Mail weighing system and method
First Claim
1. A method of processing a plurality of mail items in an automated system, the method comprising:
- creating a mail item record;
weighing a mail item;
determining if the mail item weight is valid;
entering the mail item weight in the mail item record; and
ceasing at least a portion of the mail processing if the mail item weight is not valid.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of processing a plurality of mail items in an automated system without isolating each mail item on a scale. The method includes creation of a mail item record that identifies the item and includes the weight. Mail items may be weighed by determining a first scale weight reading, introducing a mail item onto the scale, determining the mail item weight at one or more times within a time window, and finding the difference between each consecutive scale weight. Differences between scale weight readings not equal to zero are outputted. All outputted scale weight readings are totaled to obtain the mail item weight. Further disclosed are a mail processing system and a method of ceasing mail processing when invalid weights are detected.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of processing a plurality of mail items in an automated system, the method comprising:
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creating a mail item record;
weighing a mail item;
determining if the mail item weight is valid;
entering the mail item weight in the mail item record; and
ceasing at least a portion of the mail processing if the mail item weight is not valid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of processing mail comprising:
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determining a first scale weight reading;
introducing a mail item onto the scale;
determining one or more subsequent scale weight readings at one or more times within a time window;
determining the difference between each consecutive scale weight reading including the first and subsequent scale weight readings;
if a difference between scale weight readings is not equal to zero, then outputting the difference between scale weight readings; and
determining a mail item weight by adding all outputted scale weight readings. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A mail processing system comprising:
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a weighing portion having a plurality of scales to weigh a plurality of mail items;
wherein the number of scales equals the weighing time per scale divided by the average time between consecutive mail items entering the mail processing system'"'"'s weighing portion rounded to the next higher number. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of processing a plurality of mail items in a mail processing system having a weighing portion, wherein the method comprises:
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determining the time between which consecutive mail items will enter the weighing portion;
determining the weighing time for a single mail item;
dividing the weighing time for a single mail item by the time between consecutive mail items to obtain a quotient;
rounding the quotient to the next highest number;
providing a plurality of scales, the number of which is the quotient rounded to the next highest number; and
weighing each mail item on a scale, the scales being utilized in a sequence such that each mail item is weighed in a time period less than or approximately equal to the time between consecutive mail items entering the weighing portion. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of processing mail items in a mail processing system, the method comprising:
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setting a time window for weighing a mail item;
introducing the mail item onto a scale;
determining if the scale settles before the time window closes;
if the scale does not settle before the time window closes, ceasing at least a portion of the processing of the mail item; and
if the scale settles before the minimum time window closes, determining the mail item weight. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification