Francotyp-postalia Gmbh

Francotyp-postalia Ag & Co.

Francotyn-postalia Gmbh

Francotvp-postalia Gmbh

Stephan Gunther

Wolfgang Thiel

Ralf Kubatzki

Klaus Dietrich

Norbert Knoth

Friedrich-Viktor Miehe

Dirk Rosenau

Clemens Heinrich

Harald Windel

Claus Freytag

Frank Reisinger

Andreas Wagner

Peter Rieckhoff

Enno Bischoff

Marcus Hansel

Dieter Wolm

Wolfgang Muhl

Wolfgang Von Inten

Christoph Kunde

Junming Zhang

Heinz Rehberg

Raimund Nisius

Olav A Zarges

Werner Hesshaus

Arndt Berthold

Hanspeter Reichelt

Jurgen Volle

Hans-Peter Rogge

Hans-Jurgen Hudetzka

Erwin Simon

Katrin Markl

A system and a method of payment for services, the system includes a system component, an acquisition device and a security module.

Service payment system and method

A system and a method for executing a work process on an object are provided, the system includes at least one work station, an acquisition device and an auditor device. The system and method can be used to log process steps of a work process.

System and method for logging process steps

A system and a method for executing a work process on an object. The system includes at least one work station, an acquisition device, a control device and an auditor device.

Authentication system and authentication method for executing a work process on an object

A thermal transfer printer has a thermal print head with a number of thermal print elements which are operated by power electronics and controlled by a control unit to print an imprint on a medium by thermally transferring ink from an inking ribbon to the medium by energization of selected print elements by the control unit, with the inking ribbon and the medium being movably disposed between the print head and a counter-roller with the inking ribbon being unwound from a supply reel and wound onto a take-up reel. The end of the inking ribbon is identified in a method and apparatus wherein the number of imprints produced by said inking ribbon is counted, and a signal is emitted after a predetermined number of said imprints has been counted.

Method and thermal printing apparatus for identifying an end of an

A thermal transfer printer has a thermal print head with a number of thermal print elements which are operated by power electronics and controlled by a control unit to print an imprint on a medium by thermally transferring ink from an inking ribbon to the medium by energization of selected print elements by the control unit, with the inking ribbon and the medium being movably disposed between the print head and a counter-roller with the inking ribbon being unwound from a supply reel and wound onto a take-up reel. In a method and apparatus for preventing usage of an unauthorized inking ribbon, an authorization marking is produced on the inking ribbon which embodies an authorization code. The same authorization code is stored in a memory accessible by the control unit. The authorization code is read from the inking ribbon prior to using the inking ribbon to produce an imprint, and a corresponding signal is generated. The signal is compared to the stored authorization code, and the control unit authorizes printing by the print head only in the event of a match between the signal and the stored authorization code.

Method and apparatus for preventing usage of an unauthorized inking

An ink-jet printer head is composed of individual, stacked ink-jet printer modules operating according to the edge-shooter principle and equipped with plate-shaped piezoelectric actuators whose electrodes are contacted to leads of a ribbon conductor. The ink-jet printer head has a simplified structure and improved service properties and is composed of individual, identical ink-jet printer modules whose nozzle rows are arranged offset relative to one another and can be easily interchanged, because the carrier layer of the ribbon conductors enveloping the leads is reinforced and shaped in the region between neighboring ink-jet printer modules, so that the required spacing between the piezoactuators and between the nozzle rows of the ink-jet printer modules as well as an exact fixing thereof relative to one another are achieved. In this way, the ribbon conductors serve as a contact element, a spacer and an adjustment member for neighboring ink-jet printer modules. Complicated housing and front masks are thus eliminated and the number of components is reduced and adjustment outlay is largely avoided. The ink-jet printer head is provided for use in small, fast printers, wherein a large number of nozzles are required.

Ink-jet printer head formed of multiple ink-jet printer modules

A print head thermocontrol includes a combination of power electronics that can be preset with a software potentiometer and that regulates the amplitude of the print head voltage according to the ambient temperature, a control unit operating according to a predictive control method for supplying individual print elements with print pulses and preheating pulses of variable pulse duration and an allocated print control unit for producing a digital imprint.

Print head thermocontrol

A thermal transfer printer has a thermal print head with a number of thermal printing elements, operated by power electronics and controlled by a control unit to print an imprint on a medium by thermally transferring ink from an inking ribbon to the medium by energization of selected printing elements by the control unit. The inking ribbon and the medium are movably disposed between the print head and a counter roller with the inking ribbon being unwound from a supply reel and wound onto a take-up reel. In a method and apparatus for monitoring usage of the inking ribbon, the approaching end of the ribbon is identified, either by optically reading a mark on the inking ribbon or by monitoring the amount of ribbon on the supply reel or the take-up reel, and the contents of a memory, which may be a mechanical memory or an electronic memory, are altered to indicate the completion of one pass of the inking ribbon. The inking ribbon is then rewound from the take-up reel to the supply reel for re-use. Before beginning re-use of the inking ribbon, the memory is interrogated and the usage history information is obtained therefrom. The thermal energy with which subsequent impressions are made is then controlled by the control unit dependent on the degree of usage of the inking ribbon.

Method and apparatus for monitoring inking ribbon usage in a thermal

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

An edge-shooter type ink jet print head and a method of its manufacture are disclosed. The print head includes members into which chambers are formed which, in turn, are equipped with devices for ejecting ink from each chamber to respectively assigned ink nozzles. A group of chambers is formed in each chamber-carrying member, on a side facing a center member. A single row of ink nozzles includes k nozzle groups which are respectively assigned to k ink chamber groups and which are formed along an edge face of a first chamber-carrying member. The first nozzle group of the k nozzle groups communicates with the chamber group formed in the first chamber-carrying member. The other k-1 nozzle groups are assigned to respective ones of the other (k-1) chamber groups. The chamber groups are supplied with ink from suction chambers and lie in further chamber-carrying members which are vertically offset relative to one another. In a method of manufacturing the ink jet print head, a pretreatment of the plate material from which the print head is made is followed by masking and etching the plates. All of this is done during a parallel plate processing step. Individual completed components are affixed to one another and bonded together as a print head module.

Method of manufacturing an ink jet print head

A postage meter module has a printing unit, a control unit connected to the printing unit, input/output devices connected to the control unit, and memory devices connected to the control unit. A configuration for an internal cost center printout includes a pixel memory having a field and at least one memory area for accounting data into which data are loaded and converted and/or from which data are read out and converted. The conversion is a blockwise orthogonal rotation of the pixel memory field. A device for orthogonal rotation of the pixel memory field permits a block of a print image with accounting data having been electronically rotated by 90.degree. or by 270.degree. in a direction of printing to be temporarily stored in or read out from the at least one memory area of the pixel memory. A print control unit reads out print image data corresponding to the accounting data by blocks from the pixel memory. A process for an internal cost center printout with a printing device for printing out variable information, includes switching over operation of a print head from printing postage for postal matter to printing a cost center printout.

Process and configuration for an internal cost accounting printout

In an ink-jet printer head having a number of edge-shooter module assemblies arranged in a stack, each module assembly has first and second circuit modules with an inkjet printer module therebetween. The ink-jet printer module is, in turn, formed by first and second cover plates with a middle plate therebetween. Piezoactuators are disposed on the cover plates in registry with ink pressure chambers in the module assembly, the ink pressure chambers respectively being in communication with nozzle apertures disposed at an edge of the module assembly. Various electrical components, including a driver circuit and conductor runs for operating the piezoactuators are disposed on the circuit modules in electrical contact with the piezoactuators.

Module assembly for an ink-jet printer

In a method for storing security relevant data in a postage meter the same data (A, B, C, D) are stored in at least four memory areas (a, b, c, d). The data (A, B, C, D) of each memory area (a, b, c, d) are compared with the data (A, B, C, D) of other memory areas (a, b, c, d). In dependence on these comparisons (V1 to V6) the memory area or memory areas (a, b, c, d) having faulty data (A, B, C, D) are ascertained and if suitable are reloaded with data (A, B, C, D) from a memory area (a, b, c, d) with fault free data. The method operates at small expense and can correct the ascertained data faults.

Method for storing security relevant data

In a method and an arrangement for entering data into a scale via a serial interface from the postage meter machine in order to load updating data into the scale via a connecting cable, a reception unit (modem) or a chip card read/write unit of the postage meter machine can be accessed in order to call data from external memory means. Automatic checking of the most recent status of data contents stored in the scale is undertaken on the basis of check data in the postage meter machine using previously stored information about the modification to be made in the future and about the associated validity effective date. Updating in then undertaken, whereby updating data are transmitted via the postage meter machine to the scale after the activation thereof or after a modification takes effect, the data being communicated from an external memory or a chip card or via a communication network from a remote data center.

Method for entering data into a scale

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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Berlin, Germany

Stephan Gunther