Card reader

Abstract

To provide a card reader capable of continuing a subsequent card transaction even if a relatively large foreign material is inserted in a card insertion port.SOLUTION: According to this card reader, when the one side of the thickness direction of a card that passes through a card passage formed in a main body frame is defined as a first thickness direction side, a receiving portion 12s that is recessed from a passage forming surface 12b which is the surface of the card passage in the first thickness direction side toward the first thickness direction side is formed in a second frame 12 of the main body frame. The receiving portion 12s is placed under a card that contacts the passage forming surface 12b in the vertical direction at a position displaced from a data reading mechanism in the widthwise direction of the card. Moreover, a guide portion 12t that guides a foreign material inserted from a card insertion portion to the receiving portion 12s is formed in the second frame 12 so as to enable the guide portion 12t to guide the foreign material toward the receiving portion 12s from the forward side relative to the data reading mechanism.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a card reader. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, card readers have been known in which a user manually operates a card to read or record data recorded on the card (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The card reader described in Patent Document 1 includes a magnetic head for reading magnetic data recorded on the card, an IC contact block for communicating data with an IC chip built into the card, and a main body frame along which a card movement path is formed. The main body frame includes a bag-shaped card storage section that stores part of a card inserted through a card insertion slot.

[0003] In the card reader described in Patent Document 1, the card storage section is formed with an opening in which an IC contact block is disposed and a second opening for pulling out a cable connected to the IC contact block. The second opening is formed on the rear side of the opening. In addition, a recess is formed in the card storage section at a position opposite the second opening. In the card reader described in Patent Document 1, the second opening and the recess form a relatively large space in the rear part of the card storage section, making it possible to discharge dust that has entered the rear part of the card storage section together with liquid to the outside of the card reader. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-92307 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] As described above, the card reader described in Patent Document 1 is capable of discharging dust that has entered the innermost portion of the card storage compartment to the outside of the card reader. However, in the case of the card reader described in Patent Document 1, if a relatively large foreign object such as a coin is inserted through the card insertion slot, the foreign object may clog the card storage compartment. If the card storage compartment is clogged with the foreign object, it may become impossible to insert a card through the card insertion slot, and subsequent card transactions using the card reader may become impossible.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a card reader that can continue card transactions even if a relatively large foreign object is inserted through the card insertion slot. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, one aspect of the present invention provides a card reader comprising: a data reading mechanism for contacting a card to read at least data recorded on the card; and a main body frame having a card movement path along which a card inserted through a card insertion slot moves and holding the data reading mechanism; wherein a direction perpendicular to the movement direction of the card moving linearly along the card movement path and the thickness direction of the card moving along the card movement path is defined as the width direction of the card; one side of the movement direction of the card is defined as the front side; the side opposite the front side is defined as the back side; one side of the thickness direction of the card is defined as a first thickness direction side; and the side opposite the first thickness direction side is defined as a second thickness direction side. In the direction side, a card is inserted into the card insertion port from the front side toward the back side, and the main body frame is formed with a movement path forming surface which is the surface on the first thickness direction side of the card movement path, a storage section recessed from the movement path forming surface toward the first thickness direction side, and a guide section for guiding foreign matter inserted from the card insertion port to the storage section, and the storage section is positioned at a position offset from the data reading mechanism in the width direction of the card and is positioned vertically lower than the card that contacts the movement path forming surface, and the guide section makes it possible to guide foreign matter from the front side of the data reading mechanism toward the storage section.

[0008] In the card reader of this aspect, if one side in the thickness direction of the card moving along the card movement path is defined as the first thickness direction side, the main body frame is formed with a storage section that is recessed toward the first thickness direction side from the movement path forming surface, which is the surface on the first thickness direction side of the card movement path, and the storage section is positioned at a position offset from the data reading mechanism in the width direction of the card and is positioned vertically below the card that contacts the movement path forming surface. Also, in this aspect, the main body frame is formed with a guide section for guiding a foreign object inserted through the card insertion port to the storage section, and the guide section makes it possible to guide the foreign object from the front side of the data reading mechanism toward the storage section.

[0009] Therefore, in this aspect, even if a relatively large foreign object is inserted through the card insertion slot, it is possible to store the foreign object in the storage section located at a position that is unlikely to interfere with data reading by the data reading mechanism, and storing the foreign object in the storage section makes it possible to prevent clogging of the card movement path. Therefore, in this aspect, even if a relatively large foreign object is inserted through the card insertion slot, it is possible to continue subsequent card transactions in the card reader. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] As described above, with the card reader according to one aspect of the present invention, even if a relatively large foreign object is inserted through the card insertion slot, it is possible to continue a subsequent card transaction. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a card reader according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the main body frame shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a side view for explaining the operation of the IC contact block shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the second frame shown in FIG. [Figure 5]5 is a plan view showing the second frame and the block body shown in FIG. 1. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] (Overall configuration of the card reader) Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a card reader 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main body frame 7 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side view for explaining the operation of an IC contact block 9 shown in Fig. 1.

[0014] The card reader 2 of this embodiment is a device for reading data recorded on a card 3 and recording data to the card 3. Specifically, the card reader 2 is a so-called dip-type card reader in which the card 3 is manually inserted into and removed from the card reader 2 to read and record data. The card reader 2 is mounted on a predetermined higher-level device for use. The card 3 is, for example, a vinyl chloride card with a thickness of approximately 0.7 to 0.8 mm. The card 3 is formed in a rectangular shape. An IC chip is built into the card 3, and an external connection terminal 3b of the IC chip is formed on one side of the card 3. The card 3 may also be a metal card.

[0015] The card reader 2 includes a bezel 5 having a card insertion slot 4 formed therein, through which a card 3 is inserted, and a main body frame 7 having a card movement path 6 formed therein. The card 3 inserted through the card insertion slot 4 moves along the card movement path 6. The card reader 2 also includes an IC contact block 9 having a plurality of IC contact springs 8 that contact the external connection terminals 3b of the card 3, and a torsion coil spring 10 that biases the IC contact block 9 against the main body frame 7. In other words, the card reader 2 is a contact-type IC card reader. The IC contact block 9 in this embodiment is a data reading mechanism that comes into contact with the card 3 and reads at least the data recorded on the card 3.

[0016] In this embodiment, the manually operated card 3 moves linearly in the X direction of Fig. 1, etc. In other words, the X direction is the movement direction of the card 3 moving linearly along the card movement path 6. The card 3 is inserted into the X1 direction side of Fig. 1, etc., which is one side of the X direction, and is removed into the X2 direction side of Fig. 1, etc., which is the other side of the X direction. The Z direction of Fig. 1, etc., which is perpendicular to the X direction, is the thickness direction of the card 3 moving linearly along the card movement path 6, and the Y direction of Fig. 1, etc., which is perpendicular to the X and Z directions, is the width direction (short width direction) of the card 3 moving linearly along the card movement path 6.

[0017] For convenience of explanation, the X direction will be referred to as the front-to-rear direction, the Y direction as the left-to-right direction, and the Z direction as the up-to-down direction. The X2 direction, which is the direction in which the card 3 is removed from the card reader 2, will be referred to as the "near" side or "front" side, and the X1 direction, which is the opposite side (the direction in which the card 3 is inserted into the card reader 2), will be referred to as the "rear" side or "rear" side. In other words, the X2 direction, which is one side of the movement direction of the card 3, will be referred to as the "near" side or "front" side, and the opposite side will be referred to as the "rear" side or "rear" side. The card 3 is inserted into the card insertion slot 4 from the front side toward the rear side.

[0018] In the following description, the Y1 direction side in FIG. 1, etc., which is one side in the left-right direction, will be referred to as the "left" side, the Y2 direction side in FIG. 1, etc., which is the opposite side, will be referred to as the "right" side, the Z1 direction side in FIG. 1, etc., which is one side in the up-down direction, will be referred to as the "up" side, and the Z2 direction side in FIG. 1, etc., which is the opposite side, will be referred to as the "down" side. The down side (Z2 direction side) of this embodiment is the first thickness direction side, which is one side in the thickness direction of the card 3, and the up side (Z1 direction side) is the second thickness direction side, which is the opposite side of the first thickness direction side. The left side (Y1 direction side) of this embodiment is the first width direction side, which is one side in the width direction of the card 3, and the right side (Y2 direction side) is the second width direction side, which is the opposite side of the first width direction side.

[0019] In this embodiment, the Z direction (up-down direction) of the card reader 2 when mounted on the host device does not completely coincide with the vertical direction, and the Z direction of the card reader 2 when mounted on the host device is slightly tilted relative to the vertical direction. Also, in this embodiment, the Z2 direction side (bottom side) of the card reader 2 when mounted on the host device roughly coincides with the "bottom side in the vertical direction (the side where gravity acts)," and the Z1 direction side (top side) of the card reader 2 when mounted on the host device roughly coincides with the "top side in the vertical direction." However, the Z direction of the card reader 2 when mounted on the host device may completely coincide with the vertical direction.

[0020] When viewed from the top and bottom, the main body frame 7 has a generally rectangular shape with its long sides extending left and right. The front-to-back width of the main body frame 7 is narrower than the length (longitudinal width) of the card 3. The main body frame 7 is divided vertically into a first frame 11 and a second frame 12. The first frame 11 and the second frame 12 are made of resin. The first frame 11 forms the upper portion of the main body frame 7, and the second frame 12 forms the lower portion of the main body frame 7. The card movement path 6 is formed between the first frame 11 and the second frame 12 and is formed inside the main body frame 7. The bezel 5 is fixed to the front end of the main body frame 7.

