EP0855272A1 - Print head for postal impression with alignment adjusting device - Google Patents
Print head for postal impression with alignment adjusting device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0855272A1 EP0855272A1 EP98400122A EP98400122A EP0855272A1 EP 0855272 A1 EP0855272 A1 EP 0855272A1 EP 98400122 A EP98400122 A EP 98400122A EP 98400122 A EP98400122 A EP 98400122A EP 0855272 A1 EP0855272 A1 EP 0855272A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- nozzles
- housing
- print head
- elastic element
- housings
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J13/00—Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, specially adapted for supporting or handling copy material in short lengths, e.g. sheets
- B41J13/10—Sheet holders, retainers, movable guides, or stationary guides
- B41J13/12—Sheet holders, retainers, movable guides, or stationary guides specially adapted for small cards, envelopes, or the like, e.g. credit cards, cut visiting cards
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/135—Nozzles
- B41J2/145—Arrangement thereof
Definitions
- the present invention relates to the exclusive field of mail processing. It relates more particularly to a device to adjust the alignment of a machine's inkjet print head postage stamping on postage items moved relative to the head in a direction of movement, this head printing system comprising a plurality of nozzles arranged in two rows extending transversely to the direction of travel, these two rows being spaced from each other by a distance D according to this steering and a control means being provided for controlling the chronological succession of ejections of ink droplets from the a plurality of nozzles so as to delay the ejection of ink droplets from the nozzles of one of the two rows relative to that of the nozzles of the other row of delay R based on previously recorded data representative of an estimate of distance D.
- ink jet franking machine is known from document US-5083153. Inkjet printing brings machines very high flexibility in postage, especially when it comes to print postal items on mail items containing both variable characters, like the numeric symbols of a postage amount, and color layouts, such as advertising flames.
- the two rows of nozzles can be part respectively of two different housings mutually offset transversely and longitudinally to the direction of travel.
- housings containing a row of inkjet nozzles for example housings comprising 64 or 128 nozzles, which are now widely distributed at very low prices to equip jet printers ink to be connected to microcomputers.
- These jet printing boxes have a resolution of about 200 nozzles per inch (i.e. one nozzle every 0.127 mm), which is ideal for printing a postal imprint.
- the linear mark printed by a box including for example 128 nozzles extends over approximately 16 mm.
- two housings with a row of 128 nozzles each allow to print a linear mark over a length of approximately 30 mm which corresponds to the height of a postal imprint.
- Information to be printed by such a machine postage on a mail fold or label intended to be affixed to such a fold for example a linear mark perpendicular to the direction of travel, is recorded digitally in a memory and partially transmitted to an interface circuit which, under the control of the control means, operates simultaneously the nozzles in the uppermost row that the fold or label is moved from distance D, another part of the information in the memory is transmitted to the interface circuit which activates simultaneously all the nozzles in the other row to finish printing the linear mark.
- the delay R in question can be given by a clock circuit to fixed frequency if variations in the speed of displacement V of the fold or label under the print head or otherwise frequency synchronized to a signal representative of the speed of displacement of the fold or label detected in real time by a appropriate speed, for example an optical sensor.
- the subject of the present invention is a print head of a franking machine provided with an alignment adjustment device integrated which, based on the previous discovery, overcomes previous adjustment methods.
- An object of the invention is to obtain a alignment of the nozzles by simply setting them in relation to each other two housings containing these nozzles.
- Another object of the invention is to allow this calibration to be carried out in a simple and reliable manner with a number minimum of constituents.
- an inkjet printhead a franking machine intended to print an impression postage on a franking item moved relative to the head according to a direction of movement F
- this printhead comprising a plurality of nozzles B1-B128, B'1-B'128 arranged in two rows R1, R2 extending transversely to the direction of movement, these two rows of nozzles being mounted in two respective housings mutually offset transversely and longitudinally to the direction of travel and spaced from each other by a distance D in this direction, characterized in that it further comprises first means for moving in a direction transverse to the direction of movement F one of the two housings and second means for moving by an angle determined by relation to this direction transverse to the direction of movement F the other of these two housings, so that during printing, one of the nozzles end of a row coincides with one of the end nozzles of the other row.
- the first housing is fixed in the body on the one hand transversely between a fixed stop integral with this body and a second elastic element and on the other hand longitudinally between a first support fixed and a first mobile support on which it is pressed by a first elastic element which exerts a compressive force in an area median of this first housing.
- the first mobile support consists of a end of a first lever which pivots around a first axis, integral of the body, by means of a first screw, so as to cause a angular displacement of one end of the first housing around the first fixed support on which the other end of the first housing rests.
- the second housing is fixed in the body on the one hand longitudinally between second and third fixed supports on which it is pressed by the first elastic element which exerts a force of compression in the middle zone of this second housing and on the other hand transversely between the second elastic element and a second support mobile.
- the second mobile support consists of a end of a second lever which pivots around a second axis, integral with the body, by means of a second screw, so as to cause displacement transverse of the second housing.
- the first and second screws are fine pitch screws lockable and the first elastic element is a leaf spring.
- the franking machine in Figure 1 includes a conveyor system which moves the mail item 1 to be franked under an inkjet printing head 2 stationary in the direction of displacement F.
- the print head includes two boxes such as 20 and 21, each housing comprising a row of nozzles, each row including by example 128 nozzles regularly spaced apart by a distance of 1/200 inch, or about 0.127 millimeter. Note that the boxes can if necessary have rows of nozzles of different sizes, for example a housing with 128 nozzles and a housing with 64 nozzles. In the example case, the housings 20 and 21 are identical.
- the two housings are mounted in the print head 2 of such so that their rows of nozzles extend transversely to the direction F, the two housings being offset relative to each other transversely and longitudinally to direction F.
- the nozzles are represented by crosses in Figure 1.
- the arrangement of the two housings 20 and 21 is such that the distance between the last nozzle B'128 (the uppermost one in FIG. 1) of the housing 21 and the first nozzle B1 (the lowest one in Figure 1) of the housing 20 is at less equal to the height H of a postal imprint 10 represented by the dashed rectangle on article 1.
- the dimension of each row of nozzles and the height of the postal imprint determine the number of nozzles required for printing the postal imprint.
- these two housings 20, 21 are mounted in such a way than the last nozzle B128 of the housing 20 (that of the uppermost housing 20 in Figure 1) is spaced from the first nozzle B'1 of the housing 21 (that of lower case 21 in FIG. 1), in the direction perpendicular to direction F, from a distance equal to approximately 0.127 millimeter (i.e. the distance between two consecutive nozzles in either of the rows of nozzles).
- the two rows of nozzles R1 and R2 are spaced from each other by a distance D in the direction F of about 1cm.
- the franking machine also includes a unit of command 3, like a microprocessor and a program saved in a memory not shown, which is connected to control the chronological succession of ejections of ink droplets from the nozzles, in response to a clock signal 22, 23 synchronized or not with a speed of displacement of the fold or the label under the print head 2, such way it is possible to produce stitches on the fold or the label which is join together with little overlap along lines straight lines parallel to direction F.
- a unit of command 3 like a microprocessor and a program saved in a memory not shown, which is connected to control the chronological succession of ejections of ink droplets from the nozzles, in response to a clock signal 22, 23 synchronized or not with a speed of displacement of the fold or the label under the print head 2, such way it is possible to produce stitches on the fold or the label which is join together with little overlap along lines straight lines parallel to direction F.
- unit 3 delays the command ejecting ink droplets from the nozzles of row R2 (the nozzles of the box 21 which is furthest downstream in the direction F) relative to the control of ejection of the ink droplets from the nozzles of row R1 (the nozzles of the housing 20 which is most upstream in the direction F), with a delay R varying as a function of the ratio d / V or d is the setting data previously stored in memory and representative of distance D.
- the distance D varies from one printhead to another and therefore it is necessary to adjust after mounting boxes 20 and 21 in the machine postage.
- the print head is an organ interchangeable whose mounting on the franking machine does not requires no adjustment. Only the relative timing of the two rows of nozzles this head is produced with precision according to the principle which will be defined more front facing Figure 4 and which compensates for the chain of manufacturing tolerances specific to the rows of nozzles and to the interchangeable support.
- the structure of the print head according to the invention provided with a Integrated alignment adjustment device is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.
- the print head 2 comprises a member, or body 4, for supporting the housings 20, 21 each comprising a row R1, R2 of ejection nozzles.
- the first housing 20 is mounted longitudinally between a first support fixed 5 and a first movable support 6 constituted by one end of a first lever 7 adjustable in rotation.
- This first lever is articulated on a first axis 8 fixed to the body 4, against a first elastic element, advantageously a leaf spring 9, which exerts a compressive force in a median area of the first housing 20.
- a first screw lockable with fine pitch 10 allows the end of the first to be pivoted lever around this first axis, which causes the housing to oscillate around the first fixed support and provides angular displacement.
- the second housing 21 is mounted longitudinally between second and third fixed supports 11, 12, on which it is pressed by an elastic element, of preferably the same leaf spring 9, which exerts a compressive force in the middle area of this second box.
- a second lever 13 adjustable in translation constituting a second mobile support and which oscillates around a second axis 14, allows via a second lockable screw to end 15 to transversely move the second housing 21, parallel with fixed supports, against a second elastic element, of the spring type in U 16, which retains this housing by a first end portion 17.
- the other end portion 18 of this second elastic element 16 serves to transversely apply the first housing 20 against a stop 19 of the body 4 of the print head.
- R1 and R2 be the two rows of nozzles of the print head 2 corresponding respectively to the housing 20, 21 (see FIG. 4), the adjustment nozzle alignment is achieved very simply by doing all first, for one of the two rows, for example R2, to an adjustment in translation (in a direction transverse to the direction of movement F) by means of the second lever 13 by acting on the second screw 15 and then by proceeding for the other row, that is to say R1, to an angular adjustment (of a angle determined with respect to the direction transverse to the direction of displacement F) by means of the first lever 7 and the first screw 10, such that one of the end nozzles, preferably the last nozzle B128, from this last row R1 is brought into coincidence (of course taking into account the ejection delay R between the rows of nozzles) with one of the end nozzles, preferably the first nozzle B'1, of the nozzle row R2 previously set in translation (linearly).
- one of the end nozzles of row R2 is positioned on the axis of the nozzles and the other row R1 and spaced by a pitch of the end nozzle of the latter B'1. This coincidence is verified by known manner on an optical adjustment bench or, after mounting on the franking machine during printing, by successive tests.
Landscapes
- Ink Jet (AREA)
- Common Mechanisms (AREA)
Abstract
Description
La présente invention se rapporte au domaine exclusif du traitement de courrier. Elle concerne plus particulièrement un dispositif pour régler l'alignement de la tête d'impression à jet d'encre d'une machine d'affranchissement d'empreintes postales sur des articles à affranchir déplacés par rapport à la tête selon une direction de déplacement, cette tête d'impression comprenant une pluralité de buses disposées selon deux rangées s'étendant transversalement à la direction de déplacement, ces deux rangées étant espacées l'une de l'autre d'une distance D selon cette direction et un moyen de commande étant prévu pour commander la succession chronologique des éjections de gouttelettes d'encre de la pluralité de buses de manière à retarder l'éjection de gouttelettes d'encre des buses de l'une des deux rangées par rapport à celle des buses de l'autre rangée d'un délai R basé sur une donnée préalablement enregistrée représentative d'une estimation de la distance D.The present invention relates to the exclusive field of mail processing. It relates more particularly to a device to adjust the alignment of a machine's inkjet print head postage stamping on postage items moved relative to the head in a direction of movement, this head printing system comprising a plurality of nozzles arranged in two rows extending transversely to the direction of travel, these two rows being spaced from each other by a distance D according to this steering and a control means being provided for controlling the chronological succession of ejections of ink droplets from the a plurality of nozzles so as to delay the ejection of ink droplets from the nozzles of one of the two rows relative to that of the nozzles of the other row of delay R based on previously recorded data representative of an estimate of distance D.
Une machine d'affranchissement à jet d'encre est connue du document US-5083153. L'impression par jet d'encre apporte aux machines d'affranchissement une très grande flexibilité, en particulier lorsqu'il s'agit d'imprimer sur les articles de courrier des empreintes postales comportant à la fois des caractères variables, comme les symboles numériques d'un montant d'affranchissement, et des dispositions de couleurs, comme les flammes publicitaires.An ink jet franking machine is known from document US-5083153. Inkjet printing brings machines very high flexibility in postage, especially when it comes to print postal items on mail items containing both variable characters, like the numeric symbols of a postage amount, and color layouts, such as advertising flames.
Selon un agencement simple et économique de la tête d'impression, les deux rangées de buses peuvent faire partie respectivement de deux boítiers différents mutuellement décalés transversalement et longitudinalement à la direction de défilement. En effet, il existe aujourd'hui des petits boítiers renfermant une rangée de buses à jet d'encre, par exemple des boítiers comprenant 64 ou 128 buses, qui sont maintenant largement diffusés à des prix très bas pour équiper les imprimantes à jet d'encre à relier aux micro-ordinateurs. Ces boítiers d'impression à jet d'encre ont une résolution d'environ 200 buses par inch (soit une buse tous les 0,127 mm), ce qui convient parfaitement pour l'impression d'une empreinte postale. La marque linéaire imprimée par un boítier comprenant par exemple 128 buses s'étend sur environ 16 mm. On comprend donc que deux boítiers comportant une rangée de 128 buses chacun permettent d'imprimer une marque linéaire sur une longueur d'environ 30 mm qui correspond à la hauteur d'une empreinte postale.According to a simple and economical arrangement of the head the two rows of nozzles can be part respectively of two different housings mutually offset transversely and longitudinally to the direction of travel. Indeed, there are today small housings containing a row of inkjet nozzles, for example housings comprising 64 or 128 nozzles, which are now widely distributed at very low prices to equip jet printers ink to be connected to microcomputers. These jet printing boxes have a resolution of about 200 nozzles per inch (i.e. one nozzle every 0.127 mm), which is ideal for printing a postal imprint. The linear mark printed by a box including for example 128 nozzles extends over approximately 16 mm. We therefore understand that two housings with a row of 128 nozzles each allow to print a linear mark over a length of approximately 30 mm which corresponds to the height of a postal imprint.
L'information à imprimer par une telle machine d'affranchissement sur un pli de courrier ou une étiquette destinée à être apposée sur un tel pli, par exemple une marque linéaire perpendiculaire à la direction de déplacement, est enregistrée sous forme numérique dans une mémoire et transmise partiellement à un circuit interface qui, sous la commande du moyen de commande, met en fonctionnement simultanément les buses de la rangée la plus en amont selon lequel le pli ou l'étiquette est déplacé(e) de la distance D, une autre partie de l'information dans la mémoire est transmise au circuit interface qui met en fonctionnement simultanément toutes les buses de l'autre rangée pour finir l'impression de la marque linéaire.Information to be printed by such a machine postage on a mail fold or label intended to be affixed to such a fold, for example a linear mark perpendicular to the direction of travel, is recorded digitally in a memory and partially transmitted to an interface circuit which, under the control of the control means, operates simultaneously the nozzles in the uppermost row that the fold or label is moved from distance D, another part of the information in the memory is transmitted to the interface circuit which activates simultaneously all the nozzles in the other row to finish printing the linear mark.
Le délai R en question peut être donné par un circuit d'horloge à fréquence fixe si on ne tient pas compte des variations de la vitesse de déplacement V du pli ou étiquette sous la tête d'impression ou sinon à fréquence synchronisée sur un signal représentatif de la vitesse de déplacement du pli ou étiquette détectée en temps réel par un capteur de vitesse approprié, par exemple un capteur optique.The delay R in question can be given by a clock circuit to fixed frequency if variations in the speed of displacement V of the fold or label under the print head or otherwise frequency synchronized to a signal representative of the speed of displacement of the fold or label detected in real time by a appropriate speed, for example an optical sensor.
Selon ce principe, pour obtenir une telle marque linéaire ayant une qualité satisfaisante, il est nécessaire que ces deux boítiers soient montés de telle façon que les extrémités en vis-à-vis des rangées de buses (définie chacune par une buse) soit espacées l'une de l'autre selon la direction transversale à la direction de déplacement d'une distance égale à environ 0,127 mm ; c'est-à-dire la distance entre deux buses consécutives de l'une ou l'autre des rangées de buses. De la sorte, il est possible de conserver la même résolution sur toute la longueur de la marque linéaire, c'est-à-dire d'imprimer, sur toute la hauteur d'une empreinte postale, des traits longitudinaux à la direction de déplacement qui soient espacés régulièrement entre eux.According to this principle, to obtain such a linear mark having a satisfactory quality, it is necessary that these two housings are mounted so that the ends face the rows of nozzles (each defined by a nozzle) is spaced from each other according to the direction transverse to the direction of travel by a distance equal to about 0.127 mm; i.e. the distance between two consecutive nozzles from either of the rows of nozzles. In this way, it is possible to keep the same resolution over the entire length of the linear mark, that is to say to print, over the entire height of a postal imprint, spaced longitudinal lines in the direction of travel regularly between them.
En pratique, il s'avère qu'il est difficile d'obtenir une disposition
aussi précise des rangées de buses et il est plus facile de monter, avec une
certaine tolérance, les deux boítiers et par une méthode appropriée de
réglage d'obtenir un alignement parfait des buses des deux boítiers. Les
demandes françaises de la demanderesse FR2 724 591 et FR 2 724 592
illustrent de telles méthodes.In practice, it turns out that it is difficult to obtain a layout
as precise rows of nozzles and it is easier to mount, with a
certain tolerance, both housings and by an appropriate method of
adjustment to obtain a perfect alignment of the nozzles of the two housings. The
French requests from the plaintiff FR2 724 591 and
Or, la demanderesse a découvert lors d'essais répétés qu'un faible décalage angulaire des deux rangées de buses est préférable à un décalage latéral, même très faible, de ces deux rangées de buses. En effet, l'empreinte postale résultante présente dans le premier cas des défauts visuels bien moins gênants, avec un changement imperceptible de la direction du trait, que dans le second cas où ceux-ci sont manifestes avec un décrochement visible de ce trait.However, the Applicant has discovered during repeated tests that a small angular offset of the two rows of nozzles is preferable to a lateral offset, even very small, of these two rows of nozzles. Indeed, the resulting postal imprint in the first case of defects much less annoying visuals, with an imperceptible change in the direction of the line, only in the second case where these are manifest with a visible offset of this line.
La présente invention a pour objet une tête d'impression d'une machine d'affranchissement munie d'un dispositif de réglage d'alignement intégré qui, reposant sur la découverte précédente, s'affranchit des méthodes de réglage antérieures. Un but de l'invention est d'obtenir un alignement des buses par un simple calage l'un par rapport à l'autre des deux boítiers renfermant ces buses. Un autre but de l'invention est de permettre de réaliser ce calage de façon simple et fiable avec un nombre minimum de constituants.The subject of the present invention is a print head of a franking machine provided with an alignment adjustment device integrated which, based on the previous discovery, overcomes previous adjustment methods. An object of the invention is to obtain a alignment of the nozzles by simply setting them in relation to each other two housings containing these nozzles. Another object of the invention is to allow this calibration to be carried out in a simple and reliable manner with a number minimum of constituents.
Ces buts sont atteints par une tête d'impression à jet d'encre d'une machine d'affranchissement destinée à imprimer une empreinte postale sur un article à affranchir déplacé par rapport à la tête selon une direction de déplacement F, cette tête d'impression comprenant une pluralité de buses B1-B128, B'1-B'128 disposées selon deux rangées R1, R2 s'étendant transversalement à la direction de déplacement, ces deux rangées de buses étant montées dans deux boítiers respectifs mutuellement décalés transversalement et longitudinalement à la direction de déplacement et espacés l'un de l'autre d'une distance D selon cette direction, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comporte en outre des premiers moyens pour déplacer dans une direction transversale à la direction de déplacement F l'un des deux boítiers et des seconds moyens pour déplacer d'un angle déterminé par rapport à cette direction transversale à la direction de déplacement F l'autre de ces deux boítiers, de telle sorte que lors de l'impression, une des buses d'extrémité d'une rangée coïncide avec une des buses d'extrémité de l'autre rangée.These goals are achieved by an inkjet printhead a franking machine intended to print an impression postage on a franking item moved relative to the head according to a direction of movement F, this printhead comprising a plurality of nozzles B1-B128, B'1-B'128 arranged in two rows R1, R2 extending transversely to the direction of movement, these two rows of nozzles being mounted in two respective housings mutually offset transversely and longitudinally to the direction of travel and spaced from each other by a distance D in this direction, characterized in that it further comprises first means for moving in a direction transverse to the direction of movement F one of the two housings and second means for moving by an angle determined by relation to this direction transverse to the direction of movement F the other of these two housings, so that during printing, one of the nozzles end of a row coincides with one of the end nozzles of the other row.
Le premier boítier est fixé dans le corps d'une part transversalement entre une butée fixe solidaire de ce corps et un second élément élastique et d'autre part longitudinalement entre un premier appui fixe et un premier appui mobile sur lesquels il est plaqué par un premier élément élastique qui exerce un effort de compression dans une zone médiane de ce premier boítier.The first housing is fixed in the body on the one hand transversely between a fixed stop integral with this body and a second elastic element and on the other hand longitudinally between a first support fixed and a first mobile support on which it is pressed by a first elastic element which exerts a compressive force in an area median of this first housing.
