Identification card manufacturing device module unification

• US 20030231948A1
• Filed: 04/18/2003
• Published: 12/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HID Global Corporation (Assa Abloy AB)
• Original Assignee: Fargo Electronics Inc. (Assa Abloy AB)
• Inventors: Hoffman, Ted M., Lien, Brent D., Lee, Gregory A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,896,431 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/797.7
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2425/00 Cards, e.g. identity cards, credit cards
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/0053 Constructional details of laminating machines comprising rollers; Constructional features of the rollers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/025 Transfer laminating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/0036 Heat treatment for heating or cooling of layers during lamination B32B37/06, B32B37/08
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 41/00 Arrangements for controlling or monitoring lamination processes; Safety arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/12 specially adapted for small cards, envelopes, or the like , e.g. credit cards, cut visiting cards
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/00 Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof printing processes to produce identification or security features B41M3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/40 Manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/45 Associating two or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1734 Means bringing articles into association with web
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1741 Progressive continuous bonding press [e.g., roll couples]

Abstract

An identification card manufacturing system that includes first and second identification card manufacturing device modules and a unification mounting. The first identification card manufacturing device module includes a first card transport mechanism and an output, through which the card transport mechanism is configured to discharge individual cards. The second identification card manufacturing device module includes a second card transport mechanism and an input, at which the second card transport mechanism is configured to receive cards. The unification mounting positions the output of the first device module in card handoff alignment with the input of the second device module.

Claims

1. An identification card manufacturing system comprising:

a first identification card manufacturing device module including a first card transport mechanism and an output, the card transport mechanism configured to discharge individual cards through the output;

a second identification card manufacturing device module including a second card transport mechanism and an input, the second card transport mechanism configured to transport cards received at the input; and

a unification mounting positioning the output of the first device module in card handoff alignment with the input of the second device module, whereby cards discharge through the output of the first device module by the first card transport mechanism are receivable at the input of the second device module for transport by the second card transport mechanism.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first identification card manufacturing device module is an identification card printer module configured to print on a surface of individual identification cards; and

the second identification card manufacturing device module is an identification card laminator module configured to laminate an overlaminate material to a surface of a card.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the unification mounting comprises a unitary plate attached to both the first and second identification card manufacturing device modules.

4. The system of claim 3 including support feet attached to the unitary plates.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the unification mounting comprises a tray including a base plate, a pair of opposing side walls, and a pair of opposing end walls;

the tray receiving bases of the first and second identification card manufacturing device modules.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first identification card manufacturing device module includes a first base having a base extension that extends beyond a housing of the first device module; and

the unification mounting includes the base extension, which is joined to a second base of the second identification card manufacturing device module.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein:

the base extension of the first base includes a side wall; and

the second base includes a side wall that is coplanar with the side wall of the base extension.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the base extension of the first base includes an end wall; and

the second base includes a side wall extension that straddles the end wall and extends alongside the side wall of the first base.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein:

the base extension of the first base includes an end wall; and

the second base includes a side wall extension that straddles the end wall of the base extension.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein:

the second device module includes an input and having a connecting tab;

the first module includes an output end having a connecting tab receiver having a slot that is configured to receive the connecting tab; and

a fastener extending through the connecting tab and the connecting tab receiver.

11. An identification card printing and laminating system comprising:

an identification card printer module configured to print on a surface of individual identification cards, the printer module having an output through which cards are discharged;

an identification card laminator module configured to laminate an overlaminate material to a surface of a card received at an input; and

a unification mounting positioning the output of the printer module and card hand-off alignment with the input of the laminator module, whereby cards discharged through the output of the printer module are received by the input of the laminator module.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the unification mounting comprises a unitary plate attached to both the laminator module and the printer module.

13. The system of claim 12 including fasteners securing the printer and laminator modules to the unitary plate.

14. The system of claim 12 including support feet attached to the unitary plate.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the unification mounting comprises a tray including a base plate, a pair of opposing side walls, and a pair of opposing end walls;

the tray receiving bases of the printer and laminator modules.

16. The system of claim 15 including fasteners securing the printer and laminator modules to the tray.

17. The system of claim 15 including support feet attached to the base plate of the tray.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the identification card printer module includes:

a card supply containing a stack of individual cards;

a print mechanism configured to print on a surface of individual cards;

a transport mechanism configured to present individual cards to the print mechanism for printing and discharge the printed cards through the output; and

a printer housing including a printer base and side walls.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the identification card laminator module include:

a supply of overlaminate material;

a laminating roller configured to laminate the overlaminate material to a surface of a card;

a transport mechanism configured to receive individual cards from the output of the printer module at the input, and present the cards to the laminating roller for laminating; and

a laminator housing including a laminator base and side walls.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the unification mounting comprises a unitary plate attached to the bases of the laminator module and the printer module.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the unification mounting comprises a tray including a base plate, a pair of opposing side walls, and a pair of opposing end walls;

the tray receiving the bases of the printer and laminator modules.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the bases of the printer and laminator modules are attached to the tray.

23. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the printer module includes a printer base having a base extension that extends beyond a housing of the printer module; and

the unification mounting includes the base extension, which is joined to a laminator base of the laminator module.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein:

the base extension of the printer base includes a side wall; and

the laminator base includes a side wall that is coplanar with the side wall of the base extension.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein:

the base extension of the printer base includes an end wall; and

the laminator base includes a side wall extension that straddles the end wall and extends alongside the side wall of the printer base.

26. The system of claim 25 including a fastener extending through the side wall of the base extension and the side wall extension of the laminator base.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein:

the base extension of the printer base includes an end wall; and

the laminator base includes a side wall extension that straddles the end wall of the base extension.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein:

the laminator module includes an input end having a connecting tab; and

the printer module includes an output end having a connecting tab receiver having a slot that is configured to receive the connecting tab.

29. The system of claim 11, wherein the laminator module comprises:

a first supply of overlaminate material;

a first laminating roller configured to laminate the overlaminate material to a surface of a card;

a transport mechanism configured to receive individual cards from the output of the printer module and an input, and present the cards to the first laminating roller for laminating; and

a laminator housing, including a laminator base and side walls.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the laminator module comprises:

a second supply of overlaminate material; and

a second laminating roller configured to laminate the overlaminate material to a surface of a card;

wherein the transport mechanism is configured present cards to the second laminating roller for laminating.