GB2186844A

GB2186844A - Information recording devices

Info

Publication number: GB2186844A
Application number: GB08703792A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Burgess
Original assignee: Halo Retail Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Halo Retail Systems Ltd
Priority date: 1986-02-18
Filing date: 1987-02-18
Publication date: 1987-08-26
Anticipated expiration: 2007-02-18
Also published as: GB8703792D0; GB8604006D0; GB2186844B; EP0304519A1

Abstract

The device 10 comprises a printer 12 having dual printing heads 13 and 14 mounted one above and other on a carrier 15 so as to be moveable simultaneously in parallel spaced relationship as drive shaft 16 rotates. Print needles impinge through an ink-ribbon upon a document immovably held between a document platen 21 and a clamp-plate 22. The opening and closing of the clamp-plate 22 with respect to the platen 21 is controlled by a substantially cylindrical cam 26 rotatable by a solenoid (25) through lever 27 and linkage 28; the solenoid is activated when the inserted document passes in front of a document sensor 32 facing the document platen 21 through a gap (34) in the platen clamp-plate 22, Fig. 5. The device is particularly suited to the printing of identical information simultaneously on both parts (19,20) of a two-part betting slip (18) Fig. 1. <IMAGE>

Description

GB2186844A 1 SPECIFICATION Consequently, after the row of characters is

printed on the bottom margin portion of the Information recording devices top sheet, the betting slip is engaged by pinch-rollers of the device and is moved by This invention concerns information recording 70 the rollers until the bottom margin portion of devices, and more particularly but not exclu- the bottom sheet comes into line with the sively such devices for use in betting shops, head of the printer. Once this occurs, the bookmakers, turf accountants and like pre- same row of characters is printed on the bot mises, for permanently recording on betting tom margin of the bottom sheet. Thereafter tickets or slips introduced into the device any 75 the betting slip is released from the pinch desired information relating to bets taken. rollers and can be removed from the printer Conventional such recording devices com- whereafter the cashier detaches the two prise a housing containing a single head dot- sheets giving the bottom sheet to the cus matrix printer. Adjacent the printer, the hous- tomer on payment of the stake money and ing has an external opening allowing for the 80 keeping the top sheet.

insertion of a betting ticket or slip into the The known printing devices as aforesaid opening so that it comes into register with the have several disadvantages.

printer. Such recording devices are intended to Firstly, they are comparatively slow in pro take betting tickets or slips usually having at cessing the betting slip so that it has on it the least two sheets detachable from one another. 85 desired printed information. The head of the Typically the sheets are secured to each other printer takes about two seconds to print a (e.g. by an adhesive) at or adjacent their re- single row of characters and to return to its spective top margins so that they lie one on starting position in order to print the other top of the other and with the bottom margin row of characters. It also takes a small portion of the bottom sheet extending below 90 amount of time for the betting slip to be en the bottom margin portion of the top sheet. gaged and advanced by the pinch-rollers be The top sheet is blocked-off into printed sec- fore the other row of characters can be tions and the bottom sheet is blank and self- printed.

carboning. The top sheet is for retention by In all it may take from six to ten seconds the betting shop and the bottom sheet is the 95 for the betting slip to be processed by the customers copy. device so that it has printed on it all the de In premises such as betting shops, book- sired information. This may not seem long but makers and turf accountants, the betting slips it can be too long when the cashier is trying are held in appropriate dispensers distributed the serve a queue of people trying to place throughout the premises. Persons coming into 100 their bets before the start of a particular the premises to place a bet e.g. on a horse event. If the cashier is impatient, the betting race, each take a betting slip or slips from slip can be torn in the device if it is pulled out one of the dispensors. In some of the printed before it is released by the pinch-rollers.

sections on the top sheet of the betting slip Secondly, if the betting slip is not properly they write details of their bet, these details 105 engaged by the pinch- rollers it can slip there being automatically copied on the bottom between so that it is not properly aligned with sheet due to the fact that it is self-carboning. the head of the printer and thereby misprinted The completed betting slip is then taken to a or otherwise spoilt. This would slo down the cashier who places the betting slip bottom processing of betting tickets by the cashier. It margins end first into the appropriate opening 110 can also lead to fraud on the part of the cash of a conventional recording device located ier.

conveniently on or adjacent the till. It is an object of the present invention to The betting slip is inserted into the opening provide an information recording device which of the recording device so that the bottom does not have the disadvantages of the margin portion of the top sheet comes into 115 known devices.

line with the single head dot-raster matrix With this object in view the present inven printer. The printer is connected to a micro- tion provides an information recording device, processor memory of the device, said memory for recording information on documents, com containing any desired information such as the prising an housing having an opening for the precise time of the bet, cashiers reference 120 insertion of documents and containing printing number etc. Automatically, the printer moves means having a plurality of associated printing in a linear fashion to print information in the heads moveable in simultaneous parallel rela form of a row of characters across the bot- tionship, a document sensor within the open tom margin portion of the betting slip. These ing, document retention means for the station 66 characters are carboned onto the bottom 125 ary retention of documents inserted within the sheet at the same time. However, for security opening so that the printing heads can im reasons (e.g. prevention of fraud) the identical pinge on the documents, and actuation means row of characters must be printed directly on for the document retention means operative the bottom margin portion of the bottom on actuation of the document sensor.

