Abstract:
Provided is a card raising/lowering device capable of appropriately raising and lowering cards by a simple configuration. In concrete, a card raising/lowering device ( 6 ) is provided with a card housing section ( 3 ) in which cards ( 2 ) are housed in a stacked state, and a raising/lowering mechanism ( 11 ) for raising and lowering the cards ( 2 ) housed in the card housing section ( 3 ). The raising/lowering mechanism ( 11 ) is provided with a mounting table ( 12 ) on which the cards ( 2 ) housed in the card housing section ( 3 ) are mounted, and a biasing member ( 13 ) for biasing the mounting table ( 12 ) upward. The spring constant of the biasing member ( 13 ) is approximately equal to the weight per unit thickness of the card ( 2 ). A power transmission mechanism is provided with a torque limiter for intermitting power transmission from a motor to a counter roller according to the magnitude of power transmitted from the motor to the counter roller when a carrying roller is rotated in the direction in which the card ( 2 ) is carried out, and a one-way clutch for cutting off the power transmission from the motor to the counter roller when the carrying roller is rotated in the direction in which the card is carried in.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a card elevating/lowering device in which a card is elevated and lowered in a card storage part where cards are stacked and accommodated, and to a card carrying-out/carrying-in device by which a card is carried out from the card storage part and a card is carried into the card storage part. Further, the present invention relates to a card issuing/collecting device which is provided with the card elevating/lowering device. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    A card issuing apparatus has been conventionally known by which a card which is stacked and accommodated in a cassette (cartridge) is issued. This type of a card issuing apparatus is provided with a lifting device in which a card stacked in a cassette is lifted (see, for example, Patent Literature 1). The lifting device described in Patent Literature 1 is provided with a lifting frame on which a card is placed, a long and thin rack for lifting and lowering the frame, a pinion which is engaged with the rack, and a motor for rotationally driving the pinion. In the lifting device, one end of the rack is fixed to the lifting frame and, with rotation of the pinion which is disposed on an upper side with respect to the lifting frame, the frame and cards placed on the frame are lifted. 
         [0003]    Further, this type of the card issuing apparatus is provided with a paying-out device for sending out cards stacked in the cassette one by one (see, for example, Patent literature 1). The paying-out device described in Patent Literature 1 is provided with a fan for sucking a card located at the uppermost position (card at the highest) of cards stacked in the cassette, a tire with which an upper face of the card sucked by the fan is abutted, a roller for sending out the card which is abutted with the tire, an auxiliary roller which is oppositely disposed to the roller, and a reversing roller for preventing two cards from being sent out (double feeding).
   [PTL 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-118137   
 
       DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
       [0005]    As described above, in the lifting device described in Patent Literature 1, lifting of a card is performed by a rack and a pinion. Therefore, a drive mechanism such as a motor for rotationally driving the pinion is required and thus a structure of the device is complicated. Further, in the lifting device described in Patent literature 1, the motor is activated whenever a card is issued and the pinion is rotated to move a card upward. Therefore, control for the lifting device is complicated. 
         [0006]    Further, recently, cards having been issued in large quantities from a card issuing apparatus are increasingly being collected and reused. In this case, a card collecting apparatus for collecting a card is installed separately from the card issuing apparatus and cards are collected by the card collecting apparatus. Collected cards are set in the card issuing apparatus to be reused. As described above, in order to reuse a card to be issued, a card issuing apparatus and a card collecting apparatus are required to be separately installed, which is inconvenient. Therefore, in the market, a card issuing/collecting apparatus is required which is capable of issuing a card from a cassette and collecting a card into the cassette. 
         [0007]    However, in Patent Literature 1, a structure for carrying out a card stacked in a cassette is disclosed but a structure for carrying a card into the cassette is not disclosed. Therefore, it is difficult to realize a card issuing/collecting apparatus which is provided with a card issuing function from a cassette and a card collecting function into the cassette by using the paying-out device described in Patent Literature 1. 
         [0008]    In view of the problem described above, a first objective of the present invention is to provide a card elevating/lowering device which is capable of appropriately elevating and lowering cards with a simple structure and a card issuing/collecting apparatus which is provided with the card elevating/lowering device. 
         [0009]    Further, a second objective of the present invention is to provide a card carrying-out/carrying-in device which is capable of appropriately performing carrying-out of a card from a card storage part in which cards are stacked and accommodated and performing carrying-in of a card to the card storage part. Further, an objective of the present invention is to provide a card issuing/collecting apparatus which is provided with the card carrying-out/carrying-in device. 
       Solution to Problem 
       [0010]    In order to attain the first objective, the present invention provides a card elevating/lowering device including a card storage part in which cards are stacked and accommodated, and an elevating/lowering mechanism by which the cards accommodated in the card storage part are elevated and lowered. The elevating/lowering mechanism is provided with a placing table on which the cards accommodated in the card storage part are placed and an urging member which urges the placing table in an upper direction, and a spring constant of the urging member is substantially equal to a weight per unit thickness of the card. 
         [0011]    In the card elevating/lowering device of the present invention, the elevating/lowering mechanism is provided with an urging member for urging the placing table in the upper direction on which cards accommodated in the card storage part are placed, and a spring constant of the urging member is substantially equal to a weight per unit thickness of the card. Therefore, when a card is carried out from an upper end side of the card storage part, the urging member is contracted or extended by the number of sheets of the card carried out from the card storage part and the cards placed on the placing table are moved upward. Further, when a card is carried into the card storage part, the urging member is extended or contracted by the number of sheets of the card accommodated in the card storage part and the cards placed on the placing table are moved down. Therefore, the position of the highest (uppermost) card of the cards accommodated in the card storage part can be maintained at the same position. Alternatively, the uppermost card can be abutted with a roller or the like for taking out a card with a constant pressure. As a result, in the present invention, cards can be appropriately elevated and lowered with a simple structure in which an urging member is used. 
         [0012]    In the present invention, it is preferable that the urging member is a tension coil spring. According to this structure, setting of the spring constant is relatively easy. Further, a stroke of the urging member can be relatively longer and thus the number of sheets of cards which are accommodated in the card storage part can be increased. 
         [0013]    In the present invention, it is preferable that the elevating/lowering mechanism is provided with a pulley for spring over which the tension coil spring is hanged. According to this structure, the tension coil spring can be turned around in the up-and-down direction and thus the size of the card elevating/lowering device is reduced in the up-and-down direction. 
         [0014]    In the present invention, it is preferable that one end of the tension coil spring is attached to the placing table and the other end of the tension coil spring is attached to a spring end fixing member which is movable in an up-and-down direction. According to this structure, the position of the other end of the tension coil spring can be arbitrarily changed, the position of the placing table to which one end of the tension coil spring is attached can be changed arbitrarily. Therefore, the position of the uppermost card which is placed on the placing table can be set arbitrarily. As a result, an accommodating space for a card is capable of forming on an upper end side of the card storage part and thus a card can be accommodated in the card storage part. 
         [0015]    In the present invention, the spring end fixing member is, for example, attached to a belt which is stretched over at least two pulleys for belt that are disposed in a separated state in the up-and-down direction. Further, in this case, it is preferable that the pulley for belt is a toothed pulley and the belt is a toothed belt. According to this structure, slip between the pulley and the belt is prevented and thus the spring end fixing member can be elevated and lowered with a high degree of accuracy. 
         [0016]    In the present invention, it is preferable that the elevating/lowering mechanism is provided with a holding mechanism for holding a position of the spring end fixing member in the up-and-down direction and a releasing mechanism for releasing a holding state of the spring end fixing member by the holding mechanism. According to this structure, the position of the spring end fixing member to which the other end of the tension coil spring is attached is held by the holding mechanism and thus positional displacement of the uppermost card that is placed on the placing table to which one end of the tension coil spring is attached is prevented. Further, when the releasing mechanism is operated, the spring end fixing member can be set in a state to be capable of being elevated and lowered. 
         [0017]    In the present invention, it is preferable that the holding mechanism is provided with a rack having a plurality of rack teeth and disposed with the up-and-down direction as a longitudinal direction, an engagement pawl which is attached to the spring end fixing member in a relatively movable state and is capable of being engaged with the rack tooth, and an engagement pawl urging member which urges the engagement pawl toward the rack tooth, and the releasing mechanism is provided with a releasing member, which is turned with the up-and-down direction as an axial direction to move the engagement pawl in a direction that engagement of the rack tooth with the engagement pawl is released, and a turning mechanism for turning the releasing member. According to this structure, the spring end fixing member can be held by a plurality of rack teeth over a relatively wide range in the up-and-down direction. Further, the holding position of the spring end fixing member can be set finely by a plurality of the rack teeth. In other words, the position of the uppermost card which is placed on the placing table can be set finely. 
         [0018]    In the present invention, it is preferable that a detection mechanism is provided for detecting that the uppermost card of the cards which are accommodated in the card storage part is located at a predetermined position, and the detection mechanism is disposed so that a predetermined space is formed between the uppermost card which is detected by the detection mechanism and an upper end of the card storage part. According to this structure, an appropriate accommodating space for a card is formed on the upper end side of the card storage part. Further, an accommodating space for a card can be formed on the upper end side of the card storage part with a high degree of accuracy. 
         [0019]    In the present invention, it is preferable that a flat spring is disposed on an upper end side of the card storage part for pressing a card toward one side which is dropped from an upper side of the card storage part. According to this structure, frictional resistance between the inner walls of the card storage part and a plurality of accommodated cards can be reduced and thus cards are accommodated in the card storage part appropriately. 
         [0020]    In other words, when a card is randomly dropped into the card storage part from the upper side of the card storage part, a card abutting with an inner wall on one side, a card abutting with an inner wall on the other side, and a card abutting with neither of the inner walls are stacked at random. Further, when the stacked number of the cards is increased, frictional resistance between the cards becomes large and each of the cards is hardly displaced to the one side or to the other side. Therefore, the entire of the stacked cards are brought into a state that external forces are applied to the stacked cards from both of the inner walls on the one side and the other side and thus frictional resistance between the card storage part and a plurality of accommodated cards becomes large. On the other hand, in a case that a flat spring is disposed for pressing a dropping card toward one side, the card is hard to be abutted with the inner wall on the other side of the card storage part and thus the entire stacked cards are hard to be a state that external forces are applied from both of the inner walls. Therefore, frictional resistance can be reduced between the inner walls of the card storage part and a plurality of the accommodated cards and the cards can be appropriately accommodated in the card storage part. 
         [0021]    The card elevating/lowering device in the present invention may be applied to a card issuing/collecting apparatus which is provided with a card carrying-out/carrying-in device in which a card is carried out from the card storage part and a card is carried into the card storage part. In the card issuing/collecting apparatus, cards can be elevated and lowered appropriately with a simple structure in which the urging member is used. 
         [0022]    In order to attain the second objective, the present invention provides a card carrying-out/carrying-in device in which a card is carried out from a card storage part in which cards are stacked and accommodated and a card is carried into the card storage part, including a carrying roller which is abutted with the card for carrying the card, a counter roller which is oppositely disposed to the carrying roller and urged toward the carrying roller so as to be abutted with the card carried by the carrying roller, a motor which drives the carrying roller and the counter roller, and a power transmission mechanism which transmits power of the motor to the counter roller. The power transmission mechanism is structured so that the counter roller is capable of rotating in the same direction as a rotating direction of the carrying roller by power of the motor. Further, the power transmission mechanism is provided with a torque limiter which intermits power transmission from the motor to the counter roller depending on a magnitude of the power transmitted from the motor to the counter roller when the carrying roller is rotated in a direction that the card is carried out, and a one way clutch which disconnects power transmission from the motor to the counter roller when the carrying roller is rotated in a direction that the card is carried into inside. 
         [0023]    In the present invention, the torque limiter is, for example, structured so that, when one piece of card is sandwiched between the carrying roller and the counter roller, power transmission from the motor to the counter roller is disconnected and, when two pieces of card are sandwiched between the carrying roller and the counter roller, power is transmitted from the motor to the counter roller. 
         [0024]    In the card carrying-out/carrying-in device in the present invention, the power transmission mechanism is structured so that the counter roller is capable of rotating in the same direction as a rotating direction of the carrying roller by power of the motor. Further, the power transmission mechanism is provided with a torque limiter which intermits power transmission from the motor to the counter roller depending on a magnitude of the power transmitted from the motor to the counter roller when the carrying roller is rotated in a direction that the card is carried out. 
         [0025]    Therefore, when one piece of card is sandwiched between the carrying roller and the counter roller and thus frictional resistance between the card which is abutted with the counter roller and the carrying roller becomes large, the torque limiter is operated and the power transmission from the motor to the counter roller is disconnected. In other words, the counter roller is rotated in a direction reverse to the rotating direction of the carrying roller (in other words, the counter roller is rotated following the carrying roller) and thus one piece of a card sandwiched between the carrying roller and the counter roller can be carried out appropriately. 
         [0026]    Further, when two pieces of card are sandwiched between the carrying roller and the counter roller and thus frictional resistance between the card which is abutted with the counter roller and the other card becomes small, the torque limiter is not operated and power is transmitted from the motor to the counter roller. In other words, the counter roller is rotated in the same direction as the rotating direction of the carrying roller (in other words, the counter roller is rotated in a direction that a card is carried into the inside) and thus a card abutted with the counter roller is capable of being returned. Further, a card abutting with the carrying roller can be carried out as it is. Therefore, double feeding of cards in which two pieces of card are simultaneously carried out is prevented. 
         [0027]    Further, in the card carrying-out/carrying-in device in the present invention, the power transmission mechanism is provided with a one way clutch which disconnects power transmission from the motor to the counter roller when the carrying roller is rotated in a direction so that the card is carried into inside. Therefore, when a card is to be carried into the inside, the counter roller runs idle following the carrying roller in the carrying-in direction of the card. Therefore, a carrying-in operation of the card is not disturbed by the counter roller. 
         [0028]    As described above, in the present invention, when a card is to be carried out, double feeding of cards is prevented and a card can be carried out from the card storage part appropriately. Further, when a card is to be carried into the inside, the card can be carried into the card storage part appropriately. 
         [0029]    In the present invention, it is preferable that the card carrying-out/carrying-in device is provided with a taking-out roller which is abutted with an upper face of the uppermost card of the cards stacked in the card storage part that is disposed on the underside for sending out the uppermost card toward the carrying roller, and a support member which is abutted with the upper face of the uppermost card for supporting the uppermost card. The taking-out roller is provided with a large diameter part which is formed over a predetermined angular range with respect to a rotation center and a small diameter part having a smaller radius than the large diameter part, and a radius of the large diameter part is set to be a size so that the large diameter part is capable of abutting with the upper face of the uppermost card which is supported by the support member, and a radius of the small diameter part is set to be a size so that the small diameter part is unable to be abutted with the upper face of the uppermost card which is supported by the support member. 
         [0030]    According to this structure, the uppermost card is sent out to the carrying roller by the large diameter part of the taking-out roller. Further, after the uppermost card has been sent out, the next uppermost card is supported by the support member and the taking-out roller does not send out the next uppermost card. In other words, after the uppermost card has been sent out by the large diameter part, the small diameter part is passed through the upper side of the card abutting with the support member and thus the taking-out roller does not send out the next uppermost card. Therefore, a card can be sent out to the carrying roller one by one with a simple structure in which the taking-out roller and the support member are used. 
         [0031]    In the present invention, it is preferable that the card carrying-out/carrying-in device is provided with three support members and the uppermost card is supported by three points. According to this structure, the uppermost card is supported in a stable state. 
         [0032]    In the present invention, it is preferable that the support member is a support roller which is rotatably abutted with the upper face of the uppermost card. According to this structure, even when a card is abutted with the support member, the card is restrained from being damaged. 
         [0033]    In the present invention, it is preferable that the taking-out roller is turned so that the large diameter part begins to abut with a roughly center position in the carrying-in direction of the card at a timing when the card sandwiched between the carrying roller and the counter roller is separated from between the carrying roller and the counter roller during a carrying-in operation. According to this structure, a roughly center position of the card in the carrying-in direction is tapped by the large diameter part and thus the card is easily dropped into the inside of the card storage part in a horizontal state. Therefore, the card carried into the inside can be appropriately stacked in the card storage part. 
         [0034]    The card carrying-out/carrying-in device in the present invention may be applied to a card issuing/collecting apparatus which is provided with a card elevating/lowering device having a card storage part that is disposed on an under side of the card carrying-out/carrying-in device and by which the cards in the card storage part are elevated and lowered. In the card issuing/collecting apparatus, a carrying-out operation of a card from the card storage part and a carrying-in operation of a card to the card storage part are performed appropriately. Therefore, the card issuing function and the card collecting function are attained by only one apparatus. 
       Advantageous Effects of Invention 
       [0035]    As described above, in the card elevating/lowering device and the card issuing/collecting apparatus in the present invention, a card is appropriately elevated and lowered with a simple structure in which the urging member is used. 
         [0036]    Further, in the card carrying-out/carrying-in device and the card issuing/collecting apparatus in the present invention, a carrying-out operation of a card from the card storage part and a carrying-in operation of a card to the card storage part are performed appropriately. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0037]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a card issuing/collecting apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0038]      FIG. 2  is a front view showing the card issuing/collecting apparatus in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0039]      FIG. 3  is a rear view showing the card issuing/collecting apparatus in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0040]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a main part of a card elevating/lowering device shown in  FIG. 1  which is viewed from an under side on the right front side. 
           [0041]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing the main part of the card elevating/lowering device shown in  FIG. 1  which is viewed from an upper side on the right rear side. 
           [0042]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the main part of the card elevating/lowering device shown in  FIG. 1  which is viewed from an upper side on the left rear side. 
           [0043]      FIG. 7  is a side view showing a part of the card elevating/lowering device shown in  FIG. 1  which is viewed from a left side. 
           [0044]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing a part of the card elevating/lowering device including a cartridge holding mechanism that holds a cartridge shown in  FIG. 4  which is viewed from an upper side on the right rear side. 
           [0045]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing a part of the card elevating/lowering device when the cartridge shown in  FIG. 4  is to be detached which is viewed from an upper side on the right rear side. 
           [0046]      FIGS. 10(A) and 10(B)  are perspective views showing a part of the elevating/lowering mechanism shown in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0047]      FIG. 11(A)  is a view showing a hanging tool shown in  FIG. 5  which is viewed from a rear side, and  FIG. 11(B)  is a view showing the hanging tool shown in  FIG. 5  which is viewed from a left side. 
           [0048]      FIG. 12  is an enlarged view showing a main part of a holding mechanism shown in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0049]      FIG. 13  is a view showing the holding mechanism and a releasing mechanism shown in  FIG. 4  which is viewed from a bottom face side. 
           [0050]      FIG. 14  is an enlarged view showing the “E” part in  FIG. 7 . 
           [0051]      FIG. 15  is an enlarged perspective view showing the “E” part in  FIG. 7  which is viewed from an upper side on the left front side. 
           [0052]      FIG. 16  is a view showing a state where the cartridge holding mechanism shown in  FIG. 8  holds the cartridge. 
           [0053]      FIG. 17  is a view showing a state where the cartridge holding mechanism shown in  FIG. 8  releases the cartridge. 
           [0054]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view showing a part of a card carrying-out/carrying-in device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0055]      FIG. 19  is a plan view showing a part of the card carrying-out/carrying-in device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0056]      FIG. 20  is a front view showing a schematic structure of a part of the card carrying-out/carrying-in device which is viewed in the “F-F” direction in  FIG. 19 . 
           [0057]      FIGS. 21(A) ,  21 (B) and  21 (C) are views for explaining a first half of a carrying-out operation of a card in the card carrying-out/carrying-in device shown in  FIG. 18 . 
           [0058]      FIGS. 22(A) and 22(B)  are views for explaining a latter half of a carrying-out operation of a card in the card carrying-out/carrying-in device shown in  FIG. 18 . 
           [0059]      FIGS. 23(A) and 23(B)  are views for explaining a carrying-in operation of a card in the card carrying-out/carrying-in device shown in  FIG. 18 . 
       
    
    
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       [0000]    
       
         
           
               1  card issuing/collecting apparatus 
               2  card 
               3  cartridge (card storage part) 
               5  card carrying-out/carrying-in device 
               6  card elevating/lowering device 
               61  carrying roller 
               62  counter roller 
               63  taking-out roller 
               63   a  large diameter part 
               63   b  small diameter part 
               64 ,  65  support roller (support member) 
               66  motor 
               67  power transmission mechanism 
               80  torque limiter 
               83  pulley (one way clutch) 
               11  elevating/lowering mechanism 
               12  placing table 
               13  tension coil spring (urging member) 
               14  pulley 
               15  elevating/lowering member (spring end fixing member) 
               16 ,  17  pulley (toothed pulley) 
               18  belt (toothed belt) 
               20  holding mechanism 
               21  releasing mechanism 
               24 ,  25  sensor (detection mechanism) 
               39  rack 
               39   a  rack tooth 
               40   a  engagement pawl 
               41  torsion coil spring (engagement pawl urging member) 
               44  releasing member 
               46  turning mechanism 
               48  flat spring 
           
         
       
     
       DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0092]    An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       [Schematic Structure of Card Issuing/Collecting Apparatus] 
       [0093]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a card issuing/collecting apparatus  1  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a front view showing the card issuing/collecting apparatus  1  in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a rear view showing the card issuing/collecting apparatus  1  in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0094]    In the following descriptions, in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the “X1” direction side is a “right” side, the “X2” direction side is a “left” side, the “Y1” direction side is a “front” side, the “Y2” direction side is a “rear” side, the “Z1” direction side is an “upper” side, and the “Z2” direction side is a “lower” side. 
         [0095]    A card issuing/collecting apparatus  1  in this embodiment is provided with a card issuing function for issuing a card  2  from a cartridge  3  as a card storage part where cards  2  are stacked and accommodated, and a card collecting function for collecting a card  2  into the cartridge  3  for reusing a card  2  having been issued. 
         [0096]    The card issuing/collecting apparatus  1  is, as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , provided with a card reader  4  for performing reproduction of information recorded on/in a card  2  and/or recording of information on/in a card  2 , a card carrying-out/carrying-in device  5  in which a card  2  accommodated in the cartridge  3  is carried out to the card reader  4  and a card  2  is carried toward the cartridge  3  from the card reader  4 , and a card elevating/lowering device  6  by which cards  2  accommodated in the cartridge  3  are elevated and lowered. The card elevating/lowering device  6  is disposed on a lower side with respect to the card carrying-out/carrying-in device  5  and the card reader  4  is disposed on the left side with respect to the card carrying-out/carrying-in device  5 . 
         [0097]    Further, the card issuing/collecting apparatus  1  in this embodiment is provided with a reject card collecting part  7  for collecting a card  2  which is an unnecessary, a used, an error card or the like, and a carrying passage switching device  8  for collecting a card  2  to the reject card collecting part  7 . The carrying passage switching device  8  is disposed between the card reader  4  and the card carrying-out/carrying-in device  5 . Further, the reject card collecting part  7  is disposed on a lower side with respect to the carrying passage switching device  8 . 
         [0098]    A card  2  is, for example, a rectangular card made of vinyl chloride whose thickness is about 0.7-0.8 mm. A surface of the card  2  is, for example, formed with a magnetic stripe in which magnetic information is recorded. Further, for example, a surface of the card  2  is fixed with an IC chip. The card  2  may be built in with an antenna for communication. Further, a printing part on which printing is performed by a thermal method may be formed on a surface of the card  2 . Further, a card  2  may be a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) card whose thickness is about 0.18-0.36 mm, a paper card having a certain thickness or the like. 
         [0099]    The card reader  4  is provided with a card inserting/ejecting part  9  into which a card  2  is inserted or from which a card  2  is ejected, and a card carrying mechanism for carrying a card  2  in the card reader  4 . Further, the card reader  4  is provided with a recording and reproducing means for performing recording and reproduction of information such as a magnetic head, IC contacts and/or a communication antenna. 
         [0100]    The reject card collecting part  7  is formed in a box-like shape whose upper end side is opened. The carrying passage switching device  8  is provided with a switching means for passage by which a carrying passage is switched so that a card  2  ejected from the card reader  4  is carried to the card carrying-out/carrying-in device  5  or to the reject card collecting part  7 . 
       [Structure of Card Elevating/Lowering Device] 
       [0101]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a main part of a card elevating/lowering device  6  shown in  FIG. 1  which is viewed from an under side on the right front side.  FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing the main part of the card elevating/lowering device  6  shown in  FIG. 1  which is viewed from an upper side on the right rear side.  FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the main part of the card elevating/lowering device  6  shown in  FIG. 1  which is viewed from an upper side on the left rear side.  FIG. 7  is a side view showing a part of the card elevating/lowering device  6  shown in  FIG. 1  which is viewed from a left side.  FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing a part of the card elevating/lowering device  6  including a cartridge holding mechanism  53  that holds a cartridge  3  shown in  FIG. 4  which is viewed from an upper side on the right rear side.  FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing a part of the card elevating/lowering device  6  when the cartridge  3  shown in  FIG. 4  is to be detached which is viewed from an upper side on the right rear side.  FIG. 12  is an enlarged view showing a main part of a holding mechanism  20  shown in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 14  is an enlarged view showing the “E” part in  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 15  is an enlarged perspective view showing the “E” part in  FIG. 7  which is viewed from an upper side on the left front side. 
         [0102]    The card elevating/lowering device  6  is provided with a cartridge  3 , an elevating/lowering mechanism  11  for elevating and lowering cards  2  accommodated in the cartridge  3 , and a cartridge holding mechanism  53  for holding the cartridge  3  at a predetermined position (see  FIGS. 8 and 9 ). 
       [Structure of Cartridge] 
       [0103]    The cartridge  3  is formed in a substantially rectangular tube shape and its upper end and lower end are opened. Further, the cartridge  3  is formed with a passage groove  3   a  from the upper end to the lower end, through which a part of a placing table  12  described below that structures the elevating/lowering mechanism  11  is passed, at an intermediate position in the right and left direction of a rear side face of the cartridge  3 . An inner peripheral side of the lower end of the cartridge  3  is formed with an edge part  3   b  for holding cards  2  accommodated in the cartridge  3 . The cards  2  are accommodated in the cartridge  3  from the upper end of the cartridge  3 . Further, a handle part  3   c  is formed on the front side face of the cartridge  3 . 
         [0104]    The cartridge  3  in this embodiment is detachable from a main body frame  10  of the card elevating/lowering device  6  (see  FIG. 1 ). Specifically, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the cartridge  3  is held by the cartridge holding mechanism  53  which is disposed on the upper end side in a state that the cartridge  3  is placed on a cartridge support part  91  that is turnably supported by the main body frame  10 . When the cartridge holding mechanism  53  is released, the cartridge  3  is capable of being detached from the main body frame  10 . 
         [0105]    The cartridge support part  91  is turnably supported by the main body frame  10  with its lower end side as a supporting point so as to be turnable with the right and left direction as an axial direction. As shown in  FIG. 9 , when the cartridge support part  91  is inclined to the front side with its lower end side as a supporting point, the cartridge  3  is capable of being detached from the main body frame  10 . Further, as shown in  FIG. 8 , a placing face of the cartridge support part  91  on which the cartridge  3  is placed is formed with an opening part  91   a  through which the placing table  12  is capable of being passed. 
       [Structure of Elevating/Lowering Mechanism] 
       [0106]      FIGS. 10(A) and 10(B)  are perspective views showing a part of an elevating/lowering mechanism  11  shown in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 11(A)  is a view showing a hanging tool  30  shown in  FIG. 5  which is viewed from a rear side, and  FIG. 11(B)  is a view showing the hanging tool  30  shown in  FIG. 5  which is viewed from a left side.  FIG. 12  is an enlarged view showing a main part of a holding mechanism  20  shown in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 13  is a view showing the holding mechanism  20  and a releasing mechanism  21  shown in  FIG. 4  which is viewed from a bottom face side.  FIG. 14  is an enlarged view showing the “E” part in  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 15  is an enlarged perspective view showing the “E” part in  FIG. 7  which is viewed from an upper side on the left front side. 
         [0107]    The elevating/lowering mechanism  11  is provided with the placing table  12  on which cards  2  accommodated in the cartridge  3  are placed and a tension coil spring  13  as an urging member for urging the placing table  12  in an upper direction. As shown in  FIG. 10(B) , one end of the tension coil spring  13  is attached to the placing table  12 . Further, the tension coil spring  13  is hanged over a pulley  14  which is disposed on the upper end side of the card elevating/lowering device  6 . 
         [0108]    The other end of the tension coil spring  13  is, as shown in  FIG. 4 , attached to an elevating/lowering member  15  as a spring end fixing member. The elevating/lowering member  15  is fixed to a belt  18 , which is stretched over a pulley  16  disposed on an upper end side of the card elevating/lowering device  6  and a pulley  17  disposed on a lower end side of the card elevating/lowering device  6  and thus the elevating/lowering member  15  is capable of moving up and down. As described above, since one end of the tension coil spring  13  is attached to the placing table  12  and the other end of the tension coil spring  13  is attached to the elevating/lowering member  15 , when the belt  18  is moved to make the elevating/lowering member  15  move down, the placing table  12  is moved upward in the opposite direction to the elevating/lowering member  15 . 
         [0109]    Further, the elevating/lowering mechanism  11  is provided with a drive mechanism  19  for driving the pulley  16  disposed on the upper end side, a holding mechanism  20  for holding a position of the elevating/lowering member  15  in the up-and-down direction, and a releasing mechanism  21  for releasing a holding state of the elevating/lowering member  15  by the holding mechanism  20  so that the elevating/lowering member  15  is capable of being elevated and lowered. 
         [0110]    In addition, the elevating/lowering mechanism  11  is provided with a sensor  22  (see  FIG. 5 ) for detecting a state that the placing part  12  is located at a lower limit (in other words, cards  2  in the cartridge  3  are in a full state), a sensor  23  (see  FIG. 5 ) for detecting a state that the elevating/lowering member  15  is located at a lower limit, and sensors  24  and  25  (see  FIG. 7 ) as a detection mechanism for detecting a state that a card at the highest (uppermost) position of cards  2  stacked in the cartridge  3  is located at a predetermined position. 
         [0111]    The placing table  12  is, as shown in  FIGS. 10(A) and 10(B) , movable in the up-and-down direction along a guide shaft  27  which is fixed to the main body frame  10  with the up-and-down direction as an axial direction and cards  2  placed on the placing table  12  are elevated and lowered in the inside of the cartridge  3 . The placing table  12  is rotatably attached with a plurality of guide rollers  28  which are engaged with the guide shaft  27  for guiding the placing table  12  in the up-and-down direction. 
         [0112]    The placing table  12  is, as shown in  FIG. 10(A) , structured of a placing part  12   a  which is disposed in an inside of the cartridge  3 , a roller attaching part  12   b  which is disposed on the outer side of the cartridge  3  and to which the guide rollers  28  are attached, and a connection part  12   c  which connects the placing part  12   a  with the roller attaching part  12   b . The connection part  12   c  is disposed to pass through the passage groove  3   a  of the cartridge  3 . A lower end of the roller attaching part  12   b  is formed with a detecting part  12   d  for detecting a state together with the sensor  22  that the placing table  12  is located at the lower limit. Further, one end of the tension coil spring  13  is attached to the roller attaching part  12   b.    
         [0113]    The tension coil spring  13  is formed so that its spring constant is substantially equal to a weight per unit thickness of the card  2 . 
         [0114]    The pulley  14  for spring is rotatably supported by a rotation shaft  29  to which the pulley  16  is fixed through a bearing (not shown). The pulleys  16  and  17  for belt are a toothed pulley whose outer peripheral face is formed with a plurality of teeth. Further, the pulley  17  disposed on the lower end side is a tension pulley for applying a predetermined tension to the belt  18 . The belt  18  is a toothed belt whose inner peripheral face is formed with a plurality of teeth. The belt  18  is fixed with the hanging tool  30  for forcibly moving the placing table  12  downward. Specifically, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the hanging tool  30  is fixed to the belt  18  so that the hanging tool  30  is disposed on an upper side with respect to the placing table  12 . 
         [0115]    As shown in  FIGS. 11(A) and 11(B) , two pawl parts  30   a  which are engaged with an upper end of the roller attaching part  12   b  of the placing table  12  are formed on an upper end side of the hanging tool  30 . Further, a lower end side of the hanging tool  30  is a belt fixing part  30   b  which is fixed to the belt  18 . 
         [0116]    The drive mechanism  19  is provided with a motor  31 , a pulley  32  fixed to an output shaft of the motor  31 , a pulley  33  which is fixed to a rear side end of the rotation shaft  29 , and a belt  34  stretched over the pulleys  32  and  33 . In this embodiment, when the motor  31  is driven, power is transmitted to the belt  18  and the elevating/lowering member  15  and the hanging tool  30  fixed to the belt  18  are moved up or down. 
         [0117]    The elevating/lowering member  15  is movable in the up-and-down direction along a long and thin guide plate  36  which is fixed to the main body frame  10  with the up-and-down direction as its longitudinal direction. The elevating/lowering member  15  is rotationally attached with a plurality of guide rollers  37  which are engaged with both side faces of the guide plate  36  for guiding the elevating/lowering member  15  in the up-and-down direction. Further, a lower end side of the elevating/lowering member  15  is attached with a detecting plate  38  for detecting a state together with the sensor  23  that the elevating/lowering member  15   a  is located at the lower limit. In addition, the elevating/lowering member  15  is formed with a handle part  15   a  which is protruded toward a front side and one end side of a torsion coil spring  41  described below is engaged with the handle part  15   a  (see  FIG. 12 ). 
         [0118]    The holding mechanism  20  is, as shown in  FIG. 12 , provided with a rack  39  formed in a long and thin plate shape which is formed with a plurality of rack teeth  39   a , and a latch lever  40  which is formed with an engagement pawl  40   a  which is engaged with the rack tooth  39   a . The rack  39  is fixed to the guide plate  36  with the up-and-down direction as a longitudinal direction. The latch lever  40  is turnably attached to the elevating/lowering member  15 . Specifically, as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the latch lever  40  is turnably supported by a fixed shaft  42  which is fixed to the elevating/lowering member  15  with the right and left direction as an axial direction. 
         [0119]    Further, the latch lever  40  is urged to the elevating/lowering member  15  by the torsion coil spring  41  which is held by the fixed shaft  42  in a direction so that the rack tooth  39   a  and the engagement pawl  40   a  are engaged with each other. Specifically, one end side of the torsion coil spring  41  is engaged with the handle part  15   a  of the elevating/lowering member  15  from a lower side and the other end side of the torsion coil spring  41  is engaged with the latch lever  40  on the rear side of the fixed shaft  42  from a lower side. Therefore, the latch lever  40  is urged in a counterclockwise direction in  FIG. 12 . In this embodiment, a position of the elevating/lowering member  15  in the up-and-down direction is held by means of that the rack tooth  39   a  and the engagement pawl  40   a  are engaged with each other. In this embodiment, the torsion coil spring  41  is an engagement pawl urging member which urges the engagement pawl  40   a  toward the rack teeth  39   a.    
         [0120]    The latch lever  40  is formed with a protruded part  40   b  for releasing engagement of the rack tooth  39   a  with the engagement pawl  40   a . Further, the latch lever  40  is formed with a handle part  40   c  which is protruded toward the front side. The handle part  40   c  is disposed so as to superpose on the handle part  15   a  of the elevating/lowering member  15  in the up-and-down direction. 
         [0121]    The releasing mechanism  21  is provided with a releasing member  44  which is abutted with the protruded part  40   b  to move the engagement pawl  40   a  in a direction for releasing engagement of the rack tooth  39   a  with the engagement pawl  40   a . The releasing member  44  is fixed to a turning shaft  45  which is turnably supported by the main body frame  10  with the up-and-down direction as an axial direction. Further, as shown in  FIG. 4 , a turning mechanism  46  is connected with the turning shaft  45  for turning the releasing member  44  together with the turning shaft  45 . 
         [0122]    The releasing member  44  is formed in a long and thin plate shape with the up-and-down direction as a longitudinal direction. The releasing member  44  is, as shown in  FIG. 13 , formed with an abutting part  44   a  which is abutted with the protruded part  40   b . The abutting part  44   a  is formed in an elongated shape which is longer in the up-and-down direction so that the latch lever  40  attached to the elevating/lowering member  15  is abutted with the protruded part  40   b  at any position in the up-and-down direction. 
         [0123]    The turning mechanism  46  is connected with the lower end side of the turning shaft  45 . The turning mechanism  46  is, as shown in  FIG. 13 , provided with a solenoid  47  as a drive source, lever members  49  and  50 , and a connecting plate  51 . The lever member  49  is formed in a roughly “L”-shape and turnable with its center part as a supporting point. One end of the lever member  49  is turnably attached to a plunger of the solenoid  47 . The lever member  50  is formed in a straight line shape and its one end is turnably attached to the other end of the lever member  49 . The connecting plate  51  is fixed to the lower end side of the turning shaft  45 . The connecting plate  51  is turnably attached with the other end of the lever member  50 . 
         [0124]    In this embodiment, when the solenoid  47  is driven, the releasing member  44  is turned with the up-and-down direction as an axial direction. When the releasing member  44  is turned, the protruded part  40   b  abutted with the abutting part  44   a  is pressed by the abutting part  44   a  and thus, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the latch lever  40  is turned in the clockwise direction in  FIG. 12  against an urging force of the torsion coil spring  41 . When the latch lever  40  is turned, as shown by the two-dot chain line in  FIG. 12 , engagement of the rack tooth  39   a  with the engagement pawl  40   a  is released and thus elevating or lowering of the elevating/lowering member  15  can be performed. 
         [0125]    In this embodiment, when a user grasps the handle parts  15   a  and  40   c  in the up-and-down direction, the latch lever  40  is turned in a direction in which engagement of the rack tooth  39   a  with the engagement pawl  40   a  is released against an urging force of the torsion coil spring  41  (in other words, in the clockwise direction in  FIG. 12 ). In other words, in this embodiment, engagement of the rack tooth  39   a  with the engagement pawl  40   a  can be also released by manual operation. 
         [0126]    The sensors  22  and  23  are, as shown in  FIG. 5 , disposed on the lower end side of the card elevating/lowering device  6 . The sensor  22  is a transmission type optical sensor in which a light emitting element and a light receiving element are disposed so as to face each other. When the detecting part  12   d  of the placing table  12  blocks between the light emitting element and the light receiving element, the placing table  12  is detected to be at the lower limit. The sensor  23  is, similarly to the sensor  22 , a transmission type optical sensor and, when the detecting plate  38  blocks between the light emitting element and the light receiving element, the elevating/lowering member  15  is detected to be at the lower limit. 
         [0127]    The sensors  24  and  25  are a reflection type optical sensor in which a light emitting element and a light receiving element are adjacently disposed to each other. The sensors  24  and  25  are, as shown in  FIG. 14 , disposed on an upper end side of the card elevating/lowering device  6  in a separated state with a predetermined space in the up-and-down direction between them. Further, the sensors  24  and  25  are disposed so that a light beam from the light emitting element is passed through the passage groove  3   a  of the cartridge  3 . 
         [0128]    In this embodiment, when a card  2  is to be carried into the cartridge  3  from the card reader  4 , a card  2  at the highest position in the cartridge  3  is set to be disposed between the sensor  24  and the sensor  25  in the up-and-down direction by utilizing the sensors  24  and  25 . In other words, the elevating/lowering member  15  is elevated or lowered and the placing table  12  is lowered or elevated so that the sensor  24  disposed on the upper side does not detect a card  2  and the sensor  25  disposed on the lower side detects a card  2 . In this embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 14 , a predetermined space is formed between the uppermost card  2  which is disposed between the sensor  24  and the sensor  25  in the up-and-down direction and the upper end of cartridge  3 . The space is an accommodating space for accommodating a card  2  in the cartridge  3 . 
         [0129]    A flat spring  48  is fixed to the upper end side of the main body frame  10  as shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 . Specifically, the flat spring  48  is fixed to the main body frame  10  so that a part of the flat spring  48  is protruded into the inside of the cartridge  3  from the passage groove  3   a  of the cartridge  3 . More specifically, the flat spring  48  is fixed so that a part of the flat spring  48  is protruded into the inside of the cartridge  3  over an upward narrow range from the mounting positions of the sensors  24  and  25 . The flat spring  48  is provided with a function for abutting with a card  2  which is dropped from an upper side of the cartridge  3  into its inside when the card is carried into the inside of the cartridge  3  and for shifting the dropping card  2  to the front side of the cartridge  3 . 
         [0130]    In this embodiment, a spring force of the flat spring  48  is set to be capable of shifting a card  2  abutting with the flat spring  48  to the front side against a frictional resistance between stacked cards  2 . Further, the spring force of the flat spring  48  is set so that, even when a rear end of a dropping card  2  is abutted with the flat spring  48 , the dropping of the card  2  is not disturbed. 
         [0131]    In the card elevating/lowering device  6  structured as described above, when a card  2  is to be carried out toward the card reader  4  from the cartridge  3 , the placing table  12  is moved upward so that support rollers  64  and  65  (see  FIG. 20 ) described below which structure the card carrying-out/carrying-in device  5  are abutted with a card  2  located at the highest position in the cartridge  3  with a predetermined abutting force. In other words, after the solenoid  47  is driven to set an elevating/lowering operation of the elevating/lowering member  15  in a permitted state, the motor  31  is activated. When the motor  31  is activated, the elevating/lowering member  15  is moved down and the placing table  12  is moved upward. 
         [0132]    Further, when a card  2  is to be carried into the cartridge  3  from the card reader  4 , the placing table  12  is moved down so that the uppermost card  2  at the highest position in the cartridge  3  is disposed between the sensor  24  and the sensor  25  and an accommodating space for a card  2  is formed in the cartridge  3 . In other words, after the solenoid  47  is driven to set an elevating/lowering operation of the elevating/lowering member  15  in a permitted state, the motor  31  is activated. When the motor  31  is activated, the elevating/lowering member  15  is moved upward and the placing table  12  is moved down. 
         [0133]    After the elevating/lowering member  15  has been moved down so that the card  2  at the highest position in the cartridge  3  is abutted with the support rollers  64  and  65  with a predetermined abutting force and, alternatively, after the elevating/lowering member  15  has been moved upward so that an accommodating space for a card  2  is formed in the cartridge  3 , the holding mechanism  20  is operated to hold the position of the elevating/lowering member  15 . 
         [0134]    Further, in this embodiment, when the cartridge  3  is to be detached from the main body frame  10 , the placing table  12  is forcibly moved down so that the placing part  12   a  of the placing table  12  is come out from the inside of the cartridge  3  to be disposed on an under side of the cartridge  3 . Specifically, after the solenoid  47  is driven to set an elevating/lowering operation of the elevating/lowering member  15  in a permitted state, the motor  31  is activated to move the hanging tool  30  downward and the placing table  12  is forcibly moved down together with the hanging tool  30 . 
         [0135]    In this embodiment, the spring constant of the tension coil spring  13  is, as described above, substantially equal to a weight per unit thickness of the card  2 . Therefore, when a card  2  is carried out, the tension coil spring  13  is contracted by the number of sheets of the card  2  carried out from the cartridge  3  and cards  2  are moved upward together with the placing table  12 . Therefore, even when the position of the elevating/lowering member  15  is not changed, a card  2  at the highest position in the cartridge  3  is always abutted with the support rollers  64  and  65  with a substantially constant abutting force. Further, when a card  2  is carried into the inside, the tension coil spring  13  is extended by the number of sheets of the card  2  carried into the cartridge  3  and cards  2  are moved down together with the placing table  12 . Therefore, even when the position of the elevating/lowering member  15  is not changed, the position of the uppermost card  2  at the highest position is always located between the sensor  24  and the sensor  25 . 
         [0136]    After the elevating/lowering member  15  has been moved down so that the card  2  at the highest position in the cartridge  3  is abutted with the support rollers  64  and  65  with a predetermined abutting force and, alternatively, after the elevating/lowering member  15  has been moved upward so that an accommodating space for a card  2  is formed in the cartridge  3 , the holding mechanism  20  is operated to hold the position of the elevating/lowering member  15 . Further, when an elevating/lowering operation of the elevating/lowering member  15  is to be performed, the releasing mechanism  21  is operated and an elevating/lowering operation of the elevating/lowering member  15  is permitted. 
         [0137]    Further, in this embodiment, when the cartridge  3  is to be detached from the main body frame  10 , the placing table  12  is forcibly moved down so that the placing part  12   a  of the placing table  12  is come out from the inside of the cartridge  3  to be disposed on an under side of the cartridge  3 . Specifically, the motor  31  is activated to move the hanging tool  30  downward and the placing table  12  is forcibly moved down together with the hanging tool  30 . In this embodiment, in order that the cartridge  3  is not carelessly detached from the main body frame  10  when the placing table  12  is located in the inside of the cartridge  3 , the cartridge  3  is locked by an erroneous operation prevention lock mechanism. A locked state of the cartridge  3  by the erroneous operation prevention lock mechanism is released in association with a forcible downward movement of the placing table  12  by the hanging tool  30 . 
       [Structure of Cartridge Holding Mechanism] 
       [0138]      FIG. 16  is a view showing a state where the cartridge holding mechanism  53  shown in  FIG. 8  holds the cartridge  3 .  FIG. 17  is a view showing a state where the cartridge holding mechanism  53  shown in  FIG. 8  releases the cartridge  3 . 
         [0139]    The cartridge holding mechanism  53  is, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 16  and the like, provided with a lock lever  54  which holds an upper end side of the cartridge  3  that is set in the main body frame  10 . The lock lever  54  is turnably supported by a fixed shaft  55  which is disposed on the rear end side. The fixed shaft  55  is fixed to the main body frame  10  with the right and left direction as an axial direction. In this embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 16 , a state that the lock lever  54  is engaged with the front side of the cartridge  3  is a holding state of the cartridge  3  by the cartridge holding mechanism  53 . Further, when the lock lever  54  is turned from the holding state in a clockwise direction in  FIG. 16 , a releasing state is attained in which the cartridge  3  is capable of being detached from the main body frame  10  (see  FIG. 17 ). 
         [0140]    Further, the cartridge holding mechanism  53  is provided with a malfunction preventing lever  56  which is engaged with the lock lever  54  to prevent malfunction of the lock lever  54  in order that the cartridge  3  is not detached from the main body frame  10  in an operating state of the card elevating/lowering device  6  where the placing part  12   a  of the placing table  12  is disposed in the inside of the cartridge  3 . In addition, the cartridge holding mechanism  53  is provided with a tension coil spring  57 , which urges the lock lever  54  and the malfunction preventing lever  56  in directions so that the lock lever  54  and the malfunction preventing lever  56  are engaged with each other, and a sensor  58  for detecting a state that an engagement state of the lock lever  54  with the malfunction preventing lever  56  has been released. 
         [0141]    The lock lever  54  is provided with a handle part  54   a  which is disposed on the front end, a right side face part  54   b  which is formed from the right end of the handle part  54   a  toward the rear side, and a left side face part  54   c  which is formed from the left end of the handle part  54   a  toward the rear side. The fixed shaft  55  is inserted into the rear end of the right side face part  54   b  and the rear end side of the left side face part  54   c . A rear end of the handle part  54   a  is formed with a detachment prevention piece  54   d  which prevents an upward detachment of the cartridge  3 . The right side face part  54   b  is formed with an engaging recessed part  54   e , which is engaged with an engagement protruded part  56   a  formed in the malfunction preventing lever  56 , so as to be recessed toward the rear side. Further, one end of the tension coil spring  57  is attached to the right side face part  54   b.    
         [0142]    The malfunction preventing lever  56  is turnably supported by a fixed shaft  59  which is fixed to the main body frame  10  with the right and left direction as an axial direction. The malfunction preventing lever  56  is provided with the engagement protruded part  56   a  which is engaged with the recessed part  54   e  of the lock lever  54 , a detecting part  56   b  for detecting a state together with the sensor  58  that an engagement state of the lock lever  54  with the malfunction preventing lever  56  is released, and an abutting part  56   c  which is abutted with an upper end of the latch lever  40  when the latch lever  40  attached to the elevating/lowering member  15  has been moved to the upper end side. 
         [0143]    The engagement protruded part  56   a  is formed on the upper end side of the malfunction preventing lever  56 . The detecting part  56   b  and the abutting part  56   c  are formed so as to protrude toward the rear side. A front end portion of the detecting part  56   b  is formed with a through hole into which the fixed shaft  59  is inserted. Further, the other end of the tension coil spring  57  is attached to an upper side of the through hole. 
         [0144]    The sensor  58  is a transmission type optical sensor in which a light emitting element and a light receiving element are disposed so as to face each other. When the detecting part  56   b  of the malfunction preventing lever  56  blocks between the light emitting element and the light receiving element, it is detected that engagement of the engaging recessed part  54   e  with the engagement protruded part  56   a  has been released. In this embodiment, in a state that the detecting part  56   b  blocks between the light emitting element and the light receiving element, the placing part  12   a  of the placing table  12  is come out from the inside of the cartridge  3  and disposed on the underside of the cartridge  3 . In other words, the sensor  58  functions for detecting that the placing part  12   a  is retreated from the cartridge  3 . 
         [0145]    In the cartridge holding mechanism  53  which is structured as described above, the lock lever  54  disposed on the upper end side of the card elevating/lowering device  6  is engaged with the front side of the cartridge  3  and the cartridge  3  which is placed on the cartridge support part  91  is held at a predetermined position. In the holding state, as shown in  FIG. 16 , the engaging recessed part  54   e  and the engagement protruded part  56   a  are engaged with each other. Therefore, even when a user grasps the handle part  54   a  of the lock lever  54  to try to lift to the upper side, the lock lever  54  is unable to turn in the clockwise direction and the handle part  54   a  is not lifted. In other words, in this holding state, the lock lever  54  cannot be turned in a direction in which the cartridge  3  is capable of being detached from the main body frame  10 . In this holding state, the detecting part  56   b  of the malfunction preventing lever  56  is separated from the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the sensor  58 . 
         [0146]    When the cartridge  3  is to be detached from the main body frame  10 , as described above, the hanging tool  30  is moved down to forcibly move the placing table  12  down so that the placing part  12   a  of the placing table  12  is come out from the inside of the cartridge  3  and disposed on an under side of the cartridge  3 . When the placing table  12  is moved down, the latch lever  40  is moved upward together with the elevating/lowering member  15  and, as shown in  FIG. 17 , the upper end of the latch lever  40  is abutted with the abutting part  56   c  of the malfunction preventing lever  56 . When the upper end of the latch lever  40  is abutted with the abutting part  56   c , the malfunction preventing lever  56  is turned in the counterclockwise direction with the fixed shaft  59  as a center and the engagement of the engaging recessed part  54   e  with the engagement protruded part  56   a  is released. 
         [0147]    When the engagement of the engaging recessed part  54   e  with the engagement protruded part  56   a  is released, turning of the lock lever  54  in the clockwise direction around the fixed shaft  55  is permitted and thus, when a user holds the handle part  54   a  to lift it to the upper side, the lock lever  54  is turned in the clockwise direction and the lock lever  54  is separated from the front side of the cartridge  3 . When the lock lever  54  is separated from the front side of the cartridge  3 , a releasing state is attained in which the cartridge  3  can be detached from the main body frame  10 . In this releasing state, the detecting part  56   b  blocks between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the sensor  58 . 
         [0148]    In this releasing state, when a user grasps the handle part  3   c  of the cartridge  3  to pull toward the front side, the cartridge support part  91  on which the cartridge  3  is placed is inclined toward the front side with the lower end side as a turning center and thus the cartridge  3  can be pulled out obliquely above from the main body frame  10 . 
       [Structure of Card Carrying-Out/Carrying-in Device] 
       [0149]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view showing a part of a card carrying-out/carrying-in device  5  shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 19  is a plan view showing a part of the card carrying-out/carrying-in device  5  shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 20  is a front view showing a schematic structure of a part of the card carrying-out/carrying-in device  5  which is viewed in the “F-F” direction in  FIG. 19 . In the following descriptions, the clockwise direction in  FIG. 13  is the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction is the counterclockwise direction. 
         [0150]    The second objective of the present invention is to provide a card carrying-out/carrying-in device  5  in which a carrying-out operation of a card  2  from a cartridge (card storage part)  3  where cards  2  are stacked and accommodated and a carrying-in operation of a card  2  to the cartridge (card storage part)  3  are appropriately performed. 
         [0151]    The card carrying-out/carrying-in device  5  is, as shown in  FIG. 18  and the like, provided with carrying rollers  61  for carrying a card  2 , counter rollers  62  which are oppositely disposed to the carrying rollers  61 , a motor  66  which drives the carrying rollers  61  and the counter rollers  62 , and a power transmission mechanism  67  which transmits power of the motor  66  to the counter rollers  62 . The power transmission mechanism  67  is structured so that the counter roller  62  is rotated by power of the motor  66  in the same direction as a rotating direction of the carrying roller  61 . Further, the power transmission mechanism  67  is provided with a torque limiter  80  which intermits power transmission from the motor  66  to the counter roller  62  when a card  2  is carried out, and a one way clutch which disconnects power transmission from the motor  66  to the counter roller  62  when a card  2  is carried into the inside. 
         [0152]    The card carrying-out/carrying-in device  5  is provided with the carrying rollers  61  which are abutted with a card  2  and carries the card  2  in the right and left direction, the counter rollers  62  which are oppositely disposed to the carrying rollers  61 , taking-out rollers  63  which send out a card  2  toward the carrying rollers  61  from the cartridge  3  when the card  2  is carried out, and the support rollers  64  and  65  as support members which are abutted with an upper face of a card  2  located at the highest position in the cartridge  3  and support the card  2  when the card  2  is carried out. The taking-out rollers  63  and the support rollers  64  and  65  are disposed on the upper side with respect to the cartridge  3 . The carrying rollers  61  and the counter rollers  62  are disposed on the left side of the taking-out rollers  63  and the support rollers  64  and  65  and are disposed at positions separated from an upward portion of the cartridge  3 . 
         [0153]    Further, the card carrying-out/carrying-in device  5  is provided with the motor  66  which rotationally drives the carrying roller  61 , the counter roller  62  and the taking-out roller  63 , and the power transmission mechanism  67  which transmits power from the motor  66  to the carrying roller  61 , the counter roller  62  and the taking-out roller  63 . In addition, the card carrying-out/carrying-in device  5  is provided with a sensor  68  for detecting a state that the taking-out roller  63  is located at a home position. 
         [0154]    In this embodiment, when the carrying roller  61  is rotated in a clockwise direction, a card  2  accommodated in the cartridge  3  is carried out toward the card reader  4 . Further, when the carrying roller  61  is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, a card  2  is carried in from the card reader  4  toward the cartridge  3 . 
         [0155]    The carrying rollers  61  are fixed to the rotation shaft  69  which is rotatably supported by a frame (not shown) of the card carrying-out/carrying-in device  5 . In this embodiment, two carrying rollers  61  are fixed to the rotation shaft  69  in a separated state with a predetermined space in the front and rear direction. The carrying roller  61  is a round roller whose radius is constant. Further, the carrying roller  61  is a rubber roller in which a rubber tire is fitted to an outer peripheral side of a mandrel that is made of resin or metal. 
         [0156]    The counter roller  62  is fixed to the rotation shaft  70 . In this embodiment, similarly to the carrying roller  61 , two counter rollers  62  are fixed to both end sides of the rotation shaft  70  in a separated state with a predetermined space in the front and rear direction. The counter roller  62  is a round roller whose radius is constant. Further, the counter roller  62  is a rubber roller in which a rubber tire is fitted to an outer peripheral side of a mandrel that is made of resin or metal. 
         [0157]    The rotation shaft  70  is rotatably supported by a support frame  71  through a bearing. The support frame  71  is turnable with respect to a frame of the card carrying-out/carrying-in device  5  with the rotation shaft  73  disposed on the left side of the rotation shaft  70  as a turning center. The rotation shaft  73  is rotatably supported by a frame of the card carrying-out/carrying-in device  5 . 
         [0158]    Lower ends on the left end side of the support frame  71  are attached with one ends of two tension coil springs  74  the other ends of which are attached to the frame of the card carrying-out/carrying-in device  5 . Therefore, the support frame  71  is, as shown in  FIG. 20 , urged in the counterclockwise direction with the rotation shaft  73  as a center. In other words, the counter roller  62  is urged toward the carrying roller  61  from a lower side. In this embodiment, the carrying roller  61  and the counter roller  62  are a round roller whose radius is constant. 
         [0159]    The taking-out roller  63  is fixed to the rotation shaft  75  which is rotatably supported by the frame of the card carrying-out/carrying-in device  5 . In this embodiment, similarly to the carrying roller  61 , two taking-out rollers  63  are fixed to both end sides of the rotation shaft  75  in a separated state with a predetermined space in the front and rear direction. Further, the support roller  64  is rotatably supported by the rotation shaft  75 . In this embodiment, two support rollers  64  are supported by the rotation shaft  75  in a separated state with a predetermined space in the front and rear direction and disposed on inner sides with respect to the taking-out rollers  63 . The support roller  64  is a round roller whose radius is constant. Further, the support roller  64  is a resin roller which is formed of resin. 
         [0160]    The taking-out roller  63  is a rubber roller in which a rubber tire is fitted to an outer peripheral side of a mandrel that is made of resin or metal. An outer peripheral side of the taking-out roller  63  is structured of a large diameter part  63   a  which is formed over a predetermined angular range around its rotation center and a small diameter part  63   b  whose radius is smaller than the large diameter part  63   a . In other words, the taking-out roller  63  is formed in a roughly sector shape. 
         [0161]    A radius of the large diameter part  63   a  is set to be larger than a radius of the support roller  64 . Further, a radius of the small diameter part  63   b  is set to be smaller than the radius of the support roller  64 . In other words, the radius of the large diameter part  63   a  is set to be a size so that the large diameter part  63   a  is capable of abutting with the upper face of the uppermost card  2  which is abutted with the support roller  64 . Further, the radius of the small diameter part  63   b  is set to be a size so that the small diameter part  63   b  is unable to abut with the upper face of the uppermost card  2  which is abutted with the support roller  64 . Further, a circular arc length of the large diameter part  63   a  is set to be a length so that the uppermost card  2  is carried until at least the left end of the uppermost card  2  is reached to a portion between the carrying roller  61  and the counter roller  62 . 
         [0162]    The taking-out roller  63  which is disposed on the front side is formed with a detecting part  63   c  for detecting a home position of the taking-out roller  63  together with the sensor  68  so as to protrude toward the front side. 
         [0163]    The support roller  65  is disposed on the right side of the taking-out roller  63  and is rotatably supported by a left end of the support frame  76 . The support roller  65  is a round roller whose radius is constant. Further, the support roller  65  is a resin roller which is formed of resin. The support frame  76  is turnably supported by a fixed shaft  77  which is fixed to a right end side of the frame of the card carrying-out/carrying-in device  5 . Further, the support frame  76  is urged by a spring not shown in a counterclockwise direction around the fixed shaft  77 . In other words, the support roller  65  is, as shown in  FIG. 13 , urged in a direction abutting with the uppermost card  2  when the card  2  is to be carried out. 
         [0164]    The power transmission mechanism  67  is provided with the pulley  78  which is fixed to an output shaft of the motor  66 , the pulley  79  which is fixed to the rear end side of the rotation shaft  69 , the torque limiter  80  whose output side is fixed to the rear end side of the rotation shaft  73 , the pulley  81  which is fixed to the input side of the torque limiter  80 , the pulley  82  which is fixed to a center part of the rotation shaft  73 , and the pulley  83  which is fixed to a center part of the rotation shaft  70 . A belt  84  is stretched over the pulleys  78 ,  79  and  81 , and a belt  85  is stretched over the pulleys  82  and  83 . Further, the power transmission mechanism  67  is provided with a tension pulley for applying a predetermined tension to the belt  84 . 
         [0165]    The torque limiter  80  intermits power which is transmitted from the motor  66  to the counter roller  62  depending on a magnitude of the power transmitted to the counter roller  62  from the motor  66 . In other words, the torque limiter  80  is structured so that a slip is occurred between the motor  66  and the counter roller  62  without transmitting a torque larger than a specified value from the motor  66  to the counter roller  62 . Further, the pulley  83  is a one way pulley within which a one way clutch is built in. Specifically, the pulley  83  is a one way pulley which is structured to run idle in the clockwise direction. 
         [0166]    As described above, the belt  84  is stretched over the pulleys  78 ,  79  and  81  and the belt  85  is stretched over the pulleys  82  and  83 . Therefore, the counter roller  62  in this embodiment is rotatable by power of the motor  66  in the same direction as a rotating direction of the carrying roller  61 . In other words, when the carrying roller  61  is rotated in the clockwise direction, the motor  66  generates power for rotating the counter roller  62  in the clockwise direction and, when the carrying roller  61  is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, the motor  66  generates power for rotating the counter roller  62  in the counterclockwise direction. However, as described above, the pulley  83  in this embodiment is a one way pulley which is structured to run idle in the clockwise direction. Therefore, when the carrying roller  61  is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, the counter roller  62  urged toward the carrying roller  61  is rotated following the carrying roller  61  in the clockwise direction. 
         [0167]    Further, the torque limiter  80  in this embodiment is structured so that, in a case that the carrying roller  61  is rotated in the clockwise direction, when one piece of card  2  is sandwiched between the carrying roller  61  and the counter roller  62 , power transmission from the motor  66  to the counter roller  62  is disconnected and, when two pieces of card  2  are sandwiched between the carrying roller  61  and the counter roller  62 , power is transmitted to the counter roller  62  from the motor  66 . 
         [0168]    In other words, the torque limiter  80  is structured so that, when one piece of card  2  is sandwiched between the carrying roller  61  and the counter roller  62  and thus frictional resistance between the card  2  which is abutted with the counter roller  62  and the carrying roller  61  becomes large, power transmission from the motor  66  to the counter roller  62  is disconnected. Further, the torque limiter  80  is structured so that, when two pieces of card  2  are sandwiched between the carrying roller  61  and the counter roller  62  and thus frictional resistance between the card  2  which is abutted with the counter roller  62  and the other card  2  becomes small, power is transmitted from the motor  66  to the counter roller  62 . 
         [0169]    Therefore, in this embodiment, in a case that the carrying roller  61  is rotated in the clockwise direction, when one piece of card  2  is sandwiched between the carrying roller  61  and the counter roller  62 , the counter roller  62  is rotated following the carrying roller  61  in the counterclockwise direction. On the other hand, when two pieces of card  2  are sandwiched between the carrying roller  61  and the counter roller  62 , power of the motor  66  is transmitted to the counter roller  62  and the counter roller  62  is rotated in the clockwise direction which is the same direction as that of the carrying roller  61 . 
         [0170]    Further, the power transmission mechanism  67  is provided with a gear  86  which is fixed to a center part of the rotation shaft  69 , a gear  87  engaged with the gear  86 , and a gear  88  which is fixed to a center part of the rotation shaft  75  and engaged with the gear  87 . Therefore, the taking-out roller  63  is rotated in the same direction as the rotating direction of the carrying roller  61  by the power of the motor  66 . In other words, when the carrying roller  61  is rotated in the clockwise direction, the taking-out roller  63  is rotated in the clockwise direction and, when the carrying roller  61  is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, the taking-out roller  63  is rotated in the counterclockwise direction. 
         [0171]    The sensor  68  is a transmission type optical sensor in which a light emitting element and a light receiving element are disposed so as to face each other. When the detecting part  63   c  of the taking-out roller  63  blocks between the light emitting element and the light receiving element, the taking-out roller  63  is detected to be at the home position. In this embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 20 , the home position of the taking-out roller  63  is a state that a substantially center position of the large diameter part  63   a  in the circumferential direction is disposed at the right end and the clockwise direction end of the large diameter part  63   a  is located at a position just before abutted with the uppermost card  2 . 
       [Carrying-Out Operation and Carrying-in Operation of Card] 
       [0172]      FIGS. 21(A) ,  21 (B) and  21 (C) are views for explaining a first half of a carrying-out operation of a card  2  in the card carrying-out/carrying-in device  5  shown in  FIG. 18 .  FIGS. 22(A) and 22(B)  are views for explaining a latter half of a carrying-out operation of a card  2  in the card carrying-out/carrying-in device  5  shown in  FIG. 18 .  FIGS. 23(A) and 23(B)  are views for explaining a carrying-in operation of a card  2  in the card carrying-out/carrying-in device  5  shown in  FIG. 18 . 
         [0173]    In the card carrying-out/carrying-in device  5  structured as described above, a carrying-out operation of a card  2  from the inside of the cartridge  3  to the card reader  4  and a carrying-in operation of a card  2  from the card reader  4  into the cartridge  3  are performed as described below. Next, a carrying-out operation and a carrying-in operation of a card  2  will be described below. 
         [0174]    When a card  2  is to be carried out, as described above, the placing table  12  is moved upward so that the uppermost card  2  in the cartridge  3  is abutted with the support rollers  64  and  65  with a predetermined abutting force. In this case, since the taking-out roller  63  is located at the home position, as shown in  FIG. 21(A) , the taking-out roller  63  is not abutted with the uppermost card  2 . 
         [0175]    In this state, when the motor  66  begins to rotate in the clockwise direction, the carrying roller  61  and the taking-out roller  63  are turned in the clockwise direction and the large diameter part  63   a  is abutted with an upper face of the uppermost card  2 . When the large diameter part  63   a  is abutted with the uppermost card  2 , as shown in  FIG. 21(B) , the taking-out roller  63  sends out the card  2  toward the carrying roller  61  and the card  2  is sandwiched between the carrying roller  61  and the counter roller  62 . In this case, the counter roller  62  is rotated following the carrying roller  61  in the counterclockwise direction as described above. 
         [0176]    When two pieces of card  2  are sandwiched between the carrying roller  61  and the counter roller  62 , as described above, the counter roller  62  is rotated in the clockwise direction which is the same as that of the carrying roller  61 . In other words, the counter roller  62  is rotated in a direction that a card  2  is carried into the inside. Therefore, the second card  2  from the highest (the card  2  just under the uppermost card  2 ) which is abutted with the counter roller  62  is returned to the cartridge  3 . 
         [0177]    In addition, when the taking-out roller  63  is turned in the clockwise direction, as shown in  FIG. 21(C) , the counterclockwise end of the large diameter part  63   a  is abutted with the right side end of the uppermost card  2  and, after that, the large diameter part  63   a  (taking-out roller  63 ) is separated from the uppermost card  2 . The card  2  separated from the large diameter part  63   a  of the taking-out roller  63  is carried out by the carrying roller  61  and the counter roller  62 . Further, when the uppermost card  2  is separated from the large diameter part  63   a , an upper face of the next uppermost card  2  is abutted with the support rollers  64  and  65 . In this state, even when the taking-out roller  63  is turned, the small diameter part  63   b  is passed through the next uppermost card  2  which is abutted with the support rollers  64  and  65  and thus the taking-out roller  63  is not abutted with the upper face of the next uppermost card  2 . 
         [0178]    Further, when the uppermost card  2  has been separated from the taking-out roller  63 , an upper face of the next uppermost card  2  is abutted with the support rollers  64 ,  65  as shown in  FIG. 22(A) . In this state, even when the taking-out roller  63  is turned, the taking-out roller  63  is not abutted with an upper face of the next uppermost card  2 . In other words, the small diameter part  63   b  is passed through on an upper side of the next uppermost card  2  which is abutted with the support rollers  64  and  65 . 
         [0179]    When the taking-out roller  63  is turned once (in other words, when the carrying roller  61  is turned once), the right side end of the uppermost card  2  is, as shown in  FIG. 22(B) , is separated from between the carrying roller  61  and the counter roller  62  and the carrying-out operation of the card  2  has finished. 
         [0180]    When a card  2  is to be carried into the inside, as described above, the placing table  12  is moved down so that the uppermost card  2  in the cartridge  3  is disposed between the sensor  24  and the sensor  25 . In other words, as shown in  FIG. 23(A) , an accommodating space for a card  2  is formed in the inside of the cartridge  3  on a lower side with respect to the card carrying-out/carrying-in device  5 . 
         [0181]    In this state, when the motor  66  begins to rotate in the counterclockwise direction, the carrying roller  61  and the taking-out roller  63  are rotated in the counterclockwise direction and a card  2  sandwiched between the carrying roller  61  and the counter roller  62  is carried toward the cartridge  3 . In this case, the counter roller  62  is, as described above, rotated following the carrying roller  61  in the clockwise direction. 
         [0182]    In addition, when the carrying roller  61  and the counter roller  62  are rotated and the card  2  is carried to the right direction, the left side end of the card  2  is separated from between the carrying roller  61  and the counter roller  62 . In this embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 22(B) , the taking-out roller  63  is turned so that a counterclockwise end of the large diameter part  63   a  is abutted with a roughly center position of the card  2  in the right and left direction (in other words, the large diameter part  63   a  begins to abut with the card  2 ) at a timing when the left side end of the card  2  is separated from between the carrying roller  61  and the counter roller  62 . 
         [0183]    Therefore, the card  2  separated from between the carrying roller  61  and the counter roller  62  is tapped by the large diameter part  63   a  to be dropped into the cartridge  3 . The dropping card  2  is, as described above, pressed to the front side of the cartridge  3  by the flat spring  48  (see  FIG. 14 ). 
         [0000]    [Principal Effects of Card Elevating/Lowering Device and Card Issuing/Collecting Apparatus in this Embodiment] 
         [0184]    As described above, in this embodiment, the placing table  12  on which cards  2  within the cartridge  3  are placed is urged in the upper direction by the tension coil spring  13 . Further, the spring constant of the tension coil spring  13  is substantially equal to the weight per unit thickness of the card  2 . Therefore, when the card  2  is carried out, the tension coil spring  13  is contracted by the number of sheets of the card  2  carried out from the cartridge  3  and the cards  2  are moved upward together with the placing table  12 . Accordingly, even when the position of the elevating/lowering member  15  is not changed, a card  2  at the uppermost position in the cartridge  3  is always abutted with the support rollers  64  and  65  with a substantially constant abutting force. Further, when a card  2  is carried into the inside, the tension coil spring  13  is extended by the number of sheets of the card  2  carried into the cartridge  3  and the cards  2  are moved down together with the placing table  12 . Therefore, even when the position of the elevating/lowering member  15  is not changed, the position of the card  2  at the uppermost position is always located between the sensor  24  and the sensor  25 . As described above, in this embodiment, the cards  2  are appropriately elevated and lowered at the time of carrying-out of a card  2  and carrying-in of a card  2  with a simple structure in which the tension coil spring  13  is used. 
         [0185]    Especially in this embodiment, since the placing table  12  is urged in the upper direction by the tension coil spring  13 , the setting of the spring constant is easy in comparison with a case that the placing table  12  is urged in the upper direction by another urging member such as a flat spring. Further, in comparison with a case that the placing table  12  is urged in the upper direction by another urging member, when the tension coil spring  13  is used, the stroke can be lengthened and thus the number of sheets of card  2  accommodated in the cartridge  3  is increased. 
         [0186]    In this embodiment, the tension coil spring  13  is hanged over the pulley  14  which is disposed on the upper end side of the card elevating/lowering device  6 . In other words, the tension coil spring  13  is turned around in the up-and-down direction by the pulley  14 . Therefore, even when a length of the tension coil spring  13  is made longer in order that the spring constant of the tension coil spring  13  is set to be smaller, the size of the card elevating/lowering device  6  in the up-and-down direction can be reduced. 
         [0187]    In this embodiment, the other end of the tension coil spring  13  is attached to the elevating/lowering member  15 . Therefore, the position of the other end of the tension coil spring  13  can be changed arbitrarily, and the position of the placing table  12  to which one end of the tension coil spring  13  is attached can be changed arbitrarily. Therefore, the position of the uppermost card  2  placed on the placing table  12  can be set arbitrarily and thus, as described above, an accommodating space for a card  2  is formed on the upper end side of the cartridge  3  and a card  2  can be accommodated in the cartridge  3 . 
         [0188]    In this embodiment, the belt  18  to which the elevating/lowering member  15  is fixed is a toothed belt and the pulleys  16  and  17  over which the belt  18  is stretched are a toothed pulley. Therefore, slip between the pulleys  16  and  17  and the belt  18  is prevented and the elevating/lowering member  15  can be elevated and lowered with a high degree of accuracy. 
         [0189]    In this embodiment, the elevating/lowering mechanism  11  is provided with the holding mechanism  20  for holding the position of the elevating/lowering member  15  in the up-and-down direction. Therefore, the position of the elevating/lowering member  15  to which the other end of the tension coil spring  13  is attached is held by the holding mechanism  20  and thus, the positional displacement of the placing table  12  to which one end of the tension coil spring  13  is attached is prevented. In other words, positional displacement of the uppermost card  2  placed on the placing table  12  is prevented. Further, the elevating/lowering mechanism  11  is provided with the releasing mechanism  21  for releasing the holding state of the elevating/lowering member  15  by the holding mechanism  20  and thus the elevating/lowering member  15  having been held by the holding mechanism  20  can be set in a movable state in the up-and-down direction. 
         [0190]    In this embodiment, the position of the elevating/lowering member  15  in the up-and-down direction is held by the rack tooth  39   a  and the engagement pawl  40   a  which are engaged with each other. Therefore, the elevating/lowering member  15  can be held by a plurality of the rack teeth  39   a  over a relatively wide range in the up-and-down direction. Further, the holding position of the elevating/lowering member  15  can be set finely by a plurality of the rack teeth  39   a . Therefore, the position of the uppermost card  2  placed on the placing table  12  can be set finely. 
         [0191]    In this embodiment, the sensors  24  and  25  are disposed so that a predetermined space in the up-and-down direction is formed between the uppermost card  2  disposed between the sensor  24  and the sensor  25  and the upper end of the cartridge  3 . Therefore, when the motor  31  is driven on the basis of detection results of the sensors  24  and  25 , an appropriate accommodating space for a card  2  can be formed on the upper end side of the cartridge  3 . 
         [0192]    In this embodiment, the flat spring  48  is disposed on the upper end side of the cartridge  3  for pressing a card  2  to the front side which is dropped into the cartridge  3  from an upper side of the cartridge  3  at the time of a carrying-in operation of the card  2 . Therefore, frictional resistance can be reduced between inner walls in the front and rear direction of the cartridge  3  and a plurality of accommodated cards  2  and the card  2  can be accommodated into the cartridge  3  appropriately. 
         [0193]    In other words, when a card  2  is randomly dropped into the cartridge  3  from the upper side of the cartridge  3 , a card  2  abutting with an inner wall on the front side, a card  2  abutting with an inner wall on the rear side, and a card  2  abutting with neither of the inner walls are stacked at random. Further, when the stacked number of the cards  2  is increased, frictional resistance between the cards  2  becomes large and each of the cards  2  is hardly displaced to the one side or to the other side. Therefore, the entire of the stacked cards  2  are brought into a state that external forces are applied to the stacked cards  2  from the inner walls in the front and rear direction of the cartridge  3  and thus frictional resistance between the cartridge  3  and a plurality of accommodated cards  2  becomes large. On the other hand, in this embodiment, a card  2  is hard to be abutted with the inner wall on the rear side of the cartridge  3  and thus the entire of the stacked cards  2  is hard to be in a state that external forces are applied from both of the inner walls in the front and rear direction of the cartridge  3 . Therefore, in this embodiment, frictional resistance can be reduced between the inner walls in the front and rear direction of the cartridge  3  and a plurality of accommodated cards  2  and thus cards  2  can be appropriately accommodated in the cartridge  3 . 
         [0194]    In this embodiment, the cartridge holding mechanism  53  is provided with the malfunction preventing lever  56  which is engaged with the lock lever  54  that holds the cartridge  3  at a predetermined position for preventing malfunction of the lock lever  54 . Further, the malfunction preventing lever  56  is turned by utilizing the latch lever  40  which is moved upward to the upper end side when the placing part  12   a  of the placing table  12  is disposed on the underside of the cartridge  3  to release the engagement of the lock lever  54  with the malfunction preventing lever  56 . Therefore, a mechanism for turning the malfunction preventing lever  56  is not required to provide separately and thus the structure of the card lifting device  6  is simplified. 
         [0000]    [Principal Effects of Card Carrying-Out/Carrying-in Device and Card Issuing/Collecting Apparatus in this Embodiment] 
         [0195]    As described above, in this embodiment, the counter roller  62  is capable of rotating in the same direction as the rotating direction of the carrying roller  61  by power of the motor  66 . Further, the torque limiter  80  is structured so that, in a case that the carrying roller  61  is rotated in the clockwise direction (in other words, in a case that a card  2  is carried out), when one piece of card  2  is sandwiched between the carrying roller  61  and the counter roller  62 , power transmission from the motor  66  to the counter roller  62  is disconnected and, when two pieces of card  2  are sandwiched between the carrying roller  61  and the counter roller  62 , power is transmitted to the counter roller  62  from the motor  66 . 
         [0196]    Therefore, as described above, in a case that a card  2  is to be carried out, when one piece of card  2  is sandwiched between the carrying roller  61  and the counter roller  62 , the counter roller  62  is rotated following the carrying roller  61 . Therefore, the card  2  is appropriately carried out from the cartridge  3 . Further, when two pieces of card  2  are sandwiched between the carrying roller  61  and the counter roller  62 , power of the motor  66  is transmitted to the counter roller  62  and the counter roller  62  is rotated in a direction in which a card  2  is carried into the inside. Therefore, the second card  2  from the uppermost card  2  which is abutted with the counter roller  62  is returned to the cartridge  3  and thus double feeding of the card  2  can be prevented. 
         [0197]    Further, in this embodiment, the pulley  83  is a one way pulley which is structured to run idle in the clockwise direction. Therefore, when a card  2  is to be carried into the inside, the counter roller  62  runs idle following the carrying roller  61  in the carrying-in direction of the card  2 . Therefore, a carrying-in operation of the card  2  is not disturbed by the counter roller  62 . 
         [0198]    As described above, in this embodiment, when a card  2  is to be carried out, double feeding of a card  2  is prevented and a card  2  can be carried out from the cartridge  3  appropriately. Further, also when a card  2  is to be carried into the inside, the card  2  can be carried into the cartridge  3  appropriately. 
         [0199]    In this embodiment, a radius of the large diameter part  63   a  which structures an outer peripheral side of the taking-out roller  63  is set to be larger than a radius of the support roller  64  which is coaxially disposed with the taking-out roller  63 . Further, a radius of the small diameter part  63   b  is set to be smaller than the radius of the support roller  64 . Further, the support roller  65  is urged in the direction so as to be abutted with the uppermost card  2  in the cartridge  3 . Therefore, when the large diameter part  63   a  of the taking-out roller  63  sends out the uppermost card  2  toward the carrying roller  61  and the large diameter part  63   a  is separated from the card  2 , the support rollers  64  and  65  support the next uppermost card  2  and the small diameter part  63   b  of the taking-out roller  63  is passed through the upper side of the next uppermost card  2 . Therefore, the taking-out roller  63  does not send out the next uppermost card  2 . As a result, a card  2  can be sent out one by one from the cartridge  3  to the carrying roller  61 . 
         [0200]    In this embodiment, the uppermost card  2  is supported at three points by two support rollers  64  which are disposed in a separated state with a predetermined space in the front and rear direction and one support roller  65  which is disposed on the right side of the support rollers  64 . Therefore, the uppermost card  2  can be supported in a stable state. Further, in this embodiment, the uppermost card  2  is supported by the rotatable support rollers  64  and  65  and thus, even when the card  2  is abutted with the support rollers  64  and  65 , the card  2  is restrained from being damaged. 
         [0201]    In this embodiment, when a card  2  is carried into the inside, the taking-out roller  63  is turned so that a counterclockwise end of the large diameter part  63   a  is abutted with a roughly center position of the card  2  in the right and left direction at a timing when the left side end of the card  2  is separated from between the carrying roller  61  and the counter roller  62 . Therefore, as described above, the card  2  separated from between the carrying roller  61  and the counter roller  62  is tapped by the large diameter part  63   a  to be dropped into the cartridge  3 . Therefore, the card  2  is easily dropped into the inside of the cartridge  3  in a horizontal state and the card  2  carried into the inside can be appropriately stacked in the cartridge  3 . 
       Other Embodiments 
       [0202]    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. 
         [0203]    In the embodiment described above, the tension coil spring  13  is hanged down through the pulley  14 . However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, instead of the tension coil spring  13  which is hanged down through pulley  14 , the elevating/lowering member  15  may be disposed on an upper side of the placing table  12 . Further, in the embodiment described above, the other end of the tension coil spring  13  is attached to the elevating/lowering member  15 . However, the other end of the tension coil spring  13  may be directly attached to the belt  18 . 
         [0204]    In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, when the card issuing/collecting apparatus  1  is provided with only an issuing function of a card  2 , the placing table  12  may be urged by a compression coil spring in the upper direction instead of the tension coil spring  13 . In this case, the compression coil spring is disposed on a lower side of the placing table  12 . Further, in this case, the spring constant of the compression coil spring is set to be substantially equal to the weight per unit thickness of the card  2 . Further, the placing table  12  may be urged in the upper direction by another spring or an elastic member instead of the compression coil spring. 
         [0205]    In the embodiment described above, a one way clutch is built in the inside of the pulley  83 . However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the one way clutch may be built in the inside of the counter roller  62 . Further, in the embodiment described above, the torque limiter  80  is attached to the rotation shaft  73 . However, a torque limiter having a similar function to the torque limiter  80  may be attached to the rotation shaft  70 . 
         [0206]    In the embodiment described above, the uppermost card  2  in the cartridge  3  is supported at three points by two support rollers  64  and one support roller  65 . However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the uppermost card  2  may be supported at four points or more by two or more support rollers  65 . 
         [0207]    In the embodiment described above, when a card  2  is to be carried out, the uppermost card  2  in the cartridge  3  is abutted with the support rollers  64  and  65 . However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, a spherical member (in other words, ball) which is abutted with the uppermost card  2  may be disposed instead of the support rollers  64  and  65 . Further, instead of the support rollers  64  and  65 , a support projection formed of material which is superior in sliding property may be disposed so as to abut with the uppermost card  2 . 
         [0208]    In the embodiment described above, the card reader  4  for performing recording on and reproduction from a card  2  is disposed on the left side of the card carrying-out/carrying-in device  5 . However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, another card processing device such as a card feeding device having only a feeding function of a card  2  or a card printing device having a printing function for printing on a card  2  may be disposed on the left side of the card carrying-out/carrying-in device  5 .