Patent ID: 6517265
Filing Date: 2003-02-11
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A postage metering system having an accounting unit for deducting the amount of postage used from the amount of postage purchased and a printing mechanism for printing a postal indicia containing postage, the improvement comprising:a first sensor that detects a mailpiece at a location upstream of the printing mechanism in order to enable the metering system sufficient time to compose the indicia; a second sensor slightly upstream of the printing mechanism so that the second sensor may determine whether or not the mailpiece is properly aligned with the printing mechanism, whereby the printing mechanism will print the indicia if the mailpiece is properly aligned with the printing mechanism; and a buffer for holding indicia data coupled to the second sensor; and whereby the printing mechanism will not print the indicia and store funds that are deducted from the accounting unit in the buffer if the mailpiece is not properly aligned with the printing mechanism.