Patent ID: 7441970

Claim:
Identity document processing equipment, comprising: a document processing mechanism configured to process an identity document by performing a processing operation on the identity document; a supply roll containing consumable ribbon to be used by the document processing mechanism; a motor in driving engagement with the supply roll to rotate the supply roll; a take-up roll for taking up used ribbon; a ribbon path along which the ribbon travels between the supply roll and the take-up roll and to the document processing mechanism; a plurality of ribbon guides guiding the ribbon along the ribbon path, wherein one of the ribbon guides is mounted so as to be movable to change the ribbon path between the supply roll and the take-up roll, and a resilient member is connected to the ribbon to apply a generally constant tension to the ribbon, and the movable ribbon guide is positioned in the ribbon path between the supply roll and the take-up roll, the movable ribbon guide comprises a guide mounted on an arm that is pivotally mounted adjacent to, and generally away from a central axis of, the supply roll so that the arm can pivot relative to the supply roll, and the resilient member is connected to the arm, and wherein at least one of the plurality of ribbon guides is positioned in the ribbon path between the supply roll and the ribbon guide that is mounted to be movable.