EP1302906A1 - Franking machine with a device for checking the quality of the postal indicia - Google Patents

Franking machine with a device for checking the quality of the postal indicia Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1302906A1
EP1302906A1 EP02292426A EP02292426A EP1302906A1 EP 1302906 A1 EP1302906 A1 EP 1302906A1 EP 02292426 A EP02292426 A EP 02292426A EP 02292426 A EP02292426 A EP 02292426A EP 1302906 A1 EP1302906 A1 EP 1302906A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
image
machine according
franking machine
printing
module
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.)
Ceased
Application number
EP02292426A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Joska Dimeski
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
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Neopost Technologies SA filed Critical Neopost Technologies SA
Publication of EP1302906A1 publication Critical patent/EP1302906A1/en
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00661—Sensing or measuring mailpieces
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00467—Transporting mailpieces
    • 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
    • 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
    • G07B2017/00564—Ensuring correct position of print on mailpiece
    • 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
    • G07B17/00661—Sensing or measuring mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00669—Sensing the position of mailpieces

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of treatment of mail and it relates more particularly to a device for controlling compliance with standards defined by the postal administration of postal imprints printed by a postage meter.
  • a postal imprint being a monetary value
  • the quality of its printing on mail items is essential in order to to avoid any fraud or any financial loss for the user in the event of rejection of postage by the postal administration.
  • the object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks resulting from the absence of control or from a simple manual control by sampling the print quality of a postal imprint in offering a franking machine allowing automatic control and systematic printing quality of each postal imprint printed.
  • An object of the invention is also to allow, in the same time a check for any service markings that may be printed on mail items.
  • Another object of the invention is to offer an easy-to-use franking machine with an architecture general is not significantly affected.
  • a postage meter articles of mail comprising means for imprinting postal on a mail item, position detection means of this mail item along a transportation path of this item and control means connected to said detection means and to said printing means for printing a postal imprint on said mail item at a predetermined location, characterized in that it further comprises means of acquisition and processing an image of this postal imprint printed so as to determine compliance with at least one reference image predetermined.
  • a check can be carried out in real time of the print quality of the postal imprint, directly during the postage process and without any disruption of it.
  • This control can be extended to the image of a service marking printed on the mail item together with the postal imprint.
  • the predetermined reference image is preferably formed by at least part of the invariable graphic elements of said postal imprint such as frames or official endorsements from the stamp or date stamp.
  • these acquisition means and image processing include an image acquisition module (advantageously a matrix of photoconductive devices of the type CCD) to obtain a digital image of the printed postal imprint, an image processing module connected to said acquisition module and to said command and control means for processing the image thus acquired and a memory module connected to the processing module for storing said predetermined reference images.
  • an image acquisition module advantageousously a matrix of photoconductive devices of the type CCD
  • an image processing module connected to said acquisition module and to said command and control means for processing the image thus acquired
  • a memory module connected to the processing module for storing said predetermined reference images.
  • the memory module can be integrated into the processing module image which can itself be integrated into the control means.
  • the image processing module includes means for comparison of at least part of said image of the postal imprint printed with a corresponding part of said reference image predetermined and means for determining an alignment defect of said printed postal imprint.
  • the franking machine according to the invention comprises further be alert means to invite the user to stop the operation of the machine when said comparison means appear a non conformity of the printing is means of automatic command to stop this operation.
  • the means for detecting the position of said mail item include detection means from a front of this mail item.
  • FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the different constituents a conventional mail processing machine.
  • This one conventionally comprises, in the forward direction of the mail items 10 and along a path 12 for transporting these articles: means 14 supply of mail items for receiving a stack of items of mail of variable dimensional characteristics, and in particular of different thicknesses, and which include first rolls motorized drive 140, 142; selection means 16 for individually select each mail item from the stack and which have selection rollers and counter rollers 160, 162; of the upstream conveying means 18 for conveying each selected item and comprising upstream conveyor rollers and counter-rollers 180, 182; franking means 20 for printing a postal imprint on each mail item beforehand selected and advantageously comprising a jet printing module ink 200; downstream conveying means 22 for conveying each prepaid item which have rollers and counter rollers of downstream conveying 220, 222; and means 24 for storing the articles of mail intended to receive all prepaid items and which have second motorized drive rollers 240, 242.
  • this mail processing machine includes besides on the one hand means 26 of command and control (more particularly with memory and microprocessor) for the management of printing and conveying of mail items through the machine, along the transport path 12, and on the other hand means 28 detecting the position of these mail items (advantageously from the front of the mail item) connected to these means of command and control and from which impression printing postal is synchronized (according to a predefined standard offset defining a predetermined location for printing).
  • the selection means 16, the conveying means 18, 22 and the franking means 20 are grouped in a unique structure, called a franking machine, supplied with articles mail by independent supply means 12, called feeder.
  • a franking machine supplied with articles mail by independent supply means 12, called feeder.
  • mail item should be understood a envelope (in any format) that a label then intended for be stuck on a thick envelope or package.
  • the franking machine further comprises integrated image acquisition and processing means 30 for in situ control, during the franking process, on each franked mail item, the printing quality of the postal imprint. This control is carried out by determining the conformity of an image of this imprint imprinted with a predetermined reference image.
  • these means 30 comprise a module 300 digital image acquisition preferably arranged as close as possible of the printing module 200, above the transport path of the mail items, and an image processing module 310 connected to a part to this acquisition module and secondly to the means 26 of machine command and control.
  • a memory module 320 previously loaded by the reference images from which the processing module will check the conformity of the postal imprint printed is also connected to the processing module (alternatively, it can be integrated into this module).
  • the processing of the image being essentially software, it can be deported to the level of general means 26 of memory control and microprocessor of the machine franking, the means 30 then being reduced to the single module 300 ensuring the image acquisition function.
  • the module 300 which allows the acquisition of a digital image is conventionally formed by a matrix of photoconductive elements type CCD (Charged Coupled Device) image sensors sufficient for the acquisition of all or, preferably, part of the invariable graphic elements of the postal imprint (frame, mentions Official).
  • CCD Charge Coupled Device
  • a format 764x564 pixels capture in practice allows the acquisition of these graphic elements for a postal imprint as well in format French, British, German or American.
  • Data acquisition image is synchronized from the detection of an article position of mail obtained by the detector 28 and to which is applied a time delay (advantageously software) corresponding to the time of route of this mail item between this detector and the image sensor (the speed of advance of the articles is constant and known to the means 26).
  • the detected position of the mail item is that corresponding to the front of this article.
  • the 310 module which allows automatic image processing acquired by the acquisition module comprises conventional means of filtering of this image to overcome in particular the different graininess of mail items or difference in brightness resulting from the quality of the ink used for example, and the means of comparison to search on the captured image of areas of interest particular which will be compared to target areas beforehand extracted from reference images characteristic of postal imprints types and stored in memory module 320 during a phase prior to configuration (acquisition calibration).
  • Figure 3 shows a model of a postal imprint of a postal administration as stored in module 320.
  • this model only includes the elements graphics of this footprint that are invariable with postage. Therefore, for example, the amount does not appear postage in the stamp (also called stamp) or date postage in the date stamp. Note that it is also possible to memorize only the target areas of this fingerprint appearing in specific locations of the imprint and not the imprint in its entirety.
  • Figures 4A and 4B illustrate two examples of areas of interest individual (target areas) selected to carry out quality control printing of the postal imprint. Indeed, it is not necessary perform this check on the entire postal imprint and it is preferable, in order to minimize the processing time, to limit it to one or more specific zones determined from this imprint and intended to constitute predetermined reference images from from which different comparisons can then be made. Well of course, these areas will depend on the type of printing and the model (French, British, etc.) of the postal imprint analyzed.
  • these areas of interest preferably chosen at the central part of the frame forming the stamp of the postal imprint.
  • the printing module has always two rows of ejection nozzles which join substantially at the level of this central part. So it's naturally at this particular location, where it's easier to determine the quality of printing and in particular to detect any inaccuracies in the mounting these two rows of nozzles, so it's best perform the compliance check.
  • Figure 5 shows an example of printing an imprint mail on an inkjet franking machine. We note the slight offset that appears all along this imprint at the level of its longitudinal axis, which corresponds precisely to the junction of the two rows of ejection nozzles of the printing module of this machine.
  • Figure 6 illustrates the area selected by comparison with the area target of the footprint model (see Figure 4A) and the extracted image portion from this area from which two lines of vertical marking separated by an offset d.
  • the measurement (by a simple software counting of the pixels separating them) of this offset will allow accurately assess the misalignment of the two rows of nozzles and automatically inform the user, for example by a message audible or visual alert on the user interface of the machine postage, if this offset exceeds a predetermined range of values (in practice an offset between -1.5 mm and +1.5 mm does not entail no rejection by the administration).
  • the user can then stop the franking machine operation to adjust the nozzles for consistent printing again. Note that this stop can of course be performed automatically under the command means 26 informed by the acquisition module 300 of this non conformity of printing (due to excessive misalignment).
  • the detection on the fly of a quality defect printing a postal imprint limits the risk of rejection mail items by the postal administration.
  • the determination of tolerance thresholds defining the conformity of a quality parameter with postal requirements avoids printing a fingerprint subject to rejection.
  • the presence of the image acquisition means 300 of the invention can be used to also ensure control any service markings printed on the mail item, especially in the extension of the postal imprint, and therefore likely to pass under these means of acquisition during the ejection of the mail article.
  • the service marking is a barcode
  • the decoded information is then transmitted to the control means 26 to ensure their operation, for example, when the postage meter is a machine communicating connected to a server of the dealer of this machine, to statistical or other purposes.

Abstract

An image acquisition and processing unit (30) acquires and processes the image of the postal indicia printed on the mail item (10), and determines the confirmation of the acquired image with respect to a predetermined reference image.

Description

Domaine de la techniqueTechnical area

La présente invention se rapporte au domaine du traitement de courrier et elle concerne plus particulièrement un dispositif pour contrôler la conformité aux normes définies par l'administration postale des empreintes postales imprimées par une machine à affranchir.The present invention relates to the field of treatment of mail and it relates more particularly to a device for controlling compliance with standards defined by the postal administration of postal imprints printed by a postage meter.

Art antérieurPrior art

Classiquement, une empreinte postale étant une valeur monétaire, la qualité de son impression sur les articles de courrier est primordiale afin d'éviter toute fraude ou toute perte financière pour l'utilisateur en cas de rejet de l'affranchissement par l'administration postale.Conventionally, a postal imprint being a monetary value, the quality of its printing on mail items is essential in order to to avoid any fraud or any financial loss for the user in the event of rejection of postage by the postal administration.

Or, à ce jour, il n'est procédé à aucun contrôle systématique de la qualité d'impression, celle-ci n'étant en général vérifiée par l'utilisateur qu'après un premier rejet par l'administration postale. Par contre, dans certaines sociétés de routage où les cadences d'affranchissement sont très élevées et les rejets susceptibles de causer un préjudice financier important, il est procédé à un contrôle manuel par échantillonnage en prélevant régulièrement des articles de courrier affranchis en sortie de la machine à affranchir.However, to date, there has been no systematic control of the print quality, which is generally not checked by the user only after a first rejection by the postal administration. However, in some routing companies where the franking rates are very high and releases likely to cause financial harm important, manual control is carried out by sampling in regularly removing franked mail items leaving the stamp machine.

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

La présente invention a pour but de pallier les inconvénients résultant de l'absence de contrôle ou d'un simple contrôle manuel par échantillonnage de la qualité d'impression d'une empreinte postale en proposant une machine à affranchir permettant un contrôle automatique et systématique de la qualité d'impression de chaque empreinte postale imprimée. Un but de l'invention est aussi de permettre dans le même temps un contrôle d'éventuels marquages de service pouvant être imprimés sur les articles de courrier. Encore un but de l'invention est de proposer une machine à affranchir simple d'emploi et dont l'architecture générale n'est pas affectée de façon sensible.The object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks resulting from the absence of control or from a simple manual control by sampling the print quality of a postal imprint in offering a franking machine allowing automatic control and systematic printing quality of each postal imprint printed. An object of the invention is also to allow, in the same time a check for any service markings that may be printed on mail items. Another object of the invention is to offer an easy-to-use franking machine with an architecture general is not significantly affected.

Ces buts sont atteints par une machine à affranchir des articles de courrier comportant des moyens d'impression d'une empreinte postale sur un article de courrier, des moyens de détection de la position de cet article de courrier le long d'un chemin de transport de cet article et des moyens de commande reliés auxdits moyens de détection et auxdits moyens d'impression pour procéder à l'impression d'une empreinte postale sur ledit article de courrier à un emplacement prédéterminé, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comporte en outre des moyens d'acquisition et de traitement d'une image de cette empreinte postale imprimée de façon à en déterminer la conformité par rapport à au moins une image de référence prédéterminée.These goals are achieved by a postage meter articles of mail comprising means for imprinting postal on a mail item, position detection means of this mail item along a transportation path of this item and control means connected to said detection means and to said printing means for printing a postal imprint on said mail item at a predetermined location, characterized in that it further comprises means of acquisition and processing an image of this postal imprint printed so as to determine compliance with at least one reference image predetermined.

Ainsi, avec la présente invention, il peut être effectué un contrôle en temps réel de la qualité d'impression de l'empreinte postale, directement pendant le processus d'affranchissement et sans aucune perturbation de celui-ci.Thus, with the present invention, a check can be carried out in real time of the print quality of the postal imprint, directly during the postage process and without any disruption of it.

Ce contrôle peut être étendu à l'image d'un marquage de service imprimé sur l'article de courrier conjointement à l'empreinte postale.This control can be extended to the image of a service marking printed on the mail item together with the postal imprint.

L'image de référence prédéterminée est de préférence formée par au moins une partie des éléments graphiques invariables de ladite empreinte postale tels que les cadres ou les mentions officielles de l'estampille ou du cachet dateur.The predetermined reference image is preferably formed by at least part of the invariable graphic elements of said postal imprint such as frames or official endorsements from the stamp or date stamp.

Selon un mode de réalisation avantageux, ces moyens d'acquisition et de traitement d'image comportent un module d'acquisition d'image (avantageusement une matrice de dispositifs photoconducteurs du type CCD) pour obtenir une image numérique de l'empreinte postale imprimée, un module de traitement d'image relié audit module d'acquisition et auxdits moyens de commande et de contrôle pour traiter l'image ainsi acquise et un module mémoire relié au module de traitement pour mémoriser lesdites images de référence prédéterminées.According to an advantageous embodiment, these acquisition means and image processing include an image acquisition module (advantageously a matrix of photoconductive devices of the type CCD) to obtain a digital image of the printed postal imprint, an image processing module connected to said acquisition module and to said command and control means for processing the image thus acquired and a memory module connected to the processing module for storing said predetermined reference images.

