U.S. patent application number 16/678547 was filed with the patent office on 2020-03-05 for dual card transport in a card processing system.
The applicant listed for this patent is ENTRUST DATACARD CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Timothy J. FLITSCH, Jon WAWRA, Cory D. WOOLDRIDGE.
Application Number | 20200070550 16/678547 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 64097046 |
Filed Date | 2020-03-05 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200070550 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WOOLDRIDGE; Cory D. ; et
al. |
March 5, 2020 |
DUAL CARD TRANSPORT IN A CARD PROCESSING SYSTEM
Abstract
A card processing system that includes a card transport
mechanism having at least first and second separate card transports
that separately transport first and second cards in the card
processing system. Each of the first and second card transports can
be actuated between a common card pick-up location and common card
discharge position. At least one card processing mechanism that can
perform a card processing operation is located between the common
card pick-up location and the common card discharge location, with
each of the first and second card transports transporting
respective cards to the card processing mechanism to perform the
card processing operation and transporting the cards from the card
processing mechanism after processing.
Inventors: |
WOOLDRIDGE; Cory D.;
(Shakopee, MN) ; FLITSCH; Timothy J.; (Shakopee,
MN) ; WAWRA; Jon; (Shakopee, MN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ENTRUST DATACARD CORPORATION |
Shakopee |
MN |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
64097046 |
Appl. No.: |
16/678547 |
Filed: |
November 8, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
15974169 |
May 8, 2018 |
10507677 |
|
|
16678547 |
|
|
|
|
62503636 |
May 9, 2017 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B41J 11/002 20130101;
B41J 11/06 20130101; B41J 2/045 20130101; B41J 11/0085 20130101;
B65G 47/91 20130101; G06K 13/077 20130101; G06K 13/07 20130101;
B41J 11/02 20130101; G06K 13/08 20130101; B41J 13/12 20130101; B65G
2201/022 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B41J 13/12 20060101
B41J013/12; B41J 11/02 20060101 B41J011/02; B41J 2/045 20060101
B41J002/045; B41J 11/00 20060101 B41J011/00; B65G 47/91 20060101
B65G047/91; G06K 13/077 20060101 G06K013/077; G06K 13/07 20060101
G06K013/07; B41J 11/06 20060101 B41J011/06 |
Claims
1. A card processing system, comprising: a card input; a card
output opposite the card input; a card processing mechanism between
the card input and the card output, the card processing mechanism
is configured to perform a processing operation on a card that is
input through the card input; and a card transport mechanism that
transports cards from the card input, through the card processing
mechanism and to the card output, the card transport mechanism
includes first and second separately movable card transports each
of which is configured to support a respective card thereon.
2. The card processing system of claim 1, wherein the card
processing mechanism comprises a drop-on-demand inkjet printer.
3. The card processing system of claim 1, wherein each of the first
and second separately movable card transports comprises a vacuum
platen.
4. (canceled)
5. The card processing system of claim 2, wherein the
drop-on-demand inkjet printer prints using ultraviolet ink from at
least one printhead, and the first and second separately movable
card transports are each configured to transport the respective
card from the card input past the at least one printhead.
6. The card processing system of claim 5, further comprising: an
integrated circuit chip programming system that can program an
integrated circuit chip on a card, the integrated circuit chip
programming system is located upstream from or downstream from the
drop-on-demand inkjet printer; and an ultraviolet curing station
positioned to receive cards from the drop-on-demand inkjet printer,
the ultraviolet curing station cures ultraviolet ink applied to the
cards by the drop-on-demand inkjet printer.
7. The card processing system of claim 3, wherein each vacuum
platen has a length less than about 85.60 mm and a width less than
about 53.98 mm.
8. A card processing system, comprising: a card input; a card
output; at least one card processing mechanism between the card
input and the card output, the at least one card processing
mechanism is configured to perform a processing operation on a
card; first and second card transport means each of which
transports cards from the card input, past the at least one card
processing mechanism and to the card output, the first and second
card transport means are separately movable relative to one another
and each of the first and second card transport means can support a
respective card thereon.
9. The card processing system of claim 8, wherein the at least one
card processing mechanism comprises a drop-on-demand inkjet
printer.
10. The card processing system of claim 8, wherein each of the
first and second card transport means comprises a vacuum platen on
which the respective card is supported.
11. (canceled)
12. The card processing system of claim 9, wherein the
drop-on-demand inkjet printer prints using ultraviolet ink from at
least one printhead, and the first and second card transport means
are each configured to transport a card from the card input past
the at least one printhead.
13. The card processing system of claim 12, further comprising: an
integrated circuit chip programming system that can program an
integrated circuit chip on a card, the integrated circuit chip
programming system is located upstream from or downstream from the
drop-on-demand inkjet printer; and an ultraviolet curing station
positioned to receive cards from the drop-on-demand inkjet printer,
the ultraviolet curing station cures ultraviolet ink applied to the
cards by the drop-on-demand inkjet printer.
14. The card processing system of claim 10, wherein each vacuum
platen has a length less than about 85.60 mm and a width less than
about 53.98 mm.
15-17. (canceled)
Description
FIELD
[0001] This disclosure relates to card processing systems that
process plastic cards including, but not limited to, financial
(e.g., credit, debit, or the like) cards, driver's licenses,
national identification cards, business identification cards, gift
cards, and other plastic cards, and to transporting cards in such
card processing systems.
BACKGROUND
[0002] There are many known transport mechanisms for transporting
plastic cards in card processing systems. Known card transport
mechanisms include rollers and belts. In the case of a card
processing system that includes drop-on-demand (DOD) inkjet
printing in a DOD printer, one known transport mechanism uses a
continuous vacuum belt system where cards are fed onto a vacuum
belt at a continuous feed rate with the vacuum belt then delivering
the cards past the DOD printer. However, the use of a continuous
vacuum belt increases the difficulty of tracking the cards due to
the number of cards on the vacuum belt at any one time. Accurate
and reliable tracking of the cards throughout their transport is
important for many cards including financial cards such as credit
and debit cards to help ensure that the correct card is ultimately
issued to the correct person. In addition, a continuous vacuum belt
as used in the card processing system with DOD inkjet printing can
create print quality issues on the cards due to belt stretch or
compression, belt tracking, belt oscillations, and belt
slippage.
SUMMARY
[0003] Systems and methods are described where a card processing
system includes a card transport mechanism having at least first
and second separate card transports that separately transport first
and second cards in the card processing system. Each of the first
and second card transports can be actuated between a common card
pick-up location and common card discharge position. At least one
card processing mechanism that can perform a card processing
operation is located between the common card pick-up location and
the common card discharge location, with each of the first and
second card transports transporting respective cards to the card
processing mechanism to perform the card processing operation and
transporting the cards from the card processing mechanism after
processing.
[0004] The cards described herein include, but are not limited to,
plastic cards which bear personalized data unique to the intended
cardholder and/or which bear other card information. Examples of
plastic cards can include, but are not limited to, financial (e.g.,
credit, debit, or the like) cards, driver's licenses, national
identification cards, business identification cards, gift cards,
and other plastic cards.
[0005] The card processing mechanism(s) described herein can be any
card processing mechanism that can perform a processing operation
on the cards. Examples of processing mechanisms include, but are
not limited to, a printer, an embosser, an indenter, a magnetic
stripe read/write head(s), an integrated circuit chip programmer, a
laser that performs laser processing such as laser marking on the
cards, a laminator that applies a laminate to a portion of or the
entire surface of the cards, a topcoat station that applies a
topcoat to a portion of or the entire surface of the cards, a
quality control station that checks the quality of the
personalization/processing applied to the cards, a security station
that applies a security feature, such as a holographic foil patch,
to the cards, and other card processing mechanisms.
[0006] In one embodiment, the card processing mechanism comprises a
drop-on-demand (DOD) inkjet printer that performs monochromatic or
multi-color printing. When the card processing mechanism is a DOD
inkjet printer, the systems and methods described herein eliminate
the use of the conventional vacuum belt and the problems created by
such a belt. In addition, a card processing mechanism that uses the
first and second card transports described herein can achieve a
card processing speed up to about 4000 cards per hour or more.
[0007] In one specific example implementation, a card processing
system can include an integrated circuit chip programming system
that can program an integrated circuit chip on a card, a
drop-on-demand inkjet printer that can print on the card using
ultraviolet ink from at least one printhead, and an ultraviolet
curing station positioned to receive cards from the drop-on-demand
inkjet printer and that cures ultraviolet ink applied to the cards
by the drop-on-demand inkjet printer. The drop-on-demand inkjet
printer includes first and second card transports each of which
transports cards from a card input of the drop-on-demand inkjet
printer, past the at least one printhead, and to a card output of
the drop-on-demand inkjet printer, and where the first and second
card transports are separately movable relative to one another.
Drawings
[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic depiction of a card processing system
described herein.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a top view of one example of a card processing
system described herein.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a card
transport mechanism described herein.
[0011] FIG. 4 is an end view of the card transport mechanism of
FIG. 3.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 3 but showing a
first card transport vertically lowered relative to a second card
transport.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 5 but showing
the second card transport vertically lowered relative to the first
card transport.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a top view that illustrates a size relationship
between a card and one of the card transports.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a card
transport mechanism described herein.
[0016] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of
a card transport mechanism described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a card processing system 10
that can utilize the systems and methods described herein. The
system 10 may also be referred to as a card processing module or a
card processing station. The card processing system 10 includes a
card input 12 at one end thereof through which a card can enter the
system 10, and a card output 14 at the opposite end through which a
card can exit the system 10. The card input 12 and the card output
14 can take any form suitable for allowing cards to enter and exit
the system 10, for example input and output slots. The system 10
further includes a card transport mechanism that transports cards
from the card input 12 to the card output 14. In some embodiments,
the card transport mechanism may also transport cards back toward
the card input 12. The card transport mechanism has at least first
and second separate card transports 16a, 16b (or first and second
card transport means 16a, 16b) each of which can receive a card
from the card input 12, support the card as the card is transported
in the system 10, and ultimately deliver the card to the card
output 14. Although the card transport mechanism is illustrated as
having the two card transports 16a, 16b, additional card transports
can be provided as well.
[0018] Still referring to FIG. 1, a common card pick-up position 18
is defined near or adjacent to the card input 12, while a common
card discharge position 20 is defined near or adjacent to the card
output 14. The common card pick-up position 18 and the common card
discharge position 20 are locations in the system 10 that permit
each of the card transports 16a, 16b to be separately positioned at
separate times at the same location in the system to pick-up cards
that are input via the card input 12 and to deliver the cards to
the card output 14 for discharge of the cards. So the word common
in the common card pick-up position 18 and the common card
discharge position 20 refers to the situation where the card
transports 16a, 16b can each occupy the same space in the system
10, but at different times, and the card transport mechanism is
suitably designed to actuate the card transports 16a, 16b between
the common card pick-up position 18 and the common card discharge
position 20 without the card transports 16a, 16b interfering with
one another.
[0019] Each of the card transports 16a, 16b are separately
actuatable to separately occupy the common card pick-up position 18
to pick up cards that are input via the card input 12, as well as
being separately actuatable to separately occupy the common card
discharge position 20 to deliver cards to the card output 14. In
addition to being actuatable to the common card pick-up position 18
and to the common card discharge position 20, the first and second
card transports 16a, 16b are each separately actuatable to move
back and forth between the common card pick-up position 18 and the
common card discharge position 20. The card transports 16a, 16b can
have any configuration suitable for picking up, transporting and
discharging cards in this manner. Non-limiting examples of the card
transports 16a, 16b are described below with respect to FIGS.
2-9.
[0020] In one embodiment, when the card transport 16a is at the
common card pick-up position 18 picking up a card, the card
transport 16b is at the common card discharge position 20
discharging a card. Likewise, when the card transport 16b is at the
common card pick-up position 18 picking up a card, the card
transport 16a is at the common card discharge position 20
discharging a card. In this embodiment, the card transports 16a,
16b cycle back and forth between the common card pick-up position
18 and the common card discharge position 20 via a card processing
mechanism 22 discussed below.
[0021] The path the card transport 16a, 16b follows as it travels
from the common card pick-up position 18, through the card
processing mechanism 22, and to the common card discharge position
20 can be referred to as a card processing path. The path the card
transport 16a, 16b follows as it travels from the common card
discharge position 20 back to the common card pick-up position 18,
preferably bypassing the card processing mechanism 22, can be
referred to as a return path. The card processing path is generally
parallel to the return path. In one embodiment, the card processing
path can be vertically above the return path. In other embodiments,
the card processing path can be vertically below the return path,
or the card processing path and the return path can be displaced
horizontally or laterally from one another.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the card processing mechanism 22 is
arranged between the card input 12 and the card output 14, as well
as between the common card pick-up position 18 and the common card
discharge position 20, and is disposed along the card processing
path of the card transports 16a, 16b so that the card transports
16a, 16b can transport cards to the card processing mechanism 22
for processing of the cards and transport cards from the card
processing mechanism 22 to the card output 14. The card processing
mechanism 22 can be any card processing mechanism that can perform
a processing operation on the cards. Examples of processing
mechanisms include, but are not limited to, a printer, an embosser,
an indenter, a magnetic stripe read/write head(s), an integrated
circuit chip programmer, a laser that performs laser processing
such as laser marking on the cards, a laminator that applies a
laminate to a portion of or the entire surface of the cards, a
topcoat station that applies a topcoat to a portion of or the
entire surface of the cards, a quality control station that checks
the quality of the personalization/processing applied to the cards,
a security station that applies a security feature, such as a
holographic foil patch, to the cards, and other processing
mechanisms. In one embodiment discussed further below, the card
processing mechanism 22 can be a DOD inkjet printer.
[0023] In operation of the system 10, a card is input via the card
input 12 and is picked-up at the common card pick-up position 18 by
the card transport 16a. The card transport 16a transports the card
to the card processing mechanism 22 which performs a processing
operation on the card. After processing, the card transport 16a
transports the card to the common card discharge position 20 and
the processed card is discharged through the card output 14. As the
card transport 16a is transporting the card from the common card
pick-up position 18, the card transport 16b is actuated from the
common card discharge position 20 toward the common card pick-up
position 18. The card transport 16b bypasses the card processing
mechanism 22, for example by traveling underneath, above or to the
side of the card processing mechanism 22, and eventually reaches
the common card pick-up position 18 as the card transport 16a
reaches the common card discharge position 20. The card transport
16b picks-up a card that is input via the card input 12 and begins
to transport the card to the card processing mechanism 22 to
perform a processing operation on the card. After processing, the
card transport 16b transports the card to the common card discharge
position 20 and the processed card is discharged through the card
output 14. At the same time, the card transport 16a is actuated
back toward the common card pick-up position 18, bypassing the card
processing mechanism 22. This cycle repeats continuously, with two
cards in the system 10 at any one time, one card being picked-up by
one of the card transports 16a, 16b and the second card being
discharged by the other card transport 16a, 16b.
[0024] As illustrated in FIG. 1, in some embodiments the system 10
can be used with one or more other card processing systems (also
referred to as card processing modules or card processing
stations). For example, one or more additional card processing
systems 24 can be located upstream of the system 10. Examples of
the upstream card processing system(s) 24 can include, but are not
limited to, one or more of a card input hopper containing cards to
be processed, a printing system, an embossing system, an indenting
system, a magnetic stripe reading/writing system, an integrated
circuit chip programming system, a laser system that performs laser
processing such as laser marking on the cards, a laminating system
that applies a laminate to a portion of or the entire surface of
the cards, a topcoat system that applies a topcoat to a portion of
or the entire surface of the cards, a security system that applies
a security feature, such as a holographic foil patch, to the cards,
and other systems known in the art.
[0025] One or more additional card processing systems 26 can also
be located downstream of the system 10. Examples of the downstream
card processing system(s) 26 can include, but are not limited to,
one or more of a card output hopper containing cards that have been
processed, a UV curing station, a printing system, an embossing
system, an indenting system, a magnetic stripe reading/writing
system, an integrated circuit chip programming system, a laser
system that performs laser processing such as laser marking on the
cards, a laminating system that applies a laminate to a portion of
or the entire surface of the cards, a topcoat system that applies a
topcoat to a portion of or the entire surface of the cards, a
security system that applies a security feature, such as a
holographic foil patch, to the cards, and other systems known in
the art.
[0026] Turning to FIG. 2, a specific example of the card processing
system 10 is illustrated. In this example, the card processing
mechanism 22 is illustrated as a DOD inkjet printer. The inkjet
printer can have a single printhead that prints a single color, or
as illustrated a plurality of printheads 28 to print multiple
colors on the cards. The card transport 16b is illustrated at the
common card pick-up position 18 to pick-up a card that has been
input via the card input 12. In this example, the card enters the
card input 12 in a vertical orientation (i.e. the plane of the card
extends vertically into and out of the paper as seen from the top
view in FIG. 2) and is rotated to a horizontal orientation at the
common card pick-up position 18, with the card being transported by
the card transport 16b in the horizontal orientation while in the
system 10. The card transport 16a is shown at the common card
discharge position 20 discharging a card through the card output
14. The card transport 16a is then cycled back to the common card
pick-up position 18 while the card transport 16b transports its
card to and through the card processing mechanism 22 and ultimately
to the common card discharge position 20.
[0027] FIG. 2 illustrates that the system 10 can be used with a UV
curing station 30 located downstream from the system 10 or
downstream from the printhead(s) 28. A card that is printed on is
transported to the UV curing station 30 which cures UV ink applied
to the card surface by the DOD inkjet printer. After curing, the
card is transported to a rotation mechanism 32 which rotates the
card back to a vertical orientation for further processing
downstream of the card. If the card processing mechanism 22 is not
a DOD inkjet printer, then the UV curing station 30 is not
required. In addition, the UV curing station 30 can be located at a
position so that the UV curing occurs after the card has been
rotated back to the vertical orientation. In addition, in some
embodiments, the card need not be rotated back to the vertical
orientation at all.
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 3-6, a first embodiment of a card
transport mechanism 50 for transporting cards within the system 10
is illustrated. In this embodiment, the first card transport 16a
and the second card transport 16b are each in the form of a vacuum
platen 52. For sake of convenience, cards 84 are shown (in
transparent) on the vacuum platens 52 of the first and second card
transport 16a, 16b. Each vacuum platen 52 is configured to apply a
vacuum to a card disposed thereon, much like a conventional vacuum
belt, to retain the card in position on the platen 52 during
transport and during processing in the card processing mechanism
22.
[0029] The card transport mechanism 50 includes a pair of parallel
rails 54, 56 that extend longitudinally in the card transport
direction parallel to the card processing path and to the return
path from generally one end of the system 10 to the other end. The
card transport mechanism 50 is a two axis or an X-Y axis transport
system where each of the vacuum platens 52 is actuatable along the
X and Y axes in FIG. 3. In particular, a longitudinal shuttle 58,
60 is slidably disposed on each rail 54, 56 for movement along the
length of each rail 54, 56 in an X-axis direction actuated by drive
motors 62, 64 that are in driving engagement with the longitudinal
shuttles 58, 60 via suitable drive mechanisms. In addition, a
vertical rail 66, 68 is mounted on each shuttle 58, 60 and a
vertical shuttle 70, 72 is slidably disposed on each vertical rail
66 68 for movement along the length of each vertical rail 66, 68 in
a Y-axis direction actuated by drive motors 74, 76 that are in
driving engagement with the vertical shuttles 70, 72 via suitable
drive mechanisms. The vacuum platens 52 are fixed to and move with
the vertical shuttles 70, 72.
[0030] FIG. 3 illustrates the platens 52 of the card transports
16b, 16a at an elevated position at the common card pick-up
position and at the common card discharge position, respectively.
At these positions, the platens 52 are ready to pick-up a card for
processing and to discharge a processed card, respectively.
[0031] FIG. 4 shows the platen 52 of the card transport 16a still
at the elevated position after having picked-up a card at the
common card pick-up position and transporting the card toward the
card processing mechanism 22. At the same time, the platen 52 of
the card transport 16b has been vertically lowered. This allows the
card transport 16b to pass underneath or bypass the card processing
mechanism 22, as well as pass underneath the card transport 16a, as
the card transport 16b is actuated back to the common card pick-up
position to pick-up a new card.
[0032] FIG. 5 illustrates the platen 52 of the card transport 16a
vertically lowered after discharging a processed card (the card
shown on the platen 52 of the card transport 16a of FIG. 5 would
not be present after discharging the card) and ready for actuation
back to the common card pick-up position, and the platen 52 of the
card transport 16b being vertically raised ready to pick-up a card
at the common card pick-up position (a card is shown on the platen
52 of the card transport 16b). FIG. 6 is somewhat similar to FIG. 5
but illustrates the platen 52 of the card transport 16a at the
vertically raised position at the common card discharge position
ready to discharge a card after processing, and the platen 52 of
the card transport 16b at a vertically lowered position after
having been actuated back and prior to being vertically raised to
pick-up a card at the common card pick-up position (the card shown
on the platen 52 of the card transport 16b of FIG. 6 would not
actually be present until the platen is raised up to a position to
pick up the card).
[0033] The vacuum platens 52 can have any configuration suitable
for applying a vacuum to the cards to retain the cards on the
platens. Referring to FIGS. 3-7, each of the vacuum platens 52 can
have a plurality of holes 80 therein, such as four corner holes 80
and one central hole 80 (best seen in FIG. 7). The holes are in
communication with a vacuum source that applies a vacuum to the
holes 80 which act on the facing card surface to retain the cards
on the platens 52. However, other configurations and patterns of
holes can be used.
[0034] In one embodiment, the size of the platens 52 is smaller
than the size of the cards. Referring to FIG. 7, one of the platens
52 is illustrated in solid lines, while a perimeter edge 82 of the
card 84 is illustrated in broken lines. The card 84 overhangs the
platen 52 such that there is a gap between the perimeter edge of
the platen 52 and the perimeter edge 82 of the card 84. In one
embodiment, the plastic card 84 can be an ID-1 card as defined by
ISO/IEC 7810, with a length L.sub.c of about 85.60 mm (about 33/8
inches) and a width W.sub.c of about 53.98 mm (about 21/8 inches),
and rounded corners with a radius of between about 2.88-3.48 mm.
Each vacuum platen 52 has a length L.sub.p that is less than about
85.60 mm and a width W.sub.p less than about 53.98 mm. Providing
the overhang between the perimeter edge 82 of the card 84 and the
platen 52 is especially useful when the card processing mechanism
22 is a DOD inkjet printer. Because of the overhang, spray from the
DOD inkjet printer that misses the card surface does not fall on
the platen 52. However, when the card processing mechanism 22 is
not a DOD inkjet printer, the overhang may not be used and the
vacuum platens 52 can have a size that is larger than the size of
the cards 84.
[0035] FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of a card transport
mechanism 100. In this embodiment, the mechanism 100 includes a
pair of parallel rails 102, 104 that extend longitudinally in the
card transport direction parallel to the card processing path and
to the return path from generally one end of the system to the
other end. A longitudinal shuttle 106, 108 is slidably disposed on
each rail 102, 104 for movement along the length of each rail 102,
104 in an X-axis direction actuated by drive motors 110, 112 that
are in driving engagement with the longitudinal shuttles 106, 108
via suitable drive mechanisms. In addition, a horizontal shuttle
114, 116 is slidably mounted on each shuttle 106, 108 for movement
in a Z-axis direction relative to the shuttles 106, 108 actuated by
drive motors 118, 120 that are in driving engagement with the
shuttles 114, 116 via suitable drive mechanisms. First and second
card transports 122a, 122b, such as vacuum platens, are fixed to
and move horizontally with the shuttles 114, 116.
[0036] In operation of FIG. 8, the card transport 122b is shown at
the common card pick-up position picking up a card while the card
transport 122a is shown at the common card discharge position
discharging a processed card that has been transported through and
processed in the card processing mechanism 22. The card transport
122b is then actuated in the X-axis direction along the card
processing path to transport the card to and through the card
processing mechanism 22 for processing and ultimately to the common
card discharge position. At the same time, the card transport 122a
is retracted horizontally in the Z-axis direction by the shuttle
114. This retraction allows the card transport 122a to bypass the
card processing mechanism 22, and avoid the card transport 122b as
the card transport 122a is actuated by the shuttle 106 along the
return path back to the common card pick-up position to pick-up a
new card. In this embodiment, the card processing path and the
return path are parallel to one another but displaced horizontally
or laterally from one another so that the card transports 122a,
122b pass to the side of the card processing mechanism 22 on the
return path.
[0037] FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of a card transport
mechanism 150. In this embodiment, the mechanism 150 includes a
pair of parallel rails 152, 154 that extend longitudinally in the
card transport direction parallel to the card processing path and
to the return path from generally one end of the system to the
other end. A longitudinal shuttle 156, 158 is slidably disposed on
each rail 152, 154 for movement along the length of each rail 152,
154 in an X-axis direction actuated by drive motors 160 (only one
drive motor is visible in FIG. 9) that are in driving engagement
with the longitudinal shuttles 156, 158 via suitable drive
mechanisms. In addition, a rotatable arm 162, 164 is rotatably
mounted on each shuttle 156, 158 for rotational movement about a
rotation axis A each of which is parallel to the rails 152, 154 and
parallel to the X-axis direction. The rotation of the arms 162, 164
is caused by drive motors 166, 168 that are in driving engagement
with pivot axes of the arms 162, 164 via suitable drive mechanisms.
First and second card transports 170a, 170b, such as vacuum
platens, are fixed to and rotate with the arms 162, 164. Each rail
152, 154 is mounted on a plate 172, 174 that are slidable on a rail
176 in the Z-axis direction, actuated by a drive motor 180.
[0038] In operation of FIG. 9, the card transport 170b is shown at
the common card pick-up position picking up a card while the card
transport 170a is shown returning along the return path from the
common card discharge position after having discharged a processed
card that has been transported through and processed in the card
processing mechanism 22. When picking-up a card, the arms 162, 164
are rotated to a vertical position so that the card transports
170a, 170b are vertical to pick-up a vertically oriented card input
through the card input. After picking up a card, the arms 162, 164
are then rotated back to horizontal during transport and processing
by the card processing mechanism. The card transport 170b is then
actuated in the X-axis direction along the card processing path to
transport the card to and through the card processing mechanism 22
for processing and ultimately to the common card discharge
position. At the same time, the plates 172, 174 are moved
horizontally in the Z-axis direction which shifts the rail 152
laterally and the arm 162 is rotated to the position shown in FIG.
9. The movement of the plate 172 and the rotation of the arm 162
allow the card transport 170a to bypass the card processing
mechanism 22 and avoid the card transport 170b as the card
transport 170a is actuated by the shuttle 156 along the return path
back to the common card pick-up position to pick-up a new card.
Once the card transport 170b reaches the common card discharge
position, the plates 172, 174 are moved horizontally and the arm
164 rotated to bring the processed card back to vertical, and the
arm 162 rotated to bring the card transport 170 to the common card
pick-up position. In this embodiment, the card processing path and
the return path are parallel to one another, but are displaced
horizontally or laterally from one another so that the card
transports 170a, 170b pass to the side of the card processing
mechanism 22 on the return path.
[0039] The systems and mechanisms described herein can be can be
part of a central issuance card system that is often room sized,
configured with multiple personalization/processing stations or
modules simultaneously performing different
personalization/processing tasks on cards, and that is generally
configured to process multiple cards at once in relatively high
processing volumes (for example, on the order of hundreds or
thousands per hour). An example of a central issuance system is the
MX and MPR line of card issuance systems available from Entrust
Datacard Corporation of Shakopee, Minn. Central issuance systems
are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,902,107, 5,588,763, 5,451,037,
and 5,266,781 which are incorporated by reference herein in their
entirety.
[0040] The examples disclosed in this application are to be
considered in all respects as illustrative and not limitative. The
scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather
than by the foregoing description; and all changes which come
within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are
intended to be embraced therein.
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