Method and apparatus for a card dispenser

A card dispensing system for use with a food product conveying surface, the card dispensing system comprising:

• a plurality of longitudinally aligned conveyors spaced apart from one another by a distance defining at least a first gap and a second gap, the first and second gaps disposed between adjacent conveyors of the plurality of conveyors in the longitudinal direction, and wherein conveying surfaces of the plurality of conveyors are in substantial vertical alignment with each other;
• a first hopper for containing a first plurality of cards;
• a second hopper for containing a second plurality of cards;
• a first mechanism for withdrawing a first card from the first hopper and moving the first card into a first receiving position;
• a first card transportation mechanism for receiving the first card at the first receiving position and transferring the first card to a first staging position;
• a first lower card guide plate disposed at least partially in the first gap at an oblique angle relative to the conveying surface;
• a first delivery mechanism for feeding the first card from the first staging position towards the first gap in the conveying surface, wherein the first card is transported through the first gap and guided by a top surface of the first lower card guide;
• a second mechanism for withdrawing a second card from the second hopper and moving the second card into a second receiving position;
• a second card transportation mechanism for receiving the second card at the second receiving position and transferring the second card to a second staging position;
• a second lower card guide plate disposed at least partially in the second gap at an oblique angle relative to the conveying surface;
• and
• a second delivery mechanism for feeding the second card from the second staging position towards the second gap in the conveying surface, wherein the second card is transported through the second gap and guided by a top surface of the second lower card guide.

A method of dispensing a card upon which a food product is placed in a food processing conveyor line, the method comprising:

• capturing an image of a food product;
• assigning a first grade or a second grade to the food product based on the image;
• withdrawing a first card from a first hopper if the food product is assigned a first grade, and withdrawing a second card from a second hopper if the food product is assigned a second grade;
• transporting the first card on a first card transportation mechanism or transporting the second card on a second card transportation mechanism, to a location along the food processing conveyor line where the food product is configured to be disposed on the one of the first card or the second card;
• and
• wherein the food processing conveyor line includes a first conveyor and a second conveyor, the conveyors in longitudinal alignment with each other and having conveying surfaces in substantially vertical alignment with each other, and having a gap defined in the longitudinal direction between adjacent ends of the first and second conveyors, respectively;
• and
• a lower guide plate disposed at least partially in the gap between the first conveyor and the second conveyor at an oblique angle relative to the conveying surfaces, and located below the conveying surfaces.