Francotyp-postalia Ag & Co.

Francotyp-postalia Gmbh

Francotyp-postalia Ag & Co. Kg

Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Francotvp-postalia Gmbh

Wolfgang Thiel

Stephan Gunther

Ralf Kubatzki

Harald Windel

Klaus Dietrich

Junming Zhang

Norbert Knoth

Friedrich-Viktor Miehe

Andreas Wagner

George G Gelfer

Wolfgang Muhl

Olaf Turner

Wolfgang Von Inten

Uwe Huebler

Dieter Pauschinger

Heinz Rehberg

Claus Freytag

Enno Bischoff

Werner Kampert

Dieter Wolm

Stephan G&uuml;nther

Erwin Simon

Katrin Markl

Uwe B&ouml;hm

In an arrangement and method for entering postage the contents of a franking image into a postage meter machine, the franking image is initially incompletely pre-installed. The franking imprint data for a selection are ordered at least according to mail carrier and/or countries in a data bank of the manufacturer and can be allocated to the serial number of the machine. The postage meter machine serial number is entered in a step separate therefrom. As needed, data can be loaded or selected with a specific, country-specific and/or carrier-specific chip card in order to finally configure the postage meter machine.

Method and arrangement for entering contents of a franking imprint into a postage meter machine

In a method and apparatus for protecting a device against operation with unallowed consumables whose authenticity is checked in a remote data center, at least one code word is generated, an allocation to a specific consumable is stored in the form of a dataset with a reference code word, the consumable is aggregated with the generated code word, which has a predetermined relationship to the reference code word or to a group of reference code words that are stored in the data center. An operation for the replacement of a consumable in a device remote from the data center is detected and a communication connection is set up between the device and the remote data center and the code word aggregated with the consumable is communicated to the data center. The communicated code word is received in the data center and the authenticity of the consumable on the basis of a stored reference code word is checked at the data center, which transmits a message to the device after checking the code.

Method for protecting a device against operation with unallowed consumables and arrangement for the implementation of the method

In an arrangement and method for offering a message when loading service data for a terminal device, a connector unit in a service center is connected to a server and is equipped with a number of modems that produce a connection to a communication system to which a number of clients are also connected. The server is operated in order to access a data bank, wherein the properties of the different clients are stored as to the information playback capabilities of the respective clients. The server selects an advertising message that is transmitted to the terminal device of one of the clients dependent on that client's playback capabilities. At least one data file of one of a number of advertising sources is through-connected by the connector unit to the terminal device.

Arrangement and method for offering a message when loading service data for a terminal device

In a dynamic scale, and a method for controlling a dynamic scale, an item to be weighed is transported by a transport device to a weighing cell. The transport device is operable in a number of different operating modes. At the weighing cell, a measured weight value is obtained, and this measured weight value is subsequently interpreted and, based on the interpretation of the measured weight value, the transport device is switched to a different operating mode, which may include reversing the direction of the transport device so as to permit the item to be re-weighed and subsequently discharged from the scale.

Method and arrangement for the control of a dynamic scale

In a method for improving the security of postage meter machines in credit transfers, having at least two modes, the presence of a security flag is necessary for operation of the machine. The security flag is erased in a step of the system routine if an unauthorized action occurs in an attempt to operate the postage meter machine, and the postage meter machine is switched into a first mode in order to effectively shut it down. Otherwise, a special mode for negative remote crediting is entered by setting a special flag when a predetermined operating action for lateral entry into the special mode is undertaken upon machine turn-on. The communication with the data center sequences under time and status (flag) monitoring by the control unit of the postage meter machine until the transaction is completed. The data center monitors the behavior of the postage meter machine user on the basis of data communicated during the transaction.

Method for improving the security of postage meter machines in the transfer of credit

In a method an arrangement for controlling a dynamic scale is set via an input unit according to the respective requirements for processing a mixed mail stack, the setting optionally ensuing on the basis of selected shipping parameters and/or operating parameters that are displayed via a display unit. A modification of the operating parameters and data corresponding to the setting can be undertaken and stored in the non-volatile memory of the scale. Weighing of a supplied piece of mail takes place and a controller drives a conveyor of the scale such that the piece of mail is transported to a further processing station dependent on the operating parameters and data that have been set.

Method and arrangement for controlling a dynamic scale

A method for tolerance compensation in an ink jet print head reduces the expense for improving print quality. Therefore, despite the reduced expense, tolerances both within a module and from one module to another should be compensated for. Even before a final installation of the ink jet print head in a printing device, after an assessment of test printouts, initially gaps at transitions from one module to another are compensated for mechanically by rotating the ink jet print head and are stored in memory externally. Then individual print data for the ink jet print head are generated electronically and stored in a nonvolatile manner internally in the print head.

Method for tolerance compensation in an ink jet print head

A method for operating a postage meter and addressing machine includes request steps for entering at least a shipping destination address, a step for generating the print image for the address field and a step for starting the printout of the address. By nesting information processes and motion processes in intervening steps before the printing of the franking image, a time-optimized executive sequence is achieved overall when printing the address and the franking image.

Method for operating a postage meter and addressing machine

In a method for determining the number of normal imprints implementable in a printing device with a remaining ink quantity, to a computational determination of this number is made when a sensor-acquired, predetermined remaining ink quantity is signaled. In an arrangement for the implementation of the method, a microprocessor is programmed to undertake a rough computational determination of the remaining number of imprints to signal the need to change the ink tank cassette before the reserve quantity is tapped for use, to generate a message after a recognition of the change of the ink tank cassette, and to display it on a display. The microprocessor waits for an entry of a code via an input unit. Upon entry of the code, the microprocessor implements a check of the input code as to whether the changed ink tank cassette is authorized, and modifies the operation of the device if the completed check of the code has yielded an invalidity. The microprocessor undertakes a fine computational determination of the remaining number of imprints from a point in time at which the predetermined remaining ink quantity acquired by the sensor is signaled. The input of the code can ensue by chip card.

Method for determining the number of normal imprints implementable with a remaining ink quantity and arrangement for the implementation of the method

In a mail processing system with a franking and addressing machine and to a method for combined franking and address printing, both printing jobs for franking or addressing are sequentially implemented in a specific sequence in separate passes with a single print head. The print medium surface is correspondingly printed while the print medium is transported past the print head. A turning station is provided for rotating a print medium by approximately 180&deg; before or after the printing and is arranged in the mail processing system preceding or following the digital printer device. A control unit of the digital printer device controls the turning station via an interface such that the print media are applied to the digital printer device rotated in a predetermined way, and switches the printer device between the corresponding modes for the respective printing jobs, with a modified print control ensuing for at least one printing job and the control unit causing rotation of the print format by 180&deg; for the printing. After a first pass of the letter through the printer device for printing the first print format, the letter, rotated by 180&deg; in the plane of its flat sides, is reapplied to the printer device so that the same print head prints the second print format rotated by 180&deg; relative to the first print format, given corresponding control of the print signals. The renewed application can ensue to the right or left of the printer device.

Mail processing system with a franking and addressing machine and method for combined franking and address printing

In a method for data processing in a mail processing system, the most beneficial carrier, among a number of available carriers, for shipping a particular item is determined by initializing the franking system with pre-selection of a group of carriers from which the desired carrier can be subsequently selected, processing inputs with respect to service demands made of the carrier and automatic selection of those carriers from the aforementioned group of carriers that meet the service demands that have been made, calculating the postage fee on the basis of current fee schedules for selected services, comparing the postage fee for cost optimization in the narrower automatic selection of the most beneficial carrier and debiting the calculated postage fee in a fee memory for the selected carrier.

Method and arrangement for data processing in a shipping system with a postage meter machine, including automatic selection of the most beneficial carrier

In an arrangement and method for data processing in a mail shipping system, a document is supplied to the mail shipping system having information printed thereon identifying a recipient of the document. The printed information is scanned at a postage meter machine to identify the recipient. The postage meter machine is in communication with at least one personal computer. In the personal computer, the contents of various documents to be mailed using the mail shipping system are stored in respective data files, and can be searched according to the respective recipient and the current date. The mail contents are stored in the personal computer allocated to instructional data, such as shipping information identifying a carrier and/or cost center information for use in accounting purposes for charging the fee for shipping the document. The postage meter machine, by searching the memories in the personal computer, obtains the instructional data, and the instructional data are automatically entered into the postage meter machine, and are then used for producing the franking imprint and/or conducting an accounting routine. The amount of data which must be permanently stored in the postage meter machine is therefore significantly reduced.

Methods for automatically entering carrier or cost center information in a mail-shipping system

In an arrangement and method for data processing in a mail shipping system, a document is supplied to the mail shipping system having information printed thereon identifying a carrier to be used for shipping the document and/or cost center information identifying a cost center which produced the document. The printed information is scanned at the mail shipping system and the scanned information is stored and is used for calculating a fee for shipping the document and for selecting an appropriate print format, respectively allocated to the carrier and/or the cost center identified in the scanned information, and a franking imprint is printed on the document embodying the appropriate fee and print format. Each carrier which is available for use for shipping the document, and each cost center among a number of cost centers which share usage of the mail shipping system, respectively has a carrier identification number or a cost center number allocated thereto. Changes in the print format, or other data changes, can be made by entering the cost center number or the carrier number into a postage meter machine in the shipping system. Accounting information can be generated and supplied, upon request, to a personal computer at any of the cost centers.

Method and arrangement for data processing in a mail shipping system having a postage meter machine wherein a carrier-identifying mark is scanned and processed

The present invention is directed to a method and arrangement for data processing in a mail shipping system, wherein a piece of mail is detected and scanned in the transport path leading to a postage meter machine. Information obtained by the scanning of the piece of mail is automatically entered into the postage meter machine, and this information includes an identification of a number of items (pages or inserts such as disks or other information carriers). In the postage meter machine, the weight of the piece of mail is calculated by multiplying the item count by an average item weight stored in the postage meter machine, and adding this to the container weight, such as an envelope weight, for the piece of mail, also stored in the postage meter machine. The fee for shipping the piece of mail is then calculated in the postage meter machine using the calculated weight and a fee table for a carrier selected for shipping the piece of mail. The item count can either be printed on the piece of mail, in which case it is scanned directly, or it can be stored in a computer on which the piece of mail was produced, and the scanned information is used to enable the postage meter machine to search the memory of the computer to locate the item count. The piece of mail is then franked in the postage meter machine, with an accounting being conducted before the franking.

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Berlin, Germany

Wolfgang Thiel