EP0440021A2 - Identification method for franking and post-marking machines - Google Patents

Identification method for franking and post-marking machines Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0440021A2
EP0440021A2 EP91100186A EP91100186A EP0440021A2 EP 0440021 A2 EP0440021 A2 EP 0440021A2 EP 91100186 A EP91100186 A EP 91100186A EP 91100186 A EP91100186 A EP 91100186A EP 0440021 A2 EP0440021 A2 EP 0440021A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
printing
machine
franking
printing pattern
identification feature
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP91100186A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0440021B2 (en
EP0440021A3 (en
EP0440021B1 (en
Inventor
Klaus Dietrich
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Francotyp Postalia GmbH
Original Assignee
Francotyp Postalia GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=6399231&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=EP0440021(A2) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Application filed by Francotyp Postalia GmbH filed Critical Francotyp Postalia GmbH
Publication of EP0440021A2 publication Critical patent/EP0440021A2/en
Publication of EP0440021A3 publication Critical patent/EP0440021A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0440021B1 publication Critical patent/EP0440021B1/en
Publication of EP0440021B2 publication Critical patent/EP0440021B2/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00733—Cryptography or similar special procedures in a franking system
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00572—Details of printed item
    • G07B2017/0058—Printing of code
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00733—Cryptography or similar special procedures in a franking system
    • G07B2017/00822—Cryptography or similar special procedures in a franking system including unique details
    • G07B2017/0083—Postal data, e.g. postage, address, sender, machine ID, vendor
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S283/00—Printed matter
    • Y10S283/903—Lottery ticket

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method for identifying franking and stamping machines on the basis of their printing patterns, the machines having microprocessor-controlled printing methods in which the printing pattern is formed from fixed data and current data only immediately before printing and is buffered until printing.
  • Franking and stamping machines have printing devices that print franking or value prints on mail, receipts, documents, etc. as proof of the payment of fees. For many applications it is necessary to be able to identify the machines on the basis of the impression, for example to identify counterfeits.
  • the invention had for its object to provide a method for identifying franking and stamping machines which use microprocessor-controlled printing methods, such as laser, matrix or thermal printing, which is falsifiable, i.e. cannot be imitated by another machine, by an increased Ensure security for billing purposes.
  • microprocessor-controlled printing methods such as laser, matrix or thermal printing
  • the stamp impressions are generated by microprocessors as well as memories and registers.
  • the print pattern or print image is only generated immediately before printing, e.g. B. from fixed dates, such as a cliché pattern, and current dates, such as date and fee value.
  • an identification feature is printed according to the invention. In order to make this identification feature counterfeit, parameters of the respective machine are linked to parts of the fee values to be printed and the date. As shown in FIG.
  • machine parameters MP such as serial number or work number and number of prints with the date DT and the value setting WE and possibly digits of the advertising clichés are over links a cryptographic algorithm KA, and the resulting encrypted, multi-digit crypto number is additionally inserted into the print pattern via the printer controller DS.
  • FIG. 2 shows the flow chart for the combined printing of value, date, plate printing and multi-digit crypto number.
  • the date and value e.g. B. the postage value
  • the cliché a buffer for the pressure control ZWD fed.
  • the crypto number is formed from the data DT, the value input WE and the machine parameters MP, which is stored in a buffer ZWK.
  • the contents of the buffer stores ZWD, ZWK are fed into the print controller DS, which generates the final print pattern.
  • the printing itself is triggered by placing an envelope, a franking strip, a document, a receipt, etc. on the printing drum of the machine.

Abstract

The method for identifying franking and post-marking machines proposes the additional printing of an unfalsifiable identification feature. This feature is obtained from the interlinking of machine parameters with the date and the charge value to be printed and, if appropriate, numbers of the publicity block by means of a cryptographic algorithm. …<IMAGE>…

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren zur Identifikation von Frankier- und Wertstempelmaschinen anhand deren Druckmuster, wobei die Maschinen über mikroprozessorgesteuerte Druckverfahren verfügen, bei denen das Druckmuster erst unmittelbar vor dem Druck aus Festdaten und aktuellen Daten gebildet und bis zum Druck zwischengespeichert wird.The invention relates to a method for identifying franking and stamping machines on the basis of their printing patterns, the machines having microprocessor-controlled printing methods in which the printing pattern is formed from fixed data and current data only immediately before printing and is buffered until printing.

Frankier- und Wertstempelmaschinen weisen Druckvorrichtungen auf, die Frankier- oder Wertdrucke auf Postgut, Quittungen, Dokumente etc. als Nachweis der Gebührenentrichtung aufdrucken. Für viele Anwendungen ist es erforderlich, die Maschinen anhand des Abdruckes identifizieren zu können, beispielsweise um Fälschungen zu erkennen.Franking and stamping machines have printing devices that print franking or value prints on mail, receipts, documents, etc. as proof of the payment of fees. For many applications it is necessary to be able to identify the machines on the basis of the impression, for example to identify counterfeits.

Um solche Fälschungen zu vermeiden ist bekannt, Markierungen mitzudrucken, die optisch nicht erkennbar sind und die erst bei einem Kopiervorgang deutlich werden (DE-OS 34 19 859). Weiterhin ist es bekannt, für den Originaldruck ein Sicherheitspapier zu verwenden, dessen Farbdichte der Sicherungsmarkierungen unterhalb der Reproduziergrenze liegt (DE-PS 28 05 146).In order to avoid such counterfeits, it is known to also print markings which are not visually recognizable and which only become clear during a copying process (DE-OS 34 19 859). Furthermore, it is known to use security paper for the original print, the color density of the security markings being below the reproductive limit (DE-PS 28 05 146).

Derartige Verfahren sind jedoch aufwendig und teilweise nicht anwendbar, wenn direkte Aufdrucke auf unterschiedliche Vorlagen verlangt sind, wie z. B. Briefe oder verschiedene Belegvordrucke. Zudem gewährleisten sie nur einen Schutz gegen Kopieren, nicht jedoch gegen Nachahmung durch eine andere Maschine.However, such methods are complex and sometimes not applicable when direct prints on different templates are required, such as. B. letters or various forms. In addition, they only provide protection against copying, but not against imitation by another machine.

Der Erfindung lag die Aufgabe zugrunde, ein Verfahren zur Identifizierung von Frankier- und Wertstempelmaschinen zu schaffen, die mikroprozessorgesteuerte Druckverfahren, wie Laser-, Matrix- oder Thermodrucke verwenden, das unfälschbar ist, also nicht durch eine andere Maschine nachgeahmt werden kann, um eine erhöhte Sicherheit für Abrechnungszwecke zu gewährleisten.The invention had for its object to provide a method for identifying franking and stamping machines which use microprocessor-controlled printing methods, such as laser, matrix or thermal printing, which is falsifiable, i.e. cannot be imitated by another machine, by an increased Ensure security for billing purposes.

Diese Aufgabe wurde durch die Erfindung gelöst, wie sie im Kennzeichnungsteil des ersten Patentanspruches dargelegt ist.This object has been achieved by the invention as set out in the characterizing part of the first claim.

Anhand einer aus zwei Figuren bestehenden Zeichnung wird die Erfindung nachfolgend näher erläutert. Darin zeigt die

Fig. 1
eine Übersicht zur Erzeugung eines Idenfikationsmerkmales und die
Fig. 2
ein Ablaufdiagramm für ein Drucksteuerung.
The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of a drawing consisting of two figures. In it shows the
Fig. 1
an overview of the generation of an identification characteristic and the
Fig. 2
a flowchart for a pressure control.

Bei mikroprozessorgesteuerten Druckverfahren in Frankier- und Wertstempelmaschinen werden durch Mikroprozessoren sowie Speicher und Register die Stempelabdrucke erzeugt. Dabei wird erst unmittelbar vor dem Druck das Druckmuster bzw. Druckbild erzeugt, z. B. aus Festdaten, wie einem Klischeemuster, und aktuellen Daten, wie Datum und Gebührenwert. Zusätzlich zu einem solchen Druckmuster wird erfindungsgemäß ein Identifikationsmerkmal abgedruckt. Um dieses Identifikationsmerkmal unfälschbar zu machen, werden Parameter der jeweiligen Maschine mit Teilen der zu druckenden Gebührenwerte und dem Datum verknüpft. Wie in der Figur 1 dargestellt, werden beispielsweise Maschinenparameter MP, wie Seriennummer oder Werksnummer sowie Anzahl der Drucke mit dem Datum DT und der Werteinstellung WE und ggf. Ziffern des Werbeklischees über einen kryptographischen Algorithmus KA verknüpft, und die daraus erhaltene verschlüsselte, mehrstellige Kryptozahl zusätzlich über die Druckersteuerung DS in das Druckmuster eingefügt.In microprocessor-controlled printing processes in franking and stamp machines, the stamp impressions are generated by microprocessors as well as memories and registers. The print pattern or print image is only generated immediately before printing, e.g. B. from fixed dates, such as a cliché pattern, and current dates, such as date and fee value. In addition to such a print pattern, an identification feature is printed according to the invention. In order to make this identification feature counterfeit, parameters of the respective machine are linked to parts of the fee values to be printed and the date. As shown in FIG. 1, for example machine parameters MP, such as serial number or work number and number of prints with the date DT and the value setting WE and possibly digits of the advertising clichés are over links a cryptographic algorithm KA, and the resulting encrypted, multi-digit crypto number is additionally inserted into the print pattern via the printer controller DS.

