JP7463779B2 - Card Transport System - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a card transport system.

Card printers have traditionally been used to produce driver's licenses, credit cards, cash cards, employee ID cards, identity cards, and other ID cards.

This card printer has a card magazine that stores many stacked cards. Cards are then removed one by one from the card magazine.

The card removed from the card magazine is then sent via a feeding device to the printing section of the card printer where it is printed, and if necessary, the necessary information is written to the IC chip built into the card in the writing section of the card printer.

By the way, cards stored in a card magazine are sucked up by a suction head that includes a suction section, lifted upward, and then removed to the outside and sent to the printing section inside the card printer for printing. Conventionally, however, when the suction head descends to a card in the card magazine, it has sometimes collided strongly with the card inside the card magazine, damaging the card.

In addition, after the suction head picks up the card and lifts it upward, the card may not be sufficiently attracted to the suction head, causing the card to fall off the suction head.

Furthermore, to detect when a card magazine is empty, a card detection sensor must be attached to each card magazine, which increases manufacturing costs. Also, if the number of card magazines is increased, a card detection sensor must be attached to each card magazine, which further increases manufacturing costs.

JP 2013-180897 A

The present disclosure has been made in consideration of these points, and aims to provide a card transport system that can reliably detect cards falling from the suction head without damaging the cards when the suction head suctions and removes cards from the card magazine to the outside, and can also easily detect when the card magazine is empty.

The present disclosure relates to a card transfer system that includes a suction head including a suction section that suctions a card in a card magazine that stores multiple cards in a stacked manner and removes the card from the card magazine, and a holder that holds the suction head and is movable in the vertical direction, and the suction head has a card detection sensor that detects the presence or absence of the card.

The present disclosure is a card transport system in which the card detection sensor detects the presence or absence of the card in the card magazine.

The present disclosure relates to a card transport system in which the card detection sensor detects the presence or absence of the card adsorbed to the adsorption section.

The present disclosure relates to a card transport system in which the card detection sensor is an optical sensor including a light-emitting section and a light-receiving section.

The present disclosure relates to a card transport system in which the card detection sensor is a contact sensor.

The present disclosure relates to a card transport system in which the card detection sensor detects the presence or absence of the card in the card magazine, a reflective surface is formed on the bottom surface of the card magazine that emits a reflected light different from that of the card, and the card detection sensor detects the reflective surface of the card magazine to detect the absence of the card in the card magazine.

As described above, according to the present disclosure, when a card in a card magazine is sucked up by a suction head and removed to the outside, the card can be reliably detected as it falls from the suction head without damaging the card, and further, it can be easily detected when the card magazine is empty.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a card transport system according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2A is a diagram showing the front surface of an IC card. FIG. 2B is a diagram showing the back side of the IC card. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the card printer. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the card transfer system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the lifting mechanism. FIG. 6 is a view showing the lifting mechanism as viewed from a direction different by 90 degrees from FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a card detection sensor attached to a suction head. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a modified example of the card detection sensor. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a card transport system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10A is a schematic diagram showing a comparative example. FIG. 10B is a side view showing a comparative example. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a reflecting surface of a card magazine.

First Embodiment
The first embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Figures 1 to 4 show a card transport system according to the first embodiment.

First, referring to Figure 3, a card printer 20 incorporating a transport system will be described. The card printer 20 prints the necessary front information 2a and face image information 2b for each individual on the front surface 2 of an IC card (hereinafter simply referred to as a card) 1 including an IC chip 1a as shown in Figures 2A and 2B, prints back information 3a on the back surface 3 of the IC card, and writes the front information 2a and back information 3a into the IC chip 1a to produce IC cards such as employee cards, bank cards, and driver's licenses.

The necessary front information 2a here may be the individual's name, address, etc. The back information 3a may be detailed information such as notes that cannot be written on the front, and an individual's ID number (ID information) 2c may be printed on the front 2 of the IC card 1. In this embodiment, for example, a driver's license is produced by the card printer 20.

In addition, in the card printer 20, surface information 2a is written into the IC chip 1a of the IC card 1.

Furthermore, downstream of the card printer 20, a printer 40 with a back writing function is connected, which writes back information 3a into the IC chip 1a of the IC card 1 and prints the back information 3a on the back of the IC card 1 (see Figure 3).

Furthermore, this printer 40 with back-side writing function is connected to an additional information label issuing unit 28 that reads the back-side information 3a from the IC chip 1a of the IC card 1, prints additional information from the back-side information 3a that cannot be printed on the back side 3 of the IC card 1, creates an additional information label, and issues this additional information label (see Figure 3).

In addition, the card printer 20 can also print only on cards that do not have an IC chip instead of IC cards.

Next, an overview of the card printer 20 is shown in Figure 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, the card printer 20 comprises a casing 20A, four card magazines 21a-21d that are provided at the top inside the casing 20A and store IC cards 1 in a stacked manner, a card transfer system 50 that transfers the IC cards 1 from each card magazine 21, and a Y printing unit 22, an M printing unit 23, and a C printing unit 24 that are provided downstream of the card transfer system 50 and print face image information 2b on the surface 2 of the IC card 1. Of these, the Y printing unit 22 prints yellow on the surface 2 of the IC card 1, the M printing unit 23 prints magenta on the surface 2 of the IC card 1, and the C printing unit 24 prints cyan on the surface 2 of the IC card 1, and the face image information 2b is printed by the Y printing unit 22, the M printing unit 23, and the C printing unit 24.

In addition, downstream of the C printing unit 24 is an ink fixing unit 25 that fixes the ink printed by the Y printing unit 22, M printing unit 23 and C printing unit 24 onto the surface of the IC card 1, and further downstream of the ink fixing unit 25 is a surface printing unit 26 that prints surface information 2a and ID information 2c on the surface 2 of the IC card 1. In this case, the printer units 22 to 26 are made up of the Y printing unit 22, M printing unit 23, C printing unit 24, ink fixing unit 25 and surface printing unit 26.

After passing through the surface printing section 26, the IC card 1 is then sent to the first reader/writer 27 and then from the drop section 38 to the conveyor line 33 below the casing 20A.

Of these, the first reader/writer 27 writes the surface information 2a and ID information 2c to the IC chip 1a of the IC card 1.

Furthermore, along the conveying line 33, a first protective sheet forming section 29 is provided which provides a first protective sheet (not shown) on the surface 2 of the IC card 1 to protect the surface information 2a and face image information 2b printed on the surface 2 of the IC card 1, and downstream of the first protective sheet forming section 29, a second protective sheet forming section 30 is provided which further provides a second protective sheet (not shown) on the first protective sheet.

In addition, downstream of the conveying line 33, there is a sorting and discharging section 37 that receives IC cards 1 with surface information 2a, face image information 2b, and ID information 2c printed on the surface 2 and with the surface information 2a and ID information 2c written in the IC chip 1a, and distributes the IC cards 1 to the first stacking section 35a, the second stacking section 35b, or the backside print stacking section 36.

Of these, the first stacking unit 35a and the second stacking unit 35b stack IC cards 1 that do not require printing on the back side 3 based on the type of IC card 1. The back side printing stacking unit 36 stacks IC cards 1 that require back side information 3a to be written into the IC chip 1a by a downstream printer 40 with a back side writing function and that require the back side information 3a to be printed on the back side 3 of the IC card 1.

The IC card 1 sent to the backside printing stacking unit 36 is then sent sequentially to the printer with backside writing function 40 and the additional information label issuing unit 28.

The sorting and ejection unit 37 has the function of reading the ID information 2c written in the IC chip 1a of the IC card 1, and based on the read ID information 2c, the sorting and ejection unit 37 determines whether or not there is back side information 3a to be printed on the IC card 1.

Then, only IC cards 1 having back side information 3a to be printed are sent to the back side printing stacking section 36 by the sorting and ejection section 37, and IC cards 1 not having back side information 3a to be printed are sent to the first stacking section 35a and the second stacking section 35b.

The printer 40 with back writing function also has a second reader/writer 41 that writes the necessary back information 3a into the IC chip 1a of the IC card 1, and a back printing unit 42 that prints the necessary back information 3a on the back surface 3 of the IC card 1. Furthermore, an entrance stacker 40a is provided upstream of the second reader/writer 41 and the back printing unit 42, and an exit stacker 40b is provided downstream of the second reader/writer 41 and the back printing unit 42.

The card printer 20 and the printer with back-side writing function 40 are driven and controlled by the control device 20a.

Next, the card transfer system 50 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1. As described above, the card transfer system 50 removes the IC cards 1 loaded in the four card magazines 21a to 21d from the card magazines 21a to 21d, transfers them, and inverts them.

In this case, the four card magazines 21a-21d are placed on mounting sections 21A-21D that are arranged in a straight line above the card printer 20, and therefore the card magazines 21a-21d placed on the mounting sections 21A-21D are also arranged side by side in the direction of the straight line L. Inside each of the card magazines 21a-21d, multiple IC cards 1 are stored in layers with their back surfaces 3 facing upward. Each of the card magazines 21a-21d is also provided with an exchange flag detection section 95a-95d that indicates whether the card magazine 21a-21d is new or not. Each of the card magazines 21a-21d is also provided with a card type detection section 96a-96d that detects the type of IC card 1 in the card magazine 21a-21d.

The card transfer system 50 according to this embodiment includes a suction device (also called a suction head) 60 that suctions the back surface 3 of the IC card 1 in the card magazines 21a to 21d from above and removes it from the upper opening of the card magazines 21a to 21d, and a card sending-out mechanism 60A that includes a sending-out device, such as a conveyor belt 51, that sends out the suction device 60 in the horizontal direction. Of these, the conveyor belt 51 is stretched between drive rollers 51a and 51b, and is capable of reciprocating horizontally along the straight line L direction.

Next, the connection structure between the suction device 60 and the conveyor belt 51 will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, a lifting mechanism 56 is fixed to the conveyor belt 51, and this lifting mechanism 56 can be moved horizontally by the conveyor belt 51. The lifting mechanism 56 has a lifting mechanism main body 56A that can be moved horizontally by the conveyor belt 51, and a lifting belt 57 that is disposed within the lifting mechanism main body 56A and can move up and down, of which the lifting belt 57 is stretched between drive rollers 57a and 57b and can move back and forth in the up and down direction.

A holder 61 is attached to the lift belt 57, and a suction device 60 having an adsorption portion 60a is provided on the holder 61 so as to be freely rotatable. In Figs. 5 and 6, the holder 61 is provided so as to protrude from the lift belt 57 in the direction of a straight line x perpendicular to the straight line L, and the suction device 60 is provided on the holder 61 so as to be rotatable around the straight line x. The suction device 60 has an adsorption device main body 60b and an adsorption portion (also called a suction cup) 60a provided on the adsorption device main body 60b that adsorbs the back surface 3 of the IC card 1, and by rotating with respect to the holder 61, the adsorption portion 60a can be directed downward or upward.

The suction device (suction head) 60 will now be described further with reference to FIG. 7. As described above, a holder 61 is attached to the lift belt 57, and the suction device 60 is rotatably mounted on the tip of this holder 61. The suction device 60 has a suction device main body 60b and a suction section (suction cup) 60a that is provided on the suction device main body 60b and suctions the back side of the IC card 1. Furthermore, a card detection sensor (optical sensor) 80 having, for example, a light projecting section 81 and a light receiving section 82, which detects the presence or absence of an IC card 1 near the suction section 60a, is attached to the suction device main body 60b.

In FIG. 7, when light is irradiated from the light-projecting unit 81 to the IC card 1, the light irradiated to the IC card 1 is reflected by the IC card 1 and enters the light-receiving unit 82, which detects the presence or absence of the IC card 1. Information from the light-receiving unit 82 is then sent to the control device 20a, which determines the presence or absence of the IC card 1.

The suction section 60a of the suction device 60 is connected to the suction device main body 60b, a rotating seal 93 between the suction device main body 60b and the holder 61, and a vacuum line 91 that extends through the holder 61, and a suction pump 90 is connected to this vacuum line 91.

A rotating body 55 having an insertion opening 55a through which the IC card 1 is inserted is disposed downstream of the conveyor belt 51 in the conveying direction (direction of straight line L).

In addition, a transport roller (not shown) is provided in the insertion port 55a of the rotating body 55 to pull in the IC card 1 that has been sucked by the suction section 60a of the suction device 60. The IC card 1 that has been sucked by the suction section 60a of the suction device 60 is then pulled in the direction of line L into the insertion port 55a of the rotating body 55. The rotating body 55 then rotates 180° about a rotation axis that is parallel to line L. As a result, the IC card 1 that has been sucked by the suction section 60a of the suction device 60 with the back surface 3 facing upward and inserted into the insertion port 55a of the rotating body 55 can be flipped 180° by the rotating body 55 to change the position of the IC card 1 so that the front surface 2 faces upward.

As mentioned above, the Y printing section 22 is disposed downstream of the rotating body 55 in the transport direction of the IC card 1, and this Y printing section 22 has approximately the same structure as the M printing section 23 and the C printing section 24. That is, the Y printing section 22 has a print head 22a that heats the ink ribbon 22r, a feed section 22b of the ink ribbon 22r, and a winding section 22c of the ink ribbon 22r.

Next, the operation of this embodiment with such a configuration will be explained with reference to FIG.

First, card magazines 21a to 21d, each containing multiple IC cards 1 stacked in multiple layers, are mounted on mounting sections 21A to 21D of the card printer 20, and the card magazines 21a to 21d are arranged so as to line up on a straight line L. The IC cards 1 stacked in each card magazine 21a to 21d are blank IC cards 1 with no printing or writing on them, and the IC cards 1 are stored in the card magazines 21a to 21d with their back surfaces 3 facing upwards.

Card magazine 21a stores IC cards 1 for producing driver's licenses for good drivers, card magazine 21b stores IC cards 1 for producing driver's licenses for ordinary drivers, card magazine 21c stores IC cards 1 for producing driver's licenses for new drivers, and card magazine 21d stores IC cards 1 for experienced drivers (those who have surrendered their licenses). The types of IC cards 1 in these card magazines 21a to 21d are detected by card type detection units 96a to 96d, and information from the card type detection units 96a to 96d is sent to control unit 20a.

Next, the control device 20a determines whether there is a request to issue an IC card 1, and if there is, the lifting mechanism 56 that holds the suction device 60 moves along the conveyor belt 51 to the card magazine 21a to 21d that contains the IC card 1 for which there is a request to issue an IC card 1.

The card magazines 21a to 21d are open at the top, and the side of the card magazines 21a to 21d facing the lifting mechanism 56 (the backs of the card magazines 21a to 21d in FIG. 1) are also open.

For example, when an IC card 1 for which issuance is required is stored in card magazine 21d, lift mechanism 56 reaches the rear of card magazine 21d, and holder 61 attached to lift belt 57 of lift mechanism 56 enters card magazine 21d from the rear. Next, holder 61 is lowered by lift belt 57, and suction portion 60a of suction device 60 attached to the tip of holder 61 suctions rear surface 3 of topmost IC card 1.

Next, the suction action of the suction device (suction head) 60 on the IC card will be described with reference to FIG. 7. First, as the lift belt 57 descends, the holder 61 and the suction device 60 descend and approach the back surface 3 of the topmost IC card 1 among the IC cards 1 stacked in the card magazine 21d. In this case, the drive roller 57a of the lift belt 57 is driven by a stepping motor and gradually descends at a constant pitch.

During this time, light is constantly irradiated onto the IC card 1 from the light-emitting portion 81 of the card detection sensor 80.

Furthermore, when the suction device 60 descends and the light irradiated from the light-emitting unit 81 onto the IC card 1 is reflected from the IC card 1 and received by the light-receiving unit 82, the control device 20a determines that the IC card 1 is present in the card magazine 21d, and stops the descent of the lifting belt 57, the holder 61, and the suction device 60.

In this embodiment shown in FIG. 7, when the card detection sensor 80 consisting of a light-emitting section 81 and a light-receiving section 82 detects the presence of an IC card 1, it is preferable that the distance between the suction section 60a and the IC card 1 is such that the IC card 1 can be sufficiently adsorbed by the suction section 60a.

In this case, the suction pump 90 is not yet operating, and the control device 20a only operates the suction pump 90 when it recognizes the presence of the IC card 1 through a signal from the light receiving unit 82. At this time, the suction unit 60a of the suction device 60 can suction the back side of the topmost IC card 1 in the card magazine 21.

Then, light is continuously irradiated from the light projecting unit 81 to the IC card 1, and the light reflected from the IC card 1 is received by the light receiving unit 82. In this way, the control device 20a can recognize that the IC card 1 is definitely being adsorbed and held by the adsorption unit 60a of the adsorption device 60.

Then, the holder 61 and the suction device 60 are raised at high speed by the lifting belt 57, and the lifting mechanism 56 moves along the conveyor belt 51 by the card delivery mechanism 60A having the conveyor belt 51 as a whole. Next, the IC card 1 that has been adsorbed to the adsorption portion 60a of the adsorption device 60 is introduced into the insertion port 55a of the rotating body 55 by the conveyor roller, and the rotating body 55 rotates 180 degrees, changing the position of the IC card 1 so that the front surface 2 faces upward, and the IC card 1 is turned over.

Next, the IC card 1 in the insertion port 55a of the rotating body 55 is sent to the Y printing unit 22 side by the transport rollers in the insertion port 55a of the rotating body 55.

Then, the Y printing unit 22, the M printing unit 23 and the C printing unit 24 print yellow, magenta and cyan respectively on the surface 2 of the IC card 1, and in this way the facial image information 2b is printed on the surface 2 of the IC card 1.

Next, the IC card 1 is sent to the ink fixing unit 25, where the ink of the facial image information 2b printed by the Y printing unit 22, the M printing unit 23 and the C printing unit 24 is fixed onto the surface of the IC card 1.

The IC card 1 is then sent to the surface printing unit 26, where surface information 2a and ID information 2c are printed on the surface 2 of the IC card 1.

Next, the IC card 1 is sent to the first reader/writer 27, where the surface information 2a, face image information 2b, and ID information 2c are written to the IC chip 1a of the IC card 1.

The IC card 1, with the surface information 2a, face image information 2b, and ID information 2c printed on the surface 2 in this manner and with the surface information 2a and ID information 2c written to the IC chip 1a, is then transported from the drop section 38 along the transport line 33 to the first protective sheet forming section 29, where a first protective sheet is formed on the surface of the IC card 1. The IC card 1 is then transported along the transport line 33 to the second protective sheet forming section 30, where a second protective sheet is formed on the first protective sheet of the IC card 1.

The IC cards 1 are then transported along the transport line 33 and reach the sorting and discharging section 37. The IC cards 1 are sorted by the sorting and discharging section 37. That is, among the IC cards 1, those that have front information 2a, face image information 2b, and ID information 2c printed only on the front side 2, have front information 2a and ID information 2c written to the IC chip 1a, and do not need back information 3a printed on the back side 3 and do not need back information 3a written to the IC chip 1a are sent to the first stacking section 35a and the second stacking section 35b.

On the other hand, an IC card 1 that has surface information 2a, face image information 2b, and ID information 2c printed on the surface 2, has surface information 2a and ID information 2c written to the IC chip 1a, and also needs to have back information 3a printed on the back 3 and needs to have back information 3a written to the IC chip 1a is sent to the back print stacking unit 36.

Next, the IC card 1 sent to the backside printing stacking unit 36 is sent to the printer 40 with backside writing function. Inside the printer 40 with backside writing function, the second reader/writer 41 writes the backside information 3a into the IC chip 1a of the IC card 1, and then the backside information 3a is printed on the backside 3 of the IC card 1 by the backside printing unit 42.

In this way, the printing and writing operations on the IC card 1 are completed by the card printer 20 and the printer with back side writing function 40, and a printed and written IC card 1 is obtained.

The components of the card printer 20 and the printer with back-side writing function 40 are driven and controlled by the control device 20a as described above.

In addition, IC cards 1 that are determined to have no back side information to be printed and sent to the first stacking unit 35a and the second stacking unit 35b are discharged to the outside without passing through the printer 40 with back side writing function.

The IC card 1 is then sent to the additional information label issuing unit 28 after passing through the printer 40 with back-side writing function. This additional information label issuing unit 28 reads the back side information 3a from the IC chip 1a of the IC card 1, and prints the additional information that cannot be printed on the back side of the IC card 1 from the back side information 3a to create and issue an additional information label. The additional information label obtained in this way is then affixed to the desired position on the back side 3 of the IC card 1.

In this way, the front information 2a, face image information 2b and ID information 2c are printed on the front surface 2, the back information 3a is printed on the back surface 3, the front information 2a, the back information 3a and the ID information 2c are written to the IC chip 1a, and an IC card 1 with an additional information label affixed to the back surface 3 can be produced with high accuracy and efficiency.

Next, a comparative example of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 10A and 10B.

As shown in Figures 10A and 10B, card magazines 21a and 21b are placed on placement sections 21A and 21B, and IC cards 1 are stacked with their front faces 2 facing upwards in card magazines 21a and 21b placed on placement sections 21A and 21B. The IC cards 1 in card magazines 21a and 21b are sent from the bottom IC card 1 to the collective conveyor line 32 by sending devices 32a and 32b provided for each card magazine 21a and 21b, and then sent from this collective conveyor line 32 to the Y printing section 22.

In the comparative example shown in Figures 10A and 10B, a delivery device 32a, 32b is provided for each card magazine 21a, 21b, and the IC card 1 delivered from below each card magazine 21a, 21b by the delivery device 32a, 32b is sent to the Y printing unit 22 side by a collective conveyor line 32 that is perpendicular to the delivery direction of the delivery devices 32a, 32b.

At the exit of each card magazine 21a, 21b, a stopper 62 is provided to feed only the bottom IC card 1, and the feeding devices 32a, 32b are provided with claws 63 to feed the IC cards 1 in each card magazine 21a, 21b. In this comparative example, each card magazine 21a, 21b has a feeding device 32a, 32b, and the IC cards 1 fed from the feeding devices 32a, 32b are turned 90 degrees in a plan view and transported along the collective transport line 32. This makes the structure of the feeding device of each card magazine 21a, 21b complicated, and the feeding lines of each card magazine 21a, 21b are also complicated, with parts turning 90 degrees. Furthermore, since the IC cards 1 in each card magazine 21a, 21b are stored with their front faces facing upwards, the IC cards 1 are easily scratched.

In contrast, according to this embodiment, the direction in which the IC card 1 is dispensed from each card magazine 21a to 21d is limited to one direction parallel to the arrangement direction L of the card magazines 21a to 21d, so the structure of the dispenser for the IC card 1 can be simplified. In addition, since the back surface 3 of the IC card 1 stored in the card magazines 21a to 21d faces upward, the front surface 2 of the IC card 1 will not be scratched inside the card magazines 21a to 21d.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the card detection sensor 80 consisting of the light projecting section 81 and the light receiving section 82 is provided near the suction section 60a of the suction device main body 60b of the suction device 60, so that the card detection sensor 80 can reliably detect that the IC card 1 is stacked and stored in the card magazines 21a to 21d. After the card detection sensor 80 detects the IC card 1 in this way, the control device 20a stops the descent of the lifting belt 57 and the suction device 60. In this case, the distance between the suction section 60a of the suction device 60 and the IC card 1 is maintained at a distance that allows the suction section 60a to suction the IC card 1. Therefore, the suction device 60 descends and the suction section 60a of the suction device 60 does not collide with the IC cards 1 stacked in the card magazines 21a to 21d, and damage and scratches to the suction section 60a or the IC card 1 can be prevented in advance. Furthermore, if the IC card 1 that is adsorbed to the adsorption section 60a of the adsorption device 60 falls, the card detection sensor 80 can detect this fall, and the control device 20a can stop the entire system, preventing a transport jam caused by the dropped IC card 1.

In addition, since the card detection sensor 80 is provided in the suction device 60 to detect the presence or absence of IC cards 1 stacked in the card magazines 21a to 21d, there is no need to provide a card detection sensor in each card magazine 21a to 21d to detect the IC cards 1 in the card magazines 21a to 21d. Therefore, even if a large number of card magazines 21a to 21d are installed, manufacturing costs can be reduced compared to when a card detection sensor is provided for each card magazine 21a to 21d. Furthermore, the card detection sensor 80 detects that IC cards 1 are stacked and stored in the card magazines 21a to 21d, and only then can the suction pump 90 be operated to suction the IC cards 1 in the card magazines 21a to 21d with the suction unit 60a of the suction device 60. Therefore, the suction pump 90 is not unnecessarily operated to cause dirt or impurities to adhere to the suction surface of the suction unit 60a, and the suction surface of the suction unit 60a can be kept clean.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, a reflective surface 89 may be formed on the bottom surface of the card magazines 21a-21d, which emits reflected light different from the light reflected from the IC card 1 when light from the light projector is irradiated onto the bottom surface (see FIG. 11). One example of such a reflective surface is the reflective surface 89 made of a black plate, which emits reflected light of a different intensity from the light reflected from the IC card 1.

By providing a reflective surface 89 made of a black plate on the bottom surface of card magazines 21a to 21d in this way, when the suction device 60 descends and irradiates light from the light-emitting unit 81, and the light-receiving unit 82 receives reflected light from a reflective surface different from the light reflected from the IC card 1, the control device 20a can recognize, based on the information from the light-receiving unit 82, that there is no IC card 1 remaining in card magazines 21a to 21d, i.e., that card magazines 21a to 21d are empty.

Next, a modified example of the suction device (suction head) 60 will be described further with reference to FIG. 8. As described above, the holder 61 is attached to the lift belt 57, and the suction device 60 is rotatably attached to the tip of the holder 61. The suction device 60 has a suction device main body 60b and a suction section (suction cup) 60a that is attached to the suction device main body 60b and suctions the back side of the IC card 1. The suction device main body 60b is further equipped with a card detection sensor (contact sensor) 85 that detects the presence or absence of an IC card 1 near the suction section 60a, for example, a sensor main body 86, a limit switch 87 that is provided on the sensor main body 86 so as to be movable forward and backward, and a rocking body 88 that is attached to the sensor main body 86 so as to be rockable, and that presses and activates the limit switch 87 by contacting the IC card 1.

In FIG. 8, when the rocker 88 of the card detection sensor 85 comes into contact with the IC card 1, the rocker 88 presses and activates the limit switch 87. In this way, the limit switch 87 detects the presence or absence of the IC card 1, and information from the limit switch 87 is sent to the control device 20a, which then determines the presence or absence of the IC card 1.

The suction section 60a of the suction device 60 is connected to a vacuum line 91 that extends through the suction device body 60b and the holder 61, and a suction pump 90 is connected to this vacuum line 91.

Next, the suction action of an IC card by a modified suction device (suction head) 60 shown in Figure 8 will be described. First, the suction device 60 descends as the lift belt 57 descends, approaching, for example, the back surface 3 of the topmost IC card 1 among the IC cards 1 stacked in the card magazine 21d. In this case, the drive roller 57a of the lift belt 57 is driven by a stepping motor and gradually descends at a constant pitch.

When the suction device 60 is further lowered and the oscillating body 88 of the card detection sensor 85 comes into contact with the IC card 1, the oscillating body 88 oscillates and presses and activates the limit switch 87, thus detecting the presence of the IC card 1.

Next, information from the limit switch 87 is sent to the control device 20a, which determines that an IC card 1 is present in the card magazine 21d and stops the descent of the lifting belt 57 and the suction device 60.

In the modified example shown in FIG. 8, when a card detection sensor 85 having a sensor body 86, a limit switch 87, and a rocking body 88 detects the presence of an IC card 1, it is preferable that the distance between the suction portion 60a and the IC card 1 is such that the IC card 1 can be adsorbed by the suction portion 60a.

In this case, the suction pump 90 is not yet operating, and the control device 20a only operates the suction pump 90 when it determines the presence of an IC card 1 based on a signal from the limit switch 87. At this time, the suction unit 60a of the suction device 60 can suction the back side of the topmost IC card 1 in the card magazine 21.

Then, the limit switch 87 continues to operate, and information from the limit switch 87 is sent to the control device 20a. In this way, the control device 20a can recognize that the IC card 1 is definitely being adsorbed and held by the suction portion 60a of the suction device 60.

As described above, according to the modified example shown in FIG. 8, the card detection sensor 85 consisting of the sensor body 86, the limit switch 87, and the swinging body 88 is provided near the suction part 60a of the suction device body 60b of the suction device 60, so that the card detection sensor 85 can reliably detect that the IC card 1 is stacked and stored in the card magazines 21a to 21d. After the card detection sensor 85 detects the IC card 1 in this way, the control device 20a stops the descent of the lift belt 57 and the suction device 60. In this case, the distance between the suction part 60a of the suction device 60 and the IC card 1 is maintained at a distance that allows the suction part 60a to suction the IC card 1. Therefore, when the suction device 60 descends, the suction part 60a of the suction device 60 does not collide with the IC cards 1 stacked in the card magazines 21a to 21d, and damage and scratches to the suction part 60a or the IC card 1 can be prevented in advance. Furthermore, if the IC card 1 that is adsorbed to the adsorption section 60a of the adsorption device 60 falls, the card detection sensor 85 can detect this fall, and the control device 20a can stop the entire system, preventing a transport jam caused by the dropped IC card 1.

In addition, since the suction device 60 is provided with a card detection sensor 85 to detect the presence or absence of IC cards 1 stacked in the card magazines 21a to 21d, there is no need to provide a card detection sensor in each card magazine 21a to 21d to detect the IC cards 1 in the card magazines 21a to 21d. Therefore, even if a large number of card magazines 21a to 21d are installed, manufacturing costs can be reduced compared to when a card detection sensor is provided for each card magazine 21a to 21d. Furthermore, only when the card detection sensor 80 detects that IC cards 1 are stacked and stored in the card magazines 21a to 21d, can the suction pump 90 be operated to suction the IC cards 1 in the card magazines 21a to 21d with the suction unit 60a of the suction device 60. Therefore, the suction pump 90 is not unnecessarily operated to cause dirt or impurities to adhere to the suction surface of the suction unit 60a, and the suction surface of the suction unit 60a can be kept clean.

Second Embodiment
Next, a card transfer system 50 according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 9. The card transfer system 50 removes, transfers and inverts the IC cards 1 loaded in the four card magazines 21a to 21d.

In this case, the four card magazines 21a to 21d are placed on mounting sections 21A to 21D that are arranged in a straight line above the card printer 20, and therefore the card magazines 21a to 21d placed on the mounting sections 21A to 21D are also arranged side by side in the direction of the straight line L. In each of the card magazines 21a to 21d, multiple IC cards 1 are stacked in layers with their back surfaces 3 facing upward.

The card transfer system 50 according to this embodiment includes a suction device 60 that sucks the back surface 3 of the IC card 1 in the card magazines 21a to 21d from above and removes it from the upper opening of the card magazines 21a to 21d, and a card sending-out mechanism 60A that includes a sending-out device, such as a conveyor belt 51, that sends out the suction device 60 in the horizontal direction. The conveyor belt 51 is stretched between drive rollers 51a and 51b, and is capable of reciprocating horizontally along the straight line L direction.

Next, the connection structure between the suction device 60 and the conveyor belt 51 will be described. A lifting mechanism 56 is fixed to the conveyor belt 51, and this lifting mechanism 56 can be moved horizontally by the conveyor belt 51. The lifting mechanism 56 has a lifting mechanism main body 56A that can be moved horizontally by the conveyor belt 51, and a lifting belt 57 that is disposed within the lifting mechanism main body 56A and can move up and down, of which the lifting belt 57 is stretched between drive rollers 57a and 57b and can move back and forth in the up and down direction (see Figures 5 and 6).

A holder 61 is attached to the lift belt 57, and a suction device 60 having an adsorption portion 60a is provided on the holder 61 so as to be freely rotatable. The holder 61 is provided so as to protrude from the lift belt 57 in the direction of a line x perpendicular to the line L, and the suction device 60 is provided on the holder 61 so as to be rotatable around the line x. The suction device 60 has an adsorption portion 60a that adsorbs the back surface 3 of the IC card 1, and by rotating relative to the holder 61, the suction portion 60a can be directed downward or upward.

In addition, a loading platform 70 having an opening 70a through which the suction device 60 passes is disposed downstream in the conveying direction (direction of straight line L) of the conveyor belt 51.

As mentioned above, the Y printing section 22 is disposed downstream of the placement table 70 in the transport direction of the IC card 1, and this Y printing section 22 has approximately the same structure as the M printing section 23 and the C printing section 24. That is, the Y printing section 22 has a print head 22a that heats the ink ribbon 22r, a feed section 22b of the ink ribbon 22r, and a winding section 22c of the ink ribbon 22r.

Next, we will explain the operation of this embodiment with such a configuration.

First, card magazines 21a to 21d, each containing multiple IC cards 1 stacked in multiple layers, are mounted on mounting sections 21A to 21D of the card printer 20, and the card magazines 21a to 21d are arranged so as to line up on a straight line L. The IC cards 1 stacked in each card magazine 21a to 21d are blank IC cards 1 with no printing or writing on them, and the IC cards 1 are stored in the card magazines 21a to 21d with their back surfaces 3 facing upwards.

In this case, card magazine 21a stores IC cards 1 for producing driver's licenses for good drivers, card magazine 21b stores IC cards 1 for producing driver's licenses for the general public, card magazine 21c stores IC cards 1 for producing driver's licenses for new drivers, and card magazine 21d stores IC cards 1 for experienced drivers (those who have surrendered their licenses).

Next, a detection unit (not shown) checks whether the above-mentioned IC cards are stored in each of the card magazines 21a to 21d.

Next, it is determined whether there is a request to issue an IC card 1, and if there is, the lifting mechanism 56 that holds the suction device 60 moves along the conveyor belt 51 to the card magazine 21a to 21d that contains the IC card 1 for which there is a request to issue an IC card 1.

In this case, the card magazines 21a to 21d are open at the top, and the side of the card magazines 21a to 21d facing the lifting mechanism 56 (the backs of the card magazines 21a to 21d in Figure 9) are also open.

For example, when an IC card 1 for which issuance is required is stored in card magazine 21d, lifting mechanism 56 reaches the rear of card magazine 21d, and holder 61 attached to lifting belt 57 of lifting mechanism 56 enters card magazine 21d from the rear. Holder 61 is then lowered by lifting belt 57, and suction portion 60a of suction device 60 attached to the tip of holder 61 suctions rear surface 3 of the topmost IC card 1 from above. In this case, suction portion 60a of suction device 60 faces downward.

Then, the holder 61 is raised by the lifting belt 57, and the lifting mechanism 56 as a whole moves along the conveyor belt 51.

Next, the lifting mechanism 56 reaches above the mounting table 70. Next, the suction device 60 attached to the lifting belt 57 of the lifting mechanism 56 rotates 180° around the straight line x, so that the suction portion 60a faces upward, and as a result, the IC card 1 adsorbed to the suction portion 60a is positioned above the suction portion 60a. Next, the lifting belt 57 of the lifting mechanism 56 descends, and the IC card 1 on the suction portion 60a is placed on the mounting table 70. The suction device 60 stops its suction function and passes through the opening 70a of the mounting table 70 and descends below the mounting table 70.

In this way, the suction device 60 rotates 180° and passes through the opening 70a of the mounting table 70 and descends, causing the IC card 1 on the mounting table 70 to change its position so that the front surface 2 faces upward.

Next, the IC card 1 on the mounting table 70 is sent to the Y printing unit 22 by a transport roller (not shown). The subsequent process is carried out in the same manner as in the first embodiment described above.

1 IC card 2 Front surface 3 Back surface 20 Card printer 20a Control device 21A to 21D Placement section 21a to 21d Card magazine 50 Card transfer system 51 Conveyor belt 51a, 51b Drive roller 55 Rotating body 55a Insertion port 56 Lifting mechanism 60 Suction device 60A Card sending mechanism 60a Suction section 60b Suction device main body 61 Holder 70 Placement base 70a Opening 72 Card lifting mechanism 80 Card detection sensor 81 Light projecting section 82 Light receiving section 85 Card detection sensor 86 Sensor main body 87 Limit switch 88 Oscillating body 90 Suction pump

Claims (5)

a suction head including a suction section that suctions a card in a card magazine that stores a plurality of cards in a stacked manner and removes the card from the card magazine;
a holder that holds the suction head and is movable in the vertical direction ;
A lifting mechanism for lifting and lowering the holder;
a suction pump connected to the suction head;
A control unit,
the suction head has a card detection sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the card in the card magazine ,
The card detection sensor sends a detection signal to the control unit.
The control unit controls the lifting mechanism to lower the holder, and when the distance between the suction head and the card reaches a distance at which the suction unit can adsorb the card based on a detection signal from the card detection sensor, stops the lifting mechanism and operates the suction pump. The card transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the card detection sensor detects the presence or absence of the card adsorbed to the adsorption section. 3. The card transport system according to claim 1 , wherein said card detection sensor is an optical sensor including a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion. 3. The card transport system according to claim 1 , wherein the card detection sensor is a contact sensor. 4. The card transport system of claim 3, wherein a reflective surface that emits a reflected light different from that of the card is formed on the bottom surface of the card magazine, and the card detection sensor detects the reflective surface of the card magazine to detect that the card is not present in the card magazine .

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