Chipcard reader
First Claim
1. A chip card reader apparatus comprising:
- a stationary frame with upper and lower surfaces;
an opening in said stationary frame;
a contact element support comprising means including an integral set of electrical elongate metal contact elements for contacting corresponding contacts on the chipcard;
means for biasing said contact elements against said chipcard; and
guide means for reciprocally mounting said contact element support within said opening for movement between an initial position and a reading position and for positively guiding the contact elements between the initial position and the reading position and vice versa,said guide means comprising;
a guide element provided on said contact element support;
a first frame guide path provided on said frame, wherein said first frame guide path provides a limitation against movement of said contact element support in an upward direction, said first frame guide path being open in a downward direction and comprising a first flat section adjacent to a ramp surface, and adjacent to the ramp surface a second flat section, said second flat section being located at a higher elevation than said first flat section; and
a second frame guide path provided on said frame, wherein said second frame guide path provides a limitation against movement away from the upper surface, said second frame guide path being open in an upward direction and comprising a first guide surface and a second guide surface with a ramp section in between, said guide surfaces being offset with regard to their elevation.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A chipcard reading apparatus includes a stationary frame and a contact element support mounted within an opening in the frame for reciprocal movement between a reading position and an initial position. At least one guide path for guiding the reciprocal movement of the contact element support is provided in the frame, and at least one such guide path is provided in the contact element support. Movement of the contact element support into the reading position is initiated by pushing of the chipcard into the reader, and return of the support to the initial position is accomplished by pulling of the chipcard from the reader. The chipcard is held in the reader by a brake which contacts the chipcard when the support is in the reading position, at which time the contact elements are securely in contact with corresponding contacts on the chipcard.
77 Citations
26 Claims
-
1. A chip card reader apparatus comprising:
-
a stationary frame with upper and lower surfaces; an opening in said stationary frame; a contact element support comprising means including an integral set of electrical elongate metal contact elements for contacting corresponding contacts on the chipcard; means for biasing said contact elements against said chipcard; and guide means for reciprocally mounting said contact element support within said opening for movement between an initial position and a reading position and for positively guiding the contact elements between the initial position and the reading position and vice versa, said guide means comprising; a guide element provided on said contact element support; a first frame guide path provided on said frame, wherein said first frame guide path provides a limitation against movement of said contact element support in an upward direction, said first frame guide path being open in a downward direction and comprising a first flat section adjacent to a ramp surface, and adjacent to the ramp surface a second flat section, said second flat section being located at a higher elevation than said first flat section; and a second frame guide path provided on said frame, wherein said second frame guide path provides a limitation against movement away from the upper surface, said second frame guide path being open in an upward direction and comprising a first guide surface and a second guide surface with a ramp section in between, said guide surfaces being offset with regard to their elevation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. A chipcard reader comprising:
-
a stationary frame; an opening in said stationary frame; a contact element support comprising means including an integral set of electrical contact elements for contacting corresponding contacts on the chipcard; guide means for reciprocally mounting said contact element support within said opening for movement between an initial position and a reading position and for positively guiding the contact elements between the initial position and the reading position and vice versa; means for biasing said contact elements against said chipcard; a chipcard brake arranged to press against and fixedly hold the chipcard in its reading position, wherein said contact element support moves from said initial to said reading position in response to pushing of the car into the reader, and moves from said reading to said initial position to pulling of the card from the reader; an end position switch which includes two spring contacts arranged such that one of said leaf spring contacts is actuated shortly before the reading position is reached during movement of the contact element support; a switching lobe projection arranged on the frame for actuating the end position switch, said two leaf spring contacts comprising an upper contact and a lower contact, said lower contact being actuable by said projection so as come to into contact via an arm with the upper contact, and wherein the lower contact, when the chipcard is in th reading position, abuts the projection such that no force is applied to the contact element support in the direction of movement of the contact element support towards the initial position.
-
Specification