Method and system for printing multiple regions across a mail piece

A mail processing system comprising:

• a control unit for generating print data for a complete single image including a postage indicium and other information not related to the postage indicium to be printed on a mail piece;
• a transport to transport mail pieces through the system for processing;
• a memory device coupled to the control unit to store the print data for the single image, the memory device having insufficient capacity to store all of the print data associated with the complete single image;
• and
• a print head coupled to the memory device for reading the print data from the memory device and printing the complete single image on a mail piece;
• the control unit and print head being programmed to:
• separate the complete single image into a first region including all of the postage indicium and a second region including at least a portion of the other information, each region being sized such that all print data associated with each region can be stored in the memory device;
• load all print data associated with the first region into the memory device as the mail piece approaches the print head;
• read the print data associated with the first region from the memory device and print an image of the postage indicium corresponding to the print data associated with the first region onto the mail piece as the mail piece is transported past the print head;
• determine if printing of the first region has been completed based on movement of the mail piece by the transport;
• load all print data associated with the second region into the memory device after it has been determined that printing of the first region has been completed based on movement of the mail piece by the transport;
• and
• read the print data associated with the second region from the memory device and print an image of the other information corresponding to the print data for the second region onto the mail piece as the mail piece is transported past the print head.