EP0787586A1 - Druckvorrichtung und frankiermaschine - Google Patents

Druckvorrichtung und frankiermaschine Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0787586A1
EP0787586A1 EP95934841A EP95934841A EP0787586A1 EP 0787586 A1 EP0787586 A1 EP 0787586A1 EP 95934841 A EP95934841 A EP 95934841A EP 95934841 A EP95934841 A EP 95934841A EP 0787586 A1 EP0787586 A1 EP 0787586A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
printing
print head
postal matter
medium
printing device
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP95934841A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0787586A4 (de
Inventor
Nobuchika Menda
Yasushi Kawamoto
Masakazu Suzuki
Masahiro Seguchi
Naoyuki Wakabayashi
Katsuhiko Ohta
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.)
Omron Corp
Original Assignee
Omron Corp
Omron Tateisi Electronics Co
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP28250394A external-priority patent/JPH08118615A/ja
Priority claimed from JP25938395A external-priority patent/JPH0976486A/ja
Application filed by Omron Corp, Omron Tateisi Electronics Co filed Critical Omron Corp
Publication of EP0787586A1 publication Critical patent/EP0787586A1/de
Publication of EP0787586A4 publication Critical patent/EP0787586A4/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • G07B17/00661—Sensing or measuring 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
    • 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
    • G07B17/00661—Sensing or measuring mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00669—Sensing the position of mailpieces

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a printing device for printing on mail or other printing media. More specifically, the invention relates to a printing device and postage franking machine which performs a stable printing process irrespectively of the size or softness of the printing media. Furthermore, the invention relates to a printing device and postage franking machine for printing at proper places of such a printing medium as envelopes and other postal matters having a cellophane transparent window.
  • the printing device for printing on printing media that are continuously transferred are known as the following systems:
  • the print position is fixed with respect to a regular position of printing media such as postal matters, the printing is effected at this regular print position.
  • the devices have had a problem as described below.
  • a printed-image range 202 may overlap the transparent window 201, such that the printed image of an overlapping portion 203 (hatched for convenience of drawing) would be dimmed and erased, disadvantageously.
  • a lack 205 may occur to a portion of the printed image corresponding to the step gap. This would lead to a problem that important portions of the printed image for mail service such as the charging amount (postage) and date are omitted.
  • a first object of the present invention is to provide a printing device and postage franking machine which is capable of achieving a stable printing irrespectively of changes in size or softness of the printing media, based on the fact that disposing the print head on the conveyance-surface side makes it possible to maintain the opposing distance between print head and printing medium.
  • a second object of the present invention is to provide a printing device and postage franking machine which is capable of obtaining a clear printed image by controlling the printing medium or the print head to effect the printing at a proper printing place so that any disappearance or omission of the printed image can be prevented securely.
  • a printing device for printing on a printing medium conveyed relatively to a print head, the print head being disposed on a conveyance-surface side of a printing-medium conveyance path for conveying the printing medium.
  • the print head disposed on the conveyance-surface side effects printing from lower conveyance-surface side to upper printing medium on a lower surface of the printing medium. Accordingly, for printing onto the printing medium, the opposing distance between the bottom surface of the conveyed printing medium and the print head opposing thereto from below can be maintained constant at all times regardless of the size or softness of the printing medium. Thus, the print head no longer needs to be adjusted for farness or nearness in position, so that the device can be designed for smaller size or lower cost. Moreover, the device can yield a beautiful, high-grade printed image suitable for continuous printing.
  • the device further comprises a V-shaped conveyance surface which is bent into a V shape along a conveyance direction over a lower edge portion of a tilted conveyance surface tilted widthwise of the printing-medium conveyance path.
  • the printing medium of, for example, an oblong shape introduced onto the V-shaped conveyance surface formed into a V shape along the conveyance direction is supported at its bottom surface and one side surface thereof by the tilted both surfaces in the V shape, so that the printing medium is conveyed in such a stable state that any widthwise shifts of the printing medium is restricted.
  • the print head is disposed at a place near the V-shaped bent portion of the V-shaped conveyance surface.
  • the printing medium is conveyed by referencing the V position, making it possible to print at a regular set position located at a specified length from an end of the printing medium, after achieving a positioning thereto.
  • the print head is implemented by an ink jet type print head.
  • the print head will make no contact with the printing medium, eliminating the need of pressing force adjustment, so that the device can print on soft printing media securely.
  • any of the devices as described above is incorporated into a postage franking machine to print postal matters.
  • the device is enabled to print also on postal matters of different sizes or different softnesses such as letters and parcels, securely at regular positions thereof.
  • a printing device having a print head for performing a specified printing on a printing medium, the printing device comprising: detection means for detecting a proper printing place of the printing medium; and control means for controlling the printing medium or the print head so that printing is performed at the proper printing place detected by the detection means.
  • the detection means detects a proper printing place (in terms of both material and flatness for proper printing) of the printing medium, and the control means controls the printing medium or the print head so that printing is performed at the proper printing place detected by the detection means.
  • the device has an effect that it is capable of obtaining a clear printed image by securely preventing any disappearance or omission of the printed image.
  • the detection means is a material detecting means for detecting a material portion of the printing medium proper for printing.
  • the detection means is a flatness detecting means for detecting a flat portion of the printing medium proper for printing.
  • the device since a flat portion proper for printing in the printing medium is detected by the flatness detecting means, the device has an effect that printing can be effected by selecting a flat portion, or non-step-gapped portion, that allows a clear printed image to be yielded and that has been detected by the flatness detecting means.
  • control means has lateral moving means for moving the printing medium or the print head in parallel with the conveyance surface of the printing medium.
  • control means has vertical moving means for moving the print head vertically to the conveyance surface of the printing medium.
  • the flatness detecting means has a touch roller that makes rolling contact with the printing medium to detect any shift in the vertical direction with respect to a conveyance surface of the touch roller.
  • the print head is implemented by a non-contact type print head.
  • a postage franking machine is equipped with any one of the devices as described above.
  • postal printed information such as postal charges, dates and others necessary for postal matters can be printed clearly with preventions of any disappearance or omission of printed images.
  • Fig. 1 shows a postage franking machine 11 used for mail service.
  • This postage franking machine 11 is so constructed that a V-shaped conveyor body 13 is overlaid on a meter body 12 located on the lower side.
  • the lower-side meter body 12 comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD) 14 serving also for touch input, and an ID card insertion hole 15.
  • the upper-side V-shaped conveyor body 13 comprises a meter 16, a postal-matter detection sensor S, a print head 17 of ink jet type, and a conveyor belt 18.
  • the postage franking machine 11 automatically performs postage reckoning and postal stamping on various types of postal matters 19 of different sizes such as letters and parcels.
  • the LCD 14 displays charges responsive to the weight of the postal matter 19 as well as the type of treatment such as surface mail, express mail, registered mail and domestic/foreign mail. Moreover, the LCD 14 allows touch input of stamping start or the like.
  • the ID card insertion hole 15 allows the ID card of a user to be inserted thereinto for the identification and confirmation of the user's own data, by which the postage franking machine 11 permits the user to handle it.
  • the V-shaped conveyor body 13 is formed into a V shape by a combination of shorter and longer components suitable for placement and conveyance of the postal matter 19 which is rectangular shaped. Besides, the V-shaped conveyor body 13 is divided into front and rear two divisions in the conveyance direction.
  • the divisional front side is provided as a receiving tray 16a of the meter 16, and further has a weighing instrument connected thereto to measure the weight of the postal matter 19 placed on the receiving tray 16a.
  • the divisional rear side is fixed onto the meter body 12, where the postal-matter detection sensor S and the print head 17 are disposed along the conveyance direction so as to be located lower than the conveyance surface of the longer component.
  • the postal-matter detection sensor S and the print head 17 photo-electrically detect and print the postal matter 19 from below a V-shaped conveyance surface 22 via a detection hole 20 and a print hole 21 opened near the V-shaped bent portion of the conveyor body 13.
  • the print head 17 since the print head 17 is disposed at a location lower than the V-shaped conveyance surface 22, the opposing distance between the bottom surface of the conveyed postal matter 19 and the print head 17 opposing thereto upward from below can be maintained constant at all times regardless of the size of the postal matters 19 ⁇ . Therefore, the print head 17 no longer needs to be adjusted in the farness or nearness of position.
  • the V position serves as a conveyance reference position for the postal matter 19, so that each postal stamp 23 ⁇ can be positioned and printed at a regular set position of a generally fixed length from an end of each postal matter 19 ⁇ , as shown in Fig. 4. Also, using an ink jet type print head eliminates the need for the adjustment of pressing force as a result of non-contact printing, so that a reliable printing can be achieved even on soft postal matters.
  • V-shaped conveyance surface rectangular postal matters such as letters and parcels will be conveyed stably in a two-side supported state that the bottom surface and one side surface thereof are supported by inclined two surfaces of the V shape and thereby restricted in widthwise shifts.
  • the conveyor belt 18 that can convey postal matters placed thereon is disposed along the longitudinal direction of the V-shaped conveyance surface 22.
  • the postal matter 19, as placed on the conveyor belt 18, will be conveyed from the preceding-stage meter 16 side to the succeeding-stage printing side.
  • the two components of the V shape have been formed into a V shape by combining shorter and longer components in the drawings, it is also possible to set the two components into any arbitrary V shape suitable for the conveyance of postal matters depending on the state of combination with the conveyor belt 18.
  • Fig. 5 shows a control circuit block diagram of the postage franking machine 11.
  • This control circuit controls: a control unit 51 for controlling the circuit devices of the whole system; an external memory 52 for storing postage data and use data; a transmitter 53 for performing data communication between a host system and an external memory; an ID card reader 54 for reading data of the ID card; a display section 55 for displaying and guiding input operation and the like for the user, as well as an operating section 56 for allowing various types of input operations such as selecting a mail treatment process, both of the display section 55 and the operating section 56 being equipped in the LCD 14; a meter 16 for metering the weight of postal matters; an ink jet type print head 17 for printing images on postal matters in a non-contact manner with ink jet; a postal-matter detection sensor S for measuring print-operation timing; and a conveyor belt 18 for conveying the postal matter 19.
  • the control unit 51 deciding that the user is the very person of handling from the validity of the card, stands by until the postal matter 19 is placed on the receiving tray 16a (step n5). With the postal matter 19 placed on the receiving tray 16a, the control unit 51 measures the weight of the postal matter with the meter 16, and renders a selection among mail treatment process such as surface mail, express mail, registered mail and domestic/foreign mail (steps n6 to n7). When the user has selected and specified one from among these treatment processes, the control unit 51 automatically reckons the postal charge based on these data, making a display on the LCD 14 (step n8).
  • the conveyor belt 18 is driven to convey the postal matter 19.
  • the print head 17 starts the printing operation for the postal stamp 23 after a certain time elapse based on the then resulting detection signal (step n11).
  • control unit 51 makes ready for the stamping of the next postal matter (steps n12 to n13).
  • the print head no longer needs to be adjusted for farness or nearness in position, so that the device can be designed for smaller size or lower cost.
  • the device can yield a beautiful, high-grade printed image suitable for continuous printing.
  • the postal matter can be conveyed stably in a two-side supported state.
  • the V position can serve as a conveyance reference position for the postal matter, so that the postal matter can be positioned and printed at a regular set position of a fixed length from an end of the postal matter.
  • the need for the adjustment of pressing force can be eliminated so that a reliable printing can be achieved even on soft postal matters.
  • the device is enabled to print also on postal matters of different sizes such as letters and parcels, securely at the regular position.
  • Fig. 7 shows a postage franking machine 111 equipped with a printing device of the present invention.
  • a measuring section 113 for a postal matter A is formed on one side (left side in the figure) of an device body 112, while a stacker section 114 is formed on the other side (right side in the figure).
  • a touch panel 115 as an input operating section is provided between these sections, and further a print head 116 of non-contact type, for example, ink jet type is provided inside the device body 112.
  • the measuring section 113 measures the weight of postal matters A of different outside dimensions and masses, such as envelopes.
  • the touch panel 115 is used to press displayed selector keys and enter a mail type such as surface mail, registered mail, express mail, domestic/foreign mail, air mail and ship mail.
  • the postal matter A when moving from the measuring section 113 and passing under the print head 116, will have postage, date or the like printed in a non-contact manner at the proper printing place of the postal matter A by the print head 116, and then stored in the stacker section 114.
  • Fig. 8 shows the internal construction of the main part.
  • a photoreceiver 121 for receiving, via a polarizing filter 120, reflected light of illuminated light projected from a phototransmitter 118 via a polarizing filter 119 from left to right side as shown in the figure, a touch roller 122 which will make rolling contact with the postal matter A with low frictional resistance, and the print head 116 in this order.
  • the distance between the light reflecting site and the touch roller 122 is set to L1
  • the distance between the center of the touch roller 122 and the center of the print head 116 is set to L2
  • the overall length of the postal matter A is set to Lm
  • the length necessary for the printed postal matter A to pass through under the print head 116 is set to L3 (where L3 > Lm)
  • the vertical height between the top face of the postal matter A and the print head 116 is set to h (which is however variable depending on the thickness of the postal matter A, as will be later described).
  • the conveyance path 117 is implemented by an endless belt or the like, and the conveyance of the postal matter A is controlled by a postal matter conveyor 123 having a motor (see Fig. 13).
  • the phototransmitter 118 and the photoreceiver 121 have the polarizing filters 119 and 120, respectively, so as not to be affected by disturbance noise light. Thus, illuminating light of certain specific frequencies is emitted from the phototransmitter 118 and its reflected light is detected by the photoreceiver 121.
  • the phototransmitter/photoreceiver 118 or 121 If the postal matter A is absent from the phototransmitter/photoreceiver 118 or 121, the illuminated light from the phototransmitter 118 is transmitted downward, so that the reflected light will not enter the photoreceiver 121. However, if the postal matter A enters (is present at) the phototransmitter/photoreceiver 118 or 121, the photoreceiver 121 detects the reflected light of the postal matter A.
  • Fig. 9 shows time-base variations in the amount of light received by the photoreceiver 121 and the pulses of reflected light detected by a differentiating circuit 124.
  • the cellophane transparent window hereinafter, abbreviated simply as cellophane portion B
  • the reflected will be irregularly reflected so that the amount of light at the photoreceiver 121 is reduced.
  • the range Lc see Fig. 15
  • the photoreceiver 121 and the differentiating circuit 124 constitute a material detecting means 125 that detects a material portion (non-cellophane portion) proper for printing in the postal matter A.
  • reference character Tm denotes a time period in which the postal matter A passes
  • Tc denotes a time period in which the cellophane portion B passes, where these time data will be inputted to a CPU 140, which will be described later.
  • Fig. 10 shows a concrete arrangement of the touch roller 122 disposed in the stage succeeding the material detecting means 125.
  • a pressure sensor 128 is disposed above a roller holder 126 which rotatably supports the touch roller 122, with a pressure spring interposed therebetween.
  • the touch roller 122 will make rolling contact with the postal matter A with a relatively weak pressing force so as to detect slight up or down strokes, where any pressure change during the passage of the postal matter A is measured by the pressure sensor 128. That is, as Fig. 11 shows the relationship between pressure P and displacement y, such a linear relationship holds between these P and y, that they proportionally increase or decrease in a linear fashion. Thus, the thickness of the postal matter A can be detected by the pressure sensor 128.
