EP1814087B1 - Optimised transport device for mail-handling machine - Google Patents

Optimised transport device for mail-handling machine Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1814087B1
EP1814087B1 EP07100953A EP07100953A EP1814087B1 EP 1814087 B1 EP1814087 B1 EP 1814087B1 EP 07100953 A EP07100953 A EP 07100953A EP 07100953 A EP07100953 A EP 07100953A EP 1814087 B1 EP1814087 B1 EP 1814087B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
mail
belts
mail item
pulleys
postage meter
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.)
Active
Application number
EP07100953A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1814087A1 (en
Inventor
Régis Desire
Hervé Duval
Stéphane Legallo
Philip Torres
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
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Publication date
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Publication of EP1814087A1 publication Critical patent/EP1814087A1/en
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Publication of EP1814087B1 publication Critical patent/EP1814087B1/en
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Classifications

    • 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
    • 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
    • B41J11/007—Conveyor belts or like feeding devices
    • 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
    • B41J11/20—Platen adjustments for varying the strength of impression, for a varying number of papers, for wear or for alignment, or for print gap adjustment
    • 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
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00516—Details of printing apparatus
    • G07B2017/00524—Printheads
    • G07B2017/00532—Inkjet
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00516—Details of printing apparatus
    • G07B2017/00556—Ensuring quality of print

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the exclusive field of mail processing and it relates in particular to a device for transporting and guiding mail items, such as documents, folds, envelopes, labels, under a print head to inkjet of a franking machine.
  • the present invention relates to a transport and guiding device that eliminates the disadvantages of prior devices.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a device capable of treating envelopes regardless of their thickness or size.
  • Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device which avoids shocks and blows in the transport of the envelopes of the devices of the prior art.
  • the Figures 1 to 4 show a device 10 according to the invention for transporting and guiding mail items such as an envelope 12 under an ink jet print head 14 of a franking machine.
  • the Figures 1 and 2 correspond to a rest position of the device in the absence of envelopes.
  • the Figures 3 and 4 correspond to an operating position in the presence of an envelope of variable thickness and thus to the irregular profile (the dimensions are exaggerated for a better understanding of the invention).
  • This device comprises, as is known, below a fixed guide plate 16 (which is integral with the body of the franking machine) for a higher reference of these mail items, several training sets arranged in planes parallel to the direction D of movement of the mail items through the machine including at least a first drive assembly 20 and a second drive assembly 22, each preferably formed of a belt 200, 220 mounted on a set of pulleys and forming a lower reference surface for these mail items.
  • the two sets of drives are spaced apart from each other by a space substantially corresponding to the width of a postage stamp. Note, of course, that it is possible, with the device of the invention, to add one or more training sets similar to each of the previous training sets depending on the type of franking machine or for a better maintenance of very large mail items, for example in A4 format.
  • the two belts of the drive assemblies each cooperate with a set of counter-rollers 30A, 30B, 32 arranged, upstream and downstream of the print head 14, above these belts. traversing in place the fixed guide plate 16 (they are flush just below this plate, to allow the training of the mail item).
  • These against-rollers freely rotatable about their respective axes are freely rotated during the advance of the mail items which are themselves driven in translation by the two belts.
  • the vertical displacements of the first and second drive assembly are made independently of one another by means of a parallelogram system 38, 40 whose arms connect the axes of the different pulleys of each drive assembly.
  • the parallelogram system further ensures that the surface of the belts always remains parallel to the guide plate.
  • Each parallelogram system acts against an elastic means (not shown) so that the belts can remain in constant contact with the underside of the mailpiece during its movement along the guide path.
  • This mail article for example a fold formed of an envelope a wad of documents of a constant thickness, will engage in a guide and transport path formed between the upper surface of the belts 200, 220 of the drive assemblies and the lower surface of the fixed guide plate 16.
  • the fold Under the action of these motorized belts by the common motor shaft 24 actuated by the motor 26, the fold will be driven in the direction D of displacement and will move the belts from their initial high position, a distance corresponding to the thickness of the fold. Then, still pushed by these belts, it will pass under the print head 14 and once the impression made to be evacuated to a shipping module (not shown).
  • the distance between the ejection surfaces of the nozzles of the print head and the upper surface of the conveyed fold is kept constant, at a predetermined optimal value and depending on the characteristics of the head, whatever the thickness of this fold, due to the action of the parallelogram system which exerts a permanent stress on the lower surface of the fold, under the effect of the elastic means (return springs not shown), and the fixed guide plate which serves as a reference stop for its upper surface.
  • the first and second drive assemblies will move vertically in a different manner to transport this fold to the zone of impression then evacuate it.
  • the entry of this fold into the guide path will cause spacing of the belt 200 of the first drive assembly different from that 220 of the second drive assembly which will have the effect of engaging the fold in a rectilinear movement .
  • This independent drive which, in addition by restoring a planar upper surface to this fold ensures better referencing and rendering now constant distance d to the print head thus guarantees a perfect print quality.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Feeding Of Articles By Means Other Than Belts Or Rollers (AREA)
  • Delivering By Means Of Belts And Rollers (AREA)
  • Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
  • Sorting Of Articles (AREA)
  • Devices For Checking Fares Or Tickets At Control Points (AREA)
  • Separation, Sorting, Adjustment, Or Bending Of Sheets To Be Conveyed (AREA)

Description

Domaine de l'inventionField of the invention

La présente invention concerne le domaine exclusif du traitement de courrier et elle se rapporte en particulier à un dispositif pour le transport et le guidage d'articles de courrier, tels que des documents, plis, enveloppes, étiquettes, sous une tête d'impression à jet d'encre d'une machine à affranchir.The present invention relates to the exclusive field of mail processing and it relates in particular to a device for transporting and guiding mail items, such as documents, folds, envelopes, labels, under a print head to inkjet of a franking machine.

Art antérieurPrior art

Avec la technologie à jet d'encre, se pose, dans le domaine de l'affranchissement postal, le problème critique du maintien, à une valeur constante, de l'écartement entre les faces d'éjection des buses de la tête d'impression et la face supérieure de l'article de courrier devant recevoir l'empreinte postale. En effet, en matière postale, cette empreinte qui constitue une valeur monétaire doit impérativement présenter une qualité maximale d'impression et cela d'autant plus que, avec les nouvelles normes postales actuellement en vigueur, les informations présentes dans cette empreinte postale sont de plus en plus nombreuses (intégration de données de services, de publicité, etc.) et complexes (présence de codes à deux dimensions).With inkjet technology, there is a critical problem in the field of postage franking of maintaining, at a constant value, the gap between the ejection faces of the nozzles of the print head. and the upper face of the mailpiece to receive the postal stamp. Indeed, in postal matters, this impression which constitutes a monetary value must imperatively present a maximum quality of printing and all the more so that, with the new postal standards currently in force, the information present in this postal imprint are moreover more numerous (integration of service data, advertising, etc.) and complex (presence of two-dimensional codes).

La demanderesse a proposé avec la demande FR2 742 693 un dispositif de guidage qui améliore sensiblement la qualité d'impression des machines à affranchir à jet d'encre. Toutefois, dans certains cas particuliers, par exemple lorsque des enveloppes renferment des documents ou des inserts aux profils irréguliers, il apparaît que ces enveloppes ne sont pas sur toute leur largeur, comme le montre schématiquement la figure 7, correctement plaquées contre la surface de référence supérieure et la distance (d1, d2) de la tête d'impression à la surface supérieure des enveloppes est donc variable. En outre, il se produit avec ces enveloppes un phénomène de louvoiement et de patinage qui en perturbant leur déplacement normalement rectiligne lors du passage sous la tête d'impression, affecte la qualité de l'empreinte postale imprimée.The plaintiff has proposed with the application FR2 742 693 a guiding device which substantially improves the print quality of the inkjet franking machines. However, in some particular cases, for example when envelopes contain documents or inserts with irregular profiles, it appears that these envelopes are not over their entire width, as schematically shown in FIG. figure 7 , correctly pressed against the upper reference surface and the distance (d1, d2) of the print head to the upper surface of the envelopes is variable. In addition, it occurs with these envelopes a phenomenon of swaying and skidding which disrupting their normally straight motion when passing under the print head, affects the quality of the printed postal imprint.

Un autre dispositif est proposé dans la demande EP 1431925 . Toutefois, aucun moyen de commande du déplacement vertical n'est prévu dans ce dispositif.Another device is proposed in the application EP 1431925 . However, no means for controlling the vertical displacement is provided in this device.

Définition et objet de l'inventionDefinition and object of the invention

Aussi, la présente invention a pour objet un dispositif de transport et de guidage qui supprime les inconvénients des dispositifs antérieurs. Un autre but de l'invention est de réaliser un dispositif à même de traiter les enveloppes quelles que soient leur épaisseur ou leur taille. Encore un autre but de l'invention est de proposer un dispositif qui évite les chocs et les à coups dans le transport des enveloppes des dispositifs de l'art antérieur.Also, the present invention relates to a transport and guiding device that eliminates the disadvantages of prior devices. Another object of the invention is to provide a device capable of treating envelopes regardless of their thickness or size. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device which avoids shocks and blows in the transport of the envelopes of the devices of the prior art.

Ces buts sont atteints par un dispositif pour le transport et le guidage d'articles de courrier dans une machine à affranchir munie d'une tête d'impression à jet d'encre tel que défini par la revendication 1.These objects are achieved by a device for transporting and guiding mail items in a franking machine provided with an inkjet printing head as defined by claim 1.

Brève description des dessinsBrief description of the drawings

D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de la présente invention ressortiront mieux de la description suivante, faite à titre indicatif et non limitatif, en regard des dessins annexés, sur lesquels:

  • les figures 1 et 2 sont des vues respectivement en perspective et en coupe, dans une première position de repos, d'un dispositif de transport et de guidage d'articles de courrier selon l'invention associé à une tête d'impression à jet d'encre de machine à affranchir,
  • les figures 3 et 4 sont des vues respectivement en perspective et en coupe dans une seconde position d'un dispositif de transport et de guidage d'articles de courrier selon l'invention associé à une tête d'impression à jet d'encre de machine à affranchir,
  • la figure 5 montre, dans la position des figures 1 et 2, une enveloppe en sortie du dispositif de transport et de guidage d'articles de courrier selon l'invention,
  • la figure 6 montre, dans la position des figures 3 et 4, une enveloppe en sortie du dispositif de transport et de guidage d'articles de courrier selon l'invention, et
  • la figure 7 montre une enveloppe en sortie d'un dispositif de transport et de guidage d'articles de courrier de l'art antérieur.
Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the following description, given by way of non-limiting indication, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
  • the Figures 1 and 2 are views respectively in perspective and in section, in a first resting position, of a device for transporting and guiding mailpieces according to the invention associated with a machine-jet inkjet printing head; franking
  • the Figures 3 and 4 are views respectively in perspective and in section in a second position of a device for transporting and guiding mailpieces according to the invention associated with a franking machine ink jet printhead,
  • the figure 5 shows, in the position of Figures 1 and 2 an envelope at the outlet of the device for transporting and guiding mailpieces according to the invention,
  • the figure 6 shows, in the position of Figures 3 and 4 an envelope at the outlet of the device for transporting and guiding mailpieces according to the invention, and
  • the figure 7 shows an envelope output of a device for transporting and guiding mail items of the prior art.

Description détaillée d'un mode préférentiel de réalisationDetailed description of a preferred embodiment

Les figures 1 à 4 montrent un dispositif 10 selon l'invention pour le transport et le guidage d'articles de courrier tels qu'une enveloppe 12 sous une tête d'impression à jet d'encre 14 d'une machine à affranchir. Les figures 1 et 2 correspondent à une position de repos du dispositif en l'absence d'enveloppes. Les figures 3 et 4 correspondent à une position de fonctionnement en présence d'une enveloppe d'épaisseur variable et donc au profil irrégulier (les dimensions sont exagérés pour une meilleure compréhension de l'invention).The Figures 1 to 4 show a device 10 according to the invention for transporting and guiding mail items such as an envelope 12 under an ink jet print head 14 of a franking machine. The Figures 1 and 2 correspond to a rest position of the device in the absence of envelopes. The Figures 3 and 4 correspond to an operating position in the presence of an envelope of variable thickness and thus to the irregular profile (the dimensions are exaggerated for a better understanding of the invention).

Ce dispositif comporte, comme il est connu, au dessous d'une plaque fixe de guidage 16 (qui est solidaire du corps de la machine à affranchir) servant à une mise en référence supérieure de ces articles de courrier, plusieurs ensembles d'entraînement disposés dans des plans parallèles à la direction D de déplacement des articles de courrier au travers de la machine dont au moins un premier ensemble d'entraînement 20 et un deuxième ensemble d'entraînement 22, chacun de préférence formé d'une courroie 200, 220 montée sur un ensemble de poulies et formant une surface inférieure de référence pour ces articles de courrier.This device comprises, as is known, below a fixed guide plate 16 (which is integral with the body of the franking machine) for a higher reference of these mail items, several training sets arranged in planes parallel to the direction D of movement of the mail items through the machine including at least a first drive assembly 20 and a second drive assembly 22, each preferably formed of a belt 200, 220 mounted on a set of pulleys and forming a lower reference surface for these mail items.

Les deux ensembles d'entraînement sont espacés l'un de l'autre d'un espace correspondant sensiblement à la largeur d'une empreinte postale. On notera, bien entendu, qu'il est possible, avec le dispositif de l'invention, d'adjoindre un ou plusieurs ensembles d'entraînement similaires à chacun des ensembles d'entraînement précédentes en fonction du type de machine à affranchir ou pour un meilleur maintien des articles de courrier de très grandes dimensions, par exemple au format A4.The two sets of drives are spaced apart from each other by a space substantially corresponding to the width of a postage stamp. Note, of course, that it is possible, with the device of the invention, to add one or more training sets similar to each of the previous training sets depending on the type of franking machine or for a better maintenance of very large mail items, for example in A4 format.

Pour un ensemble d'entraînement donné 20 ou 22, seule une poulie 202 ou 222 sur les quatre existantes est motrice (de préférence la poulie la plus en amont par rapport au sens de déplacement des articles de courrier) et reliée à un arbre moteur commun 24 entraîné en rotation par un moteur unique 26. Les trois autres poulies 204, 206, 208 ou 224, 226, 228 qui ne sont pas solidaires de l'arbre moteur sont laissées libres et simplement mises en rotation par l'intermédiaire de la courroie 200 ou 220 les reliant à la poulie motrice. Des rouleaux tenseurs 28A, 28B sont également prévus comme il est connu pour assurer une tension constante des courroies.For a given drive assembly 20 or 22, only one pulley 202 or 222 out of the four existing ones is driving (preferably the pulley furthest upstream with respect to the direction of movement of the mailpieces) and connected to a common drive shaft 24 The three other pulleys 204, 206, 208 or 224, 226, 228 which are not integral with the drive shaft are left free and simply rotated by means of the belt. 200 or 220 connecting them to the driving pulley. Tensor rollers 28A, 28B are also provided as it is known to ensure a constant tension of the belts.

Pour convoyer les articles de courrier, les deux courroies des ensembles d'entraînement coopèrent chacune avec un ensemble de contre-rouleaux 30A, 30B, 32 disposés, en amont et en aval de la tête d'impression 14, au dessus de ces courroies en traversant par endroit la plaque fixe de guidage 16 (ils affleurent juste au dessous de cette plaque, afin de permettre l'entraînement de l'article de courrier). Ces contre-rouleaux pouvant tourner librement autour de leur axe respectif sont entraînés librement en rotation lors de l'avancé des articles de courrier qui sont eux mêmes entraînés en translation par les deux courroies.To convey the mail items, the two belts of the drive assemblies each cooperate with a set of counter-rollers 30A, 30B, 32 arranged, upstream and downstream of the print head 14, above these belts. traversing in place the fixed guide plate 16 (they are flush just below this plate, to allow the training of the mail item). These against-rollers freely rotatable about their respective axes are freely rotated during the advance of the mail items which are themselves driven in translation by the two belts.

Selon l'invention, pour épouser au mieux les différences d'épaisseur pouvant exister au niveau d'un même article de courrier, les déplacements verticaux des premier et deuxième ensemble d'entraînement sont réalisés indépendamment l'un de l'autre au moyen d'un système à parallélogramme 38, 40 dont les bras relient les axes des différentes poulies de chaque ensemble d'entraînement. Le système à parallélogramme permet en outre de garantir que la surface des courroies reste toujours parallèle à la plaque de guidage. Chaque système à parallélogramme agit à l'encontre d'un moyen élastique (non représenté) de telle sorte que les courroies puissent rester constamment en contact avec la face inférieure de l'article de courrier pendant tout le déplacement de celui-ci le long du chemin de guidage.According to the invention, to best match the differences in thickness that may exist in the same mail piece, the vertical displacements of the first and second drive assembly are made independently of one another by means of a parallelogram system 38, 40 whose arms connect the axes of the different pulleys of each drive assembly. The parallelogram system further ensures that the surface of the belts always remains parallel to the guide plate. Each parallelogram system acts against an elastic means (not shown) so that the belts can remain in constant contact with the underside of the mailpiece during its movement along the guide path.

Le fonctionnement de ce dispositif peut être décrit très simplement comme suit au regard des figures 5 et 6 qui montrent la sortie d'un article de courrier du dispositif selon l'invention dans les deux positions des figures 1 (respectivement 2) et 3 (respectivement 4).The operation of this device can be described very simply as follows with regard to Figures 5 and 6 which show the output of a mail article of the device according to the invention in the two positions of the figures 1 (respectively 2) and 3 (respectively 4).

Considérons un article de courrier 12 provenant d'un module d'alimentation (non représenté) situé en amont du dispositif 10. Cet article de courrier, par exemple un pli formé d'une enveloppe une liasse de documents d'une épaisseur constante, va s'engager dans un chemin de guidage et de transport formé entre la surface supérieure des courroies 200, 220 des ensembles d'entraînement et la surface inférieure de la plaque fixe de guidage 16. Sous l'action de ces courroies motorisées par l'arbre moteur commun 24 actionné par le moteur 26, le pli va être entraîné suivant la direction D de déplacement et va écarter les courroies de leur position initiale haute, d'une distance correspondant à l'épaisseur du pli. Puis, toujours poussé par ces courroies, il va passer sous la tête d'impression 14 et une fois l'impression réalisée être évacué vers un module d'expédition (non représenté).Consider a mail article 12 from a power supply module (not shown) located upstream of the device 10. This mail article, for example a fold formed of an envelope a wad of documents of a constant thickness, will engage in a guide and transport path formed between the upper surface of the belts 200, 220 of the drive assemblies and the lower surface of the fixed guide plate 16. Under the action of these motorized belts by the common motor shaft 24 actuated by the motor 26, the fold will be driven in the direction D of displacement and will move the belts from their initial high position, a distance corresponding to the thickness of the fold. Then, still pushed by these belts, it will pass under the print head 14 and once the impression made to be evacuated to a shipping module (not shown).

Durant tout le transport, la distance entre les surfaces d'éjection des buses de la tête d'impression et la surface supérieure du pli convoyé est maintenu constante, à une valeur optimale prédéterminée et dépendant des caractéristiques de la tête, quelle que soit l'épaisseur de ce pli, du fait de l'action du système à parallélogramme qui exerce une contrainte permanente sur la surface inférieure du pli, sous l'effet des moyens élastiques (ressorts de rappel non représentés), et de la plaque fixe de guidage qui fait office de butée de référence pour sa surface supérieure.During the entire transport, the distance between the ejection surfaces of the nozzles of the print head and the upper surface of the conveyed fold is kept constant, at a predetermined optimal value and depending on the characteristics of the head, whatever the thickness of this fold, due to the action of the parallelogram system which exerts a permanent stress on the lower surface of the fold, under the effect of the elastic means (return springs not shown), and the fixed guide plate which serves as a reference stop for its upper surface.

Par contre, lorsque le pli introduit dans le dispositif selon l'invention présente une épaisseur non constante sur toute sa largeur, les premier et deuxième ensembles d'entraînement vont se déplacer verticalement de façon différente pour transporter ce pli jusqu'à la zone d'impression puis l'évacuer. Dans l'exemple illustré à la figure 6 (voir aussi les figures 3 et 4), l'entrée de ce pli dans le chemin de guidage va provoquer un écartement de la courroie 200 du premier ensemble d'entraînement différent de celle 220 du deuxième ensemble d'entraînement qui aura pour effet d'engager le pli dans un déplacement rectiligne. L'inévitable louvoiement dans le guidage du pli par les ensembles d'entraînement uniques de l'art antérieur est évité par cet entraînement indépendant qui, en outre en rétablissant une surface supérieure plane à ce pli assure une meilleure mise en référence et en rendant maintenant constante le distance d à la tête d'impression garanti ainsi une parfaite qualité de l'impression.On the other hand, when the fold introduced into the device according to the invention has a non-constant thickness over its entire width, the first and second drive assemblies will move vertically in a different manner to transport this fold to the zone of impression then evacuate it. In the example shown in figure 6 (see also Figures 3 and 4 ), the entry of this fold into the guide path will cause spacing of the belt 200 of the first drive assembly different from that 220 of the second drive assembly which will have the effect of engaging the fold in a rectilinear movement . The inevitable sway in the ply guide by the unique drive assemblies of the prior art is avoided by this independent drive which, in addition by restoring a planar upper surface to this fold ensures better referencing and rendering now constant distance d to the print head thus guarantees a perfect print quality.

On notera également que pour, lors de l'arrivée des enveloppes, éviter les chocs entre le front de ces enveloppes et les poulies 204, 224, il est prévu une motorisation verticale des ensembles par des moteurs séparés 34, 36 destinés à provoquer individuellement un déplacement vertical commandé des courroies. Il suffit pour cela d'entrouvrir le chemin de guidage en abaissant les courroies d'une distance correspondant au plus (pour éviter tout patinage) à l'épaisseur maximale de l'enveloppe, déterminée préalablement en amont, par exemple au niveau du dispositif de sélection de ces enveloppes.It will also be noted that, when the envelopes arrive, avoid shocks between the front of these envelopes and the pulleys 204, 224, there is provided a vertical motorization of the assemblies by separate motors 34, 36 intended to individually cause a controlled vertical movement of the belts. To do this, it suffices to partially open the guide path by lowering the belts by a distance corresponding at most (to prevent slippage) to the maximum thickness of the envelope, determined beforehand upstream, for example at the level of the device. selection of these envelopes.

Claims (4)

  1. A device for conveying and guiding mail items in a postage meter provided with an inkjet print head, in which postage meter each mail item (12), which has a top face and a bottom face, passes under the print head (14) between a top reference surface defined by the bottom surface of a stationary guide plate (16) and a bottom reference surface, said device having at least two drive assemblies (20, 22) mounted transversely side-by-side and to move vertically independently from each other, so that the top surfaces of the mail items remain continuously pressed against said stationary guide plate regardless of the thickness of the mail item, and in particular when said thickness varies over the width of the mail item, wherein each of said drive assemblies has a belt (200, 220) whose top surface forms said bottom reference surface and which is mounted over a set of pulleys, only one of which (202; 222) is driven, the other pulleys (204, 206, 208; 224, 226, 228) being left free and being rotated merely by said belt which connects them to said driven pulley, characterized in that each of said pulley assemblies forms a parallelogram system (38, 40) whose arms interconnect the axles of the various pulleys forming each drive assembly and which acts in opposition to resilient means, so that the belts remain continuously in contact with the bottom face of the mail item throughout the movement of said mail item through the postage meter, wherein one of said arms of each of said parallelogram systems is connected to a drive shaft (34, 36) so as to enable each of said belts to move vertically in controlled manner.
  2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said vertical movement of each of said belts is controlled in function of the thickness of the mail item obtained before, upstream the device.
  3. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the driven pulleys of the drive assemblies are connected to a common drive shaft (24) driven in rotation by a single motor (26).
  4. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that, in order to convey the mail items through the postage meter, said belts co-operate with backing rollers (30A, 30B, 32) that face them, that are mounted to be free to rotate about their respective axes of rotation, and that come through to just beneath said bottom surface of the stationary guide plate.
EP07100953A 2006-01-31 2007-01-23 Optimised transport device for mail-handling machine Active EP1814087B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0650334A FR2896722A1 (en) 2006-01-31 2006-01-31 OPTIMIZED TRANSPORT DEVICE FOR MAIL PROCESSING MACHINE

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1814087A1 EP1814087A1 (en) 2007-08-01
EP1814087B1 true EP1814087B1 (en) 2010-08-18

Family

ID=37075539

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP07100953A Active EP1814087B1 (en) 2006-01-31 2007-01-23 Optimised transport device for mail-handling machine

Country Status (4)

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US (1) US7419243B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1814087B1 (en)
DE (1) DE602007008483D1 (en)
FR (1) FR2896722A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3859688A1 (en) * 2020-01-29 2021-08-04 Neopost Technologies Envelope printing device
EP4375076A1 (en) * 2022-11-22 2024-05-29 Canon Production Printing Holding B.V. A method and printer for printing on print media

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4821049A (en) * 1987-12-02 1989-04-11 Pitney Bowes Inc. Substrate transport apparatus, especially for mail handling
FR2742693B1 (en) * 1995-12-20 1998-03-13 Neopost Ind DEVICE FOR TRANSPORTING AND GUIDING MAIL ITEMS
FR2788506B1 (en) * 1999-01-19 2001-04-06 Neopost Ind OPTIMIZED CONVEYING DEVICE OF MAIL ARTICLES
US6484475B1 (en) * 1999-02-02 2002-11-26 Kisters Kayat, Inc. Modular packaging machine
FR2790997B1 (en) * 1999-03-16 2001-06-01 Secap DEVICE FOR PRINTING A SIGN AND MACHINE FOR POSTAGE THE BEARING
US6938894B2 (en) * 2002-12-19 2005-09-06 Pitney Bowes Inc. Transport mechanism and method for a mailing machine

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2896722A1 (en) 2007-08-03
DE602007008483D1 (en) 2010-09-30
US20070208675A1 (en) 2007-09-06
US7419243B2 (en) 2008-09-02
EP1814087A1 (en) 2007-08-01

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