Franking machine

Claim 2

A franking machine system comprising: computing means including data processing means; data entry means connected to said data processing means into input address data and postage charge data relating to a mail item to said data processing means; and a first input/output port connected to said data processing means; a peripheral device comprising a franking machine including electronic circuit means to effect accounting and control operations; a second input/output port connected to said electronic circuit; memory means connected to said electronic circuit means for registering a value of credit available for use in franking mail items and for registering a value of postage used in franking mail items; printing means connected solely to and operable solely by print control signals output by said electronic circuit means to print on a mail item; and a secure housing containing said electronic circuit means, said second input/output port and said memory means; communication means interconnecting said first and second input/output ports; said data processing means in response to input from said data entry means of destination data and postage charge data relating to a mail item sending corresponding destination data signals and postage charge signals via said first input/output port, said communication means and said second input/output port to said electronic circuit means of said peripheral device; said electronic circuit means in response to said postage charge signals received from said data processing means checking a postage charge represented by said postage charge signals with the value of credit registered in said memory means to determine if said value of credit is sufficient relative to said postage charge and in response to said value of credit being sufficient outputting the print control signals directly to said printing means to effect at the same time printing on the mail item of a destination address corresponding to said address data and of a franking impression denoting payment of the postage charge corresponding to said postage charge data in respect of said mail item.

Claim 3

A franking machine system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the peripheral device includes mail item supply means operable selectively to feed an envelope to the printing means; the data entry means is operable to input envelope select data to the data processing means; the data processing means in response said envelope select data is operative to send an envelope select signal via the communication means to the electronic circuit means of said peripheral device; and said electronic circuit means is responsive to said envelope select signal to operate said mail item supply means to feed the envelope to the printing means to receive the destination address and the franking impression.

Claim 4

A franking machine system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electronic circuit means of the peripheral device is operative in response to the value of credit registered in the memory means being sufficient for the postage charge and to printing by the printing means of the mail item to send an acknowledgement signal via said communication means to said data processing means; the data processing means includes display means and is operative in response to said acknowledgement signal to display a message indicating that printing of the franking impression on the mail item is proceeding.

Claim 5

A franking machine system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electronic circuit means of the peripheral device is operative in response to the value of credit registered in the memory means being insufficient for the postage charge to send an error signal via said communication means to the data processing means; said data processing means includes display means and is operative in response to said error signal to display a message indicating insufficient credit.

Claim 6

A franking machine system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the computing means comprises a personal computer and the data entry means includes a keyboard for manual entry of destination address data and postage charge data relating to a mail item.

Claim 7

A franking machine system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the data entry means includes data storage means storing a database comprising destination address data relating to a plurality of destination addresses and means operable to select destination address data corresponding to a desired one of said destination address data corresponding to a desired one of said destination addresses for input to the data processing means.

Claim 8

A franking machine system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the printing means includes a first group of print elements operable by the print control signals to print the franking impression on the mail item denoting payment of the postage charge corresponding to said postage charge data in respect of said mail item and a second group of print elements operable by the print control signals to print the destination address on said mail item.

Claim 9

A franking machine system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the personal computer includes a programme of steps to effect a franking mode of operation including the steps of: initiate franking mode of operation; check that the peripheral device is operatively connected by the communication means to said personal computer; receive input of destination data and postage charge data; output destination data signals corresponding to said input destination data and output postage charge data signals corresponding to said input postage charge data via the communication means to the electronic circuit means of said peripheral device; and in response to receipt of an acknowledgement signal from said electronic circuit means return to said step of initiate franking mode of operation.

Claim 10

A franking machine system comprising: computing means including data processing means; data entry means connected to said data processing means to input address data and postage charge data relating to a mail item to said data processing means; a first input/output port connected to said data processing means; first printing means coupled to and controlled by said data processing means; and said data processing means being operable under control of first program means to control said first printing means; a peripheral device comprising a franking machine including electronic circuit means to effect accounting and control operations; a second input/output port connected to said electronic circuit; memory means connected to said electronic circuit means for registering a value of credit available for use in franking mail items and for registering a value of postage used in franking mail items; second printing means connected solely to and operable solely by print control signals output by said electronic circuit means to print on a mail item; and a secure housing containing said electronic circuit means, said second input/output port and said memory means; communication means interconnecting said first and second input/output ports; said data processing means being operative under second program means and in response to input from said data entry means of destination data and postage charge data relating to a mail item to send corresponding destination data signals and postage charge signals via said first input/output port to said electronic circuit means of said peripheral device; said electronic circuit means being operative in response to said postage charge signals received from said data processing means to check a postage charge represented by said postage charge signals with the value of credit registered in said memory means to determine if said value of credit is sufficient relative to said postage charge and in response to said value of credit being sufficient to output the print control signals directly to said printing means to effect at the same time printing on the mail item of a destination address corresponding to said address data and of a franking impression denoting payment of the postage charge corresponding to said postage charge data in respect of said mail item.

Claim 11

A franking machine system comprising: computing means including data processing means; data entry means connected to said data processing means to input address data and postage charge data relating to a mail item to said data processing means; a first input/output port connected to said data processing means; first printing means coupled to and controlled by said data processing means; and said data processing means being operable under control of first program means to control said first printing means; a peripheral device comprising a franking machine including electronic circuit means to effect accounting and control operations; a second input/output port connected to said electronic circuit; memory means connected to said electronic circuit means for registering a value of credit available for use in franking mail items and for registering a value of postage used in franking mail items; second printing means connected solely to and operable solely by print control signals output by said electronic circuit means to print on a mail item; and a secure housing containing said electronic circuit means, said second input/output port and said memory means; communication means interconnecting said first and second input/output ports; said data processing means being operative under second program means and in response to input from said data entry means of destination data and postage charge data relating to a mail item to send corresponding destination data signals and postage charge signals via said first input/output port to said electronic circuit means of said peripheral device; said electronic circuit means being operative in response to said postage charge signals received from said data processing means to check a postage charge represented by said postage charge signals with the value of credit registered in said memory means to determine if said value of credit is sufficient relative to said postage charge and in response to said value of credit being sufficient to output the print control signals directly to said printing means to effect at the same time printing on the mail item of a destination address corresponding to said address data and of a franking impression denoting payment of the postage charge corresponding to said postage charge data in respect of said mail item.