Abstract: The inking module includes a plurality of first links extending horizontally and parallel. One end of the first links are fixably mounted to an ink pad tray, the other end of the first links having formed thereat a tilting surface. A drive means causes the first links to displace the ink pad tray to and from the first and second position. A guide means guides the first links horizontally along a linear path and including abutting means for causing the first links to tilt vertically when the tilting surface contacts the abutting means to place the ink pad tray in the second position.

Abstract: A label printing system includes an input device, a memory, a CRT display device, a printing mechanism, registration means and label printing means. The input device has manual data input means, for entering label creation data, and edits the data to provide an entry of label creation information. The memory stores the input data and the label creation information after by editing, and the information is displayed on the screen of the CRT and printed by the printing mechanism. The registration means is adapted to register the label creation data and information in the memory. The label printing means causes the information to be displayed on the screen of the CRT and causes the printing mechanism to print out the information on a label.

Abstract: A method of urine flow measurement where liquid in the form of a free-fall jet is collected in a collecting vessel and the vertical force produced by the collecting vessel on a measuring device, for example a scale or the like, is sensed, and the change in time of said force is utilized for obtaining a measure of the flow corresponding to the jet. The method is especially characterized in that the effect of the impulse of the jet on the sensed force is eliminated by deflecting the vertical flow constituted by the jet to a substantially horizontal flow by a rotating device before the liquid is caused to contact the vessel. The invention also relates to a flow meter.

Abstract: A microwave oven is disclosed including a turntable inside a cooking chamber, the turntable being provided with a weight detection device, a weight measuring device on a digital display for displaying a result of the food weight measurement produced by the weight measuring device. The word "approximately" or another appropriate term is also displayed together with a measured net weight value.

Abstract: An electronic scale for weighing an article and displaying and/or printing the weight, price and other data of the article. The scale includes a key input unit for registering and recalling article data. The key input unit has preset keys indicating article names, alphabetical letters, and other indicia. The keys are operated to register and recalling article names and other data which are used frequently.

Abstract: In counting in-line system of the invention, a center machine and a plurality of scales are in-line connected, centralized control of transaction data per each weighed or non-weighed article registered in the scale is performed by the center machine, and according to receipt issuing request from side of the scale, print data is supplied from the center machine to the scale so as to issue the receipt, thereby fine control of the transaction data and arbitrary receipt issuing at side of the scale can be effected and the counting in-line system becomes suited to each shop and easy for the use. The transaction data is controlled using two independent numbers, the customer number and the clerk number, thereby the processing can be performed corresponding to the floating system and the clerk fixed system.

Abstract: A bar code printer is disclosed which may be used as a standard desk type bar code printer, a weighing bar code printer, etc. by connecting outer peripheral equipment, such as weighing instruments or price indicating balances, to the bar code printer. A change-over circuit can select an input signal from either the input unit of the bar code printer or from the outer peripheral equipment, the input signal energizing a control circuit which develops control signals to drive a bar code printing system and an indicating system. The printer has differing types of bar code systems stored therein and by entering a flag code, a specific bar code system may be selected. Also, the differing types of bar code systems may be accommodated since the bar code is divided into a fixed part (for common use in all systems) and a variable part (differing numerals between bar code systems).

Abstract: Labels are positioned within selected labeling regions on packages processed by a packaging system or carried by a package conveyor by means of horizontally shifting a package labeler relative to packages to be labeled in response to package dimensions which define the edges of the packages. Label positioning is illustrated in an integrated packaging machine wherein packages are weighed, wrapped and labeled. Packages are weighed at an input tray of the machine and at least one horizontal package dimension is measured and represented by package signals as a package is transported to an elevator, which raises the package into a section of wrapping material which is then wrapped about the package as one or more labels are applied. A price labeler positioned over the elevator generates price labels for the packages in response to weight signals. A label applicator also positioned over the elevator receives and applies labels to the packages as they are being wrapped.

Abstract: A weighing scale involving calculating functions is provided with an automatic control system that can accept words of speech spoken into a microphone as inputs to the automatic control system.

Abstract: This invention provides an electronic scale printer, and more particularly an electronic scale printer in which a printer is connected electrically to the electronic scale used in a department store or supermarket etc., and required data are printed on a printing sheet under an instruction from the electronic scale and issued from the printer. The invention provides a printer capable of issuing both a label and a receipt through one printing means and more particularly an electronic scale printer in which either a label or a receipt corresponding to the kind of printing sheet stored in a cassette is printed and issued under proper replacement of the cassette having printing sheet for label stored therein with a cassette having a printing sheet for receipt stored therein.

Abstract: A weighing scale and a label printer/applier are cooperatively combined with a wrapping machine to form a packaging machine into which a trayed commodity can be inserted and a wrapped and priced package removed. The weight of a trayed commodity is preferably determined as it is transported into the packaging machine. The tray size, known commodity and weight of the trayed commodity or package are utilized to determine the length and width of a sheet of film to be used to wrap the package. The package weight is passed to a label printer which calculates the price for the commodity being packaged, prints the label and passes it to a labeling head incorporated into a portion of the wrapping machine. The package weight is determined by subtracting a tare weight based on sensed package dimensions from the gross weight of the package to arrive at an accurate net pricing weight.

Abstract: A postage metering system including a scale and having the capacity to check the weight of items to be mailed and including apparatus for printing postage indicia on items falling outside a preselected range is disclosed. The system includes a postage metering subsystem, having the capability to print indicia corresponding to a particular postage value, a scale for determining if the weight is within the preselected range, apparatus to set the particular postage value to be printed and apparatus for determining the preselected range as a predetermined function of the particular postage value. The determining apparatus may also determine the particular postage value from input data using a conventional weight-to-postage routine and may use such a weight-to-postage routine to determine the preselected weight range. In one embodiment, the printing apparatus is enabled only when the weight of the item to be mailed is within the preselected range.

Abstract: An electronic coupled-in-motion railroad track scale is disclosed and comprises four track logic switches for detecting forward or backward train axle movement, a programmable digital voltmeter connected to load cells for effecting the weighing of the train cars, and a computer (CPU) for controlling the voltmeter as well as the track logic switches, and for correlating the axle numbers to the weight determined for each particular car. The four track switches are situated such that two switches are located in close proximity on either end of the weighbridge and the train track interface. Together with the logic circuits, the switches indicate when an axle comes on or goes off the weighbridge, and in which direction the axle is moving. In this manner, if reweighing is desired, the train may be backed up or forwarded to the particular car in question without reweighing the entire train.

Abstract: An improved electronic mailing apparatus and method is disclosed which provides customized zip to zone data reflecting variations in postal cost for a particular class of postal service. The apparatus includes a first memory means for storing standard zip to zone conversion data for existing, standard zip to zone conversion tables. A second memory means is provided for storing custom zip to zone conversion data for only a limited number of conversion tables. The custom data reflects postal cost variations in a particular class. A manually actuated switching means is provided for selectively addressing a memory sector of the second memory means. This sector stores custom conversion data for zip to zone conversion table corresponding to the zip code area where the meter is located. Memory requirements for custom data storage are thereby substantially reduced.

Abstract: Mail sorting apparatus feeds mail items past a printing postage meter into a hopper from which the items are dropped successively into sorting bins which revolve along a circular path. Collection bins, also disposed along the circular path below the sorting bins, for different categories of mail are open at the top to receive the mail from the sorting bins. When a sorting bin carrying a mail item revolves to a position where it is in alignment with the collection bin for that item, the sorting bin is opened and the item dropped into its collection bin. The size of the item is measured at an input station. The opening of the sorting bin is carried out under computer control in response to data entered at the input station. The postage meter is movable mounted and located in response to the size of the item so that the postal indicia are printed in the proper location on the item in the course of feeding thereof into the hopper.

Abstract: A bar code printer is disclosed which may be used as a standard desk type bar code printer, a weighing bar code printer, etc. by connecting outer peripheral equipment, such as weighing instruments or price indicating balances, to the bar code printer. A change-over circuit can select an input signal from either the input unit of the bar code printer or from the outer peripheral equipment, the input signal energizing a control circuit which develops control signals to drive a bar code printing system and an indicating system. The printer has differing types of bar code systems stored therein and by entering a flag code, a specific bar code system may be selected. Also, the differing types of bar code systems may be accomodated since the bar code is divided into a fixed part (for common use in all systems) and a variable part (differing numerals between bar code systems).

Abstract: A controller is described which interfaces with a scale and a label printer for computing prices of weighed commodities, for displaying a human readable description of the commodity being weighed and other characteristics of the commodity, and for activating the label printer to print the displayed information on a label. The controller includes a keyboard for selecting and changing the information to be displayed and printed, and a cathode ray tube for displaying the information.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a system for processing a plurality of random weight commodity packages in a supermarket utilizing a series of labels having nonrepretitive machine readable symbols thereon. The system includes a computer-scale having a data entry unit, a central computer including a memory bank, and a symbol scanner at a checkout station. Commodity-related data including the commodity identification and the price per unit weight are entered into the entry unit, most or all of the data usually being entered manually. The computer-scale includes means for serially weighing the packages, a price computer for computing the total package cost, and a printer for printing human readable data on a label. The system further includes means for applying a machine readable code symbol to each package, the symbol being located either on the above-mentioned label or on a separate label that is also attached to the package.

Abstract: A driver for positioning the postage amount handles of a postage meter, the driver including motors which, in response to control signals from a postage computer, axially displace shafts along paths generally parallel to the paths of the postage meter handles. The shafts support actuator fingers which couple the shaft movement to the respective handles. An optical interruptor for each shaft senses various shaft positions and provides signals to the postage computer which are used in part to develop the control signals.

Abstract: A system is provided which weighs packages and applies individualized labels to each package indicating the weight of the package, the date, or other desired individualized information. A conveyor includes a weighing section where the weight of the product is converted into digital form and supplied to a data processing system. Individual labels are printed by electrostatic techniques including both bar code machine readable designations and alpha-numeric characters. The label printing and applying apparatus includes a print station, a toner application station, a fusing station, and a peeling blade for separating the label from the backing sheet, and an applicator station. As the individual labels are advanced to the applicator station, blank labels will pass under the print and toner stations, and these labels will not be charged or toned, so that the tape may be reversed and moved back to the appropriate position for applying individualized data to these blank labels.

Abstract: Device to determine the weight of an object by moving the object at a predetermined velocity into a probe, a sensor associated with the probe to indicate the change in momentum to determine the weight.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting items includes a plurality of receiving stations for receiving the unsorted items. Each of the receiving stations has associated with it a scale for sensing the weight of each item as it is received. The weight of each item is transmitted to a memory device associated with the receiving stations along with destination information for each particular item. The weight and destination is stored in the memory device for retrieval at a later time. The sorting apparatus further includes a conveyor operating to move the items from the receiving stations to their destinations. A recognition unit associated with the conveyor is located intermediate the receiving stations and the destinations and includes a scale in assocation with the memory device. The items are weighed a second time on the recognition unit scale and the weight information is transmitted to the memory device.

Abstract: Described herein is a method and apparatus for storing, on a product card, information relating to the description and the unit price of a product to be weighed, and for providing a label printer with the stored information as well as the total price of the product in a simple and reliable operation. Preferably, the invention makes use of a card reader for reading the information stored on the product card, a computer for storing the information and for calculating the total price of the weighed product. The information read from the product card and the total product price are transmitted to a label printer for printing thereof on a label. In its preferred form, the invention provides for the modification of the unit price information on the product card to reflect a manually set unit price.

Abstract: An automatic unit price setting apparatus for an electronic digital display scale with a printing device in an equipment adapted to compute and display a price of an article of goods by multiplying a weight of said article to be weighed by a unit price of the article when the unit price is inputted in said scale and to print the name, weight, unit price and price of said article to be weighed, wherein one of a plurality of stamps for printing the names of articles engraved thereon is selectively connected with a unit price setting section of said electronic digital display scale so that said stamp and unit price setting section are electrically operated, and the unit prices of said articles indicated on said stamps are automatically set on the scale by operating said stamps.

Abstract: A vending machine which measures the weights of a retaining vessel, having commodities, so as to determine the difference in weight before and after the removal of commodities as an electrical signal. An in-line system includes a locking access door for taking out commodities from the machine by inserting a lock-releasing medium into the automatic vending machine. An off-line system includes a system for storing nomenclature, quantity, price and the like of commodities to be purchased by inserting a storing medium into the automatic vending machine.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing and delivering a label-receipt type tape member which displays the results of a variable number of operations of a computing scale including the value of items weighed on the scale, the value of fixed price items not weighed on the scale, and the total value of a group of items including fixed price items and items required to be weighed, the apparatus comprising a supply reel of continuous laminate tape coated on one side and protected with a cover web, a printing including a printing head responsive to the operations of the computing scale to print the information supplied on successive lines of the tape, a stripper bar, a take-up reel for pulling the cover web over the stripper bar under tension and to separate the cover web from the printed tape, and a tear surface adapted to permit the separation of the presented portion of printed tape from the continuous tape as a label-receipt.

Abstract: An apparatus allowing the ticket printer of a computing scale to be used for printing normal weight, value and price per unit weight labels or alternately for printing labels indicating a manually entered selling price. The selling price label can be used in sale by unit or sale by count merchandise pricing. Dual use of the normal scale printer for preparing either type of label reduces the equipment needed at a pricing station in addition to lowering the investment required for machine printed merchandise pricing. Automatic changeover from the weighed value to the sale by unit mode of operation in response to scale weight indication is also disclosed.

Abstract: A commodity identification key carrying apertures arranged in rows and columns for organization of commodity identification, parity checking, and clock control information, provision for manually controlled reading of the commodity identification information into storage, provision for repeatedly reading the commodity information out of storage and repeatedly checking the parity thereof, and provision for controlling the printing of a machine readable bar code representative of a commodity identification.