Typewriting machines – Typing by other than type-face or type-die – Thermal
Patent
1991-05-02
1994-07-05
Wiecking, David A.
Typewriting machines
Typing by other than type-face or type-die
Thermal
15100, B41J 2325
Patent
active
053261798
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing an information recording card having information recorded therein, such as so-called ID cards or prepaid cards.
2. Background Art
Recently, information recording cards of plastics, called an ID card or prepaid card, having not only printed information but also magnetic information recorded therein, have been used.
Such information recording cards are produced by first inserting a plastic card having magnetic stripe into a magneticencoder for recording magnetic information therein, and next transferring the plastic card into a printing apparatus for printing information in the form of letters or figures.
However, problems are encountered in producing such information recording cards. For example, a producer must transport the plastic card to a magnetic encoder or a printing apparatus by manually holding it, much labor is required for the transporting into and out of the card and, additionally, the card surface may be contaminated; it is difficult to place the card in position with minute precision when it should be set at the printing position in the printing apparatus.
The card producing apparatus according to the present invention has been made in view of various problems associated with the above-described prior art. Its first object is to automatically perform writing of magnetic data onto a blank card, checking of the written data, cleaning of the card, and printing of print data. A second object is to place the card in the printing position with minute precision when print data is to be printed on the card. A third object is to perform high-quality printing by providing a card free of dirt when printing is to be performed on the card.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the above objects:
The card producing apparatus the present invention is composed of:
a feeder capable of containing a plurality of cards for recording magnetic data and print data therein, and allowing a predetermined number of cards to be removed from it;
a cleaner, including first transporting means for transporting in a predetermined direction the card removed from the feeder, for cleaning the card being transported;
data writing means into which the card cleaned by the cleaner is introduced, the data writing means including second transporting means for transporting in a predetermined direction the cleaned card, for writing magnetic data onto the card being transported;
a printer, including third transporting means for transporting the card which has been introduced into it from the data writing means and which has data written therein, for writing print data on a predetermined portion of the card being transported and for transporting the card out of the printer;
a stacker, including fourth transporting means for introducing the card from the printer into it, for storing a predetermined number of the cards therein;
first detecting means for detecting whether a card is present within the cleaner and for, when no card is present within the cleaner, providing a card introducing command signal to transport a card from the feeder into said cleaner;
second detecting means for detecting whether a card is present within said data writing means and, when no card is present within the data writing means, providing a card transporting command signal to introduce a card from the cleaner to the data writing means;
third detecting means for detecting whether a card is present within the printer and, when no card is present within the printer, providing a card transporting command signal to introduce a card from the data writing means into said printer; and
fourth detecting means for detecting the completion of the printing by the printer so that the card transported out of the printer is stored in the stacker.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon review of the following drawings and detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the card producing app
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Fukai Sigeru
Honma Nobuaki
Ishii Toshimasa
Kuroki Hiroyuki
Marugame Tomoyuki
Toppan Insatsu Kabushiki Kaisha
Wiecking David A.
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