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EP 0 298 775 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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09.06.2004 Bulletin 2004/24 |
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Date of filing: 08.07.1988 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC)7: G02B 17/02 |
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Franking machine
Frankiermaschine
Machine à affranchir
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Designated Contracting States: |
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DE FR GB |
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Priority: |
09.07.1987 GB 8716183
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Date of publication of application: |
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11.01.1989 Bulletin 1989/02 |
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Divisional application: |
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01122156.1 |
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Proprietor: NEOPOST LIMITED |
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Romford,
Essex RM1 2AR (GB) |
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Inventor: |
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- Gilham, Dennis Thomas
Brentwood
Essex CM13 2SL (GB)
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Representative: Boden, Keith McMurray et al |
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Fry Heath & Spence LLP
The Gables
Massetts Road Horley
Surrey RH6 7DQ Horley
Surrey RH6 7DQ (GB) |
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References cited: :
EP-A- 0 230 658 DE-A- 3 712 100
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DE-A- 3 132 765 US-A- 4 636 975
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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[0001] This invention relates to franking machines.
[0002] Known franking machines comprise a printer in the form of a print drum carrying a
fixed die and settable print wheels for printing a franking impression on a mail item
such as an envelope or label and an electronic unit for carrying out accounting and
control unit functions. The electronic unit includes registers for storing a value
of credit available for use in franking, a total value of franking used by the machine
and a count of the number of mail items franked by the machine. The machine is also
provided with a keyboard whereby a user may enter data into the franking machine and
a display device to enable the franking machine to communicate data and operational
information to the user. When it is desired to use the machine for franking a mail
item, a user enters by means of a keyboard the value of franking desired and the electronic
unit checks to ensure that there is sufficient credit available for the desired franking.
If the available credit is sufficient the unit decrements the value of credit remaining
in a descending register, increments an ascending register to indicate the new total
of franking values used and increments the count of mail items franked and outputs
a print control signal to permit printing to take place. The electronic unit sets
the print wheels of the printer to print the required value of franking and provided
the print control signal has been output the printer is operated to print the required
franking.
[0003] With currently available franking machines using a print drum only a fixed format
franking impression with variable postage charge value and date can be printed and
hence the operations of addressing envelopes and inserting material into the envelopes
are separated from the franking of the mail items. For example, addressing and filling
envelopes is usually carried out by secretaries and typists whereas the franking operation
is carried out in a mail room. Thus the envelopes are placed into typewriters or the
like for the printing of a destination address and then after filling are carried
to the mail room where the sealed envelopes are fed through a franking machine. As
a result each mail item has to be handled a number of times.
[0004] GB Patent specification 2 174 039 discloses a system for applying postage information
and mail addresses to mail items. Postage and address information is input by a user
to a computer and the computer outputs this information to an accounting unit. The
accounting unit includes memory storing postage funds and upon receipt of the postage
information checks that sufficient funds are available. The accounting unit generates
encrypted information relating to the postage information and outputs to the computer
the encrypted postage information and plain text address information. A printer is
connected to the computer and is controlled by the computer to print the encrypted
postage information and the address on a mail item. The printer is a non-secure printer,
and since it is connected to and controlled by the computer, it is necessary to print
the postage information in encrypted form.
[0005] EP-A-0 125 526 discloses a postage meter device comprising a postage meter for printing
a franking impression and a control unit for controlling the postage meter.
[0006] Accordingly, the prerent invention provides the printing and franking device of claim
1.
[0007] An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference by way of example
to the drawings in which:-
Figure 1 shows a block schematic diagram of a personal computer or workstation connected
to a franking and addressing device and
Figure 2 is a flow chart showing a sequence of steps in carrying out addressing and
franking of an envelope or label.
[0008] Referring first to Figure 1, a personal computer or workstation 10 has a peripheral
device 11 connected to it by a multi-way cable 12. The personal computer 10 comprises
a micro-processor 13 for carrying out data processing operations, a random access
memory 14 and a floppy and/or hard disk store 15 for storing data. One or more input/output
ports 16 are provided for sending and receiving data between the micro-processor 13
and other devices such as the peripheral device 11. The personal computer has a keyboard
17 for the input of data by a user and a display 18 for displaying data to the user.
Such personal computers are well known and accordingly it is considered un-necessary
for the understanding of the invention to describe the construction and operation
of the computer in greater detail. Personal computers are commonly used under the
control of a so-called word processing program for the typing of documents by means
of the keyboard and for the subsequent amendment and correction of the typed data
when required. During entry of the data comprising the document and amendment of the
data, the data is stored in the random access memory 14. Subsequently the data may
be written to the floppy or hard disk store 15 for retention. The data comprising
the document may be output through one of the ports 16 to a printer to produce a hard
copy of the document on paper.
[0009] As will be appreciated when the document typed into the computer consists of a letter
there is usually a requirement to type a destination address on an envelope in which
the letter is to be inserted. The peripheral device 11 is utilised not only for printing
the destination address on the envelope but also to print a franking impression and/or
code on the envelope. The device 11 comprises a micro-controller 19 for carrying out
accounting and control functions, non-volatile memories 20, 21 containing registers
for storing values of credit available for use in franking, the total value of franking
used and a count of the number of mail items franked. The memories 20, 21 are identical
to one another and store duplicate copies of the credit and usage data in order to
ensure that the data is stored in a manner such that if the device should be subject
to mal-function the data can be retrieved without corruption. The device 11 also includes
a printer 22 operable to print an address and a franking impression on a mail item.
An input/output port 23 connected to the micro-controller 19 provides an interface
to the external cable 12 for the receipt and sending of data. In order to provide
security and prevent fraudulent use of the franking machine 11, the micro-controller
19, memories 20, 21 and the input/output port 23 are housed in a secure casing 24
which can be sealed by the postal authority. The input/output port 23 is accessible
from the exterior of the casing 24 to permit insertion of a connector plug on the
end of the cable 12. The electronic circuits in the interior of the casing are protected
from damaging voltages applied to the connections of the port 23 by means of protection
circuits incorporated in the port. The protection circuits may include devices such
as zener diodes to prevent excessive voltages appearing on the connections and fuses
to prevent flow of excessive current.
[0010] In order to utilise the personal computer 10 to control the operation of the printing
and franking device 11, the computer is provided with a program in addition to the
usual word processing program. This additional program is entered by the user keying
an appropriate command on the keyboard. The sequence of major steps carried out by
the additional program is shown in Figure 2. Upon the user entering the address/franking
mode, the program checks that the device 11 is connected to the input/output port
16 of the computer 10 and that the device 11 is operational. If connection of an operational
device is not detected the program returns to its start and an error message is displayed.
If connection of operational device 11 is detected the program displays a series of
requests on the display to which requests the user is required to key in an acceptable
response. It is preferred that the device 11 is provided with means 25 for selectively
feeding different sizes of envelopes from hoppers to the printer 22. A device for
feeding envelopes is described and claimed in our co-pending UK patent application
No. 8716185. If such feeding means 25 is provided, the program requests the user to
enter the size of envelope required. Next the program requests the destination address.
Conveniently all destination addresses to be used are held in a data base of addresses
in the disk store. Thus the user, in response to the request for the destination address,
may enter a key word or number by which the required address may be retrieved from
the data base. Lastly the user is requested to enter the postage value required. Upon
receipt of this last response, the computer outputs, via the port 16, data representing
the address and the postage value and an indication of the size of envelope selected
by the user. Upon receipt of this data the micro-controller 19 carries out a check
on the contents of the descending register to ascertain whether sufficient credit
is available for the required franking. If sufficient credit is available, the micro-controller
operates an envelope selector and feed mechanism to feed a selected size of envelope
to the printer and routes the data to control circuits 26 of the printer to effect
printing of the franking and of the destination address by printing means 27. The
micro-controller 19 returns an acknowledgement of receipt of the franking data to
the computer 10. If desired the computer may be programmed to display a message indicating
that franking of an envelope is proceeding. In the event that insufficient credit
is available an error signal is returned to the computer to cause the computer to
display an "insufficient credit" message.
[0011] If desired, the last request for the user to specify the postage value may be modified.
Instead the user may be requested to specify the number of sheets of paper intended
to be inserted in the envelope and the postage rate applicable to the destination
address. The computer stores a look-up table from which it is programmed to calculate
the combined weight of the envelope selected and the intended contents and to calculate
the postage value from the applicable postage rate. If desired the addresses held
in the data base may have associated therewith a code indicating the postage rate
applicable to the respective addresses. Hence the user would not need to enter the
postage rate.
[0012] The printer preferably uses a dot matrix type of print head in which selective operation
of print elements causes selected dots to be printed in a column on the envelope.
By repeated selection and operation of the print elements in synchronism with feeding
of the envelope past the print head a complete pattern may be printed. The printing
means 27 may include two separate print heads, one head 28 being positioned to print
the franking impression 29 and any other material along the upper portion of an envelope
30 and the other head 31 being positioned to print an address 32 in a central portion
of the envelope. However if desired a single print head spanning both the franking
and address portions of the envelope may be used. The printer control circuit 26 includes
a character generator circuit operative in response to the data signal input from
the computer 10 to produce print element drive signals such as to effect printing
of the required characters and symbols on the envelope. A suitable form of dot printer
is a thermal transfer printer in which ink carried on a thermal transfer ribbon fed
in contact with the face of the envelope is transferred by printing elements adjacent
the rear of the ribbon which are heated selectively.
[0013] The computer may receive information via an internal or external modem 33 from a
resetting centre to update the credit value in the franking machine registers. For
reasons of security the computer would simply act as a courier of the information
received from the resetting centre and may provide some non-secure application functions
relating to the interface. Thus coded data received from the resetting centre would
be passed to the franking machine in coded form without change and the coded data
would be operated upon solely within the sealed secure housing of the franking machine.
1. A printing and franking device (11) for operation by computer means (10), comprising:
electronic means (19) operable to carry out accounting and control functions; register
means (20,21) for storing a value of credit available for use in franking; input means
(23) connected to said electronic means (19) for receiving data relating to franking
and addressing of mail items (30) from computer means (10); and printing means (22);
said electronic means (19) being operative in response to received data relating to
a desired franking to interrogate said register means (20,21) to check if sufficient
credit is available for said desired franking, and being further operative, if said
check indicates sufficient credit, to route said received data relating to franking
and addressing to said printer means (22) to cause said printer means (22) to print
a franking (29)and an address (32) on a mail item (30).
2. A device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: feeding means (25) operable to
select a mail item (30) comprising an envelope or label and feed said selected mail
item (30) to said printer means (22); and wherein said electronic means (19) is operable
in response to a mail item selection signal to operate said feeding means (25).
3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said printing means (22) includes a plurality
of dot printing elements (28,31) selectively operable to print said franking (29)
and said address (32).
4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said printing elements (28,31) are arranged
in two groups, one group (28) being positioned to print said franking (29) and the
other group (31) being positioned to print said address (32).
5. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said printing elements (28,31) are disposed
to print dots in a column on said mail item (30), and said printing means (22) includes
print control means (26) operative to repeatedly select and operate said, print elements
(28,31) in synchronism with feeding of said mail item (30) past said printing elements
(28,31).
6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim in combination with a computer (10) having
output means (16) connected to said input means (23) and programmed to be operable
to send data relating to franking and addressing to said printing and franking device
(11).
7. A device in combination with a computer as claimed in claim 6 wherein said printing
and franking device (11) is operable to send data relating to operation of said franking
machine (11) to said computer (10).
1. Druck- und Frankiervorrichtung (11) zur Betätigung durch Computermittel (10) mit elektronischen
Mitteln (19), die zur Ausführung von Abrechnungs- und Steuerfunktionen betätigbar
sind, mit Registermitteln (20,21) zur Speicherung eines Kreditwertes, der zum Gebrauch
bei der Frankierung verfügbar ist, mit Eingabemitteln (23), die mit den elektronischen
Mitteln (19) zum Empfangen von Daten von den Computermitteln (10) verbunden sind,
die sich auf die Frankierung und Adressierung von Poststücken (30) beziehen, und mit
Druckmitteln (22), wobei die elektronischen Mittel (19) betätigbar sind in Antwort
auf empfangene Daten, die sich auf eine gewünschte Frankierung beziehen, um die Registermittel
(20,21) zu befragen, um zu überprüfen, ob ausreichend Kredit für die gewünschte Frankierung
verfügbar ist, und weiterhin betätigbar sind, wenn die Überprüfung einen ausreichenden
Kredit anzeigt, die empfangenen Daten, die sich auf die Frankierung und Adressierung
beziehen, zu den Druckmitteln (22) zu leiten, um die Druckmittel (22) zu verursachen,
einen Frankierwert (29) und eine Adresse (32) auf ein Poststück (30) zu drucken.
2. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, welche weiterhin Zuführmittel (25) aufweist, die betätigbar
sind, um ein Poststück (30) auszuwählen, das einen Umschlag oder ein Label aufweist,
und um dieses ausgewählte Poststück (30) zu den Druckmitteln (22) zuzuführen, und
wobei die elektronischen Mittel (19) betätigbar sind in Antwort auf ein Poststückauswahlsignal
zur Betätigung der Zuführmittel (25).
3. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei die Druckmittel (22) eine Mehrzahl von Punktdruckelementen
(28,31) aufweisen, welche selektiv betätigbar sind, um den Frankierwert (29) und die
Adresse (32) zu drucken.
4. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 3, wobei die Druckelemente (28,31) in zwei Gruppen angeordnet
sind, wobei eine Gruppe (28) angeordnet ist, um den Frankierwert (29) zu drucken,
und die andere Gruppe (31) angeordnet ist, um die Adresse (32) zu drucken.
5. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 3, wobei die Druckelemente (28,31) angeordnet sind, um Punkte
in einer Reihe auf das Poststück (30) zu drucken, wobei die Druckmittel (22) Drucksteuermittel
(26) einschließen, die betätigbar sind, um wiederholt die Druckelemente (28,31) in
Synchronisation mit der Zuführung des Poststückes (30) hinter die Druckelemente (28,31)
auszuwählen und zu betätigen.
6. Vorrichtung nach irgendeinem vorangehenden Anspruch, in Verbindung mit einem Computer
(10), der Ausgabemittel (16) aufweist, die mit den Eingabemitteln (23) verbunden sind
und programmiert ist, um betätigbar zu sein, um Daten, die sich auf die Frankierung
und Adressierung beziehen, zu der Druckund Frankiervorrichtung (11) zu senden.
7. Vorrichtung in Verbindung mit einem Computer nach Patentanspruch 6, wobei die Druck-
und Frankiervorrichtung (11) betätigbar ist, um Daten, die sich auf die Betätigung
der Frankiermaschine (11) beziehen, zum Computer (10) zu schicken.
1. Dispositif d'impression et d'affranchissement (11) destiné à fonctionner sous la commande
de moyens d'ordinateur (10),
comprenant :
des moyens électroniques (19) actionnables pour effectuer des fonctions de comptabilité
et de commande ;
des moyens de registres (20, 21) pour stocker une valeur de crédit disponible pour
être utilisée dans l'affranchissement ;
des moyens d'entrée (23) connectés aux moyens électroniques (19) pour recevoir des
données concernant l'affranchissement et l'inscription d'adresse sur des articles
de courrier (30), à partir des moyens d'ordinateur (10) ; et
des moyens d'impression (22) ;
les moyens électroniques (19) pouvant fonctionner en réponse aux données reçues concernant
un affranchissement voulu, afin d'interroger les moyens de registres (20, 21) pour
vérifier s'il existe un crédit suffisant disponible pour l'affranchissement voulu,
et
les moyens électroniques pouvant en outre fonctionner, si la vérification indique
un crédit suffisant, pour envoyer aux moyens d'impression (22) les données reçues
concernant l'affranchissement et l'inscription d'adresse, de manière à amener les
moyens d'impression (22) à imprimer un affranchissement (29) et une adresse (32) sur
un article de courrier (30).
2. Dispositif selon la revendication 1,
comprenant en outre
des moyens d'alimentation (25) actionnables pour sélectionner un article de courrier
(30) comprenant une enveloppe ou une étiquette, et pour amener cet article de courrier
sélectionné (30) aux moyens d'impression (22) ; et
les moyens électroniques (19) pouvant fonctionner en réponse à un signal de sélection
d'article de courrier, pour faire fonctionner les moyens d'alimentation (25).
3. Dispositif selon la revendication 1 ou 2,
dans lequel
les moyens d'impression (22) comprennent un certain nombre d'éléments d'impression
par points (28, 31) actionnables sélectivement pour imprimer l'affranchissement (29)
et l'adresse (32).
4. Dispositif selon la revendication 3,
dans lequel
les éléments d'impression (28, 31) sont disposés en deux groupes, l'un des groupes
(28) étant positionné pour imprimer l'affranchissement (29) et l'autre groupe (31)
étant positionné pour imprimer l'adresse (32).
5. Dispositif selon la revendication 3,
dans lequel
les éléments d'impression (28, 31) sont disposés pour imprimer des points en une colonne
sur l'article de courrier (30), et
les moyens d'impression (22) comprennent des moyens de commande d'impression (26)
pouvant fonctionner pour sélectionner et actionner de manière répétitive les éléments
d'impression (28, 31) en synchronisme avec l'alimentation des articles de courrier
(30) passant devant les éléments d'impression (28, 31).
6. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
en combinaison avec un ordinateur (10) comportant des moyens de sortie (16) connectés
aux moyens d'entrée (23), cet ordinateur étant programmé pour être actionnable de
manière à envoyer au dispositif d'impression et d'affranchissement (11) des données
concernant l'affranchissement et l'inscription d'adresse.
7. Dispositif en combinaison avec un ordinateur, selon la revendication 6,
dans lequel
le dispositif d'impression et d'affranchissement (11) est actionnable pour envoyer
à l'ordinateur (10) des données concernant le fonctionnement de la machine à affranchir
(11).