System and method for mounting a magnetic card reader head onto a card reader

Abstract

A magnetic reader head assembly includes a magnetic reader head compartment, a frame and an elastic component. The magnetic reader head compartment comprises electronic and mechanical components of the magnetic reader head. The frame has a front side and a back side and has a footprint matching the footprint of the magnetic reader head compartment. The front side is configured to attach to a back wall of the magnetic reader head compartment while allowing the magnetic reader head compartment to move out or retract from the frame. The elastic component is configured to be placed at the back side of the frame and to push the frame out in order to press the magnetic reader head compartment against a magnetic card stripe.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A magnetic reader head assembly comprising:
 a magnetic reader head compartment comprising electronic and mechanical components of the a magnetic reader head; 
 a single-piece frame comprising a front side and a back side and a having a footprint matching the a footprint of the magnetic reader head compartment, wherein the frame comprises top and bottom frontward extending plates, and wherein the front side of the frame attaches to a back wall of the magnetic reader head compartment when the magnetic reader head compartment is inserted in an opening in the front side of the frame between the top and bottom frontward extending plates while allowing the magnetic reader head compartment to move out or retract from the frame when displaced by a card; and 
 an elastic component to be placed at the back side of the frame and to push the frame out toward the card in order to press the magnetic reader head compartment against a magnetic card stripe of the card, 
 wherein said elastic component comprises a metal plate spring, 
 wherein the metal plate spring comprises a curved elastic thin complete rectangular body having a central through-opening and left and right side tabs, the left and right side tabs loosely coupling the elastic component within the frame, and 
 wherein the metal plate spring includes a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end able to extend beyond a top end and a bottom end, respectively, of the single-piece frame when the metal plate spring flattens in response to pressure applied to the magnetic reader head compartment. 
 
     
     
       2. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a rectangular body having a central through-opening, left and right backward extending plates, top and bottom frontward extending plates, a top upward extending plate and a bottom downward extending plate. 
     
     
       3. The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the magnetic reader head compartment is inserted in the front side of the frame between the top and bottom frontward extending plates of the frame and the metal plate spring is inserted in the backside of the frame between the left and right backward extending plates of the frame. 
     
     
       4. The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the metal plate spring is secured onto the backside of the frame by engaging the left and right side tabs within left and right slots formed on the left and right backward extending plates of the frame, respectively. 
     
     
       5. The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said engaging of the left and right side tabs within left and right slots formed on the left and right backward extending plates of the frame provides a loose coupling of the metal plate spring with the frame, therefore enabling freedom of movement of the metal plate spring. 
     
     
       6. The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the magnetic reader head compartment is welded in the front side of the frame. 
     
     
       7. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the metal plate spring pushes the frame out due to bending of the entirety of said curved thin complete rectangular body when a pressure due to a magnetic card corresponding to said magnetic card stripe is applied to said metal plate spring. 
     
     
       8. A method for attaching a magnetic card reader head onto a card reader frame comprising:
 providing a magnetic reader head compartment comprising electronic and mechanical components of the magnetic reader head; 
 providing a single-piece frame comprising a front side and a back side and a having a footprint matching the a footprint of the magnetic reader head compartment, wherein the frame comprises top and bottom frontward extending plates, and wherein the front side of the frame attaches to a back wall of the magnetic reader head compartment when the magnetic reader head compartment is inserted in an opening in the front side of the frame between the top and bottom frontward extending plates while allowing the magnetic reader head compartment to move out or retract from the frame when displaced by a card; and 
 providing an elastic component to be placed at the back side of the frame and to push the frame out toward the card in order to press the magnetic reader head compartment against a magnetic card stripe of the card, 
 wherein said elastic component comprises a metal plate spring, 
 wherein the metal plate spring comprises a curved elastic thin complete rectangular body having a central through-opening and left and right side tabs, the left and right side tabs loosely coupling the elastic component within the frame, and 
 wherein the metal plate spring includes a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end able to extend beyond a top end and a bottom end, respectively, of the single-piece frame when the metal plate spring flattens in response to pressure applied to the magnetic reader head compartment. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 8, wherein the frame comprises a rectangular body having a central through-opening, left and right backward extending plates, a top upward extending plate and a bottom downward extending plate. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 9, wherein the metal plate spring is inserted in the backside of the frame between the left and right backward extending plates of the frame. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 9, wherein the metal plate spring is secured onto the backside of the frame by engaging the left and right side tabs within left and right slots formed on the left and right backward extending plates of the frame, respectively. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 11, wherein said engaging of the left and right side tabs within left and right slots formed on the left and right backward extending plates of the frame provides a loose coupling of the metal plate spring with the frame, therefore enabling freedom of movement of the metal plate spring. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 9, wherein the magnetic reader head compartment is welded in the front side of the frame. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 8, wherein the metal plate spring pushes the frame out due to bending of the entirety of said curved thin rectangular body when a pressure due to a magnetic card corresponding to said magnetic card stripe is applied to said metal plate spring.