printer

Abstract

A printer (1) for printing on a plate-like medium, in particular for printing on a marker card (2) having a marker (3) for marking an electrical device, the printer (1) having a housing (5) and comprising at least one supply station (100) for the marker card (2) to be printed, a printing station having a printing section, and a discharge station (200) for the printed marker card (2), the discharge station (200) having a loading device (202) which in turn has one or more The discharge station (200) has guide devices (2021a, 2021b), and together with the loading device (202), the discharge station (200) can be pulled from a position pushed into the housing (5) to a position outside the housing (5) and then pushed back into the housing (5) of the printer (1), and each guide device (2021a, 2021b) further has one stacking unit (204a, 204b), and the stacking units (204a, 204b) are supported so as to be pivotable.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The invention relates to a printer for printing on a plate-like medium, in particular a marker card with markers for marking electrical devices, as defined in the preamble of claim 1, and to a printing method for printing on a plate-like medium, in particular a marker card, as defined in claim 17.

[0002] German Utility Model No. 202006005458 discloses a printer and a card or marker for marking plate-shaped printing media, in particular electrical devices, connectors, cables, etc., where at least one or multiple markers are combined on a single card. The printing media, in particular the markers, are printed as they pass through the printer. The printing media, in particular the cards, are provided with a first anti-rotation device that cooperates with a corresponding anti-rotation device on the printer to ensure that printing on the printing media, in particular the cards, is only possible when the printing media is inserted in the correct orientation. Furthermore, this device can also be used as an additional printing surface, allowing, for example, a title to be added to a project, and the marker on the mat is designated for this project.

[0003] Furthermore, a loading device and a method for stacking printed marker cards in a vertical magazine are known from DE 10 2013 104 780 A1, the technical idea of ​​which is to arrange the loading device outside the printer housing on the discharge side of the printer.

[0004] Further prior art can be found, for example, in DE 19726236 and EP 0885824.

[0005] Although prior art printing devices have proven well in practical use, there is a need for space-saving assemblies, particularly for loading devices for loading printed marker cards.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to solve this problem.

[0007] The above problem is solved by a printer according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 17.

[0008] According to claim 1, there is provided a printer for printing on plate-like media, in particular for printing on marker cards with markers for marking electrical devices, the printer having a housing and comprising at least one supply station for the marker cards to be printed, a printing station with a printing section, and a discharge station for the printed marker cards, wherein the discharge station further comprises a loading device, the loading device having one or more guide devices, the discharge station together with the loading device being able to be pulled from a position pushed into the housing to a position outside the housing and pushed back into the printer housing again, and each guide device further comprises a stacking unit, the stacking unit being pivotally supported.

[0009] In this way, the discharge station together with the loading device can be pulled out from the pushed-in position for use, and after use, when the printer is not in use, can be pushed back into the printer housing from the pulled-out position outside the housing, thereby providing an advantageously space-saving assembly of the printer discharge station, and thus the entire printer.

[0010] In addition, the stacking unit of the loading device is pivotally supported. This results in a simple pivoting mechanism, whereby the stacking unit can be pivoted in the extended position so that it can easily find space in the printer's free installation space when pushing the discharge station into the printer's housing. In the extended position, the stacking unit can be pivoted back accordingly. Without the pivoting mechanism, a problem would arise in which the stacking unit could not be pushed into the printer because it would be in a position where there would be no free installation space in the housing. This problem is easily solved by the stacking unit's pivotability.

[0011] Preferably, each stacking unit further has a rotation axis that is arranged parallel to the pushing direction or parallel to the respective guide opening of the guide device, which is advantageous in that the stacking mechanism can be rotated outward in the pulled-out position and then rotated inward again after use.

[0012] According to the invention, the discharge station can be pulled out of the housing during operation (but can remain connected to the printer via guide means having end stops or the like), so that the discharge station is still held in the printer. In the pulled-out position, the pivoting mechanism is used to pivot the respective stacking unit into the operating position. The printed marker cards can then be stacked in the discharge station. In the unused position, the pivoting mechanism is pivoted back, and then the "drawer" is pushed into the housing.

[0013] According to one variant, the loading device can be capable of operating according to the FIFO principle (First In - First Out) in the form of bottom-up loading, which allows the printer to advantageously automatically print on multiple marker cards and eject them in the order in which they were fed.

[0014] Advantageously, the loading device may, according to one preferred embodiment, comprise two guide devices arranged parallel to one another and / or configured symmetrically, which is structurally simple and advantageously contributes to a space-saving assembly design.

[0015] According to another embodiment, each guide device has an elongated guide opening, through which the guide device is slidably guided in the printer housing, thereby providing a guide device that is structurally simple and can be manufactured at low cost.

[0016] In another preferred embodiment variant, each guide device can be attached to a cover at its free end, resulting in a particularly advantageous drawer in a structurally simple form, which, when pulled out of the printer housing, forms a vertical magazine for accommodating the loaded stacks with printed marker cards and can also accommodate the loading device.

[0017] In another embodiment, the length of the guide opening can be such that the length of the stroke of the loading device from the printer housing and the length of the vertical magazine formed by the loading device being pulled out are fixed, thereby providing for simple and error-free operation of the loading device and the ejection station of the printer.

[0018] According to another variant, the guide devices each advantageously have a shaft supported in two bearing brackets, and a cantilever / operating lever can be attached to the shaft, which can rotate the shaft by receiving a vertical force from a drive unit inside the printer.

[0019] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, a swivel frame is connected to each shaft in a non-rotatable manner, resulting in a structurally simply designed and reliable lifting mechanism for the loading device.

[0020] According to another embodiment, each pivoting frame can advantageously have a plurality of openings, a respective transverse web between the openings, and two longitudinal webs. In particular, each stacking tray can have a plurality of openings, through which the transverse webs of the respective pivoting frame can pass. This advantageously results in a space-saving assembly of the lifting mechanism and stacking tray, on which the printed marker cards are placed in a FIFO manner.

[0021] The above problem is also solved by a method according to claim 17, which comprises the following method steps: a) providing a printer and at least one marker card having a marking to be printed; b) pulling the discharge stations out of the printer housing and rotating outward the stacking units of the guide devices of each of the discharge stations; c) loading at least one marker card to be printed into a vertical magazine in a feed station of the printer; d) singulating at least one marker card to be printed in a singulating device of a feed station of the printer; e) transporting at least one individualized marker card into a printing station of a printer; f) printing at least one marker card by a printing device of the printer; g) conveying at least one printed marker card into an output station of the printer; h) ejecting the at least one printed marker card into a loading device of an ejection station of the printer; i) loading at least one printed marker card into a vertical magazine according to the Fifo principle by a loading device of an ejection station of the printer; j) removing at least one printed marker card from the vertical magazine at the output station of the printer; The method comprises the steps:

[0022] Preferably, further after method step j), the following method step: k) rotating inward the stacking units of the guide devices of each of the discharge stations, and pushing the discharge stations into the printer housing; Performing the method steps.

[0023] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

[0024] The invention will be explained in more detail below on the basis of examples and with reference to the drawings, which are not intended to limit the invention but may be transformed in different forms or equivalents within the scope of the claims. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a printer according to the invention with a vertical magazine for the supply of plate-shaped media to be printed and a vertical magazine for the discharge of printed plate-shaped media in a rest position; [Figure 2] 2 is a view of the printer shown in FIG. 1 in a working position with a vertical magazine for the discharge of printed plate-like media; [Figure 3]3 is a diagram of the printer shown in FIG. 2 with both vertical magazines, a separating device provided in the vertical magazine for supplying plate-shaped media to be printed, and a loading device provided in the vertical magazine for discharging printed plate-shaped media. [Figure 4] 1 is a three-dimensional view of the loading device in the basic position with a printed plate-shaped medium to be loaded; [Figure 5] 4 is a diagram showing the printer shown in FIG. 3 with a printed plate of media loaded into the loading device. [Figure 6] 1 is a three-dimensional view of a loading device with a printed plate-shaped medium being loaded into the loading device; [Figure 7] 6 shows the printer shown in FIG. 5 with a printed plate of media being lifted by a loading device. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view of the loading device with a printed plate-shaped medium being lifted by the loading device. [Figure 9] 1 is a three-dimensional view of the loading device with the printed plate-shaped media further elevated by the loading device; [Figure 10] 1 is a three-dimensional view of the loading device with the printed plate-shaped media further elevated by the loading device; [Figure 11] 8 shows the printer shown in FIG. 7 with the printed plate of media further elevated by the loading device. [Figure 12] 12 shows the printer shown in FIG. 11 with the printed plate of media further elevated by the loading device. [Figure 13] 1 is a three-dimensional view of a loading device in which printed plate-shaped media is placed on a tray. [Figure 14] 13 is a diagram showing the printer shown in FIG. 12 with a plurality of printed plates of media loaded into a vertical magazine by a loading device. [Figure 15] FIG. 14 is another three-dimensional view of the printer shown in FIG. [Figure 16] 16 is a view of the printer shown in FIG. 15 in a working position with an empty vertical magazine for ejection of printed plate-like media. [Figure 17] 17 is a view of the printer shown in FIG. 16 with an empty vertical magazine for the discharge of printed plate-like media in a working position and the loading device in a rest position. [Figure 18] 18 is a view of the printer shown in FIG. 17 in a rest position with a vertical magazine for the discharge of printed plate-like media.

[0026] 1 shows a printer 1 according to the invention for printing on plate-like media, in particular marker cards 2 with markers 3 for marking electrical devices. These plate-like media, for example marker cards 2 with at least one marker 3, are generally made of plastic.

[0027] The printer 1 comprises a supply station 100, which here has a vertical magazine 101 in which the marker cards 2 to be printed are loaded one on top of the other to form a stack. In order to be able to print on the marker cards 2, they must be separated from the stack. For this purpose, a separating device 102 is provided, by which one marker card 2 is separated from the stack at a time and then printed. The vertical magazine 101 and the separating device 102 operate according to the "First in, First out" ("Fifo") principle. This is achieved by arranging the separating device 102 below or at the bottom of the vertical magazine 101. The separating device 102 can operate according to the "locking slider-holdback slider" principle or another functional principle that supports the "Fifo" principle.

[0028] Each marker card 2 to be printed can be transported into the printer 1 by, for example, a round belt conveyor. For this purpose, each marker card has two U-shaped guide rails 4a, 4b, which allow each marker card 2 to be placed on a round belt and to be entrained or transported by each round belt.

[0029] The printer 1 further comprises a printing station (not shown). The printing station comprises a printing device (also not shown). The printing device preferably works according to the inkjet printing method. Alternatively, the printing device may work according to another printing method, for example laser printing or thermal printing.

[0030] The printer 1 further comprises a discharge station 200 at which the printed marker card 2 with the marker 3 is discharged. The printer 1 may further comprise a station, for example a fixing station, which is arranged downstream of the printing station and upstream of the discharge station 200.

[0031] The discharge station 200 of the printer 1 is preferably configured in the form of a drawer, so that it can be advantageously and space-savingly pulled out of the housing 5 of the printer 1 when printing and pushed back into the housing 5 of the printer 1 when the printer 1 is not in use. Each printed marker card 2 can be transported into the discharge station by, for example, a round belt conveyor.

[0032] 1, the discharge station 200 is shown in a closed state and accordingly is substantially pushed into the housing 5 of the printer 1. The cover 203 is visible, which may have a first slit 2031 and a further slit 2032.

[0033] The first slit 2031 provides an additional possibility for manual grasping under the stack of marker cards 2 in the vertical magazine 201 in the open state of the discharge station 200 (see FIG. 2), thereby advantageously simplifying the process of removing the marker cards 2 from the vertical magazine 201. Furthermore, the slit 2031 is used to laterally guide the stack of marker cards 2 that is building up in the vertical magazine 200 (see FIG. 15).

[0034] The first slit 2031 also makes it possible to see into the vertical magazine 201 of the discharge station 200 from the front when the discharge station 200 is open (see FIG. 2), i.e. pulled out from the housing 5 of the printer 1. This allows the operator of the printer 1 to easily and comfortably observe the filling level of the vertical magazine 201 without having to get close to the printer and then look into the vertical magazine 201 from above. The second slit 2032 is provided as a handle for the drawer-like discharge station 200, by means of which the discharge station 200 can be moved from its closed state to its open state, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0035] By opening the discharge station 200 to its extended position outside the printer housing, an assembly space is freed for the vertical magazine 201. The vertical magazine 201 is used to discharge the printed marker cards 2 one on top of the other to form a stack.

