Card transport mechanism and method of operation

• US 5,837,991 A
• Filed: 03/08/1996
• Issued: 11/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Card Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Card Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Pankiw, Igor, Ashley, Keith R., Roth, Philip M., Hague, Edward W., LaManna, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Thien Minh
• Application Number:
  US08/613,095
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 235/475, 235/479, 235/486, 235/476, 235/480, 235/483, 235/477, 235/481, 235/485, 235/375, 198/369.71, 198/369.2, 198/369.1, 400/66, 400/73, 400/78
• US Class Current: 235/475
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/385 of plates, e.g. metal plates, plastic cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 13/07 Transporting of cards between stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 13/077 with intermittent movement; Braking or stopping movement
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations

Abstract

The present invention is a card transport mechanism for transporting cards along a transport path and method of operation thereof. A card transport mechanism in accordance with the invention includes a pair of spaced apart channels, each channel engaging a different one of a pair of opposed edges of the cards; a carriage for holding the cards at a fixed position relative to the carriage during motion along the transport path, the carriage having first and second card contacting elements spaced apart at different positions along the transport path and projecting into the transport path for contacting and holding a card in the fixed position during motion along the transport path, the first card contacting element being compliant to move orthogonally from within the transport path to permit movement of the card along the channels while the carriage is stationary prior to contact of the card by the second card contacting element and the second card contacting element being compliant along the transport path in response to contact with the card to produce contact and holding of the opposed edges of the card with the first and second card contacting elements in the fixed position; anda carriage support, connected to the carriage, for guiding the carriage along the transport path.

Claims

1. A card transport mechanism for transporting cards along a transport path comprising:

a pair of spaced apart channels, each channel engaging a different one of a pair of opposed edges of the cards;

a carriage for holding the cards at a fixed position relative to the carriage during motion along the transport path, the carriage having first and second card contacting elements spaced apart at different positions along the transport path and projecting into the transport path for contacting and holding a card in the fixed position during motion along the transport path, the first card contacting element being compliant to move orthogonally from within the transport path to permit movement of the card along the channels while the carriage is stationary prior to contact of the card by the second card contacting element and the second card contacting element being compliant along the transport path in response to contact with the card to produce contact and holding of the opposed edges of the card with the first and second card contacting elements in the fixed position; and

a carriage support, connected to the carriage, for guiding the carriage along the transport path.

3. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the pair of spaced apart channels respectively comprise first and second elongated strips respectively containing a different one of the pair of channels therein with the channels being attached to the carriage support; and

the carriage support comprises a guide which contacts the carriage with the carriage sliding along the guide during motion of the carriage along the transport path.

4. A card transport path mechanism in accordance with claim 3, wherein:

one of the first and second elongated strips is fixed relative to the carriage support to provide a datum position for card processing operations; and

another of the first and second elongated strips is moveable orthogonally to the fixed one of the first and second elongated strips; and

a mechanism biasing the another of the first and second elongated strips toward the fixed one of the first and second elongated strips whereby an edge of the card held in the channels is forced toward the fixed one of the first and second elongated strips to position the card at the datum position for card processing operations.

7. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the first card contacting element is pivotally attached to the carriage to provide pivoting of the first card contacting element around an axis perpendicular to the opposed edges of the card; and

the first card contacting element has an edge which slopes toward the transport path and a tip, the tip extending into the transport path when the card is not moving in the channels past the first card contacting element, the tip rotating from extending into the transport path during movement of the card past the first card contacting element until after engagement by the second card gripping element with a leading edge of the card and then the tip rotating back into the transport path to cause a leading edge of the first card contacting element to contact the trailing edge of the card.

9. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 3, wherein:

the first card contacting element is pivotally attached to the carriage to provide pivoting of the first card contacting element around an axis perpendicular to the opposed edges of the card; and

the first card contacting element has an edge which slopes toward the transport path and a tip, the tip extending into the transport path when the card is not moving in the channels past the first card contacting element, the tip rotating from extending into the transport path during movement of the card past the first card contacting element until after engagement by the second card gripping element with a leading edge of the card and then the tip rotating back into the transport path to cause a leading edge of the first card contacting element to contact the trailing edge of the card.

10. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

the first card contacting element is pivotally attached to the carriage to provide pivoting of the first card contacting element around an axis perpendicular to the opposed edges of the card; and

the first card contacting element has an edge which slopes toward the transport path and a tip, the tip extending into the transport path when the card is not moving in the channels past the first card contacting element, the tip rotating from extending into the transport path during movement of the card past the first card contacting element until after engagement by the second card gripping element with a leading edge of the card and then the tip rotating back into the transport path to cause a leading edge of the first card contacting element to contact the trailing edge of the card.

13. A card transport in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a cam disposed at a fixed position along the transport path;

the second card contacting element having a first pivot axis attached to the carriage for pivoting the second card contacting element to provide pivotal movement of the second card contacting element along the transport path after engagement with a leading edge of the opposed edges of the card; and

the second card contacting element having a second pivot axis attached to the carriage for pivoting the second card contacting element orthogonally relative to the transport path for pivoting the second card contacting element from engaging the leading edge of the card in the transport path to a position out of the transport path in response to contact of a part of the carriage with the cam during movement of the carriage along the transport path to free the leading edge of the card from being contacted by the second card contacting element and to free the card for movement along the pair of channels past the second card contacting element.

14. A card transport in accordance with claim 3, further comprising:

a cam disposed at a fixed position along the transport path;

the second card contacting element having a first pivot axis attached to the carriage for pivoting the second card contacting element to provide pivotal movement of the second card contacting element along the transport path after engagement with a leading edge of the opposed edges of the card; and

the second card contacting element having a second pivot axis attached to the carriage for pivoting the second card contacting element orthogonally relative to the transport path for pivoting the second card contacting element from engaging the leading edge of the card to a position out of the transport path in response to contact of a part of the carriage with the cam during movement of the carriage along the transport path to free the leading edge of the card from being contacted by the second card contacting element and to free the card for movement along the pair of channels past the second card contacting element.

15. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

an infeed driver disposed on an infeed side of the pair of channels for propelling the card along the transport path into engagement with the first and second card contacting elements;

an outfeed driver disposed on an outfeed side of the pair of channels for propelling the card along the card transport path after disengagement from the second card contacting element;

a drive mechanism for propelling the carriage along the transport path between the infeed and outfeed sides to transport the card from the infeed side to the outfeed side and to return the carriage to the infeed side to position the carriage to hold another card with the first and second card contacting elements; and

a controller for controlling activation of each the drivers and the drive mechanism.

17. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 3, further comprising:

an infeed driver disposed on an infeed side of the pair of channels for propelling the card along the transport path into engagement with the first and second card contacting elements;

an outfeed driver disposed on an outfeed side of the pair of channels for propelling the card along the card transport path after disengagement from the second card contacting element;

a drive mechanism for propelling the carriage along the transport path between the infeed and outfeed sides to transport the card from the infeed side to the outfeed side and to return the carriage to the infeed side to position the carriage to hold another card with the first and second card contacting elements; and

a controller for controlling activation of each the drivers and the drive mechanism.

18. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 4, further comprising:

an infeed driver disposed on an infeed side of the pair of channels for propelling the card along the transport path into engagement with the first and second card contacting elements;

an outfeed driver disposed on an outfeed side of the pair of channels for propelling the card along the card transport path after disengagement from the second card contacting element;

a drive mechanism for propelling the carriage along the transport path between the infeed and outfeed sides to transport the card from the infeed side to the outfeed side and to return the carriage to the infeed side to position the carriage to hold another card with the first and second card contacting elements; and

a controller for controlling activation of each the drivers and the drive mechanism.

21. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 7, further comprising:

an infeed driver disposed on an infeed side of the pair of channels for propelling the card along the transport path into engagement with the first and second card contacting elements;

an outfeed driver disposed on an outfeed side of the pair of channels for propelling the card along the card transport path after disengagement from the second card contacting element;

a drive mechanism for propelling the carriage along the transport path between the infeed and outfeed sides to transport the card from the infeed side to the outfeed side and to return the carriage to the infeed side to position the carriage to hold another card with the first and second card contacting elements; and

a controller for controlling activation of each the drivers and the drive mechanism.

23. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 9, further comprising:

an infeed driver disposed on an infeed side of the pair of channels for propelling the card along the transport path into engagement with the first and second card contacting elements;

an outfeed driver disposed on an outfeed side of the pair of channels for propelling the card along the card transport path after disengagement from the second card contacting element;

a drive mechanism for propelling the carriage along the transport path between the infeed and outfeed sides to transport the card from the infeed side to the outfeed side and to return the carriage to the infeed side to position the carriage to hold another card with the first and second card contacting elements; and

a controller for controlling activation of each the drivers and the drive mechanism.

24. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 10, further comprising:

an infeed driver disposed on an infeed side of the pair of channels for propelling the card along the transport path into engagement with the first and second card contacting elements;

an outfeed driver disposed on an outfeed side of the pair of channels for propelling the card along the card transport path after disengagement from the second card contacting element;

a drive mechanism for propelling the carriage along the transport path between the infeed and outfeed sides to transport the card from the infeed side to the outfeed side and to return the carriage to the infeed side to position the carriage to hold another card with the first and second card contacting elements; and

a controller for controlling activation of each the drivers and the drive mechanism.

27. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 13, further comprising:

an infeed driver disposed on an infeed side of the pair of channels for propelling the card along the transport path into engagement with the first and second card contacting elements;

an outfeed driver disposed on an outfeed side of the pair of channels for propelling the card along the card transport path after disengagement from the second card contacting element;

a drive mechanism for propelling the carriage along the transport path between the infeed and outfeed sides to transport the card from the infeed side to the outfeed side and to return the carriage to the infeed side to position the carriage to hold another card with the first and second card contacting elements; and

a controller for controlling activation of each the drivers and the drive mechanism.

28. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 14, further comprising:

an infeed driver disposed on an infeed side of the pair of channels for propelling the card along the transport path into engagement with the first and second card contacting elements;

an outfeed driver disposed on an outfeed side of the pair of channels for propelling the card along the card transport path after disengagement from the second card contacting element;

a drive mechanism for propelling the carriage along the transport path between the infeed and outfeed sides to transport the card from the infeed side to the outfeed side and to return the carriage to the infeed side to position the carriage to hold another card with the first and second card contacting elements; and

a controller for controlling activation of each the drivers and the drive mechanism.

29. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 15, further comprising:

another drive mechanism for moving the carriage and the pair of spaced apart channels orthogonally to the transport path; and

the controller also controls activation of the another drive mechanism to selectively move the carriage holding the card along the transport path and orthogonally to the transport path.

30. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 17, further comprising:

another drive mechanism for moving the carriage and the pair of spaced apart channels orthogonally to the transport path; and

the controller also controls activation of the another drive mechanism to selectively move the carriage holding the card along the transport path and orthogonally to the transport path.

31. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 18, further comprising:

another drive mechanism for moving the carriage and the pair of spaced apart channels orthogonally to the transport path; and

the controller also controls activation of the another drive mechanism to selectively move the carriage holding the card along the transport path and orthogonally to the transport path.

32. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 29, further comprising:

an embosser having first and second rotatable wheels, the first wheel carrying characters and the second wheel carrying characters and the channels being disposed in a plane between the wheels; and

wherein

the controller controls movement of the carriage engaging the card along the transport path and orthogonal thereto to position the card at selected card positions to emboss characters using the first and second wheels and activation of the embosser to rotate the first and second wheels to a selected rotary position and to emboss selected characters carried by the first and second wheels at selected positions on the card.

33. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 30, further comprising:

an embosser having first and second rotatable wheels, the first wheel carrying characters and the second wheel carrying characters and the channels being disposed in a plane between the wheels; and

wherein

the controller controls movement of the carriage engaging the card along the transport path and orthogonal thereto to position the card at selected card positions to emboss characters using the first and second wheels and activation of the embosser to rotate the first and second wheels to a selected rotary position and to emboss selected characters carried by the first and second wheels at selected positions on the card.

34. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 31, further comprising:

an embosser having first and second rotatable wheels, the first wheel carrying characters and the second wheel carrying characters and the channels being disposed in a plane between the wheels; and

wherein

the controller controls movement of the carriage engaging the card along the transport path and orthogonal thereto to position the card at selected card positions to emboss characters using the first and second wheels and activation of the embosser to rotate the first and second wheels to a selected rotary position and to emboss selected characters carried by the first and second wheels at selected positions on the card.

35. A transport mechanism in accordance with claim 15, further comprising:

a magnetic encoder having a magnetic head facing a portion of an area between the pair of channels for magnetically recording information on a magnetic medium contained on the card as the card moves along the transport path; and

the drive mechanism moves the card past the magnetic encoder during recording on the magnetic medium and in an opposite direction to permit reading of the information recorded on the card; and

wherein

the controller controls activation of the encoder and the drive mechanism during recording and reading of information recorded on the recording medium.

36. A transport mechanism in accordance with claim 18, further comprising:

a magnetic encoder having a magnetic head facing a portion of an area between the pair of channels for magnetically recording information on a magnetic medium contained on the card as the card moves along the transport path; and

the drive mechanism moves the card past the magnetic encoder during recording on the magnetic medium and in an opposite direction to permit reading of the information recorded on the card; and

wherein

the controller controls activation of the encoder and the drive mechanism during recording and reading of information recorded on the recording medium.

38. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 15, wherein:

the infeed and outfeed drivers move the card in only one direction along the transport path.

40. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 17, wherein:

the infeed and outfeed drivers move the card in only one direction along the transport path.

41. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 18, wherein:

the infeed and outfeed drivers move the card in only one direction along the transport path.

42. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 38, wherein:

the infeed driver comprises a first roller which is mounted above the transport path and has a rolling surface which engages a first side of the card at the infeed side and a second roller which is mounted below the transport path and has a rolling surface which engages a second side of the card at the infeed side; and

the outfeed driver comprises a first roller which is mounted above the transport path and has a rolling surface which engages the first side of the card on the outfeed side and a second roller which is mounted below the transport path and has a rolling surface which engages the second side of the card on the outfeed side.

44. A card transport in accordance with claim 40, wherein:

the infeed driver comprises a first roller which is mounted above the transport path and has a rolling surface which engages a first side of the card at the infeed side and a second roller which is mounted below the transport path and has a rolling surface which engages a second side of the card at the infeed side; and

the outfeed driver comprises a first roller which is mounted above the transport path and has a rolling surface which engages the first side of the card on the outfeed side and a second roller which is mounted below the transport path and has a rolling surface which engages the second side of the card on the outfeed side.

45. A card transport in accordance with claim 41, wherein:

the infeed driver comprises a first roller which is mounted above the transport path and has a rolling surface which engages a first side of the card at the infeed side and a second roller which is mounted below the transport path and has a rolling surface which engages a second side of the card at the infeed side; and

the outfeed driver comprises a first roller which is mounted above the transport path and has a rolling surface which engages the first side of the card on the outfeed side and a second roller which is mounted below the transport path and has a rolling surface which engages the second side of the card on the outfeed side.

46. A card transport in accordance with claim 42, wherein:

each driver comprises a one way clutch for rotationally driving at least one of the first and second rollers to move the card in the one direction and preventing movement in an opposite direction while the rollers contact the card.

48. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 44, wherein:

each driver comprises a one way clutch for rotationally driving at least one of the first and second rollers to move the card in the one direction and preventing movement in an opposite direction while the rollers contact the card.

49. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 45, wherein:

each driver comprises a one way clutch for rotationally driving at least one of the first and second rollers to move the card in the one direction and preventing movement in an opposite direction while the rollers contact the card.

2. A card transport mechanism for transporting cards along a transport path comprising:

a pair of spaced apart channels, each channel engaging a different one of a pair of opposed edges of the cards;

a carriage for pushing the cards along the transport path, the carriage having a card contacting element spaced from the channels and projecting into the transport path for contacting and pushing one of the cards along the transport path, the card contacting element being compliant to move orthogonally from within the transport path to permit movement of the card along the channels while the carriage is stationary and then the card contacting element moving back into the transport path to contact a trailing edge of the card for pushing the card with the card contacting element along the transport path; and

a carriage support, connected to the carriage, for guiding the carriage along the transport path.

5. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

the pair of spaced apart channels respectively comprise first and second elongated strips respectively containing a different one of the pair of channels therein with the channels being attached to the carriage support; and

the carriage support comprises a guide which contacts the carriage with the carriage sliding along the guide during motion of the carriage along the transport path.

6. A card transport path mechanism in accordance with claim 5, wherein:

one of the first and second elongated strips is fixed relative to the carriage support to provide a datum position for card processing operations; and

another of the first and second elongated strips is moveable orthogonally to the fixed one of the first and second elongated strips; and

a mechanism biasing the another of the first and second elongated strips toward the fixed one of the first and second elongated strips whereby an edge of the card held in the channels is forced toward the fixed one of the first and second elongated strips to position the card at the datum position for card processing operations.

8. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

the card contacting element is pivotally mounted in the carriage to provide movement of the card contacting element around an axis perpendicular to the opposed edges; and

the card contacting element has an edge which slopes toward the transport path and a tip, the tip extending into the transport path when the card is not moving in the channels past the card contacting element, the tip rotating from extending into the transport path during movement of the card past the card contacting element until the tip clears the trailing edge of the card and then the tip rotating back into the transport path to cause a leading edge of the card contacting element to push the trailing edge of the card during movement of the carriage along the transport path.

11. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 5, wherein:

the card contacting element is pivotally mounted in the carriage to provide movement of the card contacting element around an axis perpendicular to the opposed edges; and

the card contacting element has an edge which slopes toward the transport path and a tip, the tip extending into the transport path when the card is not moving in the channels past the card contacting element, the tip rotating from extending into the transport path during movement of the card past the card contacting element until the tip clears the trailing edge of the card and then the tip rotating back into the transport path to cause a leading edge of the card contacting element to push the trailing edge of the card during movement of the carriage along the transport path.

12. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 6, wherein:

the card contacting element is pivotally mounted in the carriage to provide movement of the card contacting element around an axis perpendicular to the opposed edges; and

the card contacting element has an edge which slopes toward the transport path and a tip, the tip extending into the transport path when the card is not moving in the channels past the card contacting element, the tip rotating from extending into the transport path during movement of the card past the card contacting element until the tip clears the trailing edge of the card and then the tip rotating back into the transport path to cause a leading edge of the card contacting element to push the trailing edge of the card during movement of the carriage along the transport path.

16. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 2, further comprising:

an infeed driver disposed on an infeed side of the pair of channels for propelling the card along the transport path into engagement with the card contacting element;

an outfeed driver disposed on an outfeed side of the pair of channels for propelling the card along the card transport path after disengagement from the card contacting element;

a drive mechanism for propelling the carriage along the transport path between the infeed and outfeed sides to transport the card from the infeed side to the outfeed side and to return the carriage to the infeed side to position the carriage to contact another card with the card contacting element; and

a controller for controlling activation of each the drivers and the drive mechanism.

19. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 5, further comprising:

an infeed driver disposed on an infeed side of the pair of channels for propelling the card along the transport path into engagement with the card contacting element;

an outfeed driver disposed on an outfeed side of the pair of channels for propelling the card along the card transport path after disengagement from the card contacting element;

a drive mechanism for propelling the carriage along the transport path between the infeed and outfeed sides to transport the one card from the infeed side to the outfeed side and to return the carriage to the infeed side to position the carriage to contact another card with the card contacting element; and

a controller for controlling activation of each the drivers and the drive mechanism.

20. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 6, further comprising:

an infeed driver disposed on an infeed side of the pair of channels for propelling the card along the transport path into engagement with the card contacting element;

an outfeed driver disposed on an outfeed side of the pair of channels for propelling the card along the card transport path after disengagement from the card contacting element;

a drive mechanism for propelling the carriage along the transport path between the infeed and outfeed sides to transport the card from the infeed side to the outfeed side and to return the carriage to the infeed side to position the carriage to contact another card with the card contacting element; and

a controller for controlling activation of each the drivers and the drive mechanism.

22. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 8, further comprising:

an infeed driver disposed on an infeed side of the pair of channels for propelling the card along the transport path into engagement with the card contacting element;

an outfeed driver disposed on an outfeed side of the pair of channels for propelling the card along the card transport path after disengagement from the card contacting element;

a drive mechanism for propelling the carriage along the transport path between the infeed and outfeed sides to transport the card from the infeed side to the outfeed side and to return the carriage to the infeed side to position the carriage to hold contact card with the card contacting element; and

a controller for controlling activation of each the drivers and the drive mechanism.

25. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 11, further comprising:

an infeed driver disposed on an infeed side of the pair of channels for propelling the card along the transport path into engagement with the card contacting element;

an outfeed driver disposed on an outfeed side of the pair of channels for propelling the card along the card transport path after disengagement from the card contacting element;

a drive mechanism for propelling the carriage along the transport path between the infeed and outfeed sides to transport the card from the infeed side to the outfeed side and to return the carriage to the infeed side to position the carriage to contact another card with the card contacting element; and

a controller for controlling activation of each the drivers and the first drive mechanism.

26. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 12, further comprising:

an infeed driver disposed on an infeed side of the pair of channels for propelling the card along the transport path into engagement with the card contacting element;

an outfeed driver disposed on an outfeed side of the pair of channels for propelling the card along the card transport path after disengagement from the card contacting element;

a drive mechanism for propelling the carriage along the transport path between the infeed and outfeed sides to transport the card from the infeed side to the outfeed side and to return the carriage to the infeed side to position the carriage to contact another card with the card contacting element; and

a controller for controlling activation of each the drivers and the first drive mechanism.

37. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 16, further comprising:

a topper fixed in position with respect to the pair of channels and having a supply of topping material which is transported orthogonally to the transport path and facing a side of the card having embossed raised characters on the side to which the topping material is to be applied; and

the controller also controls application of topping material to the raised characters while the card engages the card contacting element and transporting of the topping material orthogonally with respect to the card transport path.

39. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 16, wherein:

the infeed and outfeed drivers move the card in only one direction along the transport path.

43. A card transport in accordance with claim 39, wherein:

the infeed driver comprises a first roller which is mounted above the transport path and has a rolling surface which engages a first side of the card at the infeed side and a second roller which is mounted below the transport path and has a rolling surface which engages a second side of the card at the infeed side; and

the outfeed driver comprises a first roller which is mounted above the transport path and has a rolling surface which engages the first side of the card on the outfeed side and a second roller which is mounted below the transport path and has a rolling surface which engages the second side of the card on the outfeed side.

47. A card transport mechanism in accordance with claim 43, wherein:

each driver comprises a one way clutch for rotationally driving at least one of the first and second rollers to move the card in the one direction and preventing movement in an opposite direction while the rollers contact the card.

50. A method for transporting cards along a transport path comprising:

engaging opposed edges of a card in a pair of spaced apart channels;

moving the card along the pair of spaced apart channels to engage the card within a carriage at a fixed position relative to the carriage with first and second card contacting elements spaced apart at different positions along the transport path and projecting into the transport path for contacting and holding a card at the fixed position during motion along the transport path, the first card contacting element being compliant to move orthogonally from within the transport path to permit movement of the card along the channels while the carriage is stationary prior to contact of the card by the second card contacting element and the second card contacting element being compliant along the transport path in response to contact with the card to produce contact and holding of the opposed edges of the card with the first and second card contacting elements in the fixed position; and

holding the card in the fixed position with the first and second card contacting elements while moving the carriage along the transport path.

52. A method in accordance with claim 50, further comprising:

mounting one of channels at a fixed position relative to the carriage to provide a datum position for card processing operations;

mounting another of the channels at a position which is moveable orthogonal to the one of the channels; and

causing the another of the channels to apply a force orthogonal to the transport path to an edge of the card to position an edge of the card at the datum position.

54. A method in accordance with claim 50, wherein:

the first card contacting element is pivotally attached to the carriage to provide pivoting of the first card contacting element around an axis perpendicular to the opposed edges of the card;

the first card contacting element has a edge which slopes toward the transport path and a tip, the tip extending into the transport path when the card is not moving in the channels past the first card contacting element, the tip rotating from extending into the transport path during movement of the card past the first card contacting element until after engagement by the second card contacting element with a leading edge of the card and then the tip rotating back into the transport path to cause a leading edge of the first contacting element to contact the trailing edge of the card.

56. A method in accordance with claim 50, further comprising:

mounting a cam at a fixed position along the transport path;

pivoting the second card contacting element around a first pivot axis attached to the carriage to provide pivotal movement of the second card contacting element along the transport path after engagement with a leading edge of one of the opposed edges of the card;

pivoting the second card contacting element around a second pivot axis attached to the carriage for pivoting the second card contacting element orthogonally relative to the transport path from engaging the leading edge of the card to a position out of the transport path in response to contact of a part of the carriage with the cam during movement of the carriage along the transport path to free the card from being contacted by the second contacting element and to free the card for movement along the pair of channels past the second card contacting element;

moving the carriage along the transport path to contact the cam to free the leading edge of the opposed edges of the card from contact with the second card contacting element; and

moving the card along the transport path by contact with the first card contacting element.

57. A method in accordance with claim 52, further comprising:

mounting a cam at a fixed position along the transport path;

pivoting the second card contacting element around a first pivot axis attached to the carriage to provide pivotal movement of the second card contacting element along the transport path after engagement with a leading edge of one of the opposed edges of the card;

pivoting the second card contacting element around a second pivot axis attached to the carriage for pivoting the second card contacting element orthogonally relative to the transport path from engaging the leading edge of the card to a position out of the transport path in response to contact of a part of the carriage with the cam during movement of the carriage along the transport path to free the card from being contacted by the second contacting element and to free the card for movement along the pair of channels past the second card contacting element;

moving the carriage along the transport path to contact the cam to free the leading edge of the opposed edges of the card from contact with the second card contacting element; and

moving the card along the transport path by contact with the first card contacting element.

58. A method in accordance with claim 54, further comprising:

mounting a cam at a fixed position along the transport path;

pivoting the second card contacting element around a first pivot axis attached to the carriage to provide pivotal movement of the second card contacting element along the transport path after engagement with a leading edge of one of the opposed edges of the card;

pivoting the second card contacting element around a second pivot axis attached to the carriage for pivoting the second card contacting element orthogonally relative to the transport path from engaging the leading edge of the card to a position out of the transport path in response to contact of a part of the carriage with the cam during movement of the carriage along the transport path to free the card from being contacted by the second contacting element and to free the card for movement along the pair of channels past the second card contacting element;

moving the carriage along the transport path to contact the cam to free the leading edge of the opposed edges of the card from contact with the second card contacting element; and

moving the card along the transport path by contact with the first card contacting element.

59. A method in accordance with claim 50, further comprising:

propelling the card along the transport path into engagement with the first and second card contacting elements with an infeed driver disposed on an infeed side of the transport path;

propelling the card along the card transport path after disengagement from the second card contacting element with an outfeed driver disposed on an outfeed side of the transport path; and

propelling the carriage along the transport path between the infeed and outfeed sides to transport the card from the infeed side to the outfeed side and to return the carriage to the infeed side to position the carriage to hold another card with the first and second card contacting elements with a drive mechanism.

61. A method in accordance with claim 52, further comprising:

propelling the card along the transport path into engagement with the first and second card contacting elements with an infeed driver disposed on an infeed side of the transport path;

propelling the card along the card transport path after disengagement from the second card contacting element with an outfeed driver disposed on an outfeed side of the transport path; and

propelling the carriage along the transport path between the infeed and outfeed sides to transport the card from the infeed side to the outfeed side and to return the carriage to the infeed side to position the carriage to hold another card with the first and second card contacting elements with a drive mechanism.

63. A method in accordance with claim 54, further comprising:

propelling the card along the transport path into engagement with the first and second card contacting elements with an infeed driver disposed on an infeed side of the transport path;

propelling the card along the card transport path after disengagement from the second card contacting element with an outfeed driver disposed on an outfeed side of the transport path; and

propelling the carriage along the transport path between the infeed and outfeed sides to transport the card from the infeed side to the outfeed side and to return the carriage to the infeed side to position the carriage to hold another card with the first and second card contacting elements with a drive mechanism.

65. A method in accordance with claim 59, further comprising:

moving the carriage and the pair of spaced apart channels orthogonal to the transport path with another drive mechanism; and

controlling activation of the another drive mechanism to selectively move the carriage holding the card along the transport path and orthogonally to the transport path.

66. A method in accordance with claim 65 further comprising:

an embosser having first and second rotatable wheels which are rotated with the first wheel carrying characters and the second wheel carrying characters and the channels being disposed in a plane between the first and second wheels; and

wherein

controlling movement of the carriage along the transport path and orthogonal thereto and activation of the embosser to rotate the first and second wheels to a rotary position to emboss selected characters carried by the first and second wheels at selected card locations on the card with a controller.

67. A method in accordance with claim 59, further comprising:

a magnetic encoder fixed in position with respect to the pair of channels and having a magnetic head facing a portion of an area between the pair of channels for magnetically recording information on a magnetic medium contained on the card as the card moves along the pair of channels along the transport path; and

a drive mechanism for moving the card past the magnetic encoder during recording on the magnetic medium and in an opposite direction to permit reading of information recorded on the card; and

wherein

controlling activation of the encoder and the drive mechanism during the recording and reading of information recorded on the recording medium with a controller.

51. A method for transporting cards along a transport path comprising:

engaging opposed edges of a card in a pair of spaced apart channels;

moving the card along the pair of spaced apart channels to engage the card with a card contacting element within a carriage, the card contacting element being spaced from the channels and projecting into the transport path for contacting and pushing one of the cards along the transport path, the card contacting element being compliant to move orthogonally from within the transport path to permit movement of the card along the channels while the carriage is stationary and then the card contacting element moving back into the transport path to contact a trailing edge of the card for pushing the card with the card contacting element along the transport path; and

pushing the one card along the pair of spaced apart channels by moving the carriage along the transport path.

53. A method in accordance with claim 51, further comprising:

mounting one of channels at a fixed position relative to the carriage to provide a datum position for card processing operations;

mounting another of the channels at a position which is moveable orthogonal to the one of the channels; and

causing the another of the channels to apply a force orthogonal to the transport path to an edge of the card to position an edge of the card at the datum position.

55. A method in accordance with claim 51, wherein:

the card contacting element is pivotally attached to the carriage to provide pivoting of the card contacting element around an axis perpendicular to the opposed edges of the card; and

the card contacting element has a edge which slopes toward the transport path and a tip, the tip extending into the transport path when the card is not moving in the channels past the card contacting element, the tip rotating from extending into the transport path during movement of the card past the card contacting element during which the tip contacts a face of the card and then rotating back into the transport path to cause a leading edge of the card contacting element to contact a trailing edge of the card.

60. A method in accordance with claim 51, further comprising:

propelling the card along the transport path into engagement with the card contacting element with an infeed driver disposed on an infeed side of the transport path;

propelling the card along the card transport path after disengagement from the card contacting element with an outfeed driver disposed on an outfeed side of the transport path; and

propelling the carriage along the transport path between the infeed and outfeed sides to transport the card from the infeed side to the outfeed side and to return the carriage to the infeed side to position the carriage to contact another card with the card contacting element with a drive mechanism.

62. A method in accordance with claim 53, further comprising:

propelling the card along the transport path into engagement with the card contacting element with an infeed driver disposed on an infeed side of the transport path;

propelling the card along the card transport path after disengagement from the card contacting element with an outfeed driver disposed on an outfeed side of the transport path; and

propelling the carriage along the transport path between the infeed and outfeed sides to transport the card from the infeed side to the outfeed side and to return the carriage to the infeed side to position the carriage to contact another card with the card contacting element with a drive mechanism.

64. A method in accordance with claim 55, further comprising:

propelling the card along the transport path into engagement with the card contacting element with an infeed driver disposed on an infeed side of the transport path;

propelling the card along the card transport path after disengagement from the card contacting element with an outfeed driver disposed on an outfeed side of the transport path; and

propelling the carriage along the transport path between the infeed and outfeed sides to transport the card from the infeed side to the outfeed side and to return the carriage to the infeed side to position the carriage to contact another card with the card contacting element with a drive mechanism.

68. A method in accordance with claim 60, further comprising:

a topper fixed in position with respect to the pair of channels and having a supply of topping material which is transported orthogonally to the transport path and facing a side of the card which has embossed raised characters on the one side to which the topping material is to be applied; and

controlling application of topping material to the raised characters while the card engages the card contacting element and transporting of the topping material orthogonal to the transport path with a controller.