Francotyp-postalia Gmbh

Francotyp-postalia Ag & Co.

Francotyp-postalia Ag & Co. Kg

Frank Reisinger

Olaf Turner

Sabine Roth

Stephan Gunther

Dirk Rosenau

Ralf Kubatzki

Harald Windel

Andreas Wagner

Claus Freytag

Raimund Nisius

Peter Rieckhoff

Enno Bischoff

Marcus Hansel

Frank Geserich

Christoph Kunde

Axel Kieser

Werner Kampert

Olav A Zarges

Arndt Berthold

Ratmund Nisius

In a method for controlling a print head with a number of printing elements operating according to the thermotransfer principle, an energy quantity is fed to a printing element in a feed step in order to transfer ink from an ink carrier device associated with the print head to a substrate associated with the ink carrier device to generate an image point of a barcode, with the energy quantity being adjusted dependent on the position of the image point in the barcode.

Printer with thermotransfer print head and method for control thereof

In a method and thermotransfer printing device for setting the speed of a relative movement between the print head and a recording medium during a printing procedure in the thermotransfer printing device, in particular for setting the transport speed of a mail piece in a thermotransfer printing franking machine, the heat energies required for the generation of a predeterminable print image are calculated for the individual heating elements of the print head from start value that has been established for the desired speed. It is subsequently computationally checked whether the respectively calculated heat energy can be emitted at the respective heating element in a first time interval predetermined by the start value of the desired speed and a predeterminable remaining time. If so, a printing procedure follows in which the beginning of the printing procedure ensues using the end value of the desired speed.

Method for setting the relative speed between a print head and a recording medium in a thermotransfer printing device

An arrangement for loading rate tables has a switchover module that is connected between a meter of a postage meter machine and a modem, between a postage calculator of an external scale and the modem. A control line drives the switchover module, so that the modem and the postage calculator can be functionally directly connected to one another for the purpose of loading rate tables.

Arrangement for loading rate tables

In a method and apparatus for improving the printing with a thermotransfer print head, an energy value is calculated before the printing process according to different types to be implemented when a dot is to be printed. Energy values also are calculated for the heating elements at the ends of the row of heating elements of the high-resolution thermotransfer print head, so as to activate these heating elements even though in heating phases no dot to be printed at the border external to the barcode image. Additionally, those heating elements that do not lie in the two border regions of the heating element row are also activated for a limited time duration, the aforementioned time duration directly preceding the printing of a barcode image. A microprocessor calculates the energy values and is connected with a pixel energy memory for non-volatile buffering of the data that are transferred into a print data controller and are converted into a print pulse duration.

Method for quality improvement of printing with a thermotransfer print head and arrangement for implementation of the method

In a method and apparatus for dependable transmission of data from a data center to terminal equipment, particularly transmission of fee schedule table data to a postage-calculating scale or postage meter machine, new postage fee schedule table data are offered at the data center for future postage calculation. In a first communication between the data center and the terminal equipment, a request for postage fee schedule table data is formed at the terminal equipment and is communicated to the data center, and the data center receives the request and transmits the requested new service data to the terminal equipment, and the terminal equipment receives and stores the new service data. Thereafter a second communication takes place between the data center and the terminal equipment, wherein the terminal equipment forms a message referring to the stored, new service data and this message is communicated to the data center, where it is checked against information generated at the data center from the new service data. Given a positive comparison result the data center transmits a message to the terminal equipment allowing usage of the validated new service data.

Method for the dependable transmission of service data to a terminal equipment and arrangement for implementing the method

In a printer and a method for control of the print head thereof operating according to the thermotransfer principle, the print head having a number of printing elements for which an energy quantity to be supplied to one of the printing elements is determined in a determination step and the energy quantity is supplied to that printing element in a supply step in order to transfer ink from an ink carrier device associated with the print head onto a substrate associated with the ink carrier device, by the energy quantity is determined in the determination step dependent on the print image type of the print image in the region of the image point.

Thermotransfer printer, and method for controlling activation of printing elements of a print head thereof

A mail processing apparatus has a field table and a printer disposed above the feed table for printing indicia on a mailpiece moved in a movement direction along the feed table. A start sensor detects a leading edge of the mailpiece and supplies a signal to a microprocessor controller that operates the printer, in order to initiate a printing event on the mailpiece. An ejection roller is disposed following the printer and is operated by a motor to eject the mailpiece from the printer. An end sensor is disposed near the ejection roller and detects a trailing edge of the mailpiece, and supplies a signal to the microprocessor controller that causes the microprocessor controller to disconnect the voltage from the motor that operates the ejection roller.

Printing mail processing apparatus with improved mailpiece throughput

An arrangement for activation of a thermotransfer print head has a unit to determine a transport delay and a unit to generate supplementary heating pulses to maintain a temperature required for printing at the thermo-printing heating elements. The unit to determine a transport delay is connected with the thermotransfer print head via the unit to generate supplementary heating pulses. A method for activation of a thermotransfer print head includes the steps of determining a transport delay and generating supplementary heating pulses for maintenance of a temperature necessary for printing at the thermo-printing heating elements for which a printing requirement is present.

Arrangement and method for activation of a thermotransfer print head

In an arrangement and method for storing data about usage of a terminal device, a statistical memory is provided for the usage data, which are stored in statistical classes. A processor is connected to the statistical memory and a program memory and is programmed for automatic class formation, and for statistical storage of the usage data and appertaining storage of the count of a counter which is incremented upon each entry or occurrence of an item of the class.

Arrangement and method for storing data relating to the usage of a terminal device

In a method and apparatus for data input into a postage computer loading and updating of rate table data in the postage computer, take place with two operations being separated from one another in time. The transmission and storage of a new postage fee schedule table in a postage computer can be implemented on demand or automatically pre-programmed at a first point in time. The actual updating of rate table data is automatically implemented at a second point in time. The method and apparatus are suitable for postage meter machines as well as for scales containing postage computers or similar devices. The apparatus contains a postage computer and a memory for service data with memory areas for data related to rate tables. The postage computer is programmed for detecting the input and for storing a load requirement, for checking the load requirement and for loading given the presence of the load requirement, for input of a conversion requirement during loading, as well as for checking the conversion requirement and conversion to the current, new rate table or transition into the operating mode.

Method for data input into a postage computer and arrangement for the implementation of the method

In a method for statistics mode reloading and for the statistical acquisition in the storage of a dataset in an electronic postage meter machine, the statistics mode of the electronic postage meter machine created for the acquisition of pre-compressed data according to statistics classes (postal classes) is interchangeably installed. A formation of freely selectable, new statistics instruction data for a future statistics mode ensues in the data center for the purpose of a transmission in the form of an instruction dataset. The installation of the statistics mode ensues during a communication of the postage meter machine with the data center. A microprocessor of the postage meter machine is programmed to change the statistics mode by modem or with another suitable communication means at least periodically or when the mail carrier is changed, or within the framework of a reloading of the postage meter machine. Preceding transactions are provided in the communication mode in order to transmit data of the old statistics mode to the data center. A deletion of the old statistics data ensues after a successfully ended, error-free transaction for interrogating the old statistics data and after a transmission of valid, new statistics instruction data during a following transaction. The acquisition now ensues according to new statistics classes, whereby all check steps for membership in respective statistics classes are executed.

Method for statistics mode reloading and for statistical acquisition

An interchangeable postage calculating module and a corresponding method for data transmission to a basic device such as a postage meter machine or a scale, allow a high degree of flexibility in accommodating future changes in postage calculation formats and techniques. The interchangeable postage calculating module is fashioned as a postage fee and calculation module that the customer can replace or plug into the basic device, and contains an internal processing unit and a non-volatile memory for the calculating program and for postage fee schedule table data. The module is programmed to supply data for at least one carrier from the interchangeable postage calculating module for display modification in the basic device on the basis of user inputs with respect to service demands made on a carrier and for processing the supplied data in the basic device, to receive weight data and shipping data for a piece of mail, to calculate postage value on the basis of the postage fee schedule table data and calculating structure of the desired carrier in the interchangeable postage calculating module, and to supply data including the postage value of at least one carrier from the interchangeable postage calculating module for carrier-related processing of the supplied data in the basic device.

Interchangeable postage calculating module and method for data

A method for securing data and program code of an electronic postage meter machine against manipulation, having a microprocessor in a control unit of the postage meter machine for implementing steps for a start and initialization routine and following system routine with a possibility of entering into a communication mode with a remote data central, as well as further input steps in order to enter into a franking mode from which a branch is made back into the system routine after the implementation of an accounting and printing routine, includes conducting a start security check within the framework of a start and initialization routine which runs before a secure printing data call routine and the following system routine for determining the validity of a program code and/or of data in the predetermined memory location and of an appertaining MAC (message authentification code) that is present in the same storage medium. The check for valid program code and/or for validity of the data is implemented with a selected checksum method within an OTP (one time programmable) processor that internally receives the corresponding program parts. Transfer of the postage meter machine into the aforementioned system routine takes place given validity of the data or transfer of the postage meter machine into a first mode when the data are invalid, or when a specific manipulation criterion is met. Steps for preventing the franking or blocking of the postage meter machine and/or steps for preventing a further program execution or a program branch exiting the OTP processor within the framework of system routine the occur.

Method of improving the security of postage meter machines

In a method for improving the security of postage meter machines, the intent to conduct an authorized opening of the machine, such as for inspection or maintenance purposes, is first reported to a central data station, after the postage meter machine to be opened has established communication between the machine and the central data station. The postage meter machine has a code word stored therein, the presence of this code word being necessary for authorized operation of the machine. Following the request to open, the central data station transmits a new code word to the postage meter machine, which is also stored therein. Upon any opening of the postage meter machine, the current code word is automatically erased. If the opening is authorized, and thus a new code word is stored in the machine, this new code word is automatically substituted for the erased code word, so that operation of the machine can proceed in a normal fashion. If the opening is unauthorized, and thus there is no new code word to replace the erased code word, the machine is automatically placed in a first mode, which prevents operation of the machine.

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Oranienburg, Germany

Frank Reisinger