# US 7,610,248 B1 · Weight measuring systems and methods

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- Number: US 7,610,248 B1
- Document ID: US7610248B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 10/028,888
- Filed: 2001-12-19
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2001-12-19
- Assignees: First Data Corporation
- Inventors: Jeffrey G. Nowlin; Scott J. Smith; Fred C. Casto
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7610248B1

## CPC

- G07B 17/00661: {Sensing or measuring mailpieces (weighing G01G19/00)}
- G06Q 30/0283: Price estimation or determination
- G07B 2017/00491: {Mail/envelope/insert handling system}
- G07B 2017/00701: {Measuring the weight of mailpieces}
- G07B: TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A method for producing and weighing a mailing unit that is formed from a plurality of components including inserts and envelopes comprises the steps of determining a weight for each of the components and electronically storing a record of the weights. The inserts are placed into the envelope to form the mailing unit, and the weight of the mailing unit is determined based on the weights of the components utilized to form the mailing unit that are stored in the weight record.

## Claims

### Claim 1

In a system for assembling a mailing unit for mailing, wherein the mailing unit is formed from a plurality of components including inserts and envelopes that are provided to the system, a method for producing and weighing the mailing unit, comprising:
determining at a controller a weight for each of the components of the mailing unit and electronically storing a record of the weights at a memory in the system;
printing at a printer in the system an identifier on one of the components forming the mailing unit after that one of the components has been provided to the system, wherein the identifier is used in identifying the components of the mailing unit;
reading at a reader the identifier to determine the components of the mailing unit;
placing the inserts into the envelope to form the mailing unit;
determining the weight of the mailing unit based on the weights of the components utilized to form the mailing unit that are stored in the memory as a weight record.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method as in claim 1, further comprising predetermining the components to be used in the mailing unit, and wherein the weight determining step comprises summing the weights of the components of the mailing unit prior to assembly of the mailing unit.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A method as in claim 1, wherein the weight determining step comprises summing the weights of the components utilized to form the mailing unit as the components are selected for inclusion in the mailing unit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A method as in claim 3, wherein the summing step comprises retrieving from the memory and summing the weight of each component using a processor within the system upon selection of each of the components.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A method as in claim 1, wherein the inserts are held in groups that are disposed along a track, and further comprising selecting the inserts from their respective groups and placing them onto the track.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A method as in claim 5, further comprising placing the inserts on the track into the envelope.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A method as in claim 1, wherein one of the inserts comprises a financial statement.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A method as in claim 1, wherein one of the inserts comprises a charge card that is attached to a card carrier, and wherein the identifier is printed on the card carrier.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A method as in claim 1, wherein one of the inserts comprises a financial statement and another one of the inserts comprises a charge card that is attached to a card carrier, and wherein the identifier is printed on the card carrier.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A method as in claim 1, wherein the inserts are selected from a group consisting of letters, advertisements, checks, PIN mailers, phone cards and maps.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A method as in claim 1, further comprising organizing the mailing units based on a postage weight classification.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

A method as in claim 11, further comprising marking and mailing units that are different in weight than their classification.

### Claim 13

A system for producing and weighing mailing units that are formed from a plurality of components including inserts and envelopes, the system comprising:
a controller having a processor and a memory containing the weight of each of the components;
a printer for printing an identifier on one of the components forming the mailing unit after that one of the components has been provided to the system, wherein the identifier is used to identify the components of the mailing unit;
a reader for reading the identifier and providing the identifier to the controller;
a movable track;
a plurality of inserting locations that are adapted to hold the inserts, and a plurality of inserting mechanisms that are adapted to place selective ones of the inserts onto the track; and
a moving mechanism that is adapted to move the inserts from the track and into an envelope to form a mailing unit;
wherein the controller is configured to determine the components of the mailing unit based on the identifier and to determine the weight of the mailing unit based on the weights of the components utilized to form the mailing unit that are stored in the memory.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

A system as in claim 13, further comprising an external storage device having information on the weights to download to the controller.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

A system as in claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to sum the weights of the components of the mailing unit prior to assembly of the mailing unit.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

A system as in claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to sum the weights of the inserts utilized to form the mailing unit as the inserts are placed onto the track.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

A system as in claim 13, wherein the inserts are selected from a group consisting of statements, card carriers, cards, and advertising information.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

A system as in claim 13, further comprising a sorting mechanism to sort the mailing units into groups based on their weights.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

A system as in claim 18, further comprising a marking mechanism to mark at least some of the mailing units based on their weights to classify the mailing units within a given group.

### Claim 20

In a system for producing and weighing a mailing unit for mailing, wherein the mailing unit is formed from a plurality of components including inserts and envelopes provided to the system, a method comprising:
determining under the control of a processor a weight for each of the components of the mailing unit and electronically storing a record of the weights at a memory in the system;
printing under the control of the processor in the system an identifier on a first one of the components forming the mailing unit after the first component has been provided to the system, wherein the identifier is used to identify all the components of the mailing unit, and wherein the first component comprises a sheet of paper for insertion into an envelope;
reading the identifier to determine all the components of the mailing unit;
placing the inserts into the envelope to form the mailing unit based on the identifier; and
determining under the control of the processor the weight of the mailing unit by retrieving from the memory the weights of the components utilized to form the mailing unit that are stored in the memory and summing those the weights of the components using the processor.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein the first component is a card carrier for insertion into the envelope, wherein a second of the components comprises a card for attachment to the card carrier, wherein the identifier is printed on the card carrier before having the card attached thereto, and wherein the identifier identifies a specific card for attachment to the carrier.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein the first component is a financial statement and wherein the identifier printed on the financial statement identifies a particular customer and a plurality of inserts that are to be inserted into the envelope with the financial statement and that are matched to the particular customer.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein the method further comprises printing under the control of the processor in the system an identifier on a second one of the components forming the mailing unit, the identifier printed on the second component based on the identifier read from the first component.

### Claim 24

A system for producing and weighing a mailing unit that is formed from a plurality of components including inserts and envelopes that are provided to the system, the system comprising:
a controller having a processor and a memory containing the weight of each of the components;
a printer for printing an identifier on a first one of the components forming the mailing unit after the first component has been provided to the system, wherein the identifier is used to identify all the components of the mailing unit, and wherein the first component comprises a sheet of paper for insertion into an envelope;
a reader to read the identifier;
a movable track;
a plurality of inserting locations that are adapted to hold the inserts, and a plurality of inserting mechanisms that are adapted to place selective ones of the inserts onto the track; and
a moving mechanism that is adapted to move the inserts from the track and into an envelope to form a mailing unit;
wherein the controller is configured to determine the components of the mailing unit based on the identifier read from the first component by retrieving from the memory the weights of the components utilized to form the mailing unit that are stored in the memory and summing those weights.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The system of claim 24, wherein the first component is a card carrier for insertion into the envelope, wherein a second one of the components comprises a card for attachment to the card carrier, wherein the identifier is printed on the card carrier before having the card attached thereto, and wherein the identifier identifies a specific card for attachment to the carrier.

### Claim 26 (depends on 24)

The system of claim 24, wherein the first component is a financial statement and wherein the identifier printed on the statement identifies a particular customer and a plurality of inserts that are to be inserted into the envelope with the financial statement and that are matched to the particular customer.

### Claim 27 (depends on 24)

The system of claim 24, further comprising a second printer for printing an identifier on a second one of the components forming the mailing unit, the identifier on the second component based on the identifier read from the first component.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The system of claim 27, wherein the first component is a card carrier, wherein the identifier printed thereon identifies a particular customer when read by the reader and is provided to the controller, and wherein the second component is a financial statement matched to the particular customer by the controller.