HANDLING DEVICE FOR A FLAT PIECE

Abstract

The invention relates to a handling device for presenting a flat piece to at least a first and a second treatment device in particular for presenting a plastic card substrate to a printer device and a flipping device. The handling device comprises an elongated backbone element; wherein the backbone element is rotatable along a longitudinal axis and has at least a first and a second angular position; a holding element configured to hold the flat piece relative to the backbone element; and a control unit, configured to control the angular position of the backbone element; wherein, when the backbone element is at the first angular position, the flat piece is at a first treatment position for the first treatment device, and when the backbone element is at the second angular position, the flat piece is at a second treatment position for the second treatment device.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A handling device for presenting a flat piece to at least a first and a second treatment device, the handling device comprising: an elongated backbone element that is rotatable along a longitudinal axis and has at least a first and a second angular position; a holding element configured to hold the flat piece relative to the backbone element; and a control unit configured to control the angular position of the backbone element; wherein when the backbone element is at the first angular position, the flat piece is at a first treatment position for the first treatment device, and when the backbone element is at the second angular position, the flat piece is at a second treatment position for the second treatment device.

16. The handling device of claim 15, wherein the flat piece is a plastic card substrate, the first treatment device is one of a printer device or a flipping device, and the second treatment device is the other of the printer device or the flipping device.

17. The handling device of claim 15, wherein the holding element is configured to hold the flat piece by at least one of suction or clamping.

18. The handling device of claim 15, wherein: the elongated backbone element comprises at least a first and a second lateral face; and the holding element comprises at least a first and a second holding element configured for holding flat pieces at the first and second lateral faces, respectively.

19. The handling device of claim 18, wherein the piece is held at the first lateral face; and when the backbone element is at the second angular position, a second flat piece, held at the second lateral face, is at the first treatment position for the first treatment device.

20. The handling device of claim 18, wherein the holding element comprises at least two holding elements for each lateral face of the backbone element.

21. The handling device of claim 18, wherein the backbone element has three or four lateral faces.

22. The handling device of claim 21, wherein the backbone element has a cross section in a form of an equilateral triangle or a square.

23. The handling device of claim 18, wherein the backbone element has a cross section in a form of a polygon.

24. The handling device of claim 18, wherein the backbone element has a cross section in a form of a circle.

25. A system for eating flat pieces, the system comprising: a handling device configured for holding at least a first and a second flat piece at a first and second position relative to the handling device; a first treatment device configured for treating a corresponding flat piece at a first treatment position; and a second treatment device configured for treating a corresponding flat piece at a second treatment position (152); wherein the handling device is at least partially rotatable around a longitudinal axis to at least a first and a second angular position; and wherein the first flat piece is at the first treatment position when the handling device is at the first angular position, and the second flat piece is at the first treatment position when the handling device is at the second angular position.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the first flat piece is at the second treatment position when the handling device is at the second angular position.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the second flat piece is at the second treatment position when the handling device is at the first angular position.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the first and second flat pieces are plastic card substrates.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein at least one of the first or second treatment devices comprises a printer device, a feeding device, a flipping device, an imaging device, or a curing device.

30. The system of claim 25, wherein at least one of the first or second treatment devices is movable with respect to the first or second treatment position, respectively.

31. A method for operating a handling device, the method comprising: holding a first flat piece at a first lateral face of the handling device; and generating a control signal to control a rotation of the handling device around a longitudinal axis of the handling device to a first or second angular position; wherein, at the first angular position, the first flat piece is at a first treatment position for a first treatment device that is configured for treating a flat piece at the first treatment position; and wherein, at the second angular position, the first flat piece is at a second treatment position for a second treatment device that is configured for treating a flat piece at the second treatment position.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising: rotating the handling device to the first angular position and treating a first surface of the first flat piece using the first treatment device; and subsequently, rotating the handling device to the second angular position and treating the first flat piece using the second treatment device.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising subsequently, rotating the handling device back to the first angular position and treating the first flat piece a second time using the first treatment device.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein treating the first flat piece using the second treatment device comprises flipping the first flat piece and treating the first flat piece a second time using the first treatment device comprises treating a second surface of the first flat piece using the first treatment device.

