Magnetic card reader

Claim 2

In a card reader, for cards having a coded region formed of a magnetic medium, comprising a body defining a guide slot of a width which permits a card to be passed therethrough, and a transducer located adjacent to the guide slot for reading information recorded on a card as the card passes through the guide slot: the improvement which comprises backup means disposed on the opposite side of the guide slot as said transducer and in an opposing relationship with the transducer for maintaining a card passing through the slot adjacent said transducer as the card passes said transducer, said backup means including a ball head having a generally spherical surface which is normally biased into its operative position directly across the slot from said transducer at which it extends into the guide slot to define a gap between said generally spherical surface and said transducer of a length which is less than the thickness of the card, said backup means further including spring means for biasing the ball head into its operative position, and support means for normally maintaining the ball head in its operative position and for permitting the ball head to move away from the transducer against the resilience of the spring means while urging the card against the transducer as the card is moved through the guide slot.

Claim 3

In a card reader according to claim 1 in which the support means comprises a cylindrical socket having one end remote from the transducer closed by a lid and having an opening in its other end proximate the transducer which is formed by a detent lip, the ball head and spring means being disposed within the cylindrical socket, and the spring means urging the ball head to partially project through the opening.

Claim 4

In a card reader according to claim 2 in which the ball head is spherical in configuration.

Claim 5

In a card reader according to claim 2 in which the ball head is semi-spherical in configuration and has a spherical portion which projects through the opening.

Claim 6

In a card reader according to claim 1, wherein the end of said cylindrical socket remote from said transducer has an aperture therethrough, and further including a pin extending from said ball head and through said aperture, and a control switch positioned relative to said pin so that said switch is operated in conjunction with a movement of said pin caused by movement of the ball head

Claim 7

In a card reader according to claim 5 in which the control switch includes a lever arm operatively connected with the pin and an armature which is operated upon by the lever arm.

Claim 8

In a card reader according to claim 1 in which the body is integrally molded from a synthetic resin material, the molded body including a mounting structure for supporting the transducer and backup means in predetermined orientations.

Claim 9

In a card reader of the type including a body having a pair of opposed surfaces defining there between a guide slot dimensioned to receive cards having information recorded thereon, and a transducer responsive to the information recorded on the cards and positioned adjacent one of the surfaces defining the guide slot for reading-out the information stored on the cards as the cards are inserted in the guide slot; the improvement which comprises a body having a smooth convex surface portion positioned directly across the guide slot from said transducer for contacting a card at a single point of contact adjacent said transducer when the card is within the guide slot, mounting means for mounting said body with the convex surface thereof extending into the guide slot to define a gap less than a thickness of a card between said transducer and said convex surface and for permitting displacement of said body in a direction away from said transducer as a card is inserted within the guide slot and within the gap less than the thickness of a card, and biasing means for biasing said body toward said transducer to maintain the gap less than the thickness of a card when no card is inserted therein and for maintaining the convex surface portion of the body in contact with a card inserted in the guide slot at a point directly opposite said transducer to maintain the card adjacent said transducer.

Claim 10

In a card reader of the type including a body having a pair of opposed surfaces defining there between a guide slot dimensioned to receive cards having information recorded thereon, and a transducer responsive to the information recorded on the cards and positioned adjacent one of the surfaces defining the guide slot for reading-out the information stored on the cards as the cards are inserted in the guide slot; the improvement which comprises a body having a smooth convex surface portion positioned directly across the guide slot from said transducer for contacting a card at a single point of contact adjacent said transducer when the card is within the guide slot, mounting means for mounting said body with the convex surface thereof extending into the guide slot to define a gap less than a thickness of a card between said transducer and said convex surface and for permitting displacement of said body in a direction away from said transducer as a card is inserted within the guide slot and within the gap less than the thickness of a card, and biasing means for biasing said body toward said transducer to maintain the gap less than the thickness of a card when no card is inserted therein and for maintaining the convex surface portion of the body in contact with a card inserted in the guide slot at a point directly opposite said transducer to maintain the card adjacent said transducer.

Claim 11

In a card reader according to claim 8, further comprising switch means defining a switch coactive with said body having the convex surface for closing when said body is displaced by a card inserted within the gap.

Claim 12

In a card reader according to claim 8, wherein the smooth convex surface portion of said body is a generally spherical surface portion.