Patent ID: 8038059

Claim:
An apparatus for dispensing wallet-sized cards from a kiosk, the apparatus comprising: a first hopper portion configured to hold a first stack of cards, the first stack of cards including at least a first card positioned on top of a second card; at least a second hopper portion positioned proximate to the first hopper portion, wherein the second hopper portion is configured to hold a second stack of cards, the second stack of cards including at least a third card positioned on top of a fourth card; and a card transport assembly positioned above the first and second hopper portions, wherein the card transport assembly includes: a movable card carrier; a suction cup mounted to the card carrier; and a pump mounted to the card carrier and operably connected to the suction cup, wherein the pump is configured to least partially evacuate the suction cup to releasably attach the suction cup to a desired card; wherein the card carrier is configured to lift the first card in an upwardly direction off the second card, move the first card away from the first hopper portion, and selectively release the first card toward one of a card outlet or a card reject bin; and wherein the card carrier is further configured to lift the third card in an upwardly direction off the fourth card, move the third card away from the second hopper portion, and selectively release the third card toward one of the card outlet or the card reject bin.