Card transfer system and card reader

Card transfer system in which a card is transferred may include transfer roller which touches and transfers the card, and rotary shaft on which transfer roller is fixed, and rotating member rotatably supported on rotary shaft, and drive mechanism coupled to rotating member to rotate rotating member, and clutch mechanism which interrupts the power transmission between rotary shaft and rotating member. Rotating member is rotatably supported on rotary shaft by antifriction bearings. Rotary shaft is rotatably supported by multiple bearings and, at the same time, at least bearing arranged closest to rotating member is a plain bearing or sliding bearing.

TECHNICAL FIELD

An embodiment relates to a transfer system for use with a card which transfers the card and a card reader equipped with the card transfer system.

BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY

The card transfer system described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-256781 comprises a feed roller for feeding a card, a rotary shaft on which the feed roller is fixed, a rotating member rotatably attached to the rotary shaft, and a drive mechanism for rotating the rotating member.

Moreover, this card transfer system comprises a clutch means in which the feed roller fixed to the rotary shaft is isolated from the drive mechanism to rotate freely. This clutch means comprises a pin fixed on the rotary shaft and two engagement protrusions formed on the rotating member. The two engagement protrusions are formed in such a way that they are on the outer face part of the rotating member and spaced from each other in a circular direction.

SUMMARY

As is the case with the card transfer system as described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-256781, in order to allow the clutch means to operate properly in the card transfer system equipped with a clutch mechanism, the concurrent rotation of the rotary shaft and rotating member must be prevented when the pin and engagement protrusions are not engaged. Nevertheless, the card transfer system as described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-256781, does not propose a means to prevent the concurrent rotation of the rotary shaft and rotating member.

Therefore, at least an embodiment herein may provide a card transfer system which can prevent the concurrent rotation of the rotary shaft and rotating member when power transmission is cut off by the clutch mechanism. Another embodiment i may provide a card reader equipped with this card transfer system.

Thus, at least an embodiment may comprise a transfer roller which touches and transfers a card, and a rotary shaft on which the transfer roller is fixed, and a rotating member rotatably supported on the rotary shaft, and a drive mechanism coupled to the rotating member to rotate the rotating member, and a clutch mechanism which interrupts the power transmission between the rotary shaft and the rotating member. The rotating member is rotatably supported on the rotary shaft by antifriction bearings. The rotary shaft is rotatably supported by multiple bearings. Among those bearings which support the rotary shaft, at least the bearing arranged closest to the rotating member may be a plain bearing or sliding bearing at least in this embodiment. Other variations are possible.

Thus, in at least an embodiment, a rotating member is rotatably supported on the rotary shaft by antifriction bearings. Moreover, among those bearings which support the rotary shaft, at least the bearing which is arranged closest to the rotating member is a plain bearing or sliding bearing. Since plain bearings or sliding bearings generate higher friction than antifriction bearings, by using an antifriction bearing to support the rotating member and moreover, by using a plain bearing or sliding bearing for the bearing of the rotary shaft arranged closest to the rotating member, the rotating member and the bearing retaining member of the bearings which support the rotary shaft can generate higher rotational resistance than that between the rotating member and the rotary shaft. In this way, when power transmission is cut off between the rotary shaft and the rotating member by the clutch mechanism, if the drive force of the drive mechanism is transmitted to the rotating member, the rotating member rotates around the rotary shaft but the rotary shaft cannot rotate. In other words, when power transmission is cut off between the rotary shaft and the rotating member by the clutch mechanism, the concurrent rotation of the rotary shaft and rotating member can be prevented.

Thus, in at least an embodiment, the clutch mechanism comprises, for example, a first engagement part formed or fixed on the rotary shaft and a second engagement part formed or fixed on the rotating member that can be engaged with the first engagement part.

Thus, in at least an embodiment, the antifriction bearing is preferably arranged at the approximate center position in the axial direction of the rotary shaft in the coupling part between the rotating member and the drive mechanism. In this case, the rotating member is, for example, a pulley, and the drive mechanism has a belt that engages the pulley, and a single antifriction bearing is arranged at the approximate center position in the axial direction of the coupling part, comprising the engagement part of the pulley and the belt. This configuration allows a smaller number of antifriction bearings to bear the drive force transmitted from the drive mechanism to the rotating member. Hence, the number of antifriction bearings can be reduced. For example, as described above, the number of antifriction bearings can be reduced to one.

Thus, in at least an embodiment, fall-preventing protrusions to prevent the fall of the rotational member on the rotary shaft are preferably formed on the rotating member. According to this configuration, in which antifriction bearings are arranged at the approximate center position in the axial direction of the rotary shaft in the coupling part between the rotating member and the drive mechanism; even if the number of antifriction bearings is reduced, the fall of the rotating member on the rotary shaft can be prevented.

Thus, in at least an embodiment the card transfer system can be used for a card reader comprising a frame on which bearings supporting the rotary shaft are attached, and a reproduction/recording means to reproduce data recorded on the card and/or record data onto the card. In this card reader, when power transmission is cut off between the rotary shaft and the rotating member by the clutch mechanism, the concurrent rotation of the rotary shaft and rotating member can be prevented. Moreover, this card reader is provided with a frame, for example, comprising a first frame and a second frame facing each other in approximately in parallel, the rotating member is arranged outside the first frame in the axial direction of the rotary shaft, and the plain bearing or sliding bearing is attached to the first frame.

Thus, as described above, in the card transfer system and card reader of the present invention, when power transmission is cut off between the rotary shaft and the rotating member by the clutch mechanism, the concurrent rotation of the rotary shaft and rotating member can be prevented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention are described herein with reference to the drawings.

(Schematic Configuration of the Card Reader)

FIG. 1is a perspective view illustrating the schematic configuration of card reader1of the embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2is a side view illustrating pulley30and its peripheral parts ofFIG. 1.FIG. 3is a cross-sectional view illustrating pulley30and its peripheral parts ofFIG. 1.

Card reader1of this embodiment is a system in which data, recorded on a for example any magnetic data card2(shown in dotted lines), is reproduced and/or data is recorded onto card2. The present invention does not include the card2per se, but the present invention is used with a card2which may be supplied from any manufacturer. As illustrated inFIG. 1, this card reader1comprises magnetic head3, which is a data reproducing/recording unit to reproduce magnetic data on card2or record magnetic data on card2, and card transfer system5to transport card2in card reader1.

The card2of this embodiment is a rectangular vinyl chloride card having a thickness of approximately 0.7˜0.8 mm. On the front face of card2provided is a magnetic stripe (not illustrated) in which magnetic data is recorded. However, an IC chip may be fixed on the front face of card2. A communication antenna may also be embedded in card2, or a printing part which performs heat-sensitive printing may be provided on the front face of card2. Card2may be a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) card having a thickness of approximately 0.18˜0.36 mm or a paper card, etc. having a given thickness or any other data card format.

Card transfer system5comprises transport roller6,7,8to transport card2by touching the front surface of card2, and rotary shafts9,10,11on which transfer rollers6,7,8are fixed respectively, and pad rollers12,13,14facing transfer rollers6,7,8to be energized toward transfer rollers6,7,8respectively, and drive mechanism15to drive transfer rollers6,7,8. Transfer rollers6,7,8are arranged in the order, for example, from the card insertion slot side to the deep end of card reader1.

Rotary shafts9,10,11are supported by first frame16and second frame17constituting card reader1. In concrete terms, as illustrated inFIG. 1, first frame16and second frame17are arranged in approximately parallel to face each other putting a given distance between them. One end of rotary shaft9,10,11is supported by bearings18,19,20that are attached to first frame16while the other end of rotary shafts9,10,11is supported by bearings21,22,23that are attached to second frame17. All of bearings18,19,20,21,22,23of this embodiment are plain bearings or sliding bearings made by molding a resin or sintered metal, etc.

Transfer rollers6,7,8are rubber rollers whose circumferential end has rubber bands fixed thereon. These transfer rollers6,7,8are fixed at the approximate center position in the shaft direction of rotary shafts9,10,11. Moreover, transfer rollers6,7,8are arranged at the upper end of the transfer path on which card2is transferred. Pad rollers12,13,14are arranged at the upper end of the transfer path. These pad rollers12,13,14are energized upward by an energizing means (not illustrated).

At one end of rotary shaft10on which transfer roller7is fixed, synchronous pulley26is fixed, and another synchronous pulley27is fixed at one end of rotary shaft11on which transfer roller8is fixed. Pulleys26,27are arranged the outside of first frame16in the shaft direction of rotary shafts10,11. Moreover, magnetic head3is arranged below rotary shaft10. Facing roller28facing magnetic head3is fixed on rotary shaft10.

One end of rotary shaft9on which transfer roller6is fixed is rotatably supported by synchronous pulley30, which is a rotating member. In concrete terms, as illustrated inFIG. 3, pulley30is rotatably supported on rotary shaft9by a single antifriction bearing31. Pulley30is arranged outside of first frame16in the shaft direction of rotary shaft8.

Furthermore, engagement pin32having a fine cylindrical shape is fixed on rotary shaft9, at the tip beyond the attachment part of pulley30. In concrete terms, engagement pin32is inserted by pressure and fixed to a hole formed at one end of rotary shaft9, so that both ends of engagement pin32protrude to the outside in the diameter direction of rotary shaft9.

Pulley30is made of a resin and molded in an approximate cylindrical shape having an inner circumferential surface on which the outer circle of antifriction bearing31is fixed. At one side face of pulley30(the left side face inFIG. 3), engagement nails30a, which can be engaged with engagement pin32, are formed integrally into pulley30. In concrete terms, as illustrated inFIG. 2, at the outer circumferential end of one of the side faces of pulley30and at a given pitch in a circular direction, engagement nails30aprotruding in the axial direction of rotary shaft9are formed. In this embodiment, four engagement nails30ahaving an approximately arc shape are formed at a pitch of approximately 90°.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, both ends of engagement pin32are arranged between engagement nails30a, so that engagement nails30aand engagement pin32together constitute clutch mechanism33which interrupts the power transmission between rotary shaft9and pulley30. In this embodiment, engagement pin32is the first engagement part fixed on rotary shaft9, and engagement nails30aare the second engagement parts fixed on pulley30.

At the other side face end (the right side face inFIG. 3) of pulley30, fall-preventing protrusion30bis formed to prevent the fall of pulley30on rotary shaft9. In concrete terms, circular fall-preventing protrusion30b, which protrudes from the inner circumferential face of pulley30to the inner end of card reader1in the diameter direction, is formed on the other side face end of pulley30. The inner diameter of this fall-preventing protrusion30bis slightly larger than the diameter of rotary shaft9. In the shaft direction of rotary shaft9, as illustrated inFIG. 3, fall-preventing protrusion30bis formed at a position away from antifriction bearing31, and there is a gap between fall-preventing protrusion30band antifriction bearing31.

Antifriction bearing31is a ball bearing. As illustrated inFIG. 3, antifriction bearing31is arranged on the inner circumferential face of pulley30in the state in which one edge (the right edge inFIG. 3) of antifriction bearing31touches aligning step part30cformed on the inner circumferential surface of pulley30. In this embodiment, antifriction bearing31is arranged at the approximate center position in the axial direction of rotary shaft9in the engagement part of belt35described later and pulley30, comprising drive mechanism15. In other words, antifriction bearing31is arranged so that the centers of belt35and antifriction bearing31about coincide in the axial direction of rotary shaft9. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the engagement part comprising belt35and pulley30also constitutes the coupling part of pulley30and drive mechanism15.

Drive mechanism15comprises synchronous belt35to be put pulleys26,27,30around and engaged with pulley26,27,30. Further, drive mechanism15comprises drive motor (not illustrated) which is the drive source, and a transmission mechanism (not illustrated) which transmits the driving force of the drive motor to rotary shaft10or rotary shaft11. The transmission mechanism is constructed with a pulley or belt. It may also be constructed with multiple gears, or the like.

As the drive motor rotates, power is transmitted from the drive motor to rotary shaft10or rotary shaft11via the transmission mechanism, rotating belt35. Moreover, as belt35rotates, pulley30rotates. In other words, drive mechanism15is coupled to pulley30to rotate pulley30.

FIGS. 4(A)-4(E)is a diagram illustrating the operation of clutch mechanism33ofFIG. 1.

The operation of clutch mechanism33is described herein with reference toFIGS. 4(A)-4(E). However, in the example of clutch mechanism33described below, card2is inserted to card reader1from the front end of the paper plane ofFIG. 1, and card2is ejected to the front end ofFIG. 1.

As card2is inserted to card reader1, a detection mechanism arranged at the card insertion slot of card reader1detects the tip of card2and starts the drive motor. As the drive motor starts, pulley30rotates.

If clutch mechanism33is in the state indicated by the solid line inFIG. 4(A) at the time of the card insertion, until pulley30rotates clockwise at a given angle to allow engagement nails30ato touch engagement pin32, as illustrated inFIG. 4(B), the power transmitted between rotary shaft9and pulley30is cut off between the rotary shaft9and the rotating member by clutch mechanism33. Therefore, rotary shaft9does not rotate (i.e. transfer roller6does not rotate). In other words, after pulley30rotates clockwise at a given angle to allow engagement nails30ato touch engagement pin32, the power of drive mechanism15is transmitted from pulley30to rotary shaft9, rotating rotary shaft9.

Moreover, if clutch mechanism33is in the state in which card2is at rest in card reader1and has not been ejected, as illustrated inFIG. 4(C), power transmission between rotary shaft9and pulley30is cut off by clutch mechanism33until pulley30rotates counterclockwise at a given angle to allow engagement nails30ato touch engagement pin32, as illustrated inFIG. 4(D). As a result, rotary shaft9does not rotate (transfer roller6does not rotate). In other words, after pulley30rotates counterclockwise at a given angle to allow engagement nails30ato touch engagement pin32, the power of drive mechanism15is transmitted from pulley30to rotary shaft9, rotating rotary shaft9.

However, if clutch mechanism33is in the state in which card2has not been inserted to card reader1yet, as indicated by the solid line inFIG. 4(A), and card2is inserted into card reader1by a user, rotary shaft9and transfer roller6together relatively rotate clockwise with respect pulley30, as indicated by the double-dot chain line inFIG. 4(A).

Further, when one end of card2is sandwiched between transfer roller6and pad roller12while the other end of card2protrudes from the card insertion slot, and clutch mechanism33is in the state as indicated by, for example, the solid line inFIG. 4(E), the pulling of card2out of card reader1by a user causes rotary shaft9and transfer roller6together to relatively rotate counterclockwise with respect to pulley30as indicated by the double-dot chain line inFIG. 4(E).

Major Effects of this Embodiment

As described above, in this embodiment, pulley30is supported on rotary shaft9by antifriction bearings31so that it can rotate around rotary shaft9, and one end of rotary shaft9is supported by bearing18, which is a plain bearing or sliding bearing. An example is an oil-impregnated bearing, resin bearing, or oleo-resin bearing, however many types of plain bearings or sliding bearings may be used and the invention is not limited to these specifically listed bearings. In any event, a plain bearing or sliding bearing has a higher operational friction than an anti-friction bearing by definition. Therefore, the rotational resistance between first frame16and rotary shaft9is greater than that between pulley30and rotary shaft9. Moreover, since the other end of rotary shaft9is also supported by bearing21, which is a plain bearing or a sliding bearing, the rotational resistance is enhanced between rotary shaft9and second frame17. Therefore, in this embodiment, when power transmission is cut off between rotary shaft9and pulley30by clutch mechanism33, even if the driving force of drive mechanism15is transmitted to pulley30, pulley30rotates around rotary shaft9but rotary shaft9does not. In other words, the concurrent rotation of rotary shaft9and pulley30can be prevented when power transmission is cut off by clutch mechanism33.

In this embodiment, antifriction bearing31is arranged at the approximate center position in the axial direction of rotary shaft9in the connection part between belt35and pulley30. As a result, a single antifriction bearing31can bear the driving force (in concrete terms, the tension of belt35) which is transmitted from driving mechanism15to pulley30. An example of an antifriction bearing is a ball bearing or a roller bearing; however, many types of anti-friction bearings may be used and the invention is not limited to these specifically listed bearings.

In this embodiment, fall-preventing protrusion30bwhich prevents the fall of pulley30on rotary shaft9is formed on pulley30. Therefore, even if pulley30is support on rotary shaft9by a single antifriction bearing31, pulley30on rotary shaft9will not fall.

However, there is a fear that the formation of fall-preventing protrusion30bon pulley30may increase the rotational resistance between pulley30and rotary shaft9. Nevertheless, in this embodiment, in the axial direction of rotary shaft9, fall-preventing protrusion30bis formed at a point away from antifriction bearing31(i.e. in the axial direction of rotary shaft9, fall-preventing protrusion30bis formed at a point away from the center position in the engagement part between belt35and pulley30). Accordingly, it is not easy for the tension of belt35to generate a significant rotational resistance between rotary shaft9and fall-preventing protrusion30b. As a result, even if fall-preventing protrusion30bis formed on pulley30, the concurrent rotation of rotary shaft9and pulley30can be prevented when power transmission is cut off by clutch mechanism33.

Alternative Embodiment

The embodiment described above is a preferable mode to carry out the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A variety of embodiments can be adopted within the scope of the present invention.

In the above embodiment, bearing21is a plain bearing or sliding bearing similar to bearing18. Alternatively, bearing18may be an antifriction bearing, for example. In this case too, since bearing18arranged near pulley30is a plain bearing or sliding bearing, the concurrent rotation of rotary shaft9and pulley30can be prevented when power transmission is cut off by clutch mechanism33. Note that bearings19,20,22,23may be antifriction bearings.

In the embodiment described above, rotary shaft9is supported by bearings18and21at two places. Alternatively, rotary shaft9may be supported by bearings, etc., for example, at three places. In this case, if the bearing arranged closest to pulley30is a plain bearing or sliding bearing, the same effect as that of embodiments described above can be obtained.

In the embodiment described above, antifriction bearing31is a ball bearing. Alternatively, antifriction bearing31may be a roller bearing.

In the embodiment described above, pulley30, which is a rotating member, is rotatably supported on rotary shaft9. Alternatively, as a rotating member, a gear, for example, may be rotatably supported on rotary shaft9. In this case, this gear is rotary supported on rotary shaft9by a single antifriction bearing, for example. Moreover, in this case, a single antifriction bearing is also arranged at the center position in the axial direction of rotary shaft9in the meshing part between the gear supported on rotary shaft9and another gear to be meshed with the gear. Furthermore, in this case, a fall-preventing protrusion that prevents the fall of the gear on rotary shaft9is formed on the gear which is supported on rotary shaft9.

In the embodiment described above, engagement pin32is fixed on rotary shaft9. However, the engagement protrusion, which engages engagement nail30a, may be integrated into rotary shaft9. Further, in the embodiment described above, engagement nails30aare integrated into pulley30. However, the engagement members for engaging engagement pin32may be members that are separate from pulley30, and these engagement members may be fixed on pulley30.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS