Abstract: A desktop plastic card printer that is configured to allow installation of a smart card cartridge within an interior space of the printer housing through an opening, for example an opening in a side wall, in the printer housing. Both the mechanical installation and electrical installation of the smart card cartridge occurs via the opening. This allows the desktop plastic card printer to be quickly and easily retrofitted to have the ability to electronically read data from and/or electronically program data on an integrated circuit chip of a plastic card. The retrofitting can take place without using any mechanical tools and without having to remove the entire, or a substantial portion of, the printer housing.

Abstract: A cryptographic object management system is provided that includes physically separated first and second object management sites. The first and second object management sites each respectively include HSMs, a HSM server connected to each of the HSMs, and a persistent layer connected to the HSM server. The HSM servers respectively manage operation of each of the HSMs. The HSM server of the first object management site includes an object manager module that manages and controls the cryptographic object management system. The persistent layers respectively store cryptographic objects for use by the HSMs. Each of the HSMs respectively performs crypto-processing on one or more of the cryptographic objects.

Abstract: A drop-on-demand plastic card printer includes a tray disposed underneath the plastic card during drop-on-demand printing to catch any overspray that may occur during printing on the plastic card. The tray may be disposable so that the tray is intended to be removed and disposed of. An ink absorbent pad can be disposed in the tray to absorb the oversprayed ink. The ink absorbent pad can be disposed of along with the tray or disposed of separately from the tray.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein for reducing bowing effects on a substrate while the substrate is being transported, for example in an elevator mechanism, from a first travel path to a second travel path, where the first travel path is offset from the second travel path so that the first travel path is not collinear with the second travel path. The substrate can be any substrate that is bowed and for which one wishes to eliminate or reduce the bow. One specific substrate that can benefit from the techniques described herein are personalized documents such as plastic cards including but not limited to financial (e.g. credit and debit) cards, drivers' licenses, national identification cards, gift cards, loyalty cards, employee badges, and other plastic cards which bear personalized data unique to the card holder and/or which bear other card or document information.

Abstract: Methods and systems for facilitating authentication of a user with a plurality of applications are described. One method includes authenticating a user with a first secure application based on information received from a smart credential stored on a mobile device via a local wireless connection. The method includes obtaining a remote challenge from a remote authentication service and a mobile challenge, signing the mobile challenge with a private key, and transmitting a signed version of the mobile challenge, the remote challenge, and a public key to the mobile device. The method further includes receiving a signed version of the remote challenge and a certificate indicating validation of the mobile challenge, and transmitting the signed version of the remote challenge to the remote authentication service. Based on receiving an authentication result from the remote authentication service, access is granted to a remote secure application via the browser.

Abstract: A ribbon supply cartridge for use in a card personalization machine. The ribbon supply cartridge is manually adjustable by a user before installation into the card personalization machine from a first, collapsed (or pre-use) configuration to a second, extended or open (or use) configuration. When the ribbon supply cartridge is adjusted from the first configuration to the second configuration, a distance between the supply and take-up is increased. The first, collapsed configuration may be useful for packaging or shipping the ribbon supply cartridge whereby the collapsed configuration reduces the size of the packaging or shipping box containing the ribbon supply cartridge. When the ribbon supply cartridge is to be used, the user can manually adjust the ribbon supply cartridge to the open configuration and then install the ribbon supply cartridge in the card personalization machine.

Abstract: A topcoat layer that has a defined surface structure on an outer surface thereof once the topcoat layer is laminated to a substrate. The surface structure of the topcoat layer provides a matte surface finish to the underlying substrate. Any attempt to alter the substrate or the topcoat layer will result in disruption or destruction of the surface structure of the topcoat layer making such tampering evident. Replication of the surface structure of the topcoat layer by a counterfeiter is also difficult without the appropriate equipment.

Abstract: Inkjet printing on a plastic card using a radiation curable ink is described herein. After the ink is applied to the card surface (i.e. the printed surface), radiation, such as UV radiation, is directed onto a non-printed surface of the card (for example, a perimeter side edge surface and/or a surface of the plastic card opposite the printed surface the radiation curable ink is applied to) in order to at least partially cure any of the applied ink that may have flowed onto or that may otherwise be disposed on the non-printed surface. This prevents contamination of a drive mechanism used to transport the plastic card via the perimeter side edge surfaces or via the opposite surface prior to full curing of the ink applied to the printed surface.

Abstract: Card processing mechanisms and methods whereby after a card has been processed on one surface thereof at a card processing station such as, but not limited to, a card printing mechanism, the card can be recirculated back upstream of the card processing station along a return card travel path that is separate from the primary card travel path through the card processing station where the card can then be reintroduced back into the primary card travel path and transported through the card processing station a second time. As the card is being returned along the return card travel path, the card can be flipped over so that when the card is transported back through the card processing station, the opposite surface of the card can be processed.

Abstract: A retransfer printing process that prevents dust and other contaminants from becoming statically or otherwise attached to the transfer layer of the retransfer film and/or to the print ribbon used to print on the retransfer film. In the described process, some or all of the unused retransfer film is rewound back onto the retransfer film supply and/or some or all of the unused print ribbon is rewound onto the print ribbon supply, for example until the next print job is submitted.

Abstract: A thermal transfer print ribbon having radiation curable ink thereon is used to print on a surface of a plastic card. The use of radiation curable thermal transfer printing to print on the card surface increases the durability of the printing compared to regular (i.e. non-radiation cured) thermal transfer printing once the radiation curable ink is cured. As a result, a protective laminate or coating need not be applied to the card surface to protect the printing.

Abstract: DOD ink delivery systems and methods are described herein that are used in DOD card printing systems of card processing systems for supplying ink for DOD printing on plastic cards of the type that bear personalized data unique to the intended cardholder and/or which bear other card information. The DOD ink delivery system is configured to recirculate the ink, or have a second pressure damper container that provides damping to eliminate large and abrupt spikes in ink pressure which can disturb the meniscus of the ink in each nozzle of the print head generated by a vacuum system, or simultaneously operate a supply pump at a lower flow rate than a return pump during an autofill/autodrain procedure on the ink delivery system.

Abstract: Methods and systems of actively cooling a card while the card is within a card processing machine are described. One or more cooling stations are provided within the card processing machine to actively cool the card prior to performing a processing operation, during a processing operation, and/or after a processing operation on the card in order to reduce a temperature of the surface of the card.

Abstract: A card processing system includes a drop-on-demand card printing system that has at least one drop-on-demand print head with a nozzle plate. An automated cleaning mechanism is provided in the drop-on-demand card printing system that is configured to clean the nozzle plate without the cleaning mechanism physically contacting the nozzle plate. Since the nozzle plate is not physically contacted by the cleaning mechanism, damage to the nozzle plate during cleaning is avoided thereby avoiding degrading the resulting print quality of the print head.

Abstract: Maintenance routines that can be used to maintain the operability of one or more DOD print heads in a card processing system. The maintenance routines can include, but are not limited to: a cover routine where a cover or cap is selectively and automatically located over the print head(s) to protect the print head(s); a shake pulse routine that energizes the nozzles of the print head(s) without causing an ejection of ink; a spit routine where the nozzles of the print head(s) are energized to eject one or more drops of ink; and a purge routine where the nozzles are not electrically energized but the pressure holding the ink in the nozzles of the print head(s) is reversed to push ink out of the nozzles.

Abstract: A cryptographic object management system is provided that includes physically separated first and second object management sites. The first and second object management sites each respectively include HSMs, a HSM server connected to each of the HSMs, and a persistent layer connected to the HSM server. The HSM servers respectively manage operation of each of the HSMs. The HSM server of the first object management site includes an object manager module that manages and controls the cryptographic object management system. The persistent layers respectively store cryptographic objects for use by the HSMs. Each of the HSMs respectively performs crypto-processing on one or more of the cryptographic objects.

Abstract: A plastic card printer that is provided with a printhead guard that is movable between a covering position, where the printhead guard covers one or more sensitive portions of a printhead of the plastic card printer, and a non-covering position, where the printhead guard does not cover the one or more sensitive portions of the printhead thereby allowing the printhead to perform a printing function on a plastic card. The printhead guard can be at the covering position when the printhead is at a non-printing position, for example during servicing of the card printer, to protect the one or more sensitive elements when the printhead is at the non-printing position, and the printhead guard can be at the non-covering position when the printhead is at a printing position where the printhead is ready to perform printing.

Abstract: A system and method for remote monitoring and management of an instant issuance system is provided. The embodiments provide secure communication between different entities within the instant issuance system. Security can be established via mutual authentication between the communicating entities of the instant issuance system prior and/or concurrent with a communication taking place.

Abstract: An ink bottle is mounted in a DOD printer with the ink bottle acting as an ink supply reservoir that supplies ink to a DOD print head. A unique cap is provided that is configured to be affixed to an end of the ink bottle via threads or the like. The cap can be provided with one or more mechanical keying features used to limit mounting of the cap and the bottle assembly to a correct receiver in the DOD printer. The cap can also be provided with a valve controlled ink passage that allows ink to flow out of the bottle through the cap and a valve controlled vent passage that allows air to enter the bottle through the cap.

Abstract: A system and method for establishing a secure identity for a printing device at the time of manufacturing is provided. The method includes obtaining a first private key for use with a first operation of the printing device and obtaining a second private key for use with a second operation of the printing device. The method also includes loading the first private key into a secure memory portion of the printing device during manufacturing of the printing device, and loading the second private key into the secure memory portion of the printing device during manufacturing of the printing device.