Inventors:
Brad A. Baggarly - Upland CA
Christopher K. Scullion - Bethlehem PA
Assignee:
Bell & Howell Company - Chicago IL
International Classification:
B65H 39075
B65B 3550
G06F 1520
Abstract:
In an insertion machine a track 20 moves groups of items past feed stations 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, during respective machine cycles. The feed stations selectively feed items onto the track 20 for inclusion with a group of items and eventual stuffing into an envelope. A master control item 46 fed from station 31 for each group has indicia 50 thereon which provides an indication from which of the feed stations items can be fed. In order for data processing means 102 to calculate the amount of postage appropriate for the stuffed envelope, an operator uses a keyboard and display 110 to input predetermined per item weight values for items held at select stations. A data processor 102 uses the predetermined values indicative of the per item weight of items held in the stations to obtain a calculated total weight for each group of items. Some of the feed stations contain optional items which are to be selectively included with a group of items if the data processor 102 determines that the inclusion does not increase the postage amount for the group.