FR2792571A1 - Automatic setting of a manual labelling machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The automatic setting unit (100) has a structure to accept a manual labelling machine, and electromechanical actuators (M1,M2,M3) to temporarily couple with and drive the selection wheels of the labelling machine. A processing unit (MC) controls the electromechanical units.

Description

- 1 - "Device and method for automatically adjusting a labeling machine

  manual, print head and label maker, and associated control system and method "

DESCRIPTION

  The present invention relates to a device and method for automatically adjusting a manual labeling machine. It also relates to a suitable printing head and labeling machine, as well as a system and a method for

associated command.

  Manual labeling machines are very

  widespread in the retail sector.

  Some of them are provided with removable printheads comprising one or more sets of printing ribbons and adjustment knobs which provide, simultaneously, in rotation, a selection of a character to be printed from a plurality of characters available and, in translation, a selection of a row concerned by the adjustment from a plurality of rows. Other manual labellers are provided

irremovable print heads.

  Each time the data to be printed on the labels is changed, the operator of a manual labeling machine must manipulate the knobs to set the print head in an appropriate configuration. These manipulations are tedious, contribute to limiting the labeling rates and induce significant risks.

printing error.

  The object of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a device for automatically adjusting a manual labeling machine, which allows a significant reduction in adjustment times, while not requiring substantial modification of this labeling machine. - 2 This objective is achieved with a device for automatically adjusting a manual labeling machine provided with a printing head comprising (i) at least one set of printing ribbons each comprising a plurality of printing characters arranged in rows, and

  (ii) means for selecting rank and character.

  According to the invention, this automatic adjustment device comprises means for receiving a manual labeling machine, electromechanical adjustment means arranged to drive by means of temporary coupling the means for selecting rank and character arranged within the print head, and means for

  order these electromechanical adjustment means.

  With such an adjustment device, it becomes possible to provide adjustment of a manual labeling machine without substantial modification of the structure of the latter. In a first embodiment provided for the adjustment of a suitable print head comprising a row selection axis and at least one character selection axis, the electromechanical adjustment means comprise a motorized axis for the planned row adjustment for driving by temporary coupling the axis for selecting the row of said print head, and at least a first and a second motorized axis for adjusting the print characters provided for driving by temporary coupling respectively at least the first and second character selection axes of said

printhead.

  In a second embodiment provided for the automatic adjustment of a labeling machine provided with a print head comprising at least one axis of selection of rank and of character which can be actuated both in rotation and in translation and provided with a wheel selection, the 3 - automatic adjustment device comprises fixed means for receiving the labeling machine, mobile adjustment means comprising means for receiving the selection wheel (s), means for temporarily coupling the wheel (s) selection with electromechanical drive means arranged to produce a predetermined rotation of each axis of selection of rank and character, and means for carrying out an adjustable translation of the mobile adjustment means relative to the fixed means for receiving the labeling machine. One can also provide an automatic adjustment device according to the invention which further comprises means for directly entering print requests, and means for processing these print requests in cooperation with data storage means, in view to control the electromechanical adjustment means. Such an automatic adjustment device is particularly suitable for small distribution areas which are not equipped with a radio communication system. The automatic adjustment device then constitutes autonomous equipment which can, if necessary, be periodically reloaded with marking and printing data and parameters from a remote central site, for example via a telecommunication line or

  via a digital network such as the Internet.

  According to another aspect of the invention, a method is proposed for automatically adjusting a manual labeling machine provided with a printing head according to the invention, implemented in an automatic adjustment device according to the invention, characterized in that that it comprises a step for receiving print data, a step for processing this print data, a step for detecting a coupling between a print head - 4- to be adjusted and the automatic adjustment device, and a step for controlling electromechanical adjustment means so as to adjust said printhead according to

received print data.

  This automatic adjustment method further comprises an initialization sequence provided for angularly positioning the row and character adjustment axes in a calculated initial position, as well as a sequence for optimizing the control of the drive motors of

  so as to minimize the overall adjustment time.

