Ink jet card printer having a pivotable card feeder

A method of feeding a card in an ink jet card printer, which includes an ink jet print head supported for movement within a print zone during printing of an image to a card supported along a processing axis, the method comprising:

• supporting a card in a card feeder in a raised position, in which at least a portion of the card feeder extends into the print zone;
• feeding the card from the card feeder along a card feed axis that is substantially parallel the processing axis to a card transport using a first pinch roller pair supported by a feeder frame of the card feeder;
• and
• pivoting the feeder frame, the first pinch roller pair and the card feed axis about a pivot axis to a lowered position, in which the card feeder is displaced from the print zone and the card feed axis is oblique to the processing axis, using a lift mechanism.

A card feeder comprising:

• a feeder frame configured for operably coupling with an ink jet card printer,
• wherein the ink jet card printer includes an ink jet print head supported for movement within a print zone during printing of an image to a card;
• a first pinch roller pair supported by the feeder frame and configured to feed individual cards along a card feed axis;
• and
• a lift mechanism configured such that when operably coupled with the ink jet card printer, the feeder frame and the first pinch roller pair are pivotable about a pivot axis between a lowered position, in which the card feed axis has a first angular position about the pivot axis and the card feeder is displaced from the print zone, and a raised position, in which the card feed axis has a second angular position about the pivot axis that is different from the first angular position and in which at least a portion of the card feeder extends into the print zone.