Abstract:
Provided is a card reader capable of increasing visibility over the prior art for a location into which a card is actually inserted. A card reader is provided with a main body frame constituting a card passage through which an inserted card passes, and a light source for illuminating the interior of the card passage. With this card reader, the light source is illuminating the interior of the card passage through which the card passes, and therefore, it is possible to brighten the interior of the card passage through which the card passes. Therefore, it is possible to brighten the location into which the card is actually inserted so that it is easier to visually confirm the location into which the card is actually inserted.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a U.S. national stage of International Application No. PCT/JP2011/054075, filed on Feb. 24, 2011. Priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) and 35 U.S.C. §365(b) is claimed from Japanese Application No. 2010-041325, filed Feb. 26, 2010, the disclosures of which are also incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a card reader which performs a predetermined processing on an inserted card. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventionally, a card reader which performs a predetermined processing on an inserted card is mounted and used in a host device such as an ATM (Automate Teller Machine). The present applicant has proposed this type of a card reader in which its insertion port for a card is illuminated (see, for example, Patent Literature 1). 
     The card reader described in Patent Literature 1 includes a gate frame formed with an insertion port (gate port) for a card and the gate port is formed with an enlarging opened part which is inclined so as to be widened toward a front side of the card reader. Further, the card reader includes a plurality of light sources for illuminating a front face and the enlarging opened part of the gate frame and the front face and the enlarging opened part of the gate frame formed of a light transmissive member that transmits light are illuminated. In other words, the card reader is structured so that the front face and the enlarging opened part of the gate frame are illuminated to irradiate the front side of the gate port. Further, Patent Literature 1 also discloses that the front face and the enlarging opened part of the gate frame may be illuminated by using one light source and a light guiding member instead of using a plurality of light sources.
     [PTL 1] Japenese Patent No. 4257115   

     In the card reader described in Patent Literature 1, since the front face of the gate frame and the enlarging opened part of the gate port are illuminated, the gate port is easily recognized by a user. Therefore, in the card reader, a user is easy to insert a card into the gate port. However, the card reader described in Patent Literature 1 is structured so that the front face and the enlarging opened part of the gate frame are illuminated and thus the front side of the gate port is lighted up. Therefore, in the card reader, when the surroundings become very dark, although the front side of the gate port is illuminated, a portion into which a card is actually inserted is dark and thus the portion into which a card is actually inserted may be hard to be visible. In other words, in the card reader, visibility of the portion into which a card is actually inserted may be lowered depending on the surroundings. 
     SUMMARY 
     In view of the problem described above, at least an embodiment of the present invention provides a card reader in which visibility of a portion into which a card is actually inserted can be further enhanced in comparison with the conventional case. 
     In order to attain the above, at least an embodiment of the present invention provides a card reader including a main body frame which structures a card passage where an inserted card is passed and a light source which illuminates an inside of the card passage. 
     In the card reader in accordance with at least an embodiment of the present invention, the light source illuminates the inside of the card passage where a card is passed and thus the inside of the card passage where the card is passed is illuminated. In other words, the main body frame structuring the card passage is illuminated by the light from the light source and thus the inside of the card passage can be illuminated brightly. Therefore, according to at least an embodiment of the present invention, even when the surroundings are very dark, the portion into which a card is actually inserted is illuminated and thus the portion into which a card is actually inserted is visually confirmed easily. As a result, in at least an embodiment of the present invention, visibility of the portion into which a card is actually inserted is further enhanced in comparison with the conventional case. 
     In at least an embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that at least a part of the main body frame is a light transmission part which is formed of a light transmissive member that transmits light, and the light source irradiates light toward the light transmission part so that the light transmission part is illuminated and thereby the inside of the card passage is illuminated. According to this structure, even when a light source is not disposed in the inside of the card passage, the inside of the card passage is illuminated. Therefore, in comparison with a case that a light source is disposed in the inside of the card passage to illuminate the inside of the card passage, the size of the card reader can be reduced while preventing interference of an inserted card with the light source. 
     In at least an embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the whole of the main body frame is the light transmission part which is formed of the light transmissive member. According to this structure, in comparison with a case that the main body frame is structured of a member which does not transmit light and the light transmissive member, the structure of the main body frame can be simplified. Further, according to this structure, the inside of the card passage is illuminated by utilizing light propagating the whole of the main body frame and thus a degree of freedom of arrangement of the light source can be enhanced. In addition, according to this structure, when a foreign matter is jammed in the card passage, the foreign matter can be visually confirmed. 
     In at least an embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the light source is disposed at a position where light is irradiated toward the light transmission part in a thickness direction of the card which is substantially perpendicular to a passing direction of the card. According to this structure, the inside of the card passage is further easily illuminated. 
     In at least an embodiment of the present invention, the card reader includes, for example, a front face frame which is formed with a card insertion port into which the card is inserted, and the front face frame is attached to a front face side of the main body frame. In this case, it is preferable that, when viewed from the front face side of the card reader, a part of the main body frame is visible through the card insertion port. According to this structure, even when the front face frame is attached to the front face side of the main body frame structuring the card passage, a portion on an adjacent rear side of the card insertion port is illuminated and thus the portion into which a card is actually inserted is visually confirmed easily. 
     In at least an embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the card reader includes a front face frame which is formed with a card insertion port into which the card is inserted and is attached to a front face side of the main body frame and a sealing member which is disposed between the front face frame and the main body frame and, when a front face side of the card reader is referred to as a front side and a rear face side of the card reader is referred to as a rear side, the main body frame is provided with a card accommodation part in a bag-like shape into which a rear side of the card being inserted through the card insertion port is accommodated, and the sealing member is disposed on a front side with respect to the card accommodation part, and the light source is disposed on a rear side with respect to the sealing member and is disposed on an outer side with respect to the card accommodation part. According to this structure, liquid entered through the card insertion port is prevented from entering to an arranging portion of the light source which is disposed on the rear side with respect to the sealing member and on the outer side of the card accommodation part. Therefore, the card reader in which visibility of the portion into which a card is actually inserted is further enhanced in comparison with the conventional case can be used under an environment where liquid is used. 
     In at least an embodiment of the present invention, the card reader is, for example, structured so that, when insertion of the card into the card reader is completed, a part of the card is exposed on a front face side of the card reader. In at least an embodiment of the present invention, since the inside of the card passage can be illuminated, according to this structure, a card which is inserted into the card reader is easily confirmed by visual observation. Therefore, a sense of security that an inserted card is not stolen illegally can be given to a user who has inserted the card. 
     As described above, according to at least an embodiment of the present invention, visibility of the portion into which a card is actually inserted is further enhanced in comparison with the conventional case. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings which are meant to be exemplary, not limiting, and wherein like elements are numbered alike in several Figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a card reader in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view showing the card reader in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view showing the card reader in  FIG. 1  which is viewed in a different direction. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view for explaining an internal structure of a main body frame shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 5(A) and 5(B)  are perspective views for explaining a structure of the main body frame shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view for explaining arrangement of a light source in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view for explaining arrangement of a light source and its surrounding part in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 8(A) and 8(B)  are schematic views for explaining arrangement of a light source and its surrounding part in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     (Structure of Card Reader) 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a card reader  1  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view showing the card reader  1  in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view showing the card reader  1  in  FIG. 1  which is viewed in a different direction.  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view for explaining an internal structure of a main body frame  6  shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIGS. 5(A) and 5(B)  are perspective views for explaining a structure of the main body frame  6  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The card reader  1  in this embodiment is a device in which magnetic information recorded on a card  2  is read by manually operating the card  2  by a user. Specifically, the card reader  1  is a so-called dip type card reader in which magnetic information of a card  2  is read when the card  2  is inserted into the card reader  1  or when the card  2  having been inserted into the card reader  1  is pulled out. The card reader  1  is, for example, mounted and used in a host device such as a fueling machine of an unmanned or a self-service type gasoline station. 
     The card reader  1  includes, as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , two magnetic heads  3  which are abutted with a card  2  for reading magnetic information recorded on the card  2 , a front face frame  5  which is formed with a card insertion port  4  into which a card  2  is inserted, a main body frame  6  to which the front face frame  5  is fixed, a control circuit board  7  for controlling the card reader  1 , and a sealing member  8  which is formed in a ring shape and is disposed between the front face frame  5  and the main body frame  6 . A card passage  10  through which an inserted card  2  is passed is formed in an inside of the main body frame  6 . Further, the card reader  1  includes one light source  11  by which an inside of the card passage  10  is illuminated. 
     In the following descriptions, as shown in  FIG. 1  and the like, respective three directions perpendicular to each other are referred to as an “X” direction, a “Y” direction and a “Z” direction. Further, an “X1” direction side in  FIG. 1  is referred to as a “right” side, an “X2” direction side is referred to as a “left” side, a “Y1” direction side as a “front” side, a “Y2” direction side as a “back (rear)” side, a “Z1” direction side as an “upper” side, and a “Z2” direction side as a “lower” side. In this embodiment, a card  2  is inserted into the inside of the card reader  1  in the “Y2” direction. Further, the card  2  inserted into the inside of the card reader  1  is pulled out in the “Y1” direction. In other words, in this embodiment, the “Y” direction is a passing direction of a card  2 . Further, the “X” direction is a thickness direction of an inserted card  2 . 
     A card  2  is, for example, a rectangular card made of vinyl chloride whose thickness is about 0.7-0.8 mm. The card  2  is formed with a magnetic stripe  2   a  in which magnetic data are recorded. The card  2  may be a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) card whose thickness is about 0.18-0.36 mm, a paper card having a predetermined thickness or the like. 
     The main body frame  6  is provided with a head disposing part  15  in which the magnetic head  3  is disposed, a bag-shaped card accommodation part  16  which accommodates a rear end side of a card  2  which is inserted through a card insertion port  4 , a partition part  17  which is formed between the head disposing part  15  and the card accommodation part  16 , a seal disposing part  18  which is formed between the head disposing part  15  and the partition part  17  for disposing the sealing member  8 , and a card guide part  19  for guiding a card  2  inserted through the card insertion port  4 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5(A) and 5(B) , the head disposing part  15  and the card guide part  19  are formed so as to protrude to a front side from the seal disposing part  18 . Further, the head disposing part  15  is disposed on an upper end side of the main body frame  6  and the card guide part  19  is disposed on a lower end side of the main body frame  6 . A cutout part  20  is formed between the head disposing part  15  and the card guide part  19  in an upper and lower direction. 
     The main body frame  6  in this embodiment is structured of a first frame  21  and a second frame  22  which are divided into two pieces in a right and left direction. In this embodiment, a right side face part of the main body frame  6  is structured by the first frame  21  and a left side face part of the main body frame  6  is structured by the second frame  22 . The first frame  21  and the second frame  22  are fixed to each other by using screws (not shown) disposed at four corners of the card accommodation part  16 . 
     The first frame  21  and the second frame  22  are formed of a light transmissive member which transmits light. In this embodiment, it is preferable that the light transmissive member which forms the first frame  21  and the second frame  22  is provided with a function transmitting light and guiding and diffusing light by reflection and the like through the inside of the light transmissive member. Therefore, specifically, the first frame  21  and the second frame  22  is formed of transparent or translucent resin material such as polycarbonate or polyacetal. Further, the first frame  21  and the second frame  22  are formed by molding. In this embodiment, the entire first frame  21  and the entire second frame  22  are a light transmission part formed of a light transmissive member. In other words, the entire main body frame  6  is a light transmission part. 
     The first frame  21  is provided with a first head disposing part  21   a  structuring a part of the head disposing part  15 , a first accommodation frame part  21   b  structuring a part of the card accommodation part  16 , a first partition part  21   c  structuring a part of the partition part  17 , a first seal disposing frame part  21   d  structuring a part of the seal disposing part  18 , and a first card guide frame part  21   e  structuring a part of the card guide part  19 . 
     The second frame  22  is provided with a second head disposing part  22   a  structuring the head disposing part  15  together with the first head disposing part  21   a , a second accommodation frame part  22   b  structuring the card accommodation part  16  together with the first accommodation frame part  21   b , a second partition part  22   c  structuring the partition part  17  together with the first partition part  21   c , a second seal disposing frame part  22   d  structuring the seal disposing part  18  together with the first seal disposing frame part  21   d , and a second card guide frame part  22   e  structuring the card guide part  19  together with the first card guide frame part  21   e.    
     Disposing holes  21   f  and  22   f  for disposing the magnetic heads  3  are formed in the first head disposing part  21   a  and the second head disposing part  22   a . Further, a card guide groove  24  for guiding a right end side of a card  2  inserted through the card insertion port  4  is formed between the first head disposing part  21   a  and the second head disposing part  22   a . Two magnetic heads  3  are disposed in the first head disposing part  21   a  and the second head disposing part  22   a  so that their magnetic gap parts for abutting with a magnetic stripe  2   a  when magnetic information is read are faced each other in the card guide groove  24 . In other words, the magnetic heads  3  are attached to the first head disposing part  21   a  and the second head disposing part  22   a  through predetermined attaching members so that their magnetic gap parts face the card guide groove  24 . 
     A card guide groove  25  for guiding a left end side of a card  2  inserted through the card insertion port  4  is formed between the first card guide frame part  21   e  and the second card guide frame part  22   e.    
     The first accommodation frame part  21   b  and the second accommodation frame part  22   b  are formed in a roughly rectangular shape when viewed in the right and left direction. A front end of the first accommodation frame part  21   b  is abutted with the first partition part  21   c . Further, a front end of the second accommodation frame part  22   b  is abutted with the second partition part  22   c.    
     The first accommodation frame part  21   b  and the second accommodation frame part  22   b  are joined to each other in the both end sides in the upper and lower direction and the rear end side. Specifically, an outer peripheral end wall part  21   g  standing up toward the left side is formed in both ends in the upper and lower direction and the rear end of the first accommodation frame part  21   b . The first accommodation frame part  21   b  and the second accommodation frame part  22   b  are joined to each other in a state that both ends in the upper and lower direction and the rear end of the second accommodation frame part  22   b  are disposed on an inner peripheral side of the outer peripheral end wall part  21   g.    
     As shown in  FIGS. 5(A) and 5(B) , other portion except for the outer peripheral end portion of the second accommodation frame part  22   b  is protruded in the left direction and a groove part  27  is formed along the outer peripheral end wall part  21   g  in both end portions in the upper and lower direction and the rear end portion of the card accommodation part  16 . The groove part  27  is filled with sealing material (not shown) such as silicon for sealing the joining part of the first accommodation frame part  21   b  to the second accommodation frame part  22   b . Therefore, in this embodiment, an accommodation space  28  for a card  2  which is sealed (see  FIG. 4 ) is formed between the first accommodation frame part  21   b  and the second accommodation frame part  22   b.    
     As described above, the card passage  10  is formed in the inside of the main body frame  6 . In other words, the card passage  10  is structured of the first frame  21  and the second frame  22  structuring the main body frame  6 . In this embodiment, the card passage  10  is structured of the card guide grooves  24  and  25 , the accommodating space  28 , and space portions which are formed on a center side of the partition part  17  and a center side of the seal disposing part  18  so as to connect the card guide grooves  24  and  25  with the accommodating space  28 . The card passage  10  is formed of wall faces which are substantially parallel to an “X-Y” plane formed of the “X” direction and the “Y” direction and wall faces which are substantially parallel to a “YZ” plane formed of the “Y” direction and the “Z” direction. In other words, the card passage  10  is formed of wall faces which are substantially parallel to the surfaces of an inserted card  2  and wall faces which are substantially parallel to the end faces in a short side direction of the inserted card  2  (the end faces in the upper and lower direction). 
     Two board fixing protruded parts  22   k  are formed on a left side face of the second accommodation frame part  22   b  for fixing the control circuit board  7 . One of the board fixing protruded parts  22   k  is formed on an upper front end side of the second accommodation frame part  22   b  and the other of the board fixing protruded parts  22   k  is formed on a lower rear end side of the second accommodation frame part  22   b . The control circuit board  7  is fixed to a left end of the board fixing protruded part  22   k  and is disposed on an outer side with respect to the card accommodation part  16 . 
     The first seal disposing frame part  21   d  is formed in a flange-like shape which is extended to both sides in the upper and lower direction and to the right side and the second seal disposing frame part  22   d  is formed in a flange-like shape which is extended to both sides in the upper and lower direction and to the left side. In other words, the seal disposing part  18  is formed in a flange-like shape which is extended to both sides in the upper and lower direction and to both sides in the right and left direction. Further, the seal disposing part  18  is formed in a roughly semi-elliptic shape so that its upper end side when viewed in the front and rear direction is wider in the right and left direction and its lower end side is narrower in the right and left direction. 
     A seal disposing groove  30  on which the sealing member  8  is disposed is formed on an outer peripheral face of the seal disposing part  18 . Specifically, the seal disposing groove  30  is formed so as to be recessed toward an inner side in the radial direction of the seal disposing part  18 . In this embodiment, the seal disposing groove  30  is formed so that an outer peripheral end of the sealing member  8  is protruded to an outer side in the radial direction with respect to the seal disposing part  18 . 
     The first partition part  21   c  is formed in a flange-like shape so as to be further extended to both sides in the upper and lower direction and to the right side with respect to the first seal disposing frame part  21   d  and the second partition part  22   c  is formed in a flange-like shape so as to be further extended to both sides in the upper and lower direction and to the left side with respect to the second seal disposing frame part  22   d . In other words, the partition part  17  is formed in a flange-like shape so as to be further extended to both sides in the upper and lower direction and to both sides to the right and left direction with respect to the seal disposing part  18 . 
     An insertion hole  33  into which a screw (not shown) for fixing the front face frame  5  is inserted is formed at four positions on the upper end side and the lower end side of the partition part  17 . Specifically, the insertion hole  33  is formed so as to be disposed on an outer side in a radial direction with respect to the sealing member  8  which is disposed in the seal disposing part  18 . Further, the partition part  17  and the seal disposing part  18  are formed with a passing hole  34  (see  FIG. 5(A) ) through which lead wires for the magnetic head  3  are passed. Specifically, the passing hole  34  is formed on an inner peripheral side of the partition part  17  and the seal disposing part  18  with respect to the sealing member  8 . The passing hole  34  is filled with sealing material (not shown) such as silicon for sealing the passing hole  34  in a state that the lead wires are passed. In this embodiment, the lead wires extended from the magnetic head  3  are electrically connected with the control circuit board  7 . 
     The front face frame  5  is formed of a member which does not transmit light. For example, the front face frame  5  is formed of black resin material. The front face frame  5  is, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , provided with a front face part  5   a  structuring a front face of the card reader  1 , a tube part  5   b  in a substantially tube-like shape which is formed toward the rear side from the front face part  5   a  so as to be connected with the front face part  5   a , and a finger insertion part  5   d  which is formed so as to be recessed to the rear side from the front face part  5   a . The front face frame  5  in this embodiment is provided with no opening portion except the card insertion port  4  formed in the front face of the front face part  5   a , the rear end of the tube part  5   b  and an opening part  5   g  described below. 
     The front face part  5   a  is disposed to an opening part  37  (see  FIG. 1 ) formed in a front panel (not shown) of a host device on which the card reader  1  is mounted. The front face part  5   a  structures a part of the front panel of the host device. The front face part  5   a  is provided with a fixing part  5   f  formed with insertion holes  5   e  into which a screw (not shown) is inserted for fixing the card reader  1  to the host device. In this embodiment, the front face part  5   a  is fixed to the front panel of the host device through a predetermined sealing member so that liquid such as water is not entered through the opening part  37  of the front panel to the rear side of the front panel. 
     The card insertion port  4  is formed in the front face of the front face part  5   a . Specifically, the card insertion port  4  is formed in the front face of the front face part  5   a  so that a card  2  inserted from the card insertion port  4  is passed on an inner peripheral side of the tube part  5   b.    
     The head disposing part  15  and the card guide part  19  are disposed on an inner peripheral side of the tube part  5   b . Further, a rear end side portion of the tube part  5   b  is a seal pressing part  5   h  which crushes the sealing member  8  in a radial direction from an outer peripheral side of the sealing member  8 . 
     The seal pressing part  5   h  is formed in a substantially tube-like shape whose shape viewed in the front and rear direction has a similar figure to a shape of the seal disposing part  18  when viewed in the front and rear direction. Specifically, the seal pressing part  5   h  is formed in a tube-like shape whose shape when viewed in the front and rear direction is a roughly semi-elliptic shape which is slightly larger than an external shape of the seal disposing part  18  when viewed in the front and rear direction. 
     An inner peripheral face  5   k  of the seal pressing part  5   h  (see  FIG. 3 ) is formed in a tapered shape toward the rear side which is widened to an outer side in the radial direction of the seal pressing part  5   h . Further, a screw engaging part  5   m  with which a screw inserted into the insertion hole  33  of the partition part  17  is threadedly engaged is formed at four positions on an upper end side and a lower end side of an outer peripheral face of the seal pressing part  5   h . The screw engaging part  5   m  is formed in a substantially cylindrical tube shape and a female screw is formed on its inner peripheral face. In this embodiment, the front face frame  5  is fixed to a front face side of the main body frame  6  in a state that the head disposing part  15  and the card guide part  19  are disposed in the inside of the tube part  5   b  and that the front face of the partition part  17  and the rear end of the tube part  5   b  (in other words, the rear end of the seal pressing part  5   h ) are abutted with each other. 
     The finger insertion part  5   d  is formed so as to be widened on both sides in the right and left direction of the tube part  5   b . Specifically, the finger insertion part  5   d  is formed so that box-shaped portions in a substantially rectangular prism shape whose inner side faces in the right and left direction and whose front faces are opened are formed so as to be connected with the side faces in the right and left direction and the front face part  5   a  of the tube part  5   b . An opening part  5   g  in a slit-like shape is formed in an upper side face, a lower side face and a rear side face of the finger insertion part  5   d . Specifically, the opening part  5   g  in a slit-like shape is formed at a substantially center position of the upper side face and the lower side face in the right and left direction and the rear side face of the finger insertion part  5   d . The opening part  5   g  is formed so as to be connected with the card passage  10 . 
     The finger insertion part  5   d  is formed in a size such that a user&#39;s thumb and finger are capable of being inserted and, when a user inserts a card  2  into the card reader  1  and, when a user pulls out the card  2  from the card reader  1 , the user&#39;s thumb and finger are inserted into the finger insertion part  5   d . Further, in this embodiment, when insertion of a card  2  into the card reader  1  is completed, a part on the front end side of the card  2  is exposed in the finger insertion part  5   d.    
     In this embodiment, when viewed from the front face side of the card reader  1 , a part of the main body frame  6  is visible through the card insertion port  4  and the opening part  5   g . Specifically, when viewed from the front face side of the card reader  1 , the head disposing part  15 , the card guide part  19  and the like which are disposed on an inner peripheral side of the tube part  5   b  are visible through the card insertion port  4  and the opening part  5   g  (see  FIG. 1 ). Further, when viewed from the front face side of the card reader  1 , a part of the card passage  10  is visible through the card insertion port  4  and the opening part  5   g.    
     The sealing member  8  is formed of rubber or the like. Further, the sealing member  8  is formed in a roughly semi-elliptic shape so that, when viewed in the front and rear direction, its upper end side is wider in the right and left direction and its lower end side is narrower in the right and left direction. Specifically, the sealing member  8  is formed in a substantially tube-like shape whose shape viewed in the front and rear direction has a similar figure to the shapes of the seal disposing groove  30  and the seal pressing part  5   h  when viewed in the front and rear direction. 
     The sealing member  8  is disposed on the seal disposing groove  30  and is crushed by the inner peripheral face  5   k  of the seal pressing part  5   h  toward the inner side from the outer side in the radial direction. In other words, an inner peripheral face of the sealing member  8  is abutted with a bottom face of the seal disposing groove  30  at a predetermined abutting pressure and an outer peripheral face of the sealing member  8  is abutted with an inner peripheral face  5   k  of the seal pressing part  5   h  at a predetermined abutting pressure. 
     The light source  11  is an LED (Light Emitting Diode). The light source  11  is mounted on the rear end side of the control circuit board  7  as shown by the solid line in  FIG. 4 . Further, the light source  11  is disposed on an outer side with respect to the card accommodation part  16 . Further, as shown in  FIG. 4 , in this embodiment, the light source  11  is mounted on the control circuit board  7  so as to emit light toward the board fixing protruded part  22   k  formed on the lower rear end side. Specifically, the light source  11  is disposed on a rear side with respect to the board fixing protruded part  22   k  formed on the lower rear end side and the light source  11  emits light to a front direction toward the board fixing protruded part  22   k  from the rear side with respect to the board fixing protruded part  22   k.    
