Patent · US Expired

Disabling a mailing machine when a print head is not installed

US5956051A · kind A · utility

102Cited by

2References

12Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Pitney Bowes Inc. · US

Inventors

Brad L. Davies · Trumbull, US
George T. Monroe · Seymour, US
Maria P. Parkos · Southbury, US

Key dates

Filing date	May 29, 1997
Grant date	Sep 21, 1999
Priority date	—
Expiry date	May 29, 2017

Classification

Technology area (CPC G)Physics
CPC primaryG07B2017/00322
WIPO fieldControl
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Mailing machine including a controller, a printer module including a connector, a print head controller for producing print data signals necessary to print a postal indicia on an envelope and a replaceable print head cartridge having a plurality of print elements which are selectively energizable in response to the print data signals. The print head cartridge is detachably mounted to the connector. The controller in operative communication with the printer module for: determining if a valid print head cartridge is installed; and if a valid print head cartridge is not installed, preventing the print data signals from reaching the connector.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.