Modular processing system for personalization elements

• US 7,475,810 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2004
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Muehlbauer GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Muehlbauer AG
• Inventors: Gödecke, Alexander, Steif, Richard, Gampe, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Thien M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vo; Tuyen K
• Application Number:
  US10/548,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20070080208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,769 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/380, 235/381, 235/449, 235/451
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0003 Automatic card files incorporating selecting, conveying and possibly reading and/or writing operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07716 the record carrier comprising means for customization, e.g. being arranged for personalization in batch
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/355 Personalisation of cards for use
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

Modular processing system (1) for processing personalization elements, in particular chip cards, smart cards and/or magnetic strip cards, comprising a large number of processing modules, wherein the processing modules each comprise at least one first and at least one second sub-module (3-7; 12-20) and are arranged in a linear manner one behind the other in such a way that in each case the first sub-module (3-7) as the process module is arranged in a processing area (10) above a common table top plane (21) of a system base frame (2) and the second sub-module (12-20) as the electronics and process component module is arranged in a control and evaluation area (11) below the table top plane (21).

Claims

1. A modular processing system for processing personalization elements, in particular chip cards, smart cards and/or magnetic strip cards, comprising a plurality of processing modules which each comprise at least one first and at least one second sub-module and wherein the processing modules are arranged in a linear manner one behind the other along a longitudinal axis, characterized in that in each case the first sub-module is the actual process module, which contains all the essential modules for directly processing or personalizing the personalization element, wherein the first sub-module is arranged in a processing area above a common table top plane of a system base frame, and the second sub-module is the electronics and/or process component belonging to the actual process module and is arranged in a control and evaluation area below the table top plane, and at least one cable duct which runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the system for receiving electronic cables connecting the first and second sub-modules, wherein said at least one cable duct is arranged on either side of the linearly arranged first sub-modules and table tops.

2. The modular processing system as claimed in claim 1, comprising a number of individual table tops which are respectively assigned to the first sub-modules as the actual processing modules, which are designed to support the actual process modules, and which are arranged in the table top plane, wherein the depth dimensions of each individual table top is smaller than the depth dimensions of the system base frame extending therebelow.

3. The modular processing system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the cable ducts are provided with covers.

4. The modular processing system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the control and evaluation area can be covered by means of base frame panels.

5. The modular processing system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the system base frame comprises, and can be moved by means, of roller elements.

6. The modular processing system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each second sub-module can be arranged within the control and evaluation area independently of the arrangement positioning within said linear manner arrangement of the first sub-modules of the corresponding first sub-module to which said second sub-module belongs.

7. The modular processing system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the system is adapted such that a first one of the second sub-modules can be arranged in the control and evaluation area above or below a second one of the second sub-modules.

8. The modular processing system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the system is adapted such that the second sub-modules can be replaced without having to remove from the upper processing area the first sub-module to which the second sub-module belongs.

9. The modular processing system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the second sub-module is an electronic rack belonging to the process module of the first sub-module to which said second sub-module belongs.