Card reader

A card reader for use with a magnetic card on which magnetic information is recorded, the card reader comprising:

• a transport path structured to transport the magnetic card;
• a housing internally provided with the transport path;
• a magnetic head structured to read the magnetic information at a reading position of the transport path in a transport direction of the magnetic card;
• and
• a first inductive proximity sensor comprising:
• a first oscillation circuit;
• and
• a first detection coil and a second detection coil connected in parallel to the first oscillation circuit,
• the magnetic head being accessible to the magnetic card from a first side of the transport path in a first direction perpendicular to a transport face of the magnetic card in the transport path,
• a coil center line of the first detection coil and a coil center line of the second detection coil extending in the first direction on the first side of the transport path in the first direction, and
• the first detection coil and the second detection coil being disposed adjacent to each other in the transport direction and structured to generate magnetic fields in opposite directions in the first direction when the first inductive proximity sensor is driven.