EP0547541A1 - Postage meter with rotating electronic circuits - Google Patents

Postage meter with rotating electronic circuits Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0547541A1
EP0547541A1 EP92121238A EP92121238A EP0547541A1 EP 0547541 A1 EP0547541 A1 EP 0547541A1 EP 92121238 A EP92121238 A EP 92121238A EP 92121238 A EP92121238 A EP 92121238A EP 0547541 A1 EP0547541 A1 EP 0547541A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
drum
printing
wheel
electronic circuits
wheels
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP92121238A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0547541B1 (en
Inventor
Bernard Vermesse
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
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Neopost Technologies SA
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Publication date
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Publication of EP0547541A1 publication Critical patent/EP0547541A1/en
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Publication of EP0547541B1 publication Critical patent/EP0547541B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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    • 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
    • G07B2017/00548—Mechanical printhead

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a franking machine with a rotary printing drum.
  • Machines for franking mail which include a rotary printing drum for printing fixed and variable postage information are already known. Mention may in particular be made of French patent applications FR-A-89 16250 and FR-A-90 08752 in the name of the applicant.
  • FIG. 1 shows an example of a print head 10.
  • This print head 10 comprises a print drum 12 which is integral with the end 14 of a shaft which can be mechanically coupled with a drive device in rotation 16 forming part of the machine.
  • Inside the drum 12 there are printing wheels 18 which have at their periphery printing elements 20 corresponding for example to the ten digits.
  • This printing wheel 18 can rotate in rotation about its axis, as indicated by the arrow F.
  • the drum naturally includes as many wheels as there are graphic elements to be printed.
  • the printing wheel 18 is integral in rotation with a toothed wheel 22 which can be driven in rotation by the cooperation of a rack 24 mounted at the end of a control rod 26 itself mounted to slide in the 'hollow shaft 14.
  • Each rod 26 associated with a wheel 18 is integral in translation with a sliding ring 28.
  • the displacements translation of the ring 28 allow the control of the corresponding rack 24 and therefore the rotation of the printing wheel 18 to bring the suitable printing element 20 opposite a printing window formed in the drum 12 and not shown in the figure.
  • the translational movements of the ring 28 can be controlled by a shoe 30 which cooperates in translation with the ring 28 but leaves the latter free to rotate.
  • a double rack 32 secured to the shoe 30 cooperates with a toothed wheel 34, itself secured to a knob 36 for controlling the positioning of the printing wheel 18. By adapting the position of the knob 36, the positioning of the corresponding printing element 20 opposite the printing window.
  • the other end of the double rack 32 makes it possible to drive the wheel 38 of a position encoder bearing the general reference 40.
  • a printed circuit board 42 carrying the various electronic circuit elements of the print head 10.
  • Figure 2 shows a top view of the different rack rods 24, 26 each associated with a sliding ring 28 for position control.
  • the position encoder 38 has the function of ensuring that the position of the print wheel 18 actually corresponds to the position displayed by the dial 36.
  • the printheads according to the prior art present problems of space and complexity due to the mechanical couplings between the wheel 36, the position sensor 38 and the print wheel 18. These problems are proportional to the number of wheels d impression 18 necessary for obtaining values, dates and miscellaneous, for example eleven.
  • a rack is used for each printing wheel.
  • Each rack performs three functions which are as follows:
  • the rack can only have a back and forth movement and not a continuous movement. Consequently if, after having printed a 9 with a printing wheel, one wants to display a zero with this same wheel, it is necessary to control the displacement of the associated rack for the whole of its stroke. This therefore significantly increases the basic time for printing a figure.
  • the rotating electronics must be arranged parallel to the shaft 14. If the quantity of electronic components increases, the length of the shaft 14 serving only for the support of the printed circuit also increases. This therefore leads to an increase in the total length of the tree.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a rotary printing drum franking machine which does not have these problems and which allows a maximum integration rate of the print head.
  • the franking machine comprises a rotary printing drum, means for positioning and locking of printing wheels mounted in said drum, means for removing the respective effective positions of said wheels, means of driving means of positioning and means for rotating the head, and electronic circuits for controlling the drive means, for processing the actual position information, and for counting the franking operations carried out.
  • the means for picking up information on the effective position of the printing wheels and at least a portion of said electronic circuits are integral with the rotary printing drum, and in that it also comprises electrical coupling means for connecting the part of the electronic circuits which is integral with the drum, to another part of the electronic circuits which is fixed and in that the means for positioning and locking the print wheels 18 comprise a first train of gear 110 kinematically connecting said print wheel 18 to drive motor means 56 and in that the means for picking up the respective effective positions of each print wheel comprise a second gear system connecting said print wheel to a coding wheel 116 cooperating with means 118 for coding the angular position of said coding wheel.
  • FIG 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the print head.
  • This printing drum 10b is still mounted at the end of a rotary drive shaft, not shown in Figure 3, but the racks have been removed.
  • the printing wheel 18 with its printing elements 20 occupies a central position. It is connected to the motor 56 for controlling the position of the printing wheel by a gear train 110 which cooperates with the toothed wheel 112 secured to the printing wheel 18.
  • This motor 56 is preferably secured to a shaft oscillating, in order to be retractable and to allow the engagement of the print head.
  • a transmission toothed wheel 114 connects the toothed wheel 112 to a position encoder wheel 116.
  • the position of the encoder wheel 116 is identified by an opto-electronic system 118 in the form of a stirrup which comprises on either side of the wheel a light emitter and a detector.
  • the motor 56 is preferably connected to the conductive tracks of the printed circuit.
  • the operation of this embodiment is as follows: the assembly being at rest, the motor 56 is controlled to place the print wheel 18 at the desired value. During this maneuver, the system 118 in cooperation with the coding wheel 116 is used to control the correct execution of the positioning. The positioning means constituted by the motor 56 is then uncoupled from the gear train 110. To achieve franking, the assembly is driven in rotation. During rotation and during the printing of the number defined by the printing wheel 18, the position of the wheel is read using the system 118 locating the position of the wheel 116. The elements of the electronic circuit 120 perform a first processing of the signals delivered by it. Of course, electrical or electronic connection means, not shown in this figure, must exist between the base of the machine and the removable head, as well as between fixed and movable parts of this print head.

Abstract

Franking machine comprising a rotating printing drum (10b), means for positioning and for locking printing wheels (18) mounted in the said drum, means for picking off the actual respective positions of the said wheels, means for driving the positioning means, means for setting the drum in rotation, and electronic circuits for control of the drive means, for processing the actual position information, and for counting franking operations carried out, at least the means for picking off the actual position information of the print wheels and at least a part of the said electronic circuits being integral with the rotating print drum (12), a machine characterised in that it further includes means for electrical coupling for linking the part of the electronic circuits which is integral with the drum to another part of the electronic circuits which is fixed and in that the means for positioning and for locking the print wheels (18) comprise a first gear train (110) kinematically linking the said print wheel (18) to drive motor means (56) and in that the means for picking off the respective actual positions of each print wheel comprise a second gear system (114) linking the said print wheel to a coder wheel (116) interacting with means (118) for coding the angular position of the said coder wheel. <IMAGE>

Description

La présente invention a pour objet une machine à affranchir à tambour d'impression rotatif.The present invention relates to a franking machine with a rotary printing drum.

Les machines servant à affranchir le courrier qui comportent un tambour d'impression rotatif pour imprimer des informations fixes et variables d'affranchissement, sont déjà connues. On peut citer en particulier les demandes de brevet français FR-A-89 16250 et FR-A-90 08752 au nom de la demanderesse.Machines for franking mail which include a rotary printing drum for printing fixed and variable postage information are already known. Mention may in particular be made of French patent applications FR-A-89 16250 and FR-A-90 08752 in the name of the applicant.

Pour ce type de machine, on recherche d'une part la compacité maximale de l'ensemble de la machine à affranchir et d'autre part une simplification des couplages électromécaniques entre les différents organes qui constituent la tête d'impression de cette machine.For this type of machine, one seeks on the one hand the maximum compactness of the whole of the franking machine and on the other hand a simplification of the electromechanical couplings between the various organs which constitute the printing head of this machine.

Afin de mieux comprendre les problèmes posés par ce type de machine, on va décrire en se référant aux figures 1 et 2 une machine d'affranchissement selon l'art antérieur.To better understand the problems posed by this type of machine, we will describe with reference to Figures 1 and 2 a franking machine according to the prior art.

La figure 1 représente un exemple de tête d'impression 10. Cette tête d'impression 10 comporte un tambour d'impression 12 qui est solidaire de l'extrémité 14 d'un arbre qui peut être accouplé mécaniquement avec un dispositif d'entraînement en rotation 16 faisant partie de la machine. A l'intérieur du tambour 12, on trouve des roues d'impression 18 qui comportent à leur périphérie des éléments d'impression 20 correspondant par exemple aux dix chiffres. Cette roue d'impression 18 peut tourner en rotation autour de son axe, comme l'indique la flèche F. Le tambour comporte bien sûr autant de roues qu'il y a d'éléments graphiques à imprimer. La roue d'impression 18 est solidaire en rotation d'une roue dentée 22 qui peut être entraînée en rotation par la coopération d'une crémaillère 24 montée à l'extrémité d'une tringle de commande 26 montée elle-même à coulissement dans l'arbre creux 14. Chaque tringle 26 associée à une roue 18 est solidaire en translation d'une bague coulissante 28. Les déplacements en translation de la bague 28 permettent la commande de la crémaillère correspondante 24 et donc la rotation de la roue d'impression 18 pour amener l'élément convenable d'impression 20 en regard d'une fenêtre d'impression ménagée dans le tambour 12 et non représentée sur la figure. Les déplacements en translation de la bague 28 peuvent être commandés par un patin 30 qui coopère en translation avec la bague 28 mais laisse celle-ci libre en rotation. Une double crémaillère 32 solidaire du patin 30 coopère avec une roue dentée 34, elle-même solidaire d'une molette 36 de commande du positionnement de la roue d'impression 18. En adaptant la position de la mollette 36, on obtient le positionnement de l'élément d'impression 20 correspondant en face de la fenêtre d'impression. L'autre extrémité de la double crémaillère 32 permet d'entraîner la roue 38 d'un codeur de position portant la référence générale 40. Sur la figure 1, on a également représenté une carte de circuit imprimé 42 portant les différents éléments de circuit électronique de la tête d'impression 10.FIG. 1 shows an example of a print head 10. This print head 10 comprises a print drum 12 which is integral with the end 14 of a shaft which can be mechanically coupled with a drive device in rotation 16 forming part of the machine. Inside the drum 12, there are printing wheels 18 which have at their periphery printing elements 20 corresponding for example to the ten digits. This printing wheel 18 can rotate in rotation about its axis, as indicated by the arrow F. The drum naturally includes as many wheels as there are graphic elements to be printed. The printing wheel 18 is integral in rotation with a toothed wheel 22 which can be driven in rotation by the cooperation of a rack 24 mounted at the end of a control rod 26 itself mounted to slide in the 'hollow shaft 14. Each rod 26 associated with a wheel 18 is integral in translation with a sliding ring 28. The displacements translation of the ring 28 allow the control of the corresponding rack 24 and therefore the rotation of the printing wheel 18 to bring the suitable printing element 20 opposite a printing window formed in the drum 12 and not shown in the figure. The translational movements of the ring 28 can be controlled by a shoe 30 which cooperates in translation with the ring 28 but leaves the latter free to rotate. A double rack 32 secured to the shoe 30 cooperates with a toothed wheel 34, itself secured to a knob 36 for controlling the positioning of the printing wheel 18. By adapting the position of the knob 36, the positioning of the corresponding printing element 20 opposite the printing window. The other end of the double rack 32 makes it possible to drive the wheel 38 of a position encoder bearing the general reference 40. In FIG. 1, there is also shown a printed circuit board 42 carrying the various electronic circuit elements of the print head 10.

La figure 2 montre en vue de dessus les différentes tringles-crémaillères 24, 26 associées chacune à une bague coulissante 28 de commande de position.Figure 2 shows a top view of the different rack rods 24, 26 each associated with a sliding ring 28 for position control.

Le codeur de position 38 a pour fonction de s'assurer que la position de la roue d'impression 18 correspond effectivement à la position affichée par la molette 36.The position encoder 38 has the function of ensuring that the position of the print wheel 18 actually corresponds to the position displayed by the dial 36.

