Patent ID: 6131817
Filing Date: 2000-10-17
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
A plastic card transport apparatus, comprising:a plurality of lower support wheel members positioned with their circumferential surfaces aligned to define a card transport path having a plurality of card operation locations therealong, for supporting a plastic card by a lower edge thereof as the plastic card is transported along the card transport path from a first one of the card operation locations to a second one of the card operation locations;upper retaining means positioned above said plurality of lower support wheel members to engage an upper edge of the plastic card and cooperating with said plurality of lower support wheel members to retain the plastic card supported on said lower support wheel members as the plastic card is transported along the card transport path;a drive source for continuously driving a selected plurality of said lower support wheel members to move the plastic card along the card transport path between card operation locations;control means responsive to a control signal for driving a selected one of said lower support wheel members, adjacent a first one of the card operation locations, to move the plastic card along the card transport path from said first one of the card operation locations to an adjacent one of said continuously driven lower support wheel members, to transport the plastic card to a second one of the card operation locations; anda signal source for providing the control signal to said control means.