Card issuing device

A card issuing machine may include a card storage part, a card reader part, a housing accommodating the card storage part and the card reader part, and a lock mechanism for locking the housing in a closed state. The housing may include a first case body provided as at least a front face of the card issuing machine, a second case body structured to cover an upper side of the card storage part, and a third case body structured to cover an upper side of the card reader part. The third casing may be engaged with the first casing so that the third casing does not move away from the first casing at the upper, lower, left, right, and front sides, and may also be engaged with the second casing so that the third casing does not move away from the first casing at the rear side.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a U.S. national stage of international application No. PCT/JP2009/000336, filed on Jan. 29, 2009. Priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) and 35 U.S.C. §365(b) is claimed from Japanese Application No. 2008-302647, filed Nov. 27, 2008, the disclosure of which is also incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a card issuing machine for issuing a card which is stored in its inside.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, a card issuing machine for issuing a card accommodated in its inside has been known (see, for example, Patent Reference 1). The card issuing machine which is described in Patent Reference 1 includes a card storage part in which cards before issued are stacked and stored, and a card reader part where information recorded in a card is reproduced or information is recorded in a card.

The card issuing machine which is disclosed in Patent Reference 1 is commonly mounted on a host device which is provided with a display, a receipt printer and the like and is accommodated within a housing of the host device. Therefore, a housing for a card issuing machine which is provided with a card storage part and a card reader part has not been proposed yet.

In view of the problem described above, at least an embodiment of the present invention provides a card issuing machine which is provided with a housing suitable for a card issuing machine having a card storage part and a card reader part.

SUMMARY

In order to solve the above problem, at least an embodiment of the present invention provides a card issuing machine for issuing a card which is stored in an inside of the card issuing machine, including a card storage part in which cards before being issued are stacked and stored, a card reader part for performing reproduction of information recorded in a card and/or recording of information to a card, a housing in which the card storage part and the card reader part are accommodated, and a lock mechanism for locking the housing so that the housing in a closed state does not open. The card storage part and the card reader part are disposed so that a card carried out from the card storage part is passed the card reader part toward a card ejection port from which the card is ejected. Further, the housing includes a first case body which structures at least a front face of the card issuing machine where the card ejection port is formed and a part of a side face of the card issuing machine, a second case body for covering an upper side of the card storage part, and a third case body for covering an upper side of the card reader part. The third case body is engaged with the first case body so that the third case body is not detached from the first case body toward both side face sides of the card issuing machine, toward a front face side and toward both upper and lower sides of the card issuing machine, and the third case body is engaged with the second case body so that the third case body is not detached from the first case body toward a rear face side of the card issuing machine, and the lock mechanism locks the second case body so that the second case body does not open with respect to the first case body.

In at least an embodiment of the card issuing machine, the third case body is engaged with the first case body so that the third case body is not detached from the first case body toward both side face sides of the card issuing machine, toward a front face side and toward an upper and lower sides of the card issuing machine, and the third case body is engaged with the second case body so that the third case body is not detached from first case body toward a rear face side of the card issuing machine. Further, the lock mechanism locks the second case body so that the second case body does not open with respect to the first case body.

Therefore, the third case body is unable to be detached from the first case body unless the lock mechanism is released, the second case body is opened and the third case body is moved to the rear face side of the card issuing machine. In other words, even when a separate lock mechanism is not provided for locking the third case body so that the third case body is not detached from the first case body, the third case body is not detached from the first case body unless the second case body is not opened. Therefore, a separate lock mechanism for locking the third case body is not required and thus a structure of the card issuing machine can be simplified.

Further, the card storage part is required to replenish with cards and the like and thus open-and-close frequency of the second case body is higher. However, the third case body is not required to be detached from the first case body as long as malfunction such as card jamming is not occurred in the card reader part. When the lock mechanism is released, only the second case body whose open-and-close frequency is higher can be opened and closed in the state where the third case body is attached to the first case body. Therefore, open-and-close operation of the housing is easy.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, the first case body is provided with an upper face cover part which covers a part on an upper side of the card reader part on the front face side of the card issuing machine, that the first case body is formed with a first abutting face which is capable of abutting with the third case body from an inner side in a right and left direction that is perpendicular to a front and rear direction and an upper and lower direction of the card issuing machine, that the upper face cover part is formed with a second abutting face, which is capable of abutting with the third case body from a lower side, and a third abutting face which is capable of abutting with the third case body from the front face side of the card issuing machine, and that the third case body is formed with an engaging projection for engaging with an under face of the upper face cover part. According to this structure, the first case body and the third case body are engaged with each other so that the third case body is not detached from the first case body toward both side face sides of the card issuing machine, toward the front face side and the upper and lower sides of the card issuing machine by the first abutting face, the second abutting face and the third abutting face, which are formed on the first case body, and the engaging projection which is formed on the third case body.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, the third case body is formed with a fourth abutting face, which is capable of abutting with the second case body from a lower side, and a fifth abutting face which is capable of abutting with the second case body from the front face side of the card issuing machine. According to this structure, the second case body and the third case body are engaged so that the third case body is not detached from the first case body toward the rear face side and the upper side of the card issuing machine by the fourth abutting face and the fifth abutting face which are formed on the third case body.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, one of the first case body and the third case body is formed with a slide groove for sliding the third case body toward the front face side of the card issuing machine, and that the other of the first case body and the third case body is formed with a slide protruded part which is engaged with the slide groove. According to this structure, positioning of the third case body with respect to the first case body is easy.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, the card issuing machine is provided with a hinge for opening and closing of the second case body with respect to the first case body, and that the hinge is disposed on the rear face side of the card issuing machine. According to this structure, opening/closing operation of the second case body to the first case body is easily performed and workability is improved. Further, handling of the second case body is easy in comparison with a case that the second case body is detached from the card issuing machine whenever the second case body is opened and closed. In addition, workings in the card storage part such as replenishment of cards or maintenance are capable of performing from the front side of the card issuing machine.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, the card issuing machine includes a card collection storage for collecting a card which is provided under the card storage part, that a side face of the card collection storage is formed with a take-out opening for the card that is collected, and that the second case body is provided with a side face cover part which structures a part of the side face of the card issuing machine and covers the take-out opening. According to this structure, even when an open-and-close part for the card collection storage is not provided separately in the housing, cards collected in the card collection storage are taken out by making the second case body open. Therefore, the housing is not required to provide with an open-and-close part for the card collection storage and thus the structure of the housing can be simplified.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, the card issuing machine includes a card collection storage for collecting the card, which is provided under the card storage part, and the card issuing machine includes a power supply and/or a control board which are disposed under the card reader part. According to this structure, a power supply and a control board can be disposed by utilizing a space which is formed under the card reader part (in other words, formed on a lateral side of the card collection storage). Therefore, the size of the card issuing machine can be reduced.

As described above, in at least an embodiment of the present invention, a separate lock mechanism for locking the third case body is not required and thus the structure of the card issuing machine can be simplified. Further, only the second case body whose open-and-close frequency is higher can be opened and closed in the state where the third case body is attached to first case body and thus open-and-close operation of the housing is easy.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(Schematic Structure of Card Issuing Machine)

FIG. 1is a perspective view showing a card issuing machine1in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2is a perspective view showing a state that a part of a housing5is detached from the card issuing machine1shown inFIG. 1.FIG. 3is a side view showing an inside structure of the card issuing machine1inFIG. 1.FIG. 4is a bottom view showing the card issuing machine1inFIG. 1.

In the following descriptions, three directions perpendicular to each other are respectively set in an “X” direction, a “Y” direction and a “Z” direction. Further, inFIG. 1and the like, an “X1” direction side 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” side, a “Z1” direction side as an “upper” side, and a “Z2” direction side as a “lower” side.

The card issuing machine1in this embodiment is provided with a function for issuing a card2which is stored in its inside. The card issuing machine1is installed and used, for example, in a front desk of a hotel, a register counter in a convenience store and the like. Further, the card issuing machine1in this embodiment is also provided with a function for collecting a card2such as an unnecessary card, a used card or an error card (hereinafter, referred to as an “unnecessary card2”).

The card issuing machine1includes, as shown inFIGS. 1 through 3, a card reader part3where reproduction of information recorded in a card2and/or recording of information into a card2are performed, a card issuing and collecting part4where a stored card2is issued and an unnecessary card2is collected, and a housing5into which the card reader part3and the card issuing and collecting part4are accommodated.

Further, the card issuing machine1is provided with a power supply6for supplying electric power to the card reader part3, the card issuing and collecting part4and the like, and a control board7for controlling the card reader part3, the card issuing and collecting part and the like. A bottom face on a rear end side of the card issuing machine1is, as shown inFIG. 4, disposed with a power switch8, a terminal9for power supply, and a terminal10for computer (personal computer). Further, a rubber foot11is attached at four corners on the bottom face of the card issuing machine1.

A card2is, for example, used as a room key in a hotel or a prepaid card which is utilized in a convenience store or the like. The card2is, for example, a rectangular card made of vinyl chloride whose thickness is about 0.7-0.8 mm. A surface of the card2is, for example, formed with a magnetic stripe where magnetic information is recorded. Further, for example, a surface of the card2is fixed with an IC chip. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a card2may be provided with an antenna for communication. Further, a print part to which printing is performed by a thermal method may be formed on a surface of the card2. Further, a card2may be a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) card whose thickness is about 0.18-0.36 mm or may be a paper card having a specified thickness.

The card reader part3is, as shown inFIG. 3, provided with an insertion and ejection part14for inserting and ejecting a card2. Further, the card reader part3is provided with a card feeding mechanism for carrying a card2in the card reader part3, and a recording and reproducing means for performing recording and reproduction of information such as a magnetic head, an IC contact block and/or a communication antenna.

The card issuing and collecting part4is provided with a card storage part15in which a plurality of cards2before being issued is stacked and stored, and a card collection storage16in which an unnecessary card2is collected. As shown inFIG. 3, the card storage part15and the card collection storage16are disposed so as to overlap with each other in the upper and lower direction. Further, the card issuing and collecting part4is provided between the card storage part15and the card collection storage16with a card sending-out mechanism (not shown) for sending out a card2, which is the lowest of a plurality of cards2stored in the card storage part15, toward the card reader part3.

The card storage part15is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped box-like shape whose upper face is opened. Further, as shown inFIG. 2, a front side of a right side face of the card storage part15and a right side of its front side face are cut off. The card sending-out mechanism is provided with a sending-out pawl which is capable of engaging with a card2stored in the card storage part15to send out cards2one by one from the card storage part15, a chain to which the sending-out pawl is fixed, a drive mechanism for the chain and the like.

The card collection storage16is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped box-like shape whose upper face is opened. A right side face of the card collection storage16is formed with a take-out opening16afor taking out cards2which are collected in the card collection storage16. A rear end side of the take-out opening16ais covered with a cover17. The cover17is turnably supported by a shaft18disposed on a lower end side and is urged toward the right side face of the card collection storage16by a spring (not shown). Further, an upper end side with respect to the card collection storage16is disposed with a guide member (not shown) for guiding an unnecessary card2to the card collection storage16.

As shown inFIG. 3, in this embodiment, the card reader part3and the card issuing and collecting part4are disposed in this order from the front end side of the card issuing machine1so as to contact with each other. Specifically, the card reader part3is disposed on a front side of the card storage part15. In other words, the card reader part3is disposed so that a card2carried from the card storage part15is passed toward the card ejection port21ffrom which the card2is ejected. Further, the card reader part3is disposed upper than the card collection storage16in the upper and lower direction. In addition, an upper end side of the card storage part15is protruded upper than an upper face of the card reader part3.

A power supply6and a control board7are disposed under the card reader part3and on the front side with respect to the card collection storage16. Specifically, the power supply6is disposed on a bottom face side of the card issuing machine1and the control board7is disposed on an upper side with respect to the power supply6.

In this embodiment, when a card2is to be issued, first, the card sending-out mechanism sends out a card2stored in the card storage part15toward the card reader part3. In the card reader part3where the card2having been sent out from the card storage part15is received, for example, a predetermined information is recorded in the card2. Further, the card2in which information has been recorded is ejected (issued) from the card issuing machine1.

Further, for example, a card2is inserted into the card issuing machine1and reproduction of information is performed by the card reader part3and, as a result, when the card2is judged to be collected, the card2is ejected toward the card issuing and collecting part4from the card reader part3. The card2ejected from the card reader part3is guided to the card collection storage16by the guide member and collected. Since the card collection storage16is disposed lower than the card reader part3, the card2ejected from the card reader part3is dropped into the card collection storage16by its own weight.

FIG. 5is a side view showing a state where the housing5shown inFIG. 1is opened.FIG. 6is an enlarged perspective view showing a front end side of a first case body21shown inFIG. 5.FIG. 7is an enlarged view showing an “E” part inFIG. 6.FIG. 8is an enlarged view showing an “F” part inFIG. 6.FIGS. 9(A) through 9(D)are views showing a third case body23shown inFIG. 5.FIG. 9(A)is its plan view,FIG. 9(B)is its side view,FIG. 9(C)is a side view showing a slide protruded part23jwhich is formed on the third case body23, andFIG. 9(D)is a view showing the slide protruded part23jwhich is viewed in the “G-G” direction inFIG. 9(C).FIG. 10is an enlarged perspective view showing a part of a second case body22shown inFIG. 5.FIGS. 11(A) through 11(C)are explanatory views showing a movement of the third case body23when the third case body23is detached from the first case body21shown inFIG. 5.

The housing5is formed of resin and, as shown inFIG. 5, provided with a first case body21which structures parts of both right and left side faces of the card issuing machine1and its front face and its rear face, a second case body22for covering an upper side of the card storage part15, and a third case body23for covering an upper side of the card reader part3. As described above, the upper end side of the card storage part15is protruded upper than the upper face of the card reader part3. Therefore, as shown inFIG. 1, the upper end side of the second case body22is protruded upper than the upper face of the third case body23.

In this embodiment, the second case body22is attached to the first case body21so as to be capable of being opened and closed with a hinge (not shown) disposed on the rear face side of the card issuing machine1. On the other hand, the third case body23is detachable to the first case body21. Further, the housing5in this embodiment is capable of being locked by a lock mechanism24(seeFIG. 2) so that the housing5in the closed state is not opened.

The first case body21is provided with a front face part21astructuring a front face of the card issuing machine1, a rear face part21bstructuring a rear face of the card issuing machine1, a right side face part21cstructuring a lower side of a right side face of the card issuing machine1, and a left side face part21dstructuring a lower side of a left side face of the card issuing machine1. The first case body21is fixed to the card reader part3, the card issuing and collecting part4and the like. Further, the first case body21is provided with an upper face cover part21ewhich covers an upper side of a front end side of the card reader part3(specifically, the insertion and ejection part14). Further, the front face part21ais formed with a card ejection port21ffrom which a card2is ejected.

A rear end side of the right side face part21cis formed with a cutout part21gwhich is recessed from an upper end of the right side face part21cin a substantially semicircular arc shape. The cutout part21gis formed on the right side with respect to the take-out opening16aso that cards2collected into the card collection storage16are capable of being taken out from the take-out opening16atoward the right direction. Further, the right side face part21cis formed with an arrangement hole21hwhere a cylinder29structuring a lock mechanism24described later is disposed.

An upper end of the right side face part21cis formed with an abutting face21sas a first abutting face which is capable of abutting with the third case body23from the inside (in other words, from the left side) in the right and left direction and an abutting face21tas the first abutting face which is capable of abutting with the third case body23from the lower side. Specifically, an upper end of the right side face part21cis formed in a stepped part which is lowered by one stage in the left direction, and a face directing to the right direction of the stepped part is the abutting face21sand a face directing to the upper direction is the abutting face21t.

Further, an upper end on the front end side of the right side face part21cis formed with two slide grooves21jfor sliding the third case body23toward the front side in a state that two slide grooves21jare separated from each other with a predetermined distance between them in the front and rear direction. Specifically, the slide groove21jis formed so as to be recessed from the abutting face21sat two positions, i.e., in the vicinity of an edge part on the front end side of the cutout part21gand in the vicinity of a boundary portion between the right side face part21cand the upper face cover part21e. As shown inFIG. 7, an upper end on the rear end side of the slide groove21jis formed with an opening and thus the slide protruded part23jformed on the third case body23is attached to the slide groove21jand detached from the slide groove21jby utilizing the opening.

Similarly, an upper end of the left side face part21dis also formed with an abutting face (not shown) as the first abutting face which is capable of abutting with the third case body23from the inside (in other words, from the right side) in the right and left direction and an abutting face (not shown) as the first abutting face which is capable of abutting with the third case body23from the lower side. Further, an upper end on the front end side of the left side face part21dis formed with two slide grooves (not shown) for sliding the third case body23toward the front side in a state that two slide grooves are separated from each other with a predetermined distance between them in the front and rear direction. In this embodiment, as shown inFIG. 5, a cutout part corresponding to the cutout part21gis not formed in the left side face part21d.

The upper face cover part21eis formed in a curved face shape which is bulged toward the upper side. Further, the upper face cover part21eis formed to be connected with the upper end of the front face part21aand the upper ends on the front end sides of the right side face part21cand the left side face part21d. A rear end of the upper face cover part21eis, as shown inFIG. 5, formed with an abutting face21kas a second abutting face which is capable of abutting with the third case body23from a lower side, and an abutting face21mas a third abutting face which is capable of abutting with the third case body23from a front side. Specifically, the rear end of the upper face cover part21eis formed in a stepped part which is lowered by one stage, and a face directing upward of the stepped part is the abutting face21kand a face directing to the rear side is the abutting face21m.

A top portion of the abutting face21kis formed with a cutout part21n. Further, as shown inFIG. 8, an under face of the upper face cover part21eis formed with an engaging recessed part21p, with which a tip end of an engaging projection23ddescribed later formed on the third case body23is engaged, so as to correspond to the forming position of the cutout part21n.

A boundary portion between the front face part21aand the upper face cover part21eis, as shown inFIG. 6, formed with light emitting parts21q. A light emitting means such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) is disposed on an inner side of the light emitting part21q.

The third case body23is, as shown inFIG. 9, provided with an upper face part23a, which is formed in a curved surface so as to be bulged toward an upper side, a right side face part23bwhich structures a part on the upper end side of the right side face of the card issuing machine1, and a left side face part23cwhich structures a part on the upper end side of the left side face of the card issuing machine1. The third case body23is detachably mounted on the first case body21.

A front end face23mof the upper face part23ais capable of abutting with the abutting face21mof the first case body21. Further, an under face on the front end side of the upper face part23ais capable of abutting with the abutting face21kof the first case body21. A front end of the upper face part23ais formed with an engaging projection23dwhich is protruded toward the front side. The engaging projection23dis formed at a position corresponding to the cutout part21nof the first case body21and the tip end of the engaging projection23dis engaged with the engaging recessed part21pof the first case body21. In other words, the engaging projection23dis engaged with the under face of the upper face cover part21e.

A rear end of the upper face part23ais formed with an abutting face23eas a fourth abutting face which is capable of abutting with the second case body22from a lower side and an abutting face23fas a fifth abutting face which is capable of abutting with the second case body22from a front side. Specifically, the rear end of the upper face part23ais formed in a stepped part which is lowered by one stage, and a face of the stepped part directing upward is the abutting face23eand a face directing to the rear side is the abutting face23f.

In this embodiment, the right side face part23bis also formed with an abutting face23gas the fourth abutting face which is capable of abutting with the second case body22from the front side (seeFIGS. 9(A) and 9(B)). Specifically, the rear end of the right side face part23bis formed in a stepped part which is lowered by one stage in the left direction, and a face of the stepped part directing to the rear direction is the abutting face23g. Further, similarly, the left side face part23cis also formed with an abutting face23has the fourth abutting face which is capable of abutting with the second case body22from the front side (seeFIG. 9(A)).

A lower end side of an inner side face (in other words, the left side face) of the right side face part23bin the right and left direction is capable of abutting with the abutting face21swhich is formed on the right side face part21cof the first case body21. Further, a lower end of the right side face part23bis capable of abutting with an abutting face21twhich is formed on the right side face part21cof the first case body21. Similarly, a lower end side of an inner side face (in other words, right side face) of the left side face part23cand a lower end of the left side face part23cin the right and left direction are capable of abutting with abutting faces which are formed on the left side face part21dof the first case body21.

Further, lower end sides of inner side faces of the right side face part23band the left side face part23cin the right and left direction are formed with slide protruded parts23jwhich are engaged with slide grooves21jof the first case body21(seeFIGS. 9(C) and 9(D)). In this embodiment, two slide protruded parts23jare formed on the right side face part23band the left side face part23cso as to correspond to the slide grooves21jformed at two positions in the state that two slide protruded parts23jare separated from each other with a predetermined distance in the front and rear direction.

The second case body22is, as shown inFIGS. 5 and 10, provided with an upper face part22aformed in a curved surface shape which is substantially similar to a part of spherical surface, a right side face part22bstructuring a part of the upper end side of the right side face of the card issuing machine1, and a left side face part22cstructuring a part of the upper end side of the left side face of the card issuing machine1. The second case body22is, as described above, capable of opening and closing the first case body21with a hinge which is disposed on the rear face side of the card issuing machine1. The hinge is, for example, provided with a supporting point shaft which is fixed on the rear face side of the card issuing and collecting part4and the second case body22is turnably supported by the supporting point shaft.

One end face22d(end face disposed on an upper side inFIG. 5) of the upper face part22ais capable of abutting with the abutting faces23fthrough23hof the third case body23. Further, an inner side face on one end side of the upper face part22ais capable of abutting with the abutting face23eof the third case body23.

The right side face part22bis, as shown inFIG. 5, formed in a substantially circular shape. Specifically, as shown inFIG. 1, the right side face part22bis formed in a substantially circular shape so that a lower end side of the right side face part22bis disposed over the entire region of the cutout part21gwhich is formed in the right side face part21cof the first case body21in the state that the second case body22is closed. In other words, the right side face part22bis formed so as to cover the take-out opening16aof the card collection storage16in the state where the second case body22is closed. The right side face part22bin this embodiment is a side face cover part which structures a part of the side face of the card issuing machine1and which covers the take-out opening16a.

A left side face part22cis formed in a substantially semicircular shape and, in the state where the second case body22is closed, a lower end of the left side face part22cis abutted with the upper end on the rear end side of the left side face part21dof the first case body21.

The lock mechanism24is, as shown inFIG. 2, provided with a lock shaft27which is attached to an upper face on the rear end side of the card reader part3, and a lock part28which is to be engaged with the lock shaft27, and a cylinder29into which a key not shown is inserted. The lock part28is, as shown inFIG. 10, is attached to one end side of the second case body22. Further, the cylinder29is attached to the right side face of the card reader part3and a part of the cylinder29is disposed in the arrangement hole21hof the first case body21.

In this embodiment, a state that the lock shaft27and the lock part28are engaged with each other is a closed state of the housing5. Further, a state that the housing5has been closed and the key has been detached from the cylinder29is, as shown inFIG. 1, a locked state in which the housing5in the closed state is locked so as not to open.

In this locked state, when the key is inserted into the cylinder29, the housing5is capable of being opened. In other words, when the key is inserted into the cylinder29to be turned in one direction, engagement of the lock shaft27with the lock part28are released and thus the second case body22is capable of being turned around the hinge. Further, in a state that engagement of the lock shaft27with the lock part28has been released, when the second case body22is turned around the hinge to make the lock shaft27engage with the lock part28, the housing5is closed as described above. In this state, when the key is turned to the opposite direction and then the key is pulled out from the cylinder29, the housing5is set in a locked state.

As described above, the lock mechanism24locks the second case body22so that the second case body22is not turned around the hinge. In other words, the lock mechanism24locks the second case body22so that the second case body22is not opened with respect to the first case body21.

As described above, the front end face23mof the third case body23is capable of abutting with the abutting face21mof the first case body21, and the under face on the front end side of the upper face part23aof the third case body23is capable of abutting with the abutting face21kof the first case body21. Further, the inner side face of the right side face part23band the inner side face of the left side face part23cin the right and left direction are capable of abutting with the abutting faces21sand the like of the first case body21, and the lower end of the right side face part23band the lower end of the left side face part23care capable of abutting with the abutting faces21tand the like of the first case body21. In addition, the engaging projection23dof the third case body23is engaged with the under face of the upper face cover part21eof the first case body21. Further, the slide protruded parts23jof the third case body23are engaged with the slide grooves21jof the first case body21. In other words, in this embodiment, the third case body23is engaged with the first case body21so that the third case body23is not detached from the first case body21toward the right and left sides, the upper and lower sides and toward the front side.

Further, when the housing5is in a closed state, the end face22dof the second case body22is capable of abutting with the abutting faces23fthrough23hof the third case body23, and the inner side face on one end side of the upper face part22aof the second case body22is capable of abutting with the abutting face23eof the third case body23. In other words, in this embodiment, when the housing5is in a closed state, the third case body23is engaged with the second case body22so that the third case body23is not detached from the first case body21toward the rear side.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the housing5is in a closed state, the third case body23is engaged with the first case body21so that the third case body23is not detached from the first case body21toward the right and left sides, the upper and lower sides, and toward the front side, and the third case body23is engaged with the second case body22so that the third case body23is not detached from the first case body21toward the rear side. Therefore, when the housing5is in the closed state, the third case body23is unable to be detached from the first case body21. Accordingly, in this embodiment, when the third case body23is to be detached from the first case body21, the locked state of the housing5by the lock mechanism24is released and then the third case body23is detached.

Specifically, first, a key is inserted into the cylinder29and turned to one direction to release the locked state by the lock mechanism24of the housing5and then, as shown inFIG. 11(A), the second case body22is turned around the hinge toward the rear side. After that, as shown inFIG. 11(B), the third case body23is slid to the rear side. Specifically, the third case body23is slid to the rear side until the rear end of the slide protruded part23jis abutted with the rear end of the slide groove21j. In this state, the engaging projection23dof the third case body23is detached from the under face of the upper face cover part21e.

After that, as shown inFIG. 11(C), the third case body23is moved to the upper side and the third case body23is detached from the first case body21. In this case, the slide protruded part23jis passed through an opening which is formed in the upper end on the rear end side of the slide groove21j.

When the third case body23is to be attached to the first case body21, the third case body23is moved downward so that the slide protruded part23jis passed through the opening of the upper end of the slide groove21jand, after that, the third case body23is moved to the front side until the engaging projection23dis engaged with the under face of the upper face cover part21e.

Principal Effects in this Embodiment

As described above, in this embodiment, when the housing5is in a closed state, the third case body23is engaged with the first case body21so that the third case body23is not detached from the first case body21toward the right and left sides, the upper and lower sides, and toward the front side, and the third case body23is engaged with the second case body22so that the third case body23is not detached from the first case body21toward the rear side. Further, the lock mechanism24locks the second case body22so that the second case body22is not opened with respect to the first case body21. Therefore, the third case body23is not detached from the first case body21unless the lock mechanism24is released and the second case body22is lifted to the upper side. In other words, even when a separate lock mechanism is not provided for locking the third case body23so that the third case body23is not detached from the first case body21, the third case body23is not detached from the first case body21unless the second case body22is not lifted. Therefore, in this embodiment, a separate lock mechanism for locking the third case body23is not required and thus the structure of the card issuing machine1can be simplified.

Further, the card storage part15is required to replenish with cards2and the like and thus open-and-close frequency of the second case body22is higher. However, as long as malfunction such as card jamming is not occurred in the card reader part3, the third case body23is not required to be detached from the first case body21and thus detaching frequency of the third case body23is lower. In this embodiment, when the lock mechanism24is released, only the second case body22whose open-and-close frequency is higher can be opened and closed in the state where the third case body23is attached to the first case body21. Therefore, in this embodiment, open-and-close operation of the housing5is easy.

In this embodiment, the first case body21is formed with the slide groove21jfor sliding the third case body23toward the front side and the third case body23is formed with the slide protruded part23jwhich is engaged with the slide groove21j. Therefore, positioning of the third case body23to the first case body21is easy.

In this embodiment, a hinge for opening and closing the second case body22is disposed on the rear face side of the card issuing machine1. Therefore, opening/closing operation of the second case body22is easily performed and thus its workability is improved. Further, handling of the second case body22is easy in comparison with a case that the second case body22is detached from the card issuing machine1whenever the second case body22is opened and closed. In addition, workings in the card storage part15such as replenishment of cards2or maintenance are capable of performing from the front side of the card issuing machine1. Since a user inserts a card2from the front side of the card issuing machine1, a predetermined space is always set on the front side of the card issuing machine1. Therefore, when the card issuing machine1is structured so that workings in the card storage part15are performed from the front side of the card issuing machine1, workings in the card storage part15are easily performed.

In this embodiment, the take-out opening16awhich is formed in the side face of the card collection storage16is covered by the right side face part22bof the second case body22. Therefore, even when an open-and-close part for the card collection storage16is not provided separately in the housing5, cards2collected in the card collection storage16are taken out by making the second case body22open. Accordingly, the housing5is not required to provide with an open-and-close part for the card collection storage16and thus the structure of the housing5can be simplified.

In this embodiment, the power supply6and the control board7are disposed under the card reader part3. Therefore, the power supply6and the control board7are disposed by utilizing a dead space which is formed under the card reader part3on the front side of the card collection storage16. Accordingly, the size of the card issuing machine1can be reduced.

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 slide groove21jis formed in the first case body21and the slide protruded part23jis formed on the third case body23. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, it may be structured that a slide protruded part corresponding to the slide protruded part23jis formed on the first case body21and a slide groove corresponding to the slide groove21jis formed in the third case body23. Alternatively, no slide groove21jand no slide protruded part23jmay be formed.

In the embodiment described above, the hinge for opening and closing the second case body22is disposed on the rear face side of the card issuing machine1. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, a hinge for opening and closing the second case body22may be disposed on the front end side of the second case body22. Further, similarly to the third case body23, the second case body22may be detached. In other words, the second case body22may be structured so as to be lifted toward the upper side and detached without being supported by the hinge.