Abstract: An identification card printer includes a communications bus, first and second card processing devices, and first and second controllers. The first and second controllers are coupled to the communications bus and are each identified by a unique address. The first and second controllers are adapted to control the first and second card processing devices, respectively, in response to command signals received over the communications bus.

Abstract: A roller support includes a body member, a bushing member, and a step member. The body member includes a first guide roller receiver that is adapted to receive an end of a first guide roller. The bushing member extends from a surface of the body member and has a central bore that extends through the body member. The step member is positioned adjacent the bushing member and extends from the surface of the body member in the direction of the bushing member.

Abstract: A printer for identification cards as a supply of a plurality of individual intermediate transfer sheets that have a separable layer on which printing can take place. The sheets are passed across a printhead for printing images on the layer, and then an identification card from a suitable supply is positioned to overlie the printed intermediate transfer sheet. The intermediate transfer sheet and the identification card are then passed through a laminator where the layer carrying the printing is laminated to a surface of the card. The card and the laminated intermediate transfer sheet are then passed through a separator that will peel away a backing sheet for the layer carrying the printing, and the printed image will remain in place on the card.

Abstract: A method for use with an identification card printing system to improve contrast of an original image represented by an array of pixels each having a pixel level representing an intensity of the pixel includes a first step of selecting a pixel of the pixel array. Next, an adjusted pixel level is calculated for the selected pixel based upon its pixel level and at least one proximal pixel level defined as the pixel level of a pixel located proximate to the selected pixel. Finally, the selecting and calculating steps are repeated for substantially all of the pixels of the pixel array to form an adjusted pixel array that represents an adjusted image having greater contrast than the original image.

Abstract: A ribbon for a thermal printer has a series of frames of different colors in a sequence that are correlated to the position of cards to be printed. The ribbon has indexing marks for each frame and also indicators for each repeating sequence of frames. The index marks are arranged in a line across the ribbon and the marks can be coded to individually indicate the color or other characteristic of the frame associated with the line of index mark. This information is received by a controller to control various printer functions.

Abstract: A laminator for laminating sheets of lamina onto substrates such as cards uses a web of lamina material that preferably has a bondable and printable layer on the reverse side and can then be printed with information and laminated onto a blank card. The web also preferably has a series of spaced transverse lines of reduced strength so the web can be separated into individual sheets of lamina by creating a tension in the web across the transverse line of reduced strength.

Abstract: A card supply for use with an identification card printing system includes a card hopper and a supply circuit. The card hopper contains a stack of cards. The supply circuit is mounted to the card hopper that includes a memory containing supply information relating to parameters of the card supply.

Abstract: A printer for printing onto a substrate includes a substrate feed mechanism configured to secure the substrate during printing and a print mechanism configured to print on the substrate. A transceiver is configured to transfer power through a non-physical link to a radio frequency (RF) circuit carried on a printer supply to thereby power the RF circuit. The transceiver also responsively receives printer supply data through a non-physical link from the RF circuit.

Abstract: A printer for printing an image onto a substrate includes a thermal print head having a plurality of electrical resistors, a supply of coloring material adjacent the print head for deposition on the substrate and a print head controller. The print head controller provides a pulse train output to at least one of the electrical resistors. The pulse train includes a plurality of pulses and at least one pulse has a variable width related to a binary value at least another pulse has fixed width.

Abstract: A printer is provided with a smart card encoding device that is externally accessible. The smart card is a key with an integrated circuit including a memory that will retain a discrete password and other digital information. The password on the smart card key must be compared to a password stored in the printer memory before printing operations will be permitted. The digital information in the smart card key memory can include marks or graphics that would indicate that the cards being printed by the printer are secured cards and authorized cards. The information will be printed from the smart card key memory only when the passwords match so that the discrete information on the smart card key can be used for driving the printer for printing this information. The printer is made into a high security printer by permitting the overriding of the password only upon the generating of identical numbers from separated algorithms, one in the printer memory and one at a secure location.

Abstract: A ribbon for a thermal printer has a series of frames of different colors in a sequence that are correlated to the position of cards to be printed. The ribbon has indexing marks for each frame and also indicators for each repeating sequence of frames. The index marks are arranged in a line across the ribbon and the marks can be coded to individually indicate the color or other characteristic of the frame associated with the line of index mark. This information is received by a controller to control various printer functions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of performing a burn cycle in a thermal printer that reduces printhead switching while increasing printing speed and extending printhead life. In the method, data is loaded into a shift register of a thermal printhead to designate resistive elements that are to be enabled and disabled during the burn cycle. Next, the data is latched into a burn register of the printhead and a power supply of the printhead is activated thereby energizing the enabled resistive elements. New data is then loaded into the shift register. After a short burn period has expired, the new data is latched into the burn register. The steps of loading and latching new data are repeated a predetermined number of times, after which the power supply is deactivated to complete the burn cycle.

Abstract: A printer is provided with a smart card encoding device that is externally accessible. The smart card is a key with an integrated circuit including a memory that will retain a discrete password and other digital information. The password on the smart card key must be compared to a password stored in the printer memory before printing operations will be permitted. The digital information in the smart card key memory can include marks or graphics that would indicate that the cards being printed by the printer are secured cards and authorized cards. The information will be printed from the smart card key memory only when the passwords match so that the discrete information on the smart card key can be used for driving the printer for printing this information. The printer is made into a high security printer by permitting the overriding of the password only upon the generating of identical numbers from separated algorithms, one in the printer memory and one at a secure location.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward an identification card personalization device used to create identification cards. The identification card personalization device includes a network adapter that is connectable to a network and either a print mechanism for printing onto a card, a laminating mechanism for laminating a printed card, or both printing and laminating mechanisms. In one aspect of the invention, the identification card personalization device includes a web server for serving data over the network. In another aspect of the invention, the identification card personalization device includes a web client for subscribing tc data on the network.

Abstract: A ribbon for a thermal printer has a series of frames of different colors in a sequence that are correlated to the position of cards to be printed. The ribbon has indexing marks for each frame and also indicators for each repeating sequence of frames. The index marks are arranged in a line across the ribbon and the marks can be coded to individually indicate the color or other characteristic of the frame associated with the line of index mark. This information is received by a controller to control various printer functions.

Abstract: An ink jet card printer is disclosed that includes an ink jet printhead and a transport mechanism. The ink jet printhead is adapted to print on portions of a surface of a card that are presented in a print position along a print path. The transport mechanism includes at least one cantilevering mechanism that is positioned to a side of the print position along the print path. The cantilevering mechanism is adapted to unobstructively present the surface of the card to the printhead in the print position.

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: 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 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.