EP0984399A1 - Verfahren zum Thermodrucken - Google Patents

Verfahren zum Thermodrucken Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0984399A1
EP0984399A1 EP99402146A EP99402146A EP0984399A1 EP 0984399 A1 EP0984399 A1 EP 0984399A1 EP 99402146 A EP99402146 A EP 99402146A EP 99402146 A EP99402146 A EP 99402146A EP 0984399 A1 EP0984399 A1 EP 0984399A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
thermal printing
recording medium
thermal
mail item
printing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP99402146A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0984399B1 (de
Inventor
Claude Tetard
Annie Symanski
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Quadient Technologies France SA
Original Assignee
Neopost Technologies SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Neopost Technologies SA filed Critical Neopost Technologies SA
Publication of EP0984399A1 publication Critical patent/EP0984399A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0984399B1 publication Critical patent/EP0984399B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J13/00—Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, specially adapted for supporting or handling copy material in short lengths, e.g. sheets
    • B41J13/10—Sheet holders, retainers, movable guides, or stationary guides
    • B41J13/12—Sheet holders, retainers, movable guides, or stationary guides specially adapted for small cards, envelopes, or the like, e.g. credit cards, cut visiting cards
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00467—Transporting mailpieces
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00516—Details of printing apparatus
    • G07B2017/00524—Printheads
    • G07B2017/0054—Thermal printhead
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00612—Attaching item on mailpiece
    • G07B2017/0062—Label
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00637—Special printing techniques, e.g. interlacing

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of machines for franking and more particularly to franking machines provided with a thermal printing device.
  • Print head of these machines conventionally comprise several printing elements thermal arranged in line transverse to the direction of movement mail items, the implementation of which is carried out by control means according to a heating cycle determined according to the postal imprint to be printed. To allow this printing, a ribbon of thermal transfer is interposed between these printing elements and the article of mail on which the postal imprint must be affixed.
  • Thermal transfer ribbon is mounted in a cartridge consumable which is debited as the articles progress of mail, which requires the use of means of training and means for synchronizing the rotation of the ribbon with the advance of the mail items. Given the monetary value attached to the postal imprint, these various means must be particularly reliable.
  • the object of the present invention is to overcome the numerous problems posed by the implementation of the thermal transfer ribbon in conventional franking machines by proposing a process thermal printing whose reliability is greatly improved.
  • a goal of the invention is to be able to implement this method from a traditional postage meter.
  • Another object of the invention is further ensure consistent print quality over time.
  • thermo printing process of a postal imprint on a mail item using a mailing machine franking provided with a thermal printing head process in which first passes a pre-deposited heat-sensitive recording medium on at least a specific part of the mail item to franking in front of thermal printing elements of the head thermal printing, then we put in intimate contact the support recording with the printing elements and then order selectively heating these thermal printing elements to print the postal imprint on this recording medium thermosensitive.
  • the mail item is further coated the mail item freed from a coating composition.
  • the present invention also relates to a franking machine comprising a thermal print head provided with a plurality selectively heatable thermal printing elements and means for pressing a support against the printing elements of heat-sensitive recording pre-deposited on at least part of the mail item to be franked, in order to print a postal imprint.
  • the franking machine further comprises a wetting / gluing module to stick the printed label on the postage item to be franked into the mailing machine separately preferably postage by a second transport route for articles of mail.
  • the invention also relates to any mail item, in particular an envelope, provided at least in part with a recording medium thermosensitive and intended for the implementation of the printing process thermal according to the invention.
  • such a machine comprises a chassis 10 articulated in two parts, an upper part and a lower part, between which is defined a horizontal path 12 for transporting mail items 14.
  • a horizontal path 12 for transporting mail items 14 Along this path are at least arranged at the input of the first rolls of transport or drive 16 and at the output of the second rolls of transport or drive 18.
  • One or more sets of rollers intermediaries can also be provided on this path between the input and output rollers.
  • Each of these rolls is advantageously controlled from a common motor 20.
  • these motor rollers are of course associated to madly mounted counter rollers, respectively 22, 24.
  • a thermal printing device 26 comprising on the one hand a cassette or removable cartridge 28 containing a thermal transfer ribbon 30 and on the other hand a thermal printing head 32.
  • This head comprises conventionally several thermal printing elements arranged in line in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the articles of mail 14.
  • Push means 34 are provided under the print head to contact and ensure sufficient pressure of the ribbon thermal transfer on mail items when printing the postal imprint.
  • These thrust means which are controlled in synchronization with printing can consist of a roller printing plate or a printing plate.
  • the franking machine can also include a dispenser of labels 36 to allow the franking of packages or articles of mail which because of their thickness could not pass by the way of transport of mail items 12.
  • a path 38 of transport of these labels 40 joined this way of transporting mail items to level of the thermal print head 32 upstream thereof.
  • the printing process implemented in the franking machine mentioned above uses the technology known as non heat transfer and which consists of depositing by means of a heat source (the head thermal printing 32) of hot-melt ink (present on a outer layer of thermal transfer ribbon 30) on a support synthetic or conventional paper (mail item 14 or label 40 which will then be stuck on the postage package).
  • a heat source the head thermal printing 32
  • hot-melt ink present on a outer layer of thermal transfer ribbon 30
  • a support synthetic or conventional paper email item 14 or label 40 which will then be stuck on the postage package.
  • an improved printing method is proposed by what the thermal transfer ribbon (as well as the cassette that incorporates it and all the organs necessary for its training, its guidance, etc.) is purely and simply deleted, the support to be printed being beforehand covered with a heat-sensitive recording material intended to cooperate with the thermal printing head 32 of the franking machine for by heating the postal imprint.
  • the impression of this imprint mail is made directly on mail items which can be formed entirely of this heat-sensitive recording material or be simply fitted on a part of them, at the place of printing, of a film of this heat-sensitive recording material reactive to a heat source (see below).
  • the heat-sensitive recording material is composed conventionally of a chromogenic substance such as a leuco dye and a chromogenic developer such as a phenolic compound, which react with heat to form a color.
  • a chromogenic substance such as a leuco dye
  • a chromogenic developer such as a phenolic compound
  • French patent application FR 2 575 199 illustrates a coating composition intended to improve resistance to oils, solvents and water from heat-sensitive recording paper. Of even, in the French patent application FR 2 731 181, these are the specific characteristics of the heat-sensitive material which are improved to give it better resistance to UV radiation.
  • FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of an envelope 50 used for implementing the method according to the invention.
  • This envelope has an envelope body 52, for example made of paper conventional, on which is pre-deposited during its manufacture (by bonding or any other equivalent process), a longitudinal strip 54 of a length substantially equal to that of the envelope and a width sufficient for printing the postal imprint and possibly a slogan or logo, in the range of 25 to 35 millimeters.
  • the band longitudinal comprises the aforementioned heat-sensitive recording material and optionally an additional coating composition such as that described in patent FR 2 575 199.
  • the envelope can also be carried out entirely and not only in part from only heat-sensitive recording material and therefore not contain all of conventional paper.
  • Figure 1 shows a franking machine implementing the thermal printing process according to the invention. It has a chassis 60 articulated in two parts, an upper part 62 and a lower part 64, between which is defined a horizontal path 66 for transporting the articles of mail 68. Along this path are arranged several series of rollers transport including at least first drive rollers 70 in input and second drive rollers 72 at output. Each of these rollers is advantageously controlled from a common motor 74. To ensure the delivery of mail items, these motor rollers are of course associated with crazy mounted counter rollers, respectively 76, 78.
  • a thermal print head 80 conventionally comprising several thermal printing elements arranged in line in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of mail items is arranged on path 66 for transporting mail items.
  • Of pressure means 82 are provided under the print head for placing in close contact with thermal printing elements and material thermosensitive recording.
  • the franking machine can also include a dispenser of labels 84 powered by labels 86 preferably self-adhesive formed with thermally sensitive recording material.
  • a module of wetting / bonding 88 is advantageously provided downstream of the head to allow if necessary to moisten the labels and to press-on bonding (at eg exit rollers 72, 78) directly on the mail items introduced into the machine's entry preferably by a second transport route for these articles 90.
  • a coating module 92 can be provided at the exit of the franking machine to add this composition coating on the franked mail item in order to improve in particular its resistance to radiation and scratches.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Devices For Checking Fares Or Tickets At Control Points (AREA)
  • Electronic Switches (AREA)
EP19990402146 1998-09-01 1999-08-30 Verfahren zum Thermodrucken Expired - Lifetime EP0984399B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9810901A FR2782823B1 (fr) 1998-09-01 1998-09-01 Procede d'impression thermique
FR9810901 1998-09-01

