48 results about "Postage stamp" patented technology

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The present invention is directed toward a combination stamp and advertising booklet. Particularly, a combination postage stamp and advertising booklet having dimensions of paper currency so that it can be readily placed in the till of a checkout register for easy dispensing thereof by the cashier. Each page of the booklet may include one or more removably attached stamps and one or more forms of advertisement, thereby exposing the potential customer accessing the stamps to the advertising material located on the page and adjacent pages. This configuration minimizes the risk that the advertising material will be overlooked or discarded by the consumer.

The present invention is directed to a system for thermally cancelling postage and a thermally cancellable picture postage stamp for use therein. A picture postage stamp is disclosed wherein the design and postage information are affixed on thermally reactive paper. Alternatively, the indicia may be comprised of thermally reactive inks or dyes. Cancelling a thermally cancellable picture postage stamp is accomplished with a heat source such as a cancellation write head. Hidden text of code can be embedded in the thermal paper and the cancellation mark can be any indicia or information that can be generated by a thermal print head. Cancelling the thermally cancellable picture postage stamp may also be accomplished manually with a pointed instrument or any semi hard edge such as a pen cap, ring or fingernail. Cancellation of the present thermally cancellable picture postage stamp can be further verified by placing the stamp on a presently described envelope or mailer having a thermally reactive area for receiving postage and cancellations. Using an envelope with a thermally reactive area allows for thermal cancellations that extend beyond the boundary of the thermally cancellable picture postage stamp, thereby effectively matching the thermal cancellation of the stamp to the cancellation on the envelope. The present thermally cancellable picture postage stamps may be manually applied using a cancellation gun that simultaneously applies postage and cancels same on a mailer.

The invention provides a high-performance stamp gum cleaning agent. The high-performance stamp gum cleaning agent comprises the following components in percentage by weight: 20-40% of turpentine, 10%of n-heptane, 10% of absolute ethyl alcohol, 15-60% of naphtha, 0-5% of a cellulose acetate butyrate solution and 0-50% of mixed acid dimethyl ester. According to the high-performance stamp gum cleaning agent disclosed by the invention, cellulose acetate butyrate is used as a film-forming substance; naphtha is adopted as a main solvent; absolute ethyl alcohol, n-heptane and turpentine are adoptedas auxiliary solvents; after a stamp is soaked with the stamp gum cleaning agent, the solvents with the naphtha as a main component can rapidly permeate into a gap between the stamp and an envelope and reach the interior of a glue film so as to separate the glue film from the back face of the stamp, and at the moment, the glue film can be rapidly stripped; and meanwhile, the glossiness of the stamp and the chromaticity of the pattern color can be kept unaffected through the film-forming substance. The high-performance stamp gum cleaning agent is simple in preparation method and convenient to use.

The invention discloses a stamp hole arrangement structure for a PCB (Printed Circuit Board), which comprises four or six stamp holes which are arranged in sequence and are positioned close to the appearance line of the current PCB, the circle centers of the two stamp holes positioned at the head part and the tail part coincide with the appearance line of the current PCB, and the two or four stamp holes positioned in the middle sink for 0.25 mm towards the interior of the PCB compared with the two stamp holes positioned at the head part and the tail part. The invention further discloses a corresponding PCB forming method after the stamp hole arrangement structure is adopted. By adopting the design scheme of the invention, an existing design method of pure linear arrangement of stamp holes is replaced, so that no connecting rib stub is formed after the stamp holes at the head and the tail are milled, and the appearance flatness of the PCB is better.

The invention provides water-based sprinkling silk printing gloss oil ink and a preparation method thereof, and the water-based sprinkling silk printing gloss oil ink comprises 8-10% of glitter powder, 73-78% of water-based acrylic resin, 3-5% of deionized water, 4-5% of a water-based coalescing agent, 0.2-0.5% of an amine neutralizer, 1-2% of an alkali swelling thickener, 1-2% of a wetting leveling agent and 2-3% of a highlight wax emulsion. The prepared water-based sprinkling silk printing gloss oil ink has the characteristics of high adhesive force, good flash and excellent sprinkling performance, does not have any components stimulating the human body, can effectively prolong the storage life of products when being applied to greeting card and stamp industries, high-grade wine and other outer packages, does not have any components stimulating the human body, and can ensure the body health of consumers.