Postage meter system having a controlled level of ink
US7458653B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 12, 2005 |
| Grant date | Dec 2, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 3, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07B2017/00556
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method of disabling operation of a disposable print module that has an ink reservoir and a plurality of ink ejection nozzles including unused nozzles, and that serves to be mounted on a base of a postage meter, the method including the following steps: forming, in a prior step, a residual ink level counter using a determined first group of the unused nozzles; determining the volume of ink consumed; destroying one of the unused nozzles of the residual ink level counter every time the print module is mounted on a different postage meter base; destroying one of the unused nozzles of ink consumed exceeds a predetermined ink level; and disabling operation of the print module when all of the unused nozzles of the residual ink level counter have been destroyed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.