Card transport device for card processing devices and card processing device comprising said transport device

Abstract

A card transport device (100) for card processing devices is described comprising a transport shuttle (1) of the card (30) to be processed, configured to move on guide means (6) in an advancement direction so as to translate the card (30) to and from adjacent card processing devices, a retaining element (2) configured to be activated and deactivated by an actuator (4) to allow the card (30) to be retained in the shuttle (1) and released, wherein the retaining element (2) exerts a pressure on a first edge (31) of the card (30) to push it against a surface (12) of the shuttle (1) and block it without touching its surface to be printed so as not to contaminate it and not damage it; and further disclosed is a card processing device comprising such a card transport device (100).

Description

[0001] 40900. HID. P110PC

[0002] Card transport device for card processing devices and card processing device comprising said transport device

[0003] The present invention relates to a card transport device for card processing devices and to a card processing device comprising said transport device.

[0004] In particular, the invention relates to a transport device for CR 80 format cards or cards according to the standard ISO 7810, for example bank cards, identity documents or the like for a printing unit, for example ink-jet.

[0005] Card transport devices for card processing devices are known in the art, in which the card is customized by processing its surface, for example by means of ink-jet printing.

[0006] These known card transport devices generally use rubber rollers for the advancement of the card and guides to direct it; these rollers and guides act on the surface of the card to be processed and can cause problems in the quality of the printing process, depositing debris present on the rollers onto the surface of the card to be processed, interfering with the surface of the just-printed card, or causing scratches with the guides that rub on the surface of the card.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to solve the aforesaid problems of the prior art by providing a card transport device for card processing devices and a card processing device comprising such a transport device which are reliable and enable the cards to be printed with a high quality without deteriorating the surface thereof during the transport of the card.

[0008] The aforesaid and other objects and advantages of the invention, which will be clear from the following description, are achieved with a card transport device for card processing devices and a card processing device comprising said transport device as 40900. HID. P110PC described in the respective independent claims. Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variants of the present invention form the subject-matter of the dependent claims.

[0009] It is understood that all the appended claims form an integral part of the present disclosure.

[0010] It will be immediately obvious that countless variations and modifications (for example relating to shape, dimensions, arrangements and parts with equivalent functionality) can be made to what is described without departing from the field of protection of the invention as appears from the appended claims.

[0011] The present invention will be better described by certain preferred embodiments, provided by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012] - Figure 1 is a perspective schematic view of a component of a card transport device according to the present invention;

[0013] - Figure 2 is a perspective schematic view of a component of a card transport device according to the present invention;

[0014] - Figure 3 is a perspective schematic view of a card transport device according to the present invention;

[0015] - Figure 4 is a perspective schematic view of a detail of a card transport device according to the present invention.

[0016] Referring to the Figures, the card transport device 100 for card processing devices according to the present invention comprises: a shuttle 1 for transporting the card 30 to be processed, driven by motion transmission means 5, for example a transmission belt wound on rollers, connected to motor means 7, for example an electric motor, said shuttle 1 being configured to move on guide 40900. HID. P110PC means 6 in an advancement direction so as to translate the card 30, transported by the shuttle 1 , to and from adjacent card processing devices; a retaining element 2 configured to be activated and deactivated by an actuator 4 to allow holding the card 30 in the shuttle 1 and its release.

[0017] The retaining element 2 exerts a pressure on a first edge 31 of the card 30, preferably an edge of the longer side of the card 30, by elastic means, for example springs, to push it against a surface 12 of the shuttle 1 and block it without touching its surface to be printed so as not to contaminate it and not damage it.

[0018] Preferably, the retaining element 2 is approached or moved away from the first edge 31 of the card 30 by rotating it on a pin 11 fixed to the shuttle 1 , so that a first end 21 of the retaining element 2 is pushed by the actuator 4 to move a second end 22 of the retaining element 2, opposite to the first, away from the first edge 31 of the card 30; preferably, the retaining element 2 rotates around an axis of the pin 11 arranged in the advancement direction of the shuttle 1 on the guide means 6.

[0019] Preferably, the actuator 4 is an electromagnetic actuator and moves the retaining element 2 when the shuttle 1 is in the loading / unloading positions of the card 30 towards the card processing device, for example at the ends of the guide means 6.

[0020] Preferably, the retaining element 2 is held in a closed position by elastic means, for example springs, to keep the retaining element 2 in contact with the first edge 31 of the card 30 and a second edge 32 of the card 30, opposite to the first edge 31 , in contact with a surface 12 of the shuttle 1 .

[0021] In a preferred manner, the actuator 4 comprises engagement means 41 , for example a protrusion, preferably disc-shaped, obtained on the end of a shaft, configured to engage in a recess 23 obtained in the retaining element 2. 40900. HID. P110PC

[0022] In a preferred manner, the card transport device 100 and the card processing device according to the present invention are driven by drive means of known type, comprising for example at least one electric motor 7, and piloted by a control unit, also known.

[0023] Preferably, the card transport device 100 according to the invention is used in a card processing device that is a printer, for example of the ink-jet type, but can also be used in other card processing devices such as devices for magnetic writing and / or encoding of the chip or the magnetic strip of the card 30, devices capable of performing card embossing, laser printing or the like.

[0024] Advantageously, the card transport device 100 of the invention avoids the presence of scratches on the card surface due to guides directing the card and of debris affecting the customization of the card.

[0025] Preferred embodiments of the invention have been described, but are of course susceptible to further modifications and variants within the scope of the same inventive idea. In particular, numerous variations and modifications, functionally equivalent to the foregoing, which fall within the scope of protection of the invention as set out in the appended claims will be immediately apparent to those skilled in the art, in which any reference signs placed between parentheses cannot be interpreted as limiting the claims themselves. Further, the word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements and / or steps which are different than those listed in the claims. The article “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The mere fact that certain features are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these features cannot be advantageously utilized.

Claims

40900. HID. P110PCCLAIMS1. Card transport device (100) for card processing devices which comprises: a shuttle (1) for transporting the card (30) to be processed configured to move on guide means (6) in an advancement direction so as to translate the card (30), transported by the shuttle (1), to and from adjacent card processing devices; a retaining element (2) configured to be activated and deactivated by an actuator (4) to allow holding the card (30) in the shuttle (1) and its release, characterized in that the retaining element (2) exerts a pressure on a first edge (31) of the card (30) by means of elastic means to push it against a surface (12) of the shuttle (1) and block it without touching its surface to be printed so as not to contaminate it or damage it.

2. Card transport device (100) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the retaining element (2) is approached or moved away from the first edge (31) of the card (30) by rotating it on a pin (11) fixed to the shuttle (1), so that a first end (21) of the retaining element (2) is pushed by the actuator (4) to move away a second end (22) of the retaining element (2), opposite to the first, from the first edge (31) of the card (30).

3. Card transport device (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the retaining element (2) rotates around an axis of the pin (11) arranged in the direction of advancement of the shuttle (1 ) on the guide means (6).

4. Card transport device (100) according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the actuator (4) is an electromagnetic actuator and moves the retaining element (2) when the shuttle (1) is in the loading / unloading positions of the card (30) towards the card processing device.

5. Card transport device (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that the loading / unloading positions of the card (30) towards the card processing device are located at the ends of the guide means (6).540900. HID. P110PC6. Card transport device (100) according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the retaining element (2) is held in a closed position by elastic means to keep it in contact with the first edge (31) of the card (30) and keep a second edge (32) of the card (30), opposite to the first edge (31), in contact with a surface (12) of the shuttle (1 ).

7. Card transport device (100) according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the actuator (4) comprises engagement means (41) configured to engage in a recess (23) obtained in the retaining element (2).

8. Card transport device (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that the engagement means (41) comprise a disc-shaped protrusion obtained on the end of a shaft.

9. Card transport device (100) according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the shuttle (1) for transporting the card (30) to be processed is driven by motion transmission means (5) connected to motor means (7).

10. Card processing device characterized in that it comprises a card transport device (100) according to any one of the previous claims.6

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