EP0493948B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Franking machine
Assignee: Neopost Ltd
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Filing: 1991-12-20
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Granted: 1996-10-16
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Expires: 2011-12-20
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Dennis Thomas Gilham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:00
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00459; G07B17/00508; G07B17/00185; G07B17/00362; G07B2017/00395; G07B2017/00427; G07B2017/00572; G07B2017/00596; G07B2017/00604
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
294 words
A franking machine including a secure module; electronic control and accounting means (12) within the secure module; a plurality of registers (14, 15) within the secure module for storing accounting data relating to use of the machine in franking items; means (21) to input franking data to said electronic accounting and control means to select a value of franking; printing means (11) operable by the electronic control and accounting means (12) to print a franking impression on an item to be franked; said electronic control and accounting means being operative in response to input of said franking data to control the printing means to print a franking impression corresponding to the selected value of franking and to update the accounting data stored in the set of registers (14, 15) characterised in that the plurality of registers (14, 15) within the secure module includes a first set of registers (14, 15) for storing accounting data relating to use of the franking machine in respect of a first service and a second set of registers (14, 15) for storing accounting data relating to use of the franking machine in respect of a second service; in that the input means (21) is operable to select one said first and second services; in that the electronic accounting and control means (12) is operative in response to selection of said one of the services by the input means to control the printing means (11) to print a first franking impression and to update the accounting data in the first set of registers (14, 15) in response to selection of said first service and to print a second franking impression and to update the accounting data in the second set of registers in response to selection of said second service.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
40 words
A franking machine as claimed in claim 1 further characterised by the provision of a further set of registers (14, 15) for storing totals of accounting data values stored in the first and second of sets of registers (14, 15).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A franking machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2 further characterised in that the printing means (11) comprises a digital printer responsive to print data signals which define the franking impression to be printed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A franking machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2 further characterised in that the printing means (11) comprises a mechanical printer including one or more elements selectively movable into a printing position to print a franking impression corresponding to the selected service.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
A franking machine as claimed in any preceding claim further characterised in that the electronic control and accounting means (12) is operable to read account data stored in the registers (14, 15), to generate a validation code for the account data read from each register and to output said account data and validation code to the printing means (27) to print a report containing said account data and validation code.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
118 words
A franking machine as claimed in any preceding claim further characterised in that the first set of registers includes a first descending register for storing a first value available for use in franking items in respect of the first service; and a first tote register for storing a first accumulated value of postage charge used in franking items in respect of the first service and in that the second set of registers includes a second descending register for storing a second value available for use in franking items in respect of the second service; and a second tote register for storing a second accumulated value of postage charge used in franking items in respect of the second service.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
105 words
A franking machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 further characterised in that the registers include a descending register for storing a value available for use in franking items in respect of the first and second services; and in that the first set of registers includes a first tote register for storing a first accumulated value of postage charge used in franking items in respect of the first service and in that the second set of registers includes a second tote register for storing a second accumulated value of postage charge used in franking items in respect of the second service.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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