Patent ID: 6519158
Filing Date: 2003-02-11
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
A protection mechanism for use with an IC card read/write apparatus, comprising:a housing that defines a slot having an inlet and an outlet, said housing being constructed and arranged to allow passage of an IC card through said slot from said inlet to said outlet and into an IC card read/write apparatus; a first arm that is movable between a first position at which said first arm is positioned in said slot and a second position at which said first arm is positioned out of said slot, said first arm being constructed and arranged to move from the first position to the second position in response to being contacted by the IC card as the IC card passes through said slot from said inlet to said outlet; a shutter that is movable between a third position at which said shutter blocks said outlet and a fourth position at which said shutter does not block said outlet; and a second arm associated with said first arm and said shutter such that as said first arm moves from the first position to the second position said second arm moves said shutter from the third position to the fourth position, and as said first arm moves from the second position to the first position said second arm moves said shutter from the fourth position to the third position.