sheet. 130 With the device of the present invention 2 GB2186844A 2 there is no need to employ pinch rollers to ments in a stationary fashion closely adjacent take up the inserted document so that it can the printing heads 13, 14 so that the docu be moved to ensure full use of the printing ments can be impinged upon by the latter. As heads. will be appreciated, the document retention Furthermore, the movement of the printing 70 means is disposed within the opening 17 of heads in simultaneous parallel relationship en- the housing 11 and comprises a document sures fast and accurate printing of two or platen 21 and a moveable platen clamp-plate more lines of parallel print, of either identical 22.

or non-identical information, on the inserted The platen clamp-plate 22 is hinged on a document which considerably reduces docu- 75 spindle 23 at its end remote from the docu ment processing time as compared to known ment platel 21 by means of, for example, devices. screws 24.

The invention will be described further, by Movement of the platen clampplate 22 on way of example, with reference to the accom- its hinged axis i.e. about spindle 23, from its panying drawings in which:- 80 open position as shown in Fig. 3 to its closed Figure 1 is a schematic view of a typical position as shown in Fig. 4, is effected by form of document for use with the information actuation means which consists of a solenoid recording device of the invention; 25 and a substantially cylindrical cam 26 Figure 2 is a simplified perspective view of which is mounted in an axially off-set manner part of a preferred embodiment of the infor 85 on a cam operating lever 27 which in turn is mation recording device of the invention hinged in a secure fashion to a cam operating showing how the document of Fig. 1 is in- linkage 28. The solenoid 25 has a moveable serted into its housing through an opening core 29 to the exposed end of which is pivo therein; tally mounted the cam operating linkage 28.

Figure 3 is a detailed side elevation of the 90 The core 29 has a return spring 30.

preferred embodiment of Fig. 1 with its hous- The cylindrical cam 26 has a longitudinally ing removed; extending flat portion 31 against which the Figure 4 is an unobstructed enlarged view platen clamp-plate 22 rests when in its open of part of the side elevation of Fig. 3; position as shown in outline in Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is an end elevation of the preferred 95 A document sensor 32 is mounted on an L embodiment of Figs. 2 to 4 with the housing shaped mounting plate 33 which is attached shown in Fig. 2 removed; and to the side of the solenoid 25. The document Figure 6 is a plan view of that part of the sensor 32 is a reflective infra-red sensor and preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 4. it faces the document platen 21 through a gap The essential features of the preferred em- 100 34 in the platen clamp- plate 22.

bodiment of the information recording device The preferred embodiment of the informa will now be described primarily with reference tion recording device of the invention will be to Figs. 2 to 6. better understood from the following descrip The preferred information recording device tion of its operation.

10 comprises a substantially box-like housing 105 A document, in this case the betting slip 11 of, for example, sheet metal or extruded 18, is inserted into the opening 17 of the plastics, which housing can be secured to a housing 11 generally in the direction indicated cash register or till (not shown). by the arrow shown in Fig. 2. It will be appre Contained in the housing 11 is printing ciated that the position of the platen clamp means in the form of a storage dot-raster ma- 110 plate 22 as the betting slip 18 is inserted is trix printer 12 having twin seven-pin print that shown in Fig. 3.

heads 13 and 14. The printer 12 is mounted The betting slip 18 after its insertion into on a carrier 15 which in turn is associated the opening 17 passes in front of the docu with a drive shaft 16 mounted on a spindle ment sensor 32. Normally in the absence of 41 the movement of which is controlled by a 115 any document such as the betting slip 18 in motor/tachometer generator 50. fra-red light emitted from the sensor 32 falls The housing 11 has an opening 17 which on an ink ribbon 35 (which is shown in dot extends parallel to the plane of movement of dash outline in Figs. 3 and 6), arranged on a the print heads 13 and 14. The opening 17 ribbon spool 36, which is guided in the region allows the insertion of documents onto which 120 of the document platen 21 and the printing information is desired to be recorded. Fig. 1 heads 13, 14 by means of respective guide shows such a document which as evident is posts 37. Little or none of the infra-red light in the form of a betting ticket or slip 18 hav- emitted by the sensor 32 is reflected from the ing two detachable portions 19, 20 which ribbon 35 back to a light receiving part of the overlap one another in the region of their re- 125 sensor 32. However, when the slip 18 comes spective bottom margins while being attached in front of the sensor 32 light is reflected in the region of their respective top margins back from the slip 18 to the light receiving e.g. by a strip of adhesive. part of the sensor 32. This results in a The housing 11 also contains document re- change the level of voltage in the sensor 32, tention means for retaining inserted docu- 130 which voltage change is used to energise the 3 GB2186844A 3 solenoid 25. and indeed from the opening 17 of the hous Upon energisation of the solenoid 25 its ing 11.

moveable core 29 is retracted under the ac- It is to be noted from the drawings that the tion of its return spring 30 which in turn ro- preferred device has a pair of side plates 47.

tates the cam 26 through the cam operating 70 48 for supporting various components of the lever 27 and the cam operating linkage 28. device such as, for example, the spindle 41 of As the cam 26 rotates its curved surface runs the drive shaft 16.

up against the back of the platen, clamp-plate It will be appreciated that the information 22 moving the latter towards the document recording device of the invention can record platen 21 until it comes up against platen 75 information on documents other than betting clamp-plate stop 38 (Fig. 6). At this point the slips such as for example cheques. Indeed it betting slip 18 is held securely between the could be used in shops and department stores document platen 21 and the platen clamp- in conjunction with bank card or credit card plate 22 as shown in Fig. 4. 1, readers for the speedy translation of informa- The motor/tachometer generator 50 is now 80 tion on such cards onto the front and/or the activated and this in turn activates the drive back of cheques or credit card vouchers.

shaft 16 through drive gears 42 and spindle The preferred device of the invention is ide 41. In addition print timing signals for the ally provided with a micro- processor which is printings heads 13, 14 are generated from the programmable and serves for the control of generator 50. 85 the operation of the various component parts The printer carrier 15 is moved by the turn- of the device.

ing drive shaft 16 in that its carrier peg 39 is

Claims

entrained to move along a spiral groove 40 in CLAIMS the drive shaft 16.

1. An information recording device, for re- As the carrier 15 moves on the drive shaft 90 cording information on documents, comprising the printing heads 13, 14 of the printer 12 an housing having an opening for the insertion move with it in simultaneous parallel relation- of documents and containing printing means ship. As this happens printing head pin solehaving a plurality of associated printing heads noids are energised by the timing signals gen- moveable in simultaneous parallel relationship, erated by the motor/tachometer generator 50. 95 a document sensor within the opening, docu The pins of both printing heads 13, 14 are ment retention means for the stationary reten activated to strike the betting slip 18, held tion of documents inserted within the opening between the platen 21 and the clamp-plate so that the printing heads can impinge on the 22, through the ink ribbon 35. documents, and actuation means for the docu- As the printing head pin solenoids are acti- 100 ment retention means operative on actuation vated by the same timing signals they are able of the document sensor.

to generate rows 44 (Fig. 1) of identical print.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein As shown in Fig. 1 each row 44 of print can the document retention means comprises a be on a separate portion 19, 20 of the bettfixed platen for the documents and platen ing slip 18. The printing of the rows 44 is 105 clamp-plate which is moveable relative to the accomplished in one right to left (as viewed in platen.

Fig. 5) traverse movement by the two printing

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein heads 13, 14 giving a print speed for eighty the platen clamp-plate is hinged on a spindle characters (40 per row) of approximately 440 at its end remote from that end thereof adjamilliseconds. 110 cent the document platen.

After the parallel rows 44 of information

4 A device as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3 have been printed, but before the carrier 15 wherein the actuation means comprises a so of the printer 12 moves back to its starting lenoid and substantially cylindrical cam position taking the printing heads 13, 14 with mounted in an axially off- set manner one cam it, the solenoid 25 is de-energised. Thus the 115 operating lever mounted in a hinge-like manner moveable core 29 of the solenoid 25 returns on cam operating linkage which in turn is to its rest position under the action of its pivotally mounted on the solenoid's moveable return spring 30 and this counter-rotates the core.

cam 26 through the lever 27 and linkage 28.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein Once the flat portion 31 of the cam 26 is 120 the cylindrical cam has a longitudinally-extend more or less facing towards the platen clamp- ing flat portion against which the platen plate 22 the latter can move away from the clamp-plate rests when in its open position.

platen 21 under the action of a return spring

6. A device as claimed in any preceding 43 connected to the platen clamp-plate 22 claim wherein the document sensor is a reflec and the mounting plate 33, to the latter of 125 tive infra-red sensor.

which it is connected by an eyelet 45 and a

7. A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein screw 46, until the platen clamp-plate 22 the infra-red sensor is mounted on an L abuts the flat portion 31 of the cam 26. The shaped mounting plate, which is attached to betting slip 18 can now be removed from ' be- the side of the solenoid, and faces the docu- tween the platen 21 and the clamp-plate 22 130ment platen through a gap in the platen GB2186844A 4 clamp-plate.

8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the printing means is a storage dot-raster matrix printer.

9. A device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the printer has twin seven-pin print heads arranged on or above the other.

10. A device as claimed in claim 8 or 9 wherein the printer is mounted on a carrier which in turn is associated with a drive shaft mounted on a spindle the movement of which is controlled by a motor/tachometer generator.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the carrier has a carrier peg and the drive shaft has a spiral groove in which the carrier peg moves upon rotation of the drive shaft.

12. An information recording device sub- stantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 2,to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by Burgess & Son (Abingdon) Ltd, Dd 8991685, 1987. Published at The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A lAY, from which copies may be obtained.