Mailing machine utilizing ink jet printer

• US 5,813,326 A
• Filed: 08/16/1995
• Issued: 09/29/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Salomon, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Christopher A.
• Application Number:
  US08/515,771
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: 101/91, 101/92, 101/93, 347/4, 347/104, 347/105, 346/135.1, 346/136, 400/584, 400/585
• US Class Current: 101/93
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/51 with different feed rates
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/12 specially adapted for small cards, envelopes, or the like , e.g. credit cards, cut visiting cards
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/01 Ink jet
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16517 Cleaning of print head nozzles B41J2/16505, B41J2/1707 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00467 Transporting mailpieces postal sorting B07C
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00508 Printing or attaching on mailpieces printing mechanisms B41J; security printing B41M3/14; marking methods B41M5/00; inks C09D11/00; record carriers with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00532 Inkjet
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00564 Ensuring correct position of print on mailpiece
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0062 Label
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00637 Special printing techniques, e.g. interlacing

Abstract

A mailing machine is disclosed in which a digital printing device, preferably of the ink jet type, is mounted for movement between one of two printing positions, in one of which the printing device will print a postage indicia direction on envelopes being fed through the mailing machine, and in the other of which the printing device prints the postage indicia on a strip of tape which is extracted from the mailing machine and affixed to an envelope which is incapable of being fed through the mailing machine. There is also a third position for the printing device which is a maintenance position to which the printing device is moved after each or some other predetermined number of printing cycles for the purpose of cleaning the ink ejecting portion of the printing device and/or maintaining a suitable high ink solvent vapor atmosphere adjacent to the ink ejecting portion of the printing device.

Claims

1. A mailing machine for printing on first and second recording mediums passing therethrough, the mail machine comprising:

a first feed path, including a first feed path printing position, along which the first recording medium is fed to the first feed path printing position;

a second feed path including a second feed path printing position, along which the second recording medium is fed to the second feed path printing position;

a printing device mounted for movement between the first and second feed path printing positions; and

means for moving the moving the printing device between the first and second feed path printing positions;

wherein at times when the printing device and the first recording medium are each at the first feed path printing position the printing device prints on the first recording medium, and when the printing device and the second recording medium are each at the second feed path printing position the printing device prints on the second recording medium.

2. A mailing machine as recited in claim 1, wherein the first recording medium is a tape and the second recording medium is a mailpiece.

3. A mailing machine as recited in claim 2, further comprising means for controlling movement of the printing device between the first and second feed path printing positions depending on whether the tape is being fed along the first feed path or the mailpiece is being fed along the second feed path.

4. A mailing machine as recited in claim 3, wherein the printing device prints a postage indicia.

5. A mailing machine as recited in claim 4, wherein the first and second feed paths are spaced closely adjacent to one another so that said first and second feed paths are disposed in adjacent closely spaced parallel relationship.

6. A mailing machine as recited in claim 5, wherein the first and second feed path printing positions are spaced in relative side by side relationship so that they lie in a path of movement of said printing device.

7. A mailing machine as recited in claim 6, wherein the path of movement is in a direction that is perpendicular to a direction of the first and second feed paths.

8. A mailing machine as recited in claim 7, further including a maintenance position disposed in spaced relationship to the first and second feed path printing positions and in the path of movement of the printing device, wherein the printing device is moved to the maintenance position after a selected number of printings of the postage indicia has occurred.

9. A mailing machine as recited in claim 8, wherein the printing device is an ink jet printer having nozzles therein through which ink is ejected, and said maintenance position includes a maintenance device which services the ink jet nozzles.

10. A mailing machine as recited in claim 9, wherein the controlling means includes means for maintaining the printing device at either of the first and second feed path printing positions while a predetermined number of successive printing operations are performed by the printing device.

11. A mailing machine as recited in claim 10, wherein the controlling means further includes means operative to move the printing device to the maintenance position when the predetermined number of printing operations is completed.

12. A method for printing on first and second recording mediums passing through a mailing machine, the method comprising the steps of:

selectively feeding the first recording medium along a first feed path to a first printing station;

selectively feeding the second recording medium along a second feed path to a second printing station;

moving a printing device to the first printing station when the first recording medium is fed to the first printing station, the printing device printing on the first recording medium at the first printing station; and

moving the printing device to the second printing station when the second recording medium is fed to the second printing station, the printing device printing on the second recording medium at the second printing station.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the first recording medium is a tape and the second recording medium is a mailpiece.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the printing device prints an indicia.