Device for alphanumeric labeling of securities

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11446919-B2
Application number	US-202017429955-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 7, 2020
Priority date	Aug 13, 2019
Publication date	Sep 20, 2022
Grant date	Sep 20, 2022

Abstract

A device for the alphanumeric labeling of printed products comprises a shaft mounted in a frame, and around which shaft at least one wheel-shaped or ring-shaped labeling tool is rotatably mounted, which tool carries a number of alphanumeric characters, one behind the other, on its outer circumference. A drive motor, in the form of, for example, a stepper motor, is provided and by which the labeling tool can be rotated around the shaft. The drive motor is linked for signals transmission to one of a data processing and a data storage of a control device, in which an assignment specification between the working positions of the alphanumeric characters or the fields carrying the alphanumeric characters, and step numbers of the stepper motor, is provided. The drive motor is or can be controlled by the control device in terms of a number of steps to be traveled, using this provided assignment specification, to move an alphanumeric character to be printed or the relevant field into a working position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device ( 01 ) for alphanumeric labeling of securities, comprising
a shaft ( 11 ) mounted in a frame ( 03 ), around which shaft ( 11 ) a plurality of wheel-shaped or ring-shaped labeling tools ( 02 ), each carrying multiple, i.e. a number k (kϵ , k>1) of alphanumeric characters (Z Z ) one behind the other on its outer circumference, are rotatably mounted,
drive means, each drive means having one drive motor ( 12 ), for multiple or for each of the plurality of labeling tools ( 02 ), by which drive means these plurality of labeling tools ( 02 ) can be rotated mechanically independently of one another around the shaft ( 11 ),
and a sensor device having at least one sensor ( 23 ; 23 . 1 ; 23 . 2 ), which is fixed relative to the frame during operation, for each of the plurality of labeling tools ( 02 ), the at least one sensor cooperating with at least a number l (lϵ , l≥k) of marks (M m ; M m,r ), corresponding to the number k of alphanumeric characters (Z Z ), which marks are specific to a functioning method of the at least one sensor ( 23 ; 23 . 1 ; 23 . 2 ) and are provided on a respective labeling tool ( 02 ), of the plurality of labeling tools each in a fixed circumferential position relative to one character (Z Z ; Z ; Z X ) carried on an outer circumference of the respective labeling tool,
characterized in that
the at least one sensor ( 23 ; 23 . 1 ; 23 . 2 ) is fixed relative to the shaft during operation and is arranged within a clear cross-section of openings in the plurality of labeling tools ( 02 ) for receiving the shaft ( 11 ), and the marks (M m ; M m,r ) are provided in a region of an inner circumference of the relevant one of the plurality labeling tools ( 02 ), which surrounds the opening, and/or in that the sensor device comprises two sensors ( 23 . 1 ; 23 . 2 ) arranged one behind the other as viewed in a circumferential direction of the shaft ( 11 ).

2. The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the two sensors ( 23 . 1 ; 23 . 2 ) are provided within an angular distance smaller than the angular distance between two consecutive characters (Z Z ; Z ; Z X ), as viewed around the axis of rotation of the numbering wheels, and/or are comprised by a sensor array ( 25 ) by which at least two magnetic field vector components (Bx, By, Bz) lying in one plane of an existing magnetic field can be detected.

3. The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that, in addition to the marks (M m ) assigned to the alphanumeric characters (Z Z ; Z ; Z X ), a mark (M m,r ) which serves as a reference for the assumption of a defined angular position, or a reference mark (M m,r ), is provided.

4. The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that each at least one sensor ( 23 ; 23 . 1 ; 23 . 2 ) is in the form of a magnetic field sensor ( 23 ; 23 . 1 ; 23 . 2 ) and/or the sensor device comprises a magnet ( 24 ).

5. The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the number of marks (M m ; M m,r ) is provided in the form of an inhomogeneity in magnetic susceptibility and/or permeability, and providing a deviation from a circular or cylindrical profile in the inner circumferential surface, facing the shaft ( 11 ), of a magnetic material of the labeling tool ( 02 ) which does not itself generate a magnetic field, and/or in that the mark (M m ; M m,r ) is provided in the form of an indentation (M m ; M m,r ) or protrusion (M m ; M m,r ) in the otherwise circular or cylindrical inner circumferential surface of the numbering wheel ( 02 ) mounted on the shaft.

6. The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that on a longitudinal section (a 11 ) of the shaft ( 11 ) a plurality, i.e. a number p (pϵ , p>1), of ring-shaped labeling tools ( 02 ) carrying alphanumeric characters (Z Z ) are rotatably mounted, and a number n (nϵ , n≥m), corresponding to precisely or at least this number m, of sensors ( 23 ; 23 . 1 ; 23 . 2 ) are provided spaced, from one another in the axial direction.

7. The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that a locking means ( 31 ) is provided, which can be moved selectively into a secured position to secure the working position assumed for a selected character (Z Z ; Z ; Z X ) or a field (F f ) that carries the selected character (Z Z ; Z ; Z X ) and which cooperates with indentations ( 44 ) or protrusions ( 44 ) on the labeling tool ( 02 ) or on a rotating driven member of the drive means that drives the labeling tool ( 02 ).

8. The device according to claim 7 , characterized in that the locking means ( 31 ) can be brought into engagement with one of the indentations ( 44 ) or protrusions ( 44 ) acting as a mark (M m ; M m,r ), or with an indentation ( 44 ) or protrusion ( 44 ) of a character (Z Z ; Z ; Z X ) or field (F f ) other than the character (Z Z ; Z ; Z X ) or field (F f ) that has been moved into the working position.

9. The device according to claim 7 , characterized in that an electromagnetically operable actuator ( 32 ; 32 ′; 32 ″) is provided, which electromagnetically operable actuator can be actively moved with an output-side driven element ( 33 ; 33 ′; 33 ″), through the corresponding application of electric energy, into at least two different stable switching states which bring about the secured position and an inactive position.

10. The device according to claim 9 , characterized in that a linear motor ( 32 ′; 32 ″) having an armature ( 33 ′; 33 ″) acting as a driven element ( 33 ′; 33 ″) is provided as the electromagnetically operable actuator ( 32 ′; 32 ″).

11. The device according to claim 9 , characterized in that an electric motor ( 32 ) having a rotor ( 33 ) acting as a driven element ( 33 ) is provided as the actuator ( 32 ).

12. The device according to claim 9 , characterized in that, in the drive train between the electromagnetically operable actuator ( 32 ; 32 ′; 32 ″) and the locking element ( 31 ) to be positioned, a gear mechanism ( 37 ; 37 ′; 37 ″) that converts the movement of the driven element ( 33 ; 33 ′; 33 ″) to a movement of the locking means ( 31 ) is provided.

Assignees

• Koenig & Bauer Ag

Inventors

• Bless Stefan
• Diederichs Carsten
• Merminod Antoine

Classifications

• B41K3/125

  having automatic means for changing type-characters · CPC title

• B41F33/009

  Devices for controlling numbering · CPC title

• G01R33/07

  Hall effect devices · CPC title

• B41F13/0045

  Electric driving devices · CPC title

• G01R33/0094

  Sensor arrays · CPC title