Rotating Document Carrier for Multi-Orientation Personalization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing document processing technologies face challenges in achieving high operational reliability, throughput, and print quality, particularly in personalizing documents such as cards and books.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that involves a processing unit and a traversing unit with a document carrier, allowing documents to be processed in multiple orientations by rotating the document support surface relative to the processing unit, while keeping the processing unit stationary, and utilizing a combination of printing, laser treatment, and data storage capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the processing unit moves to process documents at different positions, then document processing flexibility is improved, but the risk of misalignment and damage to the processing unit increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the processing unit to different positions to process documents, the invention inverts the approach by keeping the processing unit stationary and moving the document carrier unit with the document support surface to different positions. This inversion eliminates the risk of misalignment and damage to the processing unit while maintaining document processing flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the document handling system into a stationary processing unit and a movable document carrier unit. The document carrier unit includes a document support surface and a document carrier device that can be independently positioned and rotated, allowing the document to be brought to the processing unit in various orientations without moving the processing unit itself.
2Productivity
If multiple carriers move on different planes to process documents, then document throughput is improved, but the complexity of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit pre-plans and coordinates the movement of multiple carriers on different planes to ensure they do not interfere with each other. By controlling the carriers in a coordinated manner with predetermined paths and timing, the system achieves high document throughput while avoiding the complexity of real-time collision avoidance and coordination.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the document support surface rotates to process documents in multiple orientations, then processing versatility is improved, but the precision of document alignment is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces complex mechanical alignment mechanisms with a rotational positioning system. The document support surface can be rotated to predetermined angular positions (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°, or intermediate angles) to process documents in multiple orientations. The control unit precisely controls the rotation angle to maintain document alignment precision while achieving processing versatility.
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
Enhances operational reliability, increases document throughput, and improves print quality by minimizing misalignment and damage to processing units, enabling secure and efficient personalization of documents.
Implementation Method 1
The processing of documents to provide them with document-specific and/or non-document-specific information can be carried out in particular by printing
Implementation Method 2
by engraving or, especially in the case of a plastic surface, by targeted local discoloration of the surface material of the document by applying energy, in particular by using a suitable laser
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device for processing a document, having: a processing device for providing a document to be processed with information when the document is located in a work region of the processing device; and a movement device with a document support device which can be moved along a curved path. The movement device is configured to receive a document to be processed at a transfer position of the device on a document support surface of the document support device, and the received document is moved into the work region of the processing device by moving the document support device in order to be processed and is moved out of the work region of the processing device after being processed. In at least one section of the curved path, the document support device is moved along a specified movement direction, which is orthogonal to a plane defined by three different points on the document support surface, at least with respect to one movement direction component. The document support surface can be rotated about a rotational axis aligned along the specified movement direction such that on the basis of the rotational angle of the rotation, the document can be processed within the work region of the processing device in a selective manner in one of at least two different selectable orientations of the document relative to the processing device.