Registers – Records – Magnetic
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-21
2001-01-16
Le, Thien M. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Records
Magnetic
C283S061000, C235S381000, C235S436000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173901
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for making an encoded card and to an apparatus for making an encoded card.
Encodable cards, such as magnetically readable cards, each comprise a main body that receives identification indicia and that carries an encodable medium. Information in the identification indicia of the card must match encoded information. Encodable cards have traditionally been made by imparting indicia on the main body, which is typically a polymeric substrate, using a technology such as thermal imaging. An encodable strip comprised of encodable material, which may be a magnetic strip, is encoded with a code that is compatible with the indicia.
The rate of production of cards printed by thermal imaging and encoding depends upon the combined speed of printing the cards, transferring the cards to the encoder and encoding the cards. With conventional thermal imaging-based processes, encodable cards have been produced at a maximum rate of about 1500 cards per hour.
Card production using ink jet imaging has required that encoding the cards and imaging the cards be performed in separate processes. The separate process format has limited the speed at which encoded, imaged cards may be produced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One embodiment of the present invention includes a method for rapidly producing encoded, ink-jet printed cards. The method includes providing an encodable card with an encodable medium and providing an electronic database with stored data. The method further includes concurrently transmitting data from the database for ink-jet printing indicia on the card to an ink-jet printer and transmitting data for encoding the card, to an encoding assembly. The method further includes encoding the card by electronically transferring data from the database to the encodable card and printing the card with indicia from the database.
Another embodiment of the present invention includes an apparatus for rapidly producing encoded, ink-jet printed cards. The apparatus comprises an encoder, an ink-jet printer, and a file for electronically storing encodable, printable data. The apparatus further includes a mechanism for electronically transmitting the encodable, printable data substantially simultaneously from the file to the encoder and to the printer.
Another embodiment of the present invention includes a method for rapidly encoding and ink-jet printing an encodable card. The method comprises providing an encodable, printable card and providing an electronic database with stored data. The method also comprises encoding and ink-jet printing the card by electronically transferring data from the database substantially simultaneously, to an ink-jet printer and to an encoder.
One other embodiment of the present invention includes an apparatus for producing encoded cards. The apparatus comprises an encoder and a mechanism for electronically storing encodable data. The apparatus also includes a mechanism for rapidly transferring encodable data from the mechanism for electronically storing the data to the encoder.
Another embodiment of the present invention includes a device for conveying encodable, printable cards. The device includes a non-jointed table and at least one belt of substantially uniform height and surface topography positioned on the table. The device also includes a transfer mechanism for transferring cards from storage to the belt.
One other embodiment of the present invention includes a system for transferring information to ink jet print and to encode a card. The system includes a database comprising stored data and a mechanism for concurrently transmitting data for ink jet printing to an ink jet printer and data for encoding to an encoder.
Another embodiment of the present invention includes a device. The device comprises a main body comprising styrene or polyvinyl chloride. The main body has ink jet printed indicia and an encodable region.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4149925 (1979-04-01), Mintz
patent: 4231828 (1980-11-01), Mintz
patent: 5073221 (1991-12-01), Waitts et al.
patent: 5254525 (1993-10-01), Nakajima et al.
patent: 5769457 (1998-06-01), Warther
patent: 5980011 (1999-11-01), Cummins et al.
patent: 6070976 (2000-06-01), Takagi et al.
Le Thien M.
Schwegman Lundberg Woessner & Kluth P.A.
Taylor Corporation
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