Registers – Coded record sensors – Particular sensor structure
Reexamination Certificate
2002-08-07
2004-08-03
Lee, Diane I. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Coded record sensors
Particular sensor structure
C235S435000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06769614
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a magnetic card reader for recording and reading data on a magnetic card provided with a magnetic stripe.
BACKGROUND ART
A conventional magnetic card reader includes, as shown in
FIG. 8
, an upper case
1
having a card guide
1
a
for a magnetic card
12
, a lower case
2
, a card inlet port
3
for accepting the magnetic card
12
, a magnetic head support mechanism
14
which is disposed on top of the upper case
1
near the end of the card inlet port and reads data out of the magnetic card
12
, and a spring holder
10
with a wire spring
6
abutted thereon. The magnetic head support mechanism
14
includes a magnetic head support member
4
with a magnetic head
5
press-fitted therein, and the wire spring
6
substantially U-shaped to apply a force to the member.
The conventional card reader is assembled in the following manner. As shown in
FIG. 9
, the head support mechanism
14
is disposed from above the upper case
1
into a magnetic head mounting hole
1
b
formed in the upper case
1
and also fitted in spring positioning grooves made in boss-like projections at each side of the magnetic head mounting hole
1
b
. The spring holder
10
is secured by spring holder retaining hooks
11
disposed on the upper case
1
in order to hold both ends of the wire spring
6
protruded from the head support mechanism
14
.
In the conventional card reader with the head support mechanism
14
mounted thereon, when the magnetic card
12
is inserted into the card guide
1
a
, the magnetic head
5
is pressed against the magnetic card
12
by force F of the wire spring
6
on the magnetic head support member
4
, thereby reading data on the magnetic stripe. Next, the data on the magnetic card
12
enters into a printed circuit board
7
via a head cable
8
and is transmitted to a host computer.
In the conventional magnetic card reader, the magnetic head support member
4
, the spring holder
10
, and the spring holder retaining hook
11
are placed on top of the upper case
1
in this order, and then the total height of these members causes the head support mechanism
14
to protrude from the upper case.
In order to lower the height position of the magnetic head support mechanism
14
, the upper case
1
can have a space formed therein for accommodating the magnetic head support mechanism
14
. However, the space reduces rigidity of the upper case
1
and affecting the reading performance.
The recent market requires a thinner magnetic head support mechanism
14
located at the end of magnetic card reader as well as for cost down for a compact, inexpensive data terminal.
Even if a thin magnetic head
5
is mounted by a conventional method for supporting the magnetic head, the spring mechanism for supporting the magnetic head cannot be lowered in height, and therefore eliminating a merit of the thin head.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
A card reader includes an upper case, a lower case fitted to the upper case forming a magnetic card guide for magnetic card between the upper case, and a magnetic head to read data on the card held between the upper case and the lower case.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4603261 (1986-07-01), Robertson et al.
patent: 5362951 (1994-11-01), Kanazawa et al.
patent: 1-196765 (1989-08-01), None
patent: 2-65210 (1990-05-01), None
patent: 9-63023 (1997-03-01), None
patent: 2000-149208 (2000-05-01), None
International Serach Report corresponding to application No. PCT/JP01/07270 dated Nov. 27, 2001.
English translation of Form PCT/ISA/210.
Caputo Lisa M.
Lee Diane I.
Matsushita Electric - Industrial Co., Ltd.
RatnerPrestia
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