JPH07122893B2 - Card hold mechanism in IC card reader - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a card hold mechanism in an IC card reader that can hold an IC card in a device and forcibly discharge it from the outside as needed.

[Prior art] IC cards are general telephone cards, prepaid cards,
Unlike the ones that magnetically store information such as cash cards and credit cards, the CPU,
It is characterized in that a memory, an interface unit, etc. are mounted in a chip state, the storage capacity is remarkably large, and that, when used, the security code is high because the password is checked by the microcomputer. Various IC card readers for reading information stored in such an IC card or writing information in the IC card have been proposed in the past.
62-271287 and JP-A-62-160598 are known. When the IC card is inserted in the IC card reader,
The card holding mechanism holds the card at the storage position, processes the information, releases the IC card, and returns it to the user. This card hold mechanism
When the IC card is inserted, the lock claw is operated to close the card insertion slot, and this lock claw or the parts that interlock with this are locked by the stopper.When the IC card is ejected, a signal from the control unit is used. The IC card is ejected by driving a driving source such as a solenoid to release the locking state of the locking claw by the stopper.
Further, in such an IC card reader, a push button constituting a forced ejection mechanism is provided in the vicinity of the card insertion slot, and the plunger of the solenoid can be forcibly operated from outside the device by pushing this push button as necessary. By doing so, even if the solenoid is not driven for some reason, the user can forcibly eject the IC card.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

By the way, the above push button is provided assuming that the solenoid does not operate for some reason, but if it is provided near the card insertion slot, it is likely to malfunction and the card will be returned during information processing. There was a problem. Therefore, in order to prevent such accidents, a small hole is provided near the card insertion port, a push button is placed inside it, and when it becomes necessary to eject the IC card manually, a pin or A similar rod is inserted and the push button is operated inside. However, in such a configuration, the user does not always have a special tool with him, nor can he request to carry such a thing, and the user may not be able to take out the IC card. There was a problem.

The present invention solves the conventional problems as described above, and when the IC card is directly pulled by a certain force or more with a relatively simple structure,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a card hold mechanism in an IC card reader which can release the locked state of the card hold mechanism by the force and forcibly eject the IC card by hand.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a hold arm that is moved backward by a contact unit that is moved backward by an insertion card and is moved backward immediately before the end of card insertion, and is operated in conjunction with the hold arm to move the hold arm backward. Then, the card insertion port is closed to prevent the card from being ejected, and the lock claw that opens the card insertion port when moving forward, and the hook pin lever rotatably arranged on the hold arm are rotatably arranged. A hook that locks the hook pin of the hook pin lever at the time of card insertion to prevent the hold arm from returning to movement, and a turning tendency in the direction in which the hook pin and the hook engage with each other. A spring; and a second spring that imparts to the hook a turning habit in a direction in which the hook and the hook pin engage with each other. And a hook return pin which is provided on the hold arm and releases the hook by the forward movement of the hold arm.The hold arm receives a card pulling output via the lock claw when the inserted card is forcibly ejected, and When the pulling force is larger than the spring force of the first spring, it is displaced forward to rotate the hook pin lever against the first spring and the hook return pin presses the hook against the second spring. Let
The engagement between the hook and the hook pin is released.

[Work]

In the present invention, when the IC card is inserted into the device, the locking claw operates in conjunction with the backward movement of the hold arm to close the card insertion slot. Further, when the hold arm moves backward, the hook is released from the hook return pin and is rotated and returned by the force of the second spring to lock the hook pin lever and lock the hold arm to the retracted position. When the insertion card is pulled by hand, the card pulling force applied to the card acts on the hold arm via the locking claws and tries to move the arm forward. At this time, if the card pulling force is larger than the spring force of the first spring, the hold arm is displaced forward and tries to rotate the hook pin lever locked to the hook against the first spring. The return pin pushes and rotates the hook against the second spring to release the engagement between the hook and the hook pin lever.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an IC card reader equipped with a card hold mechanism according to the present invention with a case removed, FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the same card reader, and FIG. 3 is a state immediately after an IC card is inserted. FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a state in which the IC card is completely inserted. In these figures, an IC card reader 1 is provided with a thin box-shaped case 2 that is flat and has a depth longer than the width, and an insertion opening member 5 having a card insertion opening 4 for an IC card 3 is provided in a front opening of the case 2. It is attached, and various mechanisms and parts such as a card identification mechanism A, a shutter mechanism B, a contact unit 70, and a card hold mechanism C, which will be described later, are incorporated therein.

As shown in FIG. 2, a notch 6 for card insertion and withdrawal is provided at the right end of the front surface of the card insertion slot member 5, and the IC card 3 is inserted from the card insertion slot 4 to the IC card reader 1
In a state in which the IC card 3 is inserted in a state in which information can be processed, the end of the IC card 3, that is, a part of the end opposite to the insertion side protrudes from the cutout portion 6 to the outside as shown by a dashed line in FIG. In this state, the information processing of the IC card 3 is performed by the contact unit 70.
Done through. The reason why a part of the end of the IC card 3 is projected to the outside is that the IC card 3 is pulled by hand when the IC card 3 is forcibly ejected.

Inside the case 2, there are an upper plate 10 and a lower plate 11 which are opposed to each other in parallel with a predetermined space therebetween, and upper and lower plates 1 and 1 thereof.
Left and right side plates 12 and 13 are arranged opposite to each other on both sides of 0 and 11, and a flat card storage chamber 14 is formed between these plate members. The inner side surface of the left side plate 12 forms the guide reference surface 12a of the IC card 3, and the distance between the left and right side plates 12 and 13 is the width W ₁ (FIG. 2) in the direction orthogonal to the insertion direction of the IC card 3. The settings are almost equal. On the other hand, an opening 7 (FIG. 1) is provided in the middle portion of the right side plate 13 in the longitudinal direction, and a plate spring 8 is attached corresponding to the opening 7, and the plate spring 8 moves the IC card 3 toward the left side plate 12. I am biased.

A card identification mechanism A (FIG. 1) for identifying the IC card 3 is provided near the inside of the card insertion slot 4. The card identification mechanism A includes a detection means 16 for detecting one of the input / output terminals 15 (FIG. 2) provided on the surface 3 of the IC card 3 and a roller for detecting the plate thickness t of the IC card 3. It consists of 17 and. The detection means 16 includes a light emitting diode 18 vertically opposed to the front plate of the upper plate 10 and the lower plate 11.
And the phototransistor 19, and the upper and lower plates 10, 1
Small holes 20a and 20b for allowing light of the light-emitting diode 18 to pass through are formed in 1 respectively. The light emitted from the light emitting diode 18 has a light intensity capable of passing through the substrate (having a light transmitting property) of the IC card 3, but does not pass through the input / output terminal 15 and is blocked. A cutout recess 22 is formed in the front end surface of the right side plate 13, and the roller 17 is arranged in the cutout recess 22. The roller 17 is a shutter control lever which is rotatably arranged in a horizontal direction by a shaft 23 provided upright on the upper plate 10.
24 is rotatably disposed on one arm 24a and has a substantially V-shaped (or Y-shaped) circumferential groove 25 on its circumferential surface, and the shutter control lever 24 is provided with a spring 26 so that the timepiece shown in FIG. A part of the peripheral surface is usually the right side plate due to the habit of turning in the direction
It projects inside 13 or in other words, inside card storage chamber 14. The opening width W of the peripheral groove 25 of the roller 17 (see FIG. 5) is larger than the plate thickness t of the IC card 3, and the width W ₀ of the groove bottom surface 27 is smaller than the plate thickness t (W ₀ <t <W). Also, the inner surface 12 of the left side plate 12
The distance L from a to the bottom surface 27 of the groove is approximately equal to or slightly larger than the width W ₁ of the IC card 3 (W ₁ ≤L).

The shutter control lever 24 has a horizontal arm portion 28 (sixth portion) extending along the upper surface of the upper plate 10 and near the left side plate 12.
The drawing) is integrally extended, and a light emitting diode 30 and a phototransistor 31 are arranged to face each other in correspondence with a bent piece 29 formed by bending at the tip of the horizontal arm portion 28.
The bent piece 29 is usually a light emitting diode as shown in FIG.
When the shutter control lever 27 is located rearward of the optical path of 30, and is rotated counterclockwise against the spring 26 from the insertion card, it moves into the optical path and goes out of the light emitting diode 30 to the phototransistor 31. Block the received light.

The card identification operation by the card identification mechanism A will be described. First, when you insert the IC card 3 into the card insertion slot 4,
Under the above conditions W ₀ <t <W, W ₁ ≦ L, the right end of the IC card 3 on the insertion side is inserted into the circumferential groove 25 of the roller 17 as shown in FIG. Be blocked. But,
When the IC card 3 is still pushed in against the spring force of the spring 26, the IC card 3 pushes the roller 17 to the outside, so that the shutter control lever 24 resists the spring 26 around the shaft 23 and the arrow in FIG. Rotating in the direction of
To the outside of the right side plate 13. As a result, the IC card 3 can pass through the roller 17 and is further inserted by a predetermined amount. When it comes into contact with the shutter mechanism B, the IC card 3 is prevented from being inserted again and stopped, and the IC card 3 exits from the light emitting diode 18 at this stop position. Light strikes one of the input / output terminals 15 and is blocked, changing the output signal of the phototransistor 19. Further, since the bending piece 29 is moved forward by the rotation of the shutter control lever 24 to block the light of the light emitting diode 30, the phototransistor 31 is turned on.
The output signal of also changes. Then, by sending the output signals of both phototransistors 19 and 31 to the control unit, the control unit determines that the IC card 3 is present, and the solenoid 39 (FIG. 1) of the shutter mechanism B is momentarily driven to output the shutter mechanism. Open B. Therefore, the IC card 3 can be inserted further inward.

Next, when a cash card or credit card having the same thickness and width as the IC card 3 is inserted, the shutter control lever 24 is rotated to change the output signal of the phototransistor 31, but this type of card is used. Does not have an input / output terminal, the output signal of the phototransistor 19 does not change, and therefore the control unit determines that the card is a heterogeneous card.
Therefore, the shutter mechanism B will not open and will prevent further insertion of the card. However, if the board of the insertion card is colored in a light-shielding color or a magnetic stripe is formed at a position corresponding to the light emitting diode 18, the light emitted from the light emitting diode 18 cannot pass through the insertion card, and The output signal of the transistor 19 is changed to determine that it is an IC card, and the shutter mechanism B is opened. In the end, however, the IC card contact mechanism must be brought into contact with the input / output terminal 15 to exchange information. Even if you take in a different type of card, there is no problem because you do not exchange information.

When a nonstandard card having the same thickness as the IC card 3 but a narrow width is inserted along the inner surface 12a of the left side plate 12, the card does not contact the roller 17 or the shutter control lever does not contact the roller 17. Since the 24 cannot be rotated by a predetermined angle, the output signal of the phototransistor 31 does not change, and it is determined that the card is a heterogeneous card. In this case, if you insert it along the right side plate 13 against the spring force of the spring 26, the shutter control lever
There is a risk that 24 will rotate to determine that it is an IC card and open the shutter mechanism B, but in this case as well, the insertion is always permitted, and the IC card reader 1 itself is not adversely affected.

When a telephone card or the like thinner than the IC card 3 is inserted, it does not contact the slope of the circumferential groove 25 of the roller 17 but hits the bottom surface 27. Therefore, this type of card is used for the shutter control lever 24
Cannot be rotated, it is determined that the card is a different type card, and further insertion is blocked.

In this way, the IC card 3 and the different type card are identified,
If the wrong insertion of different types of cards is suppressed to a minimum, it is possible to avoid unnecessary access and reduce the damage, damage, failure, etc. of the internal mechanism such as the card contact mechanism.

The shutter mechanism B includes the shutter control lever 24,
This shutter control lever 24 is provided with a shutter 40 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) that normally shuts off the middle of the card storage chamber 14 by being locked to the closed position. The shutter 40 extends in the left-right direction and has both left and right side plates 1
Projected to the outside of 2,13, the left and right side plates 12,1 at the projecting end
A pair of left and right bearing portions 41a, 41b (first
(Fig. 6, Fig. 7, Fig. 7 to Fig. 10) are integrally provided, and these bearing portions 41a, 41b are rotated by a support shaft 42 which is horizontally stretched between the left and right side plates 12, 13. It is rotatably supported and is urged by a spring 43 in the clockwise direction in FIG. The spring 43 is stretched between the spring locking portions 44 and 45 provided on the right side plate 13 and the bearing portion 41b, respectively. Further, a pin 46 is projectingly provided on the bearing portion 41b, and the pin 46 is inserted into an elongated hole 47 provided in the side plate 24a of the shutter control lever 24 and long in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the shutter control lever 24 is restricted from rotating clockwise in FIG. 1 by pressing the rear end edge of the elongated hole 47 against the pin 46, and is held at the initial position. On the other hand, the left bearing portion 41a extends in the front-rear direction and has an engagement pin 49 at its rear end (right end in the figure) as shown in FIG.
Corresponding to the above, a shutter stopper 50 is disposed on the outer surface of the left side plate 12 so that the intermediate portion is rotatably supported by a support shaft 51. At the lower part of the rear end surface of the shutter stopper 50, a hook-shaped pin engaging portion 5 for normally engaging the engaging pin 49 of the left bearing portion 41a.
3 is provided, and one end of a spring 54 that gives a habit of turning the shutter stopper 50 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 8, that is, the direction in which the pin engaging portion 53 engages with the engaging pin 49 is retained at the upper end. At the same time, a stopper releasing pin 55 is projected. The other end of the spring 54 is locked by a spring locking portion 56 provided on the left side plate 12. The spring force of the spring 43 is smaller than that of the spring 26. Therefore, the shutter 40 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 1 by the force of the spring 26 acting through the shutter control lever 24 and is biased to the normally closed position, and in this state is shown in FIG. The engagement pin 49 and the pin locking portion 53 are engaged with each other so that the shutter stopper 50 is also locked to the closed position. Therefore, even when the shatter 24 is pierced by the insertion card, the shatter 24 does not flutter and maintains the closed state.
Even if a card equivalent to an IC card is inserted and the shutter control lever 24 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 1, the shutter 40 does not open because the shutter stopper 50 locks the shutter 40.

The stopper release pin 55 is attached to the left side plate 12 as shown in FIG.
A hole 60 is opened in the left side plate 12 to project inward, and a solenoid arm 62 is disposed between the projecting end and the plunger 61 of the solenoid 39. Solenoid arm
62 is disposed on the upper surface of the upper plate 10 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction, and a pin pressing piece 63 that abuts the stopper release pin 55 from the front is bent upward at the front end, and the pin pressing piece 63 is formed at the rear end. An engagement piece 66 having a U-shaped engagement groove 65 that engages with a circumferential groove 64 provided on the outer end of the plunger 61 is bent upward.

Next, the operation of the shutter mechanism B having the above structure will be described.

When the output signals of the phototransistors 19 and 31 of the card identification mechanism A change together with the insertion of the card, and the control section identifies the IC card 3 and drives the solenoid 39, the plunger 61 is attracted and retracts, and the solenoid Arm 62 to upper plate 10
Retreat along. When the solenoid arm 62 moves backward, its pin pressing piece 63 presses the stopper releasing pin 55 and moves it backward, so that the shutter stopper 50 rotates in the direction of the arrow against the spring 54 as shown in FIG. The engagement between the engagement pin 49 and the pin locking portion 53 is released. Therefore, the shutter 40 is released from the locked state by the shutter stopper 50, and the force of the spring 43 causes the shutter 40 to move as shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, the card storage chamber 14 is opened by rotating it clockwise by a certain angle. When the shutter 40 is opened, the shutter control lever 24 is pre-rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 6 against the spring 26 by the insertion operation of the IC card 3.
Since the pin 46 is positioned (relatively moved) to the front edge side of the long hole 47, in other words, the force of the spring 26 does not act on the shutter 40 via the pin 46, and the shutter 40 does not open at all. There is no hindrance.

Further, since the shutter 40 is operated by not directly driving the shutter 40 with the solenoid 39 and the engagement with the stopper releasing pin 55 is released, even if the shutter 40 is strongly pressed by the card, the solenoid 39 is directly pressed. It is possible to release the locked state of the shutter stopper 50 with a constant force without applying a specific load.

Here, if the IC card 3 is removed after the shutter 40 is opened, the roller 17 is released from the IC card 3, and the shutter control lever 24 is rotated clockwise by the force of the spring 26 in FIG. After returning, the pin 46 is pushed forward by the rear edge of the slot 47, the shutter 40 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 1 against the spring 43, and the card storage chamber 14 is closed. Further, when the shutter 40 is closed, as shown in FIG.
Since the 49 is engaged with the pin locking portion 53, the shutter stopper 50 locks the shutter.

When the shutter 40 is opened by supplying power to the solenoid 39 and the IC card 3 is further pushed in, the IC card 3 has its insertion end provided at the rear end of the contact unit 70 and extending downwardly.
(See FIGS. 4 and 5) to move the contact unit 70 rearward. The contact unit 70 includes a box-shaped case 72 whose bottom surface is open in the front-rear direction, a plurality of elastic contact points 73 arranged inside the case 72 and contacting the input / output terminals 15 of the IC card 3, and a case. A plurality of bullet contact points 73 protruding on the upper surface of 72, a plurality of cable terminals 74 protruding on the upper surface of case 72, and a pair of front and rear protruding on both side surfaces of case 72 in total. A pair of left and right slide guides 76 that are long in the front-rear direction and that form a loading mechanism integrally provided on the upper plate 10 and are provided with four guide pins 75 and the projecting pieces 71.
The guide pins 75 are inserted between the A and 76B, and the guide pins 75 are guided and held by guide grooves 78 provided in the slide guides 76A and 76B, so that the guide pins 75 can move in the front-rear direction. The guide groove 78 is inclined rearward and downward at a required angle so that the rear end side is lower than the front end. Contact unit 70 is spring 79
By being urged forward by (Fig. 1), the first
When the insertion end of the IC card 3 inserted through the shutter 40 comes into contact with the projecting piece 71, the card is normally inserted at the front position shown in FIGS. The force causes it to move backwards against the spring 79. Then, the guide pin 75 moves rearward and obliquely downward along the guide groove 78, so that the contact unit 70 moves backward.
When the IC card 3 is approached and the IC card 3 is completely inserted, the elastic contact points 73 elastically contact the input / output terminals 15 of the IC card 3, respectively. In this case, the upper plate 10 and the lower plate 11
There are openings 80, 81 corresponding to the projecting piece 71 and the bullet contact 73.
Are opened respectively, and the projecting piece 71 penetrates the openings 80 and 81 to receive the insertion end of the IC card 3. One end of a flexible printed circuit board 82 (FIGS. 3 and 4) formed in a strip shape is connected to the cable terminal 74, and the other end of the printed circuit board 82 is folded back to form a contact unit 70.
Is connected to an electric circuit of a printed circuit board 83 arranged above the connector via a connector 84. Also, the printed circuit board 83
It is connected to a control unit (not shown) provided outside the IC card reader 1.

Since the structure of the contact unit 70 and the exchange of information with the IC card 3 by the contact unit 70 are well known in the related art (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-271287), further description will be omitted.

The contact unit 70 moves downward by the IC card 3 while moving downward, and activates the card hold mechanism C immediately before the projecting piece 71 comes into contact with the rear end edges of the openings 80 and 81 and stops.

