EP2072268A2 - Device for pressing flat goods onto a transport module - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus has a feed table (13) feeding flat materials into a microprocessor-controlled printing apparatus. The materials are pressed in a supporting region counter of a transport belt (2). A holding carrier (32) for pressing elements (B1-Bn) is attached under the table, where one of the elements is mounted on the carrier with individual resilient components. The elements are arranged on the carrier below the belt in a transport direction and are protruded through an opening formed in the table to provide pressure from bottom of the belt.

Description

The invention relates to a device for pressing flat goods on a transport module according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention is used in microprocessor-controlled printing devices and is suitable for franking machines and other mail processing equipment.

A transport principle with an overhead belt and a bottom-mounted sprung counter-pressure device, between which a mailpiece is clamped, is known from the patent DD 233 101 B5 However, a thermal transfer ribbon is not suitable as a conveyor belt. The thermal transfer ribbon is disposed above a feed table over which the mail pieces are transported horizontally post-downstream. The feed table has openings through which a driven counter-pressure roller passes through the mail item.

From the patent US 6,550,994 B2 For example, a postage meter machine with a mail item transport device is known with which the letters are transported through the postage meter machine by means of an overhead conveyor belt and a plurality of spring-mounted levers arranged below. The same goes out US 5,813,326 . US 6,776,089 B1 and US 6,585,433 B2 out. The conveyor belt is mounted in a loop on rollers and does not allow the pressure module or a part thereof to protrude into the area between the rollers. The width of the conveyor belt is relatively small and is about 1 inch. The expansion of the housing transversely to the mailpiece transport direction is comparatively large in comparison. In addition, a second printing position for printing franking strips is provided, which are rolled up on rolls and which are unrolled for printing. This second printing path causes higher production costs.
in the US 5,467,709 For example, a printing device for an ink-jet franking machine has already been proposed, wherein a franking print is printed by means of an ink-jet print head on a mail piece in the case of an approximately horizontal letter transport. The ink jet printhead is arranged to be stationary behind a guide plate in a recess for printing. As a transport device is a revolving conveyor belt, which is also arranged on the side of the guide plate. On the other side opposite to the guide plate, a supporting and pressing device is arranged with a plurality of rollers, so that a fed mail piece between the rollers of the support and pressure device and the circulating conveyor belt is clamped. However, the device can not avoid skewing the print carrier. Even an insufficiently tensioned conveyor belt or not exactly parallel alignment of the axes of those rollers on which the conveyor belt rotates, carries the aforementioned danger in itself. Due to the large number of roles of support and pressure device latter is very expensive.
In the DE 196 05 015 C1 ( US 5,949,444 ) an embodiment for a printing device of an ink-jet franking machine JetMail ^® has been proposed by the applicant Francotyp-Postalia AG & Co., at a non-horizontal approximately vertical letter transport performs a franking pressure by means of an ink jet printhead, which is arranged behind a guide plate in a recess stationary. As a transport device is a revolving conveyor belt with pressure elements for the mail pieces (letters to 20 mm thickness, DIN B4 format) or for franking strips, which are formed aufklebbar on packets of any thickness. The print carrier (letter, packet, franking strip) is clamped between the pressure elements and the guide plate.
Even simpler constructed transport and drive devices without counter-pressure device ( DE 196 05 014 C1 ) or with counterpressure device ( WO 99/44174 ) near the printing area of at least one inkjet printhead. The latter is in WO 99/44174 arranged downstream of a feed roller pair in the transport direction, wherein the upper roller is driven and the lower counter-pressure roller is sprung. Another pair of rollers post-downstream of the ink-jet printhead near the ejector also exerts a force on the print carrier. The print area is spaced more than one radius of the respective driven roller from the power transfer area of one of the pairs of rollers. The printing information can be changed in principle by digital printing in principle in all areas, but the pressure is of lower quality the higher the transport speed is selected. In particular, when using two ink-jet print heads, an offset in the print image (connection error) along a print length in the transport direction can occur, which complicates the machine evaluation of the print image. The force effect of the further pair of rollers post-downstream of the ink-jet print head near the ejection leads to different path lengths and thus in the case of two mutually offset ink-jet printheads to the connection error in the printed image. The print quality demanded in the context of current programs of the postal carriers - for example the Information Based Indicia Program of the USPS - would thus only be achievable with a low printing speed. Another disadvantage is the small thickness of the print carrier, which can be printed by such a simple design printing device.

From the EP 1 079 975 B1 An apparatus for character printing on a predetermined place on one side of a flat recording medium and a correspondingly equipped franking machine are known. A transport belt is arranged on the one hand on the inkjet printhead side and on the other hand forms a non-suspended support means for the print side of a flat recording medium (object, mail, envelope). A counter-pressure device supports the flat object from below, in which a belt rolls around at least two other rollers, at least one of which is not suspended.

One from the EP 1 170 141 B1 Known device for printing a print carrier in the printing area uses in the power transmission area a driven transport drum and non-driven counter-pressure rollers or alternatively a non-driven counter-pressure conveyor belt. A stationary ink jet printhead prints in the print area the downstream moving print carrier, wherein the ink jet print head is arranged axially to the transport drum. The printing area is preferably about 1 inch and is spaced from the power transmission area, wherein the distance of the farthest pixel from the edge of the transport drum is smaller than the radius of the circumference of the transport drum. The disadvantage, however, is the low approximately linear contact of the mail piece surface to be printed with the transport drum and a spaced feed wheel for mailpieces. The feed wheel is driven by a toothed belt from the transport drum. This causes a Δx offset of the dots in the print image. Othogonal this results in a Δy offset of the dots in the printed image, especially in very large mailpieces. The structure also causes high manufacturing costs.

In the market segment of franking machines with small to medium Mailgutdurchsatz a compact transport device for mail pieces is needed, which should not be polluted by the free spraying. In the case of horizontal mail piece transport, it is assumed that at least one ink cartridge is arranged opposite to the direction of gravity above a printing window in the z direction of a Cartesian coordinate system. When printing, at least one inkjet printhead encounters Ink droplets opposite to the z-direction in the direction of gravity, which fly through the printing window. The pressure window is arranged on the edge of a conveyor belt in the y-direction in a housing part,
wherein the conveyor belt transports a flat good to be printed on the edge during printing in the transport direction x past the at least one print head.

The invention has for its object to develop a device for pressing flat goods to a transport module of a microprocessor-controlled printing device, wherein the printing device ensures a high print quality at low cost and at a medium Mailgutdurchsatz. The reliability of the printing device should be as high as possible and the print offset in the x-direction and y-direction should be so low that the pressure is machine-readable. On the one hand, postcards and, on the other hand, C4 letters with a mail piece thickness of up to 10 mm are to be processed.

The object is achieved with the features of the arrangement according to claim 1.

A transport module is arranged above a feed table and has, in a manner known per se, a conveyor belt for mailpieces or flat printed products. The realization of a suitable Andrucks from below to the conveyor belt of the transport module is effected by pressure elements, which are arranged in the transport direction below the conveyor belt. The pressure elements are mounted on a recording medium. The pressure surface of the pressure elements should be as large as possible. It has been found empirically that with a large number of areal pressure elements, hardly any necking error occurs in the printed image. A necking defect arises when printing a continuous vertical line with two half inch ink jet printheads offset from one another by a transport difference of the flat article versus the two half inch ink jet printheads. The recording medium can be mounted resiliently to compensate letter thicknesses up to 10 mm. Input and output leaking pressure elements have a special geometry. The pressure elements can be inclined to the conveyor belt or arranged at right angles to the recording medium. Alternatively, the individual pressure elements can also be replaced by a complete pressure body.

Figur 1,

Perspektivische Ansicht einer Transportvorrichtung mit Transportmodul ohne Druckmodul, mit einem Zuführtisch und mit einer Andruckvorrichtung,

Figur 2,

Perspektivische Ansicht der Andruckvorrichtung, die am Zuführtisch angeordnet ist, mit einem Aufnahmeträger und mit einem ungefederten Einschub,

Figur 3,

Vorderansicht der Andruckvorrichtung mit einem ungefederten Einschub,

Figur 4,

Vorderansicht der Andruckvorrichtung mit einem gefederten Einschub.

Advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims or are presented in more detail below together with the description of the preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to FIGS. Show it:

FIG. 1,

Perspective view of a transport device with transport module without printing module, with a feed table and with a pressure device,

FIG. 2,

Perspective view of the pressure device, which is arranged at the feed table, with a recording medium and with an unsprung insert,

FIG. 3,

Front view of the pressure device with an unsprung insert,

FIG. 4,

Front view of the pressure device with a sprung insert.

In Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a transport device shown from the front lower right. The transport device 1 is provided for surface goods or mail pieces and equipped with a transport module without printing module, with a feed table 13 and with a pressure device 30. The transport module consists of a roller carrier 20, with a driven roller 5 and further (hidden deflection rollers) and a conveyor belt 2, which is designed as a flat belt.

The transport module is arranged above the pressure device 30, which partially protrudes through an opening 130 of the feed table 13. The pressure device 30 consists of protruding brush elements B1, B2, B3, ... Bn and a recording medium 32 with a plurality of holders 31.1, 31.2, 31.3 to 31.n for the brush elements and a push-pull on the latter from below push-in 34 to 38 without spring elements. The latter can be dispensed with in particular in the case of thin mailpieces or very flat goods to be transported, if the brush elements B1, B2, B3,... Bn are sufficiently resilient and flexible in themselves.
The latter are provided to adapt to the underside of a - not shown - mail piece or flat goods, without hindering the transport.

In Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the pressure device from the top right front shown, which is arranged on the feed table 13. The pressing device 30 consists of a receiving carrier 32 and an unsprung inset 34 to 38. The receiving carrier is equipped with a plurality of brush elements B1, B2, B3 to Bn and with corresponding holders therefor. The brush elements protrude through the opening 130 of the feed table 13. The first brush element B1 is post current input side and the last brush element Bn is arranged poststromausgangsseitig. Each brush element is mounted in a corresponding holder. For example, the brush element Bn is fixed in the holder 31n. The holder and thus each brush element may be inclined in the transport direction - as in Fig. 2 was shown - or not inclined ..
The drawer 34 to 38 is shown without spring elements and arranged below the receiving carrier 32, and designed to support the recording medium or to this and a - not shown - mail item or flat Good from below against the flat belt of the transport module - not in shown way - to squeeze and pinch.

In Fig. 3 is a front view of a recording medium with a plurality of brush elements and an unsprung inset shown. The recording medium 30 has a multiplicity of brush elements B1, B2, B3,..., Bi,..., Bn and holders 31.1, 31.2, 31.3..., 31i,..., 31.n for the brush elements. The holders are mounted in the receiving carrier 32, which has a base plate 320, from which a first tab 321 has been worked out, which is right-angled bent. The latter and two horns on the Poststromeinputseite the base plate 320 (dashed lines) are used to attach the unsprung insert 34 to 38th
From a base plate 34 of the unsprung insert 34 to 38, a second tab 341 is bent downwardly, which is non-positively and positively connected to the first tab 321 of the receiving carrier 32. For example, a screw connection is made by means of a metal screw 33, which is inserted from the Poststromausgangsseite starting through a hole in the first tab 321, screwed into a threaded hole in the second tab 341 and optionally secured by a lock nut.
On the postal current input side of the base plate 34, an adjustment and fixing piece 391 is provided with two holes, which were incorporated into the aforementioned piece in the opposite direction to the transport direction. The recording medium 32 is inserted with its two horns (dashed lines) in the holes. The adjusting and fixing piece 391 is fixed on the base plate 34 by a - not shown - screw and has an opening for an adjusting and fixing bolts 392. The adjusting and fastening bolt 392 is mounted on the bottom plate 38, for example also by screwing. The base plate 34 is attached via spacer bolts 35.1, 35.2, 35.3 and 35.4 on the bottom plate 38, for example also by screwing. Alternatively, riveting or spot welding of the spacer bolts is possible. On the base plate 34, a respective locking washer 36.1, 36.2, 36.3 and 36.4 is used as a releasable fastening means. The hidden spacers and fasteners were identified by bracketed markings. The adjusting and fastening bolts 392 and the Adjustment and attachment piece 391 form an adjusting and fastening means 39.

In Fig. 4 is a front view of a recording medium with a plurality of brush elements and a spring-loaded insert shown, wherein the bus elements as well as with reference to FIG. 3 has already been explained, are arranged in the form of a brush. Also the structure of the inset is with that, which in the FIG. 3 has been shown, comparable, however, come spiral springs 37.1 ', 37.2', 37.3 'and 37.4' added, which are each plugged onto bolts 35.1 ', 35.2', 35.3 'and 35.4'. The base plate 34 'has in each case an opening for one of the bolts 35.1', 35.2 ', 35.3' and 35.4 ', so that the bolts can slide through at one end, wherein a force must be expended against the spring action. The standoffs 35.1 ', 35.2', 35.3 'and 35.4' are attached to the other end of the bottom plate 38 ', for example, also by screwing, riveting or spot welding. An adjusting bolt 392 'and an adjusting piece 391' form an adjusting means 39 '.

The adjusting and fastening means 39 and the adjusting means 39 'may alternatively be designed differently. Also, other spring elements 37 can be used for the suspension of the pressure device 30 in thicker pieces of mail, it is also assumed from the idea that the pressure elements act resilient in themselves.
In the embodiments described above, the invention will be explained with reference to brush elements. However, other pressure elements should not be excluded in order to realize the invention. Also suitable are artificially produced pressure elements in strips, lamellas, pens or combs. A larger number of individual resilient components of the pressure elements reduces an offset in the transport direction and thus the occurrence of approach errors. For this reason, spoken of representative of other embodiments of brush elements or the invention explained it.

The number of individual bristles or hairs of the brush elements is at least transversely to the transport direction higher than in the individual strips of a strip or lamella shape.
Ingoing and outgoing brush elements have a special geometry. The brush elements can be inclined to the conveyor belt or arranged at right angles to the receiving carrier. Alternatively, the individual brush elements can also be replaced by a complete brush body.
In the above examples, 14 brush elements were shown, but this should not exclude that more or fewer brush elements could be used. In the limiting case, a brush element with an oversize or a brush is used, which can not be subdivided into brush elements. The number of bristles or brush hairs per brush element is in the range of two to four digits. Instead of animal hair, a piece of fur with a pronounced preferential stroke can be used, whereby the direction of stroking and the direction of transport must show. Preferably, however, only artificially produced fur products or brush elements are used. With artificial bristles with special geometry, a smaller number may be sufficient, but even then their number is still much higher than is customary in today's conventional pressure elements
It is envisaged that the brush elements with a first spring constant F1 act on the mail piece and that the spring elements of the insert with a second spring constant F2 act on the mail item, where: F1 << F2.
The brush elements consist of a large number of artificial or animal hairs or bristles. In particular, by their profile and by the course of decreasing towards the tip thickness of the artificial hair special spring characteristics for the brush elements B1 to Bn can be generated, which differ from those of the spring elements 37.
A mailpiece transport device is equipped with a transport belt known per se, preferably a driven wide tensioned flat belt. The latter is guided over pulleys of a roller carrier near the place under or on parts of the printing module over.
The roller carrier 20 of the transport device is arranged horizontally and stationarily in the machine opposite the pressure device 30 in the z-direction, wherein the pressure device 30 presses the supplied mailpiece to the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt is a flat belt which, in the transporting area, acts with a predetermined stiction on a part of the surface of the mailpieces which is not printed but is close to the printing area.
In contrast, the static friction of the pressure device 30 is minimized at least in a preferred direction, the latter coinciding with the transport direction.

• * **

The invention is not limited to the present embodiment per se. Rather, a number of devices within the scope of the claims are conceivable, which are used and which are based on the same basic idea of the invention, from the appended claims.

• * **

Claims (10)

Device for pressing flat goods on a transport module of a microprocessor-controlled printing device, which has a stationary during printing printing module in a printing position, wherein the flat goods of the printing device on a feed table (13) fed and against gravity to a conveyor belt (2) in a support area be pressed, characterized in that a recording medium (32) for pressure elements under the feed table (13) is arranged and that at least one of the pressure elements (B1, B2, B3, ..., Bi, ... Bn) with a plurality of individual resilient components is mounted on the receiving carrier (32) and protrudes through an opening (130) of the feed table (13) or that a plurality of pressure elements are arranged in the transport direction below the conveyor belt on the receiving carrier (32) and through the opening (130) the feed table (13) protrude to a suitable pressure from below to the Tra Sports band (2) of the transport module to realize. Device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving carrier (32) is mounted on a slot (34 to 38) and that the pressure elements act resilient in themselves. Device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving carrier (32 ') is resiliently mounted. Device according to claims 1 and 3, characterized in that the receiving carrier (32) is mounted on a resilient insert (34 to 38). Device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the incoming and outgoing pressure elements have a special geometry. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the incoming and outgoing pressure elements are brush elements which have a plurality of bristles or hairs with a special geometry. Device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the pressure elements are inclined to the conveyor belt or arranged at right angles to the recording medium. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the individual pressure elements are replaced by a complete pressure body with a plurality of individual resilient components of the pressure elements. Device, according to claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a plurality of artificially produced bristles or hairs in the brush element or in the entire brush body are arranged such that there is a preferred direction, and that the recording medium (32) so mounted or adjusted is that the preferred direction coincides with the transport direction. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pressure elements in strip, lamellar, pin or comb shape or in brush form are made artificially.

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