Patent GB-1229520-A (GB)
IPC: G07F17/42
Filed: 1969-08-26
Abstract: 1,229,520. Ticket vending and printing machine. OMRON TATEISI ELECTRONICS CO. 26 Aug., 1969 [13 Sept., 1968], No. 42437/69. Headings G4T and G4V. A ticket printing apparatus comprises a printing-plate-holder that bears a plurality of printing plates around its surface, and on activation of one of a number of selection switches the holder is rotated from rest until a selected printing plate reaches a printing position whereupon the rotation of the plate-holder is stopped by stopping means, printing occurs and the ticket is issued; if the angle of rotation required of the plate-holder to bring the selected printing plate to the printing position, is smaller than a pre-selected angle then the plate-holder is rotated so that the selected plate passes to the printing position and is then rotated through a further 360 degrees before the stopping means are operated. Printing plates 2A-2F are located on the cylindrical surface of a drum 1 (or on a belt (not shown)) that can be rotated about its shaft 3. A detent 5 is actuated by a solenoid 7 to enter indents 41 in a cam 4 attached to the drum 1, to stop drum rotation. A solenoid 14 actuates an ink roller 9. Printing occurs when a platen 15 is moved by solenoid 16; rollers 30 feed the ticket strip 21 to cutters 17, 18. Two sets of contacts, A1-F1 and A2-F2, arranged to form rotary switches SW1 and SW2 respectively and angularly located to correspond to the printing plates 2A-2F, are rigidly attached to the end face of the drum 1. As the drum rotates the switches are swept by stationary brushes R 1 and R2 respectively that differ by a pre-set phase angle (here 180 degrees). To select a ticket and therefore the printing plate required, an operator closes one of a number of selection switches XA3a-XF3a (Fig. 2), that are so arranged that only one may be activated at a time; insertion of coins closes a self-retaining switch XP5, so energizing the drum motor SM from a power supply 33 and starting rotation of the drum 1. When the contact A1-F1 corresponding to the selected printing plate reaches brush R1, a switching device TR1 is triggered through the closed selection switch, so energizing a relay XP1 and closing its contacts XP1 1a energizing inking solenoid 14, and XP13a preparing the circuit of solenoid 7. When the contact A2-F2 corresponding to the selected printing plate reaches brush R2 (after the drum 1 has rotated a further 180 degrees), switching device TR2 is triggered through the closed selection switch, so activating detent solenoid 7 and stopping the drum rotation. When detent 5 is fully engaged in the indent 41, a confirmation device SS4 switches to its second contact a; simultaneously selfretaining relay XP2 is energized, so closing switch XP22a, and energizing a programmer relay XP3. Relay XP3 closes switch XP31a and activates a programmer PM that emits pulses to activate in sequence the print solenoid 16, ticket feed motor 35, and cutter solenoid 19. Finally programmer PM momentarily pulses open a reset-switch Y, so returning all solenoids, relays and switches to their initial states. If the detent does not release the drum at the end of a printing cycle, the device SS4 remains at contact a, so that an alarm relay XP4 is energized. The difference in phase angle between brushes R1 and R2 is selected greater than the angle between inking arid printing stations to ensure correct location of plates, and that inking of the selected plate always occurs before printing.