CH675315A5 - - Google Patents

Description

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Description

The present invention relates to a franking apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1, as well as a device for printing postal signs including.

Postage meters or postage printing devices are devices that are used to print what replaces stamps. Stamps are, in a sense, a certain type of currency and subject to counterfeiting. Postage meters are devices that print what replaces a stamp directly on an envelope or label. They must be approved by the postal authorities before they can be used in printing postage.

Since the franking machines are, in fact, devices imprinting a monetary value, the postal authorities require that they be of security with regard to the functions of counting i.e. they follow and correctly report the amount of postage spent and be safe with regard to the printed signs, which represent the postage printed on an envelope, strip or label.

In most cases, postage meters are rented devices that are used outside the post office to deliver postage. It is common practice for the tenant of the device to make a cash advance for a predetermined value of postage that the device can print. This predetermined value is entered into the device by an authorized person and the latter can then spend the postage amount in increments. The progressive and regressive registers installed in the device keep a current account of the amount which has been spent (progressive register), and the value of the postage which remains to be spent (i.e. regressive register) compared to the payment made in advance.

These registers offer great security against fraud or alteration by using various techniques.

Historically, postage meters have been mechanical devices into which postage values have been loaded, printed and accounted for using mechanical techniques and assemblies. The various accounting functions were carried out by mechanical registers in which a multitude of different mechanical interlocks were used which ensured protection against printing of postage by the device without changing the values of the registers, which made the functions secure. accounting.

The actual printing of a franking on an envelope, a strip or a label, which will be designated hereinafter by envelope, was carried out with a printing drum animated by a rotation movement while the envelope passed by the first stage of the apparatus. The printing drum used is in the form of a matrix which is itself a very complex etching, the duplication of which is extremely difficult and requires a great deal of time and which consequently is a deterrent for making forgeries. The engraving on the drum provides an identification of the particular postage meter in which it is used and identifies the post office through which mail will be sent. By identifying the drum as part of the postal printing, the device using such a drum can be identified and the people renting the device can also be identified. By identifying the post office through which the mail must be sent, the use of the device is limited to a particular postal area, and in fact, the franking device is mobile within the limits of the area. served by the identified post office. The drum also prints the date and amount of postage. This is variable information which is entered by the user of the device.

The advantages of mechanical franking devices are their robustness, their reliability and their safety with the possibility of separating them quickly and in a relatively easy way when the device does not function correctly, which limits downtime.

Electronic postage meters have been introduced very recently. One such example of apparatus is found in U.S. Patent No. 4,251,874. The more modern electronic franking apparatus employs groups of electronic memories or components to perform the accounting functions which were previously performed by mechanical registers. The electronic assembly is computerized, using a central processing unit such as a microprocessor or other form of computer which provides the arithmetic functions of calculation and the fidelity of the programs.

One of the problems with electronic postage meters is that the device itself is not entirely electronic because the machine uses a mechanical postage meter to print postal signs. As the device is basically electronic, operating at a very high speed in the execution of its calculations and storage of data, and the printer used is a mechanical device operating at a significantly slower speed and at a voltage value significantly different, an interface is used to ensure compatibility between the electronic control system and the mechanical printing device. The slower operating speed of the mechanical printer effectively slows down the running speed of the electronic franking device, that is, it slows down the operating cycle.

A fully electronic electronic franking system is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,637,051. However, in this patent, a sign is printed using a matrix printer and made secure by omitting or shifting elements in signs based on the information printed.

Most matrix printers, whether5

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se of a dot matrix percussion printer or an inkjet printer, are easily in the form of items in stock and can be easily programmed to print the desired legend, the program itself being very easily changeable and very easily duplicated. The flexibility in scheduling possibilities and the ease with which the program itself can be changed and / or duplicated leads to a security gap that the postal authorities are trying to avoid.

The present invention provides a fully integrated electronic franking apparatus which includes a computer controlled control and calculation system and electronic memory groups to perform the required accounting functions and a matrix printing, percussion device , at high speed, using high technology. The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides for the use of a matrix percussion printing device, used as a printing component in an electronic postage meter for printing postal signs on an envelope, in which the printing elements which are used to form a character or a design in accordance with the programmed configuration of the characters of the matrix themselves have a predetermined shape at the point of impact or end of the printing element. Such a pre-form can be a certain geometric configuration, without dots, predetermined or shape such as a square or rectangle, a triangle or a star, a letter, a number or other design which is different from that of matrix printers. standard points. This non-standard shape of the point of impact of the printing element will be called "geometric shape without dots".

With such a change in the shape or physical configuration of the printing element at its point of impact, the security of the printing function of the franking machine will be improved by the fact that any potential counterfeiter will have to face the task of physically modifying each print element of a matrix printer to produce the appropriate signs. The security of the printing function of the franking machine comprising such modified printing elements will not be compromised since each printing element is actuated individually and produces a discreet impression which forms part of a configuration forming a character, unique compared to the printing of standard matrix printers. By reasonably careful inspection, the uniqueness or impression can be observed easily and quickly and counterfeit postal signs which do not bear such impressions can be quickly detected.

With such a change in the configuration of the printing element at the impact end of the printing element, the security of the printing function of the franking apparatus will be improved by the fact that certain predetermined geometric designs may be limited for use in the printing of postal signs intended for use in specific postal areas or post offices. This will further limit and reduce printing problems as they relate to security and limit the area of use of a postage meter with such a design of the printing elements.

As a variant, the matrix print head which generally has a rectangular shape and maintains and supports a multitude or row of printing elements used to physically apply the ink to some recording medium such as paper, for example, to form the printed signs, can be made curvilinear so that, when a character or letter or other sign is to be printed, an appropriate set or configuration of printing elements in curvilinear relation is actuated against a support inked providing a distinct outline to the impression left on the paper.

This new structure print head, when used in a printer of a franking machine, will provide a postal index printed with a distinct curvilinear design integrated into the printed signs for immediate recognition.

High speed matrix printing devices, such as dot matrix percussion printers are well known in the art. These printers generally have printheads which support a multitude of printing elements, sometimes called wires or pins, arranged in a single row or a single column or in a multitude of rows or columns. The print elements are actuated individually, selectively, in combinations, in a manner well known in the art, to print characters as the print head and the paper move relative to each other. Individual printing elements, when operated against an inked medium, such as an inked ribbon, for example, form discrete prints on paper or other recording medium. The prints, which retain their identity after careful examination, combine with each other to form the desired character.

U.S. Patent No. 2,800,386 shows a print head or recording head construction which includes a multitude of rows of printing elements in alignment. Another form of printing element with a driving element is U.S. Patent No. 4,457,636. U.S. Patent No. 4,167,342 relates to increasing the printing speed of a dot matrix printer, while U.S. Patent No. 4,246 948 and U.S. Patent No. 4,268,180 each relate to the rupture of printing elements and illustrate printing elements of different construction. U.S. Patent No. 4,508,463 relates to the quality of printing of dot matrix printers.

By constructing recording heads or printing heads so that at least two inner sides of the head are parallel and curvilinear,

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the printing elements that such a head comprises will be in a curvilinear relationship with each other. In the case where only one column of printing elements is contained in a printing head, the column of elements will form the curvilinear line of the parallel interior sides. In the case where multiple columns of printing elements are contained in a printhead, the printing elements will be maintained in curvilinear relation unidirectionally, that is to say in relation along a straight line in a direction and curvilinearly in the other direction. In the case where multiple columns of print elements are held in a print head, the opposite interior sides may each be in parallel curvilinear relationship. This structure will include multiple columns of printing elements in bi-directional curvilinear relationship. With printing elements included in printheads in such a relationship, prints made or left on paper or other recording medium during the printing process will form characters having distinct curvilinear lines as opposed to characters consist of a straight line.

The curved construction of the recording or printing head, which supports the printing elements in such a curvilinear relationship, will be difficult to duplicate, and will require a great deal of time, and will act as a deterrent to a possible infringer.

Essentially, the subject of the present invention is a fully integrated electronic postage meter system which includes a matrix printer for printing postal signs using a non-standard matrix. One can define such a non-standard matrix by a matrix comprising discrete prints having a geometric shape without points or curvilinear matrix.

The present invention will be clearly understood from the following description given in conjunction with the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a representation of an embodiment of an electronic system of franking apparatus in which the present invention can be incorporated;

Figure 2 is a part of an envelope on which a postal sign has been printed;

Figure 3 is a block diagram of an electronic postage meter system using a matrix percussion printer;

Figure 4 is a form of printing element showing the percussion head modified to take a geometric shape without dots;

FIG. 4a represents several examples of geometric shapes without points, in which the percussion head can be forged or shaped;

FIG. 5 represents a form of printhead with the curvilinear and parallel ends and the rectilinear and parallel sides;

Figures 6a and 6b illustrate, on a large scale, two characters obtained with modified printing elements, maintained in a unidirectional curvilinear relationship; and Figures 7a and 7b illustrate these same characters obtained by using standard dot printing elements maintained in bi-directional curvilinear relationship.

Now in connection with FIG. 1, an electronic system of franking apparatus may have the form of a double housing supported by a common mount. A control assembly 10 can be used to enclose electronic computer systems comprising a central processing unit and groups of memories for performing postal calculations and for storing critical accounting data. The assembly 10 may also include programmable devices and interface connections for sending and receiving data. Internal interlocks can also be provided to ensure reliability and security.

The assembly 11 may include a printer 12, such as a matrix printer mounted securely in the housing and under the control of the control assembly 10. Connections between the control assembly and the franking assembly pass through the mount 14 which supports and protects such interconnection circuits. An envelope 13 has been illustrated at its printing stage and, when the envelope is driven into the printing slot, the upper front corner is printed with postal signs indicating, in printed form, the value of the postage , date, postage meter registration number, post office identification, and other acceptable signs.

The control assembly 10 and the franking assembly 11 are fixed to the mount 14 which supports and protects the interconnection circuits (not shown) between these assemblies against unauthorized intrusion and / or against fraud. Locking mechanisms and locking systems can be provided to prevent fraud or the removal of the control assembly 10 and / or the franking assembly 11 of the mount 14 so as to reinforce the security of the postage meter and / or its components. In a structural variant, the control assembly as well as the franking assembly comprising the matrix printer can be mounted and fixed in a single housing which is protected against unauthorized intrusion, disassembly and / or fraud .

If the control assembly 10 and the franking assembly 11 are in the form of separate assemblies, but are not mounted on a mounting also serving as a safety conduit for the interconnection circuits, these circuits can be sealed and shielded to resist fraud.

In addition, one may wish to electronically ensure the security of the printing mechanism. This can be done using non-standard electronic locking circuits, security codes and / or protocols built into the com5

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command from the printer so that, once removed, the printer itself as a single unit will only function using such non-standard electronic locking circuits, such security codes and / or other protocols as requires running the particular printer.

The control assembly 10 includes a keyboard 15 for entering data which may include the amount of postage to be printed and the date, for example. Another data that can be entered via the keyboard includes the amount of postage paid in advance and the computer queries such as the amount of postage that has been used since the amount paid in advance and the amount remaining postage and questions regarding other functions of the electronic postage meter. At the upper part of the keyboard, a display device 16 is provided which can be digital.

2 shows a form of postal sign printed in the upper right corner of an envelope 13. The sign includes the amount of postage 21 applied to the envelope. In reality, the amount of postage applied to the envelope represents the exact amount deducted from the value of postage paid in advance in the postage meter which prints the postal signs. The franking machine which printed the franking value is identified by its number 23, also placed on the postal sign. In addition, the post office that processes particular mail from the particular postage meter is also identified at 24, while the date is printed at 25. The postal code of the post office handling mail is also included. In addition to the data printed in the postal sign, we use a representation of an eagle and a multitude of stars to make the printed sign more complex.

To carry out the appropriate programming, the postal sign can be printed by a matrix printer. A matrix printer can be placed in the assembly 11 of FIG. 1. When the postage amount is entered into the device via the keyboard, and the date is also entered, the two variables relating to the postal sign are established and a postal franking sign can be printed on an envelope or a label as it passes through the printing slot of the assembly 11.

In accordance with a program, as is well known in the art, printing elements are actuated individually, in a configuration, to form the desired character and / or printed information by using a multitude of prints on envelope or label. As the printing elements are actuated individually, the impression made by each action is discreet and can be identified.

Figure 3 is a block diagram showing an electronic franking apparatus which includes a printer 11 by matrix percussion. The control assembly 10 comprises a power supply 31, a keyboard 15 and a display device 16. The keyboard is connected via an interface 32 with the computer, called the central processing unit 33. The central unit may have the form of 'a mid-processor or other computer. The central unit performs the calculation functions and generally supervises the operation of the electronic circuits. The central unit receives and responds to instructions from the keyboard and implements the display device to provide information. A non-volatile memory stores the accounting functions such as the prepaid value of postage, the progressive account, the regressive account and any other recording function that the system includes. A read only memory 35 is permanently programmed with the functions of the system. A direct access memory 36 is a time memory which can be modified by the keyboard and provides a code for the amount of postage to be printed as well as the date. The direct access memory also provides a trigger command, ensuring that a postage value is printed only in accordance with the value set in memory. Printing logic 37 causes excitation or excites the particular members for driving the printing elements in a particular configuration so as to actuate the printing elements 40 of the head 39 to print a configuration, which results by printing a desired character or sign. The control of the printing station causes a relative movement between the printing head and the envelope 13, ultimately resulting in the output of the envelope from the printing station.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each printing element, such as 40 in Figure 4, will have a head 41 striking an ink ribbon, which has a geometric shape free of dots, illustrated here in the form of a modified diamond. When the print head 40 is actuated or driven towards the ink ribbon (not shown) by the drive members according to arrow 38, and strikes the ribbon, which results in printing on the envelope, the The print will be a discreet print, formed with another discreet print that combine to form a character or image printed in ink. The printing element can move in a printing element retaining member 42 and can be actuated by driving through the support due to an actuating head 43.

FIG. 4a represents, a to k different geometric shapes without dots which the percussion heads of the inked ribbon of the printing elements can take. Obviously, these shapes are not an exhaustive illustration of all the shapes that the printing element can take. The shape of the percussion head can be obtained by extrusion, molding, forging or otherwise. The printing element 40 can be shaped over its entire length or, as indicated in FIG. 4 by the dashes, can have its percussion head 41 shaped only partially along its length, with the end of the length and the actuator head structured in a different shape to increase the mechanical resistance of the printing element.

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FIG. 5 shows a form of recording head 50 for supporting an array of printing element retaining members 53. The print head is defined by a frame with rectilinear sides 56 and 57 and curved ends 51 and 52. This form of print head has several openings (55) defined by the sides and ends, each supporting in alignment a multitude of printing element retaining members 53, the printing elements being inserted into the holes 54 of the retaining members. Although the retaining members in FIG. 5 have a generally rectangular shape, they can be cylindrical, as shown at 42 in FIG. 4.

Although the recording head 50 is shown to be curvilinear in one direction (lateral) and straight in the other direction (longitudinal), it should be noted that the longitudinal sides of the openings can also be curvilinear so that the printing elements of the same network will be aligned in a bi-directional curvilinear relationship.

Although Figure 5 shows a recording head or printhead 50 holding a network of print element retaining members in a multitude of columns, it will be noted that a recording head or printhead printing now a single column or a single row of printing elements can be used in a matrix percussion printer. In the single column print head, the longitudinal, parallel interior sides of the head will be parallel and curvilinear, maintaining the column of print elements in curvilinear relationship.

It will also be noted that the printing elements, whether in a straight rectangular network or column or in a unidirectional curvilinear network or column or in a bi-directional curvilinear network, can have pre-formed impact heads having the same geometric shape without points. We can certainly use mixed forms, if necessary, because the impressions made by the elements are discreet.

Figure 6a illustrates, in large exploded form, the number 2 when printed by a matrix percussion printer using an array of printing elements with triangular heads in which the printing elements are held in uni-directional curvilinear relationship. The triangle prints 60 form the character, with the bottom lines 62 representing the configuration of the alignment of the printing elements.

FIG. 6b illustrates, in exploded form on a large scale, the letter W which can appear when percussion heads of printing elements of triangular shape are used in the same type of unidirectional curvilinear network as in FIG. 6a, but without illustrating the configuration of the bottom lines.

FIG. 7a illustrates, in exploded form on a large scale, the number 2 when it is printed by a matrix percussion printer using a network of printing elements in which the elements are maintained in bi-directional curvilinear relation in a recording head. In this illustration, the individual impressions are dots, as illustrated in 70.

Figure 7b illustrates the letter W printed by a bi-directional curvilinear network, which provides a distinct configuration of the structure of the letter.

We can consider that by an appropriate programming, we can realize a network of rectilinear printing elements, placed rectangularly, to print signs giving the appearance of a network placed in curvilinear relation. Therefore, it is believed that, although a recording head maintaining a network of printing elements in a certain curvilinear relationship provides a reasonable degree of security in the printing of signs for franking apparatus, the use of percussion heads of a geometric shape without dots, pre-shaped, or with an unusual pattern for the printing elements seems to offer a degree of security which has not been achieved hitherto with the systems of dot matrix percussion printing.

The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments which have just been described, it is on the contrary liable to modifications and variants which will appear to those skilled in the art.

Claims (8)

Claims 1. Franking apparatus characterized in that it comprises a device for printing postal signs, comprising: a) means (15) for entering a selected amount of postage; b) a means (34) responding to the input means for accounting for the amount; and c) means (11, 33, 36) responding to the accounting means (34) for printing a sign (21) representative of the accounting of the amount, this sign comprising a configuration of discrete prints chosen from a matrix (53) non-standard. 2. Franking apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the discrete prints comprise discrete prints having a geometric shape (62) other than a dot shape. 3. Franking apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the non-standard matrix is a curvilinear matrix. 4. Franking apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises: a) a matrix printer (12) for printing postal signs (21) on an envelope (13) or a label; b) the matrix printer having printing elements (40) of geometric shape other than a dot shape which are formed at their printing ends (41), whereby discrete prints (21 ) are formed on an envelope (13) or a label which can be recognized as providing a security impression of postal signs. 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 6 11 CH 675 315 A5 12 5. Franking apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the printing elements (40) of geometric shape other than of point shape are curvilinear networks. 6. Franking apparatus according to claim 1 for printing a postal sign (21) on an envelope (13) or a label, in which the postal sign consists of a multitude of discrete prints, characterized in that the means (15) for entering a selected amount of postage is connected to means (33) for establishing data relating to a postal value (21) and a date (25) to be printed as constituting part of the postal sign and to process and store postal accounting information; the accounting means (34) comprising a temporary storage means (36) for storing the postal value and the date in response to the actuation of the means for establishing data on the postal value, and for supplying a command for triggering the 'printer (11) which prints the postal sign; the apparatus further comprising a matrix printer (11) responsive to the temporary storage means (36) which includes a programmable controller for a print element drive, element drive members printing, a printing head (50) and a multitude of printing elements (40), the multitude of printing elements (40) being arranged in at least one column in the printing head (50) , each print element (40) being associated with a different drive member, a controller (37) comprising permanent program means for causing excitation of selected print element drive members to cause actuation of the printing elements (40) and thus the appearance of a discreet printing pattern (ak) on an envelope or a label forming a predetermined postal sign, characterized by a non-standard matrix (53) and the controller (37) comprising means for pro temporary gram, established in response to actuation of the means for establishing data to cause excitation of selected print element drive members to cause actuation of said print elements (40) and thereby appearance of another discrete printing pattern (ak) on the envelope or label in a form representative of the postage value (21) and the date (25) and characterized by a non-standard matrix. 7. Franking apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that each printing element (40) comprises a percussion head (41) for causing printing on the envelope or the label, and at least heads of percussion (41) of certain printing elements (40) are characterized by a geometric shape (62) other than a dot shape. 8. 8. Franking apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that each printing element (40) comprises a percussion head (41) to cause printing on the envelope or the label, and each percussion head printing elements is characterized by a geometric shape (62) other than a dot shape. 9. Franking apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the percussion heads (41) of the printing elements (40) are characterized by a geometric shape other than a dot shape in which certain shapes are different from other. 10. Franking apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that at least some percussion heads (41) of the printing elements (40) are characterized by a geometric shape other than a dot shape in which certain shapes are different from the others. 11. Franking apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that at least one column of printing elements (40) is curvilinear. 12. Franking apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that it further comprises an ink carriage means disposed between the envelope or the label and the printing elements (40), and the printer matrix printer (12) is a matrix percussion printer (11). 13. Device for printing postal signs (21, 25) of security in a franking apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for entering a selected amount of franking is connected to a means for establishing at at least part of a data on the postal signs (21, 25) to be printed and to process and store a postage accounting data; the accounting means (34) responding to the input means comprising control means (36) for temporarily storing at least this part of the data on the post signs and for controlling the printing of this data; this device further comprising a printer (11) of postal signs responding to the control means (36, 37) for printing predetermined postal signs comprising at least said part of the data on the postal signs, on an envelope (13) or a label, this printer (11) comprising a print head (50) having at least a first side (56) connected to a first end (51), the first end being connected to a second side (57), the second side being connected to a second end (52) and the second end being connected to the first side (56) to define an opening (55) for holding at least one column of printing elements (40) in a predetermined array, a printing element drive means particular to each printing element (40) of the printing element column for actuating a printing element of the column with which the printing element means training is associated, logic printing means (37) selectively energizing the driving elements of the driving member means in a predetermined configuration to cause actuation of selected printing elements (40) to produce impressions discreet on the envelope or label and the printing of postal signs characterized by a non-standard matrix. 14. Printing device according to claim 13, characterized in that the opening (55) for holding at least one column of printing elements (40) in a predetermined network is rectan 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 7 13 CH 675 315 A5 guide, and each printing element comprises at least one percussion end (41) and an actuating end (43), and the percussion end (41) of at least part of the printing elements (40 ) of the column of printing elements has a geometric shape (ak) other than a dot shape. 15. Printing device according to claim 13, characterized in that the opening (55) for holding at least one column of printing elements (40) in a predetermined network is rectangular and each element of printing (40) has a percussion end (41) and an actuating end (43) and the percussion end (41) of each printing element has a geometric shape (ak) other than a dot shape . 16. Printing device according to claim 13, characterized in that the first side (56) and the second side (57) of the print head (50) are curvilinear and parallel to each other. 17. Printing device according to claim 13, characterized in that the first side (56) and the second side (57) of the print head (50) are curvilinear and parallel to each other, and the first end (51) and the second end (52) are curvilinear and parallel to each other. 18. Printing device according to claim 13, characterized in that the opening (55) for holding at least one column of printing elements (40) in a predetermined network supports such a network in columns and rows, and at least one column of printing elements (40) is curved. 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65