Transport device for a card-printing system, card printer and method for printing a card

Abstract

A transport device (12) for a card-printing system comprises a first portion (14) configured to transit below one or more printheads (11), a support element (20) configured to hold a card (100) to be printed, mounted on the first portion (14) and having at least one resting perimeter (21) configured to receive a card (100) resting thereon to be printed, wherein the first portion (14) comprises at least one screen wall (35) adjacent to the support element (20) and extending away from the first portion (14) between a lower edge (36) and an upper edge (37). The lower edge (36) lies on the first portion (14) and a reference plane (P) passing through the upper edge (37) contains the resting perimeter (21) of the support element (20), so that the upper edge (37) of the screen wall (35) is in contact with the card (100) to be printed resting on the resting perimeter (21) of the support element (20).

Description

[0001] TRANSPORT DEVICE FOR A CARD-PRINTING SYSTEM, CARD PRINTER AND METHOD FOR PRINTING A CARD

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] The present invention refers to a transport device for a card-printing system, card printer and method for printing a card.

[0004] The present invention fits in the field of printing systems preferably, although not exclusively, of card customization.

[0005] The term "cards" is used in the present description and in the subsequent claims to indicate substantially rigid supports made of plastic materials, paper, metal or hybrid material composition (e.g. metal and plastic material) and in which two dimensions are much greater than a third dimension. Cards comprising two mutually opposite surfaces, wherein at least one of said two surfaces comprises printed patterns. Examples of cards are identity cards, health cards, telephone cards, credit cards, debit cards, bank cards, driving licenses, gift cards, promotional cards, access cards, company badges or any type of cards generally made of plastic materials, paper, metal or hybrid material composition (e.g. metal and plastic material), which generally have surfaces that include plastic material.

[0006] In the Applicant's experience, printing systems provided with one or more Drop- on-Demand (DoD) inkjet printers, which are capable of printing with selected colours (e.g., black, white, cyan, yellow, magenta) at least a portion of one or both surfaces of the card, can be used to print at least one of the two surfaces of a card.

[0007] A DoD inkjet printer can print using thermal inkjet technology or piezoelectric inkjet printing technology where pressure waves are used to expel selected amounts of ink from the nozzles of the printheads.

[0008] The formulation of the ink may vary depending on the type of printhead and the substrate characterizing the cards to be printed. Ultraviolet and LED dryable inks are especially suitable for printing on plastic material. In particular, the ultraviolet- dryable ink is preferable since it provides immediate drying, light resistance, high print quality, adhesion, scratch resistance, colour density, no volatile organic compound. In recent years, water-based inks have also been developed, which adhere to various types of plastic substrates subject to corona treatment, with good mechanical and humidity resistance, high colour rendering and high graphic quality.

[0009] The printer of the printing system can also support the so-called “over-the-edge” printing or “edge-to-edge” printing or “edge-to-edge full” printing, where the entire surface of the card is printed, leaving no visible unprinted edge or empty margin.

[0010] In the Applicant's experience, edge-to-edge printing may be implemented by placing one or more cards on a transport device and displacing that transport device along a printing trajectory that first leads the card to pass below one or more printheads of a printer and subsequently below a UV source. The transport device passes below the printheads and receives the printing inks without interrupting its movement along the printing trajectory, in such a way as to make the printing process as fast as possible and therefore to make the number of printed cards in the unit of time as high as possible. To hold the card on the transport device during the movement of the transport device, the transport device is provided with a suction pad that defines a stand, slightly smaller than the card, on which the card is placed to rest thereon. The card adheres to the suction pad by suction and therefore remains integral with the transport device. The card protrudes slightly with respect to the suction pad to allow the card to be grasped at a respective edge and removed from the transport device once printed.

[0011] Furthermore, in the Applicant's experience, in order to perform "edge-to-edge" printing the printing area actually covered by the printheads is slightly greater than the area of the card, as it is necessary to ensure that the ink is actually deposited also at the edge or edges of the card. This inevitably creates a so- called "overspray” phenomenon, i.e. the printheads emit more ink than is actually deposited on the card.

[0012] The Applicant has noted that the overspray ink does not follow trajectories that can be easily identified a priori. Without wishing to be bound by any scientific theory and without wishing to prove any scientific theorem, the Applicant considers that the relative motion between the assembly given by the transport device, the suction pad and the card with respect to the printheads creates a turbulent motion of the air in the zone of emission of the ink from the printheads and that the overspray ink that is emitted by the printheads (in the form of atomized drops and therefore extremely small-sized) tends to follow trajectories that are strongly influenced by the turbulent motion of the air in which it is introduced. The Applicant has found that in some cases the overspray ink can reach some portions of the peripheral edge of the contact zone between the suction pad and the card. The Applicant considers that this probably also happens due to the fact that the contact interface between the suction pad and the card is placed in a vacuum (due to the suction effect of the suction pad) with respect to the surrounding environment and drops of overspray ink transported by the turbulent motion of the air can be sucked (towards this contact interface) at some portions of the peripheral edge of the contact zone between the suction pad and the card.

[0013] The Applicant has noted that when the overspray ink reaches the peripheral edge of the contact zone between the suction pad and the card or portions of that peripheral edge, the atomized drops of overspray ink tend to penetrate the contact interface between the card and the suction pad, depositing on the surface of the card opposite the printed surface and depositing on the suction pad. This may cause stains (albeit very small) on the surface of the card facing the suction pad and may require, as printing cycles progress, stopping the printer to remove the overspray ink that has accumulated on the suction pad.

[0014] The Applicant has noted that in order to try to eliminate or in any case reduce this inconvenience, the overspray ink should be prevented from getting too close to at least the portions of the peripheral edge of the contact zone between the suction pad and the card that are usually reached by the overspray ink.

[0015] The Applicant has in fact noted that if this intention were to be achieved, the overspray ink drops would not be easily sucked into the gap between the card and the suction pad.

[0016] The Applicant has perceived that if the overspray ink could be intercepted before it reaches at least such peripheral edge portions of the contact zone, the overspray ink would not be sucked into the gap between the card and the suction pad.

[0017] The Applicant has therefore found that by providing a physical barrier at least at some portions of the peripheral edge of the contact zone between the suction pad and the card and by providing this physical barrier in such a way that it is interposed between the suction pad and the environment surrounding it and in such a way that it reaches and contacts the surface of the card opposite the surface to be printed, the overspray ink would be intercepted by this physical barrier depositing on it before being able to reach these portions of the peripheral edge of the contact zone.

[0018] The present invention therefore concerns, in a first aspect thereof, a transport device for a card-printing apparatus.

[0019] Preferably, the transport device comprises a first portion configured to transit below one or more printheads of said printing apparatus.

[0020] Preferably, the transport device comprises a support element configured to hold a card to be printed, mounted on said first portion and having at least one resting perimeter configured to receive in a resting relationship a card to be printed.

[0021] Preferably, said first portion comprises at least one screen wall adjacent to said support element.

[0022] Preferably, said screen wall extends away from said first portion between a lower edge and an upper edge.

[0023] Preferably, said lower edge lies on said first portion.

[0024] Preferably, a reference plane passing through said upper edge contains said resting perimeter of the support element, so that said upper edge of the screen wall is in contact with the card to be printed resting on the resting perimeter of the support element.

[0025] The Applicant has found that by arranging the at least one screen wall so that it extends up to the upper edge that passes through the same reference plane containing the resting perimeter of the support element, the card to be printed is simultaneously resting both on the support element and on the upper edge of the screen wall. The upper edge of the screen wall, when the card to be printed is resting thereon, therefore tends to isolate the contact zone between the card to be printed and the support element from the external environment, preventing the atomized drops of overspray ink from penetrating the contact interface between the card to be printed and the support element. The screen wall therefore acts as a physical barrier for the atomised drops of overspray ink, preventing them from being able to reach the contact zone between the card to be printed and the support element. In this way, the overspray ink is not deposited or negligibly deposited on the surface of the card resting on the support element.

[0026] The present invention concerns, in a second aspect thereof, a card printer. Preferably, the printer comprises at least one printhead.

[0027] Preferably, the printer comprises a movement system.

[0028] Preferably, the printer comprises a transport device in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention.

[0029] Preferably, the transport device is connected to the movement system to transit below said printhead.

[0030] Preferably, said printhead emits printing ink towards a card held on said resting perimeter of the support element when said support element transits below the printhead.

[0031] The present invention concerns, in a third aspect thereof, a method for printing a card having a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface.

[0032] Preferably, it is provided for a transport device with a support element having at least one resting perimeter.

[0033] Preferably, it is provided for arranging a screen wall adjacent to said support element.

[0034] Preferably, it is provided for placing said first surface of said card simultaneously on said resting perimeter and on an upper edge of said screen wall.

[0035] Preferably, it is provided for bringing said transport device with said card below a printhead.

[0036] Preferably, it is provided for emitting ink via said printhead onto said second surface of the card.

[0037] The present invention may have at least one of the preferred features described below. Such features may be present individually or in combination with each other, unless expressly stated otherwise, in all three aspects of the present invention.

[0038] Preferably, said at least one screen wall is in contact with said support element.

[0039] The Applicant has found that in this way it is possible to maximize the resting perimeter of the support element. In fact, the resting perimeter has a smaller extension than the perimeter of the card to be printed, as the card to be printed must protrude with respect to the support element in order to be able to be grasped, positioned and removed from the support element. The card is preferably positioned cantilevered also with respect to the screen wall for the same reason. By positioning the screen wall in contact with the support element, the resting perimeter of the support element is thus maximized.

[0040] Preferably, said support element comprises a plurality of side surfaces extending from a base surface until reaching said resting perimeter.

[0041] In one embodiment, said support element comprises a flat resting surface; said resting perimeter being contained in said resting surface.

[0042] By providing a flat resting surface, it is possible to maximize the contact area between the card to be printed and the support element, obtaining greater adhesion of the card to be printed on the support element.

[0043] Preferably, said resting perimeter delimits the resting surface of the support element.

[0044] Preferably, said at least one screen wall extends adjacent to at least one of said side surfaces of said support element.

[0045] Preferably, said at least one screen wall extends adjacent to a plurality of side surfaces of said support element.

[0046] The Applicant has noted that the screen wall can be arranged adjacent to one or more side surfaces of the support element as a function of the type of printing, the type of printheads and as a function of the transport speed of the card to be printed.

[0047] The Applicant has in fact found that it is possible to prevent the overspray ink from depositing on the surface of the card resting on the support element by arranging the screen wall adjacent to the side surface of the support element at which the card to be printed is mostly affected by the problem of the overspray ink being deposited on the surface resting on the support element.

[0048] Preferably, the upper edge of the screen wall extends adjacent to at least a portion of the resting perimeter of the support element.

[0049] The screen wall may be a continuous wall or made up of a plurality of mutually spaced portions. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the screen wall is a single continuous wall.

[0050] In one embodiment, the screen wall extends preferably adjacent to at least three side surfaces of the support element.

[0051] At least in this embodiment, the screen wall at least partially delimits a housing volume for said support element.

[0052] Preferably, said housing volume comprises a bottom wall.

[0053] Preferably, said bottom wall is at least partially delimited by said screen wall.

[0054] Preferably, the screen wall delimits the housing volume for said support element along three sides.

[0055] The Applicant has found that by extending the screen wall adjacent to at least three side surfaces of the support element, the screen wall, in addition to offering a greater screen effect against the possibility of the overspray ink to reach the support element, it is possible to use the screen wall as a precise reference in the positioning of the support element on the first portion of the transport device.

[0056] In this regard, the support element is removably mounted on the first portion of the transport device.

[0057] In this way, it is possible to remove the support element to carry out cleaning or maintenance operations thereon.

[0058] Preferably, the support element is mounted on a bottom wall of the housing volume.

[0059] Preferably, the base surface of the support element is in contact with said bottom wall of the housing volume.

[0060] Preferably, said side surfaces of the support element are inclined.

[0061] Preferably, said base surface of the support element has a smaller extension than said resting surface of the support element.

[0062] In this way, the support element has a substantially truncated pyramid shape with a polygonal base with the minor base resting on the first portion of the transport device. When, as in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the support element comprises exactly four side surfaces, the support element has a substantially truncated pyramid shape with a quadrangular base.

[0063] Preferably, said at least one screen wall has an extension parallel to the side surfaces of the support element to which it is adjacent.

[0064] In this way, the screen wall realizes a shape coupling guide for the insertion of the support element into its housing volume.

[0065] A shape coupling guide must be understood as a guide that, having a shape configured to receive a body with only one possible orientation, allows a body to be inserted into the guide without the possibility of orientation errors.

[0066] Preferably, the support element comprises a card surface retention device configured to hold the card during the printing process.

[0067] Preferably, the retention device is configured to retain by suction the card on the support element.

[0068] For this purpose, preferably the retention device comprises a plurality of channels internal to the support element which are placed in fluid connection with a depressor.

[0069] Preferably, said internal channels reach the resting surface of the support element and are open towards the external environment at the resting surface.

[0070] Preferably, the printer movement system comprises a track system configured to move the transport device back and forth along a substantially straight path or along a closed loop path.

[0071] Preferably, the transport device comprises a second portion configured to couple to the track system of the movement system.

[0072] Preferably, an electric motor is associated with the transport device to move it along the track system.

[0073] Preferably, the first portion of the transport device is connected to the second portion of the transport device and comprises a longitudinal free edge preferably placed on the opposite side with respect to the second portion.

[0074] Preferably, the support element is mounted on the first portion near said longitudinal free edge. Preferably, the support element is mounted on the first portion such that a side surface of the support element is arranged substantially aligned with the longitudinal free edge of the first portion.

[0075] Preferably, at said side surface of the support element aligned with the longitudinal free edge of the first portion, the screen wall is not provided.

[0076] The Applicant has in fact noted that in order to be able to grasp the card to be printed or already printed with automated gripping devices to, respectively, position it on the support element or remove it from the support element, it is appropriate that these automatic gripping devices have a manoeuvring space available in a vertical direction (i.e. in a direction perpendicular to the card). The mounting of the support element with its own side surface aligned with the longitudinal free edge of the first portion of the transport device and the absence of the screen wall at said side surface, allows an edge of the card to be positioned completely cantilevered both with respect to the support element and with respect to the first portion of the transport device, defining the aforementioned vertical manoeuvring space for the automated gripping elements.

[0077] Preferably, said first portion of the transport device comprises a covering surface having no through openings.

[0078] Preferably, said covering surface extends around the housing volume of the support element.

[0079] Preferably, said covering surface extends starting from the screen wall and from the opposite side with respect to the housing volume of the support element.

[0080] Preferably, said covering surface is integral with said at least one screen wall.

[0081] Preferably, said at least one screen wall is made as one piece with the first portion of the transport device.

[0082] Preferably, said covering surface does not comprise the bottom wall of the housing volume.

[0083] The covering surface of the first portion of the transport device is placed below the printhead when the printhead emits ink for printing the card.

[0084] The Applicant has noted that any ink deposited on members of the printer placed below the printhead, such as for example parts of the movement system, would be difficult to remove and in any case would require the printing process to be stopped to allow cleaning of the interested parts.

[0085] The Applicant has found that when the printhead emits ink, the covering surface is always placed below the printhead, since the printhead emits ink only when the transport device (and with it the card to be printed) is placed below the printhead.

[0086] The Applicant has found that by providing said covering surface of the first portion having no through openings, the covering surface acts as a screen for the overspray ink that is directed towards parts of the printer, such as for example parts of the movement system, placed below the printhead.

[0087] In this way, the overspray ink is deposited on the covering surface and does not go beyond it. The ink deposited on the covering surface can be easily removed without requiring prolonged machine downtime.

[0088] The Applicant has also perceived that the time required to remove the overspray ink could be further reduced if it were possible to instantly remove all the ink deposited on the covering surface of the first portion of the transport device.

[0089] The Applicant has found that it is preferable to apply, one superimposed on the other, a plurality of adhesive films to said covering surface of the first portion.

[0090] In this way, the overspray ink deposited on the top adhesive film can be removed by removing such top adhesive film to expose an underlying adhesive film completely free of ink, allowing a substantially instantaneous removal of the overspray ink.

[0091] Preferably, it is provided for arranging the adhesive films one on top of the other to form a stack of adhesive films superimposed between them.

[0092] Preferably, it is provided for arranging the adhesive films as continuous sheets without openings to cover the covering surface of the first portion of the transport device.

[0093] In this case, in one embodiment, the covering surface may comprise through openings. These through openings would still be covered by the adhesive films.

[0094] Preferably, it is provided for removing a top adhesive film of said stack of adhesive films when said top adhesive film is at least partially coated with ink. Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of some preferred embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings and provided by way of indicative and non-limiting example, in which: figure 1 is a schematic representation of a printing system comprising a card printer in accordance with the present invention; figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of some parts of the printer of figure 1 ; figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of a transport device according to the present invention; figures 4 and 5 are perspective views of some details of the transport device of figure 3; figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of a support element of the transport device of figure 3; and figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of a card to be printed.

[0095] In figure 1 , a card printer in accordance with the present invention is indicated as a whole with the number 10.

[0096] As schematically illustrated in figure 1 , the printer 10 may be placed in line in a printing system 200, comprise a card feeding station 201 , a card alignment station 202, a card surface treatment station 203, a preferably ultraviolet ink drying station 204, a card flipping station 205 and a card exit station 206. The card feeding station 201 includes manipulating or pushing devices intended to feed a card, for example taken from a stack of cards (not illustrated), to the subsequent stations.

[0097] The printer 10 is preferably a colour Drop-on-Demand (DoD) inkjet printer.

[0098] The printer 10 comprises one or more printheads 1 1 configured to emit printing ink towards one or more cards 100. The printhead 1 1 is configured to perform "edge-to-edge" printing of the card 100 arranged therebelow.

[0099] The printer 10 comprises a transport device 12 and a movement system 13 configured to move the transport device 12 between the stations referred to above and below the printhead 1 1 .

[0100] As best represented in figure 2, the transport device 12 comprises a first portion 14 and a second portion 15.

[0101] The movement system 13 comprises a track system 16, for example a pair of tracks 17, which extend along a path that passes through the printer 10 and the stations of the printing system 200. This path can be a path comprising a beginning and an end that are spaced out from each other. Alternatively, such a path may be closed on itself so that the beginning and the end of the path physically coincide with each other.

[0102] The second portion 15 of the transport device 12 is mounted on the track system 16 to move the transport device 12 along the path, as schematically illustrated in figure 2. The second portion 15 of the transport device 12 can move along the track system 16 by effect of an electric motor 18 that drives transport belts 19 placed inside the track system 16 and constrained to the second portion 15. In the embodiment illustrated in figure 2, the second portion 15 extends substantially parallel to the tracks 17 and substantially perpendicular to the first portion 14. In other embodiments not illustrated, the second portion 15 may have a different spatial orientation than the first portion 14, for example it may be arranged parallel to the first portion 14. In any case, the first portion 14 and the second portion 15 of the transport device 12 are mechanically joined together or are made from a single piece.

[0103] As illustrated in figure 2, the first portion 14 is configured to transport two cards 100 below the printhead 11 . In other embodiments not illustrated, the first portion 14 is configured to transport a single card 100 or more than two cards 100.

[0104] In this regard, as better illustrated in figure 3, the transport device 12 comprises at least one support element 20. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, two support elements 20 are provided. In the following, reference will be made to a single support element 20 and what has been described in relation to this support element 20 applies identically also to the other support element 20.

[0105] The support element 20 has the function of retaining a card 100 on the transport device 12 during the movement of the latter. The support element 20 comprises a resting perimeter 21 on which a card 100 is received to rest thereon. The resting perimeter 21 delimits an upper surface 22 of the support element 20. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper surface 22 of the support element is a flat surface defining a resting surface 23 for the card 100 that must be printed. As better illustrated in figure 6, the support element 20 is a three- dimensional body delimited by a plurality of side surfaces 24, a base surface 24 and said resting surface 23. The side walls 24 extend between the base surface 25 and the resting surface 23. The upper edge of the side surfaces 24 defines the resting perimeter 21. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the support element 20 comprises a front side surface 24a, a rear side surface 24b, a right side surface 24c and a left side surface 24d.

[0106] As visible in figure 6, the side surfaces 24 of the support element are inclined, i.e. they are not perpendicular to the base surface 25 and are not perpendicular to the resting surface 23. The base wall 25 has a smaller extension than the support wall 23. Therefore, the shape of the support element 20 is a rectangular based truncated pyramid with the major surface facing upwards. The support element 20 is preferably made of metallic material, for example aluminium.

[0107] The support element 20 is removably mounted on the first portion 14 of the transport device 12. In particular, the support element 20 is mounted within a housing volume 26 defined on the first portion 14. The support element 20 is mounted resting on the transport device 12, with its own base surface resting on a bottom wall 27 of the housing volume 26. A plurality of bolts 32 stably connect the support element 20 to the bottom wall 27 of the housing volume 26.

