Personalized identification certificate processing system and method

Abstract

A personalized identification document processing system includes a printing station configured as a re-transfer printer having a re-transfer film having a transferable print accepting material and a transferable radiation curable material. The image / data is printed on a transferable print-accepting material, and then the print-accepting material containing the printed image / data is transferred together with at least some of the transferable radiation-curable material to a surface of the plastic identification document. The radiation curable material is then cured, and once cured, the durability of the printed image / data is enhanced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present technical disclosure relates to processing personalized plastic identification documents, such as personalized plastic cards and plastic pages of passports, and to improving the durability of print on the personalized plastic identification documents. Background Art

[0002] Identification documents such as identification cards / ID cards, credit and debit cards, driver's licenses, etc. and passports are personalized with information about the intended holder of the identification document and then issued to the intended holder. In order to extend the life of the identification document, the durability of the print applied to the identification document is important. Summary of the invention

[0003] A personalized identification document processing system and method is described that produces personalized plastic identification documents with highly durable print while minimizing waste of print swaths and maintaining document processing speed and system throughput.

[0004] In one embodiment, the personalized identification document processing system described herein includes a printing station, which is configured as a retransfer printer with a retransfer film, and the retransfer film has a transferable radiation curable material that is dry to the touch or is substantially dry. In one embodiment, the transferable radiation curable material can be referred to as a transferable radiation curable protective outer coating material, because the radiation curable material can form the outermost layer designed to protect the printed image / data below. The image / data is printed on the retransfer film, and then the printed image / data is transferred to the surface of the plastic identification document together with some transferable radiation curable materials. The radiation curable material is then cured, and once cured, the durability of the printed image / data is enhanced. In one embodiment, the radiation curable material is print-receptive. In another embodiment, the retransfer film can have a separate print-receptive layer applied to the radiation curable material.

[0005] Radiation curing of the coating increases the toughness of the coating. If the material to be transferred from the retransfer film is fully cured before being transferred to the identification document, the material may not break cleanly around the edge of the identification document, resulting in undesirable additional material being transferred along the edge of the identification document. One way to prevent this additional material from being transferred is to reduce the thickness of the cured material so that the cured material is not too tough. However, the reduced thickness also reduces the overall durability of the print under the transferred material. In order to overcome this defect, the transferable radiation-curable material described herein is first transferred to the identification document before being radiation-cured. The uncured radiation-curable material is not too tough and can be cleanly transferred to the identification document even at the desired larger thickness without transferring undesirable additional material. The transferred radiation-curable material on the identification document is then radiation-cured to enhance its toughness and durability. This method results in a clean transfer of the radiation-curable material while maintaining the desired durability of the final printed identification document. Additionally, radiation curable materials that are dry or substantially dry to the touch help prevent shifting of uncured coatings in roll form and enhance defect-free thermal printing.

[0006] In one embodiment, a personalized identification document processing system includes a document input device and a printing station along the document transport path, the document input device is configured to input a plastic identification document to be processed into the document transport path to create a personalized plastic identification document. The printing station includes: a retransfer film having a carrier film, and a dry to touch (or substantially dry to touch) transferable radiation curable material on the carrier film; a thermal print head; a print strip that can be engaged by the thermal print head to thermally transfer the thermal transferable color material from the print strip to the retransfer film; and a transfer station configured to simultaneously transfer the printed data / image and at least a portion of the transferable radiation curable material from the retransfer film to the plastic identification document. A radiation curing station is positioned along the document transport path, the radiation curing station being configured to receive the plastic identification document and apply radiation to a portion of the radiation curable material on the plastic identification document to cure the transferred portion of the radiation curable material on the plastic identification document. A document output device is positioned along the document transport path, the document output device being configured to receive the plastic identification document after radiation curing in the radiation curing station. In addition, a document transport mechanism is provided, the document transport mechanism being configured to transport the plastic identification document along the document transport path. In one embodiment, the radiation curable material is suitable for receiving printing. In another embodiment, the retransfer film can have a separate print-receiving layer applied to the radiation curable material.

[0007] In another embodiment, a method for processing plastic identification documents in a personalized identification document processing system includes: inputting a plastic identification document to be processed onto a document transport path; and transporting the plastic identification document to a printing station positioned along the document transport path. The printing station includes: a retransfer film having a carrier film, and a transferable radiation curable material that is dry to the touch or substantially dry to the touch on the carrier film; a thermal print head; a print strip that can be engaged by the thermal print head to thermally transfer the thermal transferable color material from the print strip to the retransfer film; and a transfer station configured to simultaneously transfer the printed data / printed image on the retransfer film together with at least a portion of the transferable radiation curable material from the retransfer film to the plastic identification document. The image / data is printed on the retransfer film by transferring the thermal transferable color material from the print strip to the retransfer film using the thermal print head. The printed data and at least a portion of the radiation curable material are then simultaneously transferred from the retransfer film to the plastic identification document. The plastic identification document is then transported to a radiation curing station along the document transport path, and radiation is applied to the portion of the radiation curable material on the plastic identification document to cure the portion of the radiation curable material. The plastic identification document is then transported to a document output device, and the plastic identification document is output. In one embodiment, the radiation curable material is suitable for receiving printing. In another embodiment, the retransfer film may have a separate print-receptive layer applied to the radiation curable material.

[0008] The identification document described herein can be a personalized plastic identification card or a plastic page of a passport. The personalized plastic identification card described herein includes, but is not limited to: a financial card (e.g., a credit card, a debit card, etc.), a visit card, a driver's license, a national identification card, and a commercial identification card, as well as other plastic identification cards that can benefit from having a highly durable print as described herein. In one embodiment, the plastic identification card can be an ID-1 card defined by ISO / IEC 7810. However, other card formats such as ID-2 defined by ISO / IEC 7810 are also possible. A passport page can be the front or back cover of a passport, or an inner page of a passport (e.g., a plastic page referred to as a data page). In one embodiment, a passport can be in the ID-3 format defined by ISO / IEC 7810. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure 1 An example of a personalized credential processing system as described herein is schematically depicted.

[0010] Figure 2Another example of a personalized document processing system as described herein is schematically depicted.

[0011] Figure 3A is a view of an example of the front surface of a personalized plastic document in the form of a plastic card.

[0012] Figure 3B is a view of an example of a rear surface of a personalized plastic document in the form of a plastic card.

[0013] Figure 4 An example of a printing station for a personalized document processing system is depicted.

[0014] Figure 5 Yes, you can Figure 4 A top view of a portion of a print strip used in a print station of FIG.

[0015] Figure 6 It is along Figure 5 A cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6.

[0016] Figure 7 The diagram shows that Figure 4 A portion of a portion of a retransfer film used in a print station.

[0017] Figure 8 It is along Figure 7 A cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8.

[0018] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the retransfer film.

[0019] Fig.10 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the retransfer film.

[0020] Fig.11 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the retransfer film.

[0021] Fig.12 A method of processing a plastic document in a personalized document processing system as described herein is schematically depicted. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Figure 1 and Figure 2Two examples of personalized identification document processing systems that can be used to produce personalized plastic identification documents are illustrated. The system outputs personalized plastic identification documents with highly durable prints on them. Identification documents include personalized plastic identification cards and plastic pages of passports. The personalized plastic identification cards described herein include, but are not limited to, financial cards (e.g., credit cards, debit cards, etc.), access cards, driver's licenses, national identification cards, and commercial identification cards, as well as other plastic identification cards that can benefit from adding one or more security features described herein to plastic cards. In one embodiment, the plastic identification card can be an ID-1 card defined by ISO / IEC 7810. However, other card formats such as ID-2 defined by ISO / IEC 7810 are also possible. The passport page can be the front or back cover of a passport, or an internal page of a passport (e.g., a plastic page called a data page). In one embodiment, the passport can be in the ID-3 format defined by ISO / IEC 7810.

[0023] For ease of describing the concepts herein, the following description and accompanying drawings describe the identification document as a plastic card. However, as mentioned above, the technology described herein is applicable to the plastic page of a passport.

[0024] Unless otherwise specified, the term "plastic identification document" or "plastic identification card" used throughout the specification and claims refers to an identification document such as a plastic card, wherein the document substrate may be formed entirely of plastic, or a combination of plastic and non-plastic materials. In one embodiment, the card may be sized to comply with ISO / IEC 7810, which is approximately 85.60 mm by approximately 53.98 mm (approximately 3 3 ⁄ 8 inch × approx. 2 1 ⁄ 8 inches), and the rounded corners have a radius of about 2.88 mm to 3.48 mm (approx. 1 ⁄ 8 Inches) radius. One of ordinary skill in the art of plastic identification cards will appreciate that the card is typically formed of multiple individual layers that form the bulk of the card body or card substrate. Similarly, the term "plastic page" of a passport refers to a passport page, where the passport may be formed entirely of plastic, or a combination of plastic and non-plastic materials. An example of a plastic passport page is the data page in a passport that contains the personal data of the intended passport holder. A passport page may be a single layer, or consist of multiple layers. Examples of plastic materials that may form a card or passport page, or individual layers of a card or passport, include, but are not limited to: polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyester, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), TESLIN ®, combinations thereof, and other plastics. In one embodiment, the card or passport page may be primarily formed of a biodegradable material, such as one or more biodegradable plastics, paper / cardboard, or (one or more) other biodegradable materials. In another embodiment, the card may be a metal card formed partially or entirely of metal.

[0025] As used herein, unless otherwise indicated, the terms "processing" (etc.) used throughout the specification and claims are intended to encompass operations performed on a card, including operations that result in personalizing the card as well as operations that do not result in personalizing the card. An example of a processing operation that personalizes the card is printing the cardholder's image or name on the card. An example of a processing operation that does not personalize the card is applying a laminate to the card or printing non-cardholder graphics on the card. The term "personalized" is commonly used in the card industry to refer to a card that undergoes both a personalized processing operation and a non-personalized processing operation.

[0026] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a document processing system 10 that can be used to process high-volume, batch production of plastic identification cards (and passports) as described herein. The document processing system 10 is configured to process multiple documents simultaneously, wherein the documents are processed sequentially, with the documents generally traveling along a document transport direction / conveying path X. Figure 1 The type of system 10 depicted in is generally referred to as a central issue processing system that processes documents at a high volume (e.g., on the order of hundreds or thousands per hour) and employs multiple processing stations or modules to process multiple documents simultaneously to reduce the overall processing time for each document. Examples of such high volume document processing machines include the MX and MPR series of central issue processing machines available from Entrust Corporation of Shakopee, Minnesota. Other examples of central issue processing machines are disclosed in U.S. Patents 4,825,054, 5,266,781, 6,783,067, and 6,902,107, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0027] Figure 1 The system 10 in the embodiment of the present invention may include a document input device 12, one or more optional document processing stations 14 downstream of the document input device 12, a printing station 16, a radiation curing station 18, one or more optional additional document processing stations 20, and a document output device 22. As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the system 10 may include additional processing stations.

