ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR INSPECTING SUBSTRATE SHEETS WITH MULTIPLE BLANKS OF IDENTIFICATION, VALUE OR SECURITY DOCUMENTS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an arrangement and a method for testing substrate sheets comprising a plurality of blanks for identification, value or security documents, wherein at least some of the blanks are provided with an RFID module (RFID for "Radio Frequency Identification").

[0002] JP 2003 099 719 A discloses a testing system for substrates with RFID chips and DE 10 2012 220 706 A1 discloses a method and a device for manufacturing a multilayer security product.

[0003] Individual substrates, such as cards for identification, valuables, or security documents, or even entire substrate sheets, are typically conveyed horizontally through various process or inspection stations by a transport mechanism, where they are inspected optically, electronically, or by other means. Due to the multitude of different inspection devices and methods, it may be necessary to use two different speeds for the passage of a substrate sheet for two different process or inspection steps. Therefore, when dealing with a large number of process or inspection stations, different transport patterns are preferred, such as continuous movement, short, intermittent steps, long, intermittent steps, or even reverse movement.

[0004] It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an arrangement for testing substrate sheets and a corresponding method that meet the above requirements.

[0005] This problem is solved by an arrangement having the features of claim 1 and by a method having the features of claim 11. Advantageous embodiments with expedient further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0006] The arrangement according to the invention comprises in particular: a transport plate on which the substrate sheets are transported, a linear transport system with a plurality of grippers circulating along a closed path, the path running sectionally alongside the transport plate, and wherein at least two of the grippers are configured to transport one of the substrate sheets along the transport plate in a transport direction, and at least one testing device for checking for rejects among the blanks and / or for functional testing of the blanks, wherein the testing device is associated with the transport plate and is arranged perpendicular to the transport direction.

[0007] The use of a linear transport system has proven advantageous in ensuring individual, fixture-dependent feed rates and corresponding cycle times for transporting the substrate sheets. The grippers on the linear transport system can be individually controlled, so that, for example, multiple grippers holding and transporting the first substrate sheet receive a different feed rate than multiple grippers holding and transporting a second substrate sheet. This individual feed rate allows the system or arrangement to be individually adapted to the substrate size. Furthermore, it is no longer necessary to explicitly define the sequence in the transport direction for multiple fixtures, as the linear transport system is also designed to travel back to previous stations in the opposite direction to access any necessary adjustments.to conduct further review or processing.

[0008] Examples of suitable identification, value or security documents include a passport, identity card, driver's license or other ID card or access control card, check card, bank card, credit or cash payment card, customer card, health card, chip card, company ID card, proof of authorization, membership card or other ID document, provided that it has at least one Braille character.

[0009] Preferably, the blanks for the future identification, security, or insurance document are in ID 1, ID 2, ID 3, or any other format, so that they can later be bound, for example, in a booklet, similar to a passport-style document. The blank and the resulting identification, security, or insurance document are generally a laminate of several document layers that are precisely bonded together under heat and increased pressure. These products should meet standardized requirements, such as ISO 10373, ISO / IEC 7810, and ISO 14443.

[0010] Preferably, the product layers consist of a carrier material suitable for lamination. The identification, value, or security document may, however, preferably be formed from a polymer selected from the group comprising polycarbonate (PC), in particular bisphenol A polycarbonate or a polycarbonate formed with a geminal disubstituted bis(hydroxyphenyl) cycloalkane, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), its derivatives such as glycol-modified PET (PETG), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinyl butyral (PVB), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyimide (PI), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polystyrene (PS), polyvinylphenol (PVP), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), in particular thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer (ABS), and its derivatives, and / or paper and / or cardboard and / or glass and / or metal and / or ceramics.Furthermore, the product can also be made from several of these materials. Preferably, it consists of PC, PVC, and PET. The polymers can be either filled or unfilled. In the latter case, they are preferably transparent or translucent. If the polymers are filled, they are opaque. The foregoing refers both to films to be bonded together and to liquid formulations that are applied to a precursor, such as a protective or topcoat. Preferably, the product is made from three to twelve, more preferably four to ten films. The films can also bear printed layers. A laminate formed in this way can finally be coated on one or both sides with the protective or topcoat or with a film. The film can, in particular, be a volume hologram, a film with a surface hologram (for example, a kinegraphic element), or a scratch-resistant film.Overlay layers formed in this way protect a security feature located underneath and / or give the document the necessary abrasion resistance.

[0011] To increase throughput and reduce overall cycle times, it has proven advantageous to have a magazine or buffer upstream of the linear transport system, and to have a transfer device to individually remove one of the substrate sheets from the magazine or buffer and place it on the transport plate. In this process, each substrate sheet is individually placed in an alignment position on the transport plate, aligned, and then picked up by the grippers of the linear transport system.

[0012] Since at least some – preferably all – of the blanks are equipped with an RFID module, it has proven advantageous if at least one test device is an RFID test device that is set up to address one or more of the RFID modules present on a laid substrate sheet via a radio connection and thus test their functionality.

[0013] However, not only electromagnetic testing but also visual inspection is advantageous in many cases, so it has proven useful if the at least one testing device is a first optical detection device set up to check the substrate sheet on a first side for impurities and / or to check the serial numbers of the blanks on a first side of the substrate sheet by querying a QR code (English for "Quick Response Code"; two-dimensional data matrix code).

[0014] In order to be able to optically examine the second side of the substrate sheet, which faces away from the first side, it has proven advantageous to have a testing device in the form of a second optical detection device, which is set up to check the substrate sheet for impurities on a second side opposite the first side and / or to check the serial numbers of the blanks on a second side of the substrate sheet opposite the first side by querying a QR code.

[0015] Since some of the blanks are equipped with an RFID module, they generally also have a very fine, usually printed, antenna coil that also needs to be checked. In this context, it has therefore proven advantageous if the at least one testing device is an optical micro-detection device configured to microscopically detect RFID antennas and / or RFID chips of the RFID modules.

[0016] Should the inspection reveal that one or more of the blanks are defective, it has proven effective to remove these blanks from the sheet. In this context, it is advisable to have at least one punching device available that is configured to remove non-functional RFID modules or parts thereof from the substrate sheet by punching.

[0017] In this context, it is particularly useful if the punching device is set up to remove an RFID chip from one of the RFID modules by punching it out of the substrate sheet.

[0018] Furthermore, it is useful to have a measuring device for measuring the edge of a cover sheet of the blanks, which is also set up to examine the positioning of a cover sheet on at least one of the blanks.

[0019] Here too, if the cover sheet is incorrectly positioned or misaligned, it can be marked as scrap or punched out with a punching device.

[0020] It has proven advantageous if the arrangement includes all of the aforementioned testing devices, as this ensures that the lowest possible error rate is achieved, thus preventing defective blanks from being subjected to further subsequent processing.

[0021] The features, advantages, and effects mentioned in connection with the arrangement according to the invention apply equally to the method according to the invention. This method comprises, in particular, the following steps: Providing at least one substrate sheet, positioning the substrate sheet on a transport plate, gripping the substrate sheet with at least two grippers of a linear transport system, wherein the grippers are movable along a closed path, and wherein the path runs section by section alongside the transport plate, adjusting the grippers along the path and transporting the substrate sheet along the transport plate in a transport direction to at least one test device or to several test devices, and testing at least one blank of the substrate sheet for rejects and / or for functionality with the at least one test device that is assigned to the transport plate and is arranged perpendicular to the transport direction.

[0022] This method has the advantage that, depending on the chosen testing device, the grippers can be adjusted at a corresponding speed to transport the substrate sheet.

[0023] In this context, it is advantageous if the substrate sheet is rectangular with two long edges and two shorter edges, and if the gripper grasps the substrate sheet at one of its long edges, spaced apart from each other, to transport it along the transport plate in the direction of travel. It is also possible for more than two grippers to grasp the transport sheet and transport it synchronously along the transport plate. For example, three grippers or even more than three grippers can be used to transport a single substrate sheet.

[0024] Since some - preferably all - of the blanks are equipped with an RFID module, it has proven advantageous if the test device is designed as an RFID test device, and if the RFID test device addresses one or more of the RFID modules present on a laid substrate sheet via a radio connection and thus checks their function.

[0025] To examine the RFID module more closely—particularly with regard to the antenna print, i.e., the finely printed antenna coil—it is advantageous if the test device, or a further test device, is designed as an optical micro-detection device, and if the micro-detection device microscopically examines the RFID antennas and / or RFID chips of the RFID modules. A microscopic optical examination is characterized by a magnification at which the fine antenna coil or the fine lines of the chip are sufficiently visible.

[0026] However, should the inspection reveal that RFID modules or parts thereof are defective, it has proven advantageous to punch out the non-functional RFID modules or parts thereof from the substrate sheet using a punching device after the inspection.

[0027] The present invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a figure, the example shown being merely illustrative and not representing any limitation as to the scope of the described invention. It shows in detail: Fig. 1 a schematic, perspective view of an arrangement for testing a substrate sheet with a plurality of blanks equipped with an RFID module.

[0028] In the Figure 1An arrangement 100 for testing substrate sheets 200 is shown, wherein the substrate sheets 200 comprise a plurality of blanks 202 for identification, value or security documents, and wherein at least some - in this case all - of the blanks 202 are equipped with an RFID module (not shown).

[0029] The substrate sheets 200 with their blanks 202 are provided in a magazine 112, wherein a transfer device 114 is provided to remove one of the substrate sheets 200 individually from the magazine 112 and place it on a transport plate 102. The substrate sheet 200 is placed and aligned at an alignment position on the transport plate 102. A linear transport system 104 is also provided for transporting the substrate sheet 200. This system is equipped with a plurality of grippers 106 that circulate along a closed path 108 and are, in particular, individually controllable. Group control is preferred because the substrate sheets 200 are typically gripped by a plurality of grippers 106 and transported along the transport path 108 on the transport plate 102.For this reason, the closed track 108 also runs alongside the transport plate 102 in sections, whereby at least two of the grippers 106 are configured to transport one of the substrate sheets 200 along the transport plate 102 in a transport direction 110. It should be noted that the grippers 106 can also adjust the substrate sheet 200 against the transport direction 110, as shown in the diagram. Figure 1 is marked.

[0030] The transfer device 114 is followed by a test device 120 in the form of an RFID test device 122, the latter being designed to address one or more of the RFID modules present on a laid substrate sheet 200 via a radio connection and thus to test their function.

[0031] The transfer device 114 is further downstream of a testing device 120 in the form of a first optical detection device 124 in the transport direction 110, the latter being configured to check the substrate sheet 200 for impurities on a first side and / or to verify the serial numbers of the blanks 202 on a first side of the substrate sheet 200 by scanning a QR code. In this case, the first optical detection device 124 is located directly downstream of the transfer device 114 and directly upstream of the RFID testing device 122.

[0032] Downstream of the transfer device 114 in the transport direction 110 is a testing device 120 in the form of a second optical detection device 126, which is configured to check the substrate sheet 200 for impurities on the second side of the substrate sheet 200 opposite the first side and / or to verify the serial numbers of the blanks 202 on the second side of the substrate sheet 200 opposite the first side by scanning a QR code. The second optical detection device 126 is downstream of both the first optical detection device 124 and the RFID testing device 122 in the transport direction 110.

[0033] The second optical detection device 126 is furthermore located directly downstream in the transport direction 110 of a punching device 116, wherein the punching device 116 is configured to remove non-functional RFID modules or parts thereof from the substrate sheet 200 by punching.

[0034] A malfunctioning RFID module can also be located in a defective RFID antenna, in particular a broken fine antenna coil, so that a test device 120 in the form of an optical micro-detection device 128 is located downstream of the transfer device 114 in the transport direction 110. The optical micro-detection device 128 is configured to microscopically examine RFID antennas and / or RFID chips of the RFID modules. In this case, the optical micro-detection device 128 is located immediately upstream of the punching device 116 in the transport direction 110 and immediately downstream of the RFID test device 122.

[0035] Finally, a measuring device 118 for measuring a cover sheet of the blanks 202 is also downstream of the transfer device 114 in the transport direction 110, wherein the measuring device 118 is set up to examine the positioning of a cover sheet on at least one of the blanks 202.

[0036] It can be seen that the exemplary substrate sheets 200 are rectangular with two long edges and two edges shorter than the long edges, with the grippers 106 grasping the substrate sheet 200 at one of its long edges spaced apart from each other in order to transport it in the transport direction 110 or also against the transport direction 110 along the transport plate 102 to the individual test devices 120, to the punching device 116 or to the measuring device 118.

[0037] Due to the use of the linear transport system (XTS = English for "Extended Transport System"), the grippers 106 can be controlled individually or in groups, with their feed rate being variably adjusted depending on the selected inspection. The arrangement 100 according to the invention is therefore characterized by improved flexibility in the inspection of substrate sheets 200 or their blanks 202 for identification, valuables, or security documents. REFERENCE MARK LIST

[0038] 100 Arrangement 102 Transport plate 104 Linear transport system (XTS) 106 Gripper 108 Track 110 Transport direction 112 Magazine 114 Transfer device 116 Punching device 118 Measuring device 120 Testing device 122 RFID testing device 124 First optical detection device 126 Second optical detection device 128 Optical micro detection device 200 Substrate sheet 202 Blank

Claims

1. An arrangement (100) for inspecting substrate sheets (200) comprising a plurality of blanks (202) for identification, value, or security documents, at least some of the blanks (202) being provided with a RFID module, comprising: - a transport plate (102) on which the substrate sheets (200) are transported, - a linear transport system (104) with a plurality of grippers (106) that circulate along a closed track (108), wherein the track (108) runs section by section next to the transport plate (102), and wherein at least two of the grippers (106) are designed to transport one of the substrate sheets (200) along the transport plate (102) in a transport direction (110), and - at least one testing device (120) for testing the blanks (202) for rejects and / or for testing the functionality of the blanks (202), wherein the testing device (120) is associated with the transport plate (102) and is arranged offset perpendicular to the transport direction (110).

2. The arrangement (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that a magazine (112) or a buffer is connected upstream of the linear transport system (104), and in that a transfer device (144) is provided for removing one of the substrate sheets (200) individually from the magazine (112) or the buffer and placing it on the transport plate (102).

3. The arrangement (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one testing device (120) is a RFID testing device (122) which is designed to address one or more of the RFID modules present on a placed substrate sheet (200) via a radio connection and thus to test them for functionality.

4. The arrangement (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the at least one testing device (120) is a first optical detection device (124) which is designed to check the substrate sheet (200) on a first side for contaminants and / or to check serial numbers of the blanks (202) on a first side of the substrate sheet (200) by querying a QR code.

5. The arrangement (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that a testing device (120) is provided in the form of a second optical detection device (124) which is designed to inspect the substrate sheet (200) on a second side of the substrate sheet (200) opposite the first side for contamination and / or to check serial numbers of the blanks (202) on a second side of the substrate sheet (200) opposite the first side by querying a QR code.

6. The arrangement (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the at least one testing device (120) is an optical micro-detection device (126) which is designed to microscopically examine RFID antennas and / or RFID chips of the RFID modules.

7. The arrangement (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one punching device (116) is provided, which is designed to remove non-functional RFID modules or parts thereof from the substrate sheet by punching.

8. The arrangement (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that the punching device (116) is designed to remove a RFID chip of one of the RFID modules from the substrate sheet (200) by punching.

9. The arrangement (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a measuring device (118) for measuring the edge of a cover sheet of the blanks (202) is provided, which is designed to examine the positioning of a cover sheet on at least one of the blanks (202).

10. The arrangement (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that a magazine (112) or a buffer is connected upstream of the linear transport system (104), and that a transfer device (114) is provided to remove one of the substrate sheets (200) individually from the magazine (112) or the buffer and place it on the transport plate (102), that a testing device (120) in the form of an RFID testing device (122) is located downstream of the transfer device (114) in the transport direction (110), which is designed to address one or more of the RFID modules present on a placed substrate sheet (200) via a radio connection and thus check their function, that a testing device (120) in the form of a first optical detection device (124) is located downstream of the transfer device (114) in the transport direction (110), which is designed to check the substrate sheet (200) on a first side for contamination and / or to check serial numbers of the blanks (202) on a first side of the substrate sheet (200) by querying a QR code, that the transfer device (114) is followed in the transport direction (110) by a testing device (120) in the form of a second optical detection device (126), which is designed to check the substrate sheet (200) on a second side of the substrate sheet (200) opposite the first side for contamination and / or to check the serial numbers of the blanks (202) on a second side of the substrate sheet (200) opposite the first side by querying a QR code, that the transfer device (114) is followed in the transport direction (110) by an testing device (120) in the form of an optical micro-detection device (128) which is designed to microscopically examine RFID antennas and / or RFID chips of the RFID modules, that a punching device (116) is located downstream of the transfer device (114) in the transport direction (110), which is designed to remove non-functional RFID modules or parts thereof from the substrate sheet (200) by punching, and that a measuring device (118) for measuring the edge of a cover sheet of the blanks (202) is located downstream of the transfer device (114) in the transport direction (110), which is designed to examine the positioning of a cover sheet on at least one of the blanks (202).

11. A method for inspecting substrate sheets (200) comprising a plurality of blanks (202) for identification, value, or security documents, at least some of the blanks (202) being provided with an RFID module, comprising the steps of: - providing at least one substrate sheet (200), - positioning the substrate sheet (200) on a transport plate (102), - gripping the substrate sheet (200) with at least two grippers (106) of a linear transport system (104), wherein the grippers (106) are movable along a closed track (108), and wherein the track (108) runs in sections next to the transport plate (102), - moving the grippers (106) along the track (108) and transporting the substrate sheet (200) along the transport plate (102) in a transport direction (110) to at least one testing device (120) or to several testing devices (120), and - testing at least one blank (202) of the substrate sheet (200) for rejects and / or for function with the at least one testing device (120), which is assigned to the transport plate (102) and is arranged offset perpendicular to the transport direction (110).

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the substrate sheet (200) is rectangular with two long edges and two edges shorter than the long edges, and in that the grippers (106) grip the substrate sheet (200) at one of its long edges at a distance from each other in order to transport it in the transport direction (110) along the transport plate (102).

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the testing device (120) is formed as an RFID testing device (122), and in that the RFID testing device (122) responds to one or more of the RFID modules present on a substrate sheet (200) placed on it via a radio connection and thus tests them for functionality.

14. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the testing device (120) or a further testing device (120) is formed as an optical micro-detection device (128), and in that the micro-detection device (128) microscopically optically examines RFID antennas and / or RFID chips of the RFID modules.

15. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that, after the test, non-functional RFID modules or parts thereof are punched out of the substrate sheet (200) using a punching device (116).