초록 ▼

A vibrating tray scale capable of detecting small amounts of loose particulate matter contained within a mail piece is disclosed. The scale is provided with a clamping device having a plurality of clamping positions. Utilizing different clamping positions, the mass of a mail piece is determined two

A vibrating tray scale capable of detecting small amounts of loose particulate matter contained within a mail piece is disclosed. The scale is provided with a clamping device having a plurality of clamping positions. Utilizing different clamping positions, the mass of a mail piece is determined two times, one not including the mass of any loose particulate matter within the mail piece and one including the mass of any loose particulate matter within the mail piece. A determination of whether or not the mail piece contains any loose particulate matter can be made based on a comparison of the results for the two mass determinations.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A scale comprising:a platform to receive a mail piece; anda clamping device to hold the mail piece to the platform, the clamping device having a plurality of clamping positions, a first of the plurality of clamping positions holding the mail piece to the platform over at least a substantial porti

1. A scale comprising:a platform to receive a mail piece; anda clamping device to hold the mail piece to the platform, the clamping device having a plurality of clamping positions, a first of the plurality of clamping positions holding the mail piece to the platform over at least a substantial portion of the mail piece, a second of the plurality of clamping positions holding the mail piece to the platform in a discrete number of locations. 2. The scale according to claim 1, further comprising:an oscillating device to initiate oscillation of the platform during the first and second clamping positions,wherein a first mass of the mail piece is determined based on the oscillation of the platform during the first clamping position, and a second mass of the mail piece is determined based on the oscillation of the platform during the second clamping position. 3. The scale according to claim 1, wherein the clamping device further comprises:a tray having a surface opposed to the platform, the tray being movable toward the platform to hold at least a substantial portion of the mail piece between the tray and the platform during the first of the plurality of clamping positions. 4. The scale according to claim 3, further comprising:a cushioning member secured to at least a portion of the surface of the tray. 5. The scale according to claim 4, wherein the clamping device further comprises:a pin having a tip, the pin being movable such that at least the tip of the pin extends beyond the cushioning member to hold the mail piece to the platform during the second of the plurality of clamping positions. 6. The scale according to claim 4, wherein the clamping device further comprises:a plurality of pins each having a respective tip, the plurality of pins being movable such that at least the respective tip of each of the plurality pins extends beyond the cushioning member to hold the mail piece to the platform during the second of the plurality of clamping positions. 7. The scale according to claim 3, wherein the clamping device further comprises:a pin having a tip, the pin being movable such that at least the tip of the pin extends beyond the surface of the tray to hold the mail piece to the platform during the second of the plurality of clamping positions. 8. The scale according to claim 3, wherein the clamping device further comprises:a plurality of pins each having a respective tip, the plurality of pins being movable such that at least the respective tip of each of the plurality pins extends beyond the surface of the tray to hold the mail piece to the platform during the second of the plurality of clamping positions. 9. A device to measure the mass of a mail piece comprising:a base;a platform to support the mail piece;at least one flexible member connecting the platform to the base;an oscillating device to initiate oscillation of the platform;a transducer coupled to the at least one flexible member to provide a signal based on the oscillation of the platform;a controller coupled to the transducer to receive the signal based on the oscillation of the platform; anda clamping device to hold the mail piece to the platform, the clamping device having a plurality of clamping positions, a first of the plurality of clamping positions holding the mail piece to the platform over at least a substantial portion of the mail piece, a second of the plurality of clamping positions holding the mail piece to the platform in a discrete number of locations,wherein a first mass of the mail piece is determined by the controller based on the signal from the transducer during the first clamping position, the first mass including substantially all contents of the mail piece, and a second mass of the mail piece is determined by the controller based on the signal from the transducer during the second clamping position, the second mass not including any loose particulate matter contained in the mail piece. 10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the clamping devi ce further comprises:a tray having a surface opposed to the platform, the tray being movable toward the platform to hold at least a substantial portion of the mail piece between the tray and the platform during the first of the plurality of clamping positions. 11. The device according to claim 10, further comprising:a cushioning member secured to at least a portion of the surface of the tray. 12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the clamping device further comprises:a pin having a tip, the pin being movable such that at least the tip of the pin extends beyond the cushioning member to hold the mail piece to the platform during the second of the plurality of clamping positions. 13. The device according to claim 11, wherein the clamping device further comprises:a plurality of pins each having a respective tip, the plurality of pins being movable such that at least the respective tip of each of the plurality pins extends beyond the cushioning member to hold the mail piece to the platform during the second of the plurality of clamping positions. 14. The device according to claim 10, wherein the clamping device further comprises:a pin having a tip, the pin being movable such that at least the tip of the pin extends beyond the surface of the tray to hold the mail piece to the platform during the second of the plurality of clamping positions. 15. The device according to claim 10, wherein the clamping device further comprises:a plurality of pins each having a respective tip, the plurality of pins being movable such that at least the respective tip of each of the plurality pins extends beyond the surface of the tray to hold the mail piece to the platform during the second of the plurality of clamping positions. 16. The device according to claim 9, wherein the controller compares the first determined mass and the second determined mass to determine if the mail piece contains a loose particulate matter. 17. A method for processing a mail piece comprising the steps of:providing the mail piece to a platform of a scale;holding the mail piece to the platform of the scale in a discrete number of locations;determining a first mass of the mail piece with the mail piece held to the platform in the discrete number locations;holding the mail piece to the platform of the scale over substantially all of the mail piece; anddetermining a second mass of the mail piece with substantially all of the mail piece held to the platform. 18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:comparing the first determined mass and the second determined mass to determine if there is a difference. 19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the step of holding the mail piece to the platform of the scale in a discrete number of locations further comprises:holding the mail piece to the platform with at least one pin. 20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the step of holding the mail piece to the platform with at least one pin further comprises:moving the least one pin toward the platform such that a tip of the at least one pin holds the mail piece to the platform. 21. The method according to claim 17, wherein the step of holding the mail piece to the platform of the scale over substantially all of the mail piece further comprises:holding the mail piece between a tray that opposes the platform and the platform. 22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the step of holding the mail piece between a tray that opposes the platform and the platform,moving a surface of the tray opposing the platform towards the platform such that substantially all of the mail piece is held between the surface of the tray and the platform. 23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the surface of the tray is provided with a cushioning member.