Die Figur 2 zeigt das Ablaufdiagramm für den zusammengefaßten Druck aus Wert-, Datum-, Klischeedruck und mehrstelliger Kryptozahl. Nach dem Start der Maschine wird die Eingabe des Datums und des Wertes, z. B. des Portowertes, sowie des Klischees einem Zwischenspeicher für die Drucksteuerung ZWD zugeführt. Parallel dazu wird aus dem Datum DT, der Werteingabe WE und den Maschinenparametern MP die Kryptozahl gebildet, die in einem Zwischenspeicher ZWK abgelegt wird. Die Inhalte der Zwischenspeicher ZWD, ZWK werden in die Drucksteuerung DS gegeben, die das endgültigen Druckmuster erzeugt.FIG. 2 shows the flow chart for the combined printing of value, date, plate printing and multi-digit crypto number. After starting the machine, the date and value, e.g. B. the postage value, and the cliché a buffer for the pressure control ZWD fed. In parallel, the crypto number is formed from the data DT, the value input WE and the machine parameters MP, which is stored in a buffer ZWK. The contents of the buffer stores ZWD, ZWK are fed into the print controller DS, which generates the final print pattern.

Der Druck selbst wird durch Anlegen eines Briefumschlages, eines Frankierstreifens, eines Dokumentes, einer Quittung usw. an die Drucktrommel der Maschine ausgelöst.The printing itself is triggered by placing an envelope, a franking strip, a document, a receipt, etc. on the printing drum of the machine.

Dieser zusätzliche offene Abdruck einer verschlüsselten mehrstelligen Zahl, die bei jedem Abdruck verschieden ist, ist nur durch eine Überwachungsstelle entschlüsselbar, wobei jene über den gleichen Verschlüsselungs-Algorithmus verfügt. Die Überwachungsstelle ist somit in der Lage, einzelne Drucke den jeweiligen Maschinen zuzuordnen. Weder der Betreiber der Maschine noch ein anderer kann die Kryptozahl nachvollziehen, so daß eine zusätzliche Sicherheit für Abrechnungszwecke gegeben ist.This additional open imprint of an encrypted multi-digit number, which is different for each imprint, can only be decrypted by a monitoring agency, which has the same encryption algorithm. The monitoring point is thus able to assign individual prints to the respective machines. Neither the operator of the machine nor anyone else can understand the crypto number, so that there is additional security for billing purposes.

Claims (3)

Verfahren zur Identifikation von Frankier- und Wertstempelmaschinen anhand deren Druckmuster, wobei die Maschinen über mikroprozessorgesteuerte Druckverfahren verfügen, bei denen das Druckmuster erst unmittelbar vor dem Druck aus Festdaten und aktuellen Daten gebildet und bis zum Druck zwischengespeichert wird, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß zusätzlich zu dem zu druckenden Muster, bestehend aus dem Wertstempel, dem Datumsstempel und dem Klischee ein Identifikationsmerkmal offen abgedruckt wird und daß das zwischengespeicherte Druckmuster und das Identifikationsmerkmal gemeinsam einer Drucksteuerung zur Erzeugung des endgültigen Druckmusters zugeführt werden.Method for identifying franking and stamping machines on the basis of their printing pattern, the machines having microprocessor-controlled printing processes in which the printing pattern is formed from fixed data and current data just before printing and is temporarily stored until printing, characterized in that in addition to the printing pattern, consisting of the value stamp, the date stamp and the cliché, an identification feature is openly printed and that the temporarily stored printing pattern and the identification feature are jointly fed to a print controller for generating the final printing pattern. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Identifikationsmerkmal aus den Parametern der Maschine und den Zahlenwerten des Datums-, Wert- und Klischeedruckes mittels eines kryptographischen Algorithmus gebildet wird und als mehrstellige Kryptozahl bis zum Druck zwischengespeichert wird.Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the identification feature is formed from the parameters of the machine and the numerical values of the date, value and plate printing by means of a cryptographic algorithm and is temporarily stored as a multi-digit crypto number until it is printed. Verfahren nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daßals Maschinenparameter die Werksnummer der Maschine und die Anzahl der Drucke der Maschine verwendet werden.Method according to Claim 2, characterized in that the machine number and the number of prints of the machine are used as machine parameters.
EP91100186A 1990-01-30 1991-01-08 Identification method for franking and post-marking machines Expired - Lifetime EP0440021B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE4003006 1990-01-30
DE4003006A DE4003006A1 (en) 1990-01-30 1990-01-30 METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING MACHINE AND VALUE STAMPING MACHINES

Publications (4)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0440021A2 true EP0440021A2 (en) 1991-08-07
EP0440021A3 EP0440021A3 (en) 1992-01-22
EP0440021B1 EP0440021B1 (en) 1994-10-26
EP0440021B2 EP0440021B2 (en) 2004-06-16

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EP91100186A Expired - Lifetime EP0440021B2 (en) 1990-01-30 1991-01-08 Identification method for franking and post-marking machines

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US (1) US5186498A (en)
EP (1) EP0440021B2 (en)
DE (2) DE4003006A1 (en)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0576113A2 (en) * 1992-06-26 1993-12-29 Francotyp-Postalia GmbH Method and device for the guide generation of a safety print
WO1997035403A2 (en) * 1996-03-21 1997-09-25 Walker Asset Management Ltd. Partnership Method and apparatus for secure document timestamping
US5828751A (en) * 1996-04-08 1998-10-27 Walker Asset Management Limited Partnership Method and apparatus for secure measurement certification
US6959387B2 (en) 1996-03-21 2005-10-25 Walker Digital, Llc Method and apparatus for verifying secure document timestamping
US7553234B2 (en) 1995-11-22 2009-06-30 Walker Digital, Llc Method and apparatus for outputting a result of a game via a container
US7821404B2 (en) 1995-11-22 2010-10-26 James A. Jorasch Systems and methods for improved health care compliance
US8549310B2 (en) 1996-04-08 2013-10-01 Walker Digital, Llc Method and apparatus for secure measurement certification

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GB9226813D0 (en) * 1992-12-23 1993-02-17 Neopost Ltd Franking machine and method of franking
US5480239A (en) * 1993-10-08 1996-01-02 Pitney Bowes Inc. Postage meter system having bit-mapped indicia image security
DE4344471A1 (en) * 1993-12-21 1995-08-17 Francotyp Postalia Gmbh Method and device for generating and checking a security impression
US6574000B1 (en) * 1996-11-22 2003-06-03 Pitney Bowes Inc. System for the enhancement of information based indicia and postage security devices
US5953426A (en) * 1997-02-11 1999-09-14 Francotyp-Postalia Ag & Co. Method and arrangement for generating and checking a security imprint
US6938023B1 (en) * 1998-12-24 2005-08-30 Pitney Bowes Inc. Method of limiting key usage in a postage metering system that produces cryptographically secured indicium
EP1159799B1 (en) * 1999-02-26 2006-07-26 Bitwise Designs, Inc. Digital file management and imaging system and method including secure file marking
US6275470B1 (en) * 1999-06-18 2001-08-14 Digital Island, Inc. On-demand overlay routing for computer-based communication networks
WO2002049269A1 (en) * 2000-12-15 2002-06-20 United States Postal Service Electronic postmarking without directly utilizing an electronic postmark server
AU2002227394A1 (en) * 2000-12-18 2002-07-01 United States Postal Service Method of using personal signature as postage
WO2003021476A1 (en) * 2001-08-31 2003-03-13 Trac Medical Solutions, Inc. System for interactive processing of form documents
US8108322B2 (en) 2002-07-29 2012-01-31 United States Postal Services PC postage™ service indicia design for shipping label
CN1689049A (en) * 2002-08-29 2005-10-26 美国邮政服务公司 Systems and methods for re-estimating the postage fee of a mailpiece during processing
DE10311634A1 (en) * 2003-03-14 2004-09-30 Authentidate International Ag Electronic transmission of documents

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GB2193157A (en) * 1986-07-07 1988-02-03 Pitney Bowes Inc Postage payment systems
GB2193468A (en) * 1986-07-07 1988-02-10 Pitney Bowes Inc Postage payment system employing encryption techniques
EP0331352A2 (en) * 1988-02-29 1989-09-06 Neopost Limited Franking system
EP0352498A1 (en) * 1988-07-14 1990-01-31 Ascom Hasler AG Franking machine

Cited By (23)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0907149A3 (en) * 1992-06-26 2000-09-13 Francotyp-Postalia Aktiengesellschaft & Co. Method for evaluating security prints
EP0576113A3 (en) * 1992-06-26 1994-12-07 Francotyp Postalia Gmbh Method and device for the guide generation of a safety print.
US5471925A (en) * 1992-06-26 1995-12-05 Francotyn-Postalia Gmbh Apparatus and method for changing the text portion of logos for postage meters
EP0576113A2 (en) * 1992-06-26 1993-12-29 Francotyp-Postalia GmbH Method and device for the guide generation of a safety print
EP0907150A3 (en) * 1992-06-26 2000-09-13 Francotyp-Postalia Aktiengesellschaft & Co. Method for the verification of security prints
EP0902400A3 (en) * 1992-06-26 2000-09-13 Francotyp-Postalia Aktiengesellschaft & Co. Method for checking security imprints
US5894792A (en) * 1992-06-26 1999-04-20 Francotyp Postalia Ag & Co. Apparatus and method for changing the text portion of logos for postage meters
US7553235B2 (en) 1995-11-22 2009-06-30 Walker Digital, Llc Method and apparatus for outputting a result of a game via a container
US7553234B2 (en) 1995-11-22 2009-06-30 Walker Digital, Llc Method and apparatus for outputting a result of a game via a container
US8262394B2 (en) 1995-11-22 2012-09-11 James A. Jorasch Systems and methods for improved health care compliance
US8092224B2 (en) 1995-11-22 2012-01-10 James A. Jorasch Systems and methods for improved health care compliance
US7821404B2 (en) 1995-11-22 2010-10-26 James A. Jorasch Systems and methods for improved health care compliance
US6263438B1 (en) 1996-03-21 2001-07-17 Walker Digital, Llc Method and apparatus for secure document timestamping
US6959387B2 (en) 1996-03-21 2005-10-25 Walker Digital, Llc Method and apparatus for verifying secure document timestamping
WO1997035403A2 (en) * 1996-03-21 1997-09-25 Walker Asset Management Ltd. Partnership Method and apparatus for secure document timestamping
US5923763A (en) * 1996-03-21 1999-07-13 Walker Asset Management Limited Partnership Method and apparatus for secure document timestamping
USRE41960E1 (en) 1996-03-21 2010-11-23 Walker Digital, Llc Method and apparatus for verifying secure document timestamping
USRE42018E1 (en) 1996-03-21 2010-12-28 Walker Digital, Llc Method and apparatus for verifying secure document timestamping
USRE42893E1 (en) 1996-03-21 2011-11-01 Walker Digital, Llc Method and apparatus for verifying secure document timestamping
WO1997035403A3 (en) * 1996-03-21 1997-12-18 Method and apparatus for secure document timestamping
US6289453B1 (en) 1996-04-08 2001-09-11 Walker Digital, Llc Method and apparatus for secure measurement certification
US5828751A (en) * 1996-04-08 1998-10-27 Walker Asset Management Limited Partnership Method and apparatus for secure measurement certification
US8549310B2 (en) 1996-04-08 2013-10-01 Walker Digital, Llc Method and apparatus for secure measurement certification

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0440021B2 (en) 2004-06-16
DE59103303D1 (en) 1994-12-01
US5186498A (en) 1993-02-16
DE4003006A1 (en) 1991-08-01
EP0440021A3 (en) 1992-01-22
DE4003006C2 (en) 1993-08-12
EP0440021B1 (en) 1994-10-26

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