Patent ID: 8851377

Claim:
A card reader for use with a transparent card having a magnetic stripe, the transparent card being a plastic card including a transparent part, the card reader comprising: a card path through which the transparent card having the magnetic stripe is transferred; a magnetic head placed in the card path; and a plurality of first card position detecting sensors for detecting a position of the card; and a second sensor provided in a vicinity of the magnetic head and deviated from an area of the card path through which the magnetic stripe is passed; wherein the plurality of first card position detecting sensors each comprise an optical sensor comprising a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and each of the optical sensors is provided at a position where the magnetic stripe passes through in the card path; and wherein each of the optical sensors is configured to detect the transparent card when a light beam emitted from the light emitting element is intercepted by the magnetic stripe; wherein at least one of the plurality of first card position detecting sensors is placed at a side of a card insertion slot for inserting the card, with reference to a position of the magnetic head; while at least another one of the plurality of first card position detecting sensors is placed at a downstream side in a card transfer direction, with reference to the position of the magnetic head; wherein the plurality of first card position detecting sensors, the second sensor, and the magnetic head are configured such that if the second sensor does not detect the card, a position of the card can be detected by the at least one of the plurality of first card position detecting sensors and the at least another one of the plurality of first card position detecting sensors and the magnetic head.