EP0165601A2 - Imprimante thermique et machine à timbrer ayant une imprimante thermique - Google Patents

Imprimante thermique et machine à timbrer ayant une imprimante thermique Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0165601A2
EP0165601A2 EP85107589A EP85107589A EP0165601A2 EP 0165601 A2 EP0165601 A2 EP 0165601A2 EP 85107589 A EP85107589 A EP 85107589A EP 85107589 A EP85107589 A EP 85107589A EP 0165601 A2 EP0165601 A2 EP 0165601A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
thermal
tape
printing
elements
transfer ribbon
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP85107589A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0165601B1 (fr
EP0165601A3 (en
Inventor
Donald T. Dolan
William A. Ross
Kenneth August Terry
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Pitney Bowes Inc
Original Assignee
Pitney Bowes Inc
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=27505169&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=EP0165601(A2) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Priority claimed from US06/622,034 external-priority patent/US4568950A/en
Priority claimed from US06/622,036 external-priority patent/US4581616A/en
Priority claimed from US06/622,035 external-priority patent/US4588996A/en
Priority claimed from US06/622,037 external-priority patent/US4605937A/en
Application filed by Pitney Bowes Inc filed Critical Pitney Bowes Inc
Publication of EP0165601A2 publication Critical patent/EP0165601A2/fr
Publication of EP0165601A3 publication Critical patent/EP0165601A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0165601B1 publication Critical patent/EP0165601B1/fr
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • 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
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/315—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material
    • B41J2/32—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads
    • B41J2/325—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads by selective transfer of ink from ink carrier, e.g. from ink ribbon or sheet
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00516—Details of printing apparatus
    • G07B2017/00524—Printheads
    • G07B2017/0054—Thermal printhead
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00637—Special printing techniques, e.g. interlacing

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to postage meters and to thermal printing means therefor.
  • An object of the invention is to provide a postage meter in which variable data can be easily printed along with the imprint of postal value.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a postage meter which is capable of printing different information on a tape or strip in accordance with a received command.
  • the printing of postal value and other associated indicia is accomplished by using a thermal transfer printer under the control of a microprocessor for forming the images and enabling the input and printing of selected variable data.
  • a postage meter in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is shown generally at 10.
  • the unit is provided with a keyboard 1.2 for inputting data into the unit and a display 14 which may be a conventional LED display. Similar keyboards and displays are shown and described in U.S. Patent 3,938,095 to Check, Jr. et al, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
  • a slot or opening 16 is provided through which is ejected an imprinted tape.
  • An input/output connector (not shown) may be optionally provided if desired for interconnection and communication with other devices.
  • Fig. 2 is a block diagram of an electronic portion of the postage meter.
  • the meter preferably incorporates a central processing unit 18 connected through a conventional bus arrangement to a multi-purpose ROM/RAM/IO device 20.
  • a keyboard 22 and display 24 are scanned and driven, respectively, in conventional manner through use of conventional decoders 26 to enable input and readout of desired data.
  • a bus arrangement likewise preferably provides in conventional manner for input and output between ROM/RAM/IO device 20 and accounting registers, peripheral units, or the like.
  • Printer logic and driver circuits shown at 28 receive data input from the device 20 and translate the data into a pattern of suitable sequential electrical pulses to individual thermal heating elements of a thermal print head 30 for heating the elements in conventional fashion.
  • Suitable thermal print heads for use in a meter as disclosed herein are available from RICOH Company Ltd., San Jose, California or KYOCERA Company, Kyoto, Japan.
  • a typical device is shown and described in U.S. 4,429,318 issued January 31, 1984 to Kobata.
  • the heating elements be formed in a single row and arranged perpendicular to the direction of travel of a paper tape as described below. For best results, there are about 224 elements in the row.
  • the elements are heated as required for the purpose of melting an ink composition on a thermal transfer ribbon and causing it to be lifted off the ribbon at the point of heating and transferred to a paper tape travelling in conjunction with the thermal transfer ribbon.
  • CPU 18 further controls the sequencing of motor drivers 32 as is described in connection with Fig. 3.
  • a suitable tape drive unit for the postage meter Paper tape (not shown) spools off a roll of tape rotatably mounted on shaft 34 passing around roller 36 and between tape guides 38 and 40 and thence portions of tape feed into the bite between heating elements of the thermal head 30 (numbered the same as the block shown in Fig. 2) and the impression roller indicated at 42 to the bite between upper exit roller 44 and lower exit roller 46.
  • Tape cutting knives 48 and 50 are provided for cutting the tape into one of two different lengths depending upon whether a printed slogan or other such information is desired or not.
  • Each knife 48 and 50 comprises a movable cutting blade in contact with a rotationally biased blade operated preferably by means of a rotary solenoid (shown schematically at 52 and 54) which operate upon command of the microcomputer to cut the tape prior to transport of a cut section past the thermal head 30.
  • a rotary solenoid shown schematically at 52 and 54
  • the knife should usually be located a significant distance either upstream or downstream of the area of printing.
  • a non-printable border will be present at either the leading or the trailing edge of the printed strip if the strip is cut after printing takes place unless the strip is retracted.
  • Such a border is avoided and any retraction mechanism is avoided by situating the knives as shown in Fig. 3 and by cutting the tape before the printing takes place.
  • the thermal head 30 is able to both translate and rotate so as to align the row of heating elements with the impression roller nip.
  • Suitable adjustment means for example, are shown as threaded screw 56 threadingly mounted on bracket 58 and carrying mounting member 60 to which the thermal head 30 is fixed.
  • a roll of thermal transfer ribbon (not shown), typically .00025" Mylar m ribbon having a suitable meltable ink composition coating, is rotatably mounted on shaft 62 and preferably housed in a molded cassette housing 64.
  • the tape is threaded coating- side down so as to travel adjacent to the paper tape through a bite between the thermal head 30 and the impression roller 42 and then through the bite between the exit rollers to a take-up spool mounted on shaft 66, also preferably a part of cassette 64.
  • Drive or feed roller 66 and pinch roller 68 are provided to advance tape to the position for the next cycle
  • gummed paper tape may in time adhere to the rollers if the tape stays in position under pressure for long lengths of time. This may cause jamming of the paper strip on start up and during rotation of the drive rollers. To avoid problems with such sticking,
  • arms 70, 72 and 94 are pivoted about pivot shafts 74, 76 and 86.
  • the distal ends 78, 80 and 96 of these arms are normally made to rest against camming surfaces 82 fixed on shaft 84.
  • the camming surface is arranged such that upon rotation in one direction, the ends 78, 80 and 96 move inwardly toward the shaft 84 as pinch roller 68, impression roller 42 and upper exit roller 44 are driven by springs (not shown) into pressure abutment against the feed roller, the thermal head and the lower exit roll.
  • the camming surfaces cause the distal ends to move outwardly which again causes the pinch roller 68, the impression roller 42 and the upper exit roller 44 to move away from the tape to relieve the pressure thereon.
  • the positioning of the upper exit roller 44 away from the tape enables a very simplified loading of the cartridge and threading of the ribbon so as to avoid any need to touch the ribbon or to feed it around any rollers or guides.
  • the rollers are automatically moved out of contact with the thermal print head and the lower exit roller.
  • the ribbon bridging the distance between guides 90 and 92 is easily inserted into the large gap existing between the thermal head and the impression roller and the bite between the exit rollers when the rollers are in this condition.
  • feed roller 66, impression roller 42, and exit roller 46 are driven from a single reversible stepping motor (not shown) located at drive shaft 85.
  • the lower exit roller 46 is driven by a drive belt from the stepping motor and lower exit roller 46 drives an idler wheel 86 which in turn drives the impression roller 42.
  • belt 88 transmits the motion from idler wheel 86 to the take-up spool mounted on shaft 66.
  • the reversible stepping motor is geared in a one-to-one ratio with the shaft 84 which carries both the camming surfaces-82 and the timing belt pulley.
  • One or the other of these will be driven by shaft 84, depending on the direction of rotation, through suitable overrunning clutches.
  • the Polyclutch arrangement transmits the motion to the camming surface for movement of the distal ends of the arms 70, 72, and 94.
  • the over-running clutch will not transmit any motion through the belt drive.
  • the motor turns in the opposite direction, the motion is transmitted through the belt drive for driving the feed roller, impression roller, and exit rollers.
  • the camming surface 82 is rotated so as to enable the arms 70, 72 and 94 to move inwardly toward shaft 84 to in turn bring the pinch roller 68 and impression roller 42 into pressure abutment against the paper tape.
  • one of the knives 48 or 50 is actuated under command of the microprocessor depending upon the length of the meter strip desired, that is, whether a slogan or the like is desired.
  • the drive rollers are then actuated to drive the cut segment of tape past the thermal print head and through the bite of the exit rollers 44 and 46 and from thence out the slot 16.
  • feed roller 66 is driving the remaining tape into pre-position for the next printing cycle.
  • the thermal transfer ribbon is also traveling in conjunction with the tape.
  • the thermal elements of the thermal head are heated in a patterned sequence to create the desired image line-by-line on the tape traveling past the head as the ink coating on the thermal transfer ribbon is heated and lifted from the thermal transfer ribbon and deposited on the paper tape.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electronic Switches (AREA)
  • Handling Of Sheets (AREA)
  • Impression-Transfer Materials And Handling Thereof (AREA)
EP85107589A 1984-06-19 1985-06-19 Imprimante thermique et machine à timbrer ayant une imprimante thermique Expired EP0165601B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (8)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US06/622,034 US4568950A (en) 1984-06-19 1984-06-19 Postage meter-thermal tape pressure and drive control printer
US06/622,036 US4581616A (en) 1984-06-19 1984-06-19 Postage meter thermal printer tape drive system
US06/622,035 US4588996A (en) 1984-06-19 1984-06-19 Thermal ribbon cartridge transport in a postage meter thermal printer
US622035 1984-06-19
US622036 1984-06-19
US06/622,037 US4605937A (en) 1984-06-19 1984-06-19 Postal meter thermal printer control
US622037 1984-06-19
US622034 1984-06-19

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0165601A2 true EP0165601A2 (fr) 1985-12-27
EP0165601A3 EP0165601A3 (en) 1986-02-26
EP0165601B1 EP0165601B1 (fr) 1989-12-06

Family

ID=27505169

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP85107589A Expired EP0165601B1 (fr) 1984-06-19 1985-06-19 Imprimante thermique et machine à timbrer ayant une imprimante thermique

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0165601B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE3574635D1 (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3712100A1 (de) * 1986-04-10 1987-10-15 Pitney Bowes Inc Frankiermaschinen-botschaft-drucksystem
GB2209137A (en) * 1987-08-27 1989-05-04 Alcatel Business Systems Printing of franking on mail items
EP0376575A2 (fr) * 1988-12-30 1990-07-04 Neopost Limited Timbre poste et son système de distribution
EP0604160A2 (fr) * 1992-12-21 1994-06-29 Pitney Bowes, Inc. Appareil d'impression thermique capable d'imprimer à vitesse variable
EP0623899A2 (fr) * 1993-05-03 1994-11-09 Pitney Bowes, Inc. Système d'entraînement pour machine d'affanchissement à impression thermique
FR2782823A1 (fr) * 1998-09-01 2000-03-03 Neopost Ind Procede d'impression thermique

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3938095A (en) * 1971-11-04 1976-02-10 Pitney-Bowes, Inc. Computer responsive postage meter
US4053735A (en) * 1975-08-07 1977-10-11 Foudos James N Assured-check computer-based bank credit disbursing system
GB2102740A (en) * 1981-05-29 1983-02-09 Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co Printing apparatus
US4429318A (en) * 1981-04-10 1984-01-31 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Thermal transfer printer
EP0132471A2 (fr) * 1983-07-23 1985-02-13 Francotyp-Postalia GmbH Machine à affranchir

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3938095A (en) * 1971-11-04 1976-02-10 Pitney-Bowes, Inc. Computer responsive postage meter
US4053735A (en) * 1975-08-07 1977-10-11 Foudos James N Assured-check computer-based bank credit disbursing system
US4429318A (en) * 1981-04-10 1984-01-31 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Thermal transfer printer
GB2102740A (en) * 1981-05-29 1983-02-09 Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co Printing apparatus
EP0132471A2 (fr) * 1983-07-23 1985-02-13 Francotyp-Postalia GmbH Machine à affranchir

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3712100A1 (de) * 1986-04-10 1987-10-15 Pitney Bowes Inc Frankiermaschinen-botschaft-drucksystem
FR2597233A1 (fr) * 1986-04-10 1987-10-16 Pitney Bowes Inc Dispositif d'affranchissement avec systeme d'impression de messages, et procede de modification des messages
FR2601796A1 (fr) * 1986-04-10 1988-01-22 Pitney Bowes Inc Dispositif d'affranchissement avec systeme d'impression de messages, et procede de modification des messages
DE3712100C2 (de) * 1986-04-10 2001-11-08 Pitney Bowes Inc Elektronische Frankiermaschine
GB2209137A (en) * 1987-08-27 1989-05-04 Alcatel Business Systems Printing of franking on mail items
US5122967A (en) * 1988-12-30 1992-06-16 Alcatel Business Systems Limited Postage stamp and dispensing system therefor
EP0376575A3 (en) * 1988-12-30 1990-10-24 Alcatel Business Systems Limited Postage stamp and dispensing system therefor
EP0376575A2 (fr) * 1988-12-30 1990-07-04 Neopost Limited Timbre poste et son système de distribution
EP0604160A2 (fr) * 1992-12-21 1994-06-29 Pitney Bowes, Inc. Appareil d'impression thermique capable d'imprimer à vitesse variable
EP0604160A3 (fr) * 1992-12-21 1995-02-15 Pitney Bowes Inc Appareil d'impression thermique capable d'imprimer à vitesse variable.
EP0623899A2 (fr) * 1993-05-03 1994-11-09 Pitney Bowes, Inc. Système d'entraînement pour machine d'affanchissement à impression thermique
EP0623899A3 (fr) * 1993-05-03 1997-04-02 Pitney Bowes Inc Système d'entraînement pour machine d'affanchissement à impression thermique.
FR2782823A1 (fr) * 1998-09-01 2000-03-03 Neopost Ind Procede d'impression thermique
EP0984399A1 (fr) * 1998-09-01 2000-03-08 Neopost Industrie Procédé d'impression thermique

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3574635D1 (de) 1990-01-11
EP0165601B1 (fr) 1989-12-06
EP0165601A3 (en) 1986-02-26

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4568950A (en) Postage meter-thermal tape pressure and drive control printer
EP0172561B2 (fr) Mécanisme thermique pour l'impression d'informations fixes et variables et machine à affranchir ayant un tel mécanisme
EP0315384B1 (fr) Dispositif d'avance pour ruban d'impression thermique
US6742858B2 (en) Label printer-cutter with mutually exclusive printing and cutting operations
US5524995A (en) Apparatus and method for detecting the position of envelopes in a mailing machine
US3726212A (en) Method and apparatus for printing coded media
US4501224A (en) Continuous tag printing apparatus
EP0604160B1 (fr) Appareil d'impression thermique capable d'imprimer à vitesse variable
EP0253618B1 (fr) Appareil et procédé d'impression thermique
WO1989009381A1 (fr) Dispositif automatique de transfert thermique et systeme de controle
US4778290A (en) Printer for printing of a full line in several colors by interchangeable ribbon cartridges
CN103241014A (zh) 带印刷装置和带印刷装置的控制方法
US5281038A (en) Apparatus and method for printing including a ribbon advancing slide mechanism
US4581616A (en) Postage meter thermal printer tape drive system
US4588996A (en) Thermal ribbon cartridge transport in a postage meter thermal printer
EP0165601A2 (fr) Imprimante thermique et machine à timbrer ayant une imprimante thermique
EP0709215B1 (fr) Imprimante thermique
US4605937A (en) Postal meter thermal printer control
JP2514622B2 (ja) サ−マルプリンタを有する郵便料金計
EP0604142B1 (fr) Cartouche pour ruban encreur thermique capable de contenir un ruban de transfert à base polymère ou cireuse à utiliser en combinaison avec un appareil d'impression thermique
US3707910A (en) Optical bar code serial printer
JPS5824480A (ja) 感熱転写印刷装置
JPH08138150A (ja) 自動券売機の領収書発行装置
JPS6129279B2 (fr)
GB2297293A (en) Controlling thermal printing parameters in postage meters in response to coded ink-ribbon cassettes

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): DE GB IT SE

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): DE GB IT SE

RHK1 Main classification (correction)

Ipc: G07B 17/00

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: PITNEY BOWES INC.

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19860709

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19880104

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE GB IT SE

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed
REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 3574635

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19900111

PLBI Opposition filed

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009260

PLBI Opposition filed

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009260

26 Opposition filed

Opponent name: ALCATEL BUSINESS SYSTEMS LTD.

Effective date: 19900605

26 Opposition filed

Opponent name: FRANCOTYP- POSTALIA GMBH

Effective date: 19900906

Opponent name: ALCATEL BUSINESS SYSTEMS LTD.

Effective date: 19900605

ITTA It: last paid annual fee
PLBN Opposition rejected

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009273

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: OPPOSITION REJECTED

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Payment date: 19940518

Year of fee payment: 10

27O Opposition rejected

Effective date: 19940308

EAL Se: european patent in force in sweden

Ref document number: 85107589.5

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Effective date: 19950620

EUG Se: european patent has lapsed

Ref document number: 85107589.5

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20020612

Year of fee payment: 18

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20020620

Year of fee payment: 18

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20030619

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20040101

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20030619

APAH Appeal reference modified

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSCREFNO