Typewriting machines – Locking or interlocking mechanism
Reexamination Certificate
2002-09-20
2004-11-02
Hirshfeld, Andrew H. (Department: 2854)
Typewriting machines
Locking or interlocking mechanism
C400S664000, C400S668000, C400S693000, C235S101000, C235S1300TC
Reexamination Certificate
active
06811337
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method of opening a security housing that requires authorization and unlocking. The invention further relates to a configuration for opening a security housing with a mechanical locking device, having a printing module that can be moved transversely to a transporting direction. The invention is used for franking machines (i.e. postage meters), addressing machines, and other printing mail-processing machines with a security housing.
A heat-transfer franking machine, such as those sold under the trademark T1000 by the owner of the instant application, has a heat-transfer printing head that is disposed firmly in the housing and is intended for printing a franking imprint. The franking imprint contains previously input and stored postal information including the postal-charge data for sending the letter. A compartment positioned on the housing accommodates an exchangeable ink-ribbon cassette; see commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,767,228. While a door leading to the compartment can be opened at any time, the access to the secure region of the printing device is prevented by a security housing.
If a franking machine is to be opened for repair purposes, break-off screws of the security housing have to be destroyed. In franking machines and other mail-processing machines with a security housing, it is also possible to use lead seals or plastic parts as a further prevention from access to the microprocessor control and to the activating lines of the fixed printing head. Following a repair which requires the security housing to be opened, it is necessary to replace break-off screws of the security housing, lead seals, or the plastic parts that served to prevent access.
The franking machine, sold under the trademark JETMAIL® by the owner of the instant application, is provided with a base and with a removable meter. Only the latter is protected against misuse by a correspondingly constructed housing. The meter contains a controller, for controlling the printing and for controlling peripheral components of the franking machine, and a security module, which is provided with an accounting unit a cryptographic unit for safeguarding the postal-charge data that are to be printed. Additional mechanical protection is provided by the security module that is encapsulated in a further housing. In contrast to this, the housing of the base need not have any protective function and may be constructed such that it is easy to repair. The base contains a mail-transporting device and an ink-jet printing device for printing the postal stamp on the item of mail. It is not necessary for the printing head to be exchanged since the ink tank is disposed separately from the printing head and can be exchanged. It is not necessary either to take any specific security measures for the printing head or for protecting the activating and data signals if a specific piezo ink-jet printing head is used to print a security imprint with a marking that makes it possible to verify the authenticity of the security imprint; see commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,704. The production of an inauthentic security imprint, however, is thus merely made more difficult and is not prevented right from the start. Satellite
Bubble-jet printing heads are also used in the printing module in franking machines (for example, those sold by the assignee of the instant application under the trademark MYMAIL®, PERSONAL POST™ from Pitney Bowes and the PORTOSTAR from Neopost). The ink tank and bubble-jet printing head are integrated in an exchangeable ink cartridge, as is already known, for example, from the ½-inch ink cartridges such as those sold by HEWLET PACKARD® (HP). The contact connection of the electrical contacts of the printing head of the exchangeable ink cartridge can take place via a connector of a commercially available pen driver board from HP. On account of it being possible for the ink cartridge to be exchanged easily by the user, there are new possibilities for an inauthentic security imprint being produced, for example by further printing modules being operated with printing data that are only intended for a certain printing module (replay attack). According to U.S. Pat. No. 5,365,312, an ink cartridge of the printing module has a chip with readably stored identification data in order to authorize the ink cartridge for printing when it is inserted into the printing module. Some postal authorities impose relatively stringent requirements on the authorization of franking machines, which causes the manufacturers of the latter to provide such ink cartridges with additional security devices or to take suitable protective measures, so that it is not possible either to manipulate ink cartridges, or to influence the printing operation directly, in order to print franking imprints without paying for them. The franking machine is intended to rule out the use of a “foreign” ink cartridge. According to European Patent No. EP 875 862 A2, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,505, a reader of the franking machine guarantees that unique identification data of the ink cartridge are read and the authorization for utilizing the latter in the franking machine is checked. According to U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,056, which corresponds to European Patent No. EP 881 599 A2, a check is made as to whether an ink cartridge has been installed. If not installed, then an accounting module is blocked for the token production. In addition to the purely electronic solutions, solutions that mechanically prevent impermissible activation of a further printing module with the printing data during the printing operation are also already known. According to U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,534, which corresponds to European Patent No. EP 875 861 A2, a franking machine can only be operated to produce franking imprints when a hatch has been closed. Transverse movers allow the printing module with the ink cartridge to be displaced into a region adjacent to the printing region in order for the ink cartridge to be removed or exchanged. The hatch, which is disposed in the security housing, can only be opened if the printing module with the ink cartridge has been displaced into the adjacent region. In the other cases, the hatch is closed by a closure. According to European Patent No. EP 875 865 A2, access to the printing module with the ink cartridge is barricaded with a hatch, and the hatch can only be opened in response to an authorization signal that lifts the barricade, this allowing the ink cartridge to be removed or exchanged. Direct access to the secure region of the machine housing is not envisaged in any of the abovementioned solutions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a method of, and a configuration for, opening a security housing that overcome the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type and that allow easy access for a servicing technician to essential parts within the security housing for repair and maintenance purposes. This access is to be barred to the user. It is additionally intended to develop an access-preventor that bars the user from access to sensitive digital supply lines for activating the ink-printing head of the ink cartridge. However, the ink cartridge should remain removable or exchangeable.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a method of opening a security housing with authorization and unlocking. The first step of the method is providing a print module that is transversely movable by a transverse mover. The next step is bringing the printing module into an unlocked position by moving the printing module in a direction transverse to a mail-transporting direction. The final step is releasing mechanically a security-housing part by completing the bringing step.
With the objects of the invention in view, there is also provided a configuration for franking device security. The configuration includes a security housing, a
Geserich Frank
Hetzer Ulrich
Hübler Uwe
Ferguson Marissa
Francotyp-Postalia AG & Co. KG
Greenberg Laurence A.
Hirshfeld Andrew H.
Locher Ralph E.
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