FR2553548A1 - Mail franking method and device for carrying out this method - Google Patents

Abstract

Mail franking method and a device for carrying out this method, the franking apparatus 10 being coupled to a telephone set. THE ALLOCATION OF VALUES OR THE ACCOUNT OF POSTAL TAXES IS CARRIED OUT EITHER DIRECTLY BY THE TELEPHONE TAX COUNTER, OR BY ANOTHER POSTAL TAX COUNTER. THE POSTAGE MACHINE USES SEVERAL DEVICES PROVIDED WITH THE TELEPHONE UNIT, SUCH AS FOR example THE SELECTOR 30 AND THE DISPLAY SCREEN 16.

Description

Method for franking mail, and device

  to practice this process.

  The invention relates to a method of franking mail, and a device for practicing this method. Known franking machines are not profitable when the mail volume is low Likewise, machines with manual stamping can only be used profitably for a relatively large volume of mail Therefore, when the volume of mail mail is

  low, postage stamps are preferably used.

  Patent application DE 27 01 072 presents a small franking machine with microcomputer, the dimensions of which are such that it can be held and manipulated by hand, 15 and carried everywhere This franking machine is provided with a value allocated given, which is provided by a

  distribution of postage values.

  The disadvantage of such franking devices is that it is necessary to obtain the stamps or postage stamps 20 from an authorized center, or that it is necessary each time

recharge the tax accumulator.

  The object of the invention is to develop a franking system and an adequate franking apparatus which allows, in the event of a low volume of mail, an allocation of value and / or a statement of simple franking charges. , which is easy to handle, which allows large-scale distribution of the franking machine, even in private homes, and finally which provides great security

  postal service, both for customers and for the postal tax center.

  This is achieved by the fact that the device

  to be franked is coupled to a telephone set, the postage values used being directly counted by the tax center, via telephone lines, which the selector of the telephone set serves as

  selection of postage values, additional keys of the postage meter causing a change of function of the selector, and that a display unit is used to control the selected postage values. The invention is described below in more detail using the two attached figures, o: Figure 1 shows a postage meter integrated into a telephone set, and Figure 2 shows a postage meter

assistant to a telephone.

  The basic principle of the franking system is the coupling of a franking machine to a telephone set. Two different counting modes are provided 15 for the franking values used, depending on the

  method of taxation preferred by the postal administration.

  Thus, it is possible, according to a process known per se, that the charging center allocates a postage value via the telephone lines, this value being stored in memory by the postage meter, and the counting of the values used being carried out inside this device via a

  recording unit and storage unit.

  Another solution provides for the direct settlement by the tax center of the postage values used. After each impression of value, the postage value used by the postage meter is

  transmitted directly, via telephone lines; to a total counter located at the tax center.

  In either case, the tax meter assigned to each telephone subscriber who is in the telephone exchange can be used. This tax meter allows both an allocation of value (equal for example to a multiple of ten units of telephone charging) than a recording following each impression of value (corresponding to a lower number of telephone charging units) Postponements or balances due to the difference between the telephone charging units and the actual postage values are stored in the franking machine, and taken into account when printing

next value.

  The advantage of such a franking system is for the tax center in a low processing cost, and for the customer in an easy supply of constantly available franking values Even if a special counter is used for the postal taxes,

  installed in the telephone exchange or in a postal charging center, the statement of postal charges can be coupled with the statement of telephone charges.

  The postage meter can either be integrated into a telephone apparatus (FIG. 1), or consist of an auxiliary apparatus coupled to a telephone apparatus via an adapter (FIG. 2). The embodiments presented in FIGS. 1 and 2 are only examples. Thus, the franking machine can also be disposed on the side, in front of or below the telephone apparatus; of

  even, if it is an additional device, it can use the display screen which is possibly provided with the telephone device.

  The franking machine 10 has a slot 11 in which is placed the franking letter 20 (or the card, or a self-adhesive strip). envelopes The franking machine 10 also has keys (12 to 15) for controlling the various functions A franking key 12 is used to switch the telephone set to franking function Outgoing calls are then blocked, but we can answer calls at any time

Z 553548

  incoming Pressing the franking key 12 also changes the function of the keypad or dial for selecting the telephone set, which is now used to enter the franking value. The entered franking value appears on the display screen 16 The entry of an erroneous value is corrected by a new entry, an internal logic causing for example a zeroing of the display from the fourth digit entered, so that there is 10 not to press an additional erasing key The command key 13 triggers the printing of the franking, and at the same time the recording of the franked value at the tax center, or its transmission to the telephone charges counter, or its internal countdown with the allocated value When the various desired franking operations have been completed, an erase key 14 must be pressed, which resets the devices to their

  starting positions, the keyboard 30 thus returning to its initial function of telephone selector.

  If the franking machine has a value allocation memory, a value allocation key is required By pressing the franking key 12 and the value allocation key 15, the memory is entered by the keyboard 30 a multiple of the telephone taxa25 tion unit: the value to be allocated is displayed on the display screen 16, and the actuation of the command key 13 causes it to be stored, and at the same time to be recorded at tax center, or its transmission to the telephone tax meter. 30

Claims (10)

  1 Mail franking method, characterized in that the franking apparatus is coupled to a telephone set, the franking values used 5 being directly counted by the charging center, via the telephone lines, that the telephone set selector serves as a device for selecting franking values, additional keys on the franking machine causing the selector to change function and a display unit is used to   check the selected postage values.   2 Method according to claim 1, characterized in that according to a process known per se, the tax center allocates to the user, on request and through telephone lines, a postage value which is set memory in the meter, and each postage value used is subtracted of the stored value.   3 Method according to claim 1, characterized in that, after each impression of value by the franking machine, the franking values used are transmitted directly to the totalizing counter of the charging center. 4 Method according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that the postage values used are   recorded and deducted by the telephone charges counter.   Method according to any of the claims   1,2,4, characterized in that the allocated postage value 30 stored in the postage meter is   a multiple of the telephone charging unit.   6 Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the balances are kept in memory and added to the next allowance.   7 Method according to any one of claims   1 to 6, characterized in that the statement of postal charges   is coupled with the statement of telephone charges.   8 Device for practicing the method according to claim 1, characterized in that the postage meter (10) is integrated into a telephone set. 9 Device for practicing the method according to claim 1, characterized in that the postage meter (10) is an auxiliary device connected to the post telephone by an adapter.   10 Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the franking apparatus (10) is provided with a display screen (16).   11 Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the franking machine (10) uses the existing screen (16) of the telephone set.   12 Device according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the franking machine   (10) is provided with control keys (12 to 15) which control, when using the franking machine (10), blocking of outgoing telephone calls, changing the function of the selector (30), triggering of the impression   and the request for value allocation.