  • the pressure sensor 128 constitutes a flatness detecting means 129 that detects a flat portion proper for printing in the postal matter A.
  • a portion having no deviation of pressure signals derived from the pressure sensor 128 (deviation between last time and this time values) corresponds to a flat portion of the postal matter A.
  • Fig. 12 shows a print head lifting device 130 which moves up and down the print head 116 disposed in the stage succeeding the flatness detecting means 129, responsive to the thickness of the postal matter A.
  • a driving gear 133 is attached to an output shaft 132 of a pulse motor 131, while a driven gear 134 that is normally engaged with the driving gear 133 has the print head 116 coupled therewith via a screw 135 and a slider 136.
  • the print head lifting device 130 is so constructed that the print head 116 is lifted or lowered to a vertical distance h (see Fig. 8) optimum for clear prints by driving the pulse motor 131 forward and reverse.
  • the vertical distance h is variably adjusted to one that results in the clearest prints by the print head 116, relative to the thickness of the postal matter A.
  • Fig. 13 shows a control circuit block diagram of the postage franking machine.
  • the CPU 140 drives and controls the print head lifting device 130, the print head 116, the postal matter conveyor 123 and the measuring section 113 based on inputs of various types of signals from the touch panel 115, a print start button 137, the differentiating circuit 124 and the pressure sensor 128, and according to programs stored in a ROM 138.
  • a RAM 139 stores various types of necessary data and tables.
  • a print head lateral moving device 141 is not employed.
  • the measuring section 113 measures the weight of this postal matter A and outputs a measuring result to the CPU 140.
  • the CPU 140 displays various types of selector keys on the touch panel 115, where the user makes an input by pressing any one of the selector keys at which such mail types as surface mail, registered mail, express mail, domestic/foreign mail, air mail and ship mail are displayed. Then the CPU 140 determines an information pattern to be printed on the postal matter A.
  • step S2 the user turns ON (inputs by touch) the print start button 137 in the touch panel 115, the program moves to the next step S3.
  • step S3 the CPU 140 drives the postal matter conveyor 123, starting to convey the postal matter A along the conveyance path 117.
  • the length (La + Lb) from the end to the cellophane portion of the postal matter A (see Fig. 15) as well as the length Lc of the cellophane portion (see Fig. 15) are first detected by the material detecting means 125.
  • the displacement y of the touch roller 122 that makes rolling contact with the postal matter A is converted into a pressure P by the pressure sensor 128, by which a maximum thickness (hmax) of the postal matter A (which is data that makes a factor for determining the vertical position of the print head 116) as well as a change in the thickness along the longitudinal direction (which is data that makes a factor for detecting a flat portion) are detected, especially, a portion having a step gap and another portion having no step gap are detected.
  • hmax maximum thickness
  • step S4 as the postal matter A passes the place where the touch roller 122 is disposed, the program moves to the next step S5.
  • the CPU 140 decides whether or not the postal matter A is printable, where for a decision of YES, the program moves to the next step S6, while for a decision of NO, it skips to step S8 with the purpose of extraction of abnormalities.
  • the CPU 140 decides whether or not it is a position to start printing on the postal matter A (see the timing at which the print head turns ON in the time chart as shown in Fig. 16). For a decision of NO, the program flow stands by until the print start portion for the postal matter A is reached. For a decision of YES, the program moves to the next step S7.
  • the CPU 140 drives the print head 116 of non-contact type, executing the printing of specified postal information on a non-cellophane, step-gap-free flat portion of the postal matter A as shown in Fig. 15, by which a printed image C is formed.
  • the CPU 140 ends the conveyance of the postal matter A, thus completing a sequence of processing.
  • the detection means detects a proper printing place (in terms of both material and flatness for proper printing) of the postal matter A, while the control means (see the postal matter conveyor 123 and the print head lifting device 130) controls the postal matter A or the print head 116 so that printing is performed at the proper printing place detected by the detection means.
  • the control means controls the postal matter A or the print head 116 so that printing is performed at the proper printing place detected by the detection means.
  • the material detecting means 125 detects a material portion of the postal matter A proper for printing, there is produced an effect that printing can be effected by selecting a material portion that allows a clear printed image C to be yielded and that has been detected by the material detecting means 125.
  • the flatness detecting means 129 detects a flat portion proper for printing in the postal matter A, there is produced an effect that printing can be effected by selecting a flat portion, or non-step-gapped portion, that allows a clear printed image C (see Fig. 15) to be yielded and that has been detected by the flatness detecting means 129.
  • the moving means moves the postal matter A or the print head 116 so that printing is effected at a proper printing place, there is produced an effect that a clear printed image can be ensured with the print head 116.
  • the vertical moving means moves the print head 116 vertically to the conveyance surface of the postal matter A, there is produced an effect that a proper printed image C can be obtained by controlling the vertical position of the print head 116 responsive to the thickness of the postal matter A.
  • the flatness detecting means 129 has the touch roller 122, a flat portion including no step gaps of the postal matter A can be detected based on the touch roller 122 by putting the touch roller 122 into rolling contact with the postal matter A. As a result, there is produced an effect that a further clearer printing can be achieved.
  • the print head 116 is implemented by a non-contact type print head, even a postal matter A having some step gaps of thicknesses can be printed from a separate location away from the postal matter A. Thus, there is produced an effect that a clear printed image C (see Fig. 15) can be obtained.
  • Fig. 17 shows another embodiment of the postage franking machine.
  • the foregoing embodiment has been so arranged that printing is performed by the print head 116 while the postal matter A is conveyed by the postal matter conveyor 123 in the direction of arrow "a".
  • the print head 116 in the regular position (normal position) as depicted by solid line in Fig. 17 is moved laterally to the print start position as depicted by imaginary line in the figure, and that after the printing, the print head 116 is moved laterally again and thus returned to the regular position.
  • a print head lateral moving device 141 as shown in Fig. 13 is employed.
  • the measuring section 113 measures the weight of this postal matter A and outputs a measuring result to the CPU 140.
  • the CPU 140 displays various types of selector keys on the touch panel 115, where the user makes an input by pressing any one of the selector keys at which such mail types as surface mail, registered mail, express mail, domestic/foreign mail, air mail and ship mail are displayed. Then the CPU 140 determines an information pattern to be printed on the postal matter A.
  • step U2 the user turns ON (inputs by touch) the print start button 137 in the touch panel 115, the program moves to the next step U3.
  • the CPU 140 drives the postal matter conveyor 123, starting to convey the postal matter A along the conveyance path 117.
  • the length (La + Lb) from the end to the cellophane portion of the postal matter A (see Fig. 15) as well as the length Lc of the cellophane portion B (see Fig. 15) are first detected by the material detecting means 125.
  • the displacement y of the touch roller 122 that makes rolling contact with the postal matter A is converted into a pressure P by the pressure sensor 128, by which a maximum thickness (hmax) of the postal matter A (which is data that makes a factor for determining the vertical position of the print head 116) as well as a change in the thickness along the longitudinal direction (which is data that makes a factor for detecting a flat portion) are detected, especially, a portion having a step gap and another portion having no step gap are detected.
  • hmax maximum thickness
  • step U4 as the postal matter A passes the place where the touch roller 122 is disposed, the program moves to the next step U5.
  • the CPU 140 conveys the postal matter A up to the terminal end of conveyance on the right side as shown in Fig. 17, thus ending the conveying process prior to the printing.
  • step U6 the CPU 140 decides whether or not the postal matter A is printable. For a decision of NO, the CPU 140 does not execute the processes of step U7 and the following (especially, printing process), thus ending the sequence of processing with the purpose of extraction of abnormalities.
  • the program moves to the next seventh step U7.
  • the CPU 140 drives the print head lateral moving device 141, thereby moving the non-contact type print head 116 as shown in Fig. 17 laterally from the position depicted by solid line to the print start position depicted by imaginary line in the same figure.
  • step S8 the CPU 140 decides whether or not the print head 116 has been moved to a print start position serving both as a material portion that allows a proper printing and as a flat portion that has no step gap. For a decision of NO, the program flow returns to the foregoing step U7. On the other hand, for a decision of YES, the program moves to the next ninth step U9.
  • the CPU 140 drives the non-contact type print head 116 as well as the print head lateral moving device 141, executing the printing of specified postal information on a non-cellophane, step-gap-free flat portion of the postal matter A as shown in Fig. 15, while moving the print head 116 from right to left in Fig. 17, by which a printed image C (see Fig. 15) is formed.
  • the CPU 140 makes the print head 116 returned to the regular position as depicted by solid line in Fig. 17 via the print head lateral moving device 141, thus completing a sequence of processing.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Devices For Checking Fares Or Tickets At Control Points (AREA)
EP95934841A 1994-10-20 1995-10-19 Druckvorrichtung und frankiermaschine Withdrawn EP0787586A4 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP282503/94 1994-10-20
JP28250394A JPH08118615A (ja) 1994-10-20 1994-10-20 印字装置および郵便物印字装置
JP259383/95 1995-09-11
JP25938395A JPH0976486A (ja) 1995-09-11 1995-09-11 印字装置および郵便料金計器
PCT/JP1995/002144 WO1996012621A1 (fr) 1994-10-20 1995-10-19 Dispositif d'impression et machine a affranchir

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0787586A1 true EP0787586A1 (de) 1997-08-06
EP0787586A4 EP0787586A4 (de) 1998-04-01

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95934841A Withdrawn EP0787586A4 (de) 1994-10-20 1995-10-19 Druckvorrichtung und frankiermaschine

Country Status (2)

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EP (1) EP0787586A4 (de)
WO (1) WO1996012621A1 (de)

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EP0974819A2 (de) * 1998-07-17 2000-01-26 Francotyp-Postalia Aktiengesellschaft & Co. Vorrichtung zum Wiegen von bewegtem Postgut

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GB2206082A (en) * 1987-06-17 1988-12-29 Alcatel Business Systems Franking machine incorporating ink-jet printer and microprocessor for accounting and control
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EP0360728A1 (de) * 1988-09-08 1990-03-28 MANNESMANN Aktiengesellschaft Drucker, insbesondere Matrixnadeldrucker, mit Druckkopfabstandseinstelleinrichtung
EP0553895A2 (de) * 1988-09-19 1993-08-04 Secap Druckvorrichtung für Abstempel- oder Frankiermaschine oder dergleichen
EP0534337A2 (de) * 1991-09-25 1993-03-31 Horst Schwede Bedruckvorrichtung für fortlaufend vorwärtsbewegte Gegenstände, insbesondere für Pakete, eingepackte Zeitschriftenstapel oder dergleichen
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EP0974819A2 (de) * 1998-07-17 2000-01-26 Francotyp-Postalia Aktiengesellschaft & Co. Vorrichtung zum Wiegen von bewegtem Postgut
EP0974819A3 (de) * 1998-07-17 2000-05-10 Francotyp-Postalia Aktiengesellschaft & Co. Vorrichtung zum Wiegen von bewegtem Postgut
US6265675B1 (en) 1998-07-17 2001-07-24 Francotyp-Postalia Ag & Co. Apparatus for weighing moving postal matter

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EP0787586A4 (de) 1998-04-01
WO1996012621A1 (fr) 1996-05-02

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