Abstract: A chip card reader has a fixed frame in which a movable carriage is mounted. The carriage supports contact means for reading the semiconductor chip in a chip card. The electrical connection between the contact means and the rest of the electrical circuitry is established by a ribbon conductor which is formed in a fanfold configuration. This reduces the likelihood of breakage and increases the service life of the chip card reader.

Abstract: A card reader locking and unlocking apparatus has a locking lever. One end of the locking lever supports a hook which hooks over a card when the card is locked in position during reading. A key, when brought into abutment with the locking lever, raises the locking lever so that the hook clears the trailing edge of the card and permits the card to be withdrawn. A solenoid acts on the locking lever by a release lever to electrically lock and unlock the card. The release lever is forked so that movement of the locking lever by the key does not cause corresponding movement of the solenoid armature.

Abstract: A chip card reader is disclosed with carriages (2) mounted in a receiving part (1) for displacement counter to a spring force. A feature of the present invention is that the present chip card reader exhibits high contact forces and at the same time low card insertion forces. The carriage (2) carries contact springs (14) for the contacting of the chip as well as a device (11, 16) for turning the reading and evaluating system on and off, where the control of these two systems occurs through a slide (7) which is disposed in the carriage (2) crosswise to the direction of card introduction, and which is actuated by at least one control surface (8, 9) disposed in the receiving part.