EP0449157A1

EP0449157A1 - Computer controlled electronic stamp

Info

Publication number: EP0449157A1
Application number: EP91104611A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Antonio Damiano; Achille Micucci
Original assignee: Selenia Industrie Elettroniche Associate SpA
Current assignee: Leonardo SpA
Priority date: 1990-03-28
Filing date: 1991-03-24
Publication date: 1991-10-02
Also published as: IT1247684B; IT9047797A1; IT9047797A0

Abstract

Electronic stamp to print short texts, such as Lotto forms or similar, essentially made up of (ref to figure 1) a peripheric stamp connected to a computer (7) which enables to print on fixed supports what has been digitized via keyboard and sent upon operator command.
The stamp is essentially made up of a printing dye (6) which can move in two directions along orthogonal axes; an interface logic towards the computer (7); by a handle (2);(a) a push button for printing activation.
Such syatem belongs to the informatics field and more specifically to that of peripheral printing devices.
It finds one of its most significant applications in the field of Lotto, or similar games, as it provides for automatic compilation of the forms played without any modification to the forms presently in use. It can also find application wherever there is a need to fill in any type of form, with advantages in terms of accuracy and time savings.

Description

The invention regards an electronic stamp to be connected to a computer for the printing of fixed surfaces, so as to automate data transcription. In its best application, this invention is meant to facilitate the task of the Lotto player because the application of this stamp on the form does not require manual transcription of data.
The stamp is connected to any computer using specific software for the application.
In the case presented, it is designed for use with the Lotto game, but it can find application in any system where there is a requirement for print on paper or other surfaces, fixed or at least such that traditional printing is impossible to be used. It can be equipped with a suitable handle for manual or automatic positioning.
In the specific case of the Lotto game, the form surface to be printed and other forms of the game were filled in manually by the operator. With the electronic stamp,presented with this invention, he can on the contrary insert the data to be played manually on the keyboard of the computer and following positioning of the stamp on the form, he can request automatic printing of the data. This way it is possible to avoid any manual operation at any stage of the game without any variation to the forms presently in use.
With respect to present solutions, according to the inventors, there is no equivalent form filling device, especially concerning State organizations. In fact as of today, filling of Lotto forms is a purely manual task.
One of the inconveniences most frequently encourtered in previous techniques was the possible difficulty of reading data. In fact the Lotto numbers were written twice, with a possibility of incurring errors. Such manual procedure was also more time consuming.
The invention will now be described with refernce to the drawings attached for illustrative but not limiting reasons.
It is clear that the invention described is one of the possible forms of implementation of the invention described. In fact the invention can find application wherever there is a need to compile forms such as in banks, post offices, service offices such as USL, SiP, Enel etc.
Figure 1 shows two possible forms (a),(b) of electronic stamp. Here we can see two of the possible examples of handle 2 and the activation push button p.
Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of the printing mechanism of the stamp. Here we can see:
3 the rails for the movement of the printing head along the X axis;
5 the rails for the movement of the printing head 6 along the y axis;
6 the printing head.
Figure 3 is a schematic outline of the stamp 2-computer assembly and relevant connection 8 for power supply and data exchange.
Now we shall enter into the description of the operation of the invention for which this patent application is raised, but here too it should be made clear that the description relates to the presently preferred implementation by the authors. It may in fact be implemented in many alternative manners, such as by means of optical fibres or simply by a chordless optical link, or by an RF connection with or without cable.
The game can be started by the operator who is informed by the player on what numbers he wishes to play or directly by the player. The operationis performed as follows :

the data to be played is inserted via keyboard;
the data is memorized in the computer memory for suitable processing;
the data appears on the display to be checked by the operator and/or the player;
the data inserted is transferred to the computer memory for further transfer to the stamp by means of an interface which is purposely developed and consists of known elements;
the stamp is placed on the paper support and the write command is activated, which in this case is pushbutton p;
the print head 6 writes all elements on the paper form following approval by the operator/ player on the video display.

The electronic stamp can solve labling problems also in other sectors such as production and distribution of goods, and data printing for indentification of industrial products, abbreviations and prices on commercial goods etc.
The economic advantages evaluated within the global management costs can be significant especially when there is a repetitivity of the writing of messages on materials which are unsuitable for traditional printers.
The device can be easily industrialized and is reproducible as it makes use of parts presently used by commercial products.

Claims

Electronic stamp for printing of short form text, structured so as to utilize printing elements managed by electronic circuits, essentially made up of a handle (2) ; by a part wich is placed upon the support to be printed and is in turn made up of a printig head (6) which moves along orthogonal rails.
Electronic stamp for printing short text, as per claim 1, which is mobile, i.e. can be positioned on fixed supports.
Electronic stamp for printing short text, as per claim 1 which can also be fixed when the part to be printed is mobile.
Electronic stamp to print short text, as per claims 1 and 2 characterized by the fact that it can be used for any type of form.
Electronic stamp as per claims 1 and 2, which can be used when the present forms cannot be modified.
Electronic stamp as per claims above, where the data transmission connections can be made with or without cable between computer and stamp, with optical fibres or optical or remote RF systems.
Electronic stamp as per claims above, which can print also on non perfectly flat surfaces.
Electronic stamp as per claims-above, which has an interface which can be set on a computer.
Electronic stamp as per previous claims, which can provide an automatic local or centralized game data entry.