Postage meter

Having a postage meter ( franking, often franking machine ) mailpieces are automated with a value temple, a value print or only machine readable code provided and then cleared for shipment with the necessary postage.

Function

The postage meter is usually of a keyboard for entering the postage, three sealed counters, a stamp work and a conveyor belt. The first counter is the so-called counter specifications. He is by phone, stored value card ( in Germany until 2005), default at the post office ( discontinued) or charged via the Internet with a postage credit and shows the amount still available. The second counter is the sum counters. It displays the total amount of postage of the franked mail pieces with this machine. The third counter registers the number of prints and serves the statistics.

Using the keyboard to be paid the postage is entered or when digital devices ( with the Deutsche Post AG with the name " Frankit " ) selected the shipping method. If the device has a built-in or via a cable connected external balance, the postage required can be determined automatically based on size and weight. Then allowed to go through the mail pieces automatically by limited to the thickness of the largest allowable transmission passage and print the postage on the mailpiece. Here, the specifications counter pulls the stamped amount of credit from, the sum counter is incremented by the same amount on, and the pressure counter is incremented by one on. If the required postage is not more "loaded" on the specifications counter, the expression is denied. The postage charge is carried out today by phone or Internet in digital form.

The mail piece is coming to pass in the sump and front inlaid with stamp up / in the mail tray. For thicker mail pieces, there are deductible franking introduced a manual, side access to the machine.

At irregular intervals, the machine is checked without notice by the relevant postal companies to eliminate tampering. In Frankit devices, this is done by making monthly remote maintenance.

Print method:

  • Manual machines: pressure roller ( printing unit of a rotary punch)
  • Electrical machines: pressure roller, inkjet or thermal transfer printing
  • Frankit: inkjet or thermal transfer printing

The franking had to euro introduction at Deutsche Post the color red, but today they are blue. Because of the increasing prevalence monochrome thermal, inkjet and laser printers can now also the color black be used if the machine logs each stamping operation, and this protocol is given in the letter task of the post (except Frankit ).

From 1939 to 1998 machines were postal certified that (also expandable with various electric drives ) printed the adjusted postage on the mailpiece by pressure as a tape dispenser. This at the post office charged in Germany machines but are now barely operating.

Additional functions

  • Capping: As an added feature, some franking machines on the way to seal the letters automatically.
  • The dynamic weighing, that the weighing of a postal item during the franking operation with simultaneous determination of the proper postage has been marketed by Pitney Bowes on the market.
  • Cost centers function: Scheme used postage can be assigned to each account on the machine. This offers an additional cost transparency on the polluter pays principle.
  • Differential Weighing: Post pieces of the same but different shipping weight be given to the integrated scale. Each mail piece is lifted from the stack, it is determined the weight from the balance of the remaining stack and printed the correct postage.

Benefits

With a mailing large quantities can be automated franked mailpieces in a relatively short time. Large machines have a capacity of up to 300 items per minute. Furthermore eliminates the binding to brand value of the stamps. Each postage value can be printed out. The pressure of the sender information is automated. Recently, the printing of publicity or seasonal printing as Christmas greetings is possible, as is the Anonymfrankierung with shut off pressure address. Today's technologies allow special digital prints (eg data matrix code) the tracking ( track and trace ) of each letter.

Known manufacturers

  • Pitney Bowes, the inventor of the postage meters, the world leader in the U.S.
  • Frama, Swiss manufacturer
  • Francotyp -Postalia, the market leader in Germany (about 45 percent market share)
  • Neopost, the European market leader
  • Telefrank

Examples of franking imprints

Digital FRANKIT Franking in Germany

Franking in Germany ( old)

Franking in France

Franking in the Netherlands

Franking in India

Franking in Austria

Franking in Austria ( old)

Digital franking in Switzerland

Digital franking in the U.S.

Postage in the UK

Francotyp-Postalia Security seal Prepaid telephone calls Psychological manipulation Thermal printing Postage stamp Variable value stamp
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