WO2007091114A1 - Appareil d'embossage permettant de personnaliser des substrats destinés à former des cartes personnelles - Google Patents

Appareil d'embossage permettant de personnaliser des substrats destinés à former des cartes personnelles Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2007091114A1
WO2007091114A1 PCT/IB2006/000247 IB2006000247W WO2007091114A1 WO 2007091114 A1 WO2007091114 A1 WO 2007091114A1 IB 2006000247 W IB2006000247 W IB 2006000247W WO 2007091114 A1 WO2007091114 A1 WO 2007091114A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
die
matrix
embossing
drum
card
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2006/000247
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Robert Charles Bright
Original Assignee
Matica Swiss Ag
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Matica Swiss Ag filed Critical Matica Swiss Ag
Priority to EP06710342A priority Critical patent/EP1991424A1/fr
Priority to PCT/IB2006/000247 priority patent/WO2007091114A1/fr
Publication of WO2007091114A1 publication Critical patent/WO2007091114A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J3/00—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
    • B41J3/38—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for embossing, e.g. for making matrices for stereotypes
    • B41J3/385—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for embossing, e.g. for making matrices for stereotypes of plates, e.g. metal plates, plastic cards
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B44—DECORATIVE ARTS
    • B44B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR TOOLS FOR ARTISTIC WORK, e.g. FOR SCULPTURING, GUILLOCHING, CARVING, BRANDING, INLAYING
    • B44B5/00—Machines or apparatus for embossing decorations or marks, e.g. embossing coins
    • B44B5/0004—Machines or apparatus for embossing decorations or marks, e.g. embossing coins characterised by the movement of the embossing tool(s), or the movement of the work, during the embossing operation
    • B44B5/0009—Rotating embossing tools

Definitions

  • the / present invention relates in a general way to the field of the processing of substrates intended to form identity cards, such as credit cards, bank debit cards, membership cards, loyalty cards, medical cards and the like.
  • the invention relates to machines used for the operations of mechanical customizing of these substrates, the term "mechanical customizing” denoting in this case the forming on these substrates of characters or strings of alphabetic or numeric characters, or more generally symbols which may or may not be alphabetic, for example ideograms, showing for example the name of the card holder, the number and expiry date of the card, and other information (conversely, electrical or magnetic customizing is carried out by storing similar data on a magnetic strip, or in a small integrated circuit provided on the card substrate) .
  • mechanical customizing denoting in this case the forming on these substrates of characters or strings of alphabetic or numeric characters, or more generally symbols which may or may not be alphabetic, for example ideograms, showing for example the name of the card holder, the number and expiry date of the card, and other information (conversely, electrical or magnetic customizing is carried out by storing similar data on a magnetic strip, or in a small integrated circuit provided on the card substrate) .
  • An embossing machine typically comprises a drum known as a character drum, rotatable about a vertical axis (the Z axis) , in which two circumferential sequences of seats are formed in the proximity of two vertically opposing peripheral edges of the said drum, between which is interposed a channel for receiving a card to be mechanically customized in a flat position on a horizontal plane.
  • Each seat slidably houses along the drum axis a die and a matrix which are combined with each other and can be operated by suitable striking members.
  • the various symbols to be impressed on the card are selected by rotating the character drum about the Z axis; the points of the card on which these symbols are to be impressed are normally selected by moving the card with respect to the drum along two orthogonal directions, which are termed X and Y hereafter, and which are, respectively, parallel to the longer side and to the shorter side of the said card, in the plane in which it lies.
  • the striking members comprise a pair of strikers, of which one acts on the die and the other acts on the matrix which are placed in position, these strikers being carried by corresponding rocker arms which act as followers of a driving cam.
  • the cam has an active portion of predetermined extension, and is rotated continuously and at constant angular velocity, controlled according to the period required for the drum to rotate through an angle corresponding to the distance between two consecutive characters on the circumference. If the period of rotation of the driving cam is not sufficiently long to enable the desired die and matrix pair to be positioned by the rotation of the drum, for example because the predetermined die and matrix pair is relatively remote along the circumference from the previously selected die and matrix pair, with allowance for the speed of rotation of the drum, it is necessary to provide one or more intermediate stops of the drum in intermediate angular positions between the previously and currently selected combined pairs of dies and matrices, in positions corresponding to "voids", in other words to spaces provided along the circumference of the drum between adjacent die and matrix pairs.
  • the striking members, activated by the driving cam will therefore carry out one or more "idle" strikes.
  • one object of the present invention is to provide improvements to known embossing machines used for the mechanical customizing of substrates for identity cards such as credit or debit cards, particularly in order to increase their operating speed, and thus increase the rate of output, while maintaining the simplicity of construction.
  • the embossing machine comprises: - means carrying a plurality of die and matrix pairs which can be operated to form strings of symbols on a surface of a card substrate;
  • control unit for controlling the said activation means and the said positioning means.
  • the said control unit controls the said activation means in such a way as to operate them in a time sequence which depends on the time required to position the predetermined die and matrix pairs in the embossing position.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic axonometric view of the whole of an embossing unit for the mechanical customizing of cards, according to one embodiment of the present invention
  • Figures 2A and 2B are schematic views of striking members of embossing dies and matrices of the embossing machine of Figure 1, in two different operating positions;
  • Figure 3A is a time diagram showing the known solution, with periodic activation of the strikers independently of the distance along the circumference of the character drum of the embossing machine between two characters to be impressed in succession; and Figure 3B is a similar time diagram showing the change of the period of activation of the strikers according to the distance along the circumference of the character drum of the embossing machine between two characters to be impressed in succession.
  • a mechanical customizing unit for the mechanical customizing of substrates for identity cards, particularly an embossing unit, is indicated in its entirety by 100, and comprises a frame 103 designed to support, in a static or mobile way, the various components of the embossing unit.
  • the frame 103 supports a character drum 105 which is rotatable about a vertical axis (which is referred to conventionally hereafter as the Z axis) .
  • the character drum 105 which is substantially circular in shape, can be driven so that it rotates about the Z axis, by means of an electric motor (not shown in the drawings) fixed to the frame 103, a hub of the character drum 105 being formed by the shaft of this motor or being mounted on this shaft.
  • suitable transmission means such as a belt and pulley or geared transmission or the like.
  • the character drum 105 comprises an upper ring and a lower ring, one lying above the other in the direction of the Z axis, separated by an annular gap-
  • a circumferential sequence of combined die and matrix pairs such as the pair consisting of the die 107a and the matrix 107b visible in Figures 2A and 2B, is positioned along the outer edges of the upper and lower rings of the character drum 105; each die and matrix pair is capable of embossing a particular alphabetic or numeric character, or, more generally, a particular symbol which may or may not be alphabetic, for example an ideogram, on a substrate made from a typical plastics material used to form cards of the identity card type such as credit or debit cards.
  • Each die and matrix pair can be operated individually, to emboss the corresponding character or symbol, by means of a striking member comprising a pair of rocker arms consisting of an upper rocker arm 109a and a lower rocker arm 109b, each of which has, at its end located, respectively, above and below the edge of the upper ring and lower ring, respectively, of the drum 105, a corresponding striker 111 for striking the die 107a and the matrix 107b respectively of the die and matrix pair which, at a given instant, is located in the active position, in other words next to the strikers 111 of the rocker arms 109a and 109b.
  • a striking member comprising a pair of rocker arms consisting of an upper rocker arm 109a and a lower rocker arm 109b, each of which has, at its end located, respectively, above and below the edge of the upper ring and lower ring, respectively, of the drum 105, a corresponding striker 111 for striking the die 107a and the matrix 107
  • rocker arms 109a and 109b are pivoted at intermediate points 113a, 113b on brackets fixed to the frame 103, and each of the rocker arms 109a and 109b is provided with a corresponding pin 115, in the proximity of the end opposite the end having the striker, for interaction with a cam 117, mounted on a shaft 121 which can be rotated by an electric motor which is not shown in the drawings, a brushless motor for example, fixed to the frame 103.
  • Resilient return means for example a coil spring 123, act substantially on the said opposite ends of the rocker arms 109a and 109b to push the corresponding strikers towards a condition in which they are remote, along the Z axis, from the edges of the corresponding rings of the drum 105.
  • the cam 117 has two diametrically opposed active portions 125a and 125b of predetermined extension. The rocker arms 109a and 109b thus act as cam followers with respect to the cam 113.
  • the embossing unit 100 also comprises, facing the character drum 105, a unit 127 for moving and positioning a card 129 to be embossed, this unit moving the card 129 along two axes which are transverse with respect to each other, being orthogonal in particular, identified conventionally by X and Y in the drawings, lying in a horizontal plane in which the card 129 to be customized lies during operation, and along which the longer side and smaller side, respectively, of the card extends during operation.
  • the movement unit 127 serves to position the card 129, having a generally rectangular shape, with respect to the character drum 105, so that one or more strings of embossed characters, each extending along the X axis (in other words along the longer side of the card) , and spaced apart in the direction of the Y axis, can be formed on the card 129.
  • the specific construction of the movement unit is not limiting, since any known movement unit can be used. Consequently, the movement unit 127 will not be described in detail.
  • the embossing unit 100 is controlled by a control unit, not shown in the drawings, for example one comprising an industrial personal computer, suitably programmed to execute a predetermined card processing program.
  • the motors for driving the character drum 105, the cam 117 for driving the striking members of the dies and matrices, and the unit 127 for moving the card 129 to be embossed, all controlled by the control unit are all preferably equipped with suitable means, typically encoders, for reading information on the angular positions of the said motors and supplying this information to the control unit.
  • suitable means for example optical means of the photocell type, are positioned at least at the entry to the embossing unit 100, or preferably at both the entry and the exit of this unit, for detecting the passage of the cards.
  • the movement unit 127 is responsible for the movement and positioning of the cards 129 to be embossed along the X and Y axes, in order to bring the desired point of each card next to the striking members.
  • the desired character to be embossed is selected: the corresponding die and matrix pair is brought to the active position, next to the strikers 111 of the rocker arms 109a and 109b.
  • the cam 117 rotates at a constant angular velocity, controlled in accordance with the time required for the drum 105 to rotate through an angle corresponding to the distance between two consecutive characters on the circumference; the period T for which the active portions 125a and 125b engage the pins 115 located on the rocker arms 109a and 109b is therefore constant, and equal to half of the period of rotation of the cam 117.
  • the strikers 111 strike the selected die and matrix, causing the desired character to be incised into the card.
  • the period of rotation of the cam 117 is not sufficiently long to enable the desired new die and matrix pair to be positioned by the rotation of the drum 105, for example because the chosen die and matrix pair is relatively remote along the circumference of the drum 105 from the previously selected die and matrix pair, with allowance for the speed of rotation of the drum, it is necessary to provide one or more intermediate stops of the drum in intermediate angular positions between the previously and currently selected combined pairs of dies and matrices, in positions corresponding to "voids", in other words to spaces provided along the circumference of the drum between adjacent die and matrix pairs.
  • the striking members 111 activated by the driving cam, will therefore carry out one or more "idle" strikes.
  • the angular velocity of the cam 117 is controlled according to the distance, along the circumference of the drum 105, between the characters to be impressed on the card.
  • control unit acting on the basis of their positions along the circumference of the drum 105 and thus on the basis of the distance between them, controls the angular velocity of the cam 117 in such a way that the time interval between one strike of the strikers and the next matches the time required to bring into the active position the die and matrix pair corresponding to the next character to be selected.
  • predetermined angular velocities for the cam, corresponding for example to the time required for the drum 105 to rotate through angles which in turn correspond to intervals between predetermined numbers of characters, for example 1, 2, 3 and 5 characters.
  • the present embodiment relates to a cam mechanism for activating the striking members of the die and matrix pairs, this is not to be considered as a limitation of the present invention: in fact, the invention can be applied regardless of the type of mechanism used to move the strikers, this mechanism being for example a solenoid system, a linear motor system (with a motor mounted on each of the strikers), a friction system, or other.

Landscapes

  • Credit Cards Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un appareil d'embossage permettant la personnalisation mécanique d'un substrat destiné à former une carte personnelle. Ledit appareil comprend : des moyens (105) supportant une pluralité de paires poinçon et matrice, qui peuvent former des chaînes de symboles sur la surface d'un substrat de carte (129) ; des moyens (117,109a, 109b, 111) permettant d'activer des paires poinçon et matrice placées en position d'embossage ; des moyens de positionnement, destinés à placer les paires poinçon et matrice prédéterminées en position d'embossage au cours d'une séquence temporelle ; et une unité de commande, destinée à commander lesdits moyens d'activation et moyens de positionnement. Ladite unité de commande commande les moyens d'activation de manière à les faire fonctionner au cours d'une séquence temporelle qui dépend du temps nécessaire au placement des paires poinçon et matrice prédéterminées en position d'embossage.
PCT/IB2006/000247 2006-02-09 2006-02-09 Appareil d'embossage permettant de personnaliser des substrats destinés à former des cartes personnelles WO2007091114A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP06710342A EP1991424A1 (fr) 2006-02-09 2006-02-09 Appareil d'embossage permettant de personnaliser des substrats destinés à former des cartes personnelles
PCT/IB2006/000247 WO2007091114A1 (fr) 2006-02-09 2006-02-09 Appareil d'embossage permettant de personnaliser des substrats destinés à former des cartes personnelles

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/IB2006/000247 WO2007091114A1 (fr) 2006-02-09 2006-02-09 Appareil d'embossage permettant de personnaliser des substrats destinés à former des cartes personnelles

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2007091114A1 true WO2007091114A1 (fr) 2007-08-16

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IB2006/000247 WO2007091114A1 (fr) 2006-02-09 2006-02-09 Appareil d'embossage permettant de personnaliser des substrats destinés à former des cartes personnelles

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1991424A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2007091114A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11752539B2 (en) 2020-01-27 2023-09-12 Panduit Corp. Embossing system

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3283870A (en) * 1963-07-29 1966-11-08 Addressograph Multigraph Matrix positioning means for embossing machines
GB1576651A (en) * 1976-04-20 1980-10-15 Data Card Uk Ltd Embossing machines
WO1984002307A1 (fr) * 1982-12-13 1984-06-21 Data Card Corp Assemblage de gaufrage pour systeme automatique de gaufrage
US4747706A (en) * 1987-08-17 1988-05-31 Datacard Corporation Embossing method and apparatus
EP1486336A2 (fr) * 2003-05-30 2004-12-15 FRACTALOS S.r.l. Machine pour la personnalisation mécanique de cartes d'identification

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3283870A (en) * 1963-07-29 1966-11-08 Addressograph Multigraph Matrix positioning means for embossing machines
GB1576651A (en) * 1976-04-20 1980-10-15 Data Card Uk Ltd Embossing machines
WO1984002307A1 (fr) * 1982-12-13 1984-06-21 Data Card Corp Assemblage de gaufrage pour systeme automatique de gaufrage
US4747706A (en) * 1987-08-17 1988-05-31 Datacard Corporation Embossing method and apparatus
EP1486336A2 (fr) * 2003-05-30 2004-12-15 FRACTALOS S.r.l. Machine pour la personnalisation mécanique de cartes d'identification

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11752539B2 (en) 2020-01-27 2023-09-12 Panduit Corp. Embossing system
US11904377B2 (en) 2020-01-27 2024-02-20 Panduit Corp. Embossing system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1991424A1 (fr) 2008-11-19

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