  According to yet another aspect of the invention, a print head is proposed for a manual labeling machine, comprising, within a housing, at least one set of printing ribbons each comprising a plurality of printing characters and arranged to be driven independently of each other, means for selecting in drive a ribbon from the plurality of ribbons, and means for selecting from a previously selected ribbon a character from the plurality

print characters.

  This print head is characterized in that the row selection means and the character selection means comprise means for making a temporary mechanical coupling with electromechanical adjustment means external to said manual labeling machine. Thus, the complete adjustment of the print head can be carried out without it being necessary to provide inside the manual labeler additional electromechanical equipment, which makes it possible to achieve the objective of reducing the durations adjustment

  without weighing down or weakening the label maker.

  It should be noted that a print head according to the invention can advantageously be produced by modification of an existing standard print head or

  be designed specifically, according to the technical context of implementation.

  In a first version of the invention corresponding to the use of a removable print head designed specifically for automatic adjustment, the row selection means and the character selection means comprise a row selection axis and at minus a character selection axis, these selection axes extending outside the housing and

  being provided at their end with coupling parts.

  In a second version of the invention corresponding to the use of a removable or irremovable standard print head comprising at least one row and character selection axis comprising at its end a selection wheel, this selection wheel is

  inserted in a suitable coupling part.

  In a particular embodiment of the invention, the print head further comprises a connecting piece arranged to link the respective axial displacements of said character selection axes to the axial displacement of said row selection axis. These character selection axes and the row selection axis are preferably substantially parallel, to allow easy coupling of the print head with the

automatic adjustment device.

  In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the row selection axis comprises a screw having a first end provided with a coupling piece and a second end included in the housing. In addition, it is generally expected that

  coupling parts are substantially aligned.

  - 6 - According to yet another aspect of the invention, a system is also proposed for controlling one or more automatic adjustment devices according to the invention, comprising at a central site: - means for receiving adjustment requests sent by reading equipment, in particular optical bar code reading equipment, - means for processing these requests and supplying data intended for printing, and - means for transmitting this data to be printed to a recipient automatic adjustment device. In practice, the processing means cooperate with at least one database belonging to the IT resources of the distribution or storage center.

  in which this control system is implemented.

  It is also advantageously possible to provide that the control system according to the invention also comprises means for downloading into a device for automatic adjustment a group of print data corresponding to a group of separate articles to be labeled. The optical reading equipment can then be directly connected to the adjustment devices

  automatic, over the air, infrared or wired.

  According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method is proposed for controlling one or more automatic adjustment devices according to the invention, implemented in the control system according to the invention, this method comprising: - a reception of '' an adjustment request sent by a reading device, in particular an optical bar code reading device,

--7 -

  - processing of this request in order to generate print data, and - transmission of this print data to a

  automatic recipient adjustment device.

  The adjustment request preferably includes information identifying the adjustment device

automatic recipient.

  This control method can also advantageously comprise a download sequence for transferring a group of print data to an automatic adjustment device, and steps for direct transfer of adjustment requests from a processing equipment.

  optical reading towards this automatic adjustment device.

  Other features and advantages of the invention

  will appear further in the description below. To the

  attached drawings given by way of nonlimiting examples: - Figure 1 is an overview of a manual labeller equipped with a removable print head according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a view of a removable print head according to the invention; - Figure 2A shows an example of a label treated with a print head according to the invention; - Figure 3 is a partial exploded view of the coupling system of a removable print head according to the invention; - Figure 3A shows a sectional view of a row selection axis provided with a holding device; - Figure 4 is an overall diagram of a first embodiment of an automatic adjustment device according to the invention, suitable for the adjustment of labelers equipped with removable print heads according to the invention; - 8 - - Figure 5 is a simplified overview of an automatic adjustment device according to the invention; - Figure 6 is a block diagram of a control system according to the invention; - Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating the main steps of adjustment in the context of the adjustment method according to the invention; - Figure 8A is a side sectional view of a second embodiment of an automatic adjustment device according to the invention, suitable for the adjustment of labelers equipped with irremovable print heads; - Figure 8B is a top view of the second embodiment shown in Figure 8A; and - Figure 9 illustrates a particular arrangement of automatic adjustment devices according to the invention allowing collective charging of these devices

automatic adjustment.

  We will first describe an embodiment of a removable print head 1 according to the invention and its implementation in a manual labeler 10, in

  reference to Figures 1 and 2. This first description

  is part of the application of the present invention to the adjustment of manual labellers equipped with removable print heads modified or designed

  specifically for automatic adjustment.

  A manual labeller 10 of this type comprises a housing 11 comprising in its upper part a cover part 12 pivoting about an axis 16 above a

  housing for receiving a print head 1.

  The manual labeling machine 10 is provided with a handle 13 comprising a control trigger 14, the actuation of which causes, in a first phase, a displacement of the printing head 1 along a ramp (not shown) - 9 - inside the housing until the active end of the print head 1 is near the label tape coming from a roll 4 placed in the

  back of the manual labeller housing 10.

  A second phase in the actuation of the control trigger 14 causes a percussion of the active end of the print head 1 against the label ribbon, then the displacement of this ribbon and the expulsion of the printed label with separation of the silicone support at the front of the manual labeling machine at a group of

output castors 15.

  A print head 1 according to the invention comprises a housing 3 of substantially trapezoidal shape comprising: - a lower face (not shown) provided with elements for fixing to a movable plate within the housing of the movable labeler 10, - a perforated front face 11 through which extend two printing blocks B1, B2 each consisting of inked printing characters selected from printing characters within a set of printing ribbons Ri, - one face perforated rear (not shown) arranged to visually access two display blocks identically representing the two printing blocks B1, B2, - two optionally perforated side faces 12, 13, and - an upper face 17 provided with a selection mechanism 2 for selecting two sets of

  data to be printed.

  The print head 1 contains two sets of ribbons Rli, R2i in rings corresponding respectively to the upper data area D1 and to the lower area - 10- D2 of the labels E to be printed, with reference to FIG. 2A. Each ribbon set Rli, R2i comprises twelve ribbons each comprising on its outer face twelve inked printing characters and fourteen non-inked display characters arranged so that when a selected printing character for a given row is in the printing block, the identical display character is in the block

of the same rank.

  Within each ribbon set, each ribbon can be operated independently of the other ribbons when its corresponding rank is selected by the

selection 2.

  This selection mechanism 2 comprises, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, a first and a second character selection axis 22, 23 and a rank selection axis 21 located between these two character selection axes 22,

  23, these three selection axes 21-23 being parallel.

  A movable connecting piece 24 secures the axial movement of the two character selection axes 22, 23 and of the row selection axis 21. This movable connecting piece 24 has three circular holes 241, 242, 243 comprising a central hole 241 through which the row selection axis 21 passes, and on either side of this central hole 214, two lateral holes 242, 243 each receiving a character selection axis 22, 23. The two selection axes of character 22, 23 and the row selection axis 21 are all provided at their upper end extending above the movable connecting piece 24 with a coupling piece 211, 221 of the female type comprising two lateral fingers 211a, 211b; 221a, 221b extending parallel to the selection axes of

character and rank 21-23.

- 11 -

  The central row selection axis 21 comprises a playless screw 210 at the upper end of which is fixed the central coupling piece 211 and the lower end of which is located inside the housing 3 of the head d impression 1. In the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the row selection axis 21 is further provided with a threaded fixing piece 215 inserted in a hole made on the upper face 17 of the housing 3 of the print head 1 and provided in its lower part with a nut (not shown). A spring 219 is disposed between a washer 214 placed at the upper end of the playless screw 210 and the underside of the movable connecting piece 24. The central coupling piece 211 is fixed to a rod 218 constituting an upper part unthreaded screw

  without play 210 by means of a pin 217.

  Each character selection axis 22, 23 consists of a rod 220 whose upper end provided with a hexagonal head 223 is connected to a coupling part 221 and whose lower end is connected to a selection member (not shown) designed to allow the drive, by rotation of the part

  of coupling, of the ribbon whose rank has been selected.

