Multicolor printer system having multiple print heads

Claim 1

A system for successively transporting discrete cards, each card having a predetermined length, along a card path from an upstream entrance to a downstream exit, and for printing on both faces of each card as it is being transported along said path, said system comprising: a plurality of substantially identical printer modules arranged in succession along a path, each of said printer modules including; (a) print means including a transfer ribbon for printing one of a plurality of colors on a face of a card transported therepast; and (b) drive means for incrementally transporting each card along a portion of said path, past said print means, to the drive means of a succeeding printer module; said plurality of printer modules arranged in succession along said path alternately comprising a printer module from a first set having its print means mounted adjacent a first side of said path to print on a first face of each card transported therepast, and a printer module from a second set having its print means mounted adjacent a second side of said path to print on a second face of each card transported therepast, successive ones of said printer modules being closely positioned so that the respective drive means thereof are spaced by a distance less than said predetermined card length.

Claim 2

A system for successively transporting discrete cards, each card having a predetermined length, along a card path from an upstream entrance to a downstream exit, and for printing on both faces of each card as it is being transported along said path, said system comprising: a plurality of substantially identical printer modules arranged in succession along a path, each of said printer modules including; (a) print means including a transfer ribbon for printing one of a plurality of colors on a face of a card transported therepast; and (b) drive means for incrementally transporting each card along a portion of said path, past said print means, to the drive means of a succeeding printer module; said plurality of printer modules arranged in succession along said path alternately comprising a printer module from a first set having its print means mounted adjacent a first side of said path to print on a first face of each card transported therepast, and a printer module from a second set having its print means mounted adjacent a second side of said path to print on a second face of each card transported therepast, successive ones of said printer modules being closely positioned so that the respective drive means thereof are spaced by a distance less than said predetermined card length.

Claim 8

A method for multicolor printing on first and second faces of a discrete card transported along a print path past a plurality of printer modules, the method comprising the steps of: disposing a plurality of substantially identical printer modules in succession alternately along opposite first and second sides of a path; providing each of said printer modules with a drive means to transport a card along said path to a succeeding printer module; configuring each of said printer modules to print one of a plurality of colors on a face of the card transported therepast; and locating said printer modules in first and second sets respectively located on opposite first and second sides of said path with the printer modules of said first set positioned to print on the first face of said card and the printer modules of said second set positioned to print on the second face of said card.

Claim 9

A method for multicolor printing on first and second faces of a discrete card transported along a print path past a plurality of printer modules, the method comprising the steps of: disposing a plurality of substantially identical printer modules in succession alternately along opposite first and second sides of a path; providing each of said printer modules with a drive means to transport a card along said path to a succeeding printer module; configuring each of said printer modules to print one of a plurality of colors on a face of the card transported therepast; and locating said printer modules in first and second sets respectively located on opposite first and second sides of said path with the printer modules of said first set positioned to print on the first face of said card and the printer modules of said second set positioned to print on the second face of said card.

Claim 11

A system for successively transporting discrete cards, each card having a predetermined length, along a card path from an upstream entrance to a downstream exit, and for printing on both faces of each card while it is being transported along said path, said system comprising: a plurality of substantially identical printer modules, each printer module including a drive station and a print station spaced from one another to define a subpath; means mounting said plurality of printer modules in succession alternately along first and second sides of said path with the subpaths of adjacent modules aligned to collectively define said card path and with the drive stations of adjacent modules being spaced by a distance less than said predetermined card length; each of said drive stations including (1) roller means mounted for rotation about an axis extending substantially perpendicular to said card path and defining a circumferential surface for engaging a card to move it along said path and (2) card drive means for drivingly rotating said roller means to transport a card to the drive station of an adjacent printer module; each of said print stations including (1) print head means mounted for movement toward and away from said card path between a print position and a ready position, (2) a transfer ribbon mounted for movement along a ribbon path extending between said print head means and said card path, and (3) ribbon drive means for moving said ribbon along said ribbon path only when said print head is in said print position.

Claim 12

A system for successively transporting discrete cards, each card having a predetermined length, along a card path from an upstream entrance to a downstream exit, and for printing on both faces of each card while it is being transported along said path, said system comprising: a plurality of substantially identical printer modules, each printer module including a drive station and a print station spaced from one another to define a subpath; means mounting said plurality of printer modules in succession alternately along first and second sides of said path with the subpaths of adjacent modules aligned to collectively define said card path and with the drive stations of adjacent modules being spaced by a distance less than said predetermined card length; each of said drive stations including (1) roller means mounted for rotation about an axis extending substantially perpendicular to said card path and defining a circumferential surface for engaging a card to move it along said path and (2) card drive means for drivingly rotating said roller means to transport a card to the drive station of an adjacent printer module; each of said print stations including (1) print head means mounted for movement toward and away from said card path between a print position and a ready position, (2) a transfer ribbon mounted for movement along a ribbon path extending between said print head means and said card path, and (3) ribbon drive means for moving said ribbon along said ribbon path only when said print head is in said print position.