Rotatable Backbone Handling Device for Flat Pieces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing handling devices for flat pieces, such as plastic cards, lack efficiency and reliability in transferring and treating the same card multiple times across different treatment devices, like printers and flippers, as they often require manual intervention and are not designed for reproducible and automated handling.
Innovation Solution
A handling device featuring a rotatable elongated backbone element with angular positions, holding elements for secure positioning, and a control unit to manage the backbone's rotation and holding mechanisms, allowing for precise placement of flat pieces at different treatment positions, enabling efficient transfer between multiple treatment devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If manual handling methods are used for transferring flat pieces between treatment devices, then ease of operation is maintained, but productivity and automation extent are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The handling device is equipped with a control unit that automatically controls the angular position of the backbone element and the opening/closing of holding elements, enabling the system to operate autonomously without manual intervention for transferring flat pieces between treatment devices
Solution Approach 2:
The handling device with rotatable backbone element can present flat pieces to multiple different treatment devices (printer, flipper, laminator, etc.) by rotating to different angular positions, making it a universal handling solution for various treatment operations
2Reliability
If simple transport methods like rollers or belts are used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability and reproducibility of multiple treatments are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The backbone element is designed to be rotatable about its longitudinal axis, dynamically changing its angular position to present flat pieces to different treatment devices, providing reliable and reproducible positioning for multiple treatments while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
The holding elements act as intermediaries between the backbone element and the flat pieces, securely gripping the flat pieces during rotation and transfer, ensuring reliable handling without requiring complex mechanical interfaces
3Productivity
If the same flat piece needs to be treated multiple times by different devices, then treatment completeness is improved, but processing time and loss of time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The handling device enables continuous processing by rotating the backbone element to sequentially present flat pieces to different treatment devices in a coordinated manner, eliminating idle time and manual transfer operations between treatments, thus improving productivity without significant time loss
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a handling device for presenting a flat piece to at least a first and a second treatment device in particular for presenting a plastic card substrate to a printer device and a flipping device. The handling device comprises an elongated backbone element, wherein the backbone element is rotatable along a longitudinal axis and has at least a first and a second angular position; a holding element configured to hold the flat piece relative to the backbone element; and a control unit, configured to control the angular position of the backbone element; wherein, when the backbone element is at the first angular position, the flat piece is at a first treatment position for the first treatment device, and when the backbone element is at the second angular position, the flat piece is at a second treatment position for the second treatment device.