Array of card mechanisms
First Claim
1. A card mechanism array, comprising:
- a plurality of card mechanisms arranged into an array having at least one row, the card mechanisms include at least one card hopper that is configured to contain a plurality of cards in a stack and at least one card personalization mechanism;
each card mechanism has an access end;
the access end is configured to permit a card to exit and/or enter the respective card mechanism through the access end; and
a movable card handling mechanism adjacent to the access ends.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A card mechanism used in an array with other card mechanisms. Each card mechanism handles plastic cards that are to be personalized and provided to end users. The plastic cards can be cards such as financial cards including credit and debit cards, identification cards, driver'"'"'s licenses, and other plastic cards that are personalized. The card mechanism(s) can supply cards to be personalized in one or more other card mechanisms and/or in a card personalization machine used with the card mechanism(s) in which case the card mechanism(s) is configured as a card input hopper, collect cards that have been personalized in which case the card mechanism is configured as a card output hopper, and/or perform one or more personalization operations on the cards in which case the card mechanism is configured as a card personalization mechanism.
16 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A card mechanism array, comprising:
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a plurality of card mechanisms arranged into an array having at least one row, the card mechanisms include at least one card hopper that is configured to contain a plurality of cards in a stack and at least one card personalization mechanism; each card mechanism has an access end;
the access end is configured to permit a card to exit and/or enter the respective card mechanism through the access end; anda movable card handling mechanism adjacent to the access ends. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A card mechanism array, comprising:
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a plurality of card mechanisms arranged into an array having at least one row, the card mechanisms include at least one card hopper that is configured to contain a plurality of cards in a stack and at least one card personalization mechanism; each card mechanism has an access end;
the access end is configured to permit a card to exit and/or enter the respective card mechanism through the access end; andeach card mechanism has a longitudinal axis, and the longitudinal axes of the card mechanisms in the at least one row are arranged at an angle to one another so that the longitudinal axes will intersect one another on the access end sides of the card mechanisms. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A card mechanism array, comprising:
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a plurality of card mechanisms arranged into an array having at least one row, the card mechanisms include at least one card hopper that is configured to contain a plurality of cards in a stack and at least one card personalization mechanism; each card mechanism has an access end;
the access end is configured to permit a card to exit and/or enter the respective card mechanism through the access end; andthe at least one card hopper is a card feed hopper, and the card mechanisms include at least one card output hopper that is configured to contain a plurality of cards in a stack.
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12. A card hopper array, comprising:
a plurality of card feed hoppers arranged into an array having at least one row;
each card feed hopper is configured to contain a plurality of cards in a stack and is configured to discharge the cards individually one-by-one through an access end;
each card feed hopper has a longitudinal axis; and
the longitudinal axes of the card feed hoppers in the array are arranged at an angle to one another so that the longitudinal axes will intersect one another on the access end sides of the plurality of card feed hoppers.- View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A card hopper system, comprising:
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a plurality of card hoppers arranged into an array having at least one row;
each card hopper is configured to contain a plurality of cards in a stack;
each card hopper has an access end through which cards can be individually discharged one-by-one from or inserted one-by-one into the respective card hopper; and
each card hopper has a longitudinal axis;a movable card handling mechanism adjacent to the access ends; and the movable card handling mechanism is pivotable about a pivot axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axes, and the movable card handling mechanism is movable linearly in the direction of the pivot axis. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification