EP1283781B1 - Tintenstrahlkartendrucker - Google Patents

Tintenstrahlkartendrucker Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1283781B1
EP1283781B1 EP01939527A EP01939527A EP1283781B1 EP 1283781 B1 EP1283781 B1 EP 1283781B1 EP 01939527 A EP01939527 A EP 01939527A EP 01939527 A EP01939527 A EP 01939527A EP 1283781 B1 EP1283781 B1 EP 1283781B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
card
printer
print
cantilevering
print position
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP01939527A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1283781A2 (de
Inventor
Gary M. Klinefelter
Kathleen Phillips
Martin A. Pribula
Jeffrey D. Upin
Gary A. Lenz
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Fargo Electronics Inc
Original Assignee
Fargo Electronics Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Fargo Electronics Inc filed Critical Fargo Electronics Inc
Publication of EP1283781A2 publication Critical patent/EP1283781A2/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1283781B1 publication Critical patent/EP1283781B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J13/00—Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, specially adapted for supporting or handling copy material in short lengths, e.g. sheets
    • B41J13/10—Sheet holders, retainers, movable guides, or stationary guides
    • B41J13/12—Sheet holders, retainers, movable guides, or stationary guides specially adapted for small cards, envelopes, or the like, e.g. credit cards, cut visiting cards

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to card printers used to print images on a surface of rigid or semi-rigid planar substrates. More particularly, the present invention relates to an ink jet card printer having full edge-to-edge printing capability on a surface of the substrate.
  • Card printers are used to print an image onto a surface of semi-rigid planar substrates.
  • the substrates include, but are not limited to, plastic cards, tokens, and other types of rigid or semi-rigid planar substrates.
  • card and “substrate” are intended to describe these and other rigid and semi-rigid substrates having various shapes and sizes.
  • the image that is to be printed on the card is typically formatted by application software running on the computer. Data relating to the formatted image is then provided to the printer in the form of a print job.
  • the printer processes the print job by printing the image onto a surface of the card.
  • the image is generally formed by combining textual and graphical portions received from host applications running on the computer or from other input devices such as keyboards, scanners, and digital cameras. For many applications, it is desirable that the printer provide full edge-to-edge printing capability to allow an image be recorded over an entire surface of the card.
  • thermal based printers that include a ribbon having primary color dye panels and a thermal printhead.
  • One type of thermal based printer is a dye sublimation printer, in which the thermal printhead heats the ribbon and causes dye on the color panels to be released and sublimate into a surface of the card.
  • these printers are only compatible with cards having a specialized surface into which the dye can sublimate.
  • these printers are generally incapable of providing full edge-to-edge printing due to problems caused by the ribbon adhering to the edges of the card.
  • Another type of thermal based printer prints the image onto a film, which is subsequently laminated to the card. This type of thermal based printer has full edge-to-edge printing capability, which is achieved by printing an image onto the film that is larger than the surface of the card on which it is to be laminated. Unfortunately, these printers are complex and often too expensive for small operations.
  • Ink jet card printers generally include an ink jet printhead and a transport mechanism.
  • the ink jet printhead is designed to form the desired image on a surface of a card by spraying colored ink onto portions of the surface that are presented to the ink jet printhead in a print position by the transport mechanism.
  • Typical transport mechanisms include a platen positioned immediately below the printhead and rollers positioned adjacent the printhead that pinch the card against the platen as it is transported through the print position.
  • Typical ink jet printers are generally incompatible with semi-rigid substrates.
  • ink jet card printers include modified transport mechanisms that avoid some of the problems described above. These printers allow printing on surfaces of semi-rigid cards by adapting the transport mechanism to transport the cards through the printer in a tray.
  • the trays generally include a depressed region that conforms to the shape of the card and exposes a top planar surface of the card on which an image is to be printed.
  • these printers are still unable to provide full edge-to-edge printing capability without contaminating the tray and other components of the transport mechanism. Additionally, these printers are significantly limited in the number of cards that can be processed without user intervention.
  • WO-A-99/04368 describes a camera with an internal printing system for printing out a processed image scene on a print media utilising printing ink stored in a single detachable module inside the camera.
  • US patent number 5,291,227 describes an ink jet printer including paper supply rollers for supplying paper and paper eject rollers for ejecting the paper supplied from the paper supply rollers, where the paper is transported along a paper transport direction in an approximately plain paper supply path between the paper supply and eject rollers.
  • a guide part for guiding the paper between the paper supply and eject rollers is included and a gap is formed between the guide part and the paper which is simultaneously transported by both the paper supply and eject rollers at least within the printing region. The gap decreases in the paper transport direction towards the paper eject rollers.
  • JP 07,178,988 describes an ink jet printer comprising a printing area where a printable sheet is conveyed substantially in a horizontal direction to a position opposite a discharge port for discharging ink.
  • a sheet ejection area has a first sheet conveyer for introducing the sheet from the printing area to the sheet ejection area and a second sheet conveyer for holding and ejecting the sheet substantially in the horizontal direction or above the substantially horizontal direction.
  • the present invention provides an ink jet identification card printer for edge-to-edge printing on a surface of a card according to claim 1 and a method for use with an ink jet card printer for providing full edge-to-edge printing on a surface of a card according to claim 11.
  • the present invention is directed to an ink jet card printer that includes an ink jet printhead and a transport mechanism.
  • the ink jet printhead is adapted to print on portions of a surface of the card that are presented in a print position along a print path.
  • the transport mechanism includes at least one cantilevering mechanism that is positioned to a side of the print position along the print path. The cantilevering mechanism is adapted to unobstructively present the surface of the card to the printhead in the print position.
  • FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of an ink jet card printer 20, in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.
  • Printer 20 generally includes an ink jet printhead 22, a transport mechanism 24, an input portion 26, an output portion 28, and a controller 30.
  • a personal computer (PC) 34 can communicate with controller 30 through input/output (I/O) or data bus 36.
  • Data bus 36 can be any suitable connection, such as a parallel cable, serial cable, or a Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable, through which data is provided to controller 30 contained within printer 20.
  • a user operates PC 34 to configure and format a print job using a software application. Data relating to the print job is then provided to controller 30 over data bus 36, and controller 30 uses the data to process the print job by controlling the various components of ink jet identification card printer 20.
  • Ink jet printhead 22 includes an ink cartridge 38 containing a supply of ink.
  • Printhead 22 is generally adapted to move along an axis that is directed into the paper on which FIG. 1 is provided by sliding along rod 40. The movement of printhead 22 is controlled by controller 30 and is actuated using conventional methods.
  • Printhead 22 is generally adapted to print on portions of surface 42 of card 21 that are presented to printhead 22 in a print position 44 along a print path 39, as illustrated in FIG. 2 .
