Insertion machine with postage categorization

• US 4,809,187 A
• Filed: 02/24/1986
• Issued: 02/28/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BBH Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bell & Howell LLC (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Adams, Jerryl
• Primary Examiner(s): Gruber, Felix D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ellis B.
• Application Number:
  US06/832,294
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 364/178, 364/466, 364/406, 364/200, 364/464, 364/178, 364/188, 364/478, 53/154, 53/502, 53/54, 53/500, 53/266 A, 270/58, 209/900, 177/5, 177/25
• US Class Current: 705/406
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 1/00 Measures preceding sorting according to destination
• CPC Class Codes: B43M 3/04 automatic
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0037 Calculation of postage value
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/90 Sorting flat-type mail

Abstract

In an insertion machine a track 20 moves groups of items past feed stations 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42 during respective machine cycles. The feed stations selectively feed items onto the track 20 for inclusion with a group of items and eventual stuffing into an envelope to which postage need be allocated. One of the feed stations is a dual item station 32 from which items having a first weight and from which items having a second weight can be fed. A sensor 53 is provided proximate the dual item station 32 for determining the number of first weight items the number of second weight items fed from the dual item station 32. In order for data processing means 102 to calculate the amount of postage necessary, an operator uses a keyboard and display 110 to input predetermined per item weight values for items held at select stations. The data processing means 102 uses the predetermined values indicative of the per item weight of items held in the stations to obtain a calculated total weight for each group of items.

Claims

1. A machine of a type in which a plurality of feed stations selectively feed items onto an insertion track for inclusion with a group of said items, wherein the improvement comprises:

data processing means including memory means and arithmetic logic means;

sensing means positioned proximate one of said plurality of feed stations, said sensing means being adapted to sense a weight-influencing characteristic of said items and to discriminate on the basis of said characteristic between an item of a first weight and an item of a second weight fed from said feed station;

means for selectively inputting into said data processing memory means with respect to each selected station at least one predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of items held at said station, including the selective inputting into said data processing memory means with respect to said station near which said sensing means is proximate both a first predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of each of said first weight items held at said station and a second predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of each of said second weight items feedable from said station;

means for determining and storing a number of first weight items and a number of second weight items feedable for inclusion with a group from said station near which said sensing means is proximate;

means including said data processing arithmetic logic means for using said predetermined values indicative of the per item weight of items held in said feed stations to obtain a calculated indication of total weight for each group of items; and

,

means for using said calculated indication of total weight to determine how each group of items is to be processed by the insertion machine relative to the allocation of postage to an envelope associated with said group of items.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of postage meters positioned whereby a selected one of said postage meters is activatable to apply postage to an envelope associated with a group of items, each of said postage meters being settable to apply appropriate postage for an associated range of calculated indication of weights, each of said postage meters being responsively connected to said means which determines how each group of items is to be processed relative to the allocation of postage.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one postage meter responsively connected to said means which determines how each group of items is to be processed relative to the allocation of postage, said postage meter being settable to apply postage to an envelope associated with a group of items.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

at least one diversion device for diverting an envelope associated with a group of items, said diversion device being responsively connected to said means which determines how each group of items is to be processed relative to the allocation of postage whereby said diversion device is activated to divert said envelope if the calculated weight of said envelope does not fall within an associated weight range of said postage meter.

5. A method of determining the amount of postage to be allocated to envelopes into which items are inserted by an insertion machine, said insertion machine being of a type in which a plurality of feed stations selectively feed items onto an insertion track for inclusion with a group of said items, said method comprising the steps of:

operating one of said further feed stations as a dual item feed station from which both items of a first weight and items of a second weight can be fed, a sensor means being provided proximate said dual item feed station to sense a weight-influencing characteristic of said items and to discriminate on the basis of said characteristic between items of said first weight and items of said second weight;

selectively inputting into data processing memory means with respect to each selected station at least one predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of items held at said station, including the selective inputting with respect to said dual station of a first predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of first weight items held at said dual station and a second predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of second weight items held at said dual station;

using said predetermined values indicative of the per item weight of items held in said feed stations to obtain a calculated indication of total weight for each group of items; and

,

using said calculated indication of total weight to determine how each groups of items is to be processed by the insertion machine relative to the allocation of postage to an envelope associated with said group of items.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

setting each of a plurality of postage meters to apply appropriate postage for an associated range of calculated indication of weights; and

