The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 09, 2007
Filed:
Mar. 02, 2005
Eddy Edel, Friedberg, DE;
Andreas Ripken, Neu-Ansback, DE;
Andreas Volz, Friedberg, DE;
Pitney Bowes Deutschland GmbH, Heppenheim, DE;
Abstract
In a mail inserting machine that a user uses to process mailpieces for a prepaid quantity, a counter is installed in an inaccessible manner to keep count of the processed mailpieces. The machine is disabled when the prepaid quantity is used up. In order to allow the user to pay for additional quantity, the manufacturer embeds a finite number of unlocking codes in the machine. Each code for the particular machine is activated in sequence. When the user needs to replenish the inserter counter, he calls the service counter and gives his machine serial number. The user is given the next unlocking code after he agrees to pay for the additional amount. The user can enter the code to unlock the additional preset quantity. The same code will not work again. In a further embodiment, the rate of mailpiece processing is also monitored to ensure that design limitations are not exceeded. The machine is automatically shut down when a predetermined processing rate is exceeded.