     In the card reader  1  structured as described above, when light emitted from the light source  11  is irradiated to the board fixing protruded part  22   k , the irradiated light propagates the entire main body frame  6  and the whole of the main body frame  6  is illuminated. Specifically, a front side portion of the main body frame  6  with respect to the light source  11  is illuminated further brightly. Further, when the light is emitted from the light source  11 , the whole of the main body frame  6  is illuminated and thus the inside of the card passage  10  is also illuminated. Further, since the front face frame  5  is formed of resin material which does not transmit light, when the card reader  1  is viewed from the front side at the time of emitting light from the light source  11 , the card passage  10  on the rear side and the like with respect to the card insertion port  4  and the opening part  5   g  is illuminated to be visible. 
     In this embodiment, for example, when a host device detects a user by a detection mechanism of the host device on which the card reader  1  is mounted, light is emitted from the light source  11  and the main body frame  6  is illuminated. On the other hand, a predetermined processing for a card  2  is completed and, when the user is moved away from the host device, emission of the light from the light source  11  is stopped. When light is to be emitted, the light source  11  may emit light continuously or intermittently (in other words, the light source  11  may be flashed). Further, a flashing speed of the light source  11  may be changed according to a processing state of a card  2  or a color of the light emitted from the light source  11  may be changed. 
     Principal Effects in this Embodiment 
     As described above, in this embodiment, when light is emitted from the light source  11 , the inside of the card passage  10  is illuminated and thus the inside of the card passage  10  where a card  2  is passed is illuminated. Therefore, in this embodiment, even when the surroundings are very dark, a portion into which a card  2  is actually inserted is illuminated and thus a user is capable of visually confirming the portion into which a card  2  is actually inserted from the front side of the card reader  1 . As a result, in this embodiment, visibility of the portion into which a card  2  is actually inserted is further enhanced. 
     In this embodiment, when the card reader  1  is viewed from the front side, a part of the main body frame  6  is visible through the card insertion port  4  and the opening part  5   g . Therefore, even when the front face frame  5  is attached to the front face side of the main body frame  6 , a portion on an adjacent rear side of the card insertion port  4  of the card passage  10  and a portion along the opening part  5   g  of the card passage  10  are illuminated. Accordingly, in this embodiment, even when the front face frame  5  is attached to the front face side of the main body frame  6 , a user can easily confirm a portion into which a card  2  is actually inserted by visual observation. 
     In this embodiment, the light source  11  is disposed on an outer side of the card accommodation part  16  and the inside of the card passage  10  is illuminated by emitting light toward the board fixing protruded part  22   k . Therefore, in comparison with a case that the light source  11  is disposed in the inside of the card passage  10  for illuminating the inside of the card passage  10 , the size of the card reader  1  can be reduced in the front and rear direction while preventing interference of an inserted card  2  with the light source  11 . In other words, in a case that the light source  11  is disposed in the inside of the card passage  10  for illuminating the inside of the card passage  10 , the light source  11  is required to dispose on the rear side with respect to a position where the rear end of an inserted card  2  is reached so that the rear end of the inserted card  2  and the light source  11  are not interfered with each other and thus the size of the card reader  1  is increased in the front and rear direction. However, in this embodiment, the size of the card reader  1  can be reduced in the front and rear direction. 
     In this embodiment, the entire main body frame  6  is formed as a light transmission part which is formed of a light transmissive member. Therefore, in comparison with a case that the main body frame  6  is structured of a member which does not transmit light and the light transmissive member, the structure of the main body frame  6  is simplified. Further, according to this structure, when a foreign matter is jammed in the card passage  10 , the foreign matter can be visually confirmed. 
     In this embodiment, light irradiated to the main body frame  6  propagates the entire main body frame  6  to illuminate the entire main body frame  6 . Therefore, different from the card reader described in Patent Literature 1 in which a light source is disposed in a gate frame (front face frame  5  in this embodiment) and in which special working is performed for guiding light to the front face and the enlarging opened part of the gate frame, visibility of a portion where a card  2  is inserted can be enhanced. Further, even when a part of the front face frame  5  is not formed of a light transmissive member, visibility of the portion into which a card  2  is inserted can be enhanced. Therefore, in this embodiment, a degree of freedom in design of the front face frame  5  can be enhanced while enhancing visibility of the portion into which a card  2  is inserted. 
     Further, in this embodiment, since light irradiated to the main body frame  6  propagates the entire main body frame  6  to illuminate the entire main body frame  6 , even when a light guiding member described in Patent Literature 1 is not used, the inside of the card passage  10  is illuminated by one light source  11 . Therefore, in this embodiment, a structure of the card reader  1  is simplified. 
