CA1135115A - Printing apparatus - Google Patents
Printing apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- CA1135115A CA1135115A CA000352641A CA352641A CA1135115A CA 1135115 A CA1135115 A CA 1135115A CA 000352641 A CA000352641 A CA 000352641A CA 352641 A CA352641 A CA 352641A CA 1135115 A CA1135115 A CA 1135115A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- printing
- indicium
- article
- die
- printed
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J3/00—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
- B41J3/28—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for printing downwardly on flat surfaces, e.g. of books, drawings, boxes, envelopes, e.g. flat-bed ink-jet printers
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A printing apparatus is disclosed which is capable of printing indicia, such as letters, on articles where the rela-tive positioning of the letters as individually printed is presented in a desired format. The apparatus is adapted to determine the relative positioning between a letter printed and the next particular letter to be printed and thereby adjusts the relative position of the article to printing device to print the next letter in the proper location to give the desired relative spacing. Thus, the system printing is dependent upon letter spacing established by a predetermined scheme for spacing between particular letters. Such apparatus may be adapted for the automated hot stamping of letters into articles.
A printing apparatus is disclosed which is capable of printing indicia, such as letters, on articles where the rela-tive positioning of the letters as individually printed is presented in a desired format. The apparatus is adapted to determine the relative positioning between a letter printed and the next particular letter to be printed and thereby adjusts the relative position of the article to printing device to print the next letter in the proper location to give the desired relative spacing. Thus, the system printing is dependent upon letter spacing established by a predetermined scheme for spacing between particular letters. Such apparatus may be adapted for the automated hot stamping of letters into articles.
Description
Field of the Invention This invention relates to printing apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus which is capable of individually printing indicium on a substrate in accordance with a pre-determined scheme.
Background of the Invention The printing of articles, such as nameplatesj bookcovers,presentation folders, leather goods, metalwares, to provide an attractive appearance for the lettering is normally done by hand. This may involve the use of systems, such as Letraset (trademark) for the manual placement of letters on an article, engraving letters or stamping of a custom made die printing letters in a desired arrangement. However, where several articles have to be printed, each with a different series of letters, the lettering has to be done by hand for each article to present each peculiar series of letters in a visually attractive manner.
Canadian patents 182,923 and 378,440 disclose printing machines which use a typecase with a set of movable type for placement of selected type beneath a plunger to form a type impression on an article. Although both mechanisms disclose mechanical linkage which is actuated to move the article after each letter is typed, such movement bears no relationship to a desired relative spacing between a letter just typed and the next letter to be typed. Thus, in the typing of various series of letters, spacing will occur between typed letters which is S
based only on width of letters and, therefore, unpleasing to the eye in presenting the name, as a result necessitating a manual effort to print articles where presentation of letters is important.
United States patent 1,057,737 discloses a machine for making electric type matrices. The matrices are of wax or plastic which are used for making electrotype printing plates.
The holder for the matrix and that for the printing form are relatively adjustable in different directions in a manner to enable an impression to be made in a predetermined position on the matrix plate, or a succession of duplicate or dissimilar impressions to be made. However, tne machine is not useful for printing individual letters where the spacing between letter types is important.
United States patent 3,924,720 discloses a printing device for printing letters on nameplate markers for steel strapping and the like. The printing device includes a drum having print faces formed thereon. As the nameplate markers are advanced beneath the drum, selected print faces on the drum print res-pective letters onto the nameplate. The advance of the nameplate beneath the drum is determined by a mechanism involving the use of an escapement wheel, thus the spacing between letters is consistent regardless of the next letter to be typed.
The printing apparatus, according to this invention, unlike the above-noted printing devices is capable of printing a series of printed letters in a desired presentation format, where each i~as$~.5 letter is individually printed. Such printing operation may be automated and may be designed to determine the relative positioning between letters in accordance with a predetermined scheme for such letter spacing prior to printing each letter of a selected series.
Summary of the Invention A printing apparatus, according to this invention, prints individually indicium on an article or substrate to present adjacent letters in a desired visually attractive format. The apparatus causes relative movement between the printing device and the article, so as to print the next particular indicium at a location which is determined in accordance with a predetermined ; scheme for desired relative positioning of a particular indicium printed and the next adjacent particular indicium to be printed.
15The predetermined scheme for relative positioning of a particular indicium of a printed series is based on a prescribed relationship for certain styles of indicium. The predetermined scheme may involve relationships for spacing between indicium, such as the letter of the alphabet, in accordance with developed units of spacing between any combination of adjacent letters for the desired, visually attractive proportional spacing between such letters.
According to an aspect of the invention, the printing apparatus comprises means for printing individually each indicium of a series on a substrate. Means is provided for supporting 113~11S
a substrate to be printed on. Means adjusts the relative positions of the printing means and the support means, by effecting relative movement therebetween after each indicium of a series is printed, and means controls the adjustment means.
Means inputs into the control means the indicium of a series.
The control means directs the adjustment means to effect relative movement between the supported substrate and the printing means, after an indicium is printed to an extent which is determined by the control means in accordance with a predetermined scheme for the desired relative positioning of a particular indicium just printed and the next particular indicium to be printed. The printing apparatus, therefore, provides the desired presentation format on a substrate for a series of individually printed indicia.
The invention may, accordingly, provide printing apparatus which, in determining the relative spacing between indicia printed and to be printed in accordance with a predetermined scheme, is capable of effecting movement of the article to be printed relative to the printing head. The printing head is shiftable relative to an actuator to locate a print die of an array of dies in the printing head beneath the actuator, so that on actuation, the particular die imprints the desired indicium on the article. The movement of the array may be controlled in several ways and, according to another aspect of the invention, may be effected by the-use of a unique arrangement of serially connected individually controllable pneumatic cylinders which are adapted to bidirectionally move the print head.
Computational means, which is responsive to input data representative of indicium to be printed, may be used in deter-mining the relative positions between the printed indicium, inaccordance with a predetermined scheme. Thus, in determining the relative positioning, the computational means may be adapted to signal means for controlling the printing apparatus to ensure printing of the next indicium in the proper location on the article to provide the desired visually acceptable proportional spacing of letters for any desired series of letters.
Brief Descri tion of the Drawings p Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a layout of an embodiment of the apparatus according to this invention;
Figure 2 is an isometric view of the printing device of the apparatus of Figure l;
Figures 3 and 4 are top plan views of the apparatus of Figure 2 showing various relative positionings of the printing device and the article being printed;
Figure 5 is exemplary of relative positioning of letters which are printed by the printing device;
Figure 6 is a broken-away view of details of the printing head assembly of the printing device of Figure 2;
l~L3~5 Figure 7 is a side elevation of the printing head device of Figure 2; and Figure 8 is a schematic of electrical circuitry for inter-facing output of controller with pneumatic air cylinder solenoid valves.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments The printing apparatus shown in Figure 1 is generally designated 10. The apparatus comprises a printing device 12 and shifting devices 14 for moving the printing device to locate a desired print die of an array of print dies beneath print actuator 16. Controller 18, in combination with input from computer 22, controls the operation of the shifting devices 14 for shifting the printing device 12, the actuator 16 and drive 20 which effects relative movement between article to be printed and the printing device 12. Computer terminal 22 has a keyboard 24 which may be used to enter input data representative of the letters to be typed. The computer may be loaded with a program via a tape reader 26, where the computer in following the program performs the series of calculations, according to a predeter-mined scheme, for determining the relative positioning between input letters to be typed by the printing device 12. The controller 18 may, of course, be integral with the computer 22.
The apparatus 10, as shown in Figure 1, is particularly adapted for hot stamp printing of articles, where a foil carrying a substance to be imprinted on the article passes beneath the S
printing device 12 and is imprinted on the article where an appropriate die is actuated. The foil is fed through the printing device as paid out from reel 28 and waste collected on drive reel 30.
It is the purpose of the apparatus to print letters with the desirable relative spacing, such as demonstrated in Figure 5, whereit can be clearly seen in the word l'Town'l that there is overlap of the top of the capital l'T" relative to the letter "o" and virtually no spacing between the edge of the letter "o" and adjacent letter "w". On the other hand, between the "w" and the ~Inll~ there is slight spacing as indicated by the arrows. This relationship in the letters is visually, pro-portionately correct. Similarly, with the letters llrll, lloll, it can be seen in that particular combination of indicium there is slight spacing between the edge of the llrll and the edge of the lloll. It is possible to formulate a chart representing the number of units of spacing between the mid-portion of letters to define the proper proportional spacing therebetween. This may be done visually and in taking a basic unit of measurement, the various spacings may be worked up to provide a chart covering all possible combinations of small letters with themselves and with capital letters.
Using the same approach, various charts may be formulated to cover all styles of script, letters, numerals and any other types of indicium which may be printed in a series with the S
desired correct visual format. Thus, each letter to be typed may be assigned so many units of width, where for example in Figure 5, the capital "T" may be 30 units in width, whereas the small letter "o" may be 15 units in width. In visually posi-tioning the "T" relative to the "o", calculations may be made todetermine, in this instance, the particular distance between the medians of the capital "T" and the small letter "o" to deter-mine the extent to which an article should be advanced relative to a printing device before printing the "o" after the "T".
Once a chart is developed establishing the relationship of all possible combinations of letters to be typed, this information may be used to program the computer 22, such that it may access upon command the chart as fed into the computer's memory by reader 26 to determine relative spacing between particular letters as they are called for in the printing process.
Turning to Figure 6 of the drawings, further details of the printing device are shown. The printing head 32 comprises a body portion in the form of a solid metal plate 34 which has formed therein a plurality of bores for reciprocally mounting therein a corresponding plurality of print dies 36.
As shown in Figure 7, the plate 34 has the bores 38 so formed to accept the base portion 40 of the print die as connected to upper stem 42 which extends through the plate bore. Each die is spring biased to the retracted position by coil spring 44 which is held in place by keeper 46. The retracted position is determined by the upper face of print die 40 resting against face 48 of the plate bore. On the underside 50 of the print die is a particular outline for the indicium to be printed by that die. Each die is extended by an actuator means which may be in the form of an air operated plunger 52 which has a ram rod 54 extending downwardly therefrom. The end of the rod is pointed at 56 so as to be received by correspondingly shaped groove 58 in the upper portion of each stem of print die. As the plunger forward portion 56 contacts the groove 58 of the print die, a centering effect is achieved and relative rotation of the die is prevented, as it is extended outwardly of the plate 34 to contact the article to be printed.
The plate 34 is designed so as to have the dies placed about the plate in various groupings. As shown in Figure 7, the series of dies are equally spaced apart across the front of the plate, the single unit of spacing being designated 60.
The spacing between the dies in the other direction, as shown in Figure 6, is a single unit of spacing designated 62. The rest of the dies are positioned on the plate in a manner to be spaced apart equal to the single unit of spacing 60 or 62 in either direction or multiples thereof in forming a matrix of die positions. For example, the spacing between die 36a and 36b may be twice the spacing between dies 36a and 36c, so as to segregate capital letters in a:~atrix separate from the matrix of small letters on the array or any other desired segregation of indicium.
~3S~:15 As mentioned, the device is particularly adapted for hot stamp printing where the metal plate 34 has immersed in spaces provided between group of dies a plurality of heaters 64 which are thermostatically controlled by control device 66 having ad-justment nob 6B with temperature readout 70. The device is powered through an electrical wire 72. Depending upon the type of hot stamp application, one skilled in the art of letter hot stamping would be able to adjust the temperature of the block to achieve the desired die temperatures due to their intimate contact with the block to heat the faces to an appropriate hot stamping temperature. Suitable heat reflective shields 74 may be used to reflect the heat away from the support and guide mechanism for the printing head device 32.
Having selected the various indicium to be printed in an application, such as the use of the letters of the alphabet and numbers, the position of each particular indicium print die on the plate 34 may be established in terms of coordinates relative to axes such as X and Y axes shown on plate 34 in Figure 6.
In establishing a coordinate in terms of number of units of spacing of 60 and 62 for each print die in the plate, this information may be programmed in the computer 22, so that in directing the printing of the particular indicium, the plate 34 may be shifted so as to locate the appropriate print die beneath the plunger 54 for printing.
To accomplish the location of a particular print die ~13S115 beneath the plunger 52, which in this embodiment is always fixed, a unique arrangement of pneumatic cylinders has been developed to shift the plate 34 relative to the plunger device 52. The arrangement for the pneumatic cylinders provides a series of interconnected cylinders which are individually con-trollable for extension and retraction. In individually con-trolling the cylinders, the array may be shifted in the X and Y
directions by using two sets of cylinders to locate a desired die beneath the plunger 52. The use of pneumatic cylinders has been found to be most advantageous in precisely locating the dies relative to the plunger to provide fast response and precise stepping of the plate printing device 32 relative to the plungers 52. It is appreciated, however, that other forms of drive or shifting mechanisms may be used, such as use of stepping motors, one of which would adjust the plate in the X direction, the other of which would adjust the plate in the Y direction to locate, according to the particular coordinates, desired print die beneath the plunger 52.
As shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7, the printing head 32 is mounted on transversely extending bars 76 which extend through heat reflector plate 74 and are secured to opposing up-right support plates 78, which are in turn secured to guide plate 80. Guide plates 80 have apertures 82 formed therein and through which extend a first set of guide rods 84. Also secured to the upper part of guide plates 80 is a pneumatic cylinder 86 1~35JL~5 of a first set of pneumatic cylinders for shifting the printing device head 32 in the Y direction, as represented by arrow 88.
Turning to Figure 1, it can be seen that the first set of guide rods 84 are secured at each end to opposing plates 90 which have secured near each end outwardly projecting bushings 92, through which a second set of guide rods 94 extent at right angles to guide rods 84. The actuating device 16, in the form of pneumatic plunger 52, is fixed on overhead rails 96 relative to the printing device 10. Thus, the print head 32 of the printer 12 may be moved in both the X and Y directions any number of units 60 and 62 to locate the desired indicium die beneath the actuator 16.
To bring about this movement of the printer head plate 32 in the X and Y directions, a first and second set of serially, mechanically interconnected,individually controllable pneuma-tically driven cylinders are used. The first set of shifting devices include pneumatic cylinders 86, 98 and 100. Duplicate pairs of these cylinders, which are connected in parallel in terms of pressurized air feed, are used to provide a smooth shifting of the print head plate 34 in the Y direction. For shifting the print head in the X direction, a second set of pneumatic cylinders are used, namely, 102, 104, 106 and 108 to effect various extents of movement of the printing head in the X direction.
For sake of clarity, only single conduits 110, 112, 114, ~3S1~5 115, 118, 120 and 122 lead to the respective pneumatic cylinders, which suggests single acting cylinders. It is understood that single acting cylinders may be used, where springs or other like devices are used to return the cylinders to the retracted posi-tion. However, for purposes of speedy retraction of the cylinders, it should be interpreted that lines 110 through 122 designate dual lines for dual acting cylinders for the system 14.
Pressurized air is provided in line 124 which may be filtered at 126. Electromechanical solenoids, which are controlled by controlling device 18, control respectively the supply of pres-surized air to the lines leading to the cylinders. The electro-mechanical solenoids are respectively designated 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138 and 140.
Electrical control lines leading from controller 18 to the solenoids are designated generally by the group of lines 142, which carry individual signals to each of the respective electromechanical solenoids 128 through 140 which, when electri-cally actuated, open to supply pressurized air in the respective lines 110 through 122 to extend the respective drive cylinder.
In having loaded the coordinates for each indicium die on the print head plate into the computer 22, in calling for the printing of any one of the selected indicium, the appropriate pneumatic cylinders may be actuated to shift the plate the desired number of units in the X and Y direction to locate the die beneath the actuator. For example, assuming one wishes to ~lJS~lS
print the small letter "r", it may be stored in the computer's memory that particular drive cylinders of the first and second set are extended, while others are or remain retracted to give that location. Thus, in moving from one indicium die to another, there is no need to "zero" the machine before moving to the next die, because for positioning each die beneath plunger 52, there is a unique combination of extended and retracted cylinders for each set of cylinders.
As to the actuator 16, air is supplied to electromechanical solenoid valve 144 which by line 146 is connected to the pneumatic plunger 52. Air to the valve 144 is supplied from line 124. Control device 18 via line 148 electrically controls the solenoid 144 to open or close the valve. After a desired indicium die is positioned beneath actuator 16, control 18 lS opens valve 144 to extend the plunger 54 and contact the die with the article to be printed and in a hot stamp operation, in turn sandwich the foil between the die face and article. The period of time that the plunger 54 is extended in pressing the die against the article is determined by computer 22 and, thus, by line 148 controls the length of time the valve 144 is open.
Again, the cylinder 52 may be double acting so as to be imme-diately retracted with a second signal, or when the first signal is removed from the solenoid. The duration the plunger is extended in pressing the die against the article is dependent upon several factors, including particular printing operation, 1~3~1~5 and if hot stamp, other factors are the temperature of the die face, the foil being used and the pressure it exerts on the article. By trial and error, values may be established for each particular die configuration, so that when each die is extended, it is determined from the computer's memory the appropriate duration to thereby control the actuator 16 in providing the proper suitable imprint on the article.
Another controlling function of controller 18 is-via line 150 to control the stepping motor 20, which via shaft 152 is connected to drive belt 154 which moves the support mechanism on which the article rests during the printing opera-tion. Aspects of this and other features of the apparatus are shown in more detail in Figure 2. For sake of clarity and illustration, the pneumatic drive cylinders are not shown in Figure 2. The printing device 12 includes a base plate 156 to which standards 158 and 160 are secured. In turn, extending between the standards 158 and 160 are the second set of guide rails 94. The first set of guide rails 84 are, in turn, secu-red to the opposing plates 80 which have secured thereto the bushings 92 through which the guide rails 94 extend in apertures 162. Overhead support rods 164 and 166 are secured to opposing standards 158 and 160. Centrally of the support rods 164, 166, the pneumatic cylinder 52 is fixed where the plunger 54 is ex-tended and retracted in the direction of arrow 55. With the relationship of the supports and guide rods 84 and 94, it can be ~135~1~S
seen that the print head 32, carrying the array of indicium, is shiftable in the X and Y directions, as indicated by arrows 168 and 170.
The unit, as particularly adapted for hot stamp printing, has a foil ribbon paid off from reel 28 beneath the print die array 32 and the waste gathered on driven wheel 30 under idler wheel 31. From the stepping motor 20, a drive belt 172 is wrapped around pulley 174 and is adapted to advance the reel 30 a predetermined amount each time a letter is printed. The stepping motor 20, via shaft 152 as secured to drive pulley 155, drives the drive belt 154 over the idler pulley 157. At the rear of the machine, not shown in Figure 2, similar drive arrangement is shown. Secured to the drive belt 154 on each side of the machine are support rods 176 and 178 which support a table 180 on which an article to be labelled, such as planar binder front 182, is secured. The table 180 is slidable and, although not shown, is so mounted on support rods 176 and 178 to be movable in the Y direction, as demonstrated by arrow 184.
As to movement of the table in the X direction of arrows 186, this is adjusted by the stepping motor 20.
Turning to Figure 3, and with reference to Figure 7, the stepping motor 20 drives via drive shaft 152, the opposing drive pulleys 155 at each side of the apparatus. The support rods 176 and 178 are secured at each end of the drive belt 154.
With this particular arrangement where the printing device array 11351~5 32 is movable relative to a fixed actuator 16, the support table 180 is moved to the left in the direction of arrow 188.
The computer 22 may be programmed once given the field of the article to be printed to determine the margins for centering the letters on the book or any other location. The stepping motor is actuated to move the table 180 to the right a predeter-mined amount, so.as~to:commence.,printing of the.first letter in the series at a location which will result in centering the entire series once completely printed. For example, to print the word "Town" of Figure 5 on the face of the article 182, the article 182 with support tray 180 may be moved in-wardly in the direction of arrow 190 either automatically or manually to position the article 182 in the proper location beneath the actuator 16. According to the program of the computer, the spacing between the letters and spaces for each letter printed may be determined and, thus the center of the word determined so as to locate the position of the left-hand letter. The stepping motor can then be actuated to move the table 180 to the right a determinable distance to locate the article in the proper position beneath the actuator 16.
In order to commence printing the capital "T", indicium die of the array 32 is located beneath the actuator 16 by a unique combination of extension and retraction of the air cy-linders of the first and second sets via controlled actuation of respective solenoid valves. The control 18 actuates the ~35~5 actuator 16 to depress the indicium die and hot stamp the subs-tance of the foil onto the face of the article 182. The computer 22, in having calculated the number of units of spacing between the median of the capital "T" and the small letter "o", directs via control 18 the number of steps stepping motor 20 must make to move the support tray 180 in the direction of arrow 188 so as to position the precise portion of the field beneath the actuator. Control mechanism 18, under direction of computer output, selectively actuates the solenoids to shift the plate 34 to locate the small letter "o" die beneath actuator 16.
Control 18 then actuates the plunger to imprint the small-letter "o" beside the capital "T". This procedure is continued until all letters are imprinted on article 182 to give the desired presentation format for the letters.
As shown in Figure 7, the foil 25 is advanced in the direction of arrow 27, as located between the article 182 and the print die face 50. Upon actuation of plunger 52, the die face 50 sandwiches the foil 25 between its face and article 182 to form an impression on the article 182 and transfer the sub-stance of the foil to the article according to standard hot stamp practices. After the letter is printed, as explained, the stepping motor 20 may be adapted to advance the takeup reel 30 to move fresh foil beneath the actuator for purposes of imprinting the next letter on the article 182 while it moves the article support.
~3S~lS
Turning to Figure 4, it is apparent that relative movement has been effected between the article 122 and the fixed actuating plunger device 16. The article 182 has been moved further to the left in the direction of arrow 188 after some of the letters have been printed. It can be seen in printing the letter different from that printed in Figure 3 that the indicia die array 32 has been shifted by extension and retraction of the f rst and second sets of cylinders to locate the appropriate indicium die beneath the actuators 16. Depending upon the unit of spacing between the dies 36 of the array, the stroke length of the three cylinders 86, 98 and 100 in the first set and the four cylinders 102, 104, 106 and 108 in the second set can be determined. For example, should the unit spacing between the dies be 3/4 of an inch and multiples thereof, for six dies in the Y direction and fourteen dies in the X direction, it can be appreciated that cylinders 86, 98 and 100 would have indivi-dually distinct stroke lengths of 3/4, 3/4 and 2 1/4 inches.
Similarly with the second set of cylinders 106, 108, 104 and 102, they would have individually distinct stroke lenghts of respectively 3/4, 1 1/2, 3 and 6 inches. ~ :
Although as shown in the drawings, the spacing in the Y direction of the six dies is equal, it is understood that there may be multiples thereof to provide gaps and thereby visually indicate a first set of dies distinctfrom a second set, such as the small and capital letters. This aspect is shown more clearly in Figure 6, where there is greater spacing between dies 36a and 36b. Should the block 34 continue in the Y direction to provide spaces for additional capital letters, the 2 1/4 inch shift cylinder 100 is used to shift from the first matrix set to the second matrix set in line with the row of dies repre-sented by die 36b. From this point, multiples of 3/4 inch cylinders 86 and 98 may be used to locate additional dies in the Y direction beneath the actuator. Similarly in the X direction, additional cylinders may be added to increase the number of coordinates in the array to accommodate far greater number of indicium print die; however, there is obviously a cutoff point in the number of dies to be carried in an array, since the addi-tion of a twelve inch stroke cylinder would significantly increase the number of dies which could be added to the array.
Another consideration in the flexibility of the array setup is that dies having logos may be included in the array to permit printing of a logo in combination with a series of letters in a desired arrangement. The logo may be of the same size as an indicium print die, or may be multiples thereof where the die shaft would be centered at a coordinate of the matrix to facilitate locating of such logo die beneath the actuator in accordance with the computer program.
From these multiples, every coordinate in the matrix for an indicium die can be located beneath the plunger 16. Thus as ~135~5 mentioned, the computer 22 may have entered in its memory the coordinates for every die and have associated with each coor-dinate the states of the cylinders of the first and second sets to consistently accuxately and quickly locate the proper indi-cium die beneath the actuation plunger. There is no need toreturn the unit to a "zero" position since, when the next indicium die is called for, the appropriate cylinders are ex-tended and retracted to move the array to the new position.
The computer 22 may be provided with a visual display screen, such as CRT 21, which displays the various functions of the computer, such as the format of the program, the dis-play of data being entered for purposes of reference and other information which would be helpful in the entry of data, calculation of spacing and understanding operation of the unit including prompts at appropriate times in operating the machine.
It is appreciated that the control 18 may be provided with a bank of switches generally designated 19, which may provide for manual override on the input from the computer 22 in a situation where it is desired to manually control the stepping motor, the actuator plunger and the pneumatic cylinders in carrying out the printing operations.
In view of the use of a plate 34 for the body portion of the print head, the unit may become fairly heavy and could weight about 100 pounds depending upon the materials used in setting up the die. In view of the weight of the print head, 1~3S~5 the use of pneumatic drive cylinders are particularly advan-tageous in shifting the relatively heavy print head to the precise location for placing any desired die in the array be-neath the plunger. The serially interconnected, individually controllable cylinders provide the needed force to move the print head, yet because their stroke length is predetermined, one is always assured that when particular cylinders are actuated or retracted over extended periods of use, the cylinders, as used in combination, will consistently locate the desired die beneath the plunger. Compared tG the use of electronic stepping motors for controlled movement of the print head, the operation of the air cylinders is less complicated and requires a simpler program in controlling the movement.
It is understood that this particular arrangement for air cylinders for shifting the print head may also be adapted for uæ in other fields, such as shifting a workpiece to locate a predetermined area to be bored beneath a drill head, where various bores are to be formed in the workpiece at predeteremined coordinates. ~he air cylinder arrangement may also be used with a tool selection network where bits for a metal working device may be stored in a grid outline and thus the use of two sets of air cylinders may be used to shift the machine head to the various torage locations in the tool storage matrix to either deposit or pickup an appropriate bit.
It is appreciated that the print head 34 may be arranged 5~.~5 to be interchangeable with other print heads carrying other styles of indicia; for example, it may be desired to use script.
This may be readily accomplished by simply removing the print plate 34 and replacing it with the new plate containing the new script die. In this regard, the program, which according to this embodiment, is input to the computer via taipe reader 26, would be interchanged to lead into the computer the new program for determining the spacing between indicia to be printed, the location of the dies in the plate, and the dwell time for imprinting indicia on the article.
It should also be noted that the array, as set up in the form of a matrix with each location being determinable by a coordinate in the X/Y axis, may be expandable in either direction depending upon the size of the plate to permit addi-tion in due course of further indicia as desired, where theprogram could be modified to indicate the location of the new indicia on the array.
The operation of the printing apparatus may respond to each letter as typed on the keyboard and subsequently printed on the article, or the unit could await input of the complete series of letters and completing the calculations on the spacing before commencing the printing operation. In the mode of responding to each letter propos~ on the keyboard, the calculations would be carried out to determine the relative spacing before that letter is actually printed on the article.
~135~15 Several different types of electronic controls are avail-able for interfacing the digital output of the computer 22 with the electrical-mechanical solenoids controlling the supply of pressurized air to the cylinders for moving the print array, for actuating the cylinder and for supplying electric signals to the stepping motor to move it a predetermined number of steps forwards or backwards. An example of such circuitry is shown in Figure 8.
The circuitry, as shown in Figure 8, forms part of the controller unit 18. The computer provides digital output to the ports designated D0 through D10, along with representative enable lines 1 and 2 for respectively enabling latches 190, 192 and latch 194. The output from the latches are shown as lines 142, 148 and 150 in Figure 1. The output of latches 190 - 15 and 192 in the form of lines 142 are arranged such that output terminals`Dl through D7 are respectively directly connected to solenoids 140, 138, 136, 134, 132, 130 and 128. Considering the control of the air cylinders, the computer, in providing output in line D0 through D7 and with latches 190 and 192 enabled by line 1, provide an electric signal at the base of the respective transistor 196 connected to outputs Dl through D7 to place them either in the conductive or non-conductive state.
The solenoids, in being connected to outputs Dl through D7, have a high voltage applied to the upper side of the solenoid.
Thus, when the selected ones of Dl through D7 go to ground by 1135~5 the electric signals rendering the selected transistors 196 conductive, this closes the respective solenoids.
Once the coordinates for the next indicium print die are selected and according to the program of the computer, a selection is then made which output ports DO through D7 are rendered "high" to render conductive to ground the correspond-ing output terminals Dl through D7. The respective air cylinders are so actuated to extend and those remaining, whose solenoids are not connected to ground, retract to cause a shifting of the array to locate the desired indicium die beneath the actuator 16.
The computer provides additional output at ports D8, D9 and D10 for controlling the stepping motor 20 and the print actuator 16. With enable 2 enabling latch 194 with signal at port D10, transistor 198 is rendered conductive to ground to close the solenoid 144 and thus extend the actuator plunger to imprint the die indicium onto the substrate. The duration during which the actuator is depressed is dependent upon the output signal in port D10 determined by the computer 22.
After printing of the desired indicium, the stepping m~tor 20 is controlled via line 150 to advance the substrate in the manner discussed. This control is provided by digital output from the computer 22 into lines D8 and D9. For example, a signal with enable 2 enabling latch 194 is passed through output port D8 to the stepping motor to advance the stepping motor the ~;3S3~15 desired number of steps. Conversely, output through line D9 with latch 194 enabled causes the stepping motor to reverse a desired number of steps in positioning the substrate for the next step in the printing operation.
Thus, it can be seen that with this type of circuitry the output from the computer can be interfaced with the electri-cal-mechanical solenoids for controlling the movement of the array, the actuator and the stepping motor in controlling the individual printing of indicium on a substrate.
From the above description, the printing apparatus, as controlled, governs three aspects of printing. The computational means in the form of the computer 22 determines the relative spacing between letters to be typed, the dwell time for imprint-ing the letter on the article and shifting of the array to locate the correct indicium die beneath the plunger device 16. With these aspects of the apparatus, the device may be automated to imprint a series of letters without further need for input and with no need for manual manipulation of the device. The automa-tion of the device reduces operator error to provide for a quality finished product which presents the indicia in a visually acceptable proportional spacing. The program for the computer may also have the feature of changing the degree of relative spacing between letters, for example, should it be desired to present block letters to standout on a presentation folder, the calculated spacing between letters may be increased in each 1135~1S
instance a desired amount to provide a bolder face for such lettering. This may be simply done by entering data into the computer which would increase the calculated spacing a desired amount before each letter is printed.
According to the preferred embodiment, the relative movement effected between the article and the printing device results in moving the article relative to the plunger. Other arrangements may be used; for example, the printing head array may remain stationary while the plunger mechanism and the article are moved above and beneath the print head to locate each indicium die and then have it imprinted on the article. Other forms of printing heads may be used which have print die faces mounted on a drum. The drum is rotated to locate the desired indicium above the article and then brought into contact with the article to imprint same.
Although the unit, as described, has been particularly adapted to hot stamp methods, the apparatus may be used for other forms of printing applications, such as ink printing, where the underside of the dies may be coated with suitable ink material and then the ink material transferred in the shape of the die onto the article being printed.
Input to the computer has been discussed with respect to use of the keyboard 24. Other forms of input may be used, such as from a tape drive having a listing of names to be printed on nameplates, portfolio presentations and name tags. Insurance ~135~15 portfolios for circulation to several clients may be persona-lized by having printed on each folder the person's name, which could be taken from a listing of clients' names on a computer memory storage, such as magnetic tape. Other examples include conferences where the listing of attendees is fed to the printing apparatus to print name tags and the like.
It can, therefore, be appreciated that with this apparatus the process of personalized attractive printing of material, using hot stamp techniques in particular, is expedited to provide a quality product in an efficient manner.
Although various preferred embodiments of the invention have been described herein in detail, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.
Background of the Invention The printing of articles, such as nameplatesj bookcovers,presentation folders, leather goods, metalwares, to provide an attractive appearance for the lettering is normally done by hand. This may involve the use of systems, such as Letraset (trademark) for the manual placement of letters on an article, engraving letters or stamping of a custom made die printing letters in a desired arrangement. However, where several articles have to be printed, each with a different series of letters, the lettering has to be done by hand for each article to present each peculiar series of letters in a visually attractive manner.
Canadian patents 182,923 and 378,440 disclose printing machines which use a typecase with a set of movable type for placement of selected type beneath a plunger to form a type impression on an article. Although both mechanisms disclose mechanical linkage which is actuated to move the article after each letter is typed, such movement bears no relationship to a desired relative spacing between a letter just typed and the next letter to be typed. Thus, in the typing of various series of letters, spacing will occur between typed letters which is S
based only on width of letters and, therefore, unpleasing to the eye in presenting the name, as a result necessitating a manual effort to print articles where presentation of letters is important.
United States patent 1,057,737 discloses a machine for making electric type matrices. The matrices are of wax or plastic which are used for making electrotype printing plates.
The holder for the matrix and that for the printing form are relatively adjustable in different directions in a manner to enable an impression to be made in a predetermined position on the matrix plate, or a succession of duplicate or dissimilar impressions to be made. However, tne machine is not useful for printing individual letters where the spacing between letter types is important.
United States patent 3,924,720 discloses a printing device for printing letters on nameplate markers for steel strapping and the like. The printing device includes a drum having print faces formed thereon. As the nameplate markers are advanced beneath the drum, selected print faces on the drum print res-pective letters onto the nameplate. The advance of the nameplate beneath the drum is determined by a mechanism involving the use of an escapement wheel, thus the spacing between letters is consistent regardless of the next letter to be typed.
The printing apparatus, according to this invention, unlike the above-noted printing devices is capable of printing a series of printed letters in a desired presentation format, where each i~as$~.5 letter is individually printed. Such printing operation may be automated and may be designed to determine the relative positioning between letters in accordance with a predetermined scheme for such letter spacing prior to printing each letter of a selected series.
Summary of the Invention A printing apparatus, according to this invention, prints individually indicium on an article or substrate to present adjacent letters in a desired visually attractive format. The apparatus causes relative movement between the printing device and the article, so as to print the next particular indicium at a location which is determined in accordance with a predetermined ; scheme for desired relative positioning of a particular indicium printed and the next adjacent particular indicium to be printed.
15The predetermined scheme for relative positioning of a particular indicium of a printed series is based on a prescribed relationship for certain styles of indicium. The predetermined scheme may involve relationships for spacing between indicium, such as the letter of the alphabet, in accordance with developed units of spacing between any combination of adjacent letters for the desired, visually attractive proportional spacing between such letters.
According to an aspect of the invention, the printing apparatus comprises means for printing individually each indicium of a series on a substrate. Means is provided for supporting 113~11S
a substrate to be printed on. Means adjusts the relative positions of the printing means and the support means, by effecting relative movement therebetween after each indicium of a series is printed, and means controls the adjustment means.
Means inputs into the control means the indicium of a series.
The control means directs the adjustment means to effect relative movement between the supported substrate and the printing means, after an indicium is printed to an extent which is determined by the control means in accordance with a predetermined scheme for the desired relative positioning of a particular indicium just printed and the next particular indicium to be printed. The printing apparatus, therefore, provides the desired presentation format on a substrate for a series of individually printed indicia.
The invention may, accordingly, provide printing apparatus which, in determining the relative spacing between indicia printed and to be printed in accordance with a predetermined scheme, is capable of effecting movement of the article to be printed relative to the printing head. The printing head is shiftable relative to an actuator to locate a print die of an array of dies in the printing head beneath the actuator, so that on actuation, the particular die imprints the desired indicium on the article. The movement of the array may be controlled in several ways and, according to another aspect of the invention, may be effected by the-use of a unique arrangement of serially connected individually controllable pneumatic cylinders which are adapted to bidirectionally move the print head.
Computational means, which is responsive to input data representative of indicium to be printed, may be used in deter-mining the relative positions between the printed indicium, inaccordance with a predetermined scheme. Thus, in determining the relative positioning, the computational means may be adapted to signal means for controlling the printing apparatus to ensure printing of the next indicium in the proper location on the article to provide the desired visually acceptable proportional spacing of letters for any desired series of letters.
Brief Descri tion of the Drawings p Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a layout of an embodiment of the apparatus according to this invention;
Figure 2 is an isometric view of the printing device of the apparatus of Figure l;
Figures 3 and 4 are top plan views of the apparatus of Figure 2 showing various relative positionings of the printing device and the article being printed;
Figure 5 is exemplary of relative positioning of letters which are printed by the printing device;
Figure 6 is a broken-away view of details of the printing head assembly of the printing device of Figure 2;
l~L3~5 Figure 7 is a side elevation of the printing head device of Figure 2; and Figure 8 is a schematic of electrical circuitry for inter-facing output of controller with pneumatic air cylinder solenoid valves.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments The printing apparatus shown in Figure 1 is generally designated 10. The apparatus comprises a printing device 12 and shifting devices 14 for moving the printing device to locate a desired print die of an array of print dies beneath print actuator 16. Controller 18, in combination with input from computer 22, controls the operation of the shifting devices 14 for shifting the printing device 12, the actuator 16 and drive 20 which effects relative movement between article to be printed and the printing device 12. Computer terminal 22 has a keyboard 24 which may be used to enter input data representative of the letters to be typed. The computer may be loaded with a program via a tape reader 26, where the computer in following the program performs the series of calculations, according to a predeter-mined scheme, for determining the relative positioning between input letters to be typed by the printing device 12. The controller 18 may, of course, be integral with the computer 22.
The apparatus 10, as shown in Figure 1, is particularly adapted for hot stamp printing of articles, where a foil carrying a substance to be imprinted on the article passes beneath the S
printing device 12 and is imprinted on the article where an appropriate die is actuated. The foil is fed through the printing device as paid out from reel 28 and waste collected on drive reel 30.
It is the purpose of the apparatus to print letters with the desirable relative spacing, such as demonstrated in Figure 5, whereit can be clearly seen in the word l'Town'l that there is overlap of the top of the capital l'T" relative to the letter "o" and virtually no spacing between the edge of the letter "o" and adjacent letter "w". On the other hand, between the "w" and the ~Inll~ there is slight spacing as indicated by the arrows. This relationship in the letters is visually, pro-portionately correct. Similarly, with the letters llrll, lloll, it can be seen in that particular combination of indicium there is slight spacing between the edge of the llrll and the edge of the lloll. It is possible to formulate a chart representing the number of units of spacing between the mid-portion of letters to define the proper proportional spacing therebetween. This may be done visually and in taking a basic unit of measurement, the various spacings may be worked up to provide a chart covering all possible combinations of small letters with themselves and with capital letters.
Using the same approach, various charts may be formulated to cover all styles of script, letters, numerals and any other types of indicium which may be printed in a series with the S
desired correct visual format. Thus, each letter to be typed may be assigned so many units of width, where for example in Figure 5, the capital "T" may be 30 units in width, whereas the small letter "o" may be 15 units in width. In visually posi-tioning the "T" relative to the "o", calculations may be made todetermine, in this instance, the particular distance between the medians of the capital "T" and the small letter "o" to deter-mine the extent to which an article should be advanced relative to a printing device before printing the "o" after the "T".
Once a chart is developed establishing the relationship of all possible combinations of letters to be typed, this information may be used to program the computer 22, such that it may access upon command the chart as fed into the computer's memory by reader 26 to determine relative spacing between particular letters as they are called for in the printing process.
Turning to Figure 6 of the drawings, further details of the printing device are shown. The printing head 32 comprises a body portion in the form of a solid metal plate 34 which has formed therein a plurality of bores for reciprocally mounting therein a corresponding plurality of print dies 36.
As shown in Figure 7, the plate 34 has the bores 38 so formed to accept the base portion 40 of the print die as connected to upper stem 42 which extends through the plate bore. Each die is spring biased to the retracted position by coil spring 44 which is held in place by keeper 46. The retracted position is determined by the upper face of print die 40 resting against face 48 of the plate bore. On the underside 50 of the print die is a particular outline for the indicium to be printed by that die. Each die is extended by an actuator means which may be in the form of an air operated plunger 52 which has a ram rod 54 extending downwardly therefrom. The end of the rod is pointed at 56 so as to be received by correspondingly shaped groove 58 in the upper portion of each stem of print die. As the plunger forward portion 56 contacts the groove 58 of the print die, a centering effect is achieved and relative rotation of the die is prevented, as it is extended outwardly of the plate 34 to contact the article to be printed.
The plate 34 is designed so as to have the dies placed about the plate in various groupings. As shown in Figure 7, the series of dies are equally spaced apart across the front of the plate, the single unit of spacing being designated 60.
The spacing between the dies in the other direction, as shown in Figure 6, is a single unit of spacing designated 62. The rest of the dies are positioned on the plate in a manner to be spaced apart equal to the single unit of spacing 60 or 62 in either direction or multiples thereof in forming a matrix of die positions. For example, the spacing between die 36a and 36b may be twice the spacing between dies 36a and 36c, so as to segregate capital letters in a:~atrix separate from the matrix of small letters on the array or any other desired segregation of indicium.
~3S~:15 As mentioned, the device is particularly adapted for hot stamp printing where the metal plate 34 has immersed in spaces provided between group of dies a plurality of heaters 64 which are thermostatically controlled by control device 66 having ad-justment nob 6B with temperature readout 70. The device is powered through an electrical wire 72. Depending upon the type of hot stamp application, one skilled in the art of letter hot stamping would be able to adjust the temperature of the block to achieve the desired die temperatures due to their intimate contact with the block to heat the faces to an appropriate hot stamping temperature. Suitable heat reflective shields 74 may be used to reflect the heat away from the support and guide mechanism for the printing head device 32.
Having selected the various indicium to be printed in an application, such as the use of the letters of the alphabet and numbers, the position of each particular indicium print die on the plate 34 may be established in terms of coordinates relative to axes such as X and Y axes shown on plate 34 in Figure 6.
In establishing a coordinate in terms of number of units of spacing of 60 and 62 for each print die in the plate, this information may be programmed in the computer 22, so that in directing the printing of the particular indicium, the plate 34 may be shifted so as to locate the appropriate print die beneath the plunger 54 for printing.
To accomplish the location of a particular print die ~13S115 beneath the plunger 52, which in this embodiment is always fixed, a unique arrangement of pneumatic cylinders has been developed to shift the plate 34 relative to the plunger device 52. The arrangement for the pneumatic cylinders provides a series of interconnected cylinders which are individually con-trollable for extension and retraction. In individually con-trolling the cylinders, the array may be shifted in the X and Y
directions by using two sets of cylinders to locate a desired die beneath the plunger 52. The use of pneumatic cylinders has been found to be most advantageous in precisely locating the dies relative to the plunger to provide fast response and precise stepping of the plate printing device 32 relative to the plungers 52. It is appreciated, however, that other forms of drive or shifting mechanisms may be used, such as use of stepping motors, one of which would adjust the plate in the X direction, the other of which would adjust the plate in the Y direction to locate, according to the particular coordinates, desired print die beneath the plunger 52.
As shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7, the printing head 32 is mounted on transversely extending bars 76 which extend through heat reflector plate 74 and are secured to opposing up-right support plates 78, which are in turn secured to guide plate 80. Guide plates 80 have apertures 82 formed therein and through which extend a first set of guide rods 84. Also secured to the upper part of guide plates 80 is a pneumatic cylinder 86 1~35JL~5 of a first set of pneumatic cylinders for shifting the printing device head 32 in the Y direction, as represented by arrow 88.
Turning to Figure 1, it can be seen that the first set of guide rods 84 are secured at each end to opposing plates 90 which have secured near each end outwardly projecting bushings 92, through which a second set of guide rods 94 extent at right angles to guide rods 84. The actuating device 16, in the form of pneumatic plunger 52, is fixed on overhead rails 96 relative to the printing device 10. Thus, the print head 32 of the printer 12 may be moved in both the X and Y directions any number of units 60 and 62 to locate the desired indicium die beneath the actuator 16.
To bring about this movement of the printer head plate 32 in the X and Y directions, a first and second set of serially, mechanically interconnected,individually controllable pneuma-tically driven cylinders are used. The first set of shifting devices include pneumatic cylinders 86, 98 and 100. Duplicate pairs of these cylinders, which are connected in parallel in terms of pressurized air feed, are used to provide a smooth shifting of the print head plate 34 in the Y direction. For shifting the print head in the X direction, a second set of pneumatic cylinders are used, namely, 102, 104, 106 and 108 to effect various extents of movement of the printing head in the X direction.
For sake of clarity, only single conduits 110, 112, 114, ~3S1~5 115, 118, 120 and 122 lead to the respective pneumatic cylinders, which suggests single acting cylinders. It is understood that single acting cylinders may be used, where springs or other like devices are used to return the cylinders to the retracted posi-tion. However, for purposes of speedy retraction of the cylinders, it should be interpreted that lines 110 through 122 designate dual lines for dual acting cylinders for the system 14.
Pressurized air is provided in line 124 which may be filtered at 126. Electromechanical solenoids, which are controlled by controlling device 18, control respectively the supply of pres-surized air to the lines leading to the cylinders. The electro-mechanical solenoids are respectively designated 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138 and 140.
Electrical control lines leading from controller 18 to the solenoids are designated generally by the group of lines 142, which carry individual signals to each of the respective electromechanical solenoids 128 through 140 which, when electri-cally actuated, open to supply pressurized air in the respective lines 110 through 122 to extend the respective drive cylinder.
In having loaded the coordinates for each indicium die on the print head plate into the computer 22, in calling for the printing of any one of the selected indicium, the appropriate pneumatic cylinders may be actuated to shift the plate the desired number of units in the X and Y direction to locate the die beneath the actuator. For example, assuming one wishes to ~lJS~lS
print the small letter "r", it may be stored in the computer's memory that particular drive cylinders of the first and second set are extended, while others are or remain retracted to give that location. Thus, in moving from one indicium die to another, there is no need to "zero" the machine before moving to the next die, because for positioning each die beneath plunger 52, there is a unique combination of extended and retracted cylinders for each set of cylinders.
As to the actuator 16, air is supplied to electromechanical solenoid valve 144 which by line 146 is connected to the pneumatic plunger 52. Air to the valve 144 is supplied from line 124. Control device 18 via line 148 electrically controls the solenoid 144 to open or close the valve. After a desired indicium die is positioned beneath actuator 16, control 18 lS opens valve 144 to extend the plunger 54 and contact the die with the article to be printed and in a hot stamp operation, in turn sandwich the foil between the die face and article. The period of time that the plunger 54 is extended in pressing the die against the article is determined by computer 22 and, thus, by line 148 controls the length of time the valve 144 is open.
Again, the cylinder 52 may be double acting so as to be imme-diately retracted with a second signal, or when the first signal is removed from the solenoid. The duration the plunger is extended in pressing the die against the article is dependent upon several factors, including particular printing operation, 1~3~1~5 and if hot stamp, other factors are the temperature of the die face, the foil being used and the pressure it exerts on the article. By trial and error, values may be established for each particular die configuration, so that when each die is extended, it is determined from the computer's memory the appropriate duration to thereby control the actuator 16 in providing the proper suitable imprint on the article.
Another controlling function of controller 18 is-via line 150 to control the stepping motor 20, which via shaft 152 is connected to drive belt 154 which moves the support mechanism on which the article rests during the printing opera-tion. Aspects of this and other features of the apparatus are shown in more detail in Figure 2. For sake of clarity and illustration, the pneumatic drive cylinders are not shown in Figure 2. The printing device 12 includes a base plate 156 to which standards 158 and 160 are secured. In turn, extending between the standards 158 and 160 are the second set of guide rails 94. The first set of guide rails 84 are, in turn, secu-red to the opposing plates 80 which have secured thereto the bushings 92 through which the guide rails 94 extend in apertures 162. Overhead support rods 164 and 166 are secured to opposing standards 158 and 160. Centrally of the support rods 164, 166, the pneumatic cylinder 52 is fixed where the plunger 54 is ex-tended and retracted in the direction of arrow 55. With the relationship of the supports and guide rods 84 and 94, it can be ~135~1~S
seen that the print head 32, carrying the array of indicium, is shiftable in the X and Y directions, as indicated by arrows 168 and 170.
The unit, as particularly adapted for hot stamp printing, has a foil ribbon paid off from reel 28 beneath the print die array 32 and the waste gathered on driven wheel 30 under idler wheel 31. From the stepping motor 20, a drive belt 172 is wrapped around pulley 174 and is adapted to advance the reel 30 a predetermined amount each time a letter is printed. The stepping motor 20, via shaft 152 as secured to drive pulley 155, drives the drive belt 154 over the idler pulley 157. At the rear of the machine, not shown in Figure 2, similar drive arrangement is shown. Secured to the drive belt 154 on each side of the machine are support rods 176 and 178 which support a table 180 on which an article to be labelled, such as planar binder front 182, is secured. The table 180 is slidable and, although not shown, is so mounted on support rods 176 and 178 to be movable in the Y direction, as demonstrated by arrow 184.
As to movement of the table in the X direction of arrows 186, this is adjusted by the stepping motor 20.
Turning to Figure 3, and with reference to Figure 7, the stepping motor 20 drives via drive shaft 152, the opposing drive pulleys 155 at each side of the apparatus. The support rods 176 and 178 are secured at each end of the drive belt 154.
With this particular arrangement where the printing device array 11351~5 32 is movable relative to a fixed actuator 16, the support table 180 is moved to the left in the direction of arrow 188.
The computer 22 may be programmed once given the field of the article to be printed to determine the margins for centering the letters on the book or any other location. The stepping motor is actuated to move the table 180 to the right a predeter-mined amount, so.as~to:commence.,printing of the.first letter in the series at a location which will result in centering the entire series once completely printed. For example, to print the word "Town" of Figure 5 on the face of the article 182, the article 182 with support tray 180 may be moved in-wardly in the direction of arrow 190 either automatically or manually to position the article 182 in the proper location beneath the actuator 16. According to the program of the computer, the spacing between the letters and spaces for each letter printed may be determined and, thus the center of the word determined so as to locate the position of the left-hand letter. The stepping motor can then be actuated to move the table 180 to the right a determinable distance to locate the article in the proper position beneath the actuator 16.
In order to commence printing the capital "T", indicium die of the array 32 is located beneath the actuator 16 by a unique combination of extension and retraction of the air cy-linders of the first and second sets via controlled actuation of respective solenoid valves. The control 18 actuates the ~35~5 actuator 16 to depress the indicium die and hot stamp the subs-tance of the foil onto the face of the article 182. The computer 22, in having calculated the number of units of spacing between the median of the capital "T" and the small letter "o", directs via control 18 the number of steps stepping motor 20 must make to move the support tray 180 in the direction of arrow 188 so as to position the precise portion of the field beneath the actuator. Control mechanism 18, under direction of computer output, selectively actuates the solenoids to shift the plate 34 to locate the small letter "o" die beneath actuator 16.
Control 18 then actuates the plunger to imprint the small-letter "o" beside the capital "T". This procedure is continued until all letters are imprinted on article 182 to give the desired presentation format for the letters.
As shown in Figure 7, the foil 25 is advanced in the direction of arrow 27, as located between the article 182 and the print die face 50. Upon actuation of plunger 52, the die face 50 sandwiches the foil 25 between its face and article 182 to form an impression on the article 182 and transfer the sub-stance of the foil to the article according to standard hot stamp practices. After the letter is printed, as explained, the stepping motor 20 may be adapted to advance the takeup reel 30 to move fresh foil beneath the actuator for purposes of imprinting the next letter on the article 182 while it moves the article support.
~3S~lS
Turning to Figure 4, it is apparent that relative movement has been effected between the article 122 and the fixed actuating plunger device 16. The article 182 has been moved further to the left in the direction of arrow 188 after some of the letters have been printed. It can be seen in printing the letter different from that printed in Figure 3 that the indicia die array 32 has been shifted by extension and retraction of the f rst and second sets of cylinders to locate the appropriate indicium die beneath the actuators 16. Depending upon the unit of spacing between the dies 36 of the array, the stroke length of the three cylinders 86, 98 and 100 in the first set and the four cylinders 102, 104, 106 and 108 in the second set can be determined. For example, should the unit spacing between the dies be 3/4 of an inch and multiples thereof, for six dies in the Y direction and fourteen dies in the X direction, it can be appreciated that cylinders 86, 98 and 100 would have indivi-dually distinct stroke lengths of 3/4, 3/4 and 2 1/4 inches.
Similarly with the second set of cylinders 106, 108, 104 and 102, they would have individually distinct stroke lenghts of respectively 3/4, 1 1/2, 3 and 6 inches. ~ :
Although as shown in the drawings, the spacing in the Y direction of the six dies is equal, it is understood that there may be multiples thereof to provide gaps and thereby visually indicate a first set of dies distinctfrom a second set, such as the small and capital letters. This aspect is shown more clearly in Figure 6, where there is greater spacing between dies 36a and 36b. Should the block 34 continue in the Y direction to provide spaces for additional capital letters, the 2 1/4 inch shift cylinder 100 is used to shift from the first matrix set to the second matrix set in line with the row of dies repre-sented by die 36b. From this point, multiples of 3/4 inch cylinders 86 and 98 may be used to locate additional dies in the Y direction beneath the actuator. Similarly in the X direction, additional cylinders may be added to increase the number of coordinates in the array to accommodate far greater number of indicium print die; however, there is obviously a cutoff point in the number of dies to be carried in an array, since the addi-tion of a twelve inch stroke cylinder would significantly increase the number of dies which could be added to the array.
Another consideration in the flexibility of the array setup is that dies having logos may be included in the array to permit printing of a logo in combination with a series of letters in a desired arrangement. The logo may be of the same size as an indicium print die, or may be multiples thereof where the die shaft would be centered at a coordinate of the matrix to facilitate locating of such logo die beneath the actuator in accordance with the computer program.
From these multiples, every coordinate in the matrix for an indicium die can be located beneath the plunger 16. Thus as ~135~5 mentioned, the computer 22 may have entered in its memory the coordinates for every die and have associated with each coor-dinate the states of the cylinders of the first and second sets to consistently accuxately and quickly locate the proper indi-cium die beneath the actuation plunger. There is no need toreturn the unit to a "zero" position since, when the next indicium die is called for, the appropriate cylinders are ex-tended and retracted to move the array to the new position.
The computer 22 may be provided with a visual display screen, such as CRT 21, which displays the various functions of the computer, such as the format of the program, the dis-play of data being entered for purposes of reference and other information which would be helpful in the entry of data, calculation of spacing and understanding operation of the unit including prompts at appropriate times in operating the machine.
It is appreciated that the control 18 may be provided with a bank of switches generally designated 19, which may provide for manual override on the input from the computer 22 in a situation where it is desired to manually control the stepping motor, the actuator plunger and the pneumatic cylinders in carrying out the printing operations.
In view of the use of a plate 34 for the body portion of the print head, the unit may become fairly heavy and could weight about 100 pounds depending upon the materials used in setting up the die. In view of the weight of the print head, 1~3S~5 the use of pneumatic drive cylinders are particularly advan-tageous in shifting the relatively heavy print head to the precise location for placing any desired die in the array be-neath the plunger. The serially interconnected, individually controllable cylinders provide the needed force to move the print head, yet because their stroke length is predetermined, one is always assured that when particular cylinders are actuated or retracted over extended periods of use, the cylinders, as used in combination, will consistently locate the desired die beneath the plunger. Compared tG the use of electronic stepping motors for controlled movement of the print head, the operation of the air cylinders is less complicated and requires a simpler program in controlling the movement.
It is understood that this particular arrangement for air cylinders for shifting the print head may also be adapted for uæ in other fields, such as shifting a workpiece to locate a predetermined area to be bored beneath a drill head, where various bores are to be formed in the workpiece at predeteremined coordinates. ~he air cylinder arrangement may also be used with a tool selection network where bits for a metal working device may be stored in a grid outline and thus the use of two sets of air cylinders may be used to shift the machine head to the various torage locations in the tool storage matrix to either deposit or pickup an appropriate bit.
It is appreciated that the print head 34 may be arranged 5~.~5 to be interchangeable with other print heads carrying other styles of indicia; for example, it may be desired to use script.
This may be readily accomplished by simply removing the print plate 34 and replacing it with the new plate containing the new script die. In this regard, the program, which according to this embodiment, is input to the computer via taipe reader 26, would be interchanged to lead into the computer the new program for determining the spacing between indicia to be printed, the location of the dies in the plate, and the dwell time for imprinting indicia on the article.
It should also be noted that the array, as set up in the form of a matrix with each location being determinable by a coordinate in the X/Y axis, may be expandable in either direction depending upon the size of the plate to permit addi-tion in due course of further indicia as desired, where theprogram could be modified to indicate the location of the new indicia on the array.
The operation of the printing apparatus may respond to each letter as typed on the keyboard and subsequently printed on the article, or the unit could await input of the complete series of letters and completing the calculations on the spacing before commencing the printing operation. In the mode of responding to each letter propos~ on the keyboard, the calculations would be carried out to determine the relative spacing before that letter is actually printed on the article.
~135~15 Several different types of electronic controls are avail-able for interfacing the digital output of the computer 22 with the electrical-mechanical solenoids controlling the supply of pressurized air to the cylinders for moving the print array, for actuating the cylinder and for supplying electric signals to the stepping motor to move it a predetermined number of steps forwards or backwards. An example of such circuitry is shown in Figure 8.
The circuitry, as shown in Figure 8, forms part of the controller unit 18. The computer provides digital output to the ports designated D0 through D10, along with representative enable lines 1 and 2 for respectively enabling latches 190, 192 and latch 194. The output from the latches are shown as lines 142, 148 and 150 in Figure 1. The output of latches 190 - 15 and 192 in the form of lines 142 are arranged such that output terminals`Dl through D7 are respectively directly connected to solenoids 140, 138, 136, 134, 132, 130 and 128. Considering the control of the air cylinders, the computer, in providing output in line D0 through D7 and with latches 190 and 192 enabled by line 1, provide an electric signal at the base of the respective transistor 196 connected to outputs Dl through D7 to place them either in the conductive or non-conductive state.
The solenoids, in being connected to outputs Dl through D7, have a high voltage applied to the upper side of the solenoid.
Thus, when the selected ones of Dl through D7 go to ground by 1135~5 the electric signals rendering the selected transistors 196 conductive, this closes the respective solenoids.
Once the coordinates for the next indicium print die are selected and according to the program of the computer, a selection is then made which output ports DO through D7 are rendered "high" to render conductive to ground the correspond-ing output terminals Dl through D7. The respective air cylinders are so actuated to extend and those remaining, whose solenoids are not connected to ground, retract to cause a shifting of the array to locate the desired indicium die beneath the actuator 16.
The computer provides additional output at ports D8, D9 and D10 for controlling the stepping motor 20 and the print actuator 16. With enable 2 enabling latch 194 with signal at port D10, transistor 198 is rendered conductive to ground to close the solenoid 144 and thus extend the actuator plunger to imprint the die indicium onto the substrate. The duration during which the actuator is depressed is dependent upon the output signal in port D10 determined by the computer 22.
After printing of the desired indicium, the stepping m~tor 20 is controlled via line 150 to advance the substrate in the manner discussed. This control is provided by digital output from the computer 22 into lines D8 and D9. For example, a signal with enable 2 enabling latch 194 is passed through output port D8 to the stepping motor to advance the stepping motor the ~;3S3~15 desired number of steps. Conversely, output through line D9 with latch 194 enabled causes the stepping motor to reverse a desired number of steps in positioning the substrate for the next step in the printing operation.
Thus, it can be seen that with this type of circuitry the output from the computer can be interfaced with the electri-cal-mechanical solenoids for controlling the movement of the array, the actuator and the stepping motor in controlling the individual printing of indicium on a substrate.
From the above description, the printing apparatus, as controlled, governs three aspects of printing. The computational means in the form of the computer 22 determines the relative spacing between letters to be typed, the dwell time for imprint-ing the letter on the article and shifting of the array to locate the correct indicium die beneath the plunger device 16. With these aspects of the apparatus, the device may be automated to imprint a series of letters without further need for input and with no need for manual manipulation of the device. The automa-tion of the device reduces operator error to provide for a quality finished product which presents the indicia in a visually acceptable proportional spacing. The program for the computer may also have the feature of changing the degree of relative spacing between letters, for example, should it be desired to present block letters to standout on a presentation folder, the calculated spacing between letters may be increased in each 1135~1S
instance a desired amount to provide a bolder face for such lettering. This may be simply done by entering data into the computer which would increase the calculated spacing a desired amount before each letter is printed.
According to the preferred embodiment, the relative movement effected between the article and the printing device results in moving the article relative to the plunger. Other arrangements may be used; for example, the printing head array may remain stationary while the plunger mechanism and the article are moved above and beneath the print head to locate each indicium die and then have it imprinted on the article. Other forms of printing heads may be used which have print die faces mounted on a drum. The drum is rotated to locate the desired indicium above the article and then brought into contact with the article to imprint same.
Although the unit, as described, has been particularly adapted to hot stamp methods, the apparatus may be used for other forms of printing applications, such as ink printing, where the underside of the dies may be coated with suitable ink material and then the ink material transferred in the shape of the die onto the article being printed.
Input to the computer has been discussed with respect to use of the keyboard 24. Other forms of input may be used, such as from a tape drive having a listing of names to be printed on nameplates, portfolio presentations and name tags. Insurance ~135~15 portfolios for circulation to several clients may be persona-lized by having printed on each folder the person's name, which could be taken from a listing of clients' names on a computer memory storage, such as magnetic tape. Other examples include conferences where the listing of attendees is fed to the printing apparatus to print name tags and the like.
It can, therefore, be appreciated that with this apparatus the process of personalized attractive printing of material, using hot stamp techniques in particular, is expedited to provide a quality product in an efficient manner.
Although various preferred embodiments of the invention have been described herein in detail, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.
Claims (8)
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A printing apparatus for printing individually indicium of a series of indicia on an article comprising a printing head supporting for reciprocal movement therein a predetermined array of indicium print dies, a plunger means fixed above said printing head for extending upon actuation a selected indicium die from said head, an article support for supporting an article to be printed beneath said printing head, said printing head mounted for bidirectional movement and means for shifting said printing head in both or either of said directions to locate a desired indicium die beneath said plunger means and means which is responsive to a control signal representative of an indicium to be printed directs said shifting means to shift said printing head to locate the selected print indicium die beneath said plunger prior to actuation of said plunger, said shifting means comprising a first set of serially mechanically interconnected pneumatically independently driven cylinder for moving said printing head in a first direcion and a second set of serially mechanically interconnected pneumatically independently driven cylinder for moving said print head in a second direction, the arrangement being such that said first and second sets of pneumatic cylinders are selectively actuated by said directing means to shift said printing head and locate selected indicium print die beneath said plunger means.
2. A printing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said array of dies is biased to their retracted position, a coordinate location for each die of the array relative to perpendicular axes parallel to said first and second shifted directions of said print head, the spacing between dies in both directions being equal to or multiples of a single unit of length, each set of pneumatic cylinders being adapted to shift said printing head in the respective direction any number of said units, the number of units being determined by said directing means.
3. A printing apparatus of claim 2, wherein said set of serially connected pneumatically driven cylinders are each individually extendable a predetermined different number of said units to shift said printing head any desired number of units corresponding to a coordinate location along the respective axes of shift movements.
4. A printing apparatus of claim 3, wherein means regulates the flow of pressurized air to the individual cylinders to selectively actuate each cylinder independently of the other.
5. A printing apparatus of claim 4, wherein said regulating means comprises an electrically operated solenoid valve for each cylinder, said directing means electrically actuating selected solenoids to supply pressurized air to and thereby extend the respective cylinders to shift said printing head and locate a selected print die beneath said plunger means.
6. A printing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said directing means controls the actuation of said plunger means and determines the duration which said plunger contacts a die on an article being printed.
7. A printing apparatus of claim 1, adapted for hot stamp printing of indicia on an article, heating means for heating said print head to a desired temperature, a foil carrying material to be hot stamped being passed on top of an article to be printed and beneath said print head, said desired temperature in combination with pressure of die face against article and duration of die contact with article effecting hot stamping of a desired indicium on such article.
8. A printing apparatus of claim 7, wherein said directing means is adapted to control means for moving an article support after each indicium is printed on a supported article, said directing means causing said article support to be moved an extent in accordance with a predetermined scheme for relative positioning between a particular indicium just printed and a particular indicium next to be printed to give a desired presentation format for printed indicium.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000352641A CA1135115A (en) | 1980-05-23 | 1980-05-23 | Printing apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000352641A CA1135115A (en) | 1980-05-23 | 1980-05-23 | Printing apparatus |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1135115A true CA1135115A (en) | 1982-11-09 |
Family
ID=4117026
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000352641A Expired CA1135115A (en) | 1980-05-23 | 1980-05-23 | Printing apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1135115A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4683821A (en) * | 1984-10-05 | 1987-08-04 | Tampoflex Gmbh | Process for multi-color ink tampon printing |
-
1980
- 1980-05-23 CA CA000352641A patent/CA1135115A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4683821A (en) * | 1984-10-05 | 1987-08-04 | Tampoflex Gmbh | Process for multi-color ink tampon printing |
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