Abstract: A credit card security system includes a system to generate a security code number determined by the spatial positions of corresponding data in two different forms of encoded data on the card. The system generates the security code number each time a card is used and compares it to a stored security number generated in the same way when the card was first encoded or previously used. The system is described in terms of a card having a familiar magnetic stripe and embossed character encoding, and apparatus for sensing the embossed characters is disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for magnetically encoding a card which includes a timing wheel frictionally engaging the card as the card is moved along a slot. The wheel has about its peripheral annulus a series of evenly spaced magnetic timing bits which are read out by a read head located adjacent the annular surface of the wheel. As the card moves along the slot, the frictional engagement rotates the wheel in a precise one-to-one spatial relationship between the position of the card and the rotative position of the wheel, and hence of the rate at which the timing bits are picked up by the read head. The output from the read head is interfaced with a unique card code to cause coding bits to be applied by a write head to the card as it continues to move along the slot. The position of the code bits on the card are precisely determined by the timing bits through an interfacing circuit which includes a series of AND gates.

Abstract: An Automatic Teller Machine is adapted to block the acceptance of foreign objects. A blocking member is misaligned with an entrance slot except when sensors signal the presence of an object which meets established criteria. In the presence of the signals, the blocking member is moved into alignment with the slot permitting passage of the conforming objects.

Abstract: Jitter, characteristic of gear trains used for precision movement of magnetic cards in gear driven card readers-writers, is eliminated by forming, in situ, a resilient material as a dampening arrangement in a recess in the gear to which a drive shaft is connected for driving that movement. Alternative dampening spring arrangements are disclosed.