In-line flip station for a card printing apparatus
US5966160A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 10, 1996 |
| Grant date | Oct 12, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 10, 2016 |
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 the receptor surface of the 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. In an alternate embodiment, the apparatus further includes an in-line flip station for reversing the print surface of the card so that printing can be accomplished on both sides of the card.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.