Validator/imprinter apparatus

An imprinter for use with a portable printing surface having fluorescent markings on at least one surface thereof, said imprinter comprising:

• a base including a bed and downwardly extending support walls, said bed having a top surface and a bottom surface, said bed being substantially rectangular in plan, the length of which is greater than the width thereof;
• printing plate holding means for holding a portable printing plate in place on said top surface of said bed;
• document holding means for holding a document in place on said top surface of said bed, said document holding means holding said document in at least partially overlapping relationship with said portable printing plate;
• carriage means, containing at least one print roller, guidingly and movably mounted on said base for motion in the length wise direction of the bed to effect relative movement of said print roller and said bed and thereby imprint data from said portable printing plate to said document;
• aperture means, through said bed, for communicating said top surface of said bed with said bottom surface of said bed, said aperture means receivable of said portable printing plate therein;
• guide means for holding said portable printing plate in a predetermined orientation in said aperture means;
• and
• card validation means comprising:
• lamp means for irradiating a portable printing plate held in said guide means with radiation of a wavelength which will cause fluorescence of said fluorescent markings on said portable printing plate;
• battery means for supplying electrical power to said lamp means;
• switch means for connecting said battery means to said lamp means, said switch means movable from a first position wherein said lamp means and said battery means are electrically disconnected to a second position wherein said lamp means and said battery means are electrically connected, biasing means for yieldably urging said switch means to said first position, said switch means being contactable by a portable printing plate inserted in said aperture means and movable from said first position to said second position in response to pressure applied upon said portable printing plate.