Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method of franki mail, hereinafter referred to as postal dispatch or dispatch.

Background Art

Conventional frank-devices or postage-paid devices have the form of postage stamps. Certain postcards and letter-cards having printed thereon images of postage stamps are also referred to as frank-devices,, or at times frank-emblems or frank-characters. A common feature with all frank-devices is that they constitute proof that the requisite postage has been paid. It is also common practice in companies and insti¬ tutions to substitute the postage stamp with a correspon¬ ding frank-stamp, using to this end a so-called franking machine.

When posting mail through a post office or like authority, particularly a parcel or an insured dispatch or a registered dispatch, it is a normal requirement when using conventional postage stamps or conventional frank- stamps for the post-office clerk to write manually individual proof of dispatch on behalf of the sender.

Disclosure of the Invention

One object of the present invention is to reduce the amount of work required of the clerk in this respect. Another object of the invention is to provide a novel method for franking a postal dispatch, or mail, which can be applied to postal machines of the kind which include a printing machine assigned to the post-office clerk and designed to produce an individually marked frank-device

which records the postage fee, in response to electrical signals fed to the printer and representing, inter alia, the weight of the dispatch, the type of dispatch, the country to which it is addressed, and other information concerning matters significant to the postage cost of said dispatch.

These objects are realized in accordance with the invention by means of a method having the characterizing features set forth in Claim 1. Further features of the invention are set forth in the depending claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 illustrates a frank-device used in accordan with the invention, and

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate two different modes in which the invention can be applied.

Description of a Preferred Embodiment

Figure 1 illustrates a label 1 which can be separate into two parts by the postal clerk, with the aid of a per¬ forated line 2, i.e. a first label-part 3 and a second, somewhat narrower label-part 4. The label-part 3 is intended to be affixed to a postal dispatch, preferably with the aid of gum or some other suitable adhesive ^' . Consequently, the rear side of the label is suitably gummed or provided with a self-adhesive coating, to this end.

The label-part 4 is intended for the customer, as a receipt or as proof that the dispatch has been handed in for postage. The label-part 4 is therewith affixed suitabl to the sending certificate issued to the customer, in thos cases when such proof of sending is issued, (e.g. in the

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case of parcels, packages and like mail) , or on the check- receipt which post offices of many countries now issue as acknowledgement that postage has been paid.

When the dispatch, for example, is a registered or insured dispatch, the label-part 4 can replace the conven¬ tional receipt and proof of dispatch, at present written manually.

On the illustrated frank-device the references 5 and 6 are date-giving markings, the references 7 and 8 indicat the time of .posting, the reference 9 indicates the dispatc number, the references 10 and 11 indicate the post office at which the dispatch, or mail, was posted,, the reference 12 indicates the category under which the dispatch falls, the reference 13 indicates the country to which the dis- patch is addressed, the reference 14 indicates the weight of the dispatch, the reference 15 indicates a postal emble and the reference 16 indicates the postage fee.

The illustrated frank-device has solely been provide with examples of conceivable markings and the label may, o course, bear other markings. Examples of such other markin include diverse text, device-marks, or code notations.

The label 1 preferably comprises a heat-sensitive paper..Such oaner is given in a known manner > a heat-sensitive layer having a thickness of from 5-10 y this layer normally consisting of a binding agent and one or more types of colour-promoting, active components, depending upon whether it is intended to display a single or a multi-colour print. The active components comprise finely divided, discrete particles dispersed in the binding agent. One of the two colour-promoting components is a colourless substance which produces a colour when reacted with an organic acid, while the other component is an organic acid, comprising substantially a phenol compound having a melting point of 60°C or thereabove. The colourless substance may comprise, for example, a violet anhydride, and the phenol compound biphenol A.

Such heat-sensitive paper is provided with individual

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markings, or "printed matter", i.e. the production of a given colour at selected locations on the paper, by passi said paper through a printing machine designed herefor an provided with a printing station having arranged therein a plurality of heatable pins, the paper being arranged to pass through the station either closely adjacent the pins or in contact therewith. Such machines are conventionally called printers.

Colour can be generated at selected locations on th paper, i.e. the paper can be "printed" in a given colour, by heating corresponding pins to a given temperature. The use of such heat-sensitive paper enables, inter alia, markings to be formed in the bright-red colour hitherto prescribed by the postal authorities in respect, for exam of post-office rubber-stamps.

Since such machines for printing heat-sensitive pap are known per se, it is considered unnecessary to describ such machines in detail here, and is believed that the aforegoing schematic description of the printing method i sufficient in this regard.

Although the label illustrated in Figure 1 is inten for use by postal clerks in post offices, it will be unde stood that companies and institutions, and also private persons, may be granted permission to use personally the frank-device according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a block schematic illustrating one mode in which the aforedescribed frank-device can be used.

The references 1, 2 and 3 identify letter-scales, parcel-scales, and floor-standing scales respectively, th scales being connected to a central calculating unit 4.

The reference 5 identifies an operating unit provided wit a keyboard by means of which postal procedures, so-called service procedures, can be transmitted to the unit 4. Examples of such service procedures are "goods", "letters" 'parcel" etc.. Certain additional functions are also found, such as "express", "insured", etc..

The items selected are shown on a display 6, which

also suitably has a part 6a for the benefit of the customer.

Printing instructions are given, subsequent to makin these selections. A printer 7 prints the aforedescribed frank-device. The aforesaid display-parts 6 and 6a show the costs incurred for the postal service requested.

A further printer 8 is provided, for printing so- called value-added-tax receipts, turn-over tax receipts, statistical data, etc.. Figure 3 is a corresponding block schematic for non-postal use, i.e. for use .within industries and compa¬ nies for the purpose of producing frank-devices and certi¬ ficates of postage.

The references in Figure 3 correspond fully to those used in Figure 2, and consequently any further reference to the significance of said references would be superfluous.