Description

[0073] The invention is described further on the basis of the attached figures. Therein, the figures show:

[0074] FIGS. 1A to 1C an embodiment of a handling device with a bar-design;

[0075] FIG. 2 an embodiment of a method for operating the handling device;

[0076] FIGS. 3A and 3B an embodiment of a device with a circular transport path; and

[0077] FIG. 4 an embodiment of a method for operating the device.

[0078] Turning to FIG. 1A to 1C, an embodiment of a handling device with a bar-design is described.

[0079] The handling device 100 comprises a backbone element 112.

[0080] In the embodiment, the backbone element 112 has an essentially octagonal cross section. Other forms are possible in other embodiments. In general, the backbone element 112 has a beam-like shape.

[0081] The backbone element has lateral faces 112a, 112b, 112c, 112d, which are here defined as every second side of the octagonal cross section. Also here, other forms and definitions of lateral faces of the backbone element 112 are possible in other embodiments.

[0082] The backbone element 112 has a plurality of holding elements 114. FIG. 1B shows four holding elements 112, which are each assigned to one of the lateral faces 112a, 112b, 112c, 112d of the backbone element 112.

[0083] The holding elements 114 are shown as holding one flat piece 110 each. In the present embodiment, the flat pieces 110 are plastic cards 110.

[0084] The holding elements 114 are configured to hold the cards 110 such that they are arranged in a plane that is parallel to the respective lateral face 112a, 112b, 112c, 112d of the backbone element 112.

[0085] In particular, the holding elements 114 hold the cards 110 by suction, which is provided from a vacuum pump (not shown). In other embodiments, clamping or another method may be used to hold the cards 110 in place.

[0086] The holding elements 114 are configured such that the cards 110 are held in a constant position and orientation relative to the backbone element 112. I.e., when the backbone element 112 is moved, by translation and/or rotation, the cards 110 move with the backbone element 12 in the same way.

[0087] The backbone element 112 has a longitudinal axis LA, which is in arranged in an essentially horizontal direction, relative to a gravitational field.

[0088] Furthermore, the backbone element 112 is rotatable around the longitudinal axis LA.

[0089] To rotate the backbone element 112, a motor (not shown) is controlled, which is coupled with the backbone element 112. The motor can be configured to rotate the backbone element 112 to a given angular position.

[0090] The motor may be configured as a step motor. In further embodiments, the backbone element 112 may be rotated at least in part manually.

[0091] As shown in FIG. 1A and 1B, the backbone element 112 with cards 110 and treatment devices 140, 150, 160, 170 may be kept in a housing 116. In other embodiments, no housing 116 may be provided, or the control unit may be kept in the housing 116 as well.

[0092] Also, the handling device 100 comprises a control unit 120, which is connected to the housing 116 by a signal connection 122.

[0093] The control unit 120 is configured to provide a control signal, in particular a signal to control the angular position of the backbone element 112.

[0094] In other embodiments, the control unit 120 is not comprised by the handling device 100, but an external unit.

[0095] Also, the handling device 100 may be configured to receive external control signals through the signal connection 122 in another way.

[0096] In further embodiments, the handling device 100 may be configured to be operated independently from a control signal, e.g., by performing the same method steps without the possibility of a control through a control unit 120.

[0097] Treatment devices 140, 150, 160, 170 are arranged in proximity to the backbone element 112 such that cards at a respective treatment position 142, 152, 162, 172 can be treated.

[0098] Herein, the treatment positions 142, 152, 162, 172 are assigned to each treatment device 140, 150, 160, 170.

[0099] In the embodiment, the treatment devices 140, 150, 160, 170 can comprise, e.g., a printer device 140, a feeding/loading device 160, a flipping device 150, an imaging device 170 and a curing device printer. Also, treatment devices 140, 150, 160, 170 can be provided for loading the cards 110 onto the backbone element 112 and the holding elements 114, respectively, or for unloading and/or outputting the cards 110.

[0100] For the purposes of the present embodiment, a “treatment” of a card 110 can comprise any manipulation. In particular, a treatment can lead to a structural change in the card 110 itself, e.g., by printing on the card, cutting, embossing, engraving, laminating and so on. Furthermore, a treatment can lead to a change in position and/or orientation of the cards 110, in particular relative to the backbone element 112. In particular, also imaging a card 110 can be considered a treatment for the present embodiment.

[0101] The treatment devices 140, 150, 160, 170 are configured such that a card 110 can be treated, when it is at the respective treatment position 142, 152, 162, 172 for the respective treatment device 140, 150, 160, 170.

[0102] In the case shown here, the treatment positions 142, 152, 162, 172 relate to volumes in space. As a card 110 is arranged in such a volume, it can be treated by the respective treatment device 140, 150, 160, 170. Also, a treatment position 142, 152, 162, 172 can be defined as a specific area, in which a card 110 needs to be positioned, in order to be treated by the respective treatment device 140, 150, 160, 170.

[0103] Turning to FIG. 2, an embodiment of a method to operate the above-described handling device is described.

[0104] In a step 21, a card 110 is loaded and held by a holding element 114.

[0105] In the present embodiment, cards 110 are provided by a supply 130, in particular a belt 130 or a different carrier device, with a transport direction TD. As seen in FIG. 10, a plurality of cards 110 is arranged on the belt 130 and brought into a position below the backbone element 112. The cards 110, which are arranged directly below the backbone element 112, may be taken up by the holding elements 114 and held relative to the backbone element 112.

[0106] For example, the cards 110 can be pushed upwards towards the backbone element 112 for loading them and bringing them into a held position of the holding elements 114.

[0107] In a step 22, a control signal is received from the control unit 120. This control signal determines a first angular position. A motor is controlled such that the backbone element 112 is rotated around the longitudinal axis LA to the defined first angular position.

[0108] According to the embodiment, at least a first and a second angular position is defined.

[0109] In further embodiments, further positioning transformations may be carried out, in particular based on the control signal. For example, the control signal may control a translational movement of the backbone element 112 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis LA and/or a perpendicular direction. Also, for example, the backbone element 112 may be moved in a swiveling motion, comprising a rotation around an axis that is different from the longitudinal axis LA.

[0110] For example, when the device 100 is at the first angular position, the card 110 is arranged at the first treatment position 142. The card 110 can then be treated by the first treatment device 140.

[0111] In a step 23, the device 100 is brought to the second angular position by a control signal from the control unit 120. In the present embodiment, a rotation of the backbone element 112 is carried out such that a second angular position is reached, wherein the card 110 is arranged in the second treatment position 152, and can be treated by the second treatment device 150.

[0112] The steps 22 and 23 can be repeated: After a card 110 has been treated, the backbone element 112 can rotate to another angular position, and the card 110 can be treated again. In particular, the angular position is now such that the card 110 is arranged at another treatment position, where it can be treated by another treatment device.

[0113] In a step 24, the device 100 can then be brought into the loading position, such that the card 100 can be unloaded or output to the belt 130, e.g., by stopping the respective holding elements 114.

[0114] A concrete example of printing on different sides of a card 110 is now described:

[0115] For example, a card 110 is loaded in step 21. In step 22, the device 100 is brought into the first angular position, thus arranging the card 110 in a first treatment position 142. The card 110 is then treated by a first treatment device 140, in particular a printer device 140. In step 123, the device 100 is then brought into a second angular position, wherein the card 110 is arranged in a second treatment position 152 for treatment by a second treatment device 150, such as a card flipper. In the present case, the card flipper takes the card 110 from the holding device 114, rotates the card 110 as indicated by an arrow F, and returns it to the holding element 114 such that the opposite flat side of the car 110 is now presented outwards. Then, repeating step 22, the device 100 is brought again into the first angular position, wherein the card 110 is in the first treatment position 142 and can be printed on. Thus, both the front and back side of the card 110 can be printed subsequently.

[0116] Furthermore, other treatment devices 140, 150, 160, 170 can be provided and the card 110 can be treated by those as well.

[0117] Also, cards 110 can be loaded to holding elements 114 of the handling device 100 at different faces 112a, 112b, 112c, 112d of the backbone element 112. Thus, while a card 110 is at the first treatment position 142, another card 110 can be simultaneously at the second or another treatment position 152, 162, 172, and it can be treated simultaneously to the printing operation at the first treatment position 142. For example, a card 110 at the first treatment position 142 can be printed, while another card 110 is flipped at the second treatment position 152 at the same time. Thus, cards 110 can be treated simultaneously in different ways.

[0118] The cards 110 can then be unloaded and released from the holding elements 114, and put onto the belt 130 to be transported away. New cards 110 can then be provided and loaded, an afterwards treated.

[0119] During the operation of the handling device 100, the backbone element 112 with the holding elements 114 is used as an exchange unit, which transports flat pieces 110 between different treatment positions 142, 152, 162, 172. In particular, the device 100 may replace other transport devices such as a belt or a carrier, which carry the flat pieces 110 to the respective treatment devices 140, 150, 160, 170.

[0120] In this concept, several cards 110 can be transported by a standard transport device 130 transport to the handling device 100, acting as an exchange unit. Several positions for cards 110 are provided at each lateral face 112a, 112b, 112c, 112d, and when all positions are filled, the beam is rotated, for example 180°, to the first angular position.

[0121] After rotation, two things happen: Cards 110 that are held at the bottom side of the beam 112, are released to the transport device 130, and the holding elements 114 are provided with new cards 110. On the top side of the beam, i.e., at the first treatment position 142, the cards 110 are printed and/or cured.

[0122] For this, the first treatment device 140, comprising print heads and curing leads, is movable relative to the backbone element 112 in printer directions PD, and can be translated, in particular parallel to the longitudinal axis LA.

[0123] In an embodiment, the device can be brought into another angular position, where the card 110 is in the fourth treatment position 172 and can be treated by another treatment device 170. For example, fiducials of the cards 110 can be taken by an optical measurement process, for example to perform a calibration step and to account for the precise position of the cards 110 relative to the backbone element 112. Thus, the printing process at the first treatment position 142 can be prepared by performing optical measurements on the cards 110, while waiting for the next rotation step.

[0124] The concept allow advantageously parallel transport and treatment. For example, a set of cards 110 can be held at one lateral face 112a of the backbone element 112 and printed, while another set of cards 110 is loaded in parallel to another lateral face of the backbone element 112. This can save processing time, since the printing is often a more time-consuming step than other treatments.

[0125] Also, cards 110 can be held at fixed positions during treatment processes, such as printing, thus allowing high spatial precision for treatments.

[0126] Also, less card handling is required, since the cards 110 can be brought towards different treatment devices 140, 150, 160, 170 simply be rotating the backbone element 112, thereby saving processing time.

[0127] For treatments of a card surface from edge to edge, such as edge-to-edge printing, one treatment device 140 may be sufficient. For example, a printer device 140 with one set of print heads may suffice for both side edge to edge printing. This allows saving costs.

[0128] For example, a “secondary transport” concept can be realized with the handling device 100:

[0129] Cards 110 are taken out of a standard transport, e.g., from a belt 130, and loaded on the device 100 as a “second transport device”. Since the device 100 comprises several carriers, corresponding to holding elements 114 at different lateral faces 112a, 112b, 112c, 112d of the backbone element 112, the cards 110 can be loaded independently, while other cards 110 are already treated by the treatment devices 140, 150, 160, 170.

[0130] Afterwards, the carrier follows the process of taking fiducial measurements, printing on a front side of the cards 110, curing, applying a varnish, and curing. Also, cards 110 can be flipped in order to treat their back sides.

[0131] If the back side of a card 110 needs to be printed, the carrier with the same card 110 will continue its path to the angular position, which allows flipping the card 110, and proceed to the angular position for taking visual fiducial measurements again; afterwards, the back side can be printed and/or treated.

[0132] If only the front side of a card 110 should be printed, the card 110 is removed from the holding elements 114 in an angular position of the backbone element 112, which may be identical to the angular position for loading cards 110. In particular, an unloading station may be provided for unloading cards 110 from the device 100.

[0133] After unloading a card 110, the carrier will continue to the loading position and take on the next card 110.

[0134] Turning to FIG. 3A, 3B and 4, an embodiment of a device with a circular transport path is described as well as a method to operate the device. Elements, steps and other features, which have been already described above, have the same reference numerals and may not be described again in detail.

[0135] FIG. 3A and 3B show schematically, in principle, the same embodiment of a device 300 for presenting a flat piece to a treatment device.

[0136] A card 310 is provided by a transport mechanism and loaded onto a transport element 312, in this case a belt 312 or an assembly of several belts.

[0137] The card 310 is thereby brought into the printing transport.

[0138] Cards 310 are moving on a belt 312 system through the device 300.

[0139] Multiple cards 310 can be loaded and transported by the transport element 312 at the same time.

[0140] Along the transport element 312, several positions are configured as treatment positions 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, at which different treatment devices are arranged. When a card 310 reaches one of the treatment positions 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, the respective treatment device can treat it. In particular, one side of the card 310, for example the upwards-facing side of the card 310, is treated.

[0141] Examples of treatment devices are described above.

[0142] In a step 41, a card 310 is loaded at loading position 301 onto the transport element 312.

[0143] Afterwards, in a step 42, the card 310 is treated in different ways.

[0144] At a position 302a, visual measurements are performed, in particular for fiducial measurements and/or for performing a calibration step.

[0145] The card 310 is then transported to a printing position 302, where an image is printed on the upwards-facing side of the card 310. Subsequently, the card 310 is cured at position 303.

[0146] A varnish is applied to the card 310 at position 304, in a varnish lane, where varnish is applied. A step of curing the varnish is performed at a position 305.

[0147] At a position 306, it is determined whether the opposite side, i.e., the backside of the card 310, needs to be printed on. If this is the case, a flipping device rotates the card 310 and the card 310 is brought back onto the transport element 312.

[0148] If it is determined at position 306 that the backside should not be printed on, the card 310 is not flipped.

[0149] In step 43, it is determined, whether the card 310 should be treated again—if applicable, on the backside—or whether it should be output.

[0150] If the card 310 is to be treated again, it is from a switching position 307 into the same transport path another time, starting with the visual measurements at position 302a.

[0151] On the other hand, if the card 310 should be output, it is unloaded in a step 44.

[0152] In the embodiment, the unloading happens at an unload position 308, where an unloading device moves the card 310 from the transport element 312 of the device 300 to the standard transport.

[0153] An unloading device may, for example, comprise a pusher.

[0154] Steps 42 and 43 may be repeated iteratively, until it is determined that the card 310 is to be unloaded.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0155]

TABLE-US-00001 21, 22, 23, 24 Step 41, 42, 43, 44 Step 100 Handling device 110 Flat piece; plastic card substrate; plastic card 112 Backbone element 112a, 112b, 112c, 112d Lateral face of backbone element 114 Holding element 116 Housing 120 Control unit 122 Signal connection 130 Supply; belt 140 First treatment device; printer device 142 First treatment position 150 Second treatment device; flipping device 152 Second treatment position 160 Third treatment device; loading device 162 Third treatment position (loading) 170 Fourth treatment device imaging device 172 Fourth treatment position 300 Device 301 Loading position 302a Visual measurement position 302 Printing position 303 Curing position 304 Varnishing position 305 Curing position 306 Flipping position 307 Transport switching position 308 Unloading position 310 Flat piece; plastic card

[0156] 312 Transport element; belt

[0157] 320 Control unit

[0158] F Flipping direction

[0159] LA Longitudinal axis

[0160] PD Printer direction

[0161] TD Transport direction