Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Surface bonding means and/or assembly means therefor – With printing
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-27
2001-04-24
Gray, Linda (Department: 1734)
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Surface bonding means and/or assembly means therefor
With printing
C156S256000, C156S270000, C156S277000, C156S308200, C156S517000, C156S521000, C156S556000, C156S583100, C283S070000, C283S075000, C283S077000, C283S109000, C283S112000, C281S038000, C281S015100, C347S171000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220327
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to automated apparatus for printing and assembling travel documents, such as passport booklets, and more particularly to an automated system for instant, one-up custom printing, die-cutting and fusion of an identification card in a passport booklet, to form a data page in the booklet.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Traditional identification booklets, such as passport booklets, typically comprise a number of paper pages bound to a cover made from a paper stock which is heavier than the inside pages. Identification information is typed or printed onto the inside of the cover of the booklet and a photographic insert is laminated to the inside cover. The photographic insert typically comprises a die-cut sheet of Polaroid instant film wherein a photograph of the passport holder is optically superimposed over the inside cover of the booklet having the booklet holder's personal information typed or printed thereon. A laminate sheet is placed over the inside cover and then fed into a roll laminator, wherein the photographic image is sealed between the laminate and the inside cover of the booklet. In most cases, multiple photographs are exposed on a single sheet of photographic film in order to reduce waste of the expensive instant photographic material, and thereby reduce the per booklet cost of production. In other systems, a plurality of booklet holder's photographs are taken in 35 mm format, and then combined with the booklets having their corresponding printed identification information at central issuance centers. Central issuance of identification booklets has been found to be efficient as well as cost effective. However, the current system for producing passports is labor intensive and slow, often resulting in delays in receiving booklets, as well as the potential to incorrectly match personal information with the correct photograph. Furthermore, the central issuance system discourages the production of cards in small batches, as well as the custom production of individual booklets when replacements are necessary. While the above technologies are effective for their intended purpose, it has been found that there is an increasing need in the industry for an automated system which automatically prints and die-cuts identification cards and fuses them inside an identification booklet in an instant, one-up format, wherein a single identification booklet can be easily and inexpensively produced, with very little labor involved, in a single apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a system for the automated production of identification booklets, such as passports, comprising a two-part thermoplastic security media and apparatus for printing, die-cutting and fusing of the security media into the booklets. The security media comprises an opaque thermoplastic backing film which is bound into the binder of the booklet. The backing film essentially forms a page in the booklet. The security media also comprises a transparent thermoplastic cover film which acts as a receptor for receiving a thermally printed digital image. More specifically, the backing film preferably comprises a white amorphous copolyester film, while the cover film preferably comprises a clear polyvinyl chloride film. In general, the apparatus consists of a thermal printing apparatus for printing the digital image onto the cover film, die-cutting means for die-cutting a predetermined size identification card from the cover film, means for transporting the identification card into contact with the backing film within the booklet and means for fusing the identification card to the backing film. The cover film is provided in roll format wherein a continuous web comprises the clear cover film. The thermal printing apparatus is based on a digital imaging system wherein a digital portrait of the booklet holder is combined by custom computer software with a background, booklet holder signature and alphanumeric text to produce a complete digital full-color card image. A thermal web printer is operative for printing the color card image onto an inner surface of the cover film adjacent a terminal end of the cover film web. The computer software automatically mirrors the card image so that it appears in its correct orientation when viewed through the top of the cover film. The thermal web printer preferably comprises a thermal dye-transfer printer apparatus having a reverse print direction for printing from a midpoint of the web toward a terminal end thereof. The printed terminal end of the cover film is advanced through a guide to a cutting station where it is clamped and severed from the web, wherein the film is cut to include rounded comers on one edge. A tilt tray, having the cover film clamped thereto, is tilted to a vertical orientation and transported into contact with the backing film of the booklet, which is held in place below the tilt tray. Once the identification card is brought into contact with the backing film, the tilt tray pushes the booklet, including the identification card, into a laminating station including a heated input roller pair for initial laminating of the backing and cover films, a heated platen for heat-fusing the laminated films together and a pair of exit nips for removing the booklet from the laminating station. The result is a custom printed passport booklet which is produced in a minimal amount of time.
In one embodiment of the present invention, an automated apparatus for fusing an identification card to a backing is disclosed. The apparatus comprises fusing means for fusing the identification card and the backing together, transport means including a rotatable blade and clamp means disposed on the rotatable blade, for clamping the identification card to the rotatable blade. The transport means causes the rotatable blade to rotate, transports the rotatable blade into contact with the backing, with the identification card being disposed therebetween, and transports the identification card and backing into the fusing means, wherein the identification card and the backing are fused together.
In another embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for forming and attaching an identification card comprising a cover film in a booklet having a backing is disclosed. The apparatus comprises means for holding the booklet in an open position with the backing exposed, printing means for printing indicia onto an inner surface of the cover film, transport means including an insertion blade rotatably mounted thereon, the insertion blade including a damp for holding the cover film in place thereon, die-cut means for cutting the cover film to a predetermined size while the cover film is held in place on the insertion blade by the clamp, to form the identification card and fusing means for fusing the identification card and the backing together. The insertion blade is rotated while the transport means transports the insertion blade with the identification card clamped thereto into the booklet, with the identification card contacting the backing, the transport means pushes the booklet into the fusing means with the insertion blade, and the fusing means fuses the identification card to the backing.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method of forming and attaching an identification card comprising a cover film in a booklet having a backing attached therein. The method comprises the steps of printing identification information on the cover film, cutting the cover film to a predetermined size to form the identification card, inserting the identification card into the booklet adjacent the backing and applying heat to the booklet to fuse the identification card and the backing together within the booklet.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4416719 (1983-11-01), Horiuchi
patent: 4911478 (1990-03-01), Oshikoshi
patent: 5011570 (1991-04-01), Ohbayashi
patent: 5211424 (1993-05-01), Bliss
patent: 5565902 (1996-10-01), Nardone et al.
patent: 5637174 (1997-06-01), Field et al.
patent: 5788796 (
Connors Joseph V.
Maynard Raymond E.
Rothwell Christian S.
Atlantek , Inc.
Barlow Josephs & Holmes, Ltd.
Gray Linda
LandOfFree
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