US5649408A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Programmable office machine for carrying out mail processing tasks
Assignee: Quadient Technologies France SA
•
Filing: 1994-12-28
•
Granted: 1997-07-22
•
Expires: 2014-12-28
Abstract
Abstract An office machine for processing mail items includes mechanical elements for folding mail items and inserting them in envelopes and a data processing unit operating under the control of a configuration program to place the mechanical elements of the machine in a particular operating mode in accordance with configuration data. An interface receives a portable external element including a memory and inserted into an opening in the machine at the location of the interface means. The processing unit reads configuration data previously stored in the memory of the portable element when the machine is switched on with the portable element present in the interface means in order to place the mechanical elements of the machine in the operating mode corresponding to the configuration data.
Inventors
- 👤 Dominique Mazeiller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 01:19
CPC Classifications
B; B43; B43M; B43M5/00; B43M5/04; B43M5/042
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
An office machine for processing mail items including mechanical elements for folding mail items and inserting them in envelopes, a data processing unit operating under the control of a configuration program to place said mechanical elements of said machine in a particular operating mode in accordance with configuration data, and interface means adapted to receive a portable external element including a memory and adapted to be inserted into an opening in said machine at the location of said interface means, in which machine said processing unit is adapted to read configuration data previously stored in said memory of said portable element when said machine is switched on with said portable element present in said interface means in order to place said mechanical elements of said machine in the operating mode corresponding to said configuration data, wherein said interface means comprises a smart card reader and said portable element is a smart card.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
An office machine for processing mail items including mechanical elements for folding mail items and inserting them in envelopes, a data processing unit operating under the control of a configuration program to place said mechanical elements of said machine in a particular operating mode in accordance with configuration data, and interface means adapted to receive a portable external element including a memory and adapted to be inserted into an opening in said machine at the location of said interface means, in which machine said processing unit is adapted to read configuration data previously stored in said memory of said portable element when said machine is switched on with said portable element present in said interface means in order to place said mechanical elements of said machine in the operating mode corresponding to said configuration data, wherein said interface means comprises a smart card reader and said portable element is a smart card.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A machine according to claim 1, wherein said processing unit is adapted to disable operation of said machine if said portable element is absent from said interface means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said portable element is a user-replaceable element which a user inserts into the interface means after switching on said machine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A machine according to claim 1, wherein said data processing unit is adapted to command printing out of configuration data on a printer connected to said machine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A machine according to claim 1, wherein said data processing unit is adapted to store in said memory of said portable element inserted in said interface means data relating to franking operations obtained from a franking machine connected to said machine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
196 words
An office machine for processing mail items including mechanical elements for folding mail items and inserting them in envelopes, a data processing unit operating under the control of a configuration program to place said mechanical elements of said machine in a particular operating mode in accordance with configuration data, and interface means adapted to receive a portable external element including a memory and adapted to be inserted into an opening in said machine at the location of said interface means, in which machine said processing unit is adapted to read configuration data previously stored in said memory of said portable element when said machine is switched on with said portable element present in said interface means in order to place said mechanical elements of said machine in the operating mode corresponding to said configuration data, wherein said processing unit is adapted to disable operation of said machine if said portable element is absent from said interface means; and wherein said interface means are adapted to supply a signal to said data processing unit if said portable element is present and to supply a different signal to said data processing unit if said portable element is absent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
196 words
An office machine for processing mail items including mechanical elements for folding mail items and inserting them in envelopes, a data processing unit operating under the control of a configuration program to place said mechanical elements of said machine in a particular operating mode in accordance with configuration data, and interface means adapted to receive a portable external element including a memory and adapted to be inserted into an opening in said machine at the location of said interface means, in which machine said processing unit is adapted to read configuration data previously stored in said memory of said portable element when said machine is switched on with said portable element present in said interface means in order to place said mechanical elements of said machine in the operating mode corresponding to said configuration data, wherein said processing unit is adapted to disable operation of said machine if said portable element is absent from said interface means; and wherein said interface means are adapted to supply a signal to said data processing unit if said portable element is present and to supply a different signal to said data processing unit if said portable element is absent.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
EP0098742A2
Cited
EP0102704A2
Cited
EP0102699A2
Cited
FR2580842A1
Cited
US5045043A
Cited
FR2681847A1
Cited
US5388815A
Cited
US5445367A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-07-21 | 2001-01-20 | 2001-07-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-07-21 | 2005-01-20 | 2005-07-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-07-21 | 2009-01-20 | 2009-07-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |