WO2001007260A1

WO2001007260A1 - Stamping device for stamping predefined information

Info

Publication number: WO2001007260A1
Application number: PCT/DE2000/001724
Authority: WO
Inventors: Guenter Baitz; Joachim Burchart
Original assignee: Wincor Nixdorf Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 1999-07-21
Filing date: 2000-05-27
Publication date: 2001-02-01
Also published as: DE50001646D1; EP1200267A1; EP1200267B1; DE19934276A1; WO2001007261A1

Abstract

This invention concerns a stamping device (10) for the printing of predefinable information on an object which is designed to be pressed on the object to be printed on having a predetermined print area, einer Druckeinrichtung (24) und einer Steuereinrichtung, wobei die Druckeinrichtung einen durch einen Stellantrieb (30, 32, 34) wenigsten über eine zu bedruckende Fläche verstellbaren Mosaikdruckkopf (26, 50) enthält und die Steuereinrichtung (52) wenigstens eine Eingabeeinrichtung und einen Speicher (58) für die Daten einer zu druckenden grafischen Darstellung sowie eine Treiberelektronik für die Steuerung des Stellantriebes (30, 40) und der Druckelemente des Mosaikdruckkopfes umfaßt, ist mit einer Abtasteinrichtung (42) für die Erfassung des zuvor von der Druckeinrichtung Gedruckten und/oder einer anderweitig auf den Gegenstand aufgebrachten graphischen Darstellung ausgestattet. Eine Stempelvorrichtung (10) zum Drucken vorgebbarer Informationen auf einen Gegenstand, welche dazu bestimmt sit, auf den zu bedruckenden Gegenstand aufgesetzt zu werden, mit einem vorgegebenen Druckbereich, einer Druckeinrichtung (24) und einer Steuereinrichtung, wobei die Druckeinrichtung einen durch einen Stellantrieb (30, 32, 34) wenigsten über eine zu bedruckende Fläche verstellbaren Mosaikdruckkopf (26, 50) enthält und die Steuereinrichtung (52) wenigstens eine Eingabeeinrichtung und einen Speicher (58) für die Daten einer zu druckenden grafischen Darstellung sowie eine Treiberelektronik für die Steuerung des Stellantriebes (30, 40) und der Druckelemente des Mosaikdruckkopfes umfaßt, ist mit einer Abtasteinrichtung (42) für die Erfassung des zuvor von der Druckeinrichtung Gedruckten und/oder einer anderweitig auf den Gegenstand aufgebrachten graphischen Darstellung ausgestattet.

Description

Stamp device for printing specifiable

information

The invention relates to a stamp device for printing specifiable information on an object. The avoidance is based on GB 2 236 985 A.

GB 2 236 985 A shows a stamp device for printing specifiable information on an object, which is intended to be placed on the object to be printed, with a predetermined printing area, a printing device and a control device, the printing device being one contains, by means of an actuator, at least an adjustable mosaic print head and the control device comprises at least one input device and a memory for the data of a graphic representation to be printed, as well as driver electronics for controlling the actuator and the printing elements of the mosaic print head.

From US 4 832 696 A a stamp device is known which is equipped with type-bearing stamp tapes. The characters and symbols available for printing are arranged on the circumference of the stamp tape and are brought into the stamp position by twisting it. The number of digits is determined by the number of stamp wheels or stamp tapes. The impression is made by pressing the stamp on the object to be printed. Particular attention must be paid to a full-surface placement of the stamp on the object and a vertical alignment of the pressing force on the object. From WO 95/21420 AI an arrangement for electronic article labeling is known. This is used to mark the price of items offered for sale in a department store. It comprises a data processing system which transmits information wirelessly as a radio broadcast, and a large number of goods labels with a receiver for these radio broadcasts. The goods plate known from WO 95/21420 AI also contains a transmitter which is able to transmit information, and a display device.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a stamp device for printing prescribable information on an object, which is placed in a simple manner on the object to be printed and does not require any pressing forces for the printing.

The object is solved by the features of claim 1.

According to the invention, a scanning device is arranged in the stamp device for the detection of what was previously printed by the printing device and / or a graphic representation otherwise applied to the object.

