JPS61206739A - Card container - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates to containers for cards, such as printed or embossed credit cards, and more particularly to containers used in the manufacturing process of such cards.

The dramatic development of credit cards, especially those equipped with magnetic tracks and now microelectronic circuits (microprocessors and memory circuits), has led to widespread market acceptance of credit cards.
In order to meet this demand, it is necessary to automate card manufacturing.

Generally, cards are manufactured through the following three steps.

The first step is the manufacture of the card itself, which card has at least one magnetic track and/or a microelectronic circuit consisting of a microprocessor and a programmable storage circuit.

The second step is a test operation to perform read/write operations to check the working condition of the magnetic track and/or electronic microcircuit.

The above two manufacturing steps are usually performed by the manufacturer.

The third step is personalization, which involves entering the user's name before the card is put into use. This work is generally performed by a company with certain qualifications, and involves writing information into the card to identify the issuer and intended user of the card, and to set the conditions and usage limits for the card. be.

From the above, it can be seen that it is difficult to conceive of a continuous card production line that can produce cards that can be used immediately. In fact, the line is interrupted by work stations located at different locations. The work stations are equipped with automated equipment, such as testing and personalization equipment, as much as possible to ensure production speed and meet the demands of a wide range of markets. Even with the use of automated equipment, manual handling of cards is still required between different work stations on the line.

The manual work described above is performed in the following manner.

That is, - Replenish the card case to the automatic processing device equipped in the work department - Take out the card from the case after being processed by the device - Carry the card to another department. From then on, work in the same manner. is repeated.

This series of manual operations results in a loss of time and also causes errors.

The invention aims to eliminate all the manual work described above by using containers that serve various roles in an automatic card production line, namely card storage and transportation means, supply cases for processing equipment, and receiving cases. The purpose is to eliminate the above-mentioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a container for a card such as a printed or embossed credit card, particularly for use in automated processing equipment during the manufacturing process of the card. The container consists of a rectangular parallelepiped elongated body, two removable lid plates that can be slid freely within the container and fixed in position along the container, and the container can be used for various functions, namely card processing equipment. It is characterized by serving as a supply case and a receiving case for cards, and as storage means and transport means when transporting cards from one processing device to another.

11 - Other advantages and features will become clearer from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The container 1 of the invention is an elongated right parallelepiped and is constructed of a rigid material. As shown in FIG. 1, the container 1 is in a vertical position in normal use.

The container 1 has a plurality of arcuate cuts in its lower part. 1 in the center of the lower end of one of the longitudinal side walls.
Arch-shaped cuts 10 can be provided. Flat arched incisions lla, llb are provided around the lower layer.

An oval central opening 12 is provided on one side of the longitudinal side wall of the container 1 . The opening 12 occupies most of the rising part of the container 1, and allows the contents to be seen through the opening and the progress of the cards to be seen.

The horizontal cross-sectional size of the container is slightly larger than the size of the conveyances, ie the printed or embossed letter cards that are stacked one on top of the other in the container.

The card is sized to meet the credit card standard ■SO.

As an example, the aforementioned card 2 is shown in FIG.

The card consists of a substrate 20, for example with a small (
Both have one magnetic track and, on the other side, input/output terminals for microelectronic circuits, such as a microprocessor and a memory circuit embedded in the card.

For more details, see 7 Lance Patent No. 2337 by the applicant.
See No. 381, No. 2401459 and No. V2461301.

Cards are maintained in the container 1 by two upper and lower lid plates 3m and 3b having the same structure. Since the size of the two lid plates 3a and 3b is slightly smaller than the size of the container 1, the lid plate can freely slide within the container and be fixed at a desired position along the container 1. .

In FIG. 3.4, each cover plate 3a, 3b consists of two semi-shell members, and these two members are connected by fixing means, for example screws 32.

A fixing device 33 is attached between the two semi-shell members 31. The fixing device includes two movable pushers 34.
The pushers are each integrated with two tracks. The two pushers are controlled by the control device 36 to translate in two opposite directions, and are guided to move along the inner surface of the semi-shell member 31. Since the tracks 35 respectively protrude from the two semi-shell members, when the semi-shell members move, they can press against the two opposite side walls of the container 1.

The control device 36 of the pusher 34 is constituted by a double cam 38 consisting of two eccentric members mounted oppositely, each and at the same time two pushers on the supporting surface 34a.

34b, and the pushers separate from each other (
(fixed position)* or close to each other (release value 11) for 8 meters. The fixed position of the track 35 is the support surface 34a
, 34b by the pressing force of the cam 38. The control shaft 39 of the cam 38 is connected to two semi-shell members 3.
It protrudes from the inside of one side, and even the control buttons are covered in blue.

Before elaborating on the features and advantages of the container according to the invention,
As an example, a card production line will be briefly described from the production of cards to the work of personalizing the cards before use.

The manufacturing line is composed of four working departments (PO)-(P3).

At the point of sale (PO), the card 2 is subjected to an operation in which it is equipped with at least one magnetic track and/or a microelectronic circuit, such as a microprocessor and a memory circuit, this manufacturing operation being detailed in French Patent No. 2 337 381. .

The department (Pl) performs the task of testing the operation of the card by writing/reading the magnetic tracks and/or the storage circuit.

Department (P2) carries out the task of personalizing the card according to its anticipated use, i.e. with magnetic tracks and/or
*Alternatively, information is written into the memory circuit to set the usage conditions and usage limits of the card.

In the department (P3), the card is embossed, for example, so that information such as the name of the intended owner of the card can be visually identified.

In this production line, work in work departments (Pl) to (P2) is carried out by an automatic processing device 5 equipped with a container according to the present invention.
It is assumed that this will be implemented.

Regarding the $5-6 diagram, the device 5 is composed of the following main elements.

Namely, one card replenishing device 6 equipped with a card case 1 before processing; one extracting device 7 for extracting cards 2 one by one from the case 1; one connected to a work department (Pi, P2) that receives the cards 2; a carrying device 8 for sequentially carrying the cards received before each of the processing devices (Di, D2) and at least one receiving case 1a for receiving the cards 2 after one processing; such a device 5; The operation will be described later.

Each card 2 is extracted from the case 1 and collected by a transport device, e.g. a trolley 8 controlled by a stepper motor and reciprocating in two defined sections forming a constant process, within which the cards 2 are processed. 1 trolley 8 is 2
The pulleys 8d are interlocked with a bell 8c, and one of the pulleys is rotationally driven by a motor 8a. Depending on the type of card and the intended processing, the trolley 8 stops in front of the corresponding processing device (DI, D2).

The magnetic track 21 is processed directly when the carriage 8 passes in front of the device D1. On the contrary, the trolley 8 is a device (
It must be stopped in front of D2) to ensure electrical connection with the card's microcircuit.

The processing units (DI, D2) are connected separately, in other words, not side by side with the central processing unit (C) that controls the work.

When the cards 2 are processed, they are released from the trolley 8, and the cards are sorted and collected into a case 1a for good cards or a case 1b for bad cards depending on the processing results. These two cases la and lb are arranged at two ends forming the limits of movement of the truck 8.

The elements of the device 5 that cooperate directly with the container 1 according to the invention will be described in detail below.

5-7, the replenishment device 6 for the card 2 consists of a replenishment case, which is provided for the card 2 as described below.
It is constituted by a container 1 cooperating with an extraction device 7.

The guiding arch-shaped cut lla allows the container 1 to be placed correctly in a vertical position on the chassis 51 of the device. A card 2 to be processed (printed or embossed) is placed between two fixed cover plates 3a and 3b to prevent it from moving.

These cards 2 are introduced into the container 1 at the front, either manually or automatically, depending on the type of machine used in the pre-manufacturing process, or by special container filling equipment.

The fixing state of the upper cover plate 31 is manually released, so that auxiliary pressure is always applied to the card 2 by the weight of the cover plate, thereby making it easier to extract the card 2, and the lower cover plate 3b is controlled by the control device. 52 to release the card from the fixed state and move it out of the container 1 so that the card 2 can be taken out.

The control device 52 is constituted by a hollow vertical shaft 53, which is arranged in an extension of the control shaft 39 of the lower cover plate 3b. The upper end of the hollow shaft 53 extends to a support base 54 forming a fixed key, which abuts the control button 41 of the lower cover plate 3b.

The shaft 53 is rotatably mounted inside the sleeve 55 whose rotation is stopped by a wedge 56;
The shaft 53 and sleeve 55 translate together.

The lower end of the hollow shaft 53 receives one end of a four-sided drive shaft 60, which is force-fitted and controlled by a manual control lever 62, which extends through a port 63 and connects a level gear 64. The other end of the drive shaft 60 is interlocked with the other end of the drive shaft 60 via the drive shaft 60.

By means of the lever 62, the shaft 53 is rotated by a quarter of a turn, and the wedge 54 arranged at the upper end of the shaft 53 drives the control shaft 39 of the lid plate by this rotation, controlling the tracks 35 respectively. Cam 38 acting on two pushers 34
Make sure to release the lid plate through the

The lllll53 and the sleeve 55 are then connected to the control device 6.
According to the descending movement by the fifth
- lower lid plate 3 of container 1 as described below with respect to Figure 7;
Release b.

The control device 65 includes a motor 66 that rotates a shaft 67 that is interlocked with a lever 68 .

The lever 68 is provided with a drive projection 69 having an eccentric axis with respect to the axis 67. Therefore, by rotation of the shaft 67,
The shaft 53 and the sleeve 55 are driven and simultaneously move upward or downward in translation.

Under the control of the control device 65, the downward movement of the lower cover plate 3b continues until the lower end surface of the lower cover plate 3b comes into contact with a reference surface S1 provided at the same level as the chassis 51 of the device.

This reference surface S1 must be formed very accurately, as will be explained later in connection with the extraction device 7.

When this downward movement is completed, the lower lid plate 3b will be removed from the container 1.
It is in a state where it has escaped from the bottom end of the container by a distance of about 1 mm, thereby forming a gap 71, from which the cards 2 can be extracted one by one. This gap 71 is formed by the upper end surface of the lid plate 3b and the lower end surface of the container 1 with the arched cut 10.

The extraction device 7 is composed of a plate-shaped pusher 75 and is moved by the reciprocating motion of a control device.The pusher 75 and the pusher 77 are arranged on both sides of the container 1, respectively.

The drive device 76 is configured by a motor 78 to rotationally drive a shaft 79 that includes a main connecting rod and supports a cam 80, and the cam 80 is equipped with a drive protrusion 81 rotatably attached to the cam 80. Therefore, the axis of the cam 80 is eccentric with respect to the rotation axis of the motor. A sliding loft 83 passes through the drive projection 81 . One end of this loft 83 is connected to a fixed point 83a, and the other end moves reciprocally and is connected to the pusher by the cap-removal mechanism 83b1.
rl+joined. Therefore, the motor 78 causes the sliding rod 83 to rotate around the fixed point 83a and drive the pusher 75 while reciprocating manually.

The pusher 75 slides on a reference surface S2 formed horizontally with the frame 51 and engages the container 1 from the side opposite to the side with the arched cut 10. pusher 75
pushes the card 2 supported by the lower cover plate 3b out of the container 1 through the gap 71, then passes through the guide tap 77 and finally releases the card onto the carrier 8. The arch-shaped notch 10 provided at the bottom of the container 1 has the role of allowing the convex portion of the embossed paper card to pass through. Since this embossed character is always located in the center of the card, the arched cut 10 may be shorter than the overall length of the card.

When the last card 2 is pushed out, the pusher 75 comes into contact with the upper cover plate 3a, and at this time the lower cover plate 3b supports the upper cover plate 3IL. However, since these two cover plates are completely chamfered, the pusher 75 can lift the upper cover plate 3a and enter between the distorted plates, but at that time, the card is not pushed out by this movement. A detection device [84 consisting of a light 7-aiper is installed at the exit of the guide tap 77 to detect the absence of a card (empty container) or, in some cases, the fact that a card is stuck.

What must be noted here is that the reference surface S1 of the lower cover plate 3b must be finished accurately in relation to the surfaces of the pusher 75 and the tab 77. In order to accurately obtain the height of the cover plate, Accuracy is required here.

In the manner described above, the cards are extracted one by one, subjected to predetermined processing, and guided to the good card receiving case Ia or the bad card receiving case 1b as necessary. This is as described above.

The receiving case is also composed of the container 1 according to the present invention!
& has been.

Capacity is taken case la, 1b is flat arched notch 1
Topo 1 is placed vertically on top of 1b and has an inclined surface.
The upper end of the case is placed in contact with the end of the Type 7 slide 100, and the cards are ejected from the cart 8 and freely slide down one by one into the container 1. In order to avoid that the first card 2 falling in the container 1 is placed irregularly with respect to the other cards, that is, that it is incorrectly stacked against the lower lid plate 3b, the lower lid plate 3b is Lift container 1 near the top edge to receive the first card. The lower lid plate 3b automatically lowers as the container 1 is filled, thereby limiting the falling height of the cards 2 and thus ensuring that the cards are stacked in correct order. The lowering movement of the lower cover plate 3b is controlled by a device 85 shown in FIG.

The device 85 consists of a vertical shaft 86 with an upper end extending to a stirrup 87 which abuts the control button 41 of the lower lid plate 3b for rotation and manual drive. This pongee 86 is rotatably driven by a manual control lever to ensure the fixing and release of the cover plate 3b.
It is associated with a lifting device 88, which is carried by the frame 51 and mounted for sliding movement along a fixed rod parallel to the axis 86.

This lifting device 88 performs lifting and lowering movements by a belt passed between two boobies IJ91, and one of the pulleys is rotationally driven by a motor 92.

When the container I11 or 1b is placed, the lower lid plate 3b is lifted close to the upper end of the container after manually releasing the lever 95.

The lower cover plate 3b is thus integrated with the support 86 which is interlocked with the lifting device 88.

With reference to FIG.
I can count the number of. This detector 95 is a counter 9
It is electrically connected to 6. When the counter 96 counts a predetermined number of cards 2 that have fallen into the good card receiving case, the counter controls the motor 92 to lower the lower cover plate to a predetermined height, and in this manner the container 1a is filled. The same operation continues until The same method is applied to container 1b.

! Regarding Figure @5, the inclined surface 101 of the Topo 12 type slide has two longitudinal ribs 97 to reduce friction between the card 2 and the inclined surface, and prevent electrostatic charging of the card, which is disadvantageous to the microcircuit. do. The Topo 12 type slide 100 also includes a housing 98 forming a gutter that limits the movement of the card 2.

When the container 1 is full, move the lever 95 to fix the lower cover plate 3b, return the upper cover plate 3b to its place and fix it by hand, and then transfer the container 1 to the card 2 to be used as a replenishment device for another device. You can take it out without touching it.

In the above embodiment, the pusher 75 acts on the longitudinal end of the card 2 to be extracted, but it could also act on the lateral end of the card 2 without departing from the scope of the invention. .

Of course, the container 1 can be applied to manufacturing lines with portable items other than standard credit cards and equipment other than the processing equipment described above.

The device of the present invention makes it possible to eliminate manual work in automatic card production lines and perform necessary work with high efficiency.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the container of the present invention, Fig. 2 shows the types of cards stored in the container shown in Fig. SI, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the closing a lid plate of the container shown in Fig. 1. , 4th
The figure is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in Figure 3, Figure 5 is a route map showing the principle of the automatic card processing device, Figure 6 is a bottom view of Figure 5, and Figure 7 is the automatic card processing device. FIG. 8 is a route diagram showing a tap for dispensing cards from the replenishing device, and FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of the receiving device of the automatic card processing device. 1 Container, 2 Card, 3 at a b Lower lid plate, Upper lid plate 10 Arch-shaped notch, 11 Oblate arch-shaped notch, 12 Oval opening, 5 FIG, 4 3.5

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A container for a card, such as a credit card with printed or embossed characters, especially a container used in the manufacturing process of the card, wherein the container has a rectangular parallelepiped elongated body, the inner side of the container is Consisting of two removable lid plates that can be slid freely and fixed in position along the container, the container can be used as a card replenishment case, a card receiving case from a card processing device, or from one device to another. A card container characterized by serving as a means for storing and transporting cards when traveling to other places. 2. Each cover plate comprises a main body with two tracks inside thereof, the two tracks protrude from the main body, and the two opposing side walls of the container are pressed against each other by a fixing device; A container according to claim 1, characterized in that: 3. Claim 2, characterized in that the fixing device consists of a double cam constituted by two eccentric parts mounted opposite each other, each cooperating with the two rails. Container as described in. 4. The container according to claim 3, wherein the control shaft of the cam protrudes from the lid plate body and extends to a control button of the fixing means. 5. A card replenishing device, an extracting device for extracting cards one by one from the case and placing the cards on a conveying device for guiding each card in front of at least one card processing device, the conveying device; 5. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 4 for a card processing device, comprising a card removal device for removing a card from the device, and at least one receiving device, wherein the container Container, characterized in that the device consists of a removable vertical case consisting of the container, in which the cards are stacked on top of each other. 6. The lower lid plate is slidably mounted within the container by a translation control device consisting of a hollow vertical shaft having an upper end abutting a cam control button of the lower lid plate, the hollow shaft being 6. The container according to claim 5, wherein the container is translated in conjunction with a vertical sleeve that moves up or down by an eccentric wheel driven by a motor. 7. A container according to claim 6, characterized in that the hollow shaft is mounted for rotation within a sleeve for securing and releasing the lid plate. 8. The container according to claim 7, wherein the rotation of the hollow shaft is controlled by a manual control lever. 9. Any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the lower lid plate is moved out of the container by a translation control device until it abuts a reference surface carried by a frame of the device. Container as described in. 10. The extracting device for extracting cards from the container consists of a pusher controlled by a reciprocating eccentric wheel and abutting against the side edge of the first card supported by the lower cover plate, and the extracting device is controlled by a reciprocating eccentric wheel and comprises a pusher that abuts the side edge of the first card supported by the lower cover plate, Claim 5, characterized in that the card is ejected through a tap.
A container according to any of paragraphs 9 to 9. 11. Container according to claim 10, characterized in that the face of the pusher, the face of the first card to be ejected and the face of the tap are accurately shaped. 12. The container according to claim 11, characterized in that a detection device is arranged outside the tap to detect the last card to be exited from the container or a jam of cards. 13. The side wall of the container adjacent to the tap has a central arched notch for passing the protrusion of the embossed letter cards stored in the container. The container according to any one of Items 5 to 12. 14. According to any one of claims 5 to 13, wherein the card receiving device comprises a removable vertical receiving case consisting of a container in which the cards are stacked one on top of the other. container. 15. Claim 14, characterized in that the lower lid plate is disposed near the upper end of the container to adjust the falling height of the cards in the container during filling of the cards. Container as described in. 16. The container according to claim 15, wherein the lid plate automatically lowers horizontally as the container is filled. 17. The lid plate is reliably lowered by a control device comprising a vertical shaft having an upper end that comes into contact with the control shaft of the cam of the lid plate, and a lifting device that is interlocked with the vertical shaft and movable vertically by motor control. A container according to any one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that: 18. The container according to claim 17, wherein the upper end of the receiving container is located at the end of a toboggan slide, and the cards released from the carrier slide down the slide. 19. A detection device for counting the number of cards falling into the container and controlling the lid plate to be lowered when a predetermined number of cards is counted. A container according to scope 18. 20. A container according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the toboggan slide is provided with two longitudinal ribs to reduce surface friction of the card. 21. The container of claim 20, wherein the toboggan slide includes a housing to limit movement of the card.