Abstract: In an improved postage scale system, soft-selection keys are used for selecting options including shipping service options provided by the system. The display on such a system is adjustable for comfortable viewing thereof. The system is capable of interfacing and communicating with other devices such as a printer, a remote computer, an optical scanner, an integrated circuit (IC) card, etc. Certain data and code for use in the system can be updated by downloading new data and code from IC cards to the system. A security measure is instituted such that, after an update of the data or code, a system user is required to enter a valid authorization number in order to enable the system. Such a measure is, in part, necessary for deterring unauthorized copying of software of the system onto another similar system.

Abstract: In an improved postage scale system, soft-selection keys are used for selecting options including shipping service options provided by the system. The display on such a system is adjustable for comfortable viewing thereof. The system is capable of interfacing and communicating with other devices such as a printer, a remote computer, an optical scanner, an integrated circuit (IC) card, etc. Certain data and code for use in the system can be updated by downloading new data and code from IC cards to the system. A security measure is instituted such that, after an update of the data or code, a system user is required to enter a valid authorization number in order to enable the system. Such a measure is, in part, necessary for deterring unauthorized copying of software of the system onto another similar system.

Abstract: A primary circuit has an associated parameter, and a display circuit maintains a copy of that parameter. The display circuit displays the parameter based on the copy, and updates the copy by listening in on communications between the primary circuit and an external device. In a preferred embodiment, the primary circuit is a postal security device (PSD) and the parameter is the value of the descending register of the PSD.

Abstract: In an improved postage scale system, soft-selection keys are used for selecting options including shipping service options provided by the system. The display on such a system is adjustable for comfortable viewing thereof. The system is capable of interfacing and communicating with other devices such as a printer, a remote computer, an optical scanner, an integrated circuit (IC) card, etc. Certain data and code for use in the system can be updated by downloading new data and code from IC cards to the system. A security measure is instituted such that, after an update of the data or code, a system user is required to enter a valid authorization number in order to enable the system. Such a measure is, in part, necessary for deterring unauthorized copying of software of the system onto another similar system.

Abstract: In an improved postage scale system, soft-selection keys are used for selecting options including shipping service options provided by the system. The display on such a system is adjustable for comfortable viewing thereof. The system is capable of interfacing and communicating with other devices such as a printer, a remote computer, an optical scanner, an integrated circuit (IC) card, etc. Certain data and code for use in the system can be updated by downloading new data and code from IC cards to the system. A security measure is instituted such that, after an update of the data or code, a system user is required to enter a valid authorization number in order to enable the system. Such a measure is, in part, necessary for deterring unauthorized copying of software of the system onto another similar system.

Abstract: In an improved postage scale system, soft-selection keys are used for selecting options including shipping service options provided by the system. The display on such a system is adjustable for comfortable viewing thereof. The system is capable of interfacing and communicating with other devices such as a printer, a remote computer, an optical scanner, an integrated circuit (IC) card, etc. Certain data and code for use in the system can be updated by downloading new data and code from IC cards to the system. A security measure is instituted such that, after an update of the data or code, a system user is required to enter a valid authorization number in order to enable the system. Such a measure is, in part, necessary for deterring unauthorized copying of software of the system onto another similar system.

Abstract: In an improved postage scale system, soft-selection keys are used for selecting options including shipping service options provided by the system. The display on such a system is adjustable for comfortable viewing thereof. The system is capable of interfacing and communicating with other devices such as a printer, a remote computer, an optical scanner, an integrated circuit (IC) card, etc. Certain data and code for use in the system can be updated by downloading new data and code from IC cards to the system. A security measure is instituted such that, after an update of the data or code, a system user is required to enter a valid authorization number in order to enable the system. Such a measure is, in part, necessary for deterring unauthorized copying of software of the system onto another similar system.

Abstract: A postage meter prints postage indicia onto envelopes using extendible segments. The postage meter includes a user interface for entering input information, a transfer means having extendible segments disposed thereon, the segments being arranged to form the postage indicia when extended, and an ink roller, which contacts extended ones of the segments so as to transfer ink from the ink roller to the extended ones of the segments. Also included in the postage meter are a sensor, which senses an envelope in the postage meter, and which outputs a signal which indicates that an envelope is present in the postage meter, and a controller.

Abstract: A postage meter includes a keyboard for inputting postage information, a memory for storing the input postage information, a programmable read-only memory for storing standard postage indicia information, a dot matrix printer, the dot matrix printer comprising a staggered arrangement of a plurality of dot matrix printheads, and a controller which 1) retrieves the input postage information and the standard postage indicia, 2) combines the input postage information and the standard postage indicia information to form a postage indicia to be printed, 3) divides the formed postage indicia into equal portions wherein the formed postage indicia is divided by a number of the dot matrix printheads in the dot matrix printer, 4) routes divided portions to each of a plurality of dot matrix printheads, and 5) instructs each of the dot matrix printheads to print its portion of the divided postage indicia at a specific time such that upon completing the printing of the divided portion, a complete postage indicia is printed

Abstract: In an improved postage scale system, programs and data are used to run the system to provide shipping options and information on shipping costs associated therewith. The system is capable of interfacing and communicating with other devices such as a printer, a remote computer, an optical scanner, an integrated circuit (IC) card, etc. For example, the system can be updated by downloading new data and application code from IC cards to the system.

Abstract: In an improved electronic postage scale system, non-keyboard devices are used to select shipping service options provided by the system. For example, a bar-code scanner, a voice-recognition device or a remote computer is configured to emulate keycodes from the system keyboard and can be operatively connected through a keyboard interface to select shipping options.

Abstract: A postage meter resetting apparatus includes a stepper motor as a first motive arrangement for turning the resetting shaft of a mechanical postage meter, another stepper motor as a second motive mechanism to enable or disable resetting by the first stepper motor. A lead screw, lead nut and linkage, driven by the second stepper motor, when resetting is authorized, moves an axially movable part of a coupling between the second stepper motor and the meter's axially movable resetting shaft, to bring the resetting gear on the shaft into engagement with a gear of the meter's descending register. An input to the first stepper motor, representing a variable amount of postage, effects turning of the resetting shaft and the engaged gears by amounts corresponding to the desired variable amount of postage to be added to the meter's descending register. An encoder coupled to the shaft of the first stepper motor provides an output indication of the amount that the shaft has turned.

Abstract: A system for remotely resetting a postage meter, by adding a variable amount of postage, includes a computerized central facility or "host", in telephone communication with the meter, which host verifies the meter's identity and ascertains the availability of funds, then sends to the meter an authorizing, unique, one-time-only combination, independent of the value of postage requested, and having a predetermined relation to a unique, one-time-only combination that the meter has generated and retained. The meter then compares the combination that it has generated with the combination received from the host. If the relationship is correct, for example, if the combination is the same, the meter introduces the additional postage requested.

Abstract: A razor blade assembly which is flexible in at least one bending mode. A seat member of substantially planar shape has an integrally formed guard located transversely along its forward margin. The guard and seat members are formed of a flexible material. A flexible blade having a sharpened edge along a transverse margin is disposed on a surface of the seat member having its edge parallel to and rearwardly located of the guard bar. A cap member of flexible material has a planar surface in contact with the blade and a front margin located rearwardly of the cutting edge. The seat, blade and cap are yieldingly bonded together and freely flexible about an axis parallel to the plane of the blade and perpendicular to the cutting edge.

Abstract: An improved twin blade razor system having a unitary member positioned between the pair of blades for both spacing the blades and ejecting shaving debris from that space. The unitary member, which may conveniently be of injection molded plastic, includes a spacer portion, an ejector portion, and biasing apparatus connecting the ejector portion and the spacer portion for biasing the ejector portion to a normally retracted position relative to the blades and spacer. The ejector portion is manually displaceable to an advanced ejecting position. The biasing portion may be one or more beam springs connected and configured to reduce distortion and/or stressing of the relatively moving portions of the member during actuation.

Abstract: A tandem edge razor blade cartridge has two blades with edge portions bearing cutting edges that are in a spaced-apart, parallel relationship. One of the blades has a major portion, behind the edge portion, bent at a substantial angle to the edge portion, away from the other blade, so that the gap behind the edge portions is greater than that between the edge portions themselves. Other embodiments include one or both blades each having a major portion comprising two components, one at an angle to the edge portion away from the other blade, the second component bent, at the same angle, to the first, back toward the other blade. As a result the second component is parallel to the edge portion, but displaced further than it is from the other blade. Additionally, an embodiment is provided in which the razor blade support has resilient apparatus to allow independent motion of the blades.

Abstract: A razor blade assembly which is flexible in at least one bending mode. A seat member of substantially planar shape has an integrally formed guard located transversely along its forward margin. The guard and seat members are formed of a flexible material. A flexible blade having a sharpened edge along a transverse margin is disposed on a surface of the seat member having its edge parallel to and rearwardly located of the guard bar. A cap member of flexible material has a planar surface in contact with the blade and a front margin located rearwardly of the cutting edge. The seat, blade and cap are yieldingly bonded together and freely flexible about an axis parallel to the plane of the blade and perpendicular to the cutting edge.

Abstract: A razor blade assembly which is flexible in at least one bending mode. A seat member of substantially planar shape has an integrally formed guard located transversely along its forward margin. The guard and seat members are formed of a flexible material. A flexible blade having a sharpened edge along a transverse margin is disposed on a surface of the seat member having its edge parallel to and rearwardly located of the guard bar. A cap member of flexible material has a planar surface in contact with the blade and a front margin located rearwardly of the cutting edge. The seat, blade and cap are yieldingly bonded together and freely flexible about an axis parallel to the plane of the blade and perpendicular to the cutting edge.