Card reader with enhanced tamper resistance
A card reader can include a card insertion slot, a conveyor member, a card-reading head, and a pendulum sensor assembly. The card insertion slot can receive a card from a user. The conveyor member can be configured to move the card along a transport path extending at least partially within the card reader. The card-reading head can be positioned along the transport path, directed toward the transport path. The card-reading head can be configured to read data held on a magnetic strip or held on an embedded chip. The pendulum sensor assembly can include a pendulum and a first sensor. The pendulum can extend into the transport path and can be freely-pivotable about a pivot axis. The first sensor can be configured to detect an angular position of the pendulum about the pivot axis.
1 . A card reader comprising:
a card insertion slot configured to receive a card from a user and wherein the card is dispensed to the user through said card insertion slot after a transaction is complete;
at least one conveyor member configured to move the card along a transport path extending at least partially within said card reader;
at least one card-reading head positioned along said transport path and directed toward said transport path, said at least one card-reading head configured to read data held on one of a magnetic strip on an underside of the card and held on a chip embedded in the card; and
a sensor assembly including a body and a first sensor, said body extending into said transport path and is moveable in said transport path, said first sensor configured to detect a position of said body in said transport path, wherein said body is uninhibited in movement about a pivot axis when acted upon laterally by the card moving along said transport path.
2 . The card reader of claim 1 further comprising:
a second sensor positioned along said transport path and configured to detect a structure positioned in said transport path in front of said at least one card-reading head.
3 . The card reader of claim 1 further comprising:
a gate assembly positioned along said transport path and configured to selectively open and close said transport path.
4 . The card reader of claim 3 further comprising:
a retention bin disposed at an end of said transport path opposite said card insertion slot, wherein said gate assembly is immediately adjacent to said retention bin along said transport path.
5 . The card reader of claim 3 wherein said gate assembly is positioned at a back side of said card reader, said back side of said card reader being an opposite side of card reader relative to said card insertion slot.
6 . The card reader of claim 3 wherein said gate assembly further comprises:
a shaft;
a gate mounted on said shaft; and
a motor and sensor assembly configured to drive said shaft in pivoting movement about a central longitudinal axis of said shaft to move said gate between a closed position and an open position.
7 . The card reader of claim 1 further comprises:
a second sensor positioned along said transport path and configured to detect a structure in said transport path in front of said at least one card-reading head; and
a gate assembly positioned along said transport path and configured to selectively open and close said transport path.
8 . An automated transaction machine comprising:
a display;
a keypad;
an article exchange unit configured dispense notes of currency; and
a card reader having:
a card insertion slot configured to receive a card from a user and wherein the card is dispensed to the user through said card insertion slot after a transaction is complete;
at least one conveyor member configured to move the card along a transport path extending at least partially within said card reader;
at least one card-reading head positioned along said transport path and directed toward said transport path, said at least one card-reading head configured to read data held on one of a magnetic strip on an underside of the card and held on a chip embedded in the card; and
a body sensor assembly including a body and a first sensor, said body extending into said transport path and is moveable in said transport path, said first sensor configured to detect a position of said body in said transport path, wherein only a weight of said body inhibits movement of the card along said transport path.
9 . The automated transaction machine of claim 8 further comprising:
a second sensor positioned along said transport path and configured to detect a structure positioned in said transport path in front of said at least one card-reading head.
10 . The automated transaction machine of claim 8 further comprising:
a gate assembly positioned along said transport path and configured to selectively open and close said transport path.
11 . The automated transaction machine of claim 10 further comprising:
a retention bin disposed at an end of said transport path opposite said card insertion slot, wherein said gate assembly is immediately adjacent to said retention bin along said transport path.
12 . The automated transaction machine of claim 10 wherein said gate assembly is positioned at a back side of said card reader, said back side of said card reader being an opposite side of card reader relative to said card insertion slot.
13 . The automated transaction machine of claim 10 wherein said gate assembly further comprises:
a shaft;
a gate mounted on said shaft; and
a motor and sensor assembly configured to drive said shaft in pivoting movement about a central longitudinal axis of said shaft to move said gate between a closed position and an open position.
14 . The automated transaction machine of claim 8 further comprises:
a second sensor positioned along said transport path and configured to detect a structure in said transport path in front of said at least one card-reading head; and
a gate assembly positioned along said transport path and configured to selectively open and close said transport path.
15 . A card reader comprising:
a card insertion slot configured to receive a card from a user and wherein the card is dispensed to the user through said card insertion slot after a transaction is complete;
at least one conveyor member configured to move the card along a transport path extending at least partially within said card reader;
at least one card-reading head positioned along said transport path and directed toward said transport path, said at least one card-reading head configured to read data held on one of a magnetic strip on an underside of the card and held on a chip embedded in the card; and
a sensor assembly including a body and a first sensor, said body extending into said transport path and is moveable in said transport path, said first sensor configured to detect a position of said body in said transport path, wherein said body pivots toward a back of said card reader when the card is received in said card reader and pivots forward toward said card insertion slot when the card is output.
16 . The card reader of claim 15 further comprising:
a second sensor positioned along said transport path and configured to detect a structure positioned in said transport path in front of said at least one card-reading head.
17 . The card reader of claim 15 further comprising:
a gate assembly positioned along said transport path and configured to selectively open and close said transport path.
18 . The card reader of claim 17 further comprising:
a retention bin disposed at an end of said transport path opposite said card insertion slot, wherein said gate assembly is immediately adjacent to said retention bin along said transport path.
19 . The card reader of claim 17 wherein said gate assembly further comprises:
a shaft;
a gate mounted on said shaft; and
a motor and sensor assembly configured to drive said shaft in pivoting movement about a central longitudinal axis of said shaft to move said gate between a closed position and an open position.
20 . The card reader of claim 15 further comprises:
a second sensor positioned along said transport path and configured to detect a structure in said transport path in front of said at least one card-reading head; and
a gate assembly positioned along said transport path and configured to selectively open and close said transport path.