Patent ID: 6938896

Claim:
An automated card dispenser unit for displaying and dispensing cards from a vending system, comprising: a vending machine having a display window to enable a user to view a card to be dispensed; a storage housing for storing a plurality of cards within the vending machine; a holding member operatively connected to the storage housing for positioning one of the plurality of cards at a position that can display, in a vertical plane, a card surface through the display window; a controller unit on the vending machine for receiving a user input to dispense a card; a dispenser assembly for receiving a signal from the controller unit to dispense a card including a pickup member for removably grasping the card surface and releasing it from the holding member along a predetermined path of movement; and a stopper member mounted in the path of movement for separating the card from the pickup member to enable the card to be dispensed to the user, wherein the dispenser assembly rotates the pickup member from a horizontal rest position below the holding member to a vertical position adjacent the holding member to engage the pickup member within the card and retracts the pickup member to initially release the card from the holding member and subsequently to contact the card with the stopper member.