JPH1049633A - Magnetic card reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a magnetic card reader in which the generation of spacing loss can be prevented by allowing a pair of magnetic heads to come faithfully into sliding contact with a bent card. SOLUTION: This reader is provided with a magnetic head supporting mechanism 26 in which a pair of magnetic heads 4 and 5 are supported with faced magnetic detecting parts 4a and 5a, and an inserted magnetic card is interposed between the magnetic heads 4 and 5 with prescribed head pressure. Moreover, the magnetic head supporting mechanism 26 is provided with a pair of supporting members 30 and 31 for supporting a pair of magnetic heads 4 and 5 so as to be swingable, and an energizing means 35 interposed between the supporting members 30 and 31 for energizing the supporting members 30 and 31 to a direction in which the magnetic detecting part of each magnetic head 4 and 5 is abutted to each other. The magnetic heads 4 and 5 are held at a neutral position at which the energizing force of the energizing means 35 is balanced, and each magnetic head 4 and 5 can be moved from the neutral position to the energizing direction by the energizing means 35 in the magnetic head supporting mechanism 26.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic card reader, and more particularly to a magnetic head support mechanism.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, credit cards, cash cards, prepaid cards, and various other cards as information recording media have magnetic stripes for recording information. Information can be written on the magnetic stripe. Some types of cards have magnetic stripes on both sides of the card, and there is a magnetic card reader that can read information from both magnetic stripes and write new information as needed. .

In such a magnetic card reader capable of reading and writing information from and to the magnetic stripes on both sides of the card, a pair of magnetic heads are supported with their magnetic detection portions facing each other, and the pair of magnetic heads are supported. The head can contact the magnetic stripe of the inserted card with a predetermined head pressure. Also, some cards may be curved or bent in a convex or concave shape as viewed from one side, so that the magnetic detection unit of a paired magnetic head can also contact such a card.
The magnetic head support mechanism has been devised.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a magnetic head support in a conventional magnetic card reader. In FIG.
By arranging the guide plates 2 and 3 in parallel at predetermined intervals above and below, a flat tunnel-shaped magnetic card moving passage 1 is formed between the guide plates 2 and 3. A magnetic card is inserted into the magnetic card moving path 1 in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. On the magnetic card moving path 1,
Magnetic detectors 4a and 5 of magnetic heads 4 and 5 forming a pair vertically
a are located opposite to each other. The magnetic heads 4 and 5 are supported by magnetic head support mechanisms 22 and 23, respectively.

The upper magnetic head support mechanism 22 mainly includes a head holder 6, a support lever 10, a coil spring 16 as biasing means, and the like. The head holder 6 is integrally fixed to the magnetic head 4 so as to hold the magnetic head 4. The head holder 6 integrally has a shaft 8 projecting in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG.
Is rotatably fitted at a substantially central portion in the length direction. The lever 10 is rotatably supported at its left end in FIG. 5 by a shaft 12 in a plane parallel to the paper. Therefore, the magnetic head 4 can move together with the lever 10 while drawing an arc around the axis 12 in a plane parallel to the paper.
It can rotate alone about the axis 8 in a plane parallel to the plane of the paper. A bent portion 10 a is formed at the tip of the lever 10, and a compression coil spring 16 is interposed between the bent portion 10 a and the fixing member 14. The lever 10 is rotationally urged by a spring 16 in a clockwise direction in FIG. 5, that is, in a direction in which the magnetic detection unit 4 a of the magnetic head 4 advances into the magnetic card moving path 1.

The lower magnetic head support mechanism 23 mainly includes the head holder 7, the support lever 11, the coil spring 17 as biasing means, and the like. The head holder 7 is integrally fixed to the magnetic head 5 so as to hold the magnetic head 5. The head holder 7 integrally has a shaft 9 projecting in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, and the shaft 9 is rotatably fitted to the left end of the lever 11 in the drawing. The lever 11 is an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction, and a portion near the right end in FIG. 5 is rotatably supported by a shaft 13 in a plane parallel to the paper surface. Accordingly, the magnetic head 5 can move together with the lever 11 while drawing an arc around the axis 13 in a plane parallel to the plane of the paper, and rotate alone around the axis 9 in a plane parallel to the plane of the paper. be able to. A bent portion 11 a is formed at one side edge of the lever 11, and a compression coil spring 17 is interposed between the bent portion 11 a and the fixing member 15. The lever 11 is rotationally urged by a spring 17 in a clockwise direction in FIG. 5, that is, in a direction in which the magnetic detector 5 a of the magnetic head 5 advances into the magnetic card moving path 1.

The pair of upper and lower magnetic heads 4 and 5 are arranged with their magnetic detecting portions 4a and 5a facing each other. Spring 16
Assuming that the above-described rotational urging force of the lever 10 by P1 is P1 and the rotational urging force of the lever 11 by the spring 17 is P2, P2 is considerably larger than P1, that is, P1≪P
It has a relationship of 2. These P1 and P2 are the head pressures of the magnetic heads 4 and 5 on the card. A stopper 11 b protruding toward the magnetic card moving passage 1 is provided at the left end of the lower lever 11 with respect to the magnetic card moving passage 1.
Are integrally formed. When the stopper 11b abuts on the lower guide plate 3 forming the magnetic card moving path 1, the urging force of the spring 17 is applied in a state where the magnetic detecting portion 5a of the magnetic head 5 has advanced into the magnetic card moving path 1. , The rotation of the lever 11 is restricted. The magnetic detecting section 4a of the upper magnetic head 4 also advances onto the magnetic card moving path 1 by the above-described biasing force of the lever 10, and the magnetic detecting section 4a of the magnetic head 4 moves on the magnetic card moving path 1
The magnetic heads 4 and 5 forming a pair maintain a neutral position in a state in which the magnetic heads 5 and 5 abut against each other. As described above, the upper magnetic head 4 is relatively easy to move, and is hereinafter referred to as a movable magnetic head. On the other hand, the lower magnetic head 5 can be moved for the first time by resisting the large head pressure P2, and is hereinafter referred to as a semi-fixed magnetic head.

Next, the operation of the conventional magnetic card reader will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 shows a stop position where the magnetic card does not exist in the magnetic card moving path 1. As described above, the magnetic heads 4, 4a and 5a are in contact with each other on the magnetic card moving path 1. 5 is in neutral position. From this state, FIG.
Assume that a flat card 20 is inserted into the magnetic card moving path 1 as shown in FIG. The vertical position of the card 20 is regulated by a transport roller (not shown).
And the magnetic detection surface (gap surface) of the semi-fixed head 5
Are conveyed in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in a state in which. When the card 20 is inserted, the movable magnetic head 4 is pushed by the thickness of the card 20 while the semi-fixed magnetic head 5 is not moved, and the lever 10 is turned in the counterclockwise direction against the head pressure P1. The movable side magnetic head 4 is lifted up. In addition, the movable magnetic head 4 can rotate alone around the axis 8, whereby the magnetic detection unit 4 a can slidably contact the magnetic stripe of the card 20. On the other hand, the magnetic head 5 on the semi-fixed side can also rotate independently around the axis 9, so that the magnetic detection unit 5 a can slide on the other magnetic stripe of the card 20 faithfully.

The reason why the head pressure P1 of the movable-side magnetic head 4 is made weaker than the head pressure P2 of the semi-fixed-side magnetic head 5 is that when the card 20 contacts the magnetic heads 4, 5, This is because the load can be reduced by allowing the magnetic head 4 to smoothly move backward. Further, the other magnetic head 5 is semi-fixed without being fixed, in order to prevent the magnetic head 5 from being damaged when an extremely thick nonstandard card is inserted, thereby preventing the magnetic head 5 from being damaged. It is.

FIG. 6B shows a case where a card 20 which is convexly curved or bent is inserted into the semi-fixed head 5 side. As described above, since the relationship P1≪P2 holds, the lever 11 supporting the magnetic head 5 on the semi-fixed side hardly moves, and the deformed card 20 is corrected between the magnetic head 5 and the card moving path 1. I do. Further, the magnetic head 5 on the semi-fixed side rotates about the axis 9 on the spot following the surface of the card 20, and the magnetic detection unit 5 a of the magnetic head 5
Sliding contact with the magnetic stripe. On the other hand, the magnetic head 4 on the movable side is pushed by the card 20, and is pushed up by the rotation of the lever 10 against the urging force.
Since the magnetic head 4 can rotate independently about the axis 8, the magnetic detection unit 4 a can slide on the magnetic stripe of the card 20 faithfully.

FIG. 6C shows a case where a card 20 which is concavely curved or bent is inserted into the semi-fixed head 5 side. The movable magnetic head 4 can be moved by being pushed by the card 20 and can rotate following the surface of the card 20, so that the magnetic detection unit 4 a can slidably contact the magnetic stripe of the card 20. . But card 2
0 is concave or curved toward the semi-fixed head 5, and thus is curved or bent away from the semi-fixed head 5,
On the other hand, since the stopper 11b of the lever 11 that supports the semi-fixed head 5 cannot contact the deformed card 20 because the stopper 11b contacts the guide plate 3, the semi-fixed head 5 has the magnetic detection unit 5a A gap S is generated between
Spacing loss occurs in signal conversion between the card 20 and the magnetic head 5. In the state where the stopper 11b of the lever 11 is in contact with the guide plate 3 as described above, since the pressing force of the magnetic head 5 against the card 20 is not applied, the magnetic head 5 follows the surface of the deformed card 20. Without rotation, the magnetic detection unit 5 a cannot slide on the magnetic stripe of the card 20 faithfully.

[0012]

As described above, according to the conventional magnetic card reader, a large head pressure is applied to one magnetic head of the pair of magnetic heads facing each other, and the magnetic head is semi-fixed. As a result, the semi-fixed side magnetic head has poor followability with respect to the bent card, and the semi-fixed side magnetic head cannot faithfully contact the bent card, resulting in a spacing loss. was there.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and a magnetic head facing a pair of cards bent in any direction can be used as a pair. It is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic card reader that can follow a bend and both magnetic heads slidably contact a bent card to prevent occurrence of spacing loss.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a pair of magnetic heads are supported with their magnetic detecting portions facing each other and inserted into the magnetic detecting portions. A magnetic head support mechanism for holding the magnetic card between the pair of magnetic heads at a predetermined head pressure, and reading magnetic information recorded on the front and back of the magnetic card with the pair of magnetic heads simultaneously In a magnetic card reader that can be used, a magnetic head support mechanism is provided between a pair of support members that are swingably supported and respectively support a pair of magnetic heads so as to swing and a pair of support members. Biasing means for biasing the pair of support members in a direction in which the magnetic detection portions of the magnetic heads are in contact with each other, and the paired magnetic heads are driven by the magnetic head support mechanism. Te, characterized in that it is movably supported respectively biasing direction by the biasing means from the neutral position of each of the magnetic head with the biasing force of the biasing means is held in a neutral position where the balance.

[0015] As in the second aspect of the present invention, the pair of support members may be arranged symmetrically with respect to the magnetic card moving passage. When the paired magnetic heads are at the neutral position, the magnetic detection units of the respective magnetic heads may be positioned on the magnetic card moving path.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a magnetic card reader according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 1, a flat tunnel-like magnetic card moving passage 1 is provided between the guide plates 2 and 3 by arranging the guide plates 2 and 3 in parallel at a predetermined interval vertically.
Are formed. A magnetic card is inserted into the magnetic card moving path 1 in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG.
On the magnetic card moving path 1, the magnetic detectors 4a, 5a of the magnetic heads 4, 5 forming a pair up and down are opposed to each other. Each magnetic head 4, 5 is supported by a magnetic head support mechanism 26.

1 and 2, the magnetic head support mechanism 26 mainly includes a pair of upper and lower head holders 6, 7, and a pair of upper and lower support members 30, 30, and the like. The upper head holder 6 is integrally fixed to the magnetic head 4 so as to hold the magnetic head 4. The head holder 6 has a shaft 8 projecting in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG.
The shaft 8 is fitted to the right end of the lever 30 in FIG. 1 so as to be relatively rotatable. As shown in FIG.
The shafts 8 are provided in a pair on the same line on the near side and the back side of the magnetic head 4, and these shafts 8, 8 are rotatably fitted to a pair of bearing portions of a lever 30. The left end of the lever 30 in FIG. 1 is rotatably supported by a shaft 32 in a plane parallel to the paper surface. As shown in FIG.
2 is supported by a pair of bearing plates 33, 33 which are fixed members, and a shaft hole formed in a pair of projecting pieces extending downward from the left end of the lever 30 is relatively rotated at both ends of the shaft 32. It is fitted as possible. Therefore, the magnetic head 4
Can move together with the lever 30 while drawing an arc around the axis 12 in a plane parallel to the plane of the paper, and can rotate alone around the axis 8 in a plane parallel to the plane of the paper.

The lower head holder 7 is integrally fixed to the magnetic head 5 so as to hold the lower magnetic head 5. The head holder 7 integrally has a shaft 9 projecting in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, and the shaft 9 is fitted to the right end of the lever 31 in the figure so as to be relatively rotatable. As in the case of the magnetic head 4 shown in FIG. 2, the shafts 9 are provided in pairs on the near side and the back side. Fitted, but not shown in FIG. The lever 31 has shaft holes formed in a pair of protruding pieces extending upward from the left end thereof, and are fitted to both ends of the shaft 32 so as to be relatively rotatable. Accordingly, the magnetic head 5 can move while drawing an arc around a common axis 32 with the lever 31 in a plane parallel to the paper surface.
It can rotate independently about the axis 9 in a plane parallel to the plane of the paper.

The lever 30 has an eave-shaped projection 30a at the left end in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the lever 31 has a receiving plate-shaped projection 31a at the left end. These protrusions 30
A resilient coil spring 35 as one urging means is interposed between the a and 31a, and the repulsive force of the spring 35 causes one lever 30 to move clockwise in FIG. The other lever 31 is urged to rotate in the direction in which the portion 4a advances into the magnetic card moving path 1 and the other lever 31 in the counterclockwise direction, so that the magnetic detecting section 5a of the magnetic head 5 advances in the magnetic card moving path 1. I have.

A pair of levers 30 and 31 constituting the magnetic head support mechanism 26 are vertically symmetrically arranged with the magnetic card path 1 formed by the guide plates 2 and 3 interposed therebetween.
The bearing plate 33 is fixed to the left outer surface of the guide plates 2 and 3 in FIG. 1, and the shaft 32 supported by the bearing plate 33 is also located on the left outer side of the guide plates 2 and 3. For this reason, the left half of the levers 30 and 31 and the spring 35 are located on the left outside of the guide plates 2 and 3.

As described above, the spring 35 moves the lever 30 clockwise in FIG. 1 and the lever 31 counterclockwise in FIG.
Therefore, the magnetic detection unit 4a of the magnetic head 4 and the magnetic head 5
Are energized in such a direction as to advance into the magnetic card moving path 1. At the stop position shown in FIG. 1, the biasing force of the spring 35 as the biasing means is balanced, and the magnetic detection unit 4 a of the magnetic head 4 and the magnetic detection unit 5 a of the magnetic head 5 mutually move within the magnetic card moving passage 1. It is held in an abutting neutral position. At this time, the magnetic head 4,
5, the pressing force is the same, and both are set to P3. The mutual pressing force P3 of the magnetic heads 4 and 5 is the head pressure of each of the magnetic heads 4 and 5 with respect to a card described later.

In a normal state, the paired magnetic heads 4 and 5 hold the neutral position as described above, and the upper and lower magnetic heads 4 and 5 are further attached from the neutral position by levers 30 and 31, respectively. It is movably supported in a biasing direction of a spring 35 as a biasing means. When the magnetic card is inserted into the magnetic card moving passage 1, the magnetic card is sandwiched between the magnetic detection units 4a and 5a of the paired magnetic heads 4 and 5,
The magnetic information recorded on the magnetic stripes on the front and back of the magnetic card can be read simultaneously by the pair of magnetic heads 4 and 5 on the front and back.

The embodiment described above is different from the conventional example described first in that the magnetic head support mechanism 26 is supported by a pair of magnetic heads 4 and 5 that are swingably supported about a shaft 32. 30 and 31 as a pair of support members for swingably supporting the levers 30 and 31, respectively.
The levers 30, 31 are interposed between the magnetic heads 4 and 5, and the springs 35 are urged in directions in which the magnetic detecting portions 4a and 5a of the magnetic heads 4 and 5 come into contact with each other.
Reference numeral 5 denotes a point where the magnetic heads 4 and 5 are supported at a neutral position where the urging force of the spring 35 is balanced and movably supported in the urging direction by the spring 35 from the neutral position. Another difference from the above-described conventional example is that there is no stopper for restricting the rotation of one lever 31 to a certain degree or more by the urging force.

Next, the operation of the magnetic card reader according to the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 shows a stop position where the magnetic card does not exist in the magnetic card moving passage 1, and as described above, the magnetic head 4,
In a state where the magnetic detecting portions 4a and 5a of the magnetic card 5 abut on the magnetic card moving path 1, the levers 30 and 31 by the spring 35 are used.
Are balanced, and the magnetic heads 4 and 5 maintain the neutral position. From this state, as shown in FIG.
It is assumed that a flat card 20 has been inserted into the magnetic card moving path 1. The upper and lower positions of the card 20 are regulated by transport rollers (not shown), the positions of the right and left sides are regulated by appropriate guides, and the magnetic stripes on the front and back surfaces of the card 20 and the magnetic detection surfaces (gap surfaces) of the upper and lower magnetic heads 4 and 5 )
The paper is conveyed in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in a state where 4a and 5a match. When the magnetic card 20 is inserted, the upper magnetic head 4 is pushed up and the lower magnetic head 5 is pushed down according to the thickness of the card 20. At the same time, the levers 30 and 31 swing up and down respectively against the urging force of the spring 35, and the urging force of the spring 35 is balanced. Also, the upper magnetic head 4 can swing independently about the axis 8 and the lower magnetic head 5 can swing independently about the axis 9.
In addition, each magnetic card 20
Is applied, the magnetic detecting portions 4a and 5a of the magnetic heads 4 and 5 can slide directly against the magnetic stripe of the magnetic card 20.

FIG. 3B shows a case where the magnetic card 20 bent or bent in a convex shape is inserted into the lower magnetic head 5 side. Lever 30, 3 based on the elasticity of spring 35
1, the pressing force P3 'of the magnetic detection units 4a and 5a of the magnetic heads 4 and 5 against the magnetic card 20 by the rocking urging force.
Occurs, and the magnetic heads 4 and 5 are located at neutral positions on both sides of the actual running position of the magnetic card 20. The upper and lower magnetic heads 4 and 5 can swing independently about the axes 8 and 9 respectively, and a pressing force P3 ′ corresponding to the thickness of the magnetic card 20 is applied to the magnetic card 20 respectively. Therefore, the upper and lower magnetic heads 4 and 5 swing independently around the shafts 8 and 9 according to the bending of the magnetic card 20, respectively.
The magnetic detectors 4a and 5a of the magnetic heads 4 and 5 can slide directly against the magnetic stripe of the magnetic card 20.

FIG. 3C shows a case where a card 20 which is concavely curved or bent is inserted into the lower head 5 side. Also in this case, similarly to the case where the magnetic card 20 bent or bent in a convex shape is inserted into the lower magnetic head 5 side, each magnetic force is generated by the swing urging force of the levers 30 and 31 based on the elastic force of the spring 35. Magnetic detection unit 4 of heads 4 and 5
The pressing force P3 'of the magnetic cards 20a and 20a against the magnetic card 20 is generated, and the magnetic heads 4 and 5 are neutral on both sides of the actual running position of the magnetic card 20. The upper and lower magnetic heads 4 and 5 can swing independently about the axes 8 and 9 respectively, and a pressing force P3 ′ corresponding to the thickness of the magnetic card 20 is applied to the magnetic card 20 respectively. Therefore, the upper and lower magnetic heads 4 and 5 swing independently about the shafts 8 and 9 following the bending of the magnetic card 20, respectively, and the magnetic detecting portions 4a and 5a of the magnetic heads 4 and 5 are Can be faithfully slid in direct contact with the magnetic stripe.

According to the embodiment described above, the magnetic head supporting mechanism 26 for supporting the magnetic heads 4 and 5 forming a pair.
Are paired magnetic heads 4, which are supported swingably,
5 and a pair of levers 30 and 3 for swingably supporting
1 and a spring 35 interposed between the pair of levers 30 and 31 and biasing the pair of levers 30 and 31 in directions in which the magnetic detection portions 4a and 5a of the upper magnetic heads 4 and 5 come into contact with each other.
The magnetic heads 4 and 5 forming a pair are held at a neutral position where the biasing force of the spring 35 is balanced by the magnetic head support mechanism 26, and the respective magnetic heads 4 and 5 are moved to the neutral position. Since the magnetic card 20 is inserted, the pair of magnetic heads 4 and 5 move in parallel up and down without a load, so that the magnetic card 20 always moves when the magnetic card 20 is inserted. Come. Therefore, even when the magnetic card 20 bent or curved in a concave or convex shape is inserted, the pair of upper and lower magnetic heads 4 and 5 both advance toward the magnetic card surface, and are individually responsive to the magnetic card surface. And the magnetic detectors 4a and 5a of the magnetic heads 4 and 5 move to the magnetic card 20.
Sliding contact with the magnetic stripe.

If the thickness of the magnetic card 20 is constant, the pad pressure of the magnetic heads 4 and 5 on the card is always constant regardless of whether the card is flat or deformed. Since the biasing force of the one magnetic head support mechanism is not increased as in the conventional magnetic card reader, and the movement of the one magnetic head support mechanism is not restricted by the stopper, the magnetic card 20 is not used. Is not corrected between the magnetic card moving passage 1 and the magnetic head. Therefore, the magnetic card can be smoothly transported without damaging the magnetic card, and the traveling load of the magnetic card is stabilized, so that the traveling of the magnetic card is stabilized.

Lever 30, 31 as a pair of support members
Are symmetrically arranged with the magnetic card moving path 1 interposed therebetween,
Since the pair of upper and lower magnetic heads 4 and 5 can move symmetrically in parallel, the pair of magnetic heads 4 and 5 can move smoothly according to the surface of the magnetic card.
There is an advantage that the magnetic detection units 4a and 5a of the magnetic heads 4 and 5 are in sliding contact with the magnetic stripe of the magnetic card 20 faithfully.

In the embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. 1, in addition to the spring 35, the magnetic detector 4a of the upper magnetic head 4 and the magnetic detector 5a of the lower magnetic head 5
Lever 3 in the direction in which
Springs 60 and 61 for biasing 0 and 31 respectively may be provided. These springs 60 and 61 are relatively weak springs, for example, having an elastic force of about their own weight of the magnetic heads 4 and 6. By providing the springs 60 and 61, the magnetic heads 4, 5
Can be positioned.

Next, another embodiment shown in FIG. 4 will be described. The same components as those of the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. In FIG. 4, bearing plates 43, 4 are provided on the upper surface of the upper guide plate 2 at the substantially central portion in the left-right direction and on the lower surface of the lower guide plate 3 at the substantially central portion in the left-right direction, respectively.
3 are fixed, and shafts 52, 5
3, one ends of the levers 40 and 41 are connected to be swingable in a vertical plane. The pair of levers 40 and 41 extend to the left almost in parallel with the guide plates 2 and 3, and each lever 4
Magnetic heads 4 and 5 are supported at the intermediate portions in the length direction of 0 and 41 so as to be swingable about vertical axes 8 and 9 in a vertical plane, respectively. The shafts 8 and 9 are provided on head holders 6 and 7 integrated with the magnetic heads 4 and 5. The pair of levers 40 and 41 have projecting portions 40a and 41a at the left ends, respectively. These projections 40a, 41a are located slightly outside the left outer surfaces of the guide plates 2, 3, and a tension spring 35 is hung between the projections 40a, 41a.

The pair of levers 40 and 41 and the bearing plate 4
3, 43, the magnetic head support mechanism 46 by the spring 35 and the like.
And the pair of levers 40, 41,
The bearing plates 43, 43, the spring 35, and the like are arranged symmetrically with the magnetic card moving passage 1 interposed therebetween. A pair of levers 4
Reference numerals 0 and 41 denote directions in which the magnetic detection portions 4a and 5a of the pair of upper and lower magnetic heads 4 and 5 abut against each other by a common spring 35, specifically, the lever 40 is counterclockwise and the lever 41 is clockwise. It is urged to swing. The magnetic heads 4 and 5 forming a pair are held at a neutral position where the urging force of the spring 35 is balanced with the magnetic detection units 4a and 5a abutting on the magnetic card moving path 1. The pair of levers 40 and 41 also support the magnetic heads 4 and 5 movably from the neutral position in the biasing direction of the spring 35.

Also in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the magnetic heads 4 and 5 are independently swingably supported by levers 40 and 41, respectively. Since the magnetic detection units 4a and 5a are urged in a direction in which they contact each other, and the magnetic heads 4 and 5 are movably supported from the neutral position in the direction of urging by the spring 35, the upper and lower magnetic heads are moved. The magnetic heads 4 and 5 swing independently around the shafts 8 and 9 following the bending of the magnetic card 20, respectively.
5a can faithfully slide directly against the magnetic stripe of the magnetic card 20, and have the same operation and effects as in the previous embodiment. Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the swing fulcrum of the pair of levers 40, 41 is arranged on the guide plates 2, 3 side, and the amount by which the levers 40, 41 project outside the guide plates 2, 3 is reduced. Therefore, most of the magnetic head support mechanism 46 can be arranged in the dead space, and the size of the magnetic card reader can be reduced.

In the embodiments described above, the magnetic heads 4 and 5 forming a pair and the levers for supporting the magnetic heads are described as being positioned vertically, but they may be positioned right and left.

[0035]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a magnetic head supporting mechanism for supporting a pair of magnetic heads is supported so as to be swingable, and each of the paired magnetic heads is swingably supported. A pair of support members, and biasing means interposed between the pair of support members and biasing means for biasing the pair of support members in a direction in which the magnetic detection portions of the magnetic heads are in contact with each other. The magnetic head is held by the magnetic head support mechanism at the neutral position where the urging force of the urging means is balanced, and the respective magnetic heads are movably supported from the neutral position in the urging direction by the urging means. When the magnetic card is inserted, the pair of magnetic heads move up and down in parallel with no load and always come to the running position of the magnetic card. Therefore, even when a magnetic card bent or curved in a concave or convex shape is inserted, both the pair of upper and lower magnetic heads advance toward the magnetic card surface, and swing independently according to the magnetic card surface. Then, the magnetic detecting portion of the magnetic head slides on the magnetic stripe of the magnetic card faithfully.

Further, since the movement of one magnetic head support mechanism is not restricted by the stopper unlike the conventional magnetic card reader, the magnetic detecting portion of the magnetic head is slidably contacted with the magnetic stripe of the magnetic card. The information can be stably read and written without any spacing loss. The inventions according to claims 2 and 3 have the same effect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of a magnetic card reader according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front view sequentially showing the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing another embodiment of the magnetic card reader according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing an example of a conventional magnetic card reader.

FIG. 6 is a front view sequentially showing the operation of the conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Magnetic card moving path 4 Magnetic head 5 Magnetic head 4a Magnetic detection unit 5a Magnetic detection unit 20 Magnetic card 30 Lever as a support member 31 Lever as a support member 26 Magnetic head support mechanism 35 Spring as urging means 40 Magnetic head support mechanism

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A magnetic head capable of supporting a pair of magnetic heads with their magnetic detecting portions facing each other and holding a magnetic card inserted into the magnetic detecting portions with the pair of magnetic heads at a predetermined head pressure. Has a head support mechanism,
In a magnetic card reader capable of reading magnetic information recorded on the front and back of the magnetic card simultaneously with the pair of magnetic heads, the magnetic head supporting mechanism is swingably supported to form the pair of magnetic heads. A pair of support members for swingably supporting the heads, and biasing means interposed between the pair of support members and biasing the pair of support members in a direction in which the magnetic detection portions of the magnetic heads come into contact with each other. The paired magnetic heads are held by the magnetic head support mechanism at a neutral position where the urging force of the urging means is balanced, and each magnetic head is moved from the neutral position to the magnetic head. A magnetic card reader supported movably in a biasing direction by a biasing means. 2. The magnetic card reader according to claim 1, wherein the pair of support members are arranged symmetrically with respect to the magnetic card moving passage. 3. The magnetic card reader according to claim 1, wherein when the paired magnetic heads are at the neutral position, the magnetic detecting portions of the respective magnetic heads are located on the magnetic card moving path.