CN1930003B - Card printer and method of printing on cards - Google Patents

Abstract

A compact system adapted for card imaging, card laminating, or other card processing, comprises a card processor positioned on a horizontal card feed path and configured to process one or both faces of a rectangular card such as a plastic credit or debit card. A card feeder is arranged to feed cards one at a time onto the horizontal feed path upstream of the card processor, the feeder comprising a compartment for holding a stack of vertical cards each supported on a long edge and a card feed mechanism configured to successively draw a card from an end of the stack and translate it off the stack. A card re-director is configured to receive the card and to redirect it to an attitude in which it is parallel with the horizontal card feed path and positioned to be fed to the card processor along the horizontal feed path. The compartment is located above the horizontal card feed path, and the card feeder feeds cards substantially vertically downward into the card re-director. The card processor may comprise a card printer and a magnetic strip encoder. Also disclosed are methods of printing, encoding and feeding cards.

Description

Card printer and on card method of printing

Technical field

The present invention relates generally to be used for information with forms such as image, literal and put on card printer on the card one or both sides, relate in particular to a kind of at vertical and horizontal direction card printer of compactness all.The invention still further relates to a kind of method of printing of on card, carrying out.Again further, the present invention relates to, relate in particular to and be used for forbidding once supplying with a card feedway and a method of supplying with the card of all thickness in upper clamp slice from card stack from the continuous feeding cards of card stack.

Background technology

For these purposes such as safety (for example, identity card and badge), financial transaction (credit card and debit card), driving licenses, it is more and more general that various types of cards have become.These cards mainly are made of plastics, but also can comprise paper or cardboard.The one or both sides of these cards all can be printed or impress symbol, magnetic stripe and/or other image or mark.Though the length of these cards and width substantially by standardization, can consider to change its thickness.

Fig. 1 shows the plastic cards 10 of those types of present use.This card 10 has front 12, contains the back side 14 of longitudinal extension magnetic stripe 16 and be roughly rectangular geometry, this geometry comprises a pair of relative, long limit 18 and 20 parallel, longitudinal extension, with a pair of relatively, minor face 22 parallel, horizontal expansion and 24.Card 10 has vertical central axis or long central shaft 26 and transverse central axis or short central axis 28.

Traditional printing machine that is used for printing information on discrete card card for example shown in Figure 1 comprises the treating stations or the module of linear series, and these modules mainly comprise card feeder, card lifter or commutator, printing mechanism and card discharge station.Typical card feeder has vertical hopper, and its card that is designed to receive horizontal orientation is for the source, and this card is positioned on another with one and piles up.When card took out continuously from the top, the lifter below the card stack upwards promoted this card stack to promote this card stack gradually.The card feeder is conducted to the card commutator with card, this card commutator rotate as required every card and with series of steps be sent to card print mechanism and certainly this card print mechanism transmit one or both sides of printing cards thus.In traditional printing machine, the card commutator makes card lack or less important central shaft 28 (Fig. 1) round it.Printing mechanism typically comprises the thermal printer head of cooperating with heat transfer colour ribbon or dye sublimation colour band, in order to when card vertically is conducted to printing mechanism at a printing information of every card.

US6587135B1 discloses a kind of card record equipment, and it can reduce the overall dimension of equipment simultaneously to print at a high speed.After card was sent to information recording part 200 along horizontal (minor face) direction of card, information signal was recorded on the card.Then, card is sent to second heating part 300.The black image that is formed on the intermediate record medium 7 by first heating part 500 is transferred on the card by this second heating part 300 again.Be repaired by the card correction portion 400 of curling by curling of on card, forming of second heating part 300.

US5959278 discloses a kind of record cell, and it comprises printing machine, and this printing machine is used for information data is printed at least one surface of recording medium.Described record cell in the load card manufacturing installation one on another, vertically be provided with.The card rotating part is in the face of corresponding record cell setting, thereby card can shift between card rotating part and record cell, and upset, thus with required information data recording on one or two surface of card.This record cell comprises that magnetic encoder and/or IC store reader/write device, and has the function that the information on the card is write in verification, when fully writing down card is passed out to the card outlet, maybe when finding write error card is delivered to card and refuses mouth.

US4519600 discloses a kind of being used for card has been fed into the equipment of automatic impression system from Storage Box, and it comprises input hopper and card mechanism for picking, and this card mechanism for picking is used for engaging this card in that card is being peeled off the back from the supply heap of hopper.This card receives embossed data by the connecting gear location with the impression wheel from rotation.The card that the output hopper receives, unaccepted card is collected in the collecting receptacle.

In conventional card printers, there are several defectives.For example, because each station of conventional card printers or module are arranged to row, this printing machine occupies suitable desk-top space.And because card is stored in the card feeding hopper with vertical stack, conventional card printers is often very high.Influence its height (with and length) be to make card center on the card commutator or the hopper of the rotation of its minor axis.Except vainly utilizing the space, existing card printer, because its size, it is higher to make required cost, and for example size is big more, and the cost of being contained is high more.

In addition, most of traditional card feeders provide the outlet place of hopper to have fixing slit or door at card, and card is discharged via this outlet and discharged from hopper.But the width of described door is made as usually and holds a kind of specific card thickness and must save the card that becomes to hold other thickness by manual-reset adjustment.This is undesirable, accurately supplies with the various cards of different-thickness and dual supply can not occur because be difficult to measure and a sect is set.When next card driven it by the card of supplying with from the top of card stack below was supplied with together, dual supply took place.

Summary of the invention

The present invention is used for solving the above-mentioned defective of conventional card printers.

The object of the present invention is to provide a kind of system that is applicable to that card imaging, card lamination or other card are handled, it can overcome the defective that exists in the prior art.

Another object of the present invention with the card imaging system that a kind of vertical compactness is provided.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a kind of method of printing on card that is used for.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a kind of system that card imaging, card lamination or other card are handled that is suitable for is provided, comprise: card processors, it is positioned on the horizontal card feed path and the surface that is configured to handle the rectangular card with major axis and minor axis, and described major axis is along described card feed path orientation; The card feeder, it is arranged to card is conducted on the described card feed path of upstream of described card processors, and described card feeder comprises: a. is used to keep the chamber of vertical card stack, and every card is supported on the long limit; With b. card feed mechanism, it is configured to continuously to take out card and this card translation is gone out described storehouse from an end of storehouse; It is characterized in that, described system also comprises card re-director, this card re-director is configured to receive the card from described card feeder, and rotate this card around the axis parallel with described horizontal feed path, this card is diverted to a position, card is parallel to described horizontal card feed path and is oriented to be conducted to described card processors along described horizontal feed path in this position.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a kind of card imaging system of vertical compactness is provided, comprise: card printer, it is positioned on the horizontal card feed path and is formed at relative first and second of rectangular card with major axis and minor axis goes up printing word or image, and described major axis is along described card feed path orientation; The card feeder, it is arranged to card is conducted on the described card feed path of upstream of described card printer, and described card feeder comprises: a. is used to keep the chamber of vertical card stack, and every card is supported on the long limit; With b. card feed mechanism, it is configured to continuously to take out card from an end of storehouse; It is characterized in that, described card imaging system also comprises: the card circulator, it is configured to receive the card from described card feeder, and rotate this card around the axis parallel with described horizontal feed path, this card is diverted to a position, card is parallel to described horizontal feed path and is oriented to be conducted to described card printer along described card feed path in this position; And card transport, it is formed between described card printer and the described card circulator transfer card to and fro, described system is constructed such that card is sent to card printer by card transport from the card circulator, on this first, print at card, card is sent back to the card circulator by card transport then, center on its major axis Rotate 180 degree at this card, described then card transport is sent back to card printer with card once more, prints on this at card described second.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a kind of method of printing on card that is used for is provided, this card has the relative parallel surface and the configuration of rectangle, this configuration comprises a pair of relative parallel long limit and a pair of relative parallel minor face, and described method comprises: the mode that is parallel to the direction of first feed path with the minor face of card moves to second station from first stop along this first feed path with card; At described second station, around the axis rotation card parallel with second feed path, card is diverted to a position, card is parallel to described second feed path in this position, and in the mode that the long limit of card is parallel to the direction of second feed path card is moved to the 3rd station from second station along second feed path; With at described the 3rd station, one of them surface of card is printed.

Description of drawings

With reference to the detailed description of accompanying drawing, various purposes of the present invention, feature and advantage will be clearer to those skilled in the art according to hereinafter, wherein:

Fig. 1 is the perspective view of standard plastic card, and the one or both sides of this card can utilize printing machine of the present invention and method printing or imaging;

Fig. 2 is the decomposition diagram of printing machine of the present invention, and it simply shows the entire infrastructure of the critical piece of described printing machine;

Fig. 3 is that the present invention is specific, the front perspective view of the printing machine of exemplary embodiment;

Fig. 4 is the back perspective view of printing machine shown in Figure 3;

Fig. 5 is the side view of the printing machine section shown in Fig. 3 and 4;

Fig. 6 is the sectional side view of card feeder of the parts of printing machine shown in the pie graph 3-5;

Fig. 7 is the simplified perspective view of the part of card feeder shown in Figure 6;

Fig. 8 is the perspective view of card feeder, and it shows in detail donor rollers driver and card stack rushing board mechanism;

Fig. 9 is the sectional side view of card feeder, and it shows in detail the mechanism that is used to control the push pedal campaign;

Figure 10 is the bottom perspective view of card feeder;

Figure 11 is the top perspective of card feeder;

Figure 12 is another bottom perspective view of card feeder;

Figure 13 is the perspective view of the part of card feeder, and it shows in detail and is used for the torsion spring mechanism that the bias voltage card returns roller;

Figure 14 is the sectional side view of the part of card feeder, and it shows the operation of the card feed mechanism that prevents the dual supply of card;

Figure 15 is the plan view from above of a part of the card feeder of another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 16 is the bottom perspective view of the card feeder of another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 17 is (local be section) bottom plan view of the part of card feeder shown in Figure 16;

Figure 18-the 21st, the simplified perspective view of the part card feeder of another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 22 is the perspective view of the assembly of the printing machine shown in Fig. 2 and 3, and this assembly comprises the card feeder that is positioned at card re-director or circulator top, and wherein the card circulator is tilted the location to hold the card from the card feeder;

Figure 23 is the end-view of the section of assembly shown in Figure 22;

Figure 24 is the perspective view of card circulator shown in Figure 22, and wherein this circulator is tilted the location to receive the card from the card feeder;

Figure 25 is the perspective view of assembly shown in Figure 22, and wherein said card circulator is tilted the location card is sent to the printing mechanism of printing machine;

Figure 26 is the perspective view of card circulator shown in Figure 22, and wherein said card circulator is tilted the location card is sent to the printing mechanism of printing machine;

Figure 27 is the perspective view that does not have the card circulator of shell;

Figure 28 is another perspective view that does not have the card circulator of shell;

Figure 29 is the cross-sectional figure of part card circulator and shell thereof;

Figure 30 is the perspective view of the shell of card circulator;

Figure 31 is the pivoted feed rolls perspective views of supports according that forms the parts of card circulator;

Figure 32 is the perspective view of part card throat limiting structure that constitutes the parts of card circulator of the present invention;

Figure 33 is the perspective view of card circulator driven wheel, and it shows in detail the outer surface of this gear;

Figure 34 is the perspective view of card circulator driven wheel, and it shows in detail the inner surface of this gear;

Figure 35 is the end-view of card circulator driven wheel, and it shows in detail the inner surface of this gear;

Figure 36-39 shows the end-view of part card circulator operation, and it shows the operation of this card circulator;

Figure 40 is part card circulator (local is a section) schematic top plan view, and wherein card circulator donor rollers moves the card throat to allow card to enter circulator discretely;

Figure 41 is card circulator (local for a section) schematic side elevation, wherein donor rollers be in engages with card and card from the state of described card circulator discharge;

Figure 42 is the sectional side view of the part of Fig. 3 and 4 printing machines.

The specific embodiment

Below describe in detail and be used for implementing most preferred embodiment of the present invention.This description is not a kind of restriction, and only is in order to describe cardinal principle of the present invention, and scope of the present invention can be determined with reference to subsidiary claim.For example, below just handle " card ", the present invention is described in printing, coding, these aspects of lamination card.Must be noted that the present invention can be applicable in any system, wherein card is conducted to described system from card stack, no matter how described system handles this card after receiving card.For example, the present invention can be used to card is conducted to a device, and this device is by the described card of for example card shaping, punching press or hole in card etc. further being polished.

In addition, it must be understood that employed term " card " should not be restrictive here.Here employed card refers to any media units of the system that is conducted to via a path from a storehouse.Described card can be paper, plastics, metal etc.It can also have any desirable shape, for example rectangle, square, circle, triangle etc.

Fig. 2 is a sketch, and accompanying drawing 3-5 shows in detail specific, the exemplary embodiment of card processing system 40 of the present invention.System 40 is included in the card printer that prints on the card for example shown in Figure 1 10.For example, card printer 40 comprises the heat transfer type card printer of typical types, it utilizes thermal printer head that the information of literal, figure, photo or the like form is printed on plastic cards for example on identity card, the driving license etc., and this thermal printer head is cooperated with the heat transfer colour ribbon or the dye sublimation colour band of replaceable ribbon cartridge carrying.

Card printer 40 mainly comprises the printing machine body or the framework 42 of support card feeder 44; Card re-director or circulator 46; Card processors 48, this card processors comprises card cleaning station 48a, card print mechanism 48b, this card print mechanism comprises thermal printer head 48c, printing air roll 48d and removable, removable box 48e, and this box 48e accommodates the offset medium 48f that printing machine is consumable, be typically hot transfer printing or dye sublimation colour band form; And card is discharged station 50.

According to an aspect of the present invention, card feeder 44 is positioned at card circulator 46 tops.Card circulator 46 receives card 10 from card feeder 44 continuously along first feed path 52, make every card around its major axis 26 rotations, and it is changed direction to move (Fig. 2,3 and 5) along second feed path 54 between card circulator 46 and the printing mechanism 48.Card 10 is parallel to first feed path, 52 ground with its minor face 22 and 24 and transmits along this path 52, and be parallel to second feed path, 54 ground with its long limit 18 and 20 and transmit, and be parallel to second feed path, 54 ground with its long limit 18 and 20 and transmit along these 54 ground, path along this path 54.Shown in specific, exemplary embodiment, first feed path 52 extends along the direction of approximate vertical, second feed path 54 extends along the direction of approximate horizontal simultaneously, card processors or printing mechanism 48 are provided with along this second feed path 54.Will explain in detail that as following the card that card feeder 44 provides is being transferred into printing mechanism 48 so that before the printing of one of card face, by about 90 degree of card circulator 46 rotations.Therefore card then advances to and discharges station 50 after treatment.Selectively, in the round trip printing mode, card 10 can be back to circulator 46 so that counter-rotating also can send back printing mechanism 48, thereby prints on the card another side, discharges this card from printing machine afterwards.

The card feeder

Also with reference to Fig. 6-14, it shows specific a, exemplary embodiment of card feeder 44 now.Card feeder 44 comprises card feeder main body 60, and its card that has in order to the card stack 64 that keeps soon handling provides chamber 62, and this storehouse 64 comprises many card 10a, 10b, 10c etc.Described card provides chamber 62 to contain in order to the parts 66 of card stack 64 to card feed mechanism 68 bias voltages, and this card feed mechanism 68 provides the card of card 10a and back chamber 62 remove and prevent or forbids that the card more than removes from card stack from card continuously.The operation of card feed mechanism 68 and card thickness are irrelevant, so this feed mechanism can be supplied with the card of different-thickness and need not regulate.

The structure that card provides chamber 62 to have to be roughly rectangle and by relative parallel sidewall 70 and 72, the fixedly front bulkhead 74 of feeder main body 60 and diapire 76 limit.It is open that card provides the top of chamber 62, will supply the source from the card that the front transverse groove shape outlet 78 (Fig. 6,10 and 14) of fixed dimension is supplied with so that receive, and this outlet is limited by the lower limb 80 of antetheca 74 and the leading edge 82 of diapire 76.Card by card feed mechanism 68 through outlet 78 in roughly downward direction (as shown by arrows) along first feed path 52 of approximate vertical to circulator 46 continuous feeds.

Be placed on card preferably orientation shown in Fig. 6 and 7 the bests of card 10a in the chamber 62 and following card is provided.More particularly, card preferably extends with minor face 22 and 24 approximate vertical and also promptly is parallel to first feed path, 52 ground and piles up.Selectively, card provides chamber 62 can be configured to receive card stack, the vertical extension with 20 in the long limit 18 of this card stack; Yet, preferably with its minor face vertically stack of cards reduced the total height of printing machine substantially.

Push pedal 90, for example accompanying drawing 4,6, shown in 8 and 11, are mounted in card provides chamber 62 longitudinal translation and push card stack to fixedly front bulkhead 74.Movably push pedal 90 is by towards antetheca 74 fexible bias pressures and constitute the rear wall that card provides the chamber.Push pedal 90 applies a power in the back of card stack 64, this power card 10a and below card extract out from card stack and consume and keep constant substantially the process of this card stack.

