Booklet guide and clamp system in a booklet processing mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9346308-B2
Application number	US-201313974126-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 23, 2013
Priority date	Aug 24, 2012
Publication date	May 24, 2016
Grant date	May 24, 2016

Abstract

A booklet processing mechanism is described that includes a booklet guide and clamp system that is configured to act as the guide during entry and exit of the booklet into and from the mechanism, as well as clamp and hold the booklet in its proper position during a processing operation, for example by a laser or during vision verification. The booklet guide and clamp system is moveable between a first position for guiding an upper, free edge of an opened booklet and a second position where the upper, free edge is clamped against a backing plate. At the second, clamping position, the mechanism is out of the way so that it does not interfere with the processing operation. Because the guiding and clamping functions are combined into one mechanism, only one actuator and one sensor are needed for the guiding and clamping functions.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A booklet processing mechanism configured to process a booklet, comprising:
a backing plate;
a guide and clamp mechanism that is mounted on the backing plate for movement relative to the backing plate between a first position at which the guide and clamp mechanism is spaced from the backing plate to guide a booklet and a second position at which the guide and clamp mechanism is closer to the backing plate to clamp the booklet against the backing plate;
an actuating mechanism that is engageable with the guide and clamp mechanism to actuate the guide and clamp mechanism to the first position;
the backing plate includes an upper edge and a lower edge; and the guide and clamping mechanism is positioned adjacent to the upper edge;
the backing plate is pivotable along the lower edge about a horizontal axis, and the backing plate is pivotable about a vertical axis; and
the guide and clamp mechanism is movable with the backing plate when the backing plate pivots about the horizontal axis and the vertical axis.

2. The booklet processing mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the guide and clamping mechanism is rotatably movable relative to the backing plate between the first position and the second position.

3. The booklet processing mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the guide and clamping mechanism is biased toward the second position.

4. The booklet processing mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the guide and clamping mechanism comprises at least one guide pin that faces the backing plate when the guide and clamping mechanism is in the second position, and the guide pin is biased in a direction toward the backing plate.

5. The booklet processing mechanism of claim 4 , wherein the guide and clamping mechanism comprises a pick that faces the backing plate when the guide and clamping mechanism is in the second position, the pick is configured to increase hold between the guide and clamping mechanism and the booklet; and the guide pin projects from the guide and clamping mechanism toward the backing plate a larger distance than the pick.

6. The booklet processing mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising first and second stops on the backing plate at the upper edge thereof, and the first and second stops are positioned at opposite ends of the guide and clamp mechanism.

7. A booklet processing mechanism configured to process a booklet, comprising:
a backing plate;
a guide and clamp mechanism that is mounted on the backing plate for movement relative to the backing plate between a first position at which the guide and clamp mechanism is spaced from the backing plate to guide a booklet and a second position at which the guide and clamp mechanism is closer to the backing elate to clamp the booklet against the backing plate;
an actuating mechanism that is engageable with the guide and clamp mechanism to actuate the guide and clamp mechanism to the first position;
the guide and clamping mechanism is rotatably movable relative to the backing plate between the first position and the second position; and
the guide and clamping mechanism is also pivotable relative to the backing plate.

8. A passport processing mechanism configured to process a passport, comprising:
a backing plate that in use supports a first half of the passport;
a platform that defines a transport path in which during use a second half of the passport is disposed;
a guide and clamp mechanism that is mounted on the backing plate for movement relative to the backing plate between a first position at which the guide and clamp mechanism is spaced from the backing plate to guide the first half of the passport and a second position at which the guide and clamp mechanism is closer to the backing plate to clamp the first half of the passport against the backing plate;
an actuating mechanism that is engageable with the guide and clamp mechanism to actuate the guide and clamp mechanism to the first position;
a processing mechanism that performs a processing operation on the passport;
the backing plate includes an upper edge and a lower edge; and the guide and clamping mechanism is positioned adjacent to the upper edge;
the backing plate is pivotable along the lower edge about a horizontal axis, and the backing plate is pivotable about a vertical axis; and
the guide and clamp mechanism is movable with the backing late when the backing plate pivots about the horizontal axis and the vertical axis.

9. The passport processing mechanism of claim 8 , wherein the guide and clamping mechanism is rotatably movable relative to the backing plate between the first position and the second position.

10. The passport processing mechanism of claim 8 , wherein the guide and clamping mechanism is biased toward the second position.

11. The passport processing mechanism of claim 8 , wherein the guide and clamping mechanism comprises at least one guide pin that faces the backing plate when the guide and clamping mechanism is in the second position, and the guide pin is biased in a direction toward the backing plate.

12. The passport processing mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the guide and clamping mechanism comprises a pick that faces the backing plate when the guide and clamping mechanism is in the second position, the pick is configured to increase hold between the guide and clamping mechanism and the first half of the passport; and the guide pin projects from the guide and clamping mechanism toward the backing plate a larger distance than the pick.

13. The passport processing mechanism of claim 9 , further comprising first and second stops on the backing plate at the upper edge thereof, and the first and second stops are positioned at opposite ends of the guide and clamp mechanism; and the first half of the passport is referenced against the first and second stops.

14. A passport processing mechanism configured to process a passport comprising:
a backing plate that in use supports a first half of the passport;
a platform that defines a transport path in which during use a second half of the passport is disposed;
a guide and clamp mechanism that is mounted on the backing plate for movement relative to the backing plate between a first position at which the guide and clamp mechanism is spaced from the backing plate to guide the first half of the passport and a second position at which the guide and clamp mechanism is closer to the backing plate to clamp the first half of the passport against the backing plate;
an actuating mechanism that is engageable with the guide and clamp mechanism to actuate the guide and clamp mechanism to the first position;
a processing mechanism that performs a processing operation on the passport;
the guide and clamping mechanism is rotatably movable relative to the backing plate between the first position and the second position; and
the guide and clamping mechanism is also pivotable relative to the backing plate.

15. A booklet processing mechanism configured to process a booklet having a spine, comprising:
a backing plate that in use supports a first half of the booklet, the backing plate includes an upper edge and a lower edge, the backing plate is pivotally supported along the lower edge for pivoting movement about a horizontal axis, and the backing plate is pivotable about a vertical axis;
a platform mounted adjacent to the backing plate, the platform defines a transport path in which during use a second half of the booklet is disposed;
a gap formed between the platform and the backing plate that in use receives the spine of the booklet;
a first guide and clamp mechanism that is mounted on the platform that is configured and p

Assignees

• Datacard Corp
• Entrust Datacard Corp

Inventors

• Lind Michael
• Schultze Gary
• Warwick Dennis J

Classifications

• B42C99/00 Primary

  Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title

• B42D25/24

  Passports · CPC title

• B42D9/06 Primary

  having an arm reset after each operation · CPC title

• B42D25/41

  using electromagnetic radiation (B42D25/435 takes precedence) · CPC title