JP2011032041A - Recording card processing device and recording card making method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording card processing device capable of surely correcting a curl generated in a card when heating and attaching a film material to a surface. <P>SOLUTION: A direction changing means is arranged for changing the direction of a recording card heated in a processing position to a card carrying passage for transferring the recording card to a carrying-out port via the processing position from a supply port. This direction changing means is provided with a curl correcting means for correcting the curl. This curl correcting means is constituted of a press member for curving and deforming the recording card and a press driving means for moving this member to an operation position for curving and deforming the card from a standby position retreated from the card. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording card processing apparatus in which an image is formed on a recording card such as plastic or cardboard, or a recording card processing apparatus attached with a coating film, and relates to an improvement in a mechanism and a method for correcting curling of a card deformed by heat treatment.

  In general, this type of recording card processing apparatus supplies a card of a predetermined size from a hopper and prints information on the front and back surfaces of the card, or a coating that attaches a film material to the printed card and coats it. Widely known as a device.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an apparatus for transferring a plastic card to a processing position (transfer section) and forming an image by heating and welding a film material having an image printed on the card surface. In this document, a roll-shaped film substrate is fed to an image forming unit, and a transfer image is formed on the film surface by an ink ribbon and a thermal head in this image forming unit, and this film material is fed from a hopper in the transfer unit. An apparatus for transferring to a printed card surface is disclosed.

  In an apparatus equipped with such a card transport mechanism, a card transport path for feeding a card that is not easily deformed, such as plastic or cardboard, to a processing position needs to be formed in a straight line. For this reason, the apparatus disclosed in this document provides a rotation unit in the path from the hopper to the transfer unit to deflect the card transport direction. The rotating unit is provided with a roll pair for nipping the card, and the unit is rotated with the card held by the roll pair. With this rotating unit, the card can be deflected in a predetermined direction, or the card can be turned upside down.

  On the other hand, a device that welds a film material to a card and overcoats, a device that welds a film material imaged on the surface and forms an image simultaneously with the overcoat, or a printed layer formed on a film substrate. In general, a film material is heat-welded to a card. In the apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, a pair of pressure rollers is provided in the transfer portion, and the film material side is constituted by a heating roller. That is, a mechanism is adopted in which the card and the film material are pressed against each other with a roll pair, and the film-side roller is heated and welded.

  In this way, when the film material is attached to the card, when the one surface is heated, the card is curved and deformed by heat. As a curl correction mechanism for correcting the curl, for example, a mechanism that corrects by passing a path curved in a direction opposite to the curl direction when the medium is a sheet, or a mechanism that corrects by pressing with a press plate when the medium is a card is known. It has been.

  For example, Patent Document 2 proposes a curl correction mechanism in which one end of a card being conveyed is bent in a direction opposite to the curl direction by a press member.

Japanese Patent No. 3737037 JP-A-8-137309

  As described above, it is known that when a printing layer is formed on the surface of a card medium such as plastic or cardboard, or a coating layer is formed, a film material is heat-welded. At this time, the card may curl because heat is applied to the film attachment surface of the card. For this reason, conventionally, when a film material is attached, the card is slowly heated at a low temperature so as not to be distorted or cooled by a cooling fan or the like.

  On the other hand, the curl generated on the card is corrected by correcting the curl by curving the card carry-out path in the direction opposite to the curl direction (Patent Document 2), and cooling and cooling the card after heating. The mechanism to perform is known.

  However, when a conventionally known curl correction mechanism is used for a relatively thick medium such as a recording card that does not easily bend, the card conveyed by this mechanism frequently jams. Further, if the curl correction mechanism is configured to have a long correction path so as to gradually deform the card in order to reduce the conveyance jam, the apparatus is increased in size.

  Therefore, the present inventor has come up with the idea that when a film material is heat-applied, the curl generated on the card is pressure-corrected by a press member provided in a direction changing unit disposed on the downstream side of the heat treatment unit. At this time, the direction changing unit requires a driving force for operating the pressing member for correcting the curl of the card and a driving force for turning the unit for changing the direction, and the driving mechanism is complicated. I encountered a new problem.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a recording card processing apparatus that can reliably correct curl generated in a card when a film material is heat-applied to the surface, and that has a simple structure and is inexpensive. It is an issue.
Another object of the present invention is to reduce the power consumption of the card curl correcting mechanism and the direction changing mechanism for deflecting the card conveying direction posture.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides direction changing means for changing the direction of the recording card heated at the processing position in a card transport path for transferring the recording card from the supply port to the carry-out port through the processing position. Then, the curl correcting means for correcting the curl is provided in the direction changing means, and the curl correcting means is moved from the standby position where the recording card is bent and moved to the operation position where the card is bent and deformed from the standby position where the card is retracted from the card. The drive means for changing the card direction and the drive means for curl correction are constituted by a single drive motor.

  By curling and curling the curl generated in the card in this state with the card held by the nip means of the direction changing unit for changing the direction, the device can be configured in a small size and compact with a simple structure. Is possible. At the same time, the drive mechanism arranged in this unit can be simplified.

  To further describe the configuration, a card transport path (13) for transferring the recording card from the supply port to a carry-out port through a predetermined processing position, a film material supply path (14) for supplying a film material to the processing position, Heating means (11) that is disposed in the processing position and heat-attaches the film material from the film material supply path to the recording card sent from the card conveyance path, and is provided in the card conveyance path and directs the recording card from the heating means. Direction conversion means (30) for conversion.

  The direction changing means is rotatably supported by the apparatus frame and has a unit frame (32) having a card entry path and a nip means (33F, 33B) for holding a recording card arranged in the card entry path (28). ), A turning drive means (MT) for turning the unit frame in a predetermined angle direction, a press member (22) provided on the unit frame for bending and deforming the recording card held by the nip means, and the press member as a card It is comprised by the press drive means (MP) moved between the standby position retracted | retracted from the approach path | pass, and the operation position which carries out a curve deformation | transformation of a recording card, The said turning drive means and press drive means are a single drive motor (MM) and drive control means (60) for controlling the drive motor.

  The present invention provides a direction changing means for changing the direction of the recording card heated at the processing position in a card transport path for transferring the recording card from the supply port to the carry-out port through the processing position, and the direction changing means is provided with a curved recording card. Since the pressing member to be deformed is provided and the turning movement of the direction changing means and the curling correction operation of the pressing member are executed by a single drive motor, the following effects are obtained.

  The recording card after the heat treatment is led to a direction changing unit, and the card is curved and deformed by a press member by the nip means of this unit to correct the curl, so that the card curl correction can be made compact with a simple structure. . In particular, there is no need to separately and independently configure a unit that changes the direction of a card that does not easily deform and a unit that corrects curl.

  In particular, the drive mechanism can be simplified because the turning motion of the unit frame for changing the direction of the recording card and the pressing operation of the press member for correcting the curl are performed by a single drive motor. At the same time, various power consumption can be reduced.

  At the same time, the present invention arranges a card entry path, a nip means for holding the card, and a pressing member for bending and deforming the card in a unit frame pivotally supported by the apparatus frame, thereby deflecting the posture of the guard, Since curl correction is performed, there is a remarkable improvement in the simplification of these structures and the reduction in size and size of the apparatus.

  Further, the present invention moves the pressing member from the standby position to the operating position to correct the curl, curls the recording card to correct the curl, and then swings the unit frame holding the card to change the card posture. By controlling the drive motor to deflect it, the heat-treated card can be quickly curled. That is, the correction time can be shortened by applying a stress in the opposite direction to the heat-treated card in the middle of curl deformation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the overall configuration of a recording card forming apparatus according to the present invention. Explanatory drawing of the conceptual structure of the card processing apparatus concerning this invention. FIG. 3 is a configuration explanatory diagram of a turning unit (direction changing unit) in the apparatus of FIG. 2, (a) is a standby state explanatory diagram of the curl correction unit, and (b) is an operation state explanatory diagram of the curl correction unit. FIG. 3 is a perspective configuration explanatory view of a turning unit in the apparatus of FIG. 2. FIGS. 3A and 3B are operation state explanatory diagrams of the swivel unit in the apparatus of FIG. 2, where FIG. 3A is a state diagram of a card loading posture, FIG. 2B is an operation state diagram of a curl correction unit, and FIG. . FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the operation state of the turning unit different from FIG. 5, (a) is a state diagram of the card loading posture, (b) is a state diagram in which the turning unit is turned by a predetermined angle and the curl correcting means is operated; FIG. 4 is a state diagram in which the turning of the turning unit is completed. It is explanatory drawing of the drive mechanism of the turning unit (direction changing means) in the apparatus of FIG. 3, and explanatory drawing which shows the planar structure. (A) is explanatory drawing of the front structure of the drive mechanism of the turning unit in the apparatus of FIG. 3, (b) is explanatory drawing of the control structure in the apparatus of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of embodiment of the turning unit different from embodiment of FIG. 3, (a) shows the standby state of a press member, (b) shows the operation state of a press member. It is explanatory drawing of embodiment of the turning unit different from embodiment of FIG.3 and FIG.9, (a) shows the standby state of a press member, (b) shows the operating state of a press member.

  The present invention will be described in detail below based on the preferred embodiments shown in the drawings. First, the basic configuration of the present invention will be described with reference to the conceptual diagram shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the present invention includes a card transport path 13 and a film supply path 14 for supplying a film material F to a processing position P set in this path. The card transport path 13 is configured by a substantially linear path so as to transfer the card C from the supply port 10 to the carry-out port 12 via the processing position P. The film supply path 14 includes, for example, a pair of winding shafts 17 a and 17 b equipped with a roll-shaped film material F, and a path for supplying the film material F to the processing position P.

  A hopper 9 that accommodates a card (blank card) C is disposed at the supply port 10 of the card transport path 13, and a stacker 15 that accommodates a processed card is disposed at the carry-out port 12. A card transporting means 18 for transferring the card C from the upstream side to the downstream side of the path is disposed in the card transporting path 13, and a transport driving means (card transporting motor) Md is connected to the transporting means. This card conveying means 18 arrange | positions conveyance rotation bodies, such as a roller and a belt, at an interval shorter than the card conveyance direction length.

  Further, a guide roller 19 and a guide member 21 for guiding the film material F in a predetermined path direction are arranged in the film supply path 14, and are connected to the driving means (film transport motor) Mf. The film transport motor Mf is connected to take-up shafts 17a and 17b, so that the film material F is fed forward and backward in the feed direction when the motor rotates in one direction and the film material F in the back feed direction when rotated in the opposite direction. ing.

  A processing position P is set at the intersection of the card conveyance path 13 and the film supply path 14, and the film material F sent from the film supply path 14 is heat-welded to the surface of the card C sent from the card conveyance path 13. Therefore, a heating roller (heating means) 11 is provided at the processing position P, and the film material F sent from the film supply path 14 is wound around the heating roller 11. The heating roller 11 is composed of a heat-resistant resin roll, and a heater (not shown) is built in the heating roller 11.

  Therefore, the film material F is welded to the surface of the card C at the processing position P, and coating is performed. The illustrated heating roller 11 is configured to move up and down between a position where the film material F is pressed against the card C at the processing position P by the heating control cam 8 and a retracted non-pressing position. This is because the film material F attached to the card C is fed in a predetermined amount in the direction indicated by the arrow X in a non-pressure contact state, and the film material F is fed back in the arrow Y direction in a pressure contact state to be welded onto the card.

  In such a configuration, a card (recording card; the same applies hereinafter) C prepared in the supply port 10 is sent from the card transport path 13 to a predetermined processing position P. Further, the film material F is sent from the film supply path 14 to the processing position P. Therefore, the temperature of the heating roller 11 is raised to a predetermined temperature, and the film material F is heated and welded to the surface of the card C (at the time of back feeding of the above-described film material). As a result, the surface of the card C is overcoated with the film material F.

Therefore, the film material F is made of a material structure according to the processing purpose such as a laminate film, a hologram film, or a transfer film. This enables card processing such as coating processing for overcoating the card surface, image layer coating processing for overcoating with an image forming film, and image transfer processing for transferring an ink layer formed on a film material to the card surface. .

  That is, in the coating process, a laminating film is prepared on the take-up shaft 17a, and the film material F fed out therefrom is welded to the card surface. The film material F is made of a material suitable for the purpose, such as an overcoat film or a hologram film. In the image transfer process, the image forming platen 52 shown in FIG. 1 is arranged in the film supply path 14, and an image is formed on the film material F by the platen 52. In this image formation, for example, an image is formed by a thermal head and an ink ribbon (sublimation type ink ribbon, heat melting type ink ribbon, etc.). Then, the image ink layer formed on the film material F is transferred to the card surface at the processing position P.

  Therefore, in the present invention, the curl correcting means 20 for correcting the curl generated in the card heated by the heating means (heating roller) 11 is configured as follows. A direction changing means 30 for changing the direction of the card sent from the heating means 11 is provided in the card transport path 13 described above. The direction changing means 30 is characterized in that the curl correcting means 20 is incorporated. Each configuration will be described.

[Configuration of direction changing means]
The direction changing means 30 deflects the posture of the card C made of plastic, cardboard, or the like that is not easily curved and deformed in a predetermined angle direction. For example, when the card C is turned upside down, the posture is deflected in a predetermined angle direction such as 180 degrees, and when the card is transferred to a path orthogonal to each other, it is 90 degrees.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, a swivel frame (unit frame) 32 is provided on the apparatus frame so as to be rotatable by a rotation support shaft 31. The swivel frame 32 has a frame structure in which a nip means 33 for holding the card C in a nip and a press member (curl correction means 20) 22 to be described later can be mounted.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the illustrated apparatus forms the revolving frame 32 with a frame structure in which a pair of side frame frames 32 a and 32 b wider than the width size of the card C are integrated with a support stem 32 c (not shown). is doing. A rotation support shaft 31 is integrally attached to the left and right side frame frames 32a and 32b, and the rotation support shaft 31 is supported by an apparatus frame (not shown).

  Between the left and right side frame frames 32a and 32b, a card entry path 28 and a nip means 33 for nipping the card across the path are incorporated. The nip means 33 may be any means for holding the card C in a stationary manner, and is constituted by a pair of rollers for holding the card C, a guide shaft, a guide plate, and the like.

The illustrated one is composed of rollers Rd and Rf for sandwiching the card C, and the nip means 33 includes a first roller pair 33F that nips the front end of the card at a distance and a second roller pair that nips the rear end of the card. 33B. Further, the turning frame 32 is connected to turning driving means (forward rotation of the drive motor MM) for turning the rotating support shaft 31 by a predetermined angle around the rotation support shaft 31. The roller Rd of the first and second roller pairs 33F and 33B is a driving roller and is connected to a feed motor MR described later, and the roller Rf is a driven roller.

  The direction changing means (swivel unit) 30 configured as described above is arranged so that the card entry path 28 matches the card transport path 13 (state shown in FIG. 2). The illustrated one is arranged in the vicinity of the processing position P and downstream of the card transfer direction (arrow Y direction in the figure) when the film material F is attached at the processing position P.

  That is, as described above, after the film material F is fed out in the direction of the arrow X and then back-feeded in the opposite direction (Y direction), the film material F is pressure-bonded to the card C moving in the same direction and heated and melted. Direction changing means 30 is disposed downstream of the card transfer direction (Y direction).

  Accordingly, the direction changing means 30 linearly carries the card C sent from the card transport path 13 into the card entry path 28 (hereinafter referred to as the carry-in angle attitude) and the card entry path 28 deflected by a predetermined angle from this angle. The card C swivels between an angle posture for carrying out the card C (hereinafter referred to as a carry-out angle posture).

  Then, the predetermined angle is such that when the card C sent from the card transport path 13 is turned upside down and returned to this path, the swivel frame 32 is rotated 180 degrees and the card C sent from the card transport path 13 is returned. Is transferred to a conveying path that intersects this path, the turning frame 32 is rotated at an intersecting angle (for example, 90 degrees in the orthogonal path configuration).

  The curl correcting means 20 bends and deforms the press member 22 that deforms the card C held by the nip means 33, the standby position Wp where the press member 22 is retracted from the card entry path 28, and the card C. The press drive means (drive motor) Mp moves between the position Ap and the position Ap.

  The pressing member 22 can employ various structures as long as the card C curled in the predetermined direction by the heating unit 11 is warped in the opposite direction. The press member 22 can employ various structures such as a press roller mechanism that nips the card C from above and below, an eccentric cam mechanism that press-deforms the card from one side to the other, and a cam lever mechanism that press-deforms the card.

[Embodiment of pressed member]
The press roller mechanism shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 will be described. The press member 22 is composed of a pair of press-contact / separable rollers Rd and Rf disposed in the card entry path 28. The case where the card C curled in the downward direction in the figure is deformed and corrected in the upward direction in the figure is shown. 24b is supported by fitting.

  At this time, the lower limit position of the upper roller 22a is regulated by the guide groove 24a, the lower limit position of the lower roller 22b is regulated by the guide groove 24b by a spring (not shown), and the rollers 22a and 22b are separated from each other (standby position Wp). Is regulated. In this standby position Wp (the state shown in FIG. 3A), the roller pairs 22a and 22b retreat from the path so as not to interfere with the entry of the card C into the card entry path 28.

  Therefore, the rotating cam 35 is shifted to the position of the lower roller 22b where the lower roller 22b deforms the card C along the guide groove 24b (operating position Ap; state shown in FIG. 3B). The rotary cam 35 is connected to press drive means (reverse rotation of the drive motor MM). Accordingly, when the rotary cam 35 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 3 by the press drive means (reverse rotation of the drive motor MM), the lower roller 22b moves from the standby position Wp to the operating position Ap.

  At this time, the lower roller 22b bends and deforms the card C held (held) by the nip means 33 (the state shown in FIG. 3B). The upper roller 22a moves from the standby position Wp to the operating position Ap while the card C is sandwiched following the movement of the lower roller 22b from the standby position Wp to the operating position Ap.

  Thus, while the card C enters the card entry path 28, the press member 22 is positioned at the standby position Wp and waits for the card C to enter. Then, after the card C is nipped (held) by the nip means 33, the rotary cam 35 is rotated to move the press member 22 to the operating position Ap. Next, after the pressing member 22 is moved to the operating position Ap, the rotating cam 35 is rotated in the reverse direction and returned to the original position after a predetermined time has elapsed. Such operation control is performed by rotation control of press drive means (reverse rotation of the drive motor MM) connected to the rotary cam 35.

[Different Embodiments of Press Member]
Next, FIG. 9 shows a case where the press member is constituted by an eccentric cam mechanism. In the same manner as described above, the card entry path 28 and the nip means 33 are arranged on the revolving frame 32. Therefore, an eccentric cam 37 that moves between the standby position Wp retracted from this path and the operating position Ap that curves and deforms the card C is disposed in the card entry path 28. The illustrated eccentric cam 37 is composed of a roller 37r and its rotating shaft 38, and the peripheral surface of the roller 37r and the center of the rotating shaft 38 are eccentric as illustrated.

  Therefore, when the rotary shaft 38 is driven to rotate, the peripheral surface of the roller 37r is displaced to the standby position Wp retracted from the card entry path 28 and the operating position Ap that causes the card C to bend and deform. Press drive means (reverse rotation of the drive motor MM) is connected to the rotary shaft 38. Accordingly, when the driving motor MM is driven to rotate and the roller 37r is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in the drawing, the roller peripheral surface is actuated position Ap that causes the card C to bend from the standby position Wp retracted from the card entry path 28. Will be displaced.

[Different Embodiments of Press Member]
Next, FIG. 10 shows a case where the press member is constituted by a cam lever mechanism. In the same manner as described above, the card entry path 28 and the nip means 33 are arranged on the revolving frame 32. Therefore, the card entry path 28 is provided with a swing lever 40 that moves between a standby position Wp retracted from this path and an operation position Ap that curves and deforms the card C.

  The illustrated swing lever 40 is swingably supported on the pivot frame 32 by a support shaft 41. A card engaging portion 40a is provided at the lever front end, and a rotating cam 42 is engaged at the lever base end portion. Press drive means (reverse rotation of the drive motor MM) is connected to the rotary cam 42.

  Accordingly, when the drive motor MM is driven to rotate and the rotary cam 42 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in the figure, the card engaging portion 40a is retracted from the card entry path 28 (as shown in FIG. From the state), the card C is displaced to the operating position Ap (the state shown in FIG. 5B) where the card C is bent and deformed. 43 is a return spring.

  In the present invention, as long as the pressing member 22 is a means for bending and deforming the card C held by the nip means 33 as described above, a tree structure such as a roll structure, an eccentric cam mechanism, or a cam lever structure can be adopted. In addition, the pressing member 22 may employ a mechanism for moving one of the first and second roller pairs 33F and 33B constituting the nip means 33 in a direction perpendicular to the card entry path 28. . In this case, the roller pairs are arranged at three or more positions at a distance, and the pair is shifted in a direction orthogonal to the path 28.

[Description of drive system]
A turning drive means (forward rotation of the drive motor MM) for turning the turning frame 32 around the rotation support shaft 31, and a driving roller for the first roller pair 33F and the second roller pair 33F constituting the nip means 33 Rd describes a feed motor MR and a drive mechanism of press drive means (reverse rotation of the drive motor MM) for moving the press member 22 from the standby position Wp to the operating position Ap. The configuration of the pressing member 22 shows the structure of the first embodiment described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the rotary support shaft 31 is integrally implanted in the left and right side frame frames 32a and 32b and supported by the apparatus frame. A passive gear 31G is supported by the rotary support shaft 31 via a one-way clutch ow1. The one-way clutch ow1 rotates the rotation support shaft 31 in the same direction when the passive gear 31G rotates in the forward direction (for example, CW direction), and the passive gear 31G and the rotation support shaft 31 rotate in the reverse direction (for example, CCW direction).

  The passive gear 31G meshes with a transmission gear 35G of a rotating shaft (hereinafter referred to as “cam rotating shaft”) 35x of the rotating cam 35. The transmission gear 35G and the cam rotation shaft 35x are supported by a one-way clutch ow2. The one-way clutch ow2 rotates the cam rotation shaft 35x in the same direction when the passive gear 31G rotates in the reverse direction (for example, in the CCW direction). The rotating cam 35 is attached to the cam rotating shaft 35x so as to rotate integrally. The drive motor MM is gear-coupled to the passive gear 31G of the rotary support shaft 31 thus gear-coupled, and this motor is attached to the apparatus frame.

  Accordingly, when the drive motor MM (first drive motor; the same applies hereinafter) is rotated in one direction (for example, the CW direction), the rotation support shaft 31 rotates in the same direction, and the cam rotation shaft 35x idles. Further, when the drive motor MM is rotated in the reverse direction (for example, in the CCW direction), the passive gear 31G idles between the rotation support shaft 31 and the cam rotation shaft 35x rotates in a predetermined direction. That is, when the drive motor MM is rotated in the forward direction, the turning frame 32 integrated with the rotation support shaft 31 is turned in a predetermined direction. Further, when the drive motor MM is rotated in the reverse direction, the cam rotating shaft 35x rotates, and the rotating cam 35 attached thereto rotates in a predetermined direction.

  A sleeve-like collar 31c is loosely fitted to the other end side of the rotating support shaft 31, and an intermediate gear 31h is attached to the collar 31c. A feed motor MR (second drive motor; the same applies hereinafter) is geared to the intermediate gear 31h, and the feed motor MR is fixed to the apparatus frame. A transmission gear 31i is provided integrally with the intermediate gear 31h, and the passive gear 33G of the driving roller Rd of the first roller pair 33F is connected to the transmission gear 31i.

  Similarly, the transmission gear 31i is connected to the passive gear 33G of the driving roller Rd of the second roller pair 33B. Accordingly, the rotation of the feed motor MR is transmitted to the intermediate gear 31h that is loosely supported by the rotation support shaft 31, and the rotation is transmitted from the intermediate gear 31h to the rotation shaft of the first roller pair 33F and the rotation shaft of the second roller 33B. The

  In this way, the rotation of the drive motor MM is transmitted to the turning frame 32 around the rotation support shaft 31, and the turning frame 32 turns around the rotation support shaft 31. At the same time, the rotation of the feed motor MR is transmitted to the intermediate gear 31h loosely fitted on the rotation support shaft 31, and the driving roller Rd and the second roller pair of the first roller pair 33F are coupled with the gears meshed around this support. Drive is transmitted to the drive roller Rd of 33B.

  On the other hand, a cam rotation shaft 35x is connected to the passive gear 31G of the rotation support shaft 31 via a one-way clutch ow2, and the rotation cam 35 is connected to this rotation shaft.

  In this way, the revolving frame 32 is equipped with the first and second roller pairs 33F and 33B, and the press member 22 is equipped so as to be movable from the standby position Wp to the operating position Ap. The feed motor MR is transmitted to the drive roller Rd of the first and second roller pairs 33F and 33B via the rotary support shaft 31 of the turning frame 32, and similarly, the press drive means of the press means 22 (of the drive motor MM). Drive in the reverse direction is transmitted via the rotation support shaft 31.

  For this reason, the angular posture of the turning frame 32 and the drive transmission to the press means 22 are selectively transmitted. Regardless of the rotation, the first and second roller pairs 33F and 33B are driven and transmitted from the second drive motor MR.

[Description of operation of direction changing means]
The revolving frame 32 is configured to be rotatable about the rotation support shaft 31, and this revolving frame 32 has a carry-in angle posture (first angular position) α1 in which the card entry path 28 coincides with the card transport path 13. And a carry-out angle posture (second angle position) α2 for carrying out a card rotated by a predetermined angle from the first angle position α1. The second angular position α2 is set in advance by the apparatus configuration as described above. Hereinafter, the case of the illustrated carry-in angle posture (first angle position α1 = 0 degree) and the carry-out angle posture (second angle position α2 = 180 degrees) will be described.

Therefore, the control means 60 for controlling the first drive motor MM and the feed motor (second drive motor) MR is configured as follows.
First, the card detection sensor S1 is provided in the card transport path 13. This sensor S1 is arranged on the downstream side of the processing position P, and the illustrated one is arranged between the processing position P and the direction changing means 30. Therefore, the control means 60 separates the cards in the hopper one by one by the separating and feeding means arranged in the hopper 9 and feeds them to the card conveying means 13.

  At this time, the control means 60 sets the direction changing means 30 to a predetermined home position. The illustrated one is initially set to an angular attitude (first angular position α1 = 0 degrees) at which the card transport path 13 and the card entry path 28 match. Therefore, the control means 60 passes the card from the card transport path 13 to the processing position P through the direction changing means 30. At this time, the control means 60 rotationally drives the first and second roller pairs 33F and 33B constituting the nip means 33 by the feed motor MR.

  Before the card C reaches the processing position P from the card transport path 13, the control means 60 feeds the film material F from the film supply path 14 to the processing position P. At this time, the heating roller (heat sensitive means) 11 transports the card C that moves in the direction of the arrow X and the film material F that moves in the same direction until it passes through the processing position P in a non-pressure-contact state. Then, after the rear end of the card passes the processing position P, the card C and the film material F are fed back.

  At this time, the heating roller 11 presses the film material F against the card C and heats it. Then, the film material F image is heat-applied to the card surface. In this way, when the card C and the film material F are overrun in the feeding direction and the processing position P is back-fed, it is necessary to make the attachment area of the film material F slightly wider than the card area. This is to reduce the loss of the material F. Therefore, when the apparatus specification is such that the loss of the film material F does not become a problem, a control configuration in which both the card C and the film material F are heat-welded when transported in the feeding direction may be employed.

  Next, the card C heat-welded at the processing position P curls with time. At this time, the card C is sent to the direction changing means 30 located on the downstream side. Therefore, the control means 60 detects the front end of the card C with the card detection sensor S1 (it may be an activation signal of the transport drive motor Md regardless of the sensor), and rotationally drives the feed motor MR based on the signal. The card is guided to the card entry path 28. Then, the feed motor MR is stopped with the second roller pair 33B nipping the front end of the card and the first roller pair 33F nipping the rear end of the card. Then, the card C is held still in the card entry path 28.

  Therefore, the control means 60 rotates the drive frame MM by a predetermined amount in the forward direction (direction in which the rotation support shaft 31 is rotated; the same applies hereinafter) to rotate the turning frame 32 by a predetermined angle (for example, 180 degrees). Then, the posture of the card C is changed from the carry-in angle posture (first angle position) α1 to the carry-out angle posture (second angle position) α2. When this turning angle is set to 180 degrees, the card C is reversed.

  In the process of changing the direction of the card from the carry-in angle attitude (first angle position) α1 to the carry-out angle attitude (second angle position) α2 by the direction changing means 30, the control means 60 operates the curl correcting means 20 as follows. Let

  After the card is guided to the card entry path 28 and nipped by the first second roller pair 33F and 33B, the press member 22 is moved from the standby position Wp to the operating position Ap. For this operation, the control means 60 rotates the drive motor MM by a predetermined amount in the reverse direction (direction in which the cam rotation shaft 35x is rotated; the same applies hereinafter). Then, the pressing member 22 moves from the position Wp retracted from the card C to the operating position Ap that causes the card C to bend and deform by a predetermined amount. As a result, the card C is deformed in the direction opposite to the curl direction, and the curl is corrected.

  The control means 60 performs such curl correction operation at any of the following timings. The first method (the decurling operation in the carry-in angle posture α1) is controlled by the first angular position (carry-in angle posture) α1 (see FIG. 5A) in which the card C is carried into the card entry path 28. 60 moves the pressing member 22 from the standby position Wp to the operating position Ap (see FIG. 5B).

  Then, after a preset curl correction time (for example, several mm seconds), the press member 22 is returned to the standby position Wp. Then, the drive motor MM is operated to turn the direction changing means 30 from the carry-in angle posture α1 to the carry-out angle posture α2. Thereafter, the first and second roller pairs 33F and 33B are rotated to transfer the card C to the card transport path 13 (see FIG. 5C).

  The second method (the decurling operation in the carry-out angle attitude α2) is the control means after the card C is nipped between the first and second roller pairs 33F and 33B in a state where the card C is carried into the card entry path 28. 60 operates the drive motor MM in the forward direction to turn the direction changing means 30 from the carry-in angle posture α1 to the carry-out angle posture α2.

Then, with the card C deflected to the carry-out angle orientation α2, the control means 60 moves the press member 22 from the standby position Wp to the operating position Ap, and after a predetermined curl correction time, the control member 60 moves the press member 22 to the standby position Wp. Return to. The control is performed in the same manner as in Method 1 above. In this case, although not shown, the operation state in FIG. 5C, the operation state in FIG. 5B, and the operation in FIG.

  In the third method (turning to the carry-out angle posture while holding the decal operation in the carry-in angle posture), the control means 60 operates the drive motor MM in the state of the carry-in angle posture α1 when the card C is carried into the card entry path 28. Is rotated in the reverse direction to move the press member 22 from the standby position Wp to the operating position Ap.

  In this state, the drive motor MM is rotationally driven in the forward direction to turn the turning frame 32 to the carry-out angle posture α2. Thereafter, the drive motor MM is rotated again in the reverse direction, and the press member 22 is moved from the operating position Ap to the standby position Wp.

  Thus, in the first method, the card C heated at the processing position P is curved and deformed in the direction opposite to the curl direction immediately after being carried into the direction changing means 30, and the decurl is corrected. Great effect. Further, when the second method is used, the card C carried into the direction changing means 30 is changed in posture in a predetermined direction and then transferred to, for example, the processing position P after the front and back are reversed. Because it is corrected, it is less affected by curl at the reprocessing position.

  Further, according to the third method, the card is decurled in the state of the carry-in angle posture α1, and the swivel motion can be performed during the curl correction time by swiveling the swivel frame 32 while maintaining this state. The processing time can be made more efficient.

  In the present invention, when a card that does not require curl correction (such as a special card such as a piece of wood or cardboard), or when the heating temperature is low-temperature processing is not required, the curl correction is not necessary. Of course, the press drive means (reverse rotation of the drive motor MM) is stopped. When only the decal is performed without changing the direction of the card C, the drive motor MM is rotated in the reverse direction to perform the decal operation, and then the card C is carried out as it is.

[Image forming apparatus]
Next, a card making apparatus using the above card processing mechanism will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming stage 51 and a film transfer stage 57 are provided in the apparatus housing 50. A backup platen 52 is disposed on the image forming stage 51, and a thermal head 53 is disposed at a position facing the backup platen 52. The film feeding path 14 is configured so that the above-described film material F is supplied to the platen 52.

  That is, the film material F is fed from the supply roll wound around the winding shaft 17 a to the heating roller 11 at the processing position P via the platen 52. And this film material F is comprised so that it may be wound up by the winding shaft 17b.

  On the other hand, a thermal head 53 and an ink ribbon 54 are arranged at a position facing the platen 52 so as to be taken up from the supply roll 55a to the take-up roll 55b. The thermal head 53 is electrically connected to a head control circuit (not shown), and is thermally controlled based on image data sent from the outside. The ink ribbon 54 is formed of a normal hot-melt ink film or a sublimation ink film, and an image is formed on the film material F on the platen 52 by the thermal bed 53.

  For this reason, the thermal head 53 is configured to be pressed against and separated from the platen 52 by the head control cam 56, and the ink ribbon 54 is fed out and fed in the separated state, and an image is formed in the pressed state. Further, the film material F is made of a material that can be attached to the card C while an image is formed on the surface with an ink ribbon 54 as a transfer film. The above-described heating roller 11 is disposed on the transfer stage 57.

  The card transport path 13 is provided with a hopper 9 at the supply port 10, and the hopper 10 is provided with a pickup roller 7 for feeding out the card. The hopper 10 is provided with a separation gap (not shown) for separating the cards. A card conveying means 18 is arranged in the conveying path 13. In this transport path 13, the direction changing means 30 is disposed downstream of the card transport direction (arrow Y direction in FIG. 1) when the film material F is attached to the card C at the processing position P, and the structure thereof is as described above. is there.

  In the apparatus of FIG. 1, a second transport path 58 is provided in a direction orthogonal to the card transport path 13, particularly at a position continuous with the direction changing means 30. This second transport path 58 is for guiding the card C to the platen 52 by the direction changing means 30 and directly forming an image on the card by the thermal head 53. In the direct transfer mode, with the film material F removed from the platen 52, the card from the hopper 9 is deflected in the direction perpendicular to the direction changing means 30 and guided to the second transport path 58.

  Then, the card is fed from the second transport path 58 to the platen 52, and an image is formed on the surface by the ink ribbon 54 and the thermal head 53. The card after the image formation is sent back in the second conveyance path 58 to be backed by the direction changing means 30, and the card is deflected in posture and is stored in the stacker 15.

[Configuration of control means]
As shown in FIG. 8B, the control means 60 is provided with, for example, a control CPU 60, and sensors (for example, an inlet sensor, a paper discharge sensor, a processing position sensor, etc.) disposed on the CPU in the card detection sensor S1 and the card transport path 13. ) And input the detection signal. Similarly, a film presence / absence sensor, a take-up shaft position sensor, and the like are arranged in the film supply path 14 and their detection signals are input. The control CPU 60 performs connection so as to transmit command signals to the first drive motor MM, the feed motor (second drive motor) MR, and the driver circuits of the card transport motor Md and the film transport motor Mf.

  Then, the control CPU 60 executes a predetermined control operation according to the control program stored in the ROM. At this time, control data required for setting control is stored in the RAM in advance. Therefore, the control CPU 60 activates the feed motor MR based on the signal detected by the sensor S1, for example, based on the signal of the card detection sensor S1 disposed in the card transport path 13, and constitutes the nip means 33. The two roller pairs 33F and 33B are rotationally driven.

  Then, the card C is nipped by the first and second roller pairs 33F and 33B on the basis of the signal detected by the card detection sensor S1 at the rear end of the card, and the feed motor MR is stopped after an expected time to reach a predetermined position. Then, the drive motor MM is rotated by a predetermined amount. For example, the rotation angle is controlled by PMW control in the case of a stepping motor, and by encoder pulse control in the case of a DC motor. The control of the drive motor MM is configured to be executed by any one of the methods 1 to 3 described above.

[Recording card creation method]
The apparatus of FIG. 1 described above creates a card in the following process. First, the recording card C is transferred from the hopper 9 to the processing position P (card supply step). The feeding of the card C is performed by rotation control of the pickup roller 7 and rotation control of the card conveying means 18. Next, the transfer film on which the image is formed is fed to the processing position P (transfer film feeding step). For the image formation on the transfer film, either a case where an image is formed in advance in a separate process, such as a hologram, or a case where an image is formed in the apparatus of FIG. 1 is employed.

  Therefore, an image-formed film material is heat-welded on the card sent to the processing position to form an image on the card (image forming step). Then, the heat-treated card C is turned upside down or its posture is changed in a predetermined angle direction (card posture deflection step). Then, the card C is carried out and stored in the stacker (card carrying out step). In this card posture deflection step, an operation of curving and deforming the recording card C in a process of turning the recording card C in a predetermined direction is executed. The specific method and control employ any of the methods 1 to 3 described above.

10 Supply port 11 Heating roller (heating means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Outlet 13 Card conveyance path 14 Film supply path 15 Stacker 18 Card conveyance means 20 Curl correction means 22 Press member 22a Upper roller 22b Lower roller 28 Card entrance path 30 Direction change means (swivel unit)
31 Rotating support shaft 31G Passive gear 31h Intermediate gear 31i Transmission gear 32 Swivel frame (unit frame)
32a Side frame frame 32b Side frame frame 33 Nipping means 33F First roller pair 33B Second roller pair 33G Passive gear 35G Transmission gear 35 Rotating cam 35x Cam rotating shaft 37 Eccentric cam 42 Rotating cam 60 Control means P Processing position F Film material C Recording card MM First drive motor (press drive means, turning drive means)
MR feed motor (second drive motor)
S1 Card detection sensor α1 first angular position (carrying angle attitude)
α2 Second angular position (carrying angle attitude)

Claims (10)

A device for attaching a film material to the surface of a recording card,
A card conveyance path for transferring the recording card from the supply port to a carry-out port through a predetermined processing position;
A film material supply path for supplying a film material to the processing position;
A heating means disposed at the processing position and heating and adhering the film material from the film material supply path to a recording card sent from the card conveyance path;
Direction changing means for changing the direction of the recording card from the heating means provided in the card conveying path;
With
The direction changing means includes
A unit frame pivotally supported on the device frame and having a card entry path;
Nip means for holding a recording card disposed in the card entry path;
Turning drive means for turning the unit frame in a predetermined angle direction;
A press member provided on the unit frame and configured to bend and deform the recording card held by the nip means;
Press driving means for moving the position between a standby position where the press member is retracted from the card entry path and an operating position for bending the recording card;
Consists of
The turning drive means and the press drive means are:
A recording card processing device comprising a single drive motor and drive control means for controlling the drive motor. The drive motor is
A direction changing operation for converting the recording card from a carry-in angle posture to a carry-out angle posture by the turning drive means;
The curl correcting operation of the recording card by the curl correcting means by the press driving means during the angle conversion from the carry-in angle attitude to the carry-out angle attitude;
The recording card processing device according to claim 1, wherein the recording card processing device is configured to execute each of the above. The drive motor is
When the recording card is in any one of the carry-in angle posture, the carry-out angle posture, and any angle posture between the carry-in angle posture and the carry-out angle posture, the press drive means and the curl correction means The recording card processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the recording card processing apparatus is configured to perform a curl correction operation. The nip means includes
Consists of at least a pair of roller means pressed against each other,
The roller means is connected to a conveyance driving means for carrying the recording card in and out along the card entry path,
4. The conveying drive means is constituted by a second drive motor different from the drive motor constituting the turning drive means and the press drive means. A recording card processing device according to claim 1. The drive motor is configured to be capable of forward and reverse rotation,
A turning drive means for turning the unit frame in a predetermined angular direction by rotating the drive motor in the forward direction,
5. The recording card according to claim 1, comprising press driving means for moving the press member between a standby position and an operating position by rotating the drive motor in the reverse direction. 6. Processing equipment. The drive control unit is configured to deflect the card posture by rotating the unit frame in a predetermined angle direction after the curl correcting operation for moving the press member from the standby position to the operating position to bend and deform the recording card. The recording card processing device according to claim 1, wherein the drive motor is controlled. The unit frame is provided with a transport rotating body for carrying cards in and out of the card entry path,
This transport rotator is connected to a second drive motor,
The drive control means includes
A recording card is carried into the card entry path by the second drive motor and held stationary in the nip means,
The drive motor is controlled so as to deflect the card posture by turning the unit frame in a predetermined angle direction after the recording card held in the nip means is bent and deformed by the press member. Item 8. A recording card processing device according to Item 1. The nip means includes
It is composed of a first pressure roller pair and a second pressure roller pair that are arranged at an interval in the card entry path,
The recording card processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the press member is disposed at a central portion of the first press roller pair and the second press roller pair. The press member is composed of a pair of press rollers that can be pressed against and separated from each other to sandwich the recording card of the card entry path,
The press drive means is configured to move the press roller pair from a standby position separated from each other to an operating position for bending and deforming the recording card by being pressed against each other. Recording card processing device. A method of heating and attaching a transfer film imaged on a recording card,
A card supply step of feeding the recording card from the card supply unit to a predetermined processing position;
An image forming step of heating and attaching a transfer film onto the recording card at the processing position;
A card attitude deflection step for changing the direction of a recording card on which an image is formed at the processing position in a predetermined direction;
A card carry-out step for transferring the posture-deflected recording card to a card storage unit;
Consisting of
In the card posture deflection step,
A method for producing a recording card, comprising: curving and deforming the recording card to correct the curl, and then turning the recording card in a predetermined direction to deflect the posture.

Images