Abstract: Card printing apparatus, for example, for printing identification cards, pass cards and the like generally comes with a relatively restricted size card input hopper. The number of cards that can be processed in a single operation is accordingly limited. The capacity for a single run of card printing can be materially increased without leading to card feed problems because of the increased pressure at the bottom of a stack of cards by arranging that at least part of the in-feed hopper is inclined away from the vertical. In order to maintain the footprint of the printer relatively small, the hopper preferably has two vertical sections and an intermediate inclined section.

Abstract: In a method of forming an identification card printer a sheet feed printer is provided having a printhead and a sheet feed mechanism that is driven by a sheet feed drive to feed paper sheets to the printhead for printing. Next, the sheet feed mechanism is replaced with a card transport mechanism that is used to feed cards from a card supply to the printhead for printing. The card transport mechanism is then linked to the sheet feed drive through a feed drive link. Finally, a master controller for controlling the operation of the card transport mechanism is installed. Additional aspects of the present invention relate to an identification card printer formed in accordance with the above-described method.

Abstract: A card printer is provided which comprises a printhead, a carrier table reciprocatively movable along a movable path in facing relation to the printhead, a drive mechanism for reciprocating the carrier table, a card transfer mechanism for successively feeding each of cards onto the carrier table, and a positioning assembly for appropriately positioning the card on the carrier table. The positioning assembly comprises a pair of stopper pins which is retractably projectable from the carrier table for stopping engagement with the leading edge of the card, and a cam mechanism for causing the stopper pins to project from the carrier table when the carrier table assumes a standby position for receiving the card.