Magnetic card reader with optimized mounting

Abstract

Title: Magnetic card reader with optimized assembly. The invention relates to a magnetic card reader 1 comprising a plate 6 supporting a read head 9, a lower cover 4 and an upper cover 3, the plate being designed to be assembled with one of the covers before the other cover is fitted. Figure for the abstract: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Magnetic card reader with optimized mounting

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of portable electronic devices and in particular to that of magnetic card readers.

[0002] Portable electronic devices are generally very compact, making assembly difficult. Particularly in the case of a thin magnetic card reader, it is sometimes difficult to connect the read head to the electronic board responsible for processing the collected data. The flexible bus that connects the head to the board can be damaged during assembly.

[0003] One object of the invention is to provide means and a method of assembly which allow easier mounting for a reading head in a magnetic card reader.

[0004] A first object of the invention is a magnetic card reader comprising an upper cover and a lower cover, a reading head, a plate for fixing the head, a counter-plate fixed in the upper cover and an electronic card, the plate and the plywood forming between them a slot for inserting and reading the magnetic card, the counter-plate and / or the lower cover comprising means for interlocking with complementary interlocking means for the plate, so that the plate can be positioned opposite the plywood in the upper cover, before putting on the lower cover and fixing this lower cover to the upper cover.

[0005] The slot may include an opening towards the front of the reader and a bottom opposite this opening, the plate including a heel disposed at the rear of the bottom, the interlocking means including on the one hand at least a first upper boss extending from the counter plate and / or a first boss extending from the upper cover towards the lower cover, and, on the other hand, for each of the bosses, a passage formed in the heel of the plate and provided to fit around this boss.

[0006] Preferably, the lower cover comprises at least one first lower boss arranged opposite a respective first upper boss, the first lower boss forming a well for housing the head of a first screw, this screw being engaged with the first boss. Advantageously, the heel is held pinched between at least one first lower boss and the corresponding first upper boss.

[0007] The bottom of the slot advantageously includes a support wall for bearing against the counter plate. The bottom of the slot may include a rail intended to serve as a longitudinal guide for the magnetic card, this rail and the plate comprising means of mutual gripping, the rail being thus preferably held in support against the supporting wall when it exists.

[0008] The plate may also include at least one second upper boss located at the front of the bottom of the slot, and the lower cover may include a second lower boss located opposite the second upper boss and forming a recess for the head of a second screw, this screw being engaged with the second upper boss. There may be two second screws located on either side of the reading head, preferably at a distance from the head not exceeding twice the width of that head.

[0009] The plate may also include at least one upper third boss disposed near an anterior edge of the slot and in that the lower cover includes a lower third boss disposed opposite the upper third boss and forming a well to house a head of a third screw, this screw being engaged with the upper third boss.

[0010] Embodiments and variants will be described below by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0011] [Fig-1] is a partial schematic elevation and cross-sectional view along a first transverse plane of an anterior part of a magnetic card reader according to the invention;

[0012] [Fig.2] is a partial schematic and cross-sectional view along a second plane transverse, in elevation and in perspective from below the magnetic card reader according to the invention, around a reading slot for the card;

[0013] [Fig.3] is a view similar to that of [Fig.2], in perspective and section along a third cross-sectional plan;

[0014] [Fig.4] is a view similar to that of [Fig.2], in perspective and section along a fourth cross-sectional plan;

[0015] [Fig. 5] is an exploded perspective and bottom view of a lower plate of a rail and a reading head for the reader;

[0016] [Fig.6] is an assembled perspective and bottom view of the lower plate, of the rail and the reading head;

[0017] [Fig.7] is an assembled perspective and top view of the lower plate, of the rail and reading head; and,

[0018] [Fig.8] is a partial perspective and bottom view of the anterior end of the reader including the reading slot and illustrating the attachment of a lower cover of this reader.

[0019] In this description, in particular the terms "high", "low", "upper" and "lower", "horizontal" and "vertical", "upstream" and "downstream" and other terms of the same type may be used arbitrarily and generally refer to Reader usage positions, without being restrictive. Arbitrarily, except for [Fig. 7]: - we designate as front F what is on the left of the figure and rear R what is on the right; - upstream M, which is above the plane of the figure, and downstream V, which is below the plane of the figure; and furthermore, - For ease of description and representation, what is less than N, or "below", is drawn above, and what is greater than S, or "above", is drawn below.

[0020] Fig. 1 illustrates an anterior end 1F of a magnetic card reader 1, where this end forms a slot 2. This slot is provided for inserting and sliding longitudinally, in a DC direction, a card having a magnetic track.

[0021] The reader includes in particular: - a top cover 3; - a lower cover 4; - a plate 6; - a counter plate 5; - an electronic card 7; - a rail 8; and, - a reading head 9.

[0022] The slot 2 extends substantially parallel to a slot plane P; this slot plane is considered horizontal in the following description; in [Fig. 1], the plane P is perpendicular to the figure and represented only by a line. The slot 2 is open upstream M and downstream V and continuously from upstream to downstream through the front end 1F of the reader 1. The upper cover 3 and the lower cover 4 each form a continuous lip 3L, 4L, respectively, of the slot 2. The rail 8 forms a longitudinal planar support, perpendicular to the slot plane P2, at the bottom of the slot 2; it is intended to serve as a straight-line guide for the card during its reading by the head 9; it extends along the longitudinal direction DC of card insertion, from one corner of the lips 3L, 4L to the other.

[0023] The upper lip 3L and the counter plate 5 together form a flat upper surface 11 parallel to the slot plane P2. The lower lip 4L and the plate 6 together form a lower surface 12 parallel to the slot plane P2. The two surfaces 11, 12 are opposite each other at a substantially constant distance D2, measured perpendicular to the slot plane P2.

[0024] The head 9 is fixed through the plate 6, opposite the counter plate, so that a magnetic track of the card can be read when this card is inserted into the slot 2, upstream M to downstream V, or conversely downstream to upstream, along the rail 8 and the magnetic track opposite the plate 6. The head 9 carries a flexible 13, one free end of which has a 13A plug intended to be connected to a circuit of the electronic board 7.

[0025] In the illustrated example, the counter plate 5 is formed in one piece with the electronic board 7. It is fixed directly to the upper cover 3.

[0026] The rail 8 comprises tabs 14 extending downwards N from a horizontal lower edge 8N of the rail. The rail 8 is fixed by snapping each tab 14 into a respective bay 16 of the plate 6. In the assembly position illustrated in particular in Figures 1 to 4, the rail 8 extends along a bearing wall 17 of the plate 6. This wall 17 extends vertically upwards S, beyond the plane of the lower surface 12 of the slot 2.

[0027] Figures 1-4 illustrate an assembly position of the reader 1, that is, a position in which the various parts constituting this reader are in an assembled and functional position. In the example shown, the lower cover 4 is assembled using three sets of screws 21, 22, 23. Figures 1 and 2 each illustrate the fastening of the lower cover by a first screw 21 from one of the first sets of screws, Figure 3 illustrates the fastening of the lower cover by a second screw 22 from a second set of screws, and Figure 4 illustrates the fastening of the lower cover by a third screw 23 from the third set of screws.

[0028] The respective section planes P1-P4 of Figures 1-4 are shown in [Fig. 8]. The section planes P1-P4 are transverse planes to the DC direction of card insertion into slot 2 of the reader 1; they are arbitrarily assumed to be vertical. Each section plane illustrates, in particular, a method of securing a respective screw 21-23 used for assembling the lower cover 4.

[0029] The first set of screws comprises four first screws 21. These first screws 21 of the first set are arranged vertically at the rear R of the rail 8 and the support wall 17. The first screws 21 allow the lower cover 4 to be rigidly fixed directly to the upper cover 3 or directly to the plywood 5.

[0030] Figure 1 is a cross-section along a first transverse plane PL. It illustrates the attachment of the lower cover 4 directly to the upper cover 3 by means of a first screw from the set of first screws 21. At the location illustrated by Figure 1, the lower cover 4 comprises a first lower boss 421 extending upwards S and forming a recess in which the head of the first screw 21 fits, so that the head of the screw bears against the bottom of this recess; the upper cover 3 comprises a first upper boss 321 extending downwards N and into which the shank of the screw 21 engages. In the assembled position, an upper end 421A of the first boss lower tends to be brought to rest against a lower end 321A of the first upper boss, by the effect of the grip of the screw 21 in the upper boss 321.

[0031] Fig. 2 is a section along a second transverse plane P2. It illustrates a fixing of the lower cover 4 directly to the plywood 5, by another first screw from the set of first screws 21. At the place illustrated by Fig. 2, the lower cover 4 includes another lower first boss 421 which extends upwards S and forms a well in which the head of the first screw 21 runs along, so that the head of the screw is in contact with a bottom of this well; the plywood 5 includes an upper first boss 521 which extends downwards N and in which the shank of the screw 21 engages. In the assembly position, an upper end 421A of the first lower boss 421 tends to be brought into contact with a lower end 521A of the first upper boss 521 of the plywood 5, by the effect of the grip of the screw 21 in the upper boss 521 of the plywood.

[0032] Plate 6 forms, for each of the first upper bosses 321, 521, a passage 20 fitted around the first upper bosses 321, 521. Thus, plate 6 can be positioned in the upper cover 3 before the lower cover is installed and secured. Once plate 6 is thus positioned in the upper cover 3, the head 9 can be connected to the card 7. This allows the flexible hose 13 to have a minimum length.

[0033] The plate 6 includes a heel 18 which extends horizontally towards the rear R beyond the support wall 17. In the assembly position, the heel 18 is held pinched between the counter plate 5 and the upper end 421A of the first lower boss 421, by the effect of the grip of the screws 21 in the upper bosses 321, 521.

[0034] The second set of screws comprises two second screws 22; these allow for rigid attachment of the lower cover 4 to the plate 6. These second screws 22 are arranged symmetrically at the front F of the rail 8, on either side of the read head 9, one upstream M, the other downstream V of the read head. Transversely, they are closer to the rail 8 than to the lips 3L, 4L and closer to the head 9 than to the longitudinal ends of the plate 6. In the illustrated example, each second screw 22 is arranged at a distance D22 between half and twice a longitudinal dimension L9 of the read head, so that the flexible 13 can pass between the read head and one of the second screws 22 (see [Fig. 6]).

[0035] Figure 3 is a cross-section along a third transverse plane P3. It illustrates the attachment of the lower cover 4 directly to the plate 6 by a second screw 22 from the second set of screws 22, upstream M of the reading head 9. At the location illustrated by Figure 3, the lower cover 4 includes a second lower boss 422 extending upwards S and forming a well in which the head of the second screw 22 rests, so that the screw head bears against the bottom of this well; the plate 6 includes a second upper boss 622 extending downwards N and in which the shank of the second screw 22 engages. In the assembly position, the second lower boss 422 tends to be brought to rest against a lower end 622A of the second upper boss 622 of the plate 6, by the effect of the engagement of the second screw 22 in the second upper boss 622 of the plate.

[0036] The bearing of the support wall 18 against the upper surface 11 of the slot 2, under the action of the first screws 21 and the second screws 22, defines the width D2 of the slot. Adjusting the grip of the first screws 21 and second screws 22 in the respective upper bosses 521 and 622 allows for adjusting the relative parallelism of the upper surface 11 and the lower surface 12 of the slot 2. The second screws 22, positioned in the immediate vicinity of the read head 9, ensure that this width D2 is as close as possible to an optimal value, in order to ensure smooth sliding of the magnetic card between the head 9 and the upper surface 11.

[0037] The third set of screws includes two third screws 23; they allow rigid attachment of the lower cover 4 to the plate 6. These second screws 22 are arranged at the front F of the rail 8, near a front edge 4F of the lower cover 4 and near the longitudinal ends of this edge 4F.

[0038] Figure 4 is a section along the fourth transverse plane P4. It illustrates the fixing of the lower cover 4 directly to the plate 6, by a third screw 23 from the set of third screws 23, upstream M of the front edge 4F. At the location illustrated by Figure 3, the lower cover 4 includes a lower third boss 423 which extends upwards S and forms a well in which the head of the third screw 23 fits, so that the head of the screw 23 bears against a bottom of this well; the plate 6 includes an upper third boss 623 which extends downwards N and in which the shank of the third screw 23 engages. In the assembly position, the second lower boss 622 tends to be brought to rest against a lower end of the third upper boss 623 of the plate 6, by the effect of the grip of the third screw 23 in the third upper boss 623 of the plate 6.

[0039] An adjustment of the grip of the third screw 23 makes it possible to ensure that the front edge 6F of the plate 6 and the front edge 4F of the lower cover are flush with each other, so that the plate 6 and the lip 4L of the lower cover 4 together form substantially one and the same lower surface 12 of the slot 2.

[0040] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples just described. On the contrary, the invention is defined by the following claims.

[0041] It will indeed appear to the person skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the embodiments described above, in the light of the teaching which has just been disclosed to him.

[0042] Thus, all or part of the means for fixing the lower cover may not be screws. They may be snap-fit ​​or rack-and-pinion means.

[0043] The features of the invention are particularly advantageous since they allow the reading head to be fixed to the plate and the flexible cable to be connected to the electronic board before the lower cover is fitted. The flexible cable has an optimized length and position, so that it is not at risk of being damaged by the fitting of this cover. In addition, the means for fixing the cover in the vicinity of the slot ensure a high degree of consistency in the width of the slot, thus optimizing the sliding of the magnetic card being read.

[0044] Reference list: A: Downstream M: Upstream F: Before / Anterior R: Back / Posterior N: Less than S: Superior 1: Magnetic card reader according to the invention 1F: Front end of the reader 1 2: Magnetic card reader slot 3: Upper cover of player 3L: Lip of upper cover 3 4: Lower cover of player 4L: Lip of lower cover 4 4F: Front edge of lower cover 4 5: Backing plate 6: Plate 6F: Anterior edge of plate 6 7: Electronic board 8: Rail 8N: Lower edge of rail 8 9: Reading Head 11: Upper surface of slot 2 12: Lower surface of slot 2 13: Flexible connection for head 9 13A: Connection socket for the flexible cable to the card 7 14: Rail fixing tab to plate 6 16: Bay of plate 6 for inserting tab 14 17: Supporting wall 18: Heel of plate 6 21: First screws for fixing the lower cover 4 22: Second screws for securing the lower cover 23: Third screws for securing the lower cover 321: First upper boss, on the upper hood 3 321A: Lower end of the first upper boss 321 421: First lower bulge of the lower hood 4 421A: Upper end of the first lower boss 421 422: Second lower bulge of the lower hood 422A: Upper end of the first lower boss 421 423: Third lower bulge of the lower hood 521: First upper boss, on the counterplate 5 521A: Lower end of the first upper boss 521 622: Second upper boss, on plate 6 622A: Lower end of the second upper boss 622 623: Third upper boss, on plate 6 P: Slot plane (horizontal plane parallel to slot 2) PI: First cross-sectional plane 2: Second cross-sectional plane P3: Third cross-sectional plane P4: Fourth cross-sectional plane

Claims

Demands

1. Magnetic card reader (1), characterized in that it comprises an upper cover (3) and a lower cover (4), a reading head (9), a plate (6) for fixing said head (9), a counter-plate (5) fixed in said upper cover and an electronic card (7), said plate and said counter-plate forming between them a slot (2) for inserting and reading said magnetic card, said counter-plate and / or said lower cover comprising interlocking means (321, 521) with complementary interlocking means (20) of the plate (6), so that said plate (6) can be positioned opposite said counter-plate (5) in said upper cover (3), before putting said lower cover (4) on and fixing said lower cover to said upper cover (3).

2. Reader according to claim 1, characterized in that the slot (2) comprises an opening (3L, 4L) towards the front (F) of the reader (1) and a bottom (8,17) opposite said opening, the plate (6) comprising a heel (18) disposed at the rear (R) of said bottom, the interlocking means comprising on the one hand at least a first upper boss (521) which extends from the counter plate and / or a first upper boss (321) which extends from the upper cover towards the lower cover, and, on the other hand, for each of said bosses (321, 521), a passage (20) formed in said heel (18) of said plate (6) and provided to fit around this boss (321, 521).

3. Reader according to claim 2, characterized in that the lower cover comprises at least one first lower boss (421) arranged opposite a respective first upper boss (321, 521), said first lower boss forming a well for housing a head of a first screw (21), said screw (21) being engaged with said first upper boss (321, 521).

4. Reader according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the heel (18) is held pinched between at least one first lower boss (421) and the corresponding first upper boss (321, 521).

5. Reader according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the bottom (8,17) of the slot (2) comprises a support wall (17) to bear against the counter plate (5).

6. Reader according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the bottom (8,17) of the slot (2) comprises a rail (8) provided to serve as a longitudinal guide for the magnetic card, said rail and the plate (6) comprising means (114, 15) for mutual gripping, said rail being thus preferably held in contact with the support wall (17) according to claim 5.

7. Reader according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the plate (6) comprises at least one second upper boss (622) disposed at the front (F) of the bottom (8,17) of the slot (2) and in that the lower cover (3) comprises a second lower boss (422) disposed opposite said second upper boss and forming a well to house a head of a second screw (22), said screw (22) being engaged with said second upper boss (622).

8. Reader according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises two second screws (22) disposed on either side of the reading head (9), preferably at a distance (D22) from the head not exceeding twice a width (L9) of said head.

9. Reader according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the plate (6) comprises at least one upper third boss (623) disposed near a front edge (6F) of the slot (2) and in that the lower cover (3) comprises a lower third boss (423) disposed opposite said upper third boss and forming a well to house a head of a third screw (23), said screw (23) being engaged with said upper third boss (623).

Images