Card reader having means for reducing the size of the card reader

Abstract

A card reader includes a card insertion slot through which a card is inserted, a card transferring device which transfers the inserted card from the insertion slot along a card driving path, and a reading device along one point of the path for reading data stored on the card. The card may be a magnetic card or an IC card having an IC terminal thereon. The card reader also includes a pressing mechanism disposed between the card insertion slot and the reading device which presses against one edge of the card so that the opposite edge of the card is pressed against a card driving reference plane. The card reader also may include an IC contact block for making contact with the IC terminal on an inserted IC card, and a contact block moving device which moves the IC contact block towards and away from the IC card, and wherein both the card transferring device and the contact block moving device are driven by the same motor, and differences in load torque is utilized therebetween to determine how the drive force is distributed. The card reader further may include a biasing mechanism that forces two opposing read heads towards one another, and a movement limiting mechanism limits movement of the read heads in a particular manner such that the read heads are forced to a neutral, central position when a card is not inserted in the card reader.