EP2034452B1 - Method for franking, printing and illustrating flat shipping packages - Google Patents

Method for franking, printing and illustrating flat shipping packages Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2034452B1
EP2034452B1 EP07405269A EP07405269A EP2034452B1 EP 2034452 B1 EP2034452 B1 EP 2034452B1 EP 07405269 A EP07405269 A EP 07405269A EP 07405269 A EP07405269 A EP 07405269A EP 2034452 B1 EP2034452 B1 EP 2034452B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
franking
transport
shipping
shipping objects
objects
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.)
Not-in-force
Application number
EP07405269A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2034452A1 (en
Inventor
Thomas P. Haug
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.)
Frama AG
Original Assignee
Frama AG
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
Priority to EP07405269A priority Critical patent/EP2034452B1/en
Application filed by Frama AG filed Critical Frama AG
Priority to EP10005678.7A priority patent/EP2221771B1/en
Priority to AT07405269T priority patent/ATE486333T1/en
Priority to DE502007005476T priority patent/DE502007005476D1/en
Priority to AU2008207654A priority patent/AU2008207654A1/en
Priority to US12/231,548 priority patent/US20090083198A1/en
Priority to CN200810212807.6A priority patent/CN101380855B/en
Publication of EP2034452A1 publication Critical patent/EP2034452A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2034452B1 publication Critical patent/EP2034452B1/en
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00467—Transporting mailpieces
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
    • B65H29/16—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by contact of one face only with moving tapes, bands, or chains
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
    • B65H29/26—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by dropping the articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
    • B65H29/66—Advancing articles in overlapping streams
    • B65H29/6609—Advancing articles in overlapping streams forming an overlapping stream
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H5/00—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines
    • B65H5/24—Feeding articles in overlapping streams, i.e. by separation of articles from a pile
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/30—Orientation, displacement, position of the handled material
    • B65H2301/33—Modifying, selecting, changing orientation
    • B65H2301/333—Inverting
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/30—Orientation, displacement, position of the handled material
    • B65H2301/34—Modifying, selecting, changing direction of displacement
    • B65H2301/342—Modifying, selecting, changing direction of displacement with change of plane of displacement
    • B65H2301/3421—Modifying, selecting, changing direction of displacement with change of plane of displacement for changing level of plane of displacement, i.e. the material being transported in parallel planes after at least two changes of direction
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
    • B65H2301/42—Piling, depiling, handling piles
    • B65H2301/421—Forming a pile
    • B65H2301/4214—Forming a pile of articles on edge
    • B65H2301/42144—Forming a pile of articles on edge by erecting articles from horizontal transport flushing with the supporting surface of the pile
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
    • B65H2301/44—Moving, forwarding, guiding material
    • B65H2301/447—Moving, forwarding, guiding material transferring material between transport devices
    • B65H2301/4473—Belts, endless moving elements on which the material is in surface contact
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
    • B65H2301/44—Moving, forwarding, guiding material
    • B65H2301/447—Moving, forwarding, guiding material transferring material between transport devices
    • B65H2301/4473—Belts, endless moving elements on which the material is in surface contact
    • B65H2301/44732—Belts, endless moving elements on which the material is in surface contact transporting articles in overlapping stream
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
    • B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
    • B65H2701/19—Specific article or web
    • B65H2701/1916—Envelopes and articles of mail
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00467—Transporting mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00483—Batch processing of 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
    • G07B17/00467—Transporting mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00491—Mail/envelope/insert handling system

