The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 22, 2016
Filed:
Sep. 08, 2010
Douglas A. Martin, Woodinville, WA (US);
Scott A. Dean, Issaquah, WA (US);
Mark L. Waechter, Winthrop, WA (US);
Gregory P. Winters, Snohomish, WA (US);
Douglas A. Martin, Woodinville, WA (US);
Scott A. Dean, Issaquah, WA (US);
Mark L. Waechter, Winthrop, WA (US);
Gregory P. Winters, Snohomish, WA (US);
Outerwall Inc., Bellevue, WA (US);
Abstract
Apparatuses and methods for dispensing cards and other items. In one embodiment, a card dispensing apparatus includes at least first and second card hoppers and a movable card carriage. The card carriage is movable between a first position proximate to the first card hopper and a second position proximate to the second card hopper. The card carriage is configured to receive a first card from the first card hopper when in the first position and a second card from the second card hopper when in the second position. In one aspect of this embodiment, the card carriage can dispense at least the first card into a card outlet chute when the first card has been sufficiently read by a card reader. Alternatively, the card carriage can dispense the first card into a card escrow chute when the first card has not been sufficiently read by the card reader.