A franking machine is ... A device for marking letters, parcels, postcards

Technical support of post offices is represented by simple devices, most of which are managed by ordinary employees without special training. This also applies to apparatuses that provide franking. This operation represents several types of application of stamps and stickers and, as a rule, is carried out with the help of special devices. Today, such tasks are performed by a franking machine. This is a small device that is easy to maintain and reliable. It serves to perform simple, but similar tasks in post offices, saving employees from painstaking work.

What is franking?

Initially, franking was introduced to enterprises as a way of registering the fact of payment at a certain tariff. In the future, only its marking function remained. In particular, the franking of postal items involves carrying out the operation of sticking stamps or other signs that a particular organization or telecommunications operator recognizes. Actually, the presence of a stamp is required to confirm payment for a class of services that applies to the marked mail. By the way, before the advent of automatic devices, franking was carried out manually. At first it was carried out by means of a regular painting, and then special stamps and labels were introduced.

To date, marking is done in several ways. For example, the use of forms with unprinted signs, imprinting, pasting of payment signs, etc. is common. Usually postal items are marked with franking machines, but there are other ways, including the use of seals and stamps.

The device of the machine for franking

Often such devices have a small body. Material of manufacture can be metal or plastic, as well as their combination. Developers tend to design machines with a focus on ease of use and attractive appearance. For interaction with the hardware, a display is provided. It should be noted that the modern franking machine is a fairly ergonomic device that is easily operated by buttons and represents information in accordance with the requirements of the maintenance staff. As a rule, screens are located at an angle, which increases the convenience of reading data.

In some models, special connectors are provided for weight takers, which determine the amount of collection. Today, almost no devices are found without the function of printing the results of work. Moreover, the newest devices mark the mailings with the indication of the identifier and the date. Usually this way incoming mail is registered.

Principle of operation of apparatuses

The work of the technique is built taking into account several parameters that can be introduced at the factory. For example, one of the main values is "Advance". There may also be different forms of reporting and the procedure for issuing them. In this respect, the franking machine is a complete device for input and output of information. Another thing is that the initial data and parameters for operation can be made at different stages of the maintenance of the machine.

Traditionally, the register block has three meanings. First of all, this is the already mentioned field "Advance", in which the counting account is calculated and the total amount of prints of the device is saved. A total amount of advances may also be provided, which is the result of the addition of machine prints from the time of its operation. Another value represents the number of prints that have been recorded since the machine was first used. When all parameters are set, the machine starts operation. This may require a cassette for the franking machine, which is a cartridge containing the ink ribbon. Usually the resource of such additions is not less than 1 000 impressions.

Maintenance

To begin with, it should be noted that the lifetime of such equipment, declared by the manufacturers, is possible only under the condition of observing the maintenance measures. First of all, the device should occupy a safe place in terms of mechanical impact and vibration. Next, the print heads should be checked regularly - this is done during the inspection of the nozzle. Also, maintenance of franking machines involves the replacement of ink cartridges. In modern electronic devices, special toner sensors are provided, which send a signal to the display a few days before the exhaustion of the print resource. Replacement of ink cartridges, as a rule, is carried out by means of simple manipulations with locks of the device.

Manufacturers and prices

For universal needs, it is worth recommending the Pitney Bowes products, whose models are capable of servicing from 8 to 12 thousand envelopes on average. Similar equipment costs 250-300 thousand rubles. Functional and productive devices in the same price category are offered by PostBase. In its lineup there is also a mail processing machine with integrated weights. This is a reliable and ergonomic franking machine, the price of which is 325 thousand rubles. The performance of this model from PostBase is 5 000 letters.

Conclusion

In addition to high productivity and functionality, franking machines are developing in terms of ergonomics. Modern versions are already endowed with touch screens, the ability to create graphs and provide inkjet printing principle. Also it is worth considering that the franking machine is not only a tool for marking. With its help, you can monitor the data for departures for a certain period. For example, it is possible to record indications for credit amounts, the number of parcels performed, to compile statistics on residual amounts, etc.