55 results about "Postage stamp" patented technology

The invention is equivalent to water soluble intaglio ink of plate engraving ink and / or equivalent to water-soluble screen printing ink of the ink, suitable for a gravure printing machine. The ink has the advantages of nontoxicity, tastelessness, nonflammable property, water solubility, non-environmental pollution and rapid drying; the printing effect of the obtained presswork is the same as or equivalent to the printing effect of the plate engraving presswork; the materialized firmness of the presswork is superior to the materialized firmness of the plate engraving presswork; the ink is low in printing cost and suitable for printing secure and confidential documents with deep printing lines, such as bank notes, securities, stamps, food packing, etc.

A system and method for postage payment utilizes passive RFID tags as postage “stamps”, with the amount of the postage automatically billed to a previously-established customer account. The tags are stored in a separate stamp database and are “enabled” by linking the individual tag to a customer account. The use of the RFID stamps eliminates the need for the customer to know the proper postage beforehand. The existence of a customer account with a proper return address reduces the likelihood of a dead letter. Also, a special category of stamps may be used for automatic reply mail. By virtue of using an RFID tag, the mailed item's progress through the postal delivery system may be tracked from dispatch to delivery.

An ink refillable stamp has a cap (10), and a handle (20) mounted under the cap (10). The handle (20) has a passage (26) defined therein and a first resilient member (27) is received in the passage (26). A housing (30) has a tubular portion (31) formed on a top surface thereof and received in the passage (26). An upper seat (40) is received in the housing (30) and has a pole (41) formed on a top surface thereof and extending through the tubular portion (31) and the passage (26) and engaged in the handle (20). A lower seat (50) is detachably mounted beneath the upper seat (40) and has a plurality ink inlets (53) defined through a top surface thereof A chamber (54) is defined at a bottom portion of the lower seat (50) and in communication with the ink inlets (53). A sponge (55) is received in the chamber (54) and a stamping sheet (551) is provided under the sponge (55). A bottom cover (60) is provided on the lower seat (50).

A postal customer obtains (directly or indirectly) from a post office one or more labels, each having a unique identifier. At the time of obtaining the labels or later, the customer associates a payment account such as a credit card account or bank account with the label identifier in a database and authorizes postage charges to the payment account. At a later time, a label is addressed and other delivery information is supplied, and then affixed to a package for delivery. The package is delivered to and processed at a post office, where the label is read and the appropriate postage is determined by the post office without interaction with the customer. By accessing the database, the payment account associated with the unique identifier is determined and billed for such postage by the post office.

A hand held stamp dispenser and applicator that feeds pressure sensitive stamps (self-sticking stamps on a backing tape) from a roll. The hand held stamp dispenser and applicator incrementally indexes each stamp by depressing and releasing a manually operated lever press pad. When the lever press pad is depressed three things occur with each press or squeeze that has effect on the dispensing and the application. First, a gear is rotated turning a mandrel to draw the stamp string through a feed channel, thereby, incrementally dispensing a stamp and automatically pealing off the backing tape and exposing the pressure sensitive adhesive. Second, prior to reaching the bottom of the press pad stop point, a latching pawl drops into a gear cog to prevent reversing of the gear and mandrel. Third, a brake pad coupled to the lever press pad bottoms out and presses on the stamp and backing tape in a feed channel locking the stamp string in place so that the stamp can be applied or taken without pulling on the roll of stamps.

There is disclosed a method of patterning an article (10) including a layer (12) of copper formed onto an insulating substrate (11) using a positive microcontact printing (MCP) process. In a preferred embodiment where the metal is copper (Cu) and the substrate is a silicon wafer, the method includes removing the native oxide presents on the Cu in a solution of HCl. Then, a stamp (13′) having a patterned polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) body (14) is linked with a 0.2 mM solution of pentaerythritol-tetrakis(3-mercaptopropionate) (PTMP) in ethanol for 1 min, to form the inking layer (15′). The stamp is applied on the Cu layer to print a first self-assembled monolayer (SAM) (16′) according to a desired pattern. The article is dipped in a solution of ECT which is then adsorbed only in the non printed regions, forming a second SAM (18) in a configuration that is complementary to the desired pattern. Finally, the printed areas of the Cu layer are removed using a peroxodisulfate etch bath.

An email postal system and method for acquiring, attaching, authenticating, and managing digital postage for use in conjunction with electronic mail (email) messages. The preferred embodiment teaches the use of a postage database used in conjunction with a digital stamp generator capable of generating branded digital stamps on demand. Methodologies for deploying digital postage techniques with classical email systems lacking postage capabilities using either an embedded or discrete mail submission agent is disclosed. Systems and methods for branding and canceling digital stamps in an email environment is also disclosed. The present invention further teaches the use of stamp recipient unit counters (SRU's) as methodology for associating economic value with digital postage stamps. A system and method for providing a gateway for receiving and managing emails having digital postage stamps is also disclosed.

A digital stamp is described which can print out a message using a moveable inkjet printhead (30) which can be moved by a mechanical arrangement of arm (35) and pivots (33, 36). A cartridge (20) containing ink feeds the printhead (30) with monochrome or color ink via lines (52). Movement of the upper section (10) of the housing towards the lower section (12) of the housing moves the arm (35) to slide the printhead (30) across the aperture (34) in the lower section (12) while at the same time electronic signals fed to the printhead (30) print out the stored message. A spring (42) returns the printhead (30) to its inoperative position once having traversed the opening (34). The stored message may be fixed, replaceable or programmable or may be one from a fixed number of stored or updateable messages or images or can be input by an attached apparatus, for example, a CCD imager, to record an image and to print it via the printhead (30). The digital stamp can replace a rubber stamp in an office or may be used to print labels in a retail environment. An infra-red ink may also be supplied which can be used to print an encoded digital message with or on top of a visual print-out as a security measure when a printhead having the necessary number of inkjet nozzles is employed.

In a method for offering custom postage stamps as a fundraiser, a particular organization is targeted as a candidate for a fundraising event whereby custom postage stamps, having original artwork thereon, will be sold, the original artwork being created by members of said organization. Guidelines are provided to the organization regarding the manner in which the original artwork is to be created. The original artwork is created and collected. Postage stamps having the original artwork thereon are offered for sale. Orders for the postage stamps are received and the original artwork is imaged onto the postage stamps. Payment is processed for the orders and the postage stamps are delivered to the purchasers thereof.

Described are new custom postage printing stocks, coating compositions, processes for preparing and utilizing these and resulting postage products. Disclosed ink formulations comprise: invisible fluorescent dye and / or pigment (preferably red-fluorescent dye), which is fluorescent in the range of 580 to 640 nm when illuminated with light at 254 nm; water-soluble binder; substrate penetrant, fluorescence stabilizer; substrate anticurl agent and water. The inks, when coated on substrates and dried, can improve the quality and color of images printed as compared to images printed without the aid of the invention.

Provided is a rotary stamp capable of obtaining an imprint having a uniform density. The rotary stamp includes a sheathing (300) covering an outer side of an upper portion of a leg frame body (1), with a spring (5) interposed therebetween, and being movable upward and downward; and a signet body (2) being movable together with the sheathing (300) and being movable upward and downward with respect to the leg frame body (1). When the sheathing (300) is caused to move downward by exerting a pressing force on the sheathing (300), a stamping face of the signet body (2) makes a half turn and advances to a position where the stamping face is brought into contact with a sealing position. When the sheathing (300) is caused to move upward by releasing the pressing force from the sheathing, the stamping face of the signet body (2) makes an inverse half turn and retracts into the leg frame body (1) to be brought into contact with a vermilion seal ink pad (400) incorporated into the leg frame body (1), in a state where the stamping face is pressed thereagainst. The rotary stamp includes a vermilion seal ink pad rotating mechanism operable to cause the vermilion seal ink pad (400) to rotate by a predetermined angle on a plane orthogonal to a direction in which the signet body (2) advances and retracts, along with upward and downward movements of the sheathing (300) during sealing operation.

A self-inking cosmetic applicator pen eyeliner stamp pen. Applicator pen may feature a geometrically shaped stamp pad at a first end and a pen tip at another end. The stamp pad and pen tip are configured to be self-inking with via a reservoir carried within a body of the cosmetic applicator pen. The stamp pads may be formed as a uniform, or complimentary symmetrical shapes to apply a cosmetic material to the skin around a user's eyes. The present invention contemplates a left and a right pen having a stamp pad corresponding to a desired application to a user's left and right eyes. Alternatively, an applicator pen may include an applicator stamp at opposed ends thereof, corresponding to a left side stamp and a right side stamp.

A method of illuminating an item is disclosed. The method includes applying adhesive to the item, interspersing a taggant in the adhesive, illuminating the item with an excitation signal, sensing luminescence emitted by the taggant in response to illumination by the excitation signal, and determining the authenticity of the item based on the sensed emitted luminescence. The item can include any item benefited by authentication, and can include a postage stamp. A method of customizing an item is disclosed. This can include the steps of preparing a substrate, applying a security feature to the substrate, printing non-customized information on the substrate, receiving image information, and printing the image information on the substrate.

An all-purpose ATM kiosk / vending machine network that services the unbanked and underbanked markets, that will enables wireless transactions and processing of currency, pre-paid cash debit cards, and online banking. The concept can be applied to any vending machine product such as sodas, beverages, gasoline, candy, postage stamps, and more with the following features and benefits: Full service ATM / Vending, Issue cash debit cards, Transfer funds from one machine to another Issues and prints money orders, Bill paying GPS travel directions, Advertising on LCD screen, Purchase sporting / event tickets Reload cell phone pre-paid cards, Purchase beverage or gas, Wireless Internet access, and Bank-to-bank wire transfers. The present invention will provide financial services solutions to sub-prime prospects and the unbanked. The present invention will also provide online / wireless banking, prepaid cards, and secured lending products to customers who may not qualify for conventional bank unsecured lending products, or whose needs cannot be met by traditional lenders.

A method for producing a custom rubber stamp member which utilizes either an etching / mold making process, or a method of additively drawing 3-D casting material directly to a rubber-like base. The "stamp unit" referred to below embodies one of two configurations-either a malleable substance which is readily etched into, or a rubber-like substance which will have cast making material superficially applied to it. The steps are as follows: (a) obtaining a desired image of intended stamp size as needed; (b) image transfer means for transferring said image onto a stamp unit as needed; (c) preparing a stamp unit for the application of cast making material; (d) means of applying cast making material to said stamp unit; (e) curing of said cast making material; (f) separation of cured cast making material from stamp unit as needed; (g) fastening of cured cast material to an operative stamping base.

A method and system for enabling personal digital assistants (PDAs) and protecting stored private data. Specifically, one embodiment in accordance with the present invention includes a removable expansion card about the size of a postage stamp which plugs into a slot of a personal digital assistant. The removable expansion card, referred to as a personality card, is capable of storing all of a user's private information and data which is used within their personal digital assistant. By removing the personality card from the personal digital assistant, all of the user's private information and data may be removed from the personal digital assistant. Furthermore, the personal digital assistant may also be rendered totally or partially useless once the personality card is removed from it. There are several advantages associated with a personality card system in accordance with the present invention. For example, one of the advantages is that a user is able to restrict access to their stored private information and data by simply removing their personality card from their personal digital assistant. Furthermore, as personal digital assistants equipped with personality card slots become increasingly more common, a user will be able to continually carry around their personality card and enable a spare and locally available personal digital assistant with their private information when desired.

A method and system for enabling personal digital assistants (PDAs) and protecting stored private data. Specifically, one embodiment in accordance with the present invention includes a removable expansion card about the size of a postage stamp which plugs into a slot of a personal digital assistant. The removable expansion card, referred to as a personality card, is capable of storing all of a user's private information and data which is used within their personal digital assistant. By removing the personality card from the personal digital assistant, all of the user's private information and data may be removed from the personal digital assistant. Furthermore, the personal digital assistant may also be rendered totally or partially useless once the personality card is removed from it. There are several advantages associated with a personality card system in accordance with the present invention. For example, one of the advantages is that a user is able to restrict access to their stored private information and data by simply removing their personality card from their personal digital assistant. Furthermore, as personal digital assistants equipped with personality card slots become increasingly more common, a user will be able to continually carry around their personality card and enable a spare and locally available personal digital assistant with their private information when desired.

Provided is a postage stamp gum tape automatic production line and method. The production line comprises successively, according to material processing order, a release film replacement device for replacing original release films of original postage stamp gum tapes, a first peritoneal device for applying first release papers on the other sides of sponge tapes, a die cutting device for die-cuttingthe first release papers and sponge postage stamp gum tapes to form fonts or patterns, a first collection device for collecting the first release papers with which fonts or patterns are not covered and a second collection device for collecting waste postage stamp gum tapes. The method comprises the steps of (1) replacing the original release films of the original postage stamp gum tapes with firstrelease films; (2) pasting the first release papers on the exposed sides of the sponge postage stamp gum tapes of the postage stamp gum tapes; (3) die-cutting the first release papers and the spongepostage stamp tapes of the postage stamp tapes to form the fonts or the patterns; (4) collecting the first release papers with which the fonts or the patterns are not covered; (5) using original filmsto fit the waste postage stamp gum tapes with which the first release papers are not covered to conduct aligning for collection. The automatic production line and the method can automatically discharge wastes, and improve production efficiency.

A method of using a contact printing stamp, including forming a transfer material on a plurality of stamping surfaces. The plurality of stamping surfaces are disposed on a plurality of stamp protrusions adapted from the forming of a stamp material in a plurality of recessed regions formed in an exposed end-region of a multilayer thin film structure.

