IC card read/write apparatus

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