Abstract: This invention relates to a machine for franking mailpieces or labels, comprising a base and a franking module connected to this base, the base comprising first transport means for conveying the mailpieces along a mailpiece-conveying path, from a mailpiece inlet towards said franking module, and second transport means for conveying the labels along a label-conveying path, from label dispensing means towards said franking module, the dispensing means comprising at least a first delivery roll for supplying a band of self-adhesive labels of linerless type. These dispensing means preferably further comprise a second delivery roll for supplying a band of self-adhesive labels of linerless type provided with transponders.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for statistically following up postal products for electronic franking system, comprising a random access memory (RAM) used for recording communication statements, in which a saved part of this RAM contains a plurality of communication counters each associated with a determined postal product and corresponding to the total number of postal products considered as priority or secondary by the Postal Service.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for preparing mail items comprising both postal indicia and a service marking representative of a service associated with this mail item and previously requested by a user, this system comprising first standard print means connected to a computer terminal of the user itself linked, through an Internet network, to a server housing the website of a third party in charge of preparing the mail items, in order to print both the postal coordinates of the addressee and the service marking. Second secured print means constituted by a franking machine are further provided to print the postal indicia.

Abstract: This invention relates to a machine for franking mail items, comprising means for printing postal indicia on a mail item, means for detecting the position of this mail item along a path of travel of this item and control means linked to said detection means and to said printing means for proceeding with printing postal indicia on said mail item at a predetermined place, and means for acquisition and processing of an image of such printed postal indicia so as to determine the conformity thereof with respect to at least one predetermined reference image. These image acquisition and processing means comprise in particular means for determining a lack of registration of said printed postal indicia.

Abstract: This invention relates to a mail handling system intended for printing postal indicia on a mail item, comprising a franked label dispenser allowing the print of postal indicia on a label intended thereafter to be stuck on the mail item, and a control computer terminal intended to remotely control print of the postal indicia on the label. It also preferably comprises electronic scales for previously determining the weight of the mail items having then to be printed, control of these scales being effected remotely from the control computer terminal and the remote control from the computer terminal is advantageously effected by short distance radio link, preferably of the Bluetooth or like type.

Abstract: This invention relates to an aligning device for a feeder of a mailing machine, comprising a first rear aligning guide mobile in one direction of advance of the mailpieces and a second lateral aligning guide mobile in a direction perpendicular to this direction of advance, each aligning guide being adapted to be displaced in a respective groove. The groove associated with the rear aligning guide is inclined by a determined angle &agr; with respect to the direction of advance of the mailpieces, with the result that the rear aligning guide remains substantially centered on the small dimension of the mailpiece whatever the format of this piece. The rear aligning guide preferably presents the shape of a wedge having at least two successive slopes, a first slope of slight inclination and a second slope of steep inclination.

Abstract: A mail-handling machine comprising at least firstly a postage-metering or “franking” module comprising at least print means for printing a postage imprint on a mail item and conveyor means for conveying said mail item along a mail item conveyor path defined by top and bottom guide plates, which conveyor means comprise at least mail item engagement means including bottom means mounted to move vertically, which engagement means are disposed at the inlet of the franking module, and secondly a mail item feed module disposed immediately upstream from the franking module and comprising at least conveyor means for conveying the mail items, and a moistener device, support means further being provided for supporting the mail items as they move between the feed module and the franking module, which support means are suitable for being moved in a manner synchronized with the vertical movement of the bottom engagement means.

Abstract: This invention relates to a secured accounting module of a franking machine comprising a printed circuit card intended to receive accounting circuits and mounted between a module base and a module cover, the base including a plurality of crimping studs on which the card is fitted and which are intended to cooperate with locking bushes fast with the cover; an insert ring interposed between each crimping stud and the corresponding locking bush; a first connector for connecting this insert ring with the cover, after the cover has been force-fitted on the base; and a second connector for connecting this insert ring with the base, after the cover has been force-fitted on the base.

Abstract: A dynamic weighing module including a weighing platform, a vertical, longitudinal registration wall, drive belts for transporting the mailpieces from a position upstream of this platform towards a downstream position, and a support fast with the dynamic weighing module on which is mounted at least one bearing element intended to hold the mailpieces on the weighing platform during transport thereof from the upstream position towards the downstream position. The support element is inclined towards the registration wall by a determined angle &agr; so as to guide the mailpieces against the longitudinal registration wall.

Abstract: A mail-handling machine comprising at least firstly a postage-metering or “franking” module comprising at least print means for printing a postage imprint on a mail item and conveyor means for conveying said mail item along a mail item conveyor path defined by top and bottom guide plates, which conveyor means comprise at least mail item engagement means including bottom means mounted to move vertically, which engagement means are disposed at the inlet of the franking module, and secondly a mail item feed module disposed immediately upstream from the franking module and comprising at least conveyor means for conveying the mail items, and a moistener device, support means further being provided for supporting the mail items as they move between the feed module and the franking module, which support means are suitable for being moved in a manner synchronized with the vertical movement of the bottom engagement means.

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 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: 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: 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:

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: A franking machine includes an inkjet print head including a row of nozzles operated selectively to print a postal mark on a mail item passing under the print head. Only consecutive first nozzles of the row of nozzles forming a subset of the set of available nozzles in the row are operated to print the postal mark. Other nozzles of the row of nozzles, different than the first nozzles, are operated when there is no mail item in front of the print head in order to purge the other nozzles in order to prevent them becoming clogged in time.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing assistance in manual sorting of articles of mail performed by one or more operators having at their disposition storage elements or pigeon-holes corresponding to determined destinations, each article of mail containing at least one document.

Abstract: This invention relates to a machine for franking mailpieces or labels, comprising a base and a franking module connected to this base, the base comprising first transport means for conveying the mailpieces along a mailpiece-conveying path, from a mailpiece inlet towards said franking module, and second transport means for conveying the labels along a label-conveying path, from label dispensing means towards said franking module, the dispensing means comprising at least a first delivery roll for supplying a band of self-adhesive labels of linerless type. These dispensing means preferably further comprise a second delivery roll for supplying a band of self-adhesive labels of linerless type provided with transponders.

Abstract: This invention relates to a high-rate franking machine comprising means for printing postal indicia on a mailpiece and means for transporting this mailpiece along a mailpiece-conveying path, said printing means comprising, arranged side by side transversely to a direction D of advance of the mailpieces along said mailpiece-conveying path, a first printing module arranged in a first position (position of printing) above said mailpiece-conveying path and a second printing module arranged in a second position (position of maintenance/standby) set back with respect to said mailpiece-conveying path. The first printing module is associated with a first maintenance station and the second printing module is associated with a second maintenance station.

Abstract: A system for preparing mail items, the system comprising a general-purpose computer for preparing a document to be sent, a secure metering device connected to the general-purpose computer via a secure link so as to send it postage metering or “franking” information, a printer 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 and a postage imprint on an envelope that is to receive the document, and a folder/inserter connected both to the printer and to the general-purpose computer so as to receive and fold the printed document and so as to insert it into the corresponding franked envelope.