Installations for printing codes on articles

Claim 2

An installation for printing codes in particular character codes on articles such as documents, letters, parcels, postal packages, or the like, comprising a reading unit including a coding keyboard and preceded by a feeder unit for the articles to be coded, and a printing unit communicating with the reading unit and followed by a unit for discharging and stacking the coded articles, the printing unit comprising a printing cylinder carrying retractable printing elements distributed on its surface, said printing elements movable by selector means between an active position facilitating printing and an inactive position inhibiting printing, means for inking said printing elements, a supporting element such as a backup roller elastically held against the printing cylinder, power means for rotating the printing cylinder through successive rotations, and an electronic system linked with said keyboaRd, said selector means and said driving means, and including means for storing a code formed by successively depressing the appropriate keys on the board and means for activating the said selector and power means for making an impression of the said code on articles passed between the said printing cylinder and the said supporting element.

Claim 3

An installation in accordance with claim 1 further comprising pulse transmitter means responsive to the rotation of the printing cylinder for emitting and transmitting to the electronic system a single electric pulse for each step of the said printing cylinder for timing the action of the selector means.

Claim 4

An installation in accordance with claim 1, in which the reading unit includes means responsive to operation of the keyboard for presenting the article to be coded to the printing unit.

Claim 5

An installation in accordance with claim 1 in which the selector means includes electromagnet means for retaining the printing elements in one of the active and inactive positions during at least a portion of the rotation of the cylinder.

Claim 6

An installation in accordance with claim 4, in which the electromagnet means comprises a single electromagnet for successively and selectively retaining each of the printing elements in one of the active and inactive positions.

Claim 7

An installation in accordance with claim 4, in which the electromagnet means comprises a plurality of electromagnets arranged side-by-side at the spacing of the printing elements and acting simultaneously and selectively on printing elements grouped in numbers of printing elements equal to the number of selecting electromagnets.

Claim 8

An installation in accordance with claim 4 wherein the printing unit further comprises a plurality of locking means for respectively holding each printing element in one of its active and inactive positions during at least a portion of the rotary motion of the printing cylinder.

Claim 9

An installation in accordance with claim 7 wherein the printing unit further comprises biasing means for elastically holding each printing element towards its inactive position, a particular one of the locking means movable from an inactive to an active position for holding an associated one of the printing elements in its active position before a particular period corresponding to the associated selective energizing of the electromagnet means, and means for rendering the particular locking means inoperable during at least a portion of the particular period.

Claim 10

An installation in accordance with claim 7, in which each printing element is elastically held towards one of its active and inactive positions and a particular one of the locking means has characteristics for releasing an associated one of the printing elements not later than during the particular period corresponding to the associated selective energizing of the electromagnet means and characteristics for becoming operative before the termination of the particular period.

Claim 11

An installation in accordance with claim 7, in which each of the locking means includes a locking latch pivotally mounted on the printing cylinder and cooperating with the respective printing elements.

Claim 12

An installation in accordance with claim 1, wherein the printing cylinder defines a plurality of radial slots and the printing unit further comprises a printing lever pivotally mounted in each of the radial slots and carrying one of the printing elements.

Claim 13

An installation for printing codes and particular character codes on articles, comprising: a reading unit including a coding keyboard and preceded by a feeder unit for the articles to be coded; a printing unit communicating with a reading unit followed by a unit for discharging and stacking the coded articles, the reading unit comprising a printing cylinder carrying retractable printing elements distributed on its surface; selector means for moving said printing elements between an active position facilitating printing and an inactive poSition inhibiting printing; means for inking said printing elements; a supporting element elastically held against the printing cylinder; power means for rotating the printing cylinder; an electronic system linked with said keyboard, said selector means, and said driving means, and including means for storing a code formed by successively depressing the appropriate keys on the board and further including means for activating the said selector and power means for making an impression of the code on the articles passed between the printing cylinder and the supporting element; electromagnet means included in the selector means for retaining the printing elements in one of the active and inactive positions during at least a portion of the rotation of the printing cylinder; locking means included in the printing unit for holding each printing element in one of its active and inactive positions during at least a portion of the motion of the printing cylinder; wherein each printing element is elastically constrained toward its inactive position and the locking means includes a group of latches respectively associated with the printing elements and carried on the printing cylinder, the said group of latches each having characteristics for locking one of the printing elements in one of its positions before passing opposite the selector electromagnet means within range of which the said locking system is made inoperative by cancelling means the effect whereof ceases before the retaining action of the said electromagnet means ceases, the said cancelling means comprising a first element placed in the motion path of the latches, and said printing element movable to its active position previous to passing in range of the electromagnet means by a second element placed in the motion path of the printing elements during rotation of the printing cylinder.

Claim 14

An installation for printing codes and particular character codes on articles, comprising: a reading unit including a coding keyboard and preceded by a feeder unit for the articles to be coded; a printing unit communicating with a reading unit followed by a unit for discharging and stacking the coded articles, the reading unit comprising a printing cylinder carrying retractable printing elements distributed on its surface; selector means for moving said printing elements between an active position facilitating printing and an inactive poSition inhibiting printing; means for inking said printing elements; a supporting element elastically held against the printing cylinder; power means for rotating the printing cylinder; an electronic system linked with said keyboard, said selector means, and said driving means, and including means for storing a code formed by successively depressing the appropriate keys on the board and further including means for activating the said selector and power means for making an impression of the code on the articles passed between the printing cylinder and the supporting element; electromagnet means included in the selector means for retaining the printing elements in one of the active and inactive positions during at least a portion of the rotation of the printing cylinder; locking means included in the printing unit for holding each printing element in one of its active and inactive positions during at least a portion of the motion of the printing cylinder; wherein each printing element is elastically constrained toward its inactive position and the locking means includes a group of latches respectively associated with the printing elements and carried on the printing cylinder, the said group of latches each having characteristics for locking one of the printing elements in one of its positions before passing opposite the selector electromagnet means within range of which the said locking system is made inoperative by cancelling means the effect whereof ceases before the retaining action of the said electromagnet means ceases, the said cancelling means comprising a first element placed in the motion path of the latches, and said printing element movable to its active position previous to passing in range of the electromagnet means by a second element placed in the motion path of the printing elements during rotation of the printing cylinder.

Claim 15

An installation for printing codes and particular character codes on articles, comprising: a reading unit including a coding keyboard and preceded by a feeder unit for the particles to be coded; a printing unit communciating with a reading unit followed by a unit for discharging and stacking the coded articles, the reading unit comprising a printing cylinder carrying retractable printing elements distributed on its surface; selector means for moving said printing elements between an active position facilitating printing and an inactive position inhibiting printing; means for inking said printing elements; a supporting element elastically held against the printing cylinder; power means for rotating the printing cylinder; an electronic system linked with said keyboard, said selector means, and said driving means, and including means for storing a code formed by successively depressing the appropriate keys on the board and further including means for activating the said selector and power means for making an impression of the code on the articles passed between the printing cylinder and the supporting element; electromagnet means included in the selector means for retaining the printing elements in one of the active and inactive positions during at least a portion of the rotation of the printing cylinder; the printing cylinder defining a plurality of radial slots and each printing element carried on a printing lever pivotal in one of the radial slots, said selector means comprising not less than one electromagnet each selectively actuable to influence the printing elements while passing through a range of action of the said electromagnet during the rotation of the printing cylinder, each such printing element being elastically biased toward one of its active and inactive positions and being held in the other of its active and inactive positions by a locking system during that part of the motion of the printing cylinder in which the printing element moves from its position under said electromagnet immediately after passing in front of the backup roller, the said lockIng system being formed on a bank of latches respectively associated with corresponding printing elements and likewise carried on the printing cylinder, each latch consisting of a lever pivoting in a radial slot on the printing cylinder and elastically constrained toward the locking position of the printing lever in the active position, while said electromagnet constrains it toward its release position, said latch itself biased in each of its two positions against the printing lever, whether the said printing lever is in its active position, or in its inactive position.

Claim 16

An installation for printing codes and particular character codes on articles, comprising: a reading unit including a coding keyboard and preceded by a feeder unit for the particles to be coded; a printing unit communciating with a reading unit followed by a unit for discharging and stacking the coded articles, the reading unit comprising a printing cylinder carrying retractable printing elements distributed on its surface; selector means for moving said printing elements between an active position facilitating printing and an inactive position inhibiting printing; means for inking said printing elements; a supporting element elastically held against the printing cylinder; power means for rotating the printing cylinder; an electronic system linked with said keyboard, said selector means, and said driving means, and including means for storing a code formed by successively depressing the appropriate keys on the board and further including means for activating the said selector and power means for making an impression of the code on the articles passed between the printing cylinder and the supporting element; electromagnet means included in the selector means for retaining the printing elements in one of the active and inactive positions during at least a portion of the rotation of the printing cylinder; the printing cylinder defining a plurality of radial slots and each printing element carried on a printing lever pivotal in one of the radial slots, said selector means comprising not less than one electromagnet each selectively actuable to influence the printing elements while passing through a range of action of the said electromagnet during the rotation of the printing cylinder, each such printing element being elastically biased toward one of its active and inactive positions and being held in the other of its active and inactive positions by a locking system during that part of the motion of the printing cylinder in which the printing element moves from its position under said electromagnet immediately after passing in front of the backup roller, the said lockIng system being formed on a bank of latches respectively associated with corresponding printing elements and likewise carried on the printing cylinder, each latch consisting of a lever pivoting in a radial slot on the printing cylinder and elastically constrained toward the locking position of the printing lever in the active position, while said electromagnet constrains it toward its release position, said latch itself biased in each of its two positions against the printing lever, whether the said printing lever is in its active position, or in its inactive position.

Claim 17

An installation for printing codes and particular character codes on articles, comprising: a reading unit including a coding keyboard and preceded by a feeder unit for the articles to be coded; a printing unit communicating with a reading unit followed by a unit for discharging and stacking the coded articles, the reading unit comprising a printing cylinder carrying retractable printing elements distributed on its surface; selector means for moving said printing elements between an active position facilitating printing and an inactive position inhibiting printing; means for inking said printing elements; a supporting element elastically held against the printing cylinder; power means for rotating the printing cylinder; an electronic system linked with said keyboard, said selector means, and said driving means, and including means for storing a code formed by successively depressing the appropriate keys on the board and further including means for activating the said selector and power means for making an impression of the code on the articles passed between the printing cylinder and the supporting element; electromagnet means included in the selector means for retaining the printing elements in one of the active and inactive positions during at least a portion of the rotation of the printing cylinder; locking means included in the printing unit for holding each printing element in one of its active and inactive positions during at least a portion of the motion of the printing cylinder; wherein each printing element is elastically constrained towards its inactive position, and the locking system consists of a bank of latches respectively associated with the corresponding printing elements and pivotal from a release position on the said printing cylinder to lock each printing element in its active position before passing in front of the electromagnet means within range of which the said locking system is rendered inoperative by a cancelling means the action whereof is interrupted before termination of the active period of the said electromagnet means, the said cancelling means consiting of a fixed element moving the said latch into its release position not later than during the active period of said electromagnet means, and the force of the electro-magnet means and its distance from the motion path of the latches during rotation of the printing cylinder being such as to retain these latches in their release position to permit the movement of the associated printing lever to the inactive position.

Claim 18

An installation for printing codes and particular character codes on articles, comprising: a reading unit including a coding keyboard and preceded by a feeder unit for the articles to be coded; a printing unit communicating with a reading unit followed by a unit for discharging and stacking the coded articles, the reading unit comprising a printing cylinder carrying retractable printing elements distributed on its surface; selector means for moving said printing elements between an active position facilitating printing and an inactive position inhibiting printing; means for inking said printing elements; a supporting element elastically held against the printing cylinder; power means for rotating the printing cylinder; an electronic system linked with said keyboard, said selector means, and said driving means, and including means for storing a code formed by successively depressing the appropriate keys on the board and further including means for activating the said selector and power means for making an impression of the code on the articles passed between the printing cylinder and the supporting element; electromagnet means included in the selector means for retaining the printing elements in one of the active and inactive positions during at least a portion of the rotation of the printing cylinder; locking means included in the printing unit for holding each printing element in one of its active and inactive positions during at least a portion of the motion of the printing cylinder; wherein each printing element is elastically constrained towards its inactive position, and the locking system consists of a bank of latches respectively associated with the corresponding printing elements and pivotal from a release position on the said printing cylinder to lock each printing element in its active position before passing in front of the electromagnet means within range of which the said locking system is rendered inoperative by a cancelling means the action whereof is interrupted before termination of the active period of the said electromagnet means, the said cancelling means consiting of a fixed element moving the said latch into its release position not later than during the active period of said electromagnet means, and the force of the electro-magnet means and its distance from the motion path of the latches during rotation of the printing cylinder being such as to retain these latches in their release position to permit the movement of the associated printing lever to the inactive position.

Claim 19

An installation for printing codes and particular character codes on articles, comprising: a reading unit including a coding keyboard and preceded by a feeder unit for the articles to be coded; a printing unit communicating with a reading unit followed by a unit for discharging and stacking the coded articles, the reading unit comprising a printing cylinder carrying retractable printing elements distributed on its surface; selector means for moving said printing elements between an active position facilitating printing and an inactive position inhibiting printing; means for inking said printing elements; a supporting element elastically held against the printing cylinder; power means for rotating the printing cylinder; an electronic system linked with said keyboard, said selector means, and said driving means, and includiNg means for storing a code formed by successively depressing the appropriate keys on the board and further including means for activating the said selector and power means for making an impression of the code on the articles passed between the printing cylinder and the supporting element; electromagnet means included in the selector means for retaining the printing elements in one of the active and inactive positions during at least a portion of the rotation of the printing cylinder; locking means included in the printing unit for holding each printing element in one of its active and inactive positions during at least a portion of the motion of the printing cylinder; means for controlling the printing elements and locking means in accordance with a preset operating cycle, the said control means consisting of a first cam suitably returning the printing elements situated immediately in advance of a range of action of the electromagnet means into their active position, and holding these printing elements until they have entered the said range of action, and a second cam returning the locking elements of the same printing elements into their inactive positions and holding them until the said printing elements have passed beyond the position in which they cease to be influenced by the action of the first cam, and before the printing elements have passed out of the range of action of the electromagnet means.

Claim 20

An installation for printing codes and particular character codes on articles, comprising: a reading unit including a coding keyboard and preceded by a feeder unit for the articles to be coded; a printing unit communicating with a reading unit followed by a unit for discharging and stacking the coded articles, the reading unit comprising a printing cylinder carrying retractable printing elements distributed on its surface; selector means for moving said printing elements between an active position facilitating printing and an inactive position inhibiting printing; means for inking said printing elements; a supporting element elastically held against the printing cylinder; power means for rotating the printing cylinder; an electronic system linked with said keyboard, said selector means, and said driving means, and includiNg means for storing a code formed by successively depressing the appropriate keys on the board and further including means for activating the said selector and power means for making an impression of the code on the articles passed between the printing cylinder and the supporting element; electromagnet means included in the selector means for retaining the printing elements in one of the active and inactive positions during at least a portion of the rotation of the printing cylinder; locking means included in the printing unit for holding each printing element in one of its active and inactive positions during at least a portion of the motion of the printing cylinder; means for controlling the printing elements and locking means in accordance with a preset operating cycle, the said control means consisting of a first cam suitably returning the printing elements situated immediately in advance of a range of action of the electromagnet means into their active position, and holding these printing elements until they have entered the said range of action, and a second cam returning the locking elements of the same printing elements into their inactive positions and holding them until the said printing elements have passed beyond the position in which they cease to be influenced by the action of the first cam, and before the printing elements have passed out of the range of action of the electromagnet means.

Claim 21

An installation in accordance with claim 15, in which each of the two cams has a rising section followed by a flat section ending in an abrupt step, at least one of these steps on the cam profiles being located inside the range of action of the electromagnet and being shifted with reference to each other in the general direction of motion of the device comprising the printing levers and the latches.

Claim 22

An installation in accordance with claim 15, in which each printing element and its associated locking latch comprise two substantially perpendicular levels each having a side face and an end face and each pivotally fitted in radial slots on the printing cylinder on two axes at right angles to the axis of said cylinder, and the said pivoting levers are biased by elastic restoring means in a direction tending to move the side face of one of the levers towards the end face of the other of the levers.

Claim 23

In combination for printing a code on articles such as letters: a supporting structure; a coding keybard mounted on the supporting structure and operable to produce signals corresponding to a particular code for a particular one of the articles; a printing cylinder mounted on the supporting structure and rotatable to provide surface contact with the particular letter; a plurality of printing elements each associated with a particular character and mounted on the surface of the printing cylinder, each of the printing elements pivotal between an extended position to facilitate printing of the associated character on the particular article and a retracted position to inhibit printing of the associated character on the particular article; selector means selectively actuable to facilitate placement of each of the printing elements in one of the extended and retracted positions; controller means responsive to the signals from the keyboard and providing signals for selectively rotating the printing cylinder and selectively actuating the selector means in accordance with the particular code to print the particular code on the particular article; and memory means included in the controller means to store at least a portion of the particular code prior to the printing thereof on the particular article.

Claim 24

In combination for printing a code on articles such as letters: a supporting structure; a coding keybard mounted on the supporting structure and operable to produce signals corresponding to a particular code for a particular one of the articles; a printing cylinder mounted on the supporting structure and rotatable to provide surface contact with the particular letter; a plurality of printing elements each associated with a particular character and mounted on the surface of the printing cylinder, each of the printing elements pivotal between an extended position to facilitate printing of the associated character on the particular article and a retracted position to inhibit printing of the associated character on the particular article; selector means selectively actuable to facilitate placement of each of the printing elements in one of the extended and retracted positions; controller means responsive to the signals from the keyboard and providing signals for selectively rotating the printing cylinder and selectively actuating the selector means in accordance with the particular code to print the particular code on the particular article; and memory means included in the controller means to store at least a portion of the particular code prior to the printing thereof on the particular article.

Claim 25

The combination recited in claim 18 further comprising: a plurality of locking members respectively associated with the particular elements and mounted on the printing cylinder, each of the locking members pivotal between a release position and a locking position corresponding to the extended position of the associaTed printing element; and at least one electromagnet included in the selector means, mounted on the supporting structure, and energizable in accordance with the signals from the controller means to move one of the locking members and the printing elements.

Claim 26

The combination recited in claim 19 further comprising: biasing means mounted on the printing cylinder and biasing the printing elements toward the retracted position and the locking members toward the locking position; first camming means for forcing the locking members against the force of the biasing means to the release position during a first period of time; second camming means for foring the printing elements against the force of the biasing means to the extended position during a second period of time terminating after the first period of time; the electromagnet energizable during a third period of time beginning prior to the termination of the first period of time to maintain the locking member in the release position until after the termination of the second period of time; whereby the printing element is moved by the biasing means to the retracted position.

Claim 27

The combination recited in claim 19 further comprising: biasing means mounted on the printing cylinder and biasing a particular one of the printing elements toward the locking position and the associated printing element toward the retracted position; first camming means for foring the particular locking member against the force of the biasing means to the release position during a first period of time; second camming means for forcing the associated printing element against the force of the biasing means to the extended position during a second period of time terminating prior to the first period of time; the electromagnet energizable during a third period of time beginning prior to the termination of the second period of time to maintain the printing element in the extended position after termination of the first period of time; whereby the locking member is moved by the biasing means to the locking position to maintain the printing element in the extended position.