Terminal for issuing and processing data-bearing documents

Abstract

A system is disclosed for processing and/or issuing cards containing machine-readable information. The system is preferably housed in a terminal which includes an insertion port to accept a card from a user. The system further includes a hopper which stores a plurality of blank cards. In one embodiment, the hopper and insertion port both lead to a card flipping device, which receives a card and may rotate and/or advance the card to either a card printing module or a card reading/writing module. The card flipping device may rotate through 180°, so that both sides of the card may be printed at the printing module and/or processed in the card reading/writing module. In another embodiment, the system is adapted to receive a personal identification number (PIN) entered directly by a user, and generate corresponding “offsets” or coded inputs for storage on the card.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.