EP0199333B1 - Label selector for franking machines - Google Patents
Label selector for franking machines Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0199333B1 EP0199333B1 EP86105516A EP86105516A EP0199333B1 EP 0199333 B1 EP0199333 B1 EP 0199333B1 EP 86105516 A EP86105516 A EP 86105516A EP 86105516 A EP86105516 A EP 86105516A EP 0199333 B1 EP0199333 B1 EP 0199333B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- printing
- lever
- label
- advertizing
- selector
- 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.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
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- 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
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- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
- G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
- G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
- G07B17/00193—Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
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- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
- G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
- G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
- G07B17/00193—Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
- G07B2017/0025—Storage of, e.g. ribbon
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- 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
- G07B2017/00612—Attaching item on mailpiece
- G07B2017/0062—Label
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to franking machines. Its purpose is a label selector for the selective supply of short or long labels of a franking machine, depending on whether one wishes to print a postage stamp alone or a postage stamp accompanied by a additional fixed information such as an advertising flame for example.
- the existing franking machines comprise, in a known manner, in a rotary drum printing head, first means assigned to printing a franking stamp and second retractable means assigned to printing fixed information. , such as an advertising flame, for example.
- This same head is also equipped with a control lever linked to these second printing means, for their retraction or not.
- the control lever is mounted at the end of the head for its accessibility; it can be actuated manually in a first position, for which the second means are retracted and the head will then only ensure the printing of the postage stamp alone, and in a second position for which the second printing means are not retracted and the print head will print the postage stamp and the advertising flame one after the other.
- This single or double printing is carried out either directly on envelopes or on short or long labels depending on the impression they should receive.
- the labels after printing will be stuck on folds or packages.
- the print head and an associated counter-roller are mounted to receive between them the envelopes driven by a transport mechanism as well as the labels to be printed.
- These labels are issued by an automatic label dispenser fitted to franking machines.
- the labels are advantageously taken on demand from a continuous postage tape cut to the length of the desired labels.
- the postage tape is intermittently driven, response to an external command, to release in response to another external command for selecting a short or long label a first or a second length of ribbon which is cut by a knife.
- a crank rod of the label strip length advance mechanism has a button for selecting the label length for the operator and takes one of two possible positions to which correspond the two lengths of labels.
- a plate, belonging to this crank rod and having a lug ensures in correspondence the opening of a microswitch during the selection of long labels and its closure during the selection of short labels.
- This microswitch is inserted in the supply circuit of the electromagnet for controlling the retractable printing means, for placing them in the retracted or raised position depending on whether the armature of the electromagnet is energized or at rest.
- the aim of the present invention is to provide a safe and reliable selection control between short labels and long labels which a label dispenser delivers to a franking machine, to exclude double printing while the franking machine is supplied. in short labels, for which part of the double printing would pass on the backing roller.
- the present invention therefore relates to a label selector for a distributor of short and long labels ensuring, in response to a manual command, the selective feeding of a franking machine coupled to the dispenser and comprising a printing drum equipped with first fixed means for printing a franking stamp and second retractable means for printing of additional information known as an advertising flame and control means mechanically coupled to said second printing means for their selective actuation in a first retracted position of non-printing of advertising flame and in a second raised position of advertising flame printing, said selector being coupled to said control means of the second printing means and characterized in that it comprises said control means constituted by a manual lever with two positions for the two positions of the second printing means, mounted at the end of the drum , said advertising lever and also constituting said manual selector control , and a position detector of said lever, said position detector comprising a transmitter and a receiver mounted relative to said advertising lever to be coupled to each other in a single chosen one of the two positions of the lever and being connected to said label dispenser, to directly deliver a signal for
- said transmitter and receiver are both mounted at a distance from the lever and form the same opto-electronic head, and said lever carries a mirror ensuring their coupling for that of the positions of the lever for which said second means assigned at the printing of the advertising flame are retracted, for the non-printing of the advertising flame.
- the franking machine being as such of known type, it has simply been shown schematically by illustrating in the figure a printing drum 1, integral with a shaft 2 for its drive in rotation, according to arrow 3.
- This drum belongs to the printing head of the machine. It carries a first engraved printing plate, called a franking plate; this first curved plate 4 is fixed on the periphery of the drum.
- Means for printing the postage amount and generally the date for example of the type with internal printing wheels of the drum and adjustable in position or of the type with ink jet printing device controlled in synchronism with the drum, not shown, associated with it, for printing through suitable windows that it has corresponding indications of postage.
- the printing drum 1 also carries a second engraved printing plate 5 retractably mounted on its periphery.
- This second printing plate 5, called the advertising flame plate is intended for the possible printing of fixed additional information, such as an advertising flame for example.
- This advertising flame plate is linked by a set of articulated rods symbolized by the connection in dashed lines 6 to a control lever 7.
- the control lever 7, called the advertising lever is mounted at the end of the printing drum 1 and is actuable by an operator in a first position, given in dotted lines, for which the advertising flame plate 5 is put in the retracted position also illustrated in correspondence in dotted lines, and in a second position, given in solid lines, for which the plate advertising flame 5 is placed in the non-retracted or printing position given in correspondence in solid lines.
- a flat 8 on the printing drum makes it possible to define a rest position of the drum and the location of this rest position. It is in this drum rest position that the advertising lever 7 is placed in one of its first and second positions for controlling the positioning of the advertising flame plate.
- guide means of the end ball type, resiliently biased are provided on the rear face of the lever 7 and two cylinder imprints connected by a groove in an arc of a circle are provided in the end face of the drum so that the first and second positions of the lever are stable positions.
- This counter-roller 10 like the drum 1, is supported by the chassis not shown in the machine.
- the counter-roller 10 is in practice elastically urged to cooperate effectively with the drum during printing; when the print head is at rest, the flat part 8 of the drum faces the counter-roller, leaving a relatively wide gap between them.
- a table 14 called the envelope printing table, defines the path for guiding and driving envelopes between the printing drum 1 and the printing counter-roller 10.
- the envelopes are driven along arrow 15 between the drum and the counter-roller; once the printing is done, they are evacuated according to arrow 16.
- an inlet chute 20 defines the path for guiding and driving labels between the printing drum and the counter-roller and a chute 21 defines the output of the printed labels.
- a part 22 with window guides the labels only by their edges, on the upper part of the counter-roller facing the printing drum.
- the labels are driven along arrow 23 in the chute 20; a roller 24 shown arranged under pressure with the counter-roller ensures their drive on the counter-roller, once printed they are discharged according to arrow 25.
- the inlet chute 20 is constituted by the outlet of an automatic label dispenser 30, of known general type, which in practice equips the franking machine.
- This dispenser 30, ensures, from a continuous franking tape 31, mounted in a roll, the supply of the franking machine with short and long labels, on demand.
- it comprises a first external control input 32, for controlling the distribution of labels, and a second control input 33 for controlling the selection between short or long label.
- a mechanism 34 ensures the driving of the ribbon over a first or second given length for the removal from the ribbon of the suitable label.
- the franking machine is furthermore equipped with a label selector 40 which directly controls the input 33 to which its output is connected.
- the selector 40 constitutes a detector of a single chosen position of the advertising lever 7, for the rest position of the drum 1. It comprises a transmitter E and a receiver R mounted relative to the lever 7 so as not to be coupled to it. to each other only when the lever is in the chosen position of the lever.
- this transmitter and this receiver are mounted remotely from the lever in the same opto-electronic detection head 41, E / R transmitter-receiver, incorporating or connected to amplification and processing circuits of the electrical output signal. of the receiver.
- the lever carries, meanwhile a reflecting mirror 42 receiving the light from the transmitter and returning it to the receiver when the lever 7 is in said first position, for which the advertising flame printing plate 5 is in the retracted position or not printing.
- the detection head 41 is mounted under the envelope printing table 14, in which is formed a window 43 transparent to light rays, on the path of the radiation light emitted by the head and reflected back by the mirror. This trajectory is illustrated at 44; it is in the figure substantially perpendicular to the mirror for this first position of the lever.
- a support 45 fixed on the head 41 maintains the head 41 on the chassis of the machine.
- the head delivers on the input 33 of the distributor a short label selection signal .
- the signal delivered by the head translates the absence of coupling between the transmitter and the receiver, this signal on the input 33 constitutes the long label selection signal.
- the signal on the short or long label selection input 33 will only be taken into account when the printing drum 1 is in the rest position and a distribution command d the label will be applied to the input 32.
- a circuit 35 controlled by the label distribution signal present on the input 32 ensures sampling or detection of the signal level applied by the head 41 to the input 33, to control said means 34 for driving the ribbon accordingly.
- the label selector is mounted to ensure the remote detection of the position of non-printing flame advertising of the lever 7 for which the distributor issues a short label. Detecting this precise position rather than the other is particularly advantageous. Indeed, in the event of a possible failure of the head, its output signal applied to input 33 will translate a long label selection command, this even if the lever is in the first position for which the flame plate advertising is retracted. The opposite choice, consisting in detecting the other position of the lever, would lead, on the other hand, in the event of a possible failure of the head, to the selection of a short label and then to a transfer Advertising flame on the backing roll may occur if the sensor head fails.
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
- Labeling Devices (AREA)
- Devices For Checking Fares Or Tickets At Control Points (AREA)
Description
La présente invention concerne d'une manière générale les machines à affranchir. Elle a pour object un sélecteur d'étiquettes pour l'alimentation sélective en étiquettes courtes ou longues d'une machine à affranchir, selon que l'on souhaite y imprimer un timbre d'affranchissement seul ou un timbre d'affranchissement accompagné d'une information fixe supplémentaire telle qu'une flamme publicitaire par exemple.The present invention relates generally to franking machines. Its purpose is a label selector for the selective supply of short or long labels of a franking machine, depending on whether one wishes to print a postage stamp alone or a postage stamp accompanied by a additional fixed information such as an advertising flame for example.
Les machines à affranchir existantes comportent, de manière connue, dans une tête d'impression à tambour rotatif des premiers moyens affectés à l'impression d'un timbre d'affranchissement et des seconds moyens escamotables affectés à l'impression d'une information fixe, telle qu'une flamme publicitaire, par exemple. Cette même tête est également équipée d'un levier de commande lié à ces seconds moyens d'impression, pour leur escamotage ou non. Le levier de commande est monté en bout de la tête pour son accessibilité ; il est actionnable manuellement dans une première position, pour laquelle les seconds moyens sont escamotés et la tête n'assurera alors que l'impression du timbre d'affranchissement seul, et dans une seconde position pour laquelle les seconds moyens d'impression sont non escamotés et la tête d'impression assurera l'impression du timbre d'affranchissement et de la flamme publicitaire à la suite l'une de l'autre.The existing franking machines comprise, in a known manner, in a rotary drum printing head, first means assigned to printing a franking stamp and second retractable means assigned to printing fixed information. , such as an advertising flame, for example. This same head is also equipped with a control lever linked to these second printing means, for their retraction or not. The control lever is mounted at the end of the head for its accessibility; it can be actuated manually in a first position, for which the second means are retracted and the head will then only ensure the printing of the postage stamp alone, and in a second position for which the second printing means are not retracted and the print head will print the postage stamp and the advertising flame one after the other.
Cette impression simple ou double est effectuée soit directement sur des enveloppes soit sur des étiquettes courtes ou longues selon l'impression qu'elles doivent recevoir. Les étiquettes après impression seront collées sur des plis ou paquets. Dans ces machines d'affranchissement, la tête d'impression et un contre-rouleau associé sont montés pour recevoir entre eux les enveloppes entraînées par un mécanisme de transport ainsi que les étiquettes à imprimer. Ces étiquettes sont délivrées par un distributeur automatique d'étiquettes équipant les machines d'affranchissement.This single or double printing is carried out either directly on envelopes or on short or long labels depending on the impression they should receive. The labels after printing will be stuck on folds or packages. In these franking machines, the print head and an associated counter-roller are mounted to receive between them the envelopes driven by a transport mechanism as well as the labels to be printed. These labels are issued by an automatic label dispenser fitted to franking machines.
Dans les distributeurs automatiques d'étiquettes, les étiquettes sont avantageusement prélevées à la demande sur un ruban continu d'affranchissement sectionné à la longueur des étiquettes voulues. Le ruban d'affranchissement est entraîné de manière intermittente, en réponse à une commande extérieure, pour dégager en réponse à une autre commande extérieure de sélection d'étiquette courte ou longue une première ou une deuxième longueur de ruban qui est sectionnée par un couteau.In automatic label dispensers, the labels are advantageously taken on demand from a continuous postage tape cut to the length of the desired labels. The postage tape is intermittently driven, response to an external command, to release in response to another external command for selecting a short or long label a first or a second length of ribbon which is cut by a knife.
Dans de telles machines d'affranchissement, l'opérateur qui positionne le levier de commande d'impression simple ou double de la tête doit aussi assurer la commande extérieure de sélection d'étiquette convenable.In such franking machines, the operator who positions the single or double print control lever of the head must also provide external control for proper label selection.
On connait également par le document CH-A-476 354 une machine à affranchir dont la tête d'impression est à moyens rétractables d'impression commandés par un électro-aimant, selon la longueur des étiquettes qu'elle reçoit d'un distributeur d'étiquettes courtes et longues. Dans le distributeur d'étiquettes, une tige-manivelle du mécanisme d'avance de longueur de bande d'étiquettes est à bouton de sélection de longueur d'étiquettes pour l'opérateur et prend l'une ou l'autre de deux positions possibles auxquelles correspondent les deux longueurs d'étiquettes. Une plaque, appartenant à cette tige-manivelle et présentant une patte, assure en correspondance l'ouverture d'un micro-interrupteur lors de la sélection d'étiquettes longues et sa fermeture lors de la sélection d'étiquettes courtes. Ce micro-interrupteur est inséré dans le circuit d'alimentation de l'électro-aimant de commande des moyens rétractables d'impression, pour leur mise en position rétractée ou relevée selon que l'armature de l'électro-aimant est excitée ou au repos.Also known from document CH-A-476 354 is a franking machine the printing head of which is with retractable printing means controlled by an electromagnet, according to the length of the labels which it receives from a distributor d 'short and long labels. In the label dispenser, a crank rod of the label strip length advance mechanism has a button for selecting the label length for the operator and takes one of two possible positions to which correspond the two lengths of labels. A plate, belonging to this crank rod and having a lug, ensures in correspondence the opening of a microswitch during the selection of long labels and its closure during the selection of short labels. This microswitch is inserted in the supply circuit of the electromagnet for controlling the retractable printing means, for placing them in the retracted or raised position depending on whether the armature of the electromagnet is energized or at rest.
Le but de la présente invention est de réaliser une commande sûre et fiable de sélection entre étiquettes courtes et étiquettes longues que délivre un distributeur d'étiquettes à une machine d'affranchissement, pour exclure une impression double alors que la machine d'affranchissement est alimentée en étiquettes courtes, pour lesquelles une partie de l'impression double passerait sur le contre-rouleau.The aim of the present invention is to provide a safe and reliable selection control between short labels and long labels which a label dispenser delivers to a franking machine, to exclude double printing while the franking machine is supplied. in short labels, for which part of the double printing would pass on the backing roller.
La présente invention a donc pour objet un sélecteur d'étiquettes de distributeur d'étiquettes courtes et longues assurant, en réponse à une commande manuelle, l'alimentation sélective d'une machine d'affranchissement couplée au distributeur et comportant un tambour d'impression équipé de premiers moyens fixes d'impression d'un timbre d'affranchissement et de seconds moyens rétractables d'impression d'une information supplémentaire dite flamme publicitaire et des moyens de commande couplés mécaniquement auxdits seconds moyens d'impression pour leur actionnement sélectif dans une première position rétractée de non impression de flamme publicitaire et dans une seconde position relevée d'impression de flamme publicitaire, ledit sélecteur étant couplé auxdits moyens de commande des seconds moyens d'impression et caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte lesdits moyens de commande constitués par un levier manuel à deux positions pour les deux positions des seconds moyens d'impression, monté en bout du tambour, dit levier de publicité et constituant également ladite commande manuelle du sélecteur, et un détecteur de position dudit levier, ledit détecteur de position comportant un émetteur et un récepteur montés relativement audit levier de publicité pour être couplés l'un à l'autre dans l'une seule choisie des deux positions du levier et étant relié audit distributeur d'étiquettes, pour lui délivrer directement un signal de sélection de la longueur d'étiquette.The present invention therefore relates to a label selector for a distributor of short and long labels ensuring, in response to a manual command, the selective feeding of a franking machine coupled to the dispenser and comprising a printing drum equipped with first fixed means for printing a franking stamp and second retractable means for printing of additional information known as an advertising flame and control means mechanically coupled to said second printing means for their selective actuation in a first retracted position of non-printing of advertising flame and in a second raised position of advertising flame printing, said selector being coupled to said control means of the second printing means and characterized in that it comprises said control means constituted by a manual lever with two positions for the two positions of the second printing means, mounted at the end of the drum , said advertising lever and also constituting said manual selector control , and a position detector of said lever, said position detector comprising a transmitter and a receiver mounted relative to said advertising lever to be coupled to each other in a single chosen one of the two positions of the lever and being connected to said label dispenser, to directly deliver a signal for selecting the label length.
Selon un mode réalisation préféré du sélecteur, lesdits émetteur et récepteur sont montés tous deux à distance du levier et forment une même tête opto-électronique, et ledit levier porte un miroir assurant leur couplage pour celle des positions du levier pour laquelle lesdits seconds moyens affectés à l'impression de la flamme publicitaire sont escamotés, pour la non impression de la flamme publicitaire.According to a preferred embodiment of the selector, said transmitter and receiver are both mounted at a distance from the lever and form the same opto-electronic head, and said lever carries a mirror ensuring their coupling for that of the positions of the lever for which said second means assigned at the printing of the advertising flame are retracted, for the non-printing of the advertising flame.
Les caractéristiques et les avantages de la présente invention ressortiront de la description d'un exemple de réalisation illustré dans le dessin ci-annexé. Dans ce dessin la figure unique représente schématiquement une machine à affranchir équipée d'un sélecteur d'étiquettes selon l'invention.The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description of an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the attached drawing. In this drawing, the single figure schematically represents a franking machine equipped with a label selector according to the invention.
La machine à affranchir étant en tant que telle de type connu, on l'a simplement schématisée en illustrant dans la figure un tambour d'impression 1, solidaire d'un arbre 2 pour son entraînement en rotation, selon la flèche 3. Ce tambour appartient à la tête d'impression de la machine. Il porte une première plaque gravée d'impression, dite plaque d'affranchissement ; cette première plaque 4 incurvée est fixe sur la périphérie du tambour. Des moyens d'impression de montant d'affranchissement et en général de date, par exemple du type à roues d'impression internes au tambour et réglables en position ou de type à dispositif d'impression à jet d'encre commandé en synchronisme avec le tambour, non représentés, lui sont associés, pour l'impression à travers des fenêtres convenables qu'elle présente des indications correspondantes d'affranchissement.The franking machine being as such of known type, it has simply been shown schematically by illustrating in the figure a printing drum 1, integral with a shaft 2 for its drive in rotation, according to arrow 3. This drum belongs to the printing head of the machine. It carries a first engraved printing plate, called a franking plate; this first curved plate 4 is fixed on the periphery of the drum. Means for printing the postage amount and generally the date, for example of the type with internal printing wheels of the drum and adjustable in position or of the type with ink jet printing device controlled in synchronism with the drum, not shown, associated with it, for printing through suitable windows that it has corresponding indications of postage.
Le tambour d'impression 1 porte également une seconde plaque gravée d'impression 5 montée escamotable sur sa périphérie. Cette seconde plaque d'impression 5 dite plaque de flamme publicitaire est destinée à l'impression éventuelle d'une information supplémentaire fixe, telle qu'une flamme publicitaire par exemple. Cette plaque de flamme publicitaire est liée par un jeu de tringles articulées symbolisées par la liaison en traits mixtes 6 à un levier de commande 7. Le levier de commande 7, dit levier de publicité, est monté en bout du tambour d'impression 1 et est actionnable par un opérateur dans une première position, donnée en pointillés, pour laquelle la plaque de flamme publicitaire 5 est mise en position escamotée également illustrée en correspondance en pointillés, et dans une seconde position, donnée en traits pleins, pour laquelle la plaque de flamme publicitaire 5 est mise en position non escamotée ou d'impression donnée en correspondance en traits pleins.The printing drum 1 also carries a second engraved printing plate 5 retractably mounted on its periphery. This second printing plate 5, called the advertising flame plate, is intended for the possible printing of fixed additional information, such as an advertising flame for example. This advertising flame plate is linked by a set of articulated rods symbolized by the connection in dashed lines 6 to a control lever 7. The control lever 7, called the advertising lever, is mounted at the end of the printing drum 1 and is actuable by an operator in a first position, given in dotted lines, for which the advertising flame plate 5 is put in the retracted position also illustrated in correspondence in dotted lines, and in a second position, given in solid lines, for which the plate advertising flame 5 is placed in the non-retracted or printing position given in correspondence in solid lines.
Un méplat 8 sur le tambour d'impression permet de définir une position de repos du tambour et le repérage de cette position de repos. C'est dans cette position de repos du tambour que le levier de publicité 7 est mis dans l'une de ses première et deuxième positions de commande de positionnement de la plaque de flamme publicitaire.A flat 8 on the printing drum makes it possible to define a rest position of the drum and the location of this rest position. It is in this drum rest position that the advertising lever 7 is placed in one of its first and second positions for controlling the positioning of the advertising flame plate.
Avantageusement, bien que non représentés, des moyens de guidage, de type bille terminale, sollicités élastiquement sont prévus sur la face arrière du levier 7 et deux empreintes cylindres reliées par une rainure en arc de cercle sont prévues dans la face terminale du tambour pour que les première et seconde positions du levier soient des positions stables.Advantageously, although not shown, guide means, of the end ball type, resiliently biased are provided on the rear face of the lever 7 and two cylinder imprints connected by a groove in an arc of a circle are provided in the end face of the drum so that the first and second positions of the lever are stable positions.
Un contre-rouleau d'impression 10 entraîné en rotation sur son axe 11, selon la flèche 12, est monté sous le tambour d'impression 1. Ce contre-rouleau 10, comme le tambour 1, est supporté par la châssis non illustré de la machine. Le contre-rouleau 10 est en pratique sollicité élastiquement pour coopérer efficacement avec le tambour lors de l'impression ; au repos de la tête d'impression, le méplat 8 du tambour est en regard du contre-rouleau en ménageant entre eux un intervalle relativement large.A
Dans la machine à affranchir, une table 14, dite table d'impression d'enveloppes, définit le chemin du guidage et d'entraînement d'enveloppes entre le tambour d'impression 1 et le contre-rouleau d'impression 10. Les enveloppes sont entraînées selon la flèche 15 entre le tambour et le contre-rouleau ; une fois l'impression effectuée, elles sont évacuées selon la flèche 16. Dans cette même machine à affranchir une goulotte d'entrée 20 définit le chemin de guidage et d'entraînement d'étiquettes entre le tambour d'impression et le contre-rouleau et une goulotte 21 définit la sortie des étiquettes imprimées.In the franking machine, a table 14, called the envelope printing table, defines the path for guiding and driving envelopes between the printing drum 1 and the
Entre ces deux goulottes, une pièce 22 à fenêtre assure le guidage des étiquettes uniquement par leurs bords, sur la partie supérieure du contre-rouleau face au tambour d'impression. Les étiquettes sont entraînées selon la flèche 23 dans la goulotte 20 ; un galet 24 montré disposé en pression avec le contre-rouleau assure leur entraînement sur le contre-rouleau, une fois imprimées elles sont évacuées selon la flèche 25.Between these two chutes, a
La goulotte d'entrée 20 est constituée par la sortie d'un distributeur automatique d'étiquettes 30, de type général connu, qui en pratique équipe la machine d'affranchissement. Ce distributeur 30, dont la description n'est pas faite en détail ci-aprés, assure à partir d'un ruban d'affranchissement continu 31, monté en rouleau, l'alimentation de la machine d'affranchissement en étiquettes courtes et longues, à la demande. Il comporte à cet effet, une première entrée de commande extérieure 32, pour la commande de distribution d'étiquettes, et une seconde entrée de commande 33 pour la commande de sélection entre étiquette courte ou longue. En répose à ces deux commandes, un mécanisme 34 assure l'entraînement du ruban sur une première ou une seconde longueur donnée pour le prélèvement sur le ruban de l'étiquette convenable.The
Selon la présente invention, la machine d'affranchissement est en outre équipée d'un sélecteur d'étiquettes 40 qui assure directement la commande de l'entrée 33 à laquelle sa sortie est connectée. Le sélecteur 40 constitue un détecteur de l'une seule choisie des positions du levier de publicité 7, pour la position de repos du tambour 1. Il comporte un émetteur E et un récepteur R montés relativement au levier 7 pour n'être couplés l'un à l'autre que lorsque le levier est dans la position choisie du levier.According to the present invention, the franking machine is furthermore equipped with a
Dans la figure, cet émetteur et ce récepteur sont montés à distance du levier en une même tête opto-électronique de détection 41, émettrice-réceptrice E/R, incorporant ou reliée à des circuits d'amplification et de traitement du signal électrique de sortie du récepteur. Le levier porte, quant à lui un miroir réfléchissant 42 recevant la lumière issue de l'émetteur et la renvoyant sur le récepteur lorsque le levier 7 est dans ladite première position, pour laquelle la plaque d'impression de flamme publicitaire 5 est en position escamotée ou de non impression.In the figure, this transmitter and this receiver are mounted remotely from the lever in the same opto-electronic detection head 41, E / R transmitter-receiver, incorporating or connected to amplification and processing circuits of the electrical output signal. of the receiver. The lever carries, meanwhile a
La tête de détection 41 est montée sous la table d'impression d'enveloppes 14, dans laquelle est ménagée, une fenêtre 43 transparente aux rayons lumineux, sur la trajectoire du rayonnement lumineux émis par la tête et réfléchi en retour par le miroir. Cette trajectoire est illustrée en 44 ; elle est dans la figure sensiblement perpendiculaire au miroir pour cette première position du levier. Un support 45 fixé sur la tête 41 assure le maintien de la tête 41 sur le châssis de la machine.The detection head 41 is mounted under the envelope printing table 14, in which is formed a window 43 transparent to light rays, on the path of the radiation light emitted by the head and reflected back by the mirror. This trajectory is illustrated at 44; it is in the figure substantially perpendicular to the mirror for this first position of the lever. A
Lorsque le levier 7 est dans cette première position de non impression de flamme publicitaire, par le couplage entre l'émetteur et le récepteur réalisé par le miroir 42, la tête délivre sur l'entrée 33 du distributeur un signal de sélection d'étiquette courte. Lorsque le levier 7 est par contre dans la position d'impression de flamme publicitaire, donnée en traits pleins, le signal délivré par la tête traduit l'absence de couplage entre l'émetteur et le récepteur, ce signal sur l'entrée 33 constitue le signal de sélection d'une étiquette longue. Bien entendu, dans le distributeur d'étiquettes le signal sur l'entrée 33 de sélection d'étiquette courte ou longue ne sera pris en compte que lorsque le tambour d'impression 1 est en position de repos et qu'une commande de distribution d'étiquette sera appliqué sur l'entrée 32. A cet effet, dans le distributeur d'étiquettes 30, un circuit 35 commandé par le signal de distribution d'étiquette présent sur l'entrée 32 assure un échantillonnage ou une détection du niveau du signal appliqué par la tête 41 sur l'entrée 33, pour commander en conséquence lesdits moyens 34 d'entraînement du ruban.When the lever 7 is in this first position of non-impression of an advertising flame, by the coupling between the transmitter and the receiver produced by the
Dans la réalisation décrite, le sélecteur d'étiquettes est monté pour assurer la détection à distance de la position de non impression de flamme publicitairs du levier 7 pour laquelle le distributeur délivre une étiquette courte. La détection de cette position précise plutôt que de l'autre est particulièrement avantageuse. En effet, en cas d'une éventuelle défaillance de la tête, son signal de sortie appliqué à l'entrée 33 traduira une commande de sélection d'étiquette longue, ceci même si le levier est dans la première position pour laquelle la plaque de flamme publicitaire est escamotée. Le choix contraire, consistant à effectuer la dètection de l'autre position du levier, conduirait, par contre, en cas de défaillance éventuelle de la tête, à la sélection d'une étiquette courte et alors à un transfert possible de la flamme publicitaire sur le contre-rouleau si une défaillance de la tête de détection survenait.In the embodiment described, the label selector is mounted to ensure the remote detection of the position of non-printing flame advertising of the lever 7 for which the distributor issues a short label. Detecting this precise position rather than the other is particularly advantageous. Indeed, in the event of a possible failure of the head, its output signal applied to
Le présente invention a été décrite en regard de l'exemple de réalisation illustré. Il est évident que les moyens propres à la tête d'impression et au distributeur d'étiquettes, qui ont été indiqués ci-avant d'une manière générale pour une réalisation particulière de l'invention, ne peuvent en tant que tels constituer une limitation de la portée de l'invention telle que définie par les revendications. L'agencement de l'émetteur et du récepteur en une même tête opto-èlectronique bien qu'avantageux ne peut davantage constituer une limitation du mode de détection à distance de position du levier de commande d'impression de flamme publicitaire.The present invention has been described with reference to the illustrated embodiment. It is obvious that the means specific to the print head and to the label dispenser, which have been indicated above in general for a particular embodiment of the invention, cannot as such constitute a limitation the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. The arrangement of the transmitter and the receiver in a single optoelectronic head, although advantageous, can no longer constitute a limitation of the mode of remote position detection of the advertising flame print control lever.
Claims (4)
- A label selector for a dispenser of short and long labels adapted to ensure in response to a manual control the selective feeding of a franking machine coupled to the dispenser and comprising a printing drum (1), which is fitted with first means (4) for printing a franking stamp and with second retractable means (5) for printing a supplementary information, referred to as advertizing slogan, and control means (7) mechanically coupled to said second printing means for their selective positioning into a first retracted position ecluding the printing of the advertizing slogan, or into a second non-retracted position allowing the printing of the advertizing slogan, said selector being coupled to said means (7) for controlling the second printing means, characterized in that it comprises said control means (7) constituted of a manual lever having two positions allocated to the two positions of the second printing means and mounted on the end of the drum, referred to as advertizing lever and constituting also said manual control of the selector, and a detector (41) for detecting the position of said lever, said position detector comprising an emitter and a receiver which are mounted relative to said advertizing lever for being coupled with one another in only one selected position of the two lever positions, and being connected to said label dispenser (30) for delivering a signal for selecting the label length directly to the dispenser.
- A label selector according to claim 1, characterized in that said emitter and receiver (41) are coupled to each other in that advertizing slogan lever (7) position which corresponds to the first, retracted position of the second printing means (5).
- A label selector according to claim 2, characterized in that said emitter and receiver (41) are opto-electronic components and are mounted both at a distance from said advertizing slogan lever (7) in a single emitter-receiver head, and that said lever (7) is fitted with means (42) to ensure their coupling in said chosen position of said lever.
- A label detector according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a circuit (35) for detecting the level of the selection signal triggered by a signal intended to control the label dispensing.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
FR8506265A FR2581221B1 (en) | 1985-04-24 | 1985-04-24 | LABEL SELECTOR FOR POSTAGE MACHINES |
FR8506265 | 1985-04-24 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0199333A1 EP0199333A1 (en) | 1986-10-29 |
EP0199333B1 true EP0199333B1 (en) | 1991-03-20 |
Family
ID=9318638
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP86105516A Expired - Lifetime EP0199333B1 (en) | 1985-04-24 | 1986-04-22 | Label selector for franking machines |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US4652330A (en) |
EP (1) | EP0199333B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE3678192D1 (en) |
FR (1) | FR2581221B1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2581029B1 (en) * | 1985-04-24 | 1987-05-29 | Smh Alcatel | LABEL DISPENSER AND POSTAGE MACHINE EQUIPPED WITH SUCH DISPENSER |
JPS62121321A (en) * | 1985-11-21 | 1987-06-02 | Tokyo Electric Co Ltd | Electronic charge scale with label printer |
GB8830422D0 (en) * | 1988-12-30 | 1989-03-01 | Alcatel Business Systems | Postage stamp and dispensing system therefor |
GB9020596D0 (en) * | 1990-09-21 | 1990-10-31 | Alcatel Business Systems | Data transmission method and apparatus |
DE4125007A1 (en) * | 1991-07-27 | 1993-01-28 | Eti Tec Maschinenbau | Labelling station using laser marking - supports labels on carrier on rotary table with laser beam directed by central mirror system followed by coating with adhesive |
US5525184A (en) * | 1993-01-04 | 1996-06-11 | Monarch Marking Systems, Inc. | Label dispenser with selectable dispense modes including an on-demand mode |
WO1997046389A1 (en) * | 1996-06-03 | 1997-12-11 | Ascom Hasler Mailing Systems Inc. | Printing apparatus |
Family Cites Families (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3062133A (en) * | 1962-11-06 | Postal meter | ||
US2001287A (en) * | 1933-05-31 | 1935-05-14 | Nat Postal Meter Company | Hand operated postal machine |
US3083637A (en) * | 1960-07-25 | 1963-04-02 | Ritzerfeld Wilhelm | Program controlled selective duplicator |
DE1189563B (en) * | 1963-04-11 | 1965-03-25 | Wilhelm Ritzerfeld | Rotation multiplier for line-by-line or section-wise printing of printing forms on sheets, cards or the like. |
DE1188618B (en) * | 1963-04-26 | 1965-03-11 | Wilhelm Ritzerfeld | Rotation multiplier for line-by-line and section-wise printing of printing forms attached to a printing drum on sheets, cards or the like. |
GB1179285A (en) * | 1967-08-17 | 1970-01-28 | Roneo Ltd | Improved Postal Franking Machine. |
US4007359A (en) * | 1975-08-14 | 1977-02-08 | Pitney-Bowes, Inc. | Postage meter |
-
1985
- 1985-04-24 FR FR8506265A patent/FR2581221B1/en not_active Expired
-
1986
- 1986-04-22 EP EP86105516A patent/EP0199333B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1986-04-22 DE DE8686105516T patent/DE3678192D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1986-04-24 US US06/855,259 patent/US4652330A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
FR2581221A1 (en) | 1986-10-31 |
DE3678192D1 (en) | 1991-04-25 |
EP0199333A1 (en) | 1986-10-29 |
FR2581221B1 (en) | 1987-05-29 |
US4652330A (en) | 1987-03-24 |
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