Card reader

Claim 2

A card reader arranged to receive a magnetic card and magnetically read the information contained thereon, the arrangement comprising: a frame having at least one track formed therein; slide means coupled to said track and extending orthogonally thereto; drive means supported by said frame coupled to said slide means actuable to urge said slide means in a first direction along said track, said drive means comprising; spring driven rotary means formed with gear teeth; and a non-extensible link, pulley mounted on said frame and coupled to said rotary means and to said slide means, disposed to maintain said slide orthogonal to said track during said movement in said first direction; and control means for selectively actuating said drive means coupled thereto thereby providing movement of said slide means in said first direction to permit the reading of said information during said movement, said control means comprising; ratchet means pivotally mounted on said frame to contact said gear teeth; and a pulsed electromagnet positioned to intermittently cause movement of said ratchet.

Claim 3

A magnetic card security system comprising: a card reader adapted to receive a magnetic card in a first direction and to index said card in a second, opposite direction, to read the information contained thereon during said indexing; a secured area having a telephone set therein; computer means for storing and processing discrete bits of information storing information associated with said area; connecting means disposed in said card reader for actuating said telephone set and connecting said card reader to said computer via said actuated set; means coupled to said card reader for transmitting the information on said card to said computer where it is compared with the information associated with said area, said computer providing an affirmative signal if said comparison is affIrmative; and operative means coupled to said secured area responsive to said affirmative signal for unsecuring said area.

Claim 4

A magnetic card security system comprising: a card reader adapted to receive a magnetic card in a first direction and to index said card in a second, opposite direction, to read the information contained thereon during said indexing; a secured area having a telephone set therein; computer means for storing and processing discrete bits of information storing information associated with said area; connecting means disposed in said card reader for actuating said telephone set and connecting said card reader to said computer via said actuated set; means coupled to said card reader for transmitting the information on said card to said computer where it is compared with the information associated with said area, said computer providing an affirmative signal if said comparison is affIrmative; and operative means coupled to said secured area responsive to said affirmative signal for unsecuring said area.

Claim 5

A magnetic card security system, according to claim 2, wherein said connecting means comprises: contact means activating said telephone set; dialing means coupling said card reader to said computer, and means identifying said card reader to said computer.

Claim 6

A card reader arranged to receive a magnetic card and magnetically read the information contained thereon, the arrangement comprising: a frame having at least one track formed therein; slide means coupled to said track and extending orthogonally thereto; drive means supported by said frame coupled to said slide means actuable to urge said slide means in a first direction along said track; control means for selectively actuating said drive means coupled thereto thereby providing movement of said slide means in said first direction to permit the reading of said information during said movement; card receiving means slidably mounted on said frame adjacent one side of said slide means adapted to be moved in a second direction opposite to said first direction to urge said slide means in said second direction; first switching means mounted on said frame responsive to the movement of said card receiving means in said second direction for initiating the operation of said card reader; and second switching means coupled to said frame and to said control means for triggering said control means upon the movement of said card receiving means in said second direction for a selected distance.

Claim 7

A card reader arranged to receive a magnetic card and magnetically read the information contained thereon, the arrangement comprising: a frame having at least one track formed therein; slide means coupled to said track and extending orthogonally thereto; drive means supported by said frame coupled to said slide means actuable to urge said slide means in a first direction along said track; control means for selectively actuating said drive means coupled thereto thereby providing movement of said slide means in said first direction to permit the reading of said information during said movement; card receiving means slidably mounted on said frame adjacent one side of said slide means adapted to be moved in a second direction opposite to said first direction to urge said slide means in said second direction; first switching means mounted on said frame responsive to the movement of said card receiving means in said second direction for initiating the operation of said card reader; and second switching means coupled to said frame and to said control means for triggering said control means upon the movement of said card receiving means in said second direction for a selected distance.

Claim 8

A card reader, according to claim 4, wherein said first switching means comprises: spring means disposed in said frame adjacent a second slide, opposite said one side, of said slide means and in resilient contact therewith, positioned to be displaced by the movement, in said second direction, of said slide means; and a switch coupled to said frame and positioned to be actuated by the displacement of said spring means.

Claim 9

A card reader arranged to receive a magnetic card and magnetically read the information contained thereon, the arrangement comprising: a frame having at least one track formed therein; slide means coupled to said track and extending orthogonally thereto; drive means supported by said frame coupled to said slide means actuable to urge said slide means in a first direction along said track; control means for selectively actuating said drive means coupled thereto thereby providing movement of said slide means in said first direction to permit the reading of said information during said movement; card receiving means slidably mounted on said frame adjacent one side of said slide means adapted to be moved in a second direction opposite to said first direction to urge said slide means in said second direction; a plurality of coded identifying detents formed in one side of said card receiving means; and magnetic detent reading means mounted on aid frame and positioned to be responsive to the movement of said card receiving means in said second direction.

Claim 10

A card reader arranged to receive a magnetic card and magnetically read the information contained thereon, the arrangement comprising: a frame having at least one track formed therein; slide means coupled to said track and extending orthogonally thereto; drive means supported by said frame coupled to said slide means actuable to urge said slide means in a first direction along said track; control means for selectively actuating said drive means coupled thereto thereby providing movement of said slide means in said first direction to permit the reading of said information during said movement; card receiving means slidably mounted on said frame adjacent one side of said slide means adapted to be moved in a second direction opposite to said first direction to urge said slide means in said second direction; a plurality of coded identifying detents formed in one side of said card receiving means; and magnetic detent reading means mounted on aid frame and positioned to be responsive to the movement of said card receiving means in said second direction.