[0036] To be able to load or magazine the marker cards 2, a loading device 202 or magazine device can be provided, whereby each one of the printed marker cards 2 is inserted into a stack.

[0037] The vertical magazine 201 and the loading device 202 work according to the "first in, first out" ("Fifo") principle. This is achieved by "bottom loading" of the loading device 202 located at the bottom of the vertical magazine 201, as will be explained in more detail below. The loaded stack of printed marker cards 2 can be manually removed from the vertical magazine 201 after the loading process is complete, but also during the loading process.

[0038] Figure 3 shows the discharge station 200 in an open state, having a loading device 202 and a vertical magazine 201, and the supply station, having a vertical magazine 101 and a separate station 102 (this position can also be called the "extended position").

[0039] 4 shows the loading device 202 without adjacent components and in a basic position. The loading device 202 can advantageously have two guide devices 2021a, 2021b arranged parallel to one another and preferably symmetrically.

[0040] Each of the guide devices 2021a, 2021b may further have an elongated guide opening 20212a, 20212b, through which the guide devices 2021a, 2021b are slidably guided within the housing 5 of the printer 1. If the guide devices 2021a, 2021b further have means such as pins on the housing that engage within the guide openings 20212a, 20212b, the guide devices 2021a, 2021b cannot fall off the housing 5 in the pulled-out position.

[0041] Alternatively, each guide device 2021a, 2021b may be rigidly attached to a movable guide carriage on the printer side, and each guide device 2021a, 2021b may then be attached to the cover 203 at its free end (not shown here).

[0042] Due to the length of the guide openings 20212a, 20212b, the length of the stroke for pulling out the loading device 202 from the housing 5 of the printer 1 is set to a fixed value, and thus the length of the vertical magazine 201 formed by pulling out the loading device 202 is also set to a fixed value, preferably substantially corresponding to the length of the marker card 2.

[0043] Each guide device 2021a, 2021b may have one shaft 2022a, 2022b, respectively, which is supported in two bearing brackets 2023a, b, c, d, respectively. A cantilever and / or operating lever (not shown here) may be attached to the shaft 2022a, 2022b, which receives a vertical force from a drive unit inside the printer to rotate the respective shaft 2022a, 2022b. Pivot angle limiters 2024a, b, c, d are provided, and the pivot angle limiters 2024a, b, c, d are rotatably supported and support the shafts 2022a, 2022b. Swivel frames 2025a and 2025b are respectively coupled to the shafts 2022a and 2022b so as not to be rotatable relative to each other.

[0044] Each of the pivoting frames 2025a, 2025b may have a plurality of penetrations, four penetrations 2026a, b, c, d, with transverse webs 2027a, b, c, d, e between the penetrations 2026a, b, c, d, respectively, and two longitudinal webs 2028a, 2028b. The longitudinal webs 2028b on each axis may be non-rotatably connected to the respective shafts 2022a, 2022b, so that the pivoting or rotating movement of each of the pivoting frames 2025a, 2025b can be synchronized with respect to the respective shafts 2022a, 2022b.

[0045] Each of the guide devices 2021a, 2021b may have one stack tray 2029a, 2029b, respectively. Each of the stack trays 2029a, 2029b may have a plurality of through-holes 20210a, b, c, d, through which the lateral webs 2027b, c, d of the respective pivot frames 2025a, 2025b are engaged to pass. The stack trays 2029a, 2029b are configured to be spaced apart from each other in the horizontal direction so that the marker card 2 to be loaded can be reliably placed on both stack trays 2029a, 2029b.

[0046] The swivel frame 2025a and stack tray 2029a form a first stacking unit 204a, and the swivel frame 2025b and stack tray 2029b form a second stacking unit 204b. The stacking units 204a and 204b are arranged symmetrically to each other. Each stacking unit 204a and 204b is pivotally supported. To this end, each stacking unit 204a and 204b has a rotation axis 20213a or 20213b, which is parallel to the pushing direction or parallel to the guide openings 20212a and 20212b of the guide devices 2021a and 2021b, respectively. The rotation axis 20213a or 20213b may coincide with the rotation axis of the shafts 2022a and 2022b, respectively. The rotation angle of each of the stack trays 2029a and 2029b may be limited by a stopper.

[0047] 5 shows the printer 1 with the discharge station 200 in an open state, with one printed marker card 2 placed in the open vertical magazine 201 on each of the pivot frames 2025a, 2025b of the loading device 202.

[0048] 6 shows how the marker card 2 is lifted by the respective pivoting frames 2025a, 2025b, more precisely by the respective longitudinal webs 2028a away from the axes. For this, the respective axes 2022a, 2022b are caused to pivot, so that the respective longitudinal webs 2028a of the respective pivoting frames 2025a, 2025b are under the respective U-shaped guide rails 4a, 4b of the printed marker card 2, and the printed marker card 2 is moved vertically upwards by the synchronous pivoting of the respective axes 2022a, 2022b and the respective pivoting frames 2025a, 2025b. For this, both axes 2022a, 2022b move or rotate in opposite directions.

[0049] 7 shows the printer 1 with the discharge station 200 in an open state, whereby the printed marker cards 2 are lifted up in the open vertical magazine 201 by the respective pivot frames 2025a, 2025b of the loading device 202.

[0050] In Figure 8 it is shown how the printed marker card 2 is further lifted by the respective pivoting frames 2025a, 2025b, more precisely by the respective longitudinal webs 2028a away from the axis.

[0051] In Figure 9 it is shown how the printed marker card 2 is further lifted by the respective pivoting frames 2025a, 2025b, more precisely by the respective longitudinal webs 2028a away from the axis.

[0052] 10 shows how the printed marker card 2 is further raised by the respective pivoting frames 2025a, 2025b, more precisely by the respective longitudinal webs 2028a away from the axis. In this position of the marker card 2, the U-shaped guide rails 4a, 4b of the marker card 2 come into contact with the respective stacking surfaces 20211a, 20211b of the respective stacking trays 2029a, 2029b.

[0053] 11 shows the printer 1 with the discharge station 200 in an open state, whereby the printed marker cards 2 are further elevated in the open vertical magazine 201 by the respective pivot frames 2025a, 2025b of the loading device 202.

[0054] 12 shows the printer 1 with the discharge station 200 in an open state. In the opened vertical magazine 201, the printed marker cards 2 are placed on the stack surfaces 20211a and 20211b of the stack trays 2029a and 2029b by the swivel frames 2025a and 2025b of the loading device 202.

[0055] Thus, when a further printed marker card 2 is placed on the respective stacking surface 20211a, 20211b of the respective stacking tray 2029a, 2029b by the respective pivoting frames 2025a, 2025b of the loading device 202, the previously placed marker card 2 or stack of marker cards 2 is lifted up completely together, so that the "new" marker card 2 just placed on the respective stacking surface 20211a, 20211b is loaded below the existing stack of marker cards. The loading device 202 therefore operates according to the FIFO principle in the form of bottom-loading, as also shown in FIG. 13.

[0056] 14 shows the printer 1 with the discharge station 200 also in an open state, whereby a plurality of printed marker cards 2 are loaded into the open vertical magazine 201 by a loading device 202 according to the FIFO principle, as also shown in FIG.

[0057] 16 also shows the printer 1 with the discharge station 200 in the open state, whereby the printed marker cards 2 have been removed from the open vertical magazine 201, so that the vertical magazine 201 is empty and the loading device 202 is in its basic position.

[0058] 17 shows the printer 1 with the discharge station 200 in an open state. The printed marker cards 2 have been removed from the open vertical magazine 201, leaving the vertical magazine 201 empty. The loading devices 202, more precisely, the respective stacking units 204a, 204b, are now in an outwardly pivoted position, with their possible pivot angles limited by the respective pivot angle limiters 2024a, 2024b. This allows the loading devices 202 to be pushed into the housing 5 of the printer 1 into the freed up assembly space, here on the left and right of the belt conveyor that transports the printed marker cards 2 into the discharge station 200. This allows the discharge station 200 to be advantageously and space-savingly pushed into the housing 5 of the printer 1 when the printer 1 is not in use.

[0059] FIG. 18 shows the printer 1 with the discharge station 200 in a closed position.

[0060] To operate Printer 1, the following method is presented: In a first method step, a printer 1 and at least one marker card 2 having a marking 3 to be printed are provided.

[0061] In a second method step, the discharge station 200 is pulled out from the housing 5 of the printer 1 and the respective stacking units 204a,b of the respective guide devices 2021a, 2021b of the discharge station 200 are rotated outward and moved to their home positions. Alternatively, this method step may be integrated into the first method step.

[0062] In a third method step, at least one marker card 2 to be printed is loaded into a vertical magazine 101 of a supply station 100 of the printer 1 .

[0063] In a further method step, at least one marker card 2 to be printed is singulated in a singulation device 102 of a supply station 100 of the printer 1 .

[0064] In a further method step, the at least one individualized marker card 2 is transported into a printing station of the printer 1. Preferably, the transport is performed by a belt conveyor.

[0065] In a further method step, at least one marker card 2 is printed by a printing device of the printer 1. Preferably, the printing device operates according to the inkjet printing method. Alternatively, the printing device may operate according to another printing method, for example laser printing or thermal printing.

[0066] In a subsequent method step, the at least one printed marker card 2 is transported into the discharge station 200 of the printer 1. Preferably, the transport is performed by a belt conveyor.

[0067] In a further method step, the at least one printed marker card 2 is ejected into a loading device 201 of an ejection station 200 of the printer 1 .

[0068] In a subsequent method step, at least one printed marker card 2 is loaded into a vertical magazine 202 according to the FIFO principle by a loading device 201 in a discharge station 200 of the printer 1 .

[0069] In a final method step, at least one printed marker card 2 is removed from the vertical magazine 202 of the ejection station 200 of the printer 1 .

[0070] After the printing process of the printer 1 is completed, for example after the printing of one series of marker cards 2 for an enclosure, after the last method step, optionally the respective stacking units 204a, b of the respective guide devices 2021a, 2021b of the discharge station 200 may be rotated inward and the discharge station 200 may be pushed into the housing 5 of the printer 1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 1. Printer 2 Marker Cards 3 Markers 4a, 4b guide rails 100 Supply Stations 101 vertical magazine 102 Individualization device 200 Discharge Station 201 vertical magazine 202 Loading Device 2021a,b Guide device 2022a,b axis 2023a,b,c,d Bearing bracket 2024a,b,c,d Turning angle limiter 2025a,b Swivel frame 2026a,b,c,d Penetration 2027a,b,c,d,e Transverse web 2028a,b Longitudinal web 2029a,b Stack Tray 20210a,b,c Penetration 20211a,b Stack surface 20212a,b Guide opening 20213a,b Rotation axis 203 Cover 2031 Slit 2032 Slit 204a,b Stacking Unit

Claims

1. A printer (1) for printing on a marker card (2) having a marker (3) for marking an electrical device, The printer (1) comprises a housing (5) and includes at least one supply station (100) for the marker cards (2) to be printed, a printing station having a printing section, and a discharge station (200) for the printed marker cards (2). In the printer (1), The discharge station (200) has a loading device (202) that places the printed marker card (2) in a stack position, the loading device (202) has one or more guide devices (2021a, 2021b), and the discharge station (200) can be pulled together with the loading device (202) from a position where it is pushed into the housing (5) to a position outside the housing (5) by being guided by the guide devices (2021a, 2021b), and can be pushed back into the housing (5) of the printer (1) again in the opposite direction; Each of the guide devices (2021a, 2021b) further has a stacking unit (204a, 204b) for stacking the printed marker cards (2), and the stacking units (204a, 204b) are pivotally supported in a direction such that they can be in different positions when the discharge station (200) is located inside the housing (5) and when it is located outside the housing (5). A printer (1) characterized in that

2. 2. The printer (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the loading device (202) works according to the Fifo principle by placing the next printed marker card (2) in the stack position of the printed marker card (2) so that it slides in from below.

3. 3. The printer (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that two of the guide devices (2021a, 2021b) are arranged parallel to one another and / or symmetrically.

4. The printer (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each of the guide devices (2021a, 2021b) has an elongated guide opening (20212a, 20212b), and each of the guide devices (2021a, 2021b) is slidably guided within the housing (5) of the printer (1) via the guide opening (20212a, 20212b).

5. 5. The printer (1) according to claim 1, wherein each of the guide devices (2021a, 2021b) is attached to a cover (203) at a free end of the guide device (2021a, 2021b).

6. 6. The printer (1) according to claim 1, wherein the guide devices (2021a, 2021b) each have one shaft (2022a, 2022b), and the shafts (2022a, 2022b) are supported in two bearing brackets (2023a, b, c, d), respectively.

7. 7. The printer (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that a pivot frame (2025a, 2025b) is further connected to each of the shafts (2022a, 2022b) so as to be non-rotatable relative to each other.

8. 8. The printer (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that each of the pivoting frames (2025a, 2025b) has a plurality of penetrations, has transverse webs (2027a, b, c, d, e) between the penetrations (2026a, b, c, d), respectively, and has two longitudinal webs (2028a, 2028b).

9. 9. The printer (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the longitudinal webs (2028b) on each axis side are connected to the respective axes (2022a, 2022b) so as not to be able to rotate relative to each other, and each of the swivel frames (2025a, 2025b) performs the swiveling or rotational movement of the respective axes (2022a, 2022b) synchronously with respect to the respective axes (2022a, 2022b).

10. 9. The printer (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that each of the guide devices (2021a, 2021b) has one stack tray (2029a, 2029b) for stacking the printed marker cards (2).

11. The printer (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that each of the stack trays (2029a, 2029b) has a plurality of through-holes (20210a, b, c, d), and the through-holes (20210a, b, c, d) are engaged with the transverse webs (2027b, c, d) of each of the pivoting frames (2025a, 2025b) so as to pass through them.

12. 11. The printer (1) according to claim 10, wherein the stack trays (2029a, 2029b) are spaced apart from each other in the horizontal direction so that the marker cards (2) to be loaded can be placed on the stack trays (2029a, 2029b).

13. 11. The printer (1) according to claim 10, wherein the pivoting frame (2025a) and the stack tray (2029a) form a first stacking unit (204a), the pivoting frame (2025b) and the stack tray (2029b) form a second stacking unit (204b), and the stacking units (204a, b) are arranged symmetrically to each other.

14. 5. The printer (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that each of the stacking units (204a, b) has a rotation axis (20213a or 20213b), and the rotation axis (20213a or 20213b) is arranged parallel to the pushing direction or parallel to the respective guide openings (20212a, 20212b) of the guide devices (2021a, 2021b).

15. 11. The printer (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that each of the stack trays (2029a, 2029b) has one stack surface (20211a, 20211b).

16. A method for operating a printer (1) configured according to any one of claims 1 to 15, comprising: a) providing said printer (1) and at least one marker card (2) to be printed, said marker card having a marking (3); b) pulling the discharge station (200) out of the housing (5) of the printer (1) and rotating the stacking units (204a, b) of the guide devices (2021a, 2021b) of the discharge station (200) outward so that they rotate in directions away from each other; c) loading at least one said marker card (2) to be printed into a vertical magazine (101) of said supply station (100) of said printer (1); d) singulating at least one said marker card (2) to be printed in a singulating device (102) of said supply station (100) of said printer (1); e) transporting at least one individualized marker card (2) into the printing station of the printer (1); f) printing at least one said marker card (2) by a printing device of said printer (1); g) transporting at least one printed marker card (2) into the ejection station (200) of the printer (1); h) ejecting at least one printed marker card (2) into the loading device (202) of the ejection station (200) of the printer (1); i) loading at least one printed marker card (2) into a vertical magazine (201) by the loading device (202) of the ejection station (200) of the printer (1) according to the Fifo principle; j) removing at least one printed marker card (2) from the vertical magazine (201) of the ejection station (200) of the printer (1); A method characterized by the method steps.

17. After method step j): k) rotating the stacking units (204a, b) of the guide devices (2021a, 2021b) of the discharge station (200) inward so that they approach each other, and pushing the discharge station (200) into the housing (5) of the printer (1); 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising performing the method steps.

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