Patents by Inventor Roy E. Patterson

Roy E. Patterson 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: 6547078
    Abstract: An apparatus for the automated processing of bulk mail in a continuous and automatic procedure includes an operative combination of processing stations including an input station for receiving incoming mail in bulk fashion and for separating the pieces of mail for individual delivery to the remainder of the apparatus a station for detecting irregularities in the contents of the envelopes, such as metal items, folded contents, or oversized items; a station for outsorting envelopes rejected in accordance with determinations made at the detection station; a station for opening the envelopes, preferably along multiple edges; a station for removing the contents from the opened envelopes, for subsequent processing of the contents; and a series of stations for handling and orienting the contents for subsequent delivery to a plurality of output stackers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Opex Corporation
    Inventors: William R. Lile, Albert F. Stevens, Mark A. Stevens, Robert R. Dewitt, Michael E. York, Roy E. Patterson
  • Patent number: 6064023
    Abstract: An apparatus for the automated processing of bulk mail in a continuous and automatic procedure includes an operative combination of processing stations including an input station for receiving incoming mail in bulk fashion and for separating the pieces of mail for individual delivery to the remainder of the apparatus; a station for detecting irregularities in the contents of the envelopes, such as metal items, folded contents, or oversized items; a station for out-sorting envelopes rejected in accordance with determinations made at the detection station; a station for opening the envelopes, preferably along multiple edges; a station for removing the contents from the opened envelopes, for subsequent processing of the contents; and a series of stations for handling and orienting the contents for subsequent delivery to a plurality of output stackers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Opex Corporation
    Inventors: William R. Lile, Albert F. Stevens, Mark A. Stevens, Robert R. Dewitt, Michael E. York, Roy E. Patterson
  • Patent number: 5842693
    Abstract: In a method for the automated processing of bulk mail, envelopes are transferred to a receiving apparatus in bulk fashion (from incoming mail trays or the like) for the extraction of documents contained by the envelopes, and the extracted documents are delivered to a remittance processing device, preferably both automatically and without the need for human intervention. Subsequent processing of the extracted documents within the remittance processing device then proceeds in usual fashion, completing the acquisition of information which is necessary to ready such documents for deposit into the banking system. Also disclosed are various presorting functions so that only envelopes containing documents of a specified type will be fully processed, other sorting functions such as the identification of specific types of documents (invoices or checks) for separate processing, and the use of a single extraction device to deliver extracted documents to either one, or a series of remittance processing devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Opex Corporation
    Inventors: Albert F. Stevens, Mark A. Stevens, Robert R. Dewitt, William R. Lile, Michael E. York, Jeffrey L. Chodack, Roy E. Patterson
  • Patent number: 5518121
    Abstract: In a method for the automated processing of bulk mail, envelopes are transferred to a receiving apparatus in bulk fashion (from incoming mail trays or the like) for the extraction of documents contained by the envelopes, and the extracted documents are delivered to a remittance processing device, preferably both automatically and without the need for human intervention. Subsequent processing of the extracted documents within the remittance processing device then proceeds in usual fashion, completing the acquisition of information which is necessary to ready such documents for deposit into the banking system. Also disclosed are various presorting functions so that only envelopes containing documents of a specified type will be fully processed, other sorting functions such as the identification of specific types of documents (invoices or checks) for separate processing, and the use of a single extraction device to deliver extracted documents to either one, or a series of remittance processing devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Opex Corporation
    Inventors: Albert F. Stevens, Mark A. Stevens, Robert R. DeWitt, William R. Lile, Michael E. York, Jeffrey L. Chodack, Roy E. Patterson
  • Patent number: 5310062
    Abstract: An apparatus for the automated processing of bulk mail, wherein envelopes are transferred to the apparatus in bulk fashion (from incoming mail trays or the like) for the extraction of documents contained by the envelopes, communicates with a remittance processing device, preferably both automatically and without the need for human intervention. Subsequent processing of the extracted documents within the remittance processing device then proceeds in usual fashion, completing the acquisition of information which is necessary to ready such documents for deposit into the banking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Opex Corporation
    Inventors: Albert F. Stevens, Mark A. Stevens, Robert R. DeWitt, William R. Lile, Michael E. York, Jeffrey L. Chodack, Roy E. Patterson