Franking system and method
First Claim
1. A billing system for determining transportation charges for a package movable along a conveyor, said billing system comprising:
- a microprocessor;
a reader to read a package identifier associated with said package, said reader generating a package identification signal and transmitting the signal to the microprocessor; and
a package sizer to measure a size of said package, the package sizer having a plurality of spaced non-contact optical sensors being positioned on at least an y and a, z axis for measuring a height and a width of a package, and a means for measuring a length of said package, said width being determined by the package blocking one or more of said sensors positioned along said z axis to create a reduction in the amount of ambient light reaching said one or more sensors and by at least one of said sensors positioned alone said z axis sensing said reduction, said means for measuring a length of said package comprising an apparatus to measure a speed of the package and a length of time the package takes to pass by the optical sensors;
the microprocessor being configured to receive and correlate said package identification signal and said package size for billing purposes, said microprocessor including a data table for billing charges based on package sizes, the microprocessor further being configured to calculate a length of said package based on said speed and time measurements, whereby said measured package size can be compared to said data table to determine a transportation charge for said measured package.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A billing system for determining package transportation charges. The billing system includes a reader to read a package identifier associated with said package and the reader generates a package identifier signal and transmits the same to a microprocessor. The billing system also includes a package sizer having a plurality of non-contact optical sensors located along each of an x, y and z axis, where each optical sensor is in a known position. The sensors are oriented relative to the conveyor so that packages passing over the sensors are detected by the sensors and produce a signal correlated to said package size. Also provided is a microprocessor to receive and correlate said package size and identifier signals, and to determine an appropriate shipping charge based upon the same. A weigh scale may also be incorporated into the system. A method of determining a transportation charge is also comprehended, which includes a selfdiagnostic initialization procedure.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A billing system for determining transportation charges for a package movable along a conveyor, said billing system comprising:
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a microprocessor; a reader to read a package identifier associated with said package, said reader generating a package identification signal and transmitting the signal to the microprocessor; and a package sizer to measure a size of said package, the package sizer having a plurality of spaced non-contact optical sensors being positioned on at least an y and a, z axis for measuring a height and a width of a package, and a means for measuring a length of said package, said width being determined by the package blocking one or more of said sensors positioned along said z axis to create a reduction in the amount of ambient light reaching said one or more sensors and by at least one of said sensors positioned alone said z axis sensing said reduction, said means for measuring a length of said package comprising an apparatus to measure a speed of the package and a length of time the package takes to pass by the optical sensors; the microprocessor being configured to receive and correlate said package identification signal and said package size for billing purposes, said microprocessor including a data table for billing charges based on package sizes, the microprocessor further being configured to calculate a length of said package based on said speed and time measurements, whereby said measured package size can be compared to said data table to determine a transportation charge for said measured package. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of determining transportation charges for packages by using a billing system having non-contact optical sensors, said method comprising the steps of:
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identifying a package by means of a reader; passing the package past sensors located in a y and z axis to measure a height and a width of said package, the width being measured by the sensors on said z axis sensing a reduction in ambient light caused by the package blocking said sensors on said z axis, and measuring a length of said package on an x axis by measuring a speed of said package, and by measuring a length of time said package takes to pass by the optical sensors; determining a volume of said package from readings from said sensors and said length of said package; measuring a weight of the package; correlating the package identifier with said measured weight and volume of said package in a database; displaying the measured weight and volume; and determining a charge for said package based upon said measured weight and volume upon acceptance of the displayed package parameters. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification