EP0755028B1 - Device including a handheld electronic franking machine - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an arrangement for an electronic hand franking machine with an ink print head and with integrated means for Control and supply of the ink printhead.

Such a franking machine can be used advantageously anywhere where there is only a small amount of mail, but the desire for there is a modern franking imprint.

The mechanical forerunner of such a franking machine is the D2 franking machine from Francotyp-Postalia GmbH, which has been tried and tested over many decades. This franking machine works without prepaid cards, so that the user has to make a fee payment at the post office and there the post office official sets the default system in the machine accordingly and seals it with a seal, see operating instructions.
On the other hand, a franking strip dispenser system is known, see WO92 / 07338 A1, with which a date, a postage value and an advertising slogan are printed on a franking strip. A printing unit, a processor system, a read / write device, an operating device and a strip storage container are arranged in a common housing. The reader / writer is used to hold the postage credit cards and is connected to the processor system via information lines for the exchange of digitized data for the identification of billing and the individual advertising clichés stored on the postage credit card. The digitized data of the advertising slogan as well as control and security data are also transmitted between the processor system and the printing unit via information and signal lines. The system can be operated independently of the mains by means of batteries or rechargeable accumulators. For this system, the batteries have to provide the energy for both the printing unit and the drive of the strip roll, so they must be sufficiently powerful, otherwise the operating time is restricted. The strip storage container requires an appropriate volume. Due to the use of postage credit cards, there is no need to load the franking machines at the post office. However, the franking strips must be glued to the postal items and must be such that they cannot be reused or reused.

It is also a generic arrangement with a franking device for printing a value stamp a mail item is known by means of an inkjet printing device, see DE 27 01 072 C2. The pattern of the postage free stamp is composed of successive partial patterns. The Frankier contains an electronic control device for the inkjet printing device and their control sequence, a clock circuit for Clocking of the logic circuit in the course of printing and a Postage memory. The franking machine is one with its own Power supply stored microcomputer provided its clock circuit is operated by a detector device. The detector device serves the relative speed of the franking machine to determine against the mail item and as control signals of the To supply clock circuit. The clock circuit generates proportional to Relative speed clock signals for the logic circuit of the microcomputer. The ink jet printing device gives the successively respective partial pattern of the postage free stamp in time with these clock signals when the franker is moved over the mail item. to Two parallel axes with two each serve to facilitate movement Guide rollers at the ends. In the inkjet printer are eleven nozzles in a row transverse to the direction of movement of the franking machine arranged.

The detector device is constructed as an optical monitor. A source of light in the form of a light emitting diode is on the area of Focused recording medium in which the ink droplets from the Inkjet printing device are ejected. That reflected Light is received by an optical probe made of fibers Photo transistor supplied. The microcomputer is programmed so that a Ink droplet is ejected every time the printing device is operated. This enables continuous optical scanning is a tax model in addition to the actual franking imprint created in the form of a line that underlines the former. The monitor feels this line off. The photo transistor responds to changes in Pressure point to the free area of this control line and generates a pulsating Signal that is given to the microcomputer and its Frequency of the moving speed of the monitor over the Control line is determined.

A rechargeable nickel-cadmium battery is used for the power supply.

The housing of the franking machine is - except for the nozzle exit surface closed a cap that corresponds to the stroke of a The operating switch can only be moved by an authorized one Person can be removed. This takes place in a postage distribution center, when the stored postage is largely used up. The meter contains a number of input connections, all of them are accessible when the cap is removed. These input connections consist of two sockets connected to the microcomputer are also two sockets from the input of the power supply Possibility to connect to a charging source and finally a docking device for the ink tank.

After removing the cap, the franking machine is moved to a central location that has a main input connector that connects to a charger for the power supply, an ink supply and a postage calculator connected is. So the battery becomes in one operation Reloaded, additional postage bought into the storage register entered the microcomputer and the ink tank filled.

It is obvious that the postage distribution center is usually visited to recharge the battery and not postage. If the hand franking modern requirements - not just stamps But also a plush sheet printing should suffice, so an ink printhead is used needed with 192 nozzles. Such an ink print head has to set the required operating temperature and Ink output a correspondingly high energy requirement, which is not more can be covered in the course of postage renewal. such Ink printheads also require a customized cleaning device, which is completely missing here. Because the nozzle surface is always open there is a risk that the ink will the nozzles dry out and then clog them. If the Hand franking on four parallel wheels on the mail item is moved, there is a risk of warping and warping arise in the record carrier and thus the Print quality suffers. The determination of the relative speed by means of Differences between light and dark on the record carrier depend on of the color of the recording medium - dark - or less - bright - prone to failure.

It has generally been suggested for ink jet recorders a suction device for cleaning the ink print head to attach it yourself, see DE 27 25 761 C2.

Likewise, for ink printers with a moving ink print head, it has been proposed the nozzle exit area on the ink print head in any position to be able to cover the same, see DE 29 19 727 C2. For this purpose, a sealing device, which has a cover pad, moved by means of a holder with the ink print head. The sealing device is means of covering the entire range of motion of the ink print head extending rocker and one the bracket placed dome part from the outside into the nozzle exit surface sealing or releasing position can be moved. The Nozzle surface has a protruding collar, inside this the sealing device is lowered. In this way becomes a capillary effective and fill up with ink from the nozzles- the cavity formed. This arrangement is specific to office printers adjusted, relatively complex and the cleaning effect is exclusive achieved by means of the cover pad.

To increase the suction effect of an ink absorbent within a cap is another solution, see DE 32 37 411, a suction line led to the back of the agent, an external suction pump is connected to the other end is. In this way, the ink stored in the medium is removed at the same time.

Finally, there is an ink jet recorder with at least one an ink print head and a regeneration device are known, compare DE 37 36 916 C2.

A carriage with the ink printheads becomes a recording area driven into a regeneration and cleaning area. In the Movement brushes the nozzle surface against an elastic wiper lip over and is roughly cleaned in this way. In the regeneration area is a regeneration device with a cover to the Ink printhead docked with each row of nozzles respectively each ink printing module - with multi-color heads - covered separately becomes. The regeneration device works with a suction pump. By Vacuum removes ink, ink residue and air bubbles. Also this solution is specially tailored for an office printer.

A hand franking machine with docking station for reloading a battery is known from GB-A-2 247 376.

The purpose of the invention is to increase the reliability and the Field of application of hand franking machines with ink printheads.

The invention is based, for an electronic task Hand franking machine to find a solution that meets the modern Requirements for franking and cliché printing are sufficient and for one Regeneration - recharge of postage, battery and ink - in one central facility, such as the post office, is eliminated. In particular, a There is a possibility of cleaning on site for the ink print head and it is protected against dehydration during the break in use his.

According to the invention, this object is achieved according to the claims solved.

Due to the proposed solution, there are a number of Benefits.

The hand franking machine according to the arrangement according to the invention is by operation with a data entry means such as one Postage credit card, protected against manipulation; besides is also an additional sealing is possible. To the others Options for entering data into a franking machine are shown here not further discussed, but referred to EP 0 566 225 A2. The combination of an ink printhead with a replaceable one Ink tank, cleaning part and sealing cap as well as rechargeable battery with charging connection and optional modem with access to one Teleporto data center, the user has it in hand, his Always keep the hand franking machine ready for operation.

For printers and franking machines that are designed as free-standing devices are, a relatively large effort is made to a defined Transport and a defined position of the record carrier to the Ink printhead. Appear for a hand franking machine such goals - apart from the coordination between pressure and movement speed - unreachable after first consideration. With the inventive design of the chassis and the drive and the design and position of the wheels will be tightened for the first time of the record carrier in all directions within the Pressure area created.