,

activating an appropriate one of said plurality of postage meters to apply postage to said stuffed envelope associated with said group of items if the calculated indication of weight of said stuffed envelope lies in said associated range, said plurality of postage meters each being responsively connected to said means which determines how each group of items is to be processed relative to the allocation of postage.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

setting at least one postage meter to apply appropriate postage for a calculated indication of weight; and

,

actuating said postage meter to apply postage to a stuffed envelope associated with a group of items, said postage meter being responsively connected to said means which determines how each group of items is to be processed relative to the application of postage.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

activating a diversion device to divert said stuffed envelope if the calculated indication of weight of said stuffed envelope does not lie within an associated weight range of said postage meter, said diversion device being responsively connected to said means which determines how each group of itesm is to be processed relative to the allocation of postage.

9. In a machine of the type in which a plurality of feed stations selectively feed items onto an insertion track, said plurality of feed stations including a first feed station and further feed stations from which items are selectively fed onto said track for inclusion with a group, wherein the improvement comprises:

sensing means positioned proximate at least one of said further feed stations, said sensing means being adapted to sense a weight-influencing characteristic of said items and to discriminate on the basis of said characteristic between an item on a first weight and an item of a second weight feedable from said at least one further feed station;

means for determining the particular further feed stations from which items are to be fed onto said insertion track for inclusion with said group;

data processing means including memory means and arithmetic logic means for storing in said data processing memory means values indicative of a number of first weight items and a number of second weight items feedable from said at least one of said further feed stations for inclusion with said group;

means for selectively inputting into said data processing memory means with respect to each selected station a predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of items feedable from said station, including the selective inputting into said data processing memory means with respect to said station near which said sensing means is proximate both a first predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of each of said first weight items held at said station and a second predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of each of said second weight items feedable from said station;

means including said data processing arithmetic logic means for using said stored values indicatve of the number of items fed from said at least one further feed station and said predetermined values indicative of the per item weight of items feedable from said at least one further feed station to obtain a calculated indication of subtotal weight with respect to said at least one further feed station;

means including said data processing arithmetic logic means for using said calculated indication of subtotal weight and predetermined values indicative of the per item weight of items feedable from other ones of said further feed stations to obtain a calculated indication of total weight; and

,

means for using said calculated indication of total weight to determine how each group of items is to be processed by the insertion machine relative to the allocation of postage with respect to an envelope associated with said group of items.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said weight-influencing characteristic is item length.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a plurality of postage meters positioned whereby a selected one of said postage meters is activatable to apply postage to an envelope associated with a group of items, each of said postage meters being settable to apply appropriate postage for an associated range of calculated weights, each of said postage meters being responsively connected to said means which determines how each group of items is to be processed relative to the allocation of postage.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

at least one postage meter responsively connected to said means which determines how each group of items is to be processed relative to the allocation of postage, said postage meter being settable to apply postage to an envelope associated with a group of items.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

at least one diversion device for diverting an envelope associated with a group of items, said diversion device being responsively connected to said means which determines how each group of items is to be processed relative to the allocation of postage whereby said diversion device is activated to divert said envelope if the calculated indication of weight of said envelope does not fall within an associated weight range of said postage meter.

14. A method of selectively determining the amount of postage to be allocated to each of a plurality of envelopes into which items are inserted by an insertion machine, said insertion machine being of the type in which a plurality of feed stations selectively feed items onto an insertion track, said plurality of feed stations including a first feed station and further feed stations from which items are selectively fed onto said track for inclusion with a group, said method comprising the steps of:

operating one of said further feed stations as a dual item feed station from which both items of a first weight and items of a second weight can be fed, a sensor means being provided proximate said dual item feed station to sense a weight-influencing characteristic of said items and to discriminate on the basis of said characteristic between items of said first weight and items of said second weight;

determining the particular further feed stations from which items are to be fed onto said insertion track during an appropriate subsequent machine cycle for inclusion with said group;

determining the number of items to be fed from said dual feed station during said appropriate cycle for inclusion in said group, including the number of said first weight items and the number of said second weight items;

storing a value indicative of the number of items of said first weight and a value indicative of the number of items of said second weight to be fed from said dual feed station for inclusion with said group;

selectively inputting into said data processing memory means with respect to each selected station a predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of items feedable from said station, including the selective inputting with respect to said dual station a predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of first weight items at said dual station and a second predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of second weight items feedable from said dual station;

using said stored values indicative of the number of items fed from said dual feed station and said predetermined values indicative of the per item weight of items feedable from said dual feed station to obtain a calculated indication of subtotal weight with respect to said dual feed station;

using said calculated indication of subtotal weight and predetermined values indicative of the per item weight of items feedable from other ones of said further feed stations to obtain a calculated indication of total weight; and

,

using said calculated indication of total weight to determine how each group of items is to be processed by the insertion machine relative to the allocation of postage with respect to an envelope associated with said group of items.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

setting each of a plurality of postage meters to apply appropriate postage for an associated range of calculated indication of weights; and

,

activating an appropriate one of said plurality of postage meters to apply postage to said stuffed envelope associated with said group of items if the calculated indication of weight of said stuffed envelope lies in said associated range, said plurality of postage meters each being responsively connected to said means which determines how each group of items is to be processed relative to the allocation of postage.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

setting at least one postage meter to apply appropriate postage for a calculated indication of weight; and

,

actuating said postage meter to apply postage to a stuffed envelope associated with a group of items, said postage meter being responsively connected to said means which determines how each group of items is to be processed relative to the allocation of postage.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of:

activating a diversion device to divert said stuffed envelope if the calculated indication of weight of said stuffed envelope does not lie within an associated weight range of said postage meter, said diversion device being responsively connected to said means which determines how each group of items is to be processed relative to the allocation of postage.

18. A method of selectively determining a weight classification range for envelopes into which items are inserted by an insertion machine, said insertion machine being of the type in which a plurality of feed stations selectively feed items onto an insertion track, said plurality of feed stations including a first feed station and further feed stations from which items are selectively fed onto said track for inclusion with a group, at least one of said further feed statons being a dual item feed station from which both items of a first weight and items of a second weight can be fed, a sensor means being proximate said dual item feed station to sense a weight-influencing characteristic of said items and to discriminate on the basis of said characteristic between items of said first weight and items of said second weight, said method comprising the steps of:

selectively inputting with respect to each selected station a predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of items fed from said station;

selectively inputting with respect to said dual station a predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of first weight items feedable from said dual station and a second predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of second weight items feedable from said dual station;

determining the particular further feed stations from which items are to be fed onto said insertion track during an appropriate subsequent machine cycle for inclusion with said group;

determining the number of items to be fed from each such further feed station during said appropriate cycle for inclusion in said group;

storing a value indicative of the number of items to be fed from each such further feed station for inclusion with said group;

using said second predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of second weight items feedable from said dual station and the stored value indicative to the total number of items to be fed from said dual station to obtain a tentative calculated indication of subtotal weight for said dual station;

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of comparing the calculated indication of tentative total weight to a maximum weight value.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein said weight-influencing characteristic is item length.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said means for using said calculated indication of weight total determines how a group of items is to be processed by the insertion machine relative to the allocation of postage to an envelope associated with said group of items.

28. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:

at least one diversion device for diverting an envelope associated with a group of items, said diversion device being responsively connected to said means which determines how a group of items is to be further processed.

19. using said predetermined values indicative of the per item weight of items feedable from each station other than said dual station and the stored vaues indicative of the number of items fed from each perspective station to obtain a calculated indication of subtotal weight with respect to each station other than said dual length station;

using said tentative calculated indication of subtotal weight for said dual station and said calculated indication of subtotal weights for each of said other stations to obtain a calculated indication of tentative total weight;

determining the number of first weight items fed from said dual station;

obtaining a correction factor to be used to modify said calculated indication of tentative total weight, said correction factor being essentially the product of the number of first weight items fed from said dual station and a quantity representing the difference between the first predetermined value and the second predetermined value indicative to the per item weights of said first weight and said second weight items, respectively;

20. using said correction factor to modify said calculated indication of tentative total weight to obtain a calculated indication of total weight;

and,

using said calculated indication of total weight to determine how each group of items is to be processed by the insertion machine relative to the allocation of postage to an envelope associated with said group of items.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said items of said first weight are relatively long length items and wherein items of said second weight are relatively short lenth items.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:

at least one postage meter responsively connected to said means which determines how a group of items is to be processed relative to the allocation of postage, said postage meter being settable to apply postage to an envelope associated with a group of items.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:

a plurality of postage meters positioned whereby a selected one of said postage meters is activatable to apply postage to an envelope associated with a group of items, each of said postage meters being settable to apply appropriate postage for an associated range of calculated weights, each of said postage meters being responsively connected to said means which determines how a group of items is to be processed relative to the allocation of postage.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of:

using at least one diversion device for diverting an envelope associated with a group of items, said diversion device being responsively connected to said means which determines how a group of items is to be further processed.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein said step of using said calculated weight indication of total includes the step of determining how a group of items is to be processed by the insertion machine relative to the allocation of postage to an envelope associated with said group of items.

24. In an insertion machine of the type in which a plurality of feed stations selectively feed items onto an insertion track for inclusion with a group of said items, wherein the improvement comprises:

sensing positioned proximate a second of said plurality of feed stations, said sensing means being adapted to sense a weight-influencing characteristic of said items and to discriminate on the basis of said characteristic between an item on a first weight and an item of a second weight fed from said feed station;

means for selectively inputting predetermined values into a memory, said predetermined values including at least a predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of items feedable from a first feed station and predetermined values indicative of the per item weight of items feedable from a second feed station including the selective inputting into said data processing memory means with respect to said station near which said sensing means is proximate both a first predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of each of said first weight items held at said station and a second predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of each of said second weight items feedable from said station;

means for determining and storing a number of first weight items and a number of second weight items feedable with respect to a group from said station near which said sensing means is proximate;

means for calculating a calculated indication of total weight for a group of items, said calculated means being connected to said memory whereby said predetermined values are utilized in said calculation; and

,

means for using said calculated indication of total weight to determine how a group of items is to be further processed.

29. A method of determining how envelopes into which items are inserted by an insertion machine are to be further processed, said insertion machine being of the type in which a plurality of feed stations selectively feed items onto an insertion track for inclusion with a group of said items, said method comprising the steps of:

operating at least one of said further feed stations as a dual item feed station from which both items of a first weight and items of a second weight can be fed, a sensor means being provided proximate said dual item feed station to sense a weight-influencing characteristic of said items and to discriminate on the basis of said characteristic between items of said first weight and items of said second weight;

selectively inputting predetermined values into a memory, said predetermined values including at least a predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of items feedable from a first feed station and predetermined values indicative of the per item weight of items feedable from said dual feed station, including the selective inputting with respect to said dual station a predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of first weight items held at said dual station and a second predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of second weight items held at said dual station;

calculating a calculated indication of total weight for a group of items, said predetermined values being utilized in said calculation; and

using said calculated indication of total weight to determine how a group of items is to be further processed.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of:

positioning a plurality of postage meters whereby a selected one of said postage meters is activatable to apply postage to an envelope associated with a group of items, each of said postage meters being settable to apply appropriate postage for an associated range of calculated weights, each of said postage meters being responsively connected to said means which determines how a group of items is to be processed relative to the allocation of postage.

33. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of:

setting at least one postage meter to apply postage to an envelope associated with a group of items, said postage meter responsively connected to said means which determines how a group of items is to be processed relative to the application of postage.

35. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said means for using said calculated indication of weight total determines how a group of items is to be processed by the insertion machine relative to the allocation of postage to an envelope associated with said group of items.

36. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said weight-influencing characteristic is item length.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein said step of using said calculated indication of weight total includes determining how a group of items is to be processed by the insertion machine relative to the allocation of postage to an envelope associated with said group of items.

34. In an insertion machine of the type in which a plurality of feed stations selectively feed items onto an insertion track, said plurality of feed stations including a first feed station and further feed stations from which items are selectively fed onto said track for inclusion with a group, wherein the improvement comprises:

sensing means positioned proximate one of said plurality of feed stations, said sensing means being adapted to sense a weight-influencing characteristic of said items and to discriminate on the basis of said characteristic between an iten on a first weight and an item of a second weight fed from said feed station;

a memory for storing values including a value indicative of the number of items feedable from said at least one such further feed station for inclusion with said group;

means for determining and storing a number of first weight items and a number of second weight items feedable, for inclusion with a group, from said station near which said sensing means is proximate;

means for selectively inputting predetermined values into said memory, including the inputting of at least a predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of items feedable from said plurality of feed stations including the selective inputting into said data processing memory means with respect to said station near which said sensing means is proximate both a first predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of each of said first weight items held at said station and a second predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of each of said second weight items held at said station;

means for using the stored values indicative of the number of items feedable from said feed station near which said sensing means is proximate and said predetermined values indicative of the per item weight of items feedable from said feed station to obtain a calculated indication of subtotal weight with respect to said feed station;

means for using said calculated indication of subtotal weights for a plurality of said stations to obtain a calculated indication of total weight; and

,

means for using said calculated indication of total weight to determine how a group of items is to be further processed.

