System and method for weighing items such as mailpieces with varying accuracy

A system for determining a weight for an item, comprising:

• a) a scale system for generating a digital output signal, said scale system comprising:
• a1) a support for supporting said item;
• and
• a2) a transducer for generating said digital output signal, said signal being representative of an instantaneous response of said support;
• and
• b) a data processing system for, in response to said digital output signal:
• b1) detecting presence of said item on said support;
• b2) storing a sequence of values of said digital output signal, said sequence initially consisting of a first predetermined number of initial values of said digital output signal;
• b3) determining a difference, D, between a maximum value in said sequence and a minimum value in said sequence;
• b4) determining an average, A, of a second predetermined number of latest values in said sequence;
• b5) determining if an absolute value of (B−A) is less than D, where B is a weight break between weight ranges;
• b6) if the absolute value of (B−A) is less than D, updating said sequence by replacing a third predetermined number of earliest values in said sequence with said third predetermined number of new latest values of said digital output signal;
• and returning to step b3;
• and
• b7) if the absolute value of (B−A) is not less than D, calling said weight as said average A.