Apparatus for dispensing cards having an integrated circuit chip

• US 5,753,897 A
• Filed: 10/20/1995
• Issued: 05/19/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Algonquin Industries, Inc. (Rea Magnet Wire Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Algonquin Industries, Inc. (Rea Magnet Wire Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kasper, Kazmier J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, MICHAEL GUNYOUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/546,362
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/381, 235/384, 235/475, 235/487, 235/492, 364/479.01, 221/270, 221/274, 221/281, 221/293, 221/303
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 1/06 for separation from bottom of pile
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 1/26 with auxiliary supports to facilitate introduction or renewal of the pile
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 1/28 compartmented to receive piles side-by-side
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/42322 from bottom of the pile
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2404/63 Oscillating, pivoting around an axis parallel to face of material, e.g. diverting means
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2404/692 Chute, e.g. inclined surface on which material slides by gravity
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 3/22 by needles or the like engaging the articles
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/04 Devices for coupling the turning cylinder of a single or a double cylinder lock with the bolt operating member
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 35/008 for simple tool-like keys
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/025 for lockers
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 3/04 from a stack
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/22 Pushers actuated indirectly by hand, e.g. through cranks or levers
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards

Abstract

A apparatus for dispensing articles such as tickets and cards includes a cabinet and a plurality of article dispensing assemblies inside the cabinet. Each article dispensing assembly includes a base and a frame for enclosing the articles to be dispensed in a stack. The bases are mounted on a pair of vertical support plates. A gate is disposed behind each frame for receiving articles from its associated frame and allowing only one article at a time to pass through. A toothed blade is disposed underneath each frame and a motor driven rack and pinion is coupled to the toothed blade for bringing the toothed blade into engagement with the lowermost article in the stack, moving said toothed blade so that the lowermost article is transported from the stack into the gate, bringing the toothed blade out of engagement with the article and then moving the toothed blade back to engage the next article in the stack. In one embodiment of the invention each frame is hingedly mounted on its base. In another embodiment of the invention each frame is hingedly and lockably mounted on its base and in still another embodiment of the invention, which is intended especially for use with cards which include an integrated circuit chip onto which information can be written into and read off of, each article dispensing assembly includes a read/write head assembly underneath its frame for reading information off of the chip on the card at the bottom of the stack and/or writing information onto the chip on the card at the bottom of the stack.

Claims

1. Apparatus for dispensing cards, said cards being of the type which include an integrated circuit chip onto which information can be written into and read off of, said apparatus comprising:

a. a base,

b. a frame on said base, said frame enclosing a plurality of said cards to be dispensed in a stack,

c. a gate for receiving cards from said frame and allowing only one card at a time to pass through,

d. a transport mechanism for transporting said cards from said frame to said gate, and

e. a read/write head assembly for reading information off of said integrated circuit chip on said card at the bottom of said stack and/or writing information into said integrated circuit chip on said card at the bottom of said stack,

f. said read/write head assembly including a read/write head, said read/write head including a pin holding block and a plurality of contact pins, said read/write head being located underneath said frame and being movable up and down so as to bring said plurality of contact pins into and out of contact with said integrated circuit chip.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said read/write head assembly includes a read/write head movable up and down, and having a plurality of contact pins.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 and further including a solenoid for moving said read/write head up and down.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 and further including a linkage assembly for mechanically coupling said solenoid to said read/write head.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said linkage assembly includes a first bar, a second bar, a third bar and a lever.