JPH11120296A - Card slot opening and closing device for card reader and writer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a card from being ejected during the information recording and reproducing processing of the card as much as possible by closing a card slot when it is judged that the card reaches a prescribed position in the main body device or opening the card slot when it is judged that the recording and reproducing processing of the information storage on the card is finished or interrupted. SOLUTION: When it is judged that a card 51 arrives at the prescribed position in a device main body 4, based on the detecting signal of a card detection sensor 11, a control means closes a card slot 2 by driving a card slot opening/ closing means 21. When it is judged that the card slot 2 is closed, based on the detecting signal of a card slot open/close detection sensor, the information recording and reproducing processing of the IC recording area of the card 51 is performed through an IC connector and when it is judged that the recording and reproducing processing is finished or interrupted, the card slot 2 is opened by driving the card slot opening/closing means 21.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card reader / writer for recording and reproducing information on and from a card having various types of information storage or recording areas, and more particularly to a card insertion opening / closing device for opening and closing the card insertion opening. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a magnetic recording area, I
A card in which various information recording or storage areas such as a C storage area are formed has been proposed, and a card reader / writer has been provided as an apparatus for performing processing such as writing or reading information on such a card.

There are various types of card reader / writers described above. In it, a card is inserted from a card insertion slot along a card transport path until it reaches a predetermined position in the apparatus main body, and when the card reaches a predetermined position in the apparatus main body, various kinds of information are obtained. There is a type that performs information recording / reproducing processing on a storage or a recording area.

In this type of card reader / writer, an operator who inserts a card into a card insertion slot pulls out the inserted card from the card insertion slot after the information recording / reproducing process on the card is completed.

[0005]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional card reader / writer, the card may be pulled out before the recording / reproducing processing of the information on the inserted card is completed due to an erroneous judgment of the operator. ,
There was a problem that information recording and reproduction were not performed accurately.

[0006] Further, since the card can be pulled out during the recording / reproducing process of the information on the inserted card, mischief such as pulling out of the card during the recording / reproducing process of the information from the card insertion slot is performed, and the information is removed. There is a problem that the recording / reproducing process is disturbed. Furthermore, due to this problem, service devices such as vending machines composed of this type of card reader / writer, considering safety,
There is a possibility that the installation place is limited.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and provides a card reader opening / closing device for a card reader / writer which prevents a card from being pulled out during a process of recording and reproducing information on the card as much as possible. The purpose is to:

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, a card having an information recording area or a storage area is moved from a card insertion slot to a predetermined position in an apparatus main body along a card transport path. A card reader / writer that inserts the card until the card reaches a predetermined position in the main body of the apparatus, and performs a recording / reproducing process of information on the information storage or recording area of the card when the card reaches a predetermined position in the apparatus main body. A card detection sensor for detecting whether or not the card has reached a predetermined position in the main body, a card insertion opening / closing means for opening and closing the card insertion opening, and the card is configured to be mounted on the apparatus main body based on a detection signal of the card detection sensor. When it is determined that the card has reached a predetermined position, the card insertion port opening / closing means is driven to close the card insertion port, and the information storage or the information storage of the card is performed. When the recording process for recording region has been finished or interrupted, and control means for expanding the card insertion port by driving the card insertion port opening means.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a card insertion opening and closing device for a card reader / writer according to the present invention will be described below in detail. FIG. 1 is a conceptual sectional view of a main part of a card reader / writer which handles a card having an IC recording area. This card reader / writer 1 reads a card 51 having an IC recording area
The main unit 4 extends from the card insertion slot 2 along the card transport path 3.
The card 51 is inserted until the card 51 reaches a predetermined position, and when the card 51 reaches a predetermined position in the apparatus main body 4, information recording / reproducing processing is performed on the IC recording area of the card 51.
As shown in FIG. 1, the card reader / writer 1 is provided with a card insertion slot 2 into which a card 51 is inserted, and a card transport path 3 communicating with the card insertion slot 2. Immediately after that, when the card 51 reaches a predetermined position in the apparatus main body 4, the card insertion slot 2 is closed, and information recording / reproducing processing is performed on an IC recording area of the card 51,
A card slot opening / closing device 10 for expanding the card slot 2 when the recording / reproducing process is completed or interrupted is provided.

[0010] Of these, the card transport path 3 is provided in the main body 4 of the apparatus.
Are formed by an upper chute 5 and a lower chute 6 arranged in the housing of the first embodiment. The lower chute 6 has a lower surface 6 a along the card transport surface of the card transport path 3, a vertical surface 6 b perpendicular to the card transport surface, and a card insertion opening and closing device 1.
A cutting surface 6c for guiding the rotation of the 0 lever 22 and positioning the same is formed.

On the other hand, the card insertion opening and closing device 10 includes a card detection sensor 11 for detecting whether the card 51 has reached a predetermined position in the apparatus main body 4, and a card insertion opening and closing for opening and closing the card insertion opening 2. Means 21, an IC connector (not shown) for reading or writing information from or to an IC recording area of the card 51, and a card insertion opening / closing opening (not shown) for detecting whether the card insertion slot 2 is expanded or closed. When it is determined that the card 51 has reached a predetermined position in the apparatus main body 4 based on the detection signal of the detection sensor and the detection signal of the card detection sensor 11, the card insertion opening / closing means 21 is driven to close the card insertion opening 2. When it is determined that the card insertion slot 2 is closed based on the detection signal of the card insertion slot opening / closing detection sensor, the card 51 is connected via the IC connector.
The information recording / reproducing process is performed on the IC recording area, and when it is determined that the recording / reproducing process is completed or interrupted, the card insertion opening / closing means 21 is driven to open the card insertion opening 2. And control means.

Among them, the card detection sensor 11 is shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, a photo sensor disposed at the end 3a of the card transport path 3 is a light emitting element 11a disposed on the upper chute 5 side and a light receiving element 1 disposed on the lower chute 6 side.
1b. This card detection sensor 11
Then, as shown in FIG. 2 where the same parts as those in FIG.
The leading end 51a of the insertion card 51 is located at the end 3 of the card transport path 3.
a is detected, and this detection signal is sent to the control means 4
1 (FIG. 6).

The card insertion opening / closing means 21 includes a lever 22 having a substantially L-shaped cross section, a shaft 25 for rotatably supporting the lever 22, and a slider 26 for supporting the shaft 25.
The driving means 31 includes a driving means 31 for reciprocating the slider 26 along the card conveyance path 3 and an urging means 36 for constantly urging the lever 22 toward the card conveyance path 3.

Among them, the lever 22 having a substantially L-shaped cross section is
A long shaft 22a supporting the shaft 25 at one end thereof;
L-shaped free end 22 which is a short axis disposed on the other end side of
b.

The L-shaped free end 22b has a
As shown in FIG. 2, an outer peripheral surface 22 c having an arc-shaped cross section and an inner surface 22 d which is separated from the vertical surface 6 b of the lower chute 6 by a predetermined distance and parallel to the vertical surface 6 b are formed. The inner surface 2 of the L-shaped free end 22b of the lever 22
A first notch 22f having an arc-shaped cross section is formed between 2d and the inner surface 22e of the long axis 22a. Also,
As shown in FIG. 5A which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX of FIG. 2, the length (hereinafter, referred to as width) of the free end 22b in the card width direction of the card transport path 3 is determined by the width of the inserted card. They are formed to have substantially the same width.

On the other hand, a second notch 22g into which the support member 26a of the slider 26 is inserted is formed on one end of the long shaft 22a, and a side surface of the second notch 22g is provided with a slider. A shaft-fitting insertion hole 22h for fitting the shaft 25 is formed at a position corresponding to the shaft-fitting insertion hole 26c formed on the 26 support member 26a. In addition, a shaft 25 for rotatably supporting the lever 22 is fitted with a shaft fitting hole 26c of the slider 26 and a shaft fitting hole 22h of the lever 22. Further, both ends 25a of the shaft 25 are connected to the apparatus main body 4 (FIG. 2).
And is fitted into guide grooves 7 formed at both ends in the width direction of the card transport path 3. The guide groove 7 is a groove formed along the longitudinal direction of the card transport path 3 and guides the shaft 25 along the longitudinal direction of the card transport path 3.

The slider 26 includes a support member 26a having a shaft insertion hole 26c into which the shaft 25 is inserted, and a guide member 26b having a guide hole 26d formed along the width direction of the card transport path 3. And the guide hole 26
The cam 34 is inserted into the space d, and the cam 34 is guided in the width direction of the card transport path 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, the driving means 31 includes a link mechanism 33 comprising a disc 32 and a control means 41.
When a drive signal is sent from the drive mechanism 35, the drive mechanism 35 is configured to drive the disk 32 of the link mechanism 33 to rotate. A cam 34 protrudes from the disc 32 to be inserted into the guide hole 26d formed in the guide member 26b.

FIGS. 5B and 5C are diagrams showing the operation of the card slot opening and closing device 10 shown in FIG. 5A.
The same parts as those in FIG.

In the driving means 31, when the driving motor 35 is driven, the cam 34 reciprocates along the guide hole 26d from the upper end to the lower end in the guide hole 26d, and moves the slider 26 through the link mechanism 33 during the movement. It is reciprocated from the top dead center shown in FIG. 5 (a) to the bottom dead center shown in FIG. 5 (c).

The reciprocating movement of the slider 26 will be described as a representative of the outward path. At the initial position shown in FIG. 5A, the cam 34 is located substantially at the center of the guide hole 26d. The shaft 25 is located at the right end in the guide groove 7, and at this time, the slider 26 is located at the top dead center. When the drive motor 35 is driven from this state, the cam 34 moves downward in the guide hole 26d of the slider 26 until it is located at the lower end in the guide hole 26d. The shaft 25 moves in the direction of the card insertion slot 2 until it is located substantially in the center of the guide groove 7, and the slider 26 moves together with the shaft 25 in the card insertion slot 2.
Move in the direction. Then, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the cam 34 is located at the lower end in the guide hole 26d, the shaft 25 reaches substantially the center in the guide groove 7. Further, when the drive motor 35 is driven from this state, the cam 34 moves upward in the guide hole 26d of the slider 26 until it returns to substantially the center of the guide hole 26d. The shaft 25 moves in the direction of the card insertion slot 2 until it is located at the left end in the guide groove 7, and the slider 26 moves in the direction of the card insertion slot 2 together with the shaft 25. Then, as shown in FIG. 5C, when the cam 34 returns to substantially the center in the guide hole 26d, the shaft 25 reaches the left end in the guide groove 7, and the slider 26 reaches the bottom dead center.

The urging means 36 is constituted by springs disposed at both ends of the shaft 25.
2 is constantly biased toward the card transport path 3 side.

An IC connector (not shown) is provided on the upper chute 5 or lower chute 6 downstream of the card transport path 3 and is exposed to the card transport path 3. When this IC connector comes into contact with the IC recording area of the insertion card 51,
When the reading drive signal is sent from the control means 41,
The information is read from the IC recording area of the card 51 and the read signal is sent to the control means 41 (FIG. 6). The IC connector is connected to the I
When a write drive signal is sent from the control means 41 when the card comes into contact with the C recording area, information is written to the IC recording area of the card 51.

On the other hand, an insertion opening / closing detection sensor (not shown)
A photo sensor is provided near the card insertion slot 2 and at both ends in the width direction of the card transport path 3 and includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element. In this insertion opening / closing detection sensor, as shown in FIG. 4 in which the L-shaped free end 22b of the lever 22 indicates the same part as that of FIG. It detects that the insertion slot 2 is closed, and detects that the card insertion slot 2 is expanded when the L-shaped free end 22b of the lever 22 releases the optical path. The signal is sent to the control means 41 (FIG. 6). Next, the operation of the above-described card insertion opening / closing device 10 will be described, and the configuration will be described in more detail. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of control means for controlling the card insertion opening / closing device 10 according to the present invention.
The control means 41 is constituted by a CPU (central processing unit), a peripheral circuit having a main storage device and an auxiliary storage device as main components. The control means 41 includes the card transport path 3
The insertion position information of the card 51 is input from the card detection sensor 11 at the end, and the card insertion opening
, A signal indicating whether or not the lever 22 has opened or closed the card insertion slot 2 is input. The control means 41
, A read signal relating to the IC recording area of the card 51 is input from the IC connector 43.

The control means 41 includes an IC connector 43
Performs information processing such as calculation on the IC recording area on the basis of a read signal on the IC recording area of the card 51 from the IC card 51, and sends the information processing signal to the IC connector 43 as a write drive signal. Even if a predetermined time has passed since the card detection sensor 11 detected that the card 51 reached the predetermined position in the apparatus main body 4, the IC connector 4
If the read signal relating to the IC recording area of the card 51 from 3 is not input to the control means, the control means 41 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the card processing and the card processing has been stopped.

The control means 41 includes an IC connector 43
When a predetermined time has passed since the write signal was sent to
It is determined that the card processing has been completed. And control means 4
1 is a drive motor 35 of the driving means 31 constituting the card insertion opening / closing means 21 based on these signals and judgment.
, A read drive signal, and a write drive signal to the IC connector 43.

Next, the processing procedure of the control means 41 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the standby state of the card reader / writer 1, as shown in FIG.
The inner surface 22d of the L-shaped free end 22b is retracted from the card insertion slot 2 so as to expand the card insertion slot 2 and waits for the insertion of the card 51. At this time, the lever 22 abuts on the lower surface 6a of the lower chute 6 at the inner surface 22e of the long shaft 22a, and the urging force by which the lever 22 rotates clockwise about the shaft 25 by the urging means 36 is applied. , Are blocked by the lower surface 6a of the lower chute 6. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5A, the slider 26 is located at the right end in the guide groove 7, that is, at the top dead center. The cam 34 is located substantially at the center of the guide hole 26d. Also, the L-shaped free end 22 of the lever 22
The inner surface 22d is separated from the vertical surface 6b of the lower chute 6 by a predetermined distance.

On the other hand, the control means 41 determines whether or not the inserted card 51 has been inserted to a predetermined position in the apparatus main body 4 by the card detection sensor 11 (step 101). If it is determined that the position has not been inserted, the processing from step 101 is repeated.

On the other hand, in step 101, the control means 41
When it is determined that the insertion card 51 has been inserted to a predetermined position in the apparatus main body 4 as shown in FIG.
Is driven (step 102). When the drive motor 35 of the drive means 31 is driven, as shown in FIG. 3 in which the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, the lever 22 partially moves the inner surface 22d of the L-shaped free end 22b from the card insertion slot 2. The card insertion slot 2 is made to protrude to close the card insertion slot 2.

That is, the drive motor 35 of the drive means 31
Is driven, the slider 26 moves to the card insertion port 2 side along the card transport path 3 as shown by an arrow A in FIG. 2, and the shaft 25 and the lever 22 move in accordance with the movement of the slider 26. Card insertion slot 2 along 3
Move to the side. Therefore, the urging force of the urging means 36, which has been prevented by the lower surface 6a of the lower chute 6, is partially released, and the lever 22 is turned clockwise about the shaft 25 by the urging force of the urging means 36 as shown by arrow B. And its long axis 2
As shown in FIG. 3, the inner surface 22e of the lower chute 6a
Abut on the cut surface 6c. At this time,
The urging force of the urging means 36 is applied to the cut surface 6 of the lower chute 6.
c. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5B, the slider 26 has reached the approximate center of the guide groove 7. The cam 34 has reached the lower end in the guide hole 26d.

Further, when the drive motor 35 is driven, the lever 22 shown in FIG. 3 pushes the inner surface 22d of the L-shaped free end 22b into the card insertion slot 2 as shown in FIG. And the card insertion slot 2 is closed, and the entire rear end 51b of the card 51 is gripped between the card transport paths 3 by the entire inner surface 22d of the L-shaped free end 22b.

That is, the drive motor 35 of the drive means 31
Is driven, the slider 26 moves to the card insertion port 2 side along the card transport path 3 as shown by an arrow C in FIG. 3, and the shaft 25 and the lever 22 move in accordance with the movement of the slider 26. Card insertion slot 2 along 3
Move to the side. Therefore, the urging force of the urging means 36, which has been prevented by the cutting surface 6c of the lower chute 6, is partially released, and the lever 22 is clocked about the shaft 25 by the urging force of the urging means 36 as shown by the arrow D. The inner surface 22e of the long axis 22a comes into contact with the vertical surface 6b of the lower chute 6, as shown in FIG. At this time, the urging force of the urging means 36 is blocked by the vertical surface 6b of the lower chute 6. At this time, FIG.
, The slider 26 is located at the left end in the guide groove 7,
That is, it has reached the bottom dead center. Note that the cam 34 has reached substantially the center in the guide hole 26d.

Next, the control means 41 determines whether or not the card insertion slot 2 is closed by the card insertion slot opening / closing detection sensor 42 shown in FIG. 6 (step 103), and the card insertion slot 2 is closed. If it is determined that the card insertion slot 2 is not closed, the process proceeds to step 102 until it is determined that the card insertion slot 2 is closed.
The subsequent processing is repeated. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 103 that the card insertion slot 2 is closed, the control unit stops driving the drive motor 35 of the drive unit 31 (step 104).

When the drive motor 35 stops, the card insertion slot 2 is closed, and the rear end 51b of the card 51 is gripped between the card transport paths 3 by the inner surface 22d of the L-shaped free end 22b of the lever 22. Can be maintained.
Therefore, in this state, the operator does not pull out the card 51 from the card insertion slot 2. Further, since the lever 22 is closed so as to cover the entire card insertion slot 2, the presence of the card 51 cannot be visually checked from the card insertion slot 2, and there is no possibility that the card 51 will be forcibly pulled out by mischief.

Next, the control means 41 performs card processing such as recording and reproduction for the IC (step 105), and thereafter determines whether or not the card processing has been stopped (step 1).
06). If the control unit 41 determines in step 106 that the card processing has not been stopped, then it determines whether or not the card processing has been completed (step 107).

If the control means 41 determines in step 107 that the card processing has not been completed, it repeats the processing of step 107 until it determines that the card processing has been completed.

On the other hand, at step 107, the control means 41
Drives the drive motor 35 of the drive means 31 when it is determined that the card processing has been completed (step 10).
8). When the driving means 31 drives the driving motor 35, as shown in FIG.
Partially escape the inner surface 22d of 2b from the card insertion slot 2,
Attempt to expand the card slot 2.

That is, the driving means 31 is
Is driven, the slider 26 moves in a direction away from the card insertion slot 2 along the card transport path 3 as shown by an arrow E in FIG. 4, and the shaft 25 and the lever 22 move according to the movement of the slider 26. It moves along the card transport path 3 in a direction away from the card insertion slot 2. Therefore, against the urging force of the urging means 36, as shown by the arrow F,
The lever 22 rotates counterclockwise about the shaft 25, as shown in FIG.
As shown by, the inner surface 22e of the long axis 22a of the lever 22 comes into contact with the cut surface 6c of the lower chute 6. At this time, the urging force of the urging means 36 is blocked by the cut surface 6c of the lower chute 6. At this time, the slider 26 has reached the approximate center in the guide groove 7.
The cam 34 has reached the upper end in the guide hole 26d.

When the drive motor 35 is further driven, the lever 22 causes the entire inner surface 22d of the L-shaped free end 22b to escape from the card insertion slot 2 as shown in FIG. It is opened.

That is, the driving motor 35 of the driving means 31
Is driven, the slider 26 moves in the direction away from the card insertion slot 2 along the card transport path 3 as shown by the arrow G in FIG. 3, and the shaft 25 and the lever 22 move according to the movement of the slider 26. It moves along the card transport path 3 in a direction away from the card insertion slot 2. Therefore, the lever 22 rotates counterclockwise about the shaft 25 as shown by the arrow H against the urging force of the urging means 36, and as shown in FIG. As a result, the lower chute 6 comes into contact with the lower surface 6a. At this time, the urging force of the urging means 36 is blocked by the lower surface 6a of the lower chute 6. At this time, as shown in FIG.
Numeral 6 reaches the right end in the guide groove 7, that is, the top dead center. Note that the cam 34 reaches the approximate center of the guide hole 26d.

Next, the control means 41 determines whether or not the card insertion slot 2 has been expanded by the card insertion slot opening / closing detection sensor 42 (step 109). If it is determined, the process of step 108 is repeated until it is determined that the card insertion slot 2 has been expanded.

On the other hand, in step 109, the control means 41
Determines that the card slot 2 has been expanded,
The drive of the drive motor 35 of the drive means 31 is stopped (step 110). In this state, since the card insertion slot 2 has been expanded, the operator can determine that the card processing has been completed or stopped, and can pull out the card 51 from the card insertion slot 2. After the insertion card 51 is pulled out from the card insertion slot 2, the apparatus returns to the standby state shown in FIG.

On the other hand, if the control means 41 determines in step 106 that the card processing has been stopped, it executes the processing of step 108 and thereafter.

According to the card insertion opening / closing device 10 having the above-described configuration, the card insertion opening / closing means 21 for opening and closing the card insertion opening 2 is provided, and the card 51 based on the detection signal of the card detection sensor 11 is provided. Is the device body 4
The card insertion slot 2 is closed when it is determined that the predetermined position has been reached, and when it is determined that the recording / reproducing processing for the information storage or recording area of the card 51 has been completed or interrupted, the card insertion slot 2 is closed. The card insertion slot opening / closing means 21 is controlled by the control unit 41 so as to expand the card insertion slot. Therefore, when the card insertion slot 2 is opened, the insertion card 51 completes the information recording / reproduction processing or Therefore, the insertion card 51 is not pulled out before the information recording / reproducing process for the inserted card 51 is terminated due to an operator's misjudgment, and information recording / reproducing can be performed accurately.

Further, according to the card insertion opening / closing device 10, the card insertion opening 2 is closed during the information recording / reproducing process for the insertion card 51.
It is possible to prevent the information recording / reproducing process from being disturbed due to mischief such as pulling out of the insertion card 51 during the information recording / reproducing process for the information recording device 1.

In the card insertion opening / closing device 10 of this embodiment, the lever 22 has an L-shaped free end 22b.
Is formed to be substantially the same as the width of the card to be inserted, so that when the card insertion slot 2 is closed, the entire card insertion slot 2 can be covered by the lever 22 and the insertion card 51 can be inserted through the card insertion slot 2. You cannot see it. Therefore, the card insertion slot 2 is forcibly expanded to insert the insertion card 51.
It is possible to prevent the possibility of mischief such as pulling out of the information as much as possible, and it is possible to further prevent the interruption of the information recording / reproducing process. In the embodiment of the present invention, the width of the L-shaped free end 22b of the lever 22 is formed to be the width of the card. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The lever 22
Thus, both ends of the rear end 51b of the insertion card 51 may be gripped.

In this embodiment, the lever 22 is formed such that the width of the L-shaped free end 25 thereof is substantially the same as the width of the card to be inserted.
The entire body can be gripped, and the gripping force can be further increased. For this reason, mischief, such as forcibly expanding the card insertion slot 2 and pulling out the insertion card 51, can be further prevented as much as possible, and the interruption of information recording / reproduction processing can be further prevented.

In this embodiment, the lever 22 is provided with an outer peripheral surface 22c having an arcuate cross section and a vertical surface 6c of the lower chute 6.
b has an inner surface 22d parallel to the vertical surface 6b and has an L-shaped free end 22b, so that when the card insertion slot 2 is closed or expanded, the shaft 25 Can be prevented as much as possible from the outer peripheral surface 22c of the lever 22 rotating around the upper chute 5 so that the card insertion slot 2 can be opened and closed reliably. In this embodiment, the lever 22 has an inner surface 22d of the L-shaped free end 22 and an inner surface 22d of the long shaft 22a.
e, a first notch 22f having an arc-shaped cross section is provided, so that when closing or expanding the card insertion slot 2, the lever 22 that rotates about the shaft 25 is used.
Is the inner surface 22d of the L-shaped free end 22b or the long axis 2
The inner surface 22e of the insertion card 2a can be prevented from contacting the rear end 51b of the insertion card 51 as much as possible, and the card insertion slot 2 can be opened and closed reliably. In this embodiment, the lever 22 is provided with a predetermined space between an outer peripheral surface 22c having an arc-shaped cross section and a vertical surface 6b of the lower chute 6.
L-shaped free end 22 having an inner surface 22d parallel to b
b, and between the inner surface 22d of the L-shaped free end 22b and the inner surface 22e of the long axis 22a, a first notch 22f having an arc-shaped cross section is provided. The shape is not limited, and may be any shape having a substantially L-shaped cross section.

In this embodiment, the lever 22 is disposed such that the inner surface 22d of the L-shaped free end 22b is located at a predetermined distance from the vertical surface 6b of the lower chute 6 in the initial position. When the card insertion slot 2 is to be closed or opened, the lever 22 that rotates about the shaft 25 is connected to the inner surface 22 of the L-shaped free end 22b or the inner surface 22e of the long shaft 22a. Contact with the inserted card can be prevented as much as possible, and the card insertion slot 2 can be reliably opened and closed.

In this embodiment, the lever 22 has an inner surface 22 of the L-shaped free end 22b in the initial position.
d is disposed at a predetermined distance from the vertical surface 6b of the lower chute 6, but the present invention is not limited to this. The predetermined distance is determined by the length of the long axis 22a of the lever 22, The height may be set in consideration of the height of the chute 6, the inclination of the cut surface 6b of the lower chute 6, the thickness of the insertion card 51, and the like. For example, the predetermined interval may not be provided.

Further, in this embodiment, the card detection sensor 11 for judging whether or not the card has reached a predetermined position in the apparatus main body 4 is constituted by a photo sensor. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, for example, the card 51
The IC connector 43 may be configured to determine whether a predetermined position in the apparatus main body 4 has been reached due to contact or non-contact with the IC recording area. Further, in the card slot opening / closing device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the control unit 41 determines that the information storage or the recording / reproducing process for the recording area of the card 51 is interrupted, the card slot opening / closing unit 21 is driven. The card insertion slot 2 was expanded to open the card, but if an abnormal condition occurred,
For example, a buzzer or a display lamp may be provided to notify the operator, or these may be combined.
In the embodiment of the present invention, the driving means 31 is constituted by the driving motor 35 for driving the slider 26 via the link mechanism 33. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Any configuration may be used as long as it can be reciprocated, and for example, it may be composed of a solenoid.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the card insertion opening / closing means 21 is provided on the lower chute 6 side. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the card insertion port opening / closing means 21 may be provided on the upper chute 5 side. You may.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the card reader / writer 1 is of the type that performs information recording / reproducing processing on the IC recording area of the card 51. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, the card reader / writer 1 may perform the information recording / reproducing process on any information recording area or storage area. For example, it may be a card reader / writer 1 of a type that performs information recording / reproduction processing on a magnetic recording area, or a card reader / writer 1 of a type that performs information recording / reproduction processing on these two areas. It may be.

[0054]

As described above, in the card insertion opening / closing device of the card reader / writer according to the present invention, the card is opened and closed based on the card insertion opening / closing means for opening and closing the card insertion opening and the detection signal of the card detection sensor. When it is determined that the card has reached a predetermined position in the main body, the card insertion port opening / closing means is driven to close the card insertion port, and it is determined that the recording / reproducing processing for the information storage or recording area of the card has been completed or interrupted. In this case, the control means for driving the card insertion opening / closing means to expand the card insertion opening is provided. Alternatively, the card is not removed before the recording / reproducing process of the information on the inserted card is completed due to an operator's misjudgment. It can be carried out accurately.

In this card slot opening / closing device, the card slot is closed during the information recording / reproducing process for the inserted card, so that there is no mischief such as removal of the card during the information recording / reproducing process for the inserted card. Done,
It is possible to prevent the information recording / reproducing process from being disturbed as much as possible. Furthermore, service equipment such as a vending machine including a card reader / writer provided with the card insertion opening / closing device does not need to consider safety as in the related art, and the installation place may be limited. There is no.

Therefore, it is possible to provide a card reader / writer that maintains stable operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual sectional view of a main part of a card reader / writer to which a card insertion opening / closing device of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual sectional view of an essential part of a card reader / writer showing an operation of the card insertion opening / closing device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual sectional view of an essential part of a card reader / writer showing an operation of the card insertion opening / closing device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual sectional view of a main part of a card reader / writer showing an operation of the card insertion opening / closing device of the present invention.

5A is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 2, and FIG.
5 (b) and FIG. 5 (c) are conceptual top views of essential parts of a card reader / writer showing the operation of the card insertion opening / closing device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of control means for controlling the card insertion opening / closing device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a control means provided in the card insertion opening / closing device of the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 1 ... Card reader / writer 2 ... Card insertion slot 3 ... Card transport path 4 ... Device body 11 ... Card detection sensor 21 ... Card insertion slot opening / closing means 22 ... Lever 22b ... L-shaped free end 22d ... L Inner surface of free end of character shape 25 ... Shaft 26 ... Slider 31 ... Drive means 33 ... Link mechanism 35 ... Drive motor 36 ... Biasing means 41 ... Control means 51 ... Card 51b ... Back end of card

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] October 21, 1997

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Fig. 1

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG.

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Figure 2

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 2

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Figure 3

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 3

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Fig. 4

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 4

[Procedure amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Fig. 5

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 5

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A card having an information recording area or a storage area is inserted from a card insertion slot along a card transport path until the card reaches a predetermined position in the apparatus main body, and the card is inserted into a predetermined position in the apparatus main body. A card reader / writer that performs information recording / reproducing processing on the information storage or recording area of the card when the card reaches the card, and detects whether the card has reached a predetermined position in the apparatus main body. A detection sensor; a card insertion opening / closing means for opening and closing the card insertion opening; and a card when determining that the card has reached a predetermined position in the apparatus main body based on a detection signal of the card detection sensor. By driving the insertion slot opening / closing means to close the card insertion slot, it is determined that the recording / reproduction processing for the information storage or recording area of the card has been completed or interrupted. Case, the card insertion port closing device of the card reader-writer, characterized in that it comprises a control means for expanding the card insertion port by driving the card insertion port opening means. 2. The card insertion opening / closing means includes: a lever having a substantially L-shaped cross section; a shaft for rotatably supporting the lever; a slider for supporting the shaft; And a biasing means for constantly biasing the lever toward the card transport path. When the driving means moves the slider toward the card insertion port, the biasing means The lever is rotated about the axis by the urging force of the means to close the card insertion slot, and when the slider is moved in the direction away from the card insertion slot by the driving means, 2. A card reader as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lever is pivoted about said shaft against said urging force of said urging means to expand said card insertion slot. Other card insertion slot opening and closing device. 3. The card feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the lever grips a rear end of the card between an inside of a free end bent in an L-shape and the card conveyance path when the card insertion slot is closed. Item 2. A card insertion opening and closing device for a card reader / writer according to Item (2). 4. The card insertion opening / closing device for a card reader / writer according to claim 2, wherein said driving means comprises a driving motor for driving said slider via a link mechanism. 5. The card reader opening / closing device for a card reader / writer according to claim 2, wherein said driving means comprises a solenoid plunger.