Push pedal 90 is installed into can be via Fig. 6, level and smooth in card provides chamber 62, stable, the translation of the spring-feel mechanism 92 shown in 8 and 9 with not having obstruction.Described mechanism 92 comprises two pairs of pinion mates 94,96 and 98,100, and described pinion is fixed to the transverse axis up and down 102 of pair of parallel and 104 two ends, and this transverse axis is installed on the back side 106 of push pedal 90.More particularly, last transverse axis 102 is supported by axle journal so that rotate on vertical leg 108 and 110, and the two ends of this vertical leg are limited by push pedal 90.Following transverse axis 104 is supported by axle journal so that rotation in the central shaft bearing 112 at the back side 106 of push pedal 90.Pinion 94 with 96 with parallel horizontal rack 114 of being separated by and 116 engagements, this tooth bar is installed on the sidewall 70 of feeder main body or is integrally formed with this sidewall.Similarly, pinion 98 with 100 with sidewall 72 on horizontal rack 118 that be separated by, parallel and 120 the engagement.A pair of torsion spring 122 and 124 be wrapped in the axle 104 on and its inner anchor on the central shaft bearing 112, its outer end anchor on pinion 96 and 100 separately, described torsion spring provides fexible bias pressure, push pedal 90 is pressed against the back of card stack.About this point, torsion spring 122 and 124 is by prestrain, and just, they are wound and are mounted to and are subjected to initial torsional load.When the user manually retracted push pedal 90, torsion spring 122 and 124 was further twined, and when push pedal 90 is advanced from the taking-up of the card chamber of providing along with the card in the card stack 64, discharged the therefore energy of storage.Torsion spring 122 and 124 closely twines and has multiturn (also promptly, the effective length of essence), and they launch when push pedal 90 moves forward like this, and it is constant that the power that torsion spring applies keeps substantially.As can be seen, the 92 constraint push pedals 90 of described mechanism keep vertically during along the either direction translation so that this push pedal provides indoor at card.

Card feed mechanism 68 comprises and is positioned at the friction drive surface that card provides 62 fronts, chamber, is preferably the form of three rollers 130,132 and 134.The place, fixed position that roller 130 is included in diapire 76 tops is installed on first on transverse axis 136 or main donor rollers, and this transverse axis 136 is supported by axle journal so that rotation on the sidewall 70 and 72 of card feeder main body.Laterally placed in the middle and its drive surface of first donor rollers 130 stretches into card a little to be provided in the chamber 62, like this, provide fexible bias pressure leading or that the first card 10a (Fig. 6,7 and 14) is applied in response to push pedal 90 on the indoor card stack first donor rollers 130 that is frictionally engaged being loaded into card.Roller 132 is included in card provides the fixed position place of diapire 76 belows of chamber to be installed on less important donor rollers on the transverse axis 138, and this transverse axis 138 is supported by axle journal so that rotation in sidewall 70 and 72.From Fig. 6 and 14 as can be seen, main roller 130 and secondary roller 132 contacted tangent lines are parallel to the inner surface that card provides the fixedly front bulkhead 74 of chamber.Main roller 130 can consistently rotate via the stepper motor 140 that is fixed in sidewall 72 inner surfaces with secondary roller 132, thereby card 10a and following card are advanced along feed path 52.About this point, simultaneously with reference to Fig. 8, main roll shaft 136 and less important roll shaft 138 have the outer end 142 and 144 of stretching out from the sidewall 72 of card feeder main body 60 separately.The outer end 142,144 of axle 136,138 is bearing sprocket 146,148 separately.Around this sprocket wheel 146 with 148 be that the band tooth that the idler sprockets that links to each other with idler gear 154 152 drives is with 150 synchronously, this idler gear 154 is again by 156 drivings of the pinion on the output shaft that is installed in stepper motor 140.

Best shown in Fig. 7 and 10, main roller 130 is identical with secondary roller 132 length.Roller 134 comprises the 3rd roller, and this roller returns second card to card stack in counteractive mode, and this second card is that first card with correct supply is by the card from the inappropriate taking-up of card stack.The 3rd roller 134 is narrower than main roller 130 and secondary roller 132 substantially, and is installed in a side relative with the feed path 52 of main roller and secondary roller, aims at and occupy the centre of this secondary roller 132 with secondary roller 132.

The 3rd roller 134 is installed on axle the inner of 162, and this axle 162 is supported by float plate 164, and this float plate 164 is supported by a pair of fixedly pilot pin 166 and 168 again, this fixedly pilot pin from the lower surface protrusion of diapire 76 and pass especially big slit 170 and 172 plate 164.When having card the 3rd roller 134 not being pushed to secondary roller 132 and it is contacted, described pillar 176 is near the back of plates 164 at pillar 176 and fixing 174 fexible bias pressure plates 164 of the torsion spring between the pillar 178 for anchor, and described fixedly pillar 178 stretches out from diapire.The 3rd roll shaft 162 has through an especially big opening (not shown) from the outer end 180 that feeder main body wall 70 is stretched out, and described especially big opening allows plate 164 according to existing the card of different-thickness to float between secondary roller 132 and the 3rd roller 134.

With reference to Figure 10-14, especially Figure 13, be fixed in the 3rd roll shaft 162 protruding outer end 180 be hub 181, this hub is fixed on the pivot plate 182, this pivot plate limits the adjacently situated surfaces 183 and 184 of being separated by, and described surface is oriented to engage the fixedly pillar 185 that is installed on the feeder sidewall 70.Plate 182 is fixed on the axle 162 via snap ring 186.162 and the 3rd 134 on the axle of carrying can pivot in its boundary thus, and this boundary is by the space boundary between adjacently situated surfaces 183 and 184.Being wrapped in around the hub 181 is torsion spring 187, but its inner 188 be pressed against on the pin 189 on the pivot plate 182, its outer end 188a is pressed against on the fixedly pillar 185 on the feeder sidewall.Thereby torsion spring 187 therefore bias voltage the 3rd roll shaft 162 its trend towards pivoting clockwise as illustrated in fig. 13.Notice that the rotating range of described plate is limited by the adjacently situated surfaces 183 and 184 of being separated by.

Card feed mechanism 68 prevents that the card more than from once removing from card stack 64.More particularly, when first independent card 10a main roller 132 of process and secondary roller 134 (Figure 14),, load float plate 164 and load the 3rd roller 134 thus, produce the extruding of fluctuation on the card by spring according to the thickness of card.With reference to Figure 14, suppose present second card 10b, owing to static clings first card 10a, from storehouse, taken out mistakenly with first card 10a.The torsion spring 187 that is installed on the outer end 180 of the 3rd roll shaft 162 is rolled according to the comparison of the amount of friction between the amount of friction between first and second card 10a and the 10b and second card 10b and the 3rd roller 134.Because the friction between the 3rd roller 134 and second the card 10b is greater than the friction between first and second card 10a and the 10b, torsion spring 187 by rolling-in (degree of when adjacently situated surfaces 183 engages pillar 185, forcing that boundary allowed) thus causing this spring 187 (when its stored energy is released) that second card 10b pushed back until first card 10a towards card stack 64 has left zone 160 between secondary roller and the 3rd roller.

Main roller 130 and secondary roller 132 preferably by identical materials for example silicon make.The 3rd roller 134 is preferably by making with main roller, secondary roller identical materials, but also can by different materials for example ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM) constitute.In addition, main roller 130 preferably has identical external diameter with secondary roller 132.Selectively, roller 130 and 132 can have different-diameter, and in this case, this two roller has the driven at such angular rates of same peripheral velocity with them.

Ideally, secondary roller 132 and the 3rd roller 134 are installed into first card that makes main roller 130 supply with and all engage with secondary roller and the 3rd roller.For example, if the thinnest card that is about to handle has 0.008 inch thickness, the ultimate range between the opposed outer surface of secondary roller and the 3rd roller is made as 0.007 inch ideally.But the cumulative limit in each parts of feeder mechanism can avoid accurately setting this distance.Correspondingly, Figure 15 shows another embodiment, wherein can save the needs of the close tolerance between secondary roller and the 3rd roller.More particularly, Figure 15 shows the secondary roller 500 with stepped diameter, and the smaller diameter portion of this roller central part or circumferential groove 502 are relative with the 3rd roller 504.Outer surface 506 is closed in the clamping that the 3rd roller 504 has in the groove 502 that stretches into secondary roller 500 a little, so that produce the overlapping of little degree between two rollers.Contacting between first card that this layout that does not rely on close tolerance has always guaranteed that the card feeder supplies with and two rollers 500 and 504; The slight deflection of the card that this arranged offset produced can not influence the operation of feed mechanism.

Figure 16 and 17 shows another embodiment that can be used for card feed mechanism of the present invention.Picture first embodiment, this another embodiment comprise that the qualification card provides the card feeder main body 190 of chamber 192, and described card provides the front end of chamber 192 to have fixing outlet, and card advances through this outlet along the feed path 195 of approximate vertical.Feeder main body 190 support card feed mechanisms 196, this card feed mechanism comprise first or main friction drive surface 198, second or secondary frictional drive surfaces 200 and the 3rd friction drive surface 202.Drive surface 198,200,202 preferably take the form of the roller of constructing as described above and locating.Main roller 198 and secondary roller 200 are driven by the stepper motor of having described 204 equally.The 3rd roller 202, as previously mentioned, by axle 206 carryings, this axle 206 is supported by axle journal so that rotation in float plate 208, this float plate, and is engaged with the card back that advances along feed path 19 when having card to exist the 3rd roller 202 not being pushed to secondary roller 200 and it is contacted by extension spring 210 fexible bias pressures.

The especially big opening 216 of the outer end 214 of the 3rd roll shaft 206 from the sidewall 218 of card feeder main body stretches out.Picture is in first embodiment, and opening 216 is provided with according to the existing of different-thickness card of transmitting along the feed path between secondary roller and the 3rd roller 195 to allow float plate 208 greater than the diameter of the 3rd roll shaft 206.Be fixed to the 3rd roll shaft 206 outer external part be synchronous band chain wheel 220.

The axle 222 that supports and drive main card donor rollers 198 has from the outer end 224 that sidewall 218 stretches out.Be installed on axle 222 outer end and adjacent with sidewall 218 be the axle collar 226 that is fixed on this, the axle collar rotates together with the axis like this.With the adjacent setting of outer surface of the axle collar be shaft coupling 228, this shaft coupling comprises the fibre washer 230 as clutch disc.Adjacent with this fibre washer 230 is at the main sprocket wheel 232 that rotates freely on the roll shaft 222 of supplying with.Compression spring 236 impels sprocket wheel 232 and fibre washer 230 friction engagement between the outside of retainer gasket 234 on the outer end of axle 222 and sprocket wheel 232.Synchronously with 238 with the sprocket wheel 232 of axle on 222 and sprocket wheel 220 couplings of being fixed in the 3rd roller 206.As can be seen, single stepper motor 204 drives all three rollers 198,200 and 202 on identical direction of rotation.As a result, trend towards making card when feed path 195 advances at main roller 198 and secondary roller 200, the 3rd roller 202 that is positioned at a side of the feed path 195 relative with less important donor rollers with main donor rollers trends towards making card to retract towards card stack.Suppose that the contact area between the 3rd roller 202 and the card is less, and main roller and less important donor rollers advance card along feed path 195, the effect of the 3rd roller 202 is not enough to single card is returned towards card stack.But if second card taken out mistakenly with first card, the frictional force between the 3rd roller 202 and second card is greater than the frictional force between two cards; The basic given slickness of power described later not as good as given adjacent card face, like this by reaction the 3rd roller 202 with second card towards the card stack refoulement.

When not having card between secondary roller 200 and the 3rd roller 202, secondary roller drives the 3rd roller along the direction of rotation opposite with it, friction between these rollers is enough to influence this driving and impels shaft coupling 228 to slide, and this shaft coupling drives the 3rd roller along the direction identical with secondary roller with main roller.

When single card when the card outlet enters regional between secondary roller 200 and the 3rd roller 202, the 3rd roller, via shaft coupling 228 along driving in the opposite direction with forward card supplying party, slide at the back side of single card, this single card is driven forwards by the higher drive force that the main roller 200 and the secondary roller 202 of broad applies.

Yet, when second (not needing) card with first card by when card stack is taken out, its leading edge acts on the 3rd roller 202 of second card back, with this second card towards the card stack refoulement.Thisly drive via shaft coupling 228 effects, because the friction between the 3rd roller and second card is greater than the friction between two cards to rear drive or the third level.In this operation, all three rollers 198,200 and 202 are all along same direction rotation.

In a word, always trend towards making the 3rd roller 202 along the direction rotation identical via the stepper motor 204 of shaft coupling 228 effect with main roller 198 and secondary roller 200.When the crush-zone between secondary roller and the 3rd roller does not have card or only during a card, this trend is overcome, and shaft coupling 228 slides.Only when second card with first card by mistakenly when card stack is taken out, the 3rd roller is along forcing second card to turn back to direction rotation in the card stack.

Referring now to Figure 18-21, it shows above-mentioned card feed mechanism 68 and another embodiment of 196, and this card feed mechanism is used for 250 the ground feeding cards 10a of first feed path along approximate vertical, 10b etc.The embodiment of Figure 18 comprises card feed mechanism 252, and this mechanism comprises around the main friction drive surface of endless belt 254 forms of going barrel 256 and 258 interlocks, and the secondary frictional drive surfaces of roller 260 forms.The embodiment of Figure 19 comprises card feed mechanism 262, and this card feed mechanism comprises the main friction drive surface of roller 264 forms, and the secondary frictional drive surfaces of endless belt 266 forms.In the embodiment of Figure 20, the card feed mechanism 268 that is provided comprises the main and secondary frictional drive surfaces that is limited by endless belt 270 and 272, and among the embodiment shown in Figure 21, card supply structure 274 is combined into single endless belt 276 with main and secondary frictional drive surfaces.

Card re-director or circulator

With reference to Fig. 4 and 22-41, card re-director or circulator 46 are installed in framework or the substrate 300, so that around central horizontal axis 302 rotations.Described circulator comprises that card receives, keeps and discharge assembly 304, and this assembly comprises the plate 306 and 308 that pair of parallel is separated by, and limits card throat 310 therebetween, and this throat 310 has elongated card input mouth or the slit 312 that is parallel to central shaft 302 extensions.Card throat 310 receives from the card 10 of card feeder 44 supplies and during its rotation and keeps every card.Card 10 since the gravity effect be resisted against on the block (not shown) in the card throat 310.One end of board component 304 is supported by disk 314, and the other end is supported by minor axis 316, and this minor axis 316 is supported by axle journal so that rotation (Figure 30) in the hole 318 of the end wall 320 of substrate 300.Minor axis 316 stretches out and carries bigger circulator driven wheel 322 from end wall 320, and this gear can be with respect to these minor axis 316 rotations.Disk 314 and gear 322 are arranged in the plane of vertical parallel, occupy the centre of central shaft 302 and center on this rotation.That disk 314 has is elongated, transverse card outlet or slit 324, and this slit extends and aims at card throat 310 along the diameter of disk.Just as will be described, card is discharged slit 324 from throat via circulator and is transmitted, so that be loaded in the card print mechanism 48.

One end of board component 304 supports rotation by the disk 314 with peripheral 326, and this periphery 326 engages three isogonisms are separated by, flanged disk support wheel 328,330 and 332, and this support wheel is mounted to rotation on the side part 334 of circulator substrate 300.End gear 322 and less gear 336 engagements should be driven by the output shaft of computer-controlled stepper motor 337 (Figure 27) again than pinion 336.Optical pickocff 338 in the circulator substrate 300 is operation associated with the Photo Interrupter 340 on the disk 314, and the electrical output signal in response to position, card circulator angle is provided.The output signal that optical pickocff 338 produces is coupled with printer controller together in company with the output signal that card border and other detector (not shown) produce, and each element of described other detector and printing machine is with mode cooperative operation well known in the art.

Card throat limiting plate 306 carrying is by the arm 350 of pivotal mounting on alternate support 352 and 354, and this support is fixed on the plate 306 adjacent with disk 314 (for example, Figure 28 and 32).Arm 350 supports the card drive roller 356 that is installed on the axle 358, and this axle 358 is supported in the arm 350 by axle journal.Axle 358 has from arm 350 and stretches out and the outer end of bearing roller driven wheel 360.Similarly, card throat limiting plate 308 carrying is by the arm 362 of pivotal mounting on alternate support 364 and 366, and this support is connected on the plate 308 adjacent with support disk 314.Arm 362 supports the card drive roller 368 that is mounted on the axle 370, and this axle 370 is supported in the arm 362 by axle journal.Axle 370 has from arm 362 and stretches out and the outer end of bearing roller driven wheel 372.The roller driven wheel 360 of Top of Mind stretches out (Figure 29) along the direction opposite with the second roller driven wheel of mentioning 372.Stiff spring 374 with arm 350 fexible bias pressures to pivot towards plate 306 and to move; Similarly, stiff spring 376 with arm 362 fexible bias pressures to pivot towards plate 308 and to move.Therefore, as can be seen, arm 350 and 362 pivots in symmetry between position (Figure 40) that roller 356 and 368 is separated by and the position (Figure 41) that this roller and card 10 engage in the mode of clam shell.

Get back to Figure 33-35 now, circulator driven wheel 322 has the central axle sleeve 380 that holds minor axis 316.Gear 322 also comprises the arcuate slots 382 (Figure 22) concentric with rotating shaft 302.Lug 386 is protruding from the midpoint adjacent with the inward flange of arcuate slots 382 of gear outer surface 384.When gear 322 is installed on the minor axis 316, lug 386 is aimed at corresponding lug 388, and this lug 388 stretches out from the gear end of throat's limiting plate assembly 304.

From what the inner surface of gear 322 stretched out be and arcuate slots 382 and lug 386 symmetrically arranged pair of cams 392 and 394.But pivotal arm 350 and 362 comprises outer end 396 and 398 respectively, these two outer ends are oriented to engage with cam 392 and 394 respectively, and the bias voltage that will impel arm 350 and 362 (and roller after this 356 and 368) to overcome spring 374 and 376 of the relative rotary motion between gear 322 and the assembly 304 moves away or is moved toward each other under the effect of described spring like this.

Central axle sleeve 380 carrying on the gear 322 has and intersects the torsion spring 400 of end 402 and 404, and this intersection termination is closed the lug 386 aimed at and 388 side.Described lug keeps alignment thus under the torsion bias effect of torsion spring 400.Correspondingly, the rotation of gear 322 will impel throat's limiting plate assembly 304 servo-actuateds, also be that gear 322 and assembly 304 will as one man rotate.Adopt lug 386 and 388 as legend aligning as shown in figure 38, the cam 392 and 394 on the gear 322 be set to lift arm 350 with 362 so that roller 356 separate with 368.

Operation

In the operation of printing machine, card re-director or circulator 46 rotate to Figure 22-24,27-29, and the initial position shown in 36 and 40, wherein card throat 310 is aimed at first feed path.In this position, throat 310 is configured to receive the card 10 that takes out from card stack 64 and advance by card feed mechanism 68 along first feed path 52.As can be seen, shown in specific, exemplary embodiment in, the feeder chamber along with feeder diapire 76 towards the downward-sloping and slight inclination of antetheca 74.This orientation had both helped user's manual loading feeder chamber 62, helped gravity biased can not increase the gross weight of printing machine significantly to help to push card stack 64 antetheca 74 of described chamber to again.According to a specific embodiment, this angle preference that card stack 64 is about to slide is used for given angle of friction coefficient as being 15 degree.Though this inclined orientation is preferred, obvious described chamber 62 can be a level, and the orientation of the card in the card stack and first feed path 52 is vertical like this.

Notice that the card in the storehouse is preferably substantially vertically directed with its minor face, help to make the height minimum of printing machine thus.Should also be understood that this card orientation that is transferred into card circulator 46 means that card will rotate around its minor axis or transverse axis 28 around its major axis or the longitudinal axis 26 rather than as conventional presses in by circulator.Therefore, realize highly lowering, reduce the length of printing machine simultaneously by the top that card feeder 44 is arranged on card circulator 46 by printing machine of the present invention.

Because circulator 46 rotary setting, throat 310 is in vertical substantially position like this, and arm 350 and 362 engages and therefore make its ground directed (Figure 40) that is separated by with cam 392 and 394.Because roller 356 and 368 correspondingly is separated by, card 10 is infeeded throat from feeder 44.According to the surface that card will be printed, gear 322 is along a direction or other direction rotation, thus gear 322 and throat's assembly 304 rotation (Figure 36 and 37) as one man owing to torsion spring 400.When throat's assembly arrives horizontal level (Figure 38), one in the suprabasil a pair of block 410 and 412 prevents that this assembly is further rotated (Figure 30,38 and 39).

At this moment Photo Interrupter 340 actuation sensor; The output of this sensor has disconnected the stepper motor of driven wheel 322.In case card throat is aimed at (Figure 25,26,38,39 and 41) with horizontal plane, this stepper motor is connected once more and by calculating step number, via gear 322, this motor overcomes the bias voltage of torsion spring 400 and begins to be further rotated gear 322; Notice that throat's assembly 304 is kept to prevent that it is moved further by one of block 410 and 412.As shown in figure 39, the cam 392 that being moved further of gear 322 impelled on the gear 322 and 394 breaks away from and the engaging of arm 350 and 362, thereby allow these arms court under the effect of extension spring 374 and 376 to move each other, impel card donor rollers 356 and 368 to engage the opposite (Figure 38) of the card 10 in the throats 310 thus.As Fig. 4, shown in 24,26,28 and 29, under the situation of throat's horizontal location, in the roller driven wheel 360 and 372 one or another will with drive pinion 414 engagements of substrate 300 carryings.Drive pinion 414 impels roller 356 and 368 to rotate via the effect of being with drive 416 and through the end of circulator drain tank 324 card 10 is discharged towards printing mechanism 48.

If card is printed on both sides, card will be by in horizontal route 54 refoulement in the other direction card throat 310, and get back in the card circulator 46.Circulator reverse rotation 180 degree, with card upset or counter-rotating, after this card is driven and leaves circulator and its opposite side is printed.In this operation, drive pinion 414 will mesh the roller driven wheel 360 or 372 on another arm 350 or 362.

With reference to Figure 42 and referring again to Fig. 5, the magnetic stripe on the card that card printer 40 also can be used for this printing machine was handled carries out magnetic code.One of problem that runs in cataloged procedure is card " shake ", and this can reduce encoding quality.This " shake " may be because the generation of card bump roller group.With reference to Fig. 5, card drive roller 600 is located in the card code station along the horizontal feed path 54 between card cleaning station 48 and the printing air roll 48d.Driven roller 600 is " partly " roller, the only wide extension of partly crossing card feed path 54, and this roller can not contact the magnetic stripe of the card that is transmitted like this.That install adjacent to roller 600 and with this roller lateral alignment ground is magnetic head 602 (Figure 42), and when card was transmitted these magnetic heads of process by " partly " roller 600, this magnetic head was encoded magnetic stripe.

Card cleaning station 48a comprises and mainly " glues " the superimposed of roller 604 and less important " gluing " roller 606.Roller 604 and 606 is usually towards card feed path 54 downward fexible bias pressures, leaves this path 54 but also can select to move up via the cam mechanism (not shown).

In the magnetic code operation, 54 (left sides of Fig. 5) drive card the throat 310 of leaving card re-director or circulator 46 to driven roller 356 and 368 along the path." partly " roller 600 further is urged to the left side with this card and is positioned on the roller 600 until the trailing edge that card passes cleaning station 48a and card.Then clearer 604 and 606 and circulator driven roller 356 and 368 all left card path 54 by cam drive.At this moment, along with magnetic stripe through magnetic head 602, roller 600 with card towards throat's 310 refoulements.Be in the process of oppositely passing through, card strip is by magnetic head 602 magnetic codes.It should be understood that in this encoding operation, roller 356,368,604 and 606 leave card path 54, and card can not collide the structure that any meeting causes " shake " and may not encode and handle.

Notice that card circulator 46 and card input and drain tank 312 and 324 are arranged to make the card location, thereby so that card around its minor face rotation conserve space, but card also can be positioned to along with its long parallel direction printing in limit.Certainly, laterally drain tank 324, utilize printing mechanism suitably to be positioned to receive card from groove 312, and card is infeeded and confess described groove 312.This means when every card when being parallel to its minor face and transmitting, information can be put on card face.

Several exemplary embodiment of the present invention illustrates and describes, and those skilled in the art can carry out various variations and change to these embodiment.The embodiment of this variation and change is foreseeable, and can make in subsidiary aim of the present invention that claim limited and scope.

Claims (22)

1. one kind is suitable for the system that card imaging, card lamination or other card are handled, and comprising:

Card processors, it is positioned on the horizontal card feed path and the surface that is configured to handle the rectangular card with major axis and minor axis, and described major axis is along described card feed path orientation;

The card feeder, it is arranged to card is conducted on the described card feed path of upstream of described card processors, and described card feeder comprises:

A. be used to keep the chamber of vertical card stack, every card is supported on the long limit; With

B. card feed mechanism, it is configured to continuously to take out card and this card translation is gone out described storehouse from an end of storehouse;

It is characterized in that, described system also comprises card re-director, this card re-director is configured to receive the card from described card feeder, and rotate this card around the axis parallel with described horizontal feed path, this card is diverted to a position, card is parallel to described horizontal card feed path and is oriented to be conducted to described card processors along described horizontal feed path in this position.

2. system according to claim 1 is characterized in that:

Described chamber is positioned at the top of described horizontal card feed path; And

Described card feeder infeeds card in the described card re-director vertically downward.

3. system according to claim 1 is characterized in that:

Card processors comprises the card print station.

4. system according to claim 3 is characterized in that:

Described card feeder also comprises the card pusher, and this card pusher is configured to the direction actuating card storehouse along the described end of storehouse.

5. system according to claim 4 is characterized in that,

Described card pusher comprises the spring bias voltage wall of the other end that is positioned at described storehouse, and this spring bias voltage wall connects with the device that comprises at least one pinion and at least one tooth bar.

6. system according to claim 4 is characterized in that,

Described card re-director is configured to receive along the card of vertical feed path from the card feeder, and card is turned to move along described horizontal card feed path.

7. system according to claim 1 is characterized in that:

Card processors comprises the card code station.

8. system according to claim 7 is characterized in that,

The card code station comprises the magnetic code head that is used for the coding of the magnetic stripe on the described card face.

9. system according to claim 1 is characterized in that,

Card re-director comprises the card circulator, be used to make card to center on its major axis rotation, described card circulator is formed at first processed this card that receives afterwards of card, and with this card around its major axis Rotate 180 degree, then it is back to described feed path to be sent to described processor.

10. system according to claim 1 is characterized in that,

Card processors be a kind of two-sided card processors and

Card re-director comprises multi-functional card circulator, this multi-functional card circulator is configured to receive card and this card is rotated to a position around its major axis, card is parallel to described horizontal feed path and is oriented to be conducted to described printing machine along described feed path in this position, so that handle described first, described card circulator also is formed at described first processed this card that receives afterwards of card, and, then it is back to described horizontal feed path so that be sent to described card processors with its Rotate 180 degree.

11. a vertical compact card imaging system comprises:

Card printer, it is positioned on the horizontal card feed path and is formed at relative first and second of rectangular card with major axis and minor axis goes up printing word or image, and described major axis is along described card feed path orientation;

The card feeder, it is arranged to card is conducted on the described card feed path of upstream of described card printer, and described card feeder comprises:

A. be used to keep the chamber of vertical card stack, every card is supported on the long limit; With

B. card feed mechanism, it is configured to continuously to take out card from an end of storehouse;

It is characterized in that described card imaging system also comprises:

The card circulator, it is configured to receive the card from described card feeder, and rotate this card around the axis parallel with described horizontal feed path, this card is diverted to a position, card is parallel to described horizontal feed path and is oriented to be conducted to described card printer along described card feed path in this position; With

Card transport, it is formed between described card printer and the described card circulator transfer card to and fro, described system is constructed such that card is sent to card printer by card transport from the card circulator, on this first, print at card, card is sent back to the card circulator by card transport then, center on its major axis Rotate 180 degree at this card, described then card transport is sent back to card described card printer once more, prints on this at card described second.

12. card imaging according to claim 11 system also comprises:

The card code device, it is located along described horizontal feed path between described card printer and described card circulator, described card transport further is configured to towards described card printer transfer card, then described card is sent back described card circulator, described card is being sent back in the process of described card circulator, described card code device is encoded to described card.

13. card imaging according to claim 12 system is characterized in that:

Described card code device comprises and is used for magnetic encoder that the lip-deep magnetic stripe of described card is encoded.

14. card imaging according to claim 13 system is characterized in that:

Card transport comprises the card drive roller that is used for described card is sent back described card circulator.

15. card imaging according to claim 14 system is characterized in that:

Described card drive roller and magnetic encoder transversely are arranged side by side in the direction of described horizontal feed path.

16. card imaging according to claim 13 system is characterized in that:

Card transport is restricted in the process of card code, so that the non-jitter coding to be provided.

17. one kind is used for method of printing on card, this card has the relative parallel surface and the configuration of rectangle, and this configuration comprises a pair of relative parallel long limit and a pair of relative parallel minor face, and described method comprises:

The mode that is parallel to the direction of first feed path with the minor face of card moves to second station from first stop along this first feed path with card;

At described second station, around the axis rotation card parallel with second feed path, card is diverted to a position, card is parallel to described second feed path in this position, and in the mode that the long limit of card is parallel to the direction of second feed path card is moved to the 3rd station from second station along second feed path; With

At described the 3rd station, one of them surface of card is printed.

18. method according to claim 17 is characterized in that:

After one of them surface of card was printed, the mode that is parallel to second feed path with the long limit of card moved back to described second station with card along described second feed path;

At second station, with described card upset;

The mode that is parallel to the direction in second path with the long limit of card moves to described the 3rd station with described card through upset along described second feed path; With

On another surface of card, print.

19. method according to claim 17 is characterized in that:

Second feed path is perpendicular to first feed path.

20. method according to claim 17 is characterized in that:

First feed path is vertical, and wherein second erect-position is in the below of described first stop; With

Second feed path is a level.

21. method according to claim 20 is characterized in that:

In the process that described card is moved along described first feed path, the surface of described card is by vertically directed.

22. method according to claim 20 is characterized in that:

In the process that described card is moved along described second feed path, the surface of described card is by flatly directed.

Images