Registers – Coded record sensors – Feed mechanisms
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-07
2002-04-09
Lee, Michael G. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Coded record sensors
Feed mechanisms
C235S453000, C235S493000, C235S441000, C235S449000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06367700
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an IC card reader into which an IC card or a magnetic card is loaded and which records information on such a card and reads the information therefrom.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, the fields of application of IC cards and magnetic cards have come to expand, and in conjunction with this trend, the number of those who insert short cards (hereafter referred to as half cards) other than standard cards, paper scraps, coins, and the like into IC card readers for the purpose of tampering has increased, which constitute causes of the failure of the IC card readers.
As shown in
FIG. 8
, the conventional IC card reader is comprised of a card inserting portion
16
into which a card
15
is inserted; a slider
17
which moves in interlocking relation to the card
15
upon insertion of the card
15
; an ejection spring
18
for urging the card in its ejecting direction; a latch lever
19
adapted to be rotated about a predetermined point
20
and to stop the slider
17
in a state in which the card
15
is inserted up to a reading position; a latch spring
22
for rotating a retaining portion
25
of the latch lever
19
toward a retaining portion
21
of the slider
17
; a solenoid
23
for canceling the stopped state of the slider
17
; and a lock lever
24
for locking a rear end of the card
15
at a distal end of the slider
17
.
However, with the above-described conventional IC card reader which has a card locking mechanism occupying a large area on the lower surface side of an IC contact, a large opening for allowing a half card, a coin, or the like to drop therethrough cannot be provided on the lower surface side of the IC contact.
In addition, if the above-described card locking mechanism portion is mounted on the IC contact side, since the card locking mechanism portion interferes with the IC contact
26
as shown in FIG.
8
and electrical components on a printed circuit board, the card locking mechanism becomes complex.
In addition, with the locking mechanism which locks by the use of mechanical components alone, since the card can be loaded into the IC card reader even during a power failure, and the card reader is locked, the card cannot be removed until the power failure is remedied.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been devised to overcome the above-described problems, and its object is to provide an IC card reader having a large opening for allowing a half card or a coin to drop therethrough on the lower surface side of the IC contact, by devising a card locking mechanism in which the lock lever is electrically driven and which has a structure allowing the card locking mechanism to be mounted on the IC contact side.
To attain the above object, a first IC card reader in accordance with the present invention comprises: a lock lever for preventing a card from being drawn out; and a lock lever driving member for driving the lock lever, wherein the lock lever driving member drives the lock lever in a diagonally upward or downward direction with respect to a traveling direction of the card so as to effect a locking operation and an unlocking operation.
In addition, a second IC card reader in accordance with the present invention comprises: a lock lever for preventing a card from being drawn out; and a lock lever driving member for driving the lock lever, wherein the lock lever driving member rotates the lock lever in a traveling direction of the card.
In addition, a third IC card reader in accordance with the present invention comprises: a lock lever for preventing a card from being drawn out; a lock lever driving member for driving the lock lever; and a rotatively driving member for imparting a rotating force to the lock lever driving member, wherein the lock lever driving member has a converting portion for operating the lock lever in a substantially parallel direction upon receiving the rotating force from the rotatively driving member.
In addition, a fourth IC card reader in accordance with the present invention further comprises: a restricting portion for restricting the movement in an unlocking direction at the time of locking.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5061842 (1991-10-01), Payne
patent: 5196687 (1993-03-01), Sugino et al.
patent: 5331138 (1994-07-01), Saroya
patent: 6138916 (2000-10-01), Zolkos et al.
patent: 02000137770 (2000-05-01), None
Kanayama Yasuhiro
Oki Hajime
Lee Michael G.
Pearne & Gordon LLP
Walsh Daniel
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