EP2338146B1 - Method and apparatus to print a mail piece during a transport process - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device for printing a mail item which extends in an object plane.

A method having the features of the preamble of claim 1 and an apparatus having the features of the preamble of claim 12 are made EP 0906792 A2 known.

In EP 0906792 A2 a device is described which invalidates postage indicia on postal items. From one stack of upright mailpieces one mail item is successively withdrawn and transported upright by the validation device. This singulation causes a "singulating device 15". An isolated mail item 11 is transported by two endless conveyor belts 23, 26, which pinch the mail items 11 temporarily between them. The mail item stands here with an edge on a plate 43. The one conveyor belt 26 is biased by a spring against the other conveyor belt 23. Subsequently, the upright mail item 11 is transported between two conveyor belts 47, 49 on one side and two rollers ("idler rollers 35") and in this case transported past a print head 63.

The two conveyor belts 47, 49 are arranged one above the other. The upper conveyor belt 47 extends along the entire transport path of the mail item, the lower conveyor belt 49 extends only between the conveyor belt 23 and the print head 63. The conveyor belt 49 is so narrow and arranged so that an upper region of the perpendicular mail item above the Conveyor belt 49 and a lower portion of the mail piece 11 between the conveyor belt 49 and the plate 43 is located. Above and below the conveyor belt 49 is a sensor ("photo-electric scanning device 75, 76") each arranged. Each sensor 75, 76 is capable of the position of a postage stamp 77 to discover on an area of the surface of the mail piece 11. The printhead 63 has three individual printheads ("ink jet print heads 78, 79, 80") arranged obliquely one above the other to cover together a larger area of the mail piece 11.

In GB 2272401 A a device is described which prints mailpieces. A piece of mail 24 to be printed is transported upright and thereby clamped between two conveyor belts 11, 12. The mail item 24 is transported past a printing arrangement 17 and also held by the conveyor belts 11, 12. The printing assembly 17 has two superimposed print heads 18, 19, which are both above the conveyor belts 11, 12.

Also in the post-published font FR 2915013 A1 a device is described, which is able to print on mailpieces.

In DE 19508180 C2 a device is described, which is able to print on mailpieces. A mail item 3 is transported upright, wherein the mail item is temporarily clamped between two endless conveyor belts, namely between a "cover band 2" and an "outer conveyor belt 4". The mail item 3 is applied to a pressure gate and is transported past this pressure gate. A printing station with printheads 8 applies a marking in a printing area, which lies below the conveyor belt, to the mail item 3.

Often, at least two marks are to be printed on a mail piece, namely a mark in a lower area and a further mark in an upper area of the mail piece, which means "down" and "up" with respect to the upright delivery address. For example, a bar pattern is to be applied in the lower area, which identifies the delivery address or also the identity of the mailpiece ("identifier"). A franking mark should be attached in the upper area, or an existing one A franking (eg stamp or postage stamp) should be canceled by an imprint.

To accomplish this task with the in DE 19508180 C2 described method and the device to solve, only the way to transport the mail a first time on the Bedruckstrecke, print the first mark, the mail item to turn 180 degrees about an axis perpendicular to the object plane, a second time on the Bedruckstrecke to transport and attach the second mark.

In EP 1433143 B1 It is proposed to capture graphic properties of a mailpiece and to print the mailpiece as a function of these properties.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus having the features of the preamble of claim 1 and a method having the features of the preamble of claim 12 which allow the mail item to be picked up by the conveyor as it passes past the printers becomes.

The object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1 and a method having the features of claim 12. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the subclaims.

The mail item to be printed is aligned upright on an alignment plane. After alignment, the bottom edge of each mail item rests on a reference plane. The respective lower edge of each mail item to be printed is after aligning on the same reference plane. This reference plane may be a physical plane or an imaginary plane to which the positioning of the markers refers. Subsequently, the mail item is transported in a transport process by a conveyor along a Bedruckstrecke. This results in an upper printable area and a lower printable area on the surface of the mailpiece. The upper area is above the conveyor, the lower area between the conveyor and the reference plane. One printer prints a mark on the lower area, another printer prints another mark on the upper area. The two printers print the two markings, while the mailpiece is transported in the one transport process on the printing line.

According to the solution, the mail item is guided past both printers, while the mail item in the same transport process once passes through the printing path. The mail item is guided past the two printers in such a way that one printer (the other printer) is able to print a marking above the conveyor onto the mailpiece and the other printer below the conveyor. This allows both printers to attach a marker in a single transport operation.

It is also possible that only one printer or no printer applies a mark. Whether or not a printer applies a mark can be achieved by printing commands to the respective printer. Regardless of whether one, one or two markings are printed, the item of mail is guided past both printers in a transport process.

The invention makes it possible to attach two markings on the same postal item while avoiding the necessity of having to transport this item of mail twice over the printing line.

The mailpiece can be printed thanks to the invention in a single transport of two printers. During this transport process, the conveyor holds the mail piece upright, in such a way that a printer above and a printer below the conveyor can print or print. This embodiment reduces the risk that the mail piece is displaced by the printing.

The invention thus makes it possible to print a postal item with two markings without having to turn the item of mail. As a result, the invention saves a turning device and processing time for turning. Both would be required if the mail item had to be printed in two successive printing processes and would have to be reversed between the two printing operations.

Typically, the markers are applied to mail with an inkjet printer and the ink must dry. Because the mail item is transported only once over the printing line and both markings are applied during this one transport process, the simultaneous drying of the two markers requires significantly less transport distance than if the following procedure is performed: The mailpiece is printed a first time, the first mark must dry, then the mail piece is turned and printed with the second mark, and finally the second mark must dry. The solution according to the method thus reduces the distance over which the mail item must be transported until both markings are dried.

The invention enables the mail piece to be picked up by the conveyor as it is transported past the printers. This is made possible because the printers print on an upper and a lower area of the mail piece and leave space therebetween for a conveyor belt or the like of the conveyor. This ensures that the item of mail does not slip while being transported in the transport process and has a defined position relative to the printers. This causes the two printers to apply the markers to the mail items at the desired locations.

The same sorting system should often process and in particular print mailpieces of different heights. Furthermore, the further marking should often be applied to the mail item at a specific location. This place, on which the further marking is to be applied should lie in a predetermined relative position to a component of the mailpiece. For example, an existing franking should be canceled by a stamp, no matter how high the mailpiece is and no matter where the franking is located. Or a print as a further marking should be applied at a certain distance from the upper edge of the mailing. Or the mail piece should then with a certain note, z. As a delivery note, provided if it has a specific delivery address.

In all of these cases, the distance that the further marking has from the reference plane varies depending on the position of the component and / or the height of the mailpiece. Therefore, the presence and the position of the component are measured. For example, the height of the mail piece is measured - more precisely, the distance of the upper edge of the mail piece from the reference plane. The further printer prints the further marking in the upper region of the mail item such that the further marking has a predetermined distance from the upper edge of the mail item. The distance of the further marking from the reference plane thus varies with the height of the mailpiece. This configuration has the effect that the same device can print on mailpieces of different heights without having to move or turn the mailpiece vertically beforehand, even if the component is located at respectively different locations on the mailpiece.

Preferably, the further printer is configured as a stationary wide area printer. In this embodiment, the further printer is able to print mailpieces of different heights, each with a further marking, in such a way that the further marking is positioned at a correct position relative to an optically detectable component of the mailpiece. It is not necessary in this embodiment, the other printer or mail to move perpendicular to the transport direction, ie up or down, which would require time, cost and synchronization between the vertical movement and the printing process.

The optically detectable component is z. B. a franking, with which the mailpiece is provided. The further printer brings as a further mark a devaluation of this franking on the mailing. This cancellation is actually intended to make the franking so that the franking can not be reused, and will not be placed next to the franking on the mailing. This is ensured, even if the respective franking has different distances to the reference plane for different mailpieces.

The to be printed mail item is z. For example, a standard letter ("letter"), a large letter ("flat"), a postcard, a catalog or even a package with three-dimensional extent.

The marker in the lower area is, for example, a barcode that includes sorting information in coded form. During the further transport of the mailpiece, the barcode is deciphered and the mailpiece is sorted according to the sorting information. The further marking in the upper area, for example, invalidates a franking mark, for example by a wave stamp, or is in turn a franking mark, for example in the form of a matrix code. The further marking may also contain a logo or an advertising imprint of a sender or a logistics company.

Preferably, the conveyor comprises a conveyor belt. This conveyor belt preferably transports the mail item past a printing gate, which comprises the two printers, and at the same time prevents the mail item from being transported with slippage or performs a relative movement perpendicular to the transport direction.

Fig. 1

die Bedruckstrecke in einer Betrachtungsrichtung senkrecht zur Gegenstandsebene;

Fig. 2

die Bedruckstrecke in der Ebene A - A von Fig. 1;

In the following the invention will be described with reference to an embodiment. Showing:

Fig. 1

the printing line in a viewing direction perpendicular to the object plane;

Fig. 2

the printing line in the plane A - A of Fig. 1 ;

In the exemplary embodiment, the invention is used within a mail sorting system. A stream of flat mail (standard letters, large letters, postcards, ...) goes through this sorting system. Each mail item is provided with an identification of a delivery address to which the item of mail is to be transported. The sorting system reads the respective delivery address marking of each mail item.

• ein Strichmuster ("bar code"), das eine Codierung für die erkannte Zustelladresse oder eine Codierung für eine eindeutige Kennung der Postsendung enthält, und
• eine Entwertung eines Freimachungsvermerks, z. B. ein Rund- oder Wellenstempel auf ein bereits vorhandenes Postwertzeichen oder eine Entwertung eines bereits vorhandenen Freistemplers auf der Postsendung.

In the exemplary embodiment, the following two markings are to be printed on each mail item:

• a bar code containing an encoding for the recognized delivery address or an encoding for a unique identifier of the item of mail, and
• a cancellation of a franking mark, e.g. B. a round or shaft stamp on an existing postage stamp or a devaluation of an existing postage stamp on the mailing.

If a mail item still has no franking mark, a franking imprint should instead be printed in addition to the line pattern. In addition to the cancellation or the franking mark may be provided an advertising print, z. As an advertisement for the place where the sorting system is, or for an event in this place.

Each flat mail item extends in an object plane and has a rectangular contour in the exemplary embodiment. If one looks perpendicular to the object plane on the upright postal item, the bar pattern should have a defined distance from the lower and - seen in the transport direction T - the front edge of the mail item.

The cancellation of the franking mark should have a defined distance from the top and the front edge of the mailing. The lengths, heights and thicknesses of the mailpieces may vary unpredictably but are within predetermined limits. Mail items which have a dimension outside these predetermined limits are sorted out in advance and do not pass through the printing line.

The mail items first pass through an orientation path while standing upright. After passing through the orientation route, the delivery address markings of all the mail items are on the same page and stand upright, and the franking marks are located near the front upper corner of the respective mail item (in the direction of transport T). A mail item with a different orientation (delivery address on the back or upside down) is turned in the orientation route.

It is possible that each mail item first passes through a test track. If, during this pass, it is determined that the item of mail has a wrong orientation, the item of mail is ejected and turned in the orientation path.

The mail items then pass through an alignment section standing upright. In this alignment path, the lower edge of each mail item is aligned with a horizontal alignment plane. Subsequently, the lower edges of the mail items are at the same height. The upper edges may be at different heights (different distances from the alignment plane).

In one embodiment, all mailpieces of a stack are aligned before these mailpieces are separated. This alignment is z. B. performed with a vibrator. In another embodiment, each individual mail piece is aligned after it has been singled, z. B. standing upright in a U-shaped transport channel, which is wider than the mailpiece thick. The weight of each individual mail item directs the mail item to the bottom of the mail piece Transport channel off. This floor then acts as an alignment plane.

The mailings pass through a light barrier, for example after they have passed through the alignment with the alignment plane. This light barrier measures the point in time at which the front edge of a mail item reaches the light barrier in the direction of transport T and thus the transported mail item interrupts the light beam of the light barrier. Furthermore, the light barrier measures the time at which the trailing edge of the mail item reaches the light barrier and then the mail item no longer interrupts the light beam.

Because the mail items are transported at a known speed, it is known which mail item is at which location and when. Furthermore, the length of the mail item can be determined from the time interval of the two times and the known transport speed.

This light barrier or other measuring device measures the height of each mail item, preferably after the mail item has passed the alignment line with the alignment plane. To measure the height, it is sufficient to measure the position of the upper edge of the aligned and upright transported postal item relative to a reference plane. The distance of the upper edge from the reference plane is then approximately equal to the height of the mail piece.

In one embodiment, the height measuring device comprises a column of light barriers, namely a column with light sources and an opposite column with photodetectors. Each light source emits a horizontal beam of light. It is determined which of these light beams reach an opposite photodetector and which instead are interrupted by the mail item. From this, the height of the mail piece is calculated.

A camera generates a digital image of the surface of the mailpiece containing the delivery address (from the "front") of the mailpiece). This image is evaluated on the one hand to decipher the delivery address. The delivery address is z. B. by "Optical Character Recognition" (OCR) automatically decoded or entered by a processor in a video coding. In addition, the image is examined to determine whether or not the image contains an image of a valid franking (in particular stamp or postage meter or matrix code). For this purpose, the image of the mail item is compared with a computer-accessible library of valid frankings. If a valid franking is detected, the position of this franking on the mailpiece is determined. In particular, the respective distance of the center point of the franking from the lower edge and from the - in the direction of transport - front edge of the mail item is determined by the image is evaluated.

In one embodiment, the image is also examined with the aim of determining the height of the mailpiece. This design saves its own height-measuring device with a column of light barriers.

• eine eindeutige Kennung für die Postsendung,
• der Zeitpunkt, an dem die Vorderkante der Postsendung die Lichtschranke erreicht hat,
• die gemessene Höhe und die Länge der Postsendung,
• die Position der Freimachung (falls eine solche vorhanden ist), also insbesondere die Abstände der Freimachung von der unteren und der vorderen Kante der Postsendung, und
• eine Kennzeichnung der Zustelladresse, an welche die Postsendung zu transportieren ist und welche die Sortieranlage gelesen hat.

A data record for the mailpiece is automatically generated and temporarily stored. This record includes the following information:

• a unique identifier for the mail piece,
• the time at which the front edge of the mail item has reached the light barrier,
• the measured height and the length of the mailing,
• the position of the franking (if any), ie in particular the distances of the franking from the lower and the front edge of the mail item, and
• an identification of the delivery address to which the item of mail is to be transported and which the sorting system has read.

After that, the mail items pass upright through a printing line, namely each mail item in exactly one transport operation. During this transport process, each item of mail is temporarily trapped between two endless conveyor belts. Each endless conveyor belt is guided around at least two rollers, whose axes are perpendicular to the transport direction, in which the mailpieces are transported, and parallel to the object plane and parallel to each other. The two endless conveyor belts are driven and rotate at the same speed. Preferably, each conveyor belt is guided around exactly one driven roller, and the remaining rollers are configured as non-driven rollers.

While the two endless conveyor belts transport the mail items, in one embodiment the mail items rest on the reference plane. In another embodiment, only the conveyor belts carry the mail items that do not rest on the reference plane. Rather, the lower edges of the mail items have a constant vertical distance from the reference plane. In both cases, the lower edge of each mail item lies in the same reference plane while the mailpiece is being printed.

The mailpieces are transported so that their backsides (the side on which there are no labels to the delivery address) during the transport process at least temporarily abut against a stationary pressure gate. The one endless conveyor belt is located between a transported mail piece and the printing gate and is referred to below as the rear conveyor belt. The other endless conveyor belt is then, if one looks perpendicular to the object plane on that side of a mail piece having the delivery address marking, before the mailing. It thus covers part of the mail item and is referred to below as the front conveyor belt.

• das vordere Endlos-Förderband 3,
• drei Führungsrollen 5.1, 5.2 und 5.3 für die Endlos-Förderbänder 3 und 4,
• drei Halterungen 6.1, 6.2 und 6.3, auf denen die drei Führungsrollen 5.1, 5.2 und 5.3 drehbar gelagert sind,
• die drei Drehachsen D1, D2 und D3, um die die drei Führungsrollen 5.1, 5.2 und 5.3 drehbar gelagert sind,
• eine Referenzebene 9,
• eine vorauslaufende hohe Postsendung Ps-2 mit einem Postwertzeichen P-2 und einer oberen Kante O-2 und
• eine nachfolgende schmale Postsendung Ps-1 mit einem Postwertzeichen P-1 und einer oberen Kante O-1.

Fig. 1 shows this printing line from a viewing direction that is perpendicular to the object plane. The rear endless conveyor belt 4 is not shown. Are shown

• the front endless conveyor belt 3,
• three guide rollers 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 for the endless conveyor belts 3 and 4,
• three mounts 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3, on which the three guide rollers 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 are rotatably mounted,
• the three axes of rotation D1, D2 and D3 about which the three guide rollers 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 are rotatably mounted,
• a reference plane 9,
• a leading high mail piece Ps-2 with a postage value P-2 and an upper edge O-2 and
• a subsequent narrow mail item Ps-1 with a postage value P-1 and an upper edge O-1.

In the exemplary embodiment, the reference plane 9 is a flat surface, over which the lower edge of each mail item Ps-1, Ps-2 slides, while the conveyor belts 3 and 4 transport the mail item past the pressure gate. The distance between each mailing lower edge of the reference plane 9 is negligible.

• ein - gesehen senkrecht zur Gegenstandsebene - oberer Bereich oberhalb des vorderen Endlos-Förderbands 3 und zugleich unterhalb der oberen Kante der Postsendung und
• ein unterer Bereich unterhalb des vorderen Endlos-Förderbands 3 und oberhalb der unteren Kante der Postsendung und zugleich oberhalb der Referenzebene 9.

The front endless conveyor belt 3 is significantly narrower than the smallest height of a mail item to be printed. This creates two printable areas on the side of a mail item that has the delivery address tag:

• a - seen perpendicular to the object plane - upper region above the front endless conveyor belt 3 and at the same time below the upper edge of the mail piece and
• a lower region below the front endless conveyor belt 3 and above the lower edge of the mail item and at the same time above the reference plane 9.

The rear endless conveyor belt 4 may be as narrow or wider than the front endless conveyor belt 3.

Along the printing line two printers are arranged, namely a bar pattern line printer and a cancellation printer for stamping a franking mark.

in the Fig. 1 the devaluation printer 1 can be seen on the top left and the bar pattern printer 2 below.

Fig. 2 shows the printing distance of Fig. 1 in the plane A - A, which is perpendicular to the plane of Fig. 1 stands. The transport direction T is perpendicular to the plane of Fig. 2 , The mailpieces are in the representation of Fig. 2 transported away from the viewer.

• der Entwertungs-Drucker 1,
• ein Vorratsbehälter 7 für Tinte, mit der der Entwertungs-Drucker 1 versorgt wird,
• ein Schlauch 8, durch den Tinte vom Vorratsbehälter 7 zum Entwertungs-Drucker 1 transportiert wird,
• die Referenzebene 9,
• die Führungsrolle 5.2, die um die Achse D2 drehbar gelagert ist und die auf der Halterung 6.2 sitzt,
• das (in Fig. 1) vordere Endlos-Förderband 3 und das hintere Endlos-Förderband 4,
• die hohe Postsendung Ps-2, die zwischen die beiden Förderbänder 3 und 4 eingeklemmt ist.

In Fig. 2 are shown

• the cancellation printer 1,
• a reservoir 7 for ink supplied to the cancellation printer 1,
• a tube 8 through which ink is transported from the reservoir 7 to the cancellation printer 1,
• the reference plane 9,
• the guide roller 5.2, which is rotatably mounted about the axis D2 and which sits on the holder 6.2,
• this in Fig. 1 ) front endless conveyor belt 3 and the rear endless conveyor belt 4,
• the high mail item Ps-2, which is clamped between the two conveyor belts 3 and 4.

The mail items arrive at a printing gate while they are transported over a printing line. The two conveyor belts 3 and 4 and the reference plane 9 in the embodiment surround the printing line. This pressure gate is omitted in the figures.

In Fig. 1 are also the marks to see which have the two printers 1 and 2 printed on the mailings Ps-1 and Ps-2. The printer 1 has first applied to the mail item Ps-2 the devaluation E-2 on the postage stamp P2 and then the devaluation E-1 on the postage stamp P-1 on the mail item Ps-1. It can clearly be seen that the cancellations E-1 and E-2 have different distances from the reference plane 9 and approximately equidistant from the respective upper edge O-2 or O-1 of the mail item Ps-1 or Ps-1.

The bar-type printer 2 has first printed on the mail piece Ps-2 the bar pattern BC-2 and then on the mail item Ps-1, the bar pattern BC-1. Both bar patterns BC-1, BC-2 are equidistant from the reference plane 9 and comprise an encoding of the location to which the item of mail is to be delivered. The mailing Ps-2 is delivered to a delivery address in 15345 Rehfelde, the mailing Ps-1 to a delivery address in 12489 Berlin.

In the exemplary embodiment, the printers 1, 2 are arranged such that the mailpieces are transported between the printers 1, 2 and the printing gate, and those pages of the mailpieces, which are provided with the delivery address markings, point towards the two printers 1, 2 ,

Preferably, both printers 1, 2 are designed as stationary printers.

The data record for the mail item described above is transmitted to the bar pattern printer 2 or to a central control unit. The bar-type printer 2 or the control unit calculates from the transmitted data set the respective bar pattern to be printed and prints this bar pattern onto the lower printable area of the mailpiece. Because the mailpieces have been aligned at the registration plane and are trapped by the two endless conveyor belts 3, 4 as they are transported through the printing line, the bar-type printer 2 prints each bar pattern at the same height - relative to the reference plane 9 - on the mail item.

As stated above, it is calculated from the measurement results of the light barrier and the known transport speed, when the - seen in the transport direction T - front edge of a mail item has reached the bar pattern printer. The bar pattern printer 2 prints the bar pattern a predetermined period of time after this time on the lower printable area of the mail piece, that is, below the two endless conveyor belts. The bar pattern therefore has a predetermined distance from the lower edge and the front edge of the mail item.

The record on the mail item is also transmitted to the validation printer 1 or the control unit. In the exemplary embodiment, the cancellation printer 1 applies a cancellation E-1, E-2 to the upper printable area of the mail item. This cancellation is intended to hit the existing franking P-1, P-2 on the mail item Ps-1 or Ps-2.

Therefore, the cancellation printer 1 or the control unit calculates the vertical position as well as the horizontal position of the cancellation mark. The target position of the validation is predefined relative to the existing franking. As explained above, an evaluation unit has determined the actual position of the clearance P-1, P-2 on the mail item Ps-1 or Ps-2.

From the predetermined desired relative position of the cancellation mark E-1, E-2 and the actual position of the mark the vertical position of the cancellation mark is calculated - more precisely: the target distance of the cancellation mark E-1, E-2 of the reference plane 9. From the desired relative position and the actual position of the leading edge of the transported mail piece Ps-1, Ps-2, the horizontal position is calculated - more precisely: the time at which the validation printer 1 the validation mark E -1, E-2 prints on the mail piece Ps-1, Ps-2, while the mail piece is transported past the printing gate. The validation printer 1 applies the devaluation E-1, E-2 with the calculated vertical position at the calculated time to the upper area of the mail item Ps-1, Ps-2. The cancellation printer 1 applies this cancellation E-1, E-2 to the upper printable area of the mail item Ps-1, Ps-2, that is, above the front endless conveyor belt 3.

In one embodiment, the further marking is to be mounted on a mail item such that the marking has a predetermined distance from the upper edge of the mail item, no matter how high the mail item is. For this purpose, as described above, it is measured how far the upper edge of the mail item is from the reference plane 9. The vertical position of the further marking is calculated from this measured distance as well as the predetermined nominal distance further marking from the upper edge.

The validation printer 1 is preferably designed as a stationary wide-area printer. Accordingly, the printer 1 has a printing area which, seen in the vertical direction, is markedly higher than the marking which the cancellation printer 1 actually applies to a mailpiece. For example, the stamp mark to be printed in the vertical direction measures 30 mm, and the printing area of the stationary wide-area printer is 100 mm.

In Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 the pressure range is entered as vertical distance x.

For printing, a partial area of the print area x is activated, and this activated area applies the mark to the upper printable area. The partial area activated for printing is activated such that the activated partial area applies the further marking E-1, E-2 in the calculated vertical position to the postal item Ps-1, Ps-2 at the calculated time.

The design as a wide-area printer makes it possible to print on mail items with different heights without having to move a print head mechanically and without several To provide printheads. This saves maintenance and printheads.

Preferably, the two printers 1, 2 are designed as inkjet printers. This embodiment eliminates the need to direct a hot laser beam on a mail or to have to glue a label on the mailpiece. Because the markers are applied by ink, they must dry before further processing of the mailpieces.

After the two printers 1, 2 have attached the two markings (line pattern and cancellation) to a mail item, the mail item therefore passes through a drying section. In this drying section, the two markers dry and can not be blurred afterwards - not even if subsequently a conveyor belt grips and transports the mail item over the marking.

The printed mailpieces are further processed by the sorting system and discharged depending on their respective delivery address in one of the output devices of the sorting system. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS reference numeral importance 1 Validation printer, acts as another printer 2 Bar pattern printer, acts as a printer 3 front endless conveyor belt 4 rear endless conveyor belt 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 Guide rollers for the endless conveyor belts 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 Mounts of the guide rollers for the endless conveyor belts 7 Ink reservoir for the invalidation printer 1 8th Hose from the ink reservoir 7 to the cancellation printer 1 9 reference plane BC-1 Line pattern on the narrow mailing Ps-1 BC-2 Bar pattern on the high mailing Ps-2 D1, D2, D3 Rotary axes about which the guide rollers 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 are rotatably mounted E-1 Cancellation of postage stamp P-1 printed on narrow mail piece Ps-1 E-2 Cancellation of postage stamp P-2 printed on high mail item Ps-2 O-1 upper edge of the narrow mail piece Ps-1 O-2 upper edge of the high mailing Ps-2 P-1 Postage stamp on the narrow mailing Ps-1 P-2 Postage stamp on the high mailing Ps-2 Ps-1 narrow mailing Ps-2 high mailing T transport direction x Printing area of the cancellation printer 1

Claims (14)

1. Method for printing on a postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2), wherein the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2)

   - is aligned such that the aligned postal item stands upright on a reference plane (9), and

   - is transported in a transport process by a conveying device (3, 4) along a printing section, and

   the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2) is transported past a printer (2) and a further printer (1) during the transportation along the printing section, such that it is made possible

   - for the printer (2) to print a marking (BC1, BC2) onto the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2) and

   - for the further printer (1) to print a further marking (E-1, E-2) onto the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2),

   wherein the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2) is transported during the transport process along the printing section such that an upper area of the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2) is located above the conveying device (3, 4) and a lower area is located between the conveying device (3, 4) and the reference plane (9), and
   the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2) is conveyed past the printer (2) and the further printer (1) during the transportation along the printing section,
   such that it is made possible

   - for the printer (2) to print the marking (BC-1, BC-2) onto the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2) in the lower area and

   - for the further printer (1) to print a further marking (E-1, E-2) onto the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2) in the upper area,

   characterised in that
   the conveying device comprises two endless conveyor belts (3, 4) and the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2) is transported in the same transport process along the printing section, pinched between the endless conveyor belts (3, 4), past the two printers (1, 2).
2. Method according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   it is checked, whether or not the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2) has a predefined component (P-1, P-2), and
   then, if the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2) has such a component (P-1, P-2),
   the steps are carried out, in which

   - it is measured, which distance said component (P-1, P-2) has from the reference plane (9), and

   - the further printer (1) prints the further marking (E-1, E-2) onto the upper area of the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2), such that

   the further marking (E-1, E-2) has a predefined position relative to the component (P-1, P-2).
3. Method according to claim 2,
   characterised in that

   - the component is a postage (P-1, P-2), which is applied to the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2)

   - the further marking comprises a cancellation mark (E-1, E-2) and

   - the further printer (1) prints the cancellation mark (E-1, E-2) onto the upper area of the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2), such that

   - the cancellation mark (E-1, E-2) cancels the postage (P-1, P-2).
4. Method according to claim 2 or claim 3,
   characterised in that,
   as a function of

   - the distance of the component (P-1, P-2) from the reference plane (9) and

   - the predefined relative position,

   a printing subarea of the further printer (1) is activated and
   the activated printing subarea prints the further marking (E-1, E-2) onto the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2).
5. Method according to one of claims 2 or 4,
   characterised in that

   - the upper edge (0-1, 0-2) of the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2) is used as its component,

   - the step of measuring the distance of the component (P-1, P-2) from the reference plane (9)

   comprises the step in which the distance of the upper edge (0-1, 0-2) of the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2) from the reference plane (9) is measured and

   - the further printer (1) prints the further marking (E-1, E-2) onto the upper area of the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2), such that

   the distance between the upper edge (0-1, 0-2) of the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2) and the further marking (E-1, E-2) lies within a predefined range.
6. Method according to claim 5,
   characterised in that
   the measuring of the distance of the upper edge (0-1, 0-2) from the reference plane (9) comprises the steps, in which

   - a plurality of light sources arranged one above the other each emit a light beam perpendicularly to the object plane and

   - it is measured, which of said light beams are interrupted by the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2) and which are not.
7. Method according to one of claims 5 to 6,
   characterised in that
   a printing subarea of the further printer (1) is activated, wherein the distance of the activated printing subarea from the component (P-1, P-2) of the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2) lies within the predefined range, and
   the activated printing subarea prints the further marking (E-1, E-2) onto the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2).
8. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7,
   characterised in that
   the printer (2) prints a marking (BC-1, BC-2) onto the lower area of the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2),
   while the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2) is being conveyed past the printer (2).
9. Method according to claim 8,
   characterised in that

   - the marking (BC-1, BC-2), which the printer (2) prints onto the lower area of the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2), comprises a barcode (BC-1, BC-2),

   - the printed barcode (BC-1, BC-2) is decoded at least once at a later point and

   - the further transportation of the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2) is triggered depending on the decoding result.
10. Method according to one of claims 1 to 9,
    characterised in that
    the further printer (1) prints the further marking (E-1, E-2) onto the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2) in the upper area and the further marking (E-1, E-2) comprises a cancellation of the postage (P-1, P-2).
11. Method according to one of claims 1 to 10,
    characterised in that
    the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2) is printed with the marking (BC-1, BC-2) in the lower area - relative to the reference plane (9) - and with the further marking (E-1, E-2) at a predefined distance from the upper edge of the postal item.
12. Apparatus for printing on a postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2), wherein the apparatus comprises

    - an aligning device,

    - a conveying device (3, 4),

    - a printer (2) and

    - a further printer (1),

    the aligning device is configured to align the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2) such that the aligned postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2) stands upright on a reference plane (9),
    the conveying device (3, 4) is configured to transport the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2) past the printer (2) and the further printer (1) along a printing section,
    the printer (2) is arranged and configured such that the printer (2) is capable of printing a marking (BC-1, BC-2) onto a postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2), while the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2) is being transported along the printing section, and
    the further printer (1) is arranged and configured such that
    the further printer (1) is capable of printing a further marking (E-1, E-2) onto a postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2), while the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2) is being transported along the printing section,
    characterised in that
    the conveying device comprises two endless conveyor belts and (3, 4) is configured to transport the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2) along the printing section, pinched between the endless conveyor belts (3, 4), past the printer (2) and the further printer (1), such that
    an upper area of the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2) is located above the conveying device (3, 4) and a lower area is located between the conveying device (3, 4) and the reference plane (9),
    the printer (2) is arranged such that the printer (2) is capable of printing the marking (BC-1, BC-2) onto a postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2) in the lower area, while the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2) is being transported along the printing section, and
    the further printer (1) is arranged such that the further printer (1) is capable of printing the further marking (E-1, E-2) onto a postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2) in the upper area, while the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2) is being transported along the printing section.
13. Apparatus according to claim 12,
    characterised in that
    the apparatus furthermore comprises a detection device, the detection device is configured

    - to check whether or not the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2) has a predefined component (P-1, P-2), and

    - to measure which distance said component (P-1, P-2) has from the reference plane (9), and

    the apparatus is configured such that
    the further printer (1) is capable of printing the further marking (E-1, E-2) onto the upper area of the postal item (Ps-1, Ps-2), such that
    the further marking (E-1, E-2) has a predefined position relative to the component (P-1, P-2).
14. Apparatus according to claim 12 or claim 13,
    characterised in that
    the further printer (1) is configured as a stationary wide-area printer,
    which is capable of generating the further marking (E-1, E-2) within a printing area, such that
    the vertical extent of the printing area is at least twice as large as the vertical extent of the further marking (E-1, E-2).

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