Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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POSTA~ METER SYSTEM
TECHNICAL FIELD
1 The present invention pretains to improved impact matrix
printing systems for usein apostal meter for printing postage
indicia which has counterfeit deterrent characteristics.
BACKGROUND
Postal meters or postage printing meters are devices that
are used to print out a substitute for postage stamps. Postage
stamps are, in a sense, a form of currency and are subject to
being counterfeited. Postal meters are device that print a sub-
stitute for a postage stamp directly on to an envelope or label.
Postal meters must be approved by the Postal Authorities before
the device can be used for printing postage.
Since postal meters are, in effect currency printing devices,
the devices are required, by the postal authorites to be secure
with respect to accounting functions, that is, to track and
properly report the amount of postage dispensed and be secure
with respect to the imprinted indicia representing the postage
printed on an envelope, tape or label.
In most cases, postal meters are rental devices that are
used outside the post office to dispense postage. It is normal
! practice that the leasee of or person renting the device make a
I!monetary advance for a predetermined value of postage that the
meter may print or dispense. The predetermined monetary value is
set in the meter by an authorizea person and the meter may then
dispense that amount of postage in desired increments. Ascending
and descending registers in the meter keep a runr.ing account of
¦ how much postage has been dispensed, i. e. the ascending register,
I,and how much postage is left to be dispensed, i. e. the descending
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register, from the prepayment made.
These registers are highly secure from tampering or altera-
tion, using various techniques.
Historically, postal meters have been mechanical devices
in which p~stage Yalues were set, printed and acco~nted for
using mechanical techniques and assemblies. The various accountin
functions were maintained by mechanical resisters in which a
plurality of different mechanical interlocks were used which
guarded against the printing of postage by the meter without
changing the values in the registers; thus securing the accounting
functions.
The actual printing of postage on an en~elope, tape or label,
hereafter referred to as envelope, was done by a printing drum that
rotated as the envelope passed through the print stage of the
meter. The print drum used is in the form of a die which itself
is an highly complex engravement which is extremely difficult
and time consuming to duplicate and is therefore a strong deterrent
against counterfeiting. The drum engravement provides for identi-
fication of the particular postal meter in which the drum is
used and identifies the post office through which the mail from
~he meter i5 to be processed. By identifying ~he drum as part of
the postage imprint, the meter using such drum can be identified
and thus the leasee or rentee renting such device can be identi-
~fied. By identifying the post office through which the mail from
the meter is to be processed this limits the use of the meter to
a particular postal area and, in effect, makes the pa-ticular
~postal meter mobile within the limits of the area served by the
,identified post office. The drum also prints out the date and
Ithe ~mount of postage printed. These are variable data which is
¦~et by the ~ser f the meter.
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The emphasis on ~he mechanical postal meters was
ruggedness, reliability and security with the capability
of being rapidly and relatively easily repaired when the
device was not properly functioning so as to minimize
down time.
More recently electronic postal meters have been
introduced. An example of an electronic postal meter is
found in U.S. patent 4,251,874, to Frank T. ChecX, Jr.
The more modern electroniG postal metler employs
electronic memory banks or co~ponents to maintain the
accounting functions formerly accomplished by mechanical
registers. The electronic unit is computerized, using a
central processing unit such as a microprocessor or
other form of computer, which provides the arithmetic
functions of computations and program fi~elity.
One of the problems with the electronic postal
m~ters i6 the device itself is not totally electronic
since the ~lectronic postal met~r e~ploys a mechanical
postage printing apparatus to print postage indica.
Since the postal meter is basically electronis,
operating at a very high speed performing its
computations and storing data and the printer used is a
mechanical device operating at a substantially slower
speed and at a substantially different voltage level, an
interface is used to ensure compatibility between the
electronic control system and the mechanical printing
apparatus. The slower operating ~peed of the mechanical
printer effectively slows down the operating speed of
the electronic postal meter, that is, it slows down the
cycle of operation.
A fully electronic postal meter system is disclosed
in co-pending U.S. patent 4,528,644, issued July 9,
1985, for System Having A Character Generator For
Printing Encrypted ~essages, by inventor John Io Clark
and assigned to the assignee of the present application.
However, in the Clark patent 4,528,644 an indicia is
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printed with a matrix printer and is secured by dropping
or shifting elements in the indicia as a ~unction of the
information printed.
Most matrix printers, whether impact dot matrix or
ink jet printer are easily obtainable as an off-the-
shelf item and are easily programmable to print any
legend desired, with the program itself very easily and
readily changeable and very easily duplîcated. The
versatility with respect to programmability and the ease
with which the program itself can be changed and/or
duplicated leads to a security gap that the postal
service authorities attempt to avoid.
PRESENT IN~E~TION
The present invention provides a fully integrated
electronic postal meter which includes a computer
controlled computation and control system and electronic
memory banks for maintaining the required accounting
functions and a high tech high speed impact matrix
printing device. The preferred ~orm of the invention
provides for the use of an impact matrix printing device
used as the print component in an electronic postal
meter for printing postage indicia on an envelope in
which the print element~ which are used to form a
character or design in accordance with a programmed
matrix charactar pattern have themselves a predetermined
or preformed shape at the impact point or end of the
print element. Such preformed shape made be in some
predetermined not-dot geometric pattern or shape such as
a square or other rectangle, triangle or star, letter,
number or other design which is different from the
standard off-the-shelf dot matrix printer. This non-
standard shape of the impact point of the print element
shall
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be referred to as "non-dot geometric shape".
With such change in the shape or physical configuration of
the print element at the impact point of the print element,
security in the printing function of the postal meter would be
enhanced due to the fact that a~y potential counterfeiter would
~e faced with the task of physically modifying each print element
f a matrix printer to produce the appropriate indicia. Security
n the printing function of the postal meter having such altered
l rint elements would not be compromised because each print element
l s individually actuated and do~s produce a discrete imprint which
is part of a pattern forming a charactex which is unique with
espect to standard matrix printer imprints. By reasonably close
nspection the unique character or imprint may be easily and
l uickly observed and counterfeit postage indicia lacking such
l mprints may be quickly detected.
With such change in the print element configuration at the
mpact end of the print element, security in the printing function
f the postal meter would be enhanced due to the fact that certain
l redetermined geometric designs could be limited to be used for
rinting postage indicia for use in specific postal regions
or post offices. This would further limit and reduce printing
problems as they relate to security and limit the area of use
for a postal meter with such print element design.
As an alternative, the matrix print head, which is usually
rectangular in shape and holds and supports a plurality or row of
print elements used to physically impress the ink on to some
recording medium such as paper, for example, to form the printed
indicia, may be made curvilinear so that when a character or
letter or other indicia is to be printed, an appropriate set
3D ~!or pattern of rinting elements in curvilinear relationship are
ill
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actuated against an inked medium providing a distinctive contour
to the impression left on the paper.
This novel structured print head, when used in a printer in
a postal meter, will provide a printed postage indicia with dis-
S tinctive cur~ilinear design integrated into the printed indicia
for immediate recongnition.
High speed matrix printing devices, such as impact dot
matrix printers for example, are well known in the art. Impact
dot matrix printers generally provide print heads which carry
a plurality of print elemen~s, sometimes referred to as wires
or pins arranged in a singlè row or column, or a pl~rality of
rows or columns. The print elements are individually, selectively
actuated in combinations, in a manner well known in the art, to
print characters as the print head and paper move relative to
each other. The individual print elements, when actuated against
an ink medium, such as an ink ribbon, for example, form discrete
imprints on papex or other record carrier. The imprints, which
retain their identity under close examination, combine with others
to form the character desired.
The U. S. patent 2,800,386 to Wackenfuss shows one construc-
tion of print head or recording head which holds a plurality of
rows of print element in alignment. U. S. patent 4,457,636
to Nusser shows another form of printing element with a drive
element. The patent to Mower et al, U. S. 4,167,342 is concerned
,with increasing the printing speed of a dot matrix printer
while the U. S. patent 4,246,948 to Wolf et al and 4,268,180
to Honma are each concerned with printing element breakage and
show printing elements of difEering construction. The U. S.
patent 4,508,463 to Wang et al is concerned with the quality of
~print by dot matrix printers.
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By constructing recording heads or print heads so that
atleast two parallel interior sides of the head are parallel
and curvilinear the print elements held in such print head will
~e in curvilinear relationship with each other. Where a single
~ column of print elements is held in a print head the column of
elements will form the curvilinear line of the interior parallel
sides. Where multiple columns of print elements are held in
a print head the print elements will be held in curvilinear
relationship unidirectionally, that is, in straight line relation-
ship in one direction and curvilinear in the other direction.
~here multiple columns of print elements are held in a print head
~pposite interior sides may each be in curvilinear parallel
relationship. This structure will retain multiple columns of
~ l ?rint elements in bid~rectional curvilinear relationship. With
lS Iprint elements held in print heads in such relationship the
imprints made or left on the paper or other recording medium
~uring the printing process will form characters having distinctive
~urved lines as opposed to straight line formed characters.
The curved construction of the recording or print head, which
lolds the print elements in such curvilinear relationship will
e difficult and time consuming to duplicate and will act as a
ideterrant to a potentiai counterfeiter.
¦ Essentially, the present invention contemplates a novel
Ifully integrated electronic postal meter system which provides
.for a matrix printer which prints postage indicia using a non-
,standard matrix. Such non-standard matrix may be defined as a
Latrix comprising discrete imprints having a non-dot geometric
Ishape or a curvilinear matrix.
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Various aspects of thi invention are as ~ollows:
A system for printin~ secure postage indicia by a
postal meter system including:
a) system control means including actuatable
means for setting at least a part of postage indicia
data to be printed and for processing and storing postal
accounting data;
b) control means for temporarily storing said at
least a part of said postage indicia data for purposeso other than postal accounting;
c) a postal indicia printer responsive to said
control means for printing predetermined postage indicia
including said at least a part of said postage indicia
data, on an envelope or label, said postage indicia
printer including a print head having at least a first
side connected to a first end, said first end connect to
a second side, said second side connected to a second
end and said second end connected to said first side for
defining an opening ~ar retaining at least a column of
print elements in predetermi~ed array, print element
driver means individual to each print element of said
column of print elements for actuating a print element
of said colu~n of print ele~ents with which said driver
means is associated and print logic means for
selectively energizing drivers of said drivar means in
predetermined pattern for causing actuation of selected
print ele~ent6 ~or generating discrete imprints on said
envelope or label for printing postage indicia
characterized by a non-standard ~atrix.
A postal meter for printing a postage indicia on an
envelope or label in which said postage indicia is
formed by a plurality of discrete imprints, said postal
meter including:
a) meter control means including actuatable means
for at least setting a postage value and a date to be
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printed as part of said postage indicia and for
processing and storing postal accounting information;
b) temporary storage means for storing saîd
postal value and said date in response to actuation of
said actuatable means and for providing trip control of
the printer printing said postage indicia;
c) a matrix printer responsive to said temporary
storage means including a programmable print element
driver controller, print element drivers, a print head
and a plurality of print elements, said plurality o~
print elements arranged in at least a column in said
print head, each said print element associated with a
different one of a print element driver of said print
element drivers, said programmable print element driver
controller including permanent program means for causing
energization of selected print element drivers for
causing actuation o~ said print elements for causinc; a
pattern of discrete imprints on an envelope or label to
appear for~ing predeter~ined postage indicia
characterized by a non-standard matrix and said
programmable print ele~ent drive controller including
temporary program means, set up in response to actuation
of said actuatable means, for causing energization of
selected print element drivers for causing actuation of
said print elements for causing another pattern of
discrete imprint~ on said envelope or label to appear in
a form repres~ntatîv¢ of said postage value and date and
characterized by a non-standard matrix.
A po~tage meter comprising:
a) means for inputting a selected postage amount;
b) means responsive to said input means for
accounting for said amount: and
c3 means responsive to said accounting means for
printing indicia representative of said accounting for5 said amount;
said indicia comprising a pattern of discrete
imprints selected from a non-standard matrix.
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A postal meter comprising:
(a~ system control means including actuatable
means for setting at least a part of postage indicia
data to be printed and for processing and storing postal
accounking data;
(b) control means for temporarily storing
said at least a part of said postage indicia data for
purposes other than postal accounting;
(c) a matrix printer for printing postage
indicia on an envelope or label
(d) said matrix printer having non-dot
geometrically shaped print elements formed at their
imprint ends;
(e) whereby discrete imprints are formed on
an envelope or label which is recognizable so as to
provide a secure postage indicia imprint.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a pictorial prospective of one embodiment of an
lectronic postal meter system into which the present invention
ay be incorporated;
Fig. 2 is a portion of an elevelope on to which has been
mprinted a postage indicia;
Fig. 3 is a block diagram of an electronic postal meter
ystem employing an impact matrix printer.
Fig. 4 is one form of print element showing the striking
ead modified into a non dot geometric shape;
Fig. 4a are several examples of non-dot geometric shapes
nto which the strike head may be forged or shaped;
Fig. 5 represents one form of print head with the ends
urvilinear and parallel and the sides straight and parallel;
Figs. 6a and 6b illustrate, in expanded form two characters
ade with modified print elements held in unidirectional curvilin-
ar relationship; and,
Figs 7a and 7b illustrate the same two characters made
mploying standard dot print elements held in bidirectional
urvilinear relat onship.- .
Referring now to Fig. l, electronic postal meter systems,
uch as represented pictorally, may be in the form of dual
ousing unit supported by a common mounting. A control unit 10
ay be used to house the computer electronics including a central
rocessing unit and memory banks for performing postal calculations
nd for storing critical accounting data. Unit 10 may also
tain programmable devices and interface connections for sending
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and receiving data. Internal interlocks may also be provided to
ensure reliability and security.
The meter unit 11 may include a pxinter 12, such as a
matrix printer mounted securely in the housing and under the
control of the control unit 10. Connections between the control
unit and the meter unit pass through the mounting 14 t~hich support
and protects such interconnecting circuitry. An envelope 1~ is
illustrated in the print stage and when the envelope is driven
through the print slot the upper forward corner of the envelope
is imprinted with postage indicia indicating, in printecl form,
the postage value, date, postal meter registration mumber, post
office identification and other acceptable indicia.
The control unit 10 and meter unit 11 are securely mounted
on a mounting 14 which supports and protects the interconnecting
lS circuits (not shown) between the control unit and the meter unit
from unauthorized invasion and/or tampering. Locking mechanisms
and interlocks may be provided to prevent tampering with or
removai of the control unit 10 and/or the meter unit 11 from the
mounting 14 so as to enhance s~curity of the postal meter and/or
the components thereof. In an alternative structure, both the
control unit and the meter unit, including a matrix printer, may
be mounted and secured in a single housing that is protected
against unauthorized invasion, disassembly and/or tampering.
Il If the control unit 10 and the meter unit 11 are housed as
Iseparate units but are not mounted on a mounting serving also
as a secure conduit for the interconnecting circuitry, the
nterconnecting circuitry may be sealed and armored to resist
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tampering. In addition, it may be desired to secure the printing
mechanism electronically. This may be done by using non-standard
electronic interlocks, secure codes and/or other protocols in-
tegrated into the printer drive so that once removed, the matrix
printer itself, as a single unit would function only when using
such non-standard eIectronic interlocks, security codes and/or
other protocols as required for opera~ing the particular printer.
The control metcr 10 includes a key board 15 for entering
data which may include setting the amount of postage to be printed
and the date, for example. Other data which may~be entered via
the key board includes the amount of prepaid postage and interro-
~ations made to the computer such as, how much postage has been
used from the prepaid amount and how much postage is left from
the prepared amount and interrogations relating to other functions
the electronic postal meter may provide. At the top of the key
board plate a readout 16 is provided which may be in digital form.
Fig. 2 represents a form of postage indicia printed on the
upper right corner of an envelope 20. The indicia includes the
amount of postage 21 applied to the envelope. Actually, the
2G amount of postage applied to the envelope represents the exact
amount ded~cted from the pre-paid postage value in the postal
meter which printed the postage indicia. The postal meter which
printed the postage value is identified by the meter number 23
also on the postage indicia. In addition the post office, which
processes the particular mail from the particular meter is also
identified at 24 while the date is imprinted at 25. The zip code
of.the processing post office is also included. In addition to
the data imprinted in the postage indicia representation of an
eagle and a plurality of stars are used in order to make the
imprinted indicia more complex.
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By proper programming the postage indicia may be printed by
a matrix printer. A matrix printer may be located in the meter
nit ll of Fig. l. When the postage amount is set or keyed into
he meter via the keyboard and the date is keyed into the meter
oth variables for the postage indicia are established and a
metered postage indicia may be imprinted on an envelope or label
as the envelope or label pass through the printing slot of the
meter unit 11.
In accordance with a program, as in well known in the art,
print elements are individually actuated, in a pattern, to form
the character andlor printed information desired by use of a
plurality of imprints or impression on the envelope or label.
Since the print elements are individually actuated, the imprint
made by each single actuation is discrete and may be identified.
Fig. 3 is a block diagram representing an electronic postal
meter which includes an impact matrix printer 11. The control
unit 10 includes a power supply 31, a keyboard 15 and display 16.
The keyboard is interfaced via 32 into the computer functlon,
labeled CPU, 33. The CPU may be a central processing unit in the
form of a microprocesser or a other computer. The CPU performs
the calcuation functions and generally supervises operation of
the electronics. The CPU receives and responds to instructions
from the keyboard and sets up the display to provide information.
The non-volatile memory stores the accounting functions such as
the pre-paid postage value, the ascending account, descending
account and any other record keeping function designed into the
system. The read only memory ~ROM) 35 is programmed permanently
with the system functions. The read and remember (RAM) 36 is
a temporary memory that is changeable by the keyboard and provides
code for the amount of postage to be printed and the date. The
RAM also provides trip control making certain a postage value
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is printed only in accordance with the value set in the RAM. The
print logic 37 energizes or causes to be energized the particular
print element drivers in a particular pattern so as to actuate
the print elements 40 in the print head 39 to print in a pattern
S resulting in a printed desired character or indicia. The print
station dri~e causes the relative movement between the print head
and the envelope 13, eventually driving the envelope out of the
print station.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention each print
element such as 40 in Fig. 4 would include an ink ribbon striking
head 41 which is non-dot geometric in shape, here illustrated as
a modlfied diamond shape. When the printing element 40 is
actuated or driven toward the ink ribbon tnot shown) by print
element drivers, represented by arrow 38, and strikes the ribbon
resulting in an imprint on the envelope, the imprint will be a
discrete impression, formed with other discrete impression which
combine to form a character or image printed in ink. The print
element may ride in the print element retainer 42 and may be
actuated by driving the element through the support from the
actuation head 43.
Fig. 4a represents, a through k, different non-dot geometric
shapes that print element ink ribbon striking heads may take.
l Obviously these shapes are not exhaustive of all shapes in which
¦ the print element may be formed. The shape of the ribbon striking
~5 ihead may be formed by extrusion, molding, forging or any other
~manner. The print element 40 may be shaped along the entire lengt~
~thereof or, as indicated in Fig. 4 by the broken lines, may have
l! its striking head 41 shaped and only partially along its length
¦¦with the butt of the length and actuating head structured in
¦¦different shape to add strength to the print element.
ll Fig. 5 represents one form of recording head 50 for support-
! ing an array of print element retainers, 53. The print heaa is
defined by a frame with straight sides 56 and 57 and curvilinear
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ends 51 and 52. This form of print head includes several opening
defined by the sides and ends, each of which support and hold in
alignment a plurality of print element retainers 53~ the print
elements being inserted in the holes 54 of the retainers. Althoug
the print element retainers in Fig. 5 are generally rectangular
in shape~ the print element retainers may be cylindrical, such
as shown in Fig. 4 at 42.
Although the recording head 50 is represented as being
curvilinear in one direction ~lat~rally) and straight in the other
direction ~longitudinally) it will be understood that the longi-
tudinal sides of the openings may also be curvilinear so that
the print elements in the same ar~ay will be alignedin bidi~ectional
curvilinear rela~ionship.
Although Fig. 5 represents a recording head or print head 50
holding an array of print element retainers in a plurality of
columns, i* is also anti~ipated that a recording head or print
head holding a single column or single row of print elements may
be used in an impact matrix printer. In the single column print
head, the longitudinal parallel interior sides of the head would
be parallel and curvilinear holding the column of print elements
in curvilinear relationship.
It is also anticipated that the print elements, whether in
straight rectangular array or column,or in unldirect;onal curvilinear
array or column orin bidirect_ona~curvilinear array may have pre-
formed striking heads of some same non-dot geometric shape.
Certainly mixed shapes may ~e used, if desired since the imprints
of the print elements are discrete.
Fig. 6a illustrates in exploded,~ enlarged form the numeral
2 when printed by an impact matrix printer using an array of
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print elements with triangular shaped striking heads in which the
print elements are held in unidirectional curvilinear relationship
The triangle imprints 60 form the character with the background
lines 62 showing the pattern of print element alignment.
Fig. 6b illustrates in exploded enlarged form the letter W
which may appear when triangular shaped print element striking
heads are used in the same type of unidirectional curvilinear arra
as in Fig. 6a but without showing the background lines pattern.
Fig. 7a illustrates in exploded enlarged form the numeral 2
when printed by an impact matrix printer using an array of print
elements in which the print elements of the array are held in
bidirectional curvilinear relationship in a recording head. In
this illustration the individual imprints are dot in characteris-
tic as illustrated at 70.
Fig. 7b illustxates the letter W printed by a bidirectional
curvilinear array which provides a distinctive pattern of the
letter structure.
It is also considered that through proper programming an
array of straight, rectangularly positioned print element may be
made to print indicia giving the appearance that the array is
positioned in curvilinear relationshipO It is therefore believed
that although a recording head holding an array of print elements
in some curviLinear relationship offers a reasonable degree of
¦security in printing indicia for postal meter purposes the use
~5 of pre-shaped, non-dot geometric shape or odd motif striking
¦heads of print elements appears to offer a degree of security not
~heretofore attained using an impack dot matrix print system.
The preferred form of the invention has been described and
several alternate forms have been described and suggested. O~her
modifications and changes may be made, as will be apparent to thos~
skilled in the art within the principles and scope of the appended
claims.
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