EP3509865A1

EP3509865A1 - Compact collating device for creating a material sheet booklet

Info

Publication number: EP3509865A1
Application number: EP17772328.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Steffen Baudach; Christoph Von Czapiewski; Alexander GÖDECKE; Roland HERES; Alexander Straub
Original assignee: Bundesdruckerei GmbH
Current assignee: Bundesdruckerei GmbH
Priority date: 2016-09-07
Filing date: 2017-09-07
Publication date: 2019-07-17
Anticipated expiration: 2037-09-07
Also published as: DE102016217043B4; WO2018046626A1; PL3509865T3; DE102016217043A1; EP3509865B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a collating device (100, 100') for collating material sheets (112) and creating a material sheet booklet (500) for a document type selected from a plurality of different types of identification document, value document or security document, wherein the material sheet booklet (500) to be created comprises the collated material sheets (112) in a document-type-specific order. The collating device (100, 100') comprises: supply stations (102, 102'), which each keep material sheets (112) of a uniform material sheet type available in a supply cartridge (116, 116'), have a material sheet carrier (108) with a support surface (110) for providing an individual sheet of the material sheets (112), and are arranged along a first curved path (152) around a vertical curve axis (154); a material sheet pickup device (118) for collecting the material sheets (112) for the material sheet booklet (500) to be created, wherein the material sheet pickup device (118) is configured to pick up, at the individual supply stations (102, 102') in the document-type-specific order, each material sheet from the support surface (110) of the respective material sheet carrier (108), wherein the material sheet pickup device (118) comprises a fixing device (128), wherein the orientation of the material sheet (112) to be picked up relative to the material sheet picked up immediately beforehand is defined and the document-type-specific material sheet booklet (500) is created successively.

Description

Compact gathering device for creating a material sheet booklet

Description

The invention relates to a device for collating material sheets and creating a material sheet booklet for a document type, in particular for one of a plurality of different identity card, value or security document types selected document type. The invention further relates to a method for gathering corresponding material sheets and creating a corresponding material sheet booklet.

Documents in the form of identity, value or security documents, such as a passport, passport or credit card, typically include a 16003273 / MS / BEC / BEC Document body, which is a composite body made of a plurality of sheets of material or which comprises such. The choice of the materials used here, the formats, the structures, the number and / or the sequence of the material sheets used depends on the type of document for which the document body is intended. Thus, in the production of a passport, value or security document, there is a need to assemble a plurality of material sheets of different types in accordance with a selection and order specific to the particular document.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a gathering device for gathering material sheets and creating a material sheet staple, and a corresponding method for collating the material sheets and creating the material sheet, which are both efficient and flexible with regard to the document types to be created.

The objects underlying the invention are achieved by the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claim.

Embodiments relate to a collator for collating sheets of material and creating a sheet of material for a document type selected from a plurality of different badge, value or security document types, wherein the sheet of material to be created comprises the composite sheets of material in a document type specific order.

The collating apparatus comprises: supply stations each holding material sheets of a uniform type of material sheet in a supply cassette, having a sheet support with a support surface for providing a single one of the sheets of material and arranged along a first curved path about a vertical axis of curvature. A dispensing device, which is configured to distribute at the supply stations in each case the individual of the material sheets from the supply cassette on the support surface of the respective sheet-metal carrier.

A material sheet receiving device for collecting the material sheets for the material sheet booklet to be created, wherein the material sheet receiving device is configured to record in the document type specific order at the individual storage stations of the document type specific order respectively the material sheet from the storage surface of the respective material sheet carrier. The material sheet receiving device comprises a fixing device, which is configured to fix at the storage stations in each case the material sheet to be recorded thereon of the material sheet receiving device according to the document type specific order immediately recorded material sheet, so that the relative orientation of the material sheet to be recorded compared to the immediately recorded material sheet set and successively the document type-specific material sheet is created.

A curved path is understood below to mean a path which is defined by a simple, i. no cut-point, closed curve is given. In particular, a curved path means a path running along a smooth curve. The curve may extend in a Euclidean plane. A curved track is understood in particular to mean a circular or elliptical track.

An arrangement of the storage stations along a curved path, in particular a circular path, could allow a particularly space-saving arrangement of a plurality of supply stations. This is particularly advantageous for the installation of a corresponding collating device in a limited spatial arrangement in confined spaces. In addition, this allows an efficient transport of the device, for example in a container, without having to disassemble them into their expensive parts. A curve axis, hereinafter also referred to as the center axis of the curved path, is understood to mean a vertical, ie vertical, axis through the geometric center of gravity of the area enclosed by the curved path. In this case, a vertical axis is understood to mean a straight line extending in the perpendicular direction, ie, parallel to a plumb line, when the collating device is ready for operation and ready for operation on a flat, horizontal surface. By way of example, the collating device comprises a central carrier unit, the shape of which substantially corresponds to a vertical cylinder, in particular a circular cylinder, an elliptical cylinder or a cylinder based on a regular polygon, standing on its base. The storage stations are arranged along the circumference of the cylinder and the central axis corresponds to the central longitudinal axis of the central carrier unit. The document type-specific material booklet to be created comprises all or at least part of the material sheets that make up a document body of the selected document type. In particular, the material sheet booklet includes the material sheets in a document type specific order. As materials of the material sheets, for example paper, cardboard or plastics such as metal foils can be used. A sheet of material may also include combinations of these materials.

By way of example, the document body may be a card body if the identification, value or security document is a card-shaped document. The document body may also be a body that is part of a passport, value or security document. For example, it may be a data card which is part of a book-type identity card, value or security document, for example a passport. On such a data card, for example, personal and / or document-specific information such as a passport photograph, name, address of the user or a house number are applied, especially in machine-readable form. The material sheet booklet can in particular comprise a material sheet with a chip which is configured to store personal and / or document type-specific information. The chip can have a secure memory area in which personal and / or document type-specific data is stored.

In the following, a "document of identification, value or security" is understood to mean a paper-based and / or plastic-based document on which person-specific and / or document-type-specific information is optically and / or electronically readable, which identifies the user or documents, in particular passports, ID cards, visas and driving licenses, vehicle registration documents, vehicle registration documents, company ID cards, health cards or other ID cards.

Documents as well as chip cards, means of payment, in particular bank cards, credit cards, bills of lading or other credentials. Value documents may in particular also be bills or vouchers. Likewise, a document may, for example, be an access card.

The sheet of material may in particular be provided for the production of a data card, i. a paper- or plastic-based card, which is arranged in a book block of a passport, value or security document and on which person-specific and / or document-specific information is optically readably applied, which identifies the user or the document, for example for the release of certain services or functions.

Embodiments may have the advantage of providing a device that allows efficient collection of a document type specific selection of material sheets in a document type specific order. In particular, they can make it possible to issue a first type of document from a plurality of different ID, value or security document types. and, after creating a material sheet for the first document type, choose to flexibly switch to a material sheet and create a material sheet for a second document type. The stock stations could make it possible to provide different types of material sheets. From the plurality of material sheet types provided, the sheets of material needed for the selected document type can be collected by a sheet metal take-up device in the document type specific order. If multiple material sheets of the same type of material sheet are required for a selected document type, according to one embodiment, material sheets are collected several times from the same supply station according to the document type-specific order. According to another embodiment, the corresponding material sheets are collected in the document type specific order from different stock stations, which are stocked with material sheets of the same type of material sheet.

According to embodiments, the sheet picker is configured to move in the document type specific order to the individual stock stations of the document type specific order, ie the stock stations included in the document type specific selection. The respective supply station of this selection, to which the material sheet receiving device moves, respectively provides the material sheet type currently required according to the document type specific order. If several supply stations provide material sheets of the same type of material sheet, the path followed by the material sheet receiving device when collecting the material sheets may be subject to an additional optimization criterion in addition to the criterion of collecting the required material sheets according to the document type-specific order. A corresponding optimization criterion can be, for example, the criterion of the shortest path to be covered or the shortest time required. Another criterion may be that the supply stations operate evenly or with a lower different weighting, for example, according to a predetermined order, be emptied.

According to embodiments, the storage stations comprise storage cassettes in which the material sheets are arranged. In this case, each storage station can be assigned a fixed type of material sheet, so that a certain supply station always provides the same type of material sheet. If the stock of material sheets is partially or completely used up, this is filled up by material sheets of the same type of material sheet. The assignment of the material sheet types to the storage stations can follow a predefined pattern. This pattern is based, for example, on the fact that the supply stations are arranged in a row according to the document type-specific order. In this case, it is advantageous if material sheet types, which are required several times in the document type-specific order, are provided by a corresponding plurality of supply stations with the same type of material sheet.

According to embodiments, material sheet type stock stations are provided for producing sheet material for different identity, value or security documents. In these embodiments, the arrangement of the supply stations can advantageously be chosen such that, averaged over the plurality of identity, value or security documents, the shortest path for collecting the material sheets according to the different document-specific orders is required. Alternatively, the criterion can be chosen that, on average, the shortest time is required for collection. Furthermore, alternatively, different types of documents may be weighted differently. For example, document types that are or will be made more frequently are assigned a larger weighting factor than document types that are created less frequently. According to embodiments, the gathering device comprises a central one

Control device comprising, for example, a microprocessor and a memory with program instructions for controlling the collating device. If a selection of a document type to be created is received by the central control device, it can control the movement pattern of the sheet-metal receiving device by executing the program instructions, for example. This can be done, for example, on the basis of a predetermined movement pattern stored in a table, to which the central control device has access.

According to embodiments, the movement pattern is dynamically calculated by the microprocessor on the basis of a document type-specific order for the document type to be created, as well as an assembly overview which contains information about which supply station is equipped with material sheets of which material-sheet type. The corresponding document type-specific order and the corresponding assembly overview can be stored, for example, in a table to which the central control device has access.

If the assembly of the individual supply stations with material sheet types does not take place in a predetermined stocking pattern, the collating apparatus has a reading device for reading material sheet type identifiers which identify the type of material sheet contained in the supply cassette. For example, one of the supply stations has a reading device. If this supply station or an associated supply cassette is equipped with new material sheets, an associated material sheet type identifier is read and reported to the central control device, which identifies the material sheet type of the newly introduced material sheets based on the message.

The material sheet type identifier can be implemented, for example, in the form of an ID number, a bar code, a QR code, any other geometric and / or pictographic and / or alphanumeric code or as color code, which are visually detectable, for example. Furthermore, the material sheet type identifier can be implemented in the form of an RFID transponder. According to embodiments, the supply cassettes each have a material type identifier identifying the type of sheet contained in the supply cassette. According to embodiments, a new supply cassette is introduced with a new type Matenalbogentypidentifikator when a supply station. This Matenalbogentypidentifikator is read for example by a reading device of the storage station during insertion of the supply cassette and reported to the central device. For example, a reading device can be assigned to a storage station in each case. According to embodiments, each of the supply stations comprises a corresponding reading device.

In addition, the material sheet type identifiers may include information about the number of sheets of material contained in the supply cassette. The current number of sheets of material in a supply cassette can be monitored by a sheet counter, which records the number of consumed sheets of material. A corresponding material sheet counter can be implemented, for example, as a module on the supply cassettes, on the supply stations or in the central control device.

Fixing the relative orientation of the material sheets in the Matenalbogenheft can have the advantage that the error susceptibility of the subsequent processing, for example, by slipping of the material sheets, unfolding or falling apart of the material sheet stitching is reduced. In addition, this increases the handling of the material sheet booklet and thus allows more efficient further processing, for example by increasing the transport speed or the need to eliminate the need to provide additional securing elements for securing the sheet alignment and / or the material sheet. Particularly advantageous are fixing methods, such as ultrasonic welding, in which no additional material or no additional elements are introduced into the Matenalbogenheft. The Matenalbogenheft thus remains easily weiterbearbeitbar without the corresponding additional material or corresponding additional elements would have to be taken into account or a removal of the same at a later date is necessary. Embodiments may have the advantage that they allow an efficient fixation, in particular by ultrasonic welding. According to embodiments, the sheet picker is configured to move in the document type specific order to the individual stock stations.

According to embodiments, the collating device has a substantially cylindrical configuration. Here, the collating device comprises a central to a central longitudinal axis rotationally symmetrical support unit, around which the supply stations are arranged along the curved path. The first curved path runs around the central longitudinal axis of the cylindrical carrier unit, i. the curve axis is given by the central longitudinal axis. In this case, the dispensing device and the material sheet receiving device are arranged to be movable along the curved path.

According to embodiments, the material sheet receiving device moves at least partially along the first curved path.

According to embodiments, the supply stations are arranged along a part of the first curved path, for example along one half of the curved path. Thus, one half of the central carrier unit is provided with supply stations. The opposite half can for example be provided with stations for further processing of the created material sheet booklet.

Embodiments may have the advantage that the material sheet receiving device can be used to transport the successively produced material sheet stitching from supply station to supply station. At the same time, further processing of the material sheet material created at further processing stations, which are arranged for the further processing of the material sheet stitching along the remaining part of the curved path, is not impaired. According to embodiments, the material sheet receiving device moves along the complete first curved path. Embodiments may have the advantage that storage stations are arranged throughout the curved path, so that a plurality of storage platforms with material sheet types can be provided for producing a plurality of different identity, value or security documents in a compact form. According to embodiments, the dispensing device is configured to distribute the individual sheets of material at the supply stations in the document type-specific order to the shelves of the respective sheet carriers.

Embodiments may have the advantage that the material sheets are only distributed when they are needed, while they are otherwise stored protected against environmental influences in the supply cassette.

According to embodiments, the sheet of material to be created comprises at least two sheets of material of the same sheet type, the tray being configured to distribute at least twice a sheet of material from the corresponding supply cassette at one of the supply stations comprising a supply cassette with sheets of material of the corresponding sheet type, and wherein the Material sheet receiving device is configured to receive at the corresponding storage station at least twice a sheet of material.

According to embodiments, the dispensing apparatus is configured to move in the document type-specific order to the individual stock stations.

Embodiments may have the advantage that a mechanically simpler and thus less error-prone design of the supply stations is made possible. According to embodiments, the movement of the dispensing device is controlled by the central control device, which also controls the movements of the material sheet. control device. According to embodiments, the central control device controls the movement of the dispensing device according to the same criteria as the movement of the material sheet receiving device. Embodiments may have the advantage that the number of supply stations can be reduced and the collating device can therefore be made more compact.

According to embodiments, the dispensing apparatus precedes the sheet-receiving apparatus in the document-type-specific order and distributes sheets of material at the stock stations according to the document-type-specific order, which sheets are subsequently picked up by the sheet-receiving apparatus. According to embodiments, the control of the movements of the dispensing device and the material sheet receiving device along the curved path is carried out according to an optimized movement pattern, which has been optimized based on, for example, the shortest path criterion or the shortest time for collecting the material sheets according to the document type specific order. Thus, it may happen, for example, that the dispensing device, after having dispensed a material sheet at a supply station, moves away from the material sheet pick-up device in a direction along the curved path to the next supply station according to the document type-specific order. The material sheet receiving device may then, after having picked up the sheet of material dispensed by the dispensing device, move in the opposite direction along the curved path to the next supply station according to the document type specific order.

This can be advantageous, for example, if the dispensing device has to reverse its direction of movement in order to arrive at the next-to-last storage station according to the document type-specific sequence. If the material sheet receiving device of the dispensing device in this situation were in the same feed followed instead of moving in the opposite direction, the dispensing device would have to move at the next supply station in a direction which leads away from the next storey storage station to first provide the subsequent Matenalbogenaufnahmeaufurntung space for receiving the material sheet issued by her. Subsequently, the material sheet receiving device would have to move back to give the dispensing device space, so that they can move to the next but one supply station and there can hand out a material sheet. Thereafter, the dispensing device would have to move back again to allow the material sheet picking device to pick up the sheet of material dispensed by it at the next but one stocking station. Embodiments may avoid such complications by controlling the movements of the dispensing device and the material sheet pick-up device to move in opposite directions along the cam path to a next supply station according to the document type-specific order, and / or by the dispensing device and the material sheet receiving device are configured to be able to move past each other.

According to embodiments, the material sheet booklet to be produced comprises at least two material sheets of the same type of material sheet, wherein the material sheet receiving device is configured to collect the two material sheets from two different supply stations, each of which is populated with the same type of material sheet. Embodiments may have the advantage that the movement path of the material sheet receiving device can be made more flexible during the collection of the material sheets, as a result of which the path traveled can be reduced or the number required for the collation can be reduced and / or optimized. According to embodiments, at least one of the supply cassettes is equipped with individual material sheets in the form of a stack. According to embodiments, the dispensing device moves at least partially along the first curved path.

According to embodiments, the dispensing device moves fully along the first curved path.

According to embodiments, the material sheet receiving device and the dispensing device are arranged offset relative to one another in the axial direction relative to the curve axis or central axis, so that they can move past one another along the first curved path.

According to embodiments, the material sheet receiving device and the dispensing device are arranged offset relative to one another in the radial direction relative to the central axis, so that they can move past one another along the first curved path.

Embodiments may have the advantage that the material sheet receiving device and the dispensing device can move past one another in a correspondingly offset arrangement, for example in the axial and / or radial direction. Thus, a particularly fast and efficient movement pattern for receiving the material sheets according to the document type-specific order could be realized, since neither the sheet-receiving device nor the dispensing device would have to perform superfluous movements to allow the other device access to a storage station.

According to embodiments, the dispensing device has a radially outward relative to the central axis movable outward receiving element for receiving the sheets of material from the supply cassette and depositing on the shelves of the respective material sheet carrier.

Embodiments may have the advantage that the storage stations are arranged radially outward relative to the central axis, ie, curve axis, while the Storage surfaces are arranged radially inboard. This could allow for direct access of the sheet pickup device to the provided sheets of material. In this case, the material sheet receiving device, which also includes the fixing device for fixing the material sheet to be picked up, can be designed to be simpler mechanically and thus less susceptible to errors during use. The dispensing device could make it possible to distribute the sheets of material from the supply cassette efficiently to the associated storage surface.

According to embodiments, the dispensing device has a carrier element extending outward in the radial direction relative to the central axis for carrying the receiving element, wherein the carrier element is movable in the axial direction relative to the central axis so that the dispensing device and the material sheet receiving device move past each other along the first curved path can.

Embodiments may have the advantage that the dispensing device on the one hand can easily reach the material sheets provided in the storage cassettes, but on the other hand can ensure the method of the carrier element with the receiving element for receiving the material sheets in the axial direction relative to the central axis, that the dispensing device along the Curve track can move past the material sheet receiving device, even if the paths of the two devices intersect.

According to embodiments, the dispensing device comprises a plurality of individual dispensing devices, which are each arranged stationarily at one of the supply stations.

Embodiments may have the advantage that the dispensing devices are arranged stationary and thus no mechanism for moving the Austeilvorrich- device is necessary. Consequently, the collating device can be made mechanically simple and thus less error-prone with regard to the moving elements. In particular, this can avoid Flushing or even obstruction of the movement pattern of the material sheet receiving device comes. Consequently, the calculation and / or the determination of the movement pattern of the material sheet receiving device are also simplified, since no movement patterns of the delivery device have to be taken into account.

According to embodiments, at least one of the supply cassettes is in each case equipped with a plurality of individual material sheets of a uniform type of material sheet in the form of a stack. Embodiments may have the advantage that the material sheets can be directly collected without additional processing step, as they are kept in stock.

According to embodiments, at least one of the supply cassettes is equipped with material webs in the form of a roll of tape and the dispensing device is configured to unroll the strip roll during dispensing and to separate a single dispensable material sheet.

Embodiments may have the advantage that they allow a simple removal mechanism by unwinding and a large number of sheets of material can be provided by the roll of tape in a compact manner.

According to embodiments, the material sheet receiving device is configured to arrange at the supply stations each in accordance with the document type specific order immediately recorded previously material sheet on the material sheet to be recorded.

According to embodiments, the material sheets for the material sheet to be created have an identical format, and the material sheet receiving device is configured to arrange the material sheet recorded immediately according to the document type-specific order on the material sheet so as to completely cover the material sheet to be picked up. Embodiments may have the advantage that successive sheets of material lie exactly on one another with their edges. The resulting material booklet has an exact format, which facilitates further automated handling of the material sheet, as it prevents the risk of obstruction or even damage caused by sections of material protruding beyond the format. The further processing devices for creating the corresponding badge, value or security document can thus be optimized for the corresponding exact format. In addition, it can be ensured by an exact alignment of the edges of the material sheets to each other that internal structures of the material sheets are exactly aligned with each other.

According to embodiments, the material sheet receiving device comprises a suction device for receiving a sheet of material by suction.

Embodiments may have the advantage that by suction on the one hand a secure recording of the material sheets is made possible, which on the other hand protects the material sheets and reduces the risk of mechanical damage. According to embodiments, the dispensing device has a suction device for receiving a sheet of material by suction.

Embodiments may have the advantage that by suction on the one hand a secure recording of the material sheets is made possible, which on the other hand protects the material sheets and reduces the risk of mechanical damage.

According to embodiments, the fixing device comprises an ultrasonic sonotrode for fixing the material sheets by means of ultrasonic welding. Embodiments may have the advantage that they provide an efficient and secure fixation possibility, in which no additional elements in The material sheet booklet are introduced and the material sheet booklet as such receives without additional fixing elements resistance.

In ultrasonic welding, the sheets of material are subjected to ultrasound and joined together by the resulting internal friction in the joining zone. For this purpose, an ultrasonic welder, consisting of a generator, a transducer or converter and a sonotrode, used. The generator generates an electrical alternating voltage, which is converted by the sound transducer into a mechanical vibration. The transducer in turn conducts the high frequency mechanical vibrations, i. Ultrasound, in the sonotrode connected to it and puts them in resonance vibrations in the ultrasonic range. Frequently, a transformation piece or booster is arranged between transducer and sonotrode, which arrives from the sound transducer

Transformed vibration amplitude and this enlarged on the sonotrode passes. The magnitude of the resulting oscillation amplitude is influenced by the output amplitude provided by the transducer and the respective gain by the transformation piece as well as the sonotrode itself.

The sonotrode, which is put into an ultrasonic vibration, then transmits the ultrasonic vibration under pressure to one of the two sheets of material to be joined. If the material sheets to be joined come into contact with one another between the two material sheets, in the so-called joining or welding zone, they cause an interface friction and thus local heating of the boundary surfaces. If the heating is so great that the interfaces melt, the two sheets of material will be welded together. Through the sonotrode, the two sheets of material are pressed together during welding. Ultrasonic welding allows the creation of a welded joint with a short welding time, as the welding energy is limited to almost the joining zone. This allows accurate welding without affecting other areas of the material sheet. If the presence of one or more ultrasonic sonotrodes is described below, it is understood that the respective sonotrodes are provided by corresponding ultrasonic tools which, for the intended use of the sonotrode, also comprise at least one generator and sound transducer, optionally also a transformation piece.

According to embodiments, the fixing device has a plurality of ultrasonic sonotrodes. Embodiments may have the advantage that the material sheet booklet is ultrasonically welded by the plurality of ultrasonic sonotrodes, which are spatially spaced from each other, at several correspondingly spatially distributed locations. As a result, the risk of slippage and / or unfolding of the material sheets can be efficiently reduced.

According to embodiments, the ultrasound sonotrodes are arranged in the edge region of the material sheet to be picked up, so that the ultrasonic welding of the material arches takes place in each case in the edge region. According to embodiments, the material sheets have a rectangular format, wherein in each of the four corner regions of the rectangular format each one of the ultrasonic sonotrodes is arranged, so that the ultrasonic welding of the material sheets takes place respectively in the corner regions. Embodiments may have the advantage of enabling secure fixation of the sheets of material, the central portion of the sheet of material being generally used as a so-called benefit for creating the document body or bodies for the selected type of document being neither affected nor impaired by the fixation.

According to embodiments, the storage surfaces each have one or more passage openings for at least partially performing one of the ultrasonic sound sonotrodes so that the respective ultrasonic sonotrode can come into contact with the material sheet to be fixed.

Embodiments may have the advantage that a simple and secure fixation of the material sheets by means of ultrasound is made possible. In particular, these allow a laying out of the material sheet to be fixed on the corresponding shelf. The material sheet to be fixed is held in place by gravity. In addition, the vertical height at which the ultrasound sonotrodes come into contact with the material sheet to be welded always remains the same, irrespective of the number of sheets of material collected up to this time or the current height of the material sheet booklet. This allows efficient positioning of the sonotrode and control of the contact pressure. The most commonly adjustable parameters in ultrasonic welding are

Welding time, the energy to be introduced and the contact pressure of the sonotrode on the welded part. In the present case, therefore, no sensor for detecting the height of the material sheet is necessary to optimally adjust the contact pressure. The contact pressure can rather be set to a constant value.

According to embodiments, the collating apparatus further comprises a personalization device associated with one of the supply stations and configured to personalize the individual of the material sheets prior to providing on the support surface of the material sheet carrier of the corresponding supply station. Embodiments may have the advantage that personalized material sheets can also be incorporated when creating the material sheet book. These can be created, for example, by a corresponding printer, for example a cardjet printer, and / or by a hologram exposure device, individually for the document (s) to be created. For example, a personalized material sheet is a sheet of material with a photograph of the future holder of the identity, value or security document to be created from the material booklet. According to embodiments, the collapse support apparatus includes stocker stations with material sheet types for each document type of the plurality of different badge, value or security document types.

Embodiments may have the advantage of parallelizing the creation of a plurality of badge, value, or security documents of a selected document type, thereby increasing the speed of creation. In addition, a uniform processing format can be selected for the material sheets for which the collating device is optimized. If you want to create a spreadsheet for a document type whose format is smaller than the edit size, you can select one-size-fits-all spreadsheets that include one or more sections for one or more smaller-format document type documents.

According to embodiments of the document type-specific sequence further supply stations of the collating device comprises, which are arranged along a second curved path about the central axis, wherein the second curved path is in a plane parallel to the plane of the first curved path.

Embodiments may have the advantage that they allow a spatially compact arrangement of a plurality of supply stations, in particular on several levels one above the other. According to embodiments, at least the material sheet receiving device and / or the dispensing device can be moved in the axial direction relative to the central axis between the two planes.

Embodiments may have the advantage that can be used in the material sheet receiving device and / or dispensing device for collecting and / or distributing sheets of material on both levels. This could be make it possible to provide a larger number of different types of material sheets in a smaller area.

Embodiments further relate to a method of collating material sheets and creating a sheet of material for a document type selected from a plurality of different types of identification, value or security documents, wherein the sheet of material to be created comprises the collated sheets of material in a document type specific order. The method comprises: providing material sheets for a plurality of different types of identification, value or security documents by means of stocking stations, each stocking a sheet of a uniform type of material sheet in a supply cassette, having a sheet support with a shelf for providing a single one of the sheets of material and on a first curved path are arranged around a vertical axis of the curve.

Distributing the material sheets for the material sheet booklet to be created by means of a dispensing device which is configured to distribute the individual of the material sheets from the supply cassettes to the storage surface of the respective material sheet carrier at the individual supply stations.

Collecting the material sheets for the material sheet booklet to be created in the document type-specific order from the storage surfaces of the respective material sheet carriers by means of a material sheet receiving device comprising a fixing device at the individual supply stations of the document type-specific order. The respective material sheet to be recorded is recorded by the material sheet receiving device by the material sheet to be recorded by means of the fixing device according to the document type specific order immediately recorded material sheet is fixed so that the orientation of the recorded material sheet is set relative to the immediately recorded material sheet and successively the document type specific material sheet booklet is created. Embodiments may, individually or in combination with one another, comprise all method steps which are carried out by the above-described embodiments of the collating apparatus in operation.

Embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1 shows schematic views of a first exemplary collating device,

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view from above of the gathering device from FIG. 1, FIG. 3 shows schematic views of exemplary material sheets,

4 shows schematic views of an exemplary material sheet book,

FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of an exemplary dispensing device,

FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of an exemplary material sheet receiving device,

Figure 7 is a schematic view of an exemplary supply cassette with

Shelf from below,

FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of an exemplary ultrasonic tool,

FIG. 9 shows a schematic view of a second exemplary collating device, FIG. 10 shows schematic views of an exemplary supply cassette with storage surface and dispensing device and

Figure 1 1 is a schematic view of an exemplary dispensing device.

Hereinafter, similar elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1A shows a collating device 100, which has a plurality of storage stations 102. Each of the storage stations 102 shown comprises in each case a supply cassette 16, in which individual material sheets 12 of a uniform type of material sheet are arranged. In addition, the supply station 102 in each case has a material web support 108 with a flat, rectangular storage surface 110. The supply stations 102 are arranged along a cam track 152, which corresponds to the circumference 146 of a central carrier unit 148 of the collating device 100, in which the individual elements of the collating device 100 are arranged. The elements encompassed by the collating device 100 are aligned radially on a central longitudinal axis of the central carrier unit 148 such that the material web carriers 108 are arranged radially inward, while the supply cassettes 16 are arranged radially outward. In addition, FIG. 1A shows a dispensing device 14 and a material sheet receiving device 118. Both devices 1 14, 1 18 are movable on the cam track 152 along the circular periphery 146 of the central support unit 148 in both directions. Figure 1A shows the dispensing device 1 14 when receiving a sheet of material 1 12 from a supply cassette 1 16. For this purpose, an elongated, extendable in the radial direction support member 606 is extended so that a movable in the axial direction downwards receiving element 604 the top, in the supply cassette 1 16 stockpile material sheet 1 12 by four intake ports 602 can accommodate.

In Figure 1 B, the receiving element 604 in the axial direction and the support member 606 in the radial direction in their original positions method back, wherein arranged the receiving element 604 on the shelf 1 10 and the recorded material sheet 1 12 is stored there.

In FIG. 1C, the situation is shown that the dispensing device 14 has been moved further along the cam track 152 and the material sheet receiving device 118 of the dispensing device 14 has followed the supply station 102 at which the material sheet 12 has been dispensed. The material sheet receiving device 14 comprises a receiving element 150 which can be moved in the axial direction and which is lowered onto the divided material sheet 1 12 until the material sheet last collected according to the document type-specific sequence rests on the divided sheet of material 12. In addition, the material sheet receiving device 1 18 includes a fixing device 128 with four ultrasonic welding tools 130, each comprising an ultrasonic sonotrode. The ultrasound sonotrodes are moved axially upwards, so that they each pass through one of the through openings 132 in the depositing surface 110, on which the material sheet 1 12 rests, and pass into contact with the material sheet 12. As a result, the male material sheet 1 12 and the last recorded material sheet are melted in the areas of the ultrasonic sonotrodes and thereby welded together. Now, if the receiving element 150 axially back up to its original position, so the ultra-welded with the material sheet booklet material sheet 1 12 mitaufgenommen.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the collating device 100 of FIGS. 1 in a view at the top. The supply stations 102 are arranged along the curved path 152 around the central carrier unit 148 of the collating device 100 with the central longitudinal axis 154. In this case, the material web carrier 108 opposite the supply cassette 1 16 is arranged in each case radially inwardly. The material sheet receiving device 1 18 and the dispensing device 1 14 are movable along a curved path 152 around the circumference 146 of the central carrier unit 148 of the collating device 100 to each of the provided supply station 102. The movements of the material sheet receiving device 1 18 and the Parting device 1 14 and the collation of material sheets 1 12 and the preparation of a sheet of material by these two devices 1 18, 1 14 are controlled by a central control unit 134, which is connected to the collator 100 via a communication link. The corresponding communication link may be both a cable connection and a wireless connection. The central controller 134, according to one embodiment, is part of the central carrier unit 148.

Figure 3A shows a first exemplary material sheet 1 12, which is provided for the preparation of a material sheet booklet for a single passport, value or security document. The dashed central area 202 includes structures 204 which are intended to become part of the document body for the corresponding badge, value or security document. The region 202 is also commonly referred to as a benefit. The material sheet booklet has sheets of material 1 12 different types of material sheet with different structures 204, from which result in the sum of the structures of the document body to be created. In particular, these structures 204 may also comprise electronic components, such as a chip, an antenna, a display, an input device and / or sensors, or form them in combination with one another.

Figure 3B shows a second embodiment of a sheet of material 12 whose utility comprises two spaced-apart areas 202 with structures 204 for creating two document bodies for two identity, value or security documents of the same type of document.

According to embodiments, sheets of material may include benefits for any number of documents of the same document type. This has the advantage that the creation of material sheets for several identity, value or security documents can be parallelized. Thus, the efficiency and in particular the speed of collation and creation can be increased. the. In this case, the mechanics of the collating device 100 for producing a single sheet of material for the parallelization already suffice.

FIG. 4A shows a material sheet booklet 500, which comprises a plurality of sheets of material 1 12, which are each firmly welded by ultrasonic welding in the region of the joining zone 502 to the material sheet following the document type-specific sequence. Firmly welded means that the material sheets can not be separated from each other without destroying them. The corresponding material sheet booklet 500 results from the gathering and setting process carried out by the gathering devices 100, 100 'according to FIGS. 1 and 3.

FIG. 4B shows a view of the material sheet 500 perpendicular to the top. In each of the corner areas there is a joining zone 502 of the ultrasonic welding, which is shown dotted. The joining zones 502 may, for example, be four point-shaped or circular or rectangular regions, for the production of which sonotrodes with circular or rectangular shapes are used

Welding surfaces were used. This has the advantage that the through holes 132 can be provided by simple holes. Embodiments may vary in shape and diameter in the welded regions 502, depending on the shape of the ultrasonic sonotrodes 130 used.

Figure 5 shows a schematic view of an exemplary dispensing device 1. 14. The dispensing device 14 has the shape of an inverted "L" with the short leg 612 oriented radially outward. The carrier element 606 is in the radial direction along the longitudinal direction of the short The leg 612 can be moved from a first radially inward position, ie, original position, to a second, radially outward position, at the radially outer end of the carrier element 606 is a downwardly movable receiving element 604, which comprises a lower plate-shaped section through which intake channels for producing a negative pressure at the suction ports 602. By forming a negative pressure, a sheet of material is formed 1 12 and thus can be lifted from the dispensing device and moved by moving the support member 606 from a radially outer second position to a radially inner first position. FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of an exemplary material sheet receiving device 1 18. The material sheet receiving device 18 comprises an axially downwardly movable receiving element 150, on which a plate-shaped section 616 is arranged. In addition, the receiving element 150 includes channels 144 for generating a negative pressure for sucking the material sheets 1 12 of the material sheet booklet. In addition, the shown material sheet receiving device 1 18 comprises a fixing device 128 with sonotrode tools 130 for ultrasonic welding of material sheets 1 12 with the material sheet stitch transported by the material sheet receiving device 1 18. FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of a supply cassette 16 and of a material support 108 from below. The material sheet carrier 108 has four through holes 132 in the corner regions of the shelf. An ultrasonic sonotrode of an ultrasonic tool 130, as shown in FIG. 8, can be guided in each case through these through-openings 132.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of an ultrasonic tool 130 for welding material sheets. The ultrasonic tool 130 comprises a generator 902, a sound transducer 904, a transformation piece 906 and a pin-shaped sonotrode 908. The generator generates a high-frequency electrical alternating voltage, which is converted by the sound transducer 904 into a mechanical oscillation of the same frequency. The ultrasound vibration is transmitted to the sonotrode 908 tuned to the same frequency via the sound transducer 904 and these resonate in resonance. If necessary, the

Vibration amplitude by the installation of a transformation piece 906 between see transducer 904 and sonotrode 908 are amplified. FIG. 9 shows a schematic view of a second embodiment of an aggregate support device 100 ', which substantially corresponds to two collating devices 100 of FIG. 1 arranged one above the other. In the illustrated collecting device 100 ', supply stations 102 are arranged along two Kurvenbah- nen on two parallel planes, both cam tracks are arranged around the same axis, namely the central longitudinal axis of the central support unit 148. In addition, the supply stations 102 according to the collating device 100 'each have a stationary dispensing device 1 14. In addition, the supply stations 102 of the upper group 106 correspond to the supply stations of FIG. 1. In particular, the material sheets 1 12 are arranged in the supply cassettes as a stack of sheets. In contrast, the supply stations 102 of the lower group 104 include storage cassettes in which the sheets of material 1 12 are arranged in the form of rolls of tape. Correspondingly, the dispensing devices 14 of the lower supply stations 102 have a configuration which allows them each to unroll a material sheet and to separate the correspondingly unrolled material sheet for dispensing from the material sheet roll.

The collating apparatus 100 'has two material sheet receiving devices 118, one for each of the two groups 104, 106 of supply stations 102. If, according to the document type-specific order, material sheets from a supply station 102 from another of the two groups 104, 106 receive from supply stations 102, so a transport device 158 is provided for the axial transport of the material sheet booklet. The corresponding material sheet booklet is deposited at a first of the two receiving stations 160, 160 'of the transport device 158 by the corresponding material sheet receiving device 118 and at the second receiving station 160', 160 at the level of the group 104, 106, from which the next material sheet 1 12 according to document type-specific order is transported. There, the material sheet booklet is taken up by the material sheet receiving device 1 18 of the corresponding group 104, 106 and transported along a curved path around the curve axis or central longitudinal axis 154 to the corresponding storage station 102. There, the corresponding material sheet 1 12 from the stationary arranged distribution device 1 14 on the shelf 1 10 of the corresponding sheet carrier 108 and from the Materialbogenaufnahmevorrich- device 1 18 ultrasonically welded to the material sheet booklet. Figures 10A and 10B show a schematic detail view of a supply cassette 1 16 with sheets of material 1 12, which are arranged in the form of a stack 140. On the supply cassette 1 16, a material sheet carrier 108 is arranged with a flat support surface 1 10, which have a rectangular format in the example shown. In each case, a passage opening 132 for the ultrasound sonotrodes 130 is arranged in the corner regions of the depositing surface 110. In addition, the dispensing device 1 14 is shown in detail.

FIG. 10A shows the recording of a material sheet 1 12 by the dispensing device 14 by means of suction openings 602. For this purpose, a receiving element 604, which can be moved vertically along the carrier element 606, is arranged above the supply cassette 1 16. The receiving element 604 is moved with the suction openings 602 down to the uppermost sheet of material 1 12 in the supply cassette 1 16. According to embodiments, the suction openings 602 come into contact with the uppermost sheet of material 12 in the supply cassette 16. This can be determined, for example, by detecting a resistance in the process of the receiving element 604 down or controlled in dependence on the capacity of the supply cassette 1 16. The use of suction openings 602 for sucking the uppermost material sheet 1 12 also has the advantage that the material sheet 1 12 can be sucked in even if the suction openings 602 have not yet come into contact with this, but this were sufficiently approximated. The sucked material sheet 1 12 is raised by moving the receiving element 604 upwards. The carrier element 606, which carries the receiving element 604, is movable along a rail formed by a web 608 to the storage surface 110. For this purpose, the carrier element 606 has a groove 610, in which the web 608 is arranged. FIG. 10B shows the state when the carrier element 606 has been moved along the rails 608 over the depositing surface 110. The recorded material sheet 1 12 is stored on the shelf surface 1 10 by switching off the negative pressure to the suction ports 602 by gravity. According to embodiments, in this case the receiving element 604 is also moved downwards.

Figure 1 1 shows a schematic view of the dispensing device 1 14 from the front. The support element 606, on which the receiving element 604 is arranged, can be seen. The support element 606 comprises two lateral support arms 610 with grooves 612 which are movable along the webs 608. The receiving element 604 can be moved vertically along the carrier element 606. The receiving element 604 comprises suction openings 602, which are in a through-connection with channels 614 for generating a vacuum for sucking a sheet of material 1 12.

Reference numeral 1 is '100' gathering apparatus

, 102 'storage station

first group

second group

Material sheet carrier

shelf

material sheet

dispensing apparatus

supply cassette

Material sheet receiving device fixing device

ultrasonic tool

Through holes control device

Personal isierungsvorrichtung stack

channel

scope

central carrier unit receiving element

Curves track

vertical curve thing

Communication link, 158 'transport device

receiving station

central area

structure

Material sheet stitching

welding area 602 intake opening

604 recording label

606 carrier element

610 groove

612 holding arm

614 intake channel

616 plate-shaped section

902 generator

904 transducers

906 transformation piece

908 sonotrode

Claims

Patent claims

1 . Collating apparatus (100, 100 ') for collating sheets of material (1 12) and producing a sheet of material (500) for a document type selected from a plurality of different types of identification, value or security documents, the sheet of material (500) to be collated Comprises material bows (1 12) in a document type-specific order,

wherein the collating device (100, 100 ') comprises:

Supply stations (102, 102 ') each holding material sheets (1 12) of a uniform type of material sheet in a supply cassette (1 16, 1 16') in stock, a material sheet carrier (108) having a storage surface (1 10) for providing an individual of the material sheets (1 12) and are arranged along a first cam track (152) about a vertical cam axis (154),

a dispensing device (1 14), which is configured at the supply stations (102, 102 ') each of the individual sheets of material (1 12) from the supply cassette (1 16, 1 16') on the support surface (1 10) of the respective Distribute Material Sheet Carrier (108)

a material sheet receiving device (1 18) for collecting the material sheets (1 12) for the material sheet booklet (500) to be created, wherein the Materialgengen- picking device (1 18) is configured in the document type specific order at the individual supply stations (102, 102) of the document type-specific order to record the material sheet from the storage surface (110) of the respective sheet-metal support (108),

wherein the material sheet receiving device (1 18) comprises a fixing device (128) which is configured at the storage stations (102, 102) respectively thereon the material sheet (1 12) to be received there on the material sheet (1 18) according to the document type specific To fix the sequence of sheets of material picked up immediately beforehand, so that the relative orientation of the sheet of material to be picked up (1 12) bar previously recorded material sheet and successively the document type-specific material sheet (500) is created.

The collating apparatus (100, 100 ') of claim 1, wherein the material sheet receiving apparatus (1 18) is configured to move in the document type specific order to the individual stock stations (102, 102').

3. collating apparatus (100, 100 ') according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the dispensing device (1 14) is configured to move in the document type specific order to the individual supply stations (101, 102').

4. gathering device (100, 100 ') according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the material sheet receiving device (1 18) and the Austeilvorrich- device (1 14) in the axial direction relative to the cam axis (154) are arranged offset from each other so that they along the first curved path (152) can move past each other.

5. collating apparatus (100, 100 ') according to one of the preceding arrival claims, wherein the material sheet receiving device (1 18) and the dispensing device (1 14) in the radial direction relative to the cam axis (154) are arranged offset to each other so that they along the first curved path (152) can move past each other.

6. gathering device (100, 100 ') according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dispensing device (1 14) in the radial direction relative to the cam axis (154) outwardly movable receiving element (604) for receiving the material bows (1 12) from the Supply cassette (1 16, 1 16 ') and depositing on the shelves (1 10) of the respective material sheet carrier (108).

7. gathering device (100, 100 ') according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dispensing device (1 14) in a radial direction relative to Curve axis (154) outwardly extending support member (606) for supporting the receiving element (604), wherein the support member (606) in the axial direction relative to the cam axis (154) is movable, so that the dispensing device (1 14) and the material sheet receiving device (1 18) can move past each other along the first curved path (152).

8. collating device (100, 100 ') according to any one of claim 1 or 2, wherein the dispensing device (1 14) comprises a plurality of individual dispensing devices, each of which stationarily at one of the supply stations (102, 102') are arranged net.

9. gathering device (100, 100 ') according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the supply cassettes (1 16, 1 16') each equipped with a plurality of individual sheets of material (1 12) of a uniform type of sheet in the form of a stack (140) is.

10. collating device (100, 100 ') according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein at least one of the supply cassettes (1 16, 1 16') with material sheets (1 12) in the form of a roll of tape (142) is fitted and the dispensing device (1 14) is configured to unroll the strip roll (142) during dispensing and to sever a single dispensable sheet of material (1 12).

1 1. Collating apparatus (100, 100 ') according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the material sheet receiving device (1 18) is configured at the supply stations (102, 102') each on the material sheet (12 12 ).

12. gathering device (100, 100 ') according to one of the preceding arrival claims, wherein the material sheet receiving device (1 18) comprises a suction device (144) for receiving a sheet of material (1 12) by suction.

13. gathering device (100, 100 ') according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dispensing device (1 14) comprises a suction device (602, 614) for receiving a sheet of material (1 12) by suction.

14. gathering device (100, 100 ') according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fixing device (128) an ultrasonic sonotrode (130) for fixing the material sheets (1 12) comprises by means of ultrasonic welding.

15. collating device (100, 100 ') according to claim 14, wherein the material sheets (1 12) have a rectangular format and wherein in each of the four corner regions of the rectangular format in each case an ultrasonic sonotrodes (130) is arranged, so that the ultrasonic welding of the material sheets (1 12) in the corner areas.

16. collating device (100, 100 ') according to one of claims 14 or 15, wherein the storage surfaces (1 10) each have one or more through openings (132) for at least partially performing one of the ultrasonic sonotrodes (130), so that the respective ultrasonic sonotrodes (130 ) can come into contact with the material sheet (1 12) to be fixed.

17. The collating apparatus (100, 100 ') of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the collator (100, 100') further comprises a personalization device (138) associated with one of the supply stations (102 ') and configured to be the individual the sheets of material (1 12) on the storage surface (1 10) of the material sheet carrier (108) of the corresponding storage station (102 ') to be personalized prior to the preparation.

18. A collating apparatus (100, 100 ') according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the collating apparatus (100, 100') includes material web type storage stations (102) for each type of document of the plurality of different types of identification, value or security documents.

19. Collating device (100, 100 ') according to one of the preceding claims, wherein from the document type-specific sequence further supply stations (102) of the collating device (100, 100') are arranged, which are arranged along a second curved path around the curved axis (154), wherein the second curved path lies in a plane parallel to the plane of the first curved path (152).

20. A method for gathering material sheets (1 12) and producing a material sheet booklet (500) for a document type selected from a plurality of different type, value or security document types, wherein the material sheet booklet (500) to be created includes the collated sheets of material (1 12 ) in a document type specific order,

the method comprising:

Provision of material sheets (1 12) for a plurality of different identity, value or security document types by means of supply stations (102,

102 '), each of which holds material sheets (1 12) of a uniform type of material sheet in a supply cassette (1 16, 1 16') in stock, a material sheet carrier (108) with a storage surface (1 10) for providing an individual of the material sheets (1 12) and are arranged on a first cam track (152) about a vertical cam axis (154),

Distributing the material sheets (1 12) for the material sheet booklet (500) to be created by means of a dispensing device (1 14), which is configured at the individual supply stations (1 16, 1 16 ') each of the individual sheets of material (1 12) distribute the supply cassettes (1 16, 1 16 ') onto the storage surface (1 10) of the respective material sheet carrier (108),

Collecting at the individual supply stations (1 16, 1 16 ') of the document type specific order provided sheets of material (1 12) for the material sheet booklet (500) to be created in the document type specific order of the shelves (1 10) of the respective material sheet carrier by means of a Materialgene record device (1 18), which comprises a fixing device (128),

wherein the material sheet (1 12) to be received in each case is picked up by the material sheet receiving device (1 18), in which the material to be picked up is received Matenalbogen (1 12) by means of the fixing device (128) at the immediately according to the document type specific order recorded material sheet is fixed so that the orientation of the recorded material sheet (1 12) compared to the immediately recorded material sheet is set and successively the document type specific material sheet booklet (500 ) is created.