Card return mechanism

Claim 2

An information card handling mechanism comprising: a transducing means for recording information on the card and reproducing information from the card; a first drive means selectively operable for operatively engaging the card and feeding the card from an initial position in a forward direction past the transducing means; a second, idler drive means selectively operable for returning the card to any desired position, said idler drive means being selectively movable bodily toward and away from said first drive means from a first position out of engagement with the card to a second position in operative engagement with the card, the idler drive means when in said second position having been moved toward said first drive means and into contact therewith so as to derive its drive directly from contact with said first drive means; and means disengaging the card and said first drive means when the idler drive means is in said second position.

Claim 3

The card handling mechanism of claim 1 wherein said first drive means is rotatably mounted for rotation about a fixed axis for moving the card in response to rotation thereof, said second drive means is mounted for rotation about a movable axis, including backup means for holding the card in engagement with the first drive means when the second drive means is in said first position, and wherein sad means for disengaging the card from said first drive means moves the backup means out of engagement with the card as the second drive means is moved to said second position.

Claim 4

The card handling mechanism of claim 2 wherein said backup means comprises said transducing means.

Claim 5

The card handling mechanism of claim 2 wherein said second drive means and said backup means are mounted on a common selectively movable member.

Claim 6

The card handling mechanism of claim 4 wherein said backup means comprises said transducing means.

Claim 7

The card handling mechanism of claim 2 wherein said first and second drive means comprise roller members engageable with the card for moving the same in response to rotation of the roller members.

Claim 8

An information card handling mechanism comprising: a transducing means for recording information on the card and reproducing information from the card; a first, stationary driven member rotatably mounted on a fixed axis selectively rotatable for engaging the card and feeding the card from an initial position in a forward direction past the transducing means; a bodily movable backup member for biasing the card into engagement with the first driven member; a second, idler driven member rotatably mounted on a movable axis for movement bodily toward and away from said first drive means from a first position out of engagement with the card to a second position in engagement with the card for returning the Card to any desired position, the idler drive means when in said second position having been moved toward said first drive means so as to derive its drive directly from contact with said first drive means; and a common movable mounting member with which said idler rotatable member and the backup member are operatively associated to simultaneously move the idler member from said first to said second position at the same time said backup member is moved out of its biasing engagement with the card.

Claim 9

An information card handling mechanism comprising: a transducing means for recording information on the card and reproducing information from the card; a first, stationary driven member rotatably mounted on a fixed axis selectively rotatable for engaging the card and feeding the card from an initial position in a forward direction past the transducing means; a bodily movable backup member for biasing the card into engagement with the first driven member; a second, idler driven member rotatably mounted on a movable axis for movement bodily toward and away from said first drive means from a first position out of engagement with the card to a second position in engagement with the card for returning the Card to any desired position, the idler drive means when in said second position having been moved toward said first drive means so as to derive its drive directly from contact with said first drive means; and a common movable mounting member with which said idler rotatable member and the backup member are operatively associated to simultaneously move the idler member from said first to said second position at the same time said backup member is moved out of its biasing engagement with the card.

Claim 10

The card handling mechanism of claim 7 wherein said backup means comprises said transducing means.

Claim 11

An information card handling mechanism comprising: a transducing means for recording information on the card and reproducing information from the card; a first drive means rotatably mounted for rotation about a fixed axis and selectively operable for operatively engaging the card and feeding the card from an initial position in a forward direction past the transducing means; a second, idler drive means selectively operable for returning the card to any desired position, said idler drive means being mounted for rotation about a movable axis and being selectively movable bodily from a first position out of engagement with the card to a second position in operative engagement with the card, the idler drive means in said second position being operatively associated with said first drive means to be driven thereby, said transducing means defining backup means for holding the card in engagement with the first drive means when the second drive means is in said first position; and a slide member mounted for movement transversely of the direction of movement of the card, said second drive means and said transducing means being mounted for movement with the slide member for moving the transducing means out of engagement with the card as the second drive means is moved to said second position.

Claim 12

An information card handling mechanism comprising: a transducing means for recording information on the card and reproducing information from the card; a first drive means rotatably mounted for rotation about a fixed axis and selectively operable for operatively engaging the card and feeding the card from an initial position in a forward direction past the transducing means; a second, idler drive means selectively operable for returning the card to any desired position, said idler drive means being mounted for rotation about a movable axis and being selectively movable bodily from a first position out of engagement with the card to a second position in operative engagement with the card, the idler drive means in said second position being operatively associated with said first drive means to be driven thereby, said transducing means defining backup means for holding the card in engagement with the first drive means when the second drive means is in said first position; and a slide member mounted for movement transversely of the direction of movement of the card, said second drive means and said transducing means being mounted for movement with the slide member for moving the transducing means out of engagement with the card as the second drive means is moved to said second position.

Claim 13

An information card handling mechanism comprising: a transducing means for recording information on the card and reproducing information from the card; a first drive means selectively operable for operatively engaging the card and feeding the card from an initial position in a forward direction past the transducing means; a second, idler drive means selectively operable for returning the card to any desired position, said idler drive means being selectively movable bodily from a first position out of engagement with the card to a second position in operative engagement with the card, the idler drive means in said second position being operatively associated with said first drive means to be driven thereby; backup means for holding the card in engagement with the first drive means when the second drive means is in said first position; and a slide member mounted for movement transversely of the direction of movement of the card, said second drive means and said backup means being mounted for movement with said slide member to move the backup means out of engagement with the card as the second drive means is moved to said second position.

Claim 14

An information card handling mechanism comprising: a transducing means for recording information on the card and reproducing information from the card; a first drive means selectively operable for operatively engaging the card and feeding the card from an initial position in a forward direction past the transducing means; a second, idler drive means selectively operable for returning the card to any desired position, said idler drive means being selectively movable bodily from a first position out of engagement with the card to a second position in operative engagement with the card, the idler drive means in said second position being operatively associated with said first drive means to be driven thereby; backup means for holding the card in engagement with the first drive means when the second drive means is in said first position; and a slide member mounted for movement transversely of the direction of movement of the card, said second drive means and said backup means being mounted for movement with said slide member to move the backup means out of engagement with the card as the second drive means is moved to said second position.

Claim 15

The card handling mechanism of claim 10 including a manually manipulatable actuating member mounted for movement transversely of said slide member, and linkage means connected between said actuating member and said slide member for transmitting movement of the actuating member transversely of the slide member to movement of the slide member transversely of said card movement.

Claim 16

The card handling mechanism of claim 11 wherein said linkage means comprises a pivotally mounted lever member.

Claim 17

The card handling mechanism of claim 11 wherein said actuating member comprises a push-button type mechanism.

Claim 18

An information card handling mechanism comprising: a transducing means for recording information on the card and reproducing information from the card; a first, stationary driven member rotatably mounted on a fixed axis selectively rotatable for engaging the card and feEding the card from an initial position in a forward direction past the transducing means; a first, bodily movable backup member for biasing the card into engagement with the first rotatable member; a second, idler driven member rotatably mounted on a movable axis for movement bodily with said first backup member from a first position out of engagement with the card to a second position in engagement with the card for returning the card to any desired position, said second driven member when in said second position deriving its drive directly from contact with said first driven member; and a second stationary backup member for holding the card into engagement with said second driven member when in said second position.

Claim 19

An information card handling mechanism comprising: a transducing means for recording information on the card and reproducing information from the card; a first, stationary driven member rotatably mounted on a fixed axis selectively rotatable for engaging the card and feEding the card from an initial position in a forward direction past the transducing means; a first, bodily movable backup member for biasing the card into engagement with the first rotatable member; a second, idler driven member rotatably mounted on a movable axis for movement bodily with said first backup member from a first position out of engagement with the card to a second position in engagement with the card for returning the card to any desired position, said second driven member when in said second position deriving its drive directly from contact with said first driven member; and a second stationary backup member for holding the card into engagement with said second driven member when in said second position.

Claim 20

The card handling mechanism of claim 14 wherein said first backup member comprises said transducing means.

Claim 21

The card handling mechanism of claim 14 wherein said first and second driven members both are disposed on the same side of the path of movement of the card.