Card Reader Drainage via Tilted Case and Holes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Card processing apparatuses equipped with tamper-resistant cases fail to prevent water infiltration and accumulation, leading to device malfunctions and increased production costs, while existing solutions impair convenience and operation performance.
Innovation Solution
A card processing apparatus design featuring a front bezel with a card inlet slot, a tilted part within the case body to guide liquid away from the card path, liquid drain holes on the front bezel, and a shutter between the card inlet slot and path to prevent water accumulation, allowing for horizontal card insertion and positioning of the control circuit board above the card path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a tamper-resistant case is used to cover the card reader, then security and environmental resistance are improved, but water infiltration and accumulation occur leading to device failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the water drainage function from the sealed case structure by adding dedicated drainage holes and a tilted bottom surface. This allows the case to maintain its tamper-resistant and environmentally protective sealing while actively removing harmful water accumulation through extracted drainage pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of water infiltration into a beneficial drainage process. By providing controlled drainage holes and a tilted surface, infiltrated water is redirected and expelled harmlessly, transforming the potential damage from water accumulation into a self-cleaning drainage mechanism that protects the internal components.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a cover member is placed around the card inlet slot to prevent rainwater infiltration, then water protection is improved, but production cost increases and operation convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service water protection mechanism where the case structure itself, through its tilted bottom surface and drainage holes, automatically drains infiltrated water without requiring any user action. This eliminates the need for manually operated cover members while maintaining water protection, thereby preserving operation convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic water management within the static case structure. The tilted bottom surface creates a dynamic drainage pathway that actively directs water flow toward the drainage holes, transforming the static case into an active water management system that continuously protects against water accumulation without mechanical moving parts.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a cover member is used to prevent water infiltration, then water protection is improved, but production cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the water protection function directly into the case structure by integrating the drainage holes and tilted bottom surface into the existing case design. This combines multiple functions (protection and drainage) into a single unified structure, eliminating the need for separate cover members and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the case structure multi-functional by giving it both protective and drainage functions. The same case that provides tamper-resistant protection also actively drains water through its integrated drainage holes and tilted surface, eliminating the need for separate dedicated water protection components and reducing overall system complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design effectively reduces failure rates due to water accumulation, maintains convenience and operation performance, and prevents malfunctions by draining infiltrated water through the tilted part and liquid drain holes, eliminating the need for a cover member that requires opening and closing.
Implementation Method 1
a tilted part that is tilted so as to become further away gradually from the card path in a direction from an inner part of the case body toward the front bezel to guide a liquid infiltrated through the card inlet slot
Implementation Method 2
liquid drain holes which are positioned at a front side of the front bezel to go through continuously to a side of the case body for draining the liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A card apparatus for use with a card may include a front bezel, a cart inlet slot placed in the front bezel, a card path continuously extending from the card inlet slot, a shutter installed between the card inlet slot and the card path for opening and closing the card path, a case body closely contacting the front bezel and internally including the card path, a tilted part that is tilted so as to become further away gradually from the card path in a direction from an inner part of the case body toward the front bezel to guide a liquid infiltrated through the card inlet slot, and liquid drain holes positioned at the front side of the front bezel to go through continuously to a side of the case body for draining the liquid.