An apparatus for weighing mail pieces being advanced across a transport
path including a weighing module having load cells, an in-feed drive
module and a takeaway module. The scale platform is mounted independently
of the in-feed drive module and the takeaway module, and the scale
platform comprises an uninterrupted mail piece support surface. A control
system is provided that acquires a mail piece weight signal when the lead
edge of a mail piece reaches a sensor at the exit of the weighing module.
Sensors also calculate the velocity of a mail piece as it leaves the
weighing module, whereby speed of each mail piece is accelerated to its
original speed and position in the mail transport path. Mail weighing
throughput rates of up to 10 mail pieces per second are achieved.