US5270938A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mail piece weight monitoring system and method
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
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Filing: 1990-11-13
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Granted: 1993-12-14
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Expires: 2010-11-13
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a system for and method of determining the accuracy of mail piece weights. The weight of individual mail pieces during a mail run is displayed in real time. A high speed weighing scale is located downstream from the mail processing unit to receive the mail pieces after the mail processing unit has inserted selected materials into envelopes. As each mail piece is weighed, its weight is stored in memory and a display can be made showing all the weights of the individual mail pieces in real time. This display can be temporary, such as on a monitor, or permanent, such as a print out. With such display, an operator has a fast method of determining if the weights are in an expected range.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald P. Sansone
- 👤 Robert P. Kemper
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 11:25
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00459; G07B17/00661; G01; G01G; G01G19/00; G01G19/002; G01G19/005; G07B2017/00701
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A mail piece weight monitoring system, comprising a first computer having mail list information stored therein, a printer in communication with said first computer for printing mailing information on sheets, a folder located downstream from said printer for folding said sheets, a mail processing apparatus downstream from said folder for receiving said sheets and having means for inserting selected ones of said sheets and inserts into envelopes to form mail pieces, a scale for individually receiving mail pieces from said mail processing apparatus and weighing said mail pieces individually, a second computer in communication with said scale for receiving measured mail piece weights from said scale, and means for collectively displaying the measured weights of individual mail pieces in real time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
A mail piece weight monitoring system, comprising a first computer having mail list information stored therein, a printer in communication with said first computer for printing mailing information on sheets, a folder located downstream from said printer for folding said sheets, a mail processing apparatus downstream from said folder for receiving said sheets and having means for inserting selected ones of said sheets and inserts into envelopes to form mail pieces, a scale for individually receiving mail pieces from said mail processing apparatus and weighing said mail pieces individually, a second computer in communication with said scale for receiving measured mail piece weights from said scale, and means for collectively displaying the measured weights of individual mail pieces in real time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1 including a second printer in communication with said second computer for printing said mail piece weights on a print-out.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 including a monitor for displaying said mail piece weights.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
41 words
A method of monitoring the accuracy of mail piece weights, the steps comprising: weighing a plurality of mail pieces individually to obtain the measured weights thereof, and displaying the collective measured weights of said plurality of mail pieces in real manner.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
41 words
A method of monitoring the accuracy of mail piece weights, the steps comprising: weighing a plurality of mail pieces individually to obtain the measured weights thereof, and displaying the collective measured weights of said plurality of mail pieces in real manner.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 4 including displaying the weights on a monitor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 5 including printing a print out of the weights of the plurality of mail pieces in real time.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of determining the achieving of expected weights of a run of mail pieces, the steps comprising: inserting sheets and selected inserts into a plurality of envelopes to form mail pieces, determining at least one expected weight for the mail pieces based upon inserts therein, weighing each main piece individually to obtain the weight thereof, graphically displaying in real time the collective, individual weights obtained during the mail run, and determining the achieving of the expected weights of the mail pieces by comparing said at least one expected weight and the mail piece weights obtained.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of determining the achieving of expected weights of a run of mail pieces, the steps comprising: inserting sheets and selected inserts into a plurality of envelopes to form mail pieces, determining at least one expected weight for the mail pieces based upon inserts therein, weighing each main piece individually to obtain the weight thereof, graphically displaying in real time the collective, individual weights obtained during the mail run, and determining the achieving of the expected weights of the mail pieces by comparing said at least one expected weight and the mail piece weights obtained.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 7 including displaying the graph upon a monitor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
A mail piece weight monitoring system, comprising: a scale for receiving mail pieces and weighing the mail pieces individually, a processor in communication with said scale for receiving measured weights from said scale, and means in communication with said processor for simultaneously displaying the measured weights of a plurality of individually weighed mail pieces in real time.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
57 words
A mail piece weight monitoring system, comprising: a scale for receiving mail pieces and weighing the mail pieces individually, a processor in communication with said scale for receiving measured weights from said scale, and means in communication with said processor for simultaneously displaying the measured weights of a plurality of individually weighed mail pieces in real time.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the representation of the weight of the mail pieces by said display means is by a series of dots, the location of each dot indicating the weight of a respective mail piece.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-12-13 | 1997-06-14 | 1997-12-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-12-13 | 2001-06-14 | 2001-12-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-12-13 | 2005-06-14 | 2005-12-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |