This application is the National Stage Entry of and claims priority to and the benefit of Application PCT/EP2019/055278, filed 4 Mar. 2019, which claims priority to and the benefit of Application DE102018105316, filed 8 Mar. 2018.
The invention relates to an assembly with a card reader which is arranged in a housing. The housing comprises a pivotable flap which, in an open state, enables access to the card reader, and which, in a closed state, prevents access to the card reader. The flap has an opening, through which, in the closed state of the flap, a card can be fed to the card reader and/or can be dispensed by way of the card reader.
Document DE10 2011 118 319 A1 discloses a lottery terminal with a terminal housing. The terminal housing comprises a plurality of spatially separate functional unit receiving areas. A card reading unit is arranged in one of the functional unit receiving areas. The access to the card reading unit is prevented by way of a closure flap. A recess is configured in the closure flap, which recess permits the introduction and removal of a card into or from the card reading unit when the closure flap is in a closed state. In the case of the movement of the closure flap from an open state into a closed state, the recess of the closure flap has to be moved into a position which lies opposite the card reading unit, in order that an introduction and dispensing of a card are possible in the closed state of the flap. The position of the recess in relation to the card reading unit can change as a result of shape and positional tolerances, with the result that the introduction and dispensing of the card is no longer reliably possible.
Proceeding from the known prior art, it is an object of the invention to specify an assembly with a card reader which is arranged in a housing, in the case of which assembly an introduction and dispensing of a card into or from the card reader are particularly reliably possible in the closed state of the flap.
Said object is achieved by way of an assembly with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments are indicated in the dependent claims.
The assembly according to the invention has a card reader which is arranged in a housing. The housing comprises a pivotable flap which, in an open state, enables access to the card reader, and which, in a closed state, prevents access to the card reader. The flap has an opening, through which a card can be fed to the card reader and/or can be dispensed by way of the card reader in the closed state of the flap. The assembly has an elastically deformable element for resiliently mounting the card reader. Furthermore, the assembly has a first positioning element for positioning the card reader, which first positioning element is arranged on the flap so as to lie opposite the card reader in the closed state of the flap. The first positioning element moves the card reader, in the case of the movement of the flap from the open state into the closed state, in such a way that, in the closed state of the flap, the card reader is arranged in a predefined position relative to the flap.
In the present application, the position relative to the flap is understood to mean both the spatial arrangement and the orientation with regard to the flap.
Mechanically particularly simple resilient mounting of the card reader in the housing is realized by way of the elastically deformable element. The resilient mounting of the card reader enables the card reader to be moved by way of the first positioning element in the case of the movement of the flap from the open state into the closed state. The elastically deformable element and the first positioning element interact, in order to move the card reader into the predefined position relative to the flap. Tolerances, in particular shape and positional tolerances, in the case of the movement of the flap are compensated for by way of the resilient mounting of the card reader. Therefore, the card reader is moved reliably into the predefined position in the case of the movement of the flap from the open state into the closed state; as a result of which an introduction and dispensing of a card into or from the card reader in the closed state of the flap are particularly advantageously possible.
The card reader is preferably inclined in the direction of the opening in the closed state of the flap. Said inclination can be, for example, by between 2° and 7°, preferably 5°, with respect to a horizontal orientation of the card reader. In the present application, the horizontal orientation is understood to mean an orientation of the card reader, in which orientation the card is introduced horizontally into the card reader or dispensed again by way of said card reader. As a result, a penetration of liquids, in particular rainwater, into the card reader is prevented.
It is advantageous if the elastically deformable element has a second positioning element. In the case of the movement of the flap from the open state into the closed state, the first positioning element is brought into engagement with the second positioning element in order to position the card reader. In the case of the movement of the flap from the open state into the closed state, the first positioning element is moved on a circular path into a position which lies opposite the card reader.
In one alternative refinement, the card reader has a second positioning element. In the case of the movement of the flap from the open state into the closed state, the first positioning element is brought into engagement with the second positioning element in order to position the card reader.
Furthermore, it is advantageous if the elastically deformable element is prestressed in such a way that the second positioning element is pressed against the first positioning element in the closed state of the flap. This prevents an undesired movement of the card reader in the closed state of the flap, for example as a result of shaking of the assembly. Therefore, the card reader is held particularly reliably in the predefined position relative to the flap.
Furthermore, it is advantageous if the elastically deformable element is prestressed by way of the weight of the card reader. As a result, an undesired movement of the card reader in the open state of the flap is prevented, by way of which undesired movement the card reader, for example, might come into contact with other components of the assembly which are arranged in the housing and might damage them. The elastically deformable element is preferably prestressed in such a way that, in the open state, the card reader is inclined by between 2° and 5°, preferably 3°, in the direction of the flap with respect to the horizontal orientation of the card reader.
The elastically deformable element is preferably of single-piece configuration. As a result, the assembly can be produced particularly simply and inexpensively.
It is particularly advantageous if the elastically deformable element comprises a spring plate. A spring plate is a mechanically simple and inexpensive possibility for producing an elastically deformable element. In particular, the elastically deformable element can be formed by way of a spring plate. Here, the second positioning element can be formed by a section of the spring plate which faces the first positioning element. The elastically deformable element preferably has holes, through which screws can be guided, with the aid of which the card reader can be fastened to the spring plate.
Furthermore, it is advantageous if the elastically deformable element enables a pivoting movement of the card reader which is coupled to the elastically deformable element, preferably about a rotational axis. As a result, a simple lever arrangement for pivoting the card reader is provided, which simple lever arrangement is of mechanically particularly simple construction.
Furthermore, it is advantageous if the elastically deformable element is connected releasably to the housing or fixedly to a frame element which is connected to the housing. For example, the elastically deformable element can be fastened to the housing or the frame element with the aid of screws. As a result, the elastically deformable element can be removed from the housing for maintenance, preferably together with the card reader.
The assembly preferably comprises a frame element which is arranged in an interior space of the housing and to which the elastically deformable element is connected. The frame element can be configured as a trough, in which the elastically deformable element is arranged. The elastically deformable element can be connected fixedly or releasably to the frame element. Furthermore, further components of the assembly can be arranged on and/or at the frame element. The frame element can be disconnected, in particular, from further frame elements and/or the housing, and can be removed through a maintenance opening which is arranged on that side of the housing which faces the flap. As a result, simple maintenance of the components, in particular of the card reader, which are arranged on and/or at the frame element is possible.
The assembly can be a self-service machine, in particular an ATM, a lottery terminal, a fuel terminal or an automated pay station.
The flap of the housing preferably comprises further openings, for example for dispensing a printed receipt, dispensing coupons or arranging a display and/or input element.
On an outer side, the flap can comprise covering elements for covering and/or bordering components and modules which are integrated into the flap. The covering elements can be, in particular, injection molded parts, preferably made from a plastic.
The cards which are introduced into the card reader and/or are dispensed by way of the card reader can be user cards, identification cards or bank cards (also called debit cards).
Further features and advantages of the invention result from the following description which explains the invention in greater detail on the basis of one exemplary embodiment in conjunction with the appended figures, in which:
The flap 102 can be pivoted about the rotational axis D from an open state into a closed state. The movement of the flap 102 from the open state into the closed state and from the closed state into the open state is shown in
The frame element 106 has two internal threads 108 which are shown in
The elastically deformable element 14 is formed by way of a spring plate which is bent substantially in a step-shaped manner and has an upper step-shaped part 18 which faces the flap 102 and a lower step-shaped part 20 which faces away from the flap 102, which parts 18, 20 are connected to one another via a connecting region 19. The upper step-shaped part 18 of the elastically deformable element 14 is arranged at a spacing from and above the frame element 106. By way of deformation of the region 19, the upper part 18 and therefore the card reader 12 which is connected to it can be pivoted.
The deformation can bring about, in particular, pivoting of the upper step-shaped part about a pivot axis S. In the case of other embodiments, the pivot axis can be at another location, or the pivoting takes place via arcuate bending of the region 19 and/or the parts 18, 20. A lever, by way of which the card reader 12 is held, is formed by way of the step-shaped configuration of the elastically deformable element 14.
The upper step-shaped part 18 has a second positioning element 26 as a bracket at that end of the upper step-shaped part 18 which faces the flap 102, and two internal threads 32 which are shown in
In the exemplary embodiment which is shown, the upper step-shaped part 18 has, furthermore, four stiffening elements 28. The four stiffening elements 28 might be omitted in alternative refinements of the elastically deformable element 14.
As a result of the weight of the card reader 12, the upper step-shaped part 18 and the card reader 12 which is arranged on the upper step-shaped part 18 are inclined in the direction of the opening 104 of the flap 102 in the open state of the flap 102. The inclination of the upper step-shaped part 18 and the card reader 12 is shown on the basis of
The first positioning element 16 is arranged substantially on the inner side of the flap 102. The first positioning element 16 has a wedge-shaped first guide element 17 which protrudes through the opening 104 and serves to guide the card in the direction of the card input slot 50 of the card reader 12. In the case of the movement of the flap 102 from the open state into the closed state, the first positioning element 16 is brought into engagement with the second positioning element 26 of the elastically deformable element 14. Here, the upper step-shaped part 18 of the elastically deformable element 14 is moved downward into a predefined position. Said movement is illustrated in
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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102018105316 | Mar 2018 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2019/055278 | 3/4/2019 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2019/170587 | 9/12/2019 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
6179399 | Brustle et al. | Jan 2001 | B1 |
6896181 | Utz | May 2005 | B2 |
6955293 | Katsanevas | Oct 2005 | B1 |
8469264 | Almeida | Jun 2013 | B1 |
20040222296 | Douglass et al. | Nov 2004 | A1 |
Entry |
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International Preliminary Report on Patentability for corresponding PCT application No. PCT/EP2019/055278, dated Sep. 8, 2020, written in German language; 7 pages. |
English translation of International Preliminary Report on Patentability for corresponding PCT application No. PCT/EP2019/055278, dated Sep. 8, 2020; 5 pages. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20210166516 A1 | Jun 2021 | US |