Device and method for conserving ink consumption in an ink cartridge of a postage meter

A postage meter comprising:

• a printhead for printing an indicia:
• means for determining a total amount of ink consumed by the postage meter and for ascertaining when the total amount of ink consumed by the postage meter has exceeded a predetermined amount;
• a controller having first means for automatically performing maintenance on the printhead on a recurring basis in accordance with a normal maintenance program, and second means, operative at times when the determining means determines that the total amount of ink consumed by the postage meter has exceeded the predetermined amount, for performing maintenance on the printhead in accordance with an ink conservation maintenance program instead of the normal maintenance program to reduce a quantity of ink consumed during maintenance of the printhead;
• wherein the first means performs a plurality of different maintenance functions on the printhead in accordance with the normal maintenance program;
• wherein at least one of the plurality of different maintenance functions is performed by the first means each time a first predetermined period of time has elapsed since the at least one of the plurality of different maintenance functions was last performed by the first means, and the second means performs the at least one of the plurality of different maintenance functions each time a second predetermined period of time has elapsed since the at least one of the plurality of different maintenance functions was last performed by the second means.

A method for conserving ink consumption in a value dispensing mechanism comprising the steps of:

• printing on a recurring basis an indication of value utilizing a printing mechanism of the value dispensing mechanism;
• determining a total amount of ink consumed by the value dispensing mechanism;
• ascertaining when the total amount of ink consumed exceeds a predetermined amount;
• prior to the total amount of ink consumed exceeding the predetermined amount automatically performing normal maintenance functions on a printhead of the value dispensing mechanism on a recurring basis;
• and
• subsequent to ascertaining that the total amount of ink consumed exceeds the predetermined amount, changing the normal maintenance functions which are automatically performed on the printhead so that less ink is consumed in performing the changed normal maintenance functions on a recurring basis as compared to the normal maintenance functions so that continued printing of the indication of value by the printing mechanism is maintained.