CA1296573C - Printer for a variety of purposes - Google Patents
Printer for a variety of purposesInfo
- Publication number
- CA1296573C CA1296573C CA000557309A CA557309A CA1296573C CA 1296573 C CA1296573 C CA 1296573C CA 000557309 A CA000557309 A CA 000557309A CA 557309 A CA557309 A CA 557309A CA 1296573 C CA1296573 C CA 1296573C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- printer
- base frame
- modular building
- building block
- 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 - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J3/00—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
- B41J3/28—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for printing downwardly on flat surfaces, e.g. of books, drawings, boxes, envelopes, e.g. flat-bed ink-jet printers
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J13/00—Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, specially adapted for supporting or handling copy material in short lengths, e.g. sheets
- B41J13/10—Sheet holders, retainers, movable guides, or stationary guides
- B41J13/12—Sheet holders, retainers, movable guides, or stationary guides specially adapted for small cards, envelopes, or the like, e.g. credit cards, cut visiting cards
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J29/00—Details of, or accessories for, typewriters or selective printing mechanisms not otherwise provided for
- B41J29/02—Framework
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
PRINTED FOR A VARIETY OF PURPOSES
A printer for a plurality of different printing objects serving as a multifunctional printer is subject to problems of economic production. A printer system which allows to process all internationally required forms and savings booklets, records, checks, protocols, driver licenses for motor vehicles, passports, identification cards, motor vehicle registration papers, picture-text BTX
texts, and teletext texts, can be furnished, depending on the selected functions, by forming a base model (1), which includes a print apparatus (2), a print-object transport device (3), an operating field (4), an electronic control device (5), and a power supply (6), where the print apparatus (2), the power supply (6), and the electronic control device (5) form in each case modular building blocks (7), which can be easily mounted and easily demounted by receiving and bolting means (9, 10 or, respectively, 9a, 10a) disposed at a base frame (8) and where further receiving and bolting means (9, 10 or, respectively, 9b, 10b) are provided at the base frame (8) for an optical character-recognition device (15) and/or for a magnetic-strip processing (20) and/or for an optical line searcher (21) and/or for an optical marking searching (22) and/or for a journal-printer modular building block (23, 7).
PRINTED FOR A VARIETY OF PURPOSES
A printer for a plurality of different printing objects serving as a multifunctional printer is subject to problems of economic production. A printer system which allows to process all internationally required forms and savings booklets, records, checks, protocols, driver licenses for motor vehicles, passports, identification cards, motor vehicle registration papers, picture-text BTX
texts, and teletext texts, can be furnished, depending on the selected functions, by forming a base model (1), which includes a print apparatus (2), a print-object transport device (3), an operating field (4), an electronic control device (5), and a power supply (6), where the print apparatus (2), the power supply (6), and the electronic control device (5) form in each case modular building blocks (7), which can be easily mounted and easily demounted by receiving and bolting means (9, 10 or, respectively, 9a, 10a) disposed at a base frame (8) and where further receiving and bolting means (9, 10 or, respectively, 9b, 10b) are provided at the base frame (8) for an optical character-recognition device (15) and/or for a magnetic-strip processing (20) and/or for an optical line searcher (21) and/or for an optical marking searching (22) and/or for a journal-printer modular building block (23, 7).
Description
i573 PRINTER FOR A VARIETY OF PURPOSES
BACRGROU~D OF T~E INVENTION
1. Field of ~h~ Invention The invention relates to a printer for a plurality of different printing objects which can include documents, checks, savings booklets, protocols, forms of all kinds such as, for example, bills, receipts, driver licenses, passports, identification cards, motor vehicle documents, both picture BTX texts (hardcopy) as well as teletex TTX
i0 texts.
BACRGROU~D OF T~E INVENTION
1. Field of ~h~ Invention The invention relates to a printer for a plurality of different printing objects which can include documents, checks, savings booklets, protocols, forms of all kinds such as, for example, bills, receipts, driver licenses, passports, identification cards, motor vehicle documents, both picture BTX texts (hardcopy) as well as teletex TTX
i0 texts.
2. ~Li~f Description Qf the Backgro~n~ of ~h~
Invention Tncludin~ ~LiQ~ a~
Such printing objects, which can be processed by conventional printing machines, comprise numerous purposes and include receipt slips produced by roller strips. Such printers are employed in banks, financial institutions, post offices, municipal administrations, and governmental authorities and offices of all kinds, in commercial enterprises, in cooperatives, and in general commercial activities.
Such multifunctional printers are subject to big problems with respect to their economic production, Printers for individual functions are known. For example, savings-booklet printers are produced which are naturally deemed to be a specialty printer. In addition, there exist ticket printers, which are also considered specialty printers. It is understood that a printer with several functions becomes less favorable in production and economics the higher the number of functions increases. Difficulties occur in case of multifunctional printers in addition by the special form of the objects to be printed on, since there exist large varieties with regard to thickness, stiffness, quality, and irregularity of cut, in case of savings booklets, driver licenses, passports, identification cards, and motor vehicle documents, which impose limits in the processing.
On the other hand, the market not always requires the highest number of functions such that the s~lection of functions has to be performed already in the planning of the production in the production plant. Thus, the problem of the multifunctional printer is substantially a problem of the construction and of the production economy.
It is known from German Patent 3,20~,111 to provide a printing device of modular construction, where the printer apparatus can be tilted around a hinge between one position where an individual form or, respectively, a set of forms is being printed on, and one position where an endless 12~i5~3 form or, respectively, a set of endless forms is being printed on. It is known in this context to form the individual-form transport modular as a removable base apparatus and it is further known to form the printer apparatus and the endless-form transport in a flappable way.
Such a construction, however, does not resolve the problem to provide to the printer a larger number of functions, which are taken into consideration already at the time of construction and production planning and not only during the use of the printer.
SUMnARY OF T~E INVENTION
poses Qf the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer system which allows the processing of all international required forms and savings booklets, receipts, checks, protocols, driver licenses for motor vehicles, passports, identification cards, motor vehicle registration papers, picture-text BTX texts, and teletext texts, depending on the number of desired functions.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a printer which can receive attachments appropriate for the printing material to be used.
It is a further object of the present invention to 1~J~j73 provide a modular printer which al]ows easy disassembly and removal of modules for an economic maintenance.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become evident from the description which follows.
2. Brief Descriptiorl of ~h~ Invention According to the invention a printer for a plurality of different print substrate material processing functions comprises a base frame. A print apparatus forms a modular building block and is demountably attached to the base frame. A print substrate material transport device is disposed on the base frame. An operating field is attached to the base frame for inputting process information. An electronic control device forms a modular building block and is attached to the base frame and electrically connected to the print apparatus. A power supply forms a modular building block and is attached to the base frame and electrically connected to the electronic control device.
~he modular building blocks can be easily mounted and easily demounted based on engageable and disengageable attachment means disposed at the base frame. Attachment means for mounting and demounting of a member are selected from the group of function modules including an optical character-5~3 recognition device, a magnetic-strip processing unit, an optical line searching unit, an optical marking searcher, and a journal-printer modular building bloc~.
A front cover cap mountable to and demountable from the base frame can cover the print apparatus and can integrate the operating field. A demountable rear cover cap can cover the power supply and additional function modules.
An extended rear cover cap can be provided for covering the print-apparatus modular building block, for protecting the power-supply modular building block and the journal-printer modular building block and can connectingly join at the front cover cap.
An interface-adaptation insertion can be provided at the rear side of the base frame.
Preferably, an optical character-recognition device is disposed on the base frame between the print apparatus and the power supply. A casing floor trough can be disposed at the base frame. A function module can be disposed in the casing-floor trough, where the function module can include a member selected from the group consisting of a recognition electronic, a magnetic-strip processing unit, and an optical line searcher.
Pre~erably, the print substrate transport device s~
includes several pairs of friction-d~ive rollers provided at the base frame and a step-drive motor with drive engaging at least one roller axis and disposed below the base frame and provided for the advance of the print substrate material.
A journal-printer modular building block can be attached to the base frame and disposed opposite to the power supply.
The print apparatus can be provided with a print head having at least about 18 pins. The base frame can be proviæed with wide sides. llhe print apparatus is preferably provided about at the distance of the wide sides of the base frame. Side walls can be provided about in the distance of the wide sides of the base frame. These side walls can be connected to each other with slide guide rods. Preferably, the print apparatus is provided with a drive block comprising an electric drive motor, a drive gear, and a cycle tact station for sender signals for the print head control, a print head movable back and forth on sliae guide rods with an automatic paper-thickness balancing device and a color-tape cassette insertable between the side walls, which units altogether form the print-apparatus modular building block.
An optical character-recognition device can be provided with a guide frame comprising two parallel guide rods. These guide rods can be attached in a side plate. A
a reading device, functioning as a read head or as an optical line searcher can be provided with a drive.. The reading device can be disposed in a receiver casing and these units altogether can form function modules.
Preferably, the journal printer is provided with a print counter support attached in a printer frame with one or two parallel journal paths, with a cutting device, a color-tape cassette, a color-tape drive, an optical marking searcher, a print head, with a print-head drive, which units altogether form the journal-printer modular building block.
Accoraing to the invention, there is provided a base model which comprises a printer apparatus, a printing-object ~ransporting device, an operating field, anelectronic control device, and a power supply, where the printer apparatus, the power module, and the electronic control device form in each case module devices, which can be easily mounted at a receiviny and bolting means disposed on a base frame and which, a~ the same time, can be easily disattached. Further receiving and bolting means can be provided at the base franle for an optical character-recognition device and/or for a magnetic-strip processing ~z~
and/or for an optical line searching and/or for an cptical searching of markings and/or for a journal-printer modular building block. The invention therefore allows to start with a base model, with which forms, records, checks, savin~s booklets, driver licenses, passports, identification cards, motor vehicle documents, picture-text BTX texts, and teletext texts can be printed on or printed, where the printer requires a minimum expenditure depending on the specific situation employecl or reassigned to the printer.
The only additional requirement, which is however of substantial importance in production technology or for economic considerations, are the various options for additional functions. However, such a requirement is of minor importance from an economical point of view because, in case of a change of the production to additional functions, no changes are required in the principle and main production process.
It is furthermore advantageous in this context if the ba8e model is provided with a cover cap in the front, which covers the printer apparatus and the operating field and if a rear cover cap is provided which can be removed and which covers the power supply and the further modular building blocks. Therefore, the invention system is in g .3 particular easy to maintain because the modular groups are easily accessible after removal of the individual cover caps and allow an accessibility of 100% for practical purposes.
Therefore, the invention does not make use of hinged structural components such as this technology is employed in television apparatus and in the cited state of the art.
An enlargement of the printer with respect to the number of functions equals, in some cases, an enlargement of the printer in its dimensions. For this purpose it is provided that an extended rear cover cap can be provided for the covering of the printer-apparatus modular building blocks, for the power-supply modular component, and for the journal-printer modular component, which protects and which joins the front cover cap.
A further increase of the accessibility of the individual component groups is provided by furnishing an interface adaptation insert at the rear side of the base frame.
The capabilities of the printer for certain functions or processing steps is further increased in that the base model is expanded by an optical character-reco~nition device between the printer apparatus and the power supply and by expanding with a recognition electronic 6:~73 disposed in the casing-floor trough and/or by a magnetic-strip processing and/or by an optical line searching. The printer receives thereby the multifunctional property to be able to optically read certain types of printing. At the same time, savings booklets with magnetic strips can be processed. In this case, there is also provided an optical line searching. Furthermore, a corresponding marking in a defined column on the journal (record roll) can be recognized for correct printing and cutting of preprinted forms from the roll.
According to further features of the invention, several pairs of friction-drive rollers and a step motor, disposed under the base frame and engaging at least at one roller axis together with a drive, are provided for the advancing of the objects to be printed on. Therefore, in this case, the paper-advance aggregate is accessible after removal of the individual modular building blocks but, however, cannot be swung open as a modular removable base aggregate itself in the form of an individual-form transport 0 or, respectively, in the shape of an endless-form transport.
The expansion of the printer functions is further improved by expanding the base model with a journal-printer modular building block, which is disposed opposite to the power supply. These steps lead to expanding the base model in a certain direction, as will be illustrated further below.
A further aspect of the invention is concerned with the construction of the individual modular building blocks, which can be easily mounted and which can be easily demounted. In detail, this concerns the print apparatus, the optical character-recognition device and the journal printer.
lU The improvin~ steps comprise individually that the print apparatus comprises an 18-pin or 24-pin print head and that side walls are providea about at a distance of the wide sides of the base frame. The side walls are connected to each other by means of slide guide rods such that the print apparatus comprises a drive block, including an electric drive motor, preferably a gear drive, and a cycle station providing signals for the print-head control, a print head, which can be moved back and forth on the slide guide rods, with an automatic paper-thickness balancing device and with a color-tape cassette, which can be inserted between the side walls, and which components together form the print-apparatus modular buildings blocks. This print-apparatus modular building block can be autonomously removed after removal of the front cover cap and after pulling the respective electric or, respectively, electronic plug connections completely out of the printer as is described further down.
A further improvement of the invention now comprises that the optical character-recognition device includes a guide frame, comprising two parallel guide rods, which are attached in side plates. Furthermore, a drive for the read head or for the optical line searching are provided and also disposed in a receiving casing. These units together form the the group of modular building blocks. In this case as well, the modular building block can be exchanged easily as a whole in case of necessary repairs.
Finally, a further improvement of the invention lii comprises that the journal printer includes a printer support or block attached to a printer frame, one or two parallel journal paths, a cutting device, a color-tape cassette, a color-tape drive, an optical searcher for markings, a print head with print-head drive, which altogether form the group of journal-printer modular building blocks. These steps are particularly advantageous in the planning of production for multi-functional printers with a high number of functions, where such a journal-S~3 printer modular building b]ock can be easily added to the base model.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereofr will be best understood from the following description of specific embodinlents when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTlON OF TH~ DRAWING
In the accompanying drawing, in which are shown several of the various possible embodiments of the present invention:
Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a printer which includes a maximum number of functions, Fig. 2 is a view of the printer according to Fig.
l in a side view after removcll of all cover caps and of the modular building blocks, with the exception of the power-supply modular building b]ock, Fig. 3 is a side view of the base model with the cover caps in position, - ~\
~$~i ~3 Fig. 4 is a side view of the printer according to Fig. 1 with the cover caps in position, Fig. 5 is a side view of the printer according to Figs. 1 and 4 with cover caps removed, Fig. 6 is a side view of the printer acccrding to Figs. l, 4, ana 5 the front cover cap removed, Fig. 6A is a view of the demounted print-apparatus modular building block, Fig. 6B is a top planar view of the print-apparatus modular building block, Fig. 7 is a side view of the multifunctional printer according to Figs. 1, 4, 5, and 6 at the point of the removal or, respectively, the mounting of the character-reCognition device, Fig. 7A is a top view onto the moaular building block "optical character recosnitionn, Fig. 8A is a side view of the journal-printer modular building block, and Fig. 8B is a top view onto the modular building block ~journal printer~.
DESCRIPTION OF INYENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
According to the invention, the printer is provided as a base model l, which comprises a print apparatus 2, a print-object transport device 3, an operating field 4, an electronic control device 5, and a power supply 6. The print apparatus 2, the power supply 6, and the electronic control device 5, in each case, foem modular building blocks 7. The modular building blocks 7 can be easily mounted ana easily demounted based on receiver and bolting means 9, 10 or, respectively, 9a, lOa disposed at a base frame 8, The base frame B is provided with additional receiver and bolting means 9, 10 or, respectively, 9b, lOb for an optical character-recognition device 15 and/or for a magnetic-strip processing 20 and/or for an optical line searcher 21 and/or for an optical marking searcher 22 and/or for a journal-printer modular building block 23, 7.
Preferably, the base model 1 comprises a demountable front cover cap 27 covering the print apparatus 2 and integrating the operating field 4 and a demountable rear cover cap 28 covering the power supply 6 and additional modular building blocks 7.
Preferably, an extended rear cover cap 29 is provided for covering the print-apparatus modular building block 2, 7, for protecting the power-supply modular building block 6, 7 and the journal-printer modular building block 23, 7, and joining at the front cover cap 27.
1~$6573 An interface-adaptation insertion 30 can be provided at the rear side 8a of the base frame 8.
The base model 1 can be expanded by an optical character-recognition device 15 disposed between the print apparatus 2 and the power supply 6 and expandable by a recognition electronic 32 disposed in a casing-floor trough 8b and/or by a magnetic-strip processing 20 and/or by an optical line searcher 21.
Several pairs of friction-drive rollers 33, 34, 35 can be are provided at the base frame 8. A step-drive motor 37 with drive engaging at least one roller axis 36 and disposed below the base frame 8 can be provided for the advance of the printing object.
