| 摘要 |
The present invention provides a transport mechanism, and method, for transporting plastic cards, such as credit cards, identification cards, and the like, past a printing apparatus within a printer. The transport mechanism includes a lifting and rotating station for displacing the card from a first level to a second level, as well as rotating the card. The second level is located above the top of the printing apparatus. A card translating station is disposed at the second level, generally above the printing apparatus, and has a receiving end disposed adjacent the lifting and rotating station for receiving the card therefrom, as well as an output end. The translating station includes means for moving the card from the receiving end to the output end thereof along a direction that is generally perpendicular to the direction of movement of the lifting and rotating station. A card lowering station is disposed adjacent the output end of the translating station, on the other side of the printing apparatus, for receiving the card from the output end and displacing the card from the second level to a third level that is generally equal to the first level. |
