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 personalisation machine for smart cards (5) comprises an administration computer system (1) connected via at least one data personalisation transmission element (2, 200) to a turning device (3) equipped with routing means of personalisation data to locations (32) of a plurality of card locations (5). Said transmission element (2, 200) is of wired type and has a maximal data transmission capacity greater than 100 MBps (megabytes per second). To ensure a substantial processing rate with a compact machine, it is provided with:—means (4) for driving in rotation of bi-directional type for turning the device (3) around an axis (23) of rotation, said system (1) remaining fixed;—a control module (40) regularly inverting the direction of rotation of the turning device. Stops are provided for preventing rotation of the device (3) beyond one turn.

Abstract: In a document personalization production system, an application framework is provided between a production manager and one or more machines to enable new hardware and/or new functions for the creation, production, printing, attachment, and delivery of personalized documents. The application framework provides the application program interfaces, the graphical user interfaces, and the plugins required to implement the new hardware and/or new function into an existing document personalization production system without having to reprogram the production manager. The application framework may comprise or connect a number of service modules so that production manager applications are compatible across multiple machines or stations of the document personalization production system.

Abstract: Methods and devices are described for securely destroying used ribbon from a document personalization machine in order to render any information retained on the used ribbon as unreadable. In one embodiment, the method includes tapering the used ribbon into a used ribbon strand by feeding the used ribbon through a tapering mechanism. The method also includes heating the used ribbon strand to fuse the used ribbon strand into a used ribbon string thereby rendering any data retained on the used ribbon unreadable.

Abstract: A remote user interface (RUI) for a personalization document printer of an instant issuance system is provided. The RUI includes a printer functionality component and a server functionality component. The server functionality component is configured to allow, for example a user to control user authentication to use the printer, control print queues of the printer, control print workflows of the printer, control RUI configuration, control remote access to printer user functions and a print preview displaying an image of the customized personalization document with image data and personalization account data, control storage and rendering of data to be placed on a customized personalization document, lock and unlock access to supplies and/or personalization documents in the personalization document printer, access administrative functions, and provide quality assurance functions.

Abstract: A printer that provides improved image placement on documents including identification documents such as identification cards, credit and debit cards, and the like, and passports. The printer eliminates blind moves and mechanism errors to achieve repeatable image placement on the document surface with the correct horizontal image placement dimension. The printer senses an edge of the document to immediately initiate printing. The edge of the document can be either the leading edge or the trailing edge. The edge of the document can also be sensed by a separate sensor to initiate movement of a print head of the print station toward a print position.

Abstract: A method for personalizing a presentation instrument for an account holder while the account holder is present is described. The method includes transmitting to a server computer a request to personalize a presentation instrument for an account holder who has a financial account with a financial institution. The request includes the account holder's name and background information indicating a background to be placed onto the presentation instrument. The method further includes receiving, at the server computer from the financial institution, presentation instrument data to be included on the presentation instrument. The presentation instrument data comprises an account number and an expiration date.

Abstract: A system and method for continuously printing images on a web material and continuously transferring the images to identity documents. A print component prints images on the web material. A registration component registers select images to identity documents. An applicator component applies the select images to the identity documents. A controller maintains throughput of the web material through the print component, registration component, and applicator component. The controller allows the system to continuously print images on the web material and continuously transfer the images to identity documents, in that it synchronizes cycles of the components, so that the components have simultaneous processing cycles and have simultaneous intervals between processing cycles.

Abstract: A modular card issuance system comprises a plurality of sequentially ordered modules configured such that each module is in electrical communication with its adjacent modules. This system also comprises a main controller that is in electrical communication with each of the modules. Upon power-up of the system and without assistance from the main controller, each module determines its own identity, its relative position among the plurality of modules and the total number of modules in the system. This information is then reported to the main controller upon request from the main controller.

Abstract: A system of changing the PIN associated with a smart card is described. A user can initiate the PIN change using a personal unwired smart card reader, rather than using a system, such as an ATM machine. The smart card reader, loaded with the smart card provides a cryptogram code, which can contain the user's requested new PIN or it can be provided to the issuer via alternative methods. Via various methods the cryptogram code is delivered to the card issuer's PIN change management system, including the user transposing the code from smart card reader screen to the card issuer's web site or audio DTMF transmission from the smart card reader speaker to the card issuer IVR system. Returned from the issuer, via a similar path, will be a command code that when processed by the smart card reader will result in a PIN change on the smart card.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a high speed machine for personalizing portable objects, incorporating an integrated circuit comprising at least one memory, the machine comprising a transfer device (3) for the portable objects to be personalized and a compact rotating drum (20) containing a plurality of interface electronic circuits, called couplers, each of these couplers being connected to at least one personalization station (22i) comprising at least one linking device with the integrated circuit of a portable object, characterized firstly in that each of these couplers is removably mounted so that it can be adapted to the type of programming used for the personalization data, and secondly in that the personalization stations (22i) are also removable for their adaptation to the type of portable objects (4) to be personalized and/or to the couplers used, the rotating drum (20) comprising grooved sections containing a plurality of grooves for latching of the personalization stations (22i).

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 memorisation device connected to a engraving correction device.

Abstract: A sheet material with index openings for use with a card printer. The sheet material comprises a substrate layer and registered elements that alternate with the index openings. The registered elements can be, for example, card-sized patches of laminating material or holograms. The index openings are used to achieve proper alignment of the registered elements to the cards.

Abstract: A security feature for use with secure booklets, especially those having a spine, for example passports, identification booklets and other types of ID3-sized documents. In one example, the security feature is printed across the spine of the booklet onto two adjacent pages. Most conventional, commercially available printers are unable to print across the spine, and therefore would be unable to reproduce the security feature. In addition, in the case of a booklet, for example a passport, that uses a stitching thread to secure the pages together, ink from the printed image bleeds into the thread. The presence or absence of ink in the thread can then act as an indicator as to whether or not the booklet is genuine or a counterfeit. Another security feature includes registration of a pre-print portion and a variable print portion that is applied during booklet personalization to form a combined image.

Abstract: A method for personalizing a presentation instrument for an account holder while the account holder is present is described. The method includes transmitting to a server computer a request to personalize a presentation instrument for an account holder who has a financial account with a financial institution. The request includes the account holder's name and background information indicating a background to be placed onto the presentation instrument. The method further includes receiving, at the server computer from the financial institution, presentation instrument data to be included on the presentation instrument. The presentation instrument data comprises an account number and an expiration date.

Abstract: A cleaning mechanism for cleaning one or both side surfaces of a plastic card substrate prior to a processing operation occurring on the cleaned side surface. The cleaning mechanism is designed so that two cleaning rollers, one cleaning roller on a first cleaning station and one cleaning roller on a second cleaning station, are simultaneously cleaned by a single cleaning tape assembly.

Abstract: A method for personalizing a presentation instrument for an account holder while the account holder is present is described. The method includes transmitting to a server computer a request to personalize a presentation instrument for an account holder who has a financial account with a financial institution. The request includes the account holder's name and background information indicating a background to be placed onto the presentation instrument. The method further includes receiving, at the server computer from the financial institution, presentation instrument data to be included on the presentation instrument. The presentation instrument data comprises an account number and an expiration date.

Abstract: A desktop card processor having increased card processing capabilities without increasing the horizontal footprint of the card processor. The card processor utilizes multiple card processing levels stacked in vertically separated levels to minimize the horizontal footprint of the card processor.

Abstract: A lift device for personalization machine(s) for cards, in particular chip cards, placed at the output of a first transfer device and at the input of a second transfer device, the first transfer device being located at a height greater than the height of the second transfer device. At least one pair of shafts are spaced apart by a distance greater than the dimensions of the cards transversally to their direction of movement, each of the shafts being parallel to the direction of movement and equipped with a plurality of flaps oriented parallel to the shafts and having dimensions arranged to support at least a part of the cards and radially distributed around the shaft. The shafts of a pair being driven synchronously inward in rotation by at least one driving mechanism, so that two flaps guide a card during its descent in the lift device.

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.