[0028] The document input device 12 can be configured to hold a plurality of plastic cards or passports waiting to be processed, and the document input device 12 mechanically feeds the documents one by one into the system 10 using a suitable document feeder. In one embodiment, the document input device 12 can be an input bin. In another embodiment, the document input device 12 can be an input slot through which individual documents are manually or automatically fed for processing. If the documents are present in the system, the documents are initially introduced into one or more optional document processing stations 14. Station 14 (if present) can include a chip test / programming device that is configured to perform contact or non-contact testing of the integrated circuit chip on each document to test the functionality of the chip, as well as programming the chip. Testing the functionality of the chip can include reading data from the chip and / or writing data to the chip. In one embodiment, the chip test / programming device can be configured to program the chips on multiple cards simultaneously. The construction and operation of the chip test / programming device in the document processing system are known in the art. Station 14 may also include a magnetic stripe reading / writing test device (when the credentials are cards) configured to read data from a magnetic stripe on each card, and / or to encode data on a magnetic stripe on each card (if the cards include a magnetic stripe). The construction and operation of magnetic stripe reading / writing test devices in credential processing systems are known in the art.

[0029] As follows about Figure 4 As described in further detail, the print station 16 is configured to perform retransfer printing.

[0030] The curing station 18 is configured to generate radiation (e.g., ultraviolet radiation or other radiation) and apply the radiation to the radiation-curable material applied to the card in the printing station 16 to cure the radiation-curable material. The curing station 18 may include a curing light including at least one radiation source or radiation emitter that emits radiation. In one embodiment, the curing light may be formed of one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) that emit UV light. An example of a mechanism that can generate and apply curing radiation in a card personalization system is a DATACARD 3000 available from Entrust Corporation of Shakopee, Minnesota. ® MX 8100 TM A radiation applicator used in a card issuance system.

[0031] The one or more additional document processing stations 20 may be stations configured to perform any type of additional document processing. Examples of additional document processing stations 20 include, but are not limited to, an embossing station having an embosser configured to emboss characters on a document, an imprinting station having an imprinter configured to stamp one or more characters on a document, a laminating station having a laminator configured to apply one or more laminates to a document, a security station having a security feature applicator configured to apply one or more additional security features to one or more surfaces of a document, and one or more document redirecting mechanisms / flippers configured to rotate or flip a document 180 degrees for processing on both sides of the document.

[0032] The document output device 22 can be configured to hold multiple documents after they have been processed. In this configuration, the document output device 22 is generally referred to as a document output bin. The construction and operation of the output bin are known in the art. In another embodiment, the document output device 22 can be an output slot.

[0033] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a document processing system 30 that can be used to process plastic cards (or passports). In this embodiment, the card processing system 30 can be configured as a desktop card processing system that is typically designed for relatively small-scale, such as measured in tens or hundreds per hour, relatively small volumes of individual card personalization, typically when a single card is processed at any one time. These card processing machines are often referred to as desktop processing machines because they have a relatively small footprint that is designed to allow the processing machine to reside on a desktop. Many examples of desktop processing machines are known, such as the SIGMA desktop card printer available from Entrust Corporation of Shakopee, Minnesota. TM and ARTISTA TM Other examples of desktop processing machines are disclosed in U.S. Patents 7,434,728 and 7,398,972, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0034] exist Figure 2 In the present invention, the same reference numerals are used to refer to components that are similar in structure or function. Figure 1 The elements in system 10 are similar to the elements in system 30. Figure 2 In FIG. 1 , the system 30 is illustrated as including a document input device 12 and a document output device 22 at one end of the system 30. Figure 2In the type of system depicted, the document input device 12 and / or the document output device 22 may be disposed at other locations in the system 30. For example, in one embodiment, the document input device 12 may be located at a higher position in the system, such as at the top of the system above the conveying path X between the ends of the system 30. Figure 2 In another embodiment depicted by the dashed lines in FIG. 3 , the credential input device 12 and the credential output device 22 may be located at opposite ends of the system 30 .

[0035] One or more optional document processing stations 14, printing stations 16 and curing stations 18 may be used in Figure 2 As shown and as above for Figure 1 The described manner is arranged relative to each other. In one embodiment, a card flipper 32 can be provided at the end of the system 30, which is configured to flip or rotate the card 180 degrees so that the card surface that was previously facing upward is now facing downward, and the card surface that was previously facing downward is now facing upward. The card is then transported back to the curing station 18, the printing station 16 and other processing stations in reverse order for additional processing on the card surface that is now facing upward, and ultimately transported to the output device 22. If the card flipper 32 is not present, the card can be simply reversed after curing in the curing station 18 is completed, and the card is ultimately transported to the output device 22.

[0036] exist Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the embodiment, the curing station 18 is depicted as being downstream of the printing station 16, so that after printing, the plastic card is transported to the curing station 18 for curing. In another embodiment, the curing station 18 can be located upstream of the printing station 16, or the curing station 18 can be incorporated into the printing station 16 and can be considered a part of the printing station 16.

[0037] exist Figure 1 and Figure 2In the system 10, 30 in the embodiment, the document can be transported throughout the system 10, 30 and moved along the document transport path X by one or more suitable mechanical document transport mechanisms (not shown). (One or more) mechanical document transport mechanisms for transporting cards and passports in document processing equipment of the type described herein are known in the art. Examples of mechanical document transport mechanisms that can be used are known in the art and include, but are not limited to: conveyor rollers, conveyor belts (with tabs and / or without tabs), vacuum conveyor mechanisms, conveyor brackets, etc., and combinations thereof. Conveying mechanisms for plastic cards are known in the art, including those disclosed in U.S. Patents 6902107, 5837991, 6131817 and 4995501 and U.S. Published Application No. 2007 / 0187870, which are each incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. One of ordinary skill in the art will readily understand the type of document transport mechanism (s) that can be used and the construction and operation of such document transport mechanisms.

[0038] Figure 3A and Figure 3B An example of a plastic card 40 is illustrated. In this example, the card 40 is shown to include a front or first surface 42 ( Figure 3A ) and a rear surface, back surface or second surface 44 ( Figure 3B Card 40 may be printed on only one side (referred to as single-sided printing), such as front surface 42 or back surface 44, or on both sides (referred to as double-sided printing), such as front surface 42 and back surface 44.

[0039] Many possible layouts of the front surface 42 are possible. For example, the front surface 42 may include a horizontal card layout, a vertical card layout, and other known layout configurations and orientations. Figure 3A In the illustrated example, the front surface 42 may include various printed cardholder data, such as a printed portrait image 46, a cardholder name 48, and account information, such as an account number, an expiration date, etc. The front surface 42 may also include other printed data, such as printed information 50 of the entity that issued the card 40, such as the company name and / or logo of the issuing bank (e.g., STATE BANK), and / or printed information 52 of the card brand name (e.g., VISA ® 、MASTERCARD ® 、DISCOVER ® The front surface 42 may also include a contact or contactless integrated circuit chip 54 that may store various data associated with the card 40, such as the cardholder's account number and / or name.

[0040] refer to Figure 3B Many possible layouts of the back surface 44 are possible, which may or may not have a similar layout to the front surface 18. For example, the back surface 44 may include a horizontal card layout, a vertical card layout, and other known layout configurations and orientations. Figure 3B In the illustrated example, the rear surface 44 may include: a magnetic stripe 56 that stores various data related to the card 40 (e.g., the cardholder's account number or name), a signature panel 58 that provides a place for the cardholder to sign their name, and a hologram. The magnetic stripe 56, signature panel 58, and hologram are conventional elements found on many plastic cards. The rear surface 44 may also include printed personal data that is unique to the cardholder or specifically assigned to the cardholder. For example, the account number 60 assigned to the cardholder, the cardholder's name, and the expiration date 62 of the card may be printed on the rear surface 44. Other personal cardholder data may also be printed on the rear surface 44, such as an image of the cardholder's face. Non-personal data such as the name of the issuing bank, contact information for contacting the issuing bank, etc. may also be printed on the rear surface 44. The printed matter 46, 48, 50, 52, 60, 62 may each be individually referred to as a printed image or printed data.

[0041] Some or all of the print on the front surface 42 and / or the print on the rear surface 44 overlap at least partially or completely with the radiation curable material applied in the printing station 16. Once the radiation curable material is cured, the durability (e.g., wear resistance, chemical resistance, and adhesion) of the print is increased or enhanced compared to the durability of the print that is not overlapped with the radiation curable material. The enhanced durability is sufficient to allow the plastic card 40 to be issued to the cardholder without applying a protective laminate or coating on the entire front surface 42 and / or the entire rear surface 44. In other words, the front surface 42 and / or the rear surface 44 may not have or have a protective laminate or coating covering the entire front surface 42 and / or covering the entire rear surface 44. However, in one embodiment, a protective laminate or coating may be applied to cover the entire front surface 18 and / or the entire rear surface 20.

[0042] Figure 4 The diagram shows that Figure 1 and Figure 2 Examples of printing stations 16 used in systems 10, 30. Figure 4 , the printing station 16 is configured as a retransfer printer that performs retransfer printing on a plastic card 40. In retransfer printing, rather than printing directly on the plastic card 40, printing is initially performed on a transferable material of a retransfer film, and then the transferable material is transferred to the plastic card 40. The general configuration of retransfer printing and retransfer card printers is known in the art.

[0043] The printing station 16 includes a printing side 64 and a retransfer side 66. The printing side 64 includes a printing ribbon supply 70, a thermal transfer printing ribbon 72, a printing ribbon take-up 74, a thermal print head 76, and a platen 78. The ribbon supply 70 supplies the thermal transfer printing ribbon 72, and the ribbon take-up 74 takes the used portion of the thermal transfer printing ribbon 72 after printing. The printing ribbon 72 is transferred along a ribbon path between the ribbon supply 70 and the ribbon take-up 74, passing the thermal print head 76, which can be moved toward and away from an opposing platen 78, which can be fixed so as to sandwich the printing ribbon 72 and the card 40 between the thermal print head 76 and the platen 78 during printing on the retransfer film. Alternatively, the platen 78 can be moved toward and away from the printing head 76, and the printing head 76 is stationary.

[0044] The retransfer side 66 includes a retransfer film 80 supplied from a retransfer film supply 82, and the used retransfer film is wound onto a retransfer film take-up 84. The retransfer film 80 follows a path past the print head 76, where printing is performed on the transferable print-receiving material of the retransfer film 80. The retransfer film 80 with print thereon is then advanced to a transfer station 86, where the transferable print-receiving material with print thereon and the transferable radiation-curable material are transferred from the retransfer film 80 and laminated onto the card 40 using a heated transfer roller 88 and a roller 90. After the transferable material with print and the radiation-curable material are transferred, the used retransfer film 80 is wound onto the take-up 84. A transport roller 92 or other transport mechanism may be used to transport the card within the print station 16.