Attaching the ink printhead to a lever that is in one Area between two stops is resilient and with a Spacer nose slides on the record carrier, secures constantly a constant distance between the nozzle openings and the Recording medium.

By providing only one roller-shaped front wheel, at Compliance with the touchdown point for the touchdown mark a pre-smoothing of the record carrier and a secure mechanical contact scored between the two. So that the driving speed through the incremental encoder connected to the front wheel is sufficient to be grasped exactly.

The provided centrifugal brake prevents the maximum permitted travel speed.

Because the housing of the hand franking machine resilient on the chassis stored and also ergonomically designed is one elastic operation possible.

The ink printhead is cleaned by ejecting ink the writing nozzles and / or suction of ink into the sealing cap in the Adapter, the ink from the Sealing cap is sucked into a suction tank. The cleaning process can usually be limited to the time in the printing breaks become.

The wiper lip is used in a manner known per se for rough cleaning Die face. The resilient mounting of the sealing cap with the associated one Guiding them in the housing of the adapter secures one Always defined position between ink print head and sealing cap and adequate tightness. The combination of the stop edge, Guide strips with bevels and counter spring in the housing of the Adapter and stop on the support lever for the ink printhead achieved a good locking in the end position.

It is obvious that this arrangement in a modified form too is very advantageously suitable as a product labeling device. Instead of Postage credit card with debit of the postage value can be a corresponding Chip card with product data and quantity count used become.

The invention is explained in more detail below using the exemplary embodiment.

Show it:

Fig. 1

An exploded view of an electronic hand franking machine with adapter,

Fig. 2

a perspective view of the hand franking machine of below,

Fig. 3

2 shows a longitudinal view with a section through the housing of the hand franking machine,

Fig. 4

a plan view of the chassis with partially cut away Housing of the hand franking machine,

Fig. 5

a perspective view of a longitudinal section in Area of the ink supply channel,

Fig. 6

perspective partial sectional views of the ink printhead and the centrifugal brake,

Fig. 7

a perspective view of the hand franking machine of below for a longitudinal section in the area of the incremental encoder,

Fig. 8

a perspective view of a longitudinal section through the adapter in the area of the suction channel and details on Sealing cap

Fig. 9

a longitudinal section through the hand franking machine and the Adapter before docking,

Fig. 10

a longitudinal section through the hand franking machine and the Adapter when docked

Fig. 11

a perspective view with an angular section through the Hand franking machine according to FIG. 10.

To simplify the presentation and for better understanding are the drawings partially schematic.

1 is an electronic hand franking machine a housing 1, a first assembly 2 and a second assembly 3. The second assembly 3 is on the first assembly placed and both together are arranged in the housing 1. The adapter 6 is discussed in more detail below.

• Einen Schlitz 10 zur Einführung einer Portokreditkarte 4,
• Öffnungen 11 für eine Vorderachse 221,
• Bedientasten 15,
• eine Öffnung 16 für ein Display,
• eine Öffnung 17 für einen Ladeanschluß,
• eine vordere und eine hintere Führungsmarke 12 sowie
• eine Aufsetzmarke 18 für die Frankierung.

The housing 1 is ergonomically designed for the hand. The housing 1 has the following individual parts:

• A slot 10 for the introduction of a postage credit card 4,
• Openings 11 for a front axle 221,
• Control buttons 15,
• an opening 16 for a display,
• an opening 17 for a charging connection,
• a front and a rear lead mark 12 as well
• a placement mark 18 for franking.

• einem Tintendruckkopf 21 und einem zugehörigen Tintentank 213 einschließlich dem zugeordneten Verbindungsschlauch 215,
• einem Fahrgestell 22 mit einem Fahrgestellrahmen 220, einer Vorderachse 221 mit zwei Antriebsrädern 2231, zwei Kupplungsrädern 224, zwei Hinterachsen 222 mit je einem Hinterrad 225 und je einem Abtriebsrad 2251.

The first assembly 2 consists of the following essential parts:

• an ink print head 21 and an associated ink tank 213 including the associated connecting hose 215,
• a chassis 22 with a chassis frame 220, a front axle 221 with two drive wheels 2231, two clutch wheels 224, two rear axles 222 each with a rear wheel 225 and a driven wheel 2251.

A spring 226 is used for the resilient mounting of the housing 1 on the Chassis 22.

• eine erste Leiterkarte 31 mit einer Schreib-Leseeinrichtung 310 sowie zugehöriger Portokreditkarten-Aufnahme 3101, einem Sensor 311 zur Geschwindigkeitserfassung und einem Lade- sowie wahlweisem Datenanschluß 313,
• eine zweite Leiterkarte 32 mit einem Mikroprozessor 320 und einer nachladbaren Batterie 321,
• eine dritte Leiterkarte 33 mit einem Display 330 und Schaltelementen 331.

The second assembly 3 is composed of the following individual parts:

• a first circuit card 31 with a read / write device 310 and associated postage credit card holder 3101, a sensor 311 for speed detection and a charging and optional data connection 313,
• a second circuit card 32 with a microprocessor 320 and a rechargeable battery 321,
• a third circuit board 33 with a display 330 and switching elements 331.

The ink print head 21 is connected to the second circuit board 32 connected for this purpose with a Connector 322 is provided. The third circuit board 33 is connected via a connecting cable 332 to the second circuit board 32 connected for this purpose with a further connector 323 is provided.

As can be seen from the view according to FIG. 2, the ink print head 21 attached to a lever 227. The lever 227 is about an axis 228 swiveling and spring-loaded. The lever 227 detects one Driver nose 2274 directed downwards for one in adapter 6 cleaning carriage 621 located.

On the front axle 221, a front wheel 223 is mounted, which as a roller Friction wheel is designed with an incremental encoder 2232, to which the sensor 311 is assigned. So that the driving speed regardless of the nature of the record carrier 5 detected and the ink printhead 21 by the microprocessor 320th be controlled accordingly.

3 is the coupling of the drive wheels 2231 via the two Clutch wheels 224 with the driven wheels 2251 can be seen. All bikes are expediently designed as gears, the gear ratio from the drive wheels 2231 to the driven wheels 2251 is greater than one. The rear wheels 225 consequently rotate slightly faster than the front wheel 223; this has the consequence that the record carrier 5 is pulled backwards. So that it only with a tightening of the recording medium 5 remains in the printing area, the rear wheels 225 are smaller on the outer circumference Coefficient of friction executed as the front wheel 223; one possibility is that they are smoother.

The drive wheels 2231 can be integrally formed on the front wheel 223. The rear wheels 2251 can be integrally formed on the rear wheel 225.

It can also be seen how a constant distance of the Ink printhead 21 is kept to the recording medium 5. To for this purpose, the lever 227, which carries the ink print head 21, a spacer 2271 formed on the movement of the Hand franking machine over the record carrier 5 on the latter slides.

A stop 19 is formed in the housing 1, on which the spring 226 is non-positively. The spring 226, on the other hand, is on the chassis frame 220 attached. In this way, the housing 1 is rotatable resiliently mounted about the axis 221 on the chassis 22. On the Representation of a lock with possible sealing waived.

Go from the connector 322 on the second circuit board 32 once the connecting cable 214 to the ink print head 21 and the other the connecting cable 312 to the first circuit board 31, see also figure 5th

FIG. 4 shows clearly how the rear wheels 225 in the direction of travel are placed inside. As a result, when the Hand franking machine over the same record carrier in Transverse direction is tightened.

In Figure 5 it can be seen how the ink print head 21 rotatably resilient is stored so that always a distance compensation to the record carrier 5 is possible. The lever 227 pivotable about the axis 228 has a stop lug 2272 and a stop lug 2273. The Stop 2272 is hook-shaped and engages behind one Edge of the chassis frame 220. The stop lug 2273 is for Bottom of the chassis frame 220 directed. A spring 229 is in close to the pivot point of the lever 227 attached to the latter and lies non-positively on the bottom of the chassis frame 220.

