Identification card printer ribbon cartridge

A ribbon cartridge for use in a card printer comprising:

• a cartridge housing including a supply spool enclosure, a take-up spool enclosure, a pair of ribbon guides, and a gap between the ribbon guides and between the supply and take-up spool enclosures;
• a supply spool contained in the supply spool enclosure;
• a take-up spool contained in the take-up spool enclosure;
• a supply of ribbon that extends from the supply spool, over the ribbon guides and the gap, and to the take-up spool;
• and
• a supply circuit having a memory containing supply information relating to the ribbon cartridge, the supply information including a number of prints remaining.

A ribbon cartridge for use in a card printer comprising:

• a cartridge housing including a supply spool enclosure, a take-up spool enclosure, a pair of ribbon guides, and a gap between the ribbon guides and between the supply and take-up spool enclosures, wherein the gap between the ribbon guides is approximately 0.75 inches;
• a supply spool contained in the supply spool enclosure;
• a take-up spool contained in the take-up spool enclosure;
• and
• a supply of ribbon that extends from the supply spool, over the ribbon guides and the gap, and to the take-up spool.