JP5334257B2 - Recording card processing apparatus and recording card creation 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, a transfer image is formed on the film surface with an ink ribbon and a thermal head, and the film material is fed from a hopper at 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 section 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.

  When the film material is attached to the card in this way, when the one surface is heated, the card is curved and deformed by heat. As a curl correction mechanism for correcting this curl, for example, a mechanism that corrects by passing through 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 08-137309 A JP 11-010734 A

  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 the film material is heat-applied, the curl generated on the card is pressure corrected by a direction changing unit disposed on the downstream side of the heat treatment unit. This makes it possible to correct the curled card in a unit that deflects its posture, eliminating the need for a special mechanism for curling in the device, and at the same time making the structure simple and compact. It becomes possible to do.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a recording card processing apparatus that can reliably correct curl generated on a card when a film material is heat-applied to the surface.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a card processing device that can be configured in a compact and compact card curl correction mechanism and that can be provided at a low cost with a simple structure.

  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. It is characterized by comprising press driving means.

  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.

  Further, the configuration will be described in detail. A card transport path (13) for transferring the recording card from the supply port to the carry-out port via a predetermined processing position (P), and a film material supply path (14 for supplying the film material to the processing position). ), A heating means (11) that is disposed at 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 a recording from the heating means provided in the card conveyance path. Direction changing means (30) for changing the direction of the card.

  The direction changing means includes a unit frame (32) rotatably supported by the apparatus frame, a card entry path (28) formed in the unit frame, and a nip for holding the recording card disposed in the card entry path. Means (33F, 33B), a turning drive means (MT) for turning the unit frame in a predetermined angle direction, and a curl correcting means (20) provided in the unit frame for correcting the curl of the recording card. The curl correcting means includes a pressing member (22) for bending and deforming the recording card held in the nip means, a standby position (Wp) for retracting the pressing member from the card entry path, and an operation for bending and deforming the recording card. It is comprised with the press drive means (Mp) which moves a position between positions (Ap).

  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 and the press driving means for moving the pressing member from the standby position where the card is retracted from the card to the operating position for bending and deforming the card are provided, the following effects can be 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.

  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, according to the present invention, the nip means for holding the card in the nip is constituted by a pair of rollers, and one of the pair of rollers is rotationally driven by a drive motor, whereby the posture deviation and curl correction of the card held stationary by the roller pair are performed. At the same time, cards can be fed into and out of the unit. For this reason, card feeding / discharging, curl correction, and posture deflection can be performed quickly and continuously. It is also possible to simultaneously perform curl correction while turning the recording card for posture deflection.

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. 2 shows a turning unit in the apparatus of FIG. 2, (a) is an explanatory view of a perspective configuration, and (b) is an explanatory view of a cam shape of a rotating cam. FIG. 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 turning state of the turning unit in embodiment of FIG. 3, (a) is a state figure of a card carrying-in attitude | position, (b) is a state figure which turned the turning unit by the predetermined angle (90 degree | times), (c) is. It is the state figure which complete | finished turning of the turning unit. 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 driving mechanism of the turning unit different from (a). 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.10, (a) shows the standby state of a press member, (b) shows the operating state of a press member. Explanatory drawing of the drive mechanism of the turning unit (direction changing means) different from embodiment of FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a control configuration in the apparatus of FIG. 2.

  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 disposed 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 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, an 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, the posture is deflected in a predetermined angle direction, such as 180 degrees when the card is reversed, and 90 degrees when the card is transferred to a path orthogonal to each other.

  For this reason, as shown in FIG. 4A, a turning 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). 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 holding the card, and this 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 33B that nips the rear end of the card. It consists of The revolving frame 32 is connected to a revolving drive means (revolving motor) MT that revolves the rotation support shaft 31 about a predetermined angle. The rollers of the first and second roller pairs 33F and 33B are drive rollers, which are 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 (shift 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 corrected by being deformed 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 card C is bent and deformed along the guide groove 24b (operating position Ap; state shown in FIG. 3B). A press drive means (shift motor) MP is connected to the rotary cam 35. Accordingly, when the rotary cam 35 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 3 by the press driving means (shift motor) MP, 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 a press drive means (shift motor) MP connected to the rotary cam 35.

[Different Embodiments of Press Member]
Next, FIG. 10 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 (shift motor) MP is connected to the rotary shaft 38. Accordingly, when the press driving means (shift motor) MP is driven and rotated in the same manner as described above to rotate the roller 37r in the counterclockwise direction in the figure, the circumferential surface of the roller curves the card C from the standby position Wp retracted from the card entry path 28. It will be displaced to the operating position Ap to be deformed.

[Different Embodiments of Press Member]
Next, FIG. 11 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. A press driving means (shift motor) MP is connected to the rotating cam 42. Accordingly, when the press driving means (shift motor) MP is driven and rotated in the same manner as described above to rotate the rotating cam 42 counterclockwise in the figure, the card engaging portion 40a is retracted from the card entry path 28 (same as the standby position Wp) From the state shown in FIG. 5A, 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 card entry path 28.

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

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the rotation 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 integrally fixed to the rotary support shaft 31. A swing motor (swing drive means) MT fixed to an apparatus frame (not shown) is connected to the passive gear 31G via a reduction gear. Therefore, the revolving frame 32 revolves around the rotation support shaft 31 with the card C held inside by reversing the revolving motor (revolving drive means) MT.

  A sleeve-like collar (not shown) that rotates about the same axis is loosely fitted on the rotating support shaft 31, and an intermediate gear 31 h is attached to the collar. A feed motor MR 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 on 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

  Thus, the rotation of the turning motor MT 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 second intermediate gear 31j loosely fitted on the support shaft is fitted and supported on the rotation support shaft 31, and a shift motor (press drive means) MP of the press means 22 is connected to the second intermediate gear 31j. ing. The second intermediate gear 31j is geared to a rotation shaft 35x of the rotation cam 35. Therefore, the rotation of the shift motor MP attached to the apparatus frame is transmitted to the second intermediate gear 31j loosely fitted to the rotation support shaft 31, and is transmitted to the rotating cam 35 connected to the gear via this gear. It will be.

  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 rotation support shaft 31 of the turning frame 32. Similarly, the shift motor (press drive means) MP of the press means 22 is transmitted. Is transmitted through the rotation support shaft 31. For this reason, drive transmission to the first second roller pair 33F and 33B and drive transmission to the press means 22 are possible regardless of the angular posture of the turning frame 32.

[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 above-mentioned turning motor (turning drive means) MT, shift motor (press drive means) MP, and feed 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 / feeding means 7 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 (heating 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 card transport 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 turning motor (turning drive means) MT by a predetermined amount 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 shift motor (press drive means) MP in a predetermined direction by a predetermined amount. Then, the pressing member 22 moves from the position 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 repetitively 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 turning motor (turning drive means) MT is operated to turn the direction changing means 30 from the first angle posture (loading angle posture) α1 to the carry-out angle posture (second 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 turning motor (turning drive means) MT to turn the direction changing means 30 from the carry-in angle posture α2 to the carry-out angle posture α1. 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 (decal operation at an arbitrary angle posture from carry-in to carry-out), 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 entry path 28, and then, The control means 60 operates the turning motor (turning drive means) MT to turn the direction changing means 30 from the carry-in angle posture α1 to a predetermined angle position (for example, 90 ° turning position).

  Then, with the card C deflected to a predetermined angle, the control means 60 moves the press member 22 from the standby position Wp to the operating position Ap. 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 turning motor (turning drive means) MT is restarted to turn the direction changing means 30 from the predetermined angle posture to the carry-out angle posture α2. Thereafter, control is performed in the same manner as in the above method 1.

  In this case, although not shown, the direction changing means 30 is turned, for example, 90 degrees from the state of FIG. 5A, and the press member 22 is moved from the standby position Wp to the operating position Ap as shown in FIG. The press member 22 is returned to the standby position Wp after a predetermined curl correction time. Then, as shown in FIG. 5C, the direction changing means 30 is turned to a predetermined carrying-out posture and transferred to the card carrying path 13.

  The fourth method (the decurling operation simultaneously with the turning operation from carry-in to carry-out) is performed 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. The control means 60 operates the turning motor (turning drive means) MT to turn the direction changing means 30 from the carry-in angle posture α1 toward a predetermined angle position (for example, a 90-degree turning position). At the same time, the control means 60 moves the press member 22 from the standby position Wp to the operating position Ap. Then, the card C is bent and deformed by the press member 22 at the same time when the direction changing means 30 turns.

  The press member 22 is returned to the standby position Wp before and after the direction changing means 30 is deflected to the carry-out angle posture α2. Thereafter, after the direction changing means 30 is deflected to the carry-out angle posture α2, the control means 60 rotates the first second roller pair 33F, 33B to transfer the card C to the card transport means 13.

  FIG. 6 shows this case. FIG. 6A shows a state where a card is carried into the direction changing means 30, and FIG. 6B shows a state where the direction changing means 30 is turned by 90 degrees, for example. At this time, the curl correcting means 20 bends and deforms the card with the pressing member 22 simultaneously with the rotation of the direction changing means 30. Next, the direction changing means 30 is turned again and rotated to the state shown in FIG. At this time, 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, it is possible to correct the curl with good timing in the process of deflecting the card from the carry-in angle posture (first angle position) α1 to the carry-out angle posture (second angle position) α2. Further, in the fourth method, the posture change by the direction changing means 30 and the curl correction by the press member 22 can be executed at the same time, and the processing time can be made efficient.

  Note that the press member 22 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is configured to move between the standby position Wp and the operating position Ap by the rotary cam 35. As shown in FIG. 4B, the rotating cam 35 has a shape that displaces the press member 22 at the cam surface between the initial position (home position) p1 and the turning position p2 rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise. The cam surface between the turning position p3 formed and rotated 180 degrees clockwise from the initial position p1 in the figure is substantially zero displacement. For this reason, when the rotating cam 35 is rotated in one direction (the counterclockwise is shown in the figure), the press member 22 is displaced. When the rotary cam 35 is rotated in the opposite direction, the press member 22 is maintained in a standby posture.

  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 (shift motor) MP is stopped. When only the decal is performed without changing the direction of the card C, only the press driving means (shift motor) MP is driven without driving the turning motor (turning drive means) MT, and then the card C is carried out.

[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.

  A hopper 9 is provided in the supply port 10 in the card transport path 13, and a pickup roller 7 for feeding out the card is provided in the hopper 10. The hopper 10 is provided with a separation gap (not shown) for separating the cards. A card transport means 18 is disposed in the card transport path 13. In this card transport path 13, the direction changing means 30 is arranged on the downstream side in 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. It is.

  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 orthogonal 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 C after the image formation is reversely sent through the second conveyance path 58 to be backed by the direction changing means 30, and the card C is deflected in posture and is stored in the stacker 15.

[Configuration of control means]
As shown in FIG. 13, the control means 60 is provided with, for example, a control CPU 60, on which a card detection sensor S1 and sensors (for example, an entrance sensor, a paper discharge sensor, a processing position sensor, etc.) arranged in the card transport path 13 are arranged. Then, the detection signal is input. 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. Then, the control CPU 60 is connected so as to transmit command signals to the driver circuits of the turning motor MT, shift motor MP, feed motor MR, card transport motor Md, and 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 turning motor MT is rotated by a predetermined amount. For example, when the turning motor MT is a stepping motor, the rotation angle is controlled by PMW control, and when it is a DC motor, the rotation angle is controlled by encoder pulse control or the like.

  Simultaneously with the control of the turning motor (turning drive means) MT, the shift motor (press drive means) MP is rotated by a predetermined amount. The control of the shift motor MP and the turning motor MT is configured to be executed by any one of the methods 1 to 4 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, the film material F formed with an image is heat-welded on the card sent to the processing position P, and an image is formed 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 unloaded and stored in the stacker 15 (card unloading 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 4 described above.

[Second Embodiment with Different Driving System]
8 and 9A, a turning motor (turning drive means) MT for turning the turning frame 32, a feed motor MR for driving the drive roller Rd of the nip means 33, and a press drive means for moving the press member 22 are used. (Shift means) The configuration in which the MP is provided has been described. However, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 9B, the driving of the direction changing means 30 and the driving of the press member 22 may be configured by the same motor. Good.

  In this case, a drive motor MM is provided on one side of the swivel frame 32 (left side of FIG. 9B) to turn the swivel frame 32 and move the press member 22, and the opposite side (right side of FIG. 9B). Is provided with a feed motor MR for driving the driving roller Rd of the nip means 33. The drive motor MM is connected to an intermediate gear 31j fixed to the rotation support shaft 31. By rotating the drive motor MM forward and backward, the swivel frame 32 holds the card C inside and rotates around the rotation support shaft 31. It will turn.

  A rotating shaft 35x of the rotating cam 35 is geared to the intermediate gear 31j. Therefore, by rotating the drive motor MM, the pressing member 22 moves simultaneously with the turning movement of the turning frame 32.

  In the second embodiment, the turning motion of the turning frame 32 and the position movement of the press member 22 are performed by the above-described fourth method (the decurling operation simultaneously with the turning operation from carry-in to carry-out). In this case, the turning frame 32 is first turned from the carry-in angle posture of FIG. 6A to the angular position of FIG. In this state, the drive motor MM is stopped for a preset curl correction time (for example, several mm seconds), and then the drive motor MM is rotationally driven again to turn to the carry-out angle posture of FIG.

  Therefore, the posture change by the direction changing means 30 and the curl correction by the press member 22 can be executed simultaneously, and the processing time can be made efficient.

  Further, the shape of the rotary cam 35 in the second embodiment is the shape shown in FIGS. With such a cam structure, as shown in FIG. 7, when the direction changing means 30 is rotated in the direction of zero cam displacement (clockwise in the figure) from the carry-in angle posture of the figure (a), the figure (b). The press member 22 is maintained at the standby position Wp in the 90-degree turning state of FIG. Accordingly, it is possible to select whether or not to perform the decurling operation by performing the CW and CCW control on the rotation direction of the direction changing means 30.

  As shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, when the turning unit 32 turns 180 degrees counterclockwise, the press member 22 moves to the operating position Ap. However, when turning 180 degrees counterclockwise further from the state of FIG. 6C, the rotary cam 35 does not contact the press member 22, so the press member 22 is maintained at the standby position Wp (FIG. 7 ( c) → (b) → (a)).

In other words, when the swivel unit 32 is swiveling between 0 degrees (position of FIG. 6A) and 180 degrees (position of FIG. 6C), the press member 22 moves to move. At the same time, the card is decaled. Conversely, when the turning unit 32 is turning between 180 degrees (position of FIG. 7C) and 360 degrees (position of FIG. 7A), the press member 22 is maintained at the standby position Wp. Therefore, only the turning motion is performed, and the card C is not decurled.
At this time, since the card C is decurled at 90 degrees (position of FIG. 6B), the drive motor MM is temporarily stopped for a curl correction time (several mm seconds), but 270 degrees (FIG. 7B). ), The drive motor MM is never stopped because the decurling operation is not performed.

  Further, when the card C is loaded in the state where the turning unit 32 is in the state of FIG. 6C, when the card C is decurled, it is not necessary to turn the turning unit 32 in the clockwise direction in FIG. Turns the turning unit 32 counterclockwise.

  In this case, an encoder (not shown) is provided on the rotation spindle 31 to manage the position (posture) of the turning unit 32. As a result, the rotation direction of the drive motor MM is changed between when the turning unit 32 receives the card C at the position shown in FIG. 6A and when the card is received at the position shown in FIG.

Further, when only the decal is performed without changing the direction of the card C, the drive motor MM is rotationally driven from the position shown in FIG. 6A to obtain the state shown in FIG. Thereafter, the drive motor MM is rotationally driven in the reverse direction to return to the state of FIG. 6A, and the card C is carried out. The press member 22 may adopt the form shown in FIG. 10 or FIG.

10 Supply port 11 Heating roller (heating means)
13 Card transport path 14 Film supply path 15 Stacker 20 Curl correction means 22 Press member 22a Upper roller 22b Lower roller 28 Card entry path 30 Direction changing means (swivel unit)
31 Rotating spindle 32 Rotating frame (unit frame)
32a Side frame frame 32b Side frame frame 33 Nip means Rd Roller (drive side)
Rf roller (driven side)
33F First roller pair 33B Second roller pair 35 Rotating cam 35x Rotating shaft 37 Eccentric cam 37r Roller 38 Rotating shaft 40 Slide lever 40a Card engaging portion 42 Rotating cam 60 Control means P Processing position F Film material C Recording card Md Transport drive Means (card transport motor)
Mf drive means (film transport motor)
MT slewing drive means (swivel motor)
MP press drive means (shift motor)
MR feed motor S1 card detection sensor α1 first angle position (loading angle posture)
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 provided in the card conveying path, for changing the angle orientation of the recording card from the heating means;
With
The direction changing means includes
A unit frame pivotally supported on the device frame;
A card entry path formed in the unit frame;
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 curl correcting means provided on the unit frame for correcting the curl of the recording card;
Consists of
The curl correcting means is
A press member for bending and deforming the recording card held by the nip means;
A press driving means for moving the press member between a standby position retracted from the card entry path and an operating position for bending and deforming the recording card;
A recording card processing device. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising:
Furthermore, it comprises control means for controlling the turning drive means and the press drive means,
This control means
A direction changing operation for converting the recording card by a predetermined angle from a carry-in angle posture to a carry-out angle posture by the direction changing means,
During the angle conversion from the carry-in angle posture to the carry-out angle posture, the curl correcting operation of the recording card by the curl correcting means,
A recording card processing apparatus, wherein the turning drive means and the press drive means are controlled to be executed. The control means includes
The recording card performs the curl correcting operation of the recording card by the curl correcting means at 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 recording card processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the press drive unit is driven and controlled as described above. The nip means includes
Consists of at least a pair of roller means pressed against each other,
3. The recording card processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the roller means is connected to a conveyance driving means for carrying the recording card in and out along the card entry path. 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,
3. 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,
6. The press drive means according to claim 1, wherein the press drive means is configured to move from a standby position where the press roller pair is spaced apart from each other to an operating position where the recording card is bent and deformed. The recording card processing apparatus according to any one of the above. The direction changing means includes
2. The recording card processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording card processing apparatus is disposed on the downstream side in the card transfer direction when a film material is attached to the recording card by the heating means. In the film material supply path, a film base supply unit,
An image forming unit for forming an image on the film substrate;
Is provided,
This image forming unit
A thermal transfer ink ribbon;
A thermal head for forming an image on the film substrate;
The recording card processing device according to claim 1, wherein the recording card processing device is configured as follows. The card correcting operation is performed by the curl correcting means while the direction changing means is rotating in a predetermined section, and the card correcting operation by the curl correcting means is performed while the direction changing means is rotating outside the predetermined section. The card processing device according to claim 1, wherein the card processing device is configured not to perform the processing. 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 recording card making method is characterized in that in the process of turning the recording card in a predetermined direction, an operation of curving and deforming the recording card to correct the curl is simultaneously performed.

Images