Card reader

Abstract

To provide a card reader configured to suppress deterioration of accuracy for detecting whether or not a card inserted from a card insertion slot has an external connection terminal even when a metal card in which metal is used as a base material of the card is processed.SOLUTION: In a card reader for processing a card 3 into which an IC chip is incorporated and in which an external connection terminal 3b of an IC chip is formed, a card conveyance mechanism for conveying the card on a card conveyance path 5 includes a conveyance roller pair 16 composed of a driving roller 19 which is in contact with the card 3 and holds and conveys the card 3, and a pad roller 20 disposed opposite to the driving roller 19. A metal detecting mechanism 10 for detecting the external connection terminal 3b is disposed behind the external connection terminal 3b of the card 3 with its rear end held by the conveyance roller pair 16 disposed at the front side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, IC card processing devices for processing contact-type IC cards are known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). An IC chip is embedded in an IC card processed by the IC card processing device described in Patent Document 1. An external connection terminal (IC contact) of the IC chip is provided on the surface of the IC card. Portions of the IC card other than the IC chip and the external connection terminal are made of resin. The IC card processing device described in Patent Document 1 is equipped with an IC contact detection sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the external connection terminal of the IC card.

[0003] In the IC card processing device described in Patent Document 1, an IC contact detection sensor is arranged in a passage near the IC card insertion slot. The IC contact detection sensor is composed of a frequency oscillation type proximity sensor, and the output of the IC contact detection sensor does not fluctuate even if a non-magnetic material such as resin approaches directly below the IC contact detection sensor, but the output of the IC contact detection sensor fluctuates when a magnetic material such as metal approaches directly below the IC contact detection sensor. Therefore, in the IC card processing device described in Patent Document 1, the IC contact detection sensor can detect the presence or absence of an external connection terminal of an IC card near the IC card insertion slot. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-107582 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In addition to IC cards that use resin as the card base material, there are also cards that use metal as the card base material (metal cards). Even when a metal card is processed by the IC card processing device described in Patent Document 1, the output of the IC contact detection sensor varies between the part of the IC card where the external connection terminal is formed and the other part of the IC card, so it is possible for the IC contact detection sensor to detect the presence or absence of the external connection terminal of the IC card.

[0006] However, in the IC card processing device described in Patent Document 1, the IC contact detection sensor is located near the IC card insertion slot, and therefore the distance between the IC contact detection sensor and the IC card may vary due to, for example, shaking of the card (hand shake) when a user of the IC card processing device manually inserts the IC card into the insertion slot. When a metal card is processed in the IC card processing device described in Patent Document 1, if the distance between the IC contact detection sensor and the IC card varies due to hand shake or the like when inserting the IC card, the output of the IC contact detection sensor will vary, and even if the IC card does not have an external connection terminal, the output of the IC contact detection sensor may fluctuate, potentially resulting in an erroneous detection of the presence or absence of an external connection terminal on the IC card. In other words, when a metal card is processed in the IC card processing device described in Patent Document 1, there is a risk of a decrease in the accuracy of detecting the presence or absence of an external connection terminal on the IC card.

[0007] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a card reader for processing cards that have an IC chip built in and an external connection terminal formed on the IC chip, which is capable of suppressing a decrease in the accuracy of detecting whether or not an external connection terminal is formed on a card inserted through a card insertion port, even when processing a metal card that uses metal as the base material of the card. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, one aspect of the present invention is a card reader for processing a card having an IC chip built-in and an external connection terminal of the IC chip, and the card reader includes a card insertion opening into which the card is inserted, a card transport path along which the card inserted from the card insertion opening is transported, a card transport mechanism that transports the card on the card transport path, and a metal detection mechanism for detecting the external connection terminal, where one side of the card transport direction by the card transport mechanism is the front side and the other side of the card transport direction by the card transport mechanism is the back side. The card transport mechanism has one or more pairs of transport rollers that contact the card and transport it while sandwiching it; if the card transport mechanism has multiple pairs of transport rollers, the pair of transport rollers that is located closest to the card is called the first pair of transport rollers; if the card transport mechanism has only one pair of transport rollers, this pair of transport rollers is called the first pair of transport rollers; and the metal detection mechanism is located further back than the external connection terminals of the card when the back end of the card is sandwiched between the first pair of transport rollers.

[0009] In the card reader of this aspect, the metal detection mechanism is located further back than the external connection terminals of the card when the rear end of the card is sandwiched between the first pair of transport rollers. Therefore, in this aspect, when the card moves along the card transport path toward the rear, the external connection terminals of the card reach the position where the metal detection mechanism is located in the card transport direction after the rear end of the card is sandwiched between the first pair of transport rollers. In other words, in this aspect, when the external connection terminals pass the position where the metal detection mechanism is located in the card transport direction, at least the rear portion of the card is sandwiched between the first pair of transport rollers.

[0010] Therefore, in this aspect, even if the card shakes (hand shake) when the user manually inserts the card into the card insertion slot, when the external connection terminal passes the position where the metal detection mechanism is located in the card transport direction, the first transport roller pair can suppress fluctuations in the distance between the external connection terminal and the metal detection mechanism. Therefore, in this aspect, when a metal card using metal as the card base material is processed, it is possible to suppress fluctuations in the output of the metal detection mechanism caused by fluctuations in the distance between the external connection terminal and the metal detection mechanism. As a result, even when processing a metal card with a card reader, it is possible to suppress deterioration in detection accuracy for determining whether or not an external connection terminal is formed on a card inserted through the card insertion slot. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] As described above, in one aspect of the present invention, in a card reader for processing cards that have an IC chip built in and an external connection terminal formed on the IC chip, even when processing a metal card in which metal is used as the base material of the card, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the accuracy of detecting whether or not an external connection terminal is formed on a card inserted through a card insertion port. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view for explaining the configuration of a card reader according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the card shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the metal detection mechanism shown in FIG. [Figure 4] 4A is an enlarged view of part E in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4B is a plan view of the card shown in FIG. 4A. [Figure 5] 5A is an enlarged view of part E in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5B is a plan view of the card shown in FIG. 5A. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0014] (Card reader configuration) FIG. 1 is a schematic side view illustrating the configuration of a card reader 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a card 3 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a metal detection mechanism 10 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4A is an enlarged view of part E in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4B is a plan view of the card 3 shown in FIG. 4A. FIG. 5A is an enlarged view of part E in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5B is a plan view of the card 3 shown in FIG. 5A.

[0015] The card reader 2 of this embodiment is a device for processing a card 3. Specifically, the card reader 2 is a device for reading data recorded on the card 3 and recording data to the card 3. The card reader 2 is used by being mounted on a predetermined higher-level device such as an ATM (Automatic Teller Machine).

[0016] The card 3 is formed in the shape of a thin, rectangular flat plate with a thickness of about 0.7 to 0.8 mm. The card 3 is a plastic card (resin card) that uses a resin such as vinyl chloride as the base material, or a metal card that uses a metal as the base material. The card 3 is a card that complies with international standards and JIS standards. The card 3 has an IC chip built in, and an external connection terminal 3b of the IC chip is formed on one side of the card 3 (specifically, the front side of the card 3). The external connection terminal 3b is arranged in a position specified by the international standards and JIS standards. If the card 3 is a plastic card, a magnetic stripe 3c may be formed on the card 3.

[0017] The card reader 2 is formed with a card insertion slot 4 into which a card 3 is inserted. A card transport path 5 is formed inside the card reader 2, along which the card 3 inserted through the card insertion slot 4 is transported. The card reader 2 is equipped with a card transport mechanism 6 that transports the card 3 on the card transport path 5. In other words, the card reader 2 is a card transport type card reader. The card reader 2 is also equipped with a magnetic head 8 for at least one of reading magnetic data recorded on the card 3 and recording magnetic data to the card 3, and an IC contact block 9 for communicating data with an IC chip built into the card 3.

[0018] In this embodiment, the card 3 is transported in the X direction shown in Fig. 1 etc. in the card transport path 5. That is, the X direction is the transport direction of the card 3 by the card transport mechanism 6. The Z direction perpendicular to the X direction is the thickness direction of the card 3 transported in the card transport path 5, and the Y direction perpendicular to the X and Z directions is the width direction (short side width direction) of the card 3 transported in the card transport path 5. The card reader 2 is disposed, for example, so that the Z direction coincides with the vertical direction.

[0019] In the following description, the X direction is the front-to-rear direction, and the Z direction is the up-to-down direction. Furthermore, in the following description, the X1 direction side in FIG. 1, etc., which is one side of the front-to-rear direction, is referred to as the "front" side or "near" side, and the X2 direction side in FIG. 1, etc., which is the other side of the front-to-rear direction, is referred to as the "rear" side or "deep" side. Furthermore, the Z1 direction side in FIG. 1, etc., which is one side of the up-to-down direction, is referred to as the "up" side, and the Z2 direction side in FIG. 1, etc., which is the opposite side, is referred to as the "down" side.

[0020] In the card reader 2, the card 3 is inserted toward the back side and ejected toward the front side. The front end of the card transport path 5 is the card insertion slot 4. In the card transport path 5, the card 3 is transported so that the longitudinal direction of the rectangular card 3 coincides with the front-to-rear direction. When the card 3 is inserted in the correct orientation into the card insertion slot 4, in the card transport path 5, the front surface of the card 3 (i.e., the surface on which the external connection terminal 3b is formed) faces upward, and the external connection terminal 3b is located at the back end of the card 3.

[0021] In addition to the card transport mechanism 6 and the like, the card reader 2 is equipped with two metal detection mechanisms 10 and 11 for detecting the external connection terminal 3b of the card 3, a pre-head (magnetic head) 12 for detecting magnetic data recorded on the card 3, and a shutter member 13 for closing the card transport path 5. The card reader 2 also has an insertion detection mechanism for detecting that the card 3 has been inserted into the card insertion slot 4. This insertion detection mechanism is, for example, a width detection mechanism that detects that the card 3 has been inserted into the card insertion slot 4 by detecting the edge of the card 3 in the width direction of the card 3.

[0022] The card transport mechanism 6 includes multiple transport roller pairs 16-18 that contact the card 3 and transport the card 3 while sandwiching it between them. For example, the card transport mechanism 6 includes three transport roller pairs 16-18. Each transport roller pair 16-18 is composed of a drive roller 19 and a pad roller 20 that is arranged opposite the drive roller 19. The drive roller 19 is connected to a motor via a predetermined power transmission mechanism. The pad roller 20 is biased toward the drive roller 19. The drive roller 19 and the pad roller 20 face each other in the vertical direction. The card 3 is transported while sandwiched between the drive roller 19 and the pad roller 20.

[0023] The transport roller pairs 16 to 18 are arranged in this order from the front to the back. That is, the transport roller pair 16 is arranged closest to the front of the three transport roller pairs 16 to 18. The pitch between the transport roller pairs 16 to 18 is slightly shorter than the longitudinal length of the rectangular card 3. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, when the back end of the card 3 is sandwiched between the transport roller pair 16, more than half of the card 3 in the front-to-back direction is arranged further back than the card insertion slot 4. The transport roller pair 16 in this embodiment is a first transport roller pair.

[0024] The magnetic head 8 is disposed, for example, at the same position as the pair of transport rollers 17 in the front-to-rear direction. The magnetic head 8 is disposed so as to face the card transport path 5 from below. The IC contact block 9 is disposed, for example, at the rear end side of the card reader 2. The IC contact block 9 has a plurality of IC contact springs for contacting the external connection terminals 3b of the card 3 to communicate data. The IC contact block 9 is disposed so as to face the card transport path 5 from above. The card reader 2 is provided with a block moving mechanism that moves the IC contact block 9 between a position where the IC contact springs can come into contact with the external connection terminals 3b and a position where the IC contact springs cannot come into contact with the external connection terminals 3b.

[0025] The shutter member 13 is movable between a closed position where it closes the card transport path 5, and an open position where it opens the card transport path 5. The card reader 2 is equipped with a shutter drive mechanism that moves the shutter member 13 between the closed position and the open position. The shutter member 13 is arranged on the front side of the transport roller pair 16. The pre-head 12 is arranged so as to face the transport path 5 from below. The pre-head 12 is arranged on the front side of the shutter member 13. The pre-head 12 has the function of detecting that magnetic data is recorded on the card 3 inserted into the card insertion slot 4.

[0026] The metal detection mechanism 10 is a differential magnetic sensor. As shown in FIG. 3, the metal detection mechanism 10 includes a core 22 made of a magnetic material, and a pair of excitation coils 23 and detection coils 24 wound around the core 22. The detection coil 24 is wound around the center of the core 22 in the axial direction of the core center CL1. Each of the pair of excitation coils 23 is wound around each of the two ends of the core 22 in the axial direction of the core center CL1. The metal detection mechanism 10 detects metal, such as the external connection terminal 3b of the card 3, by detecting changes in the magnetic field generated by the excitation coil 23 using the detection coil 24. The metal detection mechanism 10 is arranged facing the card transport path 5 from above.

[0027] The metal detection mechanism 10 is disposed on the rear side of the shutter member 13. The metal detection mechanism 10 is also disposed on the front side of the center CL2 of the pair of transport rollers 16 in the front-to-rear direction. The metal detection mechanism 10 is disposed on the rear side of the external connection terminals 3b when the rear end of the card 3 on which the external connection terminals 3b are formed is sandwiched between the pair of transport rollers 16. Specifically, the metal detection mechanism 10 is disposed on the rear side of the external connection terminals 3b when the rear end of the card 3 on which the external connection terminals 3b are formed and which has been inserted into the card insertion slot 4 in the correct orientation is sandwiched between the pair of transport rollers 16 (see FIG. 4).

[0028] That is, the metal detection mechanism 10 is disposed at a position through which the external connection terminals 3b pass after the card 3, which has the external connection terminals 3b formed and which has been inserted into the card insertion slot 4 in the correct orientation, moves toward the back side along the card transport path 5 and the back end of the card 3 is sandwiched between the transport roller pair 16. That is, when the card 3, which has the external connection terminals 3b formed and which has been inserted into the card insertion slot 4 in the correct orientation, moves toward the back side along the card transport path 5, the external connection terminals 3b reach the position in the front-to-rear direction where the metal detection mechanism 10 is disposed after the back end of the card 3 is sandwiched between the transport roller pair 16 (see FIG. 5).

[0029] The metal detection mechanism 11 is configured in the same manner as the metal detection mechanism 10. That is, the metal detection mechanism 11 is a differential magnetic sensor, and includes a core 22 and a pair of excitation coils 23 and detection coils 24. The metal detection mechanism 11 is disposed closer to the front than the shutter member 13. The metal detection mechanism 11 is also disposed closer to the front than the pre-head 12. The metal detection mechanism 11 is disposed so as to face the card transport path 5 from above. The metal detection mechanism 10 and the metal detection mechanism 11 are disposed at the same position in the vertical direction. The metal detection mechanism 11 in this embodiment is a second metal detection mechanism.

[0030] The metal detection mechanism 11 is located closer to the front than the rear end of the external connection terminal 3b when the rear end of the card 3, which has the external connection terminal 3b formed and is inserted into the card insertion slot 4 in the correct orientation, reaches the position in the front-to-rear direction where the shutter member 13 is located. In other words, when the card 3, which has the external connection terminal 3b formed and is inserted into the card insertion slot 4 in the correct orientation, moves toward the rear along the card transport path 5, the rear end of the external connection terminal 3b passes the position in the front-to-rear direction where the metal detection mechanism 11 is located before the rear end of the card 3 reaches the position in the front-to-rear direction where the shutter member 13 is located.

[0031] In this embodiment, in a standby state before a card 3 is inserted into the card reader 2, the shutter member 13 is disposed in the closed position and blocks the card transport path 5. On the other hand, for example, when it is detected that a card 3 has been inserted into the card insertion slot 4 and the pre-head 12 detects that magnetic data has been recorded on the card 3, the shutter member 13 moves from the closed position to the open position and opens the card transport path 5. When the card transport path 5 is opened, it becomes possible to take the card 3 into the card reader 2.

[0032] Furthermore, for example, when it is detected that card 3 has been inserted into card insertion slot 4 and metal is detected by metal detection mechanism 11, shutter member 13 moves from the closed position to the open position to open card transport path 5. That is, when card 3 inserted into card insertion slot 4 is a metal card, or when card 3 inserted into card insertion slot 4 is a plastic card that has external connection terminals 3b formed on card 3 and is inserted into card insertion slot 4 in the correct orientation, metal is detected by metal detection mechanism 11, and shutter member 13 moves from the closed position to the open position to open card transport path 5.

[0033] When card 3 moves from shutter member 13 toward the rear, card 3 passes the position where metal detection mechanism 10 is located. If card 3 inserted into card insertion slot 4 is a metal card that does not have external connection terminals 3b formed on it, or if card 3 is a metal card that has external connection terminals 3b formed on it but the front surface of card 3 faces downward, the output of metal detection mechanism 10 will fluctuate when the rear end of card 3 reaches the position where metal detection mechanism 10 is located, but thereafter the output of metal detection mechanism 10 will barely fluctuate until the front end of card 3 passes metal detection mechanism 10.

[0034] On the other hand, if the card 3 inserted into the card insertion slot 4 is a metal card on which external connection terminals 3b are formed and the front surface of the card 3 faces upward, the output of the metal detection mechanism 10 fluctuates when the rear end of the card 3 reaches the position where the metal detection mechanism 10 is disposed, and the output of the metal detection mechanism 10 fluctuates when the external connection terminals 3b reach the position where the metal detection mechanism 10 is disposed. Therefore, in this embodiment, even if the card 3 is a metal card, it is possible to detect that the front surface of the card 3 on which the external connection terminals 3b are formed faces upward based on the detection result of the metal detection mechanism 10.

[0035] (Main effect of this form) As described above, in this embodiment, when the rear end of the card 3 on which the external connection terminal 3b is formed is sandwiched between the pair of conveying rollers 16 located at the frontmost side, the metal detection mechanism 10 is positioned further back than the external connection terminal 3b, and when the card 3 on which the external connection terminal 3b is formed and which has been inserted into the card insertion slot 4 in the correct orientation moves toward the rear along the card conveying path 5, the external connection terminal 3b reaches the position in the front-to-rear direction where the metal detection mechanism 10 is positioned after the rear end of the card 3 is sandwiched between the pair of conveying rollers 16.

[0036] That is, in this embodiment, when the external connection terminal 3b passes the position in the front-rear direction where the metal detection mechanism 10 is disposed, at least the rear portion of the card 3 is sandwiched between the transport roller pair 16. Therefore, in this embodiment, even if the card 3 shakes (hand shake) when the user manually inserts the card 3 into the card insertion slot 4, when the external connection terminal 3b passes the position in the front-rear direction where the metal detection mechanism 10 is disposed, the transport roller pair 16 can suppress fluctuations in the distance between the external connection terminal 3b and the metal detection mechanism 10.

[0037] Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to suppress fluctuations in the output of the metal detection mechanism 10 caused by fluctuations in the distance between the external connection terminal 3b and the metal detection mechanism 10 when a metal card is processed by the card reader 2. As a result, in this embodiment, even when a metal card is processed by the card reader 2, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the detection accuracy of whether or not the external connection terminal 3b is formed on the card 3 inserted through the card insertion slot 4, and it is also possible to suppress a decrease in the detection accuracy of whether or not the front surface of the card 3 on which the external connection terminal 3b is formed faces upward.

[0038] When processing a metal card with the card reader 2, it is also possible to detect that the front surface of the card 3 on which the external connection terminals 3b are formed faces upward, based on the detection results of the metal detection mechanism 11. However, because the metal detection mechanism 11 is located closer to the front of the pre-head 12 and closer to the card insertion slot 4, the distance between the metal detection mechanism 11 and the card 3 may vary due to hand shake. If the distance between the metal detection mechanism 11 and the card 3 varies due to hand shake, the output of the metal detection mechanism 11 will vary, and even if the card 3 does not have the external connection terminals 3b or if the front surface of the card 3 faces downward, the output of the metal detection mechanism 11 may fluctuate, potentially resulting in erroneous detection of the presence or absence of the external connection terminals 3b of the card 3.

[0039] In this embodiment, the metal detection mechanism 10 is disposed further back than the shutter member 13, making it possible to dispose the metal detection mechanism 10 on the back side of the card transport path 5. Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the back end of the card 3 is sandwiched between the transport roller pair 16, more than half of the card 3 in the front-to-back direction is disposed further back than the card insertion slot 4. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to reduce the amount of gripping space required for the user to grasp the card 3 when the external connection terminal 3b passes the position where the metal detection mechanism 10 is disposed in the front-to-back direction. As a result, hand shake is less likely to occur when the external connection terminal 3b passes the position where the metal detection mechanism 10 is disposed in the front-to-back direction. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to effectively suppress fluctuations in the distance between the external connection terminal 3b and the metal detection mechanism 10 when the external connection terminal 3b passes the position where the metal detection mechanism 10 is disposed in the front-to-back direction.

[0040] In this embodiment, the metal detection mechanism 11 is disposed closer to the front than the shutter member 13. Therefore, in this embodiment, if the metal detection mechanism 11 does not detect metal, it is possible to prevent the card 3 from being taken in to the back side of the shutter member 13.

[0041] (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 within the scope of the present invention.

[0042] In the above-described embodiment, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 4A, the metal detection mechanism 10 may be disposed on the rear side of the center CL2 of the transport roller pair 16 in the front-to-rear direction. Also, in the above-described embodiment, the card transport mechanism 6 may be provided with only one transport roller pair that contacts the card 3 and transports the card 3 while sandwiching it. In this case, the metal detection mechanism 10 is disposed on the rear side of the external connection terminals 3b when the rear end of the card 3 on which the external connection terminals 3b are formed is sandwiched between the transport roller pair. Also, in this case, this one transport roller pair is the first transport roller pair.

[0043] In the above-described embodiment, when the rear end of the card 3 is sandwiched between the pair of transport rollers 16, more than half of the card 3 in the front-to-rear direction may be located in front of the card insertion slot 4. Also, in the above-described embodiment, the card reader 2 may not include the metal detection mechanism 11. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the card reader 2 may not include the magnetic head 8 and the pre-head 12.

[0044] (Configuration of this technology) The present technology can be configured as follows: (1) A card reader for processing a card having an IC chip built in and an external connection terminal of the IC chip formed thereon, a card insertion port into which the card is inserted, a card transport path along which the card inserted through the card insertion port is transported, a card transport mechanism that transports the card on the card transport path, and a metal detection mechanism that detects the external connection terminal; When one side of the card in the direction of transport by the card transport mechanism is defined as the front side, and the other side of the card in the direction of transport by the card transport mechanism is defined as the back side, The front end of the card transport path is the card insertion port, the card transport mechanism includes one or more pairs of transport rollers that contact the card and transport the card while sandwiching the card therebetween; When the card transport mechanism includes a plurality of pairs of transport rollers, the pair of transport rollers arranged at the front side of the plurality of pairs of transport rollers is referred to as the first pair of transport rollers, and when the card transport mechanism includes only one pair of transport rollers, this one pair of transport rollers is referred to as the first pair of transport rollers. The card reader is characterized in that the metal detection mechanism is positioned further back than the external connection terminal of the card when the back end of the card is pinched by the first conveyor roller pair. (2) The card reader according to (1), wherein the metal detection mechanism is disposed on the front side of the center of the first pair of transport rollers in the transport direction of the card. (3) A card reader as described in (1) or (2), characterized in that when the rear end of the card is clamped between the first pair of conveying rollers, more than half of the card in the conveying direction of the card is positioned further back than the card insertion opening. (4) A shutter member for closing the card transport path and a second metal detection mechanism disposed in front of the shutter member, The card reader according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the metal detection mechanism is disposed on the back side of the shutter member.

[0045] In this embodiment, for example, the metal detection mechanism is located closer to the front than the center of the first pair of transport rollers in the card transport direction, which makes it easier to arrange various components for processing cards inside the card reader.

[0046] In this aspect, when the rear end of the card is sandwiched between the first transport roller pair, it is preferable that more than half of the card in the card transport direction is located further back than the card insertion slot. This configuration reduces the amount of gripping space required by the user when the external connection terminal passes the position where the metal detection mechanism is located in the card transport direction. Therefore, hand shake is less likely to occur when the external connection terminal passes the position where the metal detection mechanism is located in the card transport direction. As a result, it is possible to effectively suppress fluctuations in the distance between the external connection terminal and the metal detection mechanism when the external connection terminal passes the position where the metal detection mechanism is located in the card transport direction.

[0047] In this aspect, the card reader includes a shutter member for closing the card transport path and a second metal detection mechanism located in front of the shutter member, and the metal detection mechanism is preferably located behind the shutter member. This configuration allows the metal detection mechanism to be located behind the card transport path, thereby reducing the user's need to grip the card when the external connection terminal passes the position where the metal detection mechanism is located in the card transport direction. This reduces the risk of hand shake when the external connection terminal passes the position where the metal detection mechanism is located in the card transport direction. As a result, it is possible to effectively suppress fluctuations in the distance between the external connection terminal and the metal detection mechanism when the external connection terminal passes the position where the metal detection mechanism is located in the card transport direction. Furthermore, this configuration prevents the card from being taken in to the back of the shutter member if the second metal detection mechanism does not detect metal. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 2 card readers 3 Cards 3b External connection terminal 4 Card slot 5 Card transport path 6 Card transport mechanism 10 Metal detection mechanism 11 Metal detection mechanism (second metal detection mechanism) 13 shutter member 16 conveying roller pair (first conveying roller pair) 17, 18 Conveyor roller pair CL2: Center of the first conveyor roller pair in the card conveyance direction X Card transport direction X1 Front side X2 back side

Claims

1. A card reader for processing a card having an IC chip built therein and an external connection terminal of the IC chip formed thereon, a card insertion port into which the card is inserted, a card transport path along which the card inserted through the card insertion port is transported, a card transport mechanism that transports the card on the card transport path, and a metal detection mechanism that detects the external connection terminal; When one side of the card in the direction of transport by the card transport mechanism is defined as the front side, and the other side of the card in the direction of transport by the card transport mechanism is defined as the back side, The front end of the card transport path is the card insertion port, the card transport mechanism includes one or more pairs of transport rollers that contact the card and transport the card while sandwiching the card therebetween; When the card transport mechanism includes a plurality of pairs of transport rollers, the pair of transport rollers arranged nearest to the front of the plurality of pairs of transport rollers is referred to as the first pair of transport rollers, and when the card transport mechanism includes only one pair of transport rollers, this one pair of transport rollers is referred to as the first pair of transport rollers. The card reader is characterized in that the metal detection mechanism is positioned further back than the external connection terminal of the card when the back end of the card is pinched by the first pair of transport rollers.

2. 2. The card reader according to claim 1, wherein the metal detection mechanism is disposed in front of the center of the first pair of transport rollers in the transport direction of the card.

3. 3. The card reader according to claim 1, wherein when the rear end of the card is sandwiched between the first pair of transport rollers, more than half of the card in the transport direction of the card is positioned further back than the card insertion opening.

4. a shutter member for closing the card transport path, and a second metal detection mechanism disposed in front of the shutter member; 3. The card reader according to claim 1, wherein the metal detection mechanism is disposed on the inner side of the shutter member.

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