Patent ID: 7984964

Claim:
An ink collection device for a servicing station of a franking machine, said ink collection device comprising: an ink collection reservoir for receiving the ink ejected, during a servicing stage, by ink ejection nozzles of at least one print module; and at least one drainage duct placed above the reservoir and opening out in register with said at least one print module while defining a gap between a top of said drainage duct and said print module; wherein said ink collection device further comprises at least one smooth pin mounted across said at least one drainage duct, being placed at a determined distance from said ink ejection nozzles and aligned on said nozzles, said pin having a diameter that is adapted to the diameter of said ink ejection nozzles and to said determined distance, so as to cause the fine ink droplets ejected by said ink ejection nozzles to coalesce to form a plurality of thicker ink drops, and so as to cause said ink drops to drip under gravity into said ink collection reservoir.