Magnetic card reader and method

A magnetic storage and readout method for use with a card having a magnetic medium thereon comprising:

• providing an opening in a support for mounting the card in an operative position with respect to the support with the opening extending into the support from the outer periphery of the support;
• moving the card past said outer periphery to mount the card in said opening adjacent to a read/write head;
• and
• moving the head relative to the card to permit data to be read from the magnetic storage medium and to write data onto the magnetic storage medium when the card is in said operative position thereof and adjacent to the head.

A magnetic storage and readout method for use with a card having a magnetic medium thereon comprising:

• providing a support having an opening therethrough;
• moving the card beneath the support and into the opening to mount the card in an operative position;
• rotating the card about a central axis spaced from the operative position;
• and
• moving a read/write head in data transfer relationship to the magnetic medium of the card as the card rotates about said central axis.

Magnetic storage and readout apparatus for use with a card having a magnetic medium therein comprising:

• a support;
• a disk form rotatably mounted on the support and having means thereon for forming an opening for mounting the card in an operative position with respect to the support;
• means for defining a spring finger carried by the disk form for rotation therewith, said spring finger being biased in a direction to force the card into said opening of the disk.
• means coupled with the disk form for rotating the disk form about the central axis thereof;
• a magnetic read/write head;
• means mounting the head on the support for movement of the head relative to the disk form;
• and
• means coupled with the head for moving the same relative to the disk form, whereby the head and the magnetic medium on the card can move relative to each other so that the head can read data from the magnetic storage medium or write data onto the magnetic storage medium when the card is in said operative position thereof and as said disk form is rotated.

Magnetic storage and readout apparatus for use with a card having a magnetic medium therein comprising:

• a support;
• a disk form rotatably mounted on the support and having means thereon for forming an opening for mounting the card in an operative position with respect to the support;
• a pair of spaced, parallel spring fingers secured to the disk form for rotation therewith, said spring fingers being aligned with the opening of the disk form and being biased in a direction to force the card into said opening in the disk form so that the upper surface of the magnetic medium forms an extension of the upper surface of the disk form;
• means coupled with the disk form for rotating the disk form about the central axis thereof;
• a magnetic read/write head;
• means mounted the head on the support for movement of the head relative to the disk form;
• and
• means coupled with the head for moving the same relative to the disk form, whereby the head and the magnetic medium on the card can move relative to each other so that the head can read data from the magnetic storage medium or write data onto the magnetic storage medium when the card is in said operative position thereof and as said disk from is rotated.

Magnetic storage and readout apparatus for use with a card having a magnetic medium therein comprising:

• a support;
• a disk form rotatably mounted on the support and having means thereon for forming an opening for mounting the card in an operative position with respect to the support, said disk form having means thereon for defining a reference surface engageably with the card when the card is in said operative position, said reference defining means including a curved retainer member near the outer periphery of the disk form across said opening thereof, said retainer member having a pair of reference surface portions engageable with the card when the card is in said operative position;
• means coupled with the disk form for rotating the disk form about the central axis thereof;
• a magnetic read/write head;
• means mounted the head on the support for movement of the head relative to the disk form;
• and
• means coupled with the head for moving the same relative to the disk form, whereby the head and the magnetic medium on the card can move relative to each other so that the head can read data from the magnetic storage medium or write data onto the magnetic storage medium when the card is in said operative position thereof and as said disk form in rotated.

Magnetic storage and readout apparatus for use with a card having a magnetic medium therein comprising;

• a support;
• means on the support for forming an opening for mounting the card in an operative position with respect to the support;
• a magnetic read/write head adjacent to said operative position, said forming means for the card being operable to mount the card in a fixed position relative to the support, said head being movable radially and circumferentially past the magnetic storage medium of the card when the card is in the fixed position, said mounting means for the head including a carriage, means mounting the carriage for rectilinear movement with the head being movable past the storage medium on the card when the card is in said operative position, said carriage being pivotally mounted for rotation about a central axis spaced from the operative position of the card, means coupled with the carriage for moving the same along said rectilinear path, and means coupled with the carriage for rotating the same about said central axis, whereby the head can move in two degrees of freedom with respect to the magnetic storage medium on the card when the card is in said operative position;
• and
• means coupled with the card mounting means and the head for moving the head radially and circumferentially relative to the card, whereby the head can read data from the magnetic storage medium or write data onto the magnetic storage medium when the card is in said operative position thereof and adjacent to the head.