Abstract:
A non-corrosive water-based lamination adhesive for carrying metallic particles is provided. The lamination adhesive is combined with pigments, preferably metallic particles, to form a lamination ink for printing on plastic cards or overlays. The adhesive comprises about 1-60 % solids of alkali-soluble acrylic resins, about 0-95 % solids low Tg polyvinyl chloride copolymers, said low Tg copolymers having a Tg in a range of between about 0-49 DEG C, about 0-95 % solids high Tg polyvinyl chloride copolymers, said high Tg copolymers having a Tg in a range of between about 50-100 DEG C, and about 25-85 % by weight water. The adhesive is an aqueous emulsion having a plurality of phases, including an aqueous phase and a solid phase. The alkali-soluble acrylic resins are in solution in the aqueous phase and the high and low Tg copolymers are in the solid phase. At least about 30 % of the total solids of the adhesive are either high or low Tg polyvinyl chloride copolymers. Preferably, the lamination adhesive of the present invention further comprises an amount of an anion scavenger effective to sequester chloride anions released into the adhesive during aging thereof so that the color of the adhesive has substantial thermal stability. The scavenger preferably includes about 1-50 % solids of epoxy resins wherein the epoxy resins are in an epoxy phase of the emulsion. In a preferred embodiment, the adhesive is combined with about 1-50 % solids of metallic particles to form a lamination ink.
Abstract:
A thermal head (80) for transferring a varnish layer (3) from a ribbon (20) onto a surface (26) to be varnished, including a first ribbon heating means for transferring the varnish layer onto the surface (26) to be varnished, and a second ribbon preheating means arranged upstream from the first heating means in the moving direction of the ribbon. Said first and second means are heating shoes (60, 70) movably mounted on the body (50) of the thermal head by means of a system of hinges (51, 61, 52, 71) and springs (65, 75). Said thermal head is particularly useful for depositing thick protective varnishes on plastic cards.
Abstract:
A system for affixing cards (34) to a form (22) and folding the form (22) with the cards (34) attached. The system includes a card affixer (30) for affixing cards (34) to any location on a form (22) having a form transporting mechanism (62, 64, 66, 68, 70) for moving the form (22), a carriage (152) for receiving and holding a card (34), a carriage translating mechanism (232) for moving the carriage (152) across the width (37) of the form transporting mechanism (62, 64, 66, 68, 70) and a pressing mechanism (186, 188) for pressing the card (34) against the form (22). The system also includes a form folder (40) for precisely folding forms (22) with the cards (34) already attached. The form folder (40) includes a form guide structure (564) having at least one scoring edge (526, 516), a form transfer mechanism, a roller unit (410A, 412A), a roller translating mechanism (456A, 459A, 457A, 458A) and a roller rotating mechanism (464B, 466B, 468B, 470B, 472B, 476B).
Abstract:
A solenoid bumper mechanism wherein a resilient means absorbs a proportion of the kinetic energy of a shaft moving within the solenoid, and a nonresilient means which causes the shaft to terminate its movement at a fixed point. The mechanism provides shaft movement of repeatable precise distances and also does not interfere with the magnetic field created by the solenoid body.
Abstract:
A card output hopper apparatus (20) sorts and stacks cards (82) on to various card trays (42, 44). A roller and deflector arrangement (36) deflects cards toward card trays (42, 44) and drives the cards onto the trays (42, 44). Cards also pass through a slot in a deflector (102) having three receiving positions to a second deflector (104). The second deflector (104) and tray (118) provides for further sorting and additional stacking capacity. The cards are tensioned in the card trays (42, 44, 114, 116, 118) stacks to maintain proper card order.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for printing graphics images on plastic cards is disclosed, comprising a computer (10), a graphics printer (15), and an image generating program (23) executing on the computer (10) and supplying graphic images to the graphics printer (15). The image generating program (23) can combine logo images, Kanji character images, English character images, and barcode images for printing on the plastic card. In addition, a method defining an input data record, and a plurality of graphics commands contained therein, is disclosed.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method is disclosed for converting row-oriented data into column-oriented data. A matrix of row-oriented data is read from a ROM device (14) and stored in a plurality of latches (15). All the bits from one column of said data are selected from the latches (16) and stored in a register (17).
Abstract:
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for parallel initialization of integrated circuit cards (80) along a card transfer path (110).
Abstract:
A thermal ink transfer printer (1, 40, 41, 80) including a thermal print head (6), an ink ribbon (8) with a plurality of colour sequences (J, M, C, T, N), and means for converting the Red, Green, Blue coding of an image to be printed into a Yellow, Magenta, Cyan coding specific for the ink transfer. Said converting means include means (20, 25) for sensing the hues (FJ, FM, FC) of the colours (J, M, C) of the ribbon (8), and means (130, 133, TCJi, TCMi, TCCi) for converting the image coding depending on the sensed hues (FJ, FM, FC).
Abstract:
A graphics printer apparatus and method using sensors to detect the position of a work piece relative to a print head. A single drive motor driving the feed rollers and a print roller.