EP3489911B1 - Device for franking flat mail items transported individually or from a stack on a processing line - Google Patents

Device for franking flat mail items transported individually or from a stack on a processing line Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3489911B1
EP3489911B1 EP17405029.4A EP17405029A EP3489911B1 EP 3489911 B1 EP3489911 B1 EP 3489911B1 EP 17405029 A EP17405029 A EP 17405029A EP 3489911 B1 EP3489911 B1 EP 3489911B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
mail
transport
items
feeder
mail items
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP17405029.4A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP3489911A1 (en
Inventor
Thomas Peter 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
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Frama AG
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Publication date
Application filed by Frama AG filed Critical Frama AG
Priority to EP17405029.4A priority Critical patent/EP3489911B1/en
Priority to US16/058,201 priority patent/US10589947B2/en
Priority to CN201810959698.8A priority patent/CN109809214A/en
Publication of EP3489911A1 publication Critical patent/EP3489911A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3489911B1 publication Critical patent/EP3489911B1/en
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/02—Separating articles from piles using friction forces between articles and separator
    • B65H3/06—Rollers or like rotary separators
    • B65H3/063—Rollers or like rotary separators separating from the bottom of 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
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/34—Article-retaining devices controlling the release of the articles to the separators
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/46—Supplementary devices or measures to assist separation or prevent double feed
    • B65H3/52—Friction retainers acting on under or rear side of article being separated
    • B65H3/5207—Non-driven retainers, e.g. movable retainers being moved by the motion of the article
    • B65H3/523—Non-driven retainers, e.g. movable retainers being moved by the motion of the article the retainers positioned over articles separated from the bottom of the pile
    • B65H3/5238—Retainers of the pad-type, e.g. friction pads
    • 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
    • B65H5/06—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by rollers or balls, e.g. between rollers
    • B65H5/062—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by rollers or balls, e.g. between rollers between rollers or balls
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H7/00—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles
    • B65H7/02—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles by feelers or detectors
    • B65H7/04—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles by feelers or detectors responsive to absence of articles, e.g. exhaustion of pile
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
    • G07B17/00193—Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2513/00—Dynamic entities; Timing aspects
    • B65H2513/10—Speed
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2553/00—Sensing or detecting means
    • B65H2553/60—Details of intermediate means between the sensing means and the element to be sensed
    • B65H2553/61—Mechanical means, e.g. contact arms
    • 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

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a device for franking flat mail items, such as envelopes, mailing bags, cards, printed products, sleeves, labels or the like, which are taken individually or from the underside of an applied stack and are guided on a side edge in the transport direction F, consisting of one of a Feeder for mail items that are placed individually or stacked on top of one another and a separating station formed by a separating device, as well as a downstream processing section of a franking machine in the direction of transport of the mail items, for franking/printing the separated mail items, with the processing section in the transport area between the feeder and the separating device assigned to it being divided into several, one horizontal transport level for receiving a resp. consists of driven transport rollers forming the lowest mail item in a stack.
  • a device for franking flat mail items such as envelopes, mailing bags, cards, printed products, sleeves, labels or the like
  • Envelopes are closable shipping envelopes made of (half) cardboard for flat, in particular comparatively thin products, such as a printed product, a CD or products of a similar format.
  • this franking machine for processing mail items has a conveying device formed from conveyor rollers placed one above the other, with which mail items are pulled out of a feeder magazine arranged behind it in the conveying direction, on the underside of a stack.
  • the feeder is designed with a front wall for positioning the mail items, the lower edge of which forms a removal gap with the conveying plane, through which the mail items are transported individually.
  • a conveyor roller of the conveying plane arranged after the removal gap in the conveying direction F is assigned a guide roller that interacts with the former and is arranged above it, which is slightly upstream of the mail items with respect to the axis of rotation of the conveyor roller.
  • This guide roller is rotatably mounted with a force acting against the force acting in the same direction as the conveying direction and holds back excess mail items that are present at the removal gap.
  • the pre-released EP 2 740 693 A2 relates to a device for franking individual mail items or flat mail items taken from the underside of an applied stack and fed in the transport direction of a postage meter machine.
  • the utility model document DE 20 2016 106 124 U1 conveys a separating station for feeding flat material to a subsequent material processing station with at least one transport roller in a separating area and with separating means.
  • Cycle-bound processing or transport primarily mail items of different thicknesses from the feeder to the separating device - without adjusting / readjusting the device to the changing thickness or the cover material of the mail items to be processed - to create, so that uninterrupted processing, user-friendly operation and a high processing performance and quality, especially for the subsequent franking of mail items.
  • the object was achieved in that the rear end of the applied mail items, viewed in the transport direction, are supported on the circumference of a support roller, behind the plane running perpendicularly through the axis above the transport plane, so that a certain pre-separation or pre-separation of the respective bottom mail item is effected becomes.
  • the invention which takes a new approach, proves to be particularly successful when processing a stack of mail items of different thicknesses and formats from a feeder.
  • the support roller can be mounted in the frame so that it can rotate freely or is driven in a conveying manner about an axis that is arranged transversely to the transport direction F of the mail items, higher than the transport plane.
  • the support roller can be arranged in the frame in a displaceable/displaceable and lockable manner in order to be able to compensate for format deviations in the mail items.
  • the front end of the feeder in the transport direction is formed by a guide/feeder wall inclined backwards, the front lower end of which is at least approximately above the transport level Width of the transport plane extending passage resp. exit opening for removing the mail items from the feeder and the lower edge, which is bent in the direction of transport, creates gentle guidance.
  • the guide/feeder wall serving as a stop is preferably designed to be adjustable or height-adjustable to change the passage height or to adapt to the thickness of the mail items.
  • the device or the transport rollers and the separating device can be started up by a lowermost shipping item that is detected by the separating device and rests on an actuating element in the transport plane and can be triggered via a light barrier.
  • the device 1 illustrates a device 1 for processing individually applied or on the underside 3 of an applied stack 2 (as shown) removed from a feeder 5 for franking purposes flat mail items 4, such as envelopes, mailing bags, cards, printed products, respectively. Magazines and catalogues, covers for inserted/inserted products or the like.
  • the device 1 consists of a separating station 7 formed by a feeder 5 and a separating device 6, in which the mail items 4 that occur are processed individually and on a processing line that effectively connects the separating station 7 and a franking station 8 are transported further.
  • the processing section 8 has at least two transport rollers 11, 12 forming a horizontal transport plane 10 for the separated mail items 4, which are arranged transversely in the transport direction F and are spaced apart from one another and preferably have the same diameter resp. have the same peripheral speed and are driven in the same direction.
  • the transport rollers 11, 12 are at their ends in a housing or frame 13 of the device 1, respectively. a franking machine mounted motor-driven.
  • a franking unit (not shown) for printing, franking or imaging the mail items 4, which is connected downstream in the transport direction F, is connected to the device 1 and is connected to the present device 1 by the driven transport plane 10 or the transport rollers 11, 12 at the same time and in a conveying manner.
  • the device 1 shows the device 1 with inserted mailing items 4 forming a stack 2 in the feeder 5, which are conspicuous due to their different thicknesses and format sizes. Of course, the same format can also be used with the device 1 shown Process packages 4 or seperate.
  • the mail items 4 placed in a stack 2 in the feeder 5 are gripped on the transport roller 12 under the action of a positioning element 15 of the separating device 6 and the mail items 4 lying on/overlying the bottom mail item 4 are retained or multiple withdrawals from the feeder 5 are prevented.
  • the feeder 5 has a front guide/feeder wall 20, preferably inclined counter to the movement F, the lower end of which forms a passage/removal opening 21 for the mail items 4 to be separated with the transport plane 10.
  • the guide/feeder wall 20 is preferably inclined backwards and extends at least partially across the width of the transport plane 10; it can be adjusted/adjusted to change the height of the passage opening.
  • Lateral guides are provided on the guide/feeder wall 20, on which the guide wall 20 can be displaced in height.
  • the lower end of the guide wall 20 is bent in the transport direction F in order to be able to ensure that the mail items 4 can pass through the passage opening 21 without any problems.
  • the first transport roller 11 is supported in the housing/frame 13 of the device 1 by a freely rotatable support roller 22 that lengthens the transport plane 10 below the mail items 4 stacked in the feeder 5 .
  • a freely rotatable or independently driven support roller 23 supporting the mail items 4 in the transport direction F at the rear end above the transport plane 10 is arranged, via the friction-effective peripheral surface of which the delivery of the mail items 4 for the separation is supported.
  • This support roller 23 can be exchanged for one with a larger diameter and its position, adapted to the transport length of the mail items 4, can be adjusted/set in the transport direction F in the housing 13 of the device 1, so that the rear end, viewed in the transport direction F, of the mail items stacked in the feeder 5 on the circumference of the support roller 23, behind which plane 26 extending perpendicularly through the axis above the transport plane 10 are supported.
  • an actuating element 24 pivotable about a transversely directed axis is mounted in the housing/frame 13 of the device 1 .
  • This shown in the operating position of the device 1 and with broken lines in the inoperative position mechanical actuator 24 is the operation of the device 1, respectively.
  • the franking machine in motion as soon as a mail item 4 comes to rest on the actuating element 24 or a mail item 4 on a support roller/s 22 and the transport rollers 11, respectively. 12 or in the transport plane 10 rests.
  • the operation of the device 1 is triggered by means of a light barrier 25 to which the actuating element 24 is assigned.

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft eine Einrichtung zum Frankieren von einzeln oder an der Unterseite eines angelegten Stapels entnommenen, flachen, in Transportrichtung F an einer Seitenkante geführten Versandstücken, wie Briefumschläge, Versandtaschen, Karten, Druckprodukte, Hüllen, Etiketten oder dgl., bestehend aus einer von einem Anleger für einzeln angelegte oder übereinander gestapelten Versandstücke und einer Vereinzelungsvorrichtung gebildeten Vereinzelungsstation sowie einer in Transportrichtung der Versandstücke förderwirksam anschliessenden, zum Frankieren/ Bedrucken der vereinzelten Versandstücke nachgeschalteten Verarbeitungsstrecke einer Frankiermaschine, wobei die Verarbeitungsstrecke im Transportbereich zwischen Anleger und der diesem zugeordneten Vereinzelungsvorrichtung dfurch mehrere, eine horizontale Transportebene zur Aufnahme eines resp. des jeweils untersten Versandstücks eines Stapels bildende, angetriebene Transportrollen besteht.The invention relates to a device for franking flat mail items, such as envelopes, mailing bags, cards, printed products, sleeves, labels or the like, which are taken individually or from the underside of an applied stack and are guided on a side edge in the transport direction F, consisting of one of a Feeder for mail items that are placed individually or stacked on top of one another and a separating station formed by a separating device, as well as a downstream processing section of a franking machine in the direction of transport of the mail items, for franking/printing the separated mail items, with the processing section in the transport area between the feeder and the separating device assigned to it being divided into several, one horizontal transport level for receiving a resp. consists of driven transport rollers forming the lowest mail item in a stack.

Bei Hüllen handelt es sich um verschliessbare Versandhüllen aus (Halb)Karton für flache, insbesondere vergleichsweise dünne Produkte, wie beispielsweise ein Druckprodukt, eine CD oder formatähnliche Produkte.Envelopes are closable shipping envelopes made of (half) cardboard for flat, in particular comparatively thin products, such as a printed product, a CD or products of a similar format.

Eine Einrichtung der oben beschriebenen Art ist durch die EP 1 832 536 A1 bekannt. Diese Frankiermaschine zur Verarbeitung von Versandstücken, wie einleitend erwähnt, weist eine aus übereinander gelagerten Förderrollen gebildete Fördervorrichtung auf, mit der Versandstücke aus einem in Förderrichtung dahinter angeordneten Anlegermagazin, an der Unterseite eines Stapels ausgezogen werden. Hierzu ist der Anleger mit einer vorderen Wand zur Positionierung der Versandstücke ausgebildet, deren Unterkante mit der Förderebene eine Entnahmelücke bildet, durch die die Versandstücke einzeln transportiert werden. Zu diesem Zweck ist einer in Förderrichtung F nach der Entnahmelücke angeordneten Förderrolle der Förderebene eine mit ersterer zusammenwirkende, darüber angeordnete Führungsrolle zugeordnet, die bezüglich Drehachse der Förderrolle stromabwärts der Versandstücke leicht vorgelagert ist. Diese Führungsrolle ist mit einer gegen die gleichsinnig zur Förderrichtung beaufschlagend wirkende Kraft drehbar gelagert und hält an der Entnahmelücke anstehende überzählige Versandstücke zurück.A device of the type described above is by the EP 1 832 536 A1 known. As mentioned in the introduction, this franking machine for processing mail items has a conveying device formed from conveyor rollers placed one above the other, with which mail items are pulled out of a feeder magazine arranged behind it in the conveying direction, on the underside of a stack. For this purpose, the feeder is designed with a front wall for positioning the mail items, the lower edge of which forms a removal gap with the conveying plane, through which the mail items are transported individually. For this purpose, a conveyor roller of the conveying plane arranged after the removal gap in the conveying direction F is assigned a guide roller that interacts with the former and is arranged above it, which is slightly upstream of the mail items with respect to the axis of rotation of the conveyor roller. This guide roller is rotatably mounted with a force acting against the force acting in the same direction as the conveying direction and holds back excess mail items that are present at the removal gap.

Die vorveröffentlichte EP 2 740 693 A2 betrifft eine Einrichtung zum Frankieren von einzelnen oder an der Unterseite eines angelegten Stapels entnommenen, flachen, in Transportrichtung einer Frankiermaschine zugeführten Versandstücken.The pre-released EP 2 740 693 A2 relates to a device for franking individual mail items or flat mail items taken from the underside of an applied stack and fed in the transport direction of a postage meter machine.

Die Gebrauchsmusterschrift DE 20 2016 106 124 U1 vermittelt eine Vereinzelungsstation zur Zuführung von flachem Gut zu einer nachfolgenden Gutverarbeitungsstation mit mindestens einer Transportwalze in einem Vereinzelungsbereich und mit Vereinzelungsmitteln.The utility model document DE 20 2016 106 124 U1 conveys a separating station for feeding flat material to a subsequent material processing station with at least one transport roller in a separating area and with separating means.

Es ist von Bedeutung, dass die in dem Anleger gestapelt vorkommenden Versandstücke, aber auch einzelne, positionsgenau transportiert werden, damit keine Mehrfachabzüge entstehen, insbesondere wenn die Versandstücke sich durch unterschiedliche Ausmasse und Umschlagsmaterialien unterscheiden, um einen zuverlässigen und unterbruchfreien Transport zu gewährleisten.It is important that the mail items that are stacked in the feeder, but also individual items, are transported in the exact position so that no multiple deductions are made occur, especially if the items to be shipped differ in terms of their dimensions and handling materials, in order to ensure reliable and uninterrupted transport.

Es hat sich die Aufgabe an die vorliegende Erfindung gestellt, bei einer Einrichtung für eine Frankiermaschine einen kontinuierlichen resp. taktgebundene Verarbeitungsweise bzw. Transport, vornehmlich unterschiedlich dicker Versandstücke aus dem Anleger an die Vereinzelungsvorrichtung -ohne ein Verstellen/Nachstellen der Einrichtung an die sich ändernde Dicke oder das Umschlagsmaterial der zu verarbeitenden Versandstücke- zu schaffen, sodass eine unterbruchfreie Verarbeitung, eine benutzerfreundliche Bedienung sowie eine hohe Verarbeitungsleistung und -qualität, insbesondere für das anschliessende Frankieren der Versandstücke entstehen kann.It has the task of the present invention, in a device for a postage meter machine respectively a continuous. Cycle-bound processing or transport, primarily mail items of different thicknesses from the feeder to the separating device - without adjusting / readjusting the device to the changing thickness or the cover material of the mail items to be processed - to create, so that uninterrupted processing, user-friendly operation and a high processing performance and quality, especially for the subsequent franking of mail items.

Erfindungsgemäss wurde die Aufgabe dadurch gelöst, dass die in Transportrichtung betrachtet hinteren Ende der angelegten Versandstücke am Umfang einer Abstützrolle, hinter deren senkrecht durch die Achse verlaufenden Ebene über der Transportebene angehoben abgestützt sind, so dass eine gewisse Vortrennung bzw. Vorvereinzelung des jeweils untersten Versandstücks bewirkt wird.According to the invention, the object was achieved in that the rear end of the applied mail items, viewed in the transport direction, are supported on the circumference of a support roller, behind the plane running perpendicularly through the axis above the transport plane, so that a certain pre-separation or pre-separation of the respective bottom mail item is effected becomes.

Die einen neuen Weg gehende Erfindung erweist sich insbesondere bei der Verarbeitung eines Stapels dicken- und formatunterschiedlicher Versandstücke aus einem Anleger als erfolgreich.The invention, which takes a new approach, proves to be particularly successful when processing a stack of mail items of different thicknesses and formats from a feeder.

Hierzu kann die Abstützrolle um eine quer zur Transportrichtung F der Versandstücke betrachtet, höher als die Transportebene angeordnete Achse, frei drehbar oder förderwirksam angetrieben im Gestell gelagert sein.For this purpose, the support roller can be mounted in the frame so that it can rotate freely or is driven in a conveying manner about an axis that is arranged transversely to the transport direction F of the mail items, higher than the transport plane.

Die Abstützrolle kann in Transportrichtung F betrachtet versetzbar/verschiebbar und feststellbar im Gestell angeordnet sein, um Formatabweichungen der Versandstücke ausgleichen zu können.Viewed in the direction of transport F, the support roller can be arranged in the frame in a displaceable/displaceable and lockable manner in order to be able to compensate for format deviations in the mail items.

Überdies wird dadurch erreicht, dass zwischen dem zweituntersten Versandstück im Stapel und einem anstreichenden Anstellorgan der Vereinzelungsvorrichtung eine grössere Reibung vorliegt als zwischen dem untersten und zweiuntersten Versandstück.What is moreover achieved in this way is that there is greater friction between the second-lowest mail item in the stack and a rubbing contact element of the separating device than between the bottom and second-lowest mail items.

Vorbereitend für einen störungsfreien Abzug der Versandstücke aus einem Stapel bzw. dem Anleger ist es, wenn das in Transportrichtung vordere Ende des Anlegers durch eine nach hinten geneigte Führungs-/Anlegerwand ausgebildet ist, deren vorgelagertes unteres Ende mit der Transportebene eine sich wenigstens annähernd über die Breite der Transportebene erstreckende Durchtritts- resp. Austrittsöffnung zur Entnahme der Versandstücke aus dem Anleger bildet und durch die in Transportrichtung abgekröpfte Unterkante eine schonende Führung entsteht.In preparation for a trouble-free removal of the mail items from a stack or the feeder, it is when the front end of the feeder in the transport direction is formed by a guide/feeder wall inclined backwards, the front lower end of which is at least approximately above the transport level Width of the transport plane extending passage resp. exit opening for removing the mail items from the feeder and the lower edge, which is bent in the direction of transport, creates gentle guidance.

Vorzugsweise ist die als Anschlag dienende Führungs-/Anlegerwand zur Änderung der Durchtrittshöhe bzw. zur Anpassung an die Dicke der Versandstücke verstellbar bzw. höhenverstellbar ausgebildet.The guide/feeder wall serving as a stop is preferably designed to be adjustable or height-adjustable to change the passage height or to adapt to the thickness of the mail items.

Die Inbetriebsetzung der Einrichtung bzw. der Transportrollen und der Vereinzelungsvorrichtung kann durch einen von der Vereinzelungsvorrichtung erfassten, in der Transportebene auf einem Betätigungselement aufliegenden untersten Versandstück erfolgen und über eine Lichtschranke ausgelöst werden.The device or the transport rollers and the separating device can be started up by a lowermost shipping item that is detected by the separating device and rests on an actuating element in the transport plane and can be triggered via a light barrier.

Nachfolgend wird die Erfindung unter Bezugnahme auf den zitierten resp. den zitierenden Stand der Technik und die Zeichnung, auf die bezüglich aller in der Beschreibung nicht näher erwähnten Einzelheiten verwiesen wird, anhand eines Ausführungsbeispiels erläutert. In der Zeichnung zeigen:

Fig. 1
einen Längsschnitt durch eine Vereinzelungsstation entlang der Verarbeitungsstrecke der Einrichtung zum Frankieren von flachen Versandstücken und
Fig. 2
eine Draufsicht auf die in Fig. 1 dargestellte Einrichtung.
The invention with reference to the cited resp. the citing prior art and the drawing, to which reference is made with regard to all details not mentioned in detail in the description, is explained using an exemplary embodiment. Show in the drawing:
1
a longitudinal section through a separating station along the processing path of the device for franking flat mail items and
2
a top view of the in 1 shown facility.

Fig. 1 veranschaulicht eine Einrichtung 1 zur Verarbeitung von einzeln angelegten oder an der Unterseite 3 eines angelegten Stapels 2 (wie dargestellt) aus einem Anleger 5 zu Frankierzwecken entnommenen flachen Versandstücken 4, wie beispielsweise Briefumschläge, Versandtaschen, Karten, Druckprodukte resp. Zeitschriften und Kataloge, Hüllen für eingelegte/eingesteckte Produkte oder dgl. Hierzu besteht die Einrichtung 1 aus einer aus Anleger 5 und Vereinzelungsvorrichtung 6 gebildeten Vereinzelungsstation 7, in der die vorkommenden Versandstücke 4 einzeln verarbeitet und auf einer die Vereinzelungsstation 7 und eine Frankierstation förderwirksam verbindenden Verarbeitungsstrecke 8 weitertransportiert werden. Die Verarbeitungsstrecke 8 weist im Transportbereich 9 zwischen Anleger 5 und der diesem zugeordneten Vereinzelungsvorrichtung 6 wenigstens zwei, eine horizontale Transportebene 10 für die vereinzelten Versandstücke 4 bildende Transportrollen 11, 12 auf, die in Transportrichtung F quer und in Abständen nebeneinander liegend, den vorzugsweise gleichen Durchmesser resp. gleiche Umfangsgeschwindigkeit aufweisen sowie gleichsinnig angetrieben sind. Die Transportrollen 11, 12 sind an ihren Enden in einem Gehäuse oder Gestell 13 der Einrichtung 1 resp. einer Frankiermaschine motorisch angetrieben gelagert. 1 illustrates a device 1 for processing individually applied or on the underside 3 of an applied stack 2 (as shown) removed from a feeder 5 for franking purposes flat mail items 4, such as envelopes, mailing bags, cards, printed products, respectively. Magazines and catalogues, covers for inserted/inserted products or the like. For this purpose, the device 1 consists of a separating station 7 formed by a feeder 5 and a separating device 6, in which the mail items 4 that occur are processed individually and on a processing line that effectively connects the separating station 7 and a franking station 8 are transported further. In the transport area 9 between the feeder 5 and the separating device 6 assigned to it, the processing section 8 has at least two transport rollers 11, 12 forming a horizontal transport plane 10 for the separated mail items 4, which are arranged transversely in the transport direction F and are spaced apart from one another and preferably have the same diameter resp. have the same peripheral speed and are driven in the same direction. The transport rollers 11, 12 are at their ends in a housing or frame 13 of the device 1, respectively. a franking machine mounted motor-driven.

An die Einrichtung 1 schliesst ein in Transportrichtung F nachgeschaltetes Frankieraggregat (nicht dargestellt) zum Bedrucken, Frankieren oder Bebildern der Versandstücke 4 an, das mit der vorliegenden Einrichtung 1 durch die angetriebene Transportebene 10 bzw. die Transportrollen 11, 12 taktgleich und förderwirksam verbunden ist.A franking unit (not shown) for printing, franking or imaging the mail items 4, which is connected downstream in the transport direction F, is connected to the device 1 and is connected to the present device 1 by the driven transport plane 10 or the transport rollers 11, 12 at the same time and in a conveying manner.

Fig. 1 zeigt die Einrichtung 1 mit eingelegten, im Anleger 5 einen Stapel 2 bildenden Versandstücken 4, die durch unterschiedliche Dickenmasse und Formatgrössen auffallen. Selbstverständlich lassen sich mit der dargestellten Einrichtung 1 auch formatgleiche Versandstücke 4 verarbeiten resp. vereinzeln. Die in Anleger 5 in einem Stapel 2 angelegten Versandstücke 4 werden an der Transportrolle 12 unter Einwirkung eines Anstellorgans 15 der Vereinzelungsvorrichtung 6 erfasst und die auf dem untersten Versandstück 4 aufliegenden/darüber aufliegenden Versandstücke 4 zurückgehalten bzw. Mehrfachabzüge aus dem Anleger 5 werden verhindert. Sobald das unterste Versandstück 4 des Stapels 2 von der Transportrolle 12 und dem Anstellorgan 15 erfasst ist, wird es von den Transportrollen 11, 12 in der Transportebene 10 in Transportrichtung F weitertransportiert und zwischen das an der Transportebene 10 nachgeschaltete Förderrollenpaar 16 geführt, von dem zumindest eine Förderrolle 17 angetrieben ist, wogegen eine obere, vorzugsweise federnd abgestützte Förderrolle 18 über eine Reibungsverbindung mit der den Transportrollen 11, 12 entsprechenden Förderrolle 17, einen Förderspalt bildend, angetrieben sein kann. 1 shows the device 1 with inserted mailing items 4 forming a stack 2 in the feeder 5, which are conspicuous due to their different thicknesses and format sizes. Of course, the same format can also be used with the device 1 shown Process packages 4 or seperate. The mail items 4 placed in a stack 2 in the feeder 5 are gripped on the transport roller 12 under the action of a positioning element 15 of the separating device 6 and the mail items 4 lying on/overlying the bottom mail item 4 are retained or multiple withdrawals from the feeder 5 are prevented. As soon as the bottom mailing item 4 of the stack 2 is grasped by the transport roller 12 and the adjusting element 15, it is transported further by the transport rollers 11, 12 in the transport plane 10 in the transport direction F and guided between the pair of conveyor rollers 16 downstream on the transport plane 10, from which at least a conveyor roller 17 is driven, whereas an upper, preferably resiliently supported conveyor roller 18 can be driven via a friction connection with the conveyor roller 17 corresponding to the transport rollers 11, 12, forming a conveyor gap.

Damit die Versandstücke 4 die Vereinzelungsvorrichtung 6 mit der in Transportrichtung F vorderen Kante 19 jeweils lagegenau resp. gleichmässig ausgerichtet erreichen, weist der Anleger 5 eine vordere, vorzugsweise entgegen der Fortbewegung F geneigte Führungs-/Anlegerwand 20 auf, deren unteres Ende mit der Transportebene 10 eine Durchtritts-/Entnahmeöffnung 21 für die zu vereinzelnden Versandstücke 4 bildet. Die Führungs-/Anlegerwand 20 ist vorzugsweise nach hinten geneigt und erstreckt sich wenigstens teilweise über die Breite der Transportebene 10; sie kann zur Änderung der Höhe der Durchtrittsöffnung verstellt/eingestellt werden.So that the mail items 4 the separating device 6 with the front edge 19 in the transport direction F in each case in a precise position, respectively. evenly aligned, the feeder 5 has a front guide/feeder wall 20, preferably inclined counter to the movement F, the lower end of which forms a passage/removal opening 21 for the mail items 4 to be separated with the transport plane 10. The guide/feeder wall 20 is preferably inclined backwards and extends at least partially across the width of the transport plane 10; it can be adjusted/adjusted to change the height of the passage opening.

