Abstract: A card-flipping device for a card printing apparatus is provided. The card-flipping device comprises a card-carrier unit for transporting the card in a vertical direction, a motor drive means for moving the unit in the vertical direction, and an actuator assembly including a rotatable cam arm for flipping the card over. The card-flipping device is particularly suitable for use in thermal dye printers that print images on card substrates such as driver's licenses, employee badges, student cards, and the like. After one surface of the card has been printed, the card is conveyed to the card-flipping device, where the card is flipped over so that the reverse, unprinted side of the card can be printed thereon.

Abstract: A card-flipping device for a card printing apparatus is provided. The card-flipping device comprises a card-carrier unit for transporting the card in a vertical direction, a motor drive means for moving the unit in the vertical direction, and an actuator assembly including a rotatable cam arm for flipping the card over. The card-flipping device is particularly suitable for use in thermal dye printers that print images on card substrates such as driver's licenses, employee badges, student cards, and the like. After one surface of the card has been printed, the card is conveyed to the card-flipping device, where the card is flipped over so that the reverse, unprinted side of the card can be printed thereon.

Abstract: The present invention provides counterfeit resistant ID cards where a microprinting security feature is applied to the card at the time and place of card issuance. The present invention further provides for an ID card that includes microprinted security information including a code by which the authenticity of the ID card can be cross verified. In accordance with the present invention a microprint text in a grayscale gradient is placed onto an ID card using a high accuracy multi-pass thermal printing technology. In using the process of the present invention, a three pass thermal printer is used that is configured to such a high tolerance, that the grayscale gradient microprinting is possible without producing significant artifacts. When this technique is applied, any imperfections that result from the use of lower quality printing equipment become immediately identifiable reducing the ability of counterfeiters to produce fake or altered ID cards.

Abstract: The present invention provides a counterfeit resistant ID card where a printed security feature is applied to the ID card at the issuance location at the time the card is issued. Specifically, the present invention provides for a process of producing an ID card having a unique imbedded security code that is generated and specifically matched to the particular ID card being printed and is applied at the time and place that the card is issued thereby providing a code by which the authenticity of the ID card can be cross verified. Verification is completed by comparing the code on the ID card to the date stamped log of all ID cards printed by the printer at the issuance location. Each entry in the log is encoded with a unique code number that corresponds to the specific print job and more importantly to the specific ID card printed.

Abstract: A process for printing ID cards having a uniquely encoded security authentication component, where an ID card is created having a unique covert code embedded thereon that includes a verifiable fingerprint, which allows the card to be authenticated. A code is included into the image printed on the face of the card that contains important and relevant information pertaining to the time and place of card issue such as the printer manufacturer, issuing authority, time at which the card was printed, date when the card was printed and the printer serial number. The code uses specifically identified printed pixels in a predictable location on the face of the ID card. The pixels in the code location have specific colors that correspond to numbers.