GB2188592A - Postage meter apparatus - Google Patents

Description

GB 2 188 592 A

SPECIFICATION erated by existing inserter systems.

Another object of the invention is to provide a high Postage meter apparatus speed postage meter suitable for use with [a rge in serter systems and the like.

The present invention relates to postage meter 70 It is another object of the invention to provide such apparatus and methods of franking. a postage meter with decreased, or minimally in Postage meters are wel 1 known devices. Simply creased costs.

put, postage meters allow a user to print his own It is another object of the invention to provide such stamps. Upon paymentto a postal service, such as a postage meterwith decreased power usageforset- the US postal service orthe British Post Office an 75 ting.

amount of moneyvalue is recorded in the postage Other objects and advantages of the invention will meter. The postage meter maythen be used to im- become apparentto those skilled in the artfrom con print indicia corresponding to selected postage sideration of the attached drawings and of the det values on mail pieces. The postage meteraccounts ailed description setforth below.

forthe postage value so expended and limitsthe 80 According to one aspect of the invention,there is total which may be imprinted tothe prepaid money provided a postage meter, comprising:

value. a) storage meansfor storing postal rates; Such postage meter systems may be implemented b) establishing meansfor establishing particular in mechanical or electro-mechanical form. Typical of postagevalue determining information imprinted or the lattertype of postage metersystems, which use 85 to be imprinted on particular mail pieces; microprocessors for many of the control and ac- c) postage computing means responsive to said counting functions, is the system disclosed in US establishing means and said storage means for com Patent No. 4,301,507, title: Electronic Postage Meter puting postage values associated with said part Having Plural Computing Systems, to: Soderberg et icular mail pieces in accordance with said postal al., issued: November 17,1981, the disclosure of 90 rates and said postage value determining informa which is hereby incorporated by reference. tion imprinted orto be imprinted on said mail pieces; Heretofore, becausethe printed indicia mustcor- and, respondtothe selected postagevalue, priorpostage d) accounting means for accounting for said com meters have included a settable mechanism for puted postage values.

printing the selected postage value expressed in 95 According to another aspect of the invention,there dollars and cents or pounds and pence. In general is provided a method forfranking mail pieces in ac this has proven to be a satisfactory meansforensur- cordancewith a selected postage value and account ing correspondence between the indicia and the ing for postagevalues so expended, comprising the selected postagevalue. However, certain users, such steps of:

as those having large inserter systems which pro- 100 a) determining appropriate postal rates; duce high volumeflows of mail pieces requiring var- b) establishing particular postagevalue determin ious amounts of postage have requirements which ing information imprinted on particular mail pieces; may approach the limits of the capabilities of known c) computing postage value for said particular mail postage meters. In order to keep cost down and to pieces in accordance with said postage value deter reduce power dissipation within the meter, the driver 105 mining information and said postal rates; which setsthe postage value has set each digit d) imprinting said mail pieces, with said postage sequentially and has been of relatively low power; value determining information; resulting in a setting time fortypical postage meters e) validating said imprinting postage value deter of the order of one second; which well may exceed mining information; and the peak processing ratefor high volume flows of 110 f) accounting for said postage value if and only if mail pieces. As a result, heretofore, it has been the said mail pieces are franked.

practice to use a serial bank of postage meters preset According to a further aspect of the invention, to various postage values, with large inserter sys- there is provided mail processing apparatus, com tems. Mail pieces pass sequential ly through the bank prising:

of meters and are imprinted with the appropriate 115 a) processing means for processing a f low of mail postage value by a selected meter. pieces; and Clearlythis approach increases the costs and dec- b) a postage meterfor receiving said flowand reasesthe reliability associated with the postage franking said mail pieces, said postage meterfurther meters in such mailing systems. comprising:

One solution to this problem would be simplyto 120 bl) storage meansfor storing postal rates; toleratethe above described disadvantages relating W) establishing meansfor establishing particular to cost and power dissipation and simply decrease postage value determining information imprinted or meter setting times by "bruteforce". Another, of to be imprinted on particular mail pieces; course, would be to slowthe processing rate down W) postage computing means responsive to said to what a single postage meter could handle. In gen- 125 establishing means and said storage means for com era[ neither of these approaches has been conside- puting postage values associated with said part red acceptable. icular mail pieces in accordance with said postal An object of the invention is to provide a high rates and said postage value determining informa speed postage meterwhich may be used to meter tion; and high volume flows of mail pieces, such as those gen- 130 b4) accounting means for accounting for said corn- 2 GB 2 188 592 A 2 puted postage values. cordance with the present invention; According to a further aspect of the invention, Figure 4 shows a set of variable indicia which may there is provided a postage meter, comprising: be used with the postage meter of Figure 3; a) accounting means for accounting for postage Figure 5shows a schematic block diagram of the values expended on particular mail pieces; and, 70 print mechanism used to imprint thevariable indicia b) control means for controlling said accounting of Figure 4; means to accountfor said postage values if and only Figure 6shows a schematic block diagram of an if said mail pieces are imprinted with corresponding alternative print mechanism; postage value determining information. Figure 7shows a flow chart of the operation of one The above objects may be achieved and the dis- 75 embodiment of the invention; advantages of the prior art may be overcome in ac- Figure 8shows a flow chart of a rate update oper cordance with another aspect of the invention by ation in accordance with the invention; and means of a postage meterwhich includes a memory Figure 9shows a flow chart of the operation of a or otherstorage apparatus for storing postal rates; second embodiment of the invention.

an establishing apparatus which establishes the par- 80 Figure 1 shows a mail processing system in accor ticular postagevalue determining information im- dance with the prior art. A mail piece 10 isweighed printed on particular mail pieces; computing appar- upon a postal scale 20. Scale 20 includes a load cell atuswhich respondsto the establishing apparatus 22, a rate memory 24, and a processor 26. processor and the memoryto computethe postage values for 26 computes the appropriate postage valuefor mail the particular mail pieces in accordancewith the 85 piece 10 in accordance with postal rates stored in postal rates and the imprinted postagevalue deter- memory 24 as a function of theweight measured by mining information; and accounting apparatus for load cell 22 and other inputswhich may be provided accounting forthe computed postagevalues so ex- by an operator. A more complete description of pended. postal scale 20 may befound in US Patent No.

By "postage value determining information" 90 4,376,981, title: Electronic Postage Metering System, herein is meant information such asweight, class of to Checket aL, issued March 15,1983. The computed service, etc. which comprises the independent vari- postage value is then transmitted to a postage meter ables operated on bythefunction defined bythesto- 30, such asthattaught in the above referenced US red postal ratesto computethe appropriate postage Patent No. 4,301,507; as is also taught in the above value. The phrase "establishing particular postage 95 referenced patents. Meter 30 includes control unit value determining information" herein may include 32, accounting unit 34, and print unit 36. Meter30 assuring thatthe information imprinted on a part- also includes keyboard 38 which may be used for icular mail piece is the information which is used to manual setting of the meter and for otherfunctions compute the postage values associated with that which are not relevantto this discussion. Control mail piece and forwhich the postage meter ac- 100 unit 32 receives the computed postage value and counts. transmits itto accounting unit 34. Accounting unit 34 In a preferred embodiment of the invention the temporarily stores the postage value and retransmits postage meterfurther includes apparatus for assur- itto print unit 36. print unit 36 then selects app ing thatthe postage rates used in the meter are valid ropriate indicia from sets of indicia 42,44 shown in (i.e. current and accurate). 105 Figure 2 to representthe postage value. As will be In another preferred embodiment of the invention more fully described below, these indicia are carried the above described assuring apparatus further in- on the surface of settable printwheels which are rota cludes secure apparatus for imprinting each mail ted by print unit 36 so that pairs of indicia (i.e. num piece with indicia indicating the currency and ac- erals) directly corresponding to the computed pos curacy of the postal rates in use. 110 tage value are positioned for printing. (Those skilled In still another preferred embodiment of the inven- in the artwill recognize that though onlytwo sets of tion the postage value determining information inindicia have been shown for simplicity of illustration cludes an elementwhich characterises an entire typical prior art postage meters included three or batch of mail pieces which are to be processed. more printwheels having indicia to allow printing of Those skilled in the artwill recognise thatthe pre- 115 postagevalues in excess of one dollar and/orfrac sent invention may achievethe objects setforth tional centvalues). Oncethe printwheels are posi above and may advantageously be used to meter a tions to selectthe appropriate indicia, meter 30 is en high volume flow of mail pieces. abled to print. When mail piece 10 is positioned For a better understanding of the invention and to properly in meter 30 a detector (not shown), com show howthe same may be carried into effect refer- 120 monly referred to as a "trip switch", signals print unit ence will now be made, byway of example, to the 36, which activates the print mechanism and signals accompanying drawings, in which: accounting unit 34to accountforthe postagevalue Figure 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a as expended. Account unit 34 subtracts the postage prior art mail processing system including a postage valuefrom the previously entered dollarvalue stored meter; 125 in a "descending register" and adds itto thetotal Figure2shows the setof variable indicia which value expended stored in the "ascending register", may be used to imprint postage values by the meter which registers are maintained in a non-volatile of Figure 1; memoryto accountfor postage expenditures. Shiel Figure3shows schematic blockcliagram of a mail ded housing 40 is provided to provide additional sec processing system including a postage meter in ac- 130 urity for this critical information stored in accounting 3 GB 2 188 592 A 3 unit34. proper character from indicia set 142will require at From the above description it may be seen thatthe most a single step of a single wheel. As a result meter critical function of prior art postage meters is to ac100 may achieve much higher setting speeds countfor postage expended if and only if indicia dir- without increased costs or power dissipation.

ectly corresponding to the postage value extended 70 Figuee 4 also shows indicia sets 144 and 146. In are imprinted on the mail piece. dicia set 144 includes characters corresponding to Turning to Figure 3 a mail processing system in the various "endorsements" available with first class accordance with a first embodiment of the invention mail. (By "endorsement" herein is meantthe dis is shown. In contrastto prior art meter 30 the inputto counts which may be applied to the postage accordmeter 100 is a signal representative of the weight of 75 ing to the amount of pre-sorting done by the mailer).

the mail pieces. This signal is provided by apparatus Forthe embodiment shown in Figure 3 these endo 50. Apparatus 50 provides a stream of weight signals rsements are:

corresponding to a flow of mail pieces, and its part icular nature is not considered to be relevanttothe FP - Pre-sort 1 st. Class invention. Forexample, apparatus 50 may be an in- 80 ZP- ZIP plus 4 Pre- sort telligent insertersystem, which computes theweight CP-CAR-RTPre-sort of mail piecesfrom an a prior knowledge of the M - Non-Sorted ZIP plus 4 weights of the constituent elements which make up FN - 1 st. Classs (without discount) the mail piece or may be a high speed "weigh-on the-fly" scalefor determining theweights of mail 85 Indicia set 146 consists of a set of arbitrarychar pieces in a high volumeflow. acters which serveto validatethatthe postal rates In another embodiment apparatus 50 may be a used in meter 100 are current and accurate.

scannerwhich scans preprinted machine-readable Though indicia sets 144 and 146 are variablethey postage value determining information from en- are constantfrom mail pieceto mail piece within a veiopes, in particularfrom encoded marks such as 90 given batch of mail. Set 144 is changed onlywith suc dashes aligned with the addressfield on an insert cessive batches of mail and set 146 is changed only visible through the envelope window, and placed when the postal rates stored in memory 124 are there typically by a computer printer during a bill im- changed. Accordingly these indicia may be conside printing operation. In this embodimentthe scanned red as fixed with respect to the operation of postage information may be confirmed by preprinting the 95 meter 100 from mail piece to mail piece and they im postage value determining information in the pose no burden on meter 100 with respectto setting mannerto be described below; depending upon the speed.

error rate and reliability which may be achieved with The appropriate selection and setting of indicia a scanning system. sets 144 and 146 will be more fully described below.

In meter 100 the weight signal is received by pro- 100 Figure 5 shows a schematic block diagram of print- cessor 126 which then computes the appropriate ing unit 136 in accordance with a first embodiment postage value in accordance with postage rates sto- thereof. Printing unit 136 includes microprocessor red in memory 124 as a function of theweightand based controller 150 which is in bi-directional com other information which may be provided in a munication with accounting unit 134. Controller 150 manner morefully described below. The operation 105 receives weight information for controlling the set of processor 126 and memory 124 is substantially ting of weightwheel 180 as well as additional inform similarto that of prior art processor 26 and memory ation for controlling the setting of endorsement

24,with the differencethat processor 126transmits wheel 182 and ratevaliclation wheel 184. As noted both the computed postagevalue and theweightto above wheels 182,184 remain fixed through the pro- control unit 132 of meter 100. Control unit 132 re- 110 cessing of a given batch of mail andthe process of transmitsthe postage value and weightto accountsetting these wheeiswill be described morefully ing unit 134. Accounting unit 134temporarily stores below.

the postage value and retransmits the weight to When controller 150 receives weight information printing unit 136forfranking the mail pieces. from accounting unit 134 it controls transmission Again,the person skilled inthe artwill recognise 115 160to couple weight wheel 180to a drive motor 170 that,withthe exceptions noted above, the operation and then controls motor 170to setweightwheel 180 of units 132,134,136 is substantially similarto the in accordancewith the received weight information.

operation of priorart units32,34and 36. When a mail piece is properly positioned in meter Print unit 136then selects indicia corresponding to 1 00,trip switch 192 signals controller 150which then the weightfrom indicia set 142, shown in Figure4. 120 activates print driver 190 to print indicia on the mail Again, aswith prior art meter30, indicia 142 are car- piece, and also signals accounting unit 134to ac ried on the surface of settable printwheels. However, countforthe corresponding postagevalue. The prin in the embodiment of figure 3 advantage istaken of ted indicia include characters selected from indicia the factthatthe maximum weight of mail pieces in sets 142,144,146 aswell asfixed indicia (notshown), high volumeflows istypically such thatall mail 125 such as logos or advertising material.

pieces will fall into one of a relatively small number, A more complete understanding of the control and e.g, three, of ranges of weight corresponding to re- mechanical aspects of the operation of print unit 136 spective postage amounts. Thus indicia set 142 in- in accordance with the embodiment of Figure 5 may cludes only 3 characters, in contrast to the 100 char- be obtained from the above referenced US patents.

acter pairs of Figure 2. Thus the selection of the 130 Those skilled in the artwill recognize thatthe mech- 4 GB 2 188 592 A 4 anical aspects and immediate control of wheels (PROMS). At 402 the operator then inputs a check 180,182 and 184 are substantially similarto that field provided bythe postal service orthe vendor. At found in prior art meter30; though, as will be seen, 404the system computes a checksum as an encryp the sequence of operations and the meaning of in- ted fucntion of the new rates and of the meter identi dicia selected are very substantially different. 70 fication number. (Use of unique checksums prevents Figure 6 shows a schematic block diagram of print- failure of security for a single meterf rom promulgat ing unit 136 in accordance with another embodi- ing through the entire meter population). At 406 ment. Microprocess base controller 250 again is in meter 100 tests if the cheeksum equals the check bidirectional communication with accounting unit field. If they are equal at 408 meter 100 sets validation

134to receive weight information defining the set- 75 wheel 184to the next, or other appropriate, setting ting of weightwheel 280. In the embodiment of and exits. Since this routine is the only mechanism Figure 6 an endorsement wheel 282 and rate valida- provided for setting of validation wheel 184the tion wheel 284 are manually set by an operator postal service may be sure thatthe imprint of the through levers 283 and 285. Weightwheel 280 is dir- proper character chosen from indicia set 146 val- ectly coupled to motor 270 and when controller 250 80 idates the postal rates in use. If at 406 the checksum receives a weight signal it directly controls motor 270 does not equal the check-field an error routine is ente to setweightwheel 280. Also, as will be morefully red at 410. Preferablythis routine will allow a pred described below priorto each operation of postage etermined number of attempts and then lock upthe meter 100 controller 250 inspects shaftencoders system.

260,262to determinethe settings of wheels 282,284. 85 In embodiments of the invention in accordance When wheel 280 is set and the settings of wheels with Figure 6, where validation wheel 284 is manu 282,284 are determined, meter 100 is enabled and ally set, at 408 meter 100 will store the appropriate when trip switch 292 detects a mail piece, controller setting forwheel 284 in a predetermined location.

250 activates print driver 290 to print indicia and Forfurther securitythis setting may be stored in en signals accounting unit 134to accountforthe pos- 90 crypted form uniqueto each particular meter.

tagevalue in the mannerdescribed above. Figure 9 shows a flowchart of the operation of an Figure 7 shows aflowchart of the operation of the embodiment of the invention in accordancewith present invention in accordancewith the embodi- Figure 6. At 500 meter 100 promptsthe operatorto ment of Figure 5. At300 meter 100 promptsthe oper- manually set endorsement wheel 282 and validation atorto enterthe appropriate endorsement, and the 95 wheel 284. Meter 100 isthen in operating modeand operator entersthe endorsement through keyboard receives theweight and setsweightwheel tothe 138. At302 control unit 132transmitsthe endorseappropriate weight. At 504 meter 100 tests validation ment information through accounting unit 134to wheel 284 againstthe previously stored setting. If at printing unit 136to set endorsement wheel 182. Con- 506the rates are valid at 508 meter 100tests endorse trol unit 132 also transmitsthe endorsement inform- 100 mentwheel 282to determinethe endorsementand ation to processor 126for use in computing postage computesthe postage value as a function of the values. weight and endorsement at 508. If the rates are not Meter 100 is not initialized foroperation. At304 valid at 506 meter 100 enters an error routine at510.

meter 100 receivesweight information from appar- At 512 meter 100 waitsfora trip signal and, when the atus 50 and sets weightwheel 182 accordingly. At 105 signal is received, at 514 printsthe indicia and ac 306 meter 100 computesthe postage value as a func- countsfor postage. Again, meter 100will remain in tion of theweight andthe endorsement. At 308 meter this loop until the last mail piece is processed andthe enables printing unit 136. At310 meter 1 00waits system is reinitialized forthe next batch, or until for a trip signal and when the trip signal is received at powered down.

312 prints the indicia and accounts forthe postage 110 It should be understood thatthe particular emb value expended. The meter 100 will remain in this odiments disclosed in the above detailed description loop until the last mail piece is processed and the and the attached drawings have been provided by system is reinitialized forthe next batch or until pow- way of illustration only. In particularthose skilled in ered down. the artwill readily recognise that other architectures A meter as described above would provide sat- 115 than that shown are possible, and that particular isfactory operation exceptforthe unfortunatefact sequences of operation may easily be rearranged. In that postal rates change from time to time. Accord- deed with the continuing decline in microprocessor ing[Vit is preferable that meter 100 includes some prices and increases in their capability it maywell means for validating thatthe postal rates used are prove preferableto combine functions nowcarried current and accurate. 120 out bytwo or more separate units. Accordingly limi Thisvalidation function is achieved when meter tations of the scope of the present invention areto be is operated in accordancewith theflow chartof found only in the claims setforth below, as interpre Figure 8to perform a rate update operation. At400 ted by the description.

meter 100 promptsthe operatorto input new postal For example, it is not essential that processor 126 rates. Given the relative simplicity of firstclass mail 125 supplies the weight information tothe control unit rates, meters intended for use onlywith firstclass directlyfrom the processor 126to the printing unit mail may be updated byentry of postal rate data 136. Furthermore, the weight information could be through keyboard 138. Alternatively the newdata passed directlyfrom the apparatus 50to the printing may be entered through conventional data links, porunit 136 provided itwere also available to processor table media, or Programmable Read Only Memories 130126.

GB 2 188 592 A 5 serter system, and are input to said postage meter,

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS and the output flow of mail pieces from said pro cessing apparatus

   is arranged to pass through said 1. A postage meter, comprising: postage meter for metering.

   a) storage means for storing postal rates; 70 13. A postage meter according to anyone of the b) establishing means for establishing particular preceding claims further comprising scanning postage value determining information imprinted or means for scanning said postage value determining to be imprinted on particular mail pieces; information from preprinted indicia on said part- c) postage computing means responsiveto said icular mail pieces.

   establishing means and said storage meansfor com- 75 14. A postage meter according to anyone of the puting postage values associated with said part- preceding claims wherein said postage value deter icular mail pieces in accordance with said postal mining information comprises an element which rates and said postage value determining informa- characterises a batch of mail pieces to be processed tion imprinted orto be imprinted on said mail pieces; sequentially.

   and, 80 15. A postage meter according to claim 14 d) accounting means for accounting for said com- wherein means are provided to enable an operatorto puted postage values. input said characterizing elementto said meter prior 2. A postage meter according to claim 1 wherein to processing said batch.

   printing means are provided for printing data repre- 16. A postage meter according to claim 15 further senting said postage value determining information 85 comprising indicia printing means for imprinting on the relevant mail pieces. said mail pieces with characterising indicia cor- 3. A postage meter according to claim 2 wherein responding to said characterising element.

   said printing means is arranged to print on said mail 17. A postage meter according to claim 16 pieces a set of indicia corresponding to said postage wherein setting means are provided to set said in- value determining information. 90 dicia printing means in accordance with said char- 4. A postage meter according to claim 1, 2 or 3 acterising information.

   further comprising meansfor assuring thatsaid pos- 18. A postage meter according to claim 17 tage rates are valid. wherein said setting means is manually operable to 5. A postage meter according to claim 4wherein enable an operatorto input said characterising el- said assuring means comprises secure means for 95 ement by appropriately setting said indicia print imprinting said particular mail pieces with indicia in- means, and said postage computing means is arran dicative of the currency and accuracy of said postal ged to determine said characterising elementfrom rates. the setting of said indicia print means prior to com- 6. A postage meter according to claim 5 wherein puting said postage value.

   said secure means includes means for selecting app- 100 19. A method for franking mail pieces in accord ropriate new indicia if and only if valid new postal ance with a selected postage value and accounting rates are inputto said postage meter. for postage values so expended, comprising the 7. A postage meter according to claim 6 wherein steps of:

   said selecting means includes means for comparing a) determining appropriate postal rates; a checksum generated as a function of said new 105 b) establishing particular postage value determin postal rates with a checkfield inputwith said new ing information imprinted on particular mail pieces; postal rates. c) computing postage value for said particularmail 8. A postage meter according to claim 7 wherein pieces in accordance with said postage value deter said checksum is unique to said postage meter. mining information and said postal rates; 9. A postage meter according to anyone of 110 d) imprinting said mail pieces, with said postage claims 6 to 8 wherein said secure means includes value determining information; means for setting indicia printing means for printing e) validating said imprinting postage value deter one of a set of preselected indicia and said secure mining information; and means selects said appropriate new indicia by re- f) accounting for said postage value if and only if setting said indicia printing means. 115 said mail pieces are franked.

   10. A postage meter according to anyone of 20. Mail processing apparatus, comprising:

   claims 6to 9 wherein said secure means includes op- a) processing means for processing a flow of mail erator settable print means for printing one of a set of pieces; and preselected indicia and said secure meansselects b) a postage meter for receiving saidflowand said appropriate new indicia by storing the app- 120 franking said mail pieces, said postage meterfurther ropriate setting for said operator settable print comprising:

   means and comparing the actual setting with said bl) storage means for storing postal rates; stored setting. b2) establishing means for establishing part 11. A postage meter according to anyone of the icular postage value determining information im preceding claims wherein said postage value deter- 125 printed orto be imprinted on particular mail pieces; mining information comprises data defining weights W) postage computing means responsiveto or ranges of weight of said particular mail pieces. said establishing means and said storage meansfor 12. A postage meter according to claim 11 computing postage values associated with said part wherein said weights orweight ranges are deter- icular mail pieces in accordance with said postal mined by mail processing apparatus, such as an in- 130 rates and said postal value determining information; 6 GB 2 188 592 A 6 and U) accounting means for accounting for said computed postage values.

   21. Mail processing apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said processing means includes at least means for determining said postage value determining information for said particular mail pieces and for transmitting said postage value determining information to said postage meter.

   22. Mail processing apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said postage value determining information includes, at least, the weight of said particular mail pieces.

   23. Mail processing apparatus according to any one of claims 20 to 22 wherein said processing means comprises an inserter system.

   24. A postage meter, comprising:

   a) accounting means for accounting for postage values expended on particular mail pieces; and, b) control means for controlling said accounting means to accountfor said postage values if and only if said mail pieces are imprinted with corresponding postage value determining information.

   25. A postage meter substantially as here- inbefore described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 or Figures3to 5 or Figures 3,4and 6of theaccompanying drawings.

   26. A method for franking mail pieces substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig- ures 7to 9 of the accompanying drawings.

   27. Mail processing apparatus comprising a postage meter according to any one of claims 1 to 19,24 and 25.

   Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by Croydon Printing Company (L) K) Ltd,8187, D8991685. Published byThe Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A lAY, from which copies may be obtained.

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