JP5405987B2 - Card printer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a card printer having a double-sided printing mode for performing printing on both sides of a card by inverting the front and back sides of the card.

  In general, a card printer having a duplex printing mode for printing on both sides of a card is known, and a card transport system in this type of card printer includes an inversion processing unit that inverts the front and back sides of the card. ing.

  Conventionally, as such a reversal processing unit, a card reversing and conveying apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. In the same Document 1, a card member is first printed and recorded by thermal transfer, and the card For the purpose of printing and recording on the other surface by thermal transfer, a card member that can be printed and recorded on both the front and back surfaces, a rectangular inversion plate portion on which the card member can be placed, and this A rotating member attached to the reversing plate portion and rotatable about the axis along the longitudinal direction of the reversing plate portion. The card member printed and recorded on the surface and conveyed onto the reversing plate portion is rotated. A configuration is disclosed in which the sheet is reversed together with the reversing plate portion by the rotation of the axis of the member, and conveyed to the outside for printing and recording the back surface.

JP 2003-252487 A

  However, the card printer provided with the above-described conventional card reverse conveying device has the following problems.

  First, since a card printer normally needs to perform printing at an accurate position of the card, a correction mechanism having a skew roller mechanism and a side guide for correcting the position and angle of the card in front of the printing unit. However, in a card printer having a duplex printing mode for printing on both sides of the card, it is necessary to return the inverted card to the front of the correction mechanism when printing on the back side. In this case, a card hopper unit (card supply unit) that accommodates the loaded cards is disposed in front of the correction mechanism unit, so that an interval that allows at least one card is allowed between the card hopper unit and the correction mechanism unit. Therefore, it is easy to increase the size of the entire card printer.

  Second, at the time of printing on the back side, it is necessary to return the inverted card to the front of the correction mechanism unit, so that the total distance for transporting the card tends to be long. For this reason, the printing time per sheet tends to be long, and there is a limit to realizing high-speed printing by shortening the printing time, and the card transport distance becomes long, which is unnecessary for precision cards such as IC cards. Stress is applied and the printed surface of the card is easily soiled.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a card printer that solves such problems in the background art.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is transported with a bidirectional transport mechanism unit 2 capable of transporting a card C with respect to all or a part of the forward direction (transport direction) Df or the reverse direction Dr. The print processing unit 3 for printing on the card C, the reversal processing unit 4 for reversing the front and back surfaces of the card C printed on one side by the print processing unit 3, and the card C printed by the print processing unit 3 are discharged. When the card printer 1 including the card discharge unit 5 is configured, a skew roller mechanism 6r that sends the conveyed card C in a diagonal forward direction Dfs with respect to the transport direction Df and forward of the print processing unit 3 is provided. The first correcting means 6 having a side guide 6s that abuts on the card C conveyed from the skew roller mechanism 6r and corrects the position and the angle, and the reversing portion 4r of the reversing processing unit 4 in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction Df. The card C is conveyed in the conveyance direction Df at the time of non-reversing, and is supported at the time of reversal with the supporting shaft 4s as a fulcrum by supporting it via the left and right support shaft 4s inclined at a predetermined angle Rs. And a second correcting means 7 configured to be able to correct the position and angle by bringing the card C into contact with all or a part of the side guide 6s by feeding it in an obliquely reverse direction Drs with respect to the transport direction Df. And

  In this case, according to a preferred aspect of the invention, the reversing processing unit 4 includes at least two transport roller mechanisms 11 disposed at the front and rear, which also serve as a decurling mechanism 4rd for correcting warpage of the card C and a transport mechanism 4rt for transporting the card C. 12 can be provided. Also, a forward conveyance process for controlling the bidirectional conveyance mechanism unit 2 to convey the card C in the forward direction Df, a printing process for controlling the print processing unit 3 to perform printing on the conveyed card C, and a reversal processing unit 4 Is controlled to reverse the card C printed on one side and sent in the reverse direction Dr. Reverse transfer processing to control the bidirectional transfer mechanism unit 2 to transfer the card C in the reverse direction Dr. Reverse processing unit 4 can be provided so as to perform card ejection processing for controlling the card 4 and sending out the card C printed on both sides to the card ejection unit 5. The print processing unit 3 can be provided with a thermal transfer printing unit 3t that performs printing on at least the printing surface of the card C. On the other hand, the second correcting means 7 can be provided with an auxiliary side guide 13 that abuts on the card C sent out from the inverted part 4r during reversal and corrects the position and angle, and the inverted part 4r during reversal. A left-right displacement mechanism 14 that is offset by a predetermined stroke Ls in the axial direction of the support shaft portion 4s can be provided.

