Medium Stacker And Medium Feed Device

Abstract

A medium stacker may include a medium feed-out port which is formed at a lower end of the medium stacker and from which a lowest card-shaped medium of the plurality of the card-shaped media stored in the medium stacker is fed out, wherein a feed direction side for the card-shaped medium which is fed out from the medium feed-out port is referred to as a front side and an opposite side in a feed direction of the card-shaped medium is referred to as a rear side; a front side plate structuring a front side face of the medium stacker; and a rear side plate structuring a rear side face of the medium stacker. At least an upper end side of the rear side plate may be formed of an inclined part which is inclined to a rear side toward an upper side. The inclined part may be contacted with the card-shaped media stored in the medium stacker.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This is the U.S. national stage of application No. PCT/JP2013/084665, filed on Dec. 25, 2013. Priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(a) and 35 U.S.C. .sctn.365 (B) is claimed from Japanese Application No. 2013-051173, filed Mar. 14, 2013, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a medium stacker in which a plurality of card-shaped media is stored in a stacked state, and a medium feed device including the medium stacker.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Conventionally, a card feed mechanism has been known which includes a card stacker stored with a plurality of cards in a stacked state (see, for example, Patent Literature 1). The card feed mechanism described in Patent Literature 1 includes a support member which supports rear end sides in a feeding direction of cards stored in the card stacker at a predetermined height, a restriction member which is disposed in an inside of the card stacker at substantially the same height as the support member and restricts tip end sides in the feeding direction of the cards, a movable member structured to abut with the cards supported by the support member and lift rear end sides in the feeding direction of a plurality of the cards, a drive part structured to drive the movable member in an upper and lower direction that is a stacked direction of the cards, and a kick roller for feeding the lowest card of a plurality of the cards stored in the card stacker.

[0004] In the card feed mechanism described in Patent Literature 1, the support member is provided with an inclined card support face, which is inclined with respect to the upper and lower direction, and a guide portion which is formed in a substantially perpendicular shape and is connected with a lower end of the inclined card support face. The movable member is disposed on an inner side of the support member. Further, the movable member is provided with a card abutting face which is abutted with rear end sides in the feeding direction of the cards when the movable member is moved upward by a drive force of the motor as a drive part. The card abutting face is formed in a step shape which is inclined with respect to the upper and lower direction.

[0005] In the card feed mechanism, when the movable member is lifted, the rear end sides in the feeding direction of the cards abutted with the card abutting face are lifted. Therefore, even when a plurality of cards in a stacked state stored in the card stacker is in a stuck state on each other, mutually stuck cards can be separated from each other by lifting and lowering the movable member. Accordingly, in the card feed mechanism, even when the card feed mechanism is used under an environment where a plurality of stacked cards is easily stuck to each other, a plurality of the cards stored in the card stacker can be successively fed out one by one.

PATENT LITERATURE

[0006] [PTL 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-99224

[0007] In the card feed mechanism described in Patent Literature 1, the rear end sides in the feeding direction of cards are lifted by the movable member. Therefore, in the card feed mechanism, a large load due to weight of a plurality of the cards stored in the card stacker is easily applied to a tip end side in the feeding direction of the lowest card of a plurality of the cards stored in the card stacker. Accordingly, in the card feed mechanism, when a frictional coefficient between cards is high, a situation may be occurred that a card is unable to be fed out from the card stacker due to a frictional resistance between the lowest card and the card just above the lowest card.

SUMMARY

[0008] In view of the problem described above, at least an embodiment of the present invention provides a medium stacker capable of surely feeding out a card-shaped medium even when a frictional coefficient between a plurality of card-shaped media stored in a stacked state is high. Further, at least an embodiment of the present invention provides a medium feed device including the medium stacker.

[0009] To achieve the above mentioned, at least an embodiment of the present invention provides a medium stacker in which a plurality of card-shaped media is stacked and stored. The medium stacker includes a medium feed-out port which is formed at a lower end of the medium stacker and from which the lowest card-shaped medium of a plurality of the card-shaped media stored in the medium stacker is fed out. Further, when a feed direction side for the card-shaped medium which is fed out from the medium feed-out port is referred to as a front side and an opposite side in a feed direction of the card-shaped medium is referred to as a rear side, the medium stacker includes a front side plate structuring a front side face of the medium stacker, a rear side plate structuring a rear side face of the medium stacker, and at least an upper end side of the rear side plate is formed of an inclined part which is inclined to a rear side toward an upper side and the inclined part is contacted with the card-shaped media stored in the medium stacker.

[0010] In the medium stacker in accordance with at least an embodiment of the present invention, at least an upper end side of the rear sideplate structuring a rear side face of the medium stacker is formed of an inclined part which is inclined to a rear side toward an upper side and the inclined part is contacted with the card-shaped media stored in the medium stacker. In other words, in the medium stacker in accordance with at least an embodiment of the present invention, in the rear side plate structuring the rear side face of the medium stacker, an entire region from a predetermined position in the upper and lower direction of the rear side plate to the upper end of the rear side plate is inclined to a rear side and the card-shaped media stored in the medium stacker are contacted with the inclined part. Therefore, according to at least an embodiment of the present invention, a load of a plurality of the card-shaped media stored on at least an upper end side of the medium stacker can be received by the inclined part of the rear side plate. Accordingly, in at least an embodiment of the present invention, a load applied to the lowest card-shaped medium of a plurality of the card-shaped media stored in the medium stacker can be reduced.

[0011] Further, in at least an embodiment of the present invention, at least an upper end side of the rear side plate is inclined to a rear side toward the upper side. Therefore, when the lowest card-shaped medium stored in the medium stacker is fed out from the medium feed-out port, a plurality of remaining card-shaped media stored in the medium stacker becomes easy to incline so that front sides of the card-shaped media are lifted as the lowest card-shaped medium is fed out from the medium feed-out port. Accordingly, in at least an embodiment of the present invention, when the lowest card-shaped medium stored in the medium stacker is to be fed out from the medium feed-out port, a load of a plurality of the remaining card-shaped media stored in the medium stacker is hard to be applied to the lowest card-shaped medium as the lowest card-shaped medium is fed out from the medium feed-out port.

[0012] As described above, in at least an embodiment of the present invention, a load applied to the lowest card-shaped medium stored in the medium stacker can be reduced and, in addition, when the lowest card-shaped medium stored in the medium stacker is to be fed out from the medium feed-out port, a load of a plurality of the remaining card-shaped media stored in the medium stacker is hard to be applied to the lowest card-shaped medium as the lowest card-shaped medium is fed out from the medium feed-out port. Therefore, in a device on which the medium stacker in at least an embodiment of the present invention is mounted, even when a frictional coefficient between a plurality of card-shaped media stored in a stacked state in the medium stacker is high, a frictional resistance between the lowest card-shaped medium and the card-shaped medium just above the lowest card-shaped medium stored in the medium stacker can be reduced and thus the card-shaped medium stored in the medium stacker can be surely fed out from the medium feed-out port.

[0013] Further, in at least an embodiment of the present invention, the entire region from a predetermined position in the upper and lower direction of the rear side plate to the upper end of the rear side plate is inclined to a rear side and thus, even when the number of the card-shaped media stored in the medium stacker is increased, a load of the increased card-shaped media can be received by the inclined part. Therefore, according to at least an embodiment of the present invention, even when the number of the card-shaped medium stored in the medium stacker is increased, a load applied to the lowest card-shaped medium stored in the medium stacker can be reduced and, as a result, a frictional resistance between the lowest card-shaped medium and the card-shaped medium contacting with the lowest card-shaped medium stored in the medium stacker can be reduced and the card-shaped medium stored in the medium stacker can be surely fed out from the medium feed-out port.

[0014] In at least an embodiment of the present invention, for example, the rear side plate is structured of a parallel part, which is parallel to the upper and lower direction and is a lower end side portion of the rear side plate, and an inclined part connected with an upper end of the parallel part . The front side plate is structured of a front side parallel part, which is parallel to the upper and lower direction and is a lower end side portion of the front side plate, and a front side inclined part which is connected with an upper end of the front side parallel part and is substantially parallel to the inclined part. A detection opening part for detecting a supply time of the card-shaped media to the medium stacker based on presence or absence of the card-shaped media in the medium stacker is formed at least one of a portion of the parallel part in a vicinity of a boundary between the parallel part and the inclined part and a portion of the front side parallel part in a vicinity of a boundary between the front side parallel part and the front side inclined part.

[0015] In at least an embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the whole of the rear sideplate is the inclined part which is inclined to the rear side toward the upper side. According to this structure, a load of all card-shaped media stored in the medium stacker can be received by the rear side plate. Therefore, a load applied to the lowest card-shaped medium stored in the medium stacker can be reduced effectively. Further, according to this structure, when the lowest card-shaped medium stored in the medium stacker is fed out from the medium feed-out port, a plurality of remaining card-shaped media stored in the medium stacker becomes easy to incline so that front sides of the card-shaped media are lifted as the lowest card-shaped medium is fed out from the medium feed-out port. Therefore, a load of a plurality of the remaining card-shaped media stored in the medium stacker is further hard to be applied to the lowest card-shaped medium which is fed out from the medium feed-out port. As a result, even when a frictional coefficient between a plurality of card-shaped media stored in a stacked state in the medium stacker is high, a frictional resistance between the lowest card-shaped medium and the card-shaped medium just above the lowest card-shaped medium stored in the medium stacker can be further reduced and thus the card-shaped medium stored in the medium stacker can be further surely fed out from the medium feed-out port.

[0016] In at least an embodiment of the present invention, the card-shaped medium is, for example, a card which is accommodated in a bag. In a case that a bag in which a card is accommodated is, for example, a film bag made of polypropylene or the like, bags of stacked card-shaped media are easily contacted tightly and the card-shaped media are easy to be stuck on each other. However, according to at least an embodiment of the present invention, a load applied to the lowest card-shaped medium stored in the medium stacker can be reduced and, in addition, when the lowest card-shaped medium stored in the medium stacker is to be fed out from the medium feed-out port, a load of a plurality of the remaining card-shaped media stored in the medium stacker is hard to be applied to the lowest card-shaped medium which is fed out from the medium feed-out port as the lowest card-shaped medium is fed out from the medium feed-out port. Therefore, even when a card-shaped medium is a card accommodated in a film bag made of polypropylene or the like, sticking of card-shaped media is prevented and the card-shaped medium stored in the medium stacker can be surely fed out from the medium feed-out port.

[0017] The medium stacker in accordance with at least an embodiment of the present invention may be used in a medium feed device which includes a medium feed mechanism structured to feed the lowest card-shaped medium of the card-shaped media stored in the medium stacker from the medium feed-out port. According to the medium feed device, even when a frictional coefficient between a plurality of card-shaped media stored in a stacked state in the medium stacker is high, a frictional resistance between the lowest card-shaped medium and the card-shaped medium just above the lowest card-shaped medium stored in the medium stacker can be reduced and thus the card-shaped medium stored in the medium stacker can be surely fed out from the medium feed-out port.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0018] As described above, in the device on which the medium stacker in accordance with at least an embodiment of the present invention is mounted, even when a frictional coefficient between a plurality of card-shaped media stored in a stacked state in the medium stacker is high, the card-shaped medium stored in the medium stacker can be surely fed out from the medium feed-out port. Further, in the medium feed device in accordance with at least an embodiment of the present invention, even when a frictional coefficient between a plurality of card-shaped media stored in a stacked state in the medium stacker is high, the card-shaped medium stored in the medium stacker can be surely fed out from the medium feed-out port.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0019] Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings which are meant to be exemplary, not limiting, and wherein like elements are numbered alike in several Figures, in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a medium feed device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 2 is an explanatory side view showing a schematic structure of a portion of the medium feed device shown in FIG. 1.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a medium stacker in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0023] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] (Structure of Medium Feed Device)

[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a medium feed device 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory side view showing a schematic structure of a portion of the medium feed device 1 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a medium stacker 4 in FIG. 1.

[0026] A medium feed device 1 in this embodiment is a device for feeding a card 2 accommodated in a bag which is a card-shaped medium. Therefore, in the following descriptions, the medium feed device 1 in this embodiment is a "card feed device 1". The card feed device 1 includes a card stacker 4 as a medium stacker in which a plurality of cards 2 is stored in a stacked state in the upper and lower direction, and a main body part 5 to which the card stacker 4 is detachably attached. The main body part 5 includes a card feed mechanism 6 as a medium feed mechanism for feeding out cards 2 stored in the card stacker 4 one by one and a detection mechanism 7 for detecting a supply time of cards 2 to the card stacker 4.

[0027] In the following descriptions, a feed direction side for a card 2 by the card feed mechanism 6 ("X1" direction side in FIGS. 1 through 3) is referred to as a front side, and its opposite side in the feed direction of the card 2 ("X2" direction side in FIGS. 1 through 3) is referred to as a rear side. Further, the "Y1" direction side in FIGS. 1 through 3 perpendicular to the front and rear direction is referred to as a "right" side, and the "Y2" direction side is referred to as a "left" side.

[0028] A card 2 is a bagged card, in other words, a card made of vinyl chloride whose thickness is about 0.7-0.8 mm, a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) card whose thickness is about 0.18-0.36 mm, a paper card having a predetermined thickness or the like is accommodated in a bag. The card 2 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape. Further, for example, the card 2 is accommodated in a bag formed of resin. In this embodiment, the card 2 is accommodated in a film bag made of polypropylene or the like.

[0029] The card stacker 4 is formed in a box shape whose upper face is opened. The card stacker 4 is provided with a bottom plate 4a structuring a bottom face of the card stacker 4, a front side plate 4b structuring a front side face of the card stacker 4, a rear side plate 4c structuring a rear side face of the card stacker 4, aright sideplate 4d structuring a right side face of the card stacker 4, and a left side plate 4e structuring a left side face of the card stacker 4.

[0030] The bottom plate 4a is formed of a metal plate. Further, the bottom plate 4a is formed in a flat plate shape which is perpendicular to the upper and lower direction. The bottom plate 4a is formed with an arrangement hole in a slit shape in which upper end sides of a feed roller 10 and the like described below structuring the card feed mechanism 6 are disposed. The arrangement hole is formed so as to penetrate through the bottom plate 4a in the upper and lower direction. The right side plate 4d and the left side plate 4e are formed of a metal plate. Further, the right side plate 4d and the left side plate 4e are formed in a flat plate shape which is perpendicular to the right and left direction. A cut-out part 4f is formed in the left side plate 4e over the entire region in the upper and lower direction at a middle position of the left side plate 4e in the front and rear direction.

[0031] The front side plate 4b is structured of a metal plate. Further, the front side plate 4b is structured of a parallel part 4g as a front side parallel part, which is perpendicular to the front and rear direction (in other words, parallel to the upper and lower direction) and is a lower end side portion of the front side plate 4b, and an inclined part 4h as a front side inclined part which is connected with an upper end of the parallel part 4g and inclined to a rear side toward the upper side. In other words, an upper end side of the front side plate 4b is the inclined part 4h, which is inclined to a rear side toward an upper side, and an entire region from a predetermined position of the front side plate 4b in the upper and lower direction to the upper end of the front sideplate 4b is inclined to a rear side. The parallel part 4g and the inclined part 4h are formed in a flat plate shape.

[0032] A card feed-out port 4j as a medium feed-out port from which the lowest card 2 of a plurality of cards 2 stored in the card stacker 4 is to be fed out is formed between the lower end of the parallel part 4g and the bottom plate 4a. In other words, the card feed-out port 4j from which the lowest card 2 of the cards stored in the card stacker 4 is to be fed out is formed at a lower end of the card stacker 4. Cards 2 stored in the card stacker 4 are fed out from the card feed-out port 4j to a front side by the card feed mechanism 6.

[0033] The rear side plate 4c is structured of a metal plate. Further, the rear side plate 4c is structured of a parallel part 4k, which is perpendicular to the front and rear direction (in other words, parallel to the upper and lower direction) and is a lower end side portion of the rear side plate 4c, and an inclined part 4m which is connected with an upper end of the parallel part 4k and inclined to a rear side toward the upper side. In other words, an upper end side of the rear side plate 4c is an inclined part 4m, which is inclined to a rear side toward an upper side, and an entire region from a predetermined position of the rear side plate 4c in the upper and lower direction to the upper end of the rear side plate 4c is inclined to a rear side. The parallel part 4k and the inclined part 4m are formed in a flat plate shape.

[0034] A height of the parallel part 4k and a height of the parallel part 4g of the front side plate 4b are substantially equal to each other and a height of the inclined part 4m and a height of the inclined part 4h of the front side plate 4b are substantially equal to each other. Further, the heights of the inclined parts 4h and 4m are set to be about four (4) times of the heights of the parallel parts 4g and 4k. In this embodiment, it is preferable that the heights of the parallel parts 4g and 4k are set to be as low as possible.

[0035] The inclined part 4m and the inclined part 4h are set to be substantially parallel to each other. Inclination angles ".theta." of the inclined parts 4h and 4m with respect to the upper and lower direction are set to be substantially 10.degree. through 45.degree.. Specifically, in this embodiment, the inclination angle ".theta." is about 20.degree.. The rear end sides of the cards 2 in a stored state in the card stacker 4 are contacted with the inclined part 4m. Specifically, in the card stacker 4, the rear end sides of the cards 2 are contacted with the inclined part 4m in a state that the cards 2 are stored in a region surrounded by the inclined part 4h, the inclined part 4m, the right sideplate 4d and the left side plate 4e. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an inclination angle of the inclined part 4h with respect to the upper and lower direction and an inclination angle of the inclined part 4m with respect to the upper and lower direction may be different from each other.

[0036] The card feed mechanism 6 includes a feed roller 10 which is abutted with the lowest card 2 of a plurality of cards 2 stored in the card stacker 4 to feed the lowest card 2 to a front side, feed rollers 11 and 12 for feeding the card 2 fed out by the feed roller 10 further to the front side, and a separation roller 13 for separating cards 2 which are fed out in an overlapped state from the card stacker 4.

[0037] The feed roller 10 is an eccentric roller. An upper end side of the feed roller 10 is disposed in the arrangement hole formed in the bottom plate 4a. A motor not shown is connected with the feed roller 10. Further, support rollers 14, 15 and 16 are disposed on a lower side of the card stacker 4 so as to support the cards 2 stored in the card stacker 4 from a lower side. The support roller 15 is coaxially disposed with the feed roller 10. The support roller 14 is disposed to a rear side of the support roller 15 and the support roller 16 is disposed to a front side of the support roller 15. Upper end sides of the support rollers 14 through 16 are disposed in the arrangement hole formed in the bottom plate 4a.

[0038] The feed rollers 11 and 12 are disposed to a lower side of the conveying passage for a card 2 so as to abut with an under face of the card 2. The feed roller 11 is disposed on a front side with respect to the card stacker 4 and the feed roller 12 is disposed to a front side of the feed roller 11. A motor not shown is connected with the feed rollers 11 and 12. A pad roller 17 is oppositely disposed to an upper side of the feed roller 12. The pad roller 17 is urged toward the feed roller 12.

[0039] The separation roller 13 is oppositely disposed to the feed roller 11 from an upper side with respect to the feed roller 11. Further, the separation roller 13 is urged toward the feed roller 11. The separation roller 13 is rotated in the same direction as the feed rollers 10 through 12 so as to separate cards 2 fed out in an overlapped state. In other words, when a card 2 is to be fed out from the card stacker 4, the fed rollers 10 through 12 are rotated in a clockwise direction in FIG. 2 and the separation roller 13 is also rotated in a clockwise direction in FIG. 2. Therefore, when two cards 2 are fed out from the card stacker 4 in an overlapped state, the card 2 whose under face is abutted with the feed roller 11 is conveyed to a front side and the card 2 whose upper face is abutted with the separation roller 13 is returned to a side of the card stacker 4 (in other words, to a rear side).

[0040] The detection mechanism 7 is an optical type sensor having a light emitting element and a light receiving element. The detection mechanism 7 is provided for detecting a supply time of cards 2 to the card stacker 4 by detecting presence or absence of cards 2 in the card stacker 4. Specifically, the detection mechanism 7 detects whether a card 2 is present or not on an upper end side in a region surrounded by the parallel part 4g of the front side plate 4b, the parallel part 4k of the rear side plate 4c, the right side plate 4d and the left side plate 4e in the card stacker 4 and thereby a supply time of cards 2 to the card stacker 4 is detected.

[0041] An upper end side of the parallel part 4g is, as shown in FIG. 3, formed with a detection opening part 4p for detecting presence or absence of cards 2. In other words, the detection opening part 4p is formed in the parallel part 4g in a vicinity of a boundary between the parallel part 4g and the inclined part 4h (specifically, just below a boundary between the parallel part 4g and the inclined part 4h). Further, the detection opening part (not shown) is also formed in a portion corresponding to the detection opening part 4p on the front end side of the right side plate 4d. A light emitting element and a light receiving element structuring the detection mechanism 7 are disposed so that an optical axis of a light directing from the light emitting element to the light receiving element passes the detection opening part 4p and the detection opening part of the right side plate 4d.

PRINCIPAL EFFECTS IN THIS EMBODIMENT

[0042] As described above, in this embodiment, an upper end side of the rear side plate 4c structuring the card stacker 4 is formed to be the inclined part 4m which is inclined to a rear side toward an upper side and, in the rear side plate 4c, the entire region from a predetermined position of the rear side plate 4c to the upper end of the rear side plate 4c in the upper and lower direction is inclined to the rear side. Further, in this embodiment, rear end sides of cards 2 stored in a region surrounded by the inclined part 4h, the inclined part 4m, the right side plate 4d and the left side plate 4e in the card stacker 4 are contacted with the inclined part 4m. Therefore, according to this embodiment, a load of cards 2 stored in a region surrounded by the inclined part 4h, the inclined part 4m, the right side plate 4d and the left side plate 4e in the card stacker 4 can be received by the inclined part 4m. Accordingly, in this embodiment, a load applied to the lowest card 2 of a plurality of cards stored in the card stacker 4 can be reduced.

[0043] In other words, when "W" represents the weight of all cards 2 except the lowest card 2 of a plurality of the cards 2 stored in the card stacker 4, "P" represents a load applied to the lowest card 2, "Q" represents a reaction force which is applied to the cards 2 by the inclined part 4m and ".mu.v" represents a frictional coefficient between the inclined part 4m and the cards 2, in a case that the inclined parts 4h and 4m are not formed in the card stacker 4, the load "P" applied to the lowest card 2 is expressed as follows.

P=W

On the other hand, when the inclined parts 4h and 4m are formed in the card stacker 4, a load "P" applied to the lowest card 2 is expressed as follows.

P=W-Qsin.theta.-.mu.vQcos.theta.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, a load applied to the lowest card 2 of a plurality of the cards 2 stored in the card stacker 4 can be reduced.

[0044] Further, in this embodiment, the upper end side of the rear side plate 4c is formed to be the inclined part 4m which is inclined to a rear side toward the upper side. Therefore, when the lowest card 2 stored in the card stacker 4 is fed out from the card feed-out port 4j, a plurality of remaining cards 2 stored in the card stacker 4 becomes easy to incline so that front sides of the cards 2 are lifted as the lowest card 2 is fed out from the card feed port 4j. Accordingly, in this embodiment, when the lowest card 2 stored in the card stacker 4 is to be fed out from the card feed-out port 4j, a load of a plurality of the remaining cards 2 stored in the card stacker 4 is hard to be applied to the lowest card 2 as the lowest card 2 is fed out from the card feed-out port 4j.

[0045] As described above, in this embodiment, a load can be reduced which is applied to the lowest card 2 stored in the card stacker 4 and, in addition, when the lowest card 2 stored in the card stacker 4 is to be fed out from the card feed-out port 4j, a load of a plurality of the remaining cards 2 stored in the card stacker 4 is hard to be applied to the lowest card 2 as the lowest card 2 is fed out from the card feed-out port 4j. Therefore, according to this embodiment, even when a frictional coefficient between a plurality of cards 2 stored in a stacked state in the card stacker 4 is high, a frictional resistance between the lowest card 2 and the card 2 just above the lowest card 2 stored in the card stacker 4 can be reduced and thus the card 2 stored in the card stacker 4 can be surely fed out from the card feed-out port 4j.

[0046] Further, in this embodiment, the entire region from a predetermined position of the rear side plate 4c in the upper and lower direction to the upper end of the rear side plate 4c is inclined to a rear side and thus, even when the number of the cards 2 stored in the card stacker 4 is increased, a load of the increased cards 2 can be received by the inclined part 4m. Therefore, according to this embodiment, even when the number of the cards 2 stored in the card stacker 4 is increased, a load applied to the lowest card 2 stored in the card stacker 4 can be reduced and, as a result, a frictional resistance between the lowest card 2 and the card 2 contacting with the lowest card 2 stored in the card stacker 4 can be reduced and thus the card 2 stored in the card stacker 4 can be surely fed out from the card feed-out port 4j.

[0047] In this embodiment, a lower end side of the front side plate 4b is formed to be the parallel part 4g and a lower end side of the rear side plate 4c is formed to be the parallel part 4k. Therefore, according to this embodiment, a conventional card stacker (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2013-20283) in which the entire front side plate 4b and the entire rear side plate 4c are parallel to the upper and lower direction can be attached to the main body part 5. Accordingly, in this embodiment, versatility of the medium feed device 1 can be enhanced.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

[0048] Although the present invention has been shown and described with reference to a specific embodiment, various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings herein.

[0049] In the embodiment described above, the rear side plate 4c is structured of the parallel part 4k and the inclined part 4m. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the entire rear side plate 4c may be formed of an inclined part which is inclined to a rear side toward the upper side. In other words, the entire rear side plate 4c from its lower end to its upper end may be structured of an inclined part which is inclined to a rear side toward the upper side. In this case, the rear side plate 4c can receive a load of all the cards 2 stored in the card stacker 4. Therefore, a load applied to the lowest card 2 stored in the card stacker 4 can be reduced effectively. Further, in this case, when the lowest card 2 stored in the card stacker 4 is fed out from the card feed-out port 4j, a plurality of remaining cards 2 stored in the card stacker 4 becomes easy to incline so that front sides of the cards 2 are lifted as the lowest card 2 is fed out from the card feed port 4j. Therefore, a load of a plurality of the remaining cards 2 stored in the card stacker 4 is further hard to be applied to the lowest card 2 which is fed out from the card feed-out port 4j. As a result, even when a frictional coefficient between a plurality of cards 2 stored in a stacked state in the card stacker 4 is high, a frictional resistance between the lowest card 2 and the card 2 just above the lowest card 2 stored in the card stacker 4 can be further reduced and thus the card 2 stored in the card stacker 4 can be further surely fed out from the card feed-out port 4j. In this case, the entire front side plate 4b is also formed of an inclined part which is inclined to a rear side toward the upper side. An inclination angle of the front side plate 4b with respect to the upper and lower direction in this case may be the same as the inclination angle of the rear side plate 4c with respect to the upper and lower direction or may be different from each other.

[0050] Further, in the embodiment described above, the rear side plate 4c is structured of the parallel part 4k and the inclined part 4m. However, a guide part for guiding cards 2 to be stored in the card stacker 4 may be formed so as to be connected with an upper end of the inclined part 4m. In this case, the guide part is inclined to a rear side toward the upper side. Further, an inclination angle of the guide part with respect to the upper and lower direction is set to be larger than the inclination angle ".theta." of the inclined part 4m with respect to the upper and lower direction. Similarly, a guide part for guiding cards 2 to be stored in the card stacker 4 may be formed so as to be connected with an upper end of the inclined part 4h of the front side plate 4b. In this case, the guide part is inclined to a front side toward the upper side.

[0051] In the embodiment described above, the detection opening part 4p is formed on an upper end side of the parallel part 4g of the front side plate 4b. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, instead of the detection opening part 4p, it may be structured that a detection opening part is formed on an upper end side of the parallel part 4k of the rear side plate 4c and a detection opening part is formed at a portion corresponding to the detection opening part on a rear end side of the right side plate 4d. In this case, a light emitting element and a light receiving element are disposed so that an optical axis of a light directing from the light emitting element to the light receiving element structuring the detection mechanism 7 passes the detection opening part of the rear side plate 4c and the detection opening part of the right side plate 4d. Further, in addition to the detection opening part 4p and the detection opening part formed on the front end side of the right side plate 4d, it may be structured that a detection opening part is formed on an upper end side of the parallel part 4k and a detection opening part is formed on a rear end side of the right side plate 4d.

[0052] In the embodiment described above, the card feed mechanism 6 includes the feed roller 10 structured to abut with the lowest card 2 of a plurality of cards 2 stored in the card stacker 4 so as to feed out the lowest card 2 to a front side. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the card feed mechanism 6 may include, instead of the feed roller 10, a pawl member structured to abut with a rear end face of the lowest card 2 stored in the card stacker 4, a pawl member drive mechanism for driving the pawl member and the like. In a case that the thickness of a card 2 is thin and thus the rigidity of the card 2 is low, it is preferable that the card 2 stored in the card stacker 4 is fed out by the feed roller 10. On the other hand, in a case that the thickness of a card 2 is thick and thus the rigidity of the card 2 is high, it is preferable that the card 2 stored in the card stacker 4 is fed out by a pawl member.

[0053] In the embodiment described above, the card stacker 4 is detachably attached to the main body part 5. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the card stacker 4 may be fixed to the main body part 5. For example, the bottom plate 4a, the front side plate 4b, the rear side plate 4c, the right side plate 4d and the left side plate 4e may be integrally formed with a frame of the main body part 5.

[0054] In the embodiment described above, the card 2 is a bagged card, in other words, a card is accommodated in a bag. However, the card 2 may be a card made of vinyl chloride, a PET card, a paper card or the like which is not accommodated in a bag. Further, in the embodiment described above, the card 2 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape but the card 2 may be formed in a substantially square shape. Further, in the embodiment described above, a member for increasing a contact resistance of the inclined part 4m with a card 2 may be fixed to a front face of the inclined part 4m. For example, a felt or the like may be fixed to a front face of the inclined part 4m.

[0055] While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.

[0056] The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. A medium stacker in which a plurality of card-shaped media is stacked and stored, the medium stacker comprising: a medium feed-out port which is formed at a lower end of the medium stacker and from which a lowest card-shaped medium of the plurality of the card-shaped media stored in the medium stacker is fed out; wherein a feed direction side for the card-shaped medium which is fed out from the medium feed-out port is referred to as a front side and an opposite side in a feed direction of the card-shaped medium is referred to as a rear side, a front side plate structuring a front side face of the medium stacker; and a rear side plate structuring a rear side face of the medium stacker; wherein at least an upper end side of the rear side plate is formed of an inclined part which is inclined to a rear side toward an upper side; and wherein the inclined part is contacted with the card-shaped media stored in the medium stacker.

2. The medium stacker according to claim 1, wherein the rear side plate comprises a parallel part, which is a lower end side portion of the rear side plate and is parallel to an upper and lower direction, and the inclined part connected with an upper end of the parallel part, the front side plate comprises a front side parallel part, which is a lower end side portion of the front side plate and is parallel to the upper and lower direction, and a front side inclined part which is connected with an upper end of the front side parallel part and is substantially parallel to the inclined part.

3. The medium stacker according to claim 1, wherein a whole of the rear side plate is the inclined part which is inclined to the rear side toward the upper side.

4. The medium stacker according to claim 1, wherein the card-shaped medium is a card which is accommodated in a bag.

5. A medium feed device for use with a plurality of card-shaped media, the medium feed device comprising: a medium stacker in which the plurality of card-shaped media is stacked and stored; and a medium feed mechanism structured to feed a lowest card-shaped medium of the card-shaped media stored in the medium stacker from the medium feed-out port; wherein the medium stacker comprises: the medium feed-out port which is formed at a lower end of the medium stacker wherein a feed direction side for the card-shaped medium which is fed out from the medium feed-out port is referred to as a front side and an opposite side in a feed direction of the card-shaped medium is referred to as a rear side, a front side plate structuring a front side face of the medium stacker; and a rear side plate structuring a rear side face of the medium stacker; wherein at least an upper end side of the rear side plate is formed of an inclined part which is inclined to a rear side toward an upper side; and wherein the inclined part is contacted with the card-shaped media stored in the medium stacker.

6. The medium stacker according to claim 2, wherein a detection opening part for detecting a supply time of the card-shaped media to the medium stacker based on presence or absence of the card-shaped media in the medium stacker is formed at least one of a portion of the parallel part in a vicinity of a boundary between the parallel part and the inclined part and a portion of the front side parallel part in a vicinity of a boundary between the front side parallel part and the front side inclined part.

7. The medium feed device according to claim 5, wherein the rear side plate is structured of a parallel part, which is a lower end side portion of the rear side plate and is parallel to an upper and lower direction, and the inclined part connected with an upper end of the parallel part, and the front side plate is structured of a front side parallel part, which is a lower end side portion of the front side plate and is parallel to the upper and lower direction, and a front side inclined part which is connected with an upper end of the front side parallel part and is substantially parallel to the inclined part.

8. The medium feed device according to claim 7, wherein a detection opening part for detecting a supply time of the card-shaped media to the medium stacker based on presence or absence of the card-shaped media in the medium stacker is formed at least one of a portion of the parallel part in a vicinity of a boundary between the parallel part and the inclined part and a portion of the front side parallel part in a vicinity of a boundary between the front side parallel part and the front side inclined part.

9. The medium feed device according to claim 5, wherein the card-shaped medium is a card which is accommodated in a bag.