Envelope weighing apparatus with gripping compensation for variable thickness envelopes
US8106315B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 10, 2011 |
| Grant date | Jan 31, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 10, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07B2017/00701
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for weighing an article, such as a mail piece, while the article is moving at high speed. An article (900) is received from an intake transport (1200), and gripped in a weighing station (1310), in between a capstan roller and a pinch roller (1316), which are synchronized to minimize slipping. A first precision servo system (1252, 1250) alters the speed of the article, and in the process acquires torque data for storage and analysis (1212, 1282). A second precision servo system (1260,1330) applies a constant force, via a tension arm (1320), urging the pinch roller (1316) against the capstan roller, independently of the thickness of the mail piece. Fourier analysis can conveniently be applied for analyzing the acquired current data and comparing to stored calibration data to determine weight. Weight is determined without regard to the actual speed of the moving article.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.