  • Print position 44 is generally defined by a volume of space in which surface 42 of card 21 must be presented to ink jet printhead 22 to ensure accurate printing of the image onto surface 42.
  • Print path 39 ( FIG. 1 ) runs through the center of print position 44 and indicates a preferred position of surface 42 of card 21.
  • Print path 39 is typically a distance of 0.025-0.050 inches from printhead 22.
  • the volume of print position 44 includes a length L, a width W, and a depth D.
  • the length L is generally limited to the range of motion of printhead 22, indicated by arrows 45, along rod 40.
  • the width W is defined as the distance over which printhead 22 is capable of printing ink in a single pass across the substrate. Typical ink jet printheads 22 have print widths W of approximately 0.4 inches.
  • the depth D of print position 44 defines a distance from print path region within which ink can be properly transferred from printhead 22 to surface 42.
  • the depth D is typically approximately 0.01 inches. Therefore, surface 42 of card 21 is preferably positioned plus or minus 0.005 inches from print path 39.
  • the accuracy of the printing is further affected by changes in the distance separating surface 42 from printhead 22, which can lead to color variance within the printed image, and imprecise control of the movement of card 21 through the print position, which can lead to banding. Consequently, printhead 22 can accurately apply ink to only those portions of surface 42 of card 21 that are presented to printhead 22 in the print position 44 and at a substantially constant distance from printhead 22 as card 21 is precisely moved by transport mechanism 24 along print path 39.
  • transport mechanism 24 which allows printer 20 to have full edge-to-edge printing capability while avoiding problems of contaminating transport mechanism 24 with over-sprayed ink.
  • transport mechanism 24 is adapted to receive at least one card 21 from input portion 26 and present the entire surface 42 of card 21 to printhead 22 in the print position 44 along print path 39.
  • Surface 42 is generally defined by leading edge 48, trailing edge 50, and side edges 52 and 54, as shown in FIG. 2 .
  • printer 20 is able to print an image over the entire surface 42 of card 21 by spraying ink beyond the surface 42 of card 21.
  • Transport mechanism 24 includes first and second cantilevering mechanisms 62 and 64, respectively, as shown in FIG. 1 .
  • First and second cantilevering mechanisms 62 and 64 are positioned on input and output sides 66 and 68 of print position 44, respectively, to avoid contamination by ink sprayed by printhead 22 beyond the edges of card 21.
  • additional protection from contamination by the over-sprayed ink is provided by an ink over-spray collector 120 ( FIG. 1 ), which will be discussed in greater detail below.
  • FIGS. 3A-C show three illustrative positions card 21 is supported in, by first and second cantilevering mechanisms 62 and 64, as surface 42 of card 21 is moved through print position 44.
  • FIG. 3A shows first cantilevering mechanism 62 supporting card 21 in a first illustrative position in which a leading portion 56 of surface 42 is presented to printhead 22 in the print position as card 21 is moved along print path 39 in the direction indicated by arrow 46.
  • Leading portion 56 is generally defined as a portion of top surface 42 of card 21 between side edges 52 and 54 and including an area of surface 42 that includes leading edge 48 and extends toward trailing edge 50.
  • Printhead 22 is thereby provided unobstructed access to leading portion 56 of card 42 as leading portion 56 is cantilevered through print position 44. As a result, printhead 22 can transfer ink to the entire leading portion 56 of surface 42 including leading edge 48 and side edges 52 and 54.
  • FIG. 3B shows card 21 in the second illustrative position in which a middle portion 58 of surface 42 is presented to printhead 22 in print position 44 as transport mechanism 24 moves card 21 along print path 39 in the direction indicated by arrow 46.
  • Middle portion 58 is generally defined as the area of surface 42 located between side edges 52 and 54 and extending from the leading portion 56 toward trailing edge 50.
  • card 21 is supported by both first and second cantilevering mechanisms 62 and 64 and printhead 22 has unobstructed access to middle portion 58 as it is moved through print position 44.
  • printhead 22 can transfer ink to the entire middle portion 58 of surface 42 including side edges 52 and 54 as card 21 is supported in the second position.
  • FIG. 3C shows card 21 in a third illustrative position in which card 21 is supported by second cantilevering mechanism 64 and a trailing portion 60 of surface 42 is presented to printhead 22 in the print position 44 as card 21 is moved along print path 39 in the direction indicated by arrow 46.
  • Trailing portion 60 is generally defined as the area of surface 42 between side edges 52 and 54 and extending from trailing edge 50 to middle portion 58.
  • printhead 22 has unobstructed access to trailing portion 60 as it is moved through print position 44.
  • printhead 22 can transfer ink to the entire trailing portion 60 of surface 42 including side edges 52 and 54 and trailing edge 50 of card 21.
  • Each of the cantilevering mechanisms 62 and 64 include guide members 70, which are used to perform the desired cantilever support function.
  • the main function of the guide members 70 is to maintain card 21 in a substantially level plane that is parallel to surface 42 of card 21 and print path 39 as card 21 travels through print position 44.
  • Guide member 70 can take on many different forms and still provide the desired cantilever support function aspect of the present invention. Several examples of suitable guide members 70 and the cantilevering mechanisms that they form will be discussed in greater detail below.
  • cantilevering mechanisms 62 and 64 include guide members 70 in the form of a pair of upper guide rollers 72 and a lower guide roller 74 as shown in FIGS. 3A-C.
  • Upper guide rollers 72 are spaced apart along print path 39 and lower guide roller 74 is positioned to pinch card 21 against the upper guide rollers 72 and transport card 21 along print path 39 in the direction indicated by arrow 46.
  • Each cantilevering mechanism 62 and 64 is capable of cantilevering card 21 through print position 44 by stabilizing card 21 in a plane running parallel to surface 42 of card 21 and print path 39.
  • a card 21 that is received by first cantilevering mechanism 62 from input portion 26 is pinched between upper guide rollers 72A and 72B and lower guide roller 74 and driven into the first position, as illustrated in FIG. 3A .
  • leading edge 48 engages output side upper guide roller 72C and lower guide roller 74 of second cantilevering mechanism 64
  • card 21 is pinched therebetween and drawn forward along print path 39 under output side upper guide roller 72D, thereby placing card 21 in the second position where it is held by both first and second cantilevering mechanism 62 and 64, as illustrated in FIG. 3B .
