Card feeding, transfer and output apparatus for an automatic embossing system
First Claim
1. Apparatus for receiving a stack of cards to be embossed and for individually feeding cards into a card transfer path of an embossing mechanism in an automatic embossing system, each of the cards in the stack of cards being vertically aligned and resting on an edge thereof, the stack of cards having a top, a bottom, first and second ends and first and second sides, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) an input hopper for receiving a stack of cards to be embossed, said input hopper comprising;
1. a hopper plate supporting the bottom of the card stack;
2. a guide rail mounted on the hopper plate and engaging the first side of the card stack;
3. a card picker cam mounted for limited rotational movement on the hopper plate and positioned adjacent the first end of the card stack, the picker cam constructed and arranged with a projecting lobe portion for engaging the edge of the card and sliding the card across the end of the stack into the transfer path;
4. a backup plate slidably mounted on the hopper plate engaging the second end of the card stack and including means for urging the stack of cards into engagement with the card picker cam;
(b) card guide means mounted adjacent the hopper plate and aligned with the transfer path for receiving a card stripped from the card stack in the input hopper and supporting the card in vertical alignment with the top edge thereof exposed;
(c) carriage means constructed and arranged for engaging the top edge of a card;
(d) first positioning means for moving the carriage means horizontally along the card transfer path between the card guide means and the embossing apparatus; and
(e) second positioning means for moving the carriage means vertically to engage a card in the card guide means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for feeding cards from a storage magazine to an automatic embossing system including an input hopper and card picking mechanism for engaging a card after it is stripped from a supply stack in the input hopper. The card is positioned by a transfer mechanism to receive embossed data from rotating embossing wheels. An output hopper receives good cards and rejected cards are deposited into a reject box.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. Apparatus for receiving a stack of cards to be embossed and for individually feeding cards into a card transfer path of an embossing mechanism in an automatic embossing system, each of the cards in the stack of cards being vertically aligned and resting on an edge thereof, the stack of cards having a top, a bottom, first and second ends and first and second sides, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) an input hopper for receiving a stack of cards to be embossed, said input hopper comprising; 1. a hopper plate supporting the bottom of the card stack; 2. a guide rail mounted on the hopper plate and engaging the first side of the card stack; 3. a card picker cam mounted for limited rotational movement on the hopper plate and positioned adjacent the first end of the card stack, the picker cam constructed and arranged with a projecting lobe portion for engaging the edge of the card and sliding the card across the end of the stack into the transfer path; 4. a backup plate slidably mounted on the hopper plate engaging the second end of the card stack and including means for urging the stack of cards into engagement with the card picker cam; (b) card guide means mounted adjacent the hopper plate and aligned with the transfer path for receiving a card stripped from the card stack in the input hopper and supporting the card in vertical alignment with the top edge thereof exposed; (c) carriage means constructed and arranged for engaging the top edge of a card; (d) first positioning means for moving the carriage means horizontally along the card transfer path between the card guide means and the embossing apparatus; and (e) second positioning means for moving the carriage means vertically to engage a card in the card guide means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. Apparatus for receiving a stack of cards to be embossed and for individually feeding cards into a card transfer path of an embossing mechanism in an automatic embossing system, each of the cards in the stack of cards being vertically aligned and resting on an edge thereof, the stack of cards having a top, a bottom, first and second ends and first and second sides, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) input hopper means for receiving a stack of cards to be embossed and for sliding the top card of the stack into the card transfer path; (b) card guide means mounted adjacent the input hopper means and aligned with the transfer path for receiving a card stripped from the card stack in the input hopper means and supporting the card in vertical alignment with the top edge thereof exposed; (c) carriage means constructed and arranged for engaging the top edge of a card, said carriage means including at least one pair of card engaging jaws normally biased into a closed position and hinged plate means for opening the jaws when actuated; (d) first positioning means for moving the carriage means horizontally along the card transfer path between the card guide means and the embossing apparatus; (e) second positioning means for moving the carriage means vertically to engage a card in the card guide means; (f) first camming surface means for actuating the hinged plate means and opening the card engaging jaws when said first positioning means moves the carriage means adjacent the card guide means for receiving a card therefrom; (g) second camming surface means mounted adjacent the card transfer path for actuating the hinged plate means and opening the card engaging jaws and releasing the card when said first and second positioning means move the carriage means to the end of the card transfer path; and (h) output hopper means mounted at the end of the card transfer path for receiving cards from the carrage means. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification