1. Introduction

The Organismo Autonomo de Correos y Telecomunicaciones (O.A.C.T.) of Spain with the intention of obtaining greater flexibility when franking mail in the Post Offices, decided to use machines capable of charging according to the weight, with a simple sequence of key presses. 

The Spanish company EPELSA developed an easy to use franking balance which is to be found in all the Spanish Post offices.
The most important characteristics of these balances are : 

• Triple security system in the storage of the printed values.
• Issuing variable value stamps or self adhesive thermal ATMs with both a franked value and identification of the machine and town.
• Issue of a purchase receipt to the client.
• Display client and user.
• A keyboard with a luminous indication of key pressed organized according to type of correspondence, destination, weights and all other relevant factors.
• Printing of data of printed values classified by type of correspondence.
• An RS-232 interface that allows external equipment to do the following functions :
• Programming of tariffs according to the correspondence type, destination, after allowing for the different weights ...
• Access to the totals issued by the balance.
• Access to the balance peripherals ; Display, printer and label printer.
• User friendliness.

2. The models of postal scales

The CORREOS models

 

	This was the first balance manufactured by Epelsa to be used in Correos (The Spanish Postal Service). In 1981 Correos bought 325 of this model.  The franking cost was calculated by the machine according to the weight, destination, type of sending and postal tariffs. The balance could print receipts but not stamps (but not ATMs, see image) ; The stamps were printed using a external dot matrix printer connected to the balance. In the middle 90's they were replaced by the new Epelsa ET-CB. The model Epelsa BF-10C or Correos Comercial appeared some months later. This was a balance only able to calculate and show the cost of the franking according to the weight, destination and type of sending. The machine did not print receipts nor use the printer equipment of stamps. This machine could be useful not only in Correos, but in other companies which wanted to calculate the postal cost of the sending.

The ET-CB model

The Epelsa ET-CB model was the first balance which incorporated stamps or ATM printer - the first franking balance. It was installed from 1992 with a total of 1778 units in service. They are recognized easily by its black body and serial numbers from 0001.
 

	A keyboard that can charge automatically or can be equipped with a keyboard inhibitor that allows its use with a computer system. The balance printed thermal variable value stamps or ATMs with 4 digits, resolution of 4 dots/mm (100 dpi). They were used until December 2001 (after which the Euro was used) and the 1668 balances still in use were replaced by the model Epelsa RL/T.

The model ET-RL is the commonest in the Post offices, with 4070 balances installed and 150 more on public tender (April 2002), and serial numbers from 3000 (3000, 4000, 5000, 6000 and 7000). They have a yellow colour body and, at the request of the O.A.C.T. are linked to a computer system of mail processing called IRIS (Version 4.01). With the increase of the postal tariffs and the possibility of values greater than 9.999 pts being needed, these machines allowed the thermal printing of stamps or ATMs with franking value of 5 or 6 digits. This is a double possibility that all the machines have, being one of the options that could be selected at the moment of their installation and programming.

• The first one (ET-RLa) with metallic body incorporates a printing mall pillow of lower resolution (4 dots/mm - 100 dpi) and, therefore, the franking balances of this series print the ATMs with the printing varieties called "wide or large". There are around 500 units, with serial numbers from 3000.

• The second series (ET-RLb) with plastic or ABS body is more recent and incorporates a mall pillow of much greater resolution (8 dots/mm - 200 dpi), and the balances print the printing varieties called "small or narrow".

SPAIN. Post Office equipped with franking balances Epelsa ET-RL, are connected to the computer system IRIS. The equipment consists of the franking balance (weigh, issue ATMs and receipts), the computer and the printer for documents.

More information about types and varieties printing ...

The ET-RL / T model

In 2001 Correos arranged with Epelsa to replace all the old balances Mobba and Epelsa ET-CB with a new model of franking balance, the RL/T. This new equipment can only work in Euros ( € ) and allowed postal employees work only to work it using the keyboard to print ATMs or working with a keyboard inhibitor through the IRIS computer system which allows ATM printing and other postal services (postal giros, telegrams, track & trace, ...).

(Note that these new balances have the same serial numbers that the old type ET-CB, and that can cause confusion).

At collecting levels these new balances have a thermal printing head with high resolution (8 dots/mm - 200 dpi) identical to the one in the balances ET-RLb (2nd series); it doesn't really mean a new printing variety.

This model ET-RLT, also know as RL-POSTAL, allow its use by postal services in other countries, with just a very simple modification of the keyboard and the postal tariffs. This model has been installed, for example, in Costa Rica post offices, but personalized with its own colours and post logo.