Importance

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Abstract

A manually operable magnetic card reader including a housing 10 and a magnetic head assembly 40. The housing is provided with an elongate slot 23 adapted to receive a card C having a stripe MS of magnetized material extending along a major surface of the card. Intermediate the ends of the slot, the housing is cut-away to receive the magnetic head assembly which includes a block 42, 44 having defined therein a slot 80 which is in registry with the housing slot. Also defined in the block are first and second, opposing, aligned apertures 46, 64 which extend into the block from the block slot. A magnetic reading head 41 is reciprocally movable in the first aperture, and a pressure pad 43 is reciprocally movable in the second aperture. A pair of wire springs 45A, 45B are secured to the block and yieldably bias the magnetic reading head and pressure pad toward the block slot. To effect data reading, the card is inserted into the housing slot and moved therealong until the leading edge of the card passes into the block slot and passes between the opposed magnetic reading head and pressure pad. Upon further movement of the card, the forces exerted on the card major surfaces by the magnetic reading head and by the pressure pad cause the stripe of magnetized material to be maintained into close proximity to the magnetic reading head, and also insure that the card is moved past the magnetic reading head at a substantially constant velocity.

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First Claim