Microcomputerized miniature postage meter

Schwartz

[45] Sep. 18, 1979

[54] MICROCOMPUTERIZED MINIATURE POSTAGE METER

[75] Inventor: Leon J. Schwartz, Monsey, N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Pitney-Bowes, Inc., Stamford, Conn.

[21] Appl. No.: 785,265

[22] Filed: Apr. 6, 1977

Related U.S. Application Data

[63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 649,152, Jan. 14, 1976.

[51] Int. CI.2 G06F 3/12; GO ID 15/18;

G06F 7/48

[52] U.S. a 364/900; 346/1;

346/75; 364/705

[58] Field of Search ... 364/200 MS File, 900 MS File,

364/705; 346/1, 75

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

3,656,169 4/1972 Kashio 346/75 X

3,803,628 4/1974 Brimer et al 346/75 X

3,816,730 6/1974 Yamamoto et al 364/705

3,869,986 3/1975 Hubbard 346/75 X

3,911,818 10/1975 Macllvaine 346/75 X

Primary Examiner—Raulfe B. Zache

Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Donald P. Walker; William

D. Soltow, Jr.; Albert W. Scribner

[57] ABSTRACT

A microeomputerized, miniature postage meter comprises an ink jet printing device adapted to project ink

droplets onto a document. A microcomputer, which performs the control and data processing functions of the meter, includes a logic circuit programmed to actuate the ink jet printing device to project ink droplets on the document in a postage indicia forming pattern. In the preferred form of the postage meter, the ink jet printing device is mounted to be moved in close operative proximity relative to the document and the microcomputer is programmed to sequentially actuate the printing device during this relative movement. The movement of the printing device relative to the document is detected by an encoded rotating wheel mounted on the lower contact surface of the printing device. The rotating wheel is coupled to an interrupter disc means which is adapted to provide signal pulses for coordinating the proper time for actuation of the printing device. In addition an optical monitor may be provided to monitor the fact that the printing has occurred. A postage memory register includes a random access memory (RAM) for storing a purchased amount of postage. During each meter use the microprocessor subtracts the amount of postage printed from the amount of postage stored in the memory register. When the amount of postage stored in the memory register is depleted to a predetermined minimum amount the microprocessor senses this condition and provides a signal for inhibiting the further use (lock-out) of the printing device and thus, the meter.

31 Claims, 23 Drawing Figures