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method for franking, printing and / or imaging of flat shipping objects, such as envelopes, cards, mailers, labels, printed products and the like.
  • franking system which is associated with a conveyor system for conveying the shipping objects by the franking system, which conveyor system is the at a distance subsequent mailing objects to a franking process, and the postage stamped in a certain area area, printed and / or illustrated shipping objects then leads to the franking in a row.
  • Unsatisfactory is also a known embodiment in which the franked envelopes or shipping objects are moved after leaving the franking system in a direction transverse to the conveying direction transport, in which a shingled stream of slender formats, such as C5, for the purpose of exemption of the freshly printed fields of the shipping objects not reliable can be formed. Moreover, such an arrangement method is possible only with considerable space requirement and correspondingly high movement use of an operator.
  • the pre-published US 2003/01892283 A1 relates to a method and an apparatus for stacking packages, respectively from a letter processing machine resp. be fed to an addressing machine.
  • a receiving conveyor region is provided, which is arranged higher than a downstream conveying in the same direction Stapetitz Scheme.
  • US 200370151193 A1 2 shows a stacking device connected downstream of a postage meter machine, comprising a conveyor belt arranged at the exit of the franking machine for receiving and for the vertically downward transport of envelopes over an inclined surface into a container.
  • EP 1 431 049 A1 It is a transport system and method for a high speed processing system cooperating with a lower level upstream printing system Speed.
  • the object of the present invention is to process the freshly prepaid shipping objects so that in particular the printed stamps and / or advertising signs as well as other information remain undamaged,
  • the dispatching objects leaving the franking system at a distance one behind the other are deposited in an imbricated formation into a shed formation in which the distance between the shipping objects corresponds at least approximately to the size of the area freshly franked on a shipping object.
  • the shipping objects are conveyed via the drop step to a transport system angoerdneter underneath the franking system with a direction opposite to the conveying direction of the franking system.
  • Direction of transport deposited in a scale flow in which the distance of the transported in the longitudinal direction of shipping objects at least approximately corresponds to the length of the shipping objects used for franking.
  • the Schuppenstrom Struktur is advantageously carried out by a reduced after franking the shipping objects transport speed, ie, a lower speed than the applied during franking conveying speed with which the shipping objects are individually printed.
  • the formation of imbricated flow is assisted by a stop, which is switched into the trajectory of the mailing objects leaving the franking system in order to establish the distance between the objects to be sent.
  • the attack can intercept the shipping objects resp. position and initially guide laterally in a direction transverse to the conveying direction when franking transport direction.
  • a device for franking, printing and / or imaging of flat shipping objects by means of franking system which has a franking unit for franking and / or imaging of the shipping objects, which are fed individually to the franking unit, passed through this and carried away, wherein the mailing unit is associated with a conveyor system forming a franking section, the delivery end of which terminates in a transport system.
  • Franking systems are placed on plan shelves or tables and have a freely accessible length for operation by persons.
  • the increasing processing volume of the flat shipping objects such as letters, cards or printed matter of all kinds force to higher processing speeds, so that the performance of the franking systems of an operator is no longer manageable and therefore make technical improvements required.
  • these are arranged at the end of a franking system Collection container incapable of further processing the large volume of prepaid shipping objects. be prepared for further processing, especially if the shipping objects are automatically separated from a stack supplied to a franking and / or imaging aggregate. This circumstance has prompted designers of franking systems to equip the latter with a transport system at the end of delivery which is suitable for forming a shingled stream of the franked and / or imaged shipping objects.
  • this object is achieved in that the shipping objects leaving the franking system at a distance from one another are deposited in a shingled stream on a transport system arranged below the conveyor system and oriented in the opposite direction to the conveying direction of the conveyor system, in which the distance of the shipping objects from each other at least approximately corresponding to the length of the freshly franked area on a mailpiece used for franking.
  • a transport system arranged below the conveyor system and oriented in the opposite direction to the conveying direction of the conveyor system, in which the distance of the shipping objects from each other at least approximately corresponding to the length of the freshly franked area on a mailpiece used for franking.
  • an underschl foundedes transport system which consists of an endlessly circulating between two spaced axes conveyor belt of which one is driven and with which a transport surface is formed, wherein the transport surface is approximately parallel to the conveying path of the franking system associated conveyor system.
  • a conveyor belt can also be used transversely to the transport direction extending and lined up in the latter transport rollers as a transport system, wherein the transport rollers by means of driven traction means,
  • a roller chain or a drive belt can be drivingly connected to each other.
  • the transport system can travel along a conveying path which runs through the feed line provided for the franking system.
  • Feed line, the franking and / or Betradeungsumble and the WegLabrange the franked shipping objects is formed, adjustable and adjustable trained.
  • this does not mean that the delivery end of the transport system, the upstream end of the delivery of the franking system resp. the feed end of the conveyor system is superior, although this could be an advantage for removing the shipping items for further handling of the franked shipping items.
  • the transport speed of the transport system relative to the conveying speed of the mailpieces to be franked resp. the moving on the conveyor system of the franking system packages is changeable in order to maintain the isolation or to be able to transport the shipping objects in a shingled stream with selectable scale distance can.
  • the speed used for franking may also be used to form the transport stream on the transport system, but this would not correspond to the use of optimal performance of the franking system.
  • the upstream end of the transport system is assigned a stop for the franked shipping objects guided away from the franking system by the delivery system.
  • the stop in turn, the distance of the shipping objects on the transport system be influenced and prevented that the shipping system leaving the franking system are not promoted too far to be no longer detected by the transponder system can.
  • the stop is preferably spaced and adjustably spaced from the upstream end of the transport system and may be used in cooperation with the position of the transport system in the conveying direction of the shipping objects, in particular for optimizing the transport flow on the transport system.
  • the transfer of the franked shipping objects to the transport system can be promoted if the downstream end of a delivery device of the franking system is opposite the transport system.
  • a receiving device jamming the shipping objects is arranged at the delivery end of the transport system, which collects the incoming shipping objects into a heap or stack, so that they can be removed by hand.
  • the receiving device is advantageously designed as a positionally adjustable support element, on which the shipping objects accumulate at least partially erect.
  • the support element can be adjusted appropriately in different inclination position so that the accumulating shipping objects erect each other and form a sloping stack that is easily removed.
  • the support element can, at an angle oriented transversely to the transport direction of the transport system, into different inclined positions adapted to the formation of the shipping objects stream, to be panned.
  • the franking and transport system can be detachably connected one above the other.
  • the conveyor belt of the transport system be provided with passages and below a working strum with an evacuable chamber which extends approximately to the delivery end of the transport system, so that the shipping objects adhere to the perforated conveyor belt until leaving the transport system,
  • a stacking device receiving the shipping objects may be arranged, in which the shipping objects are taken over one another after dropping.
  • a turntable is suitable as a stack floor, which is rotatable by 180 ° to compensate for the different thickness of a mailpiece and has a pre-collection device that holds the shipping objects during rotation of the table.
  • the Fig. 1 to 3 show a device 1 with a franking system 2 for franking and / or imaging of flat shipping objects 3, such as envelopes, cards, mailers, small packages, labels, printed products or the like.
  • the franking system 2 consists of a franking unit 4, the shipping objects 3 with a Marks and / or advertising signs and / or information provides, the franking unit 4 by hand or by means of mechanical feeding device 5 can be charged.
  • a supply device can be seen with which the shipping objects are separated from a stack (not shown) on its underside and then fed to the franking unit 4 by means of a loading device 6.
  • a usable automatic feeding device 5 with shipping objects 3 is in the European patent application no.
  • a conveyor system 7 ensures a continuous conveyor flow from the feed via the feedthrough and the routing of the shipping objects 3 in the franking system 2.
  • the conveyor section of the conveyor system 7 assigned to the franking system 2 could be referred to as a franking section.
  • Fig. 1 in that the franking system 2, in technical language, also denotes a franking machine, is placed on a plate 8 or a table whose length approximately corresponds to that of the franking system.
  • the plate 8 may be fixed to a stand 11 supported on the floor (mobile) or to a wall (not shown).
  • a conveying end 9 of the conveying system 7 assigned to the franking system 2 opens into a transport system 10, which is located below the franking 2 and the conveying system 7, respectively. extends and is driven in the opposite direction to these promoting.
  • the transport system 10 has an endless circulating conveyor belt 12, which at the franking 2- resp. the conveyor system 7 facing upper side resp. Funding side forms a working group 13 to which the franked resp. imaged shipping objects 3 fall over a level formed by the conveyor system 7 and the transport system 10 (case level or conveyor stage). The height of this step is more than the thickest shipping object 3 transported on the transport system 109.
  • the step or drop step could also be designed to be changeable, for which purpose the height distance between conveyor system 7 and the conveyor system 10, which runs approximately parallel to it and forms an approximately horizontal conveyor plane, would have to be adjustable.
  • the conveyor belt 12 of the transport system 10 revolves around two spaced guide rollers 14 which have transversely to the transport direction arranged axes, one of which is driven.
  • the transport system has a side cover 21.
  • a device could be used which forms a conveying plane for transporting objects to be transported 3 by transport rollers. With the conveyor ends, the transport system 10 dominates the conveyor 7- resp.
  • Franking 2 formed adjustable, that is, the measure of the supernatant of the upstream in the transport direction conveying end of the transport system 10 may be selected so that a trouble-free operation.
  • the ideal Ueberstandsmass depends on the format, weight and / or speed of the franking continuous shipping items 3. Accordingly, by the transport speed of Trasnsportsystems 10 resp.
  • a stop 16 for the franked and / or imaged mailpieces 3 led away from the franking system 2 by the conveyor system 7 is arranged at the upstream conveying end of the transport system 10.
  • the stop 16 provides a guarantee for a deflection of the shipping objects 3 and supports the desired formation of transported on the transport system 10 shipping objects 3.
  • the stop 16 can be adjusted relative to the upstream end of the conveyor system 10, ie approximately or further removed. This is like in the Fig.
  • the transport system 10 preferably also projects beyond the upstream conveying end of the franking 2 or its conveying system 7 when the former is maximally extended beyond the downstream conveying end of the franking 2 or conveying system, respectively. This projected maximum, so that the shipping objects 3 are easily removed at the end of delivery of the transport system 10.
  • a receiving device 18 is attached, at which the shipping objects 3 lift to a stack-like formation standing.
  • the receiving device 18 causes a congestion of standing shipping objects 3 and has a respect to position about a transversely to the transport direction of the transport system 10 aligned axis in different inclinations adjustable support member 19 and a lateral guide 20.
  • the receiving device 18 projects beyond the franking system 2 or the conveyor system 7 arranged above it.
  • Franking system 2 and transport system 10 are formed separable from each other, whereby a subsequent cultivation of the transport system 10 to a franking system 2 is possible, respectively. the franking system 2 that can be removed with a transport system 10 also (not according to the invention) solo is usable.
  • the conveyor belt of the transport system 10 may be provided with openings and the workstring be performed on an underneath tightly arranged, evacuated chamber, which causes the shipping objects to leave the chamber, respectively. of the transport end stick on the working strand of the conveyor belt.
  • a stacking device accommodating the shipping objects could also be arranged, which advantageously has a turntable and a pre-collecting device arranged above it.

Abstract

The method involves attaching a conveyer system (7) to a stamping system (2) for conveying shipping objects (3). The conveyer system leads down the shipping objects moving at a distance to a stamping process and the shipping objects which are stamped, printed or illustrated in a certain surface region. The shipping objects leaving the stamping system consecutively at a distance are distributed over a falling stage in a shingle stream, in which the distance of the shipping objects approximately correspond to the dimensions of the fresh off the press stamped surface region on shipping objects. An independent claim is included for a unit for stamping or illustrating flat shipping objects by a stamping system.

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren zum Frankieren, Bedrucken und/oder Bebildem von flachen Versandobjekten, wie Briefumschläge, Karten, Versandtaschen, Etiketten, Druckprodukte und dgl. Mittels Frankiersystem, dem ein Fördersystem zum Fördern der Versandobjekte durch das Frankiersystem zugeordnet ist, welches Fördersystem die sich im Abstand folgenden Versandobjekte einem Frankiervorgang zu-, und die in einem bestimmten Flächenbereich frankierten, bedruckten und/oder bebilderten Versandobjekte anschliessend an das Frankieren hintereinander wegführt.The invention relates to a method for franking, printing and / or imaging of flat shipping objects, such as envelopes, cards, mailers, labels, printed products and the like. By means of franking system, which is associated with a conveyor system for conveying the shipping objects by the franking system, which conveyor system is the at a distance subsequent mailing objects to a franking process, and the postage stamped in a certain area area, printed and / or illustrated shipping objects then leads to the franking in a row.

Bei Frankiersystemen tritt aufgrund der anfallenden grossen Mengen resp. Auflagen an Versandobjekten oft der Umstand ein, dass sich ein hohes Aufkommen mit einer Person nicht verarbeiten lässt, will man die maximale Durchsatzmenge aufrechterhalten.
Dies kann bekanntlich u.a. damit erreicht werden, dass die Versandobjekte nach dem Frankieren in einem Schuppenstrom weitertransportiert und am Ende des Förderweges als angestaute Boride oder Stapel entnommen werden, Unbeachtet jedoch bleibt, dass mit dieser Massnahme die frisch bedruckten Felder oder Flächenbereiche auf den Versandobjekten bis zur Unlesbarkeit verschmiert wurden, weil ein jeweils auf ein frankiertes Versandobjekt unkontrolliert geführt auftreffendes nachfolgendes Versandobjekt bei der Schuppenbildung einen Gleitreibungseffekt erzeugt.In franking systems occurs due to the accumulating large quantities resp. Conditions on shipping objects often the circumstance that a large amount of revenue can not be processed with one person, you want to maintain the maximum throughput.
This can, as is known, be achieved, inter alia, by transporting the shipping objects in a shingled stream after franking and removing them as jammed borides or stacks at the end of the conveying path. However, this measure negatively influences the freshly printed fields or surface areas on the shipping objects were smudged to illegibility, because each uncontrolled led to a franked shipping object incident subsequent shipping object generates a sliding friction effect during dandruff.

Unbefriedigend ist auch eine bekannte Ausführung, bei welcher die frankierten Briefumschläge oder Versandobjekte nach Verlassen des Frankiersystems in einen quer zur Förderrichtung verlaufenden Transportstrom versetzt werden, bei dem ein Schuppenstrom aus schlanken Formaten, beispielsweise C5, zum Zweck einer Freistellung der druckfrischen Felder der Versandobjekte nicht zuverlässig gebildet werden kann. Ueberdies ist eine solche Anordnungsweise nur mit erheblichem Platzanspruch und entsprechend hohem Bewegungseinsatz einer Bedienungsperson möglich.Unsatisfactory is also a known embodiment in which the franked envelopes or shipping objects are moved after leaving the franking system in a direction transverse to the conveying direction transport, in which a shingled stream of slender formats, such as C5, for the purpose of exemption of the freshly printed fields of the shipping objects not reliable can be formed. Moreover, such an arrangement method is possible only with considerable space requirement and correspondingly high movement use of an operator.

Die vorveröffentlichte US 2003/01892283 A1 betrifft ein Verfahren und eine Vorrichtung zum Stapeln von Versandstücken, die von einer Brieverarbeitungsmaschine resp. einer Adressiermaschine zugeführt werden. Hierzu ist ein Aufnahmeförderbereich vorgesehen, der höher als ein nachgeschalteter in die gleiche Richtung fördernder Stapetförderbereich angeordnet ist.The pre-published US 2003/01892283 A1 relates to a method and an apparatus for stacking packages, respectively from a letter processing machine resp. be fed to an addressing machine. For this purpose, a receiving conveyor region is provided, which is arranged higher than a downstream conveying in the same direction Stapetförderbereich.

Die früher bekanntgewordene US 200370151193 A1 vermittelt eine einer Frankiermaschine nachgeschaltete Stapelvorrichtung, bestehend aus einem am Ausgang der Frankiermaschine angeordneten Förderband zur Aufnahme und zum senkrecht nach unten gerichteten Trasport von Briefumschlägen über eine schräg gestellte Fläche in einen Behälter.The previously known US 200370151193 A1 2 shows a stacking device connected downstream of a postage meter machine, comprising a conveyor belt arranged at the exit of the franking machine for receiving and for the vertically downward transport of envelopes over an inclined surface into a container.

Bei der vorveröffentlichten EP 1 431 049 A1 handelt es sich um ein Transportsystem und ein Verfahren für ein Hochgeschwindigkeits-Verarbeitungssystem zusammenwirkend mit einem vorgeschalteten Drucksystem mit geringerer Geschwindigkeit.At the pre-published EP 1 431 049 A1 It is a transport system and method for a high speed processing system cooperating with a lower level upstream printing system Speed.

Damit hat sich an die vorliegende Erfindung die Aufgabe gestellt, die frisch frankierten Versandobjekte so weiter zu verarbeiten, dass insbesondere die aufgedruckten Wertzeichen und/oder Werbezeichen sowie andere Informationen unbeschädigt bleiben,Thus, the object of the present invention is to process the freshly prepaid shipping objects so that in particular the printed stamps and / or advertising signs as well as other information remain undamaged,

Hierzu werden die das Frankiersystem im Abstand hintereinander verlassenden Versandobjekte über eine Fallstufe in eine Schuppenformation abgesetz in weicher der Abstand der Versandobjekte zueinander wenigstens annähernd der Grösse des druckfrisch frankierten Flächenbereichs auf einem Versandobjekt entspricht.
Dadurch kann ohne Leistungseinbusse eine große Menge Versandobjekte weitertransportiert werden und ein Verschmieren, Verwischen oder Unkenntlichmachen der gedruckten Bilder vermieden werden.For this purpose, the dispatching objects leaving the franking system at a distance one behind the other are deposited in an imbricated formation into a shed formation in which the distance between the shipping objects corresponds at least approximately to the size of the area freshly franked on a shipping object.
As a result, a large amount of shipping objects can be transported without sacrificing performance and smearing, blurring or blurring of the printed images can be avoided.

Zur Bildung eines Schuppenstromes werden bei Anwendung des vorgeschlagenen Verfahrens die Versandobjekte über die Fallstufe in ein unterhalb des Frankiersystems angoerdnetes Transportsystem mit entgegengesetzt zur Förderrichtung des Frankiersystems gerichteter. Transportrichtung in einen Schuppenstrom abgesetzt, in dem der Abstand der in Längsrichtung transportierten Versandobjekte wenigstens annähernd der für das Frankieren benutzten Länge der Versandobjekte entspricht.In order to form a shingled stream, when the proposed method is used, the shipping objects are conveyed via the drop step to a transport system angoerdneter underneath the franking system with a direction opposite to the conveying direction of the franking system. Direction of transport deposited in a scale flow, in which the distance of the transported in the longitudinal direction of shipping objects at least approximately corresponds to the length of the shipping objects used for franking.

Die Schuppenstrombildung erfolgt zweckmässig durch eine nach dem Frankieren der Versandobjekte reduzierte Transportgeschwindigkeit, d.h., eine geringere Geschwindigkeit als die beim Frankieren angewandte Fördergeschwindigkeit, mit welcher die Versandobjekte einzeln bedruckt werden.The Schuppenstrombildung is advantageously carried out by a reduced after franking the shipping objects transport speed, ie, a lower speed than the applied during franking conveying speed with which the shipping objects are individually printed.

Hierzu kann noch vermerkt werden, dass es sich um vornehmlich grössere Serien vornehmlich formatgleicher Versandobjekte handelt, die verarbeitet werden. Werden unterschiedlich lange Versandobjekte auf dem Förderweg des Frankiersystems verarbeitet, wäre eine Steuerung vorteilhaft, mit der die unterschiedlichen Längen der Versandobjekte beim Frankieren erfasst sowie ausgewertet und die Schuppenbildung entsprechend gesteuert wird.It can also be noted that these are primarily larger series, primarily of the same format shipping objects, which are processed. If shipping objects of different lengths are processed on the conveying path of the franking system, a control would be advantageous with which the different lengths of the mailing objects during franking are detected and evaluated and the dandruff formation is controlled accordingly.

Im übrigen ist vorgeschlagen, dass die Schuppenstrombildung durch einen Anschlag unterstützt wird, der zur Abstandsbildung zwischen den Versandobjekten in die Flugbahn der das Frankiersystem verlassenden Versandobjekte geschaltet wird. Dabei kann der Anschlag die Versandobjekte abfangen resp. positionieren und bei einer quer zur Förderrichtung beim Frankieren verlaufenden Transportrichtung anfänglich seitlich führen.Incidentally, it is proposed that the formation of imbricated flow is assisted by a stop, which is switched into the trajectory of the mailing objects leaving the franking system in order to establish the distance between the objects to be sent. The attack can intercept the shipping objects resp. position and initially guide laterally in a direction transverse to the conveying direction when franking transport direction.

Zur Durchführung der Erfindung eignet sich eine Einrichtung zum Frankieren, Bedrucken und/oder Bebildern von flachen Versandobjekten mittels Frankiersystem, das ein Frankieraggregat für das Frankieren und/oder Bebildern der Versandobjekte aufweist, die dem Frankieraggregat einzeln zugeführt, durch dieses hindurchgeführt und weggeführt werden, wobei dem Frankieraggregat ein eine Frankierstrecke bildendes Fördersystem zugeordnet ist, dessen Förderende in ein Transportsystem mündet.For carrying out the invention, a device for franking, printing and / or imaging of flat shipping objects by means of franking system, which has a franking unit for franking and / or imaging of the shipping objects, which are fed individually to the franking unit, passed through this and carried away, wherein the mailing unit is associated with a conveyor system forming a franking section, the delivery end of which terminates in a transport system.

Frankiersysteme werden auf planen Abstellflächen oder Tischen aufgestellt und weisen eine frei zugängliche Länge zur Bedienung durch Personen auf. Die zunehmende Verarbeitungsmenge der flachen Versandobjekte, beispielsweise Briefe, Karten oder Drucksachen aller Art zwingen zu höheren Verarbeitungsgeschwindigkeiten, sodass die Leistung der Frankiersysteme von einer Bedienungsperson nicht mehr beherrschbar ist und deshalb technische Verbesserungen erforderlich machen. U.a. sind die am Ende eines Frankiersystems angeordneten Auffangbehälter ausserstande, das große Aufkommen frankierter Versandobjekte weiter verarbeiten resp. für eine Weiterverarbeitung aufbereiten zu können, insbesondere dann, wenn die Versandobjekte von einem Stapel automatisch vereinzelt einem Frankier- und/oder Bebilderungsaggregat zugeführt werden.
Dieser Umstand hat Konstrukteure von Frankiersystemen veranlasst, letztere am Förderende mit einem Transportsystem auszustatten, das sich zur Bildung eines Schuppenstromes aus den frankierten und/oder bebilderten Versandobjekte eignet. Mit dieser Massnahme können auf einem Weitertransportweg mehr Versandobjekte mit reduzierter Geschwindigkeit transportiert resp. aufgenommen resp. verarbeitet werden. Dieser Teilerfolg führt neben dem Umstand einer das Frankiersystem verlängernden Förderstrecke zu dem weiteren Nachteil, dass die druckfrisch frankierten Versandobjekte im Schuppenstrom so übereinander zu liegen kommen, dass das einem im Nachlaufbereich resp. im in Förderrichtung hinteren Versandobjektbereich frankierten und/oder bebilderten Versandobjekt nachfolgende Versandobjekt das aufgedruckte Bild resp. Wertzeichen ersterens durch einen durch das nachfolgende Versandobjekt auf ersterem ausgelösten Gleiteffekt verschmieren kann.
Dieser Umstand kann auch dadurch nicht behoben werden, indem das Wegführen der Versandobjekte rechtwinklig zur Förderrichtung der Fördereinrichtung des Frankiersystems erfolgt.
Damit ist die spätere maschinelle Lesbarkeit resp. Verarbeitbarkeit eines Versandobjektes nicht mehr gewährleistet und der zusätzliche Bedarf einer Austellfläche nicht eliminiert.Franking systems are placed on plan shelves or tables and have a freely accessible length for operation by persons. The increasing processing volume of the flat shipping objects, such as letters, cards or printed matter of all kinds force to higher processing speeds, so that the performance of the franking systems of an operator is no longer manageable and therefore make technical improvements required. Among other things, these are arranged at the end of a franking system Collection container incapable of further processing the large volume of prepaid shipping objects. be prepared for further processing, especially if the shipping objects are automatically separated from a stack supplied to a franking and / or imaging aggregate.
This circumstance has prompted designers of franking systems to equip the latter with a transport system at the end of delivery which is suitable for forming a shingled stream of the franked and / or imaged shipping objects. With this measure, more dispatch objects can be transported or reduced at a reduced speed on a further transport path. recorded resp. are processed. This partial success leads, in addition to the fact that the conveying system extends the franking system, to the further disadvantage that the freshly franked shipping objects come to lie one above the other in the shingled stream in such a way that the one in the trailing area, respectively. in the conveying direction behind the delivery object area franked and / or illustrated shipping object following shipping object the printed image resp. Value stamp first by a smeared by the subsequent shipping object on the former sliding effect can smear.
This circumstance can not be remedied by the fact that the removal of the shipping objects is perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveyor of the franking system.
This is the later machine readability resp. Processability of a shipping object is no longer guaranteed and the additional needs of an exhibition area not eliminated.

Gemäss Aufgabe der vorliegenden Erfindung gilt es, die eben erwähnten Nachteile auszuschliessen und eine Einrichtung zu schaffen, mit der das Wegführen der frankierten und/oder bebilderten Versandobjekte ohne Störeffekt mit einem wirtschaftlicheren Erfolg durchgeführt werden kann.According to the object of the present invention, it is necessary to exclude the above-mentioned disadvantages and to provide a device with which the removal of the franked and / or imaged shipping objects without disruptive effect can be carried out with more economical success.

Erfindungsgemäss wird diese Aufgabe dadurch gelöst, dass die das Frankiersystem im Abstand hintereinander verlassenden Versandobjekte über eine Fallstufe - auf ein unterhalb des Fördersystems angeordnetes, eine entgegengesetzt zur Förderrichtung des Fördersystems gerichtete Transportrichtung aufweisendes Transportsystem in einen Schuppenstrom abgesetzt werden, in welchem der Abstand der Versandobjekte zueinander wenigstens annahernd der für das Frankieren benutzten Länge des druckfrisch frankierten Flächenbereichs auf einem Versandobjekt entspricht.
Damit wird es möglich sein, die frankierten Versandobjekte zu transportieren, ohne dass die aufgedruckten Wertzeichen von den nachfolgenden Versandobjekten beschädigt oder unleserlich gemacht werden, indem die nachfolgenden Versandobjekte auf einfache Weise und ohne Einschränkung des Frankiervorganges auf einem unbedruckten Bereich des vorauslaufenden Versandobjektes aufgelegt werden. Wesentlich ist dass die Versandobjekte vom Verschmieren, Verwischen oder der Unlesbarkeit eines Bildes aufgrund des Transportes verschont bleiben, und dass sie sich in der gewünschten Form weiter verarbeiten lassen,According to the invention, this object is achieved in that the shipping objects leaving the franking system at a distance from one another are deposited in a shingled stream on a transport system arranged below the conveyor system and oriented in the opposite direction to the conveying direction of the conveyor system, in which the distance of the shipping objects from each other at least approximately corresponding to the length of the freshly franked area on a mailpiece used for franking.
Thus, it will be possible to transport the franked shipping objects without the printed stamps are damaged or illegible by the subsequent shipping objects by the subsequent shipping objects are placed on a blank area of the leading shipping object in a simple manner and without limitation of the franking process. It is essential that the shipping objects from smearing, blurring or illegibility of an image due to the transport are spared, and that they can be further processed in the desired form,

Vorteilhaft erweist sich ein unterschlächtiges Transportsystem, das aus einem zwischen zwei beabstandeten Achsen endlos umlaufenden Transportband besteht von denen eine angetrieben ist und mit dem eine Transportfläche gebildet wird, wobei die Transportfläche etwa parallel zur Förderstrecke des dem Frankiersystem zugeordneten Fördersystems verläuft.Advantageously proves an unterschlächtiges transport system, which consists of an endlessly circulating between two spaced axes conveyor belt of which one is driven and with which a transport surface is formed, wherein the transport surface is approximately parallel to the conveying path of the franking system associated conveyor system.

Anstelle eines Transportbandes können auch quer zur Transportrichtung sich erstreckende und in letzterer aneinandergereihte Transportrollen als Transportsystem verwendet werden, wobei die Transportrollen mittels angetriebenem Zugmittel, beispielsweise einer Rollenkette oder einem Antriebsriemen untereinander antriebsverbunden sein können.Instead of a conveyor belt can also be used transversely to the transport direction extending and lined up in the latter transport rollers as a transport system, wherein the transport rollers by means of driven traction means, For example, a roller chain or a drive belt can be drivingly connected to each other.

Im Sinne einer Anpassung an die zu wählende Transportformation der Versandobjekte auf dem Transportsystem und in Anpassung an die Fördergeschwindigkeit der das Frankiersystem verlassenden Versandobjekte kann das Transportsystem entlang einer Förderstrecke, die durch die dem Frankiersystem obliegende Zuführstrecke resp. Beschickungsstrecke, der Frankier- und/oder Bebilderungsstrecke und der Wegführstrecke der frankierten Versandobjekte gebildet wird, verstell- und einstellbar ausgebildet sein. Das heisst jedoch nicht, dass das Abgabeende des Transportsystems das stromaufwärtige Förderende des Frankiersystems resp. das Zuführende des Fördersystems überragt, obschon dies zur Entnahme der Versandobjekte ein Vorteil sein könnte für das weitere Handhaben der frankierten Versandobjekte.In the sense of an adaptation to the transport formation of the shipping objects to be selected on the transport system and in adaptation to the conveying speed of the shipping objects leaving the franking system, the transport system can travel along a conveying path which runs through the feed line provided for the franking system. Feed line, the franking and / or Bebilderungsstrecke and the Wegführstrecke the franked shipping objects is formed, adjustable and adjustable trained. However, this does not mean that the delivery end of the transport system, the upstream end of the delivery of the franking system resp. the feed end of the conveyor system is superior, although this could be an advantage for removing the shipping items for further handling of the franked shipping items.

Bei einer Weiterausgestaltung der erfindungsgemässen Einrichtung ist es Zweckmässig, wenn die Transportgeschwindigkeit des Transportsystems gegenüber der Fördergeschwindigkeit der zu frankierenden Versandobjekte resp. der auf dem Fördersystem des Frankiersystems bewegten Versandstücke veränderbar ist, um die Vereinzelung beibehalten oder die Versandobjekte in einen Schuppenstrom mit wählbarem Schuppenabstand weiter transportieren zu können. Selbstverständlich kann auch die zum Frankieren verwendete Geschwindigkeit zur Formation des Transportstromes auf dem Transportsystem benutzt werden, was jedoch nicht der Nutzung einer optimalen Leistung des Frankiersystemes entsprechen würde,In a further embodiment of the inventive device, it is expedient if the transport speed of the transport system relative to the conveying speed of the mailpieces to be franked resp. the moving on the conveyor system of the franking system packages is changeable in order to maintain the isolation or to be able to transport the shipping objects in a shingled stream with selectable scale distance can. Of course, the speed used for franking may also be used to form the transport stream on the transport system, but this would not correspond to the use of optimal performance of the franking system.

Es erweist sich als besonderer Vorteil, wenn dem stromaufwärtigen Ende des Transportsystems ein Anschlag für die durch das Fördersystem von dem Frankiersystem weggeführten frankierten Versandobjekten zugeordnet ist. Mit dem Anschlag kann wiederum der Abstand der Versandobjekte auf dem Transportsystem beeinflusst werden und verhindert werden, dass die das Frankiersystem verlassenden Versandobjekte nicht zu weit gefördert werden, um vom Transpotsystem nicht mehr erfasst werden zu können.It proves to be a particular advantage if the upstream end of the transport system is assigned a stop for the franked shipping objects guided away from the franking system by the delivery system. With the stop, in turn, the distance of the shipping objects on the transport system be influenced and prevented that the shipping system leaving the franking system are not promoted too far to be no longer detected by the transponder system can.

Der Anschlag ist vorzugsweise von dem stromaufwärtigen Ende des Transportsystems beabstandet und verstellbar angeordnet und kann zusammenwirkend mit der Position des Transportsystems in Förderrichtung der Versandobjekte verwendet werden, insbesondere zur Optimierung des Transportstromes auf dem Transportsystem.The stop is preferably spaced and adjustably spaced from the upstream end of the transport system and may be used in cooperation with the position of the transport system in the conveying direction of the shipping objects, in particular for optimizing the transport flow on the transport system.

Die Ueberführung der frankierten Versandobjekte auf das Transportsystem kann begünstigt werden, wenn das stromabwärtige Förderende einer Wegführvorrichtung des Frankiersystems gegenüber dem Transportsystem zurücksteht.The transfer of the franked shipping objects to the transport system can be promoted if the downstream end of a delivery device of the franking system is opposite the transport system.

Zum Zwecke einer bevorzugten Weiterverarbeitung der Versandobjekte ist am Förderende des Transportsystems eine die Versandobjekte stauende Aufnahmevorrichtung angeordnet, die die ankommenden Versandobjekte zu einem Haufen oder Stapel sammelt, sodass sie von Hand entnommen werden können.For the purpose of a preferred further processing of the shipping objects, a receiving device jamming the shipping objects is arranged at the delivery end of the transport system, which collects the incoming shipping objects into a heap or stack, so that they can be removed by hand.

Hierzu ist die Aufnahmevorrichtung vorteilhaft als ein hinsichtlich Lage verstellbares Stützelement ausgebildet, an dem sich die Versandobjekte wenigstens teilweise aufgerichtet anstauen.For this purpose, the receiving device is advantageously designed as a positionally adjustable support element, on which the shipping objects accumulate at least partially erect.

Das Stützelement lässt sich zweckentsprechend in verschiedene Neigungslage einstellen, sodass die sich anstauenden Versandobjekte aneinander aufrichten und einen schrägstehenden Stapel bilden, der leicht entnehmbar ist.The support element can be adjusted appropriately in different inclination position so that the accumulating shipping objects erect each other and form a sloping stack that is easily removed.

Das Stützelement kann um eine quer zur Transportrichtung des Transportsystems gerichtete Achse in unterschiedliche Schräglagen, angepasst an die Formation des Versandobjekte-Stromes, geschwenkt werden.The support element can, at an angle oriented transversely to the transport direction of the transport system, into different inclined positions adapted to the formation of the shipping objects stream, to be panned.

Ob gemeinsam oder einzeln installiert, kann das Frankier- und das Transportsystem übereinander lösbar verbunden sein.Whether installed together or individually, the franking and transport system can be detachably connected one above the other.

Vorteilhaft kann u.a. für hohe Transportgeschwindigkeiten das Transportband des Transportsystems mit Durchtrittsöffnungen und unterhalb eines Arbeitstrums mit einer evakuierbaren Kammer versehen sein, die sich annähernd zum Förderende des Transportsystems erstreckt, so dass die Versandobjekte bis zum Verlassen des Transportsystems an dem durchlöcherten Transportband haften,Advantageously, u.a. for high transport speeds, the conveyor belt of the transport system be provided with passages and below a working strum with an evacuable chamber which extends approximately to the delivery end of the transport system, so that the shipping objects adhere to the perforated conveyor belt until leaving the transport system,

Alternativ kann anstelle einer Stauvorrichtung an das Ende des Transportsystems anschliessend eine die Versandobjekte aufnehmende Stapelvorrichtung angeordnet sein, in der die Versandobjekte nach Abwurf übereinanderliegend aufgenommen werden.Alternatively, instead of a stowage device at the end of the transport system then a stacking device receiving the shipping objects may be arranged, in which the shipping objects are taken over one another after dropping.

Zu diesem Zweck eignet sich ein Drehtisch als Stapelboden, der zum Ausgleich der unterschiedlichen Dicke eines Versandobjektes um 180° drehbar ist und eine Vorsammelvorrichtung aufweist, die die Versandobjekte während dem Drehen des Tisches aufhält.For this purpose, a turntable is suitable as a stack floor, which is rotatable by 180 ° to compensate for the different thickness of a mailpiece and has a pre-collection device that holds the shipping objects during rotation of the table.

Anschliessend wird die Erfindung unter Bezugnahme auf die Zeichnung, auf die bezüglich aller in der Beschreibung nicht erwähnten Einzelheiten verwiesen wird, anhand eines Ausführungsbeispiels erläutert. In der Zeichnung zeigen:

  • Fig. 1 eine Ansicht einer ertndungsgemässen Einrichtung,
  • Fig. 2 eine Seitenansicht gemäss Pfeilrichtung A der in Fig. 1 dargestellten Einrichtung und
  • Fig. 3 eine räumliche Darstellung der in den Fig. 1 und 2 gezeigten Einrichtung.
Subsequently, the invention will be explained with reference to the drawing, to which reference is made with respect to all details not mentioned in the description, using an exemplary embodiment. In the drawing show:
  • Fig. 1 a view of a device according to the invention,
  • Fig. 2 a side view according to arrow A of in Fig. 1 represented device and
  • Fig. 3 a spatial representation of the in the Fig. 1 and 2 shown device.

Die Fig. 1 bis 3 zeigen eine Einrichtung 1 mit einem Frankiersystem 2 zum Frankieren und/oder Bebildern von flachen Versandobjekten 3, wie beispielsweise Briefumschläge, Karten, Versandtaschen, Kleinpakete, Etiketten, Druckprodukte oder dgl. Das Frankiersystem 2 besteht aus einem Frankieraggregat 4, das die Versandobjekte 3 mit einem Wertzeichen und/oder Werbezeichen und/oder Informationen versieht, wobei das Frankieraggregat 4 von Hand oder mittels mechanischer Zuführvorrichtung 5 beschickt werden kann. In Fig. 1 ist eine Zuführvorrichtung erkennbar, mit der die Versandobjekte von einem Stapel (nicht ersichtlich) an dessen Unterseite vereinzelt und anschliessend mittels einer Beschickungseinrichtung 6 dem Frankieraggregat 4 zugeführt werden. Eine verwendbare automatische Zuführvorrichtung 5 mit Versandobjekten 3 ist in der europäischen Patent anmeldung Nr. 0640506.3 beschrieben (veröffentlicht als EP1832536 ).
Ein Fördersystem 7 sorgt für einen kontinuierlichen Förderfluss von der Zuführung über die Durchführung und die Wegführung der Versandobjekte 3 im Frankiersystem 2. Der dem Frankiersystem 2 zugeordnete Förderabschnitt des Fördersystems 7 könnte als Frankierstrecke bezeichnet werden. Weiterhin zeigt Fig. 1, dass das Frankiersystem 2 in der Fachsprache auch Frankiermaschine bezeichnet, auf einer Platte 8 oder einem Tisch abgestellt ist, dessen Länge etwa derjenigen des Frankiersystems entspricht. Die Platte 8 kann an einem auf dem Boden (fahrbar) abgestützten Gestell 11 oder an einer Wand (nicht dargestellt) befestigt sein. Ein Förderende 9 des dem Frankiersystem 2 zugeordneten Fördersystem 7 mündet in ein Transportsystem 10, das sich unterhalb des Frankier 2- und des Fördersystem 7 befindet resp. erstreckt und in entgegengesetzter Richtung zu diesen förderwirksam angetrieben ist. Das Transportsystem 10 weist ein endlos umlaufendes Transportband 12 auf, das an der dem Frankier 2- resp. dem Fördersystem 7 zugewandten Oberseite resp. Förderseite ein Arbeitstrum 13 bildet, auf das die frankierten resp. bebilderten Versandobjekte 3 über eine durch das Fördersystem 7 und das Transportsystem 10 gebildete Stufe (Fallstufe oder Förderstufe) fallen. Die Höhe dieser Stufe beträgt mehr als das dickste Versandobjekt 3, das auf dem Transportsystem 109 transportiert wird. Die Stufe oder Fallstufe könnte auch veränderbar ausgestaltet sein, wozu der Höhenabstand zwischen Fördersystem 7 und dem darunter etwa parallel verlaufenden, eine etwa horizontale Förderebene bildenden Transportsystem 10 verstellbar ausgebildet sein müsste. Das Transportband 12 des Transportsystems 10 läuft um zwei beabstandete Umlenkrollen 14 um, die quer zur Transportrichtung angeordnete Achsen aufweisen, von denen eine angetrieben ist. Das Transportsystem weist eine seitliche Abdeckung 21 auf. Anstelle eines umlaufenden Transportbandes 12 könnte auch eine Vorrichtung verwendet werden, die durch Transportrollen eine Förderebene für die zu transportierenden Versandobjekte 3 bildet.
Mit den Förderenden überragt das Transportsystem 10 das Förder 7- resp. Frankiersystem 2, sodass die Versandobjekte 3 nach dem Frankieren bzw. Bebildern von dem Förderende des Fördersystems 7 auf das in Transportrichtung des Transportsystems 10 stromaufwärtige Förderende 15 abgeworfen und von letzterem erfasst und in die Gegenrichtung weitertransportiert werden. Damit ein störungsfreier Weitertransport erreicht werden kann, ist das Transportsystem 10 entlang dem Förder 7- resp. Frankiersystem 2 verstellbar ausgebildet, d.h., das Mass des Ueberstandes des in Transportrichtung stromaufwärtigen Förderendes des Transportsystems 10 kann so gewählt werden, dass ein störungsfreier Betrieb entsteht. Das ideale Ueberstandsmass richtet sich nach Format, Gewicht und/oder Geschwindigkeit der die Frankierung durchlaufenden Versandobjekte 3. Dementsprechend kann durch die Transportgeschwindigkeit des Trasnsportsystems 10 resp. des Arbeitstrums 13 gewäht werden, wobei die Transportgeschwindigkeit des Transportsystem 10 auch bezüglich Formation der transportierten Versandobjekte 3 entscheidend sein kann. Je schneller die Transportgeschwindigkeit desto grösser die Abstände resp. der Schuppenabstand der transportierten Versandobjekte 3 im Transportstrom.
Zur Unterstützung des Transportstromes und/oder der Formationsbildung, ist an dem stromaufwärtigen Förderende des Transportsystems 10 ein Anschlag 16 für die durch das Fördersystem 7 von dem Frankiersystem 2 weggeführten frankierten und/oder bebilderten Versandobjekten 3 angeordnet. Der Anschlag 16 bietet Gewähr für eine Umlenkung der Versandobjekte 3 und unterstützt die gewünschte Formation der auf dem Transportsystem 10 transportierten Versandobjekte 3. Der Anschlag 16 kann gegenüber dem stromaufwärtigen Förderende des Transportsystems 10 verstellt, d.h. angenähert oder weiter entfernt werden. Hierzu ist wie in den Fig. 1 und 3 gezeigt, eine teleskopisch betätigbare Verstellvorrichtung 17 veranschaulicht, deren Funktionsweise aufgrund der Bekanntheit keiner speziellen Beschreibung bedarf.
Das Transportsystem 10 übersteht vorzugsweise auch das stromaufwärtige Förderende des Frankier 2- oder dessen Fördersystem 7 dann, wenn ersteres über das stromabwärtige Förderende des Frankier 2- oder Fördersystem maximal ausgefahren ist resp. dieses maximal überragt, damit die Versandobjekte 3 am Förderende des Transportsystems 10 leicht entnehmbar sind.
Am Förderende des Transportsystems 10 ist eine Aufnahmevorrichtung 18 befestigt, an der sich die Versandobjekte 3 zu einer stapelähnlich stehenden Formation anheben. Die Aufnahmevorrichtung 18 bewirkt eine Staubildung stehender Versandobjekte 3 und weist ein hinsichtlich Lage um eine quer zur Transportrichtung des Transportsystems 10 ausgerichtete Achse in unterschiedliche Schräglagen verstellbares Stützelement 19 und eine seitliche Führung 20 auf. Für eine freie Zugänglichkeit und einfache Entnahme der Stapel übersteht die Aufnahmevorrichtung 18 das darüber angeordnete Frankiersystem 2 bzw. das darüber angeordnete Fördersystem 7.
Frankiersystem 2 und Transportsystem 10 sind voneinander trennbar ausgebildet, wodurch ein nachträglicher Anbau des Transportsystems 10 an ein Frankiersystem 2 möglich ist, resp. das mit einem Transportsystem 10 ausbaubare Frankiersystem 2 auch (nicht erfindungsgemäß) solo verwendbar ist.
Bei einer hohen Durchsatzmenge an Versandobjekten 3 könnte das Transportband des Transportsystems 10 mit Durchtrittsöffnungen versehen sein und das Arbeitstrum über eine darunter dicht angeordnete, evakuierbare Kammer geführt werden, die bewirkt, dass die Versandobjekte bis zum Verlassen der Kammer resp. des Transportendes auf dem Arbeitstrum des Transportbandes haften.
Im Anschluss an das Förderende des Transportsystems 10 könnte auch eine die Versandobjekte übereinanderliegend aufnehmende Stapelvorrichtung angeordnet sein, die vorteilhaft einen Drehtisch und eine über diesem angeordnete Vorsammelvorrichtung aufweist.The Fig. 1 to 3 show a device 1 with a franking system 2 for franking and / or imaging of flat shipping objects 3, such as envelopes, cards, mailers, small packages, labels, printed products or the like. The franking system 2 consists of a franking unit 4, the shipping objects 3 with a Marks and / or advertising signs and / or information provides, the franking unit 4 by hand or by means of mechanical feeding device 5 can be charged. In Fig. 1 a supply device can be seen with which the shipping objects are separated from a stack (not shown) on its underside and then fed to the franking unit 4 by means of a loading device 6. A usable automatic feeding device 5 with shipping objects 3 is in the European patent application no. 0640506.3 described (published as EP1832536 ).
A conveyor system 7 ensures a continuous conveyor flow from the feed via the feedthrough and the routing of the shipping objects 3 in the franking system 2. The conveyor section of the conveyor system 7 assigned to the franking system 2 could be referred to as a franking section. Further shows Fig. 1 in that the franking system 2, in technical language, also denotes a franking machine, is placed on a plate 8 or a table whose length approximately corresponds to that of the franking system. The plate 8 may be fixed to a stand 11 supported on the floor (mobile) or to a wall (not shown). A conveying end 9 of the conveying system 7 assigned to the franking system 2 opens into a transport system 10, which is located below the franking 2 and the conveying system 7, respectively. extends and is driven in the opposite direction to these promoting. The transport system 10 has an endless circulating conveyor belt 12, which at the franking 2- resp. the conveyor system 7 facing upper side resp. Funding side forms a working group 13 to which the franked resp. imaged shipping objects 3 fall over a level formed by the conveyor system 7 and the transport system 10 (case level or conveyor stage). The height of this step is more than the thickest shipping object 3 transported on the transport system 109. The step or drop step could also be designed to be changeable, for which purpose the height distance between conveyor system 7 and the conveyor system 10, which runs approximately parallel to it and forms an approximately horizontal conveyor plane, would have to be adjustable. The conveyor belt 12 of the transport system 10 revolves around two spaced guide rollers 14 which have transversely to the transport direction arranged axes, one of which is driven. The transport system has a side cover 21. Instead of a circulating conveyor belt 12, a device could be used which forms a conveying plane for transporting objects to be transported 3 by transport rollers.
With the conveyor ends, the transport system 10 dominates the conveyor 7- resp. Franking system 2, so that the shipping objects 3 are dropped after the franking or imaging of the conveying end of the conveyor system 7 in the transport direction of the transport system 10 upstream conveyor end 15 and detected by the latter and further transported in the opposite direction. Thus, a trouble-free onward transport can be achieved, the transport system 10 along the conveyor 7- resp. Franking 2 formed adjustable, that is, the measure of the supernatant of the upstream in the transport direction conveying end of the transport system 10 may be selected so that a trouble-free operation. The ideal Ueberstandsmass depends on the format, weight and / or speed of the franking continuous shipping items 3. Accordingly, by the transport speed of Trasnsportsystems 10 resp. the workstring 13 are sewn, wherein the transport speed of the transport system 10 may also be decisive in terms of formation of the transported shipping objects 3. The faster the transport speed, the greater the distances resp. the scale spacing of the transported Shipping objects 3 in the transport stream.
In order to support the transport stream and / or the formation formation, a stop 16 for the franked and / or imaged mailpieces 3 led away from the franking system 2 by the conveyor system 7 is arranged at the upstream conveying end of the transport system 10. The stop 16 provides a guarantee for a deflection of the shipping objects 3 and supports the desired formation of transported on the transport system 10 shipping objects 3. The stop 16 can be adjusted relative to the upstream end of the conveyor system 10, ie approximately or further removed. This is like in the Fig. 1 and 3 shown, a telescopically actuated adjusting device 17 illustrated, the operation of which requires no special description due to the awareness.
The transport system 10 preferably also projects beyond the upstream conveying end of the franking 2 or its conveying system 7 when the former is maximally extended beyond the downstream conveying end of the franking 2 or conveying system, respectively. This projected maximum, so that the shipping objects 3 are easily removed at the end of delivery of the transport system 10.
At the conveyor end of the transport system 10, a receiving device 18 is attached, at which the shipping objects 3 lift to a stack-like formation standing. The receiving device 18 causes a congestion of standing shipping objects 3 and has a respect to position about a transversely to the transport direction of the transport system 10 aligned axis in different inclinations adjustable support member 19 and a lateral guide 20. For free accessibility and easy removal of the stack, the receiving device 18 projects beyond the franking system 2 or the conveyor system 7 arranged above it.
Franking system 2 and transport system 10 are formed separable from each other, whereby a subsequent cultivation of the transport system 10 to a franking system 2 is possible, respectively. the franking system 2 that can be removed with a transport system 10 also (not according to the invention) solo is usable.
At a high throughput amount of shipping objects 3, the conveyor belt of the transport system 10 may be provided with openings and the workstring be performed on an underneath tightly arranged, evacuated chamber, which causes the shipping objects to leave the chamber, respectively. of the transport end stick on the working strand of the conveyor belt.
Following the conveying end of the transport system 10, a stacking device accommodating the shipping objects could also be arranged, which advantageously has a turntable and a pre-collecting device arranged above it.

Claims (4)

  1. Method of franking, printing and/or providing images on flat mail items (3), such as envelopes, cards, padded envelopes, labels, printed products and the like by means of a franking system (2) having an associated conveying system (7) for conveying the mail items through the franking system (2), the conveying system (7) feeding the mail items (3) one at a time to a franking operation and then carrying the mail items away one at a time after the franking operation with certain areas franked, printed and/or provided with images, the mail items (3) leaving the franking system (2) one at a time being dropped in a shingle stream on to a transport system (10) arranged below the conveying system (7) and moving in the opposite direction to the conveying direction of the conveying system, the distance between the mail items (3) in the shingle stream corresponding at least approximately to the length of the freshly franked area of a mail item (3) used for the franking operation.
  2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the shingle stream is formed by reducing the transport speed after the franking of the mail items (3).
  3. Method according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that a stop delimiting the path of the franked mail items (3) is introduced in order to form the shingle stream.
  4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the transport speed of the transport system (10) can be varied relative to the conveying speed of the conveying system (7) for the mail items (3) to be franked.
EP07405269A 2007-09-07 2007-09-07 Method for franking, printing and illustrating flat shipping packages Not-in-force EP2034452B1 (en)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP10005678.7A EP2221771B1 (en) 2007-09-07 2007-09-07 Method for franking, printing and illustrating flat shipping packages
AT07405269T ATE486333T1 (en) 2007-09-07 2007-09-07 METHOD FOR FRANKING, PRINTING AND IMAGING FLAT SHIPPING OBJECTS
DE502007005476T DE502007005476D1 (en) 2007-09-07 2007-09-07 Method for franking, printing and imaging flat shipping objects
EP07405269A EP2034452B1 (en) 2007-09-07 2007-09-07 Method for franking, printing and illustrating flat shipping packages
AU2008207654A AU2008207654A1 (en) 2007-09-07 2008-08-29 Process for franking, printing, and/or producing images on flat mail items
US12/231,548 US20090083198A1 (en) 2007-09-07 2008-09-03 Process for franking, printing, and/or producing images on flat mail items
CN200810212807.6A CN101380855B (en) 2007-09-07 2008-09-05 Method for franking, printing and illustrating flat shipping packages

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP07405269A EP2034452B1 (en) 2007-09-07 2007-09-07 Method for franking, printing and illustrating flat shipping packages

Related Child Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP10005678.7A Division EP2221771B1 (en) 2007-09-07 2007-09-07 Method for franking, printing and illustrating flat shipping packages
EP10005678.7 Division-Into 2010-06-01

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2034452A1 EP2034452A1 (en) 2009-03-11
EP2034452B1 true EP2034452B1 (en) 2010-10-27

Family

ID=38983517

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP07405269A Not-in-force EP2034452B1 (en) 2007-09-07 2007-09-07 Method for franking, printing and illustrating flat shipping packages
EP10005678.7A Not-in-force EP2221771B1 (en) 2007-09-07 2007-09-07 Method for franking, printing and illustrating flat shipping packages

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP10005678.7A Not-in-force EP2221771B1 (en) 2007-09-07 2007-09-07 Method for franking, printing and illustrating flat shipping packages

Country Status (6)

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US (1) US20090083198A1 (en)
EP (2) EP2034452B1 (en)
CN (1) CN101380855B (en)
AT (1) ATE486333T1 (en)
AU (1) AU2008207654A1 (en)
DE (1) DE502007005476D1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102015116030A1 (en) * 2014-10-02 2016-04-07 manroland sheetfed GmbH Device for coding printed sheets in a sheet-fed printing machine
EP3693306B1 (en) * 2019-02-11 2021-09-15 Frama AG Method for franking mail items fed to a franking machine, and device for executing the method

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1581583A (en) * 1924-02-16 1926-04-20 Lisenby Mfg Company Envelope-stacking attachment for printing presses
GB8605924D0 (en) * 1986-03-11 1986-04-16 Roneo Alcatel Ltd Feeding apparatus
US4893249A (en) * 1987-12-17 1990-01-09 Pitney Bowes, Inc. Mailing machine
US5464317A (en) * 1992-11-18 1995-11-07 Pitney Bowes Inc. Registration power stacker
DE4328529C2 (en) 1993-08-25 1995-11-30 Hella Kg Hueck & Co Adjustment arrangement for a reflector in motor vehicle headlights
US5508818A (en) * 1994-09-23 1996-04-16 Scan-Code, Inc. Mixed mail transport
US5615995A (en) * 1995-03-13 1997-04-01 Nobile; John Mail piece stacking machine
DE19850901A1 (en) * 1998-11-05 2000-05-11 Will E C H Gmbh & Co Sheet transport device for paper processing machine regulates force applied for overlapping sheets dependent on transport device, sheet and environmental parameters
DE50103192D1 (en) * 2000-02-23 2004-09-16 Frama Ag POSTAGE METER
US7182339B2 (en) * 2002-01-09 2007-02-27 Lockheed Martin Corporation Thickness measuring system, having improved software, for use within a mail handling system, and method of using same
FR2835243B1 (en) * 2002-01-30 2004-07-09 Neopost Ind MULTI-FORMAT ENVELOPE RECEIVING DEVICE
US6817608B2 (en) * 2002-04-09 2004-11-16 Pitney Bowes Inc. Method and apparatus for stacking mailpieces in consecutive order
US7040616B2 (en) 2002-12-17 2006-05-09 Pitney Bowes Inc. Method and system for high speed digital metering using overlapping envelopes
US7415131B2 (en) * 2002-12-24 2008-08-19 Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. Method and system for image processing
EP1832536B1 (en) 2006-03-08 2014-04-23 Frama Ag Device for processing and/or transporting flat mail items

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN101380855A (en) 2009-03-11
EP2221771A1 (en) 2010-08-25
AU2008207654A1 (en) 2009-03-26
US20090083198A1 (en) 2009-03-26
CN101380855B (en) 2013-04-24
ATE486333T1 (en) 2010-11-15
DE502007005476D1 (en) 2010-12-09
EP2221771B1 (en) 2014-11-12
EP2034452A1 (en) 2009-03-11

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