Credential production device transfer ribbon accumulator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9403375-B1
Application number	US-201514795265-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jul 9, 2015
Priority date	Jul 9, 2015
Publication date	Aug 2, 2016
Grant date	Aug 2, 2016

Abstract

A credential production device includes a transfer ribbon, a printing device, a laminating device, and a transfer ribbon accumulator. The printing device is configured to print an image to the transfer ribbon. The laminating device is configured to transfer printed images from the transfer ribbon to a substrate. The transfer ribbon accumulator includes first, second, and third ribbon-engaging members (REM's), and a drive system. The first and second REM's have fixed positions relative to each other. The third REM is configured to move relative to the first and second REM's along an axis that extends through a gap between the first and second REM's. The drive system is configured to generate a force that drives movement of the third REM relative to the first and second REM's along the axis. Movement of the third REM relative to the first and second REM's along the axis changes a length of a path along which a portion of the transfer ribbon travels through the accumulator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A credential manufacturing device comprising:
a transfer ribbon;
a printing device configured to print an image to the transfer ribbon;
a laminating device configured to transfer printed images from the transfer ribbon to a substrate; and
a transfer ribbon accumulator comprising:
first and second ribbon-engaging members (REM's) having fixed positions relative to each other and separated by a gap;
a third REM configured to move relative to the first and second REM's along an axis that extends through the gap; and
a drive system configured to generate a force that drives movement of the third REM relative to the first and second REM's along the axis;
wherein movement of the third REM relative to the first and second REM's along the axis changes a length of a path along which a portion of the transfer ribbon travels through the accumulator.

2. The credential manufacturing device according to claim 1 , wherein a section of the transfer ribbon extends from the printing device to the laminating device, and the first, second, and third REM's engage a portion of the section of the transfer ribbon.

3. The credential manufacturing device according to claim 2 , wherein the first, second, and third REM's are each selected from the group consisting of a roller having an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the axis, a bar, and a guide member.

4. The credential manufacturing device according to claim 1 , wherein the drive system is attached to the first and second REM's.

5. The credential manufacturing device according to claim 1 , wherein the drive system is attached to the third REM.

6. The credential manufacturing device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the drive system comprises a pinion, a rack that engages the pinion, and a drive force mechanism that drives rotation of the pinion;
the rack moves linearly relative to the pinion in response to rotation of the pinion; and
the third REM moves relative to the first and second REM's in response to rotation of the pinion.

7. The credential manufacturing device according to claim 6 , wherein the first and second REM's are coupled to the pinion and move relative to the rack in response to rotation of the pinion.

8. The credential manufacturing device according to claim 7 , wherein:
the pinion comprises a first pinion coupled to the first REM and a second pinion coupled to the second REM; and
the rack comprises a first rack section engaging the first pinion, and a second rack section engaging the second pinion.

9. The credential manufacturing device according to claim 6 , wherein the third REM is coupled to the rack and moves relative to the pinion in response to rotation of the pinion.

10. The credential manufacturing device according to claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises:
a main frame;
a transport mechanism configured to feed individual substrates along a processing path having a fixed position relative to the main frame; and
a processing assembly that supports the transfer ribbon, at least a portion of the printing device or the laminating device, and at least a portion of the transfer ribbon accumulator, wherein the transfer assembly is configured to move relative to the main frame and the processing path between operating and loading positions.

11. The credential manufacturing device according to claim 10 , wherein:
at least one of the REM's is supported by the main frame;
at least one of the REM's is supported by the processing assembly; and
the processing assembly and the at least one REM supported by the processing assembly move relative to the main frame and the at least one REM supported by the main frame in response to movement of the processing assembly between the operating and loading positions.

12. The credential manufacturing device according to claim 11 , wherein the drive system is attached to the main frame.

13. The credential manufacturing device according to claim 11 , wherein the drive system is attached to the processing assembly.

14. The credential manufacturing device according to claim 11 , wherein the loading position of the processing assembly is displaced from the operating position along a processing axis that is perpendicular to the processing path.

15. The credential manufacturing device according to claim 11 , wherein the loading position of the processing assembly is displaced from the operating position along a processing axis that is parallel to the processing path.

16. The credential manufacturing device according to claim 10 , wherein:
the processing assembly supports the entire transfer ribbon accumulator;
the processing assembly includes a processing assembly frame;
the accumulator includes an accumulator frame that is removably supported by the processing assembly frame; and
the processing assembly and the entire transfer ribbon accumulator move relative to the main frame in response to movement of the processing assembly between the operating and loading positions.

17. The credential manufacturing device according to claim 16 , wherein:
at least one of the REM's is supported by the processing assembly frame;
at least one of the REM's is supported by the accumulator frame; and
the REM supported by the accumulator frame moves relative to the processing assembly frame and the REM supported by the processing assembly frame in response to movement of the accumulator frame relative to the processing assembly frame.

18. The credential manufacturing device according to claim 17 , wherein the drive system is attached to one of the accumulator frame and the processing assembly frame.

19. The credential manufacturing device according claim 16 , wherein the loading position of the processing assembly is displaced from the operating position along an axis that is perpendicular to a processing axis, which is parallel to the processing path.

20. The credential manufacturing device according to claim 16 , wherein the loading position of the processing assembly is displaced from the operating position along an axis that is parallel to a processing axis, which is parallel to the processing path.

Assignees

• Assa Abloy Ab

Inventors

• Stangler Jeffrey
• Rieck James
• Ericson Russell

Classifications

• B41J2/325 Primary

  by selective transfer of ink from ink carrier, e.g. from ink ribbon or sheet · CPC title

• B41J17/32

  Detachable carriers or holders for impression-transfer material mechanism · CPC title

• B41J35/04

  Ink-ribbon guides · CPC title

• B41J17/28

  Arrangements of guides for the impression-transfer material · CPC title

• B41J35/28

  Detachable carriers or holders for ink-ribbon mechanisms · CPC title