Mail processing system with a franking and addressing machine and method for combined franking and address printing

A mail processing system comprising:

• a digital printer device having a single print head, said printer device receiving print control signals which cause said print head to print an imprint, having a print format, on a print medium having flat sides;
• transport means for moving a print medium past said print head in successive first and second passes;
• a turning station connected to said transport means for receiving a print medium from said transport means after said first pass with a first print medium and for returning said print medium to said transport means for said second pass with a second print medium orientation which is rotated in a plane containing said flat sides by 180° relative to said first print medium orientation;
• control means, connected to said printer device, for generating said print control signals and for supplying said print control signals to said printer device, said control means comprising means for generating print control signals representing a first print form, with first format top and bottom, for printing said imprint in said first pass and for generating print control signals representing a second print format, with a second format top and bottom rotated relative to said first print format top and bottom by 180°, for printing said imprint in said second pass;
• and
• sensor means, connected to said control means, for detecting a print medium and for generating a sensor signal identifying whether the detected print medium is in said first pass or said second pass, said sensor means supplying said sensor signal to said control means and said control means supplying print control signals to said printer device representing said first print format or said second print format dependent on whether the detected print medium is in said first pass or said second pass.