Abstract: A personal computer has a housing, a drive bay in the housing with a slot for a disk drive, and an internal information and power supply network in the housing. A franking module assembly has a franking module disposed in the slot of the drive bay for franking mail. The franking module includes a printing mechanism, and a processor system for controlling the printing mechanism, for storing information to be printed and for accounting of charges. Lines in the housing connect the processor system to the internal information and power supply network.

Abstract: An inking mechanism for postage meters and price stamping machines includes an ink transport roller, an intermediate roller and an inking roller being operatively connected to one another and having surfaces. The surface of the intermediate roller transfers ink from the ink transport roller to the inking roller and the surface of the inking roller is formed of porous material. An ink supply container in the form of a tank has a slit-like opening formed therein. Porous material substantially fills the tank as a storage medium for stamp ink. The porous material protrudes out of the slit-like opening in the tank and contacts the surface of the ink transport roller in the form of a squeegee.