JPH0455246A - Feeding device for card processing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically feed cards to the feeding position by detecting the number of stock cards by a detecting means installed in the vicinity of the card-feeding position, and when it is detected that the number is less than a prescribed number, by transferring piles of cards from a storing means to the feeding position. CONSTITUTION:In a feeder 2 in the card feeding position, a stocker 3 where cards C are stacked on standby is provided. And, in a storage rack 7 in which racks are provided in layers and rows, piles S of cards are stored. When it is detected by a sensor installed in the vicinity of the feeder 2 that the number of cards C inside the stocker 3 has become less than a prescribed number, the rack 7 is moved by a translation supporting mechanism 13, and the piles of cards pushed out by a pushing mechanism 20 from a desired rack are transferred on a bottom plate 28 which has been brought to the position by the elevation of a holding mechanism 21. And then, the chuck mechanism 34 of a vertically movable mechanism 35 is moved above the bottom plate 28, and is lowered to hold the pile S of cards, and then it is transversely moved to transfer the pile S of cards on the stocker 3. Thus, the supply of cards to the feeder 2 can be continuously, and automatically carried out, enabling elimination of labor.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention relates to a supply device for a card processing machine for supplying cards to be processed to a card processing machine that processes cards formed into a rectangular plate shape. It is related to.

``Prior Art'' Generally used cards are subjected to processing operations such as writing names and the like in raised characters called embossed characters. In card processing machines that perform such processing operations, a predetermined number of cards are generally stacked on standby at a card supply position.

The cards stacked at the card supply position are laterally pulled out one by one from the bottom by the feeder of the card supply machine and supplied to the card processing machine.

There is a certain limit to the number of cards that can be stacked in the card supply position. That is, if more than a certain number of cards (for example, about 100 cards) are stacked, the weight of the cards will apply pressure to the cards at the bottom, and when the cards are fed by the feeder, the cards will come into sliding contact with each other, which may cause scratches on the card surface.

On the other hand, if less than a certain number of cards (for example, 10 or less) are stacked, there is a risk that when cards are fed by the feeder, a plurality of cards are fed at once or no cards are fed. Therefore, in the past, an operating tool was used to control the number of cards stacked at the card supply position of the card processing machine at a fixed number! Monitor every J question,
It was necessary to replenish the number of cards as appropriate so that they were within a predetermined range.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As described above, 1) The conventional card processing machine described in J. IIJ1. This made it difficult for a single operator to monitor multiple card processing machines, which precluded efforts to save labor.

This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and by increasing the interval between monitoring by the operator, it becomes possible for one operator to monitor multiple card processing machines.
The purpose of this invention is to provide a card processing machine supply device that can save labor.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a device for supplying edges to be processed to a card processing machine for processing edges formed in a rectangular plate shape. 111, a card stock quantity detecting means provided near a card supply position of the card processing machine to detect when the number of cards in stock at the position has become less than a predetermined number; The above-mentioned problem is solved by comprising a conveyance means for conveying the stack of cards from the storage means to the card supply position based on a detection signal from the means.

[Operation] In this invention, when the number of cards in stock at the card supply position of the card processing machine becomes less than a predetermined number, the card stock number detecting means of the supply device detects all the cards in stock and sends out a detection signal. The conveyance means of the supply device receives the detection signal from the card stock number detection means and conveys the pile of cards from the storage means to the card supply position based on the detection signal. This results in
The supply device automatically supplies cards to the card supply device of the card processing machine until there are no more cards in the storage means.

"Embodiments" Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 to 4 are diagrams showing a card processing E machine supply device 1'1°, which is a first embodiment of the present invention. In these figures, reference numeral 1 denotes a card processing machine supplying device (hereinafter referred to as "supply device" at 11t) according to this embodiment, and reference numeral 2 denotes a card provided at a card supplying position of a card processing machine (not shown). This is a supply feeder. In addition, feeder 2
To explain briefly, this feeder 2 is provided with a stocker 3 for holding cards C in a stacked state. This stocker 3 is -1-
It is formed in the shape of a box with its lower surface removed, and two portions of its sides are provided with notches 4 for allowing the chuck (arm 37) of the supply device 1, which will be described later, to enter therein.
．． 4 is formed. Directly below the stocker 3, a pawl 6 is arranged which is reciprocated in the horizontal direction by a drive mechanism 5, and when the side of the pawl 6 engages with the card C at the bottom of the stocker 3, , the card C is supplied to the card processing machine.

The supply device 1 according to this embodiment includes a rack (storage means) 7 in which l1lS of cards C are stored, and the stocker 3.
A card stock number detector detects that the number of cards C in stock has become less than a predetermined number, and a stack S of cards C stored in the rack 7 is moved to the feeder 2 based on a signal from this detector. The transport machine (transport means) 9 that transports the stocker 3 is approximately +iQ.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the rack 7 includes a vertical plate 10.
, . . . and the horizontal plates 11, . These vertical plates lO1... and horizontal plates 11,...
The pile S of the cards C described above is stored in storage sections 12, 12, . Specifically, a pair of rails (not shown) extending in the depth direction of the rack 7 are provided on the horizontal plate ll forming the lower surface of each storage section 12, and the rails straddle these rails. By placing the pile S of cards C on the storage section 12, the pile S of cards C is stored in the storage section 12.

The rack 7 is supported by a substrate 14 through a translation support mechanism 13 so as to be movable in its width direction. The translation support mechanisms 13 are arranged in parallel along the width direction of the rack 7 at intervals slightly narrower than the depth thereof, and
A pair of slider rods 15.15 are fixed at a predetermined distance above the upper surface of the substrate 14, and the slider rods 15 and 15 are fitted onto the outside of the slider rods 15 and are movable along the axial direction of the slider rods 15. a cylindrical slide member 16;
It is composed of... And slide part old 1
6, . . . are provided in one row on each slider bar 15, and these sliding portions 16, . Accordingly, the rack 7 is translated.

Further, the slider rod 15.
An elongated hole 17 extending along the axial direction of these slider rods 15 is formed in a portion corresponding to between the slider rods 15 and 15, and a long hole 17 extends downward from the lower part of the rack 7 through the elongated hole 17. A lead member 18 is provided protrudingly. A chain 19 is connected to the lower part of the lead portion 8118, and the rack 7 is driven in translation by being rotationally driven by a driver groove (not shown).

On the other hand, the card stock number detector is equipped with a reflective proximity sensor 8 that is installed at a predetermined height on the side surface of the stocker 3 of the feeder 2, as shown in FIG. This proximity sensor 8 does not send a signal if the height of the stacked cards C is higher than the height of the sensor 8 as shown in FIG. This sensor is configured to send out a signal when the height of the sensor 8 becomes lower than the height of the sensor 8.

The conveyor 9 also includes a push-out mechanism 20 that is provided at the rear of the rack 7 and pushes out the stack S of cards C stored therein forward, and a push-out mechanism 20 that is arranged on the opposite side of the push-out groove 20 with the rack 7 in between. a holding mechanism 21 that holds the pile S of cards C extruded by this extruder (11120) at a predetermined height, and a conveying machine that conveys the pile S of cards C held by this holding mechanism 21 to the stocker 3. It is generally composed of a groove 22.

The extruder (1ζ20 is disposed under an air cylinder 23 whose stroke corresponds to the depth direction of the rack 7, and below the air cylinder 23, and similarly, its axial direction corresponds to the depth direction of the rack 7. The slider rod 24 is roughly composed of a row of matched slider rods 24.24, and a push-out plate 25 fixed to the tip of the rod 23a of the air cylinder 23 and the tip of the slider rod 24.24.The slider rod 24 has a slide member. 26 is fitted onto the outside so that it can move freely in the axial direction.These air cylinders 23, slider rods 24, extrusion plates 25, and slide members 26 are moved by an elevating mechanism (not shown).
It is configured to be moved downwardly along a guide portion 27 extending downward. Thereby, the pile S of cards C can be pushed out to the front of the rack 7 by extending the air cylinder 23 with the pushing plate 25 positioned at a height between the pile S of the cards C and the gap.

Further, the holding mechanism 21 is provided in close proximity to the front of the rack 7 at a very small interval, and is configured by partition plates 29, . . . protruding from the four corners of a rectangular bottom plate 28. A plate 30, a slider rod 31 which extends downward from the four corners of the lower surface of the bottom plate 28 of the plate 30 and extends vertically through the substrate 14, and a slider rod 31 which extends vertically through the substrate 14, and The air cylinder 32 is fixed to the air cylinder 32 and whose stroke is vertically matched. Slide members 33, . ... is movable along its axial direction. Since the tip of the rod 32a of the air cylinder 32 is fixed to the center of the lower surface of the bottom plate 28, the tray 30 can be held at an arbitrary height by driving the air cylinder 32.

Furthermore, the conveyance mechanism 22 can be broadly classified into a mountain S of a corner C.
a chuck mechanism 34 that grips the chuck mechanism 34;
The chuck mechanism 34 is generally composed of a ``1 lowering mechanism 35'' that moves the ``1 lowering mechanism 35'' downward, and a horizontal moving mechanism 1ζ36 that horizontally moves the chuck mechanism 34 including the ``1 lowering mechanism 35''.

The chuck mechanism 34 includes arms 37.37, each of which is configured by a pair of downwardly extending plates whose lower ends are bent inward at a predetermined interval, and which opens and closes these arms 37.37. Stir (increase or decrease the uncut between arms 37 and 37)
It consists of a chuck drive mechanism (not shown) (see FIG. 20).

Thereby, the stack S of cards C can be gripped and released between the arms 37, 37 by opening and closing the arms 37, 37.

Further, the strokes of the two lower motor grooves 35 are vertically aligned with a pair of slider rods 38 and 38 which extend in the vertical direction and are arranged parallel to each other at a predetermined interval. Approximately Jt from the air cylinder 39! I have been created. The air cylinder 39 is fixed to the second part of the support plate 40, and the slider rod 38.38 is passed through the support plate 40, and the slide part 41.41 provided on the support plate 40 is connected to the slider rod 38.38. Bar 38.38
It is configured to be movable in the vertical direction by being fitted onto the outside. Since the tip of the rod 39a of the air cylinder 39 is connected to a part of the chuck mechanism 34, the chuck mechanism 34 is driven by the air cylinder 39.
is moved up and down.

Further, the horizontal movement mechanism 36 is supported by a column 41 that projects from the substrate 1/l, and extends in the horizontal direction.
Slider rods 42 arranged downward at predetermined intervals
．． 42, a moving part 44 configured to be movable in the horizontal direction by slide parts 43 and 43 fitted onto these slider rods 42 and 42, respectively, and a rod connected to this moving part 44 and extending in the horizontal direction. It is generally composed of a support cylinder 45. And the vertical motive #i'i
35 and the side of the moving part 44 are connected to each other, so that the chuck mechanism 34 including the lowering mechanism 35 is horizontally moved by driving the rodless cylinder 45.

Note that the operations of each element constituting the device I described above are synchronously controlled by a control device (not shown).

Next, the operation of the supply device 1 of this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 14.

(a) The number of cards C required for one supply of card extrusion is stacked to form a stack S, and this is stored in the storage sections 12, . . . in the rack 7. Although the number of cards C stored in one storage section 12 is arbitrary, the number of cards C stored in one storage section 12 is set to 100 cards/storage section as an example of the design by the present inventor. Naturally, the position of the storage section 12 for storing cards may be changed depending on the type of card, and inventory management such as that used in an automated warehouse or the like may be performed.

Next, the control device (not shown) selects one of the storage sections 12, .
ll Command to push S out of the rack 7. That is, the control device controls one storage section 12 according to certain rules.
, so that the extrusion plate 25 of the extrusion mechanism 20 reaches a position facing the pile S of cards C in the selected storage section 12.
The rack 7 is translated by rotationally driving the chain 19 via a drive mechanism (not shown), and the extruder 4i! The air cylinder 23 etc. of t 20 are raised and lowered. At 11:7, the control device raises and lowers the tray 30 via the air cylinder 32 of the holding mechanism 19, and the height across the sides of the bottom plate 28 forms the bottom surface of the selected storage section 12. The receiver holds the plate 30 at a position between the horizontal height of the horizontal plate 11 and the track. After this, the control device expands the air cylinder 23 of the extrusion mechanism 20 to remove the card C in the selected storage section 12 from 11. Push IS forward. As shown in FIG. 8, the extruded mountain S is held at a substantially concave height with the storage portion 12 and is transferred to the tray 30, and at this stage the air cylinder 23 is deflated.

Note that the rule by which the control device selects the storage units 12, . . . is arbitrary, but in this embodiment, the storage units 12, . . . Select the storage units 12, .
It uses rules that select... In this embodiment, for the purpose of simplifying control, the extrusion process described above is also performed for the storage section 12 in which no card C is stored. A means may be provided to control the empty storage section 12 so that the extrusion step is omitted and the process moves to the next storage section 12. Similarly, it goes without saying that the receiver may detect whether or not the card C is transferred to the tray 30 and perform similar control.

(b) When the stack S of cards C is held on the tray 30, the control device instructs the transport mechanism 22 to grasp the stack S of cards C in the card standby receiver. Specifically, by driving the rodless cylinder 45 of the horizontal movement machine 4FJ 36, the vertical movement mechanism 3
5, the chuck mechanism 34+5- is moved to above the tray 30. Next, by driving the chuck drive mechanism (not shown) of the chuck mechanism 34, while keeping the arm 37. is lowered, and the lowering of the chuck mechanism 34 is stopped when the lower ends of the arms 37 and 37 are approximately at a concave height with the bottom plate 28 of the tray 30, as shown in FIG.

Next, by closing the arms 37, 37 via the chuck drive 43 as shown in FIG.
．． 37 to grasp the pile S of cards C. In this state,
As shown in FIG. 11, by contracting the air cylinder 39 of the vertical movement mechanism 35, the chuck mechanism 34 is moved to the horizontal movement machine tJ! 436 to near the slider bar 42, and waits at this position until a detection signal from the proximity sensor 8 (that is, a signal indicating a shortage of cards in stock) is input.

(c) When a signal from the card transport proximity sensor 8 is input, the control device issues a command to transport the pile S of cards C in a standby state to the stocker 3 of the feeder 2. That is, the control device moves the chuck mechanism 34 above the stocker 3 together with the vertical movement mechanism 35 as shown in FIG. 12 by driving the rodless cylinder 45 of the horizontal movement mechanism 36. Next, by extending the air cylinder 39 of the vertical movement mechanism 35, the chuck mechanism 34 and the pile S of cards C held therein are lowered, and the cards C are moved as shown in FIG.
When the pile S of is located directly above the stocker 3, open the arm 37.37 to remove the card C as shown in Figure 14.
into stocker 3.

After this, the cards C stored in the rack 7 are sequentially supplied to the stocker 3 of the feeder 2 by repeating the above-described steps. Note that the card standby/conveyance process using the conveyor groove 22 and the card extrusion process using the extrusion mechanism 2o and the holding mechanism 21 can be performed simultaneously. That is, while the transport mechanism 22 is transporting the cards C, the extrusion mechanism 20 and the holding mechanism 21 are moving the next pile S of cards C.
It is also possible to pass the tray from the storage section 12 of the rack 7 to the tray 3o.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, if a large number of stacks S of cards C are stored in the rack 7 in advance, when the amount of cards in stock in the stocker 3 of the feeder 2 decreases, the supply device 1 automatically removes the cards C. Supply to stocker 3. Therefore, there is no need for the operating tool to operate on the supply device 1 until all cards C in rank 7 are supplied to the stocker 3. Therefore, since the interval at which the operating tool monitors the supply device l becomes longer than in the conventional case, 1
Supply device with multiple human operating tools (even card processing machine)
This allows for significant labor savings. - As an example, if the processing speed of the card processing machine is 90 to 100 cards/minute, the operator would have to perform the work about 2 times/minute due to the conditions described above. If a pile S of 100 cards C is stored in 12,..., the entire rack 7 can store 1800 cards C, so 2
It is sufficient for an operator to perform the work once every 0 minutes.

Next, FIGS. 15 to 20 are diagrams showing a supply device for a card processing machine, which is a second embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, the same reference numerals will be used for the same components as in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The difference between the supply device 1 of this embodiment and the supply device 6 of the first embodiment lies in the configuration of the storage means in which the card C 1118 is stored. That is, in this embodiment, the [11S of the force to C is stored in a rotating storage stand (storage means) 50 that rotates intermittently.

As shown in FIGS. 15 and 17, this rotating storage table 50 includes a plurality of storage trays 51 arranged in a row and in which a stack S of cards C is stored, and these storage trays 51, A rotating mechanism 52 that intermittently rotates these storage trays 51
, . . . and a main body 53 into which the rotation mechanism 52 can be accessed.

A plurality of storage trays 51 are formed in a U-shape when viewed from the side, and are arranged in a row so that their openings are exposed on the side surface.

Further, the rotation mechanism 52 includes rotatable sprockets 54, which are provided in a part of the main body 53-1 and arranged at predetermined intervals in the horizontal direction, and these sprockets 54.
, . . . A rotational drive mechanism 56 that rotationally drives the chain 55, . . . and the sprocket 54, .
It is roughly composed of. Sprocket 54...
As shown in FIG.
A set of chains 55, . . .
. . . are also arranged in sets of two substantially parallel to each other. As shown in FIG. 15, each of the storage trays 51,...
chain 5 so as to straddle these two chains 55.
It is fixed at 5. As a result, the sprockets 54, .
... is rotated around the chain 55, ....

Furthermore, this rotary storage stand 50 includes the figures 15 and 17.
As shown in the figure, a guide part 59.59 is provided to support the chain 55 from below, and this restricts the downward movement of the chain 55. It becomes.

Note that the second part of the main body 53 covers both sides of the upper storage tray 51, as shown in FIG.
The receiver of the holding mechanism 21, which will be described later, has a notch 58 formed only in the front portion of the tray 30, so that the side surface of the storage tray 5 is exposed only in this position.

Further, the extruder +++; 20 includes an extrusion claw 60 connected to a horizontal movement mechanism 36, which will be described later.

Further, in this embodiment, the receiver of the holding mechanism 21 is fixed at a height between the bottom plate 28 of the tray 30 and the bottom surface of the storage tray 51 located above. Therefore, the mechanism for raising and lowering the tray 30 as in the first embodiment is omitted.

Similarly, in this embodiment, the transport mechanism 22 for transporting cards is
, a vertical movement U for vertically moving the chuck mechanism 34;
Ii35 is also omitted. Therefore, the carrier (j1↑2
As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the horizontal movement mechanism 36 of 2 is fixed to one side of the tray 30 by supports 61 and 61, and this tray is fixed to one side of the storage tray 51 on the side of the tray 30. Stocker 3 of feeder 2 - A pair of slider rods 62, . It is composed of a moving unit 63 that moves horizontally along slider rods 62, . . . . The chuck mechanism 34 is fixed to the lower part of the moving unit 63 of the horizontal moving mechanism 36 via a plate 64 in some cases. This example board 6
4 has an extrusion claw 60 constituting the aforementioned extrusion mechanism 20 projecting downward from one end thereof. Regarding the mounting positions of the chuck mechanism 34 and the push-out claw 60, when the moving unit 63 moves to the maximum towards the storage tray 51, the push-out claw 60 crosses the notch 58 and reaches the storage tray 51.
The arm 3 of the chuck mechanism 34 is
7.37, the receiver is arranged at a position where it can grasp the pile S of cards C placed on the tray 30, while the moving unit 63
When the chuck mechanism 34 moves to the maximum extent toward the feeder 2, the chuck mechanism 34 is moved toward the stocker 3 of the feeder 2, and the lower end of the push-out claw 60 is set to reach the center of the tray 30. has been done.

Next, the operation of the supply device 1 of this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 15 to 20.

By intermittently driving the rotation drive plate groove 56 of the rotating storage table 50, the storage plates 51, . . . are intermittently rotated around the chains 55, . This storage plate 51...
The interval between the intermittent rotations is set to be equal to the interval between feeding the stack S of cards C to the feeder 2 and the distance in order to synchronize with the edge feeding process to be described later.

Due to the intermittent rotation of the storage trays 51, . . . , the storage trays 51, which had been below the chains 55, . . . , are moved upward. At this stage, the operator drops the pile S of cards C into the storage tray 51 that has been moved upward, and supplies the pile S of cards C into the storage tray 51.

When the storage trays 51, .
position of the imaginary line shown in FIG. 16). When the rotation of the storage trays 51, . . . is completed, the storage trays 51, .

At this stage, if there is a pile S of cards C on the tray 30, the control device (not shown) closes the arms 37.37 via the chuck drive mechanism of the chuck mechanism 34, and the cards C are placed between these arms 37.37. Grasp the mountain S.

When the signal from the sensor 8 is received, the control device moves the extrusion claw 60 (extrusion plate groove 20) and the chuck mechanism 34 toward the feeder 2 by driving the movement unit 63 of the horizontal movement mechanism 36.

As a result, the pile S of cards C on the tray 30 is transferred to the upper part of the stocker 3 of the feeder 2 by the chuck mechanism 34, and the pile S of cards C located in the notch 58 is moved to the side thereof. is pushed out from the storage tray 51 as a whole by the push-out claw 60 while coming into contact with the side surface of the push-out claw 60,
The receiver is passed to the plate 30. That is, in this embodiment, the card extrusion process and the card conveyance process are performed simultaneously.

The control device then controls the arm 3 via the chuck drive mechanism.
7. Open 37 and drop card C into stocker 3. Thereafter, by driving the movement unit 63 of the horizontal movement mechanism 36, the extrusion claw 60 and the chuck mechanism 34 are moved toward the storage trays 51, . In addition, between these card extrusion processes and card conveyance processes, the storage tray 5
1, ... will not be held.

Therefore, this embodiment also provides the same effects as the first embodiment. In particular, this example
Although the storage amount of the stack S of cards C is slightly smaller than that of the first embodiment, there is an advantage that the transport plate groove 22 is simplified.

Note that the details of the feeding device for a card processing machine of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and various modifications are possible.

"Effects of the Invention" As explained in detail below, according to the present invention, a card processing machine that processes a card formed in a rectangular plate shape has the following features:
A supply device for a card processing machine for supplying cards to be processed is provided with a storing means in which a plurality of stacks of cards are stored, and a card supplying position of the card processing machine, and an inventory of cards at the position. Consisting of a card stock number detection means for detecting that the number of cards in stock has fallen below a predetermined number, and a conveyance means for conveying the stack of cards from the storage means to the card supply position based on a detection signal from the detection means. Therefore, if a pile of cards is stored in the storage means in advance, when the amount of cards in stock at the card supply position of the card processing machine decreases, the supply device automatically supplies cards to the card supply position. Therefore, there is no need for the operator to work on the supply device until all the cards in the storage means are supplied to the card supply position. Therefore, the interval at which the operator monitors the feeding device is longer than in the conventional case, making it possible for one operating tool to monitor multiple card processing machines, resulting in significant labor savings. be able to.

=26-

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 6 are diagrams showing a card adding device and two-machine feeding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a partially sectional front view, and FIG. A plan view in partial section,
Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the downward movement and horizontal movement mechanism taken out, Fig. 4 is a partially cutaway side view showing the translation support I, 1 mechanism taken out, and Figs. 5 and 6 are close-up views. FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the sensor taken out; FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the rack extrusion rule; FIGS. 8 to 14 are diagrams for explaining the operation of the feeding device of the same embodiment; 15 to 20 are diagrams showing a supply device for a card processing machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 15 is a partially sectional front view, and FIG. 16 is a partially sectional view. Plan view, 1st
7 is a front view showing the rotary storage table taken out, FIG. 18 is a sectional view thereof, FIG. 19 is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 20 is a partially sectional side view showing the chunk mechanism taken out. - (Card supply position), 3...Stocker 7
... Rack (storage means), 8 ... Proximity sensor (card inventory detection means), 9 ... Conveyor (
transportation means), 50... Rotating storage stand (storage means)
.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A device for supplying a card to be processed to a card processing machine that processes a card formed into a rectangular plate shape,
a storage means in which a plurality of piles of cards are stored; and a card inventory quantity detection means provided near a card supply position of the card processing machine to detect when the number of cards in stock at the position has become less than a predetermined number. and a conveyance means for conveying the stack of cards from the storage means to the card supply position based on a detection signal from the detection means.