Automatic system for front-and-back printing of cards in black and white and in color, by reversing the card

Automatic system for the front-and-back printing of cards, comprising:

• at least one printing machine incorporating a thermal printing head, in front of which pass simultaneously a ribbon serving as a support for colorants to be deposited and the card to be printed;
• at least one card-reversing device positioned before or after said printing machine;
• and
• an electronic device controlling the printing machine and the reversing device, which moves the card in front of the thermal head so as to bring the front side in contact with said ribbon for printing of the front side, reversing the card in the reversing device, and bringing the back side of the card in contact with said ribbon for printing of the back side, the card-reversing device being a rotating device incorporating -
• (a) a horizontal drum which can pivot +/-180.degree. around its horizontal axis, in which the card is inserted flat on one side along an axis of the card by means of rollers turning in opposite directions, said drum comprising rollers which move the card in the flat position inside the drum;
• (b) a motorized device which produces a rotation of +/-180.degree. of the horizontal drum around an axis;
• (c) a device controlling the position of the card in the drum before rotation is initiated;
• and
• (d) a device for continuous tracking of the attitude of the card in the drum regardless of which side is being printed.