Abstract: System and methods for printing a multi-media document from an image file are provided. The method includes a printing device receiving a data holding image file. A processor of the printing device parses and extracts document data for printing the multi-media document from the data holding image file. The processor processes the document data to receive instruction data for one or more printing operation components of the printing device. The method also includes sending the instruction data to one or more printer operation components of the printing device. Also, the method includes each of the one or more printer operation components performing a printer operation onto a multi-media document.

Abstract: An access card issuance system comprising an access card issuance device located at a facility of an organization and a web server is disclosed. The access card issuance system provides a web interface in response to a request from a mobile device, and receives user information identifying a user of the mobile device. The system is also configured to validate the identity of an authorized individual associated with the facility identified by a user of the mobile device, and issue an access card to the user of the mobile device. The access card has indicia printed thereon identifying at least a portion of the user information, and programmable information encoded onto the access card providing access rights to the facility. The system further transmits, to the authorized individual, a message associated with issuance of the access card.

Abstract: An access card issuance system comprising an access card issuance device located at a facility of an organization and a web server is disclosed. The access card issuance system provides a web interface in response to a request from a mobile device, and receives user information identifying a user of the mobile device. The system is also configured to validate the identity of an authorized individual associated with the facility identified by a user of the mobile device, and issue an access card to the user of the mobile device. The access card has indicia printed thereon identifying at least a portion of the user information, and programmable information encoded onto the access card providing access rights to the facility. The system further transmits, to the authorized individual, a message associated with issuance of the access card.

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: Systems and methods where multi-color graphics on a substrate are printed at a first resolution, and single color data is printed at a second, higher resolution using the same print head. The multi-color graphics can be a printed photograph of a person, a printed logo, or any printed feature that is printed using multiple colors. The single color data can be printed alphanumeric text such as a person's name, address, account number or any other data that is printed using a single color.

Abstract: A single plasma nozzle of a plasma treatment station is used to treat the card surface prior to performing drop-on-demand printing on the card surface. The single plasma nozzle has a plasma discharge width that is less than the width of the card. The card and the plasma nozzle are moved relative to one another using a two direction control scheme during plasma treatment in order to be able to plasma treat a desired area of the card surface. The card and the plasma nozzle may also be moveable toward or away from one another to change the distance therebetween.

Abstract: Techniques are described for obscuring residual images on print ribbons that have been used to print on plastic cards in order to prevent access to sensitive or personalized data appearing in the residual images. An image is printed on a retransfer film using the print ribbon, thereby creating a residual image of the printed image on the print ribbon. The retransfer film is then used to obscure some or all of the residual image on the print ribbon by transferring ink from the section of the print ribbon containing the residual image onto the retransfer film. In some embodiments, obscuring the residual image on the print ribbon occurs before the printed image on the retransfer film is transferred to the plastic card.

Abstract: A card mechanism used in an array with other card mechanisms. Each card mechanism handles plastic cards that are to be personalized and provided to end users. The plastic cards can be cards such as financial cards including credit and debit cards, identification cards, driver's licenses, and other plastic cards that are personalized. The card mechanism(s) can supply cards to be personalized in one or more other card mechanisms and/or in a card personalization machine used with the card mechanism(s) in which case the card mechanism(s) is configured as a card input hopper, collect cards that have been personalized in which case the card mechanism is configured as a card output hopper, and/or perform one or more personalization operations on the cards in which case the card mechanism is configured as a card personalization mechanism.

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: Systems and methods where a delay time between a first card processing mechanism, such as a drop-on-demand printer that prints with UV curable ink, and a second card processing mechanism, such as a UV curing station, can be altered to adjust the travel time of the card from the first card processing mechanism to the second card processing mechanism. First and second card buffers can be provided between the first card processing mechanism and the second card processing mechanism. Each of the first and second card buffers is independently logically controlled to permit independent control of the transport time of a card through each card buffer. Alternatively, a single card buffer or more than two card buffers can be provided between the first card processing mechanism and the second card processing mechanism.

Abstract: Retransfer printing methods and systems are described where a variable stripping process is utilized while stripping all or a portion of the retransfer film (also known as intermediate transfer media) from the surface of a substrate. The variable stripping process includes stripping the retransfer film from different sections of the substrate surface while applying different tensions to the retransfer film and/or at different transport speeds of the retransfer film and the substrate.

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

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for printing vibrant grey color(s) on plastic cards. The following features, which can be used individually or in any combination thereof, can be implemented to achieve the vibrant grey color(s): 1) use of CMYK pigment inks to achieve CMYK printing; 2) a pixel extraction process and/or a print trapping process; 3) two separate print commands including a CMY (or CMYK)+blending print command and a K+blending print command; and 4) proper card set-up.

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 heated indenter is provided for indenting a personalized document to create a security impression thereon. The personalized document includes but is not limited to, identification cards, driver's licenses, credit and debit cards, and the like. The security impression can provide a visible or tactile security feature that can be recognized by one with little or no training. The security impression causes a laminate layer of the document to tear or disfigure when attempting to remove the laminate layer from a substrate of the document.

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: A single plasma nozzle of a plasma treatment station is used to treat the card surface prior to performing drop-on-demand printing on the card surface. The single plasma nozzle has a plasma discharge width that is less than the width of the card. The card and the plasma nozzle are moved relative to one another using a two direction control scheme during plasma treatment in order to be able to plasma treat a desired area of the card surface. The card and the plasma nozzle may also be moveable toward or away from one another to change the distance therebetween.

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: A card processing system that includes a card transport mechanism having at least first and second separate card transports that separately transport first and second cards in the card processing system. Each of the first and second card transports can be actuated between a common card pick-up location and common card discharge position. At least one card processing mechanism that can perform a card processing operation is located between the common card pick-up location and the common card discharge location, with each of the first and second card transports transporting respective cards to the card processing mechanism to perform the card processing operation and transporting the cards from the card processing mechanism after processing.

Abstract: A security document and a method for producing a security document are described. The security document includes a plurality of spaced spots integrally formed in the security document. The plurality of spaced spots and printed data overlap. The spaced spots are arranged to form an image. The method includes controlling a laser of a laser marking printer to integrally form the plurality of spaced spots in the security document. The plurality of spaced spots and printed data overlap on the security document.