EP1148444B1 - Device for the detection of a postal item - Google Patents

Device for the detection of a postal item Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1148444B1
EP1148444B1 EP01250131A EP01250131A EP1148444B1 EP 1148444 B1 EP1148444 B1 EP 1148444B1 EP 01250131 A EP01250131 A EP 01250131A EP 01250131 A EP01250131 A EP 01250131A EP 1148444 B1 EP1148444 B1 EP 1148444B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
optical waveguide
distance
transmitting
circuit board
opening
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
EP01250131A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1148444A1 (en
Inventor
Ulrich Hetzer
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.)
Francotyp Postalia GmbH
Original Assignee
Francotyp Postalia GmbH
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Francotyp Postalia GmbH filed Critical Francotyp Postalia GmbH
Publication of EP1148444A1 publication Critical patent/EP1148444A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1148444B1 publication Critical patent/EP1148444B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime 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
    • G07B17/00661—Sensing or measuring mailpieces
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H7/00—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles
    • B65H7/02—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles by feelers or detectors
    • B65H7/14—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles by feelers or detectors by photoelectric feelers or detectors
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
    • B65H2511/50—Occurence
    • B65H2511/51—Presence
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2515/00—Physical entities not provided for in groups B65H2511/00 or B65H2513/00
    • B65H2515/60—Optical characteristics, e.g. colour, light
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2553/00—Sensing or detecting means
    • B65H2553/40—Sensing or detecting means using optical, e.g. photographic, elements
    • B65H2553/41—Photoelectric detectors
    • B65H2553/412—Photoelectric detectors in barrier arrangements, i.e. emitter facing a receptor element
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2553/00—Sensing or detecting means
    • B65H2553/40—Sensing or detecting means using optical, e.g. photographic, elements
    • B65H2553/44—Involving light guide, e.g. optical fibres
    • 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
    • G07B17/00467—Transporting mailpieces
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
    • G07B17/00193—Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
    • G07B2017/00258—Electronic hardware aspects, e.g. type of circuits used
    • 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 invention relates to an arrangement for mail piece detection according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • the invention is used for franking machines and other mail processing equipment with mailpiece transport.
  • Modern franking machines such as the thermal transfer postage meter known from US 4,746,234, employ fully electronic digital printing devices.
  • Applicant's T1000 franking machine has a microprocessor surrounded by a secure housing having an opening for delivering a letter.
  • a mechanical letter sensor microswitch
  • the franking imprint includes previously entered and stored postal information for conveying the letter.
  • an optical mail piece sensor triggers the printing process.
  • the optical mail piece sensor is designed as a reflex light barrier.
  • the letter surface should therefore be as even as possible from the beginning. Otherwise, a reflex light barrier has disadvantages in detecting the leading edge of thick mailpieces.
  • the printing process preferably by a through-beam sensor of the franking machine (EP 901,108 A2) is triggered when the JetMail ®.
  • a through-beam sensor of the franking machine EP 901,108 A2
  • the JetMail ® uses optical sensors for mail piece jam detection.
  • the arrangement of the main circuit board in the distance behind the guide plate requires shielded copper cable.
  • both the reflex sensor and the transilluminator including their mounting with fixation on the guide plate, with connectors and with cables to the main circuit board in the base, require high manufacturing costs.
  • EP-A-634625 describes the features of the preamble of claim 1.
  • the invention has for its object to develop an arrangement that has a robust sensor for letter detection at low production costs.
  • a postage meter or other postal processing device having mailpiece transport has a housing with a mailpiece delivery opening with a main circuit board for control therein.
  • a main circuit board for control therein.
  • the distance of the main circuit board to the measuring location in the opening is bridged by the inventive use of rigid light guide elements.
  • the rigid light-conducting elements and the transmitting and receiving means on the main circuit board are used to detect the franking material at the measuring point according to the known transmitted light principle, the measuring location is arranged poststromaufivity of a positioned in print position printhead.
  • FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a franking machine 1 opened at the top.
  • the mailpiece is fed through a slot-shaped opening 3 in the housing 4, which in the closed state surrounds the arrangement for detecting mail pieces except at the opening.
  • the transport direction for a supplied - not shown - mailpiece is indicated by an arrow and runs from top left to bottom right.
  • the mail item comes to abutment against a guide plate 2 during transport.
  • the housing 4 opened at the top shows two print heads 21, 22 positioned in the print position.
  • FIG. 2 shows a front view of the franking machine 1, which is here equipped with a cover 14 which is transparent at the top, for better clarity only.
  • One side of the opening 3 is formed as a guide plate 2, on which the mailpiece 12 abuts and from which, starting a drive device 5 a transport force on the mail piece 12 in the transport direction (arrow) is exercised.
  • the counter-pressure device 6 is arranged vertically resiliently to the transport direction.
  • the transport direction for a supplied mail piece 12 extends from left to right.
  • FIG. 3 shows a section through the franking machine in a side view, wherein the section runs through the measuring location.
  • the franking machine 1 has a housing 4 in the interior of which a main printed circuit board 11 with transmitting and receiving means 7 and 8 as well as associated rigid optical fiber elements 9 and 10 is arranged.
  • the main printed circuit board 11 is arranged at a distance A from the guide plate 2 on the one side and at a distance B from the opposite side of the opening, where the distance A> B applies.
  • At the measuring location in the vicinity of the transport path are rigid optical waveguide elements 9, 10 on both sides of the opening 3 arranged.
  • An arranged on the transmitting means 7 rigid optical fiber element 9 has I-shape and corresponds in length approximately to the distance B. It is provided that for extraneous light and increase the Abtastfind a clocked light emitting diode LED is used in a postage meter as a transmitting means 7.
  • Another rigid optical fiber element 10 has a U-shape, wherein one of the leg lying in the vicinity of the transport path is shortened in its length approximately corresponding to the distance A.
  • the other leg is formed with respect to its length approximately reaching to the receiving means 8.
  • Plastic light conductors are formed.
  • the plastic optical fiber is preferably made of polycarbonate and is known by the name "acrylic".
  • a drive device 5 may include a drive roller and a counter-pressure device 6 may include a counter-pressure roller.
  • the transmitting and receiving means 7 and 8 may be laser diode, LED and photodiode, phototransistor or other suitable light source or opto / electro-converter.
  • a transmitting diode 7 is used with a very narrow radiation angle, high pulse load capacity and reliability.
  • phototransistor for example, an NPN silicon phototransistor from Siemens type SFH 300 can be used.
  • a rigid light guide element 9 arranged on the transmission means 7 has a U-shape and a rigid light guide element 10 arranged on the reception means 8 has a 1-form.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Sorting Of Articles (AREA)
  • Devices For Checking Fares Or Tickets At Control Points (AREA)

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft eine Anordnung zur Poststückdetektierung gemäß des Oberbegriffs des Anspruchs 1. Die Erfindung kommt für Frankiermaschinen und andere Postverarbeitungsgeräte mit Poststücktransport zum Einsatz.The invention relates to an arrangement for mail piece detection according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention is used for franking machines and other mail processing equipment with mailpiece transport.

Moderne Frankiermaschinen, wie beispielsweise die aus US 4.746.234 bekannte Thermotransfer-Frankiermaschine, setzen vollelektronische digitale Druckvorrichtungen ein. Damit ist es prinzipiell möglich, beliebige Texte und Sonderzeichen im Frankierstempeldruckbereich und ein beliebiges oder ein einer Kostenstelle zugeordnetes Werbeklischee zu drucken. Beispielsweise die Frankiermaschine T1000 der Anmelderin hat einen Mikroprozessor, welcher von einem gesicherten Gehäuse umgeben ist, welches eine Öffnung für die Zuführung eines Briefes aufweist. Bei einer Briefzuführung übermittelt ein mechanischer Briefsensor (Mikroschalter) ein Druckanforderungssignal an den Mikroprozessor. Der Frankierabdruck beinhaltet eine zuvor eingegebene und gespeicherte postalische Information zur Beförderung des Briefes.Modern franking machines, such as the thermal transfer postage meter known from US 4,746,234, employ fully electronic digital printing devices. Thus, it is possible in principle to print any text and special characters in the franking stamp printing area and any or a cost center associated advertising clause. For example, Applicant's T1000 franking machine has a microprocessor surrounded by a secure housing having an opening for delivering a letter. In a letter feeder, a mechanical letter sensor (microswitch) sends a print request signal to the microprocessor. The franking imprint includes previously entered and stored postal information for conveying the letter.

In der DE 196 05 015 C1 (US 5.949.444) ist bereits eine Ausführung für eine Druckvorrichtung (JetMail®) vorgeschlagen worden, die bei einem nichtwaagerechten annähernd vertikalen Brieftransport einen Frankierdruck mittels einem hinter einer Führungsplatte in einer Ausnehmung stationär angeordneten Tintenstrahldruckkopf durchführt. Ein AuslöseSensor für den Druckprozess ist zur Briefanfangserkennung kurz vor der Tintenstrahldruckkopf-Ausnehmung angeordnet und wirkt mit einem Inkrementalgeber zusammen.In DE 196 05 015 C1 (US 5,949,444), an embodiment for a printing apparatus (JetMail ®) has been proposed which performs a franking by means of a stationarily arranged behind a guide plate in a recess ink jet print head in a non-horizontal, approximately vertical letter transport. A triggering sensor for the printing process is located near the ink jet printhead recess for letter top detection and cooperates with an incremental encoder.

Gemäß der EP 673 001 B1 (US 5.495.103) löst ein optischer Poststücksensor den Druckprozess aus. Der optische Poststücksensor ist als Reflexlichtschranke ausgebildet. Die Briefoberfläche sollte deshalb von Anfang an möglichst eben sein. Eine Reflexlichtschranke hat anderenfalls Nachteile bei der Detektierung der Vorderkante dicker Poststücke.According to EP 673 001 B1 (US 5,495,103), an optical mail piece sensor triggers the printing process. The optical mail piece sensor is designed as a reflex light barrier. The letter surface should therefore be as even as possible from the beginning. Otherwise, a reflex light barrier has disadvantages in detecting the leading edge of thick mailpieces.

Deshalb wird bei der JetMail® der Druckprozess vorzugsweise durch eine Durchlichtschranke der Frankiermaschine (EP 901 108 A2) ausgelöst. Damit wird die Vorderkante sogar besonders dicker Poststücke eindeutig erkannt. Ausserdem kommen bei der JetMail® optische Sensoren zur Poststück-Stauerkennung zum Einsatz. Die Anordnung der Hauptleiterplatte im Abstand hinter der Führungsplatte erfordert abgeschirmte Kupferkabel. Sowohl Reflexsensor oder Durchlichtsensor einschliesslich ihrer Montage mit Fixierung an der Führungsplatte, mit Steckverbindern und mit Kabeln zur Hauptleiterplatte in der Base erfordern allerdings hohe Herstellungskosten.Therefore, the printing process, preferably by a through-beam sensor of the franking machine (EP 901,108 A2) is triggered when the JetMail ®. This clearly identifies the leading edge of even very thick mail pieces. In addition, the JetMail ® uses optical sensors for mail piece jam detection. The arrangement of the main circuit board in the distance behind the guide plate requires shielded copper cable. However, both the reflex sensor and the transilluminator, including their mounting with fixation on the guide plate, with connectors and with cables to the main circuit board in the base, require high manufacturing costs.

EP-A-634625 beschreibt die Merkmale des Oberbegriffes des Anspruches 1.EP-A-634625 describes the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Der Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, eine Anordnung zu entwickeln, die eine robuste Sensorik zur Briefdetektierung bei geringen Herstellungskosten aufweist.The invention has for its object to develop an arrangement that has a robust sensor for letter detection at low production costs.

Die Aufgabe wird mit den Merkmalen der Anordnung nach dem Anspruch 1 gelöst.The object is achieved with the features of the arrangement according to claim 1.

Eine Frankiermaschine oder ein anderes Postverarbeitungsgerät mit Poststücktransport hat ein Gehäuse mit einer Öffnung für die Poststückzuführung mit einer im Inneren angeordneten Hauptleiterplatte für die Steuerung. Durch die Platzierung möglichst aller elektronischen Bauteile auf der Hauptleiterplatte entfällt der kostenaufwendige Einbau von Sende- und Empfangsmitteln nahe dem Transportpfad in der Öffnung für die Poststückzuführung. Der Abstand der Hauptleiterplatte zum Messort in der Öffnung wird durch den erfindungsgemässen Einsatz von starren Lichtleiterelementen überbrückt. Die starren Licht-leiterelemente und die Sende- und Empfangsmittel auf der Hauptleiter-platte dienen zur Detektierung des Frankiergutes am Messort nach dem bekannten Durchlichtprinzip, wobei der Meßort poststromaufwärts von einem in Druckposition positionierten Druckkopf angeordnet ist.A postage meter or other postal processing device having mailpiece transport has a housing with a mailpiece delivery opening with a main circuit board for control therein. By placing as many electronic components as possible on the main circuit board eliminates the costly installation of transmitting and receiving means near the transport path in the opening for the mail piece supply. The distance of the main circuit board to the measuring location in the opening is bridged by the inventive use of rigid light guide elements. The rigid light-conducting elements and the transmitting and receiving means on the main circuit board are used to detect the franking material at the measuring point according to the known transmitted light principle, the measuring location is arranged poststromaufwärts of a positioned in print position printhead.

Vorteilhafte Weiterbildungen der Erfindung sind in den Unteransprüchen gekennzeichnet bzw. werden nachstehend zusammen mit der Beschreibung der bevorzugten Ausführung der Erfindung anhand der Figuren näher dargestellt. Es zeigen:

Figur 1,
perspektivische Ansicht einer oben offenen Frankiermaschine,
Figur 2,
Vorderansicht einer oben durchsichtigen Frankiermaschine,
Figur 3,
Schnitt durch die Frankiermaschine bei Seitenansicht.
Advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims or are presented in more detail below together with the description of the preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to FIGS. Show it:
FIG. 1,
Perspective view of an open top franking machine,
FIG. 2,
Front view of a top-transparent franking machine,
FIG. 3,
Section through the franking machine in side view.

Die Figur 1 zeigt eine perspektivische Ansicht einer oben geöffneten Frankiermaschine 1. Die Poststückzuführung erfolgt durch eine schlitzförmige Öffnung 3 im Gehäuse 4, das im geschlossenen Zustand die Anordnung zur Poststückdetektierung ausser an der Öffnung umschließt. Die Transportrichtung für ein zugeführtes - nicht gezeigtes - Poststück ist durch einen Pfeil gekennzeichnet und verläuft von links oben nach rechts unten. Das Poststück kommt beim Transport zum Anliegen an eine Führungsplatte 2. Das oben geöffnete Gehäuse 4 zeigt zwei in Druckposition positionierte Druckköpfe 21, 22.FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a franking machine 1 opened at the top. The mailpiece is fed through a slot-shaped opening 3 in the housing 4, which in the closed state surrounds the arrangement for detecting mail pieces except at the opening. The transport direction for a supplied - not shown - mailpiece is indicated by an arrow and runs from top left to bottom right. The mail item comes to abutment against a guide plate 2 during transport. The housing 4 opened at the top shows two print heads 21, 22 positioned in the print position.

Die Figur 2 zeigt eine Vorderansicht der Frankiermaschine 1, die hier - nur der besseren Anschaulichkeit wegen - mit einem oben durchsichtigen Deckel 14 ausgestattet ist. Eine Seite der Öffnung 3 ist als Führungsplatte 2 ausgebildet, an welcher das Poststück 12 anliegt und von welcher ausgehend eine Antriebsvorrichtung 5 eine Transportkraft auf das Poststück 12 in Transportrichtung (Pfeil) ausgeübt wird. An der gegenüberliegenden Seite der Öffnung 3 ist die Gegen-druckvorrichtung 6 senkrecht federnd zur Transportrichtung angeordnet. Die Transportrichtung für ein zugeführtes Poststück 12 verläuft von links nach rechts.FIG. 2 shows a front view of the franking machine 1, which is here equipped with a cover 14 which is transparent at the top, for better clarity only. One side of the opening 3 is formed as a guide plate 2, on which the mailpiece 12 abuts and from which, starting a drive device 5 a transport force on the mail piece 12 in the transport direction (arrow) is exercised. On the opposite side of the opening 3, the counter-pressure device 6 is arranged vertically resiliently to the transport direction. The transport direction for a supplied mail piece 12 extends from left to right.

In der Figur 3 wird ein Schnitt durch die Frankiermaschine bei Seitenansicht dargestellt, wobei der Schnitt durch den Messort verläuft. Die Frankiermaschine 1 hat ein Gehäuse 4 in dessen Inneren eine Hauptleiterplatte 11 mit Sende- und Empfangsmitteln 7 und 8 sowie mit zugehörigen starren Lichtleiterelementen 9 und 10 angeordnet ist.FIG. 3 shows a section through the franking machine in a side view, wherein the section runs through the measuring location. The franking machine 1 has a housing 4 in the interior of which a main printed circuit board 11 with transmitting and receiving means 7 and 8 as well as associated rigid optical fiber elements 9 and 10 is arranged.

Die Hauptleiterplatte 11 ist im Abstand A von der Führungsplatte 2 auf der einen Seite und im Abstand B von der gegenüberliegenden Seite der Öffnung angeordnet, wobei gilt Abstand A > B. Am Meßort in der Nähe des Transportpfades sind starre Lichtleiterelemente 9, 10 beidseitig der Öffnung 3 angeordnet. Ein am Sendemittel 7 angeordnetes starres Lichtleiterelement 9 hat I-Form und entspricht in der Länge annähernd dem Abstand B. Es ist vorgesehen, dass zur Fremdlichtminimierung und Erhöhung der Abtastsicherheit eine getaktete Leuchtemitterdiode LED in einer Frankiermaschine als Sendemittel 7 eingesetzt wird.The main printed circuit board 11 is arranged at a distance A from the guide plate 2 on the one side and at a distance B from the opposite side of the opening, where the distance A> B applies. At the measuring location in the vicinity of the transport path are rigid optical waveguide elements 9, 10 on both sides of the opening 3 arranged. An arranged on the transmitting means 7 rigid optical fiber element 9 has I-shape and corresponds in length approximately to the distance B. It is provided that for extraneous light and increase the Abtastsicherheit a clocked light emitting diode LED is used in a postage meter as a transmitting means 7.

Ein anderes starres Lichtleiterelement 10 hat U-Form, wobei einer der in der Nähe des Transportpfades liegenden Schenkel in seiner Länge annähernd entsprechend dem Abstand A verkürzt ist.Another rigid optical fiber element 10 has a U-shape, wherein one of the leg lying in the vicinity of the transport path is shortened in its length approximately corresponding to the distance A.

Der andere Schenkel ist bezüglich seiner Länge annähernd bis zum Empfangsmittel 8 reichend ausgebildet.The other leg is formed with respect to its length approximately reaching to the receiving means 8.

Es ist vorgesehen, dass die starren Lichtleiterelemente 9, 10 zur Fixierung und Bündelung des Lichtstrahles (weisser Pfeil) als transparen-teIt is envisaged that the rigid light guide elements 9, 10 for fixing and bundling the light beam (white arrow) as transparen-te

Kunststofflichtleiter ausgebildet sind. Der Kunststofflichtleiter besteht vorzugsweise aus Polycarbonat und ist unter dem Namen "Acryl" bekannt.Plastic light conductors are formed. The plastic optical fiber is preferably made of polycarbonate and is known by the name "acrylic".

Eine Antriebsvorrichtung 5 kann zum Beispiel eine Antriebsrolle und eine Gegendruckvorrichtung 6 kann zum Beispiel eine Gegendruckrolle umfassen. Die Antriebsvorrichtung 5 und eine Gegendruckvorrichtung 6 können aber auch beliebig anders ausgebildet sein. Die Sende- und Empfangsmittel 7 und 8 können Laserdiode, LED und Fotodiode, Fototransistor oder eine andere geeignete Lichtquelle bzw. Opto/Elektro-Wandler sein. Vorzugsweise wird eine Sendediode 7 mit sehr engem Abstrahlwinkel, hoher Impulsbelastbarkeit und Zuverlässigkeit eingesetzt. Geeignet ist beispielsweise eine GaAs-Infrarot-Leucht-Emitter-Diode der Firma Siemens vom Typ LD 274. Als Fototransistor kann beispielsweise ein NPN-Silizium-Fototransistor der Firma Siemens vom Typ SFH 300 eingesetzt werden. Natürlich kann die Zuordnung der starren Lichtleiterelemente 9, 10 zu den Sende- und Empfangsmitteln 7 und 8 vertauscht werden, d.h. ein am Sendemittel 7 angeordnetes starres Lichtleiterelement 9 hat U-Form und ein am Empfangsmittel 8 angeordnetes starres Lichtleiterelement 10 hat 1-Form.For example, a drive device 5 may include a drive roller and a counter-pressure device 6 may include a counter-pressure roller. However, the drive device 5 and a counter-pressure device 6 can also be designed differently. The transmitting and receiving means 7 and 8 may be laser diode, LED and photodiode, phototransistor or other suitable light source or opto / electro-converter. Preferably, a transmitting diode 7 is used with a very narrow radiation angle, high pulse load capacity and reliability. Suitable, for example, a GaAs infrared light emitting diode emitter of Siemens type LD 274. As phototransistor, for example, an NPN silicon phototransistor from Siemens type SFH 300 can be used. Of course, the assignment of the rigid optical fiber elements 9, 10 to the transmitting and receiving means 7 and 8 can be reversed, i. a rigid light guide element 9 arranged on the transmission means 7 has a U-shape and a rigid light guide element 10 arranged on the reception means 8 has a 1-form.

Claims (6)

  1. An arrangement for the detecting of postal items comprising transmitting and receiving means (7, 8) and a main circuit board (11) arranged remotely from the point of measurement and provided with control means, transmitting and receiving means (7, 8) being arranged on the main circuit board (11), wherein the main circuit board (11) is arranged at a distance from the point of measurement and rigid optical waveguide elements (9, 10) are arranged between the point of measurement and the transmitting and receiving means (7, 8) on the main circuit board (11),
    characterized in that the optical waveguide elements (9, 10) are formed at the point of measurement for the detection of postal items (12) using the generally known transmitted-light principle; that the main circuit board (11) with the transmitting and receiving means (7, 8) and with the related rigid optical waveguide elements (9, 10) are arranged inside a housing that has a slot-type opening (3) and encloses the arrangement for postal item detection except at the opening (3); that the rigid optical waveguide elements (9, 10) are arranged on both sides of the opening (3) at the point of measurement close to the transport path; that one side of the opening (3) is designed as a guide plate (2) on which the postal item (12) is lying and emanating from which a transport force is exercised on the postal item in transport direction; that the main circuit board (11) is arranged at a distance A from the guide plate (2) on the one side and at a distance B from the opposite side of the opening (3), distance A being larger than distance B; and that for the purpose of minimizing ambient light and increasing scanning reliability, a clocked light emitting diode LED is used as transmitting means (7).
  2. An arrangement according to Claim 1, characterized in that a rigid optical waveguide element (9) arranged at the transmitting means (7) or the receiving means (8), respectively, has an I-shape and a length that approximately corresponds to distance B.
  3. An arrangement according to Claim 1, characterized in that a rigid optical waveguide element (10) has a U-shape, wherein the length of one of the limbs lying near the transport path is reduced approximately corresponding to distance A and the length of the other limb extends approximately up to the receiving means (8) or transmitting means (7), respectively.
  4. An arrangement according to Claim 1, characterized in that the rigid optical waveguide elements (9, 10) are designed as transparent plastic optical waveguide elements for fixing and bundling the ray of light.
  5. An arrangement according to Claim 1, characterized in that a franking machine (1) comprises the housing (4) that encloses the arrangement for postal item detection except at the opening.
  6. An arrangement according to Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the point of measurement is arranged in the postal-item flow upstream of a print head (21, 22) of the franking machine (1) located at the printing position.
EP01250131A 2000-04-22 2001-04-12 Device for the detection of a postal item Expired - Lifetime EP1148444B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE10021250A DE10021250A1 (en) 2000-04-22 2000-04-22 Arrangement for mail item detection
DE10021250 2000-04-22

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1148444A1 EP1148444A1 (en) 2001-10-24
EP1148444B1 true EP1148444B1 (en) 2007-02-28

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EP01250131A Expired - Lifetime EP1148444B1 (en) 2000-04-22 2001-04-12 Device for the detection of a postal item

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US20010041041A1 (en) 2001-11-15
DE10021250A1 (en) 2001-10-25
EP1148444A1 (en) 2001-10-24
US6456776B2 (en) 2002-09-24
DE50112097D1 (en) 2007-04-12

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