37. A method of selectively determining the amount of postage to be allocated to a plurality of envelopes into which items are inserted by an insertion machine, said insertion machine being of the type in which a plurality of feed stations selectively feed items onto an insert track, said plurality of feed stations including a first feed station and further feed stations from which items are selectively fed onto said track for inclusion with a group;

said method comprising the steps of;

operating at least one of said further feed stations as a dual item feed station from which both items of a first weight and items of a second weight can be fed, a sensor means being proximate said dual item feed station to sense a weight-influencing characteristic of said items and to discriminate on the basis of said characteristic between items of said first weight and items of said second weight;

determining the number of items to be fed from said dual feed station for inclusion in said group;

storing in a memory a value indicative of the number of items to be fed from said dual feed station for inclusion with said group;

selectively inputting predetermined values into said memory, said predetermined values including at least a predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of items feedable from said first feed station and a predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of items feedable from said further feed station including the selective inputting into said data processing memory means with respect to said station near which said sensing means is proximate both a first predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of each of said first weight items held at said station and a second predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of each of said second weight items held at said station;

using said stored values indicative of the number of items fed from said dual station and said predetermined values indicative of the per item weight of items feedable from said dual station to obtain a calculated indication of subtotal weight with respect to said dual station;

using said calculated indication of subtotal weights for a plurality of said stations to obtain a calculated indication of total weight; and

,

using said calculated indication of total weight to determine how a group of items is to be further processed.

39. An insertion machine comprising:

a conveyor;

a first feeder for feeding items onto said conveyor;

a second feeder for feeding items onto said conveyor in a manner whereby related items are physically associated in a group;

reading means for reading control indicia associated with an item feedable from at least one of said feeders and for generating a signal indicative of said indicia;

sensing means positioned proximate one of said feed stations, said sensing means being adapted to sense a weight-influencing characteristic of said items and to discriminate on the basis of said characteristic between an item on a first weight and an item of a second weight fed from said feed station;

a data processor including a memory an an arithmetic logic unit;

means for selectively inputting into said memory with respect to each of said first feeder and said second feeder predetermined values indicative of the per item weight of items feedable from said feeders including the selective inputting into said data processing memory means with respect to said station near which said sensing means is proximate both a first predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of said first weight items feedable from said station and a second predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of said second weight items feedable from said station;

means for decoding said signal generated by said reader and for obtaining a decoded indication therefrom of the number of items feedable from at least one of said feeders for inclusion with a group of items, said decoding means being connected to said data processor;

means including said arithmetic logic unit for using said decoded indication and said predetermined values indicative of the per item weight of items feedable from said feeders to obtain a calculated indication of total weight for a group of items; and

means for using said calculated indication of total weight to provide an indication of a weight classification range to which said group of items belongs.

42. The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising:

at least one diversion device for diverting an envelope associated with a group of items, said diversion device being responsively connected to said means which determines into which of a plurality of postal categorization ranges said group of items is to be classified.

43. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein said means for using said calculated indication of total weight determines into which of a plurality of postal categorization ranges a group of items is to be classified by allocating postage to an envelope associated with said group of items.

45. The apparatus of claim 42, further comprising:

a plurality of postage meters positioned whereby a selected one of said postage meters is activatable to allocate postage to an envelope associated with a group of items, each of said postage meters being settable to allocate appropriate postage for an associated range of calculated weights, each of said postage meters being responsively connected to said means which determines how a group of items is to be processed relative to the allocation of postage.

40. A method of operating an insertion machine to determine a weight classification range for envelopes into which items are inserted by an insertion machine, said method comprising the steps of:

providing items to be fed from a first feeder;

providing items to be fed from a second feeder;

operating one of said feeder stations as a dual item feeder station from which both items of a first weight and items of a second weight can be fed, a sensor means being proximate said dual item feeder station to sense a weight-influencing characteristic of said items and to discriminate on the basis of said characteristic between items of said first weight and items of said second weight;

selectively inputting into data processing memory means with respect to each feeder a predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of items feedable from said feeders, including the selective inputting into said data processing memory means with respect to said feeder which said sensing means is proximate both a first predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of said first weight items held at said feeder and a second predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of said second weight items held at said feeder;

feeding at least one item from said first feeder onto a conveyor;

reading control indicia associated with an item feedable from at least one of said feeders and generating a signal indicative of said control indicia;

decoding said signal indicative of said control indicia and obtaining therefrom a decoded indication of the number of items feedable from at least one of said feeders for inclusion with a group of items;

feeding at least one item from a second feeder onto said conveyor;

sensing the weight-influencing characteristic of items fed from said feed near which said sensing means is proximate to determine a number of items of said first weight and a number of items of said second weight feedable from said feeder for inclusion with a group;

associating related items in a group on said conveyor;

using said decoded indication and said predetermined values indicative of the per item weight of items feedable from at least one of said feeders to obtain a calculated indication of total weight for a group of items; and

,

using said calculated indication of total weight to provide an indication of a weight classification range to which said group of items belongs.

