Systems and methods for advanced card printing

• US 8,322,623 B1
• Filed: 07/26/2011
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dynamics Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dynamics Inc.
• Inventors: Mullen, Jeffrey D., Nicklaus, Eric R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M
• Assistant Examiner(s): LY, TOAN C
• Application Number:
  US13/191,298
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 235/488, 264/308, 700118-120
• US Class Current: 235/488
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2309/105 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2327/06 PVC, i.e. polyvinylchloride
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2425/00 Cards, e.g. identity cards, credit cards
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/20 Displays, e.g. liquid crystal displays, plasma displays
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2519/02 RFID tags
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/185 Laminating sheets, panels or inserts between two discrete plastic layers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/02 characterised by the selection of materials, e.g. to avoid wear during transport through the machine
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06206 the magnetic marking being emulated
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07707 the visual interface being a display, e.g. LCD or electronic ink
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07722 the record carrier being multilayered, e.g. laminated sheets flat articles in general, see B32B37/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card

Abstract

Layers of colored polymers are applied to a surface of a card and are hardened and adhered to a card via light such as ultraviolet or light having a wavelength in the blue spectrum. The layers may be applied to form three dimensional indicia on the surface of the card. For example, letters, numbers, logos, and other indicia (e.g., pictures) may be printed three dimensionally onto the surface of the card. Troughs may be formed via such layering such that indicia is provided as indentations into the added layers. Extensions may be formed via such layering such that indicia is provided as extensions from the added layers. Indicia may be provided via extensions and/or indentations. As such, embossed and/or engraved indicia may be provided on the surface of a card without impacting the structural integrity of the card.

Claims

1. A card comprising:

a first polymer layer having a thickness of approximately 3 to 6 thousandths of an inch;

a second polymer layer having a thickness of approximately 3 to 6 thousandths of an inch;

an electronics package provided between said first layer and said second layer; and

more than one additional polymer layers provided on said first polymer layer that provide raised indicia operable of being carbon imprinted by a carbon card imprinter.

2. The card of claim 1, wherein at least one of the more than one additional polymer layers is transparent.

3. The card of claim 1, wherein a color of at least one of the more than one additional polymer layers is one of white, black red, blue, magenta and yellow.

4. The card of claim 1, wherein at least one of the more than one additional polymer layers includes at least one of a plurality of colored portions, and a colored portion and a transparent portion.

5. The card of claim 1, wherein at least two of the more than one additional polymer layers are different colors.

6. The card of claim 1, wherein thicknesses of at least two of the more than one additional polymer layers are different.

7. The card of claim 1, wherein the more than one additional polymer layers form an image, and the image is based on at least one of colors and thicknesses of the more than one additional polymer layers.

8. The card of claim 1, wherein a width of at least two of the more than one additional polymer layers is a same width.

9. The card of claim 1, further comprising:

a covering layer, wherein the covering layer is wider than at least one of the more than one additional polymer layers, the covering layer being farther from the electronic package than the at least one of the more than one additional polymer layers.

10. A card comprising:

a first polymer layer having a thickness of approximately 3 to 6 thousandths of an inch;

a second polymer layer having a thickness of approximately 3 to 6 thousandths of an inch;

an electronics package provided between said first layer and said second layer; and

more than one additional polymer layers provided on said first polymer layer that provide recessed indicia, wherein said recessed indicia includes a payment card number.

11. The card of claim 10, wherein at least one of the more than one additional polymer layers is transparent.

12. The card of claim 10, wherein a color of at least one of the more than one additional polymer layers is one of white, black red, blue, magenta and yellow.

13. The card of claim 10, wherein a color of at least one of the more than one additional polymer layers is at least two of white, black red, blue, magenta and yellow.

14. The card of claim 10, wherein at least two of the more than one additional polymer layers are different colors.

15. The card of claim 10, wherein thicknesses of at least two of the more than one additional polymer layers are different.

16. The card of claim 10, wherein the more than one additional polymer layers form an image, and the image is based on at least one of colors and thicknesses of the more than one additional polymer layers.

17. The card of claim 10, wherein a width of at least two of the more than one additional polymer layers is a same width.

18. The card of claim 10, further comprising:

a covering layer, wherein the covering layer is wider than at least one of the more than one additional polymer layers, the covering layer being farther from the electronic package than the at least one of the more than one additional polymer layers.