Entrust Corporation

Daniel Sarkinen

Randy Jordan

Jon Wawra

Cory D Wooldridge

Kyle Johnson

Brian O'Dell

Tim Flitsch

Brendan Hinnenkamp

Andrew Luu

Alex Zaborowski

Scott Svensson

Matt Odden

Ethan Yanna

Bruce Klemann

Kevin Bontrager

Brett McDonough

Don Galles

Cory Wooldridge

Techniques are described for reducing or eliminating a bow in a plastic card that results from applying radiation, such as UV radiation, to a surface of the plastic card to cure radiation curable material that has been applied to the surface. In one embodiment, after printing of all radiation curable material on the plastic card is completed, radiation is applied to both surfaces of the plastic card. After applying the radiation, the plastic card complies with ISO 7810:2019, Clause 8.10.

Plastic card printing with radiation curable material and multiple curing passes

A drop-on-demand plastic card printer includes a tray disposed underneath the plastic card during drop-on-demand printing to catch any overspray that may occur during printing on the plastic card. The tray may be disposable so that the tray is intended to be removed and disposed of. An ink absorbent pad can be disposed in the tray to absorb the oversprayed ink. The ink absorbent pad can be disposed of along with the tray or disposed of separately from the tray.

Drop-on-demand card printer with ink tray

A DOD print station has at least one DOD print head that applies radiation curable material, to a surface of an identification document. A curing station is adjacent to the DOD print station. The curing station includes at least one radiation emitting device, for example a UV light emitting device, that cures the radiation curable material applied to the surface. The curing station is configured to prevent stray radiation emitted from the radiation emitting device from impinging on the DOD print head(s) and prevent exposure to the operator of the DOD print station.

Cure lamp shutter

An ink bottle is mounted in a DOD printer with the ink bottle acting as an ink supply reservoir that supplies ink to a DOD print head. A unique cap is provided that is configured to be affixed to an end of the ink bottle via threads or the like. The cap can be provided with one or more mechanical keying features used to limit mounting of the cap and the bottle assembly to a correct receiver in the DOD printer. The cap can also be provided with a valve controlled ink passage that allows ink to flow out of the bottle through the cap and a valve controlled vent passage that allows air to enter the bottle through the cap.

Drop-on-demand printer with bottle ink supply and keyed bottle cap

DOD ink delivery systems and methods are described herein that are used in DOD card printing systems of card processing systems for supplying ink for DOD printing on plastic cards of the type that bear personalized data unique to the intended cardholder and/or which bear other card information. The DOD ink delivery system is configured to recirculate the ink, or have a second pressure damper container that provides damping to eliminate large and abrupt spikes in ink pressure which can disturb the meniscus of the ink in each nozzle of the print head generated by a vacuum system, or simultaneously operate a supply pump at a lower flow rate than a return pump during an autofill/autodrain procedure on the ink delivery system.

Drop-on-demand ink delivery systems and methods in card processing systems

Maintenance routines that can be used to maintain the operability of one or more DOD print heads in a card processing system. The maintenance routines can include, but are not limited to: a cover routine where a cover or cap is selectively and automatically located over the print head(s) to protect the print head(s); a shake pulse routine that energizes the nozzles of the print head(s) without causing an ejection of ink; a spit routine where the nozzles of the print head(s) are energized to eject one or more drops of ink; and a purge routine where the nozzles are not electrically energized but the pressure holding the ink in the nozzles of the print head(s) is reversed to push ink out of the nozzles.

Card processing system with drop-on-demand print head automated maintenance routines

Growing community of inventors

Shakopee, MN, United States of America

Daniel Sarkinen