Terminal for issuing and processing data-bearing documents

• US 6,308,886 B1
• Filed: 05/20/1999
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Magtek Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Magtek Incorporated
• Inventors: Fisher, Richard, Benson, Terrence, Voit, William, Tayeban, Kaveh, Niu, Jiayi
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans, F. L.
• Application Number:
  US09/315,866
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/379, 235/380, 235/449, 235/381
• US Class Current: 235/375
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3552 Downloading or loading of personalisation data
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

A system is disclosed for processing and/or issuing cards containing machine-readable information. The system is preferably housed in a terminal which includes an insertion port to accept a card from a user. The system further includes a hopper which stores a plurality of blank cards. In one embodiment, the hopper and insertion port both lead to a card flipping device, which receives a card and may rotate and/or advance the card to either a card printing module or a card reading/writing module. The card flipping device may rotate through 180°, so that both sides of the card may be printed at the printing module and/or processed in the card reading/writing module. In another embodiment, the system is adapted to receive a personal identification number (PIN) entered directly by a user, and generate corresponding “offsets” or coded inputs for storage on the card.

Claims

1. A system for programming a card capable of containing machine-readable information, the system comprising:

a data transferring module including a first transfer station configured to transfer data to a first type of card, and a second transfer station configured to transfer data to a second type of card;

a reversible card advancing device operative to selectively advance a card through the module in opposite directions; and

a processor that is programmed to control the card advancing device in a forward direction to pass a card through the first transfer station if a first type of card is inserted, and to control the advancing device to pass a card through the first and second transfer stations if a second type of card is inserted.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first transfer station comprises a magnetic head assembly operative to write data onto a magnetic stripe.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second transfer station comprises a plurality of electrical contact pins configured to contact corresponding leads on a smart card to establish electrical communication therewith.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second transfer station comprises an antenna system for establishing communication with a smart card.

5. The system of claim 1, further including a card flipping device operative to receive a card and to rotate the card for receipt by the data transferring module.

6. The system of claim 1, further including a card printing module for printing indicia on a card.

7. The system of claim 6, further including a card cleaning station disposed in front of an entry to the card printing module.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the card flipping device comprises a tray and an arm that is pivotable between disengaged and engaged positions, wherein the tray carries a feed roller and the pivotable arm carries a rotatable wheel.

9. The system of claim 5, further including a hopper storing a plurality of blank cards, the hopper including an opening leading to the card flipping device for delivery of a card from the hopper to the card flipping device.

10. A system for processing cards, the cards bearing machine-readable data, the system comprising:

a housing,

the housing defining plural travel paths, wherein the travel paths are arranged at an angle with respect to each other to define a vertex;

a card-writing station disposed along one of the travel paths;

a card printing module disposed along another one of the travel paths;

a card transport mechanism operative to pass a card along the respective travel paths; and

a card flipping device positioned at the vertex, the card flipping device being rotatable to allow the card to pass along the respective travel paths.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the card flipping device is rotatable through an angle of at least 180 degrees.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the card-writing station comprises a magnetic head assembly operative to write data onto a magnetic stripe.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the card-writing station comprises a plurality of electrical contact pins configured to contact corresponding leads on a smart card to establish electrical communication therewith.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the card-writing station comprises a device for establishing communication with the card without physically contact the card.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the communication device comprises an antenna system.

16. The system of claim 11, further including a card cleaning station disposed along the travel path upstream of the card printing module.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the card flipping device comprises a tray and an arm that is pivotable between disengaged and engaged positions, wherein the tray carries a feed roller and the pivotable arm carries a rotatable wheel.