Zur Verstellung der Durchtrittsöffnung 21 resp. der Führungs-/Anlegerwand 20 sind seitliche Führungen (nicht ersichtlich) vorgesehen, an denen die Führungswand 20 in der Höhe verschiebbar ist. Das untere Ende der Führungswand 20 ist in Transportrichtung F abgekröpft ausgebildet, um dadurch einen störungsfreien Durchgang der Versandstücke 4 an der Durchtrittsöffnung 21 gewährleisten zu können.To adjust the passage opening 21, respectively. Lateral guides (not visible) are provided on the guide/feeder wall 20, on which the guide wall 20 can be displaced in height. The lower end of the guide wall 20 is bent in the transport direction F in order to be able to ensure that the mail items 4 can pass through the passage opening 21 without any problems.

Zur optimalen Abstützung oder Auflage der Versandstücke 4 in der Transportebene 10 ist der ersten Transportrolle 11 eine die Transportebene 10 unterhalb der im Anleger 5 gestapelten Versandstücke 4 verlängernde, frei drehbare Stützrolle 22 im Gehäuse/Gestell 13 der Einrichtung 1 gelagert.For optimum support or placement of the mail items 4 on the transport level 10 , the first transport roller 11 is supported in the housing/frame 13 of the device 1 by a freely rotatable support roller 22 that lengthens the transport plane 10 below the mail items 4 stacked in the feeder 5 .

Weiterhin ist gemäss Fig. 1 an dem in Transportrichtung F hinteren Ende des Anlegers 5 eine die Versandstücke 4 in Transportrichtung F am hinteren Ende über der Transportebene 10 stützende, frei drehbare oder unabhängig angetriebene Abstützrolle 23 angeordnet, über deren reibungswirksame Umfangsoberfläche die Zustellung der Versandstücke 4 für das Vereinzeln unterstützt wird. Diese Abstützrolle 23 kann durch eine mit grösserem Durchmesser ausgetauscht und ihre Lage, angepasst an die Transportlänge der Versandstücke 4 in Transportrichtung F im Gehäuse 13 der Einrichtung 1 verstellt/eingestellt werden, sodass die in Transportrichtung F betrachtet hinteren Ende der im Anleger 5 gestapelten Versandstücke 4 am Umfang der Abstützrolle 23, hinter deren senkrecht durch die Achse verlaufenden Ebene 26 über der Transportebene 10 angehoben abgestützt sind.Furthermore, according to 1 at the rear end of the feeder 5 in the transport direction F, a freely rotatable or independently driven support roller 23 supporting the mail items 4 in the transport direction F at the rear end above the transport plane 10 is arranged, via the friction-effective peripheral surface of which the delivery of the mail items 4 for the separation is supported. This support roller 23 can be exchanged for one with a larger diameter and its position, adapted to the transport length of the mail items 4, can be adjusted/set in the transport direction F in the housing 13 of the device 1, so that the rear end, viewed in the transport direction F, of the mail items stacked in the feeder 5 on the circumference of the support roller 23, behind which plane 26 extending perpendicularly through the axis above the transport plane 10 are supported.

Vor der in Transportrichtung F ersten Transportrolle 11 ist im Gehäuse/Gestell 13 der Einrichtung 1 ein um eine quer gerichtete Achse schwenkbares Betätigungsorgan 24 gelagert. Dieses in der Betriebslage der Einrichtung 1 und mit unterbrochener Linienführung in der Ausserbetriebsstellung dargestellte mechanische Betätigungselement 24 setzt den Betrieb der Einrichtung 1 resp. der Frankiermaschine in Gang, sobald ein Versandstück 4 auf dem Betätigungselement 24 zum Aufliegen kommt bzw. ein Versandstück 4 auf einer Stützrolle/n 22 und den Transportrollen 11 resp. 12 bzw. in der Transportebene 10 aufliegt. Ausgelöst wird der Betrieb der Einrichtung 1 mittels Lichtschranke 25, der das Betätigungselement 24 zugeordnet ist.In front of the first transport roller 11 in the transport direction F, an actuating element 24 pivotable about a transversely directed axis is mounted in the housing/frame 13 of the device 1 . This shown in the operating position of the device 1 and with broken lines in the inoperative position mechanical actuator 24 is the operation of the device 1, respectively. the franking machine in motion as soon as a mail item 4 comes to rest on the actuating element 24 or a mail item 4 on a support roller/s 22 and the transport rollers 11, respectively. 12 or in the transport plane 10 rests. The operation of the device 1 is triggered by means of a light barrier 25 to which the actuating element 24 is assigned.

Claims (7)

  1. Apparatus (1) for franking flat items of mail (4) removed individually or at the underside (3) of a supplied stack (2) and guided in a transport direction (F) at one side edge, such as envelopes, mailers, cards, printed products, sleeves, labels or the like, composed of a from a feeder (5) for items of mail (4) that are individually supplied or stacked above one another and a separating device (6), and a downstream processing line (8) of a franking machine, following in a conveying manner in the transport direction (F) of the items of mail (4), for franking/printing the separated items of mail (4), wherein the processing line (8) in the transport region (9) between feeder (5) and the separating device (6) assigned to the latter is composed of a plurality of driven transport rollers (11, 12) which form a horizontal transport plane (10) for receiving an item of mail (4) or the respective lowest item of mail (4) from a stack (2), characterized in that the apparatus (1) has a support roller (23) which can be adjusted such that the rear ends of the supplied items of mail (4), as viewed in the transport direction (F), after the plane (26) of the latter running perpendicularly through the axis, are supported on the circumference of the support roller (23) so as to be raised above the transport plane (10) .
  2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the support roller (23), preferably formed from individually spaced rollers, is mounted in the frame (5) so as to be freely rotatable about an axis disposed transversely with respect to the transport direction (F) of the items of mail (4) or driven in a conveying manner.
  3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 and/or 2, characterized in that the support roller (23), as viewed in the transport direction (F), is disposed so as to be adjustable/displaceable and fixable in the frame (13).
  4. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the front end of the feeder (5) in the transport direction (F) of the items of mail (4) is formed by a guide/feeder wall (20) which is preferably inclined rearward, the upstream lower end of the latter, conjointly with the transport plane (10), forming a passage opening (21) that for the removal of the items of mail (4) extends at least partly over the width of the transport plane (10).
  5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, characterized in that the guide/feeder wall (20) for varying the passage opening (21) is configured to be vertically adjustable/adjustable.
  6. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the drive of the transport rollers (11, 12) forming the transport plane (10) is triggered by the respective lowest item of mail (4) from a stack (2) or an individual item of mail (4) item of mail (4) resting on an actuating element (24) disposed in the transport plane (10).
  7. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, as viewed in the transport direction (F), a freely rotatable support roller (22) lengthening the transport plane (10) underneath the supplied items of mail (4) is mounted upstream of the first driven transport roller (11).
EP17405029.4A 2017-11-22 2017-11-22 Device for franking flat mail items transported individually or from a stack on a processing line Active EP3489911B1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP17405029.4A EP3489911B1 (en) 2017-11-22 2017-11-22 Device for franking flat mail items transported individually or from a stack on a processing line
US16/058,201 US10589947B2 (en) 2017-11-22 2018-08-08 Apparatus for franking flat items of mail transported individually or from a supplied stack, such as envelopes, mailers, cards, printed products, sleeves, labels or the like, on a processing line
CN201810959698.8A CN109809214A (en) 2017-11-22 2018-08-22 For being given on processing section individually or through the stacking transport by putting, the flat mechanism sending part and impressing

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP17405029.4A EP3489911B1 (en) 2017-11-22 2017-11-22 Device for franking flat mail items transported individually or from a stack on a processing line

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3489911A1 EP3489911A1 (en) 2019-05-29
EP3489911B1 true EP3489911B1 (en) 2022-07-13

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP17405029.4A Active EP3489911B1 (en) 2017-11-22 2017-11-22 Device for franking flat mail items transported individually or from a stack on a processing line

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US (1) US10589947B2 (en)
EP (1) EP3489911B1 (en)
CN (1) CN109809214A (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3623327B1 (en) 2018-09-11 2021-07-07 Frama AG Method for franking mail items fed on a conveying route of a franking machine, and corresponding machine

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6102388A (en) * 1998-08-05 2000-08-15 Lexmark International, Inc. Envelope feeder
US7635124B2 (en) * 2005-12-28 2009-12-22 Sun Automation, Inc. Feeder with adjustable time cycle and method
EP1832536B1 (en) * 2006-03-08 2014-04-23 Frama Ag Device for processing and/or transporting flat mail items
CN101631733A (en) * 2007-02-08 2010-01-20 光荣株式会社 Paper money feeder
FR2926801B1 (en) * 2008-01-30 2010-03-26 Neopost Technologies IMPROVED DEVICE FOR SELECTING MAIL ITEMS
US9079728B2 (en) * 2012-09-12 2015-07-14 Lbp Manufacturing, Inc. Feeder system for beverage container holder process
DE202012011876U1 (en) * 2012-12-07 2013-01-30 Francotyp-Postalia Gmbh feeding
TWI560128B (en) * 2014-12-15 2016-12-01 Avision Inc Sheet-feeding device with multistage stop arms
EP3050831B1 (en) * 2015-01-28 2017-09-20 Neopost Technologies Improved mix mail feeder
CN204568883U (en) * 2015-04-30 2015-08-19 张树成 Novel dexter feeder
DE202016106124U1 (en) 2016-11-01 2016-11-17 Francotyp-Postalia Gmbh separating station

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP3489911A1 (en) 2019-05-29
CN109809214A (en) 2019-05-28
US10589947B2 (en) 2020-03-17
US20190152732A1 (en) 2019-05-23

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