초록 ▼

A platter for a weighing scale includes a base and a plurality of legs which extend downwardly from the base. The platter also includes at least one hinged member mounted on the base and movable between a horizontal position and an unfolded position in which the hinged member extends upwardly from t

A platter for a weighing scale includes a base and a plurality of legs which extend downwardly from the base. The platter also includes at least one hinged member mounted on the base and movable between a horizontal position and an unfolded position in which the hinged member extends upwardly from the base. When unfolded, the hinged member may aid in supporting a stack of letters on the weighing scale.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A platter for a weighing scale, comprising: a base; a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the base; a first hinged member mounted to a first edge of the base, the first hinged member being movable between a first member first position in which the first hinged member

What is claimed is: 1. A platter for a weighing scale, comprising: a base; a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the base; a first hinged member mounted to a first edge of the base, the first hinged member being movable between a first member first position in which the first hinged member extends substantially horizontally toward a second edge of the base that is opposite to the first edge of the base and a first member second position in which the first hinged member extends upwardly from the base, the first hinged member including a first side that faces upward when the first hinged member is in the first member first position and a second side that faces downward when the first hinged member is in the first member first position; a second hinged member mounted to the second edge of the base, the second hinged member being movable between a second member first position in which the second hinged member extends substantially horizontally toward the first edge of the base and a second member second position in which the second hinged member extends upwardly from the base, the second hinged member including a first side that faces upward when the second hinged member is in the second member first position and a second side that faces downward when the second hinged member is in the second member first position; a first surface for supporting an item to be weighed by the weighing scale, the first surface being formed by at least a portion of the first side of the first hinged member and at least a portion of the first side of the second hinged member when the first hinged member is in the first member first position and the second hinged member is in the second member first position; and a cradle for holding a plurality of items to be weighed by the weighing scale, the cradle being formed by an upper surface of the base, the second side of the first hinged member and the second side of the second hinged member when the first hinged member is in the first member second position and the second hinged member is in the second member second position. 2. The platter according to claim 1, further comprising: a valley in the first surface for supporting an item to be weighed, the valley being formed between the first side of the first hinged member and the first side of the second hinged member by the first hinged member tilting downwardly towards the upper surface of the base when the first hinged member is in the first member first positions and the second hinged member tilting downwardly towards the upper surface of the base when the second hinged member is in the second member first position. 3. A weighing scale, comprising: a load cell; a platter for supporting at least one mailpiece to be weighed by the weighing scale; and means for mounting the platter on the load cell; wherein the platter comprises: a base having a first edge and a second edge that is opposite to the first edge; a first hinged member mounted to the first edge of the base, the first hinged member being movable between a first member first position in which the first hinged member extends substantially horizontally toward the second edge of the base and a first member second position in which the first hinged member extends upwardly from the base, the first hinged member including a first side that faces upward when the first hinged member is in the first member first position and a second side that faces downward when the first hinged member is in the first member first position; a second hinged member mounted to the second edge of the base, the second hinged member being movable between a second member first position in which the second hinged member extends substantially horizontally toward the first edge of the base and a second member second position in which the second hinged member extends upwardly from the base, the second hinged member including a first side that faces upward when the second hinged member is in the second member first position and a second side that faces downward when the second hinged member is in the second member first position; a first surface for supporting an item to be weighed by the weighing scale, the first surface being formed by at least a portion of the first side of the first hinged member and at least a portion of the first side of the second hinged member when the first hinged member is in the first member first position and the second hinged member is in the second member first position; and a cradle for holding a plurality of items to be weighed by the weighing scale, the cradle being formed by an upper surface of the base, the second side of the first hinged member and the second side of the second hinged member when the first hinged member is in the first member second position and the second hinged member is in the second member second position. 4. The weighing scale according to claim 3, further comprising: a valley in the first surface for supporting an item to be weighed, the valley being formed between the first side of the first hinged member and the first side of the second hinged member by the first hinged member tilting downwardly towards the upper surface of the base when the first hinged member is in the first member first position and the second hinged tilting downwardly towards the upper surface of the base when the second hinged member is in the second member first position. 5. A mailing machine comprising: a control unit for controlling operation of the mailing machine, the control unit adapted to operate the mailing machine at least in a differential weighing mode; and a scale coupled to the control unit, the scale including a platter for supporting at least one mail piece for weighing, the platter further comprising: a base having a first edge and a second edge that is opposite to the first edge; a first hinged member mounted to the first edge of the base, the first hinged member being movable between a first member first position in which the first hinged member extends substantially horizontally toward the second edge of the base and a first member second position in which the first hinged member extends upwardly from the base, the first hinged member including a first side that faces upward when the first hinged member is in the first member first position and a second side that faces downward when the first hinged member is in the first member first position; a second hinged member mounted to the second edge of the base, the second hinged member being movable between a second member first position in which the second hinged member extends substantially horizontally toward the first edge of the base and a second member second position in which the second hinged member extends upwardly from the base, the second hinged member including a first side that faces upward when the second hinged member is in the second member first position and a second side that faces downward when the second hinged member is in the second member first position; a first surface for supporting an item to be weighed by the weighing scale, the first surface being formed by at least a portion of the first side of the first hinged member and at least a portion of the first side of the second hinged member when the first hinged member is in the first member first position and the second hinged member is in the second member first position; and a cradle for holding a plurality of items to be weighed by the weighing scale, the cradle being formed by an upper surface of the base, the second side of the first hinged member and the second side of the second hinged member when the first hinged member is in the first member second position and the second hinged member is in the second member second position. 6. The mailing machine according to claim 5, further comprising: a base unit, wherein the control unit and scale are mounted on the base unit. 7. A method of operating a mailing machine comprising: placing the mailing machine in a differential weighing mode; configuring a weighing platter of the mailing machine into a cradle for receiving a plurality of mail pieces by moving a first hinged member of the weighing platter from a first position in which the first hinged member is substantially horizontal with respect to a base of the weighing platter to a second position in which the first hinged member extends upwardly from the base and by moving a second hinged member of the weighing platter from a first position in which the second hinged member is substantially horizontal with respect to the base of the weighing platter to a second position in which the second hinged member is extends upwardly from the base, the first hinged member, second hinged member and base thereby forming the cradle; and placing the plurality of mail pieces in the cradle. 8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising: removing a first one of the plurality of mail pieces from the cradle, wherein the mailing machine, in response to the removal of the first one of the plurality of mail pieces being removed, differentially determines the weight of the first one of the plurality of mail pieces; and feeding the first one of the plurality of mail pieces into the mailing machine.