Atlantek, Inc.

Zebra Technologies Corporation

Christian S Rothwell

Edward A Nardone

Raymond Eugene Maynard

Harold D Schofield

Paul R Caron

Gary Field

Andrew J Pekarske

Paul S Follett

Jared Coy Roundy

Joseph V Connors

Paul V Corpus

An example disclosed method for use in a device configured to communicate using digital certificates includes, in response to a request, receiving a digital certificate for use in secure communications between the device and another device; evaluating, using a logic circuit, the digital certificate to determine a validity of the digital certificate; when the digital certificate is valid, allowing use of the digital certificate by the device; and when the digital certificate is invalid, preventing use of the digital certificate by the device.

Methods and apparatus to renew digital certificates

Card laminating apparatus

A two-sided card laminating apparatus simultaneously applies and bonds laminate sheets to opposing faces of a two-sided card substrate. The apparatus includes two opposing laminating assemblies symmetrically mounted in mirror image relation on opposing sides of a substrate supply path. Individual sheets of laminate are cut from webs of lamina and transferred onto the card substrate at a convergence zone disposed on the substrate supply path. Each of the laminating assemblies includes a web of lamina, a cutter, and nip rollers disposed between the web and the cutter. The nip rollers advance the web in an upstream direction through the cutter into engagement with a transfer roller. As the laminate exits the cutter, the leading edge is captured between the outer surface of the transfer roller and a laminate guide where it is grabbed by the outer surface of the transfer roller. The outer surface of the transfer roller pulls the leading edge of the sheet of laminate in an upstream direction from the cutter toward the convergence zone. A transfer member disposed in the convergence zone strips the leading edge of the sheet of laminate from the outer surface of the transfer roller and transfers the sheet of laminate into overlying registration with the substrate as the substrate passes through the convergence zone. The substrate is transported along the substrate supply path through the convergence zone and between the two opposing heaters which symmetrically heat the card substrate to bond the laminate sheets to the card substrate.

An identification booklet including a backing and a printed cover film having identification indicia printed thereon is automatically printed and assembled by an apparatus including means for holding the booklet in an open position with the backing exposed, printing means for printing indicia onto an inner surface of the cover film, transport means including an insertion blade rotatably mounted thereon, the insertion blade including a damp for holding the cover film in place thereon, die-cut means for cutting the cover film to a predetermined size while the cover film is held in place on the insertion blade by the clamp, to form the identification card and fusing means for fusing the identification card and the backing together. The insertion blade is rotated while the transport means transports the insertion blade with the identification card clamped thereto into the booklet, with the identification card contacting the backing, the transport means pushes the booklet into the fusing means with the insertion blade, and the fusing means fuses the identification card to the backing.

Apparatus for automated printing and assembly of passport booklets

An apparatus for printing and laminating plastic cards consists of a thermal transfer printing station including ribbon and a thermal printhead for printing an image on a receptor surface of a receptor card, a laminating station including laminating film and a heated laminating roller mounted for engagement with said receptor surface of said receptor card during a laminating operation, and a guided carriage for transporting the receptor card beneath the printhead and the heated laminating roller. The carriage includes a resilient surface for receiving the receptor card with a receptor surface facing upwardly. The carriage is guided on a pair of rails to insure proper registration and tracking of the receptor card. The carriage is driven by a threaded rod which passes through a threaded bore in the carriage wherein rotation of the threaded rod by a motor causes movement of the carriage along the guide rails. The apparatus further includes a hopper for storing a plurality of cards for printing, a cleaning station for cleaning the receptor surface of the card prior to printing, and a pair of output nip rollers including a heated lower roller for engaging and heating a lower surface of the receptor card. The carriage enable the card to be transported by a single carrier from the hopper to the output nip rollers.

Card printing and laminating apparatus

An apparatus for printing and laminating plastic cards consists of a thermal transfer printing station including ribbon and a thermal printhead for printing an image on a receptor surface of a receptor card, a laminating station including laminating film and a heated laminating roller mounted for engagement with the receptor surface of the receptor card during a laminating operation, and a guided carriage for transporting the receptor card beneath the printhead and the heated laminating roller. The carriage includes a resilient surface for receiving the receptor card with a receptor surface facing upwardly. The carriage is guided on a pair of rails to insure proper registration and tracking of the receptor card. The carriage is driven by a threaded rod which passes through a threaded bore in the carriage wherein rotation of the threaded rod by a motor causes movement of the carriage along the guide rails. In an alternate embodiment, the apparatus further includes an in-line flip station for reversing the print surface of the card so that printing can be accomplished on both sides of the card.

In-line flip station for a card printing apparatus

An apparatus for printing plastic cards consists of a thermal transfer printing station including ribbon and a thermal printhead for printing an image on a receptor surface of a receptor card, and a guided carriage for transporting the receptor card beneath the thermal printhead. The carriage includes a resilient surface for receiving the receptor card with a receptor surface facing upwardly. The carriage is guided on a pair of rails, and is driven by a threaded rod which passes through a threaded bore in the carriage, wherein rotation of the threaded rod by a motor causes movement of the carriage along the guide rails. The apparatus further includes a hopper for storing a plurality of cards for printing, and a cleaning station for cleaning the receptor surface of the card prior to printing. The threaded-rod driven carriage insures proper registration and tracking of the receptor card as it passes underneath the printhead.

Card printing apparatus

A system for the automated production of an identification card includes a two-part security media and apparatus for printing, laminating and die-cutting the security media to form discrete identification cards. The two-part security media includes a continuous web of an opaque backing film, and a continuous web of a clear cover film which acts as a receptor for receiving a thermally printed digital card image. A first thermal web printer is operative for printing a reversed digital card image onto an inner surface of the cover film adjacent a terminal end thereof. A second thermal web printer prints a second image onto the back of the backing film at a terminal end thereof. The printed ends of the backing and cover films are advanced to a cutting station wherein they are aligned in overlying relation and severed from their webs. The aligned films are then advanced to a laminating station including a heated input nip for laminating the films under pressure and heat, a heated platen for heat-fusing the thermoplastic films together, and fan-cooled heat sinks for cooling the fused film construction. The fused laminate film construction is advanced to a die-cutting device which die cuts a predetermined size card from the laminate construction, and advances the die-cut card to a magnetic stripe encoder for encoding of a magnetic stripe on the back surface of the backing film.

Growing community of inventors

North Kingstown, RI, United States of America

Christian S Rothwell