Abstract: A card supplying mechanism includes a card stacker with a motor-driven rotatable eccentric cam for sequentially raising and lowering a moving member having an oblique, step-shaped card touching surface. A motor rotates the cam to a position of maximum diameter, thereby lifting vertically-stacked cards with the oblique, step-shaped card touching surface. The motor then drives further to rotate the cam to a position of minimum diameter, thereby separating one end of the cards on an oblique card support surface so as to mutually offset stacked cards. A kick roller then discharges from the stacker a bottommost stacked card. The card supplying mechanism provides a reliable supply of cards by virtue of both improved card separation, and reduced load on the bottommost card that is to be supplied.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printing device for selectively forming an image on a recording medium and a transfer medium, and a platen roller arranged opposite to the printing device. A nipping roller is arranged for nipping the transfer medium with the platen roller, and a mode setting device is used for setting a direct mode for forming the image on the recording medium and a indirect mode for forming the image on the transfer medium. A moving device moves the nipping roller to contact with and separate from the platen roller according to the direct mode and the indirect mode set by the mode setting device.

Abstract: Transports cards to an image forming portion, and turns cards over after forming images on one side of cards at the image forming portion. Transports an intermediate transfer sheet to an image forming portion, forms images on the intermediate transfer sheet at the image forming portion and transports cards to the transfer portion along with transporting the intermediate transfer sheet to the transfer portion, and transfers images formed on the intermediate transfer sheet at the image forming portion to the other side of cards at the transfer portion. Switching between a direct transfer method and an indirect transfer method makes either transfer method applicable thereby improving printer user convenience, enables the forming of images to a recording medium using the optimum image forming method and reduces running costs.

Abstract: A card supplying mechanism includes a card stacker with a motor-driven rotatable eccentric cam for sequentially raising and lowering a moving member having an oblique, step-shaped card touching surface. A motor rotates the cam to a position of maximum diameter, thereby lifting vertically-stacked cards with the oblique, step-shaped card touching surface. The motor then drives further to rotate the cam to a position of minimum diameter, thereby separating one end of the cards on an oblique card support surface so as to mutually offset stacked cards. A kick roller then discharges from the stacker a bottommost stacked card. The card supplying mechanism provides a reliable supply of cards by virtue of both improved card separation, and reduced load on the bottommost card that is to be supplied.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printing device for selectively forming an image on a recording medium and a transfer medium, and a platen roller arranged opposite to the printing device. A nipping roller is arranged for nipping the transfer medium with the platen roller, and a mode setting device is used for setting a direct mode for forming the image on the recording medium and a indirect mode for forming the image on the transfer medium. A moving device moves the nipping roller to contact with and separate from the platen roller according to the direct mode and the indirect mode set by the mode setting device.

Abstract: A printing method includes the steps of transporting a recording medium and an intermediate transfer medium for holding an image temporarily to an image forming position; selectively forming an image on the recording medium and the intermediate transfer medium at the image forming position; transporting the recording medium to an image transfer position; and transferring the image formed on the intermediate transfer medium to the recording medium at the image transfer position. When forming the image on the recording medium at the image forming position, it is prohibited to form the image on the intermediate transfer medium.

Abstract: A printing apparatus has an image forming portion for forming an image on an intermediate transfer sheet for temporarily retaining the image and a transfer portion for transferring the image formed on the intermediate transfer medium to a card. An over-coating device is provided for covering a surface of the card with the image with a coating film. The image forming portion is also capable of printing an image directly on a card. A platen roller supports the card or the intermediate transfer medium. The apparatus can switch between the direct transfer method and the indirect transfer method, thereby reducing a size and a cost of the printing apparatus.

Abstract: A printing apparatus prints directly to a card and has an image forming portion for forming images to an intermediate transfer sheet for temporarily retaining images and a transfer portion for transferring images formed on an intermediate transfer medium to a card. A thermal head in the image forming portion prints directly to a card and forms images on an intermediate transfer medium. A platen roller supports a card or the intermediate transfer medium. Members are shared for the direct transfer and indirect transfer. The apparatus switches between the direct transfer method and the indirect transfer method for printing, is compact and low cost.

Abstract: A third reference position on an eccentric cam positions a thermal head touching a follower roller at a retreated position separated from a printing position when printing is idled, and a second reference position of a middle-sized radius on an eccentric cam applies a thermal head touching a follower roller with a pressure of approximately 39 N to a card therebetween interposed by thermal transfer film, when in a direct transfer execution state. Also, when in an indirect transfer execution state, a first reference position on an eccentric cam applies a thermal head touching a follower roller with a pressure of approximately 78 N onto an intermediate transfer film supported by a platen roller having a degree of hardness of approximately 60. This applies the appropriate amount of pressure per unit of surface area and prevents missing transfers. Therefore, regardless of the method of transfer, high quality images can be attained on a plurality of types of media.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes an image forming portion for selectively forming images to a card and to an intermediate transfer sheet, and a transfer portion for transferring images formed onto an intermediate transfer medium to a card. The image forming portion and transfer portion are opposingly arranged to a card transport path and are arranged offset along the card transport path. This allows the shared use of members for direct transfer and indirect transfer to enable smooth printing. The apparatus switches between the direct transfer method and the indirect transfer method to print to the card and enables lower costs and improved printing speed.

Abstract: A printing method includes the steps of transporting a recording medium and an intermediate transfer medium for holding an image temporarily to an image forming position; selectively forming an image on the recording medium and the intermediate transfer medium at the image forming position; transporting the recording medium to an image transfer position; and transferring the image formed on the intermediate transfer medium to the recording medium at the image transfer position. When forming the image on the recording medium at the image forming position, it is prohibited to form the image on the intermediate transfer medium.

Abstract: A printing apparatus has an image forming portion for forming an image on an intermediate transfer sheet for temporarily retaining the image and a transfer portion for transferring the image formed on the intermediate transfer medium to a card. An over-coating device is provided for covering a surface of the card with the image with a coating film. The image forming portion is also capable of printing an image directly on a card. A platen roller supports the card or the intermediate transfer medium. The apparatus can switch between the direct transfer method and the indirect transfer method, thereby reducing a size and a cost of the printing apparatus.

Abstract: A third reference position on an eccentric cam positions a thermal head touching a follower roller at a retreated position separated from a printing position when printing is idled, and a second reference position of a middle-sized radius on an eccentric cam applies a thermal head touching a follower roller with a pressure of approximately 39 N to a card therebetween interposed by thermal transfer film, when in a direct transfer execution state. Also, when in an indirect transfer execution state, a first reference position on an eccentric cam applies a thermal head touching a follower roller with a pressure of approximately 78 N onto an intermediate transfer film supported by a platen roller having a degree of hardness of approximately 60. This applies the appropriate amount of pressure per unit of surface area and prevents missing transfers. Therefore, regardless of the method of transfer, high quality images can be attained on a plurality of types of media.

Abstract: An printing apparatus is equipped with a recording medium transport device for transporting a recording medium from a supply portion along a transport path; at least one printing device arranged on the transport path for selectively forming an image on the recording medium or an intermediate transfer medium for temporarily holding the image at a predetermined image forming position; and a transfer device arranged on the transport path for transferring the image formed on the intermediate transfer medium to the recording medium. A mode setting device selects a mode between the first mode in which the printing device forms the image on the recording medium and the second mode in which the printing device forms the image on the intermediate transfer medium. An intermediate transfer medium moving device advances and retracts the intermediate transfer medium between the image forming position and a retracted position.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a card transport path composed of the first card transport path for forming an image to a card using a direct transfer method, and the second card transport path composed of a card transport path for transferring an image from an intermediate transfer sheet to the card. An image forming portion is arranged on the first card transport path for forming the image on the card or the intermediate transfer sheet. A transfer portion is arranged to the second card transport path for transferring the image from the intermediate transfer sheet to the card. The first card transport path and the second card transport path intersect while the printing apparatus can switch between the direct transfer method and the indirect transfer method.

Abstract: Transports cards to an image forming portion, and turns cards over after forming images on one side of cards at the image forming portion. Transports an intermediate transfer sheet to an image forming portion, forms images on the intermediate transfer sheet at the image forming portion and transports cards to the transfer portion along with transporting the intermediate transfer sheet to the transfer portion, and transfers images formed on the intermediate transfer sheet at the image forming portion to the other side of cards at the transfer portion. Switching between a direct transfer method and an indirect transfer method makes either transfer method applicable thereby improving printer user convenience, enables the forming of images to a recording medium using the optimum image forming method and reduces running costs.

Abstract: An printing apparatus is equipped with a recording medium transport device for transporting a recording medium from a supply portion along a transport path; at least one printing device arranged on the transport path for selectively forming an image on the recording medium or an intermediate transfer medium for temporarily holding the image at a predetermined image forming position; and a transfer device arranged on the transport path for transferring the image formed on the intermediate transfer medium to the recording medium. A mode setting device selects a mode between the first mode in which the printing device forms the image on the recording medium and the second mode in which the printing device forms the image on the intermediate transfer medium. An intermediate transfer medium moving device advances and retracts the intermediate transfer medium between the image forming position and a retracted position.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises an image forming portion for selectively forming images to a card and to an intermediate transfer sheet and a transfer portion for transferring images formed onto an intermediate transfer medium to a card. The image forming portion and transfer portion are opposingly arranged to a card transport path and are arranged offset along the card transport path. This allows the shared use of members for direct transfer and indirect transfer to enable smooth printing. The apparatus switches between the direct transfer method and the indirect transfer method to print to recording medium and enables lower costs and improved printing speed.

Abstract: A printing apparatus prints directly to a card and has an image forming portion for forming images to an intermediate transfer sheet for temporarily retaining images and a transfer portion for transferring images formed on an intermediate transfer medium to a card. A thermal head in the image forming portion prints directly to a card and forms images on an intermediate transfer medium. A platen roller supports a card or the intermediate transfer medium. Members are shared for the direct transfer and indirect transfer. The apparatus switches between the direct transfer method and the indirect transfer method for printing, is compact and low cost.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a card transport path composed of the first card transport path for forming an image to a card using a direct transfer method, and the second card transport path composed of a card transport path for transferring an image from an intermediate transfer sheet to the card. An image forming portion is arranged on the first card transport path for forming the image on the card or the intermediate transfer sheet. A transfer portion is arranged to the second card transport path for transferring the image from the intermediate transfer sheet to the card. The first card transport path and the second card transport path intersect while the printing apparatus can switch between the direct transfer method and the indirect transfer method.