  • trailing edge 50 of card 21 is released from first cantilevering mechanism 62, card 21 is in the third position and trailing portion 60 is supported in print position 44 by second cantilevering mechanism 64, as illustrated in FIG. 3C .
  • Lower guide roller 74 of the first and second cantilevering mechanism 62 and 64 is preferably motorized to drive card 21 along print path 39 using a motor (not shown), in accordance with conventional methods.
  • Surface 76 of lower guide member 74 is preferably formed of a compressible material, such as rubber, to assist in the gripping and pinching of card 21 against upper guide rollers 72. Proper grip of card 21 is necessary to provide precise control of the movement of card 21 through print position 44.
  • the force applied against card 21 as it is pinched can be selected by choosing an appropriate rubber coating and adjusting the distance separating lower guide roller 74 and upper guide roller 72. Alternatively, the position of roller 74 can be biased toward upper guide roller 72 with springs in accordance with conventional methods.
  • bushings 75 are used to support upper guide rollers 72 and lower guide roller 74 as shown in FIG. 4 .
  • Each bushings 75 can be mounted to a suitable side wall (not shown) of transport mechanism 24.
  • Bushing 75 provides for tight tolerances of the spatial relationship between upper guide rollers 72 and lower guide roller 74 due to its unitary construction.
  • Bushings 75 can adjust the angle at which card 21 is directed along print path 39 by adjusting the angle at which bushings 75 are mounted to the side walls of transport mechanism 24.
  • Those skilled in the art will recognize that many other different methods can be used to mount guide members 70 of transport mechanism 24 to ensure that surface 42 of card 21 is properly positioned within print position 44 as card 21 is moved along print path 39.
  • Upper guide rollers 72 are preferably formed of steel and are cylindrical in shape as shown in FIG. 4 .
  • Surface 78 which contacts top surface 42 of card 21, can be coated with a non-stick coating such as TeflonTM to prevent contamination of surface 42.
  • FIG. 5 is a simplified perspective view of another embodiment of upper guide roller 72, which includes side wheels 80 connected by axle 82.
  • Each side wheel 80 includes an inner guide surface 84.
  • the distance separating inner guide surfaces 84 is substantially the same as a width of card 21 measured between side edges 52 and 54 ( FIG. 2 ).
  • This embodiment of upper guide roller 72 limits the ability of card 21 to stray sideways as it travels along print path 39 resulting in more precise positioning of surface 42 of card 21 in the print position 44.
  • Alternative configurations of the first and second cantilevering mechanisms 62 and 64, utilizing guide rollers 72 and 74, include reversing the positions of the upper and lower guide rollers 72 and 74 as well as using multiple guide rollers 72, such as a second pair of guide rollers 72 to replace lower guide roller 74. It may be of particular benefit to reverse the position of upper guide roller 72 and lower guide roller 74 of second cantilevering mechanism 64 in order to provide early support of card 21 by upper guide roller 72C ( FIG. 3A ) as it is moved into the second position.
  • FIGS. 6A and 6B show top and front views, respectively, of another embodiment of guide members 70 that are used to form first or second cantilevering mechanisms 62 and 64.
  • guide members 70 are grooved guide wheels 86, each of which includes a groove 88 that substantially conforms to the edges 52 and 54 of card 21, as shown in FIG. 5B . Outer edges 90 can be beveled away from card 21 to more easily receive a card 21.
  • grooved guide wheels 86 can be formed of a compressible material to enhance their ability to grip a card 21 and provide precise control of the movement of card 21 through print position 44. Grooved guide wheels 86 are further aided in their ability to grip a card 21 by the typically rounded corners 87 ( FIG.
  • Grooved guide wheels 86 are positioned to pinch card 21 and are adapted to provide the desired cantilevering function by supporting card 21 at edges 52 and 54 within groove 88. At least one of the grooved guide wheels 86 is motorized to drive card 21 in the desired direction by rotating about axis 94.
  • grooved guide wheels 86 have a sufficient diameter and groove 88 has a shape to allow a single pair of the guide wheels 86 to support card 21 in the first position ( FIG. 3A ) when used as a first cantilevering mechanism 62, and in the third position ( FIG. 3B ), when used as a second cantilevering mechanism 64.
  • multiple grooved guide wheels 86 can be used to ensure proper support of card 21.
  • FIGS. 7A and 7B show side and front views, respectively, of a cantilevering mechanism 62 or 64 utilizing yet another example of a guide member 70 that is capable of providing the desired cantilevering function to position a card 21 in the first, second and third positions described above.
  • an upper guide member 70 includes a plurality of flexible finger-like projections 96 that pinch card 21 between a non-stick bottom surface 98 of projections 96 and lower guide roller 74.
  • This embodiment of guide member 70 generally includes front and back projections 96, that perform similarly to upper guide rollers 72, shown in FIGS. 3A-3C .
  • Fingers 96 can be continuous in width (i.e., into the paper of FIG. 7A ) and extend substantially across card 21 between side edges 52 and 54, or be formed of a plurality of front and back projections 96, which are spaced apart between side edges 52 and 54 of card 21, as shown in FIG. 7B .
  • FIG. 8 shows yet another embodiment of guide member 70 for use with cantilevering mechanisms 62 and 64 of the present invention.
  • conveyor belt 100 is used as a lower guide member 70, which performs a similar function as lower guide roller 74 ( FIGS. 3A-3C ).
  • Conveyor belt 100 includes belt 102 on which card 21 is supported.
  • Belt 102 is driven by rollers 104, at least one of which is motorized to drive belt 102 in the desired direction using conventional methods.
  • An upper guide member 70 shown here as upper guide rollers 72, acts to pinch card 21 against belt 102 and a roller 104 to provide the support necessary to cantilever card 21 in the first or third positions discussed above.
  • input portion 26 is positioned adjacent transport mechanism 24 and is adapted to supply at least one card at a time to transport mechanism 24.
  • Input portion 26 includes a supply of cards 21, which can be stored in a container 106.
  • Container 106 can be in the form of a card cartridge, that can be plugged into an appropriate slot of input portion 26 to facilitate easy loading of the supply of cards.
  • container 106 includes a bottom slot 108 that is sized to allow a single card 21 to pass through and thereby prevent undesirable misfeeds.
  • Container 106 can also be tilted to splay cards 21 contained therein and cause leading edge 48 of the bottom card 21 to extend through slot 108, as shown in FIG. 1 .
  • a feeding mechanism 110 is adapted to retrieve a card 21 from container 106 at slot 108 and transfer the card 21 to transport mechanism 24 where it is received by first cantilevering mechanism 62.
  • Feeding mechanism 110 can include pinch roller pairs 112 and 114, which are driven by a motor (not shown) using conventional methods.
  • Pinch rollers 112 are adapted to retrieve a card 21 from the supply of cards stored in container 106 through slot 108. The retrieved card 21 is then handed off to pinch rollers 114, which provide the retrieved card 21 to transport mechanism 24.
  • first and second cantilevering mechanisms 62 and 64 are preferably spaced from print position 44 a suitable distance (e.g., 0.3-.0.6 inches) to avoid contamination by the over-sprayed ink.
  • printer 20 includes an ink over-spray collector 120 positioned as close as possible to print position 44 without hindering the transport of card 21 and opposite printhead 22 as shown in FIG. 1 .
  • FIGS. 9A and 9B show cross-sectional views of various embodiments of ink over-spray collector 120 in accordance with the present invention.
  • Ink over-spray collector 120 generally includes a trough 122, which is preferably wider than the width W of print position 44 and longer than the distance separating side edges 52 and 54 of card 21 ( FIG. 2 ).
  • Trough 122 can contain an ink-absorbing material 124 to soak up the ink that comes into contact with it.
  • several layers 124A-124E of the ink-absorbing material 124 can be positioned in trough 122.
  • a top layer 124A of ink-absorbing material can be removed and discarded when it becomes saturated with ink to reveal the next layer 124B of ink-absorbing material.
  • the embodiment of ink over-spray collector 120 depicted in FIG. 9B includes projections 126, which act to diffuse and trap over-sprayed ink to reduce the potential for contamination of bottom side 128 ( FIG. 1 ) of card 21 and further reduce the spread of over-sprayed ink to other components of printer 20.
  • the size, orientation, and number of projections 126 can be adjusted for best performance.
  • the material used to form projections 126 and base 130, from which they extend can include ink-absorbing materials for added absorption of over-sprayed ink.
  • Ink over-spray collector 120 can also be configured to have an electrical charge that is opposite the charge of ink that does not adhere to surface 42 of card 21, to attract circulating particles and improve the ability of ink over-spray collector 120 to collect over-sprayed ink.
  • Output portion 28 receives a printed card 21 from transport mechanism 24 and can include various components that are adapted to perform post-printing processing of printhead card 21.
  • FIG. 10 is a simplified side view of output portion 28, which illustrates several optional components that could form output portion 28. These components include a drying device 132, an encoder 134, a card flipper 136, a laminator 138, an embosser 140, and an output hopper 142 for collecting and stacking printed cards 21.
  • Output portion 28 can include one or more of these components as needed.
  • Drying device 132 is adapted to dry ink that is printed onto card 21. Drying device 152 can be positioned as desired along print path 39 within output portion 28. Drying device 132 can be a fan, a heater, an ultraviolet light source, or other type of drying device. Drying device 132 can also be a heated roller, such as that described in co-pending U.S. Application Serial Number 09/702,116 , entitled “INK JET IDENTIFICATION CARD PRINTER SYSTEM,” which is assigned to the assignee of the present application and is incorporated herein by reference.
  • Encoders 134A and 134B are adapted to encode data onto card 21 using conventional methods.
  • Encoder 134A can be a magnetic card encoder that is adapted to encode data onto a magnetic stripe (not shown) of card 21.
  • Encoder 134B can be configured to encode circuitry carried on card 21, such as that known in the industry as “smart card circuitry,” “card memory,” “card processor,” or “stored value circuitry.” In general, the electronic circuitry may be used to store additional information on identification card 21, beyond what is stored on the magnetic stripe.
  • the encoding of data onto card 21 using encoders 134A and 134B can be accomplished using conventional methods.
  • Card flipper 136 allows printer 20 to, for example, selectively move card 21 up into encoder 134A or down into encoder 134B.
  • Card flipper 136 can also flip card 21 such that bottom surface 128 ( FIG. 1 ) is facing upward to allow an image to be recorded on it by printhead 22.
  • card 21 is fed back to transport mechanism 24 using an appropriate feeding mechanism such as rollers 144, which are also adapted to retrieve card 21 from transport mechanism 24 and transport card 21 through output portion 128.
  • Card flipper 136 preferably avoids contacting the printed surface 42 of card 21 using, for example, pairs of grooved guide wheels 86, shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B .
  • Laminating station 138 is configured to apply a protective layer to card 21 to protect the printing on surface 42 from water, light, chemicals, abrasion and/or other elements or actions which may damage the printing on card 21.
  • laminating station 138 can apply a protective layer in the form of a spray-on sealant.
  • the protective layer is in the form of a laminate material 150, which is moved between a supply roll 152 to a take-up roll 154, past rollers 156 and heater 158.
  • Laminate material 150 preferably comprises a thermal transfer over-laminate film that is pressed against surface 42 of card 21 due to the application of pressure from platen 160.
  • laminate material 150 can comprise a plurality of individual laminates carried on a web. The individual laminates can be sized to fit edge-to-edge of card 21 to thereby eliminate a need to trim the laminate material once laminated to card 21.
  • Embosser 140 can be used to emboss a security mark onto surface 42 of card 21.
  • Embosser 140 includes an embossing roller 162 that applies the desired mark to surface 42 of card 21 using conventional methods.
  • transport mechanism 24 and input portion 26 can be modified such that multiple cards 21 can be processed simultaneously.
  • multiple cards 21 can be fed simultaneously to transport mechanism 24 by input portion 26 in a row wherein the leading edges 48 of the cards and the trailing edges 50 of the cards are aligned.
  • the primary limitation to the number of cards that can be fed in the row is the length L ( FIG. 2 ) of print position 44.
  • guide members 70 can take on many different forms and still provide the desired function of supporting card 21 in the first, second, and third positions.
  • guide members 70 can include a vacuum chuck that does not require the use of both upper and lower guide members to transport a card 21 through the print position in the manner described above.
  • guide members 70 can include a vacuum chuck that does not require the use of both upper and lower guide members to transport a card 21 through the print position in the manner described above.
  • the described embodiments of ink overspray collector 120 are merely examples of configurations that can perform the desired ink over-spray collection and many other suitable forms of ink over-spray collection are possible.

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Handling Of Cut Paper (AREA)
  • Ink Jet Recording Methods And Recording Media Thereof (AREA)

Claims (12)

  1. Tintentstrahl-Ausweiskartendrucker (20) zum Rand-zu-Rand Drucken auf einer Fläche (42) einer Karte (21), wobei der Drucker umfasst:
    einen Tintenstrahl-Druckkopf (22), der dafür ausgelegt ist, auf Teilen der Fläche der Karte zu drucken, welche in einer Druckstellung (44) entlang einer Druckbahn (39) präsentiert werden; und
    einen Transportmechanismus (24), umfassend einen ersten Cantilever-Mechanismus (62), der auf einer Eingangsseite (66) der Druckstellung positioniert ist und dazu konfiguriert ist, die Karte in einer ersten Stellung zu halten, in welcher ein voranlaufender Teil der Karte während des Druckens auf ihrer Oberfläche mittels Druckkopf durch die Druckstellung geführt wird.
  2. Drucker nach Anspruch 1, wobei der erste Cantilever-Mechanismus obere und untere Führungselemente (70) umfasst, welche wenigstens drei Haltepunkte an der Karte an Stellen vorsehen, welche zueinander entlang der Druckbahn versetzt sind.
  3. Drucker nach Anspruch 1, wobei der Transportmechanismus einen zweiten Cantilever-Mechanismus (64) umfasst, der an einer Ausgangsseite (68) der Druckstellung positioniert ist und dazu konfiguriert ist, die Karte in einer dritten Stellung zu halten, in der ein nachlaufender Teil der Karte während des Druckens auf ihrer Oberfläche mittels Druckkopf durch die Druckstellung geführt wird.
  4. Drucker nach Anspruch 3, wobei der erste und der zweite Cantilever-Mechanismus jeweils obere und untere Führungselemente (79) umfassen, die wenigstens drei Haltepunkte an der Karte an Stellen vorsehen, welche zueinander entlang der Druckbahn versetzt sind.
  5. Drucker nach Anspruch 3, wobei der erste und der zweite Cantilever-Mechanismus zusammenwirken, um die Karte in einer zweiten Stellung zu halten, in welcher ein mittlerer Teil der Oberfläche durch die Druckstellung bewegt wird.
  6. Drucker nach Anspruch 4, wobei die Führungselemente des ersten und zweiten Cantilever-Mechanismus gewählt sind aus der Gruppe, umfassend eine Führungsrolle (72 oder 74), ein Paar Seitenräder (80), mit Nut versehene Führungsräder (86) und ein Förderband (100).
  7. Drucker nach Anspruch 4, wobei einer von erstem und zweitem Cantilever-Mechanismus zwei obere Führungsrollen (72) und eine untere Führungsrolle (74) umfasst.
  8. Drucker nach Anspruch 4, wobei einer von erstem und zweitem Cantilever-Mechanismus zwei untere Führungsrollen (74) und eine obere Führungsrolle (72) umfasst.
  9. Drucker nach Anspruch 1, welcher ferner einen Karteneinsatz (106) umfasst, der an einer Eingangsseite der Druckstellung positioniert ist und einen Kartenvorrat aufweist.
  10. Drucker nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Karte einen festen oder halbfesten ebenen Träger umfasst.
  11. Verfahren für die Verwendung mit einem Tintenstrahl-Kartendrucker (20) zum Vorsehen von vollständigem Rand-zu-Rand Drucken auf einer Oberfläche (42) einer Karte (21), wobei der Tintenstrahldrucker einen Tintenstrsihl-Druckkopf (22) umfasst, der dafür ausgelegt ist, auf Teilen der Oberfläche zu drucken, welche in einer Druckstellung (44) präsentiert werden, wobei das Verfahren die folgenden Schritte umfasst:
    Cantilevern eines voranlaufenden Teils (56) der Karte, umfassend einen voranlaufenden Rand (48) der Karte, durch die Druckstellung; und
    Drucken auf der Oberfläche des voranlaufenden Teils der Karte während er mittels Cantilevern durch die Druckstellung bewegt wird.
  12. Verfahren nach Anspruch 11, umfassend:
    Cantilevern eines nachlaufenden Teils (60) der Karte, umfassend einen nachlaufenden Rand (50) der Karte, durch die Druckstellung; und
    Drucken auf der Oberfläche des nachlaufenden Teils der Karte während er mittels Cantilevern durch die Druckstellung bewegt wird.
EP01939527A 2000-05-26 2001-05-25 Tintenstrahlkartendrucker Expired - Lifetime EP1283781B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US20749400P 2000-05-26 2000-05-26
US207494P 2000-05-26
PCT/US2001/017146 WO2001092019A2 (en) 2000-05-26 2001-05-25 Ink jet card printer

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1283781A2 EP1283781A2 (de) 2003-02-19
EP1283781B1 true EP1283781B1 (de) 2008-02-13

Family

ID=22770804

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01939527A Expired - Lifetime EP1283781B1 (de) 2000-05-26 2001-05-25 Tintenstrahlkartendrucker

Country Status (8)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1283781B1 (de)
JP (1) JP2004512191A (de)
KR (1) KR20030007697A (de)
CN (1) CN1240552C (de)
AT (1) ATE385903T1 (de)
DE (1) DE60132765T2 (de)
ES (1) ES2300335T3 (de)
WO (1) WO2001092019A2 (de)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6758616B2 (en) 2000-01-21 2004-07-06 Fargo Electronics, Inc. Identification card printer
JP2004058337A (ja) * 2002-07-25 2004-02-26 Canon Ntc Inc 印刷装置
US6945524B2 (en) * 2002-09-05 2005-09-20 Fargo Electronics, Inc. Card singularization gate
CN107175922B (zh) * 2017-07-14 2018-06-19 重庆达娃实业有限公司 一种适应于手机表面喷墨的设备
US10759198B2 (en) * 2019-02-01 2020-09-01 Assa Abloy Ab Ink jet card printer having a card position sensor
US11027561B2 (en) * 2019-02-01 2021-06-08 Assa Abloy Ab Ink jet card printer having a dual belt card transport
CN110682708B (zh) * 2019-11-19 2021-09-24 南京莱贝尔特软件科技有限公司 一种高速证卡打印方法
CN113601987B (zh) * 2021-09-03 2023-02-21 北京世拓博图科技有限公司 卡式证件打印机

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5291227A (en) * 1991-05-17 1994-03-01 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Ink jet printer having improved paper transport mechanism
JPH07178988A (ja) * 1993-11-10 1995-07-18 Canon Inc インクジェット記録装置

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5980011A (en) * 1997-05-16 1999-11-09 Fargo Electronics, Inc. Identification card printer
JPH10337886A (ja) * 1997-06-10 1998-12-22 Canon Inc インクジェット記録装置
US6459495B1 (en) * 1997-07-15 2002-10-01 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd Dot center tracking in optical storage systems using ink dots
WO1999021713A1 (en) * 1997-10-24 1999-05-06 Fargo Electronics, Inc. Ink jet identification card printer with lamination station
JPH11265463A (ja) * 1998-03-16 1999-09-28 Toshiba Corp カード処理装置及び自動改札装置並びにカード処理方法
US6168259B1 (en) * 1998-10-09 2001-01-02 Eastman Kodak Company Printer for forming a full-width image on a receiver exclusive of a transverse side of the receiver, and method of assembling the printer
US6239817B1 (en) * 1998-10-20 2001-05-29 Hewlett-Packard Comapny Apparatus and method for printing borderless print image

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5291227A (en) * 1991-05-17 1994-03-01 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Ink jet printer having improved paper transport mechanism
JPH07178988A (ja) * 1993-11-10 1995-07-18 Canon Inc インクジェット記録装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE60132765D1 (de) 2008-03-27
ATE385903T1 (de) 2008-03-15
JP2004512191A (ja) 2004-04-22
KR20030007697A (ko) 2003-01-23
WO2001092019A2 (en) 2001-12-06
ES2300335T3 (es) 2008-06-16
DE60132765T2 (de) 2009-02-05
CN1240552C (zh) 2006-02-08
WO2001092019A3 (en) 2002-08-08
EP1283781A2 (de) 2003-02-19
CN1427775A (zh) 2003-07-02

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6685312B2 (en) Ink jet card printer
EP1371493B1 (de) Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Bildherstellung auf einer Karte
US20020036374A1 (en) Card processing apparatus
CN111516395B (zh) 卡片打印机、卡片输送器及其使用方法
CN111516394B (zh) 卡片打印机、卡片馈送器及使用卡片馈送器的方法
US11642880B2 (en) Ink jet printer overspray techniques
EP1283781B1 (de) Tintenstrahlkartendrucker
JPH0818450B2 (ja) サ−マルプリンタ
US8834046B2 (en) Inverted reverse-image transfer printing
KR20070013501A (ko) Ｔｐｈ를 채용하는 화상형성장치
EP0835739A2 (de) Vorrichtung zum Beschichten von Datenaufzeichnungsträgern
US20080219735A1 (en) Printhead Assembly for a Credential Production Device
US20040146329A1 (en) Printer with reverse image sheet
JP2004291482A (ja) 画像形成装置及びそのキャップ装置
KR20030057914A (ko) 과자 인쇄용 잉크젯 프린터
JPH11151822A (ja) 記録装置
JP5874224B2 (ja) 記録装置
JP4935021B2 (ja) 印刷装置
KR200274629Y1 (ko) 과자 인쇄용 잉크젯 프린터
JP5821344B2 (ja) 搬送装置、記録装置、及び搬送方法
JP2011178007A (ja) プリンタ
JPH045059A (ja) 印刷装置
JP2007118305A (ja) インクジェット記録装置
JPH0414465A (ja) 印刷装置
JPH03132376A (ja) 記録装置のシート搬送装置

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20021122

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: KLINEFELTER, GARY, M.

Inventor name: PHILLIPS, KATHLEEN

Inventor name: LENZ, GARY, A.

Inventor name: UPIN, JEFFREY, D.

Inventor name: PRIBULA, MARTIN, A.

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 60132765

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20080327

Kind code of ref document: P

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2300335

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20080213

NLV1 Nl: lapsed or annulled due to failure to fulfill the requirements of art. 29p and 29m of the patents act
PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20080213

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20080213

ET Fr: translation filed
PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20080714

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20080213

Ref country code: DK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20080213

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20080513

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MC

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20080531

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20081114

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20080531

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20080531

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20080526

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CY

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20080213

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: 732E

Free format text: REGISTERED BETWEEN 20100218 AND 20100224

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: TP

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20100329

Year of fee payment: 10

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20080525

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20100525

Year of fee payment: 10

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20100611

Year of fee payment: 10

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: TR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20080213

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20100519

Year of fee payment: 10

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20100521

Year of fee payment: 10

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20080514

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20110525

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

Effective date: 20120131

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20110525

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 60132765

Country of ref document: DE

Effective date: 20111201

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20110531

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: PC2A

Owner name: HID GLOBAL CORPORATION

Effective date: 20120604

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: PC2A

Owner name: HID GLOBAL CORPORATION

Effective date: 20120615

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20110525

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20121116

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20110526

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20111201