Abstract: A method of forming a franking impression on a mail item and apparatus for forming the franking impression is disclosed. Material which is switchable from one stable state to another stable state by exposure to light of predetermined wavelength is deposited on the mail item while in one state and a selected region of the deposited material is exposed to light of the predetermined wavelength to effect switching of the selected region to the other state and thereby to represent franking or other secure information.

Abstract: Thermal printing apparatus is disclosed in which a thermal transfer ink ribbon (14) is drawn from a supply spool (15) past a thermal print head (12) in ink transfer engagement with an item (17) on which printing is to be effected. The used ribbon is wound upon a take up spool (16) which is driven to apply tension to the used ribbon to peel it from the face of the printed item. Drive (43) to the take up spool is controlled by a pivoted member (22) which actuates a switch (26) to apply drive when the ribbon is slack and to terminate energisation of the drive as the ribbon becomes taut.

Abstract: A franking machine for accounting for postage value used in franking items to be carried by postal authority or other carrier is constructed of electronic circuits specifically constructed to carry out specific functions and implemented by ASIC technology. Circuits for carrying out accounting functions, controlling a printing device to print franking impressions containing fixed pattern information and variable postage information are described.

Abstract: A ribbon feed for a thermal ink transfer ribbon (14) is disclosed in which the ribbon is drawn from a supply spool (15) and, together with an article (17) such a mail item on which printing is to be effected, is fed past a thermal print head (12). A tachometer (45) is coupled to the feed to generate pulses as the item is fed. A sensor (33, 34) generates pulses as the spool (15) rotates due to drawing of the ribbon therefrom. The number of sensor pulses occurring in periods determined by the tachometer pulses is compared with a predetermined value to provide to enable detection of occurrence of a fault in the ribbon feed from the spool.

Abstract: A franking machine is provided with a general purpose communication port to enable the machine to communicate with other devices. The general purpose port is configurable by the control circuits of the franking machine to match the communication standard utilized by the device connected to the franking machine. Input of a command to cause the franking machine to carry out an operation causes the control circuit to configure the port to a communication standard appropriate to the selected operation.

Abstract: A mail processing system includes user terminals which communicate via the telephone network with a postal authority computer. When a batch of mail is to be processed, the postage charge for the batch of mail is transmitted to the computer which checks the credit status of the user and if satisfactory returns a transaction identification signal which enables the user terminal to print postage permits on the mail items and batch data on a batch label in machine readable form. For security the permit and batch label include a random number contained in the transaction identification signal. At a postal receiving location, the permits on the mail items and the batch label are machine read and compared with data relating to the batch held in the computer. If these items of data are consistent, the mail is accepted for delivery by the postal authority.

Abstract: Protection of electronic circuits from static electrical discharge is provided by utilizing a key mat, having key buttons moulded therein, of a key board for the circuits to provide an electrically insulating barrier to such discharges. The electronic circuits are housed in a housing having apertures through which the key buttons extend. Electrical discharge from a key button through the aperture in the housing to the circuits is prevented by forming the mat to have an extent sufficient to ensure that any discharge track is longer than that for a predetermined potential. Where the direct distance to a circuit is short the mat is formed so as to ensure a discharge track greater than the direct distance and of sufficient length. For this purpose the mat may be formed with an upstanding wall. A housing may have a cooperating wall to lengthen the air path.

Abstract: A franking machine is disclosed in which the franking impression is printed by means of an ink jet print head. Debris from mail items which is liable to be deposited on the nozzles of the print head is removed periodically by a cleaning device operated in gaps between feeding of successive mail items. In the event that a gap does not occur, the feeding means is controlled periodically to cause occurrence of a gap. The ink jet print head may utilize solid ink which is heated to melt it for ejection in drops from the nozzles.

Abstract: A franking machine is disclosed which has a microprocessor for carrying out accounting and control functions and in which printing of a franking impression is effected by ejecting droplets of ink from ink filled nozzles by means of selectively heatable elements which vaporize the ink or a constituent thereof to the rear of the nozzles and thereby eject the ink droplets. The nozzles may be stationary and be supplied with ink through a common pipe connected to a reservoir or the nozzles may be constituted by pores in a belt which is driven through an ink reservoir and then past the heatable elements.

Abstract: A franking machine includes an electronic microprocessor having pairs of ports for communication between the microprocessor and other electronic devices comprising memories, a keyboard display device or a real time clock device. One port of each pair is utilized for clock signals and the other port of each pair is utilized for control, address and data signals. The memory devices are normally in an inactive mode and reading or writing of data is initiated by a signal format output by the microprocessor which specifies a device address and a memory location within the device. The communication between the microprocessor and the electronic devices includes the returning of acknowledgement signals from the devices to the microprocessor. In an initialization routine, the receipt of an acknowledgement signal or absence thereof may be utilized to enable the microprocessor to identify which one of a number of versions of a device is installed and to select an appropriate software routine.

