Abstract: A device for determining the category of mail of a mailpiece, which device comprises: an stand designed to receive said mailpiece; at least one gauge fastened to said stand and provided with a slot of predetermined length and of predetermined height, which length and which height are suitable for defining a determined maximum width and a determined maximum thickness for the mailpiece; means for automatically estimating a length of the mailpiece depending on its position on the stand, and relative to the gauge; and means for acting, on the basis of that single estimate of the length of the mailpiece, to deliver, to a franking machine, information about the category of mail to which said mailpiece belongs.

Abstract: A printing method for printing a mail item in a franking machine, the mail item carrying postal-imprint data and other printed data, in which method, during the process of continuously printing on the mail item in the franking machine, the other printed data is printed first, before printing the postal imprint data.

Abstract: A device for determining the category of mail of a mailpiece, which device comprises: an stand designed to receive said mailpiece; at least one gauge fastened to said stand and provided with a slot of predetermined length and of predetermined height, which length and which height are suitable for defining a determined maximum width and a determined maximum thickness for the mailpiece; means for automatically estimating a length of the mailpiece depending on its position on the stand, and relative to the gauge; and means for acting, on the basis of that single estimate of the length of the mailpiece, to deliver, to a franking machine, information about the category of mail to which said mailpiece belongs.

Abstract: A printing method for printing a mail item in a franking machine, the mail item carrying postal-imprint data and other printed data, in which method, during the process of continuously printing on the mail item in the franking machine, the other printed data is printed first, before printing the postal imprint data.

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: A cleaning device for cleaning the outer surfaces of a row of ejection nozzles integrated in at least one print module of an ink-jet print head of a postage meter having a base including a cleaning member for wiping the ink ejection surfaces, the cleaning member being mounted on a support member which is movable, by actuating a drive member which is linked to a connecting-rod and crank system, between a first position in which the cleaning member is remote from the print module and a second position in which the cleaning member has wiped the outer surfaces of the ejection nozzles. The cleaning member is mounted on one end of a sweeping hinged lever and include a compensating support member, having respective springs, each carrying a set of independent wiping brushes, in order to transform the initial circular movement of the support member into a rectilinear movement of the brushes in contact with the ejection surfaces of the print module.