CA1292316C - Postal meter system - Google Patents
Postal meter systemInfo
- Publication number
- CA1292316C CA1292316C CA000545968A CA545968A CA1292316C CA 1292316 C CA1292316 C CA 1292316C CA 000545968 A CA000545968 A CA 000545968A CA 545968 A CA545968 A CA 545968A CA 1292316 C CA1292316 C CA 1292316C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- printing
- postage indicia
- postage
- postal
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
- G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
- G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
- G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06K15/00—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers
- G06K15/02—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers using printers
- G06K15/10—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers using printers by matrix printers
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06K2215/00—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data
- G06K2215/0082—Architecture adapted for a particular function
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
- G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
- G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
- G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
- G07B2017/00516—Details of printing apparatus
- G07B2017/00524—Printheads
- G07B2017/00548—Mechanical printhead
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
- G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
- G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
- G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
- G07B2017/00612—Attaching item on mailpiece
- G07B2017/0062—Label
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
- G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
- G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
- G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
- G07B2017/00637—Special printing techniques, e.g. interlacing
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Mathematical Physics (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
- Devices For Checking Fares Or Tickets At Control Points (AREA)
- Dot-Matrix Printers And Others (AREA)
- Record Information Processing For Printing (AREA)
- Printers Characterized By Their Purpose (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
A postal meter system includes a matrix printer for printing postage data on an envelope or label. The print elements of the matrix print are formed at their imprint impart end in a non-dot geometric shape so that the discrete imprint formed on the envelope or label may be recognized and to provide a secure postage indicia imprint. An alternative print system using curvil-inear arrays of print elements is also provided.
A postal meter system includes a matrix printer for printing postage data on an envelope or label. The print elements of the matrix print are formed at their imprint impart end in a non-dot geometric shape so that the discrete imprint formed on the envelope or label may be recognized and to provide a secure postage indicia imprint. An alternative print system using curvil-inear arrays of print elements is also provided.
Description
~ 129Z~
POSTA~ METER SYSTEM
TECHNICAL FIELD
1 The present invention pretains to improved impact matrix printing systems for usein apostal meter for printing postage indicia which has counterfeit deterrent characteristics.
BACKGROUND
Postal meters or postage printing meters are devices that are used to print out a substitute for postage stamps. Postage stamps are, in a sense, a form of currency and are subject to being counterfeited. Postal meters are device that print a sub-stitute for a postage stamp directly on to an envelope or label.
Postal meters must be approved by the Postal Authorities before the device can be used for printing postage.
Since postal meters are, in effect currency printing devices, the devices are required, by the postal authorites to be secure with respect to accounting functions, that is, to track and properly report the amount of postage dispensed and be secure with respect to the imprinted indicia representing the postage printed on an envelope, tape or label.
In most cases, postal meters are rental devices that are used outside the post office to dispense postage. It is normal ! practice that the leasee of or person renting the device make a I!monetary advance for a predetermined value of postage that the meter may print or dispense. The predetermined monetary value is set in the meter by an authorizea person and the meter may then dispense that amount of postage in desired increments. Ascending and descending registers in the meter keep a runr.ing account of ¦ how much postage has been dispensed, i. e. the ascending register, I,and how much postage is left to be dispensed, i. e. the descending 123;~31~ ~
register, from the prepayment made.
These registers are highly secure from tampering or altera-tion, using various techniques.
Historically, postal meters have been mechanical devices in which p~stage Yalues were set, printed and acco~nted for using mechanical techniques and assemblies. The various accountin functions were maintained by mechanical resisters in which a plurality of different mechanical interlocks were used which guarded against the printing of postage by the meter without changing the values in the registers; thus securing the accounting functions.
The actual printing of postage on an en~elope, tape or label, hereafter referred to as envelope, was done by a printing drum that rotated as the envelope passed through the print stage of the meter. The print drum used is in the form of a die which itself is an highly complex engravement which is extremely difficult and time consuming to duplicate and is therefore a strong deterrent against counterfeiting. The drum engravement provides for identi-fication of the particular postal meter in which the drum is used and identifies the post office through which the mail from ~he meter i5 to be processed. By identifying ~he drum as part of the postage imprint, the meter using such drum can be identified and thus the leasee or rentee renting such device can be identi-~fied. By identifying the post office through which the mail from the meter is to be processed this limits the use of the meter to a particular postal area and, in effect, makes the pa-ticular ~postal meter mobile within the limits of the area served by the ,identified post office. The drum also prints out the date and Ithe ~mount of postage printed. These are variable data which is ¦~et by the ~ser f the meter.
i!
, 2 923~6 The emphasis on ~he mechanical postal meters was ruggedness, reliability and security with the capability of being rapidly and relatively easily repaired when the device was not properly functioning so as to minimize down time.
More recently electronic postal meters have been introduced. An example of an electronic postal meter is found in U.S. patent 4,251,874, to Frank T. ChecX, Jr.
The more modern electroniG postal metler employs electronic memory banks or co~ponents to maintain the accounting functions formerly accomplished by mechanical registers. The electronic unit is computerized, using a central processing unit such as a microprocessor or other form of computer, which provides the arithmetic functions of computations and program fi~elity.
One of the problems with the electronic postal m~ters i6 the device itself is not totally electronic since the ~lectronic postal met~r e~ploys a mechanical postage printing apparatus to print postage indica.
Since the postal meter is basically electronis, operating at a very high speed performing its computations and storing data and the printer used is a mechanical device operating at a substantially slower speed and at a substantially different voltage level, an interface is used to ensure compatibility between the electronic control system and the mechanical printing apparatus. The slower operating ~peed of the mechanical printer effectively slows down the operating speed of the electronic postal meter, that is, it slows down the cycle of operation.
A fully electronic postal meter system is disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent 4,528,644, issued July 9, 1985, for System Having A Character Generator For Printing Encrypted ~essages, by inventor John Io Clark and assigned to the assignee of the present application.
However, in the Clark patent 4,528,644 an indicia is ~2~;Z316 .
printed with a matrix printer and is secured by dropping or shifting elements in the indicia as a ~unction of the information printed.
Most matrix printers, whether impact dot matrix or ink jet printer are easily obtainable as an off-the-shelf item and are easily programmable to print any legend desired, with the program itself very easily and readily changeable and very easily duplîcated. The versatility with respect to programmability and the ease with which the program itself can be changed and/or duplicated leads to a security gap that the postal service authorities attempt to avoid.
PRESENT IN~E~TION
The present invention provides a fully integrated electronic postal meter which includes a computer controlled computation and control system and electronic memory banks for maintaining the required accounting functions and a high tech high speed impact matrix printing device. The preferred ~orm of the invention provides for the use of an impact matrix printing device used as the print component in an electronic postal meter for printing postage indicia on an envelope in which the print element~ which are used to form a character or design in accordance with a programmed matrix charactar pattern have themselves a predetermined or preformed shape at the impact point or end of the print element. Such preformed shape made be in some predetermined not-dot geometric pattern or shape such as a square or other rectangle, triangle or star, letter, number or other design which is different from the standard off-the-shelf dot matrix printer. This non-standard shape of the impact point of the print element shall 12923~6 be referred to as "non-dot geometric shape".
With such change in the shape or physical configuration of the print element at the impact point of the print element, security in the printing function of the postal meter would be enhanced due to the fact that a~y potential counterfeiter would ~e faced with the task of physically modifying each print element f a matrix printer to produce the appropriate indicia. Security n the printing function of the postal meter having such altered l rint elements would not be compromised because each print element l s individually actuated and do~s produce a discrete imprint which is part of a pattern forming a charactex which is unique with espect to standard matrix printer imprints. By reasonably close nspection the unique character or imprint may be easily and l uickly observed and counterfeit postage indicia lacking such l mprints may be quickly detected.
With such change in the print element configuration at the mpact end of the print element, security in the printing function f the postal meter would be enhanced due to the fact that certain l redetermined geometric designs could be limited to be used for rinting postage indicia for use in specific postal regions or post offices. This would further limit and reduce printing problems as they relate to security and limit the area of use for a postal meter with such print element design.
As an alternative, the matrix print head, which is usually rectangular in shape and holds and supports a plurality or row of print elements used to physically impress the ink on to some recording medium such as paper, for example, to form the printed indicia, may be made curvilinear so that when a character or letter or other indicia is to be printed, an appropriate set 3D ~!or pattern of rinting elements in curvilinear relationship are ill . :
; 5 ~ lZ~316 actuated against an inked medium providing a distinctive contour to the impression left on the paper.
This novel structured print head, when used in a printer in a postal meter, will provide a printed postage indicia with dis-S tinctive cur~ilinear design integrated into the printed indicia for immediate recongnition.
High speed matrix printing devices, such as impact dot matrix printers for example, are well known in the art. Impact dot matrix printers generally provide print heads which carry a plurality of print elemen~s, sometimes referred to as wires or pins arranged in a singlè row or column, or a pl~rality of rows or columns. The print elements are individually, selectively actuated in combinations, in a manner well known in the art, to print characters as the print head and paper move relative to each other. The individual print elements, when actuated against an ink medium, such as an ink ribbon, for example, form discrete imprints on papex or other record carrier. The imprints, which retain their identity under close examination, combine with others to form the character desired.
The U. S. patent 2,800,386 to Wackenfuss shows one construc-tion of print head or recording head which holds a plurality of rows of print element in alignment. U. S. patent 4,457,636 to Nusser shows another form of printing element with a drive element. The patent to Mower et al, U. S. 4,167,342 is concerned ,with increasing the printing speed of a dot matrix printer while the U. S. patent 4,246,948 to Wolf et al and 4,268,180 to Honma are each concerned with printing element breakage and show printing elements of difEering construction. The U. S.
patent 4,508,463 to Wang et al is concerned with the quality of ~print by dot matrix printers.
I .
~, Il lZ9Z316 By constructing recording heads or print heads so that atleast two parallel interior sides of the head are parallel and curvilinear the print elements held in such print head will ~e in curvilinear relationship with each other. Where a single ~ column of print elements is held in a print head the column of elements will form the curvilinear line of the interior parallel sides. Where multiple columns of print elements are held in a print head the print elements will be held in curvilinear relationship unidirectionally, that is, in straight line relation-ship in one direction and curvilinear in the other direction.
~here multiple columns of print elements are held in a print head ~pposite interior sides may each be in curvilinear parallel relationship. This structure will retain multiple columns of ~ l ?rint elements in bid~rectional curvilinear relationship. With lS Iprint elements held in print heads in such relationship the imprints made or left on the paper or other recording medium ~uring the printing process will form characters having distinctive ~urved lines as opposed to straight line formed characters.
The curved construction of the recording or print head, which lolds the print elements in such curvilinear relationship will e difficult and time consuming to duplicate and will act as a ideterrant to a potentiai counterfeiter.
¦ Essentially, the present invention contemplates a novel Ifully integrated electronic postal meter system which provides .for a matrix printer which prints postage indicia using a non-,standard matrix. Such non-standard matrix may be defined as a Latrix comprising discrete imprints having a non-dot geometric Ishape or a curvilinear matrix.
- 7a~ lLz9231~i Various aspects of thi invention are as ~ollows:
A system for printin~ secure postage indicia by a postal meter system including:
a) system control means including actuatable means for setting at least a part of postage indicia data to be printed and for processing and storing postal accounting data;
b) control means for temporarily storing said at least a part of said postage indicia data for purposes o other than postal accounting;
c) a postal indicia printer responsive to said control means for printing predetermined postage indicia including said at least a part of said postage indicia data, on an envelope or label, said postage indicia printer including a print head having at least a first side connected to a first end, said first end connect to a second side, said second side connected to a second end and said second end connected to said first side for defining an opening ~ar retaining at least a column of print elements in predetermi~ed array, print element driver means individual to each print element of said column of print elements for actuating a print element of said colu~n of print ele~ents with which said driver means is associated and print logic means for selectively energizing drivers of said drivar means in predetermined pattern for causing actuation of selected print ele~ent6 ~or generating discrete imprints on said envelope or label for printing postage indicia characterized by a non-standard ~atrix.
A postal meter for printing a postage indicia on an envelope or label in which said postage indicia is formed by a plurality of discrete imprints, said postal meter including:
a) meter control means including actuatable means for at least setting a postage value and a date to be L29~ 16 printed as part of said postage indicia and for processing and storing postal accounting information;
b) temporary storage means for storing saîd postal value and said date in response to actuation of said actuatable means and for providing trip control of the printer printing said postage indicia;
c) a matrix printer responsive to said temporary storage means including a programmable print element driver controller, print element drivers, a print head and a plurality of print elements, said plurality o~
print elements arranged in at least a column in said print head, each said print element associated with a different one of a print element driver of said print element drivers, said programmable print element driver controller including permanent program means for causing energization of selected print element drivers for causing actuation o~ said print elements for causinc; a pattern of discrete imprints on an envelope or label to appear for~ing predeter~ined postage indicia characterized by a non-standard matrix and said programmable print ele~ent drive controller including temporary program means, set up in response to actuation of said actuatable means, for causing energization of selected print element drivers for causing actuation of said print elements for causing another pattern of discrete imprint~ on said envelope or label to appear in a form repres~ntatîv¢ of said postage value and date and characterized by a non-standard matrix.
A po~tage meter comprising:
a) means for inputting a selected postage amount;
b) means responsive to said input means for accounting for said amount: and c3 means responsive to said accounting means for printing indicia representative of said accounting for 5 said amount;
said indicia comprising a pattern of discrete imprints selected from a non-standard matrix.
~2~3Z3i6 7c A postal meter comprising:
(a~ system control means including actuatable means for setting at least a part of postage indicia data to be printed and for processing and storing postal accounking data;
(b) control means for temporarily storing said at least a part of said postage indicia data for purposes other than postal accounting;
(c) a matrix printer for printing postage indicia on an envelope or label (d) said matrix printer having non-dot geometrically shaped print elements formed at their imprint ends;
(e) whereby discrete imprints are formed on an envelope or label which is recognizable so as to provide a secure postage indicia imprint.
~ .
~..
~ 1292316 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a pictorial prospective of one embodiment of an lectronic postal meter system into which the present invention ay be incorporated;
Fig. 2 is a portion of an elevelope on to which has been mprinted a postage indicia;
Fig. 3 is a block diagram of an electronic postal meter ystem employing an impact matrix printer.
Fig. 4 is one form of print element showing the striking ead modified into a non dot geometric shape;
Fig. 4a are several examples of non-dot geometric shapes nto which the strike head may be forged or shaped;
Fig. 5 represents one form of print head with the ends urvilinear and parallel and the sides straight and parallel;
Figs. 6a and 6b illustrate, in expanded form two characters ade with modified print elements held in unidirectional curvilin-ar relationship; and, Figs 7a and 7b illustrate the same two characters made mploying standard dot print elements held in bidirectional urvilinear relat onship.- .
Referring now to Fig. l, electronic postal meter systems, uch as represented pictorally, may be in the form of dual ousing unit supported by a common mounting. A control unit 10 ay be used to house the computer electronics including a central rocessing unit and memory banks for performing postal calculations nd for storing critical accounting data. Unit 10 may also tain programmable devices and interface connections for sending ~ ~29Z316 and receiving data. Internal interlocks may also be provided to ensure reliability and security.
The meter unit 11 may include a pxinter 12, such as a matrix printer mounted securely in the housing and under the control of the control unit 10. Connections between the control unit and the meter unit pass through the mounting 14 t~hich support and protects such interconnecting circuitry. An envelope 1~ is illustrated in the print stage and when the envelope is driven through the print slot the upper forward corner of the envelope is imprinted with postage indicia indicating, in printecl form, the postage value, date, postal meter registration mumber, post office identification and other acceptable indicia.
The control unit 10 and meter unit 11 are securely mounted on a mounting 14 which supports and protects the interconnecting lS circuits (not shown) between the control unit and the meter unit from unauthorized invasion and/or tampering. Locking mechanisms and interlocks may be provided to prevent tampering with or removai of the control unit 10 and/or the meter unit 11 from the mounting 14 so as to enhance s~curity of the postal meter and/or the components thereof. In an alternative structure, both the control unit and the meter unit, including a matrix printer, may be mounted and secured in a single housing that is protected against unauthorized invasion, disassembly and/or tampering.
Il If the control unit 10 and the meter unit 11 are housed as Iseparate units but are not mounted on a mounting serving also as a secure conduit for the interconnecting circuitry, the nterconnecting circuitry may be sealed and armored to resist ~ .~
., 9 ~ Z3:~L6 tampering. In addition, it may be desired to secure the printing mechanism electronically. This may be done by using non-standard electronic interlocks, secure codes and/or other protocols in-tegrated into the printer drive so that once removed, the matrix printer itself, as a single unit would function only when using such non-standard eIectronic interlocks, security codes and/or other protocols as required for opera~ing the particular printer.
The control metcr 10 includes a key board 15 for entering data which may include setting the amount of postage to be printed and the date, for example. Other data which may~be entered via the key board includes the amount of prepaid postage and interro-~ations made to the computer such as, how much postage has been used from the prepaid amount and how much postage is left from the prepared amount and interrogations relating to other functions the electronic postal meter may provide. At the top of the key board plate a readout 16 is provided which may be in digital form.
Fig. 2 represents a form of postage indicia printed on the upper right corner of an envelope 20. The indicia includes the amount of postage 21 applied to the envelope. Actually, the 2G amount of postage applied to the envelope represents the exact amount ded~cted from the pre-paid postage value in the postal meter which printed the postage indicia. The postal meter which printed the postage value is identified by the meter number 23 also on the postage indicia. In addition the post office, which processes the particular mail from the particular meter is also identified at 24 while the date is imprinted at 25. The zip code of.the processing post office is also included. In addition to the data imprinted in the postage indicia representation of an eagle and a plurality of stars are used in order to make the imprinted indicia more complex.
! . , I; 10 !
` ~1 129Z316 By proper programming the postage indicia may be printed by a matrix printer. A matrix printer may be located in the meter nit ll of Fig. l. When the postage amount is set or keyed into he meter via the keyboard and the date is keyed into the meter oth variables for the postage indicia are established and a metered postage indicia may be imprinted on an envelope or label as the envelope or label pass through the printing slot of the meter unit 11.
In accordance with a program, as in well known in the art, print elements are individually actuated, in a pattern, to form the character andlor printed information desired by use of a plurality of imprints or impression on the envelope or label.
Since the print elements are individually actuated, the imprint made by each single actuation is discrete and may be identified.
Fig. 3 is a block diagram representing an electronic postal meter which includes an impact matrix printer 11. The control unit 10 includes a power supply 31, a keyboard 15 and display 16.
The keyboard is interfaced via 32 into the computer functlon, labeled CPU, 33. The CPU may be a central processing unit in the form of a microprocesser or a other computer. The CPU performs the calcuation functions and generally supervises operation of the electronics. The CPU receives and responds to instructions from the keyboard and sets up the display to provide information.
The non-volatile memory stores the accounting functions such as the pre-paid postage value, the ascending account, descending account and any other record keeping function designed into the system. The read only memory ~ROM) 35 is programmed permanently with the system functions. The read and remember (RAM) 36 is a temporary memory that is changeable by the keyboard and provides code for the amount of postage to be printed and the date. The RAM also provides trip control making certain a postage value ! , I1 12:~Z316 is printed only in accordance with the value set in the RAM. The print logic 37 energizes or causes to be energized the particular print element drivers in a particular pattern so as to actuate the print elements 40 in the print head 39 to print in a pattern S resulting in a printed desired character or indicia. The print station dri~e causes the relative movement between the print head and the envelope 13, eventually driving the envelope out of the print station.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention each print element such as 40 in Fig. 4 would include an ink ribbon striking head 41 which is non-dot geometric in shape, here illustrated as a modlfied diamond shape. When the printing element 40 is actuated or driven toward the ink ribbon tnot shown) by print element drivers, represented by arrow 38, and strikes the ribbon resulting in an imprint on the envelope, the imprint will be a discrete impression, formed with other discrete impression which combine to form a character or image printed in ink. The print element may ride in the print element retainer 42 and may be actuated by driving the element through the support from the actuation head 43.
Fig. 4a represents, a through k, different non-dot geometric shapes that print element ink ribbon striking heads may take.
l Obviously these shapes are not exhaustive of all shapes in which ¦ the print element may be formed. The shape of the ribbon striking ~5 ihead may be formed by extrusion, molding, forging or any other ~manner. The print element 40 may be shaped along the entire lengt~
~thereof or, as indicated in Fig. 4 by the broken lines, may have l! its striking head 41 shaped and only partially along its length ¦¦with the butt of the length and actuating head structured in ¦¦different shape to add strength to the print element.
ll Fig. 5 represents one form of recording head 50 for support-! ing an array of print element retainers, 53. The print heaa is defined by a frame with straight sides 56 and 57 and curvilinear . .
i lZ~32316 ends 51 and 52. This form of print head includes several opening defined by the sides and ends, each of which support and hold in alignment a plurality of print element retainers 53~ the print elements being inserted in the holes 54 of the retainers. Althoug the print element retainers in Fig. 5 are generally rectangular in shape~ the print element retainers may be cylindrical, such as shown in Fig. 4 at 42.
Although the recording head 50 is represented as being curvilinear in one direction ~lat~rally) and straight in the other direction ~longitudinally) it will be understood that the longi-tudinal sides of the openings may also be curvilinear so that the print elements in the same ar~ay will be alignedin bidi~ectional curvilinear rela~ionship.
Although Fig. 5 represents a recording head or print head 50 holding an array of print element retainers in a plurality of columns, i* is also anti~ipated that a recording head or print head holding a single column or single row of print elements may be used in an impact matrix printer. In the single column print head, the longitudinal parallel interior sides of the head would be parallel and curvilinear holding the column of print elements in curvilinear relationship.
It is also anticipated that the print elements, whether in straight rectangular array or column,or in unldirect;onal curvilinear array or column orin bidirect_ona~curvilinear array may have pre-formed striking heads of some same non-dot geometric shape.
Certainly mixed shapes may ~e used, if desired since the imprints of the print elements are discrete.
Fig. 6a illustrates in exploded,~ enlarged form the numeral 2 when printed by an impact matrix printer using an array of "
. :
lZ9231~
print elements with triangular shaped striking heads in which the print elements are held in unidirectional curvilinear relationship The triangle imprints 60 form the character with the background lines 62 showing the pattern of print element alignment.
Fig. 6b illustrates in exploded enlarged form the letter W
which may appear when triangular shaped print element striking heads are used in the same type of unidirectional curvilinear arra as in Fig. 6a but without showing the background lines pattern.
Fig. 7a illustrates in exploded enlarged form the numeral 2 when printed by an impact matrix printer using an array of print elements in which the print elements of the array are held in bidirectional curvilinear relationship in a recording head. In this illustration the individual imprints are dot in characteris-tic as illustrated at 70.
Fig. 7b illustxates the letter W printed by a bidirectional curvilinear array which provides a distinctive pattern of the letter structure.
It is also considered that through proper programming an array of straight, rectangularly positioned print element may be made to print indicia giving the appearance that the array is positioned in curvilinear relationshipO It is therefore believed that although a recording head holding an array of print elements in some curviLinear relationship offers a reasonable degree of ¦security in printing indicia for postal meter purposes the use ~5 of pre-shaped, non-dot geometric shape or odd motif striking ¦heads of print elements appears to offer a degree of security not ~heretofore attained using an impack dot matrix print system.
The preferred form of the invention has been described and several alternate forms have been described and suggested. O~her modifications and changes may be made, as will be apparent to thos~
skilled in the art within the principles and scope of the appended claims.
I .
. . ~
~9
POSTA~ METER SYSTEM
TECHNICAL FIELD
1 The present invention pretains to improved impact matrix printing systems for usein apostal meter for printing postage indicia which has counterfeit deterrent characteristics.
BACKGROUND
Postal meters or postage printing meters are devices that are used to print out a substitute for postage stamps. Postage stamps are, in a sense, a form of currency and are subject to being counterfeited. Postal meters are device that print a sub-stitute for a postage stamp directly on to an envelope or label.
Postal meters must be approved by the Postal Authorities before the device can be used for printing postage.
Since postal meters are, in effect currency printing devices, the devices are required, by the postal authorites to be secure with respect to accounting functions, that is, to track and properly report the amount of postage dispensed and be secure with respect to the imprinted indicia representing the postage printed on an envelope, tape or label.
In most cases, postal meters are rental devices that are used outside the post office to dispense postage. It is normal ! practice that the leasee of or person renting the device make a I!monetary advance for a predetermined value of postage that the meter may print or dispense. The predetermined monetary value is set in the meter by an authorizea person and the meter may then dispense that amount of postage in desired increments. Ascending and descending registers in the meter keep a runr.ing account of ¦ how much postage has been dispensed, i. e. the ascending register, I,and how much postage is left to be dispensed, i. e. the descending 123;~31~ ~
register, from the prepayment made.
These registers are highly secure from tampering or altera-tion, using various techniques.
Historically, postal meters have been mechanical devices in which p~stage Yalues were set, printed and acco~nted for using mechanical techniques and assemblies. The various accountin functions were maintained by mechanical resisters in which a plurality of different mechanical interlocks were used which guarded against the printing of postage by the meter without changing the values in the registers; thus securing the accounting functions.
The actual printing of postage on an en~elope, tape or label, hereafter referred to as envelope, was done by a printing drum that rotated as the envelope passed through the print stage of the meter. The print drum used is in the form of a die which itself is an highly complex engravement which is extremely difficult and time consuming to duplicate and is therefore a strong deterrent against counterfeiting. The drum engravement provides for identi-fication of the particular postal meter in which the drum is used and identifies the post office through which the mail from ~he meter i5 to be processed. By identifying ~he drum as part of the postage imprint, the meter using such drum can be identified and thus the leasee or rentee renting such device can be identi-~fied. By identifying the post office through which the mail from the meter is to be processed this limits the use of the meter to a particular postal area and, in effect, makes the pa-ticular ~postal meter mobile within the limits of the area served by the ,identified post office. The drum also prints out the date and Ithe ~mount of postage printed. These are variable data which is ¦~et by the ~ser f the meter.
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, 2 923~6 The emphasis on ~he mechanical postal meters was ruggedness, reliability and security with the capability of being rapidly and relatively easily repaired when the device was not properly functioning so as to minimize down time.
More recently electronic postal meters have been introduced. An example of an electronic postal meter is found in U.S. patent 4,251,874, to Frank T. ChecX, Jr.
The more modern electroniG postal metler employs electronic memory banks or co~ponents to maintain the accounting functions formerly accomplished by mechanical registers. The electronic unit is computerized, using a central processing unit such as a microprocessor or other form of computer, which provides the arithmetic functions of computations and program fi~elity.
One of the problems with the electronic postal m~ters i6 the device itself is not totally electronic since the ~lectronic postal met~r e~ploys a mechanical postage printing apparatus to print postage indica.
Since the postal meter is basically electronis, operating at a very high speed performing its computations and storing data and the printer used is a mechanical device operating at a substantially slower speed and at a substantially different voltage level, an interface is used to ensure compatibility between the electronic control system and the mechanical printing apparatus. The slower operating ~peed of the mechanical printer effectively slows down the operating speed of the electronic postal meter, that is, it slows down the cycle of operation.
A fully electronic postal meter system is disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent 4,528,644, issued July 9, 1985, for System Having A Character Generator For Printing Encrypted ~essages, by inventor John Io Clark and assigned to the assignee of the present application.
However, in the Clark patent 4,528,644 an indicia is ~2~;Z316 .
printed with a matrix printer and is secured by dropping or shifting elements in the indicia as a ~unction of the information printed.
Most matrix printers, whether impact dot matrix or ink jet printer are easily obtainable as an off-the-shelf item and are easily programmable to print any legend desired, with the program itself very easily and readily changeable and very easily duplîcated. The versatility with respect to programmability and the ease with which the program itself can be changed and/or duplicated leads to a security gap that the postal service authorities attempt to avoid.
PRESENT IN~E~TION
The present invention provides a fully integrated electronic postal meter which includes a computer controlled computation and control system and electronic memory banks for maintaining the required accounting functions and a high tech high speed impact matrix printing device. The preferred ~orm of the invention provides for the use of an impact matrix printing device used as the print component in an electronic postal meter for printing postage indicia on an envelope in which the print element~ which are used to form a character or design in accordance with a programmed matrix charactar pattern have themselves a predetermined or preformed shape at the impact point or end of the print element. Such preformed shape made be in some predetermined not-dot geometric pattern or shape such as a square or other rectangle, triangle or star, letter, number or other design which is different from the standard off-the-shelf dot matrix printer. This non-standard shape of the impact point of the print element shall 12923~6 be referred to as "non-dot geometric shape".
With such change in the shape or physical configuration of the print element at the impact point of the print element, security in the printing function of the postal meter would be enhanced due to the fact that a~y potential counterfeiter would ~e faced with the task of physically modifying each print element f a matrix printer to produce the appropriate indicia. Security n the printing function of the postal meter having such altered l rint elements would not be compromised because each print element l s individually actuated and do~s produce a discrete imprint which is part of a pattern forming a charactex which is unique with espect to standard matrix printer imprints. By reasonably close nspection the unique character or imprint may be easily and l uickly observed and counterfeit postage indicia lacking such l mprints may be quickly detected.
With such change in the print element configuration at the mpact end of the print element, security in the printing function f the postal meter would be enhanced due to the fact that certain l redetermined geometric designs could be limited to be used for rinting postage indicia for use in specific postal regions or post offices. This would further limit and reduce printing problems as they relate to security and limit the area of use for a postal meter with such print element design.
As an alternative, the matrix print head, which is usually rectangular in shape and holds and supports a plurality or row of print elements used to physically impress the ink on to some recording medium such as paper, for example, to form the printed indicia, may be made curvilinear so that when a character or letter or other indicia is to be printed, an appropriate set 3D ~!or pattern of rinting elements in curvilinear relationship are ill . :
; 5 ~ lZ~316 actuated against an inked medium providing a distinctive contour to the impression left on the paper.
This novel structured print head, when used in a printer in a postal meter, will provide a printed postage indicia with dis-S tinctive cur~ilinear design integrated into the printed indicia for immediate recongnition.
High speed matrix printing devices, such as impact dot matrix printers for example, are well known in the art. Impact dot matrix printers generally provide print heads which carry a plurality of print elemen~s, sometimes referred to as wires or pins arranged in a singlè row or column, or a pl~rality of rows or columns. The print elements are individually, selectively actuated in combinations, in a manner well known in the art, to print characters as the print head and paper move relative to each other. The individual print elements, when actuated against an ink medium, such as an ink ribbon, for example, form discrete imprints on papex or other record carrier. The imprints, which retain their identity under close examination, combine with others to form the character desired.
The U. S. patent 2,800,386 to Wackenfuss shows one construc-tion of print head or recording head which holds a plurality of rows of print element in alignment. U. S. patent 4,457,636 to Nusser shows another form of printing element with a drive element. The patent to Mower et al, U. S. 4,167,342 is concerned ,with increasing the printing speed of a dot matrix printer while the U. S. patent 4,246,948 to Wolf et al and 4,268,180 to Honma are each concerned with printing element breakage and show printing elements of difEering construction. The U. S.
patent 4,508,463 to Wang et al is concerned with the quality of ~print by dot matrix printers.
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~, Il lZ9Z316 By constructing recording heads or print heads so that atleast two parallel interior sides of the head are parallel and curvilinear the print elements held in such print head will ~e in curvilinear relationship with each other. Where a single ~ column of print elements is held in a print head the column of elements will form the curvilinear line of the interior parallel sides. Where multiple columns of print elements are held in a print head the print elements will be held in curvilinear relationship unidirectionally, that is, in straight line relation-ship in one direction and curvilinear in the other direction.
~here multiple columns of print elements are held in a print head ~pposite interior sides may each be in curvilinear parallel relationship. This structure will retain multiple columns of ~ l ?rint elements in bid~rectional curvilinear relationship. With lS Iprint elements held in print heads in such relationship the imprints made or left on the paper or other recording medium ~uring the printing process will form characters having distinctive ~urved lines as opposed to straight line formed characters.
The curved construction of the recording or print head, which lolds the print elements in such curvilinear relationship will e difficult and time consuming to duplicate and will act as a ideterrant to a potentiai counterfeiter.
¦ Essentially, the present invention contemplates a novel Ifully integrated electronic postal meter system which provides .for a matrix printer which prints postage indicia using a non-,standard matrix. Such non-standard matrix may be defined as a Latrix comprising discrete imprints having a non-dot geometric Ishape or a curvilinear matrix.
- 7a~ lLz9231~i Various aspects of thi invention are as ~ollows:
A system for printin~ secure postage indicia by a postal meter system including:
a) system control means including actuatable means for setting at least a part of postage indicia data to be printed and for processing and storing postal accounting data;
b) control means for temporarily storing said at least a part of said postage indicia data for purposes o other than postal accounting;
c) a postal indicia printer responsive to said control means for printing predetermined postage indicia including said at least a part of said postage indicia data, on an envelope or label, said postage indicia printer including a print head having at least a first side connected to a first end, said first end connect to a second side, said second side connected to a second end and said second end connected to said first side for defining an opening ~ar retaining at least a column of print elements in predetermi~ed array, print element driver means individual to each print element of said column of print elements for actuating a print element of said colu~n of print ele~ents with which said driver means is associated and print logic means for selectively energizing drivers of said drivar means in predetermined pattern for causing actuation of selected print ele~ent6 ~or generating discrete imprints on said envelope or label for printing postage indicia characterized by a non-standard ~atrix.
A postal meter for printing a postage indicia on an envelope or label in which said postage indicia is formed by a plurality of discrete imprints, said postal meter including:
a) meter control means including actuatable means for at least setting a postage value and a date to be L29~ 16 printed as part of said postage indicia and for processing and storing postal accounting information;
b) temporary storage means for storing saîd postal value and said date in response to actuation of said actuatable means and for providing trip control of the printer printing said postage indicia;
c) a matrix printer responsive to said temporary storage means including a programmable print element driver controller, print element drivers, a print head and a plurality of print elements, said plurality o~
print elements arranged in at least a column in said print head, each said print element associated with a different one of a print element driver of said print element drivers, said programmable print element driver controller including permanent program means for causing energization of selected print element drivers for causing actuation o~ said print elements for causinc; a pattern of discrete imprints on an envelope or label to appear for~ing predeter~ined postage indicia characterized by a non-standard matrix and said programmable print ele~ent drive controller including temporary program means, set up in response to actuation of said actuatable means, for causing energization of selected print element drivers for causing actuation of said print elements for causing another pattern of discrete imprint~ on said envelope or label to appear in a form repres~ntatîv¢ of said postage value and date and characterized by a non-standard matrix.
A po~tage meter comprising:
a) means for inputting a selected postage amount;
b) means responsive to said input means for accounting for said amount: and c3 means responsive to said accounting means for printing indicia representative of said accounting for 5 said amount;
said indicia comprising a pattern of discrete imprints selected from a non-standard matrix.
~2~3Z3i6 7c A postal meter comprising:
(a~ system control means including actuatable means for setting at least a part of postage indicia data to be printed and for processing and storing postal accounking data;
(b) control means for temporarily storing said at least a part of said postage indicia data for purposes other than postal accounting;
(c) a matrix printer for printing postage indicia on an envelope or label (d) said matrix printer having non-dot geometrically shaped print elements formed at their imprint ends;
(e) whereby discrete imprints are formed on an envelope or label which is recognizable so as to provide a secure postage indicia imprint.
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~ 1292316 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a pictorial prospective of one embodiment of an lectronic postal meter system into which the present invention ay be incorporated;
Fig. 2 is a portion of an elevelope on to which has been mprinted a postage indicia;
Fig. 3 is a block diagram of an electronic postal meter ystem employing an impact matrix printer.
Fig. 4 is one form of print element showing the striking ead modified into a non dot geometric shape;
Fig. 4a are several examples of non-dot geometric shapes nto which the strike head may be forged or shaped;
Fig. 5 represents one form of print head with the ends urvilinear and parallel and the sides straight and parallel;
Figs. 6a and 6b illustrate, in expanded form two characters ade with modified print elements held in unidirectional curvilin-ar relationship; and, Figs 7a and 7b illustrate the same two characters made mploying standard dot print elements held in bidirectional urvilinear relat onship.- .
Referring now to Fig. l, electronic postal meter systems, uch as represented pictorally, may be in the form of dual ousing unit supported by a common mounting. A control unit 10 ay be used to house the computer electronics including a central rocessing unit and memory banks for performing postal calculations nd for storing critical accounting data. Unit 10 may also tain programmable devices and interface connections for sending ~ ~29Z316 and receiving data. Internal interlocks may also be provided to ensure reliability and security.
The meter unit 11 may include a pxinter 12, such as a matrix printer mounted securely in the housing and under the control of the control unit 10. Connections between the control unit and the meter unit pass through the mounting 14 t~hich support and protects such interconnecting circuitry. An envelope 1~ is illustrated in the print stage and when the envelope is driven through the print slot the upper forward corner of the envelope is imprinted with postage indicia indicating, in printecl form, the postage value, date, postal meter registration mumber, post office identification and other acceptable indicia.
The control unit 10 and meter unit 11 are securely mounted on a mounting 14 which supports and protects the interconnecting lS circuits (not shown) between the control unit and the meter unit from unauthorized invasion and/or tampering. Locking mechanisms and interlocks may be provided to prevent tampering with or removai of the control unit 10 and/or the meter unit 11 from the mounting 14 so as to enhance s~curity of the postal meter and/or the components thereof. In an alternative structure, both the control unit and the meter unit, including a matrix printer, may be mounted and secured in a single housing that is protected against unauthorized invasion, disassembly and/or tampering.
Il If the control unit 10 and the meter unit 11 are housed as Iseparate units but are not mounted on a mounting serving also as a secure conduit for the interconnecting circuitry, the nterconnecting circuitry may be sealed and armored to resist ~ .~
., 9 ~ Z3:~L6 tampering. In addition, it may be desired to secure the printing mechanism electronically. This may be done by using non-standard electronic interlocks, secure codes and/or other protocols in-tegrated into the printer drive so that once removed, the matrix printer itself, as a single unit would function only when using such non-standard eIectronic interlocks, security codes and/or other protocols as required for opera~ing the particular printer.
The control metcr 10 includes a key board 15 for entering data which may include setting the amount of postage to be printed and the date, for example. Other data which may~be entered via the key board includes the amount of prepaid postage and interro-~ations made to the computer such as, how much postage has been used from the prepaid amount and how much postage is left from the prepared amount and interrogations relating to other functions the electronic postal meter may provide. At the top of the key board plate a readout 16 is provided which may be in digital form.
Fig. 2 represents a form of postage indicia printed on the upper right corner of an envelope 20. The indicia includes the amount of postage 21 applied to the envelope. Actually, the 2G amount of postage applied to the envelope represents the exact amount ded~cted from the pre-paid postage value in the postal meter which printed the postage indicia. The postal meter which printed the postage value is identified by the meter number 23 also on the postage indicia. In addition the post office, which processes the particular mail from the particular meter is also identified at 24 while the date is imprinted at 25. The zip code of.the processing post office is also included. In addition to the data imprinted in the postage indicia representation of an eagle and a plurality of stars are used in order to make the imprinted indicia more complex.
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` ~1 129Z316 By proper programming the postage indicia may be printed by a matrix printer. A matrix printer may be located in the meter nit ll of Fig. l. When the postage amount is set or keyed into he meter via the keyboard and the date is keyed into the meter oth variables for the postage indicia are established and a metered postage indicia may be imprinted on an envelope or label as the envelope or label pass through the printing slot of the meter unit 11.
In accordance with a program, as in well known in the art, print elements are individually actuated, in a pattern, to form the character andlor printed information desired by use of a plurality of imprints or impression on the envelope or label.
Since the print elements are individually actuated, the imprint made by each single actuation is discrete and may be identified.
Fig. 3 is a block diagram representing an electronic postal meter which includes an impact matrix printer 11. The control unit 10 includes a power supply 31, a keyboard 15 and display 16.
The keyboard is interfaced via 32 into the computer functlon, labeled CPU, 33. The CPU may be a central processing unit in the form of a microprocesser or a other computer. The CPU performs the calcuation functions and generally supervises operation of the electronics. The CPU receives and responds to instructions from the keyboard and sets up the display to provide information.
The non-volatile memory stores the accounting functions such as the pre-paid postage value, the ascending account, descending account and any other record keeping function designed into the system. The read only memory ~ROM) 35 is programmed permanently with the system functions. The read and remember (RAM) 36 is a temporary memory that is changeable by the keyboard and provides code for the amount of postage to be printed and the date. The RAM also provides trip control making certain a postage value ! , I1 12:~Z316 is printed only in accordance with the value set in the RAM. The print logic 37 energizes or causes to be energized the particular print element drivers in a particular pattern so as to actuate the print elements 40 in the print head 39 to print in a pattern S resulting in a printed desired character or indicia. The print station dri~e causes the relative movement between the print head and the envelope 13, eventually driving the envelope out of the print station.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention each print element such as 40 in Fig. 4 would include an ink ribbon striking head 41 which is non-dot geometric in shape, here illustrated as a modlfied diamond shape. When the printing element 40 is actuated or driven toward the ink ribbon tnot shown) by print element drivers, represented by arrow 38, and strikes the ribbon resulting in an imprint on the envelope, the imprint will be a discrete impression, formed with other discrete impression which combine to form a character or image printed in ink. The print element may ride in the print element retainer 42 and may be actuated by driving the element through the support from the actuation head 43.
Fig. 4a represents, a through k, different non-dot geometric shapes that print element ink ribbon striking heads may take.
l Obviously these shapes are not exhaustive of all shapes in which ¦ the print element may be formed. The shape of the ribbon striking ~5 ihead may be formed by extrusion, molding, forging or any other ~manner. The print element 40 may be shaped along the entire lengt~
~thereof or, as indicated in Fig. 4 by the broken lines, may have l! its striking head 41 shaped and only partially along its length ¦¦with the butt of the length and actuating head structured in ¦¦different shape to add strength to the print element.
ll Fig. 5 represents one form of recording head 50 for support-! ing an array of print element retainers, 53. The print heaa is defined by a frame with straight sides 56 and 57 and curvilinear . .
i lZ~32316 ends 51 and 52. This form of print head includes several opening defined by the sides and ends, each of which support and hold in alignment a plurality of print element retainers 53~ the print elements being inserted in the holes 54 of the retainers. Althoug the print element retainers in Fig. 5 are generally rectangular in shape~ the print element retainers may be cylindrical, such as shown in Fig. 4 at 42.
Although the recording head 50 is represented as being curvilinear in one direction ~lat~rally) and straight in the other direction ~longitudinally) it will be understood that the longi-tudinal sides of the openings may also be curvilinear so that the print elements in the same ar~ay will be alignedin bidi~ectional curvilinear rela~ionship.
Although Fig. 5 represents a recording head or print head 50 holding an array of print element retainers in a plurality of columns, i* is also anti~ipated that a recording head or print head holding a single column or single row of print elements may be used in an impact matrix printer. In the single column print head, the longitudinal parallel interior sides of the head would be parallel and curvilinear holding the column of print elements in curvilinear relationship.
It is also anticipated that the print elements, whether in straight rectangular array or column,or in unldirect;onal curvilinear array or column orin bidirect_ona~curvilinear array may have pre-formed striking heads of some same non-dot geometric shape.
Certainly mixed shapes may ~e used, if desired since the imprints of the print elements are discrete.
Fig. 6a illustrates in exploded,~ enlarged form the numeral 2 when printed by an impact matrix printer using an array of "
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lZ9231~
print elements with triangular shaped striking heads in which the print elements are held in unidirectional curvilinear relationship The triangle imprints 60 form the character with the background lines 62 showing the pattern of print element alignment.
Fig. 6b illustrates in exploded enlarged form the letter W
which may appear when triangular shaped print element striking heads are used in the same type of unidirectional curvilinear arra as in Fig. 6a but without showing the background lines pattern.
Fig. 7a illustrates in exploded enlarged form the numeral 2 when printed by an impact matrix printer using an array of print elements in which the print elements of the array are held in bidirectional curvilinear relationship in a recording head. In this illustration the individual imprints are dot in characteris-tic as illustrated at 70.
Fig. 7b illustxates the letter W printed by a bidirectional curvilinear array which provides a distinctive pattern of the letter structure.
It is also considered that through proper programming an array of straight, rectangularly positioned print element may be made to print indicia giving the appearance that the array is positioned in curvilinear relationshipO It is therefore believed that although a recording head holding an array of print elements in some curviLinear relationship offers a reasonable degree of ¦security in printing indicia for postal meter purposes the use ~5 of pre-shaped, non-dot geometric shape or odd motif striking ¦heads of print elements appears to offer a degree of security not ~heretofore attained using an impack dot matrix print system.
The preferred form of the invention has been described and several alternate forms have been described and suggested. O~her modifications and changes may be made, as will be apparent to thos~
skilled in the art within the principles and scope of the appended claims.
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Claims (19)
1. A system for printing secure postage indicia by a postal meter system including:
a) system control means including actuatable means for setting at least a part of postage indicia data to be printed and for processing and storing postal accounting data;
b) control means for temporarily storing said at least a part of said postage indicia data for purposes other than postal accounting;
c) a postal indicia printer responsive to said control means for printing predetermined postage indicia including said at least a part of said postage indicia data, on an envelope or label, said postage indicia printer including a print head having at least a first side connected to a first end, said first end connect to a second side, said second side connected to a second end and said second end connected to said first side for defining an opening for retaining at least a column of print elements in predetermined array, print element driver means individual to each print element of said column of print elements for actuating a print element of said column of print elements with which said driver means is associated and print logic means for selectively energizing drivers of said driver means in predeter-mined pattern for causing actuation of selected print elements for generating discrete imprints on said envelope or label for printing postage indicia characterized by a non-standard matrix.
a) system control means including actuatable means for setting at least a part of postage indicia data to be printed and for processing and storing postal accounting data;
b) control means for temporarily storing said at least a part of said postage indicia data for purposes other than postal accounting;
c) a postal indicia printer responsive to said control means for printing predetermined postage indicia including said at least a part of said postage indicia data, on an envelope or label, said postage indicia printer including a print head having at least a first side connected to a first end, said first end connect to a second side, said second side connected to a second end and said second end connected to said first side for defining an opening for retaining at least a column of print elements in predetermined array, print element driver means individual to each print element of said column of print elements for actuating a print element of said column of print elements with which said driver means is associated and print logic means for selectively energizing drivers of said driver means in predeter-mined pattern for causing actuation of selected print elements for generating discrete imprints on said envelope or label for printing postage indicia characterized by a non-standard matrix.
2. A system for printing secure postage indicia as in claim 1 and in which said opening for retaining at least a column of print elements in predetermined array is rectangular and each said print element includes at least a strike end and an actuating end and said strike end of at least part of the print elements of said column of print elements is non-dot geometric in shape.
3. A system for printing secure postage indicia as in claim 1 and in which said opening for retaining at least a column of print elements in predetermined array is rectangular and each said print element includes a strike end and an actuating end and said strike end of each said print element is non-dot geometric in shape.
4. A system for printing secure postage indicia as in claim 1 and in which said first side and said second side of said print head are curvilinear and are parallel to each other.
5. A system for printing secure postage indicia as in claim 1 and in which said first side and said second side of said print head are curvilinear and parallel to each other and said first end and said second end are curvilinear and are parallel to each other.
6. A system for printing secure postage indicia as in claim 1 and in which said opening for retaining at least a column of print elements in predetermined array supports such array in columns and rows and at least one column of print elements is curvilinear.
7. A postal meter for printing a postage indicia on an envelope or label in which said postage indicia is formed by a plurality of discrete imprints, said postal meter including;
a) meter control means including actuatable means for at least setting a postage value and a date to be printed as part or said postage indicia and for processing and storing postal accounting information;
b) temporary storage means for storing said postal value and said date in response to actuation of said actuatable means and for providing trip control of the printer printing said postage indicia;
c) a matrix printer responsive to said temporary storage means including a programmable print element driver controller, print element drivers, a print head and a plurality of print elements, said plurality of print elements arranged in at least a column in said print head, each said print element associated with a different one of a print element driver of said print element drivers, said programmable print element driver controller including permanent program means for causing energization of selected print element drivers for causing actuation of said print elements for causing a pattern of discrete imprints on an envelope or label to appear forming predetermined postage indicia characterized by a non-standard matrix and said programm-able print element drive controller including temporary program means, set up in response to actuation of said actuatable means, for causing energization of selected print element drivers for causing actuation of said print elements for causing another pattern of discrete imprints on said envelope or label to appear in a form representative of said postage value and date and characterized by a non-standard matrix.
a) meter control means including actuatable means for at least setting a postage value and a date to be printed as part or said postage indicia and for processing and storing postal accounting information;
b) temporary storage means for storing said postal value and said date in response to actuation of said actuatable means and for providing trip control of the printer printing said postage indicia;
c) a matrix printer responsive to said temporary storage means including a programmable print element driver controller, print element drivers, a print head and a plurality of print elements, said plurality of print elements arranged in at least a column in said print head, each said print element associated with a different one of a print element driver of said print element drivers, said programmable print element driver controller including permanent program means for causing energization of selected print element drivers for causing actuation of said print elements for causing a pattern of discrete imprints on an envelope or label to appear forming predetermined postage indicia characterized by a non-standard matrix and said programm-able print element drive controller including temporary program means, set up in response to actuation of said actuatable means, for causing energization of selected print element drivers for causing actuation of said print elements for causing another pattern of discrete imprints on said envelope or label to appear in a form representative of said postage value and date and characterized by a non-standard matrix.
8. A postal meter for printing a postage indicia as in claim 7 and in which each said print element includes a strike head for imparting an imprint on to said envelope or label and at least some strike heads of some print element are characterized by non-dot geometric shape.
9. A postal meter for printing a postage indicia as in claim 8 and in which each said print element includes a strike head for imparting an imprint on to said envelope or label and each strike head of said print elements is characterized by a non-dot geometric shape.
10. A postal meter for printing a postage indicia as in claim 9 and in which said strike heads of said print element are characterized by non-dot geometric shape in which some shapes differ from others.
11. A postal meter for printing a postage indicia as in claim 8 and in which said at least some strike heads of said some print elements are characterized by non-dot geometric shape in which some shapes differ from others.
12. A postal meter for printing a postage indicia as in claim 7 and in which said at least a column of print elements is curvilinear.
13. A postal meter for printing a postage indicia as in claim 7 and further including ink carrier means disposed between said envelope or label and said print elements and said matrix printer is an impact matrix printer.
14. A postage meter comprising:
a) means for inputting a selected postage amount;
b) means responsive to said input means for accounting for said amount; and c) means responsive to said accounting means for printing indicia representative of said accounting for said amount;
said indicia comprising a pattern of discrete imprints selected from a non-standard matrix.
a) means for inputting a selected postage amount;
b) means responsive to said input means for accounting for said amount; and c) means responsive to said accounting means for printing indicia representative of said accounting for said amount;
said indicia comprising a pattern of discrete imprints selected from a non-standard matrix.
15. A postage meter as described in claim 14 wherein said discrete imprints comprise discrete imprints having a non-dot geometric shape.
16. A postage meter as described in claim 14 wherein said non-standard matrix is a curvilinear matrix.
17. A postal meter comprising:
18 (a) system control means including actuatable means for setting at least a part of postage indicia data to be printed and for processing and storing postal accounting data;
(b) control means for temporarily storing said at least a part of said postage indicia data for purposes other than postal accounting;
(c) a matrix printer for printing postage indicia on an envelope or label;
(d) said matrix printer having non-dot geometrically shaped print elements formed at their imprint ends;
(e) whereby discrete imprints are formed on an envelope or label which is recognizable so as to provide a secure postage indicia imprint.
18. A postal meter according to Claim 17 wherein said non-dot geometrically shaped print elements are curvilinear arrays.
(b) control means for temporarily storing said at least a part of said postage indicia data for purposes other than postal accounting;
(c) a matrix printer for printing postage indicia on an envelope or label;
(d) said matrix printer having non-dot geometrically shaped print elements formed at their imprint ends;
(e) whereby discrete imprints are formed on an envelope or label which is recognizable so as to provide a secure postage indicia imprint.
18. A postal meter according to Claim 17 wherein said non-dot geometrically shaped print elements are curvilinear arrays.
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Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US90452786A | 1986-09-05 | 1986-09-05 | |
| US904,527 | 1986-09-05 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1292316C true CA1292316C (en) | 1991-11-19 |
Family
ID=25419310
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000545968A Expired - Fee Related CA1292316C (en) | 1986-09-05 | 1987-09-02 | Postal meter system |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS6392458A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1292316C (en) |
| CH (1) | CH675315A5 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3729717A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2603525B1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2197262B (en) |
| SE (1) | SE466341B (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5012425A (en) * | 1988-12-30 | 1991-04-30 | Pitney Bowes Inc. | EPM having an improvement in non-volatile storage of accounting data |
| JPH04108720U (en) * | 1991-03-01 | 1992-09-21 | 美濃化学工業株式会社 | Edge fixing device for plate material |
| US5480239A (en) * | 1993-10-08 | 1996-01-02 | Pitney Bowes Inc. | Postage meter system having bit-mapped indicia image security |
| US6144950A (en) * | 1998-02-27 | 2000-11-07 | Pitney Bowes Inc. | Postage printing system including prevention of tampering with print data sent from a postage meter to a printer |
| DE29818913U1 (en) * | 1998-10-23 | 2000-01-13 | Bundesdruckerei GmbH, 10969 Berlin | Security printing device for labeling personal documents |
Family Cites Families (12)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2800386A (en) * | 1954-03-12 | 1957-07-23 | Burroughs Corp | Recording device and method of manufacture |
| US3627096A (en) * | 1969-04-25 | 1971-12-14 | Ibm | Wire printing method |
| DD115400A1 (en) * | 1974-12-12 | 1975-09-20 | ||
| US4010835A (en) * | 1975-08-01 | 1977-03-08 | International Business Machines Corporation | Matrix print head |
| US4232324A (en) * | 1978-06-05 | 1980-11-04 | International Business Machines Corporation | Apparatus for arranging scanning heads for interlacing |
| JPS587371A (en) * | 1981-07-06 | 1983-01-17 | Seiko Epson Corp | Printing head for wire printer |
| DE3137690C2 (en) * | 1981-09-22 | 1986-11-20 | Alban 8050 Freising Nusser | Printing element for a printing device |
| US4621273A (en) * | 1982-12-16 | 1986-11-04 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Print head for printing or vector plotting with a multiplicity of line widths |
| US4562446A (en) * | 1983-04-01 | 1985-12-31 | Tokyo Electric Co. Ltd. | Ink-dot printer with magnetic ink attracting and retention preventing means |
| DE3486183T2 (en) * | 1983-07-18 | 1993-12-16 | Pitney Bowes | Device for printing and reading encrypted messages. |
| US4649266A (en) * | 1984-03-12 | 1987-03-10 | Pitney Bowes Inc. | Method and apparatus for verifying postage |
| US4580144A (en) * | 1984-08-20 | 1986-04-01 | Pitney Bowes Inc. | Postal fixed and variable data thermal printer |
-
1987
- 1987-09-02 CA CA000545968A patent/CA1292316C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1987-09-03 SE SE8703428A patent/SE466341B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1987-09-04 CH CH341887A patent/CH675315A5/fr not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1987-09-04 DE DE19873729717 patent/DE3729717A1/en not_active Ceased
- 1987-09-04 FR FR8712307A patent/FR2603525B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1987-09-04 GB GB8720820A patent/GB2197262B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1987-09-05 JP JP22289187A patent/JPS6392458A/en active Pending
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB8720820D0 (en) | 1987-10-14 |
| FR2603525A1 (en) | 1988-03-11 |
| SE8703428L (en) | 1988-03-06 |
| JPS6392458A (en) | 1988-04-22 |
| FR2603525B1 (en) | 1994-05-27 |
| SE8703428D0 (en) | 1987-09-03 |
| GB2197262B (en) | 1991-02-13 |
| DE3729717A1 (en) | 1988-03-17 |
| SE466341B (en) | 1992-02-03 |
| CH675315A5 (en) | 1990-09-14 |
| GB2197262A (en) | 1988-05-18 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |