JP2005078192A - Storage medium reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent erroneous insertion even when a user does not know the type of a memory card by configuring a single memory card insertion slot with a photo printing vending machine provided with a storage medium reading device. Is.
The present invention provides a single insertion slot that can be inserted regardless of the type of the memory card F, and slides the member D, member W, and member T inside by a motor until they contact each other. To determine the type of the memory card F. The control unit receives the memory card F with the corresponding adapter H, extracts the data, performs an operation process, and prints out. Further, the front and back of the memory card F are discriminated by the cut-out sensors I1 and I2, and rotated 180 degrees as necessary, so that the memory card F is accurately inserted.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a storage medium reading device for inserting a planar storage medium such as a memory card, a memory stick, and a compact flash (registered trademark), and reading data of the storage medium, and more particularly, an image read from the storage medium. The present invention relates to a photo printing vending machine that performs digital printing using data.

  Today, photo printing vending machines with a built-in storage medium reading device are installed in towns and in large-scale electrical appliance mass retailers. This photo printing vending machine accepts various memory cards, puts a fee, presses the operation button, and prints photos on recording paper by a sublimation printer etc. based on the photo image data stored in the memory card Is performed at high speed. In this case, a plurality of memory card insertion openings are provided for each type corresponding to the type of each memory card.

  In other words, there are card insertion slots compatible with various memory cards, including Memory Stick (registered trademark), CompactFlash (registered trademark), SD card, SmartMedia (registered trademark), floppy (registered trademark) disk, and PC. Cards are used, and the shape and size of each card are different. For this reason, the user judges the type of the memory card, inserts the card into the insertion slot corresponding to the memory card owned, and automatically prints the photo.

Patent Document 1 describes a photo printing vending machine having the above-described configuration, in which an image is printed at an arbitrary position by performing an image data and advertisement image combining process performed at a control unit in a printer unit. It is.
JP 2001-325664 A

  However, if the user does not know the type of memory card owned by the user, the card may be accidentally inserted into a different insertion slot. For this reason, the card may be damaged and the card may not be taken out from the card insertion slot.

  According to the present invention, in the photo printing vending machine that uses a storage medium and prints an image, a single insertion slot for inserting the storage medium, and a member for placing and moving the storage medium are provided. Insertion moving means, measurement means for measuring the depth, width, and thickness of the inserted storage medium, determination means for determining the type of the recording medium based on a measurement result by the measurement means, and the determination means Based on the above determination, this can be achieved by providing a photo printing vending machine having adapter means into which the recording medium is carried.

  For example, a flat storage medium such as a compact flash (registered trademark) has a common insertion slot, and after inserting the recording medium, each member used for measuring the width, depth, and thickness is brought into contact with the memory card. Move. The control unit converts the width, depth, and thickness of the memory card and determines the type of the memory card. Then, select the adapter that matches the type and insert the memory card.

With this configuration, even when a single card insertion slot is used, the memory card can be set in the corresponding adapter without error.
In addition, a plurality of subdivided members arranged in the width direction for measuring the depth and width of the storage medium, and each of the subdivided members arranged in the width direction is slid to be subdivided. The width of the storage medium may be calculated by measuring the number of converted members.

Further, it may be configured to have a detection sensor for measuring a predetermined portion of the recording medium, discriminate the front and back of the storage medium from information by the detection sensor, and reverse the front and back of the storage medium when the front and back are reversed. Good.
Further, the recording medium has a structure in which the connector portion has an erroneous insertion prevention structure, and when the erroneous insertion prevention structure determines that the front and back of the recording medium are opposite, the insertion movement means is used to pull down the recording medium. The storage medium may be inserted again.

  In addition, the infrared sensor light emitting unit having the light emitting unit of the infrared sensor on one side, the infrared sensor light receiving unit having the light receiving unit of the infrared sensor on the whole surface, the infrared sensor light emitting unit emits light, and the infrared sensor light receiving unit The depth, width, and area of the storage medium may be calculated based on the information, and the type of the storage medium may be determined.

  According to the present invention, various types of memory cards are received at a common card insertion slot, and are automatically received by judging the type by width, depth, and thickness. Can be eliminated. Also, the user does not need to be aware of the type of memory card at the time of insertion.

  Also, sense the notch of the memory card to determine the front and back and accept it in the adapter. Alternatively, a card without a notch such as CompactFlash (registered trademark) is reinserted by inverting the adapter when it cannot be inserted. Therefore, the user can insert without worrying about the front and back of the memory card.

In addition, the orientation of the memory card is adjusted with the support shaft and the rotating table, so that the user does not have to worry about the insertion direction of the memory card.
Furthermore, the type of the memory card can be determined and inserted by processing an image captured by an infrared sensor or a CCD camera and measuring the size.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is an external view of a photo printing vending machine including a storage medium reading device according to the present embodiment.
In the figure, a photo printing vending machine 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped housing shape, and a monitor 1 displays image information recorded on an inserted memory card by a user operation. For example, a thumbnail display or a photo image for each sheet is displayed.

The operation button 2 is a button operated by the user, and the user selects a photo to be printed from the photo images displayed as thumbnails, and designates the number of prints and print conditions.
The card insertion slot 3 is a common card insertion slot that can be used even when various memory cards are inserted, and constitutes a main part of the present invention. Moreover, in this example, the card insertion slot 3 is single and is a common card insertion slot.

A photo of which printing has been completed is output to the product takeout port 4 and is used when the user takes out the photo.
Also, the deposit display 5 displays the amount inserted by the user, the coin insertion slot 6 is an insertion slot for inserting coins, the banknote insertion slot 7 is an insertion slot for inserting banknotes, and a change takeout slot 8. Will output the change.

Hereinafter, the internal configuration of the memory card insertion slot 3 which is a feature of this example will be described. FIG. 2 shows a basic configuration inside the memory card insertion slot 3 and shows a configuration of an automatic measurement configuration of a memory card to be inserted (hereinafter referred to as a memory card F) as viewed from above.
First, the lid A is a lid of the memory card insertion slot 3. The member D, the member W, and the member T are members for measuring the size of one side of the memory card F, respectively. For example, the member D is a member for measuring the depth of the memory card F, the member W is a member for measuring the width of the memory card F, and the member T is the memory card. It is a member for measuring the thickness of F.

  The members D, W, and T are driven by independent motors (not shown). A control unit (not shown) measures the movement distances of the respective members D, W, and T, and calculates the depth, width, and thickness of the inserted memory card F according to the movement distance from the set value (reference value). . The wall surface C is a fixed member and supports one end of the memory card F.

Next, the operation of this example will be described.
The user of the photo printing vending machine inserts the memory card F into the memory card insertion slot 3. At this time, the user does not need to worry about the type of the memory card F. Thereafter, when the memory card F is inserted, the lid A is closed.

  After the lid A is closed, the member D, the member W, and the member T move toward the memory card F, respectively, under the control of the control unit described above. For example, the member D moves toward the cover A horizontally until it contacts the memory card F, the member W moves toward the wall surface C until it contacts the memory card F horizontally, and the member T moves vertically to the memory card F. It moves until it abuts and stops each. That is, the member D, the member W, and the member T are supported so as to be slidable in the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction, respectively, and when the lid A is closed, for example, a motor provided for each direction. It slides when driven, and stops when the memory card F is pinched. Then, the sliding stroke of each member at this time is measured as described above, and the depth, width and thickness of the memory card F are measured.

When the depth, width, and thickness of the memory card F are measured, the control unit collates with data stored in advance and recognizes the type of the memory card F from the depth, width, and thickness of the memory card F. Then, an insertion process is performed on the adapter H corresponding to the recognized type of the memory card F.
3 and 4 are diagrams showing a configuration for inserting the memory card F. FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view showing a configuration in which the memory card F of this example is inserted into the adapter H. The adapter H has adapters H1, H2, H3, H4, and H5 inside. The adapter H can be moved up and down under the control of a control unit (not shown). Further, the adapters H1, H2, H3, H4, and H5 have a structure for receiving the memory cards F1, F2, F3, F4, and F5 of the corresponding standards. The insertion member G is a member for inserting the memory card F into the corresponding adapters H1, H2, H3, H4, and H5.

FIG. 4 is a view of the state in which the memory card F is inserted into the adapter H as viewed from above. The memory card F is inserted into the corresponding adapters H1, H2, H3, H4, and H5 under the control of the control unit.
As described above, in this example, when the user inserts the memory card F into the memory card insertion slot 3, the members D, W and T for measuring the type of the memory card F move, and the depth, width Then, the thickness is measured, the type of the card is automatically determined, and the card is automatically inserted into the corresponding adapter H by the insertion member G. Thereafter, the user performs an operation, processes the image in the memory card F, and prints out the photographic image.

Next, a modified example of the first embodiment will be described.
FIG. 5 shows a configuration of the first modification. The figure shows a configuration in which a member for measuring the depth is subdivided and the width of the memory card F is measured, and the measurement state of the memory card F is viewed from above. This figure corresponds to FIG. 2 described above.

  In the first modification, the member D for measuring the depth of the memory card F is subdivided in the width direction as d1, d2, d3, d4, d5, d6, d7, d8, d9,. . These are driven by a motor (not shown), for example. With this configuration, the first modification can measure the width of the memory card F by the subdivided members d1, d2, d3, d4, d5, d6, d7, d8, d9.

  The member d1 is in a position in contact with the fixed member C in advance, and the horizontal width of each subdivided dx is a narrow width that can roughly measure the width of the various memory cards F. Further, FIG. 5 is an example, and it is possible to perform measurement with higher accuracy as the width of each member dx is narrower and the number within a certain distance is larger.

  In the case of this modification, first, the member W is moved until it comes into contact with the memory card F. In this state, the distance between the member C and the member W is equal to the width of the memory card F. Next, from the distance converted from the measurement based on the movement of the member W, the control unit calculates and determines the number of members dx to be operated. The maximum number that is narrower than the width of the memory card F is determined.

  For example, in the case of FIG. The control unit slides the members d1, d2, d3, d4, and d5 toward the memory card F. The control unit confirms that the members d 1, d 2, d 3, d 4, and d 5 have moved a distance that contacts the memory card F. As a result, it can be reliably measured that the width of the memory card F is equal to or greater than the sum of d1, d2, d3, d4, and d5.

  Further, the control unit slides the members d6, d7, d8, d9,... Toward the memory card F, so that d6, d7, d8, d9,. If the movement distance is detected, it can be determined that the width of the memory card F is within the sum of d1, d2, d3, d4, d5, and d6.

  And if a control part performs said two simultaneously, that is, if it combines with the result of each member d1, d2, d3, d4, d5, d6, d7, d8, d9, ..., a more exact distance can be measured. . Therefore, it can be seen that the width of the memory card F is not less than the sum of d1, d2, d3, d4, and d5 and not more than d1, d2, d3, d4, d5, and d6.

The members d 1, d 2, d 3, d 4, d 5, d 6, d 7, d 8, d 9... Are slid without calculating the number in advance, and depending on the number of members in contact with the memory card F, the memory card F There is also a method for estimating and measuring the width of.
Next, Modification Example 2 will be described.

  FIG. 6 shows a configuration of the second modification. This figure is a further modification of FIG. FIG. 6 shows a configuration in which the member T for measuring the thickness is subdivided and the area of the memory card is measured, and the measurement state is viewed from above. A member T for measuring the thickness of the memory card F is divided into t11, t12, t13,..., T21, t22, t23,..., T31, t32, t33,. In this method, the size or area of the memory card F is measured by subdividing the members T for measuring the thickness and using them side by side in the width direction and the depth direction.

FIG. 6 is an example, and it goes without saying that the accuracy increases if each member t is small and the number is large.
Next, the operation will be described. Determine the member txy and the number of members txy to be operated according to the width and depth of the memory card F measured by the member W and each member d1, d2, d3, d4, d5, d6, d7, d8, d9. . In the figure, the control unit operates until t11, t12, t21, t22, t31, and t32 of the members txy come into contact with the memory card F. By actually operating and contacting, the size of the memory card F can be accurately measured.

Moreover, it is good also as a structure which subdivides only each member txy which measures thickness, and does not subdivide the member D which measures depth.
(Embodiment 2)
Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described.

First, the structure of Embodiment 2 is shown. Some memory cards F have notches on the front in the insertion direction to clarify the front and back. Examples of notches include smart media, memory sticks, and SD cards.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of the memory card insertion slot 3 including a sensor for detecting notches. The description of the same components as those in FIG. 2 is omitted.

In this example, notch detection sensors I1 and I2 are provided. The sensors I1 and I2 detect whether or not there is a notch in each corner portion on both sides of the front of the inserted memory card F in the insertion direction.
FIG. 8 is a view of the inside of the memory card insertion slot 3 as viewed from above. In this example, a rotation mechanism that reverses the front and back of the memory card F is provided by a configuration not shown.

  The operation is shown below. After the memory card F is inserted, the lid A is closed. After the lid A is closed, the members D, W, and T move toward the memory card F by driving the motors. The member D moves toward the lid A horizontally until it contacts the memory card F, the member W moves toward the member C horizontally until it contacts the memory card F, and the member T contacts the memory card F. Move until touching. Then, the member D, the member W, and the member T stop at the abutting position, and at this time, the sensors I1 and I2 move to the corner portions on both sides of the front surface in the insertion direction, respectively, under the control of the control unit. Here, the sensors I1 and I2 detect the presence or absence of a notch in the memory card F by, for example, light irradiation and reflection.

Thereby, the front and back of the memory card F can be recognized. At the same time, the depth, width and thickness of the memory card F are measured based on the sliding strokes of the members D, W and T, and the type of the memory card F is determined.
Next, the control unit selects the adapter H of the type of the memory card F. Then, the control unit rotates the memory card F so as to correspond to the detected front and back. Thereafter, the introduction member G moves in the direction of the adapter H under the control of the control unit, and the memory card F is inserted into the adapter H.

Next, a modification of the second embodiment will be described.
Some memory cards F have no notches, such as compact flash (registered trademark). Therefore, the front and back sides cannot be discriminated by the method of discriminating the notch with the sensor. Therefore, another method will be described.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the CompactFlash (registered trademark) Fc is viewed from the connector side. The groove on the right side of the connector Q in the figure is larger than the groove on the left side. This is because the size of the groove is changed on the left and right of the connector Q to prevent erroneous insertion.
The connector on the receiving side is made to have a different size on the left and right in accordance with the size of the corresponding connector groove. Therefore, the CompactFlash (registered trademark) Fc cannot be inserted into the adapter H for the CompactFlash (registered trademark) Fc in the opposite direction. This is because the large protrusion of the connector on the adapter H side collides with the small groove of the connector of the CompactFlash (registered trademark) Fc and cannot be fitted. Therefore, the compact flash (registered trademark) Fc can be pushed only halfway through the introduction member G.

  Therefore, in this example, when the CompactFlash (registered trademark) Fc cannot be pushed into the adapter H, the control unit detects and recognizes the state. When the control unit recognizes that it cannot be pushed in, it immediately pulls down the introduction member G and lowers the CompactFlash (registered trademark) Fc. And a control part rotates the adapter H 180 degree | times, and eliminates the state reverse to front and back.

Next, the control unit slides the introduction member G again in the direction of the adapter H, and inserts the compact flash (registered trademark) Fc. The CompactFlash (registered trademark) Fc is inserted into the adapter H after fitting the groove of the connector and the projection of the connector of the adapter-H on the left and right sides.
As described above, in this modified example, even when there is no notch such as CompactFlash (registered trademark) Fc, it is possible to distinguish between the front and the back, which is effective.

(Embodiment 3)
Next, Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described.
In the description of this example, a configuration different from those of the first and second embodiments will be described. FIG. 10 shows the configuration of a rotating table J having four axes for supporting the memory card. The rotating table has four support shafts j1, j2, j3, and j4 that are in contact with the four sides of the memory card F. The memory card F is placed on the rotating table J.

  The operation of this example will be described. When the control unit measures the depth, width, and thickness, it may be found that the orientation is different from the data of each memory card F in the memory of the control unit. This is because the memory card F is not correctly inserted in the original insertion direction.

  Therefore, the control unit removes the member D, member W, and member T surrounding the memory card and places them on the rotating table. The control unit supports the memory card F with four axes, that is, j1, j2, j3, and j4, and rotates the rotation table J by the corresponding rotation amount. After the rotation, the memory card F is placed on the introduction member G, moved, and inserted into the adapter H.

Therefore, according to this example, the memory card F can be connected to the main body by the structure of the rotating table J regardless of which direction the memory card F is inserted.
(Embodiment 4)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In this example, the size of the memory card F is measured by a large number of infrared sensors k. FIG. 11 is a view of the configuration for measuring the size of the memory card F using the infrared sensor k as viewed from above.
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. The light emitted from the infrared sensor light emitting unit K1 is received by the infrared sensor light receiving unit K2. Further, it has a mechanism (not shown) for entering and exiting the memory card F between both infrared sensors.

  The operation will be described below. When the memory card F is at the position of the infrared sensor k, the light of the infrared sensor k is blocked. Therefore, the control unit can measure the size of the memory card F by recognizing the blocked infrared sensor -k. Further, the type of the memory card F can be determined by knowing the size.

This measurement method can also be applied to a method for measuring thickness. At this time, the infrared sensor k must be smaller than the thickness of the memory card F. By measuring the thickness, the control unit determines the type of the memory card F including the thickness.
The memory card F may be photographed by a CCD camera or the like, and the control unit may perform image processing and image collation to determine the type of the memory card F.

Further, it may be configured such that image processing using a CCD camera is performed also in the thickness direction of the memory card F, and the type of the memory card F is discriminated including the thickness.
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the storage medium reading device of the present invention is applied to a photo printing vending machine has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a storage medium is loaded and stored in the storage medium. The present invention can be applied to any device that reads and uses the read information. For example, the structure of the present invention can be adopted in a personal computer, a printer device, a data display device, etc. that read and use stored data from a loaded storage medium.

It is an external view of the apparatus of this invention. It is the figure which looked at the composition of automatic measurement inside a memory card slot from the upper part. It is a side view of the structure which inserts a memory card in an adapter. It is the figure which looked at the structure which inserts a memory card into an adapter from upper direction. It is a figure which shows the structure which subdivides the member which measures depth, and measures the width | variety of a memory card. It is a figure which shows the structure which subdivides the member which measures thickness and measures the area of a memory card. It is a figure explaining the structure of the automatic measurement inside a memory card insertion slot including the sensor for notch detection. It is a figure explaining the structure which inserts a memory card in the adapter which can rotate. It is the figure which looked at CompactFlash (trademark) from the connector side. It is a figure which shows the structure of the rotating table which has 4 axes | shafts which support a memory card. It is a figure which shows the structure for measuring the magnitude | size of the memory card which uses an infrared sensor. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure for measuring the magnitude | size of the memory card which uses an infrared sensor.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Monitor 2 Operation button 3 Memory card insertion port 4 Goods taking-out port 5 Display for deposits, etc. 6 Coin insertion port 7 Bill insertion port 8 Change taking-out port A Lid (insertion port)
C member (fixed)
D member (for depth measurement)
d1, d2, d3, d4, d5, d6, d7, d8, d9 (fine) members (for depth measurement)
F memory card Fc compact flash (registered trademark)
G Insertion member H, H1 to H5 Adapter I1, I2 Sensor j1, j2, j3, j4 Fixed axis k Infrared sensor K1 Infrared sensor-light emitting part K2 Infrared sensor-light receiving part T Member (for thickness measurement)
W member (for width measurement)

Claims (6)

In a storage medium reading device that reads information from an inserted storage medium,
An insertion moving means comprising a single insertion slot for inserting the storage medium, and a member for placing and moving the storage medium;
Measuring means for measuring the depth, width and thickness of the inserted storage medium;
Determination means for determining the type of the recording medium based on a measurement result by the measurement means;
Based on the determination by the determination means, adapter means for carrying the recording medium;
A storage medium reading device comprising:   A plurality of subdivided members arranged in the width direction for measuring the depth and width of the storage medium, each of the subdivided members arranged in the width direction was slid and subdivided The storage medium reading device according to claim 1, wherein the width of the storage medium is calculated by measuring the number of members.   It has a detection sensor for measuring a predetermined portion of the recording medium, distinguishes the front and back of the storage medium from information by the detection sensor, and reverses the front and back of the storage medium when the front and back are reversed. The storage medium reading device according to claim 1 or 2.   In the recording medium, when it is determined that the connector portion has an erroneous insertion prevention structure and the front and back of the recording medium are opposite by the erroneous insertion prevention structure, the recording medium is pulled down using the insertion moving means, and again 4. The storage medium reading device according to claim 1, wherein the storage medium is inserted.   Infrared sensor light emitting part having the light emitting part of the infrared sensor on one side, Infrared sensor light receiving part having the light receiving part of the infrared sensor on one side, and emitting light from the infrared sensor light emitting part, and information from the infrared sensor light receiving part 5. The storage medium reading device according to claim 1, wherein the depth, width, and area of the storage medium are calculated to determine the type of the storage medium. 2. The photographic printing vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the storage medium reading device is a photo printing vending machine that reads out image data stored in the storage medium and prints an image based on the image data on a recording sheet. 2. The storage medium reading device according to 2, 3, 4, 5.

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