Electronic postage meter having interlock between mechanical and electrical registers
US4573174A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 7, 1982 |
| Grant date | Feb 25, 1986 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 7, 2002 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07B2017/00677
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An electronic postage meter includes electronic circuitry for providing an accounting of the number of mailpieces imprinted with postage, and the amount of postage imprinted on such mailpieces. An electro-optic sensor connects with a mechanical drive of a printing drum of the meter to sense successive rotations of the printing drum, one rotation occurring for each imprinting of postage. A comparison circuit compares the one-bit signal provided by the electro-optic sensor with the least significant bit of a count of the mailpieces, which count is provided electronically by the accounting function. Any discrepancy between the least significant bit of the mechanical count and the least significant bit of the electronic count serves as a warning of a malfunction, or of tampering, of the postage unit. An error-signal circuit connected to the comparison circuit terminates operation of the meter upon the occurrence of a discrepancy between the mechanical and electrical counts.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.