Abstract:
A card connector comprises an insulating housing having a first card receiving slot provided with a plurality of contacts. At least one elastic projection extends into the first card receiving slot. The elastic projection is formed to have a first inclined surface that rises at an inclination in a card insertion direction and a second inclined surface that rises at an inclination in a card removal direction. The second inclined surface is steeper than the first inclined surface. A first card electrically connected to the contacts. The first card is removeably receivable in the first card receiving slot and has a flange protruding from a main surface thereof. The flange is formed to engage the first inclined surface when the first card is inserted in the first card receiving slot and to engage the second inclined surface when the first card is removed from the first card receiving slot.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to a card connector having at least one elastic projection that engages a first card inserted therein for providing a low card insertion force and a high card removal force. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 7 –9C  (see JP 2000-353558A) show a first example of a card connector  101  according to the prior art. The card connector  101  is structured so that the force required for removing a card inserted therein is increased while the force required for inserting the card therein is reduced. Thus, the reliability of the card connector is increased due to the increased card holding power. 
   The card connector  101  comprises an insulating housing  110  and a plurality of contacts  120  that are attached to the housing  110 . The housing  110  is substantially rectangular and has a card receiving opening  112  that passes through the housing  110  in a direction of thickness of the housing  110 . The card receiving opening  112  is designed so that a card C is inserted into the card receiving opening  112  from a front side (left side in  FIG. 7 ) toward a rear side of the card receiving opening  112  and so that the card C is removed in the opposite direction. A plurality of contact accommodating passages  111  extend from the card receiving opening  112  in a direction perpendicular to the direction of insertion and removal of the card C. The contact accommodating passages  111  are formed so that the contact accommodating passages  111  face each other from above and below on either side of the card receiving opening  112 . 
   Each of the contacts  120  comprises an attachment member  121  that is secured to a side wall of the corresponding contact accommodating passage  111 . The attachment member  121  is press-fitted to a rear-end portion of the side wall of the corresponding contact accommodating passage  111 . A bent member  122  extends from one end of the attachment member  121 . The bent member  122  first extends forward at an inclination from one end of the attachment member  121  and is then bent back to extend rearward at an inclination. A contact member  123  extends from an end of the bent member  122 . The contact member  123  includes a contact protruding member  123   b  and a tip  123   a . The contact member  123  first extends forward at an inclination from the end of the bent member  122  such that the contact protruding member  123   b  protrudes to an interior of the card receiving opening  112 . The contact member  123  then extends forward at an inclination after being bent back from the contact protruding member  123   b . The tip  123   a  of the contact member  123  is accommodated inside the corresponding contact accommodating passage  111 . A connecting member  124  extends from the other end of the attachment member  121 . The connecting member  124  is connected to an outside of the corresponding contact accommodating passage  111 . Each of the contacts  120  may be formed by stamping and forming a metal plate. 
   As shown in  FIG. 8A , when the card C is inserted into the card receiving opening  112 , the card C contacts the contact protruding member  123   b  of the contact member  123  so that the contact member  123  is pushed in the direction of insertion of the card C and away from the card receiving opening  112 . As shown in  FIGS. 8B –8C , the bent member  122  is compressed so that an angle G in a central portion of the bent member  122  is reduced. Consequently, the contact protruding member  123   b  is accommodated inside the contact accommodating passage  111 , and the contact member  123  almost in its entirety is positioned at a boundary surface between the contact accommodating passage  111  and the card receiving opening  112 . Accordingly, the contact member  123  contacts the card C with its entire surface, which appropriately suppresses the contact pressure that the card C receives from the contact members  123  during the insertion of the card C, thus reducing the force required for the insertion of the card C. 
   As shown in  FIG. 9A , when the card C is removed from the card receiving opening  112 , the contact member  123  is dragged in the direction of card removal. As shown in  FIGS. 9B –9C , the tip  123   a  of the contact member  123  contacts a front wall of the contact accommodating passage  111 . The contact protruding member  123   b  of the contact member  123  rises toward the card receiving opening  112  with the tip  123   a  acting as a fulcrum and strongly presses against the card C after making contact with the card C in a more or less point contact state. The force required for removing the card C is therefore increased, so that the holding power exerted on the card C in the card connector  101  is increased. 
   In the card connector  101  shown in  FIG. 7 , however, when the card C is removed from the card receiving opening  112 , the contact protruding members  123   b  of the contact members  123  of the contacts  120  come into contact and strongly press against the card C in a more or less point contact state. As a result, the force required for the removal of the card C is increased, and the holding power exerted on the card C is heightened. However, the holding power exerted on the card C is merely increased by the spring force of the contacts  120  so that the holding power exerted on the card C is still not adequate. Therefore, in cases where an external force is applied to the card connector  101 , there is still a danger that the card C will drop out of the card connector  101 . Since nothing other than the spring force of the contacts  120  is utilized to increase the holding power exerted on the card C, in cases where an external force is applied to the card connector  101 , there are cases in which the load applied to the contacts  120  is so excessive that the contacts  120  may be damaged. Moreover, if the spring force of the contacts  120  is increased, there are cases in which the card contact points provided on the card C may also be damaged (e.g., stripping of the plating) as a result of the numerous number of times the card C is inserted and removed. 
     FIGS. 10A –10B  (see JP 2002-42932A) show another example of a card connector  201  according to the prior art. The card connector  201  is structured to reduce the insertion force of a card (not shown) and to prevent the card (not shown) from dropping out. 
   The card connector  201  comprises an insulating housing  210  and a plurality of contacts  220  that are attached to the housing  210 . A card holder  230  is held inside the housing  210  in a pivotable manner. The housing  210  has a base member  211  that extends in a direction of width and side plate members  212   a ,  212   b  that are provided on both ends of the base member  211  in the direction of width. The side plate members  212   a ,  212   b  extend in a card insertion direction X and in a card removal direction Y. A card insertion slot  212  is formed between the side plate members  212   a ,  212   b  at a rear end of the housing  210 . A bridge  215  is provided on an upper portion of the side plate members  212   a ,  212   b  at rear ends thereof in the card insertion direction X. Shaft members  213  (only one side is shown in  FIG. 10B ) are provided on mutually facing inner surfaces of the side plate members  212   a ,  212   b  substantially in a center thereof. First positioning members (not shown) for positioning the card holder  230  in a first position into which the card (not shown) can be inserted into and removed from the card holder  230  and second positioning members  214  for positioning the card holder  230  in a second position into which contact point members (not shown) provided on an bottom surface of the card (not shown) can be caused to contact the contacts  220  are present on mutually facing inner surfaces of the side plate members  212   a ,  212   b  toward the rear ends thereof. The first positioning members (not shown) are provided in a lower portion of the mutually facing inner surfaces of the side plate members  212   a ,  212   b . The second positioning members  214  are provided in an upper portion of the mutually facing inner surfaces of the side plate members  212   a ,  212   b.    
   The contacts  220  are attached to the base member  211  of the housing  210  at a specified pitch along the direction of width. Contact members  221  protrude upward from an upper surface of the base member  211 . The contact members  221  are designed to be contacted by contact points (not shown) provided on the bottom surface of the card (not shown) when the card (not shown) is located in the second position. 
   The card holder  230  comprises a card placement member  231  that extends in a direction of width. Holder side plate members  232   a ,  232   b  are formed by bending both ends of the card placement member  231  in the direction of width so that the holder side plate members  232   a ,  232   b  respectively face the side plate members  212   a ,  212   b . Guide members  233   a ,  233   b  are formed by bending the holder side plate members  232   a ,  232   b  inward from the side plate members  212   a ,  212   b . The holder side plate members  232   a ,  232   b  are attached in a pivotable manner to the shaft members  213  that are respectively provided on the side plate members  212   a ,  212   b  of the housing  210 . First locking members (not shown) that are locked with the first positioning members (not shown) of the housing  210  and second locking members (not shown) that are locked with the second positioning members  214  are provided on the holder side plate members  232   a ,  232   b  of the card holder  230 . 
     FIG. 10A  shows a state in which the first locking members (not shown) of the card holder  230  are locked with the first positioning members (not shown) of the housing  210 . At this point, the card holder  230  is substantially parallel to the housing  210  so that the card (not shown) can be inserted into the card holder  230  from the rear end side in the card insertion direction X. In this case, since the front end member of the card holder  230  is away from the contact members  221  of the contacts  220 , there is no contact between the card contact point members (not shown) and the contact members  221  of the contacts  220  even when the card (not shown) is inserted. Accordingly, the contact force of the contacts  220  does not affect the card insertion force so that the card (not shown) can be inserted into the card holder  230  with little force. 
   In contrast, if the rear end of the card is lifted up in the direction of arrow Z 1  in  FIG. 10B  after the card (not shown) has been inserted into a specified position of the card holder  230 , the card holder  230  is also caused to rotate with the shafts  213  as fulcrums so that the second locking members (not shown) are locked with the second positioning members  214 . The movement of the card holder  230  is thus restricted in the returning direction. As a result, the card holder  230  is fastened in place. The front end member of the card holder  230  moves in the direction of arrow Z 2  as a result of the rotation of the card holder  230  so that the card contact points (not shown) of the card (not shown) and the contact members  221  of the contacts  220  come into contact. In this case, a rear end of the card (not shown) is blocked by the locking members  216   a ,  216   b  of the housing  210  so that the card (not shown) is locked into place. Accordingly, the card (not shown) does not drop out of the card holder  230  even if the card connector  201  is tilted in the card removal direction Y. 
   In the case of the card connector  201  shown in  FIGS. 10A –10B , however, although there is no danger of the card (not shown) dropping out of the card holder  230  or of the contacts  220  being damaged, the card holder  230  is necessary to hold the card (not shown). Therefore, the card connector  201  requires extra components and has a complex construction. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a card connector which has a simple construction and can securely increase the force required for removing the card while reducing the force required for inserting the card without damaging the contacts or the card contact points while preventing the card from unintentionally dropping out of the card connector. 
   This and other objects are achieved by a card connector comprising an insulating housing having a first card receiving slot provided with a plurality of contacts. At least one elastic projection extends into the first card receiving slot. The elastic projection is formed to have a first inclined surface that rises at an inclination in a card insertion direction and a second inclined surface that rises at an inclination in a card removal direction. The second inclined surface is steeper than the first inclined surface. A first card electrically connected to the contacts. The first card is removeably receivable in the first card receiving slot and has a flange protruding from a main surface thereof. The flange is formed to engage the first inclined surface when the first card is inserted in the first card receiving slot and to engage the second inclined surface when the first card is removed from the first card receiving slot. 
   This and other objects are further achieved by a card connector comprising an insulating housing having a first card receiving slot provided with a plurality of contacts. At least one elastic projection extends into the first card receiving slot. A first electrically connects with the contacts. The first card is removeably receivable in the first card receiving slot and has a flange protruding from a main surface thereof that engages the elastic projection. The elastic projection is formed to lift the card upward when the first card is inserted in the first card receiving slot, and the elastic projection is formed to lift the card upward when the first card is removed from the first card receiving slot. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1A  is a plan view of a card connector according to the invention; 
       FIG. 1B  is a front view of the card connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 2A  is a right side view of the card connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 2B  is a left side view of the card connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the card connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along line  4  — 4  of  FIG. 1B ; 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view along line  5  — 5  of  FIG. 1B ; 
       FIG. 6A  is a sectional view of the card connector of  FIG. 1  prior to insertion of a first card; 
       FIG. 6B  is a sectional view of the card connector of  FIG. 1  following insertion of the first card; 
       FIG. 7  is a sectional view of a card connector according to the prior art; 
       FIG. 8A  is a schematic diagram showing insertion of a card into the card connector of  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 8B  is a schematic diagram showing insertion of the card into the card connector of  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 8C  is a schematic diagram showing insertion of the card into the card connector of  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 9A  is a schematic diagram showing removal of the card into the card connector of  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 9B  is a schematic diagram showing removal of the card into the card connector of  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 9C  is a schematic diagram showing removal of the card into the card connector of  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 10A  is a perspective view of another card connector according to the prior art showing the card connector in a first position; and 
       FIG. 101B  is a perspective view of the card connector of  FIG. 10A  showing the card connector in a second position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1A –6B  show a card connector  1  according to the invention. As shown in  FIGS. 1A –1B , the card connector  1  comprises a first card receiving slot  20  into which a first card C 1  is inserted in a card insertion direction X and from which the first card C 1  is removed in a card removal direction Y. A second card receiving slot  30  is provided substantially beneath the first card receiving slot  20  into which a second card C 2  is inserted in the card insertion direction X and from which the second card C 2  is removed in the card removal direction Y. The inserted first and second cards C 1 , C 2  are connected via a connection member  10 . An interior side in the card insertion direction X shall be referred to herein as a front side, and a side opposite thereof shall be referred to as a rear side. 
