A method for printing indicia on mailpieces at an increased average speed. The
system includes: a postal scale for determining a postage amount for a mail piece;
a printer; and a postage meter responsive to the postal scale to control the printer
to print an indicium representative of the postage amount. The postage meter further
includes: a programmable controller; a secure mechanism for accounting for postage
amounts expended; and an indicia generator. The programmable controller is programmed
in accordance with the method of the present invention to: respond to a first signal
from the postal scale to debit the secure mechanism for a minimum postage amount
and to generate an indicium representative of the minimum amount; and, if the determined
postage amount equals the minimum amount, respond to a second signal representative
of the determined postage amount to print the indicium representative of the minimum
postage amount; and, if the determined postage amount is greater than the minimum
postage amount, respond to the second signal to debit the secure mechanism for
the determined postage amount less the minimum postage amount; delete the indicium
representative of the minimum postage amount; generate an indicium representative
of the determined postage amount; and print the indicium representative of the
determined postage amount on the mail piece.
