| (19) |
 |
|
(11) |
EP 0 605 122 A3 |
| (12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| (88) |
Date of publication A3: |
|
21.09.1994 Bulletin 1994/38 |
| (43) |
Date of publication A2: |
|
06.07.1994 Bulletin 1994/27 |
| (22) |
Date of filing: 07.12.1993 |
|
| (51) |
International Patent Classification (IPC)5: G07B 17/00 |
|
| (84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
|
CH DE FR GB LI |
| (30) |
Priority: |
07.12.1992 US 986231
|
| (71) |
Applicant: PITNEY BOWES INC. |
|
Stamford
Connecticut 06926-0700 (US) |
|
| (72) |
Inventors: |
|
- Kirschner, Wallace
Trumbull,
Connecticut 06611 (US)
- Muller, Arno
Westport,
Connecticut 06880 (US)
|
| (74) |
Representative: Cook, Anthony John et al |
|
D. YOUNG & CO.
21 New Fetter Lane
London EC4A 1DA
London EC4A 1DA (GB) |
|
| |
|
| (54) |
Postage metering system with indicia selectable to compensate for detected printer
defects |
(57) A postage metering system includes a printer for printing an indicia. Information
is stored and adapted to generate signals for causing the printer to print a selected
one of a plurality of postal indicia. A fault detection arrangement is coupled to
the printer for detecting faults in the printer. The printer is caused to print a
selected one of the plurality of indicia depending upon the fault sensed. The indicia
may be a composite indicia formed from a plurality of portions of stored postal indicia.
The size and position of the indicia and indicia elements, which may be printed or
bar code information, may be altered in location and size, if desired, based on the
detected fault in the printer.