Card transport mechanism and method of operation

• US 6,142,370 A
• Filed: 06/18/1998
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Card Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Card Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Pankiw, Igor, Ashley, Keith R., LaManna, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US09/099,320
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/375
• US Class Current: 235/380
• 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 (114) along a transport path (108) and method of operation thereof. A card transport mechanism (180) in accordance with the invention includes a pair of spaced apart channels (186, 188), each channel engaging a different one of a pair of opposed edges of the cards; a carriage (196) for holding the cards at a fixed position relative to the carriage during motion along the transport path, the carriage having first (198) and second (120) 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 (120), connected to the carriage, for guiding the carriage along the transport path.

Claims

1. A card processing system for processing cards at a plurality of card processing stations disposed at spaced apart locations along a card transport with the card processing stations performing card processing operations on the cards during transporting of the cards along the card transport comprising:

a plurality of card supply stations located at an infeed side of the card transport with each card supply station for containing a plurality of cards to be selectively individually supplied therefrom to the card transport;

a plurality of card collection stations located at an outfeed side of the card transport with each card collection station selectively collecting individual cards from the card transport after processing by the processing stations; and

a controller, coupled to the plurality of card supply stations, to the plurality of card collection stations and to the card transport, for controlling individual selection of a next card from any one of the card supply stations and supply thereof to the card transport, the transporting of the individually selected cards by the card transport to the plurality of card processing stations, processing of cards with the card processing stations which are fed from the plurality of card supply stations including processing of cards fed from different card supply stations with different card processing formats and the transporting of the individually selected cards, after processing, to any selected one of the plurality of card collection stations for collection therein.

2. A card processing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the controller is further coupled to the plurality of card processing stations and controls processing of individual cards at the plurality of card processing stations.

3. A card processing system in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

each card supply station comprises a magazine holder connected to the processing system and positioned adjacent to the card transport at the infeed side, and a magazine, which is removably mounted in the magazine holder for containing the plurality of cards held by the card supply station with the magazine having an opening at a bottom thereof for passing individual selected cards from the card supply station to the card transport; and

each card collection station comprises a magazine holder connected to the processing system and positioned adjacent to the card transport at the outfeed side and a magazine, which is removably mounted in the magazine holder for containing the plurality of cards collected by the card collection station with the magazine having an opening at a bottom thereof for passing individual collected cards received from the card transport into the magazine.

4. A card processing system in accordance with claim 3, wherein each card supply station magazine further comprises:

a plurality of bent members extending from the bottom thereof inward into the rectangular cross section for supporting a bottom card in a stack of cards contained by the magazine with a pair of the members extending from sides of the magazine adjacent a side from which individual cards pass to the card transport with the pair of members extending below the side by a distance greater than a thickness of an individual card but less than twice the thickness of an individual card to define an opening for individual cards to pass from the magazine.

5. A card processing system in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

the magazine of each of the card supply stations has a capacity for holding an integer number of groups of cards held in a stack in a full supply box of cards to be processed with each group comprising a plurality of cards which are loaded into the magazine.

6. A card processing system in accordance with claim 5, wherein:

the controller includes a system control processor, the system control processor being programmable to set individual card processing formats for controlling all of the processing operations by the card processing stations to be performed on cards selected from each individual one of the plurality of card supply stations such that cards from each of the individual card supply stations may be selectively processed with a card processing format by the card processing stations which is uniquely assigned to that individual card supply station.

7. A card processing system in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

the controller includes a system control processor, the system control processor being programmable to set individual card processing formats for controlling all of the processing operations by the card processing stations to be performed on cards selected from each individual one of the plurality of card supply stations such that cards from each of the individual card supply stations may be selectively processed with a card processing format by the card processing stations which is uniquely assigned to that individual card supply station.

8. A card processing system in accordance with claim 3, wherein:

the controller includes a system control processor, the system control processor being programmable to set individual card processing formats for controlling all of the processing operations by the card processing stations to be performed on cards selected from each individual one of the plurality of card supply stations such that cards from each of the individual card supply stations may be selectively processed with a card processing format by the card processing stations which is uniquely assigned to that individual card supply station.

9. A card processing system in accordance with claim 3, wherein:

the card supply station magazine comprises a rectangular cross section defined by four corners which respectively engage four corners of each of the plurality of cards held by the magazine with a top of the magazine being open for receiving a stack of cards; and

the card collection station magazine comprises a rectangular cross section defined by four corners which respectively engage four corners of each of the plurality of cards held by the magazine with a top of the magazine being open for removing a stack of processed cards.

10. A card processing system in accordance with claim 9, wherein each card supply station magazine further comprises:

a plurality of bent members extending from the bottom thereof inward into the rectangular cross section for supporting a bottom card in a stack of cards contained by the magazine with a pair of the members extending from sides of the magazine adjacent a side from which individual cards pass to the card transport with the pair of members extending below the side by a distance greater than a thickness of an individual card but less than twice the thickness of an individual card to define an opening for individual cards to pass from or into the magazine.

11. A card processing system in accordance with claim 10, wherein:

the magazine of each of the card supply stations has a capacity for holding an integer number of groups of cards held in a stack in a full supply box of cards to be processed with each group comprising a plurality of cards which are loaded into the magazine.

12. A card processing system in accordance with claim 11, wherein:

the controller includes a system control processor, the system control processor being programmable to set individual card processing formats for controlling all of the processing operations by the card processing stations to be performed on cards selected from each individual one of the plurality of card supply stations such that cards from each of the individual card supply stations may be selectively processed with a card processing format by the card processing stations which is uniquely assigned to that individual card supply station.

13. A card processing system in accordance with claim 10, wherein:

the controller includes a system control processor, the system control processor being programmable to set individual card processing formats for controlling all of the processing operations by the card processing stations to be performed on cards selected from each individual one of the plurality of card supply stations such that cards from each of the individual card supply stations may be selectively processed with a card processing format by the card processing stations which is uniquely assigned to that individual card supply station.

14. A card processing system in accordance with claim 9, wherein:

the controller includes a system control processor, the system control processor being programmable to set individual card processing formats for controlling all of the processing operations by the card processing stations to be performed on cards selected from each individual one of the plurality of card supply stations such that cards from each of the individual card supply stations may be selectively processed with a card processing format by the card processing stations which is uniquely assigned to that individual card supply station.

15. A card processing system in accordance with claim 3, wherein:

the magazine of each of the card supply stations has a capacity for holding an integer number of groups of cards held in a stack in a full supply box of cards to be processed with each group comprising a plurality of cards which are loaded into the magazine.

16. A card processing system in accordance with claim 9, wherein:

the magazine of each of the card supply stations has a capacity for holding an integer number of groups of cards held in a stack in a full supply box of cards to be processed with each group comprising a plurality of cards which are loaded into the magazine.

17. A card processing system in accordance with claim 16, wherein:

the controller includes a system control processor, the system control processor being programmable to set individual card processing formats for controlling all of the processing operations by the card processing stations to be performed on cards selected from each individual one of the plurality of card supply stations such that cards from each of the individual card supply stations may be selectively processed with a card processing format by the card processing stations which is uniquely assigned to that individual card supply station.

18. A card processing system in accordance with claim 15, wherein:

the controller includes a system control processor, the system control processor being programmable to set individual card processing formats for controlling all of the processing operations by the card processing stations to be performed on cards selected from each individual one of the plurality of card supply stations such that cards from each of the individual card supply stations may be selectively processed with a card processing format by the card processing stations which is uniquely assigned to that individual card supply station.

19. A card processing system in accordance with claim 18, 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.

20. A card processing system in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

the controller includes a system control processor, the system control processor being programmable to set individual card processing formats for controlling all of the processing operations by the card processing stations to be performed on cards selected from each individual one of the plurality of card supply stations such that cards from each of the individual card supply stations may be selectively processed with a card processing format by the card processing stations which is uniquely assigned to that individual card supply station.

21. A card processing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

each card supply station comprises a magazine holder connected to the processing system and positioned adjacent to the card transport at the infeed side and a magazine, which is removably mounted in the magazine holder, for containing the plurality of cards held by card supply station with the magazine having an opening at a bottom thereof for passing individual selected cards from the card supply station to the card transport; and

each card collection station comprises a magazine holder connected to the processing system and positioned adjacent to the card transport at the outfeed side and a magazine, which is removably mounted in the magazine holder, for containing the plurality of cards collected by the card collection station with the magazine having an opening at a bottom thereof for passing individual collected cards received from the card transport into the magazine.

22. A card processing system in accordance with claim 21, wherein:

the card supply station magazine comprises a rectangular cross section defined by four corners which respectively engage four corners of each of the plurality of cards held by the magazine with a top of the magazine being open for receiving a stack of cards; and

the card collection station magazine comprises a rectangular cross section defined by four corners which respectively engage four corners of each of the plurality of cards held by the magazine with a top of the magazine being open for removing a stack of processed cards.

23. A card processing system in accordance with claim 22, wherein:

the controller includes a system control processor, the system control processor being programmable to set individual card processing formats for controlling all of the processing operations by the card processing stations to be performed on cards selected from each individual one of the plurality of card supply stations such that cards from each of the individual card supply stations may be selectively processed with a card processing format by the card processing stations which is uniquely assigned to that individual card supply station.

24. A card processing system in accordance with claim 21, wherein:

the controller includes a system control processor, the system control processor being programmable to set individual card processing formats for controlling all of the processing operations by the card processing stations to be performed on cards selected from each individual one of the plurality of card supply stations such that cards from each of the individual card supply stations may be selectively processed with a card processing format by the card processing stations which is uniquely assigned to that individual card supply station.

25. A card processing system in accordance with claim 21, wherein:

each of the card supply and card collection stations has a latch which is opened to permit removal of the removable magazine from the magazine holder.

26. A card processing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the controller includes a system control processor, the system control processor being programmable to set individual card processing formats for controlling all of the processing operations by the card processing stations to be performed on cards selected from each individual one of the plurality of card supply stations such that cards from each of the individual card supply stations may be selectively processed with a card processing format by the card processing stations which is unique by assigned to that individual card supply station.

27. A card processing system containing a plurality of card processing stations disposed along a card transport path comprising:

a frame having a plurality of parts with each part comprising connected horizontal and vertical members, the frame extending along the card transport path and having a variable length extending along the transport path for supporting a variable number of the card processing stations disposed along the card transport path and at least two parts of the frame each having at least one pair of horizontal members having an elongated horizontally extending contact surface which horizontal members are connected to each other by at least surface contact of the elongated horizontally extending surfaces of the at least one pair of horizontal members;

each card processing station comprising at least one support plate to provide a rigid base for the card processing station with a plurality of the support plates being attached to the at least two parts of the frame in a plane having a top surface parallel to the card transport path, each of the card processing stations being attached to the top surface of at least one of the support plates; and

each of the plurality of card processing stations having a card transport mechanism for transporting the cards parallel to the top surface along the card transport path.

28. A card processing system in accordance with claim 27, wherein:

each of the at least two parts of the frame has opposed vertical sides which include elongated vertically extending contact surfaces which are connected to each other by surface contact with the elongated horizontally extending contact surface of at least one pair of the horizontal members of one part of the at least two parts of the frame projecting past one of the opposed vertical sides of another part of the at least two parts of the frame and the elongated horizontally extending contact surface of each pair of the at least one pair of horizontal projecting members of the one part being connected to the elongated horizontally extending contact surface of another pair of the horizontal members of the another part of the at least two parts.

29. A card processing system in accordance with claim 28, wherein:

each part of the at least two parts of the frame has an upper pair and a lower pair of horizontal members each having elongated horizontally extending contact surfaces with the elongated horizontally extending contact surfaces of the upper pair of horizontal members of the one part and the elongated horizontally extending contact surfaces of the upper pair of horizontal members of another part being aligned so that an upper surface of the upper pairs of aligned horizontal members is in a plane parallel to the top surface to which the plurality of support plates are attached.

30. A card processing system in accordance with claim 29, wherein:

the elongated horizontally extending contact surface of the lower pair of horizontal members of at least one part of the frame projects past one of the opposed vertical sides of the another part of the frame and is connected to the elongated horizontally extending contact surface of another pair of the lower horizontal members of the another part of the frame.

31. A card processing system in accordance with claims 30, wherein:

the elongated horizontally extending surface of each of the lower pair of horizontal members of at least one part of the frame projects past one of the opposed vertical sides of the another part of the frame and is connected to the elongated horizontally extending surface of another pair of the horizontal members of the another part of the frame.

32. A card processing system in accordance with claim 28, wherein at least one of the card transport mechanisms comprises:

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.

33. A card processing system in accordance with claim 32, 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.

34. A card processing system in accordance with claim 32, wherein:

the card contacting element is pivotally attached to 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.

35. A card processing system in accordance with claim 32, 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.

36. A card processing system in accordance with claim 32, 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 engage another card with the card contacting element; and

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

37. A card processing system in accordance with claim 27, wherein at least one of the card transport mechanisms comprises:

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.

38. A card processing system in accordance with claim 37, 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.

39. A card processing system in accordance with claim 38, 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;

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

further comprising

a mechanism biasing the another of the first and second elongated strips toward the fixed one of the first and second elongated strips so that 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.

40. A card processing system in accordance with claim 39, 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;

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

further comprising

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.

41. A card processing system in accordance with claim 39, 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.

42. A card processing system in accordance with claim 38, 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.

43. A card processing system in accordance with claim 38, further comprising:

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

a first pivot axis of the second card gripping element mounted on the carriage for supporting pivoting of the second card gripping element to provide the movement of the second card gripping element after engagement with a leading edge of the opposed edges of the one card; and

a second pivot axis of the second card gripping element mounted on the carriage for providing pivoting of the second card gripping element away from a position within the transport path, which engages the leading edge of the one card relative to the first direction to a position out of the transport path in response to contact of a part of the carriage with the cam during movement along the transport path to free the leading edge of the one card from being contacted by the second card gripping element and to free the one card for movement along the pair of channels past the second card gripping element.

44. A card processing system in accordance with claim 37, 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.

45. A card processing system in accordance with claim 37, further comprising:

an infeed driver disposed on an infeed side of the pair of channels for propelling the card in the first direction 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 in first direction 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 at least 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 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.

46. A card processing system in accordance with claim 45, 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.

47. A card processing system in accordance with claim 46, further comprising:

an embosser having first and second rotatable wheels, the first and second wheels 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.

48. A card processing system in accordance with claim 45, 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.

49. A card processing system in accordance with claim 48, 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.

50. A card processing system in accordance with claim 45, wherein:

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

51. A card processing system in accordance with claim 50, 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.

52. A card processing system in accordance with claim 51 wherein:

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

53. A card processing system in accordance with claim 51, wherein:

the rolling surfaces of the first and second rollers of the infeed driver are not mounted in surface contact when the card is not positioned at the infeed side and the rolling surfaces of the first and second rollers of the outfeed driver are not mounted in surface contact when the card is not positioned at the outfeed side.

54. A method of processing cards with a card processing system comprising a plurality of card supply stations located at an infeed side of a card transport, a plurality of card processing stations disposed along the card transport path with individual card processing stations performing card processing operations on the cards while located at the individual card processing stations, and a plurality of card collection stations located at an outfeed side of the card transport path, the method comprising:

feeding cards from the plurality of card processing stations to the card transport;

transporting the cards fed from the plurality of card processing stations with the card transport to the individual card processing stations;

processing individual cards fed from the different card supply stations with the card processing stations with different card processing formats; and

feeding the processed cards to any selected one of the plurality of card collection stations for collection therein.