Pitney Bowes Inc.

Brad L Davies

Maria P Parkos

Mark A Scribe

Elaine B Cristiani

Robert A Cordery

Frederick W Ryan, Jr

Gary S Jacobson

Wesley A Kirschner

John H Steinmetz

George T Monroe

Louis J Loglisci

Andrew Zink

Keith M Smith

Sungwon R Moh

Peter T Collings

Dale A French

Roger J Ratzenberger, Jr

Ian A Siveyer

Sandra J Peterson

Kathleen M English

Robert H Kummer, Jr

Edward J Naclario

Joel L Wald

Mark D Zamary

Elaine B Christiani

A method of controlling a feed rate of a printer, and a printer employing same, wherein the printer includes a feeder motor driving a feeder mechanism and a transport motor driving a transport mechanism. The method includes receiving image data for a first item of print media in a print job, processing the image data to create printable image data, and determining an image preparation time that is a time difference between the time when the printable image data is completed and the time when the start of the image data is first received. The method then further includes determining a current feeder speed based on at least the image preparation time. Following that that determination, the method includes: (i) turning the transport motor on, and (ii) setting a speed of the feeder motor equal to the current feeder speed and thereafter turning the feeder motor on.

Method for controlling a feed rate of a printer, and printer employing same

A mail processing system that includes dimensional rating capability that provides true length support for carrier rates to prevent improper classification of mail pieces. The mail processing system determines a first dimension, parallel to the path of travel, and a second dimension, transverse to the path of travel, of a mail piece. The first dimension and second dimension are compared to each other to determine which is greater. The greater of the two dimensions is assigned to be the length of the mail piece, regardless of the orientation of the mail piece. The format of the mail piece is then determined based on a comparison of the assigned length and assigned width dimensions to maximum dimensions specified by a format table. Based on the determined format of the mail piece, a delivery fee is then calculated, and an indicium can be generated for the mail piece.

Mail processing system including dimensional rating with true length support

A method of synchronizing the feeding and printing of sheets of media, i.e., paper, envelopes, post cards, etc. even though shingled feeds have occurred in the system. The foregoing is accomplished by utilizing two sensors and counters to monitor two sheets of paper to allow two software tasks to stay in synchronization and release the appropriate print data to the printer even when a sheet of paper was not detected in the feeder appears at the print head. The feeder sensor has a counter for its Lead Edge as does the Start of Print Sensor that is in the system's transport paper path. The feeder sensor counter and the start of print counter are incremented and decremented as the paper approaches the sensor and leaves the sensor. If the lead edge counter of the feeder sensor goes negative, then the feeder has shingled and the data for that sheet of paper must be printed.

Method for detecting paper feed shingling errors and synchronizing a printer and a feeder

The present invention is a postage meter apparatus and method for printing in which print software is decoupled from print data such that print image data can change without impacting software. The decoupling can be performed using distributed architecture. Additionally, tables are used to decouple the print software from the print data.

Method and apparatus for printing postage

A print signal generation system for generating print bit map data corresponding to a desired image where the print bit map data is utilized by a digital printing device to print the desired image. The system includes region parameter data, a first data generation system and a second data generation system in operative communication with the first data generation system. The region parameter data includes region data defining a partitioning of the desired image into a plurality of regions and expansion data. The first data generation system generates transaction data associated with the desired image and using the transaction data in combination with the region parameter data to generate print instruction data. The second data generation system receives the print instruction data from the first data generation system and expands the print instruction data based upon the region parameter data to generate the print bit map data.

Print signal generation

Mailing machine including a controller, a printer module including a connector, a print head controller for producing print data signals necessary to print a postal indicia on an envelope and a replaceable print head cartridge having a plurality of print elements which are selectively energizable in response to the print data signals. The print head cartridge is detachably mounted to the connector. The controller in operative communication with the printer module for: determining if a valid print head cartridge is installed; and if a valid print head cartridge is not installed, preventing the print data signals from reaching the connector.

Disabling a mailing machine when a print head is not installed

A postage metering system includes a printer and a postage meter. The postage meter includes a micro controller for generating token data for use in printing a postal indicia where the token data includes an indicator of a token currency type. The printer is in communication with the postage meter and includes a micro controller, a memory and a print mechanism for printing the postal indicia on a mailpiece. The printer memory has stored therein indicia graphic data including an indicator of an indicia graphic currency type. The printer micro controller receives the token data from the postage meter and compares the token data indicator of the token currency type with the indicia graphic data indicator of the indicia graphic currency type prior to printing the postal indicia.

Postage metering system having currency synchronization

A postage printing system includes a printer and a postage meter. The postage meter includes a controller for generating print information having a plurality of print data blocks necessary to print a postal indicia. The printer is located remotely from the postage meter and includes a controller and a printer for printing the postal indicia. The printer controller is in operative communication with the postage meter controller for receiving the plurality of print data blocks. The postage meter controller encrypts the plurality of print data blocks into a plurality of encrypted print data blocks, respectively, using a cypher block chaining encryption algorithm prior to transmitting the plurality of encrypted print data blocks to the printer controller where they are decrypted by the printer controller. Check numbers for each print data block and validation of the check numbers may be employed at the printer controller. Also, the printer controller may compare the validation rates of print data blocks containing significant data and those containing insignificant data for evidence of tampering.

Postage printing system including prevention of tampering with print

The apparatus comprises: a first module including a universal key; a second module including a unique identifier and a unique key wherein the unique key is derived from the unique identifier and the universal key and incorporated into the second module during manufacture of the second module. The second module is in communication with the first module. The apparatus further comprises a controller for performing the following subsequent to manufacture of the first module and the second module: initiating a communication session between the first module and the second module; transmitting the unique identifier from the second module to the first module; and deriving the unique key in the first module using the unique identifier and the universal key. A method for synchronization of cryptographic keys between modules of a distributed system and a method of manufacturing a postage evidencing system are also provided.

Synchronization of cryptographic keys between two modules of a

A postage evidencing system including a plurality of domains for partitioning a population of postage meters according to an operating characteristic, a data center, a postage meter in operative communication with the data center and a printer in operative communication with the postage meter. The postage meter is initialized to operate in a particular domain while the printer is capable of operating in each of the plurality of domains. To update or enable a domain in the printer, the postage meter transmits an indication of the particular domain to the data center. Then, the data center encrypts the indication and transmits the indication to the postage meter which in turn forwards the encrypted indication to the printer. The printer decrypts the encrypted indication and using the indication enables a respective domain in the printer corresponding to the particular domain of the postage meter. A method for updating domains in a postage evidencing system is also provided.

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Derby, CT, United States of America

Brad L Davies