EP1244065B1 - Franking machine with retrofittable scale - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a franking machine with a housing of at least one first housing part, which is designed for attaching a retrofittable weighing unit.

Conventional franking machines can be roughly divided into two groups according to the mail volume to be processed. The designed for a larger mail volume franking machines are usually equipped with a transport mechanism for the letter to be processed. On the other hand, the letter for franking machines for a smaller volume of mail, for example in the range of less than 20 to 30 letters per day, usually has to be manually inserted and removed.

In both types, a balance is usually provided. It is used to determine the weight of the letter or parcel to be franked, as this is the basis for determining the required postage value. Typically, the postage value to be printed is automatically determined by the postage meter using the measurement data provided by the balance.

While the franking machines for larger mail volumes usually already include a built-in housing inaccessible balance for weighing the letters, the franking machines for small mail volumes can usually be additionally equipped with a separate scale, via a cable or the like with the postage meter is connected and can be placed next to the franking machine.

However, especially in smaller offices or the like, for which the latter franking machine type is intended, there is often also a space problem. The addition to the postage meter additionally aufzustellende scale thus tends to be rather annoying.

To solve this space problem, is in the US 4,787,046 proposed to install the postage meter on the scale. If the weight of a letter is to be determined, it is inserted into the franking machine. The balance then determines the weight by simply subtracting the weight of the postage meter from the reading.

However, this design has the disadvantage that this results in a very large-volume object, which is not least desirable from an aesthetic point of view. On the other hand, the balance must be relatively robust in view of the considerable weight of the franking machine. In addition, considerable effort must be made for the design of the scale or the measurement technique, since the entire system is relatively prone to high vibration amplitudes due to the high masses.

Another attempt to defuse the problem of cramped space is from the EP 0 405 358 B1 in which a balance with a vertical letter slot is flanged to the back of the franking machine. Due to the vertically aligned letter slot into which the letters to be weighed have to be inserted Although the franking machine with the scale takes up a somewhat reduced area, it is still relatively high. In addition, only letters up to a certain thickness can be processed with this scale. Larger mail items can not be weighed. Your weight may need to be determined on a separate balance. However, the larger the letter slot is, in order to be able to process as many different mail piece thicknesses as possible, the more expansive the entire franking machine with scale becomes.

A franking machine with retrofittable weighing unit is from the US 4,742,878 known. The weighing unit is there a separate, comparatively projecting module which is laterally flanged onto the franking machine.

From the WO 00/39756 A1 Finally, an office device, such as a computer, a screen or a printer, with a non-upgradable, built-in postage scales known.

The present invention is therefore an object of the invention to provide a franking machine of the type mentioned above, which ensures the smallest possible configuration with simple retrofitting the weighing unit.

This object is achieved on the basis of a franking machine according to the preamble of claim 1 by the features stated in the characterizing part of claim 1.

The invention is based on the technical teaching that one obtains a small-scale franking machine with easily retrofitted weighing unit, when the first housing part defines a recess in the housing, which is designed for insertion of the weighing unit, and in the region of the first fixing means are provided which for fastening a recess closing the second housing part are formed.

It has been shown that it is possible to design the first housing part as a result of appropriate arrangement of the interior of the franking machine so that it has a recess into which a retrofittable weighing unit can be used, without causing a significant increase in the volume of the franking machine comes. The design as indentation of the first housing part ensures that the first housing part or the housing of the franking machine can remain closed in order to ensure compliance with any safety requirements with regard to the seclusion of the interior of the franking machine.

The first fastening means advantageously make it possible for the indentation with the fasteners is not disturbed even if no weighing unit is mounted.

The indentation can be adapted to weighing units of any type. So it is possible, for example, to adapt to a weighing unit in which the mail, so for example the letter is weighed standing. In such a weighing unit correspondingly trained holder is then provided as Postgutauflage. Such a weighing unit will then usually be integrated in one of the substantially vertically extending side walls of the franking machine.

In preferred because simply designed and thus easy to manufacture variants, the indentation for receiving a provided with a substantially horizontally extending Postgutauflage weighing unit is formed. A particularly simple configuration not only from a manufacturing point of view but also with regard to ergonomic operation results when the indentation is arranged at the top of the housing. The mail piece to be weighed can then simply be placed on the weighing unit arranged on the upper side of the franking machine housing.

In particularly advantageous variants of the franking machine according to the invention, it is provided that the first fastening means are designed for fastening the weighing unit. As a result of this functional integration, the expenditure for the production of the franking machine is reduced even further.

The first attachment means are arranged either on a special carrier which is mounted inside the franking machine in order to achieve a sufficiently stable foundation of the weighing unit. This stable foundation is required especially in changing climatic conditions, especially in case of temperature fluctuations for good measurement results. The fastening means then protrude through one or more corresponding recesses in the housing of the franking machine in such a case.

Alternatively, the first fastening means are arranged on the first housing part, resulting in a further simplification of the production. This is only ensure that the first housing part is sufficiently rigid at least in the region of the indentation to provide a sufficiently firm, deformation-free foundation for the weighing unit. A particularly simple configuration results when the first fastening means are formed directly on the first housing part or formed in this.

The first attachment means may be configured in any desired manner. They can be designed both for a positive and a non-positive as well as a positive and non-positive connection. For example, they can be part of a screw connection. Due to the simple and quick assembly is preferably provided that the first fastening means are designed to achieve a plug connection and additionally or alternatively to achieve a snap connection in cooperation with corresponding counterparts on the components to be fastened.

The first attachment means may for example define a corresponding recess on or in the first housing part into which a corresponding counterpart can then be inserted. Furthermore, the counterpart or the first fastening means may be provided with correspondingly resilient projections or the projections associated with underlying decisions, which allow mutual engagement and thus the formation of a snap connection.

Preferably, the first fastening means comprise at least one pin-like fastening element. This can easily be molded onto the first housing part. In addition, they have the advantage that they do not protrude into the housing interior with a sufficiently large effective length and thus allow greater freedom in the housing interior in particular when required seclusion of the housing in contrast to corresponding recesses in the first housing part.

In favorable variants of the franking machine according to the invention, a second housing part closing off the indentation is provided, which is fastened detachably to the first housing part via the first fastening means. With regard to a simple production with as few different parts as possible, it is preferably provided that the second housing part or at least a part of the second housing part is designed to form the Postgutauflage the weighing unit. As a result, it is also possible with simple means to achieve a design in which the optical impression when the weighing unit is mounted does not differ, or only insignificantly, from the visual impression when the weighing unit is not mounted.

If only a part of the second housing part forms the mail item support, it is preferably provided that the second housing part comprises a tray intended for forming the mail item support of the weighing unit and at least one detachably connected intermediate element which then carries second attachment means which cooperate with the first attachment means are formed. If the weighing unit is then to be mounted, only the second housing part has to be removed from the first housing part, the intermediate element has to be removed and the shell is placed on the weighing unit designed to receive the tray before or after the weighing unit has been inserted into the recess.

The intermediate element is then furthermore preferably designed such that it extends beyond the edge region of the second housing part adjoining the first housing part, so that after its removal a sufficiently large gap is created between the shell placed on the mounted weighing unit and the first housing part, which ensures that the Postgutauflage in operation does not touch the first housing part, which would otherwise lead to falsifications of the measurement result.

It is preferably provided that in the region of the indentation electrical connection means are provided for connecting the weighing unit, so that the retrofitting of the weighing unit can take place particularly easily and quickly.

Preferably, the franking machine is already provided with a weighing unit arranged in the indentation, in which, more preferably, the mail piece support is formed by at least one part of the second housing part.

Figur 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiels der erfindungsgemäßen Frankiermaschine;

Figur 2

einen Teilschnitt durch die Frankiermaschine aus Figur 1 entlang Linie II-II;

Figur 3

das Detail III aus Figur 2;

Figur 4

einen Teilschnitt durch die Frankiermaschine aus Figur 1 mit montierter Wiegeeinheit;

Figur 5

einen Teilschnitt durch ein weiteres bevorzugtes Ausführungsbeispiel der erfindungsgemäßen Frankiermaschine;

Figur 6

einen Teilschnitt durch die Frankiermaschine aus Figur 4 mit montierter Wiegeeinheit.

Further preferred variants will become apparent from the dependent claims and the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, which refers to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1

a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the franking machine according to the invention;

FIG. 2

a partial section through the franking machine FIG. 1 along line II-II;

FIG. 3

the detail III off FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 4

a partial section through the franking machine FIG. 1 with mounted weighing unit;

FIG. 5

a partial section through another preferred embodiment of the franking machine according to the invention;

FIG. 6

a partial section through the franking machine FIG. 4 with mounted weighing unit.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the franking machine 1 according to the invention with a first housing part 1.1 and an attached second housing part 1.2, which covers a different upper side of the franking machine 1 arranged indentation 2 of the first housing part 1.1.

As FIG. 2 can be seen, 2 first fastening means in the form of fastening pins 3 are provided in the region of the indentation, which are integrally formed on the first housing part 1.1. These mounting pins 3 each sit in a bore 4 of a mounting arm 5, which in turn is integrally formed on the second housing part 1.2.

As FIG. 3 can be seen, the mounting arm 5 in the region of the bore 4 four distributed on its circumference longitudinal slots 6, which extend to its the first housing part facing the end 5.1. As a result, at the first housing part 1.1 facing end 5.1 of the mounting arm 5 four mounting tabs 5.2 are formed, which can spring in the radial direction.

On the inside of the bore 4, a circumferential notch 5.3 is provided, in which a circumferential, bead-like projection 3.1 is locked to the mounting pin 3. In this way, a plug and snap connection is realized, which is easy to manufacture or to solve by the second housing part 1.2 in the direction 7 attached to the first housing part 1.1 or withdrawn against the direction 7 of the first housing part 1.1.

In the present case, four arranged in the corner regions of the recess mounting pins 3 are provided. It is understood, however, that in other variants, any other number of such fastening means may be provided.

Furthermore, it is understood that in other variants, the elements for the connector can also be arranged in the reverse manner. Thus, the fastening pin can also be arranged on a corresponding fastening arm of the second housing part and a corresponding recess can be provided in the first housing part.

As FIG. 2 It can also be seen that a connection device 8 is provided in the rear area of the indentation 2, by way of which a weighing unit to be inserted into the indentation 2 can be connected to the processing unit of the franking machine 1 (not shown).

FIG. 4 shows the franking machine 1 from FIG. 2 with a weighing unit used in the indentation 2 in the form of a balance 9, which has a balance housing 10 and a cover shell 11 with a horizontal Postgutauflage 11.1. The cover shell 11 is connected to the balance housing 10 only via a load cell 12 and otherwise has no points of contact with the balance housing 10. The cover shell 11 is further arranged so that it has no contact with the first housing part 1.1, in order to prevent that thereby the measurement results are falsified.

On the underside of the balance housing 10 recesses 13 are provided in feet 14, in which the fixing pins 3 can be inserted. The mounting pins 3 thus serve not only for fastening the second housing part 1.2 but also the attachment of the balance. 9

The feet 14 are made of an elastic plastic, for example rubber, so that they can be elastically deformed in the region of the projection 3.1 of the respective fixing pin 3. The elasticity of the feet 14 causes a holding force by which the balance 9 is attached to the first housing part 1.1.

In the connection device 8 in the first housing part 1.1, a connector 15 of the balance 9 is inserted, so that the balance 9 is connected to the - not shown - processing unit of the franking machine 1.

FIG. 5 shows a partial section through a further preferred embodiment of the franking machine 1 'according to the invention, which in its basic structure and its basic function that of the FIGS. 1 to 4 is similar, so that only the differences should be discussed here.

One difference is that in the region of the indentation 2 'of the first housing part 1.1' first fastening means in the form of simple cylindrical fixing pins 3 'are provided, which are integrally formed on the first housing part 1.1'. These fastening pins 3 'each sit in a likewise cylindrical bore 4' of a fastening arm 5 ', which in turn is integrally formed on the second housing part 1.2'. The mounting pins 3 'in this case have a slight excess over holes 4' in the fastening arm 5 'having a certain elasticity, so that a frictional plug connection is formed.

Another difference is that the second housing part is made in two parts. It has a shell 16 and an intermediate element 17 which are detachably connected to each other. The releasable connection is also designed as a frictional connector. For this sit on the shell 16 molded cylindrical connecting pins 18 with slight excess in cylindrical holes 19 in a certain elasticity having connecting arms 20 of the intermediate element 17th

The intermediate element 17 extends into the gap 21 between the shell 16 and the first housing part 1.1 ', so that the shell 16 has no contact with the first housing part 1.1'.

As FIG. 5 It can also be seen that in the region of the indentation 2 ', a connection device 8' is provided, via which a weighing unit to be inserted into the indentation 2 'can be connected to the processing unit of the franking machine 1' (not shown).

FIG. 6 shows the franking machine 1 'from FIG. 5 with a weighing unit used in the indentation 2 'in the form of a balance 9', which has a balance housing 10 'and a cover shell, which is formed by the shell 16. The shell 16 forms with its horizontal surface a horizontal Postgutauflage 16.1.

The shell 16 is attached to a cross member 22 which is connected to the balance housing 10 'only via a load cell 12' and otherwise has no points of contact with the balance housing 10 '. The shell 16 is further arranged so that it has no contact with the first housing part 1.1 ', in order to prevent that thereby the measurement results are falsified. This is simply effected by the fact that the intermediate element 17 has been removed and now the gap 21 between the shell 16 and the first housing part 1.1 'is free.

The shell 16 is simply inserted via the cylindrical connecting pins 18 in cylindrical bores 23 of the traverse 22 having a certain elasticity. The connecting pins 18 also here have slight excess to the holes 23, so that there is a frictional connection between the cross member 22 and the shell 16 here.

On the underside of the balance housing 10 'in turn recesses 13' in a certain elasticity having feet 14 'are provided, in which the fixing pins 3' can be inserted. The mounting pins 3 'here also have slight oversize to the recesses 13', so that here too there is a frictional connection between the balance 9 'and the first housing part 1.1'. The mounting pins 3 'thus serve not only for fixing the second housing part 1.2' but also the attachment of the balance 9 'here.

In the connection device 8 'in the first housing part 1.1' is still a connector 15 'of the balance 9' inserted, so that the balance 9 'with the - not shown - processing unit of the franking machine 1' is connected.

Claims (10)

1. A franking machine comprising a housing made from at least a first housing part (1.1; 1.1') adapted to receive a retrofittable weighing unit (9; 9') having a weighing unit housing (10; 10'),
   characterized in that

   - said first housing part (1.1; 1.1') defines an embayment (2; 2') within said housing, which is configured for insertion of said weighing unit (9; 9'), and,

   - in the area of said embayment (2; 2'), there are provided first fastening devices (3; 3'), which are configured for fastening said weighing unit (9; 9'),

   - said fastening devices (3; 3') further being configured to fasten a second housing part (1.2; 1.2') for closing said embayment (2; 2') when said weighing unit (9; 9') is not mounted, and

   - said first fastening devices (3; 3') being arranged at a support in an interior of said housing and extending through openings in said first housing part.
2. Franking machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said embayment (2; 2') is configured for accommodating a weighing unit (9; 9') with a mail support (11.1; 16.1) extending substantially horizontally, said embayment (2; 2') preferably being arranged at the top side of said housing.
3. Franking machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first fastening devices (3; 3') are configured to provide a plug-in connection and/or a snap-in connection.
4. Franking machine according to claim 3, characterized in that said first fastening devices include at least one pin-shaped fastening element (3; 3').
5. Franking machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a second housing part (1.2; 1.2') for closing said embayment (2; 2') is provided, which is releasably fastened to said first housing part (1.1; 1.1') via said first fastening devices (3; 3').
6. Franking machine according to claim 5, characterized in that at least a portion (16) of said second housing part (1.2') is configured to form a mail support (16.1) of said weighing unit (9').
7. Franking machine according to claim 6, characterized in that said second housing part (1.2') comprises a shell (16) for forming said mail support (16.1) of said weighing unit (9') and at least one intermediate element (17) releasably connected thereto and having second fastening devices (4', 5') configured to interact with said first fastening devices (3').
8. Franking machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that electrical connection means (8; 8') are disposed in the area of said embayment (2; 2') for connecting said weighing unit (9; 9').
9. Franking machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said weighting unit (9; 9') is arranged in said embayment (2; 2').
10. Franking machine according to claim 9, characterized in that mail support (16.1) of said weighing unit (9') is formed by at least a portion (16) of said second housing part (1.2').

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