Modular print engines and modular print engine components

• US 10,268,932 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2018
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Entrust Datacard Corporation (Entrust Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Entrust Datacard Corporation (Entrust Corp.)
• Inventors: Alvig, David, Paulson, Arthur Joseph, Cronin, Patrick C., Sobania, Mark James
• Primary Examiner(s): Feggins, Kristal
• Application Number:
  US15/872,395
• Publication Number:
  US 20180144217A1
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/12 specially adapted for small cards, envelopes, or the like , e.g. credit cards, cut visiting cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/021 Adaptations for printing on specific media

Abstract

Modular print engines and print engine components that are usable in desktop card printers for personalizing plastic cards such as financial cards including credit and debit cards, identification cards, driver'"'"'s licenses, and other personalized plastic cards. The modular nature of the print engines and print engine components permit alteration in the specific functionality of the desktop card printers depending upon, for example, the personalization requirements of the plastic cards and intended applications of the desktop card printers. In addition, the modular print engine components can be completely tested prior to installation into the modular print engines to ensure that the modular print engine components are working correctly prior to installation. Furthermore, the modular print engine components add flexibility to the desktop card printers as upgraded functionality and features can be introduced by developing new modular components.

Claims

1. A modular print engine useable in a desktop personalized plastic card printer, comprising:

a housing having a front side, a rear side, a top and a bottom;

a card input at the front side of the housing;

a card input hopper mounted at the front side of the housing that is in communication with the card input, the card input hopper is configured to hold a plurality of cards to be processed;

a card reorienting mechanism in the housing adjacent to the rear side, the card reorienting mechanism is configured to receive a card that has been input from the card input hopper and rotate the card to redirect the card along a desired card travel path;

a first card travel path between the card input and the card reorienting mechanism;

a second card travel path extending from the card reorienting mechanism, the second card travel path is not parallel to the first card travel path;

a print engine disposed along either the first card travel path or the second card travel path, the print engine is configured to print on the card; and

a removable option module disposed along either the first card travel path or the second card travel path, the removable option module includes at least one processing mechanism that is configured to perform a processing operation on the card.

2. The modular print engine of claim 1, wherein the print engine is disposed along the first card travel path and the first card travel path is below the print engine.

3. The modular print engine of claim 1, wherein the print engine comprises a retransfer print engine that is configured to perform retransfer printing.

4. The modular print engine of claim 1, further comprising a first card opening in the bottom of the housing and a third card travel path extending from the card reorienting mechanism to the first card opening.

5. The modular print engine of claim 4, further comprising a second card opening in the rear side of the housing, and a fourth card travel path extending from the card reorienting mechanism to the second card opening.

6. The modular print engine of claim 5, further comprising a second option module attached to the rear side of the housing and including an input in communication with the second card opening for receiving a card from the second card opening, and the second option module includes at least one processing mechanism that is configured to perform a processing operation on a card.

7. The modular print engine of claim 4, further comprising a second card opening in the top of the housing and the second card travel path extending from the card reorienting mechanism to the second card opening.

8. The modular print engine of claim 7, further comprising an expansion module attached to the top of the housing and including an input in communication with the second card opening for receiving a card from the second card opening, the expansion module includes an output through which a card can be output from the modular print engine.

9. The modular print engine of claim 8, wherein the expansion module includes a card reorienting mechanism.

10. The modular print engine of claim 1, wherein the second card travel path extends above the first card travel path.

11. The modular print engine of claim 1, wherein the at least one processing mechanism of the removable option module comprises:

a magnetic stripe reader and/or writer configured to read and/or write to a magnetic stripe of the card; and

/or

a chip reader and/or writer configured to read and/or write to a chip of the card.

17. The modular print engine of claim 1, wherein the first card travel path is parallel to the bottom of the housing.

12. A modular print engine useable in a desktop personalized plastic card printer, comprising:

a housing having a front side, a rear side, a top and a bottom;

a card input at the front side of the housing;

a card input hopper mounted at the front side of the housing that is in communication with the card input, the card input hopper is configured to hold a plurality of cards to be processed;

a card reorienting mechanism in the housing adjacent to the rear side, the card reorienting mechanism is configured to receive a card that has been input from the card input hopper and rotate the card to redirect the card along a desired card travel path;

a first card travel path between the card input and the card reorienting mechanism;

a second card travel path extending from the card reorienting mechanism;

a print engine disposed along either the first card travel path or the second card travel path, the print engine is configured to print on the card; and

a removable option module disposed along either the first card travel path or the second card travel path, the removable option module includes at least one processing mechanism that is configured to perform a processing operation on the card;

wherein the at least one processing mechanism of the removable option module comprises a camera that is configured to capture an image of the card while the card is located in the card reorienting mechanism.

13. A modular print engine useable in a desktop personalized plastic card printer that personalizes plastic cards, comprising:

a housing having a front side, a rear side, a top and a bottom;

a card input formed in the front side of the housing;

a card input hopper mounted at the front side of the housing that is in communication with the card input, the card input hopper is configured to hold a plurality of cards to be processed;

a first card opening formed in the bottom of the housing through which a card can travel; and

a second card opening formed in the top or rear side of the housing through which a card can travel.

14. The modular print engine of claim 13, wherein the second card opening is formed in the top of the housing, and further comprising a third card opening formed in the rear side of the housing through which a card can travel.

15. A modular print engine useable in a desktop personalized plastic card printer, comprising:

a housing having a front side, a rear side, a top and a bottom;

a card input at the front side of the housing;

a card input hopper that is in communication with the card input;

a single card reorienting mechanism within the housing adjacent to the rear side, the single card reorienting mechanism is configured to receive a card and rotate the card to redirect the card along a desired card travel path;

a first card travel path within the housing and that extends from the card input to the single card reorienting mechanism, the first card travel path is parallel to the bottom of the housing;

a second card travel path within the housing and that extends from the single card reorienting mechanism, the second card travel path is not parallel to the first card travel path; and

a print engine within the housing and disposed along the first card travel path, the print engine is configured to print on a card and includes a print ribbon; and

the first card travel path is below the print engine.

16. The modular print engine of claim 15, further comprising a card opening in the bottom of the housing through which a card can pass from the housing.