[0021] The main body frame 7 holds the IC contact block 9. Specifically, the first frame 11 movably holds the IC contact block 9. An opening is formed in the first frame 11, in which a portion of the IC contact block 9 is disposed. This opening leads to the interior of the main body frame 7. The first frame 11 also has a cam groove 11b, which engages with a cam pin 16 (described below) that constitutes a portion of the IC contact block 9. An opening 7b that leads to the interior of the main body frame 7 is formed in the front end of the main body frame 7. A portion of the card 3 inserted through the card insertion slot 4 passes through the opening 7b. The main body frame 7 is formed in a bag shape, with no openings other than the opening in which a portion of the IC contact block 9 is disposed and the opening 7b. The specific configuration of the main body frame 7 will be described later.

[0022] The IC contact block 9 is movable relative to the main body frame 7 between a contact position 9A (position shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3) where the IC contact springs 8 can contact the external connection terminals 3b of the card 3, and a retracted position 9B (position shown by a solid line in FIG. 3) where the IC contact springs 8 are retracted to a position where they do not contact the external connection terminals 3b. The IC contact block 9 includes a block main body 15 that holds the multiple IC contact springs 8, and two cam pins 16 that guide the IC contact block 9 between the contact position 9A and the retracted position 9B.

[0023] The block body 15 is arranged so that the IC contact springs 8 face the card moving path 6 from above. A flexible printed circuit board (not shown) is connected to the upper end portion of the IC contact springs 8. Arrangement holes in which cam pins 16 are arranged are formed in the front and rear ends of the block body 15. The block body 15 has a card abutment portion 15b that abuts against the rear end face of the card 3. The card abutment portion 15b protrudes downward from the rear end of the block body 15. The cam pins 16 engage with cam grooves 11b of the first frame 11. The IC contact block 9 is guided between the contact position 9A and the retracted position 9B by the cam pins 16 and the cam grooves 11b.

[0024] The torsion coil springs 10 are arranged on both outer sides of the IC contact block 9 in the left-right direction. A part of a spring holding pin 17 attached to the first frame 11 is arranged on the inner peripheral side of the torsion coil springs 10. The torsion coil springs 10 are held by the main body frame 7 via the spring holding pins 17. One end of the torsion coil springs 10 engages with the IC contact block 9, and the other end of the torsion coil springs 10 engages with the block main body 15. The torsion coil springs 10 urge the IC contact block 9 toward the retracted position 9B.

[0025] When no card 3 is inserted into the card reader 2, the IC contact block 9 is positioned in the retracted position 9B by the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 10. The IC contact block 9 positioned in the retracted position 9B is positioned in front of and above the IC contact block 9 positioned in the contact position 9A. When a card 3 is inserted into the card reader 2, the card 3 moving toward the rear along the card movement path 6 abuts against the card abutment portion 15b. When the card abutting against the card abutment portion 15b pushes the card abutment portion 15b toward the rear, the IC contact block 9 moves from the retracted position 9B to the contact position 9A.

[0026] As the IC contact block 9 moves from the retracted position 9B to the contact position 9A, it also moves downward as it moves toward the back. When the IC contact block 9 reaches the contact position 9A, the IC contact spring 8 comes into contact with the external connection terminal 3b of the card 3 with a predetermined contact pressure, thereby reading data recorded on the card 3 and recording data to the card 3. Furthermore, when the card 3 inserted into the card reader 2 is removed, the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 10 moves the IC contact block 9 at the contact position 9A to the retracted position 9B.

[0027] (Main frame configuration) Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the second frame 12 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the second frame 12 and the block body 15 shown in Fig. 1.

[0028] As described above, the main body frame 7 is made up of a first frame 11 that forms the upper part of the main body frame 7, and a second frame 12 that forms the lower part of the main body frame 7. As shown in FIG. 2, the first frame 11 is formed with a movement path forming surface 11c, which is the upper surface of the card movement path 6. The movement path forming surface 11c is a plane that is perpendicular to the vertical direction. The second frame 12 is formed with a movement path forming surface 12b, which is the lower surface of the card movement path 6. The movement path forming surface 12b is a plane that is perpendicular to the vertical direction.

[0029] The second frame 12 has planar inclined surfaces 12c and 12d formed below the moving path forming surface 12b. That is, the main frame 7 has inclined surfaces 12c and 12d formed thereon. The inclined surfaces 12c and 12d are inclined upward toward the front. The inclination angle of the inclined surface 12d is larger than the inclination angle of the inclined surface 12c. The inclined surface 12c is composed of a first inclined surface portion 12e disposed on the left side of the second frame 12 and a second inclined surface portion 12f disposed on the right front side of the second frame 12. The inclined surface 12d is composed of a first inclined surface portion 12g disposed on the right rear side of the second frame 12 and a second inclined surface portion 12h disposed in front of the first inclined surface portion 12g.

[0030] The first inclined surface portion 12e is formed between the rear end portion and the front end portion of the second frame 12. When viewed from the top-bottom direction, the first inclined surface portion 12e has a rectangular shape with its longer side extending in the front-to-rear direction. The second inclined surface portion 12f is connected to the front portion of the first inclined surface portion 12e and is located on the right side of the first inclined surface portion 12e. As shown in FIG. 5, the width of the second inclined surface portion 12f in the front-to-rear direction gradually narrows toward the right. When viewed from the top-to-bottom direction, the second inclined surface portion 12f has a right-angled triangular shape with its hypotenuse located on the rear side.

[0031] The front end of the first inclined surface portion 12e and the front end of the second inclined surface portion 12f are located at the same position in the front-to-rear direction. The inclined surface 12c is formed up to the front end of the second frame 12. In other words, the inclined surface 12c is formed up to the front end of the main frame 7. The front end of the inclined surface 12c is connected to a flat surface 12j that is perpendicular to the up-down direction and has a narrow width in the front-to-rear direction. The flat surface 12j is located slightly below the movement path forming surface 12b.

[0032] The first inclined surface portion 12g is located to the right of the first inclined surface portion 12e. The rear end of the first inclined surface portion 12g and the rear end of the first inclined surface portion 12e are located at the same position in the front-to-rear direction. Furthermore, the rear end of the first inclined surface portion 12g and the rear end of the first inclined surface portion 12e are located at the same position in the up-down direction. When viewed from the up-down direction, the first inclined surface portion 12g has a substantially rectangular shape with its long sides extending in the left-to-right direction. The left-to-right width of the second inclined surface portion 12h is narrower than the left-to-right width of the first inclined surface portion 12g. The second inclined surface portion 12h is connected to the center of the first inclined surface portion 12g in the left-to-right direction. When viewed from the up-down direction, the second inclined surface portion 12h has a substantially rectangular shape with its long sides extending in the front-to-rear direction. The second inclined surface portion 12h is located behind the second inclined surface portion 12f.

[0033] The movement path forming surface 12b includes a first movement path forming surface 12k disposed to the left of the first inclined surface portion 12e, and a second movement path forming surface 12p disposed to the right of the first inclined surface portion 12e and to the right rear of the second inclined surface portion 12f. The second movement path forming surface 12p is disposed in front of the first inclined surface portion 12g and on both left-right sides and in front of the second inclined surface portion 12h. The front end of the second movement path forming surface 12p is disposed to the right of the flat surface 12j.

[0034] The front end of the second moving path forming surface 12p, located to the right of the flat surface 12j, has a narrower width in the left-right direction. The portion of the second moving path forming surface 12p located to the left of the second inclined surface portion 12h forms a spring opposing surface 12r for increasing the contact pressure between the IC contact spring 8 and the card 3. The IC contact block 9 is located above the spring opposing surface 12r. The left end surface of the block main body 15 and the left end of the spring opposing surface 12r are located at approximately the same position in the left-right direction.

[0035] The left side of the first inclined surface portion 12g and the spring opposing surface 12r forms a storage section 12s recessed downward from the moving path forming surface 12b. The boundary between the second moving path forming surface 12p and the second inclined surface portion 12f forms a guide section 12t for guiding a foreign object inserted through the card insertion slot 4 to the storage section 12s. The foreign object inserted through the card insertion slot 4 is, for example, a coin C. The portion where the first inclined surface portion 12g is formed forms a storage section 12u as a second storage section recessed downward from the moving path forming surface 12b. That is, the main body frame 7 is formed with the storage sections 12s, 12u and the guide section 12t.

[0036] The accommodating section 12s is a storage space for storing foreign objects inserted through the card insertion slot 4. The accommodating section 12s is located on the left side of the IC contact block 9 when viewed from the top-bottom direction. That is, the accommodating section 12s is located at a position offset from the IC contact block 9 in the left-right direction. The portion of the first inclined surface 12e behind the second inclined surface 12f forms the lower side of the accommodating section 12s. That is, a portion of the inclined surface 12c forms the lower side of the accommodating section 12s. The left-right width of the accommodating section 12s is wider than the left-right width of the IC contact block 9. In this embodiment, the left-right width of the accommodating section 12s is approximately twice the left-right width of the IC contact block 9. The accommodating section 12u is located on the rear side of the spring opposing surface 12r and is located on the rear side of the IC contact block 9.

[0037] In this embodiment, as described above, the Z2 direction side (lower side) of the card reader 2 roughly coincides with the lower side in the vertical direction (the side on which gravity acts), and the storage units 12s, 12u are disposed vertically lower than the card 3 that contacts the movement path forming surface 12b. Also, as described above, the first movement path forming surface 12k is disposed on the left side of the first inclined surface portion 12e, and the second movement path forming surface 12p is disposed on the right side of the first inclined surface portion 12e. In other words, the first movement path forming surface 12k is disposed on the left side of the storage unit 12s, and the second movement path forming surface 12p is disposed on the right side of the storage unit 12s.

[0038] As described above, the boundary between the second moving path forming surface 12p and the second inclined surface portion 12f is the guide portion 12t, and the step surface between the second moving path forming surface 12p and the second inclined surface portion 12f is the guide surface 12v. That is, the guide portion 12t has the guide surface 12v, the upper end of which is connected to the moving path forming surface 12b and the lower end of which is connected to the inclined surface 12c. The upper end of the guide surface 12v is connected to the moving path forming surface 12b, and the lower end of the guide surface 12v is connected to the inclined surface 12c. The guide surface 12v is a flat surface parallel to the vertical direction. When viewed from the vertical direction, the guide surface 12v is inclined so as to move leftward as it approaches the back. Note that the guide surface 12v may be slightly inclined with respect to the vertical direction.

[0039] The vertical width of the guide surface 12v gradually increases toward the back. The right end of the guide surface 12v is located to the left of the right end of the second movement path forming surface 12p. The right end of the guide surface 12v is also located to the right of the right end face of the block main body 15. In other words, the right end of the guide surface 12v is located to the left of the right end of the movement path forming surface 12b and to the right of the right end face of the block main body 15.

[0040] Furthermore, the front end of guide surface 12v (i.e., the front end of guide portion 12t) is located further forward than the front end of IC contact block 9. Guide surface 12v serves to guide (introduce) foreign objects such as coins C inserted through card insertion slot 4 from the front side of IC contact block 9 to storage portion 12s. In other words, guide portion 12t makes it possible to guide foreign objects such as coins C from the front side of IC contact block 9 toward storage portion 12s.

[0041] (Main effect of this form) As explained above, in this embodiment, the main body frame 7 is formed with the storage section 12s recessed downward from the movement path forming surface 12b, which is the lower surface of the card movement path 6, and the storage section 12s is disposed on the left side of the IC contact block 9 when viewed from above, and is disposed vertically lower than the card 3 that contacts the movement path forming surface 12b. Also, in this embodiment, the main body frame 7 is formed with a guide section 12t for guiding a foreign object inserted from the card insertion slot 4 to the storage section 12s, and the guide section 12t makes it possible to guide the foreign object from the front side of the IC contact block 9 toward the storage section 12s.

[0042] Therefore, in this embodiment, even if a relatively large foreign object such as a coin C is inserted through the card insertion slot 4, the foreign object can be accommodated in the accommodation section 12s, which is located at a position where data communication by the IC contact block 9 is unlikely to be hindered, and accommodating the foreign object in the accommodation section 12s makes it possible to prevent clogging of the card movement path 6. Therefore, in this embodiment, even if a relatively large foreign object is inserted through the card insertion slot 4, data communication can continue thereafter between the card reader 2 and the card 3. In other words, in this embodiment, even if a relatively large foreign object is inserted through the card insertion slot 4, subsequent transactions with the card 3 can be continued in the card reader 2.

[0043] In this embodiment, the right end of the guide surface 12v is located to the left of the right end of the movement path forming surface 12b. Also, in this embodiment, the first movement path forming surface 12k, which constitutes part of the movement path forming surface 12b, is formed on the left side of the first inclined surface portion 12e. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the rear end surface of the card 3 moving along the card movement path 6 toward the rear side from getting caught on the guide surface 12v. Therefore, in this embodiment, even if the guide surface 12v for guiding a foreign object inserted through the card insertion slot 4 to the storage section 12s is formed on the main body frame 7, it is possible to smoothly move the card 3 toward the rear side of the card reader 2.

[0044] In this embodiment, the vertical width of guide surface 12v, which slopes leftward as it approaches the back when viewed from the top-bottom direction, gradually increases as it approaches the back. Therefore, in this embodiment, foreign objects such as coins C inserted through card insertion slot 3 can be smoothly guided into storage section 12s by guide surface 12v.

[0045] In this embodiment, a part of a flat inclined surface 12c that is disposed below the moving path forming surface 12b and inclined upward toward the front side forms the lower side of the storage section 12s. In this embodiment, the inclined surface 12c is formed up to the front end of the main body frame 7. Therefore, in this embodiment, a foreign object inserted through the card insertion slot 4 can slide along the inclined surface 12c and move smoothly to the storage section 12s.

[0046] Furthermore, in this embodiment, for example, by tilting the card reader 2 in a predetermined direction, it becomes possible to slide the foreign object stored in the storage section 12s along the inclined surface 12c and eject it from the card insertion slot 4 to the outside of the card reader 2. Furthermore, for example, when inserting a wire or the like through the card insertion slot 4 to hook onto the foreign object and pull it out, it becomes possible to move the foreign object smoothly along the inclined surface 12c and eject it from the card insertion slot 4 to the outside of the card reader 2. Therefore, in this embodiment, it becomes possible to easily eject the foreign object stored in the storage section 12s from the card reader 2.

