Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6439567
-
Patent Number
6,439,567
-
Date Filed
Thursday, October 12, 200023 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, August 27, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Ellis; Christopher P.
- Deuble; Mark A.
Agents
- Antonelli, Terry, Stout & Kraus, LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 271 97
- 271 105
- 271 42
- 271 141
- 235 475
- 235 478
- 414 7966
- 414 7955
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A card guide for holding a stack of cards to be separated, and a card picker for separating a single card from a stack of cards at a first location and moving the separated card to a second location, where each card has substantially the same thickness and substantially the same periphery. The card guide is includes a frame having a periphery sufficiently larger than the card periphery to permit the cards to readily enter the frame while remaining substantially aligned. The card guide has an open front face and an open rear face. The card guide frame includes a bottom member having a card support area with a rear edge and includes a side member having a notch extending substantially the full height of the open rear face and extending from the card support area rear edge toward the front face by a distance at least as great as the thickness of the cards. The bottom member has at least one air hole through it. The center of the air hole is spaced from the card support area rear edge by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of cards, and the air hole diameter can be at least as great as the thickness of the cards. Preferably, a number of air holes is provided, extending in a line parallel to the card support area rear edge. Preferably, also, a second line of such holes is provided parallel to the first line and spaced from the first line by a distance substantially equal to twice the thickness of the cards. The card picker has a picker finger which engages an edge of the end card of the stack of cards and moves such card in the direction of the frame side member so that the card moves through the notch in the side member. An air source supplies air to the air hole, aiding in separating the end card from the stack of cards, while also blowing away debris and removing static electricity.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to a card guide for holding a stack of cards to be separated by a card picker, and to a card picker for separating a single card from a stack of cards at a first location and moving the separated card to a second location. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a card guide and a card picker in which one or more air holes are positioned to permit air to be blown between cards in a stack as the end card of the stack is engaged by the card picker finger so as to assure separation of a single card from the stack of cards and smooth operation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In various operations it is desired to separate a single card from a stack of cards at a first location and move the separated card to a second location. By way of example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/168,856, filed Oct. 9, 1998, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a plastic card transport apparatus and inspection system in which a stack of plastic cards, such as identification cards, credit cards, or automatic teller machine cards, is placed in an input tray, and a card picker moves the plastic cards one at a time to a card transport apparatus which transports the cards through an inspection station to an output station selected based on the results of the inspection. Such a system requires that a single card be separated from the stack of cards and transported for inspection. Likewise, a single card might be separated from a stack of paperboard cards and moved to a selected location for printing or other processing. Again, it is necessary to assure that only a single card is separated from the stack at any one time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the present invention is a card guide for holding a stack of cards to be separated by a card picker. By “cards” is meant objects having a uniform known thickness and uniform known periphery, such as height and width. The card guide includes a frame having a bottom member, an open front face, and an open rear face. The rear face is adapted to abut a transport surface along which a separated card is to be transported. The frame defines a space having a periphery substantially the same as the periphery of the cards. One side of the frame has a notch extending substantially the full height of the open rear face and extending from the rear face toward the front face by a distance at least as great as the thickness of the cards. The bottom member has at least one air hole through it, with its center spaced from the rear edge of the bottom member by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the cards and with a radius less than the thickness of the cards. Air from this air hole is blown between the end card and the next card, aiding in separation of the end card from the stack.
Preferably, the frame bottom member has a set of a plurality of air holes through it, for example three air holes, with the air holes being arranged in a line substantially parallel with the rear edge of the bottom member. Also preferably, the bottom member has a second set of air holes through it in a line parallel with the line of the first set of air holes. The line of the second set of air holes is preferably spaced from the line of the first set by a distance substantially equal to twice the thickness of the cards. Air from air holes of this second line is blown between the third card in the pack and the fourth card in the pack, fluttering the cards so that the separation of the end card from the pack is eased. In addition, the air blows away any debris that might be present between the cards, and also removes any static charge on the cards.
In another aspect, the present invention is a card picker for separating a single card from a stack of cards at a first location and moving the separated card to a second location, each card of the stack having substantially the same thickness and substantially the same periphery. The card picker includes a frame of the type set forth above, a picker finger for engaging the end card of the stack of cards on a side of such card and moving that card through the notch in one side of the frame, to move the card along the transport surface. Additionally, the card picker has an air source for supplying air to the air hole or holes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention are more apparent from the following detailed description and claims, particularly when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:
FIG. 1
is a block diagram depicting a typical card transport system in which a card picker in accordance with the present invention might be utilized;
FIG. 2
is a plan view of a transport apparatus which might be utilized in the system of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is a perspective view, partially broken, of a card picker in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, particularly suited for use with the card transport apparatus of
FIG. 2
;
FIGS. 4
,
5
, and
6
are perspective views of components of a card guide in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, particularly suited for use with the card picker of
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 7
is a perspective view of the card picker of
FIG. 3
, showing a typical card within the card guide; and
FIG. 8
is a sectional view taken along lines
8
—
8
of
FIG. 4
, and additionally showing the positions of representative cards within the card guide.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1
depicts in block diagram form a card inspection system in which a card picker
10
in accordance with the present invention might be incorporated. Cards to be inspected are stacked in an input tray
12
which includes a biasing arm or other means for urging the cards toward card input location
14
. Picker
10
separates one card at a time from card input location
14
and feeds that card to card transport apparatus
16
in which the card is transported along path
18
. In the illustrative system of
FIG. 1
, path
18
brings the card past a card inspection location
20
. The card is then inspected, for example by a digital camera
22
. The card is then transported further along path
18
to a first card output location
24
. If the inspection shows that the card meets specified criteria, then a stacker
26
activates an ejector
28
to discharge the card by ejecting the card to a first output hopper
30
. On the other hand, if the inspection shows that the card does not meet the specified criteria, or that the card meets a second set of inspection criteria, then card transport apparatus transports the card further along path
18
to a second card output location
32
, and stacker
26
activates a second ejector
34
to discharge the card by ejecting the card to a second output hopper
36
. By way of example, picker
14
, card transport apparatus
16
, camera
22
, and stacker
26
may be controlled by power and control unit
38
which also compares the various parameters of the card with inspection criteria in a memory within the power and control unit. When the card inspection system is inspecting various parameters of newly manufactured cards to determine whether they are acceptable, for example whether their writing, logo, hologram, magnetic strip, signature panel, bar code, or other features are clean and proper, then first output hopper
30
might be a pass hopper and second output hopper
36
a fail hopper, as indicated in FIG.
1
. Cards that pass the inspection are ejected by stacker
26
to pass hopper
30
, while cards that fail the inspection are ejected to fail hopper
36
.
FIG. 2
illustrates a typical card transport apparatus
16
which includes a back panel
40
and a conveyor mechanism
42
. Conveyor mechanism
42
includes a lower run
44
of rollers and an upper run
46
of rollers. A drive mechanism
48
selectively drives rollers on lower run
44
to transport cards along the card transport apparatus. Further details of a typical card transport apparatus can be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/168,856.
FIG. 2
also illustrates the position of card picker
10
relative to card transport apparatus
16
, permitting feeding of cards to the card conveying mechanism
42
. In addition,
FIG. 2
illustrates the positions of card input location
14
, card inspection location
20
, ejector
28
and ejector
34
. When a card has reached card inspection location
20
, power and control unit
38
activates solenoid
35
to momentarily move wheel
37
away from drive belt
39
, stopping movement of the card while the card is inspected by camera
22
. When power and control unit
38
determines that a card is to be ejected at first card output location
24
and the card reaches that location, unit
38
activates solenoid
41
, to move wheel
43
away from drive belt
39
to stop movement of the card, and stacker
26
activates a motor, solenoid, or similar mechanism to cause ejector
28
to push the card from card transport apparatus
16
to output hopper
30
. If power and control unit
38
determines that the card is not to be ejected at first output location
24
, then when the card reaches second card output location
32
, unit
38
activates stacker
26
to eject the card to output hopper
36
.
FIG. 3
is a perspective view, partially broken, of a card guide
50
in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, suitable for use to move rectangular cards, for example wallet size credit cards, from card input location
14
, at the end of card input tray
12
, onto conveyor mechanism
42
. Card guide
50
includes a frame
52
which, as shown in
FIG. 4
, includes a bottom member
54
, a top member
56
, and first side member
58
, and a second side member
60
. Members
54
-
60
define a central space
62
, the front and rear faces of which are open. The cards to be inspected have a known thickness and a known periphery. For example, the cards might have a thickness in the order of 0.030 inch and might be substantially rectangular, with a width in the order of 3.375 inches and a height in the order of 2.125 inches, with rounded corners. Other sizes and shapes might be found, and the cards need not necessarily be rectangular or square, but could have any desired shape, with the card guide having a corresponding shape. Space
62
within frame
52
has a periphery just slightly larger than the periphery of the cards to be separated by an amount permitting the cards to readily fit within space
62
, allowing the cards to enter frame
52
while maintaining the cards substantially aligned. Thus, for example, if rectangular cards as described above are to be separated, then space
62
preferably is rectangular with a width in the order of about 3.392 inches and a height in the order of about 2.147 inches, permitting the cards to fit within the space
62
.
Card guide
50
further includes a bottom spacer
45
and a top spacer
47
which are depicted in
FIGS. 5 and 6
respectively. Bottom spacer
45
fits behind bottom member
54
of frame
52
, with surface
49
of bottom spacer
45
abutting surface
51
of the bottom member
54
. Similarly, top spacer
47
fits behind top member
56
, with surface
53
of top spacer
47
abutting surface
55
of top member
56
. Front surface
57
of bottom spacer
45
and front surface
59
of top spacer
47
then extend forwardly into space
62
to position the cards for movement onto conveyor mechanism
42
. Front surface
57
of bottom spacer
47
thus defines a card support area
63
on bottom member
54
, shown in
FIG. 3
, on which the end-most cards of the stack are supported. The particular shape and configuration of card guide
50
is, of course, dependent upon the shape of the particular cards to be picked and also the location to which the cards are to be moved. While card guide
50
is depicted as formed of frame
52
, bottom spacer
45
and top spacer
47
, this is given by way of illustration of a card guide to move credit card-size cards onto conveyor mechanism
42
. Other card guides within the scope of the present invention might be formed as one piece. For example, if the cards to be picked can be permitted to abut the surface of the transport mechanism, bottom spacer
45
is unnecessary, and rear edge
66
of card support area
63
coincides with the rear edge of bottom member
54
.
In accordance with the present invention, card support area
63
of bottom member
54
on frame
50
has at least one air hole passing through it. Preferably, as illustrated in
FIGS. 3 and 4
there is a first set of air holes
68
arranged in a line substantially parallel with rear edge
66
of card support area
63
. The number of air holes in the line depends upon the width of the cards to be picked. For cards 3.375 inches wide, three air holes are preferred. Preferably, each hole
68
has its center spaced from rear edge
66
of card support area
63
by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the cards. Each hole can have a diameter substantially equal to the thickness of the cards, but it is preferred that the hole diameter be slightly greater than the card thickness in case of a slight misalignment of the holes or deviation in the card thickness. Thus, for example, for cards having a thickness of 0.030 inch, the holes
68
are preferably aligned in the order of about 0.030 inches from rear edge
66
and preferably have a diameter in the order of about 0.040 inch. Preferably, also, a second set of aligned holes
70
is provided through bottom member
54
. Each hole
70
is preferably aligned with a corresponding hole
68
, but this is not essential. Preferably, the alignment of the holes
70
is spaced from the alignment of the holes
68
by a distance substantially equal to twice the thickness of the cards. Thus, in the representative example of
FIGS. 3 and 4
, each hole
70
is in the order of about 0.060 inch from a corresponding hole
68
. The holes
70
can have the same diameter as holes
68
, but this is not essential.
FIG. 3
depicts card guide
50
positioned at the input location
14
on input tray
12
, with no cards in the card guide or input tray, and
FIG. 7
is a similar view, but showing a single card
64
within card guide
50
. That card covers approximately one-half of each hole
68
. As can be seen particularly in
FIG. 7
, first side member
58
is provided with a notch
67
adjacent the rear face of card guide
50
. Notch
67
extends substantially the full height of the open rear face of card guide
50
and extends forward toward the open front face to a point spaced forward of rear edge
66
by a distance at least as great as the thickness of the cards
64
to be separated. As seen in
FIGS. 2 and 3
, a picker finger
72
extends through an opening
74
in back panel
40
, coming forward of rear edge
66
by a distance not greater than, and preferably substantially equal to, the card thickness. Picker finger
72
operates under the control of power and control unit
38
.
Preferably, input tray
12
includes a pusher plate (not shown) which is urged by springs
76
toward card input location
14
to push the stack of cards into card guide
50
.
FIG. 7
depicts a card
64
which has been positioned at the end most position on card rest area
63
within card guide
50
by the urging of the pusher plate.
FIG. 8
is a diagrammatic view depicting the positions of cards
64
,
78
,
80
, and
82
on card rest area
63
of bottom member
54
, together with air holes
68
and
70
. As can be seen in
FIGS. 7 and 8
, the holes
68
of the innermost set of holes lie between the end most card
64
and the next card
78
, while the holes
70
of the second line of holes lie between the third card
80
and the fourth card
82
. An air supply
84
(
FIG. 1
) under the control of power and control unit
38
provides air to holes
68
and
70
. Air passing through holes
68
flows between the end most card
64
and the next card
78
, easing the separation of those two cards from each other. Air passing through holes
70
flows between cards
80
and
82
, fluttering those cards so as to prepare them for separation. In addition, the air blows away debris trapped between the cards and removes static electricity.
To separate a single card from a stack of cards on input tray
12
, with the cards being urged toward card input location
14
by springs
76
and the pusher plate, power and control unit
38
activates air source
84
to cause air to blow through air holes
68
and
70
. Power and control unit
38
then activates picker finger
72
which engages the end card
64
of the stack of cards on a side edge of card
64
adjacent second side member
60
of frame
50
. Picker finger
72
moves card
64
through notch
67
in first side member
58
. In the illustrative card transport apparatus of
FIGS. 1 and 2
, the card moves to conveyor mechanism
42
of card transport apparatus
16
, is inspected at card inspection location
20
, and is discharged at the appropriate one of output locations
24
and
32
. In other applications, the separated card would be moved to another appropriate location.
The present invention thus provides an improved card guide and a card picker that more assuredly separates a single card from stack of cards. Although the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, various alterations, rearrangements, and substitutions can be made, and still the result will be within the scope of the invention.
Claims
- 1. A card guide for holding a stack of cards to be separated by a card picker, each card having substantially the same thickness and substantially the same periphery, said card guide comprising a frame having a periphery sufficiently larger than the card periphery to permit the cards to enter said frame while maintaining the cards substantially aligned, said frame including a bottom member with a card support area having a rear edge, and including a side member, said frame having an open front face and an open rear face, the rear face adapted to abut a transport surface, said card guide being adapted to hold a plurality of cards from the stack with a bottom edge of each card supported on the card support area of said bottom member, said side member having a notch extending substantially the full height of the open rear face and extending from the card support area rear edge toward the front face by a distance at least as great as the thickness of the cards, said bottom member having an air hole therethrough, the air hole having a center spaced from the card support area rear edge by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the cards and having a diameter at least as great as the thickness of the cards.
- 2. A card guide as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diameter of the air hole is greater than the thickness of the cards.
- 3. A card guide as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame bottom member has a plurality of air holes therethrough, the air holes being of substantially equal size and being arranged in a line extending substantially parallel with the rear edge of the bottom member card support area.
- 4. A card guide as claimed in claim 3, having three air holes.
- 5. A card guide as claimed in claim 3, wherein the diameter of each air hole is greater than the thickness of the cards.
- 6. A card guide as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame bottom member has a plurality of air holes therethrough, the air holes being of substantially equal size and being arranged in two parallel lines spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to twice the thickness of the cards, each line extending substantially parallel with the rear edge of the bottom member card support area.
- 7. A card guide as claimed in claim 6, wherein each line has three air holes.
- 8. A card guide as claimed in claim 6, wherein the diameter of each air hole is greater than the thickness of the cards.
- 9. A card guide as claimed in claim 1, wherein the space is substantially rectangular.
- 10. A card picker for separating a single card from a stack of cards at a first location and moving the separated card to a second location, each card having substantially the same thickness and substantially the same periphery, said card picker comprising:a frame having a periphery sufficiently larger than the card periphery to permit the cards to enter said frame while maintaining the cards substantially aligned, said frame including a bottom member with a card support area having a rear edge, and including a side member, said frame having an open front face and an open rear face, the rear face adapted to abut a transport surface, said card guide being adapted to hold a plurality of cards from the stack with a bottom edge of each card supported on the card support area of said bottom member, said side member having a notch extending substantially the full height of the open rear face and extending from the card support area rear edge toward the front face by a distance at least as great as the thickness of the cards, said bottom member having an air hole therethrough, the air hole having a center spaced from the card support surface rear edge by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the cards and having a diameter at least as great as the thickness of the cards; a picker finger for engaging an end card of the stack of cards on an edge of such card and moving such card in the direction of said frame side member to move the card along the transport surface and through the notch in said frame first side member; and an air source for supplying air to the air hole.
- 11. A card picker as claimed in claim 10, wherein the diameter of the air hole is greater than the card thickness.
- 12. A card picker as claimed in claim 10, wherein the frame bottom member has a plurality of air holes therethrough, the air holes being of substantially equal size and being arranged in a line extending substantially parallel with the rear edge of the bottom member card support surface.
- 13. A card picker as claimed in claim 12, having three air holes.
- 14. A card picker as claimed in claim 12, wherein the diameter of each air hole is greater than the card thickness.
- 15. A card picker as claimed in claim 10, wherein the frame bottom member has a plurality of air holes therethrough, the air holes being of substantially equal size and being arranged in two parallel lines spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to twice the thickness of the cards, each line extending substantially parallel with the rear edge of the bottom member card support area.
- 16. A card picker as claimed in claim 15, wherein each line has three air holes.
- 17. A card picker as claimed in claim 15, wherein the diameter of each air hole is greater than the card thickness.
- 18. A card picker as claimed claim 10, wherein the space is substantially rectangular.
US Referenced Citations (7)