Abstract: An article feeding apparatus comprising a driven roller and a pressure roller resiliently urged toward the driven roller. Movement of the pressure roller toward the driven roller is controlled by means of a damper containing material having electro-rheological properties. An electric potential of controlled magnitude is applied selectively to the material to control movement of the pressure roller. The apparatus is described in relation to a print drum and impression roller of a franking machine.

Abstract: A clutch and brake mechanism for a mechanical drive of print drum in a franking machine is disclosed which utilizes a clutch and brake operated by means of electric potentials applied across an electro-rheological fluid. Elements of the clutch and brake are formed with annular walls which are interposed to form opposed electrodes between which the electro-rheological fluid is contained. Application of electric potentials to the fluid is controlled by a microprocessor.

Abstract: A postage stamp dispenser receives a cassette of postage tape which has marks along its length representing postage value. When a stamp is to be dispensed, the dispenser feeds a length of tape corresponding to the required postage value and prints information such as the postage value and date on the tape. The dispenser may mark the tape with a fuorescent stripe to assist cancellation equipment to locate the stamp. The tape is provided in lengths of known value and the dispenser may provide an indication of thhe value of tape remaining unused in the cassette.

Abstract: A franking machine module is provided with one or more selectively operated mail item feed modules to feed items such as envelopes or labels from hoppers in the feed modules to the franking module. The modules are constructed with common interfaces whereby a number of feed modules may be arranged side by side such that mechanical and electrical drive is transmitted from one module to its adjacent module and feed paths of the modules are co-planar to permit items to be fed into and along a common feed path.

Abstract: A franking machine is disclosed in which the accounting and control circuits of the meter are housed in a secure housing and a printing device for printing a franking impression is located exterior to the secure housing and is connected to the accounting and control circuits. Strings of print data sent to the printing device are returned in a succeeding print cycle to a check circuit in the housing to check integrity of the print data received by the printing device. If desired the print data strings may include a security code. In order to detect if the printing device has been disconnected from the meter, the meter includes a circuit to send a pulse train to the printing device via the connection for print data and to receive a pulse train from the printing device. The circuit compares the pulse trains and if the comparison is unsuccessful inhibits further franking operations.

Abstract: A stamp printing machine has print drum carrying print wheels which are settable by push buttons to print a selected value of postage charge. The drum is driven by a mechanical device such as tensator spring motor. The motor is manually primed and a trip lever operated by insertion of mail item releases the print drum to rotate through one revolution to print the stamp on the mail item. The stamp machine may include a calculator on which the postage value may be manually entered. Electrical contacts operated by the rotation of the drum are connected across the M+ button of the calculator to add the postage amount to its memory.

Abstract: A construction of thermal print head is disclosed in which a common support includes a plurality of substrates on which selectively heatable print elements of a plurality of print heads are carried. The substrates are arranged in spaced parallel relation such as to permit deposition of conductors and insulation layers on a face of the substrates. Print element selection and drive circuits may be mounted on the substrates and a printed circuit multi-conductor ribbon cable provides connections to the print heads. The print heads print serially on an item and may be operated to print different portions of a print impression in the same color with one print ribbon or may print differently colored portions with different colored ribbons. The thermal print head may be used for printing a franking impression in a postage franking meter.

Abstract: A method of franking mail items is disclosed in which the franking impression includes a machine readable portion and a visually readable portion. The machine readable portion comprises a data block including at least a postage charge and a pseudo-random number and the data block is encrypted prior to printing. During printing of the franking impression, at least a part of the machine readable portion is read and compared with the data block intended to be printed. If the comparison is satisfactory the printing operation is continued to print the visually readable portion. The pseudo-random number is changed for each franking transaction which may be each item or batch of items. The machine readable portion is read at a mail handling centre to provide an input to a postage charging and accounting function.

Abstract: A franking machine is disclosed in which printing of a franking impression is effected by exposing a layer of micro-capsules containing ink to light to thereby cause hardening of the exposed micro-capsules and then subjecting the layer to pressure to rupture the un-exposed micro-capsules in the presence of a developer with which the ink reacts to become visible. The layer of micro-capsules may be coated on envelopes or label tape during manufacture or by coating means in the franking machine. The developer may be applied as a coating in a similar manner. Alternatively one or both the micro-capsules and the developer may be carried on a transfer film brought into contact under pressure with a mail item after exposure of the film.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printing device for a franking machine uses a multi-strike thermal transfer ribbon. Mail items are fed to the printing device and frictional engagement between the mail item and the ribbon during a printing operation draws ribbon from a supply spool. After completion of the printing operation, the mail item is separated from the ribbon and the ribbon is partially rewound onto the supply spool so that each portion of the ribbon is used progressively a number of times. An encoder disc on the supply spool shaft generates signals indicative of the length of ribbon drawn from and rewound onto the spool to control rewinding of the ribbon.