Patents by Inventor Glenn A. Nester

Glenn A. Nester 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: 9914600
    Abstract: An automated mail tray filling apparatus for taking envelopes from a vertical stacker output of an inserter machine and placing them in mail trays. A vertical stack of envelopes rests on a long stacker table. The mail tray filling apparatus has a track positioned next the vertical stacker table parallel to the length of the vertical stacker table. A mail tray transport is positioned beneath the track and arranged to transport mail trays beneath the track in a direction parallel to the vertical stacker table. A movable mail tray filler is movably mounted on the track to travel in parallel next to the vertical stacker table and above the mail tray transport, and is arranged to withdraw envelopes from the end of the vertical stack in a sideways direction. Envelopes are then redirected into a downward direction and fed into a mail tray positioned beneath the movable mail tray filler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J Keane, Donato C Farole, Glenn A Nester
  • Patent number: 9334129
    Abstract: An automated mail tray filling apparatus for taking envelopes from a vertical stacker output of an inserter machine and placing them in mail trays. A vertical stack of envelopes rests on a long stacker table. The mail tray filling apparatus has a track positioned next the vertical stacker table parallel to the length of the vertical stacker table. A mail tray transport is positioned beneath the track and arranged to transport mail trays beneath the track in a direction parallel to the vertical stacker table. A movable mail tray filler is movably mounted on the track to travel in parallel next to the vertical stacker table and above the mail tray transport, and is arranged to withdraw envelopes from the end of the vertical stack in a sideways direction. Envelopes are then redirected into a downward direction and fed into a mail tray positioned beneath the movable mail tray filler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Keane, Donato C. Farole, Glenn A. Nester
  • Publication number: 20150336755
    Abstract: An automated mail tray filling apparatus for taking envelopes from a vertical stacker output of an inserter machine and placing them in mail trays. A vertical stack of envelopes rests on a long stacker table. The mail tray filling apparatus has a track positioned next the vertical stacker table parallel to the length of the vertical stacker table. A mail tray transport is positioned beneath the track and arranged to transport mail trays beneath the track in a direction parallel to the vertical stacker table. A movable mail tray filler is movably mounted on the track to travel in parallel next to the vertical stacker table and above the mail tray transport, and is arranged to withdraw envelopes from the end of the vertical stack in a sideways direction. Envelopes are then redirected into a downward direction and fed into a mail tray positioned beneath the movable mail tray filler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: PITNEY BOWES INC.
    Inventors: JOSEPH J. KEANE, Donato C. Farole, Glenn A. Nester
  • Patent number: 8714340
    Abstract: The invention can be used with an automated mail tray filling apparatus for taking envelopes from a vertical stacker output of an inserter machine and placing them in mail trays. A take-away feeder is positioned over the vertical stacker table and is arranged to withdraw individual envelopes from the vertical stack in a sideways direction. The envelope is then redirected in a downward direction by ejecting the envelope into an open space. A downward tamping mechanism positioned above the open space moves downward to push on a top edge of the free-floating envelope. A downward transport positioned beneath the open space receives and transports envelopes pushed downward by the downward tamping mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Keane, Donato C. Farole, Glenn A. Nester
  • Publication number: 20130318929
    Abstract: A mail tray filler includes a filling mechanism that is vertically movable to be lowered and lifted into and out of a mail tray. With the mechanism in the raised position an empty mail tray is moved into position to underneath the mechanism. The mechanism lowers a feeding arm down into the first mail tray to feed envelopes starting at a forward end of the mail tray. The apparatus detects a pack pressure of the envelopes. When the pack pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold, the relative position of the feed arm is moved towards a back end of the mail tray to make room for more envelopes. After the pack pressure is below the predetermined threshold feeding continues. When the tray is full, the feeding arm is lifted from the mail tray, and a next empty mail tray is advanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. KEANE, Donato C. Farole, Glenn A. Nester
  • Publication number: 20130319819
    Abstract: The invention can be used with an automated mail tray filling apparatus for taking envelopes from a vertical stacker output of an inserter machine and placing them in mail trays. A take-away feeder is positioned over the vertical stacker table and is arranged to withdraw individual envelopes from the vertical stack in a sideways direction. The envelope is then redirected in a downward direction by ejecting the envelope into an open space. A downward tamping mechanism positioned above the open space moves downward to push on a top edge of the free-floating envelope. A downward transport positioned beneath the open space receives and transports envelopes pushed downward by the downward tamping mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. KEANE, Donato C. Farole, Glenn A. Nester
  • Publication number: 20130320609
    Abstract: An automated mail tray filling apparatus for taking envelopes from a vertical stacker output of an inserter machine and placing them in mail trays. A vertical stack of envelopes rests on a long stacker table. The mail tray filling apparatus has a track positioned next the vertical stacker table parallel to the length of the vertical stacker table. A mail tray transport is positioned beneath the track and arranged to transport mail trays beneath the track in a direction parallel to the vertical stacker table. A movable mail tray filler is movably mounted on the track to travel in parallel next to the vertical stacker table and above the mail tray transport, and is arranged to withdraw envelopes from the end of the vertical stack in a sideways direction. Envelopes are then redirected into a downward direction and fed into a mail tray positioned beneath the movable mail tray filler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Keane, Donato C. Farole, Glenn A. Nester
  • Patent number: 6682067
    Abstract: An apparatus for stacking articles on edge is provided which has a discharge magazine for stacking the articles face-to-face and on-edge. The magazine has an article edge receiver having a non-offset position and an offset position. The article edge receiver has a register wall for aligning the articles in the non-offset position and a segmented rotational offset disk for aligning the articles in the offset position. The disk has a cut out segment having a planar stop edge surface. The cut out segment is rotatable from an article receiving position to an article bypass position. When in the receiving position, the planar stop edge surface is at a right angle to the two faces of the article. When in the article bypass position, the segmented rotational offset disk allows the articles to bypass the segmented rotational disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: KFW Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Keane, Donato C. Farole, Glenn A. Nester
  • Patent number: 6540223
    Abstract: A stacking apparatus for stacking flat articles on edge is provided where each article has a front perimeter edge and two faces and the stacking apparatus receives each flat article as it enters the stacking apparatus moving in a direction generally parallel to the face of each article. The stacking apparatus includes a discharge magazine for sequentially receiving and stacking the flat articles face-to-face in an on-edge stack. The discharge magazine includes an article inlet, a register wall wherein the front perimeter edge of each envelope contacts the register wall to align each front perimeter edge of each article as the articles enter said stack. The discharge magazine further includes an article face support member, wherein a face of one of the flat articles abuts the article face support member, and a segmented roller for receiving and aligning the flat articles for insertion into the on-edge stack. The segmented roller includes a rotatable segmented cylinder having a longitudinal central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: KFW Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Keane, Donato C. Farole, Glenn A. Nester
  • Publication number: 20020089115
    Abstract: A stacking apparatus for stacking flat articles on edge is provided where each article has a front perimeter edge and two faces and the stacking apparatus receives each flat article as it enters the stacking apparatus moving in a direction generally parallel to the face of each article. The stacking apparatus includes a discharge magazine for sequentially receiving and stacking the flat articles face-to-face in an on-edge stack. The discharge magazine includes an article inlet, a register wall wherein the front perimeter edge of each envelope contacts the register wall to align each front perimeter edge of each article as the articles enter said stack. The discharge magazine further includes an article face support member, wherein a face of one of the flat articles abuts the article face support member, and a segmented roller for receiving and aligning the flat articles for insertion into the on-edge stack. The segmented roller includes a rotatable segmented cylinder having a longitudinal central axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Applicant: KFW Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Keane, Donato C. Farole, Glenn A. Nester
  • Patent number: 6398204
    Abstract: A stacking apparatus for stacking flat articles on edge is provided where each article has a front perimeter edge and two faces and the stacking apparatus receives each flat article as it enters the stacking apparatus moving in a direction generally parallel to the face of each article. The stacking apparatus includes a discharge magazine for sequentially receiving and stacking the flat articles face-to-face in an on-edge stack. The discharge magazine includes an article inlet, a register wall wherein the front perimeter edge of each envelope contacts the register wall to align each front perimeter edge of each article as the articles enter said stack. The discharge magazine further includes an article face support member, wherein a face of one of the flat articles abuts the article face support member, and a segmented roller for receiving and aligning the flat articles for insertion into the on-edge stack. The segmented roller includes a rotatable segmented cylinder having a longitudinal central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: KFW Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Keane, Donato C. Farole, Glenn A. Nester