In a dynamic scale and control method for flat goods transported on their sides, use an input-side first assembly for thickness measurement, a transport device having transport belts arranged on a weighing plate. A control processor starts a length measurement and the driving of the transport belts, and starts a thickness measurement and implement a dynamic weighing process during the transport of a first flat good. A next flat good is supplied to the input of the dynamic scale if a valid weight measurement result is present for the predecessor good, and ejection of the predecessor good or end of the weight measurement occur if a third sensor at the input of a takeoff device of the dynamic scale detects the leading edge of the predecessor good, and a check yields that no valid weight measurement result is present for the predecessor good.

In a dynamic scale for flat goods on their sides, and a control method therefor, flat goods are transported with a continuous counting of encoder pulses, and a weight measurement of a moving flat good is started when the trailing edge of the flat good has reached a first sensor. A first count state of the counter is stored when the leading edge of the flat good reaches a second sensor but a valid weight measurement result is not present. A weight measurement takes place with a transport velocity reduced in steps. After a step-down of the transport velocity of the flat good a subsequent weight measurement is performed with a next lowest transport velocity, and the current counter state is then queried if neither a valid weight measurement result exists, nor can it be established that the trailing edge of the flat good has reached the first sensor, although the leading edge of that flat good has reached the second sensor, as well as a check shows the current counter state corresponds to the sum of the stored counter state and a predetermined count value. The querying steps after the check are repeated as long as the current counter state has not yet reached the sum, and with an additional step-down of the transport velocity of the flat good and weight measurement result, until the check shows the current counter state has reached the sum.

Systems, software, and methods for processing a package for shipping to a recipient are described. The system includes a user device and a package intake device. The user device includes software that allows a user to connect with other users to make the user's address available to the other users including any updates due to moves or travel. The user device also features a transmission device for transmitting recipient information of a recipient selected from a list of recipients displayed on the user device. The package intake device includes a computer, a receiving device for receiving the recipient information transmitted by the user device, and a package recognition device for analyzing the package to determine one or more package criteria. The package intake device determines a type for the package and an identity of a shipper selected to deliver the package based on the one or more package criteria.

Embodiments of a system and method for automating shipping for a physical object can include an object dimensions measurer (ODM) operable to collect and wirelessly transmit a dimensions dataset for the physical object, an object weight measurer (OWM) operable to collect and wirelessly transmit a weight dataset for the physical object, and a shipping automation system operable to receive datasets from the ODM and the OWM, implement a compatibility rule facilitating standardization of requirements for service levels provided by shipping carriers, determine object characteristics for the physical object, determine object characteristic specifications required by the service levels, and determine a service level for the physical object based on the object characteristics and the object characteristic specifications.

Methods and systems for tracking an object comprise a horizontal surface upon which objects are to be placed, a weight sensor disposed on one side of the horizontal surface, and a processor in communication with the weight sensor. The processor is adapted to detect a change in weight measured by the weight sensor, to associate the detected weight change with an identified object and with a location on the horizontal surface, and to confirm whether a cause of the weight change at the location on the horizontal surface corresponds to a proper handling of the identified object.

This disclosure pertains to weighing a physical item while it is moving in a servo-driven conveyor system for e-commerce, logistics, manufacturing and other applications. The introduction of an unknown mass to an electro-mechanical feedback or filter network controlling a conveyance system will modify the steady state behavior of that system in such a way that measuring the phase or frequency shift of an input signal or oscillation will enable us to infer the magnitude of that mass.

Embodiments of a system and method for automating shipping for a physical object can include an object dimensions measurer (ODM) operable to collect and wirelessly transmit a dimensions dataset for the physical object, an object weight measurer (OWM) operable to collect and wirelessly transmit a weight dataset for the physical object, and a shipping automation system operable to receive datasets from the ODM and the OWM, implement a compatibility rule facilitating standardization of requirements for service levels provided by shipping carriers, determine object characteristics for the physical object, determine object characteristic specifications required by the service levels, and determine a service level for the physical object based on the object characteristics and the object characteristic specifications.

Weighing system (FIG. 3, FIG. 6) to weigh items, parcels and the like, while they are moving, for example, on a conveyor. A servo amplifier (14) and servo controller (20) are arranged to drive a servo motor in a feedback (15) configuration, and acquire torque sensing signals (17) responsive to commanded acceleration of the conveyor while the item(s) are on board. Preferably, constant acceleration of the item(s) is realized during one or more measurement intervals, and mass is derived by a processor (30) based on the measurement data (FIG. 5). Other embodiments are described for weighing granular and slurry materials (FIG. 7) and for weighing multiple, potentially overlapping parcels in motion (FIG. 8).

A franking machine having a throat for receiving items to be franked, a platform where an item not fitting into said throat is placed, a weighing scale integrated at a bottom of the franking machine in order to minimise the footprint, at least a control unit for operating the franking machine, separated power supply and data transmission modules, wherein the franking machine and the weighing scale are configured to be operated through the control unit of the franking machine, and the weighing scale is configured to be decoupled from the franking machine to allow the weighing of large items such as parcels.

Systems and methods for calculating the weight of an object are provided. In one implementation, an apparatus for calculating weight comprises an image capture device and a processing device. The image capture device is configured to capture a plurality of images of a platform configured to support an object to be weighed, wherein the platform includes known pliability characteristics. The processing device is configured to calculate the weight of the object based on the plurality of images.