CARD-FLIPPING DEVICE FOR USE IN CARD PRINTERS

• US 20060281057A1
• Filed: 05/12/2006
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Zebra Atlantek, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Jones, Terrence K., Maynard, Raymond E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,416,179 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/129
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/12 specially adapted for small cards, envelopes, or the like , e.g. credit cards, cut visiting cards
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/315 characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material B41J2/385, B41J2/435 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/60 for printing on both faces of the printing material
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 15/00 Overturning articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/312 for transport path involving at least two planes of transport forming an angle between each other
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/33214 about an axis perpendicular to the direction of displacement and parallel to the surface of material
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/33224 180°
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/1914 Cards, e.g. telephone, credit and identity cards
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 5/04 by movable tables or carriages rotary tables B65H5/18 ; suction gripper or gripper tables B65H5/10

Abstract

A card-flipping device for a card printing apparatus is provided. The card-flipping device comprises a card-carrier unit for transporting the card in a vertical direction, a motor drive means for moving the unit in the vertical direction, and an actuator assembly including a rotatable cam arm for flipping the card over. The card-flipping device is particularly suitable for use in thermal dye printers that print images on card substrates such as driver'"'"'s licenses, employee badges, student cards, and the like. After one surface of the card has been printed, the card is conveyed to the card-flipping device, where the card is flipped over so that the reverse, unprinted side of the card can be printed thereon.

Claims

1. A card-flipping method to enable two-side printing in a one-side card printer, comprising:

securing a card to be flipped in a card holder;

transporting the card along a stationary guide structure a distance sufficient to provide rotation clearance for the card; and

employing relative movement between the stationary guide structure and the card holder as it is being transported to at least assist in mechanically flipping the card.

2. A low-cost one-motor card-flipping system to enable two-side printing in a one-side card printer, comprising:

a card holder configured to secure a card to be flipped;

a card carrier unit and a motor coupled to the card car, the elevator being configured when driven by the motor to move the card holder a distance along a stationary guide structure sufficient to provide rotation clearance for the card; and

a card flipping arrangement configured to employ relative movement between the card holder and the stationary guide structure to at least assist in mechanically flipping the card.

3. A card carried unit for use in a card printer to transport and/or retain the card during printing, said card carrier unit comprising at least one guide having a first elongated side frame member and a second elongated side frame member that are spaced apart to define a card-retaining channel there between, wherein said card-retaining channel is adapted to receive and cards having different thicknesses.

4. A card carrier unit according to claim 3, wherein said first side frame member has an inner edge that ungulates.

5. A card carrier unit according to claim 3, wherein said first side frame member has an inner edge with a substantially concave central portion, and said second side frame member has an inner edge with a substantially convex central portion for gripping the card with the card-retaining channel.

6. A card carrier unit according to claim 3 comprising two guides for holding the card, wherein each flip guide comprises a first elongated side frame member and a second elongated side frame member that are spaced apart to define a card-retaining channel there between, the first side frame member having an inner edge with a substantially concave central portion, and the second side frame member having an inner edge with a substantially convex central portion for gripping the card with the card-retaining channel.