Ascom Hasler Mailing Systems, Inc.

Micro General Corp.

Ascom Autelca Ag

Hasler, Inc.

James S Emmett

Robert G Schwartz

William A Weirsman

Fetneh Eskandari

Allen A Crowe

Joseph L Lehman

Robert J Japenga

Mark E Simcik

Martin F Palange

George P Rahgo

Robert Swanbery

John J Horbal

Hans-Peter Liechti

Andrew L Rozum, Jr

John J Hobral

In an improved postage scale system, soft-selection keys are used for selecting options including shipping service options provided by the system. The display on such a system is adjustable for comfortable viewing thereof. The system is capable of interfacing and communicating with other devices such as a printer, a remote computer, an optical scanner, an integrated circuit (IC) card, etc. Certain data and code for use in the system can be updated by downloading new data and code from IC cards to the system. A security measure is instituted such that, after an update of the data or code, a system user is required to enter a valid authorization number in order to enable the system. Such a measure is, in part, necessary for deterring unauthorized copying of software of the system onto another similar system.

Electronic postage scale system and method

System and method for an electronic postage scale with variable function

A primary circuit has an associated parameter, and a display circuit maintains a copy of that parameter. The display circuit displays the parameter based on the copy, and updates the copy by listening in on communications between the primary circuit and an external device. In a preferred embodiment, the primary circuit is a postal security device (PSD) and the parameter is the value of the descending register of the PSD.

Postal security device with display

Adjustable display for use with an electronic postage scale system

Electronic scale system with programmable function keys

A postage meter prints postage indicia onto envelopes using extendible segments. The postage meter includes a user interface for entering input information, a transfer means having extendible segments disposed thereon, the segments being arranged to form the postage indicia when extended, and an ink roller, which contacts extended ones of the segments so as to transfer ink from the ink roller to the extended ones of the segments. Also included in the postage meter are a sensor, which senses an envelope in the postage meter, and which outputs a signal which indicates that an envelope is present in the postage meter, and a controller. The controller (1) converts the input information into the postage indicia, (2) extends ones of the segments based on the postage indicia, and (3) activates the transfer means in response to the signal output by the sensor so that (i) extended segments receive ink by contacting the ink roller, and (ii) the extended segments transfer the ink received from the ink roller to the envelope.

Postage meter

A postage meter includes a keyboard for inputting postage information, a memory for storing the input postage information, a programmable read-only memory for storing standard postage indicia information, a dot matrix printer, the dot matrix printer comprising a staggered arrangement of a plurality of dot matrix printheads, and a controller which 1) retrieves the input postage information and the standard postage indicia, 2) combines the input postage information and the standard postage indicia information to form a postage indicia to be printed, 3) divides the formed postage indicia into equal portions wherein the formed postage indicia is divided by a number of the dot matrix printheads in the dot matrix printer, 4) routes divided portions to each of a plurality of dot matrix printheads, and 5) instructs each of the dot matrix printheads to print its portion of the divided postage indicia at a specific time such that upon completing the printing of the divided portion, a complete postage indicia is printed.

Postage meter having a dot matrix printer

In an improved postage scale system, programs and data are used to run the system to provide shipping options and information on shipping costs associated therewith. The system is capable of interfacing and communicating with other devices such as a printer, a remote computer, an optical scanner, an integrated circuit (IC) card, etc. For example, the system can be updated by downloading new data and application code from IC cards to the system.

In an improved electronic postage scale system, non-keyboard devices are used to select shipping service options provided by the system. For example, a bar-code scanner, a voice-recognition device or a remote computer is configured to emulate keycodes from the system keyboard and can be operatively connected through a keyboard interface to select shipping options.

A postage meter resetting apparatus includes a stepper motor as a first motive arrangement for turning the resetting shaft of a mechanical postage meter, another stepper motor as a second motive mechanism to enable or disable resetting by the first stepper motor. A lead screw, lead nut and linkage, driven by the second stepper motor, when resetting is authorized, moves an axially movable part of a coupling between the second stepper motor and the meter's axially movable resetting shaft, to bring the resetting gear on the shaft into engagement with a gear of the meter's descending register. An input to the first stepper motor, representing a variable amount of postage, effects turning of the resetting shaft and the engaged gears by amounts corresponding to the desired variable amount of postage to be added to the meter's descending register. An encoder coupled to the shaft of the first stepper motor provides an output indication of the amount that the shaft has turned. A CPU routine assures that the gear on the meter's resetting shaft has cleared a blocking pin and engaged the descending register gear prior to resetting by the first stepper motor. Another CPU routine clears jams when it is detected that the shaft has not been turned the amount desired.

Mechanical postage meter resetting device and method

A system for remotely resetting a postage meter, by adding a variable amount of postage, includes a computerized central facility or 'host', in telephone communication with the meter, which host verifies the meter's identity and ascertains the availability of funds, then sends to the meter an authorizing, unique, one-time-only combination, independent of the value of postage requested, and having a predetermined relation to a unique, one-time-only combination that the meter has generated and retained. The meter then compares the combination that it has generated with the combination received from the host. If the relationship is correct, for example, if the combination is the same, the meter introduces the additional postage requested.

Growing community of inventors

Derby, CT, United States of America

James S Emmett