Assa Abloy Ab

Datacard Corporation

Jon Everett Freise

Tanya Jegeris Snyder

James Rieck

Jeffrey Lee Stangler

Andrew William Slotto

Lyndon James Hanson

Michael A Morrison

James A Jordan

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

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.

Improvements in security relating to the use of personalized document production equipment. The invention has particular use with respect to printers that are used to produce plastic cards, such as financial cards and identification cards. The invention prevents the unauthorized production of personalized documents through the use of stolen or fraudulently obtained production equipment or software. The equipment is locked until a user enters authorization data that matches authorization data stored in memory of the equipment. The equipment is able to power-up in the locked state, at which point the user is prompted to enter the authorization data. As a result, if the equipment is stolen, the thief is unable to operate the equipment without the necessary authorization data.

System and method for preventing unauthorized operation of identification and financial document production equipment

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Minneapolis, MN, United States of America

Jon Everett Freise