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: The telephone handset is provided with at least one piezoelectric transducer (6, 7). The transducer is received in a housing part (2) which includes fixing means for the transducer and its electrical connection means. The housing part is assembled with at least one other complementary part (1) in order to form the handset shell, and it closes the shell locally. An adaptor sleeve makes it possible to replace the piezoelectric transducer by an electromagnetic transducer.

Abstract: Detector for telephone charging signalling in the form of periodic pulses derived from alternating current signals at specific frequencies transmitted in analog form by means of a line (2) comprising two wires (A, B), for example to a central office line interface circuit of a private telephone installation connected to an analog network subscriber line. The detector comprises an input filter (4) centered on the frequency (Ft) of the expected signalling, a sample and hold circuit (6) connected to the output of the input filter (4) and to the output of a clock (7) supplying a signal (HE) whose frequency (FE) is close to the value (Ft), a lowpass filter (8) within the band of which the characteristic signal from the sample and hold circuit is included, and a level detector (9) adapted to supply a presence signal for a characteristic signal at a level above a predetermined threshold at the output of the lowpass filter (8).

Abstract: A low-frequency alternating current signal detector for recognizing tone signals in a central office line interface circuit connecting a private telephone installation to an analog telephone network subscriber line. The low-frequency alternating current signal detector includes an amplifier (1) connected to the input of a bandpass filter (2) and to the input of a first rectifier-filter (3), a second rectifier-filter (4) and a threshold presence detector (5) connected to the output of the bandpass filter (2). The output of the threshold presence detector (5) selectively enables comparison by a comparator (6) of the bandpass filter input and output signals and signalling of the presence of an alternating current signal.

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: In a data transmission method employing a synchronous frame combining asynchronous cells with isochronous channels, a first channel of each frame is reserved for control data independent of the data to be transmitted. Second channels of each frame in a multiframe are reserved for path service data divided between a first group of a specific number of the second channels having specific channel numbers reserved for asynchronous data cell service octets and a second group of second channels which specify the number of isochronous data channels used during the frame of which each forms part. The third channel of each successive frame is at least partially reserved for a code defining a cell start channel number for any cell in the frame in question.

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: A franking machine is disclosed which comprises an electronic accounting and control device with registers for storing accounting data such as credit available and a printer connected to and controlled by the accounting and control device. The machine has an input/output connection for receipt of franking and addressing data from a computer to control the franking machine to print a franking impression and destination address on a mail item.

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: The invention concerns private telephone instalations, in particular key systems or small time-division switches, each provided with a central unit (2) including a time-division digital switching network (3) controlled by a control unit (4) to enable communication of a pluality of telephone or terminals (1) either directly by means of the switching network or by means of telephone lines (32) terminating at a local central office, the telephones or terminals or lines being connected to termination circuits (30, 31) which connect them to the switching network (3) via at least one time-division multiplex link (12) and to the control unit (4). A two-wire bidirectional signalling link (13) is time-shared between all the termination circuits for interchanges of signaling with the control unit (4); it is connected direct to a series-parallel converter circuit (8).

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 telephone set is provided enabling seizure for originating and terminating calls of a telephone line connected thereto to be performed as well as release thereof, as the result both of a first command produced by a first switching entity actuated from the handset of the telephone set as well as via a second command produced by a second switching entity that is able to be actuated independently of the handset, switching entities producing the commands via individual communication establishment elements which are inserted in parallel in a loop which links, via the controlled power feeding arrangement, the output terminals of a first diode bridge, the input terminals of which are connected to the two line wires via a protection circuit, together with a second diode rectifying bridge, performing actual rectification, linked via capacitors to the output of the protection device, in parallel with the first diode bridge, and adapted to power a microprocessor and relevant circuits of telephone set circuitry, via a

Abstract: A dual-mode synchronization device is designed in particular to recover the phase of the frame clock in a half-duplex transmission system. It is included in a receiver in a half-duplex digital transmission system in which a receiver receives frames only at regular intervals. The device comprises an energy sensing phase locking first system and a phase recovery second system which senses a reference pattern. A selector system selects one of the phase difference indications supplied by the first and second systems, under the control of a respective binary indication of loss or acquisition of synchronization. A particular application of the invention is to half-duplex transmission using the WAL2 code.

Abstract: A power feed system for telephone and/or information technology terminals (1) is connected to a transmission and remote power feed link (4) of the terminal and comprises a switch mode power supply unit (7) connected to the wires of the link and a regulator (8) at the output of the switch mode power supply unit which supplies at least part of the power required by the terminal and which includes a circuit to ensure progressive starting of the switch mode power supply unit when the terminal is powered up via the link.

Abstract: The equipment includes a recorder (17) provided with at least one memory disk unit (32) for recording messages and for deferred retransmission thereof. The equipment includes circuitry (18, 22) for putting a plurality of telephone sets into communication simultaneously with a single disk controller (33) of the recorder for transmitting messages simultaneously both from the telephone sets and from the disk unit. The invention is particularly suitable for private branch exchanges.

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 synchronous digital transmitter connects a data terminal equipment to a multiservice digital PABX which accesses the public switched telephone network at 64 kbit/s. It includes a system for generating a frame clock defining a 64 kbit/s data transmission channel used for the transmission of data to and from the PABX. A further system generates a bit clock at the same frequency as the data from the terminal equipment for transfers to and from the terminal equipment. A further system periodically synchronizes the bit clock to the frame clock. The transmitter is applicable to the synchronous transmission of data at data rates up to 64 kbit/s.