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
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.
ET-CB model was the first balance which incorporated stamps
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.
that can charge automatically or can be equipped with a keyboard inhibitor
that allows its use with a computer system.
The balance printed thermal
value stamps or ATMs with 4
digits, resolution of 4 dots/mm (100
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
Two series, practically identical
had been manufactured (referring to itsí appearance) ;
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
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
The first one (ET-RLa)
with metallic body incorporates a printing mall pillow of lower
resolution (4 dots/mm - 100 dpi)
therefore, the franking balances of this series print the ATMs
with the printing varieties called
or large". There are around 500 units, with serial numbers
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".
2001 and until December many important modifications were made
in the computer system IRIS and in the EPROM
memory of all the balances to adapt them to the new Euro currency
making it possible to use the new currency when the Postal Authorities
decided to do so. This adaptation affected the graphic printed on the ATMs,
the receipts and all the process of security and account in the franking
Post Office equipped with franking balances Epelsa ET-RL,
are connected to the computer system IRIS.
consists of the franking balance (weigh,
issue ATMs and receipts), the computer and the printer for documents.
Post started to use the Euro in Post Offices between the 22
and 28 of December 2001.
about types and varieties printing ...
The first series
of Epelsa RLT franking balances (with serial numbers from 0001)
arrived at the post offices in Spain and Andorra in the
last weeks of 2001 but they weren't put into service officially until
January 2nd, 2002.
arranged with Epelsa to replace all the old balances
and Epelsa ET-CB with a new model of franking
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, ...).
2002 there were 1271 Epelsa ET-RLT franking balances in service.
these new balances have the same serial numbers that the old type
and that can cause confusion).
levels these new balances have a thermal printing head with high resolution
(8 dots/mm - 200 dpi) identical to the one in the balances
(2nd series); it does