According to an embodiment, a card issuing system which issues cards includes: a print image generation portion which generates print data to perform printing on the card; an overcoat image generation portion which generates overcoat data, which is data on an overcoat for the print data generated by the print image generation portion; and a printing portion which performs printing of the print data generated by the print image generation portion, and the overcoat data generated by the overcoat image generation portion on the card. The overcoat image generation portion generates the overcoat data with which an area where a design quality is required in the print data is subjected to overcoating based on pixels to be printed by the print data, and an area where durability is required in the print data is subjected to overcoating which covers the area.

Folder systems and related methods are provided for accurately and efficiently folding a paper carrier that has a card attached without bending or dislodging the card from the carrier. A movable fold chute receives a portion of the carrier with the card attached and allows the carrier to fold while protecting the card portion of the carrier. The fold chute moves between different positions which allow the carrier to enter and exit through folding rollers along a generally straight paper path without forcing the cards around small radii, thereby preventing damage to the cards or causing them to separate from the carrier sheet.

Folder systems and related methods are provided for accurately and efficiently folding a paper carrier that has a card attached without bending or dislodging the card from the carrier. A movable fold chute receives a portion of the carrier with the card attached and allows the carrier to fold while protecting the card portion of the carrier. The fold chute moves between different positions which allow the carrier to enter and exit through folding rollers along a generally straight paper path without forcing the cards around small radii, thereby preventing damage to the cards or causing them to separate from the carrier sheet.

Folder systems and related methods are provided for accurately and efficiently folding a paper carrier that has a card attached without bending or dislodging the card from the carrier. A movable fold chute receives a portion of the carrier with the card attached and allows the carrier to fold while protecting the card portion of the carrier. The fold chute moves between different positions which allow the carrier to enter and exit through folding rollers along a generally straight paper path without forcing the cards around small radii, thereby preventing damage to the cards or causing them to separate from the carrier sheet.

Folder systems and related methods are provided for accurately and efficiently folding a paper carrier that has a card attached without bending or dislodging the card from the carrier. A movable fold chute receives a portion of the carrier with the card attached and allows the carrier to fold while protecting the card portion of the carrier. The fold chute moves between different positions which allow the carrier to enter and exit through folding rollers along a generally straight paper path without forcing the cards around small radii, thereby preventing damage to the cards or causing them to separate from the carrier sheet.

Various embodiments disclose a method of detecting a media jam in a printer. The method includes causing a sensor unit of the printer to generate a sensor signal indicative of a reflectance characteristic associated with a surface of a roller of the printer. Further, the method includes receiving the sensor signal from the sensor unit of the printer and comparing the reflectance characteristic to a threshold reflectance characteristic associated with the roller. Furthermore, in response to the comparison, the method includes generating an output signal to indicate whether the media jam has occurred. For example, a first output signal indicates unsuccessful passage of a media along a media path of the printer, when the reflectance characteristic exceeds the threshold reflectance characteristic and a second output signal indicates successful passage of the media along the media path, when the reflectance characteristic is equal to or below the threshold reflectance characteristic.

Techniques for scrambling residual images left behind on print ribbons due to printing on plastic cards or passports. A string of characters to be printed onto a plastic card is divided into character subsets. Metadata is assigned to each character subset, with the metadata defining the print sequence and location on the plastic card of each character subset. The character subsets are then printed on the plastic card in the sequence and the locations determined by the metadata. The sequence of characters in a residual image left on the print ribbon after printing of the character string differs from the sequence of the characters in the character string printed on the plastic card or passport.

Techniques for operating a printer are provided. In an example, the printer can include a print head a cure light and a controller. The controller can be configured to move the print head relative to a print media to print a given image, to move the cure light relative to the print media at a cure speed in response to the cure light passing over a printed portion of the given image to cure the ink of the given image, and to move the cure light at an index speed in response to the cure light passing over a non-printed portion of the given image, wherein the index speed is greater than the cure speed.

Techniques for handling and reducing ink overspray of an ink jet printer are provided. In an example, an ink overspray collector for an ink jet printer can include a first opening defining a first print area of the ink jet printer, and a frame about the first opening. The frame is configured to receive overspray from operation of the ink jet printer and can be formed of a woven material. In some examples, a controller of the ink jet printer can reduce an amount of ink ejected near the edges of the print media to reduce overspray.

Techniques for reducing or eliminating image banding in an ink-jet image are provided. In an example, a method of operating a printer to reduce or eliminate image banding can include generating command profile for printing a given image, applying a filter to the command profile to provide a filtered profile, and dispensing ink from a printhead of the printer based on the filtered profile. In certain examples, the filter can randomize droplet sizes of ink dispensed while executing the printing to reduce or eliminate image banding.