How The Printer Works - DataCard ImageCard IV User Manual

1-8

How the printer works

The ImageCard IV printer produces personalized cards. The following describes the
process used to print cards:
The numbers in
1
2
3
4
5
Figure 1-6 illustrate each step.
The printing process begins with a card creation application running on a PC. In a
card creation application, you assemble the elements of the card design. The
elements can include a photo, logo, text (name, identifying number, and so on)
and perhaps data to print as a barcode, encode on a magnetic stripe, or program
in a smart card.
When you select the print button, the card data is sent to the printer driver, which
prepares the data for the printer.
The printer driver sends the data, along with control information, to the printer.
The printer starts the job by picking a card from the card input tray.
1
ICIV018U
Figure 1-6: How the printer works
Inside the printer, the following happens:
– The card passes through the cleaning rollers. If the printer includes an
optional particle detector, the card passes through that module also.
– The card moves to the turret, which positions the card at the first station to
process it.
– A smart card chip, if the module is present, is programmed first. The card is
moved again to the turret which feeds it to the print station.
– A magnetic stripe, if the module is present, is usually encoded next.
3
5
4
2
User's Guide for the ImageCard® IV Printer
Overview
6