Abstract: A conveyor (10) conveys stacks of newspapers to a weigh station (A). The weigh station produces a digital weight signal which is processed by an electric circuit (B) to determine whether each bundle contains a preselected number of newspapers. A display (F) provides an indication whether or not the weighed bundle contains the preselected number of newspapers. More specifically, the electronic circuit includes a microprocessor (22) which is programmed to store a preselected number of acceptable bundle weights in a tare calculation memory (72). An algorithm implementing routine (78) averages the stored weights to determine an average weight or tare. A subtraction circuit or routine (52) subtractively combines the tare and the measured weight. A divider circuit or routine (56') divides the tare by twice the number of newspapers which are to be in each bundle to determine the weight of half a paper.

Abstract: The programmable packaging grid groups selective ones of a plurality of available printed products, newspapers, and the like based on demographic information concerning the consumer to receive each package. A plurality of longitudinally receiving conveyors (10) each define a series of package receiving areas. A receiving conveyor monitoring means (180) monitors the position of the package receiving areas. A plurality of gripping conveyors (20) which include a plurality of individual grippers run in loops above and transverse to the receiving conveyors. A gripping conveyor monitoring means (182) monitors the position of the individual grippers. A newspaper feeding station (82, 86) feeds newspapers to the belt conveyors to be included in the packages of customers who are also newspaper subscribers. A digital computer (200-286) controls the individual grippers of the gripping conveyors to release selected printed products to fall into selected package receiving areas.

Abstract: The programmable packaging grid groups selective ones of a plurality of available printed products, newspapers, and the like based on demographic information concerning the consumer to receive each package. A plurality of longitudinally receiving conveyors (10) each define a series of package receiving areas. A receiving conveyor monitoring means (180) monitors the position of the package receiving areas. A plurality of gripping conveyors (20) which include a plurality of individual grippers run in loops above and transverse to the receiving conveyors. A gripping conveyor monitoring means (182) monitors the position of the individual grippers. A newspaper feeding station (82, 86) feeds newspapers to the belt conveyors to be included in the packages of customers who are also newspaper subscribers. A digital computer (200-286) controls the individual grippers of the gripping conveyors to release selected printed products to fall into selected package receiving areas.