Plastic card reorienting mechanism and interchangeable input hopper

Abstract

A card reorienting mechanism and an input hopper of plastic card processing equipment, for example a desktop plastic card printer. The card reorienting mechanism is a modular unit that permits the entire mechanism to be inserted or removed as a single unit from the printer. In addition, the input hopper is designed as an interchangeable system that permits alteration in the card capacity of the hopper.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . An interchangeable input hopper system for use with a card processing machine to hold a plurality of cards and feed cards one-by-one into the machine, comprising:
 first and second input hopper assemblies, each hopper assembly including a fastenerless mechanism for detachably connecting the hopper assembly to the card processing machine; and   the first input hopper assembly is configured to hold a first predetermined maximum number of one card type, and the second input hopper assembly is configured to hold a second predetermined maximum number of the same card type as the first input hopper assembly, and the first predetermined maximum number is less than the second predetermined maximum number.   
   
   
       12 . The interchangeable input hopper system of  claim 11 , wherein the fastenerless mechanism comprises a snap-fit connection system. 
   
   
       13 . An interchangeable input hopper system for use with a card processing machine to hold a plurality of cards and feed cards one-by-one into the machine, comprising:
 a hopper chassis including a fastenerless mechanism for detachably connecting the chassis to the card processing machine, the chassis including an output through which a card exits the assembly into the machine when the assembly is connected to the card processing machine;   first and second input hopper shells each of which is detachably connectable to the hopper chassis, wherein the first input hopper shell is larger than the second input hopper shell so that:
 i) when the first input hopper shell is connected to the chassis, the first input hopper shell and the chassis define a first hopper assembly that is capable of holding a first predetermined maximum number of one card type; 
 ii) when the second input hopper shell is connected to the chassis, the second input hopper shell and the chassis define a second hopper assembly that is capable of holding a second predetermined maximum number of the same card type held by the first hopper assembly; and 
 iii) the first predetermined maximum number is greater than the second predetermined maximum number. 
   
   
   
       14 . The interchangeable input hopper system of  claim 13 , wherein the chassis includes a gate that controls the exiting of cards through the output. 
   
   
       15 . The interchangeable input hopper system of  claim 14 , wherein the gate is configured to self-adjust to cards having differing thicknesses. 
   
   
       16 . The interchangeable input hopper system of  claim 13 , wherein the fastenerless mechanism comprises a snap-fit connection system.