Card printing and laminating apparatus
US5673076A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 13, 1995 |
| Grant date | Sep 30, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 13, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2202/35
- WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
An apparatus for printing and laminating plastic cards consists of a thermal transfer printing station including ribbon and a thermal printhead for printing an image on a receptor surface of a receptor card, a laminating station including laminating film and a heated laminating roller mounted for engagement with said receptor surface of said receptor card during a laminating operation, and a guided carriage for transporting the receptor card beneath the printhead and the heated laminating roller. The carriage includes a resilient surface for receiving the receptor card with a receptor surface facing upwardly. The carriage is guided on a pair of rails to insure proper registration and tracking of the receptor card. The carriage is driven by a threaded rod which passes through a threaded bore in the carriage wherein rotation of the threaded rod by a motor causes movement of the carriage along the guide rails. The apparatus further includes a hopper for storing a plurality of cards for printing, a cleaning station for cleaning the receptor surface of the card prior to printing, and a pair of output nip rollers including a heated lower roller for engaging and heating a lower surface of…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.