Method for printing address labels using a secure indicia printer

• US 20080053329A1
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Pauly, Steven J., Kaye, Steven M., Pierce, Jeffrey D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,736,897 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 101/484
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/4075 Tape printers; Label printers
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00508 Printing or attaching on mailpieces printing mechanisms B41J; security printing B41M3/14; marking methods B41M5/00; inks C09D11/00; record carriers with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00596 Printing of address

Abstract

Printing methods and systems that provide both a secure value label printing mode of operation and a non-secure mode of operation that allows generic printing of non-value items without compromising the security feature of the secure printing mode are described. If the printing system determines the image is a non-secure image such as an address label or other non-value graphic, the printing system utilizes the non-secure mode and disables the use certain printhead elements. In such a system, the enforced print disabled white bands are enforced in non-secure mode such as by actually disabling the print drive mechanism that allows a row to be printed or by populating certain regions of the print buffer with zero values.

Claims

1. A secure value printer for interchangeably printing in one of at least two modes including a secure print mode and a non-secure print mode comprising:

a printing subsystem having a plurality of print elements;

a controller and memory, the controller including program instructions for causing the driving of at least some of the plurality of print elements and for causing the controller to control the secure value printer for;

determining if the secure value printer requires a non-secure mode for a current printing operation; and

if the secure value printer requires a non-secure mode for the current printing operation, setting a mode to enforce disabled regions in the current print operation.

2. The printer of claim 1, wherein

setting the mode to enforce disabled regions in the current print operation includes disabling at least one print element of the printer.

3. The printer of claim 1, further comprising:

the memory configured for holding a print buffer including at least some of a print image to be printed in the current print operation, and wherein

setting the mode to enforce disabled regions in the current print operation includes filling at least a portion of the print buffer with a disabling value.

4. The printer of claim 3, further comprising:

filling at least two distinct band portions of the print buffer with a disabling value.

5. The printer of claim 4, further comprising:

filling at least two distinct band portions of the print buffer across the entire image with a disabling value.

6. A method for a printing using a secure value printer capable of interchangeably printing in one of at least two modes including a secure print mode and a non-secure print mode using a printing subsystem having a plurality of print elements comprising:

determining if the secure value printer requires a non-secure mode for a current printing operation; and

if the secure value printer requires a non-secure mode for the current printing operation, setting a mode to enforce disabled regions in the current print operation.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein:

setting the mode to enforce disabled regions in the current print operation includes disabling at least one print element of the printer.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein:

the secure value printer includes a memory configured for holding a print buffer including at least some of a print image to be printed in the current print operation, and wherein

setting the mode to enforce disabled regions in the current print operation includes filling at least a portion of the print buffer with a disabling value.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

filling at least two distinct band portions of the print buffer with a disabling value.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

filling at least two distinct band portions of the print buffer across the entire image with a disabling value.

11. A method for a printing using a secure value printer capable of interchangeably printing in one of at least two modes including a secure print mode and a non-secure print mode using a printing subsystem having a plurality of print elements comprising:

determining if the secure value printer requires a non-secure mode for a current printing operation; and

if the secure value printer requires a non-secure mode for the current printing operation, presenting a user with a selection of non-secure mode templates;

receiving an indication of a selection from the user; and

setting the non-secure mode to utilize the selected template.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

Force filling the print buffer in accordance with the selected template.