Granted Patent B1

US 7,096,152 · App. 11/185,663 · Granted Aug 22, 2006

Abstract

Claims (18)

1. A mailpiece weight measuring apparatus for use with a mailpiece processing system that transports mailpieces at an initial velocity (V 0 ); the mailpiece weight measuring apparatus comprising:

means for determining a first velocity (V 1 ) of a mailpiece,

means for imparting a force to the mailpiece in a direction co-linear with said first velocity as it enters the mailpiece weight measuring apparatus, so that the mailpiece exits said force impacting means at a second velocity (V 2 );

means for determining the second velocity (V 2 ) of the mailpiece;

means for determining a change in a parameter (Δp), said change being proportional to the force imparted to the mailpiece by said force imparting means; and

means for determining the weight of the mailpiece (m) based upon the determined first velocity (V 1 ), second velocity (V 2 ) and the change in said parameter (Δp)

wherein the force imparting means comprises a first roller and a second roller positioned relative to each other so that a mailpiece is pinched between the rollers when it travels between them;

wherein the means for determining a change in a parameter (Δp) comprising a logical device in communication with a rotational encoder monitoring the first roller, said logical device capable of deriving a change of angular velocity of the first roller based on signals from the rotational encoder.

2. A mailpiece weight measuring apparatus for use with a mailpiece processing system that transports mailpieces at an initial velocity (V 0 ); the mailpiece weight measuring apparatus comprising:

means for determining a first velocity (V 1 ) of a mailpiece,

means for imparting a force to the mailpiece in a direction co-linear with said first velocity as it enters the mailpiece weight measuring apparatus, so that the mailpiece exits said force impacting means at a second velocity (V 2 );

means for determining the second velocity (V 2 ) of the mailpiece;

means for determining a change in a parameter (Δp), said change being proportional to the force imparted to the mailpiece by said force imparting means; and

means for determining the weight of the mailpiece (m) based upon the determined first velocity (V 1 ), second velocity (V 2 ) and the change in said parameter (Δp).

wherein the force imparting means comprising an elongate object having a first end and a second end, said first end is pivotally fastened at a location remote from a path that the mailpieces travel, said second end is attached to a flat plate, said flat plate is positioned substantially perpendicular to the path when the elongate object is in a first position so that said plate is impacted by a mailpiece as the mailpiece travels along its path, hereby angularly displacing the elongate object from the first position.

3. The mailpiece weight measuring apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the means for determining a change in a parameter (Δp) comprising a device that is capable of determining a displacement angle (Δθ) of the elongated object from its first position to its displaced position after said impact with the mailpiece.

4. The mailpiece weight measuring apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising means for accelerating a mailpiece from the initial velocity (V 0 ) to the first velocity (V 1 ).

5. The mailpiece weight apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising means for accelerating mailpiece from the initial velocity (V 0 ) to the first velocity (V 1 ).

Assignments (8)