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0984399A1 true EP0984399A1 (de) 2000-03-08
EP0984399B1 EP0984399B1 (de) 2003-01-15

Family

ID=9530011

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19990402146 Expired - Lifetime EP0984399B1 (de) 1998-09-01 1999-08-30 Verfahren zum Thermodrucken

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0984399B1 (de)
DE (1) DE69904896T2 (de)
FR (1) FR2782823B1 (de)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2829269A1 (fr) * 2001-08-31 2003-03-07 Neopost Ind Systeme modulaire universel de traitement de courrier
WO2003064159A1 (en) * 2002-01-31 2003-08-07 Neopost Limited Item printing system

Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0111335A2 (de) 1982-12-11 1984-06-20 Kanzaki Paper Manufacturing Company Limited Wärmeempfindliches Aufzeichnungsmaterial
EP0165601A2 (de) * 1984-06-19 1985-12-27 Pitney Bowes Inc. Wärmedrucker und Frankiermaschine mit einem solchen Wärmedrucker
FR2575199A1 (fr) 1984-12-21 1986-06-27 Nippon Synthetic Chem Ind Composition d'enduction pour papier utile notamment comme couche protectrice pour papier d'enregistrement thermique
US4705417A (en) * 1985-01-19 1987-11-10 Pa Consulting Services Limited Postal franking machine
US4739343A (en) * 1986-05-09 1988-04-19 Pitney Bowes Inc. Thermal printing system for postage meter mailing machine application
EP0494942A1 (de) 1989-10-02 1992-07-22 Astra Ab Verfahren zur herstellung von budesonid.
EP0550227A2 (de) 1991-12-30 1993-07-07 Neopost Limited Vorschubsteuerung für ein mehrfach verwendbares Farbband
EP0709215A2 (de) * 1994-10-28 1996-05-01 Pitney Bowes Inc. Farbdrucker
EP0714232A1 (de) 1994-06-17 1996-06-05 Maasland N.V. Vorrichtung zum automatischen melken von tieren
FR2731181A1 (fr) 1995-02-16 1996-09-06 Ricoh Kk Materiau d'enregistrement thermosensible et son procede de fabrication

Patent Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0111335A2 (de) 1982-12-11 1984-06-20 Kanzaki Paper Manufacturing Company Limited Wärmeempfindliches Aufzeichnungsmaterial
EP0165601A2 (de) * 1984-06-19 1985-12-27 Pitney Bowes Inc. Wärmedrucker und Frankiermaschine mit einem solchen Wärmedrucker
FR2575199A1 (fr) 1984-12-21 1986-06-27 Nippon Synthetic Chem Ind Composition d'enduction pour papier utile notamment comme couche protectrice pour papier d'enregistrement thermique
US4705417A (en) * 1985-01-19 1987-11-10 Pa Consulting Services Limited Postal franking machine
US4739343A (en) * 1986-05-09 1988-04-19 Pitney Bowes Inc. Thermal printing system for postage meter mailing machine application
EP0494942A1 (de) 1989-10-02 1992-07-22 Astra Ab Verfahren zur herstellung von budesonid.
EP0550227A2 (de) 1991-12-30 1993-07-07 Neopost Limited Vorschubsteuerung für ein mehrfach verwendbares Farbband
EP0714232A1 (de) 1994-06-17 1996-06-05 Maasland N.V. Vorrichtung zum automatischen melken von tieren
EP0709215A2 (de) * 1994-10-28 1996-05-01 Pitney Bowes Inc. Farbdrucker
FR2731181A1 (fr) 1995-02-16 1996-09-06 Ricoh Kk Materiau d'enregistrement thermosensible et son procede de fabrication

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2829269A1 (fr) * 2001-08-31 2003-03-07 Neopost Ind Systeme modulaire universel de traitement de courrier
EP1293936A1 (de) * 2001-08-31 2003-03-19 Neopost Industrie Modulares und universelles System zur Postbehandlung
WO2003064159A1 (en) * 2002-01-31 2003-08-07 Neopost Limited Item printing system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2782823A1 (fr) 2000-03-03
EP0984399B1 (de) 2003-01-15
DE69904896T2 (de) 2003-11-13
DE69904896D1 (de) 2003-02-20
FR2782823B1 (fr) 2000-11-17

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