Franking machine
US5191533A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 7, 1990 |
| Grant date | Mar 2, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 7, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07B2017/00701
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
To obviate the need for reading a postage rate table for franking purposes, its content is stored in the memory of the central control unit of the franking machine and the franking value is calculated in the computer of the central control unit on the basis of the entry of the weight of the article to be franked and is automatically set. Weight entry can take place automatically by an electronic balance connected across an interface or manually using entry keys (21-25) after setting the entry mode by a special key ("ENTER WT", 180). For calculating the franking value it is possible to input into the franking machine control unit further informations influencing the rate concerning the destination, size of the article to be franked and dispatch type by using surcharge keys (118, "DEST"; 120, "SIZE"; 56, "AIR"; 57, "EXP"; 58, "REG"). A main display (65) is used for the weight display, as well as the display of the calculated and mechanically set franking value.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.