Laminating Device for Diverse Security Documents

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing laminating devices are optimized for specific document types and struggle with efficiently laminating diverse types of identity, valuable, or security documents, limiting flexibility and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A laminating device with a laminating sheet stock station, lamination sheet changer, and multiple laminating stations that apply pressure and heat, allowing for the selection and processing of different document types by using document-type-specific laminating sheets and ultrasonic welding to fix material sheets in a specific order, ensuring efficient and flexible lamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If existing laminating devices are optimized for specific document types, then lamination quality for that document type is improved, but flexibility to handle diverse document types deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelamination qualityVSAvoidflexibility for diverse document types
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The laminating device incorporates multiple lamination stations (first, second, and third stations) that can process different document types through a single integrated system. The device accepts various booklet formats and applies appropriate lamination at each station, making it universally applicable to identification documents, security documents, and other document types while maintaining high lamination quality for each specific type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The lamination process is divided into multiple sequential stations, each potentially optimized for specific document types or lamination requirements. The first lamination station handles initial lamination, the second station provides additional lamination or reinforcement, and the third station completes the process. This segmentation allows each station to be tuned for specific document types while the overall system handles diverse document types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple document types are laminated using a single device, then flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to handle diverse document typesVSAvoidnumber of components and stations
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple lamination functions and stations are merged into a single integrated laminating device. The first, second, and third lamination stations are combined within one device structure, sharing common components such as the booklet feeding mechanism, control system, and removal apparatus. This merging provides multi-document-type capability while containing the complexity within a unified device architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Loss of substance

If lamination sheets are reused across different document types, then material waste is reduced, but wear on lamination sheets increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaste of lamination sheetsVSAvoidwear and durability of lamination sheets
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device is configured to discard used lamination sheets after they have served their purpose of laminating booklets at the various stations. By having multiple stations that sequentially use fresh lamination sheets, the system avoids reusing worn sheets that would compromise lamination quality, while minimizing overall waste through efficient utilization of each sheet across different document types before disposal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables the efficient and flexible lamination of various document types, reducing wear on lamination sheets, minimizing waste, and allowing for the production of high-quality laminated booklets for identity, valuable, or security documents.

Implementation Method 1

each of which is configured to apply pressure and heat to the two lamination sheets in a predefined manner for laminating the material sheet booklet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat: Heating

Implementation Method 2

each of which is configured to apply pressure and heat to the two lamination sheets in a predefined manner for laminating the material sheet booklet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure: Compression

Implementation Method 3

ultrasonic welding to fix material sheets in a specific order

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrasonic welding: Ultrasonic Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP3509840B1Device for laminating an assembly of sheets
Publication Date: 2020.11.04 BUNDESDRUCKEREI GMBH
  • EP3509840B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3509840B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B
  • EP3509840B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~5B

AI summary

The invention relates to a laminating device (100, 100', 100") for laminating a material sheet booklet (500) for a document type selected from a plurality of different types of identification document, value document or security document, wherein the material sheet booklet (500) comprises a document-type-specific selection of material sheets (400) in a document-type-specific sequence. The laminating device (100, 100', 100") comprises: a lamination plate supply station (102) which keeps available lamination plates (104) of different lamination plate pairs for the different document types; a lamination plate changer (108) designed to take a first and a second lamination plate (104) of the lamination plate pairs in accordance with the document type of the material sheet booklet (500) from the lamination plate supply station (102) and to arrange them in a receptacle of a lamination plate transport device (116, 116', 116"); lamination stations (124), wherein the lamination plate transport device (116, 116', 116") is designed to transport the two lamination plates (104) in the receptacle (118) to the individual lamination stations (124) one after the other, said lamination stations (124) each being designed to apply pressure and heat to the two lamination plates (104); a distribution device (128) designed to introduce the material sheet booklet (500) to be laminated between the first and second lamination plates (104) in the receptacle (118); and a withdrawing device (130) designed to withdraw the laminated material sheet booklet (500) from between the two lamination plates (104).