A stamp printer includes a memory device that stores a library of available images approved for use as a postage stamp. A code that identifies the item that will be included in the mail piece is input to the stamp printer. Using the information obtained from the code, the stamp printer identifies the item and searches the library of postage stamp images to identify those images that are related in some way to the specific item. The stamp printer can then display the identified postage stamp images to the user and allow the user to make a selection. Upon receiving a selection from the user, the stamp printer can then print the postage stamp selected by the user.

A method for providing a service through a stamp service server, includes: receiving user information and beacon information from a user terminal, wherein the user terminal recognizes a beacon signal output from a beacon device and transmits the beacon information contained in the beacon signal; extracting stamp information matching the received user information on a stored database; providing the extracted stamp information to a POS (Point Of Sale) corresponding to the beacon information; receiving stamp saving information or stamp use information from the POS terminal; and generating or updating stamp information matching the user information included in the stamp saving information or the stamp use information.

An Interactive CD ROM picture-postcard consisting of a picture-postcard (A) with four pages (1), (2), (3) and (4), a CD ROM (8) and an envelope (9) containing the picture-postcard and the CD ROM. The envelope (9) is made of a transparent or partially transparent material. At the first page (1), there is a space (B) for postage stamp and an address, and a space (C) for writing textual messages. The CD ROM is firmly fixed to the fourth page (4) in slots (6) and (7), opposite space (C) at the first page (1). The picture-postcard with the inserted CD ROM, folded along the edge (5), is inserted into envelope (9), which prevents unauthorized removal of the CD ROM for copying and its returning into the picture-postcard envelope without visible damage. The envelope (9) covers the entire page (4), whereas the page (1) is covered only partly, along a border or edge (11). The remaining free space, on any of the pages of the picture-postcard, is for commercial and other messages.

An image inputting device is provided which is capable of making reliable and speedy detection of an indicia even for an nonstandard size postal matter. The postal matter, when having passed by a proximity detecting section, is radiated with ultraviolet light at specified timing from light radiating unit. When a postal matter is radiated with ultraviolet light, fluorescence is emitted from a phosphor formed on an indicia after being pumped. In the case where the indicia is an meter, when the meter passes by a fluorescence field of view, red fluorescence enters a fluorescence light receiving optical system along a fluorescence detecting optical axis. If the indicia is a postage stamp containing a substance that emits phosphorescence, when the postage stamp passes by a phosphorescence detecting field of view where no ultraviolet light is not emitted, green fluorescence enters a phosphorescence light receiving optical system along a phosphorescence detecting optical axis.

In an optical waveguide, the present invention provides a process for producing an optical waveguide, and a stamp for use in the production process, in which the thickness of a lower cladding layer in the portion positioned in the lower side of a core layer is easily controlled even if any one or more materials of a substrate, a cladding material, and a stamp are material with low rigidity. The production process of the present invention comprises steps of forming a lower cladding layer which has a core groove and spacer grooves formed substantially in parallel with intervals in both sides of the core groove on a substrate by making use of soft lithography with a second stamp (i.e., a male stamp); then forming a core layer by injecting and filling a core material into the core groove, followed by curing the core material; further forming a upper cladding layer by injecting and filling a cladding material into the spacer grooves and applying the cladding material to the lower cladding layer so as to be embedded the core layer and followed by curing. A stamp used in the production process of the present invention comprises a convex portion or a concave portion corresponding to a core groove and convex portions or concave portions corresponding to spacer grooves formed substantially in parallel with intervals in both sides of the convex portion or the concave portion corresponding to the core groove.

Detection section 22 detects the blank space area in each page for all pages of the document, determining section 23 determines image size for combining a designated stamp image in uniform size in all the pages of that document based on a detection result by detection section 22. Combining section 24 combines the stamp image determined by determining section 23 in each page of the document. For example, size of the maximum blank space area which can fit within blank space areas of all pages of the document in uniform size, is sought, image combining is carried out with an original size if the original size of the stamp image is not larger than the maximum blank space area size, and the stamp image is combined to be in a reduced size so that it fits within the maximum blank space area size if the original size of the stamp image exceeds the maximum blank space area size.

Described are new custom postage printing stocks, coating compositions, processes for preparing and utilizing these and resulting postage products. Disclosed ink formulations comprise: invisible fluorescent dye and / or pigment (preferably red-fluorescent dye), which is fluorescent in the range of 580 to 640 nm when illuminated with light at 254 nm; water-soluble binder; substrate penetrant, fluorescence stabilizer; substrate anticurl agent and water. The inks, when coated on substrates and dried, can improve the quality and color of images printed as compared to images printed without the aid of the invention.

A unit for decorating nails comprises a container 2 of nail varnish, a lid 4 for the container incorporating means for applying the nail varnish, at least one ink pad 8, and at least one stamp 6 being a decoration design for applying ink from the ink pad to a nail. The stamp is provided on an external surface of the lid.