SE470431B - Device for fully automated engraving system - Google Patents

Description

4.

G CA! ... x STATE OF THE ART Through the Swedish patent SE, B, 463910, it is previously known to arrange for a centralized engraving function where a station receives information about the different appearances of the engravings, the object in question, customer number, etc. The station serves as a collection point for one or as a few large reception stations or a collection point for many smaller reception stations. The proposed arrangement benefits from the fact that the collections can be limited in the shops that sell the items in question, which in themselves often consist of economically expensive items that are to be engraved. The present invention is also a further development of the device according to the Swedish patent application SE, B, 469421. Said patent and the patent application also indicate examples of engraving equipment which are used in the centralized operation and by means of which signals or data transmitted to the center are to result in selection of objects and addition of engravings on the objects must be effected in a technically / economically advantageous manner.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL PROBLEM The objects in question, which usually consist of gold objects and objects in other precious metal, are prone to theft. In order to utilize a centralized engraving function technically / economically efficiently, this means that large numbers of objects must be added to the station in question. Collection, transport, and appropriate customer service entail requirements for exposure of the theft-prone items. A customer must first select and order the object and then select an engraving suitable for the customer, which in turn can be selected from a large number of fonts. The information has so far since been transferred to the center, which implements objects * 3 470 4-3? the production and the engraving function. Previously known methods and devices have resulted in a handling which, from the point of view of time, has burdened the customer, who has often had to make several visits to the store to make his selections, orders and collection of the objects in question. There is a clear need for the customer's efforts in his or her purchase of the item to be simplified, while at the same time the exposure of the theft-prone product can be kept to a minimum. The invention intends to solve e.g. this problem.

In connection with the new device, a contact network is used which is preferably established over the public telecommunications network.

The stores in question can join this, as well as order-receiving stations and engraving stations. The invention per se also works in the case where one or a few of the connections use a floppy disk transfer function or a corresponding function. A further object of the invention is to provide a technical / economic system for engraving and object handling via a telephone network.

In accordance with the invention, terminals are used in the respective store for entering information such as selection of objects, selection of engraving fonts, etc. Integrated with this terminal or separately in relation to this terminal, additional equipment must be able to be connected. The invention also utilizes the fact that an information transmission station connected to the transmission system must be able to be activated for transmission to said terminal or equipment of signal storage which is significant for object construction, engraving fonts, etc. The invention has for its object to solve these problems as well. .

The terminals in the stores or equivalent must in turn be able to be connected to subscribers or extensions included in the transmission system. Said first signals shall be able to emanate from signals extracted from these last ~ ~ 1 about 4 »so in said subscriber or extension equipment which may include terminals for input of selection information and engraving information. The said terminals must also be able to include identification-receiving cards or equivalent bodies which are to constitute means of payment for the service in question. The object of the invention is to enable this function as well.

The engraving station may in principle comprise a presentation information station. The latter stations can be separated and located in different places. The stations must be able to communicate via the transmission system or directly. The invention also focuses on solving this problem.

THE SOLUTION What can mainly be considered to be characteristic of a device according to the invention is that the collection station or store is provided with second packaging or shipping means, which can be common to the first initially mentioned packaging or shipping means. With said second means, said second signals are transmitted via a fast-responsive second connection which cannot exist in the transmission system or constitute a connection in relation to this separate connection, e.g. in the store or equivalent. The second signals are transmitted to a second receiving station or receiving unit which may be common to a station which is separate in relation to the collecting station and e.g. can be in the store or equivalent. The other signals at the receiving station or receiving unit can be applied to activating or selecting circuits for activating or pointing out information concerning surfaces which include or differ from one or more engraved or marking surfaces on the object or the object as a whole. . The information thus activated or designated is transmissible via the second connection in dependence on the reception signals on the receiving station and the receiving unit, respectively. Said selection or designation causes the generation of third signals which are applied to the second connection or a third connection and from which respective connection the third signals are extractable. The third signals can be included as influence signals for or information-containing signals to a unit at the collection station or the corresponding unit. The third signals cause said surfaces which comprise or differ from said selected engraving or marking surfaces to be representative of the receiving station and the receiving unit, respectively. The presentation can take place on a high-resolution display unit, high-resolution television set, etc. which gives a very detailed and clear picture of the surfaces in question, engraving type sections, etc. The invention is alternatively characterized in that the collection station is readily arranged via a collection device. formation transmission systems which preferably comprise fast-responsive fourth connections, preferably telecommunications connections which may be of a dial-up or pre-connected type. Said first signals are then caused by fourth signals which consist of signals related to object and / or engraving information and which are applicable at the fourth connections to signal receiving means at the collection station. Said receiving means are arranged to, after a possible intermediate storage, effect said first signals with possibly applied additional information related to the collection station, which may consist of identification information and / or information which complements the provided object and / or engraving information. The fourth signals are extractable by means of terminals connected to or connected to the transmission system, preferably to the telephone system connected or incoming subscriptions, which comprise initiating and transmitting means for the fourth signals in dependence on selection or selection of objects available at the terminals. / or engraving information. The latter information íêš / š- 6 may be transmissible via the transmission system, e.g. via a fifth connection, from said activated or designated information.

In further developments of the inventive concept, engraving and information providing stations are arranged in interconnection with each other. A call to the information-providing station over a connection involves connecting the collection station and the information station and reading out current information from the information station's memory of current information which in this way becomes presentable at the collection station. Connection establishment between engraving and information-providing stations can consist of fixed connections or connected connections via the transmission system / telecommunications network. The stores can then be provided with memory capacity which means that the presentation information can be transferred and stored in each store separately in relation to the transfer of the engraving information. Store equipment with information thus transmitted can then be regarded as a unit in the interaction with the customer's selection and determination of objects and engraving fonts. All engraving styles are presentable separately on or applied to the respective object surface in order to make it easier for the customer / store. The object, the fonts, etc. can be arranged presentable on the display unit in question which can indicate different perspectives and views of the object with or without engravings.

In one embodiment, calls to the transmission system cause interconnections of the various equipment and stations involved. When using a telecommunications system, the respective subscriber installation is provided with automatic answering devices for receiving calls. The response means connects the outgoing line (s) with the respective internal equipment in question to the circuits. Transfer of information from one equipment / station to another equipment / station automatically initiates the information and engraving information in question and is linked to the selection made by the customer.

Further embodiments of the invention comprise that one or more of said information-providing or information-requesting equipment is provided with scanning equipment for objects and / or engraving appearances or objects on or to which the object is intended to be applicable.

In addition, one or more of the ordering equipment may be provided with debit card or identification card information receivable bodies, to which the respective card is available for payment or identification in or via the transmission system / telephone network_ To the latter may be such as subscriber connection or affiliate connection no body for validation of payment information in connection with the use of the card in the context. Said unit is operable by means of signals representing validation and payment information and is extractable from the transmission system.

In a further embodiment, signals / information which are transmitted in a stage separate from the transmission information can be extracted from the utilized transmission system.

Object-related signals / information can consist of difference information, between information transmitted in a first stage and information transmitted in a second stage.

This has advantages in reproducing moving information on the display equipment in that the information transmitted for each image or equivalent does not have to be represented by the entire image content or corresponding content.

BENEFITS The equipment listed above provides a range of benefits that are crucial to fully automated engraving systems. The total system can be made customer, ie 4 77 i I n U 44: * 3 LN selecting functions can be carried out to the customer who can quickly and unambiguously and without long time delays between the time of ordering and the time of collection can make their purchase. The system will also be advantageous for the expensive object-selling units / shops, etc. in that a position-exposure function can characterize the entire object handling, despite the fact that this must include an engraving function.

Today's modern automatic engraving machines can work at high speed and produce engravings of large numbers of objects in short periods of time. The demonstration function combined with the engraving function means that the collections in the stores can be limited in number and that the various parts of the collection can be provided with plagiarized objects made of cheaper materials. It should also be noted that the exchange of objects in current collections takes place with rapid turnover.

By the invention, transport and exposure can be limited in this way. Special offers within a store chain, wholesalers, etc. can be quickly distributed to the stores and reach customers with immediate effect and various items can be sold under extra offers in short time perspectives. The invention thus entails a significantly simplified technical handling of sales in their entirety.

LIST OF FIGURES A presently proposed embodiment of a device having the features significant to the invention will be described below with reference simultaneously to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 schematically shows an example of the construction of involved equipment connected to a transmission system using a telecommunications network, e.g. ex. the public Swedish telecommunications network, 4th ._ 9 [T ~ | | \ _.

= F! Figure 1 in schematic form shows the equipment in a processing station, in which information regarding surfaces of objects, objects, engraving sections, etc. is extractable and transferable via the transmission system according to Figure 1, Figure 3 in schematic form. shows store-related equipment that can be influenced internally and connected with optional subscribers.

DETAILED EMBODIMENT EXAMPLE In Figure 1, a telecommunications network, e.g. the Swedish telecommunications network indicated by 1. The network has, in a manner known per se, registers R and selector bodies V which, when making calls in the network, give rise to connections between the network's various subscribers / extensions.

The telephone network can be analogue or digitized, and for the latter case a central computer control unit CS of a kind known per se is specified. A number of store or sales points 2, 3 and 4 are connected as subscribers in the telecommunications network. Each point can function as a collection station and can be designed identically or with different equipment, all depending on the store's function, structure, etc. Resp store has a terminal 5 for writing the engraving function, a monitor 6 of the high-resolution type and a modem 7 for connecting the equipment to one or more lines 8 to the telephone network. With the terminal, various customer-related tasks can be entered. Sá e.g. can the store owner or customer himself enter information about measured, e.g. ring measure, on the item he wishes to buy in the store. The terminal 5 'can also be provided with a scanning equipment 9 where visual reading can take place e.g. of the customer's finger in question. The terminal can also be entered with information about different engraving styles 10 to be applied to the object in question, e.g. ring. Said terminal 5 is in contact with an outgoing line 8 either directly or via the presentation unit 6. The terminal 5 can gl; CI) ål * 10 .La is initiated for displaying the object in question on the display unit ll's display unit 6. Different engraving styles can also be specified on the said monitor. Partial enlargements of the object can also be shown on the screen with the engraving embedded on the curved surface in question on an object 12, which can be constituted by a ring, where the curved surface can be constituted by the inner surface l2 'of the ring.

Objects of a different appearance may occur and the object may also have flat surfaces to be provided with engravings, markings, etc. In the figure, information from the terminal unit 5 relating to engraving-related information is related to signal II transmitted on the line via the transmission system 1.

The respective subscriber equipment is in a manner known per se provided with automatic dialing systems intended for calls in the transmission system 1. In addition to submitting information regarding engraving, the terminal 5 can also initiate requests for the object's appearance and presentation on the screen 6. Such initiation causes other signals i2 to be transmitted over the line on the transmission system. The terminal can also receive signals representing presentation signals about objects, engraving style, etc. These presentation signals are referred to herein as third signals and are indicated by i3. Said signals i3 are used as initiation or information displaying signals on the screen 6. All communication takes place via the modem 7 and the communication in the transmission system takes place in the case shown serially and at least partially digitized. The figure also indicates signals i5 which are applicable to the first signals ii and are related to further information, e.g. identification information, customer information, etc. The respective terminal in the store may also be provided with card identification or other identification receiving means 5a. These organs can be of a kind known per se. Through the card identification, a person using the terminal or equipment can identify himself in the system in accordance with the following. The card 13 can also consist of a so-called debit card, by means of which payment of a W .n ~ 11 479 43% of goods in question can be effected in the system. The card causes signals i6 to be output to the transmission system in the same way as other signals.

A centralized engraving station 14 is also connected to the transmission system, which comprises one or more engraving machines 15, 16. The connection also in this case takes place via a modem 17. The engraving station is provided with automatic response means 18 of a per se known type. The engraving station can in a similarly known manner receive the first signals il, which serve as engraving information signals. These engraving information signals are applied to control equipment 19 and 20, respectively, for the engraving machines.

The control equipment, which may be computerized, receives said signals i1 and converts them into control signals i8. The control signals i8 cause input or production of finished objects 21 in the engraving machine and this process can also be automated to a great extent. With the aid of said control signals i8, the respective engraving machine performs the engraving depending on the control signals, which can be performed in a manner known per se in a manner thus entered in the engraving machine. The selected and engraved object 21 'is removed from the engraving machine e.g. in an automated process, packaged for delivery to customer / store, etc.

A station containing presentation information is also connected to the transmission system 1 as a subscriber in the transmission system. Alternatively, the presentation station 22 may be connected in parallel or integrated with the engraving station. In the case shown, there is a signal exchange between the engraving and presentation information stations.

The engraving information can alternatively or additionally be entered via the presentation station 22 to the engraving station 14. The alternative connection path is shown with the signal il '. 4275 12 CN A L Requests for transmission from the presentation station 22 of information concerning objects, engraving styles, etc. are made with the said signals i2. These signals are received via a modem 23 and the presentation information station 22 also has the automatic answering means 24, which are here supplemented by any dialing means which can be considered to be included in the means 24.

The presentation information station comprises a computer equipment 25 and a terminal 26 for manually entering presentation information, order receipt, etc. In addition, in the case shown, a scanner equipment 27 is provided, in which the objects in question are visually readable. Information about the visual reading is indicated by i9 and is transmitted to the computer equipment 25. The received signaling i2 can be used as designation information of a certain information entered in the station 22 about current or current objects. The signals i2 are also used as an activation signal for reading out the object or engraving information in question. The reading causes the generation of signals i3 which are transmitted on the outgoing line in the transmission system. Said line may consist of the same line which receives the signals i2, or of another line. Requests for presentation information can be made in two steps. In a first step, the request is introduced in the station 22, after which disconnection takes place in the means 24. When the station has processed the received information, automatic dialing can take place of the requesting station in question and the signals i3 are transmitted to the requesting station via the telephone network. Inquiries and the provision of information can thus take place on different occasions. The information station 22 can also routinely transmit information to stores 2, 3, 4. This transmission can take place e.g. one group per day, one group per week, etc. Stores 2, 3, 4 can then be provided with memory capacity, ie. memories 28, in which the transmitted station is stored for internal waiting within the interrogation place / store. Signals corresponding to said signals i2 can then be transmitted internally within the interrogation site. Said signals have been shown in the figure with i2 '. Engraving information il 'was sent to the engraving station in routine cases, depending on orders from the interrogation site, etc. The engraving station can communicate with the station 22 in two directions for the exchange of information.

The system also includes connectivity via the transmission system of other subscribers 29 which constitute conventional subscribers within the transmission system. These subscribers 29 can enter the system and request information about engraving and objects and perform orders for objects and engravings in the corresponding manner as described. The respective subscriber 29 connects in a conventional manner to the respective store, interrogation point, etc. 2, 3, 4. The subscriber 29 can obtain current information on a screen 30 and can also perform ordering and interrogation work on his terminal 31. The display unit 30 and the terminal 31 may be a conventional personal computer equipment. In this case, the subscriber is assumed to have conventional dialing possibilities 32. The terminal may also include a payment card facility, which means that the subscriber with a card 33 which is applicable in the terminal 31 can pay for a selected and engraved object. The subscriber's 29 initialized signals in connection with the order are shown with i4, while the requested object and engraving information are illustrated with signals i6, i6 '. The subscriber 29 can also retrieve information directly from the station 22, cf. the signals i6 '. As a subscriber, there is a unit for validation of card or debit card data reception. This equipment is designed in a manner known per se and, like other equipment, is equipped with a modem 35 and response means 36. The equipment will not be described in more detail.

Figure 2 shows in more detail the current station equipment in station 22. The station equipment comprises a memory 37, in which information about objects can be entered. The memory has a relatively large capacity and which in the present case is 200 Mb. A printer is indicated -Im: q 431- with 38 and the connection between the printer and the memory with 39 14 The scanning equipment 27 may be of a per se known type which is to scan images or drawings of a ring, bracelet, trophy or other object with curved or flat surfaces. The terminal equipment 26 is of a conventional type. The station equipment also includes a communication card 40 with which the communication over the telecommunications connection 41 can be effected. The modem 23 can be of a per se known type. The computer equipment 25 is also of a known type and is provided with a monitor to be used for entering information in the memory 37. On the computer equipment display a ring-shaped object is indicated by 42. The connection to the engraving machine is shown by 43.

Figure 3 shows examples of equipment at a store or point of sale. On the screen, objects 44 of different kinds can be displayed in different views 44, 44 '. In addition, measured can be stated in plain text. Measurement order, input of text to be engraved, input of the customer's name and address, etc. are symbolized by 45. Possibility of displaying different styles is shown with 46. In case self-service is included and payment by credit card or debit card 13 must be used card reader 5a. Terminal 5 is used to register the engraving function. The TV screen consists of a high-resolution screen of a known type that provides good visual images of the respective object and other information. The computer equipment can be arranged for displaying the objects in different successive perspectives (moving pictures). The transfer of the image material from the presentation station 22 can take place with a reduced amount in the case of display with moving images. Only the differences between the different images in the motion scheme are transmitted, which significantly reduces the amount of information transfer. Also in this case, a communication card 47 is used which enables the transmission of information from the subscriber station 2 via the transmission system by serial means. Modem 7 is of a per se known type and includes digital / analog / conversion so that the internal processing can take place in a completely digital way. This also applies to stations 14 and 22 as well as other points of sale and to subscribers in the system connectable to these and station 22. The communication card 47 (also applies to the card 40) may comprise a microcomputer and ROM memories connected to it, cf. 47a, 47b. Its ROMs can be fixed programs. The memories serve as working memories and a clock, transmitter-receiver circuits to a decoder, etc. can be connected to the CPU. The communication of the communication cards can take place in a manner known per se.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in the above as examples, but may be subject to modifications within the scope of the appended claims and the inventive concept.

Claims (10)

1. '7: 1 G fm ~' ß PATENT REQUIREMENT 1. Device in a fully automated engraving system for an object having an engraving surface and using one or more engraving machines (15, 16), to which first signals (II) are prepared which is dependent on information relating to the engraving function and which is arranged to cause control (i8) of mutually moving parts (15a, 15b) in each engraving machine, part of which consists of an engraving means (15b), by means of which engraving or marking is operable in the activation of the mutually moving parts, and on the one hand the first transmission or packaging means (5) for the first signals (II) to enable their transmission from a collection station (2, 3, 4) via a first connection (F) to a processing station (14) comprising the respective engraving machine (15, 16) and at which activation of the respective engraving machine is executable at the application or appearance of the first signals (II) on at the processing station, partly the engraving machine and the engraving machines are controllable by means of a said first signal receiving computer equipment which in dependence on the first signals generates the control signals (i8) to the engraving equipment, partly said first packing or transmitting means, alternatively second packing or transmitting means, on collecting are arranged to transmit second signals via a second connection, which is common to or separate from said first connection, to a second receiving station (22) or receiving unit (12), where the second signals (i2) are supplyable activation or selection circuits (25, 27) for activating and pointing out information, respectively, and secondly thus activated and designated information causes third signals (i3) extractable from the second connections or third connections, which form influence signals for or information-containing signals to a display unit ( 12), .n ~ '* 4? 0 451, characterized in that the activated or designated information refers to surfaces which comprise or differ from one or more engraving or marking surfaces selected on the object, or the object as a whole, that by means of fourth signals (i4) engraving information , possibly together with additional object information, is transferable to the presentation unit in the relevant collection station, that selection or selection of objects, engraving and any other object-related information is feasible at the relevant terminal and determines the content of the first signals to reach the fully automated the engraving function and associated object production, in which a customer can thus actively participate. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that engraving and information-providing stations are interconnected with each other, and / or that the transmission on one or more lines of said lines is serial, and possibly fully digitized. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a call to the information providing station (22) over a connection involves connecting the collection station and the information station and reading out current information from the information station's memory (37) or camera equipment of current information. which in this way becomes presentable on the collection unit's display unit, preferably in the form of a display unit, TV, etc. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that all engraving styles (10) are presentable separately on or applied to the surface of the respective object. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is f. .. | I. ~ .-. QN | n e t e c k n a d due to the fact that the object is presentable in its entirety on the display unit, the TV screen, etc. on the collection station (2, 3, 4) and rotatably on the screen for displaying f! different perspectives and views (44, 44 ') of the object with or without engraving. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the engraving station (14) can be dialed over a telephone network (1) for interconnecting the collection station and the engraving station and for transmitting engraving data to the engraving station. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the information-providing station (22) can be the receiver for the engraving function, and that the information-providing station is arranged to transmit said engraving function and selected information about the object to the engraving station, at which thus production or selection of the selected object takes place, input of the object takes place in the respective engraving machine, and loading of the engraving information to the engraving function controlling circuits takes place. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for the establishment of one or more of said connections (F, F ") the ringing system entails calls within it of register (R) and initiation of over-equipment arranged to control selection equipment (V) in the transmission system (1) in response to calls for forwarding to a subscriber or extension number subscribed by the collection and / or processing stations (14, 22), which are arranged with answering means (18). , 24) for receiving the call, that the answering means connects a line (s) included in the subscription to information-provided means at the processing / engraving station, that transmission of information is "/ 7 479 451 initiatable and transferable on a connection connected or connectable in the transmission system, that it is caused by the processing or engraving station and via the transmission system due to information provided by the processing station or engraving state The information initiated gives rise to a signal storage extractable at the respective receiving terminal, which is useful for starting or effecting signal processing in the collection station, which signal processing affects information displaying means at the collection station or to terminals / subscriptions connected to it via the transmission system. (29). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more of said information-providing or information-requesting equipment is provided with scanning equipment (27) for objects and / or engraving or objects on or at which the object is intended to be applicable and / or that one or more of the ordering equipment is provided with payment card or identification card information (13) receiving means, which respective cards are available for reading in connection with payment or identification procedure via the transfer system, to which the card validation and payment information in connection with the use of the card in the latter receivable body receiving unit (34) is connected, which receiving unit is controllable by means of signals (i7) representing validation and payment information. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that information extracted from the transmission system (i3) arises in connection with the transmission of engraving-related information (ii) or in a separate event earlier than the latter transmission, and / or that object-related information (i3) consists of difference information between an information transmitted in a first stage .Rp v ~ ql CJ.) áló QN 4 z and in a second stage, which can quickly follow the first stage, Transmitted information, wherein said transmitted information becomes reducible, e.g. when indicating variable information in receiving equipment. : q w