| 摘要 |
An apparatus and method for providing indicia on articles or packags, which indicia is an indication of such variables as identification, destination, weight, cost, postage or a combination of such variables. In one form, an article or container is disposed on a weighing device, such as a scale, and the weight of the article which is indicated when the scale balances, is automatically applied as a bar code, numerical indication or other form of indicia to a select portion of the surface of the article. In a particular form, an indication of postage is printed on the article or container placed on the platform, which indication is derived from a combination of the weight of the article and its destination, wherein the latter information is derived from the manual input device or a reading device which is operable to read a destination code or the address label of the article. In another form, such indicia is printed on an adhesivel label which is automatically applied by means of a mechanical device or a stream of air to a select portion of the surface of the article adjacent the side of the scale or an opening in the scale platform. In another form, a hand-held printing implement is operatively connected by flexible wire to a weight sensor at the scale and contains a printing device which is operated by electrical signals derived when the scale weights an article, for printing indicia on the article adjacent or against which the printing device is disposed.
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