The base model 1 can be expanded by a journal-printer modular building block 23 disposed opposite to thepower supply 6.
Preferably, the print apparatus 2 is provided with an 18-pin or 24-pin print head 40 and is provided about at the distance of the wide sides 8c of the base frame 8. Side ~0 walls 41a, 41b can be provided about in the distance of the wide sides 8c of the base frame 8. These side walls 41a, 41b can be connected to each other with slide guide rods 42, The print apparatus 2 can be provided with a drive block 43 comprising an electric drive motor 44, a drive gear 45, and a cycle tact station 46 for sender signals for the print head control, a print head 40 movable back and forth on the slide guide rods 42 with an automatic paper-thickness balancins device 49 and a color-tape cassette 39 insertable between the side walls 41a, 41b, which altogether can form the print-apparatus modular building block 7.
Preferably, the optical character-recognition device 15 is provided with a guide frame 50 comprising two parallel guide rods 51a, 5]b, which are attached in side plate 52a, 52b, and can further include a drive 53 for the read head 54 or for an optical line searcher 21, which can be disposed in a receiver casing 55 and which altogether can form the modular building block 7.
The iournal printer 23 can be provided with a pxint counter support 57 attached in a printer frame 56, with one or two parallel journal paths 58, S9, with a cutting device 61, a color-tape cassette 60, a color-tape drive 63, an optical marking searcher 22, a 2rint head 71 with a print-head drive 72, and which altogether can form the journal-printer modular building block 7.
According to Figs. 1 and 3, the printer is provided as base model 1 wit.h the described ex~ansions and 1~J~6573 forms therefore the desired multi-form printer, i.e. a printer with a high number of functions, which can be employed in an application case in part or complete. A
print apparatus 2, a print-object transporting device 3, an operating field 4, an electronic control device 5, and a power supply 6 form the substantial components of the base model 1. The print apparatus 2, the power supply 6, and the electronic control 5 form here, in each case, a compact, autonomous, demountable modular building block 7. ~ach of the modular building blocks 7 includes its own support at the base frame 8 of the printer. The base frame 8 exhibits for each modular building block 7, in each case, receiving means 9 and bolting n,eans 10, where the receiving means 9 can, under certain conditions, form at the same time the bolting means 10.
The receiving means 9 and the bolting meanslO are illustrated in detail in Fig. 2 and are emphasized there.
In the context of the printing apparatus 2, for example, the bearing blocks 9a form the receiver means 9 for a rod of the 2n printer apparatus 2 and a lever receiver lOa forms the bolting means 10.
The printer apparatus 2 is in addition supported via a lever extension12 on a spacer body 14 provided with a ~.2~S73 compression spring 13.
An analog support is provided for the optical character-recoynition device 15, compare Figs. 1, 7, and 7A.
Receiver means 9b and bolting means lOb are disposed in pairs on a platform 16 at a distance to each other. The bolting means lOb in addition includes a recess 11, into which also a rod 51a, helonging to the modular building block 7 "optical character recognition 15~, can be hanged.
Side plates 52a, 52b of the character-recognition device 15 are attached on a first shoulder 15a with a thread 15b. A part of a guide frame 50 is supported by a second shoulder 15c.
Another modular building block 7, comprising the power supply 6, is clamped into a pair of similar support protrusion 1~. A magnetic-strip processing device 20 is attached below the mounting plane 19 and within the base frame 8. The described receiving means 9 or, res~ectively, 9b and the bolting means 10 or, respectively, lOb can be disposed for a certain purpose also within one modular building block 7. Thus, the optical marking searcher 22 is disposed within the journal-~rinter modular building block 23 (Fig. 8A).
The modular building block 7 of the journal 1~5~73 printer 23 is connected via a support plate 24 and a slot 24a by means of an attachment means 25 to the base frame 8, where the journal printer 23 is connected with the support plate 24. In this case, the support plate 24 rest~ from below against the attach~lent means 25. The support plate 24 is in addition attached with a thread 26 on a surface 26a.
A detachable cover cap 27 surrounds the printer, in the case of the base model 1 as shown in Fig. 3, where the cover cap 27 covers the print apparatus 2 and surrounds tlle operating field 4. The power supply 6 and possibly further modular building blocks 7 are protected by a ~etachable rear cover cap 28, which cover cap 28 forms a step 28a.
In case of an expanded base model 1, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the print apparatus 2 is protected with the front cover cap 27. In contrast, the modular building block 7 of the power supply 6 and the modular building block 7 of the jourrlal printer 23 are surrounded by an extended rear cover cap 29 following immediately the front cover cap 27. A form opening for an interface adaptation insertion 30 is provided below the extended rear cover cap 29 at the rear side 8a of the base fra~e 8. The interface adaptation insertion 30 can be mounted or, 1~Çi5~33 respectively, demounted by sliding in the arrow direction 31.
The expanded base model 1 according to Figs. 1, 4, and S exhibits in addition the optical character-recognition S device 15, which is disposed between the print apparatus 2 and the power supply 6. In addition, there is provided a respective recoanition electronic 32, provided as a printed circuit board, which is not present in the base model 1 and which is disposed in the casing-floor trough 8b (Fig. 1).
The base model 1 therefore cioes not require in addition the particular casing-floor trough 8b. The magnetic-strip processing 20 is also to be considered as an expansion, as well as the optical line searcher 21 (Fig. 7A), and the optical marking searcher 22 (Fig. 8A), which are employed in the modular building block 7 of the journal printer 23.
In contrast, the base model 1 comprises on the base frame 8 several pairs of friction drive rollers 33, which are distributed over the width of the printer, where the first row of these rollers is disposed in the location region of the mounting plane 19. In addition, further pairs of friction drive rollers 34 are driven via pulling means 34a through a step-drive motor 37 in advance direction behind the print apparatus 2. Additional pairs of friction 12~;S73 drive rollers 35 are supported at the base frame 8 in the advance direction behind the character-recognition device 15.
Advantageously, in each case a roller axis 36, and in fact theroller axis disposed at the bottom in each case, is driven in the case of the friction roller pairs 33, 34, and 35. A step-drive motor 37, not illustrated in detail, together with a drive, is present below the base frame 8.
The step-drive motor transfers a rotary torque to individual or all roller axes 36 via pulling ~leans 34a.
The base model 1 can be expanded by a modular building block 7 of a journal printer 23, and infact in the way that, in case a printer apparatu~ 2 and a power supply 6 are present, then the journal printer 23 is disposed opposite to the power supply 6, whereby the printer is expanded overall and whereby the extended rear cover cap 29 is being used (Fig. 5).
In the following, further important modular building blocks 7 are described in order to show that an easy and quick demounting can be provided by the system of the modular building blocks 7. The print apparatus 2 is easily accessible both at the base model 1 aswell asin the case of the extended model by removal of the cover cap 27 ~2~6573 (compare Fig. 3). Possibly required service work can be performed at the print apparatus 2 by tilting the print apparatus 2 around the axis lOc of a rod into the position 2' and by supporting the print apparatus with a support linkage 38 on the mounting plane 19, whereby the print apparatus is disposed substantially horizontal. For example, the color-band cassette 39 can be easily exchanged in arrow direction 39a in this horizontal position of Fig. 6 of the print apparatus. Similarly, the print head 40, which comprises for example an 18-pin or 24-pin print head, can be easily exchanged. The print apparatus 2 can be lifted quickly and easily out of the recess 11, open from above, in case of a further demand in service work, as illustrated in Fig. 2.
This mode of handling can be accomplished for all modular building blocks 7 based on the compact constructionl where advantageously all building parts are disposed within a base frame 8, as shown in Fig. 5.
The print apparatus 2, as illustrated in Figs. 6A
and 6B, is adapted to the width of the printer, i.e. side walls 41a and 41b with sliding guide rods 42 are connected to a frame about at a distance of the wide sides 8c of the base frame 8, where the frame carries all device parts. The ~ii5~
print apparatus 2 is supported by way of levers lOd, bolts lOe, springs lOf coordinated to the side walls 41a and 41b in the lever reception lOa as a bolting means 10. A drive block 43 is forme~ at the end of this frame, which comprises an electric drive motor 44 and a gear drive45. A so-called cycle tact station 46 is provided at the shaft end of the drive motor 44. Sender signals for the print-head control are transmitted from the cycle tact station 46, which signals control the slide 47 carrying the print head 40 independent from the path, i.e. the drive motor 44 drives the slide 47 independent via gear belt 48 in such a way that the letter characters and signs are transferred exactly onto the respective carrier for the print, for example the records. In addition, an automatic paper-thickness balancing device 49 is attached at the print head 40. The color-tape cassette 39 is inserted between the side walls 41a and 41b. All these device components as well as the device parts still present, however not mentioned, ~orm the modular building block 7 of the print apparatus 2. The electric connection for the electroma~netic coils of the print head 40 are provided as usual and are therefore not illustrated.
The modular building block 7 of the optical 12~6573 character-recognition device 15 is constructed in a similar compact fashion as that of the print apparatus 2. Thus, the optical character-recognition device 15, shown in Figs. 7 and 7A, forms a guide franle S0, which comprises two parallel guide rods 51a and 51b and side plates 52a and 52b. A drive 53 moves the read head 54 together with a receiving casing 55 and a slide 55a on the guide rods 51a and 51b. The electric connections for the drive 53 as well as for the read head 54 are formed as usual and are not illustrated in detail.
Instead of the elements of the read head 54, an optical line searcher 21 can be provided inside of the receiver casing 55. In addition, ears 52c or, respectively, openings 52d are provided at the side plates 52a and 52b for bolting at the base frame 8 of the moaular building blocks 7 in the thread 15b.
The modular building blocks 7 of the journal printer 23, as shown in Fig. 8A, in addition to the support plate 24 exhibits a printer frame 56, which is formed from one or several support walls 56a and 56b. A printing counter support 57 is attached at the printer frame 56. The printer frame 56 in addition receives one or two parallel journal paths 58 and 59, compare Fig. 8B. In principle, two ~iS73 different transfer systems for generation of the printing on the support can be employed. A thermo-transfer system or thermo-direct prjnting is possible. Instead of the thermo paper, therecan be employed a thermotape for single use or for multi-use.
As illustrated in Figs. 8A and 8B, a thermo-tape cassette 60 and a cutting device 61 are coordinated to the print counter support. The thermo tape 62 is driven by a separate thermo-tape drive 63. A first drive motor 65 is provided for the drive of the paper-storage roller 64. The motor shaft 66 of tbe drive motor 65 drives on a transport shaft 67, which transport shaft 67 in turn moves the journal path 58. A second drive motor 65a drives with its motor shaft 65b the journal path 59. Connection rods 68 and 69 are attached in the printer frame 56, where a print-head slide 70 slides with a pr:int head 71, or a thermo-print head. The print-head slide 70 is moved back and forth through a print-head drive 72 via a belt 72a ahead of the printing counter support 57 and print head is operated in the way conventional print heads are operated. The complete modular building block 7 of the journal printer 23 is attached with the support p]ate 24 on the surface26a by way of threads 26 and a screw 26b, as illustrated in Fig. 1.
:~2~ 3 The printer apparatus can be provided for easy connection to the various modular building blocks. Most of these building blocks employ currents of various kinds to be powered up. In order to avoid clutter resulting from loose connection wires, it is possible to employ an electrical bus structure with plug receptacles or printed circuit board connector receptacles into which the various function modules are plugqed. Elements of such bus structure can be mounted onto the base frame. Tbe bus structure can be laid out to be suitable for substitution of certain modules, for example all modules involved in printing can be attached to a certain bus connection, all modules involved in power supply and control functions can employ a second bus connection, and all modules involved in reading, searching, and the like, can employ a third type of bus connections. It is possible that these bus connections are all different or that some or all of these bus connections are of the same type. The bus connections can be constructed such that no connectors are exposed if such connector does not have any module pluyged in. The bus connectors can be disposed on the side of the path of the printing substrate material such as not to interfere with printing substrate material passing through the printer unit.
i573 The attachment means can be of one or different types including bolting attachment, snap-in attachment, screw-on attachment, pin insertion, recess insertion, eyelet-hook connection, bolts, levers, springs. The attachment elements are positioned along the base frame at distances allowing sufficient space for placing the desired function modules on the base frame in a desired sequence.
These elements can be positioned along a line running in parallel to the advance path of the paper material for allowing a placement of a certain module at different desired locations along the base frame while still retaining a matched coordination with respect to the path of the advancing print substrate material. In particular, optical character recognition can be followed by a printing function operating depending on the results of the optical character-recognition input.
The base frame can be of modular construction such as to allow for expansion of the base frame in cases where more than a minimum or more than a ~tandard nu~ber of functions are to be performed by the printer. Such expansion will comprise mechanical and electrical attachment and connection elements between a primary base frame and a base frame expansion part. Similarly, the covers can be provided 1~t~73 inclu~ing a main COVeL part and e~pansion cover parts corresponding to expansion-ba~e frame parts.
A rotatable shaft can be disposed in parallel to the advance direction of the print sub6trate material, but at a distance from the path of the print ~ubstrate material, The rotatable shaft can be driven by an electric motor and connected to the electric motor by a transmission. Certain modules can engage this rotatable shaft ar.d this construction allows for a synchronization of mechanical function6 of certain ~eguential function modules employed as wel~ a~ for providing mechanical power to the modules. The rotatable shaft can further be coupled to the print substrate material advance mechanism.
The control system module can be constructed for automatic recognition of the presence of certain function modules and can incorporate a digital control ~y~tem providing automatic adaptation to the function module employed in a specific case. The control system can further incorporate sale'y feature preventing ufier miOmalctl of 2~ function modules and test cycles for defective functioning of individual modules or of a lack of cooperation of certain function mo~ule&.
It will be understood that each of the element&
de~cribed abOve~ or two o~ more together, may also find a useful application in other types of printer system~
differing fronl the type~ described above.
While the invention ha8 been il~u~trated and described aS enlbodied in the context of a printer systen~ to process all internationally required forms, it is not intended to be limited to ~he details ~hown, since various n,odifications and structural changes may be made withoùt de~arting in any way from the spirit of the ~re~ent iO invention.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will ~o fully reveâl the gi~t of the pre~ent invention that other~
can, by applying current knowledye, readily adapt it for various applications without onlitting features that, fron the standpoint of prior art, fairly con~titute es~ential characteri~tics of the generlc or ~pecific a~pect~ ol thi~
invention.
Invention Tncludin~ ~LiQ~ a~
Such printing objects, which can be processed by conventional printing machines, comprise numerous purposes and include receipt slips produced by roller strips. Such printers are employed in banks, financial institutions, post offices, municipal administrations, and governmental authorities and offices of all kinds, in commercial enterprises, in cooperatives, and in general commercial activities.
Such multifunctional printers are subject to big problems with respect to their economic production, Printers for individual functions are known. For example, savings-booklet printers are produced which are naturally deemed to be a specialty printer. In addition, there exist ticket printers, which are also considered specialty printers. It is understood that a printer with several functions becomes less favorable in production and economics the higher the number of functions increases. Difficulties occur in case of multifunctional printers in addition by the special form of the objects to be printed on, since there exist large varieties with regard to thickness, stiffness, quality, and irregularity of cut, in case of savings booklets, driver licenses, passports, identification cards, and motor vehicle documents, which impose limits in the processing.
On the other hand, the market not always requires the highest number of functions such that the s~lection of functions has to be performed already in the planning of the production in the production plant. Thus, the problem of the multifunctional printer is substantially a problem of the construction and of the production economy.
It is known from German Patent 3,20~,111 to provide a printing device of modular construction, where the printer apparatus can be tilted around a hinge between one position where an individual form or, respectively, a set of forms is being printed on, and one position where an endless 12~i5~3 form or, respectively, a set of endless forms is being printed on. It is known in this context to form the individual-form transport modular as a removable base apparatus and it is further known to form the printer apparatus and the endless-form transport in a flappable way.
Such a construction, however, does not resolve the problem to provide to the printer a larger number of functions, which are taken into consideration already at the time of construction and production planning and not only during the use of the printer.
SUMnARY OF T~E INVENTION
poses Qf the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer system which allows the processing of all international required forms and savings booklets, receipts, checks, protocols, driver licenses for motor vehicles, passports, identification cards, motor vehicle registration papers, picture-text BTX texts, and teletext texts, depending on the number of desired functions.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a printer which can receive attachments appropriate for the printing material to be used.
It is a further object of the present invention to 1~J~j73 provide a modular printer which al]ows easy disassembly and removal of modules for an economic maintenance.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become evident from the description which follows.
2. Brief Descriptiorl of ~h~ Invention According to the invention a printer for a plurality of different print substrate material processing functions comprises a base frame. A print apparatus forms a modular building block and is demountably attached to the base frame. A print substrate material transport device is disposed on the base frame. An operating field is attached to the base frame for inputting process information. An electronic control device forms a modular building block and is attached to the base frame and electrically connected to the print apparatus. A power supply forms a modular building block and is attached to the base frame and electrically connected to the electronic control device.
~he modular building blocks can be easily mounted and easily demounted based on engageable and disengageable attachment means disposed at the base frame. Attachment means for mounting and demounting of a member are selected from the group of function modules including an optical character-5~3 recognition device, a magnetic-strip processing unit, an optical line searching unit, an optical marking searcher, and a journal-printer modular building bloc~.
A front cover cap mountable to and demountable from the base frame can cover the print apparatus and can integrate the operating field. A demountable rear cover cap can cover the power supply and additional function modules.
An extended rear cover cap can be provided for covering the print-apparatus modular building block, for protecting the power-supply modular building block and the journal-printer modular building block and can connectingly join at the front cover cap.
An interface-adaptation insertion can be provided at the rear side of the base frame.
Preferably, an optical character-recognition device is disposed on the base frame between the print apparatus and the power supply. A casing floor trough can be disposed at the base frame. A function module can be disposed in the casing-floor trough, where the function module can include a member selected from the group consisting of a recognition electronic, a magnetic-strip processing unit, and an optical line searcher.
Pre~erably, the print substrate transport device s~
includes several pairs of friction-d~ive rollers provided at the base frame and a step-drive motor with drive engaging at least one roller axis and disposed below the base frame and provided for the advance of the print substrate material.
A journal-printer modular building block can be attached to the base frame and disposed opposite to the power supply.
The print apparatus can be provided with a print head having at least about 18 pins. The base frame can be proviæed with wide sides. llhe print apparatus is preferably provided about at the distance of the wide sides of the base frame. Side walls can be provided about in the distance of the wide sides of the base frame. These side walls can be connected to each other with slide guide rods. Preferably, the print apparatus is provided with a drive block comprising an electric drive motor, a drive gear, and a cycle tact station for sender signals for the print head control, a print head movable back and forth on sliae guide rods with an automatic paper-thickness balancing device and a color-tape cassette insertable between the side walls, which units altogether form the print-apparatus modular building block.
An optical character-recognition device can be provided with a guide frame comprising two parallel guide rods. These guide rods can be attached in a side plate. A
a reading device, functioning as a read head or as an optical line searcher can be provided with a drive.. The reading device can be disposed in a receiver casing and these units altogether can form function modules.
Preferably, the journal printer is provided with a print counter support attached in a printer frame with one or two parallel journal paths, with a cutting device, a color-tape cassette, a color-tape drive, an optical marking searcher, a print head, with a print-head drive, which units altogether form the journal-printer modular building block.
Accoraing to the invention, there is provided a base model which comprises a printer apparatus, a printing-object ~ransporting device, an operating field, anelectronic control device, and a power supply, where the printer apparatus, the power module, and the electronic control device form in each case module devices, which can be easily mounted at a receiviny and bolting means disposed on a base frame and which, a~ the same time, can be easily disattached. Further receiving and bolting means can be provided at the base franle for an optical character-recognition device and/or for a magnetic-strip processing ~z~
and/or for an optical line searching and/or for an cptical searching of markings and/or for a journal-printer modular building block. The invention therefore allows to start with a base model, with which forms, records, checks, savin~s booklets, driver licenses, passports, identification cards, motor vehicle documents, picture-text BTX texts, and teletext texts can be printed on or printed, where the printer requires a minimum expenditure depending on the specific situation employecl or reassigned to the printer.
The only additional requirement, which is however of substantial importance in production technology or for economic considerations, are the various options for additional functions. However, such a requirement is of minor importance from an economical point of view because, in case of a change of the production to additional functions, no changes are required in the principle and main production process.
It is furthermore advantageous in this context if the ba8e model is provided with a cover cap in the front, which covers the printer apparatus and the operating field and if a rear cover cap is provided which can be removed and which covers the power supply and the further modular building blocks. Therefore, the invention system is in g .3 particular easy to maintain because the modular groups are easily accessible after removal of the individual cover caps and allow an accessibility of 100% for practical purposes.
Therefore, the invention does not make use of hinged structural components such as this technology is employed in television apparatus and in the cited state of the art.
An enlargement of the printer with respect to the number of functions equals, in some cases, an enlargement of the printer in its dimensions. For this purpose it is provided that an extended rear cover cap can be provided for the covering of the printer-apparatus modular building blocks, for the power-supply modular component, and for the journal-printer modular component, which protects and which joins the front cover cap.
A further increase of the accessibility of the individual component groups is provided by furnishing an interface adaptation insert at the rear side of the base frame.
The capabilities of the printer for certain functions or processing steps is further increased in that the base model is expanded by an optical character-reco~nition device between the printer apparatus and the power supply and by expanding with a recognition electronic 6:~73 disposed in the casing-floor trough and/or by a magnetic-strip processing and/or by an optical line searching. The printer receives thereby the multifunctional property to be able to optically read certain types of printing. At the same time, savings booklets with magnetic strips can be processed. In this case, there is also provided an optical line searching. Furthermore, a corresponding marking in a defined column on the journal (record roll) can be recognized for correct printing and cutting of preprinted forms from the roll.
According to further features of the invention, several pairs of friction-drive rollers and a step motor, disposed under the base frame and engaging at least at one roller axis together with a drive, are provided for the advancing of the objects to be printed on. Therefore, in this case, the paper-advance aggregate is accessible after removal of the individual modular building blocks but, however, cannot be swung open as a modular removable base aggregate itself in the form of an individual-form transport 0 or, respectively, in the shape of an endless-form transport.
The expansion of the printer functions is further improved by expanding the base model with a journal-printer modular building block, which is disposed opposite to the power supply. These steps lead to expanding the base model in a certain direction, as will be illustrated further below.
A further aspect of the invention is concerned with the construction of the individual modular building blocks, which can be easily mounted and which can be easily demounted. In detail, this concerns the print apparatus, the optical character-recognition device and the journal printer.
lU The improvin~ steps comprise individually that the print apparatus comprises an 18-pin or 24-pin print head and that side walls are providea about at a distance of the wide sides of the base frame. The side walls are connected to each other by means of slide guide rods such that the print apparatus comprises a drive block, including an electric drive motor, preferably a gear drive, and a cycle station providing signals for the print-head control, a print head, which can be moved back and forth on the slide guide rods, with an automatic paper-thickness balancing device and with a color-tape cassette, which can be inserted between the side walls, and which components together form the print-apparatus modular buildings blocks. This print-apparatus modular building block can be autonomously removed after removal of the front cover cap and after pulling the respective electric or, respectively, electronic plug connections completely out of the printer as is described further down.
A further improvement of the invention now comprises that the optical character-recognition device includes a guide frame, comprising two parallel guide rods, which are attached in side plates. Furthermore, a drive for the read head or for the optical line searching are provided and also disposed in a receiving casing. These units together form the the group of modular building blocks. In this case as well, the modular building block can be exchanged easily as a whole in case of necessary repairs.
Finally, a further improvement of the invention lii comprises that the journal printer includes a printer support or block attached to a printer frame, one or two parallel journal paths, a cutting device, a color-tape cassette, a color-tape drive, an optical searcher for markings, a print head with print-head drive, which altogether form the group of journal-printer modular building blocks. These steps are particularly advantageous in the planning of production for multi-functional printers with a high number of functions, where such a journal-S~3 printer modular building b]ock can be easily added to the base model.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereofr will be best understood from the following description of specific embodinlents when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTlON OF TH~ DRAWING
In the accompanying drawing, in which are shown several of the various possible embodiments of the present invention:
Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a printer which includes a maximum number of functions, Fig. 2 is a view of the printer according to Fig.
l in a side view after removcll of all cover caps and of the modular building blocks, with the exception of the power-supply modular building b]ock, Fig. 3 is a side view of the base model with the cover caps in position, - ~\
~$~i ~3 Fig. 4 is a side view of the printer according to Fig. 1 with the cover caps in position, Fig. 5 is a side view of the printer according to Figs. 1 and 4 with cover caps removed, Fig. 6 is a side view of the printer acccrding to Figs. l, 4, ana 5 the front cover cap removed, Fig. 6A is a view of the demounted print-apparatus modular building block, Fig. 6B is a top planar view of the print-apparatus modular building block, Fig. 7 is a side view of the multifunctional printer according to Figs. 1, 4, 5, and 6 at the point of the removal or, respectively, the mounting of the character-reCognition device, Fig. 7A is a top view onto the moaular building block "optical character recosnitionn, Fig. 8A is a side view of the journal-printer modular building block, and Fig. 8B is a top view onto the modular building block ~journal printer~.
DESCRIPTION OF INYENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
According to the invention, the printer is provided as a base model l, which comprises a print apparatus 2, a print-object transport device 3, an operating field 4, an electronic control device 5, and a power supply 6. The print apparatus 2, the power supply 6, and the electronic control device 5, in each case, foem modular building blocks 7. The modular building blocks 7 can be easily mounted ana easily demounted based on receiver and bolting means 9, 10 or, respectively, 9a, lOa disposed at a base frame 8, The base frame B is provided with additional receiver and bolting means 9, 10 or, respectively, 9b, lOb for an optical character-recognition device 15 and/or for a magnetic-strip processing 20 and/or for an optical line searcher 21 and/or for an optical marking searcher 22 and/or for a journal-printer modular building block 23, 7.
Preferably, the base model 1 comprises a demountable front cover cap 27 covering the print apparatus 2 and integrating the operating field 4 and a demountable rear cover cap 28 covering the power supply 6 and additional modular building blocks 7.
Preferably, an extended rear cover cap 29 is provided for covering the print-apparatus modular building block 2, 7, for protecting the power-supply modular building block 6, 7 and the journal-printer modular building block 23, 7, and joining at the front cover cap 27.
1~$6573 An interface-adaptation insertion 30 can be provided at the rear side 8a of the base frame 8.
The base model 1 can be expanded by an optical character-recognition device 15 disposed between the print apparatus 2 and the power supply 6 and expandable by a recognition electronic 32 disposed in a casing-floor trough 8b and/or by a magnetic-strip processing 20 and/or by an optical line searcher 21.
Several pairs of friction-drive rollers 33, 34, 35 can be are provided at the base frame 8. A step-drive motor 37 with drive engaging at least one roller axis 36 and disposed below the base frame 8 can be provided for the advance of the printing object.
The base model 1 can be expanded by a journal-printer modular building block 23 disposed opposite to thepower supply 6.
Preferably, the print apparatus 2 is provided with an 18-pin or 24-pin print head 40 and is provided about at the distance of the wide sides 8c of the base frame 8. Side ~0 walls 41a, 41b can be provided about in the distance of the wide sides 8c of the base frame 8. These side walls 41a, 41b can be connected to each other with slide guide rods 42, The print apparatus 2 can be provided with a drive block 43 comprising an electric drive motor 44, a drive gear 45, and a cycle tact station 46 for sender signals for the print head control, a print head 40 movable back and forth on the slide guide rods 42 with an automatic paper-thickness balancins device 49 and a color-tape cassette 39 insertable between the side walls 41a, 41b, which altogether can form the print-apparatus modular building block 7.
Preferably, the optical character-recognition device 15 is provided with a guide frame 50 comprising two parallel guide rods 51a, 5]b, which are attached in side plate 52a, 52b, and can further include a drive 53 for the read head 54 or for an optical line searcher 21, which can be disposed in a receiver casing 55 and which altogether can form the modular building block 7.
The iournal printer 23 can be provided with a pxint counter support 57 attached in a printer frame 56, with one or two parallel journal paths 58, S9, with a cutting device 61, a color-tape cassette 60, a color-tape drive 63, an optical marking searcher 22, a 2rint head 71 with a print-head drive 72, and which altogether can form the journal-printer modular building block 7.
According to Figs. 1 and 3, the printer is provided as base model 1 wit.h the described ex~ansions and 1~J~6573 forms therefore the desired multi-form printer, i.e. a printer with a high number of functions, which can be employed in an application case in part or complete. A
print apparatus 2, a print-object transporting device 3, an operating field 4, an electronic control device 5, and a power supply 6 form the substantial components of the base model 1. The print apparatus 2, the power supply 6, and the electronic control 5 form here, in each case, a compact, autonomous, demountable modular building block 7. ~ach of the modular building blocks 7 includes its own support at the base frame 8 of the printer. The base frame 8 exhibits for each modular building block 7, in each case, receiving means 9 and bolting n,eans 10, where the receiving means 9 can, under certain conditions, form at the same time the bolting means 10.
The receiving means 9 and the bolting meanslO are illustrated in detail in Fig. 2 and are emphasized there.
In the context of the printing apparatus 2, for example, the bearing blocks 9a form the receiver means 9 for a rod of the 2n printer apparatus 2 and a lever receiver lOa forms the bolting means 10.
The printer apparatus 2 is in addition supported via a lever extension12 on a spacer body 14 provided with a ~.2~S73 compression spring 13.
An analog support is provided for the optical character-recoynition device 15, compare Figs. 1, 7, and 7A.
Receiver means 9b and bolting means lOb are disposed in pairs on a platform 16 at a distance to each other. The bolting means lOb in addition includes a recess 11, into which also a rod 51a, helonging to the modular building block 7 "optical character recognition 15~, can be hanged.
Side plates 52a, 52b of the character-recognition device 15 are attached on a first shoulder 15a with a thread 15b. A part of a guide frame 50 is supported by a second shoulder 15c.
Another modular building block 7, comprising the power supply 6, is clamped into a pair of similar support protrusion 1~. A magnetic-strip processing device 20 is attached below the mounting plane 19 and within the base frame 8. The described receiving means 9 or, res~ectively, 9b and the bolting means 10 or, respectively, lOb can be disposed for a certain purpose also within one modular building block 7. Thus, the optical marking searcher 22 is disposed within the journal-~rinter modular building block 23 (Fig. 8A).
The modular building block 7 of the journal 1~5~73 printer 23 is connected via a support plate 24 and a slot 24a by means of an attachment means 25 to the base frame 8, where the journal printer 23 is connected with the support plate 24. In this case, the support plate 24 rest~ from below against the attach~lent means 25. The support plate 24 is in addition attached with a thread 26 on a surface 26a.
A detachable cover cap 27 surrounds the printer, in the case of the base model 1 as shown in Fig. 3, where the cover cap 27 covers the print apparatus 2 and surrounds tlle operating field 4. The power supply 6 and possibly further modular building blocks 7 are protected by a ~etachable rear cover cap 28, which cover cap 28 forms a step 28a.
In case of an expanded base model 1, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the print apparatus 2 is protected with the front cover cap 27. In contrast, the modular building block 7 of the power supply 6 and the modular building block 7 of the jourrlal printer 23 are surrounded by an extended rear cover cap 29 following immediately the front cover cap 27. A form opening for an interface adaptation insertion 30 is provided below the extended rear cover cap 29 at the rear side 8a of the base fra~e 8. The interface adaptation insertion 30 can be mounted or, 1~Çi5~33 respectively, demounted by sliding in the arrow direction 31.
The expanded base model 1 according to Figs. 1, 4, and S exhibits in addition the optical character-recognition S device 15, which is disposed between the print apparatus 2 and the power supply 6. In addition, there is provided a respective recoanition electronic 32, provided as a printed circuit board, which is not present in the base model 1 and which is disposed in the casing-floor trough 8b (Fig. 1).
The base model 1 therefore cioes not require in addition the particular casing-floor trough 8b. The magnetic-strip processing 20 is also to be considered as an expansion, as well as the optical line searcher 21 (Fig. 7A), and the optical marking searcher 22 (Fig. 8A), which are employed in the modular building block 7 of the journal printer 23.
In contrast, the base model 1 comprises on the base frame 8 several pairs of friction drive rollers 33, which are distributed over the width of the printer, where the first row of these rollers is disposed in the location region of the mounting plane 19. In addition, further pairs of friction drive rollers 34 are driven via pulling means 34a through a step-drive motor 37 in advance direction behind the print apparatus 2. Additional pairs of friction 12~;S73 drive rollers 35 are supported at the base frame 8 in the advance direction behind the character-recognition device 15.
Advantageously, in each case a roller axis 36, and in fact theroller axis disposed at the bottom in each case, is driven in the case of the friction roller pairs 33, 34, and 35. A step-drive motor 37, not illustrated in detail, together with a drive, is present below the base frame 8.
The step-drive motor transfers a rotary torque to individual or all roller axes 36 via pulling ~leans 34a.
The base model 1 can be expanded by a modular building block 7 of a journal printer 23, and infact in the way that, in case a printer apparatu~ 2 and a power supply 6 are present, then the journal printer 23 is disposed opposite to the power supply 6, whereby the printer is expanded overall and whereby the extended rear cover cap 29 is being used (Fig. 5).
In the following, further important modular building blocks 7 are described in order to show that an easy and quick demounting can be provided by the system of the modular building blocks 7. The print apparatus 2 is easily accessible both at the base model 1 aswell asin the case of the extended model by removal of the cover cap 27 ~2~6573 (compare Fig. 3). Possibly required service work can be performed at the print apparatus 2 by tilting the print apparatus 2 around the axis lOc of a rod into the position 2' and by supporting the print apparatus with a support linkage 38 on the mounting plane 19, whereby the print apparatus is disposed substantially horizontal. For example, the color-band cassette 39 can be easily exchanged in arrow direction 39a in this horizontal position of Fig. 6 of the print apparatus. Similarly, the print head 40, which comprises for example an 18-pin or 24-pin print head, can be easily exchanged. The print apparatus 2 can be lifted quickly and easily out of the recess 11, open from above, in case of a further demand in service work, as illustrated in Fig. 2.
This mode of handling can be accomplished for all modular building blocks 7 based on the compact constructionl where advantageously all building parts are disposed within a base frame 8, as shown in Fig. 5.
The print apparatus 2, as illustrated in Figs. 6A
and 6B, is adapted to the width of the printer, i.e. side walls 41a and 41b with sliding guide rods 42 are connected to a frame about at a distance of the wide sides 8c of the base frame 8, where the frame carries all device parts. The ~ii5~
print apparatus 2 is supported by way of levers lOd, bolts lOe, springs lOf coordinated to the side walls 41a and 41b in the lever reception lOa as a bolting means 10. A drive block 43 is forme~ at the end of this frame, which comprises an electric drive motor 44 and a gear drive45. A so-called cycle tact station 46 is provided at the shaft end of the drive motor 44. Sender signals for the print-head control are transmitted from the cycle tact station 46, which signals control the slide 47 carrying the print head 40 independent from the path, i.e. the drive motor 44 drives the slide 47 independent via gear belt 48 in such a way that the letter characters and signs are transferred exactly onto the respective carrier for the print, for example the records. In addition, an automatic paper-thickness balancing device 49 is attached at the print head 40. The color-tape cassette 39 is inserted between the side walls 41a and 41b. All these device components as well as the device parts still present, however not mentioned, ~orm the modular building block 7 of the print apparatus 2. The electric connection for the electroma~netic coils of the print head 40 are provided as usual and are therefore not illustrated.
The modular building block 7 of the optical 12~6573 character-recognition device 15 is constructed in a similar compact fashion as that of the print apparatus 2. Thus, the optical character-recognition device 15, shown in Figs. 7 and 7A, forms a guide franle S0, which comprises two parallel guide rods 51a and 51b and side plates 52a and 52b. A drive 53 moves the read head 54 together with a receiving casing 55 and a slide 55a on the guide rods 51a and 51b. The electric connections for the drive 53 as well as for the read head 54 are formed as usual and are not illustrated in detail.
Instead of the elements of the read head 54, an optical line searcher 21 can be provided inside of the receiver casing 55. In addition, ears 52c or, respectively, openings 52d are provided at the side plates 52a and 52b for bolting at the base frame 8 of the moaular building blocks 7 in the thread 15b.
The modular building blocks 7 of the journal printer 23, as shown in Fig. 8A, in addition to the support plate 24 exhibits a printer frame 56, which is formed from one or several support walls 56a and 56b. A printing counter support 57 is attached at the printer frame 56. The printer frame 56 in addition receives one or two parallel journal paths 58 and 59, compare Fig. 8B. In principle, two ~iS73 different transfer systems for generation of the printing on the support can be employed. A thermo-transfer system or thermo-direct prjnting is possible. Instead of the thermo paper, therecan be employed a thermotape for single use or for multi-use.
As illustrated in Figs. 8A and 8B, a thermo-tape cassette 60 and a cutting device 61 are coordinated to the print counter support. The thermo tape 62 is driven by a separate thermo-tape drive 63. A first drive motor 65 is provided for the drive of the paper-storage roller 64. The motor shaft 66 of tbe drive motor 65 drives on a transport shaft 67, which transport shaft 67 in turn moves the journal path 58. A second drive motor 65a drives with its motor shaft 65b the journal path 59. Connection rods 68 and 69 are attached in the printer frame 56, where a print-head slide 70 slides with a pr:int head 71, or a thermo-print head. The print-head slide 70 is moved back and forth through a print-head drive 72 via a belt 72a ahead of the printing counter support 57 and print head is operated in the way conventional print heads are operated. The complete modular building block 7 of the journal printer 23 is attached with the support p]ate 24 on the surface26a by way of threads 26 and a screw 26b, as illustrated in Fig. 1.
:~2~ 3 The printer apparatus can be provided for easy connection to the various modular building blocks. Most of these building blocks employ currents of various kinds to be powered up. In order to avoid clutter resulting from loose connection wires, it is possible to employ an electrical bus structure with plug receptacles or printed circuit board connector receptacles into which the various function modules are plugqed. Elements of such bus structure can be mounted onto the base frame. Tbe bus structure can be laid out to be suitable for substitution of certain modules, for example all modules involved in printing can be attached to a certain bus connection, all modules involved in power supply and control functions can employ a second bus connection, and all modules involved in reading, searching, and the like, can employ a third type of bus connections. It is possible that these bus connections are all different or that some or all of these bus connections are of the same type. The bus connections can be constructed such that no connectors are exposed if such connector does not have any module pluyged in. The bus connectors can be disposed on the side of the path of the printing substrate material such as not to interfere with printing substrate material passing through the printer unit.
i573 The attachment means can be of one or different types including bolting attachment, snap-in attachment, screw-on attachment, pin insertion, recess insertion, eyelet-hook connection, bolts, levers, springs. The attachment elements are positioned along the base frame at distances allowing sufficient space for placing the desired function modules on the base frame in a desired sequence.
These elements can be positioned along a line running in parallel to the advance path of the paper material for allowing a placement of a certain module at different desired locations along the base frame while still retaining a matched coordination with respect to the path of the advancing print substrate material. In particular, optical character recognition can be followed by a printing function operating depending on the results of the optical character-recognition input.
The base frame can be of modular construction such as to allow for expansion of the base frame in cases where more than a minimum or more than a ~tandard nu~ber of functions are to be performed by the printer. Such expansion will comprise mechanical and electrical attachment and connection elements between a primary base frame and a base frame expansion part. Similarly, the covers can be provided 1~t~73 inclu~ing a main COVeL part and e~pansion cover parts corresponding to expansion-ba~e frame parts.
A rotatable shaft can be disposed in parallel to the advance direction of the print sub6trate material, but at a distance from the path of the print ~ubstrate material, The rotatable shaft can be driven by an electric motor and connected to the electric motor by a transmission. Certain modules can engage this rotatable shaft ar.d this construction allows for a synchronization of mechanical function6 of certain ~eguential function modules employed as wel~ a~ for providing mechanical power to the modules. The rotatable shaft can further be coupled to the print substrate material advance mechanism.
The control system module can be constructed for automatic recognition of the presence of certain function modules and can incorporate a digital control ~y~tem providing automatic adaptation to the function module employed in a specific case. The control system can further incorporate sale'y feature preventing ufier miOmalctl of 2~ function modules and test cycles for defective functioning of individual modules or of a lack of cooperation of certain function mo~ule&.
It will be understood that each of the element&
de~cribed abOve~ or two o~ more together, may also find a useful application in other types of printer system~
differing fronl the type~ described above.
While the invention ha8 been il~u~trated and described aS enlbodied in the context of a printer systen~ to process all internationally required forms, it is not intended to be limited to ~he details ~hown, since various n,odifications and structural changes may be made withoùt de~arting in any way from the spirit of the ~re~ent iO invention.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will ~o fully reveâl the gi~t of the pre~ent invention that other~
can, by applying current knowledye, readily adapt it for various applications without onlitting features that, fron the standpoint of prior art, fairly con~titute es~ential characteri~tics of the generlc or ~pecific a~pect~ ol thi~
invention.
Claims (20)
1. A printer for a plurality of different print substrate material processing functions comprising a base frame;
a print apparatus forming a modular building block and demountably attached to the base frame;
a print substrate material transport device disposed on the base frame;
an operating field attached to the base frame for inputting process information;
an electronic control device forming a modular building block and attached to the base frame and electrically connected to the print apparatus;
a power supply forming a modular building block and attached to the base frame and electrically connected to the electronic control device;
wherein the modular building blocks can be easily mounted and easily demounted based on engageable and disengageable attachment means for mounting and demounting of a member selected from the group of function modules including an optical character-recognition device a magnetic-strip processing unit, an optical line searching unit, an optical marking searcher, and a journal-printer modular building block.
a print apparatus forming a modular building block and demountably attached to the base frame;
a print substrate material transport device disposed on the base frame;
an operating field attached to the base frame for inputting process information;
an electronic control device forming a modular building block and attached to the base frame and electrically connected to the print apparatus;
a power supply forming a modular building block and attached to the base frame and electrically connected to the electronic control device;
wherein the modular building blocks can be easily mounted and easily demounted based on engageable and disengageable attachment means for mounting and demounting of a member selected from the group of function modules including an optical character-recognition device a magnetic-strip processing unit, an optical line searching unit, an optical marking searcher, and a journal-printer modular building block.
2. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising a front cover cap mountable to and demountable from the base frame and covering the print apparatus and integrating the operating field; and a demountable rear cover cap covering the power supply and additional function modules.
3. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising an extended rear cover cap provided for covering the print-apparatus modular building block, for protecting the power-supply modular building block and the journal-printer modular building block and connectingly joining a front cover cap.
4. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising an interface-adaptation insertion provided at the rear side of the base frame.
5. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising an optical character-recognition device disposed on the base frame between the print apparatus and the power supply;
a casing floor trough disposed at the base frame;
a function module disposed in the casing-floor trough, where the function module includes a member selected from the group consisting of a recognition electronic, a magnetic-strip processing unit, and an optical line searcher.
a casing floor trough disposed at the base frame;
a function module disposed in the casing-floor trough, where the function module includes a member selected from the group consisting of a recognition electronic, a magnetic-strip processing unit, and an optical line searcher.
6. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the print substrate transport device includes several pairs of friction-drive rollers provided at the base frame and a step-drive motor with drive engaging at least one roller axis and disposed below the base frame and provided for the advance of the print substrate material.
7. The printer according to claim 6, further comprising a journal-printer modular building block attached to the base frame and disposed opposite to the power supply.
8. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the print apparatus is provided with a print head having at least about 18 pins;
wherein the base frame is provided with wide sides;
wherein the print apparatus is provided about at the distance of the wide sides of the base frame;
wherein side walls are provided about in the distance of the wide sides of the base frame, which side walls are connected to each other with slide guide rods;
wherein the print apparatus is provided with a drive block comprising an electric drive motor, a drive gear, and a cycle tact station for sender signals for the print head control, a print head movable back and forth on slide guide rods with an automatic paper-thickness balancing device and a color-tape cassette insertable between the side walls, which units altogether form the print-apparatus modular building block.
wherein the base frame is provided with wide sides;
wherein the print apparatus is provided about at the distance of the wide sides of the base frame;
wherein side walls are provided about in the distance of the wide sides of the base frame, which side walls are connected to each other with slide guide rods;
wherein the print apparatus is provided with a drive block comprising an electric drive motor, a drive gear, and a cycle tact station for sender signals for the print head control, a print head movable back and forth on slide guide rods with an automatic paper-thickness balancing device and a color-tape cassette insertable between the side walls, which units altogether form the print-apparatus modular building block.
9. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising an optical character-recognition device provided with a guide frame comprising two parallel guide rods, which guide rods are attached in a side plate;
and further including a drive for a reading device functioning as a read head or as an optical line searcher, which reading device is disposed in a receiver casing and which units altogether form function modules.
and further including a drive for a reading device functioning as a read head or as an optical line searcher, which reading device is disposed in a receiver casing and which units altogether form function modules.
10. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the journal printer is provided with a print counter support attached in a printer frame with one or two parallel journal paths, with a cutting device, a color-tape cassette, a color-tape drive an optical marking searcher, a print head, with a print-head drive, which units altogether form the journal-printer modular building block.
11. The printer for a plurality of different printing objects, wherein a base model is formed, which comprises a print apparatus, a print-object transport device, an operating field, an electronic control device, and a power supply, where the print apparatus, the power supply, and the electronic control device, in each case, form modular building blocks, which modular building blocks can be easily mounted and easily demounted based on receiver and bolting means disposed at a base frame and wherein the base frame is provided with additional receiver and bolting means for at least one of: an optical character-recognition device; a magnetic-strip processing; an optical line searching; an optical marking searcher; and a journal-printer modular building block.
12. A printer according to claim 11, wherein the base model comprises a demountable front cover cap covering the print apparatus and integrating the operating field and a demountable rear cover cap covering the power supply and additional modular building blocks.
13. Printer according to claim 11, wherein an extended rear cover cap is provided for covering the print-apparatus modular building block, for protecting the power-supply modular building block and the journal-printer modular building block and joining a front cover cap.
14. Printer according to claim 11, wherein an interface-adaptation insertion is provided at the rear side of the base frame.
15. Printer according to claim 11, wherein the base model can be expanded by an optical character-recognition device disposed between the print apparatus and the power supply and expandable by at least one of: a recognition electronic disposed in a casing-floor trough; a magnetic-strip processing; and an optical line searcher.
16. Printer according to claim 11, wherein several pairs of friction-drive rollers are provided at the base frame and that a step-drive motor with drive engaging at least one roller axis and disposed below the base frame is provided for the advance of the printing object.
17. Printer according to claim 16, wherein the base model can be expanded by a journal-printer modular building block disposed opposite to the power supply.
18. Printer according to claim 11, wherein the print apparatus is provided with an 18-pin or 24-pin print head and is provided about at the distance of the wide sides of the base frame and where side walls are provided about in the distance of the wide sides of the base frame, which side walls are connected to each other with slide guide rods, where the print apparatus is provided with a drive block comprising an electric drive motor, a drive gear, and a cycle tact station for sender signal for control of a print head, the print head movable back and forth on the slide guide rods with an automatic paper-thickness balancing device and a color-tape cassette insertable between the side walls, which altogether form the print-apparatus modular building block.
19. Printer according to claim 11, wherein the optical character-recognition device is provided with a guide frame comprising two parallel guide rods, which are attached in side plate, and further including a drive for a read head or for an optical line searcher, which are disposed in a receiver casing and which altogether form the modular building block.
20. Printer according to claim 11, wherein the journal printer is provided with a print counter support attached in a printer frame, with one or two parallel journal paths, with a cutting device, a color-tape cassette, a color-tape drive, an optical marking searcher, a print head with a print-head drive, which altogether form the journal-printer modular building block.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEP3702270.9 | 1987-01-27 | ||
| DE19873702270 DE3702270A1 (en) | 1987-01-27 | 1987-01-27 | PRINTERS FOR A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PRINT OBJECTS |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1296573C true CA1296573C (en) | 1992-03-03 |
Family
ID=6319586
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000557309A Expired - Fee Related CA1296573C (en) | 1987-01-27 | 1988-01-26 | Printer for a variety of purposes |
Country Status (8)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5067832A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0276626B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS63189278A (en) |
| KR (1) | KR880008888A (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE84470T1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1296573C (en) |
| DE (2) | DE3702270A1 (en) |
| YU (1) | YU241887A (en) |
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-
1987
- 1987-01-27 DE DE19873702270 patent/DE3702270A1/en active Granted
- 1987-11-25 DE DE8787730157T patent/DE3783596D1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1987-11-25 EP EP87730157A patent/EP0276626B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1987-11-25 AT AT87730157T patent/ATE84470T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1987-12-29 JP JP62336750A patent/JPS63189278A/en active Pending
- 1987-12-29 YU YU02418/87A patent/YU241887A/en unknown
-
1988
- 1988-01-26 CA CA000557309A patent/CA1296573C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1988-01-27 KR KR1019880000663A patent/KR880008888A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
-
1990
- 1990-04-26 US US07/515,078 patent/US5067832A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| KR880008888A (en) | 1988-09-13 |
| US5067832A (en) | 1991-11-26 |
| EP0276626B1 (en) | 1993-01-13 |
| EP0276626A2 (en) | 1988-08-03 |
| DE3783596D1 (en) | 1993-02-25 |
| DE3702270C2 (en) | 1993-07-15 |
| YU241887A (en) | 1990-06-30 |
| DE3702270A1 (en) | 1988-08-04 |
| JPS63189278A (en) | 1988-08-04 |
| EP0276626A3 (en) | 1990-02-21 |
| ATE84470T1 (en) | 1993-01-15 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |