Abstract: A franking machine system is disclosed in which a signal is transmitted for reception only in a predetermined location. A franking machine intended to be operated at the predetermined location is inoperative to carry out franking operations unless it receives the signal transmitted to the predetermined location. Accordingly a franking machine intended for operation at the predetermined location cannot be operated for franking mail if it is moved away from that location.

Abstract: A franking machine is provided with receiver means to receive positional signals from a global positioning system. The franking machine may be operated to print positional data as part of a franking impression printed on mail items whereby the postal authority is enabled by inspection of mail items to determine that the franking machine is being used at its authorised location. The franking machine may be arranged to be inhibited from operation if not located at its authorised location. The positional signals may be utilised to correct variation in output of a weighscale due to gravitational variation.

Abstract: A franking machine is provided with a memory to store slogan print data and scanning means whereby a medium bearing a slogan desired to be printed is fed by mail item feed means of the franking machine past the scanning means to generate slogan print data to be written to the slogan memory. During subsequent franking operations, the slogan print data is read from memory to control a franking impression printer to print the slogan alongside the franking impression. A plurality of memories may be provided for storing a plurality of slogans and a selected slogan may be read from a selected one of the memories.

Abstract: A franking machine is provided with a slogan memory to store one or more slogans for inclusion in impressions containing postage information on mail items. The slogan may be changed by input of audio signals representing print data for a new slogan through a wall of a secure housing of the franking machine to a microphone located inside the secure housing and connected to electronic accounting and control circuits for storage in the slogan memory and hence for subsequent use in printing impressions on mail items.

Abstract: A franking machine is constructed such that only those electronic circuit elements carrying out functions for which there is a need for security are housed in a secure housing. Thus means for accounting and storing accounting data and for controlling a print head to print franking impressions is contained in the secure housing. Other elements commonly housed in the secure housing, such as keyboard and display are located exterior of the secured housing. Security for manual recredit operations is improved by securely operating the print head to print register information before and after recrediting.

Abstract: A database system for maintaining accounting records in relation to usage of postage meters is disclosed. The database system is provided with two computers, both of which provide access to the system from remote postage meters via a telephone network, and each computer maintains a separate database. One computer acts as primary and handles all transactions, received either direct or via the other secondary computer, and maintains a primary database. For each transaction, the primary computer creates an archived record in a buffer and periodically when the buffer is full sends an archive record to the secondary computer for use by the secondary computer to update the secondary database. In addition for critical transactions such as a postage meter recredit transaction, the primary computer also creates a transaction log and sends it to the secondary computer for storing in a FILO buffer. The primary computer lastly authorises credit to the postage meter.

Abstract: Thermal printing apparatus has an impression roller mounted in opposition to a thermal print head, the mounting for the impression roller permitting movement of the impression roller toward and away from the thermal print head and the impression roller having a part cylindrical surface and a planar surface. Prior to a printing operation the roller is positioned with its planar surface co-planar with a feed bed. An actuator projects from the planar surface so as to be engaged by a leading edge of a print receiving medium entered between the impression roller and the print head. Engagement of the actuator rotates a drive gear for the impression roller into driving engagement with drive means.

Abstract: A franking machine is disclosed in which the accounting memories are implemented by memory devices in which each storage location comprises a volatile and a non-volatile cell. During normal operation data is written to the volatile cells of the storage locations and in the event of a power down the data is transferred from the volatile to non-volatile cells. The volatile cells preferably are semi-conductor and the non-volatile cells are ferroelectric capacitative devices which retain their polarization without supply of power. The memory devices may provide storage for accounting data and other data processed by a micro-controller of the franking machine. In addition the memory device may be utilized to store other data which is not to be processed by the micro-controller.

Abstract: A machine for printing a postage stamp for application to a mail item includes a a thermal printer to print the stamp on a tape of thermally sensitive paper. The speed of feeding of the tape is controlled to be uniform to synchronize with the operation of the printer. The printer is non-secure and accounting for the value of postage charge printed on the stamps is accomplished by machine reading of the stamps by the Postal Authority. The stamp printing machine generates an accumulated value of postage charge for a series of stamps printed and then prints, on the same tape, a label including an indication of user account and accumulated value, the value preferably being in encoded form.

Abstract: A system for remote resetting of franking meters is disclosed in which the meters communicate with a central resetting terminal. A transaction identification number (IDN) is generated at the resetting terminal and also at the meter. Initially the IDN's match. The IDN at the terminal is incremented when the terminal sends a recredit signal to the meter and accounts for the recredit amount. The IDN at the meter is incremented when the descending register of the meter is recredited. In response to a recredit request which includes the meter IDN the terminal compares the IDN from the meter with that stored at the terminal. If the IDN's match the terminal recredits the meter with the requested amount. If the comparison indicates that the IDN from the meter was not incremented in the preceding recredit routine, indicating that the meter was not recredited in the preceding routine, the terminal recredits the meter with the amount of the preceding request.

Abstract: A method of improving the quality of printed impression obtained from thermal transfer printing on a print receiving medium having a poor print receiving surface is disclosed. A thermal transfer ribbon is fed with the print receiving medium and during feeding thereof thermal printing elements are energized selectively to print a required impression. The selected elements are energized repeatedly in a sequence of printing cycles to cause re-heating of the transfer ribbon to ensure that ink required to be transferred but not received successfully by the medium in one cycle is successfully received in a subsequent cycle.

Abstract: Means to control feeding of a multi-strike ink ribbon housed in a reversible cassette is disclosed. The cassette carries a magnetizable element and when the cassette is inserted in printing apparatus the element is located in operative alignment with a magnetic sensing device and with an electromagnet. Upon insertion of the cassette, the polarity of magnetization is sensed and provided the polarity is correct printing is enabled. If the polarity is incorrect printing is disabled. When the end of the ink ribbon is sensed, the electromagnet is energized to reverse the polarity of magnetization of the element so that when the cassette is removed and reinserted with reversed orientation, the correct polarity of magnetization is sensed and printing is enabled. A counter may be provided to limit the number of permitted reversals of the cassette.

Abstract: A franking machine system is disclosed in which a master controller is provided to communicate with a postal authority resetting center and with a plurality of franking machines. The controller includes registers for storing the value of credit available for distribution to the franking machines and registers for storing data relating to usage of the individual franking machines. Credit is obtained from the resetting center by the controller and is distributed to the franking machines as required by each machine.

Abstract: A franking machine in which the franking impression is printed by means of an ink jet print head. In order to determine whether all the ink jet nozzles are functional all of the nozzles are operated in selected ones of a series of print cycles to print a bar code. Reading means is provided to read a part of the bar code printed by a group of the nozzles and the information read is compared with information intended to be represented by the bar code. For successive printings of the bar code, the reading means is shifted transversely so that over a series of bar codes all the nozzles are checked.

Abstract: A franking machine is disclosed comprising a carriage manually movable along a bed and a print drum carried by the carriage to make rolling engagement with a mail item supported on the bed. A toothed rack extends along the length of the bed and gearing on the carriage meshes with the rack to drive the print drum and an impression roller carried by the carriage. The gearing is arranged such that as the carriage is moved in a forward direction along the bed, a mail item gripped between the print drum and the impression roller is fed along the bed in the reverse direction so that the length of traverse of the carriage, and the length of the bed, is less than the length of the franking impression to be printed.

Abstract: A franking machine is disclosed in which a digital printing device such as a thermal printer or ink jet printer is connected to accounting circuits of the franking machine so as to be controlled thereby to print franking impressions. In order to prevent unauthorised control of the printing device by application of external print signals, print data signals output by the accounting circuit are encrypted by logically combining the signals with pseudo random strings of binary bits. At the printing device the encrypted print data signals are decrypted by logically combining the encrypted print data signals with a corresponding pseudo random string of binary bits to provide print signals to control the printing device. Connections between the decryption circuit and the print head are protected from unauthorised access.