US3889592A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computer responsive supplemental printer
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
•
Filing: 1973-07-09
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Granted: 1975-06-17
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Expires: 1993-07-09
Abstract
Abstract A supplemental printer is mounted piggy-back fashion atop a conventional high speed chain printer or other form of computer output printing equipment; and prints, upon the same print-out sheet as the high speed printer, information generated by the same electronic digital computer to which the high speed printer responds. The supplemental printer is capable of printing postage or other special indicia not easily incorporated into the print symbol repertoire of the high speed printer. In order to make the supplemental printer operate rapidly enough to be compatible with electronic data processing equipment, its print impression is divided into parts printed by individual type segments, each actuated by its own individual print solenoid. Some of the segments are equipped with solenoidactuated variable numerical print modules for the purpose of printing postage or other variable numerical information. After printing, the segments return to positions at unequal levels in order to deter ''''wiping off'''' unauthorized postage or other valuable print impressions.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond R Lupkas
- 👤 Gerald C Freeman
- 👤 Jr Frank T Check
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 20:28
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00459; G07B17/00508; B; B41; B41J; B41J3/00; B41J3/54; G07B2017/00516; G07B2017/00524; G07B2017/00548
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A postage metering system for printing postage indicia, comprising in combination a computer output printer and a supplemental postage printer operatively connected to, and controlled by, a postage accounting means, said supplemental postage being mounted upon said computer output printer, said supplemental postage printer having a secured housing containing segmental postage printing dies each of which is individually translationally movable between a non-printing position and a printing position, each die containing on a printing surface thereof a portion of a postage insignia, and certain of said dies comprising variable numerical printing modules which are electrically controlled to vary a numerical postage printing amount to be printed, said dies acting in combination with each other during printing to form a complete postage mark containing a postage insignia and a postage amount, and drive means operatively and individually connected to each of the respective printing dies to move said postage printing dies from the nonprinting position towards the printing position, said drive means moving each of said dies in a sequential relationship to provide improved print quality.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
A postage metering system for printing postage indicia, comprising in combination a computer output printer and a supplemental postage printer operatively connected to, and controlled by, a postage accounting means, said supplemental postage being mounted upon said computer output printer, said supplemental postage printer having a secured housing containing segmental postage printing dies each of which is individually translationally movable between a non-printing position and a printing position, each die containing on a printing surface thereof a portion of a postage insignia, and certain of said dies comprising variable numerical printing modules which are electrically controlled to vary a numerical postage printing amount to be printed, said dies acting in combination with each other during printing to form a complete postage mark containing a postage insignia and a postage amount, and drive means operatively and individually connected to each of the respective printing dies to move said postage printing dies from the nonprinting position towards the printing position, said drive means moving each of said dies in a sequential relationship to provide improved print quality.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The postage metering system of claim 1, wherein said sequential printing means sequentially moves each of said dies at a predetermined printing rate, so that said supplemental postage printer will be compatible with a printing rate of said computer output printer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The postage metering system of claim 1, wherein said segmental printing dies are located in at least two substantially spaced apart planes when said dies are in the non-printing position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The postage metering system of claim 3, wherein a printing die representing a least significant numerical digit of said postage amount is recessed in a most inaccessible plane when said dies are in the nonprinting position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The postage metering system of claim 4, further comprising means disposed within said secured housing for preventing manual forcing of said segmental printing dies from their non-printing position.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-16 | 1978-12-16 | 1979-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-16 | 1982-12-16 | 1983-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-16 | 1986-12-16 | 1987-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |