EP1193654A1 - High-throughput franking machine - Google Patents

High-throughput franking machine Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1193654A1
EP1193654A1 EP01402463A EP01402463A EP1193654A1 EP 1193654 A1 EP1193654 A1 EP 1193654A1 EP 01402463 A EP01402463 A EP 01402463A EP 01402463 A EP01402463 A EP 01402463A EP 1193654 A1 EP1193654 A1 EP 1193654A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
printing
franking machine
machine according
module
speed
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP01402463A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1193654B1 (en
Inventor
Xavier Deshayes
Claude Tetard
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Quadient Technologies France SA
Original Assignee
Neopost Technologies SA
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Publication date
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Publication of EP1193654A1 publication Critical patent/EP1193654A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1193654B1 publication Critical patent/EP1193654B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J3/00—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
    • B41J3/54—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed with two or more sets of type or printing elements
    • B41J3/543—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed with two or more sets of type or printing elements with multiple inkjet print heads
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Preventing or detecting of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16517—Cleaning of print head nozzles
    • B41J2/1652—Cleaning of print head nozzles by driving a fluid through the nozzles to the outside thereof, e.g. by applying pressure to the inside or vacuum at the outside of the print head
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00516—Details of printing apparatus
    • G07B2017/00524—Printheads
    • G07B2017/00532—Inkjet
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00516—Details of printing apparatus
    • G07B2017/00556—Ensuring quality of print

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the exclusive field of mail processing and it concerns a machine high-speed franking, i.e. capable of reaching and even exceed a processing rate of 20,000 envelopes per hour.
  • the object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above and to propose a high-speed franking machine particularly efficient while remaining easy to use, and above all which can ensure continuity of operation.
  • a franking machine broadband comprising means for printing an imprint postal on a mail item and means of transport of this mail item along a shipping path for items mail, characterized in that said printing means have, arranged side by side transversely to a direction D scrolling mail items along said path transport of these articles, a first printing module arranged in a first position (printing position) above said path for transporting mail items and a second printing module arranged in a second position (service / standby position) in withdrawal of said transport route for mail items.
  • the first printing module is associated with a first maintenance station and the second module associated with a second maintenance station and each of said printing modules is connected to a means of postage accounting itself linked to means general control of the machine.
  • This franking machine further comprises means for moving said printing modules from said first position (printing position) at said second position (maintenance / waiting position) and conversely which means of movement are controlled by said control means general at predetermined times corresponding to a number predetermined envelope or at the appearance of a predetermined threshold like a low level of an ink tank. These number or threshold are predefined by the user.
  • this high-speed franking machine In order to print said postal imprint to the same location determined on said mail item whatever the module used to print this postal imprint (first or second module), this high-speed franking machine also includes means for causing a time difference in the printing cycle.
  • a franking machine conventionally comprises means for printing a postal imprint on an article of courier and means of transportation of this mail item along of a transport path for this machine.
  • the printing means are of the inkjet type, and for some of them of the disposable type, and are associated with a station maintenance which provides periodic maintenance of the ejection nozzles.
  • These printing means are connected to a base of the machine postage which includes the means of accounting for postage (up and down counters) and the means general control and synchronization of the machine (including its means of transport and the station maintenance).
  • these means of control can be connected to an external computer which through of a modem is going to be in connection with an external server of postal administration or machine dealer postage.
  • This redundancy printing and maintenance means authorizes processing of totally continuous mail without untimely downtime related to maintenance regular or when changing ink tanks (in the case of ink heads disposable) as when filling a main tank ink supply.
  • a change in type and / or color ink or the use of two distinct colors does not pose any particular problem.
  • the change of printing means can occur at predetermined times corresponding to a number of envelopes processed (for example every 3,000 envelopes) or on appearance a predetermined threshold (like the low level of an ink tank). These predetermined times can be set at the factory or be user configurable.
  • Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a machine high-speed franking according to the invention.
  • This machine 10 intended for franking articles of mail 12, such as envelopes, and which can be arranged directly at the output of a folding / insertion module 14 comprises, as for a conventional machine, conveying means mail items formed by several sets of rolls of transport, for example 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d and general means 18 machine control and synchronization.
  • These means of control can be connected to an external computer 20 and a external server 22 via a modem 24.
  • a printer 26 connected to the computer also allows the printing of various reports.
  • the printing means are split and have, arranged side by side transversely to a direction D scrolling mail items along path 28 of transport of these articles, a first printing module 30 at which is associated a first corresponding maintenance station 32 and a second printing module 34 with which is also associated a second maintenance station 36.
  • These printing means are linked in the base to individual accounting means 38, 40 themselves connected to the control means 18.
  • These means of accounting 38, 40 believe to be united in a single module of recognition. One of them can also transfer their data to the other for periodic consolidation purposes, for example at the end of day.
  • Each printing module advantageously comprises two printheads with associated ink tanks 30a, 30b; 34a, 34b.
  • Maintenance stations are preferably type of those described in the French patent application No. 2,768,078 filed in the name of the plaintiff. They are arranged set back from their respective printing module transversely to this direction D and comprise at least means for scraping the ejection nozzles 32a; 36a and means for protecting these nozzles 32b; 36b.
  • Support means for the first and second modules advantageously in the form of carts mobiles 42a; 44a actuated for example by controlled devices worm 42b; 44b, are provided to allow these modules to move between a first active position above an article of mail corresponding to the printing of a postal imprint on this mail item and a second inactive position back from the path 28 for transporting mail items and corresponding to a printhead cleaning position, type change ink (color, fluorescence, phosphorescence) or simply temporary waiting.
  • type change ink color, fluorescence, phosphorescence
  • a tachometer 46 and at least one position sensor 48, 50 are provided on path 28 to detect the fronts of the articles of mail as well as their lengths and allow, in connection with the control means 18 to which they are connected, the synchronization of the transport and printing phases of these articles, as well as the transverse displacement of the first and second printing modules.
  • the first printing module 30 is in printing position (referenced 1 in Figure 2) and the second module is in cleaning / waiting position (referenced 2 on the figure 2).
  • the second module 34 then comes into position next to the first module by moving transversely to the transport path 28 according to the arrow referenced 52 (timing diagram of Figure 3b). from printing stopped by the first module, the second module substitutes him for printing the following mail items.
  • the first module 30 can then be removed by moving transverse to the transport path 28 according to the arrow referenced 54 (timing diagram of Figure 3d). She will be waiting in this position until its next replacement.

Abstract

High speed franking machine has a printer for printing a postal imprint on a postal item (12) and a conveyor belt (16a-16d). The printer comprises two print modules (30, 34) arranged adjacent to each other. The first module is held above the conveyor belt. The second module is held in a parked position drawn back from the conveyor belt. Each module is associated with corresponding first (32) and second (36) maintenance stations.

Description

Domaine de la techniqueTechnical area

La présente invention se rapporte au domaine exclusif du traitement de courrier et elle concerne une machine d'affranchissement à haut débit, c'est à dire capable d'atteindre et même de dépasser une cadence de traitement de 20 000 enveloppes par heure.The present invention relates to the exclusive field of mail processing and it concerns a machine high-speed franking, i.e. capable of reaching and even exceed a processing rate of 20,000 envelopes per hour.

Art antérieurPrior art

Une telle cadence d'affranchissement n'est actuellement atteinte par aucune machine du marché du fait de la nécessité de maintenir une qualité d'impression optimale pour l'empreinte postale (qui est une valeur monétaire). En outre, dans les machines à affranchir du type à jet d'encre, il est nécessaire d'arrêter régulièrement l'éjection des gouttelettes d'encre pour racler et purger les buses d'éjection sous peine d'encrassement et donc de blocage de l'impression.Such a franking rate is not currently reached by any machine on the market due to the need to maintain optimal print quality for the postal imprint (which is a monetary value). In addition, in machines get rid of inkjet type, it is necessary to stop regularly ejecting ink droplets to scrape and purge the ejection nozzles under penalty of fouling and therefore blockage of the impression.

Pour augmenter les cadences d'impression, le brevet américain US 3 869 986 et la demande de brevet européenne EP 0 172 561 ont proposé de séparer les données d'affranchissement en données fixes et données variables. Toutefois, une telle solution si elle permet en effet une augmentation des cadences, ne permet pas des traitements d'enveloppes de l'ordre de 20 000 et plus du fait du nécessaire entretien périodique des moyens d'impression à jet d'encre.To increase printing rates, the patent US 3,869,986 and the European patent application EP 0 172 561 proposed to separate the postage data in fixed and variable data. However, such a solution if it allows an increase in rates, does not allow envelope processing of the order of 20,000 and more due to the necessary periodic maintenance of inkjet printing means.

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

La présente invention a pour but de palier les inconvénients précités et de proposer une machine d'affranchissement à haut débit particulièrement performante tout en restant simple d'utilisation, et surtout qui puisse assurer une continuité de fonctionnement.The object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above and to propose a high-speed franking machine particularly efficient while remaining easy to use, and above all which can ensure continuity of operation.

Ces buts sont atteints par une machine d'affranchissement à haut débit comportant des moyens d'impression d'une empreinte postale sur un article de courrier et des moyens de transport de cet article de courrier le long d'un chemin de transport des articles de courrier, caractérisée en ce que lesdits moyens d'impression comportent, disposés côte à côte transversalement à une direction D de défilement des articles de courrier le long dudit chemin de transport de ces articles, un premier module d'impression disposé dans une première position (position d'impression) au dessus dudit chemin de transport des articles de courrier et un second module d'impression disposé dans une seconde position (position d'entretien/attente) en retrait dudit chemin de transport des articles de courrier.These goals are achieved by a franking machine broadband comprising means for printing an imprint postal on a mail item and means of transport of this mail item along a shipping path for items mail, characterized in that said printing means have, arranged side by side transversely to a direction D scrolling mail items along said path transport of these articles, a first printing module arranged in a first position (printing position) above said path for transporting mail items and a second printing module arranged in a second position (service / standby position) in withdrawal of said transport route for mail items.

Ainsi, avec cette machine d'affranchissement, il devient possible d'imprimer en continu avec une qualité d'impression optimale un ensemble très important d'articles de courrier et de tenir sans difficultés particulières une cadence d'affranchissement de plus de 20 000 enveloppes par heure. Une telle machine permet avant tout d'assurer une continuité de fonctionnement.So with this franking machine, it becomes continuous printing possible with optimum print quality a very important set of mail items and to hold without particular difficulties a rate of postage of more than 20,000 envelopes per hour. Above all, such a machine allows ensure continuity of operation.

Avantageusement le premier module d'impression est associé à une première station de maintenance et le second module d'impression est associé à une seconde station de maintenance et chacun desdits modules d'impression est relié à un moyen de comptabilisation des affranchissements lui-même relié à des moyens de commande générale de la machine.Advantageously, the first printing module is associated with a first maintenance station and the second module associated with a second maintenance station and each of said printing modules is connected to a means of postage accounting itself linked to means general control of the machine.

Cette machine d'affranchissement comporte en outre des moyens de déplacement desdits modules d'impression de ladite première position (position d'impression) à ladite seconde position (position d'entretien/attente) et inversement lesquels moyens de déplacement sont commandés par lesdits moyens de commande générale à des moments prédéterminés correspondant à un nombre prédéterminé d'enveloppes ou à l'apparition d'un seuil prédéterminé comme un niveau bas d'un réservoir d'encre. Ces nombre ou seuil prédéterminés sont paramétrables par l'utilisateur.This franking machine further comprises means for moving said printing modules from said first position (printing position) at said second position (maintenance / waiting position) and conversely which means of movement are controlled by said control means general at predetermined times corresponding to a number predetermined envelope or at the appearance of a predetermined threshold like a low level of an ink tank. These number or threshold are predefined by the user.

Afin d'imprimer ladite empreinte postale à un même endroit déterminé sur ledit article de courrier quel que soit le module d'impression utilisé pour imprimer cette empreinte postale (premier ou second module), cette machine d'affranchissement à haut débit comporte aussi des moyens pour provoquer un décalage temporel dans le cycle d'impression. In order to print said postal imprint to the same location determined on said mail item whatever the module used to print this postal imprint (first or second module), this high-speed franking machine also includes means for causing a time difference in the printing cycle.

Brève description des dessinsBrief description of the drawings

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

  • la figure 1 montre de façon schématique un exemple de réalisation d'une machine à affranchir à haut débit selon l'invention,
  • la figure 2 est une vue schématique en perspective montrant le déplacement relatif de l'enveloppe par rapport aux moyens d'impression à haut débit de l'invention, et
  • les figures 3a à 3f sont des chronogrammes illustrant les différentes étapes mises en oeuvre par les moyens d'impression de la figure 2.
Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the following description, given by way of non-limiting illustration, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
  • FIG. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of a high-speed franking machine according to the invention,
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the relative movement of the envelope with respect to the high-speed printing means of the invention, and
  • FIGS. 3a to 3f are timing diagrams illustrating the different steps implemented by the printing means of FIG. 2.

Description détaillée d'un mode de réalisation préférentiel de l'inventionDetailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention

Une machine d'affranchissement comporte classiquement des moyens d'impression d'une empreinte postale sur un article de courrier et des moyens de transport de cet article de courrier le long d'un chemin de transport de cette machine. Dans les machines modernes, les moyens d'impression sont du type à jet d'encre, et pour certaines d'entre elles du type jetable, et sont associés à une station de maintenance qui assure l'entretien périodique des buses d'éjection. Ces moyens d'impression sont reliés à une base de la machine d'affranchissement qui comporte les moyens de comptabilisation des affranchissements (compteurs ascendant et descendant) et les moyens généraux de commande et de synchronisation de la machine (notamment de ses moyens de transport et de la station de maintenance). Dans une architecture ouverte, ces moyens de commande peuvent être reliés à un ordinateur externe qui au travers d'un modem va être en relation avec un serveur extérieur de l'administration postale ou du concessionnaire de la machine d'affranchissement.A franking machine conventionally comprises means for printing a postal imprint on an article of courier and means of transportation of this mail item along of a transport path for this machine. In the machines modern, the printing means are of the inkjet type, and for some of them of the disposable type, and are associated with a station maintenance which provides periodic maintenance of the ejection nozzles. These printing means are connected to a base of the machine postage which includes the means of accounting for postage (up and down counters) and the means general control and synchronization of the machine (including its means of transport and the station maintenance). In an open architecture, these means of control can be connected to an external computer which through of a modem is going to be in connection with an external server of postal administration or machine dealer postage.

Selon l'invention, il est proposé de dédoubler l'ensemble constitué par les moyens d'impression de l'empreinte postale et la station de maintenance de ces moyens d'impression. Cette redondance des moyens d'impression et d'entretien autorise un traitement de courrier totalement en continu sans arrêt intempestif lié à l'entretien régulier ou au changement des réservoirs d'encre (dans le cas de têtes jetables) comme au remplissage d'un réservoir principal d'alimentation en encre. Un changement de type et/ou de couleur d'encre ou l'utilisation de deux couleurs distinctes ne pose aucun problème particulier.According to the invention, it is proposed to split the whole consisting of the means of printing the postal imprint and the maintenance station for these printing means. This redundancy printing and maintenance means authorizes processing of totally continuous mail without untimely downtime related to maintenance regular or when changing ink tanks (in the case of ink heads disposable) as when filling a main tank ink supply. A change in type and / or color ink or the use of two distinct colors does not pose any particular problem.

Le changement des moyens d'impression peut intervenir à des moments prédéterminés correspondant à un nombre d'enveloppes traitées (par exemple toutes les 3 000 enveloppes) ou à l'apparition d'un seuil prédéterminé (comme le niveau bas d'un réservoir encre). Ces instants prédéterminés peuvent être fixés en usine ou être paramétrables par l'utilisateur.The change of printing means can occur at predetermined times corresponding to a number of envelopes processed (for example every 3,000 envelopes) or on appearance a predetermined threshold (like the low level of an ink tank). These predetermined times can be set at the factory or be user configurable.

La figure 1 montre un exemple de réalisation d'une machine d'affranchissement à haut débit selon l'invention.Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a machine high-speed franking according to the invention.

Cette machine 10 destinée à l'affranchissement d'articles de courrier 12, tels que des enveloppes, et qui peut être disposée directement en sortie d'un module de pliage/insertion 14 comporte, comme pour une machine conventionnelle, des moyens de convoyage des articles de courrier formés par plusieurs séries de rouleaux de transport, par exemple 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d et des moyens généraux 18 de commande et de synchronisation de la machine. Ces moyens de commande peuvent être reliés à un ordinateur externe 20 et un serveur extérieur 22 via un modem 24. Une imprimante 26 reliée à l'ordinateur permet en outre l'impression d'états divers.This machine 10 intended for franking articles of mail 12, such as envelopes, and which can be arranged directly at the output of a folding / insertion module 14 comprises, as for a conventional machine, conveying means mail items formed by several sets of rolls of transport, for example 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d and general means 18 machine control and synchronization. These means of control can be connected to an external computer 20 and a external server 22 via a modem 24. A printer 26 connected to the computer also allows the printing of various reports.

Selon l'invention, les moyens d'impression sont dédoublés et comportent, disposés côte à côte transversalement à une direction D de défilement des articles de courrier le long du chemin 28 de transport de ces articles, un premier module d'impression 30 auquel est associée une première station de maintenance correspondante 32 et un second module d'impression 34 auquel est également associée une seconde station de maintenance 36. Ces moyens d'impression sont reliés dans la base à des moyens de comptabilisation individuels 38, 40 eux-mêmes reliés aux moyens de commande 18. Ces moyens de comptabilisation 38, 40 pensent être réunis en un module unique de comptabilisation. L'un d'entre eux peut aussi transférer ses données à l'autre à des fins de consolidation périodique, par exemple en fin de journée.According to the invention, the printing means are split and have, arranged side by side transversely to a direction D scrolling mail items along path 28 of transport of these articles, a first printing module 30 at which is associated a first corresponding maintenance station 32 and a second printing module 34 with which is also associated a second maintenance station 36. These printing means are linked in the base to individual accounting means 38, 40 themselves connected to the control means 18. These means of accounting 38, 40 believe to be united in a single module of recognition. One of them can also transfer their data to the other for periodic consolidation purposes, for example at the end of day.

Chaque module d'impression comporte avantageusement deux têtes d'impression auxquelles sont associés des réservoirs d'encre 30a, 30b; 34a, 34b. Les stations de maintenance sont de préférence du type de celles décrites dans la demande de brevet français N° 2 768 078 déposée au nom de la demanderesse. Elles sont disposées en retrait de leur module d'impression respectif transversalement à cette direction D et comportent au moins des moyens de raclage des buses d'éjection 32a; 36a et des moyens de protection de ces buses 32b; 36b. Des moyens support des premier et second modules d'impression se présentant avantageusement sous la forme de chariots mobiles 42a; 44a actionnés par exemple par des dispositifs commandés à vis sans fin 42b; 44b, sont prévus pour permettre à ces modules de se déplacer entre une première position active au-dessus d'un article de courrier correspondant à l'impression d'une empreinte postale sur cet article de courrier et une seconde position inactive en retrait du chemin 28 de transport des articles de courrier et correspondant à une position de nettoyage des têtes d'impression, changement de type d'encre (couleur, fluorescence, phosphorescence) ou simplement d'attente temporaire.Each printing module advantageously comprises two printheads with associated ink tanks 30a, 30b; 34a, 34b. Maintenance stations are preferably type of those described in the French patent application No. 2,768,078 filed in the name of the plaintiff. They are arranged set back from their respective printing module transversely to this direction D and comprise at least means for scraping the ejection nozzles 32a; 36a and means for protecting these nozzles 32b; 36b. Support means for the first and second modules advantageously in the form of carts mobiles 42a; 44a actuated for example by controlled devices worm 42b; 44b, are provided to allow these modules to move between a first active position above an article of mail corresponding to the printing of a postal imprint on this mail item and a second inactive position back from the path 28 for transporting mail items and corresponding to a printhead cleaning position, type change ink (color, fluorescence, phosphorescence) or simply temporary waiting.

Un tachymètre 46 et au moins un capteur de position 48, 50 sont prévus sur le chemin 28 pour détecter les fronts des articles de courrier ainsi éventuellement que leurs longueurs et permettre, en liaison avec les moyens de commande 18 auxquels ils sont reliés, la synchronisation des phases de transport et d'impression de ces articles, de même que le déplacement transversal des premier et second modules d'impression.A tachometer 46 and at least one position sensor 48, 50 are provided on path 28 to detect the fronts of the articles of mail as well as their lengths and allow, in connection with the control means 18 to which they are connected, the synchronization of the transport and printing phases of these articles, as well as the transverse displacement of the first and second printing modules.

Le principe de fonctionnement mis en oeuvre dans une machine d'affranchissement conforme à l'invention sera maintenant illustré en regard du schéma simplifié de la figure 2 et des chronogrammes des figures 3a à 3f.The operating principle implemented in a franking machine according to the invention will now be illustrated with reference to the simplified diagram in FIG. 2 and timing diagrams of Figures 3a to 3f.

Sur la figure 2, le premier module d'impression 30 est en position d'impression (référencée 1 sur la figure 2) et le second module est en position de nettoyage/attente (référencée 2 sur la figure 2). On supposera le premier module proche de sa fin de fonctionnement (après avoir effectué ses 1 000 affranchissements). Le second module 34 vient alors se mettre en position à côté du premier module en se déplaçant transversalement au chemin de transport 28 selon la flèche référencée 52 (chronogramme de la figure 3b). Dès l'arrêt de l'impression par le premier module, le second module se substitue à lui pour l'impression des articles de courrier suivant. Le premier module 30 peut alors se retirer en se déplaçant transversalement au chemin de transport 28 selon la flèche référencée 54 (chronogramme de la figure 3d). Elle restera en attente dans cette position jusqu'à son prochain remplacement. On notera que du fait du positionnement décalé du second module par rapport au premier le long du chemin de transport des articles de courrier 28, et compte tenu de l'obligation d'apposer l'empreinte postale en un endroit déterminé de l'article de courrier (ce qui correspond à un décalage de cet article dans le sens de la flèche référencée 56), il est nécessaire de provoquer un décalage temporel dans le cycle d'impression. Les chronogrammes des figures 3e et 3f illustrent ce décalage de ±Δ des premières impulsions correspondant à l'impression du premier article de courrier pour un module donné. Ce décalage est positif lors du passage de l'impression du module 1 au module 2, il est négatif dans le cas contraire (passage du module 2 au module 1).In FIG. 2, the first printing module 30 is in printing position (referenced 1 in Figure 2) and the second module is in cleaning / waiting position (referenced 2 on the figure 2). We will assume the first module near its end of functioning (after having made its 1000 postage). The second module 34 then comes into position next to the first module by moving transversely to the transport path 28 according to the arrow referenced 52 (timing diagram of Figure 3b). from printing stopped by the first module, the second module substitutes him for printing the following mail items. The first module 30 can then be removed by moving transverse to the transport path 28 according to the arrow referenced 54 (timing diagram of Figure 3d). She will be waiting in this position until its next replacement. Note that due to the offset positioning of the second module with respect to the first one along the path of transportation of mail items 28, and count required to affix the postal imprint in a place determined from the mail item (which corresponds to an offset of this article in the direction of the arrow referenced 56), it is necessary to cause a time difference in the printing cycle. The timing diagrams of figures 3e and 3f illustrate this offset of ± Δ of first impulses corresponding to the impression of the first article mail for a given module. This offset is positive during switching from module 1 to module 2 printing, it is negative in otherwise (transition from module 2 to module 1).

Avec ce procédé d'impression spécifique, il n'y a aucune discontinuité dans l'impression comme le montrent les chronogrammes des figures 3a et 3c qui sont complémentaires l'un de l'autre et sur lesquels alternent les phases d'impression et de nettoyage/attente des modules d'impression 1 et 2 respectivement. En effet, pendant qu'un module est en phase d'affranchissement, l'autre est au nettoyage ou en attente temporaire. De plus, le changement des réservoirs d'encre ou le remplissage peut s'effectuer pendant cette période d'attente réduisant de façon significative les éventuels arrêts de la machine.With this specific printing process, there is no discontinuity in printing as shown by timing diagrams of Figures 3a and 3c which are complementary to one of the other and on which alternate the printing and cleaning / waiting for print modules 1 and 2 respectively. In indeed, while one module is in the postage phase, the other is cleaning or temporarily waiting. In addition, the change ink tanks or refilling can take place during this waiting period significantly reducing possible stoppages of the machine.

Claims (9)

Machine d'affranchissement à haut débit comportant des moyens d'impression d'une empreinte postale sur un article de courrier (12) et des moyens de transport (16a-16d) de cet article de courrier le long d'un chemin de transport des articles de courrier (28), caractérisée en ce que lesdits moyens d'impression comportent, disposés côte à côte transversalement à une direction D de défilement des articles de courrier le long dudit chemin de transport de ces articles, un premier module d'impression (30) disposé dans une première position (position d'impression) au-dessus dudit chemin de transport des articles de courrier et un second module d'impression (34) disposé dans une seconde position (position d'entretien/attente) en retrait dudit chemin de transport des articles de courrier.High-speed franking machine comprising means for printing a postal imprint on a mail item (12) and means (16a-16d) for transporting this mail item along a transport path mail items (28), characterized in that said printing means comprise, arranged side by side transversely to a direction D of travel of the mail items along said transport path for these items, a first printing module ( 30) arranged in a first position (printing position) above said transport path for mail items and a second printing module (34) disposed in a second position (maintenance / waiting position) set back from said transport route for mail items. Machine d'affranchissement à haut débit selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que ledit premier module d'impression est associé à une première station de maintenance (32) et ledit second module d'impression est associé à une seconde station de maintenance (36).High-speed franking machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said first printing module is associated with a first maintenance station (32) and said second printing module is associated with a second maintenance station (36 ). Machine d'affranchissement à haut débit selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que chacun desdits modules d'impression est relié à un moyen de comptabilisation (38, 40) lui-même relié à des moyens de commande générale (18) de la machine.High-speed franking machine according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said printing modules is connected to an accounting means (38, 40) itself connected to general control means (18) of the machine . Machine d'affranchissement à haut débit selon la revendication 3, caractérisée en ce qu'un des deux moyens de comptabilisation (38, 40) est susceptible de transférer ses données à l'autre à des fins de consolidation périodique.High-speed franking machine according to claim 3, characterized in that one of the two accounting means (38, 40) is capable of transferring its data to the other for the purpose of periodic consolidation. Machine d'affranchissement à haut débit selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que chacun desdits modules d'impression est relié à un moyen de comptabilisation commun lui-même relié à des moyens de commande générale (18) de la machine.High-speed franking machine according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said printing modules is connected to a common accounting means itself connected to general control means (18) of the machine. Machine d'affranchissement à haut débit selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce quelle comporte en outre des moyens (42a, 42b; 44a, 44b) de déplacement desdits modules d'impression de ladite première position (position d'impression) à ladite seconde position (position d'entretien/attente) et inversement. High speed franking machine according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises means (42a, 42b; 44a, 44b) for moving said modules printing from said first position (printing position) to said second position (maintenance / standby position) and vice versa. Machine d'affranchissement à haut débit selon la revendication 6, caractérisée en ce que lesdits moyens de déplacement sont commandés par lesdits moyens de commande générale à des moments prédéterminés correspondant à un nombre prédéterminé d'enveloppes ou à l'apparition d'un seuil prédéterminé comme le niveau bas d'un réservoir d'encre (30a, 30b; 34a, 34b).High-speed franking machine according to claim 6, characterized in that said displacement means are controlled by said general control means at predetermined times corresponding to a predetermined number of envelopes or at the appearance of a predetermined threshold like the low level of an ink tank (30a, 30b; 34a, 34b). Machine d'affranchissement à haut débit selon la revendication 7, caractérisée en ce que lesdits nombre ou seuil prédéterminés sont paramétrables par l'utilisateur.High-speed franking machine according to claim 7, characterized in that said predetermined number or threshold can be configured by the user. Machine d'affranchissement à haut débit selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comporte en outre des moyens (18) pour provoquer un décalage temporel dans le cycle d'impression, de façon à imprimer ladite empreinte postale à un même endroit déterminé sur ledit article de courrier quel que soit le module d'impression utilisé pour imprimer cette empreinte postale.High-speed franking machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it further comprises means (18) for causing a time offset in the printing cycle, so as to print said impression postal at the same location determined on said mail item regardless of the printing module used to print this postal imprint.
EP01402463A 2000-09-29 2001-09-26 High-throughput franking machine Expired - Lifetime EP1193654B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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FR0012409A FR2814840B1 (en) 2000-09-29 2000-09-29 HIGH THROUGHPUT POSTAGE MACHINE
FR0012409 2000-09-29

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US7925596B2 (en) 2011-04-12
DE60129772T2 (en) 2008-06-05
FR2814840A1 (en) 2002-04-05
FR2814840B1 (en) 2002-12-27
EP1193654B1 (en) 2007-08-08
US20020040354A1 (en) 2002-04-04

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