The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 12, 1999
Filed:
Apr. 10, 1996
Edward A Nardone, Wakefield, RI (US);
Christian S Rothwell, North Kingston, RI (US);
Atlantek , Inc., , RI (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for printing and laminating plastic cards consists of a thermal transfer printing station including ribbon and a thermal printhead for printing an image on a receptor surface of a receptor card, a laminating station including laminating film and a heated laminating roller mounted for engagement with the receptor surface of the receptor card during a laminating operation, and a guided carriage for transporting the receptor card beneath the printhead and the heated laminating roller. The carriage includes a resilient surface for receiving the receptor card with a receptor surface facing upwardly. The carriage is guided on a pair of rails to insure proper registration and tracking of the receptor card. The carriage is driven by a threaded rod which passes through a threaded bore in the carriage wherein rotation of the threaded rod by a motor causes movement of the carriage along the guide rails. In an alternate embodiment, the apparatus further includes an in-line flip station for reversing the print surface of the card so that printing can be accomplished on both sides of the card.