Abstract: A printing apparatus, particularly, a franking machine, with a movable printing-head guide includes a base, a guide connected to the base, a printing head, and an offsetting device. The guide moves the head, during printing, between first and second longitudinal positions in a given direction with respect to the base to effect a relative movement between the head and a print medium. The offsetting device prints images offset to one another transverse to the given direction and overlapping one another at most in an edge region of the images. The offsetting device is connected to the head and offsets the head relative to the base from a first transverse position into at least one second transverse position spaced from the first transverse position in a direction transverse to the given direction. The offsetting device is connected to the guide. A corresponding printing method, particularly, a franking impression is also provided.

Abstract: An electrically operated consumable module to be inserted into a holder of an electronic appliance, in particular an ink cartridge for the printing device of a franking machine, has a consumable device, electrical connecting elements which are connected thereto and which have contact elements to connect the consumable module to a consumable-module controller of the electronic appliance. The consumable module also has a projection to interact with the holder to prevent an insertion into other types of holders. The connecting elements are configured and/or assigned to the projection in such a way that they are at least partly destroyed in the event of an unauthorized removal of the projection.

Abstract: A magnetic flow meter includes a cylindrical vessel within which electrodes are placed directly opposite each other about a magnetically permeable core. In that way, two flow channels are obtained in the vessel. A common magnetic field is applied across both flow channels. The magnetic flow meter is used in conjunction with a controller which monitors amplitude modulated signals representative of applied magnetic field and induced electric field. These amplitude modulated signals are passed to Sigma-Delta modulators, which directly digitise the amplitude modulated AC signals into digital pulses. The controller is capable of monitoring reverse flow through the meter, and to store results until forward flow resumes. Moreover, the controller generates a driving signal for coils which generates a magnetic field, the coil being placed in conjunction with a capacitor which causes resonance. This reduces power consumption by the coil in driving the meter.

Abstract: A printing device is described that has a print head held displaceably on a print-head holder. To achieve a relative movement between the print head and a medium to be printed, the print-head holder is configured such that during printing it can be moved in a first line with respect to a base element, between a first longitudinal position and a second longitudinal position. An offsetting device is provided which permits a printing of images offset from one another transversely with respect to an imaginary line and which is configured to offset the print head relative to the print-head holder from a first transverse position into at least a second transverse position spaced apart from the first transverse position, transversely with respect to the imaginary line.

Abstract: A printing apparatus, in particular, a franking machine, includes a base, a printing-head mounting moveably connected thereto, and printing head displaceably connected to the mounting. The mounting moves, during printing, between first and second longitudinal positions in a given direction with respect to the base to effect a relative movement between the printing head and a printing medium. An offsetting device for printing images offset to one another transverse to the given direction is included and is configured to offset the printing head relative to the mounting from a first transverse position into at least one second transverse position spaced from the first transverse position in a direction transverse to the given direction. A holder for holding the printing head in at least one of the first and second transverse positions during printing is provided.

Abstract: An electrically operated consumable module to be inserted into a holder of an electronic appliance, in particular an ink cartridge for the printing device of a franking machine, has a consumable device, electrical connecting elements which are connected thereto and which have contact elements to connect the consumable module to a consumable-module controller of the electronic appliance. The consumable module also has a projection to interact with the holder to prevent an insertion into other types of holders. The connecting elements are configured and/or assigned to the projection in such a way that they are at least partly destroyed in the event of an unauthorized removal of the projection.

Abstract: A secure housing for an electronic unit, in particular a franking machine, has a first housing part and a second housing part releasably connected to the first housing part via at least one connecting device. In order to prevent the housing from being opened without leaving trace of the opening, there is provided at least one covering device on and/or in the first or second housing part. The covering device blocks the access to the connecting device and can only be removed from the first or second housing part with noticeable damage being caused.

Abstract: The franking machine has a clamping device which can be driven via a drive device and which securely clamps an item of mail to be franked against a stop element. The clamping device has a clamping unit, which is provided for interacting with the item of mail, and a gearing device which is connected to the clamping unit and the drive device. The gearing device displaces the clamping unit in the direction of the stop element. The clamping unit and/or the gearing device have at least one compensation section which is configured elastically such that, in the case of a predetermined drive displacement of the drive device, compensation for different thicknesses of the item of mail is provided by elastic deformation of the compensation section.

Abstract: A printing device, in particular a franking machine, has a print head that can be moved along a first direction into a first longitudinal position, and a station that cooperates with the print head in the first longitudinal position. The print head is cleaned and/or maintained and/or retained and preserved at the station. The print head is designed and/or arranged to move toward the station in a second direction that extends transversely with respect to the first direction in order to cooperate with the station.

Abstract: A printing device is described that has a print head held displaceably on a print-head holder. To achieve a relative movement between the print head and a medium to be printed, the print-head holder is configured such that during printing it can be moved in a first line with respect to a base element, between a first longitudinal position and a second longitudinal position. An offsetting device is provided which permits a printing of images offset from one another transversely with respect to an imaginary line and which is configured to offset the print head relative to the print-head holder from a first transverse position into at least a second transverse position spaced apart from the first transverse position, transversely with respect to the imaginary line.

Abstract: A printing apparatus, in particular, a franking machine, includes a base, a printing-head mounting moveably connected thereto, and printing head displaceably connected to the mounting. The mounting moves, during printing, between first and second longitudinal positions in a given direction with respect to the base to effect a relative movement between the printing head and a printing medium. An offsetting device for printing images offset to one another transverse to the given direction is included and is configured to offset the printing head relative to the mounting from a first transverse position into at least one second transverse position spaced from the first transverse position in a direction transverse to the given direction. A holder for holding the printing head in at least one of the first and second transverse positions during printing is provided.

Abstract: A printing apparatus, particularly, a franking machine, with a movable printing-head guide includes a base, a guide connected to the base, a printing head, and an offsetting device. The guide moves the head, during printing, between first and second longitudinal positions in a given direction with respect to the base to effect a relative movement between the head and a print medium. The offsetting device prints images offset to one another transverse to the given direction and overlapping one another at most in an edge region of the images. The offsetting device is connected to the head and offsets the head relative to the base from a first transverse position into at least one second transverse position spaced from the first transverse position in a direction transverse to the given direction. The offsetting device is connected to the guide. A corresponding printing method, particularly, a franking impression is also provided.