GB1566342A - Method and apparatus for printing postage amounts on letters and like documents - Google Patents

Description

PATENT SPECIFICATION

( 11) 1 566 342 ( 21) Application No 2607/79 ( 62) Divided out of No 1566341 ( 22) Filed 5 Jun 1977 ( 31) ( 33) ( 44) ( 51) ( 52) Convention Application No 649152 ( 32) Filed United States of America (US)

Complete Specification Published 30 Apr 1980

INT CL 3 G 07 B 17/00 // 17/02 14 Jan 1976 in Index at Acceptance B 6 C 103 10 X 1200 1210 1211 1233 1234 1260 1271 WG G 4 H 13 D 14 B 1 A OF ( 72) Inventor: LEON JOSEPH SCHWARTZ ( 54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRINTING POSTAGE AMOUNTS ON LETTERS AND LIKE DOCUMENTS ( 71) We, PITNEY-BOWES INC, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America, located at Walnut and Pacific Streets, Stamford, Connecticut, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:-

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for printing postage amounts on letters and like documents The apparatus may be operated by hand, may be completely portable, and may be stored in any one of a number of small spaces such as a pocket, purse, or briefcase.

Postage meters are not widely used by commercial and industrial businesses to selectively print postage indicia on documents such as envelopes, labels, and the like Managers of these businesses, which frequently generate medium to large volumes of mail, have found that meters are capable of handling postage far more rapidly, economically, and conveniently, than manual operators who individually moisten and position previously printed postage stamps on mailing documents Furthermore, printed postage is attractive as well as impressive to the recipient of the mail on which it appears.

However, individuals who use postal services relatively infrequently compared to business enterprises have been unable to avail themselves of the advantages of postage meters for a number of reasons Primarily, use of presently known meters is only economically feasible when relatively large volumes of postage are printed Further, since these meters are ordinarily large and cumbersome, they are usually mounted for operation at a fixed location Therefore, they are inconvenient for use by a person who is accustomed to carrying postage, in the form of previously printed stamps, with him.

According to the present invention, there is provided a method of printing postage indicia onto a document comprising the steps of:

programming a postage printing device to print postage indicia of desired form when moved relative to the document, moving the printing device relative to the document, utilising an optical monitor for monitoring the rate of relative document-printing device movement, and actuating the printing device to print postage indicia on the document in the programmed form at a rate co-ordinated to the monitored rate of relative documentprinting device movement in such a way that the postage indicia are printed on the document without substantial distortion even if the rate of relative document-device movement varies.

Also according to the invention, there is provided an apparatus for printing postage indicia onto a document comprising:a printing device, a programming means operatively connected to the printing device and capable of controlling the printing device to print a postage amount on the document, an optical monitor for monitoring the rate of relative movement between the apparcl m} ( 19) 1 566 342 atus and the document, and means forming part of the programming means and for actuating the printing device to print postage indicia on the document in the programmed form at a rate co-ordinated to the monitored rate of relative documentprinting device movement in such a way that the postage indicia are printed on the document without substantial distortion even if the rate of relative document-device movement varies.

In its prefered embodiments, the apparatus according to the invention is designed to be held in and operated by hand and may be approximately the same size as a disposable butane-type cigarette lighter This apparatus may be stored in an extremely small space such as a pocket, handbag, or briefcase and is, consequently, completely portable Therefore, it may be transported and used as conveniently as previously printed postage stamps.

The compactness of the apparatus disclosed and illustrated herein and, hence, its extremely convenient operation are achieved by eliminating the ordinarily cumbersome document handling apparatus and printing apparatus which prior postage meters include Instead of mechanically transporting or positioning a document as in known meters, the apparatus, i e the postage meter, disclosed herein performs no document handling function Compactness is further achieved by use of a micro computer which performs the control and data processing functions of the meter.

In its preferred embodiments, the micro computerized, postage meter comprises printing apparatus in the form of an ink jet printing device which is mounted to be moved in close proximity relative to a document and is adapted to project ink droplets onto the document when so moved.

An optical monitor, mounted with the printing device, observes the rate of relative document-printing device movement The micro computer includes a logic circuit programmed to sequentially actuate the ink jet printing device to project ink droplets onto the document in a pattern that forms the desired postage indicia The micro computer further includes a clock circuit.

connected to the optical monitor which computes the instantaeous rate of relative movement of the printing device and document from the observed rate A feedback signal is then generated from the clock circuit to the logic circuit to coordinate the instantaneous rate of actuation of the printing device with the computed instantaneous rate of ralative document-printing device movement in order to properly form the postage indicia without distortion.