  Each coupling piece 221 is produced from a cylindrical piece designed to present two lateral fingers 221a, 221b and is fixed to the head 223 of the selection rod 220 by a central screw 225. Each rod 220 can also be provided with a spring 226 disposed between the underside of the connecting piece 24 and an indexing piece 227 fixed to the selection rod 220. These springs 219, 229 arranged on the selection rods have the function of making up for the clearances inevitably present in the print head and in the coupling between the adjusting devices

- 12 -

  automatic and the print head which is not always

  rigidly fixed within the label maker.

  To take into account the relatively large shocks undergone by the printhead during product marking operations, and which may have the unintended effect of causing a rotation movement of the row selection axis, it is advantageously possible to provide an axis holding device as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3A. This holding device 300 comprises two flexible strips 310a, 310b, made for example of copper or other suitable material, fixed to a support piece 330 secured to the connecting piece 24 and in permanent elastic support against two flat faces 210a, 210b substantially parallels provided on a determined portion of the screw 210 without play in the immediate vicinity of the connecting piece 24. The pressure forces exerted by the flexible strips 310a, 310b on the lateral faces 310a, 310b are in practice sufficient to prevent any untimely rotation of the row selection axis, without hampering the driving action of this axis of

selection for adjustment purposes.

  The rotation of the central screw 210 in one direction or the other causes an axial displacement of the movable connecting piece 24 and consequently an axial displacement of the two character selection axes 220, 230,

  allowing the selection of a given rank.

  A description will now be given, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, of a first embodiment of an automatic adjustment device 100 according to the invention, suitable for the automatic adjustment of manual labellers equipped with removable print heads modified from standard heads designed specifically for automatic adjustment. - 13- The automatic adjustment device 100 according to the invention comprises, within a housing 130, a system for guiding and receiving a manual labeling machine provided with a printing head 1 according to the invention in position returned, an electromechanical adjustment module, a control and command module MC, an autonomous electrical power supply module MA and an RF communication module. The automatic adjustment device 100

  is also equipped with a radio communication antenna

  AN electrical outlet, an electrical outlet PA and a cable connection connector CS, for example of the type

serial link.

  The power supply socket can for example comprise a terminal P1 for external supply by a DC voltage generator (12 Volt) and a terminal P2

  for connection to battery charging equipment.

  The automatic adjustment device 100 can also comprise, for example on its upper face, a BZ transducer of the "buzzer" type and an EL display device intended for example to indicate the actual presence of a labeling machine connected to the adjustment device. automatic 100, to indicate that automatic adjustment is in progress, to indicate that automatic adjustment is complete and the label maker can be removed from automatic adjustment device 100, and to indicate that reception of data from the site central is underway. This display device can also be used to indicate possible malfunctions (for example, blocking of an engine) and

remedies to bring.

  The electromechanical adjustment module 120 comprises a plate 150 on which is disposed a piece 110 supporting three adjustment axes 310, 320, 330 each provided with a coupling piece 31, 32, 33 of the male type

- 14 -

  having at its end two parallel flats with a geometry adapted to allow coupling with the female coupling part 211, 221, 231 of an axis of

  selection 21, 22, 23 of a print head 1 to be adjusted.

  The central coupling part 31 contributes to the adjustment of selection of a row while the two lateral coupling parts 32, 33 each contribute to the adjustment of selection of a character in a given row of

  one of two sets of print data.

  The three adjustment axes 31, 32, 33, which are parallel and arranged so as to be in correspondence with the three parallel axes 21, 22, 23 of a print head 1, are each driven by a stepper motor.

not Mi, M2, M3.

  The mechanical connection between the central coupling part 31 and the associated adjusting adjustment stepping motor M1 comprises, starting from the central coupling part, a flexible bearing 311 inserted in the support part 110 and arranged to receive the central axis 310, an elastic coupling piece CE for connecting this central axis 310 to one end of the shaft Ai of the central stepping motor Ml, the other end of this shaft being mechanically connected to an optical angular encoder C12 and

to an index detector Cll.

  The mechanical connection between each lateral coupling part 320, 330 and the stepping motor M2, M3 associated therewith comprises a flexible bearing 321, 331 inserted in the support part 110, an optical angular encoder C2, C3, a universal joint J2, J3 connecting the coupling axis 320, 330 to one end of the shaft A2, A3 of the stepping motor M2, M3, a shaft which has, in the same horizontal plane as the shaft Ai of row adjustment stepper motor M1, deflection angle, for example

- 15 -

  about thirty degrees, relative to the axes

coupling 310, 320, 330.

  This arrangement with three non-parallel shafts was chosen to allow the three stepping motors Ml, M2, M3 to be located in the same horizontal plane. These three stepping motors, which provide in normal mode 200 steps per revolution, are supplied by power supply modules MA1, MA2, MA3 with known technology transistor from a power supply source and are controlled in closed loop by the MC control and command module which is designed around a

DALLAS type microcontroller.

  We will now describe, with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B, a second embodiment of an automatic adjustment device according to the invention, suitable for the automatic adjustment of labeling machines provided with heads.

  of irremovable or non-modifiable printing.

  The automatic adjustment device 800 comprises a fixed plate 802 supporting a part 804 designed to receive a manual labeling machine 80 provided with a print head 81 comprising two axes for character and row selection 842, 843 adjustable in rotation and in translation and each provided to actuate a set of printing ribbons, and a movable platen 801 provided to support equipment for electromechanical coupling and drive of the two character selection axes

and of rank 842, 843.

  This coupling and drive equipment comprises first and second stepper motors M22, M23 each driving via a shaft 82, 83 a coupling part 832, 833 intended to cooperate with a selection coupling part 822 , 823 comprising a recessed part intended to be inserted in the central recess - 16- of a thumb wheel 812, 813 placed at the end of a

  selection axis 842, 843 of the print head 81.

  The movable platen 801 comprises at its end close to the print head a retaining part 808 extending substantially perpendicularly to the movable platen 801 and intended to hold the knobs 812, 813 of the selection axes 842, 843 in abutment against its internal face so as to allow an axial displacement of these selection axes relative to the body of the head

80.

  It should be noted that many other coupling modes can be envisaged between the automatic adjustment device and the selection axes of the print head. In particular, provision can be made to completely replace a selection axis and its wheel with a new specific axis provided at its end with a suitable coupling part. You can also disassemble the wheel when possible and replace it with a

suitable coupling piece. This adapted coupling piece preferably comprises a groove for

  allow its blocking in the holding part 808 in order to transmit a translational movement to the selection axis, and an end shape adapted to transmit a rotational movement to said

selection axis.

  The movable plate 801 is arranged to be able to be moved in translation relative to the fixed plate 802, in a drawer mode, by means of a stepping motor M21 disposed on the fixed plate 802 and designed to drive a screw without play 806 engaged in a translation device 807 secured to the movable plate 801. Thus, a determined rotation of the stepping motor M21 produces a determined translation X (t) of the movable plate 801 thus causing an outward movement or reentry of the

- 17 -

  selection axes 842, 843 relative to the head body

  80, leading to a row adjustment.

  It should be noted that the wheels 812, 813 for adjusting the selection axes 842, 843 are in practice made of a relatively elastic material while the selection coupling parts 822, 822 provided for receiving these wheels in insertion are made in a

metallic material.

  Automatic adjustment devices of the two types which have just been described can be controlled remotely within an adjustment control system with

  distance according to the invention as shown in FIG. 6.

  The remote adjustment control system S according to the invention consists of a set of automatic adjustment devices 100 according to the invention which can be moved within a distribution or storage area, and, in a site central SC, a central communication module BR, information processing equipment UC accessing one or more databases BD and possibly connected to other computer resources or equipment. Associated with each automatic adjustment device is a TL portable radio laser reading terminal, of known technology, which ensures

  CB barcode reading and radio-

  high speed communication. This laser terminal is also generally provided with an RS232 connector allowing a cable connection to printing or configuration equipment or a direct serial link to an automatic adjustment device according to the invention. It should be noted that other types of reading terminals can be used in the context of the present invention, for example magnetic type reading terminals

  used in particular in storage enclosures.

- 18 -

  We will now describe an example of operation of an adjustment control system S and an automatic adjustment device 100 according to the invention, with reference

to the aforementioned figures.

  In a first step, an operator uses a TL laser reading terminal to read a barcode CB

  associated with a group of products to be labeled or marked.

  The data D (CB) associated with this bar code CB is transmitted by radio link to the central site SC and received by the central communication module BR. These data are then processed to obtain, after consulting a BD database, print data D (I) comprising for example, with reference to FIG. 2A: - an indication of price per liter and / or per kilo in Euros, - an indication of the price per liter and / or per kilo in Francs, - an indication of the unit price in Euros, and

  - an indication of unit price in Francs.

  These print data D (I) are transmitted, by radio link or, as the case may be, by wire link, to an automatic adjustment device 10 with which the laser reading terminal TL used by the operator is associated. The print data thus received by the local communication module RT of the automatic adjustment device 100 are processed by processing software installed within the microcontroller equipping this automatic adjustment device, to generate control data which are then used for the

  control of stepper motors ml, M2, M3.

  In the meantime, the operator has engaged his manual labeling machine 10 in the receiving housing 140 of the automatic adjustment device 100. When the coupling between the selection devices of the labeling machine 10 and the adjustment devices of the printing device automatic adjustment is correctly carried out, the stepping motors Ml, M2, M3 then come into action in order to carry out the appropriate adjustments with a view to obtaining in the printing blocks of the printing head 1 of the labeling machine 10

  print data configurations sought.

  We will now describe in more detail an example of internal operation of an automatic adjustment device 100 according to the invention, together with the main sequences provided in the control software.

  of this device, in particular with reference to FIG. 7.

  An initialization sequence provides a predetermined angular positioning of the adjustment axes, chosen for example so as to select predetermined characters on the ribbons of the print head. An optimal starting configuration consists in selecting a series of characters "6" due to the middle position

  of that character in the printing ribbons.

  When a set of print data D (I) is received from the control system, an optimization sequence is executed to determine the optimal controls for the three stepper motors. From the previous print data, the software performs, for each print block, a series of n (number of characters per block) settings. In particular, it determines for each row of each printing block, the displacement trajectories aimed at minimizing the

overall adjustment time.

  When all the adjustment operations are finished, an audible indication by buzzer and / or a specific display warns the operator that he can resume the manual labeler 10 which is now

  set for a new labeling sequence.

- 20 -

  The automatic adjustment devices according to the invention can be provided on their respectively lower and upper faces with electrical connection pads making it possible to simultaneously charge a stack of adjustment devices.

  automatic, as shown schematically in Figure 9.

  Thus, an automatic adjustment device 900 comprises on its upper face 940 equipped with a handle

  folding 920 of the upper connection pads BS +, BS-

  corresponding respectively to the positive and negative poles of the internal battery module, and on its underside

  950 of the lower connection pads BI +, BI-

  also corresponding respectively to the positive and negative poles, and connected respectively to the upper connection pads BS +, BS- and to external load terminals 930 arranged on a lateral face 910 of the

  automatic adjustment device 900.

  The respectively lower connection pads and

  heads of each adjustment device 900, 900 ', ...

  constituting a stack are arranged such that the upper studs of a first adjusting device 900 ′ are in electrical contact with the lower studs of the adjusting device 900 placed above this first adjusting device, and so on for the following other adjustment devices constituting the stack. It then suffices to connect only one of the stacked adjustment devices to an external charging device to ensure the charging of all of the adjustment devices. This particular arrangement allows both a minimization of the storage space of the automatic adjustment devices which can be in large number in a large distribution area and a limitation of the necessary number of charging equipment. Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described and numerous modifications can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, the number of print lines is not necessarily limited to two. It is thus possible to envisage an automatic adjustment of labelers provided

for a single print line.

