EP0429976A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiple-function reader device for reading public telephone enabling cards
Assignee: URMET SpA
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Filing: 1990-11-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-11-15
Abstract
Abstract A telephonic card read-out device comprises two reading areas (A1-A2) which are arranged mutually in series with respect to a card insertion slot (14), the first area being dedicated to a read-out of credit cards and chip-cards, and the second area to the read-out, cancellation and expenditure display of prepaid cards, a first retracting flap (16) for closing the card insertion slot, a second retracting flap (23) separating the two reading areas, delimiting the first area, and operating as a stop element for the cards processed in the area and as a sensor for chip-cards.
Inventors
- 👤 Massimo Mondardini
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 15:58
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K13/00; G06K13/02; G06K13/08; G06K13/0868; G06K13/0875; G06K7/00; G06K7/0004; G07; G07F; G07F7/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
A multiple-function reader device for reading public telephone enabling cards, characterized in that it comprises two reading areas (A1-A2) which are arranged mutually in series with respect to the card insertion slot (14), said first area being dedicated to the reading of credit cards and "chip-cards", said second area being dedicated to the reading, cancellation and expenditure display of prepaid cards; a first retracting flap (16) which closes the card insertion slot (14); a second retracting flap (23) which separates the two dedicated areas (A1-A2) and acts as wall for delimiting the first area (A1), as stop element for the cards which are processed in said area and as sensor for chip-cards; means (30,31) for the selective traction of the cards in the first and second dedicated areas (A1-A2) and means (21,24,25,26,27,41,42) for the actuation of said first and second retracting flaps (16,23), said means comprising a strobe disk (42) for generating control pulses which correspond to respective configurations of the reader in the different card processing steps.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
A multiple-function reader device for reading public telephone enabling cards, characterized in that it comprises two reading areas (A1-A2) which are arranged mutually in series with respect to the card insertion slot (14), said first area being dedicated to the reading of credit cards and "chip-cards", said second area being dedicated to the reading, cancellation and expenditure display of prepaid cards; a first retracting flap (16) which closes the card insertion slot (14); a second retracting flap (23) which separates the two dedicated areas (A1-A2) and acts as wall for delimiting the first area (A1), as stop element for the cards which are processed in said area and as sensor for chip-cards; means (30,31) for the selective traction of the cards in the first and second dedicated areas (A1-A2) and means (21,24,25,26,27,41,42) for the actuation of said first and second retracting flaps (16,23), said means comprising a strobe disk (42) for generating control pulses which correspond to respective configurations of the reader in the different card processing steps.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
102 words
A multiple-function reader device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a box-like structure (10) with a horizontal wall (11) which delimits a panel (12) for supporting and sliding the cards on which the first and second dedicated areas (A1-A2) are defined, said areas being separated by the second retracting flap (23), and in that a contrast plate (15) is superimposed on said supporting and sliding panel (12), an opening being delimited between said plate (15) and said wall (11) and defining a channel for the guiding and transit of the cards which is connected to the insertion slot (14).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
89 words
A multiple-function reader device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the first retracting flap (16) for closing the insertion slot (14) is supported at the end of a fork (17) which in turn is supported, so as to be able to oscillate, above the card sliding panel (12), and in that the free end of at least one of the arms of said fork is driven by a cam (19) which is actuated by a servomotor (21) by means of a set of transmission gears (20).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A multiple-function reader device according to claims 1 and 3, characterized in that said strobe disk (42) is keyed on an idle gear of said transmission gear set (20).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
115 words
A multiple-function reader device according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second retracting flap (23) protrudes from a slot (22) of the wall which defines the card supporting and sliding panel (12) and is supported so as to be able to oscillate, against the action of a spring (24), by the end fork of an oscillating plate (25) driven by a cam (26) actuated by said servomotor (21) by means of transmission gears (27), said plate (25) in turn driving said flap (23) from an inactive position in which said flap (23) retracts into the slot (22), to an active position in which it protrudes from the slot (22) and vice versa.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
A multiple-function reader device according to claims 1 and 5, characterized in that said second retracting flap (23) has a series of contacts (28) associated therewith, said contacts (28) engaging, as said flap is turned under the pressure of the cards, the corresponding contact pad of chip-cards to recognize this type of card.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A multiple-function reader device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said reader device further comprises a first magnetic reading head (TC) and a second magnetic reading head (TD) arranged at the first dedicated area (A1) and at the second dedicated area (A2) respectively.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
A multiple-function reader device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (30,31) for the selective traction of the cards comprise two drive rollers (30,31) which cooperate with respective superimposed pinch rollers (32,33) and in that the drive rollers (30,31) protrude onto the card sliding panel (12) at the first dedicated area (A1) and at the second dedicated area (A2) respectively.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
109 words
A multiple-function reader device according to claim 8, characterized in that the pinch rollers (32,33) are supported at the ends of a rocker (34) with a central pivot on which the end (36a) of a rod (36) acts by means of an adjustable tappet (35), the other end (36b) of said rod (36) being pivoted to the box structure (10) of the reader; and in that said rod (36) is driven by a cam (37) which pushes the pinch rollers (32,33) to engage the drive rollers (31,32); said cam (37) being keyed on the same shaft which bears the further cam (19) which actuates the first retracting flap (16).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A multiple-function reader device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a series of optical sensors adapted to detect the presence of said cards inside said reader.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
76 words
A multiple-function reader device according to claims 1 and 4, characterized in that said strobe disk (42) is provided with six operating step selecting slots for selecting six different operating steps of said reader corresponding to six respective configurations thereof, that is: an idle step 0), a chip-card blocking step 1), a prepaid card advancement step 2), a prepaid card read-out protection step 3), a prepaid card ejection step 4), and a chip-card release step 5).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
A multiple-function reader device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an electromagnet (43) the punch-shaped moving core whereof is suitable for marking debit cards to provide a visual indication of the expenditure of the usable charge units stored on the magnetic band of said cards.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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