   The first card C 1  may be, for example, a memory card or “express card” that conforms to Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) standards. For example, the first card C 1  may be of a type that has a first shoulder member in which a first side portion of a front of a main body of the first card C 1  is formed in a substantially wide, flat plate cut-out shape or a type that has a narrow width and has substantially straight sides. Both a mating connector member of a wide type express card and a mating connector member of a narrow type express card are the same, so that both the wide type express card and narrow type express card can be inserted into and removed from the first card receiving slot  20 . The following description, however, will involve cases in which a wide type express card is inserted and removed there from. As shown in  FIGS. 6A –6B , the first card C 1  has a main body C 1   a  with a front end portion having a flange C 1   b  that protrudes from a main surface thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, the flange C 1   b  protrudes from a bottom surface of the main body C 1 . The second card C 2  is a conventional personal computer (PC) card according to PCMCIA standards. The second card C 2  does not have a flange that protrudes from a main surface thereof. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 2A –2B , the connection member  10  has an insulating housing  11 . The housing  11  is provided with screw openings  17  for fastening the housing  11  to a surface of a circuit board (not shown). The housing  11  comprises a first housing  12  and a second housing  13  that is provided beneath the first housing  12 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . The first housing  12  is provided in a position corresponding to the first card receiving slot  20  in a vertical direction and on a front side of the first card receiving slot  20 . The first housing  12  comprises an accommodating member  12   a  that accommodates a substantially rectangular body  14  to which a plurality of first contacts  15  that extend in the card insertion direction X are attached. As shown in  FIG. 4 , a guide member  12   b  is provided on a first side of the accommodating member  12   a  and guides the insertion and removal of a first-side surface of a front end of the first card C 1 . The guide member  12   b  protrudes toward the rear with respect to the accommodating member  12   a . An inclined guide surface  12   d  is formed on a rear side of the guide member  12   b . The inclined guide surface  12   d  has a substantially small width and both sides thereof are substantially straight to the connection member  10 . The inclined guide surface  12   d  is formed to lead the first card C 1 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , a plate-form member  12   c  is formed on the accommodating member  12   a  and protrudes rearward. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 6A –6B , each of the first contacts  15  has an elastic contact member  15   a  provided on a rear end thereof that elastically contacts a card contact point (not shown) on the first card C 1  when the first card C 1  is inserted in the card connector  1 . The elastic contact members  15   a  are disposed so as to be exposed on a lower side of the platform member  12   c . A front end of the first contacts  12  is connected, for example, by soldering to a relay substrate  18 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 5 , the second housing  13  is provided in a position corresponding to the second card receiving slot  30  and is arranged in a vertical direction on a front side of the second card receiving slot  30 . A plurality of second contacts  16  that extend in the card insertion direction X are attached to the second housing  13 . The second contacts  16  are configured such that rear end members thereof respectively contact contacts (not shown) provided on the second card C 2  when the second card C 2  is inserted. Front end members of the second contacts  16  are connected by soldering, for example, to the relay substrate  18 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 1B , the first card receiving slot  20  is constructed from a partition frame  21  that forms a division between the first card receiving slot  20  and the second card receiving slot  30 . The partition frame  21  is attached to the lower portion of the first housing  12  and extends toward the rear, as shown in  FIG. 5 . As shown in  FIGS. 1A and 5 , a first guide arm  22  extends rearward from a second end member of the accommodating member  12   a . A top shell  23  covers an upper portion of the first housing  12  and first guide arm  22 . A first plate member  23   a  is bent downward from a first edge of the top shell  23 , as shown in  FIG. 1B . When the first card C 1  is inserted into and removed from the first card receiving slot  20 , an inner surface of the first guide arm  22  guides the second-side surface of the first card C 1 , and the inner surfaces of the first plate member  23   a  and the guide member  12   b  of the first housing  12  guide the first-side surface of the first card C 1 . The partition frame  21  and top shell  23  may each be formed, for example, by stamping and forming a metal plate. 
