Apparatus and method for stacking card-like data carriers
AssigneeMuhlbauer AG
InventorsBenjamin Krapf, Markus Strehle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
According to several embodiments, the invention relates to a device and a method for stacking card-like data carriers. The device includes a conveying device for transporting individual card-like data carriers downstream along a conveying path and a stacking unit for selectively transferring and stacking card-like data carriers conveyed along the conveying path. The conveying device is arranged to convey the card-like data carriers in such a way that they are fixed to it in a hanging mode of transport. The stacking unit is arranged to selectively release certain ones of the card-like data carriers conveyed along the conveying device from the latter in order to transfer them directly into a card magazine and to stack them therein.
Claims23
A device for stacking card-like data carriers, comprising:
- a conveying device for transporting individual card-like data carriers downstream along a conveying path;
- and
- a stacking unit for selectively transferring and stacking card-like data carriers conveyed along the conveying path;
- wherein the conveying device is arranged to convey the card-like data carriers in such a way that the card-like data carriers are fixed to the conveying device in a hanging mode of transport;
- the stacking unit is arranged to selectively release certain ones of the card-like data carriers conveyed along the conveying device from the conveying device in order to transfer them directly into a card magazine and to stack them therein when the card magazine is arranged in a stacking area at a stacking position which, in relation to a direction of gravity, is situated below the conveying path,
- the stacking unit is further arranged to transmit a mechanical impulse to a particular data carrier which is conveyed along the conveying device in order to selectively release it, wherein the mechanical impulse is directed in a direction of the card magazine into which this particular data carrier is to be transferred, and
- the stacking unit is arranged to transmit the mechanical impulse to the data carrier by blowing away from the conveying device, and specifically by generating an air current that is directed towards the data carrier initially hanging on the conveying device so as to exert an effect on the data carrier which repels the data carrier from the conveying device.
A method of stacking card-like data carriers, comprising:
- transporting individual card-like data carriers by a conveying device downstream along a conveying path;
- and
- selectively transferring and stacking card-like data carriers conveyed along the conveying path;
- wherein the card-like data carriers are conveyed at the conveying device in such a way that the card-like data carriers are fixed to the conveying device in a hanging mode of transport;
- wherein, during the selective transfer and the stacking of the data carriers, certain ones of the card-like data carriers conveyed along the conveying device are released from the conveying device in order to transfer the data carriers directly into a card magazine and to stack the data carriers therein when the card magazine is arranged at a stacking position which, in relation to a direction of gravity, is situated below the conveying path,
- wherein a mechanical impulse is transmitted to a particular data carrier which is conveyed along the conveying device in order to selectively release the particular data carrier, wherein the mechanical impulse is directed in a direction of the card magazine into which the particular data carrier is to be transferred, and
- wherein the mechanical impulse is transmitted by blowing the data carrier away from the conveying device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.