FR2622324A1 - POSTAGE APPARATUS HAVING AN ASSEMBLY FOR PROTECTING THE PRINTING MATRIX OF POSTAGE VALUES IN ORDER TO AVOID FRAUDULENT PRINTING - Google Patents

Abstract

A postage meter module has blades 500, 510 for protecting the matrix in order to prevent fraudulent printing of the postage. The first multitude of protective blades is retracted so as to expose the contiguous printing wheels 310 when the device proceeds to check its internal conditions. The rest of the slides are retracted under different conditions while the first slides are left behind to allow printing. Preferably, the rest of the blades are only retracted for a predetermined period of time after receiving a print signal. The matrix protection blades also serve to align the print wheels when the blades are recessed.

Description

1.

  The present invention relates to electro-

  postage in general, more particularly devices of the tray type, and a set for protecting the printing matrix of the postage values in order to avoid fraudulent printing.

  Electronic franking devices are known.

  such as a tray printer; these are described, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 4,579,054, which shows an isolated electronic mail delivery machine in which the electronic mailing apparatus postage is an integral part of the device. Other aspects

  of such a machine are described in US patents

  United States of America 4,535,407 and 4,523,523, among others.

  Particular concern with postage meters and mailing machines

  mail is to prevent unauthorized printing.

  More precisely, since the printing supposes that the post office has been paid for the delivery of the mail cover, the production of a printed matter which does not take account of the value will result in a loss of revenue for the post office to cover delivery costs. It will be noted that in the context of such a concern, numerous devices have been developed to solve the problems associated with the security of the printing matrix.

  The protection kits of the incorporated matrix

  various mechanical arms which protrude from the area of the matrix comprising the printing wheel so as to prevent a person from simply placing an envelope

  against the die to get an impression.

  U.S. Patent No. 2,795,186 shows a movable shield that can be lowered to protect the die from unauthorized printing at any time between printing operations. The shield completely covers the face of the value printing matrix when the printing mechanism is not in a foundational cycle and is locked in this position until the beginning of the cycle, at which point the shield moves to a position where the matrix is dl covered. U.S. Patent No. 4,559,444 teaches an interposition arrangement which extends in the upward direction from the plate to enter

  in the space in which you have to insert an envelope.

  These interposition arrangements are released from the path

  during a legitimate printing operation. The blades of the interposition arrangement are mechanically linked to the inking mechanism so as to release them from the path

  as the mail fold comes to its printing position

  if we. The patent application of the United States of America

  No. 508,356 and the United States of America patent application

  that n 523 507 which are the subject of a French patent application of the same date as the present application and in the name

  of the same plaintiff, describe inter-

  positions which are linked to the motor driving the printer platen to release it from the path, or are actuated

  by a power switch so as to be disengaged

  of the journey as long as the machine is powered on.

  While these known devices work well in particular environments in which one does not

  not expect the stage and the matrix to be physical

  only separated, in a modular device

  reil with its security matrix can be removed from the

  seems in which the plate is held, several dis-

  new security positions are created with regard to

  identifies the platform printer type postage meter. The electronic postage meter

  present invention is a typographic printing apparatus

  only with tray that can be removed from the shipping machine

  tion and in which new features have been incorporated

  protective covers of the matrix in order to protect it when the device is removed and the stage remains with

the shipping machine or base.

  In a preferred embodiment, the franking apparatus of the present invention has three

  independent matrix protection mechanisms to prevent

  ter fraudulent printing. To get the best results, the device will not actually perform a

  printing, but on the contrary will allow printing

  sions by the shipping machine, during a narrow "window" of time when all of the protection

of the matrix is removed.

  According to the present invention, the first device

  protective matrix cover includes a sliding plate

  health that completely covers the printing elements

  when the franking machine is removed from the machine

  mail shipping. In a pre-

  fairy, this plate can only be retracted if the franking machine is in place on a legitimate shipping machine. The second protection device includes

  protective blades of the matrix or inter arrangements.

  position which are adjacent to two of the print wheels, preferably to the high order print wheels. They

  are stuck in a position where they are protruding

  beyond the printing surface each time a withdrawal solenoid is de-energized. This mechanism protects the matrix

  against printing whenever the display unit

  crossing is not validated and ready to print. The Troisii

  protection mechanism, here called the alignment mechanism

  ment / protection, is similar to the second, but it is action born separately, and is locked in place at any time to the exce]

  tion of a time-controlled "window" when the

  pressure takes place. It is envisaged that the recognition of

  postage takes place at the beginning of each "fe-

be "like that.

  When the franking machine is removed from its machine, the three matrix protection mechanisms are unconditionally in place, and access to the matrix is not possible for printing or printing purposes.

  any other purpose. After installation on the machine, the pro-

  matrix tecticn is selectively removed from the ma-

  following method: 1.) A successful installation has the effect of retracting the matrix cover plate;

  2.) When the conditions of eligibility for the

  pressure are satisfied, i.e. when there is a

  suitable power and sufficient funds, etc., the la-

  matrix protection meshes are retracted, and finally, 3.) The alignment / protection blades are not

  temporarily extracted at the time of each accounting

  if the necessary conditions are met.

  When properly installed on the mail forwarding machine, during all normal operations, the franking machine communicates with the mailing machine via a communication channel. In one

  preferred embodiment, the shipping machine

  will make a request for the device to lift its

  protection / alignment of the matrix so that a print can be made, and an invalid device can reject the request and avoid all attempts to print. The present invention will be well understood during

  the following description in which:

  Figure 1 is an external perspective view

  an electronic postage meter according to the pre-

invention;

  Figure 2A is a perspective view of an apparatus

  franking post according to the present invention, shown

  felt in place on a mailing machine;

  Figure 2B shows a way to remove a device.

  franking post according to the present invention to get out of the mailing machine; Figure 3 is a bottom view of the franking apparatus which shows the sliding shutter covering the matrix when the franking apparatus is removed from the mailing machine;

  FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the matrix.

  this print and a solenoid operated deadbolt,

  with sliding shutter in the closed position. From-

  very internal assemblies of the device, with the exception of the matrix, are not shown for simplicity;

  Figure 4B is a perspective view of the apparatus

  franking post similar to that of FIG. 4A, showing the shutter sliding in its retracted position; FIG. 5 is a side view of a first embodiment of an actuation-removal mechanism for fixing the franking apparatus to the mail forwarding machine; 6. Figure 6 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the actuation-removal mechanism; Figure 7 is a partially exploded view of a

  appropriate internal configuration of the postage meter

  ment according to the present invention; Figure 8 is a block diagram of a computerized postage meter; Figure 9 is a block diagram

  of communication between the courier's shipping machine

  laugh and the franking machine; Figure 10 is a flow diagram of a communication program to release the deadbolt and allow retraction of the sliding plate; Figure 11 is a side view of the composition mechanism of the printing wheel in the franking machine; Figure 12 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of Figure 11; Figure 13 is a sectional view taken along line 13-13 of Figure 11; Figure 14 is a sectional view taken along line 14-14 of Figure 11; FIG. 15 is an embodiment of a protection arrangement of the matrix, in which the

  matrix protectors are arranged in a conti-

  gu to high order printing wheels;

  FIG. 16 represents an embodiment

  tion in which there is an alignment / protection mechanism for lower order printing wheels;

  Figure 17 is a flow diagram of the operation

  matrix protection blades for high order impres- sion wheels;

  Figure 13 is a flow diagram of the operation

  alignment / protection blades; 7.

  Figures 19A to 19H include a flowchart

  me for the functioning of the composition mechanism

printing wheels.

  In Figure 1, there is shown at 10 an apparatus

  postage electronics according to the present invention

  tion. The cover 12 of the housing 14 contains a keyboard and a display device 16. The keyboard and the

  viewing device are appropriately sem-

  similar to those represented in the United States patent

  America 4,097,923, incorporated herein by reference

  this. Preferably, the keyboard is of the classic monolithic type.

  sic and the viewing device is a device

  liquid crystal with a capacity of twelve digits.

  Note that the keys on the franking machine

  and display of registers is not necessary-

  limited to those shown here and can be changed

  to meet the needs of the postage meter

  is lying. When the apparatus 10 is installed on a mailing machine, the keyboard and the device for

  visualization can be hidden from the operator's view.

  Figure 2A is a perspective view of the apparatus

  franking post 10 mounted in a mailing machine

  mail or base 18 of the device. The shipping machine

  tion 18 comprises a printing plate 20 animated by a

  reciprocating movement by a motor 22 via

  re of a rack and pinion mechanism 24. A cover 26, when closed during normal operation,

  covers the franking machine. An intro module

  duction 28 introduces the mail folds into the base 18 which routes them to a space formed between the matrix

  30 which bears the signs of the display apparatus

  and the plate 20, as a result of which, with a

  alternately turn the plate upwards, an irpres-

  the signs are made on a mail fold such as 8. fold 32, shown as being ejected from the machine

mail dispatch.

  The drive arrangements of the stage are

  well known and are for example shown in the briefs

  vets from the United States of America 4,579,054 and 2,795,186.

  note, however, that with regard to the display

  chissement of the present invention, the plate 20 constitutes a part of the base 18 and the franking apparatus 10 comprises only the printing matrix 30. The expo machine

  Mail editing will not be described further except

  the parts necessary for the operation of the device

reil 10.

  In the preferred embodiment, the matrix

  is an elastomeric matrix so as to obtain

  provide the best possible print quality for a given force exerted on the platen. It will be noted, as is well known, that the printing matrix must be inked to print the signs. Inking mechanisms are known and these are also represented in the

  United States patents just cited.

  Preferably, the inking mechanism (which is not shown

  also remains attached to the base 18. We notice

  quera that this mechanism could constitute a part of

the postage meter.

  Figure 2B shows the postage meter

  when it is removably mounted on the base 18. The device is inserted into a socket 34 which is pivotally mounted on the base 18. When the device is inserted into the socket 34, a connector 36 of the socket mates

  to a corresponding connector 38 (not shown in fig-

  re 2B) of the franking machine 10.

  Connectors 36 and 38 are used to establish the

  munication between the shipping machine 18 and the apparatus 10 and also preferably make it possible to supply the franking apparatus. A suitable communication system 9. is described in the patent of the United States of America

  No. 4,301,507, which is incorporated here for reference.

  The communication between the units as described in this patent is an asynchronous communication by serial characters, synchronous bits, in the form of messages, with the bits of the timed messages in accordance

  with a given program for a synchronous command.

  We will understand that other pro-

  well known procedures and communication devices in

art, if applicable.

  Now in connection with FIG. 3, which shows

  feels a bottom view of the franking apparatus, a sliding plate or shutter 40 is slidably mounted on the housing 12 and locked in the closed position illustrated by means of a deadbolt 42, preferably subjected to a spring which extends into a

  hole-44 formed in the shutter 40. The shutter is released

  re by the actuation of a solenoid 46 (shown in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B), but it will be noted that one can use, as a variant or in addition to the deadbolt actuated by solenoid, a means such as 'a

  locking mechanism controlled by motor, actuated by cam.

  Figures 4A and 4B are perspective views

  of the franking apparatus with the shutter 40 shown

  felt like covering the print matrix 30 and in

  the retracted position, the matrix being exposed.

  In order to avoid access to the deadbolt 42 from the outside, it will be noted that the hole 44 may be a blind hole or a bore made in the interior of

the shutter 40.

  As noted earlier, the display apparatus

  crossing of the present invention is a tray printer with elastomeric printing dies,

  and the plate and the inking mechanism preferably remain

  this integral with the shipping machine. In order to 10. protect the printing matrix in such a configuration, whenever the franking machine is removed from the mailing machine, in accordance with the present invention, all printing elements are automatically covered by the shutter 40.

  This shutter which covers the matrix is not retracted, com-

  me it was discussed above, that when the camera

  crossing is in place on a legit shipping machine. The matrix cover or shutter 40

  is one of three independent protective mechanisms

tion of the matrix.

  It should also be noted that the matrix remains-

  ra protected against fraudulent printing by other protection mechanisms. However, the exposure of the printing matrix 30 could be further violated in order to modify certain designs of the signs or allow its damage or the exposure of the operator to ink.

from the matrix.

  Figure 5 is a side view of an embodiment of a 2o start-remove mechanism 1 pot franking. A carrying handle 48 (not shown in the previous figures) is pivotally mounted on the apparatus 10 to an axis 50. A slot 52

  formed in the handle can be used to receive a pin

  coupling (not shown) of base 18 when the device

  reil swivels down as illustrated in fig.

  re 5, and that the handle 48 is rotated in a clockwise direction. It will be noted that at this junction, the franking machine 10 is connected to the base 18 via connectors 36 and 38 and is locked to the base by engagement

  in the slot 52 of the base coupling axis.

  With the franking machine and the base placed in the operating position, communication is established and by the use of "link establishment 11." messages between the franking machine and the base,

  there is a determination that a correct display apparatus

  crossing is in the rest position on a legitimate basis. Consequently, the bolt 42 (not shown in FIG. 5) is retracted, preferably only during

  a predetermined duration. With the retracted bolt, the shutter

  Tor 40 can be moved rearward (to the right of Figure 5. In the illustrated embodiment, this is done by means of a flexible cable 54 having a handle 56 that the operator can grasp. The cable is suitably mounted on the socket 34 by convenient means (not shown) The other end of the cable is

  connected to a traction slide 58, mounted behind the scenes

  ment on the base 18 by means of a convenient means (also not shown). The side wall 60 supports an axis 62 and an axis 64. With the franking apparatus

  in the rest position, i.e. in the inactive position

  illustrated, the axis 62 engages in the slot 66 of the

  slide 58. When slide 58 is moved by the ope-

  by pulling the flexible cable forward, the shutter

  tor 40 will also be retracted to uncover the matrix

shown in 30.

  During the movement of the shutter 40, the axis 64 will engage in the slot 67 of the handle 48 to prevent the device from being lifted from its operating position when the shutter is retracted. So,

  to remove the device 10, the operator must push the cable

  flexible hose forward so as to push the shutter

  to put it in position, again covering the ma-

  trice 30. The deadbolt 42 is spring loaded and re-engages in the hole 44 of the shutter to block

  the latter in the safety position.

  Other methods and devices can be used to retract the shutter. FIG. 6 represents an alternative embodiment in which the device 12.

  has been installed by lowering it vertically-

  lying in the base. In Figure 6, the mechanism is shown in its middle position after installation of the franking device and locking in position but before removing the shutter. The device represented in this embodiment is placed vertically on the base in the downward direction with the square axis 100 of the device being at its front and the axis 110 of the handle 120 released for an upward and downward movement. of the device in relation to the base. A cam surface 130 of the device captures the axis 110 and while the lever is pulled by the operator towards the front of the device, the vertical part of the cam surface 130 is pushed towards the operator so that

  the axis 100 engages in the slot 140. At this stage, the apparatus

  reil is locked in place and communication between it and the base is established as described in connection with

  Figure 5. With "appropriate establishment of the link-

  son ", the deadbolt rises to allow a new movement of the handle. An axis 160 which will be mounted on the rotator is also brought into contact with a wall 17C Preferably, a lip or inclined element shown in s' also engages in a 210 slot to block

the device on the base.

  While the handle 120 continues to move forward, a sector 220 is engaged with a pinion 230 which drives a rack 240 fixed to an element 26 which supports the wall 170. The plate of the shutter is moved towards the rear by the action of the wall 170 on the axis 160 until the handle is stopped by the cam face 130 and the shutter has exposed the printing matrix. Other means for blocking in place the franking apparatus and for effecting the withdrawal of the shutter can be envisaged depending in part on d 13.

  how the device should be installed.

  It will be noted that the various operations for removing the shutter which have been described here as being carried out

  by the operator can be motorized, if necessary.

  Figure 7 is a partially exploded view of a

  franking apparatus according to the present invention.

  The apparatus 10 is shown with the cover 12 and the screen

  vier and the display device high compared to

  background to expose the arrangement of the equipment of the apparatus.

  The connector 38 couples to printed circuit boards 300 which include the accounting functions

  and ordering the printing described below.

  Printing wheels 310 are driven by

  stepper motors 320 in an arrangement which is also described

  below. A date set 330, a counter 340 and

  a slogan printer 350 are also provided according to ne-

  cessation. Preferably, a door 360 allows access to printers. Figure 8 is a block diagram of a computerized postage meter. The system is controlled by a microprocessor which basically comprises a central processing unit (CPU) executing the

  accounting, comm7, ande functions

  printing wheels, matrix protection and

  communication with the base and other nC- devices

  dealers. Three types of memory arrays are used with the CPU. A permanent PM memory which can

  be a read only memory (ROM) or a programmed read only memory

  ble (PROM) stores the sequence of program operations to be executed by the central processing unit for its calculations

  accountants and its control functions. A temporary memory

  raire TM which is a random access memory (RAM)

  cke data and results of calculations on a basis

  temporary until stored in a memory

  retentive NVM. This memory can be a selective access memory 14. a programmable erasable electronic memory, an electrically alterable read-only memory, or a silicon metal-nitrideoxide memory with auxiliary battery,

  or be any combination if two memories are used

  res or more. Preferably, at least two non-volatile memories are used and the accounting data of the transaction

* is stored in non-volatile memory for each transaction

tion.

  An appropriate process for such accounting

  tion is shown in US Patent No. 4,484,307. Other accounting methods are described in United States Patent No. 3,978,457. Funds can also be placed in memory or be retrieved from memory by a means

  such as that described in the United States patent

  than No. 4,097,923, more especially incorporated herein as

reference.

  The system according to the present invention can function

  operate in accordance with a data entry via the

  keyboard and display device 16 and display information thereon, or it can receive and transmit information to the courier shipping machine or other device via the connector 38 as shown in Figure 9. The keyboard and the display device could be, in a preferred embodiment, used only for reading the various registers of the franking apparatus and / or for replenishing funds of the apparatus and for various accounting controls and operations that may be necessary when the franking machine is not installed on its base. When the device is mounted on its base, the central unit, in accordance with the data it receives from the base, operates the

  320 stepper motors for the composition of the print wheels

  sion 310 represented in FIG. 8 by a block SP and controls 15. also the other protection devices of the matrix so that the printing of the franking can take place. These operations are indicated in a PP block. FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the communication between the franking machine 10 and the mailing machine 18. As mentioned above

  previously mentioned, it is preferred that all communications

  are done through the protocol described

  in U.S. Patent No. 4,301,507.

  Figure 10 is a flow chart for release

  deadbolt 42 allowing withdrawal of the shutter.

  Once it has been determined that the display unit

  crossing is on an appropriate basis, the soleno-

  de is operated for a predetermined period of time in order to

  allow the operator to move the shutter.

  Figures 11 to 14 show the composition mechanism of the print wheels. This mechanism includes five gear trains driven by motors. Five stepping motors (each designated by the reference 320 because the

  drive trains are similar for each print wheel

  sion) are mounted on walls 400, each motor driven

  an associated printing wheel 310 via sprockets

  pectives 410, encoder gears 420, gears

  transfer 430, and print wheel gears 440

  fixed to the wheels 310. Each gear train comprises

  te a two-channel detector-coder designated by 480. The

  encoder gears 420, made of soft plastic material

  They include 10-tooth gears which are engaged with transfer gears 430 and twenty-tooth gears which are engaged with pinions 410 together with planar wheel parts which extend

in detectors 480.

  Each detector channel includes a source,

  for example an infrared emitting diode and a detector

  tor, a photodiode with its associated circuit. Such detectors are conventional and will not be described further. Preferably, the encoder wheel operates to produce ten transitions per revolution as it passes through the detector and through each detector channel

  alternately blocks and unblocks radiation from

  from the source. This results in two transitions in the detector (one for each channel of the detector to

  two channels) for each movement of a digit.

  The channels are physically separated so that

  during the rotation of the encoder wheel, the outputs of the

  are in phase quadrature (the output of one of the

  detectors is ahead or behind the output of the

  be a quarter cycle detector).

  The pinions 410 of the motors are pinions with twelve teeth fixed to their shaft and are in engagement with the

420 encoder gears.

  The stepper motors 320 execute a full revolution in 24 steps; this, by transmission by the previously described gear train, requires 4 steps of the motor

  for moving a digit of the print wheel.

  In this embodiment, the stepping motors are four-phase motors preferably driven by

  drive circuits in a two-phase mode. We discuss below

  below the engine control sequence in conjunction

  with the composition charts of the print wheels

  if we. Each print wheel 320 is conveniently a plastic component which forms a substrate for the molded rubber print characters placed

  on the periphery of the wheel, this periphery being desi-

  referenced 450. The print wheel includes

  also a 10 tooth 440 gear which is also used

  if as described below for wheel alignment it

pressure when printing.

  17. It will be understood that the composition mechanism

  also takes into account the decimal point shift

  the between the print wheels of the middle digit and the print wheel of the last significant digit to obtain the various required postage values. The transfer gears 430 are thirty-tooth gears, suitably made of molded plastic material,

  which are engaged with the gears 440 of the imp

  pressure and the gears 420 to 10 teeth of the encoder. The transfer gears have a projection 460 which in conjunction with a fixed member 470 of the housing provides an end stop or zero reference position for

the mechanism.

  When the projection 460 of the transfer gears is contiguous with the stopper 470, there is a known fixed value on the plane of the printing matrix. Note that with the 30 teeth of the transfer gear engaged with the 10 teeth of the print wheel gear, it

  there will be three rotations of the print wheels for one rotation

  tion of the transfer gear. Because of the particular implementation of the end stop, there is in this

  embodiment 26 positions of the transmission gear

  fert which correspond to the positions of the 10 digits of the print wheel. According to the present invention, it takes advantage of the fact that a particular composition of the digits is available at a multitude of positions of the transfer gear to obtain the shortest travel path.

  possible from the transfer gear and make the composi-

  tion of the characters on each print wheel.

  In the embodiment shown in these figures

  res, u-an solenoid 490 lifts tandem blades 495 to pro-

  tection of the matrix so as to allow the printing of the postage value. While this arrangement normally works well in conventional tray printers, there is further provided in the apparatus 18.

  franking of the present invention another pro-

  tection of the matrix as shown more particularly

  especially in connection with Figures 15 and 16.

  Figure 15 is a perspective view of the mete

  matrix protection mechanism. According to the present invention, two blades 500 and 510 for protecting the matrix are placed at a place contiguous to the two printing wheels, the highest of the group 310 of wheels. When the postage meter is logically unable to accept a

  request for printing, these two blades protrude beyond.

  the print plan of the print items

  the execution of a fraudulent printing by the matrix.

  The special conditions under which,

  for example, the postage meter may be disabled

  include the lack of power, insufficient funds, the selection of a current value within which the high order print wheels should be moved and

  various error situations that are detected.

  As shown in Figure 15, the la-

  mes 500 and 510 are pivotally fixed to a shaft 520 and at the opposite end are engaged via an axis 530 which is held in an S-shaped slot 540 formed in an element 550 fixed to the frame 560 of the solenoid 570. The

  solenoid 570 is under the direct control of the microprocessor

  sister. When the solenoid is energized, it attracts the element 550 against the force of a spring (not shown) and the upper part of the slot 540 lifts the protective blades of the matrix. The blades will remain in the withdrawn position until the microprocessor de-energizes the solenoid or until there is no power. When the blades are retracted, they

  perform the other function of holding the two impellers

  high order pressure to improve their alignment.

  Figure 16 shows a protective mechanism

  additional tion of the matrix which includes a set of 19.

  protruding blades, here called alignment / protection blades

  tion, which are only set back for a short interval

  time during each print operation. Befor-

  ference, this withdrawal coincides with the accounting operation of the postage meter. According to the present invention, the alignment / protection blades, represented at 600,

  610 and 620 are arranged near the printing wheels.

  lower order sion. The three blades are normally

  locked in position as represented by the tooth in sail-

  lie 630 of a rotary cam-640. A 650 solenoid, when

  that it is admitted under tension, turns cam 640 to

  clear tooth 630 and raise the alignment / protection blades

  tion by coming into contact of a tooth 660 of the cam 640

  with a 67Q tooth of the matrix protection blades.

  The rotation of the cam 640 is also carried out against

  be of a spring (not shown) so that in the event of

  failure the cam will return to the blocking position.

  It will be noted that the actuation of these two types of protection of the matrix can be done by means of one or the other type of mechanism described here and is not limited.

  to one or the other process insofar as there is obtain-

blocking.

  For operation, the three blades are standard-

  stuck in the protruding position and additional forces

  plicated from the outside cannot cause their removal.

  When the shipping machine communicates a request

  the postage meter will take the

  requires consideration and based on availability

  funds and other printing criteria, and if accepted

  tion, will energize the solenoid and cause the alignment / protection blades to be removed for a timed period during which the mailing machine will be able to ink the matrix and print. Preferably, the alignment / protection blades exercise the auxiliary function of maintaining and aligning the wheels 20.

lower order printing.

  Figures 17 and 18 are flow diagrams for the operation of the matrix protector and / or alignment / protection mechanisms. The operation of each has been described and is believed to be unnecessary.

  re to describe the organizational charts in more detail.

  Figures 19A-19H show the operation

  ment of the composition mechanism of the print wheels shown and described in conjunction with Figures 11-14. The ganigram ox represents the functioning of the mechanism for

  enjoy the shortest route to the new compound

  sition. This is of great interest in increasing

  the speed of composition necessary for the flow of an apparatus

  postage meter according to the present invention in order to

  reduce energy consumption.

  Figure 19A shows the normal program

  for the composition of the printing wheels

  franking machine. According to this program, a success flag (step 1) is first erased and a flag indicating whether the position of the print wheels is known is checked (step 2). If the known position flag (step 3) is initialized, a software initialization program is called (step

  4). An SDIGITS subroutine calculates the distance of the figures

  fres for the five groups of printing wheels (step 5)

  and when this calculation is complete, a postage program

  SSTEP is called (step 6). At the end of this pro-

  gram, the position is checked again (step 7) and

  it is known, (step 8), the success flag is initialized

sé (step 9).

  FIG. 19B represents the SDIGITS subroutine which calculates the distance of displacement and its direction that each wheel of numbers must travel by subtracting the value of the postage currently initialized, stored as old value from the desired value stored 21. as new value (step 1). As mentioned in the

  discussion of Figures 11 to 14, each print position

  character of the print wheels is associated

  at multiple positions of the transfer gears.

  Thus, in accordance with the program, with the exception of the mo-

  o the initialization mechanism of the display device

  change is itself initialized, ten (10) is added to the new

  calf figure (step 3) to place the new number in the

  central decade of the transfer wheel. The present value

  the compound in the print wheel is subtracted from

  the new value thus obtained to obtain the difference

  this (DIFF) (step 4). The sign resulting from the subtrac-

  tion is then stored (step 5) so as to determine the

  direction in which the print wheels should move

cer.

  A test is then carried out to find out whether the initia-

  Readout is in progress (step 6). If yes, the program

  comes to the main loop. If initialization is not in progress, the DIFF difference is tested to see if it is greater than five (5) (step 7). If DIFF is five (5) or less, the program returns to the loop

  main. If the test result shows that the difference

  it is greater than five (5), the DIFF difference is tested

  again to see if it's greater, equal, or in-

  holiday at ten (step 8). If the result is ten (10), DIFF is made zero (0) and the program returns to the main loop. If it is greater than ten (10), ten (10) is subtracted from the difference (step 9), and the result is retested. If DIFF is then less than ten (10), the direction is tested (step 10) to see if the print wheels should move in the direction

ascending (11) or descending (12).

  If the wheel is to move in the upward direction

  In this case, the initialized value plus (ten minus DIFF) is tested (step 3) and if it is less than or equal to twenty-six (26), 22. the direction is reversed (step 14) and DIFF is made equal to ten ( 10) minus DIFF (step 15). Otherwise, the program returns

to the main loop.

  If the direction is descending, then the initialized value minus (10 minus DIFF) is tested as being greater than or equal to zero (0) (step 16) and if this is the case, the direction is then reversed and DIFF is made equal to ten (10

  minus DIFF. Otherwise, the program returns to the main loop.

blade.

  Figure 19C shows the SSTEP subroutine.

  This subroutine will move the print wheels by the number of digits specified in the SDIGITS program and in the

  meaning specified in this subroutine. In this subroutine-

  me, the known position flag is cleared (step 1) and the required number of steps is calculated by multiplying the distance of the digits by four (4) because the stepper motor moves four (4) steps for each digit (2nd step). The

  position of the wheel in the detector transitions is -

  then calculated as twice the initial value

  sée. This is determined for each group. At this junction, the SMOTOR subprogram (step 4) is called to supply 1 step pulses to the stepper motor in order to drive the printing wheels. The position of the digit wheels is calculated from their position in the detector transitions which have been kept updated during the

  displacement, divided by two (2), because as mentioned before-

  yield, there are two detector transitions per digit (step 5). The calculation is checked (step 6) to see if it is an exact multiple of two (2) and if it is not the case

  an error program is called. If this is the case, the

  their initialized is stored (step 7). A program then follows to check whether the initialization is done (step 8 and if not, the printing value is made equal to the initialized value (step 9). The printing value is checked to determine if it is greater or equal to ten (10) 23. (step 10); if so, the print value is

  made equal to the print value minus ten (10) (

  eg 11) and is checked again.

  If the print value is less than ten (10), the program checks that

  the print value is now equal to the new

  the value (step 12) and if this is not the case, a program-

  error me is called. If the answer is yes, the subpro-

  gram determines if there are any groups left at initiali-

  ser (step 13). If there are any, the position of the wheels for the new group is checked until there are no more

  of groups to check. The known position flag is ini-

  tialized before return (step 14).

  Figure 19D shows the SMOTOR subroutine for providing step-by-step pulses to each motor. Each motor receives an output on a base

  sequential during the composition cycle for groups

  pes print wheels. For each group (step 1), the motor steps are checked (step 2) and if they are greater than zero (0), an output is then initialized

  (step 3) so that the motor moves one step and a dra-

  skin "exit ready" (step 4) and a flag "waiting for mid-

  nuterie "(step 5) are initialized. The monitoring program

  SSENDS detector lance is called (step 6) and a control

  is done to see if another group should be started

tialized (step 7).

  If at the verification of the motor steps (step 2), the group indicates zero steps (0) to be carried out, the program connects to establish a data for the holding coil of the present position (step 8) and a holding counter

  is decremented (step 9). If the counter has not reached zero

  ro (0) (step 10), the program returns to the main loop

  SMOTOR blade and the "output ready" flag and the "wait for timer" flag are initialized and the detector monitoring program is called again. If the 24. counter has been decremented to zero (0), the flag is then initialized for zero (0) (step 11), and the "timer wait" flag is initialized with no "output ready" flag. The program runs until all the zero flags (0) are initialized (step 12),

  when it returns to the main loop.

  Figure 19E shows the SSENDS routine which monitors the detector channels so that

  update the actual wheel positions. In this sub-

  o10 program, each group detector is read (step 1) and

  there is a determination that a transition has been made

  te (step 2). If the answer is yes, the meaning is dCtermin-

  born (step 3) by checking the sequence of transi-

  tion.s of the two-channel detector and if the direction is des-

  centering (step 4), one is subtracted from the wheel position (step 5) and if the direction is ascending (step 6), one is added to the wheel position (step 7). At this point, the "wait timer" flag is checked (step 8)

  and if it is deleted, the program returns to the main loop

  cipal. If the "wait timer" flag is not effective

  face, the next group is then read.

  If no transition is detected (step 2),

  there x then check the erasure of the flag "at-

  timer attempt ". If erasing occurs, the program will

come to the main loop.

  Figure 19F shows the interrupt program.

tion. of the timer.

  Figure 19G shows the subroutine for

  the initialization of the print wheels. In this program-

  me, the new value is made equal to twenty-six (26) for each wheel (step 1) and the transfer gear

  is driven to the stop. At this point, the flag "po-

  known position "is checked (step 2) and if the flag" po-

  known position "is not initialized, the initialized value is set to zeros (0) (step 3). If the flag of 25. known position is initialized (step 4), the de-setting step

zeros is skipped.

  The initialization flag is then set (step 5), the common initialization program is called (step 6) and the subroutines (steps 7-14) go on to check the positions of the print wheels at the

  middle and opposite ends. At this point, the postage

  initialized current is made equal to zero (0) (sta-

  eg 15) and after erasing the initialization flag (step 16), the known position is tested (step 17), and if the position is known, the success flag (step 18) is initialized. Otherwise, the success flag is not.

  and in both cases the program returns to the main loop

  cipal. FIG. 19E represents the COMIN subroutine,

  subroutine for common initialization. This program-

  is common to all of the motor driver circuits and it initializes the registers and sets the timer for

  - interruption at predetermined times.

  The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments which have just been described, it

  is on the contrary susceptible to modifications and varian-

  those who will appear to those skilled in the art.

26.

Claims (10)

  1 - Matrix protection arrangement in a franking apparatus (10) comprising a matrix   printing elements (30) having printing elements of a   their franking, characterized in that it comprises: - blades (500, 510; 600, 610, 620) for protecting the matrix arranged at a place contiguous to the printing elements (320) and extending normally outwards beyond a printing plane defined by the matrix and the printing elements, the blades being blocked to prevent correct printing any way they are in this extended position; - a first multitude of etan blades   retracted when at least one pre-   better situation; and - the rest of the blades being retracted when there is at least one second situation different from the first while the first multitL   of blades is set back, from which it follows that an im-   correct pressure is allowed by the removal of all the blades when the first and second situations have occurred.   2 - Arrangement according to claim 1, character-   se in that printing and accounting are under the   control of a microprocessor (figure 8) and in that the re-   feature of the first multitude and the rest of the blades is com- managed by the microprocessor.   3 - Arrangement according to claim 2, character-   se in that the microprocessor operates the first multitu-   of blades only after determination under the first   situation of the absence of malfunction of the postage meter.   4 - Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized 27.   in that the first multitude of blades is arranged near   mite printing elements (310) bearing numbers   high order for postage values.   - Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the protective blades also perform the   straightening of the printing elements when they are   towed to align the printing elements with the my.   6 - Arrangement according to claim 1, character-   se in that the first situation is a lack of funds in the franking machine.   7 - Arrangement according to claim l, character-   se in that the second situation is a signal that   a print cycle must be performed.   8 - Arrangement according to claim 7, character-   dried in that the rest of the blades are only retracted for   a predetermined time after the signal.   9 - Mechanism of protection of matrix under com-   control of a microprocessor in an electronic display device   crossing (10) having a printing die (30) and printing wheels (310) thereon for printing   values, printing values and accounting for them   tion being controlled by at least one microprocessor, characterized in that it comprises: - blades (500,510; 600,610,620) arranged near the printing wheels and normally extending outwards beyond a plane of printing defined by the matrix and the printing elements, the blades being blocked to avoid printing whenever they are in the extended position; - a first multitude of blades being   retracted under the microprocessor control, when   only first situations, none of which   operation of the postage meter have been tested; and 28. - the rest of the blades are retracted when a print request signal occurs while the first multitude of blades is in re where it results that a correct impression is per by removing the protective blades . - Mechanism according to claim 9, characterized in that the protective blades (600, 610, 620) proceed   the alignment of the print wheels.   11 - Mechanism according to claim 10O, characterized in that the protective blades are actuated by a solenoid (570; 650).   12 - Mechanism according to claim 9, characterized in that the rest of the blades are only retracted during one   predetermined duration after reception of the signal.