EP1147018B1 - Method and installation for producing personalized coupons - Google Patents

Abstract

An installation for manufacturing personalized coupons comprises a set of work stations with at least a feed station (110) for supplying blank coupons (C), a personalization station (120) for personalizing blank coupons (C), and a cutting-out station (130) for cutting out personalized coupons (C). A system for transporting coupons (C) between the various work stations (110, 120, 170) comprises at least one chain (1) driven in indexed manner by motor-driven sprocket wheels (2), and a set of clamps (5) mounted at a constant pitch on links of the chain (1) and co-operating with opening/closing means (37) placed in fixed positions, so that each clamp takes hold of an individual blank coupon (C), transports said coupon (C) between the various work stations, and releases the coupon (C) in a station (180) for collecting the finished or semi-finished product. Each clamp (5) has a pair of jaws for clamping a marginal zone of a coupon (C) in at least two regions thereof which are spaced apart from each other in the travel direction of the chain (1), and external abutments secured to one or other of the jaws for laterally positioning the coupon.

Description

Field of the invention

The subject of the present invention is a plant for manufacturing personalized coupons including a set of workstations with at least one basic coupon supply station, one post for personalizing basic coupons and a post for cutting of personalized basic coupons, and a system of transport of basic coupons between different work stations.

The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing by personalized coupon chain comprising at least one step supply of basic coupons to a first work station, a step of personalizing the basic coupons at a second station of work and a step of cutting the basic personalized coupons to a third work station, the basic coupons being transported successively from one workstation to another.

Prior art

Various types of processes and installations have already been proposed. manufacture of personalized documents such as cards identification, including secure identification cards, such as identity cards, driver's licenses, bank cards, social security cards, badges. Such identification cards have a basic support or coupon, for example made of paper or plastic material, on which various information of personalization, such as information using characters alphanumeric or information using images Photographic. Personalization information differs from card to another. Security elements can also be added basic coupons, or additional sheets combined with basic coupons, for example using chemical inks, UV varnish, phosphors, embossing. Finally, the basic coupons Personalized and secure are often subject to laminating.

Existing installations generally have a large complexity, especially due to synchronization problems different successive operations leading to finished cards. he indeed, avoid any delay in successive operations especially printing or cutting of the different cards produced successively on the same installation.

Known methods of manufacturing identification cards also involve significant losses of consumables (strips of paper or plastic to receive information customized, plastic bands for the operation of plasticization), in particular because of the necessary lengths of priming to ensure the adjustment of the Installations. It follows that these installations known are not suitable for the manufacture of small series of cards, since they involve for each production series losses of significant products and a relatively long processing time.

Nor do existing facilities lend themselves easily to a change in their characteristics due to a lack of modular character.

The document EP-A-0 364 730 describes a facility for manufacturing personalized coupons as described in the preamble of claim 1, and a method of manufacturing these coupons as described in the preamble of claim 29.

Subject and brief description of the invention

The invention aims to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks and to allow the manufacture of personalized coupons such as cards of excellent quality identification, including secure cards, to a reduced cost and with great flexibility of adaptation to different manufacturing.

The invention aims in particular to guarantee the operation of a card manufacturing facility without any lags or faults produce during production.

The invention also aims to allow rapid and without loss of raw material, the production of small series of cards personalized and secure identification.

These objects are achieved, in accordance with the invention, thanks to a installation for manufacturing personalized coupons such as cards identification including a set of workstations with at minus one basic coupon supply station, one personalization of basic coupons and a cutting station for basic personalized coupons, and a coupon transport system basic between the different work stations, characterized in that the basic coupon transport system includes a carousel comprising at least one link chain driven by pinions indexed motorized, and a set of pliers mounted with a not constant on links in the chain and cooperating with means opening / closing fixed position, to enter each individually a basic coupon, transport this basic coupon between workstations and unload this basic coupon at a workstation recovery of finished or semi-finished product as identification card customized, each clamp having a pair of jaws for enclose a marginal area of a basic coupon at least in two regions thereof which are distant from each other in the direction of displacement of the chain, and external stops integral with one or the other of the jaws to position the base coupon laterally gripped between said jaws.

The grippers can be actuated mechanically, electromechanically, magnetic or pneumatic.

According to a particular embodiment, each clamp has lateral fasteners on the link chain arranged below the plan for gripping the base coupon by the jaws.

Each clamp has a central spring arranged between on the one hand a lower plate made integral with the upper jaw, and on the other hand the underside of the lower jaw.

Advantageously, each clamp comprises external stops vertical directed upwards and integral with the lower jaw.

Preferably, the grip width of the jaws of each clamp is between 3 and 5 mm.

According to a particular embodiment, the means clamp opening / closing includes a mechanical push button a rod-crank type mechanism.

According to another particular embodiment, the means clamp opening / closing includes a cylinder generator in rotation.

According to a particular aspect of the present invention, the station Basic coupon supply includes transfer-cut station to transfer a section of a strip to a clamp arranged transversely to the chain and having a succession of sections constituting basic coupons.

More specifically, the supply station includes means for supporting a reel for storing said tape, a pair of superimposed cylinders between which the strip coming from the reel and which constitute a motorized pulling bridge, a cutter motorized disposed between the motorized pulling bridge and the path of the clamps and an optical cell to control the arrival opposite the clamps of the basic coupons to be cut by the cutter from the sections of the strip and intended to be gripped by grippers actuated by means opening / closing of clamps arranged in the vicinity of the station and synchronized with the indexed advance of the chain with links.

The supply station can also include a charger pre-cut basic coupons and gripping means, for example example of suction cup type, to supply a basic coupon a clamp located at the supply station for each operational downtime of the cyclic operation of installation.

The installation according to the invention advantageously comprises coding marks on each clamp.

At least one basic coupon personalization station can be made up of an individualized printing station of at least one face of the basic coupons transported by the pliers.

According to a particular embodiment, the manufacturing installation of cards includes a station for pre-cutting the basic coupons customized, a suction cup mechanism for individual transfer of basic personalized coupons precut to a post lamination fed by upper and lower strips of material plastic introduced parallel to the direction of movement of the coupons basic pre-cut, and a cutting and recovery of finished personalized cards with evacuation and winding in a training station of a skeleton coil residual plastic strips after cutting cards custom finished.

In this case, the laminating station can include a pair heating shoes arranged at the level of the introduction of a custom base precut between said upper bands and lower plastic, two pairs of motorized cylinders and put in pressure to ensure a rolling and sealing of a coupon custom base precut with top and bottom bands plastic, and cooling fans.

According to another particular embodiment, the installation of card manufacturing includes a pre-laminating station with upper and lower rolls for feeding strips of material plastic perpendicular to the direction of travel of the chain links to form a portfolio enveloping an insert consisting of pre-cut personalized base coupon maintained by a clamp, and a plasticizing station acting on the assembly constituted by said wallet and its insert held by a clamp.

The pre-laminating station includes a feeding device of two strips of plastic material with the passage of a single first longitudinal edge of each of the strips through a heating shoe before the training of the two bands through a pair of rollers motorized which ensure the sealing of the two bands on their first longitudinal edges to form a backing film held open by a shoe tree before receiving said insert and building a portfolio after cutting by a transverse cutting device of the film backing to form a sandwich driven by the central insert held by a clamp to a laminating station.

Advantageously, the plastic strips are each consisting of a film of a basic material such as polyester provided with a coating layer compatible with the insert and promoting heat sealing, such as polyethylene and upper and lower plastic have their layers of coating facing each other.

According to a particular embodiment, the manufacturing installation of cards includes a laminating station comprising first and second motorized endless perforated and welded metal strips by a set of four cylinders including two non-opposing cylinders are laterally fitted with sprockets, the first and second metal strips having a parallel path portion in which they enclose at least one assembly constituted by said wallet and its insert held by a clamp, this portion of the path parallel successively comprising heating shoes, a pair of rolling rolls and cooling means.

The motorization of the drive members of the plasticization is synchronized with the indexed motorization of the chain main transport clamps so that the bands of perforated metal and the link chain advance simultaneously the same amount.

Advantageously, the first and second metal strips endless perforated have tape closure means including the thickness is less than that of the assembly constituted by a wallet and its insert, and which are arranged offset on the first and second metal strips so as to be located in free spaces between two successive sets comprising a wallet and insert.

Preferably, the pitch of perforation of the metal strips is identical to the pitch of the link chain fitted with pliers.

According to another particular embodiment, the installation of card manufacturing includes a closed auxiliary link chain driven by indexed motorized gears and equipped with a set of auxiliary clamps mounted with constant pitch on links of the auxiliary chain and a closed main chain with links driven by indexed motorized gears, in synchronism with the auxiliary chain and equipped with a set of main pliers mounted with a constant step on links of the main chain.

In this case, in an application to a manufacturing facility cards allowing the introduction of personalized data by photograph, the auxiliary chain moves successively in front of a photosensitive negative coupon supply station, a photographic shooting to transfer personalized data on the negative photosensitive coupon, a development station for the negative coupon by soaking in an activator bath, and a pressure overlay of negative coupon with base coupon positive fed from a coupon supply station positive base, and clamp opening / closing means are arranged at least at the negative coupon supply item level and at the negative coupon overlay station with a coupon basic positive.

The main chain moves successively in front of at least a positive basic coupon supply item, a pre-wetting, an overlay station under pressure of a coupon negative with a positive base coupon, a transfer-development zone in which the negative coupon is superimposed on the coupon positive base to allow image transfer from negative coupon to the positive base coupon, a negative coupon withdrawal item by mechanized separation of the latter from the basic positive coupon, a positive coupon washing station by soaking in a water bath, a first spinning station, a stabilization station by soaking in a stabilizing bath, a second wringing station and a drying station.

More specifically, the pressure stacking station a negative coupon and a positive basic coupon includes a pair motorized gears fitted with spacing cams and integral with the transmission shafts of a pair of cylinders press-transfer between which a superimposed negative coupon and a positive base coupon maintained respectively by clamps driven by the auxiliary chain and the main chain, one of said spacing cams being provided with a light angular position and a spacer boss.

According to another particular embodiment, the station for removing the mechanized peel negative coupon includes a set of three motorized round belts acting on an edge of the negative coupon previously clamped in pliers of the auxiliary chain and making slightly protruding from the positive coupon on the side opposite the clamp keeping the positive coupon.

The installation according to the present invention makes it possible to introduce personalized data both by photograph and by print and also to combine the two types of technique on the same manufacturing line.

According to a particular embodiment, the manufacturing installation of cards includes a personalized data printing station on a base coupon from a thermal transfer ribbon supplied transversely to the direction of circulation of the chain of transport of the basic coupon, and evacuated after printing of a basic coupon, also transversely to in the direction of movement of the transport link chain of the coupon based.

The custom data printing station includes a constant tension unwinding device for the transfer ribbon thermal, put in the form of a coil, which device unwinding itself includes a friction support acting on the coil or its mandrel, first and second cylinders set pressure between which the thermal transfer ribbon is introduced unwound, at least one torque generator coupled to one of the shafts of the first and second cylinders and connected to a chassis of the unwinding device by an anti-rotation member.

The custom data printing station includes a constant tension winding device, which device comprises first and second superimposed cylinders ensuring a draft of the thermal transfer ribbon after passing in front of a print head, at least one torque generator associated with the at least one drive shaft minus one of the first and second cylinders and a gear motor group rotational drive of both the torque generator and a ribbon take-up reel in the form of a reel around said mandrel after drawing by passage between said first and second cylinder.

According to an alternative embodiment, the data printing station custom includes reel storage ribbon transfer and a coil for receiving thermal transfer ribbon, full diameters are not more than about three times the diameter in the empty state, the storage and receiving coils being located on either side of a print head, a torque generator is coupled directly to the storage reel support mandrel and is connected to the support frame of said mandrel by an anti-rotation member, and a torque generator associated with a motorization member is directly coupled to the spool support mandrel reception.

The basic coupons can be made of paper or material plastic. However, these basic coupons can also be produced in the form of plates comprising, where appropriate, electronic circuit elements, such as an integrated circuit and a coil antenna for example.

The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing by personalized coupon chain such as identification cards comprising at least one step of supplying coupons base to a first workstation, a step of personalization of basic coupons at a second workstation and a cutting stage basic personalized coupons at a third workstation, basic coupons being transported successively from work station to the other, characterized in that the transport of the basic coupons from one station work to another, is carried out individually using mounted pliers with a constant pitch on the links of a driven link chain closed-indexed and in that each basic coupon transported and pinched is seized along one of its marginal zones at less in two regions thereof which are distant from each other in the direction of movement of the chain, while cooperating with the same clamp.

The basic coupon procurement step may include transfer and cutting, at a clamp brought to a station supply, a section of strip arranged transversely with respect to the link chain and comprising a succession of sections constituting basic coupons.

The supply stage can also be carried out from a stack of pre-cut basic coupons.

According to a particular aspect of the invention, the step of personalization of a basic coupon includes the opposite supply of a print head of a tension transfer thermal transfer ribbon constant from a storage reel, data carryover customized, by printing using the print head, on a basic coupon superimposed on the thermal transfer ribbon, and the evacuation thermal transfer ribbon by pulling it at constant tension before winding on a receiving coil.

According to a particular embodiment, the method comprises a laminating step of a basic coupon and prior to the step of lamination, each basic coupon held by a clamp is inserted in a portfolio made up of a film film format made from of two sections of plastic strips brought perpendicular to the direction of travel of the link chain and sealed together on only one of their longitudinal edges, located at the front the corresponding basic coupon in the direction of transport of this coupon.

According to another particular embodiment, the method includes a step of laminating a basic coupon and before the laminating step, each basic coupon held by a clamp is released from the clamp by cutting and gripped by a mobile suction cup to be transported individually to a workstation plastic fed plastic by upper bands and lower introduced parallel to the direction of movement of the movable suction cups.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the method of manufacturing identification cards includes a training stage and transport of negative coupons each seized in a marginal area at least in two regions thereof which are distant from each other, in the direction of movement of an auxiliary chain in a closed circuit, using pliers transported by the auxiliary chain with indexed advance, a stage of training and transport of positive basic coupons seized each in a marginal area at least in two regions thereof which are distant from each other, in the direction of movement of a chain main in closed circuit, using pliers transported by the chain main with indexed advance, a step of overlapping and pressure of a negative coupon and a positive basic coupon, a step of transport of a positive coupon and a negative coupon superimposed using the only clamp transported by the main chain, a step of removing the negative coupon by mechanized detachment and a stage of transport and processing of the only positive coupon using the forceps carried by the main chain.

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique d'ensemble d'un premier exemple d'installation de fabrication de cartes d'identification sécurisées selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue schématique d'ensemble d'un deuxième exemple d'installation de fabrication de cartes d'identification sécurisées selon l'invention,
• la figure 3 est une vue d'ensemble d'un mécanisme à pinces de saisie d'un coupon servant à la fabrication d'une carte d'identification sécurisée,
• la figure 4 est une vue de dessus d'une pince individuelle de saisie d'un coupon utilisable dans le mécanisme de la figure 3,
• la figure 5 est une vue de côté de la pince de la figure 4,
• les figures 6A et 6B sont des vues de la pince des figures 4 et 5, selon le sens de défilement de cette pince, respectivement dans des positions fermée et ouverte de la pince,
• la figure 7 est une vue d'ensemble d'un poste de formation d'un étui en matière plastique de protection d'une carte d'identification sécurisée,
• la figure 8 est une vue de dessus d'une partie du poste de la figure 7,
• la figure 9 est une vue à plus grande échelle, dans le sens de la flèche F, d'une partie du poste de la figure 7 montrant la formation d'un étui de protection,
• la figure 10 est une vue, dans le sens de déroulement d'une bande de matière, d'un dispositif de maintien d'une tension constante,
• la figure 11 est une vue de côté du dispositif de la figure 10,
• la figure 12 est une vue, dans le sens de l'enroulement d'une bande de matière, d'un dispositif de maintien d'une tension constante,
• la figure 13 est une vue de côté du dispositif de la figure 12,
• les figures 14 et 15 sont des vues de côté et de dessus d'une variante de dispositif de déroulement et d'enroulement à tension constante d'une bande de matière sur une imprimante à bobines de petit diamètre,
• la figure 16 est une vue de côté d'un exemple de la mise en oeuvre d'un dispositif de tension constante d'une bande de matière sur une imprimante à grosses bobines,
• la figure 17 est une vue schématique de la chaíne cinématique d'un poste de plastification d'une carte d'identification sécurisée,
• les figures 18 et 19 sont des vues respectivement de côté et de dessus d'un exemple de poste de plastification mettant en oeuvre la chaíne cinématique de la figure 17,
• la figure 20 est une vue de détail montrant le positionnement des zones de jonction des tronçons de bandes d'entraínement de la chaíne cinématique,
• la figure 21 est une vue schématique d'ensemble d'un troisième exemple d'installation de fabrication de cartes d'identification sécurisées selon l'invention, mettant en oeuvre un procédé de reproduction par transfert,
• la figure 22 est une vue, dans le sens de défilement des coupons, d'un poste de transfert d'un coupon négatif sur un coupon positif dans l'installation de la figure 21,
• la figure 23 est une vue de face de cames d'écartement montées sur des engrenages de motorisation dans le poste de transfert de la figure 22,
• la figure 24 est une vue de côté de cylindres de pressage-transfert utilisés dans le poste de transfert de la figure 22,
• la figure 25 est une vue de côté montrant la séparation d'un coupon négatif et d'un coupon positif après une opération de reproduction par transfert dans l'installation de la figure 21,
• la figure 26 est une vue selon la flèche F₁ de la figure 25 montrant la superposition des coupons négatif et positif,
• la figure 27 est une vue de détail montrant le pincement d'un coupon négatif lorsque celui-ci est séparé d'un coupon positif,
• la figure 28 représente des vues d'éléments de cartes d'identification au cours de différentes étapes de fabrication à l'aide de l'installation de la figure 1, et
• la figure 29 représente des vues d'éléments de cartes d'identification au cours de différentes étapes de fabrication à l'aide de l'installation de la figure 21.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description of particular embodiments, given by way of examples, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• FIG. 1 is a schematic overview of a first example of an installation for manufacturing secure identification cards according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a schematic overview of a second example of an installation for manufacturing secure identification cards according to the invention,
• FIG. 3 is an overall view of a gripper gripping mechanism for a coupon used in the manufacture of a secure identification card,
• FIG. 4 is a top view of an individual gripper for gripping a coupon usable in the mechanism of FIG. 3,
• FIG. 5 is a side view of the clamp of FIG. 4,
• FIGS. 6A and 6B are views of the clamp of FIGS. 4 and 5, in the direction of travel of this clamp, respectively in the closed and open positions of the clamp,
• FIG. 7 is an overall view of a training station for a plastic case for protecting a secure identification card,
• FIG. 8 is a top view of part of the station in FIG. 7,
• FIG. 9 is a view on a larger scale, in the direction of arrow F, of a part of the station in FIG. 7 showing the formation of a protective case,
• FIG. 10 is a view, in the direction of unwinding of a strip of material, of a device for maintaining a constant tension,
• FIG. 11 is a side view of the device in FIG. 10,
• FIG. 12 is a view, in the direction of the winding of a strip of material, of a device for maintaining a constant tension,
• FIG. 13 is a side view of the device in FIG. 12,
• FIGS. 14 and 15 are side and top views of a variant of the device for unwinding and winding at constant tension a strip of material on a printer with small diameter reels,
• FIG. 16 is a side view of an example of the implementation of a device for constant tension of a strip of material on a printer with large spools,
• FIG. 17 is a schematic view of the kinematic chain of a laminating station of a secure identification card,
• FIGS. 18 and 19 are respectively side and top views of an example of a plasticizing station using the kinematic chain of FIG. 17,
• FIG. 20 is a detailed view showing the positioning of the areas of junction of the sections of drive bands of the kinematic chain,
• FIG. 21 is a schematic overview of a third example of an installation for manufacturing secure identification cards according to the invention, implementing a method of reproduction by transfer,
• FIG. 22 is a view, in the direction of scrolling of the coupons, of a station for transferring a negative coupon to a positive coupon in the installation of FIG. 21,
• FIG. 23 is a front view of spacing cams mounted on motorization gears in the transfer station of FIG. 22,
• FIG. 24 is a side view of pressing-transfer cylinders used in the transfer station of FIG. 22,
• FIG. 25 is a side view showing the separation of a negative coupon and a positive coupon after a transfer reproduction operation in the installation of FIG. 21,
• FIG. 26 is a view along arrow F ₁ of FIG. 25 showing the superposition of the negative and positive coupons,
• FIG. 27 is a detail view showing the pinching of a negative coupon when the latter is separated from a positive coupon,
• FIG. 28 represents views of elements of identification cards during different stages of manufacture using the installation of FIG. 1, and
• FIG. 29 represents views of elements of identification cards during different stages of manufacture using the installation of FIG. 21.

