EP0927972A1 - Secure digital postal printing module - Google Patents

Abstract

The digital printing module is designed to be mounted into the base of a postal franking machine. The machine has at least a standard an ink jet cartridge (100a) fitted with electrical contacts (102a). In addition the module has a rigid support (108) which receives the ink cartridge, and a protective cover (110) which entirely covers the ink cartridge and which is solidly fixed to the rigid support (108). A flexible connection (112) including integrated circuits (114) and several series of electrical contacts (104a, 106a) connects the ink cartridge to the franking machine base so as to permit direct control of the ink flow from the franking machine.

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to the field of mail processing and more particularly that of digital jet printing sets ink for printing a postal imprint.

Prior art

In conventional postage systems (machines franking), the accounting systems for postage (especially up and down counters) and printing of postal impressions (rotary drum) are placed in a secure enclosure located at the print head and sealed with such that any access by an unauthorized person other than an agent of the postal administration or the manufacturer is prohibited. Therefore, in case problems occurring with the rotating drum (locking of rollers printing or fouling of printing plates, for example), given the ban on the user accessing the head printing, it will be necessary to call on an authorized third party external to the company to separate this printhead from the base of the machine frank and, after intervention, return it to the postal administration for validation. This results in an immobilization of the franking machine which can unfortunately prove to be of relatively long duration in certain special circumstances.

We also know in particular by patent applications European EP 0 775 986, EP 0 775 987 and EP 0 775 988 registered in the name from the applicant a modular franking device in which the postage accounting system is separate from the postal imprint printing device. The device accounting is an electronic module connected to a computer conventional and the printing device is a printer for use general.

Definition and object of the invention

Also, the present invention aims to provide a machine postage which does not have the aforementioned drawbacks and notably retains traditional architecture while overcoming the problems with detaching the print head. What's more new type of machine must be reliable and have a cost less compared to traditional machines.

These goals are achieved by a postage meter in which the accounting device is separate from the printing device, the accounting device being integrated into the base of the machine franking and the printing device consisting of a module disposable digital printing and linked to the accounting system by a secure type of connection.

So the conventional structure of the postage meter is preserved but, and this is an important asset of the invention, all maintenance problems related to printing elements are avoided because disposable nature of the print module. In addition, it is always possible to have one or more print modules in reserve to avoid a possible break in postage. Reloading funds can as for it to be done in the traditional way by smart card, by the system 〈〈 CREDIPAC 〉〉 from the plaintiff, or remotely through the network telephone.

The present invention also relates to the printing module digital disposable of this postage meter which is intended to be mounted based on a franking machine for impression printing postal and which contains at least one standard ink cartridge inkjet printing machine fitted with its electrical contacts, a rigid cartridge for receiving said at least one ink cartridge standard, a protective casing completely enveloping said at least a standard ink cartridge and secured to said support rigid cartridge, and a flexible connection support comprising circuits integrated electronics and several series of electrical contacts to connect these circuits respectively integrated into said at least one ink cartridge standard and to the said franking machine base in order to allow a order said at least one standard ink cartridge directly from the base of the postage meter.

Thus, the printing module can remain a consumable product (disposable) at a reasonable cost while being secure against possible fraudulent uses.

Preferably, the cartridge holder is capable of receiving two standard ink cartridges. Advantageously, the ink cartridge standard is glued on the cartridge holder and the flexible connection support is glued both to the protective casing and to the cartridge holder. Similarly, the protective casing is fixed to the cartridge holder by bonding or possibly by welding.

Advantageously, the cartridge holder and the protective casing each have at least one slot to allow the passage of the support flexible binding.

In order to avoid mounting the printing module according to the invention in a standard printer, this has a blocking mechanism physical by keying.

According to a preferred embodiment, the integrated circuits electronics have a microprocessor circuit and a second circuit memory comprising at least one determined identification number specific to the printing module considered. These integrated circuits electronic circuits also include control circuits for each of the ink jet nozzles of said at least one standard ink cartridge.

According to another embodiment, the memory circuit is replaced by an identification label with the identification number determined, embedded in the protective casing, and accessible without contact to by means of a transponder reading circuit arranged in the base of the stamp machine

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 montre schématiquement une nouvelle architecture d'une machine à affranchir selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 montre un premier exemple de réalisation d'un module d'impression sécurisé selon l'invention destiné à être monté sur une base de machine à affranchir,
• la figure 3 montre un second exemple de réalisation d'un module d'impression sécurisé selon l'invention,
• la figure 4 est un éclaté du module d'impression de la figure 3 en montrant les différents composants,
• la figure 5 est une vue en perspective d'un support souple de liaison du module des figures 3 et 4,
• la figure 6 représente schématiquement les circuits électroniques montés sur le support souple de liaison,
• la figure 7 illustre les moyens mis en oeuvre pour la reconnaissance du module d'impression par la base de la machine à affranchir, et
• la figure 8 montre une architecture d'une machine à affranchir traditionnelle.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the following description, given by way of non-limiting illustration, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• FIG. 1 schematically shows a new architecture of a franking machine according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of a secure printing module according to the invention intended to be mounted on a base of a franking machine,
• FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of a secure printing module according to the invention,
• FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the printing module of FIG. 3 showing the various components,
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a flexible support for connecting the module of FIGS. 3 and 4,
• FIG. 6 schematically represents the electronic circuits mounted on the flexible connection support,
• FIG. 7 illustrates the means used for recognizing the printing module by the base of the franking machine, and
• Figure 8 shows an architecture of a traditional franking machine.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

A traditional franking machine is shown in the figure 8. It has a print head 1 which can be detached from a base 2 of the franking machine. The print head has conventional a printing drum 3 actuated by control means 4, and up and down counters forming a device for postage accounting 5. The printing drum, its control means and the meters are arranged in an enclosure closed and sealed with lead 6 to prevent access by anyone not authorized. Thus, the user of the franking machine cannot access the printing elements (printing wheels or printing plates), even for simply perform maintenance or preventive maintenance. The basis of franking machine conventionally comprises a transport path for mail items 7 (transport rollers, drive motors and associated control circuits) and input / output means for the user: a keyboard 8 or the type 9 recharging system 〈〈 CREDIPAC 〉〉 of the plaintiff connected to a processing means 10. The connection between the print head 1 and the base of the franking machine 2 is performed by a conventional unsecured link. The procedure recharging, especially at a distance, is encrypted.

According to the present invention, a new architecture is proposed. franking machine that is close to traditional architecture in this sense that the means of transport and the means of printing form also a unitary structure but which, by its new conception, does not not have the limitations of traditional architecture. The Figure 1 schematically shows this architecture. We find the means printing elements 1 which consist of printing elements 10, which in the context of the present invention are of digital type and preferably inkjet and control means 12 for these elements, advantageously with microprocessor. The base 2 of the franking machine organized around its processing means 20, advantageously at microprocessor, with a keyboard 22, a display screen 24 and different interfaces, for example an interface 26 for the connection with a module of type 〈〈 CREDIPAC 〉〉, an interface 28 for a link with a network telephone and an interface 30 for reading smart cards. In addition, the base comprises a module 32 not accessible to the user comprising the postage accounting system with its counters ascending and descending as well as a graphic memory containing all the images necessary for printing the postal imprint. The connection between the base of the franking machine 2 and the printing means 1 is provided by a secure type link 34, for example conventionally an encrypted link (using an RSA-type encryption algorithm) or a clear signed link (using a standard signature algorithm DSA type).

FIG. 2 illustrates a digital printing module intended to be mounted on the base of franking machine 2 and ensuring the printing of a postal imprint on a mail item. In the example illustrated, this module 1, which can sometimes be called a print head in the following description includes standard ink cartridge for printing inkjet, for example a cartridge of the HP 51645A type from the company American Hewlett Packard. Externally, this module also includes a series of external electrical contacts 50 connected to the means of control (referenced 12 in Figure 1) and intended to cooperate with the minus a corresponding series of contacts 60 from the base of the machine to free, these latter contacts being also linked to the module 32 of the franking machine comprising in particular the device for accounting with its ascending and descending counters and its memory graphic. The assembly forms a disposable module which includes a 70 physical blocking by keying mechanism to prevent mounting of this module in a standard printer for general use.

Figure 3 and Figure 4 (which is an exploded view of Figure 3) illustrate a second embodiment of a disposable and secure printing module according to the invention. In this example, the module has two cartridges standard ink 100a, 100b and therefore has two sets of contacts external electrics 104a, 104b to ensure the connection with the base of the stamp machine. As illustrated in Figure 2, this base is good heard adapted to receive several versions of this module (for example one or two sets of contacts). The module includes a support rigid cartridge 108 to receive standard ink cartridges and allow reliable positioning, a 110 protective casing fully these standard ink cartridges and securely attached to the support rigid cartridge to prevent any individual removal, and a support flexible link 112 comprising electronic integrated circuits 114 and four sets of electrical contacts (two for contact connections 102a, 102b of each cartridge) including two external 104a, 104b, to ensure the electrical connection between the cartridges and the base of the stamp machine. In operation, to allow this connection to through the module from the electrical contacts of the cartridges to electrical contacts of the base and vice versa, the support 108 and the casing 110 each have at least one slot to allow the passage of the support flexible connection 112. Thus, for example, the support has two slots 116, 118 each arranged substantially at the level of the electrical contacts of a determined cartridge and the housing a single slot 120 positioned about the same level.

The cartridges are fixed on the support advantageously by gluing as well as fixing on the rigid support and on the casing of the flexible support, advantageously made of a material elastomer. Likewise, the casing is preferably fixed by gluing to the support. However, if the materials of the support and the casing allow it fixing by welding can also be envisaged. These collages allow to avoid any attempt to access the flexible support and the integrated circuits that it entails because such access can only result in the destruction of these circuits and inevitable damage to the print head.

FIG. 5 shows more precisely the flexible support 112. This has four sets of electrical contacts. Two sets of contacts internal 106a, 106b are mounted independently on two tabs flexible 122, 124 and will allow a connection with the contacts of the cartridges 102a, 102b passing through the slots of the support 116, 118, both other series of external contacts 104a, 104b being mounted on a common flexible tongue 126 which passing through the slot of the housing 120 will allow a connection with the contacts of the base (shown only in Figure 2). Between these tabs, a part central 128 of the flexible support will receive the electronic integrated circuits 114 connected by these different series of contacts to the ink cartridges standard and basic franking machine to allow a order these cartridges directly from the base of the machine to set free.

The composition of the various electronic integrated circuits mounted on the flexible support and forming the element control means 12 details are shown in Figure 6. These circuits include a microprocessor 130 and a memory circuit 134 comprising at least one determined identification number specific to the printing module considered. In addition, power control circuits 136, of the type 〉 〈Drivers〉〉, are designed to directly operate each of the jet nozzles 140 ink from standard ink cartridges. The identification number is advantageously a unique serial number capable of constituting a calculation parameter in the development of a particular code by through a specific algorithm.

Figure 7 shows the different operations performed both at print module (head) level only from the bottom of the machine postage to ensure secure printing. First, in a step 200, there is a transmission through one of the contacts 104a, 104b of the specific code developed in the print head from the serial number of this head and the specific algorithm. At the same time in a step 202, through these same contacts, it is made by the base of the franking machine on reading the number of series of the print head and a code 204 is produced in a step 204 corresponding by application of the specific algorithm. In one step 206, the codes received from the print head are compared and generated in the database and, in the event of a tie (answer yes to the step test 208), a notice of agreement is transmitted to the print head in one step 210 so that it proceeds to the next step 212 then printing of the postal imprint from various information data transmitted through electrical contacts. Otherwise (answer no to the test in step 208), a fault notification is sent to the head in step 214 which can cause a permanent blockage of this head for example after a predetermined number of attempts unsuccessful (final step 216).

With this cartridge recognition system, the use of Standard cartridges for fraudulent purposes is not possible. Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described only, and may for example consider reading the serial number no longer through the external contacts of the print head from of a memory of the print head but by a process of reading without contact. For this, the print head can have a label identification with this serial number, embedded in the body itself of the protective casing, and responding to the request of a reading circuit classic transponder placed in the base of the franking machine. Furthermore, it will be noted that in order to obtain good print quality, it should adjust the ink cartridges during manufacturing both in the scanning direction and in a direction perpendicular thereto. Of this way, the user of the franking machine can mount the head without any adjustment.

Claims (11)

Secure digital printing module for mounting based on a franking machine (2) for printing a postal imprint and containing at least one standard ink cartridge inkjet printing machine (100a, 100b) with its electrical contacts (102a, 102b), characterized in that it further comprises a support for rigid cartridge (108) for receiving said at least one ink cartridge standard, a protective casing (110) completely enveloping said at minus a standard ink cartridge and secured to said support rigid cartridge, and a flexible connection support (112) comprising electronic integrated circuits (114) and several series of contacts electrical (104a, 104b; 106a, 106b) to connect these integrated circuits respectively to said at least one standard ink cartridge and to said franking machine base to allow control from said to minus a standard ink cartridge directly from the base of the stamp machine. Printing module according to claim 1, characterized in that the cartridge holder (108) can receive two ink cartridges standard. Printing module according to claim 1 or the claim 2, characterized in that said at least one ink cartridge standard is glued to the cartridge holder (108) and in that the holder flexible connection (112) is glued to both the protective casing (110) and on the cartridge holder (108). Printing module according to claim 1 or the claim 2, characterized in that the protective casing (110) is fixed to the cartridge holder (108) by gluing or alternatively by welding. Printing module according to claim 1, characterized in what the cartridge holder (108) and the protective casing (110) each have at least one slot (116, 118, 120) to allow the passage of the flexible connection support (112). Printing module according to claim 1, characterized in which it further comprises a mechanism (70) for physical blocking by coding to prevent mounting in a standard printer. Printing module according to claim 1, characterized in that said electronic integrated circuits include a microprocessor (130) and a memory circuit (134) comprising at least one determined identification number specific to the printing module considered. Printing module according to claim 7, characterized in that said electronic integrated circuits further include control circuits (136) for each of the ink jet nozzles of said at minus a standard ink cartridge. Printing module according to claim 7, characterized in that said memory circuit is replaced by an identification label bearing the identified identification number, embedded in the housing protection, and accessible without contact by means of a reading circuit transponder placed in the base of the franking machine. Postage meter in which the delivery device accounting is separate from the printing device, the accounting (32) being integrated into the base of the franking machine (2) and the printing device (1) consisting of a printing module digital disposable and connected to the base of the franking machine by a secure type link (34). Franking machine according to claim 10, characterized in what the disposable and secure digital print module complies with any one of claims 1 to 9.

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