JPH03102591A - Reader writer for ic card - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To withdraw an invalid IC card by deciding whether an IC card at an inserting part is invalid or not, and releasing it from being held so as to discharge it into a storing part when it is decided invalid. CONSTITUTION:A connector head 24 is fitted firmly to the prescribed position of an inserting port 23 in the case 22 of a reader writer 21 so that the connector pin 25 of the head 24 connected to a computer can be connected to the terminal 31A of the IC card, and ratchet members 27A, 27B are installed freely rotatably at the bottom part of an insertion path so that they can be engaged to the notches 32A, 32B of the card 31. Further, a box-shaped withdrawing part is arranged below the inserting port 23, and while the pin 25 and the terminal 31A are connected, it is decided whether the card 31 is invalid or not by the computer, and when it is decided invalid, engagement between the ratchet members 27A, 27B and the notches 32A, 32B is released, and the card 31 is withdrawn to the withdrawing part.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Fields > Prior Art In conventional IC card reader/writers, invalid I/O
There was no C-card collection mechanism.

IC cards (including memory cards) have built-in IC chips, are expensive, and are not intended to become invalid.

However, with the expansion of the use of IC cards, counterfeiting and unauthorized use of IC cards are increasing, and in order to prevent this, it is necessary to collect IC cards that have been determined to be invalid due to unauthorized use.

In the case of conventional prepaid card systems using magnetic cards, since magnetic cards have more flexibility than IC cards, the collection mechanism uses sliding rollers to separate the discharge path from the magnetic card. The magnetic cards were collected by passing them through different collection routes.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in such conventional magnetic card reader/writers, invalid cards are collected by passing through a collection path using sliding rollers to collect flexible cards. Therefore, there was a problem in that this mechanism could not be applied to IC cards with poor flexibility. If applied, this would have caused the cards to get caught in the aisle, warp, and damage the cards.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an IC card reader/writer that can collect hard IC cards with a certain thickness in order to prevent IC cards from being reused for unauthorized purposes. It is said that

An IC card reader/writer that performs reading/reading includes an insertion section into which an IC card is inserted, a card accommodating section provided adjacent to this insertion section, and an IC card inserted into this insertion section. A holding mechanism that locks and holds the IC card, a judgment means that judges whether the inserted IC card is invalid or not, and a holding mechanism that releases the holding when it is judged that the IC card is invalid. An IC card reader/writer is provided with an ejecting mechanism for ejecting the IC card.

<Function> The IC card reader/writer according to the present invention temporarily locks and holds the inserted IC card, but when the IC card is invalid, it is ejected into the card accommodating section. This prevents reuse of invalid cards.

<Means for Solving the Problems> The present invention is directed to writing data to and from an IC card.Example: An example of an IC card reader/writer according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. Explain with reference to.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of an IC card reader/writer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the holding mechanism of the reader/writer when the IC card is pulled into the terminal connection position. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the holding mechanism when the holding is released. FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an IC card reader/writer. Moreover, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the whole reader/writer.

As shown in these figures, the reader/writer 21 has a rectangular box-shaped metal case 22. An insertion slot 23 into which an IC card 31 is inserted is formed in one end side wall of the case 22 .

An insertion path having a constant width and a constant length is formed inside the insertion opening 23 along the length direction X of the case 22. The insertion port 23 and the insertion path constitute an insertion portion 26 into which the IC card 31 is inserted. 2
It can be completely inserted and accommodated without protruding from the 3.

Further, below and adjacent to the insertion portion 26 of this case 22, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an IC card 31 is placed.
A box-shaped collection section 51 is provided that is large enough to accommodate the following items.

A connector head 24 is fixed in the case 22 at a constant depth position in the insertion direction from the insertion port 23 in this insertion path. This connector head 24 has a plurality of connector pins 25 protruding toward the insertion opening 23. The connection terminal 31A of the IC card 31 is brought into contact with and connected to the connector pin 25.

A microcomputer (not shown) connected to this connector bin 25 is disposed within the case 22. This microcomputer has a well-known configuration and includes a CPU, RA. M, has ROM.

The reader/writer 21 can electrically write/read data into/from the built-in memory of the IC card 31 using the microcomputer while the terminals 25 and 31A are connected to each other.

Here, as shown in FIG. 1, in the reader/writer 21, a pair of approximately triangular shapes are provided on both sides of the inner part of the insertion path so as to be rotatable within the plane of the inserted IC card 31. Plastic claw members 27A and 27B are provided.

These claw members 27A, 27B are provided so as to be rotatable on the card plane with shafts 28A, 28B as support shafts, and one end of each of the claw members 27A, 27B is locked by a spring 29A, 29B, respectively.

The other end of the spring 29A is locked to a part of the case 22 to bias the claw member 27A in the clockwise direction in FIG. 27B is biased counterclockwise in the figure.

The claw members 27A, 2 disposed on both sides of the insertion path in this way
The other end of 7B is the IC card 31 inserted into this insertion path.
32A and 32B, respectively.

Further, the positions of these claw portions 27A and 27B in the depth direction with respect to the insertion path are different from each other. As a result, when the IC card 31 is inserted, the claw members 27A, 2
The IC card 310 is prevented from being inserted upside down depending on whether or not the notches 7B can lock the notches 32A and 32B.

Further, a substantially triangular plate 41 is movably supported in the case 22 along the extending direction X of the insertion path, and when this plate 41 slides in the same direction The claw members 27A and 27B are simultaneously rotated in opposition to each other.

That is, the solenoid 42 is fixed to the back side of the insertion path of the case 22, and its tip protrudes toward the insertion port 23 side in the X direction and is locked to a part of the plate 41.

A pair of pins 43 are cut into the case 22 and protrude vertically from the plate 41, and these pins 43 are engaged with the wall portions of the claw members 27A and 27B on the insertion opening 23 side, respectively. .

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, an optical sensor 44 is fixedly installed in the case 22 at a predetermined position above the insertion path. The sensor 44 is constituted by a reflective photocoupler in which a light emitting element and a light receiving element are arranged side by side.

On the other hand, the IC card 31 has a pair of concave notches 32A and 32B on both side wall portions of the distal end portion (terminal placement portion) of the plastic body, and is adjacent to the notches 32A. A rectangular non-conforming part (black colored part) 33 is provided on the surface of the lever. Note that this non-reflective portion 33
The other surfaces of the IC card main body 3 are formed of, for example, a metal reflective plate.

Further, the optical sensor 44 is disposed in a position corresponding to the non-reflective portion 33 so that the non-reflective portion 33 can be detected.

In the insertion portion 26 which is composed of the insertion port 23 and the insertion path, resin claw members 27 are provided on both sides of the insertion path.
A, 27B and the springs 29A, 29B collectively constitute a locking mechanism that locks the IC card 31 into the locking position (FIG. 1) where the terminals are not connected to each other when the IC card 31 is inserted. are doing.

The so-called loading mechanism that pulls the IC card 31 from the locking position to the terminal connection position (FIG. 2) includes the solenoid 42, its drive circuit, and the claw member 27A.
, 27B, etc.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in this reader/writer 21, the IC card 31 inserted into the insertion portion 26 is
It is held by four holder levers 52A to 52D arranged symmetrically on the left and right sides of the insertion path. That is, when the IC card 31 is in the terminal connection position, the four holder levers 52A to i52D, the terminal guide pin 53,
It is held horizontally by 53. In this case, the claw members 27A and 27B do not hold the card in the vertical direction, but urge it horizontally toward the connector head 24.

-9-10- These T-shaped holder levers 52A to 52D are connected to the case 22 by a pin 54 at the inner end of the upper side. Further, the outer ends of the upper sides of the boulder wheels 52A to 52D are elastically locked to the case 22 by springs 55A to 55D.

Further, the holder levers i52A to 52D are coupled to the slider 56 by a pin 57.

This slider 56 is connected to a solenoid 60 fixed to the case 22.
The card can be slid in the card insertion direction X by. The connector head 24 is fixedly mounted on the slider 56.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, when the slider 56 is slid toward the back of the insertion path by the solenoid 60,
As the connector head 24 moves, the holder lever 52
A-52D rotates and releases the IC card 31 from being held.

In addition, the above-mentioned micro-combined light sensor 44
A signal from the solenoid 42 and the solenoid 60 is inputted to control the energization of the solenoid 42 and the solenoid 60 -11-.

Therefore, the nail portions 27A, 27B and the poldarepers 52A to 52D are connected to the insertion portion 26 as a whole.
It constitutes a holding mechanism that secures and holds the IC card 31 inserted therein. At the same time, the inserted IC card 31
The determining means for determining whether or not is invalid is the optical sensor 4-
4 and a microcomputer. Furthermore, the ejecting mechanism that ejects the IC card 31 to the card collecting section 51 by releasing the holding of the IC card 31 when it is determined that the IC card 31 is invalid includes solenoids 1 and 60, a slider 56, and holder levers 52A to 52D. It is composed of

In the reader/writer 21 having the above configuration, when the IC card 31 is inserted, the IC card 31 is first locked in the locking position (FIG. 1) by the claw members 27A and 27B. . At this time, the optical sensor 44 detects the IC car 1ζ'31.
If the insertion is normal, the loading mechanism is operated to pull the IC card 31 into the terminal connection position (FIG. 2).

That is, by operating the solenoid 42, the plates 41,
The claw members 27A and 27B are simultaneously rotated via the bin 43. As a result, the claw members 27A and 27B are connected to the ignition 32.
A and 32B are locked and rotated, and the IC power lead 31 is pulled into the terminal connection position.

In this case, if the optical sensor 44 determines that the insertion is not normal, or if the claw members 27A and 27B
A, 32B is not engaged, for example, when the solenoid 42 is inserted upside down, inserted backwards, or when a non-standard IC card is inserted, the microcomputer deactivates the solenoid 42.

Therefore, the claw members 27A and 27B do not rotate, and the IC power lead 3l is not drawn into the terminal connection position.

In addition, the connector pin 25 and the terminal 3 are connected at the terminal connection position.
]. Since these pins 25 or the terminals 31A are brought into contact with each other with a constant force, there is no possibility that the pins 25 or the terminals 31A will be damaged.

Here, the microcomputer is
Performs data communication with C car 1' 3 1. And I.C.
It is determined whether the card 31 is a genuine IC card, that is, whether it is an invalid card.

If the card is determined to be invalid, solenoid 6
0 is excited to attract the slider 56.

As a result, the holder lever 52A-5 is in the state shown in FIG.
2D rotates and the holding of the IC card 31 is released. Therefore, the C card 31 is released from vertical support and falls into the card collecting section 51 due to its own weight. That is, when the IC card 31 is determined to be invalid by the determination means, the retention is released and the IC card 31 is ejected into the card collecting section 51.

In addition, in the present invention, the card may be held by a carrier as the locking mechanism instead of the claw member.

<Effect> 13--14= As explained above, according to the present invention, invalid IC
It can accommodate 1 car. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an invalid IC card from being reused for unauthorized purposes.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of an IC card reader/writer according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the holding mechanism when the IC card is pulled into the terminal connection position from the card collecting section side. A plan view, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the case where the holding is released from the card collecting section side, and FIG. 4 is a plan view of the I
FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a C-card reader/writer, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the entire reader/writer. 3 1 ・ ・ ・ ・ 32A, 32B 42 ・ ・ ・ ・ 44 ・ ・ ・ ・ 5 1 ・ ・ ・ ・ 52A~52D 56 ・ ・ ◆ ・ ・ 60 ● ・ ◆ ◆ ・

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim] An IC card reader/writer that writes and/or reads data to and from an IC card, comprising: an insertion section into which an IC card is inserted; and a card accommodating section provided adjacent to the insertion section. a holding mechanism that locks and holds the IC card inserted into the insertion section, and a holding mechanism that locks and holds the IC card inserted into the insertion section;
By providing a determination means for determining whether an IC card is invalid or not, and by releasing the holding of an IC card when it is determined that the IC card is invalid,
An IC card reader/writer comprising: an ejection mechanism for ejecting a C card into the card accommodating section.