WO2002082360A1

WO2002082360A1 - Linear machine for treating cards, particularly integrated circuit cards

Info

Publication number: WO2002082360A1
Application number: PCT/FR2002/000689
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean James
Original assignee: Cybernetix S.A.
Priority date: 2001-04-03
Filing date: 2002-02-25
Publication date: 2002-10-17
Also published as: FR2822989A1; FR2822989B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a linear machine (1) for treating integrated circuit (3) cards (2), known as electronic chip cards. The inventive machine is characterised in that it comprises a vertical displacement device (7) which is disposed opposite a treatment station (6) and which has a binary configuration that is composed of one upper treatment part (8) and one lower workflow part (9). A linear or workflow drive device (4) crosses over one or other of said parts freely, regardless of the position thereof, said position being obtained by means of drive means that rise and fall, according to a kinematic that is unrelated to that of the linear drive device (4). In this way, a card (2) disposed in the treatment part (8) does not block the movement of the other cards (2) on the workflow device (9), so that continuous pressing can be obtained without slowing down the workflow speed.

Description

LINEAR CARD PROCESSING MACHINE, ESPECIALLY

WITH INTEGRATED CIRCUIT

The present invention relates to a linear card processing machine, in particular with an integrated circuit, known as an “electronic chip”.

In a known manner, a “chip” card is made up of a plastic card body and a micromodule which integrates an integrated circuit into its system.

To make a smart card, it is necessary, among other things, first of all to machine a cavity in the body of the card or else to mold the body by providing a space corresponding to the dimensions of said cavity.

This cavity then receives the micromodule which is assembled to the card by gluing. Adequate adhesive is used for this, which can be either in liquid form, more or less viscous and dispensed in the cavity before the insertion of the micromodule, or in the form of an adhesive strip which is laminated under the micromodule before it be inserted into the cavity.

Depending on the type of bonding used, it is necessary to expose the adhesive to heat, air, ambient humidity or radiation such as ultra violet radiation, ambient light, microwaves, etc. to ensure activation of this glue.

Whatever type of bonding is used, it is necessary to apply a compressive force to the micromodule on the card when it is inserted into the cavity, so that the gluing process is carried out correctly. In all cases, a machine for assembling micromodules into smart cards must ensure the pressing of the micromodules after insertion, for a specific duration depending on the type of glue used.

Several systems have been developed to provide this function.

This is how a rotary table is known, equipped with several pressing stations. The cards are loaded one by one on the turntable at the loading station. They are then pressed continuously on each of the pressing stations during the rotation of the plate. '

At the end of pressing, they are unloaded at an unloading station. This system has the advantage of ensuring continuous pressing during the bonding process.

The maximum pressing time is dependent on the number of pressing stations on the set. This system has the major drawback, if one wishes to increase the pressing time of the micromodules, of having to increase the dimensions of the plate. The machine is therefore not in this case upgradeable by simple addition of modular pressing stations. We have to rebuild a new machine.

Is also known, a set of pressing stations mounted in series and in line as an extension of the transitics of the cards. The cards are moved from one pressing station to another. The cards are thus pressed discontinuously, depending on the advance system of the card transitic. The advantage of this system is its relatively low cost, but the major disadvantage is the pressing discontinuity which is not as effective as continuous pressing as this limits the quality of adhesion between the micromodule and the card. The other drawback is the duration of pressing which is dependent on the functioning of the transitics of the cards, and in the case where one wishes to extend the pressing time, the performances in speed of the machine are reduced.

Between the loading or input station and the card unloading or output station are necessarily arranged at least two stations which are the micromodule cutting station and the assembly station thereof but of course, other optional stations are foreseeable, as for example, upstream of the assembly station there may be stations for measuring the thickness of the card, for checking the logo, for machining the cavity of the card, for measuring the depth of the cavity, antenna detection, brushing after machining, antenna test, dispensing of conductive adhesive or not, preheating of the cavity, etc. In the same way, downstream of the station assembly, cold pressing stations may be provided to cool the card, electrical tests of the micromodule, radio frequency, measurements of overshoot in thickness of the micromodule, laser inkjet printing, turning for write on the other side of the card, computer-aided vision to compare the consistency between graphic and electrical writing, etc. Overall, the invention applies to a card processing machine, in particular with an integrated circuit, called an "electronic chip" , comprising: an entry station or card stacker, - an exit station or card stacker, - a horizontal linear device step by step, for driving cards from one station to another, on which n predetermined processing stations are successively arranged,

at least one device for vertical displacement of each of the cards towards one of the n free processing stations, as and when they are moved step by step in front of said station,

- a computer system for monitoring and controlling the processing stations, the linear drive device, the vertical displacement device, the card unstacker and the card stacker.

In such a configuration, the invention is characterized in that the vertical displacement device, placed facing a processing station, has a binary configuration composed of an upper "processing" part, and a "transitic" part »Lower, one or the other of these parts being freely traversed by the linear or transient drive device whatever their position, which position is obtained by means of drive up or down, according to a kinematics dissociated from that of the linear drive device, so that a card present in the "processing" part does not block the movement of the other cards being on the transitic device.

Thus, thanks to this characteristic, a card can pass from the transitic part to the processing part, of a binary position, provided that the processing part is empty. This passage frees the transitic part. Also, a card can pass from the processing part to the transit part of a binary position, provided that the transit part is empty.

This passage frees the processing part. At a given instant, the two parts of a binary position can therefore be occupied by two separate cards.

The present invention also relates to the characteristics which will emerge during the description which follows, and which should be considered in isolation or according to all their possible technical combinations.

This description given by way of nonlimiting example will make it easier to understand how the invention can be produced with reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a machine comprising a vertical displacement device disposed facing a processing station, for example a pressing station. Figures 2 and 3 show in cross section a vertical displacement device according to Figure 1 respectively during a presentation phase of the card corresponding to a first so-called transitic position and during a second so-called processing position.

FIG. 4 is a partial view showing a treatment cycle, for example pressing by station.

The machine 1 generally designated in the figures is configurable. It is intended to process cards 2 and it is generally composed of an entry station called card unstacker 2 and an exit station called card stacker 2. Between the two stations is arranged a linear transport device 4 of cards 2 for example a belt 5, on which are positioned the various processing stations 6 which will make it possible to process the card 2 so that it is transformed into a smart card.

The entry station known as a card unstacker makes it possible to position cards on the linear card transport device 4 2.

The entry station known as the card unstacker is considered to be of infinite capacity.

In order for the positioning of a card 2 to operate, the linear card transport device 4 2, opposite the station known as the card unstacker, must be empty. The linear card transport device 4 2 has a start and an end.

The start of the linear card transport device 4 2 is located just opposite the entry station called card unstacker. The end of the linear card transport device 4 2 is located just opposite the output station known as the card stacker 2.

The linear device 4 is composed of a sequence of positions associated with the linear card transport device.

The transit part of the linear card transport device, in this case the belt 5, is an endless system.

Advancing, or reversing, one step of the linear card transport device 4 2 advances, or back, by one step, all the cards 2 present on the transit system of the linear card transport device.

The machine further comprises a vertical movement device 7 for each of the cards 2 towards one of the n free processing stations, as and when they move step by step in front of said station.

In addition, it includes a computer system for monitoring and controlling treatment stations.

6, the linear drive device 4, the vertical displacement device 7, the card unstacker and the card stacker.

According to the invention, with respect to the processing stations 6, constituted according to the present embodiment of micromodule pressing stations, the positions of the linear card transport device 4 2 can be divided into two categories: - the unary positions,

- and the binary positions.

A card dealt in a unary position blocks the transit system.

A binary position is made up of a "processing" part and a "transitic" part.

Thus, a card present on the processing part of a binary position does not block the movement of the cards being on the transitic system. A card can pass from the transitic part to the processing part of a binary position provided that the processing part is empty. This passage frees the transitic part.

In the same way, a card can pass from the processing part to the transitic part of a binary position provided that the transitic part is empty. This passage frees the processing part.

It follows that at a given instant, the two parts of a binary position can be occupied by two separate cards.

For this, the vertical displacement device disposed of a processing station 6 has a binary configuration composed of an upper “processing” part 8 and a lower “transitic” part 9, one or the other of these parts being freely traversed by the linear or transitic drive device 4, whatever their position, which is obtained by means of drive up or down, according to a kinematics dissociated from that of the drive device linear 4, so that a card 2 present in the "processing" part 8 does not block the movement of the other cards 2 located on the transit device 9.

The transitic device essentially consists of an endless belt 5 disposed between two pulleys, at least one of which is driving and on which belt are tabs 10 spaced apart according to the advance of the machine and between which the cards 2.

The drive tabs 10 transport the cards 2 and position them opposite each work station of the machine. Each card body, positioned on the belt 5 between two tabs 10, is moved from station to station on the machine, during the whole process of manufacturing the smart card.

When the card 2 is positioned opposite a pressing station 6, the latter raises the card "excluding transitics" and keeps micromodule 3 continuously pressurized against the card 2. The pressing time is independent of the transport system of the cards.

During the pressing process, the card transport system is then free to move.

The transported cards circulate below the card or cards during pressing, without the cards immobilized on the pressing station interfering.

Lifting the card and moving the transport system creates an empty card position on the latter. This empty position is managed by an independent transitic process when the card is finished pressing, it is deposited on the card transport system at an available location left empty. This empty space is also managed by an independent transitics process. The card is then directed to the machine output constituted by the card stacker.

During processing, some cards can be considered as bad and will therefore not be extracted from the transit system at the "card stacker" exit station.

Rejection stations are dedicated to the extraction of bad cards.

The typical configuration of the machine, in addition to the reject stations which can be positioned at different locations of the machine, is the following configuration:

- a “card unstacker” entry station,

- a set of upstream stations, each facing a unary position, upstream unary station,

- a set of equivalent “micromodule pressing station” stations, each facing a binary position, binary station,

- a set of downstream stations, each facing a unitary position, downstream unitary station,

- a “card stacker” exit station. Each of the cards inserted in the transit system will be processed by each of the upstream unary stations, then will be processed by one of the binary stations, then by each of the downstream unary stations and finally will be removed from the transit system at the exit station.

At a given moment, cards at different processing stages are present on the machine between the “card unstacker” input station and the “card stacker” output station. The design of such kinematics according to the invention allows a dissociation between the transport of the cards and the pressing operation. This makes it possible to extend the pressing time without penalizing the high speed of the machine, by simply adding additional modular pressing stations according to the pressing time requirement of the micromodules. These modular pressing stations are installed as an extension of the “linear card transport system”. The design of the pressing stations themselves makes it possible to lift the card from the card transfer and to press the micromodule out of transit, continuously. As FIG. 1 clearly shows, the cards 2 are guided in the transitic device 4 by two parallel rails 11, 12 fixedly arranged on each side of the belt 5.

In fact, according to another characteristic of the invention, the vertical displacement device 7 is formed by a nacelle which binary reconstitutes a portion of the guide rails 11, 12, so as to ensure the continuity of these, therefore of the transit device 4 whatever the position of the nacelle 7.

The nacelle 7 consists of two vertical, longitudinal lateral branches 13, 14 connected to each other by a horizontal branch 15 to form a general U inside of which the card-carrying belt 5 passes freely 2, said lateral branches 13, 14 comprise two series of slots 16, 17, also longitudinal, produced, facing one another in pairs, at heights corresponding to the binary positions likely to be occupied by a card 2 during processing, or during transit.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the vertical displacement of the nacelle 7 is obtained by means of a bracket 18, forming an elevator, arranged laterally and in connection with its lower part with a cam 19 actuated in rotation by a motor. electric 20. As mentioned above, the processing station 6 is a pressing station after bonding, of an integrated circuit 3, constituting a micro module, in a corresponding housing of a card 2. According to this example of application, the machine further comprises a fixed heating anvil 23 disposed opposite the integrated circuit 3 of a card 2 present in the nacelle 7, in the treatment position, the pressing being carried out against the heating anvil 23 via a horizontal extension 24 of the part of the bracket 18 forming an elevator, positioned below said integrated circuit 3.

According to a concrete embodiment of the machine, the linear card transport system 4 is constructed around a toothed belt 5, driven on one side by a drive pulley, and on the other side held by a free pulley. On the belt are stuck tabs 10 spaced at a pitch of 70mm. The cards 2 are positioned between two successive tabs 10 on the belt 5. The machine 1 is constructed longitudinally in steps of 70 mm. Each work station is mounted linearly on the main beam of the machine 1, in a space respecting the modulo length 70mm, so that a work station is always facing a card position 2 on the linear transport system 4 Cards. This 70mm modulo machine design makes it possible to design modular workstations, which can be juxtaposed along the linear card transport system, on demand.

Furthermore, the micromodule pressing station 6 is built over a length corresponding to the modulo 70mm. We can put as many micromodule pressing stations as necessary, mounted in line along the linear card transport system on a beam, so that we can configure the machine specifically according to the customer's need without altering the high machine speed 1.

The micromodule pressing station 6 is equipped with a nacelle 7 which 'reconstitutes a 70mm section of the linear card transport system 4. The nacelle 7 can move from bottom to top under the action of an elevator 18. The nacelle 7 is guided vertically by a rail and recirculating ball pad 21. In the nacelle 7 the slots 16 and 17 are arranged which are cut in the mass and which reconstitute the passage of the cards 2 when the nacelle is in the high position or in the low position.

The elevator 18 is moved vertically by the action of a cam 19 rotated by a brushless motor. The elevator 18 is guided vertically by a rail and recirculating ball pad 22. In the high position, the micromodule is pressed under the action of the elevator 18 and the feedback of the heating anvil 23. A blade spring 25 placed between the frame of the micromodule pressing station and the heating anvil allows the calibration of the micromodule pressing force. The setting is adjustable by moving the fulcrum 26 on the spring leaf 25. The anvil 23 is guided vertically by a rail and recirculating ball shoe to allow the spring to freely exercise its action on the anvil 23 The heating anvil 23 is equipped with a heating element and a temperature, its temperature is regulated and adjustable.

From such a machine, the operation concerning the decomposed pressing station and represented in FIG. 4 is as follows.

In the low position, the nacelle 7 receives the card 2 brought by the linear card transport system 4. When the nacelle 7 is moved upwards, the slots 17 of the nacelle 7 reconstitute the passage of the cards 2. It is then possible to pass cards through the linear card transport system at the same time as the card held in position high is in the micromodule pressing position. The micromodule of the card maintained in the high position is continuously pressed under the action of the elevator 18 and the feedback of the heating anvil 23. When the pressing of the micromodule is finished, the linear card transport system presents , under the micromodule pressing station an empty space, that is to say without a card. The nacelle 7 then descends this pressed card to put it in the low position, in said empty location of the linear card transport system. The card can then be moved to a workstation upstream or downstream of the machine.

The machine according to the invention thus offers a pressing system which is carried out continuously. In addition, the binary system makes the pressing time independent of the transitic, which does not slow it down. Finally, said machine comprises as many linearly necessary pressing stations, as a function of the required pressing times.

Claims

1. Linear machine (1) for processing cards (2) with an integrated circuit (3), called “electronic chip”, comprising:

- an entry station or card stacker, - an exit station or card stacker,

- a horizontal linear device step by step

(4), for driving the cards (2), from one station to another, on which n predetermined treatment stations (6) are successively arranged,

- at least one vertical movement device (7) of each of the cards (2) towards one of the n free processing stations, as and when they are moved step by step in front of said station,

- a computer system for monitoring and controlling the processing stations, the linear drive device, the vertical displacement device, the card unstacker and the card stacker, characterized in that the vertical displacement device (7 ), arranged opposite a processing station (6), has a binary configuration composed of an upper “processing” part (8) and a lower “transitic” part (9), one or the other of these parts being crossed • freely by the linear or transitic drive device (4), whatever their position, which is obtained by means of drive up or down, according to a kinematics dissociated from that of the linear drive device (4), so that a card (2) present in the "processing" part (8) does not block the movement of the other cards (2) located on the transitic device ( 9).

2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the transient device consists essentially of an endless belt (5) disposed between two pulleys of which at least one is driven and on which belt are arranged cleats (10) spaced apart according to the step of advancement of the machine and between which the cards (2) are arranged.

3. Machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the cards (2) are guided in the transit device (4) by two parallel rails (11, 12) fixedly disposed on each side of the belt (5).

4. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the vertical displacement device (7) is formed by a nacelle which binary reconstitutes a portion of the guide rails (11, 12), so as to ensure the continuity of these, therefore of the transit device (4) whatever the position of the nacelle (7).

5. Machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the nacelle (7) consists of two vertical, longitudinal side branches (13, 14) connected together by a horizontal branch (15) to form a generally U inside from which the card-carrying belt (5) (2), said lateral branches (13, 14) comprise two series of slots (16, 17), also longitudinal, produced, facing one another in pairs, at heights corresponding to the binary positions likely to be occupied by a card (2) being processed, or in transit.

6. Machine according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the vertical displacement of the nacelle (7) is obtained by means of a bracket (18), forming an elevator, arranged laterally and in connection with its lower part with a cam (19) actuated in rotation by an electric motor (20).

7. Machine according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the nacelle (7) is guided vertically by rails and recirculating ball shoes (21).

8. Machine according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the elevator (18) is guided vertically by rails and recirculating ball shoes (22).

9. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the treatment station (6) is a pressing station after bonding, of an integrated circuit (3), constituting a micro module, in a corresponding housing a card (2).

10. Machine according to claim 9, characterized in that it further comprises a fixed heating anvil (23) disposed opposite the integrated circuit (3) of a card (2) present in the nacelle ( 7), in the position of treatment, the pressing being carried out against the heating anvil (23) by means of a horizontal extension (24) of the part of the bracket (18) forming an elevator, positioned below said integrated circuit (3).

11. Machine according to one of claims 9 to 10, characterized in that the pressing system is carried out continuously. _t

12. Machine according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that it comprises as many linearly necessary pressing stations, as a function of the required pressing times.

13. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the binary system makes the pressing time independent of the flow, which allows not to slow it down.