JPH0281290A - Attaching and detaching device for memory cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a strong force from being applied to a memory cartridge to protect the memory cartridge and a connector even at the time of reverse insertion of the memory cartridge by pressing the memory cartridge into the connector after confirming that the memory cartridge approaches the connector. CONSTITUTION:When a memory cartridge 10 is inserted to a first position, it is drawn into a second position by a first driving means 70, and thereafter, it is pressed to a third position by a second driving means 80, and this, the memory cartridge 10 is loaded to a connector 26. In this case, the memory cartridge 10 is pressed into the connector by the second driving means 80 after it is confirmed that the memory cartridge 10 reaches the second position. Thus, a strong force for loading to the connector is not applied to the memory cartridge 10 by the second driving means, and the memory cartridge 10 and the connector 26 are protected.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] This invention is a memory card in which a memory cartridge is mounted on a device body using a memory cartridge by a motor drive, and a memory card (IJ) is taken out from the device body. )
This relates to an IJ-judge attachment/detachment device.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, memory cartridges have attracted attention as external storage means for electronic devices and the like. This type of memory cartridge includes, for example, something called an IC card or a memory cartridge, which contains a semiconductor memory card (IJ (EPR), ISRAM, etc.), a microcomputer, and a backup battery inside a card-like housing. In addition, in order to access the semiconductor memory, etc., a large number of terminals connected to connectors on the electronic equipment side are arranged.

The thickness of the casing is generally several mm, but some casings are relatively thick.

Such memory cartridges are manually inserted into or removed from the connectors of electronic devices;
Due to the large number of terminals, the resistance was large, and a large amount of force was required to insert and remove them.

Therefore, in the past, the memory cartridge was protruded from the main body of the device in order to remove the memory cartridge, and it was necessary to secure a finger grip for removing the memory cartridge.This made it easy to touch the memory cartridge, making it difficult for people to damage the memory cartridge. there were.

On the other hand, there is a mechanism for ejecting the memory card (IJ), which is configured so that the entire memory card (IJ) fits into the main body of the device, and which makes it easy to remove the memory cartridge by using a lever when removing the memory cartridge.

Furthermore, as a device for transporting card-like items such as cash cards by motor drive, there is a rope ink device that pulls in or out the card by using frictional force applied via a rotating rubber roller.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

By the way, in the case of the conventional manual memory card removal mechanism using a lever, there is a limit to the reduction of the operating load, and especially in the case of small stationary devices, the operating force when attaching and detaching the device can overwhelm the entire device. The problem is that it moves.

Furthermore, since the memory cartridge has a large load when attached to and detached from the connector, it is extremely difficult to stably attach and detach the memory cartridge using a loading device that uses frictional force such as a rubber roller.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a memory cartridge attachment/detachment device that can perform reliable loading and unloading with good operability by using two motor-driven driving means in combination. The purpose is to

1=Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the purpose of forward rotation, the present invention provides a first position for starting retraction of a memory cartridge inserted into a main body of an apparatus using a memory cartridge, and )
When the IJ edge approaches the contacts of the connector inside the device body)
a second position, a third position in which the memory cartridge is attached to the connector, and a fourth position in which the memory cartridge is ejected from the connector; A memory car driven by a motor based on the detection output, retracts the memory cartridge inserted in the first position from the first position to the second position, and is ejected to the fourth position)
The first step is to pull out the J-judge from the fourth position to the first position.
(a memory card driven by a motor based on the detection output of the position detection means and pulled into the second position); pushing the IJ jig from the second position to the third position; The present invention is characterized by comprising a second driving means that is activated by a command to eject the memory cartridge from the third position to the fourth position.

[Effect]

According to the present invention, when the memory cartridge is inserted into the first position, it is pulled into the second position by the first driving means, and then pushed into the third position by the second driving means, and the memory cartridge is inserted into the first position. The cartridge is attached to the connector. On the other hand, (1) when taking out the memory card, it is ejected from the third position to the fourth position by the second driving means, and then the memory card is ejected from the third position to the fourth position by the first driving means.
from the position to the first position. in this way,
By using two motor-driven drive means, the memory cartridge can be reliably installed and removed.
In particular, since the pushing operation by the second driving means is performed after confirming that the memory cartridge has reached the second position, large force is not applied to the memory cartridge from the second driving means when attaching the connector. can protect the memory cartridge and connector.

〔Example〕

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a memory cartridge attachment/detachment device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the device.

As shown in these drawings, this memory cartridge attachment/detachment device mainly includes a guide member 20 of the memory cartridge 10, slide plates 30 and 40, an ejection claw 50, a retraction claw 60, and a roller 70 (FIG. 1). and a slide plate drive section 80 (Fig. 2).

The guide member 20 guides the memory cartridge IO in the cartridge insertion/ejection direction, and has four mounting legs 22.
It is fixedly disposed on the chassis 81 by. Further, a connector 26 is screwed to the deep end of the guide member 20 by screws 24 and 24. Furthermore, the guide member 20
A second bearing piece 2OA, 20, which pivotally supports the rotating shaft 72 of the roller 70, is formed to protrude from approximately the center of the roller 70.

The slide plates 30 and 40 move the ejection claw 50 and the retraction claw 60, respectively, in the direction of insertion and ejection of the IJ jig, and the slide plates 30 and 40 are provided with three long holes 30A1 and 40A, respectively. It's even better. As shown in FIG. 2, these elongated holes 30A and 40° coincide with each other by overlapping a slide plate 40 on the slide plate 30. The three guide pins 32 are fixed to the guide member 20 through the elongated holes 30A and 40Δ so as to be movable in the cartridge insertion and ejection direction with respect to the guide member 20.

Further, a pin 34 is installed on the lower surface of the slide plate 30 to which a driving force is transmitted from a slide plate drive member 80, which will be described later.On the other hand, a retracting claw 60 is rotatably supported on the slide plate 40. A bearing piece 42.42 is provided, and the bearing piece 42.42 is formed with a tapered cam portion 42A142A for pushing up the rotating shaft 72 of the roller 70 when the slide plate 40 moves.

Further, hooks 36 are provided on each of the slide plates 30 and 40.
．． 36 and 44.44 are formed, and a coil spring 46.4 is connected between these hooks 36.36 and 44.44.
6 is stretched. In addition, the slide plates 30 and 40 are
With these coil springs 46.46 3-4 kg
They are connected to each other by some degree of force.

The ejection claw 50 is slid 1iff by four screws 52.
30, and its claw portion 50. to, 50,
f) Notch parts 26A and 26 formed in the connector 26
Enter the connector 26 from A and insert the memory cartridge l.
It is designed so that it can abut and engage with the front surface of O. and,
This ejecting claw 50 moves with the movement of the slide plate 31, and the ejecting claw 50 moves with the movement of the slide plate 31], and the ejection claw 50 moves with the movement of the slide plate 31.
0 is discharged at least until it is removed from the connector 26.

On the other hand, the retracting claw 60 has its ends R60B, 60C.
By inserting the shafts 62A, 62B provided in the slide plate 40 into the holes 42B, 42B of the bearing pieces 42.42 of the slide plate 40, and then fitting the E IJ song 4 to the shaft 62B, the slide plate 40 can be freely rotated. will be placed in Further, the retracting claw 60 is provided with a coil spring 66 that biases the retracting claw 60 in the closing direction, and the arm portion 60B is provided with a drive for opening the retracting claw 60 against the biasing force of the coil spring 66. A pin 68 through which force is transmitted is installed.

The retracting pawl 60 is closed and moved as the slide plate 40 moves in the cartridge insertion direction, and the retracting pawl 60 moves the pawl portions 5QA and 60A into the memory cartridge 1.
0, and push the memory cartridge 10 into the connector 26.

The roller TO (FIG. 1) is made of a material with a large friction coefficient (for example, rubber), and is fixed on the rotating shaft 72. A gear 74 is fixed to this rotating shaft 72, and a rotational driving force is transmitted to this gear 74 from a reversible motor (not shown), thereby causing the roller 70 to rotate forward in the cartridge insertion direction or to eject the cartridge. It is driven in the opposite direction.

Further, both ends of the rotating shaft 72 are provided with support members 75.7, respectively.
5, and is constantly urged to be rotatable by a lever 78.78 which is biased by a spring 76.76. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, before the memory cartridge 10 is inserted, the rotating shaft 72 is
When the memory cartridge 10 is inserted into a predetermined position, the roller 70 is pushed up by the memory cartridge 10 against the urging force of the springs 76 and 76, and the roller 70 is supported by the memory cartridge 10 with a constant pressing force. come into contact with

As a result, when the roller 70 rotates forward or reverse, a frictional force is applied from the roller 70 to the memory cartridge 10 in the cartridge insertion direction or ejection direction, and the memory cartridge 10 is pulled in or pulled out by this frictional force.

The slide plate drive unit 80 (FIG. 2) is composed of a motor 82, a worm 83, gears 84, 85, 86, 87, and a drive lever 88. The motor 82 is
1, and a worm 83 is disposed on the motor shaft 82A. Further, the gears 84, 85, 86, and 87 are respectively rotatably disposed on the chassis 81, and the rotational driving force of the motor 82 is generated by the worm 83, the gears 84, 85, and 87.
．． It is transmitted to gear 87 via 86.

On the other hand, the drive lever 88 is arranged so as to be rotatable about the shaft 84A of the gear 84 on a common support shaft. This drive lever 88
A cam groove 88A and a long hole 88B are formed in the cam groove 88A, and a pressing piece 88C is bent.
8A is engaged with pin 87A on gear 87, and elongated hole 88B is engaged with pin 87A on gear 87.
A pin 34 of the slide plate 30 is engaged with the pin 34 of the slide plate 30. Also,
The pressing piece 88C can press the pin 68 of the retracting claw 60 according to the rotational position of the drive lever 88.

That is, the drive lever 88 is rotated by the shaft 84 due to the rotation of the gear 87.
It rotates in the direction of arrow ASB about A, and when it rotates in the direction of arrow in, it transmits a driving force to the slide plate 30 through the elongated hole 88B and the pin 34 to move the slide plate 30 in the cartridge insertion direction. , the depression of the pin 68 is released by the pressing piece 88C, and the retracting claw 60 is closed.

Furthermore, when rotating in the direction of arrow B, the elongated hole 88B and pin 3
4 to the slide plate 30 to move the slide plate 30 in the cartridge ejection direction, and at the same time, the pin 68 is pressed by the suppressing piece 88C to open the retracting claw 60.

Furthermore, this memory cartridge attachment/detachment device includes photosensors 91, 92 (Fig. 1) and photosensors 93.
Three photosensors (Fig. 2) are arranged. The photo sensor 91 detects the retraction start position of the memory cartridge 10, and optically detects the tip of the memory cartridge 10 when the tip comes into contact with the roller 70 or when it is slightly under the roller 70. To detect. The photosensor 92 detects when the memory cartridge 10 approaches the contact point of the connector 26, and optically detects the rear end of the memory cartridge 10 when the memory cartridge 10 approaches the contact point of the connector 26. Note that the photosensor 92 is disposed near the connector 26, and the memory cartridge 10 is connected to the connector 26.
The leading edge of the memory cartridge 10 when approaching the contact point may be optically detected.

On the other hand, the photosensor 93 is disposed on the shear 781 as shown in FIG. It is detected that the memory cartridge 10 is removed from the connector 26.

The reversible motor for rotating the roller 70 and the motor 82 for moving the slide plate 30.40 are controlled by the detection output of the photo sensor 91.92.93.

Next, the operation of the memory cartridge attachment/detachment device configured as described above will be explained.

First, with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6, the retractable claw 60
The opening/closing operation of the slide plate 30 and the operation of the slide plate 30 will be explained.

FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B) are a side view and a plan view of the main parts of the retracting pawl and the slide plate driving section, respectively, and show a state in which the retracting pawl 60 is open.

As shown in the figure, the drive lever 88 of the slide plate drive unit 80 has a pressing piece 88C that is attached to the pin 68 of the retracting claw 60.
is in a position where it is pressed against the biasing force of the spring 66 to open the retracting claw 60. Thereby, the claw portion 60A of the retracting claw 60 is retracted so as not to prevent the movement of the memory cartridge 1O in the cartridge insertion direction.

Also, the position of the drive lever 88 at this time, that is, the gear 87
The position of the upper pin 87A is determined by a photo sensor 93 that detects the position of the lever 93A that swings due to the rotation of the gear 87.
(FIG. 2), it is detected that the memory cartridge 10 is disconnected from the connector 26. still,
The pin 87A on the gear 87 is connected to the cam a of the drive lever 88.
88A, it is located in a groove having the same curvature as that of the pin 87A. Therefore, even if the gear 87 rotates by a certain amount, the drive lever 88 does not rotate, and as a result, the position of the drive lever 88 can be accurately detected even if the position detection accuracy of the photosensor 93 is low.

Here, when the gear 87 is rotated clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG.
The pressure on pin 68 by 8C is released. This results in
The retraction claw 60 is closed by the biasing force of the spring 66, and the claw portion 60A thereof can be engaged with the rear end surface of the memory cartridge 10.

Further, due to the rotation of the drive lever 88, the pin 34 of the slide plate 3 engages with the elongated hole 88B of the drive lever 88.
0 moves in the cartridge insertion direction, and the retraction claw 60 also moves in the same direction.

Subsequently, when the gear 87 is rotated clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIG. 5, the drive lever 88 further rotates clockwise about the shaft 84A. The retraction claw 60 moves in the cartridge insertion direction in conjunction with the movement of the pin 34 that is engaged with the elongated hole 88B. As a result, the retracting claw 60 has a claw portion 60A.
engages the rear end of the memory cartridge 10 to push the memory cartridge 10 into the connector 26. Further, the pressing piece 88C of the drive lever becomes separated from the pin 68. Note that FIG. 5 shows the state in which the drive lever 38 is rotated the most in the cartridge insertion direction.

Next, move the gear 87 to the position shown in Figure 5! When the drive lever 88 is rotated clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 6, the drive lever 88 rotates slightly counterclockwise about the shaft 84A. As a result, the slide plate 30 is slightly returned in the cartridge ejection direction. This position is detected by the photosensor 93 as the position where the memory cartridge 10 is attached to the connector 26, and at this time, the pin 87A on the gear 87 is connected to the drive lever 88 as described in FIG.
Among the cam grooves 88A, the pin 87A is located in another groove having the same curvature as the movement of the pin 87A.

Then, when the gear 87 is rotated clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 6 to the position shown in FIG.
8 rotates counterclockwise around the shaft 84A.

As a result, the slide plate 30 moves in the cartridge ejection direction as described later, and the ejection claw 50 also moves in the same direction to eject the memory cartridge IO from the connector 26.

Further, the retraction claw 60 opens again when the pin 68 is pressed by the pressing piece 88C of the drive lever 88.
It is possible to draw out the memory cartridge 10.

The drive lever 88 acts as a lever bar when driving the slide plate 30, and the drive lever 88 acts as a lever bar when driving the slide plate 30.
It is possible to apply a larger force (approximately twice the force) to the slide plate 30 via the pin 34 than the force applied from the pin 34.

Next, while referring to Figures 7 and 8,
The installation and removal operations of the IJ will be explained.

First, when the memory cartridge 10 is inserted into the position shown in FIG. 7(A), the photosensor 91 detects the leading end of the memory cartridge 10, and its output signal rises to H level (FIG. 8(A)).

At the rising edge of the output signal of the photosensor 91, the reversible motor that drives the roller 70 is driven to rotate in the normal direction, and the roller 70, which contacts the memory cartridge 10 with a constant pressure, rotates in the cartridge insertion direction, and the friction force of the roller 70 rotates in the cartridge insertion direction. (Fig. 8(D)).

The memory cartridge 10 is moved by the roller 70 as shown in FIG.
When the memory cartridge 10 is pulled in to the position shown in B), the rear end of the memory cartridge 10 passes through the detection position of the photosensor 92, so the output signal of the photosensor 92 falls to the L level (FIG. 8(B)).

When the output signal of the photosensor 92 falls, the retracting operation of the roller 70 is stopped, and the motor 82 of the slide plate drive section 80 is driven to drive the slide plate 3.
0 begins to move in the cartridge insertion direction (FIGS. 8(D) and (E)). Note that at this time, the tip of the memory cartridge 10 is located just in front of the contact point of the connector 26.

When the slide plate 30 starts moving in the cartridge insertion direction, the retracting pawl 60 closes as described above, and the memory cartridge 10 can be pushed in by the retracting pawl 60 (FIG. 7(C)).

When the slide plate 30 moves from the rightmost position in FIG. 7(D) to the position in FIG. 7(E), the output signal of the photosensor 93 rises to H level ( Figure 8(C)). When the output signal of the photosensor 93 rises, the motor 82 is stopped and the movement of the slide plate 30, that is, the movement of the retracting claw 60, completes the operation of attaching the memory cartridge 10 to the connector 26 (FIG. 8(E)). .

Incidentally, a force in the cartridge insertion direction is applied to the retraction claw 60 from the slide plate 30 via the coil spring 46 and the slide plate 4o, and the slide plate 3o is shown in FIG. 7(D). In this way, the memory cartridge 1o is further overstroked in the cartridge insertion direction than the position where the memory cartridge 1o is attached to the connector 26. Therefore, the load (for example, 3 kgf) and the force (
It is temporarily inserted between the memory cartridge 10 and the connector 26 to ensure its attachment.

Furthermore, as the slide lff40 moves in the cartridge insertion direction, the Taber cam B424 provided on the bearing piece 42 of the slide plate 400 engages with the rotating shaft 72 of the roller 70 and pushes up the roller 70, as shown in FIG. 7 CD). When the installation of the memory cartridge 10 is completed, the roller 70 is prevented from coming into contact with the memory cartridge 10. As a result, even if the memory cartridge 10 is left attached to the connector 26 for a long time, the roller 70 will not come into contact with the memory cartridge 10, so deformation of the roller 70 can be prevented, and further, the memory cartridge Since no unnecessary external force is applied to the roller 10 due to the pressure of the roller 70, there is no risk of damaging its internal parts.

On the other hand, when removing the memory cartridge 10, the eject button or the like is turned on, and the motor 82 of the slide plate driving section 80 is driven again to move the slide plate 30 in the cartridge ejection direction.

As a result, the ejection claw 50 fixed to the slide plate 30 enters into the connector 26 and engages with the front surface of the memory cartridge 1O.
Push out the connector 26.

In this way, the memory cartridge 1o is connected to the connector 2.
6, the output signal of the photosensor 93 becomes L.
level (Fig. 8 (C))). When the photo sensor 93 falls, the motor 82 is stopped, the ejection operation of the memory cartridge 10 from the connector 26 by the movement of the slide plate 3o, that is, the movement of the ejection claw 50 is completed, and the ejection operation by the roller 70 is started. (Fig. 8 (D), (E)). That is, the reversible motor that drives the roller 7o is driven in reverse, and the memory cartridge 10
The roller 70, which contacts with a constant pressure, rotates in the cartridge ejection direction and pulls out the memory cartridge 10 by its frictional force.

When the memory cartridge 10 is pulled out to the position where the roller 70 finishes pulling out the memory cartridge 10, the output signal of the photosensor 91 falls to the L level (see FIG. 8). When the output signal of the photosensor 91 falls, the driving of the reversible motor is stopped and the pulling out operation of the roller 70 is completed (FIG. 8(D)).

By the above-mentioned ejecting operation of the memory cartridge 10, the memory cartridge 10 comes to protrude from the main body of the apparatus in which the memory cartridge 10 is used by an amount sufficient for a finger to catch when removing the memory cartridge 10, and can then be easily removed manually.

Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 1, the memory cartridge 10 includes:
A guide ill 10A is formed to prevent the memory cartridge 10 from being inserted backwards or forwardly,
Further, the connector 26 is formed with a convex portion (not shown) that enters the guide groove lOA. Therefore, when the memory card (IJ) 10 is reversely inserted, the memory cartridge 10 is drawn in by the roller 70, but since the edge of the memory cartridge 10 comes into contact with the convex portion of the connector 26, the memory card (IJ) Place lO in place! In other words, it becomes impossible to pull the connector 26 to a position just in front of the contact point. As a result, the output signal of the photosensor 92 does not go to L level, and the operation of attaching the memory cartridge IO to the connector 26 by the retracting claw 60 is prevented. Further, at this time, a slip occurs between the roller 70 and the memory cartridge 10, and the roller 70 rotates idly. For example, if the roller 70 rotates for more than the time required for retracting the memory cartridge 10, the memory cartridge 10
If it is determined that the memory cartridge 10 has been inserted in the reverse direction and the roller 70 is reversed in the cartridge ejection direction, the reversely inserted memory cartridge 10 can be automatically ejected.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, since the memory cartridge is mounted and removed by combining two driving means each driven by a motor, operability is good, and the memory cartridge can be easily mounted and removed, since the load on the connector is large. Mounting and removal can be performed reliably. especially,
Since the memory cartridge is pushed into the connector after confirming that the memory cartridge approaches the connector contacts, for example, if the memory cartridge is inserted backwards and does not approach the connector contacts, the memory cartridge may It is not necessary to apply a large force when attaching the connector, and the memory cartridge and connector can be easily attached.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 shows the present invention! FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of essential parts of the device shown in FIG. 1, and FIGS.
The figures are diagrams showing each operation state used to explain the opening/closing operation of the retracting claw and the operation of the slide plate, respectively, and Figures 7 (A) to (E) are for explaining the attachment/detachment operation of the memory cartridge, respectively. 8 (A> to (E)) are timing charts showing the relationship between the sensor output and the attachment/detachment operation. 10...Memory cartridge, 20...・Guide part tt, 26-=connector, 30.40...
Slide plate, 50... Ejection claw, 60... Retraction claw, 7D... Roller, 80... Slide plate drive unit.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A first position in which retraction of a memory cartridge inserted into a device main body using the memory cartridge starts; and a second position in which the memory cartridge approaches a contact point of a connector in the device main body. , position detecting means for detecting a third position where the memory cartridge is attached to the connector and a fourth position where the memory cartridge is ejected from the connector; driven to draw the memory cartridge inserted into the first position from the first position to the second position;
a first driving means for pulling out the memory cartridge ejected to the fourth position from the fourth position to the first position; and a first driving means for pulling out the memory cartridge ejected from the fourth position to the first position; a second driving means for pushing the memory cartridge from the second position to the third position, and for ejecting the memory cartridge from the third position to the fourth position when activated by an eject command. A memory cartridge attachment/detachment device featuring: