Substrate and carrier and method of forming same
AssigneeFargo Electronics, Inc.
InventorsGary A. Lenz, William Gibbs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a carrier for use with a printer that can support irregularly shaped substrates having a top surface. The carrier includes first and second planar members. The first planar member has top and bottom surfaces, a thickness, and an inner edge that conforms to an irregularly shaped outer edge of a substrate. The second planar member has a top surface that is coupled to the bottom surface of the first planar member. A recess, defined by the inner edge of the first planar member and the top surface of the second planar member, is adapted to receive the substrate such that top surfaces of the substrate and the first planar member are coplanar.
Claims23
A carrier for use with a printer to support a substrate having a thickness, an irregularly outer edge, and a top surface including a flat printable surface on which material is to be printed, the carrier comprising:
- a first planar member having a bottom surface, a top surface, a thickness, and an inner edge that is shaped to conform to the outer edge of the substrate;
- and
- a second planar member having a top surface coupled to the bottom surface of the first planar member, wherein the inner edge of the first planar member and the top surface of the second planar member form a recess that is adapted to receive the substrate such that the top surfaces of the substrate and the first planar member are coplanar.
A carrier for use with a printer having a substrate, the carrier comprising:
- a first rigid planar member having bottom surface, a top surface, and a thickness;
- a second planar member having a top surface coupled to the bottom surface of the first planar member;
- and
- a removable substrate formed of a portion of the first rigid planar member as defined by an outer edge.
A carrier for use with a printer to support a substrate having a thickness, an outer edge, and a top surface on which material is to be printed, the carrier comprising:
- a first planar member having a bottom surface, a top surface, a thickness, an inner edge that is shaped to conform to the outer edge of the substrate, and a border portion, whereby the border portion overlaps a portion of the top surface of the substrate thereby defining a print area of the top surface which can be printed on;
- and
- a second planar member having a top surface coupled to the bottom surface of the first planar member, wherein the inner edge of the first planar member and the top surface of the second planar member form a recess that is adapted to receive the substrate such that the top surfaces of the substrate and the first planar member are coplanar.
A method of forming a carrier for use with a printer to support a substrate on which material is to be printed, the method comprising steps of:
- (a) providing a first planar member having a bottom surface, and a top surface;
- (b) cutting a planar portion from the first planar member, the planar portion having a shape that conforms to the substrate;
- and
- (c) mounting the bottom surface of the first planar member to a top surface of a second planar member such that the substrate portion is removable.
A method of forming a carrier for use with a printer to support a substrate having a thickness, an irregularly shaped outer edge, and a top surface on which material is to be printed:
- the method comprising steps of:
- (a) providing a planar member having a top surface and a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the substrate;
- (b) cutting a planar portion from planar member, the planar portion having a shape and thickness that conforms to the substrate;
- and
- (c) removing the planar portion from the planar member, whereby a recess is formed that is shaped to receive the substrate such that the top surfaces of the substrate and the planar member are coplanar.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.