EP0955172B2 - Method and cassette for printing on a booklet-type object - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves arranging the object unfolded in a cassette (10) and conveying it to the marking station. The position of the edges of the page to be marked, in the station, and the position of a pattern on the sheet to be marked. The page is then marked such that parts of the marking are aligned with the pattern and other parts are aligned relative to the edge of the page. The cassette (10) has a base and a locating region and a frame (12). An Independent claim is included to cover a cassette for receiving the book or object.

Description

The invention relates to a method for labeling a sheet of a booklet-like article in a labeling station and a cassette, in particular a cassette for receiving and handling a booklet-like article of sheet material, as used for example for identity documents, in particular passports.

In the production of identification cards, such as credit cards, bank cards, cash cards, company cards, driver's licenses and the like, it is known to automatically extract the individual cards from a supply store, feed them into a labeling station, for example a laser marking station, to align and inscribe therein. After labeling, the cards are then stored in a recording magazine. With such an automated labeling device can be produced in a short time with little staff effort large numbers of ID cards.

Compared to this, the labeling of fake identification papers, which are often required in the form of passports, is more difficult. Such violent identification papers, hereinafter referred to simply as passports for the sake of simplicity, usually consist of a front and a back cover sheet, a stapling portion for entries stitched therebetween and a sheet for receiving passport and personal data. This sheet, which may consist in particular of a material suitable for laser inscription, may either be a special sheet arranged next to one of the cover sheets or the cover sheet itself, which is then to be inscribed on its inside.

In order to provide a passport, for example, in a laser marking station with an image of the passport holder, his personal data and a machine-readable passport identification, it is necessary to arrange the passport unfolded in the labeling station so that a machine-readable passport identification are registered exactly aligned to a side edge of the sheet to be inscribed can, while the personal data and the passport photo must be aligned to a form.

The arrangement of a passport to be inscribed can be carried out with appropriate design of the inscription station by hand, but is relatively expensive and requires a high level of attention of the operating staff, as a proper alignment of the passport or the sheet is required in the labeling station.

A fully automatic handling of a passport in a labeling device, in which the passport initially unfolded, then inserted in the unfolded state in the labeling station, labeled there and then transported to a removal station, is conceivable, but would require a very high level of automation effort, with considerable Costs associated, see eg JP-A-61154963 and JP-A-63218384 ,

Together with an IDO System Inkjet Printer 601, a recording device for a personalization passport was used, which has a base plate with a support region having a first and a second support surface. The second bearing surface is formed by a spacer plate which is screwed onto the base plate. The two bearing surfaces are thus offset parallel to each other in the direction of their normal. On the base plate, a folding frame is pivotally mounted, the edge of which is formed so that it depresses the edges of an unfolded passport and thus keeps the pass opened.

The invention has for its object to provide a method by which violent like on one of its insides to be inscribed articles of sheet material, especially passports and other fierce identity papers, can be automatically labeled in a simple way without additional means for aligning to be inscribed Sheet must be provided in the cassette. In addition, the invention has the object to provide a cassette which can be used in particular in such a labeling method.

This object is achieved by the method according to claim 1 and the cassette according to claim 3.

By detecting the sheet position at three positions of the sheet edge, the position of the sheet, in particular the position of the sheet edge, parallel to which a machine-readable pass identification should run, accurately capture, so that the passport identification can be precisely aligned to the appropriate sheet edge without the The position of the cassette in the labeling device and the position of the sheet to be labeled in the cassette should be defined exactly.

This significantly simplifies the design of the cassette and its handling and the implementation of the label according to the method of claim 1.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that parts of the label are aligned both to the predetermined pattern and to the sheet edge. This procedure can be used in particular in Align labels or images to be applied to the marginal area of the sheet to be labeled in such a way that they are correctly aligned both to a given pattern on the sheet and to its edge.

In order to make the handling of the cassette according to the invention as easy as possible when inserting passports and the like, it is provided in a preferred embodiment of the invention that the frame has a frame plate attached to the base plate, to which a folding frame is pivotally connected to a window. It is particularly preferred in this case if the folding frame is arranged in its resting on the base plate closed position on the closer lying on the frame second support surface, and that the window is divided by Niederhaltestege to a label to be inscribed sheet resting on the support area sheet-like object hold.

Thus, according to the invention, the folding frame and the second supporting surface cooperate so that a sheet arranged on the second supporting surface is pressed into a defined plane by the folding frame and in particular by the retaining webs arranged on the folding frame in a defined plane against a tension generated when the tack-like object is unfolded the sheet to be labeled can be readily arranged in the labeling level of the labeling station.

Particularly easy is the opening and closing of the cassette or the opening and closing of the hinged lid, when the folding frame is releasably held in its closed position by means of snap connection means.

To a passport, which usually consists of a relatively stiff material, for insertion into the cassette does not have to open too far by hand, the invention provides that the folding frame in its Aufklappstellung with the base plate an angle of about 110 ° to 150 °, preferably from 120 ° to 140 °, in particular 130 °. This makes it possible to use the only partially open passport in the cassette and to effect the complete unfolding of the passport with the folding of the folding frame. It has been shown that passports and other violent objects can be opened with the help of the cassette according to the invention surprisingly gentle than by hand.

In order to ensure the exact alignment of a passport to be inscribed in the cassette according to the invention is provided in a development of the invention that on the base plate side facing the hinged lid in the region of its remote from its pivot axis edge stop and holding means are provided to a to be aligned on the associated bearing surface of the support region to be arranged sheet-like object relative to the frame and / or the base plate.

It is particularly advantageous if the stop and holding means are pocket-shaped, so that an inserted into the pocket sheet-like object is held at a pivoting movement of the hinged lid and guided by this.

Through the bag-shaped stop means, the loading of the individual cassettes according to the invention with passports or the like can be further simplified and at the same time increase the alignment accuracy of the passport in the cassette since the part of the passport is inserted only in the corresponding receiving pocket between the bearing surface and the frame plate needs to be, while the free corners of the other part, so the free corners of the cover sheet and possibly the sheet to be inscribed need to be inserted into serving as a stop means bags on the folding frame. Subsequently, the folding frame can then be pivoted into its closed position, wherein the sheet to be labeled of the passport is exactly aligned, while the passport itself is opened extremely gently.

The provided with appropriate rounding beveled edge of the stage between the two contact areas of the support surface ensures that the cover sheets of the pass can not be kinked when unfolded and in the unfolded state.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the second support surface is arranged in strips over the first support surface along one of its sides, so that a sheet to be inscribed of a lying on the first support surface violent object with its free edge on the second support surface can be placed wherein a receiving pocket is provided between the first and second support surfaces.

As a result, a particularly simple designed cassette is made possible with which can be arranged in a defined plane reliably especially in tack-like objects made of relatively stiff material to be inscribed sheet. The pocket-shaped receiving area can receive those leaves of the tack-like object, which lie under unfolded booklet-like object under the page to be inscribed. Usually this is just the front cover sheet. However, if instead of the second side of the second sheet, for example, the first side should be labeled, then almost all the sheets of the tack-like object are arranged in the pocket-shaped receiving area, whereby the sheet to be labeled can be aligned in the same way as in the case in which only the cover sheet is underneath.

In order to facilitate the insertion of the passport in this cassette and in particular to facilitate the insertion of lying under the sheet to be printed sheets in the pocket-shaped support area, it is provided that the projecting beyond the first support surface edge of the second support surface is convex in plan view.

In order to simplify the use of the cassette in the inventive method, it is provided that the second bearing surface is formed in contrasting colors. To detect sheet at three defined points, no additional guide and stop means need to be provided, which ensure the alignment of the sheet to be inscribed in the cassette. As a result, both the handling and the production of the cassette is much easier.

In order to use the cartridge according to the second embodiment of the invention advantageously with tack-like objects made of relatively soft material, it is provided that parallel to the strip-shaped second bearing surface at a distance from this a convexly curved bar on the first support surface can be fastened. Due to the convexly curved bar, the cover sheet and the sheet to be inscribed are gently supported in the same way as in the first embodiment of the cassette according to the invention, at the same time producing a sheet to be labeled against the frame and the hold-down webs provided in the frame window.

The cartridge according to the invention thus serves for receiving an unfolded passport or the like, which is so placed on the support area fixed by the frame that it can be handled in the cassette together with the cassette in a labeling device such as a badge.

It is thus possible to stack a plurality of passports arranged in cassettes according to the invention in a corresponding feed magazine of a labeling device in order to automatically transport these from the feed magazine into the labeling station and after labeling, in the same way as with ID cards, in a receiving magazine store. Subsequently, the passports need only be removed from the cassettes, and the empty cassettes can then be re-filled with passports and used again in the manner described.

Although the cassette according to the invention requires the manual insertion of passports into the cassettes, but allows the automatic transport of passports by a labeling device, in particular by a laser marking device in a very simple manner, since the cassettes arranged in the passports can be handled as large ID cards.

• Fig. 1 eine teilweise geschnittene Seitenansicht einer Kassette,
• Fig. 2 eine Draufsicht auf eine leere geschlossene Kassette nach Figur 1,
• Fig. 3 eine Draufsicht auf die Unterseite des freien Randbereichs eines Klapprahmens der Kassette nach Figur 1 in Richtung des Pfeils III in Figur 1,
• Fig. 4 eine Draufsicht auf den entsprechenden Randbereich einer Grundplatte der Kassette nach Figur 1 in Richtung des Pfeils IV in Figur 1,
• Fig. 5 einen Schnitt im wesentlichen nach Linie V - V in Figur 3,
• Fig. 6 einen Schnitt im wesentlichen nach Linie VI - VI in Figur 4,
• Fig. 7 eine Schnittdarstellung entsprechend Figur 5 und 6 bei geschlossener Kassette,
• Fig. 8 eine Schnittdarstellung entsprechend Figur 1 einer Ausgestaltung der Erfindung, und
• Fig. 9 eine Draufsicht auf die geschlossene Kassette nach Figur 8.

The invention will be explained in more detail below, for example, with reference to the drawing. Show it:

• Fig. 1 a partially sectioned side view of a cassette,
• Fig. 2 a top view of an empty closed cassette after FIG. 1 .
• Fig. 3 a plan view of the bottom of the free edge portion of a folding frame of the cassette after FIG. 1 in the direction of arrow III in FIG. 1 .
• Fig. 4 a plan view of the corresponding edge region of a base plate of the cassette after FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrow IV in FIG. 1 .
• Fig. 5 a section substantially to line V - V in FIG. 3 .
• Fig. 6 a section substantially to line VI - VI in FIG. 4 .
• Fig. 7 a sectional view accordingly FIGS. 5 and 6 with closed cassette,
• Fig. 8 a sectional view accordingly FIG. 1 an embodiment of the invention, and
• Fig. 9 a plan view of the closed cassette after FIG. 8 ,

In the various figures of the drawing corresponding components are provided with the same reference numerals.

As FIG. 1 shows, a cassette 10 has a base plate 11 and a frame 12 disposed thereon. In the base plate 11, a recess 13 is provided, which is surrounded by arranged on the edge of the base plate 11 1 webs 14 and the bottom forms a support area 15 for an unfolded violent article of sheet material, such as a folded passport. The support area 15 is divided by a step 16 into a first and a second support surface 17, 18. The two flat bearing surfaces 17, 18 are preferably arranged parallel to each other and offset in the direction of their normal by the distance d from each other, so that the one bearing surface 18 is closer to the frame 12 than the other bearing surface 17. The distance d is here depending on the Thickness of the passport chosen.

In the following, for the sake of simplicity, the first supporting surface 17 located further away from the frame 12 in the illustrated embodiment will be referred to as the lower supporting surface 17 independently of the position of the cassette 10 and the second supporting surface closer to the frame will be referred to as the upper supporting surface 18.

The step 16 between the lower and upper bearing surface 17 or 18 has a bevelled edge 16 ', which merges into the upper bearing surface 18 via a convex rounding 16. The expanse area between the flank 16' and the lower bearing surface 17 can also be expediently be rounded, wherein the radii of curvature of the lower concave rounding and the upper convex rounding 16 "may be equal, so that a particularly smooth and smooth transition from the lower support surface 17 on the edge 16 'of the step 16 and the rounding 16" to the upper support surface The chamfer of the flank 16 'is selected, for example, so that the angle α spanned by it with the upper support region 18 is between 205 ° and 225 °, preferably between 210 ° and 220 °, in particular about 215 °, when the Cassette 10 is provided for a conventional passport, depending on the thickness of the passports for which the cassette 10 is and the thickness and flexibility of the sheet material of the passports, however, the angle a between the chamfered flank 16 'and the upper support portion 18 and the radius of curvature of the rounding 16 "can be varied to minimize the sheet material when unfolding and fixing the unfolded passport claim.

The frame 12, which rests on the support area 15 surrounding webs 14 of the base plate 11, comprises a frame plate 20 and a folding frame 21, which, as in FIG. 2 is shown, about three a pivot axis A for the folding frame 21 defining articulated joints 22 is hinged to the frame plate 20. The joints 22 are designed so that the pivot angle β of the folding frame 21 from his in FIG. 1 shown in solid lines in its open position shown in dashed lines more than 90 °, suitably about 110 ° to 150 °, preferably 120 ° to 140 ° and in particular 130 °.

The folding frame 21 of the frame 12 has a window 23, through which a lying on the upper support surface 18 sheet-shaped object, for example, to be inscribed sheet of a passport can be labeled. In order to keep the sheet material on the upper support surface 18 as level as possible, hold-down webs 24, 25 are provided which divide the window 23 into individual window sections 26, 27 and 28. The first hold-down web 24 is parallel to the free edge 29 of the hinged lid 21 and limits the window portion 26 which extends in a strip parallel to the free edge 29 substantially over the entire width of the upper support surface 18. In one of the free edge 29 associated strip 30 of the folding frame 21 is provided for a window portion 26 toward open control window 31 whose edge remote from the window portion 26 edge 31 'parallel to the free edge 29 extending edge 32 of the support area 15 corresponds. The second hold-down web 25 extends substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis and divides the in FIG. 2 Window region lying to the left of the first hold-down web 24 in the window sections 27, 28. The hold-down webs 24, 25 are arranged so that they are assigned to areas of the sheet material to be inscribed, in which no labeling is to be made.

In the bar 30 of the hinged lid 21, a further control window 33 is provided through which provided on the free edge 29 of the hinged lid 21 associated web 14 of the base plate 11 Brand 34 can be detected.

For example, To read a serial number of a arranged in the cassette 10 passport, the frame plate 20 has another control window 35.

In order to securely hold the folding frame 21 in its closed position when transporting a cassette 10 equipped with a passport through a labeling device, in FIG FIG. 2 only indicated, snap connections 36 are provided which consist for example of spring tongues not shown with locking lugs which are fixed to the folding frame 21 and which cooperate with corresponding locking webs on the base plate 11.

In order to assure the insertion of a passport into the cassette 10 that the sheet to be inscribed is oriented in the desired manner in the cassette 10, as in FIGS. 3 and 5 shown, pocket-shaped stop and holding means 37 provided for the free corners of the sheet to be inscribed a passport. Each of the two stop and holding means 37 has a mounting plate 38 on which an L-shaped web 39 is formed, which carries a substantially also L-shaped retaining plate 40. How very good in FIG. 5 can be seen, a pocket 41 is formed between the mounting plate 38, the L-shaped web 39 and the holding plate 40, in which in a manner not shown a free corner of a sheet to be labeled can be used. In this case, the L-shaped web 39 forms with its inner walls 39 ', 39 "a side stop (wall 39') and a front stop (wall 39").

Although the stop and holding means 37 are shown integrally in the drawing, they may also be composed of several parts to facilitate the manufacture. In particular, it is possible to make the L-shaped web 39 together with the holding plate 40 as a part which is screwed or riveted either directly to the folding frame 21 or to the mounting plate 38, for example.

As in FIGS. 4 and 6 Shown in the base plate 11 in the corner regions of the stop and holding means 37 associated recesses 42 are provided, into which the stop and holding means 37 with closed folding frame 21 with the web 39 and the holding plate 40 dive, as in FIG. 7 shown. In this case, the pocket 41 delimiting the inner surface of the holding plate 40 is aligned with the upper bearing surface 18th

For the handling of the cassette 10 during automatic transport through the labeling device various recesses, bevels and chamfers may be provided. In FIG. 1 For example, a chamfer 50 is shown on the base plate 11, while in FIG. 2 the upper left corner of the cassette 10 has a chamfer 51, with the correct orientation of the cassette 10 is ensured when inserting the cassette 10 in a feed magazine.

In the following, the insertion of a tack-like article of sheet material into the cassette 10 will be explained in more detail using the example of a passport.

First, the folding frame 21 is about the pivot axis A in his in FIG. 1 shown in dashed lines open position pivoted. Now, a non-illustrated passport is opened so far that its opening angle greater than 180 ° -β, however, is preferably less than 90 °, with the sheet to be labeled is exposed. Now, the passport is inserted with the stapling portion for later entries in the receiving pocket formed between the frame plate 20 and the lower support surface 17, while the sheet to be labeled with the side to be labeled is opposite the folding frame 21. The sheet to be inscribed is optionally introduced together with the associated cover sheet of the passport with its free corners in the pockets 41 of the stop and holding means 37 in the corner regions of the hinged lid 21, so that the sheet to be inscribed at its free end edge and on its sides L-shaped web 39 is guided.

As soon as the booklet section of the passport is completely inserted into the pocket of the cassette 10 associated with the lower support area 17, the stitching of the passport resting in the area between the pivot axis A and the step 16 on the lower support surface 17, the folding frame 21 is in its closed position pivoted. The sheet to be labeled is placed on the upper support surface 18 smoothly, the hold-down webs 24, 25 ensure the smooth and even support.

The arrangement of the pivot axis A relative to the step 16 ensures that the passport in the region of its stapling not completely but only up to the provided between the chamfered edge 16 'and the lower support surface 17 angle, which is smaller than 180 °, opened to will need. In order to achieve the effective Aufklappwinkel of 180 °, then the sheet to be labeled in the vicinity of the staple on the rounding 16 "by about 30 ° to 40 °, preferably bent by 35 ° from its flat position on the upper support surface 18. Thus, the stapling of the passport when inserting into the cassette 10 is spared, since a part of the unfolding is done by bending the sheet to be inscribed and, where appropriate, the cover sheet associated therewith.

When closing the cassette 10, the stop and holding means 37 ensure that the sheet to be inscribed is held exactly parallel to the strip-shaped window section 26 with its free end resting against the end stops 39 ".

The equipped with a passport cassette 10 can be handled automatically in a labeling device according to a method that does not correspond to the invention, wherein before labeling in the labeling station of the labeling device, the position of the cassette 10 by means of the alignment mark 34 and optionally further suitable alignment marks is determined to then check the position of the free edge 31 'of the passport through the control window 31 in the web 30 of the hinged lid 21.

After inserting the passport into the cassette 10, this is preferably fed automatically from a feed magazine a labeling station. Once the cassette with the passport is in the labeling station, the position of the alignment mark 34 is detected to detect the position of the sheet edge of the sheet to be labeled in the labeling station. Since in the cassette described here the passport is inserted so that the sheet to be labeled relative to the cassette is precisely defined, only the position of the cassette in the labeling station needs to be detected in order to detect the position of the sheet edge of the sheet to be inscribed. For this purpose, a single alignment mark 34 then suffices if the cassette, for example, with one of its longitudinal sides always defined, is held against a corresponding stop in the labeling station. If such a forced guidance of the cassette in the labeling station is dispensed with, then at least a second alignment mark is required in order to detect the cassette position.

Subsequently, the location of a provided on the sheet to be printed pattern, so here is the usual form with the details of the person explanatory notes.

Subsequently, the labeling, which is preferably carried out point by point with the aid of laser light, such that a machine-readable passport identification is aligned to the free edge 31 'of the sheet to be labeled, while the personal data are written relative to the explanatory notes. The usually provided passport image can be aligned either to the personal data and this explanatory notes or with respect to the sheet edge. Since the passport image is often in the vicinity of the sheet edge, it is often useful to align the passport image both with respect to the sheet edge and with respect to the personal data in order to obtain an aesthetically pleasing overall impression of the labeled passport page. Here then a corresponding compromise is required.

To carry out the method according to the invention, which is explained below, a cassette according to the invention is used, which in the following with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9 is described.

The basic structure of this cassette 10 with base plate 11, frame 12 and support area 15 corresponds to that of the cartridge 10 described above, so that only the differences will be explained here.

As FIG. 8 shows, the support area 15 has a lower support surface 17, which is associated with an upper support surface 18, which lies at a distance d from the lower support surface 17. The upper support surface 18 is formed by the top of a narrow plate 60, which, like FIG. 9 shows, strip-shaped parallel to the free edge 29 of the folding frame 21 and extends over the lower support surface 17 so that a narrow receiving pocket 61 between the plate 60 and the lower support surface 17 is formed.

In order to be able to detect the position of the resting on the upper support surface 18 to be inscribed sheet with inserted in this cassette 10 passport control windows 62, 63 are provided, which are formed by corresponding cutouts in the folding frame 21. The one control window 62 is, for example, in the bar 30 near the in FIG. 9 provided lower free corner of the folding frame 21, while the other control window 63 is arranged in the upper corner of the folding frame 21, that when inserted passport, the corresponding corner of the sheet to be inscribed regardless of the position of the sheet in the cassette 10 is always observable.

As in the upper half of FIG. 9 and in FIG. 8 is shown, may be arranged on the lower support surface 17, a convexly curved bar 64, which forms a the upper support surface 18 associated inclined edge 16 '. The strip 64 is arranged near the pivot axis parallel to this, so that the edge 16 'in the same range as the edge 16' of the step 16 in the cassette after FIGS. 1 and 2 ,

Depending on the material used for the passports and depending on which side of the sheet to be labeled to label, the distance of the bar 64 from the pivot axis can be selected larger or smaller or the bar 64, as in the lower half in FIG. 9 is shown completely omitted.

The insertion of a passport in the basis of FIGS. 8 and 9 described cartridge 10 is carried out in such a way that first of the passport is opened so that the sheet to be labeled with the label side daliegt open. The passport is now inserted into the receiving area between the lower support surface 17 and the frame plate 20. Thereafter, the part of the passport that lies under the sheet to be labeled, inserted with its free edge in the receiving pocket 61 between the upper and lower bearing surface 18 and 17 respectively. When closing the folding frame 21 then only the sheet to be labeled with its free edge on the upper support surface 18 is depressed. Due to the residual stress in the region of the stapling and optionally by support by means of the convexly curved bar 64, the sheet to be labeled is biased such that it is pressed by the hold-down webs 24, 25 and the folding frame itself in a defined plane.

The position of the sheet to be inscribed in the cassette 10 can vary from passport to passport but also partially during transport but remains unchanged at least as long as the cassette does not move.

Thus, the position of the sheet edge of the sheet to be labeled can be detected through the control windows 62, 63, when the cassette with the passport therein is located in the labeling station a labeling device.

In order to facilitate the insertion of the passport into the cassette, and in particular to facilitate the insertion of the lying under the sheet to be inscribed portion of the passport into the receiving pocket 61, the strip-shaped plate 60 has two apex 65 forming chamfers 66, so that the to be inserted into the receiving pocket 61 part of the pass just below the top 65 of the plate 60 needs to be pushed to then be guided by the chamfers 66 during insertion.

In order to facilitate the removal of the passport, an opening 67 is provided in the base plate 11 in the region of the folding frame 21, through which a passport inserted in the cassette can be pushed out after opening the folding frame 21.

To label the passport according to the method of the invention, the position of the free edge of the sheet to be inscribed in the region of one corner is detected after inserting the passport into the cassette and feeding the cassette to the inscription station in the inscription station through the control window 62. Through the control window 63 therethrough, the position of the free edge in the region of the other corner is determined, whereby the orientation of the free edge is determined. In order to completely grasp the position of the sheet edge of the sheet to be inscribed, the position of a side edge is then detected through the control window 63. In this case, the side edge of the sheet to be labeled is expediently used, from which the position of the machine-readable passport identification is measured.

In order to facilitate the determination of the edge position, the top of the plate 60, so the support surface 18, contrast color. This can be done for example by a dark or black coating or paint. However, it is also easy to use a contrasting material for the plate 60.

