PRODUCTION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE PLATES

Abstract

A production facility for manufacturing motor vehicle license plates includes a hot stamping machine configured for the continuous application of ink to stamped plates by hot stamping. At least one first conveying component is provided to transport stamped plates through the hot stamping machine. The production facility includes at least one transfer arrangement having a buffer with a cashing component for at least two flat objects wherein the production facility includes a control unit for controlling the buffer for a successive deposition of flat objects from the buffer onto the first conveying component. In particular, with such a buffer, stamped plates and/or templates can be deposited on the first conveying component. The disclosure also relates to a process for operating such a production facility.

Claims

1. A production facility for manufacturing motor vehicle license plates, the production facility comprising a hot stamping machine configured for the continuous application of ink to stamped plates by means of hot stamping wherein at least one first conveying means is provided for the transport of stamped plates by the hot stamping machine, wherein the production facility comprises at least one transfer arrangement with a buffer with caching means for at least two flat objects, wherein the production facility comprises a control unit configured for controlling the buffer for the deposition of flat objects in succession from the buffer onto the first conveying means.

2. The production facility according to claim 1, wherein the flat objects are templates which can be deposited on stamped plates on the first conveying means and which can be transported together with the templates through the hot stamping machine.

3. The production facility according to claim 2, wherein the production facility further comprises a sensor means on the first conveying means configured to detect the position of the stamped plates.

4. The production facility according to claim 2, wherein the transfer arrangement comprises means to lift templates from printed motor vehicle license plates behind the hot stamping machine and to lead the templates into the buffer of the transfer arrangement.

5. The production facility according to claim 1, wherein the flat objects are stamped plates which can be deposited from the buffer onto the conveying means and transported through the hot stamping machine.

6. The production facility according to claim 5, wherein the production facility further comprises an automatic stamping press configured for the continuous production of stamped plates and that between the stamping press and the hot stamping machine at least one second conveying means is provided to remove the stamped plates from the stamping press, and that the transfer arrangement is arranged between the two conveying means wherein the plates stamped with the transfer arrangement can be continuously transferred from the second conveying means to the first conveying means.

7. The production facility according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to control the buffer such that flat objects from the buffer can be in deposited in succession on the first conveying means with a predetermined spacing between the flat objects.

8. The production facility according to claim 1, wherein the buffer comprises at least two deposition levels with respective holding means for holding the flat objects at the deposition levels, and that the control unit is configured to control the holding means such that flat objects are held at the respective deposition level or removed from a respective deposition level.

9. The production facility according to claim 8, wherein the at least two deposition levels are arranged to be above each other.

10. The production facility according to claim 8, wherein the buffer comprises three deposition levels.

11. The production facility according to claim 8, wherein each holding means of a deposition level is formed by at least two opposite support elements which are movable by the control unit between at least two positions wherein a flat object is held by the support elements in a first position while the flat object is not held by the support elements in a second position.

12. The production facility according to claim 11, wherein the spacing between the support elements in a first position is smaller than width B of the flat objects, while the spacing between the support elements in a second position is larger than width B of the flat objects.

13. The production facility according to claim 1, wherein the first conveying means extends below the buffer.

14. The production facility according to claim 6, wherein the transfer arrangement comprises a gripper device for transferring plates from the second conveying means into the buffer.

15. The production facility according to claim 14, wherein the gripper device is a suction gripper.

16. A process for operating a production facility according to claim 1, wherein flat objects are continuously deposited in succession by the transfer arrangement from the buffer onto the first conveying means.

17. The process according to claim 16, wherein the license plates are continuously transferred by the transfer arrangement from a second conveying means into the buffer.

18. The process according to claim 16, wherein the s plates are continuously deposited in succession by the transfer arrangement at a predetermined spacing X onto the first conveying means.

19. The process according to claim 17, wherein spacing X between the plates on the first conveying means is smaller than spacing Y between den plates on the second conveying means.

20. The process according to claim 18, wherein spacing X is in the magnitude of 3 mm to 20 mm, in particular between 3 mm and 10 mm, and even more advantageously at about 5 mm.

21. The process according to claim 19, wherein spacing Y is at least 20 mm.

22. The process according to claim 16, wherein templates are continuously deposited by the transfer arrangement in succession on stamped plates from the buffer onto the first conveying means.

23. The process according to claim 22, wherein a template is deposited by the transfer arrangement on a stamped plate onto the first conveying means as soon as a sensor means detects the presence of a stamped plate in a predetermined position on the conveying means.

24. The process according to claim 16, wherein the control unit controls the buffer of a The production facility such that a flat object drops from a first deposition level whereupon another flat object drops directly from the second deposition level arranged above this first deposition level to the now available first deposition level.

25. The process according to claim 16, wherein the control unit is in connection with the hot stamping machine and will stop the machine when no flat object is in the buffer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] Other advantages, specialties and practical further developments of the disclosure result from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings, where

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a first embodiment of an inventive production facility for manufacturing motor vehicle license plates;

[0047] FIG. 2 shows a transfer arrangement with buffer in a first three-dimensional view;

[0048] FIG. 3 shows a transfer arrangement according to FIG. 2 in a second three-dimensional view;

[0049] FIG. 4 shows a buffer of the transfer arrangement in four different states (a)-(d); and

[0050] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a second embodiment of an inventive production facility for manufacturing motor vehicle license plates.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a first embodiment of an inventive production facility 10 for manufacturing motor vehicle license plates 40. This comprises an automatic stamping press 20 and a hot stamping machine 30, which can be designed in a conventional manner and whose construction does not have to be described in detail for this disclosure. In general, the stamping press 20 is designed to process continuously fed plate blanks by providing them with a stamping. For example, these comprise a surrounding and a legend which are stamped to appear raised. For this purpose, the stamping press 20 is continuously supplied with blanks, which can be done for example with a stack 21 of blanks which are in succession stamped by the stamping press 20. Each plate is provided with an individual legend that can be given to the stamping press by a computer control. Thus, when the press 20 is in operation, continuously stamped plates 40 are discharged by the press and deposited onto a conveying means 11. Preferably, this conveying means 11 is a conveyor belt, for example in the shape of a conveyor belt.

[0052] The hot stamping machine 30 is designed to print these stamped plates 40 by means of hot stamping to produce motor vehicle license plates 41 from them. At high temperature, ink is applied to the raised portions of the plates. The plates 40 are continuously fed to the hot stamping machine 30 via a conveying means 12, and this conveying means 12 also moves them through the hot stamping machine 30. This conveying means 12 can also be a belt conveyor.

[0053] The hot stamping machine 30 can be designed in various ways to continuously apply ink to the continuous stream of plates 40. It has proven to be advantageous to use one or more heatable pinch rollers with which the plates 40 are printed from above. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, a double-head hot stamping machine with two pinch rollers 32 and 32 is used. Under these pinch rollers 32, 32 runs a hot stamping foil 31, comprising plastic foil, which serves a carrier material for a hot-removable ink. When the hot stamping foil 32 is pressed under heat against the raised portions of a license plate 40, the ink comes off the foil, which prints the license plate. The hot stamping foil 31 continuously unwraps from a supply spool 33, and the used hot stamping foil wraps around a collector spool 34. Thus, foil 31 runs from the supply spool 33 under the pinch rollers 32, 32 to the collector spool 34. Preferably, pinch rollers 32, 32 are vertically movable such that can be raised and lowered. For example, they are raised when the hot stamping machine 30 is not in operation or when it is temporarily stopped.

[0054] Between the first conveying means 12 and the second conveying means 11 a transfer arrangement 13 is provided that is connected with a control unit 14. This control unit 14 is only shown schematically in FIG. 1 and can have any kind of arrangement. It can be integrated in the transfer arrangement 13 or provided as a remote control. It can also be a central control unit in connection with other components of the facility. In particular it can be connected for communication with the stamping press 20 and the hot stamping machine 30 as is provided in the embodiment of FIG. 1.

[0055] The transfer arrangement 13 is designed to transfer plates 40 from the conveying means 11 to the other conveying means 12 wherein the plates are temporarily cached in a buffer of the transfer arrangement. Control unit 14 in particular controls this buffer such that the plates are deposited in succession in a predetermined spacing X on conveying means 12. Typically, this spacing X differs from spacing Y of the plates 40 on conveying means 11. Preferably, spacing X is smaller than spacing Y, since it is desirable that the hot stamping machine 30 has the smallest possible spacing between plated 40. On the other hand, the spacing Y of the plates plate 40 on the conveying means 11 can be larger, for example to make the transfer from conveying means 11 into the buffer easier.

[0056] FIGS. 2 and 3 show a possible embodiment of such a transfer arrangement 13 with buffer. FIG. 2 shows a first three-dimensional view of a transfer arrangement 13 that is provided between two conveying means 11 and 12. With conveying means 11, plates 40 are transported to transfer arrangement 13 wherein for example, the plates 40 are transported lengthwise. Plates 40 have a width of B. Transfer arrangement 13 comprises a gripper device 50 with which the plates 40 can be raised by conveying means 11 and transferred to the buffer. This gripper device 50 can be formed by one or more suction grippers wherein for example two suction cups 53 and 54 are provided along an elongated connecting profile. These suction cups 53, 54 are in connection with tubes (not shown) for producing and relieving a negative pressure in the suction cups 53, 54. The suction gripper 50 thus formed is movable via a skid 52 along a rail 51. The direction of movement of the skid 52 is that of the first conveying means 11. Thus the suction gripper 50 can be moved with skid 52 into a position above a plate 40 where it can be lowered via a lifting device 55. Suction cups 53, 54 grip plate 40, the suction gripper 50 is raised and moved to the buffer along the conveying means 11.

[0057] The buffer is formed by at least two deposition levels which are shown above each other in the embodiment of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. Here, three deposition levels were chosen. These deposition levels are formed by several holding means with which plates can be held at one level. For example, these are support elements at several levels. The support elements can be formed by small plates as shown in FIG. 2. Each deposition level is formed by four support elements, two of which are opposite each other such that one license plate can be deposited on them. Two of the small plates are always on a first support side 63 of the buffer, and two other small plates are on an opposite support side 64. The spacing between the small plates is selected accordingly.

[0058] FIG. 2 shows as an example three support elements above each other marked with reference numbers 60, 61 and 62. On the same support side 63 are three further support elements, the highest and lowest of which are visible and marked with reference numbers 60 and 62. The view in FIG. 3 shows all support elements 60, 61, 62 and 60, 61, 62 on this support side 63. On the opposite support side 64 are another six support elements to form a total of three deposition levels above each other.

[0059] However, the support elements 60, 61, 62 and 60, 61, 62 on one side can also be designed continuous such that they form three longer support webs. They can also be designed as pin-shaped support elements or as elements of different configuration.

[0060] The support elements are movable and can be controlled on both support sides 63, 64 by control unit 14 such that their position and thus the spacing between opposite support elements can be changed. In a first position, the spacing between opposite support elements is chosen such that a plate 40 can be deposited on the support elements. The spacing is thus smaller than the width B of plate 40. In a second position, the spacing is larger than the width B, such that a plate 40 is no longer held on the deposition level but drops down from it. For this, the support elements can be movable in horizontal direction. However, they can also be designed to tilt such that the can be tilted downward to enlarge the spacing. A combination of both movements is also possible.

[0061] Extending below the thus formed buffers is conveying means 12. If plates 40 drop down from the buffer, they will therefore drop onto conveying means 12 which will transport them to hot stamping machine 30. However, the two conveying means can also be formed by a single conveyor belt which extends underneath transfer arrangement 13.

[0062] The buffer is arranged such that plates can first be deposited with the suction gripper 50 to the highest deposition level of the buffer. Subsequently, the suction gripper 50 runs back along rail 51 and grips the next plate. For depositing a plate at the highest level, their support elements have an appropriate common spacing. Before the next plate is deposited on the uppermost level, this spacing is reduced by control unit 14 such that the plate drops down to the middle deposition level. Subsequently, it drops to the lowest level, and the plate from the highest level drops down to the middle level. This is how the buffer is files and the highest level is available again for accepting the next plate.

[0063] In FIG. 4, letter (a) shows the condition of the filled buffer with three plates at each level. The control unit only controls the buffer such that the lowest plate can drop on the first conveying means (not shown). For this, the interval between opposite control elements is enlarged, as shown in letter (b) of FIG. 4. The timing is such that plates on the first conveying means have a predetermined spacing X between each other. For example, this spacing X has a magnitude of about 5 mm.

[0064] As soon as the lowest plate has dropped, the spacing between the support elements of this lowest level is reduced again such that the control unit can control the middle level above and the plate on it will drop down to the lowest level. This process is shown by letter (c). Subsequently, the spacing of the support elements of the middle level is lowered again while the spacing between the support elements of the highest level is enlarged, such that the highest plate can drop down to the middle level (d). Now the highest level is available again for the next plate.

[0065] This is how the plates are transported in succession through several steps of the buffer: they drop down through several steps of the buffer by dropping down from one level to another until they finally drop from the lowest deposition level to a conveying means. To dampen the dropping of the plates onto the next lower level, a seal can be applied to the upper side of the support elements. This can be made of an elastomer; in particular polyester urethane rubber has proven practical for this. For example, the product Vulkollan in cellular form can be used. However, any other types of suitable damping material can be applied. Furthermore, the top side of this damping material should preferably be provided with a stable sliding surface to ensure that the damping material is not damaged and that the plates can slide well from the support elements. For example, the sliding surface can be formed by a thin piece of sheet metal or plastic.

[0066] The figures show an embodiment of a hot stamping machine 30 in combination with an automatic stamping press. However, the hot stamping machine 30 and the shown transfer arrangement 13 can also be operated with other sources for stamped plates 40. For example, stamped plates can also be stamped in batch mode, then deposited on the second conveyor belt 11 deposited and thus taken to the buffer with the gripper device 50. Plates can also be laid directly from the top to the highest level of the buffer. This can be done manually or with mechanical means, and in both cases, a second conveying means 11 can be done without. Thus, the disclosure is not limited to an embodiment with automatic stamping press and a second conveying means 11, but the inventive transfer arrangement 13 before the conveying means 11 for supplying plates to a hot stamping machine 30 can advantageously also be used under other production circumstances.

[0067] Furthermore, the buffer described for use in the field of motor vehicle license plate manufacturing can also find application in other fields where flat objects must be automatically deposited on a conveying means. For example, FIG. 5 shows a production facility 10 for such an application where from the buffer of the transfer arrangement 13 templates 70 are in succession placed on license plates 40 which are moved below the buffer on conveyor belt 12 to be moved to a hot stamping machine 30. The hot stamping machine 30 can be designed like the hot stamping machine in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

[0068] The templates 70 can be flat plates made for example of sheet metal or plastic such as PTFE. In general, the dimensions of the templates correspond to the license plates to be printed. These templates have recesses which leave open those areas where ink is to be applied onto a stamped plate with the hot stamping machine 30.

[0069] With this embodiment of the disclosure, the stamped plates 40 can be transported to the hot stamping machine in regular spacings, or the spacings may vary. For a constant and preferably the smallest possible spacing, one of the above described transfer arrangements can be provided before transfer arrangement 13. In that case, the production facility 10 would thus have two buffers with different functions. With a first buffer, stamped plates could be deposited on a transportation means on which these plates would be laid, and with a second buffer, templates would be laid on those plates. Both buffers could have identical functionalities or different functionalities. However, with templates, too, one buffer with several depositions above each other has proven advantageous.

[0070] A sensor means 71 can be provided such that the templates 70 can be deposited at the right time from the buffer of the transfer arrangement 13 to the plates 40 moving below. With this sensor means 71 it can be detected where a plate is located on the transport means 12 or when it is below the transfer arrangement 13 such that a dropping template 70 comes to lie correctly on the plate. For example, the sensor means could be a light barrier.

[0071] In that case, too, the templates 70 can be moved to the transportation arrangement in different ways. For example, they can be moved manually or by machine. In particular, it would be advantageous to return used templates from a point behind the hot stamping machine 30 back to the buffer of the transfer arrangement. Such a return is indicated by arrows in FIG. 5. Movable suction grippers or other suitable means can be applied for the return.