Recording device

Abstract

A recording device having a first card transfer passage with a card supply unit and a second card transfer passage intersecting the first card transfer passage enables the component elements including an information recording means such as a thermal-transfer printer to be assembled compact and efficiently handle one or more cards at one time. Such rational arrangement of the first and second card transfer passages includes a card turning means located at the intersection of the passages for transferring the card between the first and second card transfer passages and recording or printing information on either or both surfaces of the card. By adding a third card transfer passage extending radially from the intersection of the first and second card transfer passages, desired information can be recorded on the card in different manner.

1. A card recording device comprising: 
 a first card transfer passage for transferring a card,  
 a card supply unit for containing one or more cards, said card supply unit being disposed on a  the first card transfer passage, ;  
 a second card transfer passage intersecting with said first card transfer passage at an intersection point, ;  
   a  card recording means for recordingthermal- transferring  information on the card fed from said card supply unit , said card recording means being disposed on said second card transfer passage,; and  
 a card turning means for transferring or turning the card, said card turning means being rotatably disposed at said intersection point of said first and second card transfer passages.  
 
     
     
       2. A card recording device according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second card transfer passages intersect at right angles. 
     
     
       3. A card recording device according to  claim 1 , wherein said first card transfer passage extends substantially horizontally, and said second card transfer passage extends substantially vertically. 
     
     
       4. A card recording device according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second card transfer passages extend radially from said intersection point of said passages. 
     
     
       5. A card recording device according to  claim 1 , wherein said card supply unit is located at one end of said first card transfer passage, and further comprising a card discharge unit located at the other end of said first card transfer passage. 
     
     
       6. A card recording device according to  claim 2 , wherein said card supply unit is located at one end of said first card transfer passage, and further comprising a card discharge unit located at the other end of said first card transfer passage. 
     
     
       7. A card recording device according to  claim 3 , wherein said card supply unit is located at one end of said first card transfer passage, and further comprising a card discharge unit located at the other end of said first card transfer passage. 
     
     
       8. A card recording device according to  claim 4 , wherein said card supply unit is located at one end of said first card transfer passage, and further comprising a card discharge unit located at the other end of said first card transfer passage. 
     
     
       9. A card recording device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a cleaner for cleaning the card fed from said card supply unit, said cleaner being disposed between said card supply unit and said card turning means on said first card transfer passage. 
     
     
       10. A card recording device according to  claim 5 , further comprising a cleaner for cleaning the card fed from said card supply unit, said cleaner being disposed between said card supply unit and said card turning means on said first card transfer passage. 
     
     
       11. A card recording device according to  claim 1 , wherein said information  card recording means is a thermal-transfer printer. 
     
     
       12. A card recording device according to  claim 5 , wherein said information  card recording means is a thermal-transfer printer. 
     
     
       13. A card recording device according to  claim 9 , wherein said information  card recording means is a thermal-transfer printer. 
     
     
       14. A card recording device comprising a first card transfer passage, a card supply unit for containing one or more cards, said card supply unit being disposed on a first card transfer passage, a second card transfer passage intersecting with said first card transfer passage at an intersection point, first card recording means for recording information on the card, said first card recording means being disposed on said second card transfer passage, a third card transfer passage intersecting with said first and second card transfer passages at an intersection point, second card recording means for recording information on the card, said second card recording means being disposed on said third card transfer passage, and card turning means for transferring or turning the card, said card turning means being rotatably disposed at said intersection point of said first, second and third card transfer passages. 
     
     
       15. A card recording device according to  claim 14 , wherein said first and second card transfer passages intersect at right angles. 
     
     
       16. A card recording device according to  claim 14 , wherein said first card transfer passage extends substantially horizontally, and said second card transfer passage extends substantially vertically. 
     
     
       17. A card recording device according to  claim 14 , wherein said first, second and third card transfer passages extend radially from said intersection point of said passages. 
     
     
       18. A card recording device according to  claim 14 , wherein said card supply unit is located at one end of said first card transfer passage, and further comprising a card discharge unit located at the other end of said first card transfer passage. 
     
     
       19. A card recording device according to  claim 14 , wherein said card supply unit is located at one end of said first card transfer passage, and further comprising a card discharge unit located on said third card transfer passage. 
     
     
       20. A card recording device according to  claim 14 , comprising a card discharge unit disposed on one of said first to third card transfer passages, and an error-card rejecting unit disposed on the other one of said first to third card transfer passages. 
     
     
       21. A card recording device according to  claim 14 , further comprising a cleaner for cleaning the card fed from said card supply unit, said cleaner being disposed between said card supply unit and said card turning means on said first card transfer passage. 
     
     
       22. A card recording device according to  claim 14 , wherein one of said first and second information  card recording means is a thermal-transfer printer, and the other information  card recording means is a magnetic encoder. 
     
     
       23. A card recording device according to  claim 14 , wherein one of said first and second information  card recording means is a thermal-transfer printer, and the other information  card recording means is an IC writer. 
     
     
       24. A card recording device according to  claim 14 , wherein said first and second information  card recording means arc  are thermal-transfer printers. 
     
     
       25. A card recording device according to  claim 24 , wherein one of said first and second information  card recording means is a thermal-fusing type thermal-transfer printer, and the other information  card recording means is a thermal-sublimation type thermal-transfer printer. 
     
     
       26. A card recording device according to  claim 14 , wherein said card supply unit is provided with a lid having a card aligning member to push forward the cards stacked in said card supply unit when closing said lid. 
     
     
       27. A card recording device according to  claim 1 , wherein said first card transfer passage is not horizontal.  
     
     
       28. A card recording device according to  claim 11 , wherein said thermal transfer printer is a thermal fusing transfer printer.  
     
     
       29. A card recording device according to  claim 11 , wherein said thermal transfer printer is a thermal sublimation transfer printer.  
     
     
       30. A card recording device according to  claim 1 , wherein said card turning means is rotatable such that either side of said card can be faced on said second card passage.  
     
     
       31. A card recording device according to  claim 1 , wherein said card turning means rotates exactly at said intersection point.  
     
     
       32. A card recording device according to  claim 1 , further includes a cleaner for cleaning the card, said cleaner being disposed on said first card transfer passage.  
     
     
       33. A card recording device according to  claim 1 , further includes a platen roller disposed at a recording position defined on said second card transfer passage.  
     
     
       34. A card recording device according to  claim 33 , further includes a reciprocating driver movable with respect to said platen roller.  
     
     
       35. A card recording device according to  claim 1 , further includes a ribbon to be pressed against the card moved along said second card transfer passage.  
     
     
       36. A card recording device according to  claim 35 , wherein said ribbon is contained in a ribbon cartridge.  
     
     
       37. A card recording device according to  claim 1 , wherein said first card transfer passage is horizontal.  
     
     
       38. A card recording device comprising:
   a first card transfer passage;        a card supply unit for containing one or more cards, said card supply unit being disposed on the first card transfer passage;        a second card transfer passage intersecting with said first card transfer passage at an intersection point;        a printer unit having at least a roller for transferring information on the cards, said printer unit being disposed on said second card transfer passage; and        a card turning device having at least a roller for transferring or turning the card, said card turning device being rotatably disposed at said intersection point of said first and second card transfer passage.      
     
     
       39. A card recording device according to  claim 38 , wherein said printer unit is a thermal transfer printer unit.  
     
     
       40. A card recording device according to  claim 39 , wherein said thermal transfer printer unit is a thermal sublimation printer unit.  
     
     
       41. A card recording device according to  claim 38 , wherein said printer unit is a letter printer unit.  
     
     
       42. A card recording device according to  claim 38 , wherein said printer unit is an image printer unit.  
     
     
       43. A card recording device according to  claim 38 , wherein said first and second card transfer passages intersect at right angles.  
     
     
       44. A card recording device according to  claim 38 , wherein said card turning device rotates exactly at said intersection point.  
     
     
       45. A card recording device according to  claim 38 , further includes a platen roller disposed at a recording position defined on said second card transfer passage.  
     
     
       46. A card recording device according to  claim 45 , further includes a reciprocating driver movable with respect to said platen roller.  
     
     
       47. A card recording device according to  claim 38 , further includes a ribbon to be pressed against the card moved along said second card transfer passage.  
     
     
       48. A card recording device according to  claim 47 , wherein said ribbon is contained in a ribbon cartridge.  
     
     
       49. A card recording device according to  claim 38 , further includes a cleaner for cleaning the card, said cleaner being disposed on said first card transfer passage.  
     
     
       50. A card recording device comprising:
   a first card transfer passage for transferring a card;        a second card transfer passage intersecting with said first card transfer passage at an intersection point;        a card recording means for thermal - transferring information on the card, said card recording means being disposed on said second card transfer passage; and        a card turning means for transferring or turning the card, said card turning means being rotatably disposed at said intersection point of said first and second card transfer passages and pivots at said intersection point.      
     
     
       51. A card recording device comprising:
   a first card transfer passage;        a second card transfer passage intersecting with said first card transfer passage at an intersection point;        a printer unit having at least a roller for transferring information on the cards, said printer unit being disposed on said second card transfer passage; and        a card turning device having at least a roller for transferring or turning the card, said card turning device being rotatably disposed at said intersection point of said first and second card transfer passages and pivots at said intersection point.