Les têtes d'impression selon l'art antérieur présentent des problèmes d'encombrement et de complexité dûs aux couplages mécaniques entre la molette 36, le capteur de position 38 et la roue d'impression 18. Ces problèmes sont proportionnels au nombre de roues d'impression 18 nécessaire à l'obtention des valeurs, dates et divers, par exemple onze.The printheads according to the prior art present problems of space and complexity due to the mechanical couplings between the wheel 36, the position sensor 38 and the print wheel 18. These problems are proportional to the number of wheels d impression 18 necessary for obtaining values, dates and miscellaneous, for example eleven.

Dans les modes de réalisation connus, on emploie une crémaillère pour chaque roue d'impression. Chaque crémaillère remplit trois fonctions qui sont les suivantes :In the known embodiments, a rack is used for each printing wheel. Each rack performs three functions which are as follows:

Une première extrémité de la crémaillère coopère avec la roue d'impression pour définir le chiffre ou le signe à imprimer. Une deuxième extrémité de celle-ci sert à positionner la crémaillère et donc la roue d'impression correspondante à l'aide d'un moteur qui reçoit des instructions sous forme électrique. Une partie médiane coopère avec le codeur de position pour effectuer une relecture de la position effective de la crémaillère et donc de la roue d'impression.A first end of the rack cooperates with the printing wheel to define the number or the sign to be printed. A second end of it is used to position the rack and therefore the corresponding printing wheel using a motor which receives instructions in electrical form. A middle part cooperates with the position encoder to perform a reading of the effective position of the rack and therefore of the printing wheel.

L'utilisation de crémaillères présentent deux types d'inconvénients.The use of racks has two types of drawbacks.

D'une part, la crémaillère ne peut avoir qu'un mouvement de va-et-vient et non un mouvement continu. En conséquence si, après avoir imprimé un 9 avec une roue d'impression, on veut afficher un zéro avec cette même roue, il est nécessaire de commander le déplacement de la crémaillère associée de la totalité de sa course. Celà accroit donc sensiblement le temps de base de l'impression d'un chiffre.On the one hand, the rack can only have a back and forth movement and not a continuous movement. Consequently if, after having printed a 9 with a printing wheel, one wants to display a zero with this same wheel, it is necessary to control the displacement of the associated rack for the whole of its stroke. This therefore significantly increases the basic time for printing a figure.

D'autre part, le codeur de position étant disposé le long de la crémaillère, l'électronique tournante doit être disposée parallèlement à l'arbre 14. Si la quantité de composants électroniques augmente, la longueur de l'arbre 14 servant uniquement au support du circuit imprimé augmente aussi. Celà entraîne donc un accroissement de la longueur totale de l'arbre.On the other hand, the position encoder being arranged along the rack, the rotating electronics must be arranged parallel to the shaft 14. If the quantity of electronic components increases, the length of the shaft 14 serving only for the support of the printed circuit also increases. This therefore leads to an increase in the total length of the tree.

Un objet de la présente invention est de fournir une machine d'affranchissement à tambour d'impression rotatif qui ne présente pas ces problèmes et qui permette un taux d'intégration maximale de la tête d'impression.An object of the present invention is to provide a rotary printing drum franking machine which does not have these problems and which allows a maximum integration rate of the print head.

Pour atteindre ce but, selon l'invention, la machine à affranchir comprend un tambour d'impression rotatif, des moyens de positionnement et de verrouillage de roues d'impression montées dans ledit tambour, des moyens de prélèvement des positions effectives respectives desdites roues, des moyens d'entraînement des moyens de positionnement et des moyens de mise en rotation de la tête, et des circuits électroniques de commande des moyens d'entraînement, de traitement des informations de position effective, et de comptage des opérations d'affranchissement effectuées. Elle se caractérise en ce qu'au moins les moyens de prélèvement des informations de position effective des roues d'impression et au moins une partie desdits circuits électroniques sont solidaires du tambour d'impression rotatif, et en ce qu'elle comporte en outre des moyens de couplage électrique pour relier la partie des circuits électroniques qui est solidaire du tambour, à une autre partie des circuits électroniques qui est fixe et en ce que les moyens de positionnement et de verrouillage des roues d'impression 18 comprennent un premier train d'engrenage 110 reliant cinématiquement ladite roue d'impression 18 à des moyens moteurs d'entraînement 56 et en ce que les moyens de prélèvement des positions effectives respectives de chaque roue d'impression comprennent un deuxième système à engrenages reliant ladite roue d'impression à une roue codeuse 116 coopérant avec des moyens 118 de codage de la position angulaire de ladite roue codeuse.To achieve this object, according to the invention, the franking machine comprises a rotary printing drum, means for positioning and locking of printing wheels mounted in said drum, means for removing the respective effective positions of said wheels, means of driving means of positioning and means for rotating the head, and electronic circuits for controlling the drive means, for processing the actual position information, and for counting the franking operations carried out. It is characterized in that at least the means for picking up information on the effective position of the printing wheels and at least a portion of said electronic circuits are integral with the rotary printing drum, and in that it also comprises electrical coupling means for connecting the part of the electronic circuits which is integral with the drum, to another part of the electronic circuits which is fixed and in that the means for positioning and locking the print wheels 18 comprise a first train of gear 110 kinematically connecting said print wheel 18 to drive motor means 56 and in that the means for picking up the respective effective positions of each print wheel comprise a second gear system connecting said print wheel to a coding wheel 116 cooperating with means 118 for coding the angular position of said coding wheel.

On comprend qu'ainsi on augmente le nombre des composants montés directement sur le tambour d'impression rotatif, ce qui augmente l'intégration de la machine et ce qui diminue les problèmes de liaison entre la partie fixe et la partie amovible, notamment du fait que les lecteurs de position effective font partie intégrante du tambour rotatif ainsi que les circuits électroniques de traitement de signaux du codeur.It is understood that in this way the number of components mounted directly on the rotary printing drum is increased, which increases the integration of the machine and which reduces the problems of connection between the fixed part and the removable part, in particular because that the effective position readers are an integral part of the rotary drum as well as the electronic signal processing circuits of the encoder.

D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de la présente invention apparaîtront plus clairement à la lecture de la description d'un mode préféré de réalisation de l'invention. La description se réfère aux figures annexées sur lesquelles:

  • la figure 1, déjà décrite, est une vue en perspective partiellement arrachée d'un mode de réalisation connu d'une machine à affranchir à tête d'impression amovible;
  • la figure 2 est une de dessus d'une partie de la tête amovible de la figure 1;
  • la figure 3 montre en perspective un mode de réalisation préféré de l'invention.
Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the description of a preferred embodiment of the invention. The description refers to the appended figures in which:
  • Figure 1, already described, is a partially cutaway perspective view of an embodiment known from a franking machine with a removable printing head;
  • Figure 2 is a top view of a portion of the removable head of Figure 1;
  • Figure 3 shows in perspective a preferred embodiment of the invention.

La figure 3 montre un mode de réalisation préféré de la tête d'impression. Ce tambour d'impression 10b est toujours monté à l'extrémité d'un arbre d'entraînement en rotation, non représenté sur la figure 3, mais les crémaillères ont été supprimées. La roue d'impression 18 avec ses éléments d'impression 20 occupe une position médiane. Elle est reliée au moteur 56 de commande de position de la roue d'impression par un train d'engrenages 110 qui coopère avec la roue dentée 112 solidaire de la roue d'impression 18. Ce moteur 56 est de préférence solidaire d'un arbre oscillant, afin d'être escamotable et de permettre l'engagement de la tête d'impression. Une roue dentée de transmission 114 relie la roue dentée 112 à une roue codeuse de position 116. La position de la roue codeuse 116 est repérée par un système opto-électronique 118 en forme d'étrier qui comporte de part et d'autre de la roue un émetteur lumineux et un détecteur.Figure 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the print head. This printing drum 10b is still mounted at the end of a rotary drive shaft, not shown in Figure 3, but the racks have been removed. The printing wheel 18 with its printing elements 20 occupies a central position. It is connected to the motor 56 for controlling the position of the printing wheel by a gear train 110 which cooperates with the toothed wheel 112 secured to the printing wheel 18. This motor 56 is preferably secured to a shaft oscillating, in order to be retractable and to allow the engagement of the print head. A transmission toothed wheel 114 connects the toothed wheel 112 to a position encoder wheel 116. The position of the encoder wheel 116 is identified by an opto-electronic system 118 in the form of a stirrup which comprises on either side of the wheel a light emitter and a detector.

Selon ce mode de réalisation, le circuit imprimé 120 est fixé à l'extrémité 10'b du tambour d'impression. Il a, par exemple, une forme de U dont le plan principal est perpendiculaire à l'axe de rotation de la tête. Comme on le voit sur la figure, le capteur de position 118 est directement fixé sur une des faces du circuit imprimé, ce qui réduit la longueur des pistes conductrices.According to this embodiment, the printed circuit 120 is fixed to the end 10'b of the printing drum. It has, for example, a U shape whose main plane is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the head. As can be seen in the figure, the position sensor 118 is directly fixed to one of the faces of the printed circuit, which reduces the length of the conductive tracks.

De la même manière, le moteur 56 est de préférence relié aux pistes conductrices du circuit imprimé.Likewise, the motor 56 is preferably connected to the conductive tracks of the printed circuit.

Le fonctionnement de ce mode de réalisation est le suivant : l'ensemble étant au repos, le moteur 56 est commandé pour placer la roue d'impression 18 à la valeur désirée. Au cours de cette manoeuvre, le système 118 en coopération avec la roue codeuse 116 est utilisé pour contrôler la bonne exécution du positionnement. Le moyen de positionnement constitué par le moteur 56 est alors désaccouplé du train d'engrenages 110. Pour réaliser l'affranchissement l'ensemble est entraîné en rotation. Au cours de la rotation et pendant l'impression du chiffre défini par la roue d'impression 18, la position de la roue est lue à l'aide du système 118 repérant la position de la roue 116. Les éléments du circuit électronique 120 effectuent un premier traitement des signaux délivrés par celui-ci. Bien entendu, des moyens de liaison électrique ou électronique, non représentés sur cette figure, doivent exister entre la base de la machine et la tête amovible, ainsi qu'entre des parties fixe et mobile de cette tête d'impression.The operation of this embodiment is as follows: the assembly being at rest, the motor 56 is controlled to place the print wheel 18 at the desired value. During this maneuver, the system 118 in cooperation with the coding wheel 116 is used to control the correct execution of the positioning. The positioning means constituted by the motor 56 is then uncoupled from the gear train 110. To achieve franking, the assembly is driven in rotation. During rotation and during the printing of the number defined by the printing wheel 18, the position of the wheel is read using the system 118 locating the position of the wheel 116. The elements of the electronic circuit 120 perform a first processing of the signals delivered by it. Of course, electrical or electronic connection means, not shown in this figure, must exist between the base of the machine and the removable head, as well as between fixed and movable parts of this print head.

Claims (3)

Machine à affranchir comprenant un tambour d'impression rotatif (10b), des moyens de positionnement et de verrouillage de roues d'impression (18) montées dans ledit tambour, des moyens de prélèvement des positions effectives respectives desdites roues, des moyens d'entraînement des moyens de positionnement, des moyens de mise en rotation du tambour, et des circuits électroniques de commande des moyens d'entraînement, de traitement des informations de position effective, et de comptage des opérations d'affranchissement effectuées, au moins les moyens de prélèvement des informations de position effective des roues d'impression et au moins une partie desdits circuits électroniques étant solidaires du tambour d'impression rotatif (12), machine caractérisée en ce qu'elle comporte en outre des moyens de couplage électrique pour relier la partie des circuits électroniques qui est solidaire du tambour, à une autre partie des circuits électroniques qui est fixe et en ce que les moyens de positionnement et de verrouillage des roues d'impression (18) comprennent un premier train d'engrenages (110) reliant cinématiquement ladite roue d'impression (18) à des moyens moteurs d'entraînement (56) et en ce que les moyens de prélèvement des positions effectives respectives de chaque roue d'impression comprennent un deuxième système à engrenages (114) reliant ladite roue d'impression à une roue codeuse (116) coopérant avec des moyens (118) de codage de la position angulaire de ladite roue codeuse.Franking machine comprising a rotary printing drum (10b), means for positioning and locking printing wheels (18) mounted in said drum, means for taking the respective effective positions of said wheels, drive means positioning means, means for rotating the drum, and electronic circuits for controlling the drive means, for processing the actual position information, and for counting the franking operations carried out, at least the withdrawal means information on the effective position of the printing wheels and at least a portion of said electronic circuits being integral with the rotary printing drum (12), machine characterized in that it further comprises electrical coupling means for connecting the portion of the electronic circuits which is integral with the drum, to another part of the electronic circuits which is fixed and in that the es means for positioning and locking the printing wheels (18) comprise a first gear train (110) kinematically connecting said printing wheel (18) to drive motor means (56) and in that the means for picking up the respective effective positions of each printing wheel comprises a second gear system (114) connecting said printing wheel to a coding wheel (116) cooperating with means (118) for coding the angular position of said encoder wheel. Machine selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que les circuits électroniques solidaires du tambour d'impression (12) comprennent un circuit imprimé (120) fixé sur l'extrémité libre (10'b) dudit tambour et diposé dans un plan perpendiculaire à l'axe de rotation dudit tambour, et des composants électroniques montés sur ledit circuit imprimé.Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic circuits integral with the printing drum (12) comprise a printed circuit (120) fixed on the free end (10'b) of said drum and arranged in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said drum, and electronic components mounted on said printed circuit. Machine selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que lesdits moteurs d'entraînement (56) sont solidaires d'un arbre oscillant.Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said drive motors (56) are integral with an oscillating shaft.
EP92121238A 1991-12-17 1992-12-14 Postage meter with rotating electronic circuits Expired - Lifetime EP0547541B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9115665A FR2685114B1 (en) 1991-12-17 1991-12-17 POSTAGE MACHINE COMPRISING A ROTARY PRINTING DRUM.
FR9115665 1991-12-17

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0547541A1 true EP0547541A1 (en) 1993-06-23
EP0547541B1 EP0547541B1 (en) 1997-03-05

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92121238A Expired - Lifetime EP0547541B1 (en) 1991-12-17 1992-12-14 Postage meter with rotating electronic circuits

Country Status (4)

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US (1) US5309830A (en)
EP (1) EP0547541B1 (en)
DE (1) DE69217867T2 (en)
FR (1) FR2685114B1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2699710B1 (en) * 1992-12-22 1995-02-10 Neopost Ind Device for adjusting print wheels in a postage meter.
US5719381A (en) * 1995-04-14 1998-02-17 Ascom Hasler Mailing Systems Ag Postage meter with hollow rotor axle

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2335002A1 (en) * 1975-12-11 1977-07-08 Secap ELECTRONIC METERING POSTAGE MACHINE
US4398458A (en) * 1981-03-23 1983-08-16 Francotyp Gesellschaft Mbh Adjustment device for postage metering and value stamping machines
EP0239356A2 (en) * 1986-03-25 1987-09-30 Neopost Limited Franking machine
US4702164A (en) * 1984-10-04 1987-10-27 Pitney Bowes Inc. Value selector security system
GB2194842A (en) * 1986-09-04 1988-03-16 Roneo Alcatel Ltd Position encoder
US4774881A (en) * 1985-09-23 1988-10-04 Pitney Bowes Inc. Rotary operated character selection system for postage meters
FR2624966A1 (en) * 1987-12-21 1989-06-23 Pitney Bowes Inc HALL EFFECT ENCODING DEVICE AND ENCODING METHOD USING THE SAME
WO1990016047A1 (en) * 1989-06-22 1990-12-27 Ascom Hasler Ag Rotor unit for franking machine

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2335002A1 (en) * 1975-12-11 1977-07-08 Secap ELECTRONIC METERING POSTAGE MACHINE
US4398458A (en) * 1981-03-23 1983-08-16 Francotyp Gesellschaft Mbh Adjustment device for postage metering and value stamping machines
US4702164A (en) * 1984-10-04 1987-10-27 Pitney Bowes Inc. Value selector security system
US4774881A (en) * 1985-09-23 1988-10-04 Pitney Bowes Inc. Rotary operated character selection system for postage meters
EP0239356A2 (en) * 1986-03-25 1987-09-30 Neopost Limited Franking machine
GB2194842A (en) * 1986-09-04 1988-03-16 Roneo Alcatel Ltd Position encoder
FR2624966A1 (en) * 1987-12-21 1989-06-23 Pitney Bowes Inc HALL EFFECT ENCODING DEVICE AND ENCODING METHOD USING THE SAME
WO1990016047A1 (en) * 1989-06-22 1990-12-27 Ascom Hasler Ag Rotor unit for franking machine

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2685114B1 (en) 1997-01-31
EP0547541B1 (en) 1997-03-05
US5309830A (en) 1994-05-10
DE69217867D1 (en) 1997-04-10
FR2685114A1 (en) 1993-06-18
DE69217867T2 (en) 1997-06-12

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