Patent ID: 7809654
Filing Date: 2010-10-05
Classification: G07B

Abstract:
1. A mail handling system for printing postal indicia on a mail item, comprising: A reduced franking machine for printing postal indicia on a standard mail item, said reduced franking machine including a first removable accounting module, said reduced franking machine being void of a user interface for controlling said reduced franking machine; A franked label dispenser for printing postal indicia on a label having thereafter to be stuck on the mail item, the franked label dispenser comprising a second removable accounting module, print means for printing postal indicia on said label, and processing means for controlling said print means for printing postal indicia; and A transportable control computer terminal, remote from the reduced franking machine and the franked label dispenser, for remotely controlling both the reduced franking machine and the franked label dispenser for printing the postal indicia on at least one of (1) the standard mail using the reduced franking machine and (2) the label using the franked label dispenser, via a short radio interface, Wherein the first removable accounting module is interchangeable with the second removable accounting module, such that the second removable accounting module is usable in place of the first removable accounting module in the reduced franking machine and the first removable accounting module is usable in place of the second removable accounting module in the franked label dispenser, and Wherein the reduced franking machine and the franked label dispenser are separate modules communicable with the transportable control computer terminal via short distance radio links.