Patent Application
20080219745
This disclosure describes an indent printing apparatus that can indent print on both sides of a document, for example a card such as a credit card, a driver's license, an identification card, and the like, or other types of documents including passports.
It is known to indent characters into the surface of a plastic card in a process called indent printing. The indented characters can be, for example, an account number or a verification code. A typical indent printer indent prints a character into a card by simultaneously contacting a male punch and a corresponding anvil respectively against the front and the back surface of the card with an indent ribbon disposed between the male punch and one surface of the card so that the male punch drives the ribbon into the surface of the card when the male punch contacts the ribbon and the anvil contacts the opposite surface of the card. The punch creates an indentation in the card surface and the ribbon deposits a color material, for example a dye or resin, in the resulting indentation, thereby making the indented character easier to see. In the case of credit cards, indent printing often occurs on the back surface of the credit card but is sometimes done on the front surface.
In indent printing, the indented character is an indent in one planar side surface of the card, with the character being prevented from projecting from the opposite planar surface of the card by the anvil disposed opposite the male punch.
Although existing indent printing technology is acceptable, further improvements to indent printing technology are desirable.
An improved indent printing apparatus is provided. The indent printing apparatus is capable of indent printing on both sides of a document. A desktop document personalization machine, for example a card printer, that uses the indent printing apparatus, a method of personalizing a document in the machine, and a ribbon cartridge used with the indent printing apparatus are also disclosed. Additional embodiments are described where a print mechanism functions together with the indent printing apparatus to eliminate the need for an indent print ribbon. Therefore, as used herein, indent printing apparatus and indent printing mechanism includes a device with indent capability with or without an indent print ribbon.
The document can be, for example, an identity document, such as a plastic card including a financial (e.g. credit and debit) card, a drivers' license, an identification card, and other cards. Other documents, such as passports, can also be indent printed using the indent printing apparatus disclosed herein.
The indent printing apparatus is configured to indent characters including numbers, letters or symbols and combinations thereof on a document depending on the requirements of the user. The symbol can be a stamp such as a government seal. In one embodiment, indent characters are set in a predetermined pattern to allow linear indent printing generally across the first and/or second side surface of the document. This pattern could be used for indent printing a personal account number, a name or the like onto the document.
Further, the indent printing apparatus has first and second indenting mechanisms and uses first and second indent printing ribbon cartridges to enable indent printing on both side surfaces of the document.
The indent printing ribbon cartridges are removable to allow disposal of the cartridges or reloading of new indent ribbon into the cartridges. Each cartridge can have a housing with an interior space, a supply reel containing indent ribbon to be used for indent printing and a take-up reel for taking up used indent ribbon. The indent ribbon can be configured to provide one or a number of different color materials or properties, for example black, white, gray, red, metallic, holographic, fluorescent, and the like, and the material can be UV or heat curable. If desired, the cartridge can include a smart radio frequency identification (“RFID”) tag, for example on the inside or outside thereof, that contains an antenna and a memory element for storing data, for example data relating to ribbon use and the amount of ribbon remaining.
An indent printing apparatus 2 that can indent print on both side surfaces of a document is illustrated in
For sake of convenience, the document will be described herein as being a card, for example a financial (e.g. credit and debit) card, a drivers' license, an identification card, or other card. The card can be made of plastic, a composite, or other materials suitable for forming a card. It is to be realized that the document is not limited to cards and can be any document on which an indent printing operation is desired to be performed.
The words forward, reverse, upper, lower, rear, front, horizontal, vertical and the like are used herein with respect to the direction of movement of the card through the indent printing apparatus and associated desktop personalization machine, and the orientation of the card as it is transported.
The indent printing apparatus 2 is illustrated and will be described as used in a desktop card printer 1 as illustrated in
With reference to
The personalization mechanism 27 and the indent printing apparatus 2 are disposed along a single processing level. A card transport apparatus 28, for example rollers or other transport devices well know in the art, is provided for transporting a card through the housing 3 and to the personalization mechanism 27 and the indent printing apparatus 2.
Further information on input/output mechanisms and card transport mechanisms in card printers can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,762,431 and 5,886,726 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2005-0104281 A1.
In operation of the card printer 1, a card is fed from the input/output apparatus 4 into the housing 3. As an alternative to having the input/output apparatus 4, the housing 3 can have a slot whereby a user manually feeds a card into the housing 3.
Once the card enters the housing 3, the card transport apparatus 28 transports the card through the interior of the housing 3. The transport apparatus 28 moves the card along a transport path 5 using a series of rotating nip rollers or other transport apparatuses as is known in the art. In the card printer 1, as illustrated by the arrows in
The card transport apparatus 28 is configured such that a card entering the housing 3 travels along the transport path 5 from one end of the housing 3 to the other end, and then travels back along substantially the same transport path toward the output, where the card is discharged through an output that is different from the input. During transport, the card moves along the x-direction, with minimal or no y-direction and z-direction movement. In addition, the indent printing apparatus 2 is configured to have little or no x-direction or y-direction movement, with a portion thereof permitted z-direction movement.
The card transport apparatus 28 first transports the card from the input to the personalization mechanism 27 in the x-direction. The personalization mechanism 27 can then perform a desired personalization operation on the card if necessary. Personalization operations can include one or more of printing, embossing, laminating, laser engraving, magnetic stripe encoding, programming of a chip embedded in the card, and the like. The card transport apparatus 28 then transports the card from the personalization mechanism 27 to the indent printing apparatus 2 along the x-direction which performs indent printing on either one or both sides of the card.
As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, cards are transported through the printer 1 in a generally horizontal orientation, with the front and back surfaces of the card generally parallel to the x-y plane. However in other embodiments, the cards may be transported in a generally vertical orientation.
With reference to
In the illustrated embodiment, the actuator 8 is configured to move vertically up and down to actuate the first indenting mechanism 7a toward and away from the second indenting mechanism 7b via the actuator plate 9. In particular, with reference to
The shaft 54 is illustrated as being located approximate the center of the plate 9 in
The actuator plate 9 is attached to the top of the chassis 6 by a hinge mechanism 10 so as to be pivotable about an axis that is parallel to the y-direction. The first indenting mechanism 7a is connected to the plate 9 so as to be able to pivot with the plate 9 in the z-direction toward and away the second indenting mechanism 7b. The second indenting mechanism 7b is fixed in the x-, y- and z-directions. In use, the card travels between the first and second indenting mechanisms 7a, 7b.
The indent printing apparatus 2 also includes removable first and second indent printing ribbon cartridges 12a, 12b that provide first and second indent ribbons 15a, 15b for performing indent printing. Both the first and second indent printing ribbon cartridges 12a, 12b are insertable into and removable from the printer 1 and the indent printing apparatus 2, for example using a snap-fit system or any means that allows easy manual removal without requiring tools. The removal of the cartridges 12a, 12b allows the cartridges to be disposed of and replaced with new cartridges, or if desired, allows removal of the used indent ribbon and replacement with new indent ribbon.
The first and second indenting mechanisms 7a, b are now described in more detail with reference to
The second indenting mechanism 7b includes a second indent wheel 13b and a wheel opposite the indent wheel 13b that includes a second anvil 14b. The second indenting mechanism 7b is positioned to perform indent printing on the second side surface of the card. The second indent wheel 13b and the second ribbon 15b are positioned on the second side of the card travel path 5, adjacent the first anvil 14a, to contact the second side surface of the card. The second anvil 14b, which is adjacent the first indent wheel 13a, is positioned on the first side of the card travel path 5, generally opposite the second indent wheel 13b and the second ribbon 15b, to contact the first side surface of the card during indent printing by the second indent wheel 13b.
The first indent wheel 13a and the wheel containing the second anvil 14b are disposed on a first shaft 17a that is rotatable about an axis that is generally parallel to the y-direction. The second indent wheel 13b and the first anvil 14a are disposed on a second shaft 17b that is also rotatable about an axis that is generally parallel to the y-direction. The first and second indent wheels 13a, 13b and the first and second anvils 14a, 14b can be disposed on the first and second shafts 17a, 17b such that lateral adjustment of the first and second indent wheels 13a, 13b and the first and second anvils 14a, 14b along first and second shafts 17a, 17b can be achieved (illustrated in dashed lines in
Both the first and second indent wheels 13a, 13b includes one or more indent characters 18 to be indent printed onto the first and second side surfaces of the card. In addition, each indent wheel 13a, 13b also includes a blank spot 20 that is devoid of an indent character. As shown in
The indent characters 18 can include one or more letters, numbers, symbols or combinations thereof.
When the first and second disposable indent printing ribbon cartridges 12a, b are in position within the indent printing apparatus 2 (shown in
In use, after a card is input into the housing 3 and is transported to and through the printer mechanism 27, a sensor (not shown) detects when the card enters the indent printing apparatus 2. When the card is properly positioned, the shafts 17a, 17b must be actuated to properly position the indent wheels 13a, 13b and the anvils 14a, 14b depending upon which side (or both) of the card is to be indent printed.
In the case of indent printing on the first side of the card, the shaft 17b is rotated to position the flat surface 19a of the anvil 14a facing upward in the z-direction toward the indent wheel 13a. The shaft 17a is also rotated to bring the appropriate character of the indent wheel 13a into position opposite the anvil 14a. The cam 50 is then rotated to raise the shaft 54, which causes the actuator plate 9 to pivot downward. This drives the positioned character of the indent wheel 13a and the indent ribbon 15a into engagement with the first side of the card to indent print the character into the first side of the card. The indent wheel 13a is then raised upwardly by the appropriate spring bias and a new character of the indent wheel 13a is brought into position if additional indent printing on the first side is needed.
In the case of indent printing on the second side of the card, the shaft 17a is rotated to position the flat surface 19b of the anvil 14b facing downward in the z-direction toward the indent wheel 13b. The shaft 17b is also rotated to bring the appropriate character of the indent wheel 13b into position opposite the anvil 14b. The cam 50 is then rotated to raise the shaft 54, which causes the actuator plate 9 to pivot downward. This drives the anvil 14b downward which pushes the card, and the second side surface thereof, into engagement with the ribbon 15b and the character on the indent wheel 13b which indent prints that character into the second side surface. The indent wheel 13a is then raised upwardly by the appropriate spring bias and a new character of the indent wheel 13b is brought into position if additional indent printing on the second side surface is needed.
Indent printing is only performed when the respective anvils 14a, 14b are positioned opposite the respective first and second indent wheels 13a,13b. Indent printing using the apparatus 2 would typically be performed on one side surface of the card in one pass of the card. If indent printing is required on the opposite side surface of the card, the card would then be reversed in direction back through the indenting apparatus and then re-directed through the indenting apparatus to indent print on the opposite side surface in a second pass of the card. However, the indent printing apparatus 2 could simultaneously indent print on each side surface of the card during a single pass of the card through the apparatus.
The first and second removable indent printing ribbon cartridges 12a, 12b are now described in more detail with reference to
Enclosed within the interior space of the housing 22 is a supply reel 24 for supplying unused indent ribbon 21, a take-up reel 25 for storing used indent ribbon 21 and a pair of ribbon guides 26a, b. The supply reel 24 and take-up reel 25 are disposed on a shaft 36 that extends through the reels 24, 25 and which is supported at either end by the housing 22. The ribbon 21 is replaceable by, for example, replacing the supply reel 24 and the take-up reel 25 with new reels.
The shaft 36 is preferably driven by a suitable motor or motors (not shown) when the cartridges 12a, 12b are mounted into the printer 1. A clutch mechanism 38, or other resistance mechanism that performs a function similar to the clutch mechanism, later described in
The housing 22 includes a pair of spaced arms 30a, 30b that extend from the portion of the housing 22 containing the supply reel 24 and take-up reel 25. The ends of the arms 30a, 30b are spaced from each other to define a space 32 including the exposed ribbon zone 23.
The ribbon guides 26a, 26b are disposed near the ends of the arms 30a, 30b and are each configured for turning the indent ribbon 90 degrees as the ribbon travels from the supply reel 24 to the take-up reel 25. In particular, the ribbon guides 26a, 26b comprise wire guides that are fixed in the arms 30a, 30b, with the ribbon engaging portion of the guides 26a, 26b disposed at approximately a 45 degree angle to the path of travel of the ribbon. The guide 26a causes the ribbon to turn 90 degrees from its initial direction of travel (shown by the arrow in
While ribbon 21 is advanced from the supply reel 24 to the take-up reel 25, the effective diameters of each reel change. This change in diameters creates a problem while trying to achieve a consistent, incremental ribbon advance distance throughout the entire reel. Therefore, the cartridge 12a is provided with the clutch mechanism 38 to achieve consistent, incremental advancement throughout the length of the ribbon, utilizing a small number of inexpensive components, and one motor.
With reference to
The supply reel 24 is clutched to the cartridge housing 22 by a wrap clutch spring 64 through the engagement of a supply spring tang 66 with a feature in or on the housing 22. The wrap clutch spring 64 prevents the supply reel 24 from rotating in the pay-out direction unless released by a clutch release pin 68 shown in
The clutch mechanism 38 also includes a mechanism for controlling the clutch spring 64. For example, as illustrated in
One or more resistance mechanisms other than clutches can be used in the resistance mechanism 38, as long as the resistance mechanisms perform functions similar to the individual clutches of the clutch mechanism 38.
In use, the cartridge is inserted into the indent apparatus 2. The printer 1 then initializes, running the take-up motor connected to the shaft 36 to remove slack in the ribbon. The labyrinth then closes by bringing the top labyrinth 74 into engagement with the bottom labyrinth 70 as a result of the plate 9 being actuated downward to bring the indent mechanism 7a toward the indent mechanism 7b. When the labyrinth closes, a character is indented onto the card. In addition, the wrap clutch spring 64 is released by the clutch release pin 68, and an increment of ribbon is pulled from the supply reel 24 around the labyrinth. As shown in
When the plate 9 is raised upward, the labyrinth is opened by raising the top labyrinth 74 upward with the plate 9. At the same time, the clutch release pin 68 lifts upward, and the supply clutch spring 64 locks the supply reel 24. The take-up motor connected to the shaft 36 then runs, removing ribbon slack.
Other methods for advancing ribbon are possible. For example, a motor can be used to rotate the take-up reel 24 by a set amount after every indenting operation. In this embodiment, the incremental amount of linear ribbon payout will increase substantially from empty to full take-up reel 25. Therefore, electronics and code would be required in this embodiment in order to account for the increasing take-up reel diameter, and continually adjust the amount of motor rotation per increment.
Another option is to create a “nip” between a pair of rollers, and drive the ribbon using the friction of the rollers. This nip would be located on the ribbon somewhere between the supply and take-up reels, and would allow for consistent rotational motor to linear payout ratio. The take-up reel would then be clutched to a separate motor, so that it could take-up the resulting slack.
If desired, the cartridge 12a, 12b can contain a smart radio frequency identification (“RFID”) tag that contains an antenna and a memory element for storing data, for example data relating to ribbon use and the amount of ribbon remaining, for example a count based on the anticipated amount of ribbon used. The RFID tag can be mounted on the housing 22, including on the exterior thereof or on the interior thereof, or on some component of the cartridge other than the housing 22. For example, the RFID tag can be mounted on the supply reel 24, on the take-up reel 25 or on the shaft 36.
The above-described embodiments have all included one or more indent ribbon cartridges containing indent print ribbon. However, it is possible to utilize the card printer 1 and the indent printing apparatus 2 together to indent print characters without using the indent print ribbon.
In one such embodiment, a character can be printed onto the card by the print mechanism 27. Thereafter, the indent printing apparatus 2 can indent the same character in the same location as the printed character. The result is a character that appears to have been infilled with a color material, and the character appears similar to an indented character using the indent printing technique described in detail above.
In a second embodiment, a plurality of characters are indented into the card. Thereafter, a solid, colored box or field is printed around the indented characters by the print mechanism 27 without printing within the indented characters. As a result, the indented characters will stand out relative to the surrounding colored field. For example, the indented characters may look white in a black field.
Therefore, as used herein, indent printing apparatus and indent printing mechanism includes a device with indent capability with or without an indent print ribbon. In addition, the term “indent printing” and the like include indenting of characters with our without the use of indent ribbon.