[0047] In this embodiment, the left-right width of the accommodating section 12s is wider than the left-right width of the IC contact block 9. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to accommodate larger foreign objects in the accommodating section 12s compared to a case where the left-right width of the accommodating section 12s is equal to or smaller than the left-right width of the IC contact block 9. Also, in this embodiment, the movement path forming surface 12b includes a first movement path forming surface 12k disposed on the left side of the accommodating section 12s and a second movement path forming surface 12p disposed on the right side of the accommodating section 12s. Therefore, even if the accommodating section 12s is formed in the main body frame 7, it is possible to smoothly move the card 3 in the card movement path 6.

[0048] In this embodiment, a storage section 12u recessed downward from the moving path forming surface 12b is formed in the main body frame 7. In this embodiment, the storage section 12u is disposed on the back side of the IC contact block 9 and is disposed vertically lower than the card 3 that contacts the moving path forming surface 12b. Therefore, in this embodiment, dust and other particles that enter through the card insertion slot 4 can be stored in the storage section 12u, which is disposed in a position where they are less likely to interfere with data communication by the IC contact block 9.

[0049] (Other embodiments) The above-described embodiment is one example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0050] In the above-described embodiment, the inclined surface 12d may not be formed on the main frame 7. In this case, for example, the lower surface of the accommodating section 12u is a flat surface perpendicular to the vertical direction. In this case, for example, the accommodating section 12u may not be formed. In the above-described embodiment, the inclined surface 12c may not be formed on the main frame 7. In this case, for example, instead of the inclined surface 12c, a flat surface perpendicular to the vertical direction and positioned below the moving path forming surface 12b is formed on the second frame 12, and the lower surface of the accommodating section 12s is a flat surface perpendicular to the vertical direction. In addition, the vertical width of the guide surface 12v is constant. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the left-right width of the accommodating section 12s may be equal to or less than the left-right width of the IC contact block 9.

[0051] In the above-described embodiment, the card reader 2 may include a tension coil spring that biases the IC contact block 9 toward the retracted position 9B, instead of the torsion coil spring 10. Also, in the above-described embodiment, the IC contact block 9 is guided between the contact position 9A and the retracted position 9B by the cam groove 11b and the cam pin 16, but the IC contact block 9 may also be guided between the contact position 9A and the retracted position 9B by a parallel link mechanism.

[0052] In the above-described embodiment, the card reader 2 may include, in addition to the IC contact block 9, a magnetic head for contacting the card 3 and reading at least the magnetic data recorded on the card 3. In this case, the magnetic head is located closer to the reader than the IC contact block 9. Also, the magnetic head is located to the right of the IC contact block 9. Also, the card reader 2 may include a magnetic head instead of the IC contact block 9. In this case, for example, the storage section 12s is located to the left of the magnetic head when viewed from the top-bottom direction.

[0053] If the card reader 2 is equipped with a magnetic head, the guide portion 12t can guide foreign matter from the front side of the magnetic head toward the storage portion 12s. In this case, as in the above-described embodiment, even if a relatively large foreign matter is inserted through the card insertion slot 4, the card reader 2 can continue subsequent transactions with the card 3. In this case, the magnetic head is a data reading mechanism that comes into contact with the card 3 and reads at least the data recorded on the card 3. The card 3 has a magnetic stripe on which magnetic data is recorded.

[0054] In the above-described embodiment, the card reader 2 is a manual card reader, but the card reader 2 may be a card transport type card reader having a card transport mechanism that automatically transports the card 3. In this case, a card transport path corresponding to the card transport path 6 is formed inside the card reader 2. In the above-described embodiment, the card reader 2 may also process PET (polyethylene terephthalate) cards with a thickness of about 0.18 to 0.36 mm, paper cards with a predetermined thickness, etc.

[0055] (Configuration of this technology) The present technology can be configured as follows: (1) A data reading mechanism for contacting a card to read at least the data recorded on the card, and a main body frame on which a card movement path is formed along which the card inserted through a card insertion slot moves and which holds the data reading mechanism; Let us define the direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the card linearly moving along the card movement path and the thickness direction of the card moving along the card movement path as the width direction of the card, one side of the movement direction of the card as the front side, the side opposite to the front side as the back side, one side of the thickness direction of the card as a first thickness direction side, and the side opposite to the first thickness direction side as a second thickness direction side. The card is inserted into the card insertion slot from the front side to the back side, the main body frame is formed with a movement path forming surface which is a surface on the first thickness direction side of the card movement path, a storage section recessed from the movement path forming surface toward the first thickness direction side, and a guide section for guiding a foreign object inserted from the card insertion port to the storage section, the storage section is disposed at a position offset from the data reading mechanism in a width direction of the card, and is disposed vertically below the card that contacts the moving path forming surface, The card reader is characterized in that the guide portion is capable of guiding the foreign object from a position in front of the data reading mechanism toward the storage portion. (2) The card reader according to (1), wherein the data reading mechanism is an IC contact block having a plurality of IC contact springs that come into contact with external connection terminals of an IC chip formed on the card. (3) When one side of the card in the width direction is defined as a first width direction side and the side opposite to the first width direction side is defined as a second width direction side, When viewed in a thickness direction of the card, the storage section is disposed on the first width direction side of the data reading mechanism, the guide portion is formed with a guide surface that is inclined toward the first width direction side as it approaches the back side when viewed from the thickness direction of the card, and whose end portion on the second thickness direction side is connected to the movement path forming surface, A card reader as described in (1) or (2), characterized in that the end of the guide surface on the second width direction side is positioned closer to the first width direction side than the end of the moving path forming surface on the second width direction side. (4) The main body frame has a planar inclined surface disposed on the first thickness direction side of the moving path forming surface and inclined toward the second thickness direction side as it approaches the front side, a part of the inclined surface forms a side surface of the accommodation portion on the first thickness direction side, an end portion of the guide surface on the first thickness direction side is connected to the inclined surface, The width of the guide surface in the thickness direction of the card gradually increases toward the back side, The card reader according to (3) is characterized in that the inclined surface is formed up to the front end of the main body frame. (5) A card reader as described in any one of (1) to (4), characterized in that the width of the storage section in the width direction of the card is wider than the width of the data reading mechanism in the width direction of the card. (6) When one side of the card in the width direction is defined as a first width direction side and the side opposite to the first width direction side is defined as a second width direction side, A card reader described in any one of (1) to (5), characterized in that the moving path forming surface comprises a first moving path forming surface arranged on the first width direction side of the storage section, and a second moving path forming surface arranged on the second width direction side of the storage section. (7) The main body frame is formed with a second accommodating portion recessed from the moving path forming surface toward the first thickness direction, A card reader as described in any one of (1) to (6), characterized in that the second storage section is positioned at the rear side of the data reading mechanism and vertically below the card that contacts the moving path forming surface.

[0056] In this embodiment, for example, the data reading mechanism is an IC contact block having multiple IC contact springs that contact the external connection terminals of an IC chip formed on the card. In this case, even if a relatively large foreign object is inserted through the card insertion slot, data communication between the card reader and the card can still be performed.

[0057] In this embodiment, if one side of the card in the width direction is defined as the first width direction side and the side opposite the first width direction side is defined as the second width direction side, when viewed from the thickness direction of the card, the storage section is arranged on the first width direction side of the data reading mechanism, and the guide section is formed with a guide surface that slopes toward the first width direction side as it moves toward the back when viewed from the thickness direction of the card, and whose end on the second thickness direction side is connected to the moving path forming surface, and it is preferable that the end on the second width direction side of the guide surface is arranged on the first width direction side of the end on the second width direction side of the moving path forming surface.

[0058] With this configuration, the second widthwise end of the guide surface is positioned closer to the first widthwise end than the second widthwise end of the movement path forming surface, which prevents the rear end face of the card moving along the card movement path toward the rear from getting caught on the guide surface. Therefore, even if a guide surface for guiding a foreign object inserted through the card insertion slot to the storage section is formed on the main frame, the card can be moved smoothly toward the rear of the card reader.

[0059] In this embodiment, the main frame has a flat inclined surface that is positioned on the first thickness direction side of the moving path forming surface and that slopes toward the second thickness direction as it moves toward the front side, a portion of the inclined surface forms the side surface on the first thickness direction side of the storage section, the end of the guide surface on the first thickness direction side is connected to the inclined surface, the width of the guide surface in the thickness direction of the card gradually increases as it moves toward the back side, and it is preferable that the inclined surface is formed up to the front end of the main frame.

[0060] With this configuration, a portion of the inclined surface forms the side surface of the storage section on the first thickness direction side, so that a foreign object inserted from the card insertion slot can slide along the inclined surface and move smoothly to the storage section. Also, with this configuration, the width of the guide surface, which inclines toward the first width direction as it approaches the back when viewed from the thickness direction of the card, in the thickness direction of the card gradually increases as it approaches the back, so that a foreign object inserted from the card insertion slot can be smoothly guided into the storage section by the guide surface.

[0061] Furthermore, with this configuration, for example, by tilting the card reader in a predetermined direction, it becomes possible to slide the foreign object contained in the storage section along the inclined surface and eject it from the card insertion slot to the outside of the card reader. Also, for example, when inserting a wire or the like through the card insertion slot to hook onto the foreign object and pull it out, it becomes possible to move the foreign object smoothly along the inclined surface and eject it from the card insertion slot to the outside of the card reader. Therefore, it becomes possible to easily eject the foreign object contained in the storage section from the card reader.

[0062] In this aspect, it is preferable that the width of the storage section in the width direction of the card is wider than the width of the data reading mechanism in the width direction of the card. With this configuration, it becomes possible to store larger foreign objects in the storage section compared to when the width of the storage section in the width direction of the card is equal to or smaller than the width of the data reading mechanism in the width direction of the card.

[0063] In this aspect, if one width direction side of the card is defined as a first width direction side and the opposite side of the first width direction side is defined as a second width direction side, it is preferable that the movement path forming surface comprises a first movement path forming surface arranged on the first width direction side of the storage section, and a second movement path forming surface arranged on the second width direction side of the storage section. With this configuration, even if a storage section recessed from the movement path forming surface toward the first thickness direction side is formed in the main body frame, it is possible to move the card smoothly in the card movement path.

[0064] In this aspect, for example, the main body frame is formed with a second accommodating section recessed from the moving path forming surface toward the first thickness direction, and the second accommodating section is disposed on the back side of the data reading mechanism and disposed vertically below the card that contacts the moving path forming surface. In this case, it becomes possible to accommodate dust and other particles that enter through the card insertion slot in the second accommodating section, which is disposed in a position that is less likely to interfere with data reading by the data reading mechanism. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 2 card readers 3 Cards 3b External connection terminal 4 Card slot 6 Card Movement 7 Main frame 8 IC contact spring 9 IC contact block (data reading mechanism) 12b Travel path forming surface 12c slope 12k 1st travel path forming surface 12p 2nd travel path forming surface 12s storage compartment 12t guide section 12u storage section (second storage section) 12v guide surface C Coin (foreign object) X Card movement direction X1 rear side X2 Front side Y Card width direction Y1 1st width direction side Y2 Second width direction side Z Card thickness direction Z1 Second thickness direction side Z2 First thickness direction side

Claims

1. a data reading mechanism for contacting a card to read at least the data recorded on the card; and a main body frame on which a card movement path is formed along which the card inserted through a card insertion port moves and which holds the data reading mechanism; Let us define a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the card linearly moving along the card movement path and the thickness direction of the card moving along the card movement path as the width direction of the card, one side of the movement direction of the card as the front side, the side opposite to the front side as the back side, one side of the thickness direction of the card as a first thickness direction side, and the side opposite to the first thickness direction side as a second thickness direction side. The card is inserted into the card insertion slot from the front side to the back side, The main body frame is formed with a movement path forming surface which is a surface on the first thickness direction side of the card movement path, a storage portion recessed from the movement path forming surface toward the first thickness direction side, and a guide portion for guiding a foreign object inserted from the card insertion port to the storage portion, the storage section is disposed at a position offset from the data reading mechanism in a width direction of the card, and is disposed vertically below the card that contacts the moving path forming surface, The card reader is characterized in that the guide portion is capable of guiding the foreign object from a position in front of the data reading mechanism toward the storage portion.

2. 2. The card reader according to claim 1, wherein the data reading mechanism is an IC contact block having a plurality of IC contact springs that come into contact with external connection terminals of an IC chip formed on the card.

3. When one side of the card in the width direction is defined as a first width direction side and the side opposite to the first width direction side is defined as a second width direction side, When viewed in a thickness direction of the card, the storage section is disposed on the first width direction side of the data reading mechanism, the guide portion is formed with a guide surface that is inclined toward the first width direction side as it approaches the back side when viewed from the thickness direction of the card, and whose end portion on the second thickness direction side is connected to the movement path forming surface, A card reader as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the end portion of the guide surface on the second width direction side is positioned closer to the first width direction than the end portion of the moving path forming surface on the second width direction side.

4. the main body frame has a planar inclined surface that is disposed on the first thickness direction side of the movement path forming surface and that inclines toward the second thickness direction side as it approaches the front side, a part of the inclined surface forms a side surface of the accommodation portion on the first thickness direction side, an end portion of the guide surface on the first thickness direction side is connected to the inclined surface, The width of the guide surface in the thickness direction of the card gradually increases toward the back side, 4. The card reader according to claim 3, wherein the inclined surface is formed up to the front end of the main body frame.

5. 3. The card reader according to claim 1, wherein the width of the storage section in the width direction of the card is wider than the width of the data reading mechanism in the width direction of the card.

6. When one side of the card in the width direction is defined as a first width direction side and the side opposite to the first width direction side is defined as a second width direction side, A card reader as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the movement path forming surface comprises a first movement path forming surface arranged on the first width direction side of the storage section, and a second movement path forming surface arranged on the second width direction side of the storage section.

7. a second housing portion recessed from the moving path forming surface toward the first thickness direction side is formed in the main body frame; 3. A card reader as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the second storage section is positioned at the rear side of the data reading mechanism and vertically below the card that contacts the moving path forming surface.

Images