EP0405357B1 - Miniature franking machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to franking machines and more particularly to a franking machine of very small dimensions and low cost.

Franking machines are currently widely used in companies that deliver large volumes of mail. Current machines are relatively large and complex. They are used at a fixed post, to process mail coming directly or not from automatic envelopes insertion systems or coming from several departments of the company and centralized for the franking operation.

The profitability of these machines is justified by the speed of the postage made, the resulting saving of time and the convenience of operations, for large volumes of mail. On the other hand their use is not justified for reduced volumes of mail. In the latter case, the franking of these folds is carried out using postage stamps.

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

The printing drum carries on its periphery a first fixed engraved plate for printing the stamp, without the postage value, and the sticker of the home office, without the date, and a second retractable engraved plate for printing. of the advertising flame. The print head prints the postage value and the date in the correct locations when printing the stamp and sticker.

The print head can consist of two sets of adjustable rollers for the two types of variable data, respectively. They are carried by the drum and rotatable with it and are flush on its periphery through windows of the first fixed plate.

The print head can also be constituted by an ink jet head fixed inside the drum. The patent FR-n ° 2 257 964 describes such a machine. The head has a row of nozzles which corresponds to the height of the characters of the value and the date to be printed. It has its row of nozzles close to the periphery of the drum and facing the advance path of the folds. It is controlled through the windows of the first printing plate, when one and then the other of these windows are on the fold.

The use of such franking machines remains unjustified for reduced volumes of mail, ranging on average from o to around twenty pieces of mail per day.

Among the machines for printing characters or marks on articles, certain small-scale machines are known, which are portable and hand-driven on an article in order to print a line of characters or marks there. These machines include an ink jet print head, similar to the aforementioned ink jet head, but made mobile on the article, without contact with it, along the line to be printed.

A machine of this type is described in patent FR-2 561 992. It has a window base in which the head is slidably mounted. The base is positioned on the article, with its window on the line to be printed. The head is driven by hand along the window and is controlled in synchronism with its advance along the window for printing the line. Means for detecting the position of the head along the window trigger and control the command to print the head.

Another machine of this type is described in patent FR-2 145 343. In this machine, the ink jet head is mounted fixed in a casing, it has its row of nozzles just above the open bottom of the casing . The housing is moved by hand over the article to be marked. It has rollers on the surface of the article. A coding wheel coupled to one of these rollers allows control of the head with the advance of the housing on the article for the printing of the line in synchronism with its scanning.

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

Also known from GB-A-2 206 082 is a franking machine without a rotating drum for the fixed part of the printing, but with an ink jet printing head for printing the franking stamp, the home office sticker and the advertising flame.

In this known machine, the printing is done in a single line, simultaneously with the transport of the letter, by a printing head with a row of printing elements, with a length equal to the transverse dimension of the area printing.

The object of the present invention is to produce a miniature franking machine which can be used essentially for printing the aforementioned stamp and sticker and possibly the advertising flame using a mobile inkjet printing head. relative to an article but not capable of scanning the areas to be printed in a single line, but also usable for ancillary operations related to franking operations.

• ladite source comporte au moins une première source affectée à la définition matricielle d'un timbre d'affranchissement et d'une vignette du bureau d'attache de la machine, pour une zone d'impression de dimensions transversales définies,
• ladite tête est à nombre limité d'éléments d'impression, dont la rangée donne la direction de l'une des dimensions de la zone mais est de longueur inférieure à cette dimension,
• lesdits moyens de déplacement comportent des premiers moyens de déplacement de l'article selon la rangée d'éléments et des deuxièmes moyens de déplacement de la tête transversalement à la rangée d'éléments, et
• lesdits moyens de commande sont à microprocesseur et définissent un cycle d'impression, déclenché et contrôlé par lesdits moyens de détection, pendant lequel l'article avance par pas égal à la longueur de la rangée d'éléments et la tête se déplace, entre chaque pas, alternativement dans un sens après l'un des pas et dans l'autre sens après le pas suivant, et au cours duquel la zone est imprimée sur l'article avec le balayage de lignes successives sur la zone pendant une phase dite d'impression puis l'article est éjecté, sans impression, pendant une phase dite d'éjection.

It therefore relates to a miniature franking machine, comprising a print head with unitary printing elements in a row on a face called the base of the head, means for relative movement of the head on the article, means detection of the article relative to the head, a data source to be printed coupled to the head and control means for printing the data, characterized in that:

• said source comprises at least one first source assigned to the matrix definition of a franking stamp and of a sticker of the office of attachment of the machine, for a printing area of defined transverse dimensions,
• said head has a limited number of printing elements, the row of which gives the direction of one of the dimensions of the area but is of length less than this dimension,
• said displacement means comprise first means of displacement of the article along the row of elements and second means of displacement of the head transversely to the row of elements, and
• said control means are microprocessor-based and define a printing cycle, triggered and controlled by said detection means, during which the article advances in steps equal to the length of the row of elements and the head moves, between each step, alternately in one direction after one of the steps and in the other direction after the next step, and during which the zone is printed on the article with the scanning of successive lines over the zone during a phase known as printing then the article is ejected, without printing, during a so-called ejection phase.

