Assa Abloy Ab

Fargo Electronics, Inc.

Jeffrey Lee Stangler

James Rieck

Tanya Jegeris Snyder

Andrew William Slotto

Ted M Hoffman

John P Skoglund

Jon Everett Freise

Russell Ericson

Lyndon James Hanson

Thomas G Gale, Jr

Daniel Fowell

Tony Nauth

James A Rieck

Daniel John Fowell

A print section sensor for detecting registration marks on a transfer ribbon in a ribbon feed path includes a reflective sensor configured to detect the registration marks and a transmissive sensor configured to detect the registration marks. The reflective sensor is located upstream of the transmissive sensor relative to a feed direction of the transfer ribbon.

Sensor for identifying registration marks on a ribbon

A transfer printing device includes a transfer ribbon, a print unit, a mark sensor and a controller. The transfer ribbon includes a transfer layer that is attached to a carrier layer. The transfer layer includes a series of transfer sections. The controller is configured to perform a print operation, in which a transfer section that is available for printing is selected by detecting an absence of a used mark in a predetermined position on the transfer ribbon corresponding to the transfer section using the mark sensor. An image is printed to the selected transfer section and a used mark is printed on the transfer ribbon using the print unit. At least a portion of the used mark is in a predetermined position relative to the selected transfer section and is outside the selected transfer section.

Used transfer layer detection in a transfer printing device

A credential production device includes a processing path, a transport mechanism, a processing assembly and at least one assembly guide. The transport mechanism is configured to feed individual substrates along the processing path. The processing assembly includes a supply spool support, a take-up spool support, a plurality of ribbon supports, and a print head or a transfer roller. Each assembly guide is configured to guide movement of the processing assembly substantially perpendicularly to the processing path between an operating position and a loading position relative to the processing path.

Credential production device having a movable processing assembly

In a method of detecting a location of a print section of a transfer ribbon, the transfer ribbon is fed in a feed direction relative to a print section sensor. The print section sensor includes a reflective sensor and a transmissive sensor. The reflective sensor is positioned upstream of the transmissive sensor relative to the feed direction. A registration mark on the transfer ribbon, which indicates the location of the print section on the transfer ribbon, is detected using the reflective sensor. The registration mark is detected using the transmissive sensor. The location of the print section is determined based on the detection of the registration mark using the transmissive sensor.

A credential production device includes a printing device, a laminating device, a transfer ribbon accumulator, a processing assembly, and a frame. The printing device is configured to print an image to the transfer ribbon. The laminating device is configured to transfer printed images from the transfer ribbon to a substrate. The transfer ribbon accumulator adjusts a length of a portion of a ribbon path, along which the transfer ribbon is routed, in response to different transfer ribbon feed rates. The processing assembly supports the transfer ribbon, at least a portion of the printing device or a portion of the laminating device, and at least a first portion of the transfer ribbon accumulator. The frame supports the second portion of the transfer ribbon accumulator. The processing assembly and the frame are configured to move relative to each other between first and second positions.

Credential production device transfer ribbon accumulator

In a method of operating a transfer printing device, which includes a transfer ribbon having a series of transfer sections, a print unit, and a mark sensor, the transfer ribbon is fed in a feed direction. A transfer section that is available for printing is selected through the detection of an absence of a used mark in a predetermined position on the transfer ribbon corresponding to the transfer section using the mark sensor. An image is printed to the selected transfer section using the print unit. A used mark corresponding to the selected transfer section is printed in a predetermined position on the transfer ribbon.

A credential production device includes a transfer ribbon, a printing device, a laminating device, and a transfer ribbon accumulator. The printing device is configured to print an image to the transfer ribbon. The laminating device is configured to transfer printed images from the transfer ribbon to a substrate. The transfer ribbon accumulator includes first, second, and third ribbon-engaging members (REM's), and a drive system. The first and second REM's have fixed positions relative to each other. The third REM is configured to move relative to the first and second REM's along an axis that extends through a gap between the first and second REM's. The drive system is configured to generate a force that drives movement of the third REM relative to the first and second REM's along the axis. Movement of the third REM relative to the first and second REM's along the axis changes a length of a path along which a portion of the transfer ribbon travels through the accumulator.

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a substrate processing device, such as a printing device. In some embodiments, the device includes a substrate supply, a reusable card, an operative unit, at least one transport mechanism, and a controller. The substrate supply is configured to support a plurality of operative substrates. The reusable card is stored in a dedicated storage area, which does not receive the operative substrates. The controller is configured to control the at least one transport mechanism and the operative unit to deliver the reusable card from the storage area to the operative unit, to process the reusable card with the operative unit, and return the reusable card to the storage area, multiple times.

Printing device having reusable card

A credential printing device is provided. The credential printing device includes a credential substrate transport, a transfer ribbon and a transfer roller. The credential substrate transport is configured to feed a credential substrate along a processing path. The transfer ribbon is adjacent to the processing path. The transfer roller is positioned below the processing path and is configured to transfer an image from the transfer ribbon to a bottom surface of the credential substrate in the processing path.

Inverted reverse-image transfer printing

A credential production device is provided. The credential production device includes a card holder. The card holder includes a housing having a base and a card press. The card press is configured to apply a load to a top card of a stack of cards supported above the base. The load includes a perpendicular load component oriented perpendicularly to the base and having a magnitude that increases as a thickness of the stack of cards decreases.

Growing community of inventors

Eden Prairie, MN, United States of America

Jeffrey Lee Stangler