EP2193925B1 - Device for manufacturing number plates in different formats - Google Patents

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention belongs to the field of " new generation " number plates, that is to say the plates consisting of a rigid support, made of plastic, receiving a flexible film carrying the information and in particular the number of registration of a vehicle.

It also relates to the flexible support that sticks to the back of the rigid support for a particular type of format.

PRIOR STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE

For some years now, there has been a tendency to replace the traditional license plates, consisting of a metal support receiving a second metal plate generally of different color and superimposed on the support, and in which the indications are formed by cold stamping and detachment of stamped parts.

Indeed, because of the large number of punch / matrix characters necessary for the realization of the information to materialize on the plate thus assembled, it has been proposed more recently registration plates consisting of a rigid support, in this case in matter. plastic, on which is glued a flexible film also plastic on which are printed, including thermal printing, said information. The flexible support comprises a retroreflective background also required by the standards in force in terms of number plates.

Undoubtedly, the realization of this new type of license plate simplifies the means to implement, since it requires more than a thermal printer for the realization of the information itself, it remains no less true that because of the different standardized formats of plates, especially for automobiles, but also motorcycles, it requires as many printers as formats.

It is the object of the present invention to further simplify the production of these plates of the last type by using more than one type of printer.

The document WO 03051641 describes a device according to the preamble of claim 1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

• une imprimante thermique apte à imprimer le film souple ;
• des moyens pour caler les bords respectifs de la plaque rigide et du film souple ;
• des moyens pour assurer le collage du film souple sur ladite plaque rigide.

The invention therefore relates to a device for producing license plates of different sizes, said plates incorporating a transparent rigid plate on which is glued a printed flexible film comprising:

• a thermal printer capable of printing the flexible film;
• means for wedging the respective edges of the rigid plate and the flexible film;
• means for bonding the flexible film to said rigid plate.

According to the invention, the device also comprises means for introducing said flexible film into the posterior zone of the thermal printer, said thermal printer also receiving an internal guide capable of inducing a half-turn to said flexible film after introduction with a view to its printing by the thermal print head of the printer.

In other words, the invention consists in providing, downstream of the thermal printer, that is to say at its output, at least one flexible film introduction zone capable of exhibiting different widths, and to provide said printer with a member for presenting said flexible film thus introduced in front of the thermal printing head.

In doing so, the printable area is always correctly positioned with respect to the print head of the thermal printer.

The invention also relates to a flexible film, of a size greater than the thermal head of the printer, intended to be printed by means of the thermal printer of the aforementioned type. This flexible film is in this case constituted by a bilayer respectively a layer made of a retro-reflective material that will receive heat transfer and a layer for protecting said retro-reflective material once the plate is completed. This flexible film, of square or rectangular shape, is characterized in that it comprises, at one of its two middle lines, pre-cuts made on the whole of its thickness, suitable for favoring its folding and corollary its introduction within the printer.

In doing so, it becomes possible to print any type of flexible film for the production of plates including registration, regardless of its format and in particular so-called square plates, more particularly implemented for certain motor vehicles besides for motorcycles or mopeds, which we could not do so far because of the dimensions, and in particular the width of said plates, except to provide as many printers as types of format.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

• La figure 1 est une représentation schématique en perspective d'une imprimante de type thermique, vue de trois quarts arrière, c'est-à-dire vue du côté de sortie classique de l'impression.
• La figure 2 est une vue de face de ladite partie arrière de l'imprimante.
• La figure 3 est une représentation schématique du guide interne mis en place au sein de l'imprimante et propre à favoriser le demi-tour du film souple en vue de réaliser son impression au niveau de la tête thermique de l'imprimante.
• La figure 4 est une représentation schématique d'un guide positionné postérieurement à l'imprimante thermique, destiné à faciliter l'introduction au sein de cette dernière des différents formats de film souple, dont la figure 5 est une vue de détail de l'un des bords latéraux.
• La figure 6 est une représentation schématique d'un film souple de format carré mis en oeuvre dans le cadre de la présente invention.

The way in which the invention can be realized and the advantages which result therefrom will emerge more clearly from the exemplary embodiment which follows, given by way of indication and not limitation, in support of the appended figures.

• The figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a thermal type printer, seen from three quarters back, that is to say seen from the conventional output side of the print.
• The figure 2 is a front view of said rear portion of the printer.
• The figure 3 is a schematic representation of the internal guide set up within the printer and suitable to promote the half-turn of the flexible film to achieve its printing at the thermal head of the printer.
• The figure 4 is a schematic representation of a guide positioned after the thermal printer, intended to facilitate the introduction into the latter of different flexible film formats, the figure 5 is a detail view of one of the side edges.
• The figure 6 is a schematic representation of a flexible film of square format implemented in the context of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

So we represented in the figure 1 a perspective view of a thermal type printer capable of producing the printing of a flexible film, in particular for attachment to a rigid plate for the constitution including a license plate.

This printer is advantageously integrated in the context of a license plate making installation, comprising means for wedging the respective edges of the rigid plate, made of plastic, and the flexible film after printing. Indeed, once the printing of the film made, it is necessary to secure the latter to a rigid plate, transparent, attached to the vehicle to register.

The length at least of these two elements, respectively the rigid plate and the flexible film, is identical, so that it is necessary to precisely adjust their superposition before making them integral with each other. This is why we provide means of wedging these two elements.

The rigid plate is advantageously provided with a double-sided protective adhesive, the protective film of which is removed before assembly with the flexible film.

Finally, the effective securing of the flexible film against the rigid plate is ensured by means of a calender, provided with two calendering rollers, between which pass the plate and the flexible film.

These different organs are known, so there is no need to describe them here in more detail.

The thermal printer (1) implemented is for example of the type manufactured by TSC.

According to the invention, the output plate (2) of the printer (1) is provided with an additional lower slot (4), intended to allow flexible film to be introduced into the latter, and thus by the posterior, unlike conventional thermal printers. This lower slot is positioned under the exit slot (5) of the printer.

This lower slot (4) is intended to allow the introduction into the printer of different formats of flexible film, likely to vary typically between a width of 110 mm to a width of 200mm. As will be described later in more detail, this same lower slot is intended to allow the introduction and therefore the printing of flexible films for automotive square plates, motorcycle, moped.

With the help of a guide (3) external to the printer (1) and positioned immediately downstream of it (Cf. figure 1 ), judicious guiding of the flexible film according to its dimensions is provided at the level of the lower slot (4), so as to wedge said film as a function, on the one hand, of its width, and on the other hand of the thermal print head. In doing so, the specific areas of said film are systematically printed in accordance with the regulations.

This particular installation makes it possible to achieve a saving of space and a greater ergonomics of the workstation by rationalizing the workstation.

The external guide (3) is partially represented in more detail within the figures 4 and 5 . This guide has in fact several guide paths, three in this case, which all converge towards the lower slot (4) of the printer, when said guide is in place.

First, it comprises a lower guide path (11), plane, located in the extension of the lower slot (4) of the printer. It has the greatest width, and typically 122 mm.

Lateral protrusions emanating from the two lateral edges (14, 15) define an intermediate guide path (12), elevated with respect to the guide path (11). More particularly, the left edge (14) of the outer guide has an offset (16) relative to its inner wall (17). In fact, a flexible film of format, and in particular of smaller width, can be inserted in said intermediate guide path (12), while remaining taped with respect to the inner wall (not shown) of the lateral edge (15) constituting the reference of introduction of the flexible film within the printer, and for the purpose of maintaining said film correctly positioned at the thermal print head.

Similarly, there is defined an upper guide path (12), also having a recess relative to the intermediate guide path, resulting in fact to a lower width.

In doing so, it is conceivable that using the external guide (3), it is possible to insert several types of flexible film format within the printer, while maintaining the necessary reference in relation to the positioning of said film at the print head.

Within the printer is inserted an internal turning guide (6), shown on the figure 3 . It is secured to the floor of the printer, in the immediate vicinity of the rear face (2) of the printer.

It comprises an inclined face (7) towards the top, coated with a low friction material, and ends with a vertical section (8) which, following the handling of the flexible film by one of the two motorized rollers (10) with a high coefficient of friction, will induce in cooperation with the internal structure of the printer, and in particular the guide of the print head, the reversal of the flexible film in the direction of the upper slot (5) output of the printer, and its submission to the print head to allow the effective printing of the desired data, previously introduced by a PC associated with the printer.

Thus and whatever the form used, said support will undergo a reversal within the printer before being subjected to printing by the thermal head.

It is thus conceivable, and already, the possibility of making, with the same printer, the printing of flexible films of different widths.

In addition, with regard to the production of square plates, which is found on certain types of motor vehicles or for motorcycles, it is proposed according to the invention a flexible film (20) corresponding to the size of the plate . Classically, it also consists of a bilayer, as previously described. It may however consist of a monolayer film.

This flexible film has, at its center line (21), precuts (22) made on the entire thickness of the film, thus facilitating the folding of said film along this median line (21).

After folding on itself, the flexible film has a width of 100 mm ± 1 mm, adapted to allow its introduction by the lower slot (4) of the printer. Thus, with two successive passes within the printer, after turning the folded film on itself, it becomes possible to print a film at the two zones (23) and (24) of said film, in particular by thermal transfer , without any difficulty, what we did not know how to do so far.

It is then conceivable that the present invention, which uses a single thermal printer, allows the printing of all license plate holders currently on the market.

Claims (6)

1. Element for the manufacturing of number plates in different formats, the said plates incorporating a rigid transparent plate upon which a printed flexible film is glued; the element incorporating:

   - a thermal printer (1) capable of printing on the flexible film;

   - a wedging unit for wedging an edge of the flexible film with an edge rigid support plate and;

   - a gluing unit for gluing the flexible film onto the said rigid support plate;

   - an introducing unit for introducing the said flexible film into a posterior zone of the thermal printer;

   characterized by the fact that the said thermal printer also accommodates an internal guide (6) with a capacity to store a semi-turn of the said flexible film after insertion, in view of its printing by the thermal printing head of the printer, and by the fact that the thermal printer is capable of printing on the said film folded onto itself at one of its central lines.
2. Element according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the rear face (2) of the thermal printer (1) incorporates two slots - respectively one slot (4) for insertion of the flexible film, and one slot (5) for the exiting of the said flexible film after printing, the said slots being superimposed.
3. Element according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized by the fact that it incorporates an introducing unit (3) for introducing the flexible film into a posterior zone of the thermal printer (1), establishing multiple guideways (11, 12, 13) for the flexible film, of different width, all converging towards the lower slot (4) of the printer when the said guide is in position.
4. Process for performing thermal printing by the element, as according to claims 1, 2 or 3 on a flexible film, intended to be integral with a rigid mounting plat for number plates, the said process consisting in introducing the said film via the posterior zone of a thermal printer, inducing a turn within the said printer, performing the thermal printing within it, and outputting the said film from the printer after printing, characterized by the fact that, before the introduction of the film into the printer, the flexible film is folded onto itself at one of its central lines.
5. Process according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that the printing of the said flexible film is performed when it is folded onto itself at an initial area (13) of the said film, and by the fact that the said film folded onto itself is reintroduced after its semi-turn within the said printer, so that the second area (14) of the said film can be printed.
6. Flexible film of square or rectangular shape capable of being integrated to a transparent rigid support plate, after thermal printing as according to claims 1, 2 or 3, for forming a number plate, and composed of a single layer or dual layers - respectively one layer manufactured in reflective material intended to receive the thermal transfer, and one layer intended to protect the said reflective material once the plate has been finished, characterized by the fact that it incorporates, at one of its central lines (21), precuts (22) produced throughout its thickness, in order to facilitate the folding of the said film onto itself and its introduction into a printer with the capacity to perform the thermal transfer.

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