Multiple carrier mailing machine
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A mailing machine for printing postal indicia as evidence of postage payment on a mail piece comprising:
- a printer subsystem having at least one print head for printing the postal indicia on the mail piece;
a first processor operatively connected to the printer subsystem; and
a plurality of postal security devices comprising at least two postal security devices disposed in the mailing machine and operatively connected to the first processor, wherein the first processor is configured to select a first one of the plurality of postal security devices to print a first postal indicium on the mail piece using one of the at least one print head, wherein the first processor is configured to facilitate funds transfers between the at least two postal security devices;
the first processor is configured to select a second one of the plurality of postal security devices to print a second postal indicium on the mail piece; and
the second postal indicium is printed using a second one of the at least one print head.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods including mailing machines having postage meters including multiple postal security devices are described. In one illustrative configuration, a postage meter having multiple postal security devices for use with different postal carriers is described. In another illustrative configuration, a postage meter is configured to apply two postage payment information indicia to a single mail piece using two separate postal security devices.
45 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A mailing machine for printing postal indicia as evidence of postage payment on a mail piece comprising:
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a printer subsystem having at least one print head for printing the postal indicia on the mail piece; a first processor operatively connected to the printer subsystem; and a plurality of postal security devices comprising at least two postal security devices disposed in the mailing machine and operatively connected to the first processor, wherein the first processor is configured to select a first one of the plurality of postal security devices to print a first postal indicium on the mail piece using one of the at least one print head, wherein the first processor is configured to facilitate funds transfers between the at least two postal security devices; the first processor is configured to select a second one of the plurality of postal security devices to print a second postal indicium on the mail piece; and the second postal indicium is printed using a second one of the at least one print head. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A mailing machine for printing postal indicia as evidence of postage payment on a mail piece comprising:
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a printer subsystem having at least one print head for printing the postal indicia on the mail piece; a first processor operatively connected to the printer subsystem; a plurality of postal security devices operatively connected to the first processor, wherein the first processor is configured to select a first one of the plurality of postal security devices to print a first postal indicium on the mail piece using one of the at least one print head; and a networked connection to a second mailing machine, wherein the mailing machine is configured to pass a mail piece downstream without printing an indicium if the second mailing machine has a more appropriate PSD.
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17. A mailing machine for printing postal indicia as evidence of postage payment on a mail piece comprising:
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a printer subsystem having at least one print head for printing the postal indicia on the mail piece; a first processor operatively connected to the printer subsystem; a plurality of postal security devices operatively connected to the first processor, wherein the first processor is configured to select a first one of the plurality of postal security devices to print a first postal indicium on the mail piece using one of the at least one print head; and the first processor is configured to select a second one of the plurality of postal security devices to print a second postal indicium on the mail piece.
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Specification