JP6819985B2 - Automatic continuous image engraving device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an automatic continuous image engraving apparatus for image engraving a card-shaped engraving medium.

Conventionally, a device for engraving an image on a magnetic card or synthetic paper has been proposed as Patent Document 1-3. All of these devices had only a single function of engraving, and continuous automatic image engraving was not possible.

In response to this, the applicant has proposed an automatic continuous image engraving apparatus of Patent Document 4.

This automatic continuous image engraving device engraves images on cards such as credit cards, and includes a card magazine, a card dispenser, a read / write unit, a card positioning unit, a card mounting table, a card transport unit, and an image. It is equipped with an engraving section, a card storage magazine, and a card transfer robot.

The card magazine can store a plurality of rectangular cards capable of reading and writing data, and the card dispenser sequentially feeds out the cards stored in the card magazine in the card length direction.

The read / write unit receives the card drawn out from the card dispenser in the payout direction, reads or writes data, and carries out the card in the long card direction.

The card positioning unit receives the card carried out from the read / write unit in this carry-out direction and performs positioning.

The card mounting table is mounted by moving the card after positioning by the card positioning section in the short direction of the card, and the card transport section is the card length between the mounting position and the image engraving position of the card mounted on the card mounting table. Transport in the scale direction.

The image engraving unit performs image engraving on the card transported to the image engraving position by the card transport unit with an engraving needle according to an image signal from the control unit.

The card storage magazine accepts and stores the pre-engraved cards that have been returned to the mounting position after the image is engraved by the image engraving unit by moving in the short card direction.

The card transfer robot linearly transfers the card from the card positioning unit to the card mounting table and from the card mounting table to the card storage magazine in the short card direction.

Therefore, the image engraving on the card can be continuously and automatically performed.

However, in such a conventional automatic continuous image engraving device, even when two cards are stacked or the surfaces to be engraved are turned upside down, the cards are sent to the image engraving section to perform image engraving, which is not possible. There was a problem that accurate image engraving was wasted.

On the other hand, it is conceivable to attach a sensor that detects normal or abnormal.

However, if the sensor is simply attached, a detection space must be provided, and there is a problem that it is difficult to suppress the increase in size of the device and to achieve accurate image engraving at the same time.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1-115676 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-24394 Jikkai Sho 63-201762 Japanese Patent No. 45166669

The problem to be solved is that it is difficult to suppress the increase in size of the device and to achieve accurate image engraving at the same time.

In the present invention, in order to suppress the increase in size of the apparatus and to enable accurate image engraving, an unengraved medium accommodating portion for accommodating a plurality of unengraved card-shaped engraving media on top of each other and the unengraved medium accommodating portion. The pre-engraved medium accommodating portion for accommodating the engraved engraved card-shaped engraving medium arranged side by side and the uppermost level of the stacked unengraved card-shaped engraving medium are adsorbed from the upper part of the unengraved medium accommodating portion. A medium dispenser that is moved above and outside the unengraved medium accommodating portion and linearly moves in a direction adjacent to the unengraved medium accommodating portion and the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion, and a medium dispenser that is arranged in the moving direction of the medium dispenser and is not described. A medium positioning transport unit that takes over and moves the card-shaped engraving medium for engraving to position it at the engraving position, and an image engraving unit that engraves an image on an unengraved card-shaped engraving medium placed at the engraving position. The unengraved medium accommodating portion and the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion are arranged in connection with each other in the moving direction of the medium dispenser, and the unengraved medium accommodating portion and the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion are mutually connected with each other. A first sensor and a first sensor that detect normality or non-normality of an unengraved card-shaped engraving medium moved by the medium dispenser between the space and either the unengraved medium accommodating portion or the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion. The normality and non-normality of the unengraved card-shaped engraving medium moved by the medium dispenser between the unengraved medium accommodating portion or the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion by arranging the two sensors separately. An unengraved card-shaped engraving in which the first sensor and the second sensor to be detected are arranged separately, or moved between the unengraved medium accommodating portion and the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion by the medium dispenser. A first sensor and a second sensor for detecting normality and non-normality of the medium are arranged separately, and the first sensor regards a single unengraved card-shaped engraving medium moved by the medium dispenser as normal. Upon detection, the second sensor detects the normality of the front and back of the unengraved card-shaped engraving medium moved by the medium dispenser, and one or both of the first and second sensors are non-engraving of the card-shaped engraving medium. It is characterized by being provided with a medium discharge unit that controls discharge when normality is detected.

Since the present invention has the above configuration, the sensor can be arranged by utilizing the space between the unengraved medium accommodating portion and the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion, and also follows the linear moving direction of the medium dispenser. This makes it possible to rationally arrange the sensor, suppress the increase in size of the device, and perform accurate image engraving.

It is the whole perspective view which looked at the automatic continuous image engraving apparatus from the front side. (Example 1) It is the whole perspective view of the automatic continuous image engraving apparatus seen from the back side, partly omitted. (Example 1) It is a partially omitted front view which shows the relationship between a card cassette, a medium dispenser, a pre-positioning part, a medium positioning transport part, and an engraving part. (Example 1) It is a partially omitted plan view which shows the relationship between a card cassette, a medium dispenser, a pre-positioning part, a medium positioning transport part, and an engraving part. (Example 1) It is a partially omitted perspective view of the state seen from the back side which shows the relationship between a card cassette, a medium dispenser, a pre-positioning part, a medium positioning transport part, and an engraving part. (Example 1) It is a perspective view of the state as seen from the back side which shows the relationship between a card cassette and a medium dispenser cut by an XZ plane. (Example 1) It is a perspective view of the state seen from the back side which shows the relationship between a card cassette and a medium dispenser cut by different XZ planes. (Example 1) It is a partially omitted perspective view of the state seen from the rear upper side which shows the relationship between a card cassette and a medium dispenser. (Example 1) It is a perspective view of the state which shows the relationship between a card cassette and a medium dispenser cut by different XZ planes, and is seen from the upper side of the side surface. (Example 1) It is a partially omitted perspective view of the state which shows the relationship between a card cassette and a medium dispenser cut by different XZ planes and is seen from the back side. (Example 1) It is a perspective view of the state which the lower side of a card cassette is cut at the XY plane and is seen from the back side. (Example 1) It is a perspective view of the state which the lower side of a card cassette is cut at the XY plane and is seen from the lower side of the back surface. (Example 1) It is a perspective view of the state which the upper side of the card cassette is cut at different XZ planes and is seen from the upper back side. (Example 1) It is a perspective view which showed the medium dispenser with a part omitted in relation to a card cassette, and was seen from the lower rear side. (Example 1) It is a perspective view which showed the medium dispenser with a part omitted in relation to a card cassette from the upper front side. (Example 1) It is a partial perspective perspective view of the pre-positioning part. (Example 1) It is a partial perspective plan view of the pre-positioning part. (Example 1) It is sectional drawing which cut at the XY plane of the pre-positioning part. (Example 1) It is sectional drawing which cut at the XY plane which differs from the pre-positioning part. (Example 1) It is sectional drawing which cut at the further different XY planes of a pre-positioning part. (Example 1)

For the purpose of suppressing the increase in size of the device and enabling accurate image engraving, the unengraved medium accommodating portion for accommodating a plurality of unengraved card-shaped engraving media on top of each other and the unengraved medium accommodating portion are arranged side by side. The engraved medium accommodating portion for accommodating the engraved engraved card-shaped engraving medium arranged in the above and the uppermost portion of the stacked unengraved card-shaped engraving medium are attracted from the upper part of the unengraved medium accommodating portion. A medium dispenser that moves upward and outward of the unengraved medium accommodating portion and linearly moves in the direction adjacent to the unengraved medium accommodating portion and the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion, and a medium dispenser that is arranged in the moving direction of the medium dispenser and has the unengraved medium. A medium positioning transport unit that takes over and moves the card-shaped engraving medium at the takeover position and positions it at the engraving position, and an image engraving unit that is arranged at the engraving position and performs image engraving on an unengraved card-shaped engraving medium at the engraving position. A sensor for detecting normality or non-normality of the unengraved card-shaped engraving medium moved by the medium dispenser is arranged between the unengraved medium accommodating portion and the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion. This was achieved by providing a medium ejection unit that controls ejection when abnormalities in the card-shaped engraving medium are detected.

The sensor detects a single sheet of unengraved card-shaped engraving medium moved by the medium dispenser as normal, or detects normality of the front and back of the unengraved card-shaped engraving medium moved by the medium dispenser. It may be configured.

An unengraved medium accommodating portion for accommodating a plurality of unengraved card-shaped engraving media on top of each other, and an engraved medium accommodating an engraved engraved card-shaped engraving medium arranged side by side with the unengraved medium accommodating portion. The unengraved medium accommodating portion and the unengraved medium accommodating portion and the unengraved medium accommodating portion and the uppermost of the stacked unengraved card-shaped engraving medium are attracted from the upper part of the unengraved medium accommodating portion and moved to the upper and outer sides of the unengraved medium accommodating portion. A medium dispenser that moves linearly in the direction adjacent to the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion and a medium positioning that is arranged in the moving direction of the medium dispenser and takes over and moves the unengraved card-shaped engraving medium at the takeover position to position it at the engraving position. A transport unit and an image engraving unit that is arranged at the engraving position and performs image engraving on an unengraved card-shaped engraving medium at the engraving position are provided, and the unengraved medium accommodating unit and the pre-engraved medium accommodating unit are the medium. A plurality of dispensers are arranged in connection with each other in the moving direction of the dispenser, and are arranged between the unengraved medium accommodating portion and the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion and between either the unengraved medium accommodating portion or the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion. In addition, a first sensor and a second sensor for detecting normality and non-normality of the unengraved card-shaped engraving medium moved by the medium dispenser are separately arranged, or the unengraved medium accommodating portion or the pre-engraved medium. A first sensor and a second sensor for detecting the normality and normality of the unengraved card-shaped engraving medium moved by the medium dispenser are separately arranged between any of the accommodating portions, or the unengraved medium. A first sensor and a second sensor for detecting normality and non-normality of the unengraved card-shaped engraving medium moved by the medium dispenser are separately arranged between both the accommodating portion and the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion. Then, the first sensor detects a single unengraved card-shaped engraving medium moved by the medium dispenser as normal, and the second sensor detects an unengraved card-shaped engraving medium moved by the medium dispenser as normal. A medium ejection unit may be provided that detects the normality of the front and back surfaces of the engraving medium and controls the ejection when one or both of the first and second sensors detect the abnormality of the card-shaped engraving medium.

[Automatic continuous image engraving device]
FIG. 1 is an overall schematic perspective view of the automatic continuous image engraving apparatus. FIG. 2 is an overall schematic perspective view of the automatic continuous image engraving device as viewed from the back side, with some omissions. In the following description, the Y direction is a lateral direction in which the card moves linearly, and is a left-right direction when the device is viewed from the front. The X direction is a direction orthogonal to the Y direction, and is a depth direction when the device is viewed from the front. The Z direction is the vertical direction of the device orthogonal to the XY direction. The front and back are the front and back in the Y direction. The left and right are the X direction, and are the left and right of the device.

The automatic continuous image engraving apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 enables the automatic continuous image engraving on a card-shaped engraving medium without difficulty. The automatic continuous image engraving device 1 includes an unengraved medium accommodating unit 3, an pre-engraved medium accommodating unit 5, a medium dispenser 7, a medium positioning and conveying unit 9, and an image engraving unit 11.

The unengraved medium accommodating portion 3 and the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion 5 are formed in the same structure in this embodiment. However, the unengraved medium accommodating portion 3 and the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion 5 may be formed with different structures.

The unengraved medium accommodating unit 3 accommodates a plurality of rectangular unengraved card-shaped engraving media in a vertically stacked manner. The pre-engraved medium accommodating unit 5 accommodates the engraved pre-engraved card-shaped engraving medium. In this embodiment, two unengraved medium accommodating portions 3 and two pre-engraved medium accommodating portions 5 are provided, and the unengraved medium accommodating portions 3 are arranged in front of the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion 5 in the Y direction as a whole. They are arranged in a straight line.

The card-shaped engraving medium is formed of plastic, synthetic paper, special synthetic paper, or the like in a flat rectangular shape, has an engraving layer on the surface, and can form an image such as a watermark engraving display by engraving. Examples of card-shaped engraving media include personal authentication cards and credit cards. The card-shaped engraving medium can also be applied to various card-shaped media if there is a need and possibility for image engraving. Hereinafter, the card-shaped engraving medium is simply referred to as a "card".

The medium dispenser 7 attracts the top of the stacked unengraved cards from the upper part of the unengraved medium accommodating portion 3 and moves them to the upper and outer sides of the unengraved medium accommodating portion, and the unengraved medium accommodating portion 3 and the pre-engraved medium. The card is moved in the Y direction by linearly moving in the Y direction, which is the adjacent direction of the accommodating portion 5.

The medium positioning transfer unit 9 is arranged on the end side in the Y direction, which is the linear movement direction of the medium dispenser 7, and moves the unengraved card by taking over at the takeover position TOP and positions it at the engraving position EGP.

The image engraving unit 11 is arranged at the engraving position EGP and performs image engraving on an unengraved card.

Then, the medium dispenser 7 opens the unengraved card at the takeover position TOP and takes over, and the medium positioning transport unit 9 returns the already engraved card after image engraving from the engraving position EGP to the takeover position TOP, and the medium dispenser No. 7 attracts the engraved card at the takeover position TOP and moves it upward, and moves it onto the engraved medium accommodating portion 5 to open and drop the engraved card.

In this embodiment, a pre-positioning unit 13 for pre-positioning an unengraved card is provided between the unengraved medium accommodating unit 3 and the pre-engraved medium accommodating unit 5 and the medium positioning transport unit 9.

The medium dispenser 7 positions the unengraved card with the pre-positioning unit 13 and then transfers the unengraved card to the medium positioning transport unit 9 at the takeover position TOP, and when the unengraved card is positioned with the pre-positioning unit 13, the takeover position TOP The pre-engraved card of No. 1 is moved onto the pre-engraved medium storage unit 5.

Here, the structure of each part will be described more specifically.

[Unengraved media collection and pre-engraved media collection]
FIG. 3 is a partially omitted front view showing the relationship between the card cassette, the medium dispenser, the pre-positioning unit, the media positioning transport unit, and the engraving unit. FIG. 4 is a partially omitted plan view showing the relationship between the card cassette, the medium dispenser, the pre-positioning unit, the media positioning transport unit, and the engraving unit. FIG. 5 is a partially omitted perspective view showing the relationship between the card cassette, the medium dispenser, the pre-positioning unit, the media positioning transport unit, and the engraving unit, as viewed from the back side. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the relationship between the card cassette and the medium dispenser as viewed from the back side, which is cut along the XZ plane. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the relationship between the card cassette and the medium dispenser as viewed from the back side, which is cut along different XZ planes. FIG. 8 is a partially omitted perspective view of the relationship between the card cassette and the medium dispenser as viewed from the upper rear side. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a state in which the relationship between the card cassette and the medium dispenser is cut at different XZ planes and viewed from the upper side surface. FIG. 10 is a partially omitted perspective view of a state in which the relationship between the card cassette and the medium dispenser is cut at different XZ planes and viewed from the back side. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the lower side of the card cassette cut along the XY surface and viewed from the back side. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the lower side of the card cassette cut along the XY plane and viewed from the lower side of the back surface. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a state in which the upper side of the card cassette is cut by different XZ planes and viewed from the upper back side.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 13, the unengraved medium accommodating portion 3 and the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion 5 are formed in the same structure in this embodiment as described above.

The device frame 15 is provided with side plates 17, 19, 21, 23, 25 for partitioning. The side plates 17, 19, 21, 23, and 25 are formed so as to be separated from each other with the same width, and a total of four cassette storage portions 27, 29, 31, and 33 are formed so as to be linearly adjacent to each other in the Y direction. .. The arrangement width of the upper surface plates of the side plates 21 and 23 in the Y direction is set to be slightly wider than that of the other side plates 17, 19 and 25 for mounting the sensor described later.

That is, the side plates 17, 19, 21, 23, 25 integrally include the front plate on the front side of the device and the top plate on the upper side of the device, and the width of the front plates and the top plate of the side plates 21 and 23 in the Y direction is sensor mounting. Corresponds to the space width for.

The unengraved medium accommodating portion 3 includes the cassette accommodating portions 27 and 29 with the card cassettes 35 and 37 detachably attached and detached with one touch. The pre-engraved medium accommodating portion 5 includes the cassette accommodating portions 31 and 33 with the card cassettes 39 and 41 detachably attached and detached with one touch.

The card cassettes 35, 37, 39, 41 have basically the same structure, the card cassette 35 will be described, and the description of the card cassettes 37, 39, 41 will be omitted.

The card cassette 35 is a cassette base 43 to which cassette side plates 45a and 45b are attached. A handle 47 is attached to the front of the cassette base 43. The upper end of the card cassette 35 is open so that cards can be taken in and out. A card receiving portion 49 is provided at the inner lower end of the cassette side plates 45a and 45b. On the upper side of the outer surface of the cassette side plates 45a and 45b, the engaging protrusions 51a and 51b are provided so as to project toward the outer surface side of the cassette side plates 45a and 45b.

The engaging protrusions 51a and 51b are detachably locked by a locking arm body 53 composed of a pair of arms. In the locking arm body 53, an intermediate shaft 53a is rotatably attached between the side plates 17 and 19. A return spring 55 is attached between the locking arm body 53 and the side plates 17 and 19, and the locking arm body 53 is rotationally urged in the locking lock direction. A release solenoid 57 is attached to the side plate 19 side and is coupled to the locking arm body 53. Therefore, when the locking arm body 53 is rotated against the return spring 55 by the releasing solenoid 57, the locking locks of the engaging protrusions 51a and 51b by the locking arm body 53 are released, and the side plate 19 side is released. , An interlock 59 is attached, and one side back surface of the card cassette 35 is detachably locked.

Therefore, when the card cassette 35 is inserted into the cassette storage portion 27 between the side plates 17 and 19 from the front side of the device, the engaging protrusions 51a and 51b come into contact with the tip of the locking arm body 53, and the locking arm is pushed further. The body 53 rotates about the shaft 53a, and the engaging protrusions 51a and 51b overcome the tip of the locking arm body 53 against the urging force and are locked and locked as they are. The lower side of the card cassette 35 is coupled by an interlock 59. By these locking and coupling, the card cassette 35 can be attached to the cassette storage unit 27. By being coupled to the interlock 59, the operation of a stepping motor or the like for raising and lowering the table, which will be described later, is permitted.

When the release solenoid 57 is driven by a button operation or the like, the locking locks of the engaging protrusions 51a and 51b are released by the rotation of the locking arm body 53.

A carriage 61 is arranged below the cassette storage unit 27. The carriage 61 supports the table 63, which faces the lower end of the card cassette 35. The table 63 can raise the inside of the card cassette 35 from the lower end of the card cassette 35, and can raise the cards stacked and housed in the card receiving portion 49. By raising the card, the card at the upper end of the stack can be arranged at the upper take-out position in the card cassette 35.

A linear bush 65 and a ball socket 66 are fixedly attached to the carriage 61. The linear bush 65 is fitted to the cassette shaft 67 so as to be able to be lifted and lowered, and the ball socket 66 is engaged with the ball screw 69.

The lower end of the cassette shaft 67 is fixedly attached to the motor mounting plate 71, and the lower end of the ball screw 69 is rotatably supported by the motor mounting plate 71 by a thrust needle roller bearing 73. The upper end of the cassette shaft 67 is fixedly attached to the upper plate 75, and the upper end of the ball screw 69 is rotatably supported by the upper plate 75 via a bearing 77.

The motor mounting plate 71 is fixed to the side plate 19. A stepping motor 79 is attached to the motor mounting plate 71. Timing gears 81 and 83 are attached to the output shaft of the stepping motor 79 and the lower end of the ball screw 69, and the timing belt 85 is hung around the timing gears 81 and 83.

The ball socket 66 is lifted and driven by the drive of the ball screw 69, and the carriage 61 is lifted and guided along the cassette shaft 67.

An air block 87 is swingably supported by a nozzle shaft 89 on the upper plate 75. A tension spring 91 is interposed between the rear end portion of the air block 87 in the X direction and the side plate 19. The tension spring 91 urges the air block 87 so that the front end of the air block 87 in the X direction faces slightly upward. A pair of nozzles 92a and 92b are fixed to the front end of the air block 87. Air is ejected from the nozzles 92a and 92b, and the medium dispenser 7 can take out the cards one by one. A vacuum pump 94 is connected to the nozzles 92a and 92b to eject pulsating air from the nozzles 92a and 92b. The lower layer cards that are in close contact with each other are separated by this air ejection.

The arrangement of the unengraved medium accommodating portion 3 and the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion 5 can be reversed in the Y direction. It is also possible to configure the unengraved medium accommodating portion and the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion so that the unengraved card cassette and the pre-engraved card cassette are arranged alternately.

[Media dispenser]
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the medium dispenser as viewed from the lower rear side, showing a part of the medium dispenser in relation to the card cassette. FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the medium dispenser as viewed from the upper front side, with a part omitted in relation to the card cassette.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 10, 14 and 15, the medium dispenser 7 is arranged on the upper part of the card cassette 35 at the position shown in the figure and is supported by a guide rail 93 so as to be travelable. The medium dispenser 7 is reciprocally guided along the guide rail 93 in the Y direction. The guide rail 93 is attached to the device frame 15 along the Y direction.

A guide block 95 is attached to the guide rail 93, and the guide block 93 is guided along the guide rail 93.

A Y-axis base 97 is attached to the guide block 95, and a Y-axis motor base 99 is attached to the Y-axis base 97. A stepping motor 101 is attached to the Y-axis motor base 99, and a Y-axis cover 103 and a Y-axis elevating guide 105 are supported.

A slide shaft 107 and a ball screw 109 are supported between the Y-axis motor base 99 and the Y-axis elevating guide 105.

An elevating block 111 is arranged on the lower side of the Y-axis motor base 99, and the elevating block 111 is guideably connected to the sliding shaft 107 via a linear bush, and can be driven up and down to the ball screw 109 via a ball socket. It is combined.

Timing gears 100 and 102 are attached to the output shaft and ball screw 109 of the stepping motor 101 on the Y-axis motor base 99, and a timing belt 104 is hung between the timing gears 100 and 102.

Therefore, the ball screw 109 can be interlocked by driving the stepping motor 101, and the elevating block 111 can be elevated and driven.

A pad nozzle 113 is supported by the elevating block 111, and faces downward toward the upper part of the card cassette 35. A coil spring is externally attached to the pad nozzle 113, and the tip of the pad nozzle 113 can be brought into contact with the card above the card cassette 35.

A vacuum pump 115 is connected to the pad nozzle 113, and the pad nozzle 113 can suck the card on the upper part of the card cassette 35 or release the sucked card.

A harness slide plate 117 is attached to the guide block 95, and a timing belt metal fitting 119 is attached to the harness slide plate 117. The timing belt metal fitting 119 is coupled to the timing belt 121. The timing belt 121 is hung between the timing gears 123 and 125. The timing gear 123 is attached to the output shaft of the stepping motor 127, and the timing gear 125 is supported by an end portion of the device frame 15. The stepping motor 127 is fixed to the device frame 15 side.

Therefore, the timing belt 121 is driven along the guide rail 93 by driving the stepping motor 127, and the guide block 95 moves along the guide rail 93 via the timing belt metal fitting 119. When the guide block 95 moves, the medium dispenser 7 moves in the Y direction via the Y-axis base 97. Through such movement, the medium dispenser 7 can be reciprocated along the guide rail 93 and stopped in the middle. Such movement / stop control is performed by a pre-installed program. The medium dispenser 7 can also be moved manually by operating a manual button or the like.

One end of the cable 129 is supported by the harness slide plate 117, and the other end of the cable 129 is supported by the cable guide 131 attached to the device frame 15 side. When the medium dispenser 7 reciprocates, the cable 129 is folded on the cable guide 131 or unfolded on the cable guide 131. The cable 129 is for supplying power to various parts such as a motor.

[sensor]
As described above in FIGS. 1, 3, and 5, the unengraved medium accommodating portion 3 and the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion 5 are arranged in connection with each other in the moving direction of the medium dispenser 7 in this embodiment. ..

A sonic sensor 133 is arranged between the cassette storage unit 29 of the unengraved medium storage unit 3 and the cassette storage unit 31 of the pre-engraved medium storage unit 5 as a first sensor that utilizes space. One of the sonic sensors 133 is fixed to the device frame 15, and the other is attached to the top plate of the side plate 21. A hole for the sonic sensor 133 is formed in the upper surface plate of the side plate 21.

The sonic sensor 133 is used for normal detection that the number of cards adsorbed and conveyed by the medium dispenser 7 is a single card. When a plurality of cards are being conveyed at the same time, the pre-positioning unit 13 that functions as the medium ejection unit performs the ejection process.

A color sensor 135 is arranged between the cassette storage portions 31 and 33 as a second sensor which is a sensor by utilizing the space. The color sensor 135 is attached to the upper surface plate of the side plate 23. A hole for the color sensor 135 is formed in the upper surface plate of the side plate 23.

In the color sensor 135, the card sucked and conveyed by the medium dispenser 7 is used for normal detection of the front and back sides. If the front and back sides of the card sucked and conveyed by the medium dispenser 7 are incorrect, it is regarded as abnormal and the discharge control process is performed by the pre-positioning unit 13.

That is, the pre-positioning unit 13 is provided as a medium ejection unit that controls ejection when one or both of the sonic sensor 133 and the color sensor 135 detects a card abnormality.

The first sensor is arranged in the space between the plurality of unengraved medium accommodating portions 3 and the plurality of pre-engraved media accommodating portions 5, and the second sensor is arranged between the unengraved medium accommodating portions 3 and the unengraved medium accommodating portions 5. It can also be arranged between the pre-engraved medium accommodating portions 5.

One of the first and second sensors may be arranged between the plurality of unengraved medium accommodating portions 3, and the other may be arranged in the space between any of the plurality of pre-engraved medium accommodating portions 5.

When three or more pairs of unengraved medium accommodating portions 3 or pre-engraved media accommodating portions 5 are arranged, both the first and second sensors are arranged in different spaces between the unengraved medium accommodating portions 3 or the pre-engraved medium accommodating portions 5. be able to.

That is, unengraved moving by the medium dispenser 7 between the unengraved medium accommodating portion 3 and the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion 5 and between either the unengraved medium accommodating portion 3 or the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion 5. The configuration is such that the first sensor and the second sensor that detect the normality and non-normality of the card are arranged separately.

Alternatively, between the unengraved medium accommodating unit 3 and the pre-engraved medium accommodating unit 5, a first sensor and a second sensor for detecting normality or non-normality of the unengraved card moved by the medium dispenser 7 are provided. It will be configured separately for each.

Alternatively, between the unengraved medium accommodating portion 3 and the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion 5, a first sensor and a second sensor for detecting normality or abnormalness of the unengraved card moved by the medium dispenser 7 are provided. It will be configured separately for each.

Since the first and second sensors are arranged using a space such as between the unengraved medium accommodating portion 3 and the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion 5 with respect to the linear movement of the medium dispenser 7, it is difficult to arrange them. The device can be formed compactly without any problem.

The first and second sensors can be arranged linearly with respect to the linear movement of the medium dispenser 7, and the detection can be performed smoothly and reasonably with respect to the linear movement of the card.

The unengraved medium accommodating portion 3 and the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion 5 may be arranged so as to be adjacent to each other. In this case, between the unengraved medium accommodating portion 3 and the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion 5. It is also possible to arrange one of the first and second sensors by utilizing the space of. In this case, normality or non-normality of one of the stacking of cards and the front and back sides is detected.

[Pre-positioning unit]
FIG. 16 is a partial perspective perspective view of the pre-positioning portion. FIG. 17 is a partial perspective plan view of the pre-positioning portion. FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along the XY plane of the pre-positioning portion. FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along the XY planes of different pre-positioning portions. FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along the XY planes of different pre-positioning portions.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 16 to 20, the pre-positioning portion 13 is arranged adjacent to the side plate 25 of the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion 5.

The pre-positioning unit 13 is mainly provided with a stopper plate 139 and belts 141a and 141b on a case-shaped alignment traveling base 137 with an upper opening.

The stopper plate 139 is formed in an L-shaped cross section and is arranged so that the positioning surface faces the X direction. An alignment block 141 is attached to the lower surface of the stopper plate 139, and is fitted to a pair of sliding shafts 143a and 143b so as to be slip-guided. The sliding shafts 143a and 143b are fixedly supported by the alignment base 145. The alignment base 145 is fixed to the alignment traveling base 137.

A ball screw 147 is rotatably supported on the alignment base 145. A ball socket 149 is fitted to the ball screw 147, and the ball socket 149 is fixed to the alignment block 141.

Therefore, the alignment block 141 is moved in the X direction by the rotational drive of the ball screw 147, and the alignment position by the stopper plate 139 can be determined. Positioning of the card in the X direction is performed at a predetermined alignment position of the stopper plate 139.

A timing gear 151 is attached to the ball screw 147 outside the alignment traveling base 137. A timing gear 155 is attached to the output shaft of the stepping motor 153. A timing belt 157 is hung between the timing gears 151 and 155.

Therefore, the ball screw 147 can be driven in the forward and reverse rotations via the timing belt 157 by driving the stepping motor 153.

Aligner drive shafts 159a and 159b are attached to the alignment traveling base 137 on the front side in the X direction toward the Y direction. A pair of timing gears 161a and 161b are attached to the aligner drive shafts 159a and 159b, respectively. A stepping motor 163 is attached to the bottom side of the alignment traveling base 137, and a timing gear 165 is attached to the output shaft of the motor on the belt 141a side. The belt 141a is hung between the timing gears 161a, 161b and 165, and the belt 141b is hung between the timing gears 161a and 161b.

On one side of the alignment traveling base 137, a discharge tray 167 is provided on the discharge side, which is the front side of the belts 141a and 141b in the X direction.

Therefore, when the card C conveyed by the medium dispenser 7 is transferred onto the belts 141a and 141b, the belt 141a is driven to travel in the stopper plate 139 direction, which is the back side in the X direction, by the drive of the stepping motor 163. The belt 141b is synchronously driven in the same direction via the aligner drive shafts 159a, 159b and the like. By this drive, the card C is abutted against the stopper plate 139 and is positioned in the X direction. The positioning of the card C in the Y direction is the position attracted to the medium dispenser 7.

If the cards C conveyed by the medium dispenser 7 are stacked on top of each other or if there is an error on the front and back sides, the stepping motor 163 is driven in the opposite direction when the cards C are transferred onto the belts 141a and 141b. By this drive, the belts 141a and 141b are driven to travel in the ejection direction, the card C is ejected to the ejection tray 167, and false and useless image engraving in the image engraving unit 11 can be prevented.

[Media Positioning Transport Unit and Image Engraving Unit]
As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 5, the medium positioning transport unit 9 and the image engraving unit 11 are arranged adjacent to the pre-positioning unit 13.

The medium positioning and conveying unit 9 includes a paper set base 175. The paper set base 175 is supported by a shaft via a slider of a Y-axis drive mechanism and is configured to be reciprocally driven in the Y direction. At the time of engraving, the card C is sucked and supported by the suction portion 177 of the paper set base 175. The paper set stand 175 reciprocates in a small range in the Y direction at the engraving position EGP at the time of engraving, and performs image engraving programmed on the card C together with the engraving operation in the X and Z directions by the engraving needle 171a.

Further, the paper set base 175 can be reciprocated between the engraving position EGP and the takeover position TOP by control.

The suction portion 177 is a mechanism for causing suction from the micropores of the porous flat surface member, and a vacuum pump is connected to the porous flat surface member side via a solenoid valve. By operating the vacuum pump, suction is performed from the micropores of the porous flat surface member, and the card is attracted and fixed to the porous flat surface member with good adhesion.

At this time, a pressure state that enables engraving by pressure detection of the pressure switch, for example, a state where there is no swelling or displacement of the medium to be engraved is detected by setting the pressure to 50 KPa or more, and a close contact state at an accurate position where engraving is possible. Can be known. By this pressure detection, the engraving head 173 and the like can be automatically operated. The value when the pressure state is 50 KPa or more is experimentally obtained as a value that can detect that there is no swelling or displacement of the engraved medium.

The image engraving unit 11 includes a mechanism base 169 supported on the device frame 15 side. An engraving head 173 that supports the vibration generating portion 171 is arranged on the mechanism base 169.

The engraving head 173 is interlocked with an X-axis drive mechanism and a Z-axis drive mechanism, and is reciprocally driven and controlled in the X and Z directions.

In the vibration generating portion 171 of the engraving head 173, the electromagnet side is float-supported by a spring with respect to the permanent magnet side, and the electromagnet side vibrates slightly due to the action between the permanent magnet side and the electromagnet side and the action of the spring.

By switching the energization of the coil based on the engraving signal by such minute vibration, the engraving needle 171a is vibrated based on the signal obtained by converting the image data into an electric signal, and the engraving needle 171a is vibrated in the X direction and the Z direction. The engraving head 173 is moved to, and the surface of the card C is finely engraved while the paper setting table 175 is moved in the Y direction.

[Operation of automatic continuous image engraving device]
Unengraved cards are stored in the card cassettes 35 and 37 in advance.

The drive of each unit is automatically controlled by the program of the control unit, and operates when the start switch is turned on.

In the medium dispenser 7, the pad nozzle 113 is lowered by the drive of the stepping motor 101, and the pad nozzle 113 sucks the uppermost card of the card cassette 35. Due to the return of the drive of the stepping motor 101, the pad nozzle 113 rises to the specified position while adsorbing the card C.

When the pad nozzle 113 rises while adsorbing the card C, air is ejected from the nozzles 92a and 92b in a pulsating manner, and the air hits the card. Due to this air contact, even if the lower layer card is pulled up together by the lower layer card sticking to the card C to which the pad nozzle 113 is attracted, the lower layer card is separated and the lower layer card is dropped, and the card C to which the pad nozzle 113 is attracted is one. Can be made into sheets.

Therefore, it is possible to accurately take out the cards one by one by the medium dispenser 7, and it is possible to smoothly perform continuous engraving.

Next, the timing belt 121 is driven along the guide rail 93 by the drive of the stepping motor 127, and the medium dispenser 7 moves to the pre-positioning unit 13 in the Y direction.

On the other hand, when the card C is taken out from the card cassette 35, the stepping motor 101 is driven based on the detection of the sensor, the table 63 is raised via the carriage 61, and the highest card stands by at the take-out position.

While moving to the pre-positioning unit 13 of the medium dispenser 7, the control unit determines whether or not there is a single card C to be adsorbed and conveyed by the medium dispenser 7 by the detection of the sonic sensor 133, and the color sensor 135 detects it. The control unit determines whether the front and back sides of the card C that the medium dispenser 7 sucks and conveys are correct or incorrect.

When the medium dispenser 7 moves to the pre-positioning portion 13 in the Y direction, it stops on the belts 141a and 141b.

On the belts 141a and 141b of the pre-positioning unit 13, the medium dispenser 7 lowers the pad nozzle 113 and releases the suction of the card C by the pad nozzle 113 to take over the card C onto the pre-positioning unit 13.

The card C taken over and transferred onto the pre-positioning unit 13 is placed so as to extend over the belts 141a and 141b.

If the judgment as to whether or not the card C is a single card and the correct / incorrect judgment result on the front and back are correct, the belts 141a and 141b travel in the stopper plate 139 direction by the drive of the stepping motor 163, and one side of the card C is the stopper plate. When it hits 139, positioning in the X direction is performed.

Therefore, the image engraving by the image engraving unit 11 can be performed at the correct position of the card.

The positioning of the card C in the Y direction is the position where the card C is sucked by the medium dispenser 7, but when the positioning bracket is arranged around the suction portion 177 of the paper set base 175 and the card C is arranged on the suction portion 177. The card C can be slightly moved in the Y direction by slightly moving the medium dispenser 7, and the card can be positioned by being brought into contact with the metal fittings. At the time of this positioning, the bending of the pad nozzle 113 can be utilized to enable the card C to come into contact with the metal fittings.

If the judgment as to whether or not the card C is a single card and the correct / incorrect judgment result on the front and back are not correct, the belts 141a and 141b travel in the anti-stopper plate 139 direction due to the reverse drive of the stepping motor 163, and the card C moves to the discharge tray 167. It is discharged.

Therefore, the card can be correctly engraved in the continuous engraving operation.

When positioning in the X direction is performed on the pre-positioning unit 13, the medium dispenser 7 waiting above lowers the pad nozzle 113 and sucks the card C after positioning.

The medium dispenser 7 that has attracted the card C moves in the Y direction by being driven by the stepping motor 127, and stops on the paper set stand 175 that stands by on the takeover position TOP.

On the takeover position TOP, the medium dispenser 7 lowers the pad nozzle 113 and releases the suction of the card C by the pad nozzle 113, so that the card C is taken over by the paper set base 175 of the medium positioning and conveying unit 9.

The card C taken over on the paper set base 175 is fixed to the paper set base 175 by suction by the suction unit 177.

The paper set base 175 that inherits the card C moves to the engraving position EGP, and the engraving needle 171a engraves the image on the card C according to the image signal from the control unit.

Next, the medium dispenser 7 returns to the card cassette 35 in the Y direction, sucks the uppermost card, transfers it to the pre-positioning unit 13 in the same manner as described above, and positions the unengraved card on the pre-positioning unit 13. ..

At this time, the card C at the tip of the already engraved engraved at the engraving position EGP is returned to the takeover position TOP by moving the paper set base 175.

The medium dispenser 7 waiting on the pre-positioning unit 13 moves to the takeover position TOP, sucks the engraved card C at the takeover position TOP, and returns to the card cassette 39 of the engraved medium accommodating unit 5 in the Y direction.

On the card cassette 39, the medium dispenser 7 releases the adsorption of the pre-engraved card C by the pad nozzle 113 and transfers it onto the table of the card cassette 39. The transfer of the card cassette 39 onto the table is detected by a sensor, a stepping motor is driven so that the next engraved card can be transferred, and the table is lowered via the carriage.

The medium dispenser 7 with the pre-engraved card C released moves to the pre-positioning unit 13, attracts the unengraved card waiting on the pre-positioning unit 13 in the same manner as described above, and waits at the takeover position TOP. The engraved card C is transferred to.

Next, the medium dispenser 7 returns to the card cassette 35 in the Y direction, sucks the uppermost card, transfers it to the pre-positioning unit 13 in the same manner as described above, and positions the unengraved card C.

By repeating this operation, the unengraved cards in the card cassette 35 of the unengraved medium accommodating unit 3 are sequentially engraved, and are sequentially accommodated in the card cassette 39 of the pre-engraved medium accommodating unit 5.

When the engraving of the card in the card cassette 35 is completed, the unengraved card in the card cassette 37 of the unengraved medium storage unit 3 is taken out as described above, and engraving is performed on the card cassette 41 of the pre-engraved medium storage unit 5. They are housed in sequence.

Such continuous operation can be completed by engraving by taking out the card in the card cassette 35, or engraving by taking out the card in the card cassette 37 without using the card cassette 35.

The card cassettes 39 and 41 of the engraved medium accommodating unit 5 can also accommodate the engraved card by using only one of them.

By reciprocating the medium dispenser 7 in the Y direction, unengraved cards can be taken out, positioned, supported on the paper set stand 175, and pre-engraved cards can be accommodated, resulting in smooth engraving operation as a whole. Can be done.

The guide rail 93 and the timing belt 121 can also be arranged linearly, and the structure can be simplified.

The unengraved medium accommodating unit 3, the pre-engraved medium accommodating unit 5, the pre-positioning unit 13, the medium positioning transport unit 9, and the image engraving unit 11 can be arranged linearly in the Y direction, and the device can be compactly formed as a whole. be able to. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the installation space of the device.

The cards can be stacked vertically on the unengraved medium accommodating portion 3 and the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion 5, and the size of the device can be suppressed.

The unengraved cards stacked on the top and bottom can be made to stand by at the take-out position by driving the table up and down, and the medium dispenser 7 can smoothly suck and take out the cards.

In the storage of the pre-engraved card in the pre-engraved medium storage unit 5, the card can be taken over and stored at an appropriate vertical position by driving the table up and down, and a smooth storage operation can be performed.

Since the pre-positioning unit 13 is provided between the unengraved medium accommodating unit 3 and the pre-engraved medium accommodating unit 5 and the medium positioning transport unit 9, the unengraved card C is positioned by the pre-positioning unit 13 and then at the takeover position TOP. When the unengraved card C is transferred to the paper set base 175 of the medium positioning transport unit 9 and is positioned by the pre-positioning unit 13, the engraved card C at the transfer position TOP is moved onto the engraved medium accommodating unit 5. Can be made to.

Therefore, the waiting for the next engraving of the unengraved card C and the taking out of the pre-engraved card C can be performed in the overlapping transport paths, and the work efficiency can be improved.

1 Automatic continuous image engraving device 3 Unengraved medium accommodating unit 5 Pre-engraved medium accommodating unit 7 Medium dispenser 9 Media positioning and transporting unit 11 Image engraving unit 13 Pre-positioning unit (media ejection unit)
133 Sonic sensor (sensor, 1st sensor)
135 color sensor (sensor, second sensor)
TOP takeover position EGP engraving position C card (card-shaped engraving medium)

Claims (1)

An unengraved medium storage unit that stores multiple unengraved card-shaped engraving media on top of each other,
An engraved medium accommodating portion that accommodates a pre-engraved card-shaped engraving medium that is arranged side by side in the unengraved medium accommodating portion and has been engraved.
The top of the stacked unengraved card-shaped engraving medium is attracted from the upper part of the unengraved medium accommodating portion and moved above and outside the unengraved medium accommodating portion, and the unengraved medium accommodating portion and the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion A medium dispenser that moves linearly in the direction adjacent to the part,
A medium positioning transport unit arranged in the moving direction of the medium dispenser to take over and move the unengraved card-shaped engraving medium at the takeover position and position it at the engraving position.
An image engraving unit that is placed at the engraving position and performs image engraving on an unengraved card-shaped engraving medium at the engraving position.
With
A plurality of the unengraved medium accommodating portion and the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion are arranged in connection with each other in the moving direction of the medium dispenser.
An unengraved card that is moved by the medium dispenser between the unengraved medium accommodating portion and the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion and between either the unengraved medium accommodating portion or the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion. A first sensor and a second sensor for detecting normality and normality of the engraving medium are arranged separately, or the medium dispenser is placed between either the unengraved medium accommodating portion or the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion. The first sensor and the second sensor for detecting the normality and non-normality of the unengraved card-shaped engraving medium moved by the above are arranged separately, or both the unengraved medium accommodating portion and the pre-engraved medium accommodating portion. A first sensor and a second sensor for detecting normality and non-normality of the unengraved card-shaped engraving medium moved by the medium dispenser are separately arranged between each other.
The first sensor detects a single unengraved card-shaped engraving medium moved by the medium dispenser as normal, and detects it as normal.
The second sensor detects the normality of the front and back of the unengraved card-shaped engraving medium moved by the medium dispenser.
A medium ejection unit for ejecting when one or both of the first and second sensors detects an abnormality of the card-shaped engraving medium is provided.
An automatic continuous image engraving device that features.

Images