Cassette acceptance device with state recognition for a printing mail processing apparatus

In a printing mail processing apparatus having an apparatus housing with a cassette bay therein, adapted to removably receive an exchangeable cassette, and a chip reader unit mounted in the cassette bay, said chip reader unit being supplied with voltage from a voltage source in the apparatus, the improvement of a cassette acceptance device comprising:

• an openable and closeable flap covering said cassette bay, said flap having an underside facing said cassette bay with a flap finger projecting therefrom;
• a sensor disposed to interact with said flap finger to detect, and to generate a sensor signal, when said flap is in a position at which extraction of a cassette from the cassette bay is possible;
• and
• a microprocessor connected to said sensor, said microprocessor detecting a state of said cassette flap from said sensor signal and, when said flap is closed, causing voltage to be supplied from said voltage source to said chip reader unit, and when said flap is open, said microprocessor disconnecting said voltage source from said chip reader unit before said cassette is exchanged.