41. An insertion machine comprising:

a first feeder for feeding items;

a second feeder for feeding items;

means for reading control indicia associated with an item feedable from said first feeder and for using said control indicia to obtain an indication of whether said second feeder is to feed a related item;

sensing means positioned proximate one of said feeders, said sensing means being adapted to sense a weight-influencing characteristic of said items and to discriminate on the basis of said characteristic between an item on a first weight and an item of a second weight fed from said feeder;

means for associating into a group related ones of items fed from said first feeder and said second feeder;

a memory;

means for inputting said indication of whether said second feeder is to feed a related item into said memory;

means for selectively inputting predetermined values into said memory, said predetermined values including at least a predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of items feedable from said first feeder and a predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of items feedable from said second feeder, including the selective inputting into said data processing memory means with respect to said feeder near which said sensing means is proximate both a first predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of said first weight items held at said feeder and a second predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of said second weight items held at said feeder;

means for deteriming and storing in said memory means a number of items fed from each of said feeders including a number of first weight items and a number of second weight items fed from said feeder near which said sensing means is proximate;

means for calculating a calculated indication of total weight for a group of items, said calculation means being connected to said memory whereby said predetermined values indicative of per item weight and said indication of whether said second feeder is to feed a related item are utilized in said calculation; and

means for using said calculated indication of total weight to determine into which of a plurality of postal categorization ranges said group of items is to be classified.

44. The apparatus of claim 41, further comprising:

at least one postage meter responsively connected to said means which determines how each group of items is to be processed relative to the allocation of postage, said postage meter being settable to allocate postage to an envelope associated with a group of items.

47. The method of claim 44, further comprising the step of:

using at least one diversion device for diverting an envelope associated with a group of items, said diversion device being responsively connected to said means which determines into which of a plurality of postal categorization ranges said group of items is to be classified.

48. The method of claim 44, wherein said step of using said calculated indication of total weight includes the step of determining how a group of items is to be processed by the insertion machine relative to the allocation of postage to an envelope associated with said group of items.

46. A method of operating an insertion machine, said method comprising the steps of:

providing items to be fed from a first feeder;

providing items to be fed from a second feeder;

operating one of said feeders as a dual item feeder from which both items of a first weight and items of a second weight can be fed, a sensor means being proximate said dual item feeder to sense a weight-influencing characteristic of said items and to discriminate on the basis of said characteristic between items of said first weight and items of said second weight;

selectively inputting predetermined values into a memory, said predetermined values including at least a predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of items feedable from said first feeder and a predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of items feedable from said second feeder, including the selective inputting into said data processing memory means with respect to said station near which said sensing means is proximate both a first predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of each of said first weight items held at said station and a second predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of each of said second weight items held at said station;

feeding at least one item from said first feeder;

reading control indicia associated with an item feedable from said first feeder and using said control indicia as an indication of whether said second feeder is to feed a related item;

sensing the weight-influencing characteristic of items fed from said feeder near which said sensing means is proximate to determine a number of items of said first weight and a number of items of said second weight feedable from said feeder for inclusion with a group;

associating into a group related ones of itesm fed from said first feeder and said second feeder;

calculating a calculated indication of total weight for a group of items, said indication obtained from said control indicia and said predetermined per item weight values being utilized in said calculation; and

,

using said calculated indication of total weight to determine into which of a plurality of postal categorization ranges said group of items is to be classified.

49. The method of claim 46, further comprising the step of:

positioning a plurality of postage meters whereby a selected one of said postage meters is activatable to allocate postage to an envelope associated with a group of items, each of said postage meters being settable to allocate appropriate postage for an associated range of calculated weights, each of said postage meters being responsively connected to said means which determines into which of a plurality of postal categorization ranges said groups of items is to be classified.

50. The method of claim 46, further comprising the step of:

setting at least one postage meter to allocate postage to an envelope associated with a group of items, said postage meter responsively connected to said means which determines into which of a plurality of postal categorization ranges said group of items is to be classified.

52. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein said means for using said calculated indication of weight total determines how a group of items is to be processed by the insertion machine relative to the allocation of postage to an envelope associated with said group of items.

51. An insertion machine comprising:

conveying means for transporting items;

a first feed station for feeding items onto said conveying means;

a second feed station for feeding items onto said conveying means;

sensing means positioned proximate one of said feed stations, said sensing means being adapted to sense a weight-influencing characteristic of said items and to discriminate on the basis of said characteristic between an item of a first weight and an item of a second weight fed from said feed station;

means for determining an indication of the number of items feedable from said feed stations for inclusion in a group of related items, including the number of first weight items and the number of second weight items feedable, for inclusion with a group, from said station near which said sensing means is proximate;

a memory;

means for selectively inputting predetermined values into said memory, said predetermined values including at least a predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of items feedable from said first feed station and a predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of items feedable from said second feed station, including the selective inputting into said memory with respect to said station near which said sensing means is proximate both a first predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of each of said first weight items held at said station and a second predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of each of said second weight items held at said station;

means for using said indication of the number of items feedable from said feed stations and said predetermined values indicative of the per item weight of items feedable from said feed stations to obtain a calculated indication of total weight for a group of items; and

,

means for using said calculated indication of total weight to provide an indication of a postal categorization range into which said group of items is classifiable.

54. The method of claim 51, wherein said step of using said calculated indication of weight total includes determining how a group of items is to be processed by the insertion machine relative to the allocation of postage to an envelope associated with said group of items.

53. A method of operating an insertion machine to determine a postal categorization range from each of a plurality of envelopes into which items are inserted by an insertion machine, said method comprising the steps of:

providing items to be fed from a first feed station onto conveying means;

providing items to be fed from a second feed station onto conveying means;

operating one of said further feed stations as a dual item feed station from which both items of a first weight and items of a second weight can be fed, a sensor means being proximate said dual item feed station to sense a weight-influencing characteristic of said items and to discriminate on the basis of said characteristic between items of said first weight and items of said second weight;

selectively inputting predetermined values into memory means, said predetermined values including at least a predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of items feedable from said first feed station and a predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of items feedable from said second feed station, including the selective inputting into said memory with respect to said station near which said sensing means is proximate both a first predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of each of said first weight items held at said station and a second predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of each of said second weight items held at said station;

determining an indication of the number of items feedable from said feed stations for inclusion in a group of related items, including sensing the weight-influencing characteristic of items fed from said feed station near which said sensing means is proximate to determine a number of items of said first weight and a number of items of said second weight feedable from said feed station for inclusion with a group;

using said indication of the number of items feedable from said feed stations and said predetermined values indicative of the per item weight of items feedable from said feed stations to obtain a calculated indication of total weight for a group of items; and

,

using said calculated indication of total weight to provide an indication of a postal categorization range into which said group of items is classifiable.

55. An insertion machine comprising:

conveying means for transporting items;

a first feed station for feeding items onto said conveying means;

a second feed station for feeding items onto said conveying means;

sensing means positioned proximate one of said plurality of feed stations, said sensing means being adapted to sense a weight-influencing characteristic of said items and to discriminate on the basis of said characteristic between an item of a first weight and an item of a second weight fed from said feed station;

means for determining the number of items feedable from said feed stations onto said conveying means for association as a group of related items, including determining a number of first weight items and a number of second weight items feedable from said station near which said sening means is proximate;

a data processor including a memory and an arithmetic logic unit;

means for selectively inputting into said memory with respect to each station a predetermined per item weight value for items feedable from said station, including the selective inputting into said memory with respect to said station near which said sensing means is proximate both a first predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of each of said first weight itmes held at said station and a second predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of each of said second weight items held at said station;

means for storing in said memory an indication of the number of items feedable from said feed stations for inclusion with a group, including the number of first weight items and the number of second weight feedable from said station near which said sensing means is proximate;

means including said arithmetic logic unit for using said indication of the number of items feedable from said feed stations and said predetermined per item weight values for items feedable from said feed stations to obtain a calculated total weight for a group of items; and

,

means for using said calculated total weight to provide an indication of a weight classification range to which said group of items belongs.

58. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein said means for using said calculated total weight determines into which of a plurality of postal categorization ranges a group of items is to be classified by allocating postage to an envelope associated with said group of items.

59. The apparatus of claim 55, further comprising:

at least one diversion device for diverting an envelope associated with a group of items, said diversion device being responsively connected to said means which determines into which of a plurality of postal categorization ranges said group of items is to be classified.

