Magnetic card transporting apparatus

Claim 2

A magnetic card transporting apparatus comprising: a transport roller for transporting a magnetic card; means for driving said transport roller; means for urging the magnetic card to said transport roller; a base member for supporting said transport roller, said driving means and said urging means; a card support having a first lateral end cantilevered to said base member and a second lateral end, said first end being at a higher level than said second lateral end, said first lateral end of said card support being adapted to support the card and said second lateral end of said card support being adapted to remain out of contact with the card; and lateral means, provided adjacent the second lateral end of said card support, for laterally urging the magnetic card toward the base member substantially over the entire length of transportation of the card, said lateral means having a portion, remote from said card support, which is inclined toward said base member to cause the magnetic card to travel on the level of said first end of said card support.

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lateral means being constituted by a plate is inclined toward the base member in the direction away from said card support by which it is supported.

Claim 4

A magnetic card transporting apparatus, comprising: a transporting roller for transporting a magnetic card; means for driving said transport roller; a base member for supporting said transport roller and said driving means; a card support having a first lateral end cantilevered to said base member and a second lateral end at a lower level than said first lateral end, said first lateral end of said card support being adapted to support the card and said second lateral end of said card support being adapted to remain out of contact with the card; and a resilient opposing member mounted on said base member and spaced from said first lateral end of said card support a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the card.

Claim 5

A magnetic card transporting apparatus, comprising: a transporting roller for transporting a magnetic card; means for driving said transport roller; a base member for supporting said transport roller and said driving means; a card support having a first lateral end cantilevered to said base member and a second lateral end at a lower level than said first lateral end, said first lateral end of said card support being adapted to support the card and said second lateral end of said card support being adapted to remain out of contact with the card; and a resilient opposing member mounted on said base member and spaced from said first lateral end of said card support a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the card.

Claim 6

A magnetic card transporting apparatus, comprising: a transport roller for transporting a magnetic card; means for driving said transporting roller; means for urging the magnetic card to said transport roller; a base member for supporting said transport roller, said driving means and said urging means; a card support having a first lateral end cantilevered to said base member and a second lateral end, said first end being at a higher level than said second lateral end, said first lateral end of said card support being adapted to support the card and said second lateral end of said card support being adapted to remain out of contact with the card; lateral means, provided adjacent the second lateral end of said card support, for laterally urging the magnetic card toward the base member substantially over the entire length of transportation of the card, said lateral means having a portion, remote from said card support, which is inclined toward said base member to cause the magnetic card to travel on the level of said first end of said card support; and a resilient opposing plate mounted to said base member opposite said first lateral end of said card support and spaced therefrom by a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the card.

Claim 7

A magnetic card transporting apparatus, comprising: a transport roller for transporting a magnetic card; means for driving said transporting roller; means for urging the magnetic card to said transport roller; a base member for supporting said transport roller, said driving means and said urging means; a card support having a first lateral end cantilevered to said base member and a second lateral end, said first end being at a higher level than said second lateral end, said first lateral end of said card support being adapted to support the card and said second lateral end of said card support being adapted to remain out of contact with the card; lateral means, provided adjacent the second lateral end of said card support, for laterally urging the magnetic card toward the base member substantially over the entire length of transportation of the card, said lateral means having a portion, remote from said card support, which is inclined toward said base member to cause the magnetic card to travel on the level of said first end of said card support; and a resilient opposing plate mounted to said base member opposite said first lateral end of said card support and spaced therefrom by a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the card.

Claim 8

A magnetic card transporting apparatus, comprising: a plurality of transport rollers for transporting a magnetic card; means for driving at least one of said transport rollers; a base member for supporting said transport rollers and said driving means; a support member disposed at a predetermined reference position with respect to said base member; urging means for independently urging the ends of said support member toward said reference position, whereby the ends of said support member are rendered independently displacable with respect to the magnetic card; a first pressing member, supported by said support member, for pressing the magnetic card to one of said transport rollers; and a second pressing member supported by said support member to oppose another of said transport rollers and displaceable in accordance with the thickness of the magnetic card sandwiched by said one of the transport rollers and said first pressing member.

Claim 9

A magnetic card transporting apparatus, comprising: a plurality of transport rollers for transporting a magnetic card; means for driving at least one of said transport rollers; a base member for supporting said transport rollers and said driving means; a support member disposed at a predetermined reference position with respect to said base member; urging means for independently urging the ends of said support member toward said reference position, whereby the ends of said support member are rendered independently displacable with respect to the magnetic card; a first pressing member, supported by said support member, for pressing the magnetic card to one of said transport rollers; and a second pressing member supported by said support member to oppose another of said transport rollers and displaceable in accordance with the thickness of the magnetic card sandwiched by said one of the transport rollers and said first pressing member.

Claim 10

A magnetic card transporting apparatus, comprising; a plurality of transporting means for transporting magnetic cards, said transporting means being arranged along the direction of card transport; driving means for driving said transporting means; a plurality of pressing members, opposed to said transporting means, for pressing the magnetic cards to said plurality of transporting means; supporting means for supporting said plural pressing members; a base member for supporting said transporting means and said driving means and for supporting said supporting means at a predetermined reference position; and means for independently biasing said supporting means from adjacent its opposite ends toward said reference position, whereby the ends of said supporting means are rendered independently displacable with respect to the magnetic cards.

Claim 11

A magnetic card transporting apparatus, comprising; a plurality of transporting means for transporting magnetic cards, said transporting means being arranged along the direction of card transport; driving means for driving said transporting means; a plurality of pressing members, opposed to said transporting means, for pressing the magnetic cards to said plurality of transporting means; supporting means for supporting said plural pressing members; a base member for supporting said transporting means and said driving means and for supporting said supporting means at a predetermined reference position; and means for independently biasing said supporting means from adjacent its opposite ends toward said reference position, whereby the ends of said supporting means are rendered independently displacable with respect to the magnetic cards.

Claim 12

An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said transporting means includes a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted on said base members, and said pressing members includes a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted on said supporting members.

Claim 13

An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said driving means drives at least one of said plurality of rollers.

Claim 14

A magnetic card transporting apparatus, comprising: a plurality of transporting rollers for transporting magnetic cards, said transporting rollers being arranged along the direction of card transport; driving means for driving said transporting rollers; a plurality of pressing rollers, opposed to said transporting rollers, for pressing the magnetic cards to said transporting rollers; supporting means for integrally supporting a shaft for rotatably supporting said plural pressing rollers; a base member for supporting said transporting rollers and said driving means and for supporting said supporting means at a predetermined reference position; and a plurality of urging members, adjacent the ends of said supporting means, for independently urging the opposite ends of said supporting means toward said reference position, whereby the ends of said supporting means are rendered independently displacable with respect to the magnetic cards.

Claim 15

A magnetic card transporting apparatus, comprising: a plurality of transporting rollers for transporting magnetic cards, said transporting rollers being arranged along the direction of card transport; driving means for driving said transporting rollers; a plurality of pressing rollers, opposed to said transporting rollers, for pressing the magnetic cards to said transporting rollers; supporting means for integrally supporting a shaft for rotatably supporting said plural pressing rollers; a base member for supporting said transporting rollers and said driving means and for supporting said supporting means at a predetermined reference position; and a plurality of urging members, adjacent the ends of said supporting means, for independently urging the opposite ends of said supporting means toward said reference position, whereby the ends of said supporting means are rendered independently displacable with respect to the magnetic cards.

Claim 16

A magnetic card transporting apparatus, comprising; a transporting roller for transporting a magnetic card; driving means for driving said transporting roller; a pressing member, opposed to said transporting roller, for pressing the magnetic card to said transporting roller; supporting means for supporting said pressing member; a base member for supporting said transporting roller and said driving means and for supporting said supporting means at a predetermined reference position; a magnetic head, downstream of said pressing member with respect to the movement of the magnetic card, for engaging at its end with said supporting means to follow its movement; a resilient member for urging said magnetic head to the magnetic card; urging means for independently urging the oposite ends of said supporting means toward said reference position, whereby the ends of said supporting means are rendered independently displacable with respect to the magnetic card to cause said pressing member to press said magnetic card against said transporting roller.

Claim 17

A magnetic card transporting apparatus, comprising; a transporting roller for transporting a magnetic card; driving means for driving said transporting roller; a pressing member, opposed to said transporting roller, for pressing the magnetic card to said transporting roller; supporting means for supporting said pressing member; a base member for supporting said transporting roller and said driving means and for supporting said supporting means at a predetermined reference position; a magnetic head, downstream of said pressing member with respect to the movement of the magnetic card, for engaging at its end with said supporting means to follow its movement; a resilient member for urging said magnetic head to the magnetic card; urging means for independently urging the oposite ends of said supporting means toward said reference position, whereby the ends of said supporting means are rendered independently displacable with respect to the magnetic card to cause said pressing member to press said magnetic card against said transporting roller.

Claim 18

An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein an end of said magnetic head is swingable, and said resilient member urges the other end of said magnetic head toward said supporting means.

Claim 19

A magnetic card transporting apparatus, comprising: a plurality of transporting rollers for transporting magnetic cards, said transporting rollers being arranged along the direction of card transport; driving means for driving said transporting rollers; a plurality of pressing rollers, opposed to said transporting rollers, for pressing the magnetic cards to said transporting rollers; supporting means for integrally supporting a shaft for rotatably supporting said plural presing rollers; a base member for supporting said transporting rollers and said driving means and for supporting said supporting means at a predetermined reference position; a magnetic head, downstream of at least one of said pressing rollers with respect to the movement of the magnetic card, for engaging at its end with said supporting means to thereby follow its movement; a resilient member for urging said magnetic head to the magnetic card; and a plurality of urging members, adjacent the ends of said supporting means, for independently urging the opposite ends of said supporting means toward said reference position, whereby the ends of said supporting means are rendered independently displacable with respect to the magnetic cards.

Claim 20

A magnetic card transporting apparatus, comprising: a plurality of transporting rollers for transporting magnetic cards, said transporting rollers being arranged along the direction of card transport; driving means for driving said transporting rollers; a plurality of pressing rollers, opposed to said transporting rollers, for pressing the magnetic cards to said transporting rollers; supporting means for integrally supporting a shaft for rotatably supporting said plural presing rollers; a base member for supporting said transporting rollers and said driving means and for supporting said supporting means at a predetermined reference position; a magnetic head, downstream of at least one of said pressing rollers with respect to the movement of the magnetic card, for engaging at its end with said supporting means to thereby follow its movement; a resilient member for urging said magnetic head to the magnetic card; and a plurality of urging members, adjacent the ends of said supporting means, for independently urging the opposite ends of said supporting means toward said reference position, whereby the ends of said supporting means are rendered independently displacable with respect to the magnetic cards.

Claim 21

An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein an end of said magnetic head is swingable, and said resilient member urges the other end of said magnetic head toward said supporting means.

Claim 22

An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said driving means drives at least one of said plural transporting rollers mounted on said base member.