  Furthermore, the adjustment or selection axes are not necessarily in the same plane and it is possible to conceive of other arrangements of its axes as a function of specific geometries of the print head. In addition, although the use of an existing manual labeling structure represents a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is however possible to design a manual labeling machine of specific design including a printhead according to the invention whose external and internal characteristics are not linked or compatible with an existing format and functionality. In addition, the present invention can also be implemented for the automatic adjustment of labeling machines provided with adjustment axes arranged laterally. - 22-

Claims (24)

  1. Device (100, 800) for automatically adjusting a manual labeling machine (10, 80) provided with a printing head (1, 81) comprising: (i) at least one set of printing ribbons each comprising a plurality of printing characters arranged in rows, and (ii) means for selecting a row and a character, characterized in that it comprises means (140, 804) for receiving this manual labeling machine (10, 80), means electromechanical adjustment (Ml, M2, M3; M21, M22, M23) arranged to drive by temporary coupling the rank and character selection means arranged within the print head (1), and means (MC) for   control said electromechanical adjustment means.   2. Device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises means (RF) for communicating with a central site (SC) remote in order to   receive print data (D (I)).   3. Device (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the control means (MC) comprise control and processing means arranged in particular to process the print data (D (I)) received and to control the electromechanical adjustment means (Ml, M2, M3).   4. Device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3,   provided for adjusting a suitable print head (10) comprising a row selection axis (21) and at least one character selection axis (22, 23), characterized in that the electromechanical adjustment means comprise a motorized axis (31) for the row adjustment provided for - 23drive by temporary coupling the row selection axis (21) of said print head (1), and at least one motorized axis (32, 33) for the print character setting provided for by temporarily coupling the selection axis (s) respectively   character (22, 23) of said print head (1).   5. Device (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that the said motorized axis (s) (31, 32, 33) are driven by electric drive motors (Ml,   M2, M3), for example stepper type motors.   6. Device (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that the drive motors (Ml, M2, M3) are provided with angular position encoders (Cll, C12; C2, C3).   7. Device (100) according to one of claims 5 or 6,   in which the row adjustment axis (31) and the character adjustment axes (32, 33) are substantially parallel and at a short distance from each other, characterized in that it further comprises means (CE, J2, J3) for mechanically connecting said adjustment axes (31, 32, 33) to the shafts (Ai, A2, A3) of their respective drive motors (Ml, M2, M3), arranged to allow an arrangement non-aligned of said drive motors (Ml, M2, M3).   8. Device (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that the mechanical connection means comprise, at least one of said adjustment axes (32, 33), a cardan type connection (J2, J3) for mechanically connecting this adjustment axis (32, 33) to a shaft (A2, A3) of a motor training (M2, M3). - 24 -   9. Device (800) according to one of claims 1 to 3,   for the automatic adjustment of a labeling machine (80) provided with a printing head (81) comprising at least one axis for selection of rank and character (842, 843) operable both in rotation and in translation, characterized in that it comprises fixed means (804) for receiving the labeling machine (80), mobile adjustment means comprising means (808) for receiving the selection wheel (s) (812, 813), means (832 , 833) for temporarily coupling said one or more axes for selecting rank and character (842, 843) with electromechanical drive means (M22, M23) arranged to produce a predetermined rotation of each axis for selecting row and of character (842, 843), and means (M21, 806, 807) for carrying out an adjustable translation (X (t)) of the movable means of adjustment with respect   to the fixed means (804) for receiving the label maker (80).   10. Device (800) according to claim 9, characterized in that the adjustable translation means comprise a motor (M21) driving a screw mechanism without play (806) engaged in a translation part (807) secured to a plate mobile (801) supporting the means mobile adjustment.   11. Device (800) according to one of claims 9 or   , used for the automatic adjustment of a labeling machine equipped with a print head comprising selection wheels (812, 813) at the respective ends of the character and row selection axes, characterized in that said one or more selection dials (812, 813) are previously provided with parts   selection coupling (822, 823). - 25 -   12. Device according to any one of claims   above, characterized in that it further comprises means for directly entering print requests, and means for processing these print requests in cooperation with data storage means, with a view to   to control the electromechanical adjustment means.   13. Method for automatically adjusting a manual labeling machine (10, 80) provided with a printing head (1, 81) comprising at least one set of printing ribbons each comprising a plurality of characters arranged in rows, implemented in an automatic adjustment device (100, 800) according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that   comprises a step for receiving print data (D (I)), a step for processing this print data (D (I)), a step for detecting a coupling between a print head (1, 81) to be adjusted and the automatic adjustment device (100, 800), and a step for controlling electromechanical adjustment means (M1, M2, M3; M21, M22, M23) so as to adjust said print head (1) according to received print data (D (I)).   14. The method of claim 13, implemented in an automatic adjustment device (100, 800) according to   any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in   which it further comprises an initialization sequence intended to angularly position the axes for adjusting the rank and character in an initial position previously calculated.   - 26- 15. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that it further comprises a sequence for optimizing the control of the drive motors (Ml, M2, M3; M21, M22,   M23) so as to minimize the overall adjustment time.   16. Printhead (1) designed to equip a manual labeling machine (10), comprising, within a housing (3), at least one set of printing ribbons (Ri) each comprising a plurality of characters d printing and arranged to be driven independently of each other, means for selecting in drive a ribbon from the plurality of ribbons, and means for selecting from a previously selected ribbon a character from the plurality of printing characters , characterized in that the rank selection means and the character selection means comprise means (21-23) for making a temporary mechanical coupling with electromechanical adjustment means external to said manual labeling machine (10) within an adjustment device   automatic according to any one of claims 4 to   8. 17. print head (1) according to claim 16, characterized in that the row selection means and the character selection means comprise a row selection axis (21) and at least a first axis of   character selection (22, 23), this selection axis (21-   23) extending outside the housing (3) and being provided at its end with a coupling part (211, 221, 231).   18. Print head (1) according to claim 17, characterized in that it further comprises a piece of - 27 -   link (24) arranged to link the respective axial displacements of said character selection axis or axes (22, 23) to the axial displacement of said character selection axis row (21).   19. Print head (1) according to one of claims   17 or 18, characterized in that the row selection axis (21) comprises a screw (210) having a first   end provided with a coupling piece (211).   20. Print head (1) according to claim 19, characterized in that the screw (210) has a second   end included in the housing (3).   21. Print head (1) according to any one of   claims 16 to 20, characterized in that it is   designed to be a direct replacement for a standard print head type with manual adjustment wheel. 22. Manual labeling machine including a print head   integrated according to any one of claims 16 to   20. 23. System (S) for controlling one or more automatic adjustment devices (100, 800) according to any one   of claims 1 to 12, comprising a central site   (SC): - means (BR) for receiving adjustment requests (D (CB)) sent by reading equipment (TL) (CB), - means (UC) for processing these requests and providing data intended to be printed (D (I)), and - 28 -   - Means (BR) for transmitting this data to be printed to an automatic adjustment device (100) recipient. 24. Control system (S) according to claim 23, characterized in that the processing means (UC)   cooperate with at least one database (BD).   25. Control system (S) according to one of claims   23 or 24, characterized in that it further comprises means for downloading a group of print data to an automatic adjustment device (100, 800)   corresponding to a group of batches of articles to be labeled.   26. Control system according to one of claim 23 to, characterized in that the reading equipment is also directly connected to the automatic adjustment device, in particular by radio, infrared or wire. 27. Method for controlling one or more automatic adjustment devices (100, 800) according to any one of   claims 1 to 11, implemented in the   control (S) according to one of claims 23 to 26,   characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - reception of an adjustment request sent by a reading device (TL), - processing of this request with a view to generating print data (D (I) ), and - a transmission of this printing data (D (I)) to an automatic adjustment device (100) recipient. - 29- 28. Control method according to claim 27, characterized in that the adjustment request includes information identifying the adjustment device automatic recipient (100).   29. Control method according to one of claims 27   or 28, characterized in that it further comprises a download sequence for transferring a group of print data to an automatic adjustment device (100), and steps for the direct transfer of adjustment requests from a reading device optical (TL) to this automatic adjustment device (100).