As a result, the stop lug 2272 comes into contact with the already called edge of the chassis frame 220. The stop lug 2273 then has its maximum distance to the bottom of the chassis frame 220. This distance also becomes - according to the lever distance - The maximum swivel range for the ink print head 21st certainly. If the hand franking machine on the record carrier 5 is placed, the lever 227 by the spacer 2271 pressed against the action of the spring 229. End position is when the stop lug 2273 bears against the chassis frame.

In the sectional view, the connection from the ink tank 213 is still over the ink hose 215 to the supply channel 216 and to an ink channel 217 of the ink print head 21 can be seen. The ink pressure chambers are omitted for simplicity.

The sectional view also shows the connection 2141 on the ink print head 21 for the connecting cable 214 and the axle 2241 for the clutch wheels 224 recognizable. The clutch wheels 224 are on the axle 2241 rigidly attached, which again in the chassis frame 220 is rotatably mounted.

The views in FIG. 6 show details of a centrifugal brake 25 and further details of the ink print head 21.

The centrifugal brake 25 is mounted on the front axle 221 and in built up in a known manner. The housing 251 is in the chassis frame 220 molded. The centrifugal brake 25 consists of a first brake shoes 252 mounted on an axle 253 together with associated stop 258, one mounted on an axis 256 second brake shoes 255 together with the associated stop 259 and two Compression springs 254, 257. The compression spring 254 is between the stop 259 and one leg of the brake shoe 252 arranged so that the latter by the spring force with his other leg against the Stop 258 is pressed. The analog is between the stop 258 and one leg of the brake shoes 255, the compression spring 257 is arranged, so that the brake shoe 255 with its other leg is pressed against the stop 259. If one is exceeded permissible maximum speed are those on the brake shoes 252, 255 acting centrifugal forces greater than the spring forces, causing the Press brake shoes 252, 255 against the wall of housing 251 and brake the hand franking machine.

The sectional view of the ink print head 21 allows the ink flow via connection 2108 for ink hose 215 from the ink tank Recognize 213. The ink initially flows into the supply channel 216 and from there via the ink channels 217 to the nozzle openings 212.

In Figure 7, the arrangement of the sensor 311 to the incremental encoder 2232 recognizable as an integral part of the front wheel 223 is executed. The scanning grid of the incremental encoder 2232 is so fine divided as required for the drive for the ink print head 21, thus the printing and transport speeds are matched to one another can be.

Figure 8 shows the structure of the adapter 6. The adapter 6 is in essentially divided into two areas. A first area for that Docking of the ink printhead 21 and a second area for the electrical coupling of the hand franking machine.

The first area contains a cleaning device 62 with a Wiper lip 620, a sealing cap 6210, a suction pump 623 and a suction tank 624.

The second area includes a battery charger 610, one External connection socket 611 for network and data, if necessary a not modem shown and a connector 616 for electrical Connection - battery supply, control data exchange - with the Manual franking machine.

The cleaning device 62 has a cleaning carriage 621 and a receiving part 622 for the former. The receiving part 622 is in one Not specified recess in the housing 60 of the adapter 6 used.

The cleaning carriage 621 includes those formed at its ends Guide hook 6212 the guide strips 62201, which on the Side walls 6220 of the receiving part 622 are integrally formed. The Guide strips 62201 are designed so that the Cleaning sled 621 both sliding on it undergoes a height adjustment as well as in the end positions defined stop. For this purpose the guide strips are 62201 at the ends with step stops 62202, bevels 62203 and pin-shaped end stops 62204.

The cleaning carriage 621 has one at one end plate-shaped stop 6211 and one from this protruding pin 6213. The stop 6211 serves as a driver, when the hand franking machine is inserted into the adapter 6.

The pin 6213 serves as a receptacle for a compression spring 625, the the other end sits on a pin 603. The pin 603 is on Housing 60 of the adapter 6 integrally formed.

The sealing cap 6210 contains a circumferential seal 62101, a Suction pad 62102, which has a groove 62103. The groove 62103 serves to cause a row of nozzles when the ink print head 21 is docked exposed. With several rows of nozzles, there would be a corresponding amount of grooves be provided. The sealing cap is over a connection piece 62104 and a hose 6233 with the suction channel 6231 in the housing 6230 of the suction pump 623 and thus connected to the latter, see also Figure 9. The suction pump 623 works with a membrane 6232. Es could also use any other suction pump become. The housing 6230 sits directly on the suction tank 624 and is flanged to it. The control of the suction pump 623 takes place via a connecting cable 614, which with the circuit board 61 and Control electronics not shown is connected. On the Printed circuit board 61 is also attached to a connector 615, of which once a connection cable 612 to the external connection socket 611 and on the other hand a connecting cable 613 to the plug 616 for the Hand franking machine goes. The cleaning procedure is done by corresponding actuation of the keys 15 of the hand franking machine triggered.

The housing 60 of the adapter 6 is trough-shaped in its upper part designed by pulling up the sidewalls 601. So that will a first pre-positioning for the hand franking machine to be put down reached. Then another precise guidance of the same achieve, there are still guide rails 602 on the side walls 601 on which the hand franking machine with its slide rails 13 is performed.

FIG. 9 shows the state in which the Hand franking machine with its driver nose 2274 on lever 227 comes into engagement with the stop 6211 on the cleaning carriage 621. As this movement continues, the pin 6213 presses against the Compression spring 625, the cleaning carriage 621 slides with its Guide hook 6212, the slope 62203 on the guide strip 62201 up and the charging and control connection 313 is on the plug 616 pushed. The contact forces are larger than that Restoring force of the compression spring 625, so that the hand franking machine in this position remains stable, especially since the suction forces act between seal 62101 and nozzle surface. Another A solution would be possible with an additional snap-in connection.

In Figure 10, the relationships between hand franking and Adapter 6 shown with full docking. The Cleaning carriage 621 lies here with its guide hook 6212 on the straight part of the guide strip 62201 and on the End stops 62204. The sealing cap 6210 lies with the seal 62101 non-positively on the nozzle plane of the ink print head 21. The charging and control connection 313 is completely on the plug 616 pushed. The outer part of the postage credit card 4 projects into the Pocket 604 of housing 60.

If necessary, the cleaning process can now be triggered become. Where appropriate, ink is transferred from the ink tank 213 over the Ink hose 215 sucked into the ink print head 21 and arrives here first in the supply channel 216. From the Supply channel 216 becomes ink through ink channels 217 and not Ink pressure chambers to the nozzle openings 212 shown in more detail. directed. The jetted ink hits the suction pad 62102, penetrates the same and then passes through hose 6233 to Suction pump 623 and from this into the suction tank 624.

If the hand franking machine after cleaning and Charging process pulled out of the adapter 6, the slides Cleaning carriage 621 due to the action of the compression spring 625 to back to the stops 62202 in the receiving part 622.

Both when storing and removing the Hand franking machine slides it with the nozzle surface of the Ink printhead 21 along the wiper lip 620 and is by this wiped like a squeegee.

The perspective view with an angular section according to FIG. 11 is used for illustrative support for the representation according to FIG. 10.

Reference symbols used

1

Housing of the hand franking machine

10

Postage credit card slot 4

11

Opening for front axle 221

12

front or rear lead mark for franking

13

slide

15

Control buttons

16

Opening for display

17

Opening for charging connection

18

Top mark for franking

19

Stop for spring 226

2

first assembly

21

Ink print head

210

Ink Print Head Housing 21

2108

Connection for ink hose 215

212

nozzle opening

2120

nozzle row

213

Interchangeable ink tank

214

Connection cable from the ink print head 21 to the second PCB 32

2141

Connection for connecting cable 214

215

Ink hose from the ink tank 213 to the ink print head 21

216

Supply channel in the ink print head 21

217

Ink channel in the ink print head 21

22

chassis

220

chassis frame

221

Front

222

rear axle

223

front

2231

drive wheel

2232

incremental

224

clutch

2241

Axle of clutch wheel 224

225

rear wheel

2251

output gear

226

Spring between chassis frame 220 and housing 1

227

swiveling lever for ink-printhead suspension

2271

Spacer nose on lever 227

2272

Stop lug on lever 227 for lower stop

2273

Stop lug on lever 227 for upper stop

2274

Driving lug on lever 227 for cleaning carriage 621

228

Axle for lever 227

229

Spring for lever 227

25

centrifugal brake

251

Centrifugal brake housing 25

252

first brake shoes

253

Brake shoe axle 252

254

Pressure spring for brake shoes 252

255

second brake shoes

256

Brake shoe axle 255

257

Pressure spring for brake shoes 255

258

Stop for brake shoes 252

259

Stop for brake shoes 255

3

second assembly

31

first circuit board

310

Read writer

3101

Postage credit card holders

311

Sensor for incremental encoder 2232

312

Connection cable to the second circuit board 32

313

Charging and control connection

32

second circuit board

320

Control electronics, microprocessor

321

Battery, rechargeable

322

Connector for connecting cables 312 and 214

323

Connector for connecting cable 332

33

third circuit board

330

display

331

switching elements

332

Connection cable to the second circuit board 32

4

Postage credit card

5

Record carriers, postal items

6

adapter

60

Housing of the adapter 6

601

Side wall of the housing 60

602

Guide rail on side wall 601

603

Pin for compression spring 625

604

Pocket in housing 60 for postage credit card 4

61

PCB

610

Battery charger

611

External connection socket for network and data

612

Connection cable from the external connection socket 611 to PCB 61

613

Connection cable from circuit board 61 to connector 615 or to the hand franking machine

614

Connection cable from the circuit board 61 to the cleaning device 62 or the suction pump 623

615

Connector for connecting cable 612

616

Plug for hand franking machine

62

cleaning device

620

wiper lip

621

cleaning carriage

6210

sealing cap

62101

Seal in the sealing cap 6210

62102

Suction pad in the sealing cap 6210

62103

Groove in suction pad 62102

62104

Connection piece on the sealing cap 6210 for hose 6233

6211

Stop on cleaning carriage 621

6212

Guide hook on cleaning carriage 621

6213

Pin on cleaning carriage 621

622

Receiving part for cleaning carriage 621

6220

Side wall of the receiving part 622

62201

Guide strips for guide hook 6212

62202

Stop in guide strips 6220

62203

Slant in the guide strip 62201

62204

End stop in guide strips 62201

623

suction pump

6230

Suction pump housing 623

6231

Suction channel in housing 6230

6232

Membrane in housing 6230

6233

Hose from suction pump 623 to sealing cap 6210

624

extraction tank

625

compression spring

Claims (20)

1. Arrangement with an electronic hand franking machine with an ink print head having integrated means for the control and supply of the ink print head, wherein a first subassembly (2) comprising a carriage (22) and an ink print head (21) with an exchangeable ink tank (213) and a second subassembly (3) comprising at least one data input device for recrediting, control electronics as well as a rechargeable battery (321) with charging connection (313) are arranged in a housing (1) of the hand franking machine, and there is provided an adapter (6) having a mains and, if required, data connection (611) and a battery charging device (610),
   characterized in that the adapter (6) is provided with a cleaning device (62) and is designed as a rack and docking station for the hand franking machine for recharging the battery and for cleaning and sealing the ink print head.
2. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the carriage (22) has a rigid carriage frame (220) having a front axle (221) rotatably mounted in it and at least one rear axle (222) either rigidly or rotatably mounted in it as well as wheels (223, 225) fixed on the axles (221, 222); that the carriage frame (220) is hung into housing (1) with the front axle (221) and both are arranged in an elastically slewable relation to each other; and that the ink print head (21) is fixed to a lever (227) that is mounted elastically slewably in relation to the carriage frame (220) around an axle (228) mounted in said carriage frame (220).
3. An arrangement according to claims I and 2, characterized in that there is provided only one front wheel (223) designed in the form of a cylindrical friction wheel with an incremental transmitter (2232) the appertaining sensor (311) of which is connected to the second subassembly (3).
4. An arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the two rear wheels (225) are inclined inwardly in the direction of travel.
5. An arrangement according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that, on the front axle (221) on both sides of the front wheel (223) and in synchronous movement with it, there are arranged driving wheels (2231) that, over coupling wheels (224), are coupled to driven wheels (2251) that are arranged on the rear axle (222) in synchronous movement with the rear wheels (225); and that the transmission ratio from the driving wheels (2231) to the driven wheels (2251) is bigger than one.
6. An arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that the rear wheels (225) are smoother on their outer perimeter than the front wheels (223).
7. An arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that the driving wheels (2231) are moulded on the front wheel (223) and the driven wheels (2251) are moulded on the rear wheels (225).
8. An arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that the driving wheels (2231), the coupling wheels (224) and the driven wheels (2251) are designed as toothed wheels.
9. An arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that the coupling wheels (224) are attached rigidly to an axle (2241) the latter being rotatably mounted in the carriage frame (220).
10. An arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that, on the front axle (221), there is arranged a centrifugal brake (25) the housing (251) of which serves as a brake cylinder and is fixed to the carriage frame (220).
11. An arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that a spring (226) is fixed to the carriage frame (220) and abuts under tension on a stopper (19) in the housing (1).
12. An arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that, on the lever (227) carrying the ink print head (21), there is mounted a spring (229) that abuts under tension on the carriage frame (220); that two stop dogs (2272, 2273) are moulded on lever (227) for limiting the swivelling range of said lever (227); and that moreover a distance dog (2271) is moulded on lever (227) that serves to provide for a constant distance between the nozzle openings (2120) and a print medium (5).
13. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning device (62) is mainly composed of a wiping lip (620), an elastically movable cleaning sledge (621) with a sealing cap (6210), a suction pump (623) connected to it via a hose (6233) as well as a suction tank (624) and a receiving part (622) for the cleaning sledge (621).
14. An arrangement according to claims 12 and 13, characterized in that the housing (60) of the adapter (6) is provided with one fixed guide rail (602) each on both side walls (601) for guiding and receiving the hand franking machine and that, on the lever (227) carrying the ink print head (21), there is formed a driving lug (2274) that can be engaged with an assigned stopper (6211) provided on the cleaning sledge (621) that for its part is positively coupled with the receiving part (622) movably in longitudinal and horizontal direction against a pressure spring (625).
15. An arrangement according to claim 14, characterized in that the pressure spring (625) is mounted on a stud (603) on the housing (60) of the adapter (6) on the one side and on a stud (6213) on the cleaning sledge (621) on the other side.
16. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterizedin that the adapter (6) is provided with an external connector jack (611) for mains supply and, if required, also for data and, in the latter case, contains a modem.
17. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the hand franking machine can be electrically coupled to the adapter (6) by means of a plug-in connection of a charging and control connector (313) in the hand franking machine and a plug (616) in the adapter (6).
18. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterizedin that a postage credit card (4) with a respective read-write device (310) is used as data input device.
19. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the control electronics (320) consist of a microprocessor.
20. An arrangement according to claims 18 and 19, characterized in that the microprocessor (320) is connected to the read-write device (310) by a first connecting cable (312) and to the ink print head (21) or its respective actuators and sensors by a second connecting cable (214).

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