EP3543033B1 - Method and device for assembling printing media - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device and a method for assembling print media for the production of documents, in particular documents of value or security documents.

Value or security documents are used, for example, to identify people and / or objects and / or for cashless payment transactions. As a rule, they have visually recognizable features which they clearly assign to a person and / or an object and / or a money or securities account and which only allow the document holder to identify themselves or to have the object or the account at their disposal for example to arrange money transfers. For this reason, these documents must be protected against misuse. For this purpose, the documents can have, for example, individualized printing, for example a name or a portrait, with which the value or security document can be clearly assigned to a person.

In the production of valuable or security documents, which are often at least partially made of plastic, usually several working processes are used, in particular printing processes in which a semi-finished document is printed and lamination processes in which the printed semi-finished document is formed into a laminate composite. In such a lamination process, for example, an electrical circuit with a processor and a memory can also be integrated into the laminate composite in order to complete the value or security document.

Dedicated machines are often used to carry out the different work processes involved in the production of value or security documents, which are usually designed for a specific input format, namely sheet format or roll format (also known as continuous format), and a specific output format. The problem can arise here that the output format of a first machine, which carries out a first working method for producing a value or security document, is not compatible with the input format of a second machine arranged downstream in the production process, for example a sheet laminator or an endless laminator, which uses a second Working method for Carries out the production of the value or security document, which is technically downstream of the first working method.

The disclosure document EP 2 141 027 A1 discloses a method for applying film material in strip form to successive spaced-apart sheets, wherein after the continuous film strips have been applied to the sheets, the sheets are cut off together with a leading and trailing edge region of the sheets.

The disclosure document GB 902 915 A discloses a method for cutting paper sheets from a paper web and then stacking the cut paper sheets.

The disclosure document US 2015/0306897 A1 discloses a method for producing paper substrates for transaction cards, strips being cut out of a continuous web transversely to the direction of travel of the web and the strips then being folded in the middle and glued.

Against this background, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved device and an improved method for assembling print media for the production of documents, in particular documents of value or security documents.

This object is achieved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous forms of embodiment are the subject of the dependent claims, the description and the figures.

According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a packaging device for packaging print media for the production of documents, in particular documents of value or security documents. The assembly device comprises: a sheet cutting unit which is designed to separate a printing sheet from a printing carrier along a cutting edge, the printing sheet having a sheet side edge which runs perpendicular to the cutting edge; a sheet connecting unit for producing a continuous printing medium; a sheet tray for receiving separated printed sheets; and a sheet transport unit which is configured to feed the printing sheet to the sheet connecting unit or the sheet tray. In this case, the sheet connecting unit is designed, when the printed sheet is fed by the sheet transport unit, to join the fed printed sheet in a materially bonded manner along the side edge of the sheet in order to obtain the continuous printing medium. The sheet depository is designed to receive the fed printed sheet when the printed sheet is fed by the sheet transport unit. The printed sheet can in particular be a sheet of film.

Advantageously, the packaging device according to the first aspect of the invention allows packaging to be carried out both in sheet formats and in continuous formats and thus to be flexibly adapted to downstream machines for document production.

According to the invention, a document can be, for example, one of the following documents: an identity document, such as an identity card, a passport, an access control card, an authorization card, a company ID, a tax code, a ticket, a birth certificate, a driver's license, a vehicle identification document, or a means of payment such as a bank card or a credit card. The document can also include an electronically readable circuit, for example an RFID chip. The document can have one or more layers and be paper and / or plastic-based. The document can be made up of plastic-based foils which are joined together to form a card body by means of gluing and / or lamination, the foils preferably having similar material properties.

According to one embodiment, the print carrier can be fed to the sheet cutting unit in a first transport direction, the sheet transport unit being designed to remove the attached print sheet in a second transport direction, the second transport direction being perpendicular to the first transport direction. This allows a clear separation of the movements of the sheet transport unit for feeding the printed sheet to the sheet connecting unit or the sheet deposit and thus in particular reduces the susceptibility of the assembly device to errors.

According to one embodiment, the sheet transport unit is designed to fix the printed sheet for the integral joining by the sheet connecting unit. Advantageously, the fixation of the printed sheet by the sheet transport unit allows the sheet connecting unit to attach the printed sheet to the continuous printing medium without any interference.

According to one embodiment, the sheet transport unit comprises a sheet receiving table for receiving the printed sheet, the sheet receiving table having a plurality of suction openings which are designed to suck the printed sheet onto the sheet receiving table in order to fix the printed sheet for the material joining by the sheet connecting unit. This embodiment allows a particularly efficient fixation of the printed sheet on the sheet receiving table. To fix the printed sheet by means of the plurality of suction openings, a negative pressure or vacuum can be applied to them, which is generated by a vacuum pump connected to the suction openings.

According to one embodiment, the finishing device can be operated in a sheet separation mode and an endless mode, the sheet transport unit of the finishing device being designed, the printed sheet in the sheet separation mode to feed the sheet tray and in the sheet endless mode to feed the printing sheet to the sheet connecting unit. This embodiment makes it possible to flexibly adapt the packaging device to machines for document production that are connected downstream in terms of process technology.

According to one embodiment, the sheet separation mode and the sheet endless mode can be set, for example by a control unit of the assembly device. This embodiment makes it possible to flexibly adapt the packaging device to machines for document production that are connected downstream in terms of process technology.

According to one embodiment, the sheet transport unit is designed to check a print quality of the print sheet, in particular a print quality of a marking on the print sheet, and to separate out a faulty print sheet if a print quality defect is detected. This embodiment makes it possible to improve the quality of the finished printed sheets and thus of the documents produced from these printed sheets.

According to one embodiment, the packaging device comprises a sheet container for receiving separate printed sheets, the sheet transport unit being designed to feed the faulty printed sheet to the sheet container. This embodiment enables an efficient separation of sorted out printed sheets.

According to one embodiment, the sheet transport unit is designed to check the print quality of a printed sheet optically or by mechanical scanning. An optical check or a check by mechanical scanning enables an efficient check of the print quality of a printed sheet.

According to one embodiment, the sheet connecting unit is designed to attach the printed sheet to the previously supplied printed sheet by gluing or welding, in particular by laser welding or ultrasonic welding. The design of the sheet connecting unit as a gluing or welding unit enables the separated printed sheet to be attached particularly reliably to the previously supplied printed sheet which was attached to the continuous printing medium in a previous work cycle.

According to one embodiment, the sheet connecting unit is designed to generate a welding beam that can be displaced along the side edge of the printed sheet in order to materially join the printed sheet to the previously fed printed sheet. The use of a welding beam that can be displaced along the side edge of the printed sheet allows the separated printed sheet to be attached particularly efficiently to the previously fed printed sheet.

According to one embodiment, the sheet connecting unit is designed to fix the attached print sheet, in particular to attach it to the previously supplied print sheet for the next attachment process. This enables a better attachment.

According to one embodiment, the packaging device furthermore has a roll winding unit with a winding roll for winding up the endless print carrier. This enables particularly efficient handling of the continuous printing medium.

According to one embodiment, the sheet transport unit comprises a movable sheet guide unit which is designed to guide the printed sheet that is firmly attached to the side edge of the sheet when the endless carrier is wound up by the roll winding unit.

According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a corresponding method for assembling print media for the production of documents, in particular documents of value or security documents. The method comprises the steps of: separating a print sheet from a print carrier along a cut edge, the print sheet having a sheet side edge which runs perpendicular to the cut edge; Feeding the separated printing sheet to a sheet connecting unit or a sheet deposit, the sheet connecting unit being designed to materially join the supplied printing sheet along the sheet side edge when the printing sheet is being supplied in order to obtain a continuous print carrier, and the sheet depositing is designed to accommodate the supplied printing sheet when the printing sheet is supplied record.

The method according to the second aspect of the invention can be carried out in particular with the assembly device according to the first aspect of the invention will. Thus, further embodiments of the method according to the second aspect of the invention result from the further embodiments of the assembly device according to the first aspect of the invention described above and below.

Embodiments of the invention can be implemented in hardware and / or software.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische, teilweise schematische Ansicht einer Konfektionierungsvorrichtung gemäß einer Ausführungsform;

Fig. 2a-c

perspektivische, teilweise schematische Ansichten der Konfektionierungsvorrichtung von Figur 1 bei unterschiedlichen Arbeitsschritten in einem Bogenendlosmodus; und

Fig. 3a-c

perspektivische, teilweise schematische Ansichten der Konfektionierungsvorrichtung von Figur 1 bei unterschiedlichen Arbeitsschritten in einem Bogenvereinzelungsmodus.

Further embodiments and examples are explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures. Show it:

Fig. 1

a perspective, partially schematic view of a packaging device according to an embodiment;

Figures 2a-c

perspective, partially schematic views of the assembly device from FIG Figure 1 for different work steps in an endless sheet mode; and

Figures 3a-c

perspective, partially schematic views of the assembly device from FIG Figure 1 for different work steps in a sheet separation mode.

Figure 1 shows a perspective, partially schematic view of a packaging device 100 for packaging print media for the production of documents, in particular documents of value or security documents, according to one embodiment.

The documents can be, for example, one of the following documents: an identity document, such as an identity card, a passport, an access control card, an authorization card, a company ID, a tax code, a ticket, a birth certificate, a driver's license, a vehicle registration document, or a means of payment, for example a bank card or a credit card. The document can also include an electronically readable circuit, for example an RFID chip. The document can have one or more layers and be paper and / or plastic-based. The document can be constructed from plastic-based foils, which by means of a card body Gluing and / or lamination are joined together, the films preferably having similar material properties.

The assembly device 100 comprises a sheet cutting unit 103 which is designed to separate a printing sheet 105 from a printing carrier 101 along a cutting edge 103a. In this case, the printed sheet 105 comprises a sheet side edge 105a, which runs perpendicular to the cutting edge 103a generated by the sheet cutting unit 103. At the in Figure 1 As shown in the illustration, the printed sheet 105 has already been separated from the print carrier 101 by the sheet cutting unit along the cut edge 103a and spaced from it. As will be described below, in one embodiment the sheet cutting unit 103 can comprise a cutting knife 103b running in the x-direction in order to produce the cutting edge 103a.

As in Figure 1 As shown, the print carrier 101 may comprise a plurality of rows of semi-finished document products. In one embodiment, the print carrier 101 can be provided by a digital printer. The separated printed sheet 105 can, as in Figure 1 shown, comprise a row or several rows of semi-finished document products.

The assembly device 100 further comprises a sheet connecting unit 107 for producing an endless print carrier 109, a sheet tray 111 for receiving separated printed sheets 105 and a sheet transport unit 113 which is designed to feed the printed sheet 105 to the sheet connecting unit 107 or to the sheet tray 111. The sheet connecting unit 107 is designed to materially join the supplied printing sheet 105 along the sheet side edge 105a when the printing sheet 105 is supplied by the sheet transport unit 113, in order to obtain the continuous printing carrier 109. The sheet rest 111 is designed to receive the fed printed sheet 105 when the printed sheet 105 is fed by the sheet transport unit 113.

In one embodiment, the finishing device 100 has a sheet separation mode and an endless mode, the sheet transport unit 113 being designed to feed the printed sheet 105 to the sheet depository 111 in the sheet separation mode and to feed the printed sheet 105 to the sheet connecting unit 107 in the continuous sheet mode. In one embodiment, the The sheet separation mode and the sheet endless mode can be set, for example by a control unit of the assembly device 100.

As described below in connection with the Figures 2a to 2c will be described in more detail, the print carrier 101 can be fed to the sheet cutting unit 103 in a first transport direction, the sheet transport unit 113 being designed to remove the attached print sheet 105 in a second transport direction, the second transport direction running perpendicular to the first transport direction.

The Figures 2a to 2c show the assembly device 100 in different work steps in the continuous sheet mode.

In Figure 2a The movement of the circular cutting knife 103b of the sheet cutting unit 103 is indicated by an arrow in order to separate the printing sheet 105 from the printing medium 101 along the cutting edge 103a. The sheet cutting unit 103 can furthermore be designed to hold down the printing medium 101 when the printing sheet 105 is separated.

In Figure 2b An arrow indicates the movement of a sheet receiving table 113b of the sheet transport unit 113 with the printed sheet 105 fixed on it, in order to feed the separated printed sheet 105 to the sheet connecting unit 107 for the production of the continuous printing medium 109. In one embodiment, the sheet receiving table 113b can have a plurality of suction openings which are designed to suck the separated printed sheet 105 to the sheet receiving table 113b in order to fix the separated printed sheet 105 for the material joining by the sheet connecting unit 107. This can be achieved, for example, by negative pressure or a vacuum. For this purpose, the suction openings can be connected to a vacuum pump. As in Figure 2b As can be seen, the movement of the sheet receiving table 113b can be guided by rails.

Figure 2c shows the end position of the in Figure 2b indicated movement of the sheet receiving table 113b of the sheet transport unit 113 with the printed sheet 105 fixed thereon.In one embodiment, in this end position, the sheet side edge 105a of the separated printed sheet 105 coincides with a side edge of the continuous print carrier 109, in particular with a side edge of a side edge that was separated in a previous process cycle and arrives the continuous printing medium 109 attached print sheet. In Figure 2c An arrow indicates the movement of the bottom connection unit 107 in the direction of the connection point between the separated printed sheet 105 and the end of the continuous print carrier 109 in order to materially join the printed sheet 105 to the end of the continuous print carrier 109.

In one embodiment, the sheet connecting unit 107 is designed to attach the separated printed sheet 105 by gluing or by welding, in particular by laser welding or ultrasonic welding, to the previously supplied printing sheet, i.e. the continuous printing carrier 109. In one embodiment, the sheet connecting unit 107 is designed to generate a welding beam that can be displaced along the side edge 105a of the printing sheet 105 in order to materially join the printing sheet 105 to the previously supplied printing sheet, i.e. to the continuous printing carrier 109. In one embodiment, the sheet connecting unit 107 is designed to fix the attached printed sheet 105, in particular to attach it to the printed sheet fed in a previous process cycle for the next attachment process.

After the separated printed sheet 105 has been joined to the end of the continuous printing carrier 109 by means of the sheet connecting unit 107, the continuous printing carrier 109 expanded by the printing sheet 105 can be removed. For this purpose, the assembly device 100 can furthermore have a roll winding unit with a winding roll for removing and winding up the endless printing carrier 109. Furthermore, as shown in the figures, the sheet transport unit 113 of the finishing device 100 can have a movable sheet guide unit 113a, which is designed, when the endless carrier 109 is being wound up by the roll winding unit, the printed sheet 105 materially attached to the sheet side edge 105a in the direction of the sheet connecting unit 107 and the roll winding unit respectively. The sheet guide unit 113a is movably supported on the sheet receiving table 113b. The movable sheet guide unit 113a can also serve to position the fed printing sheet 105 with precise positioning before it is joined to the end of the endless printing carrier 109 by means of the sheet connecting unit 107.

The Figures 3a to 3c show the assembly device 100 in different work steps in the sheet separation mode.

In Figure 3a the movement of the cutting knife 103b of the sheet cutting unit 103 is indicated by an arrow in order to separate the printing sheet 105 from the printing medium 101 along the cutting edge 103a. As you will see, the in Figure 3a work step shown in Figure 2a Step 2a shown only in that in the in Figure 3a illustrated work step the separated printed sheet 105 has four double rows of semi-finished document products. Of course, the separated printed sheet 105 in the sheet separation mode can, however, also have more or fewer rows of semi-finished document products.

In Figure 3b An arrow indicates the movement of the sheet receiving table 113b with the printed sheet 105 fixed thereon, in order to feed the printed sheet 105 to the sheet depository 111. The sheet rest 111 is preferably dimensioned in such a way that individual printed sheets 105 of different sizes can be received by the sheet rest 111.

After the sheet receiving table 113b has deposited the separated printed sheet 105 in the sheet depository 111, for example by interrupting the application of a vacuum to the suction nozzles, the sheet receiving table 113b can return to its starting position. In Figure 3c the movement of the sheet receiving table 113b into the starting position is indicated by an arrow in order to pick up a new printed sheet 105 separated by the sheet cutting unit 103 and to feed it to the sheet connecting unit 113 in continuous sheet mode or to the sheet tray 111 in sheet separating mode.

In one embodiment, the sheet transport unit 113 is designed to check a print quality of the separated print sheet 105, in particular a marking, and to separate a faulty print sheet if a print quality defect is detected. For this purpose, the finishing device 100 has, in one embodiment, a sheet container for receiving separate printed sheets, the sheet transport unit 113 being designed to feed the faulty printed sheet to the sheet container. In one embodiment, the sheet transport unit 113 is designed to check the print quality optically or by mechanical scanning.

The assembly device 100 shown in the figures and described above is thus designed as a corresponding method for assembling print media 101 for the production of documents, in particular value or security documents. The method comprises the steps: separating a printed sheet 105 from a print carrier 101 along a cut edge 103a, the printed sheet 105 having a sheet side edge 105a which runs perpendicular to the cut edge 103a; Feeding the separated printing sheet 105 to the sheet connecting unit 107 or the sheet tray 111, the sheet connecting unit 107 being designed to materially join the fed printing sheet 105 along the sheet side edge 105a when the printing sheet 105 is fed in, in order to obtain the continuous printing medium 109, and the sheet tray 111 being designed is to pick up the fed printing sheet 105 when feeding the printing sheet 105.

REFERENCE LIST

100

Assembly device

101

Print carrier

103

Sheet cutting unit

103a

Cut edge

103b

Cutting knife

105

Print sheet

105a

Sheet edge

107

Arch connection unit

109

Continuous print carrier

111

Sheet deposit

113

Sheet transport unit

113a

Sheet guide unit

113b

Sheet receiving table

Claims (15)

1. An assembly device (100) for assembling print carriers (101) for producing documents, the assembly device comprising:

   a sheet cutting unit (103), which is configured to separate a print sheet (105) from a print carrier (101) along a cut edge (103a), wherein the print sheet (105) comprises a sheet side edge (105a) which runs perpendicular to the cut edge (103a);

   a sheet connecting unit (107) for producing an endless print carrier (109);

   a sheet tray (111) for receiving separated print sheets (105); and

   a sheet transport unit (113), which is configured to feed the print sheet (105) to the sheet connecting unit (107) or to the sheet tray (111);

   wherein the sheet connecting unit (107) is configured, when the print sheet (105) is fed by the sheet transport unit (113), to materially attach the fed print sheet (105) along the sheet side edge (105a) to a previously fed print sheet in order to obtain the endless print carrier (109); and

   wherein the sheet tray (111) is configured, when the print sheet (105) is fed by the sheet transport unit (113), to receive the fed print sheet (105).
2. Assembly device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the print carrier (101) of the sheet cutting unit (103) is feedable in a first transport direction, and wherein the sheet transport unit (113) is configured to output the attached print sheet (105) in a second transport direction, wherein the second transport direction is perpendicular to the first transport direction.
3. Assembly device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet transport unit (113) is configured to fix the print sheet (105) for the materially attaching by the sheet connecting unit (107).
4. Assembly device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet transport unit (113) comprises a sheet receiving table (113b) for receiving the print sheet (105), wherein the sheet receiving table (113b) has a plurality of suction openings, which are configured to suck the print sheet (105) to the sheet receiving table (113b) in order to fix the print sheet (105) for the materially attaching by the sheet connecting unit (107).
5. Assembly device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a sheet separation mode and a sheet endless mode, wherein the sheet transport unit (113) is configured to feed the print sheet (105) in the sheet separation mode to the sheet tray (111) and to feed the print sheet (105) in the sheet endless mode to the sheet connecting unit (107).
6. Assembly device (100) according to claim 5, wherein the sheet separation mode and the sheet endless mode are adjustable.
7. Assembly device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet transport unit (113) is configured to verify a print quality of a print sheet, in particular a marking, and to discharge a faulty print sheet when a print quality defect is detected.
8. Assembly device (100) according to claim 7, comprising a sheet container for receiving discharged print sheets, wherein the sheet transport unit (113) is configured to feed the faulty print sheet to the sheet container.
9. Assembly device (100) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the sheet transport unit (113) is configured to check the print quality optically or by mechanical scanning.
10. Assembly device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet connecting unit (107) is configured to attach the print sheet (105) to the previously fed print sheet by gluing or welding, in particular by laser welding or ultrasonic welding.
11. Assembly device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet connecting unit (107) is configured to generate a welding beam relocatable along the side edge (105a) of the print sheet (105) in order to materially attach the print sheet (105) to the previously fed print sheet.
12. Assembly device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet connecting unit (107) is configured to fix the attached print sheet (105), in particular to fix it to the previously fed print sheet for the next attachment process.
13. Assembly device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a roll winding unit with a winding roll for winding up the endless print carrier (109).
14. Assembly device (100) according to claim 13, wherein the sheet transport unit (113) comprises a movable sheet guide unit (113a) which is configured, when the endless carrier (109) is wound up by the roll winding unit, to guide the print sheet (105) that is materially attached at the sheet side edge (105a).
15. A method for assembling print carriers (101) for producing documents, the method comprising:

    separating a print sheet (105) from a print carrier (101) along a cut edge (103a), wherein the print sheet (105) comprises a sheet side edge (105a) which runs perpendicular to the cut edge (103a); and

    feeding the separated print sheet (105) to a sheet connecting unit (107) or a sheet tray (111), wherein the sheet connecting unit (107) is configured, when the print sheet (105) is fed, to materially attach the fed print sheet (105) along the sheet side edge (105a) to a previously fed print sheet in order to obtain a endless print carrier (109), and wherein the sheet tray (111) is configured, when the print sheet (105) is fed, to receive the fed print sheet (105),

    wherein the method is performed with the assembly device (100) according to one of the claims 1 to 14.

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