Incidentally, the determination of the pattern on the sheet to be written and the inscription are carried out in the same manner as described above.

Claims (14)

1. Process for printing text on a sheet of a booklet-like article in a text-printing station, in the case of which

   - the booklet-like article ist arranged in a swung-open state in a cassette (10) in such a way that the position of the sheet border itself can be detected at three points,

   - the booklet - like article in the cassette (10) is fed to the text-printing station,

   - the positon of one edge of the sheet border of the sheet which is to have text printed on it in the text-printing station is detected at two points, the position of a further edge, which is located transversely with respect to the first-mentioned edge is detected at one point, and the postion of a pattern provided on the sheet which is to have text printed on it is detected, and

   - the sheet has text printed on it such that some of the text is aligned with respect to the pattern and other parts of the text are aligned with respect to the sheet border.
2. Process according to Claim 1 characterized in that some of the text is aligned both with respect to the predetermined pattern and with respect to the sheet border.
3. Cassette (10), in particular for receiving and handling a booklet-like article made of sheet-like material as the process according to one of the preceding claims is carried out, having

   - a base plate (11), which has a bearing region (15) with a first bearing surface (17), and

   - a frame (12), which is arranged on the base plate (11) such that it can be released at least in part opposite the bearing region (15),

   - it being the case that to the first bearing surface (17) is assigned a second bearing surface (18), which is offset parallel to the first bearing surface (17) in the direction of the normals of the two bearing surfaces,

   characterized in that in its strip (30), which is arranged partially over the second bearing surface (18), a swing-action frame (21) has monitoring windows (62, 63) for the detection of a sheet border, at least one monitoring window (63) being arranged in a corner region of the swing-action frame (21), with the result that it is possible to detect the positions of two abutting edges of the sheet border.
4. Cassette according to Claim 3, characterized in that the frame (12) has a frame plate (20) which is fitted on the base plate (11) and on which the swing-action frame (21) with a window (23) is articulated in a pivotable manner.
5. Cassette according to Claim 4, characterized in that in its closed position, in which it bears on the base plate (11), the swing-action frame (21) is arranged over the second bearing surface (18), which is located closer to the frame (12), and in that the window (23) is subdivided by holding-down webs (24, 25) in order to retain in a planar manner a sheet of a sheet-like article, bearing on the bearing region (15) which is to have text printed on it.
6. Cassette according to Claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the swing-action frame (21) is retained in its closed position in a releasable manner with the aid of snap-action connecting means (36).
7. Cassette according to one of Claims 3 to 6, chracterized in that, in its swung-open position, the swing-action frame (21) encloses an angle of approximately 110° to 150°, preferably of 120° to 140°, in particular 130°, with the base plate (12).
8. Cassette according to Claims 3 to 7, characterized in that on that side of the swing-action cover (21) which is directed towards the base plate (11), said swing-action cover (21) is provided, in the region of its edge (29), which is remote from its pivot axis (A), with stop and retaining means (37) in order that a sheet-like article which is to be arranged on the associated bearing surface (18) of the bearing region (15) can be aligned relative to the frame (12) and/or to the base plate (11).
9. Cassette according to Claim 8, characterized in that the stop and retaining means (37) are of pocket-like design, with the resut that a sheet-like article introduced into the pocket (41) is retained on the swing-action frame (21), and guided by the latter, as said frame pivots.
10. Cassette according to Claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the second bearing surface (18) is arranged in a strip-like manner over the first bearing surface (17), along one of the sides thereof, with the result that a sheet of a booklet-like article, bearing on the first bearing surface (17), which is to have text printed on it can be positioned on the second bearing surface (18) by way of its free edge.
11. Cassette according to Claim 10, characterized in that a receiving pocket (61) is provided between the first and the second bearing surfaces.
12. Cassette according to Claim 11, characterized in that that border of the second bearing surface (18) which projects over the first bearing surface (17) is of convex design in plan view.
13. Cassette according to Claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the second bearing surface (18) is of contrasting colour.
14. Cassette according to Claims 10 to 13, characterized in that a convexly arched strip (64) can be fastened on the first bearing surface (17) parallel to the strip-like, second bearing surface, and at a distance therefrom.

Images