Francotyp-postalia Ag & Co.

Francotyp-postalia Gmbh

Michael Schmidt-Kretschmer

Christoph Kunde

Heinz Rehberg

Uwe Hübler

Frank Geserich

Matthias Lorenzen

Wolfgang Von Inten

Uwe H&uuml;bler

Wilfried Kopanski

Wolf-Alexander Krumholz

Dieter Wolm

Dietrich Muller

Carsten M&uuml;ller

Wolf Alexander Krumholz

Christian Bartenwerfer

Michael Wolf

In a method for weighing a number of items, such as letters to be franked, on a transport belt that moves over a weighing plate, the base of which is formed by the transport belt, the transport speed of the belt is slowed within a measurement time range, that starts from the beginning of a weighing event on the weighing plate until a stable weight measurement occurs, and is accelerated outside of this measurement time range, after the occurrence of a stable weight value for a current item on the weighing plate, the next-following item is transported onto the weighing plate by the belt, and the weight of the next-following item is determined by the weight increase due to inflow of the next-following item and the weight decrease due to outflow of the current item.

Method for weighing items moving over a weighing plate in succession

A method and a configuration for controlling the passage of printed media, especially letters or envelopes, in a separating apparatus of a mail processing system, include transferring the printed media, on the output side, with an ejector to a following device, such as a scale or balance or a franking machine. The intention is to widen the field of use and the throughput of printed media is to be matched to that in the following device. A transfer speed is set on the basis of a transport speed of the following device and, in remaining areas of the separating apparatus, the transport speed is optimized on the basis of a respective printed medium position.

Method and configuration for controlling the passage of printed media

A configuration for determining the dimensions of printed media, especially of letters or envelopes, is used in a separating apparatus of a mail processing system, in which the printed media are transferred on an output side by an ejector to a following device, such as a scale or a franking machine. The field of use is widened by determining the dimensions of the printed media by using existing elements. A device is provided for scanning and determining the dimensions of the printed media, and the ejector is included in the scanning of the printed media. Sensors are electrically connected to an evaluation circuit which transmits measurement results to the following device.

Configuration for determining the dimensions of printed media

An apparatus for weighing moving postal items, particularly letters arranged standing on edge, has a weighing pan for the postal items having a lightweight structure resistant to bending and being torsionally stiff, the weighing pan being coupled to a weighing cell at the approximate location of the shared center of gravity of the weighing pan,and a piece of mail arranged centrally on the weighing pan,and having the highest allowable weight and the largest allowable dimensions. The weighing pan has a back wall,for guiding the piece of mail and a transport unit for the piece of mail that simultaneously forms the bottom of the weighing pan.

Apparatus for weighing moving postal matter

An apparatus separates printed media, especially letters or envelopes, which are disposed as stacks between a spring-mounted curved pressure plate and drive rolls as well as a guide plate inclined slightly to the rear. Cylindrical envelope surfaces of the drive rolls project through openings in the guide plate. The printed media are transported away to the side. Such an apparatus is used in mail processing systems for reliably pre-separating and separating the printed media with the lowest possible technical outlay and space requirement. The apparatus includes a pre-separating area with drive-roll combinations having different coefficients of friction and a common, separate drive with freewheeling as well as a separating area with separating elements, a sensor for detecting printed media, an ejection-roll pair on the outlet side and a common, separate drive. The sensor is disposed in the vicinity of the separating elements and is linked electrically to the drive for the drive-roll combinations, in such a way that the drive is switched to freewheeling when the start of a printed medium is detected and is switched on when the end of a printed medium is detected. In this way, a jam upstream of the separating area is effectively avoided.

Apparatus for separating printed media

In an arrangement for separation of items bearing printed matter, in particular letters deposited on edge behind one another in a letter stack, supplied laterally from the letter stack to a separation apparatus and then to a subsequent apparatus such as a postage meter machine, a pre-separation stage is provided before the separation apparatus. The letters are arranged between a spring-mounted pressure clip and a drive roller, as well as a guide plate. The pre-separation stage loosens the letter stack and permits a simple, reliable letter-by-letter separation of the letters from the letter stack. The pre-separation stage includes at least one drive roller having an outer contour with at least one projection extending over the length of the roller parallel to its axis of rotation. The curve of the jacket of the drive roller protrudes through the opening of the guide plate far enough so that at least one projection protrudes from the opening. Due to the protruding outer contour, the letter stack is sufficiently shaken, and the frictional forces and forces of adhesion that work counter to the transport forces are overcome. The force applied to the letter stack in the pre-separation stage can be adjusted by adjusting the lift of the drive roller on the letter stack.

Apparatus including a roller for shaking and loosening flat articles in

A device for printing stock standing on one edge, in particular a piece of mail in a postage meter and/or addressing machine, includes a guide plate for the stock which is inclined relative to the vertical and has a recessed region for a printing device. A rotating conveyor has a conveying plane which extends orthogonal to the guide plate and on which the stock stands on one edge and is transported in one direction while resting against the guide plate. The recessed region includes at least one cutout and a region of the guide plate downstream of the cutout is so far recessed from a bearing surface for the stock that there is no contact with the latter in this location. This ensures sufficient penetration time for the ink and prevents smearing of the printed image. The printing device is an ink jet printing device which is stationary during printing and which has a nozzle plane that extends parallel to the guide plate. The guide plate is inclined a maximum of 45.degree. from vertical. The conveyor runs continuously. This structure simplifies transport of the piece of mail, improves the printing technology and ensures a clean printed image at high throughput.

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Lehnitz, Germany

Michael Schmidt-Kretschmer