Abstract: A card inverter or “flipper” is used in connection with card printers and laminators for inverting cards which are to be printed and/or laminated on two sides, so that after operations on one side have been completed, the card can be inverted and fed back to the processing stations for processing the second side of the card. This can be done with cards that are being programmed, for example, “Smart Cards” that will be moved to different stations for processing, and also can be used in connection with lamination stations where the card will be printed on two sides, and then a laminate film layer placed over both sides of the card The card inverter or flipper is supported about a central axis that bisects the plane of the card, and the inversion is about this axis so that the card plane is maintained in the first position of the card as well as the inverted position of the card.

Abstract: An image is printed onto a substrate having a surface. A coating is applied to the surface which includes a reactive water dispersible species and a solvent. An image is printed onto the coated substrate using an ink jet printer which supplies aqueous ink to thereby form the image on the substrate.

Abstract: An identification card laminator for laminating a protective layer to an identification card substrate, includes a substrate positioner configured to secure the substrate during lamination, a protective layer positioner configured to position the protective layer on the substrate during lamination and a heat source proximate the film positioner configured to heat the protective layer in response to a control signal. A temperature sensor proximate the protective layer positioner is configured to provide a temperature output related to a temperature of the film and the heat source. A controller coupled to the heat source is configured to provide the control signal to the heat source as a function of the temperature signal, the control signal having at least two values.

Abstract: An identification card printer is adapted to receive a supply of identification cards and print material onto the cards sequentially. A lamination station is provided for laminating over the ink jet printing to protect the printing on the printed card from the environment.

Abstract: A printer for printing information on images on a substrate such as an identification card in multiple colors has an intermediate transfer film or web on which a reverse image is printed. The printer has a lamination station where the image is transferred to a substrate, such as an identification card. The intermediate transfer film or web is moved back and forth, the intermediate transfer film or web has slack occurring in it between the printing station and the lamination station. The slack is taken up with spring loaded rollers to permit operation of the printer head and the lamination station at the same time. Additionally, the printer is made into modules that are movable for easy access to interior components and to expose film or web paths that permits installing both the print film or web and the intermediate transfer film or web without threading it through enclosed openings.

Abstract: Information is printed onto an identification card using an ink jet printer. The ink jet printer includes a tray which moves the card in a first direction and a print head which moves relative to the card in a second direction. An ink receiving surface may be deposited onto the card prior to ink jet printing. A magnetic recording head is optionally included in the printer whereby information may be magnetically recorded onto the card.

Abstract: The printer is adapted to print an image onto a substrate using a web carrying a color material. The printer includes a web supply configured to supply the web and a web take-up configured to receive the web. A print head is configured to material from the web to the substrate. A controller provides a control signal to the web take-up or web supply as a function of heat energy applied to the web.

Abstract: An output card hopper for use in connection with an identification card printer as a hopper that receives the cards and permits the cards to be supported on movable lift rails. The rails can be moved up and down, and the hopper has a pair of pawls that extend into the hopper from the sides and which are retracted as the card is lifted up by the lift rails, and then permitted to move back inwardly so that as the card support is lowered, the card that had been carried up by the rails is supported on the pawls in a stack above the pawls. The hopper includes one adjustable side wall to permit adjusting the width of the hopper. The card lift rails are raised and lowered by operating a cam, with a spring return on the card lift rails to urge the lift rails toward a home or lowered position.

Abstract: A sensor hub for a print ribbon supply roll includes a sleeve shaped to attach to the roll core of the print ribbon supply roll, a pin-receiving plate secured to the sleeve and including a plurality of apertures, and a plurality of pins permanently secured in selected ones of the apertures. The pins are arranged in the apertures according to a print ribbon type to thereby identify the print ribbon type. The sleeve, pin-receiving plate and pins are preferably molded in a single step operation, thereby decreasing manufacturing time and reducing manufacturing costs. By molding the sleeve and pin-receiving plate around the pins, the pins can be permanently secured in the apertures of the pin-receiving plate, and the mold cavity can be constructed so as to eliminate susceptibility to human error.

Abstract: A method for printing an identification card includes printing an image on a surface of the identification card and depositing a first overlayer onto the surface of the identification card. Ridges are created in the first overlayer. A second overlaminate layer is deposited over the first overlayer. The second overlaminate layer includes ridges created by the ridges in the first overlayer such that the ridges create a visible pattern on the identification card.

Abstract: An ink jet receiving surface includes a first hydrophilic polymer containing a hydroxyl group and a second hydrophilic polymer containing an amid, amine, imide, or imine group. A multicarboxylic acid or derivative thereof is provided which polymerizes the second hydrophilic polymer around the first hydrophilic polymer. Optionally pigment and binder are included in the surface.

Abstract: A lamination system includes a supply and a take-up roll carrying a web therebetween. The web carries a laminate. The laminate is applied to a printed card as the card moves between two rollers. At least one roller may be heated and responsively pressed against the printed card to cause adhesion of the laminate to the printed card.

Abstract: Information is printed onto an identification card using an ink jet printer. The ink jet printer includes a tray which moves the card in a first direction and a print head which moves relative to the card in a second direction. An ink receiving surface may be deposited onto the card prior to ink jet printing. A magnetic recording head is optionally included in the printer whereby information may be magnetically recorded onto the card.

Abstract: An identification card processor receives cards from a hopper, and passes them through a graphic imager for printing, and either prior to printing or subsequently the cards are positioned on an index table that permits moving the cards about an axis to different positions for further operations. The further operations take place at locations set off from the plane of movement of the cards in the graphics imager to conserve space. The indexing table is capable of being indexed to any desired rotational position in a full 360.degree. of movement, and for moving a card under positive drive to and from the index table.

Abstract: A detector assembly for detecting registration marks on a printed sheet when different color printing on different colored sheets is present has a pair of light sources and a light sensor. The light sources are of different colors selected to be complimentary such that one light source or the other will be capable of detecting a substantial range of contrasting registration marks placed on sheets that can be of various colors. Controls are used for selecting the light source that provides an output sensed by a light sensor when passing over the registration marks.

Abstract: A lamination system includes a supply and a take-up roll carrying a web therebetween. The web carries a laminate. The laminate is applied to a printed card as the card moves between two rollers. At least one roller may be heated and responsively pressed against the printed card to cause adhesion of the laminate to the printed card.

Abstract: A method of controlling a thermal print head having a plurality of resistive heaters to compensate for the effects of latent heat from the resistive heaters is disclosed. The plurality of resistive heaters are arranged in a line on a substrate with each of the plurality of resistive heaters corresponding to a pixel position on a medium such as paper. A compensation value is determined for each pixel in a line such that the effects of latent heat from the corresponding heater and from adjacent heaters are compensated. A compensated gray level for each pixel of the line is calculated as a function of a desired gray level for the particular pixel in the line and as a function of the associated compensation value. Finally, the heaters are driven as a function of the compensated gray levels to print the corresponding pixels of the line.

Abstract: A press for transferring images from pictures or substrates to other objects, such as mugs or other cylindrical objects. The press comprises a flexible band or jacket type clamp lined with suitable compressible material and capable of being clamped tightly against a generally cylindrical outer surface of an object, with the image to be transferred against such outer surface. The image is urged into intimate contact with the outer cylindrical surface by the clamping pressure transferred through the compressible material. An adjustable clamp permits ease of placement of the band type press onto the object to which the image is to be transferred.