On the one hand, the functionality of the printing device can be verified by recording the previously printed image immediately after it has been mapped and compared with the data of the print job. On the other hand, attempts to counterfeit are immediately noticeable and try to change the print image by changing the print head control.

Graphic representations otherwise applied to the object can be, for example, imprints or markings on a lottery ticket or bar code information on goods packaging. In a pre-printing process The acquisition process can read and process the data in these representations and, depending on this, control the content of the subsequent printing process. For this purpose, the scanning device is advantageously portable, in particular displaceable and / or pivotable together with the printing device. The scanning device can be equipped with a single-line or matrix photodiode array.

According to an alternative embodiment of the stamp device, the scanning device is permanently installed in the frame. This arrangement is particularly simple and sufficient for the detection of bar codes. In this case, the scanning device can be equipped with a single-line photo diode array, since a linear scanning is sufficient.

For special applications, for example in the banking sector, the scanning device can be a magnetic writing (MICR) reader according to an alternative form.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the stamp device is equipped with a receptacle for an exchangeable memory card.

The recording can be, for example, a chip card reader. When using an identification card, which may be designed as a chip card, it is ensured that the stamp device can only be put into operation by authorized persons. In the banking industry, for example, such a facility can be assigned to changing bank clerks. The imprint can also contain a facsimile signature authorized by the ID card. The recording can also be a recording frame for example for a mass storage device according to the PCMCIA standard. In warehouse applications, for example, the mass storage device can be a goods data (PLU) storage device. In conjunction with a previously described barcode scanner, the associated goods data can advantageously be retrieved from the PLU memory and printed on the goods packaging in plain text in one operation with barcode information previously read from a goods packaging.

As is also known from GB 2 236 985 A, the printing device is preferably designed as an ink print head. This has the advantage that uneven objects such as parcels or goods packaging can be printed in sales shops. The ink nozzles of the ink print head can be arranged in a matrix or in a row. Due to the displaceability of the ink print head along a print line, several characters can be printed in succession and, due to the pivotability, several lines can be printed without having to move the stamp device. When using a one-line ink print head, it is particularly advantageous if the length of the nozzle line corresponds at least to the length of one print line or the height of the print area. In this case, it is sufficient to arrange the ink print head so that it can pivot over the entire printing area.

According to another development of the invention, the stamp device is equipped with a display device for information to be printed and / or supplied by the scanning device. This allows the information to be printed mation checked before printing and, for example, the plausibility of what is read can be checked.

According to a preferred development of the invention, the stamping device is connected to a data processing system via a bidirectional data transmission device, in particular one that works according to an RF transmission method. Read information is transmitted to the data processing system and data to be printed are received from there. This ensures great freedom of movement for the user. In addition, extensive information processing operations can be carried out with the information read, the results of which have an effect on the content of the print.

It is particularly advantageous to use the corresponding elements of an electronic goods plate known per se as the display device and transmitter / receiver. A product label of the type mentioned is available as standard on the market. In particular in a department store or warehouse, the integration of the transmitter / receiver of a label attached to the stamping device into an arrangement for electronic item labeling means no additional effort. Another advantage of using an electronic goods label is that its display device, which is already present, can be used for display.

Two exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows

1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a stamp device in a schematic front view, 2 shows the stamping device from FIG. 1 in a schematic side view,

3 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a stamp device in a schematic front view,

4 shows the stamping device from FIG. 3 in a schematic side view,

Fig. 5 is a block diagram of a control device for the stamp device shown in Figures 1 and 2.

A first exemplary embodiment of a stamp device 10 is shown schematically in FIGS. 1 and 2. The stamp device 10 has a frame 20 essentially formed from a front wall 12, a rear wall 14 and side walls 16, 18. The stamp device 10 is placed on an object G to be printed, which does not belong to the stamp device 10. The underside 22 of the frame 20 is open. Their area determines the printing area of the stamp device 10 on the object G.

A printing device 24 is arranged in the stamp device 10, in the lower area of which an ink print head 26 with a matrix-shaped nozzle arrangement is slidably mounted on a parallel guide 28 between the side walls 16, 18 along a printing line. For this purpose, a first stepper motor 30 is provided for feeding the ink print head 26. This drives an endless belt 32, which is stretched parallel to the parallel guide 28 between a motor pulley 34 and a deflection roller 36. The ink print head 26 is attached to the belt 32. The printing device 24 is perpendicular about a pivot axis 38 pivoted to the print line. The pivoting movement is effected by a second stepper motor 40.

On the rear wall 14, a scanning device 42 is arranged in the lower region in such a way that it is aligned with the object G and is able to detect at least one line of what is printed by the ink print head 26 in its position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2. In this case, the scanning device 42 is constructed as a row of photodiodes. However, it is also possible to use a photodiode matrix as the scanning device 42, to attach it to the ink print head 26 and to move and pivot it together with the latter. The entire pressure range can thus be detected by the scanning device 42.

A printed circuit board 44, which carries the components of a control device 52 described below, is fastened to the rear wall 14 above the scanning device 42. A chip card reader 46 is installed in the stamping device 10 approximately in the middle between the front wall 12 and the rear wall 14 of the frame 20 in such a way that its mouthpiece 48 passes through the left side wall 16 of the frame 20.

A second exemplary embodiment of a stamp device 10 'is shown schematically in FIGS. Only their printing device 24 'and their scanning device 42' differ from the printing device 24 and the first scanning device 42 of the first stamp device 10, which is why the same elements are provided with the same reference numerals. The second printing device 24 'is equipped with an ink print head 50, the nozzles of which are arranged in a single row. The ink print head 50 extends across the entire width of the print area, is the length of a print line. For this reason, a displaceable mounting of the ink print head on a parallel guide along the print line and a motor for the feed along the print line, as in the first stamp device 10, are not necessary. The printing device 24 'is pivotably mounted about a pivot axis 38' perpendicular to the printing line. The pivoting movement is effected by a third stepper motor 40 '.

A second scanner 42 'is attached to the ink print head 50 or the second printer 24'. The second scanning device 42 'is constructed as a photodiode line and has an effective width which corresponds to the length of the print line. The second scanning device 42 ′ is pivoted together with the ink print head 50. The entire pressure range can thus be detected by the scanning device 42 '. Otherwise the stamp devices 10 and 10 'do not differ from one another.

5 shows a block diagram of a control device designated overall by 52 for the first stamping device 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A microprocessor 54 is in a known manner with a ROM memory 56 containing at least one control program, a RAM working memory 58 and one I / O device 60 connected for data input and output. The first stepper motor 30 is connected to output interfaces of the I / O device 60 via first driver electronics 62, the second stepper motor 40 is connected via second driver electronics 64 and the ink print head 26 is connected via third driver electronics 66. At input interfaces of the I / O device 60, the scanning device 42, the chip card reader 46, are one Input keyboard 68 and a trigger device 70 connected. The trigger device 70 can be designed as a separate key switch or as a key on the input keyboard 68.

A display device 72, preferably in the form of a liquid crystal display (LCD), is connected to a further output interface of the I / O device 60. Furthermore, a wireless transceiver 74, preferably working according to an RF transmission method, is connected to a combined input / output interface of the I / O device. The display device 72 and the transceiver 74 are parts of an electronic goods label 76, as is known for example from WO 95/21420 AI. The control device 52 and the modules connected to it are supplied with electrical energy from a battery 78.

The input keyboard 68, the release device 70 and the goods plate 76 are installed in a manner not shown on the frame 20 of the stamping device 10 and the battery 78 in this. The control device 52 is also suitable for controlling the second stamp device 10 ', only the output interface to which the first driver 62 for the first stepper motor 30 is connected remains unused. The third stepper motor 40 'is to be connected to the second driver 64.

The transceiver 74 can correspond to a second transceiver 80 which is connected to a remote data processing system 82 or a PC of a person authorized to use the stamp device. The stamping devices 10, 10 'can be used in different ways:

a) Manual control

The information to be printed is entered into the RAM 58 using the keyboard. The set print image is shown on the display device 72. If the printed image meets the expectations of the user, the latter places the stamp device 10, 10 ′ on the object G to be printed and actuates the triggering device 70.

b) Program-controlled manual control

Various print programs can be stored in the ROM memory 56, for example automatic management and indexing of a serial number. According to a), this can be supplemented by freely entered information and printed.

c) remote control

Information to be printed is transmitted either automatically or on a request signal, which is sent from the stamp device 10, 10 'via the transmitter of the first transceiver 74 to the data processing system 82, and from there to the stamp device 10, 10' stored in RAM 58. The printing is then carried out under the control of this information.

d) Authorized stamp

The entry of information via the input keyboard 68 in accordance with a) and / or the triggering of a printing process is only released if an identification card authorizing these work steps is previously inserted into the chip card reader 46. was stuck. Information to be printed, such as a facsimile of the user's signature, can also be stored in the identification card.

e) Read / write operation The stamp device 10, 10 'is placed on an object G to be printed in such a way that information, for example bar-coded, which is imaged on the object G can be detected by the scanning device 42, 42'. This information corresponds to an address, for example in a goods data memory, which can be part of the ROM memory 56, a memory in a chip card or the data processing system 82. With this address, data belonging to the acquired information, e.g. a description of the goods and a price are retrieved and stored in the RAM memory 56. This data is printed as described under c).

f) Controlled stamping

That which was printed immediately beforehand, for example in accordance with c), is detected with the aid of the scanning device 42, 42 'and the read data is transmitted to the data processing system 82. By recording the printed matter immediately after it has been depicted and comparing it with the data of the print job, on the one hand the functionality of the printing device can be verified. On the other hand, attempts to counterfeit are immediately noticeable and try to change the print image by changing the print head control.

Claims

claims

1. A stamp device (10, 10 ') for printing predefinable information on an object (G), which is intended to be placed on the object (G) to be printed, with a predetermined printing area, a printing device (24, 24' ), a control device (52), the printing device (24, 24 ') having a mosaic printhead (26. which can be adjusted by means of an actuator (30, 32, 34, 36; 38, 40; 38', 40 ') at least over an area to be printed ; 50) and the control device (52) contains at least one input device (46, 68, 74) and a memory (58) for the data of a graphic representation to be printed as well as driver electronics (62, 64; 66) for the control of the actuator ( 30, 40) and the printing elements of the mosaic printhead (26), characterized by a scanning device (42, 42 ') for detecting what was previously printed by the printing device (24, 24') and / or otherwise on the object (G) applied graphic Da rstellung.

2. Stamp device (10 ') according to claim 1, the scanning device (42') at least over a part of the printing area portable, in particular together with the printing device (24 ') is displaceable and / or pivotable.

3. Stamp device (10) according to claim 1, the scanning device (42) is permanently installed in a frame (20) holding the printing device (24, 24 ').

4. Stamp device (10, 10 ') according to one of claims 1 to 3, the scanning device (42) with a matrix photodiode array or the scanning device (42') is equipped with a single-line photodiode array.

5. stamp device (10, 10 ') according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the scanning device is a magnetic writing (MICR) reader.

6. stamp device (10, 10 ') according to one of the preceding claims with a receptacle (46) for an exchangeable memory card.

7. stamp device (10, 10 ') according to claim 6, the recording of which is a chip card reader (46) or a recording frame according to the PCMCIA standard.

8. stamp device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 7 with an ink print head (26), the ink nozzles are arranged in a matrix.

9. stamp device (10 ') according to one of claims 1 to 7 with an ink print head (50), the ink nozzles are arranged in a line, the length of the line corresponds at least to the length of a print line or the height of the print area.

10. stamp device (10, 10 ') according to at least one of the preceding claims with a display device

(72) for information to be printed and / or supplied by the scanning device (42, 42 ').

11. Stamp device (10, 10 ') according to one of the preceding claims with a bidirectional, in particular according to an RF transmission method data transmission device (74, 80) for receiving little least the data of information to be printed from a data processing system (82) and for transmitting at least the information acquired by the scanning device (42, 42 ') to the data processing system (82).

12. Stamp device (10, 10 ') according to claims 11 and 12, in which the corresponding elements of a known electronic goods label (76) are used as the display device (72) and transmitter / receiver (74).

13. Stamp device (10, 10 ') according to one of the preceding claims with an input keyboard (68) at least for the manual input of information to be printed.

14. Stamp device (10, 10 ') according to one of the preceding claims with a manually actuated triggering device (70) for the printing device (24, 24').