Purchased postage is stored in a postage memory register, also incorporated in the micro computer, which is addressable by the logic circuit to reduce the stored postage amount by the amount of postage printed during each meter use A lock-out circuit, connected to the memory register, disables the postage meter when the stored postage is depleted to a predetermined minimum amount Accordingly, the meter becomes inoperable when the postage stored in it has been essentially exhaused.

In other embodiments, the postage meter of the invention may be incorporated with a hand-held, mathematical calculator and may include a display for indicating, in simple fashion, when a predetermined minimum amount of postage remains in the memory register or, in more complex fashion, the exact amount of postage which remains in the memory register.

The micro computerized postage meter of the present invention may be used in conjunction with a novel method of distributing and dispensing postage The meter is constructed so that it may be conveniently connected to a central postage distribution station That is, the postage memory register of the micro computer may be directly connected through an easily accessible jack to a postage dispensing computer so that an amount of purchased postage may be entered in the meter The meter may then be distributed by mail or at rental centers to individuals for their use When the postage stored in the memory register is exhaused, the meter is returned to the central postage distribution station for entry of additional purchased postage Alternatively, the meter may be purchased by its user and brought to the central station when postage entry or re-entry is needed.

The present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the computerized, postage meter of the present invention positioned relative to a document, in the form of an envelope, immediately after printing postage indicia thereon.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken through plane 2-2 in Figure 1 illustrating the internal components of this postage meter.

Figure 3 is a second vertical crosssectional view taken through plane 3-3 in Figure 1 at a right angle to plane 2-2 also illustrating internal components of the meter, particularly the ink jet printing device, in detail.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the postage meter showing the array of outlets from the ink jet printing device.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of this postage meter.

Figure 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken through plane 6-6 in Figure 2 illustrating an input jack for entering postage in the postage meter.

Figure 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken through plane 7-7 in Figure 3.

Figure 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken through plane 8-8 in Figure 3 illustrating a portion of the ink jet printing device.

Figure 9 is a functional block diagram of the postage meter and of a central postage distributing station to which it is connected for reentry of postage, for power supply recharching, and for refill with ink.

Figure 10 is an enlarged view of the upper right hand corner of the envelope showing, in detail, the postage indicia printed by the postage meter of the present invention.

Figure 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken through plane 11-11 in Figure 13 of a second embodiment of the postage meter of the present invention having a display for indicating the amount of stored postage remaining in the meter.

Figure 12 is a second vertical crosssectional view taken through plane 12-12 in Figure 13 of this second embodiment.

Figure 13 is a top plan view of this embodiment.

Figure 14 is a functional block diagram of the micro computer and display used in this second embodiment.

Figure 15 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken through plane 14-14 in Figure 18 of a third embodiment of the postage meter of the present invention incorporated with a hand-held mathematical calculator.

Figure 16 is a back elevational view of the postage meter-calculator apparatus.

Figure 17 is a front elevational view of this apparatus partly broken away to shown detail.

Figure 18 is a top plan view of this apparatus also partly broken away to shown detail.

Figure 19 is a functional block diagram of this combined postage meter calculator apparatus.

Figure 1 illustrates one embodiment of the micro computerized postage meter of the present invention, generally indicated at 10, in position immediately after printing predetermined postage indicia 12 on the upper right hand corner of a document in the form of an envelope 14 Of course, postage indicia may be as easily printed on other forms of documents, such as labels, that are affixed to packages or directly on the packages.

The illustrated envelope 14 is of conventional letter size, namely 9 5 inches ( 24 1 cm) wide and 4 0 ( 10 2 cm) inches high.

It can be readily appreciated, then, that the miniature postage meter 10 is extremely small (proposed dimensions are approximately 3 75 inches ( 9 5 cm) in height and 1 5 inches ( 3 8 cm) in diameter) when compared with other presently known postage meters used in business and industry The postage meter is comparable in size to many articles which people frequently carry with them, such as butane-type cigarette lighters, key carrying cases, and cosmetic compacts.

Since the meter is completely selfcontained, and, when activated in a manner described below in detail, ready to print postage that has been stored in it at any time or place, it is as convenient to use as previously printed postage stamps Furthermore, large amounts of postage can be stored in this meter more easily than similar amounts, in the form of small denomination stamps, can be stored.

As will be explained in greater detail below, the compact size of the postage meter 10 is achieved by the use of a single chip micro computer which performs the meter control and data processing functions, by the elimination of all mechanical document handling apparatus, and by the elimination of usually large and cumbersome mechanical printing apparatus Specifically, the meter is designed to be moved relative to the document e g by hand, by the operator while a electronic printing device, controlled by the micro computer, prints the desired postage indicia.

In this preferred embodiment, postage meter 10 is programmed to print postage indicia 12 having only fixed information.

For example, as shown in Figure 1 and in detail in Figure 10, the postage indicia information may include a meter registration number 16, the postage amount 18, and the state and number 20 of the central postage distributing station from which the meter was issued The information may also include prearranged code markings 22 intended to discourage counterfeit postage pri nting The meter may be programmed to print additional fixed information or variable information such as the date Through more complex refinements described below, the meter may also be adapted to print variable postage amounts.

Referring now to Figures 2 through 8, the illustrated micro computerized postage meter 10 is miniature in size compared to conventional postage meters and includes a main cylindrical body 24 which houses operating components of the meter At its lower end, body 24 terminates in two partially cylindrical, diametrically opposed skirts 26 and 28 (Figures 2, 3, and 4) Two guide rollers 30 and 32, which are mounted to span the distance between opposed, axially extending edges 34 and 36 of the opposing skirts, facilitate movement of the meter 10 over the envelope 14 or other 1 566 342 1 566 342 document.

The meter components are concealed and protected in the cylindrical body 24 from both the bottom and top The bottom of body 24 is enclosed by a base support plate 37 The top of the body is enclosed by a cap 38, having a cylindrical side wall 40 telescopically received for limited movement thereon The side wall 40 is provided with an inwardly directed annular rabbet 42 at its lower margin that engages an outwardly directed annular rabbet 44 formed on body 24 to retain the cap on the body However, a resilient wave washer 48, interposed between the cap bottom 50 and the body top 52, urges the cap axially outwardly from the body as far as permitted by the interengaging rabbets Further, as shown in Figure 6.

the interior of cap side wall 40 and the exterior of the upper portion of body 24 are formed with interengaging splines 46 which prevent relative body-cap rotation about their common axis A As explained below, the meter is activated to print postage indicia by depressing the cap down onto the body.

As can be seen in Figures 2 and 3, the operating components of the meter include a printing apparatus in the form of an ink jet printing device generally indicated at 54.

mounted on base plate 37 This printing device is designed to project ink droplets onto the document in a pattern forming postage indicia 12 when moved in close proximity relative thereto as depicted in Figure 1 The device 54 comprises eleven precisely aligned, closely spaced, inkconducting capillaries or channels 56 (Figure 3), the outlet ends 58 of which are arranged in a linear array which extends in a direction parallel to the axes of guide rollers and 32 (Figure 4) Further, these outlet ends 58 are positioned in close relation to the document when the meter is supported thereon Accordingly, the linear capillary outlet end array extends perpendicularly to the direction in which the miniature postage meter 10 is designed to be moved relative to the envelope 14 At their ends opposite the outlet ends 58, capillaries 56 all communicate with an arcuate manifold 57 supplied through a central conduit 59.

As shown in Figure 3 and in greater detail in Figure 8, an electrical-to-mechanical transducer 60 is located in communication with each of the ink capillaries 56 Each transducer includes a single disk of piezoelectric ceramic 62 bonded to an electrically inactive substrate 64 When the ceramic is energized, a slight physical deflection or "dishing" is produced which is sufficient to cause ejection of a tiny ink droplet through the outlet end 58 of the associate capillary 56 Accordingly, when the transducers are energized in proper sequence as the meter 10 is moved across the envelope 14, the postage indicia 12 are formed of a pattern of tiny projected ink droplets.

Ink jet printing devices similar to that described above are presently being developed by Stemme-Larsson, Gould, and others (See Article in TAPPI, July 1975, Vol 58, No 7, Pgs 82-86) Electrical-to mechaical transducers such as those described commonly called 'uniforphs", are manufactured by, for example, Vernitron Piezoelectric Division, Bedford, Ohio.

The printing device 54 supports an ink reservoir 64 which supplies ink to central conduit 59, manifold 57 and, hence capillaries 56 More particularly, the reservoir is formed with a bottom coupling 66 which engages main conduit 59 Opposing flanges 68 and 70 (Figures 2 and 3) formed on the bottom of reservoir 64 embrace the upper portion of printer 54 and guide the coupling 66 to conduit 59 A capped filler tube 67 shown in phantom lines in Figures 2 and 3, is in fluid communication with and is used to fill the reservoir.

As the meter is moved across the document on guide rollers 30 and 32, the ink jet printing device 54 is sequentially actuated by a single chip micro computer 72 to project ink droplets onto the document surface in a postage indicia printing pattern.

In order to accomplish this control function, the micro computer 72 is electrically connected to the individual transducers 60 of printing device 54 in a manner that may be described with reference to Figures 2, 3 7 and 8 The micro computer is mounted on and electrically connected to a first printed circuite board 74 which has printed conductive paths 76 thereon A second printed circuit board 78, also having conductive paths 80 thereon, is electrically connected to the first and, hence, to micro computer 72, by conducters 81 (Figure 7) Both boards are mounted in vertical, mutually parallel relation in the cylindrical body 24 and are supported at their upper ends by suitable struts 84 mounted from the inner cylinder wall (Figure 3) Each board is further supported at its lower end by two opposing, upwardly projecting flanges 86 and 88 formed on the top of ink reservoir 64 (Figures 2 and 3) The connections continue through conductive paths 90 formed on the ink reservoir In particular, the reservoir in encased in silicone rubber into which the conductive paths are molded in a manner developed by Chomerics, Inc, Woburn, Massachusetts As shown in Figure 2, conductive paths 76 and 80 which carry control signals to transducers 60 terminate at locations between flanges 86 and 88 Similarly, paths 90 terminate in flanges 86 and 88 which accordingly form sockets for the bottoms of circuit boards 74 and 78 The connections are completed through flanges 68 and 70 which embrace printing device 54.

As shown in Figure 8, conductive paths 92 are printed on the face of device 54, are contacted by paths 90 in flanges 68 and 70, and are connected to the transducer ceramic 62 through a mass 94 of conductive rubber.

(Note that paths 90 properly appear to overlie capillaries 56 in Figure 3) The micro computer also automatically coordinates the rate at which it sequentially actuates the ink printing device with the rate of movement of the meter and, hence, the printing device relative to the document In order to do so, the micro computer is supplied by an optical monitor with signals indicative of the actual rate of relative document-meter movement This optical monitor, generally indicated at 96 and shown in detail in Figures 2 and 4, includes a phototransistor 98 to which light is conducted by a fiber optic probe 100 The probe is fixed in a mounting block 102 to focus on the area of the envelope 14 where ink droplets are projected from the lowermost capillary outlet 58 a (Figure 2) The optica monitor 96 further includes a cource of light in the form of a light emitting diode (LED) 104 also positioned in mounting block 102 to focus on the area of the envelope at which ink droplets from outlet 58 a are projected.

In this as well as other embodiments of the meter 10, micro-computer 72 is programmed so that an ink droplet is projected from outlet 58 a each time printing device 54 is actuated, to yield a control pattern in the form of a line 106 underscoring other information in the postage indicia as shown in Figure 10 Accordingly, the optical monitor 96 observes this control pattern since the photo-transistor can sense changes in the magnitude of light emitted by the LED 104 and reflected from the control line ink droplets and from the blank document areas between the control line ink droplets A pulsating signal having frequency determined by the rate of movement of the monitor over the line is, therefore, generated and conducted to the micro computer 72.

The functional interrelationship of the micro computer 72, ink jet printing device 54, and optical monitor 96 and further details of micro computer operation may be most easily described with reference to Figure 9 As shown there, the micro computer 72 includes a logic circuit 108 which controls actuation of the ink jet printing device 54 and is connected thereto in the manner described above.

The micro computer 72 also has a clock circuit 110, connected to phototransistor 98 through line 112, which computes the in'-stahtaheous rate of relative movement of the printing device and the document from the phototransistor input signal The clock circuit then generates a feedback signal on line 114 to the logic circuit 108 which coordinates the instantaneous rate of actuation of the printing device-document movement In this manner, the postage indicia is properly formed regardless of the rate at which the meter is moved across the envelope.

A postage memory register 116, also part of micro computer 72, stores purchased amounts of postage and is addressable by the logic circuit 108 on line 115 to reduce the stored amount of postage by that printed during each meter use That is, at the completion of printing of one postage indicator or mark, the logic addresses the memory register to reduce the stored amount of postage by the amount printed.

Finally, the micro computer 72 includes a disabling lock-out 118 which is addressable by the memory register 116 on line 121 to render the meter inoperative when the stored amount of postage is depleted to a predetermined minimum amount For example, the disabling lock-out 118 may be set to lock out the meter when one imprint remains in the memory register In the preferred embodiment of the meter, the logic circuit is disabled by the lock-out.

Further, the meter may be provided with a low postage indicator in the form of an light emitting diode 120, mounted in cap 38, (Figures 3 and 5) addressable by the memory register to light when some amount of postage higher than the minimum amount remains in the memory For example, the memory might be set to turn LED 120 on when ten imprints remain to be used In this way, the meter warns the user that more postage must be purchased.

As shown in Figures 2, 3, 6 and 9, the micro computer 72 and associated components, and the LED 104 are energized by a power supply 107 in the form of a rechargeable nickel cadmium battery which is connected to activate the meter through a microswitch 109 This microswitch is mounted with circuit board 74 in operative proximity to a protective leaf spring 111 mounted on cap 38 When the cap is depressed the switch is closed to activate the meter for one print cycle (Note that the disabling lock-out 118 may also be arranged to disconnect power supply 107 at the same time as the logic circuit is disabled) The micro computerized postage meter of the present invention is used as follows.

When one wishes to imprint a document with postage indicia, the cap is pressed downwardly to close microswitch 109 which enables the power supply 107 to activate the micro computer 72 The meter is placed on the upper right hand corner-of the envelope 1 566 342 1 566 342 14 with the indicating arrow printed on the cap 38 pointing from right to left along the top of the envelope The meter is then moved from right to left on rollers 30 and 32 at any desired rate (Right-to-left movement is chosen to insure that the postage indicia is printed entirely on the document) The optical monitor 96 obseres the rate at which the meter is moved relative to the document and the micro computer clock circuit 110 automatically calculates the instantaneous relative rate from this observed rate The clock circuit in turn signals the logic circuit 108 to actuate the ink jet printing device 54 at a rate which properly forms the postage indicia without distortion After the indicia has been completely printed, the logic circuit addresses the memory register 116 to reduce the amount of postage stored therein by the amount of postage just printed.

After repeated uses when the postage stored in the memory register has been depleted to the predetermined minimum amount, the disabling lock-out 118 automatically disconnects the power supply from the micro computer and disables the logic.

Accordingly, even by tampering with the meter to reconnect the power supply, a user cannot enable it to print more postage until reprogrammed.

The miniature postage meter of the present invention is designed for repeated reuse in conjunction with a central postage distributing station 122 diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 9 As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 6, the meter includes a number of input connections all accessible when cap 38 is removed These input connections comprise two jack plugs 124 which are connected to the micro computer Further, two jack plugs 126 are positioned at the top of the power supply for connection with a recharging source Finally, inlet filler tube 67 to the ink reservoir 64 has a cover 128 which is removed and replaced with cap 38 When the meter 10 is returned to the central postage distributing station 122 the cap 38 is removed bv an authorized person The meter is then plugged into the central station 122 which has a main input plug 130 that is connected to a power supply recharged 132 an ink supply 134 and a postage dispensing computer 136 adapted to enter purchased postage in the micro computer memory register Main input plug is arranged to simultaneously connect micro computer 72 with dispensing computer 136.

the power supply 107 with the power supply recharger 132 and the ink reservoir 62 with the ink supply 134 Thus, the power supply may be recharged, additional purchased postage may be reentered in the memory register and the ink reservoir mav be refilled in one step.

The micro computerized postage meter of the present invention may be adapted in more sophisticated embodiments for expanded capability For example, Figures 11 through 14 illustrate a second embodiment, which has a display for indicating the exact amount of postage that remains stored in the meter after each use The second embodiment of the postage meter of the invention, generally indicated at 210, includes a rectangular body 212 which is closed at the top and open at the bottom, and which is approximately the same size as a key carrying case A self-contained start print button 215 is mounted in the top of the body A base support plate 214 encloses the bottom of the body and supports the meter components which include an ink jet printing device 216 supplied with ink by an ink reservoir 218 in the same fashion as described with reference to the first embodiment The ink jet printing device is actuated by a micro computer 220 having three integrated circuit chips 222 each mounted on a separate printed circuit board 224 The circuit boards are mounted in vertical, mutually parallel relation above a powersupply 226 in the form of a nickel cadmium battery supported on base plate 214 The circuit boards 224 and, hence, chips 222, are interconnected and are further connected with other meter components such as start print button 215, power supply 226 and printing device 216 by a multiconductor ribbon-type cable 227.

As with the meter of the -first embodiment, the meter 210 of the second is adapted to be moved in operative proximity relative to a document, during which time the micro computer 220 actuates the printing device 216 to properly form desired postage indicia without distortion In order to do so, micro computer 220 is connected through cable 227 to an optical monitor 228 identical to the monitor previously described which observes the rate of relative movement and provides a rate indicating signal to the micro computer.

As shown in simplified form in Figure 14, micro computer 220 includes logic 230 and clock 232 circuits which then coordinate the rate of printing device actuation with the rate of relative meter-document movement in the same way as micro computer 72.

Micro computer 220 also incorporates a postage memory register 234 for storing purchased amounts of postage, which has added capability not found in memory register 116 In particular in this second meter embodiment, the memory register 234 is adapted to signal a display 236 to indicate the amount of postage which remains stored in the meter after each use.

This display which may be a light emitting diode or liquid crystal display, accordingly becomes a visible descending postage regis1 566 342 ter In the preferred form, the micro computer 220 is programmed to activate the display 236 approximately five seconds after postage indicia has been printed and for a period of five seconds Thus, the meter user is reminded, after each meter use, of how much postage remains stored therein, and of when more postage should be entered in the memory register.

The micro computer finally includes a disabling lock-out circuit 238 for disabling the meter when postage stored in memory register 234 has been depleted to a predetermined minimum amount.

The meter 210 constructed in accordance with the second embodiment may be replenished with ink and postage by removing the entire body 212 from the meter components, thus exposing micro computer input jacks 240 and an ink reservoir filler tube 242 Cable 227 is provided with a loop 244 to permit disengagement of the body from the components Power supply 226 can be recharged through an exposed input jack 246.

A third embodiment, which functions as both a postage meter and a mathematical calculator is illustrated in Figures 15 through 19 The apparatus 310 of this embodiment is housed in a body 312 having size approximately the same as currently available handheld calculators, and includes a micro computer 314 comprised of five integrated circuit chips 316 Each chip is again mounted on a printed circuit board 318.

Micro computer 314 includes a programmable postage logic circuit 320 (Figure 20) which actuates a printing device in the form of six staggered, eleven-jet ink jet printers 322 arranged to print postage indicia from the resulting sixty-six ink droplet array Each single printer is identical to those described with reference to the first two embodiments of the present invention.

However, by arranging a collection of six printers as shown in Figures 15 and 18, printing capacity is greatly increased.

As can be seen in Figure 15, body 312 is formed with a support portion 324 and an elevated portion 326 on its bottom The ink jet printers are mounted above the elevated portion under which a document may be easily drawn as depicted in Figure 18 to receive printed indicia.

It will be appreciated from Figure 20 that apparatus 310 also includes an optical monitor 328 and that micro computer 314 also includes a clock circuit 330, a memory register 332, and a disabling lock-out circuit 334, all of which function in the same way as do corresponding components described with reference to the first two embodiments.

However, postage logic circuit 320 is more versatile than the logic circuits in either of those embodiments since it may be programmed to actuate the printing device to print varying amounts of postage An input key board 336 mounted on top of body 312 is provided for entering information and programming instructions in the micro computer postage logic for this purpose.

Moreover, micro computer 314 also includes a mathematical logic circuit 338 which is programmed to perform mathematical calculations Information and programming instructions may also be entered in mathematical logic circuit through key board 336 A mode control switch 339 is provided so that the apparatus 310 may be selectively operated through key board 336 in either the postage meter or calculator mode.