Detailed description of particular embodiments

The invention allows the production of personalized coupons such as identification cards and more particularly cards secure identification such as identity documents which include, in addition to any security elements present on different cards of the same type, personalized data that differs from card to card the other. Personalized data can include a suite alphanumeric information, such as information concerning civil status, and graphic elements such as ID photograph or signature.

This custom data can be stored in a file computer or a manual file, from which they are transferred, by a process of printing or photographic transfer, on coupons basic, during the process of making identification cards.

The present invention thus makes it possible to ensure personalization basic coupons using a printing process, a process photographic or a combination of the two, graphic elements which can for example be transferred to a basic coupon by a process photographic, while alphanumeric data is reported by a printing process.

The installation according to the invention allows great flexibility of implemented thanks to its modular design and a system of individual transport of basic coupons between the different job.

A first conforming example will be described with reference to FIG. 1 to the invention of an installation for manufacturing identification cards.

The installation 100 comprises a vertical panel 101 serving as support for all the functional elements defining the different installation workstations. The vertical panel 101 can itself be mounted on any type of mobile or fixed chassis. advantageously, the space located on one side of the panel 101, for example the space located in back of the plan of Figure 1, can serve as accommodation for different electric drive or control components while the space located in front of the plan in Figure 1 can serve as housing for different organs of the production chain through which circulate the basic coupons leading to the formation of finished or semi-finished products.

The installation of FIG. 1 comprises a carousel comprising a closed-link chain 1 driven by motorized sprockets 2 indexed. A set of pliers 5, an example of which will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 and 6A, 6B, are mounted with a constant pitch on links of chain 1 and cooperate with opening / closing means, such as 37 (Figure 3) or 343 (figure 21) placed at a fixed post, to enter each individually a basic coupon C, transport this basic coupon C between workstations and release a card as a finished product or semi-finished when the basic coupon C has undergone all the treatments desired.

In Figure 1, we see that the link chain 1 successively serves a station 110 for supplying basic coupons C ₁ , a station 120 for personalizing basic coupons C ₁ which is constituted in the example considered by a station of two-sided printing 121, 122 of the thermal transfer type, and a station 130 for cutting basic coupons C ₂ . At the cutting station 130, a coupon C ₃ , which constitutes an individualized semi-finished product, is collected by a movable suction cup 131 which ensures the transfer of the coupon C ₃ to a work station 140 which in the example considered constitutes a plasticizing station. The movement of the movable suction cups 131, 132 intended to grip the cut coupons C ₃ is synchronized with that of the chain 1 but takes place along a path independent of the closed circuit path of the chain 1.

The plasticizing station 140 is supplied by upper 152 and lower 162 strips of plastic material coming from coils 150, 160 mounted on mandrels 151, 161, which strips 152, 162 are introduced parallel to the direction of movement of a basic coupon pre-cut custom C ₃ , on either side thereof, between two successive pairs 142, 143 of motorized cylinders and pressurized to ensure rolling and sealing of a coupon with sections of the upper and lower strips 152 , 162 of plastic. Before their introduction between the first pair of cylinders 142, the upper and lower strips 152, 162 of plastic material are brought into contact with heating shoes 141 and after the exit of the second pair of cylinders 143, the plastic card C ₄ comprising the personalized coupon C ₃ sandwiched between the strips of plastic material C ₄ is subjected to the action of cooling fans.

The plasticized card C ₅ includes the personalized coupon C ₃ sandwiched between the two strips of plastic material 152, 162 sealed together around the entire periphery of the coupon C ₃ , for example in a frame 3 mm wide. The card C ₅ is introduced into a station 170, 180 for cutting and recovering the finished personalized cards C ₆ with evacuation and winding around a mandrel 191 in a station for forming a coil 190, of the residual skeleton C ₇ of the plastic strips after cutting finished personalized cards C ₆ . FIG. 28 shows the successive states of coupons C ₁ to C ₆ between the supply station 110 and the recovery station for finished products.

The installation in FIG. 1 is particularly suitable for the case where the base coupon C is made of paper and must be protected by a plastic envelope sealed in a sealed manner over the entire periphery of the personalized and precut base coupon C ₃ .

Figure 2 shows another example installation 200 of manufacture of identification cards according to the invention using works a closed link chain 1 driven by sprockets indexed motorized and comprising a set of pliers 5 mounted with a constant pitch on links of chain 1.

The clamps 5 can be mounted at a constant pitch which can correspond for example to ten links and constitutes the indexing step.

In FIG. 2 the various useful members can be mounted on a vertical panel 101 in a similar manner to installation 100 of the figure 1.

The installation 200 of FIG. 2 comprises a station 110 supply of basic coupons C, a set 120 of personalization of basic coupons C including an extension 121 printing the front of a coupon and a station 122 printing the back of the coupon, a pre-plasticization station 230 for bringing a basic coupon personalized at a laminating station 240 remaining transported by the same clamp 5, a station 170 for cutting a card finished laminated, a 180 recovery mat for finished cards and a post 290 for the evacuation of the residual parts of the resulting basic coupons of the cutting operation at work station 170.

Before describing in more detail examples of construction of supply station 110, pre-plasticization station 230 plasticizing station 240 and plasticizing station customization 120, or will explain with reference to FIGS. 4, 5, 6A and 6B a preferred embodiment of a clamp 5 intended to grip a basic coupon at different stages of card making and at transport this basic coupon to different workstations while being driven by the endless chain 1 with links which, in the installation 200 of Figure 2 passes successively in front of all workstations.

Each clamp 5 includes a pair of jaws 54, 55 for grip the edge of a base coupon C essentially over the entire length of the latter in the direction of movement of the chain 1. Des vertical outer stops 52 directed upwards and integral with the lower jaw 54 ensure correct positioning of a coupon base which is gripped by a clamp 5 over a length L and a width ℓ.

By way of example, the grip width prise of the jaws 54, 55 of each clamp 5 is between 3 and 5 mm. The length L of the jaws 54, 55 may for example be 70 mm for a coupon base with dimension in the direction of movement of the clamps of the order of 100 mm. The clamps 5 thus enclose a base coupon C over a length L which constitutes more than half the dimension of the coupon in the direction of movement of the clamps.

Each clamp 5 has lateral fasteners 51 allowing a fixing, for example by a system of quick couplings, on the chain links 1. Fasteners 51 are arranged below the gripping plane of a basic coupon by the jaws 54, 55.

Each clamp 5, which can for example be made of stainless steel, comprises a central spring 59 disposed between on the one hand a plate lower 56 made integral with the upper jaw 55 by lateral uprights 57 and on the other hand the underside of the jaw lower 54. The spring 59 can be held in the central position by a centering stud 53 secured to the underside of the lower jaw 54. The lateral fasteners 51 are connected to the lower jaw 54 by a connecting piece 50.

FIG. 6A shows a clamp 5 in the closed position while the FIG. 6B shows a clamp 56 in the open position under the action of a thrust member 37 comprising for example a spherical head.

In the example considered, the clamps 5 are actuated mechanically but they could also be actuated so magnetic, electromechanical or pneumatic. In particular, the means elastic return of the jaws 54, 55 included in the clamp 5 could be different from spring 59.

It is important that the grip length L of a coupon C by the jaws 54, 55 constitutes a substantial portion of the length of the coupon C and it is essential that the pressure of the jaws 54, 55 be distributed over a marginal area of a coupon C in at least two regions distant from each other in the direction of scrolling of the coupons so that the times to avoid distortions of the basic coupons and to guarantee a safe keeping of these coupons.

The internal bearing faces of the jaws 54, 55 can be provided with a coating promoting adhesion, for example under the form of a set of points distributed over the entire surface and made up for example with diamond powder. According to a variant of embodiment, the jaws 54, 55 may however undergo a slight calibration so that the pressure exerted by the clamp on the card entered slightly stronger at both front and rear ends of the clamp.

As an example, clamps 5 can be installed every ten links of a chain with a pitch of 12.7 mm or every 127 mm. Not constant between clamps 5, which corresponds to a constant whole number of links naturally depends on the size of the cards to be produced. The card manufacturing installations according to the invention can typically include for example between 20 and 80 clamps. It is so easy to quickly make small series of cards. The course complete with a clamp of all the workstations being lower at 3 minutes, the waiting time for a card of a new type is very reduced. In a stabilized production regime, the production rate can be in the order of 1,200 cards manufactured per hour.

The clamps 5 can advantageously be provided with a set of coding marks, such as a barcode, which allows monitoring with precision the evolution of the clamp within the installation.

Figure 3 shows an example of supply station 110 in basic coupons C from a strip of material B wound under the form of a coil 30 around a mandrel 31. The strip B can be in paper, plastic, photosensitive material of negative type or positive. The band B can in particular be formed by a material with a safety bottom.

In FIG. 3, it can be seen that the reel 30 for storing the tape B is supported by rollers 32. The support rollers could however also act directly on the mandrel 31, on both sides of the coil 30. The strip B from the coil 30 is pinched between a pair of superimposed cylinders 33 which constitute a pulling bridge motorized 33. A motorized cutter 34 is disposed between the pulling bridge motorized 33 and the path of the clamps 5 to ensure the cutting of a section of strip B which will constitute a basic coupon C seized by a clamp 5 whose opening is effected by a mechanism 36 opening / closing comprising a pusher head 37 acting on the clamp 5 and integral with a rod-crank system 38 driven by a motor 39 controlled synchronously with the advance of chain 1 and clamps 5 so as to allow the opening of a clamp 5 when it is temporarily stopped in front of supply station 110 to receive a basic coupon C cut by the cutter 34 of which the action is also synchronized with that of the advance of the clamps 5 and takes into account the information of an optical cell 35, for example a fiber optic reading cell, intended to control the position, with respect to pliers 5, of the base coupon C to be cut from the band B.

In some cases, if band B already has information must be located at a specific location on each base coupon C, multiple fiber optic reading cells can be used to detect not only a coupon length, but also the location of printed marks. In this case several operations of cutting can be provided if necessary.

As noted earlier, once a coupon from base C was introduced into a clamp 5 and came into abutment on stops 52, the pusher 37 of the opening mechanism 36 is retracted and the upper jaw 55 of the clamp 5 is returned towards the bottom by spring 59 to pinch coupon C against the jaw lower 54.

A supply station has been described with reference to FIG. 3 as a base coupon from a strip of material wound under the in the form of a coil 30. The supply station 110 could also, alternatively, include a basic coupon loader precut and destacking and / or gripping means such as suction cups to supply basic coupons from this charger, synchronized with the stop movements of the chain 1, each clamp located at the supply station 110.

An example will now be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9. of preparation technique for a laminating step of a coupon base, which is implemented at workstation 230 of the Figure 2 and can be used in particular when the basic coupon is itself plastic or when the sealing problems of the laminated finished card is not critical. This preparation technique at the plasticization stage, by making, from two sections of strip of plastic, of a case or wallet in which is inserted the basic personalized coupon, allows not to cause break in the gripping by the clamps 5 of the formats leading to the production of finished personalized and plastic cards.

The post 230 for pre-plasticization or preparation of a film wrapped in plastic material in the form of a wallet, comprises upper rollers 60 and lower 70 for feeding strips of plastic material P ₁₁ , P ₁₂ perpendicular to the direction of travel of the link chain 1 fitted with clamps 5.

The coils 60, 70 wound around mandrels 61, 71 are supported by rollers 62, 72 respectively which, according to a variant could act on the mandrels 61, 71 rather than on the coils 60,70. After return by a roller 73, the lower strip P ₁₂ is superimposed with the upper strip P ₁₁ at the level of a roller 74. Only one of the longitudinal edges of the superimposed strips P ₁₁ , P ₁₂ passes through a heating shoe 65 before the superimposed strips are pinched and entrained in common by a pair of motorized rollers 66 which seal the two strips P ₁₁ , P ₁₂ on their first longitudinal edges so as to form a film film comprising upper faces 67 and lower 77 connected by an edge 89. The backing film 67, 77 is kept open by a shoe tree 81 and defines a free space into which a base coupon 87 held by a clamp 5 can be introduced from the rear.

FIG. 29 shows a basic coupon P ₁ held by a clamp 5 and inserted between the two sheets of a coated plastic film P ₂ , the connecting edge D of which is located at the front, in the direction of scrolling of the coupons, so that the drive of the coupon P ₁ by the clamp 5 secured to the chain 1 with indexed movement also causes the wallet or case P ₂ enclosing the coupon P ₁ , to a post next work consisting of a laminating station.

The backing film 67, 77 enclosing a base coupon 87 held by a clamp 5 was released from the bands P ₁₁ , P ₁₂ using a shear-shaped cutting device acting transversely to the bands P ₁₁ , P ₁₂ .

The cutting device may include a cutting counter blade 85 disposed under the shoe tree 81, a cutting blade 82 cooperating with the counter blade 85, and a plate 84 cooperating with springs 86 and coming to play the role of press film on film 67 during the operation of chopped off. Also seen in Figure 9 a spring 88 serving as a spring of the shoe tree 81 consisting of a V-shaped piece. counter blade 85 is mounted on a support 83 and provides space under the shoe tree 81 for the passage of the film 77.

With the configuration illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9, the face upper of shoe tree 81 descends with the shears under the action of the plate 84, which avoids deforming the upper film 67 relative to the film lower 77 when cutting with blade 85 and allows two sections of film cut 67, 77 of the same dimensions perfectly Bunk. The spring 88 makes it possible to raise the upper face of the shoe tree 81 between two cutting operations.

The two plastic films P ₁₁ , P ₁₂ are advantageously made of polyester with a layer of polyethylene. When the films P ₁₁ , P _{12 are} superimposed, the polyethylene layers are opposite. The heating shoe 65 is regulated in such a way that only the polyethylene is melted in order to then seal between the first longitudinal edges of the two films at the level of the cylinders 66.

Note that the base coupon 87 can be paper or flexible plastic, but can also be rigid and made of any other material which may undergo plasticization. In particular, coupon 87 can consist of a rigid or semi-rigid card equipped with a chip integrated circuit and, where applicable, a wound antenna.

We will now describe with reference to FIGS. 17 to 20 a example of laminating station 240 which can be used following the pre-plasticization station 230 which has just been described.

The 240 laminator basically consists of two strips of perforated metal 528 which are welded or closed in zones of junction 529 (figure 20) so as to form endless bands indexed training. The 528 perforated endless belts are driven by four motorized cylinders 522, 523 arranged in pairs of which two non-opposing 522 cylinders are fitted laterally with sprockets (or "Caroll" wheels).

The metal strips 528 are in contact, in their part upstream, with two regulated heating shoes 541, 542. A couple of rolling rollers 524, 525 is arranged after the shoes heaters 541, 542. Cooling shoes 551, 552 are in contact with metal strips 528 downstream of the cylinders rolling 524, 525.

The metal strips 528 thus have a parallel path portion in which they enclose at least one card constituted by a wallet P ₂ made of plastic material and its insert held by a clamp 515.

Perforations of metal bands 528 and spiked wheels 522 allow to locate perfectly the 529 junctions of the bands 528 and thus ensure that these 529 junctions are localized, in the indexed motor movement, in space intermap. It can be noted that if the strips 528 were not perforated and controlled in their positioning by the 522 sprockets, the bands 528 would have junctions 529 which would be positioned randomly on the card to be laminated and would cause a fault in laminating making a mark.

On the contrary, according to this aspect of the invention, if E denotes the pitch between two adjacent 515 card holding clips, the junctions 529 can be rigorously located in inter-card spaces (figure 18). The junctions 529 of the two endless metal strips 528 are preferably offset from each other by a distance d corresponding to one step or a whole number of steps of the clamps 515 (Figure 20). The connecting elements of junctions 529 must themselves have a thickness less than that of a card (i.e. wallet and its insert) driven by a pair of bands metallic 528. In this way, one can obtain an icing and a very good flatness of the plastic card, thanks to the constant and rigorous maintenance between the two metal strips 528.

The motorization of the laminator 240 is linked to the motorization of the main chain 1 with clamps 515, so that there is simultaneous advance and of the same amount of the roller chain 1 and the metal strips perforated 528. The pitch of the perforations of the bands 528 is advantageously the same as that of the drive chain of pliers 515.

We see in Figures 18 and 19 the support frame 521 of the laminator, the axis 511 of the gripper chain 515, the circulation plan 516 laminating cards, card holding clips 515, as well as springs 532 and screws 531 for adjusting the pressure exerted by the upper cylinders 523 compared to lower opposing cylinders 523.

FIG. 17 shows the diagram of the general motorization 510 of the laminator 240 with a chain 501 driven by sprockets of motorization 502 associated with counter-rollers 503 and a roller reference 504. In FIG. 19, the reference 538 furthermore designates one of the motor gears of the rolling cylinders 524, 525. The references 526 and 527 in FIG. 18 also denote a spring and a adjusting screw of the pressure exerted on the cylinders of rolling 524, 525.

Figures 18 and 19 show clogs as an example 541, 542 heating and 551, 552 cooling whose length roughly corresponds to that of two lengths of coupons, so as to double the length of stay coupons at these heating 541, 542 and cooling 551, 552.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, methods and identification card manufacturing facilities whereby the card personalization is carried out in a 120 station essentially using a printer to print before laminating data on the front and / or back of a card from files. We will describe later, in particular with reference to the FIG. 21, a method and an installation for manufacturing cards secure identification according to which part of the personalization is transferred to the cards by a type process photographic and another part of the data is carried over to cards by a printing process. It is therefore essential to obtain good quality identification cards, regardless of the printing step done with care.

We will describe below with reference to Figures 10 to 16, different systems allowing, in particular in the case of a printing system of the thermal transfer type, to control the unwinding and the winding of a strip from a reel.

We know that in practice different problems arise when we unwinds a tape stored on a reel, due to variations in the diameter of the reel as the tape unwinds. This leads to variations in belt tension, which in a way general tend to affect the proper functioning of the operation using the unrolled strip, such as a print operation.

We have already proposed different braking systems of the mandrel reel holder, sometimes with the addition of a regulating muffle. This leads to the implementation of relatively complex devices which particular ensure a measurement of the reduction in the diameter of the coil as it is used and, depending on the result of this measure, control a braking element acting on the chuck of the coil, such as a powder brake or a hysteresis brake. The measure of the evolution of the diameter of the coil can itself be carried out using a diameter sensor either mechanical or sensitive, for example a ultrasonic sensor. To obtain sufficient reliability, to use high-priced equipment.

In accordance with the present invention, systems are proposed to maintain constant or almost constant tension on the unwinding of a tape without the need to monitor the diameter of the reel to be unwound.

If we consider Figure 11, we see a storage coil 401 a ribbon 407, such as a thermal transfer ribbon, around a mandrel 402.

A friction support comprising rollers 403 mounted on a support 404 and resting on a braking plate 405, acts on the coil 401 to simply avoid an untimely and random unfolding of the inertia coil. According to an alternative embodiment, a similar system is applied, not directly to the coil 401, but to the mandrel 402 of it. The unwound 407 tape then passes between two rolls 412, 413 pressurized using a set screw system 418 and spring 419 acting relative to a support frame 411, in such a way that the pressure between the cylinders 412, 413 is necessary and sufficient to allow the rolling of these cylinders by the pulling action carried out on the strip 407 downstream of the cylinders 412, 413.

This is the product drawn 407 which motorizes by its layers the cylinders 412, 413. At least one of the cylinders 412, 413 (cylinder 412) is equipped with a torque generator 415, which is connected to the shaft of the cylinder 412 by a coupling 416 and is connected to the chassis 411 by an anti-rotation support.

Thanks to the use of the pair of cylinders 412, 413 and at least minus a torque generator 415, the pulling torque at the cylinders 412, 413 is relatively zero and the tension of the belt at unwinding is almost zero.

This way of unwinding eliminates variations in diameters during the unwinding of the reel, so there is no need to monitor the evolution of this diameter.

The efficiency of the constant web tension on unwinding is given by the presence of a 415 torque generator installed on the minus one of the shafts of cylinders 412, 413. It is possible the case install a torque generator on each of the shafts cylinders 412, 413, mounted using bearings 414 on the chassis 411.

The torque generator 415 can be of the electromechanical type such as a powder coupler or a hysteresis brake. Such a type of torque generator, at a constant regulated voltage, delivers a constant output current determining a constant pulling torque. This type of torque generator can be adjusted by potentiometer on its control circuit, according to a sampling of value corresponding to his type.

It is still possible to use generators mechanical torque such as speed reducers (constant torque) or mechanical speed variators (with variable torque). Although limited in operation because of their speed which cannot exceed much the speed given by their reduction ratio, these devices mechanical type present compared to systems electromechanical advantages of simple installation and low cost price.

It is still possible to combine the implementation of a mechanical type torque generator and a torque generator electromagnetic type, which allows you to take more devices small in their range and therefore cheaper.

A torque generator can still be integrated inside the cylinder 412 or two torque generators can be integrated into the interior of the two cylinders 412, 413.

In all cases, to obtain a constant belt tension, we installs the product on the 407 strip, a pair of cylinders 412, 413 equipped with at least one generator torque 415. The coating material of the cylinders 412, 413 is determined by the nature of the product to be unrolled. The diameter of the cylinders 412, 413 is itself determined by the tensile force to be obtained for the constant voltage and by the torque given by the generator 415.

Figures 12 and 13 show the implementation of a principle similar to the level of the winding of a product in strip 427 on a take-up mandrel 422 to form a coil 421, obtaining a constant voltage winding.

In this case, the mandrel 422 of the coil 421 is driven from of a geared motor unit 425, for example by friction using a belt 424. The band 427 to be wound passes through a couple of cylinders 432, 433 mounted in a frame 431 in a manner analogous to cylinders 412, 413 of the unwinding device of FIGS. 10 and 11. The cylinder shafts 432, 433 are thus mounted using bearings 434 in the frame 431 and adjustment screws 438 associated with springs 439 for adjusting the pressure exerted by the cylinder 432 on the cylinder 433. A torque generator 435 is linked by a coupling 436 to the cylinder shaft 433.

Unlike the case of the unwinding device, there is no anti-rotation device, but on the contrary, the torque generator 435 is rotated, for example using a pulley 428, by the belt 434 from the gearmotor group 425.

The coil 421 is thus rotated by a transmission like that of the torque generator 425, from the same geared motor group 425.

The engine criteria remain the same as for a reel unwinding. In the case of Figures 12 and 13, however, this is the exceeded winding torque of the generator which puts it in sliding.

The type of torque generator 435 in Figure 12 can be chosen according to the same criteria as for the 415 torque generator Figure 10.

There is shown in Figure 16, by way of example, so schematic, a printer with a 440 print head acting on a printing ribbon comprising an upstream portion 407 unwound from a reel 401 to be introduced on a counter-roller 441 in front of the print head 440 and a downstream portion 427 which, after being passed in front of the print head 440 is wound on a spool 421. In this embodiment of FIG. 16, a tension is maintained constant for strip sections 407 and 427 thanks to a combination of the devices described above with reference to Figures 10 to 13. We have shown in Figure 16 for the sake of simplification as the pair of rollers 412, 413 of the device unwinding and that the pair of rollers 432, 433 of the device winding in their association with a driving member 425 and a transmission belt 424 cooperating with a part 423 integral with the spool of the coil 421, but naturally the shaft of at least one of the rollers 412, 413 and the shaft of at least one of the rollers 432, 433 is coupled to a torque generator as described above.

The device of FIG. 16 is adapted to the case where for the coils 401 and 421 there is a big difference between the diameter of the coils and the diameter of the empty coils.

In some cases, especially when using coils 401 ', 421 'of small diameter, i.e. for which the coils 401', 421 ' solid have a diameter (for example 60 mm) which does not exceed about triple or double the diameter of empty coils (e.g. 20 mm or 30 mm), a winding device can be used and simplified procedure (Figures 14 and 15) which contributes to reducing the voltage variations of sections 407 ′, 427 ′ of the printing ribbon situated upstream and downstream of the printhead 440 ', while using a less complex mechanism than that represented on the whole of the Figure 16 and Figures 10 to 13.

In this case, the print ribbon passes between the print head 440 'and a counter roller 441' in the same way as in the device of figure 16, but the pairs of rollers 412, 413 and 432, 433 of the Figure 16 are deleted. The associated 415 'and 435' torque generators to the unwinding and winding devices are then installed directly respectively on the mandrels 402 ', 422' of the coils 401 ', 421 'mounted using bearings 414', 434 'on the support frame 411'.

On the side of the unwinding device, the torque generator 415 ' is connected by a coupling 416 'to the shaft 402' and comprises a member anti-rotation 417 'cooperating with the frame 411'.

On the side of the winding device, the torque generator 435 ' is connected by a coupling 436 'to the shaft 422' and further comprises a pulley 423 'allowing motorization via a belt 424 'and a pulley 428' driven by a motorisation member 425 'which also contributes to driving the counter-roller shaft 441', mounted on the support frame 411 'using bearings 434'.

In the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 10, 12 and 15, we have depicted torque generators outside the cylinder shafts or coils with which they cooperate.

Alternatively, these torque generators could be incorporated inside the shafts of the affected cylinders or coils.

We will now describe with reference to Figures 21 to 27 another example of a manufacturing facility for personalized coupons such as identification cards which allows in particular the implementation of several different card personalization methods, such as printing process and photographic reproduction process, all retaining all the advantages of a compact installation capable of quickly produce even limited series of cards, without delay and without discarding large lengths of material strips consumables.

The installation 300 of FIG. 21 is remarkable in particular in that it includes an auxiliary chain closed with links 11 driven by motorized pinions 12 indexed and equipped with a set of auxiliary clamps 15 mounted with a constant pitch on links of the auxiliary chain 11. The auxiliary clamps 15 can have a configuration completely similar to that of the clamps 5 described in reference to Figures 4, 5 and 6A, 6B. However, the length L of jaws of the pliers 15 may be different from that of the jaws of the clamps 5 mounted on the main chain 1. The length L of the jaws clamps 5, 15 is in fact adapted to the size of the coupons base to be gripped by these pliers.

The main closed chain with links 1, equipped with a set of main pliers 5 mounted with a constant pitch on links the main chain 1 is analogous to the description which has been made previously with reference to Figures 1 and 2. The main chain 1 is however driven by motorized pinions 2 indexed, in synchronism with the auxiliary chain 11.

For example, the auxiliary chain 11, which in the installation described is intended to ensure the transport of a basic coupon N consisting of a photosensitive element such as a film or negative paper, consists of a roller chain equipped with 20 clamps 15 mounted at regular intervals of 127 mm corresponding to a constant step of 10 links of a chain with a step of 12.7 mm.

The main chain 1, which in the installation described is intended for ensure the transport of positive basic coupons P of paper or material plastic on which information must be reported personalized, in particular from basic negative coupons N, can be constituted by a roller chain equipped with 60 clamps 5 mounted at regular 127 mm intervals corresponding to one step constant of 10 links in a chain with a pitch of 12.7 mm. It is naturally possible to modify these values according to envisaged applications, and in particular depending on the size of the basic coupons and the number of workstations, as soon as one keeps advances indexed and synchronized in constant steps with temporary stops for processing coupons at the various level personal work places. Note that in the case of card manufacturing with a format of the order of 10 cm x 10 cm, an installation implement two chains 1.11 and the set of workstations which will described with reference to FIG. 21, may include a means of general motorization constituted by a motor-reduction unit - indexer relatively reduced power, for example 0.18 kW. The cost operating a machine such as installation 300 with a single electrical energy can be reduced and correspond to consumption of electrical energy not exceeding 2 to 3 kWh.

The production rate of cards can be for example of around 1200 cards / hour with a compact installation 300 of which all the organs of the different workstations can be mounted on a same chassis 101 constituted for example essentially by a plate vertical with a thickness of about 15 mm and the length and height may be of the order of 1800 mm. The chassis 101 is thus compact and can be mounted if necessary on a mobile frame which allows easy movement of the machine 300.

As will be seen below, even the implementation of several closed circuits for carrying cards and implementing a process photographic card personalization lead to a manufacturing facility 300 whose manufacturing cost is moderate (from made of the moderate cost of the components and their ease integration), whose size is limited and whose production cost per card is reduced even if the installation is suitable for a production of several successive small series of cards of different types. In particular, due to a manufacturing process acting on sections change of production can easily take place without that it is necessary that the reels of strips of material consumables (negative film of negative coupons N, paper or material plastic positive coupons P, plastic films for the laminating, thermal printing ribbons, ...) have been used entirely, which leads to an absence of wastage of these tapes consumables.

In the example of Figure 21, the auxiliary chain equipped with pliers 15 moves in front of a 310 supply station photosensitive negative coupon N, which may have a structure similar to that of supply station 110 already described in reference to figure 1 and allows entry of an individual negative coupon N by pliers 15. The auxiliary chain 11 then passes in front of a station 320 photographic shooting to transfer data personalized, in particular graphic data such as ID photograph, on the photosensitive negative coupon N from of information available in a database. After awareness of a negative coupon N at shooting station 320, this negative coupon N, always carried by a clamp 15 secured to a link of the auxiliary chain 11, is brought to a post 330 of development where the negative coupon N is developed by dipping in an activator or developer bath. Note that the length of the development 330 is adapted to the time required to reveal the negative coupon N. So this development station 330 can be extended if necessary on several steps ahead of the auxiliary chain 11 to keep the negative coupon N in contact with the activator bath for several successive steps in advance of the clamps 15.

The auxiliary chain 11 then arrives at a station 342 of pressure overlay of negative coupon N with base coupon positive P supplied from a coupon supply station 110 positive base P where the positive basic coupons are entered by clamps 5 mounted on the main chain 1.

The main chain 1 moves itself successively in front of post 110 for the supply of a positive basic coupon P (which can be carried out in accordance with the description previously given in reference to Figure 3 but could also include a charger pre-cut basic coupons), the 342 overlay item under pressure of a negative coupon N with a positive basic coupon P (which will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 22 to 24), a station 343 automatic opening of the gripper 15 carrying a coupon negative N in order to release this negative coupon N superimposed on a coupon positive P and a 350 transfer-development zone in which the negative coupon N is held in position by capillary adhesion on the positive coupon P itself transported by pliers 5 of the chain main 1, so that an image transfer is performed photo of the negative coupon N on the positive coupon P. The chain 1 then arrives at a 360 post to withdraw the negative coupon N by mechanized detachment of this negative coupon N compared to the coupon positive P and evacuation of the negative coupon N in a base 361. The chain main 1 then goes past a coupon washing station 370 positive P by soaking in a water bath, a first station 371 spinning through a pair of motorized cylinders, a station 372 of stabilization by soaking in a stabilizing bath, a second station 373 spin through a pair of motorized cylinders and a 380 station for example through a heated and ventilated tunnel. The positive coupon P personalized by the presence of an image photographic, which may only fill a limited area of the positive coupon P, intended for example for an identity photograph, or which can contain all alphanumeric and graphic information necessary for personalization, can then be processed in a way similar to what has been described above with reference to FIG. 2.

By way of example, there is shown in FIG. 21 a station printing device 120 comprising a first printing device 121 on the front of a coupon P and a second printing device 122 on the back of a coupon P, a station 230 for training a case in plastic from stocks 231, 232 of upper and lower bands plastic material, a plasticizing station 240, a station 170 of card cutting, a mat 180 for receiving finished cards can be associated with a stacker, and a skeleton receiving tray 290 consisting of the remnants of coupon P after cutting at the cutting station 170, the opening of the clamp 5 holding this skeleton can be done automatically in front of bin 290 to release this skeleton. This way automatic clamp opening can be achieved simply by generator of a rotating cylinder which raises the bottom plate 56 of the clamp for example at the level of a sprocket for returning the chain 1 to the first workstation 110.

A more specific representation of this is shown in FIG. 21. example of a 343 rotating cylinder generator acting on a part 15 of the secondary chain 11 at a pinion of this chain towards a pinion 13 for guiding the return of the chain to the work station 310. The peripheral part of the rotating cylinder 343 synchronized with the advance of the chain 11 acts on a clamp 15 to open the latter after the step of superimposing the negative coupon N with the positive coupon P for allow training, by a single clamp 5 of the main chain 1, of the positive coupon P to which is superimposed, while slightly overflowing laterally, the negative coupon N.

In FIG. 21, the reference 341 designates a coating roller the front of the positive coupon P in activator product taken for example in the tank used for wetting the negative coupon N in the development 330. The wetting device 341 is located just in upstream of the station 342 at the level of which the chains 1 and 11 become neighbors to allow the superimposition of a positive coupon P and a negative coupon N.

FIG. 29 illustrates the layering of a negative coupon N with a positive receiving coupon P, then the release of the negative coupon N by the clamp 15, the negative coupon N remaining superimposed on the positive coupon P and only the part previously held by the clamp 15 projecting laterally. FIG. 29 then shows the separation of the negative N after transfer of the photographic image to the positive coupon P ₁ , then the combination of a plastic wallet P ₂ and a personalized positive coupon P ₁ for a plasticization operation before cutting a P ₃ card and discarding the residual P ₄ skeleton.

Note that the cost of the films constituting the negative coupons N is generally higher than the cost of the materials constituting the positive coupons P. It is thus possible to use negative coupons N small corresponding to the dimensions necessary for the reproduction of a graphic image such as an identity photograph, and to reproduce by photographic transfer on a positive coupon only this identity photograph occupying only a fraction of the surface of the P positive coupon, and complete the personalization of the P positive coupon on the parts not occupied by photography exclusively by a printing means in a station such as station 120 which can be constituted for example by a thermal or jet type printer ink.

Figures 22 to 24 illustrate an example of station 342 of pressure superimposition of a negative coupon N maintained by a clamp 15 of the auxiliary chain 11 and a positive coupon P maintained by a clamp 5 of the main chain 1 equipped with a motorized pinion 42. This stacking station essentially comprises two cylinders of transfer-press 41,45 superimposed mounted on shafts 41A, 45A respectively.

The shaft 45A is mounted on a bearing box 47 which is set pressure, against the support 46 of the shaft 41A secured to the frame 101 of the machine, by a tension spring 69. The cylinder 41, integral with the pinion 42 forming a motorization socket and a motorization gear 43, is rotated around the fixed shaft 41A on which the cylinder 41 and the gear 43 are mounted by means of bearings 68. The cylinder 45 is itself driven in rotation by its integral shaft 45A a motorization gear 44 in engagement with the gear 43.

The pressure exerted between the two cylinders 41, 45 by the spring 69 is relatively consistent and can cause a slightly offset positioning of the negative coupon N on the positive coupon P. To remedy this, we cause a slight opening between the pressing cylinders 41 and 45, of the order of the thickness of the negative coupon N, when a coupon is introduced negative N. This opening is achieved for example thanks to the setting work of cams 48, 49 mounted on the motorization gears 43, 44 and at least one of which has a spacer boss 64 (FIG. 23). A light 63 is formed on the cam 48 to ensure an adjustment of the angular position. The cycled ratio of the motorized gears 43, 44 allows to synchronize the synchronism of the opening of the rollers 41, 45 with the arrival of a negative coupon N.

Note that a similar device can be used at the level a printer, such as those illustrated in FIGS. 14, 15 and 16, to let a basic coupon enter under the print head 440, 440 'which comes to apply by pressure a thermal printing ribbon on a basic coupon moving on a counter roller 441, 441 '.

After overlapping a negative coupon N and a positive coupon P at workstation 342, and after opening the clamp 15 carrying the negative coupon N, thanks to the action of the cam rotary 343, the negative coupon N transported by the positive coupon P causes in zone 350 the phenomenon of development by transfer from the photographic image of the negative coupon N to the positive coupon P by the process known as DTR (Diffusion Transfer Reversal).

According to the law of development by transfer, it is necessary to maintain the surfaces of the negative and the positive in contact following a straight path with a minimum length. Thanks to the grip using pliers 5 the format consisting of a positive coupon P supporting a negative coupon N, it is possible to make a path in laces of the chain main 1 with several superimposed straight chain sections (Figure 21) and thereby reduce the continuous straight distance which would be necessary such as when superimposing a negative film continuous with a continuous strip of positive material.

At the end of the transfer development, the mechanical detachment of the negative coupon N at item 360 can be realized for example from the as illustrated in Figures 25 to 27, using a set of three small motorized belts 93A, 94A with circular section acting on the edge of the negative coupon N previously clamped in pliers 15 of the chain auxiliary 11 and projecting slightly from the positive coupon P on the side opposite to the clamp 5 for holding the positive coupon P.

Figure 25 shows the path 99 of the links of the main chain 1 carrying pliers (symbolized by a vertical line), separated by one step E, supporting positive coupons P. A pinion 91 for driving the chain 1 serving as motorization socket for a pulley 92 is mounted at using bearings 90A on a shaft 90 secured to the frame 101 of the machine. Pulley 92 has two adjacent grooves having a diameter corresponding to the original diameter of the grippers 5 driven around the pinion 91. The shaft 90 carries on the side opposite to the frame 101, a plate 98 on which are fixed (by means of bearings 98A), a small pulley 93 with two grooves and two small upstream pulleys 95 and downstream 94 at a gorge. A pair of gears 96, 97, coaxial with small pulleys 93, 94 ensures the motorization of the small pulley 94 to from the movement of the small pulley 93 itself driven by the main pulley 92 of large diameter. The different pulleys 92, 93, 94, 95 have grooves for receiving belts 93A, 94A having a circular section whose diameter can be for example of the order of 3 mm. As can be seen in Figure 27, the edge of the negative coupon N is effectively pinched without sliding between the two upper round belts 93A engaged on pulleys 92 and 93 and the lower round belt 94A engaged on pulleys 94 and 95. The coupon negative is then automatically removed by pinching between the three belts 93A, 94A while the positive coupon P which is indented by compared to the pulleys 92, 93, 94, 95, continues its journey with the clamp 5 the along chain 1.

In facilities for manufacturing identification cards according to the invention, the grippers 5, 15 for gripping the coupons or formats C, P, N involved in the card manufacturing process, can be provided with a code, such as a bar code, which allows, by reading the code of each clamp at the level of the different work stations, to locate at any time in the machine, the card being produced. In particular, reading the code of pliers 5, 15 at a customization 120, 320, allows to control during production the applications of personalized identification data and avoids any error even when various personalization data (for example example postponement of identity photograph, printing of the front of a card, printing the back of a card) are inserted on a card different workstations 320, 121, 122 from file different data.

Claims (33)

1. An installation for manufacturing personalized coupons such as identity cards, the installation comprising a set of work stations with at least a feed station (110) for supplying blank coupons (C, P), a personalization station (120) for personalizing blank coupons (C, P), and a cutting-out station (130, 170) for cutting out personalized coupons (C, P), with a system for transporting coupons (C, P) between the various work stations (110, 120, 130, 170), the installation being characterised in that the system for transporting blank coupons (C, P) comprises a carousel having at least one chain (1) driven in indexed manner by motor-driven sprocket wheels (2), and a set of clamps (5) mounted at a constant pitch on links of the chain (1) and co-operating with opening/closing means (37) placed in fixed positions, so that each clamp takes hold of an individual blank coupon (C, P), transports said coupon (C, P) between the various work stations, and releases the blank coupon (C, P) in a station (180) for collecting the finished or semi-finished product as a personalized identity card, each clamp (5) having a pair of jaws (54, 55) for clamping a marginal zone of a blank coupon (C, P) in at least two regions thereof which are spaced apart from each other in the travel direction of the chain (1), and having external abutments (52) secured to one or other of the jaws (54, 55) for laterally positioning the blank coupon (C, P) held between said jaws (54, 55).
2. An installation according to claim 1, characterised in that each clamp (5) has lateral fastenings (51) fastening it to the chain (1), the fastenings being located below the plane in which a coupon (C, P) is held by the jaws (54, 55).
3. An installation according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that each clamp (5) has a central spring (59) disposed between on the one hand, a bottom plate (56) secured to the top jaw (55) and on the other hand, the bottom face of the bottom jaw (54).
4. An installation according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that each clamp (5) has vertical external abutments (52) extending upwards and secured to the bottom jaw (54).
5. An installation according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the width (ℓ) of engagement between the jaws (54, 55) of each clamp (5) lies in the range 3 mm to 5 mm.
6. An installation according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the clamp opening/closing means comprises a mechanical pusher (37) secured to a mechanism (38) of the crank and connecting rod type.
7. An installation according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the clamp opening/closing means comprise an outline of a rotating cylinder (343).
8. An installation according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the feeder station (110) for supplying blank coupons (C, P) comprises a transfer and cutting station for transferring to a clamp (5) a segment of a strip (B) disposed transversely relative to the chain (1), the strip having a succession of segments constituting blank coupons (C, P).
9. An installation according to claim 8, characterised in that the feeder station (110) has support means (32) for supporting a storage reel (30) of said strip (B), a pair of superposed cylinders (33) between which the strip (B) coming from the reel (30) is pinched and which constitute a motor-driven pulling unit, a motor-driven guillotine (34) disposed between the motor-driven puller unit (33) and the path of the clamps (5), and an optical cell (35) for monitoring the arrival of clamps (5) in register with blank coupons (C, P) to be cut off by the guillotine from segments of strip (B) and to be held by the clamps (5) actuated by clamp opening/closing means (36, 37) disposed in the vicinity of the feeder station (110) and synchronized with the indexed advance of the chain (1).
10. An installation according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that it has code marks on each clamp (5) and in that it has at least one station (120) for personalizing the blank coupons (C, P) constituted by a station for individualized printing of at least one face of the blank coupons (C, P) transported by said clamps (5).
11. An installation according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that it comprises a pre-laminating station (230) with top and bottom rolls (60, 70) for supplying strips of plastics material (P₁₁, P₁₂) perpendicularly to the travel direction of the chain (1) to form a folder (P₂) that encloses an insert (87) constituted by a pre-cut-out personalized blank coupon (P₁) held by a clamp (5), and a laminating station (240) acting on the assembly constituted by said folder (P₂) and its insert held by a clamp (5).
12. An installation according to claim 11, characterised in that the pre-laminating station (230) comprises a device for feeding to strips of plastics material (P₁₁, P₁₂) with only a first longitudinal edge of each of the strips (P₁₁, P₁₂) passing via a heating shoe (65) prior to the two strips (P₁₁, P₁₂) being driven through a pair of motor-driven rollers (66) which seal the two strips (P₁₁, P₁₂) together via their first longitudinal edges so as to form a double film that is held open by a spacer (81) prior to receiving said insert (87) and constituting a folder (P₂) after being cut by a device (82, 85) for cutting the double film transversely so as to form a sandwich driven towards a laminating station (240) by the central insert (87) held by a clamp (5).
13. An installation according to claim 11 or claim 12, characterised in that each of the strips of plastics material (P₁₁, P₁₂) is constituted by a film of a base material such as polyester provided with a coating layer compatible with the insert and favouring heat-sealing, such as polyethylene, and in that the top and bottom strips of plastics material (P₁₁, P₁₂) have their coating layers facing each other.
14. An installation according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterised in that it comprises a laminating station having first and second perforated metal bands (528) welded to form endless loops and motor-driven by a set of four cylinders (522, 523) of which two non-opposing cylinders (522) are fitted laterally with sprocket wheels, the first and second metal bands (528) presenting respective parallel path portions in which they hold at least one assembly constituted by said folder (P₂) and its insert held by a clamp (5), said parallel path portions passing successively via heating shoes (541, 542), a pair of laminating cylinders (524, 525), and cooling means (551, 552).
15. An installation according to claim 14, characterised in that the drive members of the laminating station (240) are synchronized with the indexed drive of the main chain (1) for transporting the clamps (5; 515) in such a manner that the perforated metal bands (528) and the chain (1) advance simultaneously and through the same distance.
16. An installation according to claim 15, characterised in that the first and second perforated endless metal bands (528) have loop-closure means (529) of thickness smaller than the thickness of an assembly constituted by a folder (P₂) and its insert, which means are disposed in offset manner on the first and second metal bands (528) so as to be situated in empty gaps between two successive assemblies, each comprising a folder (P₂) and its insert.
17. An installation according to claim 15 or claim 16, characterised in that the pitch of the perforations in the metal bands (528) is identical to the pitch of the links in the chain (1) fitted with the clamps (515).
18. An installation according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterised in that it comprises an auxiliary closed-loop chain (11) driven in indexed manner by motor-driven sprocket wheels (12) and fitted with a set of auxiliary clamps (15) mounted at a constant pitch on links of the auxiliary chain (11), and a main closed-loop chain (11) driven in indexed manner by motor-driven sprocket wheels (2) synchronously with the auxiliary chain (11) and fitted with a set of main clamps (5) mounted at a constant pitch on links of the main chain (1).
19. An installation according to claim 18, characterised in that the auxiliary chain (11) moves successively via a feeder station (310) for supplying photosensitive negative coupons (N), a photographic station (320) for transferring personalization data onto the photosensitive negative coupons (N), a developer station (330) for developing the negative coupons (N) by dipping them in an activator bath, and a superposition station (342) for pressing the negative coupons (N) onto respective positive blank coupons (P) supplied by a feeder station (110) for supplying positive blank coupons (P), and in that clamp opening/closing means (37; 343) are disposed at least at the negative coupon feeder station (310) and the superposition station (342) for pressing negative coupons (N) against respective positive blank coupons (P).
20. An installation according to claim 19, characterised in that the main chain (1) moves successively via at least a feeder station (110) for supplying positive blank coupons (P), a pre-wetting station (341), a superposition station (342) for pressing negative coupons (N) against respective positive blank coupons (P), a transfer and development zone (350) in which the negative coupons (N) are superposed on the positive blank coupons (P) to enable respective images to be transferred from the negative coupons (N) onto the positive blank coupons (P), a removal station (360) for removing the negative coupons (N) by mechanically peeling them off the positive blank coupons (P), a washing station (370) for washing the positive coupons (P) by dipping them in a bath of water, a first drying press station (371), a stabilizing station (372) for dipping the coupons in a stabilizer bath, a second drying press station (373), and a drier station (380).
21. An installation according to claim 19 or claim 20, characterised in that the superposition station (342) for pressing negative coupons (N) against respective positive blank coupons (8) comprises a pair of drive gears (43, 44) fitted with spacer cams (48, 49) and secured to transmission shafts of a pair of pressing and transfer cylinders (41, 45) between which a negative coupon (N) superposed on a positive blank coupon (P) are inserted while held by respective clamps (15, 5) driven by the auxiliary chain (11) and the main chain (1), at least one of said spacer cams (48) being provided with an annular positioning slot (63) and a spacer projection (64).
22. An installation according to any one of claims 19 to 21, characterised in that the station (360) for removing negative coupons (N) by mechanical peeling comprises a set of three motor-driven round belts (93A, 94A) acting on an edge of each negative coupon (N) that was previously clamped in a clamp (15) of the auxiliary chain and that projects a little from the positive coupon (P) from its side remote from the clamp (5) holding the positive coupon (P).
23. An installation according to any one of claims 1 to 22, characterised in that it comprises a print station (120) for printing personalization data on blank coupons by means of a thermal transfer tape supplied transversely relative to the travel direction of the chain (1) transporting the blank coupons, and removed after each blank coupon has been printed, likewise transversely relative to the travel direction of the chain (1) transporting the blank coupons.
24. An installation according to claim 23, characterised in that the print station (120) for printing personalization data comprises a device for unwinding the thermal transfer tape at constant tension from a reel (401), which unwinder device itself comprises a friction support (403 to 406) acting on the reel (401) or its core (402), first and second presser cylinders (412, 413) between which the unreeled thermal transfer tape is inserted, at least one torque generator (415) coupled to one of the shafts of the first and second cylinders (412, 413) and connected to a frame (411) of the unwinder device by an anti-rotation member (417).
25. An installation according to claim 23 or claim 24, characterised in that the printer station (120) for printing personalization data comprises a constant-tension winding device, which device has first and second superposed cylinders (432, 433) pulling the thermal transfer tape after it has gone past a print head (440), at least one torque generator (435) associated with the drive shaft that drives one of the first and second cylinders (432, 433), and a motor and gear box unit (425) for rotating both the torque generator (435) and a core (422) for receiving the tape to be wound into a reel (421) around said core (422) after it has been pulled by passing between said first and second cylinders (432, 433).
26. An installation according to claim 23, characterised in that the printer station (120) for printing personalization data contains a reel (401') storing thermal transfer tape (407') and a reel (421') for receiving thermal transfer tape (427'), the diameters of the reels when full being no greater than about three times their diameters when in the empty state, the storage and reception reels (401', 421') being situated on either side of a print head (440'), in that a torque generator (415') is coupled directly to the support core of the storage reel (401') and is connected to the support frame of said core via an anti-rotation member (417'), and in that a torque generator (435') associated with a drive member (425') is coupled directly to the support core of the reception reel (421').
27. An installation according to any one of claims 1 to 26, characterised in that the blank coupons (C, P) are made of paper or of plastics material.
28. An installation according to any one of claims 1 to 26, characterised in that the blank coupons (C, P) are in the form of plates.
29. A method of manufacturing a run of personalized coupons such as identity cards, the method comprising at least a step of supplying blank coupons (C, P) to a first work station (110), a step of personalizing the blank coupons (C, P) in a second work station (120), and a step of cutting out personalized coupons (C, P) in a third work station (130, 170), the blank coupons being transported from one work station to another in succession, the method being characterised in that the blank coupons (C, P) are transported from one work station to another individually by means of clamps (5) mounted at a constant pitch on links of a chain (1) driven in indexed manner round a closed circuit, and in that each clamped and transported blank coupon (C, P) is held along one of its marginal zones, at least in two regions thereof, which regions are spaced apart from each other in the travel direction of the chain, while nevertheless both co-operating with the same clamp (5).
30. A method according to claim 29, characterised in that the step of supplying blank coupons (C, P) comprises, level with a clamp (5) brought to a feeder station (110), transferring and cutting off a segment of strip (B) placed transversely relative to the chain (1) and having a succession of segments constituting blank coupons (C, P).
31. A method according to claim 29 or claim 30, characterised in that the step of personalizing a blank coupon (C, P) comprises unwinding a thermal transfer tape (407; 407') at constant tension from a storage reel (401; 401') and bringing it into register with a print head (440; 440'), transferring personalization data by printing with the print head (440; 440') on a blank coupon (C, P) superposed with the thermal transfer tape, and removing the thermal transfer tape (427; 427') by pulling it at constant tension prior to winding it onto a reception reel (421, 421').
32. A method according to any one of claims 29 to 31, characterised in that it includes a step of laminating a coupon (C, P) and in that prior to the laminating step, each blank coupon (C, P) held by a clamp (5) is inserted into a folder constituted by a doubled film assembly made from two segments of plastics material strip (P₁₁, P₁₂) fed perpendicularly to the travel direction of the chain (1) and sealed together along a single longitudinal edge thereof, which edge is situated in front of the corresponding coupon (C, P) in the travel direction of the coupon.
33. A method according to any one of claims 29 to 32, characterised in that it includes a step of forming and transporting negative coupons (N) each held in a marginal zone at at least two regions thereof that are spaced apart from each other in the travel direction of a closed loop auxiliary chain (11) by means of a clamp (15) transported by the indexed-advance auxiliary chain (11), a step of forming and transporting positive blank coupons (P) each held in a marginal zone at at least two regions thereof that are spaced apart from each other in the travel direction of the closed loop main chain (1) by means of a clamp (5) transported by the indexed-advance main chain (1), a step of superposing a negative coupon (N) and a positive blank coupon (P) and of pressing them together, a step of transporting a superposed positive coupon (P) and negative coupon (N) by means of the single clamp (5) transported by the main chain (1), a step of removing the negative coupon (N) by mechanically unpeeling it, and a step of transporting and treating the positive coupon (P) on its own by means of the clamp (5) transported by the main chain (1).

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