EP0823102B1 - Apparatus for processing an information carrier - Google Patents

Apparatus for processing an information carrier Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0823102B1
EP0823102B1 EP96915273A EP96915273A EP0823102B1 EP 0823102 B1 EP0823102 B1 EP 0823102B1 EP 96915273 A EP96915273 A EP 96915273A EP 96915273 A EP96915273 A EP 96915273A EP 0823102 B1 EP0823102 B1 EP 0823102B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
strip
track
processing
sheet
drive cylinder
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 - Lifetime
Application number
EP96915273A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0823102A1 (en
Inventor
Hans Liljevall
Henrik MALMSTRÖM
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.)
Essnet AB
Original Assignee
Essnet AB
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
Application filed by Essnet AB filed Critical Essnet AB
Publication of EP0823102A1 publication Critical patent/EP0823102A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0823102B1 publication Critical patent/EP0823102B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B1/00—Machines for printing and issuing tickets
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B11/00—Apparatus for validating or cancelling issued tickets

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an apparatus for processing an information carrier in accordance with the preamble of Patent Claim 1, and more particularly to an apparatus for combined and selectable handling of an information carrier in the form of a sheet or in the form of a strip.
  • the ticket guide track is in communication with a closed space intended for turning the ticket, and with discharge outlets through which a ticket can be output from the ticket guide track in a direction counter to the processing direction.
  • a ticket is introduced into the ticket guide track for processing one side of the ticket, and it is then turned in the space provided for this purpose, and is then fed back into the ticket guide track for processing the other side of the ticket.
  • the ticket is fed forwards in the ticket guide track until the trailing end of the ticket is in front of a discharge outlet, the feed direction is reversed, and the ticket is output after describing a discontinuous movement.
  • the apparatus which has been described above is intended for, and limited to, processing and turning tickets of a predetermined maximum length and requires for its function a large number of feeding devices.
  • EP 0 330 847 A discloses an apparatus for printing tickets which can be used alternatively for printing on single tickets or on stock in strip form.
  • the strip stock is fed from a roll between a drive cylinder and a counterstay cylinder into a processing track comprising a printer head and an opposing anvil, the printed ticket emerging from a slot in the apparatus housing.
  • the counterstay cylinder and anvil which are mounted on a pivotable arm, are tilted away from the printer head and the drive cylinder, allowing the single ticket to be inserted into a separate slot adjacent the strip ticket delivery slot, so as to enter the processing track in a direction opposite to that of the strip ticket stock.
  • One object of the invention is to make available an apparatus for processing, for example printing or reading, of an information carrier in the form of a sheet or in the form of a strip, by means of which selectable feeding and processing of a sheet or a continuous strip of undefined length is possible. Another object is to make available an apparatus of this kind which requires a minimum number of feeding devices. Another object is to make available a combined sheet and strip printer, especially for ticket or coupon handling, for example in lottery terminals, and yet another object is to make available a combined reader and printer for selectable sheet and strip printing and reading.
  • An advantage of a combined printer/reader is, in addition to the elimination of separate units, the fact that the matter which has been printed on an information carrier can be validated before the printed information carrier is delivered to a user.
  • Figures 1 to 8 show outline diagrams of an embodiment of a processing apparatus according to the invention in different operating stages
  • Figure 9 shows a general view of the apparatus according to the invention in the form of an openable printer.
  • Figure 1 shows an outline diagram of a processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention, comprising a printer head and a reader head.
  • a housing 2 which is shown only partially in the figure, there are guide track members 1, 3, 5 arranged for delimiting a first guide track, a second guide track and a third guide track for the information carrier.
  • the first guide track is designed to be a sheet guide track 4 for controlling an information carrier in the form of a sheet, with a sheet inlet 10 and a sheet outlet 12 and an essentially straight or only slightly deflected contour.
  • the second guide track is designed to be a strip guide track 6 for controlling an information carrier in the form of a strip, with a strip inlet 14 and a strip outlet 16, and which can have a contour with an essentially straight portion and a deflected portion.
  • the third guide track is open or can be opened in the guide direction and is designed to be a processing track 8 for selectable processing of either a sheet or a strip, which can have an undefined length.
  • the processing track 8 has a processing inlet 18 and a processing outlet 20 and has such a shape, and such a connection to the sheet guide track 14 and the strip guide track 6, that a sheet or a strip which is conveyed along the processing track can be fed into and out of it in a continuous movement.
  • a printer head 22 Arranged along the processing track there are a printer head 22 for registering visually, magnetically, optically, electrically or otherwise readable information, for example in the form of characters or symbols, on an information carrier which is conveyed along the processing track, a reader head 24 for optional reading of such information, and a preferably separable cutter for cutting off a strip after completed printing and, if appropriate, reading of a section of such a strip.
  • the figure also shows an information carrier strip 34 rolled up on a roll 36 and introduced via the strip guide track 6 into the processing track 8.
  • the sheet guide track 4 and the strip guide track 6 are united at the processing inlet 18 of the processing track 8, so that a sheet which is fed along the sheet guide track 4 and a strip which is fed along the strip guide track 6 enter the said processing track at essentially the same place.
  • the different guide tracks are delimited at least partially by contoured walls which are wholly or partly openworked and are made, for example, of sheet metal or plastic, but also by other constructional elements, for example parts of the feeding members used for feeding the sheet or strip (as explained hereinafter).
  • a roller-shaped drive cylinder 28 which is mounted in the housing 2, and forming one of the feeding members, is a roller-shaped drive cylinder 28 whose jacket contour is partially surrounded by and/or delimits the processing track in order to be able to take hold of an information carrier in the form of a sheet or a strip and to drive it along the processing track.
  • First counterstays are arranged next to the drive cylinder 28 for cooperating with the said drive cylinder in order to engage an information carrier.
  • the first counterstay members comprise a spring-loaded thermo-printer head 22 which is mounted in the housing next to the drive cylinder 28 and which, upon rotation of the drive cylinder, cooperates with it for friction-induced forwarding of an information carrier and also for possible registering of information on the latter.
  • thermo-printer head is mounted in such a way that it can be applied resiliently against, and lifted off from, the drive cylinder by means of control members (not shown) as a function of control signals.
  • control members not shown
  • the forwarding of an information carrier along the processing track can also be provided, for example, by means of two drive rollers, and the printer head can be of any type and can be placed ahead of or following the feeding arrangement.
  • strip feeding members for feeding a strip along the strip track 6 and the processing track 8.
  • the feed direction of the strip feeding members is reversible, so that a strip which is introduced into the processing track 8 can be reversed out of the processing track and a sheet then introduced into the processing track.
  • the drive cylinder 28 and the strip track 6 are arranged in such a way that the jacket contour of the drive cylinder is partially surrounded by and/or delimits the strip track 6.
  • the strip feeding members comprise a second counterstay member 30 in the form of a roller arranged next to the drive cylinder 28 in order to cooperate with the latter in gripping a strip.
  • the counterstay member 30 can be released from the drive cylinder 28, so that a strip introduced in the strip track 6 can be released from engagement with the drive cylinder 28, and thus the drive cylinder can be rotated without driving the strip forward.
  • the strip feeding members 28, 30 are arranged to reverse the strip out of the processing track and from the feeding member common to sheet and strip, which feeding member here comprises the drive cylinder 28 and the counterstay member 22, and to drive the strip forwards again to this common feeding member which, in this example, simultaneously comprises a printer head.
  • the figure also shows an embodiment of a strip braking member 32 which is mounted in the housing and which is arranged for taking hold of a strip and preventing the strip from being inadvertently conveyed out of the reach of the feeding members, for example by falling or being drawn out of the strip track.
  • the embodiment of the strip braking member shown in the figure comprises a leaf spring which is designed so that it can be applied in a controlled manner against a strip 34 which is introduced into the strip track 6, so that the strip 34 is clamped between the leaf spring and the guide track member 3.
  • Figure 1 thus shows the apparatus in the position, here referred to as the normal position, for processing of a strip 34 which is introduced into the strip track 6 and into the processing track 8.
  • the printer head 22 bears against the drive cylinder 28 with the strip 34 in between, the counterstay roller 30 is released from engagement with the strip 34, and the leaf spring 32 of the braking member bears against the strip 34, but can also be released.
  • the drive cylinder is rotated clockwise (shown by means of an arrow indicated on the drive cylinder)
  • the strip 34 is driven along the processing track 8 towards the processing outlet 20, and the printer head 22 can be activated so as to register information on the strip, and the reader head 24 can be activated to read information from the strip.
  • the cutter 26 can be activated to cut off the processed strip section, which can thereafter be dealt with at the processing outlet 20.
  • Figures 2 to 8 show the apparatus according to Figure 1 in different stages of transition between set-up of the apparatus for strip processing and sheet processing, respectively, and with arrows drawn in to indicate the directions of movement of the different components.
  • Figure 2 shows a first stage for transition from processing of a strip to processing of a sheet, the printer head 22 having been lifted from the drive cylinder 28, which is then preferably stationary, the counterstay member 30 is brought to bear against the drive cylinder 28 with the strip 34 in between, and the leaf spring 32 of the braking member is lifted from the strip 34.
  • the parts which have been mentioned have the same position as in Figure 2, but the drive cylinder is rotated counterclockwise and, in conjunction with the counterstay member 30, drives the strip 34 backwards until it has been reversed out of the processing track 8 and its front end lies in the strip track 6 immediately behind the processing inlet 18.
  • the figure illustrates diagrammatically how the strip 34 in the unstretched state can be creased slightly between the braking member 32 and the strip roll 36.
  • the apparatus is now ready for input of a sheet via the sheet guide track 4 which, now unimpeded by the strip 34, merges into the processing track 8 at the processing mouth 18.
  • Figure 4 shows that the printer head 22 is returned to bear against the drive cylinder 28, the counterstay member 30 is released from bearing against the strip 34 and the drive cylinder 28, and the leaf spring 32 of the strip braking member is brought to bear against the strip 34, so that the front end of the strip is stationed in the strip track 6 without the strip 34 being in engagement with the drive cylinder 28, and the said end of the strip is thereby prevented from falling or being drawn away from the counterstay member 30.
  • a sheet 36 can now be introduced into the sheet guide track 4 via the sheet inlet 10 and, unimpeded by the strip 34, is introduced into the processing track 8.
  • the drive cylinder 28 is moved in clockwise rotation, for example as a function of a control signal which is given manually or is given by a sheet sensor (not shown) placed in the sheet guide track 4 and designed to detect a sheet.
  • a sheet 36 which is introduced into the processing track 8 comes into engagement with the drive cylinder 28 in cooperation with the printer head 22 and is driven forwards along the processing track 8 in the same way as has already been described for a strip 34.
  • Figure 5 shows a sheet which has just left its engagement between the drive cylinder 28 and the printer head 22, and which passes the open cutter 26 and is conveyed out of the processing track 8 via the processing outlet 20.
  • the sheet is discharged completely from the processing track by its own momentum, remains partially in the processing track so that it can be removed manually by an operator using the apparatus, is stored in a collection magazine, or continues to a subsequent processing apparatus.
  • FIG 6 shows that the thermo-printer head 22 is released from its bearing against the drive cylinder 28, the counterstay member 30 is brought to bear against the drive cylinder 28 with the stationed strip 34 in between, and the leaf spring 32 of the strip braking member is lifted from the strip 34.
  • the printer head 22, the counterstay member 30 and the leaf spring 32 have the same positions as in Figure 6.
  • the drive cylinder 28 is rotated clockwise so that the strip 34 is driven forwards by means of the interaction between the drive cylinder 28 and the counterstay member 30, and is conveyed into the processing track 8 past the printer head 22.
  • Figure 8 shows that the printer head 22 is brought to bear against the drive cylinder 28 with the strip 34 in between, the counterstay member 30 is released from bearing against the drive cylinder 28, and the leaf spring of the braking member is brought to bear against the strip 34.
  • the apparatus is now once again ready for strip processing by means of driving forward of the feeding member common to the sheet and strip.
  • Figure 9 shows a general view of an embodiment of an apparatus according to Figures 1 to 8, with a housing 2 comprising a base part 38, a first cover 40 which at one end is pivotably secured on the base part 38 by means of a first hinge 50 and at the other end can be fastened on the base part by means of a fastening member 52, and a second cover 42 which at one end is pivotably secured on the base part by means of a second hinge 48 and at the other end can be releasably locked on the first cover 40 by means of a locking member 54.
  • the covers 40 and 42 are thus lockable on the base part 38 and to one another by means of the locking member 54.
  • cam control members comprising a first cam wheel 62 for controlling the movements of the printer head 22, a second cam wheel 64 for controlling the movements of the counterstay member 30, and a third cam wheel 68 for controlling the movements of the strip braking member 32.
  • the cam wheels are mounted on a common shaft which is essentially coaxial with the axes of the drive cylinder 28 and of the counterstay member 30, they have cam profiles which permit the movements described above, and they are controlled, for example, in a conventional manner by means of a stepping motor and control electronics.
  • the figure shows the printer head 22 pivotably suspended on a shaft 72 and arranged resiliently by means of a spring member mounted between the cover 40 and the printer head 22.
  • a protruding part 80 of the printer head 22 goes towards the cam profile of the first cam wheel 62, so that that part of the printer head bearing against the drive cylinder 28 can be displaced as a function of the cam profile while the printer head pivots about the shaft 72.
  • the counterstay member 30 is mounted on at least one arm 82 which is pivotably suspended on a shaft 70.
  • the arm 82 is spring-loaded by means a spring 56 which is arranged on the arm in order to pre-tension the counterstay member 30 towards the drive cylinder 28 and towards the second cam wheel 64 by means of a guide pin 74 mounted on the arm 82.
  • the counterstay member 30 can be displaced as a function of the cam profile of the second cam wheel, since the arm 82 pivots about the shaft 70 by means of the guide pin 74 and the last-mentioned cam profile.
  • the movement of the braking member is controlled by means of the fact that the leaf spring 32 is controlled directly by the cam profile of the third cam wheel 68.
  • an apparatus according to the invention has been obtained for processing an information carrier in the form of a sheet or in the form of a strip, which apparatus, comprising a small number of parts and utilizing the components of the feeding members for several purposes, permits selectable processing of a sheet or strip of undefined length.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Conveying Record Carriers (AREA)
  • Handling Of Sheets (AREA)
  • Management Or Editing Of Information On Record Carriers (AREA)
  • Multi-Process Working Machines And Systems (AREA)
  • Handling Of Continuous Sheets Of Paper (AREA)
EP96915273A 1995-05-05 1996-05-02 Apparatus for processing an information carrier Expired - Lifetime EP0823102B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE9501680 1995-05-05
SE9501680A SE513653C2 (sv) 1995-05-05 1995-05-05 Apparat för selekterbar bearbetning av en informationsbärare
PCT/SE1996/000566 WO1996035192A1 (en) 1995-05-05 1996-05-02 Apparatus for processing an information carrier

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0823102A1 EP0823102A1 (en) 1998-02-11
EP0823102B1 true EP0823102B1 (en) 2002-01-02

Family

ID=20398216

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96915273A Expired - Lifetime EP0823102B1 (en) 1995-05-05 1996-05-02 Apparatus for processing an information carrier

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0823102B1 (sv)
AT (1) ATE211566T1 (sv)
AU (1) AU5708396A (sv)
DE (1) DE69618356T2 (sv)
SE (1) SE513653C2 (sv)
WO (1) WO1996035192A1 (sv)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITMO20030039U1 (it) * 2003-10-10 2005-04-11 Microlog S R L Distributore automatico di coupons e sorteggiatore per lo svolgimento di campagne promozionali.

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3806577A1 (de) * 1988-03-02 1989-09-14 Knorr Bremse Ag Druckvorrichtung, insbesondere fahrscheindruckvorrichtung
DE68909279T2 (de) * 1988-03-30 1994-05-05 Sanyo Denki Seisakusho Gifu Kk Fahrgeldabgleichmaschine für eine im voraus bezahlte Fahrkarte.
US5268561A (en) * 1990-08-28 1993-12-07 Oki Electric Industry Co. Ltd. Ticket issuing apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69618356T2 (de) 2002-09-26
SE513653C2 (sv) 2000-10-16
DE69618356D1 (de) 2002-02-07
ATE211566T1 (de) 2002-01-15
WO1996035192A1 (en) 1996-11-07
AU5708396A (en) 1996-11-21
SE9501680D0 (sv) 1995-05-05
SE9501680L (sv) 1996-11-06
EP0823102A1 (en) 1998-02-11

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