US3848257A - Device for printing coded labels and the like - Google Patents

Device for printing coded labels and the like Download PDF

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Publication number
US3848257A
US3848257A US00418722A US41872273A US3848257A US 3848257 A US3848257 A US 3848257A US 00418722 A US00418722 A US 00418722A US 41872273 A US41872273 A US 41872273A US 3848257 A US3848257 A US 3848257A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
printing
motor
print cycle
labels
print
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00418722A
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English (en)
Inventor
J Moss
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Bendix Corp
Original Assignee
Bendix Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Bendix Corp filed Critical Bendix Corp
Priority to US00418722A priority Critical patent/US3848257A/en
Priority to CA209,027A priority patent/CA1007109A/en
Priority to GB4376374A priority patent/GB1453530A/en
Priority to DE19742448291 priority patent/DE2448291C3/de
Priority to AU74523/74A priority patent/AU475873B2/en
Priority to JP12948274A priority patent/JPS5329536B2/ja
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3848257A publication Critical patent/US3848257A/en
Priority to FR7438090A priority patent/FR2252218B1/fr
Priority to BE150737A priority patent/BE822463A/xx
Priority to ES432184A priority patent/ES432184A1/es
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K1/00—Methods or arrangements for marking the record carrier in digital fashion
    • G06K1/12—Methods or arrangements for marking the record carrier in digital fashion otherwise than by punching
    • G06K1/121—Methods or arrangements for marking the record carrier in digital fashion otherwise than by punching by printing code marks

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A device for printing coded labels that comprises a motor rotated printer.
  • the printer has a series of printing elements in the form of electromagnets that are adjusted to operate at its resonant frequency and that are arranged in sets or banks on opposite sides of the rotational axis and in a row that extends through the rotational axis.
  • the reversible motor Upon command that selected information be printed in code form, the reversible motor is started to rotate in one of its opposite directions and then a print cycle is initiated during which one set of the printing elements is continuously enabled whereas the other set is enabled in accordance with the information to be coded.
  • the printer thereby develops during 180 of its rotation on half of a series of rings that are all of the same width and during the subsequent 180 of its rotation the remainder of the rings with widths determined by the coded information.
  • logic ONES and logic ZEROS are developed which are also referred to as digital pairs,
  • rotation of the printer by the motor is in the opposite direction.
  • a sensor is drive connected to the printer so as to determine the print cycle and direction of rotation of the motor.
  • a label printing device that utilizes rotational movement for printing the labels and has novel provision for avoiding the use of slip rings or the like for energizing electrically the devices printing elements.
  • Also contemplated is a new and different label printing device that provides a simple sensor for controlling and initiating opposite rotation of the printing device and also controlling theprinting cycle so that the same or different coded information is printed on successive labels with rotation being reversed each time a new label is printed.
  • Another objective is to provide a label printing device that utilizes a printer that is rotated in one direction while printing selected coded information on a label and then can be rotated in the opposite direction while printing different coded information on a subsequent label, thereby provide instantaneous and successive labels each with different coded information.
  • a further objective is to provide a printing device that has a printer that oscillates during successive printing cycles and different coded information is then printed on successive labels that employ a series of electrically energized printing elements arranged in sets on opposite sides of the rotational axis of the printer and in a row that extends through the axis of rotation and that during rotation through 360 can provide a printed label with accurate coded information that is easily read and that is subsequently reversed in rotation in the opposite direction to print the next label with a different or the same coded information and that employ a simple position sensor for controlling the reversible motor for obtaining the reversing of the rotation also controls the printing cycle with relatively simple logic circuitry.
  • Another objection is the unique provision whereby each of the novel printers electrically energized printing devices operates at its own resonant frequency so as to minimize the power consumed.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a printing device incorporating the principles of the invention
  • FIG. 2 is an elevational view, which is partially schematic, of the sensor employed by the FIG. 1 device;
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken in the direction of arrows 3-3 in FIG. 1 of the printer and one of the series of printing elements;
  • FIG. 4 is a view of a label that can be printed by the FIG. 1 device.
  • the numeral 20 denotes a command module that may be some form of teletype or typewriter that supplies after typing the selected number binary bits utilizing an appropriate BCD to binary converter and also provides clock pulses for the device.
  • the information from the command module is printed in coded form by a printer, shown generally at 22, which is controlled by a printer control 24.
  • a reversible motor 26, preferably a stepping motor or the equivalent rotates the printer 22 and is operated by a motor control 28.
  • These labels 32 are on a continuous roll of sticky paper 36 that is driven past the printer 22 in coordination of the printing thereof by any suitable drive means (not shown); that is, the drive of the sticky paper 36 with the labels 32 coordination with the printing which can be controlled by the command module after which the labels 32 with the printed and coded information 34 are removed by a suitable type knife like device (not shown).
  • Carbon paper can be included between the labels 32 and the printer 22. Appropriate provision can be made for marking ink to be supplied to the printer 22.
  • the printer 22 includes an elongated printer head 38 that forms a housing for a series of printing elements, such as electromagnets 40, that are arranged in a row extending through the axis of the printer head 38.
  • the electromagnets 40 form a set or bank having odd numbers 1 through 15 as depicted.
  • a set or bank of electromagnets 40 assigned even numbers 2 through 16 are provided. These banks of odd number electromagnets 40 are staggered relative to the position of the bank of even number electromagnets 40 as will be explained.
  • Each electromagnet 40 is the same and that depicted is typical and comprises two coils 42 and 44 wound respectively on cores 46 and 48 which are in side by side relation. These cores 46 and 48 are suitably attached to a laminated base 50. Each coil 42 and 44 is wound on plastic inserts 52 and 54 respectively which are over or fit on the corresponding cores 46 and48. The coils 42 and 44 are joined in parallel relationship so as to be connected to output conductors 56 and 58 respectively which in turn are coupled to the printer control 24.
  • a movable head 60 is positioned above the cores 46 and 48 to form therewith respectively gaps 62 and 64.
  • the cores 46 and 48, laminated base 50 and the movable head 60 provide a flux path and are made of a relatively good flux conducting magnetic material; for example, steel or the equivalent.
  • the head 60 is secured to a pivot post 66, carried by the laminated base 50, by a flexible strip 68.
  • This flexible strip 68 is suitably insulated from post 66 and at its opposite end is joined to a marker or an elongated pin 70 by a nut 72.
  • the elongated pin 70 extends downwardly substantially midway between the cores 46 and 48 through the laminated base 50 and terminates in a marking point 74.
  • This marking point 74 is biased to the illustrated no print position by another flexible strip 76.
  • This strip 76 is also attached to the post 66.
  • an adjusting set screw 78 can be installed so as to engage the nut 72 and change the spacing of the gaps 46 and 48.
  • each of the gaps for the electromagnets 40 can be individually adjusted to that each operates at its resonant frequency; i.e., the mechanical frequency of each electromagnet 40 is made equal or substantially equal to the energizing frequency for the coils 42 and 44.
  • the resultant magnetic flux will move the movable head 60 downwardly as viewed in FIG. 3 to close or reduce the gaps 62 and 64.
  • the marking point 74 is moved to its marked position with a minimum amount of energy.
  • the printer control 24 controls the energization of the electromagnets 40 and correspondingly the actuation of the marking points 74 to trol and driver logic circuitry 86 the start of the print cycle by the printer 22 so as to print the encoded information received from the command module 20 by way of the multi-plexer 80. This will be explained more in detail.
  • the motor 26 as mentioned, is reversible and is of any suitable type of stepping motor.
  • the motor control 28 functions to initiate the operation of the motor 26 in accordance with a clock pulse received from the command module 20 and rotates in a direction that is clockwise or counterclockwise in accordance with the logic received from the sensor 30.
  • the clock pulse from the command module 20 for initiating operation of the motor 26 is supplied to a rotate flip-flop 88. This clock pulse resets the rotate-flip-flop so that a rotate or motor start pulse is supplied to an appropriate motor control and driver logic circuitry 90 and starts the motor 26 to initiate rotation. This same clock pulse is supplied to a direction flip-flop 92 along with the logic information from the sensor 30.
  • the combination of the two cause the direction flipflop 92 to remember-whether the motor 26 during a previous print cycle was rotated clockwise or counterclockwise. If clockwise, then the motor 26 is activated by the direction flip-flop 92 so as to during the next printing cycle to rotate in the opposite or counterclockwise direction. Hence, when each successive label 32 is printed, themotor 26 in this way is caused to reverse rotation and thus, avoid the need for. slip-rings or the like for all of the conductors 56 and 58 that are connected to the print control and driver logic circuitry 86. This is because the various conductors are wound during, for example, clockwise rotation during one print cycle and unwound during counterclockwise during the next print cycle.
  • the sensor logic provided by the sensor 30 is supplied to a counter 94 that after three counts, in this embodiment, enables a multi vibrator 96 which pulses the rotate flip-flop so as to reset it and develop an output stop rotation signal that is supplied to the motor control and driver logic circuitry and then to the motor 26 after rotation, for example, through 380.
  • an optoelectronic element 100 which can be a type TIL 138 source and sensor assembly made by Texas Instruments, Incorporated.
  • This optoelectronic element can comprise a pair of light emitting diodes (not shown) that cooperate with a pair of phototransisters (not shown) or the equivalent arranged opposite each other with the periphery of the feedback disk 98 in between.
  • This pair of light emitting diodes and phototransisters and their output are hereinafter identified as a print control channel 102 and a motor control channel 104.
  • the periperiphery of the feedback disk 98 in the path of the motor control channel 104 has an arcuate slot 106 and a notch 108 which provide the three counts during a cycle of rotation.
  • the motor control channel 104 will have a logic ONE level output starting at the notch 108 when proceeding clockwise, logic ZERO level output at the step 110, a logic ONE level at the arcuate slot 106 and then a logic ZERO level until again the notch 108 is encountered. There is developed three counts from these changes in the logic level duringthis cycle of rotation.
  • the print control channel 102 if clockwise rotation is again assumed, starting at the notch 108, still has a logic ONE level, then at step 110 a logic ZERO level, and when a step 112 is encountered it will have again a logic ONE level until after 380 or at the position shown at the arcuate slot 106, it will have a logic ZERO level again because of the step 11p, and this will end the clockwise rotation.
  • both channels 102 and 104 if the disk 98 is revolved in the counterclockwise rotation.
  • the encoded information 34 is in the form of a series of concentric rings 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128 all developed about a center 130. These rings have an upper half 132 and a lower half 134.
  • the printer head 38 is shown superimposed on the label 32 with each of its electromagnets 40 of the odd and even numbers arranged in a row that extends through the center 30 and divides or separates the upper half 132 from the lower half 132 at approximately the point.
  • the label 32 and the information on how it is arranged is described in the patent application Ser. No.
  • the lower half 134 has rings 114 through 128 all of the same thickness because the even numbered electromagnets 40 are continuously printing.
  • the upper half 132 shows the ring 128 and the ring 116 of double width because these advise the scanner, which may be a laser scanner or any other suitable type that decodes the information from the label 32,
  • the ring 134 indicates when the coded information is first encountered.
  • the wide upper half of the ring 128 informs the scanner when the encoded information is encountered, whereas the wide upper half 132 of the ring 116 indicates when the scanned information is completed and finally when the ring 114 is encountered it knows that the scan terminated.
  • any one of the upper halves of the rings 118 through 126 is wide because one of the corresponding odd number electromagnets 40 is printing along with its adjacent even number electromagnets 40, a logic ONE will be provided. These two marks switched can also be called a digital pair. If onlythe even number electromagnet 40 is printing, then there is a thin ring in the upper half as illustrated comprising a light area and a dark area. This represents a logic ZERO because the odd number electromagnet 40 is not printing.
  • the command module 20 is activated to provide information in hit form to the multi-plexer 80 which information is then provided to the print control driver and logic circuitry 86.
  • a clock pulse is provided to the rotate flip-flop 88 which resets it and provides the motor control and driver logic circuitry 90 with a rotate signal so that the motor 26 starts to rotate.
  • the same clock pulse is provided to the direction flip-flop 92 which, as mentioned, remembers what state channel 102 was in. For example, if the channel 102, after complete cycle of counterclockwise rotation, there will be a logic ONE level provided by channel 102 to the direction flip-flop 92. When the clock pulse is supplied, it will copy this logic ONE level and in effect set the direction flip-flop for clockwise rotation. Of course, the opposite occurs if a complete cycle is completed in the clockwise direction, because the channel 102 will have a logic ZERO level and the clock pulse will copy this ZERO logic level and in effect reset the direction flip-flop 92 for counter clockwise rotation.
  • the motor 26 will start rotation in the clockwise direction and in this embodiment for purposes of demonstration and with reference to FIG. 2, the feedback disk 98 will be moved until the optoelectronic element 100 encounters the step 110 on the beedback disk 98, which can be after any selected amount of rotation; e.g., There will now be a change in the logic level of channel 102 from a logic ONE to a logic ZERO. This change is used to enable the print control multivibrator 82 and accordingly the print flip-flop 84 is set for printing and this signal is provided to the print control and driver logic circuitry 86.
  • channel 102 This same transition in channel 102 is supplied both to the multi-plexer 80 and the print control and driver logic circuitry 86 so as to establish which half of the label 32 is to be printed. Since channel 102 is at the logic ZERO level bits 6-10 are selected and the upper half 132 of the label 32 is printed first. The supply of this transition from the logic ONE to the logic ZERO level signal in channel 102 to the print control and driver logic circuitry 86 initiates the code printing. That is, initiates the energization of the proper electromagnets 40. After approximately 180 of travel, the channel 102 will change from a logic ZERO level to a logic ONE level at step 112 and bits l-5 will be printed or the lower half 134 of the label 32 will be printed.
  • the even numbered electromagnets 40 are continuously energized throughout 360 of rotation and the adjacent one of the odd numbered electromagnets 40 is energized or deenergized to either provide respectively a logic ONE or logic ZERO so as to provide the mentioned digital pair of coded information.
  • the change of the logic level at the step 112 sets the multi-plexer so as to select the lower half 134 of the encoded information and provides a corresponding logic level signal to the print control and driver logic circuitry 86 so as to print the lower half 134 of the encoded information.
  • Rotation continues for another 180 until the step 110 is again encountered when the logic level of channel 102 changes from a logic ONE to a logic ZERO.
  • a device for printing labels each with selected coding comprising command means supplying command signals with the select coding, printing means revolvably.positioned opposite the labels and operable in response to the print command signals to print a label with the selected coding during a print cycle thereof, reversible motor means arranged to rotate the printing means in opposite directions during each successive print cycle, sensing means responsive to the position of the printing means and operative to develop motor control signals and print cycle signals, the motor means being operable in response to the command signals to start rotating the printing means and in response to the control print cycle signals to rotate the printing means in one of the opposite directions for a predetermined angular amount, the printing means being operable in response to the print cycle signal to print the selected coding for a certain portion of the rotation thereof by the motor means.
  • the printingelements include electromagnets and a marker arranged to be driven by the associated electromagnet and wherein the enabling means is a power source of a certain frequency and the printing means further includes'means adjusting the extent of movement of the marker by the electromagnets so that the electric frequency and the mechanical frequency are equal and the printing element operates at the resonant frequency thereof thereby consuming a minimum of power.
  • each printing element includes an electromagnet and a marker driven by the electromagnet and wherein the enabling means is a power source having a certain frequency and the printing means further includes means adjusting the extent of movement of the marker by the electromagnets so that the printing element operates at the resonant frequency thereof so as to consume a minimum of ,power.
  • the motor means includes means controlling the motor means, the motor controlling means having the input thereof coupled both to the command means and the sensing means so as to be responsive to the command signals, the motor control signals and the print cycle signals and the output thereof coupled to the motor means, whereby the motor controlling means controls the starting, stopping, direction of rotation and extent of rotation during each print cycle in accordance with said signals.
  • the sensing means includes feedback means revolvable with the printing means and an electronic sensor responsive to the angular position of the feedback means so as to provide in response to the angular position thereof, both the motor control signals and the print cycle signals.
  • a device for printing labels as described in claim 2, wherein the rinting means further includes printing control means liaving the input thereof coupled to the command means and the sensing means and the output thereof coupled to the printing elements so as to enable certain of the printing elements in accordance with the selected coding when the sensing means supplies a print cycle signal thereto.
  • the motor means includes means controlling the motor means, the motor controlling means having the input thereof coupled both to the command means and the sensing means so as to be responsive to the command signals, the motor control signals and the print cycle signals, and the output thereof coupled to the motor means, whereby the motor controlling means controls the starting, stopping, direction of rotation and extent of rotation during each print cycle in accordance with said signals and after the motor means is stopped following the completion of a print cycle and the printing of a label with the selected coding, causes the motor means to rotate in the opposite direction of rotation during the next print c cle and print a sugsequent label with or without a di ferent selected coding, the printing means includes a series of printing elements operable when enabled to mark the label and means enabling certain ones of the printing elements in response to the command signals so as to provide a mark of the selected coding on the label during the print cycle, the printing elements each including an electromagnet and a marker arranged to be driven by the associated electromagnet and wherein the
  • the feedback means is a disk like element drive connected to the printing means and having a print cycle signal developing channel and a motor control signal developing channe and the printing means further includes rinting control means having the input thereof coup ed to the command means and the sensing means and the putput thereof coupled to the printing elements so as to enable certain of the printing elements in accordance with the selected codin when the sensing means supplies a print cycle signal t ereto.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Character Spaces And Line Spaces In Printers (AREA)
  • Accessory Devices And Overall Control Thereof (AREA)
  • Labeling Devices (AREA)
US00418722A 1973-11-23 1973-11-23 Device for printing coded labels and the like Expired - Lifetime US3848257A (en)

Priority Applications (9)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00418722A US3848257A (en) 1973-11-23 1973-11-23 Device for printing coded labels and the like
CA209,027A CA1007109A (en) 1973-11-23 1974-09-12 Coded label printer
GB4376374A GB1453530A (en) 1973-11-23 1974-10-09 Device for printing coded labels
DE19742448291 DE2448291C3 (de) 1973-11-23 1974-10-10 Vorrichtung zum Drucken von kodierten Aufklebern oder Etiketten
AU74523/74A AU475873B2 (en) 1973-11-23 1974-10-21 Device for printing coded labels and the like
JP12948274A JPS5329536B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-11-23 1974-11-08
FR7438090A FR2252218B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-11-23 1974-11-20
BE150737A BE822463A (fr) 1973-11-23 1974-11-21 Dispositif perfectionne d'impression d'etiquettes
ES432184A ES432184A1 (es) 1973-11-23 1974-11-22 Perfeccionamientos en dispositivos para imprimir etiquetas.

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00418722A US3848257A (en) 1973-11-23 1973-11-23 Device for printing coded labels and the like

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3848257A true US3848257A (en) 1974-11-12

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00418722A Expired - Lifetime US3848257A (en) 1973-11-23 1973-11-23 Device for printing coded labels and the like

Country Status (8)

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US (1) US3848257A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS5329536B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
AU (1) AU475873B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BE (1) BE822463A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CA (1) CA1007109A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
ES (1) ES432184A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2252218B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1453530A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5167457A (en) * 1990-11-15 1992-12-01 Telesis Controls Corporation Apparatus and method for marking arcuately configured character strings

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4206087A (en) * 1977-01-06 1980-06-03 Engelhard Minerals & Chemicals Corporation Catalyst for reducing pollutants in waste gas streams and process for preparing the catalyst
US4440248A (en) * 1980-02-09 1984-04-03 Teraoka Seikosho Co., Ltd. Bar code printer

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3757349A (en) * 1972-03-27 1973-09-04 Rca Corp Label writing apparatus

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3757349A (en) * 1972-03-27 1973-09-04 Rca Corp Label writing apparatus

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5167457A (en) * 1990-11-15 1992-12-01 Telesis Controls Corporation Apparatus and method for marking arcuately configured character strings

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS5085238A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1975-07-09
CA1007109A (en) 1977-03-22
DE2448291B2 (de) 1976-08-05
AU475873B2 (en) 1976-09-02
JPS5329536B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1978-08-22
FR2252218B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1978-09-29
ES432184A1 (es) 1976-10-01
GB1453530A (en) 1976-10-27
FR2252218A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1975-06-20
AU7452374A (en) 1976-04-29
DE2448291A1 (de) 1975-06-05
BE822463A (fr) 1975-05-21

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