Miniaturized magnetic card reader/recorder for use in hand-held calculator

Claim 1

An electromechanical apparatus for operation with a record card having major surfaces separated by a selected thickness dimension which is very much smaller than the width or length dimension thereof, said apparatus comprising: chassis means including a guide path for receiving and guiding the record card along a selected path; drive means disposed at a location along the guide path for moving the record card by frictional engagement therewith along the guide path in response to an electrical signal applied thereto; electrical means including a resilient elongated first switch member disposed to be deflected to connect to an electrical connection point for applying an electrical signal to said drive means; first switch member deflecting means positioned at a selected location in the guide path and coupled to the first switch member for deflecting the first switch member as a function of the thickness of the record card to contact said electrical connection point and for simultaneously urging a major surface of the record card into frictional engagement with the drive means; transducer means disposed at a location along the guide path having a contoured surface for operative engagement with a major surface of the record card; and contour means disposed at a location along the guide path substantially opposite the contoured surface of the transducer means for deforming a major surface of the record card to conform to the contoured surface of said transducer means.