Abstract:
An identification document includes a first surface, at least a portion of the first surface being made of foamable synthetic material, and a tactile relief marking having a bubble structure formed in the foamable synthetic material. A method is used for producing at least one tactile relief marking on an identification document by an irradiation source. The identification document includes a surface having foamable synthetic material that has a property of increasing its volume by foaming upon application of energy. The method includes selectively irradiating the foamable synthetic material with energy to cause the foamable synthetic material to foam, thereby forming a tactile relief marking
Abstract:
Systems and methods for verifying character(s) on a personalized document, and electronically verifying a magnetic stripe and a smartcard chip of the personalized document, are provided. A quality assurance station is located downstream of personalization stations of a document personalization system. The quality assurance station can provide automated, in-line verification and quality assurance for personalized documents. The quality assurance station integrates a vision verification sub-station, a magnetic stripe sub-station, and a smartcard sub-station.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a device for counting thin products (1) that can be stacked side-by-side in a tray (2), characterized in that it comprises at least one counting station comprised of at least one CIS module (31, 32, 33), whose overall length is at least equal to the length of the tray (2) and means for performing multiple scans in a direction transverse to the tray (2), each CIS module (31, 32, 33) comprising at least means for longitudinally illuminating the products (1) and at least one CIS circuit comprised of a plurality of photosensitive elements connected to at least one printed circuit, the counting device also comprises means for detecting the positioning of the tray (2), means for moving the tray in a direction perpendicular to the light beam, means for storing the signals representative of the data of the light beam reflected by the products (1), and means for processing said data for determining the number of products.
Abstract:
Improvements that facilitate loading of supply items into data bearing identification or financial document production equipment. Supply items include web materials that are used in data bearing identification or financial document production equipment, and which are supplied from a supply cylinder and wound onto a take-up cylinder after use. Examples of supply items include monochromatic and multi-color print ribbons, webs that carry laminate patches, cleaning tape, and other web materials that are used up during use of the equipment. Data bearing identification or financial document production equipment include thermal printers, laminators and combinations thereof, and other equipment that utilize supply items.
Abstract:
Methods and systems for remote, asynchronous key entry and extraction are provided. A credential device can store a first key thereon, and can store an encrypted key component. A hardware security module manages a key template including a plurality of key components. The hardware security module manages a complementary key to the first key. The key component on the credential device can be encrypted with the first key for storage on the credential device and decrypted by the complementary key at the hardware security module. Alternately, the key component can be encrypted with the complementary key and provided to the credential device for decryption at a secure system via the first key. Accordingly, a key custodian may supply or extract a key component at a hardware security module remotely and at a time convenient to that key custodian.
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 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 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:
Systems, mechanisms, and methods are described that relate to the production of a custom printed insert(s) that can be custom printed prior to insertion of the custom printed insert(s) into an envelope along with a personalized card/carrier combination for mailing to the intended holder of the personalized card. The inserts are custom printed using an insert printer that is located in the inserter mechanism that is used to insert the insert(s) and the card/carrier combination into an envelope for mailing to an end user of the card. The inserter mechanism can have an “off-line” configuration, i.e. configured as a stand-alone mechanism, or configured for “in-line” use, i.e. used together with other mechanisms.
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.