JPH02265684A - Card washing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To wash a large amount of cards within a short time by a method wherein a large number of adhered cards are separated at a predetermined interval to be inputted to a plurality of cradles rotated intermittently from an input means and subjected to ultrasonic washing. CONSTITUTION:Card cases each receiving, for example, 500 cards to be washed are stacked over 12 stages to be controlled by the pile stand part 1a of a card input part 1 so that the upper surface thereof is always set to a definite height and the card case 10 of the uppermost stage is reversed by an input hopper part 1b to be arranged on a cradle charging mechanism and the cards are mounted in a cradle part 1c while separated one at a time at a predetermined interval. Subsequently, the cradle part 1c is rotated by a predetermined angle by the stepping motor of a cradle rotation control part 7 and respectively treated in an ultrasonic washing part 2, a washing part 3, a drain part 4 and a drying part 5 to reach a card output part 6 and gathered into one bundle in an accumulation part 6a to be packed in a packing part 6b. By this method, a large amount of cards can be washed at a high speed.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application TIf] The present invention is a card cleaning device, particularly a card cleaning device for cleaning cards such as credit cards, cash cards, telephone cards, etc. before processing such as encoding, transfer, or embossing. It is related to the device.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in each processing process of cards, uniformity of the card and cleanliness of the card surface have been required. Among these, surface cleanliness has a particularly negative effect on writing during encoding and transfer effects during the process of creating graphic print cards.

However, if the card is processed immediately after manufacture, the above effects are small and it is not a major problem.Therefore, there is no card cleaning equipment that only has the function of card cleaning, and the card cleaning equipment that performs each processing step Currently, dust, oil, etc. are removed at the intake section using rollers or the like.

[Problems to be solved by the invention] However, with the recent arrival of the card era and the use of large quantities of cards, cards are rarely processed immediately after production, and are often stored for a long time after production. Things also happen.

For this reason, the surface of the card, which was clean immediately after manufacture, becomes dirty due to the embossment of the plasticizer in the oversheet and the adhesion of dust, oil, etc.

Invisible magnetic stripe cards (1nvlsib) with lines inside the card have been attracting particular attention recently.
LE MAGSTRIPE CARD) has each color printed on the oversheet, so it is easy for dirt and oil to adhere to it, and oil from the ink also comes out. Since it is larger, write failures occur frequently.

The present invention eliminates the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks and provides a card cleaning device that removes dirt, oil, and other stains from cards during each processing step, particularly during encoding, transfer, and embossing.

Furthermore, a high-speed card cleaning device that executes each cleaning process in parallel is provided.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a card cleaning device capable of preventing the adhesion of dust, oil, etc. when cards are stored.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve problem a, the card washing device of the present invention includes: (a-2) an ultrasonic cleaning means for cleaning the plurality of cards in a predetermined solution using ultrasonic waves; (a-3) solution removing means for removing the predetermined solution from the plurality of ultrasonically cleaned cards; (a-4) card outputting means for outputting the plurality of cards in close contact with each other after the solution has been removed; (b) a rotational movement means for rotationally moving the plurality of cards to each of the means sequentially and simultaneously;

(c) A card input means installed at approximately the same angle on the circumference, and (c-1) a card input means for inputting a plurality of cards in close contact with each other, separated one by one at a predetermined interval and arranged in a line. (c-2) Ultrasonic cleaning means for cleaning the plurality of cards with ultrasonic waves; (c-3) Water washing means for washing the plurality of ultrasonically cleaned cards with water; (c-4) Water washing. (c-5) a drying means for drying the plurality of cards after draining water; (c-8) a state in which the plurality of cards are brought into close contact with each other after drying. (d) rotational moving means for allocating a plurality of sets of the plurality of cards to each of the means and rotationally moving them to each of the means in sequence and simultaneously at predetermined time intervals.

[Function] In this configuration, a large number of cards can be washed at high speed by arranging each process necessary for card cleaning at approximately equal intervals on the circumference in processing order and rotating the card along the cleaning process.

[Example] Hereinafter, a card cleaning device of this example will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1A is a schematic top view of a zero-voice embodiment card washing device.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a card input section, and a pile stand section in which 12 stacked card cases loaded with 500 cards to be washed in this example are stacked so that the top surface always remains at a constant height. 1a, an input hopper section 1b in which the topmost card case of the pile stand 1a is inverted and installed using a case reversing arm, which will be described later, and a cradle loading mechanism that separates and stacks individual cards at predetermined intervals. cradle part IC.

The cradle portion 1c is rotated by a stepping motor of the cradle rotation control portion 7 to a predetermined angle (60 degrees since this example has 6 strokes).
It is rotated 60 degrees in about 20 seconds about the rotating shaft (degrees), and held there for about 30 seconds.

As described above, according to the rotation of the ladle part 1c, cleaning in the ultrasonic cleaning part 2 - washing in the water washing part 3 → draining in the draining part 4 - hot air drying in the drying part 5 → drying from the card output part 6 Each process of packaging and outputting cleaned cards is performed in sequence. Each of the above 6 steps is executed in parallel, so 1 hourly
It is possible to wash 8000 cards.

The card output section 6 includes a card stacking section 6a that collects the cards loaded in the cradle section 1c into a bundle, and a card packing section 6b that packs the cards accumulated during storage etc. in order to block them from the outside air. Contains.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram showing the configuration of the card washing device of this embodiment.

In the figure, numerals 1 to 6 are parts that execute each step explained in FIG. 1A. The sequence control section 10 centrally controls and manages the operations of each of these steps, and includes a timer 10a. Incidentally, the sequence control unit 10 has a C2 for calculation.
The sequence control unit 10, which may be composed of 0, a ROM for program storage, and an auxiliary RAM, also controls the rotation of the stepping motor 7b by the stepping motor control unit 7a, and controls the rotation of each process and the cradle IC. are synchronized.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a data input unit such as a keyboard for inputting data to the sequence control unit 10, which may, for example, change the processing speed to several levels. Reference numeral 9 denotes a display unit such as a CRT or a recording unit such as a printer. This is a data output unit for monitoring the status of this device, which consists of:

Hereinafter, the main structures and operations of the cradle rotation control section 7 and each of the process sections 1 to 6 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 to 9.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the sliding part of the card case from the pile table part 1a to the input hopper part 1b in the card input part 1.

The pile stand section 1a serves as a pile stand up/down mechanism to keep the topmost card case 21 at a constant height.
4b, a support arm 26 that grips the feed shaft 25 and moves up and down along the groove of the feed shaft 25, and a support claw 26a that supports the card case protruding from the support arm 26.
.

26b. At most 1 on the support claws 26a and 26b.
Two tiers of card cases can be stacked.

The height of the topmost card case 21 is monitored by a sensor (not shown) and is always kept at a constant height.

That is, when the top card case is removed, the next tier is raised to a certain height of the top tier by the pile stand up/down mechanism. Here, the top card case 21
The card loaded inside is assumed to be 1008.

The card 100m rotates around a rotating shaft 23, and has rotating arms 22a and 22 each having a grip portion at the tip that grips the card case.
b, the robot rotates approximately 180 degrees in the direction indicated by the arrow in the figure, and is fed into the input hopper section 1b. Here, the motor that rotates the rotating shaft 23 is not shown, and the input hopper section 1b&: The moved card is indicated by 100b. This card 100b is used to input the card into the cradle section 1c, which will be explained next, using the paddle 31. It is pressed against the cradle loading mechanism 30 with a predetermined force by a spring or the like.

Figure 3 shows the cards 100b in the pump hopper section 1b.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a cradle part IC that separates IC sheets one by one at predetermined intervals and inserts them into a cradle 32. In this figure, parts unnecessary for the explanation, such as a plate supporting the input hopper section 1b, are omitted.

The cards 100b pressed against the cradle loading mechanism 30 side by the paddle 31 are pushed downward one by one and loaded into the cradle 32 by the kicker 30a, which operates according to the rotation of the kicker motor 30b whose rotation is controlled by the rotation sensor 30c. . The cradle 32 contains cards I! for separating cards at predetermined intervals. ! li #132a is provided. In addition, the cradle 32 and the card separation teeth 32
This cradle 32, which may be integral with or separable from the cradle 32, is supported by a cradle pedestal 41 and has a feed screw 33 rotated by a feed motor 34 whose rotation is controlled by a rotation sensor 35. Then, in synchronization with the card input at the card output section 30a, the card amount! 1i32
In this embodiment, the cradle 32 is moved in the X direction by one distance a, and when the cradle 32 is advanced by 1.5 s+a, the locking motor 30b is rotated once to insert the card. Here, the card inserted into the cradle 32 is indicated by 100d.

The cards loaded one by one on the cradle 32 are rotated through each of the six processes by the cradle rotation control section 7 shown in FIG. 4 below.

A cradle pedestal 41 that supports the cradle 32 is rotatably supported by upper and lower support arms 49a and 49b attached to a protrusion 48 of a rotating shaft 47. The support arms 49a and 49b keep the cradle 32 at a constant height except when the support arms 49a and 49b rotate to lower the cradle 32 in order to immerse the cradle 32 in the solution in the ultrasonic cleaning section 2. . Note that the support arm 49a.

The rotation control of 49b will not be explained in detail.

The rotating shaft 47 rotates as follows. The stepping motor 7b is controlled by a motor start/stop signal from the stepping motor control section 7a. Torque limiter 4b connects stepping motor 7b after rotation of 60 degrees.
This is to cut off the rotational torque from. Stepping Mo J! The rotational torque from 7b is input to the 6-divided parallel cam index section 44, which rotates the rotating shaft 47 every 60 degrees. 43 is the parallel cam index section 4.
42 is a support bearing that supports the rotating shaft 47.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the ultrasonic cleaning section 2. As shown in FIG. Here, the card is designated 100e.

A card 100e is placed in a container 50 containing a predetermined solution 51.
The cradle 32 loaded with cards is lowered and immersed in the solution 51, and the ultrasonic oscillator 52 emits ultrasonic waves, and at the same time, the solution filter 53 operates to clean the solution from dirt removed from the card. Preventing. Although a fluorocarbon solvent has conventionally been used as the solution 51, due to the recent problem of fluorocarbon pollution, it is desirable to use other solvents such as triethane.

Next, the cradle 32 is moved to the washing section 3 shown in FIG. In the water washing section 3, the card 1 is washed by a high-pressure shower 61.
00f is washed with water. 60 is a water tank that receives water after washing.

Next, the cradle 32 is moved to the drain section 4 shown in FIG. In the draining section 4, a high-pressure air blower 71 applies air pressure to the card 100g to blow off water droplets on the card surface. 7o is a water tank.

Next, the cradle 32 is moved to the drying section 5 shown in FIG. In the drying section 5, warm air at a height that does not alter the quality of the card is blown onto the card 100h from a hot air fan 80 to dry the card.

Finally, the cradle 32 comes to the card output section 6, the processing steps of which are briefly illustrated in FIG. In the card output section 6, the first
As shown in Figure A, cards are stacked and packed.

First, cards are accumulated from ■→■ in FIG. The cradle 32 is turned over and the card 100 is placed in the card holder 91.
1, and the cards are stacked on the card stacking board 92 like card tOOJ (■). The stacked cards 100j are moved in the Y direction by the support stand 95 and removed from the rotating area of the cradle 32.Next, the cards 100j are placed on wrapping paper (or vinyl) 93 with protective plates that protect the cards at both ends. Together with 94a and 94b, they are placed on the card 100 (■) and packed (■).The detailed mechanism for card accumulation and card packing will not be explained.

Next, an example of the control flow of the card cleaning device of this embodiment will be explained according to the flowcharts of FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 11 to 16.

10A and 10B show the basic control flow of the sequence control section 10. FIG.

FIG. 10A is a timer control flow. In step S1, it is checked whether or not the timer 10a is 30 seconds, and if it is 30 seconds, the rotation of the rotating shaft 47 by the stepping motor 7b is started in step S2, and in step S3, the timer 10a is set to 30 seconds.
Clear a to "0". Although the timer 10a is a hard timer in this example, it may be a soft timer.

FIG. 10B shows the control of the stepping motor started in step S2. In step S5, the power to the stepping motor 7b is turned on, and in step S6, it rotates @4.
It is checked whether it has rotated 7 or 60 degrees and has reached the position where the next process is performed, and if it has reached the next position, it proceeds to step S7.
The stepping motor 7b is turned off, and in step S8, the control flow of each process shown in FIGS. 11 to 16 shown below is started.

FIG. 11 is a control flowchart of the card input section 1. In steps Sll and S12, it is checked whether the topmost card case on the pile stand is at a predetermined position, and if it is not at the predetermined position, the pile stand is moved up and down to a predetermined position. In step S13, the rotating shaft 23 is moved, and the case reversing arm 22a is moved.

22b moves the card case to the input hopper section 1b. In step S14, the input hopper section 1
From b, the cradle loading mechanism 30 and the cradle feeding section (feeding motor 34) are instructed to feed the cards one by one into the cradle 32. At step J5.516, the position of the upper card case is controlled again, and the card input process is completed.

FIG. 12 is a control flowchart for ultrasonic cleaning. Step S21. In S22, the cradle 32 is immersed in the solution 51 in the container 50. Once immersed, the process proceeds to step S23, where the ultrasonic transmitter of the ultrasonic generating section 52 is driven, and at step S24, the filter of the solution filtering section 53 is driven.

In step S25, it is checked whether 20 seconds have elapsed.
Steps 323 and 324 continue for 20 seconds.

When 20 seconds have elapsed, the process proceeds to step S26, where the cradle is raised and taken out from the solution 51, and the ultrasonic cleaning process is completed.

FIG. 13 is a control flowchart for water washing.

First, in step S31, the high-pressure shower 61 for washing with water is
is driven, waits for 70 seconds to elapse in step S32, and then
After seconds have elapsed, the water washing process is completed.

FIG. 14 is a draining control flowchart, and FIG. 15 is a drying control flowchart. The operations in these flowcharts are similar to the flushing flowchart in FIG. 13, so a description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 16 is a control flowchart for card output. In step S61, the cradle 32 is reversed. Step S
At step 62, it is checked whether all the cards have fallen, and if they have fallen, the process proceeds to step S63, where the cards are stacked as shown in FIG. In step 385, ■
The cards are packed as shown in →■, and the packed card bundle is discharged in step S66, thereby completing the card output process.

Since the above six processes are performed simultaneously and in synchronization with the rotation of the rotating shaft 47, the rotation time of the rotating shaft 47 is set based on the process that requires the longest time among the six processes.

Although six steps are shown in this example, the number of steps is not limited to six, and the number of steps may be five, with draining and drying as one step, or a dust prevention layer may be placed on the surface of the card after drying. Other steps such as spraying chemicals may also be added.

[Effect of the invention] As explained above, the present invention enables encoding, transcription,
It is possible to provide a card cleaning device that removes dirt such as dirt and oil during card production processes such as embossing.

Furthermore, it is possible to provide a card cleaning device that can clean a large amount of cards within a short period of time.

Furthermore, it is possible to provide a card cleaning device that eliminates the adhesion of dust, oil, etc. after card cleaning.

By using the card cleaning device of the present invention, processing errors, particularly encoding errors, in each step of card production can be significantly reduced.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1A is a schematic diagram of the card washing device of this embodiment, Fig. 1B is a block diagram showing the configuration of the card washing device of this embodiment, and Fig. 2 is the card pile stand and card reversing mechanism of the card input section. Figure 343 is a diagram showing the card input mechanism into the cradle of the card input unit, Figure 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the cradle rotation control unit that rotates the cradle in the order of each process, and Figure 5 is the ultrasonic cleaning unit. Figure 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the washing unit, Figure 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of the draining unit, Figure 8 is a diagram showing the configuration of the drying unit, and Figure 9 is a diagram showing the configuration of the card output unit. Figures 10Δ and 10B are flowcharts showing the main control of the sequence control unit, Figure 11 is a flowchart showing the card input control procedure, and Figure 12 is the ultrasonic cleaning control procedure. Flowchart: Figure 13 is a flowchart showing the washing control procedure; The first horizontal diagram is a flowchart showing the draining control procedure; Figure 15 is a flowchart showing the drying control procedure; Figure 16 is a flowchart showing the card output control procedure. Flowchart, in the figure, 1... card input section, 1a... pile stand section,
1b...Input hopper section, 1c...Cradle section, 2...Ultrasonic cleaning section, 3...Water washing section, 4...
Draining section, 5... Drying section, 6... Card output section, 6a
...Card accumulation section, 6b...Card packing section, 7...
- Cradle rotation control unit, 7d... Stepping motor control unit, 7b... Step motor, 8... Cradle rotation control unit, 9... Data output unit, 10... Sequence control unit, 10a...・It is a timer. Patent Applicant Nippon Data Card Co., Ltd. Figure 1A Old Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 9 Figure 16 Figure 11 - 547- ■CI')C/)

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) (a) At least (a-1) A card that is placed in a circle at approximately the same angle, and (a-1) is a card that inputs a plurality of cards that are in close contact with each other, separated one by one at a predetermined interval, and arranged in a row. (a-2) ultrasonic cleaning means for cleaning the plurality of cards in a predetermined solution using ultrasonic waves; (a-3) a solution for removing the predetermined solution from the plurality of ultrasonically cleaned cards; a removing means; (a-4) a card outputting means for outputting the plurality of cards in close contact with each other after the solution has been removed; and (b) a rotational movement means for rotationally moving the plurality of cards sequentially and simultaneously to each of the means. A card washing device comprising: (2) (c) Card input means installed at approximately the same angle on the circumference; (c-1) A card input means for inputting a plurality of closely-contact cards, separated one by one at a predetermined interval and arranged in a line. (c-2) Ultrasonic cleaning means for cleaning the plurality of cards with ultrasonic waves; (c-3) Water washing means for washing the plurality of ultrasonically cleaned cards with water; (c-4) Water washing. (c-5) a drying means for drying the plurality of cards after the water has been drained; (c-6) a state in which the plurality of cards are brought into close contact with each other after drying. and (d) rotational moving means that allocates a plurality of sets of the plurality of cards to each of the means and rotationally moves them to each of the means in sequence and simultaneously at predetermined time intervals. A card cleaning device featuring: