FR2649230A1 - MINIATURE POSTAGE MACHINE - Google Patents

Abstract

A miniature postage meter with a print head movable relative to an article and coupled to a source of data to be printed. In the postage meter, the data source defines a stamp, a home office sticker and an advertisement flame; the head 10 has a row of printing elements of length less than either of the dimensions of the data printing area and moves in one direction or the other transverse to its row of elements ; the article advances in steps equal to the length of the row; and a control circuit defines a printing cycle during which the head and the article are driven and during which an advance phase under the head, a printing phase and an ejection phase of the head are provided. article. Application: small volume mail shipping operations.

Description

The present invention relates to the

  franking machines and more particularly on a franking machine very small

dimensions and low cost.

  Postage meters are currently widely available

  in companies emitting large volumes of mail.

  Common machines are relatively large and complex.

  They are used at a fixed station, to process the mail coming directly or not from automatic envelopes insertion devices envelopes or from several departments of the company and

  centralized for franking operation.

  The profitability of these machines is Justified by the speed of franking, the resulting time savings and the convenience of operations, for large volumes of mail. However, their use is not justified for

  reduced volumes of mail. In the latter case, the franking

  These folds are still made using postage stamps.

  Current machines include a printing mechanism, in general, rotary drum printing with which is associated a print head. This drum is driven in synchronism with the linear advance of the folds against it. It allows each rotation turn and during the advance of each fold, the impression of a postage stamp at the appropriate value, a sticker of the machine's home office with the date of shipping and

  possibly an advertising flame.

  The printing drum is on its periphery a first

  stamped engraved stamp plate, without postage value

  and the sticker of the home office, without the date, and a second engraved plaque retractable print advertising flame. The printhead ensures the printing of the postage value and the date at the proper locations when

  stamp printing and vignette.

  The print head can be copstituted by two sets of

  adjustable knobs for both types of variable data, respectively

  - 2 - They are carried by the drum and rotating with it and outcrop on its periphery through windows of the first

fixed plate.

  The print head may also be constituted by a fixed ink jet head inside the drum. FR-No. 2,257,964 describes such a machine. The head has a row of nozzles that fits

  at the height of the characters of the value and the date to print.

  It has its row of nozzles near the periphery of the drum and facing the advance path of the folds. It is controlled through the windows of the first printing plate, when

  one and the other of these windows are on the fold.

  The use of such franking machines remains unjustified for reduced volumes of mail, ranging in average from 0 to

twenty folds a day.

  Among the machines for printing characters or marks on articles, certain small machines are known that are portable and hand-carried on an article to print a line of characters or marks. These machines comprise an ink jet print head, similar to the above-mentioned ink-jet head, but made movable on the article, without contact with it,

along the line to be printed.

  A machine of this type is described in patent FR-2 561 99Z.

  It has a window base in which the head is mounted

  you. The base is positioned on the article, with its window on the line to be printed. The head is trained. by hand along the window and is controlled in synchronism with its advance along the window for printing the line. Means for detecting the position of the head along the window trigger

  and control the print control of the head.

  Another machine of this type is described in patent FR-2,145,343.

  In this machine, the ink jet head is fixed in a housing, it has its row of nozzles just above the open bottom

  crankcase. The housing is moved by hand on the item to be marked.

  It has rollers on the surface of the article. An encoder wheel coupled to one of these rollers allows a command

26492.30

  - 3- head with crankcase advance on article for printing

  of the line in synchronism with its scan.

  These two machines are very small. Each of them provides the impression of a line of height given by the row of nozzles, from a source of printing data. The use of such machines as franking machines then leads to a franking mode in the form of a line of printed symbols and no longer in the form of the stamp and the sticker printed at the appropriate value and date and possibly accompanied

  an advertising flame also printed.

  The present invention aims to achieve a miniature franking machine, used primarily for printing the stamp and the aforementioned sticker and possibly the advertising flame with a mobile inkjet print head in an article but not likely to scan the printable areas in a single line, but also usable for

  ancillary operations related to franking operations.

  It therefore relates to a miniature franking machine, comprising a print head unit printing units in a row on a so-called base face of the head, relative movement means of the head on the article, means detecting the article with respect to the head, a data source to be printed coupled to the head and control means for printing the data, characterized in that: said source comprises at least a first source assigned to the matrix definition of a stamp of franking and a sticker of the office of attachment of the machine, for a printing area of defined transverse dimensions, - said head has a limited number of printing elements, whose row-gives the direction of one of the dimensions of the zone but is of length less than this dimension, - said moving means comprise first means of movement of the article according to the row of élémen ts and second means of moving the head transversely to the row of elements, and said control means are microprocessor and define a printing cycle, triggered and controlled by said detection means, during which the advance article by step equal to the length of the row of elements and the head moves, between each step, alternately in one direction after one of the steps and in the other direction after the next step, and in which the zone is printed on the article with the scanning of successive lines on the zone during a phase called printing then the article is ejected,

  without printing, during a so-called ejection phase.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, said head

  is an inkjet head, removably mounted on its means of

  cement. This head is preferably with built-in ink reserve and constitutes a disposable component when its reserve is exhausted

ink.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the machine equipped with a keyboard and a display mounted on one of its faces and coupled to the control circuit further comprises a second data source assigned to the matrix definition of an advertising flame in a portion of said printing zone, coupled to said head and controlled from a first selective command by the keyboard, for printing at will, with the stamp and the sticker, the advertising flame at during the said phase

printing said cycle.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the machine further comprises a first card, memory and microprocessor, called smart card, assigned to franking transactions of the machine, coupled to said control circuit and being part of

  integral part of the machine in a normal operating mode

ment.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the machine further comprises a second memory card assigned to the recording of advertising flame data, called advertising card, mounted in place of said smart card and then coupled. to said control circuit, for loading its data into said second source under the control of said control circuit, from a third selective keyboard control in the recording operating mode

  of advertising flame of the machine.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the machine further comprises a third terminal card on a cord of a programmed outdoor advertising flame composition circuit, called a connection card, mounted in place of the smart card for loading advertising flame data generated by the external circuit into said second source, from a fourth selective command given by the bet keyboard

  of the machine in the procedure of recording public flame

  silent. According to another characteristic the machine comprises, in addition

a letter scale.

  According to another characteristic, the letter scale and the power supply of the machine form modules which are connectable on the one hand with each other and on the other hand one and / or the other directly on the back.

  of a so-called printing module containing the head, the means of

  of the article and the head and the control circuit, the card coupled to the control circuit forming itself another module connectable on the back of the print module being protected by the power module or the letter scale module

connected to the print module.

  The features and advantages of the present invention

  appear more clearly in the description given below.

  after an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

  In these drawings: FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the constitution of a machine according to the present invention; FIG. 2 shows an assembled machine, which results from FIG. 1; FIG. modules of the machine, said franking module, shown in cross-section through a so-called front portion of the module, - Figure 4 is a right view, in section according to Figure IV-IV of Figure 3, of this franking module, - Figure 5 is a partially cutaway plan view of this franking module,

  - Figure 6 is a block diagram of the control circuit of the machine.

  Figure 1 shows the miniature franking machine according to the present invention; it is preferably of constitution

  modular, but can also have its elements, which correspond to

  lay to its modules, forming an integral part of the machine.

  The machine is described below for its modular constitution.

  In Figure 2, its modules are shown assembled to each other.

other.

  With reference to FIG. 1 and / or FIG. 2, it can be seen that this machine comprises, from the front to the rear, for a user in front of it: a printing module also called franking module 1, in the form of a small box, with a print head -10 removably mounted inside the module in its front part and with a male connector 1A at the bottom of its rear face 11 and with a patch pad 11A substantially at half height on this face 11, an accounting module 2, flat, of the smart card type, with a patch pad 2A integrated on one of its faces for the patch pad 11A of the franking module 1, a weighing module letter 3, relatively flat, with female connector 3B at the bottom of one of its large faces and male connector 3A at the bottom of the large opposite face, - a power supply module 4, in the form of a housing of the same height as modules 1 and 3, equipped with a female connector 4B at the bottom

from one of its faces.

  These modules are assembled against each other by being connected to each other. In FIG. 1, the arrows 2F, 3F and 4F translate the assembly of each of the modules 2, 3 and 4 onto that which receives it. Apart from the accounting module 2, the letter scale modules 3 and the feed modules 4 have their faces equipped with male or female connectors, which have substantially the same

  dimensions as the back side of the franking module 1.

  The male and female connectors on the faces of the modules 1, 7, 3 and 4 are arranged at the same level as the lower edge of each

module and are complementary.

  The franking module 1 has on its front face a slot 12 for introducing an article into the module 1. A lateral pull 13, on the side of the insertion of the article into the slot 12, is associated with it, for a maintenance of the article. This module 1 is further equipped on its inclined upper face, a display screen 14, at the rear, a keyboard 15, and a hatch 16 for access to the print head 10, forward. An arrow 10F illustrates the possible removal of the head 10 of the module 1, in particular for

  its replacement by another head.

  This franking module comprises in its inner part, in addition to the head 10, means for moving the head and the article and a control circuit of the machine, described below. It is specified simply with respect to the control circuit, that it is preferably formed on two cards attached to the rear wall and on one of the side walls of the module 1, such as the card 17 shown schematically in FIG.

Figure 1.

  The letter scale module 3 is an optional module of the machine.

  It advantageously allows the measurement of the weight before the postage

  of each article, for the automatic calculation of the amount of postage

  This item is controlled by its own control circuit or that of the machine to which it is connected through connectors 3B, 1A of modules 3 and 1. In the absence of such a letter scale module in the machine, the amount franking is returned by the keyboard. This module weigh 3 in the form of a flat stacker has a vertical 3D slot for receiving each article to be weighed on its upper face. The bottom of the slot is a horizontal 3P weighing platform. This module is of electronic type, it allows a selection between different weight ranges, 0-20 g, -50 g, 50-100 g, for example1pour each article, for the purpose of calculating the amount of franking corresponding to each slice by

  its control circuit or that of the machine.

  - 8 - The feed module 4 is the rearmost module of the machine. In Figure 1, the power supply module 4 presented behind the letter scale module 3 is said sector module; it is equipped with its 4C cord with terminal plug connection to a plug of the sector. It comprises, in known manner, transformer, rectifier and filter circuits. It is equipped with a switch 4I

on one of its side faces.

  In Figure 1, we have shown in correspondence

  with this power supply module 4 on the one hand a power supply module

  4 'battery and on the other hand a battery power supply

  Each of these modules 4 'and 4 "may be retained in place of the mains module 4, as well as translated by the arrows 4' F and 4" F which correspond to them. ', 4' are equipped, like module 4, with a female 4'B or 4 "B connector, as applicable A battery charger 5, with a 5C cord and a terminal plug for mains connection and equipped with a 5A male connector for the 4 "B female connector, is intended for reloading the module

  4 "battery, then considered retained in the machine.

  The accounting module 2 with memory and microprocessor, of the smart card type, is assigned to postage transactions of the machine, whether this machine is used in post-payment or pre-payment. In prepayment it is preferably a card

  credit acquired by the user, which is debited at each

  the corresponding amount and makes it possible to

  until the balance of available credit. In pre-payment,

  it can also be a fund-loading card in the machine.

  In post-payment and, if necessary, in pre-payment when the machine was previously reloaded in funds, it is, moreover,

  an identification card of the machine and possibly the use of

tor.

  As also illustrated in FIG. 1, the machine furthermore optionally comprises a memory module 2 ', also of the chip card type, which is externally analogous to the accounting module 2 and has its patch pad 2'A and which is connected in place of the accounting module 2. This memory module -9

  2 'is also called registration card of an advertising flame.

  Such a memory card 2 ', edited by a specialized service at the request of the user, allows the user to record

  advertising, which is defined there, in his machine.

  As a variant, the user can, instead of acquiring such a memory card 2 ', have a cord 2C for connecting the machine to an external circuit, for example to a microcomputer, with the appropriate computer program. to enable him to compose himself his advertising flame and the data of definition of this flame and to record in the machine these data of definition of this advertising flame; the user can also register recipient addresses of his mail folds in his machine. This connection cord 2C is at the end of connection to the franking machine in the form of a connection module 2 "of the card type and externally identical to the module 2. This connection module 2" has its patch pad marked

  in 2 "A, and is connected in place of the module 2 on the module 1.

  In FIG. 1, the arrow 2 'F or the arrow 2 "F translates the optional use of the module or memory card 2' or of the module or connection card 2" to a microcomputer, for the recording in the machine of any new advertising flame and, where

appropriate, addresses.

  In addition in the machine, the keyboard 15 of the printing module is also an alphanumeric data input means for recording a so-called advertising flame and then simplified addresses. This same keyboard is, in addition, a means for selecting a method of operation of the machine from among several possible operating modes. In FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, an embodiment of the franking module 1 has been given. This module, which is the largest in the machine, remains very small and is of low weight; for example, its rear face is 100 x .105 mm, in height and width, its lower or upper face has a length of

  the order of 150 mm, its weight is less than one kilogram.

  Referring to these figures 3 to 5, we see that the head

- 10 -

  10 is carried by a support 20. It is removably mounted and lockable on its support by means not shown, being connected through its support to the control circuit mounted in this module. This print head is as such known. It is a small component, such as an inkjet or needle printhead. It is preferably an inkjet head such as that known by the name THINK JET from the company HEWLETT PACKARD. It is a small number of ink ejection nozzles, low pitch between them and in a row on a so-called base of the head. She has an internal tank

  ink for feeding its nozzles.

  A network of control elements is associated with the individual nozzles

  Dual. A network of control links for this array of elements terminates at the base of the head, on a rearward side of the row of nozzles. It comes to connect to the support carrying the head, from where the connections going to the control circuit of the machine. Such an inkjet print head has a limited printing time and is a disposable component-which is replaced by a new identical head, when its internal reserve

ink is exhausted.

  For this inkjet head, mounted vertically in the module 1, one simply identified its base by the reference-10A and its row of nozzles by the reference 10B. It is further specified that the row of nozzles comes to the front of the support 20 and extends parallel to the front face of the module 1, that is to say the plane of Figure 3; it gives the direction of one of the dimensions of an area to print

  on the article, but is of shorter length.

  In FIG. 3, in particular, it can be seen that the support 20

  of the head is slidably mounted on a horizontal rod 21.

  It is also called slider. He is, with the head 10 in the

  the front part of module 1, just above slot 12 of introduc-

  tion of the article. Means 22 for actuating the slide, which are fixed on it, are coupled to a control means 23, for its displacement from front to rear and vice versa in

the machine, on the stem 21. -

- 11l -

  The slot 12 is defined between two fixed horizontal plates, and 26, extending under the head, and distant from each other

  the maximum thickness of the articles to be introduced into the machine.

  The lower plate 25 is called introduction plate. The upper plate 26 is called printing plate. This printing plate is a short distance from the row of nozzles lOB. It has a window 26A to the right of the row of nozzles, through which is carried out the printing of a stamp of franking, the sticker of the office of attachment of the machine and, if desired from an advertising flame, on the article. The window is of width, appearing in FIG. 3, slightly greater than the length of the row of nozzles; its length corresponds to the height of

  imprints to be printed, of the order of 25 mm.

  The slot 12 has its ends open on both side ects of the franking module, in its front part. 12A has been identified at its flared entry end of each article

and 12B its output end.

  This slot 12 is equipped with means 30 for advancing and holding the article in the printing position relative to the head and its row of nozzles. These means 30 comprise, on the side of the input end 12A, a smooth roller 31 mounted above the slot, and a roller 32, with peripheral grooves not referenced, mounted below the slot. A set of endless belts 33, engaged in the grooves and received on a small roller 34

  mounted on the side of the end 12B, is stretched along the slot.

  The rollers 31 and 32 are entrained according to the arrows 31A

  and 32B and the belts according to the arrow 33A, for the advancement of

  key. These same means 30 further comprise a pair of arms 35 articulated on the axis of the roller 32 and carrying the return roller 34 between them. This pair of arms is urged by springs 36, to drive the return roller through the slot as illustrated by arrow 35A. It urges the set of belts 33 against the printing plate 26 for the application of any article, introduced into the end 12A of the slot 12 and caught between the rollers 31 and 32 against this printing plate, during his

- 12 -

advance along the slot.

  The roller 31 is flush with the upper side of the slot 12; the roller 32 carrying the belts 33 is in turn urged by springs 37 to come into pressure against the roller 31 through the slot, to cooperate with a good application of any article against the printing plate 26, whatever the 'thickness

of this article.

  This slot 12 is further equipped with a 40A sensor, 40B input of an article in the slot, mounted close to the rollers 31

  and 32, on the input side 12A. This sensor provides the drive control

  Rollers 31 and 32, for the advance of the article for a printing cycle that triggers. The slot is equipped with another

  sensor 41A, 41B, mounted slightly beyond the row of nozzles.

  This sensor 41A, 41B ensures detection of article presence in a printing position under the head. It triggers a printing phase of the print cycle. It also triggers a phase

  ejection of the article, after this phase of printing.

  In the franking module, a third sensor 42A, 42B is mounted to detect an associated flag 43, which is carried by the support or slide 20. This sensor 42A, 42B detecting the flag defines an impression reference position for the print command and therefore ink jets during the printing phase.

  Figure 4 and / or 5 shows, in addition to the description of

  tion above, that the roller 31 is held between two bearings 44A, 44B and that the roller 32 is itself held between two bearings 45A, B which are biased by the springs 37. The bearings 44A, 44B for the roller 31 constitute also the support of the rod 21 for guiding the slide 20. The bearing 44A also has a notch 46 at the base of the head 10. This notch is delimited by the insertion plate 25, formed directly or attached to it bearing 44A; it receives an edge of the printing plate that is held there. These plates 25 and 26 are therefore fixed opposite

  from the base of the head mounted on the slider. The bottom of the sample

  46, between the plates 25 and 26 defines the bottom of the slot 12.

- 13 -

  It is identified by reference 46A. The two sensors mounted along the slot 12, designated simply by reference 40, 41,

  are at the bottom 46A of the slot 12 (Figure 4).

  In FIG. 5, the double arrow 20A indicates the displacement of the slider 20 on the guide rod 21, and the slider 20 and the head 10 are shown in solid and dashed lines in their two extreme positions. Between these two extreme positions the row of nozzles lB moves on the same path, alternately in one direction and the other. The flag 43, integral with the slider 20 and associated with the third sensor simply designated by the reference 42, advantageously has a slot 47 for detecting one, and therefore the other, of the directions of movement of the

row of nozzles.

  The means 22 and 23 for actuating and controlling the slide

  bucket 20 on the guide rod 21 and means generally designated by the drive reference 50 of the rollers 31 and 32 are described below with reference to Figures 4 and 5. These means are coupled to a common motor 51, which the orders. They are housed with the motor 51 in the rear part of the franking module 1,

at the rear of the slider 20.

  From the motor 51, a driving pinion 52 drives a distribution shaft 53 which itself drives the means 23, 22 and the means 50. This shaft 53 carries at one of its ends a wheel 54, with continuous internal teeth 54A, on which is

engaging the drive gear 52.

  A cam mounted at the bottom of the shaft 53, at its other end and made integral with this shaft constitutes the means 23. The cam carries this reference 23. It has sapériphérie heart-shaped,

  with a protruding tip 23A and a notch 23B opposite.

  The wheel 54 belongs to the means 50. It presents

  for this purpose on its periphery two teeth 54B opposite one another.

  The choice of two teeth 54B results from the core shape of the cam 23.

  These teeth are both slightly offset from the tip and the notch of the cam to which they respectively correspond when driving on a lathe of the cam and

- 14 -

  of the wheel. These means 50 further comprise gears 55 to 59 for coupling the wheel 54 with the rollers 31 and 32. The pinion 55 is cylindrical, it comes on the periphery of the wheel 54 in engagement

  with the two teeth 54B when each of the teeth reaches its level.

  The pinions 56 and 57 form a pair of bevel gears between the shaft of the pinion 55 and the shaft of the transverse roller 31 which carry them, respectively, for driving the roller 31. The pinion 58, cylindrical, is mounted on the roller shaft 31; it is shown in one piece with the conical pinion 57. The pinion 59, also cylindrical, is mounted on the roller shaft 32 and engages the pinion 58, it drives the roller 32,

  in synchronism with the roller 31 but in the opposite direction.

  The means 22 couple the cam 23 and the slider 20. They comprise a small lever 60 hinged at one end and bent terminal nose 60A, opposite, bearing on the periphery, a rod 61 for driving the slider 20 and a vertical shaft 62 for coupling between the lever 60 and the rod 61. Springs 63 act on the shaft 62 to urge the lever to rest against the periphery of the cam 23. A finger 20D on the slide 20 is retained in an oblong slot 61D of the link 61, for fixing the link 61 to the slide

(Figure 5).

  For each complete revolution of rotation of the distribution shaft

  53 driving the cam, the rod drives the slider

  20 along its guide rod 21, in one direction and the other.

  The tip 23A and the notch 23B give the reversal of the driving direction.

  the slider, with increasing speed at the beginning of the race, going back and a decreasing speed at the end of the race, going back and forth. The two opposite curved portions of the cam, which exclude the zones with lapointe and the notch, are defined to give a constant speed to the slide 20; they define the useful part, traveled at constant speed,

  of the forward and return stroke of the slide 20 on the guide rod 21.

  Each impression is printed on this part

useful.

- 15 -

  The means 50 in turn drive the rollers 31 and 32 and thus the article along the slot of the machine when the slider 20 with the head 10 are at a standstill or

practically stopped.

  In Figure 6, there is illustrated in block diagram form the control circuit of the machine. This control circuit is housed in the printing module 1. It is designated under the global reference 17 of the card illustrated in FIG. 1. It comprises: a set of memories 70, in which are separately illustrated memories 71 to 74 specified below; a microprocessor 80, coupled to the memories of the assembly 70 according to the indicated arrows;

  interface circuits 81 to 87 coupled on the one hand to the microproces-

  80 and on the other hand to the controlled elements or control of the machine. These elements of the machine are the display screen for the display interface circuit 81, the keyboard for the circuit

  keyboard interface 82, the print head for the inter-

  head face 83, the motor for the motor interface circuit 84, the three sensors for the sensor interface circuit 85, the accounting module for the financial interface circuit 86 and the memory module or the external data definition circuit.

  advertising flame for advertising interface circuit 87.

  The references of these elements described with reference to the preceding figures

  dentes are recalled in parentheses on the links they have with the interface circuits, with arrows translating

  the direction of the coupling, in this figure 6.

  In the set of memories 70, the memory 71 is said memory of the financial counters and franking operations of the machine. The memory 72 is a source of

  matrix definition data of the stamps of postage stamps

  and the sticker of the machine's home office, without

  their variable data of value and date in these fingerprints.

  The memory 73 constitutes a source of advertising flame definition data. The memory 74 constitutes a source for other fixed data, in particular address definition data.

- 16 -

  of the sender and recipients of mail folds.

  Preferably financial interface and advertising circuits

  86 and 87 are carried by a first control card mounted in the franking module on its rear wall; the other interface circuits, the microprocessor and the set of memories are on the second control card 17 also mounted in

  the franking module but on one of its side walls.

  The miniature franking machine according to the present invention has several possible modes of operation. The selection of one of the operating modes is provided by the keyboard 15 (FIGS. 1, 2). These different operating modes are in particular: - a franking procedure, which is the main and normal operating procedure of the machine, for which the head 10 prints the franking stamp at the appropriate amount, the sticker of the office d attaches to the current date and possibly, the advertising flame, in a corresponding area of dimensions defined on the articles or labels to oppose the articles, introduced successively into the machine; a procedure for editing an accounting slip, for which the head 10 prints the states of the counters of the machine, issuing from the memory 71, at the last edition produced and at the instant of the current edition, possibly with the individual financial operations between this last edition and the current edition, on one or more successive sheets or on one or more successive labels introduced into the machine; an article addressing procedure, for which the head 10 prints the address of the sender or the recipient of the article concerned, coming from the memory 74 and also selected from the keyboard, on this article or a label to be affixed to the article, introduced into the machine; a mode of operation in recording advertising flames, for which the machine stores in its memory 73 the definition data of the advertising flame to be printed; a mode of operation for registering addresses, for which the machine stores in its memory 74 the definition data

- 17 -

addresses to print.

