Registers – Coded record sensors – Particular sensor structure
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-25
2001-01-23
Lee, Michael G (Department: 2876)
Registers
Coded record sensors
Particular sensor structure
C235S379000, C235S439000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176426
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a card reader for reading information recorded on a card.
In a conventional card reader, a card reader main unit has an insertion slot cover into which a card is to be inserted. A circuit unit for processing information of the card is mounted on the upper face of the card reader main unit which is behind the insertion slot cover. A partition wall for preventing a foreign material from invading the circuit unit is situated in the card reader main unit. A magnetic head holding means protrudes from the card reader main unit to the inside of the insertion slot cover through the partition wall. A magnetic head for reading information of the card is situated on the magnetic head holding means.
Such a conventional card reader is often installed outdoors. In a case where the card reader is used in a place of severe weather conditions, the following problems arise.
Since the partition wall is attached to the card reader main unit, invasion of a foreign material into the circuit unit situated on the upper face of the card reader main unit is inhibited. However, the card reader is not provided with means for preventing a foreign material from invading through gaps such as a gap between the magnetic head and a magnetic head attaching hole of the card reader main unit, and a gap in a portion where the insertion slot cover is fitted onto the card reader main unit.
If a foreign material (such as water or gasoline) adheres to a terminal portion of the magnetic head in which a lead wire for transmitting information read from the card to the circuit unit is soldered, therefore, electric insulation of the circuit cannot be achieved in the terminal portion of the magnetic head serving as an input unit of information. Thus, the card data cannot be read.
In some cases, ice, mud, or the like adheres to a spring for causing the magnetic head to contact with the magnetic head under pressure, a spring groove, side faces of the magnetic head, or the like, so that movement of the magnetic head is obstructed. Thus, there exists a problem in that the card data cannot be-properly read.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention solves the above-discussed problems. It is one object of the invention to provide a card reader in which a foreign material, and especially water, mud, dust, or the like is prevented from invading a circuit system including a magnetic head.
(1) In order to attain the object, the first card reader of the invention comprises: a card reader main unit having a card passage; a magnetic head which is situated in the card reader main unit and which protrudes to the card passage to read contents recorded on a card; and invasion preventing means for preventing a foreign material from externally invading the card reader main unit, the invasion preventing means being in close contact with a periphery of the magnetic head.
(2) The second card reader of the invention further comprises magnetic head holding means for swingably holding the magnetic head, and a partition wall which prevents a foreign material from invading the card reader main unit, the partition wall comprises an opening for the holding means into which the magnetic head holding means is inserted, and the invasion preventing means comprises a protrusion which is attached to the opening for the holding means and which covers the magnetic head holding means, the protrusion comprising an opening for the magnetic head into which the magnetic head is inserted, the opening for the magnetic head being in close contact with the periphery of the magnetic head.
(3) In the third card reader of the invention, the invasion preventing means is made of an elastic member, and a portion of the invasion preventing means which is in close contact with the periphery of the magnetic head is larger in thickness than other portions.
(4) The fourth card reader of the invention further comprises an insertion slot cover which is fitted onto the card reader main unit and which protects the magnetic head, and the card reader main unit comprises a main body opening through which the magnetic head protrudes to the card passage, and the card reader further comprises an elastic member which is attached to the main unit opening as the invasion preventing means and which is in close contact with the periphery of the magnetic head, and second invasion preventing means which is situated in a portion where the insertion slot cover is fitted onto the card reader main unit.
(5) The fifth card reader of the invention comprises: a card reader main unit having a card passage; a magnetic head which is situated in the card reader main unit and which protrudes to the card passage to read contents recorded on a card; a circuit unit which processes data read by the magnetic head; a partition wall which prevents a foreign material from invading the circuit unit; and a lead wire which connects the magnetic head to the circuit unit, a water proof material being applied to a portion where the magnetic head is connected to the lead wire.
Further, it is another object of the invention to provide a card reader having a compact structure in which, even if a foreign material, especially water, mud, dust, or the like enters the inside of the card reader, the foreign material can be immediately discharged through a card passage.
(6) In order to attain the object, the sixth card reader of the invention comprises: a card insertion slot into which a card is to be inserted; a card passage; a foreign material removal opening which is situated in the card passage; and a foreign material removal passage which is connected to the foreign material removal opening, and which is sloped away from the card passage as moving toward the card insertion slot.
(7) In the seventh card reader of the invention, the foreign material removal passage is situated in a member which is used for forming the card passage.
(8) In the eighth card reader of the invention, a foreign material removal groove is situated in at least one of sides of the card passage or in a bottom face of the card passage.
(9) In the ninth card reader of the invention, the foreign material removal opening is situated in part of the foreign material removal groove.
(10) In the tenth card reader of the invention, an exit of the foreign material removal passage is situated in a front face portion of the card reader.
(11) In the method of installing a card reader of the invention, a card reader according to any one of the above-mentioned card readers is installed while an end of the card passage on the side of the insertion slot is higher than another end of the card passage, and an end of the foreign material removal passage on the side of the insertion slot is lower than another end of the foreign material removal passage.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3926021 (1975-12-01), Gonest et al.
patent: 4687268 (1987-08-01), Picciotto et al.
patent: 4947029 (1990-08-01), Kurihara et al.
patent: 5484989 (1996-01-01), Kumar et al.
patent: 5532466 (1996-07-01), Konno et al.
patent: 5698832 (1997-12-01), Someya et al.
patent: 5892210 (1999-04-01), Levasseur
patent: 8-279240 (1996-10-01), None
Kanayama Yasuhiro
Oki Hajime
Lee Michael G
Matsushita Electric - Industrial Co., Ltd.
Pearne & Gordon
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