Card reader

Abstract

To provide a card reader with a cover component whose surface is resistant to scratches. [Solution] The card reader 100 comprises a cover member 2 having a front wall portion 4 with an insertion slot 15 into which a card 10 is inserted, and a card reader body portion 9 that can access the information recorded on the card 10 inserted through the insertion slot 15. The front surface 41 of the front wall portion 4 and the surface of the opening edge portion that forms the insertion slot 15 are provided with a hard coat layer. The cover member 2 includes a guide portion 5 that forms a transport path 50 extending rearward X2 from the insertion slot 15. The surface of the guide portion 5 is provided with a hard coat layer.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] A card reader capable of accessing information recorded on a card is described in Patent Document 1. The card reader of Patent Document 1 is attached to a mounting surface inside a case of an information device. The card reader includes a cover member formed with an insertion slot through which a card is inserted, and a card reader main body capable of accessing information recorded on the card inserted through the insertion slot. The cover member includes a protruding portion that protrudes forward, and the insertion slot is formed in the protruding portion. When the card reader is attached to the inside of the case of the information device, the protruding portion is exposed to the outside from the case of the information device. The card used is, for example, a credit card. Prior Art Literature Patent Literature

[0003] Patent Literature 1 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2019-066211 Summary of the Invention Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the card reader of Patent Document 1, when a user inserts a card into the insertion slot, the end portion of the card may hit the front surface of the cover member. In addition, the user's fingernail or the like may hit the front surface of the cover member. In such a case, the surface of the cover member may be scratched by the end portion of the card or the like. In particular, when the surface of the cover member is coated, scratches on the surface of the cover member are noticeable, which impairs the aesthetic appearance of the cover member.

[0005] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a card reader in which the surface of the cover member is less likely to be scratched. Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] To solve the above problems, one aspect of the card reader of the present invention is: A cover member having a front wall portion formed with an insertion slot for inserting a card, A card reader main unit that can access the information recorded on the card inserted through the aforementioned slot, Equipped with, A hard coat layer is provided on the front surface of the front wall portion and on the surface of the opening edge portion that forms the insertion opening. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the card reader in this configuration. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the card reader. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a front view of the card component. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the hole. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the hard coat layer and the water-repellent layer. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] The embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the card 10 moves in the front-to-back direction X as shown in Figure 1. The up-and-down direction Z is the thickness direction of the card 10, and the left-to-right direction Y is the direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction X and the up-and-down direction Z. We will explain by attaching X1 to the side, X2 to the rear, Y1 to the right, Y2 to the left, Z1 to the top, and Z2 to the bottom.

[0009] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the card reader 100 of this embodiment. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the card reader 100. Figure 3 is a front view of the card member. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the hole. Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the hard coat layer and the water-repellent layer.

[0010] The card reader 100 is installed in transaction devices such as parking lot payment machines and drive-through ATMs. The card reader 100 reads magnetic or electronic data recorded on the card 10. As shown in Figure 1, in the card reader 100, the card 10 is inserted from the front X1 and then removed from the front X1. The card reader 100 is controlled by a higher-level device installed in the transaction device.

[0011] Card 10 is, for example, a thin rectangular card with a thickness of about 0.7 to 0.8 mm, and is made of plastic such as polyvinyl chloride or metal. Card 10 is, for example, a credit card. A magnetic stripe 18 on which magnetic data is recorded is formed on the lower surface Z2 of card 10. An IC chip 19 is provided on the upper surface Z1 of card 10.

[0012] The card reader 100 comprises a cover member 2 having a front wall portion 4 with an insertion slot 15 formed therein for inserting a card 10, a card reader body portion 9 that can access information recorded on the card 10 inserted through the insertion slot 15, and a case 3 connected to the rear X2 of the cover member 2 and housing the card reader body portion 9. As shown in Figure 2, the card reader body portion 9 comprises a magnetic reading unit 91 located X2 behind the front wall portion 4, and an IC reading unit 92 located X2 behind the magnetic reading unit 91 and housed inside the case 3. The magnetic reading unit 91 is, for example, a magnetic head and reads magnetic data recorded on the magnetic stripe 18 of the card 10. The IC reading unit 92 reads electronic data recorded on the IC chip 19 by making contact with the IC chip 19. The card reader body portion 9 may also include a transport mechanism for transporting the card 10 into the card reader body portion 9.

[0013] The cover member 2 is made of resin. The surface of the cover member 2 is painted. As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the cover member 2 comprises a front wall portion 4, a guide portion 5 that forms a transport path 50, a recess 6 that is recessed rearward X2 from the front wall portion 4, a hole 7 formed in the recess 6, and a protrusion 8 provided on the front wall portion 4. The front wall portion 4 has a protruding portion 40 that protrudes forward X1. When the card reader 100 is attached to the trading device, the protruding portion 40 is exposed to the outside through an opening formed in the case of the trading device. Therefore, the front surface 41 of the protruding portion 40 becomes part of the exterior of the trading device. The insertion opening 15 is an opening that is long in the left-right direction Y. The guide portion 5 extends rearward X2 from the insertion opening 15. The guide portion 5 is slit-shaped. The transport path 50 of the guide portion 5 is connected to a transport path 93 formed in the card reader body portion 9.

[0014] The recess 6 is shaped by hollowing out the area where the card 10 passes through, except for the parts that pass through both ends. When viewed from the front X1, the recess 6 forms a rectangular opening. The recess 6 is surrounded by four inner circumferential surfaces 61 to 64. Guide portions 5 are formed on the inner circumferential surface 63 on the right side Y1, the inner circumferential surface 64 on the left side Y2, and the inner circumferential surface 65 on the rear X2. The inner circumferential surface 62 on the lower side Z2 is inclined downward Z2 toward the front X1. In this embodiment, when the card 10 is inserted into the insertion opening 15, the rear end portion 10A of the card 10 protrudes forward X1 from the inner circumferential surface 65 on the rear X2. That is, both sides of the rear end portion 10A of the card 10 are exposed inside the recess 6. As a result, space is secured on both sides of the rear end 10A of the card 10 in the vertical direction Z for inserting fingertips and grasping the rear end 10A of the card 10. Therefore, if the card reader body 9 is equipped with a transport mechanism for transporting the card 10 into the card reader body 9, the card Even if a power outage or malfunction occurs in the card reader 100 after inserting card 10, making it impossible to transport card 10, the user can manually remove card 10.

[0015] The hole portion 7 penetrates the recessed portion 6 in the front-rear direction X at a position connected to the inner peripheral surface 62 of the lower side Z2 of the recessed portion 6. The hole portion 7 connects the space P1 where the card reader main body 9 is located and the internal space P2 of the recessed portion 6. Accordingly, when the card 10 with water droplets attached is inserted through the insertion slot 15, even if water droplets accumulate in the space P1, the water droplets are discharged from the hole portion 7 into the internal space P2.

[0016] The protruding portion 8 protrudes forward X1 from the front surface 41 of the front wall portion 4. The protruding portion 8 has a substantially triangular shape when viewed in the left-right direction Y. The upper surface 81 of the protruding portion 8 is smoothly connected to the bottom surface of the insertion slot 15. Accordingly, when the card 10 is inserted backward X2 while sliding along the upper surface 81, the card 10 can be easily inserted into the insertion slot 15.

[0017] The protruding portion 8 is provided at a position adjacent to the insertion slot 15. Specifically, the protruding portion 8 is provided at a position on the lower side Z2 of the right side Y1 of the insertion slot 15, which is a position adjacent to a portion through which the magnetic stripe 18 of the card 10 inserted into the insertion slot 15 passes. Here, the magnetic reading unit 91 is located on the rear side X2 of the protruding portion 8. By providing the protruding portion 8 on the front wall portion 4, it becomes difficult to attach a magnetic data stealing member around the insertion slot 15. In the present embodiment, since the protruding portion 8 is located on the front side X1 of the magnetic reading unit 91, it can be made more difficult to attach a magnetic data stealing member.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 5, a hard coat layer 11 is provided on the surface 20 of the cover member 2. Specifically, the hard coat layer is provided on the surface including the front surface 41 of the protruding portion 40 of the front wall portion 4, the surface 151 of the opening edge portion of the insertion slot 15, the surface 51 of the guide portion 5, the inner peripheral surfaces 61 to 65 of the recessed portion 6, the inner peripheral surface 71 of the hole portion 7, and the surface 80 of the protruding portion 8. The hard coat layer 11 is made of, for example, a photocurable resin composed of acrylic and / or urethane. Further, the hard coat layer 11 may contain silica particles. Note that the hard coat layer 11 may be, for example, a thermosetting resin.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 5, a water-repellent layer 12 is provided on the surface of the hard coat layer 11. The water-repellent layer 12 is made of, for example, a fluorine-containing silane compound. The fluorine-containing silane compound is dissolved in an organic solvent to prepare a water-repellent treatment liquid, and then applied to the surface of the hard coat layer 11.

[0020] (Action and Effect) A card reader 100 includes: a cover member 2 including a front wall portion 4 formed with an insertion slot 15 into which a card 10 is inserted; and a card reader main body 9 capable of accessing information recorded on the card 10 inserted through the insertion slot 15. A hard coat layer 11 is provided on a front surface 41 of the front wall portion 4 and a surface 51 of an opening edge portion forming the insertion slot 15.

[0021] Accordingly, when a user inserts a card into the insertion slot 15, even if an end portion of the card 10, a user's nail or the like hits the front surface 41 of the front wall portion 4 and the surface 51 of the opening edge portion, the surface of the cover member 2 is less likely to be scratched. Therefore, impairment of the aesthetic appearance of the cover member 2 can be suppressed.

[0022] The cover member 2 includes a guide portion 5 that forms a conveyance path 50 extending rearward X2 from the insertion slot 15. A hard coat layer 11 is provided on a surface 51 of the guide portion 5. Accordingly, when the card 10 passes through the conveyance path 50, even if an end portion of the card 10 hits the surface 51 of the guide portion 5, the coating applied to the surface 51 of the guide portion 5 is less likely to peel off. Here, when the coating on the surface 51 of the guide portion 5 peels off, the peeled coating may be taken into the card reader main body 9 along with the conveyance of the card 10 and adhere to an IC reading unit 92. If the peeled coating adheres to I C reading unit 92, the IC reading unit 92 may not be able to correctly read information from an IC chip 19 of the card 10. Therefore, since the coating applied to the surface 51 of the guide portion 5 is less likely to peel off due to the hard coat layer 11, the IC reading unit 92 can correctly read information from the IC chip 19 of the card 10.

[0023] The cover member 2 includes a recess 6 that extends rearward X2 from the front wall 4, exposing both sides of the rear end 10A of a card inserted rearward X2 along the transport path 50; a hole 7 that penetrates the recess 6 in the front-rear direction X, connecting the space P1 where the card reader body 9 is located with the internal space P2 of the recess, and is located on the lower inner circumferential surface 62 of the recess 6; and a protrusion 8 that is provided adjacent to the insertion opening 15 on the front surface 41 of the front wall 4 and protrudes forward X1. A hard coat layer 11 is provided on the inner circumferential surfaces 61-65 of the recess 6, the inner circumferential surface 71 of the hole 7, and the surface 80 of the protrusion 8. This makes the surface of the cover member 2 less susceptible to scratches. Therefore, it is possible to prevent damage to the aesthetic appearance of the cover member 2.

[0024] A water-repellent layer 12 is provided on the surface of the hard coat layer 11. This allows water droplets to easily flow downwards even if they adhere to the surface of the cover member 2. Furthermore, since the water-repellent layer 12 is provided on the inner circumferential surface 71 of the hole 7, even if water droplets accumulate in the space P1 when a card 10 with water droplets attached is inserted through the insertion opening 15, the water droplets are easily discharged from the hole 7 into the internal space P2.

[0025] The film thickness HC of the hard coat layer 11 is given by the following condition: 2μm ≤ HC ≤ 30μm It satisfies the condition. Furthermore, preferably, 5μm ≤ HC ≤ 20μm It satisfies the condition. More preferably, 10 μm ≤ HC ≤ 20 μm The following conditions are met. This allows the hardness of the hard coat layer 11 to be set appropriately. If the value of the conditional expression exceeds the upper limit, the hardness of the hard coat layer 11 can be increased, but the thermal shock resistance performance will decrease. If the value of the conditional expression falls below the lower limit, the hardness of the hard coat layer 11 cannot be increased.

[0026] The hard coat layer 11 contains silica particles. When the silica particle content in the hard coat layer 11 is S, the content S is given by the following conditional expression. 40% ≤ S ≤ 65% The following conditions are met. This allows the hardness of the hard coat layer 11 to be increased. However, if the value of the conditional expression exceeds the upper limit, the hardness of the hard coat layer 11 can be increased, but the thermal shock resistance performance decreases. If the value of the conditional expression falls below the lower limit, the hardness of the hard coat layer 11 cannot be increased.

[0027] In this embodiment, the hard coat layer 11 has a thickness of less film on the surface 151 of the opening edge and on the surface 51 of the guide portion 5 than the thickness of the hard coat layer applied to the front surface 41. For example, the thickness of the hard coat layer applied to the surface 151 of the opening edge and on the surface 51 of the guide portion 5 is about half the thickness of the hard coat layer applied to the front surface 41. This reduces the range of variation in the thickness of the hard coat layer applied to the surface 151 of the opening edge and on the surface 51 of the guide portion 5 in the scratch-resistant insertion opening 15 and guide portion 5. This makes it possible to increase the hardness of the hard coat layer 11 on the easily scratched front surface 41 while suppressing variations in the gap spacing in the vertical Z direction and horizontal Y direction of the insertion opening 15 and the guide part 5, so that the card 10 can be inserted smoothly from the insertion opening 15.

[0028] The hard coat layer 11 is a photocurable resin. This allows for easy formation of the hard coat layer 11 by applying the photocurable resin material by spraying or other means, and then irradiating the photocurable resin material with UV light or the like.

[0029] (modified version) The cover member 2 is not limited to the above-described form. The cover member 2 does not need to have a recess 6. Also, the cover member 2 does not need to have a protrusion 8.

[0030] In the above configuration, a water-repellent layer 12 was provided on the surface of the hard coat layer 11, but the water-repellent layer 12 is not required. In this case, it is preferable that the hard coat layer 11 has a static contact angle of 90° or more. This makes the hard coat layer 11 water-repellent without the need to separately provide a water-repellent layer 12 on its surface.

[0031] Furthermore, this technology can be configured as follows:

[0032] (Note 1) A cover member having a front wall portion formed with an insertion slot for inserting a card, A card reader main unit that can access the information recorded on the card inserted through the aforementioned slot, Equipped with, A card reader characterized in that a hard coat layer is provided on the front surface of the front wall portion and on the surface of the opening edge portion that forms the insertion opening.

[0033] (Note 2) The cover member includes a guide portion that forms a transport path extending rearward from the insertion opening. The card reader according to Appendix 1, characterized in that a hard coat layer is provided on the surface of the guide portion.

[0034] (Note 3) The cover member is recessed from the front wall portion toward the rear, and has a recess that exposes both sides of the rear end of the card inserted toward the rear along the transport path toward the inside, The card reader according to Appendix 2, characterized in that a hard coat layer is provided on the inner circumferential surface of the recess.

[0035] (Note 4) The cover member is provided with a hole located below the recess, connected to the inner circumferential surface, that penetrates the recess in the front-rear direction and connects the space where the card reader body is located with the internal space of the recess. The card reader according to Appendix 3, characterized in that a hard coat layer is provided on the inner circumferential surface of the hole.

[0036] (Note 5) The cover member is provided with a projection that protrudes forward, located adjacent to the insertion opening on the front surface of the front wall portion. Appendices 1 to 4 are characterized in that a hard coat layer is provided on the surface of the aforementioned protrusion. A card reader as described in any one of the following items.

[0037] (Note 6) The thickness HC of the hard coat layer is given by the following condition: 2μm ≤ HC ≤ 30μm A card reader as described in any one of the appendices 1 to 5, characterized by satisfying the following conditions.

[0038] (Note 7) The hard coat layer contains silica particles, When the content of silica particles in the hard coat layer is S, the content S is given by the following conditional expression 40% ≤ S ≤ 65% A card reader as described in any one of the appendices 1 to 6, characterized by satisfying the following conditions.

[0039] (Note 8) The card reader according to any one of the appendices 1 to 7, characterized in that the hard coat layer is a photocurable resin.

[0040] (Note 9) A card reader according to any one of the appendices 1 to 8, characterized in that a water-repellent layer is provided on the surface of the hard coat layer.

[0041] (Note 10) The card reader according to any one of the appendices 1 to 8, characterized in that the hard coat layer has a static contact angle of 90° or more. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0042] 100...Card reader, 10...Card, 10A...Rear end, 2...Cover member, 3...Case, 4...Front wall, 40...Protruding part, 41...Front, 5...Guide part, 50...Transport path, 51...Surface, 6...Recess, 61~65...Inner circumferential surface, 7...Hole, 71...Surface, 8...Convex part, 80...Surface, 81...Top surface, 9...Card reader body, 91...Magnetic reading part, 92...IC reading part, 93...Transport path, 11...Hard coat layer, 12...Water-repellent layer, 15...Insertion slot, 151...Surface of opening edge, 18...Magnetic stripe, 19...IC chip.

Claims

1. A cover member having a front wall portion formed with an insertion slot for inserting a card, A card reader main unit that can access the information recorded on the card inserted through the aforementioned slot, Equipped with, A card reader characterized in that a hard coat layer is provided on the front surface of the front wall portion and on the surface of the opening edge portion that forms the insertion opening.

2. The cover member includes a guide portion that forms a transport path extending rearward from the insertion opening. The card reader according to claim 1, characterized in that a hard coat layer is provided on the surface of the guide portion.

3. The cover member is recessed from the front wall portion toward the rear, and has a recess that exposes both sides of the rear end of the card inserted toward the rear along the transport path toward the inside, The card reader according to claim 2, characterized in that a hard coat layer is provided on the inner circumferential surface of the recess.

4. The cover member is provided with a hole located below the recess, connected to the inner circumferential surface, that penetrates the recess in the front-rear direction and connects the space where the card reader body is located with the internal space of the recess. The card reader according to claim 3, characterized in that a hard coat layer is provided on the inner circumferential surface of the hole.

5. The cover member is provided with a projection that protrudes forward, located adjacent to the insertion opening on the front surface of the front wall portion. The card reader according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a hard coat layer is provided on the surface of the convex portion.

6. The thickness HC of the hard coat layer is given by the following condition: 2 μm ≤ HC ≤ 30 μm The card reader according to claim 1, characterized in that it satisfies the following conditions.

7. The hard coat layer contains silica particles, When the content of silica particles in the hard coat layer is S, the content S is given by the following conditional expression 40% ≤ S ≤ 65% The card reader according to claim 1, characterized in that it satisfies the following conditions.

8. The card reader according to claim 1, characterized in that the hard coat layer is a photocurable resin.

9. The card reader according to claim 1, characterized in that a water-repellent layer is provided on the surface of the hard coat layer.

10. The card reader according to claim 1, characterized in that the hard coat layer has a static contact angle of 90° or more.

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