According to a preferred embodiment, said head is an ink jet head, removably mounted on its displacement means. This head is preferably with incorporated ink reserve and constitutes a disposable component when its ink reserve is used up.

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

According to another preferred embodiment, the machine further comprises a first card, with memory and microprocessor, called chip card, assigned to franking transactions of the machine, coupled to said control circuit and forming an integral part of the machine in a normal operating method for postage.

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

According to another preferred embodiment, the machine further comprises a third terminal card on a cord of an external circuit programmed for the composition of an advertising flame, known as a connection card, mounted in place of the smart card for loading advertising flame data produced by the external circuit in said second source, from a fourth selective command given by the keyboard for setting the machine in advertising flame recording operating mode.

According to another preferred embodiment, the machine further comprises a letter scale.

According to another preferred embodiment, the letter scale and the power supply of the machine form modules which can be connected on the one hand and on the other hand one and / or the other directly on the rear of a said printing module containing the head, the means for moving the article and the head and the control circuit, the card coupled to the control circuit itself forming another module which can be connected to the rear of the module. printing while being protected by the power supply module or the letter scale module connected to the printing module.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective éclatée illustrant la constitution d'une machine selon la présente invention,
• la figure 2 montre une machine assemblée, qui résulte de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 représente l'un des modules de la machine, dit module d'affranchissement, montré en coupe transversale à travers une partie dite avant du module,
• la figure 4 est une vue de droite, en coupe selon la ligne IV-IV de la figure 3, de ce module d'affranchissement,
• la figure 5 est une vue de dessus partiellement coupée de ce module d'affranchissement,
• la figure 6 est un schéma-bloc du circuit de commande de la machine.

The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly during the description given below of an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In these drawings:

• FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the constitution of a machine according to the present invention,
• FIG. 2 shows an assembled machine, which results from FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 represents one of the modules of the machine, said franking module, shown in cross section through a so-called front part of the module,
• FIG. 4 is a right view, in section along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3, of this franking module,
• FIG. 5 is a partially cut away top view of this franking module,
• Figure 6 is a block diagram of the machine control circuit.

Figure 1 shows the miniature franking machine according to the present invention; it is preferably of modular constitution, but can just as easily have its elements, which correspond to its modules, forming an integral part of the machine. The machine is described below for its modular construction. In Figure 2, its modules are shown assembled to each other.

• un module d'impression dit également module d'affranchissement 1, sous forme d'un petit boîtier, à tête d'impression 10 montée amovible à l'intérieur du module dans sa partie avant et à connecteur mâle 1A au bas de sa face arrière 11 et à pastille de raccordement 11A sensiblement à mi-hauteur sur cette face 11,
• un module comptable 2, plat, de type carte à puce, à pastille de raccordement 2A intégrée sur l'une de ses faces pour la pastille de raccordement 11A du module d'affranchissement 1,
• un module pèse-lettre 3, relativement plat, à connecteur femelle 3B au bas de l'une de ses grandes faces et connecteur mâle 3A au bas de la grande face opposée,
• un module d'alimentation 4, sous forme d'un boîtier de même hauteur que les modules 1 et 3, équipé d'un connecteur femelle 4B au bas de l'une de ses faces.

With reference to FIG. 1 and / or to FIG. 2, it can be seen that this machine comprises, from front to rear, for a user in front of it:

• a printing module also called franking module 1, in the form of a small box, with printing head 10 removably mounted inside the module in its front part and with male connector 1A at the bottom of its rear face 11 and with connection pad 11A substantially at mid-height on this face 11,
• an accounting module 2, flat, of the smart card type, with connection pad 2A integrated on one of its faces for the connection pad 11A of the franking module 1,
• a relatively flat letter-weighing module 3 with female connector 3B at the bottom of one of its large faces and male connector 3A at the bottom of the large opposite face,
• a power supply module 4, in the form of a box of the same height as the modules 1 and 3, equipped with a female connector 4B at the bottom of one of its faces.

These modules are assembled against each other by being connected to each other. In Figure 1, the arrows 2F, 3F and 4F translate the assembly of each of the modules 2, 3 and 4 on the one who receives it. Aside from the accounting module 2, the letter-weighing 3 and power supply 4 modules have their faces fitted with male or female connectors, which have substantially the same dimensions as the rear face of the franking module 1. The male connectors and females on the faces of modules 1, 3 and 4 are arranged at the same level of the lower edge of each module and are complementary.

The franking module 1 has on its front face a slot 12 for introducing an article into the module 1. A side pull tab 13, on the side of the insertion of the article into the slot 12, is associated with it, for maintaining the article. This module 1 is also equipped on its inclined upper face, with a display screen 14, at the rear of a keyboard 15, and with a hatch 16 for access to the print head 10, on the 'before. An arrow 10F illustrates the possible removal of the head 10 from the module 1, in particular for its replacement by another head. This franking module comprises in its internal part, in addition to the head 10, means for moving the head and the article and a machine control circuit, described below. It is simply specified opposite the control circuit, that it is preferably formed on two cards attached to the rear wall and on one of the walls
side of module 1, such as the card 17 shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1.

The letter scale module 3 is an optional machine module. It advantageously allows the measurement of the weight before the franking of each article, for the automatic calculation of the franking amount of this article by its own control circuit or that of the machine to which it is connected through the connectors 3B, 1A of the modules 3 and 1. In the absence of such a letter-weighing module in the machine, the postage amount is entered by the keyboard.

This letter-weighing module 3 in the form of a flat box has a vertical 3D slot for receiving each item to be weighed, on its upper face. The bottom of the slot constitutes a horizontal 3P weighing pan. This module is electronic, it allows a selection between different weight ranges, 0-20 g, 20-50 g, 50-100 g, for example, for each item, for the calculation of the postage amount corresponding to each section by its control circuit or that of the machine.

The power module 4 is the rearmost module of the machine. In FIG. 1, the power supply module 4 presented behind the letter-weighing module 3 is said to be a power module; it is equipped with its 4C cord with terminal plug for connection to a mains socket. It comprises, in known manner, transformer, rectification and filtering circuits. It is equipped with a 4I switch on one of its side faces.

In Figure 1, there is shown in correspondence with this power supply module 4 on the one hand a battery power module 4 ′ and on the other hand a battery power module 4˝. One or the other of these modules 4 ′ and 4˝ can be retained in place of the sector module 4, as translated by the arrows 4′F and 4˝F which correspond to them. These modules 4 ′, 4˝ are equipped, like module 4, with a female connector 4′B or 4˝B, as the case may be. A battery charger 5, with cord 5C with terminal plug for connection to the mains and equipped with a male connector 5A for the female connector 4˝B, is provided for recharging the battery module 4˝, then considered retained in the machine.

The accounting module 2 with memory and microprocessor, of the smart card type, is assigned to postage transactions of the machine, whether this machine is used in post-payment or in pre-payment. In prepayment, it is preferably a credit card acquired by the user, which is debited on each postage of the corresponding amount and allows postage to be made until the available credit is equalized. In prepayment, it can also be a card for loading funds into the machine. In post-payment and, if necessary, in pre-payment when the machine has been previously recharged in funds, it is, moreover, an identification card of the machine and possibly of the user.

As also illustrated in FIG. 1, the machine further includes, optionally, a memory module 2 ′, also of the smart card type, which is externally analogous to the accounting module 2 and has its connection pad 2′A and which is connected in place of the accounting module 2. This memory module 2 ′ is also known as an advertising flame registration card. Such a memory card 2 ′, published by a specialized service at the request of the user, allows the user to record the advertisement, which is defined therein, in his machine.

As a variant, the user may, instead of acquiring such a memory card 2 ′, have a cord 2F for connecting the machine to an external circuit, for example to a microcomputer, with the appropriate computer program, to enable him to compose his advertising flame and the definition data of this flame himself and to record in the machine these data defining this advertising flame; the user can also save addresses of recipients of his mail folds, in his machine. This connection cord 2F is at the end of connection to the franking machine which is in the form of a connection module 2˝ of the card type and externally identical to module 2. This connection module 2˝ has its connection pad marked in 2˝A, and is connected in place of module 2 on module 1.

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

In addition, in the machine, the keyboard 15 of the printing module also constitutes a means of input of alphanumeric data for the recording of a so-called simplified advertising flame and of addresses. This same keyboard is, moreover, a means of selecting a machine operating mode from among several possible operating modes.

In FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, an embodiment of the franking module 1 has been given. This module which is the largest in the machine remains very small and is of low weight; for example its rear face is 100 x 105 mm, in height and width, its lower or upper face has a length of the order of 150 mm, its weight is less than a kilogram.

Referring to these figures 3 to 5, we see that the head 10 is carried by a support 20. It is removably and lockable mounted on its support by means not shown, while being connected through its support to the control circuit mounted in this module. This print head is as such known. It is a small component, such as an inkjet or needle print head. It is preferably an ink jet head such as that known under the name THINK JET from the company HEWLETT PACKARD. It has a limited number of ink ejection nozzles, with a small pitch between them and in a row on a face called the base of the head. It has an internal ink tank to supply its nozzles.

A network of control elements is associated with the individual nozzles. A network of control links for this network of elements terminates on the base of the head, on a so-called rear side of the row of nozzles. It is connected to the support carrying the head, from where the connections go to the machine control circuit. Such an ink jet printhead has a limited printing time and constitutes a disposable component which is replaced by an identical new head, when its internal ink reserve is used up.

For this ink jet head, mounted vertically in module 1, its base has simply been identified by the reference 10A and its row of nozzles by the reference 10B. It is further specified that the row of nozzles comes in front of the support 20 and extends parallel to the front face of the module 1, that is to say in the plane of Figure 3; it gives the direction of one of the dimensions of an area to be printed on the article, but is of length less than this dimension.

In Figure 3, in particular, we see that the support 20 of the head is slidably mounted on a horizontal rod 21. It is also said slide. It is, with the head 10 in the front part of the module 1, just above the slot 12 for introducing the article. Means 22 for actuating the slide, which are fixed on it, are coupled to a control means 23, for its movement from front to rear and vice versa in the machine, on the rod 21.

The slot 12 is defined between two fixed horizontal plates, 25 and 26, extending under the head, and spaced from each other by the maximum thickness of the articles to be introduced into the machine. The lower plate 25 is called the introduction plate. The upper plate 26 is called the printing plate. This printing plate is at a short distance from the row of nozzles 10B. It has a window 26A to the right of the row of nozzles, through which is carried out the printing of a postage stamp, of the sticker of the office of attachment of the machine and, if desired of an advertising flame, on the article. The window is wide, appearing in FIG. 3, slightly greater than the length of the row of nozzles; its length corresponds to the height of the imprints to be printed, that is to say of the order of 25 mm.

The slot 12 has its ends open on the two lateral sides of the franking module, in its front part. 12A has its flared entry end of each item and 12B its exit end.

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

The rollers 31 and 32 are driven according to arrows 31A and 32B and the belts according to arrow 33A, for advancing the article. These same means 30 further comprise a pair of arms 35 articulated on the axis of the roller 32 and carrying between them the deflection roller 34. This pair of arms is biased by springs 36, to drive the deflection roller through the slot, as shown by arrow 35A. It urges the set of belts 33 against the printing plate 26 for the application of any article, introduced into the end 12A of the slot 12 and caught between the rollers 31 and 32 against this printing plate, during his advance along the slit.

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

This slot 12 is further equipped with a sensor 40A, 40B for entry of an article into the slot, mounted close to the rollers 31 and 32, on the side of the entry 12A. This sensor provides the drive control of the rollers 31 and 32, for the advance of the article for a printing cycle which it triggers. The slot is equipped with another sensor 41A, 41B, mounted slightly beyond the row of nozzles. This sensor 41A, 41B provides detection of the presence of an article in a printing position under the head. It triggers a printing phase of the printing cycle. It also triggers an article ejection phase, after this printing phase.

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

In FIG. 4 and / or 5, it can be seen, in addition to the description above, that the roller 31 is held between two bearings 44A, 44B and that the roller 32 is itself held between two bearings 45A, 45B which are biased by the springs 37. The bearings 44A, 44B for the roller 31 also constitute the support for the rod 21 for guiding the slide 20. The bearing 44A also has a notch 46 at the base of the head 10. This notch is delimited by the introduction plate 25, formed directly or attached to this bearing 44A, it receives an edge of the printing plate which is held there. These plates 25 and 26 are therefore fixed opposite the base of the head mounted on the slide. The bottom of the notch 46, between the plates 25 and 26 defines the bottom of the slot 12. It is identified by the reference 46A. The two sensors mounted along the slot 12, designated simply by reference 40, 41, are at the bottom 46A of the slot 12 (Figure 4).

In FIG. 5, the displacement of the slide 20 on the guide rod 21 has been identified by the double arrow 20A, and the slide 20 and the head 10 in their two extreme positions have been illustrated in solid lines and in dotted lines. Between these two extreme positions, the row of nozzles 1B moves on the same trajectory, alternately in one direction and the other. The flag 43, integral with the slide 20 and associated with the third sensor designated simply by the reference 42, advantageously has a slot 47 making it possible to detect one, and therefore the other, of the directions of movement of the row of nozzles.

The means 22 and 23 for actuating and controlling the slide 20 on the guide rod 21 and means generally designated by the reference 50 for driving the rollers 31 and 32 are described below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 These means are coupled to a common motor 51, which controls them. They are housed with the motor 51 in the rear part of the franking module 1, behind the slide 20.

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

A cam mounted at the bottom of the shaft 53, at its other end and made integral with this shaft constitutes the means 23. The cam bears this reference 23. It has its periphery in the shape of a heart, with a projecting point 23A and a notch 23B opposite.

The wheel 54 belongs to the means 50. It has for this purpose on its periphery two teeth 54B opposite one another. The choice of two teeth 54B results from the heart shape of the cam 23. These teeth are both slightly offset from the point and the notch of the cam to which they correspond respectively during the drive on one revolution of the cam and of the wheel. These means 50 further comprise pinions 55 to 59 for coupling the wheel 54 with the rollers 31 and 32. The pinion 55 is cylindrical, it comes on the periphery of the wheel 54 in engagement with the two teeth 54B when each of the teeth comes to his level. The pinions 56 and 57 form a pair of bevel gears between the shaft of the pinion 55 and the shaft of the transverse roller 31 which carry them, respectively, for driving the roller 31. The pinion 58, cylindrical, is mounted on the 'roller shaft 31; it is shown from a single piece with the bevel pinion 57. The pinion 59, also cylindrical, is mounted on the shaft of the roller 32 and engages on the pinion 58, it drives the roller 32, in synchronism with the roller 31 but in reverse.

The means 22 couple the cam 23 and the slide 20. They comprise a small lever 60 articulated at one end and with a bent end spout 60A, opposite, bearing on the periphery, a connecting rod 61 for driving the slide 20 and a vertical shaft 62 for coupling between the lever 60 and the link rod 61. Springs 63 act on the shaft 62, in order to request the maintenance of the lever 60 in abutment against the periphery of the cam 23. A finger 20D on the slide 20 is retained in an oblong slot 61D of the rod 61, for fixing the rod 61 on the slide 20 (Figure 5).

For each complete rotation of the distribution shaft 53 driving the cam, the rod drives the slide 20 along its guide rod 21, in one direction then the other. The tip 23A and the notch 23B give the reversal of the direction of drive of the slide, with an increasing speed at each start of the outward travel as return and a decreasing speed at the end of the outward travel as return. The two opposite convex parts of the cam, which exclude the zones with the point and the notch, are defined to give a constant speed to the slide 20; they define the useful part, traversed at constant speed, of the outward and return stroke of the slide 20 on the guide rod 21. The printing of each imprint is carried out on this useful part.

The means 50 in turn ensure the drive of the rollers 31 and 32 and therefore of the article along the slot of the machine when the slide 20 with the head 10 is stopped or practically stopped.

• un ensemble de mémoires 70, dans lequel sont illustrées séparément des mémoires 71 à 74 précisées ci-après ;
• un microprocesseur 80, couplé aux mémoires de l'ensemble 70 selon les flèches indiquées ;
• des circuits d'interface 81 à 87 couplés d'une part au microprocesseur 80 et d'autre part aux éléments commandés ou de commande de la machine. Ces éléments de la machine sont l'écran d'affichage pour le circuit d'interface affichage 81, le clavier pour le circuit d'interface clavier 82, la tête d'impression pour le circuit d'interface tête 83, le moteur pour le circuit d'interface moteur 84, les trois capteurs pour le circuit d'interface capteurs 85, le module comptable pour le circuit d'interface financier 86 et le module mémoire ou le circuit extérieur de définition des données de flamme publicitaire pour le circuit d'interface de publicité 87. Les références de ces éléments décrits en regard des figures précédentes sont rappelées entre parenthèses sur les liaisons qu'ils ont avec les circuits d'interface, avec des flèches traduisant le sens du couplage, dans cette figure 6.

In FIG. 6, the machine control circuit has been illustrated in the form of a block diagram. This control circuit is housed in the printing module 1. It is designated under the global reference 17 of the card illustrated in FIG. 1. It comprises:

• a set of memories 70, in which the memories 71 to 74 specified below are illustrated separately;
• a microprocessor 80, coupled to the memories of the assembly 70 according to the arrows indicated;
• interface circuits 81 to 87 coupled on the one hand to the microprocessor 80 and on the other hand to the commanded or control elements of the machine. These machine elements are the display screen for the display interface circuit 81, the keyboard for the keyboard interface circuit 82, the print head for the head interface circuit 83, the motor for the motor interface circuit 84, the three sensors for the sensor interface circuit 85, the accounting module for the financial interface circuit 86 and the memory module or the external circuit for defining advertising flame data for the circuit of advertising interface 87. The references of these elements described with reference to the preceding figures are recalled in parentheses on the links they have with the interface circuits, with arrows translating the direction of the coupling, in this figure 6.

In the set of memories 70, the memory 71 is called the memory of the financial meters and of the franking operations of the machine. The memory 72 constitutes a source of data for the matrix definition of the imprints of the postage stamp and of the sticker of the home office of the machine, without their variable data of value and date in these imprints. The memory 73 constitutes a data source for defining an advertising flame. The memory 74 constitutes a source for other fixed data, in particular address definition data. of the sender and recipients of mail folds.

Preferably, the financial and advertising interface circuits 86 and 87 are carried by a first control card mounted in the franking module on its rear wall; the other interface circuits, the microprocessor and the set of memories are on the second control card 17 also mounted in the franking module but on one of its side walls.

• un mode opératoire en affranchissement, qui est le mode opératoire principal et normal d'utilisation de la machine, pour lequel la tête 10 imprime le timbre d'affranchissement au montant convenable, la vignette du bureau d'attache à la date du jour et éventuellement, la flamme publicitaire, dans une zone correspondante de dimensions définies sur les articles ou des étiquettes à opposer sur les articles, introduits successivement dans la machine ;
• un mode opératoire en édition d'un bordereau comptable, pour lequel la tête 10 imprime les états des compteurs de la machine, issus de la mémoire 71, à la dernière édition réalisée et à l'instant de l'édition actuelle, avec éventuellement les opératoires financières individuelles entre cette dernière édition et celle actuelle, sur une ou plusieurs feuilles successives ou sur une ou plusieurs étiquettes successives introduites dans la machine ;
• un mode opératoire en adressage d'articles, pour lequel la tête 10 imprime l'adresse de l'expéditeur ou du destinataire de l'article concerné, issue de la mémoire 74 et également sélectionnée à partir du clavier, sur cet article ou une étiquette à apposer sur l'article, introduit dans la machine ;
  • un mode opératoire en enregistrement de flammes publicitaires, pour lequel la machine enregistre dans sa mémoire 73 les données de définition de la flamme publicitaire à imprimer ;
  • un mode opératoire en enregistrement d'adresses, pour lequel la machine enregistre dans sa mémoire 74 les données de définition d'adresses à imprimer.

The miniature franking machine has several possible operating modes. The selection of one of the operating modes is ensured by the keyboard 15 (FIGS. 1, 2). These different operating modes are in particular:

• a franking operating mode, which is the main and normal operating mode of use of the machine, for which the head 10 prints the franking stamp at the appropriate amount, the sticker of the home office at the date of the day and possibly , the advertising flame, in a corresponding zone of dimensions defined on the articles or of labels to be opposed on the articles, introduced successively into the machine;
• a procedure for editing an accounting slip, for which the head 10 prints the states of the counters of the machine, from memory 71, at the last edition made and at the time of the current edition, with possibly the individual financial operations between this last edition and the current one, on one or more successive sheets or on one or more successive labels inserted in the machine;
• a procedure for addressing articles, for which the head 10 prints the address of the sender or recipient of the article concerned, from memory 74 and also selected from the keyboard, on this article or on a label to be affixed to the article, introduced into the machine;
  • a procedure for recording advertising flames, for which the machine stores in its memory 73 the definition data of the advertising flame to be printed;
  • a procedure for registering addresses, for which the machine stores the definition data in its memory 74 addresses to print.

These last two recording operating modes, selected like the other operating modes by the keyboard, consist of a simple data transfer, from module 2 ′ or keyboard 15, or through module 2˝, then connected to the postage 1, to memory 73 or 74 concerned. The transfer procedure with modules 2 ′ and 2˝ is delivered with modules 2 ′, 2˝. The one with the keyboard is integrated into the control circuit 17 in the form of an appropriate processing unit, not shown, which processes the ordered data to be recorded in response to the entered alphanumeric data, for subsequent printing.

The franking, slip edition and addressing procedures lead to printing operations carried out by the head, which are more machine specific. Each printing operation is performed in one printing cycle. This printing cycle takes place in an analogous manner regardless of the operating mode concerned. It is described below with reference to the figures, for the franking operation of an article, which is linked to an additional preliminary step to define the amount of franking.

In a machine equipped with a letter-weighing module 3, this preliminary step consists of simply inserting the article into the 3D slot of the letter-weighing module, giving rise to the automatic calculation of the postage amount by the machine, with displaying the amount on the screen, then confirming the displayed amount using the keyboard. In the machine not equipped with letter-weighing module, this preliminary step consists of entering the postage amount directly by the keyboard, entering this amount giving rise to its display on the screen, then validating the amount displayed, by the keyboard.

The printing cycle is executed under the control of the microprocessor, from the introduction of the article to be franked in the slot 12 of the machine. It is triggered by the sensor 40 as soon as it detects the presence of the article in the entrance to the slot 12. It breaks down into a phase of bringing the article into position printing, a printing phase and an ejection phase of the article.

For these three phases, the motor 51 is controlled and drives the distribution shaft 53. For each half-turn of rotation of this shaft 53, one of the teeth 54B of the wheel 54 engages the pinion 55 and the cam 23 makes a U-turn. This results in an advance, one step, of the article, then a displacement of the slide 20 and of the head 10 in a first direction along the guide rod 21.

For the next half-turn of this shaft 53, the other tooth 54B of the wheel 54 engages the pinion 55 and the cam 23 makes another half-turn in the same. This results in an advance, the same step and in the same direction of the article, then a displacement of the slide 20 and the head 10 in the other direction along the guide rod. For these three phases, the distribution shaft 53 defines by complete revolution a same repetitive sequence, in advance of the article by 2 steps and movement of the head on the same race traveled in one direction after the first of two steps and in the other after the other step. Each advance of the article made along the row of nozzles is equal to the length of the row of nozzles. The movement of the head is transverse to the row of nozzles, therefore to the direction of advance of the article.

The phase of bringing the article into the printing position and the ejection phase are provided by the sole control of the motor 51. The sensor 41 defines the end of the phase of bringing the article into the printing position. impression. In this printing position, the article largely engaged in the slot 12 is under the printing head 10, it is therefore well pressed against the printing plate 26 and will remain so throughout the printing phase.

The printing phase is executed, as soon as the sensor 41 has detected the presence of the article, under the control of the sensor 42 detecting the flag 43 and its slot 47. The print command is initialized by the sensor 42. This printing is carried out on the only useful part of the outward and return stroke of the head which is traversed at constant speed. The round trip of the head and the advancement in steps of the article lead to a scanning, by contiguous lines, of the printing areas of the stamp, the sticker of the home office and the advertising flame on the article, done successively and according to the height of the zones. The definition data of the stamp and the sticker of the home office, from source 72, to which are mixed properly the variable data of the amount of postage, entered by the keyboard or calculated automatically, and of the date, from an internal clock not shown, then possibly the data for defining the advertising flame, control the printing of the contiguous lines of each of these zones scanned one after the other.

The number of lines scanned, from the start of printing, is also detected from sensor 42. This number allows the microprocessor to control the end of printing of the stamp, the home office sticker and the advertising flame. .

The end of this printing phase is given by a defined number of lines scanned during this printing cycle, for each operating mode; this number cannot exceed a given maximum number. It gives rise to the ejection phase of the article. The end of this ejection phase is given by the sensor 41 after the article has passed under this sensor. The sensor 41 controls the stopping of the motor 51.

The operation of editing a slip and the addressing operation are similar to that of franking. It is simply specified that, for the edition of a slip requiring several sheets, the printing of each sheet stops after 30 printing lines to which corresponds the maximum number of lines scanned by the head during the printing phase. The display screen will be made flashing to indicate the request for another sheet. With regard to the addressing of letters, it is specified that each letter is introduced into the slot of the machine by its back, for printing the address of the sender; the letter is on the other hand introduced into the slot of the machine by its front with its foot coming against the bottom of the slot, for the printing of the address of the recipient. Of course the machine can receive labels, or cards on which it prints the desired address.

The machine according to the invention, due to its possible modular construction, is advantageously made adaptable to the needs of each user. It is inexpensive and with its disposable inkjet printhead and directly replaceable when the ink supply is used up.

It is simple and safe to operate, with several possible operating modes selected at the request of the user.

In the machine according to the invention, its printing module has been described with reference to the illustrated embodiment. It is obvious that one can make detailed modifications to it and / or replace certain means by other equivalents. In particular one can use two distinct motors for the advance of the article and for the displacement of the head, one can also use systems with pinions, instead of the cam in the shape of heart, for the reciprocating movement in one direction and the other from the print head from the aforementioned distribution shaft.

Claims (31)

1. Miniature franking machine including a print head (10) with unitary printing elements in a row (10B) on one side or base (10A) of the print head, means for moving the head relative to the mail item, means (40-42) for sensing the mail item relative to the print head, a source (70) of data to be printed connected to the print head and control means (17) for printing the data, characterised in that:

   - said source (70) includes at least a first source (72) of data providing a dot matrix definition of a franking stamp and a postmark for a printing area of specified transverse dimensions,

   - said print head (10) has a small number of printing elements, the row of which defines the direction of one dimension of the printing area but is shorter than said dimension,

   - said moving means include first means (30) for moving the mail item along the row of elements and second means (20-22) for moving the print head transversely to the row of elements, and

   - said control means (17) are microprocessor based and define a printing cycle initiated and controlled by said sensing means (40-42) during which the mail item is moved in steps equal to the length of the row of elements and the print head is moved between steps in alternate directions during which the printing area on the mail item is printed by scanning successive lines of the area during a printing phase after which the mail item is ejected without printing during an ejection phase.
2. Franking machine according to claim 1 characterised in that said print head (10) is removably mounted on said second moving means comprising a support (20) slidably mounted on a horizontal guide rod (21) defining the travel of the head in the other dimension of the printing area.
3. Franking machine according to claim 2 characterised in that said print head is an inkjet print head with a limited service life after which it is discarded and replaced.
4. Franking machine according to claim 2 or claim 3 characterised in that said first moving means for moving the mail item are disposed in an insertion slot (12) extending under said print head and to either side thereof and open at its lateral ends to define a lateral mail item entry (12A) and exit (12B).
5. Franking machine according to claim 4 characterised in that said first moving means (30) are provided with spring means (36, 37) urging the mail item towards said print head against a printing plate (26) fixed directly under said print head (10) and including a printing aperture (26A) in line with the row of elements and over substantially the whole length of the travel of the print head.
6. Franking machine according to claim 5 characterised in that it comprises a common drive motor (51) driving said first and second moving means for moving the mail item and the print head, a distribution shaft (53) driven by the motor, first coupling means (50) between said shaft and the first moving means for moving the mail item and second coupling means (23) between said shaft and the second moving means for moving the print head.
7. Franking machine according to claim 6 characterised in that said moving means for moving the first mail item and said spring means include a pair of drive rollers (31, 32) disposed on opposite sides of the slot, at the same end as the entry (12A), with the lower roller (32) spring-loaded and projecting into the slot to press against the other roller, and a set of belts tensioned between the lower roller and a return roller (34) at the same end as the exit (12B) and spring-loaded towards the print head.
8. Franking machine according to claim 7 characterised in that the return roller (34) is mounted on a pair of arms (35) articulated on the shaft of the lower roller (32) and spring-loaded by springs (36) to press the belts against the printing plate (26).
9. Franking machine according to claim 7 or claim 8 characterised in that said first coupling means (50) include a wheel (54) with regularly truncated teeth (54B) mounted on the distribution shaft (53) and a set of gears (55-59) meshing with each other and with the truncated teeth of said wheel to drive both the drive rollers (31, 32).
10. Franking machine according to claim 9 characterised in that said wheel (54) has two opposed teeth (54B) to drive the set of gears (55-59).
11. Franking machine according to claim 10 characterised in that said wheel (54) further includes continuous interior teeth (54A) meshing with a gear (51) on the shaft of the motor (51) to drive the distribution shaft formed on its axis.
12. Franking machine according to any one of claims 6 to 11 characterised in that said second coupling means include a heart-shaped cam (23) mounted on said distribution shaft, a lever (60) bearing on the cam and a link (61) coupled to the lever and fixed to the slider (20), said cam reciprocating the print head at constant speed over the major part of its travel and with progressive acceleration and deceleration after and before each stopping of the print head at the end of its travel on said guide rod (21).
13. Franking machine according to any one of claims 6 to 12 characterised in that said sensing means include a first sensor (41) substantially aligned with the print head, at the same side as the mail item exit (12B) and a second sensor (40) substantially at the entry (12A) to the slot (12), said second sensor energising the motor (51) immediately the mail item is sensed at its position and said first sensor (41) initiating the printing phase immediately the mail item is sensed at its location and stopping the motor when the mail item has passed it.
14. Franking machine according to claim 13 characterised in that the sensing means further include a flag (43) on the slider (20) and a third sensor (42) for sensing the flag adapted to initialise printing during movement of said print head on said guide rod (21).
15. Franking machine according to claim 14 characterised in that said flag (43) incorporates a slot (47) whereby the third sensor (42) can determine the direction of movement of the slider (20) on said guide rod (21).
16. Franking machine according to any one of claims 1 to 15 further including a keypad (15) and a display (16) disposed on one side of the machine and connected to said control circuit, characterised in that said data source further includes a second source (73) of data providing a dot matrix definition of a promotional device in part of said printing area connected to said print head and selectively operated in response to a first command from the keypad to print the promotional device, the stamp and the postmark during said printing phase of said cycle.
17. Franking machine according to claim 16 characterised in that said keypad (15) is also used to select an operating mode for input of promotional device data into said second source (73) and as input means for simplified promotional device data.
18. Franking machine according to claim 16 or claim 17 characterised in that said data source further includes a third source (74) of data providing a dot matrix definition of mail item address data connected to said print head, controlled by said control circuit (17) and selectively operable in response to a second command from said keypad to print address data on the mail item when said first and second data sources (72, 73) are isolated from the print head.
19. Franking machine according to claim 18 characterised in that said keypad (15) is further used to select an operating mode for storing addresses in said third data source (74) and as address data input means.
20. Franking machine according to any one of claims 16 to 19 including a memory (71) in said control circuit for the states of counters of the machine, characterised in that said keypad is further used to select an operating mode for output of schedules for which said counter memory is read for printing by said print head of a schedule with the data source isolated from the print head.
21. Franking machine according to any one of claims 16 to 20 characterised in that it further includes a first or memory and microprocessor smart card (2) assigned to the franking transactions performed by the machine, connected to said control circuit (17) and forming an integral part of the machine in a normal franking operating mode.
22. Franking machine according to claim 21 characterised in that it further includes a second or promotional device memory card (2′) assigned to storing promotional device data adapted to be mounted instead and in place of said first or smart card and connected to said control circuit (17) for downloading its data into said second source (73) under the control of said control circuit after selection at the keypad of an operating mode for storing the promotional device in the machine.
23. Franking machine according to claim 21 or claim 22 characterised in that it further includes a third or connection card (2˝) terminating a cable (2C) from an external programmed promotional device input circuit mounted instead and in place of the first or smart card to download promotional device data produced by the external circuit into said second source (73) after selection at the keypad of an operating mode of the machine for storing promotional device data.
24. Franking machine according to any one of claims 16 to 23 characterised in that it further includes a letter scale (3) with a vertical slot for receiving the mail item opening onto the upper surface of the machine, integrated into the machine and connected to said control circuit (17) to establish the franking amount for each mail item it receives.
25. Franking machine according to any one of claims 16 to 24 including an integral power supply unit, characterised in that said power supply unit is battery-powered.
26. Franking machine according to any one of claims 21 to 23 characterised in that it includes a first or printing module (1) in the form of a virtually closed flat casing in which are disposed the print head (10) and said first and second moving means (30, 20-22), in a front part, and said control means (17), in at least one lateral part, and provided with a first connection patch (11A) on its rear wall and connected to said control circuit for the card (2, 2′, 2˝) to be connected to said control circuit, which has a complementary connection patch (2A, 2′A, 2˝A) and constitutes a second module interchangeable with said first module.
27. Franking machine according to claim 26 characterised in that said first module (1) is further provided with a first connector (1A) on said rear wall and in that it further includes a third or power supply unit module (4) also in the form of a flat casing with larger sides matching the rear wall of the first module and one of which, constituting the front side, is provided with a second connector (4B) complementary to the first, said third module being thus directly connectable to the first module with its front side substantially against the rear side of said first module and with said second nodule (2, 2′, 2˝) protected between them.
28. Franking machine according to claim 27 characterised in that said third module is mains-powered.
29. Franking machine according to claim 27 characterised in that said third module (4′) is battery-powered.
30. Franking machine according to claim 27 characterised in that said third module (4˝) is battery powered and is associated with a corresponding charger module (5) with a connector (5A) complementary to the second connector and a cable for connection to a mains power supply.
31. Franking machine according to any one of claims 27 to 30 characterised in that it further includes a fourth or letter scale module (3) also in the form of a flat module with larger sides matching the rear side of the first module and equipped with a third connector (3B) complementary to the first on one side and a fourth connector (3A) identical to the first on the other side and a vertical slot (3D) for receiving each mail item opening onto its upper surface and a weighing platform (3P) at the bottom of the slot, interposed between said first and third modules (1, 4) to which it is connected and against which it substantially lies, protecting said second module (2, 2′, 2˝) connected to the first module.

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