WO1998024066A1

WO1998024066A1 - Checking device for printing group

Info

Publication number: WO1998024066A1
Application number: PCT/CH1997/000429
Authority: WO
Inventors: Werner Haug
Original assignee: Frama Ag
Priority date: 1996-11-28
Filing date: 1997-11-12
Publication date: 1998-06-04
Also published as: CA2244463A1; EP0886838A1

Abstract

In a printing group which is intended for value marks printing (e.g. franking), a checking device is inserted in order to prevent misuse, i.e. not credited stamps, by manipulation of the current feed, or manual operation. This checking device counts every single printing operation, thanks to its on current supply. The meter reading of the checking device can be compared with the reading of the usual printing group meter. In case of a discrepancy between the two readings, the printing group jams or an alarm goes off, via the control electronics of the printing group, e.g. in the form of a security card. A great advantage of this checking device is its complete storing in the checking device itself of the printing operations and all manipulations or attempts at manipulation.

Description

Control device for printing units

The present invention relates to a control device for the printing unit of printing devices, a printing device provided with such a device and a method for installing a control device in a printing device.

There are printing devices on the market which print stamps or the like chargeable, generally official or similarly authorized signs. An example is franking machines, with the help of which post office frankings are printed on letters and parcels in a company. The basic structure of such machines is known and is described, for example, in EP-560 714. Depending on the country-specific regulations and practices, the franking machine, as described, inter alia, in EP-390 731, is loaded by means of franking amounts previously purchased from Swiss Post using credit cards or electronically transmitted amounts. In normal operating mode, the franking device then prints the desired franking amount on an envelope, for example, via its printing unit and simultaneously debits the corresponding franking value from the card or the stored credit amount. However, it is now conceivable that the franking machine is manipulated in such a way that its printing unit prints value stamps on the goods to be dispatched without simultaneous or subsequent debiting. This can be done, for example, by actuating the printing unit with unauthorized tapping of the mostly unprotected connecting line between the debit electronics and the control electronics of the printing unit. It is also conceivable for the printing unit motor to be started up via an external power supply, that is to say not belonging to the machine, or by manual drive, for example by rotating the printing roller when the machine is disconnected from the mains. Countermeasures to the type of abuse described above are described, for example, in US application 24813 and EP-18081. So far, however, the second and third of the above problems have not been solved. Furthermore, there are all similarly misused manipulations on printing units of other printing technology, for example by supplying external energy to the supply connections of a thermal printer.

The aim of the present invention is therefore on the one hand to solve these unsolved problems. In addition, the security of printing units and devices with printing units against misuse should generally be increased. Not only are new printing units or devices considered, but also the large number of devices that have already been delivered and are in use. Due to insufficient security, the usage The duration of these older devices has already been massively restricted by the authorizing authorities. In the near future, many devices that are functional for a long time would have to be retired. It is therefore also an object of the present invention to obtain these devices by retrofitting further use as efficiently as possible, inexpensively and providing the required security. Another aim of the invention is the complete checking and control of the correct use of the stamp assignment by the authorized user of the printing unit and / or the device. In particular, the authorizing authority is guaranteed and fully guaranteed legal billing. Ultimately, appropriately equipped devices, in particular franking machines, are also to be created. Another object of the invention is also to control stamp issuance devices based on a personal computer with a conventional or special printer and / or without special additional electronics (see also CH-2332/96) in accordance with the aforementioned and to prevent misuse protect.

These tasks are solved by the technical teachings listed in the independent patent claims and the entire application text. The proposed measures allow, on the one hand, an autonomous registration of all printing processes and manipulations on the control device itself in the control device. Thanks to the own energy supply in the protected housing, a complete life history of the control device is created. In a preferred embodiment, the control device is connected to the control and debit electronics (for example a security card according to US Pat. No. 5,509,117) of the printing device, for example via a contactlessly operating communication device. With a suitable training, the electronics of the control device record their own life history and also that of the control and debit electronics communicating with them, or vice versa. This means that the authorizing authority always has at least one, if not two, control options over the printing processes carried out with the device over the course of its service life. In the event of a mismatch in the life stories of the control device and the device, even more extensive safety measures trigger an immediate interruption in the function or a function controlled by the time or the number of printing processes after manipulation has been detected. In a further embodiment, the control electronics checks whether the control device is still present and / or is functioning as intended. In the event of a negative test result, the device can be used directly or, as described above, time or depending on the pressure rating by the tax electronics can be blocked. If the device is provided with a so-called data transfer option (cf. US Pat. No. 5,509,117), it is expedient that, in addition to the data of the possibly defective control and debit electronics, the database of the control device is also transferred. This ensures that all franking-specific data (including complete, possibly date and time-related or only sequential listing of the frankings made, their individual values, meter readings, credit replenishments, tests, interventions for repair, any replacement of components or assemblies with or without Data transfer requirements) can always be verified on the device and can therefore be verified by the device owner and are retained. This advantage also remains in the case of devices with data transfer capability if the device has to be exchanged for a replacement device for repair, the more the service technician has no access to the security card and its data content (cf. US Pat. No. 5,509,117). In summary, it is stated once again that the proposed measures allow the authorizing authority a complete, non-manipulable and thus 100% secure control of the important postal data that covers the entire device history.

Thanks to the inexpensive control device and its economical installation, old devices can be used efficiently retrofit. With this measure, the long-functioning devices can be used for several years. The associated economic and also environmentally relevant / energy-saving advantage is enormous. Therefore, the claimed retrofitting process is an economically important invention.

Similar to the example of the old devices described above, the conventional printing units can be provided with a post-installed control device by a franking device controlled by a PC.

Of course, the protection of claims 10 and 11 extends to such retrofits and the installation of control devices in PC or other computer printers.

An embodiment of the invention is described in more detail below with reference to the sketch. The drawing 1/1 shows the basic circuit structure of a control device together with a non-contact data readout variant. For the sake of clarity, we deliberately refrain from presenting details and compilations of the electronic and mechanical structures of the device known to those skilled in the art, provided that they do not relate to the structure or function of the inventive device. Rather, in this regard, the cited patent documents and those currently this patent application referenced FRAMA devices.

The control device has a sensor that responds specifically to the function of the present printing unit.

In the case of a rotating pressure wave or a linearly moving pressure stamp, it can be a magnetically, optically, inductively or a similar sensor which acts in principle without contact. The signaling element, here e.g. a magnet 1, is preferably installed in the pressure shaft 2 or the pressure cylinder and cannot be seen from the outside. Instead of the magnet, an infrared diode or an inductor (coil) can also be installed analogously. It would also be conceivable to use purely mechanical, non-contact signaling devices. However, the latter have disadvantages compared to the former (e.g. easy to recognize). A coil 3, a phototransistor, a voltage field meter or the like come here as signal pickups. Elements for use, which are mounted inside or on the surface of the housing of the control device.

In the case of a thermally acting printing unit, the sensor can be a temperature-sensitive measuring element or a temperature element that detects the temperature via other effects. In this case, the heating of the printing unit acts as a signal generator. In the case of an ink jet printer, the sensor may be a noise-like microphone-like element. Here, too, the ink jet itself or the elements that trigger it provide the signal.

In the case of laser printers, sensors and signal transmitters already listed above are also conceivable.

The following elements are further arranged within the housing of the control device:

Own energy supply, e.g. a long-life battery 4, a counter 5, e.g. in the form of a non-resettable electronic digital counter of known type with, for example, 64,000 or 64 million counting units, and a memory element 6, e.g. in the form of an EEPROM. A conventional microcontroller 7 connected to the counter assigns further identification data to the respective count value, e.g. the event time and / or event date.

The data from the controller 7 are then transferred to the outside via a shift register 8, for example in encrypted form, via a further coil 9. The transmission technology shown here enables contactless data transfer via suitable signal receivers into the security card of the franking machine. However, are also conceivable for simple applications data transfers via routed signal lines. Of course, the data transfer can be controlled by the microcontroller or triggered from the outside.

With the aid of software programs stored in it, the security card compares the content of the internal counter 5 of the control device with the number of printing processes which it itself has determined in a known manner. If these independently determined data do not match or if they are outside a selectable interval, the security card blocks all further printing processes immediately or on request, e.g. delayed in time or event number.

The microcontroller 7 also checks its own state sequentially or continuously. By means of suitable known sensors, for example current-carrying micro wire, microphone, magnetic field sensor, pressure sensor or the like. he detects inadmissible manipulations made on him (dismantling attempt, opening attempt, etc.) up to the determination of a distance from the original position. These data are also stored in the non-volatile memory 6 in the sense of the history described and are reported to the security card via coil 9. As in the case of a mismatch in the meter readings or a failure to recognize the control device, this stops the printing unit as indicated above. Of course, all elements or functional groups described here can be replaced by others without leaving the scope of protection of the petitioner claims. It is only important that the teaching according to the invention is adhered to, which is: a control device which is self-sufficient in energy at least over a period of hours, days, months or years and which provides control signals which respond to any inadmissible, ie attacks which impair the intended function, inter alia the Total number of printing operations carried out via suitable sensors to suitable control and security elements of the franking machine. For safety reasons alone, the exact structure of the circuit and the signal receivers and signal transmitters used cannot be explained in more detail than already described. In order to demonstrate to what extent changes can be made by a person skilled in the art to the described embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention, a few variants are briefly touched: Instead of the battery 4, there can be a capacitor, which extends when the magnet 1 rotates changing magnetic field via coil 3 charges. However, photocells inside the device are also conceivable, which supply their current to a rechargeable battery. The control device can be hidden in a correspondingly thick-walled wall of a housing area of the franking machine. be installed, ie its housing is partially identical to the franking machine housing.

-Pressure detection sensor and e.g. the controller can be arranged in two different housings and have separate power supplies. The data transfer between the two housings can be arbitrary, e.g. optoelectronic.

The control device can be riveted to the franking machine, glued, welded or attached in a comparable manner. Suitable sensors, e.g. Foil webs, for location verification or attack registration are available.

There may be several counters in the control device, e.g. for the total and daily total.

-The control device must be "loaded" periodically with a test signal, regardless of whether the franking machine is used or not. It blocks the franking machine without reloading. Thanks to this measure, Swiss Post can check whether the machine is being used in accordance with the contract.

- In the event of incorrect manipulation or detected fraud attempts, data transfer is impossible or the data transfer is coupled with an alarm signal that acts immediately or subsequently.

-Repair operations are held in memory. Your signalization is arbitrary, for example via a security card signal or via a special signal that is loaded into the device from an auxiliary transmitter. The control device can interact with other elements of the franking machine, for example an autonomous locking (cf. CH-2333/96) with the aim of further increasing security.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown in the figures. Rather, it encompasses all devices, devices and methods in which the teaching of the claims is realized or suggested.

Subsequent supplementation of the claims by parts of the description / drawing remains reserved. It is again pointed out that instead of the construction elements and individual elements listed, other means can be used as long as they fulfill the same or a corresponding function. Protection should include all conceivable combinations of the individual elements.

Claims

Claims:

1. Control device for printing units, characterized in that it has a counting device coupled to a sensor and a downstream data transfer device for the transmission of the meter reading or a signal related thereto, at least the sensor, the counting device and an energy supply in a not without Leaving traces that can be ascertained are arranged and / or are arranged in a housing that is designed or has such means that at least when the housing is attempted to open, the function of the above-mentioned devices is affected.

2. Control device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least the counter reading through the housing without direct mechanical or electrical contacting and / or setting or. is resettable.

3. Control device according to one of the claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the housing is used only once. Reversible fastening device is provided with which the housing can be fastened to a carrier.

4. Control device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sensor responds to changes in the temperature or the position of a control element or a magnetic field or the intensity of a light source or the capacitance of a capacitor.

5. Control device according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it has its own comparison device for comparing the counter reading of its counter device with a counter reading external to the housing or means for unidirectional or bidirectional transfer of the counter reading to a comparison device external to the housing.

6. Control device according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the comparison device emits a signal or resets a signal if the internal meter reading is identical or within a predetermined interval to the external meter reading, the signal or the signal reset depending on the time or the meter reading may be delayed.

7. Control device according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the storage elements for receiving identification or control variables, e.g. has in the form of a test or zero value loading signal and / or contains means which bring about an irreversible function interruption.

8. Printing device with a control device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it is designed such that the control device each individual printing process in addition to the usually in the printing device, e.g. In a security card or in a control card, the existing counter is recorded and counted separately.

9. Printing device according to claim 8, characterized in that the control device controls the function of the printing unit directly or with a time delay or as a function of the increase in the meter reading.

10. A method for installing a control device according to one of claims 1 to 7 in a pressure device, characterized shows that a signal source is installed in the printing device in such a way that its signal can be detected by the sensor of the control device and the signal source conveys each individual printing process to the sensor.

11. The method for installing a control device according to claim 10 in a printing device that does not have its own remote-querable counter for counting the individual printing processes, characterized in that a remotely-querable counter is installed in the printing device.