Magnetic card system for payment - uses card carrying cash value digitally encoded on magnetic track, and successively reduced as service is used

摘要

To control payment for a particular service a card carrying a magnetic track is used. The card initially has a certain value, which is subsequently reduced each time it is used. The card reading machine comprises an upright post, approximately a metre high, with a vertical slot in it to receive the card. Immediately behind the slot there is a scanning head reading the data on the card, and feeding it to a microprocessor housed in a box at the base of the post. The machine includes two jaws (21,22) immediately inside the slot (15) gripping a card (25) once it is inserted. A U-shaped carriage (27) surrounds the inserted card, and is able to move on vertical guide rails (32,33) to scan the card. Reading heads (38,etc.) are situated inside the 'U' adjacent to the card.