Abstract: A credential production device is provided. The credential production device includes a card holder. The card holder includes a housing having a base and a card press. The card press is configured to apply a load to a top card of a stack of cards supported above the base. The load includes a perpendicular load component oriented perpendicularly to the base and having a magnitude that increases as a thickness of the stack of cards decreases.

Abstract: A method and system for securely processing a credential substrate using a credentials production system and secured consumable supply. The consumable supply is selectively in one of a plurality of states including a production disabled state and a production enabled state. The state of the consumable supply is changed from the production disabled state to the production enabled state. The state in the consumable supply is verified as being in the production enabled state prior to processing the credential substrate using the consumable supply.

Abstract: A credential manufacturing device includes a card supply positioned adjacent to a main card input and configured to hold a plurality of plastic card substrates, a card transport, a card processing device, an auxiliary input and a card rotator. The card transport is configured to feed individual card substrates from the card supply through the main card input and along a processing path. The card processing device is either a print head or a laminating roller and is in line with the processing path. The auxiliary input is displaced from the main card input and the processing path, and positioned in line with an auxiliary input path, which is transverse to the processing path. The auxiliary input is configured to receive individual card substrates for travel along the auxiliary input path.

Abstract: One embodiment of a credential production system includes a credential manufacturing device comprising a memory containing credential manufacturing device information relating to the credential manufacturing device, a client computer, a data store and a credential production server remote from the client computer and the credential manufacturing device and configured for data communication with the credential manufacturing device, the client computer and the data store. The credential production server comprises instructions stored in a tangible medium and executable by a microprocessor for receiving the credential manufacturing device information from the credential manufacturing device at the credential production server, storing the received credential manufacturing device information in the data store and sending the credential manufacturing device information in the data store to the client computer.

Abstract: One embodiment of a credential production system includes a plurality of credential manufacturing devices, at least one client computer and a credential production server that is remote from the client computer and the credential manufacturing device. The credential production server comprises instructions stored in a tangible medium and executable by a microprocessor for receiving a credential production job from one of the client computers at the credential production server, wherein the credential production job identifies a credential manufacturing device model, selecting a final candidate credential manufacturing device among the plurality of credential manufacturing devices having a model that matches the model identified in the credential production job, and sending the credential production job to the final candidate credential manufacturing device for processing. Another embodiment is directed to a method of managing credential production jobs in a credential production system.

Abstract: In a method of ordering a consumable supply produced by a card manufacturing device of an identification card manufacturing system, a request to order the consumable supply is received from a user. Next, supply information relating to the supply is retrieved and the supply information is provided to a first web address. Finally, a second web address, which is different from the first web address and is associated with the supply, is retrieved through the first web address based upon the supply information.

Abstract: In a method of authorizing a supply for use with a printing system, a supply is provided having a memory containing a first and second codes and supply-specific data, which uniquely identifies the supply. The first code, the second code and the supply-specific data are retrieved from the memory of the supply. The first and second codes are translated using the supply-specific data. The translated first code is compared to a third code and the translated second code is compared to a fourth code. Use of the supply with the printing system is authorized when the translated first code corresponds to the third code and the translated second code corresponds to the fourth code. Use of the supply with the printing system is prevented when either the translated first code does not correspond to the third code, or the translated second code does not correspond to the fourth code.

Abstract: A card printer comprises a print platen, a first support, a printhead, and a biasing component. The first support is moveable, relative to the platen, between print and withdrawn positions. The printhead is moveably mounted to the first support for movement between a forward position and a floating position relative to the first support. The biasing component is configured to apply a biasing force to bias the printhead toward the forward position.

Abstract: One embodiment of a substrate laminator comprises a housing that includes a cartridge receiver, a substrate transport, a cartridge and a cartridge position adjustment mechanism. The substrate transport mechanism is configured to feed substrates along the processing path in a lengthwise direction. The cartridge is received in the cartridge receiver and includes a ribbon supply. The cartridge position adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust the position of the cartridge in a widthwise direction relative to the substrate processing path.

Abstract: Identification card manufacturing security restricts use of an identification card manufacturing system with only authorized supplies. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a supply-specific security code (SSSC) and supply-specific data are stored in memory of the supply. The SSSC is translated using the supply-specific data. Finally, the supply is authorized for use with the identification card manufacturing system only when the translated SSSC is found to be valid. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an identification card manufacturing system is configured to operate only with supplies having corresponding customer-specific security codes (CSSC). A supply CSSC and supply-specific data are retrieved from memory of the supply. Additionally, a system CSSC and system-specific data are retrieved from memory of the identification card manufacturing system. The supply CSSC and the system CSSC are translated using the supply-specific data and the system-specific data, respectively.

Abstract: A credential production device is provided. The credential production device includes a card holder. The card holder includes a housing having a base and a card press. The card press is configured to apply a load to a top card of a stack of cards supported above the base. The load includes a perpendicular load component oriented perpendicularly to the base and having a magnitude that increases as a thickness of the stack of cards decreases.

Abstract: A credential production device is disclosed. The credential production device includes a frame, a support member and a credential processing device component. The support member is coupled to the frame and includes a first portion cantilevered from the frame. The credential processing device component is coupled to the first portion of the support member.

Abstract: A credential production device includes a unitary frame formed of plastic, a first processing component and a second processing component. The unitary frame includes a rear wall, a pair of side walls extending from opposing sides of the rear wall, a top wall extending from a top side of the rear wall and coupled to the side walls, a bottom wall extending from a bottom side of the rear wall and coupled to the side walls, a first device registration member and a second device registration member. The rear wall, the side walls, the top wall and the bottom wall define an interior cavity and an opening to the interior cavity. The first processing component includes a first frame registration member that is configured to cooperate with the first device registration member to place the first processing component in a known position relative to the unitary frame and the second device registration member.

Abstract: A credential printing device is provided. The credential printing device includes a credential substrate transport, a transfer ribbon and a transfer roller. The credential substrate transport is configured to feed a credential substrate along a processing path. The transfer ribbon is adjacent to the processing path. The transfer roller is positioned below the processing path and is configured to transfer an image from the transfer ribbon to a bottom surface of the credential substrate in the processing path.

Abstract: A method of feeding substrates in a credential production device is provided. A substrate transport has first and second feed rollers displaced along a substrate feed path. A substrate holder containing at least a first substrate engages the first feed roller and a second substrate lies on the first substrate. The first feed roller driven such that the first substrate is fed out of the substrate holder in a forward direction along the substrate feed path. Movement of the second substrate is restricted in the forward direction along the substrate feed path using the first feed roller after the first substrate separates from the first feed roller. The first substrate is fed along the substrate feed path using the second feed roller.

Abstract: A credential production device is disclosed. The credential production device includes a frame and a printhead assembly. The printhead assembly includes a support member, a pivotable coupling, a printhead and an actuation mechanism. The support member has a first end and a second end. The pivotable coupling attaches the first end of the support member to the frame. The printhead is coupled to the second end of the support member. The actuation mechanism is coupled to the support member between the first end and the second end. The actuation mechanism is configured to pivot the support member about the frame to move the printhead form an idle position to a print position.

Abstract: A ribbon cartridge for use in a credential production device is disclosed. The ribbon cartridge includes a take-up spool, a supply spool and a ribbon wound on the supply and take-up spools. The supply spool includes a loaded condition, in which a majority of the ribbon is wound on the supply spool and a minority of the ribbon is wound on the take-up spool. The take-up spool includes a loaded condition, in which a majority of the ribbon is wound on the take-up spool and a minority of the ribbon is wound on the supply spool. The ribbon wound on the supply spool in the loaded condition extends into the space occupied by the ribbon wound on the take-up spool when the take-up spool is in the loaded condition.

Abstract: In a method of forming an ink-receptive card substrate, an ink-receptive material is provided. The ink-receptive material includes a backing layer and an ink-receptive coating on a surface of the backing layer. Next, a card member is provided. Finally, the ink-receptive material is laminated to a surface of the card member with the ink-receptive coating facing the surface of the card member. This results in the bonding of the ink-receptive coating to the surface of the card member. Additional embodiments of the present invention are directed to devices that are configured to perform the above-identified method.

Abstract: In a method of authorizing credential substrate processing in a credential manufacturing device, a credential manufacturing device and a credential substrate are provided. The credential substrate includes a memory containing a unique identifier. An authorized credential substrate identification stored in a data store is accessed. The authorized credential substrate identification identifies a specific credential substrate. The authorized credential substrate identification is compared to the unique identifier of the credential substrate. The processing of the credential substrate using the credential manufacturing device is prevented when the authorized credential substrate identification does not match the unique identifier.

Abstract: An identification card printer includes a card input, a card transport, a printhead, and a card output. The card transport is configured to feed a card from the card input along a print path. The printhead is positioned below the print path and is configured to print an image on a surface of the card. The card can then be discharged through the card output.