EP1170141B1 - Device for printing on a printing medium - Google Patents

Device for printing on a printing medium Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1170141B1
EP1170141B1 EP01250214A EP01250214A EP1170141B1 EP 1170141 B1 EP1170141 B1 EP 1170141B1 EP 01250214 A EP01250214 A EP 01250214A EP 01250214 A EP01250214 A EP 01250214A EP 1170141 B1 EP1170141 B1 EP 1170141B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
opening
spring
driven
transport
pressure
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
EP01250214A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1170141A3 (en
EP1170141A2 (en
Inventor
Wolfgang Von Inten
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
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Francotyp Postalia GmbH
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Publication date
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Publication of EP1170141A2 publication Critical patent/EP1170141A2/en
Publication of EP1170141A3 publication Critical patent/EP1170141A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1170141B1 publication Critical patent/EP1170141B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
    • B41J11/0035—Handling copy materials differing in thickness
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J13/00—Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, specially adapted for supporting or handling copy material in short lengths, e.g. sheets
    • B41J13/02—Rollers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J13/00—Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, specially adapted for supporting or handling copy material in short lengths, e.g. sheets
    • B41J13/10—Sheet holders, retainers, movable guides, or stationary guides
    • B41J13/12—Sheet holders, retainers, movable guides, or stationary guides specially adapted for small cards, envelopes, or the like, e.g. credit cards, cut visiting cards

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a device for printing on a printing medium in the printing area according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • the invention is used in fully electronic digital printing devices which record carriers have variable dimensions (thickness and size) exhibit. It is particularly suitable for use in receipt printers, Franking machines, addressing machines and other mail processing devices with a transport and printing device for mail pieces.
  • Modern franking machines such as those from US 4,746,234 well-known thermal transfer franking machine, set fully electronic digital printing devices. In principle, it is possible to use any Texts, code and special characters in the franking stamp printing area and a any or an advertising cliché assigned to a cost center to press.
  • a franking machine for example T1000 from the applicant Francotyp-Postalia AG & Co., is controlled by a microprocessor controlled, which is surrounded by a secured housing, which has an opening for feeding a letter. With every letter feed transmits a mechanical letter sensor (microswitch) Print request signal to the microprocessor, which is a print image generated and after a settlement of the postage to be franked triggers a print.
  • the franking imprint contains one before entered and stored postal information for transportation of the letter.
  • a printing device for an ink jet franking machine has already been described in US Pat. No. 5,467,709 proposed, being on a piece of mail at a approximately horizontal letter transport a franking imprint using a Inkjet printhead is printed.
  • the inkjet print head is for Printing behind a guide plate in a recess arranged.
  • a circulating conveyor belt serves as the transport device, which is also arranged on the side of the guide plate.
  • On the other side opposite the guide plate is a counter pressure device arranged with several roles, so that a fed Mail piece between the rollers of the back pressure device and the circulating conveyor belt is pinched.
  • the arrangement can do not avoid skewing of the print media.
  • This transport and printing device is located in the base and is controlled by a meter.
  • a trigger sensor for the printing process is located in the base for letter recognition, just in front of the inkjet printhead recess and interacts with an incremental encoder on the drive of the conveyor belt. With a transmitted light barrier as a trigger sensor (EP 901 108 A2), the front edge of particularly thick mail items is clearly recognized.
  • optical sensors for mail item jam detection are used in the base of the JetMail®. Upstream of the JetMail® franking machine, an automatic feed and a dynamic scale are arranged in the Condord® franking system, which enables real mixed mail processing for mail items of very different formats, thicknesses and weights.
  • the invention has for its object a device for Printing to create a print carrier, their training also at very high printing speeds a print of higher quality allows. It is said to be on print media which are up to 10 mm thick have to be printed directly.
  • a revolving transport drum serves as the transport device is arranged on the same side of a guide plate as the Inkjet printhead.
  • a resilient counter pressure device is arranged so that a supplied print medium (letter) between the transport drum and one Counter pressure roller of the counter pressure device is pinched.
  • This Terminal location is hereinafter called the power transmission area because there the force for transport in the transport direction onto the print carrier is transmitted.
  • the power transmission area is hereinafter called the power transmission area because there the force for transport in the transport direction onto the print carrier is transmitted.
  • the inkjet printhead is on the one hand from the transport drum in the axial direction and on the other hand from the contact surface between the guide plate and Print carriers spaced, both distances are minimized.
  • the pressure area is opposite the power transmission area in the X direction offset and lies on the edge of the printing drum.
  • For printing is the at least one ink jet print head behind a guide plate in one Recess arranged stationary, which on the edge of the printing drum starts.
  • the impression is in the Z direction during the transport of the print medium in the print area on the print carrier without contact applied.
  • the printing device can be used for an approximately horizontal inclined or vertical transport of the print medium in the Z direction be trained. For example, in a franking machine with the at least one inkjet printhead in the printing area Franking printing of high print quality on a moving mail piece printed.
  • the transport drum is very large, so that even thicker mail pieces are properly picked up and transported are, however, lies in the device according to the invention most distant pixels of the print area closer to the power transmission area, than the radius of the transport drum.
  • the device for printing a print carrier in the printing area uses in the power transmission area, a driven transport drum 51 and non-driven counter pressure rollers or alternatively a non-driven one Back pressure conveyor belt of the back pressure device.
  • FIG. 1 shows a section through the front view of a printing device with a transport and counter pressure device in a first variant.
  • a printing device can be used in a franking machine, addressing machine or in another mail processing device with mail piece transport.
  • the printing device 1 is arranged in a housing 4 with an opening 3 for the mail item feed.
  • the direction of transport for a mail item (not shown) that is fed in is indicated by an arrow and runs downstream from the left to the right in the Z direction.
  • the mail piece comes to rest against a guide plate 2 during transport.
  • the transport and drive device 5 lies on one side of the guide plate 2.
  • a driven feed roller 71 also lies on the same side of the guide plate 2.
  • a motor 13 generates the required driving force.
  • Openings 9 and 11 for the driven feed roller 71 and for a driven transport drum 51 are arranged offset in the Z direction in the guide plate 2.
  • a non-driven counterpressure device 6 and a non-driven pilot control mechanism 7 are arranged on the other side opposite the guide plate 2.
  • a lay-on deck 8 limits the thickness of the mail item fed to 10 mm.
  • Openings 81, 82 are arranged offset in the Z direction in the laying deck 8.
  • the openings 11 and 81 or 9 and 82 face each other.
  • the opening 81 is provided for counter-pressure rollers 61, 62 of the counter-pressure device 6 mounted on a resilient rocker 66 and the opening 82 is provided for a pull-in roller 72 of the pilot control mechanism 7 mounted on a resilient rocker 76.
  • the rockers 66, 67 are preferably each formed from two fixed pivotally mounted angle levers, on each of which a spring 63, 73 acts.
  • the angle levers are coupled to one another via a lifting rod 77.
  • a transport drum 51 is used for high-precision transmission of the driving force to the print carrier, inside which there is enough space for receiving ink containers (cartridges) of the two ink-jet print heads. This makes the printing device very compact.
  • Both ink-jet print heads which are arranged with their ink containers in the transport drum 51 and are covered by this in FIG. 1, are arranged so as to be exchangeable. For example, 1 ⁇ 2 inch bubble jet printheads can be inserted and removed in the Y direction after they have first been moved in the X direction.
  • the X direction and Y direction are orthogonal to the transport direction (Z direction).
  • the bearing axis 516 of the transport drum 51 is parallel to the X direction.
  • a worm wheel 517 is fastened on the bearing axis 516 and is connected to the motor axis 131 of a direct current motor 13 via a worm pinion 16 and the coupling sleeve 15.
  • the inkjet print head 21, 22 is arranged in the X direction so that its nozzles are located on the edge of the transport drum 51 in order to eject ink drops on demand in the printing area against the Y direction onto a surface of the print carrier.
  • the nozzles of both ink jet print heads are oriented orthogonally to the transport direction and orthogonally to the bearing axis 516 of the transport drum 51 in the direction of the print carrier. It is provided that an opening 111 (not shown) for inkjet printing from the nozzles of the inkjet printhead 21, 22 is arranged in the guide plate 2 next to the opening 11 in the X direction, with a size corresponding to the printing area.
  • the compact device in which the nozzles of the ink jet print heads are arranged so close to the edge 511 of the transport drum 51 that practically no distortions can occur in the printed image, is of course advantageous. Another advantage is that the transport drum can be manufactured with great precision, which results in a uniform transport of the print carriers under the ink jet print heads.
  • a main circuit board (not shown) for the control controls the printing device.
  • markings are applied close to the circumference, which are distributed over the circumference of the transport drum 51.
  • the markings are, for example, reflective lines which are detected by a reflex light barrier of an encoder 52 and are converted into pressure pulses in a ratio of 1: 1 by the microprocessor of the above-mentioned control system. Fluctuations in the transport speed therefore have no influence on a printed image.
  • the encoder 52 can be arranged on the motor axis 131.
  • FIG. 2 shows a perspective rear view of the printing device from above.
  • the mailpiece is fed again in the Z direction.
  • the transport drum 51 is replaced by a motor 13 via the worm wheel 517, which is fastened on the bearing axis 516, when a sensor (not shown) for detecting mail items emits a signal and the microprocessor determines a need for printing.
  • Upstream of the poststream there are a driven feed roller 71 on the same side of the guide plate as the transport drum 51 and a feed roller 72 of an additional pilot control mechanism 7 for the feed of printing media (letters, mail pieces) up to 10 mm.
  • the upper feed roller 71 is coupled to a driven wheel 711, which is driven by the drive belt 519, which is set in motion on the bearing shaft 516 by a driving wheel 518.
  • the driving wheel 518 and driven wheel 711 are, for example, toothed belt wheels and the drive belt 519 is a toothed belt (FIG. 3).
  • the non-driven feed roller 72 is rotatably mounted on an axis 761 of the front rocker 76 of the pilot control mechanism 7.
  • the legs lying parallel to each other, which support the axis 761 of the feed roller 72, are firmly connected via a spacer 768.
  • the rocker 76 is pivotally mounted about a fixed bearing axis 766.
  • the transport drum 51 has an increased friction coefficient on its outer surface at least one annular friction lining 513, 514 corresponding to the circumference of the transport drum 51.
  • the counter pressure rollers 61, 62 are rotatably mounted on an axis 661 of the rear rocker 66 of the counter pressure device 6.
  • the mutually parallel legs of the rockers 66, which carry the axis 661 of the rollers 61, 62, are connected via a spacer 668.
  • the rocker 66 is pivotally mounted about a fixed bearing axis 666.
  • the transport drum 51 and the spring-loaded counter-pressure rollers in the vicinity of the printing area mean that further means of transport downstream of the downstream in the area of the print carrier ejection can be dispensed with. It is therefore excluded that other means of transport lead to a pressure offset.
  • the two 1 ⁇ 2 inch ink jet print heads 21, 22 protrude with their ink containers into the opening 515 of the transport drum 51. This ensures that the 1 inch print area is very close to the force transmission area.
  • the connection side of the 1 ⁇ 2 inch ink jet print heads 21, 22 lies in the X direction and is designed in a particularly predetermined manner.
  • Corresponding contacting units 211 and 221 are adapted for the electronic signal conversion and mechanical connection to the connection side of the 1 ⁇ 2 inch ink jet print heads 21, 22.
  • FIG. 3 shows a perspective front view of the printing device from below.
  • the rockers 66 and 76 are advantageously each formed from two fixed pivotally mounted angle levers 662 and 663 or 762 and 763.
  • the two angle levers 662 and 663 or 762 and 763 of each of the rockers 66 and 76 are parallel to one another.
  • a bolt 65 and 75 is fastened for spring suspension.
  • the rockers 66 and 76 can advantageously be produced by injection molding as a molded plastic part.
  • the rockers 66 and 76 each pivot about the fixed bearing axis 666 and 766.
  • the rocker 76 is pivoted due to the thickness of a pressure carrier, but that of the rocker 66 due to its coupling to the front rocker 76 via a lifting rod 77 Swinging out of the springs 66 and 76 counteracting springs of different widths is designed as tension springs 63 or 73, the tension springs acting on the legs 664, 665 or 764, 765 of the angle levers 662, 663 or 762, 763 and on a bolt 65 or 75 are attached to the spring suspension.
  • the tension springs 63 and 73 are attached at the other end to a fixed bolt 64 and 74 for spring suspension.
  • the fixed bolts 64 and 74 are part of a - not shown - support frame or the housing 4 or attached to the latter in a manner known per se. Due to the spring force of at least the first tension spring 63, the counter-pressure rollers 61, 62 act - in a manner not shown - through an opening 81 in the deck 8 on the pressure carrier 12. Due to the spring force of the second tension spring 73, the lower feed roller 72 can - in a manner not shown - act on the upper feed roller 71 or on the print carrier 12 through an opening 82 in the lay-on deck 8.
  • the opening 82 is arranged - in a manner not shown - next to the opening 81, the opening 81 being offset in the Z direction from the further opening 82.
  • the tension spring 63 of the rear rocker 66 and the tension spring 73 of the front rocker 76 each cause a spring-loaded counterpressure on a pressure carrier 12 applied to the driven feed roller 71, to the driven transport drum 51 or to the guide plate 2.
  • the latter is, for example, a - in the Fig.3 not shown - mail piece.
  • the legs 664, 665 of the angle levers of the rear rocker 66 are coupled via a lifting rod 77 to the legs 764, 765 of the angle levers of the front rocker 76 in such a way that opening the front rocker 76 with the feed roller 72 means less opening of the rear rocker 66 the counter pressure rollers 61, 62 result.
  • a movement of the front rocker 76 caused by the thickness of the pressure carrier 12 is at least partially transmitted to the rear rocker 66.
  • a pin 7671 - the front rocker 76 in the transport path - is arranged in a hole 771 of the lifting rod 77 at one end.
  • the bolt 65 - the rear rocker 66 in the transport path - is arranged in an elongated hole 772 of the lifting rod 77 at the other end thereof.
  • the elongated hole 772 in the lifting rod 77 enables the rear rocker 66 with the counterpressure rollers 61, 62 to open further on the one hand and the feed rollers 71, 72 to close on the other hand.
  • the spring constant of the tension spring 63 is substantially larger but at least twice as large as that of the tension spring 73. For example, there is a contact pressure of 5 to 20 Newtons between the feed rollers 71, 72, but a contact force between the transport drum 51 and the counterpressure rollers 61, 62 from 10 to 50 Newton in order not to negatively influence the transport or the printed image through the pilot control.
  • FIG. 4 shows a section through the front view of a printing device with a transport and counter pressure device according to a second variant.
  • the transport and drive device 5 essentially corresponds to the device already explained according to the first variant.
  • the guide plate 2 and the support deck 8 including the openings therein have been omitted for the sake of simplicity.
  • the arrangement of the encoder 52 close to the motor axis 131 is also different.
  • An encoder disk 524 is fastened on the motor axis 131 and is scanned by a light barrier 523 of the encoder 52.
  • the encoder 52 can be arranged on the transport drum 51.
  • the counterpressure device consists of at least one long rocker arm 68 which is pivotally mounted and of at least one short rocker arm 69 which is pivotally mounted.
  • the aforementioned rockers each pivot about the fixed bearing axis 696 against a spring force. It should be emphasized with regard to the back pressure device 6 according to the second variant that it does not require a pilot control mechanism.
  • a counterpressure device 6 is equipped with two long rockers 67, 68 which are mounted so that they can be pivoted, each of which has at least one non-driven counterpressure conveyor belt 671, 672 or 681, 682 wear.
  • the latter also pulls thicker mail pieces - without a precontrol mechanism - into the power transmission area and then adapts better to the mail piece lying on the circumference of the transport drum 51 and increases the contact surface between the mail piece and the transport drum 51.
  • the support rollers 6711, 6721 and 674 and 6811 , 6821 and 684 are rotatably mounted on axes 675, 676 and 685 and 686.
  • the counter-pressure conveyor belt can be pretensioned by means of an axis 673 or 683 of the inner deflection rollers.
  • the axle 673 or 683 can be fixed using the locking nut 6731 or 6831.
  • FIG. 5 shows a view from below of the counter pressure device according to the second variant.
  • the structure of the long rockers 67, 68 is preferably approximately the same.
  • the structure is box-shaped with a central web, which carries a spring guide cam 679, 689, on which one side of a compression spring 47, 48 engages, which is supported with its other side (in a manner not shown) on the bottom or on the frame of the housing 4 ,
  • Only one of the two fixed long swing arms 67, 68 has an integrated and fixed short swing arm 69, which is also supported by a spring guide cam 699 and a compression spring 43 on the housing base or on the frame.
  • the short rocker 69 is pivotally mounted on the common fixed bearing axis 696 and carries a lower non-driven feed roller 691. Upstream of the pair of intake rollers 71, 691, a sensor for detecting mail items is also arranged in corresponding further openings in the guide plate 2 and / or in the support deck 8 (Not shown).
  • An arrangement for mail piece detection has been disclosed, for example, in the unpublished German patent application number 10021250.6.
  • the measurement location is located near the transport path upstream of one of the print heads positioned in the printing position.
  • Rigid light guide elements are arranged at the measuring location in the opening 3, which are designed as transparent plastic light guides for fixing and bundling an IR light beam and pass IR light to the main printed circuit board 14 on the housing base.
  • the short rocker 69 is pivotally mounted in a first box-shaped opening 6801 of the long rocker 68 on the common fixed bearing axis 696. It has two legs 694, 695 and carries a lower non-driven feed roller 691 rotatably on an axis 692 which is arranged between the two legs. A center piece 693 between the legs 694, 695 of the short rocker 69 carries a spring guide cam 699.
  • the compression spring 43 of the short rocker 69 and the compression springs 47, 48 of the long rocker 67, 68 bring about a spring-loaded counterpressure on a pressure carrier which bears against the driven feed roller 71, against the driven transport drum 51 or against the guide plate 2. Due to the spring force of the first compression spring 47, 48, the non-driven counter-pressure conveyor belt 671, 672 or 681, 682 acts on the pressure carrier through an opening 81 in the laying deck 8, in a manner not shown.
  • the spring constant of the first compression spring 47, 48 is substantially greater than that of the second compression spring 43.
  • the non-driven lower feed roller 691 acts - in a manner not shown - through an opening 82 in the deck 8 on the pressure carrier 12 and applies the latter to the guide plate 2 or the driven feed roller 71.
  • the lower non-driven feed roller 691 and the driven feed roller 71 form a pair of feed rollers 71, 691, which thus exerts a lower transport force on the printing medium, for example a mail item (not shown).
  • the at least one non-driven counter-pressure conveyor belt 671, 672 or 681, 682 is mounted on rollers in a second box-shaped opening 6702, 6802 of the at least one long rocker arm 67, 68.
  • the non-driven counter-pressure conveyor belt 671, 672 is shown cut open for the purpose of explaining the roller arrangement.
  • the roller arrangement is the same for each of the long rockers 67, 68.
  • Two outer support rollers 6711, 6721 and 6811, 6821 are rotatably mounted on the axis 676 and 686 and are mounted at a distance from each other by means of spacers 6713, 6723 and, 6813, 6823.
  • a guide edge 6712, 6722 or 6812, 6822 of the outer support rollers prevents the aforementioned counter-pressure conveyor belt 671, 672 or 681, 682 from sliding down.
  • a central support roller 674 or 684 engages in the space between the spaced-apart outer support rollers and is on axis 675 or 685 rotatably.
  • the inner deflection rollers 677, 678 and 687, 688 are rotatably mounted on the axis 673 and 683 and have a reduced diameter compared to other support rollers. This results in a rising course from the beginning when guiding the counter-pressure conveyor belt 671, 672 or 681, 682 on the aforementioned roller arrangement up to the middle support roller 674 or 684. Due to the aforementioned guidance, mail piece thicknesses (letter thicknesses) below 10 mm an additional pilot control mechanism is not required.

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Delivering By Means Of Belts And Rollers (AREA)

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft eine Vorrichtung zum Bedrucken eines Druckträgers im Druckbereich gemäß des Oberbegriffs des Anspruchs 1. Die Erfindung kommt in vollelektronischen digitalen Druckvorrichtungen zum Einsatz, in denen Aufzeichnungsträger variable Abmessungen (Dicke und Grösse) aufweisen. Sie ist besonders geeignet zur Anwendung in Belegdruckern, Frankiermaschinen, Adressiermaschinen und anderen Postverarbeitungsgeräten mit einer Transport- und Druckvorrichtung für Poststücke.The invention relates to a device for printing on a printing medium in the printing area according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention is used in fully electronic digital printing devices which record carriers have variable dimensions (thickness and size) exhibit. It is particularly suitable for use in receipt printers, Franking machines, addressing machines and other mail processing devices with a transport and printing device for mail pieces.

Aus dem P.B.-Patent DE 25 01 035 C2 ist eine Drucktrommel mit einem einzigen Ink-Jet-Druckkopf bekannt. Die Drucktrommel hat eine Transportfunktion und eine Druckfunktion, so dass der Ink-Jet-Druckkopf nicht den gesamten Druckbereich bedrucken kann. Nur mit letzterem sind variable Informationen druckbar. Somit verbleiben im Druckbild Bereiche, in welchen die Druckinformation prinzipiell nicht gewechselt werden kann. From the P.B. patent DE 25 01 035 C2 is a printing drum with a single ink jet print head known. The print drum has one Transport function and a print function so that the ink jet print head cannot print on the entire print area. Only with the latter are variable information printable. This leaves areas in the print image in which the print information cannot be changed in principle.

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, Code und Sonderzeichen im Frankierstempeldruckbereich und ein beliebiges oder ein einer Kostenstelle zugeordnetes Werbeklischee zu drucken. Eine Frankiermaschine, beispielsweise T1000 der Anmelderin Francotyp-Postalia AG & Co., wird von einer Mikroprozessor-Steuerung gesteuert, welche von einem gesicherten Gehäuse umgeben ist, welches eine Öffnung für die Zuführung eines Briefes aufweist. Bei jeder Briefzuführung übermittelt ein mechanischer Briefsensor (Mikroschalter) ein Druckanforderungssignal an den Mikroprozessor, der ein Druckbild generiert und nach einer Abrechnung des zu frankierenden Portowertes ein Drucken auslöst. Der Frankierabdruck beinhaltet eine zuvor eingegebene und gespeicherte postalische Information zur Beförderung des Briefes.Modern franking machines, such as those from US 4,746,234 well-known thermal transfer franking machine, set fully electronic digital printing devices. In principle, it is possible to use any Texts, code and special characters in the franking stamp printing area and a any or an advertising cliché assigned to a cost center to press. A franking machine, for example T1000 from the applicant Francotyp-Postalia AG & Co., is controlled by a microprocessor controlled, which is surrounded by a secured housing, which has an opening for feeding a letter. With every letter feed transmits a mechanical letter sensor (microswitch) Print request signal to the microprocessor, which is a print image generated and after a settlement of the postage to be franked triggers a print. The franking imprint contains one before entered and stored postal information for transportation of the letter.

In dem US 5.467.709 wurde bereits eine Druckvorrichtung für eine Ink-Jet-Frankiermaschine vorgeschlagen, wobei auf ein Poststück bei einem annähernd waagerechten Brieftransport ein Frankierdruck mittels einem Tintenstrahldruckkopf aufgedruckt wird. Der Tintenstrahldruckkopf ist zum Drucken hinter einer Führungsplatte in einer Ausnehmung stationär angeordnet. Als Transportvorrichtung dient ein umlaufendes Transportband, welches ebenfalls auf der Seite der Führungsplatte angeordnet ist. Auf der anderen Seite gegenüber der Führungsplatte ist eine Gegendruckvorrichtung mit mehreren Rollen angeordnet, so dass ein zugeführtes Poststück zwischen den Rollen der Gegendruckvorrichtung und dem umlaufenden Transportband eingeklemmt wird. Die Anordnung kann aber ein Schieflaufen der Druckträger nicht vermeiden. Schon ein ungenügend gespanntes Transportband oder eine nicht exakt parallele Ausrichtung der Achsen von denjenigen Rollen, auf welchen das Transportband umläuft, birgt die vorgenannte Gefahr in sich. Durch die Vielzahl der Rollen der Gegendruckvorrichtung ist letztere dynamisch überbestimmt. A printing device for an ink jet franking machine has already been described in US Pat. No. 5,467,709 proposed, being on a piece of mail at a approximately horizontal letter transport a franking imprint using a Inkjet printhead is printed. The inkjet print head is for Printing behind a guide plate in a recess arranged. A circulating conveyor belt serves as the transport device, which is also arranged on the side of the guide plate. On the other side opposite the guide plate is a counter pressure device arranged with several roles, so that a fed Mail piece between the rollers of the back pressure device and the circulating conveyor belt is pinched. The arrangement can do not avoid skewing of the print media. Already insufficient tensioned conveyor belt or a not exactly parallel alignment of the Axes of the rollers on which the conveyor belt rotates, harbors the aforementioned danger. Due to the variety of roles of Back pressure device is dynamically overdetermined.

In der DE 196 05 015 C1 (US 5.949.444) ist bereits eine Ausführung für eine Druckvorrichtung einer Ink-Jet-Frankiermaschine JetMail® der Anmelderin Francotyp-Postalia AG & Co. vorgeschlagen worden, die bei einem nichtwaagerechten annähernd vertikalen Brieftransport einen Frankierdruck mittels einem Tintenstrahldruckkopf durchführt, der hinter einer Führungsplatte in einer Ausnehmung stationär angeordnet ist. Als Transportvorrichtung dient ein umlaufendes Transportband mit Andruckelementen für die Poststücke (Briefe bis 20 mm Dicke, DIN B4-Format) oder für Frankierstreifen, die auf Päckchen beliebiger Dicke aufklebbar ausgebildet sind. Der Druckträger (Brief, Päckchen, Frankierstreifen) wird zwischen den Andruckelementen und der Führungsplatte eingeklemmt.
Diese Transport- und Druckvorrichtung ist in der Base angeordnet und wird durch ein Meter gesteuert. Ein Auslöse-Sensor für den Druckprozess ist in der Base zur Briefanfangserkennung kurz vor der Tintenstrahldruckkopf-Ausnehmung angeordnet und wirkt mit einem Inkrementalgeber am Antrieb des Transportbandes zusammen. Mit einer Durchlichtschranke als Auslöse-Sensor (EP 901 108 A2) wird die Vorderkante auch besonders dicker Poststücke eindeutig erkannt. Ausserdem kommen in der Base der JetMail® optische Sensoren zur Poststück-Stauerkennung zum Einsatz. Poststromaufwärts der Frankiermaschine JetMail® sind im Frankiersystem Condord® eine automatische Zuführung und eine dynamische Waage angeordnet, was eine echte Mischpostverarbeitung für Poststücke von sehr unterschiedlichen Formaten, Dicken und Gewichten gestattet. Bei sehr hohen Druckgeschwindigkeiten wird es immer schwieriger einen Stempelabdruck von höherer Qualität zu drucken, der eine maschinelle Auswertung mit hoher Sicherheit ermöglicht. Ein umlaufendes Transportband soll deshalb auch bei mechanischer und thermischer Belastung keine Dehnung aufweisen und die Andruckelemente dürfen keinen Schlupf beim Transport der Poststücke zulassen. Nur kompliziert aufgebaute und kostenaufwendige Transport- und Druckvorrichtungen erfüllen bisher diese Anforderungen.DE 196 05 015 C1 (US 5,949,444) has already proposed a version for a printing device of an ink-jet franking machine JetMail® from the applicant Francotyp-Postalia AG & Co., which uses franking printing for non-horizontal, approximately vertical letter transport performs an ink jet print head, which is arranged behind a guide plate in a recess stationary. A circulating conveyor belt with pressure elements for the mail pieces (letters up to 20 mm thick, DIN B4 format) or for franking strips, which are designed to be stuck onto packages of any thickness, serves as the transport device. The print carrier (letter, parcel, franking strip) is clamped between the pressure elements and the guide plate.
This transport and printing device is located in the base and is controlled by a meter. A trigger sensor for the printing process is located in the base for letter recognition, just in front of the inkjet printhead recess and interacts with an incremental encoder on the drive of the conveyor belt. With a transmitted light barrier as a trigger sensor (EP 901 108 A2), the front edge of particularly thick mail items is clearly recognized. In addition, optical sensors for mail item jam detection are used in the base of the JetMail®. Upstream of the JetMail® franking machine, an automatic feed and a dynamic scale are arranged in the Condord® franking system, which enables real mixed mail processing for mail items of very different formats, thicknesses and weights. At very high printing speeds, it becomes more and more difficult to print a stamp print of higher quality, which enables machine evaluation with high security. A circulating conveyor belt should therefore have no expansion even under mechanical and thermal stress and the pressure elements must not allow any slippage when transporting the mail items. Until now, only complex and costly transport and printing devices have met these requirements.

Es wurden auch schon einfacher aufgebaute Transport-und Antriebsvorrichtungen ohne Gegendruckvorrichtung (DE 196 05 014 C1) oder mit Gegendruckvorrichtung (WO 99/44174) in der Nähe des Druckbereiches von mindestens einem Ink-Jet-Druckkopf vorgeschlagen. Letzterer ist in WO 99/44174 in Transportrichtung poststromabwärts von einem Einzugsrollenpaar angeordnet, wobei die obere Rolle angetrieben und die untere Gegendruckrolle gefedert ist. Ein weiteres Rollenpaar poststromabwärts vom Ink-Jet-Druckkopf nahe dem Auswurf übt ebenfalls eine Kraft auf den Druckträger aus, Der Druckbereich ist mehr als einen Radius der jeweils angetriebenen Rolle vom Kraftübertragungsbereich eines der Rollenpaare beabstandet. Die Druckinformation kann durch ein digitales Drucken prinzipiell zwar in allen Bereichen gewechselt werden, aber der Druck ist von geringerer Qualität je höher die Transportgeschwindigkeit gewählt wird. Insbesondere kann beim Einsatz zweier Ink-Jet-Druckköpfe ein Versatz im Druckbild (Anschlussfehler) längs einer Drucklänge in Transportrichtung auftreten, der die maschinelle Auswertung des Druckbildes erschwert. Die Kraftwirkung des weiteren Rollenpaares poststromabwärts vom Ink-Jet-Druck-kopf nahe dem Auswurf führt zu unterschiedlichen Weglängen und somit im Falle von zwei zueinander versetzten Ink-Jet-Druckköpfen zu dem Anschlussfehler im Druckbild. Die im Rahmen von aktuellen Programmen der Postbeförderer - beispielsweise Information Based Indicia Programm der USPS - verlangte Druckqualität wäre somit nur mit einer niedrigen Druckgeschwindigkeit erreichbar. Nachteilig ist auch die geringe Dicke der Druckträger, die von einer derartig einfach aufgebauten Druckvorrichtung bedruckt werden kann.There have also been simpler transport and drive devices without counter pressure device (DE 196 05 014 C1) or with Counter pressure device (WO 99/44174) near the printing area proposed by at least one ink jet print head. The latter is in WO 99/44174 in the transport direction downstream of a pair of feed rollers arranged, the upper roller driven and the lower Counter pressure roller is sprung. Another pair of roles downstream the ink jet print head near the ejection also exerts a force on the Print media off, the print area is more than a radius of each driven roller from the power transmission area of one of the roller pairs spaced. The printing information can be done by digital printing in principle be changed in all areas, but the pressure is of lower quality the higher the transport speed chosen becomes. In particular, when using two ink-jet print heads, a Offset in the print image (connection error) along a print length in the transport direction occur, the machine evaluation of the printed image difficult. The force effect of the further pair of rollers downstream from the ink jet print head near the ejection leads to different Path lengths and thus in the case of two offset inkjet print heads to the connection error in the print image. The under current programs of the mail carrier - for example information Based Indicia program of the USPS - required print quality would be can only be reached with a low printing speed. The disadvantage is also the small thickness of the print media, which is so simple constructed printing device can be printed.

Der Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, eine Vorrichtung zum Bedrucken eines Druckträgers zu schaffen, deren Ausbildung auch bei sehr hohen Druckgeschwindigkeiten einen Druck von höherer Qualität ermöglicht. Es soll auf Druckträger, welche eine Dicke bis zu 10 mm haben, direkt gedruckt werden.The invention has for its object a device for Printing to create a print carrier, their training also at very high printing speeds a print of higher quality allows. It is said to be on print media which are up to 10 mm thick have to be printed directly.

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

Als Transportvorrichtung dient eine umlaufende Transporttrommel, welche auf derselben Seite einer Führungsplatte angeordnet ist, wie der Tintenstrahldruckkopf. Auf der anderen Seite gegenüber der Transporttrommel ist eine federnde Gegendruckvorrichtung angeordnet, so dass ein zugeführter Druckräger (Brief) zwischen der Transporttrommel und einer Gegendruckrolle der Gegendruckvorrichtung eingeklemmt wird. Dieser Klemmungsort wird nachfolgend Kraftübertragungsbereich genannt, weil dort die Kraft zum Transport in Transportrichtung auf den Druckträger übertragen wird. Dem Tintenstrahldruckkopf gegenüber ist keine der Gegendruckrollen der Gegendruckvorrichtung angeordnet. Der Tintenstrahldruckkopf ist einerseits von der Transporttrommel in axialer Richtung und andererseits von der Berührungsfläche zwischen Führungsplatte und Druckträger beabstandet, wobei beide Abstände minimiert sind. Der Druckbereich ist gegenüber dem Kraftübertragungsbereich in X-Richtung versetzt und liegt am Rand der Drucktrommel. Zum Drucken ist der mindestens eine Tintenstrahldruckkopf hinter einer Führungsplatte in einer Ausnehmung stationär angeordnet, welche am Rand der Drucktrommel beginnt. Der Abdruck wird während des Druckträgertransportes in Z-Richtung im Druckbereich auf den Druckträger berührungslos aufgebracht. Die Druckvorrichtung kann für einen annähernd waagerechten, geneigten oder senkrechten Transport des Druckträgers in Z-Richtung ausgebildet sein. Zum Beispiel wird in einer Frankiermaschine mit dem mindestens einen Tintenstrahldruckkopf im Druckbereich ein Frankierdruck von hoher Druckqualität auf ein bewegtes Poststück gedruckt. Obwohl die Transporttrommel sehr gross ausgeführt ist, so dass auch dickere Poststücke ordnungsgemäss aufgegriffen und transportiert werden, liegt bei der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung dennoch der entfernteste Pixel des Druckbereiches näher am Kraftübertragungsbereich, als der Radius der Transporttrommel beträgt.A revolving transport drum serves as the transport device is arranged on the same side of a guide plate as the Inkjet printhead. On the other side opposite the transport drum a resilient counter pressure device is arranged so that a supplied print medium (letter) between the transport drum and one Counter pressure roller of the counter pressure device is pinched. This Terminal location is hereinafter called the power transmission area because there the force for transport in the transport direction onto the print carrier is transmitted. Compared to the inkjet printhead, none of that Counter pressure rollers of the counter pressure device arranged. The inkjet printhead is on the one hand from the transport drum in the axial direction and on the other hand from the contact surface between the guide plate and Print carriers spaced, both distances are minimized. The The pressure area is opposite the power transmission area in the X direction offset and lies on the edge of the printing drum. For printing is the at least one ink jet print head behind a guide plate in one Recess arranged stationary, which on the edge of the printing drum starts. The impression is in the Z direction during the transport of the print medium in the print area on the print carrier without contact applied. The printing device can be used for an approximately horizontal inclined or vertical transport of the print medium in the Z direction be trained. For example, in a franking machine with the at least one inkjet printhead in the printing area Franking printing of high print quality on a moving mail piece printed. Although the transport drum is very large, so that even thicker mail pieces are properly picked up and transported are, however, lies in the device according to the invention most distant pixels of the print area closer to the power transmission area, than the radius of the transport drum.

Die Vorrichtung zum Bedrucken eines Druckträgers im Druckbereich nutzt im Kraftübertragungsbereich eine angetriebene Transporttrommel 51 und nicht angetriebene Gegendruckrollen bzw. alternativ ein nicht angetriebenes Gegendruckförderband der Gegendruckvorrichtung. The device for printing a print carrier in the printing area uses in the power transmission area, a driven transport drum 51 and non-driven counter pressure rollers or alternatively a non-driven one Back pressure conveyor belt of the back pressure device.

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,
Schnitt durch die Vorderansicht einer Druckvorrichtung mit einer Transport- und Gegendruckvorrichtung in einer ersten Variante,
Figur 2,
perspektivische Rückansicht der Druckvorrichtung von oben,
Figur 3,
perspektivische Vorderansicht der Druckvorrichtung von unten,
Figur 4,
Schnitt durch die Vorderansicht einer Druckvorrichtung mit einer Transport- und Gegendruckvorrichtung in einer zweiten Variante,
Figur 5,
Ansicht von unten der Gegendruckvorrichtung nach der zweiten Variante.
Advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims or are shown below together with the description of the preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the figures. Show it:
Figure 1,
Section through the front view of a printing device with a transport and counter pressure device in a first variant,
Figure 2,
perspective rear view of the printing device from above,
Figure 3,
perspective front view of the printing device from below,
Figure 4,
Section through the front view of a printing device with a transport and counter pressure device in a second variant,
Figure 5,
Bottom view of the back pressure device according to the second variant.

Die Figur 1 zeigt einen Schnitt durch die Vorderansicht einer Druckvorrichtung mit einer Transport- und Gegendruckvorrichtung in einer ersten Variante. Eine solche Druckvorrichtung kann in einer Frankiermaschine, Adressiermaschine oder in einem anderem Postverarbeitungsgerät mit Poststücktransport eingesetzt werden. Die Druckvorrichtung 1 ist in einem Gehäuse 4 mit einer Öffnung 3 für die Poststückzuführung angeordnet.
Die Transportrichtung für ein zugeführtes ― nicht gezeigtes - Poststück ist durch einen Pfeil gekennzeichnet und verläuft poststromabwärts von links nach rechts in Z-Richtung. Das Poststück kommt beim Transport zum Anliegen an eine Führungsplatte 2. Die Transport- und Antriebsvorrichtung 5 liegt auf einer Seite der Führungsplatte 2. Eine angetriebene Einzugsrolle 71 liegt ebenfalls auf derselben Seite der Führungsplatte 2. Ein Motor 13 erzeugt die benötigte Antriebskraft. In der Führungsplatte 2 sind Öffnungen 9 und 11 für die angetriebene Einzugsrolle 71 und für eine angetriebene Transporttrommel 51 in Z-Richtung versetzt angeordnet.
Auf der anderen Seite gegenüber der Führungsplatte 2 sind eine nichtangetriebene Gegendruckvorrichtung 6 und eine nichtangetriebene Vorsteuerungsmechanik 7 angeordnet. Ein Auflegedeck 8 begrenzt die Dicke des zugeführten Poststückes auf 10 mm. Im Auflegedeck 8 sind Öffnungen 81, 82 in Z-Richtung versetzt angeordnet. Die Öffnungen 11 und 81 bzw. 9 und 82 liegen zueinander gegenüber. Die Öffnung 81 ist für auf einer federnden Schwinge 66 gelagerte Gegendruckrollen 61, 62 der Gegendruckvorrichtung 6 und die Öffnung 82 ist für eine auf einer federnden Schwinge 76 gelagerte Einzugsrolle 72 der Vorsteuerungsmechanik 7 vorgesehen. Die Schwingen 66, 67 sind vorzugsweise aus jeweils zwei ortsfest schwenkbar gelagerten Winkelhebeln gebildet, auf welche jeweils eine Feder 63, 73 wirkt. Die Winkelhebel sind über eine Hubstange 77 miteinander gekoppelt.
Für eine hochgenaue Übertragung der Antriebskraft auf den Druckträger kommt eine Transporttrommel 51 zum Einsatz, in deren Innern genug Platz für die Aufnahme von Tintenbehältern (Kartuschen) der zwei Ink-Jet-Druckköpfe ist. Dadurch ist die Druckvorrichtung sehr kompakt aufgebaut. Beide Ink-Jet-Druckköpfe, die mit ihren Tintenbehältern in der Transporttrommel 51 angeordnet und durch diese in Figur 1 verdeckt werden, sind auswechselbar angeordnet. Zum Beispiel können ½ Zoll Bubble-Jet-Druckköpfe eingesetzt und in Y-Richtung herausgenommen werden, nachdem sie zuerst in X-Richtung verfahren wurden. Die X-Richtung und Y-Richtung liegen orthogonal zur Transportrichtung (Z-Richtung).
Die Lagerachse 516 der Transporttrommel 51 liegt zur X-Richtung parallel. Auf der Lagerachse 516 ist ein Schneckenrad 517 befestigt, welches über ein Schneckenritzel 16 und der Ankupplungsmuffe 15 mit der Motorachse 131 eines Gleichstrommotors 13 in Verbindung steht. Der Tintenstrahldruckkopf 21, 22 ist in X-Richtung so angeordnet, dass seine Düsen am Rand der Transporttrommel 51 liegen, um Tintentröpfen on demand im Druckbereich entgegen der Y-Richtung auf eine Oberfläche des Druckträgers auszustossen. Die Düsen beider Ink-Jet-Druckköpfe sind orthogonal zur Transportrichtung und orthogonal zur Lagerachse 516 der Transporttrommel 51 in Richtung auf den Druckträger ausgerichtet.
Es ist vorgesehen, dass in der Führungsplatte 2 neben der Öffnung 11 in X-Richtung versetzt eine - nicht gezeigte - Öffnung 111 für einen Tintenstrahldruck aus den Düsen des Tintenstrahldruckkopfes 21, 22 angeordnet ist, mit einer Grösse entsprechend des Druckbereiches.
Die kompakte Vorrichtung, bei welcher die Düsen der Ink-Jet-Druckköpfe so nahe zum Rand 511 der Transporttrommel 51 angeordnet sind, dass praktisch keine Verzerrungen im Druckbild auftreten können, ist natürlich vorteilhaft. Ein weiterer Vorteil ist, dass die Transporttrommel unaufwendig mit hoher Präzision gefertigt werden kann, was einen gleichmässigen Transport der Druckträger unter den Ink-Jet-Druckköpfen bewirkt.
Eine - nicht gezeigte - Hauptleiterplatte für die Steuerung steuert die Druckvorrichtung. Auf der Stirnseite 512 der Transporttrommel 51 sind nahe zum Umfang Markierungen aufgebracht, die über den Umfang der Transporttrommel 51 verteilt sind. Die Markierungen sind beispielsweise reflektierende Striche, die von einer Reflexlichtschanke eines Encoders 52 erfasst und vom Mikroprozessor der o.g. Steuerung in Druckimpulse im Verhältnis 1:1 umgesetzt werden. Schwankungen in der Transportgeschwindigkeit haben somit keinen Einfluß auf ein erzeugtes Druckbild.
Alternativ dazu kann der Encoder 52 auf der Motorachse 131 angeordnet werden.FIG. 1 shows a section through the front view of a printing device with a transport and counter pressure device in a first variant. Such a printing device can be used in a franking machine, addressing machine or in another mail processing device with mail piece transport. The printing device 1 is arranged in a housing 4 with an opening 3 for the mail item feed.
The direction of transport for a mail item (not shown) that is fed in is indicated by an arrow and runs downstream from the left to the right in the Z direction. The mail piece comes to rest against a guide plate 2 during transport. The transport and drive device 5 lies on one side of the guide plate 2. A driven feed roller 71 also lies on the same side of the guide plate 2. A motor 13 generates the required driving force. Openings 9 and 11 for the driven feed roller 71 and for a driven transport drum 51 are arranged offset in the Z direction in the guide plate 2.
On the other side opposite the guide plate 2, a non-driven counterpressure device 6 and a non-driven pilot control mechanism 7 are arranged. A lay-on deck 8 limits the thickness of the mail item fed to 10 mm. Openings 81, 82 are arranged offset in the Z direction in the laying deck 8. The openings 11 and 81 or 9 and 82 face each other. The opening 81 is provided for counter-pressure rollers 61, 62 of the counter-pressure device 6 mounted on a resilient rocker 66 and the opening 82 is provided for a pull-in roller 72 of the pilot control mechanism 7 mounted on a resilient rocker 76. The rockers 66, 67 are preferably each formed from two fixed pivotally mounted angle levers, on each of which a spring 63, 73 acts. The angle levers are coupled to one another via a lifting rod 77.
A transport drum 51 is used for high-precision transmission of the driving force to the print carrier, inside which there is enough space for receiving ink containers (cartridges) of the two ink-jet print heads. This makes the printing device very compact. Both ink-jet print heads, which are arranged with their ink containers in the transport drum 51 and are covered by this in FIG. 1, are arranged so as to be exchangeable. For example, ½ inch bubble jet printheads can be inserted and removed in the Y direction after they have first been moved in the X direction. The X direction and Y direction are orthogonal to the transport direction (Z direction).
The bearing axis 516 of the transport drum 51 is parallel to the X direction. A worm wheel 517 is fastened on the bearing axis 516 and is connected to the motor axis 131 of a direct current motor 13 via a worm pinion 16 and the coupling sleeve 15. The inkjet print head 21, 22 is arranged in the X direction so that its nozzles are located on the edge of the transport drum 51 in order to eject ink drops on demand in the printing area against the Y direction onto a surface of the print carrier. The nozzles of both ink jet print heads are oriented orthogonally to the transport direction and orthogonally to the bearing axis 516 of the transport drum 51 in the direction of the print carrier.
It is provided that an opening 111 (not shown) for inkjet printing from the nozzles of the inkjet printhead 21, 22 is arranged in the guide plate 2 next to the opening 11 in the X direction, with a size corresponding to the printing area.
The compact device, in which the nozzles of the ink jet print heads are arranged so close to the edge 511 of the transport drum 51 that practically no distortions can occur in the printed image, is of course advantageous. Another advantage is that the transport drum can be manufactured with great precision, which results in a uniform transport of the print carriers under the ink jet print heads.
A main circuit board (not shown) for the control controls the printing device. On the end face 512 of the transport drum 51, markings are applied close to the circumference, which are distributed over the circumference of the transport drum 51. The markings are, for example, reflective lines which are detected by a reflex light barrier of an encoder 52 and are converted into pressure pulses in a ratio of 1: 1 by the microprocessor of the above-mentioned control system. Fluctuations in the transport speed therefore have no influence on a printed image.
Alternatively, the encoder 52 can be arranged on the motor axis 131.

Die Figur 2 zeigt eine perspektivische Rückansicht der Druckvorrichtung von oben. Die Poststückzuführung erfolgt wieder in Z-Richtung. Die Transporttrommel 51 wird von einem Motor 13, über das auf der Lagerachse 516 befestigte Schneckenrad 517 in Bewegung ersetzt, wenn ein nicht dargestellter Sensor zur Poststückdetektierung ein Signal abgibt und der Mikroprozesser ein Erfordernis zum Drucken feststellt.
Poststromaufwärts liegen eine angetriebene Einzugsrolle 71 auf derselben Seite der Führungsplatte, wie die Transporttrommel 51 und eine Einzugsrolle 72 einer zusätzlichen Vorsteuerungsmechanik 7 für den Einzug von Druckträgern (Briefe, Poststücke) bis zu 10 mm. Die obere Einzugsrolle 71 ist mit einem getriebenen Rad 711 gekoppelt, weiches über den Antriebsriemen 519 angetrieben wird, der von einem treibenden Rad 518 auf der Lagerachse 516 in Bewegung versetzt wird. Das treibende Rad 518 und getriebene Rad 711 sind zum Beispiel Zahnriemenräder und der Antriebsriemen 519 ist ein Zahnriemen (Fig.3). Die nicht angetriebene Einzugsrolle 72 ist auf einer Achse 761 der vorderen Schwinge 76 der Vorsteuerungsmechanik 7 drehbar gelagert. Die zueinander parallel liegenden Schenkel, die die Achse 761 der Einzugsrolle 72 tragen, sind über ein Distanzstück 768 fest verbunden. Die Schwinge 76 ist um eine feststehende Lagerachse 766 schwenkbar gelagert. Eine Beeinflussung des Druckbildes durch das Einzugsrollenpaar wird dadurch ausgeschlossen, dass die Andruckkräfte und Reibwerte zwischen der Transporttrommel 51 und Gegendruckrolle 61 um mindestens eine Größenordnung höher ausgelegt sind, als die bei der Paarung der Einzugsrollen 71, 72. Zur Erhöhung der Reibwerte weist die Transporttrommel 51 auf ihrer äusseren Oberfläche mindestens einen ringförmigen Reibbelag 513, 514 entsprechend dem Umfang der Transporttrommel 51 auf. Die Gegendruckrollen 61, 62 sind auf einer Achse 661 der hinteren Schwinge 66 der Gegendruckvorrichtung 6 drehbar gelagert. Die zueinander parallel liegenden Schenkel der Schwingen 66, die die Achse 661 der Rollen 61, 62 tragen sind über ein Distanzstück 668 verbunden. Die Schwinge 66 ist um eine feststehende Lagerachse 666 schwenkbar gelagert. Durch die Transporttrommel 51 und die angefederten Gegendruckrollen in der Nähe des Druckbereiches kann auf weitere Transportmittel poststromabwärts im Bereich des Druckträgerauswurfes verzichtet werden. Somit wird ausgeschlossen, dass weitere Transportmittel zu einem Druckversatz führen.
Die zwei ½ Zoll Ink-Jet-Druckköpfe 21, 22 ragen mit ihren Tintenbehältern in die Öffnung 515 der Transporttrommel 51. Damit wird sichergestellt, dass der 1 Zoll Druckbereich sehr nahe am Kraftübertragungsbereich liegt. Die Anschluss-Seite der ½ Zoll Ink-Jet-Druckköpfe 21, 22 liegt in X-Richtung und ist in besonderer vorbestimmter Weise ausgebildet. Entsprechende Kontaktiereinheiten 211 und 221 sind zur elektronischen Signalwandlung und mechanischen Verbindung an die Anschluss-Seite der ½ Zoll Ink-Jet-Druckköpfe 21, 22 angepasst. FIG. 2 shows a perspective rear view of the printing device from above. The mailpiece is fed again in the Z direction. The transport drum 51 is replaced by a motor 13 via the worm wheel 517, which is fastened on the bearing axis 516, when a sensor (not shown) for detecting mail items emits a signal and the microprocessor determines a need for printing.
Upstream of the poststream there are a driven feed roller 71 on the same side of the guide plate as the transport drum 51 and a feed roller 72 of an additional pilot control mechanism 7 for the feed of printing media (letters, mail pieces) up to 10 mm. The upper feed roller 71 is coupled to a driven wheel 711, which is driven by the drive belt 519, which is set in motion on the bearing shaft 516 by a driving wheel 518. The driving wheel 518 and driven wheel 711 are, for example, toothed belt wheels and the drive belt 519 is a toothed belt (FIG. 3). The non-driven feed roller 72 is rotatably mounted on an axis 761 of the front rocker 76 of the pilot control mechanism 7. The legs lying parallel to each other, which support the axis 761 of the feed roller 72, are firmly connected via a spacer 768. The rocker 76 is pivotally mounted about a fixed bearing axis 766. Influencing of the print image by the pair of feed rollers is precluded by the fact that the pressure forces and friction values between the transport drum 51 and the counter pressure roller 61 are designed to be at least one order of magnitude higher than those when the feed rollers 71, 72 are paired. The transport drum 51 has an increased friction coefficient on its outer surface at least one annular friction lining 513, 514 corresponding to the circumference of the transport drum 51. The counter pressure rollers 61, 62 are rotatably mounted on an axis 661 of the rear rocker 66 of the counter pressure device 6. The mutually parallel legs of the rockers 66, which carry the axis 661 of the rollers 61, 62, are connected via a spacer 668. The rocker 66 is pivotally mounted about a fixed bearing axis 666. The transport drum 51 and the spring-loaded counter-pressure rollers in the vicinity of the printing area mean that further means of transport downstream of the downstream in the area of the print carrier ejection can be dispensed with. It is therefore excluded that other means of transport lead to a pressure offset.
The two ½ inch ink jet print heads 21, 22 protrude with their ink containers into the opening 515 of the transport drum 51. This ensures that the 1 inch print area is very close to the force transmission area. The connection side of the ½ inch ink jet print heads 21, 22 lies in the X direction and is designed in a particularly predetermined manner. Corresponding contacting units 211 and 221 are adapted for the electronic signal conversion and mechanical connection to the connection side of the ½ inch ink jet print heads 21, 22.

In der Figur 3 ist eine perspektivische Vorderansicht der Druckvorrichtung von unten dargestellt. Vorteilhaft sind die Schwingen 66 bzw. 76 aus jeweils zwei ortsfest schwenkbar gelagerten Winkelhebeln 662 und 663 bzw. 762 und 763 gebildet. Die zwei Winkelhebel 662 und 663 bzw. 762 und 763 jeder der Schwingen 66 bzw. 76 liegen zueinander parallel. Sie sind mit ihren ersten Schenkeln, die jeweils die Achse 661 bzw. 761 der Rollen 61, 62 bzw, 72 tragen, über ein Distanzstück 668 bzw. 768 und mit ihren zweiten Schenkeln 664, 665 bzw. 764, 765 über ein Distanzstück 667 bzw. 767 miteinander fest verbunden. An letzteren Schenkeln 664, 665 bzw. 764, 765 ist ein Bolzen 65 bzw. 75 zur Federaufhängung befestigt. Vorteilhaft können die Schwingen 66 bzw. 76 im Spritzgussverfahren als Kunststoff-Formteil hergestellt werden.
Die Schwingen 66 bzw. 76 schwenken jeweils um die feste Lagerachse 666 bzw. 766. Jedoch geschieht das Schwenken der Schwinge 76 aufgrund der Dicke eines Druckträgers aber das der Schwinge 66 aufgrund ihrer Kopplung mit der vorderen Schwinge 76 über eine Hubstange 77. Die dem jeweiligen unterschiedlich weiten Ausschwenken der Schwingen 66 bzw. 76 entgegenwirkenden Federn sind als Zugfedern 63 bzw 73 ausgebildet, wobei die Zugfedern auf die Schenkel 664, 665 bzw. 764, 765 der Winkelhebel 662, 663 bzw. 762, 763 wirken und an einem Bolzen 65 bzw. 75 zur Federaufhängung befestigt sind. Die Zugfedern 63 bzw. 73 sind am anderen Ende an einem festen Bolzen 64 bzw. 74 zur Federaufhängung befestigt. Die festen Bolzen 64 bzw. 74 sind Bestandteil eines ― nicht gezeigten ― Stützrahmens oder des Gehäuses 4 bzw. an letzteren in an sich bekannter Weise befestigt.
Durch die Federkraft mindestens der ersten Zugfeder 63 wirken die Gegendruckrollen 61, 62 ― in nicht gezeigter Weise - durch eine Öffnung 81 im Auflegedeck 8 auf den Druckträger 12. Durch die Federkraft der zweiten Zugfeder 73 kann die untere Einzugsrolle 72 - in nicht gezeigter Weise - durch eine Öffnung 82 im Auflegedeck 8 auf die obere Einzugsrolle 71 oder auf den Druckträger 12 einwirken. Dabei ist die Öffnung 82 ― in nicht gezeigter Weise ― neben der Öffnung 81 angeordnet ist, wobei die Öffnung 81 in Z-Richtung versetzt zu der weiteren Öffnung 82 liegt. Die Zugfeder 63 der hinteren Schwinge 66 und die Zugfeder 73 der vorderen Schwinge 76 bewirken jeweils einen gefederten Gegendruck auf einen an der angetriebenen Einzugsrolle 71, an der angetriebenen Transporttrommel 51 bzw. an der Führungsplatte 2 anliegenden Druckträger 12. Letzterer ist beispielsweise ein ― in der Fig.3 nicht dargestelltes - Poststück.
Die Schenkel 664, 665 der Winkelhebel der hinteren Schwinge 66 sind über eine Hubstange 77 mit den Schenkeln 764, 765 der Winkelhebel der vorderen Schwinge 76 so gekoppelt, dass ein Öffnen der vorderen Schwinge 76 mit der Einzugsrolle 72 ein geringeres Öffnen der hinteren Schwinge 66 mit den Gegendruckrollen 61, 62 zur Folge hat. Eine durch die Dicke des Druckträgers 12 verursachte Bewegung der vorderen Schwinge 76 wird mindestens teilweise auf die hintere Schwinge 66 übertragen. Zu diesem Zweck ist ein Bolzen 7671 - der im Transportpfad vorderen Schwinge 76 - in einem Loch 771 der Hubstange 77 an deren einem Ende angeordnet. Der Bolzen 65 - der im Transportpfad hinteren Schwinge 66 - ist in einem Langloch 772 der Hubstange 77 an deren anderem Ende angeordnet. Das Langloch 772 in der Hubstange 77 ermöglicht einerseits der hinteren Schwinge 66 mit den Gegendruckrollen 61, 62 sich weiter zu öffnen und andererseits der Einzugsrollen 71, 72 sich zu schliessen. Die Federkon-stante der Zugfeder 63 ist wesentlich grösser aber wenigstens doppelt so gross als diejenige der Zugfeder 73. Zum Beispiel herrscht zwischen den Einzugsrollen 71, 72 eine Anpresskraft von 5 bis 20 Newton aber zwischen der Transporttrommel 51 und den Gegendruckrollen 61, 62 eine Anpresskraft von 10 bis 50 Newton, um den Transport bzw. das Druckbild durch die Vorsteuerung nicht negativ zu beeinflussen.FIG. 3 shows a perspective front view of the printing device from below. The rockers 66 and 76 are advantageously each formed from two fixed pivotally mounted angle levers 662 and 663 or 762 and 763. The two angle levers 662 and 663 or 762 and 763 of each of the rockers 66 and 76 are parallel to one another. With their first legs, which each carry the axis 661 or 761 of the rollers 61, 62 or, 72, via a spacer 668 or 768 and with their second legs 664, 665 or 764, 765 via a spacer 667 or 767 firmly connected. On the latter legs 664, 665 and 764, 765, a bolt 65 and 75 is fastened for spring suspension. The rockers 66 and 76 can advantageously be produced by injection molding as a molded plastic part.
The rockers 66 and 76 each pivot about the fixed bearing axis 666 and 766. However, the rocker 76 is pivoted due to the thickness of a pressure carrier, but that of the rocker 66 due to its coupling to the front rocker 76 via a lifting rod 77 Swinging out of the springs 66 and 76 counteracting springs of different widths is designed as tension springs 63 or 73, the tension springs acting on the legs 664, 665 or 764, 765 of the angle levers 662, 663 or 762, 763 and on a bolt 65 or 75 are attached to the spring suspension. The tension springs 63 and 73 are attached at the other end to a fixed bolt 64 and 74 for spring suspension. The fixed bolts 64 and 74 are part of a - not shown - support frame or the housing 4 or attached to the latter in a manner known per se.
Due to the spring force of at least the first tension spring 63, the counter-pressure rollers 61, 62 act - in a manner not shown - through an opening 81 in the deck 8 on the pressure carrier 12. Due to the spring force of the second tension spring 73, the lower feed roller 72 can - in a manner not shown - act on the upper feed roller 71 or on the print carrier 12 through an opening 82 in the lay-on deck 8. The opening 82 is arranged - in a manner not shown - next to the opening 81, the opening 81 being offset in the Z direction from the further opening 82. The tension spring 63 of the rear rocker 66 and the tension spring 73 of the front rocker 76 each cause a spring-loaded counterpressure on a pressure carrier 12 applied to the driven feed roller 71, to the driven transport drum 51 or to the guide plate 2. The latter is, for example, a - in the Fig.3 not shown - mail piece.
The legs 664, 665 of the angle levers of the rear rocker 66 are coupled via a lifting rod 77 to the legs 764, 765 of the angle levers of the front rocker 76 in such a way that opening the front rocker 76 with the feed roller 72 means less opening of the rear rocker 66 the counter pressure rollers 61, 62 result. A movement of the front rocker 76 caused by the thickness of the pressure carrier 12 is at least partially transmitted to the rear rocker 66. For this purpose, a pin 7671 - the front rocker 76 in the transport path - is arranged in a hole 771 of the lifting rod 77 at one end. The bolt 65 - the rear rocker 66 in the transport path - is arranged in an elongated hole 772 of the lifting rod 77 at the other end thereof. The elongated hole 772 in the lifting rod 77 enables the rear rocker 66 with the counterpressure rollers 61, 62 to open further on the one hand and the feed rollers 71, 72 to close on the other hand. The spring constant of the tension spring 63 is substantially larger but at least twice as large as that of the tension spring 73. For example, there is a contact pressure of 5 to 20 Newtons between the feed rollers 71, 72, but a contact force between the transport drum 51 and the counterpressure rollers 61, 62 from 10 to 50 Newton in order not to negatively influence the transport or the printed image through the pilot control.

In der Figur 4 ist ein Schnitt durch die Vorderansicht einer Druckvorrichtung mit einer Transport- und Gegendruckvorrichtung gemäss einer zweiten Variante dargestellt. Die Transport- und Antriebsvorrichtung 5 entspricht im Wesentlichen der bereits erläuterten Vorrichtung nach der ersten Variante. Jedoch sind die Führungsplatte 2 und das Auflagedeck 8 einschliesslich der Öffnungen darin aus Gründen der Vereinfachung weggelassen worden. Unterschiedlich dazu ist auch die Anordnung des Encoders 52 nahe an der Motorachse 131. Auf der Motorachse 131 ist eine Encoderscheibe 524 befestigt, den eine Lichtschranke 523 des Encoders 52 abtastet. Alternativ dazu kann der Encoder 52 an der Transporttrommel 51 angeordnet werden. Die Gegendruckvorrichtung nach der zweiten Variante besteht aus mindestens einer ortsfest schwenkbar gelagerten langen Schwinge 68 und aus mindestens einer ortsfest schwenkbar gelagerten kurzen Schwinge 69. Die vorgenannten Schwingen schwenken jeweils um die feste Lagerachse 696 jeweils gegen eine Federkraft. Hervorzuheben ist bezüglich der Gegendruckvorrichtung 6 nach der zweiten Variante, dass diese ohne eine Vorsteuerungsmechanik auskommt.
Da entsprechend dem Umfang der Transporttrommel 51 auf der äusseren Oberfläche zwei ringförmige Reibbeläge 513 und 514 zur Erhöhung der Reibwerte angeordnet sind, wird eine Gegendruckvorrichtung 6 mit zwei ortsfest schwenkbar gelagerten langen Schwingen 67, 68 ausgestattet, welche jeweils mindestens ein nicht angetriebenes Gegendruckförderband 671, 672 bzw. 681, 682 tragen. Letzteres zieht auch dickere Poststücke - ohne eine Vorsteuerungsmechanik ― in den Kraftübertragungsbereich hinein und passt sich dann dem am Umfang der Transporttrommel 51 anliegenden Poststück besser an und erhöht die Anlegefläche zwischen dem Poststück und der Transporttrommel 51. Die Stützrollen 6711, 6721 und 674 bzw. 6811, 6821 und 684 sind auf Achsen 675, 676 bzw. 685 und 686 drehbar gelagert. Mittels einer Achse 673 bzw. 683 der inneren Umlenkrollen kann das Gegendruckförderband vorgespannt. Mittels Feststellmutter 6731 bzw. 6831 kann die Achse 673 bzw. 683 fixiert werden.FIG. 4 shows a section through the front view of a printing device with a transport and counter pressure device according to a second variant. The transport and drive device 5 essentially corresponds to the device already explained according to the first variant. However, the guide plate 2 and the support deck 8 including the openings therein have been omitted for the sake of simplicity. The arrangement of the encoder 52 close to the motor axis 131 is also different. An encoder disk 524 is fastened on the motor axis 131 and is scanned by a light barrier 523 of the encoder 52. Alternatively, the encoder 52 can be arranged on the transport drum 51. The counterpressure device according to the second variant consists of at least one long rocker arm 68 which is pivotally mounted and of at least one short rocker arm 69 which is pivotally mounted. The aforementioned rockers each pivot about the fixed bearing axis 696 against a spring force. It should be emphasized with regard to the back pressure device 6 according to the second variant that it does not require a pilot control mechanism.
Since two annular friction linings 513 and 514 are arranged on the outer surface in accordance with the circumference of the transport drum 51, in order to increase the coefficients of friction, a counterpressure device 6 is equipped with two long rockers 67, 68 which are mounted so that they can be pivoted, each of which has at least one non-driven counterpressure conveyor belt 671, 672 or 681, 682 wear. The latter also pulls thicker mail pieces - without a precontrol mechanism - into the power transmission area and then adapts better to the mail piece lying on the circumference of the transport drum 51 and increases the contact surface between the mail piece and the transport drum 51. The support rollers 6711, 6721 and 674 and 6811 , 6821 and 684 are rotatably mounted on axes 675, 676 and 685 and 686. The counter-pressure conveyor belt can be pretensioned by means of an axis 673 or 683 of the inner deflection rollers. The axle 673 or 683 can be fixed using the locking nut 6731 or 6831.

Die Figur 5 zeigt eine Ansicht von unten der Gegendruckvorrichtung nach der zweiten Variante. Vorzugsweise ist der Aufbau der langen Schwingen 67, 68 annähernd gleich. Der Aufbau ist jeweils kastenförmig mit einem Mittelsteg, der einen Federführungsnocken 679, 689 trägt, an welchen die eine Seite einer Druckfeder 47, 48 angreift, welche sich mit ihrer anderen Seite (in nicht gezeigter Weise) am Boden oder am Rahmen des Gehäuses 4 abstützt. Nur eine von beiden ortsfest schwenkbar gelagerten langen Schwingen 67, 68 weist eine integrierte und ortsfest schwenkbar gelagerte kurze Schwinge 69 auf, welche sich ebenfalls über einen Federführungsnocken 699 und eine Druckfeder 43 am Gehäuseboden oder am Rahmen abstützt. Die kurze Schwinge 69 ist auf der gemeinsamen festen Lagerachse 696 schwenkbar gelagert und trägt eine untere nicht angetriebene Einzugsrolle 691. Poststromaufwärts vor dem Einzugsrollenpaar 71, 691 ist auch ein Sensor zur Poststückdetekierung in entsprechenden weiteren Öffnungen in der Führungsplatte 2 und/oder im Auflagedeck 8 angeordnet (nicht gezeigt). Eine Anordnung zur Poststückdetektierung ist beispielweise in der nichtvorveröffentlichten deutschen Patentanmeldung Nummer 10021250.6 mitgeteilt worden. Der Messort ist in der Nähe des Transportpfades poststromaufwärts von einem der in Druckposition positionierten Druckköpfe angeordnet. Am Messort in der Öffnung 3 sind starre Lichtleiterelemente angeordnet, die zur Fixierung und Bündelung eines IR-Lichtstrahles als transparente Kunststofflichtleiter ausgebildet sind und IR-Licht zur Hauptleiterplatte 14 am Gehäuseboden weiterleiten. Ein Unterbrechen des IR-Lichtstrahles führt zum Ansteuern des Motors 13.
Die kurze Schwinge 69 ist in einer ersten kastenförmigen Öffnung 6801 der langen Schwinge 68 auf der gemeinsamen festen Lagerachse 696 schwenkbar gelagert. Sie hat zwei Schenkel 694, 695 und trägt eine untere nicht angetriebene Einzugsrolle 691 drehbar auf einer Achse 692, die zwischen den beiden Schenkeln angeordnet ist. Ein Mittelstück 693 zwischen den Schenkeln 694, 695 der kurzen Schwinge 69 trägt einen Federführungsnocken 699.
Die Druckfeder 43 der kurzen Schwinge 69 und die Druckfedern 47, 48 der langen Schwingen 67, 68 bewirken einen gefederten Gegendruck auf einen an der angetriebenen Einzugsrolle 71, an der angetriebenen Transporttrommel 51 bzw. an der Führungsplatte 2 anliegenden Druckträger. Durch die Federkraft der ersten Druckfeder 47, 48 wirkt ― in nicht gezeigter Weise - das nicht angetriebene Gegendruckförderband 671, 672 bzw. 681, 682 durch eine Öffnung 81 im Auflegedeck 8 auf den Druckträger. Die Federkonstante der ersten Druckfeder 47, 48 ist wesentlich grösser, als die der zweiten Druckfeder 43. Durch die Federkraft der zweiten Druckfeder 43 wirkt die nicht angetriebene untere Einzugsrolle 691 - in nicht gezeigter Weise - durch eine Öffnung 82 im Auflegedeck 8 auf den Druckträger 12 und legt letzteren an die Führungsplatte 2 bzw. die angetriebene Einzugsrolle 71 an. Die untere nicht angetriebene Einzugsrolle 691 und die angetriebene Einzugsrolle 71 bilden ein Einzugsrollenpaar 71, 691, das somit eine geringere Transportkraft auf den Druckträger, beispielsweise ein - nicht dargestelltes ― Poststück, ausübt.
Das mindestens eine nicht angetriebene Gegendruckförderband 671, 672 bzw. 681, 682 ist in einer zweiten kastenförmigen Öffnung 6702, 6802 der mindestens einen langen Schwinge 67, 68 auf Rollen gelagert. Das nicht angetriebene Gegendruckförderband 671, 672 ist zwecks Erläuterung der Rollenanordnung aufgeschnitten gezeichnet. Die Rollenanordnung ist für jede der langen Schwinge 67, 68 gleich. Zwei äussere Stützrollen 6711, 6721 bzw. 6811, 6821 sind auf der Achse 676 bzw. 686 drehbar gelagert und mittels Abstandsscheiben 6713, 6723 bzw, 6813, 6823 zueinander beabstandet montiert. Ein Führungsrand 6712, 6722 bzw. 6812, 6822 der äusseren Stützrollen verhindert ein Herruntergleiten des vorgenannten Gegendruckförderbandes 671, 672 bzw. 681, 682. Eine mittlere Stützrolle 674 bzw. 684 greift in den Zwischenraum der voneinander beabstandeten äusseren Stützrollen und ist auf der Achse 675 bzw. 685 drehbar gelagert. Die innere Umlenkrollen 677, 678 bzw. 687, 688 sind auf der Achse 673 bzw. 683 drehbar gelagert und haben einen gegeüber anderen Stützrollen einen verminderten Durchmesser. Dadurch ergibt sich ein vom Anfang an ansteigender Verlauf bei der Führung des Gegendruckförderbandes 671, 672 bzw. 681, 682 auf der vorgenannten Rollenanordnung bis zur jeweils mittleren Stützrolle 674 bzw. 684. Aufgrund der vorgenannten Führung kann für Poststückdicken (Briefdicken) unterhalb von 10 mm eine zusätzliche Vorsteuerungsmechanik entfallen.FIG. 5 shows a view from below of the counter pressure device according to the second variant. The structure of the long rockers 67, 68 is preferably approximately the same. The structure is box-shaped with a central web, which carries a spring guide cam 679, 689, on which one side of a compression spring 47, 48 engages, which is supported with its other side (in a manner not shown) on the bottom or on the frame of the housing 4 , Only one of the two fixed long swing arms 67, 68 has an integrated and fixed short swing arm 69, which is also supported by a spring guide cam 699 and a compression spring 43 on the housing base or on the frame. The short rocker 69 is pivotally mounted on the common fixed bearing axis 696 and carries a lower non-driven feed roller 691. Upstream of the pair of intake rollers 71, 691, a sensor for detecting mail items is also arranged in corresponding further openings in the guide plate 2 and / or in the support deck 8 (Not shown). An arrangement for mail piece detection has been disclosed, for example, in the unpublished German patent application number 10021250.6. The measurement location is located near the transport path upstream of one of the print heads positioned in the printing position. Rigid light guide elements are arranged at the measuring location in the opening 3, which are designed as transparent plastic light guides for fixing and bundling an IR light beam and pass IR light to the main printed circuit board 14 on the housing base. Interrupting the IR light beam leads to the activation of the motor 13.
The short rocker 69 is pivotally mounted in a first box-shaped opening 6801 of the long rocker 68 on the common fixed bearing axis 696. It has two legs 694, 695 and carries a lower non-driven feed roller 691 rotatably on an axis 692 which is arranged between the two legs. A center piece 693 between the legs 694, 695 of the short rocker 69 carries a spring guide cam 699.
The compression spring 43 of the short rocker 69 and the compression springs 47, 48 of the long rocker 67, 68 bring about a spring-loaded counterpressure on a pressure carrier which bears against the driven feed roller 71, against the driven transport drum 51 or against the guide plate 2. Due to the spring force of the first compression spring 47, 48, the non-driven counter-pressure conveyor belt 671, 672 or 681, 682 acts on the pressure carrier through an opening 81 in the laying deck 8, in a manner not shown. The spring constant of the first compression spring 47, 48 is substantially greater than that of the second compression spring 43. Due to the spring force of the second compression spring 43, the non-driven lower feed roller 691 acts - in a manner not shown - through an opening 82 in the deck 8 on the pressure carrier 12 and applies the latter to the guide plate 2 or the driven feed roller 71. The lower non-driven feed roller 691 and the driven feed roller 71 form a pair of feed rollers 71, 691, which thus exerts a lower transport force on the printing medium, for example a mail item (not shown).
The at least one non-driven counter-pressure conveyor belt 671, 672 or 681, 682 is mounted on rollers in a second box-shaped opening 6702, 6802 of the at least one long rocker arm 67, 68. The non-driven counter-pressure conveyor belt 671, 672 is shown cut open for the purpose of explaining the roller arrangement. The roller arrangement is the same for each of the long rockers 67, 68. Two outer support rollers 6711, 6721 and 6811, 6821 are rotatably mounted on the axis 676 and 686 and are mounted at a distance from each other by means of spacers 6713, 6723 and, 6813, 6823. A guide edge 6712, 6722 or 6812, 6822 of the outer support rollers prevents the aforementioned counter-pressure conveyor belt 671, 672 or 681, 682 from sliding down. A central support roller 674 or 684 engages in the space between the spaced-apart outer support rollers and is on axis 675 or 685 rotatably. The inner deflection rollers 677, 678 and 687, 688 are rotatably mounted on the axis 673 and 683 and have a reduced diameter compared to other support rollers. This results in a rising course from the beginning when guiding the counter-pressure conveyor belt 671, 672 or 681, 682 on the aforementioned roller arrangement up to the middle support roller 674 or 684. Due to the aforementioned guidance, mail piece thicknesses (letter thicknesses) below 10 mm an additional pilot control mechanism is not required.

Die Erfindung ist nicht auf die vorliegenden Ausführungsform beschränkt. Vielmehr ist eine Anzahl von Varianten im Rahmen der Ansprüche denkbar. So können offensichtlich weitere andere Ausführungen der Erfindung entwickelt bzw. eingesetzt werden, die vom gleichen Grundgedanken der Erfindung ausgehend, die von den anliegenden Ansprüchen umfaßt werden. The invention is not limited to the present embodiment. Rather, a number of variations are within the scope of the claims conceivable. So obviously other other versions of the Invention are developed or used by the same Basic ideas of the invention, starting from the attached Claims are included.

Bezugszeichenliste:LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

11
Druckvorrichtung, Frankiermaschine,Printing device, franking machine,
22
Führungsplatte,Guide plate,
33
Öffnung für die Poststückzuführung,Opening for the mailpiece feed,
44
Gehäuse,Casing,
43, 47, 4843, 47, 48
Druckfedern,Compression springs,
55
Transport- und AntriebsvorrichtungTransport and drive device
5151
Transporttrommel,Transport drum,
511511
Rand der TransporttrommelEdge of the transport drum
512512
Stirnseite der Transporttrommel,Front of the transport drum,
513, 514513, 514
Reibbelag,friction lining
515515
Öffnung der Transporttrommel,Opening the transport drum,
516516
Lagerachse der Transporttrommel,Bearing axis of the transport drum,
517517
Schneckenrad,worm
518518
treibendes Rad, Zahnriemenrad,driving wheel, toothed belt wheel,
519519
Antriebsriemen, Zahnriemen,Drive belt, timing belt,
5252
Encoder,encoder,
521521
Reflexlichtschanke,Flare Schanke,
522522
Markierungen,markings
523523
Lichtschranke,Photoelectric barrier,
524524
Encoderscheibe,Encoder disk,
66
Gegendruckvorrichtung,Back pressure device
61, 6261, 62
Gegendruckrollen,Counter-pressure rollers,
6363
Zugfeder,mainspring
6464
Fester Bolzen zur Federaufhängung,Fixed spring suspension bolt,
6565
Bolzen zur Federaufhängung,Spring suspension bolts,
6666
Schwinge für Gegendruck,Swing arm for back pressure,
661661
Achse der Gegendruckrollen,Axis of the counter pressure rollers,
662, 663662, 663
Winkelhebel der hinteren Schwinge,Rear rocker arm,
664, 665664, 665
Schenkel des Winkelhebel,Leg of the angle lever,
666666
Feste Lagerachse,Fixed bearing axis,
667, 668667, 668
Distanzstück,Spacer
6767
lange Schwinge für Gegendruck,long swing arm for back pressure,
6701, 67026701, 6702
kastenförmige Öffnung der langen Schwinge,box-shaped opening of the long rocker,
671, 672671, 672
Gegendruckförderband,Back pressure conveyor belt
6711, 67216711, 6721
äussere Stützrollen,outer support rollers,
6712, 67226712, 6722
Führungsrand der äusseren Stützrollen,Leading edge of the outer support rollers,
673673
Achse der Umlenkrolle,Axis of the pulley,
67316731
Feststellmutter,Locking nut,
674674
mittlere Stützrolle,middle support roller,
675675
Achse der mittleren Stützrolle,Axis of the middle support roller,
676676
Achse der äusseren Stützrollen,Axis of the outer support rollers,
677, 678677, 678
innere Umlenkrollen,inner pulleys,
679679
Federführungsnocken,Spring guide cams
6868
lange Schwinge für Gegendruck,long swing arm for back pressure,
6801, 68026801, 6802
kastenförmige Öffnung der langen Schwinge,box-shaped opening of the long rocker,
681, 682681, 682
Gegendruckförderband,Back pressure conveyor belt
6811, 68216811, 6821
äussere Stützrollen,outer support rollers,
6812, 68226812, 6822
Führungsrand der äusseren Stützrollen Leading edge of the outer support rollers
683683
Achse der Umlenkrolle,Axis of the pulley,
68316831
Feststellmutter,Locking nut,
684684
mittlere Stützrolle,middle support roller,
685685
Achse der mittleren Stützrolle,Axis of the middle support roller,
686686
Achse der äusseren Stützrollen,Axis of the outer support rollers,
687, 688687, 688
innere Umlenkrollen,inner pulleys,
689689
Federführungsnocken,Spring guide cams
6969
kurze Schwinge für Einzugrolle,short swing arm for feed roller,
691691
untere nicht angetriebene Einzugrolle,lower non-powered feed roller,
692692
Achse für untere nicht angetriebene Einzugrolle,Axis for lower non-driven feed roller,
693693
Mittelstück,Centerpiece,
694, 695694, 695
Schenkel der kurzen Schwinge,Leg of the short swingarm,
696696
gemeinsame Lagerachse,common bearing axis,
699699
Federführungsnocken,Spring guide cams
77
Vorsteuerungsmechanik,Pilot mechanics,
71, 7271, 72
EinzugsrollenpaarFeed roller pair
7171
angetriebene obere Einzugsrolledriven upper feed roller
711711
getriebenes Rad, Zahnriemenraddriven wheel, toothed belt wheel
7272
nicht angetriebene untere Einzugsrollenon-powered lower feed roller
7373
Zugfeder,mainspring
7474
Fester Bolzen zur Federaufhängung,Fixed spring suspension bolt,
7575
Bolzen zur Federaufhängung,Spring suspension bolts,
7676
Vordere Schwinge für Einzugsrolle,Front swing arm for feed roller,
761761
Achse der Einzugsrolle 72,Axis of the feed roller 72,
762, 763762, 763
Winkelhebel der vorderen Schwinge,Front rocker arm,
764, 765764, 765
Schenkel des Winkelhebel,Leg of the angle lever,
766766
feste Lagerachse,fixed bearing axis,
767, 768767, 768
Distanzstückspacer
76717671
Bolzen für die Hubstange,Bolts for the lifting rod,
769769
Achse der Einzugsrolle 71,Axis of the feed roller 71,
7777
Hubstange,lifting rod,
771771
Loch,Hole,
772772
Langloch in der HubstangeElongated hole in the lifting rod
88th
Auflegedeck,Auflegedeck,
81, 8281, 82
Öffnungen,Openings,
99
Öffnung der Führungsplatte,Opening of the guide plate,
1010
Kraftübertragungsbereich,Power transmission area,
1111
Öffnung der Führungsplatte,Opening of the guide plate,
111111
Öffnung für den Tintendruck,Opening for ink printing,
1212
Druckträger,Printing support,
1313
Motor,Engine,
131131
Motorachse,Motor axis,
1414
Hauptleiterplatte für die Steuerung,Main circuit board for control,
141141
Mikroprozessor,Microprocessor,
1515
Ankupplungsmuffe,Ankupplungsmuffe,
1616
Schneckenritzel,Worm gear,
2020
Duckbereich,Duck area
21, 2221, 22
Ink-Jet-Druckköpfe,Ink jet print heads,
211, 221211, 221
Kontaktiereinheit,contacting,

Claims (24)

  1. A device for printing on a print medium in the printing area by means of a stationary ink print head (21, 22) and a print medium moved downstream in Z-direction in the printing area, characterized in that a driven transport drum (51) and a non-driven counter-pressure device (6) that is springy in Y-direction exert a transport force on the print medium in a power transmission area and that the ink print head (21, 22) is arranged in X-direction axially to transport drum (51) so that the printing area is arranged in a distance from the power transmission area, the X-direction being orthogonal to the Z-direction and orthogonal to the Y-direction.
  2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance of the most distant pixels in the printing area from the edge (511) of transport drum (51) is shorter than the radius of the circumference of transport drum (51).
  3. A device according to claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the transport drum (51) and the counter-pressure device (6) exert the transport force on the print medium in a slot-shaped opening (3) of the housing (4), the depth of opening (3) extending in X-direction orthogonally to a Z-direction for the print medium moved downstream so that the power-transmission area (10) and the printing area (20) are located within the opening (3); that the bearing axle (516) of transport drum (51) runs in parallel to the X-direction; that the ink print head (21, 22) is at least partially arranged with its ink tank in an opening (515) of transport drum (51) in X-direction in such a manner that its nozzles are located at the edge (511) of transport drum (51) in order to eject on demand ink droplets in a direction opposite to the Y-direction on the surface of the print medium; and that the non-driven spring-mounted counter-pressure device (6) exerts the spring pressure in Y-direction.
  4. A device according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the counter-pressure device (6) comprises non-driven counter-pressure rollers (61, 62) as springy means.
  5. A device according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the counter-pressure device (6) comprises at least one non-driven counter-pressure conveyor belt (671, 672 or 681, 682, respectively) as springy means.
  6. A device according to claim 3, characterized in that, on one side of the opening (3) of housing (4), there is arranged a guide plate (2) on which the postal item (12) lies; and
    that, starting from that side, the transport drum (51) exerts the transport force on the postal item in transport direction through an opening (11) in said guide plate (2) when a motor (13) is triggered; and
    that, on another side of opening (3) of housing (4) opposite to guide plate (2), there is arranged a feed deck (8) having openings (81, 82) for the spring-mounted means of counter-pressure device (6) so that the openings (11) and (81) are arranged opposite to each other.
  7. A device according to claim 6, characterized in that, in the guide plate (2) beside the opening (11) and offset in X-direction, there is provided an opening (111) for ink-jet printing by the nozzles of the ink print head (21, 22) that has a size according to the printing area.
  8. A device according to claim 6, characterized in that, in the guide plate (2) beside the opening (11), there is provided an opening (9) for a driven draw-in roller (71), opening (11) for the driven transport drum (51) being offset in Z-direction from opening (9).
  9. A device according to claim 6, characterized in that, in the feed deck (8) beside opening (81), there is provided another opening (82) for a non-driven draw-in roller (72, 691), opening (81) being offset in Z-direction from the further opening (82).
  10. A device according to claim 6, characterized in that, in guide plate (2) beside opening (11), there is provided another opening for detecting a print medium (12), opening (11) for the driven transport drum (51) being offset in Z-direction from the further opening.
  11. A device according to claim 6, characterized in that, in feed deck (8) beside opening (81), there is provided another opening for detecting a print medium (12), opening (81) being offset in Z-direction from the further opening.
  12. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that the counter-pressure rollers (61, 62) are rotatably borne on a an axle (661), wherein said axle (661) is fixed on a spring-mounted rocker (66) that is borne in a manner swingable around a fixed bearing axle (666), and wherein the counter-pressure rollers (61, 62) act on the print medium (12) through opening (81) in feed deck (8) due to the spring force of at least one first tension spring (63).
  13. A device according to claims 4, 8 and 12, characterized in that the non-driven feed roller (72) is rotatably borne on a an axle (761), said axle (761) being fixed on a spring-mounted rocker (76) arranged in front in transport direction that is borne in a manner swingable around a fixed bearing axle (766), wherein the draw-in roller (72) acts on the upper draw-in roller (71) or on the print medium (12) through opening (82) in feed deck (8) due to the spring force of a second tension spring (73); and that said two rockers (66, 76) are connected with one another by means of a lifting rod (77) in such a manner that a movement of the front rocker (76) caused by the thickness of the print medium (12) is at least partially transferred to the rear rocker (66).
  14. A device according to claims 12 and 13, characterized in that the spring rate of the first tension spring (63) is substantially higher than that of the second tension spring (73).
  15. A device according to claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the rockers (66, 76) have the form of angle levers, wherein always two angle levers (662, 663 or 762, 763, respectively) are connected by a spacer (668 or 768, respectively) on their one legs and by a spacer (667 or 767, respectively) on their other legs (664, 665 or 764,765, respectively), and wherein a bolt (65 or 75, respectively) is fixed to their other legs (664, 665 or 764,765, respectively) as a spring suspension.
  16. A device according to claim 15, characterized in that a bolt (7671) of the front rocker (76) in the transport path is arranged in a hole (771) at the one end of lifting rod (77) and that the bolt (65) of the rear rocker (66) in the transport path is arranged in an oblong hole (772) at the other end of lifting rod (77).
  17. A device according to claim 5, characterized in that the non-driven counter-pressure conveyor belt (671, 672 or 681, 682, respectively) runs on supporting rollers (674 and 6711, 6721 or 684 and 6811, 6821, respectively) that are rotatably borne on axles (675 and 676 or 685 and 686, respectively), said axles (675 and 676 or 685 and 686, respectively) being mounted on a spring-mounted long rocker (67, 68); that deflection rollers (677, 678 or 687, 688, respectively) for the non-driven counter-pressure conveyor belt are rotatably borne on axles (673 or 683, respectively), said axles (673 or 683, respectively) being mounted on the spring-mounted long rocker (67, 68);
    that a non-driven lower draw-in roller (691) is rotatably borne on an axle (692), said axle (692) being mounted on a spring-mounted short rocker (69);
    that the long rocker (67, 68) and the short rocker (69) are borne in a manner swingable around a joint fixed bearing axle (696), wherein the non-driven counter-pressure conveyor belt (671, 672 or 681, 682, respectively) acts on the print medium (12) through an opening (81) in the feed deck (8) by means of the spring force of a first pressure spring (47, 48), and wherein the non-driven lower draw-in roller (691) acts on the print medium (12) through an opening (82) in the feed deck (8) by means of the spring force of a second pressure spring (43).
  18. A device according to claim 17, characterized in that the spring rate of the first pressure spring (47, 48) is substantially higher than that of the second tension spring (43).
  19. A device according to claim 17, characterized in that the axle (673 or 683, respectively) is fixed to the spring-mounted long rocker (67, 68) by means of a fixing nut (6731 or 6831), respectively.
  20. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the transport drum (51) is provided with at least a friction lining (513, 514) that fits in a ring-like manner on its circumference.
  21. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that next to one face side (512) of transport drum (51), on its bearing axle (516), there are arranged a worm wheel (517) and a driving wheel (518) for a driving belt (519), wherein the transport drum (51) is driven by a motor (13) through a worm pinion (16) on the motor shaft (131) and the worm wheel (517), and wherein the upper draw-in roller (71) is coupled with a driven wheel (711) that is driven by the driving belt (519).
  22. A device according to claim 21, characterized in that the driving wheel (518) and the driven wheel (711) are toothed-belt wheels and that the driving belt (519) is a toothed belt.
  23. A device according to claim 21, characterized in that, on the motor shaft (131), there is provided an encoder disk (524) that can be scanned by means of a light barrier (523) in the encoder (52).
  24. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that, on the face side (512) of transport drum (51) near the circumference of transport drum (51), there are provided markings (522) for an encoder (52).
EP01250214A 2000-07-06 2001-06-13 Device for printing on a printing medium Expired - Lifetime EP1170141B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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DE10032855 2000-07-06
DE10032855A DE10032855A1 (en) 2000-07-06 2000-07-06 Device for printing on a printing medium

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EP1170141A2 EP1170141A2 (en) 2002-01-09
EP1170141A3 EP1170141A3 (en) 2003-08-06
EP1170141B1 true EP1170141B1 (en) 2004-04-14

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DE102007060734A1 (en) 2007-12-17 2009-06-18 Francotyp-Postalia Gmbh Device for pressing flat goods on a transport module
DE102007060789A1 (en) 2007-12-17 2009-06-18 Francotyp-Postalia Gmbh Device for pressing flat goods on a transport module
DE102007060787A1 (en) 2007-12-17 2009-06-18 Francotyp-Postalia Gmbh Transport device for flat goods to be printed
EP2072272A2 (en) 2007-12-17 2009-06-24 Francotyp-Postalia GmbH Transport device for flat goods that are to be printed
DE102008035679A1 (en) 2008-07-30 2010-03-04 Francotyp-Postalia Gmbh Device for cleaning wiper elements for an inkjet print head
DE102008059009A1 (en) 2008-11-26 2010-05-27 Francotyp-Postalia Gmbh Universal electronic hand stamping device
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EP2072267A2 (en) 2007-12-17 2009-06-24 Francotyp-Postalia GmbH Transport device for flat goods that are to be printed
EP2072268A2 (en) 2007-12-17 2009-06-24 Francotyp-Postalia GmbH Device for pressing flat goods onto a transport module
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DE102007060734A1 (en) 2007-12-17 2009-06-18 Francotyp-Postalia Gmbh Device for pressing flat goods on a transport module
US8136813B2 (en) 2007-12-17 2012-03-20 Francotype-Postalia Gmbh Apparatus for pressing flat materials onto a transport module
DE102008032804A1 (en) 2007-12-17 2009-06-18 Francotyp-Postalia Gmbh Transport device for flat goods to be printed
DE102008035679B4 (en) * 2008-07-30 2014-05-08 Francotyp-Postalia Gmbh Device for cleaning wiper elements for an inkjet print head
DE102008035679A1 (en) 2008-07-30 2010-03-04 Francotyp-Postalia Gmbh Device for cleaning wiper elements for an inkjet print head
DE102008059009A1 (en) 2008-11-26 2010-05-27 Francotyp-Postalia Gmbh Universal electronic hand stamping device
EP2192556A1 (en) 2008-11-26 2010-06-02 Francotyp-Postalia GmbH Universally usable electronic hand stamp device

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US6467901B2 (en) 2002-10-22
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US20020003565A1 (en) 2002-01-10
EP1170141A2 (en) 2002-01-09
DE10032855A1 (en) 2002-01-17

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