Card printing mechanism with card return path
First Claim
1. A card printing mechanism comprising:
- a card input end having a card input through which plastic cards can be input into the card printing mechanism;
a primary card travel path extending from the card input along which the plastic cards can travel in a first direction after being input through the card input;
a print station on the primary card travel path downstream from the card input that performs a printing operation on surfaces of the plastic cards on the primary card travel path, the print station includes at least one print head;
a return card travel path, separate from the primary card travel path, along which the plastic cards can travel to be returned back to the primary card travel path at a position upstream of the print station, the return card travel path includes a portion that is substantially parallel to a portion of the primary card travel path having the print station, and the plastic cards travel in a second direction opposite the first direction when on the portion that is substantially parallel to the portion of the primary card travel path having the print station;
a card output end having a card output through which plastic cards can be output from the card printing mechanism; and
the portion of the return card travel path that is substantially parallel to the portion of the primary card travel path having the print station is located on a same plane as the portion of the primary card travel path having the print station.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Card processing mechanisms and methods whereby after a card has been processed on one surface thereof at a card processing station such as, but not limited to, a card printing mechanism, the card can be recirculated back upstream of the card processing station along a return card travel path that is separate from the primary card travel path through the card processing station where the card can then be reintroduced back into the primary card travel path and transported through the card processing station a second time. As the card is being returned along the return card travel path, the card can be flipped over so that when the card is transported back through the card processing station, the opposite surface of the card can be processed.
31 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A card printing mechanism comprising:
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a card input end having a card input through which plastic cards can be input into the card printing mechanism; a primary card travel path extending from the card input along which the plastic cards can travel in a first direction after being input through the card input; a print station on the primary card travel path downstream from the card input that performs a printing operation on surfaces of the plastic cards on the primary card travel path, the print station includes at least one print head; a return card travel path, separate from the primary card travel path, along which the plastic cards can travel to be returned back to the primary card travel path at a position upstream of the print station, the return card travel path includes a portion that is substantially parallel to a portion of the primary card travel path having the print station, and the plastic cards travel in a second direction opposite the first direction when on the portion that is substantially parallel to the portion of the primary card travel path having the print station; a card output end having a card output through which plastic cards can be output from the card printing mechanism; and the portion of the return card travel path that is substantially parallel to the portion of the primary card travel path having the print station is located on a same plane as the portion of the primary card travel path having the print station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A card printing mechanism comprising:
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a card input through which plastic cards can be input into the card printing mechanism; a primary card travel path extending from the card input along which the plastic cards can travel in a first direction after being input through the card input; a print station on the primary card travel path downstream from the card input that performs a printing operation on surfaces of the plastic cards on the primary card travel path, the print station includes at least one print head; a return card travel path, separate from the primary card travel path, along which the plastic cards can travel to be returned back to the primary card travel path at a position upstream of the print station after being printed on in the print station; a card output through which plastic cards can be output from the card printing mechanism; wherein the card printing mechanism is configured such that the plastic cards on the primary card travel path are arranged in an alternating sequence where a first one of the plastic cards has a first orientation with a first surface thereof facing upward and a second surface thereof facing downward and a second one of the plastic cards in sequence following the first plastic card has a second orientation with the first surface thereof facing downward and the second surface thereof facing upward. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A card processing system, comprising:
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a card feed mechanism, a card printing mechanism, and a card processing path extending from the card feed mechanism to the card printing mechanism; the card printing mechanism includes; a card input in communication with the card processing path and through which plastic cards from the card feed mechanism can be input into the card printing mechanism; a primary card travel path extending from the card input along which the plastic cards can travel in a first direction after being input through the card input; a print station on the primary card travel path downstream from the card input that performs a printing operation on surfaces of the plastic cards on the primary card travel path, the print station includes at least one print head; a return card travel path, separate from the primary card travel path, along which the plastic cards can travel to be returned back to the primary card travel path at a position upstream of the print station after being printed on in the print station; a card output through which plastic cards can be output from the card printing mechanism; wherein the card processing system is configured such that each of the plastic cards fed from the card feed mechanism reach the card input in a first orientation with a first surface of each plastic card facing upward and a second surface of each plastic card facing downward; and
the plastic cards on the primary card travel path are arranged in an alternating sequence where a first one of the plastic cards has the first orientation and a second one of the plastic cards in sequence following the first plastic card has a second orientation with the first surface thereof facing downward and the second surface thereof facing upward. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification