Zebra Technologies Corporation

Zih Corporation

Thomas R Helma

Raymond Eugene Maynard

Angel B Rosales

Steve Ting Kei Chow

Joseph D Moreira

Konstantinos D Tsiopanos

Graham Marshall

Terrence K Jones

Noel R Bankston

Morgan Hassan Malone

Michael F St Germain

Richard Michael Sadeck

A media processing device includes: a hopper for supporting a stack of media units (e.g. cards), the hopper including (i) a gate wall configured to abut leading edges of the media units and (ii) an outlet defined at an end of the gate wall; a pick roller at the outlet for engaging an outer one of the media units in the stack and dispensing the outer media unit from the hopper to a media processing path; the gate wall including a flexible gate at the outlet, the flexible gate configured to deflect toward the media processing path responsive to the outer media unit being driven into the flexible gate by the pick roller, wherein the outer media unit deflects when passing by the flexible gate, permitting the outer media unit to be dispensed from the hopper.

Input handling for media processing devices

An example disclosed output hopper includes a cavity to receive media units from an output of a media processing device, the cavity to cause the media units to form a stack in a first direction; a first door pivotably movable between a closed position and an open position, the first door to retain the media units in the cavity when in the closed position, wherein the first door is configured to pivot on a first axis substantially parallel to the first direction; wherein: the first door includes a first cutout at a first top edge of the first door; and the first cutout allow the media units to spill over the first and second top edges when a capacity of the cavity is exceeded.

Output hopper for media processing devices

A media processing device includes: a platen roller configured to move a media unit along a media processing path to traverse a printhead adjacent to the platen roller; an upstream drive assembly including (i) an upstream stationary roller disposed along the media processing path on a first side of the platen roller; and (ii) an upstream movable roller adjacent to the upstream stationary roller; a downstream drive assembly including (i) a downstream stationary roller disposed along the media processing path on a second side of the platen roller; and (ii) a downstream movable roller adjacent to the downstream stationary roller; a controller configured to control a motor to move, according to a predefined sequence, the upstream movable roller and the movable roller between respective engaged and disengaged positions.

Media unit leveling assembly for media processing devices

An example disclosed output hopper includes a cavity to receive media units from an output of a media processing device, the cavity to cause the media units to form a stack in a first direction; a first door pivotably movable between a closed position and an open position, the first door to retain the media units in the cavity when in the closed position; a second door movable between the closed position and the open position, the second door to retain the media units in the cavity when in the closed position; wherein the first door is configured to pivot on a first axis substantially parallel to the first direction; and the second door is configured to pivot on a second axis substantially parallel to the first direction.

A media processing device includes: a hopper supporting media units (e.g. cards), and a biasing assembly biasing the cards toward a hopper outlet; an input roller for accepting a single card at a hopper slot inlet; a pick roller at the outlet for dispensing a card from the hopper to a media processing path; a motor having an output shaft; a primary drivetrain segment connecting the output shaft with the pick roller; an auxiliary output selector connected to the primary drivetrain segment and switchable between first and second output configurations; first and second auxiliary drivetrain segments connecting the output selector, respectively, with the input roller and a release member for disengaging the biasing assembly; and a selector input movable to switch the output selector between the first output configuration, coupling the primary and first auxiliary drivetrain segments, and the second output configuration, coupling the primary and second auxiliary drivetrain segments.

The present disclosure is directed to a printing assembly that includes an image transfer station and a blower configured to intermittently provide a cooling stream of air to a product being printed upon. The blower may include a centrifugal fan and may have a single plenum providing air to two nozzles. The nozzles may be positioned such that the air targets the edges of the product to facilitate removal of the intermediate transfer media from the targeted areas and reduce the occurrence of flash. The blower may be configured to provide air when the product is expelled from the transfer assembly or while the intermediate transfer media is peeled from the product, but not to provide air when the product is being received by the transfer assembly. The printing assembly may include sensors and control circuitry for detecting the position of the product and controlling the blower accordingly.

Apparatus for reducing flash for thermal transfer printers

The present invention provides a cleaning assembly for use in a media processing device. In various embodiments, the cleaning assembly includes a first roller that at least partially engages a second roller, and a transport path that passes between the first roller and the second roller. There may also be a third collection roller that at least partially engages the second roller. The third collection roller may also engage a drive assembly that may be used to drive a media substrate along the transport path. In one embodiment, the second roller defines a surface adherence that is greater than a surface adherence of the first roller and the third collection roller defines a surface adherence that is greater than the surface adherence of the second roller and the drive assembly. As a result, the present invention provides a cleaning assembly capable of cleaning the drive assembly and opposed surfaces of a media substrate in a single pass.

Dual use cleaning apparatus and method

The present invention provides a cleaning assembly for use in a media processing device. In various embodiments, the cleaning assembly includes a first roller that at least partially engages a second roller, and a media feed path that passes between the first roller and the second roller. There may also be a third roller that at least partially engages the second roller, and which may be replaceable. In one embodiment, the second roller defines a surface adherence that is greater than a surface adherence of the first roller and the third roller defines a surface adherence that is greater than the surface adherence of the second roller. As a result, the present invention provides a cleaning assembly capable of cleaning opposed surfaces of a media unit in a single pass.

Double-sided media cleaning apparatus and method

The present disclosure is directed to a printing assembly incorporating an improved double-sided image transfer station. The present disclosure also describes a product processing apparatus including a cross feed processing architecture. The single-pass double-sided image transfer station and cross feed processing architectures described herein provide numerous advantages over prior art product processing devices. In particular, the single-pass double-sided image transfer station provides for reduced print times, less shuttling of the product during printing, and a less complex, therefore, more reliable printing operation overall. The cross feed architecture provides an efficient processing path for the product through the device and facilitates processing modularization.

Single-pass double-sided image transfer process and system

A card-cleaning assembly for printers is provided. The assembly can be used in any suitable card printing apparatus, particularly thermal dye printers. Such card printers are used to print driver's licenses, employee badges, student cards, and the like. The assembly includes a card-cleaning roller and an adhesive tape cartridge. The cleaning roller contacts the card and removes dust and dirt particles and other debris from the surface of the card. The tape cartridge is attached to a pivoting arm on the printer which pivots so that the adhesive tape engages the cleaning roller and removes the debris from the roller as the roller rotates.

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Wakefield, RI, United States of America

Thomas R Helma