Abstract: Disclosed herein is a media recognition device. The device includes, an alley defined by a floor and a wall that is receptive of media passable therethrough, a movable member movable in response to contact with media as the media passes through the alley, a sensor in operable communication with the movable member configured to output a signal proportional to a position of the movable member, and a processor in operable communication with the sensor. The processor is configured to map the output signal of the sensor as the media passes through the alley, the processor is further configured to recognize or distinguish the map of the media from stored maps of known media.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a card dispensing unit including a stack guide assembly configured to receive a stack of cards, an encoder to encode said stack of cards, wherein said encoder is positioned in relation to said stack guide assembly to receive a consistent impingent force from said stack of cards: And a push block in operable communication with the guide assembly is also provided to selectively move the cards pursuant to a controllable position linear actuator which is in operable communication with the push block.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a card dispensing unit. The unit includes a stack guide assembly configured to receive one or more cards. A push block in operable communication with the guide assembly is also provided to selectively move the cards pursuant to a controllable position linear actuator which is in operable communication with the push block. Further disclosed herein is a method for dispensing cards. The method includes recognizing an indicator to dispense a card. Once the indicator is recognized, an action is taken resulting in linearly urging a card from a stack of one or more cards toward an ejection area with a controllable position linear actuator.