Pitney Bowes Inc.

Frank E Seestrom

John H Winkelman

Lyle W Shaw

David W Hubbard

The present invention is directed, in a general aspect, to a method of updating an addressee database in an incoming mail sorting apparatus comprising the steps of: a) providing the addressee database stored in memory associated with the mail sorting apparatus; b) providing a mailpiece to be read and sorted by the mail sorting apparatus; c) reading the mailpiece to determine whether the mailpiece is an update form; d) reading update information from the mailpiece if the mailpiece is an update form; e) updating addressee information as required by the update information on the update form. The method can be initiated by each individual employee using a readily available form and providing information manually or by using a software program resident on the employee's personal computer to generate the update form information. The method provides an easily accessible method of updating an addressee database that reduces database maintenance costs.

Method of updating an addressee database in a mail sorting apparatus

A postage metering system comprising: a postage meter including a first computer for controlling the postage meter, the postage meter including a first printer for printing first postage information; a non-secure second printer external to the postage meter for printing second postage information, a second computer external to the postage meter and connected for controlling the second printer, the second computer including first structure for transmitting to the first computer variable information including at least a portion of a mailing address associated with an item to be imprinted with the second postage information; the first computer including structure for encrypting at least a portion of the transmitted variable information, the first computer including second structure for transmitting to the second computer the encrypted information for printing by the second printer on said item.

Postage metering system with dedicated and non-dedicated postage

A postage accounting system comprising: structure means for accounting for postage; printing structure externally of the accounting structure, the printing structure including a printing module and a computer for controlling the printing module, the printing module including printing apparatus and structure for sequentially feeding each item of a predetermined plurality thereof to the printing apparatus for printing thereon, the computer programmed for sequentially transmitting variable information for each item to the accounting structure, the variable information including at least a portion of the mailing address for each item; the postage accounting structure including structure for connecting the accounting module in communication with the printing structure, the accounting structure including structure for sequentially encrypting the variable information received for each item, the accounting structure including a microprocessor, the microprocessor programmed for transmitting a bit-mapped image of fixed information to the printing means for printing on each item, and the microprocessor programmed for separately sequentially transmitting a bit-mapped image of the encrypted information for each item to the printing structure for printing thereon.

Postage accounting system including means for transmitting a bit-mapped

A hand held labeler having an optical reader attached thereto whereby an encoded article may be scanned to provide information to the labeler. The information may be used to set the print head of the labeler.

Hand held labeler having an optical reader

An ink jet printing head comprising an array of successive pairs of cavity plates and transducer plates. The transducer plates are one-piece elements composed of piezo-ceramic material and can have multiple diaphragms on opposing faces matching with cavities in the cavity plates. Many such pairs of cavity plates and transducer plates can be joined together to form a printing head which can achieve a very high density of nozzles, specifically, on the order of 150 to 200 nozzles per inch.

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Weston, CT, United States of America

Frank E Seestrom