Stamp printer for printing postage stamps related to an item in a mail piece on demand
AssigneePitney Bowes Inc.
InventorMark E. Sievel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A stamp printer includes a memory device that stores a library of available images approved for use as a postage stamp. A code that identifies the item that will be included in the mail piece is input to the stamp printer. Using the information obtained from the code, the stamp printer identifies the item and searches the library of postage stamp images to identify those images that are related in some way to the specific item. The stamp printer can then display the identified postage stamp images to the user and allow the user to make a selection. Upon receiving a selection from the user, the stamp printer can then print the postage stamp selected by the user.
Claims16
A method for a stamp printing device to print a postage stamp for a mail piece, the method comprising:
- receiving a code from an item to be included in the mail piece to obtain information about the item;
- obtaining stamp images that are related to the item based on the information obtained about the item from the code;
- displaying the obtained stamp images related to the item;
- receiving an indication of a selected stamp image from the displayed stamp images;
- and
- printing the postage stamp, using a printer of the stamp printing device, having the selected image.
A stamp printing device comprising:
- a control unit to control operation of the stamp printing device;
- a printer coupled to the control unit for printing images;
- an input device coupled to the control unit to input a code provided on an item to be included in a mail piece;
- a display device coupled to the control unit;
- and
- the control unit being programmed to obtain information about the item based on the code input from the input device, obtain stamp images that are related to the item based on the information obtained about the item from the code, display, using the display device, the obtained stamp images related to the item, and cause the printer to print a postage stamp having a stamp image selected from the displayed stamp images.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.