Abstract: A card issuing and processing system embodied in a terminal to accomplish issuing and processing operations on cards bearing both human-readable and machine-readable data, e.g., cards bearing visual indicia, one or more magnetic stripes, and/or an integrated circuit ("chip") is provided, having an input hopper mechanism for storing and dispensing new cards, multiple transport mechanisms for transporting the cards, and various processing stations, including a cleaning station, an IC station, a magnetic-write station, a magnetic-read station, and a print station. The cleaning station cleans the surface of the card in preparation for a subsequent operation. The IC station accomplishes electronic data transfer with cards bearing a chip. The magnetic-write and read stations accomplish magnetic data transfer with cards bearing either high and/or low coercivity magnetic medium, and the print station accomplishes the application of visual data, including graphic images, text, background designs, or even bar codes.

Abstract: An improved ink delivery system for an ink jet printer having a print carriage that traverses across a print medium comprising an ink source, a print head, and a coupler for coupling the ink source to the print head, the coupler including a pair of flexible tubes for carrying the ink and a Y-coupler for coupling to the pair of flexible tubes and the ink source, the Y-coupler causing the pair of flexible tubes to initially diverge. A check valve is provided to prevent back siphoning.