FR2468166A1 - MACHINE FOR PRINTING, ISSUING AND ACCOUNTING FOR TICKETS AND VALUES - Google Patents

Abstract

This machine is organized into several processing lines 1 to 4. Each processing line comprises a reserve 11 to 14 which contains cards 11 ', 12' or a strip material 13 ', 13 ", 14', a device for drive 15, 17, 23, 24 which conveys the cards or the material in strip to a printing station All lines 1 to 4 are served by the same printing unit 36 movable in transverse translation and comprising a printing head with needles 40 controlled by a processor, the position of this unit being fixed relative to the cards or web materials to be printed by transverse positioning devices 35.1 to 35.4, 37 'and selected by a motor 42 controlled by a processor.

Description

For the rational production of tickets of all types, for

  transport companies, including

  urban and suburban public transport companies

  carrying a large number of different tickets, preferably season tickets, it is known to use

  sitives in which a material presented in coupons or ban-

  of a shape (color, preprint, outline, etc.) useful

  readable in all cases, can be transformed by im-

  discreet pressures in notes, vouchers, or other values, to

  particular, individual or category tickets.

  The trend towards the use of such uniform output formats

  be as quiet as possible or a strip material is easy to

  understand when you take into account that in the ag-

  glomerations with an urban center of 250,000 to 300,000 ha-

  bitants and ten or twelve suburban centers having a number of inhabitants of the same order of magnitude as the urban center, it issues about two hundred different kinds of tickets which are distributed in several hundred

points of sale.

  It is known to use for these applications ins-

  installations or apparatus for printing and accounting for transport tickets which are in place in vehicles and sales outlets, apparatus and installations in which a transport ticket can be called up by pressing one or more keys and then issued after collectiondh

  transport price, price which is made visible if necessary.

  Devices of this type which have already been developed use microprocessors which can be controlled in a simple manner for a certain sort of sale, are very flexible in programming, protected against false operations and in which it is easy to operate. 'carry out

rate changes.

  These devices frequently have the disadvantage that, while printing can be adapted relatively

  quickly and without problems to various specifications such as

  the category to which the passenger belongs, the route and the type of fare (adult, child, dog, etc.),

  as well as time (date, time) and price, the ap-

  such can only issue a small number of kinds of bil-

  lets. Another disadvantage is that, due to the usefulness

  separate printing devices, the machine is

  not very handy and takes up a lot of space and, moreover, it uses for keeping stock of cards, tapes, vouchers, etc.,

  cassette devices and still requires additional space

  extra for their storage and a large sum of

work for their filling.

  The object of the invention is therefore to create an accounting printing, delivery and recording machine

  for banknotes and securities in which several cash positions

  ment, advance and printing arranged in parallel with regard to their function cooperate with one and the same

  printing device and in which it is possible to

  associate an individual accounting unit with each

  parallel lines or to associate an accounting unit

  adding totalization common to all lines.

  According to the invention, this problem is solved by a

  printing, delivery and recording machine

  table for banknotes and values comprising a certain number of reserve means intended to receive the starting material for the banknotes, values and the recording medium and a number of advance devices placed downstream of the reserve means and serving to send the said starting materials to a post in which the banknotes, securities and / or recording media are affixed individually to each processing line,

  an impression, characterized in that each milking line

  ment comprises at least one device for limiting the advantage

  this intended to correctly position a reference mark

  of the starting material to be printed, in order to define a

  printing area, and in that, at all processing lines

  associated with a printing unit common to all lines, capable of moving by linear translation

  transverse, whose starting position relative to the ma-

  starting point to be printed is defined by means of po-

  transverse positioning and selectively determined by a

control motor.

  The characteristics and advantages of the invention ap-

  will appear during the description which follows. To the-

  attached sins, given only by way of example, - Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the mechanical construction of a machine according to the invention

  equipped with feeding, training, im-

  delivery and accounting pressure.

  - Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a typical example of a card feeding device intended to be used

in a machine according to FIG. 1.

  In the description given below of a machine

  before the invention which is preferably intended for printing

  The following elements of the machine are not explained because they do not belong to the invention proper: a) The bodywork , which has a partitioned keyboard

  to facilitate the introduction of data and means of af-

  filing of the data entered and the issue price for the documents issued (subscription cards, vouchers, titles, etc.),

  as well as for accounting, statistics, indicators,

tion of errors, etc.

  b) A programmable computer for permanent data

  nentes documents that can be issued by the machine and provided with memories and signal transmission means; c) control elements and introduction means

  for the selection of the kind of documents desired, for the purchase

  raw material presented in format (cardboard or paper coupons, paper strips) at the printing point;

  d) the device for selecting the location to be printed

  sea which acts on the printing device and the means for entering and positioning the text; e) the means used to record and transmit

  the number of individual documents and to ensure the totalization

  individual and / or global amounts for documents

  items debited during a given period of time;

  f) the means for programming the functions of the calculation

  reader, among others also software;

  g) a date indicator for securing failures

  tor. All the organs, elements and means mentioned under headings a) to g) may be of known construction and /

  or be subject to specific industrial property rights

liers.

  In the form shown in Fig. 2, the machine follows

  the invention comprises three lines of documents or transport tickets 1, 2 or 3 as well as a printing line 4 which

  records the accounting data, and whose agency-

  practically organized in parallel is identified by

  the arrows associated with the reference numbers. The representation

  tation is chosen in such a way that the reserves of ma-

  gross amount corresponding to the above lines 1 to 4 is found

  wind next to each other along the top edge

  figure right, which certainly corresponds to a practical form

  preferred embodiment tick but in no case constitutes a necessary condition. Lines 1 to 3 end along the lower left edge of the figure in the region of a delivery slot 5 indicated schematically in lines

  interrupted and which is mounted in a fixed position in the coach-

  machine series. Line 4 of accounting printing

  tion is preferably entirely inside the body and is only accessible after opening this

last.

2468 1 66

  Perpendicular to lines 1 to 4, the lines of functional elements 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are represented, which likewise are arranged practically parallel to each other and approximately parallel to the direction of the arrows associated with the numbers. 6 to 10. As already mentioned with respect to lines 1 to 4, here too a strictly linear arrangement is certainly applicable in practice but should not be absolutely essential in

each individual case.

  At the (fictitious) intersections between the document lines

  elements 1 to 4 and the line of functional elements 6, there is, at the extreme front point, that is to say on line 1, a first card hopper II provided for cards 11 'of a

  first determined format, which may bear im-

  pressures constituting basic inscriptions and dividing lines of the surface into zones. To the left of this line 1, there is, on line 2, a second card hopper

  12 of the same or a different kind, intended for

  your 12 'of a second determined format, which can be mut

  provided with basic printing in the same way as the 11 'cards of the first format. In line 3, a

  first supply coil 13 which can contain, for example-

  ple a support strip 13 'which itself carries a self-

  sticky 13 "placed on its surface. Finally, we represented

  tee in line 4 a second supply reel 14 which contains, for example, a strip of blank paper with a single layer.

  At the (fictitious) intersections between the document lines

  elements 1 to 4 and the line of functional elements 7 is located,

  at intersection 1-7, a first pair of rollers 15

  taking a 15 'feed roller with knurled surface and a roller

  15 "J support water which is constantly pressed against the roller

  15 'in advance by a spring 16. At intersection 2-7 there is

  ve a second pair of rollers 17 also composed of a

  feed roller 17 'and a support roller 17 "which is pres-

  dried against the feed roller 17 'by a spring 18. Both

  feed rollers 15 ', 17' are mounted on a drive shaft

  common nement 19, the free end of which carries a toothed belt pulley 20 which is driven by means of a toothed belt 21 by a card advance motor 22 common to the two document lines 1 and 2. Each of the

  pairs of rollers 15, 17 is centered on a line of trans-

  port on which the 11 'or 12' card scrolls out of

  the corresponding card hopper 11 or 12 respectively.

  At intersection 3-7 is another pair of wheels.

  leaux 23 composed of a feed roller 23 'and a roller

  23 "support. The latter is constantly pressed against the

  advance water 23 'by a spring 24. The advance roller 23' is mounted on a shaft 25 on which is mounted a pulley

  toothed belt 26. This pulley is coupled by the inter-

  median of a toothed belt 27 to a second motor of a-

comes 28.

  Finally, at intersection 4-7, or at a point offset parallel to this intersection, is

  a fourth pair of rollers 29 comprising a roll of a-

  comes with 29 'and a 29 "support roller. The first of these

  leaux is mounted on a shaft 30 which is born born by a three

fifth feed motor 31.

  On the line of functional elements 8 there is a

  positive presser 32 comprising a presser rail 32 'provided with

  spring pressing elements 32.1 to 32.4 which are centered res-

  pectively on lines of documents 1 to 4 and serve as

  means of retention for the corresponding documents which

  slow or are pushed on a support table 33.

  The lines of functional elements 9 and 10 belong to

  belong to the same whole. Reference 34 designates a plate-

  support intended to fix photoelectric detectors 35.1 to 35.5 whose function will be explained below in connection with the

  positioning of the needle printer head unit 36.

  This unit is essentially composed of a carriage 37 which is slidably mounted on guide bars 38 fixed in lateral supports 39 integral with the chassis, and a matrix printer head, for example a needle printer head 40 of classic type, which is mounted on the carriage 37 with the possibility of height adjustment. The carriage 37 of

  the needle printer head, whose displacement is uniform

  dimensional, due to the mounting means 38, 39, is controlled by a toothed belt drive

  41 which includes a toothed belt 41 ′, a pulley for reinforcement

  voi 41 "and a control motor 42, in particular a stepping motor, on the end of the output shaft from which is mounted a toothed belt pulley 421. The carriage 37 can be brought

  in different positions determined in the region of the li-

  genes of documents 1 to 4 by selective excitation of the stepping motor 42. A positioning bar 37 ′ carried by the carriage 37, which is intended to engage in the notches

  photoelectric sensors 35.1 to 35.5 guarantees the posi-

  correct operation of the carriage in relation to the documents to be printed. Immediately below the needle holder 40 ′ of the print head 40 passes an inked ribbon 43 which is extracted

  of a cassette 44 and rewound in this cassette, at the rhythm

  me of the inscription of the characters, with guidance on return rollers 45. The line of functional elements 10 also includes photoelectric detector elements 47.1 to 47.3 and 48, produced in the form of emitting members

  and receivers and intended to monitor the presence of documents

  elements awaiting ejection which reach the e-

  attach to document lines 1 to 3.

  Downstream of the line of functional elements 10, in the working direction, there is on the one hand, a cutting device 49 comprising a blade 49 'and an electromagnet 49 "for driving the blade, as well as 'a return roller 50 used to return the 14 "strip of paper which unwinds from the

  supply coil 14 and is wound on a return coil

age 51.

  To explain the operating mode of the machine, built according to the invention and shown diagrammatically

  in Fig. 1, we will start from document line 3, on the-

  which unit with needle printer head 36 mobile in

  transverse translation is assumed to be placed on the drawing.

  The operating phases are programmed in a micro-

  processor not shown and are triggered or called

  as required by typing a keyboard also not

  present. Operations and indications are made visible

  to the extent necessary on an analog display

logic.

  It should also be noted that FIG. 1 my-

  tre, with regard to the combination of strips 13 ′, 13 ", the position in which the cutting device 49 is cutting from the strip a coupon 52 already printed and representing a title. As soon as the coupon 52 is separated of the

  13 '/ 13' strip combination this combination is slackened

  reversing under the effect of the pair of feed rollers.

  23, over a distance determined by the photoelectric detector

  head edge stick 47.3 / 48 or by a photoelectric detector device 54 which responds to lateral perforations

  53 of the carrier strip 14 '. The position of the leading edge thus

  if established constitutes the starting position for printing values on the document line 3. It goes without saying that, in this operation, the needle printer head unit 36 is positioned correctly with respect to the combination

  of 13 '/ 13 "tapes, which is verified by the detection means

  photoelectric sensors 35.3 carried by the support plate 34

  and by the corresponding positioning bar 37 'carrying

  ted by the carriage 36 of the printer head.

  After entering specific title data

  to the category in the machine keyboard that was men-

  mentioned above, the needle printer head 40 begins

  printing characters. During this operation, the molds

  necessary transverse clothing for the print head unit

  te 36 are controlled by the stepper motor 42, itself

  controlled by the processor, via the trans-

  toothed belt mission 41. Printing starts at the head of the title. Line spacing is caused by

  the advance motor 28 of the pair of advance rollers 23.

  When the title to be produced is fully printed, the

  13 '/ 13 "strip pairing is again pushed into the po-

  sition shown in FIG. 1, the header coupon 52 is cut and delivered. A further decline in the combination of

  13 '/ 13 "bands restore the standby position.

  In document line 3, in addition to the

  advance photoelectric detector 54, a photoelectric detector

  warning and indication of exhaustion block 55 which signals first of all the approach of the tail end of the 13 '/ 13 "strip combination and, finally, in the event of failure to introduce a new one supply coil 13, blocks

at least line of documents 3.

  After the execution of the printing operation for the aforementioned title, the printer head unit 36 contained in the document line 4 is controlled to print on the tape

  of paper 14 'an indication programmed in the processor.

  This print may include, for example an indication

  on the type of title issued and its price, and also,

  possibly, indications on the quantities debited,

  either mentioned individually or totaled,

  aunties collected, etc. The tape and printer feeds in principle are the same as described

  above about line of documents 3, and under the ac-

  tion of motors 42 and 31 controlled by the processor. After

  execution of the printing operation on the document line

  ments 4, the printer head unit 36 returns to the position

  departure line indicated in line 3, except in the presence of an ap-

  pel for another line of documents.

  The approach of the tail end of the paper strip 14 'is signaled by a depletion indicator switch 56. Since the exhaustion of the reel 14 does not

  obstacle to the issue of documents, it is not necessary

  Note that this exhaustion leads to the simultaneous blocking of the machine. However, in this case, this exhaustion can lead to

  loss of valuable information for accounting

  tion and statistics so that in these cases it can

  it is desirable to provide here also a blocking of the function

  operation. On document line 3, you can call outside

  of the aforementioned issue of securities, a printing operation

  accounting and tabulation, which provides statistical data. The operating mode of the two document lines 1 and 2 can be explained simultaneously since the two card hoppers 11 and 12 receive, in principle, analogous starting materials for processing and working,

  such as, for example, cardboard about 0.4 to 0.6 mm thick

  thick but with different shapes and different shapes-

  mats. The card hoppers of the species usable in the machines according to the invention are known in different forms of construction. A card hopper of this type is

  shown in slightly enlarged form in Fig. 2.

  Inside a receiving volume delimited by frame elements 60, cut cards 61 are stacked having a configuration which adjusts with a moderate lateral clearance in this volume. The lower extreme card 61 ′ is supported on a table composed of two pieces 62.1 and 62.2. The stack of cards 61 is loaded by a ballast plate 63 serving to ensure that the cards are properly applied flat against each other. In the direction of card ejection, the walls 60 'are offset relative to the bearing surface

  of a quantity a which corresponds approximately to 1.5 times the e-

  thickness of cards. In the case of 0.4 mm thick cards - -

  sor, this dimension is 0.6 mm. The part of the table designated there by reference 62.1 is a large part of

  the armature 64 of an electromagnet which is guided on the

  ter 66 and the hopper by means of guide bars 65 in such a way that the part 62.1 of the table can slide in the direction of ejection of the cards in the plane of the part

  62.2 of the table which is integral with the hopper casing.

  The armature 64 of the electromagnet carries, in an orientation

  tion parallel to the guide bars 65 an electromagnet plunger core 67 which, when a coil 68 is excited, is drawn into the cavity of this coil. When the coil 68 is not excited, a compression spring 69

  keeps the moving part 62.1 of the table in a posi-

  rest position in which an abutment plate 70 mounted on the bearing surface of the movable part of the table is practically outside the stacking volume. The thickness of the abutment sheet 70 corresponds to the thickness of the card 61 '. Under the effect of the excitation of the coil 68, the plunger core 67 is drawn inside the coil and, under this effect, the lower end card 61 'is ejected from the stack 61 by the stopper rod 70 through a slot 71

(Fig. 1 and 2).

  The stroke of this card ejection is defined by the maximum insertion depth of the plunger core 67 in the reel 68 and it is at least sufficiently large for the head edge of the card 61 'to reach the

  attack zone of the corresponding pair of feed rollers

  dante 15 or 17 (Fig.l). Switches 72, 73 for monitoring

  launches the hopper filling state provided for the

  and the indication of exhaustion, are intended to cause the relining of the card hoppers 11, 12 or,

  in the event of the exhaustion of a hopper of cards,

  quer the corresponding document line 1 or 2 respectively-

  is lying. It should be noted in this regard that Figs. 1 and 2 show different mounting possibilities for the above-mentioned level 72 and 73 monitoring switches

* on the body of the hoppers.

  The activation of the coil 68 (Fig. 2) and that of the motor 22 for advancing the cards (Fig. 1) by the computer takes place practically at the same time. However, since only the reel 68 provided in the chosen card hopper 11 or 12 responds, the pair of feed rollers 15 or 17 which rotate at the same time only draws a card by

  the hopper which has been activated to push it towards the

  under the corresponding pressing element 32.1 or 32.2. At the same time, the printer head unit 36 is placed in the region of the document line 1 or 2 which is put into action, its final position being fixed with precision by the photoelectric detectors 35.1 or 35.2 carried by the plate d 'support 34 and by the positioning bar 37' carried by the carriage 37. The movement of the card towards the printing region is stopped by the photoelectric detector elements 47.1 or 47.2 and 48 which, meanwhile, have also been placed in alignment with each other. After the

  subsequent positioning for printing, the print head

  needle mantis 40 can start printing

  card zion, the character-by-character advance here also being controlled by the motor 42 and the line advance

by the motor 22.

  After the completion of the printing operation on the card, the printer head unit 36 is immediately brought to the document line 4 to proceed in this line to the recording of additional statistical data.

  which is desired for security reasons, similarly

  Less than the one described in detail above about

  of document line 3. At the same time,

  issuing the card through the card slot

vrance 5.

  As already described above after the execution of the printing operation in document line 4,

2 4 6 8 1 6 6

  the printer head unit 36 returns to its starting position shown in Fig.l, unless a call occurs

for another line of documents.

  It goes without saying that, even if the description

  given above, for the sake of simplicity, only mentions

  individual elements, a whole complex of operations takes place.

  verification and selection, operations which are carried out or controlled by the microprocessor or computer already mentioned but not explained. The machine includes, apart

  aforementioned positioning means presented in the form

  me of photoelectric detectors and limit switches, other limit switches and presence sensors which are essential, neither for the principle of the invention, nor for the explanation of the working phases. However, it should be noted that a reverse command is applied to the printer head unit 36, in its movement towards the

  left in Fig. 1 as a result of the commitment of the bar-

  positioning rette 37 'carried by the carriage 37 in the

  35.5 photoelectric detector beam carried by the plate

  that support 34, which causes the return of the head unit im-

  primante 36 to its starting position on line of documents 3.

Claims (5)

R E V E N D I C A T I 0 N S   1 - Printing, delivery and recording machine   highly accountable for banknotes and securities including a   any number of reserve means (11, 12, 13, 14) intended to receive the starting material (11 ', 12', 13 ', 14') from the bil-   lets, values and recording medium and a cer-   any number of feeders (15, 17, 23, 29) placed   downstream of the reserve means and used to transport the   your starting materials has% a post in which, on the subject-   starting date of tickets, securities, and / or recording medium   very, is affixed, individually for each line of   treatment, an impression characterized in that each li-   treatment gene (1 to 4) comprises at least one device for   limitation of the advance (47.1 to 47.3, 48, 54) intended for posi-   correctly operating a reference mark of the starting material to be printed, in order to define a printing region, and in that, with all the processing lines (1 to 4) is associated a printing unit (36), common to all   lines, able to move by linear translation trans-   versal, whose starting position relative to the material   starting point to be printed is defined by means of position-   transverse (35.1 to 35.4, 37 ') and selectively determined   by a control motor (42).   2 - Machine according to claim 1, in which the reserve means are selectively presented in forms suitable for receiving cardboard coupons (11 ', 12t) or a strip material (13', 14 '), characterized in that the reserve means (II, 12) provided for receiving the   cardboard coupons consist of hoppers for the em-   card stack, which include guide frames (60) (Fig. 2) used to center the cards in the stacking position,   and in that the processing lines (3) which process the ma-   strip (13 ', 13 ") have on the delivery side a cutting device (49) for cutting coupons (52) in the strip material.   3 - Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an accounting recording line   associated with several treatment lines (1 to 3) and intended   born to record specific sales data. 4 - Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that each processing line (1 to 4) is provided with means (55, 56, 72, 73) intended to signal the exhaustion of   the reserve of the starting material treated in this line.   5 - Machine according to claim 1, characterized -   in that the printing unit (36) comprises a printing head   matrix mantle (40) which is mounted on a carriage (37) which   driven by transverse guide bars (38) and can be brought in via a toothed belt transmission (41, 41 ') and under the action of a control motor   (42, 42 ') in determined transverse positions se-   lectively in relation to the processing lines (1 to 4).