MULTI-FUNCTION CARD HANDLING APPARATUS AND METHODS OF OPERATION

• US 20140263385A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coinstar Asset Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Coinstar Incorporated (Outerwall Inc.)
• Inventors: Martin, Douglas A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,227,800 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/1914 Cards, e.g. telephone, credit and identity cards
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 3/24 by pushers engaging the edges of the articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 5/068 between one or more rollers or balls and stationary pressing, supporting or guiding elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/347 Passive cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3558 Preliminary personalisation for transfer to user
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/24 Rotary or oscillatory members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/44 in which magazines the articles are stored in bulk
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines

Abstract

A multi-function card dispenser and related apparatuses, systems, and methods for processing credit cards, phone cards, in-store gift cards, and the like at customer-operated kiosks and other machines. In one embodiment, a card apparatus can include a card hopper having a card eject surface and a card track having a card transport surface positioned below the card eject surface. A first roller is configured to rotate to draw a first card from a card port and onto the card track. A second roller is configured to rotate to dispense a second (ejected) card from the card hopper and onto the card track and further toward the card port. In one embodiment, the second roller is further configured to rotate to deposit cards below the card hopper.

Claims

1. A card handling apparatus configured to receive and dispense cards from a card port, the card handling apparatus comprising:

a card hopper including a side wall and a bottom wall configured to at least partially define a card exit slot, wherein the bottom wall includes a card eject surface, and wherein the card hopper is configured to hold a first card adjacent the card exit slot and at least a second card on top of the first card;

a card track positioned adjacent to the card hopper, wherein the card track includes a card transport surface positioned below the card eject surface;

a card ejector configured to drive the first card through the card exit slot and onto the card transport surface; and

at least a first roller positioned adjacent to the card transport surface, wherein the roller is configured to rotate in a first direction to move the first card away from the card hopper and toward the card port, and wherein the roller is further configured to rotate in a second direction to receive a third card from the card port and move the third card toward the card hopper.

2. The card handling apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a card collection bin positioned below the card hopper, wherein the card transport surface is spaced apart from the card hopper to define a gap therebetween, and wherein the roller is further configured to rotate in the second direction and move the third card through the gap and into the card collection bin.

3. The card handling apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a card collection bin positioned below the card hopper, wherein the card transport surface is offset from the card eject surface in a first direction and from the card hopper in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction, to define a gap therebetween, and wherein the roller is further configured to rotate in the second direction and move the third card through the gap and into the card collection bin.

4. The card handling apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a card collection bin positioned below the card hopper, wherein the roller is further configured to rotate in the second direction and move the third card into the card collection bin.

5. The card handling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the roller is a first roller, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a second roller configured to rotate in the first direction to move the first card away from the card hopper and in the second direction to move the third card away from the card port.

6. The card handling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the roller is a first roller, and wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a second roller; and

a drive assembly operably coupled to the first and second rollers, wherein the drive assembly is configured to rotate the first and second rollers simultaneously to deposit the first card into a card collection region positioned below the card hopper, and wherein the drive assembly is further configured to rotate the first and second rollers to dispense the second card from the card hopper and onto the card track and further toward the card port.

7. The card handling apparatus of claim 1, further comprising

a shaft operably coupled to the roller;

and

a chassis having a sidewall configured to carry at least a portion of the card track assembly, wherein the sidewall includes a biasing member urging the shaft towards the card track.

8. The card handling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first card has a thickness, and wherein the roller and the card transport surface are spaced apart by a distance that is less than the thickness of the first card.

9. The card handling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the card eject surface is canted towards the card transport surface of the card track.

10. A card handling apparatus configured to receive a first card from a card port, comprising:

a card track having a first surface;

a card hopper having a second surface, at least one sidewall configured to hold a second card, and a gap defined by the sidewall and the second surface, wherein the second surface surface is spaced apart from and canted towards the first surface of the card track;

a card ejector configured to drive the second card through the gap of the card hopper;

a first roller configured to rotate to draw the first card from the card port and onto the card track, wherein the first roller is further configured to rotate to dispense the card from the card port; and

a second roller configured to rotate to deposit the first card into a card collection region below the card hopper, wherein the second roller is further configured to rotate to dispense the second card from the card hopper and onto the card track and further toward the card port.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a coin spacer element configured to space the card port apart from the card track.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a card reader assembly disposed between the first roller and the second roller, wherein the card reader assembly includes a card read head and an optical scanner.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a card weight disposed within the card hopper and configured to press the second card toward the second surface of the card hopper.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the card hopper includes a retaining plate, and wherein the retaining plate is configured to cover a portion of the gap between the sidewall and the second surface of the card hopper.

15. A method for operating a kiosk having a card handling apparatus configured to receive cards from, and dispense cards to users via a card port, the method comprising:

receiving a first card from a user via the card port;

depositing the first card in a card collection bin within the kiosk;

removing a second card from a card hopper positioned within the kiosk; and

dispensing the second card to the user via the card port.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the card handling apparatus includes a card hopper, a card track spaced apart from the card hopper by a gap, and one or more rollers adjacent the card track, and wherein:

receiving the first card comprises rotating the rollers in a first direction to draw the first card from the card port and onto the card track; and

depositing the first card in the card collection bin comprises further rotating the rollers in the first direction to move the third card through the gap and into the card collection bin.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the card handling apparatus includes a card hopper, a card track spaced apart from the card hopper, and one or more rollers adjacent the card track, and wherein:

receiving the first card comprises rotating the rollers in a first direction to draw the first card from the card port and onto the card track; and

removing the second card from the card hopper further comprises rotating the rollers in a second direction to move the second card away from the card hopper and toward the card port.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the card handling apparatus includes a card hopper, a card track spaced apart from the card hopper, and one or more rollers adjacent the card track, and wherein:

receiving the first card comprises rotating the rollers in a first direction to draw the first card from the card port and onto the card track; and

dispensing the second card to the user via the card port further comprises rotating the rollers in a second direction to move the second card toward the card port.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving user input, wherein the user input includes a request to exchange the first card for the second card.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the first card includes a first gift card and the second card includes a second gift card.