[0108] T o effectively retain the card 100 to be printed, the support element 20 comprises a retention device 28. The retention device 28 comprises a plurality of channels 29 internal to the support element 20 and open at the resting surface 23. The internal channels 29 are placed in fluid connection with pneumatic connectors 30 placed on the transport device 12. As better illustrated in figure 5 (where the support element 20 is illustrated removed from the housing volume 26), the pneumatic connectors 30 are mounted on the first portion 14 in proximity to the second portion 15. The internal channels 29 are also open at the base wall of the support element 20. A channel 31 connected to the pneumatic connectors 30 is provided on the bottom wall 27 of the housing volume 26. The pneumatic connectors 30 are in turn connected to an air vacuum source (not illustrated) in such a way that the internal channels 29 are placed in fluid communication (through the channel 31 of the bottom wall 27) with the air vacuum source. In this way, an air vacuum zone is created on the resting surface 23 of the support element 20, which allows a card 100 to be held against the resting surface 23. The first portion 14 of the transport device 12 comprises a covering surface 33. The covering surface 33 is a substantially flat surface that does not extend at the housing volume 26 of the support element 20. The bottom wall 27 of the housing volume 26 is not part of the covering surface 33. The covering surface 33 extends from a first free edge 14a to a second free edge 14b of the first portion 14. The first free edge 14a is opposite to the second free edge 14b and is transverse to a direction of displacement of the transport device 12. The covering surface 33 also extends up to a longitudinal free edge 14c extending between the first free edge 14a and the second free edge 14b on the opposite side with respect to the second portion 15. On the part facing the second portion 15, the covering surface 33 may extend up to the second portion 15 or may not reach the second portion 15. The covering surface 33 is, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, a surface having no through holes and preferably flat.

[0109] On the covering surface 33, a plurality of adhesive films 34 are placed in mutually overlapping relationship. Each adhesive film 34 preferably covers the entire covering surface 33. The adhesive films 34 are glued one on top of the other to form a stack of adhesive films 34. Starting from the top adhesive film of the stack of adhesive films 34, each adhesive film 34 is removable from the underlying adhesive film 34. Each adhesive film 34 can be made of a sheet, preferably flexible, of plastic material and comprises a surface coated with adhesive material.

[0110] As better illustrated in figure 4, when the support element 20 is mounted on the first portion 14, one of the side walls 24 of the support element 20, preferably the right side wall 24c, is placed substantially flush with the longitudinal free edge 14c, i.e. is placed in alignment with the longitudinal free edge 14c. The housing volume 26 is open at the longitudinal free edge 14c of the first portion 14. The bottom wall 27 of the housing volume 26 reaches the longitudinal free edge 14c of the first portion 14.

[0111] The transport device 12 comprises at least one screen wall 35 at each resting element 20. In the preferred embodiment of the invention that provides for two support elements 20, at least one screen wall 35 is provided for each support element 20. The following applies identically to both the at least one screen wall 35 of the first support element 20 and the at least one screen wall 35 of the second support element 20.

[0112] The screen wall 35 extends away from and in elevation of the first portion 14 of the transport device 12. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the at least one screen wall 35 is a single continuous wall; in other embodiments the at least one screen wall 35 may be made up of a plurality of screen walls 35 arranged between them in mutual approach or spaced apart from each other.

[0113] The screen wall 35 extends in elevation between a lower edge 36 and an upper edge 37. The screen wall 35 does not have through openings in its extension between the lower edge 36 and the upper edge 37. The screen wall 35 is connected to, and preferably made as one piece with, the covering surface 33. The lower edge 36 is placed on the covering surface 33. The upper edge 37 of the screen wall 35 serves as a further resting element for the card to be printed. In this regard, the upper edge 37 of the screen wall 35 reaches exactly the level of the resting perimeter 21 of the support element 20. In particular, as schematized in figure 4, a reference plane P passing through the upper edge 37 contains the resting perimeter 21 of the support element 20. When a card 100 is placed rested on the perimeter edge 21 of the support element 20, said card 100 also rests on the upper edge 37 of the screen wall 35.

[0114] The screen wall 35 comprises internal side surfaces 38 and external side surfaces 39. The internal side surfaces 38 face the housing volume 26 of the support element 20 and the external side surfaces 39 face away from the housing volume 26 of the support element 20. The external side surfaces 39 reach the covering surface 33 and are connected thereto by curved surfaces. The external side surfaces 39 do not form sharp edges with the covering surface 33.

[0115] In the preferred embodiment of the invention and illustrated in the accompanying figures, the screen wall 35 is in contact with the support element 20 and extends parallel to some of the side surfaces 24 of the support element 20.

[0116] The screen wall 35 is in contact with at least one side surface 24 of the support element 20. As illustrated in figure 4, the screen wall 35 is in contact with three side surfaces 24 of the support element 20. In particular, the internal side surfaces 38 of the screen wall 35 are in contact with the front side surface 24a, the bottom side wall 24b and the left side wall 24d of the support element 20. The screen wall 35 is not present at the right side wall 24c of the support element 20.

