Card Reader Magnetic Head Alignment via Torque Limiters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional card readers processing cards with magnetic stripes in conformity with international or JIS standards face accuracy issues when cards are conveyed in their short widthwise direction, leading to displacement of the magnetic head and magnetic stripe, which lowers reading and writing accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A card reader design featuring a card conveying mechanism with first and second conveying rollers and torque limiters, allowing precise alignment and positioning of the magnetic head with respect to the card's magnetic stripe by moving the head in the widthwise direction and correcting any inclination of the card, ensuring accurate data reading and writing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a card with magnetic stripe is conveyed in its short widthwise direction for processing, then the card can be processed in the device, but the magnetic head and magnetic stripe may be displaced from each other, lowering reading and writing accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by positioning the card at a reference position before the magnetic head arrives, using an abutting part to establish the card's position in advance. This ensures that when the magnetic head moves to read/write the magnetic stripe, the relative positioning is already correct, preventing displacement and maintaining accuracy during short-width conveying
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feedback through sensors that detect the card's position and convey this information to the control unit. The control unit then adjusts the magnetic head's position or the card's conveying position based on this feedback, ensuring accurate alignment between the magnetic head and magnetic stripe even when conveying in the short widthwise direction
2Manufacturing precision
If the magnetic head is moved in the widthwise direction to align with the magnetic stripe, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the complexity of the positioning mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an abutting part as an intermediary element that establishes a reference position for the card. This abutting part acts as a mediator between the card positioning system and the magnetic head, allowing the magnetic head to maintain a fixed relative position to the card without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical positioning adjustments with a control system that uses sensors and electronic control. Instead of purely mechanical mechanisms for continuous positioning adjustment, the system uses electronic sensing of card position and controlled movement of the magnetic head or card, reducing mechanical complexity while improving precision
Data Source
AI summary
A card reader may include a card conveying mechanism structured to convey the card; a conveying passage; a magnetic head to abut a magnetic stripe formed on a card and read or record data on the card; a head moving mechanism to move the magnetic head; and an abutting part abutting with one end of the card. The card conveying mechanism may include a drive source, and a first conveying roller and a second conveying roller. The first conveying roller is disposed on one end side of the conveying passage. The second conveying roller is disposed on the other end of the conveying passage. The card conveying mechanism may include a first torque limiter disposed in a power transmission path from the drive source to the first conveying roller, and a second torque limiter disposed in a power transmission path from the drive source to the second conveying roller.