The ink jet printing device may be actuated by the mathematical logic circuit 338 to print results of mathematical calculations.

However, a display 340, in the form, for example, of a light emitting diode or liquid crystal display, is mounted in the upper portion of body 312 for visually showing these results.

Display 340 may also be connected to the memory register to show the amount of postage stored therein, in the same manner as display 236 of the second embodiment when the apparatus is operated in the postage meter mode.

Power supply and micro computer input jacks are accessible from the rear of body 312 for recharging a power supply and reentering postage in memory register 332.

The postage meters of the present invention and a central postage distributing station may be used in several novel ways to distribute and dispense postage In each way the micro computer postage memory register of any miniature postage meter is first electrically connected to the central station 122 i e the postage dispensing computer 136 and a predetermined purchased amount of postage is entered therein.

The meter may then be distributed to the ultimate postage user by any number of different methods For example, the postage user may obtain a meter at a post office or store by paying a cash security deposit in addition to purchasing the amount of postage stored in it He then uses the postage in the meter as necessary in the manner described above Once the memory register has been depleted of purchased postage, the meter is disabled to prevent further dispensing of postage It is then returned to the place of purchase from which it is returned to the central postage distributing station.

The micro computer of the meter is again electrically connected to the postage distributing computer and a predetermined amount of postage is entered in the memory register The cycle of distribution and use is then repeated.

1 566 342 When the meter is returned to the place of purchase by the ultimate postage user, his security deposit is refunded or aternatively, he is given a meter in which postage has been entered in exchange for purchase of the amount of postage Return may be accomplished by mailing or hand carrying the meter for exchange to the central postage distributing station.

Alternatively, the meter may be sold directly to the ultimate postage user When he desires to purchase more postage, he merely has to return the meter to a central postage distribution station where an additional amount of purchase postage is entered in its memory register Reprogramming station consols may also be set up at locations remote from the central distribution station In each of these alternative methods, the ink reservoir is refilled and the power supply is recharged when the meter is connected to the central postage distribution station.

The meter may also be remotely set consistent with the principles set forth in application No 13473/76 filed 2nd April, 1976, Serial No 1520529 The miniaturized meter may be coupled to a user's telephone and may be either directly or indirectly reprogrammed via the touch-tone push buttons Other expendable elements of the meter may be recharged by the user, e g.

the battery may be recharged or replaced, and the ink may be sold in replaceable disposable containers.

The reader is referred to the claims of our Applicantion No 190/77 (Serial No 155 6341) from which the present application was devided, having regard to Section 9 of the Patents Act 1949.

Claims (3)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1 A method of printing postage indicia onto a document comprising the steps of:

programming a postage printing device to print postage indicia of desired form when moved relative to the document, moving the printing device relative to the document, utilising an optical monitor for monitoring the rate of rrelative document-printing device movement, and actuating the printing device to print postage indicia on the document in the programmed form at a rate co-ordinated to the monitored rate of relative documentprinting device movement in such a way that the postage indicia are printed on the document without substantial distortion even if the rate of relative document-device movement varies.

2 Apparatus for printing postage indicia onto a document comprising:a printing device, a programming means operatively connected to the printing device and capable of controlling the printing device to print a postage amount on the document, an optical monitor for monitoring the rate of relative movement between the apparatus and the document, and means forming part of the programming means and for actuating the printing device to print postage indicia on the document in the programmed form at a rate co-ordinated to the monitored rate of relative documentprinting device movement in such a way that the postage indicia are printed on the document without substantial distortion even if the rate of relative document-device movement varies.

3 A postage distributing and dispensing system comprising:

A apparatus according to claim 2; B a central postage distributing station having (i) an input plug formed to connect with a jack means on the meter; (ii) a postage dispensing computer electrically connectable through said input plug and jack means to enter additional purchased postage in a memory storage register forming part of the said programming means; (iii) a power supply recharger connectable through said input plug and jack means to recharge a power supply in said apparatus according to Claim 2; and (iv) an ink supply connectable through said input plug and jack means to an ink reservoir in said apparatus according to Claim 2 to supply ink thereto.

For the Applicants, D YOUNG & CO, Chartered Patent Agents, 9 & 10 Staple Inn, London, W C 1.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

by Croydon Printing Company Limited Croydon, Surrey 1980.

Published by The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC 2 A IAY from which copies may be obtained.