The card hold mechanism C was inserted into the card storage chamber 14.
The IC card 3 is held in that position to prevent the card from being ejected from the card insertion slot 4, and the solenoid 39 may malfunction or the power supply to the solenoid 39 may be stopped for some reason.
When it becomes impossible to eject the card 3 from the card storage chamber 14, the IC card 3 is forcibly ejected from the card insertion slot 4, as shown in FIGS. 1, 11, and 12. As shown, a holding arm 90 is provided between the solenoid 39 and the contact unit 70 and extends in the front-rear direction. The hold arm 90 includes a pair of front and rear guide shafts 91a and 91b which are erected on the upper plate 10, and a long hole 92 which is provided in the hold arm 90 and which is long in the front and rear direction and through which the guide shafts 91a and 91b are inserted.
It is movably held in the front-rear direction by a and 92b, and is urged forward by a spring 93 whose front end is locked to the guide shaft 91a. Therefore, hold arm 90
Is normally set and held at the front position, and the rear end edges of the long holes 92a and 92b are pressed against the guide shafts 91a and 91b as shown in FIGS. The rear end of the hold arm 90 extends rearward of the contact unit 70 in the vicinity of the rear end edges of the openings 80 and 81, and is bent downward and inserted into the opening 80 to have a bent portion 94. ing. Of the guide pins 75 of the contact unit 70, the guide 75a on the rear side of the left side is formed longer than the other three guide pins 75 as shown in FIG.
And is adapted to be abuttingly engageable with the bent portion 94. A lock claw 98 (FIG. 1) is provided on the upper surface of the front end of the upper plate 10 to operate in conjunction with the hold arm 90 to close the card insertion slot 4. Lock claw 98
Is rotatably arranged in a vertical direction via a shaft 100 on a bearing 99 provided on the upper plate 10, and is connected to a front end of the hold arm 90 via a slide plate 101 and a link 102.
The front end of the slide plate 101 is held by an engaging pin 112 protruding from the upper end portion of the locking claw 98, and the central portion and the rear end are elongated holes 106 and 103, which are long in the front-rear direction, and the elongated holes 106 and 103, respectively. It is held by the inserted pins 107 and 104 so as to be movable back and forth. The long holes 106 and 103 are provided in the slide plate 101, and the pins 107 and 104 are provided upright on the upper plate 10. The link 102 is rotatably connected via a pin 107, and pins 105 and 108 projecting downward on both sides of the link 102 are elongated holes 11 provided in the slide plate 101 and the hold arm 90 and slightly long in the left-right direction.
It is inserted and engaged with 0,111 (Figs. 11 and 12) from above.

A shaft pin 120 is integrally provided on the upper surface of the middle portion of the hold arm 90, and the spring 9 is attached to the shaft pin 120.
A rear end of the hook 3 is locked and a hook pin lever 121 is rotatably supported. The hook pin lever 121 is integrally formed with a first arm 121a extending leftward by being formed in an L shape in a plan view and a second arm 121b extending forward, and is formed by a spring 122 (first spring). 1, a locking portion 123 (FIG. 1) provided at the tip of the second arm 121b is normally pressed against the left side surface of the hold arm 90. The front end of the first spring 122 is a spring locking portion 12 provided on one side of the front end of the hold arm 90.
4, and the other end is locked by a spring locking portion 125 provided at the tip of the first arm 121a. Further, a hook pin 126 extending downward is vertically provided at the tip of the first arm 121a. Correspondingly, a hook 130 is pivotally supported on a support shaft 131 on the upper plate 10 to be rotatable. A twisting coil spring (second spring) 133, which is arranged and axially mounted on the support shaft 131, imparts a turning tendency in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. The hook 130 is located above the solenoid arm 62 and has a hook locking portion 134 that locks the hook pin 126, and has a long hole 127 formed in the solenoid arm 62 in the front-rear direction on the lower surface on the left end side. The engaging pin 128 that is inserted into the
29 is bent, and a light emitting diode 140 and a phototransistor 141, which detect the engagement between the hook engaging portion 134 and the hook pin 126, are arranged opposite to each other corresponding to the light shielding plate 129. The light shielding plate 129 is usually located behind the light path of the light emitting diode 140, and when the hook 130 rotates counterclockwise by a required angle in FIG. 11, it is located in the light path as shown in FIG. Out of the photo transistor 1
Blocks the light received by 41. An engaging piece 144 extending below the hold arm 90 is integrally provided at the right end of the hook 130, and a hook return pin 145 is provided on the lower surface of the hold arm 90 corresponding to the engaging piece 144. The hook 130 is normally rotated and locked against the second spring 133 by pressing the engaging piece 144 from the rear side in the clockwise direction in FIG. The hook pin 126 and the hook engaging portion 134 are prevented from engaging with each other while being positioned near the rear end edge.

Next, the operation of the card hold mechanism C having the above configuration will be described.

In the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 11, when the IC card 3 is inserted, the card identification mechanism A determines that it is a legitimate IC card, the shutter mechanism B is opened, and the IC card 3 is further inserted. The contact unit 70 in which the insertion end of the street IC card 3 abuts the projecting piece 71 of the contact unit 70 as shown in FIG.
Is moved to the back side against the spring 79 and immediately before the end, the long guide pin 75a abuts against the bent portion 94 of the hold arm 90 as shown in FIG. 12, and the hold arm 90 is attached to the spring 93. Move to the back against. Then, the ring 102 rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG. 11 about the pin 107 in conjunction with the hold arm 90, and the slide plate 101 is connected to the connecting pin 1.
In order to move it forward by 05, the lock claw 98 moves the shaft 100
As shown in FIG. 4, the card insertion port 4 is rotated by turning counterclockwise in FIG. 1 and the tip end portion thereof projects below the upper plate 10 from the notch 150 provided in the upper plate 10. Close. Further, when the hold arm 90 moves rearward, the hook 130 is released from the hook return pin 145 as shown in FIG. 12, so that the spring force of the second spring 133 rotates counterclockwise to lock the hook. The hook pin 126 is locked at the portion 134. When the pushing of the IC card 3 is stopped after the hook pin 126 is locked, the IC card 3 is temporarily returned to the front because the contact unit 70 is urged forward by the spring 79, and the lock claw 98 is moved. Card locking surface 98a (4th
Figure)). Since this pressing force acts in the direction to open the lock claw 98, the hold arm 90 moves the slide plate 10
Receives a forward force via 1 and link 102. However, since the hook pin 126 of the hook pin lever 121 is engaged and locked with the hook locking portion 134 of the hook 130 as described above, the hook pin lever 121 receives the force in the clockwise direction in FIG. 12 because it cannot be displaced. However, the hook pin lever 121 cannot rotate because the first spring 122 receives a rotation moment larger than the clockwise rotation moment and in the opposite direction. As a result, the hold arm 90 cannot move forward, and the locking claw 98 interlocking therewith does not open, so that the IC card 3 remains locked to the card locking surface 98a of the locking claw 98.

When the hook 130 locks the hook pin lever 121, the light shield plate
Reference numeral 129 blocks the light of the light emitting diode 140 and changes the output signal of the phototransistor 14. Therefore, the control unit determines that the IC card 3 is held by the card hold mechanism C based on the output signal from the phototransistor 141, and performs information processing of the IC card 3. When the predetermined information processing is completed and the solenoid 39 is excited, the plunger
61 is sucked and retracts, and the solenoid arm 62 is moved backward. Therefore, the hook 130 has the engagement pin 128 and the long hole.
By engagement with 127, it rotates clockwise in FIG. 13 against the second spring 133, and the engagement between the hook pin 126 and the hook locking portion 134 is released. Then, the hold arm 90 is hooked 13
Since it is released from 0, the spring force of the spring 93 causes it to move forward and return, and the locking claw 98 interlocking with this also returns to rotate clockwise in FIG. 1 to open the card insertion slot 4. Also, when the hold arm 90 moves back, the bent portion 94 of the hold arm 90 presses the guide pin 75a, so that the contact unit 7
0 is moved upward by the force of the spring 93 and the spring 79 for moving and returning the hold arm 90, and returns to the initial position to cause the IC card 3 to protrude from the card insertion slot 4 by a predetermined amount. , Return it to the user. Then, when the IC card 3 is pulled out from the card insertion slot 4, the card identification mechanism A, the shutter mechanism B, and the card hold mechanism C return to the initial position state shown in FIG.

Next, the forced ejection of the IC card 3 will be described. After information processing, the solenoid 39 does not work for some reason,
If the IC card 3 remains held between the projecting piece 71 of the contact unit 70 and the locking claw 98, firmly hold the rear end of the IC card 3 protruding from the card insertion slot 4 by hand. Just pull it. Then, the IC card 3 tries to move by receiving the force of the IC card reader 1 in the forward direction, so that the lock claw 98 receives this pulling output, so that the pulling output is locked.
98, it acts on the hold arm 90 via the slide plate 101 and the link 102, and tries to move the hold arm 90 forward. On the other hand, the hook pin lever 121 on the hold arm 90 is urged counterclockwise in FIG. 12 by the strong force of the spring 93, and the hook pin 126 is engaged with the hook locking portion 134 of the hook 130. If is large enough to resist the spring 122, the hold arm is displaced forward while the hook pin lever 121 rotates clockwise. With the forward displacement of the hold arm 90, the hook return pin 145 moves to abut the signal piece 144 of the hook 130 as shown in FIG. 13, and the hook 130 is rotated clockwise against the second spring 133. The hook pin 126 and the hook engaging portion 134 are disengaged from each other by rotating the hook pin 126. As a result, the hold arm 90 is
It is released from and moves forward, and in conjunction with this, the locking claw
Since 98 also returns by rotation, the contact unit
70 moves forward and returns, and the IC card 3 is ejected from the card insertion slot 4. Therefore, even if the solenoid 40 fails,
Since it suffices to pull the IC card 3 with a certain force or more, it does not require a special tool for forced ejection as in the past.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, in the card hold mechanism of the IC card reader according to the present invention, when the IC card is forcibly pulled out with a force larger than the first spring that biases the hook pin lever, the hook pin lever engages with the hook. Since the state is released and the hold arm and contact unit are moved and returned, at the same time the lock claw is opened in conjunction with the hold arm, unlike the conventional structure, no special tool is required to release the lock from outside the device. Therefore, the operability can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is an external perspective view of an IC card reader having a card hold mechanism according to the present invention with a cover removed, FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the same card reader, and FIG. 3 is a state immediately after an IC card is inserted. FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a state where the IC card is completely inserted, FIG. 5 is a view for explaining the roller of the card identification mechanism, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the card identification mechanism section. FIGS. 7 to 10 are diagrams for explaining the configuration and operation of the shutter mechanism, and FIGS. 11 to 13 are diagrams for explaining the configuration and operation of the card hold mechanism. 2 ... Case, 3 ... IC card, 4 ... Card slot,
14 …… Card storage room, 70 …… Contact unit, 90 …… Hold arm, 98 …… Lock claw, 121 …… Hook pin lever, 122 …… First spring, 126 …… Hook pin, 130
...... Hook, 133 ...... Second spring, 134 ...... Hook locking part, 145 ...... Hook return pin, A ...... Card identification mechanism, B ...... Shatter mechanism, C ...... Card hold mechanism.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Ginya 1-1-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nihon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Kiyohiro Ishizumi 5-10-10 Minamiazabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo No. 27 within Anritsu Corporation (56) Reference JP-A-1-185784 (JP, A) JP-A 1-226089 (JP, A) JP-A 1-306977 (JP, A) JP-A 61- 23282 (JP, A)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A hold arm that is moved backward just before the end of card insertion by a contact unit that is moved backward by an insertion card, and a holding arm that operates in conjunction with this hold arm and closes the card insertion opening when the hold arm moves backward. To prevent the card from being ejected, and to open the card insertion opening when the card advances, a hook pin lever rotatably arranged on the hold arm, and a hook pin of the hook pin lever rotatably arranged. A hook for preventing the holding arm from returning when the card is inserted, a first spring for imparting to the hook pin lever a turning habit in a direction in which the hook pin engages with the hook, and the hook. A second spring that gives the hook a rotational habit in the direction in which the hook pin engages with the hook arm and the holding arm. Is provided with a hook return pin to release the hook by forward movement of the holding arm,
The hold arm receives a card pulling output via the locking claw when the inserted card is forcibly ejected, and when the pulling output is larger than the spring force of the first spring, the hold arm is displaced forward to move the hook pin lever to the first position. A card hold in an IC card reader characterized in that the hook return pin pushes and turns the hook against the second spring while releasing the engagement between the hook and the hook pin. mechanism.