Patents Assigned to Francotyp-Postalia GmbH
  • Publication number: 20200001636
    Abstract: A system for printing an imprint on a flat material includes a cartridge holding a consumable (e.g. ink) and at least one material processing device (MPD) (e.g. franking machine) having a printer and a data processor connected to the printer to control use of the cartridge to produce the imprint. The MPD is configured to detect insertion of the cartridge into the printer and generate current consumption information representing the use of the cartridge by the printer since insertion. The cartridge can include a first non-volatile memory that (unchangeably) stores a unique cartridge identification of the cartridge. The data processor is configured to: cause, based on a predeterminable usage-relevant event occurring, a current use-information, generated based on the current consumption information logically linked to the cartridge identification, to be stored in a second memory, and write to an irreversibly writable memory area of the first memory when the event occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicant: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Rosenau, Joachim Jauert, Andreas Lueneburg, Clemens Heinrich
  • Patent number: 10502613
    Abstract: In a dynamic scale and control method for flat goods transported on their sides, use an input-side first assembly for thickness measurement, a transport device having transport belts arranged on a weighing plate. A control processor starts a length measurement and the driving of the transport belts, and starts a thickness measurement and implement a dynamic weighing process during the transport of a first flat good. A next flat good is supplied to the input of the dynamic scale if a valid weight measurement result is present for the predecessor good, and ejection of the predecessor good or end of the weight measurement occur if a third sensor at the input of a takeoff device of the dynamic scale detects the leading edge of the predecessor good, and a check yields that no valid weight measurement result is present for the predecessor good.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Geserich
  • Publication number: 20190339735
    Abstract: A goods processing apparatus can include a printing device, a pivotable display, a controller, and a sensor. The pivotable display may include a display support, a pivotable display holder, a display housing that houses a display monitor having a display border arranged around the display monitor and a display housing frame that surrounds the display border, and at least one actuation input device configured to manually trigger a motorized pivoting of the display monitor. The sensor detects an angle of inclination of the pivotable display. The controller controls a motor to automatically set a display inclination of the pivotable display based on the detected angle of inclination and a respective operator of the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicant: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH
    Inventors: Wolf-Alexander Krumholz, Axel Ortmann, Wolfgang Muhl, Matthias Lorenzen
  • Publication number: 20190340356
    Abstract: A goods processing apparatus includes a controller including a program memory, a security module, a first communication interface that is configured to, in cooperation with the security module, securely communicate with a remote server, and an acoustic output device electrically connected with the controller and configured to output audio files or sound files. The security module and the first communication interface can be electrically connected with the controller. The program memory may store a program to control the acoustic output via the acoustic output device. The program can facilitate external commands being transmitted from the remote server, or from one or more other internet sources, to the controller. Via security measures, operational security of the goods processing apparatus is prevented from being negatively affected, or harmful code is prevented from being transmitted to controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicant: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Lorenzen, Kai Nicolai, Axel Ortmann, Tobias Reisinger, Robert Hoefig, Karsten von der Waydbrink
  • Publication number: 20190118531
    Abstract: In a processing apparatus, with an inkjet print head, that processes individual items, a drive motor that operates a transport mechanism to transport the individual items in the x-direction of a Cartesian coordinate system past the inkjet print head in a printing position so as to execute a printing operation with the inkjet print head on each individual item. The drive motor arrangement also moves the inkjet print head in the y-direction into a first position that is any of an exchange position, the printing position, a cleaning position or a sealing position. The drive motor arrangement also moves the inkjet print head vertically, in the z-direction of the exchange position or the sealing position, into at least one other position that is either the printing position or the cleaning position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Applicant: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Muhl, Karsten Von der Waydbrink, Volker Baum
  • Publication number: 20190118562
    Abstract: An apparatus with an ink printing device generates imprints on items moving in a transport direction. The ink printing device displaces the ink cartridge, which is a single inkjet print head of at least 1 inch in width transverse to the transport direction, as well as in a vertical direction, and counter to the vertical direction. A movement mechanism of the printing module is provided to vertically raise and lower the inkjet print head. The movement mechanism has a mechanism for motorized movement of the inkjet print head, and a mechanism for manual displacement in the vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Applicant: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Muhl
  • Patent number: 10150636
    Abstract: A stacker device in an items processing system is a last station of a mail line. The stacker device has a receiving plate to receive flat items, a longitudinal alignment wall, graduated in at least two steps, at a rear side of the stacker device, and a stop wall that is arranged at the downstream end of the receiving plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Blume, Volker Harder
  • Patent number: 10011452
    Abstract: A stacker device in an items processing system is a last station of a mail line. The stacker device has a receiving plate to receive flat items, a longitudinal alignment wall, graduated in at least two steps, at a rear side of the stacker device, and a stop wall that is arranged at the downstream end of the receiving plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Blume, Volker Harder
  • Patent number: 9975719
    Abstract: A transport module for flat items comprising at least one transport element borne in a transport element carrier having a drive shaft is designed for installation in a station of an item processing system and, after installation, is borne rotatably around an axis of the drive shaft. It is one of multiple transport modules of an identical design. The transport element has, on one side, a lower friction coefficient than on the other side of an equator and is driven by the drive shaft via transmission means of the transport module. The transport element carrier carries the transmission means of the transport module and has a spring assembly allowing it to be shifted in the direction of gravity and contrary to it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Muhl
  • Publication number: 20180120146
    Abstract: In a dynamic scale for flat goods on their sides, and a control method therefor, flat goods are transported with a continuous counting of encoder pulses, and a weight measurement of a moving flat good is started when the trailing edge of the flat good has reached a first sensor. A first count state of the counter is stored when the leading edge of the flat good reaches a second sensor but a valid weight measurement result is not present. A weight measurement takes place with a transport velocity reduced in steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Baum, Frank Geserich
  • Publication number: 20180120092
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for length measurement of a flat good in a goods processing system having first and second stations, each having a sensor in the transport direction of the flat good, a control processor implements a path control and counts encoder pulses of an encoder in the first station. An event is determined by the sensor of the second station, and an associated numerical value Z1 of the encoder pulses is stored in the control processor, as is a numerical value Z2 for a distance between the two sensors is also stored. An additional event is determined by the sensor of the first station, and an associated numerical value Z3 of the encoder pulses is stored. As soon as both events are present, Z2 and the difference ?=Z3?Z1 are added by the control processor, and the sum is used to designate the length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Geserich, Volker Baum
  • Publication number: 20180120145
    Abstract: In a dynamic scale and control method for flat goods transported on their sides, use an input-side first assembly for thickness measurement, a transport device having transport belts arranged on a weighing plate. A control processor starts a length measurement and the driving of the transport belts, and starts a thickness measurement and implement a dynamic weighing process during the transport of a first flat good. A next flat good is supplied to the input of the dynamic scale if a valid weight measurement result is present for the predecessor good, and ejection of the predecessor good or end of the weight measurement occur if a third sensor at the input of a takeoff device of the dynamic scale detects the leading edge of the predecessor good, and a check yields that no valid weight measurement result is present for the predecessor good.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Geserich
  • Publication number: 20180117633
    Abstract: An individualization station has a supply deck for supplying flat goods to a goods processing apparatus following in the transport path in the transport direction x of a Cartesian coordinate system, with openings in the supply deck for a drum in an individualization region, and with individualization assembly as well as with a contact pressure box. The contact pressure box is movable in the z-direction, and has a linkage that is pivotable at a downstream end. An individualization assembly carrier forms an L-shape at an upstream end of the linkage that is pivotable in the contact pressure box. A stop side of the undeflected individualization assembly carrier is aligned parallel to the y/z-plane and extends counter to a y-direction. The individualization assembly carrier can be deflected above the supply deck at a variable distance corresponding to the thickness of the flat good to be individualized, and is adjustable in the y-direction and counter thereto by an adjustment assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH
    Inventors: Axel Ortmann, Wolfgang Muhl, Dieter Woelm
  • Publication number: 20180105384
    Abstract: A stacker device in an items processing system is a last station of a mail line. The stacker device has a receiving plate to receive flat items, a longitudinal alignment wall, graduated in at least two steps, at a rear side of the stacker device, and a stop wall that is arranged at the downstream end of the receiving plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: FRANCOTYP-POSTALIA GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Blume, Volker Harder
  • Publication number: 20180012422
    Abstract: In a franking system and method for franking of individual items of correspondence by a sender, a weighing device determines the weight of an item of correspondence and determines a postage amount associated with the item of correspondence. A printing device prints a value imprint corresponding to the postage amount and prints a code associated with the item of correspondence that represents a unique identity number onto the item of correspondence. A control computer creates a data set associated with the item of correspondence. A memory is associated with the control computer, in which the data set is stored in a file associated with the sender. The data set includes the identity number of the item of correspondence and the postage amount that is to be debited on the part of the delivery service from the sender using the data set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Applicant: FRANCOTYP-POSTALIA GMBH
    Inventors: Clemens Heinrich, Dirk Rosenau
  • Patent number: 9790044
    Abstract: A placement station for placing flat items has multiple transport elements extending through a related opening in a placement deck of the placement station. All transport elements are driven by a single drive motor via toothed belt discs and toothed belts. At least one trigger sensor is arranged in the placement station on the exit side of the mail-item flow. The drive motor and the trigger sensor are electrically connected with means for controlling the transport speed of the flat items. Each transport element is carried by a transport module. The placement station has multiple transport modules, each extending with a transport element mounted on its head side through a related opening in a placement deck of the placement station. The transport modules are lowerable below the placement deck in a direction contrary to a spring force. The direction of traction can be changed by turning at least one transport module before or during operation of the placement station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH
    Inventors: Axel Ortmann, Wolfgang Muhl
  • Patent number: 9778094
    Abstract: A dynamic scale to achieves a higher throughput, by at least one of a spring steel sheet being installed in the travel direction of the first shaft of the first transport belt, and/or the control of the motors as well as the transmission of the sensor signals taking place via ribbon cables which are arranged parallel to the transport belts, and/or an electronic evaluation of interference oscillations of the signals of the sensors of the weighing cell takes place, within at least one lowpass filter being used, and wherein at least two digital notch filters are used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Geserich, Stefan Beckmann, Andreas Blume, Karsten van der Waydbrink
  • Patent number: D802458
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH
    Inventor: Matthias Lorenzen
  • Patent number: D813298
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH
    Inventor: Matthias Lorenzen
  • Patent number: D819122
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH
    Inventor: Matthias Lorenzen