EP1488931B1 - Franking machine with integrated ink supplying device - Google Patents

Description

Field of the art

The present invention relates to the exclusive field of mail processing and more particularly relates to an ink jet franking machine provided with an integrated ink supply device.

Prior art

US Pat. No. 5,969,735 discloses a franking machine provided with an ink supply device which includes an intermediate reservoir for controlling the level of ink delivered to the ejection nozzles of the printing module from a reservoir. main ink.

However, this feeding device appears complex and poorly adapted to the printing of postal imprints whose slogan would be of a different color from that used for the postal ink. Indeed, this device continuously supplying the injection nozzles, it is necessary to provide as many devices as colors to use at least one for the postal ink supply (generally a very specific color), this which results in the realization of a relatively expensive machine.

In addition, any problems with the intermediate tank or the main ink tank automatically prohibit further printing.

Definition and object of the invention

The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks by providing a franking machine particularly powerful and yet easy to use.

These objects are achieved by a franking machine comprising means for printing a postal imprint on a mail piece and means for supplying postal ink to enable postal ink charging of said printing means, characterized in that it further comprises self-sealing connection means connected to said postal ink supply means by means of ink transfer and intended either to put in communication said postal ink supply means with said printing means in the case of a printing with the postal ink or to isolate said means of supplying postal ink of said means in other printing cases.

Thus, with this particular structure of selectively supplying the printing means, during the printing phases in postal ink, the printing means are in direct connection with the postal ink supplying means while they are disconnected in other printing cases. It is thus possible, without resorting to a complex machine structure, to obtain very simply impressions in several colors.

Preferably, regulating means are arranged at the output of said postal ink supply means for regulating the ink pressure feeding said printing means.

Advantageously, the postal ink supply means are mounted above said printing means so as to allow gravity flow of the postal ink.

According to a preferred embodiment, the printing means comprise a reception box made airtight by closure means and provided with at least one postal ink cartridge having an ink inlet port. The airtight receiving box may comprise two postal ink cartridges each comprising an ink inlet port and connection type "T" connecting means for transferring the ink connection means self-sealing to the inlet ports of each of these two ink cartridges.

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 montre de façon schématique la structure matérielle d'une machine d'affranchissement,
• les figures 2 et 3 sont des vues en coupe d'une machine d'affranchissement selon l'invention équipée d'une cartouche d'encre postale rechargeable au niveau de ses moyens d'impression respectivement dans une position de maintenance et dans une position de fonctionnement normal, et
• les figures 4 et 5 sont des vues en coupe d'une machine d'affranchissement selon l'invention équipée d'une cartouche d'encre standard au niveau de ses moyens d'impression respectivement dans une position de maintenance et dans une position de fonctionnement normal.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the following description, given by way of non-limiting indication, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• FIG. 1 schematically shows the material structure of a franking machine,
• Figures 2 and 3 are sectional views of a franking machine according to the invention equipped with a rechargeable postal ink cartridge at its printing means respectively in a maintenance position and in a position of normal operation, and
• Figures 4 and 5 are sectional views of a franking machine according to the invention equipped with a standard ink cartridge at its printing means respectively in a maintenance position and in an operating position normal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 very schematically illustrates the general architecture of a franking machine of mail items. This machine 10 intended for printing a postal indicia 12 on a mail article 14, such as an envelope or a label, and which can be arranged directly at the exit of a folding / insertion module 16, comprises disposable type ink jet printing means 18 for printing the postal imprint on this mail piece, means for conveying the mail items through the machine formed by several series of transport rollers, for example 20a , 20b and 20c, actuated by first motorization means 22, and means 24 for postage accounting (including upward and downward counters) and control and synchronization of the transport and printing phases of the mail items in the machine according to the arrival rate of these articles.

These general control means can be connected to an external computer 26 which in principle also provides control of the folding / insertion module. This computer is preferably connected to an external server 30 of the postal administration or of the franchiser of the franking machine through a communications network 28.

The printing means are mounted on a mobile carriage 32, which can, under the action of second drive means 34 actuated from the control means 24, move (via for example a worm) between a corresponding first position at a normal operating position of the printing means (current print position of the postal impression) and a second position corresponding to a rest position (or simply temporary waiting) or maintenance. In this rest position, illustrated in phantom in FIG. 1, the printing means are arranged opposite a maintenance station 36, for example of the type described in the French patent application published under No. 2 768 078 and filed in the name of the applicant, comprising at least scraping means for cleaning and protection means to prevent drying of the ink in the absence of printing.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the inkjet printing means 18 which are disposable type, ie formed of a disposable ink cartridge incorporating injection nozzles 18a controlled since the control means 24 and a connecting connector 18b, are mounted in a receiving housing advantageously formed by two housing parts 38a, 38b which fit into one another to form an airtight receptacle.

According to the invention, the franking machine further comprises means for supplying postal ink, consisting of a main or nipple tank 40, connected via ink transfer means such as fixed piping 42 to connection means of self-closing type 44.

Preferably, the main reservoir is mounted above the printing means, for example under the hood of the franking machine, and the postal ink can flow by gravity between the reservoir and the connector. However, control means 46 are connected at the outlet of the tank to regulate the ink pressure feeding the printing means. When the reservoir is arranged differently, a pump (not shown) can be advantageously mounted in the hydraulic circuit between the reservoir 40 and the self-sealing connector 44 to ensure perfect circulation of the ink in this circuit.

To allow it to be reloaded in postal ink, the disposable postal ink cartridge 18 has an ink inlet port 18c and the receiving box 38a, 38b of this cartridge has sealing means 48 for isolating the cartridge from the cartridge. ink when it is not in the operating position (and therefore also in the reloading position) and thus keep under pressure the ink it contains. Similarly, the self-sealing connector conventionally comprises a perforated needle 50 intended to cooperate with these sealing means, advantageously a flexible membrane forming a seal mounted opposite the inlet orifice 18c, to ensure the transfer of the postal ink. Thus, in the printing position (FIG. 3), the ink can flow freely from the reservoir 40 to the printing means 18 through the self-sealing connector 44 then in the "open" position. On the other hand, in the rest or maintenance position (FIG. 2), the ink cartridge 18 is detached from the connector 44 and isolated by means of the closing means 48. and the postal ink supply is then stopped automatically by the self-sealing capacity of the connector 44 while in the "closed" position. In this position, a change of type and / or color of ink does not pose any particular problem, it suffices to change the case containing the postal ink cartridge which can then be replaced by a disposable standard case 38 containing a standard ink cartridge of any color, this non-refillable cartridge being devoid of an ink inlet, as shown in Figure 4. The printing can then continue, as in a traditional machine with the new housing in the operating position of FIG. 5, the postal ink reservoir 40 being inactive, the flow of the postal ink being stopped by the self-closing connector 44.

With this specific architecture, and compared to a traditional machine, it is no longer necessary to make regular changes printing means that become rechargeable via the postal ink tank. When these printing means comprise two disposable ink cartridges, the receiving box 38a, 38b advantageously comprises connection type connection means "T" (not shown) to allow the transfer of the postal ink from the self-sealing connector 44 to the two inlet ports of each of these two cartridges. In addition, unlike the machine structure mentioned in the preamble, it becomes possible to print with inks of different colors. Thus, if one wishes to print the slogan or barcodes with a black ink while the tank and the current printing means contain the red postal ink necessary to print the postal regulatory data, simply replace the only red ink printing means by standard black ink printing means, thus devoid of any ink inlet port. The printing in black ink can indeed continue, the connection to the red ink tank being of course become impossible due to this lack of inlet and the flow of the postal ink being stopped from makes the plugging function of the connector 44.

It may also be noted that the self-sealing connector being secured to the body of the franking machine in a specific position and the tank also, the pipe that connects them is fixed. This results in a significant advantage in terms of space and especially wear compared to the device of the aforementioned prior art.

Likewise, the addition of this postal ink reservoir does not modify the conventional operation of the printing means of a standard machine, which can therefore continue printing (provided, of course, that they still have enough ink ) even in case of problems, for example at the level of the control means.

Claims (5)

1. Franking machine comprising means for printing postal indicia (12) on a mail item (14) and means (40) for supplying postage printing ink to allow a refill of said printing means with postage printing ink, characterised in that it further comprises self-obturating connection means (44) connected to said postage ink supply means by ink transfer means (42) and intended either to place said postage ink supply means in communication with said printing means in the case of postage ink printing or to isolate said postage ink supply means from said printing means in the other cases of printing.
2. The franking machine according to claim 1, characterised in that it further comprises regulating means (48) disposed at the outlet of said postage ink supply means in order to regulate the pressure of ink supplying said printing means.
3. The franking machine according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that said postage ink supply means are mounted above said printing means so as to allow the postage ink to flow by gravity.
4. The franking machine according to claim 1, characterised in that said printing means comprise a receiving housing (38a, 38b) rendered air-tight by closure means (48) and provided with at least one postage ink (18) cartridge having an ink inlet port (18c).
5. The franking machine according to claim 4, characterised in that said air-tight receiving housing comprises two postage ink cartridges each comprising an ink inlet port and connection means of "T" type allowing the transfer of the ink from the self-obturating connection means towards the inlet ports of each of these two ink cartridges.

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