Patent ID: 6985266

Claim:
A printer for printing, preferably by thermal transfer, of articles ( 20 ) such as cards, in particular of plastic material, of the type comprising, from upstream to downstream, a loader ( 1 ) for articles to be printed, adapted to coact with a drive element for emitting articles ( 20 ) from the loader ( 1 ), a printing device ( 2 ) and transfer means ( 3 ) to bring sequentially the articles ( 20 ) from the outlet ( 18 ) of the loader ( 1 ) to the printing device ( 2 ) and from the printing device ( 2 ) toward collection means for the printed articles ( 20 ), characterized in that the drive element for bringing articles ( 20 ) from the loader ( 1 ), constituted by a cylinder ( 4 ) in contact with the articles ( 20 ) to be treated by means of an opening ( 5 ) provided in a wall of the loader ( 1 ), is driven by a motor ( 6 ) common to the transfer means ( 3 ), the contact between the cylinder ( 4 ) of the loader ( 1 ) and the articles ( 20 ) to be treated being sequentially interrupted by an isolating device ( 7 ), said isolating device coupled to and actuated by the motor ( 9 ) of the printing device ( 2 ) by a mechanical connection ( 8 ).