Abstract: An item handling system and method, the item handling system comprising: at least one item printing unit for printing destination address codes on items, each destination address code corresponding to a destination address to which the respective item is to be delivered; and a plurality of item processing units through at least one of which the items are processed in delivery to the respective destination addresses, each item processing unit including an item handler for reading the destination address code on each item, determining, for each item, through use of the destination address code, a destination item processing unit which is local to the destination address, and routing each item to the destination item processing unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a label dispenser for franking machine comprising, on the one hand, a delivery roller on which a continuous tape of labels is wound and a drive means for conveying this tape along a dispenser conveying path from this delivery roller towards a label inlet of the franking machine, and, on the other hand, first means for measuring a displacement of the drive means, second means for measuring a displacement of the delivery roller and processing means for determining a remaining length of the continuous tape of labels from the first and second displacement measuring means.

Abstract: A meter and/or base coupled to one or more modems automatically places a service call to a service center upon detection of particular ones of detected faults. Diagnostic and test software periodically test the meter and/or base to ensure that the meter and/or base operate in an expected manner. Upon detection of a hard fault, a service call is placed to the service center and pertinent diagnostic data (e.g., the error code) is transmitted to allow the service center to promptly and properly respond to the call. For soft faults, the meter can resume operation if the detected fault clears up.

Abstract: A self-contained multi-function system for preparing mail items, the system comprising a general-purpose computer for preparing a document to be sent and for preparing secure postage metering or “franking” information, a digital imaging device connected to the general-purpose computer so as to print both the document to be sent, and at least a destination address for the document but not the postage imprint on an envelope that is to receive the document, and a folder/inserter connected both to the digital imaging device and to the general-purpose computer so as to receive and fold the printed document, and, once the document has been inserted in the envelope, so as to affix the postage imprint selectively by performing a write operation in a writable microcircuit of an electronic tag carried by the envelope or by the document.

Abstract: This invention relates to an adapter device comprising a platform intended to receive a digital printer and capable of receiving a folder/inserter, and an adapter assembly cooperating with the platform to support the digital printer and to position it in space (in height, length and width) with respect to the folder/inserter, by causing the inlet of the folder/inserter to correspond to the or each outlet of the digital printer.

Abstract: This invention relates to a supply module in a mail processing machine including a conveyor for conveying the mailpieces and a moistening device ensuring wetting of a flap of an envelope after the latter has been slightly moved apart from the body of the envelope, as well as a device for creating on said flap of the envelope a second line of fold above the natural crease line of the envelope existing at the level of the join of the body of the envelope with the flap.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for automatically creating and enriching a data base in a system for sorting mail items linked, through an INTRANET communications network, to computer stations of addressees of these mail items and comprising reading means for recognizing postal data printed on these mail items, processing means in order, in relation with a work data base comprising identification data relative to the addressees of the mail items, to identify the individual addressee of a determined mail item, and sorting means for allocating this mail item to the addressee thus identified, process in which there is firstly automatically sent to the electronic mail address of each addressee, a determined electronic message requesting him to be connected on a WEB page of the sorting system in order to enter personal identification data, and, once entered, these data are then automatically stored in a temporary data base for comparison with the data present in the work data base in order thus to ensure autom

Abstract: In a franking machine comprising a base and a disposable head provided with ink jet printing means, a method of printing postal indicia is proposed, comprising the following steps: activating said disposable head in response to determined parameters of identification extracted from memory means of this head and recognized as valid by said base, sending towards said disposable head from said base franking data representative of postal indicia to be printed, comprising static data and dynamic data, calculating in said base the number of droplets to be projected in order to print the dynamic data and add this number to that corresponding to the printing of the static data, previously memorized in said memory means, to obtain a total number of droplets to be projected for printing said postal indicia, determining the volume of ink consumed corresponding to that total number of droplets to be projected and memorize this volume of consumed ink in said memory means, and calculating the remaining volume of ink i

Abstract: This invention relates to a laterally and frontally loaded document feed bin, comprising mobile means for pushing these documents against a supporting wall and a lever for selecting a mode of operation in order to select a first and a second position, these mobile pushing means comprising first thrust adjustment means in order, in a first selected position, to exert a first thrust pressure on said documents, and second thrust adjustment means in order, in a second selected position, to exert an additional trust pressure on said documents.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for maintaining the take-up rollers of document feeders of a folding/insertion machine, comprising a sheet imbibed with a liquid maintenance product and intended to be entrained inside the machine by the take-up rollers, this self-cleaning sheet comprising retaining means for stopping its advance in the machine and allowing its withdrawal once the take-up rollers of the feeder are stopped.

Abstract: Automated process for producing booklets from digital documents associated with these booklets and having to be printed beforehand, wherein firstly the number of pages in the booklet to be bound is determined on the basis of the recognition of first control signals extracted from the associated digital document, then, if this number is greater than the predetermined maximum number of elementary booklets which is then appropriate to create in order to form the booklet to be bound, on the one hand, and the number of pages in each,of these elementary booklets, on the other hand, are determined and, finally, each of the elementary booklets thus determined is printed and then bound, separately and successively. The number of pages in each of the elementary booklets is determined on the basis of the recognition of second control signals extracted from the digital document.

Abstract: This invention relates to a machine for franking mail items, comprising means for printing postal indicia on a mail item and means for also printing on this mail item a unique identification number for this mail item, means for creating at least one data document or file associated with this unique identification number printed on the mail item and means for communicating, through a secure link, the or each data document or file to an information server remote from the franking machine.

Abstract: This invention relates to a document accumulation device comprising an accumulation receptacle provided with a mobile accumulation guide for receiving a bundle of documents to be folded and drive means constituted by a motor roller driven in rotation by motor means and associated with a free counter-roller adapted to pivot about a pivot pin, in order, on the one hand, to drive and align these documents one after the other against the accumulation guide and, on the other hand, thereafter to eject in one go the bundle of documents thus formed by accumulation in said receptacle, this device further comprising displacement means, constituted by an electro-magnet of which the core having two positions of displacement is connected to a piece supporting said free counter-roller, in order to position these drive means, on the one hand, in a first position in which they are subjected to a rathermore weak drive effort to ensure drive and alignment of the documents and, on the other hand, in a second position in which t

Abstract: This invention relates to a transfer module for transporting mailpieces between an exit of a folding/inserting machine delivering a mailpiece at a first upper level in a transverse direction and an entry of a franking machine receiving this mailpiece at a second upper level in a longitudinal direction, this module comprising means for receiving the mailpieces ejected via the folding/inserting machine exit and conveying means for transporting, in a direction D of displacement, these ejected mailpieces towards the franking machine entry, the receiving means and the conveying means being considerably inclined towards this franking machine entry from a low supporting plane of the folding/inserting machine.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for receiving envelopes, or stacker, for a mail handling machine, comprising a conveyor belt arranged at the exit of the mail handling machine, for receiving these envelopes and conveying them perpendicularly to a direction of advance of these envelopes towards an inclined transfer surface from which these envelopes are then directed by guiding means mounted directly at the exit of the inclined transfer surface towards a first post storage bin of standard dimensions disposed beneath the conveyor belt. There is preferably provided, upstream of the conveyor belt, a motorized sorting flap adapted to be switched depending on the format of the franked mail item and which, in a first position, serves as support for the mail item when it is ejected towards the conveyor belt and, in a second position, forms an obstacle to the mail item which then drops loose directly in a second post storage bin disposed just at the exit of the mail handling machine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a selection device for separating one by one, or singulating, the items of a stack of mail items, comprising a support surface, conveying means for driving these mail items over the support surface, a mobile presser plate cooperating with the conveying means in order to drive downstream a part of the mail items issuing from the stack of mail items to be separated and corresponding to a predetermined maximum thickness of mail items, and independent, individually mobile selection means for selecting a mail item from the mail items driven by the conveying means.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for moistening envelope flaps integrated in a mail item feed module and successively comprising, along a path of travel of these mail items, at least one pair of drive rollers for conveying these mail items, a separator for separating the flap from the body of the envelope, a moistener for moistening this flap once the flap is separated from the body of the envelope, and suction means disposed just in front of the separator and a presser finger acting against spring means in order, in the presence of envelopes with folded down flaps, to apply the envelope in the direction of these suction means and to detach the flap from the body of the envelope and thus allow its passage beneath the separator without jamming nor untimely contacts with the separator.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for moistening envelope flaps, comprising a reservoir of liquid, means for pumping this liquid and, disposed transversely with respect to a direction of advance of the envelopes and inclined with respect to a horizontal plane for supporting these envelopes, means for spraying on the envelope flaps a part of the liquid pumped from the reservoir of liquid. This inclination of the spray means corresponds to the angle of inclination of the flaps of envelopes with folded down flaps.

Abstract: According to the process for monitoring the consumptions of a plurality of franking machines through a public communication network, at least one franking machine not being connected to this network, a link is firstly established with a management server, through the public network, by means of at least one supervision terminal independent of the off-line franking machine, in accordance with a determined protocol of communication, and data is then exchanged between the terminal and the server during which the user acquires at the supervision terminal a current invoicing index relative to the off-line franking machine and receives in return a code of authorization to frank in order to validate the subsequent frankings of the off-line franking machine.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for recording an extension of guarantee of print for a system for franking mailpieces, comprising a display of an indication of “end of initial guarantee” at the level of the franking system; comparing a remaining volume of ink with a minimum volume of ink beyond which printing of the mailpieces is prohibited; and, if the remaining volume of ink permits, a display of an indication “offer of extension of guarantee” at the level of the franking system; if this offer is accepted by the user of the franking system, link with a server of the franking system distributor; and recording of the extension of guarantee in the distributor's server. The indication of the end of initial guarantee corresponds to the franking of a predetermined number of mailpieces.