described in Patent Document 2, the front end side of the card whose back end is in contact with the shutter member is protruded from the insertion opening to such an extent that the user can grasp it. A distance between the insertion slot and the shutter member in the card conveying direction is set.

JP-A-9-128872 JP 2010-160666 A

  A device that transports a magnetic medium in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the magnetic stripe, such as the magnetic stripe reading / writing device described in Patent Document 1, and processes cards with magnetic stripes that comply with international standards and JIS standards. Card is transported in the short direction. Even in devices where cards are transported in the short direction, in order to prevent cards other than regular cards from being taken into the device or to prevent tampering, etc. It is preferable that the shutter member to close is arrange | positioned at the card insertion part. Also in this apparatus, it is preferable that a card insertion detection mechanism or the like for detecting that a regular card is inserted from the insertion slot is disposed between the insertion slot and the shutter member. Further, in this apparatus, the distance between the insertion slot and the shutter member in the card transport direction is such that the front end side of the card whose back end is in contact with the shutter member protrudes from the insertion slot to such an extent that the user can grasp it. It is preferable that it is set.

  However, in the case of an apparatus in which the card is transported in the short side direction, the front end side of the card whose back end is in contact with the shutter member protrudes from the insertion slot so that the user can grip the card in the card transport direction. When the distance between the insertion slot and the shutter member is set, the distance between the insertion slot and the shutter member in the card transport direction is shortened. Therefore, it becomes difficult to arrange a card insertion detection mechanism or the like between the insertion slot and the shutter member. Also, in the case of a device in which the card is transported in the short direction, it is inserted if the transport roller for transporting the card is not located closer to the insertion slot than in the device in which the card is transported in the longitudinal direction. The card inserted into the mouth cannot be taken in or ejected from the slot. For this reason, there may be a case where a transport roller has to be arranged between the insertion slot and the shutter member. However, if the distance between the insertion slot and the shutter member in the card transport direction is shortened, the insertion slot and the shutter member It is difficult to arrange the conveying rollers between them.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a card reader that processes a card formed in a substantially rectangular shape in its short direction, and includes an insertion slot into which the card is inserted and a shutter member that closes the card conveyance path. To provide a card reader that allows a user to grasp an end of a card even when the card is forcibly inserted while a distance in the card conveyance direction is secured and a shutter member closes a conveyance path. .

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a card reader according to the present invention is a card reader that conveys a card formed in a substantially rectangular shape in the short direction of the card and processes the card. A card conveyance path connected to the insertion slot is formed, and the card insertion portion is disposed on the back side of the insertion slot in the card taking-in direction, and a closed position for closing the conveyance path and an open position for opening the conveyance path And a projecting member attached to the shutter member and projecting from the shutter member to the insertion port side, and a card contact surface on which the card abuts is formed on the insertion port side of the projecting member The distance between the insertion slot and the card contact surface in the card transport direction is shorter than the width in the short direction of the card.

  In the card reader of the present invention, a protruding member that protrudes from the shutter member toward the insertion port is attached to the shutter member, and a card contact surface on which the card abuts is formed on the insertion port side of the protruding member. In the present invention, the distance between the insertion slot and the card contact surface in the card transport direction is shorter than the width in the short direction of the card. Therefore, in the present invention, even when the distance between the insertion slot and the shutter member in the card transport direction is increased, when the card is forcibly inserted with the shutter member closing the transport path, the card contact surface The card can be protruded from the insertion slot so that the user can grasp the end of the card that is in contact with the card contact surface. Therefore, in the present invention, the user can hold the end of the card even if the card is forcibly inserted while the shutter member closes the transport path while securing the distance between the insertion slot and the shutter member in the card transport direction. It becomes possible to grab.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the shutter member in the closed position closes the transport path in the entire transport path in the width direction of the transport path orthogonal to the card transport direction. If comprised in this way, it will become possible to prevent mischief with respect to a card reader effectively. On the other hand, if the shutter member is configured so as to close the conveyance path in the entire conveyance path in the width direction of the conveyance path, the space occupied by the shutter member increases, so the insertion slot and the shutter in the card conveyance direction When the distance from the member is reduced, it becomes difficult to dispose an insertion detection mechanism for detecting card insertion between the insertion slot and the shutter member. However, in the present invention, since the distance between the insertion slot and the shutter member in the card conveyance direction can be secured, the shutter member is configured to close the conveyance path over the entire conveyance path in the width direction of the conveyance path. Even in this case, it is possible to easily dispose an insertion detection mechanism or the like between the insertion port and the shutter member.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that a plurality of projecting members are arranged with a predetermined interval in the width direction of the transport path perpendicular to the card transport direction. If comprised in this way, it will become possible to contact | abut the card | curd in which the shutter member was forcedly inserted from the insertion port in the state which has closed the conveyance path to several card contact surfaces. Therefore, it is possible to stabilize the state of the card in contact with the card contact surface.

In the present invention, the card insertion portion is disposed closer to the insertion slot than the shutter member and detects both ends of the card in the width direction of the conveyance path orthogonal to the card conveyance direction so that the short direction of the card is A first insertion detection mechanism for detecting that the card has been inserted from the insertion slot so as to coincide with the transport direction; and at least one of the front surface of the card and the back surface of the card, which is disposed closer to the insertion slot than the shutter member. It is preferable to include a second insertion detection mechanism that detects that the card has been inserted from the insertion slot while contacting either one . If comprised in this way, when a card | curd is inserted from an insertion port so that the transversal direction of a card | curd and the conveyance direction of a card | curd may correspond, a card | curd is detected with a 1st insertion detection mechanism and a 2nd insertion detection mechanism. Is possible. Further, with this configuration, when the card is inserted from the insertion slot so that the longitudinal direction of the card coincides with the card conveyance direction, the second insertion detection mechanism detects the card. It is possible to prevent the card from being detected by the mechanism. Therefore, based on the detection result of the first insertion detection mechanism and the detection result of the second insertion detection mechanism, whether the card has been inserted so that the short direction of the card and the card transport direction coincide with each other, or It becomes possible to detect whether the card has been inserted so that the longitudinal direction of the card coincides with the conveyance direction of the card. In addition, when the card is inserted so that the short side direction of the card and the card transport direction coincide with each other, the shutter member is moved to the open position so that the longitudinal direction of the card matches the card transport direction. When the card is inserted, the shutter member can be kept in the closed position. On the other hand, if the distance between the insertion slot and the shutter member in the card transport direction is short, it is difficult to dispose the first insertion detection mechanism and the second insertion detection mechanism closer to the insertion slot than the shutter member. In the present invention, since the distance between the insertion slot and the shutter member in the card transport direction can be secured, the first insertion detection mechanism and the second insertion detection mechanism are easily arranged closer to the insertion slot than the shutter member. It becomes possible.

  In the present invention, the card insertion portion is disposed closer to the insertion slot than the shutter member, and a magnetic detection mechanism that detects that magnetic data is recorded on the card, and is disposed closer to the insertion slot than the shutter member. In addition, it is preferable to include a metal detection mechanism for detecting that the external connection terminal of the IC chip is fixed to the card. If comprised in this way, based on the detection result in a magnetic detection mechanism, or the detection result in a metal detection mechanism, whether the card inserted from the insertion slot is a regular card which should be taken in in a card reader, or a card It is possible to appropriately determine whether the card should not be taken into the reader. Also, based on the detection result of the magnetic detection mechanism or the detection result of the metal detection mechanism, it can be determined whether the front side or the back side of the card inserted from the insertion slot is facing, It becomes possible to determine which direction of the short direction is facing. Further, based on these determination results, when the card is to be taken into the card reader, the shutter member is moved to the open position, and when the card is not to be taken into the card reader, the closed position is moved. It is possible to hold the shutter member. On the other hand, if the distance between the insertion slot and the shutter member in the card transport direction is short, it is difficult to dispose the magnetic detection mechanism and the metal detection mechanism closer to the insertion slot than the shutter member. Since the distance between the insertion slot and the shutter member in the card conveying direction can be secured, the magnetic detection mechanism and the metal detection mechanism can be easily arranged closer to the insertion slot than the shutter member.

  In this invention, it is preferable that a card reader is provided with the card | curd conveyance mechanism which conveys a card | curd, and a card | curd conveyance mechanism is provided with the conveyance roller arrange | positioned rather than the shutter member at the insertion port side. With this configuration, even when the card is transported in the short side direction of the card, the card inserted into the insertion slot is used as a card reader by using the transport roller disposed closer to the insertion slot than the shutter member. The card can be taken into the card or the card can be properly discharged from the insertion slot. On the other hand, if the distance between the insertion slot and the shutter member in the card conveyance direction is short, it is difficult to dispose the conveyance roller closer to the insertion slot than the shutter member. Since the distance between the opening and the shutter member can be ensured, it is possible to easily dispose the transport roller closer to the insertion opening than the shutter member.

  As described above, in the present invention, in a card reader that processes a card formed in a substantially rectangular shape in the short direction, an insertion slot into which the card is inserted and a shutter member that closes the card conveyance path, Even when the card is forcibly inserted with the shutter member closing the transport path, the user can grasp the end of the card while securing the distance in the card transport direction.

It is a perspective view of the card reader concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is a figure for demonstrating schematic structure of the card reader shown in FIG. 1 from a side surface. It is a top view of the card | curd shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the head moving mechanism shown in FIG. 2 from the upper surface. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the head moving mechanism shown in FIG. 2 from the front. It is a figure for demonstrating from the front the contact block drive mechanism which drives the IC contact block shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the state which the shutter member shown in FIG. 2 has closed the conveyance path from a side surface. It is a figure for demonstrating the state which the shutter member shown in FIG. 7 has open | released the conveyance path from a side surface. It is a figure for demonstrating from the front the shutter drive mechanism which drives the shutter member shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure by the side of the front end of the card insertion part shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the card insertion part shown in FIG. 2 from the upper surface. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the front end side of the card insertion part shown in FIG. 2 from a front. It is a figure for demonstrating from the front the positional relationship of the up-down direction of the magnetic sensor shown in FIG. 12, and the card | curd inserted from the insertion slot.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Overall configuration of card reader)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a card reader 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a schematic configuration of the card reader 1 shown in FIG. 1 from the side. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the card 2 shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the head moving mechanism 8 shown in FIG. 2 from above. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the head moving mechanism 8 shown in FIG. 2 from the front. FIG. 6 is a view for explaining the contact block drive mechanism 10 for driving the IC contact block 9 shown in FIG. 2 from the front.

  The card reader 1 according to this embodiment is a device for reading at least one of magnetic data recorded on the card 2 and recording magnetic data on the card 2, and is a predetermined host device such as ATM (Automated Teller Machine). Used on board. The card reader 1 includes a card insertion portion 4 in which an insertion port 3 into which a card 2 is inserted is formed. As shown in FIG. 2, a card transport path 5 connected to the insertion slot 3 is formed inside the card reader 1.

  The card reader 1 includes a card transport mechanism 6 that transports the card 2, a magnetic head 7 that contacts the card 2 and reads the magnetic data recorded on the card 2, and records the magnetic data on the card 2. A head moving mechanism 8 for moving the magnetic head 7 in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the card 2, an IC contact block 9 for contacting a terminal portion 2b (to be described later) formed on the card 2 and performing data communication, A contact block drive mechanism 10 for driving the IC contact block 9 and a positioning mechanism 11 for positioning the card 2 taken into the card reader 1 are provided.

  The card 2 is a vinyl chloride card having a thickness of about 0.7 to 0.8 mm. The card 2 of this embodiment is a card with a magnetic stripe conforming to international standards (for example, ISO / IEC7811) and JIS standards (for example, JISX6302), and is formed in a substantially rectangular shape with rounded corners. On the back surface of the card 2, a magnetic stripe 2a on which magnetic data is recorded is formed. The card 2 is a contact type IC card. That is, an IC chip (not shown) is built in the card 2, and a terminal portion 2 b made up of eight external connection terminals is formed on the front surface of the card 2. A part of the card 2 is an embossing region 2c where embossing is performed. That is, the card 2 is defined with an embossing area 2c to be embossed.

  The magnetic stripe 2a is formed in an elongated strip shape parallel to the longitudinal direction (U direction in FIG. 3) of the card 2 formed in a substantially rectangular shape. The magnetic stripe 2a is formed over the entire area of the card 2 in the longitudinal direction. The magnetic stripe 2a is formed on the one end 2d side in the short direction of the card 2 in the short direction of the card 2 (the V direction in FIG. 3). Specifically, based on international standards and JIS standards, the magnetic stripe 2 a is formed in a predetermined range with the one end 2 d of the card 2 as a reference in the short direction of the card 2.

  The terminal portion 2 b is formed at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the card 2 and at a substantially intermediate position in the short direction of the card 2. The eight external connection terminals constituting the terminal portion 2 b are arranged in four rows in the short direction of the card 2 and in two columns in the long direction of the card 2. The embossing area 2 c is arranged on the other end 2 e side in the short direction of the card 2. A predetermined range excluding both ends in the longitudinal direction of the card 2 is an embossing region 2c. Characters, numbers, and the like formed by embossing in the embossing region 2c protrude to the front surface side.

  In this embodiment, the card 2 is conveyed in the X direction shown in FIG. Specifically, the card 2 is taken in the X1 direction and the card 2 is ejected in the X2 direction. That is, the X direction is the card 2 transport direction, the X1 direction is the card 2 take-in direction, and the X2 direction is the card 2 discharge direction. In this embodiment, the card 2 is taken into the card reader 1 so that the short direction of the card 2 and the X direction coincide. Further, the card 2 is conveyed in the card reader 1 so that the short direction of the card 2 and the X direction coincide with each other. That is, the card reader 1 conveys the card 2 in the short direction of the card 2 and performs a predetermined process.

  The Y direction orthogonal to the X direction is the width direction of the transport path 5 and is the longitudinal direction of the card 2 taken into the card reader 1 in the correct posture. Further, the Z direction in FIG. 1 or the like orthogonal to the X direction and the Y direction is the thickness direction of the card 2 taken into the card reader 1. In this embodiment, the card reader 1 is arranged so that the Z direction and the vertical direction coincide. In the following description, the X direction is “front-rear direction”, the Y direction is “left-right direction”, the Z direction is “up-down direction”, the X1 direction side is “back (back)” side, and the X2 direction side is The “front” side, the Y1 direction side as the “right” side, the Y2 direction side as the “left” side, the Z1 direction side as the “upper” side, and the Z2 direction side as the “lower” side.

  The card insertion portion 4 constitutes a front side portion of the card reader 1. In this card insertion portion 4, the card members 2 are inserted into the card reader 1 so that the shutter members 14 and 15 disposed on the back side of the insertion slot 3 and the short direction of the card 2 coincide with the front-rear direction ( That is, the insertion detection mechanism 16 as a first insertion detection mechanism for detecting that the card 2 has been inserted into the insertion slot 3), and the magnetism as a magnetic detection mechanism for detecting that magnetic data is recorded on the card 2. Sensors 17 and 18, a metal sensor 19 as a metal detection mechanism for detecting that the external connection terminal of the IC chip is fixed to the card 2 (that is, the terminal portion 2b is fixed), and the card reader 1 An infrared sensor 20 for detecting a human body that detects the movement of a person in front of the vehicle and a case body 21 in which these components are accommodated. A specific configuration of the card insertion portion 4 will be described later.

  The conveyance path 5 is formed in substantially the entire area of the card reader 1 in the front-rear direction. The card transport mechanism 6 includes transport rollers 31 to 33 that contact the upper surface of the card 2 to transport the card 2, and pad rollers 34 to 36 that are opposed to the transport rollers 31 to 33 from below. The transport roller 31 is disposed inside the card insertion unit 4. Specifically, the transport roller 31 is disposed in front of the shutter member 14 disposed on the back end side of the card insertion portion 4 in the front-rear direction. The transport rollers 32 and 33 are disposed inside the main body 37 of the card reader 1 disposed on the back side of the card insertion unit 4. Specifically, the transport roller 32 is disposed on the front side of the magnetic head 7 and the IC contact block 9 and on the back side of the shutter member 14 in the front-rear direction. Further, the transport roller 33 is disposed on the back side with respect to a contact portion 66a of a positioning member 66 (described later) constituting the positioning mechanism 11. The conveyance rollers 31 to 33 are arranged on both the left and right ends of the conveyance path 5. A motor 39 is connected to the transport rollers 31 to 33 via a power transmission mechanism 38 including a belt, a pulley, a gear train, and the like.

  The pad roller 34 is biased toward the transport roller 31 and can come into contact with the card 2 from below. The pad roller 35 is urged toward the transport roller 32 and can come into contact with the card 2 from below. The pad roller 36 is biased toward the transport roller 33 and can contact the card 2 from below. As described above, the transport rollers 31 to 33 are disposed on both the left and right ends of the transport path 5, and the transport rollers 31 to 33 are in contact with the upper surfaces on both ends in the longitudinal direction of the card 2. The pad rollers 34 to 36 are in contact with the lower surfaces at both ends in the longitudinal direction. Specifically, the transport rollers 31 to 33 and the pad rollers 34 to 36 are in contact with both ends of the card 2 in the longitudinal direction and avoiding the embossing region 2c. The transport rollers 31 to 33 may be in contact with the lower surface of the card 2 and the pad rollers 34 to 36 may be disposed to face the transport rollers 31 to 33 from above.

  The magnetic head 7 is disposed between the transport roller 32 and the pad roller 35 and the transport roller 33 and the pad roller 36 in the front-rear direction. The head moving mechanism 8 is configured to move the magnetic head 7 up and down, a guide shaft 43 that guides the carriage 42 in the left-right direction, a lead screw 44 that sends the carriage 42 in the left-right direction, and the magnetic head 7. The cam plate 45 and a rotation prevention shaft 46 for preventing the carriage 42 from rotating about the guide shaft 43 are provided. The carriage 42 includes a carriage main body 47 and a head holding member 48 that holds the magnetic head 7. An internal thread member 49 that engages with the lead screw 44, a sliding bearing 50 that engages with the guide shaft 43, and a sliding member 51 that engages with the rotation prevention shaft 46 are attached to the carriage body 47. . A motor 53 is coupled to the lead screw 44 via a power transmission mechanism 52 composed of a pulley and a belt.

  A fixed shaft 54 that rotatably holds the head holding member 48 is fixed to the carriage body 47 with the left-right direction as an axial direction. A torsion coil spring 55 is disposed between the carriage body 47 and the head holding member 48, and the head holding member 48 is lifted by the urging force of the torsion coil spring 55 around the fixed shaft 54. It is energized in the direction to do. The cam plate 45 is formed in a long and narrow shape in the left-right direction, and rollers 56 that are in contact with cams 45a formed on both ends of the cam plate 45 in the left-right direction are rotatably attached to the head holding member 48. It has been.

  In this embodiment, when the motor 53 is driven and the lead screw 44 is rotated, the magnetic head 7 moves in the left-right direction along with the carriage 42 along the guide shaft 43. At both ends in the left-right direction, the roller 56 is in contact with the cam 45a. Evacuated to the side. On the other hand, when the magnetic head 7 moves in the left-right direction together with the carriage 42 and the roller 56 is removed from the cam 45a, the magnetic head 7 guided by the cam 45a so as to be retracted below the conveying path 5 is moved to the torsion coil spring. Ascending by the urging force of 55, the magnetic stripe 2a of the card 2 can be contacted. The carriage 42 moves in the left-right direction while the magnetic head 7 is in contact with the magnetic stripe 2a, so that magnetic data is read and recorded by the magnetic head 7. The magnetic head 7 is connected to the control board of the card reader 1 via a predetermined cable.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the IC contact block 9 includes an IC contact spring 59 that contacts each of the external connection terminals constituting the terminal portion 2 b of the card 2, a spring holding member 60 that holds the IC contact spring 59, and an IC And a substrate 61 to which a contact spring 59 is connected. The substrate 61 is fixed to the spring holding member 60. The IC contact block 9 is disposed between the conveyance roller 32 and the pad roller 35 and the magnetic head 7 in the front-rear direction. The IC contact block 9 is disposed on the left end side of the transport path 5 and on the upper side of the transport path 5 in the left-right direction.

  The contact block drive mechanism 10 includes a block holding member 62 and a solenoid 63 to which the IC contact block 9 is fixed. The block holding member 62 is rotatably held by a fixed shaft 64 fixed to the frame of the main body 37 with the front-rear direction as an axial direction. A fixing pin 65 is fixed to the plunger 63 a of the solenoid 63. The fixing pin 65 is engaged with an engaging groove 62 a formed in the block holding member 62. The solenoid 63 is arranged so that the plunger 63a moves in the left-right direction. A compression coil spring (not shown) is disposed between the main body 63b of the solenoid 63 and the plunger 63a, and the plunger 63a is biased in a direction protruding from the main body 63b by the biasing force of the compression coil spring.

  When the plunger 63a protrudes from the main body 63b by the urging force of the compression coil spring, the IC contact block 9 is retracted to the upper side of the conveying path 5 as shown in FIG. When the solenoid 63 is driven in this state, the plunger 63a is pulled toward the main body 63b against the urging force of the compression coil spring, and the IC contact block 9 is lowered as shown in FIG. 6B. When the IC contact block 9 is lowered, the IC contact spring 59 can come into contact with the external connection terminals constituting the terminal portion 2b.

  The positioning mechanism 11 includes a positioning member 66 formed with a contact portion 66a with which the back end of the card 2 taken into the card reader 1 contacts, and a retracting mechanism (not shown) for retracting the contact portion 66a from the transport path 5. ). The contact portion 66a is disposed on the back side of the magnetic head 7 in the front-rear direction. Further, the contact portion 66a is disposed in front of the transport roller 33 and the pad roller 36 in the front-rear direction. The retraction mechanism includes a predetermined link mechanism, a drive source, and the like, and a contact position where the back end of the card 2 can contact the contact portion 66a, and the contact portion 66a retracts from the transport path 5 and is transported. The positioning member 66 is moved between the retracted position where the card 2 can pass toward the roller 33 and the pad roller 36. In this embodiment, the positioning member 66 is normally in the contact position, and moves to the retracted position when performing a predetermined process.

(Configuration of card insertion part)
FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the state in which the shutter members 14 and 15 shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a view for explaining the state in which the shutter members 14 and 15 shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a view for explaining the shutter driving mechanism 70 for driving the shutter member 14 shown in FIG. 2 from the front. FIG. 10 is a view for explaining the configuration of the front end side of the card insertion portion 4 shown in FIG. 2 from the side. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the card insertion portion 4 shown in FIG. 2 from the top. FIG. 12 is a view for explaining the configuration of the front end side of the card insertion portion 4 shown in FIG. 2 from the front. FIG. 13 is a view for explaining the positional relationship in the vertical direction between the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 shown in FIG. 12 and the card 2 inserted from the insertion slot 3 from the front.

  As described above, the card insertion portion 4 includes the shutter members 14 and 15, the insertion detection mechanism 16, the magnetic sensors 17 and 18, the metal sensor 19, the infrared sensor 20, and the case body 21.

  The shutter member 14 is disposed at the back end of the card insertion portion 4. The shutter member 14 is movable between a closed position (the position shown in FIG. 7) that closes the conveyance path 5 and an open position (shown in FIG. 8) that opens the conveyance path 5. The closing portion 14a of the shutter member 14 that closes the conveyance path 5 at the closing position is formed in a substantially rectangular flat plate shape elongated in the left-right direction. The width in the left-right direction of the closing portion 14 a is wider than the width in the left-right direction of the transport path 5. That is, the shutter member 14 in the closed position closes the conveyance path 5 over the entire area of the conveyance path 5 in the left-right direction. The shutter member 14 is coupled to a shutter drive mechanism 70 that drives the shutter member 14 between a closed position and an open position (see FIG. 9).

  The shutter drive mechanism 70 includes two first link members 72, a second link member 73, and a solenoid 74. The first link member 72 is rotatably held by a fixed shaft 75 that is fixed with the front-rear direction as an axial direction, and is rotatably connected to the lower end side of the shutter member 14. The second link member 73 is held so as to be slidable in the left-right direction by two fixed shafts 76 fixed with the front-rear direction as an axial direction. Two fixing pins 77 are fixed to the second link member 73 with the front-rear direction as the axial direction. The fixing pin 77 is engaged with an engagement recess 72 a formed on the lower end side of the first link member 72. The second link member 73 is engaged with a fixing pin 78 that is fixed to the plunger 74 a of the solenoid 74. The solenoid 74 is arranged so that the plunger 74a moves in the left-right direction. A compression coil spring (not shown) is disposed between the main body 74b of the solenoid 74 and the plunger 74a, and the plunger 74a is urged in a direction protruding from the main body 74b by the urging force of the compression coil spring.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the plunger 74a protrudes from the main body 74b by the urging force of the compression coil spring, the shutter member 14 is in the closed position as shown in FIG. When the solenoid 74 is driven in this state, the plunger 74a is pulled toward the main body 74b against the urging force of the compression coil spring, the second link member 73 slides to the left side, and the first link member 72 rotates. Thus, the shutter member 14 is lowered. When the shutter member 14 is lowered and retracted to the lower side of the conveyance path 5, the shutter member 14 is in the open position as shown in FIG. 8 and opens the conveyance path 5. Thus, the shutter member 14 in the open position is retracted to the lower side of the conveyance path 5, and when the shutter member 14 in the open position rises, the shutter member 14 moves to the closed position. The shutter member 14 may move between a closed position and an open position by the power of another drive source such as a motor.

  The shutter member 14 is provided with a projecting member 80 that projects forward from the front surface of the closing portion 14a. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, two projecting members 80 are fixed to the closing portion 14a with a predetermined interval left and right. Specifically, the protruding member 80 is fixed to each of the left and right ends of the closing portion 14a. The protruding member 80 includes a flat plate-like fixed portion 80a fixed to the closing portion 14a and a flat plate-shaped protruding portion 80b protruding from the fixed portion 80a to the front side. When the shutter member 14 is in the closed position, the front end surface of the protruding portion 80b becomes, for example, a card contact surface 80c on which the back end of the card 2 that is forcibly inserted from the insertion port 3 contacts at an unexpected speed. ing.

  A distance L1 (see FIG. 7) between the card contact surface 80c and the insertion slot 3 in the front-rear direction is shorter than a width W1 of the card 2 in the short direction. In this embodiment, the card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3 when the back end of the card 2 inserted into the insertion slot 3 is in contact with the card contact surface 80c so that the short side direction and the front-rear direction of the card 2 coincide. The distance L1 is set so that the user can grasp the front end side of the card 2 to be played. For example, the distance L1 is set to be shorter by about 10 to 15 mm than the width W1. In this embodiment, the distance L2 (see FIG. 7) between the front surface of the closing portion 14a and the insertion port 3 in the front-rear direction is slightly shorter than the width W1, but the distance L2 is the same as the width W1. It may be longer than the width W1.

  The shutter member 15 is disposed in front of the shutter member 14. Specifically, the shutter member 15 is disposed in front of the transport roller 31 and the pad roller 34. The shutter member 15 of this embodiment is a roller that can rotate with the left-right direction as the axial direction of rotation. The shutter member 15 is rotatably held by a shaft 81 arranged with the left-right direction as an axial direction. The shaft 81 is fixed to the upper end side of the shaft holding member 82. The shaft holding member 82 is rotatably held by a fixed shaft 83 that is fixed to the frame of the card insertion portion 4 with the left-right direction as the axial direction. The shaft holding member 82 is disposed below the conveyance path 5. Note that the shutter member 15 of the present embodiment is configured by three rollers divided into three in the left-right direction.

  The shutter member 15 can rotate together with the shaft holding member 82 about the fixed shaft 83. Specifically, the shutter member 15 is disposed in the transport path 5 and closes the transport path 5 (position shown in FIG. 7), and retracts to the lower side of the transport path 5 to open the transport path 5. It can move between the open position (position shown in FIG. 8). That is, the shutter member 15 can appear and disappear in the transport path 5. The shaft holding member 82 is urged in a direction in which the shutter member 15 is raised by an urging member such as a spring (not shown). That is, the shutter member 15 is biased toward the closed position. On the upper side of the shutter member 15, an abutting member 84 with which the upper end of the shutter member 15 urged toward the closed position abuts is disposed. The abutting member 84 is fixed to the frame of the card insertion portion 4 and is disposed on the upper side of the transport path 5.

  During standby before the card 2 is inserted into the card reader 1, the shutter member 15 is urged toward the closed position by the urging force of the urging member that urges the shaft holding member 82. It is closed. In this state, when the card 2 inserted from the insertion port 3 comes into contact with the shutter member 15, the shutter member 15 retracts downward against the urging force of the urging member. That is, when the card 2 inserted from the insertion port 3 contacts the shutter member 15, the shutter member 15 moves to the open position. The upper end of the shutter member 15 in the open position is in contact with the front surface or the back surface of the card 2.

  When the card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3 so that the longitudinal direction of the card 2 coincides with the front-rear direction, the shutter member 15 is inserted no matter where the card 2 is inserted in the left-right direction. Is arranged at a position where they contact each other (see FIG. 11). The width of the shutter member 15 (the width in the left-right direction) is such that when the card 2 is inserted from the insertion port 3 so that the longitudinal direction of the card 2 coincides with the front-rear direction, the card 2 is located at any position in the left-right direction. Even if inserted, the inserted card 2 is set so as to contact the shutter member 15. Therefore, the card 2 is inserted not only when the card 2 is inserted from the insertion port 3 so that the short side direction and the front-back direction of the card 2 match, but also so that the longitudinal direction of the card 2 matches the front-back direction. Even when inserted from the mouth 3, the shutter member 15 in the closed position moves to the open position. In this embodiment, the width of the shutter member 15 (width in the left-right direction) is narrower than the width of the conveyance path 5 (width in the left-right direction).

  Further, the card insertion unit 4 includes a sensor 85 for detecting that the shutter member 15 has moved to the open position. That is, the card insertion unit 4 includes a sensor 85 for detecting the state in which the shutter member 15 is moved in and out of the conveyance path 5. The sensor 85 is a transmissive optical sensor that includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element that receives light from the light emitting element. The shaft holding member 82 is formed with a light shielding portion 82 a that blocks between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the sensor 85.

  When the shutter member 15 is in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 7, the light shielding portion 82 a is separated from between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the sensor 85. On the other hand, when the shutter member 15 is in the open position, as shown in FIG. 8, the light blocking portion 82 a blocks between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the sensor 85. Therefore, it is detected that the card 2 is inserted from the insertion port 3 and the shutter member 15 is moved to the open position by blocking the light from the light emitting element to the light receiving element of the sensor 85 by the light blocking portion 82a. In this embodiment, the shutter 2, the shaft 81, the shaft holding member 82, the fixed shaft 83, the sensor 85, and the like contact the front surface or back surface of the card 2 and the card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3. A second insertion detection mechanism for detection is configured.

  The insertion detection mechanism 16 is disposed in front of the shutter member 14. Specifically, the insertion detection mechanism 16 is disposed at substantially the same position as the shutter member 15 in the front-rear direction. More specifically, a card contact portion 88a described later is disposed at substantially the same position as the shutter member 15 in the front-rear direction. The insertion detection mechanism 16 detects the movements of the two detection levers 88 that are disposed on both the left and right ends of the card insertion portion 4 and can be moved in and out of the transport path 5 (that is, the two detection levers 88). And two sensors 89 (detecting the state of the detection lever 88 in and out of the conveyance path 5). The sensor 89 is a transmissive optical sensor that includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element that receives light from the light emitting element.

  The detection lever 88 extends between the left and right ends of the transport path 5 in the transport path 5 and can contact the both ends of the card 2 in the left-right direction, and between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the sensor 89. And a light shielding portion 88b for shielding the light. The upper side of the card contact portion 88a is rotatably held by a fixed shaft 90 (see FIG. 12) fixed to the frame of the card insertion portion 4 with the front-rear direction as an axial direction. The detection lever 88 is biased by a biasing member such as a spring (not shown) so that the card contact portion 88a moves inward in the left-right direction.

  At the time of standby before the card 2 is inserted into the card reader 1, the card contact portion 88 a is arranged in the transport path 5 by the biasing force of the biasing member. At this time, as shown in FIG. 12A, the light shielding portion 88b blocks between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the sensor 89. In this state, when the card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3 so that the short direction of the card 2 coincides with the front-rear direction, the left and right ends of the card 2 come into contact with the two detection levers 88, respectively. Thus, the detection lever 88 rotates about the fixed shaft 90. When the detection lever 88 rotates, as shown in FIG. 12B, the light shielding portion 88b is removed from between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the sensor 89.

  Therefore, when the light receiving element receives light from the light emitting element in the two sensors 89, it is detected that the card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3 so that the short direction of the card 2 coincides with the front-rear direction. The The insertion detection mechanism 16 of the present embodiment detects the card 2 inserted from the insertion slot 3 so that the lateral direction of the card 2 coincides with the front-rear direction by detecting both left and right ends of the card 2. 1 is an insertion detection mechanism. When the card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3 so that the longitudinal direction of the card 2 coincides with the front-rear direction, only one detection lever 88 of the two detection levers 88 rotates to detect the other. The lever 88 does not rotate, or both of the two detection levers 88 do not rotate. Therefore, when the card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3 so that the longitudinal direction of the card 2 coincides with the front-rear direction, the light receiving element receives light from the light emitting element only in one of the two sensors 89. Either the two sensors 89 receive light or the light receiving element does not receive light from the light emitting element.

  The magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are flux gate sensors including an excitation coil, a detection coil, and a core around which the excitation coil and the detection coil are wound. The magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are three-axis magnetic sensors that sense magnetism in three directions orthogonal to each other (that is, the three directions orthogonal to each other are defined as magnetic detection directions). The magnetic sensors 17 and 18 output an output signal having a level corresponding to the distance from the magnetic body. Specifically, the level of the output signal from the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 increases as the distance between the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 and the magnetic material decreases. Further, the magnetic sensor 17 and the magnetic sensor 18 have the same structure and are adjusted so that their sensitivities are equal. The magnetic sensors 17 and 18 may be magnetic impedance sensors (MI sensors) that detect magnetic data using magnetic impedance.

  The magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are disposed in front of the shutter member 14. Specifically, the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are disposed at substantially the same position as the shutter member 15 in the front-rear direction. Moreover, the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are arrange | positioned in the position through which the card | curd 2 passes in the left-right direction. Specifically, the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are disposed on the right end side of the conveyance path 5. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 12B, the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 avoid the embossing region 2c of the card 2 inserted so that the short direction of the card 2 coincides with the front-rear direction. Placed in position.

  Moreover, the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are arrange | positioned so that the card | curd 2 inserted from the insertion port 3 may be pinched | interposed in an up-down direction. Further, the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are arranged so that at least a part thereof overlaps each other when viewed from the vertical direction. In the present embodiment, the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are arranged so that the magnetic sensor 17 and the magnetic sensor 18 are completely overlapped when viewed from above and below. In this embodiment, the magnetic sensor 17 is disposed on the upper side of the conveyance path 5, and the magnetic sensor 18 is disposed on the lower side of the conveyance path 5. The magnetic sensor 17 is arranged so that the magnetic sensitive surface faces downward, and the magnetic sensor 18 is arranged so that the magnetic sensitive surface faces upward.

  Further, the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are arranged so that one of the magnetic detection directions thereof is parallel to the vertical direction. Further, the magnetic sensor 17 is arranged so that the remaining two magnetic detection directions (directions indicated by arrows D1 and D2 in FIG. 11) are inclined with respect to the front-rear direction when viewed from the vertical direction. Similarly, the magnetic sensor 18 is arranged so that the remaining two magnetic detection directions when viewed from the up-down direction are inclined with respect to the front-rear direction. Specifically, when viewed from above and below, the remaining two magnetic detection directions of the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are inclined by about 45 ° with respect to the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. Further, when viewed from the vertical direction, the remaining two magnetic detection directions of the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are directed obliquely forward. In addition, the inclination with respect to the front-back direction and the left-right direction of the remaining two magnetic detection directions of the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 when viewed from the vertical direction may be other than 45 °.

  Moreover, the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are arrange | positioned so that a clearance gap may be provided between the front surface and back surface of the card | curd 2 inserted from the insertion port 3, as shown in FIG. Specifically, the distance L11 between the lower surface of the card 2 inserted from the insertion port 3 and the lower surface of the magnetic sensor 17 is greater than the distance L12 between the lower surface of the card 2 inserted from the insertion port 3 and the upper surface of the magnetic sensor 18. And the distance L13 between the upper surface of the card 2 inserted from the insertion port 3 and the lower surface of the magnetic sensor 17 is the distance L14 between the upper surface of the card 2 inserted from the insertion port 3 and the upper surface of the magnetic sensor 18. The magnetic sensors 17 and 18 are arranged so as to be shorter.

  Therefore, when the card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3 so that the short side direction of the card 2 coincides with the front-rear direction and the back surface of the card 2 faces downward, the magnetic sensor 18 outputs the card 2. The output signal level becomes higher than the output signal level output from the magnetic sensor 17. On the other hand, when the card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3 with the short side direction of the card 2 coinciding with the front-rear direction and the front surface of the card 2 facing downward, the magnetic sensor 17 The level of the output signal from the magnetic sensor 18 becomes higher than the level of the output signal from the magnetic sensor 18. Therefore, by comparing the level of the output signal from the magnetic sensor 17 and the level of the output signal from the magnetic sensor 18, whether the card 2 has been inserted from the insertion slot 3 with the back surface facing downward, Alternatively, it is detected whether the card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3 with the front side facing downward.

  The metal sensor 19 is a magnetic sensor including an excitation coil, a detection coil, and a core around which the excitation coil and the detection coil are wound. The metal sensor 19 detects a metal member by detecting a change in the magnetic field generated by the excitation coil with the detection coil. The metal sensor 19 is disposed in front of the shutter member 14. Specifically, the metal sensor 19 is disposed slightly in front of the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 in the front-rear direction. Moreover, the metal sensor 19 is arrange | positioned in the position through which the terminal part 2b of the card | curd 2 inserted with the correct attitude | position passes in the left-right direction. Specifically, the metal sensor 19 is disposed on the left end side of the transport path 5. Furthermore, the metal sensor 19 is disposed on the upper side of the transport path 5. Further, the metal sensor 19 is arranged so that the magnetic sensitive surface faces downward.

  In this embodiment, when the card 2 is inserted from one end 2d side in the short direction of the card 2 with the back surface facing downward, the metal sensor 19 detects the terminal portion 2b of the card 2. Further, even when the card 2 is inserted from the other end 2e side in the short direction of the card 2 with the front surface facing downward, the metal sensor 19 detects the terminal portion 2b of the card 2. Therefore, whether the card 2 is inserted from the one end 2d side of the card 2 based on the detection results of the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 and the detection result of the metal sensor 19, or the card 2 from the other end 2e side of the card 2 Whether or not is inserted is detected.

  The infrared sensor 20 is a pyroelectric infrared sensor, and includes a pyroelectric element that detects light including infrared rays by a pyroelectric effect. As described above, the infrared sensor 20 detects a human motion in front of the card reader 1. Specifically, the infrared sensor 20 detects the movement of a human hand or the like in front of the card reader 1. Further, the infrared sensor 20 calculates a difference between a human body temperature in front of the card reader 1 and a temperature around the person within the detection range of the infrared sensor 20 based on infrared rays generated by the person in front of the card reader 1. By detecting, the movement of the person in front of the card reader 1 is detected. As shown in FIG. 1, the infrared sensor 20 is disposed on the front side of the card insertion portion 4.

  The case body 21 is formed of a resin material having translucency. Specifically, the case body 21 is formed of a transparent resin material. An opening (not shown) penetrating in the vertical direction is formed in the lower part of the shutter member 15 of the case body 21. That is, an opening that leads to the outside of the card reader 1 is formed in the lower portion of the shutter member 15 of the case body 21.

  As described above, at the time of standby before the card 2 is inserted from the insertion port 3, the shutter member 14 is in the closed position and closes the conveyance path 5. The shutter drive mechanism 70 drives the shutter member 14 based on the detection results of the magnetic sensors 17 and 18, the metal sensor 19, and the sensors 85 and 89 to move the shutter member 14 to the open position. Specifically, it is detected that the card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3 based on the detection result of the sensor 85, and the short direction of the card 2 matches the front-back direction based on the detection result of the sensor 89. Thus, the card 2 having the terminal portion 2b and the magnetic data recorded on the basis of the detection results of the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 and the metal sensor 19 is detected. When it is detected that the card is inserted from the one end 2d side of the card 2 with the back surface facing downward, the shutter drive mechanism 70 moves the shutter member 14 to the open position. That is, when it is detected that the regular card 2 is inserted from the insertion port 3 in the correct posture, the shutter drive mechanism 70 moves the shutter member 14 to the open position.

  When it is detected that the regular card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3 in the correct posture, the motor 39 is activated until the one end 2d of the card 2 hits the contact portion 66a of the positioning member 66. The transport mechanism 6 transports the card 2 to the back side. Thereafter, the motor 53 is activated, and the magnetic head 7 moves in the left-right direction while contacting the magnetic stripe 2a of the card 2 to read and record magnetic data. Further, the solenoid 63 is activated, and the IC contact spring 59 is brought into contact with the external connection terminal constituting the terminal portion 2 b of the card 2 to perform data communication with the card 2. In this embodiment, when the one end 2d of the card 2 hits the abutting portion 66a, the entire card 2 is taken into the back side of the shutter member 14, and the card 2 inserted from the insertion port 3 is taken as the shutter member. When the shutter member 14 is completely taken into the back side of 14, the shutter member 14 moves to the closed position and closes the conveyance path 5.

(Main effects of this form)
As described above, in the present embodiment, the protruding member 80 that protrudes from the front surface of the closing portion 14 a of the shutter member 14 to the front side is attached to the shutter member 14. Further, in this embodiment, when the back end of the card 2 inserted into the insertion slot 3 is in contact with the card contact surface 80c of the protruding member 80 so that the short side direction and the front-back direction of the card 2 coincide with each other. The distance L1 between the card contact surface 80c and the insertion slot 3 in the front-rear direction is set so that the user can grasp the front end side of the card 2 protruding from the insertion slot 3. Therefore, in this embodiment, even if the distance between the insertion port 3 and the shutter member 14 in the front-rear direction (specifically, the distance L2 between the front surface of the closing portion 14a and the insertion port 3) is increased, the closing portion 14a is transported. When the card 2 is forcibly inserted from the insertion slot 3 with the path 5 closed, the card 2 can be brought into contact with the card contact surface 80c, and the card 2 can be brought into contact with the card contact surface 80c. The user can grasp the front end of the card 2 that is present. Therefore, in this embodiment, even if the distance between the insertion slot 3 and the shutter member 14 in the front-rear direction is secured, the front end portion of the card 2 that is forcibly inserted in a state where the closing portion 14a closes the conveyance path 5 is used as the user. Can grab.

  In this embodiment, since the distance between the insertion port 3 and the shutter member 14 in the front-rear direction can be secured, the shutter member 14 is configured to close the conveyance path 5 over the entire conveyance path 5 in the left-right direction. Even if the space occupied by the shutter member 14 increases, the second insertion detection mechanism, the insertion detection mechanism 16, and the magnetic sensor including the shutter member 15 and the like are provided between the insertion port 3 and the shutter member 14 in the front-rear direction. 17, 18 and the metal sensor 19 can be easily arranged. In this embodiment, since the distance between the insertion port 3 and the shutter member 14 in the front-rear direction can be ensured, the transport roller 31 and the pad roller 34 can be easily provided between the insertion port 3 and the shutter member 14 in the front-rear direction. It becomes possible to arrange in.

  In this embodiment, since the shutter member 14 is configured to close the conveyance path 5 in the entire area of the conveyance path 5 in the left-right direction, it is possible to effectively prevent mischief with respect to the card reader 1. In the present embodiment, the second insertion detection mechanism, the insertion detection mechanism 16, the magnetic sensors 17, 18 and the metal sensor 19 including the shutter member 15 are disposed between the insertion port 3 and the shutter member 14 in the front-rear direction. Therefore, it is possible to detect that the regular card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3 in the correct posture. As a result, in this embodiment, when the regular card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3 in the correct posture, the shutter member 14 can be moved to the open position, and a card different from the regular card 2 is inserted. When inserted from the port 3 or when the regular card 2 is inserted from the insertion port 3 in a wrong posture, the shutter member 14 can remain in the closed position.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the transport roller 31 and the pad roller 34 are disposed between the insertion port 3 and the shutter member 14 in the front-rear direction, and thus the card 2 is transported in the short direction of the card 2. However, the card 2 inserted into the insertion slot 3 is taken into the back side of the card reader 1 by using the transport roller 31 and the pad roller 34 arranged on the front side of the shutter member 14, and the card 2 is inserted from the insertion slot 3. Can be discharged properly.

  In this embodiment, the two protruding members 80 are fixed to the closing portion 14a with a predetermined interval in the left-right direction. Therefore, the card 2 that is forcibly inserted from the insertion port 3 while the closing portion 14a is closing the transport path 5 can be brought into contact with the two card contact surfaces 80c. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to stabilize the state of the card 2 that is in contact with the card contact surface 80c.

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

  In the embodiment described above, the two protruding members 80 are fixed to the shutter member 14 at a predetermined interval in the left-right direction. In addition, for example, the number of projecting members 80 fixed to the shutter member 14 may be three or more. Even in this case, it is possible to stabilize the state of the card 2 in contact with the card contact surface 80c. Further, the number of protruding members 80 fixed to the shutter member 14 may be one. Further, the card reader 1 may not include the shutter member 15.

  In the embodiment described above, the shutter member 14 in the open position is retracted to the lower side of the conveyance path 5. In addition, for example, the shutter member 14 in the open position may be retracted to the upper side of the transport path 5. Further, in the above-described form, the shutter member 15 in the open position is retracted to the lower side of the transport path 5, but the shutter member 15 in the open position may be retracted to the upper side of the transport path 5. In the above-described embodiment, the contact member 84 is disposed on the upper side of the shutter member 15. However, instead of the contact member 84, a closed position for closing the conveyance path 5 and an open position for opening the conveyance path 5 are provided. A shutter member that is movable between the two members and is biased downward by a biasing member such as a spring may be disposed above the shutter member 15. In this case, for example, the card insertion portion 4 includes a sensor for detecting that the shutter member has moved to the open position.

  In the embodiment described above, the insertion detection mechanism 16 is configured by the detection lever 88, the optical sensor 89, and the like. In addition, for example, the insertion detection mechanism 16 may be configured by a detection lever 88 and a micro switch that detects the operation of the detection lever 88. Further, the insertion detection mechanism 16 may be configured by an optical sensor or the like having a light emitting element and a light receiving element that are arranged so as to sandwich a portion of the transport path 5 through which the card 2 passes. It may be configured by a micro switch or the like that is disposed at a position where the end portions in the longitudinal direction come into contact. The sensor 85 may be a micro switch or the like.

  In the form mentioned above, the card | curd conveyance mechanism 6 is comprised by the conveyance rollers 31-33, the pad rollers 34-36, etc. FIG. In addition to this, for example, the card transport mechanism 6 may be configured by a belt or the like that transports the card 2 in contact with the upper surface or the lower surface of the card 2. The card transport mechanism 6 may be configured by a gripping mechanism that grips the card 2 and a moving mechanism that moves the gripping mechanism in the front-rear direction.

  In the embodiment described above, the card 2 is a rectangular vinyl chloride card having a thickness of about 0.7 to 0.8 mm. In addition, for example, the card 2 may be a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) card having a thickness of about 0.18 to 0.36 mm, or a paper card having a predetermined thickness. Further, the card 2 may not include an IC chip. In this case, the card reader 1 may not include the IC contact block 9 and the metal sensor 19. In this case, for example, whether the card 2 is inserted from the one end 2d side of the card 2 based on the difference between the detection timing of the magnetic sensors 17 and 18 and the detection timing of the sensor 85 and / or the sensor 89. Alternatively, it may be detected whether the card 2 is inserted from the other end 2e side of the card 2. Further, the card reader 1 may not include the magnetic sensors 17 and 18.

  In the embodiment described above, the magnetic stripe 2 a is formed on the back surface of the card 2. In addition to this, for example, a magnetic stripe may be formed on the front surface of the card 2 instead of the back surface of the card 2 or in addition to the back surface of the card 2. For example, a magnetic stripe conforming to the standard of JISX6302 may be formed on the front surface of the card 2. When the magnetic stripe is formed only on the front surface of the card 2, the magnetic head 7 is disposed above the transport path 5. When a magnetic stripe is formed on the front surface of the card 2 in addition to the magnetic stripe 2a, the magnetic head 7 is disposed on both the upper side and the lower side of the transport path 5.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Card reader 2 Card 3 Insertion slot 4 Card insertion part 5 Carriage path 6 Card conveyance mechanism 14 Shutter member 15 Shutter member (a part of 2nd insertion detection mechanism)
16 Insertion detection mechanism (first insertion detection mechanism)
17, 18 Magnetic sensor (magnetic detection mechanism)
19 Metal sensor (metal detection mechanism)
31 Conveying roller 80 Projecting member 80c Card contact surface 81 Axis (part of second insertion detection mechanism)
82 Shaft holding member (part of second insertion detection mechanism)
83 Fixed shaft (part of second insertion detection mechanism)
85 sensor (part of second insertion detection mechanism)
L1 Distance between the insertion slot and the card contact surface V Short direction of the card W1 Width in the short direction of the card X Card transport direction X1 Card take-in direction Y Transport direction width direction

Claims (6)

In a card reader that transports and processes a card formed in a substantially rectangular shape in the short direction of the card,
While having a card insertion part in which the insertion slot of the card is formed, a conveyance path of the card connected to the insertion slot is formed,
The card insertion portion is disposed on the back side of the insertion port in the card insertion direction and is movable between a closed position that closes the conveyance path and an open position that opens the conveyance path; A projecting member attached to the shutter member and projecting from the shutter member to the insertion port side,
A card abutting surface with which the card abuts is formed on the insertion port side of the protruding member,
A card reader, wherein a distance between the insertion slot and the card contact surface in the card transport direction is shorter than a width of the card in a short direction.   2. The card reader according to claim 1, wherein the shutter member in the closed position closes the transport path in the entire area of the transport path in the width direction of the transport path orthogonal to the transport direction of the card.   3. The card reader according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the protruding members are arranged at a predetermined interval in a width direction of the transport path perpendicular to the card transport direction. The card insertion portion is disposed closer to the insertion opening than the shutter member and detects both ends of the card in the width direction of the transport path perpendicular to the transport direction of the card. A first insertion detection mechanism for detecting that the card has been inserted from the insertion slot so that the card matches the card transport direction, and is disposed closer to the insertion slot than the shutter member and 4. A second insertion detection mechanism for detecting that the card has been inserted from the insertion slot by contacting at least one of a front surface and a back surface of the card . The card reader according to any one of the above.   The card insertion portion is disposed closer to the insertion opening than the shutter member, and a magnetic detection mechanism for detecting that magnetic data is recorded on the card, and disposed closer to the insertion opening than the shutter member. The card reader according to claim 1, further comprising a metal detection mechanism that detects that an external connection terminal of an IC chip is fixed to the card. A card transport mechanism for transporting the card;
The card reader according to claim 1, wherein the card transport mechanism includes a transport roller disposed closer to the insertion port than the shutter member.

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