Abstract: A web guide particularly adapted for mail handling systems is positioned between the mail handling system form feeder and separating device. The web guide provides a surface to guide and control the web during its travel between the feeder and separating device so as to avoid or minimize premature tearing of the web, particularly during web acceleration caused by the separating device.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention apparatus for stacking flat articles, such as envelopes, on edge, comprises structure for transporting the envelopes on edge along a transport path and a deck plate having an upper side adjacent the transport path. A vertical registration wall, which is mounted on the deck plate, defines a stacking bin in which the envelopes are stacked. A deflector, which is situated between the transporting structure and the stacking bin, pivots between a first and second position, wherein the first position allows the envelopes to be transported past the stacking bin and the second position deflects the envelopes into the stacking bin. There is an urge roller, located in the stacking bin between the deflector and the registration wall for urging the envelopes towards the registration wall. There is a spring loaded paddle slidably positioned in the stacking bin orthogonal to the registration wall and above the deck surface, for urging the stacked envelopes toward the urge roller.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for merging vertically oriented documents with horizontally oriented documents. The apparatus includes: a document assembler for receiving vertically oriented documents, the document assembler having a pair of parallel paper paths, wherein each of the paper paths includes a device for transporting the vertically oriented documents and a device for stopping and a device for aligning the vertically oriented documents; a device located beneath the document assembler for re-orienting the documents from the document assembler in a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation; and a horizontal transport located beneath the re-orienting device for feeding horizontally oriented documents toward the re-oriented documents emerging from the re-orienting device, whereby the horizontally oriented documents are merged with the re-oriented documents from the document assembler.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improvement in a stacking device having an urge roller, an input guide, a spring loaded backup paddle and a registration wall. The improvement comprises a series of ramp-shaped fingers located between the urge roller and the registration wall. The ramp fingers guide the lead edge of an envelope in such a manner as to create a pocket between the surface of the envelope and the ramp fingers. The lead edge of the next envelope follows the ramp fingers and thus is not forced against the surface of the previous envelope. As a result the lead edge of the second envelope will not catch on the external side seam of the first envelope.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for receiving flat articles having a top edge alignment and horizontal orientation and transporting the articles along a transport path to a vertical orientation and a bottom edge alignment. The apparatus comprises a frame, a deck plate adjustably mounted to the frame, and structure for adjusting the position of the deck plate in a direction transverse to the paper path. A pair of entrance pulleys and exit pulleys are each mounted to the deck plate. The entrance pulleys rotate on a horizontal axis and the exit pulleys rotate on a vertical axis. First and second flexible, endless belts, are each wrapped around one of the entrance pulley and the exit pulleys wherein the belts complete a 90 degree twist from the respective entrance pulley to the respective exit pulley.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for turning flat articles, such as envelopes, from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation as the articles are transported along a path from an entrance location to an exit location. The device comprises a pair of entrance pulleys, each of the entrance pulleys having an offset crown and rotating on a stationary horizontal axis, and a pair of exit pulleys, each of the exit pulleys having a centerline crown. The entrance pulleys are located longitudinally and vertically apart from one another such that one of the entrance pulleys functions as lower entrance pulley and the other entrance pulley functions as an upper entrance pulley, with the upper entrance pulley being located downstream from the lower entrance pulley. The exit pulleys rotate on a stationary vertical axis. One of the exit pulleys is located downstream from an upstream one of the exit pulleys. The device further comprises first and second flexible, endless belts.

Abstract: A rotatable guide finger for opening an envelope prior to insertion of documents into the envelope. The finger includes a pivotable arm and a sidewall defining a channel. The sidewall extends downstream from the pivotable arm and has an upper and a lower sidewall portion, each of the sidewall portions including an arc having a radius of about 0.16 inches and a line at an angle of about fifty degrees to a horizontal radius to the arc.

Abstract: Apparatus for aligning a document, the apparatus comprising: structure for feeding a document in a downstream path of travel, the document have a downstream edge relative to the path of travel; structure for registering the downstream edge of a document in a direction extending transverse to the path of travel, the registering structure including at least one member extending into the path of travel, the registering structure including structure for moving the at least one member downstream in the path of travel; and structure for controlling the feeding structure to urge a document into engagement with the at least one moving member.

Abstract: In a machine including driving apparatus and structure for feeding a sheet through and from the machine, and wherein the machine includes structure for sensing a sheet, an improvement comprising: a rotary timing cam; an actuating member movable into and out of locking engagement with the cam; a source of supply of d.c. power; a circuit for controlling the driving apparatus, the circuit including a trip switch actuatable in response to the sensing structure sensing a sheet fed to the machine; the driving apparatus responsive to actuation of the trip switch for causing the actuating member to move out of locking engagement with the cam and then causing the cam to rotate; and the circuit including structure for disabling the trip switch for a predetermined time period after the driving apparatus commences rotating the cam.

Abstract: In a machine including structure for sensing a sheet fed to the machine, an improvement comprising: a rotary timing cam, an actuating member movable into and out of locking engagement with the cam; apparatus for controlling the actuating member, the controlling apparatus including resilient structure for urging the actuating member to move into and out of locking engagement with the cam; and the sensing structure including structure for normally latching the controlling apparatus for preventing the resilient structure from moving the actuating member out of locking engagement with the cam, and the latching structure unlatching the controlling apparatus for permitting the resilient structure to move the actuating member out of locking engagement with the cam when the sensing structure senses a sheet fed to the machine.

Abstract: In a machine including driving apparatus and structure for sensing a sheet fed to the machine; an improvement comprising: a rotary timing cam; an actuating member movable into and out of locking engagement with the cam; a source of supply of d.c. power; a first circuit connected across the power supply and including a solenoid and a trip switch actuatable for energizing the solenoid; a second circuit connected across the power supply and including a d.c. motor and a motor switch actuatable for energizing and deenergizing the motor; and the trip switch actuated in response to the sensing structure sensing a sheet fed to the machine, and the driving apparatus causing the actuating member to move out of locking engagement with the cam and actuate the motor switch for energizing the motor to drive the cam when the solenoid is energized.

Abstract: In a machine including rotary structure for printing indicia on a sheet fed to the machine, wherein the machine includes apparatus for driving the rotary printing structure, wherein the driving apparatus includes a drive gear having a home position, wherein driving apparatus includes a locking member movable into and out of locking engagement with the drive gear when the drive gear is in its home position, and wherein the machine includes trip structure for sening a sheet fed to the machine, an improvement comprising: an actuating member for moving the locking member into and out of locking engagement with the drive gear; apparatus for controlling the actuating member, the controlling apparatus including resilient structure for urging the actuating member to move the locking member into and out of locking engagement with the drive gear; and the trip structure including structure for normally latching the controlling apparatus for preventing the resilient structure from moving the actuating member to move the

Abstract: A mailing machine system, including a mailing machine base and a feeder module secured to the base for conveying envelopes toward a postage meter secured to the base. The feeder module includes a horizontal feed deck and a vertical registration wall adjacent the feed deck and forming a right angle therewith. The system also includes an automatic override circuit for turning the mailing machine system on and off at particular times depending upon the presence or absence of an envelope on the feed deck, and a sensing device having an emitting element and a receiving element. One of the elements is situated in the feed deck and the other of the elements is situated in the registration wall. The sensing device is operatively connected to the on-off circuit, wherein the detection by the sensing device of the presence of an envelope causes the mailing machine system to be turned on and the lack of detection by the sensing device for a predetermined period of times causes the mailing machine system to be turned off.

Abstract: A device for cutting roll tape, including a frame, a serrated rotary blade pivotably mounted in the frame, the rotary blade having a plurality of cutting teeth formed by grooves running perpendicular to the axis of the rotary blade and a flat surface cut across the rotary blade, and at least one continuous groove at each end of the serrated rotary blade adjacent the plurality of cutting teeth, a serrated stationary blade pivotably mounted on the frame, the stationary blade having a plurality of cutting teeth, the stationary blade cutting teeth being meshable with the cutting teeth on the rotary blade, the stationary blade also having at least one long tooth at each end of the stationary blade adjacent the plurality of short cutting teeth, the long teeth reaching the tangency of the continuous grooves and riding therein, and wherein the cutting teeth are sufficiently shortened to provide the desired clearance at the cutting interface, and a biasing element for biasing the long teeth of the stationary blade int