Abstract: A technique is described for determining pixel dropout in a printhead that has a plurality of print elements arrayed along an axis. In the technique, a dataset of integrated intensity values, in the printing direction on a substrate, of a captured image is generated and used to determine if pixel dropout has or may have occurred.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method of and apparatus for graphically marking a series of portable objects, such as a card, each portable object being graphically marked on a respective zone by a respective marking device, wherein the marking devices are configured to perform the same marking operation simultaneously on a plurality of portable objects.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a system for the calibration of at least one parameter of a laser engraver, the laser engraver comprising on one hand an engraving system with a focusing lens positioned at a distance of the surface of an substrate intended to be engraved and on the other hand a vision system for at least the positioning and the verification of the engraving, the vision system including a camera associated with an appropriate illumination and, wherein the engraving device of the laser is arranged in such way that the engraving device works to engrave a substrate with specific engraved layout corresponding to variation of at least one parameter and wherein the vision system is connected to a comparison device of at least one measured engraved parameter with the template value of at least one stored data in a memorization device connected to a engraving correction device.

Abstract: Techniques are described for the production of tactile dots, tactile dot groups, and tactile identifier marks on substrates that are tactilely recognizable by visually impaired individuals. Each tactile dot can be formed individually in the substrate, for example by separately embossing each tactile dot using a single punch and die pair. By using a single punch and die pair, the size, complexity and cost of the tactile dot embossing mechanism can be reduced, and the spacing between the tactile dots can be varied.

Abstract: A substrate de-bowing mechanism, system and method are described. The mechanism can include a substrate support, one or more stationary contact members, and one or more dynamic or movable contact members that are adapted to contact the substrate and bend the substrate in a desired direction to reduce or eliminate bowing of the substrate. The mechanism is controlled by a CPU or other controller that can adjust the de-bow parameters of the de-bowing mechanism based on input settings that can be dynamic and/or static settings. The mechanism can be used to de-bow a variety of substrates including plastic cards, passports, and passport pages.

Abstract: A technique is described for determining pixel dropout in a printhead that has a plurality of print elements arrayed along an axis. In the technique, a dataset of integrated intensity values, in the printing direction on a substrate, of a captured image is generated and used to determine if pixel dropout has or may have occurred.

Abstract: Systems and methods for utilizing a trimming device to trim an edge of a plastic card having round corners, are provided. The plastic card has an overlay laminated on a major surface of the plastic card. The periphery of the overlay overhangs the edge of the plastic card. The trimming device trims the overhanging part of the laminated overlay by moving the trimming device along the edge of the personalized document in a direction generally parallel to the major surface of the plastic card.

Abstract: An identification document includes a first surface, at least a portion of the first surface being made of foamable synthetic material, and a tactile relief marking having a bubble structure formed in the foamable synthetic material. A method is used for producing at least one tactile relief marking on an identification document by an irradiation source. The identification document includes a surface having foamable synthetic material that has a property of increasing its volume by foaming upon application of energy.

Abstract: A method and a system that are used to indirectly read embossed characters on a personalized document for verifying or recognizing the embossed characters. The method and system digitize an image of the embossed characters that is formed on a foil when applying coloration material from the foil to the embossed characters on the personalized document. The captured image on the foil is then used to verify and/or recognize the embossed characters on the personalized document.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for directly reading and verifying characters on a personalized document, are provided. A surface of the personalized document is illuminated independently or simultaneously by first and second light sources. The first light source has a ring shape, surrounds the personalized document in 360 degree, and transmits a grazing incident light to illuminate the surface of the personalized document. An incident light from the second light source is reflected by a beam splitter and illuminates the surface of the personalized document in a direction generally perpendicular to the surface. Light reflected from the surface of the personalized document in a direction generally perpendicular to the surface thereof is collected by a camera.

Abstract: A desktop card print having an improved automatic card feed hopper that employs a card picking mechanism that includes an automatic gate mechanism in combination with a card edge assist picker while providing a card exception slot for manual feeding of a card, a removable ribbon cassette that employs a magnetic encoder mechanism for tracking the motion of a ribbon mounted on the ribbon cassette, a scanning station that is configured and arranged to capture an image of one or more surfaces of the card as it passes the scanner, and a power take-off (PTO) gear adjacent the rear end of the printer for use in driving an additional processing mechanism to be mounted at the rear of the printer.

Abstract: A machine that processes gift cards in an in-line process where the gift cards travel along a generally straight transport path from a card feed mechanism to a delivery end where the cards and carrier combinations are discharged. During the in-line processing, a magnetic stripe, integrated circuit chip or RFIID tag on the gift cards can be encoded with account information, a serial number or other information. In addition, the cards are transported to a print mechanism that personalizes the cards with a bar code. account information, serial number or other information. After printing, the cards are transported to a gluing system which applies adhesive to one side of the cards. The cards arc then transported to a feeding mechanism that feeds and applies a carrier to one or more cards.

Abstract: A booklet processing mechanism is described that includes a spine guidance system that is configured to hold the area adjacent to the spine of an opened, multiple sheet booklet against a backing plate during processing on a page of the booklet, for example by a laser or during vision verification. The spine guidance system is configured so that it resides closely adjacent to the spine of the booklet, below the field of lasing by the laser or other processing operation, so that it does not interfere with the processing operation.

Abstract: A booklet processing mechanism is described that includes a booklet guide and clamp system that is configured to act as the guide during entry and exit of the booklet into and from the mechanism, as well as clamp and hold the booklet in its proper position during a processing operation, for example by a laser or during vision verification. The booklet guide and clamp system is moveable between a first position for guiding an upper, free edge of an opened booklet and a second position where the upper, free edge is clamped against a backing plate. At the second, clamping position, the mechanism is out of the way so that it does not interfere with the processing operation. Because the guiding and clamping functions are combined into one mechanism, only one actuator and one sensor are needed for the guiding and clamping functions.

Abstract: A method for interleaving a module including the cutting out of the module on a strip, the gripping of the cut-out module, the conveying of the module right up to a station for affixing and adhesively bonding modules. The module being heated by a heater via heat conduction of an affixing system upon conveying and then affixing of the preheated module by positioning the head of a first guiding member on the upper portion of a second guiding member forming a mask showing the imprint of the module or chip, preformed on the card, by displacement of the affixing system and of positioning the lower portion of the second guiding member on the surface of the card by displacement of the assembly formed by the affixing system and the second guiding member. A device for interleaving a module is also described.

Abstract: A method, printer, and retransfer material have the capability of printing images, including multiple color images, on a retransfer material that already has a preprinted artifact on the retransfer material. The preprinted artifact can include for example a hologram or other registered artifact, More particularly, a method, printer, and retransfer material allow for printing images on a retransfer material, where such images are not printed onto the preprinted artifacts present on the retransfer material. One or more indicia marks are detected by at least one sensor, so as to obtain the position of respective preprinted artifacts before printing images onto the retransfer material. Such can avoid printing images on the preprinted artifacts, The method, printer, and retransfer material may be incorporated as part of an identification document issuance system, where the method and printer can be applied to one processing module of such a system.

Abstract: Systems and methods that utilize a card reorienting mechanism are described. Generally, the card reorienting mechanism can transport and rotate a card without substantially contacting one of the principal surfaces of the card. The use of the card reorienting mechanism permits reorienting of the card without substantially contacting the principal surface of the card after the operation has been performed on the principal surface of the card. The card reorienting mechanism of the present disclosure can be useful where rotation of the card without contacting the principal surfaces of the card is desired moments after ink is applied to one of the principal surfaces of the card. In addition, substantially the entire principle surface is accessible for processing operations while the card is on the reorienting mechanism, such as for laser personalization or for image capture.

Abstract: Improvements that prevent tampering of images on identification documents for example identity cards, credit cards and the like, and passports. The document includes a full color image of a person, and a second, full, achromatic image of the person formed underneath and spaced from the color image and in congruence therewith using a laser. The second full image is not visible underneath the first full image during normal viewing of the document, and is only visible upon removal of all or a portion of the first full image. As a result, the document and the image have no outwardly apparent visual difference to the document holder or to a would-be counterfeiter. This provides a covert security feature that is not known or seen until the document is attacked by removing the first full image.

Abstract: An object processing machine for processing a plurality of objects, the machine comprising: a plurality of processing modules, each processing module having a modular structure co-operable with the modular structure of another processing module to form a modular assembly constituting the object processing machine; each processing module being operable to perform a corresponding processing operation on an object and being provided with at least one transfer unit located at a respective port of the processing module; each transfer unit being arranged to transfer an object to or from the corresponding processing module and/or to or from a transfer unit of another processing module of the modular assembly; the transfer units being arranged to co-operate with one another and/or with another processing unit such that objects can be guided from an input of the machine to an output of the machine via a plurality of different transport pathways through the machine, wherein the transport pathway taken by a said object