61. The method of claim 58, wherein said step of using said calculated total weight includes the step of determining how a group of items is to be processed by the insertion machine relative to the allocation of postage to an envelope associated with said group of items.

56. A method of operating an insertion machine to determine a weight classification range for envelopes into which items are inserted by an insertion machine, said method comprising the steps of:

providing items to be fed from a first feed station onto conveying means,

providing items to be fed from a second feed station onto conveying means;

operating at least one of said feed stations as a dual item feed station from which both items of a first weight and items of a second weight can be fed, a sensor means being proximate said dual item feed station to sense a weight-influencing characteristic of said items and to discriminate on the basis of said characteristic between items of said first weight and items of said second weight;

selectively inputting into memory means with respect to each station a predetermined per item weight value for items feedable from said station including the selective inputting into said memory with respect to said station near which said sensing means is proximate both a first predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of said first weight items held at said station and a second predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of said second weight items held at said station;

determining the number of items feedable from said feed stations for inclusion in a group of related items;

sensing the weight-influencing characteristic of items fed from said feed station near which said sensing means is proximate to determine a number of items of said first weight and a number of items of said second weight feedable from said feed station for inclusion with a group;

storing in said memory means an indication of the number of items feedable from said feed stations for inclusion with a group including the number of first weight items and the number of second weight items feedable from said station near which said sensing means is proximate;

using said indication of the number of items feedable from said feed stations and said predetermined per item weight values for items feedable from said feed stations to obtain a calculated total weight for a group of items; and

,

using said calculated total weight to provide an indication of a weight classification range to which said group of items belongs.

57. An insertion machine comprising:

conveying means for transporting items;

a first feed station for feeding items onto said conveying means;

a second fed station for feeding items onto said conveying means;

sensing means positioned proximate one of said feed stations, said sensing means being adapted to sense a weight-influencing characteristic of said items and to discriminate on the basis of said characteristic between an item of a first weight and an item of a second weight fed from said feed station;

means for determining the number of items feedable from said feed stations onto said conveying means for association as a group of related items including the number of first weight items and the number of second weight items feedable from said station near which said sensing means is proximate;

a data processor including a memory and an arithmetic logic unit;

means for selectively inputting into said memory with respect to each station a predetermined per item weight value for items feedable from said station including the selective imputting into said memory with respect to said station near which said sensing means is proximate both a first predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of said first weight items held at said station and a second predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of said second weight items held at said station;

means for storing in said memory an indication of the number of items feedable from said feed stations for inclusion with a group, including the number of first weight items and the number of second weight items feedable from said feed station near which said sensing means is proximate;

means including said arithmetic logic unit for using said indication of the number of items feedable from said feed stations and said predetermined per item weight values for items feedable from said feed stations to obtain a calculated total weight for a group of items; and

,

means for using said calculated total weight to determine into which of a plurality of postal categorization ranges said group of items is to be classified.

60. A method of operating an insertion machine, said method comprising the steps of:

providing items to be from a first feed station onto conveying means;

providing items to be fed from a second feed station onto conveying means;

operating one of said feed stations as a dual item feed station from which both items of a first weight and items of a second weight can be fed, a sensor means being proximate said dual item feed station to sense a weight-influencing characteristic of said items and to discriminate on the basis of said characteristic between items of said first weight and items of said second weight;

selectively inputting predetermined values into a memory means, said predetermined values including at least a predetermined per item weight value for items feedable from a first feed station and a predetermined per item weight value for items feedable from a second feed station, including the selective inputting into said memory means with respect to said station near which said sensing means is proximate both a first predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of said first weight items held at said station and a second predetermined value indicative of the per item weight of said second weight items held at said station;

sensing the weight-influencing characteristic of items fed from said feed station near which said sensing means is proximate to determine a number of items of said first weight and a number of items of said second weight feedable from said feed station for inclusion with a group;

determining the number of items feedable from said feed stations for inclusion in a group of related items, including the number of first weight items and the number of second weight items feedable from said station near which said sensing means is proximate;

storing in said memory an indication of the number of items feedable from said feed stations for inclusion with a group, including the number of first weight items and the number of second weight items feedable from said station near which said sensing means is proximate;

calculating a calculated total weight for a group of items, said predetermined values and said indication of the number of items feedable from said feed stations being utilized in said calculation; and

,

using said calculated total weight to determine into which of a plurality of postal catagorization ranges said group of items is to be classified.