[0117] The screen wall 35 delimits on three sides the housing volume 26 of the support element 20. The housing volume 26 is open, as it is not delimited by the screen wall 35, at the longitudinal free edge 14c of the first portion 14. As illustrated in figure 5, the internal side surfaces 38 of the screen wall 35 are inclined, i.e. they are not perpendicular to the upper edge 37. The internal side surfaces 38 of the screen wall 35 are not perpendicular to the reference plane P. The internal side surfaces 38 of the screen wall 35 are parallel to the respective side surfaces of the support element 20 to which they are adjacent. The screen wall 35 realizes a shape coupling guide for the insertion of the support element 20 inside the housing volume 26.

[0118] The screen wall 35 has an extension measured in the vertical direction between the lower edge 36 and the upper edge 37 that is smaller than the extension in the vertical direction between the base surface 25 and the resting surface 23 of the support element 20. To allow the reference plane P to contain both the upper edge 37 of the screen wall 35 and the resting surface 23 of the support element 20, the bottom wall 27 of the housing volume 26 is placed at a greater distance, with respect to the lower edge 36 of the screen wall 35, from the resting surface 23 of the support element 20 when the latter is inserted into the housing volume 26. The covering surface 33 is placed at a smaller distance, with respect to the bottom wall 27 of the housing volume 26, from the resting surface 23 of the support element 20 when the latter is inserted into the housing volume 26.

[0119] In use, the printer 10 implements the following method for printing a card 100.

[0120] A card 100 to be printed is placed on the resting perimeter 21 of the support element 20. The card 100 is placed on the support element 20 at a first surface 101 thereof opposite to a second surface 102 thereof. The second surface 102 of the card 100 is the surface that must be printed. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the first surface 101 of the card 100 also rests on the resting surface 23 of the support element 20. The card 100 is placed on the support element 20 with free edges 103 of the card 100 projecting beyond the resting perimeter 21 of the support element 20. In fact, as schematically illustrated in figures 3, 4 and 5, the card 100 has an area of the first surface 101 that is greater than the area subtended by the resting perimeter 23 of the support element 20. The card 100 is placed on the support element 20 so that it projects at the longitudinal free edge 14c of the first portion 14 of the support device 12. The fact that the support element 20 is arranged flush with the longitudinal free edge 14c results in a completely free space (i.e. a space not occupied by any member of the transport device 12) below the free edge 103 of the card 100 placed at the longitudinal free edge 14c. In this way, the operation of placing the card 100 on the support element 20 can be carried out with automatic card gripping and positioning members 100 that grasp the card 100 at the free edge 103 which, once the card 100 is positioned on the support element 20, projects from the longitudinal free edge 14c of the first portion 14 of the transport device 12.

[0121] The positioning of the card 100 to rest on the resting perimeter 21 of the support element 20 simultaneously results in the first surface 101 of the card 100 resting on the upper edge 37 of the screen wall 35. The free edges 103 of the card 100 also project the upper edge 37 of the screen wall 35. In fact, as schematically illustrated in figures 3, 4 and 5, the card 100 has an area of the first surface 101 that is greater than the area subtended by the upper edge 37 of the screen wall 35.

[0122] The retention device 28 is activated and, through the internal channels 29 of the support element 20, the resting surface 23 of the support element 20 air is sucked in between the resting surface 23 and the first surface 101 of the card 100. This results in the card 100 being retained on the support element 20. The first surface 101 of the card 100 also adheres to the upper edge 37 of the screen wall 35 by effect of the suction created on the resting surface 23 of the support element 20.

[0123] The transport device 12 with the card retained on it is moved by the movement system 13 to be directed towards the printhead 1 1. The movement of the transport device 12 results in the transit below the printhead 1 1 of the card 100, with the second surface 102 of the card directly facing the printhead 11 , as schematically illustrated in figure 2.

[0124] As soon as the second surface 102 of the card 100 reaches the printhead 1 1 , the printhead 1 1 emits ink that reaches the second surface 102 of the card printing it. This operation is preferably implemented without interrupting the movement of the transport device 12.

[0125] The overspray ink emitted by the printhead is partly intercepted by the screen wall 35 and partly reaches the first portion 14 of the transport device 12.

[0126] The Applicant has found that the amount of overspray ink reaching the screen wall 35 is minimal. Such overspray ink is deposited on the external surfaces 39 of the screen wall 35.

[0127] The overspray ink reaching the first portion 14 of the transport device 12 reaches only the covering surface 33 of the first portion 14. The exact extension of the covering surface 33 is in fact chosen in such a way as to ensure that the overspray ink reaches only the covering surface 33 and not other components of the transport device 12. Since the adhesive films 34 are applied on the covering surface 33, the overspray ink is deposited on the top adhesive film 34 of the stack of adhesive films 34. When, after a plurality of printing cycles, the top adhesive film 34 has received an amount of overspray ink deemed as excessive, the top adhesive film 34 is removed to expose an undamaged adhesive film 34.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . T ransport device (12) for a card-printing system comprising: a first portion (14) configured to transit below one or more printheads (1 1 ) of said printing system; a support element (20) configured to hold a card (100) to be printed, mounted on said first portion (14) and having at least one resting perimeter (21 ) configured to receive in a resting relationship a card (100) to be printed; wherein said first portion (14) comprises at least one screen wall (35) adjacent to said support element (20) and extending away from said first portion (14) between a lower edge (36) and an upper edge (37), wherein said lower edge (36) lies on said first portion (14) and wherein a reference plane (P) passing through said upper edge (37) contains said resting perimeter (21 ) of the support element (20), so that said upper edge (37) of the screen wall (35) is in contact with the card (100) to be printed resting on said resting perimeter (21 ) of the support element (20).

2. Transport device (12) according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one screen wall (35) is in contact with said support element (20).

3. Transport device (12) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said support element (20) comprises a plurality of lateral surfaces (24) extending from a base surface (25) of the support element (20) and reaching said resting perimeter (21 ), said at least one screen wall (35) extending adjacent to at least one of said lateral surfaces (24) of said support element (20).

4. Transport device (12) according to claim 3, wherein said at least one screen wall (35) extends adjacent to said plurality of side surfaces (24) of said support element (20).

5. Transport device (12) according to claim 4, wherein said at least one screen wall (35) at least partially delimits a housing volume (26) for said support element (20).

6. Transport device (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said support element (20) comprises a flat resting surface (23); said resting perimeter (21 ) being contained in said resting surface (23).

7. Transport device (12) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein said support element (20) comprises a resting surface (23) which is flat; said resting perimeter (21 ) being contained in said resting surface (23), and wherein said lateral surfaces (24) of the support element (20) are inclined and wherein said base surface (25) has a smaller extension than said resting surface (23); said at least one screen wall (35) having a parallel extension to the lateral surfaces (24a, 24b, 24d) of the support element (20) to which it is adjacent.

8. Transport device (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first portion (14) comprises a covering surface (33) having no through openings and integral with said at least one screen wall (35).

9. T ransport device (12) according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of adhesive films (34) are applied to said covering surface (33) of said first portion (14), one superimposed on the other.

10. A card printer (10) comprising at least one printhead (1 1 ), a movement system (13) and a transport device (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the transport device (12) is connected to the movement system (13) for transiting below said at least one printhead (11 ) and wherein said at least one printhead (1 1 ) emits printing ink towards a card (100) retained on said resting perimeter (21 ) of the support element (20) when said support element (20) transits below said at least one printhead (11 ).

11. Method for printing a card (100) having a first surface (101 ) and a second surface (102) opposite said first surface (101 ) comprising: providing a transport device (12) with a support element (20) having at least one resting perimeter (21 ) and a screen wall (35) adjacent to said support element (20); placing said first surface (101 ) of said card (100) simultaneously on said resting perimeter (21 ) and on an upper edge (37) of said screen wall (35); bringing said transport device (12) with said card (100) below a printhead (1 1 ); emitting ink via said printhead (1 1 ) onto said second surface (102) of the card (100).

12. Method according to claim 1 1 , wherein resting the first surface (101 ) of the card (100) on said resting perimeter (21 ) comprises resting said first surface (101 ) of the card (100) on a flat resting surface (23) of said support element (20) andretaining by suction said second surface (102) of the card (100) on said resting surface (23).

13. Method according to claim 11 or 12, comprising arranging said transport device (12) with a first portion (14) comprising a covering surface (33) and arranging, one superimposed on the other, a plurality of adhesive films (34) on said covering surface (33).

14. Method according to claim 13 comprising removing a top adhesive film (34) of said plurality of films (34) when said top adhesive film (34) is at least partially coated with ink.

Images