Abstract:
A chip-card-receiving device has a carriage for holding a chip card, means for fixing and releasing a chip card, and a clamping element. The carriage is displaceably mounted between an insertion/removal position and a reading/writing position on a carrier. The clamping element is spring-mounted on the carriage such that the clamping element rests resiliently on an inserted chip card. The clamping element has ramps formed on the carrier such that the clamping element is lifted from a plane of the chip card in an insertion/removal position of the carriage.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation of International Application PCT/DE03/00442, filed Feb. 13, 2003, which designated the United States, and further claims priority to German Patent Application 10208259.6, filed Feb. 26, 2002, the both of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a chip card receiving device comprising a carriage for holding a chip card which is moveably mounted on a carrier between an insertion/removal position and a read/write position, and also comprising means for tightly clamping and releasing a chip card. 
         [0003]    The use of chip cards, for example to record the personal working and resting times of the drivers of commercial vehicles, requires reliable safeguards to prevent disruptions, caused for purposes of deception, to the data transfer between the data recording device, in this case a tachograph, and a chip card, owing to the documentary value of these recordings. Also, when chip cards are used in commercial vehicles an increased risk exists of contact interruptions between a read/write contact assembly and the chip cards because of the general environment in which they have to operate. Furthermore, when chip cards are used in tachographs they have to be inserted and removed relatively frequently owing to changes of driver and vehicle as well as road traffic checks and the chip cards are not always handled with the requisite care. As a result, and also because the chip cards are carried and kept outside the vehicle, the chip cards can be damaged or deformed. Such deformations of chip cards as well as the unavoidable effects of operational vibrations and jolts must not, however, lead to the read/write contacts being damaged when the chip card is inserted in the receiving device or the function of the chip card being disrupted when it is in the read/write position. 
         [0004]    The transport of the chip cards within the receiving device between the insertion/removal position and the read/write position represents a further problem. If a chip card is inserted exclusively by hand there is a risk that it will not be exactly positioned in the read/write position. Moreover, as an inserted chip card is accessible from the outside, manipulation is possible, even if the receiving device concerned is fitted at the front with locking bars or a cover plate. In order to prevent influence being exerted from the outside and to ensure precise positioning and contacting of the inserted chip card, automatic transport of the chip cards between the insertion/removal position and the read/write position is therefore to be preferred even though this may involve greater expense. The operational environment in the commercial vehicle and the dirt, in particular from oils and greases, encountered owing to the relatively frequent handling of the chip cards, as well as the tolerances and thickness differences of the chip cards from large production series mean, however, that an apparently appropriate transport arrangement with a suitably driven friction shaft or with friction rollers does not offer adequate transport reliability. This is because if the chip card jammed, especially during transport to the removal position, the functioning of the tachograph concerned would be considerably disrupted. 
         [0005]    In a transport arrangement which became known with the DE 198 09 619 A1 the chip cards are tightly clamped onto a moveably mounted carriage by being gripped from the side. This purpose is served by a moveable slider which is spring-mounted on the carriage laterally to the direction of movement of the carriage. The slider is controlled by a gate of a tilt spring mechanism which is triggered when a chip card is inserted in the receiving device concerned. 
         [0006]    In principle, and in particular as far as gripping a chip card is concerned, this transport arrangement permits a high compressive load per unit area and thus prevents relative movement between the chip card and the carriage during transport. It does not, however, offer a holddown function for curved or bent chip cards. Moreover, the gripping function can be restricted or no longer apply at all in the case of deformed chip cards. A further disadvantage exists in that the gripping function can be simply manipulated by reducing the width of a chip card. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The task underlying the invention was therefore to create a chip card receiving device suitable for series production and for use in commercial vehicles which ensures absolutely secure transport of the chip cards and reliable contacting of the chip cards in the read/write position even if the chip cards are deformed or damaged and which can be realized with as much space-saving effect as possible. 
         [0008]    The solution of the task provides that two clamping elements are spring-mounted on the carriage in such a way that they close towards each other like tongs and that configured guides are assigned to the clamping elements on the carrier in such a way that the clamping elements are raised up from the level of the chip card in the insertion/removal position of the carriage, and during insertion of a chip card and movement of the carriage into the read/write position they in each case rest resiliently on the surfaces of the chip card determined by length and width. 
         [0009]    A preferred exemplary embodiment is characterized in that toothing is configured on the carriage and the carriage is connected by means of gearing with a motor which is reversible in its direction of rotation and that each clamping element on the side facing the chip card level is covered with a frictional material. 
         [0010]    Further advantageous embodiments of the invention derive from the subclaims, not cited above, and from the description of the attached drawings. 
         [0011]    The invention in particular offers the advantage that a high compressive load per unit area can be exerted so that even if the coefficient of friction is reduced by dirt contamination, adequately high holding forces are effective. Furthermore, as a result of the tongs function, i.e. the gripping of the clamping elements on both sides over a large area, and through the use of suitable frictional coverings a high adhesion effect is achieved between a chip card and the clamping elements, which ensures that a chip card is moved without slipping during transport and a chip card is held in the read/write position without being exposed to vibration and jolts, and because the carriage can be mounted on the carrier to a relatively tight tolerance, vibration-related abrasion of the chip card contacts is avoided. It can also be highlighted that a clamping element gripping around the contact field of an inserted chip card is effective as a holddown device in the direct contact area and in this way reliable contacting including of uneven chip cards is made possible. Moreover, despite its robust design the solution found offers a high level of security against manipulation as the clamping elements rest with considerable force on the entire width of a chip card and are also guided in grooves along the side, which means that they cannot be lifted up in the read/write position. As a result of the found solution it is therefore not essential to attach additional locking elements to the chip card receiving device, even if unlike in the preferred exemplary embodiment which provides for positively engaged transport of the carriage holding the chip cards independently of the care taken by the user, the chip cards are exclusively inserted by hand in the read/write position and are moved in a friction grip into the removal position by means of a suitably driven pushrod. 
         [0012]    For the sake of completeness it should also be mentioned that although the application of the chip card receiving device in accordance with the solution is optimized for use in commercial vehicles, it is also eminently suitable for general use because it is relatively inexpensive to produce and install and including the drive system is low in height. In this context the preferred exemplary embodiment represents a useful, largely autonomous assembly which with the incorporation of suitable spacer bolts can be assigned to a printed circuit board with minimal space requirement. In addition, the design of the chip card receiving device with a torsionally rigid carrier, which for example can be configured as an outsert plate, and the direct assignment of the individual components and assemblies to the carrier, represents a minimal tolerance addition, so that the units can be produced with tolerances suitable for large series. Furthermore, it should be pointed out that a simplified version can be made by providing just one clamping element which works directly together with a suitably configured carriage on the side of the carriage facing the stationary contact assembly. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The preferred exemplary embodiment of a chip card receiving device is explained below in more detail with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  shows a top view of the chip card receiving device at the level of the flange mounting, 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  shows a bottom view of the chip card receiving device as in  FIG. 1 , 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  shows a section along line of intersection A in  FIG. 1 , enlarged, 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  shows a top view as in  FIG. 1  with a chip card in the read/write position, and 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  shows a side view in arrow direction C in  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    As can be seen from the drawings, the chip card receiving device  1 , to which a chip card  2  has been symbolically assigned, exhibits a torsionally rigid carrier  3  on which rails  4  and  5  are fastened, preferably formed on by outsert injection molding. The supports  6 ,  7 ,  8  and  9  assigned to the rails  4 ,  5  and featuring tapped holes not further designated serve the purpose of fastening the chip card receiving device  1 , e.g. onto a printed circuit board on which expediently a contact assembly assigned to the board contacts  10  of the chip cards  2  is arranged. With  11  a carriage is designated which by means of a cheek  12  engages with an undercut  13  provided in the rail  4  and which is mounted moveably in longitudinal direction on a strip  14  configured on the carrier  3 , to which strip a slot  15  ( FIG. 2 ) configured in the carriage  11  is assigned. A further cheek  16  of the carriage  11  features toothing  17  via which the carriage  11  is functionally connected by means of gearing with a positioning motor  18  which is reversible in its direction of rotation. The gear system  19  comprises a worm  21  fastened to the shaft  20  of the positioning motor  18 , a first pair of gear wheels with a helical gear  22  engaging with the worm  21  and a spur gear  23 , a pair of gear wheels  24 / 25  with an interposed friction coupling as well as a pair of gear wheels  26 / 27 , one gear wheel of which engages with the toothing  17  of the carriage  11 . On the carriage  11  bearing blocks  28  and  29  are configured which serve the purpose of supporting axles  30  and  31  on which in each case a leg  32  and  33  as well as  34  and  35  of two clamping elements  36  and  37  are mounted. In addition, the axles  30 ,  31  serve the purpose of supporting leg springs  38  and  39 , of which in each case one pretensioned leg acts on one of the clamping elements  36 ,  37  in such a way that the clamping elements  36 ,  37  close towards each other like tongs. In addition, fingers  40 ,  41  and  42 ,  43  are arranged facing each other on the clamping elements  36 ,  37  and are configured in such a way that the fingers  40 ,  42  engage with the undercut  13  and the fingers  41 ,  43  with an undercut  44  configured in rail  5 . As  FIG. 1  shows, the clamping element  36  features a recess  45  which permits the penetration of the contact springs of the read/write contact assembly onto the board contacts  10  of a chip card  2  which is in the read/write position, so that the clamping element  36  is configured in a U or stirrup shape. By contrast, the clamping element  37  exhibits a platform  46  facing an inserted chip card  2 . On both sides of the platform  46  frictional coverings  47  and  48  are affixed to the clamping element  37 . Located opposite to them are frictional coverings  49  and  50  on clamping element  36 . The frictional coverings  47 ,  48 ,  49 ,  50 , which in conjunction with the leg springs  38 ,  39  serve the purpose of holding an inserted chip card  2  tightly both during transport and in the read/write position, can be advantageously supplemented by affixing frictional coverings to the clamping elements additionally crosswise to the insertion direction of the chip cards and parallel to the axes of clamping elements  36 ,  37 . It is conceivable that only the last-mentioned frictional coverings are provided because they offer the advantage that access to the contact area from the outside with interrupting or conducting foils or wires is excluded. 
         [0020]    As can also be seen from the drawings, ramps  51  and  52  and  53  and  54  formed onto the rails  4 ,  5  are assigned to the clamping elements  36 ,  37  or to the fingers  40 ,  41 ,  42 ,  43  configured on the clamping elements  36 ,  37 . Guide slots configured between the ramps  51 ,  52  and  53 ,  54  and assigned to the chip card  2  are designated with  55  and  56 . Stop surfaces  57  and  58  are configured on the legs  32  and  34  of the clamping element  37  via which, when the chip card  2  is inserted, the carriage  11  is moved slightly by hand until it is automatically transported. This is controlled by a light barrier whose lug is assigned to the carriage  11  and designated with  59 . A recess  60  enables the clamping element  37  to penetrate through the level of the carrier  3 . In a front beam  61  fastened onto the carrier  3  or formed onto the carrier  3  an orientation slot  62  is configured which facilitates the alignment of a chip card  2  being inserted. In addition, a flap  63 , which acts as a cover for the orientation slot  62 , is swivel-mounted on the front beam  61 . The flap  63  is coupled by means of a pin-slot connection  64 ,  65  with a double-arm control lever  66  which is rotationally mounted on an axle  68  fastened to a side wall  67  of the carrier  3 . On the control lever  66 , to which a leg spring  69  likewise arranged on the axle  68  is assigned, whose one leg  70  is supported on the carrier  3  and whose other leg  71  abuts on a pin  72  fastened in the control lever  66 , a guide pin  73  is attached to which a gate  74  configured in the carriage  11  is assigned. A slot-shaped recess  75  is provided for friction-free movement of the pin  64  in the pin-slot connection  64 / 65  in the side wall  67 . 
         [0021]    In the position of the carriage  11  shown in  FIG. 1  the flap  63  abutting on the front beam  61  and covering the orientation slot  62  can be swiveled against the effect of the leg spring  69  when a chip card  2  is inserted. In the position of the carriage  11  shown in  FIG. 4  in which an inserted chip card  2  is in the read/write position the flap  63  is arrested by the guide pin  73  engaging with gate  74 . On insertion of a chip card  2  through the orientation slot  62  the chip card  2  guided in the guide slots  55 ,  56  comes into contact with the stop surfaces  57 ,  58 . Further movement of the chip card  2 , which is possible owing to the friction coupling assigned to the pair of gear wheels  24 / 25 , causes the clamping elements  36 ,  37  to slide off the ramps  51 ,  52  and  53 ,  54  and the clamping elements  36 ,  37  to become active on chip card  2 , i.e. chip card  2  is tightly clamped on the carriage  11  and then by means of the geared connection of the carriage  11  the chip card  2  is transported into the read/write position shown in  FIG. 4 . The clamping elements  36 ,  37  and the chip card  2  gripped by them are guided by the finger pairs  40 ,  42  and  41 ,  43  loosely into the undercuts  13 ,  44  and supported by the carrier  3 . At this point it should be mentioned that the chip card receiving device  1  can be equipped with just one clamping element which works in conjunction with the base of a suitably configured carriage. It should also be mentioned that the gear system  19  can be configured in such a way that self-locking is avoided and therefore the friction coupling can be dispensed with. For ejecting the chip card  2 , which, having been initiated by pressing a button on the unit concerned, is performed automatically by the positioning motor  18  and the gear system  19 , the clamping elements  36 ,  37  are “opened” by sliding onto the ramps  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54  and the chip card  2  is released.