Bending system, engrave system and value document manufacturing device

Abstract

A bending system for separating a page from a cover of a value document, wherein the page is connected to a spine of the cover, the spine separating the cover in first and second cover portions, wherein an angle γ is formed between the first and second cover portions. The bending system includes a bending unit connected to a motor, wherein the motor is configured to operate the bending unit such that the bending unit bends the value document to a first state, where γ is larger than 180°, and then back to a second state, where γ is at least 180° but less than γ in the first state, to separate the page from the cover. Also disclosed is an engraving system for engraving a front side and backside of a page of the value document and a document manufacturing device including the bending system and engraving system.

Claims

1. An engraving system comprising: a support plate; and an engraving unit configured for engraving a first side and second side of at least one page of a value document, wherein the engraving unit comprises: a page flip mechanism configured for turning the at least one page from the first side to the second side and vice versa; a carrier configured for supporting the value document; and an engraver configured for engraving the at least one page; wherein the page flip mechanism and the carrier are arranged to be moveable with respect to the support plate and at least one of the carrier is moveable with respect to the page flip mechanism or the page flip mechanism is moveable with respect to the carrier, such that a position of the engraver remains unchanged for engraving the first side and the second side of the at least one page.

2. The engraving system according to claim 1, wherein the engraver is a laser engraver.

3. The engraving system according to claim 1, further comprising a shaft, wherein the carrier is arranged to be moveable along the shaft with respect to the page flip mechanism.

4. The engraving system according to claim 3, wherein the carrier is arranged to be moveable along the shaft in a first direction at the same time the page flip mechanism and the carrier are arranged to be moveable with respect to the support plate in a second direction to cause turning of the at least one page from the first side to the second side.

5. The engraving system according to claim 4, wherein the carrier is arranged to be moveable along the shaft in the second direction at the same time the page flip mechanism and the carrier are arranged to be moveable with respect to the support plate in the first direction to cause turning of the at least one page from the second side to the first side.

6. The engraving system according to claim 1, wherein the carrier comprises a shaft and the page flip mechanism is arranged to be moveable along the shaft.

7. The engraving system according to claim 6, wherein the page flip mechanism is arranged to be moveable along the shaft in a first direction at the same time the page flip mechanism and the carrier are arranged to be moveable with respect to the support plate in a second direction to cause turning of the at least one page from the first side to the second side.

8. The engraving system according to claim 7, wherein the page flip mechanism is arranged to be moveable along the shaft in the second direction at the same time the page flip mechanism and the carrier are arranged to be moveable with respect to the support plate in the first direction to cause turning of the at least one page from the second side to the first side.

9. The engraving system according to claim 1, wherein the engraving unit further comprises at least one separating device configured for separating a cover and the at least one page of the value document.

10. The engraving system according to claim 1, wherein the support plate and engraver are in fixed positions relative to each other.

11. A value document manufacturing device comprising a bending system and an engraving system, wherein: the bending system comprises: a bending unit connected to a motor; wherein the motor is configured to operate the bending unit to separate a page of a value document from a cover of the value document; and the engraving system comprises: a support plate; and an engraving unit configured for engraving a first side and second side of the page of the value document, wherein the engraving unit comprises: a page flip mechanism configured for turning the page from the first side to the second side and vice versa; a carrier configured for supporting the value document; and an engraver configured for engraving the page; wherein the page flip mechanism and the carrier are arranged to be moveable with respect to the support plate and at least one of the carrier is moveable with respect to the page flip mechanism or the page flip mechanism is moveable with respect to the carrier, such that a position of the engraver remains unchanged for engraving the first side and the second side of the page.

12. The value document manufacturing device according to claim 11, wherein the motor is configured to operate the bending unit such that the bending unit bends the value document to a first state, where an angle formed between a first cover portion of the value document and a second cover portion of the value document is larger than 180°, and then back to a second state, where the angle formed between the first cover portion and the second cover portion is at least 180° but less than the angle formed in the first state, in order to separate the page of the value document from the cover of the value document.

13. The value document manufacturing device according to claim 12, wherein the bending system comprises a separating device and is configured to move the separating device between the page and the cover when the value document is in the second state.

14. The value document manufacturing device according to claim 13, wherein the bending unit comprises at least one ceramic element provided for contacting the page.

15. The value document manufacturing device according to claim 11, wherein the engraver is a laser engraver.

16. The value document manufacturing device according to claim 15, wherein the carrier comprises a shaft and the page flip mechanism is arranged to be moveable along the shaft.

17. The value document manufacturing device according to claim 16, wherein the page flip mechanism is arranged to be moveable along the shaft in a first direction at the same time the page flip mechanism and the carrier are arranged to be moveable with respect to the support plate in a second direction to cause turning of the page from the first side to the second side.

18. The value document manufacturing device according to claim 17, wherein the page flip mechanism is arranged to be moveable along the shaft in the second direction at the same time the page flip mechanism and the carrier are arranged to be moveable with respect to the support plate in the first direction to cause turning of the page from the second side to the first side.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The drawings illustrate generally, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the present disclosure.

(2) FIG. 1 depicts schematically a passport in an intermediate state.

(3) FIG. 2 depicts schematically a bending system according to one embodiment of the invention.

(4) FIG. 3a depicts schematically a first step of turning a page of the passport shown in FIG. 1 with the bending system of FIG. 2.

(5) FIG. 3b depicts schematically a second step of turning the page of the passport shown in FIG. 1 with the bending system of FIG. 2.

(6) FIG. 3c depicts schematically a third step of turning the page of the passport shown in FIG. 1 with the bending system of FIG. 2.

(7) FIG. 3d depicts schematically a fourth step of turning the page of the passport shown in FIG. 1 with the bending system of FIG. 2.

(8) FIG. 3e depicts schematically a fifth step of turning the page of the passport shown in FIG. 1 with the bending system of FIG. 2.

(9) FIG. 3f depicts schematically a sixth step of turning the page of the passport shown in FIG. 1 with the bending system of FIG. 2.

(10) FIG. 4a depicts schematically a laser engraving unit according to one embodiment.

(11) FIG. 4b depicts schematically the laser engraving unit of FIG. 4a and the passport of FIG. 1 arriving from the bending system of FIG. 2.

(12) FIG. 5a depicts schematically a first step of laser engraving with the laser engraving unit of FIG. 4a.

(13) FIG. 5b depicts schematically a second step of laser engraving with the laser engraving unit of FIG. 4a.

(14) FIG. 5c depicts schematically a third step of laser engraving with the laser engraving unit of FIG. 4a.

(15) FIG. 5d depicts schematically a first part of a fourth step of laser engraving with the laser engraving unit of FIG. 4a.

(16) FIG. 5e depicts schematically a second part of the fourth step of laser engraving with the laser engraving unit of FIG. 4a.

(17) FIG. 5f depicts schematically a fifth step of laser engraving with the laser engraving unit of FIG. 4a.

(18) FIG. 5g depicts schematically a sixth step of laser engraving with the laser engraving unit of FIG. 4a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(19) In FIG. 1, a value document, in this embodiment a passport 1, is shown schematically in an intermediate state for explaining a setup thereof.

(20) The passport 1 comprises a cover 11 and two pages 12, 13 connected to a spine 15 of the cover 11. The spine 15 is provided in the middle of the cover 11 and separates the cover 11 in two portions, i.e. a first portion 14 and a second portion 16. In the intermediate state as shown in FIG. 1, the cover 11 is open. That is, an angle γ formed between the first and the second portions 14, 16 of the cover 11 is 180°. The cover 11 comprises an inside 111 and an outside 112. The first page 12 comprises a frontside 121 and a backside 122. The second page 13 comprises a frontside 131 and a backside 132. In the intermediate state, an angle α between the frontside 121 of the first page 12 and frontside 131 of the second page 13 is between 0° and 180°, i.e. 0°<α<180°. Furthermore, an angle ε is formed between the first page 12 and the cover 11. More specifically, the angle ε is formed between the first page 12 and the first portion 14 of the cover 11.

(21) In a closed state of the cover 11, the frontside 121 of the first page 12 and the frontside 131 of the second page 13 are in contact with each other, i.e. α, γ and ε are substantially 0°. In the closed state of the cover 11, the backside 122 of the first page 12 and the backside 132 of the second page 13 are in contact with the inside 111 of the cover 11. More specifically, in the closed state, the backside 122 of the first page 12 is in contact with a first portion 113 of the inside 111 of the cover 11 and the backside 132 of the second page 13 is in contact with a second portion 114 of the inside 111 of the cover 11. The first portion 113 of the inside 111 of the cover 11 corresponds to the first portion 14 of the cover 11. The second portion 114 of the inside 111 of the cover 11 corresponds to the second portion 16 of the cover 11. The spine 15 is formed in the middle of the cover 11 such that the resulting two cover portions 14, 16 have substantially a same size and/or length.

(22) In FIG. 2, a bending system 2 is shown together with the passport 1 of FIG. 1 in a perspective view. The bending system 2 is configured to bend the passport 1 such that the first page 12 of the passport 1 separates from the first portion 14 of the cover 11, i.e. from the first portion 113 of the inside 111 of the cover 11 of the passport 1. The bending system 2 is further configured to insert a separating device 28 between the first portion 113 of the inside 111 of the cover 11 and the first page 12, after bending the passport 1.

(23) More specifically, the bending system 2 comprises a motor 21, a bending unit 22, a lever 23, two position sensors 24a, 24b, a separation sensor 25, a frame 26, a pivoting plate 27, the separating device 28, and a guidance plate 29.

(24) The motor 21 is configured to move the bending unit 22 via the lever 23. The lever 23 is pivotably connected to the bending unit 22 and is connected to an output shaft of the motor 21.

(25) The bending unit 22 is configured to bend the passport 1 by being moved from the motor 21 via the lever 23 and comprises two plates 221, 222, wherein each plate 221, 222 comprises a ceramic ball strip 223, 224, respectively. The ceramic ball strips 223, 224 are provided for contacting the pages 12, 13 of the passport 1 during separation of the first page 12 from the cover 11. The ceramic ball strips 223, 224 are provided at one end of the first plate 221 and of the second plate 222, respectively. The ceramic ball strips 223, 244 include at least two ceramic elements, e.g. a ball and/or a wheel comprising at least on its outer surface a ceramic layer, wherein the at least two ceramic elements are preferably arranged in a row.

(26) The position sensors 24a, 24b are configured to sense a position of the motor 21 and/or the bending unit 22. In an example embodiment, the position sensors 24a, 24b are additionally or alternatively configured to sense a position of the lever 23. The position sensors 24a, 24b are configured to output information corresponding to the sensed position(s) to a control unit configured to control operation of the bending system 2 based on the received information from the position sensors 24a, 24b.

(27) The separation sensor 25 is configured to detect if the separation is completed, i.e. if the separating device 28 is inserted between the first portion 113 of the inside 111 of the cover 11 and the first page 12 after separation thereof. The separation sensor 25 is also configured to output information corresponding to the separation to the above described control unit configured to control operation of the bending system 2 based on the received information from the separation sensor 25. In the present embodiment, the separating device 28 is a wedge. The frame 26 comprises solenoids for movement of the separation device 28. The pivoting plate 27 is provided for positioning of the cover 11 of the passport 1.

(28) In the following, separation of the cover 11 and the first page 12 of the passport 1 shown in FIG. 1 by operation of the bending system 2 shown in FIG. 2 is explained in detail with respect to FIGS. 3a to 3f.

(29) As can be gathered from FIG. 3a, in operation of the bending system 2, the passport 1 is transported in a first step underneath the bending unit 22 in a V-shape. That is, the cover 11 of the passport 1 is opened to an angle larger than 0° and smaller than 180°. More specifically, the angles α and γ are substantially the same since the angle ε is substantially zero, and the angles α and γ are larger than 0° and smaller than 180°. The bending unit 22 is in an initial state located between the first and the second pages 12, 13 wherein the first and the second plates 221, 222 of the bending unit 22 are also in a V-shape. More specifically, the angle α between the frontside 121 of the first page 12 and the frontside 131 of the second page 13 is larger than 0° and smaller than 180°. An angle β between the first and the second plates 221, 222 of the bending unit 22 is substantially the same as the angle α such that the first plate 221 is arranged substantially near or in parallel to the first page 12 and the second plate 222 is arranged substantially near or in parallel to the second page 13. The backsides 122, 132 of the first and the second pages 12, 13 are in contact with the first portion 113 and the second portion 114 of the inside 111 of the cover 11, respectively.

(30) As can be gathered from FIG. 3b and especially from the arrows shown therein, in a second step, when the passport 1 is underneath the bending unit 22, the bending unit 22 is activated by the motor 21 (see FIG. 2) via the lever 23 such that ceramic ball strips 223 and 224 come into contact with the front sides 121, 131 of the first and the second pages 12, 13 of the passport 1, respectively. Then, the passport 1 is bent to a state in which the angle α between the frontside 121 of the first page 12 and the frontside 131 of the second page 12, 13 is larger than 180°. More specifically, also here, the angles α and γ are substantially the same since the angle δ is substantially zero, and the angles α and γ are both larger than 180°. The backsides 122, 133 of the first and the second pages 12, 13 are still in contact with the first portion 113 and the second portion 114 of the inside 111 of the cover 11, respectively. More specifically, the first ceramic ball strip 223 is in contact with the frontside 121 of the first page 12 to press the backside 112 of the cover 11 onto the pivoting plate 27. The second ceramic ball strip 224 is in contact with the front side 131 of the second page 13 and pushes the second page 13 together with the second portion 114 of the cover 11 downwards such that the angles α and γ exceed 180°.

(31) Afterwards, as can be gathered from FIG. 3c, in a third step, the bending unit 22 is operated by the motor 21 (see FIG. 2) via the lever 23 such that it bends the cover 11 of the passport 1 back until the cover 11 is in the open state, i.e. the bending unit 22 stops when the cover 11 is completely flat (horizontal). In the open state, the angles α and γ are substantially 180°. The angle δ is still 0°. Then, as indicated by the arrow shown in FIG. 3c, the guidance plate 29 on a front of the bending system 2 is activated by a solenoid to clamp the cover 11, wherein the first page 12 and/or the second page 13 is/are not clamped because it/they is/are a bit shorter than the cover 11. The ceramic ball strips 223, 224 are still in contact with the front side 121, 131 of the first and second pages 12, 13, respectively.

(32) Then, in a fourth step, the bending unit 22, e.g. the first and the second ceramic ball strips 223, 224 of the first and the second plates 222, 224, is operated by the motor 21 (see FIG. 2) via the lever 23 to move away from the cover 11, as can be gathered from FIG. 3d and especially from the arrows shown therein. Since the cover 11 is still clamped by the guidance plate 29 at least the first page 12 will now separate from the cover 11. More specifically, since the cover 11 is still clamped but the first ceramic ball strips 223 of the bending unit 22 are no longer in contact with the frontside 121 of the first page 12, the first page 12 can separate from the first portion 113 of the inside 111 of the cover 11. In the resulting separated state, the angle α is smaller than 180°. The angle δ is larger than 0°. The angle γ is still 180°. A sum of the angles α and ε is (substantially) the angle γ. Preferably, the guidance plate 29 is configured to clamp the second page 13 together with the cover 11.

(33) Afterwards, as shown in FIG. 3e, during a fifth step, the separating device 28 is inserted between the backside 122 of the first page 12 and the first portion 113 of the inside 111 of the cover 11 to secure a separated position between the first page 12 and the cover 11. The guidance plate 29 still clamps the cover 11, and in some example embodiments also the second page 13. Here, the separating device 28 is a wedge having an angle smaller than the angle δ to be insertable between the cover 11 and the first page 12.

(34) Afterwards, as shown in FIG. 3f and especially by the arrows shown therein, when the separating device 28 is inserted between the backside 122 of the first page 12 and the first portion 113 of the inside 111 of the cover 11, the bending unit 22 moves down during a sixth step. Therefore, the first and the second ceramic ball strips 223, 224 come again in contact with the frontsides 121, 131 of the first and the second pages 12, 13, respectively.

(35) The passport 1 is now ready for transport towards a laser engraving unit 4.

(36) The laser engraving unit 4 will now be explained in detail with reference to FIGS. 4a and 4b. FIG. 4a depicts schematically a laser engraving system 5 comprising a support plate 50 and the laser engraving unit 4. Also, FIG. 4b depicts schematically the laser engraving unit 4 but also the passport 1 arriving from the bending system 2.

(37) The laser engraving unit 4 comprises a page flip mechanism 41, a carrier 42, and two separating devices 43a and 43b, as well as a laser engraver 44 (see FIGS. 5c and 5f). The page flip mechanism 41, the carrier 42, and the two separating devices 43a and 43b hold the passport 1 during operation of the laser engraving unit 4 and therefore form a passport holding device 41, 42, 43a, 43b. The laser engraver 44 is configured to (laser) engrave at least one page 12, 13 of the passport 1. The carrier 42 comprises a shaft 421. The carrier 42 is moveable along the shaft 421 relative to the page flip mechanism 41 during operation of the engraving unit 4. That is, during operation of the engraving unit 4, a position of the carrier 42 relative to the flip mechanism 41 changes.

(38) Furthermore, the carrier 42 is supported on the support plate 50 such that it is moveable with respect to, i.e. relative to, the support plate 50. A position of the support plate 50 and of the laser engraver 44 is fixed in space. Thus, during operation of the engraving unit 4, the page flip mechanism 41, the carrier 42, and the two separating devices 43a and 43b are moved together with the passport 1 relative to a position of the laser engraver 44 and the support plate 50 such that the front 121 and the backside 122 of the first page 12 of the passport 1 can be laser engraved without changing the position of the laser engraver 44.

(39) Thus, a position of the laser engraver 44 remains the same wherein the rest 41, 42, 43 of the engraving unit 4 is moved on the support plate 50 during laser engraving of the frontside 121 and the backside 122 of the first page 12 of the passport 1. The first separating device 43a is provided for being inserted between the first page 12 and the cover 11 of the passport 1, and the second separating device 43b is provided for being inserted between the first page 12 and the second page 13 of the passport 1 during operation of the engraving unit 4.

(40) The operation of the laser engraving unit 4 will now be explained in detail, inter alia, with reference to FIGS. 5a-5g.

(41) In a first step, shown in FIG. 5a, the passport 1 is arrived from the bending system 2 at the engraving unit 4, wherein the first page 12 is separated from the cover 11. When the passport 1 is arrived at the carrier 42 of the engraving unit 4, the flip mechanism 41 and the first separating device 43a are provided between the first page 12 and the cover 11 of the passport 1 and the second separating device 43b is provided above the second page 13 of the passport 1.

(42) In a second step, shown in FIG. 5b, a tilting operation is carried out. During the tilting operation, the page flip mechanism 41 is moved relative to the carrier 42 via the shaft 421 such that the first page 12 is turned from its front page 121 facing the laser engraver 44 in an initial state to its backside 122. At the same time the page flip mechanism 41, the carrier 42, and the two separating devices 43a and 43b are moved (together with the passport 1) relative to the laser engraver 44 such that, after the first page 12 is turned, the backside 122 of the first page 12 faces the laser engraver 44. That is, before turning the first page 12, the frontside 121 thereof faces the laser engraver 44, i.e. is positioned substantially perpendicular below the laser engraver 44. After turning the first page 12, the backside 122 thereof faces the laser engraver 44, i.e. is positioned substantially perpendicular below the laser engraver 44. Therefore, the position of the laser engraver 44 remains unchanged.

(43) Then, as shown in FIG. 5c, the laser engraver 44 engraves the backside 122 of the first page 12 in a third step. During laser engraving in the third step, the flip mechanism 41 pushes the backside 122 of the first page 12 towards the second separating device 43b being arranged between the frontside 121 of the first page 12 and the cover 11. Therefore, the position of the first page 12 with respect to the laser engraver 44 remains unchanged during laser engraving thereof.

(44) Afterwards, a tilting back operation is carried out as shown throughout FIGS. 5d and 5e in a fourth step. As can be gathered from FIG. 5e, the first portion 14, i.e. the first portion 113 of the inside 111 of the cover 11, is in contact with the first separating device 43a. During the tilting back operation, the page flip mechanism 41 is moved in a reverse direction relative to the carrier 42 via the shaft 421 such that the first page 12 is turned from its back page 122 facing the laser engraver 44 during laser engraving in the third step to its frontside 121. At the same time, the flip mechanism 41, the carrier 42, and the two separating devices 43a and 43b are moved (together with the passport 1) relative to the laser engraver 44 such that, after the first page 12 is turned, the frontside 121 of the first page 12 faces the laser engraver 44. That is, before carrying out the tilting back operation of the first page 12, the backside 122 thereof faces the laser engraver 44, i.e. is positioned substantially perpendicular below the laser engraver 44. After turning the first page 12 back, the frontside 121 thereof faces the laser engraver 44, i.e. is positioned substantially perpendicular below the laser engraver 44. Therefore, also here, the position of the laser engraver 44 remains unchanged.

(45) Then, as shown in FIG. 5f, the laser engraver 44 engraves the frontside 121 of the first page 12 in a fifth step. During laser engraving in the fifth step, the page flip mechanism 41 pushes the first page 12 towards the first separating device 43a being arranged between the backside 122 of the first page 12 and the cover 11. Therefore, also here, the position of the first page 12 with respect to the laser engraver 44 remains unchanged during laser engraving thereof.

(46) Afterwards, as shown in FIG. 5g, the passport 1 is output from the engraving unit 4 in a sixth step.

(47) TABLE-US-00001 Reference signs list 1 passport 11 cover 111 inside of cover 112 outside of cover 113 first portion of inside of cover 114 second portion of inside of cover 12 first page 121 frontside of first page 122 backside of first page 13 second page 131 frontside of second page 132 backside of second page 14 first portion of cover 15 spine 16 second portion of cover 2 bending system 21 motor 22 bending unit 221 first plate of bending unit 222 second plate of bending unit 223 first ceramic ball strip 224 second ceramic ball strip 23 lever 24a, 24b position sensor 25 separation sensor 26 frame 27 pivoting plate 28 separating device 29 guidance plate 4 laser engraving unit 41 page flip mechanism 42 carrier 421 shaft 43a, 43b separating device α angle between first and second pages β angle between first and second plate of bending unit γ angle between first and second portion of cover ε angle between first portion of cover and first page