IC card reader

An IC card reader holding an IC card by using an IC contact block and a card receiving member at a data communication position, and preventing a sudden increase in load when inserting the card. A card receiving member (13) is entirely or partially moved in a card carriage direction together with an IC card (5) when inserting or removing the IC card (5), and the IC card (5) is received and supported from a rear surface side thereof when at least IC contact springs (11) are in contact with a surface of the IC card (5), thereby suppressing a sudden increase in insertion load in the middle of the card insertion operation.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an IC card reader. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improvement in a structure of an IC card reader which is configured to perform data communication after an IC card is inserted by a user himself/herself and then fed to a data communication position or automatically moved to the data communication position.

TECHNICAL TERMS

In this specification, a term “card insertion direction” means a carriage direction when an IC card inserted from a card insertion opening on an IC card reader front side is carried to a data communication position on a card reader inner side. Further, a term “card return direction” means a direction opposite to the card insertion direction, i.e., a carriage direction when the IC card is returned from the data communication position to the card insertion opening. The term “return” in this case means that the IC card is manually or automatically carried from the data communication position to the card insertion opening side. Furthermore, the term “data communication position” means that a definite stop position of the IC card when IC contact springs in an IC contact block are brought into contact with a contact terminal pattern of the IC card in order to perform data communication, and this will be referred to as a “card stop position” in this specification. The card insertion direction and the card return direction collectively mean a “card carriage direction”.

BACKGROUND ART

As an IC card reader, there has been utilized a manual type IC card reader that an IC card is manually inserted, an IC contact block is moved by using a force at the time of insertion and IC contact springs are brought into contact with a contact terminal pattern of the IC card.

For example, in a manual type IC card reader shown inFIGS. 21 and 22, an IC contact block101is supported by arms102and103so as to be capable of moving closer to or away from an IC card105which travels in a card traveling path104, and pressed by a return spring106in a card return direction. A pressure receiving portion108with which an end of the IC card105is brought into contact is formed to this IC contact block101. Therefore, when the IC card105is inserted into the manual type IC card reader, the IC card105comes into contact with the pressure receiving portion108, then the IC contact block101gradually moves closer to this IC card105while moving together with the IC card105, thereby bringing IC contact springs107into contact with a contact terminal pattern112on the IC card105. In this case, since a relative position of the IC card105which has come into contact with the pressure receiving portion108with respect to the IC contact block101is fixed, the IC contact springs107of the IC contact block101correctly come into contact with predetermined contact positions on the contact terminal pattern112. Furthermore, the IC contact springs107are elastically deformed and press the surface of the IC card105. A rear surface side of the pressed IC card105is received and supported by a card receiving surface109of a card receiving member formed to a frame of the IC card reader. It is to be noted that reference numerals111in the drawings denote a foreign particle discharge opening.

In the above-described manual type IC card reader, however, there is a problem that a frictional resistance acting on the IC card105is increased as the IC card105is inserted. That is, when the IC contact block101is moved down by an operation of inserting the IC card105, a force to press the surface of the IC card105is gradually increased as the IC contact block101moves down, and a frictional force generated between the rear surface of the IC card105and the card receiving surface109is increased, which results in an increase in resistance.

Like an example of fluctuations in a card operating force in a conventional card reader shown inFIG. 8, even if an insertion load of the IC card105to the vicinity of the IC contact springs107is small (e.g., an insertion load is slightly larger than a pad pressure of a magnetic head110when the card reader functions as both an IC card reader and a magnetic card reader), the IC card105is gradually strongly pressed against the card receiving surface109as the IC contact block101moves down after a contact start point a where the IC contact springs107of the IC contact block101come into contact with the IC card105. In this case, the frictional force is suddenly increased as shown in the drawing, and an operational feeling when inserting the card is deteriorated.

Moreover, when a user misdeems a completion of insertion of the card upon feeling an increase in an insertion load in the middle of insertion of the card and he/she discontinues insertion of the IC card105, not only an excellent contact between the contact terminal pattern112of the IC card105and the IC contact springs107cannot be obtained, but the IC contact springs107cannot come into contact with appropriate positions on the contact terminal pattern112, which can be a factor of a malfunction.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an IC card reader which suppresses a sudden increase in an insertion load in the middle of a card insertion operation.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

To achieve this aim, according to the present invention, there is provided an IC card reader in which an IC contact block is moved closer to a card traveling path with an insertion operation of an IC card which is inserted to a card stop position from a card insertion opening formed on a frame front side, IC contact springs are brought into contact with a contact terminal pattern on an IC card surface, and the IC card with which the IC contact springs are in contact is received and supported from a rear surface side thereof by a card receiving member, wherein the card receiving member opposed to the IC contact block with the card traveling path therebetween moves in a card carriage direction together with the IC card at the time of an IC card insertion operation and an IC card return operation, and receives and supports the IC card from the rear surface side when at least the IC contact springs are in contact with the IC card surface.

In a conventional IC card reader, a rear surface side of an IC card against which IC contact springs are pressed is received and supported by a card receiving member such as a fixed card receiving surface formed to, e.g., a frame. In the present invention, however, a card receiving member which can move in a card carriage direction and moves together with the IC card is provided, and this card receiving member moves together with this IC card while receiving and supporting the IC card rear surface. Therefore, no friction is generated between the IC card rear surface and the card receiving member. Accordingly, even if the IC contact springs are pressed against the IC card in the middle of the card insertion operation, an insertion load is not suddenly increased. Therefore, if the IC card reader is of a manual type, a card operational feeling for a user is improved. Additionally, it is possible to prevent a user from interrupting an operation in the middle of insertion of the card.

It is preferable that this card receiving member is provided in such a manner that the card receiving member moves closer to the rear surface of the IC card with the IC card insertion operation and moves away from the rear surface of the IC card with the IC card return operation. In such a case, the card rear surface can be received and supported by moving this card receiving member closer to the card rear surface only when inserting the IC card. Further, the IC contact block which likewise moves closer/away with respect to the IC card and this card receiving member can be used to receive and support the card rear surface so as to substantially simultaneously hold the IC card from the front surface side and the rear surface side, while the IC contact springs can be brought into contact with the contact terminal pattern.

In this case, it is preferable that a pressure receiving portion with which an end of the IC card comes into contact and a pressing portion which comes into contact with the card receiving member are formed to the IC contact block, a pressure receiving portion with which this pressing portion comes into contact is formed to this card receiving member, and the pressure receiving portion of the card receiving member is arranged at a position away from the pressing portion of the IC contact block in the card insertion direction. In this case, a time difference is generated in timing between start of movement of the IC contact block and start of movement of the card receiving member, and the card insertion load is gradually gently increased. Therefore, if the IC card reader is of a manual type, the insertion load is not suddenly increased, and a card operational feeling felt by a user is improved. Furthermore, a probability that a magnetic read error is generated is lowered since the card insertion load is gently changed, and an insertion load increase is not taken for completion of insertion.

Moreover, it is preferable that the pressure receiving portion of the card receiving member is provided in the vicinity of the card stop position. In this case, since the card receiving member enters a card receiving state immediately before completion of the card insertion, a user can bring the insertion operation to completion without feeling that the insertion load is increased if the IC card reader is of a manual type. It is to be noted that this “card receiving state” means a state or an attitude of the card receiving member when the IC card carried to the card stop position is received and supported from the rear surface side.

Additionally, according to the present invention, there is provided the IC card reader in which the IC contact block is moved closer to the card traveling path with an insertion operation of the IC card which is inserted to the card stop position from the card insertion opening formed on the frame front side, the IC contact springs are brought into contact with the contact terminal pattern on the IC card surface, and the IC card with which the IC contact springs are in contact is received and supported from a rear surface side thereof by the card receiving member, wherein the card receiving member opposed to the IC contact block with the card traveling path therebetween is provided so as to be capable of rotating around a supporting point on the frame at the time of an IC card insertion operation and an IC card return operation, and receives and supports the IC card from the rear surface side when at least the IC contact springs are in contact with the IC card surface; the pressure receiving portion with which an end of the IC card comes into contact and the pressing portion which comes into contact with the card receiving member are formed to the IC contact block; the pressure receiving portion with which this pressing portion comes into contact is formed to the card receiving member; and the pressure receiving portion of the card receiving member is arranged at a position away from the pressing portion of the IC contact block in the card insertion direction. Further, at least a part of the pressing portion of the IC contact block which comes into contact with the pressure receiving portion of the card receiving member is so provided that the pressure receiving portion of the card receiving member can move onto the part and the part is a horizontal surface which does not produce a component force in the card return direction which acts on the IC contact block from the card receiving member when the IC card stops at the card stop position. In this case, a force that an IC contact pressure and an elastic force of the return spring act on the card receiving member, which is specifically a moment which returns the card receiving member to its original position is prevented from generating a component force in the card carriage direction when transmitted to the IC contact block, and it does not act as a force which pushes back the IC contact block. Therefore, the IC contact block can stay in a state that the IC card is stopped at the card stop position, and can keep holding the completely inserted IC card at this card stop position.

In this case, it is preferable that a cam surface which is formed of an inclined surface and a horizontal surface and guides the pressure receiving portion of the card receiving member is formed to the pressing portion of the IC contact block, and a follower which is in contact with the cam surface and guided is formed to the pressure receiving portion of this card receiving member. The card receiving member rotates until it enters the card receiving state by a wedge effect of the inclined surface, and receives and supports the IC card inserted to the card stop position from the rear surface side.

Furthermore, it is preferable that a part of the follower which is in contact with the cam surface is a curved surface. A contact surface which is a curved surface reduces a contact area with the pressure receiving surface of the card receiving member, and alleviates a resistance received when sliding. Therefore, the IC contact block can further lightly rotate the card receiving member by the wedge effect of the cam surface.

In this case, it is preferable that the follower is formed of a roller. The follower constituted of the roller can reduce a sliding resistance with the cam surface and further lightly rotate the card receiving member.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT OF THE INVENTION

A structure of the present invention will now be described hereinafter in detail based on the best mode illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 5show a first embodiment according to the present invention. An IC card reader1according to this embodiment is of a manual type. With an operation to insert an IC card5which is inserted to a card stop position6from a card insertion opening3, an IC contact block12is moved closer to a card traveling path14, and IC contact springs11are brought into contact with a contact terminal pattern22on a surface of the IC card5. Further, the IC card reader1includes a card receiving member13which receives and supports the IC card5with which the IC contact springs11have been in contact from a rear surface side thereof and can move in a card carriage direction so as to move together with this IC card5at the time of insertion and removal of the IC card5. The card stop position6described herein means a stop position of the IC card5when data communication is performed with respect to the IC card5on the innermost side of the card traveling path14. This position is set in such a manner that the IC contact springs11correctly come into contact with predetermined positions on the contact terminal pattern22when the IC card5stops at this card stop position6.

Furthermore, the IC card reader1includes a card insertion/removal concave portion4on a card return direction side of a frame2forming the card insertion opening3. The concave portion4in this case means a concave part which is provided to the frame2and recessed in a card return direction so that the IC card5can be inserted/removed while holding the IC card5with fingers (seeFIG. 5). In the IC card reader1including the concave portion4according to this embodiment, a user can insert the IC card5to the inner part while holding both sides of the card with fingers or pushing a card edge with fingers, and he/she can pinch and pull out the IC card5partially protruding from the card insertion opening3. It is to be noted that a shape of the concave portion4is not restricted to that illustrated in this embodiment, and any shape can be adopted as long as it enables or facilitates insertion/removal of the IC card5. Guide portions9which can be traveling guides of the IC card5when inserting the card are provided on both sides of this concave portion4(seeFIG. 5). Each guide portion9is formed of a groove which guides a side portion of the IC card5. Even if the inserted IC card5is bent, the guide portions9enable insertion while correcting this bend. Moreover, a narrow opening of the concave portion4of the card traveling path14on the inner side is the card insertion opening3.

Additionally, the IC card reader1according to this embodiment includes a magnetic head21which can read magnetic data recorded on a magnetic stripe when the IC card5is a card including the magnetic stripe. Although the magnetic head21according to this embodiment reads card information and also detects insertion of the IC card5, insertion of the card may be detected by a front sensor or the like to which a lever mode is adopted and which is capable of swinging.

An IC contact block12is supported so as to suspended at, e.g., four corners thereof by four arms16, and provided so as to move down and approach the card traveling path14with movement in the card insertion direction (seeFIG. 2). Further, the IC contact block12includes a pressure receiving portion7which protrudes substantially right down toward the card traveling path14and a pressing portion8. The pressure receiving portion7protrudes at least to the card traveling path14in such a manner that an end of the IC card5comes into contact with this pressure receiving portion7. The pressing portion8is provided so as to come into contact with a part of the card receiving member13(which is specifically a pressure receiving portion18) in the middle of movement in the card insertion direction. In this embodiment, although a front side (card return direction side) portion of a part protruding to the card traveling path14side serves as the pressure receiving portion7and an inner side (card insertion direction side) portion of the same functions as the pressing portion8(seeFIG. 1and others), two protruding portions may be separately provided as the pressure receiving portion7and the pressing portion8, for example. When this IC contact block12moves down, the IC contact springs11come into contact with the contact terminal pattern22on the IC card5and are elastically deformed. On the other hand, in a state before the IC card5is inserted, the IC contact block12is pulled in the card return direction by a return spring17and retired from the card traveling path14(seeFIG. 1).

The card receiving member13receives and supports the rear surface side of the IC card5which is pressed from the front surface side when the IC contact springs11come into contact therewith, and it can move in the card carriage direction so as to move together with the IC card5at the time of insertion and removal of the IC card5. As shown inFIGS. 1 to 3, the card receiving member13in this embodiment is supported at four corners thereof by arms20capable of rotating in the card carriage direction, and provided so as to be capable of moving in the card carriage direction and move closer to or away from the card traveling path14with this movement. Further, the card receiving member13is in contact with the rear surface of the IC card5when at least the IC contact springs11are in contact with the IC card5and, on the other hand, it is retired from the rear surface of the IC card5when the IC contact springs11are away from the IC card5. In other words, the card receiving member13is provided so as to receive and support a force, which is vertical to the card surface, from the card rear side when the IC card5receives this force from the IC contact springs11.

Furthermore, a pressure receiving portion18which protrudes to the card traveling path14side is provided at a card insertion direction end of the card receiving member13, and a return spring19which presses this card receiving member13in the card return direction is provided on the front side of the card receiving member13(seeFIGS. 1 to 3). The pressure receiving portion18is provided on the card insertion direction side from the pressing portion8of the IC contact block12and in a range that at least the pressing portion8can come into contact therewith. In this embodiment, by providing a gap between the pressing portion8and the pressure receiving portion18(seeFIG. 1), start of movement of the card receiving member13is delayed from start of movement of the IC contact block12for this gap and a time difference is generated. Therefore, in the IC card reader1according to this embodiment, a timing of an increase in an insertion load of the IC card5is dispersed for this time difference, and the load is gradually gently increased. Therefore, a card operational feeling felt by a user is improved. Furthermore, since the card insertion load is gently changed, a probability that a magnetic read error is generated is lowered. Moreover, it is preferable that this pressure receiving portion18is provided in the vicinity of the card stop position6in such a manner that the card receiving member13enters a card receiving state immediately before the card stop position6like this embodiment (seeFIGS. 1 and 3). In this case, since the card receiving member13enters the card receiving state immediately before a card insertion completion position, a user can finish the insertion operation without feeling an increase in the insertion load. Additionally, it is preferable that the card receiving member13is provided in such a manner that a predetermined contact pressure of the IC contact springs11relative to the IC card5is applied immediately before the card insertion completion position. In this case, since the predetermined contact pressure of the IC contact springs11is applied immediately before the card insertion completion position, a user can finish the insertion operation without feeling an increase in the insertion load if the IC card reader is of a manual type.

Further, a known lock lever15which prevents the inserted IC card5from coming off is provided to the IC card reader1. When the IC card5is inserted into the card stop position6, the lock lever15swung by a solenoid10is caught on a rear end of the IC card5, prevents the IC card5from coming off, and avoids coercive withdrawal of the card in a state that the IC contact springs11of the IC contact block12are in contact with the contact terminal pattern22on the IC card5.

An operation of the IC card reader1having such a structure will now be described.

First, before inserting the card, the IC contact block12is pressed in the card return direction by the return spring17, and the card receiving member13is pressed in the same direction by the return spring19. They are in the retired state as shown inFIG. 1. In this retired state, the pressing portion8of the IC contact block12and the pressure receiving portion18of the card receiving member13are separated from each other by a fixed distance as described above, and the card receiving member13starts moving after the IC contact block12moves for that distance.

Here, although not shown in particular, when the IC card5is inserted from the card insertion opening3, magnetic data recorded in the magnetic stripe of the IC card5is first read by the magnetic head21. The IC card reader1detects insertion of the IC card5based on this read information.

When the IC card5is further inserted, an end of the IC card5comes into contact with the pressure receiving portion7of the IC contact block12, and the IC card5moves this IC contact block12to the inner side (card insertion direction side) while expanding the return spring17(seeFIG. 2). The IC contact block12supported by the arms16gradually moves down while moving to the inner side, and approaches the IC card5as shown inFIG. 1. However, a contact pressure is not applied to the IC card5until the IC contact springs11come into contact with the contact terminal pattern22and, as a force acting as the card insertion load, there is only an impetus obtained by the return spring17except a pad pressure of the magnetic head21. At this time, since the card receiving member13remains in the retired state, no friction is generated between the card receiving member13and the IC card5. Furthermore, the impetus of the return spring19is not acting as the card insertion load.

When the IC card5is further inserted, the pressing portion8of the IC contact block12comes into contact with the pressure receiving portion18of the card receiving member13, and thereafter the card receiving member13also moves to the inner side together with the IC contact block12(seeFIG. 2). At this time, the card receiving member13supported by the arms20gradually moves up while moving to the inner side, approaches the rear surface of the IC card5, and enters the card receiving state immediately before the card stop position6.

As described above, when the IC contact block12moves down, the IC contact springs11come into contact with the contact terminal pattern22on the IC card5. In this case, although the IC card5is pressed to the card receiving member13side, it does not generate a sliding friction between itself and the card receiving member13which approaches while moving by the same distance to the inner side. That is, in this embodiment, the card receiving member13gradually approaches the IC card5while integrally moving with the IC card5without generating a displacement in the card carriage direction, and it does not give a frictional resistance to the IC card5. Therefore, even if the IC card5is pressed to the card receiving member13side by the IC contact springs11, the load at the time of insertion of the IC card5can be suppressed. Therefore, a force required to insert the IC card5is not suddenly increased in the middle of insertion.

When the IC card5is inserted into the card stop position6, the IC contact block12moves down to a position shown inFIG. 3and enters a state that the IC contact springs11are assuredly in contact with the contact terminal pattern22. Moreover, the solenoid10is operated, and the IC card5is locked by the lock lever15. Thereafter, data communication is performed between the IC contact springs11and the contact terminal pattern22.

Upon terminating the data communication, lock of the IC card5by the lock lever15is released, and a user can withdraw the IC card5. When the IC card5is withdrawn, the IC contact block12is pulled back by the return spring17, moves away from the card traveling path14, and returns to the retired state shown inFIG. 1. Additionally, the card receiving member13is also pulled back by the return spring19, moves away from the card traveling path14and returns to the retired state.

As described above, in this IC card reader1, since the insertion load received during insertion of the IC card5can be prevented from being greatly increased in the middle of insertion, an operational feeling at the time of insertion of the card can be improved. That is, in this IC card reader1, although the IC contact block12is caused to approach the card traveling path14with the insertion operation of the IC card5, the card receiving member13which receives and supports the card rear surface is moved by the same distance as that of this IC card5, and the insertion load of the IC card5can be reduced by eliminating the frictional resistance. Therefore, a force required to insert the card can be prevented from being greatly changed, and the operational feeling at the time of inserting the card can be improved.

Further, since a great change in the insertion load in the middle of inserting the card can be avoided, and a user can be prevented from taking a position during insertion of the card for a card insertion completion position. Therefore, the IC card5can be completely inserted into the card stop position6, and the IC contact springs11can be readily correctly and assuredly come into contact with predetermined positions on the contact terminal pattern22.

A second embodiment according to the present invention will now be described. Although the card receiving member13is moved while being kept in parallel by utilizing the arms20in the above-described embodiment, the card receiving member13is not restricted to such a type. For example, as shown inFIG. 9, an L-shaped card receiving member13which is bent halfway is provided so as to be capable of rotating around a supporting point25, and one end side can function as the pressure receiving portion18whilst the other end side can serve as a support portion26which comes into contact with the rear surface of the IC card5. When the pressure receiving portion18is directly pushed by the IC card5or pushed by the pressing portion8of the IC contact block12, such a card receiving member13rotates around the supporting point25as indicated by an arrow, presses the support portion26against the card rear surface, and receives and supports the IC card5which is pushed from the front surface side by the IC contact springs11. In this case, it is preferable that the card receiving member13is brought into contact with the card rear surface and caused to receive and support the IC card5when the IC contact springs11and the IC card5come into contact with each other, thereby preventing a sudden increase in the insertion load caused due to the card insertion operation.

FIGS. 10 to 19show the second embodiment of the IC card reader1. This IC card reader1is a manual type card reader like the first embodiment, includes a card insertion/removal concave portion4in the card return direction of the frame2forming the card insertion opening3, causes the IC contact block12to approach the card traveling path14with the insertion operation of the IC card5inserted from the card insertion opening3to the card stop position6, and brings the IC contact springs11into contact with the contact terminal pattern22on the surface of the IC card5. Guide members35which avoid horizontal oscillation of the IC contact block12are provided on both sides of the IC contact block12(seeFIG. 13). Furthermore, reference numerals32denote a light shielding member which is integrated with the IC contact block12and shuts off a non-illustrated photo-interrupter;33, a pin which supports each arm16; and34, a pin which rotatably connects each arm16with the IC contact block12. It is to be noted that the IC card reader1is shown in a state reversed from the first embodiment inFIGS. 10 to 12.

In this embodiment, the card receiving member13is provided so as to be capable of rotating around the supporting point25on the frame2. Moreover, in this IC card reader1, it is characterized that at least a part of a portion of the pressing portion8of the IC contact block12which comes into contact with the pressure receiving portion18of the card receiving member13is so provided that the pressure receiving portion18of the card receiving member13can move onto the part and the part is a horizontal surface27bwhich does not produce a component force in the card return direction acting on the IC contact block12from the card receiving member13when the IC card5stops at the card stop position6.

The card receiving member13is provided as means for receiving and supporting the IC card5with which the IC contact springs11are in contact, from the rear surface side. However, as different from the first embodiment in which the card receiving member13moves in parallel, the card receiving member13in this embodiment can rotate around the supporting point25on the frame2(seeFIG. 12and others). To the supporting point25are provided, e.g., a support pin30which rotatably supports the card receiving member13and a snap ring31. It is preferable that the support portion26of this card receiving member13which comes into contact with the card rear surface has a shape which receives and supports the IC card5on a surface which is as large as possible in order to realize receiving and supporting in a further stable state (seeFIG. 16and others). For example, the support portion26is formed of a curved surface or a plurality of flat surfaces whose angles are changed little by little. Moreover, it is preferable that the support portion26has a shape which does not come into contact with the card rear surface until the IC card5is completely inserted. It is to be noted that the rear side of the support portion26has a hollow shape in order to reduce a weight in this embodiment (seeFIG. 14and others). Additionally, an arm29which extends in the card insertion direction is provided on the side opposite to the support portion26of the card receiving member13. An end of the return spring19such as a coil spring which gives an impetus to the card receiving member13so as to be in the retired state (seeFIGS. 14 and 16) away from the rear surface of the IC card5is hooked on this arm29.

The pressure receiving portion18of the card receiving member13follows up the movement of the pressing portion8of the IC contact block12, and it is provided so as to rotate the card receiving member13from the retired state shown inFIG. 16to a state illustrated inFIG. 18, i.e., a contact state that the rear surface of the IC card5is received and supported. The pressure receiving portion18in this embodiment does not protrude to the card traveling path14, and it is provided so as to engage with only the pressing portion8of the IC contact block12. Further, a follower28which follows up the pressing portion8of the IC contact block12is provided at an end portion of the pressure receiving portion18. It is preferable that at least the part of the follower28which comes into contact with the pressing portion8has a curved surface shape or is constituted of a rotatable roller, thereby increasing the follow-up properties relative to the pressing portion8.

The pressure receiving portion7of the IC contact block12is provided in such a manner that an end of the IC card5comes into contact therewith, and the pressing portion8is provided so as to rotate the card receiving member13through the above-described pressure receiving portion18. In this embodiment, an end portion of the IC contact block12on the card insertion direction side is caused to protrude to the card traveling path14side, and a surface of this protrusion portion on the card return direction side is determined as the pressure receiving portion7, a part of the same which comes into contact with the pressure receiving portion18is determined as the pressing portion8. Further, a cam surface27which is constituted of an inclined surface27aand a horizontal surface27band guides the above-described follower28is formed to the pressing portion8(seeFIGS. 15 and 16). Specifically, the card insertion direction side of the cam surface27is determined as the inclined surface27a, and the card return direction side of the same is determined as the horizontal surface27bwhich is continuous with the inclined surface27a. The follower28provided to the card receiving member13is in contact with the inclined surface27aof the cam surface27when the card receiving member13is in the retired state (seeFIGS. 14 and 16), rotates the card receiving member13by moving along this inclined surface27aas this cam surface27moves in the card insertion direction (seeFIG. 17), and thereafter moves onto the horizontal surface27b(seeFIGS. 18 and 19). When the follower28moves onto and engages with the horizontal surface27b, the card receiving member13cannot rotate in that state.

Here, a moment to rotate in the counterclockwise direction inFIG. 18, i.e., a moment in a direction to return from the contact state to the retired state acts on the card receiving member13in the contact state (seeFIGS. 18 and 19) by a tensile force of the return spring19and an elastic force of the IC contact springs11. Assuming that this moment is transmitted from the follower28of the pressure receiving portion18to the inclined surface27aof the cam surface27, a component force in the card return direction is generated on this inclined surface27a. Therefore, a force to push back in the card return direction can possibly act on the IC contact block12and the IC card5. On the other hand, in case of this embodiment, a pushing force received by the cam surface27from the follower28acts in only a direction vertical to the card carriage direction by completely moving the follower28onto the horizontal surface27band engaging it with the same in the contact state, thereby preventing a component force horizontal with respect to the card carriage direction from being generated (seeFIGS. 18 and 19). Therefore, the IC contact block12does not receive the force in the card return direction from the card receiving member13in the contact state. Therefore, according to the IC card reader1of this embodiment, an unnecessary force to push back in the card return direction can be prevented from acting on the completely inserted IC card5, and the IC card5can be kept being held at the card stop position6. It is to be noted that the component force in the card return direction acting on the IC contact block12from the card receiving member13is not generated at all in this embodiment, but it may be slightly produced depending on situations. That is, although the horizontal surface27bis formed so as to be horizontal to the card carriage direction in this embodiment, the IC contact block12and the IC card5can be kept in the contact state even if the horizontal surface27bis slightly obliquely formed and a component force in the horizontal direction is generated. Even if the component force which returns the IC card5in the card return direction is generated, a shape of the horizontal surface27bwhich generates only a small component force by which the IC card5cannot be returned can keep holding the IC card5at the card stop position6like this embodiment.

Furthermore, in such an IC card reader1, it is desirable that the IC contact block12and the card receiving member13are necessarily automatically returned to their initial positions, i.e., the retired state when the IC card5is pulled out. In this embodiment, the return force acting on the IC contact block12in the card return direction exceeds the resistance force acting in the card insertion direction when pulling out the card, and the IC contact block12is thereby automatically returned to its original position. Giving a specific explanation, the return force in this case is a resultant force of the frictional force generated between the IC card5and the IC contact springs11and the impetus generated by the return spring17, and the resistance force is a frictional force generated between the horizontal surface27band the follower28. The return force is set so as to exceed the resistance force. It is to be noted that the engagement state of the horizontal surface27bwith the follower28is released when the IC contact block12moves in the card return direction. As a result, the card receiving member13can again rotate, and is automatically returned to the retired state by the impetus of the return spring19.

It is to be noted that the foregoing embodiments are preferred modes of the present invention, but the present invention is not restricted thereto, and various kinds of modifications can be carried out without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, although the card receiving member13is moved in parallel by utilizing the arms20capable of rotating in the first embodiment, the card receiving member13may be moved closer to or away from the card traveling path14while moving it in the card carriage direction by providing cam grooves23in the oblique direction to the frame2of the card reader main body and guiding pins24formed to the side portions of the card receiving member13by using the cam grooves23as shown inFIGS. 6 and 7. According to this IC card reader1, the number of components can be decreased, and the cost can be suppressed. Incidentally, it is preferable that horizontal portions23awhich facilitate holding the card receiving member13in the card receiving state are provided to the cam grooves23on the card insertion direction side.

Moreover, in the first and second embodiments, the operational feeling felt by a user during a manual operation is improved by reducing the load when inserting the card or by preventing a sudden increase in the load in the manual type IC card reader1, and an interruption of the operation in the middle of insertion of the card is prevented. However, the present invention is not restricted to such a manual type IC card reader1, and it may be applied to, e.g., a motor type IC card reader, i.e., an IC card reader which automatically carries the IC card5in the card carriage direction by utilizing a drive force of a motor. In this case, since a card carriage force can be suppressed, the load applied on the motor can be reduced, and a motor consumption current can be suppressed.

Additionally, in the above-described first and second embodiments, the description has been given as to the card receiving member13which entirely or partially moves in the card carriage direction and moves closer to or away from the card traveling path14as the preferred embodiments of the IC card reader1. However, even if this card receiving member13can horizontally move only in the card carriage direction, a sudden increase in the card insertion load can be prevented. For example, as shown inFIG. 20, even if lateral holes36extending in the card carriage direction are respectively provided at two positions on the front and rear parts and the card receiving member13can horizontally move only in the card carriage direction by guide pins37passing through the lateral holes36, providing the card receiving member13so as to start horizontally moving together with the IC card5when the IC contact springs11come into contact with the IC card5and the load starts to increase can eliminate the frictional resistance generated between the card receiving member13and the rear surface of the IC card.

Further, although the description has been given as to the card receiving member13having the pressure receiving portion18so as to work with the IC card5in the first and second embodiments, the card receiving member13including no pressure receiving portion18may be adopted. Although not shown in particular, for example, a solenoid driven type or a motor driven type may be used, and the card receiving member13may be moved by such a solenoid or a motor. As the solenoid driven type, there is, e.g., a mechanism which detects completion of insertion of the IC card by using a sensor such as a photo-interrupter or a micro switch and moves up the card receiving member13from the retired position to a position where the IC card5is received and supported by using a solenoid when the sensor is turned on. As the motor driven type, there is a mechanism using a motor in place of the solenoid.

Further, although the description has been given as to the preferred example that the present invention is applied to the IC card reader1including the IC contact block12which moves while keeping the parallelism and the rotatable card receiving member13in the second embodiment, but the IC card reader1to which the present invention can be applied is not restricted thereto. For example, the present invention can be also applied to the IC card reader1described as the first embodiment, i.e., the IC card reader1in which both the IC contact block12and the card receiving member13are supported by the arms16and20and move in parallel (seeFIGS. 1 to 3), or the IC card reader1in which the card receiving member13obliquely moves in parallel by the cam grooves23(seeFIGS. 6 and 7), and the component force in the card return direction acting on the IC contact block12from the card receiving member13can be prevented from being generated or can be reduced. However, since the IC card reader1described in connection with the first embodiment has a structure that the IC contact block12and the card receiving member13gradually move closer to each other in the process of changing from the retired state to the contact state, it is hard to move the follower28onto the horizontal surface27bof the cam surface27only in the contact state. Thus, in this case, by enabling expansion and contraction of one or both of the pressing portion8and the pressure receiving portion18in the perpendicular direction, the follower28can be moved onto the horizontal surface27bwhile the IC contact block12and the card receiving member13move closer to each other.

Manual type IC card readers1were manufactured by way of trial, and fluctuations in load when inserting a card were examined (seeFIG. 8). In the manual type IC card readers A and B as trial products, the card receiving member13was designed to start moving upon movement of the IC contact block12by 2 mm, and enter the card receiving state immediately before a card insertion completion position c. Furthermore, the same IC card5and magnetic head21were used, the IC card5was inserted by using a tensile tester, and a load was measured from a position away from the card insertion completion position c by approximately 14 mm on the front side to the insertion completion position c. Here, the prototype card reader (IC card reader A) having the return spring19provided thereto and the prototype card reader (card reader B) having no return spring19provided thereto were manufactured by way of trial, and their measurement test results were compared with that of a conventional card reader.

FIG. 8shows measurement results of fluctuations in load. InFIG. 8, a “contact portion” represents a part from a point a where the IC card5and the IC contact block12start to come into contact with each other to the insertion completion position c, and a “head portion” represents a part from a card insertion start position to the contact start point a. A point b represents a point where the IC contact block12and the card receiving member13start to come into contact with each other. From this drawing, it can be understood that a sudden increase in an operating force in the contact portion is eminently shown in the conventional card reader but a load increase ratio is eased in the prototype card reader having the movable card receiving member13provided thereto. This is a level that an improvement effect can be grasped even from a hand sense.

Ratio of increase in the insertion load (maximum value in the contact portion) relative to a card movement distance will now be described.

Conventional card reader2.11/1.3 ≈ 1.62 N/mmCard reader A (with return spring)2.82/2.8 ≈ 10.0 N/mmCard reader B (without return spring)1.87/2.8 ≈ 0.67 N/mm
It was understandably confirmed that the index is greatly reduced. Moreover, it was also revealed that a difference in index based on presence/absence of the return spring19is large.