Steven J Joyce

US Patent:

7750254, Jul 6, 2010

Filed:

Dec 14, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/957129

Inventors:

Joseph E. Wall - Fairfield CT, US
Steven H. Joyce - Wallingford CT, US
Jeffrey A. Gateman - Killingworth CT, US
Eric A. Belec - Southbury CT, US

Assignee:

Pitney Bowes Inc. - Stamford CT

International Classification:

G01G 19/40
B07C 5/16

US Classification:

177 2515, 177145, 271 2

Abstract:

According to some embodiments a system and an apparatus comprise a registration wall, a weighing device located adjacent to the registration wall, a belt drive mechanism, a plurality of inboard skis, and a plurality of outboard skis. The belt drive mechanism extends across the weighing device for advancing a mail piece relative to the weighing device and the belt drive mechanism is located at a first distance from the registration wall. The plurality of inboard skis are located substantially at the first distance from the registration wall and are located beneath the belt drive mechanism for urging the mail piece upwardly toward the drive belt mechanism. The plurality of outboard skis is coplanar with the plurality of inboard skis for supporting an end of the mail piece. The plurality of outboard skis is located at a second distance from the registration wall. The second distance is greater than the first distance.

US Patent:

20090008859, Jan 8, 2009

Filed:

Jul 2, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/824670

Inventors:

James A. Fairweather - Milford CT, US
Steven H. Joyce - Wallingford CT, US
Thomas M. Lyga - Southbury CT, US

Assignee:

Pitney Bowes Incorporated - Stamford CT

International Classification:

B65H 5/26
B65H 3/44
G01G 3/08

US Classification:

271 906, 177229, 271 18

Abstract:

A weighing apparatus and method for measuring the weight of articles fed along a processing path. The weighing apparatus includes multiple segments, i.e., a primary scale segment adapted to weigh articles of a first configuration, and at least one secondary scale segment adapted to cooperate with the primary segment to weigh articles of a second configuration. The articles of the second configuration are larger than those of the first configuration in at least one dimension or direction. Inasmuch as the articles are fed along a processing path, a conveyor or transport means is provided to feed the articles to the scale segments. The conveyor may be controlled to momentarily pause the articles over each scale segment to obtain an accurate weight measurement. The weight measurement apparatus is particularly well-suited for use in mailing machines to calculate the value of postage indicia.