Printer

Abstract

A printer for printing plate-like media, in particular for printing marker cards with markers for marking electrical appliances includes a housing and at least one input station for the marker cards to be printed The printer further includes a printing station with a printing device and an output station for printed marker cards. The output station has a magazining device which has one or more guide devices so that the output station, with the magazining device, can be drawn from a position pushed into the housing into a position outside the housing and can be pushed back into the housing of the printer, Each guide device also has its own stacking unit which is pivotably mounted.

Claims

1-18.

19. A printer for printing marker cards, comprising (a) a housing; (b) at least one input station for the marker cards to be printed, (c) a printing station with a printing device; and (d) an output station for printed marker cards including a magazining device for retaining the printed marker cards and having at least one guide device which guides said output station and said magazining device between a first position within said housing and a second position outside said housing, each guide device including a pivotable stacking unit.

20. The printer as defined in claim 19, wherein said magazining device performs underfeed magazining which arranges the marker cards according to a first in, first out principle.

21. The printer as defined in claim 19, wherein two of said guide devices are arranged in parallel.

22. The printer as defined in claim 19, wherein each guide device contams an elongated guide aperture by which each guide device is displaceably guided in said housing.

23. The printer as defined in claim 19, and further comprising a cover connected with said housing, a free end of each guide device being attached to said cover.

24. The printer as defined in claim 22, wherein said guide aperture has a length which specifies the length of the extraction path of said magazining device from said housing and the length of a column magazine which is formed through extraction of said magazining device to said second position.

25. The printer as defined in claim 19, wherein each guide device includes a shaft supported by two bearing brackets.

26. The printer as defined in claim 25, and further comprising a frame pivotably connected with a respective shaft of each guide device.

27. The printer as defined in claim 26, wherein each pivoting frame includes two longitudinal webs and contains a plurality of openings spaced between a plurality of respective cross webs.

28. The printer as defined in claim 27, wherein one longitudinal web is connected in a rotationally fixed manner with a respective shaft, and wherein a respective pivoting frame performs a pivoting movement of a respective shaft synchronously with rotation of said respective shaft.

29. The printer as defined in claim 26, wherein each guide device includes a stacking tray.

30. The printer as defined in claim 29, wherein each stacking tray contains a plurality of openings which are engaged by said cross webs of a respective pivoting frame.

31. The printer as defined in claim 29, wherein said stacking trays are horizontally spaced apart from one another for receiving marker cards to be magazined.

32. The printer as defined in claim 28, wherein said pivoting frame and said stacking tray a first guide device form a first stacking and said pivoting frame and said stacking tray of a second guide device form a second stacking unit, said first and second stacking units being arranged symmetrically to one another.

33. The printer as defined in claim 32, wherein each stacking unit has an axis of rotation which is arranged parallel to one of a direction of movement of said output station between said first and second positions and to a respective guide aperture of said guiding device.

34. The printer as defined in claim 29, wherein each stacking tray has a stacking surface.

35. A method of operating a printer as defined in claim 19, comprising the steps of a) providing the printer and at least one marker card which is to be printed with markers; b) pulling an output station out of a housing of the printer and pivoting a respective stacking unit out of a respective guide device of an output station of the printer; c) inserting at least one marker card to be printed into a column magazine of an input station of the printer; d) separating at least one marker card to be printed in a separating device of the input station of the printer; e) conveying the at least one separated marker card into a printing station of the printer; f) printing the at least one marker card through the printing station of the printer; g) conveying the at least one printed marker card into the output station of the printer; h) outputting the at least one printed marker card into a magazining device of the output station of the printer; i) magazining the at least one printed marker card by the magazining device of the output station of the printer into a column magazine in accordance with a first in first out principle; and j) removing the at least one printed marker card from the column magazine of the output station of the printer.

36. The method according to claim 35, and further comprising the step of k) pivoting the stacking unit of the respective guide device of the output station inwardly and pushing the output station into the housing of the printer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0034] The invention will be described in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing. The invention is not limited to these exemplary embodiments, but rather can also be implemented in another manner. In the drawing:

[0035] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer according to the invention with a column magazine for inputting plate-like media to be printed, and a column magazine for outputting the printed plate-like media in a rest position;

[0036] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the printer from FIG. 1 with the column magazine for outputting the printed plate-like media in a working position;

[0037] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the printer from FIG. 2 with the two column magazines and a separation device in the column magazine for inputting plate-like media to be printed and a magazining device in the column magazine for outputting the printed plate-like media:

[0038] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the magazining device in a home position with a printed plate-like medium to be magazined:

[0039] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the printer from FIG. 3 with a printed plate-like medium retracted into the magazining device;

[0040] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the magazining device with a printed plate-like medium retracted into the magazining device;

[0041] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the printer from FIG. 5 with a printed plate-like medium lifted up by the magazining device;

[0042] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the magazining device with a printed plate-like medium lifted up by the magazining device;

[0043] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the magazining device with a printed plate-like medium further lifted up by the magazining device;

[0044] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the magazining device with a printed plate-like medium further lifted up by the magazining device;

[0045] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the printer from FIG. 7 with a printed plate-like medium further lifted up by the magazining device;

[0046] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the printer from FIG. 11 with a printed plate-like medium further lifted up by the magazining device;

[0047] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of view of the magazining device in which the printed plate-like medium is deposited on a tray;

[0048] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the printer from FIG. 12 with several printed plate-like media magazined by the magazining device in the column magazine:

[0049] FIG. 15 is a partial detailed perspective view of the printer from FIG. 14;

[0050] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the printer from FIG. 15 with an empty column magazine for outputting the printed plate-like media in the working position;

[0051] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the printer from FIG. 16 with the empty column magazine for outputting the printed plate-like media in the working position and the magazining device in a rest position; and

[0052] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the printer from FIG. 17 with the column magazine for outputting the printed plate-like media in a rest position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] FIG. 1 depicts a printer 1 according to the invention for printing plate-like media, in particular for printing marker cards 2 with markers 3 for marking electrical appliances. These plate-like media, such as marker cards 2 with at least one marker 3, are usually made of plastic.

[0054] The printer 1 has an input station 100. The input station 100 has a column magazine 101, in which the marker cards 2 to be printed are inserted on top of one another in a stack. In order to be able to print a marker card 2, it is necessary to separate a card from the stack. A separation device 102 is provided for this purpose, for which one marker card 2 is separated in each case from the stack and is then printed. The column magazine 101 and the separation device 102 function in accordance with a “First-in, First-out” (“FiFo”) principle. This is realized through the arrangement of the separation device 102 under or on the bottom of the column magazine 101. The separation device 102 works with the “gate valve/retaining valve” principle or a different functioning principle which supports the “FiFo” principle.

[0055] The respective marker card 2 to be printed can, for example, be conveyed into the printer 1 by a round-belt conveyor. For this purpose, the respective marking card has two u-shaped guide rails 4a, 4b with which the respective marker card 2 sits on the round belt and is thus carried along, or conveyed, by the respective round belt.

[0056] The printer 1 furthermore includes a printing station (not shown). The printing station has a pnnting device (also not shown). The printing device preferably functions in accordance with an inkjet printing method. Alternatively, the printing device can also function according to a different printing method, such as a laser printing method or a thermoprinting method.

[0057] Furthermore, the printer 1 has an output station 200, in which the pnnted marker cards 2 with markers 3 are output. The printer 1 can have further stations, e.g. a fixing station, which is arranged after the printing station and which precedes the output station 200.

[0058] The output station 200 of the printer 1 is preferably formed like a drawer. As a result, in a space-saving manner, the output station 200 can be pulled out of a housing 5 of the printer 1 when printing is being performed and pushed into the housing 5 of the printer 1 again when the printer 1 is not being used. The respective printed marker card 2 can be conveyed into the output station e.g. by a round-belt conveyor.

[0059] FIG. 1 shows the output station 200 in a closed state and is accordingly substantially pushed into the housing 5 of the printer 1A cover 203 is visible. This cover can have a first indentation or recess 2031 and a further indentation or recess 2032.

[0060] When the output station 200 is the opened state (see FIG. 2) the first indentation 2031 provides an additional hand-gripping possibility under the stack of the marker cards 2 in the column magazine 201. As a result, a process of removing the marker cards 2 from the column magazine 201 is simplified. Furthermore, the indentation 2031 facilitates a lateral guiding of the growing stack of the marker cards 2 in the column magazine 200 (see FIG. 15).

[0061] Furthermore, when the output station 200 is in the opened state (see FIG. 2), the first indentation 2031 provides visibility into a column magazine 201 of the output station 200 from the front, as long as the output station 200 is opened, i.e. is pulled out from the housing 5 of the printer 1. As a result, an operator of the printer 1 can simply observe the filling state of the column magazine 201, without having to closely approach the printer in order to then look onto the column magazine 201 from above The second indentation 2032 is intended as a handle of the drawer-like output station 200. with which the output station 200 can be brought out of its closed state into an opened state, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0062] By opening the output station 200 into a pulled-out position on the printer outside the housing, an installation space is freed up for the column magazine 201. The column magazine 201 serves to output the printed marker cards 2 on top of one another in a stack.

[0063] In order to be able to magazine the marker cards 2. a magazining device 202 can be provided, with which in each case a printed marker card 2 is pushed into the stack.

[0064] The column magazine 201 and the magazining device 202 function in accordance with a “First-in, First-out” (“FiFo”) principle. This is realized by an “underfeed magazining” by the magazining device 202 on the bottom of the column magazine 201 and will be explained below in greater detail. The magazined stack of printed marker cards 2 can be manually removed from the column magazine 201 after the magazining process or even during the magazining process.

[0065] FIG. 3 shows the output station 200 in the opened state with the magazining device 202 and the column magazine 201 and the input station with the column magazine 101 and the separation station 102 (this can also be referred to as a “pulled-out position”).

[0066] FIG. 4 shows the magazining device 202 without adjacent components and in a home position. The magazining device 202 can two guide devices 2021a. 2021b which are arranged parallel and preferably symmetrical to one another.

[0067] The respective guide device 2021a, 2021b can furthermore have an elongated-hole-fike guide aperture 20212a, 20212b via which the respective guide device 2021a, 2021b is displaceably guided in the housing 5 of the printer 1. In this way, it cannot fall out of the housing 5 in the pulled-out position, if, at the housing, devices such as pins engage in these guide apertures 20212a. 20212b.

[0068] Alternatively, the respective guide device 2021a. 2021b can be firmly attached to a movable guide slide at the printer. The respective guide device 2021a, 2021b can then be attached to the cover 203 at its free end (not show).

[0069] The length of the guide aperture 20212a. 20212b firmly specifies the length of the extraction path of the magazining device 202 from the housing 5 of the printer 1 and thus also the length of the shaft magazine 201 which forms through the extraction of the magazining device 202 and preferably corresponds substantially to the length of the marker card 2.

[0070] The respective guide device 2021a, 2021b can in each case have a shaft 2022a. 2022b which in each case is supported in two bearing brackets 2023a. b. c. d. There can be attached to the shafts 2022a, 2022b a cantilever arm and/or actuation lever (not shown), which, in the interior of the printer, receives a vertical force from a drive and thus can cause the respective shaft 2022a, 2022b to rotate. Pivot angle restrictors 2024a. 2024b. 2024c, 2024d are provided which are rotatably mounted and which bear the shafts 2022a, 2022b. One pivoting frame 2025a, 2025b in each case is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the respective shaft 2022a, 2022b.

[0071] The respective pivoting frame 2025a, 2025b can have several openings - four openings 2026a, 2026b, 2026c, 2026d in the embodiment shown - and has, between the openings 2026a, 2026b, 2026c. 2026d. in each case cross webs 2021a, 2027b, 2027c, 2027d, 2027e and two longitudinal webs 2028a, 2028b here. The respective shaft-side longitudinal web 2028b can be connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the respective shaft 2022a, 2022b, so that the respective pivoting frame 2025a, 2025b can perform a pivoting or rotating movement of the respective shaft 2022a, 2022b synchronously with the respective shaft 2022a, 2022b.

[0072] The respective guide device 2021a, 2021b has a stacking tray 2029a, 2029b. The respective stacking tray 2029a, 2029b has openings 20210a. 20210b, 20210c, 20210d, which are each engaged by the cross webs 2027b, 2027c, 2027d of the respective pivoting frame 2025a, 2025b. Each respective stacking tray is formed such that that the two stacking trays 2029a. 2029b are spaced apart from one another in the horizontal direction such that the marker cards 2 to be magazined can be securely deposited on the stacking trays 2029a, 2029b.

[0073] The pivoting frame 2025a and the stacking tray 2029a form a first stacking unit 204a and the pivoting frame 2025b and the stacking tray 2029b form a second stacking unit 204b The stacking units 204a. 204b are arranged symmetrically to one another. The respective stacking unit 204a, 204b is pivotably mounted. For this purpose, it has an axis of rotation 20213a and 20213b respectively which is arranged parallel to the push-in direction or parallel to the respective guide aperture 20212a, 20212b of the guiding device 2021a. 2021b. It can also coincide with the axis of rotation of the respective shaft 2022a. 2022b. The pivoting angle of the respective stacking tray 2029a, 2029b can be restricted by a stop.

[0074] FIG. 5 shows the printer 1 with the output station 200 in the opened state. In the column magazine 201 opened as a result, a printed marker card 2 is deposited on the respective pivoting frame 2025a, 2025b of the magazining device 202.

[0075] FIG. 6 shows the marker card 2, as lifted up by the respective pivoting frame 2025a, 2025b, more precisely by the respective longitudinal web 2028a remote from the shaft. For this purpose, the respective shaft 2022a. 2022b is caused to pivot so that the respective longitudinal web 2028a of the respective pivoting frame 2025a. 2025b grips under the respective u-shaped guide rail 4a, 4b of the printed marker card 2 and the printed marker card 2 is moved vertically upwards through the synchronous pivoting movement of the respective shaft 2022a. 2022b and of the respective pivoting frame 2025a, 2025b. For this purpose, the two shafts 2022a. 2022b move, or rotate, in opposite directions.

[0076] FIG. 7 shows the printer 1 with the output station 200 in the opened state. In the column magazine 201 opened as a result, the printed marker card 2 is lifted up by the respective pivoting frame 2025a, 2025b of the magazining device 202.

[0077] FIG. 8 shows the printed marker card 2, as lifted up further by the respective pivoting frame 2025a, 2025b, more precisely by each longitudinal web 2028a remote from the shaft.

[0078] FIG. 9 shows the printed marker card 2, as lifted up further by the respective pivoting frame 2025a, 2025b, more precisely by the respective longitudinal web 2028a remote from the shaft.

[0079] FIG. 10 shows the printed marker card 2, as lifted up further by the respective pivoting frame 2025a, 2025b, more precisely by the respective longitudinal web 2028a remote from the shaft In this position of the marker card 2, the u-shaped guide rails 4a, 4b of the marker card 2 touch a respective stacking surface 20211a, 20211b of the respective stacking tray 2029a, 2029b.

[0080] FIG. 11 shows the printer 1 with the output station 200 in the opened state. In the column magazine 201 opened as a result, the printed marker card 2 is further lifted up by the respective pivoting frame 2025a, 2025b of the magazining device 202.

[0081] FIG. 12 shows the printer 1 with the output station 200 in the opened state. In the column magazine 201 opened as a result, the printed marker card 2 is deposited by each pivoting frame 2025a, 2025b of the magazining device 202 onto the respective stacking surface 20211a, 20211b of the respective stacking tray 2029a, 2029b.

[0082] If further printed marker cards 2 are now deposited by the respective pivoting frame 2025a. 2025b of the magazining device 202 onto the respective stacking surface 20211a, 20211b of the respective stacking tray 2029a, 2029b, the previously deposited marker cards 2, or stack of marker cards 2, is lifted up together entirely so that the “new” marker card 2 just being deposited on the respective stacking surface 20211a, 20211b is magazined under the existing stack of marker cards. The magazining device 202 functions like an underfeed magazining according to the FiFo principle. This is also depicted in FIG. 13.

[0083] FIG. 14 shows the printer 1 with the output station 200 again in the opened state. In the thus opened column magazine 201, several printed marker cards 2 are magazined by the magazining device 202 in accordance with the FiFo principle This is also depicted in FIG. 15.

[0084] FIG. 16 also shows the printer 1 with the output station 200 in the opened state. In the opened column magazine 201, the printed marker cards 2 are removed so that the column magazine 201 is empty and the magazining device 202 is in its home position.

[0085] FIG. 17 shows the printer 1 with the output station 200 in the opened state. In the opened column magazine 201. the printed marker cards 2 are removed so that the column magazine 201 is empty. The magazining device 202, and more precisely the respective stacking units 204a, 204b, are in an outwardly pivoted position, which restricts the respective pivot angle restrictors 2024a, 2024b with regard to a possible pivoting angle. As a result, the magazining device 202 can in each case be pushed into a free installation space - to the right and left of the belt conveyor which conveys the printed marker cards 2 into the output station 200 - into the housing 5 of the printer 1. As a result, in a space-saving manner, the output station 200 can be pushed into a housing 5 of the printer 1 when the printer 1 is not being used.

[0086] FIG. 18 shows the printer 1 with the output station 200 in the closed state.

[0087] The following method is specified for operating the printer.

[0088] In a first method step, the pnnter 1 and at least one marker card 2, which is to be printed, with markers 3 is provided.

[0089] In a second method step, the output station 200 is pulled out of the housing 5 of the printer 1 and the respective stacking unit 204a, 204b of the respective guide device 2021a, 2021b of the output station 200 is pivoted out and is brought into the home position. Alternatively, this method step can also be integrated into the first method step.

[0090] In a third method step, at least one marker card 2 to be printed is inserted into the column magazine 101 of the input station 100 of the printer 1.

[0091] In a further method step, the at least one marker card 2 to be printed is separated in the separating device 102 of the input station 100 of the printer 1.

[0092] In a further method step, the at least one separated marker card 2 is conveyed into the printing station of the printer 1. This is preferably carried out with a belt conveyor.

[0093] In a further method step, the at least one marker card 2 is pnnted through the printing device of the printer 1. The printing device preferably functions in accordance with an inkjet printing method Alternatively, the printing device can also function according to a different printing method, such as a laser printing method or a thermoprinting method.

[0094] In a following method step, the at least one printed marker card 2 is conveyed into the output station 200 of the printer 1. This is preferably carried out with a belt conveyor.

[0095] In a further method step, the at least one printed marker card 2 is outputted into the magazining device 201 of the output station 200 of the printer 1.

[0096] In a following method step, the at least one printed marker card 2 is magazined by the magazining device 201 of the output station 200 of the printer 1 into the column magazine 202 in accordance with the FiFo principle.

[0097] In a final method step, the at least one printed marker card 2 is removed from the column magazine 202 of the output station 200 of the printer 1.

[0098] After termination of a printing process of the printer 1. e.g. after completion of the printing of a series of marker cards 2 for a switch cabinet, the respective stacking unit 204a, 204b of the respective guide device 2021a, 2021b of the output station 200 can optionally be pivoted in and the output station 200 can be pushed into the housing 5 of the printer 1 after the final method step.