APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING AN INFORMATION CARRIER

Abstract: An apparatus for selectable processing of an information carrier in the form of a sheet or in the form of a strip, comprising: a housing (2); guide track members (1, 3) mounted in the housing (2) for delimiting a first guide track and a second guide track designed for controlling an information carrier. The apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that the guide track members (5) delimit a processing track (8) which is open or can be opened in the guide direction and which is designed for selectable processing of an information carrier in the form of a sheet of undefined length and in the form of a strip of undefined length.

Description: Apparatus for processing an information carrier The present invention relates to an apparatus for processing an information carrier in accordance with the preamble of Patent Claim 1, and more particularly to an apparatus for combined and selectable handling of an information carrier in the form of a sheet or in the form of a strip. Background to the invention In certain application areas for printers, for example the handling of tickets or lottery coupons, there is a need to be able to print text or characters on an information carrier, for example of paper or plastic, which can constitute, for example, a receipt for a purchased commodity, service or submitted lottery coupon. When providing receipts, it is often expedient, on account of the usually large material consumption and also for other reasons, to use a continuous strip which, after printing, is cut off to a suitable length. In many of these applications there is also a need to handle, preferably to read or print on, a ticket or a coupon in the form of an already cut sheet, for example when validating or providing a receipt for a completed lottery coupon. It has long been necessary to use separate units for sheet and strip, i.e. a separate unit for printing, for example, on a strip preferably mounted on a roll in a magazine and provided with a cutter for cutting of a printed section of strip, and a separate unit for handling a sheet. A disadvantage with such an arrangement is that, because of the large number of components, it is both costly and takes up a great deal of space. An apparatus able to handle sheets and strips is known from the patent specification TJS-A-5,163, 671, which describes a ticket-processing apparatus with a built-in automatic ticket turner. This ticket-processing apparatus is provided with an input unit for manually inputting of loose tickets, an input unit for inputting tickets of a defined length connected in a pre-folded strip, a cutter for cutting off the tickets connected together in the strip prior to processing, and printer and reader heads arranged on a drive roller surrounded by a cylindrical ticket guide track which is closed in the main direction of processing. In the main guide direction, i.e. in the direction of processing, the ticket guide track is in communication with a closed space intended for turning the ticket, and with discharge outlets through which a ticket can be output from the ticket guide track in a direction counter to the processing direction. During processing, a ticket is introduced into the ticket guide track for processing one side of the ticket, and it is then turned in the space provided for this purpose, and is then fed back into the ticket guide track for processing the other side of the ticket. On discharge, the ticket is fed forwards in the ticket guide track until the trailing end of the ticket is in front of a discharge outlet, the feed direction is reversed, and the ticket is output after describing a discontinuous movement. The apparatus which has been described above is intended for, and limited to, processing and turning tickets of a predetermined maximum length and requires for its function a large number of feeding devices. Objects and advantages of the invention One object of the invention is to make available an apparatus for processing, for example printing or reading, of an information carrier in the form of a sheet or in the form of a strip, by means of which selectable feeding and processing of a sheet or a continuous strip of undefined length is possible. Another object is to make available an apparatus of this kind which requires a minimum number of feeding devices. Another object is to make available a combined sheet and strip printer, especially for ticket or coupon handling, for example in lottery terminals, and yet another object is to make available a combined reader and printer for selectable sheet and strip printing and reading. With such an apparatus, the processing of information carriers of different types and length can be performed by one unit, and components which are costly and take up a great deal of space are consequently eliminated. An advantage of a combined printer/reader is, in addition to the elimination of separate units, the fact that the matter which has been printed on an information carrier can be validated before the printed information carrier is delivered to a user. The abovementioned objects and advantages are achieved by means of an apparatus for processing an information carrier of the abovementioned type, which apparatus has the features specified in Patent Claim 1. Further advantageous developments and embodiments are specified in the associated subclaims. Figures The invention will now be described in greater detail on the basis of an illustrative embodiment and with reference to the attached figures. Figures 1 to 8 show outline diagrams of an embodiment of a processing apparatus according to the invention in different operating stages, and Figure 9 shows a general view of the apparatus according to the invention in the form of an openable printer. Description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention Figure 1 shows an outline diagram of a processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention, comprising a printer head and a reader head. In a housing 2, which is shown only partially in the figure, there are guide track members 1, 3, 5 arranged for delimiting a first guide track, a second guide track and a third guide track for the information carrier. The first guide track is designed to be a sheet guide track 4 for controlling an information carrier in the form of a sheet, with a sheet inlet 10 and a sheet outlet 12 and an essentially straight or only slightly deflected contour. The second guide track is designed to be a strip guide track 6 for controlling an information carrier in the form of a strip, with a strip inlet 14 and a strip outlet 16, and which can have a contour with an essentially straight portion and a deflected portion. The third guide track is open or can be opened in the guide direction and is designed to be a processing track 8 for selectable processing of either a sheet or a strip, which can have an undefined length. The processing track 8 has a processing inlet 18 and a processing outlet 20 and has such a shape, and such a connection to the sheet guide track 14 and the strip guide track 6, that a sheet or a strip which is conveyed along the processing track can be fed into and out of it in a continuous movement. Arranged along the processing track there are a printer head 22 for registering visually, magnetically, optically, electrically or otherwise readable information, for example in the form of characters or symbols, on an information carrier which is conveyed along the processing track, a reader head 24 for optional reading of such information, and a preferably separable cutter for cutting off a strip after completed printing and, if appropriate, reading of a section of such a strip. The figure also shows an information carrier strip 34 rolled up on a roll 36 and introduced via the strip guide track 6 into the processing track 8. The sheet guide track 4 and the strip guide track 6 are united at the processing inlet 18 of the processing track 8, so that a sheet which is fed along the sheet guide track 4 and a strip which is fed along the strip guide track 6 enter the said processing track at essentially the same place. The different guide tracks are delimited at least partially by contoured walls which are wholly or partly openworked and are made, for example, of sheet metal or plastic, but also by other constructional elements, for example parts of the feeding members used for feeding the sheet or strip (as explained hereinafter) . Also mounted in the housing 2, and forming one of the feeding members, is a roller-shaped drive cylinder 28 whose jacket contour is partially surrounded by and/or delimits the processing track in order to be able to take hold of an information carrier in the form of a sheet or a strip and to drive it along the processing track. First counterstays are arranged next to the drive cylinder 28 for cooperating with the said drive cylinder in order to engage an information carrier. In the embodiment shown, the first counterstay members comprise a spring-loaded thermo-printer head 22 which is mounted in the housing next to the drive cylinder 28 and which, upon rotation of the drive cylinder, cooperates with it for friction- induced forwarding of an information carrier and also for possible registering of information on the latter. The thermo-printer head is mounted in such a way that it can be applied resiliently against, and lifted off from, the drive cylinder by means of control members (not shown) as a function of control signals. In another embodiment, the forwarding of an information carrier along the processing track can also be provided, for example, by means of two drive rollers, and the printer head can be of any type and can be placed ahead of or following the feeding arrangement. Also arranged in the housing are separate strip feeding members for feeding a strip along the strip track 6 and the processing track 8. The feed direction of the strip feeding members is reversible, so that a strip which is introduced into the processing track 8 can be reversed out of the processing track and a sheet then introduced into the processing track. In the embodiment shown, the drive cylinder 28 and the strip track 6 are arranged in such a way that the jacket contour of the drive cylinder is partially surrounded by and/or delimits the strip track 6. The strip feeding members comprise a second counterstay member 30 in the form of a roller arranged next to the drive cylinder 28 in order to cooperate with the latter in gripping a strip. The counterstay member 30 can be released from the drive cylinder 28, so that a strip introduced in the strip track 6 can be released from engagement with the drive cylinder 28, and thus the drive cylinder can be rotated without driving the strip forward. In the embodiment shown, the strip feeding members 28, 30 are arranged to reverse the strip out of the processing track and from the feeding member common to sheet and strip, which feeding member here comprises the drive cylinder 28 and the counterstay member 22, and to drive the strip forwards again to this common feeding member which, in this example, simultaneously comprises a printer head. The figure also shows an embodiment of a strip braking member 32 which is mounted in the housing and which is arranged for taking hold of a strip and preventing the strip from being inadvertently conveyed out of the reach of the feeding members, for example by falling or being drawn out of the strip track. The embodiment of the strip braking member shown in the figure comprises a leaf spring which is designed so that it can be applied in a controlled manner against a strip 34 which is introduced into the strip track 6, so that the strip 34 is clamped between the leaf spring and the guide track member 3. Figure 1 thus shows the apparatus in the position, here referred to as the normal position, for processing of a strip 34 which is introduced into the strip track 6 and into the processing track 8. The printer head 22 bears against the drive cylinder 28 with the strip 34 in between, the counterstay roller 30 is released from engagement with the strip 34, and the leaf spring 32 of the braking member bears against the strip 34, but can also be released. When the drive cylinder is rotated clockwise (shown by means of an arrow indicated on the drive cylinder) , the strip 34 is driven along the processing track 8 towards the processing outlet 20, and the printer head 22 can be activated so as to register information on the strip, and the reader head 24 can be activated to read information from the strip. Thus, after a section of the strip has been processed, the cutter 26 can be activated to cut off the processed strip section, which can thereafter be dealt with at the processing outlet 20. Figures 2 to 8 show the apparatus according to Figure 1 in different stages of transition between set-up of the apparatus for strip processing and sheet processing, respectively, and with arrows drawn in to indicate the directions of movement of the different components. Figure 2 shows a first stage for transition from processing of a strip to processing of a sheet, the printer head 22 having been lifted from the drive cylinder 28, which is then preferably stationary, the counterstay member 30 is brought to bear against the drive cylinder 28 with the strip 34 in between, and the leaf spring 32 of the braking member is lifted from the strip 34. In Figure 3, the parts which have been mentioned have the same position as in Figure 2, but the drive cylinder is rotated counterclockwise and, in conjunction with the counterstay member 30, drives the strip 34 backwards until it has been reversed out of the processing track 8 and its front end lies in the strip track 6 immediately behind the processing inlet 18. The figure illustrates diagrammatically how the strip 34 in the unstretched state can be creased slightly between the braking member 32 and the strip roll 36. The apparatus is now ready for input of a sheet via the sheet guide track 4 which, now unimpeded by the strip 34, merges into the processing track 8 at the processing mouth 18. Figure 4 shows that the printer head 22 is returned to bear against the drive cylinder 28, the counterstay member 30 is released from bearing against the strip 34 and the drive cylinder 28, and the leaf spring 32 of the strip braking member is brought to bear against the strip 34, so that the front end of the strip is stationed in the strip track 6 without the strip 34 being in engagement with the drive cylinder 28, and the said end of the strip is thereby prevented from falling or being drawn away from the counterstay member 30. A sheet 36 can now be introduced into the sheet guide track 4 via the sheet inlet 10 and, unimpeded by the strip 34, is introduced into the processing track 8. The drive cylinder 28 is moved in clockwise rotation, for example as a function of a control signal which is given manually or is given by a sheet sensor (not shown) placed in the sheet guide track 4 and designed to detect a sheet. A sheet 36 which is introduced into the processing track 8 comes into engagement with the drive cylinder 28 in cooperation with the printer head 22 and is driven forwards along the processing track 8 in the same way as has already been described for a strip 34. Figure 5 shows a sheet which has just left its engagement between the drive cylinder 28 and the printer head 22, and which passes the open cutter 26 and is conveyed out of the processing track 8 via the processing outlet 20. The sheet is discharged completely from the processing track by its own momentum, remains partially in the processing track so that it can be removed manually by an operator using the apparatus, is stored in a collection magazine, or continues to a subsequent processing apparatus. Figure 6 shows that the thermo-printer head 22 is released from its bearing against the drive cylinder 28, the counterstay member 30 is brought to bear against the drive cylinder 28 with the stationed strip 34 in between, and the leaf spring 32 of the strip braking member is lifted from the strip 34. In Figure 7, the printer head 22, the counterstay member 30 and the leaf spring 32 have the same positions as in Figure 6. The drive cylinder 28 is rotated clockwise so that the strip 34 is driven forwards by means of the interaction between the drive cylinder 28 and the counterstay member 30, and is conveyed into the processing track 8 past the printer head 22. Finally, Figure 8 shows that the printer head 22 is brought to bear against the drive cylinder 28 with the strip 34 in between, the counterstay member 30 is released from bearing against the drive cylinder 28, and the leaf spring of the braking member is brought to bear against the strip 34. The apparatus is now once again ready for strip processing by means of driving forward of the feeding member common to the sheet and strip. Figure 9 shows a general view of an embodiment of an apparatus according to Figures 1 to 8, with a housing 2 comprising a base part 38, a first cover 40 which at one end is pivotably secured on the base part 38 by means of a first hinge 50 and at the other end can be fastened on the base part by means of a fastening member 52, and a second cover 42 which at one end is pivotably secured on the base part by means of a second hinge 48 and at the other end can be releasably locked on the first cover 40 by means of a locking member 54. In the assembled state, the covers 40 and 42 are thus lockable on the base part 38 and to one another by means of the locking member 54. The figure shows cam control members comprising a first cam wheel 62 for controlling the movements of the printer head 22, a second cam wheel 64 for controlling the movements of the counterstay member 30, and a third cam wheel 68 for controlling the movements of the strip braking member 32. The cam wheels are mounted on a common shaft which is essentially coaxial with the axes of the drive cylinder 28 and of the counterstay member 30, they have cam profiles which permit the movements described above, and they are controlled, for example, in a conventional manner by means of a stepping motor and control electronics. The figure shows the printer head 22 pivotably suspended on a shaft 72 and arranged resiliently by means of a spring member mounted between the cover 40 and the printer head 22. In the position shown, a protruding part 80 of the printer head 22 goes towards the cam profile of the first cam wheel 62, so that that part of the printer head bearing against the drive cylinder 28 can be displaced as a function of the cam profile while the printer head pivots about the shaft 72. The counterstay member 30 is mounted on at least one arm 82 which is pivotably suspended on a shaft 70. The arm 82 is spring- loaded by means a spring 56 which is arranged on the arm in order to pre-tension the counterstay member 30 towards the drive cylinder 28 and towards the second cam wheel 64 by means of a guide pin 74 mounted on the arm 82. The counterstay member 30 can be displaced as a function of the cam profile of the second cam wheel, since the arm 82 pivots about the shaft 70 by means of the guide pin 74 and the last-mentioned cam profile. In a similar way, the movement of the braking member is controlled by means of the fact that the leaf spring 32 is controlled directly by the cam profile of the third cam wheel 68. The embodiment which has been explained above is shown as one example of an apparatus according to the invention, and the various members included can be designed and controlled in other ways within the scope of the inventive concept. However, in the illustrative embodiment shown, an apparatus according to the invention has been obtained for processing an information carrier in the form of a sheet or in the form of a strip, which apparatus, comprising a small number of parts and utilizing the components of the feeding members for several purposes, permits selectable processing of a sheet or strip of undefined length.

Claims: Patent Claims 1. Apparatus for selectable processing of an information carrier in the form of a sheet or in the form of a strip, comprising: a housing (2) ; guide track members (1, 3) mounted in the housing (2) for delimiting a first guide track and a second guide track designed for controlling an information carrier, the first guide track being a sheet guide track (4) designed for controlling a sheet, and the second guide track being a strip guide track (6) designed for controlling a strip; and feeding members (22, 28, 30) mounted in the housing (2) and designed to feed the information carrier forwards along one of the guide tracks (4, 6); characterized in that - the guide track members (5) delimit a processing track (8) which is open or can be opened in the guide direction and which is designed for selectable processing of an information carrier in the form of a sheet of undefined length and in the form of a strip of undefined length, the processing track (8) having a processing inlet (18) and a processing outlet (20) ; - the sheet guide track (4) and the strip guide track (6) are united at the processing inlet (18) of the processing track (8) , so that a sheet which is fed forwards along the sheet guide track (4) and a strip which is fed forwards along the strip guide track (6) enter the processing track (8) ; and a sheet or a strip which is conveyed along the processing track (8) can be fed into and out of the processing track (8) in a continuous movement. 2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the feeding members (22, 28, 30) comprise strip feeding members (28, 30) which feed a strip along the strip track (6) and into the processing track (8) , and whose direction of feeding is reversible, and a strip (34) which is introduced into the processing track (8) can be reversed out of the processing track (8) so that a sheet, unimpeded by the strip (34) , can be introduced into the processing track (8) . 3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that the feeding members (22, 28, 30) comprise sheet feeding members (22, 28) for feeding a sheet (36) along the sheet track (4) and the processing track (8) . 4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a printer head (22) is arranged in the processing track (8) for the purpose of registering information in the form of characters or symbols on an information carrier which is conveyed along the processing track (8) . 5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feeding members (22, 28, 30) comprise drive cylinder members mounted in the housing (2) and comprising a drive cylinder (28) whose jacket contour is partially surrounded by the processing track (8) , in order to take hold of an information carrier in the form of a sheet (36) or a strip (34) and drive it along the processing track (8) . 6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, characterized by first counterstay member (22) arranged next to the drive cylinder (28) for cooperating with the latter in order to engage an information carrier in the form of a sheet (36) or a strip (34) . 7. Apparatus according to Claim 5 or 6, characterized by a thermo-printer head (22) which is mounted in the housing next to the drive cylinder (28) and is designed to cooperate with the drive cylinder (28) , when the latter rotates, for friction-induced forwarding of an information carrier and for possible registering of information on the information carrier, the thermo-printer head (22) being designed in such a way that it can be reεiliently applied against and lifted off from the drive cylinder (28) . 8. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the jacket contour of the drive cylinder (28) is partially surrounded by the strip track (6) and by second counterstay member (30) arranged next to the drive cylinder (28) for cooperating with the latter in order to engage an information carrier in the form of a strip (34) . 9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, characterized in that the second counterstay member (30) can be released from the drive cylinder (28) so that a strip (34) introduced into the strip track (6) can be released from engagement with the drive cylinder (28) , and thus the drive cylinder (28) can be rotated without driving the strip (34) forwards. 10. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by strip braking members (32) mounted on the strip track for taking hold of a strip and preventing the strip from inadvertently being conveyed out of reach of the feeding members (22, 28, 30) .

Inventors: LILJEVALL HANS, MALMSTROEM HENRIK, LILJEVALL, HANS, MALMSTROEM, HENRIK
Applicants: ESSNET AB, LILJEVALL HANS, MALMSTROEM HENRIK, LILJEVALL, HANS, MALMSTROEM, HENRIK
Application year: 1996
Main classification: G07B1
IPC codes: G07B1, G07B11