An automated greeting card conveyance system is disclosed that includes a first conveyor configured to transport pre-decorated greeting cards along a first conveyance path and a second conveyor configured to transport envelopes along a second conveyance path. A control system controls customization of each greeting card and envelope by (a) determining a card identifier of the greeting card, (b) identifying customized content associated with an order for the greeting card having the card identifier, and (c) causing the customized content to be printed on the greeting card and envelope. A coupling system may also be used to automatically insert the greeting card into the envelope. In addition, a sealing system may be used to automatically seal envelope having a pointed envelope flap.

A system, device and method provide for the printing of an instant, scratch-off lottery ticket product on demand at a retail location. In various embodiments, a pre-activation printing process applies an active thermal layer and other coatings on a ticket substrate, but excludes any game indicia or security codes. An activator printer thermally applies game indicia and/or security code(s) at a retail location according to ticket selections made by a user and further according to data generated via a central host, wherein the activator printer applies the indicia and code(s) at least partially under one or more security coatings on the ticket substrate, where the coatings had been applied during the pre-activation process.

An automated greeting card conveyance system is disclosed that includes a first conveyor configured to transport pre-decorated greeting cards along a first conveyance path and a second conveyor configured to transport envelopes along a second conveyance path. A control system controls customization of each greeting card and envelope by (a) determining a card identifier of the greeting card, (b) identifying customized content associated with an order for the greeting card having the card identifier, and (c) causing the customized content to be printed on the greeting card and envelope. A coupling system may also be used to automatically insert the greeting card into the envelope. In addition, a sealing system may be used to automatically seal envelope having a pointed envelope flap.

Implementations herein may include methods, systems, and apparatuses enabling specification and production of expansion item sets that carry a randomized feeling from a player's perspective without degrading playability. Implementations may include generating expansion pack configurations based on an expansion item universe and a parameter function; filtering the multitude of expansion pack configurations to yield a manufacturing subset of expansion pack configurations; retrieving a design file corresponding to each expansion item specification, for example, from a database stored on an electronic storage device in electronic communication with the processor; associating each expansion item specification within the manufacturing subset of expansion pack configurations with the expansion item design file corresponding to the expansion item specification; based on the manufacturing subset of expansion pack configurations comprising the expansion item specifications having the expansion item design files associated therewith, generating the factory instructions; and sending the factory instructions to a factory to facilitate production.

Techniques are described for maintaining a DOD print head in a print mechanism of a card or passport personalization system, where the DOD print head prints using ink that is difficult to handle and dispose of in an unaltered form of the ink. A maintenance ejection of waste ink is performed. The waste ink is then altered, for example by curing in the case of a radiation curable ink, while the waste ink is within the card or passport personalization system. This makes the waste ink easier to handle and dispose of.

Documents (such as but not limited to lottery tickets), systems for manufacturing documents (such as but not limited to lottery tickets), and methods for manufacturing documents (such as but not limited to lottery tickets), wherein the document (such as an instant lottery ticket) that has a consistent overprint that covers both a SOC area and a display area of the document, and that thus provides a consistent application and appearance of the overprint despite the differences in the ink chemistry and texture of the SOC area and the display area surfaces of the document that underly the overprint. The overprint can include artwork including one or more images (such as but not limited to patterns).

A card (or passport) personalization system is described that includes a print mechanism with one or more DOD print heads. A maintenance routine, also referred to as a spitting routine, is described where one or more nozzles of the DOD print head is electrically actuated a plurality of times in rapid succession, each actuation emitting a small drop of ink. The small drops of ink join together in flight after being ejected to create one or more larger waste ink drops. The larger ink drop(s) has less tendency to aerosolize which reduces aerosol contamination of the nozzle plate and the nozzle.

In one example of the disclosure, a substantially transparent substrate is provided at a printer. A primer layer is applied upon a first surface of the substrate. A security ink layer that includes security information is applied upon the primer layer. An opaque background ink layer is applied upon the security ink layer. A corona treatment is applied to a second surface, located on an opposite side of the substrate relative to the first surface. A release ink layer is applied upon the corona-treated second surface. An opaque cover image ink layer is applied upon the release ink layer.

Techniques are described for applying heat to a personalized identification document to increase the temperature of a portion of a surface of the document prior to printing on the surface. Applying heat to the document substrate improves one or more qualities such as the adhesion, quality, and/or durability of printing that is subsequently applied to the surface, reduces the printhead voltage used during printing (in the case of thermal transfer printing), is less costly and is easier to implement than creating heat in the substrate for example using plasma treatment.

Systems and methods where at least one intended printing parameter of a printing mechanism of a card personalization system is modified in real-time to a new printing parameter just prior to printing on the card to tailor the printing parameter(s) from one card to the next. The modification of the intended printing parameter(s) may occur after the card has been input from a card input of the card personalization system. The printing parameter(s) used by the printing mechanism to print on each card can be modified in real-time so that the printing that is performed on each card can be improved.