EP1686540A2 - Mechanische Vorrichtung zur Messung der Breite eines Postartikels - Google Patents

Mechanische Vorrichtung zur Messung der Breite eines Postartikels Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1686540A2
EP1686540A2 EP06100882A EP06100882A EP1686540A2 EP 1686540 A2 EP1686540 A2 EP 1686540A2 EP 06100882 A EP06100882 A EP 06100882A EP 06100882 A EP06100882 A EP 06100882A EP 1686540 A2 EP1686540 A2 EP 1686540A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
mail
lever
detecting
article
movement
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP06100882A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1686540A3 (de
EP1686540B1 (de
Inventor
Sébastien Defosse
Thierry Le Jaoudour
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Quadient Technologies France SA
Original Assignee
Neopost Technologies SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Neopost Technologies SA filed Critical Neopost Technologies SA
Publication of EP1686540A2 publication Critical patent/EP1686540A2/de
Publication of EP1686540A3 publication Critical patent/EP1686540A3/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1686540B1 publication Critical patent/EP1686540B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00661—Sensing or measuring mailpieces
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00661—Sensing or measuring mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00685—Measuring the dimensions of mailpieces

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of mail processing.
  • it relates to a mechanical device for measuring the width of an article of mail transported through a franking system.
  • the present invention thus aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and to allow the measurement of the width L of a mail piece for franking purposes, without the need to resort to expensive technical devices using systems optical to perform this measurement.
  • An object of the invention is also to achieve this measurement on the fly, that is to say during the transport of the mail item through the franking system and without stopping it.
  • transport path for mail items parallel to a reference wall, characterized in that it comprises a device for detecting a front of a mail piece, a downstream lever arranged across said transport path of the mail items by making a determined angle with respect to said reference wall a device for detecting the movement of said downstream lever at the passage of said front of the mail piece, a device for determining a distance of movement of said front of the mail item between said front edge detection device.
  • it further comprises an upstream lever disposed across said transport path of the mailpieces at a given angle with respect to said reference wall and a device for detecting the movement of said upstream lever to passing said front of the mail article, said device for determining a moving distance of said front of the mail article further determining a moving distance of said front of the mail article between said device detecting a front of a mailpiece and an activation point with said upstream lever determined by said motion detecting device of said upstream lever.
  • This advantageous arrangement allows a measurement of width even if the mail item is not tapped against the reference wall, the displacement must however be parallel to the reference wall.
  • said device for determining a displacement distance of said front of the mail item comprises a counter whose start is controlled by said device for detecting a front of a mail item and whose stop is commanded. by the one or more devices for detecting the movement of the one or more levers.
  • each lever is hinged to a shaft mounted integral at both ends of a frame of the mail processing machine.
  • each articulated lever preferably has a generally gooseneck shape with a first end portion, advantageously triangular, intended to pass through an opening of a receiving tray of the mail processing machine and a second end portion. opposed to the first relative to an axis of rotation of said common shaft, intended to receive a first end of at least one elastic element whose other end is secured to a support bar mounted in the frame parallel to said common shaft .
  • said second end portion further comprises a first movable element intended to cooperate with a second fixed element integral with the frame of the mail processing machine to form said device for detecting movement of the lever.
  • the present invention also relates to any mail processing machine comprising a mechanical device for measuring the theft of the width L of a mail item as mentioned above.
  • the pricing of mail items is based on criteria of weight and size of the mail items (thickness, length of the envelope, width of the envelope). It is either to verify that the dimensions of the envelope are greater than thresholds, or to verify that the ratio between the length and the width of the envelope is between two limits (examples: 1.3 ⁇ R ⁇ 2.5 for USA, R ⁇ square root of 2 for Germany).
  • a device that measures the weight and dimensions of each envelope, and transmits this information to a fare calculator.
  • the weight measurement can also be carried out separately by means of an independent weighing module arranged in the transport path of the envelopes, for example between the feeder and the franking module.
  • FIGS 1 and 2 illustrate a mail processing machine incorporating a mechanical device for measuring the width L of a mail article according to the invention. It conventionally comprises from upstream to downstream (depending on the direction of movement of mailpieces through the machine): a feed module 10 provided with a receiving plate 12 on which are placed in a compact stack homogeneous or not (Depending on whether the articles are of the same size or not) mailpieces to be franked, drive rollers 14 for moving these mailpieces downstream and jogging means (advantageously lateral 16 and / or rear) mail items against a reference wall (also called fold-guide 18); a selection module (of which only the lower rollers 20 are shown) to extract one by one, from below the stack, the mailpieces to be franked while impelling them a speed V of generally constant displacement; and a franking module 22 for printing a postal imprint on the selected mail article.
  • a feed module 10 provided with a receiving plate 12 on which are placed in a compact stack homogeneous or not
  • this machine further comprises a mechanical device 24 for measuring the width of each mail item, advantageously arranged at the output of the selection module, and comprising in a preferred embodiment a single pivoting lever 26 arranged across transport path of the mail items at an angle e with respect to the reference wall 18.
  • the angle e is an acute angle (0 ⁇ e ⁇ 90 °) formed by the lever towards the wall in the opposite direction moving mail items, preferably between 50 and 80 ° for congestion issues without this range is in no way limiting.
  • This lever is articulated on a shaft 28 mounted integral at both ends of the frame of the mail processing machine, preferably the receiving tray of the feed module. It may have a generally gooseneck shape and has a first preferably triangular end portion 26A intended to pass through an opening 12A of the receiving plate 12 and a second end portion 26B, opposite to the first relative to the axis of rotation on the shaft 28, intended to receive a first end of at least one elastic element 32 whose other end is secured to a support bar 34 fixedly mounted in the frame parallel to the common shaft.
  • This elastic element a spring for example, is adjusted so as not to hinder the movement of the mail items 36 through the machine and thus to allow the lever 26 to both fade under the weight of an article of the article.
  • the state of the lever is determined by a device for detecting its displacement, for example a fork switch 38 comprising a mobile part secured to the lever for cooperating with a fixed part secured to the chassis of the mail processing machine.
  • a device for detecting its displacement for example a fork switch 38 comprising a mobile part secured to the lever for cooperating with a fixed part secured to the chassis of the mail processing machine.
  • FIG. 3 schematically shows in a view from above the arrangement of the lever 26 with respect to a mail article 36 for this preferred embodiment of the invention in which the mailpieces are pressed against the referencing wall 18.
  • FIG. 4 A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 4.
  • the mail items 36 move parallel to the referenced wall 18, however without being tapped against it
  • the mechanical device 24 of FIG. measuring the width of each mail piece comprises both and successively (with respect to the direction of movement of the mail items) a pivoting upstream lever 26A disposed across the transport path of the mail items at an angle ⁇ relative to to the referencing wall 18 and a pivoting downstream lever 26B disposed across the path of transporting mail items by making an angle ⁇ with respect to the reference wall 18.
  • the angle ⁇ is an acute angle (0 ⁇ ⁇ 90 °) formed from the lever towards the wall in the direction of movement of the articles.
  • the angle ⁇ is an acute angle (0 ⁇ ⁇ 90 °) formed from the lever to the wall in the opposite direction of movement of mail items, typically between 50 and 80 ° for congestion issues without this range is in no way limiting.
  • levers are each articulated on a shaft mounted integral at both ends of the chassis of the mail processing machine.
  • ⁇ x1 being the projected distance on the referencing wall between the sensor 40 and the activation point of the upstream lever 26A, determining the distance L1 between the referencing wall and the left edge of the mailpiece, or :
  • the 1 tan ⁇ * ( ⁇ x 1 - d 1 )
  • ⁇ x2 being the distance projected on the referencing wall between the sensor 40 and the activation point of the downstream lever 26B, determining the distance L2 between the referencing wall and the right edge of the mailpiece, or :
  • the two tan ⁇ * ( d two - ⁇ x two )
  • activation means the state of the detection device when a mail item passes in its vicinity and, for example, in the case of a mechanical contactor, comes into contact with its contact end.
  • this sensor 40 triggers the start of a count of pulses by a counter 42 whose stopping is caused by the opening of the contactor 38 following the activation of the lever 26.
  • the number of pulses between the starting the counter and stopping it gives a displacement distance ⁇ x of the mail item from which a computing device 44, advantageously microprocessor-connected output of the counter allows among other things to calculate the width L according to the previous equalities of the mail article.
  • a test 100 examines whether the sensor 40 is activated. If it is not the case, there is a return to the input of this test 100. If the sensor is activated, it proceeds to the step 102 of triggering the counter 42.
  • a test 104 detects the activation of the lever 26 by opening the contactor 38, we go to step 106 of stopping the counter and then to step 108 of determining the value L of the mail item by means of the computing device 44.
  • a step 110 ensures a reset of the process with possible resetting of the counter 42.
  • the values ⁇ x, ⁇ x1, ⁇ x2 are obtained from an encoder advantageously arranged on the drive means of the mail items, the counter 42 ensuring a count of steps of this encoder.
  • a time counter whose triggering of the counting would be ensured by the sensor 40 and the stopping of the counting by the opening of the contactor 38 following the activation of the lever 26.
  • the number of pulses between the start of the counter and its stop will give a duration t of movement of the mail item that associated with the known speed V of moving the mail items along the transport path will give the value ⁇ x and as before the width L of this article, the accuracy on the width no longer then dependent on the encoder pitch.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Sorting Of Articles (AREA)
  • Controlling Sheets Or Webs (AREA)
  • Devices For Checking Fares Or Tickets At Control Points (AREA)
EP06100882A 2005-01-31 2006-01-26 Mechanische Vorrichtung zur Messung der Breite eines Postartikels Expired - Lifetime EP1686540B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0500930A FR2881550B1 (fr) 2005-01-31 2005-01-31 Dispositif mecanique de mesure de la largeur d'un article de courrier

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1686540A2 true EP1686540A2 (de) 2006-08-02
EP1686540A3 EP1686540A3 (de) 2007-09-19
EP1686540B1 EP1686540B1 (de) 2010-03-10

Family

ID=35056945

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP06100882A Expired - Lifetime EP1686540B1 (de) 2005-01-31 2006-01-26 Mechanische Vorrichtung zur Messung der Breite eines Postartikels

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US7494123B2 (de)
EP (1) EP1686540B1 (de)
DE (1) DE602006012748D1 (de)
FR (1) FR2881550B1 (de)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7750254B2 (en) * 2007-12-14 2010-07-06 Pitney Bowes Inc. Self-adjusting support skis for weighing device
FR3108422B1 (fr) * 2020-03-18 2022-07-01 Pa Cotte Sa Colis comprenant un scellé radio-identifié
US11999543B1 (en) * 2023-10-19 2024-06-04 Sensoslabz.Io Ltd Open detection for packages using multiple sensor orientation comparison

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6006210A (en) 1997-03-27 1999-12-21 Pitney Bowes Inc. Mailing machine including dimensional rating capability
US6169978B1 (en) 1995-09-29 2001-01-02 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Mail handling process and device

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5606534A (en) * 1989-09-01 1997-02-25 Quantronix, Inc. Laser-based dimensioning system
US4978114A (en) * 1989-11-14 1990-12-18 Pitney Bowes Inc. Reverse belt singulating apparatus
DE19740397A1 (de) * 1997-09-05 1999-03-11 Francotyp Postalia Gmbh Postbearbeitungssystem mit einer Frankier- und Adressiermaschine und Verfahren zum kombinierten Frankier- und Adressendruck
US6145376A (en) * 1999-03-25 2000-11-14 Hewlett-Packard Company Paper size detection using ultrasound
US6380503B1 (en) * 2000-03-03 2002-04-30 Daniel G. Mills Apparatus and method using collimated laser beams and linear arrays of detectors for sizing and sorting articles
JP3471007B2 (ja) * 2001-02-19 2003-11-25 ニスカ株式会社 シ−ト排出装置、シ−ト後処理装置及びこれら装置を備える画像形成装置
US6765191B2 (en) * 2001-08-20 2004-07-20 The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Roller switch
JP4520298B2 (ja) * 2002-06-04 2010-08-04 グローバル・センサー・システムズ・インコーポレイテッド 輸送料金測定システム及び方法
KR100449106B1 (ko) * 2002-09-18 2004-09-18 삼성전자주식회사 화상형성기의 용지검출장치
FR2886005B1 (fr) * 2005-05-20 2007-08-10 Neopost Ind Sa Dispositif de mesure de largeur par difference d'attenuation lumineuse

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6169978B1 (en) 1995-09-29 2001-01-02 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Mail handling process and device
US6006210A (en) 1997-03-27 1999-12-21 Pitney Bowes Inc. Mailing machine including dimensional rating capability

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2881550B1 (fr) 2007-05-11
DE602006012748D1 (de) 2010-04-22
US20060214349A1 (en) 2006-09-28
EP1686540A3 (de) 2007-09-19
EP1686540B1 (de) 2010-03-10
FR2881550A1 (fr) 2006-08-04
US7494123B2 (en) 2009-02-24

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP1811266A1 (de) System zur Bestimmung von Postgebühren anhand der Dicke der Postartikel
CA2494406A1 (fr) Procede et dispositif de verification au vol de la hauteur d`un article de courrier a des fins d`affranchissement
FR2872612A1 (fr) Dispositif d'alimentation a module de pesee differentielle integre
EP1686540B1 (de) Mechanische Vorrichtung zur Messung der Breite eines Postartikels
EP2071275B1 (de) Verfahren zur Bestimmung der Maße eines Postartikels
EP1579182B1 (de) Vorrichtung zum dynamischen wiegen von postsendungen
CA2494456C (fr) Dispositif de traitement de courrier au vol
FR2582388A1 (fr) Dispositif automatique de mesure sans contact des dimensions d'une piece parallelepipedique
EP1724729B1 (de) Vorrichtung zur Breitenmessung mittels des Lichtdämpfungsunterschieds
EP1450310B1 (de) Modul zur schnellen Gewichtsbestimmung
EP1533755B1 (de) Druckverfahren für eine kompakte Frankiermaschine und zugehörige Frankiermaschine
FR2881549A1 (fr) Dispositif de mesure de largeur d'un article de courrier dans une machine de traitement de courrier
FR2797856A1 (fr) Dispositif de depilage d'objets plats avec une avance de magasin asservie a une mesure d'epaisseur des objets plats
EP1004990B1 (de) Verschiebungsvorrichtung für den Druck von Postwertzeichen
JPH0749950B2 (ja) 紙葉類の厚さ検出装置
EP1215631A1 (de) Spender für bahnförmige Etiketten
EP2000985A1 (de) Vorrichtung zur automatischen Bestimmung des Formats eines Postartikels
JPS63208710A (ja) 紙葉類の厚さ検出装置
EP2131331B1 (de) Frankierverfahren in Abhängigkeit von der Kategorie der Post
EP2187357A1 (de) Frankiermaschine für Eingangstakt
FR2914766A1 (fr) Machine de traitement de courrier muni d'un dispositif de commande d'impression ameliore
EP2077531A1 (de) Frankiersystem mit integriertem Bildsensor
FR2759186A1 (fr) Systeme de decalage d'empreintes pour machine de traitement de courrier
JPH0531522Y2 (de)

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL BA HR MK YU

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL BA HR MK YU

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20080122

AKX Designation fees paid

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

Free format text: NOT ENGLISH

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 602006012748

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20100422

Kind code of ref document: P

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20101213

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20130122

Year of fee payment: 8

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20130122

Year of fee payment: 8

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20130213

Year of fee payment: 8

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 602006012748

Country of ref document: DE

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20140126

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 602006012748

Country of ref document: DE

Effective date: 20140801

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20140801

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

Effective date: 20140930

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20140126

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20140131