   As is shown in FIGS.  4  and  6 A– 6 B, a plurality of elastic projections  24  over which the flange C 1   b  of the first card C 1  climbs when the first card C 1  is inserted into the first card receiving slot  20  are formed so as to protrude upward from the front end member of the partition frame  21 . As is shown in  FIGS. 6A-6B , each of the elastic projections  24  has a first inclined surface  24   a  that rises at a gradual inclination from the partition frame  21  in the card insertion direction X. A second inclined surface  24   b  rises at a substantially steep inclination from the partition frame  21  moving in the card removal direction Y. An apex of the first inclined surface  24   a  and an apex of the second inclined surface  24   b  are connected to each other. Each of the elastic projections  24  is therefore formed in a substantially asymmetrical triangular shape as seen from a side thereof. The elastic projections  24  height is determined by taking into account rattling in a vertical direction, the amount of deformation of the first contacts  15 , and the amount of deformation of the elastic projections  24  relative to a height of the flange C 1   b . The first inclined surfaces  24   a  may have an angle of inclination with respect to the partition frame  21  of, for example, approximately 15 degrees and the angle of inclination of the second inclined surfaces  24   b  may have an angle of inclination with respect to the partition frame  21  of, for example, approximately 60 degrees relative to the height of the elastic projections  24 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 1B , the second card receiving slot  30  is constructed from the partition frame  21  that forms the division between the first card receiving slot  20  and the second card receiving slot  30 . A second guide arm  32  extends rearward from a second end member of the second housing  13 . A bottom shell  31  covers a lower portion of the second housing  13 , the second guide arm  32 , and a plate member  31   a  that is bent upward from a first edge of the bottom shell  31 . When the second card C 2  is inserted into and removed from the second card receiving slot  30 , the inner surface of the second guide arm  32  guides the second-side surface of the second card C 2 , and the inner surface of the first-side plate member  31   a  guides the first-side surface of the second card C 2 . A bottom shell  31  covers a lower portion of the second housing  13 , the second guide arm  32 , and the plate member  31   a . The bottom shell  31  is provided with fastening members  31   c  for fastening the bottom shell  31  to a circuit board (not shown). The bottom shell  31  may be formed, for example, by stamping and forming a metal plate. 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , a second card ejection member  50  is installed on an external side of the second guide arm  32 . The second card ejection member  50  comprises a pivoting arm  51 , a push bar  52 , and a push plate  54 . The pivoting arm  51  is disposed on the second housing  13  in a pivotable manner. The push bar  52  can move along a side surface of the second guide arm  32  in the card insertion direction X and in the card removal direction Y. The push plate  54  is shaft-supported on the push bar  52  in a pivotable manner and pushes and causes the pivoting arm  51  to pivot during the ejection of the second card C 2 . The pivoting arm  51  is designed to eject the inserted second card C 2  in the card removal direction Y as a result of pivoting. A push button  53  may be provided on the push bar  52 . 
   The operation of the card connector  1  will now be described in greater detail. As shown in  FIGS. 6A –6B , when the first card C 1  is inserted into the first card receiving slot  20 , the flange C 1   b  formed on the front end portion of the first card C 1  contacts the first inclined surfaces  24   a  of the elastic projections  24 . The first card C 1  advances along the first inclined surfaces  24   a  while pushing the elastic projections  24  downward to climb over the elastic projections  24 . Once the flange C 1   b  climbs over the elastic projections  24 , the insertion of the first card C 1  is completed, and the elastic projections  24  return to their original positions. Since the elastic projections  24  undergo elastic deformation, it is possible to reduce the force required for the insertion of the first card C 1 . Additionally, since the first inclined surfaces  24   a  of the elastic projections  24  are designed to rise at a gradual inclination from the partition frame  21  in the card insertion direction X, the force required for inserting the first card C 1  can be further reduced. Upon the completion of the insertion of the first card C 1 , the elastic contact members  15   a  of the first contacts  15  make elastic contact with the card contact points (not shown) of the first card C 1 , so that electrical connection occurs between the card contact points (not shown) and the first contacts  15 . 
   When the first card C 1  is removed from the first card receiving slot  20 , the first card C 1  is moved in the card removal direction Y. The flange C 1   b  of the first card C 1  then contacts the second inclined surfaces  24   b  of the elastic projections  24 . The flange C 1   b  retracts along the second inclined surfaces  24   b  while pushing the elastic projections  24  downward to climb over the elastic projections  24 . Once the flange C 1   b  climbs over the elastic projections  24 , the ejection of the first card C 1  is completed. When the first card C 1  is removed from the first card receiving slot  20 , the flange C 1   b  must climb over the elastic projections  24 , so that the force required for removing the first card C 1  can be securely increased. Accordingly, the holding power exerted on the first card C 1  is made sufficient, so that there is no danger of the first card C 1  accidentally dropping out of the card connector  1  in cases where an external force is applied to the card connector  1 . Additionally, since a force other than the elastic force of the first contacts  15  is utilized in order to hold the first card C 1 , the load applied to the first contacts  15  can be minimized in cases where an external force is applied to the card connector  1  so that damage to the first contacts  15  can be avoided. Moreover, there is no damage to the card contact points (not shown) provided on the first card C 1 , such as stripping of the plating, as a result of numerous insertions and removals of the first card C 1 . 
   The card connector  1  is devised so that the flange C 1   b  of the first card C 1  must climb over the elastic projections  24 , and the holding power exerted on the first card C 1  can be sufficiently increased by this alone. The second inclined surfaces  24   b  of the elastic projections  24  rise at a steep inclination from the partition frame  21  moving toward the card removal direction Y compared to the first inclined surfaces  24   a . Thus, an even greater force is required when the flange C 1   b  of the first card C 1  climbs over the elastic projections  24 , so that the holding power exerted on the first card C 1  can be increased even further. The adjustment of the insertion and removal forces of the first card C 1  can easily be accomplished by varying the number of the elastic projections  24  and the width  24   c  of the elastic projections  24 . Since the elastic projections  24  are provided on the bottom member of the first card receiving slot  20 , such a degree of freedom is obtained. Therefore, in order to increase the holding power exerted on the first card C 1 , there is no need to install, for example, any member that makes elastic contact with the side surface of the first card C 1  other than the elastic projections  24 . In cases where the elastic projections  24  are disposed on the side surface of the first card receiving slot  20 , such a degree of freedom is not obtained. 
   An embodiment of the present invention was described herein. The invention, however, is not limited to this embodiment, and various alterations or modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the card connector  1  may be formed so that the first card receiving slot  20  is disposed beneath the second card receiving slot  30 , so that the card connector  1  has only the first card receiving slot  20  or so that the card connector  1  has two tiers of the first card receiving slots  20 . Additionally, the elastic projections  24  may also be provided on the bottom shell  31  of the second card receiving slot  30 . Moreover, the configuration of the elastic projections  24  is not limited to that described herein, as long as the elastic projections  24  elastically deform when the flange C 1   b  of the first card C 1  climbs over the elastic projections  24 . In addition, it would also be possible to dispose a first card ejection member  40  on the external side of the first guide arm  22  of the first card receiving slot  20 . In this case, it would be sufficient if the first card ejection member  40  comprises a pivoting arm  41  that is disposed on the first housing  12  in a pivotable manner, a push bar  42  that can move in the card insertion and card removal directions X, Y along the side surface of the first guide arm  22 , and a push plate  44  that is shaft-supported on the push bar  42  in a pivotable manner that pushes and causes the pivoting arm  41  to pivot during the ejection of the first card C 1 . The pivoting arm  41  would be designed to eject the inserted first card C 1  in the card removal direction Y as a result of pivoting. Moreover, a push button  43  could be provided on the push bar  42 . Additionally, in cases where the first card C 1  is inserted into the first card receiving slot  20  upside down, the elastic projections  24  could be provided on the top shell  23 .