Plastic card reorienting mechanism and interchangeable input hopper
AssigneeDataCard Corporation
InventorsPeter D. Schuller, Bryan D. B. Hoeve, Mark J. Sobania
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A card reorienting mechanism and an input hopper of plastic card processing equipment, for example a desktop plastic card printer. The card reorienting mechanism is a modular unit that permits the entire mechanism to be inserted or removed as a single unit from the printer. In addition, the input hopper is designed as an interchangeable system that permits alteration in the card capacity of the hopper.
Claims14
A modular card reorienting mechanism for use in a card processing machine, comprising:
- a chassis including a fastenerless mechanism for detachably connecting the chassis to the card processing machine;
- an electric motor mounted on the chassis;
- a card reorienting device rotatably mounted on the chassis, wherein the card reorienting device comprises a platform with a pair of card transport devices, the transport devices being actuatable by the electric motor;
- and
- a drive train between the electric motor and the card reorienting device whereby the electric motor is able to rotate the card reorienting device.
A modular card reorienting mechanism for use in a card processing machine, comprising:
- a chassis including a fastenerless mechanism for detachably connecting the chassis to the card processing machine;
- an electric motor mounted on the chassis;
- a card reorienting device rotatably mounted on the chassis;
- and
- a drive train between the electric motor and the card reorienting device whereby the electric motor is able to rotate the card reorienting device, wherein the drive train includes a clutch mechanism, and further comprising a wrap spring separate from the clutch mechanism that is connected to the card reorienting device and that is configured to provide one-way rotation of the card reorienting device.
A modular card reorienting mechanism for use in a card processing machine, comprising:
- a chassis including a fastenerless mechanism for detachably connecting the chassis to the card processing machine;
- an electric motor mounted on the chassis;
- a card reorienting device rotatably mounted on the chassis;
- a drive train between the electric motor and the card reorienting device whereby the electric motor is able to rotate the card reorienting device;
- and
- a calibrating mechanism for calibrating rotation of the reorienting device.
A modular card reorienting mechanism for use in a card processing machine, comprising:
- a chassis;
- an electric motor mounted on the chassis;
- a card reorienting device rotatably mounted on the chassis, wherein the card reorienting device comprises a platform with a card transport device, the transport device being actuatable by the electric motor;
- and
- a drive train between the electric motor and the card reorienting device whereby the electric motor is able to rotate the card reorienting device;
- wherein the chassis, the electric motor, the card reorienting device and the drive train form a fastenerless assembly.
A modular card reorienting mechanism for use in a card processing machine, comprising:
- a chassis including a fastenerless mechanism for detachably connecting the chassis to the card processing machine;
- an electric motor mounted on the chassis;
- a card reorienting device rotatably mounted on the chassis;
- and
- a drive train between the electric motor and the card reorienting device whereby the electric motor is able to rotate the card reorienting device, wherein the fastenerless mechanism comprises:
- a hook connected to the chassis and extending forwardly therefrom that is configured to engage with a post on the card processing machine by which the card processing mechanism can be rotatably hung adjacent a rear end of the card processing machine;
- and
- a resilient arm connected to the chassis and extending forwardly therefrom that is configured to detachably engage with a post on the card processing machine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.