  The card printer 1 according to the present invention having such a configuration has the following remarkable effects.

  (1) Since the reverse processing unit 4 can also function as a skew roller, the correction process for the card C can be performed during conveyance in the reverse direction Dr. Therefore, the card C can be transported in the reverse direction Dr only in the middle of the first correction means 6, that is, in the middle of the side guide 6s, and does not need to be returned to the front of the first correction means 6. Thereby, since the space | interval between a card hopper part (card supply part) and the 1st correction means 6 can be shortened, even when it is a case where double-sided printing mode is provided, printing precision (printing position precision) can be improved. In addition, the overall size of the card printer 1 can be reduced.

  (2) Since the entire distance for transporting the card C can be shortened, the entire printing time can be shortened. Accordingly, it is possible to contribute to the realization of high-speed printing by shortening the printing time, and the conveyance distance of the card C can be shortened. Therefore, there is a problem that unnecessary stress is applied to a precision card such as an IC card and the printing surface of the card C. It is possible to reduce defects that are easily contaminated.

  (3) According to a preferred embodiment, the reversal processing unit 4 is provided with at least two transport roller mechanisms 11 and 12 disposed at the front and rear, which also serve as a decurling mechanism 4rd for correcting warpage of the card C and a transport mechanism 4rt for transporting the card C. In particular, even when the thermal transfer printing unit 3t that easily warps the card C is provided, the reversal processing unit 4 that also serves as the decurling mechanism 4rd can correct the warp. Can be secured.

  (4) According to a preferred embodiment, the bidirectional conveyance mechanism unit 2 controls the forward conveyance process for conveying the card C in the forward direction, and the printing process unit 3 controls the printing process unit 3 to perform printing on the conveyed card C. , Reversing process for controlling the reversing processing unit 4 to reverse the card C printed on one side and feeding it in the reverse direction Dr, reverse transport for controlling the bidirectional transport mechanism unit 2 to transport the card C in the reverse direction Dr If the control unit 8 that performs the processing and the card discharge process of sending the printed card C to the card discharge unit 5 by controlling the reversal processing unit 4 is provided, the functions of both double-sided printing and single-sided printing are smoothly executed. be able to.

  (5) According to a preferred embodiment, if the second correction means 7 is provided with an auxiliary side guide 13 that abuts against the card C sent out from the inverted part 4r during reversal and corrects the position and angle, the first correction means Since the preliminary correction processing can be performed by the auxiliary side guide 13 before being conveyed to the sixth side guide 6s, the card C can be more smoothly and accurately corrected in position and angle. .

  (6) According to a preferred embodiment, if the second correcting means 7 is provided with a left / right displacement mechanism 14 that offsets the reversal portion 4r by a predetermined stroke Ls in the axial direction of the support shaft portion 4s during reversal, the card C can be loaded during reversal. Since the position in the left-right direction can be set in addition to the angle when sending in the diagonally reverse direction Drs, the position and angle when transporting in the diagonally reverse direction Drs can be further optimized. A good correction process can be realized.

The typical plane block diagram of the card printer which concerns on suitable embodiment of this invention, Schematic side view of the card printer, A plan view showing a configuration of a reversing processing unit in the card printer, The side view which shows the structure of the inversion processing part in the card printer in principle, A flowchart for explaining the overall operation of the card printer; A schematic plan view showing a partial configuration for explaining the operation (function) of the card printer, A schematic plan view showing a partial configuration for explaining another operation (function) of the card printer; The typical plane block diagram which shows the structure of the 2nd correction means in the card printer which concerns on the modified embodiment of this invention, The plane block diagram containing the typical partial cross section which shows the structure of the inversion process part in the card printer which concerns on other modified embodiment of this invention,

  Next, preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be given and described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, the configuration of the card printer 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  1 and 2 show the overall configuration of the card printer 1. The card printer 1 includes, as main components, a card supply unit 21, a print processing unit 3, an inversion processing unit 4, and a card discharge unit 5 from the supply side of the card C, and includes a bidirectional transport mechanism unit 2 and a controller box Uc. Prepare. Further, a first correction means 6 is provided in front of the print processing unit 3 in the transport direction. The illustrated card printer 1 constitutes a thermal transfer printer. Note that the card C to be printed includes various cards such as a general credit card, and various name cards such as a name plate that is suspended from a neck that is about twice as large as a credit card. Can be applied.

  In this case, the card supply unit 21 includes a card hopper unit 22 and a card delivery mechanism 23 as main parts. The card hopper portion 22 is arranged on the upper surface of the flat base 24 and can accommodate a plurality of cards C in a stacked state. Therefore, the upper end 22u of the card hopper 22 serves as a slot for the cards C ... whose entire surface is open. The card hopper unit 22 is configured to accommodate at least the maximum size of the cards C to be printed, and the left and right side plate portions can be slid in the left-right direction to adapt from the minimum size to the maximum size of the card C to be printed. . In addition, a card delivery mechanism 23 is attached to the front part of the card hopper unit 22, and the delivery roller 23 r disposed below the card hopper unit 22 is rotated, so that the card group Co accommodated in the card hopper unit 2 is rotated. The lower cards can be sent to the print processing unit 3 one by one. In addition, 23g is a gate mechanism that allows only one card C to pass through, 22w is a weight mechanism having a weight placed on the uppermost card of the card group Co, and 22s is a card group accommodated in the card hopper unit 22. An upper card group holding mechanism that holds a card group above the card C positioned at a predetermined height in Co, reduces a load applied to the lower side (including removal), or releases the holding thereof. Show.

  A print processing unit 3 that performs printing on the conveyed card C is disposed in front of the card supply unit 21 in the card feeding direction (second stage). The print processing unit 3 includes a thermal transfer printing unit 3t that includes a primary transfer unit 3tr and a secondary transfer unit 3ts. The primary transfer unit 3tr includes a ribbon unit having a ribbon supply reel 72 around which a full-color ink ribbon 71 is wound, and a ribbon take-up reel 73 around which the ink ribbon 71 fed out from the ribbon supply reel 72 is wound. The take reel 73 is rotationally driven by a ribbon unit drive unit. The ribbon unit is detachable (replaceable) with respect to the main body of the card printer 1. The primary transfer unit 3tr includes a thermal head 75 that abuts on the ink ribbon 71 fed out from the ribbon supply reel 72 and primarily transfers a print image to a transfer sheet 76 described later. On the other hand, the secondary transfer unit 3ts brings the transfer sheet 76 into contact with the transfer sheet supply reel 77 for feeding out the transparent transfer sheet 76 and the printing surface of the card C by a predetermined pressure and temperature, and prints the print image on the transfer sheet 76. A transfer roller 78 for secondary transfer onto the printing surface of the card C, a transfer sheet take-up reel 79 for winding the transfer sheet 76, and a plurality of guide rollers for guiding the transfer sheet 76 are provided. The sheet take-up reel 79 is driven to rotate by a transfer unit driving unit. Therefore, the transfer sheet 76 can be selectively transferred in the forward direction (forward direction) or the reverse direction (rear direction). The transfer roller 78 has a built-in heater, the surface of the transfer roller 78 is heated to a predetermined temperature, and the peripheral surface of the transfer roller 78 abuts on a platen roller 80 disposed below.

  The bi-directional transport mechanism unit 2 can transport the card C to all or part of the forward direction (transport direction) Df or the reverse direction Dr, and is transported by a transport roller mechanism disposed at an appropriate position. . Reference numeral 52 denotes a transport roller mechanism disposed between the transfer roller 78 and the reversal processing unit 4, and includes an upper roller 52u and a lower roller 52d. Further, a card discharge unit 5 that discharges the card C printed by the print processing unit 3 is disposed at the final stage of the bidirectional transport mechanism unit 2. The card discharge unit 5 is disposed in front (rear stage) of the reversal processing unit 4 and includes a discharge roller mechanism 91 having a pair of discharge rollers 91u and 91d, and receives a card C discharged from the discharge roller mechanism 91. A tray 92 is provided.

  On the other hand, the 1st correction means 6, the inversion processing part 4, and the controller box Uc comprise the principal part of this invention, and are demonstrated concretely below.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the first correction means 6 is disposed between the card supply unit 21 and the transfer roller 78 in front of the print processing unit 3, and the first correction means 6 is a bidirectional transport mechanism. Part of part 2 is configured. The first correction means 6 includes a flat transport plate 31, and a skew roller mechanism 6 r that feeds the card C transported from the card supply unit 21 in an oblique forward direction Dfs with respect to the transport direction Df. And a side guide 6s that contacts the card C fed from the skew roller mechanism 6r and corrects the position and angle of the card C. In this case, the side guide 6 s is provided on the upper surface of the transport plate 31, and has a correction surface 32 that is parallel to the transport direction Df, and introduction guide surfaces 32 f and 32 r that are bent before and after the correction surface 32.

  The skew roller mechanism 6r includes an upper roller 6ru disposed on the transport plate 31 and a lower roller 6rd disposed below the upper roller 6ru. Accordingly, an opening for exposing the peripheral surface of the lower roller 6 rd on the transport plate 31 is formed in the transport plate 31. Further, on the transport plate 31 in front of the side guide 6s, a transport roller that transports the corrected card C in the forward direction Df or transports the card C sent from the reversing processing unit 4 described later in the reverse direction Dr. A mechanism 51 is provided. The transport roller mechanism 51 also includes an upper roller 51u and a lower roller 51d.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the reversal processing unit 4 includes a unit-to-be-reversed unit 4r, and the reversed unit 4r is inclined in the left-right direction inclined by a predetermined angle Rs with respect to the direction perpendicular to the transport direction Df. It is supported via the support shaft 4s. In this case, the support shaft portion 4s includes a left shaft 41p provided on the left side of the inverted portion 4r and a right shaft 41q provided on the right side of the inverted portion 4r, and right bearings provided on the pair of left and right chassis 42p and 42q, respectively. 43p and the left bearing 43q are rotatably supported. At this time, an axis Ka passing through the centers of the right side 41p and the right axis 41q is set to be inclined by a predetermined angle Rs with respect to a right angle line Ks perpendicular to the transport direction Df. Accordingly, the axes of the left shaft 41p, the right shaft 41q, the left bearing 43p, and the right bearing 43q are arranged to be inclined so as to coincide with the axis Ka. A reversing motor 44 is disposed on the chassis 42p side, and the rotation shaft of the reversing motor 44 and the left shaft 41p are connected by a rotation transmission mechanism 45 using an endless timing belt 45b. As a result, by driving and controlling the reversing motor 44, the non-reversing position Xs shown in FIG. 4A and the support shaft portion 4s rotated from the non-reversing position Xs by 180 [deg.] As a fulcrum are shown in FIG. It can be selectively positioned at the inversion position Xc shown in b). At this time, the size of the predetermined angle Rs is slight, and a specific setting is that when the portion to be reversed 4r is reversed, the card C is sent out in the diagonally reverse direction Drs with respect to the transport direction Df. A size is selected so that the position and angle can be corrected by bringing the card C into contact with all or part of the side guide 6s provided in the correction means 6.

  Further, the reversal part 4r includes a flat transport plate part 46, and the upper surface 46u of the transport plate part 46 is made to coincide with the height of the axis Ka at the non-reverse position Xs shown in FIG. In addition, two conveyance roller mechanisms 11 and 12 are arranged in the reversed part 4r. In this case, the two transport roller mechanisms 11 and 12 serve as a decurling mechanism 4rd for correcting the warp of the card C and a transport mechanism 4rt for transporting the card C. One transport roller mechanism 11 is disposed behind the transport plate section 46, that is, on the print processing section 3 side at the non-reverse position Xs, and the upper roller 11u disposed on the transport plate section 46 and the upper roller 11u. And the other transport roller mechanism 12 is disposed on the front side of the transport plate section 46, that is, on the card discharge section 5 side, and is disposed on the transport plate section 46. 12u and a lower roller 12d disposed below the upper roller 12u. The axes of the rollers 11u, 11d, 12u and 12d are parallel to the right angle line Ks. Therefore, an opening for exposing the peripheral surfaces of the lower rollers 11 d and 12 d on the transport plate 46 is formed in the transport plate 46. Further, the reversing portion 4r is provided with a conveying motor 47, and the rotation shaft of the conveying motor 47 and the shaft of the upper roller 11u are connected by a rotation transmission mechanism 48 using an endless timing belt 48b, and the upper roller The shaft of 11u and the shaft of the upper roller 12u are connected by a rotation transmission mechanism 49 using an endless timing belt 49b.

  As a result, if the part to be reversed 4r is set at the non-inverted position Xs in FIG. 4A, the part to be reversed 4r becomes the solid line position shown in FIG. By rotating 11 and 12, the card C can be transported in the transport direction Df, and the reversing motor 44 is driven to control the reversing portion 4r from the non-reversing position Xs to the support shaft portion 4s. 4 [deg.] And set at the reversal position Xc shown in FIG. 4B, the reversal portion 4r becomes the virtual line position shown in FIG. If the mechanisms 11 and 12 are rotated, the card C is sent out in an obliquely reverse direction Drs with respect to the transport direction Df, and the position and angle can be corrected by bringing the card C into contact with all or part of the side guide 6s. . The angle (direction) sent out in the oblique reverse direction Drs is twice the predetermined angle Rs described above with respect to the reverse direction Dr. Therefore, the side guide 6 s and the inversion processing unit 4 constitute the second correction means 7, and the side guide 6 s is shared by the first correction means 6 and the second correction means 7.

  On the other hand, the controller box Uc includes a control unit 8 having a control function related to the entire card printer 1. The control unit 8 controls at least the bidirectional conveyance mechanism unit 2 to forward the card C in the forward direction, and controls the print processing unit 3 to perform printing on the conveyed card C. A reversing process for controlling the reversing unit 4 to reverse the card C printed on one side and sending it in the reverse direction Dr, and a reverse transporting process for controlling the bidirectional transport mechanism unit 2 to transport the card C in the reverse direction Dr. , A card discharge process of sending the printed card C to the card discharge unit 5 by controlling the reverse processing unit 4 can be performed. In particular, as shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 8 includes a reversing processing unit control system 8 c that controls the reversing processing unit 4. The reversing motor 44 and the transport motor 47 described above are controlled by the reversing processing unit. Connect to control output of system 8c. Reference numerals 61 and 62 denote card sensors for detecting the conveyed card C, and each card sensor 61 and 62 is connected to a sensor input unit of the inversion processing unit control system 8c. By providing such a control unit 8, both functions of double-sided printing and single-sided printing can be smoothly executed.

  The control unit 8 (controller box Uc) has a computer function including a CPU, a memory, a power supply unit, and the like, and executes a series of sequence control in the inversion processing unit 4 and also performs overall control of the card printer 1. For this reason, a control program for realizing these controls is stored. Further, the controller box Uc is used by connecting to an external computer system using a general-purpose computer such as a personal computer. As a result, various print data for printing, for example, in the case of a name card, various print data such as name and photo are transferred from the database provided in the external computer system to the control unit 8 (controller box Uc). The

  Next, the operation of the card printer 1 according to the present embodiment will be described according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 with reference to FIGS.

  First, the card hopper unit 22 accommodates a required quantity (for example, 100 to 200) of cards C. Thus, the plurality of cards C (card group Co) accommodated in the card hopper unit 22 are in a stacked state. Next, when the operator turns on the start button, the printing process starts. When the start button is turned on, transfer preparation is first performed. In the transfer preparation, print data including character data to be printed and image (photo) data is supplied to the thermal head 75, and the ink ribbon 71 and the transfer sheet 76 are fed out from the ink ribbon 71 to the transfer sheet 76. The printed image is primarily transferred. In this case, since a plurality of different colors are arranged in order on the ink ribbon 71, the ink ribbon 71 is sequentially sent out in accordance with the color to be used, and the transfer sheet 76 has the number of times corresponding to the color to be used. Move back and forth. When the primary transfer process is completed, the transfer sheet 76 moves to the secondary transfer start position.

  When the transfer preparation is completed, the delivery roller 23r rotates to feed one card C located at the lowermost part in the card hopper 22 and the card C is transported in the forward direction Df by the bidirectional transport mechanism 2. The forward transfer process is performed (step S1). First, the card C is straightened by the first straightening means 6. That is, as shown in FIG. 6A, the card C enters the oblique roller mechanism 6r and is sent out in the oblique forward direction Dfs when it passes (step S2). Then, the card C sent out from the skew roller mechanism 6r enters the side guide 6s, the tip abuts against the correction surface 32, and the position and angle of the card C are corrected when passing through the correction surface 32. (Steps S3 and S4).

  Next, the card C whose position and angle have been corrected is sent to the print processing unit 3, and a printing process for printing on the surface of the conveyed card C is performed (step S5). That is, the print image transfer process is performed on the card C by the thermal transfer printing unit 3t. In this case, when the card C reaches a predetermined printing start position, the transfer sheet 76 is sent in accordance with the movement timing, and is primarily transferred to the transfer sheet 76 when the card C passes the transfer roller 78. The printed image is secondarily transferred (thermally transferred) to the printing surface of the card C. At this time, the transfer roller 76 presses the transfer sheet 76 against the printing surface of the card C at a predetermined pressure and temperature.

  Thereafter, the operation differs depending on whether the printing mode of the card printer 1 is set to the duplex printing mode or the simplex printing mode. Assume that the single-sided printing mode is set (selected). In this case, the printed card C passes through the transport roller mechanism 52 and passes through the part to be reversed 4r set at the non-inversion position Xs as shown in FIG. 6B (steps S6 and S7). . That is, a card discharge process for sending the printed card C to the card discharge unit 5 is performed. At this time, the card C is transported on the transport plate portion 46 by the transport roller mechanisms 11 and 12 constituting the transport mechanism 4rt, and the card C is transported by the transport roller mechanisms 11 and 12 configuring (also serving as) the decurling mechanism 4rd. Warpage is corrected. As described above, the reversal processing unit 4 includes at least two transport roller mechanisms 11 and 12 that serve both as a decurling mechanism 4rd for correcting the warpage of the card C and a transport mechanism 4rt for transporting the card C. Even when the thermal transfer printing unit 3t that is likely to be warped is provided in the card C, the reversal processing unit 4 that also serves as the decurling mechanism 4rd can correct the warping, and good quality for the card C can be ensured. Then, the card C that has passed through the reversed portion 4r enters the card discharge portion 5 and is placed on the receiving tray 92 via the discharge roller mechanism 91 as shown in FIGS. 7 (f) and 4 (a). It is discharged (steps S8 and S9). As a result, the printing of one card C in the single-sided printing mode is completed, and thereafter, the necessary number of printing processes are similarly performed.

  On the other hand, when the printing mode of the card printer 1 is set (selected) to the duplex printing mode, the following operation is performed. The card C whose surface is printed by the print processing unit 3 passes through the transport roller mechanism 52 and enters the reversal portion 4r set at the non-reverse position Xs as shown in FIG. Is detected by the card sensor 61, and control for stopping the conveyance of the card C is performed (steps S6 and S10). This state is shown in FIG. Next, the reversing motor 44 is driven and controlled, the reversing portion 4r rotates 180 [deg.] About the support shaft portion 4s, and the top and bottom of the reversing portion 4r are reversed, so that the reversing shown in FIG. The position Xc is set (step S11). This state is shown in FIG.

  Next, the conveyance motor 47 is driven and controlled, and a reversing process is performed in which the card C printed on one side is reversed and sent out in the diagonally reverse direction Drs (step S12). In this state, the transport roller mechanism 12 that feeds out the card C is inclined at a predetermined angle (Rs × 2) with respect to the direction perpendicular to the transport direction Df, so that the reversed card C is sent out in the diagonally reverse direction Drs. The card C sent out from the transport roller mechanism 12 is subjected to reverse transport processing in which the bidirectional transport mechanism 2 transports the card C in the reverse direction Dr. That is, the card C is transported in the reverse direction Dr by the transport roller mechanism 52 and the transport roller mechanism 51. The platen roller 80 is displaced to the lower release position, and the card C is allowed to pass. The card C sent out from the transport roller mechanism 51 enters the side guide 6s from the opposite direction as shown in FIG. 7D (step S13). At this time, the front end of the card C abuts on the introduction guide surface 32r and the correction surface 32 of the side guide 6s, and the position and angle of the card C are corrected when passing (step S14). That is, the correction process of the position and angle of the card C is performed by the second correction means 7. Then, when it reaches the predetermined backward stop position, it is detected by the card sensor 62, and control for stopping the conveyance of the card C is performed (step S15). This state is shown in FIG. In this case, since the correction processing by the second correction means 7 has already been performed, it is not necessary to return the card C to the front of the first correction means 6, that is, the front of the skew roller mechanism 6r as in the prior art. .

  As described above, in the card printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the reversing processing unit 4 can also function as the skew roller. Therefore, the correction process for the card C can be performed during conveyance in the reverse direction Dr. Therefore, the card C can be transported in the reverse direction Dr only in the middle of the first correction means 6, that is, in the middle of the side guide 6s, and does not need to be returned to the front of the first correction means 6. Thereby, since the space | interval between the card hopper part 22 (card supply part 21) and the 1st correction means 6 can be shortened, even when it is a case where double-sided printing mode is provided, printing accuracy (printing position precision) can be improved. In addition to this, the entire card printer 1 can be reduced in size. In addition, since the entire distance for transporting the card C can be shortened, the entire printing time can be shortened. Accordingly, it is possible to contribute to the realization of high-speed printing by shortening the printing time, and the conveyance distance of the card C can be shortened. Therefore, there is a problem that unnecessary stress is applied to a precision card such as an IC card and the printing surface of the card C. It is possible to reduce defects that are easily contaminated.

  At this time, the reversing motor 44 is driven and controlled, the reversing portion 4r rotates 180 [deg.] About the support shaft portion 4s, and the reversing portion 4r is in the non-reversing position shown in FIG. Return to Xs (step S16). Further, transfer preparation for the back surface is performed, print data including character data to be printed and image (photograph) data is supplied to the thermal head 75, and the ink ribbon 71 and the transfer sheet 76 are fed out from the ink ribbon 71. The print image is primarily transferred to the transfer sheet 76. When the primary transfer process is completed, the transfer sheet 76 moves to the secondary transfer start position.

  When the transfer preparation is completed, a forward conveyance process in which the card C is conveyed in the forward direction by the bidirectional conveyance mechanism unit 2 is performed (step S17). At this time, since the position and the angle of the card C are corrected, the card C is sent to the print processing unit 3 as it is, and a printing process for printing on the upper surface (back surface) of the card C to be conveyed is performed (step S18). That is, the print image transfer process is performed on the card C by the thermal transfer printing unit 3t. In this case, when the card C reaches a predetermined printing start position, the transfer sheet 76 is sent in accordance with the movement timing, and is primarily transferred to the transfer sheet 76 when the card C passes the transfer roller 78. The printed image is secondarily transferred (thermally transferred) to the printing surface of the card C. At this time, the transfer roller 76 presses the transfer sheet 76 against the printing surface of the card C at a predetermined pressure and temperature.

  Thereafter, the card C printed on both sides passes through the transport roller mechanism 52 and passes through the part to be reversed 4r set at the non-inversion position Xs as shown in FIG. 6B (step S7). . That is, a card discharge process for sending the printed card C to the card discharge unit 5 is performed. At this time, the transport roller mechanisms 11 and 12 constituting the transport mechanism 4rt are transported on the transport plate portion 46, and the warp of the card C is corrected by the transport roller mechanisms 11 and 12 configuring (also serving as) the decurling mechanism 4rd. The Then, the card C that has passed through the reversed portion 4r enters the card discharge portion 5 and is placed on the receiving tray 92 via the discharge roller mechanism 91 as shown in FIGS. 7 (f) and 4 (a). It is discharged (steps S8 and S9). As a result, the printing of one card C in the duplex printing mode is completed, and thereafter, the necessary number of printing processes are similarly performed.

  Next, a card printer 1 according to a modified embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the modified embodiment shown in FIG. 8, an auxiliary side guide 13 is added to the second correction means 7. That is, the auxiliary side guide 13 that is in contact with the card C sent out from the inverted part 4r and corrects the position and angle when the inverted part 4r is inverted is arranged between the inverted part 4r and the transport roller mechanism 52. It is set. The shape of the auxiliary side guide 13 can be basically formed in the same manner as the side guide 6s. However, since the auxiliary side guide 13 is used in an auxiliary manner, the length in the transport direction can be shorter than that of the side guide 6s.

  If such an auxiliary side guide 13 is provided, a preliminary correction process can be performed by the auxiliary side guide 13 before the card C is conveyed to the side guide 6 s of the first correction means 6. In 6s, the position and angle of the card C can be corrected more smoothly and accurately.

  The modified embodiment shown in FIG. 9 is obtained by adding a left / right displacement mechanism 14 that offsets the reversal portion 4r by a predetermined stroke Ls in the axial direction of the support shaft portion 4s when reversing. That is, when one of the right shafts 41q provided in the inverted portion 4r is rotatably supported by the right bearing 43q attached to the chassis 42q, the screw portion 14s is interposed between the right shaft 41q and the right bearing 43q, and the right shaft When rotating 41q by 180 [°], the right shaft 41q is configured to be offset by a predetermined stroke Ls. For this reason, the other left shaft 41p and the to-be-reversed portion 4r are coupled via the spline fitting portion 14c so that the left shaft 41p can be displaced relative to the to-be-reversed portion 4r in the axial direction. A spring 14x is interposed between the tip and the right bearing 43q to prevent rattling.

  If such a left-right displacement mechanism 14 is provided, the position in the left-right direction can be set in addition to the angle when the card C is sent out in the diagonally reverse direction Drs at the time of reversal, so the position and angle when transported in the diagonally reverse direction Drs Further optimization can be achieved, and an accurate and satisfactory correction process can be realized at the time of printing on the back side. 8 and 9, the same parts as those in FIGS. 1 to 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals to clarify the configuration, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment and modified embodiment were described in detail, this invention is not limited to such embodiment, It does not deviate from the summary of this invention in a detailed structure, shape, quantity, etc. It can be changed, added, or deleted arbitrarily. For example, the case where the reversal processing unit 4 is provided with at least two transport roller mechanisms 11 and 12 that serve as a decurling mechanism 4rd that corrects the warpage of the card C and a transport mechanism 4rt that transports the card C is provided. However, when printing on a thick card C that does not require decurling is used, the number of transport roller mechanisms may be one, or three or more transport roller mechanisms 11 may be provided. The configuration of the inversion processing unit 4 is not limited to the illustrated configuration, and can be replaced by another configuration that exhibits the same function (action). Furthermore, although the thermal transfer printing part 3t was illustrated as the printing part 3, the type of the printing part 3 is arbitrary.

  The card printer according to the present invention can be used for various card printers having a double-sided printing mode in which printing is performed on both sides of the card by inverting the front and back sides of the card. Various types of cards can be applied regardless of the size, thickness, and material of the card, and the card printer does not matter whether it is a single card printer or a card printer built in another device.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1: Card printer, 2: Bidirectional conveyance mechanism part, 3: Print processing part, 3t: Thermal transfer printing part, 4: Reversal processing part, 4r: Reversal part, 4s: A spindle part, 4rd: Decal mechanism, 4rt: Conveying mechanism, 5: Card discharge section, 6: First correcting means, 6r: Skew roller mechanism, 6s: Side guide, 7: Second correcting means, 8: Control section, 11: Conveying roller mechanism, 12: Conveying roller Mechanism, 13: Auxiliary side guide, 14: Left / right displacement mechanism, C: Card, Df: Forward direction (conveying direction), Dr: Reverse direction, Drs: Diagonal reverse direction, Rs: Predetermined angle, Ls: Predetermined stroke

Claims (6)

  A bidirectional transport mechanism that can transport the card to all or a part of the forward or reverse direction, a print processing unit that prints on the transported card, and a print processing unit printed on one side In a card printer comprising a reversing processing unit for reversing the front and back surfaces of a card and a card discharging unit for discharging a card printed by the printing processing unit, the transported card is transported in front of the printing processing unit. A first correcting means having a skew roller mechanism that feeds obliquely forward with respect to the direction and a side guide that contacts the card conveyed from the skew roller mechanism and corrects the position and angle; By supporting the reversing portion via a left and right support shaft inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the direction perpendicular to the transport direction, the card is transported in the transport direction when not reversed, and the support shaft A second correction means configured to feed the card in a direction opposite to the conveyance direction at the time of reversal as a fulcrum and to bring the card into contact with all or a part of the side guide so that the position and angle can be corrected; Card printer characterized by.   2. The card according to claim 1, wherein the reversing processing unit includes at least two transport roller mechanisms arranged at the front and rear, which also serve as a decurling mechanism for correcting card warpage and a transport mechanism for transporting the card in the ejection direction. Printer.   Forward transport processing for controlling the bidirectional transport mechanism section to transport the card in the forward direction, printing processing for controlling the print processing section to print on the transported card, and controlling the reversing processing section for one side Reversing process for reversing the printed card and feeding it in the reverse direction, reverse transporting process for controlling the bidirectional transport mechanism part to transport the card in the reverse direction, and the card printed by controlling the reversing process part The card printer according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that performs a card discharge process for sending the card to the card discharge unit.   The card printer according to claim 1, wherein the print processing unit includes a thermal transfer printing unit that performs printing on at least a printing surface of the card.   5. The card according to claim 1, wherein the second correction means includes an auxiliary side guide that corrects a position and an angle by coming into contact with the card sent out from the inverted portion during reversal. Printer.   The card printer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second correction means includes a left-right displacement mechanism that offsets the portion to be reversed by a predetermined stroke in the axial direction of the support shaft during reversal. .

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