The present invention generally relates to a novel printing system for printing identification cards with durable full-color images using an inkjet printing device.
In recent years, identification (ID) cards have become very prevalent in our society. Some examples of these cards include driver's licenses, employee identification cards, club membership cards, bond cards and insurance cards. As is well known, these cards are often carried in wallets and purses and most of them are handled numerous times over their life span. As a result, ID cards are prone to wear and tear.
Over the years, different methods have been used to produce these ID cards. For example, one method involves printing images using conventional printing equipment on heavy paper that is either pre-cut or cut thereafter into card sizes. These ID cards are very inexpensive to produce. However, due to the constant handling of these cards, they often succumb prematurely to wear and tear.
A more durable technique of producing these ID cards involves printing images on a plastic card. Plastic is sturdier than heavy paper and consequently, the ID cards thus produced are less prone to wear and tear than the heavy paper ID cards. However, the images printed on the cards have a tendency to fade away gradually with each usage. In addition, special printing equipment has to be used to print the images on the cards.
To circumvent the gradual fading of the images on the plastic and paper ID cards, the cards are sometimes laminated. For plastic cards, this can be accomplished by bonding a thin clear plastic material over the side of the cards that has the imprinted images. This is often achieved by compressing the clear plastic material onto the plastic card under heat.
One of the types of special printing equipment that is used to produce the plastic ID cards involves employing dye diffusion thermal transfer (D2T2) technology. D2T2 uses a thermal printhead to print an image on a card to allow relatively easy printing of images on plastic ID cards. However, D2T2 has several drawbacks. For example, the material used in D2T2 technology is expensive and not widely available. In addition, the thermal printhead itself is susceptible to contamination and can damage the printhead. Further, D2T2 printers are not capable of producing high quality photo images because the inks they use do not mix well enough together to produce a high gamut of colors.
Consequently, what is needed is a method of printing ID cards that is relatively inexpensive and widely available and that offers a wide array of colors for producing ID cards with high quality images.
To overcome the limitations in the prior art described above, and to overcome other limitations that will become apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, the present invention is embodied in a printing system for printing identification cards with durable full-color images using inkjet printing technology.
In general, the present invention provides an inkjet printer that is used to print images on a plastic ID card. The images are processed by a host computer and translated and transposed to form mirror images (reverse images). The reverse images are printed on suitable transparent media, such as specially coated polyester media, preferably in roll form. The transparent media is then laminated onto a plastic card. The side with the printed images is then adhered to the card.
As a result, the images are viewed as being printed correctly on the transparent media. Further, the images are protected on one side by the transparent media itself and on the other side by the plastic card. Consequently, the images are fairly durable. The edges of the transparent media can be cut automatically so that they are flush with the edge of the plastic card. The card is then ejected to an output area, and is ready to use.
Other aspects and advantages of the present invention as well as a more complete understanding thereof will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention. Moreover, it is intended that the scope of the invention be limited by the claims and not by the preceding summary or the following detailed description.
The present invention can be further understood by reference to the following description and attached drawings that illustrate the preferred embodiment. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
In the following description of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration a specific example in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
With reference now to the figures,
The image processing controller 100 can be software driven or a processor of a personal computer, although not restricted as such, with the requisite operating system (OS) and different memory devices (i.e., random access memory (RAM), read-only-memory (ROM), as well as hard and floppy disks to store data. The memory devices are used to store device drivers for each device, the OS as well as the different application programs that may be needed. One of these application programs may be the program needed to use the personal computer as an ID card issuing system.
The scanner 105 is used to input image data such as writing, graphic or photographic data into the system. For example, the photograph of a person may be scanned into the system. The person's signature and any relevant information about the person may also be scanned into the system. Relevant information includes name, address, height, weight, date of birth, card number, expiration date of card etc.
The camera 110 may be used to take photographs of individuals as well as photographs of relevant data about the individuals. The camera may either be a digital or a non-digital camera. If it is a non-digital camera, then a digitizer is needed to convert the photographs into digital data for later use. The keyboard 115 and mouse 120 may also be used to enter the relevant information about the individual into the system. The display system 125 is used as display systems are conventionally used. For example, it may be used to see what will be printed on the ID card before the image is actually printed on the card.
The printer 130, in accordance with the present invention, is an inkjet printing device with a suitable inkjet printhead (not shown). The printhead of the inkjet printing device is used to print reverse images 140 on any suitable transparent media 135, such as a specially coated polyester media. The transparent media 135 is later laminated to a suitable material, such as a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) card 150 with the side with the printed image being adhered to the card as a normal view 160. Although PVC or ABS card are preferred, cards of other material may equally be used without departing from the scope of the invention.
Referring back to
Specifically, the printer 130 responds to commands from the image processing controller 100 of
After being printed on, the transparent media 135 can be held temporarily in an output area to allow the ink to dry. A hot air dryer can be used to speed up the drying process (not shown). Once the reverse printed image 140 on the transparent media 135 has dried, it can be laminated on a standard plastic card 150 with the side with the images being adhered.
The edges of the transparent media 135 can be cut so that they are flush with the edge of the plastic card 150. The card 150 is then ejected to an output area, and is ready to use. As a result, the images 160 are viewed as being printed correctly on the transparent media 135. Further, the images 160 are protected on one side by the transparent media 135 itself and on the other side by the plastic card 150. Consequently, the produced ID card is a fairly durable.
It should be noted that the card 150 could be coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive commonly available. The adhesive could be in the form of a transfer tape or a double-sided tape. The coating can act as an ink receptor and adhesive. The excess transparent media or adhesive tape (if used) could be removed using a die cut process.
The above described process could occur automatically. That is, the printer itself could contain a supply of standard plastic cards that could be pre-coated with the adhesive or the adhesive can be put on the card while in the printer. In one embodiment, the printer could align the printed image with the card then laminate the transparent media and the card together using the pressure sensitive adhesive tape. In addition, the excess adhesive and transparent media may be removed by a die cut process contained in the printer itself.
In
The present invention uses an inkjet printing device to print images on ID cards. Normally, inkjet printed images are not too durable. The images are usually susceptible to damage due to scratches, contact with water, high heat, humidity etc. However according to the present invention, the images are protected on one side by the transparencies and on the other side by the plastic card. Consequently, ID card images of the present invention are relatively very durable.
In addition, inkjet printing is relatively inexpensive and also allow ink mixture to produce a huge array of different colors. Hence, ID cards produced in accordance with the present invention are relatively inexpensive and images, such as photographs of individuals, appear more realistic as the colors are closer to real life colors.
The foregoing has described the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the present invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed. As an example, the above-described inventions can be used in conjunction with any inkjet printer. Thus, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive, and it should be appreciated that variations may be made in those embodiments by workers skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.
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