Abstract: A user interface for a postage meter machine has a number of menu images which are available for display on a single display unit, the menu images containing internally generated and externally entered information, the menu images containing fields in which the information is contained and displayed, these fields being spatially allocated to input elements of the input unit. The setting of the fields in the menu images is variable, i.e., the limits or boundaries of the individual fields can be varied from menu image to menu image, so that the field size can be flexibly matched to the information to be displayed.

Abstract: A postage meter module has a printing unit, a control unit connected to the printing unit, input/output devices connected to the control unit, and memory devices connected to the control unit. A configuration for an internal cost center printout includes a pixel memory having a field and at least one memory area for accounting data into which data are loaded and converted and/or from which data are read out and converted. The conversion is a blockwise orthogonal rotation of the pixel memory field. A device for orthogonal rotation of the pixel memory field permits a block of a print image with accounting data having been electronically rotated by 90.degree. or by 270.degree. in a direction of printing to be temporarily stored in or read out from the at least one memory area of the pixel memory. A print control unit reads out print image data corresponding to the accounting data by blocks from the pixel memory.

Abstract: In a method for generating a print format that is printed onto a carrier in a postage meter machine, the print format being composed of picture elements in the fashion of an xy-matrix to which picture element data are allocated in a memory, a microprocessor controlling the generation of the print format accesses a number of picture element datafiles. Picture element data that define an image element or a text element of the print format are combined in each picture element datafile. Each picture element datafile also has an identification code allocated to it under which the appertaining image element or text element can be found. The microprocessor also accesses a control datafile that contains a number of sub-image datafiles that respectively contain sub-image data that define a sub-image of the print format.

Abstract: A method for shipping electronically stored letter contents or communications and/or data on flat information carriers, particularly chip cards, requiring postal franking or prepaid postage, includes storing shipping data in at least one of a plurality of memory regions of the information carrier. The shipping data is read out with a read-write module. The shipping data is linked to a postage table being stored in memory, for calculating a postage value appropriate for shipment of the information carrier. An accounting or debit is made for the calculated postage value for the information carrier with a postage meter device. A postage imprint is printed on an item to be shipped. In an apparatus for carrying out the invention, the read-write module and the postage meter device are integrated into a unit.

Abstract: A method for sending electrically stored data on flat information carriers requiring postal franking includes transmitting communication data from a personal computer into a memory of an information carrier with a read-write module. Associated shipping data are transmitted from the personal computer to a postage meter device synchronously with the transmission of the communication data. Postal charges for sending the information carrier are accounted for with the postage meter device on the basis of the shipping data. Control data are transmitted from the postage meter device to a printer for printing a postage imprint on each item intended for sending the information carrier.

Abstract: A disposable postage meter assembly for printing charges and captions on envelopes and/or postage strips includes a base unit and a non-rechargeable disposable module. The base unit and the disposable module have devices for setting variable information.

Abstract: A configuration for a franking machine includes a central control in the form of a processor. A drive of the franking machine, a printing drum, an interface component for connection to drives of peripheral devices disposed upstream and downstream of the franking machine and a common keyboard are all connected to the processor. The common keyboard enters an amount to be printed and controls the franking machine for reducing mechanical wear and noise and for saving energy. Another control in the form of a timing member is associated with the processor. The timing member places the drive of the franking machine into a standby position by generating a switch-off signal if no material to be stamped is touching the printing drum and no value has been entered through the keyboard during a given monitoring time period preset by the timing member. The timing member also controls the drives of the peripheral devices through the interface component.

Abstract: Electronically controlled postage metering machine and/or free stamping machine having a microprocessor, a non-volatile memory and a register by means of which adjustment of postage values, date, type of mailing and cleaning of a preset value with actually charged postage sum, including peripheral lines and a keyboard connected to the microprocessor, the non-volatile memory and the register for introducing variable information and signals for linkage with preset data stored in the memory control modules prestaged to the non-volatile memory, the keyboard and the register for blocking direct access via the peripheral lines to the non-volatile memory and for unloading the microprocessor, the control module having means cooperating with the register for controlling phase adjustment of stepping motors for print rollers of the postage metering machine via non-inverted and inverted outputs of the register, and stationary sensor means for establishing positions of the stepping motors and for transmitting information