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: A mechanical device for measuring the width L of a mail item on the fly in a mail handling machine in which mail items are caused to move along a mail item conveyor path, parallel to a reference wall; said mechanical device comprising a device for detecting a leading edge of a mail item, a downstream lever disposed across the mail item conveyor path and forming a determined angle relative to said reference wall, a device for detecting said downstream lever moving as the leading edge of the mail item goes past, a device for determining a movement distance over which the leading edge of the mail item moves between the device for detecting a leading edge of a mail item and a point of activation at which said leading edge activates said downstream lever, which point of activation is determined by the device for detecting the downstream lever moving, and a computation device for computing the width L of the mail item on the basis of said movement distance.

Abstract: A mechanical device for measuring the width L of a mail item on the fly in a mail handling machine in which mail items are caused to move along a mail item conveyor path, parallel to a reference wall; said mechanical device comprising a device for detecting a leading edge of a mail item, a downstream lever disposed across the mail item conveyor path and forming a determined angle relative to said reference wall, a device for detecting said downstream lever moving as the leading edge of the mail item goes past, a device for determining a movement distance over which the leading edge of the mail item moves between the device for detecting a leading edge of a mail item and a point of activation at which said leading edge activates said downstream lever, which point of activation is determined by the device for detecting the downstream lever moving, and a computation device for computing the width L of the mail item on the basis of said movement distance.

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: 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: 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 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: 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: 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: 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: Device for unjamming mail items retained in the transportation path of a mail handling machine, the mail items being transported by several series of drive rollers distributed all along this transportation path and at least two series of rollers (12, 14) of which are placed, with respect to the direction of advance of the mail items, respectively upstream and downstream of means (16) for printing the postal imprint. This device comprises manual control means in order, in a first position, to partly clear the transportation path for the mail items by simultaneously lowering the upstream and downstream drive rollers, and in order, in a second position, to completely clear the transportation path for the mail items by completely withdrawing all of the drive rollers.

Abstract: A secure digital print module designed to be mounted on the base of a postage meter for the purpose of printing a postage imprint, the print module containing at least one standard ink cartridge for ink-jet printing, which cartridge is provided with electrical contacts, said print module having a rigid cartridge support for receiving said at least one standard ink cartridge, a protective casing entirely encasing said at least one standard ink cartridge and fixed indissociably to said rigid cartridge support, and a flexible link support provided with electronic integrated circuits and with a plurality of series of electrical contacts for connecting the integrated circuits respectively to the standard ink cartridge and to said postage meter base so as to enable said standard ink cartridge to be controlled directly from the base of the postage meter. Preferably, the cartridge support can receive two standard ink cartridges.

Abstract: A device for offsetting a postage imprint in a mail-handling machine, the device comprising detection means for detecting an edge of a mail item, print means for printing a postage imprint on the mail item, and monitoring and control means connected firstly to said detection means and secondly to said print means so as to control printing of said postage imprint on said mail item as a function of a predetermined standard offset &Dgr;0 on the basis of the detection of said edge of the mail item, the detection means for detecting an edge of the mail item comprising means for retarding the detection of the edge of the mail item as a function of the thickness of the mail item, which thickness is determined using said detection means for detecting an edge of a mail item.

Abstract: A graphics printer including a device for ensuring contact between a print medium and a guiding platform at the printing zone of the graphics printer, including a suction chamber, a suction means for creating a partial vacuum in the suction chamber located beneath the guiding platform and a plurality of orifices formed across the width of the platform communicating with the suction chamber, the print medium being guided over the platform covering a variable portion of the width of the platform as a function of the format of the print medium, the suction chamber being provided with one or more partitions separating the chamber width-wise into compartments while leaving a limited air passage section between the adjacent compartments.