System for processing chip and/or magnetic stripe cards

A system for processing chip and/or magnetic strip cards (K), comprising at least one card supply magazine for accommodating cards to be processed; at least a chip and/or magnetic stripe processing station for applying data/information on the chip and/or the magnetic stripe of the cards (I), with a certain chip and/or magnetic stripe processing time being associated with the station; at least one card body processing station for applying data/information on the card body, with a certain card body processing time being associated with the station; a card transport system which transports the cards from the card supply magazine to the chip and/or magnetic stripe processing station and subsequently to the card body processing stations and from these onwards, wherein the processing time of the at least one chip and/or magnetic stripe processing station differs from the processing time of the at least one card body processing station, and the card transport time from the card supply magazine to one of the processing stations as well as the card transport time from one of the processing stations to another of the processing stations is shorter than a processing time of the processing station with the longest processing time; wherein there are a first number of the processing stations with approximately the longest processing time, which first number is greater than the number of the processing stations with the shortest processing time.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to a system for processing chip and/or magnetic 
stripe cards, i.e., to a so called card personalization system. With such 
a system on the one hand card/userspecific data is recorded on the chip 
(semiconductor module) and/ or the magnetic stripe, and on the other hand 
card/user specific data is applied on the card body. For this purpose such 
a system comprises a chip and/or magnetic stripe processing station in 
which the chip and, if required, magnetic stripe processing is integrated 
in a known manner with a card body processing station. While the data 
recorded on the chip or the magnetic stripe, respectively, can generally 
be changed because the corresponding storage media can be written several 
times, the data applied on the card body cannot be changed. The 
unchangeable data is applied to the card body, for example, by laser 
inscription, by thermal transfer printing, or by embossing. The size of 
these cards is standardized by international standards (see ISO 7810). 
A system of this type is, for example, known from DE 30 49 607. In this 
system the cards which have been removed from a card supply magazine which 
contains the cards to be processed, successively first travel through the 
chip and/or magnetic stripe processing station where the changeable data 
is recorded and then through the card body processing station where the 
unchangeable data is applied. After the recording of data on the chip 
and/or the magnetic stripe it is checked whether the recording has been 
effected properly. This can be done in the chip and/or the magnetic stripe 
processing station or in a separate inspection station. Cards on which 
data recording on the chip and or magnetic stripe was not carried out 
properly will not be supplied to the card body processing station where 
the unchangeable data is applied. Those cards are rejected. A problem of 
such a system, however, is the card throughput because the processing 
times in the chip and/or the magnetic stripe processing station and in the 
card body processing station differ from each other considerably. A 
typical example: Processing time for data recording on a microprocessor 
chip is approximately 20 sec; processing time for the application of 
alphanumerical characters by laser inscription on a card body is 
approximately 6 s. The slow "chip personalization" limits the card 
throughput. 
Another system is known from EP 0 256 921. This system, however, permits 
the recording of data only on the chip and/or the magnetic stripe and not 
the application of unchangeable data on the card body. This system 
therefore comprises only one type of processing station provided the chip 
and magnetic stripe processing is considered integrated in one processing 
station. Due to the fact that the recording of data in a chip and/or 
magnetic stripe processing station takes much more time than the time for 
removing a card from the card supply magazine, for the transport of this 
card to the chip and/or magnetic stripe processing station and the 
transfer of this card from this same system, multiple of these chip and/or 
magnetic stripe processing stations are provided, i.e., while the card 
first transported is being processed in a chip and/or magnetic stripe 
processing station, the next chip and/or magnetic stripe processing 
stations are already filled and so on. For this purpose the system 
comprises several chip and/or magnetic stripe processing stations arranged 
side by side. A gripper which can be linearly moved in front of these 
stations removes cards to be processed from the card supply magazine, 
carries them to the chip and/or magnetic stripe processing stations and 
inserts them into same whereby the chip and/or magnetic stripe processing 
stations are successively filled. When a card is completed the gripper 
pulls that card out of the chip and/or magnetic stripe processing station 
and carries it to a storage magazine. For the application of unchangeable 
data on the card body, e.g., by laser inscription, the cards would have to 
be removed from the storage magazine and supplied to another system. 
Furthermore, a system developed by the applicant is known (see Brochure 
HSP4000), which comprises both a chip and/or magnetic stripe processing 
station and a card body processing station in the form of a laser 
inscription station. Therein, four chip and/or magnetic stripe processing 
stations are provided, while only one laser station is provided. This 
accounts for the fact that the recording of data on the chip and/or 
magnetic stripe takes considerably longer than the laser inscription on 
the card body. In this system the cards to be processed are removed from 
the card supply magazine by means of a robot arm, equipped with a suction 
cup, subsequently carried to a chip and/or magnetic stripe processing 
station by the robot arm, and transferred to the processing station. After 
data recording on the chip and/or the magnetic stripe the cards are 
removed from the chip and/or magnetic stripe processing station by the 
robot arm and then supplied to the laser station. After completion of the 
laser inscription on a card, the card is removed from the laser station by 
the robot arm and placed into a storage magazine. Compared to the system 
according to the above mentioned EP 0 256 921, this system though 
comprising the multiple slow chip and/or magnetic stripe processing 
stations and one card body processing station for the application of 
unchangeable data on the card body, does nevertheless not enable an 
increase in the card through put which is required because of the ever 
increasing demand for cards, due to its design. The robot arm with its 
three dimensional motions requires a significant amount of space, which 
again results in correspondingly long card transport travels and times. In 
addition, the control of such a robot arm is relatively sophisticated and 
also time consuming. This imparts limits on the extension of parallel 
processing through the addition of several chip and/or magnetic stripe 
processing stations because this system cannot supply cards to these 
additional stations. Even in the case that the processing time of the chip 
and/or magnetic stripe processing station, which is slow compared to the 
laser inscription, is reduced for example by faster recording methods or 
by a reduction of the data volume to be recorded, this system would reach 
its limits. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore an object of the invention to design a system for the 
processing of chip and/or magnetic stripe cards, which enables an 
increased card through put compared to the above described systems. 
Briefly, the invention comprises, in one embodiment, a system for 
processing chip and/or magnetic strip cards (K), comprising 
at least one card supply magazine for accommodating cards to be processed; 
at least chip and/or magnetic stripe processing station for applying 
data/information on the chip and/or the magnetic stripe of the cards (K), 
with a certain chip and/or magnetic stripe processing time being 
associated with the station; 
at least one card body processing station for applying data/information on 
the card body, with a certain card body processing time being associated 
with the station; 
a card transport system which transports the cards from the card supply 
magazine to the chip and/or magnetic stripe processing station and 
subsequently to the card body processing stations and from these onwards, 
wherein 
the processing time of the at least one chip and/or magnetic stripe 
processing station differs from the processing time of the at least one 
card body processing station, and the card transport time from the card 
supply magazine to one of the processing stations as well as the card 
transport time from one of the processing stations to another of the 
processing stations is shorter than a processing time of the processing 
station with the longest processing time; 
wherein there are a first number of the processing stations with 
approximately the longest processing time, which first number is greater 
than the number of the processing stations with the shortest processing 
time; 
wherein the system comprises a card transport plane (x, y) with a 
processing sequence axis (y) and a processing parallelisation axis (x) 
with 
the processing stations of different processing types being arranged in a 
spaced relationship one behind the other along the processing sequence 
axis (y); 
with multiple processing stations of one processing type being arranged in 
parallel to each other side by side along the processing parallelisation 
axis (x) as a processing module; 
with at least one card distribution device associated with the card 
transport system being arranged in the processing direction before and 
behind a processing module, each of said card distributing devices 
functioning to move cards along the processing parallelisation axis (x), 
and which is capable of receiving a card (K), accommodating it or 
discharging it to a processing station, respectively, from a card supply 
magazine or from another processing station after moving into a card 
receipt or a card discharge position, respectively. 
In a further aspect of the invention, the first number of processing 
stations with the longest processing time compared to the second number of 
processing stations with the shortest processing time corresponds to the 
ratio of the processing times multiplied by the number of processing 
stations with the shortest processing time rounded to the next higher 
integer number. 
In yet a further aspect of the present invention, the card distribution 
device comprises a motor driven carriage which is movable along the 
processing parallelisation axis (x) either in an infinitely variable or a 
stepwise manner, with transport rollers for a card feed and the card 
discharge being rotatably supported on axles which are arranged 
perpendicularly to the processing sequence axis (y). 
Various additional important invention features are described in the 
following specification. 
In the following the invention is described in more detail and its 
advantages explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring to the drawings, the system according to the invention comprises 
a card transport plane (x, y) (see FIG. 4) with a processing sequence axis 
(y) and a processing parallelisation axis (x). Processing stations (3, 4) 
of different processing types are arranged in spaced relationship behind 
one another along the processing sequence axis (y) and several identical 
processing stations (3, 4) of one processing type are arranged in parallel 
adjacency to each other along the processing parallelisation axis (x) as 
processing module (M3, M4). See FIGS. 1-4. Before and after a processing 
module (M3, M4) comprising of two or more processing stations (3, 4) of 
the same processing type, at least one card distribution device (2) each 
is arranged in the direction of processing which is associated with the 
card transport system and is movable along the processing parallelisation 
axis (x) and which is capable of receiving a card (K), accommodating it or 
discharging it to a processing station (3, 4), respectively, from a card 
supply magazine (1) or a processing station (3, 4) after moving into a 
card receipt or a card discharge position, respectively. 
The stations/components of the system arranged in this manner can be 
mounted on a single continuous mounting plate or, preferably as shown in 
the embodiment, they can in turn be parts of separate system modules, with 
these system modules being detachably and replaceably connected with each 
other. 
This system therefore allows the integration of processing stations (3, 4) 
of various processing types, in particular with different processing 
times, and the parallelisation of processing operations with short card 
transport travels. The two-dimensional card transport along the processing 
sequence axis (y) and the processing parallelisation axis (x) which are 
arranged orthogonally to one another enables these short and rapid card 
transport travels. The time required for moving the card distribution 
device (2) into the card receipt or card discharge positions as well as 
the time required for the card receipt and the card discharge itself is 
considerably shorter compared to the prior art system with the 
three-dimensionally moving robot arm for the card transport. The control 
expenditure is also reduced. After the processing of a card in a 
processing station, the card leaves this station in the direction of the 
processing sequence for the next processing station. In the system 
according to EP 0 256 921 and also in the above described system with the 
robot arm for "card handling", one card each is inserted into a processing 
station and removed therefrom against the direction of insertion after 
processing, which means a double card transport travel within the 
processing station. In contrast, the card in the system according to the 
invention leaves the processing station in the direction of the processing 
sequence (y) towards the next processing station. 
The embodiment of the inventive system shown in the drawings comprises 10 
chip and/or magnetic stripe processing stations (3), 3 laser stations (4) 
as card body processing stations for the application of the unchangeable 
data on the card body as well as 6 card supply magazines (1) with an 
integrated device (10) for separating the magazine contained cards (K). 
Note that the number of stations in each module is not critical. Each chip 
and/or magnetic stripe processing station (3) is capable of verifying the 
correctness of the recorded data in a known manner. Behind the laser 
stations (4) an additional image recognition station (5) is arranged in 
the direction of the processing sequence for verifying the correctness and 
quality of the data/information applied on the card body. After the 
completed image evaluation a decision is automatically made whether a card 
(K) will be transported into a designated storage magazine (6) for 
correctly processed cards or into a designated reject magazine (6) for 
defective cards. 
The 6 card supply magazines (1) with their respective separation devices 
(10) are arranged adjacent to each other along the processing 
parallelisation axis (x). A supply magazine (1) can accommodate up to 400 
cards depending on its design. The magazine shaft of larger magazines is 
designed at least over a partial section preferably with an oblique or 
curved section relative to vertical so that part of the weight of the 
cards arranged one above the other is carried by the magazine shaft so 
that the lower most card (K) to be separated is relieved in terms of 
weight. 
By means of arranging several card supply magazines (1) separation devices 
(10) along the processing parallelisation axis (x) along which the cards 
of one type to be processed are distributed, the card transport 
travels/times for the card distribution device (2) behind the card supply 
magazines (1) for the supply of the chip and/or magnetic stripe processing 
stations (3) can be minimized. For the control of the travel of the card 
distribution device (2) into the respective card receipt and discharge 
positions, if a computer assisted system control unit is used, it may 
include a corresponding control algorithm which takes into consideration 
the various travel distances from the individual card supply magazines (1) 
to the various chip and/ or magnetic stripe processing stations (3). Upon 
the start of the card processing the chip and/or magnetic stripe 
processing stations (3) are successively filled with cards (K). When a 
chip and/or magnetic stripe processing station (3) signals that the 
processing of a card is completed and that it is ready to receive the next 
card, the control algorithm makes a decision based on a consideration of 
the current position of the card distribution device (2) from which card 
supply magazine (1) a card is to be removed relative to the chip and/or 
magnetic stripe processing station (3) which has become available. 
In addition it is also possible to store different types of cards in the 
card supply magazines (1) (e.g. in the first magazine bank cards of bank 
A, in the second magazine bank cards of bank B, etc.). In this case cards 
are removed from one card supply magazine (1) and distributed to the 
various chip and/or magnetic stripe processing stations (3) until the job 
associated with this type of card has been executed. 
The use of 6 card supply magazines (1) relates only to this embodiment in 
particular. Inventive systems with a different number of card supply 
magazines or with only one card supply magazine are provided as well which 
supplies cards to the various chip and/or magnetic stripe processing 
station (3) via the card distribution device (2). 
The card supply magazines (1) with their separation devices (10) 
constructively form a card supply module (M1) which is removably connected 
with the system. The card supply magazines (1) with their integrated 
separation devices (10) in turn are removably and replaceably arranged on 
the card supply module (M1). This card supply module (M1) as a component 
of the system is connected with same by "docking" the card supply module 
(M1) to the first card distribution module (M2) see further below. 
The separation of one card (K) from the magazine (1) is effected by the 
separation device (10) see FIGS. 9-11--on top of which the shaft of the 
card supply magazine (1) is placed. Thereby the card (K) to be separated 
is transferred via a slide (10A) which is driven by a crank drive (10B) to 
motor driven pullout rollers (10C) which pull out the card from under the 
card stack. This is schematically shown in FIG. 9. The transfer of the 
separated card to a card distribution device (2) which is in its card 
receipt position is schematically shown in FIG. 10. After the separated 
card (K) has passed a light barrier (10D) in the separation device (10) 
which is associated with the card supply magazine (1), the drive of the 
pullout rollers (10C) is switched off. 
The card distribution device (2) see FIGS. 12-14--comprises a motor driven 
carriage (2A) which is movable along the processing parallelisation axis 
(x), on which a card receiving housing (2B) is mounted which in this case 
need not be a closed housing but, as in the present embodiment, is formed 
by two housing side walls. In the card receiving housing (2B) three motor 
driven pairs of transport rollers are arranged each of which comprises two 
transport rollers (2C) which are arranged one above the other 
accommodating between them the cards in a frictional engagement in the 
height of the card transport plane (x, y). These transport rollers (2C) 
are rotably supported on axles which are arranged perpendicularly to the 
processing sequence axis (y). One transport roller (2C) each of a 
transport roller pair can conveniently be driven by a motor. The drive 
direction of the transport rollers (2C) is preferably reversible so that 
the card distribution device (2) is capable of receiving or discharging 
cards in both directions. In the card transfer from the separation 
device/card supply magazine (10, 1) to the card distribution device (2) 
the cards are transferred from the pullout rollers (10C) of the separation 
device (10) to the feeder roller (2D) of the card distribution device (2) 
for further transport. (See FIG. 10). In the card receipt position the 
cards roll quasi pushed by the slide (10A) of the separation device (10) 
through into the card distribution device (2). Compared to the gripper 
described in EP 0 252 921 this is done considerably faster and gentler for 
the sensitive card surface. The card receiving housing (2B) of the card 
distribution device (2) is provided with at least one sensor which signals 
whether a fed in card has been properly received or discharged, 
respectively. The card distribution device (2) can be moved along the 
processing parallelisation axis (x) only after an appropriate sensor 
signal. This ensures that the card distribution device (2) is not moved if 
the card, for example, is still partially in the separation device (10) 
and only partially in the card distribution device (2). In the shown 
embodiment three light barriers (2E, 2F, 2G) (see FIG. 12) are provided as 
sensors for the card distribution device (2), the function of which is as 
follows: the light barrier (2E) which is arranged at the card leading edge 
side upstream of the transport rollers (2C) starts the drive (2I) of the 
transport rollers (2C) for the further feed and transport of the card (K) 
immediately after the detection of a card (K) transferred to the card 
distribution device (2). After the card (K) has passed the light barrier 
(2E), a message is generated which enables the moving of the card 
distribution device (2) along the processing parallelisation axis (x). The 
light barrier (2F) at the card trailing edge side generates a message when 
the card has passed the light barrier (2F) so that the moving of the card 
distribution device (2) in turn is enabled. In addition the light barrier 
(2F) at the card trailing edge side turns off the drive (2I) of the 
transport rollers (2C) immediately after the detection of a received card, 
while the card distribution device (2) has not yet reached the intended 
discharge position. The center light barrier (2G) generates a message if a 
card is present between the two outer light barriers (2E, 2F). This is 
important for determining at the first start of the system whether the 
card distribution device (2) is available and thus capable of receiving a 
card. If prior to the first start of the system, one of the light barriers 
(2E, 2F, 2G) signals that there is still a card in the card distribution 
device (2) (for any reason) the operator of the system is requested to 
preferably remove this card manually. For guidance/position adjustment of 
the cards on the card transport plane (x, y) during receipt or discharge 
the card receiving housing (2B) of the card distribution device (2) is 
provided with one each card guidance means both at the card leading and 
trailing edge. In the shown example this is formed by two guide rollers 
(2H) arranged in a spaced relationship, one above the other, with the axes 
of rotation extending vertically to the processing sequence axis (y). The 
distance between the guide rollers (2H) is larger than one and smaller 
than two card thicknesses. This ensures that cards which are received or 
which are to be discharged in a slightly inclined position relative to the 
card transport plane are returned to the transport plane (x, y). On the 
card trailing edge side the card receiving housing (2B) is provided with a 
slot which extends from the light barrier (2F) between the guide rollers 
(2H) and which opens to the outside so that a movement of the card 
distribution device (2) is already possible when a card has actually been 
discharged to the chip and/ or magnetic stripe processing station (3) but 
the rear end of the card is still between the guide rollers (2H). This 
saves unnecessary waiting time. 
FIG. 13 shows how the card distribution device (2) of the embodiment is 
moved. The carriage (2A) of the card distribution device (2) is mounted 
via a mounting plate (20A) immediately on a motor driven circulating 
toothed belt (20B). The toothed belt (20B) can be moved between two 
boundary positions. For this purpose two limit switches (20D, 20D*) are 
provided opposite each other and spaced by the travel distance and which 
are activated by the carriage (2A) upon reaching the l.h. or the r.h. 
boundary position to turn off the drive (20C) of the toothed belt (20B). 
Between these two boundary positions the toothed belt (20B) with the card 
distribution device (2) moves into the corresponding predetermined card 
receipt or card discharge position, respectively. In the system according 
to one embodiment the maximum travel speed of the card distribution system 
(2) is approximately 2.5 m/s, die maximum acceleration is approximately 10 
M/s.sup.2. This enables the card distribution device (2) to pass the 
maximum travel distance in this special embodiment of the system, 
approximately 1 m in about 1 s. With a card transport velocity of 200 to 
400 mm/s through the transport rollers (2C) of the card distribution 
device (2), this is able to transfer the cards of a length of 85 mm at a 
time less than 0.5 s to a processing station. By using toothed belts (20B) 
of different lengths with a corresponding guide rail the maximum possible 
travel distance of the card distribution device (2) can be adapted in a 
flexible manner to various parallelisation depths, i.e., the number of 
multiple processing stations (3, 4) arranged in parallel to each other, 
which are supplied with cards by the card distribution device (2). It is 
additionally intended to mount two card distribution systems (not shown) 
on the toothed belt whereby a division of the travel distance is effected. 
The card distribution device (2) including the toothed belt (3), drive, 
etc. constructively forms a card distribution module (M2) which as a 
system component, is removably and replaceably connected with same. The 
card distribution module (M2) between the card supply module (M1) and the 
chip and/or magnetic stripe processing module (M3) may be of identical 
design with the card distribution module (M2) which is arranged between 
the chip and/or magnetic stripe processing module (M3) and the laser 
processing module (M4) and in the embodiment also of identical design with 
the card distribution module which is arranged between the laser 
processing module (M4) and image recognition module (M5). The card 
distribution module (M2) can readily be installed in "sandwich design" 
between two system modules (M1, M3, M4, M5). 
The following three additional embodiments (not shown) for the movability 
of the card distribution device will be described. In a first alternative 
embodiment the carriage of the card distribution device is movably 
installed on at least one guide rail which is arranged in parallel to the 
processing parallelisation axis. The carriage is connected with a 
circulating motor driven belt which extends parallel to the guide rail to 
be moved between two boundary positions and movable with same. In the 
second alternative embodiment the carriage of the card distribution device 
is also installed so as to be movable on at least one guide rail which is 
arranged in parallel to the processing parallelisation axis. The carriage 
is connected with two motor driven traction cables which extend parallel 
to the guide rail and is moved by same. In the third alternative 
embodiment the carriage of the card distribution device is moved by means 
of a motor driven threaded spindle which is arranged parallel to the 
processing parallelisation axis. 
FIG. 14 (right to left) shows schematically the transfer of a card (K) from 
the card distribution device (2) to a chip and/ or magnetic stripe 
processing station (3) which is illustrated as a block box. Behind the 
processing station (3) a card distribution device (2) is arranged in which 
the previously processed card (K') is waiting to be further transported. 
The chip and/or magnetic stripe processing stations (3) which are arranged 
in parallel constructively form the chip and/or magnetic stripe processing 
module (M3). An embodiment of the system (not shown) provides for two chip 
and/or magnetic stripe processing modules of identical design, each of 
which comprises the same number of stations (3) which are arranged one 
behind the other in the processing sequence direction without the 
intermediate arrangement of a card distribution module (M2) to be combined 
again as a processing module (M3') in order to still further increase the 
card throughput. The card transport through successively arranged chip 
and/or magnetic stripe processing modules is effected by the modules 
themselves. After recording the data in one of these stations (3) the 
cards (K) are transferred to the following card distribution device (2) 
and further to an available or the soonest available station, 
respectively, of the three laser stations (4). 
FIG. 15 shows a side view of the laser inscription station (4). The laser 
beam is generated in separate laser systems (in the embodiment a neodym 
YAG laser, .lambda.=1.06 .mu.m) remote from the inventive system. The 
laser radiation is supplied via a glass fibre (not shown) to the laser 
inscription head (40), which for adjustment reasons is variable in height 
relative to the card transport plane (x, y). The laser inscription head 
(40) is mounted on a mounting plate (40A) which is secured on supporting 
rails (40B) so as to be variable in height. In the mounting plate (40A) a 
plane field lens (40C) for focussing the laser radiation (LS) to the card 
(K) is provided. The coupling of the laser radiation (LS) via the glass 
fibre is effected by means of a coupling in device (40D) which is arranged 
at the head (40) and which comprises a coupling lens for the divergent 
laser beam emitted from the glass fibre. The laser beam (LS) which leaves 
the coupling lens approximately parallel impinges on the plane field lens 
(40C) via a pair of deflection mirrors (40E) and then on to the card (K) 
for card inscription. 
Part of the laser inscription station (4) is a specially developed 
transport and positioning device (41) for the cards (K). See FIGS. 16 and 
17. This transport and positioning device (41) comprises a mounting frame 
(41B) with an insertion slot (41C) and an opposite arranged discharge slot 
(41C*) aligned with same, with an inlet centering means being arranged 
behind the insertion slot (41C) and a discharge centering means being 
arranged before the discharge slot (41C*) for the centering of the cards 
to the card transport plane (x, y). This device enables the positioning of 
the card in such a manner that the plan view of the card surfaces (front 
and rear side) is not even partially hidden. Thus, a completely unhidden 
inscription and viewing window is provided. This is mandatory for an 
unrestricted laser inscription on the entire card surface. Between the 
insertion slot (41C) and the discharge slot (41C*) and parallel with the 
card transport direction a series of adjacent to each other and rotatably 
supported guide rollers (41D) for the cards is arranged at the mounting 
frame (41B), whose axes of rotation extend perpendicularly to the card 
transport plane (x, y). Opposite to and at a distance from the guide 
rollers (41D) a transport belt (41E) is provided which extends 
approximately over the length of the guide roller series. This transport 
belt (41E) is held between a motor driven drive roller (41F) and a driven 
roller (41G) whose axes of rotation extend perpendicular to the card 
transport plane (x, y). The cards (K) are held for transport and 
positioning at their longitudinal edges (K1, K2) between the guide rollers 
(41D) and the transport belt (41E). This enables completely unhidden card 
surfaces. Moreover, the transport and positioning device (41) enables 
reversing of the card (K) so that the rear side can be inscribed. See FIG. 
17. For this purpose, the mounting frame (41B) with the insertion slot 
(41C) and the discharge slot (41C*), the series of guide rollers (41D) and 
the transport belt (41E) are supported in a housing (41A) so as to be 
rotatable through 180.degree. about an axis parallel to the card transport 
direction. A rotary disk (41H) is attached at the mounting frame (41B) 
coaxially with the card transport direction which is positively and/or 
nonpositively connected with a drive motor (41J) via a drive belt (41I). 
The transport and positioning device (41) can receive the cards in the 
reversed and the nonreversed position from the card distribution device 
(2) and discharge them to the next card distribution device (2). The three 
laser inscription stations (4) constructively form the laser processing 
module (M4) which, as a component of the system, is removably and 
replaceably connected with same. 
FIG. 18 illustrates an image recognition station (5) which is arranged in 
the processing sequence direction behind the laser processing module (M4) 
for verifying the correctness and quality of the data applied on the card 
body (Hans Mustermann, Kontonr.: . . . John Doe, Account No.: . . . ). 
This consists of two cameras (50), preferably CCD cameras, which view the 
card (K) from above and from below. With these cameras (50) the 
correctness of the laser inscribed card specific data on the card can be 
verified by a comparison of the respective evaluated image with a data set 
which is associated with the respective card. In addition to the 
correctness it is also possible to verify the quality of the laser 
inscription (contrast, line definition, etc.). Cards with an incorrect or 
poor laser inscription are rejected. For transport and positioning of the 
cards received from the laser stations (4) the image recognition station 
(5) comprises a transport and positioning device (51). In this case, too, 
like in the laser station it is essential that the cards to be viewed by 
the cameras (50) are not hidden by parts of the transport and positioning 
device (51). For this reason the transport and positioning device (51) 
employed in the image recognition station (5) is preferably of identical 
design to the transport and positioning device (41) of the laser station 
(4). If as in the case of the embodiment two cameras (50), one for the 
card front surface and one for the card rear surface, are employed the 
reversing option can be dispensed with. Detected defective cards are 
placed into a reject magazine (6). 
After the image recognition station (5), the cards are placed into one of 
the storage magazines (6). In the embodiment, three storage magazines (6) 
each are constructively combined to one card storage module (M6). Which of 
the storage magazines (6) are used for the "accept" cards and which for 
the "reject" cards can be flexibly specified by the operator of the system 
via the system control unit. 
Here, another advantage of the inventive system should be mentioned. The 
processing ("personalization") of cards in this system ensures that the 
sequence of the completed cards in the "accept" card storage magazines 
corresponds to the sequence of the data sets (e.g. successive card 
numbers) recorded in the system even in the case which for various reasons 
can never be excluded in which the application of the data in the chip 
and/or magnetic stripe processing station (3) or in the laser station (4) 
was incorrect or inadequate. It is mandatory to maintain the correct card 
sequence in cases where this is assumed in subsequent, automated 
processing steps (e.g. in shipping facilities for the cards). As already 
mentioned, a direct verification takes place in the chip and/or magnetic 
stripe processing station (3) whether the data has been correctly recorded 
on the chip or on the magnetic stripe, respectively. If recording of the 
data on the card is not possible, e.g., due to a defective chip or 
magnetic stripe, then only those data sets/cards which in terms of order 
range between the last "accept" and "reject" card will be executed. A 
virgin card will be removed from the card supply magazine (1), and the 
card/user specific data set of the "reject" card will be applied on same. 
Subsequently, the normal processing continues. The same applies to errors 
in the laser inscription, which are detected in the image recognition 
station (5). 
The "reject" cards are placed into a reject magazine (6). In order to avoid 
a "jam" of "reject" cards in the processing stations (3, 4), the chip 
and/or magnetic stripe processing module (M3) and the laser inscription 
module (M4) each are assigned a parking and/or bypass station (3*, 4*). 
See FIG. 3. If, for example, the chip of a card is found to be defective 
in a chip and/or magnetic stripe processing station (3), which means that 
no data can be recorded on that card, then the affected card must be 
transported into the reject magazine (6). If all laser inscription 
stations (4) downstream of the chip and/or magnetic stripe processing 
module (M3) are occupied with cards to be inscribed, the "reject" card is 
transported by the card distribution devices (2) past the laser 
inscription stations (4) via the bypass station (4*) into the reject 
magazine (6). If necessary, the "reject" card is intermediately stored in 
the bypass station (4*). In the case of the parking/bypass station (4*) 
being already occupied by a "reject" card, the parking station (3*) can be 
used. 
In lieu of card supply modules (M1) the system can also be provided with an 
enveloping machine for the detachable fixing/packaging of the processed 
cards on/in a carrier. Alternatively, the system transfers the completed 
cards to such a machine, with "reject" cards being removed via a switch. 
In addition to or in lieu of the laser station (4), the system can be 
provided with an embossing station, a thermal transfer printer, a thermal 
sublimation printer for color printouts or an ink jet printer as the card 
body processing station. Depending on the processing time in these 
stations relative to the other processing stations, a multiple of these is 
provided along the processing parallelisation axis (x). 
Note that in one aspect of the invention, the first number of processing 
stations with the longest processing time compared to the second number of 
processing stations with the shortest processing time corresponds to the 
ratio of the processing times multiplied by the number of processing 
stations with the shortest processing time rounded to the next higher 
integer number. 
FIG. 1 also shows the operator terminal (BT, monitor) of the system control 
unit for the operator as well as two label printers (ED) for printing 
batch number labels which are adhered to the magazines with the completed 
cards. 
The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention has 
been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not 
intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form 
disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the 
above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. The 
embodiment was chosen and described in order to explain the principles of 
the invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the 
art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various 
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is 
intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended 
hereto, and their equivalents.