Abstract: A method for franking mail items fed to a franking machine. The mail items are drawn from the underside of a stack for separation or are fed individually on a conveying section upstream of the franking machine to a printing unit for franking, after franking, are discharged in the opposite direction from the printing unit. The mail items are fed via a diverter section to the conveying section, after franking, are conveyed via the diverter section which is switched over to change the conveying direction into a depositing apparatus below the diverter section. The mail items are guided in the opening region of the franking machine into the printing position and are returned out of the printing position. The printing position of a mail item fed to the printing unit is determined by a print head movement-controlled from a readiness position pursuant to the format length of the mail item.

Abstract: A method for franking packages individually supplied from a stack on a conveyor line to a franking machine, such as envelopes, mailing bags, sleeves, cards, labels, printed products, or the like, which are removed at the lower side of the stack for separation and which are supplied on the upstream conveyor line to a printing mechanism of the franking machine and which, after printing of the packages, are discharged from the franking machine. The packages are supplied on the conveyor portion via a switch to the franking machine and after printing are supplied counter to the supply direction from the printing mechanism of the franking machine via the transposed switch of a depositing device which is provided therebelow for printed packages.

Abstract: A device for printing flat packages fed individually to a printing unit of a franking machine, pass the printing unit on one side and are guided on a side edge in the conveying direction, including a conveying apparatus which grips the packages at a front end and, by a guide plate forms a conveying plane of a conveying gap with an opposite conveying unit of the conveying apparatus. In the conveying direction, the conveying unit has two endless drawing devices next to each other which circulate a common axle on deflecting rollers, and the upper run of which, and the lower run of which are guided on running rollers mounted freely rotatably in pairs so as to lie opposite one another at pivotable ends of double lever arms assigned to the upper and the lower run, and supported on the inner side of the runs by spring force.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating for franking/printing flat items of mail, which are supplied individually in a feeder or are guided at a front edge lying on one another as a stack and are each gripped at the underside of the stack by a separating device, separated and transported onward in a conveying direction, wherein the separating device is formed to pick up and transport the respectively lowest item of mail at the front end in the conveying direction for onward transport, and includes driven conveying drums, mounted transversely with respect to the conveying direction and arranged one after another underneath the to stack and forming a conveying plane, and forming a passage opening with the lower end of a positioning wall of the feeder and the conveying plane, and a sweeping device acting in a sweeping manner at least on the lowest item of mailafter the passage opening.

Abstract: An apparatus for franking flat items of mail removed individually or at the underside of a supplied stack and guided in a transport direction at one side edge, includes a separating station formed from a feeder for items of mail separating device, and a downstream processing line of a franking machine, following in a conveying manner in the transport direction, for franking/printing the individual items of mail. The processing line in the transport region between feeder and the separating device of the separating station assigned to the latter includes a plurality of driven transport rollers which form a transport plane for receiving an item of mail or the respective lowest item of mail from a stack, which rollers are mounted in a frame in the transport direction of the items of mail transversely and beside one another and in the same direction and at the same peripheral speed.

Abstract: A device for processing and for transporting flat mail items such as documents and/or letters inserted into envelopes, samples, cards, etc., includes a transport route, formed by transport rolls (5, 6, 7) of a transport mechanism (3), one end of this route being configured to load a separation unit (9) with mail items (2) for individual processing. The device includes a separation unit (9), which is designed with a drive roll (6), supported rotatably on a horizontal axis of rotation and extending transversely to the transport direction. The drive roll acts frictionally on the bottom surface of the mail item (2) and cooperates with a queuing mechanism (11), which is installed above (6) and offset from the drive roll in the downstream direction to hold back excess mail items.

Abstract: The invention relates to a franking machine, comprising a print head of an ink-jet printing mechanism for printing flat postal items such as letters or postcards, which can be introduced into said mechanism or which pass through the same. Said franking machine consists of a guiding part which is located around the print head and projects in relation to the nozzle opening plane of said print head, and with which a conveying device is associated, said conveying device transporting the postal items between itself and conveying rollers lying opposite and rotating about axes that are located crosswise to the conveying direction. Said conveying device has two drive-connected driving rollers which together with the guiding part, form a path of travel. The driving rollers are located in front of and behind the print head in relation to the conveying direction.

Abstract: A device for separating labels (4) or the like stacked in a feeder (2), includes a transport device (6) which draws the labels (4) individually from one end of a stack, and a cassette (1), which holds the extractable labels (4) and which can be removed from the feeder (2) or replaced.

Abstract: A method and a system for shipping objects and/or goods which are transferred from a drop-off point (4) constructed as an organized franking system for the application of at least partially coded labels to a delivery service (7-10) for transport of the objects to a remote destination, wherein the delivery or transport of the objects is determined or handled by the franking system or franking machine (3), which is equipped with control functions. In the system for shipping objects and/or goods, which are provided with at least partially coded labels and are sent from a drop-off point (4) equipped with a franking machine (3) to a remote destination by a delivery service (7-10), the franking machine (3) can be connected to an information system (6) which processes the data of a delivery service (7-10) and generates shipping data for the franking machine (3), so that the shipping order can be handled.

Abstract: A device for protecting data for operating or controlling functions of an operating system, process, equipment, and/or a machine, which is stored in a switching arrangement that consists of electronic components and a processor, wherein the switching arrangement is mounted on a printed circuit board inside a housing or is embedded by an insulating material. A pickup or sensor, which is electrically conductively connected with the switching arrangement, is arranged along the walls on the inside of the housing, is embedded in the walls of the housing, or is arranged inside the insulating material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a franking machine comprising an inkjet printing unit with two printing heads (301A, 301B), for printing on flat posted objects which can be inserted or run through the unit, such as letters or postcards. Said machine further comprises a guide piece (317), arranged around the print heads (301A, 301B) and projecting relative to the common jet opening plane thereof. A transport device for the posted objects is connected to said guide piece, with two drive rollers which, together with the guide piece, form a transport path and which are mounted before and after the print head, relative to the transport direction. The printing heads (301A, 301B) form a common jet opening plane and on the jet opening plane are rectangular in form, arranged at a steep angle to the direction of travel of the posted objects and mutually offset from each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to a franking machine that comprises at least one print head of an inkjet printer for printing flat mail items such as letters or postcards that are inserted into or run through said franking machine. The inventive franking machine comprises a guide part that is mounted around the print head so as to project vis-á-vis the nozzle plane thereof. Said guide part is associated with a conveyor that conveys the mail items between itself and opposite rotating convey rollers that rotate about pins mounted transversally to the direction of conveyance. Said conveyor is provided with driving rollers that are mounted, when seen in the direction of conveyance, before and behind the print head (228). A counter-pressure roller is disposed opposite these driving rollers and exerts a pressure on a respective driving roller or on a mail item conveyed therethrough, said counter-pressure roller being reversibly liftable.

Abstract: The invention relates to a franking machine, comprising at least one print head of an ink-jet printing mechanism for printing flat postal items such as letters or postcards, which can be introduced into said mechanism or which pass through the same. Said franking machine consists of a guiding part (39) which is located around the print head and projects in relation to the nozzle opening plane of said print head and with which a conveying device is associated, said conveying device transporting the postal items between itself and conveying rollers lying opposite and rotating about axes that are located crosswise to the conveying direction. Said conveying device has two drive-connected driving rollers (32, 33) which together with the guiding part (39), form a path of travel. The driving rollers are located in front of and behind the print head in relation to the conveying direction.

Abstract: In franking machines (1), the printing head (2) of a printing mechanism (3) is susceptible to interference by dust particles, which are introduced by the transport of the objects to be mailed such as letters, postcards, and printed matter and by the objects themselves. It is therefore proposed that a suction air or compressed air device (9) be installed in the franking machine (1) at least in the area near the printing head (2) to protect it from dust-like foreign materials, etc.

Abstract: A cassette, particularly for a printing mechanism provided with a thermal printing head, with a ribbon reel and a ribbon take-up reel, includes a housing composed of two wall portions which are spaced apart from each other, wherein the wall portions have grooves, integrally formed indentations or slots, wherein outer portions of the ribbon reel or take-up reel are supported in the grooves or indentations or slots so as to be slidable essentially transversely of the axis of the respective reel.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a postage fee for setting a postage meter. The apparatus includes a computer system with at least one memory for a computer program and a postage rate system. An input/display device for the computer system includes a transparent input plate having several input fields and covers a display. The number, arrangement and function of the input fields of the input/display device and their corresponding graphic display representation are variably controlled by a computer program adapting to desired inputs.

Abstract: The memory (RAM) of an electronically controlled franking machine containing data corresponding to postal value amounts is enclosed, together with a microprossor (CPU) on a mounting board in a lead-sealed casing. In the event of a defect of an element enclosed in such casing, the complete assembly unit comprising the mounting board and the casing is replaced. In order to be able to subsequently transfer in tamper-proof manner, the data from the memory to that of the new assembly unit, in a transceiver bus between the memory and the CPU, there are two plug units. One of these plug units is closed by a connector unit, so that during the operation of the franking machine the data flow is looped through the connector unit. A writing line, provided in addition to the transceiver bus, is used for reading in the working data during franking, so that it is not accessible via any plug unit.

Abstract: The electronic read-only memory has an inner and an outer casing. The inner casing is located on a secondary circuit board, from whose edge projecting laterally from the inner casing project contact elements for producing a plug contact with the contact counterelements, which are located on a circuit board of a device, which is to be equipped with the ROM. The outer casing has lateral, outwardly open gaps, which protectively receive the contact elements. Due to the fact that the free end of the contact elements is set back with respect to the opening edge of the cap-like, outer casing, the contact elements are protected against harmful contact. This also greatly simplifies the loading of a device with the ROM, because as a result of a simple plugging movement numerous contact elements can be brought into reliable contact with the contact counterelements.

Abstract: For modifying the content of a postage rate memory of a franking machine (1) with weight input, which contains the relationship between the weight and the franking value, a loading plug (9) is provided, which for this purpose is plugged into an interface socket (7) of the franking machine. Through the operation of instruction inputting means of the franking machine the content of a memory enclosed in the loading plug (9) can be loaded into the postage rate memory of the franking machine (1). On changing the postage rates the loading plug (9) is sent to the user, so that the latter can update the content of the franking machine postage rate memory, without it being necessary for an authorized person to open the lead-sealed casing of the franking machine (1).

Abstract: An electronic read-only memory module having an inner casing and an outer casing cap. The inner casing is located on a secondary circuit board from whose edge which projects laterally from the inner casing project contact elements for producing a plug contact with contact counterelements located on a circuit board of a device, which is to be equipped with the ROM module. The outer casing cap has lateral internal gaps which protectively receive the contact elements. Due to the fact that the free ends of the contact elements are set back inwardly with respect to the open edge of the outer casing cap, the contact elements are protected against damage. This also greatly simplifies the loading of a device with the ROM module, because as a result of a simple plugging movement numerous contact elements can be brought into reliable contact with the contact counterelements.