[0045] and Figure 4 The thermal transfer print strip 72 (or just print strip 72) used together with the print station 16 in the retransfer film 80 to print on the print receiving material can include a repeating sequence of panels of thermal transferable color material (which can be a dye-based ink or a pigment ink) used to form a print. The print strip 72 can be referred to as a panelized print strip. In one embodiment, the thermal transferable color material can also be radiation curable.

[0046] refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6 , which illustrates the Figure 4 1 and 12. A specific example of a thermal transfer printing ribbon 72 for use with the printing station 16 shown in FIG. The ribbon 72 includes a carrier film 100 ( Figure 6) and a repeating sequence of panels of thermally transferable color materials, the panels including cyan (C) dye / pigment ink panel 102a, magenta (M) dye / pigment ink panel 102b, yellow (Y) dye / pigment ink panel 102c, and black (K) dye / pigment ink panel 102d. Each sequence of panels may optionally include one or more panels 102e of additional materials (e.g., primer materials, receptor materials, release materials, inhibitor materials), and / or panels of fluorescent materials or other color or security materials. In another embodiment, the print strip 72 may be a monochrome strip of a single color material such as black, silver, gray, white, yellow, magenta, or cyan.

[0047] In another embodiment, the printing station 16 may include multiple print heads, each print head is associated with a specific color monochrome print swath, and the image / data is printed by directing the retransfer film past each print head. This type of printing with multiple print heads and monochrome print swaths is known in the art.

[0048] exist Figure 5 and Figure 6 In the example of FIG. 1 , the print strip 72 is used to form a print on the print receiving material of the retransfer film 80. For example, the CMY panels 102a-c may be used to form a printed portrait image 46 ( Figure 3A ), while the K panel 102d can be used to print other cardholder data, such as the cardholder's name 48 ( Figure 3A ).

[0049] Figures 7 and 8 The diagram shows that Figure 4 1. An example of a retransfer film 80 for use with a print station 16 in FIG. In this example, the retransfer film 80 is depicted as including a carrier film 110, a transferable print-receiving material 112 on the carrier film 110, and a transferable radiation-curable material 114. Figure 8 The thickness of the elements in the figure is shown in order to better illustrate the concept of the retransfer film 80.

[0050] The print receiving material 112 is a material suitable for receiving color material from the print strip to form a print on the retransfer film 80. Suitable print receiving materials are known in the art. The radiation curable material 114 is a material that is not cured when on the retransfer film 80 and protects the print located below the radiation curable material 114 after transfer to the card and curing.

[0051] In one non-limiting embodiment, the retransfer film 80 may have the following configuration. However, other configurations are possible.

[0052] Exemplary Retransfer Film Configurations Carrier film 110: The materials used for the carrier film 110 may include, but are not limited to, polyesters, polycarbonates, polyolefins, polyurethanes, acetates, and other materials, both individually and in combination. It is desirable that the carrier film 110 have sufficient thermal and dimensional stability during the coating, drying, printing, and transfer processes. In one embodiment, the carrier film 110 may have a thickness between about 6.0 microns and about 24.0 microns. In another embodiment, the carrier film 110 may have a thickness between about 10.0 microns and about 18.0 microns. Radiation curable material 114: The radiation curable material 114 may include, but is not limited to, a mixture of: (i) one or more UV or other radiation curable acrylates, such as urethane acrylates, epoxy acrylates, or acrylate oligomers, alone or in combination; (ii) one or more thermoplastic vinyl resins, acrylic resins, acetates, urethanes, or polyesters, alone or in combination; and (iii) one or more photoinitiators. Optionally, other additives, such as surfactants, waxes, stabilizers, etc., may be included to improve the handling and stability of the retransfer film carrying the radiation curable material 114. Optionally, fillers (e.g., silica, alumina, etc.) may be added to improve toughness. Solutions of these components are prepared in a suitable solvent system and coated on a carrier film 110 using conventional coating methods such as gravure, wire wound rod coating, or slot die coating. When dried after coating, the layer of radiation curable material 114 should be tack-free, dry to the touch, or substantially dry to the touch. This dry to the touch layer is radiation cured after it has been printed and transferred to a desired substrate (e.g., a plastic card). In one embodiment, the radiation curable material 114 can have a thickness between about 3.0 microns and about 12.0 microns. In another embodiment, the radiation curable material 114 can have a thickness between about 5.0 microns and about 10.0 microns. The transferred portion of the radiation curable material on the plastic identification document can have a thickness between about 3.0 microns and about 10.0 microns. Print acceptance materials 112: The print receiving material 112 enhances ink reception during the printing process. The print receiving material 112 may additionally have an adhesive component to enhance the adhesion of the print receiving material 112 to a substrate (eg, a plastic card) to be printed. Printing receiving material can be made of single resin, or made of the mixture of acrylate, polyurethane, polyester, vinyl, acetate or epoxy resin.Printing receiving material composition solution can be coated with conventional coating method (such as gravure printing, wire winding scraper type coating or slot die coating).Printing receiving material should be non-tack or touch dry or touch dry basically after drying.Optionally, other additives (for example, surfactant, wax, stabilizer and other) can be added to improve processing.Optionally, filler (for example, silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide or other) can be added to improve toughness, ink reception and non-tack surface.Printing receiving material can be thermoplastic or can be cured by heat or radiation. In one embodiment, the print-receiving material 112 may have a thickness between about 1.0 micrometer and about 5.0 micrometers. In another embodiment, the print-receiving material 112 may have a thickness between about 1.0 micrometer and about 3.0 micrometers. Optional Release Layer: An optional release layer can be provided between the carrier film 110 and the radiation curable material 114 to facilitate the release of the radiation curable material 114 and the print receiving material 112 from the carrier film 110. The optional release layer can include, but is not limited to, polyester, acrylic acid or wax-based coatings, which can be applied with conventional coating methods (such as gravure printing, wire winding scraper coating or slot die coating). The optional release layer can be thermoplastic or cured by heat or radiation. In one embodiment, the optional release layer can have a thickness between about 0.1 microns and about 4.0 microns. In another embodiment, the release layer can have a thickness between about 0.1 microns and about 2.0 microns.

[0053] exist Figure 8 In the depicted example, the print-receiving material 112 is depicted as a separate layer from the radiation-curable material 114 (which is also a layer). The radiation-curable material 114 is disposed between the print-receiving material layer 112 and the carrier film 110, wherein the radiation-curable material 114 is in direct physical contact with the layer 112 and in direct physical contact with the carrier film 110. However, other configurations are possible.

[0054] For example, Fig. 9 Another example of a retransfer film 80 is illustrated, wherein elements of the film 80 are referenced with the same reference numerals as in the previous embodiment. Figures 7 and 8 The components in are the same or similar. Fig. 9 In the embodiment, a release layer 116 is disposed between the radiation curable material 114 and the carrier film 110. The release layer 116 is disposed to facilitate the release of the radiation curable material 114 and the print receiving material 112 from the carrier film 110. Figure 8In the embodiment of FIG. 1 , a similar release layer 116 may be used between layer 114 and carrier film 110 .

[0055] Fig.10 Another example of a retransfer film 80 is illustrated, wherein elements of the film 80 are referenced with the same reference numerals as in the previous embodiment. Figures 7 to 9 The components in are the same or similar. Fig.10 In the embodiment of the present invention, the transferable print-receiving material 112 and the transferable radiation-curable material 114 can be combined together such that they are not discrete, separate layers, but are blended together into a substantially homogeneous layer. Fig.10 The retransfer film 80 in the embodiment may also include the above-mentioned Fig. 9 Release layer as described.

[0056] Fig.11 An embodiment of a retransfer film 80 is illustrated that includes a carrier film 110, a layer of radiation curable material 114, and an optional release layer 116. In an embodiment that may be referred to as a single layer version of the retransfer film 80, the radiation curable material layer 114 is also formulated to be suitable for receiving printing by itself, without the need for layer 112 or the need for a combination with the material of the transferable print receiving layer 112.

[0057] about Fig.11 In a single-layer version of the invention, in one embodiment, the radiation-curable material 114 may have the following composition: one or more radiation-curable monomers, preferably tetrafunctional or more; one or more photoinitiators; one or more non-functional polymers, such as non-functional thermoplastic polymers; one or more acrylate-functional radiation-curable polymers; one or more thermally curable monomers; one or more hydroxyl-functional polymers; one or more thermal initiators; and one or more silica sols, nano-silica or nano-alumina.

[0058] In one embodiment, at least one radiation-curable monomer may include an average functionality of 4 or more, or a majority of the at least one radiation-curable monomer may have an average functionality of 4 or more. In one embodiment, the radiation-curable monomer may include an acrylic monomer or an acrylic monomer having a hydroxyl functional group, such as dipentaerythritolhexaacrylate (DPHA).

[0059] The photoinitiator(s) used may include, but are not limited to, α-hydroxy ketones and phosphine oxides, or combinations thereof.

[0060] Polyesters, vinyl copolymers, and polyacrylic polymers are examples of non-functional thermoplastic polymers that may be used alone or in combination. These components contribute to the overall film-forming and adhesive properties of the radiation-curable material 114 .

[0061] Acrylate functional radiation curable polymers that may be used include, but are not limited to, urethane acrylates, epoxy acrylates, and acrylated acrylics.

[0062] The hydroxyl-functional polymer that can be used is a polymer that includes a hydroxyl group that can react with a reactive group (such as, for example, an ether group) on a heat-curable monomer to form a covalent bond. Examples of hydroxyl-functional polymers that can be used include, but are not limited to: polyacrylic acid polyols, cellulose ester polyols, polyether polyols, polyester polyols, and polyvinyl alcohol.

[0063] Examples of heat-curable monomers that can be used include, but are not limited to, monomers with one or more ether groups (e.g., one, two, three or more ether groups). The ether groups can, for example, include one or more methoxy groups, ethoxy groups or other groups. The ether groups can react with other functional groups (such as, for example, hydroxyl groups), or they can react with other ether groups. Such reactions can lead to polymerization or crosslinking. Heat-curable monomers with aromatic or heteroaromatic rings, such as, for example, functionalized melamine monomers, can provide improved coating compatibility with substrates (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate). Hexamethoxymethylmelamine (HMMM) is a non-limiting example of heat-curable monomers that can be used.

[0064] The thermal initiator(s) promotes the polymerization and cross-linking reactions. An example of a thermal initiator that can be used is para-toluene sulfonic acid (PTSA).

[0065] Fig.11 The radiation curable material 114 in the embodiment may also include one or more organic solvents. The organic solvent(s) may be used for purposes such as controlling solution viscosity, improving wetting and substrate coating. Examples of organic solvents that may be used include ketones, esters, and alcohols, such as, for example, methyl ethyl ketone, butyl acetate, and isopropyl alcohol.

