Dynamically weighing mail pieces in real time within an automated destination bar code sorter machine by temporarily accelerating the mail piece and capturing resulting closed loop motor torque sample data
US8153911B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 28, 2009 |
| Grant date | Apr 10, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 16, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06Q30/0283
- 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, and for checking that the correct amount of postage has been paid for delivery of the article. 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 closed-loop servo system (1252, 1250) alters the speed of the article, and in the process acquires torque data for storage and analysis (1212, 1282) to determine weight. Correct postage is determined in a processor (1212), and the postage actually paid is checked either by image analysis (1204, 1214, 1280) or by accessing a stored mailer manifest (1280).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.