Card feeder

Abstract

A card feeder has the following elements. A card hopper is disposed on a base to store cards. A conveying unit is disposed on the base. A friction element is disposed on the base and located in a path passed by the cards, and is capable of providing friction force to the cards so as to separate the cards.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A card feeder for storing a plurality of cards and outputting one card at a time, the card feeder comprising:
 a base;   a card hopper disposed on the base to store the stacked cards, and having an exit;   a conveying unit disposed on the base to push the cards toward the exit; and   a friction element disposed on the base and located in a path passed by the card, and being capable of providing friction force to the cards so as to separate the cards.   
     
     
         2 . The card feeder as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the conveying unit comprises:
 a support pivoted, along an axis, to the base;   a transmission mechanism disposed on the base and the support;   a power module coupled to the transmission mechanism so as to drive the transmission mechanism;   a first feed roller pivoted on the base, and coupled to the power module through the transmission mechanism so as to be driven by the power module into rotation, so that the cards move toward the exit; and   a second feed roller pivoted on the support, and coupled to the power module through the transmission mechanism so as to be driven by the power module into rotation, so that the cards move toward the exit, and the exit is located between the second feed roller and the friction element.   
     
     
         3 . The card feeder as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the transmission mechanism includes a plurality of gears, the gears are sequentially and mutually engaged, and the gears comprises at least one gear pivoted on the base and at least one gear pivoted on the support. 
     
     
         4 . The card feeder as recited in  claim 3  further comprising:
 a rotating shaft axially disposed, along the axis, to the base, the support and the gear rotating along the axis, and fixedly connected to the gear rotating along the axis. 
 
     
     
         5 . The card feeder as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the conveying unit further comprises:
 a driving shaft axially disposed on the base and coupled to the power module and the transmission mechanism.   
     
     
         6 . The card feeder as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the conveying unit further comprises:
 an elastomer disposed between the support and the gear pivoted on the support so as to provide the friction force, so that the gear rotating along the axis is able to drive the support to rotate along the axis, thereby enabling the second feed roller to apply pressure on the cards towards the friction element.   
     
     
         7 . The card feeder as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the power module further comprises:
 a power source;   a deceleration mechanism coupled between the power source and the transmission mechanism, wherein torque generated by the power source is transmitted, sequentially through the deceleration mechanism and the driving shaft, to the transmission mechanism.   
     
     
         8 . The card feeder as recited in  claim 3  further comprising:
 an elastomer disposed between the base and the conveying unit, so as to enable the conveying unit to apply pressure on the cards towards the friction element.