Pivotable Card Feeder for Ink Jet Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet card printers face obstruction issues during printing operations due to the card feeder's raised position, which prevents the ink jet print head from moving through the print zone effectively.
Innovation Solution
The card feeder is designed with a lift mechanism that pivots the feeder frame and pinch roller pair between a lowered position, where it is displaced from the print zone, and a raised position, allowing cards to be fed into the print zone, thereby avoiding obstruction and enabling the print head to move freely during printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the card feeder is positioned in a raised state to enable card feeding, then cards can be fed into the print zone, but the card feeder obstructs the print zone and prevents the ink jet print head from moving through effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The card feeder assembly is designed with a lift mechanism that enables it to dynamically change its vertical position between a raised state (for card feeding) and a lowered state (for printing operations). This dynamic positioning allows the system to adapt the card feeder's location based on the current operational phase, eliminating obstruction during printing while maintaining feeding capability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention resolves the spatial conflict by utilizing the vertical dimension. The card feeder moves along the vertical axis (up and down) to transition between obstructing and non-obstructing positions relative to the print zone. This dimensional change allows the card feeder to be in the way during feeding operations but out of the way during printing, solving the contradiction through spatial reconfiguration.
2Productivity
If the card feeder is lowered to displace it from the print zone during printing, then the ink jet print head can move freely, but the card feeding operation is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The lift mechanism enables the card feeder to dynamically reposition itself in response to operational requirements. During printing operations, the card feeder automatically lowers to avoid obstruction, and during feeding operations, it raises to enable card transfer. This dynamic adaptation ensures continuous productivity without significant interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary positioning of the card feeder in the raised state before printing begins, so that cards are ready for feeding. The lift mechanism is activated in advance to position the card feeder appropriately before each printing cycle, ensuring that the printing operation can proceed without delay while maintaining readiness for the next feeding operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
An ink jet card printer includes an ink jet print head, a gantry, and a card feeder. The ink jet print head is configured to perform a print operation on a card supported in a print position along a processing axis. The gantry is configured to move the print head through a print zone. The card feeder includes a feeder frame, a first pinch roller pair, and a lift mechanism. The first pinch roller pair is supported by the feeder frame and is configured to feed individual cards along a card feed axis. The lift mechanism is configured to move the feeder frame and the first pinch roller pair between a lowered position, in which the card feeder is displaced from the print zone, and a raised position, in which at least a portion of the card feeder extends into the print zone.