Le module mémoire peut être intégré dans le module de traitement d'image qui peut lui même être intégré aux moyens de commande.The memory module can be integrated into the processing module image which can itself be integrated into the control means.

Le module de traitement d'image comporte des moyens de comparaison d'au moins une partie de ladite image de l'empreinte postale imprimée avec une partie correspondante de ladite image de référence prédéterminée et des moyens de détermination d'un défaut d'alignement de ladite empreinte postale imprimée.The image processing module includes means for comparison of at least part of said image of the postal imprint printed with a corresponding part of said reference image predetermined and means for determining an alignment defect of said printed postal imprint.

De préférence, la machine à affranchir selon l'invention comporte en outre soit des moyens d'alerte pour inviter l'utilisateur à arrêter le fonctionnement de la machine lorsque lesdits moyens de comparaison font apparaítre une non conformité de l'impression soit des moyens de commande automatique de l'arrêt de ce fonctionnement.Preferably, the franking machine according to the invention comprises further be alert means to invite the user to stop the operation of the machine when said comparison means appear a non conformity of the printing is means of automatic command to stop this operation.

Dans un mode de réalisation particulier, les moyens de détection de la position dudit article de courrier comportent des moyens de détection d'un front de cet article de courrier.In a particular embodiment, the means for detecting the position of said mail item include detection means from a front of this mail item.

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 est une vue schématique en coupe longitudinale d'une machine de traitement de courrier conventionnelle,
  • la figure 2 est une vue schématique en coupe longitudinale d'une machine de traitement de courrier selon l'invention,
  • la figure 3 montre un modèle d'empreinte postale type,
  • les figures 4A et 4B illustrent des exemples de zones d'intérêts spécifiques dites cibles caractéristiques de l'empreinte postale type de la figure 3,
  • la figure 5 montre un exemple d'une empreinte postale après un affranchissement réel, et
  • la figure 6 montre l'image d'une zone d'intérêt réelle obtenue à partir de l'empreinte postale de la figure 5.
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 is a schematic view in longitudinal section of a conventional mail processing machine,
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic view in longitudinal section of a mail processing machine according to the invention,
  • FIG. 3 shows a model of a standard postal imprint,
  • FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate examples of specific areas of interest known as targets characteristic of the standard postal imprint of FIG. 3,
  • FIG. 5 shows an example of a postal imprint after actual postage, and
  • FIG. 6 shows the image of a real area of interest obtained from the postal imprint of FIG. 5.

Description détaillée d'un mode de réalisation préférentielDetailed description of a preferred embodiment

La figure 1 illustre de façon schématique les différents constituants d'une machine de traitement de courrier conventionnelle. Celle-ci comporte classiquement, dans le sens d'avancée des articles de courrier 10 et selon un chemin 12 de transport de ces articles : des moyens 14 d'alimentation en articles de courrier destinés à recevoir une pile d'articles de courrier de caractéristiques dimensionnelles variables, et notamment d'épaisseurs différentes, et qui comportent des premiers rouleaux d'entraínement motorisés 140, 142 ; des moyens de sélection 16 pour sélectionner individuellement chaque article de courrier de la pile et qui comportent des rouleaux et contre-rouleaux de sélection 160, 162 ; des moyens de convoyage amont 18 pour convoyer chaque article sélectionné et comportant des rouleaux et contre-rouleaux de convoyage amont 180, 182 ; des moyens d'affranchissement 20 pour procéder à l'impression d'une empreinte postale sur chaque article de courrier préalablement sélectionné et comportant avantageusement un module d'impression à jet d'encre 200 ; des moyens de convoyage aval 22 pour convoyer chaque article affranchi et qui comportent des rouleaux et contre-rouleaux de convoyage aval 220, 222 ; et des moyens 24 de stockage des articles de courrier destinés à recevoir l'ensemble des articles affranchis et qui comportent des seconds rouleaux d'entraínement motorisés 240, 242.Figure 1 schematically illustrates the different constituents a conventional mail processing machine. This one conventionally comprises, in the forward direction of the mail items 10 and along a path 12 for transporting these articles: means 14 supply of mail items for receiving a stack of items of mail of variable dimensional characteristics, and in particular of different thicknesses, and which include first rolls motorized drive 140, 142; selection means 16 for individually select each mail item from the stack and which have selection rollers and counter rollers 160, 162; of the upstream conveying means 18 for conveying each selected item and comprising upstream conveyor rollers and counter-rollers 180, 182; franking means 20 for printing a postal imprint on each mail item beforehand selected and advantageously comprising a jet printing module ink 200; downstream conveying means 22 for conveying each prepaid item which have rollers and counter rollers of downstream conveying 220, 222; and means 24 for storing the articles of mail intended to receive all prepaid items and which have second motorized drive rollers 240, 242.

Bien entendu, cette machine de traitement de courrier comporte en outre d'une part des moyens 26 de commande et de contrôle (plus particulièrement à mémoire et microprocesseur) pour la gestion de l'impression et du convoyage des articles de courrier au travers de la machine, le long du chemin de transport 12, et d'autre part des moyens 28 de détection de la position de ces articles de courrier (avantageusement du front de l'article de courrier) reliés à ces moyens de commande et de contrôle et à partir duquel l'impression de l'empreinte postale est synchronisée (en fonction d'un décalage standard prédéfini définissant un emplacement prédéterminé pour l'impression).Of course, this mail processing machine includes besides on the one hand means 26 of command and control (more particularly with memory and microprocessor) for the management of printing and conveying of mail items through the machine, along the transport path 12, and on the other hand means 28 detecting the position of these mail items (advantageously from the front of the mail item) connected to these means of command and control and from which impression printing postal is synchronized (according to a predefined standard offset defining a predetermined location for printing).

En général, les moyens de sélection 16, les moyens de convoyage 18, 22 et les moyens d'affranchissement 20 sont regroupés dans une structure unique, appelée machine à affranchir, alimentée en articles de courrier par les moyens indépendants d'alimentation 12, appelés alimenteur. Par article de courrier, il convient d'entendre aussi bien une enveloppe (de format quelconque) qu'une étiquette destinée ensuite à être collée sur une enveloppe épaisse ou un paquet.In general, the selection means 16, the conveying means 18, 22 and the franking means 20 are grouped in a unique structure, called a franking machine, supplied with articles mail by independent supply means 12, called feeder. By mail item should be understood a envelope (in any format) that a label then intended for be stuck on a thick envelope or package.

Selon l'invention, la machine à affranchir comporte en outre des moyens intégrés d'acquisition et de traitement d'image 30 pour contrôler in situ, pendant le processus d'affranchissement, sur chaque article de courrier affranchi, la qualité d'impression de l'empreinte postale. Ce contrôle est effectué en déterminant la conformité d'une image de cette empreinte imprimée avec une image de référence prédéterminée.According to the invention, the franking machine further comprises integrated image acquisition and processing means 30 for in situ control, during the franking process, on each franked mail item, the printing quality of the postal imprint. This control is carried out by determining the conformity of an image of this imprint imprinted with a predetermined reference image.

Conformément à la figure 2, ces moyens 30 comportent un module 300 d'acquisition d'images numériques disposé de préférence au plus près du module d'impression 200, au dessus du chemin de transport des articles de courrier, et un module de traitement d'image 310 relié d'une part à ce module d'acquisition et d'autre part aux moyens 26 de commande et de contrôle de la machine. Un module mémoire 320 préalablement chargé par les images de référence à partir desquelles le module de traitement vérifiera la conformité de l'empreinte postale imprimée est également relié au module de traitement (en variante, il peut être intégré à ce module). On notera que le traitement de l'image (y compris la mémorisation des images de référence) étant essentiellement logiciel, il peut être déporté au niveau des moyens généraux 26 de commande et de contrôle à mémoire et microprocesseur de la machine à affranchir, les moyens 30 étant alors réduits au seul module 300 assurant la fonction d'acquisition d'image.In accordance with FIG. 2, these means 30 comprise a module 300 digital image acquisition preferably arranged as close as possible of the printing module 200, above the transport path of the mail items, and an image processing module 310 connected to a part to this acquisition module and secondly to the means 26 of machine command and control. A memory module 320 previously loaded by the reference images from which the processing module will check the conformity of the postal imprint printed is also connected to the processing module (alternatively, it can be integrated into this module). Note that the processing of the image (y including the memorization of reference images) being essentially software, it can be deported to the level of general means 26 of memory control and microprocessor of the machine franking, the means 30 then being reduced to the single module 300 ensuring the image acquisition function.

Le module 300 qui permet l'acquisition d'une image numérique est formé classiquement par une matrice d'éléments photoconducteurs de type capteurs d'image CCD (Charged Coupled Device) d'un format suffisant pour l'acquisition de tout ou, préférentiellement, d'une partie des éléments graphiques invariables de l'empreinte postale (cadre, mentions officielles). Par exemple, il a pu être testé par les inventeurs qu'un format de saisie de 764x564pixels permet en pratique l'acquisition de ces éléments graphiques pour une empreinte postale aussi bien au format français, britannique, allemand ou américain. L'acquisition des données d'image est synchronisée à partir de la détection d'une position de l'article de courrier obtenue par le détecteur 28 et à laquelle est appliquée une temporisation (avantageusement logicielle) correspondant au temps de parcours de cet article de courrier entre ce détecteur et le capteur d'image (la vitesse d'avance des articles est constante et connue des moyens 26). De préférence, la position détectée de l'article de courrier est celle correspondant au front de cet article.The module 300 which allows the acquisition of a digital image is conventionally formed by a matrix of photoconductive elements type CCD (Charged Coupled Device) image sensors sufficient for the acquisition of all or, preferably, part of the invariable graphic elements of the postal imprint (frame, mentions Official). For example, it has been tested by the inventors that a format 764x564 pixels capture in practice allows the acquisition of these graphic elements for a postal imprint as well in format French, British, German or American. Data acquisition image is synchronized from the detection of an article position of mail obtained by the detector 28 and to which is applied a time delay (advantageously software) corresponding to the time of route of this mail item between this detector and the image sensor (the speed of advance of the articles is constant and known to the means 26). Preferably, the detected position of the mail item is that corresponding to the front of this article.

Pour éviter l'emploi de cette temporisation, il est bien entendu aussi possible de recourir à un capteur spécifique supplémentaire (non représenté) disposé directement au niveau du capteur d'image, en sortie du module d'impression 200, et donnant un top départ pour l'acquisition de l'image.To avoid the use of this delay, it is of course also possible to use an additional specific sensor (not shown) placed directly at the image sensor, at the output of the printing module 200, and giving a starting point for the acquisition of the image.

Le module 310 qui permet un traitement automatique de l'image acquise par le module d'acquisition comporte des moyens classiques de filtrage de cette image pour s'affranchir notamment des différentes granulosités des articles de courrier ou de la différence de luminosité résultant de la qualité de l'encre utilisée par exemple, et des moyens de comparaison pour rechercher sur l'image saisie des zones d'intérêt particulier qui seront comparées à des zones cibles préalablement extraites d'images de référence caractéristiques d'empreintes postales types et mémorisées dans le module mémoire 320 lors d'une phase préalable de paramétrage (calibrage de l'acquisition).The 310 module which allows automatic image processing acquired by the acquisition module comprises conventional means of filtering of this image to overcome in particular the different graininess of mail items or difference in brightness resulting from the quality of the ink used for example, and the means of comparison to search on the captured image of areas of interest particular which will be compared to target areas beforehand extracted from reference images characteristic of postal imprints types and stored in memory module 320 during a phase prior to configuration (acquisition calibration).

La figure 3 montre un modèle d'empreinte postale d'une administration postale tel que mémorisé dans le module 320. Pour faciliter l'étape de comparaison, ce modèle ne comporte que les éléments graphiques de cette empreinte qui sont invariables avec l'affranchissement. N'y figurent donc pas, par exemple, le montant d'affranchissement dans le timbre (appelé aussi estampille) ou la date d'affranchissement dans le cachet dateur. On notera, qu'il est aussi possible de ne mémoriser que les zones cibles de cette empreinte apparaissant en des endroits déterminés de l'empreinte et non l'empreinte en son entier.Figure 3 shows a model of a postal imprint of a postal administration as stored in module 320. To facilitate the comparison step, this model only includes the elements graphics of this footprint that are invariable with postage. Therefore, for example, the amount does not appear postage in the stamp (also called stamp) or date postage in the date stamp. Note that it is also possible to memorize only the target areas of this fingerprint appearing in specific locations of the imprint and not the imprint in its entirety.

Les figures 4A et 4B illustrent deux exemples de zones d'intérêt particulier (zones cibles) retenues pour effectuer le contrôle de la qualité d'impression de l'empreinte postale. En effet, il n'est pas nécessaire d'effectuer ce contrôle sur l'ensemble de l'empreinte postale et il est préférable, afin de minimiser le temps de traitement, de limiter celui-ci à une ou plusieurs zones particulières déterminées de cette empreinte et destinées à constituer des images de référence prédéterminées à partir desquelles pourront ensuite être effectuées différentes comparaisons. Bien entendu, ces zones seront fonction du type d'impression et du modèle (français, britannique, etc.) d'empreinte postale analysé.Figures 4A and 4B illustrate two examples of areas of interest individual (target areas) selected to carry out quality control printing of the postal imprint. Indeed, it is not necessary perform this check on the entire postal imprint and it is preferable, in order to minimize the processing time, to limit it to one or more specific zones determined from this imprint and intended to constitute predetermined reference images from from which different comparisons can then be made. Well of course, these areas will depend on the type of printing and the model (French, British, etc.) of the postal imprint analyzed.

Dans le cas d'une impression à jet d'encre, ces zones d'intérêt seront choisies de préférence au niveau de la partie centrale du cadre formant l'estampille de l'empreinte postale. En effet, dans les machines à affranchir actuelles du type à jet d'encre, le module d'impression comporte toujours deux rangées de buses d'éjection dont la jonction s'effectue sensiblement au niveau de cette partie centrale. C'est donc naturellement à cet endroit particulier, où il est plus facile de déterminer la qualité de l'impression et notamment de détecter les éventuelles imprécisions dans le montage de ces deux rangées de buses, qu'il est donc préférable d'effectuer le contrôle de conformité. In the case of inkjet printing, these areas of interest preferably chosen at the central part of the frame forming the stamp of the postal imprint. Indeed, in machines with franking current inkjet type, the printing module has always two rows of ejection nozzles which join substantially at the level of this central part. So it's naturally at this particular location, where it's easier to determine the quality of printing and in particular to detect any inaccuracies in the mounting these two rows of nozzles, so it's best perform the compliance check.

La figure 5 montre un exemple d'impression d'une empreinte postale sur une machine à affranchir à jet d'encre. On notera le léger décalage qui apparaít tout le long de cette empreinte au niveau de son axe longitudinal, lequel correspond justement à la jonction des deux rangées de buses d'éjection du module d'impression de cette machine.Figure 5 shows an example of printing an imprint mail on an inkjet franking machine. We note the slight offset that appears all along this imprint at the level of its longitudinal axis, which corresponds precisely to the junction of the two rows of ejection nozzles of the printing module of this machine.

La figure 6 illustre la zone retenue par comparaison avec la zone cible du modèle d'empreinte (voir la figure 4A) et la partie d'image extraite de cette zone à partir de laquelle seront déterminées deux lignes de repérage vertical séparées d'un décalage d. La mesure (par un simple comptage logiciel des pixels les séparant) de ce décalage permettra d'évaluer précisément le défaut d'alignement des deux rangées de buses et d'informer automatiquement l'utilisateur, par exemple par un message d'alerte sonore ou visuel sur l'interface utilisateur de la machine à affranchir, si ce décalage excède une fourchette prédéterminée de valeurs (en pratique un décalage compris entre -1.5 mm et +1.5 mm n'entraíne pas de rejet par l'administration). L'utilisateur pourra alors arrêter le fonctionnement de la machine à affranchir pour procéder à un réglage des buses permettant à nouveau une impression conforme. Notons que cet arrêt peut bien entendu être réalisé automatiquement sous la commande des moyens 26 informés par le module d'acquisition 300 de cette non conformité de l'impression (dû au désalignement excessif).Figure 6 illustrates the area selected by comparison with the area target of the footprint model (see Figure 4A) and the extracted image portion from this area from which two lines of vertical marking separated by an offset d. The measurement (by a simple software counting of the pixels separating them) of this offset will allow accurately assess the misalignment of the two rows of nozzles and automatically inform the user, for example by a message audible or visual alert on the user interface of the machine postage, if this offset exceeds a predetermined range of values (in practice an offset between -1.5 mm and +1.5 mm does not entail no rejection by the administration). The user can then stop the franking machine operation to adjust the nozzles for consistent printing again. Note that this stop can of course be performed automatically under the command means 26 informed by the acquisition module 300 of this non conformity of printing (due to excessive misalignment).

Ainsi, avec l'invention, la détection à la volée d'un défaut de qualité d'impression d'une empreinte postale permet de limiter les risques de rejet d'articles de courrier par l'administration postale. La détermination de seuils de tolérance définissant la conformité d'un paramètre de qualité aux exigences postales permet d'éviter l'impression d'une empreinte susceptible de rejet.Thus, with the invention, the detection on the fly of a quality defect printing a postal imprint limits the risk of rejection mail items by the postal administration. The determination of tolerance thresholds defining the conformity of a quality parameter with postal requirements avoids printing a fingerprint subject to rejection.

On notera que la présence des moyens d'acquisition d'images 300 de l'invention peut être mise à profit pour assurer également un contrôle d'éventuels marquages de service imprimés sur l'article de courrier, notamment dans le prolongement de l'empreinte postale, et donc susceptibles de passer sous ces moyens d'acquisition lors de l'éjection de l'article de courrier. Lorsque le marquage de service est un code à barres, il convient bien entendu de prévoir des moyens de décodage au niveau du module de traitement 310 reliés à ces moyens d'acquisition d'images formant alors lecteur de codes à barres. Les informations décodées sont ensuite transmis aux moyens de commande 26 pour assurer leur exploitation, par exemple, lorsque la machine affranchir est une machine communicante reliée à un serveur du concessionnaire de cette machine, à des fins statistiques ou autres.It will be noted that the presence of the image acquisition means 300 of the invention can be used to also ensure control any service markings printed on the mail item, especially in the extension of the postal imprint, and therefore likely to pass under these means of acquisition during the ejection of the mail article. When the service marking is a barcode, it is of course advisable to provide decoding means at the level of the processing module 310 connected to these image acquisition means thus forming a barcode reader. The decoded information is then transmitted to the control means 26 to ensure their operation, for example, when the postage meter is a machine communicating connected to a server of the dealer of this machine, to statistical or other purposes.

Claims (12)

Machine à affranchir des articles de courrier comportant des moyens (20) d'impression d'une empreinte postale sur un article de courrier (10), des moyens (28) de détection de la position de cet article de courrier le long d'un chemin de transport (12) de cet article et des moyens (26) de commande reliés auxdits moyens de détection et auxdits moyens d'impression pour procéder à l'impression d'une empreinte postale sur ledit article de courrier à un emplacement prédéterminé, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comporte en outre des moyens (30) d'acquisition et de traitement d'une image de cette empreinte postale imprimée de façon à en déterminer la conformité par rapport à au moins une image de référence prédéterminée.Machine for franking mail items comprising means (20) for printing a postal imprint on a mail item (10), means (28) for detecting the position of this mail item along a transport path (12) of this article and control means (26) connected to said detection means and to said printing means for printing a postal imprint on said mail article at a predetermined location, characterized in that it further comprises means (30) for acquiring and processing an image of this printed postal imprint so as to determine its conformity with respect to at least one predetermined reference image. Machine à affranchir selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que lesdits moyens d'acquisition et de traitement d'image comportent un module d'acquisition d'image (300) pour obtenir une image numérique de l'empreinte postale imprimée, un module de traitement d'image (310) relié audit module d'acquisition et auxdits moyens de commande et de contrôle pour traiter l'image acquise et un module mémoire (320) relié au module de traitement pour mémoriser lesdites images de référence prédéterminées.Franking machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said image acquisition and processing means comprise an image acquisition module (300) for obtaining a digital image of the printed postal imprint, a module for image processing (310) connected to said acquisition module and to said command and control means for processing the acquired image and a memory module (320) connected to the processing module for storing said predetermined reference images. Machine à affranchir selon la revendication 2, caractérisée en ce que ledit module mémoire est intégré dans ledit module de traitement d'image.Franking machine according to claim 2, characterized in that said memory module is integrated into said image processing module. Machine à affranchir selon la revendication 4, caractérisée en ce que ledit module de traitement d'image est intégré dans les moyens de commande (26).Franking machine according to claim 4, characterized in that said image processing module is integrated in the control means (26). Machine à affranchir selon la revendication 2, caractérisée en ce que ledit module d'acquisition d'image comporte une matrice d'éléments photoconducteurs de type CCD.Franking machine according to claim 2, characterized in that said image acquisition module comprises a matrix of photoconductive elements of CCD type. Machine à affranchir selon la revendication 2, caractérisée en ce que ledit module de traitement d'image comporte des moyens de comparaison d'au moins une partie de ladite image de l'empreinte postale imprimée avec une partie correspondante de ladite image de référence prédéterminée. Franking machine according to claim 2, characterized in that said image processing module comprises means for comparing at least a part of said image of the printed postal imprint with a corresponding part of said predetermined reference image. Machine à affranchir selon la revendication 6, caractérisée en ce que ladite image de référence prédéterminée est formée par au moins une partie des éléments graphiques invariables de ladite empreinte postale tels que les cadres ou les mentions officielles de l'estampille ou du cachet dateur.Franking machine according to claim 6, characterized in that said predetermined reference image is formed by at least a part of the invariable graphic elements of said postal imprint such as the frames or the official indications of the stamp or date stamp. Machine à affranchir selon la revendication 6, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comporte en outre des moyens d'alerte pour inviter l'utilisateur à arrêter le fonctionnement de la machine lorsque lesdits moyens de comparaison font apparaítre une non conformité de l'impression.Franking machine according to claim 6, characterized in that it further comprises alert means for inviting the user to stop the operation of the machine when said comparison means reveal a nonconformity of the printing. Machine à affranchir selon la revendication 8, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comporte en outre des moyens (26) de commande automatique de l'arrêt du fonctionnement de la machine lorsque lesdits moyens de comparaison font apparaítre une non conformité de l'impression.Franking machine according to claim 8, characterized in that it further comprises means (26) for automatic control of the stopping of the operation of the machine when said comparison means reveal a nonconformity of the printing. Machine à affranchir selon la revendication 2, caractérisée en ce que ledit module de traitement d'image comporte des moyens de détermination d'un défaut d'alignement de ladite empreinte postale imprimée.Franking machine according to claim 2, characterized in that said image processing module comprises means for determining a misalignment of said printed postal imprint. Machine à affranchir selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que lesdits moyens de détection de la position dudit article de courrier comportent des moyens de détection d'un front de cet article de courrier.Franking machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said means for detecting the position of said mail item comprise means for detecting a front of this mail item. Machine à affranchir selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que lesdits moyens d'acquisition et de traitement assurent en outre l'acquisition et le traitement d'une image d'un marquage de service imprimé sur l'article de courrier conjointement à l'empreinte postale.Franking machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said acquisition and processing means further ensure the acquisition and processing of an image of a service marking printed on the mail item in conjunction with postal imprint.
EP02292426A 2001-10-05 2002-10-03 Franking machine with a device for checking the quality of the postal indicia Ceased EP1302906A1 (en)

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FR0112818 2001-10-05
FR0112818A FR2830649B1 (en) 2001-10-05 2001-10-05 POSTAGE MACHINE WITH POSTAL FOOTPRINT CONFORMITY MONITORING DEVICE

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FR2830649A1 (en) 2003-04-11
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