Modular Card Mechanism Array for Scalable Personalization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing card personalization systems lack modular flexibility and efficient card handling mechanisms, limiting their ability to scale and adapt to different card types and processing needs.

Innovation Solution

A modular card mechanism array that allows individual card mechanisms to be removed and replaced, with a pivotable and linearly movable card handling mechanism to access each card mechanism, enabling configuration as card input, output, or personalization hoppers, and performing various processing operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple card input hoppers are used in a card personalization machine, then card handling capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecard handling capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The card handling system is divided into multiple independent card mechanisms (card input hoppers, card output hoppers, card personalization mechanisms) that can be individually configured and replaced. Each mechanism handles a specific function, allowing the system to process multiple card types simultaneously while maintaining manageable complexity through functional segmentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The card mechanisms are designed with universal interfaces and standardized configurations that allow them to perform multiple functions. A single card mechanism can be configured to serve as a card input hopper, card output hopper, or card personalization mechanism depending on the processing needs, reducing the overall number of specialized components required.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If the card personalization machine is designed to be modular, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs dynamic configurability where card mechanisms can be added, removed, or reconfigured based on processing requirements. The array structure allows for flexible arrangement of card input hoppers, output hoppers, and personalization mechanisms, enabling the system to adapt to different card types and processing volumes without requiring a complete system redesign.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3468808B1Array of card mechanisms
Publication Date: 2024.02.14 ENTRUST CORP
  • EP3468808B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3468808B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3468808B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A card mechanism used in an array with other card mechanisms. Each card mechanism handles plastic cards that are to be personalized and provided to end users. The plastic cards can be cards such as financial cards including credit and debit cards, identification cards, driver's licenses, and other plastic cards that are personalized. The card mechanism(s) can supply cards to be personalized in one or more other card mechanisms and/or in a card personalization machine used with the card mechanism(s) in which case the card mechanism(s) is configured as a card input hopper, collect cards that have been personalized in which case the card mechanism is configured as a card output hopper, and/or perform one or more personalization operations on the cards in which case the card mechanism is configured as a card personalization mechanism.