Consumable module for an electronic appliance
AssigneeFrancotyp-Postalia GmbH
InventorsIain Ansell, Anthony Hailes, Michael John Cox
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrically operated consumable module to be inserted into a holder of an electronic appliance, in particular an ink cartridge for the printing device of a franking machine, has a consumable device, electrical connecting elements which are connected thereto and which have contact elements to connect the consumable module to a consumable-module controller of the electronic appliance. The consumable module also has a projection to interact with the holder to prevent an insertion into other types of holders. The connecting elements are configured and/or assigned to the projection in such a way that they are at least partly destroyed in the event of an unauthorized removal of the projection.
Claims13
An electrically operated consumable module to be inserted into a holder of an electronic appliance, comprising:
- a housing;
- a consumable device;
- electrical connecting elements connected to said consumable device, said electrical connecting elements having contact elements configured to connect said consumable device to a consumable-module controller of the electronic appliance;
- and
- a projection connected to said housing and configured to interact with the holder and configured to prevent an insertion into an unauthorized holder;
- said electrical connecting elements being configured and mechanically connected to said projection such that at least some of said electrical connecting elements are at least partly destroyed in an event of an unauthorized removal of said projection from said housing.
In combination with an electronic appliance having a holder with a locking unit, an electrically operated consumable module comprising:
- a housing;
- a consumable device;
- electrical connecting elements connected to said consumable device, said electrical connecting elements having contact elements configured to connect said consumable device to a consumable-module controller of the electronic appliance;
- a projection connected to said housing and configured to interact with the holder and configured to prevent an insertion into an unauthorized holder, said projection having locking devices configured to interact with the locking unit of the holder;
- and
- said electrical connecting elements being configured and mechanically connected to said projection such that at least some of said electrical connecting elements are at least partly destroyed in an event of an unauthorized removal of said projection from said housing.
An electronic appliance, comprising:
- a holder;
- an electrically operated consumable module configured to be inserted into said holder, said electrically operated consumable module including a housing, a consumable device, electrical connecting elements connected to said consumable device, and a projection;
- a controller for controlling said electrically operated consumable module;
- said electrical connecting elements having contact elements configured to connect said consumable device to said controller;
- said projection being connected to said housing and configured to interact with said holder and configured to prevent an insertion into an unauthorized holder;
- and
- said electrical connecting elements being configured and mechanically connected to said projection such that at least some of said electrical connecting elements are at least partly destroyed in an event of an unauthorized removal of said projection from said housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.