Neopost Inc.

Other

Daniel John Lee

Raymond John Herbert

William James Herring

Cyrus Abumehdi

Data identifying a print head of a postage meter is registered on the print head by allocating a number of printing elements of the print head to represent a code identifying the print head. The allocated printing elements are not used for printing postage indicia. The print head may be an ink jet print head having resistive elements energisable to eject ink droplets from nozzles. In order to represent the code, the resistance of selected ones of the resistive elements allocated to represent the code is altered for example by fusing the resistive elements.

Digital print head data registration

A tamper evidence device for a secure housing containing electronic circuits includes a zinc air cell and a bi-stable latch circuit connected to be powered by the cell. The zinc air cell requires a supply of oxygen for activation of the cell. Normally when the secure housing is intact and unbreached, a pad seals an aperture for ingress of oxygen to the cell and the cell does not generate any electrical power. However if the secure housing is opened or otherwise breached the pad is displaced and oxygen enters the cell and electrical power is generated to power the latch circuit and thereby set the bi-stable latch circuit to provide evidence of the breaching of the secure housing.

Tamper detection

A method of reprogramming memory storing program instruction code for controlling operation of a microprocessor in which new data can be written to the memory by the microprocessor only in a write cycle and stored data can be read from the memory by the microprocessor only in a read cycle, the memory preventing the read cycle and said write cycle occurring at the same time is disclosed. The memory has first and second sectors for storing code, the first sector storing boot code for controlling operation of the microprocessor. The disclosed method includes the steps of erasing code stored in said second sector, writing new code including the boot code to the second sector, erasing the first sector, writing new boot code in the first sector preceded by an instruction to jump to said second sector and then rendering the jump instruction ineffective so that the next boot of the microprocessor will cause the microprocessor to be controlled by the new boot code in the first sector.

Electronic apparatus including a memory device and method of

A method and apparatus is disclosed for controlling energization of a take-up motor driving a take-up spool of used ink ribbon in thermal printing apparatus. Prior to a printing cycle, the take-up motor is energized to rotate the take-up spool until ternsion in the ink ribbon caused rotation of an ink ribbon supply spool. The take-up spool is then rotated a predetermined amount and resultant rotation of the supply spool is determined by sensing means. A function dependent upon the rotation of the supply spool is determined and used during subsequent operation of the apparatus to control energization of the take-up motor such as to wind the used riobbon onto the take-up spool with a desired amount of tension in the used ribbon.

Franking apparatus and printing means thereof

A postage meter provided with a credit register is also provided with a debit register. When credit value in the credit register is insufficient for a postage charge to be applied to a mail item in a franking operation, the debit register is incremented by an amount equal to the excess of the postage charge amount over the credit value. Accordingly the postage meter is enabled to be operated even when there is insufficient credit.

Postage metering apparatus

Apparatus for franking mail items is disclosed. The apparatus includes a display constructed for co-operation with a photocopier in which the display is controlled to display a franking pattern to be printed, the display being located as an original image in the photocopier, and the photocopier is operated to copy the displayed pattern and to print the pattern as a franking impression on a mail item. A sensor detects scanning of the display by the photocopier and the output of the sensor is utilised to control the display to ensure that only a number of mails items are franked with postage which has been accounted for.

Apparatus for franking mail

A module is disclosed for use with a franking machine for the entry of data into the machine. The module includes a memory and security means operative in response to an interrogation signal from the franking machine to return a signal to the franking machine that the module is authorised for use with the franking machine for the input of data thereto.

Franking machines and means for data entry thereto

A franking machine system is disclosed in which a signal is transmitted for reception only in a predetermined location. A franking machine intended to be operated at the predetermined location is inoperative to carry out franking operations unless it receives the signal transmitted to the predetermined location. Accordingly a franking machine intended for operation at the predetermined location cannot be operated for franking mail if it is moved away from that location.

Franking machine system

A franking machine is provided with a slogan memory to store one or more slogans for inclusion in impressions containing postage information on mail items. The slogan may be changed by input of audio signals representing print data for a new slogan through a wall of a secure housing of the franking machine to a microphone located inside the secure housing and connected to electronic accounting and control circuits for storage in the slogan memory and hence for subsequent use in printing impressions on mail items.

Growing community of inventors

Brentwood, United Kingdom

Daniel John Lee