[0066] Fig.11 The radiation curable material 114 in may also include a natural or synthetic wax to enhance the surface slip of the monolayer.

[0067] Fig.11The radiation curable material 114 in may also include one or more reactive silanes that act as coupling agents for the silica sol and the thermally curable monomer to improve the tensile properties of the monolayer.

[0068] The radiation curable material 114 is preferably transparent or translucent before and after curing. Alternatively, the radiation curable material 114 can be opaque after curing (and optionally, before curing). The radiation curable material 114 can also include security features therein, such as fluorescent materials and / or optically variable devices, such as holograms.

[0069] The retransfer film 80 may also optionally include a back coat 140 (on the Figures 8 to 11 The back coating 140 may also be referred to as a back coating layer. When the retransfer film 80 is wound into a roll form, the back coating 140 prevents the print receiving material 112 (or Fig.10 The combined print-receiving material 112 and radiation-curable material 114, or Fig.11 The back coating 140 may be formed of a single layer of radiation curable material 114) adhered to the carrier film 110. The back coating 140 may have any formulation suitable for preventing such adhesion from occurring. The back coating 140 may be formed of (one or more) radiation curable materials or (one or more) thermal curable materials. In one embodiment, the back coating 140 is preferably (one or more) thermal curable materials. For example, the thermal curable material may include one or more thermally curable monomers; one or more hydroxyl functional polymers; and one or more thermal initiators.

[0070] Examples of heat-curable monomers that can be used include, but are not limited to, monomers with one or more ether groups (e.g., one, two, three or more ether groups). The ether groups can, for example, include one or more methoxy groups, ethoxy groups or other groups. The ether groups can react with other functional groups (such as, for example, hydroxyl groups), or they can react with other ether groups. Such reactions can lead to polymerization or crosslinking. Heat-curable monomers with aromatic or heteroaromatic rings, such as functionalized melamine monomers, can provide improved coating compatibility with substrates as polyethylene terephthalate. Hexamethoxymethyl melamine (HMMM) is a non-limiting example of heat-curable monomers that can be used.

[0071] Hydroxy-functional polymers are polymers comprising hydroxyl groups that can react with reactive groups (such as, for example, ether groups) of heat-curable monomers to form covalent bonds. Examples of hydroxy-functional polymers that can be used include, but are not limited to, polyacrylic acid polyols, cellulose, ester polyols, polyether polyols, polyester polyols, and polyvinyl alcohol.

[0072] The thermal initiator(s) promote polymerization and cross-linking reactions. Examples of thermal initiator caps that may be used include, but are not limited to, p-toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA).

[0073] The back coating 140 may also include one or more organic solvents. (One or more) organic solvents may be used to control solution viscosity, improve wetting and substrate coating. Examples of organic solvents that may be included in the back coating 140 include, but are not limited to, ketones, esters and alcohols, such as, for example, methyl ethyl ketone, butyl acetate and isopropyl alcohol.

[0074] In one embodiment, back coating 140 can include one or more surfactants to improve wetting.The example of the surfactant that can be used is hydroxy-functional polysiloxane.Hydroxy-functional polysiloxane is suitable for heat-cured coating, because they will form covalent bonds with heat-cured monomers during the drying process at high temperature, thereby when retransfer film 80 is wound into a roll, under long-term storage conditions, stop the surfactant molecules from migrating to the print receiving material 112 on the carrier film 110.

[0075] Additional examples of configurations of the retransfer film 80 include, but are not limited to, the following:

[0076] In the above table, Example 1 can be referred to as a single-layer system, which can have Fig.11 The described formulation. Example 1 may optionally include a release layer 116 and / or a back coating 140. Examples 2 to 7 may be referred to as a multilayer system. In Examples 1, 5 and 7, the desired image is printed onto a curable layer 114, which is also suitable for receiving printing, while in Examples 2, 3, 4 and 6, the image is printed onto a print receiving layer 112. In Examples 1, 2, 6 and 7, the material of the curable layer 114 on the card is directly cured, while in Examples 3 to 5, the material of the curable layer 114 on the card is cured through a release layer 116. In Examples 3, 4 and 5, the release layer 116 is transferred to the card together with the curable layer 114. However, the release layer 116 can be designed to stay on the carrier film 110 (i.e., not transferred to the card), so that only the curable layer 114 itself or the curable layer 114 is transferred to the card together with the print receiving layer 112.

[0077] In the case of a retransfer film having a carrier film, a release layer 116, a radiation curable layer 114, and a backside coating 140 (e.g., as in Example 5 in the table above), the following formulation may be used:

[0078] The carrier film may have the configuration described above.

[0079] Radiation curable layer: radiation curable acrylic macromer in solvent; one or more solid acrylic resins having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of about 75°C or higher and a molecular weight (MWt) of about 32,500 to about 410,000; radiation curable multifunctional urethane acrylate oligomer; carnauba wax; nanosilica; and one or more photoinitiators.

[0080] Release layer: Acrylic resin with a MWt of about 20,000 and a Tg of about 113°C. In another embodiment, the release layer can be a polyester, wax, silicone, or other resin that is transferred with the radiation curable layer during the retransfer process. Such resins have a higher affinity for the radiation curable material than for the carrier, so they release easily. Alternatively, a resin system can be used that has a higher affinity for the carrier than for the radiation curable material and is not easily released from the carrier during the retransfer process and is not transferred with the radiation curable material. An example of such a resin system is a melamine system, which is used as a back coating in this embodiment.

[0081] Back coating: melamine or other materials described above for back coating 140 .

[0082] Once the image / data is printed on the print-receiving material of the retransfer film, and the print-receiving material carrying the printed image / data and the radiation-curable material are simultaneously transferred from the retransfer film to the card surface, the card is then transported to a curing station 18, and radiation is applied to the radiation-curable material to cure the radiation-curable material. The radiation used to cure the radiation-curable material can be any radiation suitable for curing the radiation-curable material. For example, in one embodiment, the radiation can be UV radiation. Once cured, the cured material protects the printed matter below and increases the durability of the printed matter below.

[0083] refer to Fig.12 as well as Figure 1 to Figure 2 and Figure 4, a method 120 for processing a plastic identification document in a personalized identification document processing system is illustrated. In step 122, a plastic identification document to be processed is input onto a document transport path. At 124, the plastic identification document is then transported to a printing station located along the document transport path. At 126, a color material is thermally printed from a print strip onto a print receiving material of a retransfer film in the printing station to form a printed image / data on the print receiving material of the retransfer film. Then, at 128, the retransfer film is advanced to carry the printed image / data to the transfer station, and the print receiving material bearing the printed image and the radiation curable material are simultaneously transferred to the surface of the plastic identification document. At 130, the identification document is then transported along the document transport path to a radiation curing station, and radiation is applied to cure the radiation curable material located above the printed image / data. Then, at 132, the plastic identification document is transported to a document output device, and the plastic identification document is output.

[0084] The examples disclosed in this application are considered to be illustrative and not restrictive in all aspects. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description; and all changes falling within the meaning and range of equivalents of the claims are intended to be included therein.

Claims

1. A personalized identification document processing system, comprising: A document input device, wherein the document input device is configured to input a plastic identification document to be processed into a document conveying path to create a personalized plastic identification document; a printing station along the document transport path, the printing station comprising: a retransfer film having a carrier film and a transferable radiation curable material, the transferable radiation curable material being dry to the touch or substantially dry to the touch prior to being cured on the carrier film; a thermal print head; a print swath engageable by the thermal print head to thermally transfer thermally transferable color material from the print swath to the retransfer film; and a transfer station configured to simultaneously transfer at least a portion of the transferable radiation curable material from the retransfer film to the plastic identification document; a radiation curing station along the document transport path, the radiation curing station configured to receive the plastic identification document and apply radiation to the portion of the radiation curable material on the plastic identification document to cure the transferred portion of the radiation curable material on the plastic identification document; a document output device along the document transport path, the document output device being configured to receive the plastic identification document after radiation curing in the radiation curing station; A document transport mechanism is configured to transport the plastic identification document along the document transport path.

2. The personalized identification document processing system according to claim 1, wherein: The transferable radiation curable material is suitable for receiving printing.

3. The personalized identification document processing system according to claim 1, wherein: The retransfer film further includes a print-receiving layer, wherein the transferable radiation-curable material is disposed between the print-receiving layer and the carrier film.

4. The personalized identification document processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The plastic identification document comprises a plastic identification card.

5. The personalized identification document processing system according to claim 3, wherein: The retransfer film also includes a release layer disposed between the carrier film and the transferable radiation curable material.

6. The personalized identification document processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and 5, further comprising a back coating on the carrier film.

7. The personalized identification document processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and 5, wherein: The thermally transferable color material includes black, silver, gray, white, yellow, magenta or cyan.

8. The personalized identification document processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and 5, wherein: The transferable radiation curable material is transparent or translucent.

9. The personalized identification document processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and 5, wherein: The transferred portion of the radiation curable material on the plastic identification document has a thickness between about 3.0 microns and about 10.0 microns.

10. A method for processing a plastic identification document in a personalized identification document processing system, comprising: Inputting the plastic identification documents to be processed into the document conveying path; conveying the plastic identification document to a printing station positioned along the document conveying path, the printing station comprising: a retransfer film having a carrier film, and a transferable radiation curable material that is dry to the touch or substantially dry to the touch on the carrier film; a thermal print head; a print swath that can be engaged by the thermal print head to thermally transfer thermally transferable color material from the print swath to the retransfer film; and a transfer station configured to simultaneously transfer at least a portion of the transferable radiation curable material from the retransfer film to the plastic identification document; printing data on the retransfer film by transferring a thermally transferable color material from the print ribbon to the retransfer film using the thermal print head, and then simultaneously transferring the printed data and at least a portion of the radiation curable material from the retransfer film to the plastic identification document; then transporting the plastic identification document to a radiation curing station along the document transport path and applying radiation to the portion of the radiation curable material on the plastic identification document to cure the portion of the radiation curable material; The plastic identification document is then conveyed to a document output device and output.

11. The method according to claim 10, comprising: The data is printed on the radiation curable material.

12. The method according to claim 10, comprising: The data is printed on a print-receiving layer on the retransfer film, wherein the transferable radiation-curable material is disposed between the print-receiving layer and the carrier film.

13. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, comprising: Ultraviolet radiation is applied to the portion of the radiation curable material to cure the portion of the radiation curable material.

14. The method of any one of claims 10 to 12, further comprising a backside coating on the carrier film.

15. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein: The thermally transferable color material includes black, silver, gray, white, yellow, magenta or cyan.

16. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein: The transferable radiation curable material is transparent or translucent.

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