Magnetic stripe and/or micro chip card motorized reader/encoder mechanism
First Claim
1. A magnetic stripe and/or micro chip card motorized reader/encoder mechanism, comprising:
- a support chassis;
a card guide assembly rotatably mounted on said support chassis;
a throat assembly positioned adjacent said card guide assembly for receiving a card and directing it toward said card guide assembly;
a first drive system operatively connected to rotate said card guide assembly relative to said support chassis between a card access position and a card read/encode position;
a second drive system operatively connected to transport a card in said card guide assembly; and
a reader and/or encoder sensor positioned for reading and/or encoding a card in said card guide assembly.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A motorized card reader/encoder mechanism of novel design utilizes a positionable card handling system to perform card reading and/or encoding operations efficiently and with minimal space requirements. In a preferred configuration, the card mechanism includes a generally rotatable guide assembly having a card path for receiving and transporting a card for read/encode operations, and optionally, a generally fixed throat assembly for directing a card to the card guide assembly. The guide assembly is rotatable between a plurality of positions including a card transfer position wherein the guide assembly is in generally adjacent alignment with the throat assembly, a card read/encode position wherein the guide assembly is in a rotated position not in substantial alignment with the throat assembly, and a card retention position wherein the guide assembly card path is oriented generally vertically in order to transfer a card to a card capture bin. A single station drive system is provided for transporting a card without substantial jitter, and for rotating the guide assembly between the transfer position and the read/encode and card retention positions.
78 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A magnetic stripe and/or micro chip card motorized reader/encoder mechanism, comprising:
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a support chassis; a card guide assembly rotatably mounted on said support chassis; a throat assembly positioned adjacent said card guide assembly for receiving a card and directing it toward said card guide assembly; a first drive system operatively connected to rotate said card guide assembly relative to said support chassis between a card access position and a card read/encode position; a second drive system operatively connected to transport a card in said card guide assembly; and a reader and/or encoder sensor positioned for reading and/or encoding a card in said card guide assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A motorized card reader/encoder mechanism, comprising:
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a moveable guide assembly having a card guide defining a generally linear card path for receiving and linearly transporting a card in said guide assembly; said guide assembly being moveable from a card transfer position wherein said guide assembly card guide is positioned to receive a card, to a card read/encode position; and a drive system for transporting a card in said guide assembly, and for moving said guide assembly between such transfer position and said read/encode position. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A magnetic stripe and/or micro chip card motorized reader/encoder mechanism, comprising:
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a support chassis; a card guide assembly rotatably mounted on said support chassis, said card guide assembly defining a generally linear guide path having a first end and a second end; a throat assembly positioned adjacent said card guide assembly for receiving a card and directing it toward said card guide assembly; a first drive system operatively connected to rotate said card guide assembly relative to said support chassis between a card access position, a card read/encode position and a card retention position; a second drive system operatively connected to transport a card in said card guide assembly, said second drive system including a drive roller and an opposing idler wheel biased against said drive roller, said drive roller being substantially as wide as a card in said card guide assembly; said first drive system and said second drive system including motors having drive shafts coupled with respect to a common axis of rotation; a reader and/or encoder sensor positioned for reading and/or encoding a card in said card guide assembly; an access control system positioned adjacent said card guide assembly for limiting access to said card guide assembly; said access control system including a gate assembly having a slidable shutter configured for engagement with said card guide assembly, and said card guide assembly being configured to open said gate assembly when in said card access position; and a card sensor positioned adjacent said card guide assembly for sensing the presence of a card approaching said card guide assembly, said card sensor including a sensor head and an opposing idler wheel biased against said sensor.
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Specification