| 摘要 |
A transaction card reader for manually inserted cards includes a vertically moveable gate located just inward of the card insertion opening. The gate is moved from its closed or blocking position in response to the leading card edge engaging and applying symmetrical lifting forces to the gate. Guide members guide the vertical gate movement if the card is oriented at the correct angle in the insertion plane to produce symmetrical lifting forces. These guide members impede the gate from moving from its closed position if one card leading edge portion engages the gate before the other. In one exemplary embodiment, the gate includes a pair of spaced cam surfaces facing the user. If the leading card edge engages one cam surface before the other, the gate will skew and bind in a gateway. If both cam surfaces are engaged substantially simultaneously, the gate rises vertically in the gateway. A gate spring symmetrically biases the gate member toward the closed position. |
