Method and device for manufacturing an electronic identification card

Claim 3

A method as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the carrier film (5) and the adhesive tape (1) with its protective layer (2) are each formed from a tape of substantial length supplied from a spool.

Claim 4

A method as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that the operation of cutting the film to form a vignette is carried out after the protective layer (2) has been detached, in that the cutting operation is effected by a punch, and in that the same punch (30) is used for arranging the vignette (33) in the recess (12, 13) of the card, in which it is then fixed by the adhesive tape (34).

Claim 5

A method as claimed in Claim 3, characterized in that, before the vignette is cut, an auxiliary protective layer (36) is applied to the adhesive tape, this layer being provided with holes having a dimension and a shape practically identical to those of the recess (12) in the card and whose position is chosen so that one of these holes corresponds to the recess in the card at the instant at which the vignette is cut and fixed.

Claim 9

An arrangement for manufacturing an identification card provided with a film-supplying spool (20), with an assembly (22) for mounting and electrically connecting integrated circuit chips on the said film, with a machine (30) for cutting vignettes in the said film and for mounting these vignettes in recesses provided in identification cards, with a device (23) for depositing varnish and, upstream of the assembly (21) for mounting chips, with a spool (17) of adhesive tape, characterized in that the said tape is covered with at least one protective layer, and in that the arrangement is provided with a tool (18) for forming in this tape holes which are smaller than the recess of a vignette in a card, with pressure means (21) for gluing the tape on the film, and with calibration means (37, 38) for the relative positioning of the film and the tape, downstream of the assembly for mounting chips, the arrangement is provided with an apparatus (26) for detaching and receiving the protective layer, and in that the machine for cutting vignettes is provided with a punching tool (30) for cutting vignettes in the film associated with a card feed system (29) for cutting in a single operation a vignette in the film and arranging it in a card, where the adhesive tape ensures its fixation.

Claim 10

An arrangement for manufacturing an identification card provided with a film-supplying spool (20), with an assembly (22) for mounting and electrically connecting integrated circuit chips on the said film, with a machine (30) for cutting vignettes in the said film and for mounting these vignettes in recesses provided in identification cards, with a device (23) for depositing varnish and, upstream of the assembly (21) for mounting chips, with a spool (17) of adhesive tape, characterized in that the said tape is covered with at least one protective layer, and in that the arrangement is provided with a tool (18) for forming in this tape holes which are smaller than the recess of a vignette in a card, with pressure means (21) for gluing the tape on the film, and with calibration means (37, 38) for the relative positioning of the film and the tape, downstream of the assembly for mounting chips, the arrangement is provided with an apparatus (26) for detaching and receiving the protective layer, and in that the machine for cutting vignettes is provided with a punching tool (30) for cutting vignettes in the film associated with a card feed system (29) for cutting in a single operation a vignette in the film and arranging it in a card, where the adhesive tape ensures its fixation.

Claim 11

An arrangement as claimed in Claim 8, characterized in that it is provided, downstream of the apparatus for depositing varnish, with a spool (24) for winding the film and with a drying oven (25) for receiving this spool.

Claim 12

An arrangement as claimed in any one of Claims 8 or 9, characterized in that it is provided moreover, downstream of the apparatus for arranging the vignette in the card, with a spool (27) supplying a perforated auxiliary protective layer (36), with calibration means (39) for ensuring the relative positioning of this layer and the film and for applying this layer to the tape.

Claim 13

An arrangement as claimed in any one of Claims 8 to 10, provided with an automatic card-handling system, these cards being provided with a recess for the chip, characterized in that this system presents the cards below the film (5) and the punching tool (30), and in that it is provided, upstream of the device for placing the vignette in the card, with a means (40) for depositing a given quantity of coating material in the recess of the card and, downstream of the same device, with means (42, 43) for returning the card.