Abstract: A system for the metering of encrypted postage and similar indicia includes a device for printing such indicia and a device for reading such indicia. The printing is accomplished with a dot matrix printer driven by signals obtained from a character generator and an encryption circuit. The reading is accomplished by correlating received characters against a stored array of symbols to determine the presence of a symbol and the comparison of the separated coded data with a reference code to determine the accuracy of the printed material. Thereby, forgery and alteration is inhibited. Alphanumeric characters are utilized for both the data and the code, a group of characters for the data being separated from a group of characters for the code to allow for the reading of the data, while readily extracting the remaining characters for verification purposes.

Abstract: A postage meter system having a rotary printing drum for printing fixed data is disclosed. Disposed entirely within the drum is an internal print head for printing variable data. The rotary drum contains an opening therein through which the internally located print head prints variable data on a mailpiece. The print head reciprocates between a printing position and a non-printing position. The reciprocation of the print head between these positions is synchronized with and controlled automatically by the position of the rotary drum during its cycle of rotation. The print head operates to print on a mailpiece only when the opening in the drum is between the print head and the mailpiece. The print head may be an impact matrix print head which together with an associated inked ribbon is placed adjacent the mailpiece in a printing position only during the printing portion of the drum's cycle.

Abstract: A postage meter printing apparatus for applying postage indicia to a mailpiece having a cyclically operating drum for feeding the mailpiece through the postage meter. The periphery of the drum has an aperture therein. Structure is provided to maintain the mailpiece against the drum as the mailpiece is fed by the drum and to cycle the drum. A matrix print head located internal to the drum has a printing position and non-printing position. The print head is automatically placed adjacent the mailpiece through the aperture in the drum to its printing position, when the aperture is between the print head and the mailpiece. The print head is a matrix print head of impact or other type and includes a cooperating ribbon either inked or other to print on the mailpiece. The inked ribbon is contained in a replaceable cartridge. Structure is provided to activate the print head when it is in its printing position.

Abstract: A postage meter printing apparatus for applying postage indicia to a mailpiece having a cyclically operating drum for feeding the mailpiece through the postage meter, the periphery of the drum having an aperture therein. The drum means is supported for rotation by a non-rotating shaft. Structure is provided for maintaining the mailpiece against the drum as the mailpiece is fed by the drum, for cycling the drum. A print head located internal to the drum has a printing position and non-printing position. The print head is automatically placed adjacent the mailpiece through the aperture in the drum to its printing position when the aperture is between the print head and mailpiece. Structure is provided to activate the print head hwen it is in its printing position. In one form of the invention the shaft means provides a passageway for electrical wires and cooling air.

Abstract: A postage meter printing apparatus for applying postage indicia to a mailpiece having a cyclically operating drum for feeding the mailpiece through the postage meter. The periphery of the drum has an aperture therein. Structure is provided to maintain the mailpiece against the drum as the mailpiece is fed by the drum and to cycle the drum. A print head located internal to the drum has a printing position and non-printing position. The print head is automatically placed adjacent the mailpiece through the aperture in the drum to its printing position when the aperture is between the print head means and mailpiece. The inked ribbon is contained in a replaceable cartridge which is mounted into and rotates with the drum. Structure is provided to activate the print head means when it is in its printing position.

Abstract: A postage meter printing apparatus for applying postage indicia to a mailpiece having a cyclically operating drum for feeding the mailpiece through the postage meter. The periphery of the drum has an aperture therein. Structure is provided for maintaining the mailpiece against the drum as the mailpiece is fed by the drum and for cycling the drum at a low rotational speed during a part of the cycle when a low-speed printing process is taking place and high rotational speeds during a higher speed printing process and of the remainder of the cycle thereby providing means for obtaining maximum overall cycle speeds while accommodating the low-speed requirements of the slower printing process. A matrix print head for the low-speed process is located internal to the drum having a printing position and a non-printing position, the print head is automatically placed adjacent the mailpiece through the aperture in the drum to its printing position when the aperture is between the print head and mailpiece.

Abstract: A mail canceling device which has at least one canceling die roller pair behind a mail receiving slot therein to cancel the mail as it is inserted into the mailbox. The one or more pairs of rollers can include postmark applying segments as well as canceling dies. The rollers can be provided along opposite edges of the slot. A finger space is positioned centrally in the slot and between the rollers so that the mailer's finger can be used to assure that the envelope or postcard passes completely through the rollers and falls into the storage portion of the mailbox.

Abstract: A bank depository which provides a depositor with a validated receipt ticket evidencing that a deposit has been made, employs an envelope, in which the deposit is placed prior to insertion in the depository, having an unvalidated receipt ticket removably affixed to it. An outer surface of the depository has an opening through which the deposit is made leading to an internal chamber for storage of deposits and a slotted rotatable cylinder disposed between the opening and chamber normally positioned to prevent a deposit from being made until the receipt ticket is placed within a validator by the depositor. The cylinder then rotates to align its slot with the chamber to receive the deposit and allow it to pass through the chamber. Means are provided to sense the passage of the deposit to the chamber and to cause the receipt ticket to be validated in response thereto.