Avantageusement, le premier appui mobile est constitué par une extrémité d'un premier levier qui pivote autour d'un premier axe, solidaire du corps, au moyen d'une première vis, de façon à provoquer un déplacement angulaire d'une extrémité du premier boítier autour du premier appui fixe sur lequel repose l'autre extrémité du premier boítier.Advantageously, the first mobile support consists of a end of a first lever which pivots around a first axis, integral of the body, by means of a first screw, so as to cause a angular displacement of one end of the first housing around the first fixed support on which the other end of the first housing rests.
Le second boítier est fixé dans le corps d'une part longitudinalement entre des deuxième et troisième appuis fixes sur lesquels il est plaqué par le premier élément élastique qui exerce un effort de compression dans la zone médiane de ce second boítier et d'autre part transversalement entre le second élément élastique et un second appui mobile.The second housing is fixed in the body on the one hand longitudinally between second and third fixed supports on which it is pressed by the first elastic element which exerts a force of compression in the middle zone of this second housing and on the other hand transversely between the second elastic element and a second support mobile.
Avantageusement, le second appui mobile est constitué par une extrémité d'un second levier qui pivote autour d'un second axe, solidaire du corps, au moyen d'une seconde vis, de façon à provoquer un déplacement transversal du second boítier.Advantageously, the second mobile support consists of a end of a second lever which pivots around a second axis, integral with the body, by means of a second screw, so as to cause displacement transverse of the second housing.
De préférence, les première et seconde vis sont des vis à pas fin verrouillables et le premier élément élastique est un ressort à lame.Preferably, the first and second screws are fine pitch screws lockable and the first elastic element is a leaf spring.
D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de la présente invention ressortiront mieux de la description suivante, faite à titre indicatif et non limitatif, en regard des dessins annexés, sur lesquels :
- la figure 1 est un synoptique simplifié d'une machine d'affranchissement,
- la figure 2 est une vue de dessus d'une tête d'impression selon l'invention intégrant un dispositif de réglage d'alignement,
- la figure 3 est une vue selon le plan III-III de la figure 2, et
- la figure 4 est un schéma de principe illustrant le fonctionnement du dispositif de réglage des figures 2 et 3.
- FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a franking machine,
- FIG. 2 is a top view of a printing head according to the invention incorporating an alignment adjustment device,
- FIG. 3 is a view along the plane III-III of FIG. 2, and
- FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the operation of the adjustment device of FIGS. 2 and 3.
La machine d'affranchissement sur la figure 1 comprend un
système de convoyage qui déplace l'article de courrier 1 à affranchir sous
une tête d'impression à jet d'encre 2 stationnaire selon la direction de
déplacement F.The franking machine in Figure 1 includes a
conveyor system which moves the
La tête d'impression comprend deux boítiers tels que 20 et 21,
chaque boítier comprenant une rangée de buses, chaque rangée incluant par
exemple 128 buses espacées régulièrement entre elles d'une distance de
1/200 inch, soit environ 0,127 millimètre. A noter que les boítiers peuvent le
cas échéant avoir des rangées de buses de tailles différentes, par exemple un
boítier avec 128 buses et un boítier avec 64 buses. Dans le cas d'exemple,
les boítiers 20 et 21 sont identiques.The print head includes two boxes such as 20 and 21,
each housing comprising a row of nozzles, each row including by
example 128 nozzles regularly spaced apart by a distance of
1/200 inch, or about 0.127 millimeter. Note that the boxes can
if necessary have rows of nozzles of different sizes, for example a
housing with 128 nozzles and a housing with 64 nozzles. In the example case,
the
Les deux boítiers sont montés dans la tête d'impression 2 de telle
façon que leurs rangées de buses s'étendent transversalement à la direction
F, les deux boítiers étant décalés l'un par rapport à l'autre transversalement
et longitudinalement à la direction F.The two housings are mounted in the
Les buses sont représentées par des croix sur la figure 1.
L'agencement des deux boítiers 20 et 21 est tel que la distance entre la
dernière buse B'128 (celle la plus en haut sur la figure 1) du boítier 21 et la
première buse B1 (celle la plus en bas sur la figure 1) du boítier 20 est au
moins égale à la hauteur H d'une empreinte postale 10 représentée par le
rectangle en traits interrompus sur l'article 1. On comprend donc que la
dimension de chaque rangée de buses et la hauteur de l'empreinte postale
déterminent le nombre des buses nécessaires pour l'impression de
l'empreinte postale.The nozzles are represented by crosses in Figure 1.
The arrangement of the two
Si possible, ces deux boítiers 20, 21 sont montés de telle façon
que la dernière buse B128 du boítier 20 (celle du boítier 20 la plus en haut
sur la figure 1) est espacée de la première buse B'1 du boítier 21 (celle du
boítier 21 la plus en bas sur la figure 1), selon la direction perpendiculaire à
la direction F, d'une distance égale à environ 0,127 millimètre (c'est-à-dire
la distance entre deux buses consécutives de l'une ou l'autre des rangées de
buses). If possible, these two
Du fait de l'encombrement apporté par les boítiers, les deux rangées de buses R1 et R2 sont espacées l'une de l'autre d'une distance D selon la direction F d'environ 1cm.Due to the space provided by the boxes, the two rows of nozzles R1 and R2 are spaced from each other by a distance D in the direction F of about 1cm.
La machine d'affranchissement comprend encore une unité de
commande 3, comme un microprocesseur et un programme enregistré dans
une mémoire non représentée, qui est connectée pour commander la
succession chronologique des éjections de gouttelettes d'encre des buses, en
réponse à un signal d'horloge 22, 23 synchronisé ou non avec une vitesse de
déplacement du pli ou de l'étiquette sous la tête d'impression 2, de telle
façon qu'il est possible de produire des points sur le pli ou l'étiquette qui se
joignent l'un à l'autre avec un faible chevauchement le long de lignes
droites parallèles à la direction F.The franking machine also includes a unit of
Pour imprimer une marque linéaire transversale à la direction F
et qui s'étend sur presque toute la hauteur H de l'empreinte 10 (comme la
barre du caractère P montré sur la figure 1), l'unité 3 retarde la commande
d'éjection de gouttelettes d'encre des buses de la rangée R2 (les buses du
boítier 21 qui est le plus en aval selon la direction F) par rapport à la
commande d'éjection des gouttelettes d'encre des buses de la rangée R1 (les
buses du boítier 20 qui est le plus en amont selon la direction F), d'un délai
R variant en fonction du rapport d/V ou d est la donnée réglage
préalablement enregistrée en mémoire et représentative de la distance D.To print a linear mark transverse to direction F
and which extends over almost the entire height H of the imprint 10 (like the
bar of character P shown in figure 1),
Du fait des tolérances des constructeurs de boítiers, la distance D
varie d'une tête d'impression à l'autre et il est dès lors nécessaire de la
régler après le montage des boítiers 20 et 21 dans la machine
d'affranchissement.Due to the tolerances of the housing manufacturers, the distance D
varies from one printhead to another and therefore it is necessary to
adjust after mounting
Conformément à l'invention, la tête d'impression est un organe interchangeable dont le montage sur la machine d'affranchissement ne nécessite aucun réglage. Seul le calage relatif des deux rangées de buses de cette tête est réalisée avec précision selon le principe qui sera définit plus avant en regard de la figure 4 et qui permet de compenser la chaíne des tolérances de fabrication propres aux rangées de buses et à l'organe de support interchangeable.According to the invention, the print head is an organ interchangeable whose mounting on the franking machine does not requires no adjustment. Only the relative timing of the two rows of nozzles this head is produced with precision according to the principle which will be defined more front facing Figure 4 and which compensates for the chain of manufacturing tolerances specific to the rows of nozzles and to the interchangeable support.
La structure de la tête d'impression selon l'invention munie d'un
dispositif de réglage d'alignement intégré est illustrée sur les figures 2 et 3.
La tête d'impression 2 comporte un organe, ou corps 4, de support des
boítiers 20, 21 comprenant chacun une rangée R1, R2 de buses d'éjection.
Le premier boítier 20 est monté longitudinalement entre premier un appui
fixe 5 et un premier appui mobile 6 constitué par une extrémité d'un
premier levier 7 réglable en rotation. Ce premier levier est articulé sur un
premier axe 8 fixé au corps 4, à l'encontre d'un premier élément élastique,
avantageusement un ressort à lame 9, qui exerce un effort de compression
dans une zone médiane du premier boítier 20. Une première vis
verrouillable à pas fin 10 permet de faire pivoter l'extrémité du premier
levier autour de ce premier axe, ce qui provoque l'oscillation du boítier
autour du premier appui fixe et assure un déplacement angulaire. Le second
boítier 21 est monté longitudinalement entre des deuxième et troisième
appuis fixes 11, 12, sur lesquelles il est plaqué par un élément élastique, de
préférence le même ressort à lame 9, qui exerce un effort de compression
dans la zone médiane de ce second boítier. Un second levier 13 réglable en
translation constituant un second appui mobile et qui oscille autour d'un
second axe 14, permet par l'intermédiaire d'une seconde vis verrouillable à
pas fin 15 de déplacer transversalement le second boítier 21, parallèlement
aux appuis fixes, à l'encontre d'un second élément élastique, du type ressort
en U 16, qui retient ce boítier par une première partie d'extrémité 17.
L'autre partie d'extrémité 18 de ce second élément élastique 16 sert à
appliquer transversalement le premier boítier 20 contre une butée 19 du
corps 4 de la tête d'impression.The structure of the print head according to the invention provided with a
Integrated alignment adjustment device is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.
The
Soit R1 et R2 les deux rangées de buses de la tête d'impression 2
correspondant respectivement au boítier 20, 21 (voir la figure 4), le réglage
de l'alignement des buses est obtenu très simplement en procédant tout
d'abord, pour l'une des deux rangées, par exemple R2, à un réglage en
translation (dans une direction transversale à la direction de déplacement F)
au moyen du second levier 13 en agissant sur la seconde vis 15 et ensuite en
procédant pour l'autre rangée, c'est à dire R1, à un réglage angulaire (d'un
angle déterminé par rapport à la direction transversale à la direction de
déplacement F) au moyen du premier levier 7 et de la première vis 10, de
telle sorte qu'une des buses d'extrémité, de préférence la dernière buse
B128, de cette dernière rangée R1 soit amenée en coïncidence (bien entendu
compte tenu du retard R d'éjection entre les rangées de buses) avec une des
buses d'extrémité, de préférence la première buse B'1, de la rangée de buse
R2 réglée préalablement en translation (de façon linéaire). Dans une
variante de mise en oeuvre, une des buses d'extrémité de la rangée R2 est
positionnée sur l'axe des buses et l'autre rangée R1 et espacée d'un pas de
la buse d'extrémité de cette dernière B'1. Cette coïncidence est vérifiée de
façon connue sur un banc de réglage optique ou, après montage sur la
machine d'affranchissement lors de l'impression, par essais successifs.Let R1 and R2 be the two rows of nozzles of the
On aura noté que malgré le nombre relativement limité de constituants que comporte la structure de l'invention, un réglage particulièrement précis par de simples vis-à-pas-fin (et non pas des vis micrométriques) peut être effectué avec le maximum de fiabilité. La tête d'impression ainsi réglée peut alors être montée directement dans la machine à affranchir sans autre réglage complémentaire.It will have been noted that despite the relatively limited number of constituents that comprise the structure of the invention, an adjustment particularly precise with simple end-to-end screws (not screws micrometric) can be performed with maximum reliability. The head can be mounted directly in the franking machine without further adjustment.
Claims (7)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR9700761A FR2758762B1 (en) | 1997-01-24 | 1997-01-24 | POSTAL PRINTHEAD WITH AN ALIGNMENT ADJUSTMENT DEVICE |
| FR9700761 | 1997-01-24 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| EP0855272A1 true EP0855272A1 (en) | 1998-07-29 |
| EP0855272B1 EP0855272B1 (en) | 2001-10-17 |
Family
ID=9502943
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP98400122A Expired - Lifetime EP0855272B1 (en) | 1997-01-24 | 1998-01-22 | Print head for postal impression with alignment adjusting device |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US6048048A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0855272B1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69802020T2 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2758762B1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (11)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NL1012812C2 (en) * | 1999-08-12 | 2001-02-13 | Ocu Technologies B V | Method for printing a substrate and a printing device suitable for applying this method. |
| DE50103845D1 (en) * | 2000-02-23 | 2004-11-04 | Frama Ag | POSTAGE METER |
| US6955415B2 (en) * | 2000-11-17 | 2005-10-18 | Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft | Printing devices with a plurality of print heads and method for using a printing device |
| DE10057062C1 (en) * | 2000-11-17 | 2002-05-23 | Koenig & Bauer Ag | Printing head alignment method uses variation in printing head firing points and relative displacement of at least one printing head |
| US6966711B2 (en) * | 2003-12-18 | 2005-11-22 | Pitney Bowes Inc. | Dynamic registration device for mailing system |
| US20060036556A1 (en) * | 2004-08-12 | 2006-02-16 | Peter Knispel | Postal printing apparatus and method |
| US7693803B1 (en) * | 2005-12-30 | 2010-04-06 | Stamps.Com Inc. | Hybrid postage printer systems and methods |
| CN102310640B (en) * | 2010-06-30 | 2013-11-20 | 北大方正集团有限公司 | Adjusting device |
| US8851616B2 (en) * | 2012-12-19 | 2014-10-07 | Vistaprint Schweiz Gmbh | Print head pre-alignment systems and methods |
| US9259931B2 (en) | 2012-12-19 | 2016-02-16 | Cimpress Schweiz Gmbh | System and method for print head alignment using alignment adapter |
| US9132660B2 (en) | 2012-12-19 | 2015-09-15 | Cimpress Schweiz Gmbh | System and method for offline print head alignment |
Citations (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS5747671A (en) * | 1980-09-08 | 1982-03-18 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Multihead ink jet device |
| JPS57100081A (en) * | 1980-12-15 | 1982-06-22 | Seiko Epson Corp | Ink jet recorder |
| JPS58188661A (en) * | 1982-04-30 | 1983-11-04 | Canon Inc | Recording apparatus |
| JPS60210468A (en) * | 1984-04-03 | 1985-10-22 | Konishiroku Photo Ind Co Ltd | Thermal printer |
| JPS6192863A (en) * | 1984-10-13 | 1986-05-10 | Fujitsu Ltd | inkjet head |
| JPS61225064A (en) * | 1985-03-29 | 1986-10-06 | Nec Home Electronics Ltd | Printing position control apparatus in shuttle system serial printer |
| US5038153A (en) * | 1988-07-14 | 1991-08-06 | Ascom Hasler Ag. | Franking machine |
| EP0702334A1 (en) * | 1994-09-16 | 1996-03-20 | Neopost Industrie | System for controlling and ink jet head in a franking machine by vernier control |
| JPH08197721A (en) * | 1995-01-25 | 1996-08-06 | Fuji Electric Co Ltd | Ink jet recording apparatus and recording head adjusting method |
Family Cites Families (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0730247B1 (en) * | 1995-03-01 | 2002-11-27 | Hewlett-Packard Company, A Delaware Corporation | Method of inkjet printing using color fortification in black regions |
-
1997
- 1997-01-24 FR FR9700761A patent/FR2758762B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1998
- 1998-01-22 DE DE69802020T patent/DE69802020T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1998-01-22 EP EP98400122A patent/EP0855272B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1998-01-23 US US09/012,187 patent/US6048048A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS5747671A (en) * | 1980-09-08 | 1982-03-18 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Multihead ink jet device |
| JPS57100081A (en) * | 1980-12-15 | 1982-06-22 | Seiko Epson Corp | Ink jet recorder |
| JPS58188661A (en) * | 1982-04-30 | 1983-11-04 | Canon Inc | Recording apparatus |
| JPS60210468A (en) * | 1984-04-03 | 1985-10-22 | Konishiroku Photo Ind Co Ltd | Thermal printer |
| JPS6192863A (en) * | 1984-10-13 | 1986-05-10 | Fujitsu Ltd | inkjet head |
| JPS61225064A (en) * | 1985-03-29 | 1986-10-06 | Nec Home Electronics Ltd | Printing position control apparatus in shuttle system serial printer |
| US5038153A (en) * | 1988-07-14 | 1991-08-06 | Ascom Hasler Ag. | Franking machine |
| EP0702334A1 (en) * | 1994-09-16 | 1996-03-20 | Neopost Industrie | System for controlling and ink jet head in a franking machine by vernier control |
| FR2724591A1 (en) * | 1994-09-16 | 1996-03-22 | Neopost Ind | ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM BY VERNIER EFFECT OF AN INK-JET PRINTING HEAD IN A POSTAGE MACHINE |
| JPH08197721A (en) * | 1995-01-25 | 1996-08-06 | Fuji Electric Co Ltd | Ink jet recording apparatus and recording head adjusting method |
Non-Patent Citations (7)
| Title |
|---|
| PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 006, no. 120 (M - 140) 3 July 1982 (1982-07-03) * |
| PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 006, no. 193 (M - 160) 2 October 1982 (1982-10-02) * |
| PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 008, no. 032 (M - 275) 10 February 1984 (1984-02-10) * |
| PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 010, no. 066 (M - 461) 15 March 1986 (1986-03-15) * |
| PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 010, no. 270 (M - 517) 13 September 1986 (1986-09-13) * |
| PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 011, no. 067 (M - 566) 28 February 1987 (1987-02-28) * |
| PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 096, no. 012 26 December 1996 (1996-12-26) * |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| FR2758762B1 (en) | 1999-04-16 |
| DE69802020T2 (en) | 2002-06-06 |
| DE69802020D1 (en) | 2001-11-22 |
| FR2758762A1 (en) | 1998-07-31 |
| US6048048A (en) | 2000-04-11 |
| EP0855272B1 (en) | 2001-10-17 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| EP0855272B1 (en) | Print head for postal impression with alignment adjusting device | |
| CH694219A5 (en) | A method of automatic registration of prints in a rotary machine and device for carrying out the method. | |
| EP0553895B1 (en) | Printing set for franking or obliterating machine or the like | |
| EP2139683B1 (en) | Doctor blade system for a printing unit, intended for an intaglio printing machine | |
| EP0702334B1 (en) | System for controlling an ink jet print head in a franking machine by vernier control | |
| EP1800863A1 (en) | Inking device and corresponding adjustment method | |
| EP1854635B1 (en) | Printing unit with deformable support | |
| FR2689059A1 (en) | Print machine with interchangeable print head. | |
| EP0023269B1 (en) | Printer comprising removable dot print head | |
| CH689717A5 (en) | Flexible printing plate positioner for rotary printing machine | |
| EP1112154B1 (en) | Device for positioning a plate on a roll with magnetic fixing | |
| EP0702335A1 (en) | System for controlling an ink jet head in a franking machine by printing the images in a stepped manner | |
| FR2508259A1 (en) | Thermal printer using coloured printing film - has spring buffers allowing film to stop momentarily during printing operation and subsequently moving film during retreat of head | |
| EP0237690B1 (en) | Shiftable printhead | |
| EP0023270B1 (en) | Dot printer comprising a tiltable print head | |
| US7101005B2 (en) | Apparatus for adjusting printhead-to-media spacing in a printer | |
| EP1004990A1 (en) | Device for shifting the print position of postal indicia | |
| EP0021966B1 (en) | Ultrasonic-radar printer | |
| EP1369606A1 (en) | Marking device with at least one guiding member and at least one drive slide | |
| FR2536701A3 (en) | SHUTTER TYPE POINT LINE PRINTER | |
| FR2721550A1 (en) | Rotary printing machine with possibility of correction ofregister of transferred sheet | |
| FR2680722A1 (en) | THERMAL PRINTHEAD. | |
| FR2676129A1 (en) | Process intended for positioning an object with respect to an element with specified location or vice versa and machine for its implementation | |
| EP0023268A1 (en) | Dot printer comprising a tiltable print head | |
| FR2857902A1 (en) | Printing device e.g. typographer, has control unit consisting of exposure units which are coupled to processing units to validate or invalidate angular position occupied by movable unit, where control unit controls position of movable unit |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
| AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): DE FR GB |
|
| AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Free format text: AL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SI |
|
| 17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19981123 |
|
| AKX | Designation fees paid |
Free format text: DE FR GB |
|
| RBV | Designated contracting states (corrected) |
Designated state(s): DE FR GB |
|
| 17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 19991103 |
|
| GRAG | Despatch of communication of intention to grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA |
|
| GRAG | Despatch of communication of intention to grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA |
|
| GRAH | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA |
|
| GRAH | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA |
|
| GRAH | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA |
|
| GRAA | (expected) grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210 |
|
| AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: B1 Designated state(s): DE FR GB |
|
| REF | Corresponds to: |
Ref document number: 69802020 Country of ref document: DE Date of ref document: 20011122 |
|
| REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: GB Ref legal event code: IF02 |
|
| GBT | Gb: translation of ep patent filed (gb section 77(6)(a)/1977) |
Effective date: 20020105 |
|
| PLBE | No opposition filed within time limit |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261 |
|
| STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT |
|
| 26N | No opposition filed | ||
| PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Payment date: 20090122 Year of fee payment: 12 |
|
| PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Payment date: 20090122 Year of fee payment: 12 |
|
| PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Payment date: 20090115 Year of fee payment: 12 |
|
| GBPC | Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20100122 |
|
| REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: FR Ref legal event code: ST Effective date: 20100930 |
|
| PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20100201 |
|
| PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20100803 |
|
| PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20100122 |