(19)
(11) EP 0 718 106 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
10.12.1997 Bulletin 1997/50

(43) Date of publication A2:
26.06.1996 Bulletin 1996/26

(21) Application number: 95309287.1

(22) Date of filing: 20.12.1995
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)6: B41J 2/32
(84) Designated Contracting States:
CH DE FR GB LI

(30) Priority: 22.12.1994 GB 9425895

(71) Applicant: NEOPOST LIMITED
Romford, Essex RM1 2AR (GB)

(72) Inventor:
  • Lee, Daniel J.
    Warley, Brentwood, Essex CM13 3AH (GB)

(74) Representative: Loughrey, Richard Vivian Patrick et al
HUGHES CLARK & CO 114-118 Southampton Row
London WC1B 5AA
London WC1B 5AA (GB)

   


(54) Printing method and apparatus


(57) Digital printing apparatus is provided with a sensor (24, 25) to sense the roughness of a surface being printed on and the output of the sensor (24, 25) is utilised to provide a display to enable manual adjustment of power input to a print head (12) or to automatically control the power input to the print head (12) in dependence upon the surface roughness so as to produce a quality of printing independent of the surface roughness. This is of particular interest in relation to thermal printing and may be used in mailing machines to ensure a good print quality for franking impressions.






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