Method for franking packages individually supplied from a stack by a franking machine

A method for franking packages individually supplied from a stack on a conveyor line to a franking machine, such as envelopes, mailing bags, sleeves, cards, labels, printed products, or the like, which are removed at the lower side of the stack for separation and which are supplied on the upstream conveyor line to a printing mechanism of the franking machine and which, after printing of the packages, are discharged from the franking machine. The packages are supplied on the conveyor portion via a switch to the franking machine and after printing are supplied counter to the supply direction from the printing mechanism of the franking machine via the transposed switch of a depositing device which is provided therebelow for printed packages.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority of EP 18 405 019.3, filed Sep. 11, 2018, the priority of this application is hereby claimed and this application is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method for franking packages individually supplied from a stack on a conveyor line to a franking machine, such as envelopes, mailing bags, sleeves, cards, labels, printed products, or the like, which are removed at the lower side of a stack for separation and which are supplied on an upstream conveyor line to a printing mechanism of the franking machine and which, after printing of the packages, are discharged from the franking machine.

Sleeves are intended to be understood to be inter alia closable bags of (semi) card for flat, in particular thin, products such as, for example, printed products, CDs or other items of a similar format.

The packages may of course be individually presented manually via a feeding device.

Devices of the type described in the introduction are described in the European patent applications EP 17 405 029, EP 17 405 030 and EP 17 405 031, wherein EP 17 405 029 relates to a device for franking individual flat packages which are removed at the lower side of a stack and which are guided in a transport direction on a side edge and which are transported or transported onward on a processing line between a feeder and a separation device in a cyclical manner.

In EP 17 405 030 packages are separated in a device and transported onward in a cyclical manner for franking.

EP 17 405 031 sets out a device for printing packages which are supplied individually from a printing mechanism of a franking machine and which on at least one flat side pass the printing mechanism of the franking machine in a manner driven in a frictionally engaging manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Based on knowledge of the prior art, the objective is to provide a method and a device produced accordingly for processing packages which as a result of a simple method and simple construction means functions in a reliable manner and can be produced under favorable conditions.

According to the invention the object was achieved in that the packages are supplied on the conveyor portion via a switch to the franking machine and after printing are returned counter to the supply direction from the printing mechanism of the franking machine via the transposed switch to a depositing device which is provided therebelow for printed packages.

In the print processing industry, a depositing device may also be referred to as a shelf.

With this procedure, a simplified processing and undisturbed transfer of the packages into the franking machine to the greatest possible extent and return in the opposite direction with the switch transposed into a depositing device, also referred to as a shelf, can be achieved.

This method allows a simpler and more compact construction of the device than before.

A cyclical processing of the packages consequently promotes control and reliability.

Advantageously, the actuation of the switch or the switch position when packages are supplied is carried out with the timing of the printing sequence of the printing mechanism of the franking machine so that an undisturbed start-up of production can be produced.

Preferably, there is provided to transpose the switch an independent switch tongue which controls the supply of the packages to the franking machine and the return of the printed packages in the depositing device.

Alternatively, the switch tongue can be controlled by means of a device for transposition.

A device for franking/printing images on packages according to the above method, having a feeder which receives the packages for processing and in which the packages are placed one on top of the other/beside each other, preferably guided on one side, and are each separated from the stack by a separation device and supplied to the conveyor line one behind the other in the conveying direction F, has been found to be particularly suitable for processing packages when the conveyor line of the conveying device which is connected to the franking machine in an actively conveying manner has a conveying portion having a switchable for guiding the packages on the conveyor line into the franking machine and in the opposite direction out of the franking machine, the printing mechanism of which has the switch tongue of a switch determining the conveying direction of the packages, so that a compact unit comprising the conveying device and the franking machine which can be operated as a separate franking machine by manually feeding the packages.

The device has been found to be particularly reliable if the switch tongue is constructed so as to be able to be lowered in order to guide the packages on the conveyor portion of the conveyor line extending transversely relative to the conveying direction and so as to be able to be raised in order to supply the depositing device (shelf) so that undisturbed transport of the packages to the franking machine and into the depositing device is achieved.

A simple embodiment has been found to be a switch tongue which is constructed so as to be able to be pivoted about a horizontal axle which is arranged transversely relative to the conveying direction F, particularly since, as a result of the desirably compact construction of the device, there is little space available for a mechanically and precisely functioning device.

It has been found to be effective and simple for the switch tongue to be constructed so as to be able to be independently adjusted by means of an irregular weight distribution on the axle (imbalance) in order to guide the packages on the conveyor line or the conveying portion and to afford/provide the conveying portion/conveyor line with the required stability.

It has been found to be efficient for the switch tongue to be controlled with the timing of the packages supplied on the conveyor line of the franking machine or with the timing of the printing franking machine so that a regularity is produced in the processing.

Advantageously, the redirection and adjustment of the switch tongue may be variable by means of a setting and adjustment screw which is arranged in a counter-weight of the switch tongue and which rises on a (fixed) stop and which enables/provides optimum adaptation of the switch to the partially different thickness of the packages on the conveying portion.

The conveying end of the conveyor line in front of the franking machine is preferably formed by means of two conveyor rollers which are perpendicular one above the other and which form a conveying gap and which provide a printing mechanism with packages and which remove the printed packages from the guiding shaft of the printing mechanism of the franking machine in an opposite direction and which can be controlled so as to rotate in a reversible manner about an axle which is arranged transversely relative to the conveying direction, and of which the lower roller is driven and controlled in a motorized manner and the upper roller is drivingly connected to the lower roller by means of friction.

There is provision for a free-standing, extension-arm-like guiding tongue of the switch tongue and a guiding plate which is arranged above the switch to form the conveying portion so that a conveying cross-section which is adapted to the thickness of the passing packages for optimal guiding thereof is produced.

The height of the conveying portion may be determined by the fixed stop for the counterweight of the switch tongue.

In order to promote the conveying efficiency on the conveyor line, the conveying end of the separation device may be formed by means of a conveyor roller pair of conveyor rollers which are arranged one above the other on the conveyor line and which form a changeable conveying gap which extends transversely relative to the conveying direction F and which is connected to the conveying portion which is formed by the switch in an actively conveying manner and which supports the reliability of the transport of the packages.

The construction of the device is suitable for the franking machine also not to require an upstream conveying device as a result of manually feeding the individual packages by the independent housings of the conveying device and franking machine which are constructed to be able to be separated from each other having housing openings which connect the conveyor line of the conveying device to the guiding shaft/printing shaft of the franking machine and which are connected to the conveying gap of the conveyor roller pair in an actively conveying manner so that a manual feeding of the individual packages is possible.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 to 4show a device1in four method/processing steps for franking and/or printing images of packages2which are stacked one above the other in a feeder3of a separation device4before they leave the feeder.

FIG. 1illustrates the device1when the lowest package2of the four packages2which are stacked in the feeder3in an inclined manner in the conveying direction F is removed, of which the remaining three packages2are guided on a front edge on a stop face5. The feeder3and separation device4form a separation station on the device1in which the packages2are each withdrawn/removed at the lower side of the stack7and transported further in the conveying direction F on an adjoining conveyor line8, wherein the individual packages2of a stack7may have differing thickness dimensions and/or format sizes. The conveyor line8has at least in the region of the separation station6two transport rollers9,10which form a conveying plane of the conveyor line8which is planar/slightly inclined in the conveying direction F and which carry the separated packages2and which are arranged one behind the other transversely relative to the conveying direction F and which are driven in the same direction. The transport rollers9,10advantageously have the same diameter and the same peripheral speed. The transport rollers9,10are supported at the lateral ends thereof in a housing11or frame of the device1and driven in a motorized manner.

The conveying plane formed by the transport rollers9,10and the lower edge of the stop face5which terminates thereabove with spacing produce a discharge opening12which can be changed by means of the height adjustability of the stop face5.

The packages2which are fed into the feeder3are detected on the conveyor roller10by means of an approach member13of the separation device4and the packages2which appear above the lowest package2are retained in the feeder3so that multiple removals are prevented.

As soon as the lowest package2is detected between the conveyor roller10and the approach member13, it is transported further by the conveyor roller9,10in the conveying plane in the conveying direction F and guided between the conveyor roller pair14which follows on the conveying plane and of which at least the lower conveyor roller15is driven, the upper conveyor roller16is located in a freely rotating and flexible manner on the lower roller15and forms therewith a frictionally engaging conveying gap.

The packages2reach the separation device4with the front edge in the transport direction F in each case orientated in a precisely positioned manner or in a uniform manner with the support of the stop face5of the feeder3which is inclined backward and which extends substantially over the width of the conveying plane.

The lower edge of the stop face5which forms the outlet opening12with the conveying plane19is constructed so as to be bent in the conveying direction F so that the outlet opening12remains undisturbed when the packages are transported. Furthermore, a feeding station of the present embodiment is described in EP 17 405 030 mentioned in the introduction.

FIG. 1further illustrates the conveying plane19in the length of the conveyor line8which terminates in a franking machine20. Between the separation station6or the end thereof and the franking machine20there is below the conveying plane8/conveying plane19a space which acts as a depositing device21for the printed packages2which are returned by the franking machine20. The depositing device21extends beyond the conveying plane19and is constructed by an upper guiding plate22which extends at the end of the separation station6or separation device4substantially parallel with the conveyor line8and at least approximately as far as the franking machine20.

The opening of the conveyor line8in the franking machine20is formed by a conveyor roller pair24which is arranged one above the other so as to form a conveying gap which extends substantially horizontally and transversely relative to the conveying direction F, wherein the lower conveyor roller25is driven and the upper conveyor roller26which is supported thereon is supported so as to be able to be raised by means of resilient pressure (tension spring27). The depositing device21which is located below the guiding plate22has a depositing base28for the printed packages2which arrive from the franking machine20and which are/become deposited one above the other.

There is arranged in a conveyor portion48of the conveyor line8, with spacing above the depositing base28and below the guiding plate22, a switch29which acts on the packages2and which ensures that, on the one hand, packages2which are intended for franking on the conveyor path between the separation device4or station6reach the franking machine20in an undisturbed state and, on the other hand, keep free the return path of the packages2which have been printed in the franking machine20in the depositing device below the switch29.

The switch29which is illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 4(rotation device) comprises a switch tongue30which can be pivoted about a substantially horizontal axle47which extends transversely relative to the conveying direction F and which as a result of a non-uniform weight distribution on the axle47can be independently pivoted upward, can preferably approach the guiding plate22, so that with respect to a guiding tongue31which passes over the supplied packages2and the heavier counter-element32on the opposite side of the axle47, there is produced an upwardly directed redirection effect against which the passing packages2act and thus use an auxiliary guiding means.

Of course, the switch tongue30could also be controlled so as to be (cyclically) driven in a motorized manner, in particular in order to process very thin packages2which have potentially inadequate rigidity for the lateral movement of the guiding tongue31of the switch tongue30away from the guiding plate22in order to form a conveying gap.

On the other hand, the upwardly rebounding switch tongue30is used for the packages2supplied to the depositing device21from the franking machine20or keeps the conveying path thereof leading into the depositing device21free. That is to say, the supplied packages2slide along or between the guiding plate22and the guiding tongue31or the conveyor line8between the conveyor rollers25,26and are transported by them through a rear housing opening33into the franking machine20, for which in the franking machine a housing opening34which is connected in an actively conveying manner is provided.

It is consequently possible to arrange upstream of a franking machine20a separation station6/separation device4or to operate the franking machine20in a known manner by manually feeding individual packages2.

The conveying speed of the packages2into the franking machine20at least substantially corresponds to the speed on the conveyor line traveled.

FIG. 1shows two printed packages2located on the depositing base28of the depositing device21.

The conveying end of the conveyor line8forms the printing position of a package2in the franking machine20.

However,FIGS. 1 to 4show for the most part a franking machine20which is composed/can be composed with a separation station6and a depositing device21for processing packages2which can be stacked in a feeder3.

InFIG. 1, the franking machine20is illustrated in a substantially operation-free state (without a package). It is possible to see a substantially horizontal shaft35to which the packages2are each supplied individually in the conveying direction F as far as an end stop36.

In this situation, the printing head41of a printing mechanism37which is guided on horizontal guide rails38is located in a rest or non-operational position of the printing mechanism37, remote from the printing/franking position.

FIG. 2shows the device1in a processing situation in which the separated package2on the conveyor line8has reached the transfer region39between the separation device4/separation station6and the franking machine20. In this region, the package2—as can be seen—is supported on the guiding tongue31of the switch tongue30so that it subsequently reaches the conveying gap formed by the conveyor rollers25,26and is transported into the guiding shaft35which is intended for the franking and printing of images (see alsoFIG. 3).

FIG. 2shows the lower position of the switch tongue30or the tip or the free end of the guiding tongue31which is brought about by the passing package2. The lower position of the guiding tongue31is determined/delimited by the counterweight40which rests on/strikes a fixed stop42, wherein the stop42is secured to the housing11of the separation device4or another available component. The position of the switch tongue30indicates that a discharge of the printed packages2from the franking machine20into the depositing device21is not advantageous, wherein the printing head continues to remain in the rest position of the franking machine20.

In order to displace or adjust the guiding tongue31or the switch tongue30, a setting and adjustment screw43can be mounted in the counter-weight4or in the stop42and is positioned so as to be able to be adjusted with the free end on the stop42or on the counterweight40so that the position of the guiding tongue31or the switch tongue30can be changed.

One method or processing step further on, according toFIG. 3the package2which has been previously detected inFIG. 1has reached the first destination, the guiding shaft35in the franking machine20, the printing position, and the printing head41of the printing mechanism37is located in the operating position above the guiding shaft35or above the supplied package2.

The printing head is released from the rest position into the operating position preferably before the package2strikes the end stop36.

The package2remains securely held during the printing between the conveyor rollers25,26which can be rotated in both directions, wherein the lower conveyor roller25can be rotated in both directions in order to transport the package2which has arrived in the conveying gap with the front edge into the guiding shaft35of the printing mechanism37and to remove it in the printed state from the shaft35or to place it in the depositing device21. The preferably resiliently loaded applied upper conveyor roller26acts as a frictionally engaging connection for the application of the transport movement in the conveyor shaft35.

The driving of the printing head41in the franking machine20is carried out via a traction drive44having an endless toothed belt45which runs around two redirection rollers46which are spaced apart from each other and to a strand of which the printing head41is drivingly connected.

FIG. 4illustrates the transport of the package2which has originally been removed according toFIG. 1from the feeder3during transport from the printing mechanism37of the franking machine20. The printing head37has returned to the rest position again. The printed package2moves into the depositing device21in which two printed copies have already been placed one above the other. To this end, the guiding tongue31of the switch tongue30has risen upward via the counterweight40and abuts the guiding plate22without disturbing the trajectory of a printed package2. The switch tongue30is, on the one hand, during the cyclical supply orientated by the packages2in accordance with the conveying gap of the conveyor roller pair23(seeFIG. 2) and after cyclical interruption of the separation is returned upward to the feeder3in order to release the transport space in the depositing device21.