Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
  • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
  • B41J11/02—Platens
  • B41J11/04—Roller platens
• • 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

• Device for printing tickets especially transport tickets, in different formats
• the invention relates to the field of printing tickets, such as tickets, from a thermal type printing head.
• a device for this type of printing is usually equipped with means for driving the titles, capable of scrolling a title in front of the print head, presenting it with a large face of the title.
• a ticket printing device provided with a thermal printing head and ticket drive means comprising an anvil formed by a motorized rotary roller , and applied against a face of the title, opposite to the face presented to the print head.
• the device further comprises guide means which define a direction of movement of the ticket under the print head.
• the anvil is substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the ticket, so that the roller, in rotation, exerts a tangential force on the ticket, to move it under the print head.
• Such a device has proven to be effective for printing identical titles, in particular of the same widths (considered in a direction perpendicular to the movement).
• the Applicant has posed the problem of providing a printing device capable of operating on titles of different formats, in particular of different widths.
• the present invention provides a solution to this problem.
• It relates to a printing device comprising: - at least one thermal print head,
• - drive means arranged to scroll a ticket in front of the print head by presenting a first large face of the ticket to the print head, and - guide means suitable for defining a direction of movement of the ticket.
• the drive means comprise an anvil applied against a second face of the ticket, opposite the first large face, and comprising a first rotary roller, motorized and suitable for moving the ticket, as well as a second idler roller in the extension of the motorized roller, which makes it possible to drive titles of different widths in the direction of movement.
• the motorized roller and the idler roller have respective general cylindrical shapes, substantially coincident axes and neighboring radii.
• the motorized roller and the idler roller are substantially juxtaposed.
• the guide means comprise, opposite the motorized roller, at least one wall parallel to a rim of the ticket, forming a cleat capable of defining the direction of movement of the ticket, while the anvil forms an angle chosen with said direction of displacement.
• the guide means comprise, along the direction of movement, an upstream stopper and a downstream stopper, substantially juxtaposed and arranged on either side of the motorized roller.
• the anvil in the direction of the motorized roller towards the idler roller, forms with a direction of displacement of the title towards the printing head, an angle between 89 ° and 90 °, preferably rence close to 89.7 °.
• the thermal printing head comprises a plurality of thermal resistances capable of releasing heat allowing the printing of the ticket, while the device comprises means for electrically testing the resistances, one by one, these test means using a module for addressing resistors, usually used for thermal printing.
• means are provided for supporting the print head comprising a flexible blade, fixed, on the one hand, to the print head and, on the other hand , to a base secured to the anvil, as well as a rigid plate fixed to the print head and provided with an end rod substantially parallel to the direction of movement and housed in rotation about an axis substantially parallel to this direction of movement, in an opening that includes the aforementioned base.
• this rigid plate is capable of preventing pitching of the print head while allowing rolling around the axis of rotation of the rod.
• means are also provided for pushing the blade against the anvil, the printhead facing the anvil.
• FIG. 1 is an overall view of a printing device according to the invention
• FIG. 2A shows a TT printing station of the device shown in Figure 1, seen from the right;
• Figure 2B shows the TT station shown in Figure 2A, seen from the front;
• FIG. 2C shows the TT station shown in Figure 2A, seen in right perspective
• Figure 2D shows the TT station shown in Figure 2A, seen from the left;
• FIG. 3 shows the relative arrangements of an anvil, a cleat and a print head of the station shown in Figure 2;
• FIG. 5 shows schematically means for controlling the operation of the thermal resistors that the print head includes.
• FIG. 1 a device for printing tickets, for transport in the example described, provided with a magnetic track comprising information.
• the processing device is that described in the Patent Application filed by the Applicant on the same day as this Application, and under the title "Processing device for titles with thermal printing and inscription / - magnetic reading according to an internal path in closed circuit ".
• the description of this Request is an integral part of the detailed description below.
• the DIS printing device makes use, in the example described, of a triple supply of strips conditioned in a screen.
• Three magazines (not shown) each containing a continuous stock of titles in strips and delimited by weakening lines (precut strips) can thus supply a printing device for titles according to the invention.
• the titles strips are introduced into the PIN station by three guide channels CA1, CA2 and CA3 which converge towards each other, and are provided with separate drive means, constituted here of rollers and of counter-rollers 1, 3 and 5.
• the title strips are then led in the direction of the arrow FI, in front of a magnetic writing / reading station PIL, comprising a first magnetic writing head TM1, followed by a second TM2 magnetic read head.
• the PIL magnetic read / write station may have only one magnetic head. In this case, the strip passes several times in front of the single magnetic head.
• the drive means are then capable of driving a ticket in a bidirectional internal section FI and F2, going from the introduction station to the DEL delivery station, via the magnetic reading / reading station.
• the inlet of the channel CA1 is defined by two rollers 7 and 9 which are mounted idly in order to avoid any friction between any fixed parts and the moving band.
• the inlet of the inlet channel CA2 is defined by the rollers 9 and 11, while the inlet of the input channel CA3 is defined by the rollers 11 and 13.
• the drive means comprise a belt Cl which is wound on a roller 4, as well as on the roller 6 via the heads T 1 and TM2, and is wound on the rollers 8 and 10 to continue the internal path .
• the belt C1 is driven in a closed circuit by means of a drive roller 12 secured to the shaft of the engine MI.
• a control unit UC of microcontroller type, controls the motor M1 and, consequently, the drive of the belt Cl.
• the strip is led in a guide channel CGI towards a cutting station COU, which comprises an electromagnetic cutter provided with an electromagnet EMl with plunger which supports the cutting part (not shown).
• the strip is kept stretched between two rollers with different presses.
• Such a tension facilitates the separation of a security from its continuous stock along the aforementioned lines of weakness.
• this separation is carried out by lowering the cutter onto the strip thus kept taut.
• An optical detection for example the aforementioned weakening lines, may be provided to control the actuation of the cutter.
• control unit UC controls the motor Ml in the direction F2, contrary to the FI direction, in order to route this cut title to the TT thermal printing station.
• the cut, magnetically inscribed / read title is directed into a guide channel CG2 distinct from the input channels CA1, CA2 and CA3.
• Means for supporting the print head 24 comprising a flexible blade 224, forming an articulation without play, fixed, on the one hand, to the print head 24, and on the other hand, to a base 25 supporting the anvil 26, rotating and arranged opposite the head 24.
• the anvil is rotated by a belt 263 connected via rollers (not shown) to the motor shaft M2.
• the arm 22 is guided in rotation around a rod 253, integral with the base 25.
• the arm is capable of exerting a force on the head 24 and flexible blade 224 assembly, by means of a spring 223 doing so tilt the print head on the anvil 26.
• the electromagnet EM2 causes, when activated, the rotation of the arm 22 around the axis 253, by the longitudinal displacement of its core, which rests on the arm 22 which, in the example shown, is retained by an RR return spring.
• a rigid blade 221 acts as a fixing counterplate. At the same time, it limits the degree of freedom of the mobile assembly which includes the head 24, the blade 224 and the supports 226 and 225.
• the movement of the assembly 24, 224, 221 is obtained by the effect of the blade 221 which determines a rolling movement of the head 24, by the connection of the rod 222 and its housing 251.
• the electromagnet EM2 when the electromagnet EM2 is electrically activated, its core moves longitudinally by pressing on the arm 22, which then pivots around the axis A2 of rotation of the rod 253, by tilting the head of thermal printing 24 to the anvil 26.
• the rotation of the assembly formed by the head 24, the rigid blade 221 and the flexible blade 224, causes the blade 224 to bend forming a joint without play.
• the anvil 26, held around its axis of rotation A1 by the casing 254 carried by the base 25, is thus secured to the base, while the thermal printing head 24 pivots relative to the base around the axis A2.
• the ticket moving in the direction represented by the arrow D is enclosed between the anvil 26 and the thermal printing head 24, when the latter is in its position where it is folded against the anvil 26.
• the anvil 26 When the thermal head 24 is applied against a first large face of the ticket, the anvil 26 is applied against a second large face of the ticket, opposite the first face.
• the anvil 26, in rotation, exerts a tangential force, by friction, on the second face of the ticket, to scroll the first face in front of the print head 24, in the direction of movement D.
• the first face of the ticket is coated with a material whose color varies irreversibly as a function of its temperature.
• the thermal printing head 24 includes electrically supplied thermal resistors to release, by the Joule effect, heat capable of causing the color of the title to vary (blackening for example), on its first large face.
• the speed of the motor M2 which drives the belt 263 for the rotation of the anvil, as well as the distribution of the electrical currents in the resistances of the thermal printing head 24, are controlled by the aforementioned microcontroller UC, advantageously so coupled.
• FIG. 3 to describe in more detail the structure of the anvil 26.
• the anvil 26 is formed of a first roller 261, motorized, and a second roller 262, idler.
• the anvil comprises an axis 264, of generally cylindrical shape, driven in rotation by the belt 263, around Al.
• the motorized roller 261 is integral and fixed with respect to the axis 264, while the idler roller 262 is in rotation around Al by sliding of its internal wall on the axis 264.
• the titles are made of paper, while the outer surfaces of the rollers 261 and 262 are made of a material with a high coefficient of friction on paper.
• the ticket moving in the direction D undergoes a tangential force of the motorized roller 261, by friction, while the idler roller 262 is rotated by the force exerted on its external surface the moving ticket.
• titles of different widths can be driven towards the thermal print head 24, according to similar kinematics, avoiding any direct contact of the drive roller and the print head.
• the two anvil elements In the presence of a large format ticket (width greater than the width of the drive roller), the two anvil elements (drive roller and idler roller) rotate.
• the motor segment of the anvil 261 drives the title, which itself drives the idler roller 262.
• the driving roller drives the ticket and the idler roller is immobilized on the print head.
• This arrangement thus avoids contact on a prohibitive surface between the rotating anvil and the head. This avoids wasted energy consumption caused by the rubbing of the driving anvil on the head. This results in a reduction (power, volume) of the motor means (control and supply electronics), necessary for the proper functioning of the device according to the invention. It should be noted that with the segmentation of the anvil into a crazy part and a motor part, the abrasion of the head by particles adhering to the anvil (for example magnetic oxide dust) is also avoided.
• the anvil forms an angle ⁇ with the direction of movement D, substantially less than 90 °.
• the angle ⁇ is an algebraic angle, between two vectors:
• the angle ⁇ is between 89 ° and 90 °, for example close to 89.7 °.
• the aforementioned guide means advantageously include guide lugs TG1 and TG2 to maintain the title along the direction of movement D.
• the two lugs TG1 and TG2 are arranged on either side of the motorized roller 261 (more particularly of the belt 263, as shown in Figure 3).
• the angle ⁇ formed by the anvil 26 with the direction of movement D contributes to folding the tickets against the tabs TG1 and TG2, while the idler roller 262 advantageously ensures the maintenance of the ticket without opposing resistance.
• the means for guiding the TT printing station may comprise only a single cleat, preferably the cleat TG2 located downstream from the anvil 26, in the direction of movement D of the title.
• the width of the motorized roller 261 is close to that of the titles of smaller width.
• the idler roller 262 is adjacent to the motorized roller 261.
• a wall 266 of low coefficient of friction and fixed to the axis 264 making it possible to hold the idler roller 262 against the motorized roller 261.
• FIG. 4 Reference is now made to FIG. 4 to describe, in more detail, the means for supporting the thermal printing head 24.
• these support means consist of an arm 22, on the end of which the core of the electromagnet EM2 ( Figure 2) is intended to bear.
• the arm 22, forming a lever is integral with a frame 227, on which the head 24 is mounted, by means of a set of parts 221, 224, 223, 226 and 225.
• the part 225 is a spacer plate which is removable, which makes it possible to mount two types of thermal print heads 24, of different respective thicknesses.
• the part 226 is a fixing plate, on which the spacer plate 225 and the head 24 are fixed.
• the fixing plate 226 is intended to be mounted in the frame 227, by means of the parts 223, 224 and 221.
• the part 221 corresponds to the rigid blade shown in FIG. 2. It is fixed to the plate 226, without there being any means of direct fixing to the frame 227.
• Its rod 222 is received in the opening 251 that comprises a part 252 intended to be fixed by the screws 255 to the base 25 ( Figure 2).
• the rigid plate 221 can pivot relative to the axis A3, substantially parallel to the direction of movement D of the tickets, which makes it possible to confer a degree of freedom which corresponds to a roll play around the axis A3, of the thermal printing head 24.
• the head 24 is substantially immobilized by means forming springs 223, as well as by a flexible blade 224 fixed, on the one hand, to the plate 226 and, on the other hand, to the part 252 (by its openings 227), therefore to the base 25.
• the spring 223 is supported, meanwhile, between the fixing plate 226 and the frame 227.
• the compression of the spring 223 can be adjusted according to a desired pressure, exerted by the head 24 on the titles, or, in practice, according to the characteristics of the titles (thickness, smoothness, etc.).
• the rigid plate 221 thus makes it possible to eliminate an undesirable pitching of the print head 24, while allowing it to roll around the axis A3.
• the rod 253 is introduced into housings which the arm 22 carrying the frame 227 comprises. It is fixed to the arm 22 by fixing means 256 and thus pivots about the axis A2, with respect to to the base 25 in the housings which the latter comprises (FIG. 2).
• FIG. 5 Reference is now made to FIG. 5 to describe means for controlling the thermal resistances R of the print head 24, which advantageously comprises the device according to the invention.
• a measurement console MES controlled by the abovementioned control unit UC, comprises a selector S controlled by the MES console, and a current measurement device A, connected to the MES measurement console.
• the selector S is positioned on a selected resistor whose efficiency or ohmic value is to be measured.
• the current consumed in the supply branch B indicates, when it is below a chosen threshold, the wear or the cut of the resistance concerned.
• the selector corresponds to the address register of the resistances of the thermal head, usually used for printing. It should be noted, however, that the current flowing through the resistors to test them is, here, less than the current used for thermal printing, which in particular makes it possible to test the resistors from a lower power supply consumption.
• the unit UC comprises a module MOD for addressing the resistors.
• this module includes an address register, each address being relative to a resistor Ri, which makes it possible to control each resistor separately.
• Such a control advantageously makes it possible to verify the accuracy of the printing, in particular for printing bar codes which correspond to magnetic information that a magnetic strip includes on each ticket.
• the invention also applies to the printing of tickets other than transport tickets, for example garage payment tickets, provided with a magnetic stripe. More generally, it can be applied to the printing of titles with or without a magnetic strip which includes information.
• the titles are produced in a paper coated, on at least one large face, with a material capable of changing color in the presence of heat.
• a tape can be provided which deposits a material of selected color on the titles, this material being rendered adhesive by heat treatment. In particular when the resistors give off heat, this material is deposited on the surface of the ticket opposite the head 24.
• Such a ribbon can run past the thermal printing head, for example at the same speed as the ticket. It is then housed between the head 24 and the title.
• the motorized roller and the idler roller are juxtaposed.
• the two rollers are of cylindrical shape, of neighboring radius and their axis of rotation are substantially coincident.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Electronic Switches (AREA)
• Ticket-Dispensing Machines (AREA)
• Handling Of Sheets (AREA)
• Packaging For Recording Disks (AREA)
• Color Printing (AREA)
• Credit Cards Or The Like (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=9541746

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

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Family Cites Families (11)

• 1999
  • 1999-06-17 JP JP2001504977A patent/JP4712259B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1999-06-17 DE DE69928574T patent/DE69928574T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-06-17 EP EP99973919A patent/EP1194901B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-06-17 WO PCT/FR1999/001467 patent/WO2000079488A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 1999-06-17 AT AT99973919T patent/ATE310999T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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