     In this embodiment, the groove part  27  is formed in an outer peripheral end portion of the card accommodation part  16  which is a joining part of the first accommodation frame part  21   b  to the second accommodation frame part  22   b  and the groove part  27  is filled with sealing material for sealing the joining part. Further, in this embodiment, sealing material is also filled in the passing hole  34  through which the lead wires drawn out from the magnetic head  3  are passed. In addition, in this embodiment, the inner peripheral face of the sealing member  8  is abutted with the bottom face of the seal disposing groove  30  at a predetermined abutting pressure and the outer peripheral face of the sealing member  8  is abutted with the inner peripheral face  5   k  of the seal pressing part  5   h  at a predetermined abutting pressure. Therefore, in this embodiment, liquid entered through the front face of the front face frame  5  (specifically, the card insertion port  4  and the opening part  5   g ) is prevent from entering to the control circuit board  7  and an arranging portion of the light source  11  and the like which are disposed on the rear side with respect to the seal disposing part  18  and on the outer side of the card accommodation part  16 . Accordingly, the card reader  1  in this embodiment whose card passage  10  is illuminated can be used under an environment where liquid is used. In other words, the card reader  1  in this embodiment in which visibility of the portion into which a card  2  is actually inserted is further enhanced can be used under an environment where liquid is used. 
     In this embodiment, when insertion of a card  2  to the card reader  1  is completed, a part on the front end side of the card  2  is exposed in the finger insertion part  5   d . Further, in this embodiment, the inside of the card passage  10  is illuminated. Therefore, in this embodiment, a card  2  which is inserted into the card reader  1  is easily confirmed by visual observation. Accordingly, a sense of security that the inserted card  2  is not stolen illegally can be given to a user who inserts a card  2 . 
     In the card reader described in Patent Literature 1, a circuit board for a light source is attached to the gate frame in which a gate port is formed. Therefore, a creepage distance between the rear end of an inserted card and the circuit board for a light source is short and thus, when a card charged with electricity is inserted into the card reader described in Patent Literature 1, a creeping discharge is generated by static electricity charged on the card and the circuit board for a light source may be damaged. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the control circuit board  7  is disposed on the rear end side with respect to the partition part  17  and thus a creepage distance between the rear end of a card  2  inserted through the card insertion port  4  and the control circuit board  7  is relatively long. Therefore, in this embodiment, even when a card  2  charged with electricity is inserted into the card reader  1 , the control circuit board  7  is easy to be prevented from being damaged by static electricity charged on the card. 
     Other Embodiments 
     Although the present invention has been shown and described with reference to a specific embodiment, various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings herein. 
     In the embodiment described above, the light source  11  is disposed so as to emit light from the rear side with respect to the board fixing protruded part  22   k  formed on the lower rear end side toward the board fixing protruded part  22   k  to the front direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, as shown by the two-dot chain line in  FIG. 4 , the light source  11  may be disposed in the vicinity of the second partition part  22   c  and disposed so as to emit light from the left side with respect to the second accommodation frame part  22   b  toward the second accommodation frame part  22   b  to the right direction. In other words, the light source  11  may be disposed at a position irradiating light to the second accommodation frame part  22   b  in a thickness direction of a card  2  which is substantially perpendicular to a passing direction of the card  2 . In this case, the inside of the card passage  10  is easily illuminated further brightly. 
     Further, the light source  11  may be disposed in the vicinity of the second partition part  22   c  and disposed so as to emit light from the rear side with respect to the second partition part  22   c  toward the second partition part  22   c  to the front direction. Further, the light source  11  may be disposed, as shown by the solid line in  FIG. 6 , so as to emit light toward the main body frame  6  in an obliquely right front side direction. Alternatively, as shown by the broken line in  FIG. 6 , the light source  11  may be disposed so as to emit light toward the main body frame  6  in an obliquely right rear side direction. 
     When the entire main body frame  6  is formed of a light transmissive member, the inside of the card passage  10  is illuminated by utilizing light propagating the entire main body frame  6 . Therefore, the light source  11  may be disposed at various positions as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 . In other words, when the entire main body frame  6  is formed of a light transmissive member, a degree of freedom of arrangement of the light source  11  is enhanced. Further, since a degree of freedom of arrangement of the light source  11  is enhanced, the light source  11  can be mounted on the control circuit board  7  and thus a dedicated circuit board for the light source  11  is not required. Therefore, the structure of the card reader  1  is simplified. 
     In the embodiment described above, the light source  11  emits light toward the board fixing protruded part  22   k  formed on the lower rear end side. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the light source  11  may emit light to a light path changing member  40  such as a prism or a mirror which changes a direction of the light. In this case, the light path changing member  40  is structured and disposed so that the light whose direction is changed by the light path changing member  40  is irradiated to the main body frame  6 . As described above, it may be structured that the light source  11  emit light to the main body frame  6  through the light path changing member  40  such as a prism or a mirror. 
     In the embodiment described above, the entire main body frame  6  is a light transmission part which is formed of a light transmissive member. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, a part of the main body frame  6  may be a light transmission part which is formed of a light transmissive member. For example, it may be structured that the second frame  22  is formed of a light transmissive member and the first frame  21  is formed of a member which does not transmit light. In other words, the second frame  22  may be a light transmission part. Further, it may be structured that a part of the second frame  22  is formed of a light transmissive member and the other portion of the second frame  22  is formed of a member which does not transmit light. In other words, a part of the second frame  22  may be a light transmission part formed of a light transmissive member. In this case, the light source  11  emits light toward the light transmission part. Also in this case, the inside of the card passage  10  is illuminated by light irradiated to the light transmission part and thus visibility of the portion into which a card  2  is actually inserted can be further enhanced in comparison with the conventional case. 
     In the embodiment described above, the light source  11  is disposed on the outer side of the card accommodation part  16 . However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 8(A) and 8(B) , a part or the entire light source  11  may be disposed in the inside of the card accommodation part  16 . In other words, a part or the whole of the light source  11  may be disposed in the inside of the card passage  10 . In this case, the main body frame  6  may be formed of a light transmissive member or a member which does not transmit light. For example, the main body frame  6  (in other words, the first frame  21  and the second frame  22 ) may be formed of resin material having a white color or the like which does not transmit light. Also in this case, the inside of the card passage  10  is illuminated by light emitted from the light source  11  and thus visibility of the portion into which a card  2  is actually inserted can be further enhanced in comparison with the conventional case. Further, in this case, the light source  11  is disposed on the rear end side of the card passage  10  so as not to interfere with the rear end of an inserted card  2 . 
     In the embodiment described above, the card reader  1  includes one light source  11  but the card reader  1  may include two or more light sources  11 . When the number of the light source  11  is increased, the inside of the card passage  10  is illuminated further brighter. Further, in the embodiment described above, the light source  11  is an LED but the light source  11  may be a lamp or the like other than an LED. 
     In the embodiment described above, the main body frame  6  is structured of the first frame  21  and the second frame  22  which are divided into two pieces in the right and left direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the main body frame  6  may be structured of two frames which are divided in the upper and lower direction or in the front and rear direction. Further, the main body frame  6  may be formed of one frame. 
     In the embodiment described above, the front face frame  5  is formed in a roughly rectangular shape when viewed in the right and left direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the front face frame  5  may be formed in a roughly “U”-shape when viewed in the right and left direction. In other words, the front face frame  5  may be structured of a portion which is disposed so as to cover the head disposing part  15 , a portion which is disposed so as to cover the card guide part  19 , and a portion in a tube-like shape for crushing the sealing member  8  in a radial direction from an outer peripheral side of the sealing member  8 . In this case, a part of the front end side of a card  2  inserted into the card reader  1  is exposed in a cutout part which is formed between the portion disposed so as to cover the head disposing part  15  and the portion disposed so as to cover the card guide part  19 . 
     In the embodiment described above, the card reader  1  includes the front face frame  5  but the card reader  1  may include no front face frame  5 . Further, in the embodiment described above, the cutout part  20  is formed between the head disposing part  15  and the card guide part  19  of the main body frame  6 . However, no cutout part may be formed in the main body frame. In other words, the main body frame structuring a card feeding passage may be, for example, formed in a flat rectangular prism shape. 
     In the embodiment described above, the sealing member  8  is disposed on the seal disposing groove  30  and is crushed toward an inner side from an outer side in the radial direction by the inner peripheral face  5   k  of the seal pressing part  5   h . However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, a sealing member may be disposed so as to be crushed by the front face frame  5  and the main body frame  6  in the front and rear direction. In this case, the sealing member is, for example, formed in a thin plate-like shape. 
     In the embodiment described above, the card reader  1  includes the magnetic head  3 . However, the card reader  1  may include IC contacts contacting with an IC chip fixed on the surface of a card  2  and/or a communication antenna for performing communication with an antenna incorporated into the card  2  in addition to the magnetic head  3  or instead of using the magnetic head  3 . In this case, the IC contacts and the communication antenna are attached to the main body frame  6  directly or through an attaching member. Further, the card reader  1  may include a printer for performing printing on the surface of a card  2  and/or a scanner for reading characters printed on the surface of a card  2 , or the like in addition to the magnetic head  3  or instead of using the magnetic head  3 . Also in this case, the printer and the scanner are attached to the main body frame  6  directly or through an attaching member. As described above, the main body frame in accordance with the present invention is attached with an information reading and recording means such as a magnetic head  3  for performing reading of information recorded on a card  2  and recording of information to a card  2 . 
     In the embodiment described above, the card reader  1  is a so-called dip type card reader. However, a card reader to which the structure of the present invention is applied may be a so-called swipe type card reader in which magnetic information of a card  2  is read while the card  2  is moved along a groove-like card passage which is formed shallower than a width in a short widthwise direction of the card  2 . Further, a card reader to which the structure of the present invention is applied may be a card feeding type card reader which includes a feeding mechanism for a card  2 . In this case, it may be structured that a card  2  is taken into the inside of the card reader until a front end of the card  2  is not visible or, when the card  2  is taken into the inside of card reader, a front end side of the card  2  is exposed in the front face side of the card reader. 
     In the embodiment described above, the card reader  1  is mounted and used in a host device such as a fueling machine of a gasoline station and the card reader  1  is used under an environment where liquid is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, a card reader to which the structure of the present invention is applied may be used under an environment where liquid is not used. For example, the card reader may be mounted on a host device such as an ATM or a game machine which is used under an environment where liquid is not used. 
     While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention. 
     The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.