EP0165601A2 - Thermal printer and postal meter having thermal printer - Google Patents
Thermal printer and postal meter having thermal printer Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0165601A2 EP0165601A2 EP85107589A EP85107589A EP0165601A2 EP 0165601 A2 EP0165601 A2 EP 0165601A2 EP 85107589 A EP85107589 A EP 85107589A EP 85107589 A EP85107589 A EP 85107589A EP 0165601 A2 EP0165601 A2 EP 0165601A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- thermal
- tape
- printing
- elements
- transfer ribbon
- 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.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000007639 printing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 21
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 12
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000007651 thermal printing Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000002441 reversible effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229920002799 BoPET Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000005041 Mylar™ Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012163 sequencing technique Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010023 transfer printing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
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
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/315—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material
- B41J2/32—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads
- B41J2/325—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads by selective transfer of ink from ink carrier, e.g. from ink ribbon or sheet
-
- 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
- G07B2017/0054—Thermal 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
- G07B2017/00637—Special printing techniques, e.g. interlacing
Definitions
- the present invention relates to postage meters and to thermal printing means therefor.
- An object of the invention is to provide a postage meter in which variable data can be easily printed along with the imprint of postal value.
- Another object of the invention is to provide a postage meter which is capable of printing different information on a tape or strip in accordance with a received command.
- the printing of postal value and other associated indicia is accomplished by using a thermal transfer printer under the control of a microprocessor for forming the images and enabling the input and printing of selected variable data.
- a postage meter in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is shown generally at 10.
- the unit is provided with a keyboard 1.2 for inputting data into the unit and a display 14 which may be a conventional LED display. Similar keyboards and displays are shown and described in U.S. Patent 3,938,095 to Check, Jr. et al, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
- a slot or opening 16 is provided through which is ejected an imprinted tape.
- An input/output connector (not shown) may be optionally provided if desired for interconnection and communication with other devices.
- Fig. 2 is a block diagram of an electronic portion of the postage meter.
- the meter preferably incorporates a central processing unit 18 connected through a conventional bus arrangement to a multi-purpose ROM/RAM/IO device 20.
- a keyboard 22 and display 24 are scanned and driven, respectively, in conventional manner through use of conventional decoders 26 to enable input and readout of desired data.
- a bus arrangement likewise preferably provides in conventional manner for input and output between ROM/RAM/IO device 20 and accounting registers, peripheral units, or the like.
- Printer logic and driver circuits shown at 28 receive data input from the device 20 and translate the data into a pattern of suitable sequential electrical pulses to individual thermal heating elements of a thermal print head 30 for heating the elements in conventional fashion.
- Suitable thermal print heads for use in a meter as disclosed herein are available from RICOH Company Ltd., San Jose, California or KYOCERA Company, Kyoto, Japan.
- a typical device is shown and described in U.S. 4,429,318 issued January 31, 1984 to Kobata.
- the heating elements be formed in a single row and arranged perpendicular to the direction of travel of a paper tape as described below. For best results, there are about 224 elements in the row.
- the elements are heated as required for the purpose of melting an ink composition on a thermal transfer ribbon and causing it to be lifted off the ribbon at the point of heating and transferred to a paper tape travelling in conjunction with the thermal transfer ribbon.
- CPU 18 further controls the sequencing of motor drivers 32 as is described in connection with Fig. 3.
- a suitable tape drive unit for the postage meter Paper tape (not shown) spools off a roll of tape rotatably mounted on shaft 34 passing around roller 36 and between tape guides 38 and 40 and thence portions of tape feed into the bite between heating elements of the thermal head 30 (numbered the same as the block shown in Fig. 2) and the impression roller indicated at 42 to the bite between upper exit roller 44 and lower exit roller 46.
- Tape cutting knives 48 and 50 are provided for cutting the tape into one of two different lengths depending upon whether a printed slogan or other such information is desired or not.
- Each knife 48 and 50 comprises a movable cutting blade in contact with a rotationally biased blade operated preferably by means of a rotary solenoid (shown schematically at 52 and 54) which operate upon command of the microcomputer to cut the tape prior to transport of a cut section past the thermal head 30.
- a rotary solenoid shown schematically at 52 and 54
- the knife should usually be located a significant distance either upstream or downstream of the area of printing.
- a non-printable border will be present at either the leading or the trailing edge of the printed strip if the strip is cut after printing takes place unless the strip is retracted.
- Such a border is avoided and any retraction mechanism is avoided by situating the knives as shown in Fig. 3 and by cutting the tape before the printing takes place.
- the thermal head 30 is able to both translate and rotate so as to align the row of heating elements with the impression roller nip.
- Suitable adjustment means for example, are shown as threaded screw 56 threadingly mounted on bracket 58 and carrying mounting member 60 to which the thermal head 30 is fixed.
- a roll of thermal transfer ribbon (not shown), typically .00025" Mylar m ribbon having a suitable meltable ink composition coating, is rotatably mounted on shaft 62 and preferably housed in a molded cassette housing 64.
- the tape is threaded coating- side down so as to travel adjacent to the paper tape through a bite between the thermal head 30 and the impression roller 42 and then through the bite between the exit rollers to a take-up spool mounted on shaft 66, also preferably a part of cassette 64.
- Drive or feed roller 66 and pinch roller 68 are provided to advance tape to the position for the next cycle
- gummed paper tape may in time adhere to the rollers if the tape stays in position under pressure for long lengths of time. This may cause jamming of the paper strip on start up and during rotation of the drive rollers. To avoid problems with such sticking,
- arms 70, 72 and 94 are pivoted about pivot shafts 74, 76 and 86.
- the distal ends 78, 80 and 96 of these arms are normally made to rest against camming surfaces 82 fixed on shaft 84.
- the camming surface is arranged such that upon rotation in one direction, the ends 78, 80 and 96 move inwardly toward the shaft 84 as pinch roller 68, impression roller 42 and upper exit roller 44 are driven by springs (not shown) into pressure abutment against the feed roller, the thermal head and the lower exit roll.
- the camming surfaces cause the distal ends to move outwardly which again causes the pinch roller 68, the impression roller 42 and the upper exit roller 44 to move away from the tape to relieve the pressure thereon.
- the positioning of the upper exit roller 44 away from the tape enables a very simplified loading of the cartridge and threading of the ribbon so as to avoid any need to touch the ribbon or to feed it around any rollers or guides.
- the rollers are automatically moved out of contact with the thermal print head and the lower exit roller.
- the ribbon bridging the distance between guides 90 and 92 is easily inserted into the large gap existing between the thermal head and the impression roller and the bite between the exit rollers when the rollers are in this condition.
- feed roller 66, impression roller 42, and exit roller 46 are driven from a single reversible stepping motor (not shown) located at drive shaft 85.
- the lower exit roller 46 is driven by a drive belt from the stepping motor and lower exit roller 46 drives an idler wheel 86 which in turn drives the impression roller 42.
- belt 88 transmits the motion from idler wheel 86 to the take-up spool mounted on shaft 66.
- the reversible stepping motor is geared in a one-to-one ratio with the shaft 84 which carries both the camming surfaces-82 and the timing belt pulley.
- One or the other of these will be driven by shaft 84, depending on the direction of rotation, through suitable overrunning clutches.
- the Polyclutch arrangement transmits the motion to the camming surface for movement of the distal ends of the arms 70, 72, and 94.
- the over-running clutch will not transmit any motion through the belt drive.
- the motor turns in the opposite direction, the motion is transmitted through the belt drive for driving the feed roller, impression roller, and exit rollers.
- the camming surface 82 is rotated so as to enable the arms 70, 72 and 94 to move inwardly toward shaft 84 to in turn bring the pinch roller 68 and impression roller 42 into pressure abutment against the paper tape.
- one of the knives 48 or 50 is actuated under command of the microprocessor depending upon the length of the meter strip desired, that is, whether a slogan or the like is desired.
- the drive rollers are then actuated to drive the cut segment of tape past the thermal print head and through the bite of the exit rollers 44 and 46 and from thence out the slot 16.
- feed roller 66 is driving the remaining tape into pre-position for the next printing cycle.
- the thermal transfer ribbon is also traveling in conjunction with the tape.
- the thermal elements of the thermal head are heated in a patterned sequence to create the desired image line-by-line on the tape traveling past the head as the ink coating on the thermal transfer ribbon is heated and lifted from the thermal transfer ribbon and deposited on the paper tape.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Electronic Switches (AREA)
- Handling Of Sheets (AREA)
- Impression-Transfer Materials And Handling Thereof (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to postage meters and to thermal printing means therefor.
- Previously, electronic meters, as well as the more traditional mechanical postage meters have relied upon specifically-manufactured, individually-unique printing dies which were provided to the user and which enabled the printing of the indicia, slogans, and the like in addition to postal value. Once fixed, the information and images replicated by the die could not be changed except by replacing the die.
- An object of the invention is to provide a postage meter in which variable data can be easily printed along with the imprint of postal value.
- Another object of the invention is to provide a postage meter which is capable of printing different information on a tape or strip in accordance with a received command.
- It is a further object to provide a stamp impression printer to provide printing of changeable indicia without changing any mechanical parts.
- It is another object to provide a means for interchanging meters, particularly between post offices, without having to order new printing dies.
- In accordance with the invention the printing of postal value and other associated indicia is accomplished by using a thermal transfer printer under the control of a microprocessor for forming the images and enabling the input and printing of selected variable data.
- It is further desirable to avoid cutting the paper tape while the tape is moving or while printing is in process. It is therefore an object to provide an apparatus which will cut a strip prior to printing the variable data thereon.
- For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:
- Fig. 1 is a perspective drawing of a postage meter in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
- Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the electronic portion of the meter in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and
- Fig. 3 shows a preferred tape and thermal transfer ribbon drive apparatus for the meter.
- In Fig. 1, a postage meter in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is shown generally at 10. The unit is provided with a keyboard 1.2 for inputting data into the unit and a
display 14 which may be a conventional LED display. Similar keyboards and displays are shown and described in U.S. Patent 3,938,095 to Check, Jr. et al, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. A slot or opening 16 is provided through which is ejected an imprinted tape. An input/output connector (not shown) may be optionally provided if desired for interconnection and communication with other devices. - Fig. 2 is a block diagram of an electronic portion of the postage meter. The meter preferably incorporates a
central processing unit 18 connected through a conventional bus arrangement to a multi-purpose ROM/RAM/IO device 20. Akeyboard 22 anddisplay 24 are scanned and driven, respectively, in conventional manner through use ofconventional decoders 26 to enable input and readout of desired data. A bus arrangement likewise preferably provides in conventional manner for input and output between ROM/RAM/IO device 20 and accounting registers, peripheral units, or the like. - Printer logic and driver circuits shown at 28 receive data input from the
device 20 and translate the data into a pattern of suitable sequential electrical pulses to individual thermal heating elements of athermal print head 30 for heating the elements in conventional fashion. Suitable thermal print heads for use in a meter as disclosed herein are available from RICOH Company Ltd., San Jose, California or KYOCERA Company, Kyoto, Japan. A typical device is shown and described in U.S. 4,429,318 issued January 31, 1984 to Kobata. - In the print head for use in the present postage meter it is preferable that the heating elements be formed in a single row and arranged perpendicular to the direction of travel of a paper tape as described below. For best results, there are about 224 elements in the row. The elements are heated as required for the purpose of melting an ink composition on a thermal transfer ribbon and causing it to be lifted off the ribbon at the point of heating and transferred to a paper tape travelling in conjunction with the thermal transfer ribbon.
CPU 18 further controls the sequencing ofmotor drivers 32 as is described in connection with Fig. 3. - Referring now to Fig. 3, there is shown a suitable tape drive unit for the postage meter. Paper tape (not shown) spools off a roll of tape rotatably mounted on
shaft 34 passing aroundroller 36 and betweentape guides upper exit roller 44 andlower exit roller 46.Tape cutting knives knife thermal head 30. - It has been found desirable to avoid cutting the paper strip as the strip is moving and the printing is in process. Cutting while the tape is stopped aids in the avoidance of paper jams at the knife and simplifies timing and mechanical complexity of the knife mechanism. It also avoids any possible distortion of the thermal transfer printing which might be caused by the paper strip hesitating during the cutting action.
- Typically, the knife should usually be located a significant distance either upstream or downstream of the area of printing. Thus, normally a non-printable border will be present at either the leading or the trailing edge of the printed strip if the strip is cut after printing takes place unless the strip is retracted. Such a border is avoided and any retraction mechanism is avoided by situating the knives as shown in Fig. 3 and by cutting the tape before the printing takes place.
- The
thermal head 30 is able to both translate and rotate so as to align the row of heating elements with the impression roller nip. Suitable adjustment means, for example, are shown as threadedscrew 56 threadingly mounted on bracket 58 and carryingmounting member 60 to which thethermal head 30 is fixed. - A roll of thermal transfer ribbon (not shown), typically .00025" Mylarm ribbon having a suitable meltable ink composition coating, is rotatably mounted on
shaft 62 and preferably housed in a moldedcassette housing 64. The tape is threaded coating- side down so as to travel adjacent to the paper tape through a bite between thethermal head 30 and theimpression roller 42 and then through the bite between the exit rollers to a take-up spool mounted onshaft 66, also preferably a part ofcassette 64. - Drive or
feed roller 66 andpinch roller 68 are provided to advance tape to the position for the next cycle, - Under conditions of high humidity, gummed paper tape may in time adhere to the rollers if the tape stays in position under pressure for long lengths of time. This may cause jamming of the paper strip on start up and during rotation of the drive rollers. To avoid problems with such sticking,
- the rollers are made to retract from the paper strip at the conclusion of each printing cycle. To achieve this result,
arms pivot shafts camming surfaces 82 fixed onshaft 84. The camming surface is arranged such that upon rotation in one direction, theends shaft 84 aspinch roller 68,impression roller 42 andupper exit roller 44 are driven by springs (not shown) into pressure abutment against the feed roller, the thermal head and the lower exit roll. Upon rotation in the opposite direction, the camming surfaces cause the distal ends to move outwardly which again causes thepinch roller 68, theimpression roller 42 and theupper exit roller 44 to move away from the tape to relieve the pressure thereon. - The positioning of the
upper exit roller 44 away from the tape enables a very simplified loading of the cartridge and threading of the ribbon so as to avoid any need to touch the ribbon or to feed it around any rollers or guides. As brought out above, at the end of each machine cycle the rollers are automatically moved out of contact with the thermal print head and the lower exit roller. The ribbon bridging the distance betweenguides - Preferably,
feed roller 66,impression roller 42, andexit roller 46 are driven from a single reversible stepping motor (not shown) located atdrive shaft 85. For best results, thelower exit roller 46 is driven by a drive belt from the stepping motor andlower exit roller 46 drives anidler wheel 86 which in turn drives theimpression roller 42. Suitably,belt 88 transmits the motion fromidler wheel 86 to the take-up spool mounted onshaft 66. - In accordance with the invention, the reversible stepping motor is geared in a one-to-one ratio with the
shaft 84 which carries both the camming surfaces-82 and the timing belt pulley. One or the other of these will be driven byshaft 84, depending on the direction of rotation, through suitable overrunning clutches. When the stepping motor turns in a first direction, the Polyclutch arrangement transmits the motion to the camming surface for movement of the distal ends of thearms - The operation of the drive mechanism.will now be described assuming that the paper tape is loaded such that it lies between
guides thermal head 30 and the impression roller 42. It is also assumed that thepinch roller 68, theimpression roller 42 andupper exit roller 44 are in the pressure-relief position away from the tape. - As the printing operation commences, the
camming surface 82 is rotated so as to enable thearms shaft 84 to in turn bring thepinch roller 68 andimpression roller 42 into pressure abutment against the paper tape. With the rollers in such abutment, one of theknives exit rollers slot 16. At the same time, feedroller 66 is driving the remaining tape into pre-position for the next printing cycle. - As the tape is traveling past the thermal head, the thermal transfer ribbon is also traveling in conjunction with the tape. In response to output commands from the microcomputer, the thermal elements of the thermal head are heated in a patterned sequence to create the desired image line-by-line on the tape traveling past the head as the ink coating on the thermal transfer ribbon is heated and lifted from the thermal transfer ribbon and deposited on the paper tape.
- When the printing has finished and the tape has been pre-positioned for the next cycle, pressure is then relieved on the feed roller and the impression roller by the rotation of the
camming surface 82 into its initial position to again liftpinch roller 68 and to pivotimpression roller 42 away from the paper tape. - It will be understood that the claims are intended to cover all changes and modifications of the disclosed embodiment, herein chosen for the purpose of illustration, which do not constitute departures from the scope of the invention.
Claims (2)
Applications Claiming Priority (8)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US622037 | 1984-06-19 | ||
US622035 | 1984-06-19 | ||
US06/622,034 US4568950A (en) | 1984-06-19 | 1984-06-19 | Postage meter-thermal tape pressure and drive control printer |
US06/622,035 US4588996A (en) | 1984-06-19 | 1984-06-19 | Thermal ribbon cartridge transport in a postage meter thermal printer |
US06/622,037 US4605937A (en) | 1984-06-19 | 1984-06-19 | Postal meter thermal printer control |
US622036 | 1984-06-19 | ||
US06/622,036 US4581616A (en) | 1984-06-19 | 1984-06-19 | Postage meter thermal printer tape drive system |
US622034 | 1996-03-21 |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0165601A2 true EP0165601A2 (en) | 1985-12-27 |
EP0165601A3 EP0165601A3 (en) | 1986-02-26 |
EP0165601B1 EP0165601B1 (en) | 1989-12-06 |
Family
ID=27505169
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP85107589A Expired EP0165601B1 (en) | 1984-06-19 | 1985-06-19 | Thermal printer and postal meter having thermal printer |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0165601B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE3574635D1 (en) |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE3712100A1 (en) * | 1986-04-10 | 1987-10-15 | Pitney Bowes Inc | STAMP MACHINE MESSAGE PRINTING SYSTEM |
GB2209137A (en) * | 1987-08-27 | 1989-05-04 | Alcatel Business Systems | Printing of franking on mail items |
EP0376575A2 (en) * | 1988-12-30 | 1990-07-04 | Neopost Limited | Postage stamp and dispensing system therefor |
EP0604160A2 (en) * | 1992-12-21 | 1994-06-29 | Pitney Bowes, Inc. | Thermal printing apparatus capable of variable speed printing |
EP0623899A2 (en) * | 1993-05-03 | 1994-11-09 | Pitney Bowes, Inc. | Thermal printing postage meter drive system |
FR2782823A1 (en) * | 1998-09-01 | 2000-03-03 | Neopost Ind | THERMAL PRINTING PROCESS |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3938095A (en) * | 1971-11-04 | 1976-02-10 | Pitney-Bowes, Inc. | Computer responsive postage meter |
US4053735A (en) * | 1975-08-07 | 1977-10-11 | Foudos James N | Assured-check computer-based bank credit disbursing system |
GB2102740A (en) * | 1981-05-29 | 1983-02-09 | Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co | Printing apparatus |
US4429318A (en) * | 1981-04-10 | 1984-01-31 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Thermal transfer printer |
EP0132471A2 (en) * | 1983-07-23 | 1985-02-13 | Francotyp-Postalia GmbH | Franking machine |
-
1985
- 1985-06-19 DE DE8585107589T patent/DE3574635D1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1985-06-19 EP EP85107589A patent/EP0165601B1/en not_active Expired
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3938095A (en) * | 1971-11-04 | 1976-02-10 | Pitney-Bowes, Inc. | Computer responsive postage meter |
US4053735A (en) * | 1975-08-07 | 1977-10-11 | Foudos James N | Assured-check computer-based bank credit disbursing system |
US4429318A (en) * | 1981-04-10 | 1984-01-31 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Thermal transfer printer |
GB2102740A (en) * | 1981-05-29 | 1983-02-09 | Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co | Printing apparatus |
EP0132471A2 (en) * | 1983-07-23 | 1985-02-13 | Francotyp-Postalia GmbH | Franking machine |
Cited By (14)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE3712100A1 (en) * | 1986-04-10 | 1987-10-15 | Pitney Bowes Inc | STAMP MACHINE MESSAGE PRINTING SYSTEM |
FR2597233A1 (en) * | 1986-04-10 | 1987-10-16 | Pitney Bowes Inc | POSTAGE DEVICE WITH MESSAGE PRINTING SYSTEM, AND MESSAGE MODIFICATION METHOD |
FR2601796A1 (en) * | 1986-04-10 | 1988-01-22 | Pitney Bowes Inc | POSTAGE DEVICE WITH MESSAGE PRINTING SYSTEM, AND MESSAGE MODIFICATION METHOD |
DE3712100C2 (en) * | 1986-04-10 | 2001-11-08 | Pitney Bowes Inc | Electronic franking machine |
GB2209137A (en) * | 1987-08-27 | 1989-05-04 | Alcatel Business Systems | Printing of franking on mail items |
US5122967A (en) * | 1988-12-30 | 1992-06-16 | Alcatel Business Systems Limited | Postage stamp and dispensing system therefor |
EP0376575A3 (en) * | 1988-12-30 | 1990-10-24 | Alcatel Business Systems Limited | Postage stamp and dispensing system therefor |
EP0376575A2 (en) * | 1988-12-30 | 1990-07-04 | Neopost Limited | Postage stamp and dispensing system therefor |
EP0604160A2 (en) * | 1992-12-21 | 1994-06-29 | Pitney Bowes, Inc. | Thermal printing apparatus capable of variable speed printing |
EP0604160A3 (en) * | 1992-12-21 | 1995-02-15 | Pitney Bowes Inc | Thermal printing apparatus capable of variable speed printing. |
EP0623899A2 (en) * | 1993-05-03 | 1994-11-09 | Pitney Bowes, Inc. | Thermal printing postage meter drive system |
EP0623899A3 (en) * | 1993-05-03 | 1997-04-02 | Pitney Bowes Inc | Thermal printing postage meter drive system. |
FR2782823A1 (en) * | 1998-09-01 | 2000-03-03 | Neopost Ind | THERMAL PRINTING PROCESS |
EP0984399A1 (en) * | 1998-09-01 | 2000-03-08 | Neopost Industrie | Method for thermal printing |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0165601A3 (en) | 1986-02-26 |
EP0165601B1 (en) | 1989-12-06 |
DE3574635D1 (en) | 1990-01-11 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US4568950A (en) | Postage meter-thermal tape pressure and drive control printer | |
EP0172561B2 (en) | Thermal mechanism for printing fixed and variable information and postage meter having such a mechanism | |
EP0315384B1 (en) | Feed for thermal printing ribbon | |
US6742858B2 (en) | Label printer-cutter with mutually exclusive printing and cutting operations | |
US5524995A (en) | Apparatus and method for detecting the position of envelopes in a mailing machine | |
US3726212A (en) | Method and apparatus for printing coded media | |
US4501224A (en) | Continuous tag printing apparatus | |
EP0604160B1 (en) | Thermal printing apparatus capable of variable speed printing | |
EP0253618B1 (en) | Thermal printing apparatus and method | |
WO1989009381A1 (en) | Automated thermal transfer device and control system | |
US4778290A (en) | Printer for printing of a full line in several colors by interchangeable ribbon cartridges | |
CN103241014A (en) | Tape printer and tape printer control method | |
US5281038A (en) | Apparatus and method for printing including a ribbon advancing slide mechanism | |
US4581616A (en) | Postage meter thermal printer tape drive system | |
US4588996A (en) | Thermal ribbon cartridge transport in a postage meter thermal printer | |
EP0165601A2 (en) | Thermal printer and postal meter having thermal printer | |
EP0709215B1 (en) | Thermal printer | |
US4605937A (en) | Postal meter thermal printer control | |
JP2514622B2 (en) | Postage meter with thermal printer | |
EP0604142B1 (en) | Thermal ribbon cassette suitable for housing a polymer or wax based transfer ribbon for use in combination with a thermal printing apparatus | |
US3707910A (en) | Optical bar code serial printer | |
JPS5824480A (en) | Heat-sensitive transfer printing device | |
JPH08138150A (en) | Receipt issuing device for automatic ticket machine | |
JPS6129279B2 (en) | ||
GB2297293A (en) | Controlling thermal printing parameters in postage meters in response to coded ink-ribbon cassettes |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Designated state(s): DE GB IT SE |
|
PUAL | Search report despatched |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Designated state(s): DE GB IT SE |
|
RHK1 | Main classification (correction) |
Ipc: G07B 17/00 |
|
RAP1 | Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred) |
Owner name: PITNEY BOWES INC. |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19860709 |
|
17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 19880104 |
|
GRAA | (expected) grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: B1 Designated state(s): DE GB IT SE |
|
ITF | It: translation for a ep patent filed | ||
REF | Corresponds to: |
Ref document number: 3574635 Country of ref document: DE Date of ref document: 19900111 |
|
PLBI | Opposition filed |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009260 |
|
PLBI | Opposition filed |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009260 |
|
26 | Opposition filed |
Opponent name: ALCATEL BUSINESS SYSTEMS LTD. Effective date: 19900605 |
|
26 | Opposition filed |
Opponent name: FRANCOTYP- POSTALIA GMBH Effective date: 19900906 Opponent name: ALCATEL BUSINESS SYSTEMS LTD. Effective date: 19900605 |
|
ITTA | It: last paid annual fee | ||
PLBN | Opposition rejected |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009273 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: OPPOSITION REJECTED |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SE Payment date: 19940518 Year of fee payment: 10 |
|
27O | Opposition rejected |
Effective date: 19940308 |
|
EAL | Se: european patent in force in sweden |
Ref document number: 85107589.5 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SE Effective date: 19950620 |
|
EUG | Se: european patent has lapsed |
Ref document number: 85107589.5 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: GB Ref legal event code: IF02 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Payment date: 20020612 Year of fee payment: 18 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Payment date: 20020620 Year of fee payment: 18 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20030619 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20040101 |
|
GBPC | Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20030619 |
|
APAH | Appeal reference modified |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSCREFNO |