Microcomputerized miniature postage meter

A microcomputerized, miniature postage meter for printing postage indicia on a document such as an envelope, label, or the like, said postage meter comprising:

• A. printing means mounted in said postage meter, movable in close operative proximity relative to a location on the document where the postage indicia are to be printed,
• B. microprocessor logic means for actuating said printing means to print postage indicia on the document when moved in close operative proximity thereby;
• C. means for ascertaining the distance said printing means is moved in operative proximity relative to the document, and;
• D. means responsive to said distance ascertaining means for signaling said logic means at a rate coordinated to the relative movement of said document to said printing means to thereby form the printed postage indicia.

A microcomputerized, miniature postage meter for printing postage indicia on a document such as an envelope, label, or the like, said postage meter comprising:

• A. printing means including an ink jet printing device, mounted to be moved in close operative proximity relative to the document and adapted to project ink droplets onto the document when moved relative thereto;
• B. means for monitoring the relative movement of said printing device and said document;
• and
• C. a microcomputer including:
• 1. processor logic means for sequentially actuating said printing device to project ink droplets onto the document in a programmed pattern to print the postage indicia;
• 2. clock circuit means connected to said microprocessor logic means for providing a signal to said logic means to coordinate the actuation of said printing device with the amount of relative movement to properly form the printed postage indicia;
• 3. a postage memory register, for storing a purchased amount of postage, addressable by said logic means to reduce the amount of postage stored therein by the amount printed during each meter use;
• and
• 4. a lock-out function means for disabling said postage meter when postage stored in said memory register is depleted to a predetermined minimum amount.

A microcomputerized apparatus for printing postage indicia on a document such as an envelope, label, or the like, and for performing mathematical calculations, said apparatus comprising:

• A. printing means including an ink jet printing device adapted to project ink droplets onto a document,
• B. a microcomputer including;
• 1. microprocessor logic means programmed to actuate said printing means to project ink droplets onto a document in a postage indicia forming pattern, said microprocessor further including logic means for performing mathematical calculations,
• C. a keyboard for entering information and programming instructions in said microcomputer microprocessor logic means.

A postage distributing and dispensing system comprising:

• A. a microcomputerized, miniature postage meter for dispensing postage by printing postage indicia on a document such as an envelope, label, or the like, said postage meter including:
• 1. printing means having:
• a. an ink jet printing device adapted to project ink droplets onto a document, and
• b. an ink reservoir for storing ink and supplying ink to said printing device,
• 2. a microcomputer comprising:
• a. microprocessor logic means for sequentially actuating said printing device to project ink droplets onto the document in a programmed pattern to print the postage indicia;
• b. a postage memory register, for storing a purchased amount of postage, addressable by said logic means to reduce the amount of postage stored therein by the amount printed during each meter use, said memory register being adapted to have additional purchased postage re-entered in it,
• 3. a rechargeable power supply for powering said microcomputer and said printing device;
• and
• 4. jack means electrically connected to said microcomputer and said power supply and in fluid communication with said ink reservoir;
• and
• B. a central postage distributing station having
• 1. an input plug formed to connect with said jack means,
• 2. a postage dispensing computer electrically connectable through said input plug and jack means to enter additional purchased postage in said microcomputer memory storage register;
• 3. a power supply recharger connectable through said inout plug and jack means to recharge said power supply;
• and
• 4. an ink supply connectable through said input plug and jack means to said ink reservoir to supply ink thereto.

A method of printing postage indicia onto a document comprising the steps of:

• programming a postage printing device to print postage indicia of desired form when moved relative to the document,
• moving the printing device relative to the document,
• monitoring the amount of relative document-to-printing device movement, and
• actuating the printing device to print postage indicia on the document in the programmed form at a rate coordinated to the monitored amount of relative document-to-printing device movement.

A method of distributing and dispensing postage comprising the steps of:

• A. entering a predetermined amount of postage in a microcomputer memory register in a hand-held postage meter at a central computer postage distribution station,
• B. distributing the postage meter with the predetermined amount of postage entered therein to be dispensed,
• C. dispensing postage as needed from said memory register by moving the postage meter over documents to be printed with postage until the amount of postage entered therein is depleted to a predetermined minimum amount preset in the memory register and until the postage meter is disabled to prevent further dispensing of postage when the postage entered in the memory register is depleted to the minimum amount preset therein;
• D. electrically connecting the memory register to a central postage distribution station, and
• E. again entering a predetermined amount of postage in the memory register for redistribution of said postage meter.