The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 03, 1991
Filed:
Jun. 29, 1990
Jean-claude Haroutel, Orsay, FR;
Alcatel Satmam, Bagneux, FR;
Abstract
A letter scale is adapted to be connected to a postal charge calculator unit and a printhead of a franking machine. It includes a horizontal plate adapted to receive a letter to be weighed and to move vertically due to the weight of the letter. A coding arm is mechanically coupled to the plate so as to move with it. This arm carries coding elements and fixed sensors face towards the arm to sense these coding elements as they move relative to the sensors due to movement of the arm. A processor unit connected to the sensors produces a measurement signal indicating one of a series of predetermined weight range within which the weight of the letter in question lies. A partly closed, flat, vertical casing houses at least the coding arm and the sensors. There is a vertical slot in an upper surface of the casing into which a letter is inserted to weigh it. The horizontal plate forms the bottom of this vertical slot. The letter scale constitutes a module connected and partly integrated into the franking machine. The processor unit is in the franking machine.