Credential substrate rotator and processing module

A credential substrate processing module configured to couple in substrate hand-off alignment to a stand-alone credential manufacturing device, the module comprising:

• a credential substrate rotator including:
• a substrate support configured to support a substrate in a substrate support plane and rotate the substrate support plane about a central axis, which extends through the substrate support plane, the substrate support having indexed angular positions including a substrate receiving position, in which the substrate support is positioned to receive a substrate fed from an adjoining stand-alone credential manufacturing device, and a first encoding position;
• a substrate feeder configured to feed a substrate along the substrate support plane;
• and
• a substrate sensor including a substrate position indicator coaxially aligned with the central axis and having a first position indicative of an absence of a substrate from a predetermined location of the substrate support, and a second position indicative of a presence of a substrate in the predetermined location of the substrate support, wherein the first and second positions are displaced from each other in the direction of the central axis;
• a first data encoder configured to encode data to a substrate presented by the substrate rotator when the substrate support is oriented with the first encoding position;
• and
• a module controller configured to control the substrate rotator and the first encoder module, and communicate with a controller of the stand-alone credential manufacturing device.

A credential substrate rotator comprising:

• a shaft configured to rotate about a central axis;
• a substrate support coupled to the shaft, the substrate support configured to support a substrate in a substrate support plane and rotate the substrate support plane about the central axis;
• a substrate feeder configured to feed a substrate along the substrate support plane;
• and
• a substrate sensor including a substrate position indicator coaxially aligned with the central axis and configured to move along the central axis between first and second positions, wherein the first position is indicative of an absence of a substrate from a predetermined location of the substrate support, and the second position is indicative of a presence of a substrate in the predetermined location of the substrate support.