Transport system and method for embossing apparatus
AssigneeDataCard Corporation
InventorsRobert W. Lundstrom, Benjamin H. Sannel, Dennis J. Warwick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A card transport apparatus (12) carries cards along a card transport path through card processing stations (14, 74, 76). The transport apparatus (14) includes a vertically adjustable card carriage (16) for retaining cards along a card transport path throughout the entire card processing operation through the card processing stations (14, 74, 76). The card carriage (16) grips the cards with independently pivoting gripping arms (52, 54), actuated open by push solenoids (18, 20, 22) for picking up and releasing cards.
Claims25
A card handling and transport system for transporting cards from an input to an output along a card transport path extending from the input to the output, comprising:
- a plurality of spaced apart locations defined along the card transport path having card processing stations associated with the spaced apart locations placed along the card transport path, wherein the card processing station performs processing operations on plastic cards at the spaced apart locations, the card processing stations being removable for varying the card processing without changing the card transport path;
- card transporting means for carrying the card along the card transport path through the card processing stations, the card transporting means comprising card retaining means for retaining the card continuously while transporting the card along the card transport path, and motive means for advancing the card retaining means along the card transport path, wherein the card retaining means comprises a card carriage having a plurality of card grippers, each card gripper mounted on an associated pivoting arm, each arm being positioned by an associated compression spring biasing the arm toward a closed position for pressing the gripper against a card and pushing the card against a backing plate, thereby securing the card;
- and
- programmable control means for positioning the card transporting means and for stopping the retained cards at selected locations for performing selected processing operations, the selected locations corresponding to the associated card processing stations.
A carriage transport apparatus for carrying plastic cards to card processing stations along a card processing transport path comprising:
- a card carriage having a plurality of pivoting arms, each arm having a gripper affixed at one end of the arm for closing onto a card and holding the card against a back plate and card closing means associated with each arm for biasing the arms to a closed position for retaining the cards;
- card rail means extending across the entire length of the card processing transport path for supporting the card carriage;
- card carriage motive means for moving the carriage apparatus along the card processing transport path;
- and
- arm opening means for pivoting the arms into an open position for picking up and releasing cards.
A method of transporting cards along a card processing transport path in a card carriage riding a transport rail having pivoting arms with grippers thereon biased to a closed position by compressing springs, the carriage further including positioning springs extending downward from the carriage and card push means extending beyond the leading edge of the carriage, comprising the steps of:
- positioning the card carriage above the card;
- lowering the carriage so that the positioning springs engage the top of the card and press it against a card stop, the card stop being parallel to the card rail, so that the card is properly aligned;
- raising the carriage slightly to a gripping position so that the positioning springs do not engage the card;
- pivoting the arms closed, thereby gripping the card;
- moving the carriage and gripped card along a transport path and through card processing stations;
- continuously retaining the card while stopping for processing at the card processing stations;
- releasing the card at an end of the card transport path;
- lowering the carriage to a position behind a trailing edge of the card;
- and
- pushing the card to a card output.
A carriage for carrying a card, the carriage riding on a card rail, comprising:
- a back plate;
- a plurality of arms pivoting relative to the back plate about an intermediate point;
- associated gripping means on each arm for gripping a card between the arm and the back plate;
- associated biasing means for biasing the pivoting arms to a closed gripping position;
- card positioning means extending downward for engaging a top edge of a card and aligning the card prior to gripping;
- and,
- card push means extending beyond a leading end of the carriage for engaging a trailing edge of a card and pushing the card beyond the end of the card rail.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.