Card dispensing apparatuses and associated methods of operation
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring a card stack in an enclosure, the enclosure containing a card dispensing apparatus operably positioned proximate the card stack, the method comprising:
- determining a height of the card stack a first time with the card dispensing apparatus;
determining the height of the card stack a second time with the card dispensing apparatus;
comparing the height of the card stack determined the first time to the height of the card stack determined the second time; and
when the height of the card stack determined the first time is different than the height of the card stack determined the second time, transmitting information related to the card stack to a remote computer, wherein when the height of the card stack determined the first time is greater than the height of the card stack determined the second time, transmitting information includes transmitting a message to the remote computer indicating that one or more cards have been removed from the card stack without being purchased.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatuses and methods for dispensing magnetic stripe cards, smart cards, other cards, and/or other items from kiosks and other structures are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a card dispensing apparatus includes at least a first card hopper and a card transport assembly. The first card hopper is configured to hold a stack of cards that includes at least a first card stacked on a second card. The card transport assembly includes a card carrier configured to lift the first card off the second card and transfer the first card toward a card outlet. Methods are also disclosed for monitoring card stacks in a card dispensing apparatus and for prereading cards prior to sale to expedite dispensing operations. Devices are also disclosed for maintaining the alignment or levelness of top cards in stacks of cards having embossing or other raised features that cause uneven stacking.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring a card stack in an enclosure, the enclosure containing a card dispensing apparatus operably positioned proximate the card stack, the method comprising:
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determining a height of the card stack a first time with the card dispensing apparatus; determining the height of the card stack a second time with the card dispensing apparatus; comparing the height of the card stack determined the first time to the height of the card stack determined the second time; and when the height of the card stack determined the first time is different than the height of the card stack determined the second time, transmitting information related to the card stack to a remote computer, wherein when the height of the card stack determined the first time is greater than the height of the card stack determined the second time, transmitting information includes transmitting a message to the remote computer indicating that one or more cards have been removed from the card stack without being purchased. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of monitoring a card stack in an enclosure, the enclosure containing a card dispensing apparatus operably positioned proximate the card stack, the method comprising:
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determining a height of the card stack a first time with the card dispensing apparatus; determining the height of the card stack a second time with the card dispensing apparatus; comparing the height of the card stack determined the first time to the height of the card stack determined the second time; and when the height of the card stack determined the first time is different than the height of the card stack determined the second time, transmitting information related to the card stack to a remote computer, wherein when the height of the card stack determined the first time is greater than the height of the card stack determined the second time, transmitting information includes transmitting a message to the remote computer indicating that one or more cards have been manually removed from the card stack without using the card dispensing apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer-implemented method of dispensing cards from an enclosure, the method comprising:
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placing a stack of cards in a card hopper in the enclosure, wherein the stack of cards includes a first card to be dispensed from the enclosure; before dispensing the first card from the enclosure; temporarily removing the first card from the card hopper; reading identification information from the first card; and placing the first card back in the hopper; storing the identification information in memory; receiving a request to dispense the first card; in response to receiving the request; removing the first card from the stack of cards; and dispensing the first card from the enclosure; retrieving the identification information from memory; and sending the identification information to a remote computer to activate an account associated with the first card. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification