Patents by Inventor Frank Shinn

Frank Shinn has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7607653
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for maintaining density and positioning of a grouped sheet articles, such as for feeding of sheet articles from or into the group. One or more pneumatic sensing systems can be used to monitor and control pressure of sheet articles within the group. Dynamic adjustment can be made to the density and position of the sheet articles in the group such as by controlling a motorized belt to move at least a portion of the group of sheet articles in response to an indication to do so from a controller in communication with the pneumatic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Bowe Bell + Howell Company
    Inventors: Frank Shinn, Edward J. Kapturowski, Walter S. Conard
  • Patent number: 7389624
    Abstract: A high-speed envelope transport and packing system includes a conveyor for conveying an open envelope having a flap, a packing station for inserting an object into a conveyed open envelope, and a bending member disposed upstream of the packing station. The bending member is configured to impart a bend in a conveyed open envelope by displacing a center portion of the envelope relative to widthwise distal end portions of the envelope and to maintain a bend in the envelope until the open envelope is gripped by a gripping device in such a manner as to provide access to an interior of the open envelope or until an object is at least partially inserted into an interior of the open envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Bowe Bell + Howell Company
    Inventors: Bradford D. Henry, Frank Shinn
  • Publication number: 20080088076
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for maintaining density and positioning of a grouped sheet articles, such as for feeding of sheet articles from or into the group. One or more pneumatic sensing systems can be used to monitor and control pressure of sheet articles within the group. Dynamic adjustment can be made to the density and position of the sheet articles in the group such as by controlling a motorized belt to move at least a portion of the group of sheet articles in response to an indication to do so from a controller in communication with the pneumatic sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Inventors: Frank Shinn, Edward J. Kapturowski, Walter S. Conard
  • Patent number: 7097028
    Abstract: An envelope insert conveyor assembly includes a first pair of rotation members and a second pair of rotation members spaced apart from one another. A first conveying member is disposed around the first pair of rotation members, and a second conveying member is disposed around the second pair of rotation members, so that the conveying members rotate around the first rotation member and the second rotation member. A plurality of pusher members are fixed to each of the first conveying member and second conveying member. The pusher members each have paired sidewalls, a cross-wall connecting the paired walls, and an indented portion provided in each of the paired sidewalls. A gripping element is disposed adjacent an indented portion of one of the paired sidewalls and biased toward an interior surface of the indented portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Bowe Bell + Howell Company
    Inventors: Bradford D. Henry, Penny P. Fusco, Frank Shinn
  • Publication number: 20050246139
    Abstract: In an inserting apparatus and method such as the continuous motion type, a motion controller electrically communicates with an encoder, a first motor driving an insert conveyor assembly, a second motor driving an envelope conveyor assembly, and an actuator operatively interfaced with a peripheral device. The motion controller controls insert conveyor assembly speed, envelope conveyor assembly speed, and the rotational position at which the actuator should be activated, based on the encoder signal. Once during every master cycle, the motion controller calculates the actuator activation position, and causes the first actuator to be activated at the calculated first actuator activation position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Publication date: November 3, 2005
    Applicant: BELL & HOWELL MAIL AND MESSAGING TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY
    Inventors: James Rivenbark, Keith Harshman, Frank Shinn, Bradford Henry, Steven McCay, Kathleen McCay
  • Publication number: 20050067257
    Abstract: An envelope insert conveyor assembly includes a first pair of rotation members and a second pair of rotation members spaced apart from one another. A first conveying member is disposed around the first pair of rotation members, and a second conveying member is disposed around the second pair of rotation members, so that the conveying members rotate around the first rotation member and the second rotation member. A plurality of pusher members are fixed to each of the first conveying member and second conveying member. The pusher members each have paired sidewalls, a cross-wall connecting the paired walls, and an indented portion provided in each of the paired sidewalls. A gripping element is disposed adjacent an indented portion of one of the paired sidewalls and biased toward an interior surface of the indented portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Inventors: Bradford Henry, Penny Fusco, Frank Shinn
  • Publication number: 20050050862
    Abstract: A high-speed envelope transport and packing system includes a conveyor for conveying an open envelope having a flap, a packing station for inserting an object into a conveyed open envelope, and a bending member disposed upstream of the packing station. The bending member is configured to impart a bend in a conveyed open envelope by displacing a center portion of the envelope relative to widthwise distal end portions of the envelope and to maintain a bend in the envelope until the open envelope is gripped by a gripping device in such a manner as to provide access to an interior of the open envelope or until an object is at least partially inserted into an interior of the open envelope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Inventors: Bradford Henry, Frank Shinn