Magnetic card transport

Abstract

A magnetic card transport comprising the combination of a frame having curved guide path means for a card to insure effective but minimal reading pressure of card against a magnetic head (transducer) resulting only from flexure of the card by rigidly mounting the head on the convex or rear side of the frame, and novel card translating means including a self-pivoting drive shaft with a driven roller at one end and a curved card-driving roller at center carried by a bracket pivotally mounted on the frame for movements between inoperative and operative positions and having a pivotal half-bearing to insure angular movement of the shaft axis in response to forward or reverse rotation of the driven roller to maintain proper engagement of the card with the frame, and a stop to limit manual card insertion to a start position and movable to inoperative position as the shaft-supporting bracket is swung to its operative position to effect rotation of the driven roller. As forward rotation of the motor is initiated, a solenoid is energized to swing the shaft-supporting bracket to operative position, and optical sensing means are provided for cooperation with a hole pattern in the card to cause reversal of the motor, when the card has reached its desired innermost extent of travel, and deenergization of the motor and the solenoid when the card has reached the end of its useful travel and been returned to start position, thus detecting card presence and point of drive reversal, providing record protection, and preventing operation when card is improperly inserted. Novel head-supporting bracket is mounted on the frame for engagement by three screws adjustable to independently rotate the bracket and head about three mutually perpendicular axes to assure accurate positioning of the head relative to the guide path means and a card traveling therethrough.