Magnetic stripe and magnetic ink character recognition reader

An apparatus for reading data embodied in magnetic ink characters and a magnetic stripe, comprising:

• a housing having a generally rectangular configuration;
• a first channel in a top surface of said housing sized to slidingly receive a medium bearing a magnetic stripe thereon, said first channel disposed to extend longitudinally from opposed, longitudinally spaced end faces of said housing;
• a magnetic stripe read head disposed adjacent said first channel within said housing;
• a second channel in said top surface of said housing sized to slidingly receive a medium bearing magnetic ink characters thereon, said second channel comprising:
• a straight path portion disposed generally parallel to and spaced from said first channel and extending from one of said opposed end faces of said housing, and
• a curved path portion disposed to interconnect said straight portion and said first channel at an intermediate location of said first channel;
• a magnetizing head and a magnetic ink character recognition read head disposed adjacent said second channel within said housing, wherein said first channel is located generally adjacent one side of said housing and said straight path portion is located generally adjacent an opposite side of said housing and spaced apart from said first channel to isolate said first channel from interference with said magnetizing head and said magnetic ink character recognition read head.

An apparatus for reading data embodied in magnetic ink characters and a magnetic stripe, comprising:

• a housing having a generally rectangular configuration and comprising a base, a top surface, opposed longitudinally extending sides, and opposed end faces;
• a first channel in said top surface sized to permit a medium bearing a magnetic stripe thereon to be manually swiped through said first channel, said first channel disposed to extend longitudinally from one of said opposed end faces to the other of said opposed end faces;
• a magnetic stripe read head disposed adjacent said first channel within said housing;
• a second channel in said top surface sized to slidingly receive a medium bearing magnetic ink characters thereon, said second channel having a straight portion disposed generally parallel to said first channel and extending from one of said opposed end faces of said housing, said second channel further having a curved portion disposed to interconnect said straight portion and said first channel at an intermediate location thereof;
• a first motor-driven capstan and a first pinch roller disposed on opposite sides of said straight portion of said second channel within said housing, and a second motor-driven capstan and a second pinch roller disposed on opposite sides of said curved portion of said second channel within said housing, for driving the medium bearing magnetic ink characters along said second channel;
• a reversible motor disposed within said housing for driving said first and second capstans in a forward direction and a reverse direction;
• a first sensor disposed adjacent to said straight portion of said second channel to detect insertion of the medium bearing magnetic ink characters into said second channel;
• and
• a second sensor disposed adjacent said second channel and between said first capstan and said second capstan to detect a trailing edge of the medium bearing magnetic ink characters;
• a magnetizing head disposed adjacent said second channel within said housing;
• a magnetic ink character recognition read head disposed adjacent said second channel within said housing;
• a processor disposed within said housing in communication with said magnetic stripe read head and said magnetic ink character recognition read head to process data read by said magnetic stripe read head and said magnetic ink character recognition read head, said processor further in communication with said first sensor and said second sensor to actuate said motor to drive said first capstan and said second capstan in the forward direction upon transmission of a signal from said first sensor representative of detection by said first sensor of the medium bearing magnetic ink characters in said straight portion of said second channel and to actuate said motor to drive said first capstan and said second capstan in the reverse direction upon transmission of a signal from said second sensor representative of detection of the trailing edge of medium bearing magnetic ink characters;
• and
• an interface connection port.