METHOD AND DEVICE FOR EMBOSSING LICENSE PLATES, IN PARTICULAR VEHICLE LICENSE PLATES

Abstract

The sequence of characters provided for an individual license plate is embossed in a license plate blank. The known methods are very time-intensive and inflexible. The invention achieves a method and a device for embossing license plates, in particular motor vehicle license plates, said method and said device being easy to handle and flexible to use. This is achieved in that a handling installation retrieves the embossing die parts required for the respective license plate to be embossed from a magazine and successively places said embossing die parts onto two die holding frames.

Claims

1. A method for embossing license plates, in particular motor vehicle license plates (11), wherein embossing dies having characters corresponding to the license plate to be embossed are individually assembled, in that the embossing dies required for the respective license plate to be embossed are retrieved from a magazine by a handing installation, a license plate blank (12) is fed to the embossing dies, and the characters in an embossing installation (30) are embossed in the license plate blank (12) by the embossing dies, wherein two die holding frames, specifically a lower die holding frame (14) and an upper die holding frame (15), which are movable relative to one another are successively populated by the handling installation with at least one positive (16) of an embossing die and with at least one negative (17) of an embossing die.

2. The method for embossing license plates as claimed in claim 1, wherein, for placing the at least one positive (16) and the at least one negative (17) onto the die holding frame (14, 15) and for lifting the at least one positive (16) and the at least one negative (17) from the die holding frame (14, 15), the lower die holding frame (14) is displaced horizontally and parallel to the upper die holding frame (15), and/or in that the upper die holding frame (15) is displaced horizontally and parallel to the lower die holding frame (14).

3. The method for embossing license plates as claimed in claim 1, wherein first at least one negative (17) of an embossing die, preferably a plurality of negatives (17) of a plurality of embossing dies, are placed onto the upper die holding frame (15), and thereafter the corresponding positive (16) of the embossing die, preferably the corresponding positives (16) of the embossing dies, are placed onto the lower die holding frame (15).

4. The method for embossing license plates as claimed in claim 1, wherein in that upon populating, or placing the at least one negative (17) and the at least one positive (16) onto the die holding frames (14, 15), respectively, the license plate blank (12) is placed by the handling installation onto the lower die holding frame (14), preferably onto the positives (16) of the embossing dies.

5. The method for embossing license plates as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper and the lower die holding frame (14, 15) are aligned on top of one another by a horizontal and parallel relative movement, the lower die holding frame (14) being in particular displaced below the upper die holding frame (15) such that the corresponding positives (16) and negatives (17) of the embossing dies are aligned on top of one another, wherein the license plate blank (12) is positioned between the positives (16) and the negatives (17).

6. The method for embossing license plates as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the horizontal movement of the lower die holding frame (14) the holding frame (14) is guided in at least one rail (20), preferably in two rails (20).

7. The method for embossing license plates as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two die holding frames (14, 15) which are aligned on top of one another are relocated vertically relative to one another, wherein the lower frame (14) is preferably moved toward the upper frame (15) and thereafter both die holding frames (14, 15) are conjointly relocated into the embossing installation (30) in which the die holding frames (14, 15) are mutually compressed.

8. The method for embossing license plates as claimed in claim 7, wherein the two frames (14, 15) upon pressing are conjointly relocated from the embossing installation (30) and, upon vertically lowering the lower die holding frame (14) relative to the upper die holding frame (15), the lower die holding frame (14) is relocated horizontally below the upper die holding frame (15) so as to lift at least one positive (16) and at least one negative (17), and so as to repopulate the frames (14, 15) with at least one positive (16) and at least one negative (17).

9. The method for embossing license plates as claimed in claim 1, wherein the required embossing dies, in particular the required negatives (17) and positives (16), are picked and retrieved from a magazine and placed in the correct sequence onto at least one upper and at least one lower die holding frame (14, 15) by the handling installation having at least one acquisition means (23) that is movable in the three-dimensional space.

10. The method for embossing license plates as claimed in of the preceding claims claim 1, characterized in that wherein a license plate blank (12) is retrieved from at least one store and placed onto the lower die holding frame (14), or onto the positives (16), respectively, by the handling installation, wherein subsequently a further lower die holding frame is preferably populated with a further license plate blank (12) by the handling installation.

11. The method for embossing license plates as claimed in claim 1, wherein the embossed license plate blank (12) is lifted from the lower die holding frame (14), or from the positives (16) of the embossing dies, respectively, and fed to an outfeed conveyor by the handling installation, and a further embossed license plate blank (12) is in particular lifted from a further lower die holding frame, or from positives of the embossing dies, respectively, and fed to an outward conveyor by the handling installation.

12. The method for embossing license plates as claimed in claim 1, wherein lower and upper die holding frames (14, 15) of a plurality of, preferably two, embossing installations (30) are alternatingly or successively populated and replaced with negatives (17), positives (16) and license plate blank (12) by the handling installation.

13. The method for embossing license plates as claimed in claim 1, wherein for embossing license plate blanks (12) of different types, in particular of different dimensions, the die holding frames (14, 15) of the at least one embossing installation (30), and in particular also the embossing dies, are replaced so as to correspond to the shape of the license plate blank (12).

14. The method for embossing license plates as claimed in claim 1, wherein the embossing dies, in particular the positives (16) and the negatives (17), as well as embossing inserts, prior to the die holding frames (14, 15) being converged, are pushed together, centered and/or imparted in the die holding frames (14, 15) by being impinged by a lateral or vertical force, respectively, which is imparted by an actuator, in particular a centering cylinder.

15. The method for embossing license plates as claimed in claim 1, wherein prior to populating the die holding frames (14, 15) with the embossing dies, in particular the negatives (17) and positives (16), the latter are identified by the handling installation, wherein the handling installation has a sensor means by way of which corresponding identifying features of the negatives (17) and positives (16) are detected.

16. A device (10) for embossing license plates, in particular motor vehicle license plates (11), comprising at least one magazine for a supply of embossing dies, at least one store for license plate blanks (12), at least one embossing installation (30), at least one handling installation for handling the embossing dies, and two die holding frames, specifically a lower die holding frame (14) and an upper die holding frame (15), which are movable relative to one another for receiving at least one positive (16) of the embossing die and at least one negative (17) of the embossing die.

17. The device (10) for embossing license plates as claimed in claim 16, wherein the lower die holding frame (14) is able to be guided in at least one, preferably two, rail(s) (20), wherein the at least one rail (20) aligns the lower die holding frame (14) below the upper die holding frame (15).

18. The device (10) for embossing license plates as claimed in claim 16, wherein the lower and/or the upper die holding frame (15) for converging the die holding frames (14, 15) is/are assigned to a lifting means (27), and/or in that the lower and/or the upper die holding frame (14, 15) for conjoint or separate horizontal relocation is/are assigned to at least one translational motion means.

19. The device (10) for embossing license plates as claimed in claim 16, wherein the lower die holding frame (14) has at least one first means for alignment, and the upper die holding frame (15) has at least one second means for alignment, wherein the first and the second means are brought together and the die holding frames (14, 15) are mutually aligned when vertically converging the die holding frames (14, 15).

20. The device (10) for embossing license plates as claimed in claim 16, wherein the handling installation is configured in the manner of a robot and serves for placing embossing dies, in particular a positive (16) and a negative (17), required for embossing the license plate, onto the die holding frames (14, 15) whereby the handling installation has at least one acquisition means (23) which is movable in a plurality of axes in the three-dimensional space, wherein the acquisition means (23) is movable in the three-dimensional space by movable arms of the handling installation.

21. The device (10) for embossing license plates as claimed in claim 16, further comprising at least two embossing installations (30) having in each case one lower die holding frame (14) and one upper die holding frame (15), wherein both embossing installations (30) are able to be operated by the same handling installation.

22. The device (10) for embossing license plates as claimed in claim 16, wherein the embossing dies, in particular the negatives (17) and the positives (16) have identifying features, and the handling installation has a sensor installation, wherein the identifying features are able to be read by the sensor installation of the handling installation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] A preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail hereunder by means of the drawings in which:

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a view of two die holding frames;

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a device during a method step;

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of the device during a further method step;

[0035] FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of the device during a further method step;

[0036] FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of the device during a further method step;

[0037] FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of the device during a further method step;

[0038] FIG. 7 shows a schematic illustration of the device during a further method step;

[0039] FIG. 8 shows a schematic illustration of the device during a further method step; and

[0040] FIG. 9 shows a schematic illustration of the device during a further method step.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0041] The device 10 shown serves for producing license plate, in particular motor vehicle license plates 11, specifically for embossing an individual sequence of characters in a license plate blank 12 for the motor vehicle license plate 11. In the device 10 shown here, only the individual sequences of characters and optionally symbols are embossed in the license plate blank 12. However, the blank 12 may also be already pre-embossed, for example with an encircling peripheral embossing 13 and/or recurring letters, characters, numerals or symbols. The license plate blank 12 is composed of steel or aluminum sheet or else optionally a plastic board or film. While the license plate blank 12 of steel or aluminum is cold-embossed, the embossing of a blank 12 of plastics material can take place in a warm or heated state. It is likewise also conceivable for the blank 12 not to be heated.

[0042] The device 10 shown here has two die holding frames, specifically a lower die holding frame 14 and an upper die holding frame 15 (FIG. 1). The two die holding frames 14, 15 are displaced in a mutually parallel manner and arranged on top of one another. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated here, six embossing dies, or six positives 16 of six embossing dies, respectively, are positioned in the lower die holding frame 14. Corresponding to the position of the positives 16, negatives 17 of the embossing dies are placed on the upper die holding frame 15. Each pair of one positive 16 and one negative 17 forms one embossing die. One character can be embossed by each individual embossing die, or pair consisting of one negative 17 and one positive 16, respectively. The two embossing die parts here are movable in a mutually independent manner. The die holding frames 14, 15 are configured in such a manner that the individual positives 16 or negatives 17, respectively, can be placed onto the holding frame 14, 15 without the positive 16 or negatives 17, respectively, dropping through the holding frames 14, 15. To this end, the positives 16 and the negatives 17 have corresponding protrusions which are congruent with the frames 14, 15.

[0043] The lower die holding frame 14 as well as the upper die holding frame 15 are mounted so as to be movable along the direction of the arrow 18, or can be moved in a reciprocating manner by drives not illustrated, respectively. The lower die holding frame 14 is relocated along the linear drives 19 below the upper die holding frame 15. The lower die holding frame 14 here slides on rails 20. These rails 20 engage in a receptacle, not illustrated, on a lower side of the lower die holding frame 14 and have the effect that the lower die holding frame 14 is fixed transversely to the direction of the arrow 18. As soon as the lower die holding frame 14 is placed below the upper die holding frame 15, the lower die holding frame 14 is lifted, specifically toward the die holding frame 15. The lower die holding frame 14 has two pins 21 for mutually aligning or fixing the frames 14, 15, or the negatives 17 and the positives 16, respectively. These pins 21, when lifting the lower die holding frame 14, are moved in openings 22 in the upper die holding frame 15, as a result of which the two frames 14, 15 are fixed relative to one another.

[0044] However, before the lower die holding frame 14 is relocated below the upper die holding frame 15, the positives 16 and the negatives 17 are first automatically placed into the frame 14, 15 by a handling installation, or an acquisition means 23, respectively, so as to correspond to the motor vehicle license plate 11 to be produced. Here, the negative 17 is first retrieved from a magazine, not illustrated, for the embossing dies and set down at a corresponding location on the upper tool holding frame 15. Thereafter, the corresponding positive 16 of the embossing die is retrieved from the magazine by the acquisition means 23 and placed onto the corresponding location on the lower die holding frame 14. This is repeated until the correct characters for the license plate to be embossed are implemented on the frames 14, 15.

[0045] In a further step, the license plate blank 12 is retrieved from a supply for license plate blanks 12 by the acquisition means 23, and placed onto the lower die holding frame 14, or on the positives 16, respectively. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated here, the license plate blank 12 already has a peripheral embossing 13. This peripheral embossing 13 communicates with corresponding structures 24, 25 in the lower and the upper die holding frame 14, 15, respectively. As a result of this pre-embossed peripheral embossing 13, the blank 12 is at least largely fixed on the holding frame 14 and does not slip out of place during a movement along the direction of the arrow 26. In so far as the license plate blank 12 does not have any peripheral embossing 13, it can be provided that the frames 14, 15 have corresponding pins, not illustrated, against which the blank is then placed.

[0046] As soon as the license plate blank 12 has been placed, the lower die holding frame 14 is moved on the rails 20 such that said lower die holding frame 14 is situated directly below the upper die holding frame 14 (FIG. 4). Furthermore, the lower die holding frame 14 including the blank 12 is lifted along the direction of the arrow 28 by a lifting installation 27 such that the blank 12 touches, or almost touches, respectively, the upper die holding frame 15. Before the two frames 14, 15 come into contact, or before the blank 12 comes into contact with the upper die holding frame, respectively, the individual negatives 17 and positives 16 are pushed together by a sliding installation, not illustrated, such that a defined alignment can be guaranteed.

[0047] The frames 14, 15, which are now converged, are situated in a plane which is congruent with a plane of a lower embossing part 29 of an embossing installation 30. The converged frames 14, 15 thereafter are relocated in the direction of the arrow 31 into the embossing installation 30, or between the lower embossing part 29 and an upper embossing part 32, respectively, by a corresponding installation (FIG. 5).

[0048] The embossing parts 29, 32 in the embossing installation 30 thereafter are converged in the direction of the arrow 33. The negatives 17 and the positives 16 here are in particular mutually compressed such that the corresponding characters are embossed in the blank 12 (FIG. 6). The embossing parts 29, 32 here are moved together to the maximum such that the embossed motor vehicle license plates 11 always have the same embossing (FIG. 7). The motor vehicle license plate 11 has now been created from the blank 12 between the die frames 14, 15.

[0049] Once the license plate blank 12 in the embossing installation 30 has been embossed so as to form the motor vehicle license plate 11, the two die holding frames 14, 15 are conjointly conveyed out of the embossing installation 30 again (FIG. 8). In the further course of the method, the steps described above take place in the reverse sequence. Once the lower die holding frame 14 has been spaced apart from the upper die holding frame 15 again and been set down on the rails 20 by the lifting installation 27, the frame 14 is relocated counter to the direction of the arrow 26 to the initial position. In this initial position of the device 10, illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 9, the completed motor vehicle license plate 11 is first lifted from the lower die holding frame 14, or from the positives 16, respectively, by the acquisition means 23 and fed to an outfeed conveyor. Thereafter, a further license plate blank 12 is optionally placed onto the positives 16 by the acquisition means 23, and by the above-described method embossed so as to form a motor vehicle license plate 11, in particular the second license plate of a pair of license plates. For producing a motor vehicle license plate 11 with a new set of characters, a positive 16 is first lifted from the lower die holding frame 14 and placed at the corresponding position in the magazine by the acquisition means 23. Subsequently, the corresponding positive 16 is then lifted by the acquisition means 23 and placed onto the negative 17 in the magazine. When changing a plurality of characters or embossing dies, respectively, it is moreover conceivable for all positives 16 to be first retrieved from the lower die holding frame 14, and the corresponding negatives 17 thereafter. During the embossing procedure, the acquisition means 23 remains in a preferred procession from where said acquisition means 26 can carry out the next step in a particularly time-efficient manner.

[0050] The device according to the invention and the method according to the invention are not only suitable for producing motor vehicle license plates 11 as described above, but also for producing other license plates with an individual sequence of characters or only one individual symbol.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0051] 10 Device

[0052] 11 Motor vehicle license plate

[0053] 12 License plate blank

[0054] 13 Peripheral embossing

[0055] 14 Lower die holding frame

[0056] 15 Upper die holding frame

[0057] 16 Positive

[0058] 17 Negative

[0059] 18 Direction of arrow

[0060] 19 Linear drive

[0061] 20 Rail

[0062] 21 Pin

[0063] 22 Opening

[0064] 23 Acquisition means

[0065] 24 Structure

[0066] 25 Structure

[0067] 26 Direction of arrow

[0068] 27 Lifting installation

[0069] 28 Direction of arrow

[0070] 29 Lower embossing part

[0071] 30 Embossing installation

[0072] 31 Direction of arrow

[0073] 32 Upper embossing part

[0074] 33 Direction of arrow