DE102017110300A1 - Device for conveying objects through a processing station - Google Patents

Abstract

Proposed is a device (2) for conveying isolated objects (4) - in particular in the form of cards (6) - by a processing station (101), wherein the objects (4) are placed on the device (2) and, in particular in the horizontal direction, by a processing station (101) are conveyed, with a directed from above towards the top of the objects (4) processing, in particular a printing process, is possible, and wherein each object (4) is associated with a support area (8) which is movable together with the object (4), the support area (8) in the object plane having exclusively a contact area (10) which, viewed from above, can be completely covered by a recorded object (4). During a printing process, soiling of the device (2) can be largely prevented, at least impairs the entry of overprinted ink - if this is unavoidable - the operation and performance of the device (2) only minimal.

Description

The present invention relates to a device according to the preamble of claim 1.

Thereafter, the invention relates to a device for conveying sporadically supplied objects - in particular in the form of maps - by a processing station, the objects are placed on the device and, in particular in the horizontal direction, are conveyed by a processing station, with a from above in the direction the top of the objects directed processing, in particular a printing process is possible.

Such a processing station may, for example, have a printer which is capable of printing objects such as plastic cards, in particular bank cards, credit cards, identity cards, access authorization cards, gift cards or gift cards. Such cards often have an integrated circuit and can then also be referred to as a smart card, smart card or ICC (Integrated Circuit Card).

However, the present invention basically relates to the conveyance of arbitrary objects, although in particular they can be cards, and in particular card blanks.

Further, the expression that the objects are "eligible for" a processing station is to be understood in the broadest sense. A processing station may, for example, be a printer which is arranged above the device according to the invention, so that the person skilled in the art could alternatively designate such conveying as "directed below" the processing station. Similarly, a processing station may also include a print station with multiple printheads.

An exemplary processing station with an aforementioned device for conveying shows, for example, the DE 10 2006 052 302 A1 , This teaching relates to a device for printing flat objects, in particular of plastic substrates, preferably of plastic cards, with a depot containing the objects to be printed, a printing station having a printing device and a conveying device for conveying the objects through the printing station. A physical printing of the aforementioned plastic cards is always characterized by a high throughput of cards to be printed and thus a high processing speed.

In the device for conveying according to DE 10 2006 052 302 A1 are the objects to be processed for conveying through the processing station on a conveyor belt.

Often, however, the subsidized objects should be completely (without edge), i. to be printed on the edge. However, with the pressure dropping off the edge, so-called overpressure can not be avoided, a certain proportion of the emitted ink passes the object and unintentionally strikes the conveyor belt. This ink can continue to build on a conveyor belt until it breaks off uncontrollably. This contaminates the conveyor belt, the device itself and in particular the bottom of all subsequently launched objects.

The components of the ink can damage the conveyor belt and change its geometry. Too little printing precision is the result, since the conveyor belt moves non-uniformly due to its elastic material, both in terms of the transport direction and in the plane of the belt orthogonal thereto arranged direction (transverse direction). It may u.U. swelling of the elastic conveyor belt due to interaction with the overprinted ink is detected.

A device of the type mentioned is also made DE 10 2011 101 595 A1 known. In particular, this document discusses the problem that, when the card blanks are printed on the edge, ink inevitably runs from the edge of the card onto the conveyor belt. If the ink dries up, the card can stick to the conveyor belt. In the context of this disclosure, it is therefore proposed that the conveyor belt comprises projecting spacer elements from the surface of the conveyor belt, on which objects - spaced from the conveyor belt - can be placed. But a possible contamination of the spacer elements and the conveyor belt itself remains critical, with the possible negative consequences set out above. A problem at the front and rear edges (seen in the conveying direction) of the conveyed objects proves to be particularly problematic.

The present invention has for its object to overcome at least one of the above-mentioned disadvantages.

The present invention also has the object of providing a device for conveying objects of the type mentioned in such a way and further, that contamination of the device is largely prevented.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device in which an entry of overprinted ink-if unavoidable-impairs the operation and the performance of the device as minimally as possible.

A contribution to the solution of at least one of the above-mentioned objects is provided by a device of the type mentioned above, which is further developed by the characterizing features of claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments and modifications of the invention are the subject of the subordinate claims.

In the device according to the invention for conveying objects, each object is assigned a support area which is movable together with the object, wherein the support area in the object plane has exclusively a contact area which, viewed from above, can be completely covered by a recorded object.

Each object is assigned a defined support area, which moves with the subsidized object. This support area contacts an applied object exclusively with a defined contact area, which can be completely covered by the placed object. Overprinted ink thus can not come in contact with the contact area. On the other hand, a defined position of an object with respect to the support area can be predetermined, so that only partial covering of the contact area by an object can be excluded, since each support area has a defined support position for an object.

Overprinted ink can thus flow past the object and the covered contact area down and be taken there in a suitable manner. Contamination of the device or of sensitive parts of the device can be avoided.

A negative impact on the operation and performance of the device can thus be prevented.

In the following, the aspects of the invention will be further discussed, for which reference is sometimes made to non-limiting advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention. The features of advantageous developments can be realized individually or in any combination, whereby further advantageous embodiments of the invention are provided.

In a first advantageous development of the device according to the invention, the other support region, which is different from the contact region, is spaced downwards relative to the contact region. Possibly wetted by overprinted ink portions of the support area are thus necessarily spatially separated from the contact area, which touches the objects, but is shielded from these overprinted ink. Thus, not only a momentary, but also permanent avoidance of contamination of the contact area can be achieved. Subsequent objects can thus always be placed on a clean contact area.

An embodiment is preferred in which the support region is connected to a drive region for conveying the support region and thus of the object.

In a particularly preferred aspect of the invention, the support area and the drive area are laterally spaced from each other. The lateral spacing refers to the conveying direction. In particular, the drive region can be objected to orthogonally with respect to the conveying direction and within the conveying plane. As a result, in the case of wetting of certain parts of the support area by overprinted ink, it is still possible to prevent this ink from accumulating and at some point impairing or even damaging the drive of the device. In contrast, in conventional conveyor belts is always a carryover of paint residues by the wetted conveyor belt in moving parts of the device to be feared, and in particular in the drive of the conveyor belt.

It proves to be advantageous, if the support area and the drive area form a receiving unit which can be moved within the device, on each of which an object can be placed. Each receiving unit can thus provide a contact area for exactly one object to be conveyed, and an object can be placed on the receiving unit in a precisely defined and predeterminable manner.

Such a receiving unit may, in a further advantageous embodiment, be endlessly circulating within the device, in particular in an oval sequence of movements, be conveyed. The oval shape of the movement sequence refers to the projection of the corresponding trajectory, which is perpendicular to the conveying direction.

Such an oval (trajectory) can preferably be realized standing (the trajectory lies in a vertically oriented plane) or alternatively also lying (the trajectory lies in a horizontal plane).

A preferred concrete embodiment provides that a plurality of receiving units, in particular in a chain-like juxtaposition, is arranged endlessly circulating within the device.

In this case, adjacent receiving units can preferably be connected to one another in an articulated manner by means of tabs (connecting straps) or the like. Such tabs can essentially correspond to the shape of known straps of load chains. Thus, the movement and the speed of the recording units used can be specified and maintained very accurately due to the positive connection of the units. Fluctuations and inaccuracies due to slippage or elastic deformation can be avoided.

Connecting straps of chain-like adjacent receiving units can have shock-absorbing properties. For this purpose, the inside of the recesses in the tabs can be provided or lined with an elastic material. Thus, a particularly uniform promotion can be realized at a very constant speed.

In a further advantageous aspect, a receiving unit is designed as a transport carriage with rollers assigned to the drive region (rollers) for running within the device. In other words, a receiving unit in or on the drive region may comprise rollers or wheels, which engage in or on a track or rail which is suitably realized in the device and are movable. A dolly can be easily referred to as a carriage.

In particular, a receiving unit having four trapezoidal arranged rollers, which can roll on a arranged between opposite pairs of rollers rail in the form of a monorail. The receiving unit can thus also be very accurately guided or promoted in relation to their location. The receiving unit can be designed in particular as an individually receiving an object dolly. In an alternative embodiment, a receiving unit may comprise at least two rollers, which may be feasible between two rails arranged in parallel within the device.

Said rails can be formed in particular as an endless rail, preferably in an oval shape, within the device.

Named rollers can in particular have vibration damping properties, eg. Due to a corresponding choice of material. At least portions of the rollers can have an elastic material.

Preferred is an embodiment in which the drive portion has a nose for engagement and transport by a rotating threaded spindle or the like. A spindle drive is advantageous, for example, compared to the drive of an elastic endless conveyor belt, as by the compelling positive connection between the spindle and nose an exact conveying speed can be predetermined, which is also able to superimpose the effect of friction peaks or elastic deformations. A positive acting drive proves to be particularly advantageous in multi-color printing, namely, when the object must be conveyed very accurately predictable successively under several different printheads.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the drive area is assigned a separate drive acting in relation to the device. For example, said transport or carriage each have their own drive, which can act against the other device; e.g. by acting on a said rail or by positive engagement in a stationary part of the device, for example. A threaded rod.

In this case, a trolley can be driven, which can be connected to other, in itself not drivable transport carriage in the form of an already discussed chain hinged.

Particularly preferred is an embodiment of the device according to the invention, in which the support region has upwardly directed runners for laying on an object, wherein the contact region is formed from the surface of the runners lying in the object plane. In other words, an individually fed object can be placed on top of the runners. Preferably, these are two runners arranged in parallel, in particular with a longitudinal extent in the conveying direction.

The contact region may have an anti-slip surface to prevent slippage of the objects placed during the promotion, and to allow a defined placement of the objects. In this context, in particular the surface (upper side) called runners have a slip-resistant surface.

A particularly advantageous aspect of the invention relates to a possible embodiment of the device according to the invention, in which a device for receiving excess, not taken up by the object ink is formed below the support area. In particular, overprinted ink may flow past the object and the contact area covered therefrom, pass through the other support area, and then be trapped below, while in the prior art necessarily undesirable manner, a conveyor belt is wetted.

Another advantageous aspect relates to the possible presence of transfer units for isolated added or removed objects at the inlet and / or outlet of the device. A first transfer unit can remove an object from a transport device, for example a conventional endless belt, used until it enters the device, and position it on the support area of the device according to the invention. Additionally or alternatively, a second transfer unit can remove an object at the outlet of the device again from the support area and hang on a transport device used downstream of the device, for example. Again, a conventional endless belt.

Plants for the complete processing of objects, in particular chip cards, are known to have mostly a plurality of handling and processing stations; e.g. for storage, programming, printing, etc. With the help of the proposed transfer units, a device according to the invention for conveying to the area of the plant can be limited, where their use is particularly useful, namely in particular for the printing station. In other parts of the installation cost-effective transport devices such as conveyor belts can be used.

In addition or in addition to the already discussed advantageous embodiments and further developments of the teaching in the drawing in the scope of 1 to 4 illustrated embodiments of inventive devices and parts thereof are explained in more detail below. However, the examples discussed with reference to the drawings do not limit the invention to the examples shown. In the discussion of the embodiments with reference to the drawings, generally preferred embodiments and developments of the teaching are shown.

• 1 in einer perspektivischen Ansicht ein bevorzugtes Ausführungsbeispiel der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zur Förderung von Objekten,
• 2 in einer perspektivischen Ansicht ein bevorzugtes Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen, von der Vorrichtung gemäß 1 umfassten Aufnahmeeinheit für zu fördernde Objekte,
• 3A das Ausführungsbeispiel gemäß 1 in einer seitlichen Ansicht (frontale Ansicht),
• 3B das Ausführungsbeispiel gemäß 1 in der Draufsicht, und
• 4 in einer schematischen Darstellung eine erfindungsgemäße Anlage zur Gesamtbearbeitung von Objekten, nämlich von Karten, umfassend eine Vorrichtung zur Förderung von Objekten gemäß 1.

Show it:

• 1 in a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention for the conveyance of objects,
• 2 in a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an inventive, according to the device according to 1 comprising a recording unit for objects to be conveyed,
• 3A the embodiment according to 1 in a lateral view (frontal view),
• 3B the embodiment according to 1 in the plan view, and
• 4 in a schematic representation of a system according to the invention for the overall processing of objects, namely maps, comprising a device for conveying objects according to 1 ,

1 as well as the detailed representation in 2 show an overall view of a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention 2 for conveying isolated objects 4 - in particular in the form of cards 6 - through a processing station 101 ( 4 ), the objects 4 on the device 2 can be placed and in the horizontal direction through a processing station 101 are eligible, with one from the top towards the top of the objects 4 directional processing, in particular a printing process is possible.

According to the invention, every object is 4 , here every card 6 , a circulation area 8th is assigned, together with the object 4 is movable, the support area 8th in the object level only one contact area 10 which, as seen from above, completely from a recorded object 4 can be covered.

The other, from the contact area 10 different contact area 108 is in relation to the contact area 10 spaced down so that fouling of the contact area 10 even when overpressure (overprinted ink) occurs.

It is easy to see that the other circulation area 108 here only two parallel, orthogonal to the conveying direction extending pins 1080 which offer only a small impact area for overprinted ink.

Furthermore, the support area 8th with a drive range 12 for conveying the support area 8th and thus the object 4 connected. Here are the support area 8th and the drive area 12 laterally, ie horizontally, spaced from each other. Thus, unlike a conveyor belt, even overprinted ink may not be the actual drive of the device 2 affect as they drive the area 12 usually not reached.

In addition, in this embodiment form the support area 8th and the drive area 12 one inside the device 2 movable receiving unit 14, namely here a trolley 16 on each one object 4 can be placed.

The recording unit 14 is inside the device 2 endlessly circulating, namely in an oval Movement (in an oval trajectory) eligible.

For this purpose, each dolly 16 (Recording Unit 14 ) in the drive area 12 four trapezoidal arranged rollers 18 on. The rollers 18 run on an oval shaped rail 20 the device. Here is the rail 20 each between opposing pairs of rollers 18 a trolley 16 arranged. In other words, the trolleys 16 thus very accurate on the rail 20 guided and can be promoted very accurately.

Here is also expediently a plurality of receiving units 14 namely dolly 16 , intended. These are in a chain-like arrangement within the device 2 arranged endlessly around. These are adjacent recording units 14 by means of tabs 22 each hinged together. This results in a chain of trolleys 16 which the entire rail 20 busy.

Specifically, here has the drive area 12 every trolley 16 also a nose 24 for engagement and transport through one within the device 2 rotatably mounted threaded spindle 26 on. The thus realized spindle drive the recording units 14 is particularly useful because of the inevitable existing positive connection between the threaded spindle 26 and nose 24 possibly fluctuating frictional resistance or elastic deformations of the total drive necessarily superimposed and the receiving units 14 thus are very accurate drivable. This proves to be particularly advantageous if the promoted card 6 for example, successively under several printheads 1011 . 1012 . 1013 . 1014 a processing station 101 ( 4 ) is to promote through. Only with a very predictable position of the map 6 can be achieved a good print result.

Finally, in the illustrated dolly 16 the support area 8th upwardly directed runners 28 to hang up an object 4 , namely a card 6, on, wherein the contact area 10 from the surface lying in the object plane 30 the runners 28 is formed.

The contact area 10 Can with an anti-slip surface 30 be equipped.

Below the top row of dolly 16 can within the device 2 in a particularly advantageous manner, a device for receiving excess, not from the objects 4 recorded ink are provided (not shown here).

A first transfer unit 32 for isolated objects 4 is at the inlet of the device 2 educated. The first transfer unit 32 can be an object 4 from an upstream - to the inlet to the device 2 - used first transport device 122 ( 4 ), for example, a conventional endless belt, take off and on a support area 8th the device according to the invention 2 position.

A second transfer unit 34 whereas an object is capable of doing so 4 at the outlet of the device 2 again from the support area 8th decrease and on a downstream of the device 2 used second transport device 126 ( 4 ), for example, turn on a conventional endless belt, hang up.

3A this shows the embodiment of the device according to the invention 2 according to 1 in a side view (frontal view) while 3B additionally illustrates said embodiment in plan view.

Already in the 1 and 2 illustrated and in this regard explained reference numerals have been here for the sake of clarity, in part not been reapplied here and / or are here not partially explained again. For the explanation of such reference numerals and the associated technical features is to avoid repetition in full to the above description 1 and 2 directed.

3A first clarifies the juxtaposition of dolly 16 in the form of an endless chain, which follows an oval trajectory, which is predetermined by the rail 20 on which the transport carriage 16 are arranged.

Particularly well to see in this illustration, the threaded spindle 26 and this driving engine 27 , On the top of the trajectory, ie on the conveyor line, where the objects 4 rest, there are several neighboring trolley 16 with their respective noses 24 engaged with the threaded spindle 26 , A very precise and low-fluctuation promotion is realized.

After all, the first transfer unit is clearly recognizable here 32 at the inlet of (or at the entrance to) the device 2 as well as the second transfer unit 34 at the outlet of (or at the exit from) the device 2 ,

3B first clarifies a possible relation of the size of components of the device 2 and the promoted objects 4 , here of maps 6 , Well recognizable is that the contact area 10 a recording unit 14 completely from a map 6 can be covered.

Here is not just the contact area 10 vertically spaced from the other support area 108 (this is not visible in this plan view), but the top view 3B shows very clearly that here also the support area 8 and the drive area 12 are laterally (horizontally) spaced from each other. From above - namely from the printing direction - it is easy to see that overprinted ink is just the pins 1080 to wet, provided the runners 28 of cards 6 are covered. The drive area 12 , the threaded spindle 26 and the engine 27 however, they are usually beyond the reach of overprinted ink.

4 shows a schematic representation of a plant according to the invention 120 for the complete processing of objects 4 namely maps 6 comprising a device 2 for the promotion of objects 4 according to 1 ,

An exemplary plant 120 includes on the left side a first transport device 122 , which may be a known conveyor belt (endless belt). The first transport device 122 transports cards 6 isolated by a first station 124 , This may, for example, be a feeder, a laser device, a chip or magnetic coding, a plasma treatment or the like. Such stations 124 are in themselves familiar to the expert.

After the treatment in the first station 124 become the cards 6 then from the first transfer unit 32 (not shown here) of the device according to the invention 2 taken over and in the manner already described by the processing station 101 promoted. The processing station 101 includes here a printing unit 1010 which in turn is a first printhead 1011 , a second printhead 1012 , a third printhead 1013 and a fourth printhead 1014 having.

After processing (in this case a four-color inkjet printing process) in the processing station 101 become the cards 6 then from the second transfer unit 34 (not shown here) of the device according to the invention 2 on the right side to a second transport device 126 passed, which may again be a known conveyor belt (endless belt). The second transport device 126 transports the cards 6 isolated by a second station 128 , This may, for example, be a painting station, a labeler, a lamination or the like. Such stations 128 are in themselves familiar to the expert.

The explanation of the system according to the invention 120 illustrates that a device according to the invention 2 for conveying objects 4 in a complex apparatus environment with other or different transport devices 122, 126 can be combined, namely, depending on the nature and purpose of each affected section of the system 120 , Thus, for example, in particular in areas where no print job takes place, conventional and more cost-effective endless conveyor belts can also be considered.

reference numeral

2

Device for conveying

4

object

6

Card (object)

8th

support area

10

contact area

108

From the contact area various support area

1080

pen

12

driving range

14

recording unit

16

Dolly (receiving unit)

18

caster

20

rail

22

flap

24

nose

26

screw

27

Motor (threaded spindle)

28

skid

30

surface

32

First transfer unit

34

Second transfer unit

101

processing station

1010

Printing unit (processing station)

1011

First printhead

1012

Second printhead

1013

Third printhead

1014

Fourth printhead

120

Plant for the complete processing of objects

122

First transport device

124

First stop

126

Second transport device

128

Second station

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102006052302 A1 [0006, 0007]
• DE 102011101595 A1 [0010]

Claims (14)

Device (2) for conveying isolated objects (4) - in particular in the form of cards (6) - by a processing station (101), wherein the objects (4) are placed on the device (2) and, in particular in the horizontal direction , are conveyable by a processing station (101), wherein a processing directed from above in the direction of the upper side of the objects (4), in particular a printing process, is enabled, characterized in that each object (4) is assigned a support area (8), which is movable together with the object (4), the support area (8) in the object plane having exclusively a contact area (10) which, viewed from above, can be completely covered by a recorded object (4). Device (2) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the other, of the contact area (10) different support area (108) with respect to the contact area (10) is spaced downwards. Device (2) according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the support region (8) with a drive region (12) for conveying the support region (8) and thus of the object (4) is connected. Device (2) according to one of Claims 1 to 3 , characterized in that the support area (8) and the drive area (12) are laterally spaced from each other. Device (2) according to one of Claims 1 to 4 , characterized in that the support region (8) and the drive region (12) form a receiving unit (14) movable within the device (2), on each of which an object (4) can be placed. Device (2) according to Claim 5 , characterized in that a receiving unit (14) within the device (2) endlessly circulating, in particular in an oval movement, is conveyed. Device (2) according to Claim 5 or 6 , characterized in that a plurality of receiving units (14), in particular in a chain-like juxtaposition, within the device (2) is arranged endlessly circulating. Device (2) according to one of Claims 5 to 7 , characterized in that adjacent receiving units (14) by means of tabs (22) or the like. are hinged together. Device (2) according to one of Claims 5 to 8th , characterized in that a receiving unit (14) as a transport carriage (16) with the drive region (12) associated with rollers (18) for running within the device (2) is configured. Device (2) according to one of Claims 1 to 9 , characterized in that the drive portion (12) has a lug (24) for engagement and transport by a rotating threaded spindle (26) or the like. Device (2) according to one of Claims 1 to 10 , characterized in that the drive region (12) is assigned its own, relative to the device (2) acting drive. Device (2) according to one of Claims 1 to 11 , characterized in that the support region (8) upwardly directed runners (28) for placing an object (4), wherein the contact region (10) from the lying in the object plane surface (30) of the skids (28) is formed. Device (2) according to one of Claims 1 to 12 , characterized in that the contact region (10) has a slip-resistant surface (30). Device (2) according to one of Claims 1 to 13 , characterized in that below the support area (8) a device for receiving excess, not by the object (4) recorded ink is formed.

Images