JPS6137100Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for reading information from a card inserted into a card insertion path.

FIG. 1 shows a conventional device 2 of this type attached to a wall 1 of a house or the like. The device 2 is provided with an insertion path 3 that opens at the front thereof, and by inserting an information card 4 such as a cashless card into the insertion path 3, the information on the card 4 is read within the device 2.

However, in such a device, the depth of the device must be sufficient to accommodate the entire length of the card within the insertion path, which causes the device to protrude far beyond the wall surface.

FIG. 2 shows a conventional device 5 which has been improved in this respect and is similarly attached to a wall surface 6. In this device 5, one side 7a of the card insertion path 7 is opened to form the insertion path 7 into a groove shape, and the depth to the bottom of the groove is smaller than the width of the card 8, so that the inserted card 8 One side edge 8a of the is exposed. The card is inserted through the upper opening of the insertion path 7, and the card information is read within the device 5 during the insertion movement. Of course, at this time, the card information is recorded along the other side edge 8b of the card 8.

In the device shown in FIG. 2, the depth dimension may be approximately half the width of the card, so that the device does not protrude much beyond the wall surface. However, when the card is inserted, the card is guided only on about half of the card, which causes the card to move in a meandering manner, making it difficult to read information accurately.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a card information reading device having an open insertion path as shown in FIG.
This invention is intended to stably prevent card movement within the insertion path, and the present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment device 11 attached to a wall surface 10 of a house or the like. The card insertion path 12 of this device has a groove shape with the first side 12a open, and the depth to the groove bottom 12b is smaller than the width of the card 13, so that the inserted card 13 is One side edge 13a is exposed.

The card holder 14 is a feature of the present invention, and is arranged so as to be rotatable within a range of 90 degrees by a hinge 15 extending across the front side of the device. This holding body 14
has a substantially L-shape including a base piece 14a connected to a hinge 15 and a pressing piece 14b perpendicular to the base piece 14a, and when the device is not in use, the pressing piece 1 is closed as shown in FIG.
4b closes the upper end opening 12c of the insertion path 12 to prevent foreign matter from entering the insertion path 12 through this opening.
When the device is used, the holder 14 is rotated 90 degrees about the hinge 15, as shown in FIG. At this time, the facing distance is information card 1
It is slightly smaller than the card width of 3.

The holder 14 is movable within a predetermined range along the open side 12a of the insertion path as shown by arrow A, and is resiliently biased upward to resist card insertion. Furthermore, the holding body 14 is arranged such that its pressing piece 14b is resiliently biased in a direction toward the groove bottom 12b of the insertion path 12 as shown by arrow B.

Therefore, the card 13 is inserted through the upper end opening 12c of the insertion path against the elastic force in the direction indicated by the arrow B, and when the bottom edge 13b of the card comes into contact with the base piece 14a of the holder, the card 13 is inserted in the upward direction. If the card 13 is further pushed in against the elastic force of
Thereafter, when the card pushing force is released, the card 13 is pushed upward by the resiliently biased holder 14. The card 13 has the other side edge 13c.
Information 13d is recorded along the card, and the card information is read by a reading element 16 such as a magnetic head provided in the device when the card is moved downward or upward. Since the card 13 moves stably under the action of the pressing piece 14b of the holder with the other side edge 13c of the card always in contact with the groove bottom 12b of the insertion path, accurate information reading is possible.

The above-mentioned action of the holder 14 is due to the movement of the hinge 15 that supports the holder 14.
This will be explained with reference to the figures. Left and right support columns 19a and 19b are supported by left and right guide slits 17a and 17b provided along both sides of the open side edge 12a of the insertion path, and left and right guide grooves 18a and 18b that face these slits in the device, respectively. A piece of hinge 15 is fixed to the outer extremities of these support columns. Therefore, the support columns 19a, 19b
is guided by the guide slit guide groove and is movable in the vertical direction as shown by arrow A, and the same holds true for the holder 14 which is connected to the support columns 19a and 19b via the hinge 15.

Further, the drawn-out ends of well-known tape measure type equal load springs 21a, 21b are connected to the washers 20a, 20b which are loosely fitted to the support columns 19a, 19b, and the support columns 19a, 19b are always raised by this spring force. It is biased in the direction. This is the reason for the above-mentioned upward biasing force of the holding body 14.

Further, compression coil springs 22a, 22b are wound around the support columns 19a, 19b (spring 22b is not shown in the figure), and both ends of these springs are connected to the loosely fitted washers 20a, 20b.
They are engaged with washers 23a and 23b fixed to the proximal ends of the support columns 19a and 19b, respectively (the washers 23b are not shown in the figure). Therefore, the support columns 19a and 19b are always resiliently biased in the direction shown by arrow B by the action of the springs 22a and 22b, and the resilient biasing force of the holder 14 in the same direction mentioned above is due to this. .

The reading element 16 is mounted on one of the printed circuit boards 24a and 24b disposed within the apparatus, and its reading surface faces the insertion path 12.

Thus, according to the present invention, in a card information reading device having an open insertion path, the newly provided holder allows the card to move stably within the insertion path, thereby allowing accurate information reading.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views showing conventional examples;
4 and 4 respectively show a perspective view and a sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4A is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 4B, and FIG. It is a diagram. 12... Card insertion path, 14... Card holder, 14b... Pressing piece.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A device for reading information on a card inserted into a card insertion path, wherein the insertion path is open on one side along the insertion direction to form a groove, and the depth to the bottom of the groove is greater than the width of the card. small, thus exposing one side edge of the inserted card, and the device is movable along the open side of the insertion path and resiliently biased in a direction against card insertion. The card holder is characterized in that the holder has a pressing piece that comes into contact with the one side edge of the inserted card and presses the other side edge against the groove bottom of the insertion path. Card information reading device.