Method and device for putting together and assembling card plates and card racks

• US 6,629,006 B1
• Filed: 12/17/1999
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Böwe Systec AG
• Original Assignee: Böwe Systec AG
• Inventors: Weinmann, Karlheinz
• Primary Examiner(s): Paladini, Albert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rapp, Chad
• Application Number:
  US09/446,000
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• Field of Search: 700/100, 700/109, 700/221, 532/06, 534/11, 53/55, 235/380, 493/233, 493/216
• US Class Current: 700/100
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 33/00 Layered products characterised by particular properties or particular surface features, e.g. particular surface coatings; Layered products designed for particular purposes not covered by another single class
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/00 Ancillary operations in connection with laminating processes
• 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 25/23 Identity cards
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/305 Associated digital information record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/485 by electronic processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 13/07 Transporting of cards between stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations

Abstract

In a method and an apparatus for bringing together and joining plastic cards, which are provided with an identification mark, and printed card carriers associated with the respective plastic cards, data sets with identification marks, which are associated with the plastic cards, are first provided and each data set has associated therewith a print job number. The plastic cards and the printed card carriers, which have a print job number printed thereon, are provided in a presorted sequence and the identification mark of a plastic card and the print job number of a card carrier are detected. On the basis of the data set provided, the plastic card, whose identification mark has been read, has associated therewith a print job number, whereupon it is determined on the basis of this print job number whether the plastic card which is about to be joined and the card carrier match one another. If this is the case, the plastic card and the card carrier are brought together and joined.

Claims

1. A method of bringing together and joining plastic cards, which are provided with an identification mark, and printed card carriers associated with the respective plastic cards, data sets with the identification marks, which are associated with the plastic cards, and with a print job number associated with each identification mark being provided, said method comprising the following steps:

providing in order the plastic cards;

providing in order the printed card carriers which have already printed thereon a print job number;

detecting the identification mark of a plastic card;

detecting the print job number of a card carrier;

determining on the basis of the data set whether the plastic card which is about to be joined and the card carrier match one another; and

if said plastic card and the card carrier match one another, bringing them together and joining them.

2. A method of bringing together and joining plastic cards, which are provided with an identification mark, and printed card carriers associated with the respective plastic cards, said method comprising the following steps:

providing data sets with identification marks which are associated with the plastic cards;

associating a print Job number with each data set;

providing in order the plastic cards;

providing in order the printed card carriers which have already printed thereon a print job number;

detecting the identification mark of a plastic card;

detecting the print job number of a card carrier;

determining on the basis of the data set whether the plastic card which is about to be joined and the card carrier match one another; and

if said plastic card and the card carrier match one another, bringing them together and joining them.

3. A method of bringing together and joining plastic cards, which are provided with an identification mark, and printed card carriers associated with the respective plastic cards, said method comprising the following steps:

providing data sets with identification marks which are associated with the plastic cards;

associating a print job number with each data set;

providing in order the plastic cards;

providing in order the printed card carriers which have already printed thereon a print job number;

detecting the identification mark of a plastic card;

associating, on the basis of the data set, the print job number with the plastic card whose identification mark has been detected;

detecting the print job number of a card carrier;

determining, on the basis of the print job number, whether the plastic card which is about to be joined and the card carrier match one another; and

if said plastic card and the card carrier match one another, bringing them together and joining them.

4. A method of bringing together and joining plastic cards, which are provided with an identification mark, and printed card carriers associated with the respective plastic cards, said method comprising the following steps:

a) a data set production step comprising the following steps;

a1) providing the plastic card;

a2) detecting an identification mark of the plastic card; and

a3) producing a data set by reading a data base by means of the identification mark and associating a print job number with the data read from the data base, said print job number being not unequivocally associated with the read data related to a specific person; and

b) a bringing-together and joining step comprising the following steps;

b1) providing a printed card carrier which has already printed thereon a print job number;

b2) providing the plastic card;

b3) detecting the print job number of the printed card carrier;

b4) detecting the identification mark of the plastic card;

b5) determining, on the basis of the data set specified by the identification mark, whether the print job number contained in the specified data set corresponds to the detected print job number of the printed card carrier; and

b6) if the print job numbers correspond, bringing the plastic card and the card carrier together and joining them.

7. A method according to claim 4, wherein

the print job number is a cyclically recurring number.

5. A method of bringing together and joining plastic cards, which are provided with an identification mark, and printed card carriers associated with the respective plastic cards, aid method comprising the following steps:

a) a data set production step comprising the following steps;

a1) providing the plastic card;

a2) detecting an identification mark of the plastic card; and

a3) producing a data set by reading a data base by means of the identification mark and associating a print job number with the data read from the data base, said print job number being not unequivocally associated with the read data related to a specific person;

b) providing a non-printed card carrier;

c) printing data from the data set produced and the associated print job number on the card carrier; and

d) a bringing-together and joining step comprising the following steps;

d1) providing a printed card carrier which is provided with a print job number;

d2) providing the plastic card;

d3) detecting the print job number of the printed card carrier;

d4) detecting the identification mark of the plastic card;

d5) determining, on the basis of the data set specified by the identification mark, whether the print job number contained in the specified data set corresponds to the detected print job number of the printed card carrier; and

d6) if the print job numbers correspond, bringing the plastic card and the card carrier together and joining them.

6. A method of bringing together and joining plastic cards, which are provided with an identification mark, and printed card carriers associated with the respective plastic cards, said method comprising the following steps:

a) a data set production step comprising the following steps;

a1) providing the plastic card;

a2) detecting an identification mark of the plastic card; and

a3) producing a data set by reading a data base by means of the identification mark and associating a print job number with the data read from the data base, said print job number being not unequivocally associated with the read data related to a specific person; and

b) a bringing-together and joining step comprising the following steps;

b1) providing a printed card carrier which is provided with a print job number;

b2) providing the plastic card;

b3) detecting the print job number of the printed card carrier;

b4) detecting the identification mark of the plastic card;

b5) determining, on the basis of the data set specified by the identification mark, whether the print job number contained in the specified data set corresponds to the detected print job number of the printed card carrier; and

b6) if the print job numbers correspond, bringing the plastic card and the card carrier together and joining them;

wherein a plurality of plastic cards and card carriers is brought together and joined, the card carriers being produced and provided in the sequence in which the identification marks of the plastic cards are detected.

8. An apparatus for bringing together and joining plastic cards, which are provided with an identification mark, and printed card carriers associated with the respective plastic cards, comprising:

a means for providing in order the plastic cards;

a means for providing in order the printed card carrier which have already printed thereon a print job number;

a first detection means detecting the identification mark of a plastic card;

a second detection means detecting the print job number of a card carrier;

a processing unit containing data sets with identification marks, a print job number being associated with each data set, and the processing unit determining on the basis of said data set whether the plastic card which is about to be joined and the card carrier match one another; and

a bringing-together and joining means which brings the plastic card and the card carrier together and joins them if said plastic card and said card carrier match one another.

9. An apparatus for bringing together and joining plastic cards, which are provided with an identification mark, and printed card carriers associated with the respective plastic cards, comprising:

a means for providing in order the plastic cards;

a means for providing in order the printed card carriers which have already printed thereon a print job number;

a first detection means detecting the identification mark of a plastic card;

a second detection means detecting the print job number of a card carrier;

a processing unit containing data sets with identification marks, a print job number being associated with each data set, and the processing unit associating a print job number on the basis of the data set of the plastic card whose identification mark has been detected and determining whether the print job numbers of the plastic card and of the card carrier match one another; and

a bringing-together and joining means which brings the plastic card and the card carrier together and joins them if said plastic card and said card carrier match one another.

10. An apparatus for bringing together and joining plastic cards, which are provided with an identification mark, and printed card carriers associated with the respective plastic cards, comprising:

a mean for producing a data set having the following features;

a carrier means in which the plastic card is contained;

a detection means which detects the identification mark of the plastic card;

a data base means containing data in dependence upon the identification mark; and

a processing unit causing the data base to be accessed by means of the identification mark and producing a data set by reading the data base and by associating a print job number with the data read;

a bringing-together and joining means having the following features;

a plastic card holder in which the plastic card is contained;

a card carrier holder in which a printed card carrier is contained, said printed card carrier having already printed thereon a print job number;

a means for detecting the print job number on the printed card carrier;

a means for detecting the identification mark of the plastic card;

a processing unit determining, on the basis of the data set specified by the detected identification mark, whether the print job number contained in the specified data set corresponds to the print job number of the printed card carrier; and

a means which brings the plastic card and the card carrier together and joins them if the print job numbers correspond.

13. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein

the print job number is a cyclically recurring number.

11. An apparatus for bringing together and joining plastic cards, which are provided with an identification mark, and printed card carriers associated with the respective plastic cards, comprising:

a means for producing a data set having the following features;

a carrier means in which the plastic card is contained;

a detection means which detects the identification mark of the plastic card;

a data base means containing data in dependence upon the identification mark; and

a processing unit causing the-data base to be accessed by means of the identification mark and producing a data set by reading the data base and by associating a print job number with the data read;

a bringing-together and joining means having the following features;

a plastic card holder in which the plastic card is contained;

a card carrier holder in which a printed card carrier is contained, said printed card carrier being provided with a print job number;

a means for detecting the print job number on the printed card carrier;

a means for detecting the identification mark of the plastic card;

a processing unit determining, on the basis of the data set specified by the detected identification mark, whether the print job number contained in the specified data set corresponds to the print job number of the printed card carrier; and

a means which brings the plastic card and the card carrier together and joins them if the print job numbers correspond; and

a printing unit having the following features;

a means containing a non-printed card carrier; and

a means printing data from the produced data set and the associated print job number on a non-printed card carrier.

12. An apparatus for bringing together and joining plastic cards, which are provided with an identification mark, and printed card carriers associated with the respective plastic cards, comprising:

a means for producing a data set having the following features;

a carrier means in which the plastic card is contained;

a detection means which detects the identification mark of the plastic card;

a data base means containing data in dependence upon the identification mark; and

a processing unit causing the-data base to be accessed by means of the identification mark and producing a data set by reading the data base and by associating a print job number with the data read; and

a bringing-together and joining means having the following features;

a plastic card holder in which the plastic card is contained;

a card carrier holder in which a printed card carrier is contained, said printed card carrier being provided with a print job number;

a means for detecting the print job number on the printed card carrier;

a means for detecting the identification mark of the plastic card;

a processing unit determining, on the basis of the data set specified by the detected identification mark, whether the print job number contained in the specified data set corresponds to the print job number of the printed card carrier; and

a means which brings the plastic card and the card carrier together and joins them if the print job numbers correspond;

wherein a plurality of plastic cards and card carriers is brought together and joined, the card carriers being printed on in the sequence in which the identification marks of the plastic cards are detected and being contained in the card carrier holder.