Card dispenser

A card dispenser comprising:

• a card store configured to hold a stack of cards;
• a card feed mechanism configured to move a card in a first direction from the card store to a read position and to dispense said card from the read position by further movement of the card in the first direction;
• a communication module arranged to communicate with a card provided at the read position;
• a capture chamber configured to receive a card dispensed from the read position by the card feed mechanism, the capture chamber comprising walls defining an exit aperture for dispensing a card to a user;
• a capture flap provided within the capture chamber, wherein said capture flap is moveable from a first orientation to a second orientation, said capture flap biased towards the first orientation wherein in the first orientation the capture flap provides a path from the read position to the card bin and fully closes the exit aperture, and wherein movement of the capture flap from the first orientation to the second orientation opens the exit aperture and closes the path to the card bin, and wherein in the second orientation the capture flap is arranged to guide a card through said exit aperture;
• a card bin configured to receive a card from the capture chamber when the capture flap is arranged at the first orientation;
• and
• a control system for controlling movement of the capture flap in accordance with an output received from the communication module such that:
• if a first output is received, the capture flap is held at the first orientation such that a card dispensed from the read position moves under the influence of gravity through the capture chamber into the card bin, and if a second output is received, the capture flap is moved from the first orientation to the second orientation such that a card dispensed from the read position slides along the capture flap under the influence of gravity through the exit aperture.