A card-dispensing device

Abstract

This utility model discloses a card feeding device, belonging to the field of automated conveying technology for printing equipment. It aims to solve the problems of material conveying deviation, limited material storage capacity, waste ink pollution, lack of detection mechanisms, and poor versatility in existing card printing mechanisms. The device includes a support frame with large and small rollers for clamping and conveying materials. The large rollers are driven in sections by three motors, while the small rollers are pressurized by torsion springs to adapt to material thickness. A material bin is located at the front of the support frame, with a built-in spring-loaded push plate for material organization. An outlet adjustment plate accommodates materials of different thicknesses, and a first sensor on the side detects the remaining material level. An ink collection box is located behind the material bin to collect waste ink, with second and third sensors between the bins detecting the material position. A collection box is located at the end of the support frame to collect finished products. This device achieves full automation of the material "storage-transfer-printing-collection" process, improving printing accuracy and efficiency, reducing manual intervention, and is suitable for high-volume, high-precision card printing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of automated conveying technology for printing equipment, specifically a card feeding device for automatic material conveying, positioning and storage in a card printer. Background Technology

[0002] The existing card reader's card feeding mechanism has the following core defects, which seriously affect printing efficiency and product quality:

[0003] Material conveying deviation is a prominent issue: most materials use a single roller group (without a pressure adjustment structure) for conveying. The fit between the roller and the material depends on a fixed gap. When there is a slight difference in material thickness of ±0.05mm or when materials are stacked, the material is prone to tilting or shifting to the side, causing the printed pattern to deviate from the preset position, resulting in a scrap rate of over 15%.

[0004] Limited material storage capacity and frequent replenishment required: The existing equipment's material storage structure is mostly an open tank without automatic sorting and limiting functions. The single storage capacity is usually no more than 50 cards (taking standard PVC cards as an example). Manual replenishment is required every 30-60 minutes, increasing the daily labor input by 2-3 man-hours. Moreover, the equipment needs to be stopped when replenishing, interrupting the continuous operation process.

[0005] Waste ink pollution and cleaning difficulties: Waste ink generated during the printing process (such as printhead cleaning residue and edge ink overflow) can easily drip onto the conveyor path or the back of the material, which not only causes secondary pollution of the material, but also requires the machine to be shut down for 2-3 hours every week to disassemble and clean the conveyor components, affecting the utilization rate of the equipment;

[0006] Lack of real-time detection and protection mechanisms: There is no material balance or conveying status detection function. When the material is exhausted or stuck, the equipment continues to run and print, resulting in ink waste (average daily waste of about 10-15ml) and printhead wear and tear, which shortens the lifespan of the printhead (the frequency of replacement increases by 1-2 times per year).

[0007] Poor versatility: The roller gap is fixed and only suitable for materials of a single thickness (such as 0.3mm standard cards). When changing material types, the rollers need to be disassembled and the gap adjusted, and the changeover time can be as long as 30 minutes or more.

[0008] To address the aforementioned issues, existing technologies often alleviate them by increasing the frequency of manual inspections and optimizing the printhead position. However, they do not improve the core structure of the card-dispensing mechanism (such as limit switches, drives, and detection), thus failing to fundamentally solve the defects. There is an urgent need for a card-dispensing device that integrates and optimizes the entire "storage-transmission-printing-receipt" process. Utility Model Content

[0009] The purpose of this invention is to provide a card feeding device to solve the problems of easy material conveying deviation, small capacity, need for manual intervention, and low printing accuracy in the prior art.

[0010] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution:

[0011] A card feeding device includes a bracket with several large and small rollers for clamping and conveying printing materials; a material compartment at the front end of the bracket for storing the materials to be printed; a first sensor on the side of the material compartment for detecting the presence of materials; an adjustable plate at the outlet of the material compartment to accommodate materials of different thicknesses; and an ink collection box at the rear of the material compartment for collecting waste ink generated during the printing process.

[0012] Furthermore, the material bin includes a push plate, an adjusting column, and a spring. The spring is sleeved on the adjusting column, which is slidably mounted on the side wall of the support. The push plate applies continuous squeezing force to the sides of the stacked materials through spring pressure, keeping the materials neat and preventing them from shifting during printing.

[0013] Furthermore, the large roller is equipped with a pulley at its end, which is connected to a motor via a belt, and the motor drives the large roller to rotate; the small roller is mounted above the large roller via a rotating shaft, and a torsion spring is provided on the side wall of the bracket to apply downward pressure to the rotating shaft, so that the small roller abuts against the top of the material.

[0014] Furthermore, the end of the support is provided with a storage box for automatically collecting the printed materials.

[0015] Furthermore, there are three motors, located below the material bin, below the ink collection box, and at the tail of the bracket, respectively, which drive the large rollers in the corresponding areas to achieve segmented control of the conveying speed and tension.

[0016] Furthermore, the area above the ink collection cartridge is the printing area, and a second and a third sensor are installed between it and the material bin to detect the material position in real time and control the printing start / stop and the conveying rhythm.

[0017] Furthermore, the pusher plate extends to the front end of the ink collection cartridge to ensure that the material remains neat and tidy before entering the printing area.

[0018] Compared with existing technologies, this utility model achieves high-precision, automated material delivery and printing by setting up multiple sets of customized rollers, sensors, adjustable material bins, and ink collection cartridges, effectively preventing material deviation and printing errors. The multi-motor segmented drive and torsion spring clamping structure enhance the stability and adaptability of the delivery. The design of the storage box and ink collection cartridge reduces manual intervention, improves the continuous operation capability and cleaning convenience of the equipment, and is suitable for high-volume, high-precision card printing scenarios. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] Figure 1 , 2 This is an overall schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a partially enlarged structural schematic diagram provided for an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a structural schematic diagram provided for an embodiment of the present utility model.

[0023] The following are the labeling elements in the figure:

[0024] 1. Support frame; 2. Material hopper; 21. Base plate; 22. Push plate; 23. Adjusting column; 24. Spring; 25. Adjusting plate; 251. Adjusting hole; 3. Large roller; 4. Small roller; 41. Rotating shaft; 5. First sensor; 51. Second sensor; 52. Third sensor; 6. Motor; 61. Pulley; 62. Belt; 63. Torsion spring; 7. Ink collection box; 8. Discharge end.

[0025] The accompanying drawings have illustrated specific embodiments of the present invention, which will be described in more detail below. These drawings and descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way, but rather to illustrate the concept of the present invention to those skilled in the art through reference to specific embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. The described embodiments are some, but not all, of the embodiments of the present utility model. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present utility model.

[0027] To make the technical solution and advantages of this utility model clearer, the embodiments of this utility model will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0028] like Figure 1-4As shown, this utility model provides a card feeding device, mainly used for the automatic conveying, positioning, and storage of materials in card printing equipment. The core of this device lies in the coordinated operation of a series of mechanical structures and control components to achieve fully automated operation of the entire process from material storage, conveying, printing to storage. The device includes core components such as a support frame 1, a material bin 2, large rollers 3, small rollers 4, a sensor group, a motor 6, an ink collection cartridge 7, and a storage box.

[0029] The bracket 1, serving as the supporting foundation for the entire device, is made of thickened steel plate or high-strength aluminum alloy, ensuring the rigidity and stability of the overall structure. Its surface is treated with rust prevention and wear resistance to adapt to industrial environments with long-term continuous operation. The bracket 1 is precisely equipped with multiple sets of mounting holes and guide rails for fixing key components such as the roller assembly, sensors, and motor 6.

[0030] Material bin 2, located at the foremost end of support 1, serves as a temporary storage area for materials to be printed. Material bin 2 comprises a base plate 21, a push plate 22, an adjusting column 23, a spring 24, and an adjustable adjusting plate 25. The base plate 21 provides a flat support surface for the materials, with a smooth surface to reduce frictional resistance. The push plate 22 is connected to the spring 24 via the adjusting column 23 and can slide laterally. The spring 24 provides continuous and adjustable pressure, ensuring that the push plate 22 remains firmly against the sides of the material stack, preventing material deviation due to vibration or inertia during transport and ensuring that each sheet of material enters the conveyor path in a uniform state. The adjusting plate 25 at the outlet has height adjustment holes 251, which are bolted to different positions to flexibly accommodate materials of varying thicknesses from 0.2mm to 2mm, greatly enhancing the equipment's versatility.

[0031] The material conveying function is accomplished by multiple roller pairs consisting of large rollers 3 and small rollers 4. Large rollers 3 rotate actively, providing forward propulsion for the material. Their ends are equipped with pulleys 61, which are connected to the output shaft of motor 6 via belts 62. Small rollers 4 are mounted directly above large rollers 3 via shafts 41. Torsion springs 63 mounted on the sidewall of bracket 1 apply a constant downward pressure to the end of shaft 41, causing small rollers 4 to press firmly against the material surface, forming a stable friction transmission pair. This design not only ensures uniform and reliable conveying force but also adapts to minute thickness variations, effectively preventing slippage or deviation. Large rollers 3 have custom-engraved textures or are covered with high-friction coefficient materials, further enhancing the driving force. Three motors 6 are respectively located below the material bin 2, below the ink collection cartridge 7, and at the tail of bracket 1 (near the discharge end 8), implementing segmented independent drive. Each motor 6 precisely adjusts its speed through a closed-loop control system, thereby achieving different conveying speeds and tension matching in different sections. For example, the speed is reduced in the printing area to improve printing accuracy, while the speed is increased in the feeding and discharging sections to improve efficiency.

[0032] A first sensor 5 is installed on the side of the material bin 2 to detect the presence of material in the bin. When the material is insufficient, an alarm is triggered to prompt the operator to add more material. A second sensor 51 and a third sensor 52 are installed on the conveyor path between the outlet of the material bin 2 and the ink collection cartridge 7 to detect the position, movement status, and whether there is any jamming or misalignment of the material in real time. These sensors (first sensor 5, second sensor 51, and third sensor 52) can use photoelectric or ultrasonic principles to transmit detection signals to the main controller. The controller coordinates the start / stop and speed adjustment of the motor 6 and the movement of the print head to achieve precise printing triggering and rhythm control, avoiding dry printing or accidental printing.

[0033] The ink collection cartridge 7 is located directly below the printing area behind the material compartment 2. It is used to collect waste ink generated during the printing process, such as residual ink from printhead cleaning or ink spillage from the printing edges. The ink collection cartridge 7 can be designed as a drawer for easy periodic removal for cleaning or replacement. The cartridge is well-sealed to prevent ink evaporation or spillage from contaminating the equipment and the environment. Above the ink collection cartridge 7 is the core printing area, where the material is precisely positioned and printed. After printing, the material continues to be conveyed by the roller assembly (large roller 3, small roller 4) to the collection box at the output end 8 of the support 1. The collection box adopts an inclined or stepped design to ensure orderly material stacking. Its internal flexible structure reduces impact and scratches on the material surface, achieving automatic collection and sorting of printed products (the specific structure of the collection box is not shown in the figure).

[0034] The push plate 22 extends further to the front end of the ink collection cartridge 7. This detail ensures that the material is always laterally constrained throughout the entire process from leaving the material bin 2 to entering the printing area, preventing any possible displacement. Through a rational structural layout and mechatronics control, the entire device achieves automation and high precision in the entire process of material storage, conveying, printing, and receiving. This significantly reduces the frequency of manual intervention, improves equipment utilization and print quality, and is suitable for high-volume, high-precision card printing production scenarios involving multiple materials.

[0035] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model, but the protection scope of the present utility model is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or changes made by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present utility model, based on the technical solution and the inventive concept of the present utility model, should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A card swiping device, characterized by: The device includes a support (1), on which several large rollers (3) and small rollers (4) are installed. The large rollers (3) and small rollers (4) convey the material to be printed. A material bin (2) is provided at the front end of the support (1), and a first sensor (5) for detecting the material is provided on the side of the material bin (2). An adjustable plate (25) with adjustable height is provided at the outlet of the material bin (2). An ink collection box (7) is provided at the rear of the material bin (2).

2. A card reader as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The material bin (2) includes a push plate (22), an adjusting column (23), and a spring (24). The spring (24) is sleeved on the adjusting column (23). The adjusting column (23) is slidably mounted on the side bracket (1). The push plate (22) squeezes the side of the stacked material.

3. A card reader as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The large roller (3) is provided with a pulley (61) at its end. The pulley (61) is connected to the motor (6) via a belt (62). The motor (6) drives the belt (62) and the large roller (3) to rotate.

4. The card reader of claim 1, wherein: The small roller (4) is mounted above the large roller (3) via a pivot (41). A torsion spring (63) is mounted on the side of the bracket (1), and the torsion spring (63) applies downward pressure to the end of the pivot (41).

5. The card reader of claim 1, wherein: The discharge end (8) of the bracket (1) is also provided with a storage box.

6. A card reader according to claim 3, wherein: The motor (6) is provided in three parts, which are respectively installed below the material bin (2), below the ink collection box (7) and at the tail of the bracket (1), and drive the large rollers (3) in these three areas to rotate.

7. The card reader of claim 1, wherein: The printing area is located above the ink collection box (7). A second sensor (51) and a third sensor (52) are installed between the ink collection box (7) and the material bin (2) to detect the position of the material.

8. A card reader according to claim 2, wherein: The push plate (22) extends to the front end of the ink collection box (7).

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