Magnetic card reader-encoder

Claim 2

Magnetic data-card processing apparatus comprising a framework forming a passageway therein for the transport therethrough of a card carrying a stripe of magnetizable material, a substantially constant-speed continuously-running electric motor mounted in said framework, a pair of cooperating parallel rollers forming a bite to receive a card therebetween, means mounting one of said rollers in said framework for rotation in driven relation to said motor, means yieldably mounting the other of said rollers in said framework and resiliently urging said other roller toward peripheral engagement with said one roller, said yieldable mounting means comprising arm means pivoted in said framework and positioning said other roller therein toward engagement with said one of said rollers, and spring means yieldably urging said arm means in directions to force said roller toward said one of said rollers, a guide mounted in said framework for delivering a card into the bite between said rollers, electromagnetic read/encoder means including a transducer head, means mounting said transducer head and said other of said rollers side by side for magnetic interaction of said transducer head with a stripe of magnetizable material on a card at the site where the card is being driven by said rollers, said means mounting said transducer head including means resiliently urging said head toward engagement with the stripe of the card as it is being driven by said rollers at said site and further including means providing limited freedom for rocking movement of said head in directions transverse to direction of movement of the driven card, and means connecting said motor in driving relation to said one of said rollers.

Claim 3

Magnetic data-card processing apparatus comprising a framework forming a passageway therein for the transport therethrough of a card carrying a stripe of magnetizable material, a substantially constant-speed continuously running electric motor mounted in said framework, a pair of cooperating parallel rollers forming a bite to receive a card therebetween, means mounting one of said rollers in said framework for rotation in driven relation to said motor, means yieldably mounting the other of said rollers in said framework aNd resiliently urging said other roller toward peripheral engagement with said one roller, a guide mounted in said framework for delivering a card into the bite between said rollers, said guide comprising a substantially horizontal platen extending outwardly of said framework and spanning a distance from said bite of said rollers which is less than the length of a card, said guide and said rollers orienting a card substantially horizontally for transport through said rollers and past said transducer head, said guide further including substantially parallel and vertical sides spaced just slightly in excess of the width of a card, electromagnetic read/encoder means including a transducer head, means mounting said transducer head in said framework for magnetic interaction with a stripe of magnetizable material on a card at the site of said rollers as the card is being driven by said rollers, said means mounting said transducer head including means resiliently urging said head toward engagement with the stripe of a card as it is being driven by said rollers and further including means providing limited freedom for rocking movement of said head in directions transverse to direction of movement of a driven card, further roller means disposed in said framework for driving engagement with a card after it has left said rollers, substantially horizontal support means mounted in said framework in a position underlying that of a card which has passed through the rollers and disposed to engage a card at a position spaced from said rollers by a distance greater than half the length of a card, whereby a card discharged from the rollers will tend to tilt downwardly from said support means and into engagement with said further roller means, and belt means driven by said motor and in driving relation to said one of said rollers and said further roller means.

Claim 4

Magnetic data-card processing apparatus comprising a framework forming a passageway therein for the transport therethrough of a card carrying a stripe of magnetizable material, a substantially constant-speed continuously running electric motor mounted in said framework, a pair of cooperating parallel rollers forming a bite to receive a card therebetween, means mounting one of said rollers in said framework for rotation in driven relation to said motor, means yieldably mounting the other of said rollers in said framework aNd resiliently urging said other roller toward peripheral engagement with said one roller, a guide mounted in said framework for delivering a card into the bite between said rollers, said guide comprising a substantially horizontal platen extending outwardly of said framework and spanning a distance from said bite of said rollers which is less than the length of a card, said guide and said rollers orienting a card substantially horizontally for transport through said rollers and past said transducer head, said guide further including substantially parallel and vertical sides spaced just slightly in excess of the width of a card, electromagnetic read/encoder means including a transducer head, means mounting said transducer head in said framework for magnetic interaction with a stripe of magnetizable material on a card at the site of said rollers as the card is being driven by said rollers, said means mounting said transducer head including means resiliently urging said head toward engagement with the stripe of a card as it is being driven by said rollers and further including means providing limited freedom for rocking movement of said head in directions transverse to direction of movement of a driven card, further roller means disposed in said framework for driving engagement with a card after it has left said rollers, substantially horizontal support means mounted in said framework in a position underlying that of a card which has passed through the rollers and disposed to engage a card at a position spaced from said rollers by a distance greater than half the length of a card, whereby a card discharged from the rollers will tend to tilt downwardly from said support means and into engagement with said further roller means, and belt means driven by said motor and in driving relation to said one of said rollers and said further roller means.

Claim 5

Magnetic data-card processing apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said support means comprises a platen having an end sloped upwardly in direction of movement of a card through said rollers and disposed to engage the forward end of a card passed through said rollers.

Claim 6

Magnetic data-card processing apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said framework comprises a pair of substantially flat side plates, spacer means maintaining said side plates substantially parallel and vertical with a spacing therebetween just slightly in excess of the width of a card to form said passageway, said motor being disposed between said plates at a lower corner position and having a drive shaft extending through one of said plates, said one of said rollers having a driven shaft extending through said one of said plates, pulleys secured to said drive and driven shafts externally of said framework, additional horizontal roller means disposed in said framework between said further roller means and support means for driving engagement with a card after it has left said rollers, wherein said guide platen extends from said framework at an upper corner thereof diagonally opposite said lower corner, said further and additional roller means having driven shaft ends extending through said one of said side plates, said belt means comprising a taut elastic belt in engagement with said pulleys externally of said one of said side plates, said driven shaft ends of said one of said further and additional roller means being in driven engagement with said belt in the span of said belt between said pulleys, whereby said belt may be engaged with either side of each of said driven shaft ends to control directions of rotations of said further and additional roller means, and further comprising yieldable material in sleeved relation to said one of said rollers.

Claim 7

Magnetic data-card processing apparatus as set forth in claim 2 further comprising a second substantially horizontal platen below said guide platen, said second platen being disposed to receive a card discharged by said further roller means in direction opposite to said direction of movement.

Claim 8

Magnetic data-caRd processing apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said second platen is disposed between said sides, wherein said second platen spans a horizontal distance from said further roller means which is less than the length of a card and extends outwardly of said framework a lesser distance than said guide platen, and wherein said belt means drives said driven roller and said further roller means in opposite angular directions, whereby a card is transported in said opposite direction for discharge from said framework.

Claim 9

Magnetic data-card processing apparatus as set forth in claim 6 further comprising additional horizontal roller means disposed in said framework between said further roller means and support means for driving engagement with a card after it has left said rollers, and wherein said belt means drives said further and additional roller means in the same angular direction.