EP0190074A1 - Method and apparatus for writing cards manually, preparation of these cards therefor and devices for carrying out this method - Google Patents

Abstract

According to the method, the user writes by hand, preferably on a desk, using a writing implement with a thermal writing tip, on a transfer film (25) visible through a window of a unit comprising the card (16), the film (25) and means (22, 24) holding the film removably on the card. <IMAGE>

Description

Methods for the manual writing of cards and the preparation of cards for this writing, and devices for implementing these methods.

The present invention relates to methods for the manual writing of cards, in particular cards intended to accompany gifts, as well as for the preparation of such cards.

The invention also relates to devices for the implementation of these methods, namely card assemblies, writing instruments and consoles for writing these cards with these instruments.

The idea of personalizing gifts or flowers with cards has been known for a long time, but there is currently a growing trend towards personalization, which translates into a desire to see the name, signature and / or writing of a person appearing on a card, associated with a service or a commercial transaction such as the purchase followed by the sending of a gift.

The traditional business cards that are often used, or the cards made available to customers by merchants or service providers can, in practice, only receive texts written manually using a writing instrument usual such as a stylograph, ballpoint pen or the like, so that the cards thus used have an ordinary appearance and do not have the appearance of an elaborate writing.

In addition, it may be interesting for traders or service providers to associate their name, brand with another à la carte advertising which then presents a printed part but this, contrasting with the written text, confirms the impression of incomplete and artificial by this very juxtaposition.

The invention proposes to remedy these drawbacks and to provide a method allowing a buyer, for example a gift buyer, to write himself a personalized card but having all the appearance of an elaborate product giving an impression finish, aesthetics and durability that really highlights and personalizes the gift or service offered.

Another objective of the invention is to develop a method and to provide devices which make it possible to produce these cards in an extremely convenient and simple manner, requiring nothing other from the user than manual writing. of a text and / or a signature, and this at an economic cost price.

Yet another objective of the invention is to provide such methods and devices for their implementation which make it possible to associate with the individual writing appearing on the card a printed part comprising an advertising element, and this in a way such as spontaneous text and advertising harmonize and strengthen.

Yet another objective of the invention is to provide devices allowing the implementation of these methods which occupy very little space and can be easily installed in traders and shopkeepers, and thus provide them with an additional commercial advantage, both by attracting customers who are attracted by the possibility of sending personalized gifts and advertising to recipients, and harmoniously associated with the buyer's personalized text.

Yet another objective of the invention is to develop a process which uses the technique known per se of thermal transfer.

It will be recalled that the thermal transfer technique as it is known, consists of superimposing on a support material, which can for example be a cardboard, a transfer film as sold for example under the brand LUXOR by the company KURZ France , the transfer of the film onto the support being obtained by applying pressure at a high temperature called the transfer temperature.

The devices using this method scroll, in front of a matrix heated to the desired transfer temperature, a support strip on which a film strip is superimposed, the assembly progressing automatically under the matrix which is applied regularly to the assembly so as to transfer, as a function of the relief of the matrix, the corresponding parts of the film on the support. These devices which allow high rates to be obtained are of course extremely bulky, heavy, expensive, and difficult to adjust, and this technique therefore did not seem able to be used in the context of writing personalized messages before the present invention.

The subject of the invention is therefore a method for the manual writing of cards, in particular cards accompanying gifts, characterized in that individual card sets are prepared comprising a support, for example a semi-rigid support, a simple or complex thermal transfer film, and means for detachably holding the film on one face of said support, and that text is manually written using a thermal writing instrument comprising a body having the form of a stylographer and a point heated to a regulated transfer temperature, intended to be applied against said film, after which the support coated with its text and forming the card is separated from the film and its holding means.

Preferably, while the card assembly is being prepared, one or more inscriptions such as text, drawing, frame, line are printed on the card in one or more locations spaced from the space provided for manual writing. .

Advantageously, one can use, for writing, a desk having an inclined face on which the card assembly is applied for writing, this face having means for immobilizing or retaining the card assembly during the writing.

The cards used can, of course, be of various shapes and sizes and the surface which receives the writing by thermal transfer can have any color, any aspect of plain, smooth or matt grain, without any limitation.

Cards can be used to accompany gifts, but of course they can be used in other systems, for example for restaurant or show reservations, for making loyalty cards with merchants etc.

• on réalise une bande continue de support dans laquelle seront découpés les supports individuels,
• on réalise une bande continue d'un matériau auxiliaire tel que par exemple du carton, ayant une largeur supérieure au double de la largeur de la bande continue,
• on découpe dans l'une des moitiés de cette bande auxiliaire des fenêtres au pas des cartes qui seront matérialisées dans la bande continue de support,
• on fixe sur cette moitié un ruban de film de transfert,
• on superpose au ruban de film de transfert ladite bande de support et l'on replie ladite bande auxiliaire de façon à recouvrir les deux faces de ladite bande de support en assemblant les bords initialement libres de la bande auxiliaire,
• et on découpe l'ensemble obtenu en ensembles individuels de carte.

A process for preparing cards which can thus receive a text by manual writing by thermal transfer using such a writing instrument can advantageously be characterized in that:

• a continuous support strip is produced from which the individual supports will be cut,
• a continuous strip of an auxiliary material such as for example cardboard is produced, having a width greater than twice the width of the continuous strip,
• windows in one of the halves of this auxiliary strip are cut to the pitch of the cards which will be materialized in the continuous strip of support,
• a ribbon of transfer film is fixed on this half,
• said support strip is superimposed on the transfer film ribbon and said auxiliary strip is folded so as to cover the two faces of said support strip by assembling the initially free edges of the auxiliary strip,
• and the assembly obtained is cut into individual card sets.

Of course, as a variant, the support strip can be trapped between a first strip arranged on one side, having the windows at the above-mentioned pitch and coated with transfer film tape, the other side of the continuous support strip then receiving another auxiliary strip which, projecting like the first, on either side of the continuous support strip, is fixed against the strip provided with the windows so as to maintain, after cutting, the card in good position opposite the transfer film appearing in the window.

As has been said, the support can receive inscriptions beforehand and preferably inscriptions by thermal transfer preferably using films of the same kind as those intended for manual writing. In this case, the shape and the size of the windows are advantageously chosen so as to delimit exactly the part of the card accessible to the end user for manual writing.

The subject of the invention is also the sets of individual cards capable of receiving a text written manually by thermal transfer using a writing instrument, and in particular the sets obtained by the aforementioned process, these sets comprising a support constituted , preferably, depending on the dimensions and shape of the final card, a transfer film covering at least part of one face of this support and means for detachably holding the film on said face of the support, these means being preferably made by a case of auxiliary material having a window for manual writing.

The invention also relates to a manual thermal writing instrument capable of being used for writing by thermal transfer on such a card assembly and characterized in that it comprises a body having the form of a stylograph and a tip heated to a regulated transfer temperature and intended to be applied to the transfer film of the card assembly.

Preferably, said point comprises a ball in the manner of a ballpoint pen, said ball being heated by means of a resistor situated in the body of the writing instrument, the point being preferably covered with a cover in the shape of a pen pen.

In a preferred embodiment, the body of the writing instrument comprises, at the location where it will be grasped by the user's fingers, two neighboring conductive surfaces, preferably in the form of two parallel annular surfaces, and intended to be connected together by the fingers of the user so as to control the heating of the writing tip.

Preferably, the regulation is carried out using a thermistor located in the body of the writing instrument and sensitive to the heat of the resistor which heats the tip, said thermistor being connected to means for regulating the electrical supply of the resistor intended to heat the writing tip.

The writing instrument is thus associated with an electrical supply and regulation circuit, preferably located outside the body of the pen and connected to the latter by any means. suitable, for example a cord, said circuit having a temperature control comparator sensitive to the thermistor for authorizing or interrupting the sending of current in the heating resistor of the writing tip as a function of the temperature detected, the output of this comparator being connected by a logic circuit comprising a "nand" gate which also receives a signal coming from the detection of the gripping of the pen by the user thanks to said two adjacent conductive surfaces so as not to allow the supply of the instrument of writing in current only when the temperature is lower than the minimum setting temperature and simultaneously the writing instrument is grasped by a user.

Preferably, provision is made for writing on the card assembly, a desk of preferably reduced size capable of being placed for example on a table and having an inclined face provided with means for holding or immobilizing the assembly. card while writing.

These means can for example include a recess in the form of a right angle formed in the inclined surface of the desk so that the card rests in the right angle thus formed by its own gravity and occupies the desired position there.

This desk, which can advantageously be formed from a base covered with a box, can preferably contain the power supply and regulation circuit of the writing instrument, connected to the latter by a cord, this desk then being able to advantageously present a notch receiving the writing instrument when the latter is at rest.

The desk can also include various elements such as for example notches or recesses intended to contain a reserve of cards and envelopes.

Advantageously, the desk can also contain a drawer, for example a swivel drawer, containing a booklet on which a large number of formulas capable of being used by people with little imagination have been previously registered.

• La figure 1 représente une vue générale en perspective d'un pupitre avec un instrument d'écriture selon l'invention.
• La figure 2 représente une vue d'une carte ayant reçu une écriture manuelle selon l'invention.
• La figure 3 représente une vue en perspective avec arrachement partiel d'un ensemble de carte selon l'invention.
• La figure 4 représente schématiquement les trois bandes destinées à être associées dans un procédé de préparation d'un tel ensemble selon la figure 1.
• La figure 5 représente une vue d'un instrument d'écriture selon l'invention.
• La figure 6 représente un schéma d'alimentation et de régulation électrique de cet instrument d'écriture.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear on reading the following description, given by way of nonlimiting example and referring to the appended drawing in which:

• FIG. 1 represents a general perspective view of a desk with a writing instrument according to the invention.
• FIG. 2 represents a view of a card having received manual writing according to the invention.
• FIG. 3 represents a perspective view with partial cutaway of a card assembly according to the invention.
• FIG. 4 schematically represents the three bands intended to be associated in a process for the preparation of such an assembly according to FIG. 1.
• FIG. 5 represents a view of a writing instrument according to the invention.
• FIG. 6 represents a diagram of power supply and electrical regulation of this writing instrument.

We first refer to Figure 1.

The device shown is intended to serve as a desk that can be placed at a merchant's to allow a buyer to write on the card as he pleases. It comprises a lower base 1 covered by a housing 2, the face 3 of which is inclined relative to the horizontal by an angle of the order of 30 degrees. This face has a recess 4 located below the level of the face 3 and forming two lines of recess 5.6 which meet at right angles, each of the lines being inclined relative to the horizontal generatrices of the face 3. These lines 5, 6 allow to immobilize, in the hollow thus formed by the angle, a set of cards on which the user can write. To this end, a writing instrument 7 is provided, the details of which will be described later. This instrument 7 is connected to a supply and regulation circuit located inside the housing by a flexible cord 8. On one of its lateral faces, the housing can receive a pivoting drawer 9 on which can for example be placed a notebook 10 likely to contain a plurality of usual formulas for people with little imagination.

At the upper part 11 of the housing 2, there are three notches 12, 13, 14 which can contain card assemblies and envelopes. The housing also has a notch 15 for housing the writing instrument 7.

The desk can preferably be made of material molded injected plastic.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is a card, according to the invention, composed of a cardboard of the Chromolux type at 250 g and whose upper surface, glossy, is black in color. This card 16 has a frame 17 and a part 18 provided with an advertising inscription and forming the lower edge of the card. The frame and the advertising inscription are made in advance by a thermal transfer from a suitable film, preferably golden in color.

The area 19 inside the frame is intended to receive an inscription written by the user by hand.

Referring to Figure 3, there is shown a card assembly according to the invention. This card assembly, in which the transverse dimensions appearing the thickness of the constituents are exaggerated for the sake of clarity, comprises, from the bottom up, a first section of cardboard 21 having four rounded corners. This cardboard section 21 continues, without a solution of continuity, thanks to a fold 22 forming a long side, by an upper section 23 folded over the first, and provided, as can be seen, with a large rectangular window. The edge 24 of the panel 23 comes to be applied after a new folding against the other panel 21, the panels 21 and 23 being secured to one another, preferably by gluing or pressing a tongue of the edge 24 into a slot in pan 21.

The card 16 rests on the face 21 and is therefore in a way trapped in the case formed by the two faces 21 and 23 when the latter are placed in the folded and glued position shown in FIG. 3.

A golden transfer film 25, of the type sold under the name LUXOR by KURZ France substantially covers the card 16 by completely sealing the window formed in the pan 23, this film 25 being also made integral, by bonding or any other means, by its longitudinal edges, that is to say the largest edges, of the lower or internal face of the upper panel 23.

To write a card, the user takes such a card assembly 20, and places it as shown in FIG. 1 in the recess. He then has to grasp the writing instrument 7 and, applying the writing tip of this instrument on the visible face of the film 25, to write its text.

To manufacture the individual card assemblies 20 in large series, one starts, as seen in FIG. 4, from a continuous strip of cardboard 26 having the same width as the final individual cards 16 which are obtained by cutting. We see on strip 26 the fictitious trace, in broken lines, of the divisions which will debit strip 26 into individual cards. This strip is brought to pass in a transfer printing machine of a conventional type which applies, by thermal transfer, the frame 17 and the advertising inscriptions 18 and this at the required step.

Furthermore, a strip of auxiliary material 27 is used, for example a fairly flexible cardboard, the width of which is greater than twice the width of the strip 26. It is cut from the strip 27, and more precisely from one of its halves, a succession of rectangular windows 28 with the pitch of the cards which will be cut from the strip 26, the dimensions of the windows being, as has been said, chosen so as to leave visible only the part of the film 25 covering the area 19 of card authorized for manual writing. Simultaneously, a grooving is represented in the middle of the strip 27 represented by the broken line 29 and intended to facilitate the folding of the strip 27.

A band 30 of transfer film such as for example the LUXOR metal band is then applied to the part of the strip 27 comprising the windows 28. This film 30 is held in position, for example by gluing at its two longitudinal edges on either side of the longitudinal edges of the windows 28.

The strip 26, suitably indexed with respect to the strip 27, is then placed over the strip 30 which already covers the windows 28.

Finally, the part of the strip 27, not provided with windows, is folded around the fold line 29 so as to cover the assembly. In this movement, the two longitudinal edges of the strip 27 overlap and they are joined together, for example using an adhesive which may advantageously already have been placed initially on each of the edges 24 of the strip 27.

It then only remains to ensure cutting of the assembly, preferably by making rounding at the four corners as shown in the drawing.

Of course, the manufacture of the individual sets of cards 20 may be subject to variants. Thus, for example, the strip 27 could be replaced by two narrower strips, one carrying the windows and the other extending continuously, the two strips being arranged, sandwiched, on either side of the strip 26, their edges, which project on either side of the strip 26, being interconnected by suitable means, bonding or the like.

As a variant, it is also possible to provide card assemblies 20 produced in a different manner, the essential being that these assemblies have, in addition to the card 16, a film of transfer material 25 and means, preferably made of paper, cardboard or plastic material, to temporarily hold the film 25 superimposed on the card 16.

We now refer to Figures 5 and 6.

The writing instrument 7 has the form of a usual writing instrument such as a stylograph, ballpoint pen, etc. It comprises an outer body 31 at the end of which a cord 8 containing four conductors exits. At the front part of the body 31 and more exactly at the location where the user grasps the instrument, there are arranged two conductive metal rings 32, 33 whose role will appear below. The body 31 ends with a writing tip 34, with a metal tube carrying at its end a metal ball 35 of the type of ballpoint pen balls. An ornamental cover 36, in the shape of a feather, covers the writing head 34.

The writing head 34 is associated with a heating resistor 37 and a thermistor 38. The resistor 37 heats the head 34 and the thermistor 38 is sensitive to this writing head temperature and its resistance varies as a function of this temperature.

The electrical assembly constituted by the resistor 37 wound for example around the writing head tube 34, the thermistor 38 also close to the tube to detect the temperature, the two conductive rings 32 and 33, as well as the four conductors which terminate at cord 8, is embedded in an end cap in epoxy resin forming the front part 39 of the body 31.

Referring to Figure 6 more particularly, we see an electrical diagram showing, inside the dashed line frame 7 which represents the pen, the two rings 32 and 33, the resistor 37 and the thermistor 38. A first conductor 40 terminates, via a switch 41 actuated by a relay 53, at the + terminal of a 12 V low-voltage rectified supply contained in the console box. The power supply contained in this box will not be described in more detail. It can usually include a 120 V 1 9 V transformer, followed by a usual rectifier bridge. The other junction of the resistor 37 is connected to the thermistor 38 which is itself connected, by a second conductor 54, to the input, -, of a comparator 42 usually connected to the + 12 V supply. .

The junction of the resistor 37 and thermistor 38 is on the other hand connected to the second input, +, of the comparator 42 by a conductor 43 and this by means of a usual voltage divider assembly 44 with adjustable resistance making it possible to define the comparator threshold 42.

The output 45 of the comparator 42 is addressed to a first input of a "no and" gate 46.

Finally, a switch constituted by the rings 32, 33 and also connected to the junction of the resistor 37 and thermistor 38, leads by a conductor 47 to a detection circuit 48 based on amplification means driving the base of a transistor 49, so as to determine a constant electrical signal when the switch 32, 33 is closed by the fingers of the user, even if the intensity passing through the switch 32, 33 is low and extremely variable. The transistor 49 is connected to the second input of the gate 46 by a conductor 50. The output 51 of the gate 46 controls a power transistor 52 capable of actuating the relay 53.

It is therefore understood that, as long as the user has not applied his fingers to the rings 32, 33, the switch made up of these two rings is open, and the input 50 of the door 46 is not active, gate 46 is not validated. The transistor 52 is not conductive and the relay 53 maintains the switch 41 in the open position. When, through the user's fingers, the current flows from the ring 32 to the ring 33, which validates the gate 46, and making the transistor 52 conductive, it causes the actuation of the relay and the closing of the switch 41. At this moment, the resistor 37 is energized and starts to heat , the current passing through the thermistor 38 being variable with the temperature. When the temperature reaches the maximum permitted value displayed on the comparator 42, the comparator output blocks the door 46 and the relay 53 opens. Thus we obtain a regulation of the temperature of the writing tip, as long as the user holds the writing instrument at the level of the rings 32, 33. When he releases the instrument, the relay ₅₃ opens a switch 41 and no current is sent to the resistor.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, it is understood that it is in no way limited thereto and that it can be made various modifications of shape or material without thereby distance neither from his frame nor from his mind.

Claims (19)

1) Method for manual writing of cards, in particular of cards accompanying gifts, characterized in that individual card assemblies (20) are prepared comprising a support (16), a thermal transfer film (25), and means (22, 24) for detachably holding the film on one face of said support, and for writing text manually using a thermal writing instrument (7) comprising a body (31) having the form of a stylograph and a writing tip (34) heated to a regulated transfer temperature and intended to be applied against said film, after which the support (16) coated with its text and forming the card is separated from the film (25) and its holding means (22, 24). 2) Method according to claim 1, characterized in that, during the preparation of the individual card assembly (20) is printed on the support of the inscriptions (17,18) such as texfe, drawing, frame, line, in one or locations spaced from a location (19) provided for manual writing. 3) Method according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that one uses, for writing, a desk (1, 2) having an inclined face (3) with means (4, 5, 6 ) to immobilize the individual card assembly (20) during writing. 4) Method for preparing individual card assemblies comprising a support (16), a thermal transfer film (25), and means (22, 24) for detachably holding the film on one face of said support, and capable of receiving a text written manually by thermal transfer using a thermal writing instrument (7) comprising a body (31) having the shape of a stylographer and a writing tip (34) heated to a regulated transfer temperature intended to be applied against said film, said support (16) coated with its text and forming the card then being separated from the film (25) and its holding means (22, 24), characterized in what, 1 a continuous support strip is produced from which the individual supports intended to form the cards will be cut, a continuous strip of an auxiliary material is made having a width greater than that of said continuous support strip, - a window is cut from this second strip in the step of the cards which will be materialized in the support, a ribbon of transfer film (30) is fixed on the strip thus cut, - superimposed on the transfer film ribbon (30) thus fixed, said support strip (26) - another strip of auxiliary material is applied to the side which remains free from the support strip (26) and the edges of auxiliary material which protrude from the support strip are assembled, - And the assembly obtained is cut into individual sets (20) of card. 5) Method according to claim 4, characterized in that a continuous strip of auxiliary material (27) is produced having a width greater than twice the width of the continuous support strip (26), cut from one halves of this strip of auxiliary material (27) of the windows (28) in the step of the cards and a grooving or folding line (29) is produced substantially in the middle of said strip (27), so as to produce a half of strip cut out of windows and half a strip intended to be folded over the face of the support strip (26) which remains free. 6) Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the support strip (26) receives inscriptions such as text, drawing, frame, line, by thermal transfer. 7) Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the shape of the windows (28) corresponds to the surface (19) left free by the prior registrations for manual writing. 8) Method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the transfer film (25) is bonded to the auxiliary strip (27) along the longitudinal edges of the windows (28). 10) Method according to any one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that, during cutting, rounding is cut at the four corners of the card assembly (20). 11) Individual card assembly, characterized in that it comprises a card holder (16). a thermal transfer film (25) and means (22, 24) for removably holding the film (25) on one face of said card support (16), said assembly being capable of receiving, by manual writing, a text by using a thermal writing instrument (7) comprising a body (31) - in the form of a stylograph and a writing tip (34) heated to a regulated transfer temperature and intended to be applied against said film, said support (16) coated with its text and forming the card is then separated from the film (25) and the holding means (22, 24). 12) An assembly according to claim 11, characterized in that said means (22, 24) constitute a case folded around the support with a window (28) and a transfer film (25) appearing in the window. 13) An assembly according to one of claims 11 and 12, characterized in that said support has previously received inscriptions such as text, drawing, frame, line in one or more locations (17, 18) spaced from a location (19 ) intended for manual writing. 14) An assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that the window (28) corresponds to an area (19) left free for manual writing. 15) Manual thermal writing instrument capable of being used for manual writing of a text by thermal transfer on a card assembly (20) comprising a support (16), a thermal transfer film (25) and means (22, 24) for detachably holding the film on one face of said support, said support (16) coated with its text and forming the card then being separated from the film (25) and the means. support (22, 24), characterized in that it comprises a body (31) having the shape of a stylographer and a writing tip (34, 35) heated to a regulated transfer temperature and intended to be applied to the transfer film. 16) Instrument according to claim 15, characterized in that the heated writing tip comprises a heated ball (35). 17) Instrument according to 'one of claims 15 and 16, characterized in that the writing tip (34, 35) is covered with a cover in the form of a pen pen (36). 18) Instrument according to one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the body (31) comprises, at the level of the grip zone by the fingers of the user, two neighboring conductive surfaces (32, 33) intended for be connected by the user's fingers to control the heating of the writing tip (34, 35). 19) Instrument according to any one of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that it comprises in the body (31) a heating resistance of the writing tip (34, 35) and a thermistor connected to means of regulation (42, 46, 52) of the electrical supply of the resistor (37). 20) thermal writing instrument according to claim 19, characterized in that the thermistor is connected to a comparator on which is displayed a value corresponding to the maximum temperature, the output of the comparator terminating at a non-door and (46) which terminates also to a circuit capable of being closed by two neighboring conductive surfaces (32, 33) placed on the body (31) of the instrument so as to be able to be connected by the fingers of the user, said door controlling an actuating means and interrupting (41) the heating of the resistor (37).

Images