Card issuer, card processor and card stacker method and apparatus

Abstract

A credit card stacker holding up to a predetermined number of cards in a lower section. Cards are supplied by a separator mechanism from the upper section of the card stacker, as they are depleted from the lower section by the issuing mechanism. The separator mechanism supports one edge of a card in the upper section only while the other edge of the card is supported by a predetermined number of cards in the lower section. When the number of cards in the lower section drops below the predetermined number, the separator allows cards to drop to the lower section.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A card issuer, which sequentially issues stacked cards, comprising: 
 a first stack portion in which the number of stacked cards to be issued is regulated at a predetermined value or less;    a second stack portion, which stacks cards for replacing picked-out cards therewith to the first stack portion in the case where the cards stacked in the first stack portion are picked out; and    pick-out means for picking out a card stacked in the first stack portion.    
     
     
         2 . The card issuer according to    claim 1   , wherein cards are stacked in a vertical direction, and the second stack portion is disposed above the first stack portion.  
     
     
         3 . The card issuer according to    claim 2   , wherein the card issuer is an apparatus, which stacks and issues cards having embosses formed thereon, and a weight of cards stacked in the second stack portion is applied to an area where the embosses of the cards are not formed, which are stacked in the first stack portion.  
     
     
         4 . The card issuer according to    claim 2   , wherein replacement of cards from the second stack portion to the first stack portion is performed by drop of the cards with the gravity.  
     
     
         5 . The card issuer according to    claim 2   , wherein a weight for applying a predetermined load in a card stack direction is provided.  
     
     
         6 . A card processor comprising: 
 a card stacker for stacking cards having emboss forming areas in a vertical direction;    control means for controlling a load applied to the emboss forming area of the card located at the lowermost portion within a predetermined range; and    pick-out means for picking out the card located at the lowermost portion among the cards stacked in the card stacker.    
     
     
         7 . The card processor according to    claim 6   , wherein the control means controls the applied load within a predetermined range even after the card located at the lowermost portion is picked out by the pick-out means.  
     
     
         8 . A card stacker for stacking a plurality of cards stacked in a vertical direction, comprising: 
 a holding floor for holding the cards in a vertical direction;    side walls for regulating a horizontal position of the cards, the side walls being erected from the holding floor;    a card stack area for stacking the cards, the card stack area being formed of the holding floor and the side walls; and    a projection projecting toward the card stack area, the projection being disposed at a position of a predetermined height of the side wall in the card stack direction.    
     
     
         9 . The card stacker according to    claim 8   , wherein the projection is for engaging one edge of the card.  
     
     
         10 . The card stacker according to    claim 8   , wherein the card stacker is a card stacker for stacking cards having embosses formed thereon, and the projection is formed on the side wall, which is close to the area where the embosses of the stacked cards are formed, on the side walls within the extent corresponding to a width direction of the cards.  
     
     
         11 . The card stacker according to    claim 8   , wherein a portion of the projection, which engages the card, constitutes a slant surface.  
     
     
         12 . A card stacker apparatus for issuing one of a plurality of cards, the card stacker apparatus comprising: 
 a card stacker having a first end and a second end;    a card separator located between the first end and the second end of the card stacker, the card separator supporting a first edge of a card if a second edge of the card is supported at a predetermined position in the card stacker; and,    the card separator not supporting the first edge of the card if the second edge of the card is supported below the predetermined position in the card stacker.    
     
     
         13 . The card stacker apparatus according to    claim 12    wherein the card stacker can hold up to a predetermined number of cards between the second end of the card stacker and the predetermined position in the card stacker.  
     
     
         14 . The card stacker apparatus according to    claim 12    wherein the predetermined number is in the range of 20 to 30.  
     
     
         15 . The card stacker apparatus according to    claim 12    wherein the card separator means comprises a wedge shape.  
     
     
         16 . The card stacker apparatus according to    claim 12    further comprising a forcing means for providing a force to the cards in the stacker apparatus, the force directed towards the second end.  
     
     
         17 . The card stacker apparatus according to    claim 16    wherein the forcing means is a movable weight.  
     
     
         18 . The card stacker apparatus according to    claim 16    wherein the forcing means slidably contacts one of the plurality of cards.  
     
     
         19 . The card stacker apparatus according to    claim 16    wherein the forcing means applies the force by way of a rolling means.  
     
     
         20 . The card stacker apparatus according to    claim 12    wherein the second end further comprises a card issuing means.  
     
     
         21 . The card stacker apparatus according to    claim 20    wherein the card issuing means comprises means for frictionably moving one card from the second end of the card stacker.  
     
     
         22 . The card stacker apparatus according to    claim 12    wherein the card separator holds the first edge of the card higher than the second edge of the card.  
     
     
         23 . A card stacker method for issuing one of a plurality of cards, the card stacker method comprising the steps of: 
 supporting a first card edge of a card on a card separator in a top card stacker section when a second card edge of the card is supported at a predetermined position in the card stacker; and,    releasing a first card edge of the card from the card separator in the top card stacker section when the second card edge of the card is supported below the predetermined position in the card stacker.    
     
     
         24 . The card stacker method according to    claim 23    wherein the card stacker can hold up to a predetermined number of cards below the predetermined position in the card stacker.  
     
     
         25 . The card stacker method according to    claim 23    wherein the predetermined number is in the range of 20 to 30.  
     
     
         26 . The card stacker method according to    claim 23    wherein the card separator comprises a wedge shape.  
     
     
         27 . The card stacker method according to    claim 23    comprising the further step of providing a force to the cards in the top card stacker section.  
     
     
         28 . The card stacker method according to    claim 27    wherein the force is provided by a movable weight.  
     
     
         29 . The card stacker method according to    claim 27    wherein the force slidably contacts one of the plurality of cards.  
     
     
         30 . The card stacker method according to    claim 27    wherein the force is applied by way of a rolling means.  
     
     
         31 . The card stacker method according to    claim 23    comprising the further step of issuing a card from the card stacker.  
     
     
         32 . The card stacker method according to    claim 31    wherein the issuing step comprises means for frictionably moving a card from the second end of the card stacker.  
     
     
         33 . The card stacker method according to    claim 23    wherein the first edge of the card is supported on the card separator such that the first edge is higher than the second edge of the card.