Print supply monitoring
View Patent ↗An identification card printer includes a card input, a card transport, a printhead, and a card output. The card transport is configured to feed a card from the card input along a print path. The printhead is positioned below the print path and is configured to print an image on a surface of the card. The card can then be discharged through the card output.
1. An identification card manufacturing device comprising:
a consumable supply;
a card transport configured to feed a card along a print path;
a printhead configured to print an image on a surface of the card;
a supply circuit mounted to the supply and including a memory that contains supply information that has been encrypted in accordance with a first encryption method;
a supply circuit reader configured to re-encrypt the supply information in the memory in accordance with a second encryption method that is different from the first encryption method; and
a controller configured to decrypt the re-encrypted supply information.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the consumable supply includes a print ribbon and the printhead is configured to print the image on the surface of the card using the print ribbon.
3. A method of operating an identification card manufacturing device that includes a consumable supply including a supply circuit having a memory containing supply information that has been encrypted in accordance with a first encryption method, the method comprising:
decrypting the supply information with a supply circuit reader;
re-encrypting the decrypted supply information in accordance with a second encryption method that is different from the first encryption method using the supply circuit reader;
providing the re-encrypted supply information to a controller; and
decrypting the re-encrypted supply information with the controller.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the consumable supply includes a print ribbon.
5. A method of operating an identification card manufacturing device having a controller with a consumable supply including a supply circuit having a memory, the method comprising:
storing supply information in the memory of the supply circuit, wherein the supply information is encrypted in accordance with a first encryption method; and
accessing the supply information with a supply circuit reader of the identification card manufacturing device;
encrypting the supply information in accordance with a second encryption method; and
communicating the supply information to the controller.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
storing a value in the memory; and
decrementing the value in response to use of the supply.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the identification card manufacturing device comprises an identification card printer and the consumable supply comprises a print ribbon.