Printer for embossed card

Claim 1

In combination, a printer for a card having an embossed portion thereon, said printer comprising a housing structure including a horizontal top surface extending from one side to the other and forming a horizontal embossed card travel path, said housing structure including an inlet and an outlet opening in alignment with said top surface on respective sides of said housing structure, an endless conveyor belt rotatably trained over said top surface and extending from said inlet to said outlet opening, an electric motor operatively associated with said conveyor belt and energizable to transport an embossed card inserted within said inlet opening along said embossed card travel path for discharge at said outlet opening, a roll of paper mounted above said endless conveyor belt, a paper drive roller mounted below said roll of paper for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said endless belt, means operatively coupling said motor to said paper drive roller for unwinding said paper from said roll and for feeding said paper along said card travel path and overlying said card such that said card is conveyed to said outlet while sandwiched between the web of paper and the endless conveyor, a vibrating printer mounted within said housing structure above said paper web and downstream of said roll of paper, intermediate of said inlet and outlet, said vibrating printer including a stationary magnetic hammer coil and a vibrating hammer for contact with said paper web, a source of electrical current, a first normally open switch mounted adjacent to said inlet opening and responsive to card insertion for momentary closure, a second normally closed switch mounted adjacent to said outlet opening and responsive to card discharge for momentarily opening the switch contacts thereof, and a third normally open relay switch including normally open contacts and a relay coil for operating the same, and circuit means for electrically connecting said relay coil, said motor and said hammer coil in series with the source of electrical current and in parallel with each other, and parallel paths including said first switch, and said second and third switches respectively connecting said source to said relay coil, said motor and said hammer coil; whereby, insertion of said embossed card into said inlet opening causes said motor to be energized, said hammer coil to be energized, and said relay coil to be energized, effecting transport of said embossed card from said inlet opening to said outlet opening during which time said paper web is continuously fed, said vibrating hammer is continuously vibrating and whereupon, discharge of said embossed card automatically opens the holding circuit between the source of electrical energy, said relay coil, said vibrating hammer coil, and said drive motor, terminating operation of said printer.