EP1392511B1 - Devices for marking gaming chips and pad printing installations incorporating same - Google Patents

Devices for marking gaming chips and pad printing installations incorporating same Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1392511B1
EP1392511B1 EP02738275A EP02738275A EP1392511B1 EP 1392511 B1 EP1392511 B1 EP 1392511B1 EP 02738275 A EP02738275 A EP 02738275A EP 02738275 A EP02738275 A EP 02738275A EP 1392511 B1 EP1392511 B1 EP 1392511B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
token
support
laying device
vacuum
seal
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
EP02738275A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1392511A1 (en
Inventor
Michel Tollhupp
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.)
Gaming Partners International
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Gaming Partners International
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Gaming Partners International filed Critical Gaming Partners International
Publication of EP1392511A1 publication Critical patent/EP1392511A1/en
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Publication of EP1392511B1 publication Critical patent/EP1392511B1/en
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F15/00—Screen printers
    • B41F15/14—Details
    • B41F15/16—Printing tables
    • B41F15/18—Supports for workpieces
    • B41F15/20—Supports for workpieces with suction-operated elements
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F17/00—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for
    • B41F17/001—Pad printing apparatus or machines
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41P—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO PRINTING, LINING MACHINES, TYPEWRITERS, AND TO STAMPS
    • B41P2217/00—Printing machines of special types or for particular purposes
    • B41P2217/50—Printing presses for particular purposes

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the marking by pad printing game table tokens in the general form of disc or objects of similar shape, and more particularly the maintenance of tokens during pad printing operations.
  • Gambling token also called casino token, means any element usable in the gaming room, especially on the gaming tables, and representing a predetermined nominal value or not. In general, these tokens are made of rigid plastic and scratch resistant.
  • Game table tokens are almost systematically decorated with markings on their faces and / or slices and, depending on the future use of chips, can go from the simplest to the most complex.
  • the patent FR 2.730.392 on behalf of the applicant describes the use of pad printing for the surface marking of the faces and / or edge of the chips (compared to the volume marking by multi-injection of plastics of different colors).
  • the published application WO 98/43816 in the name of the applicant describes a pad printing method for marking very precisely the faces and the perpendicular edge of a token and in particular to simultaneously mark a face and the edge of the token.
  • the demand WO 98/43816 describes a pad printing installation using a token laying device comprising an axial support with an end face intended to carry the token, the laying device being associated with means vacuum suction in steady state to maintain the token in direct or indirect support on the support.
  • vacuum suction means and / or “vacuum suction” are understood in their broadest sense and include any device capable of creating a partial vacuum of air or a vacuum in a pipe or chamber by suction of air and / or any similar device such as vacuum pump and other vacuum source.
  • a device for decorating objects comprising a movable support movable along a transport path through processing stations, the object support being connected, on at least a partial section of the trajectory, to a source vacuum by means of a vacuum duct that comprises that is connected to a vacuum duct arranged along the path by a connecting duct.
  • the invention proposes a laying device for token or plate, usable in particular in pad printing, comprising an axial support with an end face intended to carry said token, the device being adapted to be associated with means for suction for holding the token in direct or indirect support on the support, characterized in that the support comprises a vacuum chamber forming a passage and adapted to be connected to said vacuum suction means and opening through a central opening on said face of end and an elastomeric annular sealing gasket intended to cooperate with a face of the token and disposed on said end face around said opening, said end face of the support having a rigid peripheral ring intended to serve as a fixed support for the token, said elastomeric annular seal being disposed adjacent to the ring inside the latter, said seal at the repo s projecting slightly axially outside the crown to ensure a vacuum seal at the face of the chip in contact with the seal.
  • peripheral support ring extending in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the support gives a perfect seating and a constant axial position with respect to the pad printing pad, which allows pad printing slice with very high precision, including multichrom.
  • this laying device according to the second version can be integrated into a new pad printing system according to the invention wherein the support is mounted on a base movable on a frame placed in front of at least one pad printing station having an inked pad moved coaxially with said token in association with a plane stamp.
  • the figure 1 represents a sectional view of a device 30 for placing a plastic token 10 and intended by way of nonlimiting example to be incorporated in a pad printing installation for marking an ink and / or varnish decoration the faces and the perpendicular edge of the disc-shaped token 10 with circular parallel faces.
  • the laying device according to the invention which will be described in detail hereinafter, has the main functions of serving as a horizontal support for the token 10 and of keeping the latter in place, centered on the axis ZZ 'of the buffer 134, during the duration of the pad printing operations.
  • the token 10 in the form of a disk with parallel faces, used on tables of clearance has a diameter of 40 mm for a thickness or wafer height of the order of 3.3 mm, being noted that in some cases, the edges have a very slight chamfer (of the order of 0.1 mm ).
  • the token faces can be "granite" at the request of user casinos.
  • the game token is replaced by an object of similar shape made of a material capable of receiving a decoration by pad printing or by other known printing methods.
  • figure 3 illustrates the principle of such a pad printing device according to the invention for the simultaneous marking of one of the faces and the edge of a disc-shaped game token or an object of similar shape.
  • the reference 30 represents very schematically the token laying device according to the invention of the figure 1 .
  • An ink pad 134 is mounted on a vertical frame 131 so as to be movable in vertical reciprocating motions.
  • the vertical frame 131 is associated with the frame 60 carrying the laying device so as to align on the same axis ZZ ', the axis of the buffer 134 (and its head 136) and the axis of the laying device 30 carrying the token (the axis ZZ 'then passing through the center of the token 10).
  • the buffer 134 has a deformable head 136 with axial symmetry axis ZZ 'of synthetic material (for example a synthetic silicone rubber having a hardness Shore A of the order of 6), in this case conical end 138.
  • the deformable head 136 is adapted to wedge on the face 12 and the edge 16 of the token 10 during the marking of perpendicular wafer 14.
  • a plate carrier 140 carrying a planar ink plate 111 incorporating for example the image of a wafer decoration is capable of reciprocating movements between the vertical of buffer 134 (position 140) and the vertical of FIG. an ink tank 142 (position 140 ').
  • the actual pad printing operation is carried out as follows.
  • the plate holder After inking the plate 111 (position 140 '), the plate holder is moved to the position 140 coaxial with the pad 134 so as to have a crown-shaped area of the plate 111 carrying an image-decor coaxially with the pad 134.
  • a first downward vertical movement of the buffer 134 allows the ink to be recovered by simple pressure.
  • the buffer 134 undergoes a second downward vertical movement to deposit the ink by first pressing on the face 12 of the token 10 and then, by deformation more important of the head of the buffer 136 on the wafer 14. This is the marking of a decoration (final or intermediate) monochrome.
  • the final decoration is constituted by complementarity and / or superposition of monochrome decorations, each of these intermediate decorations being engraved on separate pictures.
  • Multichrome marking is used for several mobile plate holders or a series of monochrome pad printing units associated with a mobile token holder.
  • the inking plates are etched to a depth of between 18 and 20 ⁇ m.
  • the various types of inks and / or varnishes suitable for pad printing can be used, in particular UV-detectable inks for discrete markings. (eg for identification numbers and / or token coding).
  • the inside of the hollow cylinder of the support 32 defines the chamber 33 called the vacuum chamber forming a passage for the vacuum (in practice for the aspiration of air towards the vacuum suction means) and which can be connected by means of multiple valve means 50 to a vacuum line (dashed) 48 leading to a vacuum pump 58.
  • the multiple valve means 50 includes a through vacuum inlet sleeve 51 mounted through the wall of the cylindrical support 32 and a "non-leak" pneumatic connection assembly with two non-return valves comprising two separable tips 52 and 54, a connection and isolation connector 52 with non-return valve 81 connected to the vacuum chamber 33 by the sleeve 51 and a suction nozzle 54 with non-return valve 82 connected to the suction line 48 under vacuum.
  • the bodies 83 and 84 of the ends 52 and 54 of cylindrical shape are each traversed by a bore of axis XX '85 and 86, the two nonreturn valves 81 and 82 being mounted opposite in the closed position when the two tips are separated or disconnected.
  • the end piece 52 has a small-diameter head 87 capable of sliding, during the connection of the end pieces 52 and 54, in a portion 88, of substantially the same diameter, from the bore 86 to an abutment position (illustrated in FIG.
  • FIG 5c the two bores 85 and 86 are in free communication and the vacuum chamber 33 connected to the vacuum suction line 48 equipped with a pressure gauge 56 and leading to a vacuum pump 58.
  • the two valves 81 and 82 occupy their closed positions, it follows that the vacuum chamber 33 remains isolated from the vacuum pump and the free air and that the vacuum is maintained in the chamber 33 closed by the token 10.
  • the closure of any communication between the chamber 33 at the intake sleeve 51 corresponds to the isolation status of the vacuum chamber 33.
  • the operator wishes to release the token by venting the air. room, he just to push the valve 81 axially slightly into the bore 85 by manually or automatically pressing on the head 89 to the left of the figure 1 .
  • the pump 58 is suitably fixed to the frame 60 carrying a transfer path 62 on which a plurality of laying devices 30 carrying the tokens to be stamped move, the bases 36 being equipped with pads.
  • Each laying device 30 is movable in front of the pad printing station of the figure 3 by precise displacement of its base 36 on the transfer path 62 so as to align the axis of the laying device and thereby the center of the token 10 with the axis ZZ 'of the buffer 136.
  • a variant of the laying device 30 carries instead of the end pieces 52 and 54 a three-way valve (not shown) capable of isolating the vacuum chamber 33 by closing of the path leading to the chamber or to connect the chamber 33, either to the vacuum suction means 58 or to a venting port.
  • a three-way valve capable of isolating the vacuum chamber 33 by closing of the path leading to the chamber or to connect the chamber 33, either to the vacuum suction means 58 or to a venting port.
  • annular sealing seal 40 it may be made of elastomeric material chosen from synthetic or natural rubbers, polyurethanes and silicones.
  • a silicone seal with a hardness of about 6 in the Shore A scale (substantially the same hardness as that of the head of the buffer 138).
  • a ring-shaped O-ring could be suitable.
  • it is often preferable to improve the seal with the token especially when the flatness of the token faces is imperfect or "granite" to use more or less thick washers with flat faces.
  • This solution was chosen in the laying device 30 illustrated in FIGS. Figures 1, 2a and 2b describing a preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • the thickness H of the washer 40 is chosen to protrude from the shoulder 39 at rest with a height h of the order of one millimeter.
  • the washer 40 is crushed until coming from the face 13 of the token bearing on the ring 41 as shown in FIG. figure 2b .
  • the precise choice of the value h to the nearest tenth of a millimeter is determined so as to allow sealing with the token and the support of the token 10 on the ring 41 and to obtain a force of support due to the vacuum much higher than the reaction force of the washer 40 in the compressed state.
  • One of the advantages provided by the laying device 30 according to the invention is that it is possible to isolate the vacuum chamber 33 by closing the multiple valve 50 once the required partial vacuum level has been reached (for example 50%), species by disconnecting the laying device 30 of the vacuum suction line 48 by a simple separation of the tips 52 and 54.
  • a minimum internal volume of a few tens of cm 3 for the vacuum chamber 33 tests have shown that it was possible to maintain an operational vacuum to firmly hold the token 10 on the laying device for a duration of more than one hour.
  • h is chosen as the overflow height which allows the longest vacuum storage time, the other data of the system being kept equal.
  • a plurality of laying devices 30 are placed on the transfer path 62, most often forming a loop.
  • the operator places the token 10 in the opening of the ring bearing on the elastomer washer 40 ( figure 2a ) the token then being centered with respect to the vertical axis ZZ 'of the laying device.
  • the operator then connects the two ends 52 and 54 and empties into the chamber 33. In a few seconds the washer 40 crushes and the token 10 comes to rest firmly on the crown 41 ( figure 2b ).
  • the operator disconnects the two end pieces 52, 54 and isolates the vacuum chamber 33 (this operation can be done manually or automatically).
  • the device 30 can then be moved to the first pad printing station with respect to a rail portion 70 'in the low position (in fact the control rail of the ring 44 is always in a low position along the path loop 62 with the exception of the locations corresponding to the positions of laying / removal), the ring 44 is then retracted and the edge 14 of the token 10 available to be marked with the first face 12 of the token.
  • the token is centered on the axis ZZ 'of the buffer by positioning the base 36 so as to align the axis of the buffer 134 and the axis of the laying device 30.
  • This centering operation prior to the actual marking (or initial phase of the marking) is important to properly position the token 10 with respect to the buffer 134, especially in this case so that the edge 16 corresponds well with its image inked on the conical end 138 of the buffer 134.
  • the head 138 of the buffer 134 After passing through the end conical 138 of the plane of the face 12 (the latter possibly being completely marked), the head 138 of the buffer 134 is deformed along the edge 14 by settling on the edge 16 (the latter being sharp enough to prevent slipping undesirable from the face 12 at the edge) until the total inking of the wafer 14 when the end 138 (conical at rest) of the deformable head 136 of the buffer 134 is compressed (with a slight exceeding of edge of the t is 136 beyond the plane of the edge 17 of the underside 13 of the token 10).
  • the support force created by the vacuum on the token 10 is sufficient to prevent it from slipping laterally when marking and / or lifting during 134.
  • the base 36 is then moved to the next pad printing station until the end of the marking of the decor that can be face alone, slice alone or face slice.
  • the token 10 then passes in front of a laying / removal station where the token is turned over with venting of the chamber 33, the token is turned upside down, the chamber 33 is emptied, the chamber 33 is isolated. and moving to the pad printing stations assigned to the other face 13 of the token. If the token 10 returns to the station of installation / removal of origin for venting and removal of the token.
  • the laying device 30 and the associated pad printing installation incorporate the greatest number of technical characteristics (elastomer washer with parallel faces, bearing ring, vacuum chamber isolation). with or without physical disconnection between the laying device and vacuum suction) intended to meet the most difficult conditions of use (slice marking, "granite” faces, optimization of the resource in the vacuum, supply of the chamber intermittent vacuum etc.).
  • the invention also relates to simplified variants of the laying device 30 illustrated in FIG. figure 1 .
  • the laying device remains very close to the device 30 described above: only the crown of support 41 is eliminated, the lower part of the elastomer washer being placed in a groove in the enlarged portion 38 instead of the shoulder 39 and the axial positioning of the face of the Token during pad printing being done by crushing the elastomer washer.
  • the laying device is in accordance with the device 30 with the exception of the multiple valve means which are replaced by a fixed and permanent connection between the vacuum chamber and the vacuum suction, the quality of the seal at the token level allowing the pad printing operation in good conditions but with a slightly more expensive installation.
  • the laying device for token or plate usable in particular in pad printing, comprising the axial support 32 with an end face 29 intended to carry said token 10, the device being adapted to be associated with suction means under vacuum opening on said end face to hold the token in direct or indirect support on the support, is characterized in that said end face 29 of the support comprises the rigid peripheral ring 41 intended to serve as a fixed support to the chip and the elastomeric annular seal 40 adjacent to the ring inside the latter and disposed around the mouth of the vacuum suction (in this case the central opening 31), said seal 40 at rest projecting slightly axially outside the ring to ensure a vacuum seal at the face 13 of the token in contact with the seal 40.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Printing Methods (AREA)
  • Screen Printers (AREA)
  • Handling Of Sheets (AREA)
  • Input Circuits Of Receivers And Coupling Of Receivers And Audio Equipment (AREA)
  • Dot-Matrix Printers And Others (AREA)
  • Projection-Type Copiers In General (AREA)
  • Forklifts And Lifting Vehicles (AREA)
  • Control And Other Processes For Unpacking Of Materials (AREA)
  • Labeling Devices (AREA)
  • Inks, Pencil-Leads, Or Crayons (AREA)
  • Feeding Of Articles By Means Other Than Belts Or Rollers (AREA)
  • Hooks, Suction Cups, And Attachment By Adhesive Means (AREA)

Abstract

Holding arrangement for a chip which includes a support having a first end for supporting the chip. A vacuum chamber is arranged in the support. An annular seal is arranged at the first end. A vacuum source evacuates the chamber. A method of holding a chip in the holding arrangement includes placing the chip into the holding arrangement, pad printing the chip, and removing the chip from the holding arrangement.

Description

DOMAINE TECHNIQUETECHNICAL AREA

La présente invention concerne le marquage par tampographie des jetons pour table de jeu en forme générale de disque ou d'objets de forme analogue, et plus particulièrement le maintien des jetons pendant les opérations de tampographie. Par jeton de jeu, également appelé jeton de casino, on entend tout élément utilisable en salle de jeux, notamment sur les tables de jeu, et représentant une valeur nominale prédéterminée ou non. D'une façon générale ces jetons sont fabriqués en matière plastique rigide et résistante aux rayures.The present invention relates to the marking by pad printing game table tokens in the general form of disc or objects of similar shape, and more particularly the maintenance of tokens during pad printing operations. Gambling token, also called casino token, means any element usable in the gaming room, especially on the gaming tables, and representing a predetermined nominal value or not. In general, these tokens are made of rigid plastic and scratch resistant.

Les jetons pour table de jeu font d'une façon quasi-systématique l'objet d'un décor par marquage sur leurs faces et/ou tranches et qui, selon les utilisations futures des jetons, peut aller du plus simple au plus complexe. En particulier le brevet FR 2.730.392 au nom du demandeur décrit l'utilisation de la tampographie pour le marquage en surface des faces et/ou de la tranche des jetons (par comparaison avec le marquage en volume par multi-injection de matières plastiques de différentes couleurs).Game table tokens are almost systematically decorated with markings on their faces and / or slices and, depending on the future use of chips, can go from the simplest to the most complex. In particular the patent FR 2.730.392 on behalf of the applicant describes the use of pad printing for the surface marking of the faces and / or edge of the chips (compared to the volume marking by multi-injection of plastics of different colors).

TECHNIQUE ANTERIEUREPRIOR ART

La demande publiée WO 98/43816 au nom du demandeur décrit un procédé de marquage par tampographie permettant de marquer avec beaucoup de précision les faces et la tranche perpendiculaire d'un jeton et notamment de marquer simultanément une face et la tranche du jeton. De plus la demande WO 98/43816 décrit une installation de tampographie utilisant un dispositif de pose du jeton comportant un support axial avec une face d'extrémité destinée à porter le jeton, le dispositif de pose étant associé à des moyens d'aspiration sous vide en régime permanent pour maintenir le jeton en appui direct ou indirect sur le support. Pour la suite de l'exposé, les termes « moyens d'aspiration sous vide » et/ou « aspiration sous vide » s'entendent dans leur sens le plus large et notamment couvrent tout dispositif susceptible de créer un vide partiel d'air ou une dépression dans une conduite ou une chambre par aspiration d'air et/ou tout dispositif analogue tel que pompe à vide et autre source de vide.The published application WO 98/43816 in the name of the applicant describes a pad printing method for marking very precisely the faces and the perpendicular edge of a token and in particular to simultaneously mark a face and the edge of the token. In addition the demand WO 98/43816 describes a pad printing installation using a token laying device comprising an axial support with an end face intended to carry the token, the laying device being associated with means vacuum suction in steady state to maintain the token in direct or indirect support on the support. For the remainder of the description, the terms "vacuum suction means" and / or "vacuum suction" are understood in their broadest sense and include any device capable of creating a partial vacuum of air or a vacuum in a pipe or chamber by suction of air and / or any similar device such as vacuum pump and other vacuum source.

Ce type d'installation de tampographie connu est satisfaisant en général mais trouve parfois ses limites au niveau du maintien sous vide des jetons dans les cas plus délicats, par exemple :

  • de tampographie sur jetons à faces « granitées » pourvues d'un relief composé de petites pyramides de hauteur inférieure au millimètre;
  • de tampographie en quadrichromie qui demande le maintien d'un centrage du jeton parfait et continu pendant les quatre opérations de marquage successives; ou
  • de tampographie de tranche qui demande un positionnement axial très précis du jeton par rapport au tampon.
This type of known pad printing installation is satisfactory in general but sometimes finds its limits at the level of the vacuum holding of tokens in more delicate cases, for example:
  • pad printing with "granite" faces with a relief composed of small pyramids less than a millimeter high;
  • four-color pad printing which requires maintaining a perfect and continuous token centering during the four successive marking operations; or
  • wafer pad printing which requires very precise axial positioning of the token with respect to the pad.

De plus l'utilisation d'aspiration sous vide permanente dans des installations de tampographie à haut rendement capables de marquer plusieurs jetons simultanément nécessite des montages souvent complexes au niveau des conduites d'aspiration d'air et des aspirations sous vide puissantes renchérissant les coûts de ces installations.In addition, the use of permanent vacuum suction in high performance pad printing systems capable of marking several tokens simultaneously requires often complex assemblies at the level of air suction lines and powerful vacuum aspirations increasing the costs of these facilities.

Par ailleurs, on connaît du document FR-2 774 326 un dispositif pour la décoration d'objets, comportant un support mobile déplaçable le long d'une trajectoire de transport à travers des stations de traitement, le support d'objet étant relié, sur au moins une section partielle de la trajectoire, à une source de vide au moyen d'un conduit de vide qu'il comporte qui est relié à un conduit de vide disposé le long de la trajectoire par un conduit de raccordement.Moreover, we know of the document FR-2 774 326 a device for decorating objects, comprising a movable support movable along a transport path through processing stations, the object support being connected, on at least a partial section of the trajectory, to a source vacuum by means of a vacuum duct that comprises that is connected to a vacuum duct arranged along the path by a connecting duct.

EXPOSE DE L'INVENTIONSUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Il résulte de ce qui précède qu'il existe un besoin pour un nouveau dispositif de pose de jeton qui améliore le maintien sous vide des jetons de façon à éliminer ou réduire sensiblement les limitations et autres inconvénients présentés ci-dessus et qui dans certains cas permet de plus de simplifier les installations de tampographie.It follows from the foregoing that there is a need for a new token-laying device which improves the vacuum holding of tokens so as to eliminate or significantly reduce the limitations and other disadvantages presented above and which in some cases further simplifies the pad printing facilities.

A cette fin, l'invention propose un dispositif de pose pour jeton ou plaque, utilisable notamment en tampographie, comportant un support axial avec une face d'extrémité destinée à porter ledit jeton, le dispositif étant adapté à être associé à des moyens d'aspiration pour maintenir le jeton en appui direct ou indirect sur le support, caractérisé en ce que le support comporte une chambre à vide formant passage et adaptée pour être reliée auxdits moyens d'aspiration sous vide et débouchant par une ouverture centrale sur ladite face d'extrémité et un joint annulaire élastomère d'étanchéité destiné à coopérer avec une face du jeton et disposé sur ladite face d'extrémité autour de ladite ouverture, ladite face d'extrémité du support comportant une couronne périphérique rigide destinée à servir d'appui fixe au jeton, ledit joint annulaire élastomère étant disposé de façon adjacente à la couronne à l'intérieur de cette dernière, ledit joint au repos se projetant légèrement axialement à l'extérieur de la couronne pour assurer une étanchéité au vide au niveau de la face du jeton en contact avec le joint.To this end, the invention proposes a laying device for token or plate, usable in particular in pad printing, comprising an axial support with an end face intended to carry said token, the device being adapted to be associated with means for suction for holding the token in direct or indirect support on the support, characterized in that the support comprises a vacuum chamber forming a passage and adapted to be connected to said vacuum suction means and opening through a central opening on said face of end and an elastomeric annular sealing gasket intended to cooperate with a face of the token and disposed on said end face around said opening, said end face of the support having a rigid peripheral ring intended to serve as a fixed support for the token, said elastomeric annular seal being disposed adjacent to the ring inside the latter, said seal at the repo s projecting slightly axially outside the crown to ensure a vacuum seal at the face of the chip in contact with the seal.

Ce type de dispositif de pose est bien adapté à la tampographie de tranche. En effet la couronne d'appui périphérique s'étendant dans un plan perpendiculaire à l'axe du support donne une assise parfaite et une position axiale constante par rapport au tampon de tampographie, ce qui permet de faire de la tampographie de tranche avec une très grande précision, y compris en multichromie.This type of laying device is well suited for wafer pad printing. Indeed, the peripheral support ring extending in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the support gives a perfect seating and a constant axial position with respect to the pad printing pad, which allows pad printing slice with very high precision, including multichrom.

Selon les besoins le dispositif de pose selon la seconde version incorpore en option des caractéristiques déjà présentées ci-devant. En particulier :

  • le joint est réalisé en matériau élastomère choisi parmi les caoutchoucs synthétiques ou naturels, les polyuréthannes et les silicones ; et/ou
  • le joint est constitué d'une rondelle à faces planes et/ou
  • le support porte au voisinage de sa face d'extrémité des moyens de centrage du jeton se projetant en position d'extension au-delà de la couronne d'appui et escamotables axialement ; et éventuellement
  • les moyens de centrage sont constitués par une bague de centrage solidarisée à un manchon coulissant sur le support axial et des moyens élastiques sollicitant la bague vers sa position d'extension.
According to the needs, the laying device according to the second version optionally incorporates the features already presented above. In particular :
  • the seal is made of elastomeric material chosen from synthetic or natural rubbers, polyurethanes and silicones; and or
  • the seal consists of a washer with plane faces and / or
  • the support carries, in the vicinity of its end face, means for centering the token projecting in the extended position beyond the support ring and retractable axially; and eventually
  • the centering means are constituted by a centering ring secured to a sliding sleeve on the axial support and resilient means biasing the ring towards its extended position.

De même ce dispositif de pose selon la seconde version peut être intégré dans une nouvelle installation de tampographie conforme à l'invention dans laquelle le support est monté sur un socle déplaçable sur un bâti placé devant au moins un poste de tampographie comportant un tampon encré déplacé coaxialement audit jeton en association avec un cliché encreur plan.Similarly this laying device according to the second version can be integrated into a new pad printing system according to the invention wherein the support is mounted on a base movable on a frame placed in front of at least one pad printing station having an inked pad moved coaxially with said token in association with a plane stamp.

D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de la présente invention apparaîtront à la lecture de la description qui va suivre en référence aux dessins ci-joints.Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the description which follows with reference to the accompanying drawings.

PRESENTATION SOMMAIRE DES DESSINSPRESENTATION SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

  • la figure 1 représente une vue en coupe axiale d'un dispositif de pose selon l'invention;the figure 1 represents an axial sectional view of a laying device according to the invention;
  • les figures 2a et 2b représentent deux vues schématiques partielles en coupe montrant les positions respectives du jeton et du support de jeton du dispositif de pose de la figure 1 correspondant respectivement au repos en l'absence de vide (figure 2a) et après mise sous vide de la chambre de vide (figure 2b);the Figures 2a and 2b represent two partial schematic sectional views showing the respective positions of the token and the token support of the laying device of the figure 1 respectively corresponding to rest in the absence of vacuum ( figure 2a ) and after evacuation of the vacuum chamber ( figure 2b );
  • la figure 3 représente le schéma de principe d'une installation de tampographie incorporant le dispositif de pose de la figure 1;the figure 3 represents the block diagram of a pad printing installation incorporating the laying device of the figure 1 ;
  • les figures 4a et 4b représentent une opération de marquage par tampographie de la tranche d'un jeton de jeu à tranche perpendiculaire à l'aide de l'installation illustrée à la figure 3; etthe Figures 4a and 4b represent a pad printing operation of the slice of a gambling token with perpendicular slice using the installation illustrated in FIG. figure 3 ; and
  • les figures 5a, 5b et 5c représentent un ensemble raccord à deux embouts utilisé dans le dispositif de pose de la figure 1, les figures 5a et 5b illustrant avec coupe partielle respectivement les deux embouts déconnectés et la figure 5c illustrant, en coupe longitudinale, les deux embouts connectés.the Figures 5a, 5b and 5c represent a two-bit connection assembly used in the laying device of the figure 1 , the Figures 5a and 5b illustrating with partial section respectively the two disconnected tips and the figure 5c illustrating, in longitudinal section, the two connected tips.
MEILLEUR MODE DE REALISATION DE L'INVENTIONBEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

La figure 1 représente une vue en coupe d'un dispositif de pose 30 d'un jeton en matière plastique 10 et destiné à titre d'exemple non limitatif à être incorporé dans une installation de tampographie pour marquer d'une décoration d'encres et/ou vernis les faces et la tranche perpendiculaire du jeton 10 en forme de disque à faces parallèles circulaires. Le dispositif de pose selon l'invention 30 qui sera décrit en détails ci-après, a pour fonctions principales de servir d'appui horizontal au jeton 10 et de maintenir ce dernier en place, centré sur l'axe ZZ' du tampon 134, pendant la durée des opérations de tampographie.The figure 1 represents a sectional view of a device 30 for placing a plastic token 10 and intended by way of nonlimiting example to be incorporated in a pad printing installation for marking an ink and / or varnish decoration the faces and the perpendicular edge of the disc-shaped token 10 with circular parallel faces. The laying device according to the invention, which will be described in detail hereinafter, has the main functions of serving as a horizontal support for the token 10 and of keeping the latter in place, centered on the axis ZZ 'of the buffer 134, during the duration of the pad printing operations.

A titre d'exemple non limitatif, le jeton 10 en forme de disque à faces parallèles, utilisé sur des tables de jeu, présente un diamètre de 40 mm pour une épaisseur ou hauteur de tranche de l'ordre de 3,3 mm, étant fait remarquer que dans certains cas, les arêtes présentent un très léger chanfrein (de l'ordre de 0,1 mm). De même les faces du jeton peuvent être « granitées » à la demande des casinos utilisateurs.By way of non-limiting example, the token 10 in the form of a disk with parallel faces, used on tables of clearance, has a diameter of 40 mm for a thickness or wafer height of the order of 3.3 mm, being noted that in some cases, the edges have a very slight chamfer (of the order of 0.1 mm ). Similarly, the token faces can be "granite" at the request of user casinos.

Bien entendu sans sortir du cadre de l'invention, le jeton de jeu est remplacé par un objet de forme analogue réalisé dans une matière susceptible de recevoir un décor par tampographie ou par d'autres méthodes d'impression connues.Of course, without departing from the scope of the invention, the game token is replaced by an object of similar shape made of a material capable of receiving a decoration by pad printing or by other known printing methods.

La mise en oeuvre du marquage par tampographie de la tranche d'un jeton de jeu à tranche perpendiculaire accessoirement avec une des faces du jeton est susceptible d'être réalisée par divers types de dispositifs, machines ou installations. A titre d'exemple non limitatif la figure 3 illustre le principe d'une telle installation de tampographie selon l'invention permettant le marquage simultané d'une des faces et de la tranche d'un jeton de jeu en forme de disque ou d'un objet de forme analogue.The implementation of the pad printing of the slice of a game token slice perpendicular to one side of the token is likely to be performed by various types of devices, machines or facilities. By way of non-limiting example, figure 3 illustrates the principle of such a pad printing device according to the invention for the simultaneous marking of one of the faces and the edge of a disc-shaped game token or an object of similar shape.

Si l'on considère la figure 3, la référence 30 représente très schématiquement le dispositif de pose de jeton selon l'invention de la figure 1. Un tampon encreur 134 est monté sur un bâti vertical 131 de façon à être déplaçable selon des mouvements verticaux alternatifs. Le bâti vertical 131 est associé au bâti 60 porteur du dispositif de pose de façon à aligner sur un même axe ZZ', l'axe du tampon 134 (et de sa tête 136) et l'axe du dispositif de pose 30 porteur du jeton (l'axe ZZ' passant alors par le centre du jeton 10). Le tampon 134 présente une tête déformable 136 à symétrie axiale d'axe ZZ' en matériau synthétique (par exemple un caoutchouc synthétique siliconé présentant une dureté Shore A de l'ordre de 6), en l'espèce à bout conique 138. Comme il apparaîtra ci-après la tête déformable 136 est adaptée pour se caler sur la face 12 et l'arête 16 du jeton 10 lors du marquage de la tranche perpendiculaire 14. Un porte-cliché 140 porteur d'un cliché encreur plan 111 intégrant par exemple l'image d'un décor de tranche est susceptible de mouvements alternatifs entre la verticale du tampon 134 (position 140) et la verticale d'un réservoir d'encre 142 (position 140'). L'opération de tampographie proprement dite est réalisée de la façon suivante. Après encrage du cliché 111 (position 140') le porte-cliché est déplacé dans la position 140 coaxiale au tampon 134 de façon à disposer une zone en forme de couronne du cliché 111 porteuse d'un décor-image coaxialement au tampon 134. Un premier mouvement vertical descendant du tampon 134 permet de récupérer l'encre par simple pression. Après remontée du tampon 134 et retrait du porte-cliché (vers la position 140'), le tampon 134 subit un second mouvement vertical descendant pour déposer l'encre par pression d'abord sur la face 12 du jeton 10 puis, par déformation plus importante de la tête du tampon 136, sur la tranche 14. On réalise ainsi le marquage d'un décor (final ou intermédiaire) monochrome. Pour la multichromie, le décor final est constitué par complémentarité et/ou superposition de décors monochromes, chacun de ces décors intermédiaires étant gravé sur des clichés distincts. On utilise pour le marquage multichrome soit plusieurs porte-clichés mobiles soit une série d'unités de tampographie monochrome associée avec un support porte-jeton mobile. D'une façon générale les clichés encreur sont gravés à une profondeur comprise entre 18 et 20 µm. Par ailleurs les divers types d'encres et/ou vernis adaptés à la tampographie sont utilisables, en particulier des encres révélables aux rayons U.V. pour des marquages discrets (par exemple pour les numéros d'identification et/ou les codages des jetons).If we consider the figure 3 , the reference 30 represents very schematically the token laying device according to the invention of the figure 1 . An ink pad 134 is mounted on a vertical frame 131 so as to be movable in vertical reciprocating motions. The vertical frame 131 is associated with the frame 60 carrying the laying device so as to align on the same axis ZZ ', the axis of the buffer 134 (and its head 136) and the axis of the laying device 30 carrying the token (the axis ZZ 'then passing through the center of the token 10). The buffer 134 has a deformable head 136 with axial symmetry axis ZZ 'of synthetic material (for example a synthetic silicone rubber having a hardness Shore A of the order of 6), in this case conical end 138. As will appear below the deformable head 136 is adapted to wedge on the face 12 and the edge 16 of the token 10 during the marking of perpendicular wafer 14. A plate carrier 140 carrying a planar ink plate 111 incorporating for example the image of a wafer decoration is capable of reciprocating movements between the vertical of buffer 134 (position 140) and the vertical of FIG. an ink tank 142 (position 140 '). The actual pad printing operation is carried out as follows. After inking the plate 111 (position 140 '), the plate holder is moved to the position 140 coaxial with the pad 134 so as to have a crown-shaped area of the plate 111 carrying an image-decor coaxially with the pad 134. A first downward vertical movement of the buffer 134 allows the ink to be recovered by simple pressure. After recovery of the buffer 134 and removal of the plate holder (towards the position 140 '), the buffer 134 undergoes a second downward vertical movement to deposit the ink by first pressing on the face 12 of the token 10 and then, by deformation more important of the head of the buffer 136 on the wafer 14. This is the marking of a decoration (final or intermediate) monochrome. For multichromy, the final decoration is constituted by complementarity and / or superposition of monochrome decorations, each of these intermediate decorations being engraved on separate pictures. Multichrome marking is used for several mobile plate holders or a series of monochrome pad printing units associated with a mobile token holder. In general, the inking plates are etched to a depth of between 18 and 20 μm. Moreover, the various types of inks and / or varnishes suitable for pad printing can be used, in particular UV-detectable inks for discrete markings. (eg for identification numbers and / or token coding).

En ce qui concerne la formation des décors-images des faces et/ou de la tranche sur les clichés encreurs [notamment le décor-image de la tranche selon le principe général de préparation des clichés par rabat du décor sur un plan de référence tel que la face du jeton et contraction radiale du décor intermédiaire] et sur les détails des opérations de tampographie, le lecteur pourra se reporter à la publication WO 98/43816 .With regard to the formation of the image-decorations of the faces and / or the wafer on the inking plates [in particular the image-decoration of the wafer according to the general principle of preparation of the cliches by flap of the decoration on a reference plane such as the face of the token and radial contraction of the intermediate decoration] and on the details of the pad printing operations, the reader can refer to the publication WO 98/43816 .

Si l'on revient à la figure 1, le dispositif de pose 30 du jeton 10 comporte un support rigide axial 32 en métal présentant sensiblement la forme d'un cylindre creux d'axe ZZ' définissant une chambre 33 et présentant une ouverture centrale 31 sur sa face d'extrémité supérieure 29 et dont la base épaisse 34 est rigidement fixée à un socle en métal 36 par un assemblage de vis 35 et de goupilles 37. A la hauteur de la face d'extrémité supérieure 29, la paroi cylindrique du support s'épaissit pour se terminer par une portion élargie annulaire à gradin 38 (voir également les détails sur les figures 2a et 2b) pourvu :

  • d'un épaulement interne 39 destiné à recevoir un joint annulaire 40, en l'espèce une rondelle en matériau élastomère à faces parallèles et dont l'épaisseur H au repos (en l'absence de vide) est légèrement supérieure à la hauteur axiale de l'épaulement 39 (voir figure 2a),
  • d'une couronne d'appui rigide périphérique 41 s'étendant dans un plan perpendiculaire à l'axe ZZ' et destinée à recevoir en appui rigide la face inférieure 13 du jeton après écrasement de la rondelle 40 sous l'effet de la force due au vide agissant sur le jeton 10 (voir figure 2b), et
  • en périphérie externe un épaulement externe 43 destiné à servir de butée d'arrêt à un manchon 42 portant une bague de centrage 44 du jeton sur le dispositif de pose 30 et coulissant axialement sur le support 32, le manchon et la bague montés coaxiaux sur l'axe ZZ' étant sollicités en position d'extension extrême représentée sur la figure 1 par trois ressorts hélicoïdaux 46 répartis sur le pourtour de la base du manchon 42 (et dont un seul est visible sur la figure 1). La bague 44, interchangeable par vissage sur le manchon 42, présente un diamètre intérieur correspondant au diamètre du jeton 10 (au jeu de pose du jeton près) et se trouve positionnée axialement en continuité de la couronne 41 de façon à réaliser un logement pour le jeton (le jeton 10 par sa face inférieure 13 s'appuyant au repos en l'absence de vide sur la face supérieure de la rondelle élastomère 40 se projetant légèrement à l'extérieur de la couronne 41 comme illustré sur les figures 1 et 2a). La bague 44 est escamotable par sollicitation vers le bas de la figure 1 d'un roulement à billes 66 (monté libre de rotation sur un axe horizontal 68 fixé au manchon 42) par appui mécanique sur un rail 70 fixé au bâti 60 par des potences 72.
If we go back to figure 1 , the device 30 for placing the token 10 comprises a rigid axial support 32 of metal having substantially the shape of a hollow cylinder of axis ZZ 'defining a chamber 33 and having a central opening 31 on its upper end face 29 and whose thick base 34 is rigidly fixed to a metal base 36 by an assembly of screws 35 and pins 37. At the height of the upper end face 29, the cylindrical wall of the support thickens to end with a enlarged annular stepped portion 38 (see also details on Figures 2a and 2b ) provided:
  • an inner shoulder 39 for receiving an annular seal 40, in this case a washer of elastomeric material with parallel faces and whose thickness H at rest (in the absence of vacuum) is slightly greater than the axial height of the shoulder 39 (see figure 2a )
  • a peripheral rigid bearing ring 41 extending in a plane perpendicular to the axis ZZ 'and intended to receive in rigid support the lower face 13 of the token after crushing of the washer 40 under the effect of the force due the vacuum acting on the token 10 (see figure 2b ), and
  • at the outer periphery an outer shoulder 43 intended to serve as a stop stop for a sleeve 42 carrying a centering ring 44 of the token on the laying device 30 and sliding axially on the support 32, the sleeve and the ring mounted coaxially on the axis ZZ 'being biased in the extreme extended position shown in FIG. figure 1 by three helical springs 46 distributed around the base of the sleeve 42 (and only one of which is visible on the figure 1 ). The ring 44, interchangeable by screwing on the sleeve 42, has an inner diameter corresponding to the diameter of the token 10 (to the set of the token set) and is positioned axially in continuity with the ring 41 so as to provide a housing for the token (the token 10 by its lower face 13 resting in the absence of vacuum on the upper face of the elastomer washer 40 projecting slightly outside the ring 41 as shown in the Figures 1 and 2a ). The ring 44 is retractable by biasing down the figure 1 of a ball bearing 66 (mounted free of rotation on a horizontal axis 68 fixed to the sleeve 42) by mechanical support on a rail 70 fixed to the frame 60 by brackets 72.

L'intérieur du cylindre creux du support 32 définit la chambre 33 dite chambre à vide formant passage pour le vide (en pratique pour l'aspiration de l'air vers les moyens d'aspiration sous vide) et susceptible d'être reliée par des moyens formant vanne multiple 50 à une conduite sous vide (en tirets) 48 conduisant à une pompe à vide 58. Les moyens formant vanne multiple 50 comportent une douille d'admission de vide traversante 51 montée à travers de la paroi du support cylindrique 32 et un ensemble raccord pneumatique « anti-fuite » à deux clapets anti-retour comportant deux embouts séparables 52 et 54, un embout de connexion et d'isolement 52 à clapet anti-retour 81 relié à la chambre à vide 33 par la douille 51 et un embout d'aspiration 54 à clapet anti-retour 82 relié à la conduite d'aspiration 48 sous vide. Tels qu'illustrés sur les figures 5a et 5b les corps 83 et 84 des embouts 52 et 54 d'allure cylindrique sont traversés chacun par un alésage d'axe XX' 85 et 86, les deux clapets anti-retour 81 et 82 étant montés en vis à vis en position de fermeture lorsque les deux embouts sont séparés ou déconnectés. L'embout 52 présente une tête 87 de petit diamètre susceptible de coulisser, lors de la connexion des embouts 52 et 54, dans une portion 88, sensiblement de même diamètre, de l'alésage 86 jusqu'à une position de butée (illustrée à la figure 5c) entre la face 97 de la tête 87 et l'épaulement 98 de l'alésage 86 et dans laquelle les têtes de clapet 89 et 90, se projetant normalement en dehors de la face 97 et de l'épaulement 98 lorsque les embouts 52 et 54 sont déconnectés (voir figures 5a et 5b), viennent en butée l'une contre l'autre en position de double ouverture lorsque les deux embouts 52 et 54 sont connectés (les ressorts 91 et 92 étant écrasés pour dégager les joints annulaires 93 et 94 de leurs sièges 95 et 96 formés par des petits épaulements dans les alésages 85 et 86). En résumé lorsque les embouts 52 et 54 sont connectés tels qu'illustrés à la figure 5c les deux alésages 85 et 86 sont en libre communication et la chambre à vide 33 reliée à la conduite d'aspiration sous vide 48 équipée d'un manomètre 56 et conduisant à une pompe à vide 58. Par contre lorsque les deux embouts 52 et 54 sont déconnectés tels qu'illustrés aux figures 5a et 5b les deux clapets 81 et 82 occupent leurs positions de fermeture, il en résulte que la chambre à vide 33 reste isolée de la pompe à vide et de l'air libre et que le vide est maintenu dans la chambre 33 fermée par le jeton 10. Ainsi la fermeture de toute communication entre la chambre 33 au niveau de la douille d'admission 51 correspond au statut d'isolement de la chambre à vide 33. Enfin lorsque l'opérateur souhaite libérer le jeton par mise à l'air libre de la chambre, il lui suffit d'enfoncer axialement légèrement le clapet 81 dans l'alésage 85 en appuyant manuellement ou de façon automatisée sur la tête 89 vers la gauche de la figure 1.The inside of the hollow cylinder of the support 32 defines the chamber 33 called the vacuum chamber forming a passage for the vacuum (in practice for the aspiration of air towards the vacuum suction means) and which can be connected by means of multiple valve means 50 to a vacuum line (dashed) 48 leading to a vacuum pump 58. The multiple valve means 50 includes a through vacuum inlet sleeve 51 mounted through the wall of the cylindrical support 32 and a "non-leak" pneumatic connection assembly with two non-return valves comprising two separable tips 52 and 54, a connection and isolation connector 52 with non-return valve 81 connected to the vacuum chamber 33 by the sleeve 51 and a suction nozzle 54 with non-return valve 82 connected to the suction line 48 under vacuum. As illustrated on Figures 5a and 5b the bodies 83 and 84 of the ends 52 and 54 of cylindrical shape are each traversed by a bore of axis XX '85 and 86, the two nonreturn valves 81 and 82 being mounted opposite in the closed position when the two tips are separated or disconnected. The end piece 52 has a small-diameter head 87 capable of sliding, during the connection of the end pieces 52 and 54, in a portion 88, of substantially the same diameter, from the bore 86 to an abutment position (illustrated in FIG. the figure 5c ) between the face 97 of the head 87 and the shoulder 98 of the bore 86 and in which the valve heads 89 and 90, projecting normally outside the face 97 and the shoulder 98 when the tips 52 and 54 are disconnected (see Figures 5a and 5b ), abut against each other in the double-open position when the two endpieces 52 and 54 are connected (the springs 91 and 92 being crushed to disengage the annular seals 93 and 94 from their seats 95 and 96 formed by small shoulders in the bores 85 and 86). In summary when the tips 52 and 54 are connected as shown in FIG. figure 5c the two bores 85 and 86 are in free communication and the vacuum chamber 33 connected to the vacuum suction line 48 equipped with a pressure gauge 56 and leading to a vacuum pump 58. By cons when the two ends 52 and 54 are disconnected as illustrated in Figures 5a and 5b the two valves 81 and 82 occupy their closed positions, it follows that the vacuum chamber 33 remains isolated from the vacuum pump and the free air and that the vacuum is maintained in the chamber 33 closed by the token 10. Thus the closure of any communication between the chamber 33 at the intake sleeve 51 corresponds to the isolation status of the vacuum chamber 33. Finally, when the operator wishes to release the token by venting the air. room, he just to push the valve 81 axially slightly into the bore 85 by manually or automatically pressing on the head 89 to the left of the figure 1 .

La pompe 58 est convenablement fixée au bâti 60 porteur d'un chemin de transfert 62 sur lequel se déplacent une pluralité de dispositifs de pose 30 porteurs des jetons à tampographier, les socles 36 étant équipés de patins. Chaque dispositif de pose 30 est déplaçable devant le poste de tampographie de la figure 3 par déplacement précis de son socle 36 sur le chemin de transfert 62 de façon à aligner l'axe du dispositif de pose et par là le centre du jeton 10 avec l'axe ZZ' du tampon 136. Par ailleurs le rail 70 sur lequel roule le roulement 66 suit de façon continue le chemin 62 avec une hauteur variable par rapport à celui-ci entre la position haute illustrée en 70 sur la figure 1 correspondante à la sortie de la bague 44 (sortie nécessaire pour le centrage du jeton lors de la pose ou le retournement du jeton) et la position basse illustrée en tirets en 70' correspondante au retrait et l'escamotage de la bague 44 (retrait nécessaire lors de l'opération de tampographie de la tranche du jeton).The pump 58 is suitably fixed to the frame 60 carrying a transfer path 62 on which a plurality of laying devices 30 carrying the tokens to be stamped move, the bases 36 being equipped with pads. Each laying device 30 is movable in front of the pad printing station of the figure 3 by precise displacement of its base 36 on the transfer path 62 so as to align the axis of the laying device and thereby the center of the token 10 with the axis ZZ 'of the buffer 136. Moreover the rail 70 on which rolls the bearing 66 continuously follows the path 62 with a variable height relative thereto between the high position illustrated at 70 on the figure 1 corresponding to the output of the ring 44 (output necessary for centering the token during the installation or the flipping of the token) and the lower position shown in dashed 70 'corresponding to the withdrawal and retraction of the ring 44 (withdrawal necessary during the pad printing operation of the chip slice).

Il est à noter que sans sortir du cadre de l'invention, une variante du dispositif de pose 30 porte en lieu et place des embouts 52 et 54 une valve trois voies (non représentée) susceptible d'isoler la chambre à vide 33 par fermeture de la voie menant à la chambre ou de relier la chambre 33, soit aux moyens d'aspiration sous vide 58, soit à un orifice de mise à l'air libre. Dans une autre variante (non représentée) il est également possible de poser au travers de la paroi du support cylindrique 32 une valve de mise à l'air libre de la chambre à vide 33.It should be noted that without departing from the scope of the invention, a variant of the laying device 30 carries instead of the end pieces 52 and 54 a three-way valve (not shown) capable of isolating the vacuum chamber 33 by closing of the path leading to the chamber or to connect the chamber 33, either to the vacuum suction means 58 or to a venting port. In another variant (not shown) it is also possible to place through the wall of the cylindrical support 32 a valve for venting the vacuum chamber 33.

En ce qui concerne le joint annulaire d'étànchéité 40, celui-ci peut être réalisé en matériau élastomère choisi parmi les caoutchoucs synthétiques ou naturels, les polyuréthannes et les silicones. Dans le mode de réalisation ici décrit on a choisi un joint en silicone de dureté de l'ordre de 6 dans l'échelle Shore A (sensiblement la même dureté que celle de la tête du tampon 138). Du point de vue forme, un joint torique à section circulaire pourrait convenir. Toutefois il est souvent préférable pour améliorer l'étanchéité avec le jeton (notamment lorsque que la planéité des faces du jeton est imparfaite ou « granitée ») d'utiliser des rondelles plus ou moins épaisses à faces planes. C'est cette solution qui a été choisie dans le dispositif de pose 30 illustré aux figures 1, 2a et 2b décrivant un mode de réalisation préférentiel de l'invention.As regards the annular sealing seal 40, it may be made of elastomeric material chosen from synthetic or natural rubbers, polyurethanes and silicones. In the embodiment described herein we have chosen a silicone seal with a hardness of about 6 in the Shore A scale (substantially the same hardness as that of the head of the buffer 138). From the point of view of form, a ring-shaped O-ring could be suitable. However, it is often preferable to improve the seal with the token (especially when the flatness of the token faces is imperfect or "granite") to use more or less thick washers with flat faces. This solution was chosen in the laying device 30 illustrated in FIGS. Figures 1, 2a and 2b describing a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Comme représenté sur la figure 2a l'épaisseur H de la rondelle 40 est choisie pour déborder de l'épaulement 39 au repos d'une hauteur h de l'ordre du millimètre. Lorsque que le vide est fait dans la chambre 33, la rondelle 40 est écrasée jusqu'à venue de la face 13 du jeton en appui sur la couronne 41 comme représenté sur la figure 2b. Le choix précis de la valeur h au dixième de millimètre près est déterminé de façon à permettre l'étanchéité avec le jeton et l'appui du jeton 10 sur la couronne 41 et à obtenir une force d'appui due au vide bien supérieure à la force de réaction de la rondelle 40 à l'état comprimé. Dans la pratique à titre d'exemple non limitatif, pour un jeton à face « granitée » de quarante millimètres de diamètre, on utilise une rondelle en silicone 40 dont les dimensions au repos sont 35 et 30 mm pour les diamètres externe et interne et H = 4 mm d'épaisseur avec un débordement h = 0,7 mm et une surface d'appui efficace sous vide de l'ordre d'une dizaine de cm2.As shown on the figure 2a the thickness H of the washer 40 is chosen to protrude from the shoulder 39 at rest with a height h of the order of one millimeter. When the vacuum is made in the chamber 33, the washer 40 is crushed until coming from the face 13 of the token bearing on the ring 41 as shown in FIG. figure 2b . The precise choice of the value h to the nearest tenth of a millimeter is determined so as to allow sealing with the token and the support of the token 10 on the ring 41 and to obtain a force of support due to the vacuum much higher than the reaction force of the washer 40 in the compressed state. In practice, by way of nonlimiting example, for a token with a "granite" face of forty millimeters in diameter, a silicone washer 40 is used whose resting dimensions are 35 and 30 mm for the external and internal diameters and H = 4 mm thick with an overflow h = 0.7 mm and an effective support surface under vacuum of the order of ten cm 2 .

Un des avantages procurés par le dispositif de pose 30 selon l'invention est de pouvoir isoler la chambre à vide 33 par la fermeture de la vanne multiple 50 une fois le niveau de vide partiel requis atteint (par exemple 50%), en l'espèce en déconnectant le dispositif de pose 30 de la ligne d'aspiration sous vide 48 par une simple séparation des embouts 52 et 54. En choisissant une volume interne minimal de quelques dizaines de cm3 pour la chambre à vide 33 des essais ont montré qu'il était possible conserver un vide opérationnel pour maintenir fermement le jeton 10 sur le dispositif de pose pendant une durée de plus d'une heure. En pratique on choisi h comme la hauteur de débordement qui permet la plus longue durée de conservation du vide, les autres données du système étant maintenues égales. Selon la durée de conservation de vide désirée dans l'installation de tampographie utilisée (durée variable entre autres selon le nombre de postes de tampographie, le volume interne des chambres à vide et le nombre des dispositifs de pose 30 utilisés), il est possible réduire au plus précis le pourcentage de vide nécessaire dans les chambres de vide 33 et par voie de conséquence la puissance installée pour la pompe à vide.One of the advantages provided by the laying device 30 according to the invention is that it is possible to isolate the vacuum chamber 33 by closing the multiple valve 50 once the required partial vacuum level has been reached (for example 50%), species by disconnecting the laying device 30 of the vacuum suction line 48 by a simple separation of the tips 52 and 54. By choosing a minimum internal volume of a few tens of cm 3 for the vacuum chamber 33 tests have shown that it was possible to maintain an operational vacuum to firmly hold the token 10 on the laying device for a duration of more than one hour. In practice, h is chosen as the overflow height which allows the longest vacuum storage time, the other data of the system being kept equal. Depending on the desired vacuum storage time in the pad printing system used (variable duration among others depending on the number of pad printing stations, the internal volume of the vacuum chambers and the number of laying devices 30 used), it is possible to reduce to the most precise the percentage of vacuum required in the vacuum chambers 33 and consequently the installed power for the vacuum pump.

En pratique une pluralité des dispositifs de pose 30 sont placés sur le chemin de transfert 62 le plus souvent formant une boucle. On prévoit sur la boucle au moins un poste de pose/dépose des jetons (deux postes si on désire effectuer un retournement des jetons pour marquer l'autre face), postes pour lesquels le rail 70 et la bague de centrage 44 du jeton sont en position haute. L'opérateur place le jeton 10 dans l'ouverture de la bague en appui sur la rondelle élastomère 40 (figure 2a) le jeton étant alors centré par rapport à l'axe vertical ZZ' du dispositif de pose. L'opérateur connecte ensuite les deux embouts 52 et 54 et fait le vide dans la chambre 33. En quelques secondes la rondelle 40 s'écrase et le jeton 10 vient en appui ferme sur la couronne 41 (figure 2b). L'opérateur déconnecte les deux embouts 52, 54 et isole la chambre à vide 33 (cette opération pouvant être faite manuellement ou de façon automatisée). Le dispositif 30 peut alors être déplacé vers le premier poste de tampographie au regard d'une portion de rail 70' en position basse (en fait le rail de commande de la bague 44 est toujours en position basse le long de la boucle du chemin 62 à l'exception des emplacements correspondants aux postes de pose/dépose), la bague 44 étant alors escamotée et la tranche 14 du jeton 10 disponible pour être marquée avec la première face 12 du jeton.In practice, a plurality of laying devices 30 are placed on the transfer path 62, most often forming a loop. There is provided on the loop at least one position of installation / removal of the chips (two positions if it is desired to flip the tokens to mark the other side), positions for which the rail 70 and the centering ring 44 of the token are in high position. The operator places the token 10 in the opening of the ring bearing on the elastomer washer 40 ( figure 2a ) the token then being centered with respect to the vertical axis ZZ 'of the laying device. The operator then connects the two ends 52 and 54 and empties into the chamber 33. In a few seconds the washer 40 crushes and the token 10 comes to rest firmly on the crown 41 ( figure 2b ). The operator disconnects the two end pieces 52, 54 and isolates the vacuum chamber 33 (this operation can be done manually or automatically). The device 30 can then be moved to the first pad printing station with respect to a rail portion 70 'in the low position (in fact the control rail of the ring 44 is always in a low position along the path loop 62 with the exception of the locations corresponding to the positions of laying / removal), the ring 44 is then retracted and the edge 14 of the token 10 available to be marked with the first face 12 of the token.

Comme on peut le constater sur les figures 4a et 4b, le jeton est centré sur l'axe ZZ' du tampon par positionnement du socle 36 de façon à aligner l'axe du tampon 134 et l'axe du dispositif de pose 30. Cette opération de centrage préalablement au marquage proprement dit (ou en phase initiale du marquage) est importante pour bien positionner le jeton 10 par rapport au tampon 134, notamment dans le cas présent pour que l'arête 16 corresponde bien avec son image encrée sur le bout conique 138 du tampon 134. Après dépassement par le bout conique 138 du plan de la face 12 (celle-ci étant éventuellement complètement marquée), la tête 138 du tampon 134 se déforme le long de la tranche 14 en se calant sur l'arête 16 (cette dernière étant suffisamment nette pour éviter des glissements indésirables à partir de la face 12 au niveau de l'arête) jusqu'à l'encrage total de la tranche 14 lorsque le bout 138 (conique au repos) de la tête déformable 136 du tampon 134 est comprimé (avec un léger dépassement du rebord de la tête 136 au-delà du plan de l'arête 17 de la face inférieure 13 du jeton 10). La force d'appui créée par le vide sur le jeton 10 est suffisante pour l'empêcher de glisser latéralement lors du marquage et/ou de se soulever lors du retrait du tampon 134. Le socle 36 est alors déplacé jusqu'au prochain poste de tampographie jusqu'à la fin du marquage du décor qui peut être face seule, tranche seule ou face plus tranche. De façon optionnelle le jeton 10 passe alors devant un poste de pose/dépose où est effectué le retournement du jeton avec mise à l'air libre de la chambre 33, retournement du jeton, mise sous vide la chambre 33, isolement de la chambre 33 et déplacement vers les postes de tampographie affectés à l'autre face 13 du jeton. A défaut le jeton 10 revient devant le poste de pose/dépose d'origine pour mise à l'air libre et retrait du jeton.As can be seen from the Figures 4a and 4b , the token is centered on the axis ZZ 'of the buffer by positioning the base 36 so as to align the axis of the buffer 134 and the axis of the laying device 30. This centering operation prior to the actual marking (or initial phase of the marking) is important to properly position the token 10 with respect to the buffer 134, especially in this case so that the edge 16 corresponds well with its image inked on the conical end 138 of the buffer 134. After passing through the end conical 138 of the plane of the face 12 (the latter possibly being completely marked), the head 138 of the buffer 134 is deformed along the edge 14 by settling on the edge 16 (the latter being sharp enough to prevent slipping undesirable from the face 12 at the edge) until the total inking of the wafer 14 when the end 138 (conical at rest) of the deformable head 136 of the buffer 134 is compressed (with a slight exceeding of edge of the t is 136 beyond the plane of the edge 17 of the underside 13 of the token 10). The support force created by the vacuum on the token 10 is sufficient to prevent it from slipping laterally when marking and / or lifting during 134. The base 36 is then moved to the next pad printing station until the end of the marking of the decor that can be face alone, slice alone or face slice. Optionally, the token 10 then passes in front of a laying / removal station where the token is turned over with venting of the chamber 33, the token is turned upside down, the chamber 33 is emptied, the chamber 33 is isolated. and moving to the pad printing stations assigned to the other face 13 of the token. If the token 10 returns to the station of installation / removal of origin for venting and removal of the token.

Dans le premier mode de réalisation de l'invention ici décrit le dispositif de pose 30 et l'installation de tampographie associée intègrent le plus grand nombre de caractéristiques techniques (rondelle élastomère à face parallèles, couronne d'appui, isolement de la chambre à vide avec ou sans déconnexion physique entre le dispositif de pose et l'aspiration sous vide) destinés à répondre aux conditions d'utilisation les plus difficiles (marquage de tranche, faces « granitées », optimisation de la ressource en du vide, alimentation de la chambre de vide intermittente etc ..). Toutefois l'invention concerne également des variantes simplifiées du dispositif de pose 30 illustré à figure 1.In the first embodiment of the invention here described, the laying device 30 and the associated pad printing installation incorporate the greatest number of technical characteristics (elastomer washer with parallel faces, bearing ring, vacuum chamber isolation). with or without physical disconnection between the laying device and vacuum suction) intended to meet the most difficult conditions of use (slice marking, "granite" faces, optimization of the resource in the vacuum, supply of the chamber intermittent vacuum etc.). However, the invention also relates to simplified variants of the laying device 30 illustrated in FIG. figure 1 .

Dans une première variante non représentée de l'invention et destinée à être utilisée dans des conditions moins rigoureuses (par exemple pour le marquage des faces seules), le dispositif de pose reste très proche du dispositif 30 décrit ci-dessus : seule la couronne d'appui 41 est éliminée, la partie inférieure de la rondelle élastomère étant placée dans une gorge pratiquée dans la portion élargie 38 en lieu et place de l'épaulement 39 et le positionnement axial de la face du jeton lors de la tampographie se faisant par l'écrasement de la rondelle élastomère.In a first variant not shown of the invention and intended to be used under less stringent conditions (for example for the marking of the faces only), the laying device remains very close to the device 30 described above: only the crown of support 41 is eliminated, the lower part of the elastomer washer being placed in a groove in the enlarged portion 38 instead of the shoulder 39 and the axial positioning of the face of the Token during pad printing being done by crushing the elastomer washer.

Dans encore une autre variante de l'invention non représentée le dispositif de pose est conforme au dispositif 30 à l'exception des moyens formant vanne multiple qui sont remplacés par une connexion fixe et permanente entre la chambre de vide et l'aspiration sous vide, la qualité de l'étanchéité au niveau du jeton permettant l'opération de tampographie dans de bonnes conditions mais avec une installation un peu plus onéreuse.In yet another variant of the invention not shown the laying device is in accordance with the device 30 with the exception of the multiple valve means which are replaced by a fixed and permanent connection between the vacuum chamber and the vacuum suction, the quality of the seal at the token level allowing the pad printing operation in good conditions but with a slightly more expensive installation.

Dans cette dernière variante le dispositif de pose pour jeton ou plaque, utilisable notamment en tampographie, comportant le support axial 32 avec une face d'extrémité 29 destinée à porter ledit jeton 10, le dispositif étant adapté à être associé à des moyens d'aspiration sous vide débouchant sur ladite face d'extrémité pour maintenir le jeton en appui direct ou indirect sur le support, est caractérisé en ce que ladite face d'extrémité 29 du support comporte la couronne périphérique rigide 41 destinée à servir d'appui fixe au jeton et le joint annulaire élastomère 40 adjacent à la couronne à l'intérieur de cette dernière et disposé autour de la bouche de l'aspiration sous vide (en l'espèce l'ouverture centrale 31), ledit joint 40 au repos se projetant légèrement axialement à l'extérieur de la couronne pour assurer une étanchéité au vide au niveau de la face 13 du jeton en contact avec le joint 40.In this latter variant the laying device for token or plate, usable in particular in pad printing, comprising the axial support 32 with an end face 29 intended to carry said token 10, the device being adapted to be associated with suction means under vacuum opening on said end face to hold the token in direct or indirect support on the support, is characterized in that said end face 29 of the support comprises the rigid peripheral ring 41 intended to serve as a fixed support to the chip and the elastomeric annular seal 40 adjacent to the ring inside the latter and disposed around the mouth of the vacuum suction (in this case the central opening 31), said seal 40 at rest projecting slightly axially outside the ring to ensure a vacuum seal at the face 13 of the token in contact with the seal 40.

Claims (7)

  1. Laying device (30) for a token (10) or plate, which can be used in particular in tampography, comprising an axial support (32) with an end surface (29) which is designed to support the said token (10), the device being designed to be associated with means (58) for suction under vacuum, in order to maintain the token (10) supported directly or indirectly on the support (32), characterised in that the support (32) comprises a vacuum chamber (33) which forms a passage, and is designed to be connected to the said means for suction under vacuum, and opens via a central opening (31) onto the said end surface (29), and a annular elastomer seal (40) which is designed to co-operate with a surface (13) of the token, and is disposed on the said end surface (29) around the said opening (31), the said end surface (29) of the support comprising a rigid peripheral collar (41) which is designed to act as a fixed support for the token (10), the said annular elastomer seal (40) being disposed in the interior of the collar (41) in a manner adjacent to the collar (41), the said seal (40) at rest projecting slightly axially on the exterior of the collar (41) in order to assure vacuum sealing at the level of the surface (13) of the token (10) which is in contact with the seal.
  2. Laying device according to claim 1, characterised in that the seal (40) is made of an elastomer material which is selected from amongst synthetic or natural rubbers, polyurethanes and silicones.
  3. Laying device according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the seal (40) consists of a washer with flat surfaces.
  4. Laying device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the said support (32) supports in the vicinity of its end surface means (42, 44) for centring of the token (42, 44), which project in the extension position beyond the support collar (41), and are retractable axially.
  5. Laying device according to claim 4, characterised in that the centring means consist of a centring ring (44) which is rendered integral with a sleeve (42) which slides on the axial support, and resilient means (46) which thrust the ring towards its extension position.
  6. Laying device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the support (32) is fitted on a base (36) which can be displaced on a frame (60) which is placed in front of at least one tampography unit comprising an inked pad (134) which is displaced coaxially relative to the said token (10) in association with a flat inking block (111).
  7. Tampography installation of the type comprising at least one tampography unit comprising an inked pad (134) which is displaced coaxially relative to the said token (10) in association with a flat inking block, and at least one laying device (30) according to claim 6, characterised in that it comprises means (58) for suction under vacuum, and at least one laying/ depositing device which is fitted on a transfer path (62) provided on the frame (60).
EP02738275A 2001-06-06 2002-05-21 Devices for marking gaming chips and pad printing installations incorporating same Expired - Lifetime EP1392511B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0107347 2001-06-06
FR0107347A FR2825661B1 (en) 2001-06-06 2001-06-06 INSTALLATION DEVICE FOR TOKEN AND PADING INSTALLATIONS INCORPORATING SUCH DEVICES
PCT/FR2002/001692 WO2002098663A1 (en) 2001-06-06 2002-05-21 Devices for marking gaming chips and pad printing installations incorporating same

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EP1392511A1 EP1392511A1 (en) 2004-03-03
EP1392511B1 true EP1392511B1 (en) 2010-03-10

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US (1) US7100501B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1392511B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE460280T1 (en)
AU (1) AU2002313078B2 (en)
CA (1) CA2447142C (en)
DE (1) DE60235623D1 (en)
FR (1) FR2825661B1 (en)
NZ (1) NZ529581A (en)
WO (1) WO2002098663A1 (en)
ZA (1) ZA200301804B (en)

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US20020185019A1 (en) 2002-12-12
AU2002313078B2 (en) 2006-03-30
WO2002098663A1 (en) 2002-12-12
FR2825661B1 (en) 2006-11-24
EP1392511A1 (en) 2004-03-03
CA2447142C (en) 2010-01-05
US7100501B2 (en) 2006-09-05
FR2825661A1 (en) 2002-12-13
ZA200301804B (en) 2004-03-05
NZ529581A (en) 2004-07-30
CA2447142A1 (en) 2002-12-12
DE60235623D1 (en) 2010-04-22
ATE460280T1 (en) 2010-03-15

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