WO2018033554A1

WO2018033554A1 - System and method for produciing value and security documents from starting material pieces

Info

Publication number: WO2018033554A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/070715
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel Zander; André LEOPOLD
Original assignee: Bundesdruckerei Gmbh
Priority date: 2016-08-18
Filing date: 2017-08-16
Publication date: 2018-02-22
Also published as: DE102016215517A1; EP3500434A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an improved system for producing different types of value or security documents (100) and for increasing the availability of the production systems (1000) for these documents, wherein said system is suitable for producing value and security documents (100) from starting material pieces in at least two processing steps of a processing schedule. The system is formed by (a) system modules (3100, 3200, 3300, 3400, 3500) designed for carrying out the at least two processing steps, (b) at least one transport unit (4100, 4200, 4300, 4400) connecting the system modules for the starting material pieces provided for producing the value and security documents, and (c) a system control unit (2000) designed for controlling the system modules and the at least one transport unit, wherein at least two system modules are provided for carrying out at least one of the at least to processing steps, wherein all system modules designed for carrying out a second processing step are connected to system modules designed for carrying out a previous first processing step by means of at least one transport unit, and wherein optionally all system modules designed for carrying out the second processing step are connected to system modules designed for carrying out a subsequent third processing step by means of at least one transport unit, and wherein the at least one transport unit can be actuated by the system control unit, such that the starting material pieces can be supplied to a respective one of multiple system modules designed for carrying out a processing step.

Description

Plant and method for producing value and security documents from material pieces

Description:

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a plant and a method for producing value and security documents from Vormaterialstücken. The security documents produced can be, for example, identity cards or other identification cards (ID cards) or integrated as individualizing cards in a book-shaped identification document, for example a passport book, such as a passport. Furthermore, value documents can be, for example, credit cards or debit cards. Background of the invention

Identification documents, in particular identity documents, such as identity cards, serve to verify the identity of a person. Identity documents are issued by public authorities in the exercise of their sovereign obligations, for example to allow the document holder to cross the border into another state or to identify himself to an official or other person. Such an identification document is the German identity card which is currently issued in the form of an ID-1 ID card in accordance with ISO / IEC 7810 in the version valid on the priority date of the present application.

The identity card will include the personalizing information personalizing the document such as name, date and place of birth, nationality, facial image and the document holder's signature, a serial number identifying the document, the date of issue of the document and information about the issuing authority and the type of document. Furthermore, it shows the current place of residence as well as further biometric data of the owner (size, eye color). Furthermore, the ID card is provided with various security features which allow a third party to check the authenticity of the document, for example with a guilloche print, the owner's facial image and the machine-readable zone of the document containing the personal and other documents. tenth hologram and a kinegrafischen object showing, for example, the federal coat of arms.

The ID card can also be incorporated as part of a book-shaped security document, for example, in a passport book. Passport books have, in addition to the data identifying the person on the document card, which in the German passport the format ID-3 according to ISO / IEC 7810 in the version valid on the priority date of the present application, further book sheets on whose pages so-called visas ( Visas) of the states to which the person enters. The document card, the passbook sheets and a cover are joined together in a stapling process.

The document card, for example identity card, may typically be in the form of a plastic laminate with a laminated piece of film containing the required information, for example a polymeric material. For the production of passbooks, the document card is provided with a so-called pass tab, which protrudes laterally beyond the intended format of the document card and is stapled together with the passbook sheets. For this purpose it is apparent from DE 10 2008 031 654 A1 that such document cards, which are made exclusively of polycarbonate layers, are not suitable for incorporating them in a passport book. Therefore, it is common to produce document cards with a card body, in which at least one layer is incorporated, which consists of a different plastic material, which is suitable for incorporation in a passport book and allows easy turning of the document card in the passport book. This plastic layer is incorporated so that it forms the tab with which the document card is integrated into the passport book.

The invention is based on objects

The identification documents (security documents) described above are produced in a conventional manner in production plants which are based on so-called stand-alone solutions, ie the individual production steps are carried out in only loosely linked plant parts. The required starting materials and the resulting intermediates are stacked up and down and transported by hand from one plant station to the next, ie the documents are produced in batches. This procedure is disadvantageous, for example, because the space required for the system is high and the systems are stationary. In addition, these facilities are inflexible in terms of the ability to produce different types of documents, since only one type of document can be produced in a batch, so that the throughput time for the identification documents is long. It is also problematic that the individual method steps use different capacities of the system parts provided for this purpose. This problem can be aggravated by the fact that individual plant modules can fail, so that the production of the documents must be interrupted and the cycle time of the batch is extended again. The same applies in the event that individual documents produced incorrectly and therefore need to be re-manufactured.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a production plant, which has a small footprint and is also extremely flexible use, so that value and security documents of different types can be produced. In the production plant, a dedicated production process should be feasible.

Furthermore, it has been found that the manufacture of value and security documents requires a significant amount of time, especially when they are manufactured at a central manufacturing facility. Because different types of documents have to be produced simultaneously in this case. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for producing the value and security documents and a method of producing the same, with which a rapid production of different types of value and security documents is possible. In addition, the production of value and security documents should also be cost-effective and with the least possible rejection and in compliance with the required occupational safety measures, especially against less intensively trained operating personnel, which is active in a decentralized manufacturing facility, be possible. Another very important object of the present invention is therefore also to provide a production plant and a production process with which the value and security documents can be produced with the lowest possible throughput time. Definitions of terms used in accordance with the present invention:

As far as the term 'plant module' is used below, this is to be understood as meaning a physical production unit with defined inputs and outputs which makes changes in the properties of the pieces of primary material supplied to them.

As far as the terms "individualized" and "individualizing" are used below, this is to be understood as a property of a value or security document, for example a credit card or passport, according to which the document is assigned to a specific subject (person, animal, Subject) is attributable. This property results from given security features of the value or security documents. As far as the terms "personalizing" and "personalizing" are used below, this is to be understood as the property of a value or security document according to which the document can be assigned to a person.

Insofar as the term "value and security document" or "value or security document" is used below, this preferably means a document in the form of a flat, in particular preferably rectangular, support for individualized information to be displayed. Under a value or security card is to understand both a rigid and flexible object, so both a no or little bendable or twistable object as well as an easily bendable object. For example, the card may have one of the formats ID-1, ID-2 or ID-3 according to ISO / IEC 7810 in the version valid on the priority date of the present application. The security or security document may include, for example, an identity card, driver's license, access control card or other ID card, check, bank, credit or cash card, customer card, health card, chip card, company card, credential, membership card, ticket, gift card or shopping voucher or other card-based credentials. The security or security document may be made of a material suitable for the purpose of the present invention, for example, a plastic (polymer), paper, paperboard, glass or other materials or blends of these materials, and optionally filled with reinforcing materials. The security or security document is made by lamination of laminate layers, for example made of a material suitable for lamination. The security or security document may be formed from a polymer selected from a group comprising polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), whose derivatives, such as glycol-modified PET (PETG), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinyl butyral (PVB), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyimide (PI), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polystyrene (PS) , Polyvinylphenol (PVP), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), in particular thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS) and their derivatives, polyamide (PA) and / or Paper (cellulose) and / or cardboard and / or a glass and / or metal and / or a ceramic. In addition, the value or security document can also be made of several of these materials, in particular if the individual layers are formed from different materials. The value or security document preferably consists of PC or PC / TPU / PC. The polymers may be either filled or unfilled. In the latter case they are preferably transparent or translucent. If the polymers are filled, they are opaque. The thickness of a document card is preferably 250 to 950 μηι.

Basic principles of the invention and preferred embodiments:

According to a first aspect of the present invention, the above objects are provided with an installation for producing value documents, in particular credit cards, debit cards and other value documents, particularly preferred prepaid cards, and security documents, particularly preferably security cards, in particular identity cards and identification documents designed in book form Identification cards, solved. The production plant according to the invention serves to produce the value or security documents in at least two processing steps of a processing scheme of material pieces. The production plant according to the invention is formed by: (a) plant modules designed to carry out the at least two processing steps, (b) at least one transport unit connecting the plant modules for the preliminary material pieces intended for producing the value and security documents, and (c) one for controlling the at least one transport unit and optionally the plant modules trained plant control unit.

According to the invention, at least two of the plant modules are provided for carrying out at least one of the at least two processing steps. This means that in each case several plant modules are provided for carrying out one or more processing steps, while for carrying out one or several other processing steps, only a single one of them is provided. sufficient for trained plant module. Several system modules for executing a single processing step are alternatively available.

Furthermore, at least one transport unit according to the invention connects all second plant modules, which are designed to execute a second processing step, with first plant modules, which are designed to execute a first processing step preceding the processing scheme. Optionally, at least one of the aforementioned at least one (first) transport unit different second transport unit according to the invention connects all second plant modules with third plant modules, which are designed to execute a third processing step following in the processing scheme, if the production plant system modules for performing at least three processing steps and at least two Transport units has. This means that all plant modules which are provided for executing a processing step, are approached by at least one transport unit, and that also transported from these plant modules Vormaterialstücke to other plant modules for performing a further processing step by means of at least one transport unit.

Furthermore, the at least one transport unit with the plant control unit can also be controlled according to the invention, so that the primary material pieces can each be fed to one of a plurality of plant modules designed to execute a processing step. This means that the at least one transport unit is actuated by the plant control device when several plant modules are alternatively available for executing a processing step, in such a way that a starting material piece is fed to one of these plant modules. The primary material pieces can accordingly be supplied to these plant modules as an alternative.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the above objects are also achieved by a method of producing the value or security documents in at least two processing steps of a processing scheme of material pieces. For this purpose, system modules designed to execute at least two processing steps are used, which are connected by at least one transport unit.

The production process comprises the following process steps: (i) providing the material pieces intended for producing the value or security documents; (ii) activating the at least one transport unit by means of a control unit for controlling at least one NEN transport unit and optionally the plant modules trained plant control unit for supplying a Vormaterialstückes to a selected of at least two trained to execute a process step designed plant modules, for example, depending on the availability of each of the trained to execute the process step to be performed plant modules (this step also includes in that the plant module is first selected before the transport unit is activated and the material piece is then fed to the selected plant module); (iii) feeding the piece of primary material to the selected plant module; (iv) performing the processing step in the selected plant module by altering at least one property of the primary material piece; and (v) performing further processing steps of the processing scheme according to the above process steps (ii), (iii) and (iv). Between (iv) and (v) the piece of primary material can be removed again from the plant module in which it has been processed, whereupon it is transported to another plant module by means of the at least one transport unit according to (v) to carry out further process steps of the processing scheme.

In a preferred development of the present invention, altering at least one property of the primary material pieces according to method step (iv) comprises printing the primary material pieces and / or collecting the primary material pieces and / or laminating the primary material pieces and / or edge trimming the preliminary material pieces and / or determining the quality of the laminated and edge-trimmed primary material pieces and / or producing a hologram and / or applying the hologram to the primary material pieces and / or size-trimming the primary material pieces and / or attaching a tab to the primary material pieces and / or the laser engraving the starting material pieces. Such method steps can be used to produce an identification card. For producing a book-shaped document, in which the identification card are joined to the book-shaped document, for example together with other document components, method steps are carried out, which include, for example: the merging of cover slips and flylaps and the laminating of the flyleaves on the cover slips, furthermore the printing of Visa sheets with data and the separation of visa sheets from the printed visa sheets, the collating, stacking and fixing of the laminated cover sheets, the visa sheets and an individualized document card to each other, the joining of the laminated cover sheets, visa sheets and individualized document card to form a book with a sewing operation, the trimming of the The final format, the laser perforation of individual pages of the book and the final review of the finished book-shaped document. The value or security documents are preferably produced in the production plant according to the invention with the production method according to the invention in single use.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the above objects are also achieved by a method for producing a set of several different value and security documents according to individual processing schemes by carrying out the method according to the invention.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plant has at least first plant modules, which are designed to execute a first processing step, second plant modules, which are designed to execute a second processing step, and third plant modules, which are designed to execute a third processing step, All second plant modules are connected to all first plant modules by means of at least one first transport unit and all third plant modules are connected to all second plant modules by means of at least one second transport unit different from the at least one first transport unit. According to this embodiment, the at least one first transport unit is designed exclusively for the transfer of the primary material pieces from the first module modules to the second module modules and the at least one second transport unit exclusively for transferring the primary material pieces from second module modules to the third module modules.

According to this preferred embodiment, method step (iii) comprises feeding the primary material piece to a first selected plant module and step (v) comprises the following further method steps:

(v-1) activating at least one first transport unit (4100) exclusively assigned to the first installation modules (3100) and second installation modules (3200) by means of the installation control unit (2000) for feeding the preliminary material piece to a second selected installation module designed to execute a second processing step (3200);

(v-2) feeding the primary material piece to the second selected plant module (3200); (v-3) executing the second processing step in the second selected plant module (3200) by changing at least one property of the primary piece;

(v-4) activating at least one second transport unit exclusively assigned to the second plant modules (3200) and third plant modules (3300)

(4200) by means of the plant control unit (2000) for feeding the pre-material piece to a third selected plant module (3300) designed to execute a third processing step;

(v-5) feeding the primary material piece to the third selected plant module (3300);

(v-6) performing the third processing step in the third selected plant module (3300) by changing at least one property of the material piece.

This can be followed by method step (v) further method steps (ii), (iii), (iv) close.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, the plant modules and transport units are arranged relative to one another in such a way that plant modules, which are each designed to carry out a processing step, and the transport units form a linear chain, so that the primary material pieces can pass through these in succession.

The starting material pieces which are used in the process according to the invention, produced in the individual processing steps and then further processed in subsequent processing steps, are the following materials in a typical production process according to the invention by way of example:

Polymeric film pieces intended to be printed with reproductions of individualizing data and then laminated;

Polymeric film pieces intended for lamination without being printed, as well as security threads, patches and other laminatable pieces of film;

a polymer film piece printed in a printing device with reproductions of individualizing data; a stack produced by collating printed and unprinted film pieces, security threads, security patches and other pieces of film, which stack is to be fed to a laminating device;

a laminate piece made by a laminating process;

a piece of laminate cut by an edge trimming method;

a hologram film;

a hologram film exposed to a hologram and fixed in a hologram producing apparatus;

a piece of laminate provided with the hologram;

a laminate piece provided with the hologram and cut to a desired size in a size trimming device;

a tabbed piece of laminate, this piece of laminate being intended for incorporation into a book-shaped value or security document; and a laminate piece provided with laser-engraved reproductions of data.

The abovementioned material pieces are intended for the production of an identification card. In a corresponding manner, suitable starting material pieces can also be used to produce a book-shaped document, for example cover slips, flyleaves and visa sheets. In this case, for example, the identification card can be linked to the book-type document together with such other document components.

According to the production method according to the invention, according to method step (i), firstly the starting material pieces, ie corresponding precursors of the value or security documents are made available, for example pieces of film to be laminated, including an inlay piece of film, laser-engravable pieces of film and optionally one carrying an RFID circuit Foil pieces, a security thread, a security patch and the like. Preferably, five to nine pieces of film are collected. To produce the documents, the individual processing steps of the processing scheme for the production of the value and security documents are executed. To carry out a single one of several processing steps, the following process steps are then carried out: According to process step (ii), at least one transport unit is activated by means of the plant control unit, so that a material piece is conveyed to one of several plant modules which are adapted to carry out a processing step on the material piece perform. One The criterion for selecting the system module is, for example, the availability of the system modules for this processing step. The available plant module is selected. If several parallel plant modules are available to perform a particular processing step, any one will be selected. In accordance with method step (iii), the piece of material is then fed to the selected system module. According to step (iv), the piece of starting material is processed in the selected plant module. For this purpose, a property of Vormaterialstückes is changed. For example, the starting material piece is a piece of polymer film which is printed by means of a printing device with individualizing, in particular personalizing, data, or the starting material piece is a hologram film-coated polymer laminate piece which is cut to the desired format by means of a size trimming device (format cut). To carry out further processing steps on the starting material piece, the abovementioned method steps (ii), (iii) and (iv) are carried out again.

The plant modules of the production plant according to the invention are logically linked in accordance with the intended processing scheme in the sequence of processing steps predetermined by this scheme. According to the invention, not only one plant module is necessarily provided for the individual processing steps, but several plant modules can be provided. At least two plant modules are available for executing at least one of the processing steps. If several plant modules are provided for executing a processing step, one of these plant modules for the processing of a Vormaterialstückes is selected. The at least one transport unit is designed to connect the system modules of different processing steps with each other. This results in a network in which the system modules represent the nodes and the transport units represent the node connections. According to the individual module modules are therefore not rigidly linked together. This is achieved by a flexible transport system. The pieces of primary material are automatically delivered to the plant modules by the transport units controlled by the plant control unit. With the flexible linking of the system modules according to the invention of different processing steps in the processing scheme, it is possible for the first time to enable the utilization of the system modules caused by different cycle times in the processing steps to be optimized. For by holding a plurality of redundant plant modules for a processing step that requires a long cycle time, a Vormaterialstück of a previously processed processing step with shorter cycle time to a currently unclaimed plant module and processed there. A subsequent starting material piece can then be guided to another available system module for carrying out this processing step. This significantly increases the availability of all production equipment. This also applies to the case of a plant module which fails, for example due to a fault. For in contrast to rigidly linked plant modules in which the entire system fails, for example, if one of the plant modules fails, the production is redirected according to the invention via redundant plant modules, so that the system can be operated.

Furthermore, the present invention also solves the problem that several different product variants of a value or security document can be produced with conventional production equipment only after a conversion, so that considerable time delays and thus long production times result. Because typically different document variants are produced batchwise in the same production plant, the plant being converted after the production of a batch of a first document variant, in order to set it up for the production of a second document variant. By providing a plurality of plant modules according to the invention, each of which is designed to carry out one of a plurality of different processing step variants, the individual primary material pieces can be guided as intended to the plant modules provided for carrying out the respective processing step variant. For example, a plurality of laminating sheet types (for example, in different formats and / or with different embossed structures) can be provided in one laminating module.

Furthermore, with the present invention, the problem can be solved that a system module fails, for example, by a fault or other event (for example, due maintenance, feed with starting material). This leads to the fact that the entire production must be interrupted in conventional production plants. By redundantly maintaining the plant modules for each processing step or at least for those processing steps that tend to fail, the material flow can be routed through the still operating plant modules of the corresponding processing step, so that the production does not have to be interrupted. With the system according to the invention can also be provided that for a group of different (individual) value or security documents, the same processing scheme is applied. Such value or security documents may differ, for example, only in terms of personalization. For example, an individual processing scheme may be provided for a group of passports; for another group of passports, another individual processing scheme is then provided. Within the groups themselves, however, the respective individual processing schemes for the individual passports are the same.

The decision as to which of several plant modules of a processing step the primary material piece is to be conveyed is made by the plant control unit in dependence on the availability of each individual of the plant modules designed to execute the processing step to be carried out. This decision is sent as a control command to the at least one transport unit which transports the piece of preliminary material to the selected plant module. The criterion of availability is inter alia by the utilization, the operating state of the respective plant modules of the processing step to be performed (for example, depending on an occurrence of a fault, of an upcoming maintenance of the plant module and / or a example, temporarily changed processing time in the plant module) and the variants of the executable in the individual plant modules processing step.

The plant control unit is formed by an electronic processing unit and preferably has a unit for storing data. It is preferably a conventional process computer. The plant control unit can be a programmable control unit.

The plant control unit controls all transport units (and, if appropriate, the plant modules) in the production plant according to the invention and is designed for data transmission to all transport units (and plant modules) and data acquisition of all transport units (and plant modules). The plant control unit may be formed by a central processing unit which communicates directly with all transport units (and plant modules) as in a conventional production control system. Alternatively, the plant control unit can also be formed by a hierarchical system, in which a higher-level arithmetic unit associated with subordinate arithmetic units, which in turn each communicate with their assigned transport units (and plant modules). For this, the subordinate computing units control the transport units (and plant modules) and transmit data to them and collect data from them. The subordinate arithmetic units can each be assigned to groups of transport units (and plant modules), for example individual production units (see below) in which several transport units and plant modules are combined. The superordinate arithmetic unit controls the subordinate arithmetic units and is designed for data transmission to them and data acquisition from them. For example, it is advantageous if the superordinate arithmetic unit transmits data about primary material pieces, which are supplied to a production unit and which have been processed in these production units, to the respective subordinate arithmetic unit or receives data from the subordinate arithmetic unit, while the results of intermediate steps at the processing within the manufacturing units are not communicated to the higher-level arithmetic unit but only to the subordinate arithmetic units.

Communication lines are used for transmitting data and control commands from the plant control unit to the plant modules and transport units and from these to the plant control unit. In particular, a LAN, for example based on a glass fiber network, can be provided for this purpose. Instead of a LAN, a wireless network (WLAN) may also be installed.

The plant modules are preferably the following production modules, which are designed in a conventional manner: at least one of the plant modules can by a printing device or by a placement device for collating Vormaterials pieces or by a laminating device or an edge trimming device or a device for determining the Quality of the starting material pieces produced in lamination and edge trimming in the form of laminate pieces or by a hologram-producing device or by a hologram application device or by a format trimming device or by a device for attaching a tab to the pre-material pieces or by a laser engraving device or by a Device for detecting the quality of the finished value or security document to be formed. With these processing steps, a document card, for example an identification card or an identification card provided for incorporation in a book-shaped document, for example a passport, can be produced. In a similar way, system modules can be used for Producing a book-shaped document, in which the identification card are connected, for example together with other document components to the book-shaped document, are used, in particular the following equipment modules: a laminating device for joining a cover sheet with a flyleaf, printing devices for printing visa sheets, blanking devices for separating visa sheets of printed visa sheets, a collating machine having a manipulator and a collated cover sheet collecting station, visor sheets and an identification card, a sewing device for joining stacked components of the book-shaped document, a folding device for folding the book, a trimming device for trimming the book on the book Final format and a quality assurance device for the final verification of the book-shaped document.

The transport units may be in the form of continuously operating transport devices, in particular translational transport devices, such as conveyor belts, on which the Vormaterialstücke rest, translationally movable holding elements for the Vormaterialstücke, such as mechanical, pneumatic, magnetic or adhesive grippers, including vacuum handling equipment, the Vormaterialstücke convey from a first plant module to a second plant module, or even be formed other translationally movable holding elements. The transport units may preferably be characterized in that a transport unit connects at least one first plant module, which is provided for carrying out a first processing step, with at least one second plant module, which is provided for executing a second processing step following in the processing scheme, and that preferably additionally a further transport unit is provided and is used, which serves for linking the first or second plant modules with other plant modules for performing further processing steps. Alternatively, stationary or mobile robots can be used. These transport devices may be equipped, for example, with vacuum handling devices and / or grippers. The robots can be formed, for example, by lifting and swiveling robots, for example SCARA robots (Selective Compliance Assemblies Robot Arm), or a fast picker or a gantry crane.

In order to realize a flexible link between the plant modules with the transport units arranged spatially and functionally therebetween, the interfaces between the plant modules and transport units must be defined, both with regard to the equipment (hardware) and in terms of software equipment. With regard to the hardware-technical adaptation of the plant modules and transport units to each other, an adaptation of the transfer points between the two plant components is required. For this purpose, in particular a standardized transfer interface with identical inputs and outputs is advantageous. As a result, the system modules and transport units can be assembled in terms of hardware, wherein the system modules can be combined with each other in any order. In particular, it may be advantageously provided that the primary material pieces are transported at the same level in both plant components. With regard to the software technical adaptation, suitable algorithms for the transmission of data and control commands between the system modules and transport units on the one hand and the plant control unit on the other hand are provided for this purpose, for example the TCP / IP protocol. With the help of this software technical adaptation, a clear control of the material flow between the plant modules and the transport units can be achieved.

Therefore, the plant modules according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention each have means for transferring the Vormaterialstücke from and to the at least one transport unit, wherein the levels of the means for transfer are formed equal in height. To adjust the height levels, for example, a combination lift can be used, which raises / lowers the starting material pieces to the level of the subsequent system module or the subsequent transport unit.

Due to the height-equal design of the transfer devices Vormaterialstücke can be easily passed between the investment modules and the transport units, because no height difference is overcome.

The system modules provided for the production of a value or security document with the method according to the invention, which are respectively designed and provided in the required number for executing one of the processing steps in the underlying processing scheme for this security document, do not have to be in one be placed particular arrangement to each other. It is only essential that the plant modules are arranged in a net-like structure together with the transport modules connecting the plant modules. The system modules can represent network nodes and the transport units represent the connections between the nodes. Accordingly, a or several such connections terminate in a node or originate from a node. Preferably, one or more nodes, corresponding in each case to a plant module provided for executing a processing step, are each connected to one or more other nodes, corresponding to a plant module provided for executing another processing step, via one or more connections, each connection having a connection Transport unit represents. It is of course advantageous that a plurality of plant modules, which are designed to execute the same processing step, as well as plant modules, which are designed to execute successive processing steps are arranged in spatial proximity to each other, so that the transport times between the plant modules successive processing steps is minimized as possible.

The plant modules and transport units and other building units, such as supply and communication lines, can be housed in a container or a container-like structure. In particular, the plant modules that are designed to execute a specific processing step (parallel plant modules: redundant identical plant modules and possibly also plant modules for executing a processing step in several variants), for example, be assembled in a cluster, such as in a container. Likewise (additionally or alternatively), plant modules that are designed to execute successive processing steps can be assembled in a cluster, for example in a container. Several containers with module clusters can then be assembled in a suitable manner. The containers or container-like structures are preferably in the form of standardized large-capacity containers, such as ISO containers formed, but possibly without the side walls, the bottom wall and the ceiling wall, but only in the form of support structures, for example in a truss structure, with the appropriate dimensions. Such formed production units (cubes) are easily transportable and thus mobile and can be built in standardized dimensions, so that they can be put together arbitrarily. Since the plant modules intended for the production of the value and security documents, for example a laminating device for joining polymer film pieces to form a polymer laminate piece, comprise a size trimming device for cutting the laminate piece to a desired format or other plant modules, furthermore the transport units and further structural units (components) ) are permanently installed within the respective containerized production units, the manufacturing units with the components therein can easily from a Transported to a site and assembled and assembled there. The plant modules, transport units and other building units are located in the respective production units preferably in a spatial arrangement to each other, they need for the operation of the production units for the production of value and security documents. In particular, plant modules can be arranged to execute successive processing steps in spatial proximity to each other.

As explained above, the transport units (and plant modules) in the clusters can be controlled by a hierarchically organized plant control unit having a higher-level control unit and a plurality of control units subordinate to this control unit, wherein the transport units (and plant modules) of a cluster (in a manufacturing unit) of a subordinate control unit are controlled.

Instead of installing the system modules, transport units and other units in containers or container-like structures, these components can also be set up individually, without being installed in a container or container-like structure.

Of course, it is also possible that some components are installed in containers or container-like structures and other components are installed free-standing without installation in a container or container-like structure.

The plant control unit is designed to control the plant modules and the at least one transport unit between the plant modules of successive processing steps. Thus, the primary material pieces can be conveyed in an intelligent logistical material flow to the respectively available, including the plant modules designed for the respective processing step variant. The plant control unit thus controls the path taken by the Vormaterialstücke through the production plant. For this purpose, the plant control unit supplies the required control commands to the at least one transport unit and optionally to the plant modules. For the control of the transport units and plant modules, the plant control unit uses processing schemes ("recipes") for the production of the value and safety documents that are stored in a database In these processing schemes, the processing steps are for each value to be produced If there are different types of value and security documents, for example, with different formats, security features, and / or other properties of value and security documents, the individual processing schemes are also based on different basic processing schemes, each of which applies to a group of similar documents. The processing schemes may include those processing steps that are included in all processing schemes and those processing operations that are included in only some processing schemes and are therefore optional.

The transport units can be mapped in the plant control unit as the plant modules as production modules to be controlled. As in the case of conventional rigidly linked plant systems, in which the transfer of Vormaterialstücke is reported by a plant module to a subsequent system module as quasi-instantaneous to a control system, control concepts conventional systems can also be used for the inventive production facility insofar as the transport units, as indicated above in which plant control module as well as the plant modules are simulated as production modules. Also in this case, the production modules communicate the module transitions from the output of a predecessor module, for example a transport unit, to the input of a successor module, in this case a system module, to the system control unit. In the communication of data on properties of Vormaterialstückes of the plant control unit can be transmitted in the case of a transport process, the state of Vormaterialstückes as its property of the plant control unit to the transport unit, which is to be supplied from several plant modules, the Vormaterialstück. Furthermore, the properties of the primary material piece, in particular via the process variant to be selected, can be transmitted to the transport unit so that a decision is made as to which unit of material to be fed to the subsequent transport unit is to be supplied.

Furthermore, it can preferably be provided that the plant control unit also transmits the data relating to a particular material piece, for example the one associated with the identification of this piece of material, for example to a specific person, to the at least one transport unit so that reliable product tracking is possible and to make appropriate appropriate modifications of the processing step in this system module and optionally also individualizing data on the Vormaterialstück and / or within the Vormaterialstückes can be attached. This identification may be carried out with the aid of the serial number of the security or security document to be produced and / or in the case of documents containing a chip with the aid of a chip Identification number to be made. With the aid of these data, a system module can additionally be actuated to apply an individualizing security feature to and / or in the material piece of material with these data. For example, reproductions of these data may be printed on a piece of polymer film, for example by means of a printing device, and / or engraved into a piece of laminate by means of a laser engraving device and / or imaged and fixed in a hologram film by means of a hologram producing device.

In addition, it can also be provided that the arrival of a certain piece of starting material on a system module, the completion of a material piece of material in a plant module and the quality of the caused by the processing step in a plant module changes the properties of the Vormaterialschrittes are transmitted to the plant control unit. Therefore, it can also be provided that the system control unit also controls the system modules and for this purpose issues control commands to them, for example when the start of processing of an incoming material piece of material on a system module is to be triggered. Furthermore, in the case of the notification of the completion of a processing step in a plant module, the data identifying the material piece, the event time (completion), data on the nature and extent of the processing step performed and possibly other data, such as quality data (quality status) to the Anla - Gene control unit to be transmitted. In the event of arrival of the material piece of material at a system module, for example, an acknowledgment of arrival and, in the case of completion, an acknowledgment of completion (status feedback) are transmitted to the system control unit. In the plant control unit, the transmitted status data, including other parameters, are logged. With the transmission of the arrival of the piece of material at a plant module and completion of the processing step in the plant module, the plant control unit is enabled to coordinate the timing of the processing steps of all processed material pieces in the production plant. This also applies accordingly to the corresponding status data of the preliminary material pieces with respect to the arrival at a transport unit and the leaving of the transport unit. In this way, the location at which a particular piece of primary material is located in the production plant can be detected in each case. The status data of the primary material pieces in the system modules results in the determination of their availability on the basis of the respective processing times on which they are based. By recording the quality of the property changes of a pre-material For the further material flow in the plant, it is taken into account whether the machined starting material piece has been successfully processed in the processing step, or whether it must be reprocessed or rejected as reject from the production process.

Apart from the transmission of individualizing data to the plant modules, the plant control unit preferably does not control the plant modules. The plant modules are therefore preferably designed to carry out the processing steps to be carried out without external intervention, unless they require document-specific data for carrying out the processing steps. As soon as a piece of primary material has reached a plant module, the selected plant module preferably takes over the piece of starting material and automatically carries out the processing step that can be carried out therein. Only when leaving the system module, the further decision on the progress of the processing of Vormaterialstückes is taken over in other system modules by the plant control unit. For this purpose, the system control unit controls the transport unit taking over this material piece of material so that it can be transported to the next available system module which is designed to execute the next processing step in a system module.

In a preferred development of the present invention, at least two system modules designed for executing one of the at least two processing steps are provided in the system according to the invention, each of which is designed for executing a processing step variant for producing one of several variants of the value or security documents. Thus, the inventive method according to this embodiment of the invention further comprise that the at least one transport unit is controlled by the plant control unit so that the Vormaterialstücke a depending on the execution of a selected processing step variant for producing one of several variants of the value or security documents supplied to the execution of this processing step variant trained plant modules. For example, according to this embodiment of the present invention, different polymer film pieces may be incorporated into the stack to carry out the processing step of assembling primary material pieces to form a stack of polymer film pieces and other laminate components. In particular, stacks with different numbers and / or different formats of polymer film pieces and / or with different lent types of foils, for example, made of different materials, for example polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate or combinations of these materials or with still other materials. In addition, the variant may additionally be provided that in a film stack to be laminated, a film layer with an integrated RFID circuit with RFID chip and RFID antenna should be included and in another film stack no such film layer. The same applies to the integration of other laminate components, such as a security thread or a patch or aufulaminierenden patches. Furthermore, different module modules for different formats of the stacks and / or different lamination processing conditions, for example, depending on the type of material to be laminated with respect to the laminating temperature, and / or lamination with different embossed structures may be provided for carrying out the processing step of laminating the film stack , Further, to execute the processing step of edge trimming the finished laminate piece, several plant modules may be provided for different formats of the document to be produced. Furthermore, in order to carry out the processing steps of producing a hologram and applying the hologram to the laminate piece, a plurality of plant modules for different geometries / shapes of the hologram film to be applied and / or for different sizes of the hologram film can be provided. Further, in order to carry out the processing step of size trimming after applying a hologram film to the laminate piece, plural plant modules for different formats may be provided.

In a further preferred development of the present invention, the plant for producing can also contain plant modules, with which a processing step can be carried out, which is merely optional in the processing scheme, ie, should only be carried out for a specific group of documents to be produced. The plant control unit retrieves the processing schemas stored for the documents to be produced and accordingly determines which processing steps are to be carried out and thus which plant modules are to be approached. For example, it can be provided that the system according to the invention contains system modules, which is provided for attaching a tab to a piece of laminate. Such a processing step is carried out only if the document to be produced is an identity card which is to be able to be incorporated into a book-type document, for example a passport. In other cases, such a tab is not required, so that they on the laminate pieces not attached. In this case, this processing step is not performed, so that the system modules provided for this purpose are not involved in the processing of the corresponding Vormaterialstücke, for example, not started. According to a further example of this preferred development of the present invention, it is also possible to provide plant modules with which a groove is introduced into the laminate piece, for example milled in, in order to fit into it a contact chip module (chip implant). For the documents to be produced, which do not have such a contact chip, this optional processing step is not to be carried out so that the plant modules provided for this purpose are not involved, for example not approached, during processing of the corresponding primary material pieces.

In accordance with a further preferred development of the present invention, the system control unit is designed to detect the identity of a piece of starting material located in a system module or a transport unit and to control the feeding of this material piece to a system module as a function of the identity of this material piece. For this purpose, the method according to the invention further comprises detecting the identity of a piece of primary material located in a plant module or a transport unit with the plant control unit and controlling the feeding of this material piece of material to a plant module depending on the identity of this material piece.

By detecting the identity of a piece of primary material, for example by reading up individualizing data already printed on or in the primary material piece, or reading out individualizing data from a chip, the identity of the piece of primary material can be recorded and data stored in a database of the installation control unit be compared. For the document to be produced, processing schemes can also be stored in a database of the plant control unit, so that it is possible to determine which processing scheme is to be used by detecting the identity of the material piece and, consequently, which further processing step is to be executed subsequently to a preceding processing step. If necessary, for the execution of the processing step, data is to be transferred to the executing plant module, which is to be printed, for example, engraved on the primary material piece or imprinted in a hologram film. According to a further preferred development of the present invention, the plant control unit is designed to record and process data on the quality in accordance with at least one quality criterion of a piece of starting material which has been processed in a plant module designed to execute an executed processing step, and the at least one transport unit for feeding this material piece of material to a plant module, which is designed to execute a processing step to be carried out subsequently, in dependence on the determined quality according to this quality criterion. Accordingly, the method according to the invention further comprises the acquisition and processing of quality data in accordance with at least one quality criterion of a material piece that has been processed in a plant module designed to execute an executed processing step by the plant controller and controlling the at least one transport unit for feeding this preliminary material piece to a system module, which is designed to execute a processing step to be carried out subsequently, as a function of the result of the processing of the quality criterion.

By acquiring and processing data on at least one quality criterion of a material piece, for example the quality of a material cut to a predetermined size, it can be ensured that the material piece produced in this processing step meets the quality requirements and can accordingly be subjected to subsequent processing steps in the processing scheme. In this case, the starting material piece is further processed according to the method according to the invention. However, if the quality of the machined billet piece does not meet the specified quality criteria, this piece may be considered scrap and ejected from the current machining scheme. In this case, the production process for this value or security document must be restarted. This decision has an impact on the production of all other securities or security documents only in so far as the allocation of the value and security documents in production to the plant modules due to the failure of the broke input material piece now takes place without taking into account this material. Optionally already prepared precursors that were intended for the piece of rejects, for example a hologram film having a hologram, can then be retained and used for the value or security document to be produced in the newly initiated production process. For example, such a precursor can be temporarily stored in a parking station. To capture The data on the quality according to the quality criteria are suitable sensors, such as mechanical, electrical or optical sensors. The latter can be formed for example by camera systems with an image evaluation system (vision system). For processing the determined quality data, these are compared with reference data stored in a database, for example in the plant control unit. In the case of a relevant deviation, for example when leaving a predetermined tolerance range, the examined material piece of material is considered as a piece of rejects.

According to a further preferred development of the present invention, the plant control unit is further configured to acquire and process data on the operating state (status) of at least one of a plurality of plant modules designed to execute a processing step and the at least one transport unit for feeding the preliminary material pieces to the To control the execution of this processing step trained plant modules in dependence on the determined operating condition. Accordingly, the method according to the invention further comprises the acquisition and processing of data on the operating state of at least one of a plurality of plant modules designed to perform a (particular) processing step by the plant control unit and controlling the at least one transport unit for feeding the preliminary material pieces to the one for performing the same Processing step trained plant modules depending on the determined operating condition.

By acquiring data about the operating state of at least one of a plurality of plant modules that are designed to execute a specific processing step and evaluating them by the plant control unit, the availability of the plant modules for this processing step can be determined. If it proves that a plant module must be subject to maintenance and temporarily shut down, or that a plant module needs to be fed with other precursors, for example a hologram hologram production device, this is registered by the plant control unit and for the distribution of the pieces of primary material on plant modules, which are designed for the execution of the same processing step as the disused plant module, taken into account. If several redundant plant modules are available for this processing step, the production process can be continued with an at least approximately as high capacity as before decommissioning. To record the data on the operating state of the system module, sensors and time recording devices are present in the system module. those indicating any module failures and / or upcoming maintenance and / or pre-product refills. For the processing of the status data in the plant control unit, the recorded data is compared with reference data stored in a database, for example the plant control unit. In the case of a relevant deviation, for example when leaving a specified tolerance range, the relevant system module is shut down.

For a more detailed explanation of the invention serve the figures explained below, which represent only illustrative examples of certain embodiments, but not limitations of the scope of the invention. They show in detail:

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a value or security document in cross section;

2 shows an illustration of the processing steps in an exemplary sequence for a production method according to the invention (processing scheme) using the example of FIG

Production of an identification card;

Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a production plant according to the invention.

In the figures, like reference numerals designate like elements and / or elements having the same function. The figures do not always show the objects to each other in scale. Furthermore, the size ratios of individual elements to those of others in a figure or between the figures are not in each case to scale shown to each other.

FIG. 1 shows a value or security document 100 according to the present invention. In the following description of the figures, an identity card as value or security document or another document card, for example for incorporation into a book-shaped value or security document, is mentioned by way of example in each case. Basically, however, in each case other value or security documents, including book-shaped value or security documents, meant.

The ID card 100 is formed by a laminate of a plurality of polymer film pieces, for example polycarbonate films. The illustration shows that the pieces of film are limited by demarcation lines for illustrative purposes. However, these are no longer visible after performing a lamination. The ID card is at the top by a first transparent Polymer final layer 1 10, for example made of polycarbonate, including a layer of an individualized piece of film 120, also made of polycarbonate, including a layer composite of a polymer layer stack piece 130 and at the bottom a second transparent polymer end layer 140, also made of polycarbonate, for example. The layer composite is formed by a central RFID layer on the basis of an opaque polymer carrier layer 131, for example made of polycarbonate, with an RFID circuit consisting of RFID chip 135 and RFID antenna (not shown) on the carrier layer. Chip in a recess receiving compensating layer 132, for example made of polycarbonate, and including an opaque cover layer 133, for example, also made of polycarbonate. Below the first polymer end layer is preferably a hologram (not shown). The ID card, for example, has the format ID-3 according to ISO / IEC 7810 in the version in force on the priority date of the present application, if the card is to be incorporated into a passport (book-shaped document). On the side of the card material a document card tab 150 is attached, which consists for example of a textile material which is meltable or interspersed with a fusible material. This tab is connected to the card material by hot melt welding. For example, if the card is intended for the production of an identity card, it will have the format ID-1 according to ISO / IEC in the version applicable on the priority date of the present application. In this case, no document card tab is attached.

An exemplary sequence of processing steps of a production method according to the invention, shown by way of example for the production of an identification card 100, is indicated in FIG. 2: To produce a document card 100 that can be integrated into a book-shaped security document, such as a passport, for example initially provided in a first processing step polymer film pieces, which are preferably formatted for the production of individual benefits of the cards. Optionally, in a mixed production of several card formats, for example, pieces of film corresponding to single use in the ID-3 format and double-use in the ID-1 format may be used. The film pieces are typically made of polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate or polyvinyl chloride or combinations of these polymers and optionally also with other polymers. One of the polymer film pieces, for example the polymer end coat 110, is preferably made from polycarbonate suitable for laser engraving. posed. The pieces of film can be provided from a magazine in which the film pieces are kept stacked, for example. For example, this can also serve a change magazine in the film pieces of different types, for example, of different material and / or are contained in different formats, and from which the film pieces are removed as needed. The printed polymer film piece finally forms the position of the individualized film piece 120 in the card. Preferably, the polymer of this layer is opaque.

The polymer film pieces 120 are preferably printed with reproductions of individualizing data in a second processing step. The system module used for this purpose can be a printing device. Preferably, an inkjet printing method (inkjet method) or any other digital printing method is used, with which the preferably individualizing data on the film piece can be easily attached. Therefore, the printing apparatus may preferably be an inkjet printer.

In a third processing step, further unprinted polymer film pieces 131, 132, 133, 140 and optionally also other laminate components to be laminated are provided. The polymer film pieces, like the printed polymer film pieces 120, can be produced from the polymers mentioned there and have the formats indicated there. One of the polymer film pieces, namely the polymer film piece 131, can be formed, for example, by an RFID circuit layer with RFID chip 135. Other laminate components may be a security thread, a security patch, and the like. The polymeric film pieces 132, 133 and the RFID circuit layer that form the polymeric ply pad 130 in the finished card 100 are preferably opaque. The polymeric film pieces forming the second polymer release liner 140 are transparent. The polymer film pieces and the other laminate components to be laminated can be removed from magazines in which they are kept piled up. These magazines may be changeable magazines in which the film pieces and other laminate components of different types, for example of different material and / or in different formats, are included and from which the film pieces and other laminate components are removed as needed.

In a fourth processing step, the final polymer layer 1 10, the printed polymer film piece 120, the other polymer film pieces 131, 132, 133, 140 and optionally further laminate constituents are assembled into a film stack and given if releasably fixed to each other, so that they can no longer change their position against each other. For this purpose, a piecing device for gathering these Vormaterialstücke is used as a system module. If laminates of different formats are to be produced, different application devices can be used which are adapted to these different formats.

In a fifth processing step, the film stack is then laminated in a laminator as a plant module for joining the polymer film pieces 110, 120, 131, 132, 133, 140 and other laminate constituents to form a polymer laminate piece. In this module, these laminate components are welded (laminated) under pressure and heat into a unit, so that a piece of laminate is produced. The laminating device preferably contains a first station, in which the film stack of laminating sheets is enclosed on both sides on the outside, furthermore a central laminating station, in which the stack of film stacks and laminating sheets is guided between press dies, and a third station, in which the laminating sheets of the finished piece of laminate to be removed again. The central station is preferably formed by a first device in which the package of film stack and lamination is heated in a first path section and thereby pressurized (hot pressing), further a second device in which the package is further heated in a second path section (Hot pressing) and a third device in which the package is cooled in a third path section and thereby placed under increased pressure (cold pressing). The laminating sheets associated with the card 100 to be produced are kept in a station and added to the film stack. If in each case different materials should be laminated together, so that different laminating conditions (temperature, pressure) must be set, and / or if laminates produced with different formats and / or if different embossing patterns are to be embossed in the laminate pieces during lamination, so laminating with different formats and / or different embossing structures must be used, various types of laminating can be used. In a sixth processing step, the piece of laminate produced is then edge-trimmed in an edge trimming device serving as a plant module. For this purpose, several different system modules can be kept in order to allow different formats for edge trimming. Subsequently, the trimmed laminate piece is fed in a seventh processing step of a quality assurance device, which also forms a plant module. In this system module, the results of the lamination process as well as the edge trimming process are checked. Camera systems are used for this purpose, for example.

In parallel, a hologram film is provided in an eighth processing step in a hologram producing apparatus as a plant module, for example, as a roll from an unwinder, and exposed and fixed in a ninth processing step in this plant module, so that a hologram is formed in the hologram film. If several card formats are to be produced, several such system modules can be provided with which holograms of different formats can be produced.

A hologram-containing portion of the hologram film is then applied to the trimmed laminate piece in a tenth processing step, for example by gluing. For this purpose, a hologram application device serves as a system module. In this system module, for example, an adhesive can first be applied to the trimmed piece of laminate, and then the hologram film section can be glued onto the piece of laminate. Since the hologram film typically has a protective film on the side to be applied and a carrier film on the opposite side, the hologram application device is adapted to peel off the protective film from the portion prior to applying the portion to the trimmed laminate piece. Likewise, this system module is therefore also designed to remove the carrier film after application of the applied portion. Several different types of hologram application devices can be provided, differing, for example, in terms of the formats of the holograms to be applied.

Thereafter, the piece of laminate coated with the hologram section is trimmed to the desired final format in an eleventh processing step. For example, if the laminate piece is a double-use, the two benefits are separated from the piece of laminate. The plant module used for this purpose is a format-trimming device, which may be formed for example by a punching device. Alternatively, it may also be a laser cutting device. These devices may also be present in multiple variations to produce the different formats. After size trimming the laminate piece to the desired end size, a document card tab 150 may be attached to the laminate piece in a twelfth processing step. For this purpose, a device for attaching the tab to the piece of laminate is used. This device is designed to connect the tab, for example, by hot melt welding with the laminate piece, so that the device is equipped for example with hot stamping dies for partial melting of the materials of the laminate piece and the tab. Alternatively or additionally, this device may also have an ultrasonic welding unit. The system modules provided for this purpose may differ with regard to the format of the card to be produced. This method step is only carried out optionally, specifically only if the document card 100 to be produced is to be incorporated into a book-shaped value or security document. Otherwise, this process step can be omitted. The trimmed laminate pieces obtained in the eleventh processing step are in the latter case conveyed directly to a plant module in which the thirteenth processing step is carried out.

In the thirteenth processing step, the trimmed and optionally provided with the document card tab 150 piece of laminate is provided with further reproductions of particular individualizing data by a laser-engravable polymer film is provided in the laminate piece with the reproductions, such as the polymer final layer 1 10. The data are in one Engraved laser engraving device in the laminate piece.

Finally, the quality of the finished card 100 is checked in a fourteenth processing step in a quality assurance device as a plant module. Camera systems are used for this purpose, for example, with which the quality of the generated data reproduction is checked.

The quality checked card copies are finally output from the production facility as completed badges or other document cards 100. The exemplary method described above with reference to FIG. 2 for the production of ID cards 100 and other document cards 100 can be carried out according to the invention in the schematic production system 1000 according to the present invention shown in FIG. For this purpose, this system is formed by the 3100, 3200, 3300, 3400, 3500 and transport units 4100, 4200, 4300, 4400. A plant Control unit 2000, for example a process computer with memory unit, controls the system modules and the transport units and receives data from the system modules and transport units (in each case exemplarily for the data exchange between the system control unit on the one hand and the first and second system modules 3100, 3200 and the first and second transport units 4100, 4200, not shown for the other system modules 3300, 3400, 3500 and transport units 4300, 4400). The transport units may be formed by translatory conveyor systems, such as conveyor belts with branching possibilities and transport gallows (translationally movable holding elements), or robots, such as lifting and pivoting robots, for example a SCARA robot, or a fast picker or gantry crane.

The system modules 3100, 3200, 3300, 3400, 3500 can be arranged in any arrangement with each other. However, it is advantageous if, in order to execute the same processing step and / or provided by successive processing steps, plant modules are arranged in spatial proximity to each other. Therefore, the plant modules, which are provided for carrying out the same processing step, for example, in a common manufacturing unit, which are realized by units in containers or container-like structures, can be accommodated. In FIG. 3, this is indicated by way of example for the plant modules 3100 for the first processing step by summaries of the same groups of plant modules indicated by dashed lines, for example in a containerized production unit. In a corresponding manner, the system modules used for the execution of the processing steps 11 and 12 (FIG. 2) can be accommodated in a common production unit, which is realized by units in containers or container-like structures, as far as laminate pieces are to be processed with these system modules which are to be provided with a fitting tab 150 due to their format (eg ID-3) and their further provision for incorporation into a passport. This combination is indicated in Fig. 3 at the appropriate location for the system modules 3330, 3400 by dashed lines. For the execution of a first processing step two plant modules 3100 are provided. For example, in the case of the production of ID cards 100, 1000 may be a first and a second quality assurance device 31 10, 3120. These system modules are of course preceded by further system modules and transport units, which correspond to the processing steps 1 to 6 of FIG. 2. These upstream plant modules and transport units are not shown in Fig. 3.

The plant modules 3100 according to this example serve to execute the processing step 7. These quality assurance devices 31 10, 3120 may be identical to provide a redundant system for this processing step in the event that one of these devices fails during the production process, so that the other quality assurance device can take over the further operation alone. An assortment of identical quality assurance devices may also be beneficial for reasons of utilization of these investment modules, such as when more pruned pieces of laminate are fed to these modules in a given time unit than can be processed by a single plant module, such that the pieces of laminate are each fed to one of the two quality assurance devices required for the test tasks are currently available, while the other is occupied with checking the laminate pieces. For example, one of the two quality assurance devices can be occupied with the examination of the quality of a trimmed laminate piece so that a subsequent trimmed laminate piece is guided into the other quality assurance device. For this purpose, the system control unit 2000 recognizes by the feedback of the system modules 3100, with which the arrival and the completion of laminate pieces in the individual modules is acknowledged, which of the two quality assurance devices is currently occupied, and accordingly gives control commands to an upstream (not shown ) Transport unit to convey the next piece of laminate to the free quality assurance device. In addition, the system control unit transmits individual data of the piece of laminate to be checked to the processing quality assurance device, so that it is enabled to check the respective quality criteria of this piece of laminate. For example, if the laminate piece has the ID-3 format, it must be ensured that the trimming has been performed properly in the previous processing step 6. Likewise, the result of the lamination in the processing step 5 is to be checked, wherein the test, for example, the presence of a security thread and its exact position in the laminate is taken into account. Likewise, the functionality of any existing RFID circuit must also be verified and the data stored in the RFID chip must be compared with desired data to ensure that the circuit provided for the particular laminate piece has been correctly associated with a programmed RFID chip for that laminate piece , If it is determined by the quality assurance device 3100 that a checked piece of laminate does not meet the quality requirements, it is discharged as a piece of reject from the production process to a collection point 3101, here indicated by a wastepaper basket.

The quality assurance devices 3100 are followed by a first transport unit 4100, to which the tested laminate pieces are transferred. This transport unit conveys the individual laminate pieces to one of three abutment modules 3200, which are formed by hologram section application devices 3210, 3220, 3230.

In these application devices 3210, 3220, 3230, the processing step 10 is carried out. The application devices may differ in that they can process laminate pieces and hologram sections in different formats, such as ID-1 laminate pieces for ID cards 100 and ID-3 laminate pieces for document cards 100 to be incorporated into passports. For example, if an ID-1 laminate piece is present, the equipment control unit 2000 issues a control command to the first transport unit 4100 to deliver this laminate piece to the application apparatus in which laminate pieces having this size are processed. In the case of a piece of laminate in the ID-3 format, a corresponding control command for the transfer to the other application device is given in this example. As explained above for the execution of the quality inspection, the plant control unit additionally transmits individual data about the transferred laminate piece to the respective application device. Alternatively or additionally, the application devices can be constructed identically and process the same pieces of laminate in each case. Such a redundancy has the advantage that this processing step can still be carried out even if, for example, one of the application devices fails. For example, the plant control unit can recognize by feedback from the failed application device that this device is no longer available. Therefore, she will then select another application device for a piece of laminate to be processed. For putting in the application devices can be started depending on their current availability. If, for example, one of the two application devices is covered with the execution of the processing step 10 with another piece of laminate, a subsequent laminate piece is guided to one of the two other application devices. The application devices 3210, 3220, 3230 are followed by a second transport unit 4200, to which the laminate pieces coated with the hologram sections are transferred. This transport unit conveys the individual pieces of laminate to one of four abutment modules 3300 formed by sizing devices 3310, 3320, 3330, 3340.

In these size trimming devices 3310, 3320, 3330, 3340, the processing step 1 1 is carried out. The trimming devices may differ, for example, in that they can process laminate pieces in different formats. Alternatively or additionally, the format trimming devices may be identically constructed and each handle laminate pieces of the same kind. For example, two size trimming devices for trimming ID-1 format laminate pieces and two size trimming devices for trimming ID-3 size laminate pieces may be formed. Such a redundancy has, as explained above for the case of the quality assurance devices 31 10, 3120 and application devices 3210, 3220, 3230, the advantage that this processing step can still be performed even if, for example, one of the trimming devices fails. For putting in the format trimming devices can be approached depending on their current availability.

The format trimmers 3310, 3320, 3330, 3340 are followed by a third transport unit 4300, to which the trimmed laminate pieces are transferred. This transport unit conveys the individual trimmed laminate pieces to a plant module 3400 formed by a device for attaching a tab 150 to the laminate piece (processing step 12). However, it can be provided that this third transport unit does not convey the laminate piece to this system module 3400 but to the fourth transport unit 4400 or directly to the equipment modules for the fifth processing step, because the card to be produced is an identification card 100 to which no pass tab is attached shall be. In this case, the laminate piece is then transported bypassing the processing step 12 directly to the plant modules 3500 according to processing step 13. In the apparatus 3400 for attaching the fitting tab 150, the processing step 12 is executed. This device may be a hot melt device, optionally equipped with a Ultraschallschwei ßvorrichtung be. The device 3400 for attaching the flap 150 is followed by a fourth transport unit 4400, to which the pieces of laminate (with or without flap) are transferred. By means of the fourth transport unit, the laminate pieces are transferred to one of two downstream installation modules 3500, which are formed by laser engraving devices 3510, 3520.

In the laser engraving devices 3510, 3520, the processing step 13 is executed. The laser engraving devices can be constructed identically, in each of which reproductions of individualizing data are inscribed in the laminate pieces. Such redundancy has, as in the case of the quality assurance devices 31 10, 3120, application devices 3210, 3220, 3230 and format trimming devices 3310, 3320, above,

3330, 3340 explains the advantage that this processing step can still be performed even if, for example, one of the laser engraving devices fails. For putting in the laser engraving devices can be approached depending on their current availability. The laser engraving devices 3510, 3520 are followed by a further transport unit, from which the laminate pieces are conveyed on to further quality assurance devices. These transport units and the even further downstream plant modules are not shown in Fig. 3. The plant control unit 2000 receives data from the plant modules 3100, 3200, 3300, 3400, 3500 and transport units 4100, 4200, 4300, 4400, which represent the respective location of an identified material piece and its quality status (properties). Furthermore, the plant control unit also receives data from the plant modules and transport units on their operating state (occupancy by a piece of primary material, faults, upcoming maintenance and the like). In a storage unit of the plant control unit is also filed in each case, which processing steps and which processing variant of the processing steps to execute the plant modules respectively. On the basis of this data, the plant control unit can lead the primary material pieces to the plant modules in a targeted manner by first determining the respective subsequent processing step on the basis of the respective processing scheme for a particular primary material piece and assigning the primary material piece to one of the corresponding plant modules. From these plant modules, one is then selected according to the specifications of the card to be manufactured 100, which can perform the appropriate processing step, and in the case of several identical plant modules of this processing step and the processing variant that which is not different from other is already occupied machined Vormaterialstücken. In addition, the plant control unit transmits the individual data required for processing a certain piece of primary material to the processing plant module so that it has all the information and data it needs for processing.

LIST OF REFERENCES: 100 value or security document, ID card, document card

1 10 first polymer end layer

120 individualized foil section

130 polymer ply piece

131 polymer carrier layer

132 leveling position

133 opaque top layer

135 chip

140 second polymer end layer

150 document card flap

1000 production plant

2000 plant control unit

3100 plant modules for the first processing step

3101 Collection point for committee copies

31 10 first plant module for the first processing step, first quality assurance device

3120 second plant module for the first processing step, second quality assurance device

3200 system modules for the second processing step

3210 first plant module for the second processing step, first application device

3220 second plant module for the second processing step, second application device

3230 third plant module for the second processing step, third application device 3300 system modules for the third processing step

3310 first plant module for the third processing step, first format trimming device

3320 second plant module for the third processing step, second format trimming device

3330 third plant module for the third processing step, third format trimming device

3340 fourth plant module for the third processing step, fourth format trimming device

3400 plant module for the fourth processing step, device for attaching a

(Pass) tab

3500 system modules for the fifth processing step

3510 first plant module for the fifth processing step, first quality assurance device

3520 second plant module for the fifth processing step, second quality assurance device

4100 first transport unit

4200 second transport unit

4300 third transport unit

4400 fourth transport unit

Claims

System (1000) for producing valuable and security documents (100) from pieces of primary material in at least two processing steps of a processing scheme, formed by: (a) system modules (3100, 3200, 3300, 3400, 3500) designed to carry out the at least two processing steps; (b) at least one transport unit (4100, 4200, 4300, 4400) connecting the system modules (3x00) for the pieces of primary material intended for producing the valuable and security documents (100); and (c) a system control unit (2000) designed to control the at least one transport unit (4x00), wherein at least two system modules (3x00) are provided to carry out at least one of the at least two processing steps; wherein all system modules (3x00) designed to carry out a second processing step are connected to system modules (3x00) designed to carry out a preceding first processing step by means of the at least one transport unit (4x00) and, if necessary, all system modules (3x00) designed to carry out the second processing step Execution of a subsequent third processing step formed system modules (3x00) are connected by means of at least one transport unit (4x00); and wherein the at least one transport unit (4x00) can be controlled with the system control unit (2000), so that the pieces of raw material can each be fed to one of several system modules (3x00) designed to carry out a processing step. System (1000) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two system modules (3x00) designed to carry out one of the at least two processing steps are provided, each of which is designed to carry out a processing step variant for producing one of several variants of the valuable or security documents (100). are. System (1000) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system control unit (2000) is designed to detect the identity of a piece of raw material located in a system module (3x00) or a transport unit (4x00) and to record the feed of this piece of raw material to a system module (3x00) depending on the identity of this piece of raw material. Plant (1000) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plant control unit (2000) is designed to process data about the quality according to at least one quality criterion of a piece of raw material that is processed in a plant module (3x00) designed to carry out a processing step has been recorded and processed and the at least one transport unit (4x00) for feeding this piece of raw material to a system module (3x00), which is designed to carry out a subsequent processing step, to be controlled depending on the determined quality in accordance with this quality criterion. System (1000) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system control unit (2000) is designed to record and process data about the operating state of at least one of several system modules (3x00) designed to carry out a processing step and the at least to control a transport unit (4x00) for feeding the pieces of raw material to the system modules (3x00) designed to carry out this processing step depending on the determined operating state. System (1000) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system modules (3x00) each have devices for transferring the pieces of raw material from and to the at least one transport unit (4x00), the levels of the devices for transfer being of the same height. System (1000) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the system modules (3x00) is equipped with a printing device or a feeding device for collecting pieces of raw material or a laminating device or an edge trimming device or a device for determining the quality of the Lamination produced pieces of raw material in the form of polymer laminates or a hologram generating device or a hologram application device or a format trimming device or a device for attaching a tab to the raw material pieces or a laser engraving device or formed by a device for recording the quality of the finished value or security document is. System (1000) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system (1000) has at least first system modules (3100), which are designed to carry out a first processing step, and second system modules (3200), which are designed to carry out a second processing step are, and third system modules (3300), which are designed to carry out a third processing step, and that all second system modules (3200) are connected to all first system modules (3100) by means of at least a first transport unit (4100) and that all third system modules ( 3300) are connected to all second system modules (3200) by means of at least one second transport unit (4200) that is different from the at least one first transport unit (4100), the at least one first transport unit (4100) being used exclusively for transferring the pieces of raw material from the first system modules (3100 ) to the second system modules (3200) and the at least one second transport unit (4200) are designed exclusively for transferring the pieces of raw material from the second system modules (3200) to the third system modules (3300). Method for producing valuable and security documents (100) from pieces of primary material in at least two processing steps of a processing scheme with system modules (3100, 3200, 3300, 3400, 3500) designed to carry out the at least two processing steps and with at least one transport unit connecting the system modules (3x00). (4100, 4200, 4300, 4400), comprising the following method steps: (i) providing the pieces of raw material intended for producing the valuable or security documents (100); (ii) controlling the at least one transport unit (4100, 4200, 4300, 4400) by means of a system control unit (2000) designed to control the at least one transport unit (4x00) for feeding a piece of raw material to a selected one of at least two in order to carry out a processing step to be carried out trained system modules (3x00); (iii) feeding the raw material piece to the selected system module (3x00); (iv) carrying out the processing step in the selected system module (3x00) by changing at least one property of the raw material piece; and (v) carrying out further processing steps of the processing scheme according to method steps (ii), (iii) and (iv) above. 0. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the method further comprises: controlling the at least one transport unit (4x00) by the system control unit (2000), so that the raw material pieces depend on the execution of a processing step variant to be selected to produce a of several variants of the value or security documents (100) are fed to one of the system modules (3x00) designed to carry out this processing step variant. Method according to one of claims 9 and 10, characterized in that the method further comprises: detecting the identity of a piece of raw material located in a system module (3x00) or a transport unit (4x00) with the system control unit (2000) and controlling the feed of this piece of raw material to a system module (3x00) depending on the identity of this piece of raw material. Method according to one of claims 9 to 1 1, characterized in that the method further comprises: acquiring and processing data about the quality according to at least one quality criterion of a piece of raw material that has been processed in a system module (3x00) designed to carry out a processing step is, by the system control unit (2000) and controlling the at least one transport unit (4x00) for feeding this piece of raw material to a system module (3x00), which is designed to carry out a subsequent processing step, depending on the quality of the piece of raw material. Method according to one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the method further comprises: the acquisition and processing of data about the operating state of at least one of several system modules (3x00) designed to carry out a processing step by the system control unit (2000) and control the at least one transport unit (4x00) for feeding the pieces of raw material to the system modules (3x00) designed to carry out this processing step, depending on the determined operating state. Method according to one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the processing scheme contains at least one optional processing step which is only to be carried out for a specific group of valuable or security documents (100). Method according to one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that changing at least one property of the pieces of raw material according to method step (iv) further comprises: printing the pieces of raw material and / or gathering the pieces of raw material and / or laminating the pieces of raw material and / or that Edge trimming of the pieces of raw material and/or determining the quality of the laminated and edge-trimmed pieces of raw material and/or creating a hologram and/or applying the hologram to the pieces of raw material and/or trimming the format of the pieces of raw material and/or attaching a tab to the raw material pieces and/or the laser engraving of the raw material pieces. 6. The method according to one of claims 9 to 15, characterized in that method step (iii) comprises feeding the piece of raw material to a first selected system module (3100) and that method step (v) comprises the following further method steps:

(v-1) Controlling at least one first transport unit (4100) assigned exclusively to the first system modules (3100) and second system modules (3200) by means of the system control unit (2000) for feeding the piece of raw material to a second selected system module designed to carry out a second processing step (3200);

(v-2) feeding the piece of raw material to the second selected system module (3200);

(v-3) carrying out the second processing step in the second selected system module (3200) by changing at least one property of the piece of raw material;

(v-4) Controlling at least one second transport unit (4200) assigned exclusively to the second system modules (3200) and third system modules (3300) by means of the system control unit (2000) for feeding the piece of raw material to a third selected system module designed to carry out a third processing step (3300);

(v-5) feeding the piece of raw material to the third selected system module (3300);

(v-6) Executing the third processing step in the third selected system module (3300) by changing at least one property of the piece of raw material.

7. Method for producing a set of several different valuable and security documents according to individual processing schemes by carrying out the method according to one of claims 9 to 16.