  These last two modes of operation in recording, selection

  As the other operating modes by the keyboard, consist of a simple transfer of data, from the module 2 'or the keyboard 15, or through the module 2 ", then connected to the franking module 1, to the memory 73 or The transfer procedure with the modules 2 'and 2 "is delivered with the modules 2', 2", the one with the keyboard is integrated in the control circuit 17 in the form of a suitable processing unit, not shown. , which prepares the ordered data to be recorded in response to the data

  alphanumeric entries, with a view to their subsequent printing.

  The procedures for franking, billing and addressing lead to head-printing operations which are more specific to the machine according to the invention. Each print operation is performed in one print cycle. This printing cycle is carried out in an analogous manner whatever the operating mode concerned. It is described

  hereinafter with reference to the figures, for the franking operation-

  an article, which is linked to a preliminary step

  additional to set the postage amount.

  In a machine equipped with a letter scale module 3, this preliminary step consists in the simple introduction of the article into the 3D slot of the letter scale module, giving rise to the automatic calculation of the amount of postage by the machine, with displaying the amount on the screen and then validating the displayed amount with the keypad. In the machine not equipped with letter scale module, this preliminary step consists of entering the postage amount directly by the keyboard, the entry of this amount giving rise to its display on the screen, then to validate

  the amount displayed, by the keyboard.

  The print cycle is executed under the control of the microprocess-

  from the introduction of the article to be franked in the slot 12 of the machine. It is triggered by the sensor 40 from

  it detects the presence of the article in the entrance of the slot 12.

  It breaks down into a phase of bringing the article into position

- 18 -

  printing, a print phase and an ejection phase of the article. For these three phases, the motor 51 is controlled and drives the distribution shaft 53. For each half-turn of rotation of the shaft 53, one of the teeth 54B of the wheel 54 engages the pinion 55 and the Cam 23 makes a U-turn. This results in an advance, of a step, of the article, then a displacement of the slider and. of the head 10 in a first direction along the stem of

guidance 21.

  For the next turning half turn of this shaft 53, the other tooth 54B of the wheel 54 engages the pinion 55 and the cam 23 makes another U-turn in the same. This results in an advance, the same pitch and in the same direction of the article, then a displacement of the slider 20 and the head 10 in the other direction along the guide rod. For these three phases, the distribution tree 53 defines, by complete rotation, the same repetitive sequence, in advance of the article of 2 steps and movement of the head on the same race traveled in one direction after the first of the two not and in the other after the other not. Each step in advance of the article made according to the row of nozzles is equal to the length of the row of nozzles. The displacement of the head is transverse to the row

  of nozzles therefore to the direction of advance of the article.

  The feed phase of the article in the printing position and the ejection phase are ensured by the sole control of the motor 51. The sensor 41 defines the end of the feeding phase of the article in the position of impression. In this printing position the article largely engaged in the slot 12 is under the print head 10; it is therefore well pressed against the printing plate 26 and

  will remain so throughout the printing phase.

  The printing phase is executed, as soon as the sensor 41 has detected the presence of the article, under the control of the sensor 42 detecting the flag 43 and its slot 47. The print command is initialized by the sensor 42. Printing is performed on the only part of the run that goes back and forth at a constant speed. The round trip

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  of the head and the advance by step of the article lead to a scanning, by contiguous lines, zones of printing of the stamp, the vignette of the office of attachment and the advertising flame on the article, done successively and according to the height of the zones. The definition data of the stamp and the vignette of the home office, from the source 72, which are suitably mixed variable data of the postage amount, entered by the keyboard or calculated automatically, and the date, issues of an internal clock not shown, then possibly the

  definition data of the advertising flame, command the impres-

  contiguous lines of each of these scanned areas one

after another.

  The number of scanned lines, since the beginning of printing, is also detected from the sensor 42. This number allows the microprocessor to control the end of printing of the stamp,

* the vignette of the home office and the advertising flame.

  The end of this printing phase is given by a definite number of lines scanned during this printing cycle, for each operating mode; this number can not exceed a given maximum number. It gives rise to the ejection phase of the article. The end of this ejection phase is given by the sensor 41 after the passage of the article under this sensor. The sensor 41 controls the shutdown

of the engine 51.

  The operation of issuing a slip and the addressing operation are analogous to that of franking. It is simply stated that, for the edition of a slip requiring several sheets, the printing of each sheet stops after 30 printing lines to which corresponds the maximum number of lines scanned by the head during the printing phase. The display screen will be

  Flashing rendering to signal the request for another sheet.

  With regard to the addressing of letters, it is specified that each letter is introduced into the slot of the machine by its back, for the printing of the address of the sender; the letter is however introduced into the slot of the machine by his front with his foot against the bottom of the slot, for the printing of the address

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  the recipient. Of course the machine can receive labels,

  or cards on which it prints the desired address.

  The machine according to the invention, because of its possible modular construction, is advantageously made adaptable to the needs of each user. It is low price and with its disposable inkjet print head and directly replaceable when the reserve

ink is exhausted.

  It is simple and safe operation, with several

  possible operating modes selected on demand by the user.

  In the machine according to the invention, its printing module has been described with regard to the exemplary embodiment illustrated. It is obvious that we can make changes to detail

  and / or replace some means with other equivalents. In particular

  two separate motors can be used for the feed of the article and for the displacement of the head, it is also possible to use gear systems, instead of the heart-shaped cam, for the reciprocal movement in one direction and the other from the print head from

  of the aforementioned distribution shaft.

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Claims (26)

CLAIMS:   1 / Miniature franking machine, comprising a print head unit printing units in a row on a so-called base face of the head, relative movement means of the head on the article, means for detecting the article relative to the head, a print data source coupled to the head and control means for printing the data, characterized in that: - said source (70) has at least a first source (72) assigned to the matrix definition of a postage stamp and a sticker of the machine's home office, for a printing area of defined cross-sectional dimensions, said head (10) has a limited number of elements printing, the row of which gives the direction of one of the dimensions of the area but is of length less than this dimension, - said moving means comprise first means (30) of movement of the article according to the row d e elements t second means (20-22) for moving the head transversely to the row of elements, and said control means (17) are microprocessor-based and define a printing cycle, triggered and controlled by said detecting means ( 40-42), during which the article advances in steps equal to the length of the row of elements and the head moves, between each step, alternately in one direction after one of the steps and in the other direction after the next step, and during which the zone is printed on the article with the scanning of successive lines on the zone during a phase called printing then the article   is ejected, without printing, during a so-called ejection phase.   2 / Machine franking according to claim 1, characterized in that said head (10) is removably mounted on said second moving means comprising a support (20) slidably mounted on a horizontal guide rod (21) defining the race   possible of the head according to the other dimension of the printing zone.   3 / franking machine according to claim 2, characterized in that said head is a print-time ink jet head - 22 -   limited and constituting a disposable component that is replaced in the machine.   4 / franking machine according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized   in that said first means for advancing the article are mounted in a slot (12) said introduction extending below said head and on both sides thereof, and open laterally in defining a side entry (12A) and a side exit (12B) for each article.   / Franking machine according to claim 4, characterized in that said first feed means (30) are equipped with elastic means (36, 37) urging the article, towards said head against a plate (26) called plate d ' printing, fixedly mounted directly below said head (10) and having a print window (26A) in line with the row of elements and substantially along the length the race of the head.   6 / franking machine according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a common motor (51) for driving said first and second means for moving the article and the head, a distribution shaft (53). ) driven by the motor, first coupling means (50) between said shaft and the first displacement means (30) of the article and second coupling means (23) between said shaft and the second moving means of the head.   7 / franking machine according to claim 6, characterized in that said first article displacement means and said elastic means comprise a pair of motor rollers (31, 32) mounted on either side of the slot; at the input side (12A), with the lower roller (32) elastically projecting into the slot and under pressure against the other roller, and a set of belts tensioned between the lower roller and a return roller (34) of the   side of the outlet (12B) and resiliently biased towards the head.   8 / franking machine according to claim 7, characterized in that, the return roller (34) is mounted on a pair of arms (35) articulated on the axis of the lower roller (32) and biased by springs (36). ) for the application of the belts against the - 23 - printing plate (26).   9 / franking machine according to one of claims 7 and 8 charac-   characterized in that said first coupling means (50) comprise a regularly truncated gear wheel (54) mounted on the distribution shaft (53) and a set of pinions (55-59), taken on each other and on the truncated toothing of said wheel and ensuring the driving of one and the other of the driving rollers (31, 32).   / Franking machine according to claim 9, characterized in that said wheel (54) has two teeth (54B) opposite one   to the other for the training of the Game of gables (55-59).   11 / franking machine according to claim 10, characterized in that said wheel (54) further comprises a continuous internal toothing (54A) engaged on a pinion (51) on the motor shaft (51),   for driving the distribution shaft formed on its axis.   12 / franking machine according to one of claims 6 to 11,   characterized in that said second coupling means comprise   a heart-shaped cam (23) mounted on said distribution shaft   a lever (60) resting on the cam and a link (61) coupled to the lever and fixed to the slide (20), said cam providing driving control in one direction and the other of the head with a speed constant over most of its stroke and with progressive acceleration and deceleration after and before each stop of the head at the end of stroke on said guide rod (21)   13 / franking machine according to one of claims 6 to 12,   characterized in that said detecting means comprises a first sensor (41) substantially at the head, the side of the article outlet (12B), and a second sensor (40) substantially at the inlet (12A) on the slot (12), said second sensor triggering the motor drive control (51) upon detection of the article at its level and said first sensor (41) triggering the print phase upon detection of the article at his level and the command   stop the engine at the end of the passage of the article at its level.   14 / franking machine according to claim 13, characterized in that the detection means further comprise a flag - 24 -   (43) on the slider (21) and a third flag detection sensor (42) assigned to the initialization of the print command   during the displacement of said head on said guide rod (21).   / Franking machine according to claim 14, characterized in that said flag (43) has a slot (47) assigned to the detection from the third sensor (42) of the direction of movement   the slider (20) on said guide rod (21).   16 / franking machine according to one of claims 1 to 15,   further comprising a keyboard (15) and a display (16) mounted on one side of the machine and coupled to said control circuit, characterized in that said data source further comprises   a second data source (73) assigned to the matrix definition   advertising flame in a portion of said printing area, coupled to said head and controlled from a   first selective command by the keyboard, for printing at -   will, with the stamp and the vignette, the advertising flame   during said print phase of said cycle.   17 / franking machine according to claim 16, characterized in that said keyboard (15) is, in addition, a means of selection   a procedure for recording publicity flame data   in said second source (73) and an input means of   data from the advertising flame, then called simplified.   18 / franking machine according to one of claims 16 and 17,   characterized in that said data source further comprises a third source (74) assigned to the address data matrix definition for the articles, coupled to said head and controlled under control of said control circuit (17) to   from a second selective command by the keyboard, for the impres-   address data on the article while the first   and second sources (72, 73) are isolated from the head.   19 / franking machine according to claim 18, characterized in that said keyboard (15) is, furthermore, a means for selecting an operating mode address registration in said third   source (74) and means for inputting the address data.   20 / franking machine according to one of claims 16 to 19, - 25 -   comprising a memory (71) of the counters of the machine in said control circuit, characterized in that said keyboard, furthermore constitutes a means of selecting a procedure for editing slips, for which said memory of the counters is controlled by reading for printing by said head of a slip then constituting the article, while the data source is isolated from the head.   21 / franking machine according to one of claims 16 to 20,   characterized in that it further comprises a first card (2), memory and microprocessor, called smart card, assigned to postage transactions of the machine, coupled to said control circuit (17) and forming an integral part of the machine   in a normal mode of operation in postage.   22 / franking machine according to claim 21, characterized in that it further comprises a second card (2 ') with memory allocated to the recording of advertising flame data, called advertising card, mounted instead of said smart card and then coupled to said control circuit (17), for loading its data into said second source (73) under the control of said control circuit, from a third selective control by the keyboard in operating mode Registration   of advertising flame of the machine.   23 / franking machine according to one of claims 21 and 22,   characterized in that it comprises, in addition, a third card (2 ") terminal on a cord (2C) of an external circuit advertising flame composition circuit, called connection card, mounted instead of the card chip for loading advertising flame data developed by the external circuit in said second source (73), from a fourth selective command given by the keypad for setting the machine in operating mode   advertising flame registration.   24 / franking machine according to one of claims 16 to 23,   characterized in that it comprises, in addition, a letter scale (3), with vertical slot for receiving the article open on the upper face of the machine, integrated in the machine and coupled to said - 26 -   control circuit (17) for establishing the amount of franking   each item it receives.   Postage meter according to one of claims 16 to 24   and having an integrated power supply, characterized in that said power supply is battery-powered.   26. The franking machine according to one of claims 21 to 23,   characterized in that it comprises a first module (1) said impres-   in the form of an almost closed flat housing, in which are mounted the head (10) and said first and second moving means (30, 2022), in a front part, and said control means (17), in at least one lateral part, and which is equipped with a first connection pad (11A), accessible on its rear wall and connected to said control circuit, for the card (2,   2 ', 2 ") to be connected to said control circuit, presenting   even a complementary pellet (2A, 2'A, 2 "A) and constituting   a second module interchangeable on said first module.   27 / franking machine according to claim 26, characterized in that said first module (1) is further equipped with a first connector (1A) on said rear wall and in that it further comprises a third module ( 4), also in the form of a flat housing, with large faces corresponding to the rear wall of the first module and one of which, said front face, is equipped with a second connector (4B) complementary of the first, said third module thus being directly connectable to the first, with its front face substantially contiguous against the rear wall of said first module and with said second module (2, 2 ', 2 ") protected between them.   28. The franking machine according to claim 27, characterized   in that said third module is a mains module.   29 / franking machine according to claim 27, characterized   in that said third module is a battery module (4 ').   / Franking machine according to claim 27, characterized in that said third module is a battery module (4 ") which is associated with a corresponding charger module (5) connector (5A) complementary to the second and connecting cord to the - 27 - sector.   31 / franking machine according to one of claims 27 to 30,   characterized in that it further comprises a fourth module (3) forming a letter scale, also in the form of a flat box with large faces corresponding to the rear wall of the first module and equipped with a third connector ( 3B) complementary to the first on one of them and a fourth connector (3A) identical to the first on the other and vertical slot (3D) receiving each article open on its upper face and weighing plate ( 3P) at the bottom of the slot, mounted interposed between said first and third modules (1, 4), to which it is connected and substantially coupled, and coming to protect said second module (2, 2 ', 2 ") connected to the first.