EP0405356B1 - Büromaschine zum Versenden von Poststücken - Google Patents

Büromaschine zum Versenden von Poststücken Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0405356B1
EP0405356B1 EP19900111867 EP90111867A EP0405356B1 EP 0405356 B1 EP0405356 B1 EP 0405356B1 EP 19900111867 EP19900111867 EP 19900111867 EP 90111867 A EP90111867 A EP 90111867A EP 0405356 B1 EP0405356 B1 EP 0405356B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
print head
mail item
machine according
office machine
data
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19900111867
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English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0405356A1 (de
Inventor
Philippe Michel
Gilbert Sancenot
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Quadient Technologies France SA
Original Assignee
Neopost Technologies SA
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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00516—Details of printing apparatus
    • G07B2017/00524—Printheads
    • G07B2017/00532—Inkjet
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00516—Details of printing apparatus
    • G07B2017/00556—Ensuring quality of print
    • G07B2017/00564—Ensuring correct position of print on mailpiece
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00572—Details of printed item
    • G07B2017/0058—Printing of code

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to machines ensuring in particular the franking of postal articles. More specifically, it relates to an office machine, of small dimensions, of low weight and of low cost, ensuring the final so-called shipping operations, such as franking in particular, on postal articles. Such a machine can then be used instead of making mail, then made ready for dispatch. It is also perfectly suited to be used by companies and individuals who send only a small volume of mail.
  • franking machines are widespread in companies that send large volumes of mail. These machines ensure the printing on the various postal items of a postage stamp at the appropriate value, and a sticker of the home office with the date of shipment, which are possibly accompanied by an additional advertising flame . Whether they operate in prepayment or postpaid postage operations, they include means of recording the amount of postage paid and, if applicable, the amount of credit remaining available.
  • a rotary printing drum In a large number of existing franking machines processing average volumes of mail, a rotary printing drum is used, with which a printing head is associated. The drum is driven on one revolution for each postage.
  • This drum has on its periphery an engraved plate intended for the printing of the fixed data of the stamp and the home office.
  • the print head itself comes, through two windows in this plate, ensure the printing of variable data, namely the postage value and the date of shipment.
  • a second engraved plate, retractable on the periphery of this drum ensures the printing of the advertising flame, during the same rotation of the drum, when this flame is desired.
  • variable data print head can consist of two sets of rollers, for these two types of data.
  • the sets of wheels are rotatable with the drum. Their wheels are individually positionable and are flush with the periphery of the drum.
  • the print head of this variable data can also be constituted by an ink jet head.
  • Patent FR-No. 2 257 964 describes a franking machine comprising such an ink jet print head.
  • the print head is fixedly mounted inside the print drum. It has a row of ejection nozzles opening near the periphery of the drum and facing the path of the articles driven under the drum.
  • This print head is controlled from a data source, for printing variable postage and date data, through one of the two windows of the data printing plate fixed, when these windows are on the item to be franked.
  • the patent FR-n ° 2 561 992 describes a machine of this type.
  • This machine has a window base in which the head is slidably mounted.
  • the base is positioned on the article with its window on the surface to to mark.
  • the head is driven by hand along the window and controlled from a data source defining the marks.
  • Means for detecting the position of the head along the window make it possible to trigger and control the printing.
  • Patent FR 2 145 343 describes another machine of this type.
  • the machine comprises a casing carrying the head mounted fixed just above its open bottom.
  • the housing is fitted with rollers on the surface to be marked.
  • the head has a limited number of nozzles, with a small pitch between them on a column transverse to the scan line of the article. It is ordered from a data source defining the characters or marks in matrix form.
  • a coding wheel driven by one of the rollers controls the printing in synchronism with the movement of the casing and therefore of the head.
  • Each of these two known machines therefore ensures the printing of symbols defined in the data source, over the height of the line scanned by the head.
  • the use of such a machine as a franking machine leads to a franking mode produced by printing a line of symbols, and no longer to the franking mode produced by printing the franking stamp and the sticker of the home office with the date of shipment, accompanied if desired by an advertising flame.
  • Document GB-A-2 206 082 describes a franking machine without a rotating drum for the fixed part of the printing.
  • the postage stamp, the sticker and the advertising flame are printed by an inkjet print head.
  • transport rollers serve as means for introducing the articles under the head and the inkjet printing is done in a single line and simultaneously with the transport of an article.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide an office machine for dispatching postal articles, in particular but not exclusively for franking these articles, which uses a printhead with a limited number of elements for franking. individually aligned, movable mounted relative to an article franking area which it scans in several lines.
  • the relative movement of the head on the article does not exclude that the article moves and the head remains fixed during printing.
  • the machine comprises the aforementioned first head, which consists of a first inkjet print head assigned to the printing of the franking stamp and the sticker of the home office on the area called the first area it scans, and a second print head identical printing to the first, coupled to a second data source and assigned to the printing of the advertising flame on a second zone which it scans simultaneously while the first head scans the first zone.
  • said first and second heads are selectively coupled for these two heads to the first and second data sources for printing the first and second areas or for the second head alone to memories of the machine's financial accounts. or to a source of address data for printing an account slip or an address area, while the first head is isolated from the first source then inhibited under the control of means for selecting modes of use of the machine and a microprocessor.
  • the machine comprises two motors for driving the heads, one for driving them in the X direction and the other for driving them in a Y direction transverse to X, above the item kept fixed in the machine during the processing cycle.
  • the machine shown has two ink jet print heads 1 and 2.
  • the machine is small, around 240 x 180 x 110 mm; she is an office machine.
  • print heads 1 and 2 are components with a defined limited printing time and are disposable. They are identical to each other, only the ink contained in their internal reservoir is preferably different from one to the other.
  • Head 1 seen to the far right in the machine, is in red ink and head 2 in black ink, for the main use of the machine as a franking machine.
  • print heads 1 and 2 are as such known; these are, for example, heads sold under the name THINK JET from the company HEWLETT-PACKARD. They each have a limited number of low-pitched nozzles between them and aligned in a row on one face, called the base, of the head.
  • the base is identified by the reference 1A or 2A, depending on the head considered.
  • a network of control elements is associated with the individual nozzles.
  • the two heads 1 and 2 are fixed on a support slide 3.
  • the slide 3 is itself mounted on a pair of horizontal guide rods 4. It is driven along the guide rods 4 by a cable 5.
  • This cable 5 is stretched between a driving pulley 6 and a deflection pulley 7 and at its ends fixed to the slide 3, on one side and on the other of the two printheads 1 and 2.
  • the heads 1 and 2 are vertical.
  • the row of nozzles on each base is illustrated in dotted lines and designated by the reference 1B for the head 1 and 2B for the head 2.
  • the two rows of nozzles 1B, 2B are parallel to each other and transverse to the rods of guide 4.
  • the guide rods 4 define a first direction X of movement of the heads with the slide.
  • the rows of nozzles 1B and 2B define a second direction Y, transverse to the first direction X, of movement of the heads with the slide 3.
  • the positions of the heads on the slide are such that the distance between their rows of nozzles is equal to the distance between the right edges of the stamp and the advertising flame to be printed.
  • the two guide rods 4 are mounted in spacers on two vertical flanges 8 and 9, between first end portions of these flanges coming from the front of the machine. These flanges thus support the slide 3 made mobile between them, in the front part of the machine. They also support the two pulleys 6 and 7 receiving the cable 5 for driving the slide 3.
  • the motor 10 is a reversible motor, for driving the slide 3 and therefore the heads 1 and 2 in one direction and the other in the direction X.
  • This motor 10 is preferably a stepping motor. It is housed and is held in an intermediate recess 8A on the flange 8 which corresponds to the driving pulley 6.
  • each of these flanges is mounted, in the rear part of the machine, on a guide column, such as the only guide column 12 for the flange 9, which is visible.
  • a guide column such as the only guide column 12 for the flange 9, which is visible.
  • These guide columns are carried by a rear vertical support 13. They are transverse to the guide rods 4.
  • Each of the flanges 8 and 9 has, in addition, the lower edge of its second end portion coming from the rear of the machine which constitutes a rack.
  • the rack of the flange 8 is referenced 14, that of the flange 9 is referenced 15.
  • a flat spacer 16 connects the upper edges of the second end portions of the flanges, for their maintenance with a spacing from one another.
  • the two racks 14 and 15 correspond opposite. They are both meshed on two pinions, such as the pinion 17 for the rack 15, which is the only visible. These two pinions are mounted at one and the other of the ends of a control shaft 18.
  • the control shaft 18 also carries a third pinion 19. This intermediate pinion 19 drives the shaft. It is coupled to a second motor 20, through a motor pinion 21 engaged on it.
  • This control shaft 18 extends between the two flanges 8 and 9, with its terminal pinions engaged on the racks 14 and 15. It is mounted on bearings such as the only bearing 22, which is visible.
  • the motor 20 is held by the vertical support 13. It allows the flanges 8 and 9 and therefore the slide 3 to be driven with the heads 1 and 2 in the direction Y. It is said to be the Y control motor.
  • the motor 20 is a reversible motor, for driving the slide with the heads 1 and 2, in one direction and the other in the direction Y. This motor 20 is preferably a stepping motor.
  • This same control shaft 18 carries, in addition, a cam 25.
  • This cam 25 controls in particular the progress of a cycle for processing articles for its execution in two successive phases. It is specified below.
  • the assembly constituted by the slide 3 with the heads 1 and 2 on the flanges 8 and 9 forms the upper part of the machine. It is mounted movable above a horizontal sole 30, defining with elements that it carries the fixed lower part of the machine.
  • the rear vertical support 13 is mounted on the sole 30 and assembles the upper and lower parts of the machine.
  • the sole 30 On the sides of the machine, in particular facing the flanges 8 and 9, the sole 30 has non-referenced shoulders which come to marry the lower profile of the upper part, without discomfort for the mobile elements.
  • a frame 31 mounted on the sole contains the two parts of the machine.
  • This slot 32 extends, in depth, slightly beyond the row of nozzles, 1A, 1B, of one and the other of the heads 1 and 2 considered in their innermost position, in the direction Y, in the machine, which is their rest position.
  • This slot 32 is limited in height between a lower plate 33 called the article introduction plate and a plate upper 34 called printing plate.
  • These two plates 33 and 34 are fixed on the sole 30, with a spacing from one another equal to the maximum possible thickness of the articles to be introduced into the machine and to be treated.
  • the printing plate 34 also comes substantially against the base 1A and the base 2A of the heads 1 and 2. It makes it possible to ensure a limited and constant spacing between each row of nozzles and the surface of the article to receive an impression. , during a treatment cycle, whatever the thickness of the article concerned.
  • This slot 32 is limited in depth by a vertical stop 35, just on the rear of the heads 1 and 2, when they are in the rest position. This stop is carried by the sole, it constitutes the bottom of the slot.
  • This slot 32 is, furthermore open at one of its ends, that on the left in FIG. 1. It is, on the other hand, closed at its other end by the lateral lateral shoulder on the sole 30, which constitutes another stop 36 for the article.
  • the stops 35 and 36 which are orthogonal to each other allow precise positioning of each article under the heads, regardless of the spacing between the rows of nozzles and the surface of the article.
  • the chassis of the machine flares the opening of the slot on the front face of the machine, as shown in Figure 2.
  • the introduction of an article into the slot is facilitated.
  • a contact finger 37 is interposed through the stop 35 or on a truncated portion of this stop, in the vicinity of the heads 1 and 2 and near the other stop 36.
  • Another finger of analog contact can be associated with this other stop 36.
  • the finger 37 alone, or with the other finger detects the presence of an article in position under the heads for the treatment cycle, it controls the placing of the heads in a position of work next to the article to be treated.
  • the printing plate 34 illustrated in FIG. 1 corresponds to a processing for franking the article.
  • An envelope 40 has been illustrated in position under the heads 1 and 2 which produce its franking.
  • the printing plate 34 is shown with two windows 41A and 41B, assigned to the printing to be made through them by the head 1, and another window 42 assigned to the printing to be made through it by the head 2.
  • the windows 41A and 41B correspond to respective formats of the home office stamp and sticker; window 42 corresponds to the maximum possible format of an advertising flame.
  • This printing plate 34 is specific to the postage processing. It can be replaced by another plate for another treatment carried out by the machine. It can alternatively have only one large window per head or for both heads and thus be retained whatever the treatment to be carried out.
  • the presser assembly 50 is shown constituted by two plates 51A, 51B extending on one side and the other of a common axis 52, forming a movable hinge bearing on the control lever 60.
  • the plates pivot in opposite directions to each other around this axis 52 when the hinge is driven by the lever. They are also assembled and equipped identically to each other. Each of them is articulated around a fixed axis 53, substantially median on the plate concerned and parallel to the common axis 52. They are carried by support lugs 54 fixed below the introduction plate and defining the fixed axis of articulation 53 of each of them. They each carry two pressing fingers 55 and 56 at the ends of their edge opposite the common axis 52. These pressing fingers project towards the printing plate. 33 through holes such as 57 in the printing plate. Pressure springs 58 between the sole 30 and each plate 51A or 51B urge the plates so that their projecting fingers are inserted as far as possible through the introduction plate 33 against the action of the lever 60.
  • the lever 60 is shown shown constituted by two arms not referenced coupling the cam 25 and the plates 51A, 51B on the axis 52 forming a hinge.
  • the lever 60 carries an end roller 61 under the cam 25, which bears against it, and at least one other end roller 62 under the hinge which bears against it. It is carried by an intermediate roller 63, defining its fixed axis of articulation 64. This intermediate roller is itself held between two bearings 65.
  • the cam 25 has on its periphery a protruding part 25A of short length, which is assigned to maintaining the retracted position of the pressing fingers 55, 56 under the introduction plate for the introduction of an article into the slot 32.
  • the another part 25B of its periphery is assigned to keeping the pressing fingers 55, 56 in the projecting position through the introduction plate 33. It allows the envelope 40 or any other different article to be held against the printing plate, throughout the treatment cycle. It defines the working position of the print heads facing the surface of the envelope or article, during this treatment cycle, with a limited and constant spacing between the row of nozzles of each head and the surface of the article.
  • a finger 66 and an associated cell 67 are assigned to the detection of heads 1 and 2 in an initial reference position, for the start of printing.
  • This finger 66 is carried by the slide 3.
  • the cell is fixed above the sole 30.
  • the cell 67 authorizes the start of printing when the contact finger 37 has itself detected the presence of the article under the heads and caused the heads to be placed in the working position relative to the article.
  • the machine further comprises a control circuit 70, a keyboard 71 and a display screen 72, seen in FIG. 2.
  • the keyboard 71 and the screen 72 are mounted on the front, inclined part of the upper wall of the machine. They are coupled, as are the heads 1 and 2, the motors 10 and 20, and the sensors 37 and 67, to the control circuit 70.
  • the display screen 72 makes it possible to display the digital or alphanumeric data entered by the keyboard or previously stored pictograms which each indicate a selected mode of use.
  • This interface circuit 87 is itself connectable to a device external fund loading control, known as such and not illustrated.
  • control circuit 70 opposite the interface circuit 83 with the heads, there is associated with the reference 2 designating the ink jet print head used in the machine according to FIG. 1, a reference 2 ′ designating the analysis head which can replace it for the orderly preparation of advertising flame definition or addressing data. These data from analysis provided by the head 2 ′ are then loaded into the corresponding memory 78 or 79, while the other memories are inhibited.
  • the processing carried out on an article results from the selection of the mode of use of the machine by the keyboard.
  • the treatment cycle takes place after a preliminary stage which triggers it. Its course is identical whatever the treatment carried out by the machine.
  • the preliminary stage corresponds to the introduction of the article into the machine.
  • the machine is initially at rest, with the projecting part 25A of the cam 25 against the roller 61 of the lever 60 and with the pressing fingers 56, 57 retracted under the introduction plate 33 for the free insertion of the article into the slot 32.
  • the heads 1 and 2 are in the rest position and at a considerable distance relative to the article.
  • the end of the introduction step is given by the contact finger 37 when it detects the presence of the article, then under the heads. It triggers the treatment cycle.
  • This processing cycle takes place under the control of the microprocessor in two successive phases called processing phases for the first and return phase for the second.
  • the treatment phase starts with the control carried out by the contact finger 37.
  • this finger When this finger has detected the article, it excites the control motor at Y 20.
  • the control shaft 18 is driven counterclockwise. a watch.
  • the cam 25 which it carries has its projecting part 25A which escapes the roller 61 of the lever 60.
  • the pressing fingers 56, 57 are raised under the action of the springs 58.
  • These pressing fingers 56 , 57 come through the introduction plate 33 in the slot and press the article against the printing plate 34.
  • the motor 20 remains controlled until the part 25A of the cam has completely escaped from the roller 61 of the lever 60.
  • This command corresponds to a step of placing the heads in their working position relative to the article and in their initial reference position according to X and Y at the start of treatment.
  • the heads remain in the working position relative to the article.
  • this step of placing the heads in the working position is followed by the treatment step.
  • the processing step is carried out by alternating control of the motors 10 and 20, in one direction then the other for the motor 10 and in the same direction for the motor 20.
  • the controls of the motor X allow the scanning of successive lines according to the direction X of two areas to be printed by both heads simultaneously.
  • the Y motor controls allow passage from one scan line to the next; each advance in direction Y corresponds to the length of each row of nozzles.
  • the number of steps of the motor 10 makes it possible to detect the end of each line and to control the passage to the next line. Its evolution makes it possible to control the printing or possibly analysis processing, in synchronism with the movement along each line.
  • the number of steps of the motor 20 makes it possible to detect the passage from one line to the next, the number of lines scanned and the end of this processing phase.
  • the heads thus simultaneously scan the two zones which are individually assigned to them on the article.
  • the trace of their movements corresponds to two curves in the form of an elongated Greek.
  • the printing or possibly analysis processing is carried out during the scanning of the lines in the direction X traversed alternately in one direction and the other.
  • the end of the processing step directly triggers the return phase. This phase is ensured by reversing the direction of the control motor in Y until the projection 25A of the cam 25 returns against the roller 61 of the presser.
  • the motor 20 can be controlled only, for a direct return of the heads to the initial reference position when an even number of scanning lines have been traversed during the processing step; the motor 10 can also be controlled to allow this return to the initial reference position when the number of scanning lines is an odd number.
  • the motor 10 and the motor 20 can be controlled alternately and ensure reverse scanning of all the lines scanned during the processing step.
  • the return of the heads to the initial reference position is directly followed by the return of the heads to the rest position relative to the article.
  • the corresponding terminal stage of this return phase is provided by the motor 20 which brings the projecting part 25A of the cam 25 against the roller 61 of the lever 60.
  • the treatment cycle is fully executed at the end of this terminal stage of the treatment phase.
  • the machine is at rest and the withdrawal of the treated article is made free by the pressing fingers 56, 57 then retracted.
  • the successive scanning lines along X of the heads on their respective zones are made contiguous to each other, in advance along Y from one line to the other equal to the length of the rows of nozzles.
  • the printing or analysis of an area is thus carried out over the entire surface of the area.
  • the data defining the amount of franking are entered by the keyboard; the shipping date data are given by an internal clock not shown on the control circuit or entered daily by the keyboard, when the machine is first started. They are associated with the definition data for the graphics of the stamp and the sticker of the home office from the corresponding memory 77, during printing.
  • the latter memory is advantageously a ROM memory.
  • the machine according to the invention is simple and safe to operate. It is inexpensive to make. According to a preferred embodiment, its heads are removable on their support. They are changed and discarded by the user machine when their internal ink supply is depleted. Possible checks at any time of the duration of use of the print head 1 in place on the machine, with regard to the number of frankings made and recorded in the memory 76, can allow anti-fraud checks.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Record Information Processing For Printing (AREA)
  • Dot-Matrix Printers And Others (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)

Claims (15)

  1. Büromaschine zur Abfertigung von Poststücken, die einen ersten Druckkopf (1) mit einer begrenzten Anzahl von Druckelementen in einer Reihe an einer Basisseite des ersten Kopfs, Mittel (3, 8, 9, 10, 20) zur Relativverschiebung des Kopfes bezüglich des Poststücks und eine erste Quelle (77) von auf das Poststück aufzudruckenden Daten aufweist, die mit dem ersten Kopf gekoppelt ist und synchron mit der Relativverschiebung zwischen dem Kopf und dem Poststück gesteuert wird, wobei die Maschine weiter aufweist:
    - Mittel (32, 33, 34) zum Einführen eines der Poststücke unter den ersten Kopf (1), die gegenüber der Basis des ersten Kopfes mit einem Abstand mindestens gleich der maximal zulässigen Dicke der abzufertigenden Poststücke montiert sind, um eine Ruhestellung des ersten Kopfes oberhalb des gerade eingeführten Poststücks zu definieren,
    - erste Mittel (37) zur Erfassung des Poststücks unter dem Kopf, die einen Postabfertigungszyklus auslösen,
    - Mittel (25, 50, 60), um den Kopf und das Poststück relativ zueinander in Stellung zu bringen, mit einem begrenzten und konstanten Abstand zwischen der Basis des ersten Kopfes und dem Poststück, wobei diese Mittel durch die ersten Erfassungsmittel gesteuert werden, um eine Arbeitsstellung des ersten Kopfs oberhalb des Poststücks für den Postabfertigungszyklus zu definieren,
    - zweite Mittel (66, 67) zur Erfassung einer ursprünglichen Bezugsstellung des ersten Kopfes bezüglich des Poststücks, um gleichzeitig mit dem Instellungbringen des Kopfs in die Arbeitsstellung den Beginn und das Ende des Abfertigungszyklus zu kontrollieren,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die erste Datenquelle (77) der matrixartigen Definition eines Freistempels und eines Poststempels des für die Maschine zuständigen Postamts in einer ersten Druckzone (41) zugewiesen ist, und daß die Maschine weiter Steuermittel (70) für die Verschiebemittel (3; 8, 9, 10, 20) und für die erste Datenquelle (77) während des Abfertigungszyklus aufweist, um ein Überstreichen der ersten Zone auf dem Poststück mittels aufeinanderfolgender Zeilen gemäß einer ersten X-Richtung quer zur Reihe von Druckelementen ausgehend von der ursprünglichen Bezugsstellung und die Steuerung der ersten Quelle mit dem Überstreichen der aufeinanderfolgenden Zeilen während einer ersten Abfertigungsphase des Zyklus zu bewirken und um die Rückkehr des Kopfs in die ursprüngliche Bezugsstellung und die Blockierung der ersten Quelle und des Kopfes während der zweiten Zyklusphase zu bewirken, die Rückkehrphase genannt wird.
  2. Büromaschine nach Anspruch 1 zum Frankieren von Poststükken, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der erste Kopf (1) ein Tintenstrahl-Druckkopf mit Düsen ist, die die Druckelemente bilden, wobei mit diesem Druckkopf auf dem Poststück der Freistempel und der Poststempel des zugeordneten Postamts gedruckt werden, die durch erste Daten der ersten Quelle (77) definiert sind.
  3. Büromaschine nach einem der Ansprüche 1 und 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß sie weiter einen zweiten Kopf (2) mit einer Reihe (2B) von identischen Druckelementen parallel zur Reihe (1B) des ersten Kopfs aufweist, wobei der zweite Kopf bezüglich des ersten Kopfes festgelegt ist und einen durch zweite Daten aus einer zweiten mit ihm gekoppelten Datenquelle (78) definierten Werbeslogan in einer zweiten Zone druckt, die er während des Abfertigungszyklus überstreicht.
  4. Büromaschine nach Anspruch 3, die außerdem eine Buchungsliste bezüglich der durchgeführten und in Buchungsmitteln der Maschine gespeicherten Frankiervorgänge ausgeben soll, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Buchungsmittel (76) mindestens mit dem zweiten Kopf (2) gekoppelt sind und daß die Maschine Mittel (71) zur Auswahl von Betriebsmodi der Maschine zwischen einem Frankiermodus, für den die Steuerung der beiden Köpfe (1, 2) durch die erste bzw, zweite Datenquelle (77, 78) bewirkt wird, und einem Listenausgabemodus aufweist, für den während des Abfertigungszyklus die Steuerung nur des zweiten Kopfes aufgrund der Buchungsmittel (76) bewirkt wird, während die Steuerungen aufgrund der ersten und zweiten Datenquellen gesperrt sind.
  5. Büromaschine nach Anspruch 4, die außerdem eine Adressierung von Poststücken durchführt, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß sie außerdem eine dritte Datenquelle (79) aufweist, die der Definition von Adressen für eine Adressenzone zugeordnet ist und ebenfalls mit dem zweiten Kopf (2) über die Mittel zur Auswahl von Betriebsmodi der Maschine gekoppelt ist, die außerdem einen Listenausgabemodus aufweist, für den während des Abfertigungszyklus die Steuerung nur des zweiten Kopfes durch die dritte Quelle zum Druck von Empfängeradressen auf den Poststücken bewirkt wird, während die Steuerungen, die von der ersten und der zweiten Datenquelle und von den Buchungsmitteln kommen, gesperrt sind.
  6. Büromaschine nach einem der Ansprüche 3 bis 5, die außerdem feste Angaben bezüglich der Abfertigung der Poststücke zusammenstellen kann, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß sie weiter einen Analysekopf (2′), dritter Kopf genannt, mit einer Reihe von individuellen Analyseelementen entsprechend der Reihe von Druckelementen des zweiten Kopfes besitzt, der anstatt des zweiten Kopfes an dessen Stelle montiert ist und der Analyse eines Schriftzugs dient, der in einer dritten der zweiten Zone entsprechenden Zone enthalten ist, und daß die Auswahlmittel (71) für die Betriebsmodi der Maschine weiter einen Modus aufweisen, bei dem zweite Daten zusammengestellt werden und für den während des Abfertigungszyklus die geordnete Aufstellung der zweiten Daten durch den dritten Kopf (2′) bewirkt wird, um die zweite Quelle (78) zu laden, während die Steuerung aus der ersten Quelle (77) gesperrt ist.
  7. Büromaschine nach einem der Ansprüche 3 bis 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Auswahlmittel eine Tastatur (71) aufweisen, die mit einem zu den Steuermitteln (70) gehörenden Mikroprozessor (80) gekoppelt ist, wobei diese Auswahlmittel einem Anzeigefeld (72) zugeordnet sind, das jeden Betriebsmodus sichtbar macht.
  8. Büromaschine nach einem der Ansprüche 3 bis 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Mittel zur Verschiebung der Köpfe nur mit den Köpfen gekoppelt sind und einen die Köpfe (1, 2, 2′) tragenden Schlitten (3) aufweisen, der in einer ersten Richtung (X) und einer zweiten Richtung (Y) oberhalb des Poststücks angetrieben wird, während das Poststück in den Einführungsmitteln (32) durch die Positioniermittel (50) festgehalten wird.
  9. Büromaschine nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Einführungsmittel eine untere feste Einführungsplatte (33) für das Poststück unter den Köpfen und eine mit Fenstern versehene, ebenfalls feste und direkt unter den Köpfen montierte obere Platte (34) aufweisen, wobei diese Platten zwischen sich einen Einführungsschlitz (32) begrenzen, und daß die Positioniermittel eine Gruppe (50) von Druckorganen mit unter die Einführungsplatte zurückziehbaren oder durch diese hindurchdringenden Druckfingern (56, 57) aufweisen.
  10. Büromaschine nach Anspruch 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß sie Mittel (60, 25) zur Kopplung zwischen der Gruppe (50) von Druckorganen und den Mitteln (20, 18) zur Verschiebung des Schlittens (3) aufweist, um die Druckfinger (56, 57) aus ihrer zurückgezogenen Stellung in ihre durch die Einführungsplatte (33) hindurchdringende Stellung zu bringen, wenn das gerade eingeführte Poststück unter den Köpfen erfaßt wird.
  11. Büromaschine nach Anspruch 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Kopplungsmittel eine Nockenscheibe (25), die auf einer Motorwelle (18) der Mittel (20) zur Steuerung des Schlittens (3) gemäß der zweiten Richtung (Y) montiert ist, und einen gegen die Nockenscheibe anliegenden und die Gruppe (50) von Druckorganen betätigenden Hebel aufweisen, wobei die Nockenscheibe einen vorspringenden Zahn (25A) auf ihrem Umfang besitzt, der der Ruhestellung jedes Kopfes oberhalb des Poststücks entspricht und die Auslösung und das Ende des Abfertigungszyklus kontrolliert.
  12. Büromaschine nach Anspruch 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die zweiten Erfassungsmittel einen Detektorfinger (66) auf dem Schlitten (3) und eine zugeordnete feste Zelle (67) aufweisen, durch die die Abfertigungsphase ausgelöst wird.
  13. Büromaschine nach einem der Ansprüche 10 bis 12, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Verschiebemittel einen ersten Motor (10) zum Antrieb des Schlittens in X-Richtung und einen zweiten Motor (20) zum Antrieb des Schlittens in Y-Richtung aufweisen, die abwechselnd gesteuert werden, wobei der erste Motor abwechselnd vorwärts und rückwärts Richtung läuft, während der zweite Motor während der Abfertigungsphase nur in einer Richtung und mindestens der zweite Motor während der Rückkehrphase in Gegenrichtung läuft.
  14. Büromaschine nach Anspruch 13, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der erste und der zweite Motor (10, 20) Schrittschaltmotoren sind, deren Schritte entlang jeder Druckzeile in X-Richtung erfaßt werden, was den ersten Motor angeht, bzw. von einer Zeile zur nächsten erfaßt werden, was den zweiten Motor angeht, um sie in gegenseitige Abhängigkeit durch die den Mikroprozessor (80) enthaltenden Steuermittel (70) steuern zu können.
  15. Büromaschine nach Anspruch 14, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Schlitten (3) beweglich auf Führungsstäben (4) zwischen zwei Flanschen (8, 9) montiert ist und daß die Flansche ihrerseits beweglich auf quer zu den Stäben verlaufenden Führungssäulen (12) montiert sind, wobei der erste Motor (10) den Schlitten (3) auf den Stäben und der zweite Motor (20) die Flansche auf den Säulen bewegt.
EP19900111867 1989-06-30 1990-06-22 Büromaschine zum Versenden von Poststücken Expired - Lifetime EP0405356B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8908827A FR2649231B1 (fr) 1989-06-30 1989-06-30 Machine de bureau d'expedition d'articles postaux
FR8908827 1989-06-30

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EP0405356A1 EP0405356A1 (de) 1991-01-02
EP0405356B1 true EP0405356B1 (de) 1994-11-02

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EP19900111867 Expired - Lifetime EP0405356B1 (de) 1989-06-30 1990-06-22 Büromaschine zum Versenden von Poststücken

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EP (1) EP0405356B1 (de)
DE (1) DE69013768T2 (de)
FR (1) FR2649231B1 (de)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0825562A2 (de) * 1996-08-23 1998-02-25 Pitney Bowes Inc. Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur ferngesteuerten Änderung von Sicherheitsmerkmalen einer Frankiermaschine
US5830221A (en) * 1996-09-20 1998-11-03 United States Surgical Corporation Coil fastener applier
US6007178A (en) * 1996-08-23 1999-12-28 Pitney Bowes Inc. Drive gear system using a single motor for a priming operation and driving a platen in a postage meter
US6692166B2 (en) 2001-03-21 2004-02-17 Francotyp-Postalia Ag & Co. Franking machine with a clamping device for an item of mail
US6709087B2 (en) 2001-03-21 2004-03-23 Francotyp Postalia Ag & Co. Printing device
US6752079B2 (en) 1999-12-21 2004-06-22 Neopost Limited Mail retaining apparatus

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19644847A1 (de) * 1996-10-29 1998-04-30 Mettler Toledo Gmbh Selbstbedienungs-Abfertigungsgerät für ein Poststück
FR2766757A1 (fr) * 1997-08-01 1999-02-05 Secap Dispositif pour imprimer un signe et machine a affranchir le comportant
FR2783338B1 (fr) * 1998-09-14 2000-11-17 Secap Machine d'affranchissement compacte a jet d'encre et a insertion manuelle
EP2902975B1 (de) 2014-01-31 2017-10-25 Neopost Technologies Büropostmaschine der Einstiegsklasse

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CA1088371A (en) * 1977-10-11 1980-10-28 Geoff Ferguson Noise-reduced movable imprinting deck
US4319328A (en) * 1980-02-27 1982-03-09 Sabre Products, Inc. Postage cost recording system
IT1162897B (it) * 1983-07-08 1987-04-01 Telefonia Automazione Elettron Apparecchiatura timbatrice
US4580144A (en) * 1984-08-20 1986-04-01 Pitney Bowes Inc. Postal fixed and variable data thermal printer
US4705413A (en) * 1986-07-18 1987-11-10 Pitney Bowes Inc. Thickness compensating means for mailing machine
GB8714192D0 (en) * 1987-06-17 1987-07-22 Roneo Alcatel Ltd Franking machine
GB2208367B (en) * 1987-07-09 1991-07-03 Alcatel Business Systems Franking machine
US4787311A (en) * 1987-08-19 1988-11-29 Pitney Bowes Inc. Mailing machine envelope transport system
US4831273A (en) * 1987-10-29 1989-05-16 Pitney Bowes Inc. Mailing machine sensing device

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0825562A2 (de) * 1996-08-23 1998-02-25 Pitney Bowes Inc. Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur ferngesteuerten Änderung von Sicherheitsmerkmalen einer Frankiermaschine
US6007178A (en) * 1996-08-23 1999-12-28 Pitney Bowes Inc. Drive gear system using a single motor for a priming operation and driving a platen in a postage meter
US5830221A (en) * 1996-09-20 1998-11-03 United States Surgical Corporation Coil fastener applier
US6752079B2 (en) 1999-12-21 2004-06-22 Neopost Limited Mail retaining apparatus
US6692166B2 (en) 2001-03-21 2004-02-17 Francotyp-Postalia Ag & Co. Franking machine with a clamping device for an item of mail
US6709087B2 (en) 2001-03-21 2004-03-23 Francotyp Postalia Ag & Co. Printing device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69013768D1 (de) 1994-12-08
FR2649231B1 (fr) 1991-09-13
DE69013768T2 (de) 1995-03-09
FR2649231A1 (fr) 1991-01-04
EP0405356A1 (de) 1991-01-02

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