A sensor system for counting cards includes an optical sensor assembly configured to detect edges of cards in a card stack. The optical sensor assembly includes at least an optical sensor, and a light element coupled with the optical sensor. The light element is configured to reflect light from a card stack toward the optical sensor. A remote light element is spaced from the optical sensor assembly. The remote light element is configured to direct light toward the card stack.

According to several embodiments, the invention relates to a device and a method for stacking card-like data carriers. The device includes a conveying device for transporting individual card-like data carriers downstream along a conveying path and a stacking unit for selectively transferring and stacking card-like data carriers conveyed along the conveying path. The conveying device is arranged to convey the card-like data carriers in such a way that they are fixed to it in a hanging mode of transport. The stacking unit is arranged to selectively release certain ones of the card-like data carriers conveyed along the conveying device from the latter in order to transfer them directly into a card magazine and to stack them therein.

A card transport unit transports a card ejected one-by-one from a card housing section to a card processing section, and includes: a carriage that is moved in a carriage transport path provided between the card housing section and the card processing section; a contactless card reader that includes a contactless communication antenna making contactless communication with the card; and a support member that holds the contactless communication antenna at a position opposing the carriage transport path. The carriage includes a card transport mechanism that transports the card in a card transport direction intersecting a movement direction of the carriage, and the card transport mechanism includes a motor. The motor is arranged on an opposite side of the card, which is transported by the card transport mechanism, from the contactless communication antenna.

A card transport unit transports a card ejected one-by-one from a card housing section to a card processing section, and includes: a carriage that is moved in a carriage transport path provided between the card housing section and the card processing section; a contactless card reader that includes a contactless communication antenna making contactless communication with the card; and a support member that holds the contactless communication antenna at a position opposing the carriage transport path. The carriage includes a card transport mechanism that transports the card in a card transport direction intersecting a movement direction of the carriage, and the card transport mechanism includes a motor. The motor is arranged on an opposite side of the card, which is transported by the card transport mechanism, from the contactless communication antenna.

The invention relates to a device and a method for stacking card-like data carriers. The device comprises (i) a conveying device for transporting individual card-like data carriers downstream along a conveying path and (ii) a stacking unit for selectively transferring and stacking card-like data carriers conveyed along the conveying path. The conveying device is arranged to convey the card-like data carriers in such a way that they are fixed to it in a hanging mode of transport. The stacking unit is arranged to selectively release certain ones of the card-like data carriers conveyed along the conveying device from the latter in order to transfer them directly—i. e. in particular without intermediate processing, intermediate transport or intermediate storage—into a card magazine and to stack them therein when the card magazine is arranged in a stacking area at a stacking position which, in relation to the direction of gravity, is situated below the conveying path.

The present disclosure provides a cognitive multi-card handling system for automatic testing of transaction apparatus and a testing method. Conventional techniques such as manual testing and automatic testing require lot of testing time and have limitations to test with number of test cards and different card types, identifying required test card from heterogeneous stack of multiple test cards and without much manual intervention. The disclosed cognitive multi-cards handling system comprising a mechanical sub-system and a multi-card handling sub-system provides a mechanism to test number of test cards of different card types, identify and eject the required test card from a heterogeneous stack of multiple test cards, as per the test case to perform the transaction operations. The disclosed testing method ensures smooth completion of automatic testing process consisting of thousands of test cases without manual intervention.

An example disclosed output hopper includes a cavity to receive media units from an output of a media processing device, the cavity to cause the media units to form a stack in a first direction; a first door pivotably movable between a closed position and an open position, the first door to retain the media units in the cavity when in the closed position, wherein the first door is configured to pivot on a first axis substantially parallel to the first direction; wherein: the first door includes a first cutout at a first top edge of the first door; and the first cutout allow the media units to spill over the first and second top edges when a capacity of the cavity is exceeded.

An example disclosed output hopper includes a cavity to receive media units from an output of a media processing device, the cavity to cause the media units to form a stack in a first direction; a first door pivotably movable between a closed position and an open position, the first door to retain the media units in the cavity when in the closed position, wherein the first door is configured to pivot on a first axis substantially parallel to the first direction; wherein: the first door includes a first cutout at a first top edge of the first door; and the first cutout allow the media units to spill over the first and second top edges when a capacity of the cavity is exceeded.

An example disclosed output hopper includes a cavity to receive media units from an output of a media processing device, the cavity to cause the media units to form a stack in a first direction; a first door pivotably movable between a closed position and an open position, the first door to retain the media units in the cavity when in the closed position; a second door movable between the closed position and the open position, the second door to retain the media units in the cavity when in the closed position; wherein the first door is configured to pivot on a first axis substantially parallel to the first direction; and the second door is configured to pivot on a second axis substantially parallel to the first direction.

An example disclosed output hopper includes a cavity to receive media units from an output of a media processing device, the cavity to cause the media units to form a stack in a first direction; a first door pivotably movable between a closed position and an open position, the first door to retain the media units in the cavity when in the closed position; a second door movable between the closed position and the open position, the second door to retain the media units in the cavity when in the closed position; wherein the first door is configured to pivot on a first axis substantially parallel to the first direction; and the second door is configured to pivot on a second axis substantially parallel to the first direction.