Apparatus and method of creating pre-formed images on a thermal ribbon used in a postage dispensing device

摘要

A postage dispensing device that prints a postage indicia using a two step process. A thermal ribbon is provided which has pre-formed images on a major portion of the thermal ribbon that is applied with a hot melt ink jet printer. Inked areas are provided on the thermal ribbon where an image is generated by a dot matrix thermal printer. The pre-formed images represent non-variable portion of a postage indicia whereas the images formed by the thermal printer represent variable data of the postage indicia. The use of a hot melt ink jet printer allows one to alter the pre-formed image as required and allows a variety of colors to be used.